Nothing Has Changed

While reading an article about al Qaeda's comments on Obama I was surprised to read that a U.S. Counter-terrorism Official said ...

"The way they're dealing with the change represented by the election of an African American as president of the United States is to insist that nothing has changed."

DUH.

Of course nothing has changed. We're not trying to change al Qaeda. Also, al Qaeda is not a representative sample of the general Iraqi or Afghani population. Things concerning the civilian public have changed. Look at the elections, the number of Iraqi women in schools, the children who are being sent to schools instead of training camps.

So what are we doing if we're not trying to change al Qaeda? We're trying to wipe every single one of them off the face of the planet. That way they won't be able to hurt American or Iraqi or Afghani soldiers or citizens. Does no one understand that they're not just some group of people with guns? They're a terrorist group whose entire obsessive goal in life is to kill Americans. How did America end up forgetting this?!

Iraq is slowly becoming a better place because of America. It's slowly going to be able to stand on its own and that's going to be an absolutely amazing thing.

I'm in love...

And fortunately, they love me back unconditionally no matter how much dirt I drag them through.

Anyway, I'm so tired of politics that it's making my head spin. I find more and more things everyday to be ever so frustrated about.

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In Other News, my friend Jesse is a Saint. January is going to be insane. December may just be the happy month of the whole year. I have an unbelievably amazing job. My personal wardrobe assistant is also my personal breakfast maker and certainly deserves a raise. Details on most of that later.

Job err, Blog Security

At least I'll probably have something to complain about for the next for years. John Stewart is going to run out of fodder... maybe I can replace him.

I do appreciate those of you who didn't text message me Tuesday night around 11pm gloating about the election results and being exceptionally condescending. You're lovely adults and wonderful Americans. The rest of you. Ugh. And that's all I have to say about that.

Anyway, yes, I'm saddened that modern America thinks that the government should take care of everyone. I'm saddened that millions of people voted to have their money redistributed by someone else. I'm saddened that people voted because they wanted to make history, and not necessarily because it's actually a good direction for the country. Do I want Obama to work out beautifully? Sure. Absolutely. If the country ends up in a better spot then I'm all for it. Do I think that if he accomplishes half of his policies we'll be in a better spot? Oh Hell No.

My hard earned money pays for enough welfare junkies as it is. I don't want to be paying for welfare junkies, and people who kind of need it, and people who think they need it, and people who think they deserve it. I don't want my tax cuts going to some girl who gets her school paid for, children fed, and pays her bar tabs with government money because she's got no job and can't keep her legs shut. I work my butt of so that I can get by. I'm living fairly comfortably because I EARN it. Our new President-Elect wants to hand things to people. Work for it.

The idea should be that the harder you work the better you and those around you will do. For instance, if I work my butt off here... then the company benefits from my zealousness... which means we make more money... which means I get a raise. Conversely, if I were to sit here blogging ALL day and not do anything then the Company would not benefit... no one would no about our products, we'd make no money and I'd be out of a job. Get it?

On that note, my lunch is 90% gone and I've got some photoshopping to do. I'm willing to give Obama a chance. But as soon as this socialism thing starts picking up I'm done. Goodbye cold, cruel USA.... Hello foreign country that likes Democracy.

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In Other News, went to Chicago last weekend with one of the greatest people on the planet. Saw Kings of Leon and now I'm obsessed. I mean completely. I even know their names. Yikes, I'm creepy. We did a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie house, too. I highly recommend seeing it. Gorgeous house. Ask for Brad, he's quite the tour guide. I'm slightly upset today because I was allowed to walk out of the house looking like this... I have a saggy butt because my pants don't fit. Pro: I'm losing weight. Con: My pants don't fit and I have to buy new ones. To donate to the Buy Emily Pants that Fit Fund please click the following link.

Should Have Said It.

Senator Obama, your campaign has used words like "erratic," "out of touch," "lie," "angry," "losing his bearings" to describe Senator McCain.

Senator McCain, your commercials have included words like "disrespectful," "dangerous," "dishonorable," "he lied." Your running mate said he "palled around with terrorists."

Are each of you tonight willing to sit at this table and say to each other's face what your campaigns and the people in your campaigns have said about each other?

And McCain should have turned around and said,

"Senator Obama, with all due respect to a man who has been elected into a public office by American citizens from the state of Illinois, I believe you are a dishonorable, inexperienced, liar who is dangerous because of your association with terrorists and your flippant attitude towards the questions raised about the quality of your political relationships."

And then maybe...

"I also believe it is dishonorable and underhanded that you have not released your birth certificate to answer the question about you being a natural born American who is able to run for President. I believe it is ridiculous that you call yourself a Democrat when it is perfectly evident that you are nothing more than a smooth-talking Socialist. Finally, I don't care if you've decided to say you will have "pre-conditions" when you meet with foreign leaders; they don't have a single care about your pre-conditions... they want to see you dead because you are an American. Stand up like you're an American, have a back bone and say what you mean. Show the naysayers and bigots who call you a terrorist and a commie fag that you're a proud blue-blooded, natural born, vision driven American. Until that time, please stop lying and manipulating the American people. Do not coerce them into getting swept up into your temporary limelight. Be a great American and ask what you can do for your Country... because the answer is to drop out of this race and let someone who is angry, erratic, passionate and determined get this country back on track.

Senator Obama, you are not the man for the job."

And then I would be ridiculously happy to have watched the debate last night and thousands of Americans would be stirred into consciousness by the fact that at least one of our politicians isn't just a campaign puppet spitting out what's "middle of the road" and diplomatic.

Seriously kids, Emily for President 2028. You're Welcome.

Nobody Likes You

Some idiot, I mean Judge, ordered the release of Chinese Muslims from Guantanamo Bay today. Get this...

"They have been in government custody for seven years, and have been cleared for release for the past four years to any country willing to take them. No countries have volunteered."

No Countries Have Volunteered

Wanna know why?... because they're dangerous men that no one wants because to invite them into your country is to invite in terrorism. Hippy Freak Pinko Liberal Commies don't care. Let everyone into the United States! Who cares that their entire goal in life is to kill infidels, a.k.a. Americans.

People can be so stupid, don't bring them on to U.S. soil unless you're going to keep them under lock, key and M16 in your own backyard. Keep them in Gitmo. I actually don't mind you spending my tax dollars to keep dangerous terrorists as far away from any civilian on the planet as you can.

Somebody should give me a Nobel Peace Prize for my humanitarian concern.

Not Sure How I Found This

Ok, so I was doing some campaign research. Just trying to keep up to date, you know? And I found Drew Barrymore's opinions on politics, Obama, McCain, the whole gamut. And I have come to one conclusion.

She'd be happy if we were socialists.

Happy, communal, everyone-should-take-care-of-everyone, let's not give anyone personal responsibility because we're all one big happy group socialists.

And here's my proof, “I can’t imagine why we all don’t want desperately to take care of each other. We need to be passionately inspired by the fact that we can take our environment and our country back.”

Um, I can imagine why. Because I'm not responsible or in charge of you. Because you are your own person and looking out for your own well-being is the greatest thing you can do for the planet. You don't know what's best for me. I do not want you taking care of me, I do now want you making decisions for me. What's good for you and your family is not good for me and mine. I desperately want to take care of my family and friends. End of story. That's it. I don't feel any ridiculous need to take care of the whole population. I don't want to hold hands with you and sing a song so we can save trees, have the right to kill unborn babies, and give welfare to undeserving idiots.

