IGNORE ME!!!!

I have all kinds of crazy crap bouncing around through my head, and if I would let them escape in some way, I think it may help me find some clarity.

The problem is, I am not very good at following through with what I start. I think maybe it is time to work harder on that, start forming good habits, and see where the future will take me.

M*W: Scientists have concluded that there is a deeply manifested relationship between religion and schizophrenia. Common symptoms of non-treated schizophrenics include delusions of both spirituality and religiousness. Religious belief delusions vary across cultures. The impact of religion does not always have a positive outcome. In fact, religious delusions may play a part in substance abuse and suicide attempts. Psychiatrists have found that using religion as part of a patient’s treatment can often have adverse outcomes.

The potential implications of statements such as this are, to put it mildly, bad. I just finished reading “Under the Banner of Heaven” by Jon Krauker (thanks for the suggestion Kelly) and one of the items discussed during the trial of the Lafferty brothers was the attempt to get them off on an insanity plea because he heard the voice of God talking to him that told him to commit murder. Luckily that did not happen, because if it had then anyone who commits a crime because of his religious fervor could claim the same, when it is in all actuality the fault of the person committing the crime.

While I may personally find the idea of belief in a supreme being a trifle silly, that does not mean I think that people who actually adhere to their religious beliefs are classified as insane by any stretch of the word. Here in the states, we are so inundated with religion that to not believe practically ostracizes you from society (see this Slate article for an interesting look at that).

Genetically, we are also programmed to believe what someone in a position of authority tells us at a young age. As we grow, and learn to think for ourselves, we find that we can learn through trial and error, but some of what was there as a child still remains. This, of course, is how our children become indoctrinated in religion, and in my opinion it would be far better if they were allowed to make that choice for themselves when they reach a level of maturity commiserate with such a large decision in their lives.

So, does this mean that just because our parents told us that someone was watching over us, and speaks to us, makes us insane? In my thoughts, no.

There is no good reason for this other for my own personal enjoyment.

In my head, whenever I say “Thank You” only I will know what I actually mean. I can tell someone to “Get Thanked,” or to “Go Thank themselves,” and with my simple word substitution I will mean something far worse than what they think.

Not only that, but it even still works as a single sentence, “Thank the thanking thanker.”

Or maybe, “I really want to Thank her.”

The possibilities are endless, and it will all be my only little secret.

NO TIP FOR YOU!

Also, I had the conversation after the jump with a friend on YIM about it. Good stuff. I love that girl.

Me @ 12:49
well, seriously
if i had singles, i would have given her 1
if she brought to the car, 2
if she brought to the car, was hot (definitely not) climbed into the seat next to me, and sucked my dick, then she could have the 10

Her @ 12:52
MIKE!

Me @ 12:52
what?
its ok. i would video tape it so its porno and not prostitution

Her @ 12:53
michael!

Me @ 12:53
$10 was greater than what my food cost
also, you dont REALLY believe i would do that, now do you?

Her @ 12:54
no but STILL!!!

Me @ 12:54
what?

Her @ 12:55
$10, that’s not enough

Total Awesomesauce.

To that end, I think I know what, at this point in time, my idea of “the perfect woman” is. Nothing too shallow, I hope, but probably very universal.

Naturally, physical attractiveness is important. No matter how much someone says they do not care about looks, the fact of the matter is 90% of our impressions about people are based on appearance. This is genetic, of course. We have certain qualities that we find to be ideal in a mate and we think should compliment our own genes and help create better progeny. (It’s evolution, kids. Looking for transitionary forms? Your own children are transitionary forms. Deal with it.) Barring physical appearance, since we really don’t have that much control over it in the first place, what else is important?

Intelligence. There are many people who think that just learning something new is intelligence. Hate to be a hater (no I don’t) but that is not intelligence. That is knowledge. Intelligence is the ability to take the knowledge you have, assimilate it, and apply it to tasks at hand, find the relevant links between the different types of knowledge you have gained, and use in to further the knowledge of everyone else. Spouting facts is knowledge. Using those facts to find something new is intelligence.

Surprisingly enough, I honestly think that is it. Except for her ability to deal with my inane rhetoric, but that is a skill that few, if any, will ever acquire.

I find a new reasons daily to say, “I’m just a computerguy. You ask me questions about supevisory things and it makes me want to run to my MacBook and hide in some RPG code…”

Hopefully, this will end soon.

