Hi Quibbles!
On Suicide,
In my opinion, Death is one of the greatest fears for anyone younger than the age of 40. (After Spiders.. Cuz, yeah. Spiders) Because it is such a great fear I feel that it would be really hard for someone to bring themselves to killing themselves, but even so, it should be a well known, and well educated concern. In response to someone saying that they would kill themselves, I would most definitely tell someone, or call the insane-asylum, or something, because even if they were completely joking, hopefully the fear of humiliation of something like that would out-weigh the benefits of making someone do something.
[so yeah, call someone.]
PS. The national Suicide prevention line is 1-800-273-TALK
Now on cutting.
I'm not really sure what benefits cutting has, like what so ever. If someone told me that they cut, and prove it, I would seriously question their intelligence, but not feel bad for them. For everyone, there are much better ways to seek happiness, or fixing the problems that you have. Generally, I find it a dumb practice.
And so, I leave you with this post I've found online:
"I hate my body, I've got my blades, what do I do now?"
"Take the blade and go into the bathroom and take all your clothes off. Then stand up and look in the mirror. Just look for a second, even if you hate what you see. Then imagine your body covered in gashes, cuts, scars, and bruises. Imagine yourself months from now hiding your body, apologizing while you hurry to put your sleeves down when they slide up in class. Now back to normal, now which one do you prefer? Exactly. Put down the blade, put your clothes back on. Leave the bathroom. Call your best friend, or significant other and tell them you love them. and don't ever touch that damn razor again."
- Warbles
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Thursday, November 20, 2014
047 Romanticizing Suicide and Depression
Helloooo all,
It has been a month since the last post and we have been neglecting with a capital N. School has started to take its toll (which is not really a great excuse because last month it was November and also a good deal into the school year). I'm going to a trip around Europe sometime during winter break so you can expect either a ton of writing from me then, or barely any at all. Depends on how I feel.
Anyways, you can probably tell that I am stalling. I've forgotten how to write freely about a random topic, it's just been SO LONG! And of course, I just had to force a difficult topic on myself because honestly, why not.
Suicide. So there's two kinds of suicidey-depressed people. The first kind is the serious kind that is suffering with every day of their existence. The second kind is the kind that have second Instagram accounts posting black and white selfies, angsty poems, and depressing stuff (with, of course, a theme that looks super cool if you look at all their photos). And I am here to talk about the second kind.
(In any case, if you happen to be the first kind of suicidey-depressed people, seek help. Seriously. One smile, one person can make a huge difference. This isn't a society anymore that looks down upon suicidal people. One word and we will gather as a community to support you. We got your back in this, just hang on a bit and call for help.)
So here is the question I want to ask. Are we allowed to romanticize suicide and use it against someone as a weapon? Should we be allowed?
Here comes the anecdote. A year ago, I was a friend to someone called, oh, I don't know. Let's say her name is Leehay (for no particular reason. I just think the name Leehay is a perfectly swell name and suits her perfectly). So Leehay and I got really close, mainly because I was a professional procrastinator then, and I had serious time management issues, so much that I would talk anyone who messaged me to death. And of course, she happened to love messaging people. So we clicked.
But then, she started saying awful, awful things to me. I don't remember what anymore, but trust me, it was bad. I just have a terrible memory and also I told myself to forget it and so here I am. She said that she was trying to make me "stronger", and that I shouldn't cry when she says mean things because she's just "toughening me up".
(This was back in the age when I used to cry about things other people say about me) (aka a year ago) (aka I still do because I'm an insecure twit who needs reassuring every moment of her life) (but I don't cry) (seriously).
I mean, hello. This isn't Mulan. I'm perfectly fine being a soft, mushy, flabby person. Thanks.
So clearly this was not a healthy relationship, so of course I was like, "I'm out, bye". But she apparently had some change of heart or something because she was like "Nooo don't leave me how will I live without you." And so I said something along the lines of "Sorry, bye." and she wAS ACTUALLY SERIOUS APPARENTLY BECAUSE THE NEXT MESSAGE SHE SENT ME WAS A FULL PAGE LONG AND WAS ALL ABOUT HOW SHE WAS ACTUALLY SUICIDAL AND IF I DIDN'T FORGIVE HER, SHE WOULD KILL HERSELF AND SO I HAD TO FORGIVE HER AND WE HAD TO BE BEST FRIENDS AGAIN OTHERWISE I WOULD VIRTUALLY KILL HER.
And so naturally, I didn't want to leave her, because hey, if she commits suicide...
But another part of me was indignant and almost disgusted by the fact that she would use suicide as a weapon to guilt me into apologizing. And I was so angry that I just didn't talk to her again. I made sure my friends were on board and we just shut her out of our friendship circle. Because honestly? I don't want a friend that will yell at me and force me to forgive them. I don't need that in my life. And to this day, I don't know if that was the right choice. On one hand, I was just trimming off a bad branch. On the other had, I may have truly hurt her and I don't want that.
As of now, I don't regret leaving her, but I do regret causing her pain. Because not only did I force her out of my bubble, I forced her out of my friends' bubbles. They were absolutely furious when I told them what Leehay said, and I'm so grateful they supported me in this whole thing. And I am extremely relieved to get her off my back. But I hated the fact that I virtually isolated her from all friendships, and I would never want to do that again to anybody.
So my final opinion on using suicide as a threat? Not cool. This is serious business, and suicide is something that can't be undone. So threatening suicide is really just attention-grabby and annoying, and also deeply disrespectful to those who are actually going through rough times.
Sometimes, when my mom is being super annoying or mean, I think about what if I committed suicide, or what if I told her I was depressed. Would she be nicer to me? And then I feel bad because suicide isn't something to joke about, or something to take lightly. Of course she would care more about me, but I would also be causing my mom extraordinary pain. And just like the boy who cried wolf, do I really want to fake something as serious as suicide?
As for romanticizing suicide, I think that's wrong too. Just from my perspective, 'cutting', or slicing your wrists with blades, has become something all 'popular' kids are doing. I know so many people who are cutting, which kind of makes me wonder, well, what's the hype all about? Is it fun to cut? Is it cool to cut?
But cutting is also another weapon. You can 'accidentally' show someone your wrists, and they will automatically feel bad for you, and be 10000000 times nicer. You can 'accidentally' show your parents your wrists, and they will feel automatically more caring. But cutting for manipulation and cutting because you need to are very different things. To an outsider, though, they're the same. And they cause the same pain to them.
I don't want to imply that I'm suicidal or depressed by writing this article. But I feel that this is an issue that isn't being addressed properly, and teenagers (I'm singling teenagers out because they tend to succumb to peer pressure most) can be suffering because of that.
Nargles, Warbles, a penny for your thoughts?
- Quibbles
It has been a month since the last post and we have been neglecting with a capital N. School has started to take its toll (which is not really a great excuse because last month it was November and also a good deal into the school year). I'm going to a trip around Europe sometime during winter break so you can expect either a ton of writing from me then, or barely any at all. Depends on how I feel.
Anyways, you can probably tell that I am stalling. I've forgotten how to write freely about a random topic, it's just been SO LONG! And of course, I just had to force a difficult topic on myself because honestly, why not.
Suicide. So there's two kinds of suicidey-depressed people. The first kind is the serious kind that is suffering with every day of their existence. The second kind is the kind that have second Instagram accounts posting black and white selfies, angsty poems, and depressing stuff (with, of course, a theme that looks super cool if you look at all their photos). And I am here to talk about the second kind.
(In any case, if you happen to be the first kind of suicidey-depressed people, seek help. Seriously. One smile, one person can make a huge difference. This isn't a society anymore that looks down upon suicidal people. One word and we will gather as a community to support you. We got your back in this, just hang on a bit and call for help.)
So here is the question I want to ask. Are we allowed to romanticize suicide and use it against someone as a weapon? Should we be allowed?
Here comes the anecdote. A year ago, I was a friend to someone called, oh, I don't know. Let's say her name is Leehay (for no particular reason. I just think the name Leehay is a perfectly swell name and suits her perfectly). So Leehay and I got really close, mainly because I was a professional procrastinator then, and I had serious time management issues, so much that I would talk anyone who messaged me to death. And of course, she happened to love messaging people. So we clicked.
But then, she started saying awful, awful things to me. I don't remember what anymore, but trust me, it was bad. I just have a terrible memory and also I told myself to forget it and so here I am. She said that she was trying to make me "stronger", and that I shouldn't cry when she says mean things because she's just "toughening me up".
(This was back in the age when I used to cry about things other people say about me) (aka a year ago) (aka I still do because I'm an insecure twit who needs reassuring every moment of her life) (but I don't cry) (seriously).
I mean, hello. This isn't Mulan. I'm perfectly fine being a soft, mushy, flabby person. Thanks.
So clearly this was not a healthy relationship, so of course I was like, "I'm out, bye". But she apparently had some change of heart or something because she was like "Nooo don't leave me how will I live without you." And so I said something along the lines of "Sorry, bye." and she wAS ACTUALLY SERIOUS APPARENTLY BECAUSE THE NEXT MESSAGE SHE SENT ME WAS A FULL PAGE LONG AND WAS ALL ABOUT HOW SHE WAS ACTUALLY SUICIDAL AND IF I DIDN'T FORGIVE HER, SHE WOULD KILL HERSELF AND SO I HAD TO FORGIVE HER AND WE HAD TO BE BEST FRIENDS AGAIN OTHERWISE I WOULD VIRTUALLY KILL HER.
And so naturally, I didn't want to leave her, because hey, if she commits suicide...
But another part of me was indignant and almost disgusted by the fact that she would use suicide as a weapon to guilt me into apologizing. And I was so angry that I just didn't talk to her again. I made sure my friends were on board and we just shut her out of our friendship circle. Because honestly? I don't want a friend that will yell at me and force me to forgive them. I don't need that in my life. And to this day, I don't know if that was the right choice. On one hand, I was just trimming off a bad branch. On the other had, I may have truly hurt her and I don't want that.
As of now, I don't regret leaving her, but I do regret causing her pain. Because not only did I force her out of my bubble, I forced her out of my friends' bubbles. They were absolutely furious when I told them what Leehay said, and I'm so grateful they supported me in this whole thing. And I am extremely relieved to get her off my back. But I hated the fact that I virtually isolated her from all friendships, and I would never want to do that again to anybody.
So my final opinion on using suicide as a threat? Not cool. This is serious business, and suicide is something that can't be undone. So threatening suicide is really just attention-grabby and annoying, and also deeply disrespectful to those who are actually going through rough times.
Sometimes, when my mom is being super annoying or mean, I think about what if I committed suicide, or what if I told her I was depressed. Would she be nicer to me? And then I feel bad because suicide isn't something to joke about, or something to take lightly. Of course she would care more about me, but I would also be causing my mom extraordinary pain. And just like the boy who cried wolf, do I really want to fake something as serious as suicide?
As for romanticizing suicide, I think that's wrong too. Just from my perspective, 'cutting', or slicing your wrists with blades, has become something all 'popular' kids are doing. I know so many people who are cutting, which kind of makes me wonder, well, what's the hype all about? Is it fun to cut? Is it cool to cut?
But cutting is also another weapon. You can 'accidentally' show someone your wrists, and they will automatically feel bad for you, and be 10000000 times nicer. You can 'accidentally' show your parents your wrists, and they will feel automatically more caring. But cutting for manipulation and cutting because you need to are very different things. To an outsider, though, they're the same. And they cause the same pain to them.
I don't want to imply that I'm suicidal or depressed by writing this article. But I feel that this is an issue that isn't being addressed properly, and teenagers (I'm singling teenagers out because they tend to succumb to peer pressure most) can be suffering because of that.
Nargles, Warbles, a penny for your thoughts?
- Quibbles
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
046.5 GMO's and World Hunger
Dear Warbles,
I completely agree with you when you say that GMO's are a controversial topic. Pesticides are horrible for the planet, but bring food to 3rd world countries. Although many organizations, including the WHO, have published studies proving that GMO's have no negative affects on peoples' health, it doesn't put the disbelievers at ease. As you stated, Warbles, around 95% of the food we buy from the grocery store is genetically modified, so it's pretty hard to avoid. However, people who believe GMO's are harmful can easily go for the organically grown crops, which are not permitted to be genetically modified. Scientists argue that they only speed up immunizations that would have occurred eventually in plants, which is valid, and how bad can it be if it's feeding the world?
The most worrying part of GMO's, for me, is what farmers are doing to the environment as a result. Plants' genes are most often modified to resist some sort of poison in order for farmers to be able to spray their whole fields and only kill of the weeds, not the plants. However, this poison still resides on the crop, making it essential for one to thoroughly wash all produce before eating it. One could argue that over time and generations this could pose health risks as well. However, when farmers spray deadly poison on their plants, it gets on the ground and when it rains it gets into the earth and can also wash into water systems, killing fish and wildlife. Poisons in large doses can seriously harm the environment. In addition, over time there is a good chance the weeds would also become immune to the pesticides, calling for more heavily modified plants and a more extreme poison, which is even worse.
My solution to the problem would not be to stop producing GMO's, or stop feeding people in 3rd world countries, but for scientists to try and come up with a different, better solution rather than using poison to kill off the weeds. Why not try to make the plants stronger and more resistant to the weeds? Of course, I don't know the first thing about agriculture, so I'm not in a position to be throwing out ideas. Warbles, Quibbles, do either of you have any opinions on GMO's or an alternative to them?
Love always
~Nargles 11/28/14
I completely agree with you when you say that GMO's are a controversial topic. Pesticides are horrible for the planet, but bring food to 3rd world countries. Although many organizations, including the WHO, have published studies proving that GMO's have no negative affects on peoples' health, it doesn't put the disbelievers at ease. As you stated, Warbles, around 95% of the food we buy from the grocery store is genetically modified, so it's pretty hard to avoid. However, people who believe GMO's are harmful can easily go for the organically grown crops, which are not permitted to be genetically modified. Scientists argue that they only speed up immunizations that would have occurred eventually in plants, which is valid, and how bad can it be if it's feeding the world?
