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• Daughtry covering Poker Face. Fun stuff. http://ping.fm/ReZgZ #
• Workout time! #
• #yourmommonday #tmituesday #thatswhatshesaidwednesday and #badfriday as well. :-] #
• #breakshitthursday is one of the themes at my job for each day of the week. #
• It's been a decent #breakshitthursday #
• Going to work out, then to pick up some beer. Plan to do a ton of relaxing tonight, and tomorrow, and the next day…ahhh. #
• @CHRIS_Daughtry I liked it better than the original – good covers are hard to come by, but you NAILED it Chris! #
• RT @CHRIS_Daughtry: My acoustic cover of 'Poker Face'…hopefully @realladygaga approves:)http://bit.ly/4f9d8f #
• Why the hell should a theme park be tax exempt? http://bit.ly/19gOeg #
• New Blog: Twitter Updates for 2009-07-01 http://ping.fm/A0hV7 #

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• I am feeling much more…myself today than recently. #
• Chicks with faux-hawks are hot. :) #
• Heh, "US of ANT" is kinda funny. Haven't laughed that hard in awhile. Good stuff. #
• I got a LOT done today, yet I feel like I didn't accomplish much. Bleh. #
• Damnit, Janet! #
• New Blog: Twitter Updates for 2009-06-30 http://ping.fm/BVmNS #
• Well, time for bed! #
• @lordpelvis Not so much for the phone as for the iPod touch with the potential of future phone-age. :) #

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• Copying a LOT of music to my external HDD and iPod. #
• Anyone got an iPhone 2g or 3g they want to offload because they are drooling over the 3gs? :) I'm in the market. #
• live "operation spirit" ♫ http://twt.fm/186464 #
• Inadvertently gave one of my staff his birthday off. So much for being a hard ass. (you're welcome, J). :-] #
• The Marble Slab Creamery in PB is AWESOME. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream with cookie dough and hot fudge. OMGWTFBBQ. #
• Wow, just realized that at some point I broke 30k Stumbles. Must. Get. Life. :-] #
• It has been a very long day. two more and a 3 day weekend. W00t. #
• @thesneeze I'm actually interested in purchasing one myself, if you are selling one. in reply to thesneeze #
• @thesneeze Is it a first gen? #
• New Blog: Twitter Updates for 2009-06-29 http://ping.fm/qJteY #
• I think it's bedtime. Busy day tomorrow! #

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• Bleh, don't wanna be @ work. :) #
• New Blog: Twitter Updates for 2009-06-28 http://ping.fm/gvPUF #
• Nighty night time, work tomorrow. *yawn* #

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• That was just weird. #
• Is anyone else's facebook suddenly not in english? #
• Sounds like this judge has a good head on his shoulders: http://ping.fm/RcD0v #
• RIP Billy Mays. http://ping.fm/9hLjV #
• Headed to bed. Night all! #
• RT @doctorow: Videos from Little Brother play in Chicago: http://tinyurl.com/mtvocx #
• Oh, and lala.com too. #socialmusic #
• I need to find some new music, dang it. #
• Music apps for facebook and twitter. Grooveshark.com and http://twt.fm/ are awesome. :) #
• joan red "crush" ♫ http://twt.fm/179372 #
• @deletedsoul is ranked 325,517 on Twitterholic.com, and 139 in Missouri! http://twitterholic.com/deletedsoul/ #
• God I love Normal Bob Smith. http://ping.fm/vTQ7G #
• New Blog: Twitter Updates for 2009-06-27 http://ping.fm/ZQzDi #
• RT @BarackObama: 1 in 5 Americans with HIV doesn't know it. Please share this National HIV Testing Day video: http://bit.ly/8h7p1 #NHTD09 #
• Some typos/spelling problems, but otherwise hilarious: "Religion is like the movies" http://is.gd/1gzHX #

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• @eeah You need to post a pic. :) #
• Getting an old PC of my dad's ready for teh internets. #
• After yesterday's exhausting day, I am enjoying relaxation. #
• Whew – been a long long day. Headed to bed! #
• New Blog: Twitter Updates for 2009-06-26 http://ping.fm/EIBWG #

