Randomness is what keeps us alive

A couple questions and that is all.
If you wish, strictly adhere to the following scenarios in your imaginations.

Imagine yourself eating dinner with your family at a Chinese buffet. The T.V. in the corner is on a strictly Spanish speaking channel. In what city would you imagine yourself to be? Well, the answer may or may not be surprising to some people, but I am biased because it's my question so I can't answer. I would think we were in a spanish speaking city probably in Mexico. What I underestimate is the number of spanish speaking areas and cities in Texas. Houston, Texas is one of those cities. I am not casting judgment on the situation, but I would think that learning to speak Spanish instead of French, which I didn't learn in the first place, would've been a better use if my time in public school. I would have progressed far faster than I did with French because there were Spanish speaking people all around me with whom I could practice. I mean, I even liked a Spanish chick in middle school and it would've been badass to date her. So, I could pick up Spanish, but I am moving to Baltimore, where I should brush up on my scientific terms instead. Wow, that was not an interesting enough story, it really was non controversial. I guess that was the point.

We live in a new world and things are changing faster than ever. Obama promised hope and change but what can he really do. Hope and change mean different things to different people, ya dig?

I drove by a street I wasn't supposed to drive on by necessity and it blew. (unrelated to the previous rant). I also sent a message to someone that I probably shouldn't have sent. But I'm excited to wait for an answer. Bah, screw it. I don't think she wants to or cares.

I'm writing a blog during my trip to Russia, won't be updated this till after July 21st.

Peace

Qi

Qi, not only is it chock full of points in scrabble, it is actually possible to focus it. Now, I am not an expert in eastern philosophy or medicine, but I believe that we have energy outside of the ability to physically move. I practiced taekwondo (TKD)  for 9 years. My master was a 9th dan black belt Korean national who had a acupuncture practice and part of our training was focusing our qi. When I broke my arm during class he wanted to use acupuncture to help with the pain and calm me down but I wouldn't have any of it. I never took the internal energy part of TKD seriously, but despite this I earned my second degree black belt. This blast to the past of my life was meant to show that I have had experience with this concept of life force and I am not completely oblivious to the notion. In addition, my ex-girlfriend Elyse gave me a DVD called qi-gong, which is a practice of movements while focusing your qi, meant to be done in no specific order. I haven't kept up with it, but it is always an interesting experience when I did practice. Over the past few years I have come to accept the possibility of qi energy and believe that some individuals can and have mastered the power to heal and meditate using their qi.

Well what happened? Last night I decided to try and focus some of my energy and I gained a feeling. I will describe it as a sort of pressure or magnetic pull/push between my hands. I kept them about 5 inches apart and curled my fingers towards each other, kind of like holding a ball or some other roundish object. When I was sitting there, I was only focused on feeling my finger tips. After about 20 minutes of focusing, the pressure became evident and it was strong enough for me to notice a change between my hands. It was an actual feeling and I became very excited and intrigued. It never occurred to me what it would be like to feel qi. I don't even know if it was qi, but I definitely felt something. The longer I focused the more my hands wanted to expand. The last sentence is an interesting one because I wasn't the actor. My hands wanted to expand. I was just amazed by the force I was feeling and wasn't at all trying to increase the size of this qi ball.

So today, I tried again, and I was able to induce the qi ball formation within 5 minutes. My fingers become stiff and when I try to move them they move one degree at a time one joint at a time. This was an interesting observation which I have noticed before without meditation or anything so I don't think it had anything to do with the qi. Regardless, it felt like I was doing magic.

I'll keep making these qi balls but I don't know if they will be of any use to me. At the very least I will use them as a form of meditation, or in conjunction with meditation.

Try it, see if you feel it, and let me know.

Link to qigong on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qigong

Themes on Television

Sometime ago I read that people who are good at detecting patterns in all aspects of life may seem like they are more successful or actually do obtain great success. This might be due to their ability to understand when there is a series of events that has a pattern, and anticipate to some extent the range of possible outcomes that may occur. People who are really good at this sort of thing can narrow this range of possibilities and take the most approximate appropriate action. It is an interesting concept, and one that I wouldn't mind pursuing in the future. But today, I will offer an example of an intentional theme in one of the most common media, news, and entertainment outlets, television.

Over the past few years, I have noticed that on some days, no day in particular, there are certain ideas or themes that are repeated on t.v.. The theme can pervade several channels, or it can stay within a network. I will provide you with an example. Yesterday, Comedy Central had different things concerning farts. On The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, which, might I add, is a great show, Louis Szekely, known as Louie C.K. professionally, talked about farts, and how awesome they are, and why they are always going to be funny (I agree). Then, on TOSH.O, there was a segment called Web Redemption, where this kid was invited back to the show because he got kicked off of his bus for farting.

Now this kind of thing has happened before, this was just one example. I don't know if it is planned, but it sure seems like someone is dictating a theme. Either that or I just pick out random things and think there is some meaning behind it. Or I could just be delusional. Either way, its strange. So when you're strange, and no one remembers your name, just remember, a fart will put a smile on someones face.

Peace out!

P.S. Today at Slick Willie's "Family" Pool Hall, the manager asks a waitress why she doesn't have her pouch on, and why she wants her kitty cat all exposed. That put a smile on my face.

Why do we need moving walkways?

Let's start with why we do need them.


People usually encounter moving walkways in the airport. They are presumably there, I've never taken a formal seminar on the matter, because people have a perceived need for them. Another possibility is that someone thought we needed them. Why would someone think that. Well, luggage can get heavy, people might be in a hurry, older people have trouble walking, handicap people might get around easier. Ok, those are good enough reasons to have them. It's not like I said I am against them.

Let's move on to reasons against them.

I am inside an airport faced with the moving walkway for two reasons in most cases. Either A, I am going on a trip that will last at least an hour sitting in a plane, or B, I am coming back from a trip that has lasted at least an hour sitting in a plane. I, upon exiting the airplane will especially be a little tired of sitting, and would enjoy the activity of carrying my luggage. Studies have shown that sitting for extending periods of time is not a healthy habit to hold (needs citations but I've read it enough that it should be easy to find online).

In brief, I have concluded that moving walkways are useful, but one should be vigilant in maintaining the healthy lifestyle we all desire. Choosing to use the walkways when we are capable of walking the short distance is not the best option in my opinion. If I am rushed, I would not disregard the option of moving a little faster by using the walkway.

Right on, next topic will come shortly.