So I've been living in New York City for a year now. I have a job I enjoy. Life is good. God is good.

Oh, and I decided a couple of weeks ago to make an MMO in my sparetime. Ha!

Edit: I guess I should explain the "Ha!" for those who may not get it. When people think of MMOs, they generally think of games like World of Warcraft that take huge development teams working full time for five years and tens of millions of dollars. And then you have little ole me (for right now) trying to make an MMO in my spare time on a very tight budget (i.e. < $1000). Most people think it is impossible. But I take inspiration from those that have defied the odds and made games like Runescape, Minions of Mirth, and Eternal Lands. Crytek, and more recently Project Offset, were both started with only a couple of people developing a prototype with which they used to get funding for their future projects.

Date:	2006-06-17 14:58
Mood:	bored

Family business is officially belly-up, mostly due to tight competition, low margins, and stagnant sales.

So I'm now looking for a new job. I'm going to apply for a job at ArenaNet first. I used monster.com to write up my resume, and I've had about a dozen companies contact me about jobs in the Nashville area. Since my only work references are family (and therefore obviously biased) I'm currently waiting on a letter of reference from an old professor of mine. He's a really great guy, and I'm glad he remembered me and seemed so eager to do it.

I was watching The Colbert Report a day or two ago and author Michael Pollan was being interviewed. A video of the interview is currently in that link for those interested. Most of what he was saying about his book The Omnivore's Dilemna wasn't new to me, but he did make what I found to be a very very profound comment:

Children born today are going to have a shorter lifespan than their parents.

Should the gloomier scenarios relating to obesity turn out to be true, the sight of amputees will become much more familiar in the streets of Britain. There will be many more blind people. There will be a huge demand for kidney dialysis.

The positive trends in recent decades in combating heart disease, partly the consequence of the decline in smoking, will be reversed. Indeed, this will be the first generation where children die before their parents as a consequence of childhood obesity.

Author Dr Adrian Bauman, a public health professor from Sydney University and director of the Centre for Physical Activity and Health, said the results of the study were of great concern. "We found the rate of weight gain among young adults is accelerating faster than in other generations," he said.

Date:	2006-03-22 02:11
Mood:	mellow

So.

I previously pointed out that I was spending too much time playing Guild Wars. Well, as it turns out, I actually became somewhat decent at it. In February, my team and I were flown to Taipei, Taiwan as one of the top two USA teams to compete in the World Championship. I'm in a few of the pictures in their photo album, like here and here. We lost. Even so, it was quite the experience. The company that paid for our plane tickets also provided room and board at the Grand Hyatt, along with 3 unbelievable meals a day and passes to the Taipei Game Show where the competition was taking place. I enjoyed meeting the rest of my team for the first time in person, along with the many others that were acquaintances in the game. Despite the language barrier, we became friends with some of the Korean players, and they have offered us room and board should we ever be in Korea.

Taiwan was interesting itself. As my first visit to an Asian country, it wasn't so different than what I expected though. The next Championship is in August, although it is rumored to somewhere in the USA like Seattle. Should still be a good time if we get the chance to go again.

In other news... I have a girlfriend. We met through GW. She lives in NYC. She's cute, happy, and vivacious*. I've only been to visit once, this past weekend. We got along well. I could go on and on about the color of her eyes, the length of her eyelashes, the two tiny light-brown moles along the bridge of her nose, and more, but I doubt you guys want to hear all that. I did notice one thing about her personality that could be a problem with my own personality. It's hard to describe, but I'll try to explain through example. We were trying to kill some time while waiting for our dinner reservation so she suggested we go into her favorite store, a Toys R Us. Maybe it's because I'm from the South, or maybe it's because I'm getting old and she's only 21, or maybe it's something else entirely, but her idea of killing time by browsing around isn't exactly the same as mine. The toy store was fascinating. They had huge lego structures, a Ferris Wheel inside the store that carried passengers, a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex that wiggled and roared, and so much more. I could have been easily entertained for hours, yet she seemed not as interested or in a hurry or something. Ran in, ran out, now what? Not that there's anything inherently wrong with this, but I got that same feeling a few times during the weekend. Me being the easy-going, laid-back kind of guy I am, I'm not sure how well we'll mesh. We'll have to see. Might have to just tell her to slow down next time. Relax. Give me a chance to stop and smell the flowers a second time.

