Monday, December 27, 2004
You're all I need to get by.
Hello! In case you doubted me when I said I am addicted to manga, here is a photo of my manga collection. Pretty nice little collection I have going... I think it was just over a year ago that my friend Yuki (from Singapore) sort of reignited my love for manga. Having sold/lost/gave away almost all elements of my pre-married life, I pretty much started from scratch.
Manga are basically Japanese comic books, only the image that the term "comic" conjures is pretty much worthless in regards to these. The stories and art are more often than not aimed at adults with tastes for sophisticated and deep stories. In Japan, manga are popular with all age groups, and you may see a business man reading one on the train. Piles of telephone-book sized manga magazines adorn rubbish heaps, as most manga are serialized, only later to be compiled in the volumes we here in the USA are used to.
I get pretty sad that I haven't anyone to talk to about manga. I have tried to get a couple friends into it, and they enjoyed the reads, but didn't get passionate about the hobby. I also get sad that I spend so much money on them! But I learned a valuable lesson from my friend Yuki (again, my friend Yuki!), and that is to wait until an entire series is out before you buy it. Or at least don't read it until it is complete! For a few of my favorite series, it is too late. Rurouni Kenshin, my favorite, is now being printed monthly (which is unusual for US publishers). This means I run into the store at the first of the month, and keep going until the new issue is out. The series is on volume 10 (of 28 I believe), so this is going to be a long ride. I greedily speed-read the volume, then go back and reread it... only to be at once thrilled by the fantastic plot and art, and disappointed that I have to wait a whole month to see wait happens next!
In the picture, which unfortunately is too small to do any justice to the grand scale of these stacks, are the books that make up my entire manga collection. Here are some highlights... from left to right...
Left: my favorite two series. Rurouni Kenshin (on vol. 10 of 28) and Pita Ten (on vol. 6 of 8). Ruroken is a historical fiction about good and evil samurai warriors trying to cope with the new world of Japan's Meiji Era. Pita Ten is a love story about a boy who is forcibly befriended by an angel, only to get mixed up in never ending mysteries and love stories.
2nd from Left: Some odds and ends. I tend to make dumb decisions and buy volume one of new series that look good, only to find out that I have desire to collect them. Sometimes I abandon a decent series (like Shaman King) because there are so many better ones out there begging for my dollars. I wish I knew more people who collected so I could trade these off... I hate selling on Ebay. The top half of the pile is made of three great series; Evangelion (yes, like the anime. I hate calling it by its US title "Neon Genesis Evangelion" because it was a mistranslation that was never fixed... sort of like Donkey Kong. It should be Neo-Genesis.), Fushigi Yugi, and Immortal Rain. Immortal Rain is known in Japan as Meteor Methusela. I think it is probably (along with Gunslinger Girl) the most underrated and overlooked manga series of all time. Fushigi Yugi is a classic, about a normal girl who gets whisked away into a fantastic version of ancient China, and is adored as a magical princess sent to save their world.
3rd from Left: The almighty Inuyasha. There are very few manga-ka (manga artists and writers) that have the sort of constant quality and staying power of Rumiko Takahashi. She, along with the studio CLAMP, and Yu Watase make up my favorite manga-ka, and they are all women! Also in this pile is Alice 19th, in my top 5 series of all time, the US version of Gunslinger Girl vol.1 (it is a year old, and no 2nd volume yet... Japan is on #4), and Ranma 1/2 (also by Takahashi-sensei).
Center: More odds and ends. Hack//Twilight is a great chibi version of the Hack universe, and it inspired the anime series. FLCL is a classic wacky comedy, also inspired a great anime series. Prince of Tennis is a sports manga, and while is is very good, it is in no way ground breaking or deep. Trigun is a great story, but the art is sort of convoluted sometimes... the anime is far better. Below that are all sorts of Gundam manga (Gundam, along with Robotech/Macross, sort of allowed my entry into Japanese pop-culture in the 80's. I do love giant robots).
3rd from Right: Dragonball. It is good, fun, and has great art. As a country, I think we have overdosed on Dragonball, but I keep the series for sentimental reasons. The books are nowhere are drawn out as the anime series. There are 42 volumes in all, I have 31 so far.
2nd from Right: Ah, CLAMP. An all-girl studio that crosses genres constantly, and has some of the best stories and art that exist. They can tend to lack in the character development of Takahashi-sensei, but they always tell concise and fantastic stories. Magic Knight Rayearth is like Harry Potter meets Lord of the Rings... but with girls. A great series that seems way bigger than the 6 volumes it takes to tell it. Cardcaptor Sakura was a brief hit at the same time Sailor Moon was big in the US, and it pains me to say it, but Sakura is far better than Sailor Moon. XXXHolic is one of their newest series, and it has nothing to do with what you usually think of when you see XXX. It is about a medium that grants wishes, but at the cost of some sort of sacrifice... and how people are so often unwilling to heed warnings, or deal with consequences of their actions. There are also two traditional fiction collections by CLAMP, one about Japanese fables, and one about a Korean folk hero. Both are beautiful in many ways. Big O is in this pile, which isn't CLAMP, but is a giant robot story that is told and drawn by the same team that brought us the first few episodes of Batman the Animated Series... a cartoon that was so mature and well done that the US wasn't quite sure what to do with it (the end of this story is, they dumbed it down so they could mass market it to kids, since adults in the US are still squeamish about watching cartoons). There is a second series, but they will never bring it to the US now, because the interest in Big O ended when Cartoon Network's Adult Swim took it off the air.
Right: All CLAMP. WISH in also in my top 5 series of all time. My friend Phuong liked this series too, which made me very happy. Another story involving angels and love. Tokyo Babylon is almost too old-school for me, but it is good... and the series sets up the next big title, X/1999... as story about the end of the world. X/1999 is still being published, and us fans are getting frustrated! Send us the end already! :) It is a sweeping and semi-contrived story about forces of good and evil that are battling for the souls of man at the time of the Apocalypse. It is probably a close kin to the Sandman series of comics that adults found themselves enjoying here in the US, but it is not their best work. Still, bad CLAMP is better than the best US superhero comic these days.
Front: Bottom row is my Oh! My Goddess! collection. Dark Horse is a company that sort of realized the value of manga early on, and brought it over here. Because it was so niche, it was very expensive. Dark Horse has never adjusted its prices or it formats, as other publishers have done. So I only have a few volumes... for example, DH charges $18 a volume for the US copies of Aa! Megami-sama (Oh My Goddess). Viz charges just $8 for Rurouni Kenshin. Neither include the Japanese full-color pages. Anyway, it is a great series, I highly recommend reading it at the store! :) Far right is my Ghost in the Shell book. I have a love/hate relationship with the works of Masumune Shirow, but I won't ramble about that. GITS is a great sci-story that really gets you thinking... somewhere between the movie and the manga is a perfect product (sort of the Blade Runner or 2001 of its medium, but misses on both counts by just a hair). The upper row is my prized Japanese vol. 1 of Evangelion, my Gunslinger Girl collection (I just ordered #4, I hope it comes soon... I have just started translating #2), and Ragnarok vol.1, sent to me as a gift by Yuki. I love the book, the art is so cool... also, the Singapore editions are either in English or Chinese, she sent me the English edition... so I was able to read it without translating! So cool! Ragnarok is about Norse legends (i.e. Loki), with a sort of modern twist. I compared vol. 1 to the vol. 1 in the store here in the US, and the translations are slightly different, but not enough to change the story at all. Someday I may finish this series... Thanks Yuki! :)
There you have it. A short (well, short for how much I want to go on and on about these) guided tour of my collection. Please email me if you want to get into manga, talk about it, or trade/buy/sell books. I don't mind swapping at all! My wish list includes CLAMP's four volume Clover series, the six volume Akira series, more Oh My Goddess, anything from the Ragnarok series, and Japanese curiosities and such.
Next time I get the camera out, I will show you my toy collection. Horns up!
Manga are basically Japanese comic books, only the image that the term "comic" conjures is pretty much worthless in regards to these. The stories and art are more often than not aimed at adults with tastes for sophisticated and deep stories. In Japan, manga are popular with all age groups, and you may see a business man reading one on the train. Piles of telephone-book sized manga magazines adorn rubbish heaps, as most manga are serialized, only later to be compiled in the volumes we here in the USA are used to.
I get pretty sad that I haven't anyone to talk to about manga. I have tried to get a couple friends into it, and they enjoyed the reads, but didn't get passionate about the hobby. I also get sad that I spend so much money on them! But I learned a valuable lesson from my friend Yuki (again, my friend Yuki!), and that is to wait until an entire series is out before you buy it. Or at least don't read it until it is complete! For a few of my favorite series, it is too late. Rurouni Kenshin, my favorite, is now being printed monthly (which is unusual for US publishers). This means I run into the store at the first of the month, and keep going until the new issue is out. The series is on volume 10 (of 28 I believe), so this is going to be a long ride. I greedily speed-read the volume, then go back and reread it... only to be at once thrilled by the fantastic plot and art, and disappointed that I have to wait a whole month to see wait happens next!
In the picture, which unfortunately is too small to do any justice to the grand scale of these stacks, are the books that make up my entire manga collection. Here are some highlights... from left to right...
Left: my favorite two series. Rurouni Kenshin (on vol. 10 of 28) and Pita Ten (on vol. 6 of 8). Ruroken is a historical fiction about good and evil samurai warriors trying to cope with the new world of Japan's Meiji Era. Pita Ten is a love story about a boy who is forcibly befriended by an angel, only to get mixed up in never ending mysteries and love stories.
