On any given day, there are a whole lot of things that are on my mind and could be termed "concerns" for me. Most days, I like to ignore them, because doing so allows me to live what I'd like to think is a more care-free life. The less responsibilities, the better. That doesn't make them go away, but I find that I can just take care of things as they come. What's the point in worrying about something? I'll deal with it when the time comes. It certainly makes me feel somewhat happier.

This morning, in the process of making my sack lunch, a new and strange thought came to me. I was making a cheese sandwich, and was opening a brand new pack of colby cheese. I love cheese, and when it comes to Colby, I love slicing it into thin strips and putting it on a sandwich. The thinner, the better, so that way I can pile what seems to be "more" cheese. It's really fun.

Back to the point. I had a brand new pack of colby cheese. For this particular brand, the cheese comes as a brick-shaped sort of half-moon. The packaging for it, however, is atrocious. First, you have to rip along the little dotted line that spans the length of the cheese, and then you can open the little zip-loc part. Here's what gets me: the zip-loc part also spans the length of the cheese. If you only open the package from that angle, the only way to get the cheese out is if you grab it whole brick and pull it out. I'm not about to do that, lest I spoil any of it before I get to eat it.

The really impractical thing is that if you don't yank it out, you can only inch the bag around it a little bit to slice it. And then you'd slice whole long strips spanning the length of the brick. This takes entirely too much effort, and being the perfectionist I am, I just know that if I tried to cut it this way, I'd screw it up.

It didn't take long for me to come up with the world's best solution to this problem. I simply used my brute strength to split apart one of the zip-lock ends, thus rendering it useless and enabling me to tear the bag from the side. Overjoyed at this success, I was able to slice the cheese properly. Yet another victory for me. And when I had finished, I placed the cheese, still in its disgraced packaging, into a real Zip-Loc bag. So much for the retail packaging scam saving me time and bags, I had to use one anyway.

I miss the old days of uncomplicated plastic wrapping around the deli cheese. Oh well. At least I still get my cheese.

As the semester draws to a close, I am left with a mess, of sorts. I have lots to study and work on, and that means that I have lots of junk lying around. I'm the sort of person who likes to have lots of space to work. Give me a table that is designed to seat 6-8 people, and I will easily fill it up with things I am using to get my work done. Mind you, it's not that I need to use the space, by any means. But I like to spread out. It makes me feel more organized. Usually, though, it winds up being a paradox. Instead of increasing my efficiency, the spread makes the work take longer. I have to take the time to organize my stuff somehow, and that adds to the overall time of geting things done. Regardless, I'm still happy.

Quite often, I'll start a semester very gung-ho about staying organized, believing that it will make me a better student if I'm more organized. This mindset usually lasts for about a week. At that point, I find other ways to amuse myself. Well, that and real life kicks in, in which there is homework and study. There is no time to be extremely organized if one wants to have a life in addition to an education. The only time I've found that it's good to be very organized is in a work setting, where I can use company time to organize myself. At my last job, it always gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling to be able to tell my boss that I really was being productive when he would come to tell me off.

So anyway, my organizational skills are, to say the least, superb. If you don't believe me, consider the following. Given that I have given up on spiral notebooks in return for simple folders and spirals, I have managed to reduce the amount of space used in my backpack. This saves me time when it comes to packing up, it saves space, and it saves my back from an awful fate of crippling from hauling around too much stuff. Notes are taken in spirals, eliminating the need for putting dates on papers and filing them in the binder, not to mention being able to keep them in one place. Everything gets filed into my backpack, in some sort of randomized order. On my desk, papers lie all around, and random papers can be found throughout my spirals and folders. However, given their size, I am able to rank them in order of importance. Smaller papers are not as important, whereas large papers are. Handouts from classes for lecture or advertisement are placed on the day's notes, and if it gets messed up, it's no big deal. What it comes down to is a theory of mine that, if it's not important enough to put in a decent spot or to actually remember, it's probably not all that essential. Granted, there are times where this isn't true, but it's true most of the time.

Now, keep in mind that I am no slob. I may seem unorganized, but really I have made a trade-off between focusing on what I'm learning and how I wanted to maintain a flawless organizational system. Before I went to college, I was always organized, but college took away some of the motivation for staying this way. First off, there are no grades for this like there was middle and high school, and second, there's no time. I spent so much time keeping everything neat that I was losing time on the studying end. I lightened up lots, and have been happier ever since. So this happens to be my particular system, and it works for me. If someone were to try to find a specific something in my backpack, they would probably fail. If that someone tried to describe how it is I organize myself, that person would probably die trying, especially if I was there to watch.

My favorite part of this whole deal is that, usually, at the end of the semester, I'll gather all my stuff together, organize it, and file it away so that I can use it for reference in the future. In the beginning, though (and this is what really kills me), the second I have everything in its place, I forget where I put it all. I'll go for quite some feeling confident that I know where everything is. That is, until I actually need to find it and use it, at which point it escapes me. After letting this frustrate me over the years, I have finally come to terms with this, and expect it. I still forget where I put everything, but at least I know that it's normal for me to do so.