The White House Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
April 30, 2010

Presidential Proclamation–National Day of Prayer

A PROCLAMATION
Throughout our history, whether in times of great joy and thanksgiving, or in times of great challenge and uncertainty, Americans have turned to prayer. In prayer, we have expressed gratitude and humility, sought guidance and forgiveness, and received inspiration and assistance, both in good times and in bad.
On this day, let us give thanks for the many blessings God has bestowed upon our Nation. Let us rejoice for the blessing of freedom both to believe and to live our beliefs, and for the many other freedoms and opportunities that bring us together as one Nation. Let us ask for wisdom, compassion, and discernment of justice as we address the great challenges of our time.
Read More…

Basically my thoughts on this are summed up from a Twitlonger post that I sent out on Saturday.

@kaarbaak i undertand, but it does affect me. by its very nature, gov’t should be w/out religion, but pushing a proclamation about religion is not keeping the offices of church and state separate. while, unlike a lot of people, i do understand that it is not written in the consitiution about the separate of church and state (it was mentioned in a letter written by Jefferson) i also understand that the idea behind the second amendment is to keep a religious test out of trying to attain public office. unfortunately, this is no longer the case in the USA. how many openly atheist or agnostic politicians can you name? i can’t think of any. politicians are free to pray all they want, just like everyone else in the entire world. so long as what people do does not harm another individual, then it does not affect me, but the president does not have the authority to push belief of a higher power onto anyone but issuing a proclamation stating tha America believes in a higher power is wanton disregard for the office he holds and the freedom of people to choose to believe or not.

Things of this nature have often make me wonder if the USA truly is turning into an Oligarchy. Where is the room for the non-believer when the highest authority in the land claims that everyone has a belief in a higher power and that we all should offer lip service to non-existant deities that they will make the problems better? If prayer were actually effective, how many people would be winning the lottery? How many people would not need their treatments for cancer? Wy would anyone on the planet have need to suffer?

Certain elements of the religious variety claim that their deity is a benevolent person, so why would this omnipotent being punish less fortunate people? I know, all I am doing is asking questions, but aren’t these questions that anyone with faith in a higher power should be asking themselves?

I have a much better idea for the National day of Prayer, how about make it be the National Day of Help Your Fellow Man. I don’t necessarily mean giving large amounts of money to charity or flying to a country devastated by a natural disaster, but more along the lines of the people in your community that need help. Volunteer at your local food bank, help an old lady cross the street, whatever you can do. And do it not because you fear the all powerful being in the sky, how about you just do it because it is the right thing to do?

Also, National Day of Prayer is Unconstitutional

This is not a Final Fantasy game.

One of the great things about the original FF was the open world aspect. While there was a linear story line, you did not have to follow it. Case in point, I always acquired the float stone, got the airship, and went through class change before going to the volcano to battle Kary. It was hard as fuck, but was extremely worth it. If you don’t know what I am talking about, then fie on you, go back and play the original FF. It’s available all over the place (even on iPhone). FFXIII has completely linear game play. What in the hell is that?

They also removed any real semblance of a leveling system. How many hours did we spend in FF going back to the Earth Cave fighting in the hall of giants grinding away the levels so we could defeat Chaos at the end? There are “spheres” that allow you to increase you stats and abilities, but I have heard if you fight every encounter in the game you will have enough CP for everything without grinding. Without grinding! Do you realize the grind I went through to beat the Ultimate Weapons in FFVII? And that was just for the bell of it!

While it is viasually stunning, I just find myself severly disappointed with the game play so far. If I want an interactive movie, I’ll go play Heavy Rain again (which is an amazing game). It appears if I want a Final Fantasy challenge, I should go buy the original for my iPhone.

We all know that smoking is a very expensive habit. The government imposes more taxes on tobacco, which causes more people to quit, which means the taxes are increased, and on and on, right? Currently, it is around $5 for a pack of premium cigarettes around here. So, my idea.

When you quit smoking, set up a daily transfer on your bank’s website for the amount of a pack of cigarettes from your checking account to a savings account.

If you smoke a pack a day, that would be $35 in a week. In one year, a very nice new plasma t.v. ($1820).

I am not saying that if you smoke you should quit, I don’t care what you do, but if you are quitting, I think it looks like a good motivator.