My Blogcon11 and Plans

For those that totally missed it, Blogcon11 was this weekend here in Denver. Sadly I missed out on the conference, due to not being able to get it off work. Luckily, I was able to head on down Saturday evening and spend time meeting and conversing with various bloggers and twitterers. This did mean I missed Occupy Denver's attempted invasion, but did get to see a few of them (and the police keeping an eye on them) on my way to the hotel where blog con was at.
A very special thanks to @Jimmiebjr for introducing me to many of those that I met, the blogging and cpac advice, and talking with me most of the night.
Someone else that I met, and spent most of the night was Karen Harrington who is running for Congress in Florida's 20th district. She was awesome, totally real, and literally just hung out with us the whole night. If I lived in her district she would completely have my vote, I'd likely even volunteer at her campaign.
Through out the night I met a couple dozen people, some of whom I talk to regularly, others who are known to many of you, and some who I'm sad I hadn't heard of before.
If you're reading this and I didn't specifically mention you, it's not meant as a slight, I did consider mentioning everyone I met in here, but decided that was too much like bragging rather than thanks. Many of you I didn't get to talk to as much as I'd've liked, and some of you I did get to for bits at various times. I'm grateful for all of you who took the time to meet and talk with me. Definitely look forward to expanding that in the future.
To those that I didn't get to meet, I'm saddened by that, but time was limited. Hopefully we'll get to rectify that soon!
Twas all in all a great night, and I really hope I get the chance to repeat it at Cpac12.
If you haven't had the chance to meet people like that or go to a convention, you should seriously think about it. Tis definitely worth it!

There are some things that were suggested to me, that I had been thinking of anyways, which will hopefully help me become a better blogger for you. I'm going to do my best to find a time, that each week I can write on something, so that y'all can always expect some kind of regular piece. For me it will be a bit of a struggle as I generally only write when inspired, as I like those pieces since they just flow out.
Also, I hope to purchase a notepad of some sort so that I will no longer be limited to my droid for all my writing. This will greatly increase my ability to write, as well as read your blogs.
With any luck both of those will take place within the remainder of 2011.
As I've mentioned, I hope to be able to go to Cpac12. Working on it, may take some doing for me to make it, but I'm really hopeful! Prayer that things work for me to get there would be appreciated.

Shelby for President

In a move to show their ever increasing intelligence Occupy Denver has officially announced a leader, Shelby, a three year old border collie. This move was made in response to requests from Denver Mayor Michael Hancock to form a leadership that he and other Denver city officials could meet with. One could easily be reminded of a certain Roman emperor that set his horse as his highest advisor.

A blatant slap to the face of intelligent Americans and all of humanity, Shelby shall no doubt become a mascot for not just Denver, but other cities as well, maybe even the whole movement. We likely now have our third Presidential candidate. Shelby in 2012!

In normal society this would be the end of a movement. But in this ludicrous movement which seems to draw crazies, it will bring even more. Already Occupy Denver has invited all

civic minded dogs to join the march.

So no longer is this just a human movement. Animal Farm anyone?

We must hope that this will bring about an end though. For if not, more of our tax dollars will be wasted cleaning up and ensuring the safety of the rest of America from these occupy groups. Tis time for sanity to kick in, to say nothing of morality and decency.

Pumped Up Kicks

If you listen to any kind of top 40 radio, you've more than likely heard this song Foster the People's "Pumped Up Kicks". What you might not be aware of is the words.
To most people it describes one school shooting or another, with the main character also finishing off his dad as well. Some say that this is a song that promotes school violence in response to being bullied. Others that it is only trying to make us more aware. In various interviews, the band seems to give mixed signals on this as well.
Either way this is an important issue. The fact that some teens get to the point where they decide taking a weapon to school to use on their peers is extremely troubling. The aftermath of such a decision all the more so. Liberal forces within our country use it as an excuse to impose more government controls to limit our freedoms. Guns especially are targeted. But the guns aren't the issue.
The issue is that teens today see such violence as a possible way out, if their peers mistreat or don't accept them. Parts of society have taught them violence and even suicide are the ways out. But they aren't.
O we could blame the music, video games, TV, and movies that involve and maybe even encourage violence. But again, that's not the issue. Censoring the first amendment rights would be a wrong following a wrong, just as is attacking the second.
The issue is society and what it encourages and promotes. Games, music, TV, and movies only mirror what society accepts. O sometimes they'll be on the borders of acceptability, or maybe even beyond, but the majority only gives what is asked for. The real issue isn't what the song actually means, but what caused society to get to a place where it wants songs like that.
So how do we fix society? How do we keep another kid from going to school and shooting their classmates? How do we re instill morality and law?
No matter what, we can not do it by taking away freedoms. Any society that thinks it can save itself by doing so is sowing it's own down fall all the more.
Education, not just in schools but in values is the key. Without ethical values and morality being taught, society will crumble. History shows this time and time again. Will we repeat it? Or will we finally learn from the lessons of the past?