In the end, I suppose that this odd quirk of mine makes my life a little bit more interesting (or strange, I'm not sure which). Lucky me.

One of my all-time favorite hobbies is reading. My life consists largely of reading, in a variety of forms. Of course, I generally read everything except the things I am supposed to, such as for classes in school. It's amazing. Any time I have to read something for school, something else will miraculously make itself known that is far more interesting to read than my school stuff.

But anyway, I read a lot. I love reading books especially. I also read newspapers, online articles, emails, blogs, magazines, random papers I find lying around, comics, reviews, and just about anything else I manage to get my hands on. So to recap, I read a lot.

Currently, I am reading "The Bourne Supremacy" by Robert Ludlum. I admit that I saw the movies before reading the books, but hey, at least I am reading them. I was fascinated by the movies, and the books have me even more captivated. So far, as I consider the two different versions, movie and book, I must say that I like them both. The books, of course, are better. But I still really like the movies. The movies stray quite a bit from the story told in the books, but given that the author worked with the people who made the movies (the new ones, that is, starring Matt Damon as Jason Bourne), I see the movies not as a butchering of the books, but rather as an alternative direction the story could take. I think that's pretty spiffy.

Anyway, back to my point. When I get into a good book, the captivation I mentioned above is practically literal (pun intended). The book holds me hostage, and I am its captive until I have finished reading it. I love getting lost in a book. One of the best things about it is how it fuels my imagination, and when I'm not reading (but also sometimes when I am reading), I picture myself as a character from the story. I'm sure you can see where this is going.

From time to time, since I have been reading the Bourne books, I have become an assassin suffering from amnesia. My life is in danger, and I find myself able to do things without thinking, and without knowing how I came to possess this immense knowledge I have. I speak multiple languages, am familiar with a variety of cultures, know people whom I don't know I know. I find that I am an incredible martial artist and have an unsurpassed skill with weapons of which I can't pronounce the names. I am a deadly shot with a gun, I know the workings of a lot of governments, and I know exactly how to get what I want. All this, and I'm clueless as to who I am and how I came to be here. I love the whole premise for the story.

The beauty of this is that I am able to escape my reality at will, exploring new vistas and broadening my horizons. Plus, it's fun, relaxing, and adventurous. And it's never the same twice, even if you're reading a book over again.

That's it, I can't talk about it anymore. Time to get reading.

-Jason Bourne

Wait, that's not my name. Or is it?

As of late, I have noticed a weird tradition that has developed in the world of social greetings to strangers. Being a college student, I am privy to this latest trend on a day-to-day basis, but I have also noticed it in a variety of public places, such as malls, stores, restaurants, etc.

To begin, I must note that this is something I have noticed as a guy and find it directed at other guys. I'm not sure about the guy to girl or girl to girl social greetings. Most women I encounter and greet with a friendly "hello" also greet me in return. However, this is not the case with guys. When I'm walking anywhere, and I make eye contact with another guy, we acknowledge each other by simply nodding our heads. And for the life of me, I can't figure out how this came about or what the heck it means.

One of the oddest properties of this nodded greeting is that it effectively renders the vocal cords useless. If one tries to voice a greeting, the most one can do is produce a low-toned gutteral sound that has virtually no meaning. In fact, this grunt probably has the opposite effect, and makes one seem socially incompetent. Sometimes, when I do try to actually offer a real greeting, I receive strange looks that seem to mean "what the hell is wrong with you?" or "dude, you're really weird." It leaves me baffled.

The nodded greeting also has other subtle meanings. It is important to acknowledge another's prescence to establish the fact that you are at least a semi-decent person. This includes being a non-discriminating person on any levels. Well, that's definitely good. Also, if you perform the nodded greeting, you are not a threat to the other guy's "guy" status. Maintaining this balance is also important in the world of guys.

Each time the nodded greeting is performed, its significance changes. It is dependent on mood, social order, and level of weariness. Given this fact, it is extremely inconsistent. Add an unusual facial expression and you might cause the earth to suddenly fall out of orbit.

So there you have it. This complicated society we live in must also have a complicated way to do a simple thing like say "hello." Be careful, our lives hang in the balance.

Today (Tuesday) started out as one of those days where, after waking up, I instantly felt that it was a good day. This happens to me every now and then, and I admit that I do enjoy it. For some reason, I just feels good. I'm not sure why it happens, but it does. This year, it has happened at odd times, especially when I'm feeling down, which was the case for me today. It's like a wake-up call telling me, "Phil, don't worry, be happy. What matters now is that you're alive, and there are things to celebrate in life." And despite how grumpy I may have been previously, I cannot resist the temptation to let loose and feel that sense of freedom.

I didn't really notice this seemingly bizarre mood of mine until I was on my daily commute to school. I burned a CD before I left, with songs I have on my computer, but didn't have on disc (Thrice and Anathema). In the car, I cranked up the stereo and quickly lost myself in the music. I admit that, when it comes to driving, I always have music on, and I'm always singing and drumming to the music. Sometimes I "dance" to the music, but I've got nothing on Chris Tucker. As I was driving contentedly along, I came to a red light, and an older gentleman pulled to a stop behind me. I realized, as he stared blankly ahead of him, that I must be quite a sight to see, rocking out and singing, driving with the windows down even though it was in the mid-20's all morning.

