Tuesday, December 27, 2005

18X: the MOS that scared me

Currently Reading
Full House: The Spread of Excellence from Plato to Darwin
Author: Stephen Jay Gould

Well, the title begs a little explanation I think.

In the Army, there are many jobs or specialties that soldiers choose upon entry or at various times. They have to qualify mentally and physically for them of course, and several have intense training that must be passed as well.

They are divided into numerical groups and call MOS; short for Mission Operation Specialty. MOS series 11 is for infantry, for instance. Within each grouping, there is another identifier that describes more specifically what a soldier's "job" is. 11A is like a rifleman, 11B is fire support, 11C could be like grenadier or something like that; I'm not sure.

Well the Special Forces MOS number is 18. Normally, you have to try out for the special forces when you've been in the Army for a few years. I believe you've got to be an E4 or E5 ranking; most people go in as an E1 or E2 to give an idea. 18A being Weapons Sergeant, 18D medic, etc. Well recently, the Army has created a NEW specific MOS for people who want to jump directly into the Special Forces group tryouts: 18X. Basically you are given a combination of Basic and AIT school together for an extended time period. Like 15 weeks for one station instead of Basic that normally lasts 9 weeks. Its called OSUT and stands for One-Station Unit Training. Its designed for infantry guys actually. After that you go into a special course specifically designed for the 18X boys. Its to get you up to speed and ready to go for the Special Forces assessments. Its very new and called SOPC. Its prepatory course to get you ready.

Well it works very well; and I was misled into thinking the dropout rate was higher; when in actuality the PASSING rate when compared to regular soldiers is MUCH higher; like double. It is that fear that kept me from considering it to be a legitamate option. Because if you fail and dropout you are put into the infantry. Not a bad MOS and not to knock those in it; but not something I wanted to do; especially after scoring a 97 on the ASVAB.

Now, after reading some good material that I've gotten for Christmas; I'm seriously considering that option over going in as an Army Ranger. Rangers are the best infantrymen in the world, period. But Green Berets are the best at Unconventional Warfare; which covers many many topics. They are given much more abstract goals and missions and then expected to carry them out however they can.

Friday, December 23, 2005

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Currently Reading
Full House: The Spread of Excellence from Plato to Darwin
Author: Stephen Jay Gould



TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A MARINE,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE MARINES
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE MARINES,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE MARINE AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE MARINE ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE MARINE ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan.The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.....

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of relaying this to as many! people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is dueto our U.S.service men and women for our being able to celebrate thesefestivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what weowe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, whosacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part to plant thissmall seed.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Overcome

Currently Reading
Full House: The Spread of Excellence from Plato to Darwin
Author: Stephen Jay Gould


Lately, I find myself at the end of the stick I use to beat lazy people. When doing work, or study, or something like that; I'm fine, I have no issue, in fact I have fun doing it. Its getting myself motivated to start.

I need to go work on my car. Well I don't want to do it today, I'll go do it tomorrow... and then that stretches to the next day. And then the next. It looks on the surface that I'm afraid of doing the work or that I don't want to do the work. I honestly don't believe that. I think its more of some kind of mental block that tries to dissuade me from doing it. I love doing the work, I like the satisfaction I feel when I fix something or when I learn something really eye-opening. Its not the actual act that I avoid; its the first step.

When I think about it, its really how a lot of things have been. Afraid of talking to that girl... but if I'm in a random conversation with someone, its no problem; I'm laid back and not afraid of anything. Its just getting there; thats the battle I have to fight. This applies to so many things; I presume this is a theme to my life thus far. Not really something to feel too positive about.

First steps I take,
not actions I make;
Are what push me aside,
so to falter and hide.

Monday, December 12, 2005

Kyoto Revisited

Currently Reading
Full House: The Spread of Excellence from Plato to Darwin
Author: Stephen Jay Gould



After my harsh assessment earlier in the week about the Bush admin's stance on the Kyoto Treaty, I did a little research into possible reasons WHY they would decline an obviously positive thing.

Turns out, its not so positive. Liberal media has decided to take it upon themselves to CREATE the Admin's reasoning for not joining. I say create, because their main reason was because of the motives behind this treaty.

