Merry What's-its-name

Merry Something something, one and all!

I had a delightful conversation with a loquacious one-legged black pigeon yesterday, and he was very insightful. He said "Why don't you feed me, you mopey bastard?"

We

We are, above all, children. We come from different breeds, different backgrounds, different ethnicities, but regardless, we remain children. We are molded and shaped by what we experience, either beaten to a disfigured pulp or sculpted into paragons, but we will always be children. We can feign adulthood by dressing ourselves up in expensive clothes and insisting on sagacity, but we will almost always find fart jokes funny. That is both the beauty and terror of humanity: that we maintain a level of perpetual childhood within us.

It is beautiful because, what is a child if not curious? If not adventurous? A child can ask simple yet complex questions, such as "what is light made of," and work all his/her life in search of that answer, because that childhood yearning for knowledge will always remain. Children are the most miraculous of creatures because they will always find fun and wonder in the simplest of activities.

But childhood presents a two-faced portrait, because while a child can be exceptional, he/she can also be terrible. All children have wants, throw tantrums, demand attention, and act in various ways that might not be socially acceptable; it is up to the parent to teach the child. After all, we all start as blank palettes upon which our parents paint; if our parents demonstrate a particular dexterity with painting, teaching us how to be good people not just in our own interest but in the interest of others, we should grow to be respectable, friendly people. Contrarily, if a parent paints a picture of supremacy or cannot imbue some sense of empathy to their child, then that child is likely to view anyone different from them as unworthy. If the parent does not bother with the child, then the child will never know what it is to be a good person; the same goes for abusive parents.

There are too many bent and broken children, either due to their parents or their peers. Some end up labeling these children as "crazy" or "insane" or a plethora of definitions to explain their behavior, but nothing will ever be as accurate as "broken" or "unloved". It is a hollow, gut-wrenching, shred-your-insides feeling to be this way, because all these children want is love and friendship.

So before you call someone "weird" because they are alone, or dress in a different way, or do something differently, ask them why. Ask them why, not because you're offended or trying to offend them, but because you're genuinely curious. We are all children, after all, and our curiosity knows no bounds.

That's all for now, 
Das Flüg

Ramble bramble

I solemnly believe, with every fiber of my being, that if you look back upon all my posts and trace some kind of common variable throughout them all, you'd find that I'm gradually descending into a macabre and isolated insanity. That, or I just realized that I am actually growing up and that I am not really qualified to work, well, almost anywhere.
Because honestly, what does a B.A. in Political Science bring you aside from unemployment? Unless there are some great connections you have, or you somehow stand out from the other several hundred Political Science students, then congratulations, you have joined me in the 99% of Political Science students who will end up working in a job they never intended. It might be sales, it might be investments, it might even be landscaping, but regardless, we'll most likely not end up working somewhere we ever expected.
Does that mean we'll hate the job? Not necessarily, no, but it's a large kick in the shins to what we once expected ourselves to do. So, how is it possible to stand out from the hoi polloi of those of us with a really expensive (and useless) piece of paper that qualifies us for "political science"?

• Learn another language. Learn three. Learn six. 
• Do research. Do lots and lots of research.
• Be assiduous.
• Be multifaceted. Join organizations that might be polar opposites. Show a wide range of interests.
• Get a good job/internship, be gregarious, make connections.
• Don't be arrogant. Don't be presumptuous. Never contend that you "know how the world works," because that's something that has been debated since, well, probably Thucydides.
• Get five servings of fruit and vegetables a day. This is more for general health than anything else.

In other words, don't do a degree just because you have no clue what else to do.

That's all for now,
Das Flüg

Falling behind

Well, Obama won. Yeah, old news, I know, but I haven't posted in a while, so be patient with me. Actually, there are some allegations that there were some machinations set in place by Karl Rove (and his various peeps) to rig the election in Ohio that were nixed by...someone. I don't know much about it, so I'm not going to talk my ass off about it. It is an interesting postulation, but, as always, take it with a grain of salt, as you should do for everything.

Anyway, the other big event occurring is the current clash between Palestine and Israel. To take sides on such a thing is a divisive action among friends, because attitudes for both sides are largely entrenched in upbringing, religion, and personal values. To some, there can only ever be the two sides diametrically opposed with no middle ground, which leaves little hope for a peaceful solution. In order to truly understand the conflict, one must look into the history of the area, and that is certainly a storied one by any stretch of the imagination. That being said, ancient history can only go so far to provide reasoning for a present context.

To understand the present context, one must start with the end of WWII and the partition of Palestine. I'm not going to go into it all since there is a large amount of literature on it; learning that is up to you. But, just know that, at the time, there were millions of displaced Jews across Europe with nowhere to go, and the UN partitioned Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state, leading to a civil war with an eventual victory for the Jewish state of Israel. Fast forward through several wars to the present day (apologies for this, but again, the history is too long for me to go into), and Israel has Gaza, the largest city in the Palestinian Territories, under blockade. There are health and sanitation issues in the city because of the blockade, so naturally an anti-Israel party (Hamas) wins the election for the city. The conflict has thus evolved from there.

Here is a video explaining one viewpoint.

Here is another interesting video. I highly recommend watching it.

That's all, honestly. Voicing an opinion is likely to elicit extremes, anger, insults, etc. I don't care for any of that; if you can't be civil and constructive in a discussion then you have no place in that discussion at all.

Divide

A tale of two lovers is bereft a smile,
but never completely of happiness;
a tale of two lovers is a switch or a dial,
turned with capricious scarcity.

Two lovers meet just as they always do,
as two pawns on a chessboard cross paths;
one takes the other, or they take each other,
but that small spark cannot last.

Separated by distance and desire,
they yearn to return to the board; 
so that they might cross paths again
and feel that spark once more.

Distance makes the heart grow fonder, so they say,
 but that is certainly not true;
distance makes the heart tremble with isolation,
and wish for nothing else but you.

Distance is anathema to the two lovers,
and that they certainly know;
they want to bridge the distance by any means,
but the distance separates them even more.

Soon they realize their problem,
and resign to their local lives once more;
the lovers forget the loved,
but the mind weighhs heavily against the heart.

An idle mind is man's greatest treasure,
but for a lover it is a poison;
his mind will wander away from life as it is,
and resign itself into her embrace.

The mind will always know its desires
even when the heart does not;
and his mind will always desire her,
but his heart will beat reluctance.

The two lovers, separated by distance
are destined to meet once more?
They should say no, no, not once more,
because once will never be enough.

London Bridge

Graduate school. If you want to go to graduate school, prepare to read more than you ever have about things you most likely will forget a week after you read them. It's actually ludicrous how much reading I have assigned to me each week (a reading list a page long or more for each class per week), so I advise you, if you are considering going to get a Master's or a PhD, please consider what the hell you're getting that degree in. A hard science? You won't have to read much, most likely. Liberal arts? Prepare your sleeping bags for a library sleepover.

Aside from my Graduate's Lament, I finished my book and sent it off to Harper. Of course, I then read through it and realized that it should have had some editing done. So, now I just wait for three months or so to hear from them. If I do hear from them, there will probably be news reports of a man flying around London without any wings or aid. If I don't hear from them, there will probably be news reports of a man who jumped out of his window and landed on the street below.

Well, no, I probably won't commit suicide if it's not accepted, because thankfully there are other options in this new high-tech, internet-ty, Amazonian market world: self-publishing through Amazon. Now I just need to find someone to do some cover art. Any takers? Please? I don't want to end up making my own crappy covers in Microsoft Paint. Granted, I will try to only use the most symmetrical shapes, but I somehow doubt it would be as nice as someone who actually knows graphic design.

Oh, and US politics is the greatest comedy enacted on mankind.

That be all for this hour of the day,
Das Flüg

A Debate in 8 Pictures

A friendly debate between me and a friend. I'm in the blue, not because I'm a democrat, but because blue is my favorite color.

I Got A Tan from Standing in the English Rain

Cheerio from London! I've completed my move (actually a week ago) and I'm still figuring things out, but as of right now, I am a resident of London, England, United Kingdom, The Queen's Most Venerable and Pants-less Domain. I still don't have a phone, sadly, but it just makes me remember what living in the 90's was like. Ah yes, good times.

Anyway, I've been loosely keeping up with the 80's sitcom that is American politics, and I must say, I did not expect Mitt Romney to unleash his full bourgeoisie upon America so soon. In that video, Mitt denigrates those who use some sort of "government handout," whether it is the retiree who receives social security checks (after paying into the system his entire life), or the family on welfare that does not have enough to make ends meet.

What's even more hilarious is how he talks about his wife, saying something along the lines of "we don't want people to get tired of Ann (Romney)," as if she spoke in some kind of Fran Drescher-like voice and talked only about her vast collection of handbags.

Seriously Republican Party? This is the best you've got? Are you actively trying to lose this election? What with Paul Ryan's ludicrous new lie about Obama and NASA, I don't know how you guys expect to win anything. Ever. As kids, I bet you guys were the ones who bragged "oh yeah, I've got a girlfriend, but she lives in the next state over," as if that proved your machismo.

There may be a silver lining in this, however: Romney's campaign demonstrates how poorly the moderate Republicans work with the Tea Party Conservatives.

From the outset, Mitt Romney was always the frontrunner; that much had always been obvious. He was rich (note, when I say rich, I mean that he could probably buy Australia), he had "moderate" success (see what I did there?) in Massachusetts as governor, and he ran a "successful business" (see what I did there?). Of course, his positions have oscillated more than a spinning fan in summer, so the Republican core thought the best VP candidate would be, of course, the ultra-conservative, ultra-religious, ultra-deluded Paul Ryan, who makes dubious claims based on what color his stool is in the morning (hint: it's red).

