So...I've decided to just briefly have my little say in the Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate.
To start, I am making you aware that I know very little about Calvinism or Arminianism. What typically comes to mind when I think of them is more akin to this nifty illustration I've made than anything else. (Don't be offended, sensitive people.)
I'm not going to spend the next 3000 words writing down the arguments for or against either side. They're all very well documented, and both sides have a fair share of pluses and minuses.
Here is my MAIN problem:
Calvinism and Arminianism only cause one thing: SEPARATION.
Now, chill out. I know how violently protective people get. Hear me out.
Example A:
Let us presuppose that Calvinism is correct and we are predestined to eternity with God.
Wooo! That's great...really. It's going to be outstanding there, and I'm so glad I'll be there.....
That's all fine and good, but how will I know whether or not I'm predestined until I get to Heaven? Is Jesus going to come down and tell me? I mean, He can speak to my heart, and tell me that I am truly a child of the LORD, but really, the reason it's called faith is because you have to believe. If I KNOW that I am a child of the LORD, then me obeying is useless; first of all, because I am a child and second, whether I stray or not, since I am His child, I merely have to return to Him (even when I am at the end of my life) to receive His forgiveness.[Luke 15:11-32 ESV]
So what was the point in me being Calvinist? I won't find out whether or not I was saved until I get to Heaven [or Hell], so while on Earth, me being a Calvinist accomplished nothing, other than giving me a reason to argue with people.
Furthermore, of the few "anti-Calvinist" things I will say here, is that I want you to think about this: if God predestined everything, then God created sin.a Now I suppose that you could argue that God does not predestine everything, only the eternal elect. If that is true, then disregard the following statement, but if not, think about it. If God preordains things, then He preordained Adam to partake of the Fruit of Good and Evil, knowing very very well what the punishment was. If you take that a step further, you can postulate that God is both good and evil, for how can something that is the definition of good, cause something evil? I think we can all agree that this is not the case.
My only other "anti-Calvinist" problem is with the most obvious one. The idea of the elect. I will cite only two Bible verses, because I think this argument only needs two.
"8But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." 2 Peter 3:8-9 ESV
ALL. That's it. Done. Argument ended. How can the Bible, God's Holy Word, directly implanted into the hearts of men and transcribed so that we may know God's teachings and plans, say something that isn't true?
It can't.
So therefore, why would God desire that all should reach repentance, when He Himself has chosen the "non-elect" to perish. I say "non-elect" because if there is an "elect," then there has to be a "non-elect" as well. There are only two endpoints to the equation, Heaven and Hell, so whether it is by choice (i.e. believer or non-believer) or by election (i.e. elect or non-elect) there are only two options. If it is by election, than God has chosen those that would go to Heaven but also those that would go to Hell. I find it very hard to believe that my God would do so, especially considering that He makes it plain in Romans; "For everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." Romans 10:13 ESV
Again, we have a noun that is not exclusive. Everyone. There's no clause at the bottom of Romans 10 that says "Everyone in reality only means some."
Additionally, if there are an elect, how does God chose this elect? What does He use to make me (or you, elect person) better than Joe Nonelect? This is not substantially discussed in the literature I've read, but it just seems interesting that God loves the ENTIRE world, but only loves a select few enough to save them. (I'm referencing John 3:16 here, just in case you missed the boat.)
Going along with the idea of elect, is the idea of "irresistible grace." This, as best as I can tell, means that no matter what, if you are elect, you will eventually succumb to God's divine irresistible grace. This to me seems like the ultimate excuse (especially when coupled with the idea of election) to be a lazy Christian. If I will eventually succumb to God's grace, and furthermore, if I am of the elect, why should I evangelize? Why should I read my Bible, or go to church, or share the Gospel, or do anything remotely Christ-like? I am of the elect, so I AM going to Heaven, and I WILL be overtaken by God's grace eventually. Although this is a common argument, it escapes me that I could believe that I am chosen and therefore inseparable from God, even since before I knew God or decided to accept His son Jesus. Why then be baptized, or sprinkled, or make a profession of faith, if you are already saved or not saved?
Last verse:
3This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 ESV
So...that's my beating up on Calvinists. Although this is a relatively one-sided argument from me, I do have several moot points with you Arminianists too.
Example B:
Walt Harris, a student from Millbrook, Alabama, has quite a few Calvinist friends. These friends, who hopefully read his arguments with an attempt at being unbiased, probably dislike Walt a little bit more, because they now know (or think) that he is an "Arminianist." Regardless of their true feelings towards me, they now know that we disagree on an important aspect of our faith. This has just caused at least some division, which is therefore proof of my argument on the USELESSNESS of both parties.
While I am not an Arminianist, or at least I do not wish to be classified as one (me being the non-denominational 'Christian-hippie' that I am), I do admittedly subscribe to more Arminian beliefs than Calvinist.
BUT
The main point still exists. The ONLY thing that being a Calvinist or Arminianist does for you (in this world AND the next, think about that) is cause division.
It causes division between friends (which it has for me before), it causes division between churches, it causes division between spouses, family, and I believe especially causes division among believers and non-believers.
How can someone who doesn't believe want to be a part of a faith (I hate the term 'religion') that is so sharply divided over issues of semantics? (Yes, the only reason we have both sides, period, is the semantics of the Bible.)
Furthermore, why would a world that tends to think most Christians are (to use the cliché) 'holier-than-thou' snobs want to be a part of something that says "you have to be chosen to get to Heaven"? Fundamentally, this is what Calvinism says.
Lastly, and I did a poor job of driving this home, especially since I pointed out all my problems with Calvinism, even though I couldn't come up with many for Arminianism [although I do not support or fully subscribe to either], is the fact that either way, in the end, we will NEVER know whether or not we are predestined until we get to Heaven, and by then, it will not matter anymore.
NEVER. That's an absolute. We will never ever ever know, not in 200 million years, and surely not within our lifetimes, short of Jesus' triumphant return. Even if we get to Heaven or Christ returns, I doubt that God is going to tell us whether or not predestination exists. I'm not going to say He won't, because it is quite possible, and I wouldn't mind knowing.
BUT can you honestly say that when you see your mansion and those streets of gold, that you're really even going to give a crap why or how you got there?
a Perry, http://people.cis.ksu.edu/~bbp9857/calvinism.html
-----------------
"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction." - Blaise Pascal
21.7.10
In 17 Days, Nothing Will Change
Not a very positive way to start a blog, right? Especially one that's being written about how I want my life to be a better story (i.e. to change).
In 17 days, I will graduate from college. I will have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and Graphic Design.
For many, graduating from college is one of the most superlative moments of their life. Even if they are going on to further their education, they still feel like one of the larger life hurdles is over for them, and they are finally a "true" adult.
For me this is not true.
For one, I am moving back in with my parents this fall, which arguably is a step backward from "true" adulthood.
I am continuing my education, but not as a graduate student, no no no. I am a "second degree" undergrad, because I made some faulty decisions and chose the career that I thought I would have the most fun at, rather than the one that God chose for me. [Even though I do love my art, and it is a huge part of my life, it is not where I'm supposed to be.] My pre-pharmacy education will hopefully take another year, upon which I'll get into Samford, and be good to go, albeit in debt $150,000.
Furthermore, the last summer class I'm taking, Chemistry 2, which should be a pretty average course, difficulty-wise, is killing me. I'm making grades that I've never made on tests, and just completely lacking the motivation to do better.
I'm feeling overwhelmed with moving out and lately, I'm having the Garden State moment.
I've had it before, but this time it feels more permanent. It's the primary reason why I could care less about repainting my currently magenta/gold bedroom at home (and besides, it was never mine to begin with anyways).
The point is: something has to change.
Since chemistry is most certainly not going to get easier for me, and since my $150,000 is not going to pay itself off, and since I eventually want to be an "adult," or at least something akin to that, I've decided that I need to change.
