A Thought: On the Cycling of Life

Life is cyclical.  Time moves.  Seasons come and go, mostly, and the world spins on.  Life is cyclical, but that doesn't mean our lives must be.  Take control.  Find new cycles, or build them yourself.  Even if you fail, and you likely will, more often than not, you can always move on again until you find some place worth settling. Read more!

A Thought: On Media Violence

There is, in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy, a number of "family focused" groups who wish to ban violent movies, television, video games and music because they claim, their words, not mine, that childhood exposure to these things desensitizes kids to violence and thereby makes it easier for them to harm and kill others. 

In the same breath, they then lash out against anti-gun lobbyists for making gun control laws so strict that kids can't be taught to respect them properly.

As an advocate of both free speech and gun control (not to be confused with the absolute abolishment of all guns ever in the whole world, so there, because there is a difference), I just feel the need to point out a wee bit of hypocrisy here.

Both of these things are problematic and both of them, as well as a whole truckload of other things, should be looked at, very, very closely, to see what role they're playing in what is an increasingly violent, and deadly, youth culture suffering from a startling decrease in empathy, inability to communicate effectively or read non-verbal social cues and, for the first time in history, be less educated than the generation before it.

We all know the problems, folks.  Time to be honest about the reasons why and how we can go about fixing it. Read more!

A Thought: On the Best Years of Your Life

The only time high school should have been the best years of your life is if you died on the way home from graduation. Read more!

A Thought: On Science and Faith

I find it very odd, those who can't rectify science and faith.  To me, one has always been the best proof of the other and to exclude either from my being would be to cut off half of who I am. Read more!

A Thought: On a Life Worth Prolonging

Before you make a change to your life with the primary intent of lengthening it, make certain that the change will be worth the sacrifice.  What is the sense in potentially living longer if those years will lack the joy that you may otherwise experience? 

Mind you, I don't mean continuing bad behaviors with no real benefit, nor am I discouraging positive changes which only suck for a little while, but with the recent surge of "life-lengthening" fad diets and regimes, I feel it's necessary to remember that life isn't about how long you live, but how much you live, and it may perhaps be of more use to conquer one's fear of death than stifle one's ability to live. Read more!

The Reason for the Season

First, the rotation of the planet and the relative position of the sun is the reason for the season.  That being said, it is 100% true that Christ is who folks are celebrating at Christmas, but, and I feel like he would back me up on this, don't forget that others are celebrating other things around this time of year that are just as valid.  Share the love, as THAT is meant to be the heart of the holidays. Read more!

Holiday Wishes...

When someone wishes you a happy holiday, regardless of whether it's the particular celebration, if any, that fits into your particular belief system, they are wishing you love, peace and joy from the part of them from which they believe these things spring.  It's the same as if it were in a language that isn't your own.  The sentiment of the sender is what matters.

If you take offense, you're missing the point, and a little bit of magic.  And you're probably kind of a dick, so you could use it.  If for no other reason than to stave off the inevitable appearance of Krampus.

That being said, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, off-date Solstice and even Festivus.  Or, if nothing else, have a wonderful Tuesday. Read more!

Conversations: The Whomping Willow

J: He's barking up the wrong tree, there.

Z: Yeah, he also doesn't realize that tree is a whomping willow who's going to beat the shit out of him if he doesn't stop soon. Read more!

For Barbara Brown...

In every one of our lives, we have a handful of teachers who come in and truly shape the people we become.  In this area, if few others, I've been overwhelmingly blessed.  All through my academic career, I've had exceptional educators point me down the path, open up new doors and expose me to things that I had never considered before.  I carry each of them with me in everything I do, in everything that I am.  They are responsible for many of the best parts of me.

I've attempted, as I've gotten older, to find them and offer what thanks I'm able, though it can never truly be enough, for all they've done for me.  About a year and a half ago, I was able to do so for my twelfth grade English teacher, Mrs. Brown. 

She came to see me when I was teaching in the same halls where I'd once been a student.  She had moved into the library and, when she heard that I was subbing in the department, she came to see me.  We hugged, talked and caught up and I made sure to thank her as the bell rang and the students began to file into my room.  I found out this morning that she passed away last night.

So, for her, I want to say these things, in the hope that, somehow, somewhere, she'll read them.  After my accident, when I was confined to a wheelchair, I spent my lunches in her room, talking with her about books, school...everything.  She never talked down to me or treated me as though the things I had to say were unimportant, though I'm sure that many of them were.  I'm not sure what I would have done without her, back then.  That little thing provided the solace I needed to put myself back together after a sudden and irrevocable change and meant more to me than I could fathom at the time.

 She was smart, kind and, as with all the best teachers, made me want to be better, to work harder, without ever pushing.  She was patient, fair and funny, encouraged her students to think beyond themselves and what they were used to, to spread our wings and follow our own paths, and always, always, made certain we knew how much she valued us and the work we did.

For that, and so very much more, I will always be grateful.  Read more!

A Thought: On the Likability of a Smartass

I've always heard people say, "No one likes a smartass."

It has been my experience, however, that everyone loves a smartass.  Read more!

I Want to Live in Newford

I want to live in Newford.  I want to surround myself with artists and writers and musicians.  I want to believe, to feel, to know the rush of being touched by something greater.  I want the community, the faith, the kindness of everyday people.  I want to live in Newford. Read more!

Hey, Netflix...My Inner Pyro Thanks You...

Thank you, Netflix, for giving me streaming fire.  Thank you. Read more!

Sometimes it isn't about you...Unless it is. And you know if it is.

