I've come to the conclusion that, in fact, I am not pro-choice.
I am pro-abortion.
I just don't seem to care as much about the guilt over aborting a fetus one parent would've liked to raise, as I do about neither parent being hampered in what they want to do with their life--and their money.
Finding out which is more harmful to the individual is probably the part of this issue I need to focus any future research on.
I also want to know about the most oft-used justifications for the legality of abortion, because maybe I've got those wrong in my head.
Yesterday I was scaring myself with thoughts of child-bearing licenses.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
principle
an evolving list of principles that matter:
1. honesty
. to oneself
. to others
. while under duress as well as in peace
2. benevolence
. and foresight
. and sincerity
. with hopes for the social contract
3. fairness
. to each other
. to the environment
. aimed at conservation and sustainability
1. honesty
. to oneself
. to others
. while under duress as well as in peace
2. benevolence
. and foresight
. and sincerity
. with hopes for the social contract
3. fairness
. to each other
. to the environment
. aimed at conservation and sustainability
the king of oration
did you know i love short videos?
i particularly love short videos of martin luther king jr quotes.
(note: i first viewed this video on feministe. i first viewed feministe because of hops.)
in university, i had to write a paper outlining my principles of nonviolence. expect an updated version to be available on here shortly.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Outside Looking In
.
Your shoes are in my spot when I walk in. There's nothing bubbling on the stove, but that's not really your style, sober.
You're stretched out in bed, asleep already, though you can't have been home an hour yet. You only sprawl in the beginning or the end of sleep, never for the main haul. No, for that you withdraw into yourself in the same way as when someone introduces a topic for conversation about which you know nothing.
The kitchen could use a scrub-down. The bathroom too. But I don't know the first thing about frosted glass, so I brush the crumbs into the sink.
Hard to resist getting in bed, even as awake as I am, when I know if I wait too much longer I'll have to actually wake you up to get your arms around me.
.
Your shoes are in my spot when I walk in. There's nothing bubbling on the stove, but that's not really your style, sober.
You're stretched out in bed, asleep already, though you can't have been home an hour yet. You only sprawl in the beginning or the end of sleep, never for the main haul. No, for that you withdraw into yourself in the same way as when someone introduces a topic for conversation about which you know nothing.
The kitchen could use a scrub-down. The bathroom too. But I don't know the first thing about frosted glass, so I brush the crumbs into the sink.
Hard to resist getting in bed, even as awake as I am, when I know if I wait too much longer I'll have to actually wake you up to get your arms around me.
.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Half The Battle
Today, I celebrate a unique milestone: I officially have less than 200 days remaining in South Korea.
It's sad that I'm celebrating the passing of time like this, considering I'm enjoying my time here. I'm getting reaquainted with my brothers, which was one of my major goals in making this trip, and I'm steadily paying off my college debt, which was my other major goal. I sincerely enjoy my job, which is an unexpected bonus, and I'm doing a ton of reading, which is my number one favorite activity.
So why do I have this countdown going in my head?
Because my life is on pause.
While google imaging for a sweet picture of an old-school VHS tape on pause, with those fuzzy lines across a portion of the TV screen, you know what I mean, I came across this comic justifying the consumption of coffee at any time of day. It has nothing to do with life being on pause, but I decided that it was time to move on from that idea anyway.
As I said, I've been reading some really great books. (Some future post will specify which.) There's a pretty good bookstore, Bandi and Luni's, at the Coex Mall. It has a huge English section to browse through, but I'm getting kinda itchy to put in some specific requests, for which Powell's Used Books is going to be seriously helpful. As a sweet enticement, any order of $50 or more has free shipping in the USA. Nice, huh?
Aside: I did, in fact, seek permission to quote my friend, quoted in my previous blog entry concerning men's abortion rights. He gave permission. He didn't even check what quote I used first. I neglected to ask him whether I should quote him by name. I think I'll just leave it anonymous unless our conversation digs up another interesting quotable, in which case perhaps I'll give him a little more space on here.
And, to wrap it up, I'll let you in on a little secret. I started writing this post without really believing there was a milestone to celebrate. I got halfway through my first sentence, which seemed like a good one, so I decided to at least look at my calendar before deleting the sentence and starting over. That's when I saw '199' handwritten in the upper corner of today's square.
Now you know--and knowing is...
