Regurgitation vs. Education

As the school year gets started back, I want to talk about something a younger cousin of mine was talking about over the summer break. He said that all the tests he had to do at the end of the semester was a headache and it was basically just a giant review of everything they had learned in the year. In fact, the last three weeks of school before summer was nothing but being sure him and his classmates could recite every note they had taken throughout said semester. Now he is only a sophomore in high school, but this was interesting to me. Having experienced college already and seeing what the job market offers, this method of “regurgitation” learning does not sit well. Now I am not saying it was any different when I went to school. We had the same sort of “Megatest” at the end of the semester, but the questions were more hand-picked from everything we learned. However, from what he was saying, it sounds like it has gotten worse. Now it sounds more like you have to repeat everything you have learned verbatim as you pace through hundreds of monotonous questions that only want to know if you remember what you learned. This does not actually help kids. Because in the adult world, whether it be further education or the job market, professors and employers don’t want people who know a lot; they want people who can take what they do know and apply it to a bigger scenario. In other words, they do not want regurgitation, they want someone who is actually educated. Imagine an example where a file has been lost in a system. Someone from this modern regurgitation style of schooling may know everything about the file and how the system works. They may even know why the file went missing. However, could they actually find the file? Moreover, if the file cannot be found, would they know what to do to remedy the situation that needed the file in the first place? My bet is no. They have a lot of knowledge and no means to apply it. An educated someone with actual problem-solving skills, however, would be able to not only fix the problem, but probably recreate the file from other files in the system. I know this example is a bit far-fetched and maybe even impossible, but it does speak to a growing problem in the education system. Children are taught to remember lots of things and not taught how those things can be used. Furthermore, it is often a situation that to teach so many things, the youth are given basic examples of the knowledge that makes a larger question nearly unanswerable using that base example. More than that, they are often taught to remember something until the test and then you can forget it. A theme of “you probably will never use it anyway.” It is disgusting. The original learning was “reading, writing, and arithmetic,” and while I won’t get into how wrong calling these the “three R’s” is, I will end by saying that knowledge for knowledge’s sake is fine, but to learn things and then learn how to apply them to life examples makes a population of very smart people that also know a lot of things. A population who remembers lots of information but also have the skills to work and create in a world that values adaptability and thrives on extending a base set is extremely important. By all means, let’s read and enjoy Tom Sawyer, but let’s also understand why Tom is inherently a bad character so we don’t end up painting the fence white. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

A Peek Behind the Curtain

Oftentimes when I am working at writing these rambles, it is not as easy as throwing an idea at the wall and then writing about it. Many times, I have to actively try to say something in these, even if all I intend to do is ramble. Most of these rambles are made even harder because talking is easy once a conversation has already started, but I purposefully have to start the conversation with an opening line. Once I get going it is easy enough to just type for a solid 5 minutes and get something down, but that start is very difficult at the best of times. The other 10% of the time I just write until I am tired of typing and then I wait a day and proofread and see if there are any improvements to be made, or if I even want to release the ramble at all. Let’s be honest, not all of them are worth reading, even if they are not necessarily supposed to be completely sensible. To be straight with everyone, I just wanted to give a glimpse into how my process works and maybe that starts a conversation about work in any form. The start, the ongoing processes that keep the work moving, and the struggle to keep coming back. The easiest part is the end. All I have to say is, “But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time,” and I am done.

P.S. See you next time.

Billy Joel Had It Pegged Down

We are halfway done with the 1^st year of our new president and man has it been rough. Nothing he is doing seems to be on par with what needs to be done. Prices are up, moral is down, and the country in total just seems to be a more miserable place. People I know say that it is the worst it has ever been. Then like a beacon of reasoning, I heard the Billy Joel song, “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” and it got me thinking. If you really listen to the lyrics of that song, it has been really bad before now. The entire song is a grocery list of all the things over the years that were just not what the world needed. However, with a list that large, if we added to it, I don’t think it really would make a blip on the radar. In fact, I would say that among all the other “fires” he mentions in the song, the current run of the world would be a very small part of what is, and was, wrong. Not that I am saying we need to continue on the path we are on, but I am saying that our parents and their parents survived Billy’s song and lived to sing along to what are, for them, memories. It gives me hope that maybe one day the song will be covered by another artist who adds their own lyrics and this generation can reminisce as we sing along. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

