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Kori

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Posts posted by Kori

  1. Jake_Ellison:

    "so don't even drink if you were adopted"

    HaHa.

    Mmmcanniballism:

    "the gene that makes you crave something that makes you happy...has an evolutionary advantage."

    Isn't happiness a result of value judgements, not genetics?

    Assuming a gene for addiction is possible, it would survive evolution very long, considering all addicts I've seen are completely dependent on others and often detrimental to those same people. I use the term addicts because that is the generally accepted term for people who abuse drugs, not because I believe addiction exists.

    Finally, as far as addiction-recovery programs are concerned, isn't it in their best interest to convince someone that they are addicted, have no control, and therefore require the assistance of professionals. I relate this to the medical and specifically the pharmaceutical industry, where nearly every medicine it seems has a risk of suicide as a withdrawal symptom. So don't stop taking the medicine, because you might kill yourself!

    As a person who is an addict and has been in an outpatient treatment, I can tell you your assertion about treatment facilities and professionals is untrue. From my experience, the professionals at these places don't 'convince you' that you're addicted and have no control. When I entered into treatment (voluntarily), it was because my life was becoming unmanageable as a result of drug use/addiction. The professionals at this facility hold the addicts accountable for their actions. They don't tell you that you have 'no control', rather, you DO have control, and you DO have the power to make the decisions it takes to live a sober life.

    All I know is that I hate that the mental health establishment labels you an addict for life even if you break your addiction. Seems that if you quit, you're not an alcoholic anymore.

    If you had a disease such as diabetes, you can't magically not be diabetic any longer. However, if you eat a healthy diet, take the proper medicine, exercise, etc. you can manage your diabetes and live your life. The four criteria for a disease are that a disease is I. Primary, II. Progressive, III. Chronic, and IV. Fatal. Addiction meets all of these criteria.

    There are things an addict, just like a diabetic, can do to manage their disease, but they are still an addict.

  2. I love Lady Gaga. She is ambitious, successful, hard-working, detail oriented, professional, intelligent, creative, and very in touch with the world today. Maybe in touch isn't the correct phrase, but I believe she has a great understanding of the psychology of a great portion of our society, as evidenced by her incredibly fast rise to fame.

    She is also completely fake, and I love it. To me, it doesn't really matter what an artist thinks, what their views really are. I don't care about her personal life, her philosophy, what she eats, how she treats a cold, what kind of genitalia she has etc. The bulk of what matters to me is that when I hear her music, I feel good. Simple as that.

    On top of that, though, I can't help but be completely amused that there are people who really think she is genuine. I find it astonishing that anyone in this world believes anyone else is genuine...many of her fans REALLY believe it. It is her complete ingenuity that I like. I guess I'm a sick puppy, but I am jealous that she gets to be another person.

    I just finished reading "The Rise and Rise of Lady Gaga" (by Maureen Callahan?) today. I would highly recommend it. Reading that you really get a better backstory and a better idea of who "Lady Gaga" is and where she came from. It's thoroughly entertaining.

    Anyway, i know for sure I will have more to say about the subject, as Gaga seems to be my current obsession, but I have lost my train of thought.

  3. Yeah, the super rich that were villified funded the project, but near the end they were going to leave behind all the Chinese laborers who built the arcs. Also, the governments knew about the end of the world and did not share the information with the rest of the people in the world. To me, this is what makes them villains most of all.

    Also, someone said earlier that the Russian's girlfriend gets to survive, but she actually drowns at the end after she puts the child and her dog over into the other room. Also also, the main character who 'dies in an act of selflessness' doesn't actually die, and his act was more in order to save his family, so I wouldn't call that an act of selflessness.

    Overall, the movie was kind of visually exciting, but it wasn't anything that special. One of my favorite parts was when the Russian Sascha and the stepdad are flying that huge Russian plane and they clip the Eiffel Tower. The stepdad looks back and says, 'Was that the Eiffel Tower?' and the Russian says, 'I sink so." and they both kind of chuckle. I thought that was kind of a funny moment.

