So I'm chilling (literally, this place is FREEZING WTF is up with Florida A/C?!?!) in the Ft. Lauderdale airport waiting for my flight to Atlanta where my ride will be waiting to take me to Decatur to visit Columbia Theological Seminary. Which, until about 2 weeks ago, I wasn't real seriously considering but hey whatev things change. First of all they're providing room, board and transportation (except the flight itself) all weekend, how can I argue? I'm struggling to get by in most my classes except Medieval Culture right now.  Nothing that couldn't be fixed, I just need to seriously get my act together... which will be difficult a state away, but whatever it'll also get me some needed rest and perspective to buckle down and get somethings done.

I may or may not have a job when I get back too.  I should find out today.  I interviewed Monday and he told me he'd call everybody regardless of the decision.  Hopefully I'll get it, it would be absolutely ideal.  I already hang out with the group, I could make my own hours, work at home most the time, it pays well, and to be honest it's *REALLY* easy work.  Just basic admin stuff.

My friend Nicole (who I adore) posted photos of me drinking with Phi Alpha Theta (the history honors society) on facebook... I thank God I had already added the more conservative people from my church to a list that is not allowed to see photos other people have added of me.

YAY!  I get to see fall again soon!! The plane is boarding, sweet deal.

No joke it's awesome. Apparently most if not the whole album is about Matty T's breakup with his fiance and yet they are some REALLY beautiful songs. My favorites are Forget and Not Slow Down, and Over It. Although 'I Don't Need A Soul' also gorgeous it's still supposed to be about a break up but it sounds a little more like the person in the song was diagnosed with a fatal illness rather than it being about a break up.

Seriously though, who would let Matty T go?

In other news I'm writing a book... or at least a short story, I'm still working on Character development.  Maybe it's a short story that will lead to more of a novel. The working title is "The Wandering" it deals with a woman who ascribes to a Christian-like faith and is called to a sect of this faith called the Seachrán.  This is a word that can mean wandering, however it's literal translation is more like 'delusional'.  In a similar way that the word Christian was originally a mocking term that is how the Seachrán have embraced their title though even within the larger community of their own faith they are still considered a joke, the restless wanderers dancing to the beat of their own drummer.  Those of the Seachrán however would argue that it is the rest of their larger faith community that has simply stopped hearing the drummer.  My main character is a reluctant member of the Seachrán, in essence "she hears the drummer" but she'd rather not dance, not that she doesn't believe that they're right or that what they're doing is wrong she just doesn't want to do what she feels she is being led to do, or maybe it's that she's scared to.

Yeah... it's a work in progress, cause while I have the idea of the plot I don't have an actual plot.

HA! The irony of this one is AWESOME!  I read this just when I signed in.  So I'm fasting from facebook for the week.  Or at least I'm *TRYING* to because a guy that I wasn't really in a relationship with, but I personally believe I could call an ex recently updated his status informing the world that he was in a relationship with someone.  I realized at this point that if I hadn't had any contact with him over facebook for the past 2 months I wouldn't care.  Not only that, but facebook wasn't exactly the way I would have liked to find out, it seems that common courtesy would dictate that he would have told me he met someone new especially because when we parted we kind of left it open ended.  In fact it was *HIM* who would bring up  the subject of "us" and future romantic encounters, NOT ME.  So when he just puts up that he's in a relationship with someone yeah... it was a touch shocking.

That being said, if I hadn't even bothered with facebook, I wouldn't know and I *probably* wouldn't care that much, because aside from a handful of texts we haven't communicated via anything other than facebook. So having ex's as friends on facebook is fine, keeping tabs on them? TOTALLY unhealthy.

I feel like I'd be perfectly fine if I was the one living in North Carolina.

I don't want to date anyone in Miami, men in Miami have way more issues than anyone could possibly comprehend, and all I want to do is get out of here. If I were to even meet a guy in Miami I'd end up in the same stupid cycle of impossible relationships. So at the very least I have to be single until I get out of here. The idea of being single isn't what bothers me, it's that I don't want to be here in Miami and I don't honestly have people to relate to here either. At camp I had a community of people that shared certain values with me theologically but on top of that I met someone that I relate to better than anyone I've ever known. Not to say that I couldn't meet someone else like that, I just haven't yet and I certainly won't until I can get out of Miami. People I relate to just don't exist here men or women. I have friends and all I just honestly don't have people I'd go hang out with on a weekend or just hang out with at night. I do have my roommates, who are pretty awesome this year and they are who I hang out with most the time. In fact what annoys me about Sara, and the reason I don't really want to hang out with her as much as I do, is that the girl is *TOO* nice, and it's driving me insane. I just want her to stop apologizing for everything. Or asking me if something would bothering me, or leaving the light on in our bedroom when she goes to bed before me. Granted these are great complaints to have about my roommates by ALL means. For heaven's sake I'm annoyed because she's too considerate. I just want other people to talk to, preferably more sarcastic. Considering I live with women and spend most my time around them a little more testosterone would be nice too.  The thing is, people don't hang out in Miami the same way I'm culturally used to.  In Miami rock concerts aren't a big deal, my favorite artists don't tour that far south, and similar local bands don't get gigs in Miami they have to travel north to find an audience.  People don't just go over and hang out at each others homes/dorms or go to the park, play ultimate, etc.  In fact if it's inexpensive or free it just doesn't happen.  People can't grasp that idea, and since I don't have a job I do nothing, even if I did have a job I wouldn't enjoy hanging out at a club especially when most the music is latin... I really don't like latin music.