Later on in the commute, a lady pulled up next to me at a red light, and she had her dog in her lap. I'm guessing it was a Pekinese or something, but whatever the breed, it was a cute little dog. The dog and I exchanged greetings, which consisted of me staring at it, and it staring at me, and then me laughing. I couldn't help myself. But then the music kicked back in, and it was back to rocking out once again.

Man, what a day.

Yesterday, I was talking to a friend and we got into a discussion about marriage and live-in partners. I posted some thoughts on this a while back, but I had some new thoughts to add, and so figured I would take the opportunity to do so today.

The whole idea of barring same-sex couples from getting married is, to me, just plain wrong. Those who want to see it through claim to want to protect the "institution" of marriage. They also want to do away with any domestic partnership laws. Many of them have shown just how hateful they are by not doing business with companies who offer benefits for domestic partnerships, thereby perpetuating the "homosexual agenda." Take a look at James Dobson, head of Focus on the Family, who recently severed ties with Wells Fargo Banks because Wells Fargo allows domestic partnership benefits. Um, okay. I think we're lucky that businesses have realized that having these benefits for employees tends to make employees happier, more productive workers.

The thing that really gets me is that marriage is not something to take lightly. If there are couples of any sexuality that want to marry, that's a pretty good sign of their desire to commit their lives to each other. However, I am not one to say that everyone should get married. I don't think there's anything wrong with living with your significant other. I am not one to judge. And neither, apparently, is the religious right. But they should be, if they truly were working for a fully moral cause. Last I checked, most religions mandate that couples live and sleep apart until they are actually married. Seems fishy to me that they're not making a stink about this. Plus, domestic partnership benefits offered by states and businesses are also beneficial to straight couples. But apparently, the "institution" of marriage is the only important thing. Nothing else matters. Forget being a good human being. That's obviously not as important as having to be straight in order to get married.

In the future, if we work hard to have our voices heard, we can recognize more holes in others' arguments, and fight for equality.

I have found life to be a roller coaster ride, of sorts. It has its ups and downs, its twists and turns, it definitely moves too fast, and the loops make for one wild adventure.

Sometimes I think that life would be better if you didn't have to grow. Growing causes so much pain, and not just physically. It's painful to become an adult, and have to deal with society's declared "adult" responsibilities and such. It takes away from the fun that could be had in iife. On the plus side, there are always mistakes to be made. I can honestly say that I have made many mistakes in life, and I hope to make more. Why would I want to do this? Why would I want to experience the pain and frustration that comes so often from the mistakes that I make? I'm not sure, exactly, but I do know one thing: I know I'm alive. I was not meant to be perfect, and I never will be. So what the heck, I may as well celebrate it.

Another thing about the beauty of not growing is that kids have so much fun. Everything is a game, and you can laugh at yourself without thinking twice. As adults, we all have a tendency to worry what others will think about us, and how we might screw up and look stupid. Kids, at least until later elementary school and middle school, just plain don't care. They know that the best thing you can do in life is not take life too seriously, and see the light side of everything that happens to you. I always try to remember that no matter how miserable I sometimes get, if I step back and look, I'll be able to find something that, while not necessarily funny at the time, I will be able to look back on it and laugh.

I have found that the simplest things in life are the most amusing, fascinating, and educational things. I still love to play and do as many carefree things as possible. So deep down, no matter how much I doubt myself and how much things sometimes bog me down, I know that I am still a kid at heart. And if I ever feel like life is too much, all I have to do is run to the park, where the swing sets will liberate me from the shackles of adulthood. To see them instantly puts my mind at ease, and to climb on and beat gravity is one of the most exhilirating feelings in the world.

Don't believe me? Try it. You'll be glad you did.

After my previous entry, I figured that today I would stick to something a little less harsh. That, and today I am feeling tired and don't have too much on my mind.

Being fairly new to 360, and having never blogged anything before, I have found it quite a learning experience. First, it was a matter of learning what it was that I wanted to write about. I had a difficult time finding things to talk about, feeling that everyone else had far more interesting things to say than yours truly. I'm still fairly certain that this is true. However, it has gradually dawned on me that I can write about whatever I want.

What has amazed me even more is that there are people reading what I write. Many of the things I have written about already are things I have thought about extensively, but have not really shared with anybody. There is a part of me that does not want to write about things I feel strongly about, so as not to offend anyone. I think I've lost a friend or two already from my list, given some of my entries, which saddens me. And then there's the other part of me that wants to be heard, and understood. And many of you who are reading this have shown me that it's okay to express my thoughts. It's just another way to learn, this exchange of ideas. If someone agrees or disagrees, I think it's great! We'll all be that much wiser in the end.

