Ultimate Paradise

So, you get to give me topics to talk about.
Suggest away.

Hi Sas.

Why the word "shat" is neither censored nor a censor bypass.

Ok
I'm more than likely going to have things to start talking about seriously when I get back from my trip

I've been trying to come up with an idea for something to talk about for quite some time now, and something finally hit me this morning: I could talk about drug legislation.

Basically, my general opinion on the issue of drugs is legalize, regulate, and tax.  The "War on Drugs" has been costing the American taxpayer too much money for far too long, and legalization of currently illegal drugs can help to alleviate that by emptying federal and state prisons of people jailed for drug possession/use, and no longer pursuing people who have or use those substances.  That alone would allow for taxes to be lowered on the average American, although, tax cuts may not be warranted until the deficit is dealt with, but that's a different matter.  Anyways, the government would be spending a lot less money, and would, in fact, be making money due to taxes imposed on the drugs.

Regulation is key in any sort of new legislation to legalize drugs.  Keeping drugs clean and setting regulations on concentrations would help to aid in the safety of those who use drugs, although, use of drugs is, in general, not very safe.  In addition, regulatory laws should be placed to limit purchase of all controlled substances to those of age 18 or older, effectively lowering the drinking age to 18 once again, and an overhaul of drug education in schools would be in order.

Also, regulations could be placed that would discourage drug use by using financial incentives.  Regularly scheduled drug tests could be used to determine whether a person had been using drugs and an increase in their health insurance premium would be appropriately issued.  Further, to increase the incentive not to use drugs, offer extended benefits to people who consistently get clean results from drug tests.

In addition to any sort of taxation exacted upon drugs, "sin" taxes, I guess, there exists the potential for massive financial benefits for businesses and for the environment in cultivation of cannabis, the same plant used in the production of pot used recreationally.  Under different growing circumstances, cannabis, or hemp, can be used for a multitude of things.  It has use in the textile industry, and is much better than cotton.  It can produce 2-3 times as much fiber as cotton can, lasts longer, and doesn't mildew, making it ideal for use in clothing and other things.  Also, hemp grows in more places, uses less water, and requires no pesticides.  Also, hemp would be a lucrative investment in the manufacturing of paper, as an acre of hemp can make the same amount of paper as 2 or 3 acres of trees, on top of taking much much less time to mature.  Furthermore, it lasts longer than paper made from wood pulp and is more recyclable.  Also, the fiber in hemp can be used to create fiberboard stronger and lighter than fiberboard made from wood.  Further, the seeds are very good for you, and contain more nutrients than soy while being easier to grow.  Also, the oil from the seeds can be used in biodiesel fuels, and the leftover bits of the plant can be used to create ethanol.  So, really, the economic advantages to cannabis legalization in itself are something to marvel at.

Another possible benefit to drug legalization is a decrease in violence due to a decrease in organized crime.  As organized crime centers around the smuggling and trade of illegal drugs, that "industry" would, presumably, be damaged beyond repair in the event of drug legalization, and that is yet another thing that would be good for the American taxpayer, fewer criminals in organized crime means less money spent sending them to prison and safer streets.  Of course, the legalization of currently illegal drugs wouldn't completely destroy organized crime or illicit transfer of unregulated drugs on the black market, but it would be substantially decreased, and fewer people would find reason to go through illegal channels to get their drugs.

And if you need an example of how relaxed drug laws won't destroy our country, take a look at Portugal.  A few years back, Portugal decriminalized all drugs.  Today, Portugal is doing just fine.  Now, Portugal did not go as far as I would suggest going, not going so far as to turn drugs into a taxable, regulated commodity, but taking an extremely passive stance on drug use.

So, I guess, I'm just saying that keeping drugs illegal violates a certain right to privacy, and, on top of that, denies our country potential to lower costs of law enforcement, which would enable lower taxes on the average citizen, and would also be a huge shot in the arm to our economy due to a business boom.

That makes a lot of sense. It's just a pity no government will do it. Mostly because the "OMG, $thing is bad. BURN IT" lot would have one massive freakout.

Yeah, people really do freak out a lot about drugs and stuff...well...at least I don't live in the Middle East where it's like "OMG WOMAN WITH HER HAIR SHOWING GET HER!"

I'm a bit at a loss as to what exactly I want to talk about...<_<
...maybe I have too many opinions on things...and I guess I'm having trouble deciding...

I started looking past all the hate stuff like marijuana gets and did the research, and quite frankly....I'd much rather do marijuana, than cigarettes.

Oh, for sure, because you can do pot in smokeless ways that don't cause cancer

Ya, and it's an anti-depressant.

