Rebuttal indeed

I wonder, when you point out that I clearly said works of fiction aren't like everyday life, why you assume that I was trying to say the exact opposite. Perhaps I can clarify:
1. Good fiction combines the rational and the animal.
2. Human=rational+animal.
3. Good fiction ~ human

I know, I know, it's one hell of a stretch. I shouldn't expect you to make that sort of connection without spelling it out step by step. But perhaps you could at least assume that you don't know what I mean before assuming that I'm blatantly contradicting myself. yeah? couldja do that for me? couldja? maybe? Okay, that would be greeaaat. Thanks darling.

So about that 'greatest human struggle' of not being fully able to see the reason in the events around us or fully control physical things (even our own bodies) according to reason... It seems to me that this problem is not a result of our human nature. Perhaps fiction appeals to our desire to have full possession of our human faculties. You might recall that before the evil of original sin there was no conflict between the physical and the spiritual part of our nature. yeah? maybe? you think you could recall that for me? couldja?


greeaaat.

My Response to Phil Regarding Fiction

First you say that fiction is so human because it is the perfect marriage of events and ideas. But then you follow it up with, but in my life events and ideas do not match up in this way? It's a nifty thought, but I think I see it very differently.

I'd be prone to draw the complete reverse conclusion: that fiction is inhuman insofar as you're allowed the clarity to see the union between events and ideas.

It seems to me that that one of the greatest human struggle is that you can't always see in what way things are related, how ideas are active and the motive force behind an events occurence. What fiction does is shows you the grander scheme, the godlike view surrounding events that allows you to see the purpose intended and ideas at play. If anything its appeal is that it tugs at our vanity and makes us feel greater.

Rebuttal?

but I just have to say:

Smart people who choose to be stupid suck even more than stupid people. At least you don't expect anything more from the stupid ones.

A bit of a revelation (for me)

One of the reasons that I like fiction so much (besides the one Maggie mentioned at the end of her last post) is that it's the perfect marriage between events and ideas. It's so human that way. In my life, the events-actions-physical-animal side is rarely if ever as closely connected to the thoughts-ideas-mental-spiritual side as it is in a good work of fiction. Stuff happens and I can't figure out why and it all seems so irrational. Then I think about stuff and reason and figure things out when I'm not doing anything. (I'm not saying I can't think and chew gum at the same time. But there's never really enough time while things are actually happening.)
In fiction, everything has a reason. It all makes sense. Events are actually connected with ideas. I don't know how well I'm expressing this idea that seems pretty cool to me (and definitely goes further toward explaining why I love my books so much) but you can be the judge of that because I really need to be asleep an hour ago.

yeeeeeah. So much for that "Ta-Da" business

I didn't get the third interview with Lanier. Why, you ask? Because I don't have enough previous experience for their ENTRY LEVEL position.

My soul is bleeding.


I'm gonna go read some fiction so I can pretend I'm not real and that the only world that really exists is the on the pages I choose to immerse myself in.

Ta-Da!

So I got the second interview with Lanier! I meet with the District Sales Manager tomorrow afternoon. This is especially good because it's the highest profile company that I've got interviews with. Heck yeah, baby.

I also went to another interview with South&Western Life Financial Group today- an established fortune 500 company that's been around since 1880. It went really well and I actually met with the District Sales Manager at this place right off the bat. He really liked me, to the point where he was giving me tips on the test I had to take because he wanted to ensure I'd do well. As if there was any doubt. But yeah, I also think I did well on that test and I'm confident he wanted me back, though I must admit this position is low on my list for a number of reasons. I mainly went in to it because they contacted me (they saw my resume online with careerbuilder)and I figured it would be good interviewing experience and confidence boost to help prepare me for the next couple I have tomorrow.

So right! Tomorrow I have a first interview with a 3rd company of this sort that I'm applying with in the morning, and a second interview with Lanier. Things are really heating up and getting more intense.

I like that.

Stupid People Suck

So around 11:15pm I decide to go walk a few blocks down to a gas station to pick up a pack of smokes. It always amazes me how an encounter with complete strangers can go from "Hey baby" to "fuck you, cunt" in less than 10 seconds flat. I guess maybe walking around alone at night in my neighborhood isn't such a great idea after all.

Oh...

Also, Please and Thank You. :)

Hey, Phil? When you get a chance...