I decided a little bit at the last minute to go (ok, I didn't finally decide until last Monday/Tuesday), so I ended up taking the bus instead of paying $$$ for a plane ticket. It was about 21 hours up there. I never realized how many stops these buses make along the way. I thought it would be like 6 hour stretches of uninterrupted riding. Boy, was I wrong. Now I've got to find the best way I can regularly make trips up there about once a month or so, without spending my entire month's salary. Did I mention that NYC is pretty expensive too? If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears. Right now I'm considering either using Southwest Airlines for a $230 roundtrip from Nashville to Long Island then taking a train or something to downtown for another $15 and another hour ride, or maybe using American Airlines for $290 to La Guardia airport since it's closer to where I'm trying to get.

This summer, I've got a 10 year high school reunion which I, as class President, need to try to figure out how to organize from 2 states away. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone; all 14 of us. I guess it won't be that hard.

I signed up for myspace.



*I'm not really that familiar with this word, but after a few minutes on dictionary.com, it's the best one I could find. She's animated, playful, with just a touch of goofiness thrown in. Not as goofy as myself, in my opinion, but this is one aspect of her that I find particularly adorable.

Date:	2005-12-07 15:30
Mood:	cold
Music:	Jerry Goldsmith, The 13th Warrior soundtrack

Tue Dec 6,11:15 AM ET
LONDON (AFP) - Druids recreated an ancient ceremony at Britain's largest mistletoe market to honor the festive plant, traditionally held over the heads of those in the mood for a cheeky Christmas kiss.

Devotees of the Celtic religion also revealed the little-known -- and surprising -- reasons why the festive sprig is just the job for those feeling both festive and frisky.

Out to rediscover the plant's spiritual side, druids performed the blessing in England's self-styled "Mistletoe Town", Tenbury Wells, in Worcestershire, central England.

The druids believe mistletoe is special because it never touches the ground, and possesses symbolic fertility qualities.

( Read more... )

(http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051206/lf_afp/afplifestylebritain_051206161534)

Date:	2005-11-23 15:38
Mood:	contemplative
Music:	Lisa Reagan, "A l'infini"

I just noticed today how many tech products have names with an 'X':

• Microsoft's XBox game system
• Dell's XPS computer
• XM satellite radio
• Apple's Mac OS X

Date:	2005-11-23 11:06
Mood:	sleepy
Music:	"Treat Her Like a Lady" Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose

I am in the process of trying to clean up my office a little bit. I came across a sheet of paper that I had printed back when I was working on a gift wrap and gift card option for our website. I had wanted to test the system with a gift message of several lines, so I just typed what came to mind. I like how it sounds:

Another day.
Another day has come;
Another day unlike any other.
This day is passing,
Slowly slipping by,
Even if I do nothing.
The hours, the minutes, the seconds,
I do take it all for granted,
Even while knowing
I should thank God.

Date:	2005-09-17 05:07
Mood:	sad
Music:	Jake Shimabukuro on the ukulele

I don't doubt God. I doubt myself.

Date:	2005-09-14 12:35
Mood:	chipper
Music:	Jake

http://www.ukuleledisco.com/jakeconcert
http://www.ukuleledisco.com/jake

The guy has talent. The endings are incredible.

Date:	2005-09-05 11:37
Mood:	calm

Take your pictures of the beard while you can. It is likely getting cut sometime soon. Other changes too, perhaps. I might keep the long hair for a bit, though likely trimmed.

Feel free to respond to the post two down even if you're not a Christian. I'm really open to just about any dialogue on the post.

Fastest way to start a gas shortage?

Tell the nation to conserve gas.

Date:	2005-09-01 13:33
Mood:	uncomfortable

What is reality? Is it what I can touch, taste, hear? What my senses perceive? If I touch something that is hot and feel its heat, is that how we define the reality of the object? What if I take something that numbs my senses and then touch the hot object, feeling nothing? Does that mean the object is no longer hot, since I cannot perceive its heat?

