College Life

Wow. College life. I'm so busy. I haven't been on this site in a while, but I plan on posting more regularly now that I'm getting settled.

So, as a broke college student, I'd love to win a free pair of uggs. Which is why I'm posting this sticker thingie here. Nice, huh?

Alright. I'm gonna go write a paper now; but i'll be back. Do not fear. Till then, have a great night everyone!

Is it a choice?

Is love a choice? I know a lot of people who would argue that love is an emotion. My dad has always told me that lust is an emotion, and love is a choice. I didn't always agree with him, but first hand experience has changed my mind.
Emotions don't make me love him when he's feeling depressed. Emotions don't make me love him when he's moody and upset. It's during those times that I choose to love him still, to listen and talk and help him work through it.
Emotions don't make him love me when I'm in a bad mood. Emotions don't make him love me when I'm being irrational. Emotions don't make him love me when I've been too busy to talk for over a week, or when I'm going so fast that he doesn't even know what city I'm in. But he chooses to love me still. He chooses to let me rant. He chooses to let me cry and then tell me how much he loves me.
If I let emotions dictate our relationship, I might have given up when people I trusted said that we would never last. When my friends turned away from me. Instead, when one of my friends told me I had to choose between him and her, I made my decision. I choose to love him.

The Ring

I just had to put these up. I know they aren't great pictures, but I absolutely love the ring. We went for a walk today, just around the block. He stopped (right in the middle of the street) pulled out this ring, and asked me to marry him. He put the ring on my finger, and at that exact second a random black cat appeared out of nowhere. It was so funny. For some reason, it just seemed perfect, in an odd way.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal

What happened to all men being created equal? Thomas Jefferson first stated that all men were equal in his drafting of the Declaration of Independence. Over the years, America has overcome many obstacles to become a country where all men are free, and all men have the same rights. People like Rosa Parks, Jackie Robison, and Martin Luther King Jr. struggled to make this country a safe place where all men could live together peacefully. Now, people like Maggie and John Anderson are undermining everything that we’ve worked so hard for.
There is currently a “buy black” movement sweeping our nation. African Americans are being encouraged to only patronize businesses that are owned and run by other blacks. This is seen as not only a political statement, but also as a chance to support other blacks.
What would happen if I let it be known that I only shopped at exclusively white establishments? Could I get 4,000 people to follow my progress on facebook? Would I be labeled a visionary? Would others praise me for taking a stand for my people? In all likelihood, no. I would be called racist. I would be accused of hating blacks. There would be public outrage at the fact that I was singling out other races and refusing to patronize their businesses. I would get emails calling me a “hater”. People like the Andersons would be crying out that laws be created to stop people from doing this type of thing.
Maggie and John have a daughter, Cori. What is she learning from all of this? Is she learning that she lives in the land of the free? Is she learning about the men and women who have died for her freedom? Is she learning that, regardless of the tone of her skin and the tone of her neighbors, they are exactly the same? No. Her parents are, by example, teaching her that the color of her complexion does matter. That she is different, and perhaps even better, than others. Is this the equality Jefferson was referring to?

Who's Being Intolerant Now?

Perez Hilton, one of the judges for Miss America, asked Miss California how she feels about the gay marriage controversy. Miss California answered truthfully, replying that she did not, in fact, condone gay marriage. Now, it probably does not come as a surprise to you, but Miss California did not win the pagent. Now Perez Hilton has posted terribile coments of the woman on his blog, calling her nasty names and saying that he is hurt and frustrated by her comments.
What hurts and frustrates me is that this man, who claims that the rest of America should be "tolerant" of his lifestyle, is not tolerant of the lifestyle of a Christian woman. He, who "feels" like he loves other men, cannot let be a woman who is following the teachings of the man she believes is the Son of God.
Why is it that the group that most often calls for tolerance of their beliefs is the least tolerant of others? Gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders are always crying out the injustice of the world, in that no one is accepting of them. And yet they cannot accept that a person believes differently than they do. They cannot let it go that someones lifestyle is not the same as theirs. Why?
One last thing I would like to point out is this. Miss California knew that she would likely lose the Miss America crown if she answered that question truthfully. She knows now that, if she had lied and said that she loved the idea of one man marrying another, she would probably be Miss America. She still answered the question, saying "I believe that a marriage should be between one man and one woman". I applaud her in her sticking to her beliefs. Not many women would these days.