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• New Blog: Happy Pride 2009! http://ping.fm/TtmJd #
• Headed to pick up my truck (checkup was OK!) then to my parents. Looking for something interesting to do tonight. #
• To all my LGBT friends out there, have a safe and happy Pride Weekend!! http://is.gd/1eTfG #
• Anything going on in Southeast Mo tonight? Anything? #
• Unfollowing a bunch of people on Twitter. Sorry if it's you. :) #
• Sorry, but a metal band singing about being a "light in a dark world" seems wrong. #
• RT @40coolpics Honey… I Think It’s Time to Move http://cli.gs/8LLM9 (via @tweetmeme) #
• just listened to Somebody's Watching Me by Rockwell on Grooveshark: http://tinysong.com/2Xow #
• Amen on this being total bullshit, and a huge waste of taxpayer dollars. http://ping.fm/TFJmG #
• @AaronM http://bit.ly/IJbNW #
• RT @wilw: RT @majornelson "Get Windows 7 for 50% off http://tr.im/pOEr " I don't want to use Windows, but if you do … well, now you know. #
• RT @4fthawaiian: Confused about the whole #unfollowperez thing. You guys were following??<–Heh. Nice one. #
• @EDDIEKLIVE Yup, we are AWESOME. :) #
• @samn92 Which one? #
• I think @JohnCMayer and @ThisisRobThomas should collaborate on a song/album. They are both amazing artists! #
• New Blog: Twitter Updates for 2009-06-25 http://ping.fm/PcGkN #
• @AaronM Suton to Utah per @Aleostax #

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• New Blog: Rest in Peace, King of Pop http://ping.fm/WQArT #
• just listened to Man In The Mirror by Michael Jackson on Grooveshark: http://tinysong.com/2VDo #
• just listened to PYT (Pretty Young Thing) by Michael Jackson on Grooveshark: http://tinysong.com/394K #
• just listened to Toy Soldiers by Martika on Grooveshark: http://tinysong.com/mfx #
• @michaelstanford Granted, I used to despise Coheed, now I kinda like 'em. I guess anything can grow on you. Except Prince. :-D #
• @michaelstanford To each his own. :) #
• @michaelstanford They remind me way too much of hanson, and are INCREDIBLY annoying, which means I will probably love them in ten years. :) #
• RT @AaronM: Fuck you, Jonas Brothers. <–Amen. I fucking hate those brats. #
• RT @4fthawaiian: I guess I finally get how my folks must have felt about Elvis. Way too emotional today. #
• Got some looks coming home. Windows down blaring Michael Jackson's "Black or White" and "Billie Jean". RIP – we love you man. #MJ #
• RT @D14BL0: Much has been said about #michaeljackson but cannot deny: one of the most influential people in the history of recorded sound. #
• RIP Michael Jackson. http://ping.fm/Rvi19 #
• California Club sandwich and broccoli soup for lunch. Mmmmm. #
• RIP Farrah Fawcett. #
• I'm so angry right now that I just want to freaking punch something. You have got to be f*cking kidding me!!!!! #
• It's awesome to realize that someone you already admire shares many of your values as well. Sweet dandy pants. #
• Headed to bed. #

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I completely agree that Michael was a wingnut, a broken individual who made some really bad choices in his life. However, regardless of what I can say about him as a man, I could never deny his brilliance as a musical artist. No one else in my lifetime has left a bigger mark on music nor influenced more artists. I do not mourn the man so much as I mourn the creator of the music. He was the Elvis of our generation, iconic and infamous, for reasons both good and bad.

May the King of Pop rest in peace.

A friend of mine and I were talking today about relationship “deal breakers”, and the conversation turned to children. I had mentioned that a relationship “deal breaker” for me would be if my husband decided he wanted to reverse his vasectomy and have four children. At this point in our lives, that would likely be a relationship “deal breaker”. My friend brought up – “what if he just reversed it without telling you, and you became pregnant?”. I I had actually never thought of that possibility before. The very idea of that was quite disturbing for me. I continued the conversation with my husband over lunch, and he agreed that something like that would be a serious betrayal.

Thus, I came to my next “terrible reason to have a baby”:

“Oops, I’m pregnant!”

Scenario: This one is a bit of an extension of the last terrible reason; It also has different manifestations and facets. I’ll give you a couple examples, to break it down further.

Example 1: The inability to understand birth control methods, or a mistaken belief that you will not get pregnant. Of course, birth control methods can always fail – even the vasectomy or other forms of sterilization can fail. Thus, failures of a method that is generally 95+ percent effective is not a failure of the person using the method. I’m speaking of people who either use methods incorrectly, or mistakenly think “well, I haven’t gotten (or gotten someone) pregnant yet, so I probably won’t!”.

Example 2: An extension of “terrible reason” number two, this one is usually the fault of the female. The woman who skips the pill, damages the condom, forgets the prophylactics or simply LIES about using a contraceptive in order to become impregnated without the knowledge or consent of her partner.

