This week, some students at the University Tennessee will wear empty gun holsters to protest the laws and campus policies that prohibit the university community from carrying handguns on campus. Even if someone has a concealed handgun carry license, he or she still may not bring the weapon on a school campus.
Some students want to be permitted to carry a handgun as a form of self-defense, and "the only time you're authorized to shoot is when someone is attacking you," Nathan Robinson, a UT senior, told the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Poetic.
Guns are just a bad idea on college campuses in so many ways.
Students are young and thus pretty irresponsible. So are most non-students, yes, but if thousands of foolish, brash 20-somethings can be prevented from carrying weapons, then I think they should be.
Put those guns in the context of any number of campus parties that take place on a weekend. At any given point on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, hundreds of students can be crammed into a fraternity house, a bar, a dorm — what happens if someone get belligerent and whips out a gun? What if someone's gun goes off accidentally? What if someone's gun gets stolen without them noticing?
If we lived in an ideal world, maybe concealed carry would be OK. But we don't live in an ideal world. College campuses are rife with drugs and violence, whether anyone wants to admit that. Add guns to the mix, and that's a scary climate. People get drunk all the time, people smoke or do other drugs; who's to say they're not going to get completely trashed, lose most/all/some sense of good judgment and shoot someone for the hell of it? What about petty bar fights? Or arguments that may not be very serious but could escalate quickly if someone pulled out a gun?
But then there's the other side: Would those 25 (reported) rapes on Tennessee campuses have occurred if the women had guns? (Would they have become more violent if the perpetrator did too?) Would killing sprees like the one at Virginia Tech be headed off if a student or professor could shoot an aggressor in self-defense or to protect others? Would robberies continue to decrease if people knew there was a greater threat to them for stealing something?
It's really naive and presumptuous, Mr. Robinson, to say that you're only authorized to shoot when someone is attacking you. That would never happen. It doesn't happen in the real world; why would college campuses be any different? Carrying guns won't add to campus safety; it would just make people more wary and on edge.
Vanderbilt has about 6,000 undergraduate students. If just half of them chose to carry handguns, that's 3,000 deadly weapons in the hands of irresponsible young adults in a very, very small area. Add to those numbers graduate students, faculty and staff, and the concentration of weapons would be pretty scary.
Allowing members of campus communities to carry guns just doesn't seem like it would reduce the risk of violent crime, theft, anything. If anything, it seems to me that it would increase an atmosphere of discomfort and just heighten distrust among students. The laws keeping guns off campus are there for a reason, anyhow.
4/6/08
Link-o-rama. Uh, sort of.
First things first (and this is long overdue), The New York Times last weekend had two articles on things near and dear to my heart.
One is about blogging and the potential benefits of that. Cough cough someonewhowantstogiveoutabookdealpleasetakenoticeofme cough cough. O.K., so maybe I'm not ready for a book deal. Give me a few years. But hey, if anyone sees this and wants to give me a job, that'd be just as good.
The other is about judging someone's date-worthiness based on his/her bookshelf. It's amazingly true. I love books, and reading is one of my favorite things in the world. If I can't talk about a book or an author with someone, I'm bored. They don't have to necessarily share my tastes to a T, but at least know who some of the literary greats are. Most of the names on my shelf aren't that obscure; some googling will tell you most of what you need to know. But really, I don't think I could ever be serious with someone who doesn't read. Or at least doesn't read books of substance. Yes yes, we all have different definitions of a "substantial" book, but anything labeled "Sci-Fi" or "Fantasy" doesn't fall under that umbrella for me. Then again, the people I know who read sci-fi or fantasy novels are prooooooobably not the kind of folks I'd date.
Pretentious, yes?
Another link that is less entertaining and not Times-related: Life Before Death. It's a series of photographs by German photog Walter Schels; he shot people while they were alive but in their final days and then again after they died. Each photo has a little blurb about the person, and most of them have cancer or another disease. It's pretty powerful, albeit a little morbid.
