It’s hard to believe that we only have 3 more days of Philosophy left. This year has flown by and it’s sort of sad to see it come to an end (this class, not school, because I am so ready for that to end).
Favorite Book We Read: I’d probably have to say One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Although all of the books we discussed were cool, this one was super rad. Way better than the movie, especially because of the hallucinating but lovable narrator.
Favorite Movie We Watched: I don’t think I can even remember all the movies we’ve watched. I really loved Big Night. And I probably learned the most from Food, Inc. And these last three that we’ve watched (Eternal Sunshine, Donnie Darko, and Life is Beautiful) are personal favorites. But let’s not forget BEAT STREET.
Favorite Song We Listened To: Obviously our Yahtzee song. You know…”boom! I hit ya mama”..something like that. But I also liked Das Racist. I don’t remember what else you played us.
Favorite Off Topic Internet Excursion: I have three. Looking up “Cool Story Bro” Vlad. Watching “Babies Eating Lemons”. Listening to slam poetry.
Favorite Class Discussion: There were a lot of good ones. I can’t remember all of them, but I do remember walking out of 6th period really happy or pensive many times. I thought our discussion about the Higgs Boson stuff was great. Blew my mind a little bit.
Favorite Class Activity: Getting extra credit for wearing sweaters in December. Thanks to your motivation, I was super comfortable all winter long and now know how to dress.
Favorite Tech Center Time: Whenever we communicate through our computers in the New Tech Center. Always Hilarious.
Favorite Peeps: Now, I love everyone in this class. But I gotta give a shout out to Annie, Vlad and Jessica. And of course, MC Carthy himself.
There are a lot more moments I should mention and pay homage to, but I can’t remember them right now. By blogspot.com and Philosophy. It’s been an awesome time.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Future Philosophy Kid
Well this is interesting because you won’t have any Philosophy classes next year. But I guess that’s not really the point of this exercise, now is it?
Dear Future Philosophy Student,
Now I know there are rumors around school that Philosophy is a blow off class. And it can be, if you want it to be. But let me tell you, it’s much better when it isn’t. There’s actually a lot to learn out there, you know? So why waste that opportunity?
Especially with a class as broad as Philosophy. It’s just about thought and how we do things and why. It’s just a class discussing life, really. And we all have to deal with life, so why wouldn’t you want to learn some valuable lessons about it?
So pay attention in class. Participate. Say some of your opinions, especially ones that you aren’t sure about, because it’s truly a great feeling when you find something out that might adjust the way you think. And even if you don’t, it’s a helpful to have to defend your beliefs. It can either make them stronger or inspire you to change.
And be open to change. That’s vital in a Philosophy class. What’s the point of talking about thought if you’re not willing to do any of it? Just be as open as you can be, and you’ll get something, I promise.
Be respectful to others, like in any class, because they could be preaching truth, and if you aren’t listening, you could miss something great.
And read all the books. You won’t want to, but do it. No matter what the teacher has you read, you can pull a lot of great things out of it.
And have fun, future philosophy kid. Don’t get too down about the seriousness of it all. The afterlife and our purpose and all that are heavy things, don’t worry if you can’t wrap your head around them.
And value all your time in that class, even if you’re watching Beat Street. (Especially if you’re watching Beat Street…?)
Dear Future Philosophy Student,
Now I know there are rumors around school that Philosophy is a blow off class. And it can be, if you want it to be. But let me tell you, it’s much better when it isn’t. There’s actually a lot to learn out there, you know? So why waste that opportunity?
Especially with a class as broad as Philosophy. It’s just about thought and how we do things and why. It’s just a class discussing life, really. And we all have to deal with life, so why wouldn’t you want to learn some valuable lessons about it?
So pay attention in class. Participate. Say some of your opinions, especially ones that you aren’t sure about, because it’s truly a great feeling when you find something out that might adjust the way you think. And even if you don’t, it’s a helpful to have to defend your beliefs. It can either make them stronger or inspire you to change.
And be open to change. That’s vital in a Philosophy class. What’s the point of talking about thought if you’re not willing to do any of it? Just be as open as you can be, and you’ll get something, I promise.
