I insist that I'm fine to my crew, and try to encourage them go on ahead and I'll stay with the rig. They leave, and then I grab my glasses off the ground and put them on, then hand off the aide bag and go into the rig. I try to self-diagnose my ankle, see if I'm just stunned or if I'm actually hurt. I end up determining that this is just like the other times that I've sprained my foot, and go walking into the townhouse to see if there's anything I can do to help.

I run a few more calls after this guy, who we end up transporting to the hospital. When we get there and I get into the EMS room I strip off my boot and check my ankle, it's sore but not super swollen. I just lace up my boot and keep going.

At around 0100 I went to sleep, my ankle in much more pain than it was in before, and I was considering requesting off the ambulance for the rest of the night. We didn't get any more calls, and I sleep soundly until around 0845 when I wake up. It's definitely swollen at this point. I hobble down to the station's lowest level and ask one of the medics if he has a free moment to look at it. I'm not sure why, but I guess I figured it couldn't hurt anything but my image.

Another medic saw me hobbling along and asked me if I was the same kid who cut his forehead a few weeks ago. (I am!) Yay, I'm being recognized by people! (All I have to do is hurt myself!)

It's just one thing after the other isn't it?

Anyway, I went to my doctor today. Apparently it's a second degree ankle sprain.

I'm laid up for the rest of the day, waking up early for an X-Ray (pardon, radiograph!) of my ankle to check for any possible fracture. Then work, which...will be interesting, as standing is a bit of an issue. I can do it, but it hurts.

I'm...in a bit of pain. My ankle is purple. Not looking forward to work.

Yeah...

I'm without a car for a while...

So I'm re-watching every Daria episode. I'm just a few minutes in the first one.

I...miss the 90's?

Or at least some of the cartoons...

I should work on that soon...

Yep...I've done this one before...

*sigh*

(taken from http://www.savagechickens.com/2010/05/elevators.html)

We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be.
--Kurt Vonnegut in Mother Night

Another flaw in the human character is that everybody wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance.
--Kurt Vonnegut in Hocus Pocus

"Happiness is only real when shared." ~Into The Wild (2007)

Am I sharing enough?

I fear that I'm not.

But who wants a part of this?

I can have oodles of charm when I want to.
--Kurt Vonnegut in Breakfast of Champions

Humor is an almost physiological response to fear.
--Kurt Vonnegut in A Man without a Country

The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn.
--David Russell

Isn't that the truth?

I even had someone yield to me that didn't need to. You only need to yield to an ambulance if the lights and/or sirens are on people. But I appreciated it!

I didn't even do a single "curb-check" in it! (You know...checking that the curb is still there with your tire...)

That's right...I'm awesome.

Or...something...

"Live your life, as this is not a dress rehearsal."
--Author Unknown

“A decline in a narcissistic desire for self-promotion can easily lead you to be mistaken for boring.”

- Alain de Botton

So true...

I backed my car into a cop car the other day
Well he just drove off, sometimes life's OK
I ran my mouth off a bit too much, oh, what did I say?
Well you just laughed it off, it was all OK

And we'll all float on OK
And we'll all float on OK
And we'll all float on OK
And we'll all float on anyway

Well, a fake Jamaican took every last dime with that scam
It was worth it just to learn some sleight of hand
Bad news comes don't you worry even when it lands
Good news will work its way to all them plans
We both got fired on exactly the same day
Well, we'll float on, good news is on the way

And we'll all float on OK
And we'll all float on OK
And we'll all float on OK
And we'll all float on
All right already, we'll all float on
No, don't you worry, we'll all float on
All right, I'm ready, we'll all float on
All right, don't' worry, we'll all float on
All right, all right, we'll all float on
All right already, we'll all float on
All right, don't worry, even if things end up a bit too heavy
We'll all float on
All right, already, we'll all float on
All right already, we'll all float on OK
Don't worry, we'll all float on
Even if things get heavy, we'll all float on
All right already, we'll all float on all right
Don't you worry, we'll all float on
We'll all float on...

The most beautiful people are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen." --Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

It's true...life makes beauty from hardship.

If you can't see the video click here: http://wp.me/pj7vh-fB and it'll take you directly to my blog.

Please click! This girl covering this song is one of my favorites. It just bleeds feelings of nostalgia.
----
This is the story of your red right ankle
And how it came to meet your leg
And how the muscle, bone, and sinews tangled
And how the skin was softly shed
And how it whispered, "Oh, adhere to me
For we are bound by symmetry
And whatever differences our lives have been
We together make a limb"
This is the story of your red right ankle

This is the story of your gypsy uncle
You never knew because he was dead
And how his face was carved and ripped with wrinkles
In the picture in your head
And remember how you found the key
To his hideout in the Pyrenees
But you wanted to keep his secret safe
So you threw the key away
This is the story of your gypsy uncle

This is the story of the boys who loved you
Who love you now and loved you then
And some were sweet and some were cold and snuffed you
And some just layed around in bed
And some, they crumbled you straight to your knees
Did it cruel, did it tenderly
Some, they crawled their way into your heart
To rend your ventricles apart
This is the story of the boys who loved you

This is the story of your red right ankle

If you can't see the video click here: http://wp.me/pj7vh-fD

Another song that I'm just now beginning to get.

It's funny how sweet is sounds...