I need to rearrange my priorities, which for me means unplugging my tv. Spending free time studying rather than seeing how hot Piper is looking on Covert Affairs (one of my new favorite shows). I need to spend more time with God; praying, studying, worshiping and sharing. I know that's a Sunday school answer, but if its true I find it hard to omit. Of course, there are others, and since this is for the Living A Better Story Contest I figure I should be more specific.
GO!
In the next year I want to make A's. All A's. Nothing BUT A's. That one's pretty simple. I need to change.
I want to get a job, paying or non, in some sort of pharmacy-relevant environment. I need the experience, and I want the knowledge. I need to change.
I want to do the Ride:Well Tour. There, I said it. I know it's a big shoe to fill, but its so true. Minus getting into pharmacy school, I want this more than almost anything else I have on my list. This one is tricky though, because in order to be able to have June 1 - August 1 off, I have to get a really good PCAT score, and get good grades, so that I can get into Samford my first time around. If not, I need to take summer classes and try to get into Auburn, therefore, no Ride:Well. I'm almost to my goal amount for my new bike, and I'm committed to starting to train this fall. I need to change.
I want to raise a meaningful amount of money for Blood:Water, and another charity. I'm adding the "other charity" part because if you know me, you know I love Blood:Water and I can get a little annoying about it sometimes possibly. I figure I should share the love, and try to help some other cause, especially since there are so many. I need to make my community aware, and stir people's hearts to heal the world. I need to change.
I want to take beautiful photographs. I am the worst photography major you will ever meet. I have barely touched my camera over the past two years, and although I still take decent photos, I am totally out of touch with a facet of my life that completely consumed me for a while. I know this sounds unimportant to you, but getting back that person to me is huge. I need to change.
I want to be a man worth marrying. I want to be the type of man that can be with someone forever. This requires a lot of growing up. A lot of intimacy. A whole hell of a lot of scariness. And for me, it requires being more open than I ever have before. I need to change.
{I could go on for days, but I figure realistically, I'm not going to commit to a bunch of stereotypical, metaphorical goals and then let myself, and especially the people around me, down.}
So....
Finally, I want to be able to dance. That link probably just lost me the contest, and even though it's much less serious, it is true. Besides, the mood needed lightening. And seriously, I believe that dancing is an interestingly vital part of our being made in God's image. It is about freedom, and intimacy, and being alive. Even still, I need to change. [At least enough to make it through a reception.]
I think the Living A Better Story seminar would help by giving me the motivation and encouragement to know that my goals aren't crazy. To know that even though I'm an average human being, I can be wonderful. My story can resound throughout my surroundings and motivate others to change their stories. I think it would help me to compassionately move others, because I believe without a strong stirring in the heart, no one is ever truly motivated for change. I'm sick of being an average guy with good intentions, and although I know I can make these changes on my own, Living a Better Story would be an absolutely astounding chance to take a first step. A "no-turning back step," if you will.
In chemistry, reactions don't happen unless you force them too. Sure, some reactions happen readily, and easily, but they still require that irreversible moment to start them, from which you can't ever go fully back. If I go to the seminar, not only will I change because my heart desires it, I will also change because I know that I can and I must. That first step is the one that I can't turn back from, and once I take it, I know the other risks and rewards will pan out, somehow and some way. I want the extreme difficulty, and the ridiculous amount of satisfaction that comes with knowing I've given it my all, and my all is all I can do.
I will change.
The link to the conference website is here.
-----------------
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea." - Antoine de Saint Exupéry
In 17 days, I will graduate from college. I will have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and Graphic Design.
For many, graduating from college is one of the most superlative moments of their life. Even if they are going on to further their education, they still feel like one of the larger life hurdles is over for them, and they are finally a "true" adult.
For me this is not true.
For one, I am moving back in with my parents this fall, which arguably is a step backward from "true" adulthood.
I am continuing my education, but not as a graduate student, no no no. I am a "second degree" undergrad, because I made some faulty decisions and chose the career that I thought I would have the most fun at, rather than the one that God chose for me. [Even though I do love my art, and it is a huge part of my life, it is not where I'm supposed to be.] My pre-pharmacy education will hopefully take another year, upon which I'll get into Samford, and be good to go, albeit in debt $150,000.
Furthermore, the last summer class I'm taking, Chemistry 2, which should be a pretty average course, difficulty-wise, is killing me. I'm making grades that I've never made on tests, and just completely lacking the motivation to do better.
I'm feeling overwhelmed with moving out and lately, I'm having the Garden State moment.
I've had it before, but this time it feels more permanent. It's the primary reason why I could care less about repainting my currently magenta/gold bedroom at home (and besides, it was never mine to begin with anyways).
The point is: something has to change.
Since chemistry is most certainly not going to get easier for me, and since my $150,000 is not going to pay itself off, and since I eventually want to be an "adult," or at least something akin to that, I've decided that I need to change.
I need to rearrange my priorities, which for me means unplugging my tv. Spending free time studying rather than seeing how hot Piper is looking on Covert Affairs (one of my new favorite shows). I need to spend more time with God; praying, studying, worshiping and sharing. I know that's a Sunday school answer, but if its true I find it hard to omit. Of course, there are others, and since this is for the Living A Better Story Contest I figure I should be more specific.
GO!
In the next year I want to make A's. All A's. Nothing BUT A's. That one's pretty simple. I need to change.
I want to get a job, paying or non, in some sort of pharmacy-relevant environment. I need the experience, and I want the knowledge. I need to change.
I want to do the Ride:Well Tour. There, I said it. I know it's a big shoe to fill, but its so true. Minus getting into pharmacy school, I want this more than almost anything else I have on my list. This one is tricky though, because in order to be able to have June 1 - August 1 off, I have to get a really good PCAT score, and get good grades, so that I can get into Samford my first time around. If not, I need to take summer classes and try to get into Auburn, therefore, no Ride:Well. I'm almost to my goal amount for my new bike, and I'm committed to starting to train this fall. I need to change.
I want to raise a meaningful amount of money for Blood:Water, and another charity. I'm adding the "other charity" part because if you know me, you know I love Blood:Water and I can get a little annoying about it sometimes possibly. I figure I should share the love, and try to help some other cause, especially since there are so many. I need to make my community aware, and stir people's hearts to heal the world. I need to change.
I want to take beautiful photographs. I am the worst photography major you will ever meet. I have barely touched my camera over the past two years, and although I still take decent photos, I am totally out of touch with a facet of my life that completely consumed me for a while. I know this sounds unimportant to you, but getting back that person to me is huge. I need to change.
I want to be a man worth marrying. I want to be the type of man that can be with someone forever. This requires a lot of growing up. A lot of intimacy. A whole hell of a lot of scariness. And for me, it requires being more open than I ever have before. I need to change.
{I could go on for days, but I figure realistically, I'm not going to commit to a bunch of stereotypical, metaphorical goals and then let myself, and especially the people around me, down.}
So....
Finally, I want to be able to dance. That link probably just lost me the contest, and even though it's much less serious, it is true. Besides, the mood needed lightening. And seriously, I believe that dancing is an interestingly vital part of our being made in God's image. It is about freedom, and intimacy, and being alive. Even still, I need to change. [At least enough to make it through a reception.]
I think the Living A Better Story seminar would help by giving me the motivation and encouragement to know that my goals aren't crazy. To know that even though I'm an average human being, I can be wonderful. My story can resound throughout my surroundings and motivate others to change their stories. I think it would help me to compassionately move others, because I believe without a strong stirring in the heart, no one is ever truly motivated for change. I'm sick of being an average guy with good intentions, and although I know I can make these changes on my own, Living a Better Story would be an absolutely astounding chance to take a first step. A "no-turning back step," if you will.
In chemistry, reactions don't happen unless you force them too. Sure, some reactions happen readily, and easily, but they still require that irreversible moment to start them, from which you can't ever go fully back. If I go to the seminar, not only will I change because my heart desires it, I will also change because I know that I can and I must. That first step is the one that I can't turn back from, and once I take it, I know the other risks and rewards will pan out, somehow and some way. I want the extreme difficulty, and the ridiculous amount of satisfaction that comes with knowing I've given it my all, and my all is all I can do.