Be respectful to others, like in any class, because they could be preaching truth, and if you aren’t listening, you could miss something great.
And read all the books. You won’t want to, but do it. No matter what the teacher has you read, you can pull a lot of great things out of it.
And have fun, future philosophy kid. Don’t get too down about the seriousness of it all. The afterlife and our purpose and all that are heavy things, don’t worry if you can’t wrap your head around them.
And value all your time in that class, even if you’re watching Beat Street. (Especially if you’re watching Beat Street…?)
Ch-ch-ch-changes
It’s really crazy how much you can change the way you think in a few years. I mean, you know this MC Carthy, but high school years are formin’ years.
I think I have a lot of the same deep down beliefs as I did when I was a freshman. Like I still believe that people are overwhelmingly good. And of course through more years of experience, I have seen examples against this. But I still believe it. Perhaps even more passionately than I did four years ago. And I hope in four years, I can say the same thing.
But a lot of my thinking has changed and shifted throughout high school. I used to idolize a lot of people. Some my friends, some people I had just seen around school. I used to think that because of the way that they dressed or because of stories I had heard about them or because they listened to cool music and didn’t have curfews and could have co-ed sleepovers that they were the coolest things that I had ever been close to. But always, always, after I got to know these idols and gods of my underclassman years, I realized that they were just regular, ol’ people. Not that they weren’t cool anymore, or that they were bad. Just that they had problems too, just like the rest of us. And said things that I didn’t agree with and did things they regretted. I think that was a big change of thinking for me. It got me to understand who I really wanted to be. Not to get all Seventeen magazine, but along with this I learned…well, there’s no better way to say it, how to love myself. And oh, OH, is that so important. I think if people would just love themselves, half the world’s issues would fall apart.
Maybe.
Anyway. I’m sure glad I realized that and changed how I was. I’m much happier now, and what else matters?
I think I have a lot of the same deep down beliefs as I did when I was a freshman. Like I still believe that people are overwhelmingly good. And of course through more years of experience, I have seen examples against this. But I still believe it. Perhaps even more passionately than I did four years ago. And I hope in four years, I can say the same thing.
But a lot of my thinking has changed and shifted throughout high school. I used to idolize a lot of people. Some my friends, some people I had just seen around school. I used to think that because of the way that they dressed or because of stories I had heard about them or because they listened to cool music and didn’t have curfews and could have co-ed sleepovers that they were the coolest things that I had ever been close to. But always, always, after I got to know these idols and gods of my underclassman years, I realized that they were just regular, ol’ people. Not that they weren’t cool anymore, or that they were bad. Just that they had problems too, just like the rest of us. And said things that I didn’t agree with and did things they regretted. I think that was a big change of thinking for me. It got me to understand who I really wanted to be. Not to get all Seventeen magazine, but along with this I learned…well, there’s no better way to say it, how to love myself. And oh, OH, is that so important. I think if people would just love themselves, half the world’s issues would fall apart.
Maybe.
Anyway. I’m sure glad I realized that and changed how I was. I’m much happier now, and what else matters?
Surrounded by CUCKOOS
I think a lot of people around me are crazy. At school, at home, at work. The people around me are straight up insane sometimes. But that’s probably because I’m crazy too, and I chose to surround myself with similar people. Probably, right?
It’s nice to be crazy in a group of likewise cuckoo people. It feels freeing, right? It makes you feel like a kid, like a goof, happy, excited, all those bright emotions. But it sucks to be surrounded by insane people when you’re being right minded.
For instance, my old manager at work was crazy. She had this very plastic smile (very similar to the Big Nurse actually…) and was super passive aggressive and I think she was probably a robot. Heartless, soulless, the whole thing. Think I’m being mean? Oh, I wish you could meet her. You’d see.
Like this one time, an employee who had been working there for three years quit and sent her this hilariously mean and true text message about how terrible she was and unprofessional and oozed fake-ness and was the least genuine person he had ever met. And she comes in for her shift half an hour after he sent it with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on her face. It looked painful, I’m not kidding. And she squeezed out a very high pitched “HeeeeelloooooOOO” at me and my coworker. Wondering if we knew what had happened, trying to evaluate the situation and see if she could keep herself from being screwed over. Eh. It still gives me the shivers.
