War Mongering?

An interesting question was presented to me the other day. I was asked if I would try to negotiate with the Taliban. I actually said no. I surprised myself, because usually I’m all for peace and understanding. But something deep down inside of me said no. It’s not that I want to fight, necessarily, it’s just everything I’ve ever heard about them makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I just get one big madman vibe from them. The last time I got a similar vibe, Terry Branstad was elected to Governor of Iowa and he immediately began butchering our budget. The people are arguing against him, because all of a sudden, he’s cutting the funding for everything, including education. I won’t even get into the details about why I think he’s making some very bad decisions but I will say this: There’s a reason we fund these things in the first place. But anyway back to the Taliban. I’m not in the war, nor do I know anyone who is, but I don’t think they’d approve either. Sal Giunta fought extremely hard to recover a body and a few men from the Taliban because he knew what horrible things they’d do to his friends. They believe they are at war with Christians over something that happened in the Middle Ages. I just feel like they’re completely nuts, and there’s no point in even trying to negotiate with them. That doesn’t mean I thought we should have gone after them, quite the opposite. I believe that we should have merely tightened our defenses instead of attempting to find them out there. We might’ve sent in special agents, but sending in the army is kind of a mistake.

It’s different than fighting the French or something. The French we could reason with and solve civilly if we work at it but the Taliban are mentally unstable Islamic radicals. Radicals of any religion are never good, and these are particularly crazy.

But we can’t just back out now because those who died to win this battle will have died in vain. Can you look their loved ones in the eyes and say that they died for nothing because we gave up destroying what would destroy our whole country? I wouldn’t be able to. So, yeah, it’s miserable, but we’ve got to stay there and finish what we started or risk our reputation, our morale, and most of all, our people. Let’s defend the US, not try to make a deal with someone who’s not right in the head.

Actually I Did Want a Pickle Mr. Guthrie...

As I sit at my desk, and enjoy some pickles, I began to think about where pickles came from. I do know that they’re pickled cucumbers and that their pickled in different vinegars and etc, but who got the idea to make such a wonderful thing? According to the New York Food Museum, it all began in 2030 BC, along the Tigris River.

That’s pretty incredible. My first experiences with the pickle come from my mother and her friends. Now, my mother was friends with several ladies from her work and she often brought me, as a small child, to be adored by her friends. She called them my Aunt Holly, Aunt Tracy, and Aunt Jean, and so on and so forth confusing me about my relatives for years. It was Aunt Holly, however, who gave me my first pickle. It was a sour pickle, of the dill variety, that made me scrunch my face as if I’d taken a bite out of a lemon. They all had a good laugh, as one does when children try new things and horribly reject them. But, surprisingly, once the laughter died down, I wanted another one. And thus my love of pickles began.

It is however, important to note, when I say pickle I mean the dill kinds. I don’t like sweet pickles, and I really don’t like the kinds they serve in Perkins or Denny’s. I only like the Polish or Kosher kinds, the others all taste phony and I feel tricked for trying to eat them. It is as if the pickle is saying to me, “Ha! You thought you’d get salty, delicious perfection, but no! I’m a strange kind of sweet you’re not sure you like!” Because I have this preconceived notion of what pickles ought to taste like and those pickles don’t fill the requirements. And thus I don’t like them because they don’t taste “right”. I think it has to do with them being very different than the pickles I like, and thus coming off as strange and wrong.

But still, pickles are great, so great, you can buy them as a side. Yes, you can buy pickles as a side, as if they were a salad, or mozzarella sticks. That’s how good they are. They come wrapped in paper, at a fair or amusement park, and they’re whole pickles, unlike the vertical or horizontal slices one typically sees. These pickles are my ultimate favorite because they’re more salty than most pickles. What kind of pickles do you like best?

http://images2.fanpop.com/image/answers/425000/425008_1267586110013.97res_359_400.jpg

The Woes of Atlas

His muscles tremble as he heaves a burden of unimaginable proportions upon his shoulders. Should he fail he could end all we know. Not just anyone can be trusted with such a monumental task, but how would they be chosen?