The most worrying part of GMO's, for me, is what farmers are doing to the environment as a result. Plants' genes are most often modified to resist some sort of poison in order for farmers to be able to spray their whole fields and only kill of the weeds, not the plants. However, this poison still resides on the crop, making it essential for one to thoroughly wash all produce before eating it. One could argue that over time and generations this could pose health risks as well. However, when farmers spray deadly poison on their plants, it gets on the ground and when it rains it gets into the earth and can also wash into water systems, killing fish and wildlife. Poisons in large doses can seriously harm the environment. In addition, over time there is a good chance the weeds would also become immune to the pesticides, calling for more heavily modified plants and a more extreme poison, which is even worse.
My solution to the problem would not be to stop producing GMO's, or stop feeding people in 3rd world countries, but for scientists to try and come up with a different, better solution rather than using poison to kill off the weeds. Why not try to make the plants stronger and more resistant to the weeds? Of course, I don't know the first thing about agriculture, so I'm not in a position to be throwing out ideas. Warbles, Quibbles, do either of you have any opinions on GMO's or an alternative to them?
Love always
~Nargles 11/28/14
Monday, November 17, 2014
046 GMO's and World Hunger
Hello Everyone!
How are you all?
So today, I'd like to talk about GMO's and world hunger. I think we can all agree that world hunger is a big problem, in fact, the WHO estimates that over 1/3 of all child deaths are from Malnutrition. That is big. We have a possible solution though, and that is the production and use of GMO's. East Asia's so called "Golden Rice" has increased levels of Vitamin A, which will help with the malnutrition the world has. GMO's have proven to be very useful, if you dig-in to it enough, you'll find that 95% of all of the food in the grocery store contains some sort of GMO ingredient. So the debate seems pretty clear: GMO's are good. It's not that simple though. GMO's have also been linked to a great increase in pesticide use. And that comes with increased cancer rates and deaths as well. Although many sources on the inter-web may say that GMO's are unsafe and untested, although they are fairly new, and not untested, we can consider them pretty safe, as there have been no more than 10 adverse health effects of the 350,000,000 of us in the US. So the decision is up to you reader: What should the world do? What are your opinions on GMO's, Quibbles and Nargles?
Have a great rest of yo' day! - Warbles
How are you all?
So today, I'd like to talk about GMO's and world hunger. I think we can all agree that world hunger is a big problem, in fact, the WHO estimates that over 1/3 of all child deaths are from Malnutrition. That is big. We have a possible solution though, and that is the production and use of GMO's. East Asia's so called "Golden Rice" has increased levels of Vitamin A, which will help with the malnutrition the world has. GMO's have proven to be very useful, if you dig-in to it enough, you'll find that 95% of all of the food in the grocery store contains some sort of GMO ingredient. So the debate seems pretty clear: GMO's are good. It's not that simple though. GMO's have also been linked to a great increase in pesticide use. And that comes with increased cancer rates and deaths as well. Although many sources on the inter-web may say that GMO's are unsafe and untested, although they are fairly new, and not untested, we can consider them pretty safe, as there have been no more than 10 adverse health effects of the 350,000,000 of us in the US. So the decision is up to you reader: What should the world do? What are your opinions on GMO's, Quibbles and Nargles?
Have a great rest of yo' day! - Warbles
Sunday, November 16, 2014
045 A Complete Review of Taylor Swift's "1989"
Introduction: Taylor Swift's album has been out for a couple weeks and it's still in my head, it's still my top played in iTunes, and it's still my favorite of everything. 1.3 million copies were sold during the first week, giving it the status of a 'Platinum' album, and I think Taylor really deserved it. This album is gold, every single song in it. I'll definitely miss her old style, especially with "Everything Has Changed" and "Ours" and "Love Story", but I'm so glad she's venturing into pop now.
Here are some further thoughts. (And snippets of lyrics with interpretive colours).
1) Welcome to New York
This is probably one of the less great tracks on the album, but it sets the scene and gives a good impression for what's coming afterwards. It's very pop, very loud, and very flashy. It probably doesn't describe New York so much as Taylor herself and her shift from country to pop: "It’s a new soundtrack I could dance to this beat, beat / Forevermore." It's definitely a new soundtrack, and personally, I could probably dance to this beat forevermore.
Walking through a crowd
The village is aglow
Kaleidoscope of loud heartbeats
Under coats
Everybody here wanted something more
Searching for a sound we hadn’t heard before
And it said
Welcome to New York
It’s been waiting for you
2) Blank Space
This one's a gem. The tune is incredibly catchy, and the lyrics are witty, smooth, and great. Taylor Swift manages to mock the media for mocking her love life. This isn't so much about guys as the fact that Taylor Swift is a crazy cat lady slash serial dater and she knows it. The music video is too beautiful and it's crazy and I love it. Her outfits in the music video are gorgeous, and Taylor just shows the world again that she's just good at music videos and no one can deny it. And to the people who think she's saying 'Starbucks lovers', I've listened to this track exactly 73 times (according to iTunes) and not once have I been able to hear it. (Also, is it just me or is "perfect storms" used a lot in this album?? What does that even MEAN???)
So it's gonna be forever
Or it's gonna go down in flames
You can tell me when it's over
If the high was worth the pain
Got a long list of ex-lovers
They'll tell you I'm insane
Cause you know I love the players
And you love the game
Cause we're young and we're reckless
We'll take this way too far
It'll leave you breathless
Or with a nasty scar
Got a long list of ex-lovers
They'll tell you I'm insane
But I got a blank space baby
And I'll write your name
3) Style
My personal favorite. Props to whoever wrote the guitar bits in the background (not sure what they're called). It's a song about a guy, even though she said she wouldn't write about guys anymore. Totally lying. But it also talks about endless style and unhealthy relationships. She's more reserved in this song, but it's also very passionate, just not the "Whatever I don't care" type of passionate in 'Blank Space' or 'Shake it Off'. The tune is again, super catchy, and I think it's completely underrated. When I first listened to this album, this was the one that stuck out for me. Best on the album.
You got that James Dean day dream look in your eye
And I got that red lip classic thing that you like
And when we go crashing down, we come back every time.
Cause we never go out of style
We never go out of style
You got that long hair, slicked back, white t-shirt.
And I got that good girl faith and a tight little skirt,
And when we go crashing down, we come back every time.
Cause we never go out of style
We never go out of style.
4) Out of the Woods
One word: Intense. Or maybe two words: Super Intense. This song is a huge layered concoction that completely overwhelms the listener (in a good way, at least if you like it). Especially love the line "But the monsters turned out to be just trees".
Remember when you hit the brakes too soon
Twenty stitches in a hospital room
When you started crying
Baby, I did too
But when the sun came up
I was looking at you
Remember when we couldn’t take the heat
I walked out, I said “I’m setting you free”
But the monsters turned out to be just trees
When the sun came up
You were looking at me.
5) All You Had To Do Was Stay
This song is catchy, not my top three, but definitely not bad, either. Another Taylor break-up song, but with a good pop tone. Not outstanding compared to other songs on this album, but if released by itself, definitely merits popularity.
Stay
Hey, all you had to do was stay
Had me in the palm of your hand
Man, why'd you have to go and lock me out when I let you in
Stay, hey, now you say you want it
Back, now that it's just too late
Well could've been easy, all you had to do was stay
All you had to do was stay
6) Shake it Off
How to describe this song? Unbearably catchy (in a good way)? There is no way I can listen to this song without singing or dancing or doing a weird jiggle. When it comes on the radio, just the first part without her singing gets me dancing. Then Taylor starts singing and I'm trapped. If you pause this song before it ends, it will haunt you for the rest of your day. Most people don't like her rapping bit, personally, I find it fine. The music video is really funny and beautifully executed, but also a bit strange, almost Gangnam-esque. This song is my ringtone, I love it a lot.
I stay up too late
Got nothing in my brain
That's what people say
That's what people say
I go on too many dates
But I can't make them stay
At least that's what people say
That's what people say
But I keep cruising
Can't stop, won't stop moving
It's like I got this music
In my mind, saying it's gonna be alright
Cause the players gonna play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate
Baby I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake
Shake it off
Shake it off!
7) I Wish You Would
Starts off a bit slow, even a bit off-tune, but goes on to be super catchy (again) and intense. Really strong beat and 'guitar bits', to quote myself. "I- I-, I wish I wish I..."
It's 2 am in your car
Windows down, you pass my street, the memories start
You say it's in the past, you drive straight ahead
You're thinking that I hate you now
Cause you still don't know what I never said
I wish you would come back
Wish I never hung up the phone like I did, and I
Wish you'd know that I'll never forget you as long as I live, and I
Wish you were right here, right now, it's all good, I wish you would.
8) Bad Blood
This is kind of a strange song, doesn't really fit with the rest of the album. Reminds me of another artist, but I can't remember who. The first time I heard this song, I thought I heard it before. Did that happen to anyone else? Because this song is super catchy, but I feel like I've heard something very similar to it. Apparently it's about Katy Perry, which I'm not going to comment on because I love Katy Perry and Taylor Swift and the fact that they have this feud going on breaks my heart. This song starts on very strong, scared me a bit. Nargles really loves this song, and I've grown to like it more. Still, it definitely sounds like someone else's music... but whose?
Hey!
Now we got problems
And I don't think we can solve them
You made a really deep cut
And baby now we got bad blood
Hey!
Band-Aids don't fix bullet holes
You say sorry just for show
You live like that, you live with ghosts
Band-Aids don't fix bullet holes
You say sorry just for show
You live like that, you live with ghosts
If you love like that, BLOOD RUNS COLD.
9) Wildest Dreams
Is it possible to listen to this song without thinking of Lana del Rey? The background sounds like one from a Lana del Rey song, and Taylor herself even sounds like Lana. For me, this song isn't Taylor Swift at all, but I'm glad she made it. Catchy chorus, very spooky and almost a little nostalgic. Compare to 'Summertime Sadness' or 'Dark Paradise' (both, you will notice, are by Lana del Rey).
Say you'll remember me
Standing in a nice dress, staring at the sunset, babe
Red lips and rosy cheeks
Say you'll see me again even if it's just pretend
Say you'll remember me
Standing in a nice dress, staring at the sunset babe
Red lips and rosy cheeks
Say you'll see me again even if it's just in your wildest dreams
In your wildest dreams
Even if it's just in your wildest dreams
In your wildest dreams
10) How You Get the Girl
If there's any song in this album I don't like (which there isn't), it would probably be this one. Nothing very outstanding or special about it. The lyrics look better than the song sounds, which is probably not a good thing. I wouldn't mind listening to it, but not one of my particular favorites. Then again, I haven't really given it a good chance. I listened to it once, decided I didn't really like it, and removed it from my playlist. So I haven't listened to it for a while. Let me listen again.
Update: I like it. Catchy beat. I forgot the chorus was so catchy. I actually really like it. A little bit too much background noise, but still extremely catchy. Very guitary/drummy. (Yes, I'm a professional musician). (No, I'm not). *Adding this back to my playlist*
I want you for worse or for better
I would wait for ever and ever
Broke your heart, I'll put it back together
I would wait for ever and ever
And that's how it works
That's how you get the girl, girl, oh
And that's how it works
That's how you get the girl, girl
11) This Love
Beautifully slow song, kind of sounds like a giant ocean wave. Very calming. Also very intense during the chorus, but it's a welcome break from the flashy beats of all the tracks above. One of my favorites. Probably not as big and bold, but definitely not to be forgotten. Almost reminds me of the Hunger Games, not sure why.
Clear blue,
Water,
High tide came and brought you in
And I could go on and on, on and on, and I will
Skies grew darker,
Currents swept you out again
And you were just gone and gone, gone and gone
In silent screams,
In wildest dreams
I never dreamed of this
This love is good, this love is bad
This love is alive back from the dead (Ohh)
These hands had to let it go free
And this love came back to me (Ohh)
12) I Know Places
This song also doesn't really fit in with the rest, but in a definitely good way. Starts off in a choppy, sinister minor key, then transitions into an explodingly major chorus. Super interesting to listen to, and the lyrics are meaningful too. They describe a celebrity couple running from the paparazzi, and how their relationship is limited by the public, using the metaphor of foxes and hunters. I don't think this song even counts as pop. I don't think Taylor Swift even counts as pop or country, she's just 'catchy'. Whatever her genre is, I love it and I want more.
You stand with a hand on my waist line
Good to see that we're out here in plain sight
I can hear them whisper as we pass by
It's a bad sign, bad sign.
Something happens when everybody finds out
See the vultures circling in dark clouds
Love's a fragile little flame
It could burn out
It could burn out
Cause they got their cages, they got their boxes
And guns
They are the hunters, we are the foxes
And we run.
Baby...
I know places we won't be found
And they'll be
Chasing their tails trying to track us down
Cause I
I know places we can
Hide
I know places
13) Clean
I never really got into Imogen Heap, but if all her songs are written like this, watch out Imogen Heap, I'm coming for you. Ultra clean and refreshing, not messy or overbearing at all. There's some sort of xylophone sound in the background during the chorus, and I really like it. Very unique. This song might not be super catchy or memorable, but listening to it is a beautiful experience. This album starts out flashy and impressive, and ends on a fresh, sober tone. Absolutely perfect.
The drought was the very worst
When the flowers that we'd grown together died of thirst
It was months, and months of back and forth
You're still all over me like I wine-stained dress I can't wear anymore
Hung my head, as I lost the war, and the sky turn black like a perfect storm
Rain came pouring
Down when I was drowning,
That's when I could finally breathe.