It's sad that I'm celebrating the passing of time like this, considering I'm enjoying my time here. I'm getting reaquainted with my brothers, which was one of my major goals in making this trip, and I'm steadily paying off my college debt, which was my other major goal. I sincerely enjoy my job, which is an unexpected bonus, and I'm doing a ton of reading, which is my number one favorite activity.
So why do I have this countdown going in my head?
Because my life is on pause.
While google imaging for a sweet picture of an old-school VHS tape on pause, with those fuzzy lines across a portion of the TV screen, you know what I mean, I came across this comic justifying the consumption of coffee at any time of day. It has nothing to do with life being on pause, but I decided that it was time to move on from that idea anyway.
As I said, I've been reading some really great books. (Some future post will specify which.) There's a pretty good bookstore, Bandi and Luni's, at the Coex Mall. It has a huge English section to browse through, but I'm getting kinda itchy to put in some specific requests, for which Powell's Used Books is going to be seriously helpful. As a sweet enticement, any order of $50 or more has free shipping in the USA. Nice, huh?
Aside: I did, in fact, seek permission to quote my friend, quoted in my previous blog entry concerning men's abortion rights. He gave permission. He didn't even check what quote I used first. I neglected to ask him whether I should quote him by name. I think I'll just leave it anonymous unless our conversation digs up another interesting quotable, in which case perhaps I'll give him a little more space on here.
And, to wrap it up, I'll let you in on a little secret. I started writing this post without really believing there was a milestone to celebrate. I got halfway through my first sentence, which seemed like a good one, so I decided to at least look at my calendar before deleting the sentence and starting over. That's when I saw '199' handwritten in the upper corner of today's square.
Now you know--and knowing is...
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Misandristing
Today I came across the word misandrist for the first time. I dictionary.com'd it, of course, as is my wont.
(Actually, I http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/misandrist 'd it, because that's my real wont...I type in the whole web address. I don't know, I think it makes me feel like a hacker or something to go directly to the page I'm looking for.)
I came across the word for a person who hates men in the comments for Glenn Sack's "The Sexist Pencil Sharpener vs. The Sexist Knife Block." I agree with Mr. Sack on this one--both the pencil sharpener and the knife block are in pretty poor taste.
Not so sure I agree that the pencil sharpener is a representation of a consensual sexual act that women enjoy. I mean...splinters, to begin with, right?
I disagree completely with the idea of the female pen holder. Cara is right--it promotes rape, especially with what it's programmed to say when you use it as you're supposed to, by inserting your pen into the vagina.
Disgusting.
It's issues like this that reassure me that I'm a feminist, and apparently I need reassurance because I'm still struggling with the abortion issue. It's not that I want to ban abortion--far from it. From where I am in my life at this moment, I believe that if I were ever faced with having impregnated a woman, I would be strongly against getting an abortion, but that would be my choice. I believe there are many situations (probably a majority of situations, these days) in which abortion is the best option.
One of my friends recently put it to me in a new way, which helped to undermine the beliefs I've been espousing so far on the subject on men's rights in the abortion arena.
I partially quote him here, permission to be sought later:
"[...] Once your child is born, no amount of prenatal posturing absolves a mother or father of their responsibility to the child. [...]"
I guess I agree. (When I say I guess, I don't just mean I'm agreeing reluctantly--I mean I'm agreeing tentatively, because I'm not sure that I do agree.)
So where does that leave the guy, then? Nobody I know is arguing that abstinence is a reasonable demand, and yet when a guy and a gal shack up for the night, use a condom, and it results in a pregnancy anyway, the woman can either say it's too much pressure and go for an abortion, or she can decide to keep and raise the child. In the end, the woman makes the choice, forcing the man to play along.
Makes having sex seem like an extremely weighty decision, doesn't it? I wish I could support the idea that you shouldn't be having sex until you're in a committed relationship and wouldn't be too put out by a pregnancy. I don't support that idea because I try not to forestall the inevitable.
(Actually, I http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/misandrist 'd it, because that's my real wont...I type in the whole web address. I don't know, I think it makes me feel like a hacker or something to go directly to the page I'm looking for.)
I came across the word for a person who hates men in the comments for Glenn Sack's "The Sexist Pencil Sharpener vs. The Sexist Knife Block." I agree with Mr. Sack on this one--both the pencil sharpener and the knife block are in pretty poor taste.
Not so sure I agree that the pencil sharpener is a representation of a consensual sexual act that women enjoy. I mean...splinters, to begin with, right?
