...it all falls down.
I'm really, really frustrated.
Migraines are nothing new to me. I've had them my whole life. In high school I was hospitalized with a bad 5-day migraine and, more generally, I missed class up to three times a week.
College hasn't seen much improvement - I have to let my teachers know at the beginning of each semester that it's a problem and I might miss class more than normal.
Well nothing could have prepared them - or me - for this.
20 days. This is the TWENTIETH DAY of this horrible migraine. This morning was the first that I woke up without pain to speak of, but within twenty minutes, I had to take Percocet.
It started with a trip to the ER and hasn't gone away. I've been on a plethora of drugs these past three weeks, including tordal, depacote, percocet, maxalt, and prednisone (among others).
Percocet is the only thing that gives me relief. Problem is, I'm loopy as hell. My pain is gone, but I can't go to class because I'm so dizzy, and any homework that I read goes unabsorbed. And it all comes back after the percocet wears off.
I've had to drop two classes over this. It has set me back to a ridiculous extent. I was slated to graduate early, and I've been banking on that in making plans for the future. If this persists, particularly where Latin is concerned, it could extend my graduation date another FULL year. I can't afford it fiscally, mentally, or in any other capacity.
I don't know what to do. My doctors are not helpful in the slightest. The healthcare system is all bureaucracy and not at all about actually helping people. I need a neurologist, but OOOH no, you have to go to the Headache Clinic first. To do that, you need to fill out a 20 page history about every doctor you've ever seen and every medication you've ever been on, and then wait a month before you can even get an appointment. THEN they only see you once a month and monitor your progress.
I turned 21 on Tuesday, and I was home by 8 o'clock. I can't read. I can't think. I am useless. I need help. NOW. Not a month from now. Right. Fucking. Now.
11 November 2010
25 October 2010
The Culmination of My Studies in Liberal Theory
Ugh.
So, it's almost 4 AM. I've had a headache for three, going on four, days; I've been to the ER and Urgent Care for said headache, and have been prescribed Percocet until I can see my primary doctor for a more permanent solution. My first International Relations paper was due on Friday; problematic in that I was in the ER during most of Thursday evening. BUT, by the awe-inspiring grace of my International Relations professor and likely that of whatever God exists, I got an extension.
Anyway, long story short, here is the paper I cranked out to turn in tomorrow despite my blood turning to Percocet.
Presenting: Jessie's Liberally Theoretical Conception of Why War is Less of a Problem in the Post-Cold War Era than It Has Been in Past Eras.
It has little to do with the Cold War itself, uses World War II more as a reference point than it does the Cold War, and is painfully optimistic. I do not entirely agree with the overall position argued in this paper, but I had to prove that I can think like a liberal theorist. Despite my objections to liberal theory, it's liberal, it's 5.5 pages long, and it's my baby. :) I am very proud of it, although I am well aware that it is probably not my best work, given my current state of mind.
Comments, as always, are appreciated - however, they will have little bearing unless they are submitted before noon tomorrow, when my paper will be turned in.
Enjoy!
So, it's almost 4 AM. I've had a headache for three, going on four, days; I've been to the ER and Urgent Care for said headache, and have been prescribed Percocet until I can see my primary doctor for a more permanent solution. My first International Relations paper was due on Friday; problematic in that I was in the ER during most of Thursday evening. BUT, by the awe-inspiring grace of my International Relations professor and likely that of whatever God exists, I got an extension.
Anyway, long story short, here is the paper I cranked out to turn in tomorrow despite my blood turning to Percocet.
Presenting: Jessie's Liberally Theoretical Conception of Why War is Less of a Problem in the Post-Cold War Era than It Has Been in Past Eras.
It has little to do with the Cold War itself, uses World War II more as a reference point than it does the Cold War, and is painfully optimistic. I do not entirely agree with the overall position argued in this paper, but I had to prove that I can think like a liberal theorist. Despite my objections to liberal theory, it's liberal, it's 5.5 pages long, and it's my baby. :) I am very proud of it, although I am well aware that it is probably not my best work, given my current state of mind.
Comments, as always, are appreciated - however, they will have little bearing unless they are submitted before noon tomorrow, when my paper will be turned in.
Enjoy!
Normative Human Rights: Changing the Face of War
In the history of humanity, war has always existed. At one time, war was indiscriminate and did not delineate between military and collateral casualties. In its progression through human history, war has generally evolved toward the limitation of collateral damage. No overarching legal system in the international realm can monitor and regulate standards of war, but there has been a conscientious effort to establish universal rules of war between states. Since the end of World War II, one issue that has pervaded the international sphere in regard to the regulation of war has been human rights recognition and enforcement. The normative and legal changes in human rights have changed the standards of war, making war less of a problem in terms of casualties and conduct.
A precursor to any successful and lasting societal change is a change in normative standards. Normative change in and of itself is not necessarily legally binding; nevertheless, it is powerful. Norms encompass ideals and values held by individuals and groups within a society. In a free society, those values gain prominence in the population through the influence of “norm entrepreneurs” – advocates who strive for normative change within their communities.[1] The norms that become standards by which the government forms policies and laws are those that have influenced the basis of special interests groups and the resolutions of decision-making legislators.[2] Normative changes can also come about because of war: “World historical events such as wars…in the international system can lead to a search for new ideas and norms. Ideas and norms most associated with the losing side of a war…should be at particular risk of being discredited, opening the field for alternatives. ”[3]
The process of normative change in regard to human rights was inspired by the aftermath of World War II. The First World War made the world realize that humanity was capable of wreaking senseless devastation. In spite of this realization, World War II occurred, showing that the racial hatred on a government level can fester and enable calculated mass genocide. The devastation and cruelty of the Nazi war machine was unprecedented, and the norms that had been established within Nazi society (like the enablement and encouragement of racial superiority) were nothing short of appalling. As the full scale of Nazi intentions and actions were realized, the equal and inalienable rights of humanity became less marginal.
However, the prosecution of the Nazis did not necessarily bring human rights to the forefront. At the Nuremberg Trials, the main indictments against the Nazis were focused on war, aggression, and conspiracy, not crimes against humanity. The paradigm of the laws in place by which the Nazis were tried was that of pre-World War II, when the concept of human rights was neither definite nor fully developed. Thus, human rights considerations in the trial were part and parcel, but not the main focus, because they had not yet emerged as a normative concern within the international community, and they had not been internalized as a standard of adherence in Nazi prosecution.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (herein “Declaration”) exhibits how human rights reached a “tipping point” as a norm. Everyone recognized that the things that happened to the Jews and other racial groups under Nazi influence were things that should never happen again. In an attempt to realize this goal, the General Assembly of the United Nations established the Declaration as an international standard of human rights.
That is not to say that the Declaration is “hard law,” or “…[a] legally binding obligation that [is] precise…and that delegate[s] authority for interpreting and implementing the law.”[4] The UN General Assembly does not have the power to oversee the enforcement of the standards of the Declaration. The members of the General Assembly are encouraged to adhere to the standards it specifies, but they are only effective insofar as the individual members enforce the agreed-upon standards within their jurisdictions. There may be indirect consequences in ignoring international standards. For example, other nations may be hesitant to make alliances with states that are non-compliant with soft-law international standards.[5] However, nation-states are sovereign, and are in no way required to implement the United Nations’ standards of human rights. This makes the Declaration an example of “soft law,” in that it is an expected standard of adherence, but there are no direct, established consequences for those who choose to ignore them.
Although the Universal Declaration of Human Rights does not have the “hard” authority that domestic laws tend to have, its adoption by various international actors is a result of what is called a “norm cascade.” Human rights became recognizable as an emerging norm in cultures and societies across the globe to the point that various sovereign actors used the concept of human rights as a basis for creating domestic laws and taking international action. As more sovereign nations agree to follow human rights standards, their example encourages the compliance of other nations in what can be described as a type of international “peer pressure.” Nations might also receive pressure from their constituents to follow normative standards, although this is not a universal factor, considering the non-democratic natures of many nations.
The final stage of the normative life cycle is internalization, where a norm “…achieve[s] a ‘taken-for-granted’ quality that makes conformance with the norm almost automatic.”[6] In the case of human rights, this process continues to develop. Today, different nations carefully consider the implications of certain actions from a human rights perspective, particularly acts of war. However, that is not true of every action made by every nation. As noted in Jack Donnelly’s ‘The Relative Universality of Human Rights,’ “…in all countries, significant violations of at least some human rights occur daily, although which rights are violated, and with what severity, varies dramatically.”[7] This may be discouraging to those who work for the advocacy of human rights, but the global realization of any standard is difficult, and takes time.