In, Not Of

For me, and I'm sure many other Christians tis really difficult for us to be in the world and not of it. The easiest thing is to be in the world and become of it as well. For most if not all Christians it is a daily struggle. Some of those that it is not a struggle, don't even try to fight it anymore, they have become in and of the world, yet still believe in Christ. That is a very difficult and dangerous position to be in, if not impossible and spiritually deadly. Another way that most tend to give up is to have almost two separate lives. One is the one they show off at church and with that group of people. The other is the one they show the rest of the world. They are the hypocrites that most of the world takes note of. People who say two different things, and live two different ways. Another danger is what some choose. Being not only not of, but doing their best to be not in as well. Tis a very hard task to do, and people take from these Christians, that Christians are arrogant and uncaring of the world. Most churches as a body are stuck in this mode. To be in, not of a Christian must live the way Christ did. This doesn't necessarily mean going on missions around the world, or even dying for their beliefs. It could simply be taking the step to show the light of the word in areas around them that don't usually see it. But it is not just the individual Christians who need to do this. Churches as a unified body need to step out of their comfort zones and go to the front lines of ministry in their own areas, or maybe a nearby one. Individuals and bodies must come together remembering that we are called to serve and minister to the world we are in. We should not demand that the world come to our places of worship to know God. This can be done through local service projects of varying types, or maybe renting a theater or some other neutral place for a night and having a free concert for their neighbourhood. God is everywhere. Everywhere we go, we take Him with us. To truly be in, not of and be faithful to your belief you must go out and introduce your neighbours to the loving God, their Creator, and Saviour. Create a place where they will feel welcome, and maybe they'll experience God for the first time and acknowledge His grace.

Dating: Can You be Too Picky? And Some Things to Avoid

Is there actually such a thing as being too picky when it comes to finding a mate?
No, there absolutely is not. This peson is meant to be your soul mate, your one and only. You want to be picky! Settling for someone that is less than what you deserve is the worst thing you can do.
You need to take your time and not rush things. Go out on dates, and get to know many different people. Figure out what you like and don't like. Make a list of qualities that are necessary, another of things that you can't stand, a third of what you'd like, and a fourth you'd rather they not have. If your necessity list is bigger than your likes you're in trouble and need to rethink some things. Not necessarily during the date, but definitely after go through your lists and see how that person matches up.
If someone doesn't fit at least ninety percent of your likes and necessities they're probably not right for you. If less than fifty percent definitely not. But just because they don't fit your mate ideal doesn't mean write them off completely. Some of them could end up being your best friends in life.
You may not find your mate, but great friends are always great. If you're really lucky you'll end up with both.

Some things to look out for and avoid whilst dating:
Cheaters! Always be sure you're not helping someone cheat. You don't want to be that person. And if they'll leave someone for you, they're all too likely to leave you for someone else.
People needing rescue. If you help them as a friend, and everything gets fixed then there may be possibilities. But if you get involved when they're still in trouble, then they very likely might leave you once they don't need to be rescued any longer.
Liars. If they'll lie to begin with then they'll never stop.
Jealousy. If they don't want you even spending time with friends when you're dating they'll become even more controlling later on. Beware and get out.
Abusers. Whether its emotional, verbal, or physical never put up with it. Don't even start with someone who is. Walk away if you already are.
And never be with someone just because its easy or to avoid being single. Never know what you could miss whilst you're just settling into a false comfort zone.

Yom Kippur, Fasting, and Eating Disorders

In case you missed it, this Saturday was Yom Kippur. To quote from Wikipedia

Yom Kippur, also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy Days or Yamim Nora'im ("Days of Awe"). Yom Kippur is the tenth day of the month of Tishrei. According to Jewish tradition, God inscribes each person's fate for the coming year into a book, the Book of Life, on Rosh Hashanah, and waits until Yom Kippur to "seal" the verdict. During the Days of Awe, a Jew tries to amend his or her behavior and seek forgiveness for wrongs done against God and against other human beings. The evening and day of Yom Kippur are set aside for public and private petitions and confessions of guilt. At the end of Yom Kippur, one considers oneself absolved by God.

