Scatterbrained

Today I am hoping is a good day. I sent out a few emails to job leads in an effort to... well, get a job. I'm hoping that I can get through to somebody soon.

I have been rather scatterbrained lately, probably due to all the various pressures that seems to be descending on me from multiple directions, and the fact that my attention needs to be devoted to several different things at once. It makes it very difficult to focus on anything.What I need is stability.

Being able to focus on a task is a vitally important part of my personality and I am afraid that it is becoming more and more difficult to do that. When I have so much else that constantly distracts me it becomes nearly impossible to dedicate energy to a single task at a time. In my head I am thinking about the diffusion and convergence of social trends, the spreading of plants and insects to foreign habitats, and the molecular behavior of falling water. I then have to balance these fanatic preoccupations with what I need to get done for my physical self, which is quite a lot. So it's almost as though my personality is ripping, lol.

Actually... that might make sense.... Could that explain why I keep feeling like a hypochondriac?

Entomological Outreach Optimism

Third day in a row. Hopefully I can keep this up (discounting the weekends). Perhaps today I will try to post about something positive to help my general outlook on life. Hmm... where should I begin?

I sent out an email to the Entomological Society of America just a few minutes ago in an effort to reach out to those who share my passions and interests for creepy crawly critters. So hopefully before too long I'll be talking to people about opportunities. Most of the time I don't get responses, but I'm being optimistic this time because I have to, lol.

maybe I should take some of my best writings (including those on facebook) and compile them into a portfolio of sorts. That way I can send writing sample on a variety of subjects to employers of writers all over. Is that a good idea? feedback!

Hasty Title Cause I have to Pee

Perhaps I am wasting my time, but writing makes me feel better. I suppose that the reason for this may be because it is an outlet for me. Lately I've felt very hemmed in by my circumstances, so writing things down here is one simple way to let out some steam or whatnot.

I've had a lot going through my mind and I really feel like I need multiple different outlets right now because I'm thinking about multiple different things simultaneously. I'd make short videos about random things except that my computer decided to stop working properly. And even if it was working properly, my video editing software likes to censor me by deciding what footage it likes and damaging the files it doesn't, lol. Anything showing bees pollinating flowers is evidently not allowed.

So since I can't do the video thing, I can try writing a book one page at a time. I'd need to write it by hand though, since my computer is out of commission (I'm at the library right now). A computer would be extremely helpful for saving and editing and sharing what I write. I guess for now I'll just continue to write down little notes in my notebook.

Really, what I need is a job that will allow me to learn and innovate. I would love to work at any sort of science-y place, heck, I'd even "volunteer" for a very low wage. I find pretty much anything scientific to be of utmost fascination. I'll "volunteer" for long hours and low wages in order to continue learning and making discoveries. Unfortunately, our current system disallows low wage training jobs. "They" want you to be forced to go to college in order to get training because evidently on-the-job training is fictitious? If you don't have the money to go to college, you are forced to rely on the state to send you there. In this manner, you have become and indentured servant to the state in order to eek out a meager living.

Really, I wouldn't mind going to school to learn in place of getting a job, but what I don't like is the job uncertainty. I could spend thousands on tuition costs only to be unemployed after I graduate. who wants that?

Communicating With Others for the Sake of Learning

For some time now, I have been pondering the effects of human social interaction and how we are becoming increasingly timid when it comes to sharing our thoughts and opinions. There are several reasons for this, not the least of which is how sensitive we have become to things we deem to be "offensive."  So many times, a conversation is cut short or taken in the wrong direction because one of the participants took offense to something that was said. I find this trend to be despicable. Being offended, is silly because it causes one to shut off (isolate) their minds from taking in foreign ideas for further evaluation.

Ideally, I should be able to have a conversation with another human being without censoring my ideas and opinions. That is how it should be. After all, if I am unable to communicate my honest thoughts to another person, how will we be able to sort out ideas? When we cease to communicate, we cease to share often vital information with people who may need it. When I feel as though I am unable to communicate my ideas to another person, many misunderstandings arise. There are many things that can cause us to feel as though we can't communicate. Among these are fear of ridicule, fear of offending, and vast differences in personality and experience. It is my belief that those with such large experiential differences have the most to learn from one another, but are often the least likely to share ideas. We often fear or otherwise shun those who may come across as too different from ourselves.

