Day Five of Quitting Smoking. Topic: Life
Well it's day five of my campaign to quit smoking, and amazingly nobody is dead yet... although there have been a few close calls, believe me.
Take day two, for example. There were three cherub like children at the Verizon store, playfully frolicking about happily as the chased each other around their pregnant mother... and I wanted SO badly to squash them into a bloody paste into the store carpeting just to restore the peace and quiet that was my world before they had entered the store.
Cutting down from a nearly three pack a day habit to three cigarettes... yes, you heard me correctly, three cigarettes. It will be a miracle if I don't commit a homicide before the month of June is over.
I am determined to be successful this time, despite my enjoyment of smoking. Between paying $50+ a carton, the smell it leaves behind on my clothing and furnishings, the black thumb I often carry because of my zippo lighter, and lets not forget the burn trail of an escape cherry from the tip of my cigarette... I'm 41, its time to shake the monkey.
It's hard to look ahead at this point. As I sit here and type this all I can think about is how bad I want to smoke a cigarette. It's frustrating to the point of hair pulling, but I try to think ahead, assuring myself that it will get easier as time passes and the desire to smoke will eventually lessen. However, that is little consolation at the moment... although a goal I WILL reach, come hell or high water.
As sanity comes and goes, I will try to keep this blog up to date with my progress (lol if it can truly be called that).
Pagan Challenge (20 Questions) Topic: Life
Recently, on YouTube, a user by the name of TheStallion76 (an atheist) posted a video challenging Pagans to answer 20 questions which he had listed in the description box of the same video.
Unfortunately, his channel has been suspended by YouTube and his video subsquently removed, so I can no longer attach my response video to his.
If you don't "tube", you are probably unaware of the votebotting and false flagging campaigns that are plaguing the YouTube service.
Four users have had their channels/accounts unfairly suspended in the past week alone; Tsumetashi22, Coughlan666, TheStallion76 and dprjones. All atheists.
Presumably these votebot and false flagging attacks are coming from a very select group of fundamentalist Christian creationists.
It's monumentally frustrating and saddening to me that these types of "I'm right!" minded individuals are so successful in censoring the opinions of those that disagree with their particular point of view. So much so that I have created two subsequent channels on competing video websites; Ning and FilmRookie, and I will include the links to my channels on these sites at the bottom of this blog if anyone is interested.
I haven't decided yet if I intend to deactivate my YouTube channels, but I will be sure to blog about my conclusion if indeed I come to one.
Anyway, on with the questions...
Pagan Challenge (20 Questions) - TheStallion76
1. Why don't you push your religion like Christians and Muslims do? Such as: knock on doors, preach in a church, indoctrinate your children? 2. Why do you think Christians burned Pagan literature and murdered pagans throughout history? 3. Why do you think the men of the bible are considered heroes for murdering Pagans? 4. Is sex immoral, as well as homosexuality? Please explain why. 5. Why do you think Christians have a problem with alternative (oral/anal) sex? 6. Describe in detail what happens to us when we die. 7. Is it against the Pagan belief system to marry an atheist? 8. Can you think of one original unique thing Jesus said that wasn't already taught in the Pagan religion? 9. Why do you think Christians stole your holidays? example, Easter, Christmas, Halloween, etc. 10. If you were hanging over a cliff, in your left hand, a Christan was dangling, in the right, an atheist, which would you let go in order to survive? If you don't choose to let go of one, you all fall. Explain why. 11. What are your views on abortion and capital punishment? and why? 12. Why does Christianity seem so similar to older pagan religions? 13. What is the difference between a pagan and a fluffy bunny? 14. How does one go about becoming a pagan? 15. Did you originally grow up in a christian home? 16. Describe the attributes of your god, or gods, if you have many. 17. If you had to choose a religion outside of paganism, which would it be, and why? 18. Would nature feel any remorse for your suffering and death? 19. What would it take to go against your own moral code? 20. Would you give up your entire belief system if in return, there was world peace?
So, Pagans, how would you answer?
Here is my video response that I made to TheStallion76's challenge:
Save Baby Aaliyah - Scam or Reality? Topic: News, politics and Activism
Baby Aaliyah - Fact or Fiction?
Baby Aaliyah - Update
..
Although I do believe that the mother (Connie Bedwell) and her family are genuinely convinced that Aaliyah is being abused, I do not feel comfortable of placing any judgment of the guilt or innocence on the father at this time. There is simply not enough information/evidence available to the casual observer through online resources (from my point of view) to form an educated opinion about this case, as of yet.
