Affirmative Action - you serious?

I came across an opinion recently by an American Politician http://whereistand.com/MarkWarner/24751 who feels that as long as their is discrimination Affirmative Action is necessary.

Personally, I can't make sense of this at all. I mean, I think we've come along far enough to be able to judge a person on their own merit, and ability. Affirmative action to me is the ultimate form of discrimination. Any institution that has a policy to allow a certain number of people based on their ethnicity or race, or whatever is discriminating towards the people who actually deserve acceptance.

I can't tell you how many friends and family members I have that did not get into their college of choice from high school, but the African American or Latino student who had a lower GPA and was ranked lower than them in the class got in. I truly believe that people of all countries have their advantages and disadvantages, and the difference between successful people and those who aren't is their will to become succesfull. I went to class with a brilliant girl who was African American and got a scholarship to MIT. She was smart, and determined. It had nothing to do with the color of her skin, but more to do with how bad she wanted it.

As a college institution your job is to place the most deserving people into your lecture halls. Not to make sure that at least 20% of the lecture hall is African American (or any race). For an institution to support Affirmative Action is to say that it is discriminant. Not towards any specific race, but to the people who are most deserving of acceptance according to their objective criteria. I just don't understand how a university can say that a person will need at least XXXX on the SATs, and a 3.8 GPA, and all these other criteria, and when a person meets those criteria if too many others from their race or ethnicity have been admitted, well then they are out of luck. If you want to stop discrimination you've got to look beyond someone's skin color, beyond where they come from, and see who they really are. Put it this way, if I need a doctor and my life is on the line, that doctor better be the best damn doctor for the job at hand, I don't care if its a guy or girl, black, white, brown, or green, nor do I care about their religion. The same way, if your a medical school or a law school, you should want the very best doctors and lawyers graduating from your institution regardless of anything else.

Its just that idiots and geniuses come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. In the global world we live in, for us to still discriminate on anything more than talent, to me is just sad. We live in a world where Indians dance like Michael Jackson, and Europeans are getting better at basketball. We're all just full of interests and potential, and for institutions to not acknowledge that is pretty sad regardless of what they are established for.

CheapO's

I understand that times are tough but I'm starting to notice more and more the existence of "CheapOs". CheapOs are the worst type of people to be hanging out with in a leisurely setting. I don't care what you tell me a CheapO will always be cheap regardless of the economy. I can't take it anymore!

For example, a typical CheapO would join you and your buddies for dinner and drinks, and then when the bill came they'd complain "Well....I only had 4 tortilla chips and 2 mozarella sticks, so I don't think I should have to pay the same amount as everyone else". Let me tell you something....You damn well better pay the same as everyone else! In fact you should pick up the whole tab for being a hindrance to society and a mood-killer amongst your friends! I don't understand it.

I'm not saying I'm made of money or anything, but what I am saying is that if your gonna go out and do this kind of crap, then just don't go out at all. Recently a friend of mine organized a bachelor party for his cousin. He told me how there was about 10 guys and they decided to do bottle service at a club. Of course being a guy, its always better to be drinking with girls instead of your friends inside a club (no matter how good of a friend they are). So my buddy being the guy that he is, invites 10 girls back to their VIP section to join them for drinks. At the end of the night it was all put on one persons credit card. The next day the CheapOs start complaining that well we didn't invite the girls up and they drank some of the alcohol so they shouldn't have to pay the full $70 per head that it came out to.

Are you freakin kidding me! Hey dirt bag, why don't you take that lipstick you got on your collar to a pawn shop and see if they'll give you $70 for it. All I'm saying, is that if you can't put a price on a night out with friends. You cannot tell who had more fun and who didn't. So to try to charge the person who had more fun is just stupid. Why would you do this?

Married + kids = Stable Career Guy

We live in an increasingly complex world where the one thing that people look for is stability. This is true especially for employers. They wanna make sure the person they hired isn't gonna show up to work drunk, and grab the receptionist's ass on his way to the coffee machine. So they look at one's history, and do a background check, and go through all these hoops and hurdles to make sure the person is "stable". However, I find more and more that in the business world nothing yells out stability like a marriage with children. If your married, and have children it some how means that you are a stand-up guy, and you are grounded and have an even keel.

Ironically, I think this is a fucking joke! Some of the biggest degenerates I know are married with kids. Albeit, they are in positions of management when it comes to their careers, however if you ask them they will also admit that for some reason a marriage shows stability. This absolutely cracks me up, because these are the same jerks that are cock-blocking my unmarried ass from the cute blonde at the end of the bar during happy hour. I just don't get it. In today's day and age, I don't understand how employers still associate marriages with stability.