The realization of human rights has had a profound impact on the conduct of war, at least in part. During World War II, the Nazis did not distinguish between civilians and soldiers, which translated into more civilian than military fatalities. Today, technology has advanced to the point that the havoc wreaked during World War II would be seen as child’s play if certain technological capabilities (such as that of nuclear weaponry) were exercised to their full potential. However, the mindset of maintaining human rights compels many nations to target enemy combatants, not entire populations, and they are therefore less likely to use weapons of mass destruction and more likely to use weapons of precision. Human rights standards also dictate a certain level of civility in dealing with enemy combatants during war. For example, the Declaration forbids the practice of torture. According to the Declaration, this is an established expectation in the capture and incarceration of prisoners of war.
Human rights also inspire movements within states, potentially precluding war when those rights are realized. Changes in human rights that emerged from movements such as the American Civil Rights movement may have inadvertently prevented full-scale war. If racial prejudices were the inspiration of Nazi atrocities, could racial prejudices in America during the Civil Rights Era have escalated to the point of war? Although history is in hindsight and “what if” questions are impossible to answer accurately, one might point to the historical example of the American Civil War and its human rights implications as an argument in affirmation of that possibility.
In what might seem like an odd paradox, human rights can also constitute the basis for going to war. The United Nations serves as an institution of legitimacy in situations of warfare in that any nation that belongs to the United Nations must attain the approval of the United Nations Security Council before they can declare war on another nation.[8] The United Nations is more likely to grant the approval of a declaration of war if the nation in question has committed human rights violations. Conversely, the United Nations would never grant approval for war if doing so meant the compromise of human rights.
Today, the casualties of war are considerably less than they were 70 years ago, despite the potential for casualties to be much greater when one considers the greater populations coupled with weapons of mass destruction. The United States is currently waging two wars, one in Iraq, and the other in Afghanistan. The time span of the two wars together has been approximately ten years, and in that time, the approximate casualties of civilians and soldiers have been 100,000 and 7,000, respectively.[9] Compared to the approximate 60 million civilians and soldiers that lost their lives in the Second World War in the same approximate time span, the difference is remarkably steep. That such a dramatic change could be effected in such a short time is stunning, and it would not have occurred without the normative changes that have taken place in the arena of human rights.
Human rights provide a standard of justice that is applicable to every human in every place. It is true that human rights are never fully realized within any one nation, but by definition, their application is intended for every human in every nation. To some, this might seem like an unrealistic expectation, but if sovereign nations continue to cooperate and human progress maintains its current trajectory, then the realization of human rights in its full capacity as a normative standard is not only possible, but probable. Humanity might be flawed by nature, but as international institutions and policies are developed that encourage and advance the cause of human rights, normative human rights will become fully internalized and achieved.
21 October 2010
Interfaith-ing
The other night, I went to an Interfaith dialogue about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and it was the most fulfilling discussion I've had in a long time.
Christians, Muslims, Jews, and others representing other faiths (and then there was me, who couldn't tell you her faith if she tried...) sat down and had a wonderful, beautiful conversation about the thing we can agree on above all - that we all desire Middle Eastern Peace, and that we feel compelled to do our part to make it happen.
Yep. We ALL agreed on it.
Even the Muslims. Which doesn't surprise me at ALL, in the least, but it might surprise some of the more ignorant among those that I have the misfortune of knowing.
Coming from a pretty exclusively Christian background, hearing stupid, ignorant comments about Muslims is basically a daily occurrence. And I HATE it. I don't think anything pisses me off more (please read one of my previous posts on the "Mosque Controversy" for some extra flavor - Freedom of religion means freedom of fucking religion. SHUT UP.)
If you are one of those people that thinks that Islam is all about "honor killings, discrimination against women and violence," please, please, PLEASE read this post right here. It will make you think. You might not like that it makes you think, but having to admit that you might be wrong builds character and it makes you learn something wonderful and freeing - in this case, that Muslims are beautiful, deeply spiritual, God-fearing, God-loving PEOPLE, just like YOU!
It was written by a sister of mine across the globe that I have never met - but my love goes out to her nonetheless, and the courage and eloquence she shows in sharing something like this is inspired.
After you read it, go make friends with a Muslim, and have an honest conversation with them about religion. I promise, you will be surprised.
Thanks a bunch! :)
Christians, Muslims, Jews, and others representing other faiths (and then there was me, who couldn't tell you her faith if she tried...) sat down and had a wonderful, beautiful conversation about the thing we can agree on above all - that we all desire Middle Eastern Peace, and that we feel compelled to do our part to make it happen.
Yep. We ALL agreed on it.
Even the Muslims. Which doesn't surprise me at ALL, in the least, but it might surprise some of the more ignorant among those that I have the misfortune of knowing.
Coming from a pretty exclusively Christian background, hearing stupid, ignorant comments about Muslims is basically a daily occurrence. And I HATE it. I don't think anything pisses me off more (please read one of my previous posts on the "Mosque Controversy" for some extra flavor - Freedom of religion means freedom of fucking religion. SHUT UP.)
If you are one of those people that thinks that Islam is all about "honor killings, discrimination against women and violence," please, please, PLEASE read this post right here. It will make you think. You might not like that it makes you think, but having to admit that you might be wrong builds character and it makes you learn something wonderful and freeing - in this case, that Muslims are beautiful, deeply spiritual, God-fearing, God-loving PEOPLE, just like YOU!
It was written by a sister of mine across the globe that I have never met - but my love goes out to her nonetheless, and the courage and eloquence she shows in sharing something like this is inspired.
After you read it, go make friends with a Muslim, and have an honest conversation with them about religion. I promise, you will be surprised.
Thanks a bunch! :)
08 October 2010
I don't know why I do this to myself...
As you can probably tell from previous posts, I'm not the type that "follows" Glenn Beck. But I do listen to him on occasion. I was listening to him on the way in to school this morning, and he started talking about this "spiritual journey" that he's about to embark on.
This whole journey thing was no doubt prompted by some health problems he's having - something about his eyes, his voice, and a tingling sensation in his extremities. He talked about how his doctors are going to test him for "poisons" - not that he's being poisoned (which may be disappointing to hear, for some...), but that he is somehow consuming/being exposed to poisons due to his environment, something he's eating, etc.
He went on to talk about how he thinks he knows what those poisons are - how he "reads up" on his political, spiritual, etc. competition to "understand" them, and how doing so is affecting him to his very core, how he is not trying to become that which he exposes himself to, etc. but he's failing, because it's "poisoning" him.
And then it hit me. This is no spiritual journey, at all. If the things he disagrees with are somehow "poisoning" him, that's an indication that he's already chosen the destination for his spiritual journey. If he was really, truly open-minded to the things "God" wants to teach him, he'd be really, truly open-minded to the possibility that he's wrong. And he's just not.
That is precisely the reason I can't respect him, or Rush Limbaugh, or any of these other rock-solid, religious righties. Sure, there are people on the Left that are the same way in different respects, but I never hear anyone speak as loudly as these jackasses that are all, "GOD IS MAKING A SPECIAL REVELATION TO ME," when, really, they are just using God as a scapegoat to reinforce the things they already believe to be true, and to make them feel better about the fact that they are getting old, getting sick, and falling apart. They're not learning anything - if they were, they wouldn't insist that they are 100% correct all the time.
Spiritual journeys are about letting go of all of your inhibitions and prejudices and LEARNING something, about yourself, about the world, about spirituality itself. They are about being humble, not exalting yourself to the station of Right Light of the World, and they are about realizing that ALL of this - all of reality - is SO FAR beyond you that your opinion is only that - an opinion - and that opinions can be and often are WRONG.
I don't think Glenn Beck would know a spiritual journey if it danced naked in front of him. He thinks he's here to be a light to the world and make "Right" everything that's "Wrong/Left." Well la de fuckin da, what if your spiritual journey is meant to take you somewhere else, Mr. Beck? Would you let it? Would you let God tell you that you're wrong? Or would you just contort his message to further your agenda? Yes. You absolutely would. That is what you do, every single day.
I hope you can prove me wrong, Mr. Beck. I hope that you learn something valuable - I hope that you can learn to be wrong, and to ADMIT that you are wrong. In what respect? I don't know. I think you're wrong in so very, very many ways. But, the difference between you and me, is that I don't let my opinion become absolute.
Unless you're Pat Robertson, then my opinion on you is that the title "Scum of the Earth" is too good for you.
And, Mr. Beck, you are getting very, VERY close to becoming that same kind of monster. You may already be.
Please, please prove me wrong.
This whole journey thing was no doubt prompted by some health problems he's having - something about his eyes, his voice, and a tingling sensation in his extremities. He talked about how his doctors are going to test him for "poisons" - not that he's being poisoned (which may be disappointing to hear, for some...), but that he is somehow consuming/being exposed to poisons due to his environment, something he's eating, etc.
He went on to talk about how he thinks he knows what those poisons are - how he "reads up" on his political, spiritual, etc. competition to "understand" them, and how doing so is affecting him to his very core, how he is not trying to become that which he exposes himself to, etc. but he's failing, because it's "poisoning" him.