----

Step one: light me on fire
Step two: walk clean away
I wont burn long
and evidence of your done wrong will be gone
in seconds I swear
but if you got time anyway
why not watch me hurt?
and nothing is sweeter than needed revenge
oh that's right
I did nothing
and you were the mean one
in fact, you even broke my good tape deck
in fact, I don't wanna be friends

but if you got time anyway
why not watch me hurt?
and nothing is sweeter than needed revenge
oh that's right
I did nothing
and you were the mean one
in fact, you even broke my good tape deck
in fact, I don't wanna be friends

...

Did you ever know me?
swear that I have tried
Did you ever need me?
I feel like I have died
Did you ever want me?
I swear that I have tried
How do you tell someone you don't love them?
How do you tell someone you don't care anymore?
How do you tell someone you don't love them anymore?

Any time I talk you you there's no one listening every time
I reach for you there's no one there and everywhere I look for you,
You're nowhere to be found I swear

...

If you can't see the video because you're on facebook...click here: http://wp.me/pj7vh-fp

Sky from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

(http://bit.ly/9hsiBg) (link to my original blog post if you cannot see the embedded video on facebook)

Oh!
That was such a short goodbye
Never get to say exactly what I want in front of you
I always fall apart at the worst thoughts of crashing down
I know you know this isn't what you signed up for

I'll never let this go
I'm in a different state every night
We're kept together by highways and telephone lines
I'll never let this go
I'm in a different state every night
We're kept together by highways and telephone lines

The mile markers help me count down the next time I'll be around
The only thing I'll rely on is
Falling leaves covering the ground
And a pale version of your complexion
I hope you know I'm worth waiting for

I'll never let this go
I'm in a different state every night
We're kept together by highways and telephone lines
I'll never let this go
I'm in a different state every night
We're kept together by highways and telephone lines

A long road
I've seen it all
Never wanting to look back
This long road
I've spent so much time
I'm glad you're willing to wait for me

Cause I'll never let this go
I'm in a different state every night
We're kept together by highways and telephone lines
I'll never let this go (go!)
I'm in a different state every night
We're kept together by highways and telephone lines

I don't want anything more
Than to see your face when you open the door
You'll make me beans on toast and a nice cup of tea
And we'll get a Chinese and watch TV
Tomorrow we'll take the dog for a walk
And in the afternoon then maybe we'll talk
I'll be exhausted so I'll probably sleep
And we'll get a Chinese and watch TV

You wipe the tears from my eye
And you say that all that it takes is a phone call
I cry at the thought of being alone and then
I wonder how long it will take til I'm home again

I don't want anything more
Than to see your face when you open the door
You'll make me beans on toast and a nice cup of tea
And we'll get a Chinese and watch TV
Tomorrow we'll take the dog for a walk
And in the afternoon then maybe we'll talk
I'll be exhausted so I'll probably sleep
And we'll get a Chinese and watch TV

I know it doesn't seem so fair
But I'll send you a postcard when I get there

I don't want anything more
Than to see your face when you open the door
You'll make me beans on toast and a nice cup of tea
And we'll get a Chinese and watch TV
Tomorrow we'll take the dog for a walk
And in the afternoon then maybe we'll talk
I'll be exhausted so I'll probably sleep
And we'll get a Chinese and watch TV

If you can't listen to the following video click this: http://bit.ly/aWG6XQ and go to my blog and listen to it.

By: Bright Eyes

This is the first day of my life
Swear I was born right in the doorway
I went out in the rain, suddenly everything changed
They're spreading blankets on the beach

Yours was the first face that I saw
I think I was blind before I met you
I don't know where I am, I don't know where I've been
But I know where I want to go

So I thought I'd let you know
That these things take forever, I especially am slow
But I realized how I need you
And I wondered if I could come home

Remember the time you drove all night
Just to meet me in the morning?
And I thought it was strange, you said everything changed
You felt as if you just woke up

And you said
"This is the first day of my life
Glad I didn't die before I met you
Now I don't care, I could go anywhere with you
And I'd probably be happy"

So if you want to be with me
With these things there's no telling
We'll just have to wait and see
But I'd rather be working for a paycheck
Than waiting to win the lottery

Besides, maybe this time is different
I mean, I really think you like me

The music video for this song is one of the sweetest things I've seen...maybe ever. If you can't see it because you're reading this on facebook click here: http://bit.ly/8Ys424

----

Well I don't know what I'm looking for
But I know that I just want to look some more
And I won't be satisfied
Til there's nothing left that I haven't tried
For some people it's an easy choice
But for me there's a devil in an angel's voice
Well I don't know what I'm looking for
But I know that I just want to look some more

Well I don't know what I'm living for
But I know that I just want to live some more
And you hear it from strangers and you hear it from friends
That love never dies and love never ends
I don't want to argue, no I don't want to fight
Cause you're always wrong and I'm always right
Well I don't know what I'm living for
But I know that I just want to live some more

I used to be involved and I felt like a king
Now I've lost it all and I don't feel a thing
I may never grow up, I may never give in
And I blame this world that I live in
I was in hell on a daily basis
And I see the sadness on all your faces
I've got friends who were married and their lives seemed complete
And here I am still stumbling down a darkened street
A darkened street

And I act like a child and I'm insecure
And I'm filled with doubt and I'm immature
Sometimes it creeps up on me
And before I know it I'm lost at sea
But no matter how far I roam
I always find my way back home
But I don't know what I'm waiting for
But I know that I don't want to wait anymore

----

(If you can't listen to the youtube video click here to read this post on my blog: http://bit.ly/dAbag9 )

I just heard one of my favorite songs today: Changeless by Carbon Leaf. In it, there’s a line that goes “I will not wait until the end, for my applause for you my friend.” I think it’s important to occasionally say thank you to the people that love us. So many people have helped me that I thought I should post something to just say thank you.