A few weeks ago I was reading about Near-Death Experiences (NDE) which generally refers to experiences from people who are dead for a few seconds, or minutes, and then are revived. I'm kinda skeptical of some of the things on that site, but overall, it did perk my interest. I started doing some more research and found studies that found that NDEs generally did have some similarities regardless of age, religion, or cultural background, such as the tunnel and an overwhelming white light. If these people shared this experience, and are convinced of the reality of the events that took place (many credit these experiences to dramatically their attitudes and lives), does that make them real?

Then I keep digging and I found out about carbogen therapy. Let me quote a snippet:

"Subjects on carbon dioxide report separation of the self from the body. And as with the drugs and NDEs, there were reports of caves, tunnels, intensely bright light, visions of other persons, luminaries, reliving of the past, and 'spiritual' experiences. Following an initial vision of brilliant colors and designs, one subject reported. I felt myself being separated; my soul, drawing apart from the physical being, was drawn...seemingly to leave the earth and to go upward where it reached a greater Spirit with whom there was a communion, producing a remarkable new relaxation and deep security....I seemed to receive assurance that...whatever was bothering...me...would work out all right....I felt the Greater Spirit even smiling indulgently upon me in my vain little efforts to carry on by myself, and I pressed close [to] the warmth and tender strength and felt assurance of enough power to overcome whatever lay ahead for me.

I want whoever who reads this to ask me four questions.

Any four, no matter how dirty or random. I have to answer them honestly.

In turn, you have to post this message in your own journal, and you have to answer the questions that are asked of you.

Date:	2005-07-25 15:11
Mood:	annoyed
Music:	MBC&S Ensemble

If you want to star in commercials, consider getting a medical degree.

Date:	2005-07-21 11:31
Mood:	tired

"Faith is not believing that God can. It is knowing that God will."
- Ben Stein

Date:	2005-07-06 11:03
Mood:	sleepy
Music:	MBC&S Ensemble

Still around. Where have I been? Wasting my time, mostly. Was given the chance to Beta test the online computer game Guild Wars from January until its April release. Not very productive, no, but entertaining.

Will post more later. Maybe tomorrow. Had a great weekend.

Date:	2005-06-23 20:43
Mood:	sleepy
Music:	Metallica S&M

By HOPE YEN
The Associated Press
Thursday, June 23, 2005; 8:33 PM

WASHINGTON -- Cities may bulldoze people's homes to make way for shopping malls or other private development, a divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday, giving local governments broad power to seize private property to generate tax revenue.

In a scathing dissent, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said the decision bowed to the rich and powerful at the expense of middle-class Americans.

( Read more... )

(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/23/AR2005062301067_pf.html)

Date:	2005-06-22 04:00
Mood:	amused
Music:	Batman Begins score

"Common Sense isn't common anymore."
- some talk show guy I heard today

Date:	2005-06-20 12:12
Mood:	content
Music:	Luther Vandross, "I'd Rather"

You scored as Cultural Creative. Cultural Creatives are probably the newest group to enter this realm. You are a modern thinker who tends to shy away from organized religion but still feels as if there is something greater than ourselves. You are very spiritual, even if you are not religious. Life has a meaning outside of the rational. </td> Cultural Creative 75% Idealist 56% Postmodernist 50% Fundamentalist 44% Romanticist 31% Modernist 31% Existentialist 25% Materialist 19% What is Your World View? (updated) created with QuizFarm.com

Date:	2005-06-14 17:56
Mood:	curious

You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan. You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists. </td> Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 71% Classical Liberal 61% Reformed Evangelical 61% Fundamentalist 61% Neo orthodox 46% Emergent/Postmodern 46% Modern Liberal 43% Charismatic/Pentecostal 36% Roman Catholic 21% What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as John Calvin. Much of what is now called Calvinism had more to do with his followers than Calvin himself, and so you may or may not be committed to TULIP, though God's sovereignty is all important. </td> John Calvin 80% Anselm 67% Jürgen Moltmann 60% Karl Barth 53% Charles Finney 53% Martin Luther 53% Paul Tillich 47% Friedrich Schleiermacher 47% Augustine 40% Jonathan Edwards 33% Which theologian are you? created with QuizFarm.com

You are 'Latin'. Even among obsolete skills, the
tongue of the ancient Romans is a real
anachronism. With its profusion of different
cases and conjugations, Latin is more than a
language; it is a whole different way of
thinking about things.

