Friends...

Well, it's 12:51 and I have just arrived home after a great night chatting with people I love to be with. We really have something rare. I care about each one of you, and value time with you just as much as time with my own family. That says a lot.
I love to hear your opinions, and I love to give you mine (as you can tell). I had to get this out before I forget, or let my pride wipe away my earnestness. You guys are great. Thanks for caring enough to laugh at my dumb jokes, and to let me hang around and eat the table scraps that fall from your round table of wisdom. I'm gonna get sappy, but it is all sincere...
Maxfield, you always accept what is said impartially.
Lindsay, you always have something thoughtful to say, and it's said thoughtfully. (they are two different things)
Toni, you have such undeniable faith.
Jake, you have insights that I don't have.
Trisha, you are as patient as a saint.
Scott, you are so sincere.
I learn a ton from you all and you are all just GOOD PEOPLE ("great" would be boastful). YOU ARE MY FAMILY.
I am Sam and I am so grateful for my friends.

What are we coming to?

What are we as Americans coming to? We hate the world because they stereotype us, and pidgeon hole us into a corner. Thoughts of the U.S. are becoming more and more clear to me. We have been condemned as a lethargic people, and I can't say that I blame them. We sit around and bitch about everything and no one ever wants to change it. Nobody ever stands up for what we believe anymore. We are on the verge of being run by a dictator, of becoming more of a Totalitarian government, than a Democracy. The decline has been slow and steady, and no one seemed to notice and no one seems to care. We watch the news and swallow the lies while asking for more. So when is it time to take action? According to our own beliefs as a society, 'I'll do it tomorrow, after Desperate Housewives.' I urge you the time is now. Stand up. This is more of a call to arms, whatever your political affiliation. Stand up, and make yourself known. The government has us under there thumb, but do they really? Guantanamo Bay can't hold all of us. To me it would be more noble for me to go out with a voice and a song, then to go out in a state of ignorance and complacency! I hope that all of us remember that WE are just as much a part of this Democracy as even the President himself. Stand up for the choices being made in our behalf.

I don't know if any of you have heard about what is going on in Arizona right now. The Government has just been approved with a test of a Nuclear Warhead. The largest test in the area before this one was 8 kilotons. This next scheduled test is going to be for 60 kilotons. They are seeing if they can use it to bust open underground weapons facilities. The people in Arizona are just now saying, "Hey, hold on, what about the nuclear fallout, and the long term adverse affects of this blast. What about nuclear wind?" The governments response to that was, "So, we have already been approved. The people don't make those decisions." WHAT!?! Since when have the people not been able to make those decisions. So let me say again, Stand Up, Speak Out. Get involved in the affairs of this nation, or our complacency will destroy us all!

WITHOUT STRUGGLE THERE IS NO PROGRESS!

To the Chopping Block We Go

The group Food Not Bombs has decided to turn themselves in to the FBI in a satyrical attempt to bring to light the government surveillance efforts happening during this state of "wartime emergency." It has been confirmed that the head of the group is in fact under the watchful eye of Big Brother, and it makes me wonder . . .

How long until they come after us?

Quick, we'd better erase all political posts immediately, lest we find ourselves with a one-way ticket to Guantanamo Bay!

Again, I defer to a punk rock figurehead, Fat Mike of NOFX:

"First they put away the dealers / keep our kids safe and off the streets / then they put away the prostitutes / keep married men cloistered at home / then they shooed away the bums and they beat and bashed the queers / turned away asylum seekers / fed us suspicion and fears / we didn't raise our voice we didn't make a fuss / it's funny there was no one left to notice when they came for us."

"We used to worry about Big Brother / Now we've got a Big Father and an even bigger Mother"

I Love the Rx Bandits

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Rx Bandits have a new song at myspace.com/rxbandits and they are coming July 18 they will rock your face off

Big Guns and Fightin' Words

A newly-released poll showed that 51 percent of the population said they trusted the government ‘not too much’ or ‘not at all’ about the United States’ relations with (and the veracity of their reports concerning) other countries.