As many of you know, I've had a rough year. In spite of difficult circumstances I’m doing much better now, and I’m quickly learning to stand up and take full responsibility for my life and to take care of my own matters of importance. I now understand that my life has the potential to be something truly spectacular and I intend to completely live up to my potentials without excuse now. I'm really sorry that I've been so difficult to deal with, not just this year when I've been particularly challenging, but over nearly all of the years of my adolescence.

I’d like to thank you, not only putting up with me, but for supporting me, holding me, and suffering me when I’ve been insufferable. I appreciate your seemingly endless determined and intentional love and support, especially to those of you who have been steady in my life as much as you’ve been able to be. I don’t say this because I need something more, or because I need yet another verification of your love. You’ve given me abundance and acted in numerous loving ways over the years. I’m writing this just to say thank you for sticking with me when I didn’t know what to do with my life. Thank you for your guidance, your support, your friendship. The camaraderie that I’ve experienced in some of my most unruly times is without any doubt something to be admired.

I surely wouldn’t have made it without you.

With love and appreciation,

Paul

Just became

Scarlett I. Johansson[1] (born November 22, 1984) is an American actress and singer, and the most beautiful woman in the world. [citation needed]

Not that she really should need any citations...Just that I thought it was a bit of an outrageous claim to be stated as irrefutable fact.

Ugh, I've got class at 8am. This is ridiculous.

Falling Awake by Gary Jules:

====

Eagle in the dark
Feathers in the pages.
Monkeys in my heart
Are rattling their cages.

Found a way to blue
And another ghost to follow
Said "it's only up to you"
And that's the hardest pill to swallow.

You never get to choose
You live on what they sent you
And you know they're gonna use
The things you love against you

One foot in the grave
One foot in the shower
There's never time to save
You're paying by the hour

And that's just the way it goes
Falling awake
And that's just the way it goes

Slipping through the bars
Aware of the danger
Of riding in the cars
Taking candy from strangers

And it's never out of hand
Never out of pocket
I'm supersonic man
Do you wanna buy a rocket?

And that's just the way it goes
Falling awake, falling awake
Oh that's just the way it goes
Falling awake, falling awake

Eagle in the dark
Feathers in the pages
Monkeys in my heart
Are rattling their cages

I could learn to play the game
I could learn to run the hustle
If I only had the brains
The money or the muscle

====

Youtube video of the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM2dlfuo-xQ

I didn't watch it, I just listened to it.

I'm so happy. This is such a relief.

Huh...interesting. I like this one too.
-----
Song Title:             Mess of Me
Artist:                     Switchfoot

Lyrics:

I am my own affliction
I am my own disease
There ain't no drug that they could sell
Oh, there ain't no drug to make me well

(There ain't no drug)
There ain't no drug
There ain't no drug
It's not enough
The sickness is myself

I've made a mess of me
I want to get back the rest of me
I've made a mess of me
I want to spend the rest of my life alive
I've made a mess of me
I want to get back the rest of me
I've made a mess of me
I want to spend the rest of my life alive
The rest of my life alive

We lock our souls in cages
We hide inside our shells
It's hard to free the ones you love
Oh, when you can't forgive yourself
Yeah, forgive yourself

(There ain't no drug)
There ain't no drug
There ain't no drug
The sickness is myself

I've made a mess of me
I want to get back the rest of me
I've made a mess of me
I want to spend the rest of my life alive
I've made a mess of me
I want to get back the rest of me
I've made a mess of me
I want to spend the rest of my life alive
The rest of my life alive

Oh, right
And there ain't no drug
There ain't no drug
There ain't no drug
No drug to make me well
There ain't no drug
It's not enough
I'm breaking up
The sickness is myself
The sickness is myself

I've made a mess of me
I want to get back the rest of me
I've made a mess of me
I want to spend the rest of my life alive
I've made a mess of me
I want to get back the rest of me
I've made a mess of me
I want to spend the rest of my life alive
The rest of my life alive

Iris by: The Goo Goo Dolls (Emphasis Added)

And I'd give up forever to touch you
Because I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home? right now

And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
Because sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight

And I don't want the world to see me
Because I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
And you bleed just to know you're alive

And I don't want the world to see me
Because I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me
Because I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me
Because I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am

----

I didn't watch this video, I just know the song in it is good. Just listen to it...don't pay attention to the chintzy video.

See the world
Find an old-fashioned girl
And when all's been said and done
The things that are given (not won) are the things that you want

The things that make me happy really are the gifts I receive. Not money, things, or even favors. The gifts that make me happy are good company, good friends, and good times. You can't work for a smile, a hug, a kiss, appreciation, love, or friendship. They're gifts. Treasure the gifts you get when you get them people. You'll long for them once they're gone. You'll feel ever more deserving of them again if you appreciated them when you had them.

Full lyrics are here: http://tinyurl.com/Gomez-See-The-World

So I'm starting over. 365 photos of me. Starting tonight.

I'm only letting Facebook re-post this first one. After that they'll just be on this blog.

And my first shot is blurry. So what?