I disagree completely with the idea of the female pen holder. Cara is right--it promotes rape, especially with what it's programmed to say when you use it as you're supposed to, by inserting your pen into the vagina.
Disgusting.
It's issues like this that reassure me that I'm a feminist, and apparently I need reassurance because I'm still struggling with the abortion issue. It's not that I want to ban abortion--far from it. From where I am in my life at this moment, I believe that if I were ever faced with having impregnated a woman, I would be strongly against getting an abortion, but that would be my choice. I believe there are many situations (probably a majority of situations, these days) in which abortion is the best option.
One of my friends recently put it to me in a new way, which helped to undermine the beliefs I've been espousing so far on the subject on men's rights in the abortion arena.
I partially quote him here, permission to be sought later:
"[...] Once your child is born, no amount of prenatal posturing absolves a mother or father of their responsibility to the child. [...]"
I guess I agree. (When I say I guess, I don't just mean I'm agreeing reluctantly--I mean I'm agreeing tentatively, because I'm not sure that I do agree.)
So where does that leave the guy, then? Nobody I know is arguing that abstinence is a reasonable demand, and yet when a guy and a gal shack up for the night, use a condom, and it results in a pregnancy anyway, the woman can either say it's too much pressure and go for an abortion, or she can decide to keep and raise the child. In the end, the woman makes the choice, forcing the man to play along.
Makes having sex seem like an extremely weighty decision, doesn't it? I wish I could support the idea that you shouldn't be having sex until you're in a committed relationship and wouldn't be too put out by a pregnancy. I don't support that idea because I try not to forestall the inevitable.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Youtube is so fetch
Considering I haven't been following the presidential election campaigns, and am not currently planning to vote (despite thinking everyone else should do both), I have heard that Hillary Clinton started crying.
So I youtubed it.
And you know what? I love her. Even though I don't know any of her policies. And I hate all the people who say she's a crybaby.
That doesn't mean I'd vote for her, though. Get the facts. (Because obviously MSNBC is the source of all wisdom.)
Also--you can't just ask somebody why they're white.
So I youtubed it.
And you know what? I love her. Even though I don't know any of her policies. And I hate all the people who say she's a crybaby.
That doesn't mean I'd vote for her, though. Get the facts. (Because obviously MSNBC is the source of all wisdom.)
Also--you can't just ask somebody why they're white.
Down The Drain
When I think hard about money (which happens about twice a month, first when I wire money home and then again when I'm dolling that money out to pay my debts), I sometimes wonder how all this work I'm doing is going to look, down the line. Will I be able to buy a house with greater ease, all because I paid off my college debt quickly? Or am I going to be SOL because of that one time I made a late payment on my credit card?
It's times like those that I really appreciate Liz Pulliam Weston, MSN's money blogger.
Actually, I'll be honest--I never think about her at those times. I never think about the future either, unless it's to bask in the idea of being debt-free in a few months. (Only with hopes to go back to school and get that debt right back... I mean, it's been my constant companion for almost five years now, who wouldn't miss it?) When I do think about Liz Pulliam Weston is when I'm considering my credit score, which is usually just after I've logged out of hotmail and one of her articles catches my eye. I keep meaning to check my own credit score for free, because I really would like to know how much that late payment set me back. I've had credit cards for five years, so have I been developing good credit? One of my friends told me that you have to mess up your credit before they start keeping score--sounds stupid, but who am I to say?
The point is, if you've somehow missed out on Liz Pulliam Weston before this, I think she's pretty helpful. Not that I know whether she's full of it or not--she's just a handy resource to do that first bit of learning you need to get you moving.
It's times like those that I really appreciate Liz Pulliam Weston, MSN's money blogger.
Actually, I'll be honest--I never think about her at those times. I never think about the future either, unless it's to bask in the idea of being debt-free in a few months. (Only with hopes to go back to school and get that debt right back... I mean, it's been my constant companion for almost five years now, who wouldn't miss it?) When I do think about Liz Pulliam Weston is when I'm considering my credit score, which is usually just after I've logged out of hotmail and one of her articles catches my eye. I keep meaning to check my own credit score for free, because I really would like to know how much that late payment set me back. I've had credit cards for five years, so have I been developing good credit? One of my friends told me that you have to mess up your credit before they start keeping score--sounds stupid, but who am I to say?