It is a known fact that the Bush Administration lied about WMD’s being in Iraq. It’s also a known fact that North Korea DOES have WMD’s and stated that “The United States doesn’t have a monopoly on pre-emptive strikes,” ominously suggesting that such a strike may occur on American soil. Given the Administration’s position that North Korea is an “outpost of tyranny” and part of the “new axis of evil,” a drastic departure from the peaceful talks had during the Clinton Administration, we are only escalating tensions.

And what about the “spread of democracy”? The poll also stated that “given 11 foreign-policy objectives, respondents ranked ‘actively creating democracies in other countries’ dead last. Only 20 percent of respondents said they considered that aim to be a ‘very important’ goal of U.S. foreign policy.” Are we really “winning the hearts and minds” of the Iraqi and Afghanistan peoples? Daniel Yankelovich, the leader of the study, reported that “both Republicans and Democrats have come to the conclusion that democracy is something that countries can only come to on their own."

So why are we still fighting abroad, both with words and guns? Is forcing “democracy” down another’s throat good for either us or the receptive party? Are strong words only inciting anger and giving justification for attacking our country?

What do you believe?

Lyrically discharge your mouth, Soldier!

This is the song that somewhat inspired me to write the piece about the monuments. This is just a follow up. If you haven't heard it it's on the band Strung Out's latest album Exile In Oblivion. I would suggest you listen to it.

Strung Out
"Blueprint Of The Fall"

Imagine a place where freedoms just a word on the wall
surrounded by the wreckage of towers that could never fall
the company will avenge

imagine the lies like bombs turn the shock and the awe
for justice in time and a land for justice never was one thief
to rule them all along the Potomac and west toward the sea
through the ghettos past the monuments we all built to house the weak
it's the blueprint to the fall of our place in history
the end to what we all believed to be the hope to save this place

and I walk among the flagstones through the graves
an apocalypse is blooming in the sage

dead presidents lined coffin text in biblical unrest
the blind pride home genocide and the secret wars we all missed
it's the blueprint to the fall of the entire human race
the end to what we all believed would be the hope to save this place

and I walk among the flagstones through the graves
* * * *
In our lives I hope that we can be so aware of the pride that goes on in this life. It's nice to honor the dead, but I don't think it is honor to add insult to injury. Enough said from me.

Those who need still need to Blaaahhhg...

Dorko...you need to get your significant other on here.

Jerlo and Chelso could be valuable additions

What about Lenny the Thug?

You can send them an invite via email in Settings--Members.

Tone Loc's in da house...

Word to your mothers. True, I have been busy finding the new med schoolers a house, and thanking my lucky starts they got in.. not that I was surprised... I can't promise I will enlighten any of you too much with my entrees, with the books I read, the shows I watch (the OC is on tonight) and did anyone see Lost last night? or my thoughts or views on much anything.... but who news maybe I will surprise myself. I am not sure how I feel about the whole depression discussion... I guess maybe because it hits close to home. I have always felt like I may be one of those people whom could benefit from pills but always just been scared. Scared that I would get used to them and maybe scared that they would work. I have learned too to be in control of my emotions or atleast to mask them... which is what I am better at. Do you ever wonder if anyone really knows you? Or just knows the you you wish you were... Or are trying to be.
Anyway I better go back to "work." True friends are a very rare luxury and the only way to have true friends is to be a true friend. And enemies are just friends who have done you wrong.

New at this ...

Takes some encouragement and a lot of reminders to get good old Mrs. Conformity to put her thoughts down. Let me just say that this is not easy for me. I'm pretty much "what you see is what you get." I've never considered myself one who has a whole lot of depth when it comes to literature, music, movies, etc... I keep it pretty simple. There are few topics about which I could talk all day... Motherhood, religion, my experience living in Utah, exercise... to name a few.
I've really enjoyed reading your entries and learning a little more about each one of you. Kudos to El Dorko for his entry on judgment in the church... well said. I must admit, I long for the day when I can live in a place where I am the minority again. It's much more chill!!! The diversity (religious as well as ethnic) drowns out the chance to look at Bro/Sis Jones next door (and all over the neighborhood for that matter) and compare how long their Family Home Evening is to yours. I AM Mrs. Conformity. I don't mind wearing my religion on my sleve. That's how I've always lived my life. It's what made me different. It's been acceptable, even commendable until moving to my current location. Now it's labeled self-righteous.... unfortunate... yet again, just another judgement. I could talk on this subject for hours...... but I'm not going to.... you're welcome Windypops:)

