Well, he was supposed to at least.
This would be another one of those random adventures that proves just how much of a troll I can be.
So, walking through Red Square, I saw a sign that read "FREE SPIRITUAL READINGS" and obviously, my curiosity was piqued. First time I saw it, they didn't ask me if I wanted one and I am not the type of person who wants to seem over-eager, so naturally, I just walked past it and went on to my apartment to drop off my stuff. If they were still there when I came back then I decided it would be fate and I would have to go check it out. Besides, I heard one of them mention "free cookies" as well...
I ended up going back to Red Square and there they were, so it was only natural that I walk suspiciously close to them right after they are finished talking to another passerby. (My walking is well timed thanks to the Mormon hawks that prey on us hell-bound bunnies.)
The girl who was trying to bring people in asked me if I would like to get a free spiritual reading and I calmly replied that I would. (YES! I WIN! I KNEW YOU'D ASK!) And she gave me a cookie while I waited for Tess to finish her reading of another person. (SECOND WIN!!!)
Finally Tess was done with her other person and I was led to sit down in front of her. First, she asked me my name (Kricket), my year (Sophomore), and my major (Environmental Science). The next thing she did was tell me that she speaks to the spirit as asks what guidance I need in my life right now or what I need to know most.
She put her head down for a good 15seconds, looking very pensive, and then proceeded to tell me that I am a very unique person and what I need to remember right now is that there are a lot of times where I will feel like an outcast and feel separated from the love of other people, but the most important thing to remember at these times is that someone is always walking with me and I am never alone. (Yeah, my Spirit Guides are pretty baller. We know.) She also wanted me to know that Jesus Christ is always beside me. (Yeah this guy over... wait! Whoa, you meant the HOLY SPIRIT?! I just thought SPIRIT...) And yet my passive exterior remained perfectly intact. "Yay!" for acting skills.
The next thing she did was ask me if there is anything else I want to know about or if I have any questions about what is going on in my life. (Uhh not really, I am already living my life and I like it so much I don't feel the need to question it... Thanks though!) Since I had no questions, she asked me if it would be alright if she prayed for me. (I've been caught! She has scented out my non-believer status!)
But I wasn't really caught because when I told her she could, she promptly asked me if I have "accepted the Spirit into [my] life". (Yeah. In sophomore year.)(Not your Spirit though... Sorry!) Ohh yay! She accepted Christ in her Sophomore year too! (Yay bonding!... but I think you missed my point...) And then she asked if there was anything in particular she should pray for. (Well, my health has been rather poor recently. Asthma is a big problem now and my shoulders hurt from taekwondo conditioning...) And then she asked which shoulder and if I had ever seen a healing done through the power of Jesus Christ before. (Left shoulder. No. Never) Well, she was going to do one for me since she had seen one done before. (Obviously that means she is qualified to do one for me...)
She prayed that the Holy Spirit would enter me and heal me. That he would drive out the enemy and return my body and soul to purity. She asked Jesus to bless and heal me and keep my soul. We both said "Amen" as she does it as a matter of course and I figure it is a sign of respect. Always respect anything and everything is one of my morals and I stick to it as often as possible.
First of all, I have always thought that Jesus entering me sounds like a really bad sexual reference in a creepy cult. Second of all, I am amazed that I was not struck down with a lightning bolt or turned into a pillar of salt. Third of all, it slightly worked. I figure that that would be the placebo effect since I believe in the power of prayers that are directed like that as well as the real effect brought upon by her prayer.
I didn't have the heart to tell her that I am Pagan. Seriously, she looked like one of those very sweet and slightly over-protected people. I couldn't crush her by saying that she just used her precious Jesus to heal a heathen.
I must admit that I left in rather a hurry, but I was kind of amused that the Christians are now giving out Spiritual Readings. Usually I associate a "reading" with something along the order of a Pagan Festival where there are Palm and Tarot Readings and Aura Readings and even Spiritual readings. I also must admit that the girl was obviously just using the guise of a spiritual reading to spread the word of Jesus and God, but I don't mind. She did say some things that are important for people to hear every once in a while. Good deeds are always good deeds.
Christians have become so New Age-y that we might as well consider them a whole different religion from what they once were. Though I suppose a static state would be too unnatural...
