"Alternative Metal" & Yoga.

Rage Against the Machine is, conclusively, one of the top five* musical groups to listen to while doing yoga.

Because of the musical influence of a certain person I've been hanging out with, I've been re-examining the merits of the group. And despite the pinko-liberal political influence of the band, it's awesome stuff. Sure, I'm pairing some pretty hard hitting "alternative metal" (p.s. that's why iTunes calls it) with some purposely relaxing pranas (p.p.s. that's what you call yoga poses)... but doesn't that disparity between the two make this even better?

This is going to sound crazy, and probably a bit ridiculous but I think that the two things being emotionally profound in different ways helps you to you find yourself centered somewhere in between the two.

I think the part that really gets me is the guy singing (somebody google that name for me... I'm lazy) honestly sounds like he feels what he's singing. Maybe I'm getting that impression because I want to but either way, he sounds passionate... and you know how I feel about passionate people. (errrr, faithful reader, you should know)

When you couple that kind of intensity with the fact that my yoga sessions themselves are intense on their own; it's pretty aggressively emotionally and physically absorbing. It doesn't help that I whole-heartedly believe that yoga is one of the greatest things a person can do for themselves, second only to buying an amazing pair of brand new blue jeans.

Anyway, this all makes me sound like some new-wave-alternative-healing-mumbo-jumboee. However, I simply can't ignore the fact that I had one of the greatest most intense, relaxing, re-centering, soothing, paramount yoga sessions I've had in quite some time while listening to Rage Against the Machine.

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* Top 5 Musical Groups to Listen to While Doing Yoga.
In NO particular order.

1- Sneaker Pimps
2- Rage Against the Machine
3- Gary Allan/Dierks Bentley
4- Laika
5- Dropkick Murphy's

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No, In Other News, today, kiddos. Nothing to really update. However, my two darlings, you'll be getting another call here soon :) Love you!

CNN = Liberal Political Agenda

So there's all this hub-bub (I'm pretty sure I just made that up) about those destroyed CIA tapes. First, who cares? People beat people senselessly all the time, and for much worse reasons than national security. Secondly, why do I get a play by play update on nothing! Yes, I understand there are going to be developments in the case but I don't need a new news headline every time some Senator decides to have an opinion about it.

Third, (this is the part that really bothers me) why on Earth is CNN showing pictures of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in the background when they're reporting about these tapes. Yes, I know a lot of really dumb people equate Guantanamo Bay with torture. However, once it's been established that those tapes have no connection at all to this hemisphere why would those pictures stay up?

Want to know why? Media = Liberal Political Agenda. That's it in a nutshell. Repetition and reenforcement of ideas is the best way to get someone to remember something. So if CNN keeps showing pictures of Gitmo any time the word "torture" comes up, eventually they'll convince someone that Gitmo needs to be closed because of all the horrible things being done to people down here. Which means all the detainees get either a) shipped home or b) stateside. If you chose B you're probably correct. All their 'homelands' would kill them quickly after they're sent back, because well..... they've committed war crimes. Which means that all those Habeas Corpus lawyers would throw a fit until each one is given a trial. (which, by the way, we're in the process of working on... you should see the courthouse, it's sweet) ... however, I digress. Back to my original point.

CNN is in my opinion one of the most useless form of news acquisition around.

They're website doesn't do a bad job. Thankfully they have pictures of judges and senators attached to their articles on this subject. I guess my point would be, don't watch CNN... actually go and read it. But only if you really have to.

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In Other News, I stuffed stockings and made Christmas cards to the Troopers down here who have duty on Christmas. It felt good to have a way to tell them that I'm thankful for what they're sacrificing so that I can have a peaceful morning with my family... well, until Daddy has to go to work right along side the Troopers. The only problem was feeling like I should do things like this more often... not just around Christmas. I know I'm always writing on this thing about how much I appreciate the people who defend all our freedom's but that just doesn't seem like enough. Ideas?

I played a pretty cool game of paintball tonight. Ended up with a sweet bruise on my shoulder. Also, one of the most amazing people I've ever met in my entire life just keeps getting more and more amazing. Dammit. I wish they would give me a reason to hate them.... that would make not seeing them every again after I leave so much simpler. Ugh, because that sounds soooo optimistic. : ( Enough about me. Even if you're not the praying type... go pray or think about or make a wish on a star for the people out there giving you the right and ability to sleep quietly and enjoy your families.