Inadequacy part III

That was a GREAT post Lizzen. I knew a little about the topic, but you really opened me up to the why behind it all (well, all the why's that we can explain). I really understand what you are saying, because to a certain and limited extent, I know how it feels. I feel very overwhelmed and therefore inadequate when faced with stress. I beat myself down a lot, and don't really know why sometimes. I don't want to give the wrong impression that I go through any feelings that are clinically diagnosed as depression, but yes I struggle with getting down from time to time. Those feelings of inadequacy and acute depression have often times motivated me, and just as often made me want to shrink.
There were a great couple of articles in Time magazine over the last few months. One was about ambition, what it is, why some have it and some don't. The other was about Happiness, and if happiness is really natural. Both shed light into the chemicals of personality, but also the conditioning aspect of people's psyches. It's the conditioning that I think is vital to impoving one's situation in life, because, as we've discussed, the chemicals are not really something we can change on our own most of the time.
I had a discussion with my mom a few months ago about this subject and I couldn't get her to understand my position on this. I feel as though many people would be better off thinking, and acting like they are fine (cuz after it all, we are fine people), and let the pills handle the chemicals. I can change my mood just by thinking through a problem, and realizing my feelings have betrayed me. Now I am NOT supposing that everyone in the world can just change their mood. Many folks have clinical... imperfections that can not be changed by thinking (duh). I am just suggesting that I think many people who are somewhat chemically regular will benefit by healthy thinking, and solving their life problems.
I hope I have not offended anyone by my labels or ignorance on this subject. Like I said before, I feel like I know how it feels to be uncomfortable, inadequate, and overwhelmed by life. This is my therapy too.

"Inadequacy": My side of the fence

There are two things from the post "Uncomfortable and Inadequate" that struck me:

"Why does something motivate one person, while depressing another?"

"Why do some people seem to get the leg up when it comes to chemicals?"

Coming from my position, after working through a mental illness (and living with it daily), those sentences have entirely different meanings to me. I would like to add my own insights from my side of the fence.

The difference between what motivates one and depresses another is not merely a matter of muster; the depressed person lacks, through one way or another, the ability to cope with the challenge laid before them. The symptoms of depression (withdrawal, feeling worthless) are spurred on when faced with so difficult a task. Their threshold for stress is also much lower; they easily crumble under the weight and pressure. On a chemical level, the "fight or flight" response is altered in depressed peoples. While a challenge exhilarates a "well" person and spurs him into action (to fight), the depressed person's brain reacts in the opposite way. His lack of norepinephrine (pops, correct me if I've got the chemicals wrong) causes him to retreat into himself and become depressed, unable to fight or even to flee. They are trapped by their chemicals and their stressful situation.

And yes, why do some people have "normal" chemical levels and others are not so blessed? It hardly seems fair, does it? To round our your argument, it takes a great deal of motivation (and muster) to work through those challenges and truly fight an illness until the end . . . and a lot of pills.

Excessive posts....NO!

Time for bed. I love this blog. I need to get a life and go to med school.....

....but I need to go to bed too....

Love you guys!!!

Windypops + El Dorko

Where O Where is Tone Loc?

Does anyone else feel the void? Get that girl on here! Numchucks...stop being a numNUTS and remind that girl!

By the way....its almost 2 in the morning...and....I HAVE GREAT FRIENDS!

Song playing: Lyric - Zwan ....man I love Billy Corgan...completely platonic...

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.

George Washington

First president of US (1732 - 1799)

Song now playing - Behind the Drapes - Mew....oh man, thanks Matt!!

Music intravenous....

Thanks to El Dorko for: Panic! at the disco, Pearl Jam, Acceptance, Last Days of April, Hot Hot Heat (I've been seeing that Sulfjan Stevens album EVERYWHERE!)

