Somewhere Over the Rainbow

I know it will come as some huge surprise to you all that I am a straight ally. Basically I don't feel that those who prefer the company of their own gender (or both equally) should be denied rights I enjoy simply because I prefer the company of my opposite gender. Having said this, I do notice something I wish to stop. I notice sexual orientation has become a defining characteristic of people. Rather than think of them as a person who happens to be gay, I see people referring to them as homosexuals who happen to be people. This is not a good direction to be going in.

I have George Takei on my facebook. Several times a day, my newsfeed will get a hit from some humorous photo or comment he will have posted. Now it's no secret the man is gay. He has used his fame from Star Trek to speak for gay rights. However, I know many people who think of him as just the gay guy from Star Trek. Well... he's also an accomplished actor in other shows as well. He also speaks out against the Japanese internment camps that were used during WWII. His posts on facebook usually match his droll sense of humor and almost always give me a chuckle or two. Heck some have given me a good belly laugh. Many know of the rivalry he has with Captain Kirk, but few know of his good friendship with Uhura. This is just a glimpse into who he is, but it is a much wider glimpse than, "he's gay."

Now don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying homosexuals shouldn't have pride. If you want to wear rainbows and be "FABULOUS!" ...then knock yourself out. (yes I'm aware I am using stereotypes here, but my point is still vaild) You can do that... but be aware, I'll probably see you as someone who can't pick a favorite color and has very few social inhibitions...

I have had one friend who chose me to come out to once. They have since fully embraced their feelings and are even married now, but at that time, it wasn't so easy for them. When they came out to me, there was a split second where I did think of them differently. After that split second, I came to realize that it didn't change my opinion on who they were. In fact, them coming out to me only had 2 changes to our friendship. 1. I realized if I ever wanted to set them up on a blind date, I'd pick from their own gender. and 2. The fact they trusted me actually brought our friendship a little bit closer. While there is something to said for that moment of deep trust... I want to live in a world where that is no longer necessary. I want to live in a world where the only time you think of someone differently based on their sexual orientation is when you're deciding who to set them up with on a blind date. That's the world I want to see.

I will say that there is only one person who came out recently that changed my attitude..... but that's only because Ellen Page is one of my celebrity crushes and I just don't like my 0.00000000000000001% chance with her to be reduced to completely 0%... I hope you ladies realize how lucky you are. (seriously though, she's a great actress and I'll still go see anything she's in)

So You Hate Cops?

Okay... what the hell is going on here? Lately on that wonderful social site, I've seen way too many postings about how cops are enforcing unjust rule by some imperial government and should be fought. Some compare them to the stormtroopers from the star wars films. Some compare them to the Jaffa from the Stargate franchise. Ok let's take a look at this. The stormtroopers were clones devised to be unquestioning in the loyalty to the government. They, in turn, had no individual soul to speak of and weren't really people. (I suspect Lucas did this deliberately to justify his heroes killing so many people). The Jaffa were enslaved by their false gods and were literally bred to be dependent on them. So if you're going to try and use sci fi franchises to justify your arguments (I can't believe I just said that), make sure you know them before you try to take ME on. You're so far out of your league otherwise it's not even funny.

To the meat of the matter. Why do you seem to hate cops? I remember in elementary school, we were taught that cops are our friends. We were taught that if we needed help in an emergency and one of those men and women in blue showed up, we could go to them for help. So what happened? What earth-shattering moment changed your mind on our police force.

"They gave me a ticket." Well... what were you doing that you got a ticket? Oh you were driving 20 over the speed limit... I see... do you feel powerful? Does the fact that you can drive faster make you a better human being? Is it a marketable skill? Here, try mentioning it to a potential employer during and interview. "I have 3 years experience in this field. I can learn quickly. I'm highly punctual. I'm a good people person. I can drive 20 mph faster than the speed limit." Speaking as a manager... you're not getting hired.

"They're going to take away my guns." Ummmm.... I have yet to hear a story from someone who actually had the cops come to their house and remove their firearms. The only story I've heard so far of someone losing a weapon they've already purchased was when they pawned it off. During the month it was in pawn, the guy started beating his wife, because of that, he failed a background check. Now should this mentally disturbed violent man get his gun after threatening the life of his wife? Your answer will explain a lot about your views toward other humans vs your own selfish desires. Scumbag.