I will provide the links of the resources that I have both read and listened to, so that the reader can decide for his/herself.
Articles by Simon and Jan Barrett of BNN (First to current):
A nonspatial continuum in which events occur in apparently irreversible succession from the past through the present to the future.
A system of measurement. A period. An interval.
Throughout the ages, we have measured time through an assortment of different means. Sun dials, henges, hourglasses and so forth to our modern clocks.
We monitor it by watching the clock in classrooms and in the work place. We measure it when cooking or when watching an athletic event. We make record of it when we have completed a task in our busy day-to-day schedules, or when there is an important appointment we must keep.
Poets and artists have captured time in their works of prose and on canvas.
"Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day" - William Shakespeare
"Time! the corrector when our judgments err." - Lord Byron
"Time is the wisest counselor of all." - Pericles
We are told many things about time; "Time is precious" "Time is money" or "Time is a mere drop in the bucket."
I suppose it depends on your point of view, really.
In times of sorrow or regret we might view time as being something we should cling to, as in memory or a recounting of that which we did not appreciate in the past.
In times of celebration we might see time as something less meaningful, as in the ends justifying the means, that our trials are inconsequential within the reality of reaching our goals.
We often complain about our time is being wasted over simple things. A movie we disliked but endured, a line we had to stand in, a phone call, an opinion editorial in a newspaper. The list is endless.
We can't measure our time here on earth, however. Each one of us has a different expiration date label, and therefore we can't adequately determine how our time should be divied up between our birth and death.
We live. We die. Everything in between is an uncalculated portion of time. How we spend it, is really up to us. There's really no sense in us analyzing and fretting over our time. Time doesn't stop, even when we our lives do.
Whether death comes at childbirth, young adulthood, or in our elder years... it is always too soon because our hearts will not let us think or conceive of the inevitable conclusion of our time, or the ones that we hold most dear. Time, exists as an entity in these things, and will always be viewed as an unfair judge who has observed and condemned, no matter what the circumstances; disease, accident, homicide, suicide or natural causes.
I believe death impacts us so dramatically because it is an event that stops time for us. It removes an essential ingredient, a person that is an essential part of how we live our lives, from our overall existance. It forces change upon us in how we live our lives.
The first death I experienced was when I was 14 years old. My grandfather, well into his 70s, died from heart disease the day after I visited him in a nursing home. The first tear that I shed over that experience was in accepting the knowledge that I would no longer be able to talk with him or hear his voice. The second was shed over the realization that I would not ever lay eyes upon him again. I knew then, as I know now in the loss I have experienced since then, that when someone we love passes it forever alters our lives.
As a mother, time has passed in what seems like a microsecond from the birth of my son into his now young adulthood. As if within the time it takes one to snap their fingers he went from learning to walk, to wanting to major in Chemical Engineering. He will be 19 years old next month, and yet it doesn't measure in my heart and mind that he has been a part of my life for that many years... and yet, in some ways, it also feels like a lifetime. Time and love are strange partners.
You can estimate seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years... but you can't estimate time in thought, dream, or emotion because as part of the human condition these things cannot be measured by it. Time exists only as a reflection of joy and the pain of loss, a duller image or a shadow of what we feel more deeply.
These feelings, hopes, dreams, and fears are substantial and deeply personal, and yet shared by all of humanity. They are as essential to us as our physical nature of muscles, organs and bones. We live, we breathe, we think, we feel. Time is only a measurement, and you cannot measure something so etherial as emotion.
All we have left is to remember those that have touched our lives and to appreciate now what they have meant to us and what their life gave to us.
Time will keep moving.
In memory of ISU student, Gerald Smith Jr., of Terre Haute Indiana, and my Aunt Carol who passed away from cancer this year.
ISU Student Found... Topic: News, politics and Activism
Indiana State University student, Gerald Smith, was found at around 7:00 pm. His body had travelled roughly 57 miles down the Wabash river from Terre Haute Indiana to Vincennes Indiana.
His parents were notified at around 9:00 pm.
Police are still investigating this case, and are still looking for the man and woman who spoke to Smith and their gold Toyota Camry or similar vehicle.
Because I have a son who is soon to be attending his first year of college in the fall, this case caught my attention from the very beginning.
I saw a news interview with Gerald Smith's mother, Robin Hill, on the internet, and my heart just broke for her.
