We have a tendency to forget that our thoughts are predictable, signals fired due to the situation, influenced by our genetics and environmental impact, in short, our phenotype. We're fancy computers...while many choose to escape knowledge of such through religion, I'll carry on with the assumption that readers have chosen to accept reality. Yes, college has turned me into an elitist snob. Now I will continue to puh-poo all conservatives or religious people while sipping very bitter espresso.

Of course while we accept that we are computers, we live within the reality in our brains...otherwise we'd be considered sociopaths. We experience our emotions and get passionate about our "values." So of course I feel strongly about my "individualized brand of super-liberalism." And I read this article: The Ideological Animal

The second paragraph was good enough material to make me feel more self-righteous: after all, I was better than that silly typical San Francisco liberal: I didn't view just Republicans as ignorant, intolerant yahoos, why, I knew that both Republicans AND Democrats could be viewed as such.

The third paragraph was a reminder of how my brand of liberalism was individualized...oh no, I'm no sheep. I agree with her on small government and gun control, as well as personal responsibility!

I went on to the meat of the article. I laughed at the thought that my politics could have been easily predicted. Most peoples, sure; not mine. Then I read the list of characteristics associated with liberals

Messiness: dear lord, if one were to look at my room with that in mind and predict my politics, they'd think I go to every ANSWER function. Maps, travel documents, and flags: I haven't done as much travelling as I want, but check, check, and check. I love books, music, I'm an optimist (with the exception of my newly acquired "jaded" college student thing...all the cool kids are doing it), I love art...allright, just put me in my box!

Bah!

On vegetarianism

Once in awhile I feel the need to review some of the basics of my lifestyle. A recent questioning of my dietary decisions at work and a roommate hastily turning to veganism (which likely isn't going to last, as it's halfhearted), and a cooking binge made me review my vegetarianism.

Actually, I'm not a vegetarian. I eat fish (but only the kosher kind). This apparently makes me a pescetarian, whatever that's supposed to mean. I was raised a meat eater. It never made sense to me. I always felt ridiculously guilty eating meat. After all, if I wouldn't want to kill an animal myself, it was probably for a good reason. However, I accepted the way I was raised and assumed that meat was necessary.

In the summer before tenth grade I worked for the conservation corps. It was there that I first remember being exposed to vegetarianism...I was in the fake hot dog line for kashrut reasons. Talking to vegetarians made me realize that it was possible...for a few months I filed the information away, then I went veg. Full out, no fish. And a couple years later, due partly to the urging of my mother, partly to research on fish-exclusive omega fatty acids, and probably partly to the deliciousness of lox, I went back to eating fish.

They say you are what you eat. I'm largely chocolate. But it is true that when I eat well (healthfully), I feel much better. I've been using a cookbook that I absolutely love, Jump Up and Kiss Me: Spicy Vegetarian Cooking, by Jennifer Trainer Thompson.

Anyway, it's a lifestyle decision that I feel strongly about. I don't go around preaching (though I'll be honest if asked), but I will say this: Do you really want to be directly responsible for the death of an animal you've been around? Having worked a good deal with goats, I'll bet they're smarter (and cooler) than your household pets...ok, that was low...but they're awesome. Same goes for many other animals. So why is it any better to pay for a bunch?

All of this is ignoring another huge reason

Of course, that makes me feel guilty for not being a vegan. I try to be careful about where I get my eggs and milk, but beyond that, it's hard. I could never be a vegan without seriously putting my health in danger. I don't have the time or money...and truthfully probably not the willpower. It's all about the extent of which you can do something...it's impossible to be perfect. But, I ought to push myself. I think I may stop eating fish, and maybe a vegan day a week? Hard to say. Such things take much thought (and support always helps, too) to stick to.

If you're feeling guilty, maybe it's time to do some reflection, find internal inconsistencies, and do what's possible to remedy them. If you're not, good for you.

And no, I am not procrastinating on studying...