We've all become to afraid of offending people, and so communication begins to break down. When communication breaks down, learning slows down because ideas and information cease to be shared. Without shared information, how are we to make informed decisions?

Making solid communicative connections with other people is the key to successful learning and advancement. The information coursing through our minds can be shared with others and they (if they are receptive) will be able to evaluate it and give their own analysis. There is wisdom in the council of many.

I'll hopefully be able to post a more in-depth analysis of these issues at a later time (I always say that). But the reality is that I have to go to work and I don't want to leave another post unpublished.

Change of Tone

I wrestled with the idea of beginning a new blog that would take on a different tone than this one currently has. But I decided that since nobody really visits this blog anymore, noone will notice a change in tone.

I have been apprehensive about posting on certain topics because I know that many of my former regular readers would disagree with much of what I have to say now. But I have come to understand that I should not shy away from speaking on such issues simply because those I love may ultimately disagree. Even if I am wrong in my beliefs, refusing to discuss them will do nothing to help me change them if I need to. Discussion will hopefully ignite healthy debate, which can lead to a refining of beliefs. This is why we have conversations in the first place; to learn from one another.

So I am embarking on what may become a tumultuous journey. I will document what I can on this blog so as to maintain a record of my progress. I invite anyone to post any comments they wish.

Topics will likely be widely varied, although I will try to keep it centered around economics and politics for now. I encourage those who disagree to become engaged in discussion. Disagreements should not be looked at as a bad thing, but as an opportunity to learn from someone who has a different perspective. If nothing else, you may come away with a new way of thinking about things.
And is that really such a terrible thing?

Change Starts With You

I see a lot of people who are perfectly content to live life on cruise control. Basically doing everything that they are told that they are expected to do. Doesn't anybody stop for a moment to question things? Why does our society work the way it does? Are we really supposed to get bombarded by advertisements and flashy colors telling us what to do all the time? Does anybody honestly believe for one second that this society is the end result of human intelligence?

I think that every society throughout history has esteemed themselves as the pinnacle of human achievement. Place yourself in Ancient Rome. As a Roman citizen, you were living in the best society imaginable. See the Colosseum? See the aqueduct? See how your government operates?

We must not make the same mistakes. By assuming that we know enough, we are risking stagnation.
So how do we change things?

I have heard from so many people how they wish there was no more violence in the world, and how they just wish everybody could get along so that there would be understanding throughout the world. I then see the same people turn around and scream at someone for offending them in some small way. Don't they realize that in order for the world to truly be a better place, the change must begin with the individual? You can't expect the world to suddenly become hospitable if none of the individual people are willing to make it happen. Change starts with you. Are you mad because two countries are in a state of turmoil? You can't understand why they can't just get along? Is there anyone in your life that you can't stand? Is there somebody in your life who you believe wronged you and you have been angry with them? How do you justify your anger with that person while at the same time proclaiming that everybody else needs to "just get along"?

Change begins with the individual. It is your job to make the world a better place. Don't leave it in the hands of other people.

Also remember that is is possible for you to believe in things that are not true. You must be willing to acknowledge that your knowledge can be refined.

The (hopeful) Turning Point

I am in legitimate disbelief that I was able to successfully log into my blogger account. I had imagined that Google would have changed everything around while I wasn't looking. That's what usually happens.

Anyway, this is the first post I have made in quite some time, but I am hoping to breathe some life into this blog once again. I had considered starting a brand new blog to discuss scientific and political topics, but then I figured that I already have this blog sitting here idle(y), so why not put it to use?

Since I have to leave for work momentarily, I will use this post as a reintroduction of my blog. I am going to hopefully transition from a goofy nonsensical humor blog into a more professional scientific and political one. There have been dozens of different topics buzzing around in my head as of late, and I am hoping to regularly share my thoughts on various issues. I welcome criticism of all kinds, and in fact, I am looking for it. I want people who disagree with me to let me know their reasons for disagreeing, as the sharing of information and ideas is one of the best ways to learn new things.

So until next time, I am signing off so that I can head out to work. But I will be back. Check back soon for additional posts!