And to end on a happy note, please visit Hope is Emo (courtesy of E. Cofer). I thought it might be real, but it's not. Regardless, it's pretty damn funny. I wish it was more current and still happening, but good things never last. Hope would say that.
One is about blogging and the potential benefits of that. Cough cough someonewhowantstogiveoutabookdealpleasetakenoticeofme cough cough. O.K., so maybe I'm not ready for a book deal. Give me a few years. But hey, if anyone sees this and wants to give me a job, that'd be just as good.
The other is about judging someone's date-worthiness based on his/her bookshelf. It's amazingly true. I love books, and reading is one of my favorite things in the world. If I can't talk about a book or an author with someone, I'm bored. They don't have to necessarily share my tastes to a T, but at least know who some of the literary greats are. Most of the names on my shelf aren't that obscure; some googling will tell you most of what you need to know. But really, I don't think I could ever be serious with someone who doesn't read. Or at least doesn't read books of substance. Yes yes, we all have different definitions of a "substantial" book, but anything labeled "Sci-Fi" or "Fantasy" doesn't fall under that umbrella for me. Then again, the people I know who read sci-fi or fantasy novels are prooooooobably not the kind of folks I'd date.
Pretentious, yes?
Another link that is less entertaining and not Times-related: Life Before Death. It's a series of photographs by German photog Walter Schels; he shot people while they were alive but in their final days and then again after they died. Each photo has a little blurb about the person, and most of them have cancer or another disease. It's pretty powerful, albeit a little morbid.
And to end on a happy note, please visit Hope is Emo (courtesy of E. Cofer). I thought it might be real, but it's not. Regardless, it's pretty damn funny. I wish it was more current and still happening, but good things never last. Hope would say that.
2/17/08
Nice guys don't get paid.
In the spirit of Valentine's Day (everyone's favorite day!), I'd just like to say something that I've thought for a very long time: Nice guys don't finish last.
They don't. Contrary to the Green Day song, nice guys are actually highly sought after and rather nice to keep around. The problem is, guys who classify themselves as "nice guys" often are not. Per my observations, I've found them to be whiny saps.
The guys who all say "nice guys finish last, girls want a guy who's going to treat her like crap, girls need a chase and I just can't do that" blah blah blah tend to be wimps. Wimps are bad. Nice guys are good.
And if anyone is going be whining in a relationship, it's going to be me, capiche?
I've been whining a considerable amount in recent days since The Day of My Noose was Thursday, so I've tried to find people who will share in my misery. I can count on a few fellows I know to at least hate the day with me, but a couple really boo-hooed (not literally; there were no actual tears) about how they're great and they wanted a Valentine and they know girls who didn't get anything from the guys they're dating and that's not OK and they would treat a girl so well but they're too nice and they can never get anywhere, etc etc.
Please.
You think you're too nice? No such thing. Too whiny? Ding! I can't speak for all the other girls I know, but I don't want somebody to fall all over themselves for me. It's nice that the potential is there, believe me, but please don't actually do it.
And that whole "girls just want a guy who makes them work for attention" thing is a load of crap as well. I'll admit, a little hard-to-get is OK, but there's a line between "hard to get" and "please don't get me at all." Sometimes that line is hard to recognize, especially when a girl doesn't want to see it. But it's there and if a girl willingly ignores it, well, that's just something you handle on a case-by-case basis. But girls generally don't go seeking out guys who will run away from them unless they have issues (points at self).
But a chase is preferable to having everything you could ever want dropped in your lap (although there's a point where that starts to shift; I think I'm reaching it).
I don't guess I know how exactly to define a "nice" guy, but he's not whiny. And he's not a pushover. It varies per person, those characteristics are not positive attributes.
Let's shift subjects, shall we? Onto the stream-of-consciousness part of the post you might actually read:
Spring break is in two weeks. Everything for ASB is in order. I am beyond excited for my site and my girls.
