Educated men are as much superior to uneducated men as the living are to the dead.
--Aristotle, 384-322 B.C.
"Some among us inspire childlike faith and wonder--they become more than people or even legends... They become ideals. Ideals are bigger than ANY person, and we need them. They speak to what's best in us."
-Captain America
"It may well be doubted whether human ingenuity can construct an enigma or the kind which human ingenuity may not, by proper application resolve."
-Edgar Allen Poe
"Life... is like a grapefruit. It's orange and squishy, and has a few pips in it, and some folks have half a one for breakfast."
-Douglas Adams
"Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job."
-Douglas Adams
"I'm not much for public speaking, or much for speaking, or, come to think of it, much for the public. And I'm not very good at lying. So let me just say that, in my experience, high school sucks. If I had to do it all over again, I'd have started advanced placement classes in preschool so I could go from eighth grade straight to college. However, given the unalterable fact that high school sucks, I'd like to add that if you're lucky enough to have a good friend and a family that cares, it doesn't have to suck quite as much. Otherwise, my advice is: stand firm for what you believe in, until and unless logic and experience prove you wrong; remember, when the emperor looks naked, the emperor is naked; the truth and a lie are not "sort of the same thing"; and there is no aspect, no facet, no moment of life that can't be improved with pizza."
-Daria
"Your petitioners are Atheists and they define their lifestyle as follows. An Atheists loves himself and his fellow man instead of a god. An Atheist thinks that heaven is something for which we should work for now - here on earth- for all men together to enjoy. An Atheist accepts that he can get no help through prayer but that he must find in himself the inner conviction and strength to meet life, to grapple with it, subdue and enjoy it. An Atheist thinks that only in knowledge of himself and a knowledge of his fellow man can he find the understanding that will help to a life of fulfillment.
"Therefore, he seeks to know himself and his fellow man rather than to 'know' a god. An Atheist knows that a hospital should be built instead of a church. An Atheist knows that a deed must be done instead of a prayer said. An Atheist strives for involvement in life and not escape into death.
"He wants disease conquered, poverty vanquished, war eliminated. He wants man to understand and love man. He wants an ethical way of life. He knows that we cannot rely on a god nor channel action into prayer nor hope for an end of troubles in a hereafter. He knows that we are our brothers' keepers in that we are, first, keepers of our lives; that we are responsible persons, that the job is here and the time is now." - Madalyn Murray O'Hair
The ghost said, "Take off both your shoes/
Whatever chances you get/
Especially when they're wet."/
He also said,/
"Imagine you go away/
On a business trip one day/
And when you come back home,/
Your children have grown/
And you never made your wife moan,/
Your children have grown/
And you never made your wife moan."/
"And people make you nervous/
You'd think the world is ending,/
And everybody's features have somehow started blending/
And everything is plastic,/
And everyone's sarcastic,/
And all your food is frozen,/
It needs to be defrosted."/
"You'd think the world was ending,/
You'd think the world was ending,/
You'd think the world was ending right now./
You'd think the world was ending,/
You'd think the world was ending,/
You'd think the world was ending right now."/
"Well maybe you should just drink a lot less coffee,/
And never ever watch the ten o'clock news,/
Maybe you should kiss someone nice,/
Or lick a rock,/
Or both."/
"Maybe you should cut your own hair/
'Cause that can be so funny/
It doesn't cost any money/
And it always grows back/
Hair grows even after you're dead"/
"And people are just people,/
They shouldn't make you nervous./
The world is everlasting,/
It's coming and it's going./
If you don't toss your plastic,/
The streets won't be so plastic./
And if you kiss somebody,/
Then both of you'll get practice."/
"The world is everlasting/
Put dirtballs in your pocket,/
Put dirtballs in your pocket,/
And take off both your shoes./
'Cause people are just people,/
People are just people,/
People are just people like you./
People are just people,/
People are just people,/
People are just people like you." ~Regina Spektor, "The Ghost of Corporate Future"
"The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." -John Stuart Mill
"The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not sufficient warrant." -John Stuart Mill
About me:
There is ample opportunity to piece together what kind of person I am on the internet. Facebook LiveJournal Don't Tread On Me - Mostly the same as my LJ FictionPress - Stories and poems. Occasionally updated deviantART - Rarely updated Last.fm - Some players that I use don't have a plug-in for last.fm, so charts are not accurate. Zaadz - I don't know why I have this.
