The year in review

So this Friday was my birthday. I thought that I would share some of the things that I have learned this year with all of you.

The world has to be saved. And it can be done. You just have to give a crap.

There's more great music out there than I know what to do with it. Seriously.

Open source is the way to go. You're reading this courtesy of Ubuntu.

I'll never ever again be brain-pimped. If you don't know what I mean, read Atlas Shrugged or ask me about a certain jackass that owes me money.

I have some amazing friends. Martial artists, teachers, stylists, scientists, writers, rappers, dancers, you name it.

I'm addicted to my hookah. I would pretty much cry if I couldn't get my daily fix.

Time does heal all wounds. Sometimes it just takes lots of time!

I have no patience for certain things. Seriously - I really don't.

A certain someone is my special someone always. I know what that means now to really carry something like that in my heart.

Martial arts is my calling. Some of you would say "duh" but I have never been blessed with a great deal of coordination or talent beyond what the average person has. I've been doing martial arts for almost 18 years now - that's insane.

I'm learning to deal with people in a more open manner. It's a refreshing approach. I'm not a dishonest person, but sometimes I'm a very closed and impersonal person. I'm learning to be more honest with myself and how to extend that feeling in my dealings with others.

My sense of humor is the best.

I've turned the internet into a past time.

I'm simultaneously the most and least likely person to kick your ass if you offend me.

Sex is good. Fighting is bad.

I really value my me-time.

People will tell themselves a CRAZY story and run with it, all the way.

Even your best of friends should be put in check if they cross the line.

You can't control who you like.

You can't control who you love.

You can control who you hate.

You can always control what you do and how you act.

Some people use you and sometimes you use people. It's not always a bad thing, but it's something to be aware of.

The only one holding me back is myself.

Someone out there has it way worse than me and they are not complaining.

I demand that people demand the best from me and from themselves.

Having been treated poorly, I acknowledge that it is important to be really nice when the chance presents itself.


That's all I got this year. For now. 2008 here I come!

First Jacksonville, then the WORLD

I'm going to save the world. One day at a time. One person at a time. One conversation at a time. One class at a time. Anyone can help. Here's all you have to do: Stop being MORALLY GRAY.

If you haven't read "The Virtue of Selfishness" by Ayn Rand, then get on it. It's short, and it will get you started. Anyways, cut it out. Define your beliefs and priciples in a clear, objective way, and embrace NO CONTRADICTION WHATSOEVER. You can't compromise between food and poison, and you can't comromise between good and evil. Either you believe in something, and you stand for it, and you LIVE BY IT, OR YOU DON'T. It's really exactly like that. Once you decide to live your life by integrating your own, rational thoughts, it's a no brainer: you will always eat right, you will always treat other people right, you'll actually do the things you want to do. You'll do this because you understand that IF YOU DON'T LIVE YOUR LIFE THE WAY THAT YOU THINK ABOUT IT, EITHER THE WAY YOU THINK IS SH*T, IF NOT, THEN YOUR LIFE IS, IF NOT BOTH.

How did that feel? I hear all of you, EVERYDAY.
"I'm so sick of DJ X at club X."
"I hate the way the guy I'm dating treats me."
"I hate the way my hair looks."
"I hate my job."
"I'm tired of getting my ass kicked everyday."
"I can't believe what the president did this time."

Okay then. Guess what. It's time for all of this sh*t to stop. It starts with you. You hate liars? Quit lying to people, and quit hanging out with liars. Hate cheaters? Quit dating them. Hate your job? Quit, or start your own business. Hate certain clubs or deejays? Stop going there and support what you do like. Let me give you a step-by-step idea:

1. Really take the time to think about what it is you truly believe in.
2. Having done that, integrate those beliefs in your life in a CONCRETE WAY, WITH CONCRETE ACTIONS. No abstractions at all.
3. Support things that are in line with what you believe. Go out of your way to do this. Create them if you have to.
4. Give no support or sanction AT ALL of anything that is contrary to your beliefs. Do nothing to encourage or appease evil. This is really important. As soon as you make that "tiny" allowance for evil, for WHAT YOU KNOW YOU DON'T AND CAN'T STAND FOR, look what you have done. Look at what you ENCOURAGE, and look at what you DISCOURAGE.

We can save Jacksonville, and we can save the world. It has to be ever vigilant. If you don't believe me - watch.