And then it hit me. This is no spiritual journey, at all. If the things he disagrees with are somehow "poisoning" him, that's an indication that he's already chosen the destination for his spiritual journey. If he was really, truly open-minded to the things "God" wants to teach him, he'd be really, truly open-minded to the possibility that he's wrong. And he's just not.
That is precisely the reason I can't respect him, or Rush Limbaugh, or any of these other rock-solid, religious righties. Sure, there are people on the Left that are the same way in different respects, but I never hear anyone speak as loudly as these jackasses that are all, "GOD IS MAKING A SPECIAL REVELATION TO ME," when, really, they are just using God as a scapegoat to reinforce the things they already believe to be true, and to make them feel better about the fact that they are getting old, getting sick, and falling apart. They're not learning anything - if they were, they wouldn't insist that they are 100% correct all the time.
Spiritual journeys are about letting go of all of your inhibitions and prejudices and LEARNING something, about yourself, about the world, about spirituality itself. They are about being humble, not exalting yourself to the station of Right Light of the World, and they are about realizing that ALL of this - all of reality - is SO FAR beyond you that your opinion is only that - an opinion - and that opinions can be and often are WRONG.
I don't think Glenn Beck would know a spiritual journey if it danced naked in front of him. He thinks he's here to be a light to the world and make "Right" everything that's "Wrong/Left." Well la de fuckin da, what if your spiritual journey is meant to take you somewhere else, Mr. Beck? Would you let it? Would you let God tell you that you're wrong? Or would you just contort his message to further your agenda? Yes. You absolutely would. That is what you do, every single day.
I hope you can prove me wrong, Mr. Beck. I hope that you learn something valuable - I hope that you can learn to be wrong, and to ADMIT that you are wrong. In what respect? I don't know. I think you're wrong in so very, very many ways. But, the difference between you and me, is that I don't let my opinion become absolute.
Unless you're Pat Robertson, then my opinion on you is that the title "Scum of the Earth" is too good for you.
And, Mr. Beck, you are getting very, VERY close to becoming that same kind of monster. You may already be.
Please, please prove me wrong.
30 September 2010
My Favorite President and My Complicated Relationship with Lutheranism
Today in Religion and the US Founding, we talked about my favorite president, Thomas Jefferson. And I was reminded today all over again why that is. Also, today in Early Modern Pol Thought, we talked about Martin Luther. If there's one thing you should know about me, it's that I have a complicated history with Mr. Luther and his doctrine.
First, in Rel/US...We had to read three documents by Jefferson today - the Declaration of Independence, a letter from TJ to his nephew, Peter Carr, and "Notes on the State of Virginia." Collectively, he had some extremely powerful things to say about reason, religion, and, obviously, what America should be. My absolute favorite quote of all time came from his letter to Peter Carr:
First, in Rel/US...We had to read three documents by Jefferson today - the Declaration of Independence, a letter from TJ to his nephew, Peter Carr, and "Notes on the State of Virginia." Collectively, he had some extremely powerful things to say about reason, religion, and, obviously, what America should be. My absolute favorite quote of all time came from his letter to Peter Carr:
"Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear."
I mean...WOW. This sums me up. This is what I've been screaming internally for my entire [Lutheran] life (you might be able to see where this is going). As my previous post might indicate, I hate hate hate HAAAATE people like Pat Robertson that thrive on...well, hate. People who get off on informing everyone else that there is a God and, wwwwooooah, buddy, are you EVER in trouble with him. [Not ME, though. He SPEAKS to me.]
Everyone (except maybe Pat Robertson) has the ability to reason. To use their head. To look at a situation and say, hmm, something isn't right about this. Perhaps I should investigate it. I agree with my favorite president and think that any God that might exist would appreciate us thinking that way.
Ok, here's where Luther comes in.
My life has been very, very Lutheran. I went to an ELCA Church growing up, an LCMS gradeschool, and a "Free Lutheran" high school (though I'm not entirely clear on what that means). My aunt and uncle are Lutheran pastors. So was my great-grandfather. Both my parents had Lutheran upbringings and mostly brought me up the same way (I say "mostly" because I dabbled in Baptist-ism for a while, which they were pretty supportive about). Anyway, to sum it up, any time any family thing happens, at least one Lutheran church service is involved. And that's totally cool. I love my family, and I love keeping family tradition alive - and I definitely consider Lutheranism to be family tradition. I'm told that my family, way back when, helped found the LCMS. That, for me, is something to be proud of.
That being said, there is definitely some negativity there. Much of the "FIRE BRIMSTONE HELL FIRE BLAAAAAAHHHHH YOU MUST FEAR THE WRATH OF GOD" crap I've heard in my life has either been in my grade school, my childhood church, and my high school (admittedly, there have also been other sources, but we're not talking about them). I have always had a voice (probably my Reason!!) inside me say, hang on, it can't really be all that bad. Whoever, wherever, WHATever God is, he's got to be more understanding than that.
Tonight in EMPT, we went back to the very beginning roots of Lutheranism, and you know, Luther was on the right track. Sola Fide. Faith Alone. Not works - you can never earn God's salvation - but it's ok, because he's chuck full of grace and love for you.
Now, to be clear, I have all kinds of problems with the whole faith thing, which has probably been my problem for my entire life, if only subliminally. I mean, yeah, the Bible says that God is a good God, but if God was a bad God, would the Bible tell us that? No. A bad God wouldn't be obligated or compelled to tell us the truth. That's just part of it - my point is, you just can't KNOW, based on the Bible. And, unfortunately, that's the only real way God (assuming he exists and is the Christian God) has chosen to communicate with us. (DISCLAIMER: If anyone looks at this point and wants to say "Oh but look at the pretty birds and the powerful oceans and the expansive cosmos and you have all the proof you need right there" please, please, PLEASE don't waste your time, or mine).
I guess the basis of what I'm saying is that Lutheranism only demands faith from you - my problem is acquiring said faith.
That's why I so appreciate Thomas Jefferson, and his reasoned reassurance that it is ok to be doubtful, as long as it's rooted in reason. If you're truly, honestly lost (which I TOTALLY am), that's ok. Try your hardest, do your best - whatever God is out there sees it. The way I figure it, if there's not a God, then nothing really matters anyway. If he exists and he's evil, then we're all gonna roast anyway. But if there IS a God, if he is a GOOD God, and if he DID create me just the way I am, if he IS watching as closely as they say - then he'll understand that I'm trying my hardest, and that I'm thinking the way he created me to think. He will not condemn me for that.
29 September 2010
Tell Me...
How does a fuckhead like Pat Robertson get any influence, at all, whatsoever?
I stumbled upon a website of Pat Robertson quotes, and I'd think that only the brainwashed and insane could possibly take him seriously. But apparently, he has quite the following, and I cannot for the life of me understand why!!!
Admittedly, I don't know anything about him. I don't know how he got money, what his educational background is, or what his background is in general. But when I read things like this, the rest is just moot point. The dude is cracked. I thought we got past the whole "God creates natural disasters to punish the gays" and shit like that somewhere around two hundred years ago. It's called science, dipshit. Hurricanes come around the same time of year, just like blizzards and tsunamis - COULD IT BE that it's because there's a YEARLY CYCLE of the Earth, and weather patterns follow it????! The list of offensive-to-reason things he says goes beyond God using weather to get back at the gays, but my point is made. He's obviously not using the brain that his God gave him.
Thank you, Pat Robertson, for reinforcing, nay, PROVING, my theory that those who "hear from God" just SUCK. If God's gonna waste his time talking to you then he's got pretty poor choice in in the company he keeps.
I stumbled upon a website of Pat Robertson quotes, and I'd think that only the brainwashed and insane could possibly take him seriously. But apparently, he has quite the following, and I cannot for the life of me understand why!!!
Admittedly, I don't know anything about him. I don't know how he got money, what his educational background is, or what his background is in general. But when I read things like this, the rest is just moot point. The dude is cracked. I thought we got past the whole "God creates natural disasters to punish the gays" and shit like that somewhere around two hundred years ago. It's called science, dipshit. Hurricanes come around the same time of year, just like blizzards and tsunamis - COULD IT BE that it's because there's a YEARLY CYCLE of the Earth, and weather patterns follow it????! The list of offensive-to-reason things he says goes beyond God using weather to get back at the gays, but my point is made. He's obviously not using the brain that his God gave him.
Thank you, Pat Robertson, for reinforcing, nay, PROVING, my theory that those who "hear from God" just SUCK. If God's gonna waste his time talking to you then he's got pretty poor choice in in the company he keeps.
27 September 2010
Facebook: Showing How Little People Actually Pay Attention/Care
Ok, so I've been off of Facebook for well over a month now. By "off of Facebook," I mean that I had my boyfriend change my account password, installed an application on my computer whereby the actual Facebook site is blocked, had my boyfriend password-protect said application, installed Facebook Mobile Texts for my phone so that I could update my status on the go/receive notifications when people comment on said mobile statuses. The mobile status updates are the only connection I have to Facebook at all whatsoever.