What makes it worse at this point is that that one person I related to so well happened to be a very attractive guy. Just before he went home he admitted there was mutual interest there, but we also talked about how we couldn't really start anything because 800 miles was just too far but we'd kind of "see what happened." Which left too much hanging in the air I feel, we weren't together but then we didn't really break up either there was no clean cut, and he would allude to the possibility of being together in the future, and not a week ago he was bringing up stuff that happened between us and flirting about it and all.  Then today when he sent me a message on facebook with a link to some article he found about Miami he also seems to have decided to change his relationship status at the same time.

I really don't think it'd bother me if the roles were reversed, if I was living in North Carolina and he was in Miami and was dating a girl there it probably wouldn't bother me.  In other words, I don't think it's about *him* it's about me not wanting to be here.  If he was dating a girl here and I was up North surrounded by mountains, enjoying the fall weather and spending time in a culture closer to my own with the opportunity to do things I enjoy or spend time with people I relate to I genuinely don't think whatever he would be up to 800 miles away would bother me a bit.  The fact that he is seeing someone now just adds insult to injury.  If this was 20 years ago, I wouldn't even know, we probably wouldn't use the phone just like we haven't been *maybe* a letter or two would have been exchanged, but aside from that I just wouldn't hear anything until Christmas camp.  By which time, easily enough would have passed to just be over it all.  But no, now we have facebook, and I hear plenty of little details to remind me that this other person is still out there, and that he's able to meet people when I'm not in a position to.  It's so much easier to be present in Miami and focused on what I need to be when something like facebook doesn't exist.  At the same time I'm dependent on facebook to keep in touch with people back home.  If I just stop signing in there are tons of friends I'd also be completely cutting communication with.  It's funny, I just kind of realized that I'm not so much jealous of some girl he's dating, I'm jealous of him.  #1 he lives in the mountains of North Carolina, #2 the people he hangs out with are all my type of people they are culturally who I would spend my time with, #3 adding on to the fact that he actually meets people either one of us would want to hang out with, he actually meets people he would date, and the real kicker #4 He's not burdened with my sense of call.  

My roommate Laurah's boyfriend is a douche.  I realize she loves him, but the dude will not change until she gets a spine and stops apologizing when he gets upset that she's mad at him for being a douche.  

Dude is verbally abusive and she needs to punch him.  Or at the very least, not stay and listen to the abuse.

I'm really tired of sitting here and listening to her talk about him.

So... it's sex week in my Medieval Culture class.  I swear I have never heard a professor swear more in my life.  Today's class was highly entertaining.  We genuinely spent AT LEAST 10 minutes on the etymology of the word "fuck", and if my prof. forgot to erase the bord it is still up there underlined.

In the Medieval period it (or it's variant in whatever language) was used as a transitive verb directly refering to penetration.  In otherwords only men could fuck, women took the passive role.  This however is not to say that men were considered the more sexually agressive of the two genders, in fact it was the opposite.  The medical writings of the day (which yes, were generally written by men, did have contributions for women - especially those relating to sexuality) suggested that women needed a large volume of sexual activity on a regular basis to prevent illness making it physically unhealthy to not ingage in sex.   The idea of sex being bad came from the gnostics who believed that the spirit is good, and matter is bad.  Sex or rather procreation creates more matter and therefore, for this reason, sex is bad.  There's more to gnostic theology that explains how they square this ideology with the command to "go forth and multiply"  ... apparently that was the "evil" God and Jesus was the serpent.  And as my professor explained "They lost! Because they did not have sex!" I think I'm going to love professor Kriegel, she's going to be my professor for my Senior Seminar too.  She specializes in Medieval Theology... yeah, pretty much amazing.

Anyway, even women of the time period considered women to be more "sexually ravenous" than men, and it was not safe for a man to be left alone with a woman lest she "jump his bones" as my prof. tells us.  Men were considered to be more rational and able to control such desires, thus women were more passionate.  Also it was considered not possible for a woman to become pregnant unless both the man and woman acheived orgasm.  Mind you they also hadn't figured out the whole egg concept and believed that women and men both had sperm. In any case, they believed it was not possible for the woman to have not enjoyed the experience if she was impregnated.  Hmmm... sketchy.

This class is crazy.

Last night I did something MUCH cooler than what you did.

Last night I Kayaked the Alafia river with 13 Aligators and no flashlight (Colton had a flashlight and he counted them, but Marcus and I much further away did not). Most likely I hit about 10 of them on the head while Marcus and I paddled along stargazing.  Yeah we were pretty much gator bait because we're just lying there in kayaks slowly floating down river (after paddling up river from camp for quite a way first of course).  This was pretty much a spontaneous kayak trip that we decided on at 12:30 Saturday night (or Sunday morning I suppose) With the few of us who stay at the camp on our weekends off.  Matt, and Becca came too, Becca brought a light also which really just served to scare the crap out of her because she could see all the gators swimming around her.

Holy crap, I'm pretty sure one of the counselors I supervise is clinically insane.  Her campers make excuses to go to the nurse, they ask other counselors if they can escape to their cabins.  All the kids have written home to parents telling them their counselor is really strict, when they come in to step up for meals she commands them like a drill sergeant.

