Sharing is Caring

I'm going to disclose something that happened to me because I love you all so tenderly:

I vomited so hard that my nose bled.

For All the Wrong Reasons

I came across an interesting insight today. It is as such:

When gay marriage is made legal, it won't be because it's the right thing to do; it'll be because the commercial possibilities of having them will be realized. Because, if I can speak stereotypically for a moment, who would throw a more elaborate wedding than two gay men?

Filing Taxes

Me: I think it's ridiculous that they keep that 54 dollars. I don't make enough money for them to keep that. I want that 50 dollars back!

Jesse: It pays for the services that the government renders you.

Me: They can render me a fucking blow job!

Seperated from Reality

The other day I was walking along with someone; let's call her Ms. Bootless. We were passing by some storage tanks that held liquid oxygen. For whatever reason, there were crewmen there venting off some of the O2. It looked really cool. The pipe it was venting out was coated with frost all along it's length. Fabulous science!

But that's not really the point. Ms. Bootless got all weirded out and didn't know what they were doing. She crossed the street and wouldn't go near it. "Why are they doing that? What is that?" she asked. I told her they were just releasing some liquid O2, that it was just oxygen. It didn't matter to her, and she said she wasn't going to go near it.

Now this event may not seem like a whole lot to someone who is not acquainted with Ms. Bootless. She bothers me, and it took me a long time to figure out why that was. And now I think I have a decent idea of why she bugs me so much. Here's the thing: I still have this silly idealistic notion that every person is worth something. She disconfirms that fanciful notion of mine.

Life, as I see it, builds toward something. It's different for everyone, and no one goal is intrinsically more "worthy" than any other. Ms. Bootless isn't building toward anything. She's said enough to the effect that she wants to just be in heaven so her troubles will be over. Setting aside my first reaction to that, it strikes me as a futile existence waiting for life to end. Where's the fulfillment in that? That's just subsistence with no meaningful prospects, completely setting aside the metaphysical garble that is the afterlife.

Either that, or she's just annoying.

Does this make me weird?

I spent my lunch break today writing. It started out with my opinion on the nonexistence of free will. How many twenty-one year old guys actually think about stuff like that? It moved from there into the changing ratio of human understanding vs. the realm of god. Through time, scientists reach their limit and attribute the out-of-reach portion to god. Then someone comes along and licks the problem that stumped the previous intrepid individual. It's a lesson of human limitations and the development of human knowledge.

My point is that, over time, the god explanation has been used less and less to cover an unknown. Now, it's a 'we don't don't know...but we will' attitude that I think is much better. Still though, people insist on throwing in the god card. As a species, we haven't discovered everything, but I think we've uncovered enough to where we should realize that the blanket explanation of big-sky-daddy is no longer necessary. There's a system in place where we can find answers, test them, accept them, and revise them.

Isn't that grand?

I just think we need to be careful. If ID is allowed to encroach on the already pitiful state of public education, we could forever lose our standing in the intellectual world. While Western society was entrenched in Church instituted Dark Ages, the Muslim world was the center of of scientific discovery. If that doesn't give you the willies about the power of religion induced promotion of ignorance, then yeah.

This is how I spend my time.

Make Love, Not that Other Thing

Calif. Couple Calls for Orgasm for Peace

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Two peace activists have planned a massive anti-war demonstration for the first day of winter.

But they don't want you marching in the streets. They'd much rather you just stay home.

The Global Orgasm for Peace was conceived by Donna Sheehan, 76, and Paul Reffell, 55, whose immodest goal is for everyone in the world to have an orgasm Dec. 22 while focusing on world peace. (full story)

Now there's a concept. This is seriously an anti-war effort I can get behind. I'm not one for holding signs or writing letters to my congressperson. But, if I can help save the world while getting my jollies at the same time, I say that's a win-win type situation. I think everyone ought to do their part by doing themselves.

Because I'm such a damned good person

I donated blood today. I can't say that it was actually fun, but it went well. Okay, except for the part when the network went down while I was doing the pre-donation screening. And also the part when I momentarily blacked out after the needle was removed. That part did feel pretty cool though. I got lightheaded, and everything went all swooshy. It's interesting to see your realm of vision slowly collapse when you're not actually closing your eyes.

Those needles they use are hefty. That sucker (haha) was the width of a coffee stirrer.

Next time, I'm going to make sure to drink more water. Maybe then I won't pass out. One can only hope.