Its common knowledge that the United States is hated in the world. Whether you want to claim that we deserve it, or claim that its envy; thats beside the point. The point being is that the United Nations and the World Court system is run by a bunch of people and countries that hate the United States. France, Russia, Germany, the Middle East, China, etc. Its become a total farce... weak and "weekly government" African countries have as much power as stronger nations and its very pathetic and weak.

Where am I going with this? Well the penalties of not reaching these goals, is that people in your country (not sure if its the admin or corp-heads or what) are brought to TRIAL in the World Court. That doesnt sound too bad on the outside; until you realize this organization (and almost all worldwide organizations) are run by people that hate us (for whatever reason you choose to believe). The people that would be doing the inspections are run by people that hate us. They want to take us down; they hate our culture and they hate the way we handle things. We all have our opinions of that and I'm doing nothing but stating the truth.

Do you want a super-biased team coming into our country and "finding" something that we arent doing right and then unilaterally skipping the government's involvement and holding you responsible? I don't. They seem to complain that we "police the world" and state of how much more moral authority that they have because of it. And well, this is the same thing. They can complain about how we don't donate enough money to worldwide charitable causes; who donated more money than every European nation combined to the Tsunami disaster? But when protestors peacefully march in China, because the government stripped them of their land, is creating a power-station in that area, then shoots the protestors, and then offers money to the families of victims in a hush-hush way of removing the evidence(bodies)? That to me is HORRIBLE. This info wasnt even on the news. I've had to find out more detailed info and information on Sydney's anti-Arab movement with online sources.

The liberal media doesnt report these things. I renounce my disappointment from my previous article :) Bush had WAY more people supporting him (especially people in Congress) than what the media wanted me to believe.

I can't say I'm suprised. One day they will get their due. You're supposed to report a informational and un-biased (as unbiased as possible anyway) statement of world events. Not covering up some facts and fabricating others out of thin air.

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Cycles in my head

Currently Reading
Full House: The Spread of Excellence from Plato to Darwin
Author: Stephen Jay Gould


I was watching 'Christmas With the Kranks' earlier tonight with my parents. Pretty funny movie actually, I'd recommend renting it; definitely a great Christmas flick.

During the movie, my mind was wandering off; and I was trying to harvest some deeper thought processes that I might have planted. And they are long overdue.

I, like anyone, always wonder if maybe I'm special compared to others. Am I smarter? Do I have other particulars to me that set me apart? Of course, the mature answer being that EVERYONE thinks about this once in a while because EVERYONE DOES have particulars that set them apart. Life as a whole; in the animal kingdom, and in the modern world; is abundant with variation within its complex systems. Of COURSE I'm special compared to others. There is no real normal.

The word 'normal' in this case, can best be described as the imaginary average that exists when applying standard deviation to a large sum of data. SURE, normal is there; it can be mathematically expressed as a line (possibly curved depending on the set of data). But just because something can be mathematically expressed; doesnt mean it can be physically described in the real world. Thats pretty obvious, I guess. I think most people have to find their own description of 'normal'. For me, it'd have to be this geeky way. But it amazes me that it popped in my head while watching a movie about a couple doing something DEFINITELY not normal; by attempting to skip Christmas.

In thinking of the ways I'm different from the calculated average, I've always known I was smarter than the average guy. Of course, 'smartness' can be really vague, and I guess I've expressed it about as vaguely as possible. :) My intelligence stems from the ability to remember things very clearly; and to totally absorb subjects that I'm interested in (and their particular associated facts). I've known this for my entire life. But it never ceases to amaze me. I can spend 1 month with great interest in a subject; I turn around and look at myself; and I feel like I can just understand everything so much more clearly. And by everything, I mean everything in life. How offhanded subjects apply to real life; MY real life.

For instance, I've just expressed being 'normal' as an expression of sabermetrics. And the definition TOTALLY works with me. It makes MORE sense to me than someone just saying "everyone is different". Larger standard deviations are the spice of life you know? *geeky laugh*

You may be reading this and thinking: "This guy is so totally self-absorbed." And you'd have a good case, definitely. But I use this blog to sort my thoughts and to develop my brainpower.