Thanks to Max the Hash for: 30 Seconds to Mars, Action Action, The Eels, Dredg (damn this guy's good)

Thanks "Mrs. Conformity" for: Bjork, The Killers (Mrs. Conformity is SO HOT)

Thanks to Numchucks for: Bayside, Alkaline Trio, Sparta, Rx Bandits, Bloc Party

Thanks to Jerlo for: Muse, Strung Out, Midtown

Thank you Curtis Simonsen for: The Flaming Lips, The Rapture, The Arcade Fire

Thank you iTunes for: Editors

Thanks little brother for: Frou Frou, Imogen Heap

Bands I don't understand: Green Day, Counting Crows, Dave Matthews Band, Good Charlotte, Death Cab for Cutie

Bands I really want to like but don't: Metallica, The Arctic Monkeys

Band growing on me: Franz Ferdinand

Best vocals in rock music - Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears....ABSOLUTELY.

Butt Rock worth buying RIGHT NOW: Journey, Styx, Rush, Def Leppard, Boston (man, I love Def Leppard)

Music I am embarrased to like: Brian McKnight - Anytime; k.d.lang - Constant Craving; Celine Dion - I drove all night; Eiffel 65 - Blue; Steve Winwood - Valerie; Gwen Stefani - Cool; Glen Medeiros - Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You; Mark Morrison - Return of the Mack; Haddaway - What is Love; Amber - Sexual; Michael Jackson - Human Nature...there's a lot more...as you can imagine (insert ZING by numchucks.)

Music on the horizon of really liking - Hard-Fi, Stars, Saves the Day (listen to Hard-Fi - Cash Machine....geez)

The whole problem can be stated quite simply by asking, 'Is there a meaning to music?' My answer would be, 'Yes.' And 'Can you state in so many words what the meaning is?' My answer to that would be, 'No.'

Aaron Copland
US composer (1900 - 1990)

Have you heard Fanfare for the Common Man by Aaron Copland?!? WELL YOU SHOULD!!! (Thanks dad for that one!)

Viva la musica

Something I wrote a few years ago. It's a reflection on punk rock, or what punk is to me . . .

It's not just about identifying with a song, it's about turning those words into actions, those rants into reality. It's about shedding the skin of a sheltered, structured lifestyle and living according to truth--which is what? It is based on unadulterated human emotion. It is from the inside out, not the outside seeping in. It's letting your intuition take over you inhibition, living on gut reactions that recognize right from wrong as dictates of human conscience, not societal mandates and norms. It is not ascribing to a set system of beliefs, it's setting your OWN system. Punk is not nodding your head, it's shaking your fist. It's kicking down the door. It's stomping on the temple of tradition, irreverencing the idealized social order.

To sum up, I defer to the great Greg Graffin (of Bad Religion):

"It is the gift of being human to be able to challenge and confront those tenets [that dictate how to behave] and share new ways to evoke originality from others."

I think I just popped a Monument!

I was just thinking the other day that our society whether consciously or subconsciously has become a sort of idle to us. If we look at the past we have to build a monument to commemorate it. I agree with learning from our mistakes and keeping them close to our hearts, but why do we have to erect a flaming statue to show that the Holocaust happened? Why do we have to build a wall to let our Veterans know that what they did killed millions of people. To me that seems like a slap in the face. 'Thanks for your hard work and dedication at D-Day, have some useless ground and a piece of marble.' What do we gain that we can't get from a book? To me this is such a pride thing. Like whose monument is bigger?

I think learning is the most effective tool that we have. That is the whole reason why we go to school, to learn from the past, and to hopefully not make the same mistakes again. I don't get that story from just going to the Lincoln or Washington memorial buildings. Yeah you can take a tour, but can you talk to that piece of granite about what s/he accomplished in this life. It's a plain and simple fact that there is no real significance behind what we build, without the stories that go with it. Yeah Lincoln was a great President because he freed the slaves, but the monument without what he did is just that, a monument. Why not learn about what he did in it's preserved state, in say a history class?

Now we are building a monument to help signify what happen on September 11, 2001. What a bold faced insult to the human lives that were shed. This is what you get America, a huge Tower of Babel. Hear us now Terrorists? Or should we turn it up some? Here in the mass of a civilized society, and we have to get a so-called, 'Freedom Tower' to help prove that we are still number one. What is it going to prove? Is it going to avenge, or even resurrect those people from the dead? No, it's showing the World that pride still reigns supreme in the Oval Office. So cheers America, and drink it up!

