Poverty

I'm incredibly lucky to have enough money for food, shelter, water, and even a private school. I'm more than lucky. Sometimes people forget how lucky they are, and they take for granted their gift of having enough money to survive and have a stable, economically, happy life.

I found this blog the other day (it's about what to shop when you're broke like a canyon) and I found it incredibly fascinating and made me think for a really long time. What really intrigued me about the post that I found most particular was the part where she explained how buying small luxuries keeps you sane. "Again, living without this stuff makes you feel poor. Sometimes you need to have some small luxuries to feel human, and personally, my need to feel human is more important than my need for broccoli." I'm not sure about you, but that makes me think a whole lot.

I suggest you read the whole thing, and after that read this reddit thread that also makes you think... about humanity and poverty.

Whilst reading both, listen to this masterpiece of a song that goes along well with reading about this subject.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbO2_077ixs

Sorry for the short and bitter post this was, I've been kinda down this past week or so, but don't fret, it will pass.

See you all next time,
Sam

Graduating, Being Open-Minded and One Piece

Now that I'm graduating Middle School, passing on to a new school with new everything, I think it's time to reflect. In less than 5 days, I will graduate my 3 years of being a pre-teen and according to movies and books, will have the worst/best time of my life the following 4 years. I have moved schools MANY times, and I'm quite used to it, so making new friends will not be hard for me. And every time I move schools I learn something valuable. But this school has taught me the possibly most important value that grown adults still don't have, which is to be open-minded. Living in a city like D.C, you see diplomats and politicians almost everywhere you go, (it's a small city, ok!) where I would say only 1/3 of them are open-minded. I think that being open-minded can really solve some of the nation's problems. If more people in Congress are open-minded, the more agreements there will be, leading to less problems! But, there are still people who refuse to be open-minded the smallest bit, like people who believe in conservatism. But this could be a whole different post (in fact, I made one about open-mindedness), and I don't care much for politics, so let's move onto my point. This school has taught me so much, and I will appreciate and remember that when I get older. The past years I have learnt some things about the world around me, particularly myself, and to opening my mind (see what I did there?) to new ideas. Thank you, Alice Deal, for an amazing three years. 

Now, being open-minded isn't only about politics, religion, or opinions. I recently started watching this anime show called "One Piece", which is surprisingly amazing, and it's one of the only anime I've ever watched, considering I'm very new to this "genre". If you're not familiar with anime, it's Japanese (or Asian? I don't know) cartoons, but they're less cartoony as Looney Tunes, and more of what I call art. Each frame is like it's own masterpiece, and the creativity as well as the character development is both amazingly well written and original. I recommend it very much, but if after 15 episodes you still don't like it, oh well, being open-minded doesn't mean you have to agree with me or others. It's about listening to other people and being understanding of what they say/do. So go out there and do something and do something different today, even if it's something extraordinary like traveling to India or as small as watching all 7 seasons of an extraordinary anime.

Peace out! 

-Sam :D

Some cool links:

One Piece fo free: http://www.onepieceofficial.com

How to be open-minded: http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Open-Minded

Conservatism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatism_in_the_United_States

An open-minded article about not being open-minded (woah... meta): http://gideonz.tripod.com/articles/OpenMind.htm

Holocaust Poem

Growing Up

Even though I'm only 14, people are already starting to plan out their future, what they want to be when they grow up, where to go to college, and such. I find all of that kind of stupid, knowing exactly how your life is going to go and all of that. Though I have to admit, I still really don't know what I'm going to be, or exactly who I am going to be. I remember when I was a kid, all I wanted to do was to be a taxi driver, or a garbage truck guy. I was unaware, of course of the economic factor of those jobs, and how those jobs were not jobs that I should supposedly "dream"of.

 Looking back at that, I find it sad that my dream of driving through the city were crushed by the stereotypical "I want to be a lawyer!" or "I want to be a doctor!" type of kids that told me that their parents taught them about money. And I think whoever wants to be a taxi driver or a garbage truck guy should be one if he wants to. Society has built this mindset of lawyers and doctors that are happy because they gains lots of money, but money can't buy happiness. What I'm getting at is that you shouldn't want a job just for money. Do it because you like it, or else what's the point in life? Money?

Trophy

This one's kinda dark. If you don't understand the joke, go suck a duck.

Also, a lot of people tell me they can't see the comic. Click to enlarge it! Have a good week, guys.

Two Comics in one?! It must be my birthday!

Huevos Rancheros

My mom taught me how to cook Mexican Huevos Rancheros. Damn.