Well, now that I've got that off my chest, I will return to my usual observant status so that I can have more new and exciting and funny things to share with you. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

-Phil

I decided to write today, albeit somewhat late, about intelligent design and evolutionary theory. I am not intending to degrade any religion. I have religious beliefs of my own, and I hate to hear people say demeaning things about it. That said, I am not questioning religion or its truth for anyone, I am just presenting my own perspective. I hope that it is interesting and informative. If you agree or disagree, I'd love to hear thoughts or comments about it.

Today, I thought I'd stand on my soap box, because I've been quite frustrated with education and the religious right's obsessive desire to butt in on it. I am referring, of course, to the introduction of intelligent design into the school system (in Kansas for the moment, but the argument has been introduced into more school districts), as an alternative "scientific" viewpoint to Darwinian evolution.

The people who support the inclusion of teaching intelligent design are by and large fundamentalist Christians (as far as I have seen: this, generally, to me, is the religious right). I have no quarrel with anyone's choice of faith, but I do have a problem when they want to push it onto everyone else. They say that they aren't, but even they know that they're lying through their teeth. Intelligent design has the concept of a god written all over it (hence the idea of a "designer"). Public schools are free institutions, and as such, in this great free country of ours (where one of our most cherished freedoms is that of religion), no one religion has a place in our schools. Private schools funded by religious organizations have every right to teach intelligent design as an alternative viewpoint to evolution. Heck, they don't even have to teach evolution. It's their school. But apparently it's not enough to teach only those who want to share their beliefs. They want to teach everyone else about it too. Public schools are possible thanks to taxes, which are collected by the government and then put toward community stuff. The US government has no religious affiliation, so therefore intelligent design has no place in public schools.

One of the biggest problems with intelligent design supporters is their blatant admission to being closed-minded. Most of these people posses only a limited knowledge of Charles Darwin and his theory. For example, it's a little known fact that Darwin himself was religious, and that he never questioned the church's teaching. He did not set out on the H.M.S Beagle with an idea of evolution already in mind. He reported what he saw. So his name is smeared by religious people who hate the idea that it's possible that their ancestors were monkeys. I think, too, that this idea makes them think that their life has no real purpose in the grand scheme of things. Well, when I think about it, life really has no purpose in the grand scheme of things. Will my own life change the shape of the planet? It may (hopefully) impact my own people, but not the earth itself. It does have purpose in the here and now. And really, isn't that all that matters?

I also feel that intelligent design does not have much to back it up, save for one religious document. Supporters are doing their best to make it seem more scientific, but the arguments are pretty weak. It seems to me that it is simply creationism, with a little more thought and a snazzier title.

One common argument intelligent designers use to make their argument is that evolution is only a "theory." I suppose, then, that their personal belief in god (the designer) is 100% true. The problem with this argument is that an idea can only be termed a theory after at has shown, time and again, that it explains the data. I don't think the religious right is out questioning the theory of gravity (yes, it's a theory), or the theory of relativity. So many things we assume to be true are theories, so if we question the theory of evolution, we should question these other ones as well.

Intelligent designers claim that organisms are simply too complex to have been formed by natural selection or random mutation. Have we forgotten that it takes thousands, sometimes millions, of years, for things to change? The world is a young 5 billion years old (or thereabouts). Believe me, it's had time to go through changes.

Human life, when compared to the age of the earth, is pretty well nil. Human existence, as we know it, has only existed for some 6,000 years, give or take. I would like to remind intelligent designers about the previous rulers of the earth, the dinosaurs. Or do they think all those huge creatures in natural history museums didn't really exist? The dinosaurs roamed Earth for upwards of 175 million years. Humans have not even lasted a fraction of that. That said, we haven't had much opportunity to see very much change, so I can see, in some ways, why intelligent designers don't think things change.

But a quick look at our teeth might be in order. Humans today eat large amounts of processed meat. As a result, we don't use our molars nearly as much as in the past when hunting and rough meat was a major part of life. Ever wonder why so many people have to get their wisdom teeth removed? It's because our mouths are getting smaller, and can't fit them anymore. And why is that? Simple, we don't need them. There are some people too, whose wisdom teeth never even come in. This is no mutation, this is practicality. Personally, I think it's pretty cool that we change over time. It is the ability to adapt to ever changiing conditions that allows us to continue to inhabit this earth. A person living 500 years ago probably could not handle breathing the polluted air we have today (i.e. they'd probably get pretty darn sick), but we have no problem with it because our bodies have adapted in order to deal with it. In short, we have evolved. Not noticeably, mind you, but we have nonetheless.

I feel that evolution could apply even to modern medicine. For example, HIV is something humans contracted by eating chimps in Africa. The blood found in the meat transferred the virus to humans. Humans and chimps, according to geneticists, have 95% similar DNA. We are very similar. However, HIV is devastating to humans, and harmless to chimps. I am left wondering why. What is it in their DNA that renders HIV harmelss that humans lack? Perhaps, if we look into our histories and see where exactly humans and chimps parted ways in genetic code (referred to as "split" in anthropology), perhaps we could find out what we're missing. It could be a pretty useful thing to look into. I'm no expert, this is just a humble idea, but I think at the very least that it has some potential.