Today there was a guy sitting outside Starbucks asking people for money, etc. One guy brought him inside, bought him coffee and a pastry, then sat with him for a while outside and talked to him. I stared half the time because I was so happy that people like that really do exist and also because I couldn't help but wonder if I'm big enough to do the same thing. I'm not. He came back in later and asked for a refill on his coffee, and whoever was working said they didn't do free refills, even though the barista that had left not long ago said she'd refill it for him. So he went back outside, where he stayed for about 15 minutes before leaving. I could have bought him coffee or said that Jami told him she'd refill for him, but I didn't. I thought about it. I don't know why I didn't, and I'm really mad at myself for not doing anything. I feel like a hypocrite sometimes because I'm in all these service organizations and I'll volunteer my life away, but I can't just buy some guy more coffee? Rarely am I disappointed in myself, but this time I am.
I wrote a story today. It was short and not my best, but I haven't written fiction in a few months. Before you ask, no, you may not read it. I feel better about my writing than I did a year ago, but that doesn't mean I want to share it. If I ever let someone read my stories, I'll probably marry them.
Speaking of getting married, WE is showing marathons of all my favorite bridal shows. I just watched "My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding," and some girl spent ... wait for it ... wait for it ... $775,000 OF HER NEW HUSBAND'S (who is about 50; she's like 20 I think) MONEY on the wedding. Her dress was $6,500. Holy god. For one day.
I'm going to the $99 David's Bridal sale and will be happy to have a cotton candy machine at the reception.
They don't. Contrary to the Green Day song, nice guys are actually highly sought after and rather nice to keep around. The problem is, guys who classify themselves as "nice guys" often are not. Per my observations, I've found them to be whiny saps.
The guys who all say "nice guys finish last, girls want a guy who's going to treat her like crap, girls need a chase and I just can't do that" blah blah blah tend to be wimps. Wimps are bad. Nice guys are good.
And if anyone is going be whining in a relationship, it's going to be me, capiche?
I've been whining a considerable amount in recent days since The Day of My Noose was Thursday, so I've tried to find people who will share in my misery. I can count on a few fellows I know to at least hate the day with me, but a couple really boo-hooed (not literally; there were no actual tears) about how they're great and they wanted a Valentine and they know girls who didn't get anything from the guys they're dating and that's not OK and they would treat a girl so well but they're too nice and they can never get anywhere, etc etc.
Please.
You think you're too nice? No such thing. Too whiny? Ding! I can't speak for all the other girls I know, but I don't want somebody to fall all over themselves for me. It's nice that the potential is there, believe me, but please don't actually do it.
And that whole "girls just want a guy who makes them work for attention" thing is a load of crap as well. I'll admit, a little hard-to-get is OK, but there's a line between "hard to get" and "please don't get me at all." Sometimes that line is hard to recognize, especially when a girl doesn't want to see it. But it's there and if a girl willingly ignores it, well, that's just something you handle on a case-by-case basis. But girls generally don't go seeking out guys who will run away from them unless they have issues (points at self).
But a chase is preferable to having everything you could ever want dropped in your lap (although there's a point where that starts to shift; I think I'm reaching it).
I don't guess I know how exactly to define a "nice" guy, but he's not whiny. And he's not a pushover. It varies per person, those characteristics are not positive attributes.
Let's shift subjects, shall we? Onto the stream-of-consciousness part of the post you might actually read:
Spring break is in two weeks. Everything for ASB is in order. I am beyond excited for my site and my girls.
Today there was a guy sitting outside Starbucks asking people for money, etc. One guy brought him inside, bought him coffee and a pastry, then sat with him for a while outside and talked to him. I stared half the time because I was so happy that people like that really do exist and also because I couldn't help but wonder if I'm big enough to do the same thing. I'm not. He came back in later and asked for a refill on his coffee, and whoever was working said they didn't do free refills, even though the barista that had left not long ago said she'd refill it for him. So he went back outside, where he stayed for about 15 minutes before leaving. I could have bought him coffee or said that Jami told him she'd refill for him, but I didn't. I thought about it. I don't know why I didn't, and I'm really mad at myself for not doing anything. I feel like a hypocrite sometimes because I'm in all these service organizations and I'll volunteer my life away, but I can't just buy some guy more coffee? Rarely am I disappointed in myself, but this time I am.