You are very classy, meaning that you value the
classics. You value old things, good things
which have stood the test of time. You value
things which have been proven worthy and
valuable, even if no one else these days sees
them that way. Your life is touched by a
certain 'pietas', or piety; perhaps you are
even a Stoic. Nonetheless, you have a certain
fascination with the grotesque and the profane.
Also, the modern world rejects you like a bad
transplant. Your problem is that Latin has
been obsolete for a long time.


What obsolete skill are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Date:	2005-05-24 21:44
Mood:	content

So, I'm reading on this website about how they interpret Biblical prophecies when they mention a verse in Ezekiel. I look it up, read it, and am struck by the bluntness of the passage. You read that previous quote where God says he's going to magnify Himself? Want to know how? Let's go back a few verses.

"It will come about on that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel," declares the Lord GOD, "that My fury will mount up in My anger. In My zeal and in My blazing wrath I declare that on that day there will surely be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all the creeping things that creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at My presence; the mountains also will be thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse and every wall will fall to the ground. I will call for a sword against him on all My mountains," declares the Lord GOD "Every man's sword will be against his brother. With pestilence and with blood I will enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him and on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire and brimstone."

"I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the LORD."
-Ezekiel 38:18-23

Date:	2005-05-24 15:49
Mood:	content

"I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the LORD."
- Ezekiel 38:23

Date:	2005-03-03 12:17
Mood:	disappointed
Music:	Ayla, "Liebe"

Thanks luvoflilics for pointing this out to me.

By Associated Press
Wednesday, March 2, 2005

PITTSBURGH - He dodged lobster pots for decades, endured a trip from the coast of Massachusetts to Pittsburgh and survived about a week in a fish market. But a trip to the zoo proved to be too much for a 22-pound lobster named Bubba.

The leviathan of a lobster died Wednesday afternoon at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium about a day after he was moved from Wholey's Market, said zoo spokeswoman Rachel Capp and Bob Wholey, owner of the fish market. ``They're very finicky. It could have been a change in the water. You have no idea,'' said Wholey. Bubba died in a quarantine area of the zoo's aquarium, where he was being checked out to see if he was healthy enough to make a trip to an aquarium at a Ripley's Believe It or Not museum, Capp said. Bubba will be examined to try to figure out why he died, although Capp and Wholey guessed it may have been the stress of being moved.

( Read more... )

(http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=71229)

Date:	2005-03-02 12:30
Mood:	impressed

By MIKE CRISSEY, Associated Press Writer

PITTSBURGH - He could be older than Warner Bros. studio, General Motors and the Boy Scouts. He could have survived two world wars and Prohibition. He could have been dinner. He's Bubba, a 22-pound leviathan of a lobster pulled from the waters off Nantucket, Mass., and shipped to a Pittsburgh fish market.

"It is overwhelming," owner Bob Wholey said. "If you see it, you will never forget it. Customers are just in awe." On Tuesday, Wholey gave the lobster to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, which will send him to an aquarium at a Ripley's Believe It or Not museum.

( Read more... )

(http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/leviathan_lobster)

Date:	2005-02-17 14:45
Mood:	bouncy
Music:	Wheat, "I Met a Girl"

It's only a joke if both sides are laughing.

If the subject of the remark isn't laughing (or wouldn't laugh if present), it is not a joke but an insult.


P.S. "I Met a Girl" by Wheat is a fun song. Makes me bouncy.
P.P.S. They've got a 'bouncy' mood. Yay!

Date:	2005-02-16 12:38
Mood:	sleepy
Music:	Joel McNeely & Royal Scottish Orchestra, "Promontory"

Do you have a friend with whom you can share random gibberish?

I do. I wish he were online now.

Lack of sleep has such a strange effect on the psyche. Or maybe it is just me.

Date:	2005-02-06 08:23
Mood:	pensive
Music:	Two Towers Trailer -- Requim for a Dream (remix)

In November, I decided to try eHarmony again. They had a deal where you could try 3 months for the price of 1. Being the lonely sucker I am, I bit [hook, line, and sinker -- for you people familiar with crazy country slang]. Here's a sentence from a promising reply:

I am very interested in hearing your reasons for doing your wilderness journey.