"Cops enforce the corrupt laws of the government" Ok this one I thought would be my favorite. I only just today heard one that angers me more than this one... but we'll get to that. Your entire objection here is based on the corruption of our leaders. You blame those who are simply doing their job. Can you even come up with those specific laws? Even during prohibition cops were better liked than they are now. What the hell guys? But here's the kicker, if you hate cops for this reason, you have no choice but to also hate our troops. Our troops are under the command of our government. They're conditioned to follow orders issued by our government. Failure to do so carries even worse punishment than when cops do it. So if you hate cops, you must hate our troops too.

Now for the worst one... the one single comment that angered me so much I had to write this blog.

"They took me to jail when I got my DUI." Ok... first off... were you drunk at the time? Oh you were... WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU DOING!!!!!! Ok, news flash into the type of person I am. I have lost too many people to drunk driving. I've seen too many tears shed over those deaths. Tried to console too many friends who lost a loved one. I have no respect for you if you're driving drunk and then hold a grudge on the cop for picking you up. I never say this to people, so understand how much disgust and sheer rage I have for you when I say this. If you drive drunk and act like it's the cop's fault for catching you, then delete me from facebook, if I try to contact you just tell me no. I don't want to have anything to do with you. There's a part of me that wants to tell you to just eat a bullet instead, that way you only kill yourself, but I'm not that angry yet. Just don't do it... please...

Cabin Fever

Despite having 5 already, soon I hope to start at least one more additional blog. It will be with the blogs associated with my gmail address. So for those of you who care (the whole 3 of you that read the gmail blogs) it will join The Crazed Nerd and The Starving Writer. Working title for the one I'm definitely going to do is "The Restaurant Stranger." Once my lovely knee heals, I want to live out one of my ideas of an adventure and on some weekends, go and eat at some random restaurant. I hope to either have a sign asking people to join me, or simply ask them myself (the former gives me braver people) to join me. I want to talk and get to know these people and write a blog about it.

Now comes the question. Why? Well to be honest... I want to bring my old adventurous self back. The one that would randomly go up to people in college and start friendships. The one who was always up for some random trip somewhere in Sioux City with whomever wanted to go. The one I lost somewhere my sophomore year in college... when I became jaded, cold, and reserved.

I miss the flair for life I used to have. At first I thought this was me being nostalgic, or just having cabin fever from being stuck inside with my knee in a brace. No... this is something... stronger. I'm feeling more regrets in my life. I'm feeling a lot darker... I don't like it... at all. I want that electric charge of the unknown again. I want to stop feeling like I'm living a shell of a life and want to get to the heart of the matter. I want to make someone's day just a little more memorable and positive.

I've been grappling with my choir decision as well. On the one hand, I don't like the idea of not directing the choir in Garner, I do truly enjoy it. However, I also want to start becoming involved in a church that sees me as something other than the minister's son. I'm also looking into volunteer efforts... but so far...

It might be cabin fever... I don't know... What I do know, I'm so sick to death of the shell... I want the heart of life too!

The Realm of the Supervillain

"Here's the real truth. There are eight million people in this city, and those teeming masses exist for the sole purpose of lifting the few exceptional people on their shoulders."

Interesting quote... keep that in your mind while you're reading this.

My middle school social studies teacher was a good man. He knew his subject well (even better than the textbooks sometimes). One thing he showed me has always stood with me. We were discussing the class system of ancient Egypt. No surprise that the graph was a pyramid. The slaves making up the largest chunk of the population and each class getting smaller and smaller until the Pharaoh on top. He asked us what we thought the perfect society should look like. We all threw out the pyramid model. He explained that an ideal society keeps the vast majority of its society in the middle. Now I've always thought that seemed like a fair idea, but let's see where we're at now.

Ah... the 99% vs the 1%. Is there ever such a lovely sound as a budding class conflict? Now let's look at a company. There are many low level employees, they are the lowest paid group in this company. Then there are their supervisors, slightly more paid and slightly fewer of them. Then their supervisors, and then their supervisors, so on and so on. The pattern holding up to the CEO at the top. Looks like a pyramid. However, if a company takes good care of its bottom rung, you'd be amazed how it can grow. But here's the thing, when a company gets too big... it can treat its bottom rung like crap and not be affected. I know how well Casey's treats its bottom rung employees. I also know how badly other companies treat theirs. I have to say that Casey's does right by its employees... Wal-mart really doesn't...

