Archive for the 'Rant' Category
I am sorry but I am so sick of Mr. Sigmund Freud right now. There is so much out there to read, so many different scholars. Yes, there is an empirical beauty in Freud that his theories are backed by clinical, documented research, and I’d venture to say, supported even with some historical proof- at least in the case of the repression of sexuality during the “Enlightenment.” But for some reason, in my social science and humanities classes I have just reached over-load on Freud.
Plus, a research paper I have chosen to write is premised by a Freudian concept- that people are discontent with civilization partly because of society’s repression of their instincts to sexuality and aggression. This thought is outlined in Civilization and Its Discontents. So I’m asking whether people are “happier” now in civilization with the rise of sex and violence in the media. Giving away the punchline up front, I say the answer is no- ennui persists in society- civilization is a bit discontent.
Anyway- we read this book, we read about another one of his books The Future of an Illusion which laid out his theory on religion, so I’m not reading it- although it was assigned for Thursday. In addition I was assigned to read someone else’s paper about Freud: a professor’s work at our university. Enough already with Freud. I, for one, would like to get into sonmething else now. So many good theories can’t be proven…. let’s at least look at a greater variety.
“He Who Knows One, Knows None.” – J.W. Goethe
Open, Rant | 25.10.2006 1:43 | 3 Comments
It is natural for human beings to seek love.
The gorgeous one she was totally stirred by, whom she spoke with on the way there as they converged on the street watched her dance. She overcame her shyness to allow him to hold her eyes a couple of times. He finished his drink, said goodbye to his mates, and left. His leaving was quite depressing.
The one who talked with her and danced with her and kissed her passionately and then never called her finally showed up after months and months. He stayed back. So did she. He did go to talk with her after a while. He was easy to talk to. He offered to buy her a beer but she said, no, let’s do a shot of tequilla.
The one who she’s known from years working in the neighborhood came in next, and he had the warmest wave, the most energized face, the most endearing energy. It was like that when you saw him: BIG hug. BIG kiss. Nothing done about it. Except that night they made a plan to make a plan.
Do any of these situation carry the potential for love? What is love, anyway? Does love at first sight exist? What is it that makes a particular love more poignant than another love? Is romantic love a connection with someone coupled with the lack of a more profound love for someone else?
What appears certain never is. Potent statements are prone to be whimsical puffs of steam like the mountain lake sparkling in the valley. Less solid than water to walk on. Data is liable to be misinterpretted, truth obfuscated. People ought to be careful with potent declarations: the picture they are painting just might get bought and arrangements made to come pick it up.
Uncertainty creates situations that are problematic- and troublesome when the outcome is held in suspense. We humans seek clarity, it’s in our nature. Clarity can be a ton of bricks, but it is quite nice. Sometimes the obtaining of any lasting clarity is a slow process, especially when one is de-wiring what once felt like a deep truth.
In the face of uncertainty one follows the heart because it seems like it has a pretty good lead. But everything can always change in the blink of an eye.
In love and science, the search for clarity in the midst of uncertainty is to be able to make a better plan in the experiencing of things. It is to bridge the enjoyment or suffering of the moment and the continuity of transitions and possibilties, but… fuck! Where can a girl put her foot down in this mess.
Nothing is certain.
“Allowing the will of heaven to flow through oneself” is an idea that points to a comforting certainty engaged in a moment, which makes the moment whole and complete like a work of art. In this perspective one is unattached to outcomes, the present is experienced for what it is, without judgement, but with guidance. Though in life, in the continuity of changing moments we are attached to outcomes. Aren’t we, so easily? Shouldn’t a person do what his words and initial actions indicate they ought to do?
Ah, the human grasping for any kind of certainty in a complex world.
Well, my friends, sometimes you can throw certainty out with the bathwater.
Escape by narcosis. Escape by ascesticism.
Escape by believing in Love anyway, like a crazy, crazy fool.
Love, Rant, Reflection | 10.10.2006 11:22 | No Comments
My eyes are sunk in their sockets and lifeless as I write this. I feel the darkness underneath them and I am soo tired. Ah, the life of a graduate student/waitress/substitute teacher. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I woke up much earlier than I wanted to. After the first snooze at 5:05 I took the alarm clock in bed with me, and mindlessly hit ‘confirm’ instead of snooze the fourth time snooze came around and instead of getting up, I layed there, sooooo comfortable, and snoozed away. With a start I regained power over my senses at 6:01, I jumped up and out of bed in the darkness. I hustled into a fast shower, fed the cats, dried my hair, got dressed, threw a lunch together, grabbed two still-had-some-left cigarette butts and managed to leave the house only five mintues later than I planned, even with some buttered boule toast in my tummy.
I gave just three classes tests in AP high-school English. The school was way out east on I-70. There I got a new experience with demographics, and those precious folks in their late-teens.
