Is Twitter Satan?

"When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise." - Proverbs 10:19

This verse was brought to my attention whenever I asked my youth leader if he "tweeted." He used to but has recently stopped due to researching the Holy Book. He stopped using Twitter.com when he found this one and surprisingly felt convicted. It made me wonder if tools such as Facebook/MySpace/FriendFeed/Twitter are biblical or not. Granted, I SERIOUSLY doubt that Paul or James is going to talk about internet networking sites but what about useless gabbing? While I couldn't find anything specific, I have been in prayer about whether it is okay to allow anyone who wants to access my life. It makes me ponder the information I present. Can you know someone from reading their tweets, their profiles or blogs? How easy is it to portray whoever you want with these interfaces?

"A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions." - Proverbs 18:2

Granted, I am clearly taking these verses as single statements and out of context but even still it makes one wonder. I can't say that this post itself is anything more than useless speech but I just wanted to see if anyone agreed or had any thoughts on this.

Selection Day

So I was going to have an elaborate election post bashing and hating on all those who weren't going to vote until I myself decided not to vote. I feel as if I regret this BUT it is an experiment: I will now post who I WOULD be voting for below we shall see if my vote even counts. Okay a few facts, I'm Libertarian and I live in South Carolina. Here we go:

U.S. Senate
Bob Conley (D)

U.S. House of Representatives District 6
Nancy Harrelson (R)

President and Vice President
Bob Barr and Wayne A Root (L)

Amendment No. 1
Must Section 33, Article III of the Constitution of this State be amended so as to delete the provision that no unmarried woman shall legally consent to sexual intercourse who shall not have attained the age of fourteen years?
Explanation:
This amendment deletes the section of the Constitution which says an unmarried woman must be fourteen years old or older in order to consent to sexual intercourse. Deleting this section would allow the state Legislature to set the age of consent. Currently, the state legislature has the age of consent set at sixteen for most cases. A "yes" vote would delete the section from the Constitution and let the state Legislature set the age of consent. A "no" vote would leave the section of the Constitution in place.

Vote: No

Amendment No. 2
Must Section 16, Article X of the Constitution of this State relating to benefits and funding of public employee pension plans in this State and the investments allowed for funds of the various state-operated retirement systems be amended so as to provide that the funds of any trust fund established by law for the funding of post-employment benefits for state employees and public school teachers may be invested and reinvested in equity securities subject to the same limitations on such investments applicable for the funds of the various state-operated retirement systems?
Explanation:
"Post-employment benefits" are benefits, mainly health insurance, provided to eligible state government and school district retirees. To comply with a change in accounting standards, the state has created trust funds to pay for these post-employment benefits. This amendment relates to how the money in these trust funds may be invested. A "yes" vote would give the state government the option to invest these funds in equity securities (stocks). A "no" vote would mean that state government is not allowed to invest these funds in any kind of equity securities (stocks).

Vote: No



Amendment No. 3
Must Section 16, Article X of the Constitution of this State relating to benefits and funding of public employee pension plans in this State and the investments allowed for funds of the various state-operated retirement systems be amended so as to provide that the funds of any political subdivision of this State that have been set aside for the funding of post-employment benefits for the political subdivision's employees, including those invested in independent trusts established for that purpose, may be invested or reinvested in equity securities of the type permitted for investment by the various state operated retirement systems, as provided for by the General Assembly?
Explanation:
This amendment is the same as Amendment 2 except it applies to local governments' post-employment benefits (instead of the state government's post-employment benefits).

Vote: No

City of Florence Referendum
Shall the South Carolina Department of Revenue be authorized to issue temporary permits in the city of Florence, South Carolina for a period not to exceed twenty-four hours to allow the possession, sale, and consumption of alcoholic liquors by the drink to bona fide nonprofit organizations and business establishments otherwise authorized to be licensed for consumption-on-premises sales?
A "yes" vote would authorize the South Carolina Department of Revenue to issue temporary permits to nonprofit organizations and business establishments, otherwise authorized to be licensed for consumption-on-premises sales, within the City of Florence to allow possession, sale, and consumption of alcoholic liquors by the drink on any day of the week, including Sunday.
A "no" vote would not authorize the South Carolina Department of Revenue to issue temporary permits for consumption-on-premises sales to nonprofit organizations or business establishments within the City of Florence for possession, sale, or consumption of alcoholic liquors by the drink on Sunday.
Explanation:
Should the referendum question set out above be answered by the voters in the affirmative, the South Carolina Department of Revenue will be authorized to issue temporary permits to allow the possession, sale, and consumption of alcoholic liquors by the drink to bona fide nonprofit organizations and business establishments, otherwise authorized to be licensed for consumption-on-premises sale for a period not to exceed twenty-four hours for a one hundred-fifty dollars filing and one-day permit fee, or an annual fifty-two week temporary permit for a three thousand dollars per year fee. These permits can apply to any day of the week, including Sunday. This Public Referendum was approved by Ordinance No. 2008-39 by the City Council of the City of Florence on the 14th Day of August, 2008 to be on the November 4, 2008 General Election Ballot for voters in the City of Florence.