Her co-counselor in the boys' cabin already told me before the week started that he and I would be having several long conversations.  The poor guy was up most the night because one of his homesick campers freaked out last night and upset the rest of the cabin so everyone was homesick and crying and he had to get them calmed down, when I went by their campsite for rounds the "crazy" one was outside practically chewing out the boy who freaked out due to homesickness (not making the situation better, obviously) while the other boys were all inside listening to their counselor read to them.

Then there are the conspiracy theories this counselor has about her campers, plus she apparently found a letter a camper was writing home and read it in front of the whole cabin.  Mind you this letter was all about how mean their counselor was.

I need to come up with code names for these counselors so I can write more elaborately about them, but seriously girl is a nutcase and considering it's a little early in the summer to fire her (plus I don't have the authority to do that), also it's difficult to pull someone mid-week, thankfully the volunteer worship leader is hanging out with them a bit more to water down the crazy. WOO HOO!!

So in just over a week it's Father's day, and my gift to my dad will be a touch self serving.  You see... the Seattle Mariners, along with Ken Griffey Jr. will be playing in Tampa Bay in September... and guess what I have tickets to...

So I bought tickets to the game on the 22nd right next to left field and hopefully Jr will be playing out there that day and not just DH.  I'm planning on also getting tickets to the game on the 23rd, but I REALLY want to get tickets right above the visitors dugout but those tickets are REALLY pricey so I'm going to try to negotiate with my mom some sharing of the cost.  Otherwise I may need to do one of the following, save up, sit higher up, or get tickets near where I got the tickets for the 22nd.

It's exciting because it's the Mariners, it's exciting because it's Griffey and yeah I've seen the Mariners play and I've seen Griffey play but I haven't been to see Griffey play ON the Mariners and this may just be his last season so I've gotta go to these games.  What I'm really hoping for is that he'll stick around 1 more year and I can get back and see him play in Safeco but that's probably a bit too much to wish for.

Dude... my new place is within walking distance of both Publix (Safeway of the south) and Winndixie (Harvest foods, ie Mitchel's or Loney's, of the south), a handful of wine bars, a pizza place or two, right across the street is a bistro and cafe.  I can walk to the bank, Starbucks... or I *Think* maybe even a locally owned coffee place I need to do more exploring, I don't have a key just yet so venturing for too long could get me locked out if someone else leaves but Sara is going to make me a copy tomorrow.

It's totally awesome living  with rational thinking individuals.  Also, as far as the alcohol thing... I walked in and noticed a bottle of Columbia Crest on the counter... not just wine, but WASHINGTON wine.  Oh yes, I'm going to get along here just fine.  These people are actually willing to get a REAL internet connection!  I've never had a problem paying for one in the past, the only problem has been making sure my roommates are going to pull their weight on the bill, in the past they wouldn't but these ones will!  Also they gave me cookies when I moved in and have cooked me dinner two nights in a row.  Also they're educated, have good taste in movies and tv shows (though they need to be introduced to Psych) and have about the same standard of clean as I do.

and I already miss Modern Britain.

I'm serious, that was a killer class.  I made sure never to miss because it would always make me feel better, the many days it was canceled were pretty boring.  Am I such a nerd that I even found the final fun?  Yes... yes I am.  Granted one of the questions dealt with Ireland, which I'm sure Dr. R already knew he was just giving away to me.  Seriously the girl who not only knows when the potato famine happened but what disease the potatoes had (late blight) honestly?  I also told him all about how to properly pronounce the "Dail" ('dawl') and that the Prime Minister is called the Taoiseach ('teeshock' it means 'chief').  Mind you the fact that I know the potatoes had late blight has more to do with my father working in agriculture than it does to do with me being a tad obsessive about Ireland.  The best part about our final?  Dr. R put a bonus question on it and told us that if we got it wrong then we're officially retarded.  2 guys (both Phi Alpha Theta honors members mind you) got it wrong. The question was "Which team defeated Manchester United this weekend in penalties? A. Liverpool (pondscum) B. Everton (the only legitimate team in Liverpool) C. Chelsea (Pondscum from London - even worse - also Dr. D's team even though he claims to be Welsh)"  Given the writing of that question, is it not obvious that the answer is B. Everton?  Also knowing that monday we had a class discussion on English football hooliganism and he talked at length of his love for Everton (even going so far as to tell us that he didn't speak to his wife for a week because she said Liverpool's uniforms were cuter and therefore he should support them instead).  Yes, theoretically any of those other teams *could* have won, Dr. R has a strong hatred of Man United (as all should) but seriously did those guys really think he'd even bother to bring it up if it wasn't Everton?  I just happened to accidentally see an article on BBC news about this last night and saw the score of the game, so I answered "B, 4-2 right?" BAM!  I'm a superstar in that class I guarantee it!

Also, Friday just about confirmed that Dr. R actually thinks I'm Irish.  Making a joke about 'redheads' in class. Then immediately feeling bad and taking it back :P.  I hate feeling like I've finally gotten in a groove in a class and then it's over... discussion has stopped.  I finally got comfortable speaking up and now it's done.  In fact, it was this semester that I finally got into a groove with my classmates, met people I actually enjoyed the company of and who I could really just be comfortable with, now it's summer and I'm headed to Tampa for about three months. Mind you it's not Miami that I'm bothered about leaving, it's FIU. I actually enjoy going to class (at least my history classes taught by profs from the history department.)