Hey maybe we could build a monument to our obesity problem, or maybe one to the homeless vets that we seem to not give a shit about today. There's an idea.

WITHOUT STRUGGLE THERE IS NO PROGRESS!

BLOG SHMOG!!

I'm still getting the blog thing. I haven't quite fiquered it out. I can't even explain to people what exactly a blog is. It's funny how nowadays people have a real life and the they have their internet conceived life. I'd be nothing without my identity on myspace. Who would know what bands I like? Who would know my favorite color? Where would I get friends? Sometimes I hear people compare real life to virtual reality. Hey that road looks like a background on Halo. I can't explain that but I think it's weird. Everyone know I suck at talking on the phone. I would much rather talk to someone in person. Whats wrong with talking to someones face nowadays? Wal-Mart mentality has gotten us all. We just need the easiest thing now. I don't write this to say I'm better because I mean the opposite. So what If something is easier. Thats how old I feel now. I say things should be done this way just because thats the way it has always been done. In reality there is no harm in the way people communicate now. So I really dont have a point I'm just rambling

Uncomfortable, and inadequate...

Motivation is a tricky devil to capture. Some have it and some don't, but this one quality is something that will determine one's future moreso than any other quality. It finds us at odd times, or sometimes not at all, like the elusive scent of a well cooked steak drifting out a window and past our noses. Why does something motivate one person, while depressing another? It's odd how often outstanding people in their chosen fields feel so inadequate. The feeling of inadequacy along with the fear of failure motivate, while almost crippling s/he under the weight of depression. I can say that same weight has motivated myself many times, and crippled me as well, although not to such a degree.
I wonder what sort of purpose this plays in the grand scheme of things? Although everyone is created differently chemically, behaviorally, and molded socially into who they become, why do some people seem to get the leg up when it comes to chemicals? I know everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, but sometimes it seems unfair when a person drifts into our lives that seems to achieve everything, have talent X,Y, and Z, while not buckling under the pressure. It all boils down to what we do with what we are given I suppose.
While chemicals and biology have a part to play, the circumstances we find ourselves in are ultimately an indicator of our choices. If someone finds s/he is not where s/he wants to be in life, than choices need to be made to get there. We don't want to leave this life looking back and seeing that our path was an aimless zig zag. This takes planning and patience. Like small hinges move the farthest point on a door in a large semi circle, our very small choices now have huge concequences over time. If we will simply make choices that motivate, or simply take advantage of that mystical scent of motivation when it floats by, we will find we are much closer to our goals. A much straighter path to a desired future will materialize in front of those who get motivated, and take advantage of it.
I guess to take this full circle, the inadequacy and fear we feel, whether biologically imposed, or self-imposed will be that much greater in a life full of regret.

Access to Axis

When are we going to play? I am ready when you are...

From the archives...

Hey, we always said there would be a variety of posts here. This is something I concocted during my lifeguard days. Childish....but true... And no comments on the graphic depiction of the vicitm's nipples. Based on a true story...

Drowning

The pool was inviting
The water looked exciting
The females were delighting
In the warm summer sun

I slipped into the pool
The water was so cool
All the girls made me drool
In the warm summer sun

I saw the vast hoard
Going off of the diving board
So to it I went toward
In the warm summer sun

Then I saw this chick
And my heart she did prick
So I wanted to do some great trick
In the warm summer sun

The board was very high
This dumb trick I was going to try
So off the end I did fly
In the warm summer sun

So from the board I did jump
And my head I did bump
Creating quite a lump
In the warm summer sun

The blood then did flow
And the lifeguard then did know
That to the bottom I would go
In the warm summer sun

The whistle three times blew
And to the water he flew
To save he knew not who
In the warm summer sun

My lungs had no air
And at the surface I did stare
Longing to be there
In the warm summer sun

My limp body he retrieved
The crowd was so relieved
Drowning I had never conceived
In the warm summer sun

He pulled me to the side
I knew I’d almost died
To give words of thanks I tried
In the warm summer sun

This kid just saved the day
For not a whole lot of pay
Then he just walked away
In the warm summer sun

After him I did look
As he hung his whistle on a hook
In his hands his head he took
In the warm summer sun

This lifeguard was quite shaken
After the chance he had just taken
To save my bacon
In the warm summer sun

So when the days get hot
And to the pool you trot
With the new swim suit you bought
To jump and dive like a hot shot
This story you have probably forgot
SO REMEMBER!
You think it’s fun
THE LIFEGUARD DOES NOT!!!