Take our country back? Really? Where did it go? Last time I checked I'm still firmly standing on American soil and nobody has taken any part of it away from me. America's still a sovereign nation that is in control of itself. The only way that your country has been taken away from you is if you handed it to somebody else and relinquished your rights to it. I haven't handed away my rights to someone else so they can "make a good decision for the common good." There is no common good. There is only individual good that can eventually sum up to being a good system for those who are willing to use it.

Democracy, capitalism and personal responsibility are good things that do not require looking out for anyone else. If everyone did what was good for them, the whole world would be a better place. For instance, if I own a business and it is good for my business to offer a high quality product at a decent price then that's what I'm going to do. I'm not going to offer my same high quality product for a hell of a lot cheaper because Mommy McFoodStamps can't afford it. It's not good for her for me to just hand her what she wants, and its not good for my business to under-sell myself. One more example and I'm done. Relationships. If everyone looked out for their own well-being in relationships there would be a much smaller divorce rate. If you inform your partner of what you require from them, the needs you have, and the things you want they'll understand you more. Then when you both accept each others needs and find they're compatible you have a working relationship. Don't expect the other person to pander to you and give you what you want. Go get what you want, look out for yourself, your feelings, your needs. No one is responsible for your happiness except you.

Drew, get off your liberal high horse. Stop expecting people to work together and build a happy little socialist country. Not happening. Go read the Virtue of Selfishness and Shut Up.

You're Welcome.

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In Other News, my Sister left this morning. I'm a bit not happy about that at all :( Dammit. And I'm hungry. And the coffee maker broke. On the up side, I slept really well last night and woke up just as happy.

Superfluous

Yes, that's officially what I think any kind of Presidential/Vice Presidential debate would be at this point.

However, if they had said anything of meaning, depth, importance or anything beyond ambiguous and vague I would change the name of this particular blog to "Remotely Helpful" or maybe even "Poignant." The latter would only occur if the candidates made a concerted effort to truly define their ideals and their intentions. As opposed to dancing around the issues like trained ponies.

Ugh. This whole thing is rather disappointing. So much for being Mavericks, or the "Change America Needs." Nobody's changed a damn thing. Nobody's said anything different. And nobody's going to.

This whole presidential race is kind of like watching a bag of unwanted kittens drown slowly. In the end something is accomplished but everyone is still standing around looking really sad.

Click the title for a link to the full VP debate. It's worth watching, but only because as a citizen who wishes to be informed you really ought to despite the mundane nature of it.

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In Other News, My amazing Baby Sister got to visit this weekend :) She leaves tomorrow which is going to make me terribly sad. Seeing her has been so unbelievably good for me. I started a quilt out of old t-shirts, and I'm hoping I get it done before it gets to be too cold around here. Work is still going fantastically. I still have the greatest bosses on the planet. I happen to be involved with the most brilliant, thoughtful, understanding, logical and good-looking man on the planet (besides my Daddy) and I just thought I'd state that fact. Finally, I kind of miss the crap out of my college friends. They were all at a wedding last weekend and I missed out (1 - because I wasn't invited [though i could have gone as someone's date!], and 2-because I'm out of state).

p.s. Sorry about the word verification thing, Chelsea. I don't even know how that got there. I'll work on it though :)

Breast Milk Ice Cream. Yum.

I had this sent to me... because well... PETA is dumb. It's about a letter they wrote to Ben and Jerry's to encourage the company to use human breast milk in their ice cream as opposed to cow milk. I don't care where in the world people are substituting dairy cow milk for breast milk that's just weird. Besides, since when does anybody ever do what Switzerland does? Yeah, never.

Also, PETA, just for the record. NOT milking dairy cows actually happens to be really, really bad for them. Those horrible farmers are not depriving baby cows of necessary nurishment, they're instead relieving the dairy cows of the excruciating pressure that comes from gallons of fluid building up in their extremities... kind of like a human who has gout or a guy with "blue balls." Get it? Human breast milk is actually meant to supply a human baby with food.

I don't know about you but there's already plenty of starvation in the world for my taste so I'm going to go buy a gallon of ice cream with the milky goodness of cow milk in it and not deprive a baby of a healthy future.

PETA, practice a little species-ism and root for your own team a time or two. Morons.

UPDATE: here's the new link. Hopefully this one works!

Getting Closer....

The Revenge Designs GTM Super Car "Coming Soon" Tees are here! Aren't you proud of us? :) I'm excited... had to share. Thanks guys :)

Revenge is Sweet. by RevengeDesignsInc
Design a Custom T Shirt With zazzle

Photobucket is My Friend

How many words is a picture worth?











Yeah. See. It's so much easier when other people makes jpgs out of what I'm thinking.

Oh. And John McCain was hot. You're welcome.

F'ing YouTubers

Ok, so I don't have a TV. Yes, laugh it up Chuckles I'm probably the only house on the continental US without a television. Anyway, my Mom calls and tells me I have to watch Sarah Palin's speech from last night so I get to work and jump on YouTube. Then as I'm listening to her speak I scroll through some of the comments people are making and I find this.

"I agree with Darkknight, McCain is broken. We need a real man that can at least raise his arms. What a pussy, got his ass kicked by a bunch of tiny little asians. All his POW experience shows is that hes a shitty pilot. Put him in a retirement home where he belongs so he can drool on himself and stop fucking up the country."

Really?! How about we drop you off in North Korea and see how well you do, Scum Bag. How about you get off your flight simulator on your computer, join the military and see how well you do. Stop hiding behind your computer monitor safety net and demeaning people who have done more for their country in one deployment than you'll ever do in your entire worthless, pathetic, mindless life. Let's put you in a retirement home so no one has to listen to your regurgitated illogical rhetoric. Yes, McCain is old. Big Deal. Sure, he can't raise his arms above his head. You should be thanking your lucky stars that you were born in America, the kind of country where men make that kind of sacrifice [you probably don't even know the meaning of that word] year after year in order to ensure that you've got the freedom to think it's okay to call another person a "pussy" for defending their country.

Let me guess, you want Saint Obama to come in a rescue the US from all the horrible Republicans? That's not going to work. The man keeps telling us we "can" do all these things. HOW? How are we supposed to accomplish political reform with nothing but hopes, dreams and good intentions? Not going to work.

I'm completely going to eat my words from yesterday about this being a "best of the worst" year in voting. It's not about being a republican, a libertarian, a democrat or a liberal, a Christian or an Athiest... it's about being an American. An American who knows that nobody is exactly right for the job but knows the difference between what's rational and what's not.

So count your blessings you blathering idiot because I'm a law-abiding American citizen and fairly good Lutheran girl who isn't going to come find you and stomp on your arms until you can't raise them ever again.

I Have a Muse

And her name is Staci. I love you ♥

But first, let's get the obvious out of the way. I'm a fan of Sarah Palin's. (because you didn't see that coming, right?) She's got spunk. Yes, I understand that's not exactly one of the higher ranking leadership qualities on the usual list but it's not a bad one. She seems pretty uncompromising, which I think is necessary because there are too few people in the country who use their spine. And despite her fundamentalist christian ideas, her daughter made a mistake and she's still standing behind her. Because that's what good parents do. (Thank you Mom & Dad)

Yeah, I know she's got the "foreign policy experience of Aunt B" [thank you, Dr. Jones] but maybe that's where we need to start... with somebody who is paying attention to what's going on in-house and not all over the world. Yes, we've got diplomatic relations to keep up but is shaking hands and handing out foreign aid grants all that difficult that we can't trust someone with "no experience" [except being the governor of a fairly large state] to grasp the concept?

Finally, she seems normal. She's got kids, her husband works, she did silly girly pagaent things when she was younger. I like normal. Normal, spunky and spine-having. She's got my vote.

Oh, and she's good with a gun. I say she goes to the range with Chavez first.

Although, I think the voting this year is more a "best of the worst" deal again... but that's for another time.