My title of this blog entry, being 'Cycles in my head' DOES have a point, I promise. The cycles I'm describing, are my cycles of learning. I'm somewhat like a locust, I'll learn many things about a subject that I'm totally engrossed in, and then I'll get bored and sit stagnant. I feel HORRIBLE when I'm stagnant. My mind wanders and goes blank, I cant sleep, and I have no motivation for anything. I only feel REALLY alive when I'm learning something of which I am interested.

Why not just always be intersted in something? That's a great question. I've tried, but I have a difficult time forcing myself to be intersted in something. Me being interested means that I will research that subject into late hours of the night. Always learning little things as I go along while I search for a question to the answer I already have. Sometimes I find the question, and then I'm still interested and I keep going. Other times I don't, I get bored; and then I have to wait until something else comes along.

I'm currently searching for something. Not just the cultural study; or the civilization stuff... or THE natural science (which includes everything from darwinism to psychology to geology)... I guess I'm searching for others like me. Others that make posts like this. I've searched on Xanga, searched on google, and searched by hitting random blogs here. I just can't find anyone doing it. No one seems to step back and write an analytical statement about themselves; its always a criticism of something outside. It is this trend I'm seeing here, in a world full of mathematically-expressed averages, that I wonder if no one else really does this. Am I the only one?

I sincerely hope not. Next time I think I will write something on exercising my brain; not just with knowledge, but with experience.

Saturday, December 10, 2005

Heisman goes to Bush

Currently Reading
Full House: The Spread of Excellence from Plato to Darwin
Author: Stephen Jay Gould


And who would have thought of it? Reggie Bush wins the Heisman.... by a landslide victory: 89% of the 1st place votes. Makes me wonder where the other 11%went, because the other two candidates just didnt really stack up against this guy.

Colts play tomorrow. In Jacksonville. I can't wait :)

Russian Spiderman


Currently Reading
Full House: The Spread of Excellence from Plato to Darwin
Author: Stephen Jay Gould

I've seen stuff like this before; but this kid is amazing. There's no way cops could catch him if needed. I've never seen people do this for real outside of Jackie Chan and a few rare others; and even they didnt show as much skill as this guy.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=515642196227308929&q=russian

Bruce Willis tried to join the military?


Currently Reading
Full House: The Spread of Excellence from Plato to Darwin
Author: Stephen Jay Gould

Unreal. I just found out by a credible source that Bruce Willis tried to join the military! Thats just unreal! I never knew he supported the troops so much; thats incredible. Also now going to possibly star in a positive movie about the war.

On a side note. I wanted to make sure everyone saw this dispatch. From back in May obviously... but the picture is stated as 'being the image of the Iraq war'. Very interesting account of how and when this photo was taken:
http://michaelyon.blogspot.com/2005/05/little-girl.html

Kyoto BS by the Bush Admin


Currently Reading
Full House: The Spread of Excellence from Plato to Darwin
Author: Stephen Jay Gould


Ok... I've never really gotten angry at the Bush Administration yet. Its done some things I havent agreed with; but thats politics and I chose them over a touchy-feely liberal pussy from MA... most obvious choice to me at the time. You'll rarely, if ever, see me posting slobbery posts of religious or political dogma (if I can recognize it of course, and I encourage the reader to 'please do'), but this has got my temper going.

But this stuff that happened at the Kyoto meeting in Montreal today... its got me pretty damn angry. For those of you not in the know, the Kyoto Treaty is a worldwide standard drawn up by many countries to combat worldwide pollution and emissions. Many of the worlds largest polluters are/were on the group. Basically the protocal has a set standard that all nations agree to follow and reach by 2012. The standard being a limitation on emissions. I'm not familiar with the particulars or if any penalties are present for not meeting the goals.

But basically it encourages some kind of government investment in cleaning up; via technology and/or new laws about emission standards (from anything like automobiles to papermills). "...the 1997 treaty protocol that was initialed in the Japanese city of Kyoto and mandates cutbacks in 35 industrialized nations of emissions of carbon dioxide and five other gases by 2012."

Why am I pissed? In 2001, the Bush admin rejected the accord and wouldnt sign... basically walking out of the conference in effect. I didnt know that, since I wasnt into worldwide events much. But NOW the admin is claiming that meeting the proposed standards would damage our economy....