By Your Powers Combined

Gooooo Planet!!! That is what I think of every year at this time. April is usually a humdrum sort of month, but we do have Earth Day we can celebrate. What better way to appreciate the planet by just doing some eco-friendly and green things to better the world. Instead, most people forget this is even a holiday and become some of the most un-productive members of society by continuing their nasty ways by littering, driving everywhere they can, and jacking up their AC in their homes. I am by no means an eco-nut, but I do believe that we should all have the capability to come together for one day and appreciate our planet by doing as much as we can to make it better. So this Earth Day turn off the electronics, stay at home if you can, and enjoy life on the Amish side a little. Also recycle if you are able. We only have one Earth, and I like living here so I ask nicely. Captain Planet on the other hand will hunt you down and use his powers to make you comply, regardless of what the 5 kids tell him. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

Drinking is Not a Sport

Every year at this time, it is a race to the liquor store for the same item. Happy juice, the drink of choice, hard water. Whatever you call it, I am talking about alcohol. Now, I will be the first to tell you, I am not a teetotaler. I imbibe just like everyone else. Well, maybe not like everyone else. I only drink a few. Some, however, have made drinking a sport, and they seriously break a sweat. With New Year’s just a few months ago, you would think the massive hangover would still be lurking in most people’s minds, but it doesn’t. Every year the green is worn and the beer never gets a chance to get warm. People drink like it will be their last time and all for a holiday that was supposed to be a time of cheer to celebrate a man who would probably abstain from gluttony of alcohol. I don’t want to yuck on someone’s yum, though. If you enjoy the day after St. Patty’s Day headache, then, by all means, party ‘till your heart’s content. Just don’t come crying to me when I am able to enjoy my day after because I had a sensible dinner of corn beef hash and cabbage to accompany my delicious beer. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

Agnostic is the Best Answer

Oh! Praise thee the possible lord and savior. If my judgement should falter, may your guessed existence sway me for I do not believe. No, I have not had a stroke. In fact, I believe myself to be a clear thinker full of nonsense as I spread it on the internet. With that thought in mind, I have a query that irks me and I am going to talk about it. That query has to do with whether or not there is a god. There are two sides to this equation. There are the faithful believers who have no doubt about an entity that exists somewhere in the nether that possibly controls everything we do. Then there is the other side of the equation that believes all parts to science and that if there is no empirical proof of existence, then there must not be existence. My problem is that both sides are at fault because they inevitably contradict themselves through their absolute thinking. Take the believers for instance. No matter what religion, although, for the purpose of this ramble, I am more talking about Christianity followers, the thought is that a greater being is out there that we look to for guidance and, in many cases, justification or retribution. However, many of the Christianity branches talk about not putting a godly figure above the “one true God.” In other words, one should only worship the God we hear about in the bible. Yet, we also see pictures of a figure that is supposed to be “God.” By all branches’ definitions, we have no idea what God looks like. In fact, the books about him say that we, as living humans, cannot comprehend what he looks like. So, the “God” most are worshiping towards is another being altogether, thereby breaking one of the rules. Moreover, if we cannot comprehend what “God” looks like then maybe he does not even “exist” by our human definition. But let’s not just poke holes in the believers. The non-believers are at fault as well. They say that without proof of existence, there is no being. However, these same “scientists” for lack of better words, claim that they can only hypothesize about theories until eventually they are definitively proven false. There is no way to definitively prove false there is no God. Unless we somehow learn to talk to the recently deceased, who could then tell us one way or another, those “scientists” are stuck in a limbo of only being able to hypothesize the non-existence of a greater being. So, what do we believe then. I think an agnostic viewpoint works for both. If we choose to believe that there might be a higher power and that it is possible they exist, then we can worship the being we believe to be there but also not completely stop hypothesizing that “it” may not even be real to begin with. Either way until I have more proof, I will just continue being a good human being and do as the "good book" says, while also continue to try to find evidence of this being, if only to satisfy my own curiosity. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