My beautiful friend Emily, and a couple random shots in DC:

(c) Paul Gupta

It's name was Merlin. I learned his name when I was younger during a "Snore & Roar". I think it's interesting that it came up and hit the news, this little piece of my childhood. Perhaps I'm just a little amazed because something in my life ended up on the news. Maybe I just pay too much attention to stuff on the news that is from my hometown etc.

Anyway, sloth bears from happy events in my childhood aside...

I just had my last day of work at Spirit Halloween on Friday. I haven't been paid yet, I should expect a check in the mail by Monday. With all of my hours (save for one shift) in it! That's something to look forward to! The work was pretty fun, it was retail, but overall it was a pretty fun experience. Lighthearted atmosphere that let me have fun with my job (I have a picture of me wearing that banana suit somewhere!) Lots of moving around, standing and lifting near the end. I really liked the lifting this last day actually! I've actually been happy for the chance to push my body a little. We loaded a tractor trailer with the entire store full of wooden displays, lots of pegboards and particle boards, but a fair amount of solid wood too. Did I mention it was an entire trailer full? I'm so sore and I love it. Although I could seriously use a massage right now, anyone? I can pay you back in shoulder rubs!

I've been walking/running this two mile circuit (wow, Google maps must be lying, it can't be two miles...) I'm really trying to lose weight, I need to work harder on the diet portion, but I'm definitely doing the exercise thing now, my upper arms aren't quite as flabby as they once were...and I think I'm a little stronger. It's odd...but I think I might actually lose weight this time. Interesting.

I think I might go into DC tomorrow...I need a day off...I saw this photo today on Flickr via DCist:
(link)

I think I'm going to try and take a similar shot! Maybe tonight if my day works out!

So yeah, that's life...

These shots were taken at the National Arboretum and a little spot near an airport that I love.

Click on these shots for full sized (they are low quality large size): If you're coming from facebook, it will require two clicks:

This is my first time really doing a shoot like this...

This is what I came up with:

Click on the following photos to see them full sized:

I also have a new facebook page (not just a profile!) for my photography:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Paul-Gupta/161917863775

You should definitely go check it out and become a fan of mine!

Thanks so much internet!

Paul

Please comment on these:

Peace,

Paul

http://www.talklikeapirate.com/

But alas mateys, I shall repent my sins and celebrate! When I go to the renn fest! (Maybe Oct. 3rd?) (information about the MD renn fest, personally referred to as "the best fest around, period" can be found here: http://www.rennfest.com/)

A date shall be set and I shall buy some cheap pirate garb and all will be merry while I take in the shows and enjoy life, with the best accent known to man!

**UPDATE** Except babies, I like it when babies  and young children sound like ninjas...

Also, I'm now employed! 5:30pm training at fox's pizza (http://www.foxspizza-woodbridge.com/) in Dale City!

Yesterday I applied to 36 different places. This brings the total to 65 different places. It's more than that...but I'm only counting subway once, even though I've dropped off applications at 5-6 subways. Same for Wal-Mart, McDonald's, and other chains.

Still applying! I can't wait until I get a job *somewhere*

I've started reading The Dhammapada again, my aunt (the American one who considered becoming an episcopalian nun) gave me a collection of texts by Eknath Easwaran. I highly suggest this edition/translation of this work (http://bit.ly/WQzaP) It comes with introductions that make the entire reading experience quick and painless. It includes a 72 page introduction to the Dhammapada and what it is (Which I'm just skipping this time), and extremely short and concise explanatory introductions to each couple of chapters (less than a page or two), which are less than a few pages long themselves.

I really don't know how I'm going to keep going...every day something just seems to get worse...not better...

I just got paid (generously) yesterday for a one-time gardening job. But the money is already out the door for taxes. Actually it doesn't cover it...it just covers most of it...

I still can't drive up to see my girlfriend. Can't afford the gas.

Ugh, internet! please help me find a job...

The situation improved.

This waiting game is intolerable!

Currently have a stable place to stay.

Going to school online.

My life is exciting!

I'm searching nonstop.

Can anyone tell me why I'm still not working? Anywhere?

Fast food hasn't even called me back!

I can't survive like this. I need to get a job. Why can't I get one?

I've been applying everywhere! Warehouses and manual labor included!

Does anyone have any tips for jobs? Send them my way if you do.

I'm getting pretty desperate.

I also need work, if you know of a place where I can stay more long-term while I get settled into a job of some sort I would appreciate hearing about it.

http://guptaxpn.com/blog/resume/ is where my resume is posted, this is also where my contact information is found.

Thank you so much for your generous offers of support.

~Paul Gupta

I'm not coming back, my mom is changing the locks.

I have a place to stay for the next couple of nights.

I have very little money, and I'm losing the will to keep on doing this.

I am lost.

I don't know what to do.

I need someone. If I'm homeless I'm homeless, and I can accept that.

But the conditions that are putting me to this are insanity.

I'm unemployed, almost entirely broke, and I'm looking for a job.

Please send me something soon!

Sincerely,
Paul Gupta

From the page two of the bill (which can be read here):

(2) The Internet is an essential infrastructure
that is comparable to roads and electricity in its
support for a diverse array of economic, social, and
political activity.

----

I just signed a petition urging Congress to pass the Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2009, which would make Net Neutrality the law once and for all.

Please help to save the Internet and tell your members of Congress to support this important legislation.
To take action on this issue, click on the link below:
http://tinyurl.com/lyrflo

It's actually kind of catchy. I'm not quite sure how I feel about this though...