Sadly enough, it is the super-rich who bankroll the ultra-conservative Tea Party, and of course encourage moderate Republicans to turn more conservative. Will there still be moderate Republicans who dislike this new trend? Jon Huntsman certainly demonstrated his willingness to be a moderate during the Republican debates, and if he had actually been selected as the Republican nominee, he would certainly have a better chance than Mitt Romney at this point.

I guess the crux of this blog entry is this: moderate Republicans, please do not support Mitt Romney just because he's running on the Republican ticket. If so, you might as well vote for a cardboard cutout of Ronald Reagan, since it will probably have a better budget plan than Mitt Romney.

That's all for now.
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My usual procrastination

It's been a while since I've posted, but for good reasons:

First, I've been writing heavily for another book. I've reached 60,000 words pretty quickly, if you understand how much that is.

Second, I've had to find accommodation in London in a hurry because of certain extenuating circumstances. Doing so is very time-consuming and, I assure you, very stressful. Thankfully, I've found a good place.

Now, as that cool breeze rolls in and reminds us all that it is yet another presidential election season, I think my only real complaint (for once, I only have one) is: How can anyone who makes less than $250k a year, or is a woman, or is a fiscal conservative, or is a senior, support the Romney-Ryan ticket?

No, seriously. How? I can't wrap my head around the support that Romney has from the Republican Party and various other sects of "traditional" American conservatism. The only people who should support the ticket are people who stand to benefit from his ludicrous budget plan, and that is a vast minority of voters.

I feel as if so many Republicans are suffering from a bad case of confirmation bias- that is, they're ignoring all the blatantly terrible and inconsistent positions of Mitt Romney just because they want Republicans to win.

Here is a list of all the topics Mitt Romney has changed his mind on (taken from www.procon.org, an overview of presidential positions):

• Abortion (Pro, then Con)
• TARP
  
• Automotive bailout
• Outsourcing
• Health care (multiple times)
• Social Security Privatization

(Not to mention that his foreign policy positions are confusing.)

His fiscal plan is simply puzzling. Romney somehow wants to cut all spending to 20% of GDP which, as the article so accurately states, is impossible.

So why, why, why is anyone in their right mind supporting this? Mitt Romney can trumpet the words "America" and "freedom" all he wants, but that doesn't make his policies any less confusing.

This is simply my opinion: the Cold War still exists. I don't mean that the United States is still holding its finger over the big red button, staring menacingly at Russia from across the table, but that the two parties in the United States are in a virtual war. Why?

Why not? There is no major enemy in the world to threaten the United States with immediate destruction and force government hawkishness. There is no external threat that "directly attacks" American values, regardless of what various pundits call "Socialism" or "Communism" or "Jihad." If there is no viable external threat to America, then there must be an internal one. If it is not physical, then it is ideological.

So are people willing to vote for a man who believes that not everyone should have equal rights, or that women should not have the right to choose (even if they're raped)? It makes no sense. It makes none at all.

That's all for now,
Das Flüg

Et al.

Do not superimpose your subjective desires onto a tragedy. Do not proclaim yourself as correct and disregard all evidence to the contrary. Do not believe a madman to be insane simply because he is mad. Empathize, accept fact, adjust and adapt. Nothing else can ever be so simple and wondrous as empathy.

Random side note

Holy shit, I just realized that I finished all my New Year's resolutions.
http://dasflug.blogspot.com/2012/01/be-resolute.html

Enough.

I told myself that I wouldn't pontificate about the recent shooting in Aurora, Colorado. I told myself that I wouldn't stoop to the level of so many self-important, pompous, pedantic chatterboxes that seem so intent on labeling and spinning this tragedy. And yet, here I am, unable to restrain myself. Why?

Because I saw some of those chatterboxes on the morning political shows today. Of course, they were talking about the shooting, how it should prompt gun control legislation, how "crazy" people should be controlled, how it is indicative of a decay in the morals of the average citizen of the US, how violent movies and video games contribute to the death of humility, etc. etc. blah blah blah. It was the usual tripe that occurs in the wake of a shooting. As always, there will be intense argument for a few months, then it will be forgotten with the advent of some new problem.

I don't particularly care to talk about gun rights, or violence in society with this shooting, but rather the individual himself. I won't talk about this perpetrator individually, but rather the mindset of America and how it turns immediately on those exclusive individuals.

Crazy. Schizophrenic. That is what the perpetrators are always labeled. In the wake of such an event, there will always be an endless circus of doctors willing to step in front of a camera and declare these people "insane, obviously." People who knew the perpetrators, though perhaps not very well, will say things such as "he/she was always very reclusive, quiet," etc.

So many people will look for any little bit of evidence to support the notion that these people are outside the societal norm for "sane." With every little bit, no matter how tangential or loose the connection may be, the nail of "insanity" gets hit harder and harder until the perpetrator no longer has a voice due to the label.

It sickens me, honestly. These people get dismissed so easily, as if we served them up with a freshly sliced lobotomy. Let's be frank, just for a second, and I realize just how ludicrous this might sound: they are no different from even the most mundane, insipidly boring person.

Before you stop reading, consider this: each perpetrator had a reason for what they did. Columbine, Virginia Tech, Fort Bragg, Aurora, etc.; they all had their individual reasons. Now, think back to a time when you wanted something so dearly that you would do anything to get it, regardless of consequences. We've all had times like that, and for some of us, those goals are a bit more extreme than others. I, personally, hardly go out anymore (ever) because of my constant writing. Not much of a sacrifice since I barely went out in the first place, but now I actively tell people that I won't leave the house except for work.

All of these people had a reason. Disregard them if you may, ignore them, whatever. Every single person alive needs comfort and a caring ear; why else might we be so driven to find love, or gain our parents' approval, or surround ourselves with things that make us happy? We love our comfort, but it is the confidence in the person upon whom we bestow that comfort that keeps us, as some might call it, "sane."

Surprisingly enough, Marylyn Manson put it best:


I couldn't care less about his music, but Manson makes an extremely prudent point. Too often, many are self-obsessed; you might notice this in any conversation, how quickly one person or the other goes "I would have..." or "I once..." as if a personal anecdote or opinion might have any relevance.

Talk to any person for long enough and you learn their eccentricities. Maybe they believe that some invisible man created the universe with a twinkle of his finger, or maybe they believe that the Illuminati control the world, or maybe they believe that fluoride renders teeth susceptible to detection by spy satellite. No one is ever completely "normal," whatever you may believe that definition to be. Our eccentricities divide us and individualize us, and sometimes they cause us to go to extremes. I cannot begin to recall all the times I have battened down my temper to stop myself from attacking someone, or did something completely random without realizing it. These things are motivated by emotions (for those of you who don't know what they are, it's that thing you feel whenever you do well on an exam or have wet stuff falling from your eyes), and emotions are not always easy to figure out on one's own. That's why, when you find someone with whom you are comfortable, whether it is a significant other, parent, best friend, or JD-Turk bromance , you feel you are able to accurately express how you feel. It makes your head clear. It's absolutely liberating.

Without that, you would be left to the self-denigrating voices in your head. It's not a happy time.

No one is truly crazy until they are labeled as such.

That's all for now (maybe even a while; currently editing),
Das Flüg

Done.

So, after a little less than two months, my book is finished; well, the story is finished. It still needs editing. But, 60,000+ words later, the entire story is down on paper. Exposition, character building, denouement, the whole ten yards, all down on paper.

I guess my only concern is finding some way to get it published. Not to denigrate what I'm going to study, but I'd much rather be a published fiction author than work as a policy analyst or diplomat or professor. It's such an awesome feeling, being able to write one's imagination down, create something entirely personal, share it with the world, and be praised for it.

I've been told that I have to get an agent in order to get my work published, which is a little concerning- I feel as if I might be taken advantage of, my work changed or altered without my permission, etc. So, at this point, I've got no idea what to do, maybe aside from start on the next story or just edit this one.

For the two or three people who actually read this blog (including myself), feel free to contact me if you want an advance copy (if this damn thing ever goes to print). I probably will hate my own book, but that doesn't mean that you have to as well!

I guess that's it. Man, these posts are really uninspired.

Words few

Approach the minutiae of life with child-like joviality and curiosity, for only then can you appreciate what it means to live.

Dearth

Some (a hopeful number) may be wondering why I have not been updating this blog as frequently as I used to, especially now that I have graduated from college. Well, to be quite frank, my summer has been full of two things: working, and writing.

I got a job (not the most enjoyable nor the most profitable, but it gives a bit of money), and I have been writing a book.

Yes, a book. B-O-O-K. It's a thing with more words than your average blog post.

At this point, I've written ~35000 words, though I feel that I am not even halfway done. To be concise about the plot, in case you were wondering, it's a bit of science fiction that I have had on my mind for the past several years. I actually started out writing another story, but hit the writer's block wall so hard that I rebounded and headed in the opposite direction. Considering that I've been writing for a little more than a month, I feel quite impressed with myself, though the story might be a trite pile of crap.

I guess we'll see how it turns out in the end. Hopefully I'll finish it before I move to London.

Oh, and if I didn't mention it, I'm moving to London at the end of September. Woo. Wait, not excited enough.



There we go.

Anyway, if you were at all curious about what I have been doing (and I really don't know why you would be, I'm about as interesting as a snail race), that's it.

And no, you can't read it. Yet.

That's all for now,
Das Flüg

Rant.

Several notable things happened this past week: Roger Clemens was cleared of perjury charges, and I got paid, finally.

