Times when I don't have a lot to do I really enjoy how much it rains in Olympia. I love staying inside and reading books or doing the dishes or watching movies instantly on netflix, but when the sun is out I feel less comfortable not leaving the house.
I was reading that most suicides happen on days with really nice weather. I can understand that. Times when I have been bored and lonely have been exacerbated by the warm nice weather because it further reminds me that while conditions are perfect to be outside having fun with someone, I have nothing to do that sounds fun or anyone to do it with.
Not that I am at all lonely or bored now, nor have I been for a long while, but I still enjoy when it rains and I get to stay inside reading books in bed without any sort of inner restlessness compelling me to take advantage of the nice weather.
Though, I also do love it when the weather is good. Especially this time of year when the novelty of winter has worn of. I guess what I am saying is that I like rainy weather, but I also like good weather, but for different reasons, and when people kill themselves it is often when the weather is good.
2.25.2009
2.24.2009
2.23.2009
2.21.2009
2.18.2009
Kahea Hendrickson, Fowl Connoisseur.
I have begun a new blog. It is about my roommate kahea, and his for for baked fowl.
http://kaheamostfowl.blogspot.com
http://kaheamostfowl.blogspot.com
2.17.2009
Couples blogs.
Another recent phenomenon, along the line of Mommy Blogs is couples blogs. I only started being aware of this a few months ago.
The couples blog is always written by the wife, but is often written from the point of view of 'we'.
These blogs tend to be amusing. They are all so similar. Every entry is about how much they are in love and the word 'amazing' is used to describe almost everything. Lots of of hugging,kissing and date pictures that make me feel kind of uncomfortable but, for all I know, are seen as cute and romantic to the female friends who read it.
While these blogs are mostly amusing curiosities to me, they are also a bit unsettling to me. That a person would want to present themselves as having no identity or thoughts outside of their relationship. I suppose that is what being young and in love is often about, however strange that may be to me. It would be somewhat more understandable if these couples had their individual blogs in addition to the couple blogs, but as far as I can tell, the couples blogs are it. I wonder for how long will these young couples maintain their relationship celebrating blogs? After time will they tire of it, and want some blogging independence?
What I am curious about is this: is this a Mormon phenomenon? I have only ever seen young Mormon couples with this type of blog, however the only young married couples I even know are Mormon, so I don't have a good pool to judge from. Does anyone have any insight to this question?
here is a good example of a couples blog
Looking over that link it occurred to me that a Mormon Couple Blog is basically a Mormon Mommy blog, before the woman has a bunch of kids to write about.
The couples blog is always written by the wife, but is often written from the point of view of 'we'.
These blogs tend to be amusing. They are all so similar. Every entry is about how much they are in love and the word 'amazing' is used to describe almost everything. Lots of of hugging,kissing and date pictures that make me feel kind of uncomfortable but, for all I know, are seen as cute and romantic to the female friends who read it.
While these blogs are mostly amusing curiosities to me, they are also a bit unsettling to me. That a person would want to present themselves as having no identity or thoughts outside of their relationship. I suppose that is what being young and in love is often about, however strange that may be to me. It would be somewhat more understandable if these couples had their individual blogs in addition to the couple blogs, but as far as I can tell, the couples blogs are it. I wonder for how long will these young couples maintain their relationship celebrating blogs? After time will they tire of it, and want some blogging independence?
What I am curious about is this: is this a Mormon phenomenon? I have only ever seen young Mormon couples with this type of blog, however the only young married couples I even know are Mormon, so I don't have a good pool to judge from. Does anyone have any insight to this question?
here is a good example of a couples blog
Looking over that link it occurred to me that a Mormon Couple Blog is basically a Mormon Mommy blog, before the woman has a bunch of kids to write about.
2.16.2009
Tamners
Last night Marissa showed me this blog called Seriously SO Blessed.
At first we were under the impression it was a real person. For those who have seen Mormon Mommy blogs, this blog is such a good parody it is difficult, without reading several entries, to realize it is a hoax. The only thing her blog is missing is an "I read nienie" ad. (this blog gives you a list of the real thing. Or, to experience the epitome of Mormon Mommy Bloggers, my old boss at Barnes And Nobles little sister, the person all young Mormon Mothers are, for some reason, striving to be Nei nei!!! )
One of my favorite parts was when she listed her year in review she put:
"Got an expensive camra and started a photog biz w/ no skills or experience!! ADVENTURE!"
I don't know how common this is for housewives who are not Mormon, but I do know within the world Mormon housewives it is very common.
At first we were under the impression it was a real person. For those who have seen Mormon Mommy blogs, this blog is such a good parody it is difficult, without reading several entries, to realize it is a hoax. The only thing her blog is missing is an "I read nienie" ad. (this blog gives you a list of the real thing. Or, to experience the epitome of Mormon Mommy Bloggers, my old boss at Barnes And Nobles little sister, the person all young Mormon Mothers are, for some reason, striving to be Nei nei!!! )
One of my favorite parts was when she listed her year in review she put:
"Got an expensive camra and started a photog biz w/ no skills or experience!! ADVENTURE!"