Oh! And Get Off Your Broomstick update!
I have deviated from the plan, but am keeping with the spirit of it. I have seriously cut down how much sweets I eat and am now running a little more often than every other day. I also chose to do the Taekwondo club instead of learning dances because I enjoy it more and it fits better into my schedule.
And the crystals have stopped for a while. I think I need to let my sleeping self rest. I stopped having dreams completely.
And final update of my daily life is that I love people. They make my everyday wonderful and I would be lost without them. (Special credit goes out to Mai and Danny. We are Soulmates!)
Grow strong and photosynthesize much!
Monday, October 24, 2011
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Smile or Die or Get Your Act Together
Smile or Die. It doesn't really matter if you watch it before or after what I write, but it shows that some lady, who is OBVIOUSLY smart because she is talking on the internet, agrees with me. (Total sarcasm.)
Okay, so I touched on this pet peeve in a past post, but now I have been incensed enough that I feel it is necessary to devote a whole post to ranting about it. Yay for soapboxes. Getting straight to the point, I can't stand those bloody happy-go-lucky people. I don't mind optimism and a general good spirit, but when we let it blind us to our potential and the potential of the world it just is annoying.
This is one of the few things I will use to discriminate against people. Honestly, I am a hundred and thirty-seven times (totally random number) less likely to be someone's friend if they so much as talk like one of those "The Secret" brain-washed crazies.
And yes, I avoid these people like the plague. They destroy otherwise good conversation and philosophy on almost every level. It is like they are constantly at that awkward point in a conversation when someone asks "Why?" and someone responds, "Because I believe it is so!"
So, I do believe that, to an extent, if you are thinking positively you will find that your life becomes better. The key phrase is "to an extent".
Sorry if I am a dream crusher, but I can fairly well guarantee that you will not get everything you want just because you spend your whole day thinking, "I am so happy with those million dollars I found on the sidewalk while going to work and then how I discovered that the hot guy at the coffee shop is really the long lost son of a billionaire and he actually fell in love with me the first time I ordered a Vanilla Nutmeg Latte with skim milk and cinnamon." Especially if you have only been to that coffee shop once and never even tried to talk to the barista. Too damn bad. Put some energy out in the physical sense of the word and then you will get some good mojo back.
Bilbo Baggins once said, "It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no telling where you might be swept off to."
Y'all want to get swept off your feet, don't you? Preferably by a gorgeous man/woman, right? GET ON THE ROAD! Hell, open the bloody door at least. Maybe, just maybe, something will eventually get blown in by the wind. I have to admit that I believe the real reason my life seems so much better up here than it did down in CA is because I have the freedom to just go out onto the road without worrying about what my mother will say when I return at 4 in the morning.
Oh and by the way, food for thought you guys. Some people believe that if you are positive and think optimistically all the time good things will happen to you. Let me reveal one of the main reasons this is usually true. Warning scientists, back up because this is some serious logic that has no need for testing. That's why it is called common sense. Consider this scenario.
Jackie walks down the hallway where Michael is putting up decorations for the school dance. Michael is always a klutz and falls from the ladder and lands hard on the floor taking up the whole hallway and nearly crushing Jackie.
Jackie: Oh no! Mikey! Are you alright? Do you need help?
Michael: Naw, it's okay. I'm fine. This happens a lot. Thanks though.
Two hours go by and in a different hallway the same scenario happens only this time it is Melissa who is walking by.
Melissa: MOVE BITCH!
Now, Melissa and Jackie both had a rough day, but Jackie is all into that positive thinking stuff while Melissa is a straight forward girl who takes her issues out on other people.
Michael ended up asking Jackie to the dance rather than Melissa, even though he had been debating which one he should ask.
Now, Jackie thinks that this is because she has more positive thoughts than her rival, Melissa, but as you can see, that has nothing to do with it at all.
People who are around us facilitate much of our experiences, so it is only reasonable that if we are nice to them we will reap benefits because they will feel like being nice to us. It doesn't matter how depressed you are feeling that day or if you think that your grandmother will die of cancer tomorrow. If you are nice to the person on the bus, they will be likely to warn you that your wallet dropped out of your purse rather than just stealing it. (Disclaimer: This is still unlikely to occur in places like Stockton or New York. Don't be dumb and always check your wallet's location, no matter how nice you are to that thug/hobo/psychopath sitting next to you.)