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In Other News, I've been getting a lot of work done on my case study and it's going swimmingly. I love feeling like my brain works. More importantly, despite my Mommy being in a different state I have the greatest intercontinental support system on the planet (not that I haven't always had the greatest family support system, but I'm talking about people who are lucky enough to not be blood related to me). The people I consider closest to me have the most impeccable timing. Not only that but they know the exactly right thing to say. And, thankfully, they have successfully hip-checked me back into reality, put a smile back on my face, and calmed my nerves. And I'm not sure they even know it. So for now I'm going to get back to doing a job that I love and contemplate the best way to inform my gloriously perceptive friends that they're the greatest people walking the planet.

Revenge is Sweet...

Finally getting to sell the #001 Revenge Edition GTO.... :)

I love my job.

check it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trkparms=tab%3DSelling&viewitem=&item=260276522605&_trksid=p3907.m32

Revenge Designs Inc

Today is my first day as Marketing/Promotions Manager for Revenge Designs Inc and it has been ridiculously awesome.

Not only are the investors already buzzing about me [click the link and scroll almost the whole way down] but I've had the best time being productive...and it feels good :) The power went out for about an hour so we just sat around bouncing ideas off each other until the power company got here and fixed us up.

Yes, I know this could just be the adrenaline of the first day but with as many post-it notes and to-do's that I've written I'm going to be busy like this for the next eight months until I get this done. Ugh, I love this.

I've got the most adorable house in New Haven, IN. My newest roomie is absolutely the wonderful. My job makes me feel like I'm not even working. I've dropped a couple of pounds. And I smile constantly for really no particular reason other than me being unbelievably happy.

Totally worth all the stressing and what not that was the beginning of the year. Next task: Learn Russian and look hot walking into work so the shareholders don't think I'm funny looking. While the latter of the two is a more immediate goal, I definitely think they're both quite feasible. Man, I'm so excited I'm not even making sense :)

Ugh, It Makes Me Want to Shoot Someone

Recently, firearms have been a touchy subject. All those big, wonderful, all-knowing, hippy freak, pinko, commie, irresponsible, wimps are complaining that the second amendment was upheld in the Supreme Court. So some idiot, I mean respected journalist, at the LA Times decides who write an editorial that should really be titled "How To Blame An Inanimate Object for the Misdeeds of My Crappy Fellow Men." Catchy, huh?

A GUN IS AN INANIMATE OBJECT! It doesn't kill people...unless a PERSON picks it up and POINTS it at another human being and then PULLS THE TRIGGER.

Automatic weapons (which are way illegal), or any weapon at all, don't stand themselves up and say, "Why, I believe I'll shoot an upstanding citizen today." No. Some assbag picks up his illegally obtained weapon and then wields it around like he's 50cent or something.

When a normal person with a functioning brain and moral compass picks up a gun, they aim it at something they're going to eat, sell, or use as target practice (I have my Bin Laden paper target somewhere around here.....) then proceed to shoot it. There is so much more wrong with society than it having guns. Tackle a bigger issue. How about instead of taking away guns and causing people to use other methodology to kill their neighbors why don't you put your time and effort into improving our public school system so that the kids will be smarter, actually make something of themselves and then NOT GO AROUND SHOOTING PEOPLE. I'm not saying that's going to fix everything but it would be a more proactive and useful start than throwing a fit because Mr. Jones next door has a gun locker. (Which by the way, is the safest most responsible way to keep your firearms.)

In short, quit blaming everyone else you liberal moron. Take some responsibility for yourself and your country and actually do something about the people dying instead of thinking that guns are the culprit behind all of this. My recommendation... the only way to improve human nature is to start with yourself. Go read a self-help book and stay the hell away from my gun before it points itself at you and shoots you in the head.... repeatedly.

(p.s. okay, so maybe it's my metaphorical gun but still...)

Scrubs = Infinite Wisdom

As I was sitting on my ass watching my umpteenth episode of scrubs eating a coffee cup full of baked beans I took a bit of that particular episode to heart. Dr. Kelsoe (spelling?) was telling some girl who wanted gastric bypass surgery at 25 that life is scary and taking the easy way out is not an option because there is no magical fix all.

Yes. Taking advice from a Scrubs episode may not be the most logical thing I've done lately. And yes, I am probably taking it way out of context and applying it to my own situation simply because I want it to fit. But the point is that the reason I've been so impatient about this Indiana job is because I figured it would be the easy fix-all that I need.

Instead it's required patience, and getting up at 4am, flying for five hours, driving for five cumulative hours, spending money I don't have and staying awake for 22 hours because I'm traveling, interviewing and then subsequently freaking out. Although I think I handled it pretty well, and this whole opportunity kind of fell into my lap, it's been kind of hard. I want the job so desperately and feel like there's nothing I can do to push their hand and make them give it to me. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the hard part. I can usually get whatever I want with just a little bit of effort and I usually have a modicum of control over the situation. This one is almost completely out of my hands. I'm not okay with that but, I think I'll take a deep breath and just pray for the best.

Now that I'm sitting in my computer chair, on my lazy ass, with my dishes in the sink I think I'll get back on top of this whole job situation and keep applying other places. Gotta be proactive right? Just because I want it doesn't mean I get it. Yikes. That one's going to be a lot harder to actually understand than it was to type.

Wish me luck guys. Pray if you are so inclined. Write letters to the company telling them how desperately they need me if you're really feeling froggy. Either way, I'm hoping for good news sometime today or tomorrow. Or if not... good news from somewhere else, right?

lack of anything

A lack of understanding stems from a lack of passion. Passion is a genuine interest in a noun. Being complacent about anything happens because you have no interest and thus, do not care to understand.

Americans are famous for being revolutionary, top of the game, forward thinking people. Whick is really only true about maybe 1/1000th of the population. The rest of us assume that because someone else is an expert we don't have to be. Not true.

In order to actually be involved in your own life it is imperative that you understand the world around you. People ought to have at the least a passion for existence. So many of us let our lives go down the drain because there was a lack of understanding about some aspect. Actively involve yourself in your life, be passionate about what you do and see so you can avoid misunderstandings that cause failure.

Its so disappointing that I feel like both our presidential candidates lack a passion for people. They don't seem to understand what the American public wants. They just regurgitate what they think we want to hear without really wanting to help. They're running for president to accomplish something for themselves instead of to be help the American people who lack the understanding they have. That's why we have experts, but doesn't relieve you of your caring duties.

I want a President who is passionate about something to the point of standing in the face of an entire angry mob because of the depth of their belief. McCain got close a couple decades ago, being passionate to endure literal torture for the concept of America. Now he needs to show me that same fire again. And soon. Or i'm moving to Russia.

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In other news, i'm blogging from my blackberry in the back of my suburban. I got back from Indiana earlier today. The interview went really well. Keep praying that I get the job, I want it so badly. I'm in Pennsylvania for a few days, I love seeing my grandparents :)

Another Lesser of Two Evils?

Although I think John McCain is simply a Senator who played the numbers in order to get this nomination (i.e. You can only run so many times and be denied before they say, 'ok, John, we'll let you run for President.') On the other hand, I got onto his website and it was nice to see that the man who rides in the "Straight Talk Express" actually gave me answers on HOW he plans to do the things he wants to do. What a concept.

I'm still not convinced that he's going to be any good though. He's gone through like three wives so the man obviously can't make a solid decision and stick with it, his voting record throughout the past eight years of legislation has been ruled by a "support the President" policy, and not a "what John really thinks is best" policy. Yes, he's got real experience. The man was a POW, which deserves the utmost respect from every man, woman and child who has the opportunity to use their freedoms and rights. But then again, after toughing it out in the Hanoi Hilton you would expect for him to tough out his voting decisions as well. I like that he's lead a pretty respectable campaign; denouncing that radio guy when he was saying ridiculous things, not firing back when Hillary was making directly derogatory comments and John tried to keep answering the actual question.