So there's some of my thoughts on the subject. I hope if made for an interesting read. I want it known, as I mentioned at the beginning, that I am not degrading any religious beliefs, for I have my own personal beliefs. This is just my perspective, and I wanted to share it. Thank you for reading.

So today, I was driving around town, and happened to pass through one particular intersection that is extremely technologically advanced. Believe me, the equipment is state of the art. These are no ordinary traffic lights.

Well, actually, the traffic lights are ordinary, but what makes them extraordinary is the camera system that was set up recently. These cameras take pictures of cars that run red lights. They are intense. For quite some time after they were installed, I never knew if they were actually working or not, as they never exhibited any sign that they were. Of course, that might be due to my morning stupor or my evening exhaustion, depending on when I drive through said intersection, and what I have on my mind. If I'm lost in thought, or absorbed in my music and am head-banging and singing, I suppose it's only natural that I be oblivious to the cameras.

But I like to think that they were just not in use, or that I never saw it. But this week, I've seen them work on several occasions, mostly two to three pictures at a time. And I know what this means: there are lots and lots of naughty drivers on the road. Still, I could not help but wonder what caused me to notice that these cameras really do work, and I think it is actually that it's dark out when I drive home now, thanks to daylight savings time. It's easy to see a flash when it's nice and dark. Lightning jumped to mind the first time, but my quick mind realized that it wasn't even cloudy, so that wasn't probable. That was about the only guess that jumped to mind, but on the second flash, I was looking in the direction of the camera.

One thought that popped into my head today, as I watched the camera flash, was the following: I wonder if these camera things will cause someone to have a seizure? I'd heard that seizures are sometimes caused by strobe lights, so I figured a flash from a camera might have a similar effect. But after a simple google search, I learned that this is not overly common, and can be treated with medication. Bummer. I thought I'd found a loop hole to get rid of the cameras.

Another thought that crossed my mind was what exactly it would be like to get a ticket in the mail with a picture of your car running a red light. The law states that the car owner receives the ticket and must pay it, whether or not that person was actually driving at the time. I imagine that there will be much less time devoted to traffic violations in court with this new system. It's pretty hard to defend yourself when you don't receive the ticket for the violation until days, or a week, or x amount of time, after committing the crime. I can picture it now:

Judge: Is it true that you committed this heinous violation, with full knowledge of your actions, on the night of October the 23rd?

Me: Well, sir, you have to understand, I actually don't remember what I was doing that night. I mean, was that a Tuesday, or Friday, or what?

Judge: That was a Wednesday.

Me: Oh. Can't have been me. I'm never on that side of town on Wednesday nights.

Judge: So you're telling me that someone else drives a blue Nissan Sentra with license plate 524RGT, and shares your name?

Me: Whoah. That's just like my car. Weird. Like an evil twin or something!

Judge: I have not the time to deal with your absurdity. I hereby sentence you to pay this fine within the next 48 hours. Also, you must remember to never do this again, or you will pay double.

Me: Whatever you say. It'll be really easy not to repeat what I don't remember doing. But sure, to save me time from asking silly questions and coming across as even more of an idiot than I do already, I'll go along with that.

Judge: Good. Court adjourned.

Well, maybe it wouldn't play out exactly like this. But still, I thik that if we stuck to the good old-fashioned way, people could know immediately what they did wrong (or right, depending on the situation; I mean, if you have a tailgaiter about to kill you in their giant SUV, and it's only yellow barely on to red, I might consider running the light in order not to die). Seems to me that technology isn't meant for everything, and this is one such thing.

After all, we're only human.

Holiday spirit seems to be a popular topic for blogs these days, and I realized I hadn't yet posted my own two cents on this topic.

As the holidays approach, be they Channukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or any other holiday of equal importance to you (depending on faith; I listed the ones I personally see the most of in my life, but there are probably more I'm leaving out), it is important to keep some things in mind.

First, these holidays have absolutely nothing to do with the weather. We here in the northern hemisphere equate these holidays with winter, snow, and hot chocolate with marshmallows, but our neighbors in the southern hemisphere enjoy these same holidays in the middle of the summer. Someday, I hope to spend some time somewhere on that side of the earth (perhaps Australia, New Zealand, South America, Africa) and see what it is like for these holidays. Okay, that's just an excuse to go traveling and see the world, but still, would Christmas lights be the same if it didn't get dark until 8 or 9pm?

Second, a word on gift giving. The best gifts are not those found on wish lists, or those with the biggest price tag. Many say that simply having a family and friends in your life is a gift, and to spend time with them is also a gift. Of course, this is true. But giving gifts is still a very fun and nice thing. So when you're out searching through the bargains and holiday sales, keep not the money in your pocket in mind, but that special person for whom you are buying. The best gifts I have received, and the best gifts I have given, are those that just jump out at you when you see them. If you see something and instantly, that special someone jumps to mind, then chances are that will be a very good gift. Then, when you present said gift, that person will be delighted not only by the gift, but even more, to know that you know him or her so well, and that you think of him or her even when you're not hanging out, living together, working together, or what have you.