I don't know how common this is for housewives who are not Mormon, but I do know within the world Mormon housewives it is very common.
2.15.2009
1.27.2009
American Air
I think Air America's (for those unfamiliar, it is a left wing radio station modeled after the sort of radio that is normally associated with right wing radio, ie Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity) not only falling far short of the popularity and influence of it's ideologically opposed role model, but also failing to achieve almost any popularity or success at all, says something positive about the political left.
I believe it positive that we do not want our news filtered through one individual, who not only makes no attempt at objectivity but thrives on their sense of self righteousness and conformity of their listeners (Rush Limbaugh).
As a child and adolescent, I often overheard talk shows like Rush Limbaugh while riding with my parents. While I was too young to understand the politics, I found myself put off by the condescending tone. I also found it strange that someone would choose to receive much of their information about what is going on in the world about the world through one person who apologetically biased(though, I guess Bill O'Reilly likes to refer to his show as the 'No Spin Zone'). Especially one who seems so angry.
I did not discover Npr until I was 16 and had my own car, but since my first job as a 16 year old was delivering pizza, and so I spent large amounts of time in my car, I found it almost immediately.
Once realizing that a person had the option to get their radio news from a source that at least tries to be objective (I do feel Npr has a biased to the left. I cannot think of a single public radio host that does not, at times, reveal a liberal bias. Think of when Terri Gross interviews of liberal guest versus a conservative guest) and when discussing an issue interviews experts in the particular field being discussed rather than have one person repeat back to you over and over what you already believe.
I do not believe it is healthy to only allow oneself to encounter views they already agree with( although, this is becoming increasingly more difficult to avoid as we now have so many choices of where to get our information, one must almost make an active effort to encounter ideologies different from their own). When one only allows oneself to entertain a single view point it can severely limit the accuracy of ones knowledge. If a person not only does not consider alternate views, but even listen to them, the likelihood they will be able to recognize when their beliefs are incorrect or when another's beliefs are correct is very low. Since we, as a species learn collectively and are still early in our efforts in figuring out how things work and how to best do things, I see it as unwise to not expose oneself to as great a variety of views as possible and to never feel to sure of anything. Also, when when close ourselves off to opposing points of view this tends to dehumanize the opposition.
As an example of the dehumanizing effect: I heard a Rush Limbaugh piece recently about The One World Cafe in Salt Lake City (where he took satisfaction in its current financial difficulty) and was surprised to hear how he used to word "Liberal" as an epithet in reference to the management of One World Cafe. To this man the word Liberal had become an insult. Having that sort of world view must make it difficult to see his fellow world citizens who happen to be liberal as human beings of equal value. I imagine many of his listeners must have the same struggle.
Clearly one who primarily gets their news and information from a source of such single mindedness would have a difficult time having an objective view of the world. Although I realize, some People are okay, and even proud of, not allowing themselves to consider opposing points of view(ie. many Mormons, in regards to their Mormon beliefs), I see this as unfortunate and unhealthy.
Which brings me back to why I believe the failure of Air America to be a good thing. It shows, hopefully, that those on the political left do not want to have their own opinions repeated back to them for several hours a day and consider it news or valuable or interesting.
I believe it positive that we do not want our news filtered through one individual, who not only makes no attempt at objectivity but thrives on their sense of self righteousness and conformity of their listeners (Rush Limbaugh).
As a child and adolescent, I often overheard talk shows like Rush Limbaugh while riding with my parents. While I was too young to understand the politics, I found myself put off by the condescending tone. I also found it strange that someone would choose to receive much of their information about what is going on in the world about the world through one person who apologetically biased(though, I guess Bill O'Reilly likes to refer to his show as the 'No Spin Zone'). Especially one who seems so angry.
I did not discover Npr until I was 16 and had my own car, but since my first job as a 16 year old was delivering pizza, and so I spent large amounts of time in my car, I found it almost immediately.
Once realizing that a person had the option to get their radio news from a source that at least tries to be objective (I do feel Npr has a biased to the left. I cannot think of a single public radio host that does not, at times, reveal a liberal bias. Think of when Terri Gross interviews of liberal guest versus a conservative guest) and when discussing an issue interviews experts in the particular field being discussed rather than have one person repeat back to you over and over what you already believe.
I do not believe it is healthy to only allow oneself to encounter views they already agree with( although, this is becoming increasingly more difficult to avoid as we now have so many choices of where to get our information, one must almost make an active effort to encounter ideologies different from their own). When one only allows oneself to entertain a single view point it can severely limit the accuracy of ones knowledge. If a person not only does not consider alternate views, but even listen to them, the likelihood they will be able to recognize when their beliefs are incorrect or when another's beliefs are correct is very low. Since we, as a species learn collectively and are still early in our efforts in figuring out how things work and how to best do things, I see it as unwise to not expose oneself to as great a variety of views as possible and to never feel to sure of anything. Also, when when close ourselves off to opposing points of view this tends to dehumanize the opposition.
