HASH(0x8e3a8f8)
You're a Trumpet. Biggest balls in the band.


What is your inner musical instrument?
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That zombie movie got me thinking. How would the world respond to such an attack? Would we really hole up and be overtaken by greed? Shouldn't we be more worried about survival? Aren't humans such funny creatures. I mean, we can hardly deal with members of our species that are slightly different than us. When other animals can take in other species.
So, the main problem is our ability to reason. Such that we can convince ourselves that we are right. We convince ourselves that we need certain things and that we can not live without certain things. When in reality it is only comfort we desire. But why do we even want that. We didn't need comfort in the ice age. We needed food. Well, food is readily provided now. So what do we need? Hmm, water too obviously, duh...got it. So, to live what else do we need? Physically, I think we need nothing. Psychologically, however, we need alot more.
First off, we need other people. I was introduced to the concept of selfobjectivism a couple weeks ago. The idea that a person needs other people to view them so they know that they exist. For, when they look at an inanimate object, it doesn't look back. It doesn't talk oor judge you. When you look at another person however, and interact, you know that you exist. So simply put, without other people, many people would cease to exist in their own mids. I'm not sure what happens to them then.
Next, I think that people need to feel like they are living for something. Anything. Because in this day of reason. we don't live to hunt or live for the next day, we need to make a reason to live. Some people don't have reasons, they just live.
This reminds me of a funny conversation I had with my Dad. We were talking about what if a person couldn't read. A person might say, "How can they live with that?" I don't know, but they do. They wake up in the morning, hopefully eat at some point, do something in the day, and go to bed at night, only to wake up the next morning.
Wierd thought. Are we the only creature on the planet that can convince ourselves that we don't have a reason to live. Yes. Becuase no other animal needs a reason to live. They live to live. I wish that humans could live to live. Unfortunatly, everything leads to more questions. what does live to live mean. I just think it means, live for what you need. and the only way we can do that in this world is to trabajamos a vivir. Work to live. Otherwise, we are just making reasons for us to live. Acctualy, I think that was a factor in the starting of religion. Besides explaining the unexplainable. Anciet Japan (I think it was) is my favorite. How somebelieved the island was on the back of a turtle or a catfish or something. And when it got angry, it shook making earthquakes. But I think that some people just need reasons to live.
I have what I need. I don't need to worry about that at this point in my life. So what is my part? I think my part should be to make things better. Leave everything better than I found it. For the future depends on the actions of the present. It is my choice and responsibilty to either change the world now, or help the peopole of today and future people of tomorrow help to make the world better.
One idea that i have been working on was like a high school small business internship program. Isn't that the most risky investmentof all. Other people. I mean, dollar values go up and down, but everyday we invest in people. In promisies and friendships. In teachings and favors. We invest in each other. We make quite a web connecting from person to person, all over the world. interrace, intergender, international. So some people invest more than they can give and end up with too many people coming to them for things they can't provide. I don't think that this is a serious probelm if it is only one person because people typically invest in mulitple people. So when one person doesn't come through, it doesn't matter all that much in the big picture. I feel that the only problem is a mass break in the web. If a whole bunch ofpeople drop, and completely erase themselves from this web, then there just aren't enough remaining investors to bring it back up, and we fall into ...I don't know, chaos. So if too many people break the web of investments, we all fall down. I'm not sure what percentage of investors need to break to stop the whole train but I doubt it is more than 51%. So that would end up making The Great Psychological Depression.
So... I dont know how that relates to anything, but it's cool with me. I think a valid reason is to change people's lives...for the better. Doing so hopefully shows them that we can reach out and do something useful. Even at my age, I try and help the future. Teaching should be one of the highest paying jobs of all. They are the ones that keep providing the docters, presidents, politicol leaders, judges, lawyers, janitors and ther teachers. If they stopped teaching, the web breaks. Because nobody is able to continue the cycle. The human race would not be able to advance, because we stopped learning.
I have a funny fascination with learning sometimes. Like I really want to know the complexities of things. I guess I just sometimes feel like they could be making it up. I guess it goes down to a skepticism of the teachers. If they just say that something is because they say it is. Then I have no reason to honestly believe them. Now if they teach me and show the proff, then they learn and im getting tired

Night

OK, so right off the bat, please take into account that I have changed. I feel it is for the better. You all can either come with me or stay behind. your choice.

Secondly. I noticed today how many different ways there are to think about things. I mean, you could try and think of things optimistically and for the better. Thinking positivly and always trying to see and do the best. Or you can think pesimistically, negitivly, looking for the worst that could happen. And then all of the gray areas. If this happens what about this? I mean, at any moment, I could chooser to go AWAL and abandon everyone. Or chose to give up and just stop living. (im not going suicidal, just thinking here).
Which brings me to another point, choice. I am trying to take more responsibility for my actions. Telling the truth and not lying about my emotions, no matter how bad they are. Sometimes, this makes me feel like a selfish bastard. Other times, it makes me feel really caring. But I do now honestly believe that almost everything that a person does is a choice. Example. Getting up in the morning. What time? (choice) No alarmclock or didn't set it (choice) what about after you wake up.(im sure you can see where this is going). Everything is a choice. Not all consequences are choices however. They are merely reactions to choices that happen. So please, I urge everyone to take a little more responsibility. If something goes wrong, take the blame if you deserve it. I just find it amusing sometimes that people can't face the reality of the fact that 98 percent of anything that happens to you is your chpice in some form or another.
Now we can learn from not so good choices. Always. Boy's State tought me that...as well as alot of other things that are going to take a while to come out. and I continue to learn from all of the amazing people I met.