Third, as people become increasingly frantic about buying gifts, spending time with family (which can be stressful for everyone), keep a smile on your face and a laugh in your heart. You can't please everyone, but you can sure try. Offer up compliments to strangers, be a courteous driver, talk to your neighbors. Do something nice for someone you may not like. The holidays are as much about improving the self as anything else.

Fourth, step back and look at the world through eyes that are not clouded by the hazards of everyday life. Chances are, you'll see something very beautiful. Take a walk in a park, play in the snow, sit and stare at something for so long that it becomes not merely an object, but a true part of this world we call our home. It's easy to forget that nature is a force of its own that does not answer to our own world of people. Watch leaves fall from trees, watch wind blow leaves around, stare up into clouds as snow falls quietly to the ground. And if you can, watch not from indoors, but from outside. No matter how cold or windy, getting lost in nature warms the soul, and you will realize that you are as much a part of this earth as everything and everyone else, and that this is truly where you belong.

Finally, take a break from worry, fear, stress, and everything else that taints this game we like to call life. I often hear people say that we must do all we can to make this world a better place. And when I think about this, I realize that the world already is a better place, and to see it, all we must do is open our eyes.

Don't blink. You might miss something.

Over the years, I have noticed a serious decline in the quality and originality of chips (the food variety). I often wonder if I'm the only one who's tired of all the Frito Lay. I mean, they seem to have seriously cornered the market on chips! And to top it off, their chips are so greasy that you miss out on the real flavor of the chip.

I generally stick to original flavor, so as to avoid having to ingest that oh-so-popular preservative: monosodium glutemate. Most varieties of flavored chips, especially those made by Frito Lay, are chock full of that stuff. Occasionally, I enjoy eating them, but all the flavors are artificial. Oh, would I like some cheese-flavored chips, they taste just like nachos? Forgive me, but I'll decline. How about some odd-flavored "ranch" or imitation "sour cream"? Thanks, but I'll pass.

But then, who would've known it, that a new kind of chip was introduced into my life. Terra is the name of the company, and they make a line of chips called "Red Bliss." These chips are red potato chips, and they are flavored with (gasp!) real flavors! They use stuff like olive oil, vinegar, and roasted garlic. After being so used to chips simply being salted, it was a very pleasant surprise to come across these chips.

I'm serious. Eating these chips is practically the highlight of the day. Next time I have a bad day, I'm going straight to Red Bliss.

I went out to breakfast today, or brunch rather, at a favorite local spot. While I was eating, the owner/chef's son was talking to his family about how he's having a hard time finding the right woman. His parents' advice was to seriously 'network', especially at their church. His mom was very convinced that he would meet a lovely young lady at church, and he wouold be extraordinarily happy as a result.

Now, not to say that there's anything wrong with what she said, but my experience has been very different. I've always been left with an impression that when you're not looking, things will work out better in the end. Creating the ideal candidate in your head is okay to a point, but then, when you meet people, you try to shape them into your ideal. The result is that you never really get to know the person, but rather the person you want them to be. To me, this means that you don't get to know that person for real. The whole idea of having a partner and being really happy is that you like that person exactly the way he/she is.

Not to say it's bad to have standards, either, but honestly, if someone did not meet some of you 'qualifications,' would you really like that person? At least you could say you got to know the person. Qualifications for partners is different from friends, so that's also important to keep in mind.

Of course, I say all this, and I'm single. This could be why, but I have my doubts.

Today is arguably the BIGGEST day of shopping of the entire year (the one that could be argued is the day before Christmas, when apparently stores sell more of their inventory than any other day of the year), as stores everywhere have huge sales on all their inventory. As such, it is the one day that I prefer not to go shopping. Having to pay a bit more for stuff later on is worth it to me not to have to deal with the masses of people that surface to shop, and the hours spent waiting in line. The only reason I have ever gone to the stores on this day is to people watch. If you don't believe me, you should try it. It's absolutely stress-free (or mostly), costs nothing, and is downright fascinating.

A few years back, I learned of a holiday started by "Culture Jammers" called Buy Nothing Day. It usually happens the day after Thanksgiving, though this year it seems to fall on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The idea behind it is to not give in to the corporate schemes. Instead, spend the day with family or friends, really living and enjoyiing what you already have in life. For me, it's a convenient fit, and more coincidence that I take part in this ordeal. But I like my reasoning too.

I'm not one to simply jump on the bandwagon of either the shopping or Buy Nothing Day, but I like the idea of Buy Nothing Day because of it's basic philosophy of simply living. I like the idea that you can be happy without having to buy stuff. What can I say, I'm a simple guy.

Today, I thought I'd write down a few things that I'm thankful for. I don't have much time, as today is going to be crazy busy, so I'll make it brief.

I am most thankful for family and friends, who make my life what it is. The struggles of daily life are made easier with them around, and I couldn't do it without them.

I am thankful for each day I live, as there's something exciting and fun to see or do or learn each day. And being in college certainly helps in this area.

That said, I am also thankful for the two days off from school, so I can play major league catch-up on all the homework and studying I have to do.

