(no subject)
I love trees that blossom. I really do. They make the air smell so good, and they look so pretty. I just noticed today that the trees are in blossom. I also noticed that all the trees now have leaves on them, which is truly bittersweet for me; it's another stake in the heart of winter. Which I know is now long gone, but not in my heart.
I picked up some pretty crazy information in my class today. In December of 2003, the US Congress reclassified nuclear weapons as conventional weaponry. Which means that the US military can now use nuclear weapons any time they see fit in conventional battle. They no longer need to seek approval from any higher authorities (the nukes dropped on Japan in WW2 needed approval from the President). Not only that, but nuclear arms today are up to six times as powerful as the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. A couple of the main reasons that this was passed in congress were that the nukes are safe for civilians because they explode underground, and the now-standard line that they are needed now more than ever to be able to combat the terrorist threat. Okay, no matter where the nuke explodes, it still leaks a tremendous amount of radiation, which is NOT safe for anybody in a very large vicinity. So that "reason" is completely ridiculous. And nukes are needed to hunt terrorists? Please! Terrorists operate in small cells, usually around 10 people. Why would you ever need a nuclear warhead to fight ten people at a time?
On the bus home tonight, there was this lady sitting in the seat in front of me that I felt so sorry for. She wasn't old, probably like 60 or so. She had bought a expensive-looking set of moisturizers and exfoliators and...whatever constitutes a set of products that is meant to bring back your youth. The set was so exhaustive it came with an assortment of pamphlets to inform you which products to use in conjunction with each other, depending on your concerns with your skin. The woman wasn't a tiny lady, but she suddenly seemed so frail when she was looking through the lists, like someone who was desperately trying to hold onto or regain her physical youth but was totally overwhelmed by all of these beautification products. I was watching her go from one pamphlet to the next, from one to the other and back again, and suddenly felt so sorry for her that she couldn't accept her ageing process, let alone enjoy or appreciate it; that she felt obliged to be dissatisfied with her grey hairs and wrinkles. And I know that this isn't anything new, everybody is aware of society's fixation on youth and beauty, but sometimes there are such poignant reminders of how it affects people. This woman must have spent a hundred dollars or more to try to achieve the unachievable, and quite frankly didn't look as if she was particularly wealthy. I mean everybody is guilty, even me, of idealizing things. This includes the conception of beauty, but I just can't help but imagine how much happier people would be if these ideals didn't exist, if they weren't forced to constantly feel inferior to an unachievable pinnacle.
I'm going to stop my pretentious rambling before it gets too righteous. Oh, actually no. Another thing that irks me is how most people talk to children. They talk to them, but ask them the most superficial questions, using a dumbed down voice and language, and don't make any attempt to find out who the child is as a person. I'm pretty sure I disliked it when people did that to me when I was a kid, and I've found that they really open up to you and trust you much more if you treat them like an actual person. (what a concept!) Bah!
Anyway, I hate this post already. Mostly because I hate pretentious and self-righteous people, and I think I come across as one myself in this.
On a completely different topic, does anybody else love infomercials like I do? I really enjoy watching them; right now I'm learning why I need the Magic Bullet, a super duper blender. In ten seconds you can start chopping onions, or start breaking eggs into a bowl...or you can chop onions, grate cheese and whisk eggs all at the same time in the same container, ready to be poured into a saucepan to make a great omelette. Wow. Earlier I was watching one about a fantastic set of knives, and yesterday I saw various ab machine promotions. Really, I don't particularly have any desire to purchase any of these items, but I truly enjoy watching them. The people are always so jovial and enthusiastic, and are totally convinced that their product is going to improve peoples lives, and they never stop with the "but wait! there's more..." - I love it. Oh, the Little Giant - 24 ladders in one - has just started. It's the most versatile ladder ever created, and could replace a garage full of different ladders! Boy, do I ever have that problem. Oh, they just showed the necessary, if not somewhat predictable shot of a fireman using one! Loves it! Uh-oh...they're piling 10 people onto the one ladder to show how strong it is; stay tuned to your tv set for the gripping consequences to this risky move! I'm kidding, nothing happens, it's just that strong. It truly is a wonder ladder. I wonder what "but wait, there's more..." will come with this ladder. Maybe special magnetic ladder shoes?
