Friday, April 29, 2005

The Places I've Been

Outside the U.S.
Perth, Australia
London, England
Paris, France
Florence, Italy
Rome, Italy
Geneva, Switzerland
Singapore
Hong Kong
Aqaba, Jordan
Jabal Ali
U.A.E.
Bahrain
Kuwait City, Kuwait
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Canada
Mexico

Inside the U.S.
Manhattan
Oahu
New Orleans
Orlando
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
San Diego
San Francisco
Nashville
St. Louis
Indianapolis
Chicago
Jersey City

The Places in Texas
Dallas
Austin
San Antonio
Houston
Galvaston
El Paso
Fort Worth
College Station
San Marcos
Padre Island
Lubbock

Actually, I've been to more places than this, but these are the places I can think of right off the top of my head.

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

An Ejimication in Film

A list in compelling political films

The Corporation
The "Yes" men
Wag the Dog
Bowling for Columbine
The Insider
Farenheit 9/11
Roger & Me
Traffic
City of God
A Civil Action
Hotel Ruwanda
Wall Street
Boiler Room
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Citizen Cain
Outfoxed
Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices
The Future of Food
Thank You For Smoking
An Inconvenient Truth

These are the films which I believe are the best films to clue you in to what's going on in the world. These films depict how corruption is ruining things in the world.

Also, these are not necessarily my favorite films. I just think they should be viewed.

Thursday, April 21, 2005

Buddhism Basics

In Buddhism, there are Four Noble Truths:
(1) Life is suffering.
(2) All suffering is caused by ignorance of the nature of reality and the craving, attachment, and grasping that result from such ignorance.
(3) Suffering can be ended by overcoming ignorance and attachment.
(4) The path to the suppression of suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path

Noble Eightfold Path consists of:
1. right views
2. right intention
3. right speech
4. right action
5. right livelihood
6. right effort
7. right-mindedness
8. right contemplation

These eight are usually divided into three categories that base the Buddhist faith: morality, wisdom, and samadhi, or concentration. In Buddhism, there is no hierarchy, nor caste system; the Buddha taught that one's spiritual worth is not based on birth.

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Are There Any Adoption Disqualifiers?

When adopting a child, if have ever done the following, please seriously consider the magnitude of what you are about to undertake.

1. Attempted suicide
2. Have a history of mental illness
3. Have had an extensive recreational drug history
4. Have threatened or have seriously considered divorcing your spouse
5. Have a history of infidelity
6. Have been a victim of molestation by an imediately family member

I have never seen or heard this discussed on Oprah or anywhere else in the media regarding people who are considering adoption, but this is a serious issue.
Basically, We're talking about the sanity and happiness of a child, and a sacred trust between the biological mother and the adopting parents. Just because someone has money does that make them a good candidate for adoption?

Monday, April 18, 2005

In Search of the Perfect Tasty Beverage

Sunday, I got inspired for some reason, so I went to the supermarket to buy some Lipton tea bags, the kind with 150mg of antioxidants in them. I guess it was black tea.

Ingredients:
8 tea bags
1/2 cup of imperial sugar
2 quarts of boiled purified water

I stuck it in the fridge and drank it all day yesturday. It actually made me feel hydrated unlike my normal beverages of choice; coffee, decaf coffee, coke, diet coke, and gatorade. It's also about 1/5 of the price as all the other stuff which actually makes it taste even better.

I was so proud of myself for rediscovering an inexpensive tasty and healthy beverage.

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

I prefer being sober

It's not like I'm a raging alcoholic, but if I could give up drinking I would. There are a lot of reasons why. It's a waste of money. It's doesn't really add to the fun. It definitely doesn't make sex any better. The last few girls I've been with have not been "keepers" and alcohol was involved. I hate nursing a hangover the next day and remembering stupid things I said or did. Occasionally, I'll get behind the wheel and there will be giant "?" as to whether or not I should be driving, which is really bad. So, if these aren't good enough reasons to quit drinking, I don't know of any. I could quit if I had someone to quit with. Anyway, I would just like to quit.