I think it's hard for me to keep pets because I hate to see them chained down or contained. Right now Kermit, one of my two frogs, is swimming around maniacally, terrified of the light I just turned on. Miss Piggy is probably hungry because her fatass is too stupid to eat the food I place in front of her. This wouldn't be a problem in Africa, where they're apparently from.
But they are adorable. Maybe that's why we love pets. It's an evolutionary contrivance that leads us to relate to them, to empathize for them and their emotions. Somehow, helping them helps us. I think we domesticated animals to use them, and as an evolutionary side-effect, we've developed the ability to empathize in them. Thus, we ensure our own protection or ensure that we maximize on their qualities that we need to survive.
In addition, I think animals don't have feelings and any display of "emotion" we see is only a result of our inherent tendency to connect to them. They also have evolved to display these "emotions" to get what they want.
But in a way, haven't we all?
Regardless, I could never chain down a dog or cat. It just wouldn't feel right to restrict them. I don't think I enjoy the idea of taking that much command over a life, regardless of the Great Chain of Being...
Monday, January 25, 2010
Valentine's Day
Sean and Eric have been going out with their lovers for awhile, which kind of leaves Evan and I the bachelor's of the apartment.
A commercial came on. It was an ad for a rom-com opening on Valentine's day. It didn't look like anything significant until Sean commented, "Don't you think it's messed up for movies to open on Valentine's Day? A lot of people don't have valentines or significant others."
And as if to manifest fate itself, Evan and I turned our heads to gaze in each other's eyes simultaneously before bursting into laughter.
I can't tell if it's sad or hilarious.
A commercial came on. It was an ad for a rom-com opening on Valentine's day. It didn't look like anything significant until Sean commented, "Don't you think it's messed up for movies to open on Valentine's Day? A lot of people don't have valentines or significant others."
And as if to manifest fate itself, Evan and I turned our heads to gaze in each other's eyes simultaneously before bursting into laughter.
I can't tell if it's sad or hilarious.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Memories Awash
I just cleaned my large calendar that is pinned on the wall I face where my computer rests. It's a wet erase board, and though I've owned one for nearly three years, I still learned something new as I cleaned it for the months to come. It may sound obvious, but to me it was rather revolutionary: the more water I use to erase the board, the easier it is to erase.
At first, I simply dabbed a paper towel and wiped vigorously. Maybe it was with a subconscious thriftiness that I attempted to conserve water, or maybe I didn't want the wall to get too messy. I don't know. What I do know now is that calendar cleaning was once a chore, but is now possibly much more easily accomplished with my new-found knowledge.
Is it sad I like to insert a new calendar at the beginning of the week so as to feel like I have maximized my number of days?
Admittedly, it was with fair difficulty that I erased the entirety of the board. Namely, I had to erase things Helen and my brother both said to me. My brother quoted from the Wheel of Time Series, which is typical for the two of us, while Helen wrote something also fairly typical for us.
Helen wrote once on my board, back in what must have been almost a year ago, "God loves you. Sometimes." While this would be construed as many things, it was mostly an inside joke. No, she wasn't saying that even a universally benevolent deity would still find reason not to love me. Nor was she questioning the all-lovingness of God.
While all those may be true facts, God is simply something she likes to call herself. I guess I might have given her the moniker. The origins of the majority of our countless inside jokes have been forgotten even if the jokes themselves are not. Either way, I call Helen God, and she is labeled so in my phone book. It's gotten to the point where I search Facebook for Helen's name and start with the letter "G," only to remember that her name really is, in fact, Helen.
I guess stupidity is the price you pay for good friends. Especially ones like Helen.
At first, I simply dabbed a paper towel and wiped vigorously. Maybe it was with a subconscious thriftiness that I attempted to conserve water, or maybe I didn't want the wall to get too messy. I don't know. What I do know now is that calendar cleaning was once a chore, but is now possibly much more easily accomplished with my new-found knowledge.
Is it sad I like to insert a new calendar at the beginning of the week so as to feel like I have maximized my number of days?