  4. You could work at a grocery store as a stocker or cashier or janitor. I'm a night cashier at a grocery store and I find that it fits well with going to school. Also, my co-workers are the shit. It's a pretty fun job if you can handle heavy lifting and standing for 8 or more hours.

    Also, you could maybe consider making newspaper deliveries at night. I don't know how much that pays, but it's something, and I'd figure all you'd need is reliable transportation.

  5. In my experience, banks will refund a couple of overdraft fees if you just politely ask. At least mine did. I bank with Commerce Bank, and I highly recommend it (though it's only in like 3 or 4 different states?). Back when I was first in college I overdrafted...and the total of my overdraft was about $30. Since it was multiple different purchases, I was charged over $200 in overdraft fees. They removed a couple of them, but I had to pay the rest. Also, on that very same day, after I was told I had NO money, I went over and asked if I could get a credit card, and I was approved for a card with a $2,000 limit. HAH. I'm glad that happened, because had it not, I would not have as good of a credit score as I do now. (Also, I now have overdraft protection with my credit card).

    It's hard not to be a little pissed when you're hit with so many fees, but hopefully you learn your lesson and become more financially responsible.

  6. The movie tries to cram too much back story and too little actual story. There are origin stories for some characters, flashbacks for others, general restrospectives for all. Some of that is fermane to the actual story, but some of it isn't. We don't need to know how Dr. Manhattan came about, for example, it adds nothing.

    Given that The COmedian gets murdered at the story's opening, the movie could have used flashbacks to show us this character. it does, to some extent, but the character is compeltely irrelevant to the story. Had any other watchman stumbled onto Ozymandias' plan and acted badly afterwards,t eh result would be the same.

    Rorshach is perhaps the most heroic of the bunch, but his cruelty makes him as much a villain as a hero. I woulnd't want a Rorshach around in real life, and I don't like him (though in some cases I can sympathize with him). The question is this: why is he a superhero to begin with?

    I mean, he hates people (listen to his journal entries), he has no regard for societal institutions, or even for a nebulous concept of "society." So what does he fight for? What does he vlaue?

    I think it is important to get a glimpse of Dr. Manhattan when he was John Osterman to show his later alienation from the human race. He is no longer human after he becomes Dr. Manhattan.

    The Comedian is the whole catalyst for the story. Rorschach finds out the Comedian was killed, and therefore sets off on a quest to find the murderer and his motives. That is the main storyline. Also, the Comedian is relevant b/c of his 'relationship' with Sally Jupiter, and b/c he is the new Silk Spectre's father. His relationship to Silk Spectre is touched upon more in the scene on Mars with Dr. Manhattan and Laurie, and it has an effect on the outcome of the story (Dr. Manhattan takes the blame for what Ozymandias did, and disintegrates Rorschach).

    Rorschach repeatedly and clearly states that he values justice. Even in the face of armageddon, never compromise.

  7. Speaking of Placebo, the lead singer Brian had some pretty pro-living, pro-happiness things to say about the new album:

    “We’ve made a record about choosing life, about choosing to live, about stepping out of the darkness and into the light,” explains Brian. “Not necessarily turning your back on the darkness because it’s there, it’s essential; it’s a part of who you are, but more about the choice of standing in the sunlight instead.”

    They're an awesome band.

    Nice! Hadn't heard that quote. I also haven't given the whole album a good listen yet, but I love Placebo, so I know it won't disappoint.

  8. Whoever that was that recommended "Live Forever" by Oasis, thanks. Great song.

    Here are some I like:

    "Rose" - A Perfect Circle

    "Stupid Girl" - Pink

    "Battle for the Sun" - Placebo ("You are a cheap and nasty fake, and I am the bones you couldn't break")

    "Slave to the Wage" - Placebo

    "Sing Your Life" - Morrissey

    "The Fight Song" - Marilyn Manson

    "15" - Marilyn Manson ("This time I won't hesitate to kill to protect what I believe in.")