Well, not exactly a thought on any subject matter, but I'll include important updates about my life here, too, I guess.

Anyways...guess who is no longer single...

If you guessed me, then YOU'RE RIGHT!

I'm so happy.  His name is Ross, he's 6 months older and goes to University of Georgia studying Psychology/Sociology.  He's adorable and such a sweet guy.

Me? But I am still alone...
"He meant 'him'..." -Adynos

Congratulation!

Thanks!

Congrats Sas. I wish you both the best.

So, something came to me...

There needs to be an age limit on public office.  Our country is run by old people, and these people just stick around as incumbents for a long time.  I definitely feel like this leads to problems.  For one, it causes no change whatsoever.  The same people in the House/Senate for such a long time just leads to more of the same, and doesn't represent the ideals of the younger people who are keeping the country going by working in jobs and whatnot.  Not to mention, there's the issue of senility.  Old people's brains just don't work as well as young people's brains.  So, old people are just not the ones that should be running the country.

Basically, I don't think anyone over the age of 65 has any business being elected to office.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f99PcP0aFNE `

Agreed, except for the 65-year-old thing.

you think it should be higher?

I think some type of annual mental competence review should take place for those older than 65 as opposed to cutting it off at that age.

Indeed. My grandfather is 82 and still as sharp as ever, albeit a bit deafer. Simply setting an age limit would not be the way to do it.

Regardless, things need to be done so that things like Ronald Reagan don't happen.  I mean, he had Alzheimer's by the end of his tenure of office.

And I mean, allowing people to be involved in our politics when they're feeble, in a wheelchair, and in and out of hospitals is something we don't need either.  Mental incompetence aside, we don't need politicians who are physically unable to attend everything they are obligated to.

Also, lifetime appointments to the supreme court are ridiculous

I mean, justices stay in the court until they're nearly 100...and that just seems like a bad idea...also, it makes it possible for old thinking to hang around for a REALLY long time and adversely affect the future

Oh
not senators

Supreme Court Justices
They're appointed by the president whenever one dies or retires.
The Supreme Court decides whether or not laws are constitutional.
There are nine of them, all with lifelong terms.

One of them has been in there since 1975

Wow...this thing has fallen into disuse...so, it's gonna start being just a log of my life...every few days, or whenever something eventful happens, I guess...on top of being a place for any musings I might have...

So, been in school all summer, actually, I've been in school without a real break since Fall 2008...don't get a real break until next summer, but it's by my own doing, so I shouldn't complain, really...

...as I said, in class this summer, two history courses, an ethics course, and a computing course...histories are going well, ethics is going well, but I'm really starting to worry about computing...the program is just awful, and I'm absolutely terrible at using it...I'm deathly afraid of failing this class right now...I know there's some sort of curve, so I'm going to be working as hard as possible to get a C or D...

...failing would just crush me...and my parents...and I'd be in a ton of trouble, and I'd NEVER be able to get my scholarship back, and it would damage my already damaged chances for grad school...

...my social life feels stunted, because so many of my friends are abroad or not taking courses this summer, so I never see them...

on a brighter note, I may be going to a water park on Friday...that's good

weather is being crazy, it was a downpour for an hour today...went from sunny to downpour back to sunny...was ridiculous...

Also, I now have a Blackberry, so that's exciting...


I'm going to be joining an outdoor recreation club, on their backpacking, caving, rock climbing, and kayaking/rafting subcommittees...but not until August or September...

White Water was good, but it was the first time I realized that American Adventures and the Foam Factory (also owned by Six Flags) have shut down...so we could see into this abandoned amusement park...creepy

Went to Taco Mac for dinner and had hot wings, it was delicious

It was a great way to spend my evening

And now I'm at my parents' house, did a lab for a class and I'm going to a family reunion up in South Carolina tomorrow...

One more week of classes before finals...a pretty terrifying thought, really...

Drunk on a weeknight! Woot.

Anyways, my friend is giving me a lot of weird signals lately...it's weird...he has a boyfriend, so that's why

he even told me "I'd jump you if I could"
yeah, I feel really awkward, but I'm going to lunch with him tomorrow, just the two of us, so I'll read him better after that

also, I mixed apple juice and apple rum tonight, and it's super delicious

Lunch was great...the restaurant was empty other than us, really...just us, the chef, and the waitress...

apparently,  those are the only two employees there, so service can be slow if it's busy, but it was very quick and SO SO good, and the restaurant was beautiful, too...definitely going back there...

I hope for you you won't go alone...

Finals are finally the **** over with...

...admin team falls apart...