I will change.
The link to the conference website is here.
Living a Better Story Seminar from All Things Converge Podcast on Vimeo.
-----------------
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea." - Antoine de Saint Exupéry
25.2.10
Portez ce vieux whisky au juge blond qui fume
I've decided to write today.
I'm not gonna say I'm going to start writing again, because who knows if that's actually true. But I don't really feel like reading Iconoclasm and the Creation of Images in Emanuel de Witte's "Old Church in Amsterdam" by Angela Vanhaelen, my ARH reading for 11:00.
I have a girlfriend now, in case you're unaware. You probably already know this because you care enough to read this gibberish. But hey, who knows...maybe Obama decides to read this today, and he didn't know.
Her name is Tori Callahan and she's pretty spectacular. But I hate mushy people so that's all I'm saying about that.
I'm not really sure what to write, it's like when you see a friend you haven't seen in years and there's no way to really catch up without spending forever, so you just kinda explain a few things and then carry on.
I've also fully decided to do pharmacy. I was teeter-tottering for 6 or 7 months, since the prerequisite work isn't too different from premed, but I've decided it;s the way to go.
This is really boring me.
So the title for today is "Portez ce vieux whisky au juge blond qui fume" which is French, and means "Carry this old whisky to the blonde judge who smokes."
It's a pangram, much like the English "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog." Actually, exactly like that, because they're the same thing, minus the language difference. I doubt you wanted to know that, but I saw a bag with it on it yesterday at Them-Thangs and wanted to share.
(Just in case, Them-Thangs is NSFW.)
I've been wanting to take more pictures lately, and since I kinda do need to read at least a little bit before class, I'm going to quickly leave you with some SWEET artwork to look at.
http://images.krop.com/muller-4976f07b76f0.jpg
http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/v2010_02_19/v34_22245065.jpg
http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles/78456/projects/339643/784561257244614.jpg
http://www.colectiva.tv/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/andreasgursky.jpg
FIN.
I'm not gonna say I'm going to start writing again, because who knows if that's actually true. But I don't really feel like reading Iconoclasm and the Creation of Images in Emanuel de Witte's "Old Church in Amsterdam" by Angela Vanhaelen, my ARH reading for 11:00.
I have a girlfriend now, in case you're unaware. You probably already know this because you care enough to read this gibberish. But hey, who knows...maybe Obama decides to read this today, and he didn't know.
Her name is Tori Callahan and she's pretty spectacular. But I hate mushy people so that's all I'm saying about that.
I'm not really sure what to write, it's like when you see a friend you haven't seen in years and there's no way to really catch up without spending forever, so you just kinda explain a few things and then carry on.
I've also fully decided to do pharmacy. I was teeter-tottering for 6 or 7 months, since the prerequisite work isn't too different from premed, but I've decided it;s the way to go.
This is really boring me.
So the title for today is "Portez ce vieux whisky au juge blond qui fume" which is French, and means "Carry this old whisky to the blonde judge who smokes."
It's a pangram, much like the English "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog." Actually, exactly like that, because they're the same thing, minus the language difference. I doubt you wanted to know that, but I saw a bag with it on it yesterday at Them-Thangs and wanted to share.
(Just in case, Them-Thangs is NSFW.)
I've been wanting to take more pictures lately, and since I kinda do need to read at least a little bit before class, I'm going to quickly leave you with some SWEET artwork to look at.
http://images.krop.com/muller-4976f07b76f0.jpg
http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/v2010_02_19/v34_22245065.jpg
http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles/78456/projects/339643/784561257244614.jpg
http://www.colectiva.tv/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/andreasgursky.jpg
FIN.
14.9.09
Tu Possèdes les Étoiles?
click!
click!
click!
click!
click!
click!
click!
click!
click!
-----------------
Thy cheek begins to redden thro' the gloom,
Thy sweet eyes brighten slowly close to mine,
Ere yet they blind the stars, and the wild team
Which love thee, yearning for thy yoke, arise,
And shake the darkness from their loosen'd manes,
And beat the twilight into flakes of fire.
Lo! ever thus thou growest beautiful
In silence, then before thine answer given
Departest, and thy tears are on my cheek." - Alfred Lord Tennyson
click!
click!
click!
click!
click!
click!
click!
click!
-----------------
Thy cheek begins to redden thro' the gloom,
Thy sweet eyes brighten slowly close to mine,
Ere yet they blind the stars, and the wild team
Which love thee, yearning for thy yoke, arise,
And shake the darkness from their loosen'd manes,
And beat the twilight into flakes of fire.
Lo! ever thus thou growest beautiful
In silence, then before thine answer given
Departest, and thy tears are on my cheek." - Alfred Lord Tennyson
11.9.09
L'éléphant Cramoisi
So today was my first day of winemaking.
-What's that you say?? You're winemaking?
-Why yes computer. I'm making muscadine wine.
-Like in that song?
-Yes computer.
-Wow. Nice. *cough 'redneck!'*
-It's gonna be really good. You'll see. I've got a enough to make probably 20 bottles. Although it takes 2-4 years to fully mature.
-Geek. I guess that's cool though. Have you named it?
-What?
-You know. Like Boone's Farm, or Sutter Home.
-A**hole.
-But no seriously, have you named it?
-Yes computer. I'm calling it L'éléphant Cramoisi.
-Lell uh font cramsy?
-L'éléphant Cramoisi.
-What the hell does that mean?
-It means "the crimson elephant" in French. Don't you know how to translate hundreds of languages computer?
-Not when I'm set to understand only one, jerk!
-Oh. My bad.
-So anyways, its called the crimson elephant. Any other details??
-Sure. I used a recipe from this super old website, semi combined with two or three others I found online. But I'm mostly sticking with the first site.
-Wow...talk about your web 1.0. That's some low tech stuff.
-Yeah...but it seems legit. And my readings coincide with it!
-Readings? What are you reading? I'd recommend The Little Prince or A Perfect Day for Bananafish.
-No the wine readings! Chemical stuff. Duh.
-Ohhhh. That's another problem you get when your brain sees everything as definition number 1.
-It's ok computer.
-So what were the readings??
-Well, I guess I'll just go ahead and put them out factually.
Vinification:
Friday, September 11, 2009. 3-6pm (approx) and into primary fermentor.
No yeast added yet.
So far, must has 14lbs (approx) muscadines (13.5±0.5lbs scuppernongs.)
6 quarts of water.
5.8±0.2lbs of Sugar
0.05±0.1lbs of Raw Honey
2.1 tsp of yeast nutrient
2 crushed Campden tablets
Must Temperature (at 6:32pm CST): approx. 80°F.
Humidity (outside, 35401 zip code): 85%
Weather: Cloudy, 75°F (previously cooler and raining)
Pressure: 30.03
Dewpoint: 70°F
First Wine Readings:
pH= 3.3±0.1
SG= 1.112 (approx)
PA= 14%
Balling: 25
At approx 6am I will add pectic enzyme if I can find any.
At 6pm the yeast will be added and fermentation will actually begin.
Wine currently in: primary.
..................................
-Ba bo ba bo beep beep bo bap bo beep. Wow. That's a lot of information.....Wezley. (skip to 6:05 if you wanna see what I'm talking about.)
-I know computer. I don't even think it's that important. But it's nice to have.
-I guess....... Sure. It's great to have! I love information!!
-Suck up. You just don't wanna be replaced!
-----------------
Gandhi: "'Black and Tan'! High five, racial pride!"
George Washington Carver: "I don't like those movies, Mahatma. They're full of bad dialogue, contrived plot twists and they perpetuate racial stereotypes."
[throws a ball of paper towards the garbage, misses]
-What's that you say?? You're winemaking?
-Why yes computer. I'm making muscadine wine.
-Like in that song?
-Yes computer.