I discussed the idea of the CEO treating their employees horribly or cutting salaries just to maintain their own financial security with some other people. I was immediately labeled a communist and told to go back to Russia. That's what we do in this country apparently, we don't listen and we wonder why nothing gets done. Here's my issue: should there be such a disconnect between employee and CEO? Now don't get me wrong, CEO's should be paid a good chunk higher than the bottom rung employee, they have more stress (in most cases) and more responsibility. Should they be paid so high as to enter the area of parody?

Now I remember this guy... he went around making business deals and closing down companies. His way of doing this destroyed millions of jobs, but he donated a large sum to charity every year. He kept ending jobs and earning more from doing it. However, it was all perfectly legal, so no one could say anything to him. He was untouchable, ruthless, and showed no signs of stopping. Now... am I talking about a businessman we might see today? or am I talking about Lex Luthor... is there a difference?

We have entered a time when those who refuse to help those in need are admired. We have people who think the poor are poor because they choose to be poor. We've rationalized it so we view people as being poor because they're wasting their money on drugs. They're lazy and therefore don't try to get jobs. We walk by them and ignore them. They come to our places of business and we look down on them. They're beneath us. We talk around the water cooler about the person who bought bread, cheese, meat, and (dun Dun DUN!) pop on their EBT card. We lack empathy. We don't even try to put ourselves in their shoes, because we worked hard to get where we are... it is they who wouldn't last in our shoes. The world owes us for our hard work damnit!

I have friends with college degrees who make 3 times more what I do, but there also those with degrees who would love to make what I do. I've learned there are two kinds of people that emerge from college. The degree hunters and the education hunters. The education hunters emerge from college with the most valuable skill of all, the ability to learn. To them, the college experience was about more than a piece of paper, it was about the ability to expand who they are. They take this ability into the world and learn more from the world than college could ever teach them. The degree hunters, however, feel entitled. They have their almighty degree and are done learning, they know all there is to know. The world shows them differently. Don't believe me? I know people with master's degrees in business that can't do my job... because they refuse to learn.

It all comes down to that sense of entitlement. That "I am better" mentality. I've talked to some people about the idea of the masses lifting the few on their shoulders. They tell me that's how It's supposed to be. So now I finally remind you of the quote in the beginning. If you truly agree with that sentence, well then look in the mirror, maybe you'll start talking to yourself in a horrible Willem Dafoe impression. You are the Green Goblin. You've entered the realm of thinking like a supervillain. Just hope the world doesn't make a Spider-man.

You Will Fail

No matter what we do, we will fail.

No matter how hard a doctor may try to save your life, eventually, one will fail. No matter how funny a comedian is, one joke will not be laughed at. The most skilled musician will always miss a note somewhere. Michael Jordan was on the losing team hundreds of times. No matter how hard I try, I will end a sentence with a preposition, even though a preposition is a terrible thing to end a sentence with.

Lindsey Stirling is a musician who I was aware of in a kind of peripheral sense. There are lots of youtube musicians I watch (a few even earn subscriptions from me), and she does collaborative work with them. It wasn't until just recently I decided to take a look at her solo stuff. I have to say, she's good, even earned my subscription (the only others that have earned that are The Piano Guys and Smooth McGroove). So I became curious, where did this siren of the strings come from. (oops another preposition)

Turns out she was on America's Got Talent. Well this is interesting. Now those who know me know that I seldom enjoy this show. The acts are either horrible, or the ones that show true promise are dismissed... usually by Piers. It's not about finding that one person every year, it's about laughing at everyone who failed before. (damn prepositions).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2xL7D5lPAk

I post this link not to laugh at her final audition, but to point out that she failed. She did not proceed to the next round, as far as America's Got Talent was concerned, she was done. Well it turns out that the judges were incorrect in their assessment of her. She has a huge youtube following and goes on tours all over the world. On that one audition, however she failed.