No Concessions for the Commissions

I've been down here in Cuba for about four days now. And I love it, as usual. On sunday night I was hanging out with a few of the Air Force Engineers who are building the Courthouse and complete facility (Camp Justice) where all of the commissions will be going on. Thus, I got a tour.

There's a huge trailer for the defense , a huge trailer for the prosecution , a huge trailer for the security detail and a gigantic Courthouse. Right now they're working on putting together the insides of the buildings. The defense, prosecution and media will all be staying in tents right outside the facility.

Here's my favorite part about it. As we're sitting on top of the hanger control tower my friend starts to tell me that the project started out as a $125 million dollar project that involved hotels, restaurants and shops. All kinds of comfy, cooshy things for the civilians coming down to appreciate. However, congress paired it down to a $12 million dollar project... cutting out all those niceties.

The reason this makes me and some of the soldiers down here pretty happy? Because now all those condescending media types, stuck up lawyers, and damned habeas corpus defenders have to sleep on little cots just like the soldiers and airmen who are down here building this place. They'll all have to live just like the guys who are defending our freedoms all over this world. They have to shower and have bathrooms in huge communal tents like all our men and women in uniform and they'll have to eat at the Galley just like all our men and women in uniform.

I want to see just how long they keep up the passion they have for their cause when they're not functioning out of they're wonderful plush offices. How long can they handle what our soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen have been using for years? And not just using... but making the best of. You know what the Air Force Engineers did with their situation? They improved it. How? They built themselves a bar. I'm talking a real keg-having, water-running, double refrigerator, indoor-outdoor bar with a dart board and pool table...... bar. With a christmas tree and a fire pit and hot damn am I proud of these guys.

Even though congress didn't do it on purpose and they're really just trying to save some money. I'm glad that there are little to no concessions for the people working the commissions. This whole mission is dirty, dirty work. Everything from the stress to the literal dirt (or other things if a detainee throws stuff at you) on your uniform is hard to handle.

God Bless these United States Military Men and Women. And God Bless Congress for (unintentionally) doing something right. :)

Stupid Headlines

Sorry, it's been so long. Yes, I know you missed me ranting. And I know you're all thankful I'm ending my four day hiatus... I'll just say it now, You're Welcome. :) P.S. Lots of neat links in the following blog... Enjoy!

I opened my iGoogle this morning to check the weather so I could go appropriately dressed to take over the world, and I noticed something odd. Among the usual headlines was something that stuck out. It didn't stick out because it was so astoundingly important, it didn't stick out because it was shocking, it stuck out because the first thing that crossed my mind was "Who the Hell Cares?!"

Model Claims Tony Parker Cheated on Eva Longoria With Her

What terrifies me is that someone is out there thinking... "Ooooooh! Ahhhhhh! Oh My Goodness, I wonder if Eva is alright?! "

WHY IS THIS NEWS?

Why on earth wasn't the Federal Raid of Al Sharpton's office a headline? Why isn't the story about the Global Warming Charts kind of being a mistake a headline?

WHY CAN'T I FIND ANYTHING WORTH READING IN MY HEADLINES?!

(yes, i'm typing in all caps because in my head I'm yelling)

There are just as many stories in the sidebar on FoxNews.com about celebrities as there are about anything actually relevant. I can find out that Katie Holmes told some magazine what turns Tom on. and that Paris Hilton is covered in gold paint for no damn good reason.

Where did the real news go? And why does no one care about it? Are we so apathetic about our own world that we'd rather read about other people's lives? Is there nothing about the politics of our world that is interesting? Don't people like knowing that Al Gore is wrong?! I will be keeping my iGoogle. However, in an effort to expand my exposure to real news I will be adding Yahoo! News, CNN News, and the News Busters Blog to my homepage.

Where exactly has all the real news gone? : (

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In Other News, a Doctor who has written two books, is in the process of writing another and went to UT (Longhorns, woot woot) loved one of my papers so much that he wants a copy. He said it was a "pleasure to read." Man, I'm good. Also, I leave for Cuba in less than 36 hours. This is exciting and sad at the same time, one of those bittersweet things that just makes you appreciate what you've already got and potentially will have. But never fear! I will be back! and I'll also keep writing while I'm in Cuba. I'm going to miss the greatest friends on earth desperately.