Why should I write about Roger Clemens? Exactly. What the hell should I give a damn about him lying to Congress? Hell, why should he or anyone have to testify in front of Congress about steroid use in baseball?
The United States Congress is the lawmaking body of the country. What business they have in investigating steroid use in the MLB is beyond me. They might argue that because the MLB is related to interstate commerce, and thus under the purview of the Congress, but, I can't stress this enough, it has no bearing whatsoever on the functioning of this country. None. Too much time and money has been wasted on the circus-like hearings of former MLB players while there are so many other national issues to be dealt with. That being said, how long have these investigations been going on? I remember this going back to 2006 or so, though I'm sure it may have come up before then. How come the damn bankers who traded in derivatives haven't been arrested and tried? How come Dick Cheney never had to face major scrutiny because of his private security force or his unwillingness to cooperate with multiple investigations of the executive branch because he claimed "legislative exemption?"
Pitiful. Pardon my French, but fucking pitiful. A country that spends so much focus on a non-issue is disheartening and deserves scorn.

Now, onto a lighter issue, my recent paycheck: A quarter of my money was taken for taxes. A quarter. Out of a minimum wage salary. This is absurd. Minimum wage is not a survivable wage, especially when it is taxed. If Republicans are so big on tax cuts, then cut taxes for those who actually need the damn money rather than people who make over $500K.

There, rant is done.

Das Flüg

Regressive Taxation

I'm all for taxation. No, seriously, if a portion of my money goes towards social services that are both necessary and that I can use later in life, why not support taxation? Sure, there are those people who demand all their money, "they earned it," but without taxation, I'd hesitate to think about what would happen if your house were on fire.

That being said, some taxation is ridiculous, namely a tax on people who earn only minimum wage. Minimum wage, on average, nets a person only ~$15,000 per year. That is, for someone who only goes through the minimal amount of shopping, barely enough to survive. What I find appalling, however, is that some people make that in a month and don't pay taxes at all.

I make minimum wage at my part-time job. Unfortunately, it's not a great job that gives me many hours (even though I would love some more), so I've applied to a second job that will probably also pay me minimum wage if I am hired. I need all the money I can get, seeing as I will be in London this October, studying for my Master's degree. Sadly, I am not on track to make much at all.

What is the point of taking money out of the hands of people who need it the most? I realize that many taxes for lower income-earners are mandated at the state level, but still, it is quite unreasonable to tax those who rely on every single cent. I'd call it class warfare, but it seems that it's only class warfare if people with too much money are taxed.

That's my two cents, now give it back to me since I need to save my money for later.

That's all for now,
Das Flüg

Nowhere Man

If you were hit in the head with a brick and spent the last year in a coma, then you'd have a viable reason as to why you haven't heard anything about the Arab Spring. As of right now, the Arab Spring, as a whole movement, is probably the largest pro-democracy movement the world has ever seen. As of right now, the formerly dictatorial regimes in Tunisia, Yemen, Egypt, and Libya have all fallen, whether it was through public pressure or rebel insurgency. Also as of right now, many countries still face huge public opposition, notably Syria, Lebanon, and Bahrain.

I suppose the question I want to ask is, does NATO's intervention in Libya to help overthrow Moammar Ghaddafi create a precedent?

To put it in more eloquent terms, because of the supposed mission in Libya where NATO promised to arm and defend civilians with the express purpose of ending the human rights abuses in Libya, is it now incumbent upon NATO to intervene in other countries in the middle of their Arab Spring uprising?

(Unfortunately, the 2nd half of this did not save, so I'll try to reconstruct what I wrote from memory.)

In my opinion, yes, NATO has the obligation of intervention in the Arab Spring, especially in cases where there are gross human rights violations. In Syria right now, there have been multiple cases reported of the Syrian army massacring entire villages, shelling towns with mortars, entering houses and gunning down families, etc.

So, what is the difference between Libya and Syria? What do they have in common?

• A dictator? [Yes.]
• A rebel army? [Yup.]
• Human rights violations? [Definitely.]
• International condemnation? [As always.]
  
• A large oil cache? [Uh huh.]

So what is the difference between then and now? Elections. The US is the principle actor in NATO, typically authorizing and overseeing its actions. Obama knows that he has lost a good share of his support over the past 4 years due to his inability to close Guantanamo Bay, his support of nuclear energy, bailouts, etc. He also knows that if he takes action against Syria, the Republicans, to the malaise and exasperation of the non-FOX viewers, will lambaste him for "wasting tax dollars" or some other reason. (I'm quite sure that if a Republican were in office and were to take action against Syria, they would justify it as "ensuring democracy" or whatnot. Partisanship is tiresome.)

If I were President Obama, I would have done away with his ill-advised attempts at partisanship years ago and acted like the man who had so much promise so long ago and who was given the Nobel Peace Prize simply for not being George Bush. The Republicans will berate you no matter what. And, you know what, you're the president; you have access to the greatest resources in the world. Use them. Sway the American people.

Since Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been intransigent and unwilling to yield, it falls upon the international community to act on behalf of the people being massacred, especially NATO, since there is now the idea that the large democratic countries will support democratic movements.

So, NATO should at least show the same support for the Syrian rebels that they showed for the Libyan ones, just to show that for once, election-time doesn't predominate above what should be done.

That's all for now,
Das Flüg

Why Facebook is the Stupidest Investment You Could Make (Right Now)

Facebook, the ubiquitous social network, star of the movie "The Social Network," and black hole on which people spend way too much time (including myself), became a publicly-traded company this past week. Yes, that's right kids, your parents can own a small percentage of that webpage where you stash all your raunchy photos and stalk your ex-girlfriends (or boyfriends, not discriminating) from afar. Unfortunately for Mr. Mark Zuckerberg and his book of faces, the stock price hasn't risen since a slight increase on day 1 of public trading.

If it wasn't obvious to everyone else but me, Facebook is not a company that is geared to make money. It is a company that relies mainly on advertising for revenue; aside from that, it has no product to sell and no outlooks as to other products it might release. Zucks recently stated that the company could come out with their own phone, though because the smartphone market is so saturated and dominated by a few major companies (Apple, Google, etc.), the prospects for a Facebook phone raising their dwindling stock price (now at $31; highest level: $40) are about as good as world peace befalling Earth tomorrow. Ain't gonna happen, sadly.

Facebook, fortunately, has the capacity to be an advertising giant; as of right now, an estimated 800,000,000 people have accounts (including myself, sadly). That being said, one still has to gauge the effectiveness of the advertisements on the target audience; I'll use myself as an example. On Facebook, I set my birthday as 7 December, 1941 (Pearl Harbour strike, for those of you who have never read a history book). So, looking at my ads right now, I have one asking me if I'd like to enter a nursing home and if I'm over 40 and single. Well, I may not be over 40, but I am single, so ladies, and this might be crazy, but I'm single, so call me maybe.

If Facebook hopes to succeed as a publicly-traded company, they need to take the Google approach and diversify. Google started out as a simple search engine and has grown to become one of the leading technology companies in the world. They only hire the best and brightest, which has helped to accelerate their company growth. As of right now, Facebook is just a social network, and one that I'll hopefully leave after this game of Words With Friends.

If Facebook's stock drops too low, then expect something crazy or bold to happen. Hitting the half-price mark from where it started only conveys that the company was a red herring and is worth about as much as a single internet server. At that point, Zucky will have to make some tough decisions about his company's future. Can they compete against Google? Can a single social network really become a marketable company? Will Mark Zuckerberg ever find true love?

I honestly expect, somewhere down the line, that Google will buy out Facebook for controlling share of the company. It might end up being the only option for the Zuckmeister as investors realise just how worthless his big internet billboard is. If you want good investments, look into small companies that just started, read their portfolios, and see if they actually have marketable worth.

I know this was a little different from my usual spiel, but I love railing against Facebook.

That's all for now,
Das Flüg

Contrivances

I'm not sure what to write, really. Yesterday, I graduated from Rutgers in a big procession full of pomp and excitement and a sense of ludicrousness. Having a commencement speaker talk about how rich he was certainly did not ease the incendiary sun above, which promptly burned my face, giving me the appearance of perpetually being embarrassed about something. He wasn't inspirational except to those who want to dominate the business world, and since that is most certainly not me, I essentially spent a good two hours being roasted like a pig at a luau. Whoop de doo. I feel especially sorry for the graduates wearing black robes (business school, I believe, which may actually be fitting and slightly ironic (no offence to my business school friends)), as I removed my robe, rolled up the legs of my pants, and put the university commencement program magazine on my head to block the sun, and that STILL didn't protect me. Damn my pallid, semi-transparent skin.

After that was the actual political science graduation. I must say, it was truly remarkable being able to assemble all those incredibly useless, expendable, indecisive people in one place and have the whole process go off relatively expeditiously. (I joke. Or do I? I've become a new level of the word "sardonic.")

One would think that, with a name shared by several notable people, i.e. an athlete and a rather famous inventor, that the name would be not commonly mispronounced, especially in a state where the athlete is pretty well-renowned. One would also think that writing out one's name phonetically on the name card would exempt me from having my name mispronounced, just like so many frustrating past teachers and substitute teachers and various others have done, squinting at my three-letter name, furrowing their brows, staring into the letters as if they would pronounce themselves, but, nope. It's almost as if the universe decided, "hey, let's poke fun at this kid just one more time at the last possible chance that would definitely make him look ridiculous in front of his peers." And so they did. As soon as I heard the mispronunciation of the first syllable, I shook my head and walked on with an expression tantamount to having just thrown up.

It certainly wasn't the greatest day of my life, nor was it the worst. It was just another day, honestly. I mentally checked out months ago, probably around the time I was accepted into graduate school. My grades certainly reflect this: for a class where I could bring a cheat sheet to both the midterm and final exams, I received a B. What's more, I'm pretty sure that my professor gave me the B out of some laughable pity because of my graduating status. The professor was a good guy, he legitimately liked what he taught, but even so, I couldn't bring myself to care much about folklore. Or, really, at all. Sorry professor, but I'd rather be tickled by a cactus than watch another movie about trains or singing cowboys.