I wrote a story today. It was short and not my best, but I haven't written fiction in a few months. Before you ask, no, you may not read it. I feel better about my writing than I did a year ago, but that doesn't mean I want to share it. If I ever let someone read my stories, I'll probably marry them.
Speaking of getting married, WE is showing marathons of all my favorite bridal shows. I just watched "My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding," and some girl spent ... wait for it ... wait for it ... $775,000 OF HER NEW HUSBAND'S (who is about 50; she's like 20 I think) MONEY on the wedding. Her dress was $6,500. Holy god. For one day.
I'm going to the $99 David's Bridal sale and will be happy to have a cotton candy machine at the reception.
12/1/07
This goes to all my athletes in the struggle
In my state of doing absolutely nothing this evening, I happened across "For Love of the Game" on USA. It's a good movie because it's about sports, and it stars Kevin Costner. I don't know about you, but there is little more I could ask for from a motion picture.
I'm a sucker for any sports movie, even when the plot doesn't actually pivot on anything related to the sport in the movie.
Most sports movies make me cry too. I don't know why, but they're often terribly dramatic. Regardless, I'll watch them all day long.
On that note, I give you my favorite sports movies of all time. (Note: I didn't say best sports movies of all time. I said favorite. This has nothing to do with actual quality.)
10. "A League of Their Own"
9. "Coach Carter"
8. "Angels in the Outfield"
7. "Cool Runnings"
6. "For Love of the Game"
5. "Little Big League"
4. "Remember the Titans"
3. "The Sandlot"
2. "Little Giants"
1. "Love and Basketball"
Honorable mentions: "Air Bud," "Rookie of the Year"
Now take a minute to catch your breath after laughing at me.
I'm a sucker for any sports movie, even when the plot doesn't actually pivot on anything related to the sport in the movie.
Most sports movies make me cry too. I don't know why, but they're often terribly dramatic. Regardless, I'll watch them all day long.
On that note, I give you my favorite sports movies of all time. (Note: I didn't say best sports movies of all time. I said favorite. This has nothing to do with actual quality.)
10. "A League of Their Own"
9. "Coach Carter"
8. "Angels in the Outfield"
7. "Cool Runnings"
6. "For Love of the Game"
5. "Little Big League"
4. "Remember the Titans"
3. "The Sandlot"
2. "Little Giants"
1. "Love and Basketball"
Honorable mentions: "Air Bud," "Rookie of the Year"
Now take a minute to catch your breath after laughing at me.
9/11/07
Rock and roll razorblade
Last night, all of my middle-school dreams came true. I saw Hanson play live.
It was special because I love them and have loved them for many moons, but the evening was also very special because yesterday marked, to the day, the 10-year anniversary of the release of "MMMBop." So they performed it acoustically. It was beautiful. Taylor "Oh, yeah!"-ed the night away, and I screamed like I was on a roller coaster for three hours. Wouldn't you scream too if you saw this?
But really, they rocked. They didn't play all that much from "Middle of Nowhere" and instead played a good chunk of their new album and "Underneath." It made me very happy. They did, however, play "Yearbook," which they have NEVER played live until last night. I almost cried when Taylor sang about Johnny and "turning to that paaaAAAGE"!
So many people have made fun of me for being so excited, but Hanson were so good! They aren't the 12-year-olds everyone still wants them to be. However, there were very few people there under the age of 17. And that's pushing it. But the beauty of the show was that the fans and Hanson have grown together. Their new stuff wouldn't appeal to my 11-year-old self, but their new stuff definitely does. So does the way they look.