You decide, leave your opinions in the comments.

Let's see what's happened since I last decided to post:

• Started my 7th month dating Deanna <3 !
• Went to a cook out with some kids from my GEMS (Gifted Education Multidisciplinary Seminar) class in school. We played volleyball, badminton, and caught up a bit.  It was fun, we nerds got together. Outside!  Then we ended up at Matt's house.  This was the first time during (well, technically after) my high school career that I hung out with a group of kids from my school outside of school, and the first time I went to one of their homes.  I missed out, there were some pretty cool kids at my school.
• I got a call that a close friend of mine, Katie Tyson, had passed away in a car accident on the way back from General Assembly.
• Attended a day-long youth to young adult "Bridging Retreat" held at the same location that my last Youth Convention (Con) was to be.
• I went to my last Youth Con where I realized that I'm not done with UU'ism, I'm not done with my faith.  I'm just not entirely sure how I fit in with it anymore.  Let's see what happens!
• I went to a Con friend's family beach house with my friend Shaina and my love Deanna. Where I got into the ocean for the first time in years, realized I hadn't been in water in a span of years as well, realized I can barely swim, proceeded to swallow what I'm guesstimating to be .5L of water or so. Slept, listened to The Beatles while nursing a terrible headache before a terribly long drive home.
• Spent many many many hours with De.
• Attended Katie's celebration Coffee House, cried (not much, I was still dehydrated from my trip to the beach and the resulting sickness), but cried nonetheless at many beautiful and unfeigned emotions were shared. Shaina gave an entirely new meaning to Changeless by Carbon Leaf. (http://tinyurl.com/ChangelessCarbonLeaf for the lyrics)
• Went to Amanda Griffin's house with some old con-folks, they reminisced about their con experiences, I then realized that Katie was rarely and briefly mentioned throughout the experience.  I guess the silver lining in all of this is that these people got to see each other once again.  I really don't want to do a funeral get-together with my con-friends.  Let's commit to allow something less painful to reunite us.
• The next day attended Katie's Memorial service, which was beautiful, it filled up the room with people from all over, including folk from Boston.
• Went to Deanna's to spend some time with her and process these past few days. Caught up on some sleep, then went to a needlepoint exhibit with De and her mother, it was actually pretty cool.  Who knew needlepoint could be so artful?  The exhibit was in a historic mansion, the property on which it was on is a public park with a barn used for art, art classes, and which hosts (public-facing) studios of independent artists.
• Came home.
• Wrote this post.

Yes, There's more that could be on this list, but these are the big things that popped into my head.

SAMPARKOUR from Wiland Pinsdorf on Vimeo.

Awesome short film featuring skillful parkour in Brazil, I am about to just say what every dude reading this is thinking: "I wish I could do this."

From the page:

Samparkour is a short that reveals the city of São Paulo (Brazil) under the look of Parkour. Where people see obstacles, Zico Corrêa visualize new possibilities.

This is pretty incredible, do I have any readers who do parkour? Do I have any readers?

But anyway, the main point:

• I shouldn't need to ever need to go back to my high school! (Yes, I am happy. Very, very happy.)

Now I'm off to NVCC to go declare a major and start the registration/financial aid process back up.

Peace

Paul

This is the second time this has happened.

To anyone who might care, only my mother, myself, and four cats live in this house.

Some of the things in the list of stolen items include:

• MacBook Pro
• Nikon D40
• Canon A540
• Mom's Lenovo Thinkpad r60
• All of my hard disks. (Which had all of my music, pictures, and files from the past million years...they stole the backup too)
• Bluetooth apple wireless keyboard.

----

Dilemma III

In Europe, a woman was near death from a special kind of cancer. There was one drug that the doctors thought might save her. It was a form of radium that a druggist in the same town had recently discovered. the drug was expensive to make, but the druggist was charging ten times what the drug cost him to make. He paid $400 for the radium and charged $4,000 for a small dose of the drug. The sick woman's husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to borrow the money and tried every legal means, but he could only get together about $2,000, which is half of what it cost. He told the druggist that his wife was dying, and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later. But the druggist said, "No, I discovered the drug and I'm going to make money from if." So, having tried every legal means, Heinz gets desperate and considers breaking into the man's store to steal the drug for his wife.

1. Should Heinz steal the drug?
1a. Why or why not?

2. Is it actually right or wrong for him to steal the drug?

2a. Why is it right or wrong?

3. Does Heinz have a duty or obligation to steal the drug?

3a. Why or why not?

4. If Heinz doesn't love his wife, should he steal the drug for her? Does it make a difference in what Heinz should do whether or not he loves his wife?

4a. Why or why not?

5. Suppose the person dying is not his wife but a stranger. Should Heinz steal the drug for the stranger?

5a. Why or why not?

6. Suppose it's a pet animal he loves. should Heinz steal to save the pet animal?

6a. Why or why not?

7. Is it important for people to do everything they can to save another's life?

7a. Why or why not?

8. It is against the law for Heinz to steal. Does that make it morally wrong?

8a. Why or why not?

9. In general, should people try to do everything they can to obey the law?

9a. Why or why not?

9b. How does this apply to what Heinz should do?

10. In thinking back over the dilemma, what would you say is the most responsible thing for Heinz to do?

10a. Why?

Discuss

source: I'm assuming these are in the public domain as I've read them in multiple places in multiple classes.