I'm doing this because I've grown to despise Facebook and the way it has changed my relationships with people and the way it utterly absorbs my time "keeping up with people." I just don't care that much, but I can't stop constantly keeping my News Feed updated, stalking people who I never talk to anymore, and participating in the endless meaningless activities that Facebook provides (and no, I don't mean Farmville). I much, much, MUCH prefer updating Facebook on the go, kind of like Twitter, and while I don't have access to what other people are saying unless they directly comment on my status, I've found that, when I'm not on Facebook, I just don't care. It's been refreshing, to say the least, to have such limited contact, and to have more time to do actual important things.
Anyway, it's been this way for, like, a month now. I've made it very clear in my Facebook blog and in that little "say something about yourself" box that I'M NOT HERE. I CAN'T SEE WHAT YOU POST. DON'T EVEN TRY. And yet, people are getting mad at me for "not replying to their messages," or "not responding to their wall posts," or whatever. Yep, there's a good reason for that - I can't see it. I WON'T see it. Not until Christmas vacation, at the earliest, when I'm going to allow myself back on. Even though I've made this abundantly clear, people just aren't paying attention.
It's little wonder why that is. It's because people don't actually take the time to look at your profile - they see what content of yours is being posted on the News Feed, and go from there. I wonder if people would go to my profile at all if I just quit posting via Fbook Mobile Texts. Probably not. Does it bother me? Not in the slightest, until they get mad at me for "not responding" when I'm not even ON. Just goes to show how little people actually care. Kind of like me.
I guess it's not all Facebook's fault - it's largely my own. I can't control myself/manage my time when it comes to Facebook. And that IS my problem. Maybe all of this sounds a tad cynical, but I'm just astounded more people aren't sick of the hypocrisy - "Omg, keep in touch with the people you never see!" Yeah, ok, there's merit in that, but counting on it to consistently keep in touch with the people you DO see all the time? to keep tabs on people you will likely never see again? COME ON. Does no one else think that this is unhealthy, to an extent? Does no one else think it a tidge egotistical?
Facebook has changed the face of communication and even has its own code of etiquette. I say, to Hell with it. I'm tired of my social life being dictated by my participation in Facebook. If that means not having a social life, fine, I have enough actual relationships in my life to keep afloat.
I'm doing this because I've grown to despise Facebook and the way it has changed my relationships with people and the way it utterly absorbs my time "keeping up with people." I just don't care that much, but I can't stop constantly keeping my News Feed updated, stalking people who I never talk to anymore, and participating in the endless meaningless activities that Facebook provides (and no, I don't mean Farmville). I much, much, MUCH prefer updating Facebook on the go, kind of like Twitter, and while I don't have access to what other people are saying unless they directly comment on my status, I've found that, when I'm not on Facebook, I just don't care. It's been refreshing, to say the least, to have such limited contact, and to have more time to do actual important things.
Anyway, it's been this way for, like, a month now. I've made it very clear in my Facebook blog and in that little "say something about yourself" box that I'M NOT HERE. I CAN'T SEE WHAT YOU POST. DON'T EVEN TRY. And yet, people are getting mad at me for "not replying to their messages," or "not responding to their wall posts," or whatever. Yep, there's a good reason for that - I can't see it. I WON'T see it. Not until Christmas vacation, at the earliest, when I'm going to allow myself back on. Even though I've made this abundantly clear, people just aren't paying attention.
It's little wonder why that is. It's because people don't actually take the time to look at your profile - they see what content of yours is being posted on the News Feed, and go from there. I wonder if people would go to my profile at all if I just quit posting via Fbook Mobile Texts. Probably not. Does it bother me? Not in the slightest, until they get mad at me for "not responding" when I'm not even ON. Just goes to show how little people actually care. Kind of like me.
I guess it's not all Facebook's fault - it's largely my own. I can't control myself/manage my time when it comes to Facebook. And that IS my problem. Maybe all of this sounds a tad cynical, but I'm just astounded more people aren't sick of the hypocrisy - "Omg, keep in touch with the people you never see!" Yeah, ok, there's merit in that, but counting on it to consistently keep in touch with the people you DO see all the time? to keep tabs on people you will likely never see again? COME ON. Does no one else think that this is unhealthy, to an extent? Does no one else think it a tidge egotistical?
Facebook has changed the face of communication and even has its own code of etiquette. I say, to Hell with it. I'm tired of my social life being dictated by my participation in Facebook. If that means not having a social life, fine, I have enough actual relationships in my life to keep afloat.
21 September 2010
Sunshine and Puppies.
This is my brother and his girlfriend.
They're so cute, I can hardly tolerate it.
20 September 2010
I can't shut up about my classes, and I'm sorry...
...but I need to get all of these wonderful THOUGHTS down somewhere!!
I just got out of an awesome International Relations lecture session where we discussed the possibilities of global governance and what that looks like today.
I've never thought positively about the possibility of a world order - maybe that's because of my religious background. To me, global gov't has meant what is talked about in the book Revelation, and that = not good. But I'm realizing the difference between global governance and global government - and there really is a world of difference. There is no hierarchical order that supercedes sovereign authority, nor will there ever be - but, as the world gets smaller and communication gets more instantaneous, a global system has indeed begun to take shape. The question is how to make these governmental networks, connections across borders, and state-to-state, organization-to-organization relationships work in a way that promotes our progress.
There are a plethora of problems. So many, that there will never NOT be problems. But that doesn't make it any less fascinating, that in the natural endeavor of human progress, such a leviathan (and I don't mean a Hobbesian leviathan) has taken form and is influencing us in the day-to-day.
Think about it: Facebook and Twitter create connections between people that would never, ever meet under normal circumstances. Last year when shit went down in the Gaza Strip, Twitter was alerting all of us on this side of the world to what was going on through the personal perspective of an actual person who was actually experiencing the chaos. These personal stories resonate with us, and soon, everyone can sympathize one way or another, and there you have a global network of world citizens, pondering the same questions, mulling over the same moral quandaries, thinking the same (if conflicting) thoughts. This is HUGE, and certainly can't be regulated by any one sovereign state, because it touches and affects almost every sovereign nation on this planet.
Facebook and Twitter aren't governments, but there is governance involved - maybe on the higher levels of administration, but also on an individual basis. It's become only natural for this sort of structure to take place.
That's so different from the apocalyptic, world tyranny picture painted in Revelation. This liberal course that the world has set has so, so much potential - it's hard not to get excited about it. While it has its problems, it may also hold some very crucial solutions.
I just got out of an awesome International Relations lecture session where we discussed the possibilities of global governance and what that looks like today.
I've never thought positively about the possibility of a world order - maybe that's because of my religious background. To me, global gov't has meant what is talked about in the book Revelation, and that = not good. But I'm realizing the difference between global governance and global government - and there really is a world of difference. There is no hierarchical order that supercedes sovereign authority, nor will there ever be - but, as the world gets smaller and communication gets more instantaneous, a global system has indeed begun to take shape. The question is how to make these governmental networks, connections across borders, and state-to-state, organization-to-organization relationships work in a way that promotes our progress.
There are a plethora of problems. So many, that there will never NOT be problems. But that doesn't make it any less fascinating, that in the natural endeavor of human progress, such a leviathan (and I don't mean a Hobbesian leviathan) has taken form and is influencing us in the day-to-day.
Think about it: Facebook and Twitter create connections between people that would never, ever meet under normal circumstances. Last year when shit went down in the Gaza Strip, Twitter was alerting all of us on this side of the world to what was going on through the personal perspective of an actual person who was actually experiencing the chaos. These personal stories resonate with us, and soon, everyone can sympathize one way or another, and there you have a global network of world citizens, pondering the same questions, mulling over the same moral quandaries, thinking the same (if conflicting) thoughts. This is HUGE, and certainly can't be regulated by any one sovereign state, because it touches and affects almost every sovereign nation on this planet.
Facebook and Twitter aren't governments, but there is governance involved - maybe on the higher levels of administration, but also on an individual basis. It's become only natural for this sort of structure to take place.
That's so different from the apocalyptic, world tyranny picture painted in Revelation. This liberal course that the world has set has so, so much potential - it's hard not to get excited about it. While it has its problems, it may also hold some very crucial solutions.
15 September 2010
Well, Color Me Enlightened
I love my classes.
First of all, I don't think I have a single bad professor. Yeah, there are some dry ones in the bunch, but they are all very knowledgeable and have mechanisms in place that ensure my success (as long as I follow through - which we all know I will).