-Wow. Nice. *cough 'redneck!'*
-It's gonna be really good. You'll see. I've got a enough to make probably 20 bottles. Although it takes 2-4 years to fully mature.
-Geek. I guess that's cool though. Have you named it?
-What?
-You know. Like Boone's Farm, or Sutter Home.
-A**hole.
-But no seriously, have you named it?
-Yes computer. I'm calling it L'éléphant Cramoisi.
-Lell uh font cramsy?
-L'éléphant Cramoisi.
-What the hell does that mean?
-It means "the crimson elephant" in French. Don't you know how to translate hundreds of languages computer?
-Not when I'm set to understand only one, jerk!
-Oh. My bad.
-So anyways, its called the crimson elephant. Any other details??
-Sure. I used a recipe from this super old website, semi combined with two or three others I found online. But I'm mostly sticking with the first site.
-Wow...talk about your web 1.0. That's some low tech stuff.
-Yeah...but it seems legit. And my readings coincide with it!
-Readings? What are you reading? I'd recommend The Little Prince or A Perfect Day for Bananafish.
-No the wine readings! Chemical stuff. Duh.
-Ohhhh. That's another problem you get when your brain sees everything as definition number 1.
-It's ok computer.
-So what were the readings??
-Well, I guess I'll just go ahead and put them out factually.
Vinification:
Friday, September 11, 2009. 3-6pm (approx) and into primary fermentor.
No yeast added yet.
So far, must has 14lbs (approx) muscadines (13.5±0.5lbs scuppernongs.)
6 quarts of water.
5.8±0.2lbs of Sugar
0.05±0.1lbs of Raw Honey
2.1 tsp of yeast nutrient
2 crushed Campden tablets
Must Temperature (at 6:32pm CST): approx. 80°F.
Humidity (outside, 35401 zip code): 85%
Weather: Cloudy, 75°F (previously cooler and raining)
Pressure: 30.03
Dewpoint: 70°F
First Wine Readings:
pH= 3.3±0.1
SG= 1.112 (approx)
PA= 14%
Balling: 25
At approx 6am I will add pectic enzyme if I can find any.
At 6pm the yeast will be added and fermentation will actually begin.
Wine currently in: primary.
..................................
-Ba bo ba bo beep beep bo bap bo beep. Wow. That's a lot of information.....Wezley. (skip to 6:05 if you wanna see what I'm talking about.)
-I know computer. I don't even think it's that important. But it's nice to have.
-I guess....... Sure. It's great to have! I love information!!
-Suck up. You just don't wanna be replaced!
-----------------
Gandhi: "'Black and Tan'! High five, racial pride!"
George Washington Carver: "I don't like those movies, Mahatma. They're full of bad dialogue, contrived plot twists and they perpetuate racial stereotypes."
[throws a ball of paper towards the garbage, misses]
7.7.09
Limpia, fija y da Esplendor.
So here I sit.
11:47pm CST at
[N 33.20226°]
[W 87.54724°]
Taking a break from studying calculus because I literally have a headache. And I'm probably gonna be up all night which means I still have about 12 hours before I have to start panicking. I'm not sure why I hate this calculus class so much, or why I'm having such a difficult time with it. I understand all the concepts fairly well, but understanding how to work out each problem just seems to escape me. And this is hardly the hardest class I'm going to have in the next 6 years. I think I have such an aversion to this class because
1) It's a summer class. Who want's to spend 5 hours a week staring at a 65 year old woman writing out formulas?
2)I've been partially clinically diagnosed with ADHD. Which I've put off (ironically) seeing a psychologist about, to get drugs or at least therapy.
3)It's math!
4)It's math that feels mostly irrelevant! (I loved learning about radiometric dating, because it's practical. Most everything else hasn't been.)
5)I'm technically not even supposed to be in the class (I've managed to loophole the pre-req system it seems, by taking it at Shelton.)
I know. I'm whining, and procrastinating at the same time, which is going to make me hate the class even more, when I have to drop out because otherwise I'm going to fail.
I just wanted to issue my list of grievances. I'm like a colonist making my foray into the brave new world of art students deciding they want to be doctors. Not that I'm the first...but you get the metaphor. Tyrant King Science doesn't like me very much, but I will have my revolution. Oh I will. Give me an MD or give me death! We will overcome! I have a dream! Viva la revolution!
NOTE: I had an Albert Einstein quote below until I read this one. It (obviously) is quite similar to Benjamin Button, which I didn't really care for, but in a much happier, more profound way. Maybe we do have it all wrong?
-----------------
“The most unfair thing about life is the way it ends. I mean, life is tough. It takes up a lot of your time. What do you get at the end of it? A Death! What's that, a bonus? I think the life cycle is all backwards. You should die first, get it out of the way. Then you live in an old age home. You get kicked out when you're too young, you get a gold watch, you go to work. You work forty years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement. You do drugs, alcohol, you party, you get ready for high school. You go to grade school, you become a kid, you play, you have no responsibilities, you become a little baby, you go back into the womb, you spend your last nine months floating...
...and you finish off as an orgasm.” - George Carlin
11:47pm CST at
[N 33.20226°]
[W 87.54724°]
Taking a break from studying calculus because I literally have a headache. And I'm probably gonna be up all night which means I still have about 12 hours before I have to start panicking. I'm not sure why I hate this calculus class so much, or why I'm having such a difficult time with it. I understand all the concepts fairly well, but understanding how to work out each problem just seems to escape me. And this is hardly the hardest class I'm going to have in the next 6 years. I think I have such an aversion to this class because
1) It's a summer class. Who want's to spend 5 hours a week staring at a 65 year old woman writing out formulas?
2)I've been partially clinically diagnosed with ADHD. Which I've put off (ironically) seeing a psychologist about, to get drugs or at least therapy.
3)It's math!
4)It's math that feels mostly irrelevant! (I loved learning about radiometric dating, because it's practical. Most everything else hasn't been.)
5)I'm technically not even supposed to be in the class (I've managed to loophole the pre-req system it seems, by taking it at Shelton.)
I know. I'm whining, and procrastinating at the same time, which is going to make me hate the class even more, when I have to drop out because otherwise I'm going to fail.
I just wanted to issue my list of grievances. I'm like a colonist making my foray into the brave new world of art students deciding they want to be doctors. Not that I'm the first...but you get the metaphor. Tyrant King Science doesn't like me very much, but I will have my revolution. Oh I will. Give me an MD or give me death! We will overcome! I have a dream! Viva la revolution!
NOTE: I had an Albert Einstein quote below until I read this one. It (obviously) is quite similar to Benjamin Button, which I didn't really care for, but in a much happier, more profound way. Maybe we do have it all wrong?
-----------------
“The most unfair thing about life is the way it ends. I mean, life is tough. It takes up a lot of your time. What do you get at the end of it? A Death! What's that, a bonus? I think the life cycle is all backwards. You should die first, get it out of the way. Then you live in an old age home. You get kicked out when you're too young, you get a gold watch, you go to work. You work forty years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement. You do drugs, alcohol, you party, you get ready for high school. You go to grade school, you become a kid, you play, you have no responsibilities, you become a little baby, you go back into the womb, you spend your last nine months floating...
...and you finish off as an orgasm.” - George Carlin
30.6.09
SCARY.
Chicken McNuggets®:
White boneless chicken, water, food starch-modified, salt, seasoning (autolyzed yeast extract, salt, wheat starch, natural flavoring (botanical source), safflower oil, dextrose, citric acid, rosemary), sodium phosphates, seasoning (canola oil, mono- and diglycerides, extractives of rosemary). Battered and breaded with: water, enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, food starch-modified, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate), spices, wheat starch, whey, corn starch. Prepared in vegetable oil ((may contain one of the following: Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness), dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent). 1
Depending on how you count, that's 38-43 ingredients. In nugget form.