Huh, biased, but it's an interesting read nonetheless.

You know, pep rallies weirded me out in high school, and they've only gotten creepier in retrospect.

I have always detested the reactions I've gotten for my lack of enthusiasm for pep rally's at my school, perhaps it's the fact that I am a transfer who travels 10 miles every day each way and see little value to showing excessive enthusiasm for the efforts of another zip code's school.

Pep.

meh.

Discuss.

What are the pros/cons of pep rally and how does it relate to loyalty, does they reveal the futility of such an exercise? Or am I just a nasty and discordant student?

( making friends (from: http://www.stickycomics.com/ )

You have been given $500 to donate to a starving family with four children with the condition that you have to donate 50% of the money to someone else who is going to buy drugs with your donation. Would you still donate?

Discuss

source

(from http://www.stickycomics.com/)

I went up to Maryland on Friday night to hang out with Deanna, then took her and Shaina (who we picked up along the Metro).

Then we spent the entire day following a 10 foot tall, 13 foot long, and 8 foot wide sequin covered shoe on wheels.

I'll post pictures and a full report tomorrow on my blog!

g`night everyone!

If anyone else is going call/txt me and we can try to meet up and cheer on our favorite shoe!

See you there!

I'm reposting this note from facebook so that more people, ESPECIALLY for JPD folk.

All--

If I've tagged you in this, it's because I think you'll be interested in the results of this horrendously long Youth Ministry Consultation process. Please pass this along to all the UUs you know that I don't, as well as anyone I couldn't tag (this 20 person limit is terribly annoying).

This is mostly an informational note-- where to find documents, where to give feedback, etcetera.

http://www.uua.org/members/youth/youthministries/ has links to the report on the Consultation on Ministry to and with Youth, the recommendations of the Summit on Youth Ministry, and the Youth Ministry Working Group Report. There is also a link to the Mosaic Project that Laura Spencer has been working on-- I HIGHLY encourage any POC youth to check it out.

That's most of the documents currently floating around right now. If you're looking for more information, feel free to Facebook me and I'll send some more your way.

In terms of feedback-- we (the Youth Ministry Working Group) want to know what you, your friends, your parents, your ministers, your DREs, and your congregation think about this work. You can become a fan of the Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boston-MA/Unitarian-Universalist-Youth-Ministry/65259582414) and add your thoughts to the Discussion Thread (http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=65259582414&topic=8238).

Additionally, the UUA has created a new listserv (http://lists.uua.org/mailman/listinfo/YouthMinistry-Discuss) that anyone can join.

I only became directly involved in this process a year ago, but am moved by the painstaking care and effort that has gone into these final recommendations. I find the goals they lay out inspiring, and I hope you will as well. Regardless, please take the time to read through the report (http://www.uua.org/documents/youthoffice/090325_wg_recommendations.pdf), and comment on it. This document will never amount to anything unless individual UUs and congregations begin to talk about it's suggestions and how to achieve them.

So read, and start talking. :)

Blessed Be
--Morgan Ivens

original note found here: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=73078046266&ref=mf

Screenshot is below, consider this my parting gift JPD!

  Click on the picture for a full-size screenshot of the page!

The idea is to do 100 burpees. Adding one burpee per day. (day one = 1 burpee, day two = 2 burpees)

Let's see how this goes

just...of sunsets and such...

Since I bought a UV filter and all...

So here they are!

What do you think that 3 eyed smiley face symbol means?

It's all over the place and I'm not quite sure what it means or who it represents.

I'm just curious

Click the photos to see an enlargement!

All photos in this post are released into the public domain by Paul Gupta on February 19th, 2009.

But reality isn't too stifling today!

We finally have a decent president in office!  I watched the inauguration at...my church.  One of our members rented the hall out and we streamed it from a laptop (unfortuantly so did the rest of the world and it was laggy and painful to watch) but nonetheless we watched it at my church! (Which is okay, because it wasn't sponsored by the church, it was only in the church.)

After the inauguration we watched a video of the election eve rally he was at in Manassas! (The one I was at!) It was pretty powerful seeing him give that speech he gave right after seeing him take the oath.

So my day pretty much rocked, how did yours go and how did you spend your inauguration day? Leave your responses in the comments!

It's just so easy to relate to some of the postcards...

~Paul

_{Thank you XKCD.com!}

Mwahaha! You just WON the game! (more information at losethegame.com)

The original song, by the original artist.

But aside from instant/questionable-legal/free-entertainment, there are a bunch of covers of that song, usually recorded with a web cam and using a cheap integrated microphone resulting in low quality and amateur recordings most of the time.

I personally get more enjoyment out of watching these grainy/scratchy/crackly interpretations of the songs though because then I get to see how other consumers of music are digesting it, processing it, and sharing how it's affecting them. They remind you that the way you interpret and become affected by music isn't such a lonely and individual experience, as you can often see their emotions come out through these covers. So much so, that they often do more for me than the original song, because while most music you can question the motives of the artists, these people are doing it for free, because it's touched them somehow, or they just think the song is cool...but either way, it's because they care enough about the music to learn it, play it, and syndicate it...

What's your favorite cover? By who?