Here's where my biggest speed bump comes from. Although he gives me answers on HOW he's going to fix everything. I'm not so sure they sound logical. For instance, he wants to suspend the summer gas tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day. However, as soon as that happens most of the construction to repair our roads and highways will stop because that's part of what the gas tax supports. I don't know about your local roads but there's so much construction going on around Norfolk that if it stopped traffic would be even more of a monstrosity than it already is. Another example would be this concept on international trade. Of course selling our stuff to other people is good and will make us money. But that then makes us very reliant on their economies and fads. Why not do a little isolationism, promote buying American and stabilize ourselves? You can't ask for other people to take care of you when you won't take care of yourself.

I really like that McCain isn't willing to sit down with terrorists in order to negotiate. Those people do not understand diplomacy. For cultures like that diplomacy is a sign of weakness. Obama wants to, without conditions, sit down with Kim Jong Il, Castro and all those other scumbags shake hands and work it out. Anyone of those leaders would rather have an American President killed inside the palace walls and hung on display than sit down and come to "an accord."

But... both candidates want to close Guantanamo Bay. If you've ever read my blog at all you should know where I stand on that. I'll take any bet you want but I guarantee that if the illegal enemy combatants detained at Guantanamo Bay are released you're going to see a hell of a lot more dead Americans than this War on Terrorism has ever produced.

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Tune in next time for why lacking passion equals a lack of understanding. It's going to be good.

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In Other News, I got a wonderful text message this morning from somebody quite nice. We'll see where that goes. Beach house tomorrow. Yay :) Keep praying, hoping, sending good energy toward the Indiana job working out. One of these days I'll make it back to Texas.

Because Texas needs more billionaires.

I love when my titles have little to nothing to do with my blog except for being an excerpt from a ridiculous video... read on, faithful sidekick.

So there's this video on YouTube (which by the way I have recently become an addict of.) Not the point. The point is I love free speech. I love being able to get on the internet and write down what I think and feel like it's the gospel word. I love that random people sometimes stumble upon it and argue with me. I'm also a huge fan of making fun of people. It's like the greatest cheapest form of entertainment since the beginning of time. That being said. This video is funny... and here's why...

1 - because it's just plain wrong.
2- because it perpetuates every misconception about being "a republican"
3- it takes every middle/upper class American stereotype and plays it up

4- because it proves my "silent majority" theory.

The Silent Majority is a group of people who go to work everyday, maintain our economy, pay the gas prices without bitching, are trying hard to raise their children properly, aren't buying into all the bipartisan bullshit, support the men and women overseas, and pray every night for the world to not lose it's mind. At the end of the day the squeaky wheel doesn't always get the grease, and that silent wheel on the back of the bike works hard enough to keep the squeaky wheel moving forward.

People on the opposite end of the political spectrum can make as much noise as they like but mark my words, Americans don't like change. Americans have been voting rich white guys into office for decades not because the opportunity for something different hasn't presented itself but rather because we like stability. Sure, there's a black guy who is successfully running for President now. Which is a great move forward for America in the global political spectrum because other countries have been voting black men into office for decades. However, he doesn't have much more going for him than "Hope" and being black.

He can pick on 'republicans' all he wants, telling the whole world that they only want to stifle normal Americans in an effort to make a buck for people and companies who don't need it. But when it comes down to defining his plan for what protocol to use to actually solve the problems his responses are quite lackluster. He "will" do this, and he "will" do that.

For heaven's sake, tell me Barack, how?

How are you going to restore habeas corpus, and where did it go? How are you going to keep small neighborhood stores open? How are you going to advance medical research? How are you going to keep the rights of women in the hands of women? and how the hell do you plan on keeping class sizes small? How do you plan on keeping the environment clean?

That video points out all of the things Barack wants to do... now make a follow up video and tell me how.

The follow up video would be short. It would go something like this...

"Obama will fix everything... by stopping the war, cutting our defense funding, making Americans twice as vulnerable as they are right now by releasing the men whose passion in life is to eradicate the world of Americans and throwing money at all the issues my political platform says I should."

I should be a director or something... there's an emmy somewhere in that script I can feel it.

Tune in next time when I explain why John McCain isn't much help either.

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In Other News, I'm headed to Indiana on the 19th of this month for a job interview. DTE Powertrain is flying me to Indy for an interview and to see if I like the company and the people. Indiana isn't the greatest state in the union but the job seems like it's perfect for me. I'm way excited and nervous like crazy. Also, right as I (hopefully) am about to leave I start having guy issues again. I'm not a fan. Oh well, so it goes right? I've also been on a kind of diet for three weeks now and exercising like crazy, and I'm pretty sure all it's done it make me cranky. Ugh. Anyway, Gloucester tomorrow with Evan and Jer, beach house this weekend, William & Bro's in town next week, Mommy (and my Baby Bro's) in town on Tuesday, two stepping on wednesday, and Indy on Thursday. Life, my dear friends, is good.

Dumbass.

Ok, Mr. Samir Khan. You were born, raised, and taught under every American ideal that makes our country great, despite whatever flaws it may have. You live in some up scale, rich, quiet suburbia. Which apparently gives you some smug sense of security which leads you to practically defect and write about supporting the killing of American troops in Iraq.

The men and women who are fighting for your freedom to write that bullshit are the ones you want dead. I don't care if you represent "Islam" or "Muslims," you're an American who should not want your fellow Americans dead. You've said the Pledge of Allegiance before, you've sung the National Anthem, you're exercising all of your God given rights that the USA provides you an opportunity to use (unlike your own country) and all you do is wish the rest of us dead?

And, really? The "arrogance" of the media? How about your own self-righteous arrogance. Open your damn eyes and see that people have differing opinions and the fact that you're allowed to open your dumb mouth and present yours is exactly what makes America so diverse. Whether I agree with it or not everyone is entitled to their opinion. But don't you dare get indignant when your opinion garners attention and causes reporters to come knock on your door.

Jarret Brachman said it best... “To be unhappy with U.S. foreign policy is one thing, but to advocate violence by promoting Al Qaeda is another,”

Amen. Now Mr. Khan, go screw yourself.

things I've noticed in the past week.

1. Just as I start doing something right I screw it up ten times worse than how it started.

2. I am infinitely more stupid than I assume I am.

3. I'm better organized and cleaner when living out of a suitcase.

4. My contacts hate being left in overnight.
5. I do ridiculous dumb things in the name of being fun.

6. I should stop worrying about disappointing other people and start worrying about how much I disappoint myself.

It Is What It Was.

Ok, admittedly, I'm the worst blogger ever. It's been a million years (or well two weeks) since I last wrote on this thing. There have been a number of ponderings that I've actually written down and fully intended on expounding upon... however, I've been in a bit of a slump. However, that's neither here nor there. Here goes...

I hate when people say "It is what it is." No, as a matter of fact, it isn't. There's always something that you can't see from your point of view that skews exactly what something is or isn't. Instead people should start saying "It is what it was." Mainly because hindsight is always 20/20.

Don't tell me your frustrated about something or bothered and then shrug and say "it is what it is." That's not an excuse you can use for things sucking. Pick yourself up by the proverbial bootstraps and do something about it so that your situation is what you want it to be... not whatever it "is."

And don't give me that bullshit-President-Clinton "That depends on what your definition of is is" argument because it makes me want to beat you with the righteous frying pan of frustration. Situations, people, jobs, friends, events are always what they were. There is no solidity to anything that is going on as we speak. Everything is continually changing until it's over with. Then you can go back and say what it was.