And that morning,
Gone was any trace of you
I think I am finally clean
Bonus 14) Wonderland
As you might have guessed, this song is about Alice in Wonderland (not really but sometimes). It's almost a bit cutesy in the beginning and very bright and glockenspiely. I personally love this song a lot, and I'm upset it's not on the actual album. Super catchy. Reminds me of Rihanna's 'Umbrella' with all the eh's.
Didn't they tell us don't rush into things
Didn't you flash your green eyes at me
Didn't you calm my fears with a Cheshire cat smile
Didn't it all seem new and exciting
I felt your arms twisting around me
It's all fun and games 'til somebody loses their mind
But darling
We found Wonderland
You and I got lost in it
And we pretended it could last forever
We found wonderland
You and I got lost in it
And life was never worse but never better
In Wonderland
In Wonderland
Bonus 15) You Are in Love
Similar to "This Love", very calm and quiet until the chorus, which is another intense one. Beautiful lyrics about a beautiful love. Actually, now that I think of it, super super similar to "This Love". Again, should be included in album.
You fight and you talk
One night he wakes, strange look on his face
Pauses, then says, you're my best friend
And you knew what it was, he is in love
You can hear it in the silence, silence
You can feel it on the way home, way home
You can see it with the lights out, lights out
You're in love, true love
Bonus 16) New Romantics
Fast paced, loud, catchy, reminds me of converse shoes and teenage rebellion. Definitely should be on the actual album.
We're all here
The lights and noise are blinding
We hang back
It's all in the timing
It's poker, you can't see in my face
But I'm about to play my ace
We need love, but all we want is danger
We team up and switch sides like a record changer
The rumours, are terrible and cruel
But honey most of them are true...
Cause baby I could build a castle
Out of all the bricks they threw at me
And every day it's like battle
But every night with us is like a dream
Baby we're the new romantics
Come on, come along with me
Heart break is the national anthem
We sing it proudly
We're too busy dancing
To get knocked off our feet
Baby we're the new romantics
The best people in life are free
Conclusion: So many styles and genres. These songs are all so different and all so perfect; it's hard to find an album like this one with so many jewels. Taylor deserves every single listener she gets. And the album artwork is so classy and unique. I want the physical copy of the album really badly, but my computer doesn't have a hard drive. Still, I want the artsy polaroids. I don't fully understand why some people dislike this album, but then again, they probably don't understand why I love it so much. Whatever, de gustibus non est disputandum: in matters of tastes, there can be no disputes. Just know that I highly recommend this album, a full five stars, and you go Taylor Swift.
#TS1989
Best wishes,
Quibbles
 |
| 1989, aka the best album in the world. |
Here are some further thoughts. (And snippets of lyrics with interpretive colours).
1) Welcome to New York
This is probably one of the less great tracks on the album, but it sets the scene and gives a good impression for what's coming afterwards. It's very pop, very loud, and very flashy. It probably doesn't describe New York so much as Taylor herself and her shift from country to pop: "It’s a new soundtrack I could dance to this beat, beat / Forevermore." It's definitely a new soundtrack, and personally, I could probably dance to this beat forevermore.
Walking through a crowd
The village is aglow
Kaleidoscope of loud heartbeats
Under coats
Everybody here wanted something more
Searching for a sound we hadn’t heard before
And it said
Welcome to New York
It’s been waiting for you
2) Blank Space
This one's a gem. The tune is incredibly catchy, and the lyrics are witty, smooth, and great. Taylor Swift manages to mock the media for mocking her love life. This isn't so much about guys as the fact that Taylor Swift is a crazy cat lady slash serial dater and she knows it. The music video is too beautiful and it's crazy and I love it. Her outfits in the music video are gorgeous, and Taylor just shows the world again that she's just good at music videos and no one can deny it. And to the people who think she's saying 'Starbucks lovers', I've listened to this track exactly 73 times (according to iTunes) and not once have I been able to hear it. (Also, is it just me or is "perfect storms" used a lot in this album?? What does that even MEAN???)
So it's gonna be forever
Or it's gonna go down in flames
You can tell me when it's over
If the high was worth the pain
Got a long list of ex-lovers
They'll tell you I'm insane
Cause you know I love the players
And you love the game
Cause we're young and we're reckless
We'll take this way too far
It'll leave you breathless
Or with a nasty scar
Got a long list of ex-lovers
They'll tell you I'm insane
But I got a blank space baby
And I'll write your name
3) Style
My personal favorite. Props to whoever wrote the guitar bits in the background (not sure what they're called). It's a song about a guy, even though she said she wouldn't write about guys anymore. Totally lying. But it also talks about endless style and unhealthy relationships. She's more reserved in this song, but it's also very passionate, just not the "Whatever I don't care" type of passionate in 'Blank Space' or 'Shake it Off'. The tune is again, super catchy, and I think it's completely underrated. When I first listened to this album, this was the one that stuck out for me. Best on the album.
You got that James Dean day dream look in your eye
And I got that red lip classic thing that you like
And when we go crashing down, we come back every time.
Cause we never go out of style
We never go out of style
You got that long hair, slicked back, white t-shirt.
And I got that good girl faith and a tight little skirt,
And when we go crashing down, we come back every time.
Cause we never go out of style
We never go out of style.
4) Out of the Woods
One word: Intense. Or maybe two words: Super Intense. This song is a huge layered concoction that completely overwhelms the listener (in a good way, at least if you like it). Especially love the line "But the monsters turned out to be just trees".
Remember when you hit the brakes too soon
Twenty stitches in a hospital room
When you started crying
Baby, I did too
But when the sun came up
I was looking at you
Remember when we couldn’t take the heat
I walked out, I said “I’m setting you free”
But the monsters turned out to be just trees
When the sun came up
You were looking at me.
5) All You Had To Do Was Stay
This song is catchy, not my top three, but definitely not bad, either. Another Taylor break-up song, but with a good pop tone. Not outstanding compared to other songs on this album, but if released by itself, definitely merits popularity.
Stay
Hey, all you had to do was stay
Had me in the palm of your hand
Man, why'd you have to go and lock me out when I let you in
Stay, hey, now you say you want it
Back, now that it's just too late
Well could've been easy, all you had to do was stay
All you had to do was stay
6) Shake it Off
How to describe this song? Unbearably catchy (in a good way)? There is no way I can listen to this song without singing or dancing or doing a weird jiggle. When it comes on the radio, just the first part without her singing gets me dancing. Then Taylor starts singing and I'm trapped. If you pause this song before it ends, it will haunt you for the rest of your day. Most people don't like her rapping bit, personally, I find it fine. The music video is really funny and beautifully executed, but also a bit strange, almost Gangnam-esque. This song is my ringtone, I love it a lot.
I stay up too late
Got nothing in my brain
That's what people say
That's what people say
I go on too many dates
But I can't make them stay
At least that's what people say
That's what people say
But I keep cruising
Can't stop, won't stop moving
It's like I got this music
In my mind, saying it's gonna be alright
Cause the players gonna play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate
Baby I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake
Shake it off
Shake it off!
7) I Wish You Would
Starts off a bit slow, even a bit off-tune, but goes on to be super catchy (again) and intense. Really strong beat and 'guitar bits', to quote myself. "I- I-, I wish I wish I..."
It's 2 am in your car
Windows down, you pass my street, the memories start
You say it's in the past, you drive straight ahead
You're thinking that I hate you now
Cause you still don't know what I never said
I wish you would come back
Wish I never hung up the phone like I did, and I
Wish you'd know that I'll never forget you as long as I live, and I
Wish you were right here, right now, it's all good, I wish you would.
8) Bad Blood
This is kind of a strange song, doesn't really fit with the rest of the album. Reminds me of another artist, but I can't remember who. The first time I heard this song, I thought I heard it before. Did that happen to anyone else? Because this song is super catchy, but I feel like I've heard something very similar to it. Apparently it's about Katy Perry, which I'm not going to comment on because I love Katy Perry and Taylor Swift and the fact that they have this feud going on breaks my heart. This song starts on very strong, scared me a bit. Nargles really loves this song, and I've grown to like it more. Still, it definitely sounds like someone else's music... but whose?
Hey!
Now we got problems
And I don't think we can solve them
You made a really deep cut
And baby now we got bad blood
Hey!
Band-Aids don't fix bullet holes
You say sorry just for show
You live like that, you live with ghosts
Band-Aids don't fix bullet holes
You say sorry just for show
You live like that, you live with ghosts
If you love like that, BLOOD RUNS COLD.
9) Wildest Dreams
Is it possible to listen to this song without thinking of Lana del Rey? The background sounds like one from a Lana del Rey song, and Taylor herself even sounds like Lana. For me, this song isn't Taylor Swift at all, but I'm glad she made it. Catchy chorus, very spooky and almost a little nostalgic. Compare to 'Summertime Sadness' or 'Dark Paradise' (both, you will notice, are by Lana del Rey).
Say you'll remember me
Standing in a nice dress, staring at the sunset, babe
Red lips and rosy cheeks
Say you'll see me again even if it's just pretend
Say you'll remember me
Standing in a nice dress, staring at the sunset babe
Red lips and rosy cheeks
Say you'll see me again even if it's just in your wildest dreams
In your wildest dreams
Even if it's just in your wildest dreams
In your wildest dreams
10) How You Get the Girl
If there's any song in this album I don't like (which there isn't), it would probably be this one. Nothing very outstanding or special about it. The lyrics look better than the song sounds, which is probably not a good thing. I wouldn't mind listening to it, but not one of my particular favorites. Then again, I haven't really given it a good chance. I listened to it once, decided I didn't really like it, and removed it from my playlist. So I haven't listened to it for a while. Let me listen again.
Update: I like it. Catchy beat. I forgot the chorus was so catchy. I actually really like it. A little bit too much background noise, but still extremely catchy. Very guitary/drummy. (Yes, I'm a professional musician). (No, I'm not). *Adding this back to my playlist*
I want you for worse or for better
I would wait for ever and ever
Broke your heart, I'll put it back together
I would wait for ever and ever
And that's how it works
That's how you get the girl, girl, oh
And that's how it works
That's how you get the girl, girl
11) This Love
Beautifully slow song, kind of sounds like a giant ocean wave. Very calming. Also very intense during the chorus, but it's a welcome break from the flashy beats of all the tracks above. One of my favorites. Probably not as big and bold, but definitely not to be forgotten. Almost reminds me of the Hunger Games, not sure why.
Clear blue,
Water,
High tide came and brought you in
And I could go on and on, on and on, and I will
Skies grew darker,
Currents swept you out again
And you were just gone and gone, gone and gone
In silent screams,
In wildest dreams
I never dreamed of this
This love is good, this love is bad
This love is alive back from the dead (Ohh)
These hands had to let it go free
And this love came back to me (Ohh)
12) I Know Places
This song also doesn't really fit in with the rest, but in a definitely good way. Starts off in a choppy, sinister minor key, then transitions into an explodingly major chorus. Super interesting to listen to, and the lyrics are meaningful too. They describe a celebrity couple running from the paparazzi, and how their relationship is limited by the public, using the metaphor of foxes and hunters. I don't think this song even counts as pop. I don't think Taylor Swift even counts as pop or country, she's just 'catchy'. Whatever her genre is, I love it and I want more.
You stand with a hand on my waist line
Good to see that we're out here in plain sight
I can hear them whisper as we pass by
It's a bad sign, bad sign.
Something happens when everybody finds out
See the vultures circling in dark clouds
Love's a fragile little flame
It could burn out
It could burn out
Cause they got their cages, they got their boxes
And guns
They are the hunters, we are the foxes
And we run.
Baby...
I know places we won't be found
And they'll be
Chasing their tails trying to track us down
Cause I
I know places we can
Hide
I know places
13) Clean
I never really got into Imogen Heap, but if all her songs are written like this, watch out Imogen Heap, I'm coming for you. Ultra clean and refreshing, not messy or overbearing at all. There's some sort of xylophone sound in the background during the chorus, and I really like it. Very unique. This song might not be super catchy or memorable, but listening to it is a beautiful experience. This album starts out flashy and impressive, and ends on a fresh, sober tone. Absolutely perfect.
The drought was the very worst
When the flowers that we'd grown together died of thirst
It was months, and months of back and forth
You're still all over me like I wine-stained dress I can't wear anymore
Hung my head, as I lost the war, and the sky turn black like a perfect storm
Rain came pouring
Down when I was drowning,
That's when I could finally breathe.
And that morning,
Gone was any trace of you
I think I am finally clean
Bonus 14) Wonderland
As you might have guessed, this song is about Alice in Wonderland (not really but sometimes). It's almost a bit cutesy in the beginning and very bright and glockenspiely. I personally love this song a lot, and I'm upset it's not on the actual album. Super catchy. Reminds me of Rihanna's 'Umbrella' with all the eh's.
Didn't they tell us don't rush into things
Didn't you flash your green eyes at me
Didn't you calm my fears with a Cheshire cat smile
Didn't it all seem new and exciting
I felt your arms twisting around me
It's all fun and games 'til somebody loses their mind
But darling
We found Wonderland
You and I got lost in it
And we pretended it could last forever
We found wonderland
You and I got lost in it
And life was never worse but never better
In Wonderland
In Wonderland
Bonus 15) You Are in Love
Similar to "This Love", very calm and quiet until the chorus, which is another intense one. Beautiful lyrics about a beautiful love. Actually, now that I think of it, super super similar to "This Love". Again, should be included in album.
You fight and you talk
One night he wakes, strange look on his face
Pauses, then says, you're my best friend
And you knew what it was, he is in love
You can hear it in the silence, silence
You can feel it on the way home, way home
You can see it with the lights out, lights out
You're in love, true love
Bonus 16) New Romantics
Fast paced, loud, catchy, reminds me of converse shoes and teenage rebellion. Definitely should be on the actual album.