Why an “Oops” is a terrible reason:

In the first example, the person is often simply uneducated about sex and procreation, which is something that often lies at the feet of parents and educators. First and foremost, we need to provide our offspring with the knowledge they need to make the correct decisions. Ignorance is not a good excuse, nor is it ever a good reason to do anything, much less have a child. In addition, if for some reason you think you are sterile, CONFIRM IT WITH A PHYSICIAN! Just because you’ve had a few partners without a pregnancy, doesn’t mean that the next partner isn’t going to be different.

The second example displays deviance and betrayal of the highest level. In my book, anyone who would be capable of such a heinous act should not only not procreate, they should be punched in the face. repeatedly. With a hammer. Okay, violence is rarely the answer, but a person who would stoop so low is not only bringing a child into this world for a terrible reason, but they are potentially ruining another person’s life! Anyone who has been a victim of this fraud should not ever be required by the courts to support the “mother” in any way unless they freely choose to do so. They should also be allowed to bring suit against the lying scum who committed the fraudulent act. No, I can’t think of a worse reason to have a child, and I can think of few things that would earn less respect.

What they should do instead of procreating:

For example number one: Please educate yourselves. Learn about sex and procreation the best you can. Again, make sure you confirm with a doctor if you think you cannot have children. Most importantly, if you are not in a long term, committed relationship, WEAR A CONDOM! Just because you do not think you are physically capable of procreation, believe me, you are more than capable of getting a sexually transmitted disease!

For example number two: If you are a low life bottom feeder that is capable of such idiocy, please just get hit by a bus or fall off the face of the earth, because you are simply a waste of oxygen.

Terrible Reason #1
Terrible Reason #2

Please note that I do not think every reason for procreating is terrible. I think most are at least somewhat selfish, but not always terrible. Nor do I think that a bad reason necessarily will always mean terrible parenting. The best reason, in my opinion, is that you are a happy, healthy couple (yes, I think a child with two parents and/or caregivers fares best), who are financially responsible, emotionally stable and well prepared to bring a child into the world. They are ready to instill knowledge, nurture the child, and prepare the child to meet a world of opportunities and challenges. They want to pass on their genes, their values and their lifestyle to a person, and yet leave room for that person to grow and become an individual. They truly want to create a happy, healthy, productive member of society – not just a clone of themselves. I’ve known a few people who seem to be exactly in the right position to do all these things, and I applaud their resolve and courage at facing the daunting task of raising a child to the best of their abilities!

A scene that definitely should have been in Watchmen:

See Joan Red, Red, Framing Hanley and CAVO live tonight via SyncLive! Show kicks off at 7:15pm.

Watch this show and more at SyncLive.com

Before the stress of the workday, before my mind is cluttered with all the cares in my world, before the questions and the calls and everything in between – I am having two slices of perfectly toasted cinnamon swirl bread, topped with just the right amount of whipped cream cheese.

This is my way of telling myself that everything is going to be OK, in spite of the looming anxieties and the potential for failure that accompanies ever day. Most days I pick something to reward myself with or remind myself that I matter in my nook of the earth. To the universe as a whole I am a tiny speck on the back of an ant. To myself and those who care about me (all three of you, lol), my impact is a little larger.

When the worries get me down, or I am dreading the day, I must never forget to stop and enjoy those two slices of perfectly toasted cinnamon bread.

-b

Got my month two results from my fitness program today!

-5 lbs (11lbs total)
-1% Body fat (3.6% total)
-3 lbs body fat (9lbs total)
-3 inches (5 1/2 inches total)

I’m excited!

Time for reason number two of “Why I am a non-believer”!

“I have no need of god.”

I do not feel an inherent need for a god, for spiritual guidance, or for a religion-based moral foundation. I am able to make rational decisions, live peaceably amongst my fellow humans, have a loving and healthy relationship with my spouse and live a life of (attempted) personal responsibility without the need for religion, god or theological dogma. I certainly have problems, but I know they are my problems - not a test or trial, not a temptation to see how I measure up. I am fully responsible for my actions, and as such, I must accept real-life consequences. I succeed or fail by my own merits, not a fear of a deity or the urge to please an invisible father figure. I have a solid yet flexible set of morals and values. Solid in that I am confident in my decisions and that I weigh the consequences of those decisions in relation to how they affect others. Flexible in that when I find a tenant of my personal beliefs to be lacking or errant in some way, I am willing to adjust and accept a new, improved or evolved way of thinking and/or behaving. I have derived this moral code based partially on the teachings of my parents, and more importantly, on my own experiences and observations. What I lack in a god or a religion, I make up for in a willingness to learn from my mistakes, to realize I am always in need of new lessons, and to know that just like everyone else, I am NOT a special creature. I do not have a need to look into the sky and feel like someone is looking back. I am happier being awed by my insignificance than I am making up fairy tales about “someone out there”. I do not have a void, an emptiness or a longing to feel like I matter in the universe. I am satisfied with knowing that I am special to me, and special to those who love me. Who needs god when I have all I need?