Most of what I would like to say is said in that animated talk. Seriously, just because you think the world will mold to your thoughts doesn't mean that you can simply ignore what the world really is doing. And to add onto that, giving sad people false hope is cruel and inhumane. Be REALISTIC everybody. If you are thinking about all the good things you have, you will be happy with what you have. If you are aware of all the bad things that could happen but still don't obsess over them, you will be prepared for what the world throws at you. Trust me, the world respects survival skills. One word: Darwinism. Those Madagascar finches didn't think the bugs into their stomachs, only the ones who figured out how to use what they had naturally were able to survive.
No, Karma won't take care of all your problems.
No, you can not visualize a Ferrari into your front driveway if you spend all day playing WoW.
No, the Universe doesn't care how many times you look in the mirror and say "I am model thin, but still retain my large chest." That really doesn't burn too many calories.
Yeah, much of mojo is like this. There are those laws of sympathy that we often lean on for support and we do a TON of visualization and ritualistic chanting and sacred drama, but the best mojomaker knows that even if they work a hundred spells to help them learn Anatomy, if they never open a book, there is no way in any world that those spells will have a chance to work. And no matter how many times they try to tell themselves that nothing in this world is evil, there will still be evil deeds that need to be bloody handled. Quickly.
Don't be dumb and happy. Know your stuff, and maybe someone else's. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
Okay, so I touched on this pet peeve in a past post, but now I have been incensed enough that I feel it is necessary to devote a whole post to ranting about it. Yay for soapboxes. Getting straight to the point, I can't stand those bloody happy-go-lucky people. I don't mind optimism and a general good spirit, but when we let it blind us to our potential and the potential of the world it just is annoying.
This is one of the few things I will use to discriminate against people. Honestly, I am a hundred and thirty-seven times (totally random number) less likely to be someone's friend if they so much as talk like one of those "The Secret" brain-washed crazies.
And yes, I avoid these people like the plague. They destroy otherwise good conversation and philosophy on almost every level. It is like they are constantly at that awkward point in a conversation when someone asks "Why?" and someone responds, "Because I believe it is so!"
So, I do believe that, to an extent, if you are thinking positively you will find that your life becomes better. The key phrase is "to an extent".
Sorry if I am a dream crusher, but I can fairly well guarantee that you will not get everything you want just because you spend your whole day thinking, "I am so happy with those million dollars I found on the sidewalk while going to work and then how I discovered that the hot guy at the coffee shop is really the long lost son of a billionaire and he actually fell in love with me the first time I ordered a Vanilla Nutmeg Latte with skim milk and cinnamon." Especially if you have only been to that coffee shop once and never even tried to talk to the barista. Too damn bad. Put some energy out in the physical sense of the word and then you will get some good mojo back.
Bilbo Baggins once said, "It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no telling where you might be swept off to."
Y'all want to get swept off your feet, don't you? Preferably by a gorgeous man/woman, right? GET ON THE ROAD! Hell, open the bloody door at least. Maybe, just maybe, something will eventually get blown in by the wind. I have to admit that I believe the real reason my life seems so much better up here than it did down in CA is because I have the freedom to just go out onto the road without worrying about what my mother will say when I return at 4 in the morning.
Oh and by the way, food for thought you guys. Some people believe that if you are positive and think optimistically all the time good things will happen to you. Let me reveal one of the main reasons this is usually true. Warning scientists, back up because this is some serious logic that has no need for testing. That's why it is called common sense. Consider this scenario.
Jackie walks down the hallway where Michael is putting up decorations for the school dance. Michael is always a klutz and falls from the ladder and lands hard on the floor taking up the whole hallway and nearly crushing Jackie.
Jackie: Oh no! Mikey! Are you alright? Do you need help?
Michael: Naw, it's okay. I'm fine. This happens a lot. Thanks though.
Two hours go by and in a different hallway the same scenario happens only this time it is Melissa who is walking by.
Melissa: MOVE BITCH!