We're all here
The lights and noise are blinding
We hang back
It's all in the timing
It's poker, you can't see in my face
But I'm about to play my ace
We need love, but all we want is danger
We team up and switch sides like a record changer
The rumours, are terrible and cruel
But honey most of them are true...
Cause baby I could build a castle
Out of all the bricks they threw at me
And every day it's like battle
But every night with us is like a dream
Baby we're the new romantics
Come on, come along with me
Heart break is the national anthem
We sing it proudly
We're too busy dancing
To get knocked off our feet
Baby we're the new romantics
The best people in life are free
Conclusion: So many styles and genres. These songs are all so different and all so perfect; it's hard to find an album like this one with so many jewels. Taylor deserves every single listener she gets. And the album artwork is so classy and unique. I want the physical copy of the album really badly, but my computer doesn't have a hard drive. Still, I want the artsy polaroids. I don't fully understand why some people dislike this album, but then again, they probably don't understand why I love it so much. Whatever, de gustibus non est disputandum: in matters of tastes, there can be no disputes. Just know that I highly recommend this album, a full five stars, and you go Taylor Swift.
#TS1989
Best wishes,
Quibbles
044.75 Moral Dilemmas That Will Break Your Brain #6, #9 (don't laugh)
Hi Nargles and Warbles,
6) Your family is vacationing alone on a private stretch of beach with no lifeguard. Your daughter and your niece, both 7, are best friends and eager to get into the water. You caution them to wait until the water calms some, but they defy you and sneak in anyway. You soon hear screams of distress and find them both caught in a strong current. You are the only swimmer strong enough to save them, but you can only save one at a time. Your niece is a very poor swimmer and likely won’t make it much longer. Your daughter is a stronger swimmer, but only has a 50% chance of holding on long enough for you to come back for her. Who do you save first?
Nargles, I read through your response and I have to disagree. I think you forget that when you're facing a heated situation, emotions often conquer any logical reasoning. You also undermine the intense love a mother gives her child. Wouldn't it be nice if human instincts didn't exist? Realistically, though, there is no way I would save my niece over my child. Right now, you might be able to deeply contemplate who to save and why. During the actual situation, though, trust me, you will save your daughter first without doubt. Hopefully this will not actually happen to anybody.
9) You are a doctor at a top hospital. You have six gravely ill patients, five of whom are in urgent need of organ transplants. You can’t help them, though, because there are no available organs that can be used to save their lives. The sixth patient, however, will die without a particular medicine. If s/he dies, you will be able to save the other five patients by using the organs of patient 6, who is an organ donor. What do you do?
Something I noticed with these questions is that they often ask you to choose between your personal instinct and the greater good. For this question, I would definitely withhold the medicine from the sixth patient. This may make me a murderer, but in the long run, I'd be saving five other people. I would talk to the sixth patient first, though, and ask for permission (I'm pretty sure killing someone on purpose is illegal in most hospitals, but let's pretend that's not a factor). If they said yes, I would make them as comfortable as possible and wait. If they said no, I would try to reason with them. Is it bad that I would go as far as guilt them into dying? If you think about the long-term effects rather than the short-term effects, maybe making a choice becomes easier.
- Quibbles
Response to question 9 (from Nargles)
It seems quite unrealistic to me that the 6th patient would agree to die in order to save 5 other people. If there was already a medicine to save her, why would she choose to die for some random 5 people? If I were the 6th patient, I would most definitely choose myself over the others. Besides, people are dying left and right all over hospitals. I believe that there would be other organ donors who don't have to die intentionally. I also think this question is very badly worded. For one, do you or do you not have the medicine to give this 6th patient?
Love Always
~Narlges 11/28/14
6) Your family is vacationing alone on a private stretch of beach with no lifeguard. Your daughter and your niece, both 7, are best friends and eager to get into the water. You caution them to wait until the water calms some, but they defy you and sneak in anyway. You soon hear screams of distress and find them both caught in a strong current. You are the only swimmer strong enough to save them, but you can only save one at a time. Your niece is a very poor swimmer and likely won’t make it much longer. Your daughter is a stronger swimmer, but only has a 50% chance of holding on long enough for you to come back for her. Who do you save first?
Nargles, I read through your response and I have to disagree. I think you forget that when you're facing a heated situation, emotions often conquer any logical reasoning. You also undermine the intense love a mother gives her child. Wouldn't it be nice if human instincts didn't exist? Realistically, though, there is no way I would save my niece over my child. Right now, you might be able to deeply contemplate who to save and why. During the actual situation, though, trust me, you will save your daughter first without doubt. Hopefully this will not actually happen to anybody.
9) You are a doctor at a top hospital. You have six gravely ill patients, five of whom are in urgent need of organ transplants. You can’t help them, though, because there are no available organs that can be used to save their lives. The sixth patient, however, will die without a particular medicine. If s/he dies, you will be able to save the other five patients by using the organs of patient 6, who is an organ donor. What do you do?
Something I noticed with these questions is that they often ask you to choose between your personal instinct and the greater good. For this question, I would definitely withhold the medicine from the sixth patient. This may make me a murderer, but in the long run, I'd be saving five other people. I would talk to the sixth patient first, though, and ask for permission (I'm pretty sure killing someone on purpose is illegal in most hospitals, but let's pretend that's not a factor). If they said yes, I would make them as comfortable as possible and wait. If they said no, I would try to reason with them. Is it bad that I would go as far as guilt them into dying? If you think about the long-term effects rather than the short-term effects, maybe making a choice becomes easier.
- Quibbles
Response to question 9 (from Nargles)
It seems quite unrealistic to me that the 6th patient would agree to die in order to save 5 other people. If there was already a medicine to save her, why would she choose to die for some random 5 people? If I were the 6th patient, I would most definitely choose myself over the others. Besides, people are dying left and right all over hospitals. I believe that there would be other organ donors who don't have to die intentionally. I also think this question is very badly worded. For one, do you or do you not have the medicine to give this 6th patient?
Love Always
~Narlges 11/28/14
Monday, November 10, 2014
044.5 Moral Dilemmas That Will Break Your Brain: Nargles #1, #5, #6
Dear Quibbles and Warbles and readers,
Please forgive my inexcusable absence and neglect to this blog. I went though a very uninspired period which I have finally realized why this was the case. As our posts got better and better, I felt more pressure to please readers (not that we have many :P) and imaginary ghosts in the sky, feeling my writing needed to be more substantial and "deep," if you will. I forgot the reason why Quibbles and I started this blog, so we could write about stuff we thought was fun, controversial, and interesting. I forgot that I wasn't writing here for anyone but myself and people who like what I want to write, and this frankly does not include Ebola. Thank you to Quibbles, whose previous post reminded me of this, because these are the types of things I enjoy randomly spitting my thoughts on the internet for.
Love always,
- Nargles 11/10/14
1) You are at your best friend’s wedding just an hour before the ceremony is to start. Earlier that day, you came across definitive proof that your best friend’s spouse-to-be is having an affair with the best man/maid of honor, and you catch them sneaking out of a room together looking disheveled. If you tell your friend about the affair, their day will be ruined, but you don’t want them to marry a cheater. What do you do?
Of course, the only logical explanation would be to tell your best friend that their fiancé is a dirty cheater. If they go ahead and marry this said person, it'll come back and bite them in the butt. I'd most definitely rather find out before it's too late that I'm marrying someone untrustworthy. However, there is a chance that they may not believe you, and go forward with the wedding anyway (after uninviting you and or kicking you out), in which case you've done all you can, really.
5) You’re involved in a two-car crash on your way to work one morning in which you accidentally hit and kill a pedestrian. As you get out of the car, you are intercepted by a tearful woman who seems to think that she hit and killed the pedestrian. You’re not sure why she thinks she hit the person, but she is convinced. There’s only you, the woman, and the person you hit on the road; there are no witnesses. You know that whoever is deemed responsible will probably be sent to jail. What do you do?
First and foremostly I would like to point out that technically you cannot be jailed by the government for hitting and killing a pedestrian. You can, however, be jailed for breaking related laws, such as driving under the influence or performing a "hit and run." You are also liable for any civil repercussions of hitting this pedestrian, such as being sued or having to pay any expenses that causes the victim's family distress. Humoring the scenario, of course, I will play along. Of course, my conscious being what it is, there is no way I could just drive away and dump the blame on a woman who I clearly know did not kill this pedestrian. Not to mention that if the police discovered that this woman did not kill the pedestrian, I would most definitely go to jail for a hit and run. The one thing I can't stand and will probably be my downfall is having a dirty conscious. I hate feeling guilty, and even if I know it will get me in trouble I will probably admit the truth to the exact person I was trying to hide whatever it is from. If some other woman was sent to jail for a crime I committed, it would plague me for the rest of my life, and I think I might rather go to jail.
6) Your family is vacationing alone on a private stretch of beach with no lifeguard. Your daughter and your niece, both 7, are best friends and eager to get into the water. You caution them to wait until the water calms some, but they defy you and sneak in anyway. You soon hear screams of distress and find them both caught in a strong current. You are the only swimmer strong enough to save them, but you can only save one at a time. Your niece is a very poor swimmer and likely won’t make it much longer. Your daughter is a stronger swimmer, but only has a 50% chance of holding on long enough for you to come back for her. Who do you save first?
I feel as if the moral choice to go with is to save your niece because if you go for your daughter, there is no way that your niece would survive, but if you save your niece first there is a 50% chance that she'd still be there when you came back for her. This may be the more logical and moral choice, but I feel like I'm not alone in saying that although I would probably like to think that I would save my niece first and be logical in a scary situation, I would most likely save my daughter first. Sure, it may be selfish and desperate, but my own child? If one of the two girls had to die, I think it would haunt my conscious more in the future if I chose my niece over my own daughter.
Please forgive my inexcusable absence and neglect to this blog. I went though a very uninspired period which I have finally realized why this was the case. As our posts got better and better, I felt more pressure to please readers (not that we have many :P) and imaginary ghosts in the sky, feeling my writing needed to be more substantial and "deep," if you will. I forgot the reason why Quibbles and I started this blog, so we could write about stuff we thought was fun, controversial, and interesting. I forgot that I wasn't writing here for anyone but myself and people who like what I want to write, and this frankly does not include Ebola. Thank you to Quibbles, whose previous post reminded me of this, because these are the types of things I enjoy randomly spitting my thoughts on the internet for.
Love always,
- Nargles 11/10/14
1) You are at your best friend’s wedding just an hour before the ceremony is to start. Earlier that day, you came across definitive proof that your best friend’s spouse-to-be is having an affair with the best man/maid of honor, and you catch them sneaking out of a room together looking disheveled. If you tell your friend about the affair, their day will be ruined, but you don’t want them to marry a cheater. What do you do?
Of course, the only logical explanation would be to tell your best friend that their fiancé is a dirty cheater. If they go ahead and marry this said person, it'll come back and bite them in the butt. I'd most definitely rather find out before it's too late that I'm marrying someone untrustworthy. However, there is a chance that they may not believe you, and go forward with the wedding anyway (after uninviting you and or kicking you out), in which case you've done all you can, really.
5) You’re involved in a two-car crash on your way to work one morning in which you accidentally hit and kill a pedestrian. As you get out of the car, you are intercepted by a tearful woman who seems to think that she hit and killed the pedestrian. You’re not sure why she thinks she hit the person, but she is convinced. There’s only you, the woman, and the person you hit on the road; there are no witnesses. You know that whoever is deemed responsible will probably be sent to jail. What do you do?
First and foremostly I would like to point out that technically you cannot be jailed by the government for hitting and killing a pedestrian. You can, however, be jailed for breaking related laws, such as driving under the influence or performing a "hit and run." You are also liable for any civil repercussions of hitting this pedestrian, such as being sued or having to pay any expenses that causes the victim's family distress. Humoring the scenario, of course, I will play along. Of course, my conscious being what it is, there is no way I could just drive away and dump the blame on a woman who I clearly know did not kill this pedestrian. Not to mention that if the police discovered that this woman did not kill the pedestrian, I would most definitely go to jail for a hit and run. The one thing I can't stand and will probably be my downfall is having a dirty conscious. I hate feeling guilty, and even if I know it will get me in trouble I will probably admit the truth to the exact person I was trying to hide whatever it is from. If some other woman was sent to jail for a crime I committed, it would plague me for the rest of my life, and I think I might rather go to jail.
6) Your family is vacationing alone on a private stretch of beach with no lifeguard. Your daughter and your niece, both 7, are best friends and eager to get into the water. You caution them to wait until the water calms some, but they defy you and sneak in anyway. You soon hear screams of distress and find them both caught in a strong current. You are the only swimmer strong enough to save them, but you can only save one at a time. Your niece is a very poor swimmer and likely won’t make it much longer. Your daughter is a stronger swimmer, but only has a 50% chance of holding on long enough for you to come back for her. Who do you save first?
I feel as if the moral choice to go with is to save your niece because if you go for your daughter, there is no way that your niece would survive, but if you save your niece first there is a 50% chance that she'd still be there when you came back for her. This may be the more logical and moral choice, but I feel like I'm not alone in saying that although I would probably like to think that I would save my niece first and be logical in a scary situation, I would most likely save my daughter first. Sure, it may be selfish and desperate, but my own child? If one of the two girls had to die, I think it would haunt my conscious more in the future if I chose my niece over my own daughter.
Friday, November 7, 2014
044 Nine Moral Dilemmas That Will Break Your Brain
Dear Nargles and Warbles,
Here is a challenge for you. Read through these, and answer the questions.
------------
(As seen originally on Buzzfeed)
1) You are at your best friend’s wedding just an hour before the ceremony is to start. Earlier that day, you came across definitive proof that your best friend’s spouse-to-be is having an affair with the best man/maid of honor, and you catch them sneaking out of a room together looking disheveled. If you tell your friend about the affair, their day will be ruined, but you don’t want them to marry a cheater. What do you do?