Gene Roddenberry had a vision of a much brighter future. He felt that humanity would one day actually achieve world peace and would begin to use our collective knowledge to explore space. Upon meeting other life forms, we would share our knowledge and further explore the universe. He felt this would make a good idea for a television show. The networks... disagreed with him. Failure #1. Eventually he managed to convince NBC to give him backing for a pilot. So came "The Cage." Well the network execs saw it, but didn't pick up the show. Failure #2. They did agree to let him try again, so "Where No Man Has Gone Before" was born. The network picked it up and thus began Star Trek. Well... after 2 years, NBC moved the show to the Friday night death slot and slashed their budget. Failure #3. If you watch those episodes from the third season, you do see where their budget was cut, and some episodes actually made it creative, others... well let's just say "Spock's Brain" had issues that had nothing to do with budget. The Show was canceled. Failure #4. Roddenberry tried to resurrect his idea with Star Trek: Phase II. The Networks refused. Failure #5. Well the company that owned the Star Trek franchise decided to make a motion picture. The movie was released... and critics panned it. Failure #6. Well the powers that be again decided to give it another go, and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan hit the theaters. Widely regarded as one of the best productions in all of Star Trek. Today, Star Trek is in the world records as largest fan base, but it failed so many times to even begin.

So I tell you, you will fail. It is inevitable. Success, fortunately, is not determined by how many times you've fallen beforehand, but how few times it kept you down. You will only truly fail if you do nothing. That is nothing more than guaranteed failure. So do not give up. Eventually you will have one small instance, when you fail to fail.

The Crash

I'm coming off my pain meds... and judging by the pain I've been feeling, that's too soon. Last night was awful, not a wink of sleep. Have you ever had a night when some part of your body did nothing but torture you, and all you had to pass the time was your thoughts? My thoughts turned on a great deal of subjects, and well... it wasn't the shiny night to a good day I was hoping for. In fact... the whole night started downhill when a friend called me... crying her eyes out. I am not complaining that they called me. You all know that I do my best to listen when a friend needs me. I am, however, incredibly angry that it had to happen this way. I want her to know that she is one of my most treasured friends, that I will stand by her forever, and that I'm sorry for what she's going through.

I won't go into details, but suffice it to say, I absolutely despise some members of my gender. They treat women like objects and run them off the market for the rest of us who actually care. I can't tell you how angry this makes me. So I vented to another person about these emotions... and got that oh so wonderful response: "I don't think you really do know how to treat a woman, I mean, you're still single." Really? REALLY?!

Now folks, when I'm coming off pain meds, my body reacts differently than most others do. For some reason, one week for me is like 6 months for other people. When I come off pain meds, my whole attitude on life crashes. My usual bright take on things is replaced by a far more depressing tone. Things that usually don't bother me disturb me greatly. I get sent into an artificial depression and my skin isn't so thick anymore.

That one hurt.

Now you guys know me. I'm not the kind of guy who has to have a girl, any girl, so long as he has a girl. I'm not going to settle for less than I deserve. Now if only I could find one who fits that category and likes me too :P. That does not mean I don't get lonely from time to time. Now I'm already angry because of how one of my friends was treated by her ex (it better be ex, not current or we're having another phone call), then when I go to you for some emotional support so I can help her you basically tell me I don't treat women right because I'm still single? I pride myself on how I treat my friends... and I thought you understood that. Maybe I've just been had all along.

By the way guys, if you're reading this one (especially on blogger) and you compare it to my others, this one is gonna completely lack structure... sorry. But on the subject of how that waste of genetic material treated his girlfriend. WHAT THE HELL MAN?! You had an amazing woman, but that wasn't good enough for you?! When you have found someone you truly care about, and they truly care about you, you can find yourself in a whole new place.

I have a lot of random adventures I want to do someday. I don't want to just see Iowa, I want to see the world. I want to meet all kinds of new people. I want to hear people's amazing stories. I hunger for it, I can't live without it. Someday, maybe I'll find someone who will want to do these things with me. When I do... you can bet I'll never hurt her like that. We will have too many stories to share, and far too many to discover. I pity you.

By the way, go to gamejolt and look up a game called a purr tale... with the crash I'm in... it brought tears to my eyes.