Now, Melissa and Jackie both had a rough day, but Jackie is all into that positive thinking stuff while Melissa is a straight forward girl who takes her issues out on other people.
Michael ended up asking Jackie to the dance rather than Melissa, even though he had been debating which one he should ask.
Now, Jackie thinks that this is because she has more positive thoughts than her rival, Melissa, but as you can see, that has nothing to do with it at all.
People who are around us facilitate much of our experiences, so it is only reasonable that if we are nice to them we will reap benefits because they will feel like being nice to us. It doesn't matter how depressed you are feeling that day or if you think that your grandmother will die of cancer tomorrow. If you are nice to the person on the bus, they will be likely to warn you that your wallet dropped out of your purse rather than just stealing it. (Disclaimer: This is still unlikely to occur in places like Stockton or New York. Don't be dumb and always check your wallet's location, no matter how nice you are to that thug/hobo/psychopath sitting next to you.)
Most of what I would like to say is said in that animated talk. Seriously, just because you think the world will mold to your thoughts doesn't mean that you can simply ignore what the world really is doing. And to add onto that, giving sad people false hope is cruel and inhumane. Be REALISTIC everybody. If you are thinking about all the good things you have, you will be happy with what you have. If you are aware of all the bad things that could happen but still don't obsess over them, you will be prepared for what the world throws at you. Trust me, the world respects survival skills. One word: Darwinism. Those Madagascar finches didn't think the bugs into their stomachs, only the ones who figured out how to use what they had naturally were able to survive.
No, Karma won't take care of all your problems.
No, you can not visualize a Ferrari into your front driveway if you spend all day playing WoW.
No, the Universe doesn't care how many times you look in the mirror and say "I am model thin, but still retain my large chest." That really doesn't burn too many calories.
Yeah, much of mojo is like this. There are those laws of sympathy that we often lean on for support and we do a TON of visualization and ritualistic chanting and sacred drama, but the best mojomaker knows that even if they work a hundred spells to help them learn Anatomy, if they never open a book, there is no way in any world that those spells will have a chance to work. And no matter how many times they try to tell themselves that nothing in this world is evil, there will still be evil deeds that need to be bloody handled. Quickly.
Don't be dumb and happy. Know your stuff, and maybe someone else's. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Desiderata
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Tidbits and Pebbles
Just thought I would mention this, but I keep checking my blog to see if there is a new story on it. I have a feeling that this would account for the large-ish amount of views I see when I go to my main page to make a new post.
And now onto the real blog.
So this week I honestly began my volunteer job at Ten Thousand Villages and I have continued running every other day and doing sit ups every morning for the Get Off Your Broomstick! fitness challenge. Soon the second week will begin and I hope I can keep this good pattern up. I didn't even want to go running this morning because it was raining, but living in Seattle, I suppose that is something I will have to get used to running in. Luckily, it was just light rain and rather refreshing. The only time I won't run will be when it is snowing and iced up everywhere. I already know that I will slip and die if I try to run in anything more slick than rain.
Oh, and the Universe rocks my socks you guys. It always sets me up right where I want to be when I am up here in Seattle. Sometimes I wonder if that is because I am in University District, which is reminiscent of Universe District, so maybe the Universe pays a bit more attention to people around here.
And I also have been doing "on your broomstick" type things as well as the "Off Your Broomstick" type things. Mostly I have been working with crystals and their effects on sleep. This began when my friend Tammy told me to put hematite and quartz under my pillow and I found that I had a different type of dream. For the past week and a half or so I have been putting a crystal under my pillow for two consecutive nights to see how it affects me. (This is a horrible study since it is not double blind, I have no control over the quality and amount of work that I do during the day, and there is only me being tested and I only leave it under the pillow for two nights, but I'm fairly positive that I am the only person that really annoys.)
My results so far:
Quartz: My dreams are calmer and happier. Nothing sticks out much when I wake up, but they return to me in pieces over the day, usually because I do something that is similar to what happened in my dream.
Hematite: I have no dreams that I can remember at all. I hit the pillow and am out cold until the morning.
Ocean Jasper: Once again my dreams are calmer than usual, but I remember them from the moment that I wake up. There has been a theme of friendship in both the dreams I had.