As an example of the dehumanizing effect: I heard a Rush Limbaugh piece recently about The One World Cafe in Salt Lake City (where he took satisfaction in its current financial difficulty) and was surprised to hear how he used to word "Liberal" as an epithet in reference to the management of One World Cafe. To this man the word Liberal had become an insult. Having that sort of world view must make it difficult to see his fellow world citizens who happen to be liberal as human beings of equal value. I imagine many of his listeners must have the same struggle.
Clearly one who primarily gets their news and information from a source of such single mindedness would have a difficult time having an objective view of the world. Although I realize, some People are okay, and even proud of, not allowing themselves to consider opposing points of view(ie. many Mormons, in regards to their Mormon beliefs), I see this as unfortunate and unhealthy.
Which brings me back to why I believe the failure of Air America to be a good thing. It shows, hopefully, that those on the political left do not want to have their own opinions repeated back to them for several hours a day and consider it news or valuable or interesting.
fbl
I am caught in an endless feedback loop with my debit card company.
I am trying to report my debit card has been lost via phone call. (the second debit card I have lost within one week. Both lost in the co-op's atm. Although the co-op atm is mostly super great, no fees, and your $$$$ dispensed in 5$ increments, it is the sort of atm where your entire card must be placed into the machine,{I wonder if in the industry there is a name for that style of card reading. I suspect there is. If anyone ever learns it, please bless you will let me know. Amen} where it remains for the duration of your transaction only to be returned by pressing a button saying you want you card returned. Must they ask? Who wouldn't want their card returned? me apparently. These types atms have long been a hardship in my life, a thorn in my side, a bitter pill I have had to swallow, one might even say, this is the Cross I have had to bear in life. When I lived in Utah I, for many (awesome) years banked with Zions Bank whose atms were almost exclusively of the card abducting variety, and lost about 10 cards this way {after I stopped banking with Zions they upgraded their Machines to the single swipe style[parenthesis in parenthesis}})
Back to what I was saying before the parenthesis (({{[)). Earlier today I called my debit card company to report my lost card and after choosing the the option to report a lost or stolen card I was prompted by the automated operator to enter my card number.
Even though I knew I was interacting with a machine, for some reason I spoke as if to a real person saying "I don't have my card number because I lost it and that was why I am calling." Surprisingly, the machine gave an appropriate albeit discouraging response telling me to please call back with my Debit Card in hand.
I tried calling back three more times with the same results. I will probably end up calling back a fourth time expecting things to somehow be different.
I am trying to report my debit card has been lost via phone call. (the second debit card I have lost within one week. Both lost in the co-op's atm. Although the co-op atm is mostly super great, no fees, and your $$$$ dispensed in 5$ increments, it is the sort of atm where your entire card must be placed into the machine,{I wonder if in the industry there is a name for that style of card reading. I suspect there is. If anyone ever learns it, please bless you will let me know. Amen} where it remains for the duration of your transaction only to be returned by pressing a button saying you want you card returned. Must they ask? Who wouldn't want their card returned? me apparently. These types atms have long been a hardship in my life, a thorn in my side, a bitter pill I have had to swallow, one might even say, this is the Cross I have had to bear in life. When I lived in Utah I, for many (awesome) years banked with Zions Bank whose atms were almost exclusively of the card abducting variety, and lost about 10 cards this way {after I stopped banking with Zions they upgraded their Machines to the single swipe style[parenthesis in parenthesis}})
Back to what I was saying before the parenthesis (({{[)). Earlier today I called my debit card company to report my lost card and after choosing the the option to report a lost or stolen card I was prompted by the automated operator to enter my card number.
Even though I knew I was interacting with a machine, for some reason I spoke as if to a real person saying "I don't have my card number because I lost it and that was why I am calling." Surprisingly, the machine gave an appropriate albeit discouraging response telling me to please call back with my Debit Card in hand.
I tried calling back three more times with the same results. I will probably end up calling back a fourth time expecting things to somehow be different.
1.26.2009
bedroom window
These are some photos I took in my bedroom, out the window.
I really like how there are several horizontal bars of color. like rainbow made from perspective.
(black)
Green
a darker shade of green
gold
brown
gold sliver
brown
darker brown
green
white
blue
God's Seven Layer burrito, if you will.
Perhaps even, a homosexual wedding cake.
I really like how there are several horizontal bars of color. like rainbow made from perspective.
(black)
Green
a darker shade of green
gold
brown
gold sliver
brown
darker brown
green
white
blue
God's Seven Layer burrito, if you will.
Perhaps even, a homosexual wedding cake.
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