Secondly, aside from Latin, they are all classes toward my majors, and that makes all the difference in the world in terms of my sustained attention and interest, and my commitment to completing my homework. This has been a problem in past semesters - although I will undoubtedly get behind (ha, who are we kidding, I'm already behind), the subjects I'm studying are more than enough motivation for me to get caught up.
Religion and the US Founding easily tops the list of my favorite classes ever. It's at least in the top three. Professor Fischer is upbeat, funny, and she knows EVERYTHING about this subject. I want to be just like her. I have no idea what her personal beliefs are, but boy, does she ever get us to think. I read through our first reading assignment; it's about Deism and its origins I couldn't put it down - it basically changed my life. If the rest of our readings have even HALF the impact, then this will be the easiest and most rewarding A I will ever get in my college career.
International Relations was intimidating going in - Ratemyprofessors.com didn't give me much hope. Professor Duvall is the chair of the Poli Sci department and he's taught at Yale and other ridiculous places. Bottom line, he knows his shit. But, reading through my first assignment in his class really got me to think of the possibilities, and I learned a whole new side of international relations that I didn't really get in my intro course at UMD. It was very realist-oriented, and while we will cover realism in this course, we have started in the liberalist camp, and it's not something I knew very much about. The reading is complex and it repeats itself a LOT, but it sheds light on the possibilities for our world, and I came away from it learning a great deal. It might not be easy or an A, but it will be fun.
Early Modern Political Thought will be a challenge, as well - while I LOVED my Intro to Political Thought class in Duluth, not only is the professor very, very different, but we are also going a lot more in-depth. Our writing assignments require a turned-in, peer-reviewed rough draft, which means that I'm actually going to have to work ahead of time (not my strong suit). I am very much looking forward to being reunited with my friends Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau, and learning tidbits from my new friend Machiavelli and maybe even my old nemesis, Luther. Reading Machiavelli hasn't been easy or fun (yet), but I'm hoping to get some new insights. I CAN get an A, but with my workload I will probably have to settle for an A-.
The History of the Ancient Near East - honestly, I thought my concentration was going to be in Ancient History when I started college, but I haven't been able to take an ancient history course until now, either because I had more important things to take or all the ancient history classes filled before I could sign up for them. And boy, this one is going to give me a run for my money. The reading is dense and very dryly historical (aka boooorrrrringggg) and we need to know MAPS. Ugh. Fml. Despite the difficulties, it will be interesting. Despite its interesting nature, I am not expecting an A. Frankly, I'd be shocked at an A-.
Then there's Latin. Oh Latin. I have my favorite Latin prof, Andrew, THANK GOD. That is the only good thing about this class, besides the fact that I'm taking it pass-fail. Things have been very review-oriented over the past week and a half and NOTHING is coming back. Yeah, ok, I remember some declension endings, but sequence of tenses? Verb conjugations and synopses? Gerunds and gerundives?? ABLATIVES??? Forget it. Forgot it. Forgotten. Reading Caesar sucks, and every single bloody day, without fail, I ask myself why I was so stupid as to choose to study this horribly organized dead language. I'll pass it, but I will not enjoy it.
---
These A's and 'passes' will only come with dedication and hard work. I'm behind now because of my little Gettysburg getaway, but believe you me, that will not last long.
Thank GOD I'm not on Facebook.
First of all, I don't think I have a single bad professor. Yeah, there are some dry ones in the bunch, but they are all very knowledgeable and have mechanisms in place that ensure my success (as long as I follow through - which we all know I will).
Secondly, aside from Latin, they are all classes toward my majors, and that makes all the difference in the world in terms of my sustained attention and interest, and my commitment to completing my homework. This has been a problem in past semesters - although I will undoubtedly get behind (ha, who are we kidding, I'm already behind), the subjects I'm studying are more than enough motivation for me to get caught up.
Religion and the US Founding easily tops the list of my favorite classes ever. It's at least in the top three. Professor Fischer is upbeat, funny, and she knows EVERYTHING about this subject. I want to be just like her. I have no idea what her personal beliefs are, but boy, does she ever get us to think. I read through our first reading assignment; it's about Deism and its origins I couldn't put it down - it basically changed my life. If the rest of our readings have even HALF the impact, then this will be the easiest and most rewarding A I will ever get in my college career.
International Relations was intimidating going in - Ratemyprofessors.com didn't give me much hope. Professor Duvall is the chair of the Poli Sci department and he's taught at Yale and other ridiculous places. Bottom line, he knows his shit. But, reading through my first assignment in his class really got me to think of the possibilities, and I learned a whole new side of international relations that I didn't really get in my intro course at UMD. It was very realist-oriented, and while we will cover realism in this course, we have started in the liberalist camp, and it's not something I knew very much about. The reading is complex and it repeats itself a LOT, but it sheds light on the possibilities for our world, and I came away from it learning a great deal. It might not be easy or an A, but it will be fun.
Early Modern Political Thought will be a challenge, as well - while I LOVED my Intro to Political Thought class in Duluth, not only is the professor very, very different, but we are also going a lot more in-depth. Our writing assignments require a turned-in, peer-reviewed rough draft, which means that I'm actually going to have to work ahead of time (not my strong suit). I am very much looking forward to being reunited with my friends Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau, and learning tidbits from my new friend Machiavelli and maybe even my old nemesis, Luther. Reading Machiavelli hasn't been easy or fun (yet), but I'm hoping to get some new insights. I CAN get an A, but with my workload I will probably have to settle for an A-.
The History of the Ancient Near East - honestly, I thought my concentration was going to be in Ancient History when I started college, but I haven't been able to take an ancient history course until now, either because I had more important things to take or all the ancient history classes filled before I could sign up for them. And boy, this one is going to give me a run for my money. The reading is dense and very dryly historical (aka boooorrrrringggg) and we need to know MAPS. Ugh. Fml. Despite the difficulties, it will be interesting. Despite its interesting nature, I am not expecting an A. Frankly, I'd be shocked at an A-.
Then there's Latin. Oh Latin. I have my favorite Latin prof, Andrew, THANK GOD. That is the only good thing about this class, besides the fact that I'm taking it pass-fail. Things have been very review-oriented over the past week and a half and NOTHING is coming back. Yeah, ok, I remember some declension endings, but sequence of tenses? Verb conjugations and synopses? Gerunds and gerundives?? ABLATIVES??? Forget it. Forgot it. Forgotten. Reading Caesar sucks, and every single bloody day, without fail, I ask myself why I was so stupid as to choose to study this horribly organized dead language. I'll pass it, but I will not enjoy it.
---
These A's and 'passes' will only come with dedication and hard work. I'm behind now because of my little Gettysburg getaway, but believe you me, that will not last long.
Thank GOD I'm not on Facebook.
09 September 2010
The Exorcist
When I was little, maybe around age 7 or 8, The Exorcist was re-released in theaters. I guess it was a pretty big deal, there were commercials on TV advertising it for weeks ahead of time. The commercials terrified me - they literally gave me nightmares. There was one shot in the commercials that I remember very well - one where a girl in a nightgown was doing a very painful-looking crab walk down a staircase, screaming in some horrible voice that is hard to forget as an 8-year old. I saw that shot over and over again in my head every time I shut my eyes, and I swore up and down that I would never, ever see that horrible movie.
It wasn't until this past week that I watched the Exorcist for the first time.
Probably not because I was scared or anything, I just haven't gotten around to it. :-P
[Oh, and that image of the girl crab-walking down the stairs? It never came up. I was sort of disappointed.]
I think that, back when I watched the Exorcist commercials, it was the first time I'd been exposed to any sort of possibility of the demonic. Don't get me wrong, I knew all about the devil and Hell thanks to my elementary education - but the possibility of the devil and his minions manifesting themselves in everyday life as opposed to them being stuck in Hell where they couldn't get to me, or anyone I cared about, or anyone else? I think that scared me more than any image Hollywood could conjure.
As I watched the movie, there were several moments that reminded me of my own spiritual journey throughout my life. I was struck by how far I've come since first seeing those commercials, and yet, how unbelievably lost I am in all things faith/God oriented - I guess some would call that negative progress.
Maybe it's not all good - no, I have not had a positive experience with religion of any kind; no, I don't know what to think about God (and that is hard for me); yes, I lose sleep over it; yes, it has affected my life - but I don't think it's all bad. It has pounded me into what I am today, and I would not trade a single step in my journey for anything, even if I might desperately want to. That's because I know the things I know thanks to my experiences; every experience, every moment that doesn't kill you is precious in some form or another, even the hardest, most unbearable ones.
It wasn't until this past week that I watched the Exorcist for the first time.
Probably not because I was scared or anything, I just haven't gotten around to it. :-P
[Oh, and that image of the girl crab-walking down the stairs? It never came up. I was sort of disappointed.]
I think that, back when I watched the Exorcist commercials, it was the first time I'd been exposed to any sort of possibility of the demonic. Don't get me wrong, I knew all about the devil and Hell thanks to my elementary education - but the possibility of the devil and his minions manifesting themselves in everyday life as opposed to them being stuck in Hell where they couldn't get to me, or anyone I cared about, or anyone else? I think that scared me more than any image Hollywood could conjure.