Obama's photo shoot

So, I'm not sure what my reaction should be.

The President of the United States has pictures on magazine covers of him in his swim suit. Should I laugh, at the fact that Americans are raving about how "hot" Barack Obama is? Should I be appalled that this picture is of him in no more than underwear? Should I be amazed that America even finds the fact that Obama wears swim shorts "news worthy"?

My only input here is that, if Hilary Clinton had been elected, rather than Barack Obama, wouldn't there be public outrage if there were pictures published of her in a bikini?

His Dream Woman?

Seen on Britain's Got Talent

I have to admit, when I first saw this video I thought that Susan Boyle would be terrible. I thought that she was one of those people they show just to prove how horrible some contestants really are. Her apperance and her demeanor led me to doubt whether or not she was actually serious. No one appearing as she does could possibly have any hope of winning a contest such as this, I thought. Then she started singing.

I suppose this is a good time to reiterate that age old saying, you can't judge a book by it's cover. Susan Boyle is not at all what she seems. Her voice is simply amazing to listen to. Assuming her appearence is all there is to her is a major mistake that could have cost the world the pleasure of hearing her sing. Fortunately, someone saw fit to take her seriously, actually listen to her audition, and put her on stage. Fortunately, Miss Boyle (who has never been kissed, let alone had a serious boyfriend) saw fit to grace the jeering crowd with her song. Fortunately, the idiots in the crowd had the good sense to know true wonder when they heard it, and they actually shut up. I expect that not too long from now, we will be hearing of a new single being released from Britain, from a previously unknown Susan Boyle.

I think that this is also a good time to point out Simon's facial expressions. At 2:23, 2:42, and especially at 4:23, he appears to be simply enraptured. Is it possible that Simon has found his dream woman? Could it be true love? Will he leave Paula's side for this British unkown? Who knows? With Simon, anything is possible!

My Easter Tradition

I have an Easter tradition. Yes, I, who have no traditions, actually do something consistently, every year. I watch Grote Kunst Voor Kleine Mensen: Chocolade haas. I love it. There is true art and beauty in this video. It is only 2 minutes and 36 seconds. And yet it is amazing. Pure genius.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-SZYZLfZ7E

There is something beautiful in the rippeling chocolate. Something symbolic in the melting of the bunny. Do you not agree with me? Happy Easter everyone.

Taking absurd too far

In the age of stupidity, we as a race have managed to take the absurd to a whole new level. Let's recap. In the last few weeks, the President of the United States gifted the Queen of England with an iPod, complete with uploads of his speeches. He did not, however, deem it necessary to grace her with a bow, as he did the King of Saudi Arabia. In America, it seems that multiple people have been struck with the sudden urge to go on killing rampages, decapitating their five year old sisters and shooting up nursing homes. In the United Kingdom, a 12 year old is a father, and then he is not. Schools across America are banning high fives. A 12 year old girl in Canada sued her father; and won.
Yeah, you read that right. No, she didn't sue him for abusing her. She didn't sue him for taking advantage of her, or treating her inappropriately. She sued him for grounding her from a school field trip.
Her crime? Accessing chat sites online that had previously been banned in the household. Uploading "inappropriate" pictures of herself using a friends computer.
Her punishment? Not being allowed to attend a school trip that her mother (who, at the time, lived separate from her husband and child) said she could go on.
Her response? Not screaming. Not crying. Not even sneaking out. She took her father to court. Suzanne Tessier, the judge presiding over the case, sided with the 12 year old. The court lifted her grounding. Of course, the father and his attorney are already working on an appeal, but what good is that going to do?
Obviously, other children are going to hear about this case. They are going to say, "Hey. If she could do it, why can't I? I don't want to be restricted from TV because I wouldn't eat my green beans, so I'm going to sue my mother". Parents are going to be constantly on the look out for signs that their preteens have contacted an attorney.
This girl's relationship with her father will never be the same. She's twelve years old! What is she going to do when she needs a father's guidance? "Hey Dad, I'm really sorry about suing you three years ago. But I've got this guy that I really like, and I was wondering if you could tell me if he likes me for me, or for my body"? Or maybe, "Look, I know I sued you and all, but will you walk me down the aisle next weekend? It's sort of my wedding..."? What about him? Will he ever be able to trust his sweet little girl again? Can he ever be around her without expecting her to stab him in the back?
What's next people? Will two year olds actually get an end to nap time? Will four year olds sue for emotional damage? Will eight year olds begin demanding equal rights in their households? Where will it end?