Candy Cannot Fix It

Red hearts, cards, flowers, and a box of nasty chocolate. That solves everything. Or does it. It is simple for most people this time of year. No matter how much of a piece of trash you have been, you can give a gift, a kiss, and an “I love you,” and that makes up for all the wrong-doings. It is hysterical to me when I see a partner putting up with the crap from their significant other 360 days a year and then on a few select holidays, Valentine’s being one of the big ones, these horrible partners all of sudden change for a day. All is forgiven and then it is another marathon to the next holiday. I am here to rant on the fact that this should stop. I am talking to both sides. Abusers: stop being horrible people except “when it matters,” and abusees: stop taking it. We all can do better and deserve better. Now let me slow for a second and say that I am not talking about domestic violence; that is a ramble for an entirely different time, if I could even do justice to any of those very bad situations. What I am talking about is a general nasty person, who is just on the edge of being a complete putrid pile of trash. They wine all the time, never have a beneficial opinion, or contribute in any way that expands a relationship further than two people who engage in coitus once in a while, but you better believe, they are ready on Valentine’s Day for their coitus. I mean after all, they bought flowers and chocolates for their special someone. My opinion is that all people should have partners that value them every day and both people should be willing to give and take in a way that makes a balanced scale of love, affection, and, most of all, appreciation of your forever Valentine. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

The Rocket Power Kids Must Be Fit

Indeed, I am about to ramble about that 90s Nickelodeon show “Rocket Power.” It was not one of my favorite shows, but I did see enough episodes that when I saw a rerun the other day on one of Nickelodeon’s off-shoot channels, it reminded me that the logic of the world was a bit different back then. Nowadays, kids’ programs are so tailored to fit in a modern world that is afraid kids will always take away a wrong message. However, in the 90s, or at least in the case of “Rocket Power,” writers just made a fun show. What kid wouldn’t want to watch a show about 4 youngsters living in California, participating in every sport imaginable, while also generally having very little adult supervision. It’s the greatest dream, or it was for 90s kids. I am here to say that this show definitely would not fit the bill today. Not just that there are not as many kids touching grass these days, but also that kids today are not as independent. Lack of adult supervision meant that kids had to find ways to entertain themselves while also staying out of trouble so the parents would never have to supervise. We did just this back then. We learned how not to get hurt, by getting hurt. We also probably put ourselves in very bad situations that our parents would have stopped us from. It taught us to be independent and think for ourselves. Wild plotlines aside, “Rocket Power” showcased this very well. Their father figure was very seldom around, so when there was a problem, the kids had to solve it. They also did a lot of dangerous things, but let’s be honest, they all were probably in really good shape, because sports. So, in the end, they were probably going to be okay no matter what. In any case, the differences in television back then and television now is glaringly obvious with a show like “Rocket Power.” Nowadays the show would be 4 kids with an iPad and adults in the next room. The one similarity that would remain is the punishment of washing endless dishes in our uncle’s restaurant. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

Marry Your Friend Group

Please do not misinterpret the title of this ramble as me giving all of the noncommitted multi-partnered “situationships” a reason to continue their struggle. What I am trying to convey by this title is that people should have many friends before they ever consider trying to date. The reason? We learn social interaction by being socially active. If we have many friends that we spend time with, and I do mean many friends, of all shapes, sizes, colors, and genders, then we can become socially adept enough to relate to nearly anyone. This includes potential partners that we may end up spending a lot more time with for the rest of our lives. You always hear about these couples that say they married their best friend, and that is exactly how it should be. You cannot go from never knowing someone to being in a great relationship without at least being friends first. One night stands are not your friends. They are a way to satisfy a carnal urge and nothing more. I am not saying that it can’t blossom into something more, but it definitely takes work on both sides. That work becomes a lot easier if we already have the know-how of how a friend should be treated because we have many friends whom we treat with the utmost respect. I also detest the 90 Day Fiance trope. There is no way in 3 months you can completely know someone enough to make a committed relationship. It is fine if you are committed to committing and marry them and then get to know them. Just know there is a great possibility that the wedding cost will be a small sample of a larger divorce cost down the road when the person you married after such a short time turns into someone different. Save the money and get to know them as a friend first. It is also always a good laugh to me when I see vampires that barely touch grass thinking that they can just download an app and instantly find a partner that will be everything they want and more. It does not work that way. You have to be able to talk to people, have a friendly demeaner, give of yourself, and be empathic to the plights of others before anyone of any gender will ever give you the time of day. So to all those lonely ones out there, don’t worry about finding a mate in a hurry. Start first by making many good close friends, treat them with respect and dignity, learn to be socially adept in many situations, and then, and only then, will the dating scene become a place for you. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