As I watched the movie, there were several moments that reminded me of my own spiritual journey throughout my life. I was struck by how far I've come since first seeing those commercials, and yet, how unbelievably lost I am in all things faith/God oriented - I guess some would call that negative progress.
Maybe it's not all good - no, I have not had a positive experience with religion of any kind; no, I don't know what to think about God (and that is hard for me); yes, I lose sleep over it; yes, it has affected my life - but I don't think it's all bad. It has pounded me into what I am today, and I would not trade a single step in my journey for anything, even if I might desperately want to. That's because I know the things I know thanks to my experiences; every experience, every moment that doesn't kill you is precious in some form or another, even the hardest, most unbearable ones.
06 September 2010
Class Schedule, Fall '10
Ancient Civilization: Near East and Egypt - 10:10-11am, MWF, Prof. von Dassow
International Relations - 12:20-1:10pm, MWF, Prof. Duvall
Religion and the US Founding - 12:45-2pm, TTh, Prof. Fischer
Latin Prose - 2:30-3:20pm, MTWTh, Professors Willey and Smith
Early Modern Political Thought - 4-5:15pm, TTh, Instructor details unknown (???)
---
I'm excited for the upcoming semester. I've been waiting to take a class on Ancient Egypt since I got to college, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Founding Fathers history, I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOVVVVVVEEE Political Thought and am looking forward to being reunited with my friends Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau, my Int'l Rel's prof is reportedly the best and hardest in the Poli Sci department....
...and then there's Latin. I'm trying really, really hard to get excited about it. I will be reading Cicero, so there's an upside, I guess.
It all begins tomorrow. I'm going to hopefully get a locker at or near Blegen Hall (where 4 of my classes are - 3 of them are even in the same room) and use it to keep my gym clothes/crap I don't need to take home every night. I'm also planning on making Wilson 78 my study refuge.
The best part - three and a half months from now, I'll be a senior!!!!!!!
Bring it, Fall Semester.
International Relations - 12:20-1:10pm, MWF, Prof. Duvall
Religion and the US Founding - 12:45-2pm, TTh, Prof. Fischer
Latin Prose - 2:30-3:20pm, MTWTh, Professors Willey and Smith
Early Modern Political Thought - 4-5:15pm, TTh, Instructor details unknown (???)
---
I'm excited for the upcoming semester. I've been waiting to take a class on Ancient Egypt since I got to college, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Founding Fathers history, I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOVVVVVVEEE Political Thought and am looking forward to being reunited with my friends Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau, my Int'l Rel's prof is reportedly the best and hardest in the Poli Sci department....
...and then there's Latin. I'm trying really, really hard to get excited about it. I will be reading Cicero, so there's an upside, I guess.
It all begins tomorrow. I'm going to hopefully get a locker at or near Blegen Hall (where 4 of my classes are - 3 of them are even in the same room) and use it to keep my gym clothes/crap I don't need to take home every night. I'm also planning on making Wilson 78 my study refuge.
The best part - three and a half months from now, I'll be a senior!!!!!!!
Bring it, Fall Semester.
05 September 2010
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow is the last day of my far-too-short summer. And I'm not spending it in the sun, or doing anything fun, really...for one thing, it will be raining, and for another, I have a TON of work to do before classes start.
My room is a mess.
I don't have all of my books yet.
I don't have a bike route to campus yet.
I need a helmet.
I need to get a locker.
I need to pay the rest of my tuition.
Two of my professors are unaware that I will be missing two of their classes right off the bat.
And laundry. My GOD, laundry.
My summer WAS too short. That's my own faut...but I wouldn't have changed anything about it. I loved going to Berlin, and I was happy to take extra classes to make the trip worth the money. I'm sad that things dragged out as long as they did, and I wish that money grew on trees so I didn't have to work...but the past three weeks of freedom and the things I learned and experienced in the past three or four months are priceless.
I'm going to Gettysburg next weekend...my mom's step-brother is getting married. Talk about an AWESOME destination. But, yeah, I am missing two days of class to do this thing. THAT sucks...I hope my profs aren't pissed about it.
The cabin was fun this weekend - it wasn't super warm but I did get some sun. I brought Alex, Conor brought his friend Phifer, and yeah, it was a good time. Indiana Jones, Scrabble, and my new Kindle were prominently featured.
I GOT A KINDLE and it is the most amazing thing I've ever owned. I can download books, MANY of them for free (or close to free), and those I have to purchase are largely discounted from a hard-copy price. It has text-to-speech, the ability to highlight and take notes, I can get most of my textbooks for the semester on it, I can read it in the sun (and in the wind!!), and it can hold like 3500 books in its memory. FREAKIN COOL. Conor asked me this weekend why I didn't just get an iPad, and you know what...the Kindle will enable me to study a lot better. I don't need all the bells and whistles of an iPad, I have a laptop for that. Plus, I'd just break an iPad, Kindles are a lot more durable (hopefully, anyway).
Well, I'd better get started on my 'starting school to-do list.' For those of you who are starting (or have already started) classes, good luck!!! If you ever need a study buddy, I'm game. :)
Peace, love, and all that...
Jessie
My room is a mess.
I don't have all of my books yet.
I don't have a bike route to campus yet.
I need a helmet.
I need to get a locker.
I need to pay the rest of my tuition.
Two of my professors are unaware that I will be missing two of their classes right off the bat.
And laundry. My GOD, laundry.
My summer WAS too short. That's my own faut...but I wouldn't have changed anything about it. I loved going to Berlin, and I was happy to take extra classes to make the trip worth the money. I'm sad that things dragged out as long as they did, and I wish that money grew on trees so I didn't have to work...but the past three weeks of freedom and the things I learned and experienced in the past three or four months are priceless.
I'm going to Gettysburg next weekend...my mom's step-brother is getting married. Talk about an AWESOME destination. But, yeah, I am missing two days of class to do this thing. THAT sucks...I hope my profs aren't pissed about it.
The cabin was fun this weekend - it wasn't super warm but I did get some sun. I brought Alex, Conor brought his friend Phifer, and yeah, it was a good time. Indiana Jones, Scrabble, and my new Kindle were prominently featured.
I GOT A KINDLE and it is the most amazing thing I've ever owned. I can download books, MANY of them for free (or close to free), and those I have to purchase are largely discounted from a hard-copy price. It has text-to-speech, the ability to highlight and take notes, I can get most of my textbooks for the semester on it, I can read it in the sun (and in the wind!!), and it can hold like 3500 books in its memory. FREAKIN COOL. Conor asked me this weekend why I didn't just get an iPad, and you know what...the Kindle will enable me to study a lot better. I don't need all the bells and whistles of an iPad, I have a laptop for that. Plus, I'd just break an iPad, Kindles are a lot more durable (hopefully, anyway).
Well, I'd better get started on my 'starting school to-do list.' For those of you who are starting (or have already started) classes, good luck!!! If you ever need a study buddy, I'm game. :)
Peace, love, and all that...
Jessie
26 August 2010
Today.
I don't know if I like Blogspot.
You can't search other blogs, you have to hit the "next blog" button. And the only blogs that button takes me to are sewing blogs, foreign blogs, stamp collecting blogs, and obnoxious, overly Christian blogs. Blogspot claims that the interests you put in on your profile will enable them to find similar blogs for you, but I just don't buy it. I never mentioned sewing or stamp collecting, and if putting "Christianity" in my interests leads to the nonsense I've seen, then I'm taking it off, because that's not AT ALL what I mean when I say that I'm interested in Christianity.
I have found a few worthwhile blogs, though. Today I came across the blog of a mother who lost her daughter just a few days after she was born. My heart just ached for her, but not because I know what she's going through. I can't imagine it, and that's the point - the depth of such a horrible feeling must be staggering. The closest thing to a child that I have is my goddaughter, and if anything ever happened to her, my world would dissolve. I can't imagine it being my own flesh and blood, and not being able to do a thing about it.
I also have found a few blogs that are journal-esque, I guess kind of like mine. I like reading about other people, even though I don't know them. Maybe that's weird, but whatever, I'll take it, since I knowmaybe two people that keep blogs. I think the difference between me and the "journal-esque" blogs is that I write more about what's on my mind and let that speak for itself, and not so much about what I do from day to day. My life really isn't that exciting. I work, watch TV with my boyfriend, eat, and sometimes I sleep. That really is my life, until school comes around... Then I go to school, study my ass off, eat, and fall asleep in front of the TV while my boyfriend watches. Although, I will be working every other weekend this school year...ARE YOU EXCITED YET??!
