[beanbag]

Originally Posted by Adam

Not sure yet. I might just finish what I started in broadcast journalism or spring for a psych degree.

cool. what would you want to do with that/those?

[Adam]

I would like to as well. Not anything serious or dedicated like you do, but something. I realize my youth is ending sooner than I would like to acknowledge. And I'm ready to try new things. I don't want muscle, just more definition. How does your smoking coincide with working out? I would think that would cause problems. I've been doing well with the elimination of smoking from my life, but I frequently miss the atmosphere they provide. Especially late at night. The key is to just not buy any so you don't have any around to grab.

My smoking habit is down to 2 a day, which isn't bad but its not exactly good. I admit that it does impede my progress to a certain extent but hasn't stopped me from getting the results I want. After this pack I'm gonna quit for sure however. Its time.

If you're wanting more definition:

1. Cardio- Running 15-20 minutes 3-5 days a week. Swimming burns more calories though. I'd alternate between the two.

2. On the weight side of things lift lighter weights for more repetitions (15-20). Do a minimum of four sets. Do this like 3 times a week. If you're just looking for definition weights aren't necessary (but effective)- if you don't have access to weights just do pushups (start with four sets of 10 if you haven't done any for a while).

3. Nutrition- Eat 5-6 smaller meals a day. Try to eat lots of protein- eat chicken, tuna, etc. Drink a gallon of water a day. Eat vegetables and fruits. This is extremely boring unfortunately. I pour Tabasco sauce on my chicken to make things better, lol.

[Adam]

Sunshine was an incredible movie. I loved it. I was really impressed by Chris Evans in that film.

I was too. I wish he would pick more roles like that.

By the way, Adam, you should know, if you don't already, that the new Aronofsky film The Wrestler was released on DVD this past Tuesday(I've already bought it ). See it as soon as you can.

I've been trying to find time to get it! And I am holding off on reading your review until I see it, lol. Perhaps I can get it tonight, we'll see.

cool. what would you want to do with that/those?

With a communications degree I could do things in broadcast media, possibly anchoring or producing- I'm not sure that I'm interested in that too much anymore however. Too boring and too much insincerity.

A psychology degree is appealing because I think I would enjoy the narcisstic thrill of being inside someone's head- lol, just kidding (wait that's what a psych degree is for anyway isn't it?) Really I don't think I could be a couselor, but the study is easy for me to understand- I guess getting a degree wouldn't be too hard for me at least. Math, that's another story entirely.

[Adam]

You know politically I just don't know where I stand anymore. I have schizophrenically navigated through the equally black morasses of liberalism and conservative ideologies.

If I tell people I watch Fox News more than CNN (which I do), I'm labeled a clueless conservative. If I say I love America (which I do) I am immediately labeled as an imperialist who wants to watch the world die. If I say I love HBO shows and Paul Thomas Anderson (which I do) I'm instantly a socialist who wants to see capitalism end. If I say I love the military (which I do) then I am a right-wing extremist who is hiding in a Montana outpost.

The political and cultural landscape is just ridiculous. Liberals are just mind-numbingly dumb most of the time (and yes you are automatically retarded if you think Sean Penn is a genius) and don't like to think about long-term consequences. Conservatives generally don't like art or know how to appreciate good art when its shoved in front of them (again, exceptions). There idea of good art is Lord of the Rings (yeah yeah ok its not terrible) Third Day and country music. Their also obsessed with the same issues over and over and over. Why they can't be more holistic in there approach is inconceivable and disappointing. The fact that many believe Obama is the antichrist is equally absurd.

Anyway its hard for me to find my niche in the political community. I can see the sides of both parties but because of their differing ideologies bipartisanship and egalitarianism is impossible (uh try putting Thomas Hobbes and John Locke in a room together). Why even attempt egalitarianism? Its ultimately useless.

[Zooropa]

With a communications degree I could do things in broadcast media, possibly anchoring or producing- I'm not sure that I'm interested in that too much anymore however. Too boring and too much insincerity.

That's why I gave up on journalism and I'm still in school. I eventually realized my idea of what I wanted to do as a journalist and the actual reality of being a journalist were not cooperative. And I'll be damned if I live my entire career being a censored puppet. I came to realize I could not have a journalism career because I would be fired from every job I got. What I decided on is better for me anyway, because video editing is flexible enough that you can do the professional "business" work and still be able to do the "artistic" work on the side as a hobby. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to one day do the artistic work for pay.

Originally Posted by Adam

You know politically I just don't know where I stand anymore. I have schizophrenically navigated through the equally black morasses of liberalism and conservative ideologies.

If I tell people I watch Fox News more than CNN (which I do), I'm labeled a clueless conservative. If I say I love America (which I do) I am immediately labeled as an imperialist who wants to watch the world die. If I say I love HBO shows and Paul Thomas Anderson (which I do) I'm instantly a socialist who wants to see capitalism end. If I say I love the military (which I do) then I am a right-wing extremist who is hiding in a Montana outpost.