For one week, I lived with the best. I worked with the best. I was the Best. and I have new ideas, new ethics, and a new view on life to show for it.
If you don't like it, come to my house, look me in the eye and tell me that.

What we say, and what we think, and what we know, are, in the end, of little consequnece. All that is of consequnce is what we do.

Wow. There is so much to talk about and I dont even know where to start. But who ever does.

So, first a little bit about Boy's State. It is a government acmp where boys from all around Michigan go and roleplay government in pretty astounding detail. They had a saying there. Learn by doing. and I did learn. I learned what not to do. I learned that its ok to talk to people. It's ok to share what I feel. I don't have to hold everything in.

But I have felt a change in myself, and there are so many reason's why. But I never want to lose this feeling. Everyone played such an important part. We all worked so hard. We were a team, a family. We made mistakes together and we bounced back together. We were, no... we are, such a strong group. I dont want to lose touch. For all of those who read this please call me or email me or IM me. Don't let this pass you by! If any of you want to spend a day in Ann Arbor with me just give me a ring and I'll be there. Don't be a stranger.

Now for my psychological rant.
I hear all of these stories and these defeats that people have had. I listen to them, I hear their pain and I take it in. I realize that I have it really good. it seems to me that people, when they want attention (especially me) will begin to make myself depressed or upset. What gives me strength is the fact that somebody is worse off than I am. I know that sounds kind of mean but think about it. Knowing that there is somebody out there who is worse off, or in a worse situation than you are nearly belittle's your problem. It gives you hope. I think that is what happened to a good friend of mine.

Finally, I need to speak of a person that I just met, who I feel close to. Josh. If or when you read this, please know that I am amazed at what you were able to achieve. You were able to come back to this camp, more or less one year old than the group you led, and you were able to open yourself to us and that, in turn, allowed me to open myself to others and to myself. Please don't lose touch. I'll come and visit you at GVSU some time. And you know that you are required to attend our little reunion thing later.

I think why these camps are so great is that you get a new start. You dont have to depend on your past, or worry about what has happend in the past. That all doesn't matter. You don't need to worry about what problems you will face with certain people,. because you don't know anybody and you get a new begining. It is yours to do with what you will. Use it or abuse it. Just don't hesitate to grab it and go from there. You can't go through this world alone. I've tried and it doesn't work. So if you can't get throught to anybody else, or if I am on your list of people to call, then do. Don't let it fall.

And to everyone, call me sometime. I don't want to lose what we have. So I bid you good night and I'll see you all in the morning, bright and early. 6:55 at Norbert, see you there.

One of the most rediculous and hypocritical statements that one can ever make is telling someone not to change. For, wether they like it or not, people are always changing. Alot of people dont notice it because they are changing with their friends. look at it like a river. From shore, it looks like the river is moving, but for those chaging (on the river) it is the shore that is moving. Thus when everybody is in the same boat (nice analogy I get 5 extra points) they don't look like they are moving to each other.
So why then would someone ask another to not change? because they like where they are now. They enjoy the situatiuons they put themselves in and the consequences there of, good or bad. These people can't accept that all people change, except the dead. So asking someone to not change is asking them to drown. You literally push them of of the boat and onto the shore. Is that really what you want.
If by some miraculous chance a perosn is able to stay the same, and you continued on in your life for a few years and came back, things would be different because you changed. Just imaginge what will hapen when two people change at a time, major change action goin on there.

Unfortuntatly, nature has a way of making life difficult. So I think there are things that don't change too much or at least not very quickly. One of those things is a person's personality. The kinds of traits they have. Things like how much a person cares about certain things, or whether they like or dislike doing stuff. Food is a good example. Not very often do people all of the sudden like the foods they loathed in the past. It simply just does not work. So, you can't really tell people to change either. Isn't that a shame. Well, even if you did, the person you told would have to have a serious passion for changing.
Plus, to change, it takes major life events or events that push your limits and improve you. Kinda like going to a ropes course or on a wilderness trip. Those things test your strengths, weaknesses, and end up changing you as a result of the exerience. In other words, people don't change on a whim. The point is that if you don't like the way they are, there isn't much you can do about it. Either leave or get used to it.

... wow that was dark

hypocrite

I agree with the comment below. The nerve of some people to misuse words... sigh.
For those for you who easily misinterperate things, this post is simply to teach people what a hypocrite is. I have heard the term misused far to many times.

Dependence

Dependence is a nasty little habit. When people become dependant, they obviously need someone to hang on to and they don't rely on themselves. Independence I think is one of the most valuable skills in the world. For once someone has the skill to be independent, they are able to be a leader in most respects.