Ugh, work. It's complicated. I am thankful for my job, and I've gotten really good at it over the three years I've been there (holy cow, THREE YEARS...?). I really like the people that I work with, too. My bosses are some of the best men I know, and I have many good conversations with my fellow associates (except when I'm at the Minnetonka store, but we don't talk about that). But the CUSTOMERS - bahhhhh. It's not all of the customers, or even a majority of them...but there are a select few that just ruin your whole day. I've written about it on my Facebook page, so I'm not going to write about it again, but WOW...people can really be soulless sometimes. It makes you wonder how they got that way, and how you can avoid it.
Let's see, something exciting...my aunt Coleen and my cousin Nick are in town from Pittsburgh! I'm looking forward to chillin with them this evening and during my day off tomorrow. Fingers are crossed for a trip to the State Fair! :)
Until next time...
Jessie
You can't search other blogs, you have to hit the "next blog" button. And the only blogs that button takes me to are sewing blogs, foreign blogs, stamp collecting blogs, and obnoxious, overly Christian blogs. Blogspot claims that the interests you put in on your profile will enable them to find similar blogs for you, but I just don't buy it. I never mentioned sewing or stamp collecting, and if putting "Christianity" in my interests leads to the nonsense I've seen, then I'm taking it off, because that's not AT ALL what I mean when I say that I'm interested in Christianity.
I have found a few worthwhile blogs, though. Today I came across the blog of a mother who lost her daughter just a few days after she was born. My heart just ached for her, but not because I know what she's going through. I can't imagine it, and that's the point - the depth of such a horrible feeling must be staggering. The closest thing to a child that I have is my goddaughter, and if anything ever happened to her, my world would dissolve. I can't imagine it being my own flesh and blood, and not being able to do a thing about it.
I also have found a few blogs that are journal-esque, I guess kind of like mine. I like reading about other people, even though I don't know them. Maybe that's weird, but whatever, I'll take it, since I knowmaybe two people that keep blogs. I think the difference between me and the "journal-esque" blogs is that I write more about what's on my mind and let that speak for itself, and not so much about what I do from day to day. My life really isn't that exciting. I work, watch TV with my boyfriend, eat, and sometimes I sleep. That really is my life, until school comes around... Then I go to school, study my ass off, eat, and fall asleep in front of the TV while my boyfriend watches. Although, I will be working every other weekend this school year...ARE YOU EXCITED YET??!
Ugh, work. It's complicated. I am thankful for my job, and I've gotten really good at it over the three years I've been there (holy cow, THREE YEARS...?). I really like the people that I work with, too. My bosses are some of the best men I know, and I have many good conversations with my fellow associates (except when I'm at the Minnetonka store, but we don't talk about that). But the CUSTOMERS - bahhhhh. It's not all of the customers, or even a majority of them...but there are a select few that just ruin your whole day. I've written about it on my Facebook page, so I'm not going to write about it again, but WOW...people can really be soulless sometimes. It makes you wonder how they got that way, and how you can avoid it.
Let's see, something exciting...my aunt Coleen and my cousin Nick are in town from Pittsburgh! I'm looking forward to chillin with them this evening and during my day off tomorrow. Fingers are crossed for a trip to the State Fair! :)
Until next time...
Jessie
25 August 2010
This Whole Mosque Thing is Stupid.
So, it's finally happened - an innocent Muslim taxi driver in New York was stabbed. For being Muslim.
And it was bound to happen, what with all the hate-mongering that's been going on in light of the Ground Zero Mosque (that isn't at Ground Zero, nor is it really a mosque). One can only pray that it doesn't continue.
Here's a little Political Thought 101:
EMOTIONS DON'T MATTER. LAW MATTERS. LAW EXISTS TO KEEP THE PEOPLE'S EMOTIONS IN CHECK, AND EXERCISE JUSTICE IN A WAY THAT SENSITIVE EMOTIONS CAN'T.
And guess what? The law is on the side of Imam Rauf and this community center. They can build it. They SHOULD build it. They have all the more right to now that the Right-tards are getting violent (the exact thing they fear from the Muslims) and innocent Muslims are getting hurt. And yes, they ARE innocent.
September 11 sucked. It was a horrible thing to happen, and it should never be forgotten. But building a building nearby isn't going to detract from our memory of that day, nor is it going to deny its reality. If anything, it's an olive branch - a way for America to say, "Yep, we've been through some pretty horrible things, but for the sake of maintaining peace and everyone's rights, and proving to those that wanted to destroy us that we will NOT be destroyed, we're going to take the high road and allow everyone to exercise their rights, regardless of the emotional issues involved." It's also a way for Muslims to raise awareness of what they are really about - which is NOT terrorism and death to the infidels. That's like comparing Fred Phelps to Jesus.
If you don't like the law, leave. It's the First Amendment, which will be the LAST Amendment to be changed or repealed. And it happens to fall in favor of the Muslims, for once. Too fucking bad. Christians and Jews and everyone else take advantage of it all the time. It's either there for everyone, or there for no one. You can't pick and choose. And deciding that, because of special, sensitive, emotional circumstances, the law should not be followed - well that's just stupid.
And that's what this whole mosque thing is - it's STUPID. 70% of Americans are against it, huh? My ass. No one asked me my opinion. If 70% of America is that ignorant to the consequences of selective law enforcement, then there really is no hope for us.
And it was bound to happen, what with all the hate-mongering that's been going on in light of the Ground Zero Mosque (that isn't at Ground Zero, nor is it really a mosque). One can only pray that it doesn't continue.
Here's a little Political Thought 101:
EMOTIONS DON'T MATTER. LAW MATTERS. LAW EXISTS TO KEEP THE PEOPLE'S EMOTIONS IN CHECK, AND EXERCISE JUSTICE IN A WAY THAT SENSITIVE EMOTIONS CAN'T.
And guess what? The law is on the side of Imam Rauf and this community center. They can build it. They SHOULD build it. They have all the more right to now that the Right-tards are getting violent (the exact thing they fear from the Muslims) and innocent Muslims are getting hurt. And yes, they ARE innocent.
September 11 sucked. It was a horrible thing to happen, and it should never be forgotten. But building a building nearby isn't going to detract from our memory of that day, nor is it going to deny its reality. If anything, it's an olive branch - a way for America to say, "Yep, we've been through some pretty horrible things, but for the sake of maintaining peace and everyone's rights, and proving to those that wanted to destroy us that we will NOT be destroyed, we're going to take the high road and allow everyone to exercise their rights, regardless of the emotional issues involved." It's also a way for Muslims to raise awareness of what they are really about - which is NOT terrorism and death to the infidels. That's like comparing Fred Phelps to Jesus.
If you don't like the law, leave. It's the First Amendment, which will be the LAST Amendment to be changed or repealed. And it happens to fall in favor of the Muslims, for once. Too fucking bad. Christians and Jews and everyone else take advantage of it all the time. It's either there for everyone, or there for no one. You can't pick and choose. And deciding that, because of special, sensitive, emotional circumstances, the law should not be followed - well that's just stupid.
And that's what this whole mosque thing is - it's STUPID. 70% of Americans are against it, huh? My ass. No one asked me my opinion. If 70% of America is that ignorant to the consequences of selective law enforcement, then there really is no hope for us.
22 August 2010
On Recognition
"...oh, yeah, I used to know her!"
What a silly thing to say. "Used to know." You'd think you'd either know someone, or not. Once you meet someone, can you really "un-meet" them? I mean, sure, people change. Some change pretty drastically. But I've met a lot of people in my life, and even if I haven't seen them for ten years, I can usually recognize their faces, or sometimes their voices. I guess that's why it's hard for me to understand why people don't recognize me.
I started my shift half an hour ago, and several customers have come in; two of whom I knew from one past social circle or another - neither of whom recognized me. Granted, it's probably been at least a few years since I've seen either of these people, but I don't think I've changed that much since then... My hair changes once every three months or so, I don't wear glasses anymore, I guess my features have changed slightly since I'm 20 now and not 15, but do I really look that different?
I never knew either of these people very well - one was the mother of a girl who relentlessly made fun of me in elementary school, and the other was the mother of a girl I graduated with - but I did used to be on a first-name basis with both of them. When they walked in the store, I recognized each of them instantly, but there was no recognition toward me on their faces. I gave them what they needed and they were on their way, oblivious to the fact that this person, who they thought they didn't know, knew something about them, however small that something might be. I knew their names, how many children they had, where both of them lived (or at least where they used to live), and other bits of information that many people (particularly mothers) try to protect from people they don't know.
Fortunately for them, neither of them were rude to me - but what if they had been? I've had it happen before where someone I've met a long time ago comes in to the store, flips shit about something petty, and leaves, unaware that their integrity has just suffered a major blow. And that's the thing about it - they didn't even know it. They have no idea that I have a connection to them, one way or another, and who knows? One day that could totally come back to bite them in the ass.
