Santa vs. Mushrooms

The article Amanita muscaria and Santa Claus, excerpts from James Bursenos, was very far-out and strange. How do you get a connection between Santa Claus and a magic mushroom? Well in Bursenos mind, you can. Apparently, hence the word apparently, because of the colors they share, they have a connection, along with the Coca-Cola company eventually. Once again, a writer has given his view on personal connections, without support. He thinks that since they share the colors red, white, and black, there is a connection. He also feels Santa’s “current form is twisted and grotesque…” This article really caused me to loose interest and laugh about how ridiculous this topic is. What am I going to do with this information I read? It has no significance. All I have to say is that there are a lot of color schemes shared amongst companies, countries, teams, products, and everything else. For instance like Penn State and BMW, both share the colors blue and white, Nike and Under Armor, both share black and white, the American flag and Red bull, both share red, white, and blue. This does not mean there is a connection, and I feel shamanism brings weird symbolizations and no significance to life.

Hughes once again, went on about drugs. I guess all these authors think that all people of the world should just get stoned so they find themselves, is that what they are trying to say? It’s hard to say. Hughes made an interesting observation about the connection between people and artists who are famous and do drugs. I believe it is a coincidence that they have made it to their level of status, not by drug addiction, but due to addiction and craving for their dream. Other means then drugs can reach creativity. Like Hughes said, “…art is a passion that cannot be replaced by drugs, although it can be extinguished by addiction.” How I interpret this quote is by how I achieve creativity. I find it simply by focus and determination. If you are not fully focused on a dream or goal, addiction of other distractions blocks your way to achieve. I will never be a great student if I don’t but the work in. This is the same with artists. You’re not going to become Picasso just by taking drugs.

Walsh brought an interesting story to attention about a man getting his leg chopped off. I think it is impossible for a person to go through surgery, without the help of anesthesia, without being in a strong state of mind. The only people I could see doing that are people who go through some of the toughest, competitions, battles, and challenges, most people never would have the chance to face. I believe it takes a person with strong psychological will and control to put themselves in a fixed state in which they can totally block out reality. A conscious person could never do it. I don’t a single person who wouldn’t be screaming for dear life, go into shock, or pass out after a surgery has began, and in no way do I think a person is capable of staying awake to see it through. A person has to be in a certain state to deal with the fear and torturous pain endured during surgeries.