1 http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/nutritionexchange/nutrition_ingredients.html#2
-----------------
"Never eat more than you can lift." - Miss Piggy
White boneless chicken, water, food starch-modified, salt, seasoning (autolyzed yeast extract, salt, wheat starch, natural flavoring (botanical source), safflower oil, dextrose, citric acid, rosemary), sodium phosphates, seasoning (canola oil, mono- and diglycerides, extractives of rosemary). Battered and breaded with: water, enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, food starch-modified, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate), spices, wheat starch, whey, corn starch. Prepared in vegetable oil ((may contain one of the following: Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness), dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent). 1
Depending on how you count, that's 38-43 ingredients. In nugget form.
1 http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/nutritionexchange/nutrition_ingredients.html#2
-----------------
"Never eat more than you can lift." - Miss Piggy
19.6.09
I'm a little disapponted in certain things. Does that make me a pansy?
-----------------
"Let us go then, you and I,
When the evening is spread out against the sky
Like a patient etherised upon a table;
Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets,
The muttering retreats
Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels
And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells:
Streets that follow like a tedious argument
Of insidious intent
To lead you to an overwhelming question …
Oh, do not ask, “What is it?”
Let us go and make our visit.
In the room the women come and go
Talking of Michelangelo.
The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes,
The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes
Licked its tongue into the corners of the evening,
Lingered upon the pools that stand in drains,
Let fall upon its back the soot that falls from chimneys,
Slipped by the terrace, made a sudden leap,
And seeing that it was a soft October night,
Curled once about the house, and fell asleep.
And indeed there will be time
For the yellow smoke that slides along the street,
Rubbing its back upon the window-panes;
There will be time, there will be time
To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet;
There will be time to murder and create,
And time for all the works and days of hands
That lift and drop a question on your plate;
Time for you and time for me,
And time yet for a hundred indecisions,
And for a hundred visions and revisions,
Before the taking of a toast and tea.
In the room the women come and go
Talking of Michelangelo.
And indeed there will be time
To wonder, “Do I dare?” and, “Do I dare?”
Time to turn back and descend the stair,
With a bald spot in the middle of my hair—
[They will say: “How his hair is growing thin!”]
My morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin,
My necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin—
[They will say: “But how his arms and legs are thin!”]
Do I dare
Disturb the universe?
In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.
For I have known them all already, known them all:—
Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons,
I have measured out my life with coffee spoons;
I know the voices dying with a dying fall
Beneath the music from a farther room.
So how should I presume?
And I have known the eyes already, known them all—
The eyes that fix you in a formulated phrase,
And when I am formulated, sprawling on a pin,
When I am pinned and wriggling on the wall,
Then how should I begin
To spit out all the butt-ends of my days and ways?
And how should I presume?
And I have known the arms already, known them all—
Arms that are braceleted and white and bare
[But in the lamplight, downed with light brown hair!]
It is perfume from a dress
That makes me so digress?
Arms that lie along a table, or wrap about a shawl.
And should I then presume?
And how should I begin?
. . . . .
Shall I say, I have gone at dusk through narrow streets
And watched the smoke that rises from the pipes
Of lonely men in shirt-sleeves, leaning out of windows?…
I should have been a pair of ragged claws
Scuttling across the floors of silent seas.
. . . . .
And the afternoon, the evening, sleeps so peacefully!
Smoothed by long fingers,
Asleep … tired … or it malingers,
Stretched on the floor, here beside you and me.
Should I, after tea and cakes and ices,
Have the strength to force the moment to its crisis?
But though I have wept and fasted, wept and prayed,
Though I have seen my head [grown slightly bald] brought in upon a platter,
I am no prophet—and here’s no great matter;
I have seen the moment of my greatness flicker,
And I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker,
And in short, I was afraid.
And would it have been worth it, after all,
After the cups, the marmalade, the tea,
Among the porcelain, among some talk of you and me,
Would it have been worth while,
To have bitten off the matter with a smile,
To have squeezed the universe into a ball
To roll it toward some overwhelming question,
To say: “I am Lazarus, come from the dead,
Come back to tell you all, I shall tell you all”—
If one, settling a pillow by her head,
Should say: “That is not what I meant at all.
That is not it, at all.”
And would it have been worth it, after all,
Would it have been worth while,
After the sunsets and the dooryards and the sprinkled streets,
After the novels, after the teacups, after the skirts that trail along the floor—
And this, and so much more?—
It is impossible to say just what I mean!
But as if a magic lantern threw the nerves in patterns on a screen:
Would it have been worth while
If one, settling a pillow or throwing off a shawl,
And turning toward the window, should say:
“That is not it at all,
That is not what I meant, at all.”
. . . . .
No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be;
Am an attendant lord, one that will do
To swell a progress, start a scene or two,
Advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool,
Deferential, glad to be of use,
Politic, cautious, and meticulous;
Full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse;
At times, indeed, almost ridiculous—
Almost, at times, the Fool.
I grow old … I grow old …
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.
Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?
I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.
I do not think that they will sing to me.
I have seen them riding seaward on the waves
Combing the white hair of the waves blown back
When the wind blows the water white and black.
We have lingered in the chambers of the sea
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
Till human voices wake us, and we drown."
-----------------
"Let us go then, you and I,
When the evening is spread out against the sky
Like a patient etherised upon a table;
Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets,
The muttering retreats
Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels
And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells:
Streets that follow like a tedious argument
Of insidious intent
To lead you to an overwhelming question …
Oh, do not ask, “What is it?”
Let us go and make our visit.
In the room the women come and go
Talking of Michelangelo.
The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes,
The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes
Licked its tongue into the corners of the evening,
Lingered upon the pools that stand in drains,
Let fall upon its back the soot that falls from chimneys,
Slipped by the terrace, made a sudden leap,
And seeing that it was a soft October night,
Curled once about the house, and fell asleep.
And indeed there will be time
For the yellow smoke that slides along the street,
Rubbing its back upon the window-panes;
There will be time, there will be time
To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet;
There will be time to murder and create,
And time for all the works and days of hands
That lift and drop a question on your plate;
Time for you and time for me,
And time yet for a hundred indecisions,
And for a hundred visions and revisions,
Before the taking of a toast and tea.
In the room the women come and go
Talking of Michelangelo.
And indeed there will be time
To wonder, “Do I dare?” and, “Do I dare?”
Time to turn back and descend the stair,
With a bald spot in the middle of my hair—
[They will say: “How his hair is growing thin!”]
My morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin,
My necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin—
[They will say: “But how his arms and legs are thin!”]
Do I dare
Disturb the universe?
In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.
For I have known them all already, known them all:—
Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons,
I have measured out my life with coffee spoons;
I know the voices dying with a dying fall
Beneath the music from a farther room.
So how should I presume?
And I have known the eyes already, known them all—
The eyes that fix you in a formulated phrase,
And when I am formulated, sprawling on a pin,
When I am pinned and wriggling on the wall,
Then how should I begin
To spit out all the butt-ends of my days and ways?
And how should I presume?
And I have known the arms already, known them all—
Arms that are braceleted and white and bare
[But in the lamplight, downed with light brown hair!]
It is perfume from a dress
That makes me so digress?
Arms that lie along a table, or wrap about a shawl.
And should I then presume?
And how should I begin?
. . . . .
Shall I say, I have gone at dusk through narrow streets
And watched the smoke that rises from the pipes
Of lonely men in shirt-sleeves, leaning out of windows?…
I should have been a pair of ragged claws
Scuttling across the floors of silent seas.
. . . . .
And the afternoon, the evening, sleeps so peacefully!
Smoothed by long fingers,
Asleep … tired … or it malingers,
Stretched on the floor, here beside you and me.
Should I, after tea and cakes and ices,
Have the strength to force the moment to its crisis?
But though I have wept and fasted, wept and prayed,
Though I have seen my head [grown slightly bald] brought in upon a platter,
I am no prophet—and here’s no great matter;
I have seen the moment of my greatness flicker,
And I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker,
And in short, I was afraid.