The semester thus far:

-Classes
I'm in 5 classes...
Systems Physiology: Studying processes in the human body with an engineering viewpoint.  The class assumes I have a lot of knowledge on anatomy, which I don't.  It's a lot harder than I feel like it should be, and has a lot more math than I wish it did.  Had the first of four tests on Friday...didn't go well, but only 3 of them count, so hurray.

Problems in BMED 2: Group project hell, part deux.  I'm working in a team of five.  Our focus is on orthopedic devices, and we're working on a functional knee brace.  There is so much work, and essentially what we are doing is studying the product, breaking it apart, reverse engineering it, and then implementing improvements and building our own.  I have to learn to use CAD programs this semester, which should be interesting.

CS: I got a D for dumbass over the summer.  I have to redo it.  So far I have a 98 average.  First test is tomorrow, we'll see if it stays that way.

Biochemistry: Hard as **** class.  Professor is ridiculous.  Quizzes are ridiculous.  I got a zero on the second quiz, and I actually tried to answer the questions.  First test is Tuesday, so I'm hoping to study a TON before then.

Synthesis Lab: It's organic chemistry lab, and I'm doing all sorts of stuff.  I like it.  It's cool


Other things:
Joined a fraternity, Alpha Chi Sigma.  It's a chemistry fraternity, but it's like...in between a social frat and a service frat, and a really reasonable price, too.  People are cool, and I like my fellow pledges a lot.  Seems like a good decision.

Have a crush on one of the other pledges...I've known him for like two weeks and he's already invading my dreams...I'm not sure if he's gay or not...and his Facebook doesn't yield any clues...I'll wait and observe for now...

Ah, a professional fraternity. I have a good friend who is in the same one at a different school.

It seems like it will be a very good experience.

This week is pretty hellish, so it turns out.

I had a test this morning, which went pretty well.  I have a test in the morning at 9:30, for biochem...and I'm not quite ready just yet.  Also due Tuesday is a components/materials matrix...and we don't really know what our device is made out of...so that **** sucks, although apparently we only have to say if it's, like, a metal alloy or ABS or glass or whatever, and we don't actually have to know precisely the kind of metal...

Anyways, then, Thursday we have a presentation, and we have no clue what requirements there are for that.  We're woefully unprepared.  So I gotta say goodbye to my week.  On top of that, I have to make a plaque for the fraternity...and get signatures, but I don't need those until November.  I just gotta get the plaque made by Thursday night.

And THEN, I have TWO lab reports due Friday...gah...

Friday night was very interesting...seems I've obtained a FWB type relationship with one of my friends...

I really don't know how to feel about this one...

Went to Six Flags today in the pouring rain. We had free tickets that expired today, so we went, anyways.  Didn't really get to ride anything, but I had a fun time just playing in the rain and creating a spectacle for everyone else there.

:)

I love the rain.

We went to Stone Mountain today...
Stone Mountain is a huge piece of exposed rock east of Atlanta...technically a monadnock, not a mountain...it's got this carving of Jackson, Lee, and Davis on the north face and they have laser shows in summertime...today we hiked up it and then blasted music and danced around up at the top

interestingly, lots of random strangers joined in (flash mob success)...

anyways, it was nice, and the weather was signaling that autumn is finally here...and thank God because summer was brutally hot


Yesterday I spent the day at an event to help Boy Scouts (ages 10-12 or something) get chemistry badges...it was nice, and I got to talk to this guy I like for at least 2 hours throughout the day, which was also nice...I really like him...

...I scored above average on my last round of tests, which means I get to ride the curves on those...

It's almost Pride Weekend...which means a weekend full of drugs and alcohol and partying...great...I have a test Monday...let's see how that goes

Last night was amazing.  I ended up getting the guy I'm interested in to come out and party with us and got to talk to him all night long. It's left me feeling all warm and fuzzy...

It's been an astoundingly hectic week...I've had meetings of some sort every day Sunday-Thursday, sometimes multiple meetings in a day.
But my presentation went well today, and I have high hopes for my test tomorrow.  And after lab tomorrow it is finally FALL BREAK!

I'm glad I'm finally getting a little break...

...sigh
I feel like I'm not making any progress in my endeavors toward a relationship...IDK, it might just be me getting down on myself or something...I'm just apprehensive and worried...


...also, it always seems like nobody every reads this...

I feel as though this sort of topic doesn't really leave room for much response.
What is there to say except "Keep on living?"

Sofa King this.

I guess, just an update.  I'm in a relationship now.

Be safe.

Hopefully it goes well.  So far so good, though...

I think if I have some time tomorrow night I may make a few posts actually about current events and such...class runs from 12-7 PM though blah