A Tale of Two Bows

So. Here we have a video of Barack Obama, bowing. Twice. The first time to the Queen of England, and the second time to the king of Saudi Arabia.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gJtIss7xso&feature=related

Hmm...What do you think? The first bow is that expected of the President of the United States. A bit nondescript, and probably too small for political correctness sakes, but still good. The second, however, is that of a servant bowing to his master. Where is this man going to lead us? Who else will he bow down to? He is representing the American people. His little stunt proclaimed to the world that we bow down to another country. Whatever would George Washington have said about that? What would he have thought about the country he fought to free bowing down to Saudi Arabia?

It's Shiny!

Yesterday I bought a new iPod. Not because I broke my last one in an utterly stupid fall, as most of my friends would first suppose, but because my last one has dissapeared. Not the "Oh no! I think I left my iPod in her car" dissapeared, but the "I know I left it sitting here in my cubby, and now it's gone" dissapeared. So, I bought a brand new, purple (yes, the picture looks blue, but it's just the lighting at my desk) nano.
Have you ever noticed that having something new makes one feel very special? I have all of the same music I've had since forever on my new iPod, but for some reason, it feels special. I want to listen to the same tired, worn, and over heard songs that I had before, simply because they are being played on a shiny, dark purple, oh so slender, brand new iPod. I love that it feels so tiny in my hands. I love that the screen is not yet scratched. I just wish it could stay that way...

Equality?

Where is the justice in the system? I know a girl who's father has what, in today's economy, could be considered a decent job. She has several siblings, and her family is in no way considered "wealthy". I know another girl who has one sibling who is still living at home. Her father works a good job, but she also is not considered "wealthy". The first girl is very intelligent, very hard working, and would give anything to go to college. With the amount of children her family has, there is simply no way they can afford it however. The second is also smart, but doesn't put in nearly as much effort, and had other options besides college, if that didn't work out for her. Both girls applied for scholarships. One got a full ride and the other got nothing. The first girl now has no way to go to college, and the second has multiple schools to choose from. Why? Not because she deserves it more, but because of the color of her skin. The first girl has white parents, and the second has Mexican parents. When these two were considered for scholarships, it wasn't their academic records that were scrutinized. It was the color of their skin. Weren't we supposed to be past this? What's completely unfair is that a hardworking, deserving girl, will not go to college simply because she is white, simply because she is not a minority. I don't have any hard feelings for the second girl; she didn't choose the color of the skin she was born with. She didn't say "I want to be a minority so I will be given special treatment". Just like the other girl didn't ask to be born white. So why is it our country rewards and punishes people for the color of their skin? For something they cannot control?