2nd from Left: Some odds and ends. I tend to make dumb decisions and buy volume one of new series that look good, only to find out that I have desire to collect them. Sometimes I abandon a decent series (like Shaman King) because there are so many better ones out there begging for my dollars. I wish I knew more people who collected so I could trade these off... I hate selling on Ebay. The top half of the pile is made of three great series; Evangelion (yes, like the anime. I hate calling it by its US title "Neon Genesis Evangelion" because it was a mistranslation that was never fixed... sort of like Donkey Kong. It should be Neo-Genesis.), Fushigi Yugi, and Immortal Rain. Immortal Rain is known in Japan as Meteor Methusela. I think it is probably (along with Gunslinger Girl) the most underrated and overlooked manga series of all time. Fushigi Yugi is a classic, about a normal girl who gets whisked away into a fantastic version of ancient China, and is adored as a magical princess sent to save their world.
3rd from Left: The almighty Inuyasha. There are very few manga-ka (manga artists and writers) that have the sort of constant quality and staying power of Rumiko Takahashi. She, along with the studio CLAMP, and Yu Watase make up my favorite manga-ka, and they are all women! Also in this pile is Alice 19th, in my top 5 series of all time, the US version of Gunslinger Girl vol.1 (it is a year old, and no 2nd volume yet... Japan is on #4), and Ranma 1/2 (also by Takahashi-sensei).
Center: More odds and ends. Hack//Twilight is a great chibi version of the Hack universe, and it inspired the anime series. FLCL is a classic wacky comedy, also inspired a great anime series. Prince of Tennis is a sports manga, and while is is very good, it is in no way ground breaking or deep. Trigun is a great story, but the art is sort of convoluted sometimes... the anime is far better. Below that are all sorts of Gundam manga (Gundam, along with Robotech/Macross, sort of allowed my entry into Japanese pop-culture in the 80's. I do love giant robots).
3rd from Right: Dragonball. It is good, fun, and has great art. As a country, I think we have overdosed on Dragonball, but I keep the series for sentimental reasons. The books are nowhere are drawn out as the anime series. There are 42 volumes in all, I have 31 so far.
2nd from Right: Ah, CLAMP. An all-girl studio that crosses genres constantly, and has some of the best stories and art that exist. They can tend to lack in the character development of Takahashi-sensei, but they always tell concise and fantastic stories. Magic Knight Rayearth is like Harry Potter meets Lord of the Rings... but with girls. A great series that seems way bigger than the 6 volumes it takes to tell it. Cardcaptor Sakura was a brief hit at the same time Sailor Moon was big in the US, and it pains me to say it, but Sakura is far better than Sailor Moon. XXXHolic is one of their newest series, and it has nothing to do with what you usually think of when you see XXX. It is about a medium that grants wishes, but at the cost of some sort of sacrifice... and how people are so often unwilling to heed warnings, or deal with consequences of their actions. There are also two traditional fiction collections by CLAMP, one about Japanese fables, and one about a Korean folk hero. Both are beautiful in many ways. Big O is in this pile, which isn't CLAMP, but is a giant robot story that is told and drawn by the same team that brought us the first few episodes of Batman the Animated Series... a cartoon that was so mature and well done that the US wasn't quite sure what to do with it (the end of this story is, they dumbed it down so they could mass market it to kids, since adults in the US are still squeamish about watching cartoons). There is a second series, but they will never bring it to the US now, because the interest in Big O ended when Cartoon Network's Adult Swim took it off the air.
Right: All CLAMP. WISH in also in my top 5 series of all time. My friend Phuong liked this series too, which made me very happy. Another story involving angels and love. Tokyo Babylon is almost too old-school for me, but it is good... and the series sets up the next big title, X/1999... as story about the end of the world. X/1999 is still being published, and us fans are getting frustrated! Send us the end already! :) It is a sweeping and semi-contrived story about forces of good and evil that are battling for the souls of man at the time of the Apocalypse. It is probably a close kin to the Sandman series of comics that adults found themselves enjoying here in the US, but it is not their best work. Still, bad CLAMP is better than the best US superhero comic these days.
Front: Bottom row is my Oh! My Goddess! collection. Dark Horse is a company that sort of realized the value of manga early on, and brought it over here. Because it was so niche, it was very expensive. Dark Horse has never adjusted its prices or it formats, as other publishers have done. So I only have a few volumes... for example, DH charges $18 a volume for the US copies of Aa! Megami-sama (Oh My Goddess). Viz charges just $8 for Rurouni Kenshin. Neither include the Japanese full-color pages. Anyway, it is a great series, I highly recommend reading it at the store! :) Far right is my Ghost in the Shell book. I have a love/hate relationship with the works of Masumune Shirow, but I won't ramble about that. GITS is a great sci-story that really gets you thinking... somewhere between the movie and the manga is a perfect product (sort of the Blade Runner or 2001 of its medium, but misses on both counts by just a hair). The upper row is my prized Japanese vol. 1 of Evangelion, my Gunslinger Girl collection (I just ordered #4, I hope it comes soon... I have just started translating #2), and Ragnarok vol.1, sent to me as a gift by Yuki. I love the book, the art is so cool... also, the Singapore editions are either in English or Chinese, she sent me the English edition... so I was able to read it without translating! So cool! Ragnarok is about Norse legends (i.e. Loki), with a sort of modern twist. I compared vol. 1 to the vol. 1 in the store here in the US, and the translations are slightly different, but not enough to change the story at all. Someday I may finish this series... Thanks Yuki! :)
There you have it. A short (well, short for how much I want to go on and on about these) guided tour of my collection. Please email me if you want to get into manga, talk about it, or trade/buy/sell books. I don't mind swapping at all! My wish list includes CLAMP's four volume Clover series, the six volume Akira series, more Oh My Goddess, anything from the Ragnarok series, and Japanese curiosities and such.
Next time I get the camera out, I will show you my toy collection. Horns up!
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Rudolph: In Japanese
Makka na ohana no tonakai-san wa
Itsumo minna no waraimono
Demo sono toshi no kurisumasu no hi
Santa no ojisan wa iimashita
Kurai yomichi wa pika pika no
Omae no hana ga yaku ni tatsu no sa
Itsumo naiteta tonakai-san wa
Koyoi koso wa to yorokobimashita
Horns up!
Itsumo minna no waraimono
Demo sono toshi no kurisumasu no hi
Santa no ojisan wa iimashita
Kurai yomichi wa pika pika no
Omae no hana ga yaku ni tatsu no sa
Itsumo naiteta tonakai-san wa
Koyoi koso wa to yorokobimashita
Horns up!
Trigonometry is not defined as "the study of God"
Whew! What a cold, winter day. It is zero degrees F outside. That translates to "Brrrr" in every other measuring system. With the cold shutting me indoors, I find myself content to read and play video games. But the lack of warmth seems to still make me a little grouchy, and maybe a little depressed. So imagine the sort of mind set I am in to start with as you read this entry...
... and remember that it doesn't take much to expose my frustration with the American church.
Here in the Omaha area, there is a math teacher (Papillion/LaVista school district) who is under fire for exposing his religious views in class. It appears that he stopped class on the most current incident, and did a soap-box lecture on Christianity. The school system had to suspend him, and every Christian militant for miles is feigning outrage over it. They have come on the local news and complained about the removal of God from schools (always quick to throw in their continued disgust of the removal of prayer in schools, which was decades ago). They have mobilized their children to wear supportive T-shirts of the teacher, and those who aren't are wearing shirts that predominantly feature the word "Jesus" or "I pray."
The Christians in this school district are very quick to feel persecuted. They moan and groan about how God is being chased into the dark corners of American society. What they fail to realize is this; that this is not an ACLU/school board attack on God, but an attack on ignorance. The disciplinary action against the teacher was because he did not use common sense as a professional; his class is not a forum for discussion of religion. There are teachers in sociology courses who have criticized for mentioning religion, so what made him think it was appropriate for a math course?
This is the exact sort of thing the ACLU and other groups want to prevent... you have a captive audience of impressionable minds, and you should not be able to ramble about just any little thing. What if he had given a lecture about condom use, or the best tasting beer, or how sex works? It would have been obvious that he was not acting in a professional behavior, because the content is beyond the scope of the course he teaches. I myself think this teacher is a moron for not recognizing that matters of faith are a hot topic in education, and that the least he could have done was realize that bringing it up would cause trouble.
As a Christian, I am asking the rest of you to think with your minds and not your hearts. This knee jerk reaction only solidifies every criticism of the church and confirms every perceived weakness in our ranks. We are not a body of people just waiting for something to rally around to fight for... we should be also socially responsible and act as professionals. When we are appointed to certain roles in society, we have to work within the framework and rules of that role. Just as being asked to babysit in no way allows you the right to allow a kid to watch a rated R movie (because it is what you would allow as a parent), being a teacher does not allow you to educate children about any topic you desire. Math is a lot of things, and while Einstein and Hawking both alluded to the fact that mathematical sciences can help us see "the mind of God," it has no relationship to religious issues such as morality, salvation, and ultimate fates.
As for the Christians who got worked up over this, shame on you. This is more than a guy being attacked because he wore a cross necklace. This is more than a teacher being asked to not include Christian songs in the Christmas musical. This is even more than a teacher being criticized for talking about creationism in science class (which still makes me feel icky). Those things all have a legitimate defensive debate. What this teacher did was turn of his brain, and let his heart take over. And most of us are wise enough to know that the heart is a bad pilot; it can lead you into some very bad territory. Christianity, if it to be accepted as truth, should be a merger of heart and mind. You should understand it, have a logical foundation for it, and feel it deep within you as a passion. All passion and no logic is like all faith and no works. It doesn't help anyone in the Kingdom.
In a country where people do not want science teachers to talk about evolution, but are quite happy for a math teacher to discuss religion, it is no wonder the Church has trouble making any real progress in changing the hearts and minds of Americans. We are seen as ignorant and superstitious. And the people coming out of the woodwork to complain about this case only affirm this perception. If you want your teachers to spout God-talk despite the course material, then you need to send your children to a Christian school, or keep them home and home school them (two options you will NEVER see me take). If you choose to send your children to public school, then you have to be prepared for the climate there; and this includes the "walking on eggshells" approach that school systems have about the topic of faith.