            When a president runs for office he must prove his ability to hold up our nation, as Atlas held up the sky, or in some stories, the earth. But what is it we’re searching for exactly? One of Obama’s  biggest campaign boosters was his background. He came from a poorer family, and worked his way into wealth. This shows both an ability to relate to the common folks of America, but also proves that he knows the value of hard work. We’re often told that Abraham Lincoln, one of the most beloved presidents of all time, was born in a log cabin. People don’t want a man who’s rich, necessarily, because the average person believes that the rich will naturally favor the other rich, believing that wealth is entirely optional. On the other hand, if he’s proven to have quite a bit of money himself, especially hard earned money, he will have a great business mind, that is less likely to harm the rich’s purses.

            People always prefer a convincing speaker. This doesn’t mean he’s a good speaker, necessarily, only that he’s a persuasive one. George W. Bush was persuasive enough to get elected, despite the more eloquent manner of speaking that Kerry possessed. Kerry didn’t have the arguments that Bush had though.  

            Unfortunately, fame and looks do enter into the picture. Ronald Reagan was elected because he stood out as a famous figure and speaker. He had been a big actor and radio star before he began his career in politics. Reagan and Kennedy were both noted for their good looks. Part of the reason that people voted Kennedy into office were because he looked so much better than Nixon. He appeared, young, fresh, and ready to lead. Nixon looked old, tired, and nervous. People voted based on their natural instincts to vote for the more charismatic, better looking president.

            Family values are another important aspect of campaigning. Obama’s two daughters and wife were often featured or mentioned in his campaign, showing his connection to the parents of America. He wants to prove that as a parent he shares their concerns for education and supporting his family.

            One of the most interesting things a president can do is use the new technology to innovate his campaign. Obama won a great number of votes from using the internet to appeal to the younger, computer savvy, generations.

            These things are actually more important than the issues themselves, in some respects, because people have lied about following their plans through plenty of times before this. Not everyone does exactly what they plan to, and some do more. Kennedy, for example, challenged NASA to make it to the moon. Theodore Roosevelt pulled us out of the Depression by initiating tons of new government programs. Obama got us in a battle with Libya, which may or may not be a good thing. Only time will tell how a president will really turn out, but the first impressions to the USA are very important. 

http://3rings.designerpages.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/atlas_02.jpg

Sleep

       As a teenager I don't get much of it. I stay up fairly late, to at least 11 every night, and get up at 6 in the morning. That gives me 7 hours, which isn't too bad really. I don't get any headaches from sleeping 7 hours, but if I get five or less I'll get a migraine, and it only gets worse as I try to stay awake. I can't nap, but I like to sleep. If I'm unable to sleep because I'm upset I'll take a little NyQuil to knock me out. It's not healthy, but it's better than losing sleep. I'm careful not to do it very often because it's not good to rely on drugs. Sometimes I'll read before bed if I can't sleep, and that'll help, but only if it's fiction. Watching movies usually works too.
      Sleep helps us rebuild our functions. We shut down to a low key operation and rest. Dreaming can be fun too if you remember them. It can also be miserable, especially if you have night terrors, which luckily I don't. My dreams are always weird. I have a lot of dreams where I'm late to work, which is sort of an insecurity of mine. I like to be on time, especially for work. I can recall a few dreams about school but most of my dreams don't make any sense. For example, I had a dream that one of my friends and I were in a trailer court. We were being chased by Freddy Krueger, the serial killer with the claws from horror movies. I turned to her and I said, "You've seen all these movies, what do we do!?"
She replied, "We need Dumbledore." (The wizard from Harry Potter.) And then I woke up. Strange huh?
     I write fiction a lot, pretty much on a daily basis and my characters usually have some sort of sleep related scene. Either they woke up, went to bed, or had a weird dream. I think I might have a small obsession with sleep but it is a strange thing. Scientists have discovered some things about it, like the two stages or NREM and REM, Rapid Eye Movement in relation to dreaming. They've discovered disorders and speculated why we need sleep, because it's evident we do, but much of it is still a mystery. Sleeping is still nice, because you wake up feeling so refreshed, especially if you get to wake up on your own.
       I'll spend at least an hour just getting up if I can get up on my own, that is to say, without an alarm clock. Waking up with the sun is best because you feel fully rested. Waking up in the dark is terrible because you feel like you should still be sleeping. It can't be day yet it's still dark! Those days are the worst to have a zero hour. You feel so deprived sometimes and the only grace is a soda or coffee.
       Still, sleep is important and even if you don't want to go to bed you'll feel so much better the next day if you do. I'm unfortunate enough that if I don't sleep enough I get headaches and they force me to catch up but some people don't have them. It doesn't mean they shouldn't catch up it just means they don't get caught up sooner. It will bug you eventually if you don't get enough sleep. I know from experience. So try to get rest when you need it because it'll help you get through the next day.