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In Other News, I thought I would have some fantastic news for you guys by this point but I don't. I got my hopes up about moving to Los Angeles for a job I was talking to someone about but that fell through... and the only reason I can think of is because other people are unreliable and unpredictable. Anyway, I've got a new opportunity coming up. I'm hoping and praying this one works out. Being home a lot means my room is clean though! Alright. Wish me luck, pray, send me good karma thoughts... you know what I mean.

keep your head up

I'ce noticed recently that a ton of my friends are having babies. And so they tell me about them. In sometimes gross detail. Recently my best friend told me she was so proud that her baby could keep her head up... And that got me thinking.

Why is it that lifting our heads up is such a big deal? Other than the pbvious fact that you've started to have muscle control. My other reasoning is that lifting your head up is a big deal because it's something you're supposed to do for the rest of your life.

So many.people walk around with their faces toward the ground for apparently no good. Reason at all. People take this monumental thing and kill it by allowing bad luck or a bad day to ruin that thing that made your mom swell with pride. I've noticed that lately it doesn't matter what gets thrown my way as long as I keep my head up and keep going.

It was important when we were babies and its important as adults. I just think we never make the connection.

There's a ton of IN OTHER NEWS updating for me to do but its hard to type on my blackberry and my mom's telling at me. It'll happen soon though :) but possibly not before I get to LA.

In Other News.

This is just a simple update... because honestly, I'm far too exhausted to actually think.

1 - I got fired from Tanner's Creek... I guess when I told her I couldn't really work weekends she didn't get that.

2- We had an awesome time at competition... even though the car caught fire.

3- My birthday is this coming saturday... and I'm already feeling old.

Love you guys....

Greatest Honor Ever...

My greatest wonderful friend Staci has bestowed upon me the honor to end all honors....

Yup, I'm somebody's hero. I think it's official... my day has been made :)

Lazy.

"Take one minute of your time and sign this petition. Forward to everyone you know.
This is an issue we CAN control with very little effort!"

This was part of a Facebook group description that I got invited to join today. I decided to ignore the invitation... no matter how good the cause. Yes, that sounds stupid. Why would I let some silly wording get in the way of doing something good?

Because it's just people being lazy to try and stop something trivial so they can feel good about themselves later.

The group was trying to stop an artist in Venezuela whose exhibit includes starving a dog to death. Yes, that's sad. I really like dogs and think they should be treated well and I think it's a travesty that some people consider a dying dog "art". However, there are much worse things going on in the world right now but people aren't willing to stand up and do anything about it because those aren't things that we "CAN control with little effort!" There are also things that are just as trivial and located right in our neighborhood, but because of the effort it would take no one is willing to do a damn thing.

Get off your lazy, comfy American ass and go do something more than sign a petition.
I hate to break it to you, but signing your name on something doesn't mean shit.

Sort through your clothes and go donate it to a shelter so somebody can dress themselves. Buy a couple extra cans of food at the grocery store and take it to a food bank. Pick up the trash on the street that you walk by on your way to/from class. See, I'm not completely heartless. Quit trying to fix the rest of the world when there is so much that is right at your front door that can be helped even if it takes that extra effort.

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In Other News, I'm way fed up with trying to graduate... ugh. Also, this whole looking for a job thing really blows. I'm going to end up putting as much of my stuff as I can in the back of my truck and just going... then praying for the best when I get there. I finished my application/paperwork for grad school today. I also turned in my resume to a race team. Either one of those would make me the happiest girl alive. Pray that I get one? Thanks guys. Last but not least, I received confirmation yesterday that this guy I used to kind of date is completely and totally the biggest assbag in the world. Man, I sure know how to pick 'em.

The Hardest Thing You Can Do

Ayn Rand is my hero. She writes brilliantly, has an ideology that's beyond reproach and wraps it all up in the most fantastic books in the world. There have been hundreds of quotes from her books that have caught my attention but yesterday one stuck out in particular .

"But a desire to choose the hardest might be a confession of weakness in itself."

"Of course, Mr. Roark. But it's the lease offensive form of confession."

"If the weakness is there to be confessed at all."

There's always a weakness to confess, we're human it's inescapable but what if the weakness you're confessing is that of other people? What if its not your own weakness you're defining by taking the road less traveled? Is it possible to be throwing it back in everyone else's face that they are the weak ones for accepting mediocrity and not appreciating the opportunities they've been given? Lately I've been looking for post graduation jobs. I've gotten two. They both pay very well. I don't want either of them. I know I can get a job doing things that I'm "supposed" to do with my degree after college. So many communication majors are pigeon-holed into Sales jobs after school. I can't do it, I won't do it, I absolutely refuse. I'll work in a bar the rest of my life before I embarrass myself by becoming the "Sales Associate" that I've been told I ought to be. I don't care if I'm good at it, and I don't care if it's really easy money. I am not mediocre, I have not spent four years working myself crazy to graduate on time with a respectable GPA to hold a job that someone who has a GED also does.

My desire to choose the hardest path I can will lead to me being the happiest person in the world once I get it. Does that possibly admit my weakness of an insecurity about being weak? Possibly. Does it possibly admit their weakness of a lack of drive and accomplishment? Potentially.

"And it is said but for the spirit of a dozen men...none of this would have been possible."

People who seemingly admitted their weakness, a fear of possibly being weak, overcame it and built some of the greatest ideas, concepts, tangible edifices declaring their fear of being weak. I think it can be assumed that having a weakness and challenging it gives you a purpose in life. Lacking purpose is disappointing.

Either way you look at it, anytime we accept a challenge the entire reason it is the hardest thing to do is because we are provoking our weakness to try and beat us. And every time you do it you either win, and move on to another weakness or you lose and have to try again. But damn, does it feel good when you win.

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In Other News, go read the Fountainhead, it's good for you :) Also, after weeks of detestable weather the sun is out and it's 80 degrees. Thank God! I read my book in the sun on the back porch and now have a sun burn that feels good. I love feeling like I don't suck at life :)

So My Friend is Writing This Book...

...And it's all about the idea that women are the ones who actually have no idea about men rather than men being clueless. There's actual research involved so don't start throwing a women's lib fit just yet. There's going to be an actual survey that women will fill out stating the 3 things you've learned from your previous boyfriends, and the 1 thing you wish you knew. But it's not an open invitation for a bad-boyfriend-bashing session. The survey is meant to be taken seriously with a pretty intense amount of thought. I'm the first victim of the survey and have been thinking about the questions for about five days now and here's what I've come up with...

Three Things I've Learned from the Guys I've dated.