Loving Yourself at the Expense of Personal Growth

We as a civilization have become more accepting and tolerant of most things in our day-to-day lives. We have finally reached a point where no matter the size, color, nationality, or culture, we not only accept them for what they are, but also teach the youth to love themselves for what they are. However, all of this self-love has led to another unforeseen downfall. There are a few people who, through their self-love, choose to halt their own personal growth. What I mean is, they choose to settle into a rut and think that loving that rut is self-love. This cannot be further from the truth. While there is nothing wrong with not wanting more out of your life and enjoying what you have, there is definitely a problem with suffering in the shallow pool of a dead life just because you “accept” what you are. For example, the TLC reality craze of showcasing obese people in all their glory. It is okay to be overweight, but there is something wrong with thinking that you are overweight, will always be overweight, and then gaining more weight. Another great example is people who have a disability, whether physical or mental, and choose to use that as an excuse for everything that is wrong with their life. This sort of situation really comes to a head when they expect to be catered to at every moment in their life. “I can’t do so and so because I am autistic.” “I can’t be here or there because I have a prosthetic.” They “accept” their flaws and then make everyone think twice about them because of the flaws. The really bad “self-love with no growth occurrences” happen when people are actually mean because they “love themselves at all expenses.” For example, the people who rip someone apart because they got their pronouns wrong. I think self-love only works if you are loving to most other things as well. Because how can you give love of any kind, especially to yourself, if you do not know love from other people. Newsflash, just because you love yourself to death, doesn’t mean that most other people would not love to see you dead. We can all grow and make ourselves better every day while also still enjoying who we are and what we are no matter the size, color, nationality, or culture. In fact, we can love that we are constantly working on ourselves so that we can make society the greatest possible simply by existing and progressing a little each day. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

Parasocial Parasites and Modern Celebrities

It’s Tuesday night again and we are all amped to tune into our favorite reality TV show where we finally get to see if our favorite infamous celebrity’s life is going to change for the better. Let me be clear from the start, I detest these types of shows. Mostly because the plot for every episode is essentially the same. There is a problem with one of the people on the show, and then, by the end of the hour, they have solved their problem through some means. In reality, the “problem” was a plot point to make you care more about the person. However, there is another reason I don’t like these programs: the disillusion of what celebrities are. In the olden days of Hollywood and entertainment media, celebrities were on another level. They were idols that we cherished and made sure to appreciate by consuming their television shows, movies, books, etc. We knew they worked hard to get where they were and the only way we could enter their world was to put in as much work as they did. We also knew they were not just approachable like our local friends. We admired them on television and if we ever got the chance to meet them, we were nervous we would upset them. We also loved to read the tabloids on them, but knew that ultimately their private lives were their own. The reality stars of the modern era, destroyed all of this. First, we do not see them as idols or “greater-thans.” In fact, it often appears as though there is little work done and they become famous. “Watch me put on my make-up, I am going to the grocery store.” A camera follows them and, boom, they are famous. What stops us from doing the same. Second, we feel really comfortable approaching them. We are not nervous, because we know everything about them and they seem like normal people day-to-day. We are even shocked when they are angry because they cannot get any peace. Third, and probably the most important issue, the parasocial relationships we develop with these “celebrities.” They have no personal lives. A camera follows them 24/7 so any tabloids are just telling us what they have already made into an episode of their show. This is where the newsflash comes for most people. Just because we do know a lot about these celebrities, does not mean they are our friends. In fact, most of them would not like us, if they really got to know us. We become parasocial parasites, because we feel like we know them personally and therefore, we should know everything about them, not just what they put out into the world. We should know who they are married to, if they are pregnant, when they showered last, etc. This is inherently wrong. Just like a normal person needs their privacy, these “celebrities,” no matter how famous, should not have to share every waking minute of their lives, even if this is what made them famous to begin with. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