I would like to reccomend an op-ed piece by Bono in the New York Times entitled "It's 2009. Do you know where your soul is?" this man never ceases to cause me to feel convicted all while putting a smile on my face.  The dude is so right. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE READ IT!!!! I think he really captured how I felt about lent this season.  I'm still involved with the lighthouse, but in many ways I've been without a church this year, and it's a freeing feeling, it also stirs confusion.  I am able to look outside myself and my theology and analyze it and think 'huh, why DO I believe that? ....Maybe I don't' on the other hand I'm still tied to a church in Walla Walla, and I wonder what I am to tell them about what I've come to believe.  More than my religion courses, it's the history that causes me to question, and I like it.  It's good, it's healthy, and my faith is better for it.  I suppose because he feels he would be too much of a hypocrit he'll continue to deny being much of a theologian, but of anyone, reading Bono's thoughts on the faith keeps me grounded because to me, he's realistic.  A characteristically eloquent Irishman.  Seriously this article is beautiful, I don't care who you are.  When I move into my new place I'm printing it out and hanging it on my wall.

I hate money.  It's making all kinds of things difficult right now.  I'm working on booking tickets to washington for a few days this summer, then I remembered there's a YAV reunion in September... but I suppose I'll have to forgo that for this year.  I could afford the tickets but it'd still be a touch rough.  Maybe there's a chance I could find some employment when I get back here too... that'd be nice.  Taking a summer job may set me back for graduation by a semester, I was hoping to take a few classes this summer especially because I'm thinking about minoring in education... but then I'd really only be qualified to teach in Florida anyway, and why would I do that to myself?  I could take the classes for the info, and forget the minor... just keep minoring in religion.  Probably a better choice then when I get somewhere else for a bit I'll find out what I need to do to be qualified to teach there.  First goal is ordination right?

I've sent out lots of messages today.  I updated Cedarkirk on my new address, I e-mailed Sara about signing the lease and moving in to the new apartment, I e-mailed Dr. K about Independent study for the fall, I tried to text Bobby about studying but got no answer (the bum), e-mailed Paul and told him I won't be working at Central, I asked Daniel what he thought about the Weirdness of Central.  I talked to Luis about how his sister, following a 20 minute conversation with our roommate Fiorella, believes that Fiorella is most likely clinically insane.  She wasn't exagerating, she was just making an observation.  Fiorella wants me to sign a paper saying that I will pay the last electricity bill... obviously I will do no such thing, I will simply pay the last electricity bill and not be retarded.  This is a difficult concept for Fiorella to understand, perhaps because if she were in my situation she'd skip town without paying the bills.  Also the girl is unemployed and about to inhabit an apartment with a monthly rent of $1150.00 by herself for 2 months and I can only giggle at the prospect of her impending situation.  If she ever had a modicum of respect for anyone other than herself or her sister perhaps I'd feel sorry for her.

Following all this I e-mailed Doug about moving to Northern Ireland.  This way, as soon ad I graduate next year, the next thing I'll be doing is condensing everything I own down into two suitcases getting on a plane and flying across the Atlantic, with no real plans for return.  Not for the purpose of getting out of America so much as for getting into and staying in Ireland.  Although this all has the added benefit of getting me out of Miami and out of Florida. If I want to, and am able I may try to stay and do seminary over there too.

I'm also really excited about doing independent study, I'm still playing out this idea of working with Dr. K, just in case but I'm not *that* interested in Victorian England, I'm more into Dr. R's research.  Although, a woman I quoted twice in my last paper for Dr. R (about prostitution in Victorian England) happened to be Dr. K's advisor for her doctoral dissertation and THE name on feminism and sexuality in Victorian Britain... so yeah, if I do want to go that route it would be hard to find someone better than Dr. K.  Obviously I'm more interested in Irish history, so I asked Doug for some tips on subjects and books to look into and I'm planning on reading both Dr. R's and Dr. K's dissertations to see which I think I'll jive better with for a semester of one on one work.  Then once I settle on a topic I'll bounce it off of them to really decide who I'll spend the semester with.  Of course I'm leaning toward something along the lines of Modern Britain and the Irish question with Dr. R but we'll see.

I like this entry.  It begins with a skeptical analysis of  cult analysis and ends with me realizing I've been in a cult-like organiztion since I was like 12.  Enjoy!

So of course my interests are Prostitution, cults, and Integrated Education (can you hear that sesame street song?  One of these things just doesn't belong...) among other weirdnesses.  I used to read a lot on cults in High School. the book Kingdom of the Cults is really good, understand though that it comes from the Christian perspective, mainly because in it's initial edition it focused specifically on Christian cults - ie. Jehova's Witnesses, Mormons, The Worldwide Church of God [AKA Armstrongism... one-a them Apocolyptic cults.  Supposedly it still exists but is MUCH more mainstream Christian now] in later editions it began to include the Black Muslim Cult (they moved on to Abrahemic cults before going to general ones) the most recent edition I believe includes New Agey stuff, Scientology, etc.