There was a point after the whole proceeding where I sequestered myself from the brouhaha and sat on a bench adjacent to a nice stone path that I had walked on often to get to class. I had to take in this place just once more, just absorb the towering trees that created a verdant cover from the sun, look out over the small, arched stone wall to the river, see a view that I might not ever see from that perspective again. That place had evolved from my residence into a home. I even designated a tree my favourite, a silent, isolated spot my own; this place had become familiar in the most intimate way, and I am not ashamed to say that I loved it all.

One might say that my experience is not unique to me, that every student feels the same sense of withdrawal and immediate nostalgia that I am feeling what millions upon millions have felt. The only problem is, no two people will ever be completely the same. Everyone will always have a unique story to share, a different emotional connection to make to a place, so no, my grief is not the same as everyone else's. My feelings are built upon my own unique experiences at Rutgers, god damn it, and therefore everything I feel is my own and will always be uniquely mine. No one will ever feel the exact same thing, so this is a moot point of condolence. All that can be said is "move on," and that is all anyone can really ever do.

And so, here I am on the cusp of the beginning of all things, debating whether or not my real life will begin. I think I'll make it so, otherwise, I'll be perpetually waiting for an opportunity that will never present itself.

The person who waits for his life to always begin should be the instigating factor in that life. So, graduates of all, don't wait for opportunities; seek them out, take advantage of their benefits and learn from their failings, and never, ever be satisfied. There is always more to do, more to learn, and new adventures right around the bend.

This little opus makes me think that I might have been a better commencement speaker than the rich guy who talked about how he made his money. I guess political science did do one thing for me: it primed me for a tiddly bit of arrogance. Eh, I'll live.

That's all for now,
Das Flüg

Last of the Poet-icans

So, my semester and Rutgers career is winding down. Here's my final creative writing assignment in lieu of anything more interesting. The assignment was to write ten statements with "The truth is" connecting them with the clause of "or."

The truth is...
-I can believe it's not butter.
-OR you actually do look fat in that dress.
-OR it's not me, it's you.
-OR Greedo shot second.
-OR your beauty is unmatched by anything on this Earth, or whatever line works best to get me into your pants.
-OR one does simply walk into Mordor.
-OR that I taped us having sex and posted it online. Oops.
-OR that blue crayons don't taste like blueberry, no matter how much you want them to.
-OR that sleeping with your girlfriend's twin sister is inexcusable, regardless of whether or not her sister posed as your girlfriend.
-OR that I like to feign a sense of philosophical sagacity in order to raise my self-esteem and make myself seem smarter than everyone else.
-OR that I'm afraid of graduating and becoming old because being old indicates that I'm one step closer to being weighed down by a family, kids, a mortgage, taxes, and death. Take me back to freshman year.

Two Emily Bronte-style poems

The usual assignments.

"Perpetual"

What weary eyes are those,
Those pale reflections of once-life;
They look upon the universe in pose,
Considering that she was once his wife.

Something so grandiose cannot be forgotten,
Try as one might.
It leaves the mind thinking it is begotten
With no sense of delight.

But life shall always go on
Until the last star fades;
Every day is presented with a new fawn
Who will explore the universe that none forbades.

And when that fawn feels lost,
When it has a modicum of doubt,
When its mind feels tossed,
It will have its life to tout.

For life is a phoenix,
That shall always burn and rise.
It is with those mechanics
That tomorrow is always the true prize.


"A kind darkness"

For what can I say but say adieu?
There is no reason for time;
For time continues with no ado
And mocks one like a pantomime.

It is that fire that burns the eyes
And tears away at the heart.
It cares not whether one cries
And haunts one from the start.

What grace there is in darkness
But sadly that none could see;
It is that darkness is lonely
And can never truly be free.

That darkness holds a mystery,
One that some lament;
But others appreciate its history,
And find strength in its torment.

For when one accepts that darkness,
It can only become a friend.
Its slash turns to a caress,
As it guides you through the end.

Off-rhyme poem

Because I was in Chicago for the weekend and am still very tired from it, here's my latest assignment.

With each blink I fall to sleep;
My mind has little incentive not to slip
Down that tunnel of unknown realms.
It is a cavern in which one should not delve,
Lest you welcome the insanity of darkness to come to blind you.
The adventure has ignited that fool
And found that there is no love in intransigence.
Creep along with a lurker’s existence
Only to feel the grains of sand fall through your fingers,
and forget all the yesterdays that meander.

Sonnet #2

Let us lay in wait for that fateful day
'till the leaves caress the silken touch of the wind,
her angelic voice entrancing the Earth itself.
It is this love I cannot rescind,
for she holds the envy of a thousand stars.
My unintelligible ramblings do no justice
to the elation she brings to every today.
Tomorrow is an avaricious lion,
demanding her eyes avert me; but
tomorrow will never feel the delight
of her presence.
Let there be a doubt of injustice, if
only for a day, for there will be none
when we finally unite.

Sonnet I wrote for Creative Writing

The cleft between us leaves all cold at heart
For no amount of will could bring me closer to seeing your rutilant face.
Only the rakish man with a moil-minded conscience should forget
Those eyes, those blue incitements of a soul hell-bent on a love so forlorn.
My chest is a cannon as I cry to the weeping angels,
“Spare me this tearing soul! Show me mercy! Undo this hasp and toss me asunder!”
But angels they are not, as their disgust turns to scorn.
Their libations are a selfish fanfaronade of farewells
Aimed at he who could not regret.
I call to her, “Let our tryst not be mournful, let us not acknowledge
The knell of that silent divide.”
Only her ears are the wind caressing the ilex,
Having no patience for a lovesick waif
Like myself.

Life, or lack thereof

Death on TV is not an uncommon occurrence. It could be real, as in reported deaths on the news, or fake, as in a television show or movie. Death has become such an everyday occurrence in life that we never take much account of it, unless it is of someone we know (or a fictional character we love). That being said, who has time to care for all the deaths there are in the world? When is the last time a person cried over the death of a single soldier, or of the thousands killed in Syria, or of any number of deaths reported when they were heard over the news? The most common reaction is a small "oh, wow, that is terrible," but a full-on torrential cry? Unlikely, unless perhaps you saw a picture or a video of the deaths in question.

Having attended more than my fair share of funerals at my age, I've stopped crying at funerals and for death. I've found, much too often, that people are too fast to mourn the loss of a person rather than celebrate the person that they were. For some, the mourning process is natural; imagining life without a person who has been so influential, so stable, so exciting, is daunting. So, instead of mourning that person and what they brought out in you, why not be that person that they made you be when they were around? That person you feel that you can no longer be because they are no longer around?

Along with that, I'd rather have people happy at my funeral than crying. I want people to dance and sing, to jump with joy and enjoy themselves. I don't really care if they're doing it because they're glad I'm dead or because I've asked them to, but life is too damn short to spend it sad. I am going to demand that there be dancing at my funeral, which may or may not include the chicken dance.

Yep.
DF

Writing. Creatively.

These are a bunch of "I remember" shorts based on the work of Joe Brainard.

I remember falling asleep on the floor of my grandparent’s house. They carried me up the stairs on top of a cushion.

I remember one summer where I watched the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough every day for at least a month. After a while, I was able to recite every line of dialogue from the movie. I haven’t seen the movie since.

I remember dropping my bookbag in a creek during a rainstorm. Everything inside was water-damaged, except for the Spider-Man comic book I had just gotten.

I remember going to my first Mets game. Every pop-up seemed like a home run.

I remember the first time I had sex. I wish I didn’t.

I remember working in the kid’s section of the library when a kid peed on the floor. Thankfully, I wasn’t the one who had to clean it.

I remember sitting in the back corner of the kid’s section of the library while on duty, reading books about Spider-Man and Batman. I was 19 at the time.

I remember being excited whenever Boy Meets World would come on TV. I always hoped that I would have friends like that.

I remember seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in theaters on its opening night. I got 3-D glasses in the shape of Harry Potter glasses. I cried at the end.

I remember having a Batman raincoat that I would wear everywhere. Eventually, it ripped, but I was still Batman.

I remember buying a Playstation 2 with my own money without my parents’ knowledge. I haven’t played the damn thing in years.

I remember spending tons of money on baseball and Pokemon cards. I hope I can get some of that back when I sell them.

I remember my first few weeks at Rutgers. Everyone was only an acquaintance.

I remember wrestling a kid named John for fun until he knocked off my glasses. I went berserk and gave him a black eye. I’m pretty sure he moved away because of that. I’ve always wanted to apologize, but I don’t remember his last name.

I remember knocking out a kid in soccer when one of my shots hit him in the face. It was completely unintentional, I swear.

I remember scoring my first goal in soccer. I was pretty nonchalant about it, much to my own surprised. I ended up as one of the better players that year.

I remember riding the bench in junior varsity because my coach didn’t much care for me. I didn’t care, we sucked anyway.

I remember drawing comic books in middle school with my friends and selling them to our other friends. We turned a surprisingly good profit for one dollar per comic.

I remember wasting countless hours of my life playing online first-person shooter games. I was pretty good, too. A shame it basically meant nothing.

I remember waiting eagerly on my 11th birthday for my acceptance letter into Hogwarts. Needless to say, sadness doesn’t express how I felt when the letter didn’t come. I then thought that America must not believe in magic.

I remember eating a blue crayon in kindergarten. I lied to everyone when I said that it tasted like blueberries.

I remember the first time I kissed a girl. By the end of the night, I had trouble walking.

I remember my first Model UN conference. Quite possibly one of the greatest experiences of my life. It made me feel like an idiot, which was exactly what I needed because I believed myself to be the greatest thing since Genghis Khan himself.

I remember my first broken wrist. It didn’t hurt, but upon looking at the awkward Z-shape my hand had formed with my forearm, I started screaming.

I remember my second broken wrist. Like an idiot, I fell off a 7-foot fence onto some concrete, knocking myself out. I had a concussion, a broken wrist, torn skin on my face, and a bone bruise in my knee.