How do you explain something like this? I've tried. I really have. I've beaten the subject to death, resurrected it only to beat it to death again and again. I've written pages and pages trying to explain it from every angle imaginable. I've poured out my heart, been as sincere and forthright as I could in exposing my every inner thought and feeling. I've debated it Biblically, citing verse after verse, from the Torah to the Gospels. I've directed people to scientific study after scientific study, so those that place their faith in such things may be convinced.

Yet I cannot find anyone that is convinced. Some mumble in agreement, some flatly disagree, most shrug without care, and not one is truly convinced. The hair, the beard, these physical differences between myself and those around me are nothing compared to the isolation I feel in my being at being unable to truly connect with a single person.

How else can I state my reasons?

I sometimes joke about writing a book. Maybe I should. Then when I get questions like this I can just send them a copy.

I lied in the last post. I didn't nap. I've been reading your entries. Maybe I'll get to bed soon.

I watched the sunrise for a few minutes just now. It is the first time in months that I've either seen the sun rise or set. It's very beautiful. I don't know why it appeals to me so. I don't know why I find it so powerful, so touching. To me it sings of God's glory; it is a reminder of His beauty. Not that He is physical, but in the same way the sunrise humbles me by witnessing its beauty, I am reminded of God's majesty and humbled more. Just as the sunrise is to my eyes, God is to my heart, to my soul. If only I take the time to perceive him.

I considered getting my camera to take a picture to share, but the telephone poles and nearby buildings are in the way.

I wish I could say I have been making good use of my time while away from livejournal, but I haven't. I have been wasting my time, mostly with computer games. I'm a beta tester for a game.

When speaking of the passage of time, I should start calling it 'life.' That is what it is. I've been wasting my life these past weeks. I must at least be honest with myself.

My work schedule has changed too. Late one night last weekend someone broke into the building where I work. Most of it is a warehouse, with part of it offices. Apparently he/she was still in the process of looking around when arriving outside the door to my office. Upon opening it and seeing me, they slammed my door shut and took off. Scared me a little bit. Didn't get a good look at the person though. There are a few reasons I suspect the person either is someone that works for us or has worked for us before. I've asked my Bible study group to pray for them.

So now I've been promoted to graveyard shift until we install some better security measures on the doors. Will anyone let me call them in the wee hours if I get bored?

I received a wonderful email from a friend, that reminded me of livejournal, so here I am. I'm tired. I'm going to take a nap now.

Date:	2005-01-18 11:44
Mood:	frustrated
Music:	Moody Blues, "Nights in White Satin"

We're really concerned about our lives, right? I mean, as a nation, the security and health of people is among the top priorities, right? How many elections pass by without talk of security? How many news stories forget to give you a close, personal face full of suffering? Security and health. Both are really the same thing, as security is there to protect our health. It's all about life.

Yet it bothers me to see us continually claim to care about such matters, while at the same time ignoring clear dangers to our lives if it is inconvenient. Take cars, for example. In 2002, 44,000 people died in automobile accidents. 'Accidents' we call them, as though we're not assured of their going to happen again next year, and the year after, and the year after. Sure, there are superficial measures (i.e. seatbelt laws) put into place to make us feel like we're actually trying to curb these deaths. But if you have a half ton hunk of plastic and metal hurling down the highway at 55-mph, people are going to die, not to mention 10 feet away there are more half ton hunks of plastic and metal hurling down the highway in the opposite direction. I guess to a nation of millions, 44,000 people a year is a drop in the bucket. Nevermind that we've started wars in two countries largely over an attack that killed 2749. Notice how the number that has been reoccurring on a yearly basis is called an 'accident,' and the one-time event isn't.

But still, 44,000 doesn't really compare to the 700,000 that die from heart disease yearly. The TV arm-chair scholars among us would point out that a lack of doctors, drugs, and health insurance caused heart disease, and some of us in the nation are fighting the good fight to increase our health coverage and end the horrible spread of heart disease. Some simply accept it as a fact of life or consider it God's will, as though God wants us to sit on our butts and eat processed junk. Nevermind that it has been shown that a life of eating the vegetables and fruits that God Himself processed and getting exercise will dramatically cut down on your chances of heart disease. No, we don't really care about our health.