*pause*

WTF?!? First off, if its done intelligently, it won't damage the damn economy, it would only improve it. It would force more government investment in the technology sector (what the Americans are best at!) for alternative fuels and other tech for reducing all sorts of emissions. There are tons of options already out there; they are small but many are proven ideas that work; they just need some sort of major investment.

Biodiesel being a HUGE idea, the research is already there and small refinery companies are already making it in small quantities. They put off nowhere NEAR the emissions of a standard diesel fuel, the emissions smell like popcorn (seriously!) and arent harmful, AND it works in nearly any diesel vehicle; provided a few small upgrades are done; like old fuel hoses replaced, etc (thats standard maintenance anyway).

I have really backed up the prez, the administration, etc in a lot of things that were questionable. I don't think our reasoning was perfect for going into Iraq, but I still believe in what we are doing over there. I don't agree with the way its being run; there's a lot of ideas I've had that are very simple, that they are evidently not doing. (think Lojack and people being kidnapped). But this has gotten me angry. There is ABSOLUTELY no reason for why they say no, unless we are so far above the standard that the investment would be too large. But in 35 industrialized nations? I bet one of them is possibly China or Brazil; both bigger polluters than we are!!! We could do it. The environmental change has to REALLY start at the government level... because the major polluters won't change from just the population wanting it; our cars are a good example-> we don't make them.

This is beginning to make me seriously question myself here. And I hate it.

Ma! I can read!!!

Well now that I've become attuned to his style of writing, I can say he definitely uses a Thesaurus at times; he even admits to it. But his style of writing is at least continuous, so after a little exposure, I'm understanding it much better now.

So far all of it has been about laws of variation and diversity among animal species, sports, and all kinds of stuff. He explores misconceptions about averages in how they don't tell the story when the data is skewed in different directions... and how our ignorance of this has led to many errors in judgement about all kinds of things.

One example pertains to horses, previously claimed as one of the more successful species alive, and has more research applied to it than any other mammal. Always shown (as much of evolution described in textbooks) as a ladder of 'evolving' from old to new (and presumed even in our writing, bad to good). While the real data totally overlaps itself. There were 16 species of horse in North America 15 million years ago... and today there is only one major genus; and it covers modern horses, zebras, donkeys, etc. Horses actually evolved in North America and migrated to Eurasia; only barely surviving by the skin of their teeth (only one genus left) and then being brought back.

It goes on to describe how variation is truly the medium of success and you cant take sheer numbers or ladder-based systems to show its 'progress' or evolution. Modern horses are described as nothing but a twig on a big tree of horses and their ancestors (called Old-world horses). Humans are very similar; we're a twig on a twig on a big tree of primates heh. How is that possible? Well our species name is Homo Sapiens Sapiens.... thats right, we're a sub-species of Homo Sapiens, which is also a dead end of a certain family of primates (there's no one left!).
Basically it shows our error in showing a ladder when instead its more like a bush. He also goes into the .400 batting average myth and early statistics of Mesothelioma (which he was diagnosed with early in life but beat the odds of an '8 month median of mortality).

Interesting book so far, and its all leading up to his main arguments later in the book... like laying a foundation to place his arguments upon. And I apologize if I got any facts incorrect, I usually reread a chapter to make sure I understand and get it right. For posterity of course :D

Funny phrase from the book, at the close of a chapter discussing horses and their success (or lack thereof): "As a footnote to life's little joke [species numbers with no variation isnt a successful species], I remind readers that one other prominent (or at least parochially beloved) mammalian lineage has an equally long and extensive history of conventional depiction as a ladder of progress--yet also lives today as the single surviving species of a formerly more copious bush [subtree on the tree of life]. Look in the mirror, and don't be tempted to equate transient domination with either intrinsic superiority or prospects for extended survival." It made me laugh out loud. LOL in fact.

Full House: Who let the dogs out?

Posted Dec 8th:

Reading another book now called 'Full House' by Stephen J Gould. Its got a good premise about it, and the reviews are good mostly...