This means "don't expect your child to learn about sanctification and subtraction from the same man."
Horns up!
... and remember that it doesn't take much to expose my frustration with the American church.
Here in the Omaha area, there is a math teacher (Papillion/LaVista school district) who is under fire for exposing his religious views in class. It appears that he stopped class on the most current incident, and did a soap-box lecture on Christianity. The school system had to suspend him, and every Christian militant for miles is feigning outrage over it. They have come on the local news and complained about the removal of God from schools (always quick to throw in their continued disgust of the removal of prayer in schools, which was decades ago). They have mobilized their children to wear supportive T-shirts of the teacher, and those who aren't are wearing shirts that predominantly feature the word "Jesus" or "I pray."
The Christians in this school district are very quick to feel persecuted. They moan and groan about how God is being chased into the dark corners of American society. What they fail to realize is this; that this is not an ACLU/school board attack on God, but an attack on ignorance. The disciplinary action against the teacher was because he did not use common sense as a professional; his class is not a forum for discussion of religion. There are teachers in sociology courses who have criticized for mentioning religion, so what made him think it was appropriate for a math course?
This is the exact sort of thing the ACLU and other groups want to prevent... you have a captive audience of impressionable minds, and you should not be able to ramble about just any little thing. What if he had given a lecture about condom use, or the best tasting beer, or how sex works? It would have been obvious that he was not acting in a professional behavior, because the content is beyond the scope of the course he teaches. I myself think this teacher is a moron for not recognizing that matters of faith are a hot topic in education, and that the least he could have done was realize that bringing it up would cause trouble.
As a Christian, I am asking the rest of you to think with your minds and not your hearts. This knee jerk reaction only solidifies every criticism of the church and confirms every perceived weakness in our ranks. We are not a body of people just waiting for something to rally around to fight for... we should be also socially responsible and act as professionals. When we are appointed to certain roles in society, we have to work within the framework and rules of that role. Just as being asked to babysit in no way allows you the right to allow a kid to watch a rated R movie (because it is what you would allow as a parent), being a teacher does not allow you to educate children about any topic you desire. Math is a lot of things, and while Einstein and Hawking both alluded to the fact that mathematical sciences can help us see "the mind of God," it has no relationship to religious issues such as morality, salvation, and ultimate fates.
As for the Christians who got worked up over this, shame on you. This is more than a guy being attacked because he wore a cross necklace. This is more than a teacher being asked to not include Christian songs in the Christmas musical. This is even more than a teacher being criticized for talking about creationism in science class (which still makes me feel icky). Those things all have a legitimate defensive debate. What this teacher did was turn of his brain, and let his heart take over. And most of us are wise enough to know that the heart is a bad pilot; it can lead you into some very bad territory. Christianity, if it to be accepted as truth, should be a merger of heart and mind. You should understand it, have a logical foundation for it, and feel it deep within you as a passion. All passion and no logic is like all faith and no works. It doesn't help anyone in the Kingdom.
In a country where people do not want science teachers to talk about evolution, but are quite happy for a math teacher to discuss religion, it is no wonder the Church has trouble making any real progress in changing the hearts and minds of Americans. We are seen as ignorant and superstitious. And the people coming out of the woodwork to complain about this case only affirm this perception. If you want your teachers to spout God-talk despite the course material, then you need to send your children to a Christian school, or keep them home and home school them (two options you will NEVER see me take). If you choose to send your children to public school, then you have to be prepared for the climate there; and this includes the "walking on eggshells" approach that school systems have about the topic of faith.
This means "don't expect your child to learn about sanctification and subtraction from the same man."
Horns up!
Sunday, December 19, 2004
At Christmas: "If I am a Christian, I am the least of all..."
Christmas; I am not a big fan. And since I am a little rusty at writing lucid blogs, I will go through the reasons why I don’t like Christmas in a list format. Call me Scrooge, Grinch, or wrong… whatever. Anyway, I made an attempt to explain why I am not big on Christmas.
1. Christians go nuts over Christmas, but the birth of Christ was nowhere close to as significant to Christianity as the martyrdom of Christ, which is celebrated on Easter. Jesus’ birth is a shallow reason for a holiday, especially since the holiday isn’t really about his birth (see #2). Easter should really get the focus that Christmas does.
2. Christmas is not about the birth of Christ. You’d never know it, by all of the whining and crying that we Christians do about the “reason of the season” and the commercialization of our holiday. Here is a short history lesson for you, just to put Christmas in perspective. When Constantine unified the world (more or less) under the banner of Christianity, he systematically eliminated all stink of other religions. There was a huge festival on Dec. 25 celebrating the birth of a deity called Sol Invictus, or the Invincible Sun. The festival was largely enjoyed as a secular celebration, so to retain popularity with the people, Constantine merely changed the name of the holiday, and artificially assigned the birth of Christ as the reason for it. The holiday is artificial, and basically secular in nature. Jesus’ birth is still a few months away. So when I hear Christians get very indignant about how the World is stealing the season, I get angry. And when I see the “Happy Birthday Jesus” parties that have come en vogue, I laugh to myself. Again, Easter is far more significant and historically based.
3. Good will to man. A great time of year, right? People bending over backwards to do good to others… well, if you are in the right group. In the three weeks before Christmas we have the Pope saying that (the push for) homosexual marriage is an attack on society and Charles Dobson calling for President Bush to be tougher on homosexuality. If you are gay, I guess “peace on Earth” doesn’t apply to you, even during Christmas. In WWI and II, Germans and American soldiers celebrated together, laying down arms to celebrate. In today’s world, there is no disintegration of barriers. No sameness.
4. The hassle. The obligation. The buying presents for people because they may buy you one. The going to six places so no one is offended. Getting up early, staying up late. The people who come out of the woodwork to stake a claim of spirituality (momentarily). The temporary interest in Jesus. The charitable posing and photo ops. Squeezing in a church service that does little to lift your knowledge or spirit, just because church is the place you should be on Christmas Eve. The competitive nature of home decorating. The gaudy lights and the inflatable snowmen. The malls, the long lines, the overspending, and the overeating. The holiday has become a monument to waste, gluttony, selfishness, and hypocrisy; which would be fine if someone would admit it. Instead most folks claim that it is everything BUT those things.
5. The gifts. Just once I wish that people in my family who feel the need to buy gifts for me would give out of appreciation and love, rather than obligation. My mother always demands a list so that she can get me something I like. I oblige her, but deep down it makes me mad that I am making a shopping list. My wife almost never gets me something that touches me in any way. As the 25th approaches, she starts asking me half-heartedly what I want. What I “want.” Sometimes, what I “need.” Never realizing that I really want her to try and get to know me, and select something that will surprise me and let me know she is paying attention to my life. Needless to say, I get shirts and sweaters. Or, on rare occasions, something that I did want, but has some sort of practical use for both of us (like my bookcases that are littered with her crap, or my digital camera that she uses more than I do). The spirit of giving during Christmas should be about appreciation. I give because I want to share with others that they are important to me. Not that they were a name on a list that I needed to tick off to feel polite.
6. Santa Claus getting a bum rap. This time of year I always hear some Christian getting all self-righteous and denouncing Santa. I know why it is a touchy subject, but they won’t admit to it. It is because Santa is too close to Jesus/God. The season, the miraculous powers, the loving nature, the separation of good and evil, and the blessed and magical helpers… They are identical in many aspects. What happens when our children hit their first cognitive years and start to figure out that Santa is an impossibility? Jesus surely won’t be far behind. The difference lies, Christians will say, that Jesus really IS real, and Santa is just for fun. But once that seed of doubt is placed, I think Christians worry about dealing with it. A fairy tale is a fairy tale, and if scientific method rules one jolly minion of December, where does that leave the other? It makes for some sticky discussions, and some wary minds. To me, this is no reason to hate Santa. A kid has such a small window of opportunity to be innocent, and to enjoy life. All too soon the world becomes a real and dark place. Let children be children. Santa is no less real than the holiday itself. If you present Christianity to your family in the proper, responsible way, and not as just-so stories, tall tales, and folk legends (as most people do), you will not need to explain how Yahweh differs from Saint Nicolas.
But it is not an all-hate relationship. I enjoy the small moments. I enjoy watching my niece (3 years old, the epitome of selfishness) open her presents. I enjoy making and eating cookies. I enjoy the small but meaningful gifts that are sent to me from friends overseas. And most of all, I enjoy the peace and tranquility of the world at midnight Dec. 24. Most stores are closed, people are with their families, the roads are bare, and for a small moment, you may get a glimpse of true peace. And in this peace, my heart turns to those elsewhere who are not so lucky, and I am reminded of the responsibility I have to be humanistic and caring, and to be a good steward of what my life is blessed with.
Merry Christmas. Horns up.
1. Christians go nuts over Christmas, but the birth of Christ was nowhere close to as significant to Christianity as the martyrdom of Christ, which is celebrated on Easter. Jesus’ birth is a shallow reason for a holiday, especially since the holiday isn’t really about his birth (see #2). Easter should really get the focus that Christmas does.
2. Christmas is not about the birth of Christ. You’d never know it, by all of the whining and crying that we Christians do about the “reason of the season” and the commercialization of our holiday. Here is a short history lesson for you, just to put Christmas in perspective. When Constantine unified the world (more or less) under the banner of Christianity, he systematically eliminated all stink of other religions. There was a huge festival on Dec. 25 celebrating the birth of a deity called Sol Invictus, or the Invincible Sun. The festival was largely enjoyed as a secular celebration, so to retain popularity with the people, Constantine merely changed the name of the holiday, and artificially assigned the birth of Christ as the reason for it. The holiday is artificial, and basically secular in nature. Jesus’ birth is still a few months away. So when I hear Christians get very indignant about how the World is stealing the season, I get angry. And when I see the “Happy Birthday Jesus” parties that have come en vogue, I laugh to myself. Again, Easter is far more significant and historically based.