This random rant is brought to you in part by the following article:

( EPA charges DuPont hid Teflon's risks )

(http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2027&e=13&u=/chitribts/epachargesduponthidteflonsrisks)

Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.
- Vernon Sanders Law

Date:	2004-12-15 22:06
Mood:	sleepy
Music:	"Ecce Agnus Dei"

I tried catching up on everyone's entries, but I was further behind than I thought. Was hoping I could do it, but I hit some thought-provoking entries and was too tired to give them the mindful consideration they deserved. So I'm going to bed now.

I love you.

Date:	2004-11-23 16:13
Mood:	contemplative
Music:	William Coulter, "Keening of the Three Marys"

A seasonal article. I don't care for Christmas, but I really like Thanksgiving.

...
While the harvest celebration held in Plymouth Colony in 1621 has been mistakenly referred to as the “First Thanksgiving” since the 1800s, the first Thanksgiving Day as the Separatists understood it occurred in 1623. As with many later New England Days of Thanksgiving, it followed a Day of Humiliation. The events of that summer, described in colonist Edward Winslow’s Good Newes from New England, show clearly how the Separatists saw their relationship with God and used these two holidays to reconcile and affirm that relationship.

In 1623, the colony was still struggling to survive. The colonists were critically low on food. For months they had been expecting a ship with supplies and additional colonists. The spring planting of Indian corn and beans began well. By mid-July, however, “it pleased God, for our further chastisement, to send a great drought, insomuch as in six weeks after the latter setting there scarce fell any rain; so the stalk of that which was first set began to send forth the ear, before it came to half growth, and that which was later was not like to yield any at all, both blade and stalk hanging the head, and changing color in such a manner, as we judged it utterly dead. Our beans also ran not up according to their wonted manner, but stood at a stay, many being parched away, as though they had been scorched before the fire. Now were our hopes overthrown, and we discouraged, our joy being turned into mourning.” Additionally, the expected ship had not been heard of for three months, “only the signs of a wreck were seen along the coast, which could not be judged to be any other than the same.” The colonists were devastated. “The most courageous were now discouraged, because God, which hitherto had been our only shield and supporter, now seemed in his anger to arm himself against us.”

These misfortunes “moved not only every good man privately to enter into examination with his own estate between God and his conscience, and so to humiliation before him, but also more solemnly to humble ourselves together before the Lord by fasting and prayer. To that end a day was appointed by public authority,....” Winslow did not describe the religious exercises, but stated that they lasted “some eight or nine hours.” The next morning “distilled such soft, sweet, and moderate showers of rain, continuing some fourteen days, and mixed with such seasonable weather, as it was hard to say whether our withered corn or drooping affections were most quickened or revived.” Captain Myles Standish, returning from the north, brought further good news. The supplies and new colonists were safe, although delayed, and again on their way.

Their prayers answered, the colonists thought “it would be great ingratitude, if secretly we should smother up the same, or content ourselves with private thanksgiving for that, which by private prayer could not be obtained. And therefore another solemn day was set apart and appointed for that end; wherein we returned glory, honor, and praise, with all thankfulness, to our good God, which dealt so graciously with us;....”⁴

This, then, was the first Thanksgiving Day held in Plymouth Colony.
...

4. Edward Winslow, Good Newes from New England, [1624], ed. Alexander Young (Bedford: Applewood Books, 1996), pp. 54-56.

(http://www.plimoth.org/learn/history/thanksgiving/fastandthanks.asp)

( Private and communal farming (1623) )

(http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1650bradford.html)

Date:	2004-11-22 12:18
Mood:	sad

I watched a special on VH1 last night called "Beef: Rap's Biggest Battles." It told the history of some of rap's biggest names, both old and new: Ice Cube, Easy-E, Dr. Dre, KRS-One, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, B.I.G., Tupac, Jay-Z, Nas, 50-cent, Ja Rule, etc, etc, etc.

The show was focused mostly on the escalating grudges and hatred spewed (and sometimes violence) back-and-forth between rivaling factions, all covered by a media drooling for sensationalism. It was...

Amazing? No, sounds too positive...

Interesting? Yes, it was, but sounds too mild...

Sad? Yes. Sad. Incredibly sad.

What is it about us that drives us to not only create, but frantically fan the flames of conflict and division in a wide-eyed, gleeful search for bloodshed over insignificances like who is the better musician or sports or who is in our deer stand?