2) You are an eyewitness to a crime: A man has robbed a bank, but instead of keeping the money for himself, he donates it to a poor orphanage that can now afford to feed, clothe, and care for its children. You know who committed the crime. If you go to the authorities with the information, there’s a good chance the money will be returned to the bank, leaving a lot of kids in need. What do you do?
3) You have a job as network administrator for a company that also employs your best friend’s husband. One day, your best friend’s husband sends you a message asking you to release an email from quarantine. This requires you to open the email, at which point you discover that it’s correspondence between this guy and his secret lover. After releasing the email, you find yourself in a pickle. Your instinct is to tell your best friend about his husband’s infidelities, but divulging the contents of company emails is against company policy and you could lose your job. Once it becomes plain that your best friend found out about his cheating husband through a company email, all trails will inevitably lead to you as the leak. Do you tell him about the indiscretion?
4) You’ve been on a cruise for two days when there’s an accident that forces everyone on board to abandon ship. During the evacuation, one of the boats is damaged, leaving it with a hole that fills it with water. You figure that with 10 people in the boat, you can keep the boat afloat by having nine people scoop the filling water out by hand for 10 minutes while the 10th person rests. After that person’s 10-minute rest, he or she will get back to work while another person rests, and so on. This should keep the boat from sinking long enough for a rescue team to find you as long as it happens within five hours. You’re taking your first brake when you notice your best friend in a sound lifeboat with only nine people in it and he beckons you to swim over and join them so you won’t have to keep bailing out water. If you leave the people in the sinking boat, they will only be able to stay afloat for two hours instead of five, decreasing their chance of being rescued, but securing yours. What do you do?
5) You’re involved in a two-car crash on your way to work one morning in which you accidentally hit and kill a pedestrian. As you get out of the car, you are intercepted by a tearful woman who seems to think that she hit and killed the pedestrian. You’re not sure why she thinks she hit the person, but she is convinced. There’s only you, the woman, and the person you hit on the road; there are no witnesses. You know that whoever is deemed responsible will probably be sent to jail. What do you do?
6) Your family is vacationing alone on a private stretch of beach with no lifeguard. Your daughter and your niece, both 7, are best friends and eager to get into the water. You caution them to wait until the water calms some, but they defy you and sneak in anyway. You soon hear screams of distress and find them both caught in a strong current. You are the only swimmer strong enough to save them, but you can only save one at a time. Your niece is a very poor swimmer and likely won’t make it much longer. Your daughter is a stronger swimmer, but only has a 50% chance of holding on long enough for you to come back for her. Who do you save first?
7) You are an EMT on the scene of a car crash that involves your spouse and the lover you didn’t know s/he had. They are both gravely injured, your spouse’s injuries the worst of them. You can tell it’s unlikely s/he will pull through. Meanwhile, his/her lover has a neck wound that will prove fatal if pressure isn’t applied soon. Whom do you choose to work on?
8) You and your son are prisoners at a concentration camp. You son tried to escape but was recaptured and sentenced to hang at the gallows. To send a message to all others who may try to escape, the guard orders you to pull the chair out from under your son; if you refuse, the guard will kill your son and another innocent person in the camp. What do you do?
9) You are a doctor at a top hospital. You have six gravely ill patients, five of whom are in urgent need of organ transplants. You can’t help them, though, because there are no available organs that can be used to save their lives. The sixth patient, however, will die without a particular medicine. If s/he dies, you will be able to save the other five patients by using the organs of patient 6, who is an organ donor. What do you do?
LET THE EMOTIONAL WARS BEGIN!
- Quibbles :)
Here is a challenge for you. Read through these, and answer the questions.
------------
(As seen originally on Buzzfeed)
1) You are at your best friend’s wedding just an hour before the ceremony is to start. Earlier that day, you came across definitive proof that your best friend’s spouse-to-be is having an affair with the best man/maid of honor, and you catch them sneaking out of a room together looking disheveled. If you tell your friend about the affair, their day will be ruined, but you don’t want them to marry a cheater. What do you do?
2) You are an eyewitness to a crime: A man has robbed a bank, but instead of keeping the money for himself, he donates it to a poor orphanage that can now afford to feed, clothe, and care for its children. You know who committed the crime. If you go to the authorities with the information, there’s a good chance the money will be returned to the bank, leaving a lot of kids in need. What do you do?
3) You have a job as network administrator for a company that also employs your best friend’s husband. One day, your best friend’s husband sends you a message asking you to release an email from quarantine. This requires you to open the email, at which point you discover that it’s correspondence between this guy and his secret lover. After releasing the email, you find yourself in a pickle. Your instinct is to tell your best friend about his husband’s infidelities, but divulging the contents of company emails is against company policy and you could lose your job. Once it becomes plain that your best friend found out about his cheating husband through a company email, all trails will inevitably lead to you as the leak. Do you tell him about the indiscretion?
4) You’ve been on a cruise for two days when there’s an accident that forces everyone on board to abandon ship. During the evacuation, one of the boats is damaged, leaving it with a hole that fills it with water. You figure that with 10 people in the boat, you can keep the boat afloat by having nine people scoop the filling water out by hand for 10 minutes while the 10th person rests. After that person’s 10-minute rest, he or she will get back to work while another person rests, and so on. This should keep the boat from sinking long enough for a rescue team to find you as long as it happens within five hours. You’re taking your first brake when you notice your best friend in a sound lifeboat with only nine people in it and he beckons you to swim over and join them so you won’t have to keep bailing out water. If you leave the people in the sinking boat, they will only be able to stay afloat for two hours instead of five, decreasing their chance of being rescued, but securing yours. What do you do?
5) You’re involved in a two-car crash on your way to work one morning in which you accidentally hit and kill a pedestrian. As you get out of the car, you are intercepted by a tearful woman who seems to think that she hit and killed the pedestrian. You’re not sure why she thinks she hit the person, but she is convinced. There’s only you, the woman, and the person you hit on the road; there are no witnesses. You know that whoever is deemed responsible will probably be sent to jail. What do you do?
6) Your family is vacationing alone on a private stretch of beach with no lifeguard. Your daughter and your niece, both 7, are best friends and eager to get into the water. You caution them to wait until the water calms some, but they defy you and sneak in anyway. You soon hear screams of distress and find them both caught in a strong current. You are the only swimmer strong enough to save them, but you can only save one at a time. Your niece is a very poor swimmer and likely won’t make it much longer. Your daughter is a stronger swimmer, but only has a 50% chance of holding on long enough for you to come back for her. Who do you save first?
7) You are an EMT on the scene of a car crash that involves your spouse and the lover you didn’t know s/he had. They are both gravely injured, your spouse’s injuries the worst of them. You can tell it’s unlikely s/he will pull through. Meanwhile, his/her lover has a neck wound that will prove fatal if pressure isn’t applied soon. Whom do you choose to work on?
8) You and your son are prisoners at a concentration camp. You son tried to escape but was recaptured and sentenced to hang at the gallows. To send a message to all others who may try to escape, the guard orders you to pull the chair out from under your son; if you refuse, the guard will kill your son and another innocent person in the camp. What do you do?
9) You are a doctor at a top hospital. You have six gravely ill patients, five of whom are in urgent need of organ transplants. You can’t help them, though, because there are no available organs that can be used to save their lives. The sixth patient, however, will die without a particular medicine. If s/he dies, you will be able to save the other five patients by using the organs of patient 6, who is an organ donor. What do you do?
LET THE EMOTIONAL WARS BEGIN!
- Quibbles :)
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Last Week in Science
So here is another list of the amazing things that I heard about last week in science:
1) Colonization of Mars is not as far away as you might think
2) China has developed a laser cannon to shoot down spy drones
3) Fusion Reactors may be available for public purchase in 10 years.
Fusion Reactors are a reeally reaallly good source of energy. There are no harmful waste products, they're cheaper to run, and they produce WAY more energy than any other forms of energy. We don't have that much information yet, but this will really be a topic to follow up on.
PS. 4) The Rosetta spacecraft is due to land on an asteroid in 7 days. on November 12!
Have a great day! - Warbles
Sunday, November 2, 2014
043 Fun Facts with Quibbles
Hi everyone,
Sorry I've been inactive. Life is busy. Life is ugh.
So to make up for that, here are ten facts I've learned this past week.
1) Light is a wave, and is also particles.
2) You know how the metric unit for mass is the kg? The imperial unit for mass is the slug. SLUG!!!!!!!
3) It's not the consumer's fault for being unable to operate a machine. It's the machine developer's fault for making things too complicated.
4) Taylor Swift is really good at pop. Like really good. Like really really good.
5) I am not good at cumulative Algebra tests.
6) A cat can be both dead and alive.
7) The ideal length for the foot of a woman in China during the Song Dynasty was 3 inches, also known as the 'Three Inch Golden Lily', also known as 8 centimeters.
8) Our student council really sucks.
9) People give more candy to younger kids because they're cuter. #inequality #agism
10) My subconscious is not to be trusted. Dreams are weird.
Best wishes,
Quibbles
Sorry I've been inactive. Life is busy. Life is ugh.
So to make up for that, here are ten facts I've learned this past week.
1) Light is a wave, and is also particles.
2) You know how the metric unit for mass is the kg? The imperial unit for mass is the slug. SLUG!!!!!!!
3) It's not the consumer's fault for being unable to operate a machine. It's the machine developer's fault for making things too complicated.
4) Taylor Swift is really good at pop. Like really good. Like really really good.
5) I am not good at cumulative Algebra tests.
6) A cat can be both dead and alive.
7) The ideal length for the foot of a woman in China during the Song Dynasty was 3 inches, also known as the 'Three Inch Golden Lily', also known as 8 centimeters.
8) Our student council really sucks.
9) People give more candy to younger kids because they're cuter. #inequality #agism
10) My subconscious is not to be trusted. Dreams are weird.
Best wishes,
Quibbles
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
News Update: Ebola
An update to Nargles's post on Ebola:
I just had World Affairs Club and we talked about Ebola. We focused primarily on two events:
1) Canada has found a cure to Ebola that has worked on animals. They have shipped 900 vials to the World Health Organization (WHO). Should the US be doing anything like that, or should we focus more on closing down airports and quarantining people? Keep in mind that the US has, in fact, had Ebola deaths, while Canada has not. In fact, this article gives 5 reasons why an outbreak is highly unlikely in Canada. But the question is, should we take a more preventative front on facing this issue (before disease) or a more cure-oriented front (during disease)?
On one hand, no matter how careful we are in our vaccines and quarantines, someone's going to slip and Ebola will (and already has) infect an American. On the other hand, cures might not work on everyone, and will be highly expensive. Also, with such a life-or-death matter at hand, we simply do not have time to find a perfect cure. It usually takes 8 years for a cure to be fully processed, checked, and double checked.
2) The new "Ebola Czar", or the person taking care of Ebola in America, is politician Ron Klain. He is a full time politician and businessman, with no medical experience at all. His job will be to advise President Obama on Ebola issues. The question is, is he suitable for this job? He was likely appointed simply because of his close relationship with the President. It is rumored that he will be part of the cabinet sometime soon. But he has no scientific or medical training, and probably has no idea how to deal with Ebola. Should we take our chances on some guy who knows nothing? It's such a big, dangerous, risky topic, and either we screw it all up and it becomes the SARS outbreak again, or we manage to contain it thanks to the help of our trusty friend, Mr. Klain. But then again, there's only so much he can do.
It's another controversial topic, which I guess is surprising, because really, how much can you debate about Ebola? But the US involvement, how much we should involve ourselves, and how we should involve ourselves, is really a tricky process. There are no do-overs, and people's lives are at stake globally. Four and a half thousand people have died of Ebola already, and it's quickly spreading.
Think about it, and let me know your thoughts.
Quibbles
I just had World Affairs Club and we talked about Ebola. We focused primarily on two events:
1) Canada has found a cure to Ebola that has worked on animals. They have shipped 900 vials to the World Health Organization (WHO). Should the US be doing anything like that, or should we focus more on closing down airports and quarantining people? Keep in mind that the US has, in fact, had Ebola deaths, while Canada has not. In fact, this article gives 5 reasons why an outbreak is highly unlikely in Canada. But the question is, should we take a more preventative front on facing this issue (before disease) or a more cure-oriented front (during disease)?
On one hand, no matter how careful we are in our vaccines and quarantines, someone's going to slip and Ebola will (and already has) infect an American. On the other hand, cures might not work on everyone, and will be highly expensive. Also, with such a life-or-death matter at hand, we simply do not have time to find a perfect cure. It usually takes 8 years for a cure to be fully processed, checked, and double checked.
 |
| Ron Klain |
It's another controversial topic, which I guess is surprising, because really, how much can you debate about Ebola? But the US involvement, how much we should involve ourselves, and how we should involve ourselves, is really a tricky process. There are no do-overs, and people's lives are at stake globally. Four and a half thousand people have died of Ebola already, and it's quickly spreading.
Think about it, and let me know your thoughts.
Quibbles
040.5 and 042.5 (2 in 1!) Responses to Warbles
Hey Warbles (and Nargles),
Sorry this is getting out so late. I don't want you to feel like I'm ignoring you or anything, because trust me, I know how annoying it is when no one responds to your post (*cough*). Your opinion matters, and you are definitely a valuable member in this community. School's just been tough lately and the first wave of tests are getting back and with them, my anxiety.
So anyways, about the Russian 'empire'. As you said, an empire is usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom. Two loopholes:
1) "Usually". That means there are exceptions, including possibly Russia.
2) "Kingdom". Is Russia a kingdom? Vladimir Putin isn't a king, and although it is very big, so is Canada. Is Canada a kingdom or an empire? In fact, Canada has even more reason to be a kingdom, seeing that it uses Queen Elizabeth II as its sovereign ruler. I guess we have to look further into what a kingdom is, as well.