I Condone Decadence

this counts as my regular blog and my In Other News section... because it's an exceptionally important subject to me.

America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between. - Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)

And God bless us for it.

On Thursday, I got to curl up and be comfy with a wonderful friend of mine, and indulge in some comfort.

On Friday I had the most amazing mind-blowing dinner and drinks with some of the best company in the world.

On Saturday we got dressed up and went out and had a good time. Spoiled ourselves by playing at someone's ever so extravagantly set-up house.

And had a damned good time doing it. I love having the freedom to enjoy myself, having options on a friday night, and having the greatest friends in the world to do it all with.

As a side note, I have officially curled up/gotten close to more Gay Men in the past year than Straight Men. Wow, I am on a role. :)

Mean Something.

Again, Dr. Lefever is my muse. [Reference: November Post... Dr. Lefever Cried in Class Today]

She gave quite a rousing speech for our last day of class this morning. Some particularly interesting points in her appeal included the fact that a large portion of her generation is comprised of "big whining babies", the astounding "hollowness" of a Me-Me-Me mentality, that "following your heart" can be one of the most dangerous and detrimental things a person can do and the fact that courage is one of the most impressive and useful traits a person can possess.

What really struck me, however, was an exercise she had the class do at the end...

1- Get out a piece of paper.
2- Tear it into three portions. (They don't have to be pretty)
3- On the first piece draw a picture of an ugly, gross bug.
4- On the second piece draw a picture of a food you hate.
5- On the third piece write the word for what you call your mother.

(yes, i think spiders are ugly and gross. yes, i absolutely detest bananas. and yes, i call my mother "Mommy". )

6- Put the first picture on the ground and stomp on it.
7- Harder.
8- Put the second picture on the ground and stomp on it.
9- Harder.
10- Put the third picture on the ground and stomp on it.

Wait, What? You can't stomp on your Mom? Why is that? Dr. Lefever's point was that

words mean something.

My point is that it's not just words. It's words and pictures and concepts mean something. You are accountable for everything that your mouth, hand and mind produce. I think that's why my blog, my journal, my myspace, my facebook, my emails and my school work really have significance for me.

I value what I create. I appreciate the meaning for what I'm producing. I have a passion for what I say, think and do. Everything that I type into this blog is something that I have thought about and whole-heartedly stand behind. Granted, some of it is simply the rantings of a slightly unstable hot headed twenty-one year old... however, that twenty-one year old still means it.

I put my meaning, my thoughts, my concepts and my passion into black and white (and sometimes colors, and italics, and large print... and you get the point). And it makes me feel like a real person. Like I have something to stand for. I've said it before and I'll say it again "Man, I love being a turtle." [just kidding... TMNT reference, anybody? ok, well i thought it was funny]

Actually, what I've said before is that I love feeling like my brain works... and having a passion, having words that mean something help me feel that way.

Thank you, Dr. Lefever for contributing not only to my education but to my agglomeration of advice and wisdom that's going to make me one of the smartest twenty-somethings out there.

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In Other News, I will be heading to Cuba in precisely ten days.... YAY! I love a Caribbean Christmas. Also, my room is an absolute wreck. They say, "Move Your Stuff... Change Your Life". Well, my stuff has moved and my life seems to be just as messy as the clothing on my floor. Note to self: Organized room = Organized life. I have a whole semester's worth of notebook due tomorrow at 8am for ceramics. Wish me luck. I will be inventing a semester's worth of notes on pottery tonight. Also, according to the calendar on my desk it has been two months, one week, and two days since I had a real planned date with a single man whom I met randomly (that one weird thing with that one weird guy doesn't count). I'm feeling a little bit like a loser, but I think I can handle it... yoga and a few beers cure any single girl's ailments.

I'm speechless

Which is why this post is only going to be about a sentence long.

Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.

The synopsis says... Follow the cross-country adventures of the pot-smoking duo as they try to outrun authorities who suspect them of being terrorists when they try to sneak a bong on board their flight to Amsterdam. trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/trailer/me60791803/

You have absolutely got to be kidding me. Remind me to go kill whoever is producing this.

p.s. After another minute of research I found out that in the Trailer and other promotional things it's called "Harold & Kumar 2" ..... that is a whole lot easier for me to handle.