I mean if I ever owned a company and I saw someone with a marriage, just knowing some of the married people I know I'd see it is a liability. I'd think to myself "how long can this cock-sucker get away with this before the wife leaves with half, and he asks me for a raise so he can afford the child support?" I know its just me. Maybe I'm crazy for thinking that someone who takes their time and gets married later in life, but isn't at risk of messing it up because their happier with their marriage is more stable than the newly married 28 yr old whose got the libido of Ron Jeremy.

Don't get me wrong, this doesn't apply to everybody. Just 95% of the married management workforce. Oh well, you live and you learn I guess. I mean if you think about it really the married people that do fuck around probably wouldn't be so "stable" if they didn't.

Music & Drugs

As crazy as it may sound, I truly believe that music and drugs are both cut from the same cloth. I believe that music and drugs are like twin siblings concieved from the same egg.

Both have an incredible ability to move you. To help you escape your current reality, and find a new place. Both are capable of causing tremendous change, and most of all both are addictive. Both music and drugs affect your mind, move your soul, and ultimately cause reflection, and solid perspective. The only difference is that being a music junky will probably turn you into a rock star, whereas being a drug junkie will probably make you homeless.

The best music is the kind that is truly pure. The type that opens a verbal window into the soul of a musician. The type that really display the body for what it is. The body is to the soul like a ring is to a diamond. It holds it in a way that is safe, secure, and most of all on display for the world to behold. When you see the greatest musicians perform, this is what you are witnessing. Bono, in particular seems to open himself up to the millions and give you a glimpse of a spirit that is yearning for peace.

The best drugs are those that really make you think. Whether its a great buzz that forces an "I love you man" or a funky mushroom trip that leads to a classic work of art. The "succesful drug junkies" are those that take that experience and do something with it. There are plenty of these people who have changed society. Jimmy Hendrix, for example used to trip on acid and make music that was mind-bending.

Some people use music as a drug, and others use drugs as a form of music. Whatever you do, just make sure you do something with it. Don't waste it. Both are powerful, and should never be wasted. But more importantly both can make you realize who you are and what you are capable of being. Once you know this, it is up to you to fulfill your destiny.

Shout Outs - Sis

So, I'd like to dedicate this post as my shoutout. I'd like to give a shout out to an amazing person, whose charismatic, enthusiastic, psychotic, caring, funny, and loving, and of course I mean my wonderful sister. Most people who meet her end up saying "Dude, she's cool. She's like you but she's a girl". Which kind of scares the shit out of me knowing who I am, and I wouldn't wish that upon anybody.

Needless to say, that one of the few reasons I believe in a God, is because he managed to make someone like me with only the good characterestics, and omit the bad ones. If you filter out my stupidity, carelessness, wrecklesness, & overall bad habits, you'd probably be left with my sister. One of the coolest things about her is that she's very comfortable in her own skin. Its very hard in today's world to meet a woman who is happy with who she is. I don't know too many girls who can enjoy a good desert without saying "oh my god, I'm gonna have to work out for weeks to get rid of this". It takes a confident, and special person to say "Oh hell no....this desert has no chance against me....its goin DOWN!" When you hear that you've got to admire it and laugh.

Do I get annoyed with her......uuuuh hello, she is my sister! Takin my shit, forgetting to drop things off, and being an overall clutz does help me keep her coolness in check. How do I deal with having someone as cool as me related to me you ask? Well, I eat like a hefer, and truly enjoy some of the finer things in life. I can actually discuss my thoughts on a book we've read without having to hear "Dude, you know how I know your gay..."

So, in general I've been blessed to have someone in my life that allows me to see what I'm capable of being. That overlooks my insaneness and always sees potential, and knowing that is pretty amazing. For that I have and always will love her - even though she still has my favorite sweats.

Overheard Airport Conversations

Certain things just don't need to be discussed out loud. In my current job, I am required to do a bit of traveling and am often stuck in airports. I've learned many things thru simple observations, and listening about the human species.