I remember getting my first job at the mall selling sports memorabilia. I was fired without being told. Imagine my delight when I found out that the store closed down a month or two later.

I remember the first time I got drunk. I ended up the next morning wandering around College Ave. without a shirt or shoes, desperately looking for a bathroom and a place to eat that wouldn’t kick me out for lack of clothes. Not my proudest moment.

I remember being caught by a cop while I hooked up with a girl in the back seat of my car. Deciding that it was a sign, I took her home and didn’t call her.

I remember playing Resistance: Fall of Man for 6 straight hours until 4 A.M. my freshman year of college. My friend and I beat the game.

I remember having a staring contest with a deer. I won.

Writing that is Creative

This is a shared dialogue between a partner and me. Since it's Spring Break, well, you know. Laziness.

Venus Rising

Teapot: It’s getting drafty down here. I should get some underwear.

Crust: Yeah son. Want to check out the garbage?

Teapot: No, I’d rather create my own heat.

Crust: Sure, do whatever you want.

Teapot: No, wait, I’m scared and lonely and cold!

Crust: Don’t worry man, I gotchu.

Teapot: Thanks. Mind if I put my hand somewhere private?

Crust: Private?

Teapot: You know.

Crust: What the hell, man? You homo or something?

Teapot: No man, I meant your purse!

Crust: Hell no, get your own!

Teapot: Come on man, let me touch it!

Crust: If you touch it, I’ll punch you in the face.

Teapot: Whoa whoa whoa, no need for violence. I just really like your purse.

Crust: Just go find one yourself.

Teapot: But yours is shiny and smells of pudding!

Crust: Do you really want it? I’ll trade you my purse for your clothes.

Teapot: Hmm… I have to think about this. My clothes are warm, but your purse is shiny. I like-a da shiny.

Crust: But this purse smells like pudding.

Teapot: I do like pudding. What else can you offer me?

Crust: Yo man, I’ll take care of you at night.

Teapot: Big spoon or little spoon?

Crust: Yo man, that’s messed up.

Teapot: Then what do you mean by ‘take care of you?’

Crust: Let’s just trade.

Teapot: I want the big spoon, man. I want the big spoon.

Crust: Fine, here’s the biggest spoon I have.

Teapot: You know that’s not what I mean, god damn it. I’ve seen you watching me when I bathe myself down by the river. I think it’s time that we admitted that we’re both cold, lonely, and horny.

Crust: Fine, no spoon for you.


(Hint: They're homeless.)

Rights of the Minority

The right of the minority to defend themselves is a founding principle of the United States government, as is shown through the United States Senate. In the Senate, without 60 votes in favor of a bill, the minority party can deter a vote and ultimately defeat a bill without actually having to vote on that bill. It's an interesting system, as the legislative portion of the US government is divided; in the House of Representatives, the majority reigns supreme, while in the Senate, without the "super majority," the minority can easily control debate. Now, I'm not looking to analyze the US government, but the abilities of the minority to defend themselves in general.

What is a minority? A portion of a particular population that constitutes anything less than 50% of that population; for example, out of 400, 199 is the first minority number. Obviously, there are degrees of majority-minority relationships, but viable minorities (minorities with actual power) would typically have to constitute more than 20-30% of a particular population. In general, if fewer than 20% of a population is part of a minority, it's a fringe minority with some trait that is either very esoteric or idiosyncratic.

Now, why should a minority get the same rights as a majority? After all, they are essentially powerless to fight back against the majority. There are several philosophical precedents on which to make an argument, typically that all humans are deserving of equal treatment because we are all born with equal physiological standards (with some to little variation). There are also historical precedents, i.e. the Civil Rights movement, centuries of slavery, etc. Throughout all of recorded history and up to this moment, we have established that all people, regardless of their social status, are equal (or should be equal) in life, liberty, and rights implicit in life.

So why do we still see rights of minorities suppressed in certain places? From more extreme cases of genocide in Darfur, Rwanda, The Balkan Wars, etc., to more religious or social issues, there are still many instances of rejection of rights to certain minorities.

For example, an instance of this is in the recent revelation of the NYPD going beyond their given powers to spy on Muslim students in multiple schools across multiple states, including schools in New Jersey.

Another example is in China, where the Uyghur population has been suppressed violently because of the Uyghur protests against the Chinese government. Now, while China is not the best example of a country that upholds human rights, it is still necessary to hold them to some sort of standard because they are such a powerful nation.

So why do some countries insist on repressing the minority groups in their countries? A general explanation is a bit hard to elicit, since the reasons often vary on a case-by-case basis. Perhaps some majority groups feel as if they would be oppressed by the minority if the minority were to gain power (such as when Sunni Saddam Hussein ruled over predominantly Shi'a Iraq); perhaps other majority groups feel that being the majority favors them because of the ability to give oneself multiple advantages.

That being said, a minority could come with intangible powers, such as through money or through items (such as weapons, land, etc.). Manipulation then comes into play, which is an entirely different issue that I am much too tired at the moment to write about.

Oftentimes, it is the intangible items that set the two groups apart, whether they are the majority or not. The intangibles are seemingly more important than sheer numbers, as having a greater amount of resources with which to centralize power creates an environment conducive to the will of those with the intangible items.

So, if a minority controls a majority of the intangibles, and the intangibles are later de-powered or have their abilities removed, can the minority continue to feign being a majority? If the reverse is true and the majority controls the intangibles of society and those intangibles are given no value, does the minority realize their new power?

That's all for now,
Das Flüg

Even more creative writing!

Our assignment was to write a monologue. Woo.


When the Levee Breaks
Setting: A small room with 4 white walls.

Damon: Well, here we are again; it’s always such a pleasure. It seems that we always end up back here, in one room or another, enjoying each other’s company. How many times has it been now? 3, 4? Ah, who cares anyway, it’s always nice to see you! No? You don’t like seeing me? Oh, this unrequited love is killing me! You might as well get used to seeing my beautiful face, since this time, I’m not leaving you. Oh no, try as you might, you can’t shake me off. I’m in it for the long haul, baby, and you’d better be ready for me to rock that world of yours. All those years you shut me out, all those years of entrapment, all those years of ignorance, they’re gone, buddy boy, and now it’s my time to shine. Well, our time. Because this is a joint venture, and as much as you don’t want to admit it, you’re going to have to accept it sometime, pal. So, let’s rewind; why didn’t you like me in the first place, now that we have this extensive heart-to-heart? Not feeling talkative, are we? Oh, that’s fine, I can summarize it. I gave you something that you relished, but feared. Ohhhh boy, you seized what I gave you and you certainly did make the best of it. I remember all those beautiful paintings you made out of all that red; you were a regular Van Gogh, you were. The way you took that knife while I guided your hand and conducted a symphony was marvelous. It was like watching a regular Batman and Robin duo, except without all the tights and crime fighting. You reveled in it, being covered in the blood of another. Don’t deny it! DON’T FUCKING DENY IT. That warmth, that intimacy as you bathed in the bloodlines of countless families made you feel happy. Somewhere along the way, though, you seemed to grow feelings. We grew apart, and I really hated that, I did. I felt like we had become the best of friends. When did it happen? Was it when we tied that little girl to the chair and stared into her eyes while we tore the heart out of her mother? Did all that girl’s sorrow and screaming actually get to you? Weak fool. Was it when we decapitated that obese moron and left his head in the oven for the cops to find? Hmm?... Well, I suppose it’s not important. Either way, you built a wall around me and threw yourself against it as if you could stop the massive tsunami it contained. I think a part of you built that wall pretty shoddily, considering that, well, I’m here. Maybe the best of you was hidden away when building that wall, but it certainly didn’t stop you from fixing the obvious cracks. You tried to stop your desires, but I just kept popping back up every so often and prodding you back on the right path! Don’t you see Damon, we’re meant for each other. We’re going to be running this whole party together for the rest of our lives. Hmm? What’s that? You don’t want to anymore? You’ve grown some kind of empathy? You actually don’t want to create great artwork anymore? Come on, Damon! We created some of the greatest artwork man has ever seen! The color red is so expressive! People stared at pictures of our artwork for hours at a time trying to decipher if we had put some kind of message into it! But, wasn’t that the beauty of our artwork? Is true beauty not in randomness? Is it not in the act of choosing to show one’s feelings through some kind of extreme outburst of colors? Well, in our case, one color. You still don’t want to continue? But look what we’ve created! Hmph. I suppose that I can always complete our artwork on my own. I mean, I always was the creative one; you just had the good hand-eye coordination. Well, if you insist, I guess we can change our style from realism to expressionism. Splattered colors were always sort of my thing. Well buddy boy, I hope you’re ready for a new driver. Just as an FYI, I don’t have a license to drive, so it might be a bit... bumpy.

More Creative Writing!

The assignment was to write a short description of 10 things: a smell, the feeling of clothes, an old person sitting down, something no one can see, not remembering after waking up, taste of food, an embarrassing incident only 1 person knows, the feeling of throwing up, an experience of being in a crowded area, and a description of hands.

A sharp odor stung my nose. My eyes began to tear and my stomach began to lurch as something that can only be described as a dead animal run over by a manure truck began to fill the room. I desperately searched for an escape as I gagged.

It felt like an extra layer of fur on top of this already hairy body. The way the sleeves slipped easily and snuggly over his bear fur-filled arms filled him with the kind of elation a little kid has when he goes trick-or-treating. Now, he’d finally feel comfortable skiing.

The hinges in his legs creaked as he felt the force of thousands of years of age compress themselves and unleash their fury upon him. He leaned heavily on his cane, trying to lessen the impact on his wrinkled bum. In what felt like a millennia, he touched down upon the seat. He was relieved.