Red Tiger's Eye: I feel safer when I go to sleep (I am terrified of the dark) and The dreams I have are less violent than usual, but I wouldn't say they are calm and cheerful. I also feel safe in the dreams, unlike without the crystals.
I currently have a goldstone under my pillow and I will release those results next time I post... or maybe the time after next...
Oh, and for reference, since the beginning of last year, my dreams are violent and lots of people die and they stick with me after I wake up, giving me a feeling of pseudo reality. I get many nightmares and most of the time there is a sick twisted part to the dream, like a woman who adopts young girls and whores them out until she has no use for them and throws them in the furnace to fuel the house and keep it warm.
And on that positive note, adieu! Bonjour! Safe travels! I hope this day leads you to somewhere wonderful, like a library or a little grove of trees!
And now onto the real blog.
So this week I honestly began my volunteer job at Ten Thousand Villages and I have continued running every other day and doing sit ups every morning for the Get Off Your Broomstick! fitness challenge. Soon the second week will begin and I hope I can keep this good pattern up. I didn't even want to go running this morning because it was raining, but living in Seattle, I suppose that is something I will have to get used to running in. Luckily, it was just light rain and rather refreshing. The only time I won't run will be when it is snowing and iced up everywhere. I already know that I will slip and die if I try to run in anything more slick than rain.
Oh, and the Universe rocks my socks you guys. It always sets me up right where I want to be when I am up here in Seattle. Sometimes I wonder if that is because I am in University District, which is reminiscent of Universe District, so maybe the Universe pays a bit more attention to people around here.
And I also have been doing "on your broomstick" type things as well as the "Off Your Broomstick" type things. Mostly I have been working with crystals and their effects on sleep. This began when my friend Tammy told me to put hematite and quartz under my pillow and I found that I had a different type of dream. For the past week and a half or so I have been putting a crystal under my pillow for two consecutive nights to see how it affects me. (This is a horrible study since it is not double blind, I have no control over the quality and amount of work that I do during the day, and there is only me being tested and I only leave it under the pillow for two nights, but I'm fairly positive that I am the only person that really annoys.)
My results so far:
Quartz: My dreams are calmer and happier. Nothing sticks out much when I wake up, but they return to me in pieces over the day, usually because I do something that is similar to what happened in my dream.
Hematite: I have no dreams that I can remember at all. I hit the pillow and am out cold until the morning.
Ocean Jasper: Once again my dreams are calmer than usual, but I remember them from the moment that I wake up. There has been a theme of friendship in both the dreams I had.
Red Tiger's Eye: I feel safer when I go to sleep (I am terrified of the dark) and The dreams I have are less violent than usual, but I wouldn't say they are calm and cheerful. I also feel safe in the dreams, unlike without the crystals.
I currently have a goldstone under my pillow and I will release those results next time I post... or maybe the time after next...
Oh, and for reference, since the beginning of last year, my dreams are violent and lots of people die and they stick with me after I wake up, giving me a feeling of pseudo reality. I get many nightmares and most of the time there is a sick twisted part to the dream, like a woman who adopts young girls and whores them out until she has no use for them and throws them in the furnace to fuel the house and keep it warm.
And on that positive note, adieu! Bonjour! Safe travels! I hope this day leads you to somewhere wonderful, like a library or a little grove of trees!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Is it Really THAT Bad?
For those of you who don't know, I have been taking a Wildlife in the Modern World class as well as a coinciding seminar recently and an interesting topic has come up recently.
As humans who change the landscape so dramatically, we are altering the course of evolution for animals everywhere.
My Wildlife teacher thinks that this is an unforgivable sin and we should be doing everything within our power to make sure that the animals' evolutionary paths remain as close as possible to natural. This is a lovely ideal I suppose, but rather naive and even more than that, it is impatient.
The man who gave a seminar on the New World Red, Grey, and Eastern Wolves said that, as humans, we feel this need to keep everything in a constant trajectory and the idea of a sudden change or a modification to a plan scares us. We automatically label it as bad. He also said that some of the more far-seeing humans realize that, really, a single wrong step in evolution is not the ruination of the world, just a different possibility being realized. (Well, he did not really say it in so many words, but that is what I got from what he said.)