Dependability on the Hour

In our lifetime, we have all had moments where someone is counting on us. Whether it be a school project, a work assignment, a trip to the airport, or even just showing up on time for an event, we all have had a moment when we were needed. Some people are just not dependable though. We all have a flake in our lives. Individuals who never work their “dependability muscle” out. I am not spitting hyperbole here. Dependability can be trained. I, myself, used to always be late to everything, and while I do believe that showing up early to something is a nuance of people with a micromanaging problem, I do try to be somewhere at the time set if at all possible. However, I had to train myself to get better at getting somewhere at that perfect time. It took many trial and error attempts, and I was still labeled a guy always late to the party for years, but I did succeed at getting better at my tardiness. I am now seen as a very dependable person to be counted on. Everyone can do this. Some people are naturally dependable and don’t have to worry about it, but for those who aren’t, it is as simple as making effort to be better. It is not going to happen overnight. Most things seldom do. However, with repeated practice and some fortitude, we can all get better at being a person anyone can count on for whatever is needed. How hard you train this “muscle” is up to you though. You may not want to be the one that always has an answer to Murphy’s Law and that is fine. The least you could do though is get good enough to be able to pick someone up for a wedding that you were supposed to do karaoke for and be on time for all of it with the singing machine in hand. Of course, you only agreed to do all that because of that time you were supposed to bring the poster for that science project but forgot about it. Hopefully all will be forgiven if you were dependable enough to learn all the lyrics to Blackalicious’s Alphabet Aerobics. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

I Confess, I Messed Up

Responsibility is something we are taught from a young age. We learn that our actions have consequences and when we do something wrong or mess something up, we should own up to it. So why is it that when people begin their working careers, all that goes out the window. I am not saying everyone does this, but I can personally attest to at least 10 different instances where a co-worker of mine has screwed something up and then let the chips fall where they did instead of fessing up to the mistake and then trying to fix it. I even know of one account where the person tried to fix the mistake before it was noticed, failed, and then tried to blame it on someone else. Lack of responsibility for one’s actions is something that has led to very toxic work environments in many industries. Most of the time, it is people fearing for their jobs if they actually admit they did something wrong. My advice to bosses and work leaders out there is to allow an environment of honesty and forgiveness that makes it so that a worker will always want to own up to their mistakes and then hopefully fix said mistakes. Also, to all the workers out there, I know it can be scary to know that your job may be on the line, but honesty really is the best policy so that crap doesn’t hit the fan because no one admits what really happened. The last thing most bosses want to do is line up their workers like siblings after a broken vase and grill everyone to see where mistakes were made. If you get in front of the mistake, it is probably not as hard to fix as you think it is. In the end, we all need to work together, not just so everyone keeps their jobs, but so an environment of understanding and compassion is built instead of the cobra fangs of workplaces that exist now. We will all get paid and we will all be okay, as long as we take responsibility for everything we touch, even if we break it. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

Material Girls (and Boys)

Breakfast at Tiffany’s and bottles of bubbles, girls with tattoos who like getting in trouble, lashes and diamonds, ATM machines, these are some of my favorite things. Not mine personally, but it has become such a habit to want things, physical things. Every day we practice materialism in such a way that the world is racked with a surplus of objects that most of us don’t really need. Materialism, by the way, is the want of physical possessions above all else. So why is this such a bad concept? Is wanting a few nice things really that horrible? Not if the items are worked for and earned with a solid paycheck or two, but look at the national debt average. No one can actually afford the things they are buying. Materialism is also not so bad if we only cling to the items for a little enjoyment. However, there are people who gather entire collections of objects even at the detriment of the enjoyment of the item. Think stamp collectors who spend millions tracking down a single stamp only to throw it in a book and hope that one day it will actually be worth something. I have made a habit of being a minimalist. I have very few physical objects to my name, but I enjoy all of those things. When I add a new item to my ensemble it is because I know that I will use said thing in a way that helps me or brings me great pleasure. However, I also know that if I were to lose said item, it would not be the end of the world. Do not misunderstand me. I am not saying that owning things is bad. I am merely stating that when having nice things becomes the center for everything else, maybe it is time to take up a hobby. You know something simple, like shoe collecting. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