First of all, I think the most disturbing thing I overheard happened today when I was going thru the security check. It was about 6:45 AM and I had walked past the metal detector. As I go to collect my belongings, and put on my shoes & belt my ears get bombarded with some of the nastiest filth I've ever heard. Such words should never be uttered aloud. One overweight woman working for the TSA looks over to her co-worker and says "Yeah, I've gotten my colon cleansed". To which the classy co-worker responds "For real girl? I do mine on my own. I learned how on the Inta-net". "Yeah, I heard doin that is good fo ya weight. Girl, my doctor says I'm ova-weight" the first one responds. Being the good friend she is, the other woman responds "Oh you can't go by your doctor. According to their scales everyone's overweight. You know my friend is a tiny lil thang, and the doctor told her she's overweight too." This was about as much as I could take. Luckily by this time I had my belt and shoes on and was able to move on....or so I thought. The two women then turned and walked away, and althought there was a conveter belt seperating us I felt myself move towards their direction. I soon realized that when these two women turned around their asses had a combined mass that would match the size of our moon, and had thus created a gravitational force that physically moved me. Luckily, the conveter belt was there, and I was able to break away.

The Power of Sports

Today is February 4, 2008. Today is the day after the New York Football Giants beat the previously undefeated New England Patriots in the Superbowl. The final game of the NFL season, and the determining game to crowning a champion for the year.

Those of you who may not know (because you live under a rock), the Giants were 12 point underdogs. They were expected to lose. Patriot players had invited them to their victory party before the game was even played, and maybe worst of all an irresponsible publisher had already published a book saying the New England Patriots had won the game.

What ended up happening was the Giants beat the snot out of the Patriots Quarterback and Golden Boy Tom Brady. His ass got more of a rug burn than from the beating he took by the Giants Defense than Jenna Jameson's knees. The Giants then with 2 minutes left in the game designed a game-winning drive, with one of the most memorable plays in Superbowl history to win the game.

It was quite a game. The amazing thing is that 97.5 million Americans tuned in to watch this game. That's almost 1 in 3 Americans. Now that may not mean much. But today I am at the Chicago Airport and all I hear is people talking about the game. They cannot get enough of it. Everyone is basically saying the same exact thing, but they won't shut up. They still ramble on and repeat the same exact points with different words. Its amazing that one 60 minute sequence of events can have complete strangers making friends and talking to each other as if they've known each other for years.

Some movies never leave our minds, and some books may always be remembered. But there is nothing, and I do mean nothing that will ever bring strangers to discuss and talk the way sports does. Whether you are a fan or not, sports seem to bring out a passionate competitive beast in people and raise that beast to their mouths. Because as much we all discuss what certain athletes achieve, the majority of us, seem to be quite content with just that. In all the chatter of the greatness of these games, I have not heard a single person say "It inspired me to be a football player".

Betrayal

Betrayal is one of the most difficult pains to deal with. The thing is, true betrayal comes from a place where you never expect it to come from. In the crazy world that we live in, the very cornerstone of our foundation is the people in whom we trust. Trust is not something that should be given away like candy on Halloween. It is precious.

The problem is sometimes, people like me meet so many good folks, that we starts sprinkling trust on everyone we meet. We feel that people can be "trusted" because they're "good people". When one good person betrays you, an entire lifetime can come undone and crumble. However, that is still not betrayal. When trust is broken from someone new, it can still be understood. I mean really, how much can we have entrusted them with.

The real dagger in the heart comes when someone you really trusted - like family is the one who breaks the trust. That is when you simply are so stuneed/shocked/hurt/mad/ and in general disbelief that it leaves you in a state of true shock. I mean, the mere fact that someone so close betrays you is so utterly mind-blowing that the shock does not leave for a while, sometimes ever. The consequences in that moment seem inconsequential. After you finally get over the fact that it happened, then you start realizing how fucked you are. The first two things I've described, I imagine are probably commnon for anyone who is betrayed.

The thing that differentiataes us is what we do after this. Most of us probably start some sort of damage control. I recommend tact, strategy, practicality, and execution. If all else fails, then remember its not the end, and what's gonna happen, will happen. Hope for the best. I hope you never have to go through this. But more importantly please remember how important your trust is, and use it sparingly.

Van Wilder - A Great Role Model

One of my favorite movies is Van Wilder. The first time I saw it was right after I got back from Spring Break in college. To be quite honest, that movie did give me a great new way of looking at things.

"Don't take life too seriously...or you'll never make it out alive" is what he said. The movie has an amazing Carpe Diem tone, of enjoying the present to the fullest, but at the same time to not fear the future. Since then, the many times I've been fucked, I always knew that stressing wouldn't do any good. "Worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair, it'll give you something to do, but your not going anywhere" another excellent quote. Both things are quite hard to do, and it seems like many people don't understand this.

I'm sure we can all be a little better than where we are, but we all have made a sacrifice to keep from achieving that. That sacrifice is enjoying the present, the moment, the toast, the kiss, the laugh or hug. These are the things that matter most in anyone's life time. You might be able to develop amazing technology, or medicine, but if you can't be happy with how you did it, then what's the point?