3. Good will to man. A great time of year, right? People bending over backwards to do good to others… well, if you are in the right group. In the three weeks before Christmas we have the Pope saying that (the push for) homosexual marriage is an attack on society and Charles Dobson calling for President Bush to be tougher on homosexuality. If you are gay, I guess “peace on Earth” doesn’t apply to you, even during Christmas. In WWI and II, Germans and American soldiers celebrated together, laying down arms to celebrate. In today’s world, there is no disintegration of barriers. No sameness.
4. The hassle. The obligation. The buying presents for people because they may buy you one. The going to six places so no one is offended. Getting up early, staying up late. The people who come out of the woodwork to stake a claim of spirituality (momentarily). The temporary interest in Jesus. The charitable posing and photo ops. Squeezing in a church service that does little to lift your knowledge or spirit, just because church is the place you should be on Christmas Eve. The competitive nature of home decorating. The gaudy lights and the inflatable snowmen. The malls, the long lines, the overspending, and the overeating. The holiday has become a monument to waste, gluttony, selfishness, and hypocrisy; which would be fine if someone would admit it. Instead most folks claim that it is everything BUT those things.
5. The gifts. Just once I wish that people in my family who feel the need to buy gifts for me would give out of appreciation and love, rather than obligation. My mother always demands a list so that she can get me something I like. I oblige her, but deep down it makes me mad that I am making a shopping list. My wife almost never gets me something that touches me in any way. As the 25th approaches, she starts asking me half-heartedly what I want. What I “want.” Sometimes, what I “need.” Never realizing that I really want her to try and get to know me, and select something that will surprise me and let me know she is paying attention to my life. Needless to say, I get shirts and sweaters. Or, on rare occasions, something that I did want, but has some sort of practical use for both of us (like my bookcases that are littered with her crap, or my digital camera that she uses more than I do). The spirit of giving during Christmas should be about appreciation. I give because I want to share with others that they are important to me. Not that they were a name on a list that I needed to tick off to feel polite.
6. Santa Claus getting a bum rap. This time of year I always hear some Christian getting all self-righteous and denouncing Santa. I know why it is a touchy subject, but they won’t admit to it. It is because Santa is too close to Jesus/God. The season, the miraculous powers, the loving nature, the separation of good and evil, and the blessed and magical helpers… They are identical in many aspects. What happens when our children hit their first cognitive years and start to figure out that Santa is an impossibility? Jesus surely won’t be far behind. The difference lies, Christians will say, that Jesus really IS real, and Santa is just for fun. But once that seed of doubt is placed, I think Christians worry about dealing with it. A fairy tale is a fairy tale, and if scientific method rules one jolly minion of December, where does that leave the other? It makes for some sticky discussions, and some wary minds. To me, this is no reason to hate Santa. A kid has such a small window of opportunity to be innocent, and to enjoy life. All too soon the world becomes a real and dark place. Let children be children. Santa is no less real than the holiday itself. If you present Christianity to your family in the proper, responsible way, and not as just-so stories, tall tales, and folk legends (as most people do), you will not need to explain how Yahweh differs from Saint Nicolas.
But it is not an all-hate relationship. I enjoy the small moments. I enjoy watching my niece (3 years old, the epitome of selfishness) open her presents. I enjoy making and eating cookies. I enjoy the small but meaningful gifts that are sent to me from friends overseas. And most of all, I enjoy the peace and tranquility of the world at midnight Dec. 24. Most stores are closed, people are with their families, the roads are bare, and for a small moment, you may get a glimpse of true peace. And in this peace, my heart turns to those elsewhere who are not so lucky, and I am reminded of the responsibility I have to be humanistic and caring, and to be a good steward of what my life is blessed with.
Merry Christmas. Horns up.
Friday, December 17, 2004
Giving in to peer pressure feels so dirty...
Hi-ya. The semester is done, so the Carl PS2-blog-manga-DVD-work-a-thon has begun. To get back in the swing of blogging, I thought I would finally give in and do one of these popular "100 things about me" lists, only I may not make it to 100. I can't decide if the proliferation of these things on blogs are because other people have fun reading them, or if it is because we all like to talk about ourselves so much it seems like a good idea.
Before I start, have you heard about this freaky murder in Skidmore, Missouri? My friend Nate is from there. Let me tell you, that seems to be one macabre little town. There was a famous murder there once before, one that was turned into a book and movie. Now this; a murder/baby theft. The baby was taken from out of the mother (it wasn't born yet). Strange place. How did Nate turn out okay?
Well, anyway, here you go. I have no idea how many I will do before I get sick of it, so enjoy "X things about Carl."
1. I love corndogs.
2. I am trying desperately to teach myself Japanese.
3. People who like the songs "Arms Wide Open" or "My Heart Will Go On" enjoy a certain type of emotion when they hear them This is the way I feel when I hear "Wasted Years" by Iron Maiden or "Hyperballad" from Bjork.
4. I am married my first real girlfriend. We dated 7 years and have been married 6.
5. If I am allowed any amount of free time, I like to read or play video games.
6. My favorite movie of all time is 2001: A Space Odyssey. Some close seconds are Godfather, The Grapes of Wrath, Lawrence of Arabia, Patton, Royal Tennenbaums, and The Third Man.
7. I hate pornography, and can't understand the stranglehold it has on America.
8. My favorite manga series is Rurouni Kenshin. My favorite artists are CLAMP and Yu Watase.
9. I believe in God, and consider myself a Christian (if not a agnostic one, or fideist anyway)
10. I accept evolution as a biological fact and love researching and studying it.
11. I feel as if no explanations of ultimate origins are sufficient when it comes to "fact," so a certain amount of faith is involved whether one believes in God or big-bang biology. I currently believe in a mixture of the two.
12. I have a caffeine problem. There are days where my routine is developed around me getting a hold of a soda.
13. I have only been out of the US twice, both times to Mexico (to build homes for needy).
14. I am a closet fiction writer, and I have been working on a "novel" for my nephew to read. I am at a complete stand still, and may start all over again (for the third time)...
15. My favorite anime movie is Akira, a movie which sort of changed my life when I saw it. Ever since, my small fire for Japanese storytelling and culture has become a consuming inferno. After Akira, I would have to say anything by Studio Ghibli/Hayao Miyazaki is tied for second.
16. My favorite David Lynch movie is The Elephant Man, then Eraserhead. I hate what he did to Dune, a fantastic novel that will never be done justice.
17. I absolutely love heavy metal. Kyuss "Blues for the Red Sun" is my "Sgt. Peppers..." Anthrax is my equivalent to Michael Jackson.
18. Sometimes I like to sit in my bathtub, only filling it with the hottest water my tap will allow, and pretend I am at an onsen.
19. I like to cook. My favorite dishes I make are onigiri (easy), miso soup, soba with dipping sauce, enchiladas, manicotti, and tortellini with zucchini and red peppers.
20. My favorite song of all time is "Authority Song" by John Mellencamp
21. As much as I love metal, I love punk and soul just as much. Stevie Wonder, Sade, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Scaterd Few, Minutemen, Stooges, Ramones, Dead Milkmen, and Nation of Ulysses all grace my most beloved CDs.
22. I am a big Mystery Science Theater 3000 fan..
23. I love to watch Godzilla movies when no one else is home. :)
24. Riding my mountain bike is almost a spiritual event for me... but a rare one anymore.
25. I love to watch NFL football, but I love to play tennis and racquet ball.
26. I tend to drink too much rum if it is available.
27. My favorite character in the Bible is Thomas.
28. I think that every American male should own a copy of the movie Rocky. Rocky or Snatch. Or both.
29. Just about any movie by Akira Kurosawa or Alfred Hitchcock is a masterpiece in my book. I think it will be along time (if ever) before we see men of this caliber making films.
30. I used to be a minister, and I go through periods where I miss it, when I am glad I got out, when I feel guilty, and when I feel angry. It sort of affected my life greatly.
31. I consider myself very loyal and committed, yet I have very few friends... something that constantly nags at me. The people I love the most seem to be involved the least in my daily life.
32. (this one is related to #31) I tend to have a big mouth. :) I talk a lot, am loud on occasion, and the distance from my brain to my tongue is far too short.
33. I'd rather stay home and play video games than go to some smoky bar and drink.
34. My favorite video game of all time is either Final Fantasy Tactics or Parappa the Rapper.
35. I took out a little extra loan money for Spring 2005 so that I may buy the new portable Sony Playstation PSP when it comes out in the USA. :)
36. I think that in terms of beauty, that no one will ever hold a candle to a women of Asian descent. Sorry white girls... blonde isn't where it is at!
37. I am constantly frustrated with my weight. I bounce between 210 and 230 (more like 215 lately). I wish I could stay motivated and get to 200.
38. I think that the war in Iraq is stupid, and I hate that there needs to be war.
39. I want to move back to Colorado, but I like Iowa's pace of life too.
40. I am bad with managing money... and I used to work in the cash management department of a bank!
41. I miss my grandmother (on my mom's side) very much.
42. I think that the church is continually embarrassing itself needlessly. One thing that it did in the 80's was get too reactionary to so-called "Satanism," and currently it is being too heartless with its handling of homosexuality.
43. People I look up to as heroes are very few, but here they are; MK Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Bill Cosby, Stevie Wonder, and Frederick Douglass.
44. My favorite book of all time is probably "The Demon Haunted World" by Carl Sagan, followed by "Frankenstein" (Shelley), "Maus" (Spiegelman), "Count of Monte Christo" (Dumas), "The Moon is Down" (Steinbeck), and "The Selfish Gene" (Dawkins).