Until the seminar, my belief that there is no problem with changing the evolutionary course of animals made me feel like a heartless, unfluffed, soul-eating ecologist. Now I feel like I am just practical and maybe being unfluffed will make me less popular, but hell, if we just work towards our ideals and blind ourselves to reality, we will never help anyone.
Side note!
I have recently discovered that my biggest pet peeve is when people are too damn idealistic. I can't stand it! I am pretty much hugging and hugged by the Universe every day, but my stars! "Don't spend any energy towards people like that, Karma will take care of them." NO IT BLOODY WELL WON'T! People who are passive and idealistic piss me off the most! Famous quote you guys, "All it takes for evil to succeed is for good men to stand by and do nothing." That does not mean that the Universe is a good person who will intervene. In all likelihood, the Universe doesn't give a damn. All it does is take in x and put out y in response to x. Sometimes this means that y=x and other times it means y=-x and sometimes y doesn't give a care about x and goes off and does it's own thing. No matter what, if we ignore this y that the Universe has given, is giving, will give us, then it doesn't matter how much x we do or don't put in.
Sorry about the rant. Back on topic. I agree that no matter what it is bad when we lose biodiversity due to extinction, but I don't believe that the fact that the path of evolution has "changed" is necessarily a negative thing. In fact, I believe that the very idea that we have "changed" the path of evolution is a presumptuous and misinformed opinion. Who knows the path of something as mysterious and eternal as evolution? Who says that there even is a "path"?
The idea that there even is a preordained path on which flora and fauna are supposed to change is completely absurd. Evolution is not a path, it is a series of stresses and responses. The response is the death or inability to breed of those individuals who are not well suited for the current environment or the flourishing of those individuals who have the proper phenome to survive in their environment. Since phenome is determined by genome, only the genome capable of producing a strong phenome will be able to survive. When this is caused by a population that has been separated from their normal environment, this effect creates a new species after a long time.
It seems to me that people who find that this type of change is unacceptable when the cause is humans are the same as the environmentalists who shoved the Native Americans into little Reserves with limited land around them then cut the forests off from human interaction and are only now discovering that because of the lack of controlled burns, we are now facing uncontrolled burns that are truly harmful for the environment. What do they think will happen to animals if they try their hardest to keep them from adapting and evolving to the environment which we humans are creating? If they have been so protected, the second we let our eyes off of them, they will find that they have no survival specialties and they will all interbreed with coyotes. Well, at least the Red Wolves that we are trying to preserve will.
We need to accept that humans are a part of the environment now. We may be more invasive than Blackberries and more harmful than Kudzu, but we are still an invasive species that has changed the land. We have a habit to hate ourselves to the point of trying to rid the world of us, but really, we just want to get back to what we were hundreds of years ago... or at least what we idealize we were hundreds of years ago. Since that will never happen, we need to accept that we are here to stay for a while. Maybe the Earth will decide we are annoying and kill us off or maybe we will kill ourselves off and most of the planet with us, but the most important thing to remember is this:
Against all odds, life formed on this planet. The one in a million chance worked out. Even if this world destroys itself because we reached too far and cared too little, who is to say that this hasn't happened thousands of times on thousands of planets in thousands of universes. What ever happens, our end isn't The End. Who knows, maybe our world will seem dead, but those bacteria, the little guys who apparently started this all, will come up again and begin everything for another time around.
No matter what, things will continue and thousands of chances from now that one in a million chance for life will come again. No matter the odds, eventually, someone wins the lottery every time.
Perhaps I sound like a jerk who doesn't care about our earth despite being Pagan and a future ecologist, but this is how I see the world. To be limited by our own selfish ideas of what is right would also limit our growth as beings. I would love it if we weren't such an annoying invasive species. I would love it if we didn't screw up almost every chance we are given to be better, but that is how it is. Even if I spend my life working against the collective selfishness, at least I can do so aware that I am a part of the collective and that it may be selfish, but it is also the only way most humans know how to survive and that part of human nature may never change. It is our history, our present, and seems to be our future. Conquer, dominate, over-exploit, repeat.
