NOT-SO-NEW CLASS OF CRIMINALS - Ivan’s Journal

There are people, who believe that one cannot be a good cop, if he does not know how it feels to be a criminal. It is obvious that in order to understand how other people think, we have to put ourselves in their shoes.

I used to think that criminals are simple. We just have to figure out what they are after. If they are too hungry, they will kill for foods. If they are obsessed about something, they will kill for money. Unfortunately, Batman had the same opinion. But Alfred the butler had different things in mind, “Perhaps he is a man you don’t fully understand either”. Alfred’s wise words make me realize that I do not understand what’s dwelling inside other people’s heads.

What I mean by “Criminals” includes also people who do bad things to others and also their surroundings (not just people in prisons that do serious crimes). Believe it or not, some people are proud to be criminals. Some people even try to set new records in committing crimes. They did things not based on any judgment. Like a dog chasing cars, they do not know what to do with it if they caught one. They just “do” things.

So you don’t need to be a Batman just to understand, that some people are just proud to be criminals – They cannot be bullied… They cannot be reasoned with… Some people just love to watch the world burned.

It is a pity. The fact is – it is not only “the Joker”. But we have LOTS of Jokers running around in this world.

Usually, it does not matter how people think. The real matter is, “What are the impacts caused by their thoughts ?”

Ivan the Freelancer

HE IS HERE... I SMELL HIM - Ivan’s Journal

Many women said that they can tolerate men who are broke, short, fat and even ugly. But there is one thing that women cannot stand about their men – which is, if they smell like dead fishes in the market. Believe it or not, women value aroma higher than they value money. But if you say that “materialistic” women do not care about “the smell” of their lovers, than you probably right. That’s simply because materialistic women never kiss their men – but only their money.

Recently I found an interesting fact about perfumes in a marketing seminar held in Ritz Carlton Hotel. The fact said that women like to try different perfumes far more often than men. Women like to try or experiment different perfume’s brand or aroma, while men usually stick and loyal to one perfume brand they like. The fact also said that men do not need to change their perfume (or their body aroma), as long as their women love it.

I’m not saying that every man should groom themselves to become like women. But one conclusion about this fact is that you should be happy if a woman compliments or even complains about how you smell. It means she has an interest on you – or at least, pays attention to you. If she never compliments or complains about how you look and smell, than maybe she only concerns about your money.

Ivan the Freelancer

BEING DIFFERENT

If only we can choose our own identity, or where and when we are born, than maybe we can be whoever we want to be. People cannot choose their skin and blood color. Whether you are born in the west or the east does not make you any more superior than others.

Is being different really necessary? Why people tend to consider anything different as a threat? The reason we are constantly at war, is maybe because we cannot accept the fact that we are all different.

Like John Lennon said in his “Imagine” song, “You may say I’m a dreamer… But I’m not the only one…”

Ivan the Freelancer

YOU AND YOURSELF

What is real and what is not? It is hard to tell, especially in this cyber era. Life is dangerous… That is true and that is why surrogates are invented. We can be anyone we want to be – men/women, tall/short, long/short hairs, white/black skin – anything you can think of… We can run our daily life “risk-free”, physically and virtually… Perfect… Human perfection – What could go wrong?

The problem occurs when it becomes a lifestyle… and lifestyle causes addiction – anything that you cannot live without. You cannot resist yourself from hiding behind your so-called-perfect surrogates. It is the “you” that is not actually you. So the people will wonder, is that really you? The most important thing in this life is getting trust from other people – which is not gonna happen if you are covering yourself with surrogates.

Lying to other people is one thing, but lying to yourself is another. By hiding your true self, you are denying yourself and living in a lie. Nevertheless, people will find out about your true identity and who you really are anyway. A happy man is the one who truly satisfied with himself or herself.

Come to think of it, we are already living our life as “half-surrogates” by now – by hiding behind our BlackBerry, the Internet, chat rooms and other cyber stuffs. But who gives a shit? It is fun… isn’t it?

As long as we are still remain as humans who depend only on ourselves.

Ivan the Freelancer

REVENGE IS “NOT” SWEET

People do nice things to others…Yes, that is natural. People also do bad things to others… Yes, that is “also” natural. There are people in this world who feel that certain people need to be taught a lesson. They think that certain people need to be taught some manners. Yes, they have their own agenda and some of them even live with hatred and urges for revenge for whole their life.