1- You really cannot change a man.
Doesn't matter how idealistic you are, what approach you take, how nicely you beg. You can't change them. They grow and change on their own and the only hope you have is setting a good example or kicking them to the curb until they realize what was the problem and either fix it or find a girl who's willing to put up with it. Saying "it's okay, baby" and then praying for a change or different behavior doesn't help, it just trains them that what they did actually was okay. Training, by the way, isn't change. It's just a classical conditioning procedure that can and will be undone by instinct and subversive interpersonal cues. There's no communication theory that helps, there's not test that helps, and there's no amount of crying that helps. They just don't change on your terms and you have to understand, accept and be patient about it.
2 - Destructive Is as Destructive Does.
Destructive men don't hide it easily. Watch how they respond to heavy traffic, making a mistake or basic stress. If any of it involves hitting, throwing, kicking, yelling or breaking something you're in trouble. As a general rule if they throw things when they're mad about trivial things, they'll throw stuff when they're made about not so trivial things. Angry destructive men don't turn soft for a certain woman, they just tone it down and try to control it. However, the destructiveness usually manifests itself in other ways. Be it turning to verbal destructiveness, negative emotional issues, or just general irritability they're still as frustrated as always. And it always escalates, the first time you let him get away with a bruise turns into a bigger bruise next time. The first time there's a bruise, or a shoe flying by your head, or a broken windshield get out. There is no such thing as "He won't ever do it again."
3- The good ones don't care what you look like naked.
The two men I've been around in my life that I honestly felt good around a) didn't care when he got to me in bed he was perfectly happy waiting and being wonderful with me, and b) seemed to actually value my time, and my interests. It's like they make you feel better and more comfortable about yourself and your body image because they're happy hanging out with you in jeans and a big hoodie. It's incredible how amazing it is to be taken care of simply because someone cares, and not because they've got dirty lingerie for you to wear later. There is no planned surprise in the world that could be better than the shock you get from realizing that somebody listened to what you were saying in some random conversation, picked up on a detail or two, and actually learned something about you. There are things to do, places to go, people to see, and pictures to take that require not having to wash the sheets later. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure those two guys are happy I'm not 300 pounds, but there were other things about me that they thought were more important. The funny thing about it is that by actually caring it makes them even sexier every time they do it.

The One Thing I Wish I Knew.

1- Why do the bad ones always leave a much longer, deeper impression than the good ones?
No matter how recently a woman's been treated well by a wonderful man she still maintains the insecurities she learned (taught herself) from a bad boyfriend. This could happen for years, there are hundreds of communication case studies that show women inadvertantly hurting great relationships because of behaviors they've developed from insecurities they have. Some women hold themselves back from any kind of interpersonal relationship because their terrified that the next guy could be just as bad or worse than a previous one. And no matter how nicely we play, there's always that doubt and restraint that holds us back from really involving ourselves in what could be a great relationship. All the theories say its just a conditioning issue that can be fixed over time with "positive saturation". The Social Penetration Theory believes that when applied to negative relationships there's a lot of depth to the involvement but not a lot of breadth, which in turn limits breadth and depth in later relationships. However, the social penetration theory has never been thoroughly explored in negative relatshionships. Call it being overcautious or too logical or just scared either way I don't understand why the bad ones make such a big impression.



I now feel mentally/emotionally exhausted. It's amazing how much a little bit of thinking can bring up. Frustration ensues. But not for long... I'm in too much of a good mood to let a bad ex or six get me down.

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In Other News, I had a fantastic week with a wonderful friend and feel completely reassured again. I love knowing that I'm not crazy and somebody else at least understands what I'm trying to get at. Graduation is exactly 30 days away (it's 2pm right now and the ceremony is at 2pm May 10th). I am terrified. I don't have a job yet, I don't know where I'm moving too, I just know I want to get out of here... and make money doing it. I also have about a million things on my daily to-do list, and apparently only 30 days to accomplish any of it. Add that to the heart-strings issues I'm wrestling with and this could prove to be a pretty crazy month. Finally, I started teaching Yoga at ODU for the Recreational Sports Department and I love it. Class is at 7pm Mondays & Thursdays, Noon on Fridays. See you there :)

Dry Spell

Welcome back. I spent the entire month of April being complacent with my situation, my relationships, and my direction in life. However, a very good friend of mine has not only reminded me of my purpose but also of my passion.

Staci Wantuck, you darling, are brilliant.

Staci has reminded me that it doesn't matter how many people are affected by what you're doing as long as you love it. You are the reason I will continue to write. I stopped writing because I suffered a set back from one of my nay-sayers. My sense of purpose has been re-instilled because Staci has reminded me that I once said that people all have a passion and to follow them. For a few weeks I was certainly not practicing what I preach. Her simple tribute to my blog (on her MySpace blog) has brought me back to where I need to be.

And honestly, it couldn't have come at a better time.

I'm 35 days from graduation, applying for jobs in different places, burnt out at work, broke, and taking the GRE (grad school test thing) in about nine hours, and have a friend who I'm passionate coming to visit. So here goes. My purpose is to utilize the brain God gave me and my passion is to enjoy every bit of everything I do.

"I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult."

Amen.

Pot Calling the Kettle Black

Hillary Clinton released an ad in Texas that focuses on handling a crisis. Her ad says something to the effect of "who do you want answering the phone" when a crisis comes. And then she says..... “We need a president who is tested and ready to lead in a dangerous world and who can draw on years of real-world experience,” Clinton said at the Waco rally. “There’s a big difference between giving a speech on national security and giving orders as commander in chief.”

Ok.

Great.

Brilliant deduction.

Moron.

WHAT CRISIS EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE?! New York has been crisis free since the 9/11 days, and when her Hubby was in office there wasn't a single major U.S. crisis to think about, and even the international ones were minuscule compared to what's happened in the past eight years. Sure, ok, she's been a Senator and helped deal with the war. Big whoop. She's never had to make an executive decision in her life, she's never been anything more than a 1 in 100 yes or no vote, she's never had to make an on-the-spot, shit-may-hit-the-fan-when-i-do-this-wrong call.

Eleven people have gone into the White House without 'defense crisis experience' Excepting all those wonderful President's who served in various branches of the military, there are a couple of people who didn't any defense experience at all. Thank you all 32 Presidents who did . And for the record, Bill Clinton wasn't one of them so Hillary can't even claim Military Wife experience in dealing with defense emergencies.

So, Hillary Clinton, my Sir-Points-Out-the-Obvious-A-Lot Award of the Day goes to you. Because you're right. There's a huge difference between giving a speech on National defense and giving orders as commander in chief" and hot damn, i hope the buck doesn't stop with you. If you're in Texas and are a democrat.... which shouldn't happen in the first place, just kidding! anyway.... will you please vote for Obama in the primary? Ugh.

In Other News...

This one's all personal... I'm so sublimely happy that I have to share :)

Thursday night Bri picked me up from the airport and we went to Sherlocke's and had a few (too many) beers. The band was awesome, we did some kick butt dancing. Friday morning we woke up late and feeling like death but still made it to my interview and work (for Bri). For the record, I got the job but don't know if I'm taking it. It's a long story.

I went to Billy Bob's last night with Bri and Dean. It was mind-blowing. Reckless Kelly played and we drank awesome Shiner beer and I danced with some ridiculously good-looking cowboys and got my boobs signed by the band... pictures come later. I was absolutely in heaven... although, particularly missing a certain somebody.

Bri and I are now working on showering and getting out of the house. We're headed to the Art District to look around and go see cool stuff. Then tonight it's off to Greenville for some bar hopping and more ridiculousness.

I love the way this place feels. Even when we were sitting in traffic on 35S it doesn't feel as constrictive or looming as Norfolk. Walking in between huge skyscrapers doesn't give you the feeling of being small because its all so wide open and amazing.

Alright, time to go out :) I miss you all!

Harold & Kumar Suck.

Ok, so you've heard me rant about that new Harold & Kumar movie. [reference: I'm speechless Dec 2007?] Well, the New York Times has picked up the story. Their story focuses on the idea that Guantanamo has made its place in pop-culture an irrevocably negative one. But Gitmo hasn't made its place at all... the media has made Gitmo's place. If Gitmo had any say in the matter everyone would understand the truth and I wouldn't have much subject matter for this here blog-thing.