Even Isaac has gotten cute. He's really grown into his features.
All in all, it was a magical evening. Carly came too because she might be their biggest fan. I'm pretty sure we both teared up at least twice. It was like Christmas but better.
It was special because I love them and have loved them for many moons, but the evening was also very special because yesterday marked, to the day, the 10-year anniversary of the release of "MMMBop." So they performed it acoustically. It was beautiful. Taylor "Oh, yeah!"-ed the night away, and I screamed like I was on a roller coaster for three hours. Wouldn't you scream too if you saw this?
But really, they rocked. They didn't play all that much from "Middle of Nowhere" and instead played a good chunk of their new album and "Underneath." It made me very happy. They did, however, play "Yearbook," which they have NEVER played live until last night. I almost cried when Taylor sang about Johnny and "turning to that paaaAAAGE"!
So many people have made fun of me for being so excited, but Hanson were so good! They aren't the 12-year-olds everyone still wants them to be. However, there were very few people there under the age of 17. And that's pushing it. But the beauty of the show was that the fans and Hanson have grown together. Their new stuff wouldn't appeal to my 11-year-old self, but their new stuff definitely does. So does the way they look.
Even Isaac has gotten cute. He's really grown into his features.
All in all, it was a magical evening. Carly came too because she might be their biggest fan. I'm pretty sure we both teared up at least twice. It was like Christmas but better.
9/6/07
It's skank-tastic.
I have said at least once before that MySpace bothers me just a wee bit because it's a beautiful forum for skankiness. People can do or say whatever they please because, hey, everyone else is doing it.
Girls can take the MySpace-mirror picture of themselves in their underwear or shorts that say "Bootylicious" (or something else equally dumb) on the ass; boys can ... well, they can do exactly the same thing. BECAUSE THEY DO. I HAVE SEEN THIS AND I DO NOT LIKE IT. Then they can write a clever, obviously original little caption that says something along the lines of "lOoK bUtT dOn'T tOuCh!!!!!!1111!1!1!!!!!" Again, I have seen it with mine own eyes.
However, there's a line between being a dumb ho and being a Dumb Ho. Perhaps that is harsh. Hm. Good.
Yesterday when I logged in, I looked at the bulletins section because I'm a sucker for some quality time-wasting surveys. What I saw was not something that appeals to me at all.
Yep, you read that right. Subject: Fuck Buddies (and ::Fuck Buddies:: — I would hate to not give credit for that clever use of a PUNCTUATION MARK). Twice. This particular bulletin was posted by two different people. I hope to Jesus in Heaven that the second was not in response to the first. Oh please oh please no.
The full text of said bulletin is as follows:
Uh ... well, I opened it, obviously, but I only wanted to make fun of it. But I mean, if there are any takers...
NOT REALLY.
But seriously? Isn't this what one might call "solicitation"? I think so, but then again I suppose my take on this is a tad skewed since I'm marginally disturbed by the whole thing.
Part of me badly wants these people to read my blog and be offended, but then the smart side of me comes in and reminds the mean, funny part of me that they aren't going to read my blog. If those bulletins were successful, they're going to be pretty busy for a while.
I won't get too specific with any other complaints other than the creative punctuator (::::::::) posts no less than seven bulletins daily (what? I get on MySpace a lot! I have to avoid homework somehow.), and most of them say something like "OMG im so bored. someone post something to give me something to do. why arent any of you on line?"
Snack on that for a minute. I don't even need to make fun of it because it pretty much takes care of itself.
I think the question is: WHY ARE YOU SO LAME? I sort of feel bad because I was pretty good friends with this person in high school, but hey we're not in high school anymore, are we?
There are days when I utterly loathe my life and can safely say in some moments I am the lamest person alive, but in terms of overall lameness, I've got nothing on some of the people I know. Oh well. I can't be the first at everything.
I also forgot to mention that I have hives again. I have run out of medicine and don't have time to drive to Kroger. My life sucks right now.
