my horoscope is trying to guilt me into working harder on my dissertation:

"Part of being smart is knowing when you don't know enough. Instead of berating yourself for a little knowledge deficit, get cracking on filling it up. Think of the folks you know who are likely to know more, and assemble your own team of experts. Do a bit of Internet research. Hit the library. Ask your mentor. Maybe even consult your parents. Using the resources available to you is truly intelligent."

lame.

so last night i was at the brooklyn brewery, with smart people i actually like, and one of them said 'and it really irritates me when people accuse me of being a liberal. i am not a liberal, i'm an anarchist.' which caused me to be like *blink* *blink* oh fuck, i feel your pain, me too!!

so. for the last goddamned time. I. Am. Not. A. Liberal. I am a goddamned anarchist. thankyouverymuch.

i'm probably a bad person for finding this so goddamned funny, but really, it is:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/10/21/std.e-cards/index.html

the short: anonymous e-cards notify people that they might have an std. some come as clever limericks.

so you all know those nigerian scams? well, they're trying a new angle. today i received this in my email:

Capt. Philip Camberwell Jr,
Of D' Company, 2nd Battalion,
22nd Infantry Regiment.
Email: philipcamberwell@aol.co.uk



Good day,



I am Capt. Philip Camberwell Jr,I was a sign to accompany the United State Of America Army Force of D' Company, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, Iraq.



As you know we are being attacked by insurgents’ everyday and car Bombs.I and my crew members discovered $700M USD in Saddam Hussein's palace in April 2003. We managed to move away a total sum of US$50 Million dollars cash out from the $700M USD, mostly 100-dollar bills and was quickly flown out of the war zone and deposited in an undisclosed secured and secret location outside middle east, after we have all agreed to keep it secretly since the war was still on.



You can click on the site for more detail about origin of the funds.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm



But unfortunately, the rest of my crew members have lost their lives to the wicked Iraqi insurgents, and I have kept this secrete within me for 5years now and I cannot leave the boxes in the security company as these will attract more expenses on domurrage as long as the boxes is still with the company.



I am now in desperate need of a "Reliable and Trust worthy" person as partner to assist me transfer these funds into an account and invest the funds without further delay since i cannot come out openly to claim it and at the same time i am still fighting the war in Iraq. I will take 65% while you take the other 30% and 5% will be for expenses, no strings.



If you are interested I will send you the full details and the location of the funds but my fear is Can I trust you? When you receive this letter, kindly send me an e-mail signifying your interest including your name and status in the society most confidential telephone/fax numbers in order to process the legal documents on your name and forward to the security firm for the release of the funds in your names or your company.



Please assure me of your keeping this topmost secret within you so that my job would not be jeopardized and to safe my Country's image and my name.



N/B: If interested, reply to my personal
email:philipcamberwell@aol.co.uk



Respectfully,


Capt.Philip Camberwell Jr.

You break my back
You won't break me
All is black
But I still see
Shut me down
Knock me to the floor
Shoot me up
Fuck me like a whore

Trapped under ice
Comfortably cold
I've gone as low as you can go
Feel no remorse
No sense of shame
Time's gonna wash away all pain

I made a god out of blood
Not superiority
I killed the king of deceit
Now I sleep in anarchy

Sacrifice to the cause
Turn your code into law
Compensate to validate the loss
Take a thief
Nail him to a cross

Gospel of rage
Faction of hate
Deviate from the absolute
Born of revenge
Raised on cement
Chaos created government

I made a god out of blood
Not superiority
I killed the king of deceit
Wake me up in anarchy

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_37/b4099087568542.htm?chan=magazine+channel_opinion&campaign_id=rss_daily

Angels Wings

You say you’re down on your luck
Hey baby It’s a long, long way up
Hold back now, hold back your fears
You say you’re really down and out
And you feel like there’s no way out now
Let go now let go of your tears some more

How many times have you asked yourself?
Is this the hand of fate now that I’ve been dealt?
You’re so disillusioned this can’t be real
And you can’t stand now the way you feel

I don’t care about what they say
I won’t live or die that way
Tired of figuring out things on my own
Angel’s wings won’t you carry me home?