I'm not saying that I'm a vengeful person, or the type who would act against someone who was rude to me if given the opportunity - but a lot of people are vengeful, and would do so! It makes me wonder who I've failed to recognize, and/or been rude to. The world is a stage, and everyone truly is watching.
---
And I can't say much for the song or its singer, but this guy makes me want to dance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmKnQjBf8wM&feature=player_embedded#!
What a silly thing to say. "Used to know." You'd think you'd either know someone, or not. Once you meet someone, can you really "un-meet" them? I mean, sure, people change. Some change pretty drastically. But I've met a lot of people in my life, and even if I haven't seen them for ten years, I can usually recognize their faces, or sometimes their voices. I guess that's why it's hard for me to understand why people don't recognize me.
I started my shift half an hour ago, and several customers have come in; two of whom I knew from one past social circle or another - neither of whom recognized me. Granted, it's probably been at least a few years since I've seen either of these people, but I don't think I've changed that much since then... My hair changes once every three months or so, I don't wear glasses anymore, I guess my features have changed slightly since I'm 20 now and not 15, but do I really look that different?
I never knew either of these people very well - one was the mother of a girl who relentlessly made fun of me in elementary school, and the other was the mother of a girl I graduated with - but I did used to be on a first-name basis with both of them. When they walked in the store, I recognized each of them instantly, but there was no recognition toward me on their faces. I gave them what they needed and they were on their way, oblivious to the fact that this person, who they thought they didn't know, knew something about them, however small that something might be. I knew their names, how many children they had, where both of them lived (or at least where they used to live), and other bits of information that many people (particularly mothers) try to protect from people they don't know.
Fortunately for them, neither of them were rude to me - but what if they had been? I've had it happen before where someone I've met a long time ago comes in to the store, flips shit about something petty, and leaves, unaware that their integrity has just suffered a major blow. And that's the thing about it - they didn't even know it. They have no idea that I have a connection to them, one way or another, and who knows? One day that could totally come back to bite them in the ass.
I'm not saying that I'm a vengeful person, or the type who would act against someone who was rude to me if given the opportunity - but a lot of people are vengeful, and would do so! It makes me wonder who I've failed to recognize, and/or been rude to. The world is a stage, and everyone truly is watching.
---
And I can't say much for the song or its singer, but this guy makes me want to dance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmKnQjBf8wM&feature=player_embedded#!
If you could talk to ANYONE in History...
If you could talk to anyone in history, who would it be?
I've been asked this so many times, and it seems that I come up with a different answer every time. Being a student of history, I've studied many fascinating people, and it's hard to narrow it down to just ONE person.
So here's my top ten.
Rameses II - because he was the most powerful of the pharaohs. He reigned for something like 65 years, which is over twice the expected lifespan of an Egyptian living back then, and during that time he oversaw some of the greatest feats produced by Ancient Egypt.
Peter the Great - because he embodies Russia, both past and present. He changed it forever. Russia should be named "Petrovia," in my opinion.
A murdered Jew of the Holocaust - because no one fully understands the journey of a Jew who was murdered in the gas chambers. Yes, there are survivors, but they have a different take on the Holocaust.
Napoleon - because he's the single most written about figure in history. Yes, more than Jesus.
Henry David Thoreau - because "Civil Disobedience" was the best thing I read all last year.
All of the Founding Fathers - mainly so I could find out once and for all their real opinions on issues like religion, abortion, and marriage, but also because I think they're a group of really awesome dudes.
Jesus - I like Jesus. For various reasons, I don't call myself a Christian, and even saying that I'm a "follower of Christ" makes certain implications that I don't like, but I guess it's close enough. It would be pretty sweet to meet him and get a direct quote on what he thinks of the world today.
John Lennon - for obvious reasons.
Socrates - because he basically founded philosophy. I'd have a good discussion with Socrates.
---
Who would you want to meet, and why?
I've been asked this so many times, and it seems that I come up with a different answer every time. Being a student of history, I've studied many fascinating people, and it's hard to narrow it down to just ONE person.
So here's my top ten.
Rameses II - because he was the most powerful of the pharaohs. He reigned for something like 65 years, which is over twice the expected lifespan of an Egyptian living back then, and during that time he oversaw some of the greatest feats produced by Ancient Egypt.
Peter the Great - because he embodies Russia, both past and present. He changed it forever. Russia should be named "Petrovia," in my opinion.
A murdered Jew of the Holocaust - because no one fully understands the journey of a Jew who was murdered in the gas chambers. Yes, there are survivors, but they have a different take on the Holocaust.
Napoleon - because he's the single most written about figure in history. Yes, more than Jesus.
Henry David Thoreau - because "Civil Disobedience" was the best thing I read all last year.
All of the Founding Fathers - mainly so I could find out once and for all their real opinions on issues like religion, abortion, and marriage, but also because I think they're a group of really awesome dudes.
Jesus - I like Jesus. For various reasons, I don't call myself a Christian, and even saying that I'm a "follower of Christ" makes certain implications that I don't like, but I guess it's close enough. It would be pretty sweet to meet him and get a direct quote on what he thinks of the world today.
John Lennon - for obvious reasons.
Socrates - because he basically founded philosophy. I'd have a good discussion with Socrates.
---
Who would you want to meet, and why?
18 August 2010
The Time Has Come.
"The time has come," the Walrus said, "to talk of many things..."
Personally, I think way too many people talk about way too many things. Hence, the reason I'm abandoning the Facebook ship - for a time, at least. Of course, my page is still activated, people can still tag me in photos, comment on my meaningless crap, and see the status updates that I will inevitably send from my cell phone...but I've ensured that I can't access Facebook, save for every once in a while. I have things I need to get done, and Facebook seems to take up a monstrous amount of time - time utterly wasted. I figured that, if I started a blog, it'd be a way for me to do more actual writing, and for people to still see what I'm up to, if they really care enough to read it. I bet most won't. And that's point. I'm sick of being exposed, and of everyone exposing themselves.
Why start a blog, then? Why expose myself at all? Well, that IS the thing about Facebook, isn't it - you can keep up with countless people without even trying. And that's nice. I like getting to know distant family members, old friends, and even my closest friends without necessarily having to talk to them all the time. Who has time for that? But, the "personal"-ness of Facebook has become, to me, impersonal. Everyone gets to know the "Facebook Jessie" and doesn't even think of the real one. Let's be real, 90% of what happens in my life doesn't end up on there. 90% of people might not want to know that 90% of my life, but they're the ones who won't be reading this blog. Limited exposure. Ahh. I can't say it will do much for me keeping up with other people, but I guess I just can't care about that right now. If you want me to know what you're up to, tell me! I've made it so that anyone can comment on anything, regardless of whether they have a Gmail/Blogger account - so if you post a comment on something that you want me to see, make sure that I can tell who you are.
And, obviously, I have a cell phone. And e-mail. Utilize those, as well.
I won't be posting every day, but there will be days where I post multiple things.This blog has no agenda - anything I post is just here because it's a part of my life. Papers I've written, notes I've taken, thoughts I've thunk - don't read into something that isn't there, because it's all just...here.
Peace, love, and all that...
-Jessie
Personally, I think way too many people talk about way too many things. Hence, the reason I'm abandoning the Facebook ship - for a time, at least. Of course, my page is still activated, people can still tag me in photos, comment on my meaningless crap, and see the status updates that I will inevitably send from my cell phone...but I've ensured that I can't access Facebook, save for every once in a while. I have things I need to get done, and Facebook seems to take up a monstrous amount of time - time utterly wasted. I figured that, if I started a blog, it'd be a way for me to do more actual writing, and for people to still see what I'm up to, if they really care enough to read it. I bet most won't. And that's point. I'm sick of being exposed, and of everyone exposing themselves.
Why start a blog, then? Why expose myself at all? Well, that IS the thing about Facebook, isn't it - you can keep up with countless people without even trying. And that's nice. I like getting to know distant family members, old friends, and even my closest friends without necessarily having to talk to them all the time. Who has time for that? But, the "personal"-ness of Facebook has become, to me, impersonal. Everyone gets to know the "Facebook Jessie" and doesn't even think of the real one. Let's be real, 90% of what happens in my life doesn't end up on there. 90% of people might not want to know that 90% of my life, but they're the ones who won't be reading this blog. Limited exposure. Ahh. I can't say it will do much for me keeping up with other people, but I guess I just can't care about that right now. If you want me to know what you're up to, tell me! I've made it so that anyone can comment on anything, regardless of whether they have a Gmail/Blogger account - so if you post a comment on something that you want me to see, make sure that I can tell who you are.
And, obviously, I have a cell phone. And e-mail. Utilize those, as well.
I won't be posting every day, but there will be days where I post multiple things.This blog has no agenda - anything I post is just here because it's a part of my life. Papers I've written, notes I've taken, thoughts I've thunk - don't read into something that isn't there, because it's all just...here.
Peace, love, and all that...
-Jessie
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