Blood for blood – soul for soul… Maybe that was “the thoughts” Benjamin Barker had in mind when he returned to London. Clouded by rage and vengeance, he was determined to seek revenge upon Judge Turpin – the evil man who was responsible for Barker’s miserable lives. He became another person – He became Sweeney Todd with totally new character and attitudes. But the question was… was it worth it?

There are only two kinds of people in this world – People with the ability to love and people with the ability to hate. Love and hate can emerge at the same time. They can also be mixed up. Bearing a grudge is painful, although most people have no choice. Bearing a grudge makes us become like the living dead. We cannot think clearly, we loose our feelings – and above all, we loose our conscience.

People are doomed since they loose the ability to love. So if you can never forget and can never forgive – just make sure you still have “love” – or the ability to love.










Ivan the Freelancer

RESPECTED OR FEARED

There is one quality that is desired by all men in this world – Power. Among those powerful men in the world, there are those who are respected or those who are feared. The Untouchables showed clear examples of both. Eliot Ness from the police force was assigned to bring down one of the most powerful man to justice, Al Capone.

With all previous attempts failed to take Capone down, Ness realized that he was cornered because almost all parts of the city were bribed and controlled by Capone. Ness found he could not trust anyone, until he met Jim Malone, an incorruptible police, who was driven away from the corps.

Malone taught Ness a very important lesson. “If you do not want to get rotten apples, don’t get them from the barrels. Get them straight from the trees.” With half of the city police corrupted, Ness and Malone had to recruit their team from the new candidates who are still trained. They are rookies, but still fresh and clean. Since then, Ness had the right people on board to bring down Capone.

Be thankful if you are still fresh and clean, because you still have a chance to be respected. Be careful not to choose apples from the barrels, but choose them straight from the trees. Evil triumphs only because they are feared – for they can never be respected.

Whether being respected or feared, it all depends on what you do and how you do things to others. Ness and Capone built their power and reputation through different paths. A man cannot be respected and feared at the same time.

So, what kind of a man are you? Respected or feared?

Ivan the Freelancer

HUMANITY AND ALIENITY

Whether you are welcomed or not in this world, are not yours to decide. Like I said, this world is not fair – and it will never be. There are many facts proved that we are not alone in this universe. One huge alien ship was stranded and hovering aimlessly above the city of Johannesburg. They did not do anything and we came prepared and bashed our way into their doors.

Then we found groups of Aliens. They don’t look too good. They look unhealthy, confused, scared and disoriented. Well, what would you expect? They are stranded in our “strange” place – far away from home. Unable to go home, they are forced to take refuge in slums area below their ship.

But what do we do to them? We overrun them with terrors. We make them target practices. Even worse, we make experiments out of them. We are curious about their organs, weapons and technologies. Instead of communicating with them in civilized manners, we took them by force. We humans tend to look at something different as threats. We are even terrorizing and exploiting our own kind too.

What have we humans become? We are losing our humanity. Some people said that this is a social issue. But I said simply because we have lost the ability to accept and understand – that we are all different and not perfect. Differences are supposed to be respected and united. Differences are supposed to bring people together to live in harmony. But then again, maybe because we are not perfect, so this world will never be either.

Wikus Van De Merwe is the man who truly understands about being deserted and not welcomed. Being infected by the alien’s DNA, he became the most wanted man on Earth. Everybody wants a piece of him – simply because he is different. No place for him, but in District 9.

Sometimes we will never know… What it feels like… How it feels like… Until we become one of them…

Ivan the Freelancer

MADE NOT BORN

Whether you like it or not, people’s characteristics and personalities are influenced from their surroundings, environment and their past. You cannot blame them for that. However, you always have a chance to become – what you want to become in the future – by doing something or making something in your present.

G.I. Joe is a group of soldiers that come from different backgrounds. They build their army based on training and personality development – while the Cobras build their army based on manipulations. Cobra armies do not recognize fear – as they say. But Storm Shadow said that fear is the best motivator – quite contrary don’t you think?

Whether good or evil, whichever sides you choose, perfect soldiers are made – not born. We surely cannot blame our backgrounds and past times for what we are now. But we are always responsible for our own future. We always have to make our own future.




G.I. Joe and Cobra are not born – they are made. You can make yourself become G.I. Joe or Cobra. The choices are yours.

The past cannot be undone – that is why we have the present. The present is the most important moment in your life, because it is the present that makes your future. The future is not ours to see… But we can always make our own…

Get Up Soldiers!!

Ivan the Freelancer

LOST IN DREAMWORLD - Ivan’s Journal

“Hello, anybody here?” I looked around everywhere and could not find anyone in this dark, cloudy and cold place. Remembered it was like Vienna in Europe, but never imagined it would be this quiet – few lights yet many dark alleys. Looks like the city had been abandoned. Knew I was lost and kept wandering pointlessly, hoping to find someone to guide me.

