http://gthing.net/lets-see-who-is-dumb/

Every once in a while, it's fun to make a retarded comment online, and see who responds and what they say. In nice, respectable places you don't do this - it's considered rude. In the evolutionary sludge that makes up Youtube commenters, however, it's too good to resist.


Youtube ...

its amazing what you forget or fail to appreciate until it becomes something you re-discover. pickles have been my great american re-discovery. a beautiful dill pickle accompanies every sandwich, hamburger and lunch time meal and i love it. i had forgotten all about the simple pleasure of munching away at a crisp tart dill pickle while you eat your lunch. i'm looking forward to what other things i might re-discover while i'm back in the US. below is lunch at our favourite local diner- another wonderful east-coast institution :) 

http://gthing.net/why-ill-probably-vote-for-mccain-even-though-hes-an-idiot/

Let me start of by saying McCain is an idiot. I don't like him. I don't like the things he says. I don't think he'll win the election, either.
On the other hand, I happen to like Obama. He seems like a much nicer man ...

I GOT THE APARTMENT I WANTED!!!!!!!! I'M MOVING!

Heyo, Jux here on behalf of our new corporate sponsors. Best Thing Ever has a brand new look, just in time for the climactic end-of-the-year showdown. I'm glad to say, things will only be getting better from here. Our mission won't be changed by our new board of directors too much, but they do get executive decision over all the polls we'll be posting from here on. Don't worry! You can still expect the same wacky antics and craaazy fun you've grown used to - only now, we have focus groups hard at work to make sure we won't offend anybody! I hope you're as excited about this new step as we are.

Poll #1222912 Best Thing Ever: Year 4 / Week 46
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

Which of these is better? ["Our Website Was Bought For 1.65 Billion Dollars" week]

so, i'm making my ride wait for me to type this up.

Tonight, as a youth group, we divided into teams and played the "Bigger/Better" Game.
they all started with a paper clip and had to trade it for something bigger or better that would be donated to charity.

one team came back with a baby's toy (one that sits on the ground, it's pretty big).
another team came back with a lawn chair with an umbrella attached.
the other team came back with a refrigerator.

i kid you not.
so, now our youth room has a refrigerator (it works!)
crazy!

what were some of the highlights from your last term . . . how are you doing- really . . . how are you adjusting . . . how can we help you . . . the church has changed while you were gone . . . american culture is changing rapidly . . . . remember to have grace for yourselves and others . . .  so many thoughts and questions swirled around at our re-entry. and some of you might wondering at the term re-entry. aren't we all returning, coming back or coming home? well not really. most of us that met had all been gone at least two years and some like me, even longer. that's years of missed cultural shifts, family milestones and church changes that we've all been away for. we are all truly re-entering into american cultural. and it was a good time talking about how we can re-enter well as well as talking about our time overseas. i am thankful to be part of a group that cares enough to ask how we are doing and acknowledges this season in our lives and equips us to do it better. re-entering and thankful for:

First post using a handheld device. Really impressive what these little blackberries can do. I don't think I'll be making a habit of this method though. :P

There are a ton of things I wish I could write about, if it weren't for the fact that many of the things I would inscribe onto this journal would amount to a listing of ever-present reminders of why I shouldn't even be here writing this blog entry. (note: just a statement of busyness, not mortality) :P

But here's an interesting, if not a rather solemn thought. Just this last fourth of July weekend, Jess and I visited the site of the Oklahoma city memorial where an explosion that tore through a federal building in 1995 also tore through a people's innocence of intense suffering. All sense of balance and well-being was shaken on that day. The historical magnitude of that event was preserved in a sort of civic sanctuary where people could come visit to mourn, to remember, to hurt, and hopefully, to heal.

I remember sitting on the grass, staring at the mirror reflection in the pool of water and thinking of how still the place was... At the center of this bustling city, time stood still. And I thought about how appropriate an environment this was... not just to reflect on the national tragedy the place was actually built for, but even on our personal losses, which are just as monumental to our experience as the shared ones. Perhaps each of us knows of some inner realm we retreat to for a moment's respite from these dark landmarks, if only to make sense of how they should fit in our universe. Surely this would be the reason why, after 13 years, survivors of that blast still return here today...

Then I wondered at what point should such monuments be considered to have already served their purpose? If we should suddenly commit ourselves to building a memorial for every great disaster that has ever befallen humanity throughout time, and for each to occur since, I'd imagine the world would not be capable of producing enough marble, granite, or bronze (nor enough real estate) to contain the entire breadth of human suffering.

We simply cannot afford, nor can the world accomodate, that kind of fixation. Perhaps these physical limitations lend themselves to suggest the immesurable emotional tolls we take on our personal well-being should we forget that every memorial has an exit. Some people have a hard time leaving that sanctuary. It takes time, and that's okay. But how easy it is to convert a realms of intended peace into our own personal prisons.

today i bought some sunflowers on the side of the road- on the honour system! and it made me think there is something great about being back in small town america. no one locks their cars, everyone greets you on the towpath as you go running, flags line the streets, farm stands based on the honour system are seen on the side of the road and you always find that sunday driver. coming from a big city for last three years- where you wouldn't even dream of leaving you car unlocked for even a second, the honour system is definitely dead and you never say hello to a random stranger on the street- i end up finding all of this refreshing. i also have to remind myself to be friendly back and relax a little :) enjoying small town USA!

Week 45 Results!

The Final Tally:

Fresh-picked, tree-ripened peaches 403 (48.6%)
Running through the sprinklers 426 (51.4%)

We may be late, but at least we're seasonal.

i think the thing i'm looking forward to the most about being back in the states is quality time with people. i love the idea that i will be around long enough that i don't feel rushed into seeing everyone and doing everything. instead i will get the chance to have real quality time with people. this week has been with my parents. there is simple pleasure in just going about regular week. today my mom and i had our own quality time together going blueberry picking and then stopping off at a great jersey dinner for some quality dinner food. looking forward to all those quality moments ahead and thankful for:

I Love L.A. #2

The Edison.