So in the words of Van Wilder "You can't treat every situation as life or death because you'll die a lot more than you'll live". Take a moment, be spontaneous, and enjoy what's going on. In the end, its not all about "having what you want, but wanting what you have" - Sheryl Crow.

Progress

Progress is one of the rarest things in life to witness. If you are lucky you can even live through it. However, many of us spend countless hours and days wishing to see progress in people, places, and situations that just simply seem destined not to. Recently, I was among the few lucky people who habitate this planet, and was able to witness such a euphoric phenomenon.

I have a very close friend who I think very highly of. For as long as I've known him, he has always been known as the funny guy, and nice/proper/good guy. He was always the one to open the door for someone, or to be a VERY polite gentleman when dealing with a lady. He always treated women with way too much respect, and put them on pedestals that reached the stratosphere. The ladies have always perceived him to be "cute" and "such a good person to talk to". It actually grossed me out. Now, I'll be the first to admit, I don't demand attention from the ladies with my looks or style, and I have also been a little guilty of being some of the adjectives aforementioned. However, it was a sense of politeness he had, that I never saw duplicated. The worst part, is that every time he said something funny, and made people laugh you knew he was holding back from saying something that would make people ecstatic.

Then today, it happened. He got on the phone with a girl and was a complete jerk, and funny at the same time. I mean if I was the girl I would think this guy is an asshole, but he's pretty right and funny too. The thing with funny people, is that they're usually right about what they're saying. It was transformation before my own eyes, and ears. I was ecstatic and excited that this happened. He was as he describes it "loose". A state of mind, I highly recommend.

Life is short, what do you have to lose. Be like Petey Greene, and speak your mind. If an ex-con can inspire millions, just imagine what you can do by speaking what's on your mind, and not giving a fuck about what people think. I admit, this is easier said than done. But courage is a commodity reserved for the few.

Perspective

Many people gain perspectives from different experiences, and methods. I gained my most important perspective in a rather unique way. That would be the perspective of what I'm doing with my life.

In a somewhat dimly lit Italian restaurant thru eyes hiding behind a thick set of spectacles I gained perspective. Intense eyes magnified by the thickness of the spectacles were looking at me and challenging me. They belonged to one of my cousins for whom I have the utmost respect. We were generously sipping, consuming, embracing, and enjoying rather tasty and expensive Italian wine. After about the third bottle the discussions elevated to a new level of passion (As with anything else Italians do, their wines tend to generate a lot of passion as well). We discussed everything from where my cousin would move, to what he wanted to do with his life now that his medical training was coming to an end, and what would make him happy. Married, with three beautiful daughters, and owner to countless numbers of hours spent helping others, I felt my cousin had earned the right to take a moment back at this important fork he had arrived at in his life before embarking down a chosen path.

While most of the discussions were about him, and what he was doing, I managed to find time to self reflect in the middle of all this. "For future generations to come" were the words he uttered which sent my mind into a whirlwind of thoughts, flashes, and ideas. Those were the words he chose to describe how well his family would be taken care of (financially) from his hard work, and the fruits of his labor. Unfortunately, those same exact words made me realize that I probably wasn't in a shape to take care of myself (let alone my future children), and he was worrying about his future generations. In this smorgasbord of thoughts I realized that what I was doing with my time was far less valuable than what my cousin was doing with his time. We were both happy, but what we were contributing to society was vastly different.

Its sad but true, that the way other people live their lives to do what gives them happiness does have an affect on us. Maybe I'm getting older, maybe I'm starting do give a damn about things but the feeling I had in the pit of my stomach in that particular moment managed to stay with me until today. In recent years I've grown much fonder of things like music, books, and people who have made accomplishments. I guess in that moment I realized that I was living a life that completely satisfied my more stupid inhibitions, and pretty much ignored the interests of my higher conscious. Its not necessarily a bad thing, but I guess all people at some point have to come to this realization and make a decision. We have to either choose to realize this and satisfy our higher callings, or choose to ignore them. Although there is no incorrect answer, one decision will make more of a difference in the world than the other.

Up to this point I've randomly attended museums or read books and used it as an excuse to think I'm doing good. But when you see someone who is living a life of satisfying a higher calling it really gives you a good idea of where you are. Hopefully someone can read this, and understand that they too will have to make this decision of satisfying the higher calling or ignore it. Whatever you choose, I hope its something you can look back on many years from now and be proud.