45. I love a good horror movie, but there are so few of them. My favorite topics are zombies and ghosts. Night of the Living Dead is my favorite horror movie, but Psycho and Ju-On are up there too.
46. My favorite William Shakespeare play is "King Lear"
47. My favorite author is John Steinbeck
48. I used to play bass guitar, and some guitar. I couldn't today to save my life.
49. I once made a techno/ambient electronica album... I still have some copies... The name of the "band" was Carbon Copy Dream (from words in a Minutemen song). I was quite proud of it.
50. When I die, I want to be cremated. In a perfect world, I would request those ashes to be buried under a cherry tree.
51. If left to my own devices, I would eat a whole bag of chips with dip. I am my own worst health threat.
52. I used to run track and cross country. In CC, I only finished one race in my entire career... dead last.
53. I have never been hospitalized.
54. I like President Bill Clinton.
55. I have changed my mind on violence in video games (and media in general). I wish that there wasn't so much ugliness in our entertainment. I tend to lean more towards being sickened by GTA games, but I also don't think there should be a ban on that media either. I just don't understand why so many are drawn to it.
56. I cried when Aeris died on Final Fantasy 7, and I still feel bad when I think about it. I guess my mind is too fragile for video games... :) Maybe I need to grow up?
57. I love to play chess, but never have anyone to play with. Internet chess is no where as fun. I want to learn to play Go as well, but I'd never find a partner for that!
58. I have almost ZERO ties to any one nationality other than American. The closest tie I have is to Hungary, of which I am between 10 and 25%. Anyway, no heritage at all.
59. I think that the Native Americans and African Americans continue to get shafted. I think our racism and mistreatment of minorities is embarrassing, and that there are not any real factors at play to fix the problem.
60. In my life, I want to see a black president, a woman president, a gay president, and a Jewish president. A Catholic president in this day and age would be interesting too.
61. If I could have dinner with any five living celebrities, I would choose Prince, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, George Clooney, and Stevie Wonder.
62. I was able to name my children myself, I would name my boy Darwin and my daughter Rei. But that is why I won't get to name my children. Alternate names include Sakura, Aeris, Rosa, Vivian, and Petra for girls; and Hotaru, Orson, Santino, Alfred, and Rocky for boys.
I am bored. 62 it is, not 100.
Horns up!
Before I start, have you heard about this freaky murder in Skidmore, Missouri? My friend Nate is from there. Let me tell you, that seems to be one macabre little town. There was a famous murder there once before, one that was turned into a book and movie. Now this; a murder/baby theft. The baby was taken from out of the mother (it wasn't born yet). Strange place. How did Nate turn out okay?
Well, anyway, here you go. I have no idea how many I will do before I get sick of it, so enjoy "X things about Carl."
1. I love corndogs.
2. I am trying desperately to teach myself Japanese.
3. People who like the songs "Arms Wide Open" or "My Heart Will Go On" enjoy a certain type of emotion when they hear them This is the way I feel when I hear "Wasted Years" by Iron Maiden or "Hyperballad" from Bjork.
4. I am married my first real girlfriend. We dated 7 years and have been married 6.
5. If I am allowed any amount of free time, I like to read or play video games.
6. My favorite movie of all time is 2001: A Space Odyssey. Some close seconds are Godfather, The Grapes of Wrath, Lawrence of Arabia, Patton, Royal Tennenbaums, and The Third Man.
7. I hate pornography, and can't understand the stranglehold it has on America.
8. My favorite manga series is Rurouni Kenshin. My favorite artists are CLAMP and Yu Watase.
9. I believe in God, and consider myself a Christian (if not a agnostic one, or fideist anyway)
10. I accept evolution as a biological fact and love researching and studying it.
11. I feel as if no explanations of ultimate origins are sufficient when it comes to "fact," so a certain amount of faith is involved whether one believes in God or big-bang biology. I currently believe in a mixture of the two.
12. I have a caffeine problem. There are days where my routine is developed around me getting a hold of a soda.
13. I have only been out of the US twice, both times to Mexico (to build homes for needy).
14. I am a closet fiction writer, and I have been working on a "novel" for my nephew to read. I am at a complete stand still, and may start all over again (for the third time)...
15. My favorite anime movie is Akira, a movie which sort of changed my life when I saw it. Ever since, my small fire for Japanese storytelling and culture has become a consuming inferno. After Akira, I would have to say anything by Studio Ghibli/Hayao Miyazaki is tied for second.
16. My favorite David Lynch movie is The Elephant Man, then Eraserhead. I hate what he did to Dune, a fantastic novel that will never be done justice.
17. I absolutely love heavy metal. Kyuss "Blues for the Red Sun" is my "Sgt. Peppers..." Anthrax is my equivalent to Michael Jackson.
18. Sometimes I like to sit in my bathtub, only filling it with the hottest water my tap will allow, and pretend I am at an onsen.
19. I like to cook. My favorite dishes I make are onigiri (easy), miso soup, soba with dipping sauce, enchiladas, manicotti, and tortellini with zucchini and red peppers.
20. My favorite song of all time is "Authority Song" by John Mellencamp
21. As much as I love metal, I love punk and soul just as much. Stevie Wonder, Sade, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Scaterd Few, Minutemen, Stooges, Ramones, Dead Milkmen, and Nation of Ulysses all grace my most beloved CDs.
22. I am a big Mystery Science Theater 3000 fan..
23. I love to watch Godzilla movies when no one else is home. :)
24. Riding my mountain bike is almost a spiritual event for me... but a rare one anymore.
25. I love to watch NFL football, but I love to play tennis and racquet ball.
26. I tend to drink too much rum if it is available.
27. My favorite character in the Bible is Thomas.
28. I think that every American male should own a copy of the movie Rocky. Rocky or Snatch. Or both.
29. Just about any movie by Akira Kurosawa or Alfred Hitchcock is a masterpiece in my book. I think it will be along time (if ever) before we see men of this caliber making films.
30. I used to be a minister, and I go through periods where I miss it, when I am glad I got out, when I feel guilty, and when I feel angry. It sort of affected my life greatly.
31. I consider myself very loyal and committed, yet I have very few friends... something that constantly nags at me. The people I love the most seem to be involved the least in my daily life.
32. (this one is related to #31) I tend to have a big mouth. :) I talk a lot, am loud on occasion, and the distance from my brain to my tongue is far too short.
33. I'd rather stay home and play video games than go to some smoky bar and drink.
34. My favorite video game of all time is either Final Fantasy Tactics or Parappa the Rapper.
35. I took out a little extra loan money for Spring 2005 so that I may buy the new portable Sony Playstation PSP when it comes out in the USA. :)
36. I think that in terms of beauty, that no one will ever hold a candle to a women of Asian descent. Sorry white girls... blonde isn't where it is at!
37. I am constantly frustrated with my weight. I bounce between 210 and 230 (more like 215 lately). I wish I could stay motivated and get to 200.
38. I think that the war in Iraq is stupid, and I hate that there needs to be war.
39. I want to move back to Colorado, but I like Iowa's pace of life too.
40. I am bad with managing money... and I used to work in the cash management department of a bank!
41. I miss my grandmother (on my mom's side) very much.
42. I think that the church is continually embarrassing itself needlessly. One thing that it did in the 80's was get too reactionary to so-called "Satanism," and currently it is being too heartless with its handling of homosexuality.
43. People I look up to as heroes are very few, but here they are; MK Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Bill Cosby, Stevie Wonder, and Frederick Douglass.
44. My favorite book of all time is probably "The Demon Haunted World" by Carl Sagan, followed by "Frankenstein" (Shelley), "Maus" (Spiegelman), "Count of Monte Christo" (Dumas), "The Moon is Down" (Steinbeck), and "The Selfish Gene" (Dawkins).
45. I love a good horror movie, but there are so few of them. My favorite topics are zombies and ghosts. Night of the Living Dead is my favorite horror movie, but Psycho and Ju-On are up there too.
46. My favorite William Shakespeare play is "King Lear"
47. My favorite author is John Steinbeck
48. I used to play bass guitar, and some guitar. I couldn't today to save my life.
49. I once made a techno/ambient electronica album... I still have some copies... The name of the "band" was Carbon Copy Dream (from words in a Minutemen song). I was quite proud of it.
50. When I die, I want to be cremated. In a perfect world, I would request those ashes to be buried under a cherry tree.
51. If left to my own devices, I would eat a whole bag of chips with dip. I am my own worst health threat.
52. I used to run track and cross country. In CC, I only finished one race in my entire career... dead last.
53. I have never been hospitalized.
54. I like President Bill Clinton.
55. I have changed my mind on violence in video games (and media in general). I wish that there wasn't so much ugliness in our entertainment. I tend to lean more towards being sickened by GTA games, but I also don't think there should be a ban on that media either. I just don't understand why so many are drawn to it.
56. I cried when Aeris died on Final Fantasy 7, and I still feel bad when I think about it. I guess my mind is too fragile for video games... :) Maybe I need to grow up?
57. I love to play chess, but never have anyone to play with. Internet chess is no where as fun. I want to learn to play Go as well, but I'd never find a partner for that!
58. I have almost ZERO ties to any one nationality other than American. The closest tie I have is to Hungary, of which I am between 10 and 25%. Anyway, no heritage at all.
59. I think that the Native Americans and African Americans continue to get shafted. I think our racism and mistreatment of minorities is embarrassing, and that there are not any real factors at play to fix the problem.
60. In my life, I want to see a black president, a woman president, a gay president, and a Jewish president. A Catholic president in this day and age would be interesting too.
61. If I could have dinner with any five living celebrities, I would choose Prince, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, George Clooney, and Stevie Wonder.
62. I was able to name my children myself, I would name my boy Darwin and my daughter Rei. But that is why I won't get to name my children. Alternate names include Sakura, Aeris, Rosa, Vivian, and Petra for girls; and Hotaru, Orson, Santino, Alfred, and Rocky for boys.