I think that only giving a country like Russia the label of 'empire' makes it an empire. It's not one of those things that are like, if you have symptoms of this and this and this, you probably have this. It's more about the way we interpret the word 'empire', which is very ambiguous. And is a modern-day 'empire' all so bad? Sure, empire usually means war and destruction and mass killing, but as seen in the Roman Empire or the Indus Valley Civilization, empires also bring huge developments in science, literature, philosophy, and architecture. Without them, we would still be in the caveman era with fires but no s'mores.
I'm curious. Could the USA be technically an 'empire'? How did you come up with this idea? Are there recent developments in Russia's borders that I don't know about? Please let me know.
Second, about the marmosets and monkeys: THAT MONKEY VIDEO IS SO ADORABLE. I LOVE IT. I WAS LAUGHING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE VIDEO, I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT. I SHOWED IT TO MY MOM AND WE HAD A HUGE BONDING SESSION OVER THE MONKEYS. But it also brought up the issue of gender inequality for me. Women and men work just as hard in the workplace, yet men often get higher wages. This is just like how both monkeys did the same job, but one got a grape and one got some cucumber. The monkey with the cucumber stood up for itself and threw the cucumber back at the worker (I still can't get over it), but when women stand up for themselves they are usually ignored.
Nargles, it's your turn. What do you think?
Ed Sheeranly yours,
Quibbles.
Sorry this is getting out so late. I don't want you to feel like I'm ignoring you or anything, because trust me, I know how annoying it is when no one responds to your post (*cough*). Your opinion matters, and you are definitely a valuable member in this community. School's just been tough lately and the first wave of tests are getting back and with them, my anxiety.
So anyways, about the Russian 'empire'. As you said, an empire is usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom. Two loopholes:
1) "Usually". That means there are exceptions, including possibly Russia.
2) "Kingdom". Is Russia a kingdom? Vladimir Putin isn't a king, and although it is very big, so is Canada. Is Canada a kingdom or an empire? In fact, Canada has even more reason to be a kingdom, seeing that it uses Queen Elizabeth II as its sovereign ruler. I guess we have to look further into what a kingdom is, as well.
I think that only giving a country like Russia the label of 'empire' makes it an empire. It's not one of those things that are like, if you have symptoms of this and this and this, you probably have this. It's more about the way we interpret the word 'empire', which is very ambiguous. And is a modern-day 'empire' all so bad? Sure, empire usually means war and destruction and mass killing, but as seen in the Roman Empire or the Indus Valley Civilization, empires also bring huge developments in science, literature, philosophy, and architecture. Without them, we would still be in the caveman era with fires but no s'mores.
I'm curious. Could the USA be technically an 'empire'? How did you come up with this idea? Are there recent developments in Russia's borders that I don't know about? Please let me know.
Second, about the marmosets and monkeys: THAT MONKEY VIDEO IS SO ADORABLE. I LOVE IT. I WAS LAUGHING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE VIDEO, I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT. I SHOWED IT TO MY MOM AND WE HAD A HUGE BONDING SESSION OVER THE MONKEYS. But it also brought up the issue of gender inequality for me. Women and men work just as hard in the workplace, yet men often get higher wages. This is just like how both monkeys did the same job, but one got a grape and one got some cucumber. The monkey with the cucumber stood up for itself and threw the cucumber back at the worker (I still can't get over it), but when women stand up for themselves they are usually ignored.
Nargles, it's your turn. What do you think?
Ed Sheeranly yours,
Quibbles.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Ebola, and everything you need to know
If you live in the United States, which statistically, most of the people who read this blog do, you've undoubtably heard news about the Ebola epidemic ravaging West Africa. And well, if you haven't, you need to crawl out from the rock you live under and turn on the news.
The first case of Ebola found in the United States was that of Thomas E. Duncan, a Texan resident just returned from Liberia, one of hardest hit countries in West Africa. Of course, with this recent development, many Americans were launched into a frenzy. Ebola in America, how could this happen? Am I safe? Is my family safe? How can I protect myself? While these are somewhat valid concerns, there is a very low risk of an everyday American contracting Ebola. How often does one come into contact with a random stranger's bodily fluids? I'd say not too often. Furthermore, unlike the flu, one is only contagious if showing symptoms. This does not mean that you shouldn't be cautious, as the threat of the spread of Ebola is not unrealistic.
The Ebola outbreak originated some 55 odd years ago on the Ebola River, with no significant threat to large numbers of people, and for a long time, there were small outbreaks, but really nothing to be worried about. However, as all diseases do, it mutated to become a perfect killing machine, first shutting down the immune system, leaving the body defenseless. Ebola works its magic extremely quickly, killing its victims in little under a week, with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, internal and external bleeding, etc. Ebola can only be spread through direct contact with bodily fluids (which means not by coughing or sneezing), but this poses a greater threat in West African than in America, where we like to keep our personal bubble in tact at all times. It's traditional of a burial ceremony in much of Africa to wash down the loved one's body, and perform rituals, which if the personal died of Ebola, likely spreads the disease. When people in countries like Liberia began collecting bodies of those killed by Ebola, many residents were devastated and uncomprehending, some even going so far as to claim Obama himself had constructed the disease. Despite peoples' efforts, the disease is spreading, with more than 4,000 deaths in the last 6 months, and has even spread outside of Africa, to places like Spain and the United States.
The first case of Ebola found in the United States was that of Thomas E. Duncan, a Texan resident just returned from Liberia, one of hardest hit countries in West Africa. Of course, with this recent development, many Americans were launched into a frenzy. Ebola in America, how could this happen? Am I safe? Is my family safe? How can I protect myself? While these are somewhat valid concerns, there is a very low risk of an everyday American contracting Ebola. How often does one come into contact with a random stranger's bodily fluids? I'd say not too often. Furthermore, unlike the flu, one is only contagious if showing symptoms. This does not mean that you shouldn't be cautious, as the threat of the spread of Ebola is not unrealistic.
One way to help stop the spread of Ebola at its source is to donate to the foundations that are doing all they can to help the people of West Africa. They have hospitals set up, but they are few in number, and all filled to capacity. They turn away countless people every day for lack of room, and with nowhere else to go, they return home and spread the virus. Ebola is completely ravaging the countries of West Africa, with the country in turmoil as people die on the streets. It may not be a big threat in America at this time, but it is a very palpable threat to West Africans. Personally, I will be making a contribution to an organization to try and help as best I can in aiding the fight against Ebola. I think it's frustrating that often one of the only ways to help a cause is to open up your wallet, but really when a situation as dire as this comes along, we all really need to band together in order to put a stop to it.
Love Always,
- Nargles 10/13/14
UPDATE: Breaking news! Ebola virus rumored with the capability of being transmitted airborne! Get you masks, folks, we may end up needing them. - Nargles 10/16/14
Ebola: Airborne?
UPDATE: Breaking news! Ebola virus rumored with the capability of being transmitted airborne! Get you masks, folks, we may end up needing them. - Nargles 10/16/14
Ebola: Airborne?
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
042 Monkeys and Marmosets...
- Warbles
041 xoJane Sperm Donor Story
This story originally appeared on xoJane.com.
What to do? What to do? Jennifer Cramblett is suing a Chicago sperm bank for wrongful birth because a lab mix-up produced a baby of the wrong color — black.
The Uniontown, Ohio, resident who lives with her lesbian partner Amanda Zinkon and biracial daughter Payton, two, also alleges breach of warranty in the suit filed this week in the Circuit Court of Cook County, which has the largest population of black folks in America, by the way. (This population is what probably explains the creature that is Barack Obama, but that’s another story.)
During her pregnancy, Cramblett found out what she thought was sperm from donor vial No. 380, a white guy, actually came from donor No. 330, a black dude. So now this lesbian couple living what until very recently was widely considered a nontraditional lifestyle is clutching their chests over the prospect of having to raise a black girl, though they report having “bonded with Payton easily.”
It’s just that the neighbors are a problem. And the family.
“Family members, one uncle in particular, speak openly and derisively about persons of color. [Cramblett] did not know African-Americans until her college days at the University of Akron,” the suit says.
“Because of this background and upbringing, Jennifer acknowledges her limited cultural competency relative to African-Americans, and steep learning curve, particularly in small, homogenous Uniontown, which she regards as too racially intolerant.”
This suit, these women, America’s un-evolved racial attitudes present some problems, so let me start here:
They’re right.
The couple questions their “cultural competence” to raise a black child given their limited experience with black folks. Not enough white parents involved in what’s called transracial adoption question their competency in these matters. “Love will conquer all,” they say, until the first time they’re perplexed by the inability to get a comb through their little black girl’s hair, then cut her “bangs” that shrivel up into a curious forehead afro. Mark that No. 1 on things to discuss with the therapist when that little girl grows up.
As white women, they’re certainly typical. Most white people don’t have any black friends, as we know from a recent Public Religion Research Institute study showing three-quarters of white Americans don’t have any non-white pals. It’s so easy to pretend America’s racial problems (think: #jordandavis #ferguson) don’t exist until they populate your Twitter feed.
The couple also say they live in what they consider a racially insensitive town that might give the child hell one day. Yup, that could happen. Just ask Trayvon Martin. Oh, we can’t.
They didn’t ask for their lives to be turned into a giant social experiment. Yes, the sperm bank messed up big time, and they should take the hit for it. Whatever money this family receives could be used for Payton’s education or to provide enrichment opportunities of the culturally enriching kind so she just grows up happy and well rounded regardless of her skin color. I hope she doesn’t grow up hating herself or other black people because that happens, you know.
They’re wrong.
They’re gay, so they’re already a social experiment (meaning, homosexuality is only now being accepted as a norm in mainstream society). Gay marriage may soon one day be the law of the land, but the fact that it’s a fight proves the point.
They’re women living in what author Tara Mohr calls a “transitional historical moment.” On one hand, women have more freedom and opportunity than ever, thanks to everything from the first-wave feminism of 1848 Seneca Falls to the success of the 50-year-old Civil Rights Act of 1964, largely thought to be aimed at minorities like Payton. This law is totally responsible for breaking open workplace doors for women, mostly white ones. The very nature of being a woman is a social experiment.
Both women say they were sexually abused as girls, so when “you think of sperm, you think of sexual encounters and neither of us wanted to think of males in our lives again,” according to the suit. In other words, the fact that the baby came out in a way they didn’t plan underscored the lack of control they have felt over their own bodies.
These are strong women for surviving sexual abuse and carefully planning to have children who would be blood relatives by virtue of being inseminated by the same sperm. But did they consider the fact they could have had a boy?
The genetic engineering (and entitlement) tendencies of these women is nauseating. So what, life didn’t turn out the way they planned. Look at employment stats, housing numbers, the failure of public education and mass incarceration — that’s black life, baby.
And what? They don’t know any black lesbians? With children?
Each woman seeks an undetermined amount that exceeds $50,000 in damages. Because they certainly are — damaged.
Deborah Douglas is a journalist living in Chicago.
- Quibbles
(Warbles, I will answer your question in the next post. I've been a little busy lately :/ Sorry.)
What to do? What to do? Jennifer Cramblett is suing a Chicago sperm bank for wrongful birth because a lab mix-up produced a baby of the wrong color — black.
The Uniontown, Ohio, resident who lives with her lesbian partner Amanda Zinkon and biracial daughter Payton, two, also alleges breach of warranty in the suit filed this week in the Circuit Court of Cook County, which has the largest population of black folks in America, by the way. (This population is what probably explains the creature that is Barack Obama, but that’s another story.)
During her pregnancy, Cramblett found out what she thought was sperm from donor vial No. 380, a white guy, actually came from donor No. 330, a black dude. So now this lesbian couple living what until very recently was widely considered a nontraditional lifestyle is clutching their chests over the prospect of having to raise a black girl, though they report having “bonded with Payton easily.”
It’s just that the neighbors are a problem. And the family.
“Family members, one uncle in particular, speak openly and derisively about persons of color. [Cramblett] did not know African-Americans until her college days at the University of Akron,” the suit says.
“Because of this background and upbringing, Jennifer acknowledges her limited cultural competency relative to African-Americans, and steep learning curve, particularly in small, homogenous Uniontown, which she regards as too racially intolerant.”
This suit, these women, America’s un-evolved racial attitudes present some problems, so let me start here:
They’re right.
The couple questions their “cultural competence” to raise a black child given their limited experience with black folks. Not enough white parents involved in what’s called transracial adoption question their competency in these matters. “Love will conquer all,” they say, until the first time they’re perplexed by the inability to get a comb through their little black girl’s hair, then cut her “bangs” that shrivel up into a curious forehead afro. Mark that No. 1 on things to discuss with the therapist when that little girl grows up.
As white women, they’re certainly typical. Most white people don’t have any black friends, as we know from a recent Public Religion Research Institute study showing three-quarters of white Americans don’t have any non-white pals. It’s so easy to pretend America’s racial problems (think: #jordandavis #ferguson) don’t exist until they populate your Twitter feed.
The couple also say they live in what they consider a racially insensitive town that might give the child hell one day. Yup, that could happen. Just ask Trayvon Martin. Oh, we can’t.
They didn’t ask for their lives to be turned into a giant social experiment. Yes, the sperm bank messed up big time, and they should take the hit for it. Whatever money this family receives could be used for Payton’s education or to provide enrichment opportunities of the culturally enriching kind so she just grows up happy and well rounded regardless of her skin color. I hope she doesn’t grow up hating herself or other black people because that happens, you know.
They’re wrong.
They’re gay, so they’re already a social experiment (meaning, homosexuality is only now being accepted as a norm in mainstream society). Gay marriage may soon one day be the law of the land, but the fact that it’s a fight proves the point.