The point is, if you've somehow missed out on Liz Pulliam Weston before this, I think she's pretty helpful. Not that I know whether she's full of it or not--she's just a handy resource to do that first bit of learning you need to get you moving.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
See...oh, two?
For some reason or another, the planet has always seemed kinda important to me. Maybe it's just the way I was raised, though I like to believe that even if I hadn't had a new-age mother, I would still have arrived at the conclusion that we need to take care of our only home.
Maybe it's the science fiction I read constantly growing up, a consistent reminder that there is a future to look to. Kids who will need a place to grow up. Of course, in those stories, the kids were often growing up on new worlds, but it's become clear to me (and hopefully everyone) that we're not starting off-planet manifest destiny any time soon.
That's why I like people like Leah Ingram and her new Green Boot Camp, giving a new idea every week of ways to improve our treatment of our planet.
I made a New Year's resolution to buy things for friends. Would carbon offset credits be a lame gift? I can't decide. It might be what my brother calls a Homer Simpson Bowling Ball--a gift I buy for someone else so that I can get the benefit.
Then again, we're all on this planet, right? So preserving it ought to benefit all of us.
Hmm..
Maybe it's the science fiction I read constantly growing up, a consistent reminder that there is a future to look to. Kids who will need a place to grow up. Of course, in those stories, the kids were often growing up on new worlds, but it's become clear to me (and hopefully everyone) that we're not starting off-planet manifest destiny any time soon.
That's why I like people like Leah Ingram and her new Green Boot Camp, giving a new idea every week of ways to improve our treatment of our planet.
I made a New Year's resolution to buy things for friends. Would carbon offset credits be a lame gift? I can't decide. It might be what my brother calls a Homer Simpson Bowling Ball--a gift I buy for someone else so that I can get the benefit.
Then again, we're all on this planet, right? So preserving it ought to benefit all of us.
Hmm..
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Boil blog for 20 days in skull of witch (Roald Dahl, anyone?)
Resolution #7: Be less verbose. (Aka post shorter blogs.)
Sorry about this recent trend of mine not to do so..
My last blog entry boils down to thinking men should be able to bow out of a fetus's life, and then not have to pay child support, as long as they make it clear that they would prefer an abortion while there's still time.
The entry before that boils down to Resolution #6: No sex this year.
It turns out, the past few "relationships" (and there I'm being kind to myself) I've been in weren't all that useful. I'm hereby renewing my effort to become friends with a potential sig-o before hooking up with said potential sig-o, because all too often I gradually realize they're actually sickoes. Not all that bad--just not all that good.
Also--here's to making positive decisions while drunk. For example, one such positive decision would be to NOT have another beer.
Sorry about this recent trend of mine not to do so..
My last blog entry boils down to thinking men should be able to bow out of a fetus's life, and then not have to pay child support, as long as they make it clear that they would prefer an abortion while there's still time.
The entry before that boils down to Resolution #6: No sex this year.
It turns out, the past few "relationships" (and there I'm being kind to myself) I've been in weren't all that useful. I'm hereby renewing my effort to become friends with a potential sig-o before hooking up with said potential sig-o, because all too often I gradually realize they're actually sickoes. Not all that bad--just not all that good.
Also--here's to making positive decisions while drunk. For example, one such positive decision would be to NOT have another beer.
Monday, January 7, 2008
argument or axe fight
Reproductive rights: I've talked about them before and I'm about to get going again. Should men have some kind of abortion rights?
I think so. I think it's an important part of a couple's life together, and since they both had input on forming that embryo, they should both have input on ending that embryo.
Don't get me wrong. I'm a feminist. I think women are equal to men, and any laws or customs that create inequality are completely wrongheaded and need to be changed.
I'm also pro-choice. Very much so. I think abortion is an excellent idea for tons of people. I don't think having the baby and putting it up for adoption is a good idea. I think abortion is better. I don't think having the baby and raising it even when you don't want to is a good idea. I think abortion is better.
But I do think that men and women both have something to do with forming that fetus, and they should both have something to say about ending it. Before I go too far down this road, I think there are about four situations that are pretty likely to occur.
1. The man and the woman both want the baby. (Why would abortion even be brought up?)
2. The man wants the baby and the woman doesn't.
3. The man doesn't want the baby and the woman does.
4. Neither the man nor the woman want the baby. (Abort! Abort!)
So let's focus on situations two and three. Obviously there is some kind of scale here, not just a black-and-white, but right now I'm concerned about these drastic extremes.