I am bored. 62 it is, not 100.
Horns up!
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Uno mas.
One more test and I am done with my first semester of Pharmacy school. Pretty cool, eh? I have never been as mentally drained as I am right now. I wish I was doing better in my classes, but I learned a lot about school and myself this semester, so next semester should go better. It's hard for me to accept C's, because, in the words of the poet Anna Niccole Smith, "I'm a freakin' genius." I know I am smarter than my grades let on, I just need to figure out how to study and test better. One professor in general writes tests that I do very poorly on. Yesterday I got a 60% on my final in his class, which is an embarrassment as it is... not to mention that others were saying how easy it was. That score dropped my grade from 87% to "C" range. When I look at his tests, I feel like I am trying to break a Beautiful Mind-like code. Hopefully we are done with him (no offense to him).
Pro's and Con's of this semester:
pro - I lost 20 pounds
con - I gained 10 back
pro - I met some new people that I really like a lot
con - I hardly got to see Phuong, Sara, and Scott
pro - I really like working at my retail pharmacy job
con - I worked too much this semester, and at the wrong times
pro - I have access to a fantastic gymnasium
con - I hardly played racquetball or lifted weights at all
pro - I passed all my classes!
con - I was expecting more A's
pro - One semester is in the books
con - I'm going to miss my little social life over break
pro - I learned what I need to do better next semester
con - I learned that the hard way
So, as I listen to "For Those About To Rock", I type my last post from CU campus for a while. It also means that in the days to come, I will be blogging my brain out again! Wish me luck with the last one...
Horns up!
Pro's and Con's of this semester:
pro - I lost 20 pounds
con - I gained 10 back
pro - I met some new people that I really like a lot
con - I hardly got to see Phuong, Sara, and Scott
pro - I really like working at my retail pharmacy job
con - I worked too much this semester, and at the wrong times
pro - I have access to a fantastic gymnasium
con - I hardly played racquetball or lifted weights at all
pro - I passed all my classes!
con - I was expecting more A's
pro - One semester is in the books
con - I'm going to miss my little social life over break
pro - I learned what I need to do better next semester
con - I learned that the hard way
So, as I listen to "For Those About To Rock", I type my last post from CU campus for a while. It also means that in the days to come, I will be blogging my brain out again! Wish me luck with the last one...
Horns up!
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Come and get your love.
Finals week, day 2. The first final went okay, no idea how I did. #2 is in 4 hours. I am horribly underprepared for it. And it doesn't help that the more I study for it, the less I got to study for tomorrow's 2 finals that both have the potential of hitting me with both shock and awe. I was really resenting having to work last night, especially since I did not get to study... things were hopping at the old hospital. : ( But, just when I was feeling blue, I got a short but encouraging email from a friend of mine, and that gave me just enough to study for 4 more hours, go to bed at 1 AM, and get up at 4:30 AM to get right back at things. But that email is starting to wear off...
Horns up!
Horns up!
Saturday, December 11, 2004
When there is no more room in hell, Carl's new posts will walk the Earth...
Man, I can't get enough of Night of the Living Dead! What a great movie. And the newest DVD edition has a comedy/commentary track with Mike Nelson of MST3K fame. Sweet! Anyway...
The reason I am posting this "zombie" blog is to remind everyone that this site is not dead. I am in the middle of finals in pharmacy school, and it is killing me. My friend Paul, of Paul's Ponderings fame (plug, plug... the link is to the right) and I used to talk a lot about the notion that people are often quick to say "they are too busy" to do something, but in actuality, we all have the same 24 hours, and often we have enough time to do whatever we want, if we are motivated.
But I am busy. And I want to let everyone know that fresh posts are coming soon. Wish me luck, and I hope you are all enjoying your holiday season. My semester ends at noon on Thursday the 16th, so I will be back at full strength then.
Horns up!
The reason I am posting this "zombie" blog is to remind everyone that this site is not dead. I am in the middle of finals in pharmacy school, and it is killing me. My friend Paul, of Paul's Ponderings fame (plug, plug... the link is to the right) and I used to talk a lot about the notion that people are often quick to say "they are too busy" to do something, but in actuality, we all have the same 24 hours, and often we have enough time to do whatever we want, if we are motivated.
But I am busy. And I want to let everyone know that fresh posts are coming soon. Wish me luck, and I hope you are all enjoying your holiday season. My semester ends at noon on Thursday the 16th, so I will be back at full strength then.
Horns up!
Monday, December 06, 2004
Man cannot serve both the Broncos and Mammon
It didn't necessarily take the Son of God or the Great Emancipator to realize that it isn't good to divide a body into two. Anyone who has lived for even a short stint of time can soon recognize the problems that come along with polarizing a heart.
Whether it is finding yourself falling in love with a second "someone" in your life, trying to juggle a secular life with a holy one, or having a hard time rooting for just one NFL team, the heart just doesn't handle being divided very well. As a matter of fact, serving two masters often begins to ruin other aspect of your life. It seeps in and eats away at the edges of your mind.
I've had a few experiences in this; I'll start with a lighthearted one. I am a big football fan, and as years roll on, I love the NFL more and more (and like baseball less and less). Living where I do (Iowa) I am smack dab in the middle of the country, so my loyalties aren't automatically required of any one team. The Chiefs, Broncos, Rams, Bears, Vikings, and Packers are all reasonable "local" picks, but it really is a free for all. The only preferences my father ever put on me was that we used to live in Colorado, so we rooted for the Broncos. As I grew up and got into football, I started to like personalities over teams, so I always rooted for teams that had players I liked.
This list included Falcons (Chris Miller), Chiefs (Derrick Thomas), and Giants (David Meggett). But once I moved back to Colorado, I had to root for the Broncos. Not only because I lived there, but because they were good, fun, and exciting to watch in that era (Elway, Smith, Davis, Elam, Romo). So from then on, the Denver Broncos have been my team.
But I also have a non-sexual man-crush on Brett Favre. That guy is one tough mother. I can't help but root for the guy, even when he is having his breakdowns (a lot fewer of these lately). When he lost his dad, I honestly felt bad for him, as if he was a friend of mine. Then recently he has discovered that his wife is battling cancer, which made me feel for him again. I root for the Pack whenever I can.
Add to all of this the fact that the newbie Houston Texans beat the Cowboys in their first game ever, which sealed my love for them for life. They had a lot of heart, and still do. I am a big Carr fan, and I love how he was the most sacked QB in a single season, yet got up and played every down.
Back to my main point... this division of loyalties can be painful. When I wear my Green Bay hat, I get a lot of flack from those who know I am a Denver fan, and a lot of hate from non-fans. When I wear my Broncos hat, I get a lot of ribbing when they lose, and a lot of hate from the Chiefs and Raiders fans around here. Things get worse when I watch games between teams I like. Do I root for the Pack or Texans? It's less confusing when it is the Broncos, but still, I hate to see the Texans lose... It all adds up to this; I'm not happy no matter what. And when you back three horses, and all three lose (like yesterday), it can make for a long Sunday.
The same thing goes for romance. Be careful which and how many horses you back. :) Even if it is as seemingly innocent of a unrequited and unrevealed crush, it tends to cloud other relationships you have. You act different. You get defensive. You daydream. Your focus has been altered, in even just slightly.
My hearts biggest division (that I'll admit to) has to do with the role of the Geist and the Brain. Can I juggle what I see to be proper, scientific sense with the nonsense of religion? I can no more completely sell out to the notion of talking donkeys, devilish snakes, floods, and magic stars than I can completely write off an ultimate creator, a savior, and life that had purpose and meaning. I have a hard time praying anymore, because I find myself torn; am I doing this to cover my bases, or am I honestly trying to communicate with this invisible something? It is a rare occasion that I truly put in a heartfelt prayer, and it usually is on behalf of my friends and family when they are in need. The problem is further complicated because I know what I should be saying, and how I should be acting... but if I did, it wouldn't be from belief, but from training. I think I do a good job being true to myself and to God, but it causes a lot of inner turmoil... turmoil that is only aggravated further by those who seem to think they have their side figured out and are impatient with those who do not.
So, whether you listen to Jesus (or those who wrote what Jesus allegedly said), Abe Lincoln, or me, rest assured that the heart needs to be unified to work well. Don't divide it, or you will lead a very confusing and melancholy life. Go Broncos, go favorite-person-in-the-world, and go skepticism. For now.
Horns up!
Whether it is finding yourself falling in love with a second "someone" in your life, trying to juggle a secular life with a holy one, or having a hard time rooting for just one NFL team, the heart just doesn't handle being divided very well. As a matter of fact, serving two masters often begins to ruin other aspect of your life. It seeps in and eats away at the edges of your mind.
I've had a few experiences in this; I'll start with a lighthearted one. I am a big football fan, and as years roll on, I love the NFL more and more (and like baseball less and less). Living where I do (Iowa) I am smack dab in the middle of the country, so my loyalties aren't automatically required of any one team. The Chiefs, Broncos, Rams, Bears, Vikings, and Packers are all reasonable "local" picks, but it really is a free for all. The only preferences my father ever put on me was that we used to live in Colorado, so we rooted for the Broncos. As I grew up and got into football, I started to like personalities over teams, so I always rooted for teams that had players I liked.
This list included Falcons (Chris Miller), Chiefs (Derrick Thomas), and Giants (David Meggett). But once I moved back to Colorado, I had to root for the Broncos. Not only because I lived there, but because they were good, fun, and exciting to watch in that era (Elway, Smith, Davis, Elam, Romo). So from then on, the Denver Broncos have been my team.
But I also have a non-sexual man-crush on Brett Favre. That guy is one tough mother. I can't help but root for the guy, even when he is having his breakdowns (a lot fewer of these lately). When he lost his dad, I honestly felt bad for him, as if he was a friend of mine. Then recently he has discovered that his wife is battling cancer, which made me feel for him again. I root for the Pack whenever I can.