Isn't it strange though?!

but goodness...

whoever thought of blending mate with TEA, genius...

mate by itself is just bitter and unappealing...but with the black tea, makes it so smooth and just heavenly

I just bought a box of this tea:

Heavenly

Man Colin Hay Rocks...Why did Zach Braff have to go and overuse his music though?

anywho

Any minute now, my ship is coming in
I'll keep checking the horizon
I'll stand on the bow, feel the waves come crashing
Come crashing down, down, down, on me

And you say, be still my love
Open up your heart
Let the light shine in
But don't you understand
I already have a plan
I'm waiting for my real life to begin

When I awoke today, suddenly nothing happened
But in my dreams, I slew the dragon
And down this beaten path, and up this cobbled lane
I'm walking in my old footsteps, once again
And you say, just be here now
Forget about the past, your mask is wearing thin
Let me throw one more dice
I know that I can win
I'm waiting for my real life to begin

Any minute now, my ship is coming in
I'll keep checking the horizon
And I'll check my machine, there's sure to be that call
It's gonna happen soon, soon, soon
It's just that times are lean

And you say, be still my love
Open up your heart, let the light shine in
Don't you understand
I already have a plan
I'm waiting for my real life to begin

YouTube Video of Song

Wait, I’m wrong
Should have done better than this
Please, I’ll be strong
I’m finding it hard to resist
So show me what I’m looking for

Save me, I’m lost
Oh lord, I’ve been waiting for you
I’ll pay any cost
Save me from being confused
Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for…oh lord

Don’t let go
I’ve wanted this far too long
Mistakes become regrets
I’ve learned to love abuse
Please show me what I’m looking for

Save me, I’m lost
Oh lord, I’ve been waiting for you
I’ll pay any cost
Save me from being confused
Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for…oh lord

Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for

Save me, I’m lost
Oh lord, I’ve been waiting for you
I’ll pay any cost
Just save me from being confused
Wait, I’m wrong
I can’t do better than this
I’ll pay any cost
Save me from being confused
Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for…oh lord

I just lost all of my files on my SD card...

ubuntu randomly reformatted the drive...

actually, it merged two different SD Drives into one...

A camera card's file structure got merged into my cell phone card's file structure...

most FILES were lost...and I had to reformat them both...

URGH

*angst*

But I think I am going to build a terabyte backup/RAID'd server now...

Any ideas internet on how to do this cheapest?

I'm looking to spend less than $300 on non-drive components...it doesn't need to be fast or anything...just sturdy/reliable...

but they are so so so comfy...

Just bought some online the other day because they looked comfy...they got here...I was afraid they wouldn't fit because I have such wide feet...

but they do...yay!

Yay, black size 12 high tops! SO COMFY

(I think this post wins for least productive/interesting blog post in the world)

Let's hope this works!

I should know who I am by now
I walk the record stand somehow
Thinkin' of winter
The name is the splinter inside me
While I wait

And I remember the sound
Of your November downtown
And I remember the truth
A warm December with you

But I don't have to make this mistake
And I don't have to stay this way
If only I would wake

The walk has all been cleared by now
Your voice is all I hear somehow
Calling out winter
Your voice is the splinter inside me
While I wait

And I remember the sound
Of your November downtown
And I remember the truth
A warm December with you
But I don't have to make this mistake
And I don't have to stay this way
If only I would wake

I could have lost myself
In rough blue waters in your eyes
And I miss you still

Oh I remember the sound
Of your November downtown
And I remember the truth
A warm December with you
But I don't have to make this mistake
And I don't have to stay this way
If only I would wake

So much to do, internet is a blessing and a curse at the same time lol...

But not for long! because cheap unfiltered access won't be here for long!

Check this out: http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/08/analysis-fcc-co.html

Which reminds me to pimp this awesome campaign out:

AWESOME! RIGHT!? I'm also updating this via subversion now! EVEN MORE AWESOME!

Anywho, here goes:

Mike, I really am sorry I didn't get to know you better, Because during worship, when your turn came up to speak in the inner circle of second bridgers, I felt such an emotion in your voice, I saw you holding someone's hand for what I assume was to keep you from tearing up before you had said what you needed to say. I'm not going to lie, I don't remember most of what any of you said. But I distinctly remember the emotion that the bunch of you had in your voices. But I know it's an emotion only reachable by the greatest of loves, that can only be given by a loving and supportive community...

I still can't name it. That beautiful, bittersweet emotion that I've felt during every one of the 10 or so bridgings (not all at cons, I'm only 17!, suusi and churches and GA have them too!) that I've experienced. But it's not really important is it?

I cried, as I always do. But they were not tears of sorrow, nor tears of joy...But tears brought about by the knowing of just how blessed I am to have found this, to have found such a beautiful and loving place.

Yes, blessed, I consider this to be nothing short of a blessing. Geez, what could be more of a blessing than love?

Anyway...Thank you, thank you for helping me to realize this community for what it is, thank you for saying what you did, thank you for reminding me of just how much of a blessing these people and community is.

