facade

It never ceases to amaze me, when for one reason or another, people use material things to cover their soul. Money. Clothes. Words. Art. Music. Sports. Pick your poison, they all have the same outcome.

Some people find a haven in sports. Guys in particular find it a great way to hide their insecurities because they can act tough and macho and no one will call them on it. On the other hand some people hide behind their "brains". I know that it sounds like a funny concept but it is true. They like being seen as someone who reads lots of books, or can quote random poems.

If you can mention an indie rap artist you are eclectic.

If you like graffiti or know of Andy Warhol you are artistic.

If you can name five books that no one has heard of you are smart.

The same is true if you can name five classics.
Bizarre.

But then again facades in general are bizarre. I mean think about it. Taking something that is in no way connected with your soul or who you are meant to be, and using it as your identity. People are bound to figure you out, and when they do, they will either sympathize, or they will probably despise you for it.

Moby

In a recent interview that Moby did he said something that is undeniable yet completely overlooked.

"Do whatever you want, but there has to be some consistency to people's actions and the teachings they supposedly try to live by. Or not. But if not, why do they attach the word Christ to these things that Christ never talked about? It boggles my mind. It would be like being a vegan and eating hamburgers. If you want to eat hamburgers, fine, but why call yourself a vegan? Being a pro-war Christian is like being a vegan who eats hamburgers."
-Moby

High Tech High...gets sued?

Recently there has been a rumbling in the HTH community. Which is ironic considering that it has been unfolding the bay area. That's right, I am talking about the recent announcement that High Tech High Bayshore will be closing due to a lack of funding.

There has been a groundswell of support from concerned parents hoping that they can save the school. Some have even been talking about the possibility of suing. Now, I understand that HTH is a corporation and what not, but please, what is suing a school going to get you? Compensation for "severing emotional ties". I mean lets be real, HTH did not even want the school in the first place. They only opened it because parents kept pushing for a school in the Bay Area. The fact that it is hundreds of miles away makes it that much easier for them to become detached and close it.

To confirm my growing suspicion that parents were acting purely on emotions and lashing our irrationally, I found several comments -

"The learning community at High Tech High Bayshore is REELING from this news. Children are depressed, fearful, and yet HOPEFUL!

How can a gem such as this turn to dust under the heel of an apathetic community???

Wake up and face the future. Without the survival of the Charter Schools that are successfully educating our children and guiding them toward success, all that remains for the majority of our youth are gang and drug ridden high schools."

This was a comment on Chris Barna's recent blog about the situation. Does she honestly believe what she is saying? In addition there was a supposed 8th grader who posted saying
this -

"Each month that has passed since I shadowed I have gotten more exited about going to HTHB next fall. On February 14th, Valentines Day I found out that my dream school (HTHB) would be closing. I was distraught about the news. High Tech High school board members said that they have to close the school because of finance and enrollment issues...I am asking for help not just for me but for the current students and all incoming students for all the years to come. The HTHB parents and students have been working tirelessly since February 14th coming up with ways to save our school. I am asking everybody to please contact the board members at High Tech High in San Diego and ask them to please give our parents some time to work on saving our school...Thanks for taking time to read my message. I hope I will someday be able to write about my many successes as a student at High Tech High Bayshore."

I don't know about you, but i don't know an 8th grader in the world who can write sentences with such emphasis and compassion, and foresight ( see years to come).

the Googe

I wonder who lost their job for this one. they say the L is there...make your own observation.

failure by choice

So recently i have realized several things about the two sides of our culture today; the so called "secular"side and the other so called "religious" side. When i first started thinking about I became extremely frustrated and annoyed, then i realized that had to laugh at the childish thinking and actions of christians and non-christians alike.

Im tired of the constricting, non-loving, conservative ways of the church that have been long out dated. I dont have a problem with gay people, I cuss, I watch R-rated movies, and I listen to whatever music that I find enjoyable. Nobodies perfect, I definitely am not. Hell, I mess up, I am as messed up as anybody reading this if not more. But do i care about social justice and the environment? Of course I do. We shouldn't be worrying about who had a few beers the other night or who hooked up with who, we should be worrying about what disease we can cure or what war we can stop. .

My goal in life isn't to go through life never drinking a beer, or not saying certain words...it's loving people and learning how to be a positive influence in people's lives. The only person has the right to judge is God. If you're looking at me to fit the squeaky clean mold that the Christian right has set before us as the status quo, I think you should rethink your agenda. If you want perfect people then you are always going to be disappointed...if you want to feel like you're a perfect person and are surrounded by perfect people, then go into 90% of the churches that exist in our country where sexual addiction doesn't exist, or drug use doesn't exist, or drinking doesn't exist....I have news for you....the only time that stuff doesn't exist is for one hour on Sunday morning. NOBODY is perfect, and no one ever will be...if you think someone is your being lied to or you're lying to yourself. There's nothing wrong with someone drinking, or listening to whatever they want, or wearing whatever they want.

A few weeks ago someone told me that "if we can get to the point where we aren't hurting ourselves or others, than that is the best that we can be". Im gonna have to agree.