She was scheduled to accept his diploma in his honor tonight at the ISU commencement ceremony at the campus, the day before Mother's Day. However, in wake of this unfortunate tragedy, The university will award Smith his diploma posthumously.
Gerald Smith, 22, was an insurance and risk management major from Avon Indiana.
Gerald Smith has been Found.
WTHI TV News 10 - Gerald Smith Found
The family of Gerald Smith is in our hearts and thoughts this Mother's Day weekend.
ISU student missing - Gerald Smith Jr. Topic: News, politics and Activism
Gerald Smith Jr., a Senior at Indiana State University in Terre Haute Indiana, went missing last Friday (05/01/09).
Gerald is 22 years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall, approximately 160 pounds, light to medium brown hair - cut short, brown eyes and has a light shadowed beard.
He was seen at a local bar called "Ballyhoo", and was escorted out that establishment around midnight by a bouncer.
A witness has come forward to say that they had seen a man fitting Gerald's description talking with a couple (a man and a woman) who were in a gold Toyota Camry or similar vehicle after he left Ballyhoo, and that after a brief conversation they all went their separate ways.
University Police are continuing their search for the couple, the vehicle and searching the Wabash river as photos on the web seem to indicate that he was seen near a bridge at the river's location.
If you have any information or tips that would help in this case, I urge you to contact ISU Public Safety@812-237-5555 or Crimestoppers@812-238-STOP.
Donations to the reward fund by the ISU Foundation can be made by calling: 812-237-3732
YouTube Channel Update. Topic: Web, HTML, Tech Just a short note to let my readers know that I will no longer be updating my [jspiritiger] channel on YouTube.
I have officially moved to a new channel: TigerOfSpirit at https://www.youtube.com/user/TigerOfSpirit (Or just click on the link marked "TigerOfSpirit", above)
What I've Been Up To Lately... Topic: Blogging I haven't been writing much lately, so I thought I would give anyone who actually reads this blog an idea of what I've been up to.
I have two channels on YouTube at the moment. One is mostly for mirrored videos and etc. (https://www.youtube.com/user/jspritiger) Although, I do have two text videos that I did create that are there. This channel is mostly an "activism" channel.
Re: Pagan Challenge - Stand up and be counted. - jspiritiger
(This is Ken's favorite video)
In-troll-erance to Paganism - jspiritiger
Re: Paganism banned from youtube. - UppityLass
False DMCA Claims vs. Harrassment - UppityLass
VFXenomics (Re: May - VenomFangX) - UppityLass
So, now you can see why I haven't spent much time on this blog as of late.
Before I close, I would like to give you so idea of how serious the anti-paganism movement has gotten on YouTube recently. Aside from the videos threatening Pagans to leave YouTube with the consquence of falsely flagging videos in order to have their accounts suspended, now it seems it has become as serious as to inspire death threats.
BlueFireWitch, and outspoken Wiccan on YouTube is a friend of mine. Please take a look at her video below, before leaving this page.
Well... I'm officially a 'Tubehead' now. Topic: Blogging Yes, it's true. I have created and uploaded videos on to YouTube.
Below is the most recent video I have made.
I have two channels; jspiritiger (the one I have had since 2006) and my new one, UppityLass, that I have designated for my vlogs.
The video below is a response to a drama that has arisen on YouTube involving false DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) claims and what I deem as sexual harassment.
Friday, April 10, 2009 in a post entitled: A Cold Medicine Mellow
I wrote the following about one of the passages in the Wiccan Rede and what it means to me: [Live and let live, fairly take and fairly give.]
Exist within the boundaries of your conscience and what you know instinctively to be right and to be wrong, and respect the truth as it exists for others without malice or selfish desire to change their truth. Receive, unselfishly, that which is shared with you whether it be tangible or intangible and be prepared to give the same, in kind, without regret.
I'd like to focus on the end of that statement, "be prepared to give the same, in kind, without regret".
On the surface, some might take this as being a some type of charitable statement akin to a conferring or imparting. A gift; a benefaction or similar positive outcomes, and although this sentiment is no doubt included for me in this definition, I would like to expand on the more unspoken meaning often overlooked.
Let's say, for example, someone in your life, in a time of personal distress or hardship, offers you an outlet for that upset either in listening to you or aiding you. This is, unarguably, a gift of this person to you, and common sense would suggest that you would be willing and motivated to do the same for that person if/when that situation arises.
However, not all contributions that are received are positive in this way.