And when you’re down on your luck
Hey baby It’s a long, long way up
Hold back now, hold back your fears
And when you’re really down and out
And you feel like there’s no way out now
Let go now, let go of your tears some more

I triumphed in the face of adversity
And I became the man I never thought I’d be
And now my biggest challenge, a thing called love
I guess I’m not as tough as I thought I was

I don’t care about what they say
I wanna marry you some day
Gonna wake up, it’s a brand new day
Angel’s wings gonna carry you away
Angel’s wings gonna carry me away
Angel’s wings gonna carry us away

And when you’re down on your luck
Hey baby It’s a long, long way up
Hold back now, hold back your fears
And when you’re really down and out
And you feel like there’s no way out now
Let go now, let go of your tears some more

Angel’s wings gonna carry you away
Angel’s wings gonna carry me away
Angel’s wings gonna carry us away

Robert Coles, commenting on 'The Sunflower': "Still, with caveats galore, I proceed to tell of my mother's wish for my brother and me, that we learn how to understand, and too, that we learn how to forgive: understand the mistakes and errors of our ways, in the hope that we can do (and be) better, and forgive ourselves, lest we give our errant or evil side the continuing hold over us that such a refusal of forgiveness all too commonly, readily ensures. To sustain that moral conviction is not easy even in this comfortable, this privileged life that fate has given me - how often many of us who profess the Christian ethic of forgiveness succumb to smugness, arrogance, pretentiousness, a cocky self-importance that is utterly incompatible with the kind of absolution and reconciliation implied in the act of forgiveness: no exculpation for wrong, but an acknowledgment that a long, tenaciously critical look inward justifies a wholehearted response of merciful grace, for which one prays."

off to venice!! see you all on the flip side :)

Horoscope Test for 2007


If you are honest, this tells the truth. It's pretty good.
Write your answers on a piece of paper, and NO cheating!!

The answers are at the bottom.


1. Which is your favorite color out of: red, black, blue, green, or yellow?

2. Your first initial?

3. Your month of birth?

4. Which color do you like more, black or white?

5. Name of a person of the same sex as you.

6. Your favorite number?

7. Do you like California or Florida more?

8. Do you like a lake or the ocean more?

9. Write down a wish! (a realistic one).



When you're done, scroll down. (Don't cheat!)


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Answers:



1. If you choose:
Red - You are alert and your life is full of love.
Black - You are conservative and aggressive.
Green - Your soul is relaxed and you are laid back.
Blue- You are spontaneous and love kisses and affection from the ones you love.
Yellow - You are a very happy person and give good advice to those who are down.


2. If your initial is:
A-K You have a lot of love and friendships in your life.
L-R You try to enjoy your life to the maximum &your love life is soon to blossom.
S-Z You like to help others and your future love life looks very good.


3. If you were born in:
Jan-Mar: The year will go very well for you and you will discover that you fall in love with someone totally unexpected.
April-June: You will have a strong love relationship that will not last long but the memories will last forever..
July-Sep: You will have a great year and will ! experience a major life-changing experience for the good..
Oct-Dec: Your love life will not! be great, but eventually you will find your soul mate.


4. If you chose:
Black: Your life will take on a different direction, it will seem hard at the time but will be the best thing for you, and you will be glad for the change.
White: You will have a friend who completely confides in you and would do anything for you, but you may not realize it.


5. This person is your best friend.


6. This is how many close friends you have in your lifetime.


7. If you chose:
California: You like adventure.
Florida: You are a laid back person.


8. If you chose:
Lake: You are loyal to your friends and your lover and are very reserved.
Ocean: You are spontaneous and like to please people.


9. This wish will come true only if you post this in one hour an and it will come true before your next birthday!

holy shit - i just made the best drink *ever*.

1 apricot
a handful of cherries
a handful of blueberries
a splash of vanilla
a splash of water
ice
rum

all i have to say is *wow*. and it's not even really bad for you...