Now, I admit that not all dependence is bad. For example, depending on a parent for housing, food and clothing. That isn't a bad thing, just as long as you are responsible enough to take over that position after you say, move out of the house and have a family of your own. On the other hand, dependence in an emotional stance is an awful thing. For once somebody can't rely on them selves to handle their emotions, they need to rely on others, which is difficult for both parties.

This is where religion can play an awesome part. Let's start with the easiest case. A child is brought up with religion in their lives, and follows and believes it until they die. This person is probably going to be independent, emotionally at least, because they can handle it. For the things they can't handle, they have their God(s).

That is why true religion rocks. (That is of course talking only about those religions that have God(s) that partake in this kind of God/believer relationship) Because, for example in Christianity, there is God, who will always be there for you to talk or pray or . . . communicate with/too. So you don't have to rely on other people.

New example. Child who has never been brought up in active religion or ever does. This child is independent because they learned how to deal with their emotions sufficiently. Since it is pretty much impossible for a person to always deal with their emotions, they break down once every long while. Oh well.

Third Case. One whose has been brought up with religion, but gives it up or just doesn't believe it. One of two things can happen. Independent: They don't believe in their religion, understand that fact, deal with their own emotions. Dependant: Don't really believe in their religion, take every single problem they have, ones that they would have communicated with God with and gone through with, and have everyone else deal with them .... with them. Oh well.

If you are reading this far, you deserve a cookie. I really don't think anybody in their right mind would take the time to read this just because of the fact that I wrote it. If anyone would like to discuss this with me, please go ahead. Note also that having an opinion and expressing it, thus engaging in discussion, is not an argument, despite what some people think. It is merely a discussion. These seem to go best when over the internet, and not in person, because the Human mind is feeble and unable to think how they would normally think when with other Humans.

So What about those reality TV shows. Aren't they just awesome! I mean come on, figure out the flaws in human behavior. The best ones are the ones that can't be changed at al, then finding the people that fit together like a bicycle fits into a small cell phone, and make them do ridiculous things. Ahhh I love humans. The only race to do most of what we do for pleasure. We live to work. Where as many other folk work to live. Why can't America care about life and family and health instead of money and.... oh wait I'm not sure the majority of America cares about anything else.

Whoa.
I just like typed an essay...
...
Wicked
Yeah so I’m done for the night.... morning.

my mom gave me this haircut...........
and then she died!


:gasp: :gasp: :gasp: :gasp: :gasp: :gasp: :gasp: :gasp: :gasp: :gasp: :gasp: :gasp:

:Stare (with fork at mouth) :
>>
<< >>

"hee ho hee ho hee ho" :cut the meat:


.....

...these peas are amazing!

Colin:
In light of the recent video production of Douglas Adams' brilliant series of books, beginning with The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy; I pose everyone to find the question to the freighting simple, yet massively complex answer to life the universe and everything: 42.

I believe however that this answer, or well question, will not come so easily. First one must discover what it is they live for. This varies interpersonally and intrapersonally depending on how people are feeling and who they are with. That is the funny thing about the human mind isn't it? That people will voluntarily change their minds to try and have others view them in a better (or worse) light.

This brings me to another point. It seems that the main driving force behind people is the will to please others. If you think about it, the real reason you do the majority of what you do is to please others. Whether it is your girl/boyfriend, parent, teacher, god, or peer; there is always going to be some person that influences you to say or do certain things. So why do people feel they need to always make the,selves look good? Because they want to have something that the other person has.

This is the next step. Everyone has something another person wants. Material or emotional, there is always something. So, to get it, people tend to become friends with this new person in hopes that they will give them what they want or they can just take it. So far, it looks to me that there are a lot of greedy people out there.

So, "How might one become selfless?" one might say. By excluding yourself from everyone else. Plain and simple, if you are by yourself, and have no reason to stay or leave, you have succeeded in not wanting anything. Unfortunately, this also typically entails not having any reason to live...or die. That really doesn't end well. For those of you who don't prefer self-inflicted death, try joining the Marine Corps. The successfully break down all sense of your self and rebuild it in the form of we. Remember the book "Anthem"? Remember how annoying it was to read all of those "we"s and "our"s. *shudder* That is how you become selfless.

But for us lazy Americans who refuse to acknowledge the worth of other cultures and the fact that we aren't the only people on the Earth. Think of the children! .....Yeah

So In hopes that this will expand into a full flexed discussion, please email me with any additions you have. Please don't repeat anything that has already been said. And please stay on topic. Note: Items may or may not be posted due to content or....Other reasons that I refuse to state because they don't exist... I mean...

So until next time....


So long and thanks for all the fish.

You scored as Yoda.

Yoda

81%

Mace Windu

56%

General Grievous

53%

Obi Wan Kenobi

53%

Darth Vader

47%

Anakin Skywalker

44%

C-3PO

44%

Clone Trooper

44%

R2-D2

44%

Padme Amidala

42%

Chewbacca

36%

Emperor Palpatine

11%

Which Revenge of the Sith Character are you?
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