    "Better of Two Evils" - Marilyn Manson

    "Little Boxes" - Malvina Reynolds

    "Here to Stay" - KoRn

    "Alive" - KoRn ("Once I cried, now I wipe away the tears. Once I died, now I'm alive.")

    I guess some of them technically aren't rock songs, but I like 'em anyway and I tried my best not to list tons of rap songs. :P

  9. I don't think that the woman is saying to never express anger if you feel it. She said she used to vent it as soon as possible tho. I agree that sometimes you should just let it go. I often explode immediately when I feel anger and then later regret it because whatever it was wasn't really a big deal or I just overreacted. I think she is just saying to think your anger through before you express it.

    Also, regarding the 'faking it'. I think she's just saying that you should have a more positive view on things (like grocery shopping?) that you normally wouldn't enjoy, and as a result, you might enjoy it a bit more or not be quite so gripey about it. Bitching about it doesn't change the fact that you have to grocery shop. She's not saying you should pretend your life is perfect and lie to yourself or something. :)

  10. Yeah, I don't see how the lyrics of one song are grounds for not liking the band's discography in its entirety.

    Some of my favorites: Tool, Eminem, Tech N9ne, Kutt Calhoun, The Beach Boys, Billy Talent, Bun B, The Cure, Death Cab for Cutie, Wu-Tang, Justin Timberlake, Korn, Katy Perry, Lil Wayne, M.I.A., Mindless Self Indulgence, MetroStation, Placebo, Postal Service, Rush, Salt n Pepa, Smashing Pumpkins, T.I., Morrissey, Tonedeff, Extended F@mm, Three 6 Mafia, Weird Al, Will Smith, A Perfect Circle, ELVIS.

    Currently playing to death: T.I. "Paper Trail" and Kutt Calhoun "Feature Presentation"

  11. I like this one by The Cure:

    Gone!

    oh you know how it is

    wake up feeling blue

    and everything that could be wrong is

    including you

    black clouds and rain and pain in your head

    and all you want to do is stay in bed

    but if you do that you'll be missing the world

    because it doesn't stop turning whatever you heard

    if you do that you'll be missing the world

    you have to get up get out and get gone!

    yeah you know how it is

    wake up feeling green

    sick as a dog and six times as mean

    you don't want to sing you don't want to play

    you don't want to swing you don't want to sway

    all you want to do is nothing

    on a day like today

    but if you do that you'll be missing the world

    because it doesn't stop turning whatever you heard

    if you do that you'll be missing the world

    you have to get up get out and get gone!

    yeah get up get out and have some fun

    you have to get up get out and get gone!

    yeah get up get out and get it on

    get up get out and get gone!

    you have to get up get out and get living

    yeah this is really it...

    so you know how it is

    wake up feeling grey

    nothing much to think and nothing much to say

    don't want to talk don't want to try

    don't want to think don't want to know

    who what where when or why...

    oh but you do that and you're missing the world

    yeah it's happening right now whatever you heard

    you do that and you're missing the world

    you have to get up get out and get gone!

    yeah get up get out and have some fun

    you have to get up get out and get gone!

    yeah get up get out and get it on

    get up get out and get gone!

    you have to get up get out and get living

    yeah this is really it!

  12. Study architecture if you're super interested. I'd imagine the principles of architecture of buildings, etc. would be much similar to those of Lego building. However, if you're thinking one day you'll finally master the principles and build structures with perfect integrity in one try, you're wrong. Probably it will only get a bit easier for you to discern structural problems before putting the blocks together. Most of it will still be trial and error, however.

  13. I feel the same way. My mind races when I'm walking around or doing other movements, but it kinda dies when I'm sitting. Whenever I want to think, I pace back and forth in my room and listen to my iPod. (I also find it easier to think when there is some kind of noise).

    I don't know what to tell you except maybe bring a voice recorder with you and while your walking or doing other things, you can record your thoughts.

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