I’ve seen several blogs and posts recently which outline the author’s reasons for religious belief or the lack thereof. I’ve also had a few conversations with believers and non-believers alike which have made me want to compile my own list. I think I might do it a little at a time, then transfer all the posts into one section on my beliefs. This will involve a lot of introspection and thought, so it will probably be awhile between each post. Who knows, I might even change my mind about a few things along the way - it has been known to happen. :)

I hope everyone enjoys the posts. Perhaps it will give a little more insight into my core beliefs and how I have evolved and changed over the years.

To kick it off, reason #1 that I am a non-believer:

We know nothing: We are tiny particles in a massive universe - none of us are qualified to say “this is truth”. On a smaller scale, there are billions of people on this earth, hundreds of religions, sects, doctrines and belief systems. Even each individual has their own views and interpretations of whichever religion they subscribe to. Yet, so many accept whichever doctrine they follow to be true and right - to the point of proselytising and spending immeasurable time and money convincing others that theirs is the one valid, true religion. Thus, I find the idea of being able to determine which religious path is the correct one, and being certain enough that you reject ALL other possible ideologies to be presumptuous at best. We all choose whichever path is right for us, but not every nuance of a specific belief system is applicable to everyone.

Today the California Supreme Court announced its decision on Proposition 8. Unfortunately, the California Supreme court upheld the ruling that allows for bigotry and discrimination within marriage laws. It’s a sad day for those who promote freedom and equality for ALL people, not just heterosexuals. I think Samuel L. Jackson said it best:

We will keep our heads up, however, and fight for equal rights another day!

Tomorrow is the day the California Supreme Court decides if Proposition 8, a ban on same-sex marriage, is unconstitutional. Here’s to hoping they make the right decision, for the sake of all Californians. It would certainly be a step in the right direction for all partners in the US.

I had a pretty fun Memorial Weekend. I went to a local music show on Friday night to see Corduroy Sunrise at the PB Wine Rack with a few friends. While there, my husband, a friend and I cooked up a plan to go to a movie marathon the following day. We decided that we would see Terminator: Salvation, Star Trek and <a href=""http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angels_%26_Demons_(film)">Angels and Demons. Believe it or not, that’s exactly what we did.

First up was Terminator: Salvation. Unfortunately, I can’t give an honest opinion of the film because I missed nearly half of it. As many of you know, I am quite susceptible to motion sickness. There are plenty of activities I opt out of because of it, including moves or games with a lot of shaky-cam action or forward motion. Sadly enough, Terminator incorporated both of these things into the film. About 30 minutes into the movie, I had to bail. I was pretty sick, and went on a trek for some Dramamine so I could finish the rest of the movie. After I felt better, drank a bottle of water and the meds kicked in, I came back and watched the last 20-30 minutes of the movie. From what I saw, it seemed pretty good. I actually didn’t think it was as good as Rise of the Machines, but again, I missed a good chunk of the movie.

Next up, we saw the new Star Trek film. I am not a fan of the Star Trek franchise overall, but I gotta say, I enjoyed it immensely. The last Star Trek film I saw (Nemesis) I fell asleep halfway through – I don’t remember anything that happened at all. This one, though, was highly entertaining. I loved the new actors, especially Simon Pegg’s Scotty and Zachary Quinto’s Spock. J.J. Abrams is usually very hit-or-miss for me (loved Fringe, hated Lost), but he hit the nail on the head with Star Trek IMO. Granted, there were clear Abrams markers – such as superfluous text in the sky and the inevitable time travel storyline, but overall, it was a great movie!

Lastly, we caught the new Ron Howard adaptation of Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons. I liked it quite a bit. It wasn’t nearly as good as The Da Vinci Code, and was a little too simplistic at times. However, I do have a lot of respect for Howard as a director, so I imagine he did what he could with the material he had to work with. I haven’t read Angels and Demons yet, since I wasn’t too impressed with the Da Vinci Code book, but overall, the movie adaptation wasn’t bad. I wish there had been more mystery and puzzles in this film, and it seemed a little slow at times, but it wasn’t a bad follow up to Da Vinci. Plus, Tom Hanks always gives a great performance, and I generally enjoy Ewan McGregor as well – neither of them disappointed in this film.

We had a pretty good time at the movies, though I must say, I won’t be opting for a three movie marathon any time soon. It was exhausting! :)

I spent the rest of the weekend blogging, watching sitcoms and relaxing. Not a bad way to spend a three day weekend.