Don't Dip it In

Abstinence message goes beyond teens
USA TODAY

The federal government's "no sex without marriage" message isn't just for kids anymore.

Now the government is targeting unmarried adults up to age 29 as part of its abstinence-only programs, which include millions of dollars in federal money that will be available to the states under revised federal grant guidelines for 2007.

The government says the change is a clarification. But critics say it's a clear signal of a more directed policy targeting the sexual behavior of adults. (full story)

Because it's just such an effective and intelligent education (I use that in the lightest sense of the word) method for teens that it's expanding to adults?

I find it completely awful that such an idiotic policy is (1) actually still being taught to pre-teens and teens, and (2) that there's a feeling within this compartment of government that the sexual conduct of adults is in any way their concern.

People have sex and babies without a silly ritual of (supposedly) life-long commitment? I think I might just keel over in shock and affronted moral principles. How 'bout you?

Musing

If Islamic terrorists started recruiting paraplegics and double amputees, would they be promised 36 virgins in the afterlife?

Fuck the Apple Store

May they be forced to gargle the blood of ten stillborn infants and be boiled in the semen of three dozen pedophiles.

I went in last Monday to have my computer fixed, and it still hasn't been sent to the Apple Repair Center. It's been a week, and I am a very pissed off student without a computer.

Cock gobblers, every one of them.

I'm going to Simutek now.

Electronic Karma

I think all the bad mojo from taking apart every electronic thing I could get my hands on as a kid is starting to catch up with me.

The logic board on my iBook failed. This is the replacement from when my original logic board crapped out. No laptop. No Mac delectablity for Ryan, just the PCs he can access through work (which is where I'm writing this).

And my iPod is failing too. I have to restart it more than I ought to in order to get it out of a freeze or to get it to actually play music. Why, Stevey? Why must your products forsake me in my time of need? I need the warm loving glow of Apple's warm loving glow to sustain me.

If I'm not a complete slacker, I'll say something about midterms and NaNo later.

And I am a complete slacker, so don't hold out a whole lot of hope.

Are you Kidding?

I'm in the ECE lab right now "working" through a reservation for an Engineering class. The professor just spent the last 15 minutes talking about breathing. She even mentioned Reflexology. Reflexology? Are you serious? Reflexology is complete pseudoscience. It's just foot massage and has no effect on health. It's an amazing feat (haha, didn't catch that until I reread the post) of compartmentalization that someone can be a professor in engineering able to do things with her mind that I'll never be able to and then just turn off when it comes to stuff like this. I love it!

Japanese

I decided I'm going to stop trying as much in Japanese. It's my last semester of it, and I'm ready to be done. I three-quarters assed it for the last three semesters and got an A, so if I half ass it in 202 or even three-eighths ass it, I could potentially get a B. I like those numbers. I also like that it gives me more time so I don't wear myself out as much.

And I'm glad I dropped those 7 units. I'm pretty sure I'd be in a coma right now if I hadn't.

Is it a bad sign that it's only about a month in and I'm already entertaining fantasies of quitting college? What's the point, really? My degree will do me absolutely no good. None. "Creative Writing major? Here! Have a sack of money!" It just feels like I'm wasting time and money to take the three classes in my major that I actually want to take. Why on Earth would I want to go into debt for a degree that will do me no real good? It's depressing, really.

So downer post. Uhhhhh... Okay, so a midget walked into a bar and I stepped over it.

Me Wanna Pass Out

This is my second week of getting up at 6 to go to work then class then work at other job. I'm pretty much on the verge of collapse. I'm behind in my reading and I'm missing assignments. I also have 4 stories that I need to read and critique for tomorrow. There's also the 50 pages or so of reading I need to do for Friday and prepare a presentation on 30 of those pages. I would likey pass out now.

Oh and I'm starting to think again that I'm sick. Awesome. Awesome.

So yeah, I'd like to go to sleep right now and not wake up for a week or so. Anyone know how I could arrange that? Anyone? Anyone? Beuller?

And if I do crash, be comforted to know that the people I plan on taking down with me would be random passersby.

New Facebook Homepage

I find it really funny that people are complaining about the new Facebook homepage. That on its own I could deal with. People are always unsatisfied. What's funny is the group dedicated to hating the homepage. I bet almost everyone in that group joined because their friends joined it and they knew that because it was posted on the new Facebook homepage.

When I Die...

China acts on funeral strippers

Five people have been detained in China for running striptease send-offs at funerals, state media say.

