I’ve learned a random life tip that has helped me a bit last month. My father in fact sent me an e-mail explaining his epiphany. He said that he had just learned that if you compliment someone when meeting them, they are more likely to like you. We both realize that the compliment should be genuine. 

The point? Complimenting people when you first meet them sounds like a good idea, if you mean it. It might not be in your personality type, but maybe it should be. If we all embraced these more positive qualities of humanity, and extend it to acts of service and goodwill we are more likely to have a positive future. 

It's been that long since I've put anything in this blog thingy. I really don't do journal-type things very well, do I? However, there has been a lot going on in that time. Rather than recite ten months worth of updates that won't matter since no-one who reads this will know who I am anyway, I'll just give the basics and the latest.

I was out of work for close to four years. I never really had what I'd call a regular job - at least not one that went year 'round. I am a musician, so I used to do a lot of musical theater - playing shows or musically directing them. I often did jobs in churches, either singing or playing piano. About a year ago, I got a regular full-time position in a department store, selling shirts and ties. It pays minimum wage, but it's regular and there are benefits provided.

About a month or so ago, I mentioned to my doctor that I hav noticed what he refers to as Hematospermia. I actually noticed it about a year and a half ago, but I attributed it to the removal of a catheter after my surgery and the fact that I was on a buttload of blood thinners. The doctor ordered some blood work, and gave me a referral to a urologist. The urologist ordered (probably the same) bloodwork as well as a CT-scan (urogram.) I got the cat scan on my 50th birthday.

I should mention that about a year and a half ago my surgeon told me that in 2 or three years I would probably need to have a second mechanical valve put in my heart, this time on the right side (making two.)

 As "luck" would have it I met a rather interesting person last night who said something that got the hamster in my brain running. I was sitting in one of my favorite watering holes having dinner and a beer when a guy in his late 60's sat down (lets call him John). Being the only person in the bar I struck up a conversation that eventually led to work.

Being me, I was quite inquisitive about his business, how he got into it etc. I have always been fascinated by stories of business success and/or failure since I was a kid and first heard Earl Nightengale. John's story has made me realize that many people don't have a clue how business works even when they are involved in one. There is no school that really teaches how to run a business, a MBA program will teach you to be a corporate cog but not how to build your own.

Building a business is very much a learn as you go process. I was fortunate enough to be the son of a businessman surrounded by businessmen who's conversation often centered around business and what works and what doesn't. When I was young my father encouraged me in various minor business endeavors like landscaping, car washing, sales and leather making so by the time I was headed into the military I had already failed and succeeded in several endeavors and had a pretty good grounding in business. 

For context, you may want to read this thread: Am I being irrational?

Okay, so it's later. Had to take a break last night. Time to address this.

After reading Goldenmane's post, I'm disappointed, but I have a feeling his/her reaction was more in regards to how kimsland was posting, than it was directly against the RRS. Could be mistaken on that, but that's how it seems to me.

Goldenmane--and anyone else--is completely entitled to their opinion, but I strongly suspect that opinion is based on third- or fourth-hand rumours than it is based on actual experience with us.

Here's the deal... (continue reading)

I will never forget that religion caused 9-11.

I will never forget the mentally incompetent people who thought a cross was formed in the rubble.

I will never forget the clueless people who stated "God Bless America" after Allah apparently put Jesus in a choke hold.

I will never forget the Christian President who thought he was on a mission from God, and that he is responsible for over 200,000 deaths.  I will never forget he was well liked by other Christian folks.

I will never forget 9-11 as a day that shows just how much religion must be gone.

I will never forget that 9-11 was a day that made religious people more religious, and just how brainwashed those people must be to come to that conclusion.

I will never forget that 9-11 marks a day in which I recognized how much a good human must speak up against religion for the good of society.

Every year or so a topic comes around discussing death, and fear in regards to it. My response is always the same, though the wording may vary. In order to make it easier and faster to respond to such topics, I'm going to copy my last post on the subject here, so it can be easily retrieved. It will be multiple post due to a character limit on this system. And so without further ado...

After multiple occasions were I came within a hair of death, and a lot of introspection, I ceased worrying about it. There is only one difference between not being born and being dead. That difference is the mark you left on everyone you ever encountered directly or indirectly. Any time you taught someone something, every time you helped someone, even every time you screwed someone over had an impact on that person, which in turn had an impact on everyone they had an impact on. You will exist as long as humanity exists, because you made changes in people's lives, and those changes propagated throughout the species....

I have pondered upon writing something about my unease and disapproval with AA and it's 12 steps for quite some time. However, it is a sensitive subject and one that is apt to stir quite a bit of emotions on all sides of the fence. However, I feel that if I am to continue to be an open Atheist and continue to address the problems that I see with theism in the world, then I should not shy away from any subject, irregardless of it's controversy.

I will start out by saying, for most of my life, I knew very little of AA and what it proclaims to teach. I only knew what I had seen in the movies. A group of people trying to help one another overcome their problems and gathering together to get through those problems without a drink or a drug. Sounds good on the outside. In principle, there is strength in numbers and alcoholics and addicts tend to have a social stigma attached to them. What better for them, than to gather together and support one another ?

Nothing.

But is that what AA really does ?

Or is it possible, that AA is another quasi-religious movement that is not so much concerned with drinking, as it is converting people to it's rather strange ideas of what it calls "spirituality" ? AA tends to dodge the religious label by calling itself "spiritual but not religious". But, let's take a look at some of AA's literature and what it says.

 Lost my job on Friday

Wow, gee!

Well, I accepted the job (20 years ago) so that I could help people have better lives (psychiatric social worker). For many years, that was true. However, over all of those years, the job slowly turned into being a paid asshole. So I was not really happy there.

So the head asshole gave me my pink slip the other day. So, wow, was he trying to do me a favor?

The official reason was that somebody spilled some gravy after all the cleaning was done. Wow! Gee?

The real reason is that I must be punished for not doing something that was probably illegal.

Kind of sucks to be me but I can now get back to doing things that are actually good. For both me and for other people.

As I stated in my most recent post, I have been unable to get on here for a little while. First, I was in the process of moving, then I was unfortunate enough to encounter a traffic incident where I had to lay down the bike to avoid a serious injury (don't worry folks, the bike is repairable and that was what matters, ).

  Anyway, while lying in the hospital, I TOLD everyone not to notify my family, with whom I am estranged, of my current situation. Unfortunately, word reached them.

   I could not help but notice the difference in the condolences of my immediate friends and theirs. My immediate friends, my closest friends, called me on the phone to say "Stay strong man,". and "Hope your back up and riding again soon,". etc.

  My family condolences were "Well, GAWD is trying to get your attention and make you repent,". and "See what being an open Atheist has done to your life ? GAWD is not going to bless you, so long as you live like you do,". etc. I could go into more detail about the sort of responses that I got from them, but I think you get the general idea. Not to mention that once the word got out among them, that I was a bit down and out, I can't tell you how many "christians" were contacting me on the phone, claiming to want to wish me well and wanting to pray for me on the phone.

OK I need this recorded for general use.

I just met my building super in his bathrobe.

He asked me if the exterminator showed this morning.

Well, the fact is that he did not do so. I told him truthfully that I have his phone number on my cell phone and I will call him later.