Situation 2. The man wants the baby and the woman doesn't. [Please, don't get offended by my use of 'baby'--I mean, the woman eventually wants the baby that may develop out of the cells they're considering cancelling. The man wants nothing to do with that possible baby.]
I believe that the woman has the final choice in whether or not to develop and birth that baby. Should there be an option for the man to say, "Give me that, I'm keeping it, I'm raising it, get out of here"? Maybe...is that even possible, though? Forcing a woman to carry a pregnancy to term is a huge violation of her rights, as far as I'm concerned. Evolution hasn't given us much choice on this issue, either. Has science provided a test-tube (or petri dish) to transfer that collection of cells into, so the woman can wash her hands and the man can feed it or whatever needs to be done, and then later raise the resulting child? I have no idea, but I doubt it. So all I'm asking in this situation is that the woman seriously consider the man's wishes. And the man seriously consider whether he's ready to raise that child alone.
Situation 3. The man doesn't want the baby, but the woman does. We're talking, before the sonogram shows something that a layperson would recognize. Or at least before whatever sign there is for us nowadays that says, "Sorry, abortion isn't an option any more." Does the man get to decide whether or not to have the baby? The woman wants it, and the man doesn't. So she keeps it, since she's in control of that decision. And then she says, this is your baby, so you better cough up the dough. Obviously, having a child is such a huge pain in the ass (and I don't mean just the birthing process, I mean everything after that for years and years) that women are pretty unlikely to give birth just to get some money. Sure, it may happen, but I'm not going to get into that because as I say, it's gotta be pretty uncommon.
The man doesn't want the baby. He said so, right from the beginning. She said, too bad buster, you're along for this ride. He said, but shouldn't I get a choice? She said, you bought the ticket when you got in my bed. He said, but then doesn't that mean women shouldn't be allowed to choose to have abortions either? She said, no, you misogynist asshole, just cough up the dough.
That's where this conversation seems to head. A willful ignoring of the man's position in the argument. I don't know where to go from here. I'm just glad I'm not pregnant, because I'd probably think like a woman. And I'm glad I don't have a pregnant girlfriend, because I'd probably think like me, and she'd probably attack me with an axe. And I'd probably forgive her without feeling like she even listened to me.
Consider checking out the LATimes article that got the ball rolling here. It seems to suggest that because I'm pro-men's-voice, I'm anti-abortion. I'm not. I just think men have a legal out from supporting a child they don't want. I'd add "and they shouldn't be denied a child they do want," but as I've mentioned, I don't think it's anything along the lines of right to force a woman to give birth, so until I learn more about test tube births, I'll have to scrap that.
The article also gives me this creeping feeling that I've got to hate on "men's rights" even if I'm pro-choice because anti-abortionists will twist my support to mean that I am against abortion.
I have a problem with the slippery slope. Reference the war on drugs. (That doesn't entirely support my point but it's my favorite thing I found while searching.)
Anyway...I'm not asking anyone not to get an abortion. I'm just trying to figure out some reason why men shouldn't have more of a say in laws that can bind them to children they asked not to have.
I think so. I think it's an important part of a couple's life together, and since they both had input on forming that embryo, they should both have input on ending that embryo.
Don't get me wrong. I'm a feminist. I think women are equal to men, and any laws or customs that create inequality are completely wrongheaded and need to be changed.
I'm also pro-choice. Very much so. I think abortion is an excellent idea for tons of people. I don't think having the baby and putting it up for adoption is a good idea. I think abortion is better. I don't think having the baby and raising it even when you don't want to is a good idea. I think abortion is better.
But I do think that men and women both have something to do with forming that fetus, and they should both have something to say about ending it. Before I go too far down this road, I think there are about four situations that are pretty likely to occur.
1. The man and the woman both want the baby. (Why would abortion even be brought up?)
2. The man wants the baby and the woman doesn't.
3. The man doesn't want the baby and the woman does.
4. Neither the man nor the woman want the baby. (Abort! Abort!)
So let's focus on situations two and three. Obviously there is some kind of scale here, not just a black-and-white, but right now I'm concerned about these drastic extremes.
Situation 2. The man wants the baby and the woman doesn't. [Please, don't get offended by my use of 'baby'--I mean, the woman eventually wants the baby that may develop out of the cells they're considering cancelling. The man wants nothing to do with that possible baby.]
