Another twist in the fabric of Galen's time on earth

An Army Recruiter called me tonight. He offered me: $4000 to join; $70000 for school when I'm done; all my current loans and my last two years at Whitworth paid for by the Army; guaranteed enrollment in the Advanced Individual Training course at the linguistics school at Monterey (one of the best in the world); guaranteed acceptance to Officer Cadet School; a commission as a Captain upon graduating Whitworth with my B.A.; guaranteed assignment in a linguistics related position; guaranteed assignment to the base of my choice (Italy anyone?); and I only have to serve two to four years after graduating from Whitworth. It's an incredible offer, but I feel like they're offering me a bribe.

So these are the questions mulling about in my head right now: If the Army is bribing me to join them, doesn't that prove them to be insecure about their cause? I mean, if they're willing to give me $200,000 to fight in the War on Terror, isn't it obvious they don't consider the war itself to be a compelling reason to serve my country? And if they're that insecure about their own cause, do I really want to devote my life to it?

The second question builds on the first: since I don't agree with their cause in the first place, and would be joining them purely for their bribes, that makes me a mercenary. Can I ethically justify being a mercenary? Especially when innocent people (and guilty people of course) will die because of my involvement? Is getting a full ride at college worth risking causing a human to die?

Then there's this: I'd have to skip out on working at World Vision, even though I've committed there. And I'd have to skip out on some dear friends I've made this year.

BUT... I could go to Whitworth, for free. I'd get free linguistics training, which is great since I can't afford MIT. I'd get to travel the world with the US paying for it. I'd get another $70,000 for grad school later. And I'd be an Officer, with quite the adventure before me.

What to do? What to do?

For the photographers in the bunch

If you like taking pictures and you just aren't impressed by mine, you should go check out MSNBC's recap of the years best pictures. There's a set chosen by the public and one chosen by MSNBC's editors. There's some pretty incredible stuff there. Makes me want to practice a bit more.

Go check them out and then come back and let me know which one's you like the best. I'm curious about what images people like and why.

732 gallons = $1610 and a couple of human lives

According to http://www.participate.net/terrapass my car burns approximately 732 gallons of gas a year. That means I spend about $1610 on gas over the course of a year. That's a lot more than a transit pass. And my Jeep produces 14,321 pounds of carbon dioxide every year from emissions. That's five times the weight of my car.

Normally I wouldn't care, because carbon dioxide helps trees grow, and I like trees; and normally I wouldn't care because it's obvious to me that God has systems in place to ensure the earth never gets too hot or cold to sustain life; but tonight I watched Syriana, and tonight I realized that people are dying so that I can drive my car around for $1610 a year. I'm not ok with that. I'll ride the bus if it means less people will die. The only thing is, I'm not sure riding the bus is going to save lives. And so I feel impotent, sort of like I felt after Constant Gardener, and after Hotel Rwanda.

And now I'm going to eat some toast, and go lay down, and forget all about this. And maybe I'll look into a bus pass.

Zadi's vlog

Go visit Zadi's vlog. This video made me happy, because even with all the crap going on in the world, both liberals and conservatives are still people underneath it all -- even when we disagree, we're still in this together. Also, check out her vid on Hurricane Katrina.

Go visit Zadi!

Scrooge you for judging Christmas gifts by their covers

So I don't like getting gifts, because I don't like saying thank you and then putting something in a drawer. Most gifts are so "it's the thought that counts" and that's annoying. Because if you have to say that about a gift, it probably wasn't a very thoughtful gift at all. I have all the stuff I need, and nearly all the stuff I want, and I really don't have very much at all, but I'm content. Most Christmases and birthdays I tell people no gifts -- actually, I always say no gifts -- but people are determined and still get me stuff. So every year there is a lot of awkward, "Thank you. How nice. Well, I've always wanted one of these, I think, sort of." People feel very good about themselves because they've discharged their gift-giving responsibility, and I'm left trying to find a place to put my new-fangled stuff that I don't want, don't need but must keep to avoid being "ungrateful." It's really one annoying holiday after another over here in Galenland.

I say all this to say that this year is different. I told everyone no gifts, like usual, but people were still determined. However, I have yet to receive a calculator or a Christmas ornament or a bargain-book on the History of Chariots. This year I've received three gifts before Christmas, and every single one has been thoughtful and, well, instead of saying "Oh, how nice," I've said, "Wow, I'm shocked. Someone got me something that A) Won't cause clutter B) I can use C) I actually like." So thanks to those people. You're the chamomile in my tea.

Oh, and, can you believe it, someone I barely know gave me Blue Like Jazz. How the heck did they know? That just made my morning today. Cheers to you Cole.

Time: People of the Year

Finally, role models worth imitating. Read all about it.

A cause for violence

I punch people to make them mad, to see them come alive. Like "Pushing here" on a stuffed animal, and dancing to the music. People are hollow, their faces are masks, store-bought expressions, eye liner, plastic-bottled tears. Like a fancy doll posing at that awards show. She's so sad. Break their teeth or touch them there, piss them off or call them names; and the manequinns growl, shirk their fancy dresses, shout, flip you off, and then you know -- then you know. Then you know them, alive.

It's a week since I lost my wallet.

I lost my wallet. Some nice people gave it back. I had to get gas. To do that I had to open my wallet. When I did, I was surprised. No, nothing was missing. But something was new. The people who gave it back also gave me notes. I really liked them. I almost cried. Or maybe that was the breeze drying out my eyes. Yes, probably that. But thank you. You're all rare like unicorns.

A little fun with the snow and a cameraphone

Rachel really likes her snow. Click the image to watch the movie.

A short list of things to do today

1. Drive through the falling snow at warp speed.
2. Tell the nice lady at Safeway "Merry Christmas", and feel really very merry about it afterall.
3. Have intense discussions repeatedly. Interrogate self following aforementioned: could I have been wrong? How do I know anything? Epistemology my ...
4. Peek through curtain. Is it still snowing?
   
5. Wonder at the snow. Wonder: "What is the meaning of snow?" Enjoy homogenous landscape. For once homogeneous get a good connotation. I like when it snows and everything is soft.
   
6. Find words are inadequate to describe some things, like how I feel right now.
7. Sigh. Maybe that says it all?

Cheers. It's Christmas and we're all alive.