Add to all of this the fact that the newbie Houston Texans beat the Cowboys in their first game ever, which sealed my love for them for life. They had a lot of heart, and still do. I am a big Carr fan, and I love how he was the most sacked QB in a single season, yet got up and played every down.
Back to my main point... this division of loyalties can be painful. When I wear my Green Bay hat, I get a lot of flack from those who know I am a Denver fan, and a lot of hate from non-fans. When I wear my Broncos hat, I get a lot of ribbing when they lose, and a lot of hate from the Chiefs and Raiders fans around here. Things get worse when I watch games between teams I like. Do I root for the Pack or Texans? It's less confusing when it is the Broncos, but still, I hate to see the Texans lose... It all adds up to this; I'm not happy no matter what. And when you back three horses, and all three lose (like yesterday), it can make for a long Sunday.
The same thing goes for romance. Be careful which and how many horses you back. :) Even if it is as seemingly innocent of a unrequited and unrevealed crush, it tends to cloud other relationships you have. You act different. You get defensive. You daydream. Your focus has been altered, in even just slightly.
My hearts biggest division (that I'll admit to) has to do with the role of the Geist and the Brain. Can I juggle what I see to be proper, scientific sense with the nonsense of religion? I can no more completely sell out to the notion of talking donkeys, devilish snakes, floods, and magic stars than I can completely write off an ultimate creator, a savior, and life that had purpose and meaning. I have a hard time praying anymore, because I find myself torn; am I doing this to cover my bases, or am I honestly trying to communicate with this invisible something? It is a rare occasion that I truly put in a heartfelt prayer, and it usually is on behalf of my friends and family when they are in need. The problem is further complicated because I know what I should be saying, and how I should be acting... but if I did, it wouldn't be from belief, but from training. I think I do a good job being true to myself and to God, but it causes a lot of inner turmoil... turmoil that is only aggravated further by those who seem to think they have their side figured out and are impatient with those who do not.
So, whether you listen to Jesus (or those who wrote what Jesus allegedly said), Abe Lincoln, or me, rest assured that the heart needs to be unified to work well. Don't divide it, or you will lead a very confusing and melancholy life. Go Broncos, go favorite-person-in-the-world, and go skepticism. For now.
Horns up!
Thursday, December 02, 2004
Start reading this blog at the exact same time you start the movie Wizard of Oz. It will blow your mind...!
“The new lunar decade has begun.” Or so says the so-called international Lunar Conference. It appears as the nations of the world have united to reach a shared goal… to build a robotic village on the moon. Huh?!
I love space, and I am hugely in favor of NASA and exploration, but this seems a bit out there. According to Space.com, they want to start sending up mission after mission to the moon, eventually leading to the establishment of a WiFi (grin) research facility. The ultimate goal; for the robot cosmonauts to prepare the way for man (terraforming?). The goal of these 200 scientists is to have man join the colony by 2024 (what they are calling a permanent presence, sounds a little like USA military policies through the ages...). Wow, that’s not that far away. Bush wants man on Mars before then too, so funding may be tight for NASA in the next 20 years…
I have some questions I want answered before I give my approval to this venture:
1) Are any of the companies involved named Skynet? If so, count me out.
2) Or worse yet, are any of the companies involved called Halliburton? Cha-ching! Am I right Cheney?
3) Will the robots really be sent to the moon, or a sound stage in Hollywood?
4) Which country’s robots get to be the foremen?
5) Is there oil on the moon? If so, can Bush dig for it? If not, what will the ‘bots run on?
6) Will Gov. Arnold Swartzenegger, Will Smith, Kevin Sorbo, or Wesley Snipes be banned from visiting the colony?
7) Can I get a job as a Blade Runner to track down the robots that escape back to Earth? I mean, this is sort of forced slavery on our silicone brothers and sisters…
8) Can Will Shatner be involved in some way? I think it is only right. Let him be mayor at least.
9) What will the robots do if they unearth a large, black obelisk? My God, it's full of stars... (cue giant naked baby)
10) Will aliens be allowed to work on the moon as well, or will we have an Interstellar Immigration and Naturalization Force in orbit? You know Neptunians… they have strong backs, and work for next to nothing, but they drive poorly and never bother to learn binary.
11) Is the Lunar Conference really building a super computer to answer what the meaning of life is? If so, it’s a waste of time. We know that the answer is 42.
12) If the robots find mucousy, leathery, green eggs, can we nuke the Moon from orbit? It is the only way to be sure...
13) If Gizmonic Institute builds a satellite to monitor the progress, can I volunteer to man it? I promise not to built robot friends from the spare parts. Yeah right, I am SO going to build me a Crow and Servo!
Anyway, I thought I’d post something science related and fun for a change. I started this blog to be mostly religion and science talk (hey, I knew what a meme was before net-geeks hijacked the word to describe those annoying spam “answer and return to 10 friends” questionnaires), but blogging is such a slippery slope…
Horns up!
I love space, and I am hugely in favor of NASA and exploration, but this seems a bit out there. According to Space.com, they want to start sending up mission after mission to the moon, eventually leading to the establishment of a WiFi (grin) research facility. The ultimate goal; for the robot cosmonauts to prepare the way for man (terraforming?). The goal of these 200 scientists is to have man join the colony by 2024 (what they are calling a permanent presence, sounds a little like USA military policies through the ages...). Wow, that’s not that far away. Bush wants man on Mars before then too, so funding may be tight for NASA in the next 20 years…
I have some questions I want answered before I give my approval to this venture:
1) Are any of the companies involved named Skynet? If so, count me out.
2) Or worse yet, are any of the companies involved called Halliburton? Cha-ching! Am I right Cheney?
3) Will the robots really be sent to the moon, or a sound stage in Hollywood?
4) Which country’s robots get to be the foremen?
5) Is there oil on the moon? If so, can Bush dig for it? If not, what will the ‘bots run on?
6) Will Gov. Arnold Swartzenegger, Will Smith, Kevin Sorbo, or Wesley Snipes be banned from visiting the colony?
7) Can I get a job as a Blade Runner to track down the robots that escape back to Earth? I mean, this is sort of forced slavery on our silicone brothers and sisters…
8) Can Will Shatner be involved in some way? I think it is only right. Let him be mayor at least.
9) What will the robots do if they unearth a large, black obelisk? My God, it's full of stars... (cue giant naked baby)
10) Will aliens be allowed to work on the moon as well, or will we have an Interstellar Immigration and Naturalization Force in orbit? You know Neptunians… they have strong backs, and work for next to nothing, but they drive poorly and never bother to learn binary.
11) Is the Lunar Conference really building a super computer to answer what the meaning of life is? If so, it’s a waste of time. We know that the answer is 42.
12) If the robots find mucousy, leathery, green eggs, can we nuke the Moon from orbit? It is the only way to be sure...
13) If Gizmonic Institute builds a satellite to monitor the progress, can I volunteer to man it? I promise not to built robot friends from the spare parts. Yeah right, I am SO going to build me a Crow and Servo!
Anyway, I thought I’d post something science related and fun for a change. I started this blog to be mostly religion and science talk (hey, I knew what a meme was before net-geeks hijacked the word to describe those annoying spam “answer and return to 10 friends” questionnaires), but blogging is such a slippery slope…
Horns up!
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
I locked myself out of my car yesterday. Not once, but twice. Brilliant! It cost me $40 to get into it the first time. The second time, I luckily had placed my spare key in my pocket. You see, I keep my spare in the car... well, I used to. I like to start my car in the morning and let it warm up, so I lock the door with one key while the other is in the ignition... anyway, you get the point. So now I am out $40 and had to stand outside for an hour. Yay. In commemoration of my ignorance, I am retiring my oh-so-clever sign off of "see ya," and replacing it instead with the rocker salute "horns up!" See my picture below if you are having trouble knowing what horns I am referring to. :) Why? Because rock and roll never forgets. Screaming for vengeance. Rock rock 'til you drop. Take your daughter to the slaughter. For those about to rock, we salute you.You know what I mean. (translated, rockin' out always makes me feel better, even when I do incredibly dumb things). More soon! If you see me around school/town, flash me the rock on sign. Horns Up!
5 pounds of crap in a 2 pound bag.
I tried and tried and tried again to think of a way to weave a few of my thoughts into one post, but it isn’t happening. After failing 4 straight practice exams for my Pharmacy Calculations course, my brain is a little stunned. So this may be a little fragmented, but I wanted to stay in the habit of writing here, so off we go!
1) Spongebob Squarepants, or as my Mexican friends call him Bob Esponga, is making a lot of news in the USA. In an advertising stunt, Burger King has affixed 10 foot tall inflatable Spongebob’s to the top of their restaurants. They are so cool! The problem is that nationwide (and even locally) there are people who are somehow steeling these things! They are valued at $1200 each, so you can imagine why Burger King is upset. Why does anyone want to steal a giant Spongebob? It must be a perilous procedure, as these things are tethered to the roof, and most BK’s are open pretty darn late. Can you imagine trying to stuff a 10 foot tall Spongebob into your car? Not to mention it would be painfully obvious where you got it if you were to display your yellow trophy.