The political and cultural landscape is just ridiculous. Liberals are just mind-numbingly dumb most of the time (and yes you are automatically retarded if you think Sean Penn is a genius) and don't like to think about long-term consequences. Conservatives generally don't like art or know how to appreciate good art when its shoved in front of them (again, exceptions). There idea of good art is Lord of the Rings (yeah yeah ok its not terrible) Third Day and country music. Their also obsessed with the same issues over and over and over. Why they can't be more holistic in there approach is inconceivable and disappointing. The fact that many believe Obama is the antichrist is equally absurd.

Anyway its hard for me to find my niche in the political community. I can see the sides of both parties but because of their differing ideologies bipartisanship and egalitarianism is impossible (uh try putting Thomas Hobbes and John Locke in a room together). Why even attempt egalitarianism? Its ultimately useless.

You need to do some research. We've been lied to and deceived. Socially, I am moderate. Everything else, I am completely outside of the paradigm you describe. I don't believe in Democrat and Republican. It's a show, theater. To me, it's nothing more than a false paradigm created to keep people occupied and distracted. The real **** goes down behind the curtain.

[DKelly]

Originally Posted by Adam

If I say I love HBO shows and Paul Thomas Anderson (which I do) I'm instantly a socialist who wants to see capitalism end.

I really don't get the logic behind that. I mean, Paul is my favorite filmmaker right now, but I never got the impression that people considered his fans to be socialists, more that they were just fans of great filmmaking. Then again, maybe I just don't see it clearly enough.

(and yes you are automatically retarded if you think Sean Penn is a genius)

AMEN!!!! The man is an excellent actor, but politically, the man is a blatant hypocrite. Prime example: I've read that he is a total supporter of Hugo Chavez and Raul Castro, both of whom are apparently very much anti-homosexual and believe that essentially, homosexuality is a disease, yet he takes the lead role in a film about a major gay rights leader and insults those who voted for Prop 8 while accepting his Oscar, saying that later on down the road, the grandchildren of those people who voted for it are going to look on their grandparents in shamefully. Seriously, it's like, "Dude, shut up! Quit acting like some kind of saint".

But, in regards to politics, I don't know. I tend to not be as much a fan of politics anymore, mainly because I feel like no matter where any future administrations take us, I take comfort in knowing God has a plan. I still tend to lean slightly in a more conservative direction, but politics don't mean nearly as much to me as they used to.

By the way, I know very few conservatives who think Obama is the antichrist. Most of them still don't trust him(heck, even I don't really trust him right now), but I can't think of anyone at all right now who sees him as the devil incarnate.

[beanbag]

Originally Posted by Adam

With a communications degree I could do things in broadcast media, possibly anchoring or producing- I'm not sure that I'm interested in that too much anymore however. Too boring and too much insincerity.

A psychology degree is appealing because I think I would enjoy the narcisstic thrill of being inside someone's head- lol, just kidding (wait that's what a psych degree is for anyway isn't it?) Really I don't think I could be a couselor, but the study is easy for me to understand- I guess getting a degree wouldn't be too hard for me at least. Math, that's another story entirely.

you could always start an independent news service, although I'm sure it would be much easier to start up a print media company than broadcast media company initially.

I always thought people got into psych so they could figure out their own issues. you don't have to do counseling with psych, necessarily. my best friend is finishing up her mft masters and she wants to counsel, but my mom has her masters in early child development and she's never done counseling. she teaches and consults with parents, but not in a therapeutic capacity. you could always become a professor. or blend psych and journalism and analyze people and their weird behavior and then report about it.

all I have to say about math is that it is lame.

[Than]

I'm a journalist...it's aight. Print news is a dying medium man, make the jump to niche publications like magazines if you're considering it. Way more artistic freedom and way better in general.

I've been thinking of starting my own PR company, doing press releases, etc. You should get in on that.

[Zooropa]

Originally Posted by Than

I'm a journalist...it's aight. Print news is a dying medium man, make the jump to niche publications like magazines if you're considering it. Way more artistic freedom and way better in general.

I've been thinking of starting my own PR company, doing press releases, etc. You should get in on that.

I hope I didn't offend you, Than. No offense meant at all. You may be a different kind of journalist in a different field. The point I was trying to make is that the type of journalist I wanted to be I couldn't be. I still have a lot of respect for some journalists, and I'm sure you are going to make a great one. If it was 40 years ago I would still want to be a journalist. But media has changed so much in the last few decades that I don't want to be a part of something I'm so against.

[Than]

Originally Posted by Zooropa

I hope I didn't offend you, Than. No offense meant at all. You may be a different kind of journalist in a different field. The point I was trying to make is that the type of journalist I wanted to be I couldn't be. I still have a lot of respect for some journalists, and I'm sure you are going to make a great one. If it was 40 years ago I would still want to be a journalist. But media has changed so much in the last few decades that I don't want to be a part of something I'm so against.

No offense taken at all man. In fact, I completely agree with you. I worked at a small daily newspaper and the amount of censorship that existed even there is appalling. Not even on a level of petty politicking (which there was more than enough of anyways) but to please advertisers and not run stories that would negatively reflect on "movers and shakers" even in a small community. I can't even imagine the scale of what goes on at national news outlets. That's why I was saying that if you want to write and report, niche publications like magazines and stuff are much better, unless investigative, political type journalism is what your goal is/was.