And would it have been worth it, after all,
After the cups, the marmalade, the tea,
Among the porcelain, among some talk of you and me,
Would it have been worth while,
To have bitten off the matter with a smile,
To have squeezed the universe into a ball
To roll it toward some overwhelming question,
To say: “I am Lazarus, come from the dead,
Come back to tell you all, I shall tell you all”—
If one, settling a pillow by her head,
Should say: “That is not what I meant at all.
That is not it, at all.”
And would it have been worth it, after all,
Would it have been worth while,
After the sunsets and the dooryards and the sprinkled streets,
After the novels, after the teacups, after the skirts that trail along the floor—
And this, and so much more?—
It is impossible to say just what I mean!
But as if a magic lantern threw the nerves in patterns on a screen:
Would it have been worth while
If one, settling a pillow or throwing off a shawl,
And turning toward the window, should say:
“That is not it at all,
That is not what I meant, at all.”
. . . . .
No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be;
Am an attendant lord, one that will do
To swell a progress, start a scene or two,
Advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool,
Deferential, glad to be of use,
Politic, cautious, and meticulous;
Full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse;
At times, indeed, almost ridiculous—
Almost, at times, the Fool.
I grow old … I grow old …
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.
Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?
I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.
I do not think that they will sing to me.
I have seen them riding seaward on the waves
Combing the white hair of the waves blown back
When the wind blows the water white and black.
We have lingered in the chambers of the sea
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
Till human voices wake us, and we drown."
6.6.09
St. Christoper is Coming Home
So I'm bored...and I was looking at the lovely variation of regions that I have listed in my Facebook. For my 409 friends which have regions listed (of 836), There are 81 cities represented, 28 states, and 19 countries.
It made me feel pretty cool, because that means I probably actually have friends in 30-35 states, 100-150 cities, and probably 22-24 countries.
So now go do this or go here...and you can be just like me!**
**Actual results my vary. Walt Harris was not a recipient of any compensation for this blog. The opinions contain within are actually those of the writer, and do not represent the opinion of Blogger™, or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries.
-----------------
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." -Robert Louis Stevenson
It made me feel pretty cool, because that means I probably actually have friends in 30-35 states, 100-150 cities, and probably 22-24 countries.
So now go do this or go here...and you can be just like me!**
**Actual results my vary. Walt Harris was not a recipient of any compensation for this blog. The opinions contain within are actually those of the writer, and do not represent the opinion of Blogger™, or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries.
-----------------
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." -Robert Louis Stevenson
2.6.09
Conquistador
I'm just feeling like writing.
Maybe because I feel like I should stay up late since I can?
I dunno. I'm not really sure if anyone really reads this stuff anyways.
I'm such a rambler. The Allman Brothers would have loved me.
I really like Keane. They're uniquely British, a little crazy...which is one of my favorite qualities in people [I was going to insert a collage of my favuorite people (who are all a little crazy), but decided not to, just so people that didn't end up in the collage wouldn't feel left out].
So yeah, I should probably go to bed. I ordered a graphing calculator yesterday (today), and it was $170 dollars. How Nickelback is that? I was kinda pissed. The song Perfect Symmetry is REALLY pretty.
I'm going to leave you with this...I've completely decided, as idealistic, cheesy, a effing crazy as it sounds, love really is the answer. I hate myself so much for writing that, and furthermore for believing it because it makes me sound so tacky. And I don't like tackiness. I'm too cool for tackiness. But I'm striving honestly to make it the way I live my life, even though I'm so judgmental and harsh sometimes. The thing that's nice about love is, with it, you lose the obligations for everything else.People are so concerned with getting other people to agree with their worldviews, on religion (especially religion), politics, what aspects of culture are good and bad, etc. But if everybody just was, and loved, we would eliminate these needs. People would believe whatever they believed, and most likely the ideas that people were trying to force on others would just be accepted, because the ideas would no longer be forced. It's not surprisingly the way that I feel Christ lived. He hung out with all sorts of people that He knew were going to Hell, but He loved them just the same. They weren't condemned, they were just loved...and the ones that did believe, believed of their own free will, because they saw the way He lived and loved. People are so damn judgmental these days (including me), that we ruin our chances of making people ever want to be like us, and I'm kind of sick of it. The one thing that Europe taught me more than anything else is to just be accepting. Everyone, and I mean that absolutely, everyone on this entire earth, wants to be loved and accepted. So stop staring.
Sorry if everything I just wrote reeks of tackiness and pretense. Seriously though guys, love thy freaking neighbor.
i'm kind of ready to fall in love.
That's the end.
Now.
THE END.
-----------------
Et il y en a un second qui lui est semblable: Tu aimeras ton prochain comme toi-même. -Matthieu 22:39 (La Bible du Semeur)
Maybe because I feel like I should stay up late since I can?
I dunno. I'm not really sure if anyone really reads this stuff anyways.
I'm such a rambler. The Allman Brothers would have loved me.
I really like Keane. They're uniquely British, a little crazy...which is one of my favorite qualities in people [I was going to insert a collage of my favuorite people (who are all a little crazy), but decided not to, just so people that didn't end up in the collage wouldn't feel left out].
So yeah, I should probably go to bed. I ordered a graphing calculator yesterday (today), and it was $170 dollars. How Nickelback is that? I was kinda pissed. The song Perfect Symmetry is REALLY pretty.
I'm going to leave you with this...I've completely decided, as idealistic, cheesy, a effing crazy as it sounds, love really is the answer. I hate myself so much for writing that, and furthermore for believing it because it makes me sound so tacky. And I don't like tackiness. I'm too cool for tackiness. But I'm striving honestly to make it the way I live my life, even though I'm so judgmental and harsh sometimes. The thing that's nice about love is, with it, you lose the obligations for everything else.
Sorry if everything I just wrote reeks of tackiness and pretense. Seriously though guys, love thy freaking neighbor.
i'm kind of ready to fall in love.
That's the end.
Now.
THE END.
-----------------
Et il y en a un second qui lui est semblable: Tu aimeras ton prochain comme toi-même. -Matthieu 22:39 (La Bible du Semeur)
28.5.09
Je veux un chaton.
So I haven't posted in a while....
I've been in Millbrook...which has been really nice. But I've kind of been having the Zach Braff 'my house is not a home' feeling lately. Like, I've always lived here, and I'm more comfortable in my house than I am most other places, but I just itch to be somewhere else a lot of the time. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents and I feel like I get along with them better than a lot of people I know do with theirs, but I just am not sure if I belong here anymore. I don't like the fact that I'm most likely gonna be in Alabama for at least another 6 years. (2 more at UA/4 at UAB) I've been looking to find a med school possibly outside of the south that I would feel comfortable at. But since UAB is 29th in the nation, and I already love it and the people there, I'm going to have to find a pretty kick ass place to be good enough to move for.
Anyways, speaking of Zach Braff, I think the fact that ABC has renewed Scrubs for a 9th season is really Everybody Loves Raymond. (PS. I despise everybody loves Raymond, which means you should click the link because its not ELR) I've been working on not calling things gay lately...because even though my gay friends say it, I could see someone else finding it pretty offensive and Florida Gators. Yep, did it again.
But yeah, so ABC has renewed for a 9th season and Zach Braff/Sarah Chalke (who were both supposed to be quitting) are signed on for the first 6 or so episodes to 'tie up loose ends.'1 The reason this really bothers me is that season 7 was supposed to be the last season. Then NBC did a BS series finale because of the stupid writers strike. So ABC bought Scrubs, since it was already being filmed in their studios anyways, and picked up the 8th season, which saved the shows integrity and did a nice job of bringing Scrubs somewhat back to its roots (Seasons 1-4'esque). The finale was absolutely wonderful and did a great job of wrapping, if being a little too JD focused. I feel like everything Scrubs has tried to say has been said. And since it will be returning with an incomplete cast, it's ruining the integrity of the show. Why couldn't they just do a spin-off? Anyways, it's probably ridiculous to y'all that I'm ranting about a moderately-rated TV sitcom, but this show has a lot of importance to me for a million reasons that it would take to long to mention. I'm going to stop ranting though.