The once-common events are held to boost the number of mourners, as large crowds are seen as a mark of honour.

But the arrests, in the eastern province of Jiangsu, could signal the end of the rural tradition.

Local officials have since ordered a halt to "obscene performances" and say funeral plans have to be submitted in advance, Xinhua news agency said.

The arrests, in Donghai county, followed striptease acts at a farmer's funeral, the agency said.

Two hundred people were said to have attended the event, which was held on 16 August.

The Beijing News said the event was later revealed by a Chinese TV station. The leaders of five striptease troupes were held, it said, including two involved in the farmer's funeral.

"Striptease used to be a common practice at funerals in Donghai's rural areas to allure viewers," Xinhua agency said.

"Local villagers believe that the more people who attend the funeral, the more the dead person is honoured."

As well as ordering an end to the practice, officials have also said residents can report "funeral misdeeds" on a hotline, earning a reward for information.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5280312.stm

Nice Guys

I'’m sure you'’ve heard the saying/Green Day song "“Nice Guys Finish Last." In terms of dating, this seems to be the case. At least from my limited experience. Have you ever stopped to ask why this is? The self-proclaimed nice guy will tell you that girls prefer dating the jack-offs. I disagree. I'd like to give the fairer sex a little more credit than that.

Here'’s my explanation of the phenomenon: the jack-off asshole actually asked her out. Imagine that, taking the initiative. So as long jack-off assholes are out there asking out girls and the "“nice guys"” remain mostly spineless pansies, the trend will continue.

What'’s really sickening is that some of the creepier "nice guys" think that somehow they're entitled to a girlfriend/poon just because they'’re supposedly nice.

What is "“nice"” anyway? Here are a few definitions from dictionary.com

- Pleasing and agreeable in nature
- Exhibiting courtesy and politeness
- Of good character and reputation

Okay, that's all well and good. However, don'’t you think it's better to be "kind"?

-• Of a friendly, generous, or warm-hearted nature.
-• Showing sympathy or understanding; charitable
- Humane; considerate
- Forbearing; tolerant
- Generous; liberal
-• Agreeable; beneficial

I personally think the latter is preferable. Niceness is a description of behavior, while kindness reflects a genuine goodness of being.

There's really more to it than this, but it's just something I've noticed since high school. I bet you were expecting a lament based on the title of the post, weren't you? I like to mix things up.

There was a time that I did bitch about it, but then I pulled my head out of my ass. How great would it be if others could do the same?

Fall Semester..... COMMENCE!

I started my third year at the Ivory Tower today. It's kind of strange to think I'm halfway done with my undergraduate degree. It's bound to be an interesting semester with the load I'm taking on. There's the 19 units, the 25-30 hours a week working two jobs, wanting to squeeze in some rock climbing trips, and most importantly trying to find time to spend with a certain someone. So that's all very joyous. I'll either learn to manage my time or start chowing down speed.

I put down the deposit on my car today. Within a week or so I'll officially purchase my '98 Honda Accord. I had been looking at a Nissan Sentra, but after consulting someone who knows a whole hell of a lot more about cars than I do, changed my mind. As it turns out, Nissan Sentras do not hold their value very well at all. It would be worth half as much in about three years. So I decided to go with the Honda. All told, it's going to cost me a shaving over $7500. It's actually all working out very nicely. I have had no hassle whatsoever about anything so far. It's been an enjoyable experience.

Currently, I'm sitting in Old Engineering 318, wheedling away my first shift of the semester at OSCR. There is no one in the lab. I also am hungry, thirsty, and have to pee. That'll all have to wait until after 10 when my shift is over.

If Parents aren't afraid of you influencing their children, you're doing something wrong

I was using the paper shredder today at work, and I thought of a really great title for a porn movie. Like all great porn movies, this would be a niche production. "What niche?" I hear the droves ask. Well, it's for transgender emo porn. The title is based on a popular 80's song by Cutting Crew. It's going to be called I Just Hermaphro-Died in Your Arms Tonight. Can you picture it? Chicks with dicks writing weepy poetry about the entropy of society and how no one understands their surprise penis, all while taking it right up their ruby starfruit.

I have a vision.

Les sigh

I'd been thinking about quitting my job at the radiology lab. I was torn though because I knew the responsible thing to do would be to keep the job. Bills need to be paid after all. I came to a decision. Pending me finding some awesome job that pays more than Radiology does, I'm going to stick it out. Sometimes I hate having to do the grown-up thing.