The Truth About Red Pandas

     Recently we had a project in my Powerpoint Multimedia class that was about getting to know our classmates. In order to do so, we asked them questions such as 'what is your favorite animal?'. Now I know my animal is a little unusual but you could stand to do a little bit of research you know. My favorite animal is a red panda, and no, it is not big, black, and white. Or even a bear. They look more like raccoons although they're often called fire foxes, and yes, that is where the web browser name comes from.
        Ailurus fulgens, or the Red Panda come from the Himalayas. Their population is pretty small, estimated at 10,000 mature individuals. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_panda) I know of one zoo that has them, Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines.
        I like them because they're really fluffy, have cool colors, eat bamboo (which is why they're called pandas), and they have rings on their tails. Very cute. I've loved them ever since I learned they existed. They're really fun and cute. I would have one for a pet if I could.

http://www.savetheredpanda.com/images/red_panda/red_panda_4.jpg

What's not to love?

     

Collapse Into Now

       REM has done it again; they've created a new addiction for me. I can't get enough of this CD, although I should probably give my brother his back and go buy my own. The masterpiece was released on March 7, 2011. The songs are as follows:
1. Discoverer
2. All the Best
3. Uberlin
4. Oh My Heart
5. It Happened Today
6. Every Day is Yours to Win
7. Mine Smell Like Honey
8. Walk it Back
9. Alligator_Aviator_Autopilot_Antimatter
10. That Someone is You
11. Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando and I
12. Blue
The album was recorded in four cities; Berlin, Nashville, New Orleans, and Portland. It features Patti Smith, Eddie Vedder, Peaches, Lenny Kaye, and Joel Gibb.  The feel of it is very light and soulful with some really catchy lyrics and music. I love REM to begin with and this whole album reminds me of "World Leader Pretend" by them. A really nice mellow CD to check out if you're into alternative. If you like heavier stuff check out Accelerate and you won't be disappointed. It's not metal but it's pretty intense. That's right folks, REM is back in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZITh-XIikgI&feature=channel_video_title

Dealing with Death

            Eventually everyone has to deal with death. Sometimes sooner than expected, but it will come about. My first real encounter with death happened on Friday, the 8^th of April, in 2011. I was at school, helping count the paper cranes to ship off to Amazon when my brother called me. Now, I’d known my grandpa was in the hospital, and I’d wanted to go see him but I’d been told to go to school. And then my brother called. I could tell from his tone, and the fact he was calling me at 3pm, that it had happened. He gets off work at seven, typically, so I knew the news was going to be bad. I told my teacher that I had to leave and rushed home to have my fears confirmed. My grandpa was dead.

            I instantly began to cry when they said that, which sort of surprised me because I’m not the instant reaction type. I normally have a period of shock, and then get upset about it later but it hit me hard. I guess I’d had the shock part out of the way on the car ride home or something. But anyway I was devastated.

            I wouldn’t say we were particularly close, not like he was a best friend sort of grandpa but he was still special. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to know him when he was younger, about as young as my parents, as my brothers did. When I was born he was already retired and he owned a wood shop. I used to love to wander through that wood shop with my cousins. It was in a small town, so small it didn’t have a grocery store, but it had this shop. It was always a mess, everything coated in sawdust but we loved it. We loved to look at the stuff he made, the many toys he gave us, and the tools he used. We loved exploring the back of his shop, filled with all sorts of things, but mostly wood and cats. We liked to try and pet the cats, although they usually ran away. It was fun, and I used to love visiting them.

            They had a nice old house not too far from Grandpa’s shop. They always had a dog, tons of toys, and a couple cats of their own so I liked visiting there more than visiting my other grandparents because there were all sorts of animals to play with and a small town to explore. I was always an outdoorsy kid.

            I have a few favorites that he made when I was younger. The first and utmost is a wooden ferris wheel that turned by battery power. That thing was beautiful. It was extremely ornate, although I never saw it painted. The next is my cedar chest. It’s a hope chest, made of cedar wood, which has a very distinct, but nice, smell. It’s huge and I keep lots of things in it.