© 1998 Windypops

Triumphs

I hope we are all fortunate enough to experience the fruition of our goals. Hard work is so easily deemed as drudgery. Yet when the pieces all fit and the consistent effort pays off the sun does break through the clouds. Sometimes it breaks through so suddenly that you're left stunned and blinded by the majesty of it all. I hope in a society of drive thru windows, escalators, internet shopping, and TV remotes we never lose sight of the lasting value of hard work. Convenience is a wonderful sidekick to a firm work ethic. However, if it finds its way into the driver's seat, the final destination could be lost in a fog of procrastination and rationalization. Discomfort, a dose of faith, and a clear vision are a healthy recipe for personal growth and fulfillment. That first step into the darkness is just that...a step into the darkness. But determination and consistent effort always yield growth and fulfillment of some kind. Life is never predictable but one's chances for success are always improved by the addition and integration of hard work into life's master formula.

Televangelism...TOO MUCH!

I started thinking about this more and more after seeing a hilarious video entitled the farting preacher. It's immature and....IMMATURE...but I laughed my head off. http://www.ebaumsworld.com/videos/fartingpreacher.html

Genesis wrote a song called "Jesus He Knows Me" about televangelists. Love it.

You see the face on the tv screen
Coming at you every sunday
See that face on the billboard
That man is me

On the cover of the magazine
There’s no question why I’m smiling
You buy a piece of paradise
You buy a piece of me

I’ll get you everything you wanted
I’ll get you everything you need
Don’t need to believe in hereafter
Just believe in me

Cos jesus he knows me
And he knows I’m right
I’ve been talking to jesus all my life
Oh yes he knows me
And he knows I’m right
And he’s been telling me
Everything is alright

I believe in the family
With my ever loving wife beside me
But she don’t know about my girlfriend
Or the man I met last night
Do you believe in god

Cos that’s what I’m selling
And if you wanna get to heaven
I’ll see you right

You won’t even have to leave your house
Or get outta your chair
You don’t even have to touch that dial
Cos I’m everywhere

And jesus he knows me
And he knows I’m right
I’ve been talking to jesus all my life
Oh yes he knows me
And he knows I’m right
Well he’s been telling me
Everything’s gonna be alright

Won’t find me practising what I’m preaching
Won’t find me making no sacrifice
But I can get you a pocketful of miracles
If you promise to be good, try to be nice

God will take good care of you
Just do as I say, don’t do as I do

I’m counting my blessings,
I’ve found true happiness
Cos I’m getting richer, day by day

You can find me in the phone book,
Just call my toll free number
You can do it anyway you want
Just do it right away

There’ll be no doubt in your mind
You’ll believe everything I’m saying
If you wanna get closer to him
Get on your knees and start paying

Cos jesus he knows me
And he knows I’m right
I’ve been talking to jesus all my life
Oh yes he knows me
And he knows I’m right
Well he’s been telling me
Everything’s gonna be alright, alright

Jesus he knows me
Jesus he knows me, you know...


It really gets to me you know? Dateline investigated Benny Hinn...a prominent televangelist. Check this out http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6755173691397686716&q=benny+hinn It really hurts me to see people who are looking for God taken by these businessmen. These sharks. Christianity really has a rough track record. The crusades...geez. Televangelism is quite offensive to me...and I'm a Christian.

You can get the "word of God" okay. But how do these people and networks get their money? TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) offers "love gifts." Cheap merchandise for donations. A couple minutes on any of these stations and you see that merchandising is central to their mission. They try to appeal to a broad audience. Daryl Strawberry has appeared on TBN after his conversion. Christian music personalities who are laughably illiterate as to what Christianity is regularly appear spouting of words like faith, ministry, healing, God, Christ, and annointing (among others) as if they knew something about them.