Will you add "http://lacrimaeangelorum.blogspot.com/" to our ppl links... thing. It sucks to link to someone else to link to her. So right. That would be very much appreciated. Oh, and when you're through you could delete this post. If you want. I guess.

Also, when you have the time, I could use another html lesson. I have more questions. Including how to post my pic? And stuff. So yeah.

That is all.

Events Surrounding Today's Interview

1. Excessive coffee consumption causing anxiety and frenzy. I guess I just thought it would making me more "ready to go." I was wrong.

2. As soon as I finish shaving my legs the hot water runs out- had to wash my hair/finish showing in icy cold water. It was wretched, though invigorating.

3. Misplaced/thrown away?? Application, already filled out and ready to go-- Nowhere to be found.

4. Lack of a printer to print out new application to fill out (already with not enough time to do so). Had to drive over to my parents.

5. Lack of a purse that matched my suit. Frickin' details. Had to stop by my sister's house.

6. Run in my nylons. Spilled nailpolish on the floor when trying to stop it (clear nail polish is invisible and will stop the run from spreading, keeping damage minimal).

7. Had to clean up nailpolish so it wouldn't hurt the floor.

8. Ended up finishing filling out my application (resume was good to go, but had to transfer EVERYTHING) in the car in the parking lot, as well as in the lobby waiting for my interview. Total joke.

9. The Head Manager I was meeting with had a client unexpectedly show up at the same time I was supposed to interview with him, so I had to interview with someone lower down. Ended up probably being to my advantage because he was less experienced and I got to more or less be in control, but still not a good start.

10. My suit jacket has shoulder pads. That's just wrong.


But all in all it worked out pretty well in the end, and I think I just may get a second interview. It's weird how things work out.

It's official.

I live in a fucking madhouse.

Here are just a few of the events that took place last night:
I - I - had to spend about half an hour stopping a fight from happening. About 10 people all yelling in somebody else's face, some jackass brandishing a beer bottle and saying that he was trained by Chuck Liddell, pulling people away and going back to grab someone else only to find that the guy you just left by the truck back in the middle of things. All because one stupid drunk ass decided to say that a bunch of damn new guys said "fuck tankers." All this at the damn bowling alley on post.
One drunk person threw another drunk person's phone off the balcony. The owner of the phone finally figured out where it was, went down and got it (it landed on the grass and wasn't damaged). He then found out who threw it (maybe), wrestled him to the ground, bounced his head off the concrete floor and choked him until he passed out. Everything is cool between them today - although the accused phone thrower still doesn't really believe that he's guilty; he does admit he can't be sure because he was quite drunk.
Yet another drunk person threw a knife and stuck it about an inch deep in a door at head height as someone was closing this door.

So now it's about 3 in the afternoon. At least two people are just sobering up. The doors to the fire extinguisher cases mounted on the wall in the passageway are shattered. No one really knows why or who did it. Whoever did it probably doesn't even know. And hey, I just remembered that I have 4 beers in someone's fridge over on the other side of the building.


... so. Grill some kielbasa, clean up, recover and get ready for another hooah week. What a fucking life.

I learned something today.

If you will note my post immediately prior to this one, you will see that I have mastered the art of putting links into my posts. Html ain't so badass after all.

Bra's in Lieu of Change Purses: Somebody Ain't Done Right

So we went to Cousin's Subs the other day downtown. Cousin's is the only fast food place worth going to, and they make the best damn club sandwich known to man.

So we were at one of the ones downtown, as I said, trying to order our sub sandwiches. But then this black lady in front of us in the process of handing the cashier her money (she'd already given her some of the money but not enough), when she turned to her friends behind her and goes "Somebody Ain't Done Right." And that was it, and it was confusing and everyone started making disturbed sort of word sounds (I guess that's called ebonics) and yadda yadda. Then she goes and finishes paying, and puts the change in her bra. Now that's weird, but not too weird, but then we notice that she put all the bills on one side, and all the change she just dropped down her bra on the other side. Grooooodygrodygrody. But then what was worse, is after she got her food and was eating, she decided she wanted something else. So she goes up to the counter, orders it, and proceeds to reach INTO HER BRA to fish out, not just the cash, mind you, but actual CHANGE from her bra. Dear Lord, it was foul.

Somebody certainly ain't done right, if you ask me.

That is all.

I have officially sworn off ethical conduct.