As humans who change the landscape so dramatically, we are altering the course of evolution for animals everywhere.
My Wildlife teacher thinks that this is an unforgivable sin and we should be doing everything within our power to make sure that the animals' evolutionary paths remain as close as possible to natural. This is a lovely ideal I suppose, but rather naive and even more than that, it is impatient.
The man who gave a seminar on the New World Red, Grey, and Eastern Wolves said that, as humans, we feel this need to keep everything in a constant trajectory and the idea of a sudden change or a modification to a plan scares us. We automatically label it as bad. He also said that some of the more far-seeing humans realize that, really, a single wrong step in evolution is not the ruination of the world, just a different possibility being realized. (Well, he did not really say it in so many words, but that is what I got from what he said.)
Until the seminar, my belief that there is no problem with changing the evolutionary course of animals made me feel like a heartless, unfluffed, soul-eating ecologist. Now I feel like I am just practical and maybe being unfluffed will make me less popular, but hell, if we just work towards our ideals and blind ourselves to reality, we will never help anyone.
Side note!
I have recently discovered that my biggest pet peeve is when people are too damn idealistic. I can't stand it! I am pretty much hugging and hugged by the Universe every day, but my stars! "Don't spend any energy towards people like that, Karma will take care of them." NO IT BLOODY WELL WON'T! People who are passive and idealistic piss me off the most! Famous quote you guys, "All it takes for evil to succeed is for good men to stand by and do nothing." That does not mean that the Universe is a good person who will intervene. In all likelihood, the Universe doesn't give a damn. All it does is take in x and put out y in response to x. Sometimes this means that y=x and other times it means y=-x and sometimes y doesn't give a care about x and goes off and does it's own thing. No matter what, if we ignore this y that the Universe has given, is giving, will give us, then it doesn't matter how much x we do or don't put in.
Sorry about the rant. Back on topic. I agree that no matter what it is bad when we lose biodiversity due to extinction, but I don't believe that the fact that the path of evolution has "changed" is necessarily a negative thing. In fact, I believe that the very idea that we have "changed" the path of evolution is a presumptuous and misinformed opinion. Who knows the path of something as mysterious and eternal as evolution? Who says that there even is a "path"?
The idea that there even is a preordained path on which flora and fauna are supposed to change is completely absurd. Evolution is not a path, it is a series of stresses and responses. The response is the death or inability to breed of those individuals who are not well suited for the current environment or the flourishing of those individuals who have the proper phenome to survive in their environment. Since phenome is determined by genome, only the genome capable of producing a strong phenome will be able to survive. When this is caused by a population that has been separated from their normal environment, this effect creates a new species after a long time.
It seems to me that people who find that this type of change is unacceptable when the cause is humans are the same as the environmentalists who shoved the Native Americans into little Reserves with limited land around them then cut the forests off from human interaction and are only now discovering that because of the lack of controlled burns, we are now facing uncontrolled burns that are truly harmful for the environment. What do they think will happen to animals if they try their hardest to keep them from adapting and evolving to the environment which we humans are creating? If they have been so protected, the second we let our eyes off of them, they will find that they have no survival specialties and they will all interbreed with coyotes. Well, at least the Red Wolves that we are trying to preserve will.
We need to accept that humans are a part of the environment now. We may be more invasive than Blackberries and more harmful than Kudzu, but we are still an invasive species that has changed the land. We have a habit to hate ourselves to the point of trying to rid the world of us, but really, we just want to get back to what we were hundreds of years ago... or at least what we idealize we were hundreds of years ago. Since that will never happen, we need to accept that we are here to stay for a while. Maybe the Earth will decide we are annoying and kill us off or maybe we will kill ourselves off and most of the planet with us, but the most important thing to remember is this:
Against all odds, life formed on this planet. The one in a million chance worked out. Even if this world destroys itself because we reached too far and cared too little, who is to say that this hasn't happened thousands of times on thousands of planets in thousands of universes. What ever happens, our end isn't The End. Who knows, maybe our world will seem dead, but those bacteria, the little guys who apparently started this all, will come up again and begin everything for another time around.
No matter what, things will continue and thousands of chances from now that one in a million chance for life will come again. No matter the odds, eventually, someone wins the lottery every time.