Girls can take the MySpace-mirror picture of themselves in their underwear or shorts that say "Bootylicious" (or something else equally dumb) on the ass; boys can ... well, they can do exactly the same thing. BECAUSE THEY DO. I HAVE SEEN THIS AND I DO NOT LIKE IT. Then they can write a clever, obviously original little caption that says something along the lines of "lOoK bUtT dOn'T tOuCh!!!!!!1111!1!1!!!!!" Again, I have seen it with mine own eyes.
However, there's a line between being a dumb ho and being a Dumb Ho. Perhaps that is harsh. Hm. Good.
Yesterday when I logged in, I looked at the bulletins section because I'm a sucker for some quality time-wasting surveys. What I saw was not something that appeals to me at all.
Yep, you read that right. Subject: Fuck Buddies (and ::Fuck Buddies:: — I would hate to not give credit for that clever use of a PUNCTUATION MARK). Twice. This particular bulletin was posted by two different people. I hope to Jesus in Heaven that the second was not in response to the first. Oh please oh please no.
The full text of said bulletin is as follows:
For a laugh...or serious up to you!
Statistically speaking, unless you are a total hermit, social retard, or ugly as a bag of spoiled ass... There's at least one person on your myspace that wants to date you or sleep with you. So..... lets play "FUCK BUDDIES"
The rules are simple... if you want to date the person who posted this, send them a message to their inbox saying "Im yours".
If you just want to sleep with them and stay friends, send them a message that says "I'd hit it".
SCARED? You pussy, just do it!
THE TWIST IS YOU HAVE TO REPOST THIS, EVEN IF YOU'RE TAKEN
& see who replies. There is at least 1 person on your myspace that wants to date you, and maybe more that want to sleep with you.
SO... re-post as "FUCK BUDDIES", as it doesn't matter if your married, in a relationship,single, gay or straight! You opened it so you HAVE to repost
Statistically speaking, unless you are a total hermit, social retard, or ugly as a bag of spoiled ass... There's at least one person on your myspace that wants to date you or sleep with you. So..... lets play "FUCK BUDDIES"
The rules are simple... if you want to date the person who posted this, send them a message to their inbox saying "Im yours".
If you just want to sleep with them and stay friends, send them a message that says "I'd hit it".
SCARED? You pussy, just do it!
THE TWIST IS YOU HAVE TO REPOST THIS, EVEN IF YOU'RE TAKEN
& see who replies. There is at least 1 person on your myspace that wants to date you, and maybe more that want to sleep with you.
SO... re-post as "FUCK BUDDIES", as it doesn't matter if your married, in a relationship,single, gay or straight! You opened it so you HAVE to repost
Uh ... well, I opened it, obviously, but I only wanted to make fun of it. But I mean, if there are any takers...
NOT REALLY.
But seriously? Isn't this what one might call "solicitation"? I think so, but then again I suppose my take on this is a tad skewed since I'm marginally disturbed by the whole thing.
Part of me badly wants these people to read my blog and be offended, but then the smart side of me comes in and reminds the mean, funny part of me that they aren't going to read my blog. If those bulletins were successful, they're going to be pretty busy for a while.
I won't get too specific with any other complaints other than the creative punctuator (::::::::) posts no less than seven bulletins daily (what? I get on MySpace a lot! I have to avoid homework somehow.), and most of them say something like "OMG im so bored. someone post something to give me something to do. why arent any of you on line?"
Snack on that for a minute. I don't even need to make fun of it because it pretty much takes care of itself.
I think the question is: WHY ARE YOU SO LAME? I sort of feel bad because I was pretty good friends with this person in high school, but hey we're not in high school anymore, are we?
There are days when I utterly loathe my life and can safely say in some moments I am the lamest person alive, but in terms of overall lameness, I've got nothing on some of the people I know. Oh well. I can't be the first at everything.
I also forgot to mention that I have hives again. I have run out of medicine and don't have time to drive to Kroger. My life sucks right now.
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