I believe that the woman has the final choice in whether or not to develop and birth that baby. Should there be an option for the man to say, "Give me that, I'm keeping it, I'm raising it, get out of here"? Maybe...is that even possible, though? Forcing a woman to carry a pregnancy to term is a huge violation of her rights, as far as I'm concerned. Evolution hasn't given us much choice on this issue, either. Has science provided a test-tube (or petri dish) to transfer that collection of cells into, so the woman can wash her hands and the man can feed it or whatever needs to be done, and then later raise the resulting child? I have no idea, but I doubt it. So all I'm asking in this situation is that the woman seriously consider the man's wishes. And the man seriously consider whether he's ready to raise that child alone.
Situation 3. The man doesn't want the baby, but the woman does. We're talking, before the sonogram shows something that a layperson would recognize. Or at least before whatever sign there is for us nowadays that says, "Sorry, abortion isn't an option any more." Does the man get to decide whether or not to have the baby? The woman wants it, and the man doesn't. So she keeps it, since she's in control of that decision. And then she says, this is your baby, so you better cough up the dough. Obviously, having a child is such a huge pain in the ass (and I don't mean just the birthing process, I mean everything after that for years and years) that women are pretty unlikely to give birth just to get some money. Sure, it may happen, but I'm not going to get into that because as I say, it's gotta be pretty uncommon.
The man doesn't want the baby. He said so, right from the beginning. She said, too bad buster, you're along for this ride. He said, but shouldn't I get a choice? She said, you bought the ticket when you got in my bed. He said, but then doesn't that mean women shouldn't be allowed to choose to have abortions either? She said, no, you misogynist asshole, just cough up the dough.
That's where this conversation seems to head. A willful ignoring of the man's position in the argument. I don't know where to go from here. I'm just glad I'm not pregnant, because I'd probably think like a woman. And I'm glad I don't have a pregnant girlfriend, because I'd probably think like me, and she'd probably attack me with an axe. And I'd probably forgive her without feeling like she even listened to me.
Consider checking out the LATimes article that got the ball rolling here. It seems to suggest that because I'm pro-men's-voice, I'm anti-abortion. I'm not. I just think men have a legal out from supporting a child they don't want. I'd add "and they shouldn't be denied a child they do want," but as I've mentioned, I don't think it's anything along the lines of right to force a woman to give birth, so until I learn more about test tube births, I'll have to scrap that.
The article also gives me this creeping feeling that I've got to hate on "men's rights" even if I'm pro-choice because anti-abortionists will twist my support to mean that I am against abortion.
I have a problem with the slippery slope. Reference the war on drugs. (That doesn't entirely support my point but it's my favorite thing I found while searching.)
Anyway...I'm not asking anyone not to get an abortion. I'm just trying to figure out some reason why men shouldn't have more of a say in laws that can bind them to children they asked not to have.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
No sleep 'til Brooklyn; no sex 'til New Year's.
An I'm Feeling Lucky of "New Year's Resolution: Abstinence" didn't bring me to anything unsavory, which is pretty lucky indeed considering I'm at work. It did, however, bring me to a mildly encouraging site, full of you-already-know-this's and you-could've-figured-that-out's. Nearly as good as a blog--I mean, someone must have written it, right?
So guess what. I'm adding a new resolution to my list. Up to six, and going strong--because when I turn over a new leaf, I like to rearrange the furniture, as my goofriend Tami once put it. (That was going to be good friend, and then I typoed, and then I decided a goofriend is pretty much what she is. I like serendipitous typos, don't you?)
I'm just about as callous as ever, so that's not been a good resolution. It's hard to change something about myself when I actually don't think I'm callous--I only think I'm SEEN as callous. And then only to people who are too stupid to see the difference between calm/reserved/ponderous/logical and callous. I don't want to be seen as callous, so I guess I should edit the resolution to "Don't be seen as callous." Not sure how to effect that change, though. (Did I use the right word there? ...Yes!)
Checked out one more site--yet again, not a blog. "Dear Dr. Love, is it childish or unreasonable to wait to have sex until I'm in a committed relationship and we've both been tested for STIs? Sincerely, Hesitant in Heat." Such a stupid site I refuse to even provide the link, despite my love affair with write-in personal questions, because it's too vague and obvious. The answer was an unequivocal yes, of course. Yes, in Heat, you are being unreasonable. As a college-aged youngster, you are expected to be loose and endlessly available, and not meeting those expectations is just like failing a class. When are you going to learn the proper sexual techniques, if not now?