2) While surfing Blog Explosion, I came across a link to an art gallery. The exhibit that it was promoting currently is a display of photos of pornographic film stars. The odd thing is that the photos are taken with their clothes on (normal, every day street clothes) and then next to that is the same pose, but naked. The nudity was a little shocking for an unsuspecting eye, but I found myself a little fascinated. When clothed, these people look very normal. That may sound like the dumb-statement-of-the-day, but consider that nude, these people LOOK like porn stars. They look trashy. They look too confident in their nudity. One photo was a beautiful woman, wearing jeans and a hooded sweatshirt, standing with her hands on her hips. Then when you click on it, there was she was, in thigh-high hose, tattoo rather low on her shaved pubic area, and standing with her legs and hips aligned so that you can see quite a lot of her “lower bits.” And she was still smiling away. The way she stood there unashamed sort of made me feel a little bit disgusted. I don’t know why. My attitude towards this woman was very different only because of the clothes she had on (or not). I don’t really want to draw too many conclusions here, I just wanted to share what I felt was an interesting event. If I may editorialize just a bit about this, I think that pornography is something that the USA is going to find it self battling very soon. I think that the ease of access and the anonymity that is afforded by the internet and digital cable is secretly changing the moral base of our nation. I think that it is already obvious that the US population in general has softened to sex. Personally, I think porn is bad, but that is a subject for later blogs.
3) A famous US television reporter, Tom Brokaw, is broadcasting his last broadcast this week. I think he will leave a small void when it comes to news presentation on TV. I watched his “Eyewitness to History” program, and it is simply amazing what this guy has seen with his own two eyes, and the historical events he was present for. He’s met kings, presidents, killers, and heroes. I hope that the rest of his life is spent pursuing happiness and health. Good luck Tom!
4) Speaking of “Eyewitness to History,” five things struck me rather powerfully while watching that 2 hour show (which could have easily been stretched into a mini-series… it was very interesting).
a) The Vietnam War. I can’t believe my dad made it home alive. And I can’t believe that while Washington was telling us it was a “winnable” situation, behind closed doors they were wringing their hands, calling it a terrible mess. It is a sad mark on US history. And to see the way the soldiers were mistreated upon return to the states was shameful.
b) The L.A. Riots (after the Rodney King hearing). Man, the anger of the people was palpable, even today. They were being told all their lives that racism isn’t in the US lexicon anymore, and that the system was playing fair. They were being told that any perceived mistreatment was because of oversensitivity. They were laughed at when they suspected racism working behind the scenes. Then along comes this court case, and the white guys get off free. The videotaped beating served as evidence to this community that they were right all along. And the acquittal of these white cops told them not only were blacks not equal, but that they will forever be held down. Whether this is true or not, it didn’t matter. The perception was enough to trigger a violent riot. But who did the rioters hurt? Themselves. They burnt down their neighbors’ homes and businesses. They reinforced all of those unfair negative stereotypes that whites have of urban blacks. And those who were rioting were enjoying the destruction and theft… the political aspect of the rage was lost in the greed and animalistic behavior. The most striking moment was when a black store owner ran out to confront looters and arsonists, without regard to his safety. He was crying and yelling “What y’all are doin’ is wrong! Why you wanna burn this down? I am from the ghetto, like you! I came up from nothin’!” It was really sad. Not only was the black community betrayed by the system, but now they were being stabbed in the back by their own neighbors. It was a very sad thing to watch, and my heart really goes out to those who were victims of that mob scene. Racism is alive and well, but unfortunately so is ignorance.
c) Tiananmen Square. What a horrible mess. I hope that China grows as a free and powerful nation, but there have been some horrible events. The bravery of the students, especially the one who stood-down the column of tanks was almost inhuman. We truly are spoiled in this country.
d) 9/11. I don’t want to talk too much about this, but I cry every time I see this stuff. It is still very painful to me, and I live in Iowa. I didn’t know anyone who died. And yet, seeing those towers, by heart leaps into my throat and my eyes burn. It is very hard for me to watch, and talk about… and it sort of makes me angry that I can’t cope with it any better. All of those poor people, who were not political targets… just going to work… ack. I’ll stop.
e) The Clinton Impeachment. What a colossal waste of time and money. Ken Starr, standing there telling Brokaw that it had nothing to do with politics of any sort… what a joke. What President Clinton did was wrong, no doubt about it. But America lost its mind. The scope and depth of the investigation truly seemed to be a unified and well funded character assassination. I feel bad for the President. And yet, he still acknowledges the scandal and inappropriate relationship in his Presidential Library. I think that took courage and integrity, because it would have been easy to revise history in this way (and many would not have faulted him). I miss President Clinton, he is a very likable man. And I think he did a good job during his 8 years. Not the best President we’ve ever had, but much like Regan, he was the right guy for the era he served in. He was a 90’s President. And the Starr Report was a 90’s embarrassment.
Well, that’s more than enough!
See ya!
1) Spongebob Squarepants, or as my Mexican friends call him Bob Esponga, is making a lot of news in the USA. In an advertising stunt, Burger King has affixed 10 foot tall inflatable Spongebob’s to the top of their restaurants. They are so cool! The problem is that nationwide (and even locally) there are people who are somehow steeling these things! They are valued at $1200 each, so you can imagine why Burger King is upset. Why does anyone want to steal a giant Spongebob? It must be a perilous procedure, as these things are tethered to the roof, and most BK’s are open pretty darn late. Can you imagine trying to stuff a 10 foot tall Spongebob into your car? Not to mention it would be painfully obvious where you got it if you were to display your yellow trophy.
2) While surfing Blog Explosion, I came across a link to an art gallery. The exhibit that it was promoting currently is a display of photos of pornographic film stars. The odd thing is that the photos are taken with their clothes on (normal, every day street clothes) and then next to that is the same pose, but naked. The nudity was a little shocking for an unsuspecting eye, but I found myself a little fascinated. When clothed, these people look very normal. That may sound like the dumb-statement-of-the-day, but consider that nude, these people LOOK like porn stars. They look trashy. They look too confident in their nudity. One photo was a beautiful woman, wearing jeans and a hooded sweatshirt, standing with her hands on her hips. Then when you click on it, there was she was, in thigh-high hose, tattoo rather low on her shaved pubic area, and standing with her legs and hips aligned so that you can see quite a lot of her “lower bits.” And she was still smiling away. The way she stood there unashamed sort of made me feel a little bit disgusted. I don’t know why. My attitude towards this woman was very different only because of the clothes she had on (or not). I don’t really want to draw too many conclusions here, I just wanted to share what I felt was an interesting event. If I may editorialize just a bit about this, I think that pornography is something that the USA is going to find it self battling very soon. I think that the ease of access and the anonymity that is afforded by the internet and digital cable is secretly changing the moral base of our nation. I think that it is already obvious that the US population in general has softened to sex. Personally, I think porn is bad, but that is a subject for later blogs.
3) A famous US television reporter, Tom Brokaw, is broadcasting his last broadcast this week. I think he will leave a small void when it comes to news presentation on TV. I watched his “Eyewitness to History” program, and it is simply amazing what this guy has seen with his own two eyes, and the historical events he was present for. He’s met kings, presidents, killers, and heroes. I hope that the rest of his life is spent pursuing happiness and health. Good luck Tom!
4) Speaking of “Eyewitness to History,” five things struck me rather powerfully while watching that 2 hour show (which could have easily been stretched into a mini-series… it was very interesting).
a) The Vietnam War. I can’t believe my dad made it home alive. And I can’t believe that while Washington was telling us it was a “winnable” situation, behind closed doors they were wringing their hands, calling it a terrible mess. It is a sad mark on US history. And to see the way the soldiers were mistreated upon return to the states was shameful.
b) The L.A. Riots (after the Rodney King hearing). Man, the anger of the people was palpable, even today. They were being told all their lives that racism isn’t in the US lexicon anymore, and that the system was playing fair. They were being told that any perceived mistreatment was because of oversensitivity. They were laughed at when they suspected racism working behind the scenes. Then along comes this court case, and the white guys get off free. The videotaped beating served as evidence to this community that they were right all along. And the acquittal of these white cops told them not only were blacks not equal, but that they will forever be held down. Whether this is true or not, it didn’t matter. The perception was enough to trigger a violent riot. But who did the rioters hurt? Themselves. They burnt down their neighbors’ homes and businesses. They reinforced all of those unfair negative stereotypes that whites have of urban blacks. And those who were rioting were enjoying the destruction and theft… the political aspect of the rage was lost in the greed and animalistic behavior. The most striking moment was when a black store owner ran out to confront looters and arsonists, without regard to his safety. He was crying and yelling “What y’all are doin’ is wrong! Why you wanna burn this down? I am from the ghetto, like you! I came up from nothin’!” It was really sad. Not only was the black community betrayed by the system, but now they were being stabbed in the back by their own neighbors. It was a very sad thing to watch, and my heart really goes out to those who were victims of that mob scene. Racism is alive and well, but unfortunately so is ignorance.
c) Tiananmen Square. What a horrible mess. I hope that China grows as a free and powerful nation, but there have been some horrible events. The bravery of the students, especially the one who stood-down the column of tanks was almost inhuman. We truly are spoiled in this country.
d) 9/11. I don’t want to talk too much about this, but I cry every time I see this stuff. It is still very painful to me, and I live in Iowa. I didn’t know anyone who died. And yet, seeing those towers, by heart leaps into my throat and my eyes burn. It is very hard for me to watch, and talk about… and it sort of makes me angry that I can’t cope with it any better. All of those poor people, who were not political targets… just going to work… ack. I’ll stop.
e) The Clinton Impeachment. What a colossal waste of time and money. Ken Starr, standing there telling Brokaw that it had nothing to do with politics of any sort… what a joke. What President Clinton did was wrong, no doubt about it. But America lost its mind. The scope and depth of the investigation truly seemed to be a unified and well funded character assassination. I feel bad for the President. And yet, he still acknowledges the scandal and inappropriate relationship in his Presidential Library. I think that took courage and integrity, because it would have been easy to revise history in this way (and many would not have faulted him). I miss President Clinton, he is a very likable man. And I think he did a good job during his 8 years. Not the best President we’ve ever had, but much like Regan, he was the right guy for the era he served in. He was a 90’s President. And the Starr Report was a 90’s embarrassment.
Well, that’s more than enough!
See ya!