Bottom line: I really feel that all humans have an innate desire to understand why we are here. Many say that they don't care. Agnostics could care less. I really believe though that every person at some time has soul-searching moments where they relaly wonder what this existence is about. Is there a God like all the hype says?

There are a LOT of setbacks though. Out president professes a belief in God and, well, you can see where that got us. The Christian-Muslim dichotomy that has developed is so negative. (Watch the movie Crash for added insight to this--very relevant) Who wants to be a Christian when the people occupying Iraq on false pretenses (WMD's) are all Christian--or at least representing a Christian nation?

I already mentioned the horrific crusades. And then televangelism.

Watch me...listen to me....and pay me. You want God's blessings? You HAVE to pick up the phone and give me your hard-earned money to get them. Buy my book. Buy my CDs. Buy tickets to our revivals. Make donations to the station carrying the program. This is what God wants you to do. My immaturity will betray me again as I think of South Park's episode on Scientology. http://www.thesuperficial.com/archives/2006/03/20/south_park_scientology_episode.html

There is so much dishonesty and deception. If God wants to talk to you, you not only have to be receptive but you have to be able to sift through thousands of pointed, often convincing, messages from people who want nothing more than to get their hands in your checkbook. We, as human beings searching for answers, have our work cut out for us.

What Lizzen is Reading

In a throwback to my old college days I am re-reading Edith Wharton's "The Age of Innocence." It takes place in the 1870's in "Old New York," the aristocratic world ruled by several prominent families with undisputed rules of conduct, known simply as "form."

I am fascinated by this novel not only because of the way it was written (a third-person viewpoint with ten times more narrative than dialogue) but because of the interplay of the desires of the individual versus the strict social code. One chapter in particular details the protagonist's struggle between his wish for women to have freedom and the traditional role of lording over his soon-to-be bride (also his private desire, what he believes is his earned privilege).

Though the particular struggles may be somewhat outdated, the main theme remains constant throughout all of human history. We face the pressures to conform to modern society (what is popular, what is considered "right", what will propel us up the social ladder and earn us approval) but are tethered to the dictates of our own souls.

For anyone who appreciates classic literature and this timeless strugle, I recommend this book.

No What Without Representation?

We have all heard the familiar phrase, "No taxation without representation"–but what about no war without representation? No more military spending? Our government daily makes decisions on the direction of this country–but are they truly on behalf of us, the American people?

We tell ourselves that we take part in the democratic process by voting; this is all well and good, but does that act alone ensure that we do have true and accurate representation? Are our elected officials, sworn to protect the interests of the people, really representing our views, our wishes, our demands?

One of the most heated topics for debate in this country today is the Iraq war and corresponding issues, such as military spending and the withdrawal of our troops. Poll after poll shows that too many Americans do not support the war; most recently, a February 2006 Gallup poll shows that 55 percent of Americans believe the U.S. made a mistake in sending the troops to Iraq. But the voices of officials aren’t echoing the voices of their constituents. A November vote in the House of Representatives asking to bring the troops home was rejected 403-3. And a mid-March emergency spending bill overwhelmingly passed in the House to allocate $67.6 billion to the war effort.

In January, when talk of impeachment arose, polls showed that 52 percent of Americans thought Congress should impeach President Bush for illegal wiretapping. No one stood up for that majority. When Senator Russ Feingold later proposed a less severe form of discipline, a censure on the president, only one senator backed him. Forty-six percent of Americans, however, did.

In a time when the voices of lobbyists and special interest groups are the only ones that our elected officials are listening to; in a time when only 33 percent of the population supports Congress and 36 percent support the president, what is to be done? We could write letters to senators and congressmen. We could march on Washington and in our own hometowns. We could pamphlet the streets to educate the masses and incite them to action. We could be supporting third-party candidates who don’t have big-bucks donors dictating their every vote and action. We could run for office ourselves.

Or we could stand back and watch our country be swept under our feet by the unlawful powers-that-be because of our own apathy.

El Dorko is listening to...

This is Sufjan Stevens. It's a really hippy/sixties/love child album. It's definitely unique. I like the change of pace. More and more I'm leaning towards music that isn't a fast beat, and three guitars blaring. That has it's merits, but there is SO much more to music than pumping your fist and gritting your teeth.