My preface set that I've done some research into cult ideologies I will address my previous post.  I'm not sure I can really know if the School of Practical Philosophy is a cult unless I were to actually show up for some classes.  If I ever have the expendable income I might be tempted to with the understanding that I should be fully on my guard.  What I can say that I *DO* know about cults is that they can change to become more or less cult-like.  It is difficult to breach the subject because when talking about cults the actual word "cult" has a pretty broad definition.  What do *I* mean when I say "Cult"?  Well for me it would be an organization with clearly "sketchy" aspects... but then we'd have to define what I mean by "sketchy" etc.  My primary question on this is 'do they teach a specifically faith or religion based ideollogy?' and in the broadest sense of the definition then yes, it is a cult.  That doesn't mean it's scary or creepy or we should run away from it.  Under that definition all religions are (or at least started as) cults.  It is this definition that is important to me, because I already have a faith system, relgion, etc.  I'm not looking to go find a new one I'm just interested in this idea of practical application of philosophy and meditation - two things that I don't believe conflict with my Christian faith.  In my search I've found a few articles:

http://www.jeremystangroom.com/is-the-school-of-economic-science-a-cult/118/
This guy leans toward cult.  Quite strongly in fact.  All the same I'm not sure I'm on board with him yet, but I understand his argument.  Where I don't buy in is that somethings he mentions are location specific.  The US branch and even the Irish branch, though initially started as part of this whole deal, seems completely different now from the original London school. For instance in the classes and readings there is a more broad spectrum of philosophical thought offered in the US that the main school in London.  He also talks about gender roles that are taught and conservative values, etc at this school which doesn't seem to be a component of the others, nor consistent with the celebrity mentioned in my previous post.  Also in analysing the guy's responses to his article he uses a great number  of logical fallacies on his own which discredit him a bit.  There is also a comment from a guy in the school in New Zealand who, while agreeing that what this guy described was bad, said that the school there was nothing like it.  He also makes reference (without support) to the use of sleep deprevation, a programming technique.  I'm sleep deprived due to writing a paper on prostitution, yet I don't think I'm going to take up the vocation.  While I understand his point, he just doesn't seem to back himself up well, then destroys his credibility in the ensuing conversation in his comments.

In any case, I suppose the conclusion I seem to have come to thus far is that it is a borderline religious organization.  In that one *could* bending deffinitions a bit be both religiously Buddhist and Jewish etc.  They don't really claim to be a religous organization but they do assume a God or "the absolute" it is in this sense monotheistic.  How different is that than being a mason?  Which admittedly some people look at the masons as a cult, and to be honest they're FAR more secretive than this organization is, so perhaps that's warranted.  Nonetheless I'm a dues paying member of a masonic organization.  At it's core there is a Judeo-Christian ideology and I'm not sure one could legitimately be a member without acknowledgement of the Judeo-Christian God.  In this organization we recited the 'ritual' took a vow never to divulge the secrets of Job's Daughters, learned the hand clasp and the signs of the epochs, walking patterns, prayers, songs and WE'RE NOT LETTING YOU IN ON IT! :P  Membership in fact for that organization was even more selective, I had to be a related to a mason or a member in order to join no further than two generations.  All kinds of ceremonies, vows, and special robes.  Heck I don't know why I'm reading up on other cults, clearly I'm already in one.

More later.

So I read an article and someone brings up the "School of Practical Philosophy" which as far as I can tell is exactly what it sounds like, though it emphasizes that it is not an academic school of philosophy.  So what I mean by "exactly what it sounds like" is that they teach practical application of philosophy which is literally a study of wisdom.  This is in contrast to the theoretical concepts taught in an academic course.  While some might disagree, on paper that doesn't sound sketchy.  It sounds kind of interesting.  Like any class however, it costs something.  To be honest though the classes aren't particularly expensive $125 for a 10 week course.  They don't have paid employees so I guess the money goes to upkeep or rental of space?  You'd pay as much for swim lessons or a fitness class they're not bleeding you dry and ALL the school offers is classes, there is a recommended reading list but not only is the list not required. What's on the list? Shakespeare, the bible King James translation (it, along with the NRSV are the closest translations to the Hebrew and Greek), C.S. Lewis (ie: the Great Divorce, and the Screwtape letters), Yeats, Emmerson, Thoreau, Whitman, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a book on The Sermon on the Mount, other Religious texts like the Geeta, some buddhist stuff.  Things I would probably read anyway if for no other reason than to know what they have to say, but obviously many of these books represent my religion as well as the culture surrounding it.  It came up because a particular celebrity I was looking up takes some of their weekly classes.