2.4 With a Job

A while ago, I was helping my cousin write a resume for a job she was applying for. Why I was chosen to help her still baffles me, because writing resumes is a chore no matter who you are. However, since I have taken a class on it, I guess, by default, I was the best option. Anyway, her goal was to get all the information about her on one page so that when turning it in, it was not a pamphlet for the employer to skim through. One thing I learned during my resume class, and knowledge I imparted on her, was that your GPA is not needed on a resume. This came as a shocker to the 4.0 genius cousin. She thought a resume was a list of accolades for a future employer to see so that they know how accomplished you are. Sadly, this is never the case. Employers don’t care how smart you are, they care how much experience you have. Things like prior customer service, time spent on a telephone explaining things to people, or even the ability to not puke if cleaning a bathroom. What is that old saying about “C’s get degrees?” In other words, even if you are a complete moron, can you get the job done without being babysat. Lest we forget that a barely C student has become president of the United States on more than one occasion. Needless to say, her resume was drastically shortened when her GPA, valedictorian-ship, and other grade-based information was removed. It was heartbreaking to have two pages worth of “study-time” relegated to a one page summary of all the volunteer work she had done. However, I encouraged her. She still was able to fill an entire page with summers and spring breaks spent running herself ragged to help people and organizations. This is what employers want. Go-getters with a mindset for proving yourself. In the end, I let her leave the fact that she was accepted into some pretty top-notch universities on her page. Hopefully she will look at this resume on her computer in the future and realize that a summer job was just a stepping stone to a very educated future full of financial security, even if her future employers don’t care about her extra credit GPA. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

Hopping on the Dragon Bandwagon

All of my friends have their favorite shows. They all want me to watch them so they have something to talk about when we see each other. I have a problem, though. My stubbornness gets in the way of me enjoying things, not just TV shows, but a lot of categories. I refuse to buy into the hype. How could this new piece of technology be this useful? How could a restaurant’s food be that delicious? How could I possibly enjoy a TV show about a set of families fighting over an all-ruling throne? It is just a show about dragons and boobs, right? Then I actually took a minute, bought a Max subscription, and burned 3 months watching all of Game of Thrones. I hate to say, my friends were right. I actually got into the story. It is not the greatest show I have ever seen, especially the last season or two, but I enjoyed it. I should know better by now. I did the same thing with Breaking Bad. I avoided it for years. Bryan Cranston was Malcolm’s dad, and I didn’t think I would enjoy seeing him as a drug dealer. I was wrong. It is now one of my top 10 shows. Rick and Morty was the same way. I like adult cartoons, but am not a huge fan of Back to The Future. However, Rick and Morty is hilarious. I finally broke the habit and instead of being 5 seasons late, I caught up on The Bear after season 3 dropped. I now understand that my friends know good TV, and I should listen to them. Not every show they suggest is going to be a banger, but I will at least get some exposure to some new content and will understand the references like when someone talks about how Starbucks are everywhere, including Westeros. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

Physically Attractive, Emotionally Taxing

It’s a tale as old as Gen Z. The story of a relationship doomed to failure because the two people involved in it are just not right for each other. So why do they stay together? The sex is good. That’s it. That is the only thing positive they can say about their partner. The truth is the two people in question began dating because they liked the way the other person looked physically. But sometimes one has to look past the bod and see if there are traits in this person that makes them mentally, emotionally, and completely enthralled with being around that person. In other words, don’t think so much with your nether-regions. Let the blood flow reach your brain and make solid decisions about a potential future partner. This isn’t a Hallmark movie. No one moves to a random town to inherit their great uncle’s estate and falls in love with the handyman. Most of the time it takes several dates of conversation and sharing of personal interests for partners to link up. Also understand that just because eHarmony or Bumble tells you a person’s interests and hobbies doesn’t mean that one swipe right is going to be the be-all, end-all. Sometimes a person will swipe a few times before they find one that they would even want to have the conversation with. Just remember that if you try to partner up and the only way you can stand to spend 15 minutes around the person is with their clothes off, then maybe it is time to take the L and move on. Because when it is all said and done, a year can pass in a snap and you may still be getting the jab from your friends of, “The sex must be good, because they are the worst?” But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