NARAL campaign needs your help

Disturbingly enough, in some places, abstinence only education is still around. I'm still trying to figure out how someone could possibly think that a teenager's teacher telling them about such things would encourage them to have sex. I vividly remember being disgusted by my seventh grade teacher teaching us what oral sex was. And the pictures...stds that look like cauliflowers...well, let's just say that I'll be scared for life. Good job, bay area public school!

http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/choice-action-center/take-action/sex-ed-curriculum.html
Here’s how you can help:

1. Request a copy of your school’s curriculum. Whether you are a parent, student, or a community member, as a tax-paying citizen you have a right to know what your public schools are teaching.

a. Call your school’s superintendent’s office. Request that they mail you a copy of the sex-education curriculum. Here’s a sample script to use:

“Hello, my name is _____ and I’m a parent/student/community member in [your town]. I’m researching sex-education programs in our area and I’d like to request a copy of our school district’s sex-education curriculum.”

b. If you don’t reach your superintendent, you can contact principals, health teachers, school board members, or any other school administrator and pose the same question.

Grr, Mark!

A- Available or single? Nope

B- Best Friend? I've had my best friend from elementary school, best friends from high school, best friends from college...I guess the best term is "close"...not even closest...because if we're going there, I might have to reference reasons for my answer to the previous question.

C- Cake or Pie? Cake all the way. But it's gotta be good cake, more like great cake...if it's bad cake, forget it, I'll take a bad pie. But a great cake....mmmm.

D- Drink of Choice? Coffee. Of what sort? Depends on my mood. Also, milkshakes.

E- Essential Item? My motobecane.

F- Favorite Color? Teal or turquoise...depends.

G- Gummi Bears or Worms? Sour worms...when they're not sour, then the little bears.

H- Hometown? Born in San Francisco.

I- Indulgence? Chocolate...bars, mousse, decadence, ice cream...ok, chocolate.

J- January or February? I prefer February, I guess, for the very slightly more tolerable weather.

K- Kids and names? 1, Leo. Oh, humans? No, none.

L- Above referenced reason for answer to question A stole the computer and wrote: Life is incomplete without? My cat, Leo. That and posting pictures of Leo on my blog. And talking about Leo.

M- Marriage Date? No.

N- Number of Siblings? None.

O- Oranges or apples? Oranges...I kinda like really good apples, but even then I prefer oranges.

P- Phobias/Fears? Falling, also open water is kinda scary.

Q- Favorite Quote? Albert Camus...what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads?

R- Reason to Smile? Glass Danse, The Faint

S- Season? Spring. I'm cliche.

T- Tag three people! You see it, you do it!

U- Unknown Fact About Me? There's a reason it's unknown.

V- Vegetable you hate? Beets...yuck.

W- Biting fingernails. Blogging!

X- None. But I've had an MRI. Oh yeah, teeth...if those count.

Y- Your favorite food? We've been through this...chocolate! Savory? Garlic bread, or a good thai green curry.

Z- Zodiac? Pisces...not true...I suck at swimming.

Important news: Leo was neutered today. I guess he'll be a little boy forever. Also, he weighed in at 9 lbs 2 1/2 oz. My coworkers laughed at me when I called the office to make sure he was allright, and I think the receptionist did, too. I hope I'm not on my way to crazy cat lady status. He's my baby (Mark, you understand, right?)!

I came accross an interesting article:

A twist on the oldest profession

It seems to make quite a bit of sense. My biggest question is: why wasn't this around before? If a woman is in Vegas and would normally go to the nearest bar/meat market with one goal in mind, why not pay a little extra for her pick of an STD-tested, good looking man who's likely ging to be a bit better between the sheets than most (though with our fairly repressed culture, it probably doesn't take much)?

updated pictures!

More of the little guy...getting bigger by the day. He'll be 6 months old on the 13th.

More actual content to follow...eventually.











































Goodnight everybody.

part of a 7.4 billion pound tidying program

Something else to laugh at Britain for...like we needed more
tidy tape