The Undertow

QotD: Friends Forever

nobody@vox.com(undertow) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:39:07 -0500

What do you bring most to a friendship?

What don't I bring?

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Scientology can learn a lot from parenthood

nobody@vox.com(undertow) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 11:25:08 -0600

When it comes to cults parenthood is the one cult that has persisted throughout the ages. Maybe it's a defense mechanism by how people cope as to what's happened to them.

A friend of mine recently discovered she's pregnant and she went from "oh I don't think I'm going to have children or get married" to "oh my g-d, it's something you can't understand until you experience it!". I don't have to experience suicide to know it's something that's not for me but she's instantly become part of the parenthood.

You like children? Great. You want children? Fantastic. Expect me to up with them? Forgetaboutit.

Snowball, hell, better chance.

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Define chump

nobody@vox.com(undertow) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 07:08:39 -0600

Stilllovesus

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Numbers

nobody@vox.com(undertow) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 23:17:05 -0600

Numbers are funny things.

I was just sitting here looking at the invoice that's kept by my car toll company.

The last entry with my license plate was marked just 10 minutes before my wreck.I was trying to go back through my head as to what I was thinking on my way home. Nothing really comes to mind at this point.

When we hit a pivotal point, such as a car wreck, I'm fairly certain that only the thing that you were doing right at that moment right before it occurred comes to you not what you were thinking 10 minutes before when you're going through the motions of your normal routine.

One of my friends recently had a wreck herself that was fairly bad from her description. She described her car flipping and skidding on it's roof and then being taken to the hospital. She mentioned something about seeing Mary and Jesus even though she's Buddhist. That cracked me up for no good reason other than you can't help but laugh and go what the fuck? She stated it changed her perception of life, that traumatic event.

I can't say that it's changed mine. It has hardened me in that expectation of people can't be trusted and that you ultimately have to look out for yourself. Even though my cynicism swells to a size that I find hard to contain I know that there's still that inkling of me that will ultimately help out those truly in need.

Honesty is a hard thing to come by. You expect it from those who are sworn to protect and serve. I was cynical before but now I'm beyond salvation of the idea of the honest and/or good public servant.

I wish, like my friend, I could believe in Karma. While I think there's something greater than ourselves out there I don't believe in cosmic justice. It's merely chance that happened to play in your favor. I think it makes it easier to accept doing good deeds will rarely, if ever, be rewarded. And in that I don't think it lessens the joy of those small things but makes them even that more precious. Because they'll exist and only in that moment and there will likely never be another thread tying back to it.

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QotD: Best Film of '07

nobody@vox.com(undertow) — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 22:15:22 -0600

What was the best movie you saw this year?

The Kingdom

Hands down.

"The end comes no matter what, the only thing that matters is how do you wanna go out... on your feet or on your knees.."

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A wise man, therefore, must not take a wife.

nobody@vox.com(undertow) — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 10:48:03 -0600

Theophrastus, On Marriage
(as quoted in St. Jerome, Against Jovinian, written 393 A.D.)

Compare to Wife of Bath’s Prologue, ll. 240-74

A wise man, therefore, must not take a wife. For in the first place his study of philosophy will be hindered, and it is impossible for anyone to attend to his books and his wife. Matrons want many things: costly dresses, jewels, great outlay, maid-servants, all kinds of furniture, litters and gilded coaches. Then come curtain-lectures the live-long night: she complains that one lady goes out better dressed than she: that another is looked up to by all: ‘I am a poor despised nobody at the ladies’ assemblies.’ ‘Why did you ogle at that creature next door?’ ‘Why were you talking to the maid?’ ‘What did you bring from the market?’ ‘I am not allowed to have a single friend or companion.” . . . .

To support a poor wife is hard: to put up with a rich one is torture. Notice, too, that in the case of a wife you cannot pick and choose: you must take her as you find her. If she has a bad temper, or is a fool, if she has a blemish, or is proud, or has bad breath, whatever her fault may be--all this we learn after marriage. Horses, asses, cattle, even slaves of the smallest worth, clothes, kettles, wooden seats, cups, and earthenware pitchers, are first tried and then bought: a wife is the only thing that is not shown before she is married, for fear she may not give satisfaction. Our gaze must always be directed to her face, and we must always praise her beauty: if you look at another woman, she things that she is out of favor. She must be called my lady, her birthday must be kept, we must swear by her health and wish that she may survive us, respect must be paid to the nurse, to the nursemaid, to the father’s slave . . . .

If a woman be fair, she soon finds lovers; if she be ugly, it is easy to be wanton. It is difficult to guard what many long for. It is annoying to have what no one thinks worth possessing. But the misery of having an ugly wife is less than that of watching [i.e. guarding] a comely one. Nothing is safe for which a whole people sighs and longs.

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QotD: One Small Act

nobody@vox.com(undertow) — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 18:11:46 -0500

What small act of kindness have you done in the last thirty days?
Submitted by One Kind Act.

Let people live that truly should have died.

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If I had shame..

nobody@vox.com(undertow) — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 14:17:29 -0500

I do apologize for you lack of reading comprehension. It's most unfortunate to lack even the most basic concepts of understanding. Let me try and draw a map. Iâll even type slowly so itâs easier to understand.

A. Poster asks if they are over-reacting to a group that's killed, presently known, at least 7 people and they may or may not be related to said group.

B. I post groups that have killed well over 7 people and continue to operate in power by groups such as Americans who continue to allow our government to operate with little restraint and those other countries that allow their groups to commit acts of violence unchecked as well.

C. Now letâs take A + B and come up with C. Should I worry? Given that your chances of dying are greater from killing yourself (not that Iâm making any suggestions mind you) (reference: http://www.nsc.org/lrs/statinfo/odds.htm ) and from heart disease it puts a things into this thing most of us rational people like to call perspective.

http://dictionary.reference.com/bro wse/perspective

6.the faculty of seeing all the relevant data in a meaningful relationship: Your data is admirably detailed but it
lacks perspective.

C 1. I.e. you have a far better chance being killed by your government (US mainly), yourself (suicide, dietary etc) than you do by the hands of the âArmy of Godâ.

D. Because I didn't say it was wrong is there an ASSumption that I think it's not wrong in comparison? So tell me why do you support child molestation, beating spouses, and kicking puppies? Obviously do because you didn't refute such in your post!

Facts are such an inconvenient speed bump on the road to wringing hands worrying over nothing trip that I can see why you'd choose not to listen to any of my arguments. I guess we're both fortunate enough to live in a country where you can be ignorant and everyone will sympathize with you on the interweb. It's little wonder why reality television is such a big hit these days.

And might I suggest if your local college or univeristy offers classes in statistics and mathematical analysis you sign up as soon as possible.

What could provoke such wrath from me? This response:

So? It's still wrong.
Besides, most of us have learned a long time ago not to listen to arguments made on the internet by people with screennames like "<edited>".

Right. Because having a certain screenname should instantly put my arguement into question. People, this is but one example of the youth of our country. We are screwed.

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QotD: Little Known Facts

nobody@vox.com(undertow) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 22:31:28 -0500

What are five things that most people don't know about you?
Submitted by mika.

1. I want to write and direct a short film or play
2. The thing I use the most in life has probably caused me more trouble than it has helped (get your mind out of the gutter)
3. I would be fearful of death if I weren't so apathetic toward life
4. I love nearly all cartoons and animation
5. If I had the chance I would live out of an RV the rest of my life

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QotD: Let's Play Cards

nobody@vox.com(undertow) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 22:27:01 -0500

What's your favorite card game?

Visa, Master Card, American Express and Discover.

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