My second resolution is slumbering right now, with a desire to push on after January. I'm reading a couple good books right now, two of them non-fiction(!!!1) and I'm teaching about 10 hours a day. Once I get through this overtime stretch, I'll begin my self-education about power plants, waste disposal, and calculus. At least, that's a good thing to tell myself, when I see that I'm doing nothing to further that resolution. Maybe this week I'll order some books on the topics online. That way I can say I'll get started as soon as they arrive, and I would have started already if they'd have arrived already.
My third resolution...what was it? Ahh. Become more outgoing. Well, in fact, I ate lunch alone today, as I do most days, but I don't think that's a sign that I'm failing. Despite the jazz outing fizzling and dying last weekend, I persevered and made it happen this time around! On Saturday we headed out to Jungja and heard some jazz. The bar was ridiculously expensive ($8 for the average beer, $300 for the average bottle of liquor) so we headed out after only two beers to play some pool. A fine outing, all in all, despite the fact that I had to strip and shower immediately upon returning home. NY, cherish your smokefreeism.
Fourth. Out of debt. I haven't even sent any money home this month(/year) yet, which means I haven't paid any bills yet, which means I'm not getting out of debt very fast. Also, I did just buy some sweet raised wooden (plastic) flooring for my bathroom, which was relatively necessary because it was ridiculously cheap and now I can walk in there with socks after taking a shower. In case you didn't realize, showers in Korea drain into the center of the bathroom. This is because we just have one open shoot running down the center of our apartment building, and all of our used water goes down this shoot. You can look down the shoot and see the pool where it gathers beneath the building, though we've found that's not a great idea because the people above you may be about to flush. It's highly beneficial to be on the top floor, like me, but even then we have flat roofs and if it has rained recently it might still be draining down the shoot. (Cough cough BS cough)
Fifth...Buy friends things. Well, I did just buy my brother a few things (hangers, a notebook with a Little Prince quote on the cover) but I meant more non-family than family when I said friends. It's hard when I don't have many friends here I think are worth a present, and I'm so far away from my friends from home. Then again, that's probably what makes it an even better idea.
Sixth. No sex this year.
On the plus side, there are many fine used book stores around online. You can pay 50 cent for a book and he'll ship it to you for only around 5 dolla, bringing your total to about $6.47. Don't ask me where those extra fees come in.
Peace, love, and chicken grease.
So guess what. I'm adding a new resolution to my list. Up to six, and going strong--because when I turn over a new leaf, I like to rearrange the furniture, as my goofriend Tami once put it. (That was going to be good friend, and then I typoed, and then I decided a goofriend is pretty much what she is. I like serendipitous typos, don't you?)
I'm just about as callous as ever, so that's not been a good resolution. It's hard to change something about myself when I actually don't think I'm callous--I only think I'm SEEN as callous. And then only to people who are too stupid to see the difference between calm/reserved/ponderous/logical and callous. I don't want to be seen as callous, so I guess I should edit the resolution to "Don't be seen as callous." Not sure how to effect that change, though. (Did I use the right word there? ...Yes!)
Checked out one more site--yet again, not a blog. "Dear Dr. Love, is it childish or unreasonable to wait to have sex until I'm in a committed relationship and we've both been tested for STIs? Sincerely, Hesitant in Heat." Such a stupid site I refuse to even provide the link, despite my love affair with write-in personal questions, because it's too vague and obvious. The answer was an unequivocal yes, of course. Yes, in Heat, you are being unreasonable. As a college-aged youngster, you are expected to be loose and endlessly available, and not meeting those expectations is just like failing a class. When are you going to learn the proper sexual techniques, if not now?
My second resolution is slumbering right now, with a desire to push on after January. I'm reading a couple good books right now, two of them non-fiction(!!!1) and I'm teaching about 10 hours a day. Once I get through this overtime stretch, I'll begin my self-education about power plants, waste disposal, and calculus. At least, that's a good thing to tell myself, when I see that I'm doing nothing to further that resolution. Maybe this week I'll order some books on the topics online. That way I can say I'll get started as soon as they arrive, and I would have started already if they'd have arrived already.