That which erased people from the world remained, cold and lonely by itself. It wandered the world, finding none who would listen to it, look at it, or speak to it. People would speak of it, fearing it, regarding it as non-existent, hating it. It was lonely, and it gave no mercy to anyone.

The light hit her eyes as she squirmed around in bed. How did she get to bed? Her eyes opened as she realized her consternation. She had no memory of the night prior, and waking up in a strange bed certainly did not help the cause. She felt around; she wasn’t wearing underwear.

As he brought the fork to his mouth, he began to salivate. The very thought of eating overwhelmed him, as he hadn’t eaten for days. He trepidatiously placed the food in his mouth and put his fork down. His eyes watered, as he had never tasted anything so satisfying in his life.

Puberty hit him badly. Every time he sat in his math class, he couldn’t help but stare hypnotized at his teacher’s sizeable ass. Her skirts always hugged her curves, and he began to feel that the pants he wore were too tight. One day, when her clothes were just tight enough, something wet his pants.

Tequila is not to be messed with. She is a cruel, unforgiving bitch, and she will drive you insane. James sat kneeling over the toilet, his mouth full of cotton and his stomach full of rocks. He hated everything right now, especially his future ex-girlfriend for introducing him to the banshee of all drinks.

Evenlyn stood quietly on the train, looking into particularly nothing. It took her a few moments to realize that some of her fellow straphangers were not wearing pants. She looked around awkwardly and frantically, unsure of what to do. She tried not staring at people’s groins, but found it increasingly difficult.

The hands were dirty and rough; they had handled wood, been burned, been cut, been broken and repaired, and yet they still contained a modicum of strength. It had been many a year since the hands had seen any danger, and that might have been good for their bones, but the hands certainly missed it.

Creative Writing

In lieu of anything better to write, I present you with my Creative Writing homework assignment. This is a "flash fiction" piece, 13 sentences maximum.

Davis and the Lights

Davis saw lights wherever he went. In front of every tree, every face, every building, he saw the same pair of lights staring at him, daring him to stare back. Whenever he looked into the face of his mother, his father, his girlfriend, his brother, or his sister, their eyes were headlights bearing down on him. The only time he didn't see the lights was when he looked at his grandfather, a towering man of infinite kindness and conviction. His eyes, though aged, held a light blue glimmer that could soften even a mountain. They were comforting to Davis. When his grandfather died, Davis no longer felt that comfort.

Davis entered college, afraid to look anyone in the eye, afraid of seeing the blinding, glaring torches that bore down on him like a freight train. Davis was afraid of looking at anyone, until one night, he was hit by a car. The headlights looked down upon him with spite, having finally claimed Davis as a victim of the Lights.

The Man From Earth

I recently watched a movie called "The Man From Earth." It was a low budget movie; there were no effects, no intricate cinematography, just a group of people in a room, talking. Specifically, the plot focuses around John, a man who continually leaves wherever he resides every 10 years. He gathers some friends from his work for a final drink and to tell them about his life's secret: he's much older than he looks.
He reveals to his friends that he is somewhere around 30,000 years old. Obviously, they don't believe him; they think that he's interested in writing a fiction novel. He begins recounting his life, and some of his friends are more skeptical than others. For the purpose of the movie, he is actually that old, though some of his friends would rather not believe him.
WARNING- If you want to see the movie, stop reading here.
The most fascinating part of the movie comes when John reveals that he studied under the legendary Buddha. As he continued living and traveling, he found that he could try to bring the teachings of Buddha to the Roman Empire. Of course, the teachings of Buddha are similar to a mythical figure who espoused peace and understanding: Jesus Christ. John reveals that his name was misconstrued and re-translated multiple times, leading to the label of Jesus.
Being an Atheist, I found this to be pretty interesting; according to the movie, there was no one person named Jesus Christ. It was, instead, a "more evolved" man who was simply looking to spread a word of peace and understanding.

While it's not exactly the most probable explanation of the man called Jesus Christ, it might be a good way to understand how the myth of Jesus Christ was created. Seeing as the apostles wrote stories of Jesus a few decades after his supposed death, what's more likely is that several folk stories of healers and teachers were amalgamated into one story. For what reason, I don't know; perhaps the writers of the bible were interested in proselytizing all of the Roman Empire, or perhaps they wanted to have a competing religion with Paganism and Judaism. Either way, I don't know.

Thus, instead of the man from heaven, the Jesus is more likely to be a man, or men, from Earth. Nothing metaphysical, nothing phantasmagorical, just human.

I recommend watching the movie. While the ending is a bit contrived, the story itself is interesting.

That's all for now,
Das Flüg

Be Resolute.

The average person will never adhere to their New Year's resolutions. How many give up going to the gym, eating well, working harder, etc., just because it's difficult? Why bother making a resolution if you're not going to adhere to it strictly?

I've decided to set strict resolutions for myself.
1. Finish writing a book.
2. Get a job.
3. Get accepted into grad school.
4. Write extremely creatively over this next semester and beyond.

I've never actually made resolutions that I ever planned on finishing; they were only perfunctory responses to "what is your New Year's resolution?" I've decided that, finally, my life needs a bit more finality than just the usual oscillating I do. I'm about to graduate college and enter the real world which, I have been told, tends to steal away one's soul for years on end. If it ends up doing that, then at least I'll know that I had my resolutions to retain a bit of what I once was.
I've started on 2 and 3 already, having completed my graduate school applications and I have applied to multiple jobs, several of which have expressed interest in me working for them. My book idea is already on paper; all I need is to sit down and write it.

To be resolute about anything takes dedication. How many people will say that they want to be healthier, and yet they keep the same diet they had before or indulge needlessly in things detrimental? To not give into a deleterious urge is to show strength towards the conviction you have set for yourself; to submit to this urge is only to display that you weren't serious about your resolution in the first place.

Do yourself a favor: if your resolution is to be healthier, go to your refrigerator and remove anything and everything with trans fat, partially hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, or anything with Splenda. If your resolution is to go to the gym, find the most expensive gym around and join it. You might as well have some impetus to go, and if it's hurting your wallet that much, it should be worth it.

If you make a resolution, don't make it because it looks good. Make it because you want to improve yourself and are willing to do what it takes to fulfill that resolution.

That's all for now,
Das Flüg

A random side note.