Well, I said I'd keep it brief, and so I have. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I wasn't sure what to write about today, until I saw this news piece: some guy on wife swap whose wife was swapped for a gay man. Here's a brief on it:

[www.foxnews.com/story/0,2...](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,176244,00.html)

I find the situation both humerous and reprehensible. For the most part, I think the show's actions were in poor taste. The show should be held responsible, not for damages, necessarily, but for such poor taste. Personally, I don't like the idea of the show, but that's just me. I know it's television, and they'll do what it takes to get ratings. But this bothers me from both the end of the straight guy as well as the gay guys.

First off, I find it offensive that they would consider a male partner in a gay relationship to be a 'wife.' It reinforces stereotypes about gay people that are already bad enough. Many people think that there has to be a butch and a femme character in every single gay relationship. Even my parents thought so, when I told them I met a man who introduced me to his husband (they thought he was the 'wife').

Second, I find the whole idea in very poor taste on both sides. I can imagine that the straight guy didn't take kindly to having a gay guy to live with, but I've seen no mention of the guy gay having to live with the woman. Chances are, he doesn't care, but I doubt very much that the media will ever bother to find out how he felt about the situation.

On the other hand, this situation is somewhat humerous. I don't know how the show works for sure, but I'm guessing that you have to apply for it in order to actually be on it. People aren't exactly picked randomly. I think you actually have to seek it out (that's how it works for game shows; correct me if I'm worong on the Wife Swap thing). With that thought in mind, I think people are asking for surprises, and this guy sure got one!

So anyway, enough of the soap box, and I have to end it here. Lots to do tonight, tomorrow's going to be a crazy day!

As you may have noticed from my photo, I'm a Dilbert fan. But more than that, I enjoy other works by Scott Adams, including his books about survival in the work place and such. In addition to all this, Scott Adams has written two non-humor and non-work-related books: "God's Debris" and "The Religion War." "God's Debris" was first published as an e-book, and then later in hardback. Scott Adams describes it as a "thought experiment." I have, for some time, been intrigued by the idea of this book, but had not gotten around to buying it. Recently, he put it up online for free, so yesterday I figured, what the heck, I'd give it a shot. The book is about 130 pages (give or take a few), and I just finished it.

The book read very smoothly, and I quickly found myself lost in it. There is not much in the way of story, but it presents ideas that are fantastic to think about (not fantastic in a negative or positive way, but just fantastic). I'd never given much thought to some of the ideas presented, but found myself fascinated. Having just finished, my mind is sort of in overload mode. I think I'll have to read it again at least 2-3 more times to really catch a lot of what is said.

I won't say that you should go out and read this right away, but rather will direct you to read Scott Adam's disclaimer and leave it up to you to decide (that way, I leave it fully up to you) whether or not to read it. I'll put the link below, and be sure to read the whole page before downloading the file (it's in PDF format) (the section is called "why is it free?".

[www.andrewsmcmeel.com/godsdebri...](http://www.andrewsmcmeel.com/godsdebris/)

If you do read this, or have already read it, I would be interested to see what others thought about it.

I was feeling a bit down today, feeling like life has been frustrating, overwhelming, and tiring, and that I wish things went more the way I want them to. Obviously, life doesn't work that way, and I'm not sure it would be all that great if it did. I'm generally a very upbeat, energetic, and overall happy person. But I do, on occassion, get down, and that always throws me off.

But what really helped get me through the day was a simple smile. I always smile at people I see, whether or not I know them. It's just something I do. I never gave much thought to it, and never thought much about how it impacted the people who received my smile. I was walking outside today, and a person passing by smiled at me, and I suddenly felt my spirits soar. All at once, the only thing that mattered was that someone out there thought to smile at me. There was no ulterior motive behind the smile, it was just a smile. And the effect it had on me was profound. The rest of the day was great!

I realize now that everyone experiences these feelings from time to time. But when those feelings hit, getting that smile certainly makes things seem more manageable. So I will keep smiling, and know that this simple gesture can brighten someone's day. It feels good to know that I can make a difference in the world.

So, I'm still getting used to doing the blog thing, and trying to figure out what kind of fun stuff there is to write about. I went to the movies this weekend and saw "The Legend of Zorro," so I figured, what an opportunity to try for a movie review! I've never done one of these before, so I figured I'd give it a shot. Here goes.

Going in to see this movie, I was figuring that there was no way it could top its predecessor. For any movie maker, having a follow-up be as good as the first is extremely difficult, borderline impossible. However, I still expected great things from this film. And overall, I was not disappointed. The movie started out a little slow, and I felt that it started out somewhat awkwardly, in a way unsure of itself, not sure where it wanted to go. But gradually, a story began to take shape, and the new characters that were introduced suddenly had a reason for being there.

As far as the acting goes, it was not as good as the first movie, as there was less to work with. In some ways, the screenwriting was hardly satisfying as far as character development is concerned, given that 10 years have passed in the story. As for the plot, I liked the new idea, but I did find it quite similar to the first movie in some respects. If you have seen "The Fugitive," and then its follow-up, "U.S. Marshalls," you'll know what I'm talking about.