My third resolution...what was it? Ahh. Become more outgoing. Well, in fact, I ate lunch alone today, as I do most days, but I don't think that's a sign that I'm failing. Despite the jazz outing fizzling and dying last weekend, I persevered and made it happen this time around! On Saturday we headed out to Jungja and heard some jazz. The bar was ridiculously expensive ($8 for the average beer, $300 for the average bottle of liquor) so we headed out after only two beers to play some pool. A fine outing, all in all, despite the fact that I had to strip and shower immediately upon returning home. NY, cherish your smokefreeism.
Fourth. Out of debt. I haven't even sent any money home this month(/year) yet, which means I haven't paid any bills yet, which means I'm not getting out of debt very fast. Also, I did just buy some sweet raised wooden (plastic) flooring for my bathroom, which was relatively necessary because it was ridiculously cheap and now I can walk in there with socks after taking a shower. In case you didn't realize, showers in Korea drain into the center of the bathroom. This is because we just have one open shoot running down the center of our apartment building, and all of our used water goes down this shoot. You can look down the shoot and see the pool where it gathers beneath the building, though we've found that's not a great idea because the people above you may be about to flush. It's highly beneficial to be on the top floor, like me, but even then we have flat roofs and if it has rained recently it might still be draining down the shoot. (Cough cough BS cough)
Fifth...Buy friends things. Well, I did just buy my brother a few things (hangers, a notebook with a Little Prince quote on the cover) but I meant more non-family than family when I said friends. It's hard when I don't have many friends here I think are worth a present, and I'm so far away from my friends from home. Then again, that's probably what makes it an even better idea.
Sixth. No sex this year.
On the plus side, there are many fine used book stores around online. You can pay 50 cent for a book and he'll ship it to you for only around 5 dolla, bringing your total to about $6.47. Don't ask me where those extra fees come in.
Peace, love, and chicken grease.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Poet Busted with a Giant Coffee
Feeling down? Need a quick pick me up? Try the fabulous, world-famous taste sensation, COFFEE. Wonderful feelings will course through your veins soon after imbibing of this sweet energy nectar. Just one sip will have you licking your lips. Just one cup will have you...heading for the bathroom?
Sorry, I was searching for a rhyme there and I failed miserably.
I'm back on the coffee, though. That's right, "on" "the" coffee. It's a drug, and I'm making no bones about it.
I didn't drink it for a while, but then I decided that I love it and there's no good reason to stop drinking it. I'm great at rationalizing things like that. It's how I always finish abstaining.
Feeling down emotionally? Need a quick eye-opener? Maybe a better perspective? Check out Brian Andreas' website, or better yet, one of his books. He reminds me of Damian Webber, that famous Buffalo poet who wrote such classics as:
The Microwave
How does that thing not give you cancer?
and:
Look Down
You're not going
to talk to
any of them,
anyway.
I do like short poems like that. Easier than a long poem to understand, easier than a long poem to subject your friends to.
One more thing I wanted to mention in this random collection of thoughs for the day: I'm a huge fan of facebook's new bookshelf application. Normally I think facebook is mostly stupid, but I love books and I love knowing what my friends are reading.
I also love the sticker application, which I suppose ties in with loving short, easy-to-understand poems. Check out bustedtees.com to a bunch of funny t-shirts, akin to the funny stickers.
Sorry, I was searching for a rhyme there and I failed miserably.
I'm back on the coffee, though. That's right, "on" "the" coffee. It's a drug, and I'm making no bones about it.
I didn't drink it for a while, but then I decided that I love it and there's no good reason to stop drinking it. I'm great at rationalizing things like that. It's how I always finish abstaining.
Feeling down emotionally? Need a quick eye-opener? Maybe a better perspective? Check out Brian Andreas' website, or better yet, one of his books. He reminds me of Damian Webber, that famous Buffalo poet who wrote such classics as:
The Microwave
How does that thing not give you cancer?
and:
Look Down
You're not going
to talk to
any of them,
anyway.
I do like short poems like that. Easier than a long poem to understand, easier than a long poem to subject your friends to.
One more thing I wanted to mention in this random collection of thoughs for the day: I'm a huge fan of facebook's new bookshelf application. Normally I think facebook is mostly stupid, but I love books and I love knowing what my friends are reading.
I also love the sticker application, which I suppose ties in with loving short, easy-to-understand poems. Check out bustedtees.com to a bunch of funny t-shirts, akin to the funny stickers.
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