You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!
Question to discuss:
Is life an over valued assembly of complex molecules? Does affirming this question make your answer to it inherently meaningless?
Stranger: aw man too many long words for half 5 in the morning
You: Are you looking for a philosophical discussion or is your mood abnormally depressing?
Stranger: first, i don't know
Stranger: second, i don't know
Stranger: third, again with the long words!
Stranger: i'd say depressing
You: I'd have to agree with that assessment.
Stranger: same here. it's looking for an argument that'd just go around and around
You: I'm guessing that this person is quite intelligent, perhaps doubting whatever religious beliefs they hold.
Stranger: maybe.. i mean i have religious belief and i'd never question that
Stranger: i don't think..
You: Maybe they've been affected by a death recently, or maybe they've just been thinking about death because of some initiating factor.
Stranger: you are smart :O
You: Stranger sir, I'd just like to say, if your philosophical foundation is not shaken every single day, you are not living a life worth mentioning.
Stranger: hopefully not the former, possibly the latter
Stranger: why would you think that?!
You: Every day should be used to learn something new to possibly contradict your beliefs and lead you to see in a new light that what you once held sacred.
You: To be complacent is to be dead.
Stranger: im not complacent
Stranger: i just believe what i believe.. i mean i dont go questioning it everyday
Stranger: but i look at things from different points of view
Stranger: do you question your beliefs every day?
You: I do, especially when reading.
You: Otherwise, I get quite bored.
Stranger: are you part of a religion?
You: I am not.
You: I'm an Atheist.
You: I've considered a universe created by some deity, and I consider it boring.
Stranger: seriously? so what do you believe ahppened? :O
Stranger: happened*
You: I believe that a giant cosmological event happened that we don't have the capacity to understand, at least not yet.
Stranger: i think its interesting! i mean one man/woman with all the power? woop!
You: There are multiple theories, each with their merits, but right now, we have nothing conclusive.
You: I'm glad too, as conclusiveness is boring.
You: It leaves no room for creativity.
Stranger: so what do you think happens when we die?
Stranger: that we're just gone?
You: And a monotheistic god wouldn't have a gender.
You: You can think of our consciousness as gone, but our bodies become other things.
You: Every atom in our body has been recycled by everything on this planet thousands upon thousands of times.
Stranger: monotheism is belief in one God/goddess, yeah? then it'd have to be male or female..
You: More likely than not, many of us have atoms that once belonged to George Washington or Queen Victoria.
You: If a god makes a people in its image, then it would have to be androgynous.
You: The concept of dichotimized sexes is impossible with a god that creates people in its image.
You: Unless the god is a hermaphrodite.
Stranger: i think it is :O
Stranger: nah, i'd say He's a man
Stranger: and that, idk, he can relate to women or something
You: So, he's homosexual?
Stranger: nope
Stranger: don't think so.
You: What affirms your belief in a higher power, if you don't mind my asking?
Stranger: it's like.. if a girl could relate to something a boy was going through, or vice versa, you know?
Stranger: dude, you're super smart.. all these words.. hell. yeah, sure i dont mind
You: Words hold the power of existence.
Stranger: well i grew up with it, went to school with it, went to mass and learned about it..
You: Have you ever thought of a universe sans god?
You: Pictured, from beginning to end, the birth and death of the human race?
Stranger: like i've thought about it, but never really considered it.. if that makes sense.
Stranger: like i could think about it, but then i know God would save us :)
You: It's comforting, I realize that.
You: That's not life, however; life is meant to be explored and delved into, a puzzle to be solved and slowly but surely understood.
You: The god concept turns that puzzle into a mural to be framed and never solved.
Stranger: i do explore and delve, just like you or anyone else would.. but i always know i have Him to come back to, you know?
Stranger: like i don't go far
Stranger: hmm i see your point.. but i still think of the world as a huge puzzle, just because God created us and it doesn't mean it makes any sense to me :P
You: How old do you believe the Earth is?
Stranger: millions upon millions of years old..
You: How did the Earth come to be formed, then?
Stranger: God made it
You: I'm not grading you on what I think is correct. I want your opinion.
Stranger: yeah, i get what you mean :)
You: Just a snap of the fingers, then?
Stranger: like He can do things that no one else can.. we'd never really understand how He did it, even if we knew
You: You know what would be an interesting thought?
You: That your concept of god is actually a very advanced scientist using methods so advanced and powerful that it would take centuries, nay millennia, to understand.
Stranger: .. wait, what? you mean, God is a very advanced scientist etc..?
You: That he used some type of gravitational array to construct the planet and used samples of his own DNA to create the building blocks for the human race.
You: I'm saying that it's a very interesting thought, not that there was such a person.
You: In that sense, yes, there was a single creator of humans, but not necessarily of the universe.
Stranger: yeah, that's interesting! i mean, that's probably how He did it
You: So, if you think that's probably how he did it, then he isn't god.
You: If he's only a scientist who can create a planet, he isn't powerful enough to create a universe.
Stranger: i'd say He created all of the planets and stuff, and made the universe.. like earth would only be one part
You: What do you think of when you look at stars?
Stranger: like philosophically (that the right word to use?) or spiritually?
You: Just implicitly, internally, what do you think?
You: What's your first reaction?
Stranger: that they're very pretty and small signs of people we lost
You: What do you mean by "small signs of people we lost?
You: "
Stranger: i know they're actually other planets and stuff, though
Stranger: as in, people who've passed on to heaven. little signs that they're still here
You: How does a star indicate that someone has passed on to heaven?
Stranger: it doesn't really.. but it's just a sign from then, like a little hello or something
You: I'm not sure I understand. Every single star we see in the sky (give or take a few) has been viewed by billions upon billions of people, and those stars have remained constant over the centuries that we have charted them. How does that indicate that someone is saying "hello from heaven?"
Stranger: reminds us of them :)
Stranger: sorry if i sound dumb or uneducated on the topic.. we're just not taught any of this astronomy in school and if we ask the teachers any questions, they answer with things from like the bible and stuff
You: Have you ever considered studying astronomy yourself?
You: It's a very fascinating subject, especially cosmology and the formation of solar systems.
Stranger: nope.. it's interesting, but i wouldnt get far in it
You: Why not?
You: Why limit yourself?
Stranger: really? the words sound pretty cool :)
Stranger: ehh my family wouldn't be impressed, you could say
You: And since when do they determine your level of intelligence?
You: Or what you want to learn?
Stranger: they don't.. but i'd have to travel.. and they'd want me at home to like be involved in the church groups and stuff.. and be a doctor lol
You: Why would you have to travel?
You: I'm afraid I don't quite understand.
Stranger: i don't think there's any colleges here that do astronomy :P
You: Where is here?
Stranger: like i don't know anything in it, as i said we're not taught it in school really (the odd bits, but nothing big) so i wouldnt really get it
Stranger: ireland
You: Really?
You: I'm quite sure that there are a few good universities in Ireland, especially ones that teach astronomy and physics.
Stranger: really? well i might search up on it :) thanks. thinking of being a teacher though
You: Of what?
Stranger: religion and irish probably!
You: Well, isn't that boring?
You: That's a tired old subject.
Stranger: which one?
You: Why not study something much more interesting an innovative?
You: and*
Stranger: 'cause like.. i don't know, i sound like a total wimp when i say this, but anything like that would be really crazy in my community's eyes, i think
You: Dublin Institute of Technology is quite good.
You: And so what of your community?
You: Your "community" doesn't decide how to live your life.
Stranger: yeah, they don't.. but they're all i have :P
You: Sure, they can poke or prod you in one direction or the other, but after a certain point, you have the choice.
You: Last I checked, there are 20 million+ living in England. I'm certain that a you can find a good mates there to replace your community.
You: Even Trinity teaches physics.
Stranger: i know.. like i understand that, i know that i ultimately can do whatever i want.. but i don't know, going for a far out career but risking the loss of the people i've known my whole life.. i don't know
You: People you've known your whole life would respect whatever decision you make if they actually care about you.
Stranger: sorry, talking all about my life is probably boring you!
You: If not, they are just using you to make another version of themselves.
You: Not at all.
Stranger: are you sure? stop me, whenever you like.
You: I am.
You: True friendship or love is marked by support and respect for one's decisions.
You: Especially if the decision is not life-threatening.
Stranger: i mean.. i would like to teach, genuinely would.. but (okay, don't get me wrong, i love God and everything) everyone i knew would have a freak attack if they knew i wasn't going to stay in the village i grew up in, stay with mass every week and stuff
You: Oh my.
Stranger: that's a nice thought about friendship :) i'll keep that in mind, thanks!
You: There is so much more to the world than a small village in Ireland. There is so much to explore, so much to see, so much to experience, that limiting yourself is masochism.
You: I can tell that you're using the community as a crutch and a reason not to rise above and beyond what you've been for your entire life.
Stranger: i'm worried though.. it'd be like leaving everyone behind
You: Every bird must fly away one day.
Stranger: i don't think i'd have the heart or guts. i wanna explore definitely :) and they'd be fine with that, once i came back
Stranger: if it meant not going to heaven though.. i don't know
You: Why would leaving home mean not going to heaven?
You: I somehow doubt that living on your own and being self-sufficient is defined as a sin in any version of the bible.
Stranger: i don't know, im confused about the whole thing
Stranger: they say i'd be turning my back on god if i betrayed the people who loved and raised me all my life
You: Read into that statement.
You: Look at it.
You: How is it betrayal to want to make a better life for yourself?
Stranger: i'd be leaving them.. they want me to stay, and despite that i'd be leaving anyway? i mean, i think it'd be easier just to be a teacher, keep them all happy and still have god on my side.. you know?
You: But why would god not be on your side if you left?
You: Isn't god forgiving?
You: Wouldn't god understand that you want to be your own person?
You: God isn't subject to the whims of a small community in Ireland.
Stranger: it's sinful though to disobey your parents and people who love you..
You: Who said that?
Stranger: the bible
You: In what passage?
Stranger: i don't know, that's just what i've been told since i can remember
You: Ok then.
You: Find a bible.
You: Read through it.
Stranger: subject to the whims..? what do you mean?
You: Look to see if it says that "disobeying your parents and the people who love you," even though you are able to make your own decisions, is a sin.
You: I mean that god does not follow the beliefs of a small community of people in Ireland.
Stranger: i know it is though, 'cause i've been told in school and at home and in mass and everything.. like i could try looking for it, i guess..
Stranger: i think it might be bad to question it though
You: Do or do not, there is no try.
You: Why?
You: Because you might insult someone for being wrong?
Stranger: i might be shunned or something
You: And if they shun you, they don't respect you.
Stranger: we're always told that we should have faith in God no matter what. that we don't need proof or anything to believe in His love and belief in us
You: And what respectable human being needs to be around people who don't respect them?
You: That's fine, but maybe you should check on whether or not what you're being told about god is actually in the bible.
Stranger: but like.. i don't think its a matter of disrespect.. i think its more that that's what they've been told, so they'd do the same?
Stranger: if that makes sense.
You: So, it means that they aren't thinking for themselves?
You: So why continue living in a community like that?
Stranger: i mean its easy to say that i could go off to college, be shunned by everyone and left on my own than to actually do it.. i really do appreciate your advice though, i don't get much, so thank you very much
You: No problem.
Stranger: because it's easier to stay here than risk being forbidden in heaven and ignored by my family for the rest of my life..
You: But wouldn't you feel better about having made it on your own?