...I'm FASCINATED by celebrity religious thought... ENTHRALLED.  I've even read a little about scientology just for the sake of knowing.  Lets be honest, they don't have to be celebrity if I was talking to someone and this school came up in conversation I think I'd still be just as interested.  Shoot one day in class Dr. R mentioned the Monster Raving Looney party and first thing I did was google it when I got to a computer.  Their website also includes a bit that explains that it's not a religion.  They openly admit, no religion and no academia.  Which seems credible.  Also this particular celebrity is considered a very grounded down to earth person and when he was asked if it was scientology-ish he laughed quite cheerily as he explained that it was nothing of the sort.  Although from what I've read it doesn't seem some people would agree.  So I don't know, obviously something of this sort sets off the cult alarms in my head and I get flashbacks to Walking along Bayside after church one morning and coming across a group of "Prayer Dancers" who were literally praying to themselves.  "Thank yourself for the people in your life..." shouldn't you even at the most superficial lever be thanking the people in your life for THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE?  But the more I look at this it doesn't seem like that, and for this particular celebrity and their spouse (I don't know about others in the school) they clearly recognize that there is a God and that their marriage and anything else they do is to serve that God.  In many ways it's a basic Jewish understanding.  This celebrity claimed in his youth to be influenced by Billy Graham though not completely swept away, it was more of an interest because his father became an Evangelical from the experience, but not a crazy hard nosed scary one, a good one. (you see this, looking up people's religious back grounds is some what of my addiction).  In any case if something promises "Knowledge, Inner Peace, and happiness" you must immediately be skeptical but then I think in it's own way everything does promise that and ultimately none of it can if you can't simply accept it for yourself. (gee, now I'm sounding new agey... I promise that makes sense, but perhaps it's only makes sense in my head.)  In any case you can't fault an organization for being blatant about trying to advertize itself.  So I don't know, they seem to be a particularly rational thinking human being, nothing of a Travolta or Cruise.  Also this seems to be a bit more about free thought than restrictive thought.  Scientology is a very restrictive religion, this school seems to be a bit more of 'figure it out for yourself' kinda thing while teaching a bit of meditation along the way.

Anyway, that's my thought on it, look it up and tell me what you think http://www.philosophyworks.org/ that's the website and no, to be honest if they're trying to look non-cultist it doesn't do them any favors but see whatelse google has to tell us and let me know.  I find this school fascinating and I think if it is what it looks like on paper it'd be kind of cool to check out.  If it's not I fear brainwashing, the schools are located in metro hotspots, etc etc.

-Contrary to what the syllabus tells us, grades in my modern Britain class are actually pass/fail based on the outcome of this Sunday's Match between the Everton and Aston Villa football clubs, and it's an automatic fail if you were to assume that Dr. R follows Liverpool because Liverpool City Football club is evil. Everton on the other hand is God's gift to mankind (also it's the team Catholics from Liverpool follow, Liverpool City is for heathen protestants.  Nevermind that both teams were started in Methodist parishes).

-FIU is cutting the Religion Department.  Cause they're bastards.

-Josephine Butler is a powerhouse for women's rights in general but obviously it's hard for me to not respect her influence in the church. "God and one woman makes a majority."

-My mom should not be allowed to send me new applications on facebook, (ie. "Farm Town) they waste my time more than anything in the history of my procrastination.

-I'm going to miss my Age of Jefferson class when its over.  It was actually kinda fun in a weird "YOU WANT ME TO READ HOW MANY PAGES THIS WEEK?!?!" kind of way.

-Rather than getting an actual meal in the togo box from the dining hall, I can fill the togo box with as many chocolate chip cookies as possible from the desert counter, and then fill my cup with whole milk and go home and have cookies and milk.  This is a good plan.

-Having attractive British professors does wonders for my productivity... now if they only taught math.

-Old people are joining facebook in droves, I haven't decided yet how I feel about this.

-No matter how many times I take the belief-o-matic test I will always end up an Orthodox Quaker.  Where does one find an Orthodox Quaker church?

-Belief-O-Matic has the worlds greatest disclaimer: Warning: Belief-O-Matic™ assumes no legal liability for the ultimate fate of your soul.

-You should check it, and let me know your results: http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Quizzes/BeliefOMatic.aspx

-Seriously... Orthodox Quaker EVERY FREAKING TIME  Does anybody out there know any Orthodox Quakers? (other than me apparently) I could probably lie to the damn thing and tell it I don't believe in God (woah, ethical/theological dillema) and it would STILL tell me I'm Orthdox Quaker (*maybe* Liberal Quaker instead...).

-I need to get home there's a new show on on CBS "Harper's Island" I think it's gonna be killer... literally.

Perhaps it's just my opinion, but it seems difficult to come up with something original  when ones major is in the sciences, or something more concrete like that.  The Sciences are governed by rules and laws, sure you can discover something new, but only within those rules and those laws.

Victorian Britain was governed by an overwhelming sense of uber conservative morality... and yet prostitution and illicit sex were rampant.  So yes, social history has it's laws, but they're clearly bendable.  Which of course makes the subject more interesting... you can't know everything, there's always something you don't know and something more to figure out, more archives to go search through, more stuff to dig up, more books to read.  A NEW way of looking at an old opinion and discovering the conventional opinion is outdated and in fact wrong.  It always changes, in science gravity is a constant.  Today feminism can be frowned upon by the evangelical church... mind you it started in the 19th century with an evangelical woman who once proclaimed "God and one woman makes a majority" constantly arguing that God made us equal and Jesus confirmed it.

I'm writing a research paper about Josephine Butler and her work to repeal laws that established a double standard in the regulation of prostitution in Great Britain, although her influence spread pretty much everywhere.  I'm going through her "Autobiographical Memoir" and the introduction to it is AWESOME... it's kinda what I'd like someone to say about me when I die.

INTRODUCTION.

JOSEPHINE BUTLER was one of the great people of the world. In character, in work done, in influence on others, she was among that few great people who have moulded the course of things. The world is different because she lived. Like most of the very great people of the world, she was extremely cosmopolitan. She belongs to all nations and to all time. The work she did, the people she influenced, prove this. Her Voice in the Desert has been translated into most languages of Europe, and has spoken like the voice of a compatriot to the people of every land. She was a great leader of men and women, and a skilful arid intrepid general of the battles she fought. As an orator she touched the hearts of her hearers as no one else has done to whom I have listened. She aimed at a perfectly definite object, but round that object there gathered in her mind many others, all converging to the same end. She left behind her wherever she went new thoughts and new aims and new ideals.