In my boozy state the other night I forgot to mention the most important part of our Bingo Night. I guess that means I successfully drank away my problems.

As hard-core Bingo Competitors we of course arrived early and staked out our seats at a table. While waiting, the lady next to us asked us to watch her things while she used the restroom. Right. So we were then faced with a rough decision. What if her Bingo Card was the winner? Should we switch, or should we not? We decided that we wouldn't, but if she won that we would never conduct ourselves in an ethical manner ever again. As I mentioned in my other post, Lady won $500 and we had to listen to her squeal about it for half an hour. I pretended to be happy for her. Real happy.

But really I died inside.

Phil's Birthday is...

August 31. Just so anyone who wanted to know, knows.

G 56

Is the bane of my existing. So after going out to Sushi w/my brother, getting drunk and playing blackjack, we hit the NightOwl Bingo session. Twice I was one away from getting Bingo and all I need was, guess what, G 56! Never called. Blippetybleepblipblip. Totally sucked. Oh, but the lady next to me won $500. I guess... that's a consolation... or something....

So where do you stand?

From the L.A Times:

1. 40% of all workers in L.A. County (L.A. County has 10 million people) are working for cash and not paying taxes. This was because they are predominantly illegal immigrants, working without a green card.

2. 95% of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens.

3. 75% of people on the most wanted list in Los Angeles are illegal aliens.

4. Over 2/3 of all births in Los Angeles County are to illegal alien Mexicans on Medi-Cal, whose births were paid for by taxpayers.

5. Nearly 25% of all inmates in California detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally.

6. Over 300,000 illegal aliens in Los Angeles County are living in garages.

7. The FBI reports half of all gang members in Los Angeles are most likely illegal aliens from south of the border.

8. Nearly 60% of all occupants of HUD properties are illegal.

9. 21 radio stations in L.A. Are Spanish speaking.

10. In L.A. County 5.1 million people speak English. 3.9 million speak Spanish (10.2 million people in L.A. County).

(All the above from the Los Angeles Times)

Additional Info:

Less than 2% of illegal aliens are picking our crops, but 29% are on welfare.

Over 70% of the United States' annual population growth (and over 90% of California, Florida, and New York) results from immigration.The cost of immigration to the American taxpayer in 1997 was, (after subtracting taxes immigrants pay), a NET $70 BILLION a year, [Professor Donald Huddle, Rice University]. The lifetime fiscal impact (taxes paid minus services used) for the average adult Mexican immigrant is a NEGATIVE number.

29% of inmates in federal prisons are illegal aliens.

If they can come to this country to raise Hell and demonstration by the thousands, Why can't they take charge over the corruption in their own country?

THE U.S. VS MEXICO: On February 15, 1998, the U.S. And Mexican soccer teams met at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The crowd was overwhelmingly pro-Mexican even though most lived in this country. They booed during the National Anthem and U.S. Flags were held upside down. As the match progressed, supporters of the U.S. Team were insulted, pelted with projectiles, punched and spat upon. Beer and trash were thrown at the U.S. Players before and after the match. The coach of the U.S. Team, Steve Sampson said, "This was the most painful experience I have ever had in this profession."

Did you know that immigrants from Mexico and other non-European countries can come to this country and get preferences in jobs, education, and government contracts? It's called affirmative action or racial privilege. The Emperor of Japan or the President of Mexico could migrate here and immediately be eligible for special rights unavailable for Americans of European descent.Recently, a vote was taken in the U.S. Congress to end this practice. It was defeated. Every single Democratic senator except Ernest Hollings voted to maintain special privileges for Hispanic, Asian and African immigrants. They were joined by thirteen Republicans. Bill Clinton and Al Gore have repeatedlyStated that they believe that massive immigration from countries like Mexico is good. They have also backed special privileges for these immigrants.Corporate America has signed on to the idea that minorities and third world immigrants should get special, privileged status. Some examples are Exxon, Texaco, Merrill Lynch, Boeing, Paine Weber, Starbucks and many more.

DID YOU KNOW?: That Mexico regularly intercedes on the side of the defense in criminal cases involving Mexican nationals? Did you know that Mexico has NEVER extradited a Mexican national accused of murder in the U.S. In spite of agreements to do so?

According to the L.A. Times, Orange County, California is home to 275 gangs with 17,000 members; 98% of which are Mexican and Asian. How's your county doing?