great

banner parade was cool...lots of waiting around...and i was with the youth banner...and as such was with the youth banner group

then came one item of:

business! which was only approving the procedures which was of course a unanimous yes. a few awards were handed out...then a nearly purely musical worship was presented...which was great...the youth got a lot more out of bits of it than most of ga IMHO(or at least we showed it with our standing and clapping along with a few songs and such, eventually getting the entire ga standing along with us...which was entertaining! )

then i get a call from a few people i've met from ga last year and from my district who were catching a shuttle to the beach near a hotel and wanted me to join them...and in all the spontinaity (damn...i'm sure i spelled that wrong...sorry) found myself on a bus traveling to the beach with a few nearly strangers,and *sigh* missing youth worship,which while deepeningly saddening,was alright,because i was on a dark beach taking in the strong warm breeze and truly enjoying that moment

after the beach we went to a walgreens not far from the convention center to pick up grub (i've surprisingly eaten very little. mostly out of stomach issues etc. but decided that it'd be good to stock up on energy drinks. i bought nearly $20 worth. i've no excuse now for being tired! lol)

anyway,back at the hotel my thermostat refuses to turn on,so i've to swit

so wednesday comes

then becca, jake, alex, and priscilla spent about an hour of their day coming to pick me up...trying to find me and the address...(truth=the address the gps on your phone gives you, is NEVER as good as the one on your front door!) the address which i gave them wasn't 1000% accurate... but they found me and weren't terribly upset...

anyway, we drive to THEIR house so they could food (they offered to feed me, but i wasn't hungry and i was feeling post-flight strange so i passed)

then we went to the convention center, which is nice, but a little more...err...empty than prior centers...no sofas. then checked in and got my voting card, seeing all too familiar faces left and right! lol, i've sure gotten to know people around here. between youth caucus staff last year to youth council and my brief experiences with druumm-yaya...and not to mention the countless faces from my district who are here, i seem to get a lot of nods and hello's thrown my way...which is certainly nice...and is making me want to reach out more to first timers and strangers just that little bit more

well, youth orientation was normal...man...it's weird saying that...normal. is that what this has become? normal? nahh

well funtimes was a few hours later and that was also great...mostly productive...and when it wasn't i was sitting with fun people!

(cont. on next post due to phone limits)

~~~~~~~~~
Paul Gupta
~~~~~~~~~
Sent from my Verizon Wireless mobile phone.

but i'll start from the beginning...

tuesday
----
flew into fort lauderdale airport yesterday. flight was good. only kink in the flight was that while boarding there was a little girl in MY window seat...but i decided to let her just sit there and enjoy it and not say anything like the awesomely nice person i am. EVEN though i got stuck in the middle seat. (which was a tight squeeze as i was flying next to a rather...large framed...woman, sitting in the aisle seat. who by the way...i had assumed was the mother of this child. but alas...was not. i learned this when she had de-planed all alone...lol)

anywho! the worst part was...this kid didn't even open up the window...too busy watching cartoons on the seatback to appreciate any of the sights etc. which deeply saddened me..because that's still one of my favorite things to do...and TV was ruining such a simple pleasure from this kid. well...i get off the plane, and soon call up denise from my church for a ride to the house some people from my church were staying at for the week(not me...i'm all about a hotel room alone when i can get it...and there were lots of small children at the house...just too much energy) anyway, we ate dinner and go to visit the water's edge at the local beach...very nice

get back, and soon crashed!

the next day(wednesday)
----
(Cont. @ next post because of phone issues)

~~~~~~~~~
Paul Gupta
~~~~~~~~~
Sent from my Verizon Wireless mobile phone.

So then I went out to breakfast Lunch with Dad. We got breakfast since neither of us had eaten anything that day yet.(Not sure what his reason was. I'm in summer mode) I got a huge stack of strawberry/banana pancakes and it was great. On the way back to my house we start talking about cell phones (Because I'm going to switch over to verizon once I got a car, which should be happening soon!) He gives me the green light to order one up, and once I get home I start checking out the verizon site. Only things I'm looking for are a huge battery life(I'm constantly forgetting to charge my phone...and other chargeable things...) and bluetooth, so I can use my headset with it. I find it, and I decide to go with the cheap plan that should provide plenty of minutes. Combined with the cheapest texting plan with unlimited verizon-verizon texting.

{retail-angst type="cellphones"}
I find it (the env2, has the biggest and best battery life out of all of them, as well as that awesome awesome keyboard.), so I figure, I'd rather go to the verizon store instead of order it online and wait until Saturday to get it, when I'll be gone. After waiting 15 minutes in line, realizing that the line, isn't actually a line, it's just a huddle of people waiting to be called, (You have to check into a computer that looks like an advertisement display which of course, I looked over, not thinking to give my name to a billboard)Anywho, I punch my name in. 30 minutes later, I get called up. Less than 2 minutes into the conversation the salesmen asks to see my drivers license, so he can check my credit report to see if I qualify to sign up for a plan with them.(Which of course I won't, being underaged, and without credit...) And I do, he points out I have to be 18, and then I realize that I've just wasted 45 minutes of my life! Yep, beat that retail-angst readers!
{/retail-angst}

So I go back home after filling up mum's car at the BP. When I get back, I have the Watchmen tradeback waiting for me on my doorstep! Which, I do believe I'm going to begin now! (yay, happy endings!)

But I'll leave you with some internets, courtesy of XKCD:

Alt-Text: "On the other hand, physicists like to say physics is to math as sex is to masturbation."

(I think I'm going to take physics next year, and stop taking math. They just look so lonely over there on the right...) (Yes, that is what I mean, I'll show you my planned schedule if you want.)

It's been a good, simple day.

This is not the first glitch Dreamhost has had and I doubt very much so that it shall be the last.

But anywho, this will be my homepage for a little while, I just figured out how to use php to redirect guptaxpn.com to my blog.  I figure I'll never actually host anything on guptaxpn.com but on it's subdomains instead...
The homepage will just redirect to the blog or perhaps to something else later on, which will then give people links to wherever they need to go.

Hope this post hasn't bored you too much,
Paul