Around her central thought grew up many others, and a host of good works have been left in many countries as living memorials of her influence. She thus not only led a great crusade, but she helped to raise the characters of the individuals engaged in it.

But while I write of her public work, it would be but half the truth unless I said a word about her personally. She was at home in every class of society. She was very beautiful, and of a very gracious presence, and the impression made by first seeing her and hearing her voice has, I expect, been forgotten by none who ever met her. She was of a very artistic temperament. She was a good painter, an extremely good musician. She was a bold rider, and active, though always of a somewhat weak health. Her industry and application was unbounded. She was very full of humour, and, while deeply in earnest, had the faculty of being at times charmingly gay. She dressed with great taste and simplicity. She, above all things, loved her home and her husband, and that love was wholly returned.

I have said she was extremely cosmopolitan, and all who have known her know how true that is. At the same time she was a great lover of her own country, and particularly of the borderland between England and Scotland, where she was born, and where she now lies buried in the churchyard of Kirknewton, where many of her ancestors lie. For she came of an old Border family ; and bravery, and the alertness of battle, and the power of self-sacrifice, and the indignation against wrong which characterised her, came to her, perhaps, partly through her descent. She was a great reader of the Bible, and a humble suppliant before the throne of God..

But, while her own beliefs were clear and definite, she had no narrowness in her views, and the very names of those who have been her foremost supporters show how wide her sympathies were, and how acceptable she was to people of all creeds, as well as of all politics and of all climes. She had to endure much, especially in the early stages of her crusade the averted glances of former friends, the brutal attacks of ignorant opponents but the inspiration of a mighty purpose enabled her to rise above all that, and to preserve a serenity of mind and of manner through it all.

And now, what is the sum of it all ? It seems to me to be this, that we must all be glad that she lived. We are each of us individually better, and the world as a whole is better, because she lived ; and the seed that she has sown can never die.
JAMES STUART.

DUDE... She kicks ass...

-I might be too liberal for the church I'm applying to. If you had told me this in '04 or '05 I wouldn't have thought it possible. Also, on the whole PCUSA church down here are filled with hippies... how did I find the one that's not?

-This church also claims to be "multi-cultural" which I find to be generally difficult for churches located next to country clubs but whatev.

-I bought a copy of this book today. Which may seem like an obvious choice given my last post with regard to Craig Ferguson, but also the book deals with a variety of my favorite things and subjects them to a completely irreverent sense of humor. What more could I ask for? I like the Publisher's Weekly review that says it "approaches the sacred by way of the profane."

-My love of Craig Ferguson may also be tied to my love of the word "bastard" and the frequency with which he uses it.  Also how it sounds when said with a scottish accent...

-[disclaimer: not a *new* thing]I know that at least one of you has been told that "bastard" is my favorite word (has been since middle or high school-ish) otherwise... Surprise anyone?

-My mother seems to believe that if/when I marry it will be to someone older and more mature than men my age. It's possible given my dating history, though is there a range that we could consider "my age"? Cause lets be honest there are some pretty immature 30 year olds. I don't really think I'd date someone older based entirely on them being more mature. Partly because I realize I NEED to spend my time with people who have that irreverent sense of humor, otherwise church work could get too depressing. I live in fear of one day taking myself too seriously, so the perfect balance to that would be someone completely and totally obnoxious. This is a fascinating realization because NO ONE I've even been out on just 1 date with or anything has ever resembled that. Thus I suppose I need to be hanging out at Irish Comedy clubs and fine me a responsible man who doesn't want to grow up... yeah good luck with that.

-There's a girl next to me in the library yelling at someone in Chinese and English... apparently his name is Jack and he's a jerk.

-I should be speed writing two papers right now and studying for my logic exam tomorrow.

-I should also probably be eating something... I just don't feel like going to the cafeteria.  If I ever have the funds I would probably be healthiest if I hired a cook and perhaps someone to follow me around with a selection of snack foods.  I enjoy eating, I'm just too lazy to go in search of food at times, which also makes me less apt to cook it once it's found.

-Being poor probably also affects my laziness... who gets enthusiastic about going in search of the only crappy food you can afford?

-The Church of Scotland (aka the original Presby. church) has been ordaining women for over 40 years... so there's another place that I could live.

-I need to get out of Miami... the irony is that taking a job that would require me to stay in Miami longer may aid in getting me to where I want to be later.

-Doesn't change how much I hate Miami.

-People don't listen to rock music in Miami... this clearly must be the catalyst for all its other problems.

-I'm fairly certain my pastor's family back home changed their phone number and has chosen not to inform me.  I have called multiple times over the past two years... they haven't answered since I moved to Miami. Even when I called while IN town visiting.  Yet they still have the same answering system...

-When I interview with this church I have to do a 5-7 minute little teaching audition.  Which is ridiculous.  We're Presbyterian AND I've kissed the blarney stone.  How do I keep it to a maximum of 7 minutes?

-Should be a story teller... which I suppose is similar to being a pastor... I just thing that it would be better if I were a story teller cause then I'd be allowed to use the word "bastard" in stories... when not specifically referring to someone who was literally conceived illegitimately which I would never do because there are no illegitimate children, just illegitimate parents.