Admittedly, it was with fair difficulty that I erased the entirety of the board. Namely, I had to erase things Helen and my brother both said to me. My brother quoted from the Wheel of Time Series, which is typical for the two of us, while Helen wrote something also fairly typical for us.
Helen wrote once on my board, back in what must have been almost a year ago, "God loves you. Sometimes." While this would be construed as many things, it was mostly an inside joke. No, she wasn't saying that even a universally benevolent deity would still find reason not to love me. Nor was she questioning the all-lovingness of God.
While all those may be true facts, God is simply something she likes to call herself. I guess I might have given her the moniker. The origins of the majority of our countless inside jokes have been forgotten even if the jokes themselves are not. Either way, I call Helen God, and she is labeled so in my phone book. It's gotten to the point where I search Facebook for Helen's name and start with the letter "G," only to remember that her name really is, in fact, Helen.
I guess stupidity is the price you pay for good friends. Especially ones like Helen.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Unsettling
I've been playing a lot more Settlers of Catan lately. For the uninitiated, it's a board game I started playing a few years back, introduced to me by my friend Verde and company. My brother happens to be very good at it, and I don't think I'm terrible either.
The object of the game is to garner 10 points, gained by building structures and other things. The main driving force of the game, however, and its main appeal stems from the trading aspect of it. Players can trade resources with one another, which leads to various peculiar situations involving loyalty and kindness, or lack thereof.
I have thus begun a reputation for being devious and manipulative. In real life, just the other day, I was told that I would not convince Danny with "my words." He used quotations in real life too, which I thought was bizarre.
So what do you think? Do I use my words to manipulate too much?
The object of the game is to garner 10 points, gained by building structures and other things. The main driving force of the game, however, and its main appeal stems from the trading aspect of it. Players can trade resources with one another, which leads to various peculiar situations involving loyalty and kindness, or lack thereof.
I have thus begun a reputation for being devious and manipulative. In real life, just the other day, I was told that I would not convince Danny with "my words." He used quotations in real life too, which I thought was bizarre.
So what do you think? Do I use my words to manipulate too much?
Monday, January 11, 2010
Fresh
So the semester officially starts tomorrow, at 8AM. With Biochemistry. Like the previous semester, I'll be doing things a little differently this time around. Primarily, I plan to shave this week. I'll take a few before and after pictures hopefully so you, my groupies, can see the change.
I also plan on blogging more, hopefully. As most of you can see, the layout of the blog has changed a bit. I don't really like the color scheme with the theme. Personally, I'd prefer a grayer feel to it, but we'll see how it turns out.
In addition, if you frequent the gym, you might be surprised to find me there. I have developed quite the muffin top and plan on bringing it back down. I peaked around 188 pounds over break, and as proud as I was about my new high, I can't but help to think that it is a result of sloth, a vice I need to vanquish.
Alliteration aside, I am also going to be active in AXΣ, my chemistry fraternity. Hopefully I can get a little, but if not, it should still be fun. All this change has little to do with the New Year. As some of you know, I detest New Year's resolutions because I think if you want to change something about yourself, it should be at any moment, not shelved until imaginary forces compel you.
After all, shitmydadsays sums it up perfectly:
I also plan on blogging more, hopefully. As most of you can see, the layout of the blog has changed a bit. I don't really like the color scheme with the theme. Personally, I'd prefer a grayer feel to it, but we'll see how it turns out.
In addition, if you frequent the gym, you might be surprised to find me there. I have developed quite the muffin top and plan on bringing it back down. I peaked around 188 pounds over break, and as proud as I was about my new high, I can't but help to think that it is a result of sloth, a vice I need to vanquish.
Alliteration aside, I am also going to be active in AXΣ, my chemistry fraternity. Hopefully I can get a little, but if not, it should still be fun. All this change has little to do with the New Year. As some of you know, I detest New Year's resolutions because I think if you want to change something about yourself, it should be at any moment, not shelved until imaginary forces compel you.
After all, shitmydadsays sums it up perfectly:
"Universe is 14 billion years old. Seems silly to celebrate one year. Be like having a fucking parade every time i take a piss."
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