An Honest and Diverse Friend Group

Have you ever been sitting with your friends, look around, and realize that all of you are the same? It is not a stupid question. The next time you are with your extended friend group, glance at what they all look and act like. Are they all the same race, gender, background, etc? I will actually get to the point with this one. Your friend group needs a multitude of different personalities and nationalities. There is a reason TV shows now are including more than just the one black friend to the main character. The friend group in a program could include people of all different nationalities, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and even people of extended age ranges. Art should reflect reality. Our real-life friend groups should include this as well. I am not saying that your friend group should look like a “We Are The World” campaign, but if it looks like the cast of Friends, maybe look up diversity in the dictionary. This is not just me being my whimsical, non-sensical self. I have made every effort to expand my friend group with people of all different perspectives, because it allows me to become a better person by having my very diverse friends be honest with me if I am doing something offensive. For instance, you need friends to help you realize how racist you might actually be being on a day to day. Also, my gay friends help me see the perspective of the LGBTQ+ community so that I can proudly say that I am an ally. At the end of the day, making your friend group a melting pot only helps to open your mind to worlds very different from your own. Also, it makes holidays more fun because of all the different gatherings of which you can be a part. We are a part of a very diverse world, and I believe that the ultimate goal is to find connections for us all. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

The Man From Nantucket Has a Song

Taylor Swift has got to be one of the biggest music stars of the 21^st century. She is famous beyond famous and is not bad on the eyes. Musically not all of her chart toppers are for me, but it is mostly because of the way she makes the songs. She says that you can make music by writing a poem and pairing it with an instrumental. I vehemently disagree. While there is no denying that some of her songs do work lyrically and make for a great time to sing along to, even a stopped clock is right twice a day. Truthfully, most of her songs do have a heartfelt and meaningful message, but I can only hear them as the slam poetry they are. It is also true that metaphors and similes in songs are needed. If the artist was to just say words without a little play on those words, it would be no different than if I were to only spell out directly what I mean. Those figures of speech making comparisons of one thing to another are what allows listeners to make connections with their own lives about what Miss Swift is saying in the song. There was an old saying in the country music genre that three chords and the truth made a great song and while I do believe that the Man in Black and other Highwaymen made it work, if they had tried to push the rhyme scheme to fit the stanzas of a 30 line poem, it would have sounded like some college bro with shoulder length hair sitting on the quad with his dented guitar singing about how much he was against the man. When it is all said and done, I guess it is each person’s own preference as to what music they like, but if new artists follow the roadmap of the previous generations, then those that follow Taylor are in for a bad time. Taylor has made it work for her, and she is good at what she does, but the majority of songwriters take a different direction because they know it is poetic to string words together only for them to fall flat on the chord. To all the music makers out there, don’t write poetry. Write music. Make a good beat that is easy to dance to, fun to sing along with, and touching on someone’s heart. Otherwise, whistle along with a previously existing tune and leave the rhymes to the professionals. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

No Crystal Ball, Just a Calendar

My favorite character at a carnival is the fortune-teller. The reason is because they are probably the richest person at the event. Why? Because everyone goes to them to hear about a future that may or may not actually happen. It is comforting to hear things about a life that we dream about, but a vision board can become reality with an attainable goal post and some grit. There is nothing that can’t be achieved with a proper plan and a level head. We all have it in us to accomplish great things. Most people usually do. There are thousands of doctors, lawyers, service men and women, entrepreneurs, and entertainers in the world. However, when I say attainable goals, I mean it literally. We cannot all be Sheldon Cooper and graduate college at 14. As much fun as kids have playing wedding in the back yard, most of us are not going to meet that perfect someone and be happily married in our early 20s. In this modern era, we may never actually own a house. When I say attainable goals, I mean things that could and probably might actually happen in a normal life. A life without Laurie Laughlin as our mom, a life without arranged marriages, and a life without ever having won the lottery. I am not saying we shouldn’t shoot high. I am merely saying that it is okay to go with the flow sometimes and do not get disheartened when we come in under the bar. Just adjust the trajectory and keep flying. There is a reason that they don’t sell 20 year at a time calendars. Some of us would plan that far ahead and might even ask the prognosticator to assist us. My hope is that we can all be happy living relatively normal lives with a few dozen high points as we accomplish the goals we set and knew we would achieve. However, if it were to be foretold that we would meet our one true love while we were wearing red shoes, then one of those goals would definitely be to buy enough red shoes to last us the rest of our lives. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.