Unfortunately, there are times when we and the people that we love; friends and family are the targets of slander, hate, violence, bigotry and similar intolerant attacks. For me, personally, I believe that this passage in the Wiccan Rede applies to these types of injustices as well.
I would never advocate violence, unless the lives of those that I love were physically threatened. For the sake of the defense of their lives, I would use any means necessary to ensure their safety and survival. Live and let live... unless yours or someone else's life is literally and physically threatened.
Fairly take, and fairly give.
I may be a hippie, but I don't take shit from anyone.
If someone or a group makes false and slanderous accusations against me, my family or my friends, fully expect that I will speak out against that person or person's treacherous lies... and loudly so. Tit for tat.
This more than falls into the realm of "fairly take, and fairly give", in my opinion.
Having made that statement, I would like to address some of the content in the latest video I posted (Paganism banned from youtube.) in my blog entitled Speechless... And Losing Hope...
[Claim #1 in the video Paganism banned from youtube.] Quote: "The reasons for the protest are for reasons beyond freedom of speech or religion. We do this to aid the youth or America, and the impressionable of our society..."
This person or persons cannot claim that the protest is beyond freedom of speech or religion and then spend nearly six minutes in a diatribe against religions, based on fictitious accusations, that oppose the teachings of Christianity.
Further, it is incredulous arrogance to assume that since this person(s) beliefs follow that of Christianity as they see it, that this somehow infers that they are right in some way and all others who share a view different from their own are concretely wrong. How conceited as well they are in arrogating what rights the youth and 'impressionable' should have through their own self observation by denying all other views through their terrorist acts of censorship.
As a mother, I find this appalling. I've raised my son to be self-sufficient, and free thinking. He is both intelligent, open-minded and follows his own path. How dare these idiots believe that they have the unmitigated right to tell my son what he should or should not believe based on innuendos and lies instead of his own free thought.
[Claim #2 in the video Paganism banned from youtube.] Quote: "One day YouTube will be a safe haven for Christians. We'll not have to worry anymore about being persecuted by these wicked, wicked religions of hate."
Persecuted?! PERSECUTED?! Pardon my uncontrollable laughter at this ridiculous statement.... on second thought, don't.
Having one's personal belief or faith challenged by an opposing or differing view does NOT constitute "persecution".
Persecution is when you are tortured, killed or both due to your personal belief. Persecution is when your country's people are STRIPPED of it's cultural heritage and traditions because of an opposing religion's concerted effort of converting and indoctrinating them into their own faith. Persecution is when you steal the traditions and festivals of other spiritualities in an effort to annihilate competition of your religious holidays. Persecution is when a Wiccan soldier killed in war is denied a pentacle on his headstone to represent his faith.
They have no right to use the word "persecuted".
[Claim #3 in the video Paganism banned from youtube.] Quote: "Paganism is responsible for the decline of civilized life in America... We have proven that Paganism has stolen all of their ideas from the bible... Paganism and Wicca are one of the reasons for the spike in suicides among teens... All Pagans are depraved and very hateful."
The lagging standards of our educational system are responsible for the decline of our American civilization, this is a fact, but the accountability of Paganism in regard to this decline is fiction. Period, end of this portion of their statement.
Stating that they have proof that Paganism has stolen all of their ideas from the bible is the most ridiculous and idiotic statement I think I've ever heard. Never mind that they don't back this statement with any evidential proof whatsoever to support this erroneous claim, I have two words for them; Christmas (look up Saturnalia) and Easter (look up Ostara). Give me a break!
Medical studies have linked selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to the increased suicidal thoughts in teens and young people.
"The vast majority of young people who complete suicide have some sort of psychiatric disorder. Most commonly depression or some mood disorder," says John Campo, MD, Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Further, the website Troubled Teens Homesays, "Followers of religions that strongly prohibit suicide, like Christianity and Islam, have a higher suicide rate than those religions which have no strong prohibition (e.g. Buddhism and Hinduism)."
So, clearly, Paganism and Wicca have nothing to do with the increase in teen suicide.
Finally, we come to the name calling portion of the video: "All Pagans are depraved and hateful." - very interesting rhetoric coming from a video which in itself can be described as "depraved and hateful" given the falsehoods and lies within its content. Individuals can be depraved and hateful within society, regardless of their spirituality or religion. However, it would be disingenuous to liken an entire religious group to these failings. It would be equivalent to we Pagans saying that "All Christians are intolerant, homophobic bigots" and contain about as much truth, which is to say none.