My instinct whispered – should find something or someone, but did not know what or who. Just keep on walking and running – bumping through walls and darkness – getting tired and disoriented. Never been here… How could I be here… Why? I did not know.

So I decided to find my own way… A map… I needed a map – began to search for signs or leads. Suddenly, I encountered a huge building with the lights on. The doors were locked tight, but wait… The lights were pointing out to something…

There was something near the doors – a silver bullet and a gun. Why were they lying here? I picked them up – knowing this place could be unfriendly. Remembered there was only one silver bullet but there were seven (or was it six?) chambers in the revolver. Quickly I reloaded the revolver with that silver bullet.

I looked around to find a way into the building. Probably there was someone living in it, considering the lights were on. Just about I was trying to knock the doors; I sensed someone was walking nearby… It was a man…

Our distance was quite far. First, I dared not call him, knowing it could be dangerous. So I stalked him from behind to see where he was going… Through the dark alleys we went.

But my feelings became very uneasy. I needed a guide – So finally decided to call him, “Excuse me. I am lost. Can you help me?”

The man stopped and turned. The mist surrounded him in the gloomy night. He did not answer. He just stood there, staring at me.

“Excuse me, I am lost. I need your help.” I repeated.

Suddenly he walked towards me… My eyes could not see very clearly through the mist. But as we got closer and closer, I realized that… It was NOT a man… It was something like this picture…

I was never been so scared in my life. The stares seemed to paralyze my senses.

As it just was about to jump me, my reflexes finally kicked in. I drew the gun and shot the silver bullet directly to it.

There was a sound of growling and wailing as its body rammed into me… We both fell down… My body felt numb… All I saw were puddles of water on the dark streets… Suddenly…

Suddenly I woke up…

My God, it was just a bad dream… I was sweating and shivering all over… A big – nasty werewolf.

Did I get him? Did I kill him?

What is the meaning of this dream? Too much movies?

I guess I will never know…

Ivan the Freelancer
(The pictures are for illustrations taken from Internet).

SOMETHING MEANINGFUL

What? You wanna hear stories about my adventures? Oh, okay – But not before you cross your heart.

For some people, adventures had to be something great and epic. But for some people, adventures are just plain simple. Some people prefer to embark on adventures alone, but some like to share it with other people. Some people do mountain climbing, but some people just like to have dinner with their love ones.

Life itself is an adventure. Whatever adventures you had, will have, or are having, the real excitement is in the process – not the end results. The process “is” the one that makes your adventures meaningful. Adventures are about tears and laughter – gain and loss.

Although adventures often linger just in dreams – but some dreams do come true – if you believe in it. It is never too late to start your adventures – so cross your heart and go UP!

Ivan the Freelancer

BANK JOB

There was once a man, who loved his job so much, always took good care of his friends, good with women, courageous and had great self confidence. Unfortunately, he was arrested many times and finally got killed. Why? Because he became one of the most successful bank robbers in America and number one wanted most dangerous fugitive.

John Herbert Dillinger (June 22, 1903 – July 22, 1934) took a highly risky and dangerous line of work – specializing as a bank robber in Midwestern United States. Being able to hit dozens of banks, police stations and escaped from prisons made him famous.

His career drew too much attention from the police – and so he became wanted – Dead or Dead. He was ambushed by the police outside a theater after watching a movie. One bullet that drove through his face instantly killed him. He died at a relatively young age.

Don’t know whether the job picked the man – or the man picked the job. But loving the wrong jobs could be dangerous. Success and fame do not always bring happiness indeed.

Are you happy with your job? Are you sure you have picked the right job? Because it affects not only you, but also the people you love…

Ivan the Freelancer

LITTLE CHINA TOWN - Ivan’s Journal

It was a quiet stroll at noon, enjoying cool breezes in the mal.

My butterfly saw a place she likes. A place to eat filled with Chinese ornaments.

“This must be your first time.” I said.

Red Chinese lanterns wiggling, following her hand held on to me.

She smiled and nodded.

I returned the smile… “Me too.”


I sat down as I took off my glasses and slipped a lemon-mint candy into my mouth, “Hey, let’s try that yummy roasted chicken over there.”

Her sparkling eyes gazed into me, “Oh, I like this place… Let’s walk some more.”










Places make memories – and like Optimus Prime said, “By those memories, we live on.”

Ivan the Freelancer