Admiral Buzby is quoted in the article saying something to the effect that the media has "turned up the gain" to distort the truth coming out of Gtmo. Which is exactly what happens. They take the menial details that could be construed as negative (i.e. fences, uniforms, dirt in the recreation area) and turn it into a huge issue. Yeah, there's wire fences, after all we are detaining these people for the safety of the public. Yes, Gitmo has banana rats and lots of iguanas. Yes, some of the detainees are kept in cells. But they're not running around in orange inmate wear. And the banana rats are actually kind of cute.... and vegetarians; who also make a squeaky sound when you accidentally run them over in your suburban at night because they're crossing the road in hordes. Anyway, the point is... The New York Times spends 3/4 of the article focusing your attention on the bad press that Gitmo is getting. I would pay good money to see the New York Times print the news releases that actually come out of Gitmo and all the things that Admiral Buzby says about Gitmo. A sound bite would be even better! Mainly because the Admiral has a voice like God, and who doesn't believe a man who sounds like that?

Anyway, if the New York times wants to run around stating the obvious.... Gitmo gets bad press. And perpetuate that cycle its their right to do it. Also, if they want to quote people who feel sympathy for the detainees that's there right too. I will simply exercise my right to laugh at them. A lot. And to laugh at those people who are being sucked into the negative propaganda trap that the detainees create through their lies. Those detainees, and their cohorts, would not hesitate to murder every bleeding-heart-sympathy-having-lie-believing-pity-feeling-person out there.

Finally, Gitmo is not a prison. It is a detention center. I've been over this before [reference: legally & transparently, Jan 2008]. If it were a prison they would all be convicted men... on their way to the chair (ok, that last part is wishful thinking). It's a detention center that complies to every clause in the Geneva Convention to the letter. It is transparent, it is humane, and in a couple of years somebody will thank the men and women who are keeping it open and operating properly.

p.s. The article mentions that the people who are stationed at Gitmo drink to much. As a former bartender in Gitmo all I can say about that is .... Uh.... Duh. It's a bunch of twenty-something year olds who behave the same as anybody else their age . Just about every where you go 20-somethings drink too much. That goes for any civilian community or any military installation.

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In Other News, I got to talk to a good friend of mine last night and that was awesome. I love feeling reaffirmed in the fact that I'm not crazy and the world isn't completely without hope. Dr. Lefever also helped reaffirm my hope in the human race this morning. God Bless her, she's brilliant. Dallas in two days. I am more excited than I could possibly explain. Also, I've got a few job interviews coming up in other places out of town, stay tuned for details. :)

Still Poignant

I've decided that one of our objectives while living is to find something that really gets you going. Something you get more than just excited about, something you feel more than lukewarm about, something that pulls your heartstrings. Maybe some noun or concept that makes your eyes light up.

Either way, whatever it is, its yours and you stand by it. Something you're devoted to because you whole-heartedly believe in it. It could be your cat, your mom, your toe ring, your president, your senator, or the idea of clean air. It could be that feeling when you walk out of your front door in the morning. I don't care what it is... you just need something to be passionate about.

This all goes along with the concept that the worst kind of human is a man without a purpose. That's not 'icky' wisdom. I don't mean for it to presuppose anything. I read it as the kind of wisdom that causes you to actually make something of your beliefs and yourself. The kind of wisdom that requires you to develop a real sense of living and feeling. To be without a purpose and a passion is to be a lackluster person. "You only live once" so why do people allow themselves to roam aimlessly through life without something to keep you going... without a purpose.

When you wake up in the middle of the night, or randomly float upon the idea it needs to get you going. That is what your passion is. Something you could talk excitedly about until you lost your voice or something you could listen about until your ears fell off.

Whatever it is you ought to feel accomplished if you've found it... if not then go find it. after all, it's yours.

p.s. this blog is from an old one... yeah I know, I'm cheating. On the upside, i did revise and add to it. Yes, new and improved. Go me.

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In Other News, I took the exit exam this morning and wrote a rousing essay on why I would give Time Magazine's Person of the Year award to the Guards at JTF GTMO. If I can get the writing center to give me a copy I'll post it up, unless of course I failed the exit exam. In that instance, I may give up on writing completely :) Dallas in FIVE days. God Bless Texas.

Let the Commissions Begin

A very good friend of mine loves me enough to send me a very special link. It's a pdf version of the official paperwork used to charge the men with their crimes. It details their names, the people charging them, and the reasons why they're being charged. Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, eight men who are detained at JTF Guantanamo Bay have been officially charged with their crimes. Marking the beginning of the court proceedings of the commissions. I wish desperately that I could be in Gtmo for this but, alas, I'm stuck at school until May. Anyway, go click the very special link, read and enjoy. You can thank me later.

The charges are quite a big deal, but the media decided to give the story one average looking headline. There was nothing sensational about it, nothing eye catching, just "8 Men Charged with 9/11 Crimes" Then, in the story, there was minimal detail on the charges and LOTS of detail on the "torture" that one of the unlawful enemy combatants has gone through. Don't even get me started on that one.

As a follow up on my Berkeley City Council blog... they re-did the whole vote and are now reversing the order they made and "voicing support for the troops". I guess being a hypocritical bastard catches up with you and makes you realize that the people fighting for your right to pass "anti-discriminatory laws" ought to be allowed in the city too.

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In Other News, school is going very well. Work is going just as well. I do believe I have lost my cotton-picking-mind. And I leave for Dallas in 8 days. Hell Yes :)

Berkeley's City Council Sucks. A Lot.

This is retarded. Who in their right mind would actually vote to remove a Marines recruiting station from their city? What kind of hippy-freak-pinko-commie-bastard take action against the Marines and grants a protesting permit to some anti-war protest group? Who the hell do they think they are to tell their fellow American that they're not welcome?!

Anti-Discrimination Law in the City means that the military with a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy needs to be kicked out?! ANTI-DISCRIMINATION ISN'T JUST FOR GAY PEOPLE. Anti- discrimination is supposed to help all people feel like we're all humans. Not just make the ones who dress in drag feel better. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (to any normal human being) simply translates into "Please Don't Wear Glitter Into Work or Hit On Your Superiors" Is that really so hard?!

The Marines are the men and women who defend Berkeley, California's right to say all that bullshit... so how do they thank them?! By making them un-welcomed second class citizens. Extremism and condescension won't fix a damn thing in your ridiculous liberal city. I hope the Marines do NOT abandon their post at the recruiting station and that a number of protesters end up really angry because they see their young men and women walking into that office to volunteer their lives and time to a cause much greater than any petty liberal agenda.

That City Council is the most ridiculous group of tunnel-visioned-extremist liberals in the world right now. The bigger picture is that your stupid city needs to be well-rounded and accepting of all people... not just the bleeding-heart-gay-social programs loving-"anti-discriminatory" liberals.

God Bless that one man who voted against the other eight.

Berkeley, California's City Council can go SCREW Themselves.

UPDATE: Here's the response of S.C.'s Senator to the debacle... and the ramifications for the City Council making the Marines into "uninvited and unwelcomed visitors." Check it.

The Reasons I Want to Marry Hank Rearden

In an effort to keep my reasons from droning on and on (because I'm obsessive over a fictional character) I have compiled another one of my ever so (almost) famous lists.

1 - Hank Rearden is the epitome of Republican Capitalist strength. He builds his entire life on the concept that he works for his own good and no man deserves anything that he hasn't earned.

2- He carries the philosophy that the most despicable kind of human being is a human without a purpose. I don't mean a purpose you serve to other people (i.e. Some people exist to make me feel better about myself because they suck). I mean the kind of purpose that gives someone the drive, dedication, passion and responsibility to take control of their own life and make something of themselves.

3- The personal relationship he maintains in the book is because it makes him happy. In turn, his girlfriend is made happy because she knows that everything he does for her is to make himself happy. It sounds ridiculously selfish but what could be more wonderful than being the something in someone's life that they want and need in order to make them happy. Being the pivotal point of happiness for your significant other should be the greatest accomplishment. They should return the favor by being the something that you desire to make yourself happy.