You are the master of every situation...

So I guess I'll jump in and give my two cents today. I'll post an album I'm listening to lately later.
I'll publish part two of my treaty on judgement right now for your intellectual pleasure. If you haven't read part 1, it's on myspace.
So I have come to the conclusion that a lot of the angst/frustration/bad blood we have for those who judge harshly, especially in religious matters, all comes down to our own imperfections and insecurities. What it all boils down to is this: we are put off by people not being as "perfect" as we think they seem to be. I came to this epifany (sp?) while thinking about a discussion that max, scotty, and I had on judgement in the church. I came to realize more so than ever that perception and reality in the church are VERY different. Why is this so, and in what way? I'll explain...
We look at brother/sister Soandso who speaks up in church on a variety of topics, including some opinions that may seem to conflict with our own choices/opinions in life. Our own inadequacies warp our perception to the point where we forget the message, and attack the messenger. "They may be right or they may be wrong, but why do they have to rub it in my face? Why are they so bent on making me feel inadequate, and out-of-place?" This rush to judgement on our part is a symptom of pride.
Sometimes what some well-intentioned, or ill-intentioned person says is directly to us, and is infact meant to be a judgement of our character. This does not make our own rush to judgement any more warranted. How many times can you think back to experiences where you wish you would have handled a situation better? How many times have you thought "man, that was stupid. I have SO much to work on. Next time I'll do better" ? We should always do exactly that in these instances—cut ourselves some slack. We're not there yet. But, when others make mistakes in judging us, and we perceive an intent to hurt, what are we saying about Brother/sister Soandso? "You know better than to not be perfect? Why did you fall short of being perfect and hurt my feelings? I am not wanted here I can tell." This obviously sounds over-the-top, but in essence that is what we are saying. Please everyone cut me some slack, but I don't want to give anyone any. Especially those in church that I feel are "trying to look so perfect." What I have come to find as the solution for this situation is "cut them some SLACK!" Just saying it when you leave any less-than-perfect situation does wonders. I wish this were my own opinion, but this concept is as old as time itself. Our older brother taught it well, and it has come alive to me recently. Thanks for listening.

The U.Soldier's Album of the Revolution

If you get a chance to check out this album, you won't regret it. This has to be one of the most hard hitting, punk rock albums of our generation. With tracks like Confessions of an Economic Hitman,Press Corpse, and State Funeral. This album has to be the bands greatest call to action. 'Will you stand up for democracy, in the new American century?'

I give it ***** stars out of 5

Windy's Album of the Week

Interpol meets Nine Inch Nails. Perfect for checking out of life...or checking into a hotel with that special someone to...you know...do your taxes...

Key tracks: Monologue, Out of Control, Tear You Apart

Check this one out for sure.

Hello to you my trusted friends.

It seems that we are off and running. Welcome to one and all. This is your blog. This is your convictions spilled out on a blank canvas. I encourage all to write what they see, what they like, what they know. Maybe I can get us started.

Today I signed up for the Students for a Democratic Society. I just felt that in my life I have been passive for far too long. I have read about, and am currently studying the organization of old. It was created in the 60's as a passive/aggressive movement against Vietnam. I asked myself 'Are times really that much different?' It's just a different part of the world, but the song remains the same. We are still fighting for who in the hell knows what. In Vietnam it was a strip of land that no one wanted, now it's so Bush can get a fat paycheck from using his oil in Texas, and Cheney can get some off the top of Haliburton contracts. If you think it's not about oil, then climb out from under your rock and get a friggin newspaper. It's all right there in black and white. So I would encourage everyone to do what they can. Most of all I just give an encourage ment to get educated. Learn what you need to, to be able to form your own opinions. Find yourself something to believe in, and make a difference.

WITHOUT STRUGGLE THERE IS NO PROGRESS!

The engines are running...

What do YOU think of social conditioning and societal external pressures? Have you heard the band She Wants Revenge? I had enchiladas for dinner tonight. The Pianist is the best movie ever created. The Screwtape Letters may give you a bit of abstract insight into why you struggle with stuff. Why the hell are we in Iraq?

...a flavor of things to come....

Welcome.