[Adam]

AMEN!!!! The man is an excellent actor, but politically, the man is a blatant hypocrite. Prime example: I've read that he is a total supporter of Hugo Chavez and Raul Castro, both of whom are apparently very much anti-homosexual and believe that essentially, homosexuality is a disease, yet he takes the lead role in a film about a major gay rights leader and insults those who voted for Prop 8 while accepting his Oscar, saying that later on down the road, the grandchildren of those people who voted for it are going to look on their grandparents in shamefully. Seriously, it's like, "Dude, shut up! Quit acting like some kind of saint".

Yes that's a great example! So many people lift him high as some sort of liberal Hollywood Jesus. I've known people in my life who just praised this guy- "Ooo he's so altruistic, so good, so smart." Makes me sick.

I've been thinking of starting my own PR company, doing press releases, etc. You should get in on that.

That's something I've thought about recently. Doing good PR is priceless in modern day America. I'd love to say "I can do Chris Brown PR dawg. Chris Brown, straight up."

I always thought people got into psych so they could figure out their own issues. you don't have to do counseling with psych, necessarily. my best friend is finishing up her mft masters and she wants to counsel, but my mom has her masters in early child development and she's never done counseling. she teaches and consults with parents, but not in a therapeutic capacity. you could always become a professor. or blend psych and journalism and analyze people and their weird behavior and then report about it.

Blending psych and journalism sounds intriguing. There certainly needs to be more analysis and critique of modern day media than there is.

[Adam]

This week has been rough. I'm going through some personal things that I won't discuss on this thread and its wearing me down. But I'm determined to make this year good despite these circumstances.

You know when you get really depressed about something and you're wondering when the **** things are gonna turn around and you're wondering when does this spiral end- the automatic response of your brain is to remain despondent. At least for me it is because most of my life that is how I have responded.

But I no longer choose too. I am not going to be defined by neurological chemical transactions and personality traits and "oh well that's just the way" bullsh*t philosophies (don't you just love it when you argue with someone and they're like "oh that's just how I'm wired"). Someone told me that even when you hit rock bottom (which I haven't) the only way you can go is up- and I agree. Don't you want it to be a point of pride that you are mentally tough? Yes. Don't you want to be able to say that when everyone else complained, I didn't and I overcame.

Even if this entire year just sucks, **** there's always next year dude. A year isn't that long anyway.

I've got to post some lyrics from rapper Lil' Boosie. Obviously he does not represent the height of intellectual wisdom but nonetheless it speaks to me. Perhaps that is laughable to some.

Going Thru Some Thangs

I been goin' thru some thangs
and don't nobody understand me man
I want ride candy man
I been goin' thru some thangs
hopin' my n*ggas stay the same
but they always change
I been goin' thru some thangs

The last part is especially true for me right now. I've known a lot of people over the past year that have really changed and act like they don't want anything to do with me. Although I don't view that with any sadness, it can be discouraging. Your hope is that close friends stick with you through **** but they don't and its dissappointing. Out of the entire human race there are so few people to have faith in, and when you do have faith in them they throw it out the window. And I am by no means above reproach.

I also want to say thanks to everyone in this thread, for being there for me through these boards. You all have helped me immensely and its encouraging.

[beanbag]

it can be really discouraging when people change, especially for the worse. my brother has been dealing with some psychological issues, and through them he has come to find who his true friends are. the people who stick with you through thick and thin are the people who are worth fighting for to keep in your life for always. I'm so thankful that he has a few good friends who care enough about him to stick with him, and to call him out on dangerous behaviors. I hope that you also have a few people like that around you as well, because we all need human relationships and we all need accountability.

also...I think that God doesn't always want us to be strong. I think sometimes He purposely allows bad things or tough things to happen so that we can ask Him to rescue us. that sounds a little bit confused, but what I mean is that I think He allows things to happen so that we realize how desperately we need Him. Jesus said that He came to heal the sick and the blind, not to fix the people who didn't think they needed fixing. I know it's kind of a roundabout consolation, but may it be a hope for you.

[slap_j]

Originally Posted by beanbag

the people who stick with you through thick and thin are the people who are worth fighting for to keep in your life for always.

QFT. Unfortunately I've been piss poor at doing this. I'd like to say that I'm not a bad friend per se but because just being there is so important and I'm not...well, I'm a bad friend. But the silver lining is this profound lesson I've learned--how necessary mere presence is for a strong friendship.

[Zooropa]

Originally Posted by beanbag

the people who stick with you through thick and thin are the people who are worth fighting for to keep in your life for always.

What I've found is that outside of your family, there aren't a lot of those. At all. People you think for sure will be there aren't in the end. That is a very cold, hard fact of life that is tough to swallow. I can count on one hand the number of people outside of my family that I truly trust. And it seems the more time goes by the less number of fingers I'm holding up on that hand.