In other news, summer classes start next week. Calculus and Am. Hist. to 1850. Woo! Go Bucs! (Can't you tell I'm super stoked?)
Additionally, I went to my doctor today because I thought I was having an allergic reaction to the Wildflower Wind paint that I had used to paint a bedroom in our house with. I have shingles. I know y'all might think it gross and weird that I'm giving you a bit of my medical history, but you can suck it, because it's not like I did something stupid to get it. It happens. Plus I get fun pain pills!
The pills are to help avoid nerve damage that can recur for the rest of your life. Hopefully (dear Jesus) that won't happen.
Anyways...I need to paint some trim.
I'm back in Tuscaloosa this weekend, and although it will probably be boring too, I kinda can't wait.
1 http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSTRE54E0VM20090515
-----------------
"The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." ~Voltaire
I've been in Millbrook...which has been really nice. But I've kind of been having the Zach Braff 'my house is not a home' feeling lately. Like, I've always lived here, and I'm more comfortable in my house than I am most other places, but I just itch to be somewhere else a lot of the time. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents and I feel like I get along with them better than a lot of people I know do with theirs, but I just am not sure if I belong here anymore. I don't like the fact that I'm most likely gonna be in Alabama for at least another 6 years. (2 more at UA/4 at UAB) I've been looking to find a med school possibly outside of the south that I would feel comfortable at. But since UAB is 29th in the nation, and I already love it and the people there, I'm going to have to find a pretty kick ass place to be good enough to move for.
Anyways, speaking of Zach Braff, I think the fact that ABC has renewed Scrubs for a 9th season is really Everybody Loves Raymond. (PS. I despise everybody loves Raymond, which means you should click the link because its not ELR) I've been working on not calling things gay lately...because even though my gay friends say it, I could see someone else finding it pretty offensive and Florida Gators. Yep, did it again.
But yeah, so ABC has renewed for a 9th season and Zach Braff/Sarah Chalke (who were both supposed to be quitting) are signed on for the first 6 or so episodes to 'tie up loose ends.'1 The reason this really bothers me is that season 7 was supposed to be the last season. Then NBC did a BS series finale because of the stupid writers strike. So ABC bought Scrubs, since it was already being filmed in their studios anyways, and picked up the 8th season, which saved the shows integrity and did a nice job of bringing Scrubs somewhat back to its roots (Seasons 1-4'esque). The finale was absolutely wonderful and did a great job of wrapping, if being a little too JD focused. I feel like everything Scrubs has tried to say has been said. And since it will be returning with an incomplete cast, it's ruining the integrity of the show. Why couldn't they just do a spin-off? Anyways, it's probably ridiculous to y'all that I'm ranting about a moderately-rated TV sitcom, but this show has a lot of importance to me for a million reasons that it would take to long to mention. I'm going to stop ranting though.
In other news, summer classes start next week. Calculus and Am. Hist. to 1850. Woo! Go Bucs! (Can't you tell I'm super stoked?)
Additionally, I went to my doctor today because I thought I was having an allergic reaction to the Wildflower Wind paint that I had used to paint a bedroom in our house with. I have shingles. I know y'all might think it gross and weird that I'm giving you a bit of my medical history, but you can suck it, because it's not like I did something stupid to get it. It happens. Plus I get fun pain pills!
The pills are to help avoid nerve damage that can recur for the rest of your life. Hopefully (dear Jesus) that won't happen.
Anyways...I need to paint some trim.
I'm back in Tuscaloosa this weekend, and although it will probably be boring too, I kinda can't wait.
1 http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSTRE54E0VM20090515
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"The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." ~Voltaire
10.5.09
Nouvel et Amélioré
Can something really be new and improved??
That doesn't make any sense to me, because the whole point of being new is originality...if its already been done before than its not new. But improved suggests its something old that has just been changed around to be better. The only way it can really make sense is if you're talking about something like a physical recipe for something [bike tires, lemonade, whatev.] Cause then the recipe is physically new, but an improved version of the old one.
Anyways...just thought I'd share.
I'm not a mad man. I was just kidding.
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"In the ancient recipe, the three antidotes for dullness or boredom are sleep, drink, and travel. It is rather feeble. From sleep you wake up, from drink you become sober, and from travel you come home again. And then where are you? No, the two sovereign remedies for dullness are love or a crusade." - D. H. Lawrence
That doesn't make any sense to me, because the whole point of being new is originality...if its already been done before than its not new. But improved suggests its something old that has just been changed around to be better. The only way it can really make sense is if you're talking about something like a physical recipe for something [bike tires, lemonade, whatev.] Cause then the recipe is physically new, but an improved version of the old one.
Anyways...just thought I'd share.
I'm not a mad man. I was just kidding.
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"In the ancient recipe, the three antidotes for dullness or boredom are sleep, drink, and travel. It is rather feeble. From sleep you wake up, from drink you become sober, and from travel you come home again. And then where are you? No, the two sovereign remedies for dullness are love or a crusade." - D. H. Lawrence
7.5.09
Le Livre d'Amour
So I just watched the last three episodes of Scrubs. Ever. (At least in mine and Bill Lawrence's mind1.)
It was amazing.
The the two before the finale (ep. 17 and part 1 of ep. 18) we're only vaguely better than normal episodes, but Part 2 of the season finale was beautiful.
For some reason Scrubs really resonates with me, even though I never liked it until I moved to Scotland. I'm so glad it's over though, and that they finished strong. I'm one of those really crazy fans that hates it when they destroy the integrity of a show. It needed to end, and now it's over.
So is the semester, almost!
This semester has been a bit rough, and I kind of wish that I had done better and done more, but that's that I guess. I've met some wonderful people that I really hope stay in my life though, at least for a while, and that's at least as important as a good grade. Summer will be weird though. Thankfully I have quite a few people that are sticking around for it.
I've got to come up with more interesting things to write. My first post kicked ass, and they've been deteriorating ever since. I think I might just call it a day...but I have a surprise for you:
You can watch the finale of Scrubs on ABC.com! Just click here!
Now aren't you glad you stuck around for that?
1http://www.premiumhollywood.com/2009/05/06/a-chat-with-bill-lawrence-the-scrubs-exit-interview/
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"I would Turkleton but I only play Pac-Man and that carjack game...there's nothing like scoring a Caddie and mowing down street hoes!" - Bob Kelso
It was amazing.
The the two before the finale (ep. 17 and part 1 of ep. 18) we're only vaguely better than normal episodes, but Part 2 of the season finale was beautiful.
For some reason Scrubs really resonates with me, even though I never liked it until I moved to Scotland. I'm so glad it's over though, and that they finished strong. I'm one of those really crazy fans that hates it when they destroy the integrity of a show. It needed to end, and now it's over.
So is the semester, almost!
This semester has been a bit rough, and I kind of wish that I had done better and done more, but that's that I guess. I've met some wonderful people that I really hope stay in my life though, at least for a while, and that's at least as important as a good grade. Summer will be weird though. Thankfully I have quite a few people that are sticking around for it.
I've got to come up with more interesting things to write. My first post kicked ass, and they've been deteriorating ever since. I think I might just call it a day...but I have a surprise for you:
You can watch the finale of Scrubs on ABC.com! Just click here!
Now aren't you glad you stuck around for that?
1http://www.premiumhollywood.com/2009/05/06/a-chat-with-bill-lawrence-the-scrubs-exit-interview/
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"I would Turkleton but I only play Pac-Man and that carjack game...there's nothing like scoring a Caddie and mowing down street hoes!" - Bob Kelso
3.5.09
Dimanche
So I'm trying this whole text-post thing to see how well it works.
Sitting on the couch waiting on clothes to wash and I'm bored out of my mind, and I've had such a boring weekend...people I was supposed to hang out with never responded to texts and the people I wanted to talk to didn't either, so I've felt kinda bummed.