Vote: No

New Way Of Seeing What They Want Us To

So with the recent visit from my broski Seth, who is as much of, if not more, of a movie fan as I. When we watch a movie, my brother and I rate and review it on Flixster. This site is great because you can give your detailed reviews and your star rating from half a star to five stars with half star increments. Usually I rate the movies I see on Flixster on how much I like (or dislike) it, i.e. The Never Ending Story isn't that good of a movie yet I gave it 5/5 because I love it. My brother on the other hand has the ideology that aspects of a movie do nothing but add or subtract yet are there for a particular reason. While I personally pay close attention to musik/sound, cinematography, art direction, etc., Seth has the ideology for as long as they don't take away from the movie, they aren't bad. This was unprecedented to me because I think unless they are good they take away. I don't know which way is right or makes for a better experience, I just thought upon reading this, you too would discover the way you decipher a movie.

Word, Jelly

So I recently hung out with a buddy of mine who likes to use words that aren't real. Granted, I am all for doing whatever you want but it did take me some time to figure out their vocabulary; which word stood for what. The minute I realized that "creep factor nine" meant weird I was in. The idea of doing whatever you want and tying into your everyday speech was unknown to me but it blows my mind. I thought I was a renaissance man but my friend, they're the one who's taking to the next level. I guess this is just a post of realization but also an encouragement to try and truly do what you want. Make up words, wear outfits that don't match, it doesn't matter as long as it's what you want to do and you're confident in it. Thank you to my friend the genius.

Try This If You're Bored...

"If you're bored, you're boring." - Seth Rainwater A wise, man with a killer blog

This is the quote that I heard every time I would say I was bored from 7th - 10th grade. The reason that it stopped in 10th grade was because I finally realized what it meant. I don't mean that I figured out what the words meant, I mean I finally figured out the true meaning behind the statement.
Just take a look around and realize that you're in one of the most prosperous nations in the world, America. You obviously have a computer and internet, food, clothes, and an outside. This isn't a "Get Up & PLAY!" propaganda, but seriously, there is nothing in this world better than the world itself. Appreciate your surroundings, your neighbors, your family. The reality of the situation is, is that if you can't appreciate what is surrounding you, then you probably don't deserve it.

So instead of complaining about "There's nothing to do in Florence" or wherever you live, just be.

"The present is a gift, and I just wanna be" - Common

The Broski Speaks

So my brother, Seth , knows a thing or two about a thing or two. His most recent filosofee is one that should be shared across the universe (not literally NASA; don't be beaming any more songs into space.... jeez).

"Nine out of ten times, the person is going to be more important than the situation."

When Seth said this it seriously blew my mind man. What he is talking about here is that in an argument, disagreement, or pretty much any other form of human interaction, winning the person and his/her feelings, whether that be admitting you are wrong or even saying you were wrong even if you weren't, is going to be more important than winning the conversation. This ideology of complete selflessness is one of many beautiful characteristics portrayed in the human that is my brotherly kin.

Congratulations on being engaged/alive/a great person, Seth.

Check out Seth's blog at tentontruck.blogspot.com or here.

It's Isn't A Royal Flush, But....

So I haven't posted in a while and here is usually where I give some excuse. Well I have none. The real reason I haven't posted recently is because I haven't had any ground-breaking epiphanies or ear-catching filosofees and you know what, that's just how it goes. The life I was dealt may not be glamorous (and yes I spelt it right becaue of Fergie) or action packed, but it's my life and I love living it. We all long for popularity and love but really, it isn't always like that. Sometimes, life is just average and boring; face it we've all had those days where everything is just "ehh..." "It's that bitter that make the sweet that much sweeter," it is this quote which best sums up this post.

I guess in actuality, I did have a quote and a filosofee.... c-r-a-z-y!

Nobody Thinks About The Little Guy

I've been thinking alot about status and being prejudice. I myself am not racist but we all know how many people are. The social status of your wealth, job, and appearance affects your wealth, job, and appearance.

The big dogs never think of the pooper scoopers. How often do you think Donald Trump thinks of the people that clean his office or vaccum his house? How often do you think he thanks them? The idea of Donald Trump doing a working job humors me if not gets me through the day. But the fact of the matter is that without someone to do the scrub work in Donald's office, he couldn't work at all. If hospitals were not kept up with by janitors then the cleanliness factor would fall.

How can we not think about all the intertwining aspects of everything? Even now I am tihnking of the man who put together the keyboard I am typing on. What is he like? Does he have a family? Is he a she?

How can never being appreciated not discourage one to the aspect of quitting?

I guess what I am trying to say is appreciate those who don't get appreciated. Thank your janitors, high five your secretaries, tip your waitresses.

Word up..... "G".

So I have been thinking alot about words.

Words can connect people all over the world. Words of encouragement, of hate, of dispair, of false hope. Words can make or break any situation. While sometimes saying the wrong thing can make a situation worse, saying nothing at all can be just as devistating.