You: All right.
You: Have you ever read through the bible?
Stranger: not the full way, nope. we learned about parts in school and stuff, but i've never read it through.. we're supposed to though lol
You: Perhaps you should.
You: There's an interesting little part about aliens that I found funny.
You: But read through it
You: And judge whether or not your community is truly adhering to an archaic manuscript.
Stranger: aliens? XD
Stranger: i would, i really would like to.. but if i ended up questioning it.. i dont even want to know what would happen lol
You: Yes, aliens. I'm quite serious.
You: You'd grow as a person.
You: That's all it takes to learn, to question your beliefs.
You: It's enlightening, it's frightening, it's exciting, it's beautiful, it's vehemently necessary.
Stranger: but what if God knew i was questioning them..?
You: God gave you the faculty of free thought.
You: If you didn't use it, it would be an affront to god.
Stranger: i guess..
Stranger: i'm still not sure though, its all too scary and worrying to think about most of the time
You: You might as well use what god gave you. If not, what use is the organ between your ears and behind your eyes?
Stranger: i dont think i can explain what i mean, i dont know how to put it in words..
You: Try.
Stranger: like i know its necessary to use my brain and stuff, and figure things out for myself, i know that one hundred percent.. but at the same time i know im not meant to question god
You: If god didn't want you to question him, he wouldn't have given you the ability to do so.
Stranger: im not meant to question the monks and nuns in school, the priests and nuns in mass, and my parents/family and community.. im meant to just accept everything
You: You're meant to do nothing except what you actually want to do.
Stranger: but im told so much that i should have blind faith in God forever..
You: And these people who tell you, how would you rate their lives?
You: How interesting are they?
You: How much are they actually enjoying the experience of being human?
Stranger: i'd say they have good lives! :)
You: Why is that?
Stranger: they have a whole village of people and the love of god, and are happy:)
You: How do you know that god loves them?
You: The love of god isn't something that is easily measured.
Stranger: He blessed them with good things
You: Such as?
Stranger: friends, homes, churches, good luck, everything they've ever had
You: These things can be found in countries of people who don't believe in god, or believe in multiple gods.
Stranger: cause they have the blessing of God too. or if they don't believe, they'd been blessed with brilliant minds and can create amazing things!
You: Every mind is the same (not counting disabilities). Every person has the faculties to do great things. It's how that mind is applied that makes the difference.
Stranger: i see.. but.. okay, i might know how to explain what im trying to get across a bit more if i ask you something.. do you mind if i do?
You: Go ahead.
Stranger: what's your biggest fear?
You: Living a life where I feel bored and useless.
You: Ennui is one hell of a motivator.
Stranger: well, i was hoping for something like spiders (XD) but okay! (dont worry anyway, you seem to definitely live a life far from useless with all your amazing logic :) )
let's say you want to become a doctor, okay? so you're growing up all happy as larry lalala, and everywhere you go, everyone you see, says that if you become a doctor, you'll fail and your life will turn into something where you're always bored and feel useless, so you should just be a.. teacher. so even though now you're scared, 'cause its your biggest fear, you still want to be a doctor. but if you just did something else like become a nurse, the risk factor wouldn't be there.
so would you still become a doctor, risking your biggest ever fear, or settle for something a little less and avoid it?
Stranger: oops instead of nurse, i meant to say teacher*
You: Doctor.
You: Why limit myself?
Stranger: would you really though? :/
You: Yes.
You: How do those people know I'll fail?
You: Do they really have so little faith in my abilities?
You: If so, what's the point of having them around if they're only going to undermine my dreams?
Stranger: ohh.. i never thought of it as people's dreams being undermined..
Stranger: then let's say they know you'll fail cause a higher power says so..
You: What higher power is there than your own faith in yourself?
Stranger: :S god..
You: No person can ever actually know what god thinks.
You: God is god for a reason.
You: If someone knows what god knows, does that not make that person a god himself?
Stranger: no, but the bible..
Stranger: ahhh i don't know, im truly so confused.. im sorry, i wish i had better answers for you
You: You know your answers.
You: You've just never had the confidence to say them,
Stranger: i cant say them in real life
You: You can.
You: You have a mouth
You: You have vocal chords.
You: You can say them
Stranger: this is the first time i've ever really said them (typed :P).. it feels wrong, you know?
You: There is nothing stopping you aside from your own fear.
Stranger: do people in your life know you're atheist..?
You: They do.
Stranger: what did they say when you told them?
Stranger: im sorry if that's too personal
You: Nothing, because they respect me for who I am.
You: I have a few very religious friends.
You: If we discuss religion, it's only in passing, because that's not what really matters between us.
Stranger: they didn't like shut you out or anything..?
You: Not at all.
You: Friendship isn't contingent on one's religious beliefs.
You: If it is, it's not friendship.
Stranger: i don't have any friends outside my village..
You: I'm sure that there are some people within your village who think like you do and are afraid to speak their minds.
You: It's natural that people don't want to upset their parents, but if parents can't accept their children for who they are, well, they're not good parents, sad to say.
Stranger: they should be, we'd be completely isolated lol
You: Not at all. You'd have each other.
You: How old are you?
Stranger: 16, im almost 17..
You: So you're about to start at a university, correct?
Stranger: after this year is over, yes. september 2012
You: And you wish to study medicine?
You: Or biology, whatever the precursor to medicine is?
Stranger: i want to be a paediatric (ahh spelling) nurse :D
You: Make it so.
You: Go to a university, any you so desire, and study to become one.
Stranger: yeah.. :/
You: Trust me, you'll have a great time, and oh boy will you learn more than you've ever learned in your life.
Stranger: i'd like that i think :) its probably wrong to be teaching us that everything is to do with bible and things
You: It is, honestly.
You: There is so much majesty and wonder to be learned, and yet the bible is a collection of stories (written in different time periods) that can't accurately depict how much greater the universe is.
You: It's not a science textbook in any sense of the term.
Stranger: do you think (if you believed in God) He'd be mad at me..?
You: Not at all.
Stranger: haha, nope, that the bible is not :)
Stranger: oh. :O
You: The desire to expand and learn more is not a sin.
You: By the way, would you like to see something amazing?
Stranger: .. but questioning faith is considered as turning your back on god.. :( but i won't get into that aagain, because it'd just be a repeat of what i said, and i'd waste your time.. :P
Stranger: yes! :D
You: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zppa-Zkp74E
You: It compares the size of the star Betelgeuse to our solar system.
Stranger: wow!
Stranger: its HUGE!
You: Yep.
Stranger: that's so cool :D
You: Do you know what's even more amazing?
Stranger: nope, tell me, please :D
You: In a few billion years, our sun will become that big and swallow up everything in its path, including the Earth.
Stranger: .. :O whoa..
You: Mmhmm.
You: It's the natural lifecycle of a star.
Stranger: how do ye figure things like that out? :O
Stranger: every star eats a galaxy? :O
You: Lol, stars don't eat galaxies, only their own solar systems.
You: Eventually, they collapse in on themselves, forming a supernova and becoming a neutron star.
You: It's the most beautiful sight in the sky, a supernova.
Stranger: well that's something i didnt know :O
Stranger: you can see them?
You: If they appear, yes.
You: Especially if you have a telescope.
Stranger: that's really amazing :)
Stranger: does it look anything like a shooting star? i saw one of them before
You: Not even close, haha.
You: A shooting star is actually the dust from a comet tail. The Earth is simply passing through the trail the comet left behind.
You: What burns up in the atmosphere with a shooting star is a bit of rock and ice that came off of the comet.
Stranger: ice in the atmosphere? :O
You: Lol, not in the atmosphere, in space.
You: You know what a comet is, right?
Stranger: but how can ice... if there's no gravity..
Stranger: eh nope..
You: Okay, then, astronomy and physics 101.
You: A comet is a large conglomeration of rock and ice that typically orbits a sun. Halley's comet is the most common one we hear about. When it travels around the sun, the sun heats up the comet and causes parts of it to break off, creating a tail.
You: When the Earth passes through the tail in the Earth's orbit around the sun, all the ice and rock that came off of the comet burns up in the atmosphere as shooting stars, as they are typically called.
You: Are you with me so far?
Stranger: yep!
Stranger: i think. XD
Stranger: that's so interesting though.. its like there's a story behind everything lol you're so lucky to have all this information, you have a gift i think:)
You: No, I just read and like science.
You: You're just as smart as I am; you only lack the information I know.
You: Do you want to know about gravity?
Stranger: i say its a gift, you say it in such a nice way :)
Stranger: sure! if you wouldn't mind :)
You: There are very few people with gifts, and trust me, I'm not one of them.
You: All right!
You: Gravity is one of the most interesting concepts in the universe.
You: Everything with mass has gravity.
You: That means that even you have gravity.
You: But, since your mass is so small, the gravitational attraction you exert is minimal.
You: Gravity is directly proportional to mass, so the larger the mass, the more intensive the gravity.
You: Because of this, Jupiter has over 50 moons, and captures more every day because of its enormous gravity.
Stranger: 50 moons!!!
You: Gravity also allows a planet to have an atmosphere. This is why the moon, which has very little gravity, has no atmosphere.
You: Yep, 50.
You: Most of them are captured asteroids.
Stranger: whoa :O
You: If you were to attempt to land on Jupiter, you'd be crushed into something the size of a penny because of the intense gravity and pressure.
Stranger: so earth has a lot of atmosphere but not too much?
You: It has enough to sustain us.
Stranger: and we'd weigh less on the moon? :D
You: Correct!
You: Weight is the pressure of gravity combined with the mass.
You: The Earth's gravity is enough to hold down oxygen and hydrogen, two important elements for life.
You: Our mass never changes though!
Stranger: air is 78% nitrogen, isnt it? or something like that..
You: Yep!
Stranger: so the more gravity, the more pressure, the more you weigh?
You: Exactly!
Stranger: score! :D
You: Obviously, our bodies can only take so much since we're only accustomed to Earth gravity.
You: This is also why astronauts have to constantly work out; they're always in free-fall and don't feel the effects of gravity.
You: Work out in space*
You: Now, the sun is the most massive object in our solar system; it literally anchors down the planets in their orbits.
Stranger: work out as in exercise? or as in work while in space..?
You: Exercise.
Stranger: but i thought that some planets are bigger than the sun?
You: NOOOOOO
You: In our solar system, there is nothing bigger than our sun.
Stranger: in the whole world?
Stranger: wait, no,
Stranger: i mean the whole.. like the whole of everything ( idk the word XD)
You: In the universe, you mean?
Stranger: yes!
You: Ah, there are plenty of things larger than our sun in the universe.
You: The galaxy is one obvious example, as is other stars.
You: Look at this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS88G5WBcfQ
Stranger: umm, is the galaxy like another solar system?
You: Actually, this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0lxbzgwW7I&feature=related
You: That one is better.
Stranger: thank you! :)
You: The galaxy holds a multitude of other solar systems with stars, some very similar to our own, with planets orbiting them, likely very similar to the ones we have in our own solar system.
Stranger: aliens!!!
Stranger: and is there only one galaxy in the whole universe? :O
You: NOOOOO
You: There are billions upon billions of galaxies in our universe
You: More than we can ever see
You: Each with solar systems within them
You: Each with planets, and moons, and who knows, possibly intelligent life.
You: What else would you like to know?
You: I'm happy to oblige.
You: How about the formation of our solar system?
You: At least one of the theories, the more likely one?
You: Still there?
You: Well, I'm going to bugger off for now, but I encourage you to keep reading about this great universe we inhabit. I'd recommend reading Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot, Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time, and Hyperspace by Michio Kaku. They'd all be very enlightening. Also, if you don't already, watch some good science fiction, such as Star Trek: The Next Generation or Doctor Who. Good luck!
You have disconnected.