Yom Kippur reminds me of my human frailty and how much I need God's guidance to survive. How grateful I am to know He has a plan for me. I need not doubt, only have faith in Him and His plan, and know that His grace is protecting me.

For me Yom Kippur and the other days of fasting are also difficult times. They remind me of part of my senior year when I nearly died from anorexia. No one around me noticed how much weight I had lost. Luckily, for me, I had a good friend end up hospitalized because of anorexia. She had passed out and they finally noticed she was anorexic. I was almost to that point as well. Her experience scared me badly enough that I began eating again.
The fasting days also remind me of not long later in my senior year when I'd had a migraine every day for a month. Drs. couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, tests were coming up completely negative on everything. So they ordered me to fast for a week. I was worried the whole time that I would end up anorexic again if I got in the habit of not eating. Results were inconclusive, so they ordered me to have another week of fasting. I almost refused, but so badly wanted to find out what was wrong with me, that I went through with it. After that second week, they found I have a liver disorder that effects my metabolism, I need to eat more often that most people or my body stops functioning correctly. Even just a one day fast like Yom Kippur will result in a major headache, weakness, fatigue, and possibly passing out. Due to all that this is the first time in ten to eleven years that I've participate in a fast.

But my experiences have also given me one of my personal crusades, fighting eating disorders.
Very few people realize how many suffer from them. We all likely know at least two people with one, and very likely never noticed that they have one. Anorexia and bulimia are probably the most well known types, but there are many others. There are lots of different causes of them too. They can be caused by psychological, biological, or environmental effects upon someone's life. Even such common things as depression and peer pressure can cause one to occur, and ADHD is known to increase the chances of developing one. Most forms can be easy to correct, and often are totally avoidable in the first place.
The easiest prevention is the person's knowing they have someone who cares for them just as they are. Even a smile could help someone. Who amongst us couldn't use those?

3rd Senator

Do hereby propose that each state be given a 3rd Senate seat. Senate terms should remain 6 years long, with an election for one of the Senators occurring every 2 years. Senator's votes should no longer be counted individually. On each issue whichever side the majority of that state's Senators agree gets the 1 state vote. This should give greater importance to each state as a whole, rather than individual voters, which is the point of the Senate to begin with.


Note: This has been stuck in my head for a couple weeks now and I wanted to try and get it out. The unlikelihood of such actually being taken up is noted. And please ignore the government growth aspect and focus on what it might mean for state's power. This is a piece purely to prompt discussion.

Food Reviews

I've actually been at three new restaurants since I said I was going to do reviews, and I've been looking over food critics seeing the formatting they use. Just not happy with the fit of any so far. Guess I should just post them anyways and see how they work. Hopefully I'll have the chance to do so tonight. Mostly saying, I've not forgotten this ;)

Assumptions

So many people assume way too much. See right there an assumption, it is that easy. How much harder is it to not assume someone is a certain way, without finding out first? Actually really difficult. It is human instinct to make decisions based on first impressions or generalities. We naturally judge others, by our own understanding of things and expectations. But to truly know people you have to be able to look past surroundings and surface perceptions. You have to get to know them, as if everything else was a blank slate. In the long run you can put back their actual surroundings and influences to try and understand how they became who they are, but still you must overcome the stuff that your own mind adds without even thinking. Various philosophers have said you can't truly no someone til they are about to die. At that last moment you meet the real them. Now I don't know about going that far, but there is a definite truth in that when you strip all else away then you know someone's true self. I often see on Twitter a lot of people just making assumptions all over the place. There, I mostly talk with conservative, middle class, Christian, Americans. So most assume I'm one as well. Not all of those are true of me. Which isn't, doesn't actually matter. Point is most everyone assumes they're all true. When I make a comment about celebrating a Jewish holiday often people assume that must mean I'm Jewish. Or when I make an anti Obama tweet, I often receive messages from liberals yelling at me for being "tea party" or Republican, neither of which I am. And these are just examples that happen to me, regularly. If we all shared stories we'd have all millions of examples. And it isn't like I myself am immune to it. It is something I'm working on. If anyone took the time to see the whole picture they might begin to actually be able to understand people. Differences are what make life worth while, time to stop trying to putting everyone into your little box.

oooShinyTreats

For those that missed it, I've created yet another twitter handle: @oooShinyTreats. Tis going to be completely based on food and drink. I'm letting you know this hear, because I've a new goal of visiting at least one new restaurant a month (hopefully once a week), and I plan on blogging here about the experience, basically a review of the place. We shall see how it goes, as I continue constructing my journey through life.