When the people around you are like that crazy manager or Nurse Ratched or any wrong type of insane authority like that, it’s the worst. It’s enough to drive YOU crazy. But when you’re surrounded by people at the same level of fun crazy as you (like all the patients on the ward), oh well, it’s just the bees knees.
It’s nice to be crazy in a group of likewise cuckoo people. It feels freeing, right? It makes you feel like a kid, like a goof, happy, excited, all those bright emotions. But it sucks to be surrounded by insane people when you’re being right minded.
For instance, my old manager at work was crazy. She had this very plastic smile (very similar to the Big Nurse actually…) and was super passive aggressive and I think she was probably a robot. Heartless, soulless, the whole thing. Think I’m being mean? Oh, I wish you could meet her. You’d see.
Like this one time, an employee who had been working there for three years quit and sent her this hilariously mean and true text message about how terrible she was and unprofessional and oozed fake-ness and was the least genuine person he had ever met. And she comes in for her shift half an hour after he sent it with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on her face. It looked painful, I’m not kidding. And she squeezed out a very high pitched “HeeeeelloooooOOO” at me and my coworker. Wondering if we knew what had happened, trying to evaluate the situation and see if she could keep herself from being screwed over. Eh. It still gives me the shivers.
When the people around you are like that crazy manager or Nurse Ratched or any wrong type of insane authority like that, it’s the worst. It’s enough to drive YOU crazy. But when you’re surrounded by people at the same level of fun crazy as you (like all the patients on the ward), oh well, it’s just the bees knees.
Together
I like to be on my own every now and again. I like to have lazy mornings in the house to myself where I drink coffee and watch really bad TV, some shows I’m so ashamed of I won’t even mention them here. And I like to enjoy a train ride by myself. You get the idea. However, most of the time, I love to be with people.
I just really like being with my family and friends and their families. It’s one of the best feelings.
Like whenever I go to my best friend’s house. She has a really close family who loves to eat (they’re Italian sorta, it’s a long story, not important). My favorite memories are of us around the table, cracking jokes at each other and doing all those things that families do. You know, they’re one of those families that yell a lot and sometimes say things that they regret, but overwhelmingly just love each other. It’s a great feeling to be with them.
And there’s my family, of course. We’re kind of similar to my best friend’s, actually. We can get into fights and really dislike each other at times. But most of the time, especially since we’ve all gotten older and are less teenage angsty, we have a lot of fun together. Not doing anything special (outings together actually seem to cause more spats…), but just sitting and talking, watchin’ a movie, just being with each other.
So yeah, “together” or togetherness is a great feeling. Sometimes it’s nice to get time by yourself, but I prefer to be around the people I love. Any day of the week.
I just really like being with my family and friends and their families. It’s one of the best feelings.
Like whenever I go to my best friend’s house. She has a really close family who loves to eat (they’re Italian sorta, it’s a long story, not important). My favorite memories are of us around the table, cracking jokes at each other and doing all those things that families do. You know, they’re one of those families that yell a lot and sometimes say things that they regret, but overwhelmingly just love each other. It’s a great feeling to be with them.
And there’s my family, of course. We’re kind of similar to my best friend’s, actually. We can get into fights and really dislike each other at times. But most of the time, especially since we’ve all gotten older and are less teenage angsty, we have a lot of fun together. Not doing anything special (outings together actually seem to cause more spats…), but just sitting and talking, watchin’ a movie, just being with each other.
So yeah, “together” or togetherness is a great feeling. Sometimes it’s nice to get time by yourself, but I prefer to be around the people I love. Any day of the week.
Alone
I’m not really a religious person. I was raised Lutheran but, against my parents best efforts, I have fallen away from the church. I’m not saying I don’t believe in God necessarily. I believe there is some greater force. I just don’t believe in church. I think it’s a good place if you want a community, but it is not a factor of your life that saves you. It does not decide your fate.
I’ve thought about this a lot after the recent death of my Aunt.