Rick Wagoner has left the building

Rick Wagoner has handed in his resignation.
Now, I understand that this may not seem relevant to you; you may not even know who Mr. Wagoner is. It should be relevant, however.
The Chairman and CEO of General Motors stepped down today, at the request of Barack Obama.
After a 30 year career with the company, the President of the United States told Mr. Wagoner that unless he stepped down, GM would not be receiving any more money from the government. Rick did not HAVE to step down; he could have refused. I'm sure that would have made him very popular at the office Christmas party.
It frightens me somewhat that our government has decided that they have to have control over private businesses as well as government run operations. It frightens me that the government has the power to do this. It frightens me that the one man in the position to cause this to happen is willing to take that step. What does President Obama hope to gain from this action?
True, I don't know whether or not Rick Wagoner was a good CEO and I don't know if his leaving is going to be good for the company or not. I do know that, as far as I've heard, GM is still a private business, and the government should not be controlling it. Your thoughts on the matter? Was President Obama right in making his ultimatum? Should he have let things be?

If you want to read more about Rick Wagoner and his leaving, follow this link. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/20625.html

Twilight Zone

Ok...I'll admit it. I was wrong.

A few months ago, I went and saw the Twilight movie with some friends. I hated it. Thus, I never read the books. The movie was simply terrible, and I couldn't believe all the hype that surrounded it. Honestly people! He's not that cute! So I simply shoved the books aside at my local Borders, and tried to stay out of the way of the creepy fans who would beat up anyone who bad mouthed the Cullens.
A few days ago, I was talking to a few of the girls at the restaurant. Our conversation was long, and involved many off topic tangents about who is dating whom, and who just bought a new house, and who didn't, and other such things that would make for very boring reading.
The end result of the conversation was that I, apparently, have been quite stupid in my thinking that the books would be just as bad as the movie, and quite inconsiderate of Stephenie Meyer as an author. So, I took myself to Target (actually, I rode with my mother, who was already going to Target for something unrelated) and bought the first book.
This brings us to present day. Three days later, I have had to make another trip to Target to buy the second book, simply because I could not stop at the end of the first. I read quickly, but these last few days, having time in the dressing room at the theater, have given me more than enough time to read and contemplate my quick judgement on the Twilight series.
The writing, while not incredible by any means, is not to horrible. The plot, not coming close to shockingly original, has surprisingly and refreshingly deviated from the norm. Nothing about an independent female showing her guy how she doesn't need him, and him groveling at her feet to take him back after he cheated on her with her best friends sister. Even the vampires are not the kind you normally hear about in pop culture.
Yes, they're sexy. Yes, they have mad skills. These vampires, however, are not your average, human hunting, "Must-taste-your-blood" bad dudes. They have feelings. They have emotions. They have regrets. The sparkly skin is an added bonus.
All things considered,, I must regret that I was so superficial to pass these books by before. If you have not read them, and you're only reason for doing so is that you don't want to get caught up in the hype, or that the movie was too painful to even recall, than please, do yourself a favor, and read one. Just one. Give it an honest try. I would be willing to bet that they aren't half as bad as you think they will be.

What about tomorrow?

I was thinking about what to write tonight, and I realized that all that is on my heart is the future. I know, I'm saying that that is all, and that seems a bit inadequate; but when you've been thinking about the future for the last 8 or 9 months, it seems a little redundant to think about it again. It's beginning to feel like tomorrow is coming too soon, but it will never get here. Have you ever felt like that? Like you don't have enough time, but you wish you had less? Maybe I'm not making much sense. Or, maybe I've hit upon that great, unattainable theory that wakes us up in the middle of the night, but in the morning you can never remember what that thought was that pulled you out of you're Lunesta induced slumber. Then again, it might be the question itself that is Lunesta induced...
So. The future. It's yet to come. And yet it is coming. It scares me, and excites me. It motivates me, and it makes me want to hide under the covers. Is their a way to successfully do both?
While I contemplate a way to make myself into two people so I can satisfy both personalities that seem to be warring inside of me at the moment, let me leave you with this. People in our current culture will tell you to seize the day, and not worry about tomorrow. This brilliant philosophy has contributed greatly to our current economic disaster. It's also been a major cause in the decline of America's morals. Please do worry about tomorrow. Think about the consequences of your actions. How will your decisions today affect you tomorrow? How will they influence me the day after that? And my children, the day after that?