They’re women living in what author Tara Mohr calls a “transitional historical moment.” On one hand, women have more freedom and opportunity than ever, thanks to everything from the first-wave feminism of 1848 Seneca Falls to the success of the 50-year-old Civil Rights Act of 1964, largely thought to be aimed at minorities like Payton. This law is totally responsible for breaking open workplace doors for women, mostly white ones. The very nature of being a woman is a social experiment.
Both women say they were sexually abused as girls, so when “you think of sperm, you think of sexual encounters and neither of us wanted to think of males in our lives again,” according to the suit. In other words, the fact that the baby came out in a way they didn’t plan underscored the lack of control they have felt over their own bodies.
These are strong women for surviving sexual abuse and carefully planning to have children who would be blood relatives by virtue of being inseminated by the same sperm. But did they consider the fact they could have had a boy?
The genetic engineering (and entitlement) tendencies of these women is nauseating. So what, life didn’t turn out the way they planned. Look at employment stats, housing numbers, the failure of public education and mass incarceration — that’s black life, baby.
And what? They don’t know any black lesbians? With children?
Each woman seeks an undetermined amount that exceeds $50,000 in damages. Because they certainly are — damaged.
Deborah Douglas is a journalist living in Chicago.
- Quibbles
(Warbles, I will answer your question in the next post. I've been a little busy lately :/ Sorry.)
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
040 The Russian "Empire"
Hello Everyone!
So there is an issue with the 21st century world that I would like to talk about today. It is Russia. Dictionary.com partially defines "Empire" as "usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom" Which would imply the annexing/taking over of other territories. So, by that definition, modern day Russia is an Empire. This is quite an issue, I'd like to know what the two of you think of it, and what we, as America, should do about it. (You can also state what you think we should do about ISIS/ISIL if you like)
To the Cow Problem: I disagree. In my opinion, the cause of the HIV epidemic in Africa is the education that its citizens are getting: between "absolutely none." We lived in Zambia (Africa) for about 10 years when I was little. They are constant fighters of the HIV/AIDS virus, and from what I recall, have never mentioned cows being the instigator of the whole HIV thing. I don't think Africa is as primitive as most people think: Africa is an expanding entrepreneurship, where its capitol society helps its development. It is very much advancing now, and in the future, hopefully it'll be a fully functional Developed Continent.
- Warbles
To the Cow Problem: I disagree. In my opinion, the cause of the HIV epidemic in Africa is the education that its citizens are getting: between "absolutely none." We lived in Zambia (Africa) for about 10 years when I was little. They are constant fighters of the HIV/AIDS virus, and from what I recall, have never mentioned cows being the instigator of the whole HIV thing. I don't think Africa is as primitive as most people think: Africa is an expanding entrepreneurship, where its capitol society helps its development. It is very much advancing now, and in the future, hopefully it'll be a fully functional Developed Continent.
- Warbles
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
039.5 From cows to STD's
Dear Quibbles,
Having the same history teacher as you, I was aware the significance of the cow in modern day Africa, but was not aware of the interrelation between cows and the growing number of women contracting HIV. However, I want to challenge your argument!
If cows are a symbol of status, wealth, and when marriage time rolls around, a currency of sorts, it's probably not a wild assumption to predict that most of the women who don't have enough cows to get married are on the poor side. Poor within their community or country that is. My claim is thus: I feel that in any sort of less affluent situation, there will undoubtedly be more STI's, such as HIV, due to lack of proper education, medical centers, contraceptives, etc. This may be vastly more evident in Africa than say, a first world county. Firstly, far too few Africans attend school, and almost definitely not sex ed. Moreover, the children who attend school tend to be far more male than female. Frankly, teaching women rather than males about preventative tools they can use to prevent STI's and unplanned pregnancy is just logical, because as someone once said, "Women think with their minds, and men think with their genitals." I think someone said... Haha, that might have been too far. But honestly, women are far more mature than men.
The more rural parts of Africa also suffer from a desperate lack of medical facilities, which means no contraceptives or treatment for contracted STI's. I can imagine trivial injuries or sicknesses that America could prevent with a simple shot taking advantage of Africa's often medical vulnerability. Injury and sickness may leave permanent conditions or marks that could further inhibit marriage. Conclusively, my point is this; If cows are money (somewhat) and lack of cows means poor education, leading to the unknown dangers of STI's, perhaps it's not directly the cow's fault?
I have one more brief point I'd like to make. Traditions can't simply be done away with, and for what point? Were you referring to the whole "cows as the dowry" thing or doing away with the significance of cows all around Africa? If it was the former, I'd be all for it! Just plain give money as the dowry. But I can see how to an African family, cows might be of more significance. As for the latter, the ancient Bantu people, as well as the Khoi were large herders of cattle, a tradition that's still practiced today. If the roots of this "tradition" are located so extremely far back in history, I'd hate to see it vanish; traditions should be altered as the world around people changes.
Love Always,
- Nargles 10/16/14
Having the same history teacher as you, I was aware the significance of the cow in modern day Africa, but was not aware of the interrelation between cows and the growing number of women contracting HIV. However, I want to challenge your argument!
If cows are a symbol of status, wealth, and when marriage time rolls around, a currency of sorts, it's probably not a wild assumption to predict that most of the women who don't have enough cows to get married are on the poor side. Poor within their community or country that is. My claim is thus: I feel that in any sort of less affluent situation, there will undoubtedly be more STI's, such as HIV, due to lack of proper education, medical centers, contraceptives, etc. This may be vastly more evident in Africa than say, a first world county. Firstly, far too few Africans attend school, and almost definitely not sex ed. Moreover, the children who attend school tend to be far more male than female. Frankly, teaching women rather than males about preventative tools they can use to prevent STI's and unplanned pregnancy is just logical, because as someone once said, "Women think with their minds, and men think with their genitals." I think someone said... Haha, that might have been too far. But honestly, women are far more mature than men.
The more rural parts of Africa also suffer from a desperate lack of medical facilities, which means no contraceptives or treatment for contracted STI's. I can imagine trivial injuries or sicknesses that America could prevent with a simple shot taking advantage of Africa's often medical vulnerability. Injury and sickness may leave permanent conditions or marks that could further inhibit marriage. Conclusively, my point is this; If cows are money (somewhat) and lack of cows means poor education, leading to the unknown dangers of STI's, perhaps it's not directly the cow's fault?
I have one more brief point I'd like to make. Traditions can't simply be done away with, and for what point? Were you referring to the whole "cows as the dowry" thing or doing away with the significance of cows all around Africa? If it was the former, I'd be all for it! Just plain give money as the dowry. But I can see how to an African family, cows might be of more significance. As for the latter, the ancient Bantu people, as well as the Khoi were large herders of cattle, a tradition that's still practiced today. If the roots of this "tradition" are located so extremely far back in history, I'd hate to see it vanish; traditions should be altered as the world around people changes.
Love Always,
- Nargles 10/16/14
039 From Cows to STD's.
Dear Nargles and Warbles,
Let me tell you a little story here that I learned in History a while back.
Once upon a time there were these Bantu people in Africa. They're your generic "black person" today. They had efficient crops and could take over parts of Africa where the people didn't have crops because, you know, agriculture generally works. Always.
So they did their whole expansion thing and soon they covered the whole of Africa. They had no animals, but they had lots of handy plants and dominated their continent.
THEN, THERE CAME A PLOT TWIST.
Some guy in Asia thought it would be a good idea to be all, "Hey, I wonder what would happen if we gave the Bantu some cows". So cows were introduced to the equation, and boom, the Bantus completely obliterated all the other ethnic groups. Because sorghum + cow = literal equation for success when you consider that without plants or animals, you die.
Except these cows became so important that they didn't become food. No. They became wedding presents.
-------------------
So there's this thing in Africa where a woman has to give a dowry to her fiancé when they get married. This dowry is used to support them if needed, and I *believe* it's given back to the lady if they get divorced, so kind of an insurance policy. This dowry in Africa is almost always in the form of cows. And since cows are rather scarce in Africa nowadays, women are unable to get married. Which sounds stupid, because all this is for a rather small and silly reason, but this actually was incredibly important centuries ago.
So what do the sad lonely women do instead?
Well, no cows means no marriage.
And no marriage means no sex.
And no sex is BAD so they eventually have more sexual partners OUTSIDE of marriage.
And more sexual partners means more chances of STDs.
So long story short, women in Africa are having an HIV crisis.
And I know this isn't a laughing matter, and I sort of made fun of the whole thing, even though this is literally life and death, and I am incredibly sorry if I offended anybody, but I just wanted to pose ANOTHER question to you:
Should this happen? Should traditions still be kept if they are dangerous? Should this whole dowry thing occur if it's leading to a massive HIV outbreak?
Chew on that,
Quibbles.
Let me tell you a little story here that I learned in History a while back.
Once upon a time there were these Bantu people in Africa. They're your generic "black person" today. They had efficient crops and could take over parts of Africa where the people didn't have crops because, you know, agriculture generally works. Always.
So they did their whole expansion thing and soon they covered the whole of Africa. They had no animals, but they had lots of handy plants and dominated their continent.
THEN, THERE CAME A PLOT TWIST.
Some guy in Asia thought it would be a good idea to be all, "Hey, I wonder what would happen if we gave the Bantu some cows". So cows were introduced to the equation, and boom, the Bantus completely obliterated all the other ethnic groups. Because sorghum + cow = literal equation for success when you consider that without plants or animals, you die.
Except these cows became so important that they didn't become food. No. They became wedding presents.
-------------------
So there's this thing in Africa where a woman has to give a dowry to her fiancé when they get married. This dowry is used to support them if needed, and I *believe* it's given back to the lady if they get divorced, so kind of an insurance policy. This dowry in Africa is almost always in the form of cows. And since cows are rather scarce in Africa nowadays, women are unable to get married. Which sounds stupid, because all this is for a rather small and silly reason, but this actually was incredibly important centuries ago.So what do the sad lonely women do instead?
Well, no cows means no marriage.
And no marriage means no sex.
And no sex is BAD so they eventually have more sexual partners OUTSIDE of marriage.
And more sexual partners means more chances of STDs.
So long story short, women in Africa are having an HIV crisis.
And I know this isn't a laughing matter, and I sort of made fun of the whole thing, even though this is literally life and death, and I am incredibly sorry if I offended anybody, but I just wanted to pose ANOTHER question to you:
Should this happen? Should traditions still be kept if they are dangerous? Should this whole dowry thing occur if it's leading to a massive HIV outbreak?
Chew on that,
Quibbles.
038 Hajj vs. ISIS
Dear Nargles and Warbles,
Since it seems like you are very unwilling to respond to my posts, I am going to prod you with my virtual stick and ask you to discuss this.
How do you feel about the violence and anger of ISIS coinciding with the time Muslims take the hajj? (Please do not be offended if I say something wrong about Islam, my Muslim friends. Since I am agnostic, I'm probably not as educated in religion as I'd like. I mean no harm).
All Muslims take the hajj at some point in their lives, unless they aren't physically or financially capable. The hajj takes them to Mecca, and allows them to celebrate and commemorate Abraham, suffering, sacrifice, equality, and their religion. An important feature of the hajj is that everyone wears simple white clothing, so rich people look pretty much the same as the poor.
ISIS, of course, stands for Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. ISIL, which is the same thing as ISIS but more technical, stands for Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The Levant is an area in the Middle East. ISIS/ISIL is a group based off of al Qaeda, and are known to be extraordinarily cruel and brutal. ISIS/ISIL is lead by a man named Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. ISIS/ISIL is a huge threat and is affecting the entire world.
Here are links for more information:
Hajj vs. ISIS
ISIS vs. ISIL
The Hajj
ISIS Fast Facts
Look, I did the research for you, AND I gave you a quick lesson on the crisis in the Middle East. JUST POST A LITTLE, WILL YA????!??! THAT'S LITERALLY ALL I'M ASKING FOR.
Best wishes,
QUibbles
Since it seems like you are very unwilling to respond to my posts, I am going to prod you with my virtual stick and ask you to discuss this.
How do you feel about the violence and anger of ISIS coinciding with the time Muslims take the hajj? (Please do not be offended if I say something wrong about Islam, my Muslim friends. Since I am agnostic, I'm probably not as educated in religion as I'd like. I mean no harm).
All Muslims take the hajj at some point in their lives, unless they aren't physically or financially capable. The hajj takes them to Mecca, and allows them to celebrate and commemorate Abraham, suffering, sacrifice, equality, and their religion. An important feature of the hajj is that everyone wears simple white clothing, so rich people look pretty much the same as the poor.
ISIS, of course, stands for Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. ISIL, which is the same thing as ISIS but more technical, stands for Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The Levant is an area in the Middle East. ISIS/ISIL is a group based off of al Qaeda, and are known to be extraordinarily cruel and brutal. ISIS/ISIL is lead by a man named Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. ISIS/ISIL is a huge threat and is affecting the entire world.
 |
| The Hajj |
Here are links for more information:
Hajj vs. ISIS
ISIS vs. ISIL
The Hajj
ISIS Fast Facts
Look, I did the research for you, AND I gave you a quick lesson on the crisis in the Middle East. JUST POST A LITTLE, WILL YA????!??! THAT'S LITERALLY ALL I'M ASKING FOR.
Best wishes,
QUibbles
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Dear Quibbles, a Post
Dear Quibbles and Warbles,
asdfghjkl I know it's been forever and a half since I posted last, but I have been sick, and I'm here now! :)
As for the original intentions of this post, I know how you're feeling, Quibbles. I feel oddly lonely now that we don't see each other on a day-to-day basis, it's really weird. I wonder if I am the only one who goes through alternating stages in which one day I want all my friends (haha, the three that I have) to just all hug me and make me feel warm, and the next I just want to shut everyone out and just cuddle my kitties, hissing at anyone who comes near. But alas, the beginning of high school and the start of something new (*singing High School Musical song*), warrants some loneliness due to distance from friends you may not see as often.