4- The way Ayn Rand makes Hank Rearden speak, the strength in his principles, and the unapologetic nature with which he regards his success and happiness is ridiculously attractive.

I'm perfectly alright with him being a heartless, success-driving, profit motive loving, businessman. Because when you read between the lines of all of those qualities what you get is a man who is responsible for himself and his actions and expects other people to be. He's also a man with a passion which I consider one of the most respectable but rarely encountered qualities in a person.

I'll confess, if I were a lesbian, I would totally want to marry Dagny Taggart... she's basically Hank Rearden in a skirt. For the time being, wanting to be her will have to suffice :)

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In Other News, I leave for Dallas in 21 days. How sweet is that? Work, at Tanner's Creek, is going really well. And I think next week I'm going to go and volunteer with the EquiKids program. It's been far too long since I've seen a horse. I miss Jazz : ( I'm working on that too, unfortunately my schedule and Jazz's owner's schedule don't coincide well. Finally, it's been forever since I've talked to my sister. I miss her.

I'm Not a Republican

I've been reading quite a bit on existentialism lately, and then Dr. Lefever (one of my favorite people ever) talked about it today in class. This has brought me to a new conclusion. I'm not a Republican, not really a conservative, I'm an Existentialist.

And actually, I'm an Existentialist of the worst sort. I'd say that I belong to the camp of Nietzsche-style existentialism. Although he never actually used the word "existential" his concepts pre-dated the word by a good hundred years and contributed to the theory. Yeah, I know, he was into communism but if you read his work his hatred of democracy and capitalism were nothing more than an adventitious side-note. He also really didn't like Christianity but I dig his concepts on questioning everything possible and accepting something as truth only if it was a personally developed belief or choice.[Another thing I dig... his style of writing is pithy, to the point and lacks the usual run around euphemisms.]

Before you start thinking I've gone crazy, allow me to elaborate. Dostoevsky (one of the few Christian Existentialists) defined existentialism as "A philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one’s acts."

I definitely think that people are basically stuck in an "indifferent" world, all of us experiencing a lot of the same problems but not caring what our fellow humans are up to. I'm not sure about the whole human existence being unexplainable thing but I completely agree that freedom of choice and responsibility should be the focal point of any school of thought.

I've been saying for years that people should take full responsibility for their actions and their misfortunes. People should also take responsibility for the good things that happen to them, because they exercised their free will, made a good choice and are reaping the benefits. Existentialism stresses responsibility which means you have to accept your actions, not blame somebody else. When you can't blame somebody else that means you can't turn yourself into a victim or yours, or anybody else's, action.

The most basic of my political beliefs are founded in the idea that people should take responsibility and action for the things they believe to be right, and then stand by those beliefs. Which is why you'll never see me apologize for something I believe in or have chosen to do. Give me any political issue and I bet my belief is founded in taking charge of yourself and your actions.

Economics? Take care of yourself and ensure your future. Pay your taxes, taking care of your country = taking care of you.
Abortion? You made the choice, so now its your responsibility to take care of a baby.
Gun Control? Screw that. Just be mature enough to know how to handle a weapon and when you screw up... well, its your responsibility to man up.
War in Iraq? Not necessarily a good idea in the first place, but now we've got a responsibility to clean up what we started.
Welfare? Are you kidding? Take care of yourself and your family.

The concept of personal responsibility is why I'm an Existentialist. Screw being a Republican, it all sounds well and good but there's too much bullshit 'this will get me elected' jargon. Democrats are the same way.

My friend who hates Hillary, Mom & Apple Pie said that my comment on uniting the country and taking responsibility for what's been done or will happen sounded like election talk ("What's going to unite the country is understanding that some poor decisions have been made and moving past those decisions and making proactive movements towards the goal we've made for ourselves. You can't scrap the entire country because you don't like what someone else did with it") And dammit, it is. Vote for Emily and Existentialism in.... uh, 2024.

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In Other News, I've got a trip to Dallas planned for February 21st - 25th. I've got a few job interviews to do, but when I'm not at those I'd love to catch up with those of you down there. I absolutely cannot wait to go. Also, I dropped the hippy-freak-liberal-pinko-commie Diplomatic Communication class. I should have stuck it out and argued with the professor in order to get the truth about Guantanamo Bay out there... but I made the decision to not have to struggle through my semester because of some jerk-face's ideological bias. Ugh. I also did some fantastic yoga today. Gotta love it.

A Clinton By Any Other Name Would Suck Just as Badly

Why on earth do people think that Hillary Clinton is going to be any better of a President than her husband?

It is my speculation that during Bill's presidency, Hillary was running everything except for maybe his social life. And for all you Liberals sitting there thinking "Well, Bill's presidency was pretty great, why not do it again?"

Why not?! Are you serious? The man couldn't do anything worthwhile to save his life. The surplus we had in the budget was because of the Reagan-omics that had been established years before. There was international peace because all Bill could do was walk around smoking cigars, kissing up, and being diplomatic. And the whole country got to sit back on their laurels and listen to Bill play his saxophone while giving negative credit to the Republicans who set him up for success.

Also, another reason why Hillary would suck just as much.... she's polarizing. There's no middle ground with this woman. She's trying to desperately to be as anti-Bush as possible that I honestly think she'd flip our whole government upside down in an effort to spite him... and she'd call it "taking a different path." You cannot unite a country through polarization. What's going to unite the country is understanding that some poor decisions have been made and moving past those decisions and making proactive movements towards the goal we've made for ourselves. You can't scrap the entire country because you don't like what someone else did with it.

Finally, Hillary would be a much worse President than Bill because she's a woman. The international community that we're dealing with currently doesn't have enough respect for women to take Hillary seriously. Remember what happened to Bhutto? That's most certainly going to at the least be attempted by some Middle Eastern Fundamentalist group. Also, she cried during one of the debates. Be a real woman, suck it up, and debate it like you have a spine. Crying in public is for wimps and babies.

Until I have further evidence that's really all the reasoning I have for why Hillary Clinton sucks. Review and tell me what you think.

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In Other News, a very good friend of mine is moving from California to Virginia for work and I am so excited! Also, I got a job today.... yay! I'll be bartending at Tanner's Creek just down the street from my house. I start Sunday, come in and see me!

2008's Resolutions

I figured, it being the 9th of January that I should develop a few New Year's Resolutions. Maybe the ones this year will go better than last years. As a refresher... here's last years list.

1 - Be less selfish.

Someone told me once i'm a self-centered little princess and now, i'm determined to be the opposite.

2 - Be more conscientous of what is going on.

I have a habit of not paying attention sometimes and then I screw things up, or not understanding.

3 - Make it to El Paso at least once this year.

Gracious, i hate being homesick.

4 - Find more time for my hobbies.

I've got lots of great ones... I just never pick them up.

The reason that there are four of them is because if I only have one then I've got more of a chance of breaking it. However, with four I've got a higher chance of actually succeeding in one way or another.

And here's this years....

1 - Be less selfish.

Someone told me once i'm a self-centered little princess and now, i'm determined to be the opposite.

2 - Make time for the things and people you love.

I make way too much time for things and people I really couldn't care less about.

3 - Make up for the road trips you missed last year.

Life's short...spend your savings on a trip, otherwise you might never get to use it.

4 - Be happier alone.

I'm going to be moving away from my college friends in about six months, I need to start learning to be happy by myself. Right now... I'm not so good at that... at all.

And that, folks, is the list. Happy (belated) New Year. I hope your Resolutions work out wonderfully. Also, if you missed the last blog "Legally & Transparently" go read it. Not because it's an amazing piece of writing, but because it's something I believe passionately in and think everyone ought to know about.