Did you know the some of the first commercial space flights are scheduled to start mid-2010? For a measly $90,000 to $200,000 you can spend 4-6 minutes in complete weightlessness, up to 68 miles in the atmosphere. Virgin has one and there's another company(which I can't remember) that actually is cheaper ($92,000?) and in flight it's just you and the pilot...so you get a very 1 on 1 experience. Woot.
Not sure how much more I can text at once, so let's see what happens!
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"How could drops of water know themselves to be a river? Yet the river flows on." - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Sitting on the couch waiting on clothes to wash and I'm bored out of my mind, and I've had such a boring weekend...people I was supposed to hang out with never responded to texts and the people I wanted to talk to didn't either, so I've felt kinda bummed.
Did you know the some of the first commercial space flights are scheduled to start mid-2010? For a measly $90,000 to $200,000 you can spend 4-6 minutes in complete weightlessness, up to 68 miles in the atmosphere. Virgin has one and there's another company(which I can't remember) that actually is cheaper ($92,000?) and in flight it's just you and the pilot...so you get a very 1 on 1 experience. Woot.
Not sure how much more I can text at once, so let's see what happens!
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"How could drops of water know themselves to be a river? Yet the river flows on." - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
1.5.09
Le Jour Deux
So...day two.
Not as much to write today...I'm sleepy and need to shave.
I just ordered pizza though, which is exciting, and means something to those who truly know me.
I feel pressure to write something more meaningful today, since my rant on swine flu was much more motivated.
It's going to be a boring weekend. Courtney, Candace, and Jon are all out of town, and they're probably 90% of the people that I hang out with on the weekend. But I'm going to job hunt (and hopefully update my real website) so it'll be okay.
--Intermission--
I just watched Forgetting Sarah Marshall...and it was 'effin awesome. The perfect mix of satire and seriousness; and who doesn't love Mila Kunis. Seriously?
Hmmm...I guess that's it. I'll try to find something more interesting to write tomorrow.
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“Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia.” - Charles Schulz
Not as much to write today...I'm sleepy and need to shave.
I just ordered pizza though, which is exciting, and means something to those who truly know me.
I feel pressure to write something more meaningful today, since my rant on swine flu was much more motivated.
It's going to be a boring weekend. Courtney, Candace, and Jon are all out of town, and they're probably 90% of the people that I hang out with on the weekend. But I'm going to job hunt (and hopefully update my real website) so it'll be okay.
--Intermission--
I just watched Forgetting Sarah Marshall...and it was 'effin awesome. The perfect mix of satire and seriousness; and who doesn't love Mila Kunis. Seriously?
Hmmm...I guess that's it. I'll try to find something more interesting to write tomorrow.
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“Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia.” - Charles Schulz
30.4.09
Ad Astra Per Alia Porci
Here goes number two, a little bit more bloggish?
So...this swine flu stuff. I kinda think people are freaking out too much.
As Colbert warned: "Swine flu feeds on your fear."
But seriously, let me point out that only 236 cases of swine flu have been reported [and confirmed].ª That's 0.00000295% of the population. Two probable cases were reported in Madison County today, and due to that the school is getting closed down for 7 days. Yes...a week off of school because two kids have something that is almost as treatable as the typical flu.
So far there have been 159 deaths in Mexico, which is a big deal, considering this is an emerging pandemic that little is known about...BUT the Mexican Health Care System spends approximately $675 per capita on health care(adjusted for PPP), which is about one quarter of the OECD average, and only 11% of what the US spends ($6,102). Although I will point out that our healthcare system ranks 22nd out of 23 industrialized countries in our healthy life expectancy and per person medical expenditures, only ahead of the Czech Republic.b
But that's another story for another day.
My point is, only one person has died inside the US so far from a confirmed case, and that was a boy visiting from Mexico. As much as I hate to bash their health system, it is not nearly as strong as ours and additionally, only 79% of the population has access to proper sanitation.c
Besides, swine flu is relatively treatable with Oseltamivir and Zanamivir (Tamiflu and Relenza)...although it is resistant to amantadine and rimantadine, and unaffected by typical flu vaccinations.d Also, 250,000-500,000 people die each year from the normal influenza virus.
So chill out folks...wash your hands, order a big crate of fresh Egyptian bacon, and just be careful.
And yes, I do realize that I totally geeked out with my citations. Health policy rocks.
ªhttp://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/30/swine.flu.outbreak/index.html
bwww.who.int/whr/2003/annex_4_en.xls
chttp://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Mexico.pdf
dhttp://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/antiviral_swine.htm
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America's health care system is second only to Japan... Canada, Sweden, Great Britain, ... well all of Europe. But you can thank your lucky stars we don't live in Paraguay! - Dan Castellaneta
So...this swine flu stuff. I kinda think people are freaking out too much.
As Colbert warned: "Swine flu feeds on your fear."
But seriously, let me point out that only 236 cases of swine flu have been reported [and confirmed].ª That's 0.00000295% of the population. Two probable cases were reported in Madison County today, and due to that the school is getting closed down for 7 days. Yes...a week off of school because two kids have something that is almost as treatable as the typical flu.
So far there have been 159 deaths in Mexico, which is a big deal, considering this is an emerging pandemic that little is known about...BUT the Mexican Health Care System spends approximately $675 per capita on health care(adjusted for PPP), which is about one quarter of the OECD average, and only 11% of what the US spends ($6,102). Although I will point out that our healthcare system ranks 22nd out of 23 industrialized countries in our healthy life expectancy and per person medical expenditures, only ahead of the Czech Republic.b
But that's another story for another day.
My point is, only one person has died inside the US so far from a confirmed case, and that was a boy visiting from Mexico. As much as I hate to bash their health system, it is not nearly as strong as ours and additionally, only 79% of the population has access to proper sanitation.c
Besides, swine flu is relatively treatable with Oseltamivir and Zanamivir (Tamiflu and Relenza)...although it is resistant to amantadine and rimantadine, and unaffected by typical flu vaccinations.d Also, 250,000-500,000 people die each year from the normal influenza virus.
So chill out folks...wash your hands, order a big crate of fresh Egyptian bacon, and just be careful.
And yes, I do realize that I totally geeked out with my citations. Health policy rocks.
ªhttp://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/30/swine.flu.outbreak/index.html
bwww.who.int/whr/2003/annex_4_en.xls
chttp://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Mexico.pdf
dhttp://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/antiviral_swine.htm
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America's health care system is second only to Japan... Canada, Sweden, Great Britain, ... well all of Europe. But you can thank your lucky stars we don't live in Paraguay! - Dan Castellaneta
Le Première Un
So I decided to create a blog.
I'm not sure why...but I think it's a combination of boredom, narcissism, and procrastination (I should be studying for a bio lab final that's in 4.5 hours.)
But yeah, I figured...if I have all these ramblings in my head, maybe I should get somewhere to put them out. Maybe I'll talk less. Maybe I can share all the fun geeky things that my brain/wikipedia can conjure up.
But anyways, mostly this post is just to see how everything looks...and hopefully you enjoy.
I'm also gonna try to put a quote at the end of each post. Assuming I do regularly post.
Assuming.
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"Shyness has a strange element of narcissism, a belief that how we look, how we perform, is truly important to other people." - Andre Dubs
I'm not sure why...but I think it's a combination of boredom, narcissism, and procrastination (I should be studying for a bio lab final that's in 4.5 hours.)
But yeah, I figured...if I have all these ramblings in my head, maybe I should get somewhere to put them out. Maybe I'll talk less. Maybe I can share all the fun geeky things that my brain/wikipedia can conjure up.
But anyways, mostly this post is just to see how everything looks...and hopefully you enjoy.
I'm also gonna try to put a quote at the end of each post. Assuming I do regularly post.
Assuming.
-----------------
"Shyness has a strange element of narcissism, a belief that how we look, how we perform, is truly important to other people." - Andre Dubs
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