Words can be taken out of context, can be misinterpreted, can convince, deter and even sell. The repose you carry with your words says alot about not only how you view the person you're talking to but yourself. Cockiness, attitude and rudeness are clear when someone opens their mouth. Then again clarity, sincerity and kindness are made clear too.

I guess what I am trying to say is your words affect people more than you may think.

Earlier today in my english class, I heard a quote. "Words are the blantent beast that only the wise can cage." This is so true and a prime example, as much as I hate to say this, is our president. President Bush has a remarkable ability to misspeak. "Thanks to this new policy, OBGYN's all over the world can practice their love for women." Now we all know what our president meant, but really man, come on.

Don't get me wrong, I am pro-Bush but there is a line.

Words, man.

Political correctness..... fatty!

Our government is awesome!

The political correctness of our society is so much so that it is becoming offensive. People today are racist, sexist, weightist, and everything else that is different from themselves....-ist.

**NOTE**
The "appropriate" term for fat is "obese".
The "appropriate" term for black and beautiful is "African-American".
The "appropriate" term for gay is "homosexual".

Why don't people stop worrying about what people need to be called so they don't "feel bad" or "take offense" and just say what needs to be said?
And on the other hand why don't the people who get up in arms about political correctness just CHILL OUT! If someone is fat let them be fat and don't worry about it. If they want to be fat, let them. Fat people know it isn't good for their health to be tubby but if they don't like care, LET THEM EAT!

I know I don't make alot of sense and I know I am a bad explainer but the main point in a majority of my filosofees is:
"Do what you want, man, just be whoever the crap you want to be".

Blank Ideas

As my mind draws a blank on what filosofee to explain and share next I can't help but think that movies and musik have shaped my very ideas and beliefs. The idea of doing what must be done, 25th Hour; the concept of holding out because of love, Cast Away; realizing that sometimes you just need to boogie, Daft Punk. These and MANY other magnificent pieces have shaped my worldview.

I guess what I am trying to say is that you can read how deep or how shallow you want into anything, just be open minded. The idea that epiphanies can come from art is not abstract (no pun untended) so let your mind be free and experience all you can from every situation - good or bad.

The Skill Of Imagination

"What if it is not my skill that has failed me, but my imagination?" - Bioshock

We all know that children have more imagination than adults yet adults have more skill than imagination. I was thinking about this and wondered whether or not children should be allowed in the Think Tank. Abstract thinking has proven as a powerful tool in scientific and medical breakthroughs and in art.

If stingy, stuck-up, close minded adults think that they are more important and/or smarter than kids they need to think twice and again. Children have uninhibited, creative minds that know no boundaries, therefore allowing artistic and unprecidented thinking.

We should not take children for granted or their minds for gain yet we should welcome a free way of thinking and expretion.

Children are the future... and the present.

Hero Filosofees

While I was watching Heroes, which is awesome by the way, and one of the main characters said something that was interesting. Mr. Linderman said that people must make a choice in life, about life. "You must choose between a life of happiness, and a life of meaning. If you choose a life of happiness, one must live in the moments, thinking nothing of the future or consequences. If one chooses a life of meaning, they will have a life of contentness with no instant gratification. You must think only of the future and the outcomes of ideas."

While Mr. Linderman is a highly respected man on the show I believe there is a flaw to his belief. If someone decides to have a life of meaning, they must live in the moment and vica-versa. If someone is in immediate danger, one must act quickly and saave the life. One must have meaning and significance in the moment.

The idea of significance does take part of making distant and choices for the future but some of those choices do lead to happiness.

I say lead a life of happiness and significance by being the person you know you should be.

Exciting

Last night I waited from 8:30pm to 12am for the midnight release of Halo 3 and needless to say I was very excited about the whole event and game. While I was waiting in line I was thinking about how no one gets excited anymore. When was the last time you got truly excited about something? I don't mean being happy that The Bourne Ultimatum was in theaters, beacause I know I was, but I mean genually and literally excited. Jump out of your seat and dance excited.

People need to be extactic about things now-a-days. Children today trust so much and are joyful about new toys or a trip to grandma's house while adults smile and maybe say "Man I am so excited" but they never show it.

But then again maybe people don't show excitement the same way I do. The way people express themselves is a testament to how intrekit (or however you spell it) the human mind is.

Excitement should be an emotion commonly expressed.

The News

When I seldomly watch the news I constantly think to myself, "Why aren't they reporting what really matters?" I mean I am all for keeping the public informed on the President and the Bull Market but let's get some exciting happy news happening on these stations! Wish people 'Happy Birthday' or personal interviews with Average Joes.
Personally I would rather there be a moment of silence for the people who died in an alley today than know whether or not Tom and Katie went on a cruise! Why isn't there a TV or Radio station that notifies parents on what is really going on. and I don't mean ratting kids out but I do mean having someone to say, "Hey parents, have you hugged your kid today?" What is the matter with having someone who encourages helping people like we KNOW we should and would want people to do if we were in their position.

We should just lend a hand, man.

Screw 'The Man', man.