Euro-Americans were as big of a minority as African-American children are in the other two schools I taught at on the west side. One per class, if that. Consistent with my casual observation, classes are mostly all Latino here in Denver proper, except for more representatives of Asian-American children on the west side. Today I had juniors and seniors.
The first class was excellent, except for just a couple loud-mouthed boys in the back, no big deal.
Read the rest of this entry »
Events, Rant | 2.10.2006 17:37 | 2 Comments
I couldn’t believe my ears when on the radio this morning: as I waited for my egg-potato-with-green- chile-inside burrito I heard that some of today’s Christians believe that God wants them to be wealthy. News flash: Poverty is a curse from God.
Funny (in an I-am-going- to-puke-in-disgust way) how religion has always been so malleable. Since when does it seem plausible that God would endorse greed, especially at the expense of others? Saint Francis and Joachim de Fiore would be rolling in their graves, as the trend of the hoarding wealth (contrary to the actual lifestyle of Jesus) continues. They would give support to Nietzsche’s argument, that the death of Christianity is being breed within Christianity itself. (Third Essay of Genealogy of Morals) (what Frank and Joachim said is contained here)
Thus, I have a news flash too: Christianity is the Anti-Christ!!! Let’s move through it to some more peaceful times, without so much divisive CRAP and psychological abuse in society, shall we?
Proceding to add new category to blog: rant.
Rant, Religion | 26.09.2006 10:02 | No Comments
As a waitress, I see that it is quite common to dispose of chewing gum by folding it into an Equal packet. These blue little gum pillows are readily available on the table with the sugar packets next to the salt and pepper and the flower in the vase, and are quite convenient to use as a used-gum-recepticle, I know. But then so often this treasure is left behind on the table for their service industry person to pick up after they’ve gone. This is quite annoying, if you ask me. Can’t people just put it in the trash themselves when they’re done chomping on it, before they sit down for dinner, instead of leaving it on the table for me?
Tonight I ask myself what this reflects about the item, rather than the unaware person that’s somehow annoying crazy old me. (wastefulness drives me crazy!) The single-serving Equal packets are designed for a much different purpose, but they are sometimes used and discarded as mere trash. I’ve known aspartame- what Equal is, has a terrible reputation in health-conscious circles, but wow!
Wikipedia: Aspartame
Aspartame is the name for an artificial, non-carbohydrate sweetener, aspartyl-phenylalanine-1-methyl ester; i.e., the methyl ester of the dipeptide of the amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine.
The FDA receives more complaints related to aspartame than any other food additive. Concerns about aspartame frequently revolve around symptoms and health conditions that are allegedly caused by the sweetener. The 92 health effects reported to the FDA are: abdominal pain, anxiety attacks, arthritis, asthma, asthmatic reactions, bloating/edema, blood sugar control problems (hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia), brain cancer (Pre-approval studies in animals), breathing difficulties, burning eyes or throat, burning urination, inability to think clearly, chest pains, chronic cough, chronic fatigue, confusion, death, depression, diarrhea, dizziness, excessive thirst or hunger, fatigue, feeling ‘unreal’, flushing of face, hair loss (baldness) or thinning of hair, headaches/migraines, hearing loss, heart palpitations, hives (Urticaria), hypertension (high blood pressure), impotency and sexual problems, inability to concentrate, infection susceptibility, insomnia, irritability, itching, joint pains, laryngitis, “like thinking in a fog,” marked personality changes, memory loss, menstrual problems or changes, muscle spasms, nausea or vomiting, numbness or tingling of extremities, other allergic-like reactions, panic attacks, phobias, poor memory, rapid heartbeat, rashes, seizures and convulsions, slurring of speech, swallowing pain, tachycardia, tremors, tinnitus, vertigo, vision loss, and weight gain. [1]
[1] Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS). (1993, April 1) Adverse Reactions Associated with Aspartame Consumption (HFS-728). Chief, Epidemiology Branch. Retrieved Oct 24, 2005 from http://www.presidiotex.com/aspartame/Facts/92_Symptoms/92_symptoms.gif
Other suspicious health concerns follow…
Yeah, probably a better gum receptacle than sweetener for your coffee if you ask me. But I’m not in the FDA, so I’ll just leave it up to you to come to your own conclusions. But can you put the Equal/chewing gum creation in the trash for me? Thanks…
Health, Rant | 21.04.2006 22:56 | 1 Comment
Nina Lois is a graduate student at the University of Colorado at Denver obtaining a Master's Degree in Humanities with a B.A. in political science. Her passions are broad when it comes to the human condition. She is deeply interested in philosophy, psychology, environmental and social justice, peace studies, music, nutrition, tradition, and progress. 
Upon her imminent graduation, she wishes to contribute to the health, wealth, and happiness of the community through involvement, writing, and research. For goodness's sake, love the body, cultivate the mind and a garden, and feed the soul!
Thanks again