-One of my (now former) roommates has cancer.  Skin cancer to be specific, and I'm certain she's fine, nonetheless she has moved back to Iowa and there are three of us in the Apt. for the month of April, then Luis and I are moving out and we all go our separate ways.  Not gonna lie, if one of the girls was going to move out early I was hoping it would be the other one.

-Not sure how we're going to pay the electric bill this month considering the one whose name it's in is also the one who left.

-I've decided not to tell the remaining sister that *technically* I shouldn't be getting my deposit back since I'm leaving in April.  This way if I just never get it back then I'm fine, I'm not out anything, I wasn't supposed to get it back anyway.  On the other hand, if by some weird twist of space and time they actually do get me back my share of the deposit... well then I'll get it back... YAY.

-My fantasy baseball team is probably going to suck this year.  It's what happens when you build a team solely for nostalgia's sake rather than for the guys most likely to be illegally juicing.

-I still have faith that Boonie didn't juice.

-I'm gonna go get dinner...

- I have now been trained in firing a handgun... a 22 and a revolver.  Basics at least, and I'm a pretty good shot with the 22 at a distance of 12 ft or so, not so much with the revolver, although I changed a part of my technique in firing with the 22 (since I shot with it after the revolver) which dramatically improved my aim, so theoretically I'm a better shot than I think I am with the revolver as well.  It's actually REALLY fun going target shooting, if I work at Cedarkirk this summer I'm going to have to get my mom to take me target shooting regularly (or borrow her gun - with permission, mind you).  I'd like to work my way up to a higher caliber gun, and get some marksmanship certifications.  Not with the intent to use it for more than sport obviously, it'd just be a cool skill to have.

- I *think* I've come to terms with the idea of staying in Miami if I have a job at CPC... I mean at that point I'd actually be earning money, plus it'd give me some time to perhaps earn my teaching certificate so I could teach while in seminary or if I work at a small church or something..

-I LOVE Craig Ferguson... he's my latest favorite tv show/ celebrity... whatev.  You know me, I go through phases of absolutely loving some person in popculture and while I never fall out of love with them I do frequently move on and pick up a new love and passion that outshines the others for a bit.  I started watching Craig Ferguson more because for the first week of March U2 (another popculture love of mine) was booked to play the whole week on Letterman and Craig Ferguson happens to be on after Letterman.  So of course when the musical act is always the last thing on the show I saw U2 and then immediately Craig Ferguson was on, and I love him... he's just goofy, sometimes his jokes are clever other times you may only be laughing because what he just said sounds funny when said with a scottish accent and for no other reason.  I think I also have a great deal of respect for how open he is about his alcoholism and what a struggle it is.  Also he has an interesting appraoch to religion that just has me curious... you know me.  Not to mention he's scottish... HOME of the Presbyterians and of course he was raised in the church of Scotland and is therefore Presbyterian.  He's also done Eulogies ON SHOW for Dad and Mom when they died, interviewed the Archbishop Desmond Tutu (like, 2 weeks ago) explained why he will no longer make fun of people who are going to rehab and clearly need help (ie: Brittany Spears) because he knows what it feels like, and spoken our DUTY to vote... dude is awesome.  He also hates the song "Jesus Loves Me" which was his mother's choice at her funeral and I agree that song is WAY overplayed.

-I didn't get much done over the break, other than find a place to live, and 2 potential jobs... and I just relaxed all of spring break.  I was starting to get nervous about how lax I've been about that but actually I think it's good, I've had a completely no stress break, I don't have to stress about finding a new place to live because one just fell in my lap, and hey I might soon get a job to help pay my bills, start saving, etc.  And most likely that job wouldn't really start, or get too busy anyway, until I finish this semester.

-Betty White is INCREDIBLY entertaining.  She's regularly on Craig Ferguson and trust me she's HILARIOUS, her off of Golden Girls is like Bob Saget off of Full House, they seem so sweet and propper until you see them somewhere else.

After MONTHS of applying to jobs with no response, now that the unemployment rate is up at 8%. I most likely in the coming weeks have to choose between two jobs, one of which is a GREAT opportunity, will pay well, be flexible with work hours, and give me a ton of ministry experience. This job *might* even be flexible enough to allow me to take my other job option first as it's just a summer job at an affiliated summer camp, where the youth I would have charge of would be in attendance.

Here's the problem: They've hinted that they want me for at least 2 years. I finish my degree in 1 year and want to get the hell out of Miami. Of course such plans could be postponed and it would mean a likely promotion by the 2nd year to a full time position, and lets be honest I know how hard it is when a youth director leaves after 4 years, so I know it wouldn't be fair to the youth if I was only there for 1. But it's Miami, and I want the West coast, and mountains, and 4 seasons. If I live in the city I want a city that *feels* like one, not the crazy sprawl of nothing that is Miami. Oh and howabout a bar or club that plays anything other than hip-hop, r n' b, or latin music that doesn't require a 2 hour drive to get to. On the other hand *supposedly* this church has it's name on a plaque at the nearby Irish Pub... a story that I will need to be told. By all accounts it's a great job, and a great church, except that it's all in Miami. I don't want to get stuck, and generally youth director jobs are pretty short term as it is. So it's not like I would be stuck, I've just been so ready to move on for so long that it throws a wrench in the works when it's suggested thatbI stay.