She was a devout Catholic in every way. She went to church every week. I’m not kidding. Even when she and her sister would come up from Texas to visit us, they would find the nearest Catholic church and go to mass by themselves. About two years ago she found out she had cancer. She had lived a full life and spent a lot of time doing the things she loved, but she was scared of death and kept praying. About a month ago, she passed away while my parents were on a flight out to see her.
She never really drank in her life. She never took drugs, never sinned if she could help it. Not that these actions constitute a full, satisfying life. I just mean to show that she lived the life of a devout Catholic. But in the end, she died before she was ready.
I don’t think this means that God doesn’t exist. Or that he wasn’t there for her. I believe she was happy most of the time. But I can’t help but wonder if she felt alone in the end. I wonder if she looked around her and up at her God and thought about all the effort she put into being a good Catholic her entire life, and thought she was being left alone. I don’t know.
I like to end blogs on a high note, but sometimes you can’t.
I’ve thought about this a lot after the recent death of my Aunt.
She was a devout Catholic in every way. She went to church every week. I’m not kidding. Even when she and her sister would come up from Texas to visit us, they would find the nearest Catholic church and go to mass by themselves. About two years ago she found out she had cancer. She had lived a full life and spent a lot of time doing the things she loved, but she was scared of death and kept praying. About a month ago, she passed away while my parents were on a flight out to see her.
She never really drank in her life. She never took drugs, never sinned if she could help it. Not that these actions constitute a full, satisfying life. I just mean to show that she lived the life of a devout Catholic. But in the end, she died before she was ready.
I don’t think this means that God doesn’t exist. Or that he wasn’t there for her. I believe she was happy most of the time. But I can’t help but wonder if she felt alone in the end. I wonder if she looked around her and up at her God and thought about all the effort she put into being a good Catholic her entire life, and thought she was being left alone. I don’t know.
I like to end blogs on a high note, but sometimes you can’t.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Love This Earth
There are so many things that we as young folks, as people of Chicago, as people of the world, can do to help save the earth.
For starters, we can adjust the way we transport ourselves. I know it’s super nice to just drive somewhere, instead of hassling with sometimes unreliable CTA and always unreliable Chicago weather. But really, in a place like Chicago, where there is a train or bus to everywhere, it should be a crime to drive a car instead of taking the CTA. This change not only helps the environment (less fuel, yada yada, you know the deal), but it has sooo many personally advantages. For instance, public transportation is cheap compared to gas prices. And no more worrying about where to park! And there’s always good people watching on public transportation, let’s not forget that.
Or we could just start biking and walking more. That would be even better.
Another thing that I’ve heard can really help the environment by drastically reducing carbon emissions is becoming a vegetarian. A few years ago, my sister became a vegetarian for this very reason. I told her I didn’t think I could ever give up meat, so she broke it down for me. Really, the vast majority of emissions come from the transportation of meat, especially red meat. So, she said, if you even cut back on eating red meat, you’ll take a pretty big bite out of emissions. Rad.
And of course there are more things! Don’t buy bottled water! Recycle! Turn off lights after you leave a room! Come on! Show the love!
For starters, we can adjust the way we transport ourselves. I know it’s super nice to just drive somewhere, instead of hassling with sometimes unreliable CTA and always unreliable Chicago weather. But really, in a place like Chicago, where there is a train or bus to everywhere, it should be a crime to drive a car instead of taking the CTA. This change not only helps the environment (less fuel, yada yada, you know the deal), but it has sooo many personally advantages. For instance, public transportation is cheap compared to gas prices. And no more worrying about where to park! And there’s always good people watching on public transportation, let’s not forget that.
Or we could just start biking and walking more. That would be even better.
Another thing that I’ve heard can really help the environment by drastically reducing carbon emissions is becoming a vegetarian. A few years ago, my sister became a vegetarian for this very reason. I told her I didn’t think I could ever give up meat, so she broke it down for me. Really, the vast majority of emissions come from the transportation of meat, especially red meat. So, she said, if you even cut back on eating red meat, you’ll take a pretty big bite out of emissions. Rad.
And of course there are more things! Don’t buy bottled water! Recycle! Turn off lights after you leave a room! Come on! Show the love!
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