Date:	2004-11-16 17:12
Mood:	sleepy

I haven't been getting much sleep the past two weeks. It isn't because of work, nor insomnia. No, I could probably sleep 14+ hours if I let myself. Rather it is because of willful foolishness.

Although I missed my chance to post about the election results immediately after it happened, I'll make a light-hearted attempt to make-up for that now. The following is based on the comments of a few people with certain ideological leanings that live in geographical/political areas outlined in this map that made mention of secession and Canada:

Date:	2004-11-15 17:40
Mood:	sleepy

"Religion is that which a man does with his own solitude."
- Anonymous



Got it from boomerangaz's journal.

Date:	2004-11-01 01:47
Mood:	amused

I watched Fiddler on the Roof today. Was a very good movie. If you like musicals, I suggest watching it. My two favorite scenes were the songs "If I Were a Rich Man" and "Miracle of Miracles." There's something about catchy, fun tunes--that say something--being sang and danced that I enjoy.

As I've said in my journal before, I think singing is simply a better form of communication than monotone speech. Add in a lot of body language through dancing, and you've got some good stuff. I think it's basic human nature.

I tried thinking of places where this shows up today, outside of movie musicals. The theatre is an obvious choice, as is entertainment geared toward children. What about mainstream non-children? Concerts and music videos are two other places. Seems like the music industry is less focused on saying something though; less centered on expression and communication. I can't think of anywhere else offhand.

It is funny that when I was growing up, most of the guys, who would likely scoff at the idea of watching a 'musical,' enjoyed watching their MTV. Seems funny to me. They'd probably say they don't like the singing and the music, as though all musicals have the same music. Chicago, Moulin Rouge, anyone?

Date:	2004-10-28 11:37
Mood:	pensive
Music:	Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, "Little Wing"

The third and final debate between Mr. Keyes and Mr. Obama was on Tuesday. I think the second debate was the most interesting, and touched on the most significant issues while clearly outlining the differences between the two candidates. If anyone is interested, I'm going to post a link to my two favorite sections of the debates. The first is about 5 minutes long, and the second is about 4 minutes long.

Christianity

Closing Statements

If you lack the attention span or interest or software or whatever to watch those, I'll post what I view as perhaps the most revealing portion.

This is a section of Mr. Barack Obama's closing statement. It comes merely moments after a very open dialogue of Christianity, God, and the Messiah; moments after Mr. Obama mentioned his pastor, his Bible, and his prayers. (Those are in the Christianity link above.)

Now, Mr. Keyes doesn't like talking about these questions, because he doesn't really think government has a role in solving them. So instead, he talks about morality.

Well, I think there's something immoral about somebody who's lost their job after twenty years, has no health care, are seeing their pension threatened. I think there's something immoral about young people who've got the grades and the drive to go to college, but just don't have the money.

Date:	2004-10-27 11:24
Mood:	cynical

17:00 26 October 04 | NewScientist.com news service

Mice treated with the antidepressant Prozac early in life grow into adults with emotional problems, a new report concludes.

Whether the drug has the same effect on people is unknown. But the result will add to the growing debate over what risks Prozac (fluoxetine) and similar SSRI drugs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) pose for young children and unborn babies.

"If they really need these drugs, people should take them. They can be life savers," says Jay Gingrich, a psychiatrist at Columbia University in New York City, US, who led the research. "But it is a little bit alarming to find they might carry risks that aren't apparent until later in life."

Researchers began injecting mice with fluoxetine four days after birth until they were 21 days old. Nine weeks after their last injection, the adult animals were given a series of behavioural tests designed to assess their level of anxiety and depression.

The team found that rodents who received drug as newborns were more intimidated by new surroundings and moved more slowly to avoid painful shocks compared to controls. "They are more inhibited in novel situations," says Gingrich. "Extrapolating to people, we'd say the mice are showing symptoms of anxiety and depression or emotional problems."

( Read more... )

Journal reference: Science (vol 306, p 879)

Philip Cohen

(http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996579)

Neat technology.

Uncomfortable technology.

So, I bought a computer. I wish I could say it was for work, but I bought it for play. I'll probably use it for work too, but that isn't what led me to buy it. I mostly bought it for games. My ol' PIII 600 isn't enough for the second expansion of Neverwinter Nights. So much for being frugal.