BOOM! Headshot.

I was inspired to write this post after reading an exceptionally dumb article in the Huffington Post, wherein the author tries to point out the indecency of celebrating Bin Laden's death, as so many Americans have done over the past 24 hours. She believes in the sanctity of all life and so rejoicing at the demise of another human being, even one as worthless as Bin Laden, is morally wrong.

I disagree. Bin Laden was a bastard who did not hold the lives of others to be sacred. He killed lots of people directly and even more indirectly. I think this means he should be exempt from the same standards. I myself do not hold all life to be sacred and in turn do not expect my own life to be considered so. The author proposes that instead of reveling in his death, we should mourn the terrible acts we committed and the need to have to kill him at all. I think we've had enough mourning. Why not have people feel better about their lives by dancing on the imaginary grave of modern history's greatest douchebag?

The worst part though was when the author tried to seem reasonable by saying how it was understandable for families of 9/11 victims to want some closure and that this might make them smile, but that his death still doesn't warrant outright celebration. To start, I don't think you can "understand" having a loved one killed for no reason by a person they've never met, but who nonetheless claims to hate them and then watch that person gloat about it on TV. I think at that point, seeing the murder get purposefully killed because of what he did to your loved one brings feelings beyond description. The author just needs to admit that she will never know their pain and that the lack of personal tragedy is what allows her to see this situation as she does.

She ends her peice with the claim that the world is not safer in the absence of Bin Laden. That is also dumb. He was a very smart man who had lots of money, contacts, and charisma and he used all of these assets in the pursuit of more American deaths. If there are reprisal attacks, it will only open up those terrorists to counterstrikes and capture.

Brought to you courtesy of the red, white and blue!
Osama Bin Laden: March 10, 1957 - May 1, 2011... Adios Motherfucker!

Ladies and Luck

Be forewarned, these words come from a brain operating on two delicious beers from a local pub.

If I were to categorize my (romantic) interactions with women in college, they would fall into two distinct types: those without alcohol and those with. The first kind are usual less the great. Sure, I'm a reasonably funny guy and I guess I can carry a conversation well and know when to flash a winning smile, but make no mistake, every action is well thought out and entirely planned. The second kind are entirely the opposite. I crack jokes, tell stories, laugh, wink, and smile spontaneously and naturally. Its as though I've been given the "killer instinct" otherwise lacking in my sober state. (we will return to this point later)

I have (like countless others) had the near constant misfortune of falling head over heels for someone who is never going to return the sentiment. With one exception, every girl I've told I like has told me she doesn't feel the same way. I've also been on the other side of this problem, being unable to match the affections a girl declared for me, so I know how terrible it feels to let someone down in that way. Now I don't regret these experiences, rather I feel that I've grown a lot because of them, but I am reaching a point where I start to question if these mismatches are owing to a run of bad luck or some internal defect.

As stated before in an earlier post, I am trying to charm a wonderful girl in my Persian class, but the response has been tepid at best and the whole process is moving painfully slow. (Now to bring back the alcohol issue) I have only interacted with this girl sober because I'm not really the partying type and because I like to be fully cognizant when I get to know a person. On the flip side, when I went to the pub for a few drinks with friends, I may have flirted with the waitress a good deal (thought its my general policy to flirt with pretty women). Of course she's somewhat obligated to be nice since she's trying to earn a tip and I never read too much into her behavior, but because I was buzzed, I decided to draw a smiley face on the bill and a little note telling her she was pretty. Thus, after I left the pub, one of my friends texted me, informing me that the waitress asked after me and said I was very nice.

So my question is this: how is it that I can achieve essentially the same results (if not better) by drinking a few beers as I otherwise would through care, patience, and sincere (but sober) romantic effort? Granted it depends a lot on the other person, but I have noticed this trend on more than one occasion. Could it be that alcohol helps me overcome a self-sabotaging character trait?

All In The Timing

This post follows on the heels of a conversation I had with my parents.

I felt guilty for not having talked to them in some time so I rang the house and talked to my mother, mainly about how finals were going and then about the EPL. Towards the end of our conversation, I mentioned that I had started this blog, think she would find it cool. Instead the news was treated with trepidation and questions like "can't you do the same thing on Twitter or a fan forum?" Next I spoke with my father, where the topics include school, law school and my living situation. I decided to see what he thought of this blog and his reaction was much the same. "Be careful what you put out there on the internet! It'll come back to haunt you during a job interview!"

Now I am not upset with my parents. I understand that technology and, in particular, "the Internet," makes them uneasy in a way that I will never know and that they mean well with their concerns. But it got me thinking "is our generation's refusal to compromise or limit  self-expression truly reckless or is this just the different perspective of those who have more to lose?" Maybe the whole wikiLeaks thing has everyone on edge as they realize that the concept of an "internet" and secrecy are mutually exclusive.

I think this picture sums it up best:

Coincidence

Coincidence - the occurrence of events that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection; also : any of these occurrences 

This is what my favorite dictionary tells me, but I much prefer to treat every coincidence as cosmic fate. For instance, as I returned home from visiting a friend yesterday, I felt a craving for a Subway sandwich. I drove to Subway unaware of the the universe's plans for my life, but I am an alert person and quick to notice the unusual. As I entered the door to the destered restaurant, a song came on the radio. Not just any song either:



Now if this song seems familiar to any of you, it's because an instrumental version is used in the Kill Bill Soundtrack during the O'Ren fight and in the Korean Western - The Good, The Bad, The Weird. Now I had listened to this song at least five times earlier that day so needless to say, I was stoked to hear it playing in Subway on the radio. By now, my mind was on the lookout for any other oddities.

I began to converse with the nice man preparing my sandwich, we talked about finals week and when I asked him what his next final was, he told me French. I told him I was taking Persian (Farsi) and that our exam had been earlier that day. He then informed me that one of his ex-girlfriends spoke Farsi, along with Portuguese and English. Big deal you say, but it was!

You see, I am currently attempting to win the affection of a girl in my Farsi class. This girl was born in Brazil and has an Iranian father. She speaks Portuguese as well as Farsi (and English). I admit that I attend a large school and that without a name I am still very much in the dark, but how many people do you know that speak Portuguese or Farsi, let alone both? You be the judge. A sign from the universe or coincidence?

Great Expectations

Hallelujah.

That is my favorite word in the English language, so I thought it would be a fitting way to open my very first post on my very first blog.  I love the way the word sounds and I think its one of the few "beautiful" words in English with regards to its spelling. But I am not here to talk about words. I am here to talk about what you, the reader, can expect from me in the future.

I am new to this creative medium. I have never kept a journal, nor written for other people's consumption on a regular basis. I can't precisely predict the direction this blog will take. Instead I'm going to start broad and see what flows naturally and what is better left unposted. Hopefully, given enough time, a discernible shape and purpose will be borne from my entries and then I can take this show on the road.

Also, I promise to be sincere in everything I write. Here's to the start of something new!