BUT FEAR NOT! For the separation of compadres is a long neglectful broken road, in which we will not travel! Never fear, for Jeanus will always be here.
Jeanus Christ forever <3
- Nargles 10/1/14
PS. Don't worry, we're not religious, it's just a saying we have :)
PPS. I'm such a great rhymer.
asdfghjkl I know it's been forever and a half since I posted last, but I have been sick, and I'm here now! :)
As for the original intentions of this post, I know how you're feeling, Quibbles. I feel oddly lonely now that we don't see each other on a day-to-day basis, it's really weird. I wonder if I am the only one who goes through alternating stages in which one day I want all my friends (haha, the three that I have) to just all hug me and make me feel warm, and the next I just want to shut everyone out and just cuddle my kitties, hissing at anyone who comes near. But alas, the beginning of high school and the start of something new (*singing High School Musical song*), warrants some loneliness due to distance from friends you may not see as often.
BUT FEAR NOT! For the separation of compadres is a long neglectful broken road, in which we will not travel! Never fear, for Jeanus will always be here.
Jeanus Christ forever <3
- Nargles 10/1/14
PS. Don't worry, we're not religious, it's just a saying we have :)
PPS. I'm such a great rhymer.
Saturday, September 27, 2014
037 Marijuana Plants and Loneliness
Hello internet,
Today I found out that the hemp hearts I've been eating for nearly a year now are actually the centres of the seeds of marijuana plants. Just thought you'd like to know.
I feel so lonely right know. I know you're probably used to more substantial posts, but I've checked Facebook AND Twitter AND Instagram AND even my email and nothing is going on in my life and I FEEL SO LONELY AND NOBODY LIKES ME AND I AM SAD.
All the cinnamon tic-tacs in the world,
Quibbles.
Today I found out that the hemp hearts I've been eating for nearly a year now are actually the centres of the seeds of marijuana plants. Just thought you'd like to know.
I feel so lonely right know. I know you're probably used to more substantial posts, but I've checked Facebook AND Twitter AND Instagram AND even my email and nothing is going on in my life and I FEEL SO LONELY AND NOBODY LIKES ME AND I AM SAD.
All the cinnamon tic-tacs in the world,
Quibbles.
Friday, September 26, 2014
036 Thing I also found on Pinterest
Ah, Pinterest. Thou shalt ever be my haven whilst I completeth my homework.
So I shared a couple things a couple minutes ago that made me laugh. Here is something that makes me a bit confused and sad and angry at the same time.
Sorry for the language, by the way. But although this "poem" is sort of cheesy (I know it's about suicide but that doesn't mean it's not cheesy), there's one line that interested me very much.
"F**k this romanticism of suicide."
And the question I want to ask is this: In our society, is suicide romanticized? Should it be romanticized? Is it romantic in reality?
Before I answer, I want to hear your opinions. So Nargles, Warbles, and anyone reading this, please comment below or start a new post. And I realize that this is a very touchy subject and not one to be lightly tossed onto the dinner table. I would like to say that I don't want to offend anyone by comparing suicide to romanticism or things like that. If you don't want to read this, please don't. Otherwise, please consider the question and tell me your opinion. It's infinitely more valuable than you think.
Have a nice day,
Quibbles
So I shared a couple things a couple minutes ago that made me laugh. Here is something that makes me a bit confused and sad and angry at the same time.
Sorry for the language, by the way. But although this "poem" is sort of cheesy (I know it's about suicide but that doesn't mean it's not cheesy), there's one line that interested me very much.
"F**k this romanticism of suicide."
And the question I want to ask is this: In our society, is suicide romanticized? Should it be romanticized? Is it romantic in reality?
Before I answer, I want to hear your opinions. So Nargles, Warbles, and anyone reading this, please comment below or start a new post. And I realize that this is a very touchy subject and not one to be lightly tossed onto the dinner table. I would like to say that I don't want to offend anyone by comparing suicide to romanticism or things like that. If you don't want to read this, please don't. Otherwise, please consider the question and tell me your opinion. It's infinitely more valuable than you think.
Have a nice day,
Quibbles
035 Things I've Found on Pinterest
Hello readers, how are you doing?
I found some of these posts on Pinterest (because that's what I do with my time). Enjoy.
Good luck with life,
Quibbles
I found some of these posts on Pinterest (because that's what I do with my time). Enjoy.
 |
| Better late than pregnant am I right. |
 |
| We thought it was deep until |
 |
| WHY ISN'T THIS OUR ANTHEM YET |
 |
| LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HISTORY. |
Good luck with life,
Quibbles
Saturday, September 20, 2014
034 Being Asian, a Poem
So he said to me: "What kind of Asian are you?" And I said back
That's a loaded question.
What kind of Asian do you EXPECT me to be?
Because any way you slice that egg roll,
I'm still pretty much whatever you want to see.
I've played many a Far East stereotype:
awkward math genius,
cold and calculated Kung-Fu expert,
assistant to "Dr. Jones, you crazy!"
You want me to drive? How so?
I can give you
Tokyo Drift,
Jeremy Lin
Mario Kart,
Tiger Woods,
and Blinker left on for about half a mile
I am the foremost expert on
all things Asian.
The Mejii era and the ban of the Samurai?
Done.
Confuciusism versus Daoism? I'll give it to you with no slant!
What's the difference between Asian stereotype
1 and 2?
WELL LET ME TELL YOU.
Let me tell you anything YOU
want to know about my culture
Let me tell you in a Mulan-esque soliloquy
of me staring in the mirror asking
Who IS that girl staring that I see?
Let me tell you about Jackie Chan
and Bruce Lee and how they are related
BY BLOOD to me
Let me tell you about being so marginalized
it's to the point of "I really CAN'T believe
that's Asian!"
Let me tell you about derogatory terms
and origins of words such as chink and gook
Let me tell you about the struggle
of Asian parents not knowing the language
so we ate pet food because it was cheaper
Let me tell you about the job of interpreter
when you're still playing with LEGO blocks but
you're English is already that much better
than your guardians
Let me tell you about honor and dignity
Let me tell you about a society that
projects us as nothing but the secondary role
and never the leading man.
Let me tell you all the things you don't want
to know.
Like how chink comes from
the clanking of metal to railroads
as the slaves built train tracks for
this country to be connected.
Like how the zipperhead down the street
is called that because of the way our heads
split open when struck with assault weapons
or how the Jeeps ran over and left marks
across corpses and someone clever thought
that we were only good to unzip.
Like how every time you lump an Asian person
into one culture is systematically making us
assimilate into an America we thought was
better than our war torn home and every time you confuse me
with some other nationality that I might share similar
features to is stripping away my individuality
And I still feel the shame of being Asian
the heat and pious dedication
of June 11th 1963
the envy of blonde hair
and blue eyes
And I still remember thinking where all the
boys that looked like me on TV were
the broken words
of my mother and father stage diving
off my tongue
the anger I felt when those
kids thought I'd get them sick
And I still feel the ash of the incense burn
my hands
when I prayed for my family
And I still remember thinking my skin
was what I was worth
And I still feel the ironwork of my bones
grow stronger with every train of thought
that
passes by
And I still feel pride
And I still feel heritage
And I still feel Chinese
And I still feel Vietnamese
And I still feel American
And I still feel
Friday, September 19, 2014
033.75 Should Scotland Gain its Independence?
Dear Nargles and Warbles,
YOUR NAMES KIND OF RHYME!! Kind of. And welcome, Warbles. So glad to see our blog revitalized. We may need to start thinking of even more names if we want to add more people; more the merrier am I right or am I right??!!??
Anyways, on the topic of Scotland's independence, here's another issue to bring up: The UK's nuclear forces are all situated in Scotland. Moving them could potentially be dangerous, as well as expensive, and the UK sure isn't going to let Scotland just have their nuclear bombs.
Furthermore, change is good and everything... there's always a first for everything, and as Nargles mentioned, Taiwan has already proven successful at being a nation. But this is going to be really really complicated, and I'm not sure the people who want to change are fully ready to embrace that.
Lets make an analogy. Say I wanted to break off from this blog and move my past blog posts to my new blog. (I would never do that, by the way. Stop looking at me like that.)
Pros:
The UK and Scotland are having the same problems. The new blog name I need to think up is equivalent to the new currency they need to think of. The random awkward floating blog posts are the unsolved issues between the UK and Scotland. When you think of all the Cons, is the Pro really worth it?
Obviously I think that Scotland should stay with the UK, but I hope I haven't been too biased. Maybe.
All the rainbows and unicorns in the world,
Quibbles.
Post Scriptum: If you want to respond, the next numbers are 033.875, 033.9375, 033.96875, etc. You do the math after that.
Post Post Scriptum: McGonagles, Skeetles, Doxles, Erumples, Griffles, Niffles, Kneazles...???
YOUR NAMES KIND OF RHYME!! Kind of. And welcome, Warbles. So glad to see our blog revitalized. We may need to start thinking of even more names if we want to add more people; more the merrier am I right or am I right??!!??
Anyways, on the topic of Scotland's independence, here's another issue to bring up: The UK's nuclear forces are all situated in Scotland. Moving them could potentially be dangerous, as well as expensive, and the UK sure isn't going to let Scotland just have their nuclear bombs.
Furthermore, change is good and everything... there's always a first for everything, and as Nargles mentioned, Taiwan has already proven successful at being a nation. But this is going to be really really complicated, and I'm not sure the people who want to change are fully ready to embrace that.
Lets make an analogy. Say I wanted to break off from this blog and move my past blog posts to my new blog. (I would never do that, by the way. Stop looking at me like that.)
Pros:
- I get a new blog.
- I get to have credit for everything.
- I'm not as motivated.
- You guys are going to have a whole bunch of posts that are just random answers to invisible letters. For instance, all those 10.5s and 13.5s are going to be awkwardly floating around in the blog.
- I will not be able to face you ever in person. Maybe.
- I feel sad.
- I feel like a bad friend.
- I have no inspiration. (going back to Con #1)
- TOO COMPLICATED!!
- Too lazy to do all that.
- I have to think up a new blog name and new code name and new advertising strategies, etc.
The UK and Scotland are having the same problems. The new blog name I need to think up is equivalent to the new currency they need to think of. The random awkward floating blog posts are the unsolved issues between the UK and Scotland. When you think of all the Cons, is the Pro really worth it?
Obviously I think that Scotland should stay with the UK, but I hope I haven't been too biased. Maybe.
All the rainbows and unicorns in the world,
Quibbles.
Post Scriptum: If you want to respond, the next numbers are 033.875, 033.9375, 033.96875, etc. You do the math after that.
Post Post Scriptum: McGonagles, Skeetles, Doxles, Erumples, Griffles, Niffles, Kneazles...???
033.5 Should Scotland Gain its Independence?
Dear Warbles,
Overall, I would say that Scotland should do what the people want, and according to the poll, apparently that's staying with the United Kingdom. I did a slight bit of research, and discovered that the percentage of people who voted "no" for separating from the UK won with 55.4% of the vote, which I consider quite close, despite large gap in the figures of the numbers of people who voted each way.
There are people who believe that independence is best. Scotland's future is better in the hands of the Scottish people, who know what is best for Scotland. They want control of their own country's fate. They could become more wealthy and better off on their own, some say.
However, others believe that independence is too risky, and not thought out. They'd have to undergo many changes if they became their own nation. Britain said Scotland wouldn't have been able to use the pound anymore, and configuring a new currency would have definitely be a hassle. Scotland also provides most of the UK's oil fuels and holds its nuclear deterrence (submarines), which would have nowhere to go.
The people who voted against the independence of Scotland predominantly believe that united with the UK they are strong, they are protected. Even Brits feel strongly about Scotland, saying that the UK wouldn't be the same without them. I have a suspicion that it may be the older, more conservative Scottish people who want to stay with the UK, because they don't like change and identify themselves and their country as part of the UK. Similar to this scenario, it's found that most of the older generation of the Taiwanese people still long to one day be reunited with China, however the younger generation seems to find this notion quite unappealing. I am not fully educated on the specificities of my claims, so please forgive any mistakes.
I'm aware that my research has lots of claims against the independence of Scotland, but I did watch one very educational video... from Fox News, so go figure. Can either of you (Warbles or Quibbles) make any claims as to why Scotland should have be independent?
Love always,
~Nargles 9/21/14
Overall, I would say that Scotland should do what the people want, and according to the poll, apparently that's staying with the United Kingdom. I did a slight bit of research, and discovered that the percentage of people who voted "no" for separating from the UK won with 55.4% of the vote, which I consider quite close, despite large gap in the figures of the numbers of people who voted each way.
 |
| Scottish Flag |
There are people who believe that independence is best. Scotland's future is better in the hands of the Scottish people, who know what is best for Scotland. They want control of their own country's fate. They could become more wealthy and better off on their own, some say.
 |
| Scotland |
 | |
| London |
The people who voted against the independence of Scotland predominantly believe that united with the UK they are strong, they are protected. Even Brits feel strongly about Scotland, saying that the UK wouldn't be the same without them. I have a suspicion that it may be the older, more conservative Scottish people who want to stay with the UK, because they don't like change and identify themselves and their country as part of the UK. Similar to this scenario, it's found that most of the older generation of the Taiwanese people still long to one day be reunited with China, however the younger generation seems to find this notion quite unappealing. I am not fully educated on the specificities of my claims, so please forgive any mistakes.
 |
| What do you think? |
I'm aware that my research has lots of claims against the independence of Scotland, but I did watch one very educational video... from Fox News, so go figure. Can either of you (Warbles or Quibbles) make any claims as to why Scotland should have be independent?
Love always,
~Nargles 9/21/14
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