Perhaps I sound like a jerk who doesn't care about our earth despite being Pagan and a future ecologist, but this is how I see the world. To be limited by our own selfish ideas of what is right would also limit our growth as beings. I would love it if we weren't such an annoying invasive species. I would love it if we didn't screw up almost every chance we are given to be better, but that is how it is. Even if I spend my life working against the collective selfishness, at least I can do so aware that I am a part of the collective and that it may be selfish, but it is also the only way most humans know how to survive and that part of human nature may never change. It is our history, our present, and seems to be our future. Conquer, dominate, over-exploit, repeat.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Schedule
For Get Off Your Broomstick, I am supposed to be making an exercise plan and sticking to it, so I suppose I had better get on that. I will be changing my habits one week at a time with any other random things I think I should do randomly popping up in the middle of the week.
What I already do:
50 sit ups every day
Week 1: October 1-8 (extra long week!)
Getting out and running every other morning and walking on the other ones.
Week 2: October 9-15
Getting out and running every other morning and walking on the other ones.
Doing ten pushups every morning and evening.
Week 3: October 16-22
Getting out and running every other morning and walking on the other ones.
Doing ten pushups every morning and evening.
Limiting myself to three small sweets per week. :(
Week 4: October 21-29
Getting out and running every other morning and walking on the other ones.
Doing ten pushups every morning and evening.
Limiting myself to three small sweets per week. :(
Learn a new dance routine and when I am done with one move on to another one.
We are going to consider that the end of the October month since November pops up a few days into the next week.
Love y'all! Work hard if you are in this as well! <3 Oh, and today, I did get out for an early walk.
What I already do:
50 sit ups every day
Week 1: October 1-8 (extra long week!)
Getting out and running every other morning and walking on the other ones.
Week 2: October 9-15
Getting out and running every other morning and walking on the other ones.
Doing ten pushups every morning and evening.
Week 3: October 16-22
Getting out and running every other morning and walking on the other ones.
Doing ten pushups every morning and evening.
Limiting myself to three small sweets per week. :(
Week 4: October 21-29
Getting out and running every other morning and walking on the other ones.
Doing ten pushups every morning and evening.
Limiting myself to three small sweets per week. :(
Learn a new dance routine and when I am done with one move on to another one.
We are going to consider that the end of the October month since November pops up a few days into the next week.
Love y'all! Work hard if you are in this as well! <3 Oh, and today, I did get out for an early walk.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Get Off Your Broom! The First Challenge!
I joined the Get Off Your Broom! Fitness Challenge, so here is the first post about that and check out the sister post on Michelle's blog.
Just so y'all know, I bought size 8 jeans last time I went pant shopping and just tonight I found out that I fit in my roomie's, Momo's, size 3 jeans because she couldn't believe that I was honestly a size 8. We also discovered that there isn't much difference between a size 3 and a size 8, I just happen to like wearing loose pants. And now that I feel much less like a fatty:
Height: 5ft 2in
Weight: 120lbs
Chest: 34in
Hips: 35in
Waist: 28in
Thigh: 21in
Arms: 10.5in
Height: 5ft 2in
Weight: 120lbs
Chest: 34in
Hips: 35in
Waist: 28in
Thigh: 21in
Arms: 10.5in
So really, my goal this week is to get outside and maybe go for a short run every morning before classes. I woke up today and got myself out the door early just to get used to the motion, since I seem to have a serious morning inertia problem. Tomorrow I am headed out to Kirkland at 7 so that I can arrive there by 9. Serious bus rides this week, though why I am taking some serious bus rides will have to wait until tomorrow or the next day. Basically, I won't have time to go for an honest run tomorrow, but today I am still continuing my normal morning 50 sit ups, so I don't feel too horrid.
As you all will notice, Michelle is healthier than me, the slacker who's roomie bought her choco cake slice with Halloween sprinkles on it (my roomie loves me and I love her). I felt obligated, so I had to eat it... well not all of it, just about a quarter of it; the rest of the slice will be spread out throughout the week... if I can avoid devouring it. That is the nice thing about choco cake though, it is far too rich and sweet to devour all at once.
Good luck if you decide to partake in the challenges too!
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