According to a New York Times article dated May 19, 1994, 20 years after the great influx of legal immigrants from Southeast Asia, 30% are still on welfare compared to 8% of households nationwide.

A Wall Street Journal editorial dated December 5, 1994 quotes law enforcement officials as stating that AsianMobsters are the "greatest criminal challenge the country faces." Not bad for a group that is still under 5% of the population.

Is education important to you? Here are the words of a teacher who spent over 20 years in the Los Angeles School system. "Imagine teachers in classes containing 30-40 students of widely varying attention spans and motivation, many of whom aren't fluent in English. Educators seek learning materials likely to reach the majority of students and that means fewer words and math problems and more pictures and multicultural references."

WHEN I WAS YOUNG: I remember hearing about the immigrants that came through Ellis Island. They wanted to learn English. They wanted to breathe free. They wanted to become Americans. Now, far too many immigrants come here with demands. They demand to be taught in their own language. They demand special privileges--affirmative action. They demand ethnic studies that glorify their culture.


So yeah. I thought all that was kinda interesting in the kind of way that makes you cringe.

Wooden Mallets

I would like to educate you on wooden mallets today. Wooden mallets are made of wood, and are in the shape of a mallet. They are really hurtful. Do not let anyone hit you with one. They make wretched bruises, and I repeat... they really hurt. That is all.

So my I went to Theology on Tap today.

At first I was a little dissapointed because it was in the back banquet room and most of the people were hardly drinking. But after I had a couple beers in me and the speaker got around to the interesting parts of his talk I brightened up a bit. And I met a cool guy. He's a bit older, but he reminds me of John Finley (my conversations with whom, by the way, were the reason I ended up attending TAC) in a totally cool way, was polite but friendly, and all around just the kinda person I'd wanna be spending time with. That, and check this out. The beer at Theology on Tap is free. That's right, completely gratis. Talk about a sweet deal. A pitcher of beer, some smokes, and good ol' Catholic conversation with non-sleezy guys... how much better does that get?

I think it's really creepy...

To go knock on someone's porch window, directly behind where they're sitting on the sofa watching a movie at one in the morning. I wish I'd thought to look and see who it was before I woke up Matt, though, because now it's even creepier cuz they ran. The coward.

I hope you don't mind knowing...

that I'm celebrating appropriately while posting this.

I bet you didn't know...

this weekend is Nude Recreation Weekend.

yummy

Sub sandwhiches from the local chinese delivery places are only good when you've been drinking.
So you know it's going to be a good meal if you wonder who's at the door when your food arrives even though you were wondering when the hell it was going to get there three minutes before.

(Or when you have a hard time adding the price and your tip on the recipt. Or when you use your backspace and delete keys more than the spacebar when posting about it afterwards)

Edit: and still have to edit your post three times.

Pictures! yay

I feel like I should post something but don't really feel like it so here are some old Iraq picures:

Night Vision

Behind the 240

Appache

Damn but I hate being drunk

SHOOT ME IN THE FACE

Platonic love is an acquired skill

So I think that from the earliest age males and females are attracted to each other in a sexual way. This was proved to me this evening when I took my two year old nephew and three year old neice to the fireworks. My nephew ran around hitting everyone and trying to play tag with kids too old for him and then promptly fell asleep. But my darling little neice was wooed by a 5 year old boy into a game of tag. She wasn't as fast as him, but she's smart, darn it, and on many occasion managed to get him by blindsiding him with the most fantastically professional tackles you'll ever see from a 3 year old. From there it deteriorated into the two of them rolling around on the grass tackling each other the rest of the evening until my neice was too tired to even stand anymore at which point she collapsed on the blanket to sit and watch the end of the fireworks.
Her little boyfriend fanagled a seat on our blanket as well, even though his family was sitting on one right next to us, and played with her hair and tried to coax her into playing with him some more for the rest of the evening. He even broke his cookie in two to share with her, and at the end of the fireworks finale he spontaneously hugged her, even though she was clearly indifferent by this point. He totally had a crush on her! Anyways, I'm using this to illustrate how, unless a conscious effort is exerted, friendships between males and females always result in some sort of romantic interest on one side or the other. It'll start with tag, and end rolling around on the grass embracing. Everyone knows it's true. Fortunately, I'm quite skilled.

Why?...

All the better to mock you with, my dear.