It's astonishing to suddenly realize I've known someone for 26 of my 32 years.  What's more astonishing is that we've managed to stay friends despite countless moves and life changes, spending a fair portion of that time across the country from one another before the days of social networking and cell phones. 

I am forever thankful for his friendship, for his family and for his outlook on the world, twisted perfectly so that it just happens to match mine.  Happy birthday, old friend. Read more!

A Thought: On the Respective Responsibilities of God and Mankind

I've seen...too many posts and pictures and blogs asking God why He allows such terrible things to happen in the world, why children starve, poverty runs rampant, why people are hurt to satisfy the wants of others.  I ask, "Why do we?"

My answer to such questions has been to stop relying on God to solve your problems.  We were given a world, the ability to think and reason and the strength to enact change.  When the world declines, we need to spend less time looking up and more time looking inward. This planet is our responsibility and it's time we grew up and took it on.

Faith, in anything, should be part of the strength which moves you to act, to persevere.  It is not meant to be a tool of blame, nor of judgement, nor is it something from which to hide behind when you're scared, hoping the bad things will go away.  There's enough of that in the world.  If you truly want to act in the image of very nearly every major religious or philosophical figure, don't just sit and argue, pointing fingers at those who don't believe as you do, or don't believe in anything.  Do something.

If you worry about starving children, give out some food.  Don't just give to a charity that gives out food.  Make some sandwiches and hand them out.  If you're concerned over the creeping darkness in the world, get out there and spread some light. 

Go out and volunteer.  For every one of the worlds evils, there are a small group of weary people working tirelessly to fight against it.  They could definitely use all the help they can get.

Want to stop people from hurting others?  Start fighting a culture which revels in the misery of others.  Take away the revenue stream that's been built on human suffering.  Put down your reality T.V. and love your fellow Man rather than ridiculing them around the water cooler.  Start holding those in power, those who run the country, run the businesses, who buy and sell laws, not just responsible but accountable. 

Think. Learn. Seek understanding. Reach out. Don't just react. Seek those things which make us the same instead of those which make us different.  There's a LOT more to work with there.  Read more!

A Thought: On Childrearing

So many, in the wake of what happened yesterday in Connecticut, have expressed the reasonable need to draw their children in closer, to hold them and watch over them more closely.  I support that wholeheartedly, of course.

But perhaps keep an eye out, and arms open, for other children whose parents may not be as thoughtful and caring, even if you have no children of your own.  It's rarely those children who come from places of peace that become violent, but those who are left alone too long in the darkness. 

Every child is the provenance of every adult.  Love them.  Teach them.  Fight for them.  Be Patient.  Be kind.  But, more than anything else, just be there. Read more!

A Thought: On the Tragedy in Connecticut

The question should not be about the level of gun control in a civilized society, but rather about the sort of society which creates and profits from such tragedy as this.  It isn't a time for politicizing or bickering.  It is a time for grief, thought and reflection. Read more!

A Thought: On the Reality of Realism

Being a realist is a good thing.  It allows you to see the world as it is.  But it's too often used as justification for lazy cynicism, as an excuse to do nothing to affect change. 

It must be taken a step further.  You must see the world as it is, but also as it should be, and move to bring them together. Read more!

A Thought: On the Breaks in Life

Things break.  It's what you do with the pieces that matters. Read more!

A Thought: On Phones and Bathrooms.

The best way to guarantee the arrival of a phone call on which you're waiting is to go to the bathroom.

On a related note, don't answer the phone in the bathroom. Read more!

Pratchett on the Value of Foresight and Education

"Build a man a fire and he will be warm for the night.  Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life."

-Terry Prachett Read more!

A Thought: On Contemporary Alternative

I was driving to class the other morning and listened to three and a half songs on the contemporary alternative station before I realized it wasn't the retro 80s station.  Not sure how I feel about that. Read more!

A Thought: On Logic and Running Shorts

Ladies, while I am in no way, shape or form against the trend of tiny running shorts, perhaps you should give a little thought to priorities when you wear them on days so cold that you're literally shivering despite wearing, on your upper half, at least two shirts and a sweatshirt.  Just a thought. Read more!

Overheard at the tree lot...

Woman, with disgust, when the attendant carrying the tree to her car asked if they'd be decorating that evening: "We don't believe in decorating.  The tree has dignity."

...she says rudely to the attendant hauling the chopped tree without ever looking up from her phone at the human being doing her manual labor. Read more!

A Thought: On The Portability of Light

I've seen and heard a number of people lamenting the fact that their news and social media feeds are full lately of nothing but dark, depressing news and can't help but agree that it seems as though the world is trying its best to bring down what should be a beautiful time of year, regardless of your religious leanings (if any).

Here's the solution, and it's quite simple: If you're sitting in a dark room, you get up and turn on the light.  If you're living in a dark world, go out and make some light.  Steel yourself against the barrage of sadness and pain by getting out there and lessening it for someone else.  Volunteer. Go out and help a friend.  Visit a nursing home or a hospital.  There are so many ways to help make things better, and all of them involve a little effort, but each one is completely worth it. Read more!

A Thought: On Relative Self-actualization

At the beginning of one of my courses this semester, the entire class took an in-depth survey to determine various characteristics of our personalities.  The professor released all the scores, coded, of course, last week, so we could look them over and see our own.  It was all interesting, if a little disturbing, in some ways, to see the averages for our class versus the national averages, but one of the measures was self-actualization. 

In a class of 95 students, I was the third most self-actualized.  My first thought was, "Those other two bastards are liars."  The next thought was, "Oh...That's why I'm third." Read more!