I picked up some pretty crazy information in my class today. In December of 2003, the US Congress reclassified nuclear weapons as conventional weaponry. Which means that the US military can now use nuclear weapons any time they see fit in conventional battle. They no longer need to seek approval from any higher authorities (the nukes dropped on Japan in WW2 needed approval from the President). Not only that, but nuclear arms today are up to six times as powerful as the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. A couple of the main reasons that this was passed in congress were that the nukes are safe for civilians because they explode underground, and the now-standard line that they are needed now more than ever to be able to combat the terrorist threat. Okay, no matter where the nuke explodes, it still leaks a tremendous amount of radiation, which is NOT safe for anybody in a very large vicinity. So that "reason" is completely ridiculous. And nukes are needed to hunt terrorists? Please! Terrorists operate in small cells, usually around 10 people. Why would you ever need a nuclear warhead to fight ten people at a time?
On the bus home tonight, there was this lady sitting in the seat in front of me that I felt so sorry for. She wasn't old, probably like 60 or so. She had bought a expensive-looking set of moisturizers and exfoliators and...whatever constitutes a set of products that is meant to bring back your youth. The set was so exhaustive it came with an assortment of pamphlets to inform you which products to use in conjunction with each other, depending on your concerns with your skin. The woman wasn't a tiny lady, but she suddenly seemed so frail when she was looking through the lists, like someone who was desperately trying to hold onto or regain her physical youth but was totally overwhelmed by all of these beautification products. I was watching her go from one pamphlet to the next, from one to the other and back again, and suddenly felt so sorry for her that she couldn't accept her ageing process, let alone enjoy or appreciate it; that she felt obliged to be dissatisfied with her grey hairs and wrinkles. And I know that this isn't anything new, everybody is aware of society's fixation on youth and beauty, but sometimes there are such poignant reminders of how it affects people. This woman must have spent a hundred dollars or more to try to achieve the unachievable, and quite frankly didn't look as if she was particularly wealthy. I mean everybody is guilty, even me, of idealizing things. This includes the conception of beauty, but I just can't help but imagine how much happier people would be if these ideals didn't exist, if they weren't forced to constantly feel inferior to an unachievable pinnacle.
I'm going to stop my pretentious rambling before it gets too righteous. Oh, actually no. Another thing that irks me is how most people talk to children. They talk to them, but ask them the most superficial questions, using a dumbed down voice and language, and don't make any attempt to find out who the child is as a person. I'm pretty sure I disliked it when people did that to me when I was a kid, and I've found that they really open up to you and trust you much more if you treat them like an actual person. (what a concept!) Bah!
Anyway, I hate this post already. Mostly because I hate pretentious and self-righteous people, and I think I come across as one myself in this.
On a completely different topic, does anybody else love infomercials like I do? I really enjoy watching them; right now I'm learning why I need the Magic Bullet, a super duper blender. In ten seconds you can start chopping onions, or start breaking eggs into a bowl...or you can chop onions, grate cheese and whisk eggs all at the same time in the same container, ready to be poured into a saucepan to make a great omelette. Wow. Earlier I was watching one about a fantastic set of knives, and yesterday I saw various ab machine promotions. Really, I don't particularly have any desire to purchase any of these items, but I truly enjoy watching them. The people are always so jovial and enthusiastic, and are totally convinced that their product is going to improve peoples lives, and they never stop with the "but wait! there's more..." - I love it. Oh, the Little Giant - 24 ladders in one - has just started. It's the most versatile ladder ever created, and could replace a garage full of different ladders! Boy, do I ever have that problem. Oh, they just showed the necessary, if not somewhat predictable shot of a fireman using one! Loves it! Uh-oh...they're piling 10 people onto the one ladder to show how strong it is; stay tuned to your tv set for the gripping consequences to this risky move! I'm kidding, nothing happens, it's just that strong. It truly is a wonder ladder. I wonder what "but wait, there's more..." will come with this ladder. Maybe special magnetic ladder shoes?