Thought of the moment: ..
Think rationally.
***
"Hello, dear lady. A lovely evening is it not? Forgive me for intruding. Perhaps you were intending to take a stroll. Perhaps you were merely enjoying the view. No matter. I thought it was time we had a little chat, you and I.
Ahh, I was forgetting that we are not properly introduced. I do not have a name. You can call me V. Madam Justice this is V. V this is Madam Justice. Hello, Madam Justice. 'Good evening, V.'
There. Now we know each other. Actually, I've been a fan of yours for quite some time. Oh, I know what you're thinking. 'The poor boy has a crush on me... an adolescent infatuation.' I beg your pardon, Madam. It isn't like that at all.
I've long admired you, albeit only from a distance. I used to stare at you from the streets below when I was a child. I'd say to my father, 'Who is that lady?' And he'd say, 'That's Madam Justice.' And I'd say, 'Isnt she pretty.'
Please don't think it was merely physical. I know you're not that sort of girl. No, I loved you as a person. As an ideal. That was a long time ago. I'm afraid there's someone else now.
'What? V! For shame! You have betrayed me for some harlot, some vain and pouting hussy with painted lips and a knowing smile!'
I, madam? I beg to differ! It was your infidelity that drove me to her arms! Ah-ha! That surprised you, didn't it? You thought I didn't know about your little fling. But I do. I know everything! Frankly, I wasn't surprised when I found out. You always did have an eye for a man in uniform.
'Uniform? Why, I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about. It was always you, V. You were the only one'
Liar! Slut! Whore! Deny that you let him have his way with you, him with his armbands and jackboots! Well! Cat got your tongue!
Very well. So you stand revealed at last. You are no longer my justice. You are his justice now. You have bedded another. Well, two can play at that game.
'Sob! Choke! Wh-who is she, V? What is her name?'
Her name is Anarchy. And she has taught me more as a mistress than you ever did. She has taught me that justice is meaningless without freedom. She is honest. She makes no promises and breaks none. Unlike you, Jezebel. I used to wonder why you could never look me in the eye. Now I know.
So goodbye, dear lady. I would be saddened by our parting even now, save that you are no longer the woman that I once loved. Here is a final gift. I leave it at your feet."
Merry Christmas, nephew! We're so glad you get to be home for the holidays this year. We're having moose and mousse and mousse and mousse and mousse and mousse and mousse and mousse for dinner tomorrow. Mmmm.... almost time for Santa! Love you ~ Aunt Patti & Uncle Andy
haha... you can smack talk the coast guard all you want... not a problem with me.
They are giving me free room/board and breakfast-lunch-dinner, while letting me plan MWR activities. Pretty sweet internship compared to most of my friends.
no i wasn't engaged on the ship, this was... idk, but its fun. NO, im not pregnant... and what has vitamin C been up to? i haven't heard anything about her recently. Its a good thing for me, but i don't know about for you. God forbid you have to settle for watching the 'smile' video on repeat, lest you have a mental break down from the audial torture of it all.
I miss you... I finally decided to get out of the dark ages and be a real IT... so i have internet at my house now. im getting married soon, so i think that means im going to get fat and ugly. im not sure yet. anywho, drop me a line. you make me smile =)
ooo it was a marvelous wonderful adventure. that sounds like a pretty bad ass birthday. not too many people get to spend their birthday at a tokyo festival. was it all foreign music and singing? id be very intersted in some of the things you got to hear
this is late....but i have excuses cause i didn't have internet access, and well it would take a lot of research and effort to call japan. and as much as i love you enough to do that recert and effort to call japan i didnt. because. i had no phone either. but. now. i have come. to say happy birthday. i know its late and i know i'v been lazy. but. i hope you had a wonderful day and i hope you celebrated the japanese way, whatever that way be.
Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday, dear Matthew! Happy Birthday to you! You're probably off to the music festival already, but I wanted to say hi and I hope it's great. Love you! Aunt Patti
Got big plans for Saturday? Wow. 22 - that means I'll be celebrating my 22nd anniversary in November! I'm pretty sure you were the littlest one at the wedding. Now look at you. They ask about you at our church often. How is everything? Give our best to all the brave sailors. Love, Aunt Patti