But one thing about some authors really pisses me off... they write like they have a thesaurus by their side, looking up the unused words so people will think they are smart. I'm not dumb, and I get bored reading this book because his writing is so complex that I have to spend my time trying to grasp what he's even saying in each sentence... much less grasp the whole picture he's trying to paint. Its quite tiring and it comes off to me as snobbish. I think people don't complain about this, because they seek some validity in their intelligence: "Oh I can understand this book, really I can; because I'm smart!"

An example:
"Take the standard illustration of coin flipping: we compute the probability of sequences by multiplying the chances of individual events."
He seriously could have just saved his breath and said:
"Take the standard idea of coin-flipping: we can find the probability of getting 'heads' 5 times in a row; by multiplying the chances of getting 'heads' by the amount of coin-flips."

But instead he rambles off, thinking is SO intelligent because he has a thesaurus beside him to help make his book sound more 'educated'.

I'm going to continue to read it, but if it starts tiring me out and I stop getting motivation to read, I'm going to begin reading a different book between pauses so I don't fall asleep.

Posted on Dec 7th:

I've been doing a bit of reading lately... its more or less an offshoot of searching for something else. I went searching for a phrase that I was using in a small essay to make sure that I got it right; and there was a website that jumped up at me and said this: "How to save the world".

The sarcasm in me spoke up and wanted to see how crazy the website really was. I was expecting some ultra-liberal environmentalist BS... but it wasnt at all. It did deal with the environment in sort of a way, but thats also how you say reality deals with gravity in a sort of way :) Its on a whole seperate plane of thought, actually. The articles I read were so big in their scope that it really made me think. It combined creature physiology, anthropology, archeology, sociology, biology, history, phsychology, philosophy, etc all into one BIG science. Its very hard to explain... you take sociology, which studies cultures and how they interact, but sociology doesnt go into the mental part deep or into the history enough... Its like no particular science covers it; it takes almost all of them.

Basically, it deals with the opposite side of the civilization argument. All of our lives, we have been taught that civilization was the beginning of modern man, how agriculture changed everything. How God or 'the gods' created this world FOR US... how we are the epitome of evolution.

The opposite side of this argument being that civilization, in itself, is the very reason we are on a collision course with extinction. It comes down to overcrowding partly... An example: Conventional wisdom tells you that we must combat famine by growing more food and feed those that have none and then the famine would be cured. While this is very humane and almost anyone would do it to help these people... that is not true. Evolutionary Science, sociology, and several other sciences downright prove that when you increase the food supply, your population grows. If farmers make more food to sell, the world population increases. Its just how it is. Its how the world went from 6 million 10,000 years ago when humanity first started using massive agriculture to conquer the environment; to 60 million around 5000 years ago, to 600 million 500 years ago, to 6 billion today.

I cant explain all in a simple blog entry like this, its much much more complex, and I fear I may state something wrong. I'm reading currently, 'Ishmael', it tells of another set of 'natural laws' that go along with laws like gravity, or laws of thermodynamics... laws that govern how people are supposed to live. Normally our 'Great Prophets' tell us how to live right. Up until 10000 years ago, we KNEW how to live right, there were no wars, no cancer, no disease (other than quick localized things that died off because they couldnt spread), etc... so why today, do we have greedy, selfish, evil people running around? There's nothing out there in our world, completely seperate from religion of course, that shows you how to live. And people have shown that they, by themselves, dont really know how to live. You're told that you have to suffer a bit, because thats the price of living... its why people drink, why people use drugs. Is humanity REALLY flawed? If you were HONESTLY brought up without any instruction on 'what is right or wrong' you'd have no concept of it; you wouldnt know how to balance your life (not being too giving so that you may still live comfortably, but also not being so selfish that you dont help others). I don't believe its inclusive in the human psyche... at least not how we live now anyways.
The religious right would tell you 'TOLD YOU SO!' because that is also what they believe. They believe that humanity is flawed and that X religion is the way to live so that your flaw may be tended. This is common myth. And honestly if you really LOOK at it, its hard to debunk the evidence against it. And its what I always believed as well. Humanity was flawed (I was more optimistic and thought it a small flaw) and needs guidance in some form or another to live right.
But these arguments go much deeper than that. There are many compelling stories that give GREAT evidence to back it up. The argument again goes back to civilization being the root of all evil; are we 'supposed' to live like this? Maybe the reason we go crazy and kill each other in war, or use alcohol and drugs as an escape is because this isnt the natural way to live. Not that we are flawed, but that very ROOT of our existence is lying to us. It would definitely be histories greatest story if it were true: All 10,000 years of human history, nothing more than a flawed story.