Now, critiquing aside, there was much to enjoy about this film. The setting stayed true to form, and the idea of Zorro himself remained, for the most part, the legendary person he is. Sword fights were not overdone, and in some ways I wish there would have been more. There was enough action, though, to keep this though from entering my mind, in fact until I sat down to write this. Also, the film is quite humorous, and some of my favorite parts were just the bits of random funny lines and facial expressions that were included. I would have to say that one of the funniest parts had to do with the pipe (the kind you smoke), and all the antics its inclusion entailed. Good times.

I will end my little review here. I must say that it has been an interesting experience. Hopefully, the reviews I choose to write in the future will be far better than this one. But hey, you have to start somewhere.

I posted message on my Yahoo group, "Real Gay People," and thought it would be worth posting here as well. There's still more to consider for it, but I like the overall idea of it. So without further ado, here it is:

I got to thinking today about the recent election, and had in mind the whole idea of Texas amending their constitution to ban gay marriage. This, to me, is not something that should be in a constitution, but that's not the point I wanted to make.

I am for gay marriage, not only because I have a vested interested in it, and for more reasons than simply equality. I think allowing gay couples to marry would do much to improve the current situation of the gay community. Like it or not, many in the gay commnity are promiscuous (of course, that's true for the hetero world as well), and thereis a problem especially among gay men of STDs being spread. Do a Google News search for "gay" and chances are you'll find articles published by the medical profession about the rise of STD rates in gay men (less so than for lesbians). The far right takes this information and declares the gay "lifestyle" an unhealthy one, fraught with problems and disease.

However, I see things differently. For me, it has been difficult to find people who are interested in a real relationship, instead seeming more interested in sex. I know that not everyone is like this, as I myself am not, and really do want a lasting relationship. Call me an idealist, but I love the idea of a life partner, someone with whom I can share my life wholly and without guilt or worry. This is why I think marriage for gay couples should be encouraged.

After having read and listened to many people's stories, I have seen some interesting trends. I have noticed that gay people wind up meeting and then living together shortly after they begin dating, sometimes within a matter of weeks or a few months. I do know of straight people who do this too, but I know of even more straight people who date for longer periods before moving in, and many do look forward to getting married. If gay couples had the benefit of marriage, it might encourage many to have more formal periods of dating, and then eventually getting marriage. I have no doubt in my mind that it would give hope to many more young people (I include myself here), and maybe we would see a trend to a healthier community.

Whether we want to see them or not, the gay community does have its downsides (after all, what community doesn't?), and we must work as a group to improve things. It will be yet another reason to celebrate differences, and to improve all our lives.

So tonight I went out to the local pizza place for dinner with my brothers, and wouldn't you know it, but we got some entertainment along with our pizza and root beer. Granted, it was at someone else's expense, but I found myself laughing hysterically at the situation before my eyes. I couldn't help it.

I'll set the scene: we arrive and pick a table, and at the table next to us is a couple, man and woman, whom I would guess are young professionals, maybe out of college by several years. I would peg it as a first or second date. The girl was extremely talkative, one of those people who seems to like to hear the sound of their own voice. She also gesticulated wildly the whole time she was talking.

Kudos go to the guy, who sat and did his best to seem interested (when he was definitely far from interested) in what she had to say. I first picked up on this, when after seeing that he had just finished eating his pizza, he leaned back and closed his eyes. My brother commented that the poor guy had had no chance to get a word in edgewise, and I followed with a crack to the effect that that's why he was closing his eyes: he was falling asleep while listening to her.

I really thought that it was a clever crack on my part, but I quickly discovered that it was the truth. His eyes stayed closed, and I recognized instantly the signs of sleep, such as the head lolling a bit (I have much experience with this form of sleep, I've taken my share of boring lecture classes). The guy was falling asleep while his date kept yakking. To top things off, the girl didn't seem to notice, or care, about the fact that her date was dozing!

Needless to say, this spectacle turned out to be the high point of my day, I haven't laughed so long in quite a while. We were there for about an hour and a half, and the this date started before our arrival on the scene, took place the whole time we were there, and continued after we left!

I want to thank these two unwitting people for giving me a memory that will remain imprinted in my mind for a long time to come, and will cheer me up when I'm feeling blue. Who would've thought a bad date could be so good for someone else?

So finally, I am getting everything put together for this. I have set up my brand new Yahoo Group, called Real Gay People. It has been a fun process, figuring out what exactly I want the group to be about and who it pertains to. I have come to the conclusion that this group is for anyone and everyone, be they GLBT, straight, somewhere in between. I definitely want gay people to join and be able to voice their thoughts and frustrations, but I also want family and friends to join and voice their thoughts. It will be a great place for everyone to share knowledge and ideas, and I think everyone will benefit greatly from it. Also, it will be a place for me to voice my own thoughts, feelings, frustrations, hopes, wishes, dreams, and the like. I hope it takes off well!

**Update 8/23/07: The picture you see above was not included in this blog entry. I posted it here so that I could have a cool little profile picture here on Blogger. Pretty savvy of me, huh.