            But eventually they couldn’t keep up with their old house and we had to move them to old folk friendly apartments on the other end of the small town. Grandpa still kept up his shop for a while there and we still liked to play with their little dog, Teddy (a Yorkshire terrier).

            And then Teddy died and Grandpa had to sell his shop because he just couldn’t make things like he used to, which was very sad. He had to have more help from my dad which was also sad because he, like my dad, was a very independent sort of person who normally helped others rather than being helped. He was a great person, very generous, who’d made many things to help out his community. But they got a new dog and life went on for a while longer.

            Then they had to move to a nursing home and they couldn’t keep the dog, but they at least got to stay together. I don’t like the nursing home too much and I don’t think Grandpa did either. He just seemed so sad; my last memory was of him nearly crying when the conversation turned to the disaster in Japan. (He’d served in the military over in that part of Japan). And then, shortly after that he went to the hospital where he died of pneumonia. I didn’t get to say an official goodbye, but I think he knew we all loved him. He’d been sick before and everyone had gone to see him and tell him how much we cared, so I think he knew that. He’s sorely missed; there were many sad folks at his funeral. I was happy to know how many people cared about us, and my friends really stepped up to help me through all of this. It still makes me sad, but I’ve mostly accepted it. He was a good man, and we’ll never forget him.

RIP Oswald (Chris) T. Christensen.

A Sense of Accomplishment

My school, altogether, has made 1,135 paper cranes to ship off to Amazon.com, from which they will donate $2 per crane or $2,270 to the Japan relief efforts. It’s not much as far as disaster relief costs, but it’s something to be proud of given we still have t-shirt sales to tally up. I made over 200 of those myself, and have made many more to sell to raise extra money, which has helped some I suppose.

            I’ve been asked why do I want to help, and I can’t come up with a direct answer. I have been interested in Japanese culture since Seventh grade and I have become involved with it. I hosted a girl from Japan last year from a group of 15 Japanese kids. We became good friends over the two weeks she stayed here, and I made many friends in that group. I’m going to Japan this year, which I’ve been saving for four years to do. I’m president of the Japanese club. I don’t know, because of this connection and simply because they need help, is why I want to help. I’ve helped raise money for Haiti and Breast Cancer Research too, and it’s mostly because they need help and I want to help out the world and my community. I like helping people, it makes me feel good about myself. Maybe that’s a little selfish, as Ayn Rand would say, but I think that if the results create something good then who cares how selfish it was?

Learn how to make a crane:
http://monkey.org/~aidan/origami/crane/

April 15th Day of Silence

      Today marks the Day of Silence (http://www.dayofsilence.org/) an annual event to raise awareness of hate crimes against homosexuals and their families. As you probably guessed, I am participating. I am doing my best to be as silent as possible for the day to represent the cause which I strongly believe in.
     But why do I believe in it? Well, I wasn't raised around any sort of homosexuality. My parents are straight, and so is everyone I know in my family. I wouldn't say anyone in my family has anything against homosexuals they just aren't homosexuals. But anyway, not much exposure as a child. I'm not very religious, I believe in God, but I do not believe very strongly in the Institution of God. I've never picked a specific branch of Christianity although I consider myself more or less Christian. I don't go to church every Sunday or even remotely frequently. I'm a middle class citizen without any bells and whistles you could say. My family brought me up to be polite and my schools exposed me to other races, sexualities, and beliefs. I suppose I was taught in school, mostly in Language Arts classes that equality is the American ideal. Perhaps I was taught that, but I can find no reason to refute it.
        I have argued before about gay marriage. I have shown my support, and wished that people could just let it go. Let go of these superstitions and indignations. COEXIST. That's my goal. I want to coexist with the people of the world. I don't have to always like or support them, I just have to live my life and stop trying to interfere in their way of life. If you want to be against homosexuals, fine, you don't have to support the idea, you just have to let them live their lives and receive all the benefits of being citizens of the United States of America. It just irks me when people refuse to get along. I could argue for hours about it, and get really upset because I can't help but think what if it were me? I'm not a lesbian, but what if I was? This would all be targeted at me for something that I can't even help. It's as bad as racism. It's as bad as the persecution of Jews, although the violence has no where reached that point. Stop the hate, or at least keep it to yourself.