Just like in the early days of pre-flight in the 19th century, people would use flapping wings and all kinds of gizmos to allow them flight. There were no laws of aerodynamics because people didnt know they existed. It didnt mean they werent there, its just that no one knew of them because no one had really looked hard at it. Technically when we fly, we are NOT defying gravity. By that logic, we are defying gravity by simply sitting upright in a chair... it is merely supporting us. We use aerodynamics to support our weight in flight. So when someone jumps off a cliff flapping their arms; they are sure they are flying... until they hit the ground. We were sure that civilization was the right way to live (and hell there MIGHT be another way of doing it that isnt so deadly to the environment) but we don't TRULY know about it until the end when we become extinct. It worked just fine until the end... just how flapping your arms works just fine until you hit the ground.

I won't go into the viscious cycle of everything, I'm sure everyone already knows that. Its become almost a dogma, and that can be blamed on the environmentalists... most of them don't see the BIG picture and offer no solutions... they only merely donate their money to Green Peace, the Green Party, to some other environmental-conscious charity, recycle their goods and at the end of the day, they feel they've done their part. Well unfortunately, its not enough. The worst part about saving the world? You can't do it yourself, its completely impossible.
I've gone on enough now. But right now, I'm making an effort to read about 2 books a week, up from my very slow 1 book every 2 weeks. Maybe I can expand my mind in a different direction eh?

Winners Are People Like You


Winners take chances.
They fear failing, but they don't give up.
When life gets rough, they hang in until the going gets better.
Winners know that they are not perfect.
They respect their weaknesses, while making the most of their strengths.
Winners fall, but they don't stay down.
Winners are positive thinkers who see good in all things.
From the ordinary, they make the extraordinary.
Winners believe in the path they have chosen,
Even when it is hard,
Even when others can't see where they are going.
You are your own greatest asset.
There is nothing you cannot do.
Winners are people like you.

-Anonymous

Colts win again

Posted on: Dec 5th

Hey, Colts win again 35-3 against the Titans. Peyton didnt even have to work hard; only 17 pass attempts. He ran the ball down their throat. Titans tried the old "drop 8 men back and make Manning throw an interception" routine that worked for the Pats back in 03 and 04. Not this time buddy :)


Starting to sound like a broken record ;) So long as they win it all I dont mind hehe

"What more noble and dignified pursuit could there be than pushing the envelope of what we were meant to be?"

Posted on Nov 30th:
Good quote from a place I read often. I've taken 2 weeks off for my own benefit, for thanksgiving, etc. Its now time to jump back on the train
Colts beat the Steelers in a real showcase, 26-7. The only points the Steelers scored was because of an interception return to the Colts 7 yard line. They held the Steelers to 197 total yards in the entire game and around 50-60 rushing yards. The Steelers are arguably the best rushing team in the NFL and they pride themselves on being a smashmouth, in your face defense that runs the ball down your throat and controls the clock. Depending on the ranking polls you go by, the Steelers are/were the #2 or #3 team in the NFL (IMO #3 behind the Broncos).
But the Colts whipped them bad, showing that they are the best by leaving no one else any legitimate claims at the #1 spot. First play of the game, Manning went deep to Marvin Harrison for 80 yards for a TD. Their largest TD pass ever as a combo and the largest Pittsburgh has ever given up while Cowler was coach (since 1992).
Later boys and girls, gotta go run again. This cold air will be great.

First thing's first

Well here I am, finally moved over to the greener side of the pasture; the better beach; or the shorter line. All lines being subjective in their real worth right? ;)

This is my first post after switching from Xanga. I don't see much content or community that I really want to be a part of. Most of the GOOD blogs I've read are over here.

I'll be posting up the last few entries on my xanga blog and hopefully that will start things rolling for me.