(it is also really good w/out the liquor)

i was going to write something of some substance, but am too lazy at the moment. plus, this about sums it up:

Big Blue

So now let us sing of what remains
There shall be stillness in our hearts
There shall be a sweetness in our lives, bye and bye.
There's a beach I know at the edge of the world,
mist rising up from the breaking waves
towards the cliffs, as green as god.
We'll be flying for the sake of flying, singing for the sake of singing,
looking back down on the lonely world - dive, dive, diving down
Into the big blue we shall lose ourselves, gone are the doubts
and the fear of falling - hate is a curse lifted from our shoulders,
we never meant it in the way they thought.

If we hold our nerve, they will travel right over us;
they'll be going so fast they will never even notice us.
We'll be flying for the sake of flying - singing for the sake of singing,
looking back down on the lonely world - dive, dive, dive
Into the big blue we shall lose ourselves, gone are the doubts
and the fear of falling - hate is a curse lifted from our shoulders,
we never meant it in the way they thought.
Time to die, and die, and die again; doors closing in empty houses;
time to roll, and roll, and roll again - and all I hear is the diesel roaring.
Just like a people put to flight, all blown out in the endless dust storms,
into the West and the rolling hills, to dive, dive, dive again and
Into the big blue we shall lose ourselves

i'm cranky due to stupid inflammation, so i'll just say this:

there can be no perfect government because humans are not perfect - they are complex and flawed creatures.

the best that can be done is to try and find the least flawed government, but this endeavor has several problems from the outset. first, for every person who actually cares and wants to do what they feel is best for everyone, there is at least one who is apathetic, and one who is just in it for personal gain. second, particularly in our increasingly complex society, but in general, people cannot actually agree on what is right and what is best - even regarding the same needs. so compound number one - for that maybe a 1/3 of the people who actually care, there is yet further division. throw in the people who don't actually care, and well, we all know what happens.

not even talking about things so 'mundane' as abortion issues and gay marriages, or military spending, here's the problem:

so you think everyone has 'natural rights', and are entitled to a voice. you think that the flavor of love girls should have equal say regarding laws. sadly, there are more flavor of love type girls than you, and thus you get tyranny of the majority.

ok, maybe the flavor of love girls shouldn't be deciding how things work. who will?? the 'old boys club'? remember, you have 1 who might actually care, 1 that's apathetic and 1 that's in it for his own purposes, and of course that 1 who cares may be from a totally different place than you and not represent your needs. here you have tyranny of the minority.

we can all debate over what the hell 'natural rights' means (and no, i don't particularly want to), but i'll put forth the idea that the only true right i have is my right to disagree - you can take away my stuff, torture me, kill me, but you can never truly *make* me agree w/ you if i feel you're wrong. i'm entitled to my opinions, and thus telling me i'm un-whateverthefuck or bad or whatever for them is really fucking irritating. this is tyranny of the self-righteous.

i could continue this ad naseum, but there are a few points. first, humans have been playing with different forms of government for a really long time - there are several solutions, that meet different needs at different times. i couldn't care less if you are firm in your convictions about what we should do in the here-and-now, but do your homework, and give me a well reasoned argument. oh, and know your history - that last one does actually tie in, but it's more of a general grump from me.

*yawn* my neck hurts.

it was probably safer that i *didn't* know about the existence of this:




...especially since they sell them just a few blocks from where i work.

for my friends who have been abroad: did(does) your bank charge you fees for taking money out of the ATM overseas, and if the answer is no, what bank do you use?? i ask because i will be in venice for 6 weeks, and am not willing to have 6 weeks of ATM fees, which my bank will charge me if i use my HSBC checking account. bonus points if the bank doesn't require a minimum balance or direct deposit (that last one is essential, actually).

in other news...well, for other news, you'll just have to speak to me in person ;). yes, stuff has been going on, and no, i'm not posting it here at the moment.

so tonight i witnessed a lovely fight between my father and sister - both were being equally retarded and equally dramatic.

me, i ate 3 pieces of cake, and now feel like vomiting.

i should've told them both to shut the fuck up, and left. instead, i kept eating cake until i felt like i would explode. niiiiiice.

this is my favorite, because of the way the light hits the water, and the one that is now my screensaver.

:)

...when you've got this:

just to let everyone know, i've arrived safely in venice.

squee!!