PlanetUSF

Hola world! I finally got this blog this started. Hmm.. what do I say?
This summer has to be the most stressful summer of my life. I get placed here and my
family doesn’t want anything to do with me. I got pressure to do things that I would
regret afterwards. I have so many issues with my fiancé in Orlando. I am so drain
out now, that I don’t know what to do or say. There’s been too many tests (not
school tests) but test like if I should do this, or if this for real [about my
boyfriend], that I don’t know if I am doing things right. I have fallen into some of
the bad pits that college brings, and I have not only affected myself, but I have
affected my future and the only person who truly cares for me, Chris. At times, I
can’t even stare at the mirror without looking at a horrible person, who is taken
her life for granted. I am following the same road that my late mother did, and I am
hoping that I don’t have the same results. Why am I expressions all my emotions here
and take the risk of becoming a “drama queen”? I feel that it I express myself
more productive way, I won’t have so many internal issues to deal with. Or maybe I
will find someone who might go down the same road and learn from my mistakes. Well
I guess this how a blog works. Let’s see if I can keep this up everyday! Well take
care!
***Monique*****

True friends are hard to find. People say that they are your friends but they are fronting in your face. If anyone feels this true tell me how you feel.

woot woot ! go me i got this beast working now! well lets see, today ..classes seemed soooo long. i was ready to run up out of them and go back to sleep. oh and TGIF!!! super glad i didnt get too much hw, and that next week is gunna rock so hardcore like…yay! i cant wait. WARPED TOUR is next friday boy i cant wait for english to be out so i can go out to eat and head out to the show .. im gunna be so tired for the rest of the weekend .its an all day event !!! soooo many good bands coming out …..AHHH i cant wait ! YAY im sooo excited! well yep yep ..if any one needs help with this..ill try to help. peace ~ adi

This summer, I have been completely high strung. It’s really all the pressures from school. Normally a semester is 16 weeks long, however in the summer it is compressed into 6 weeks. Almost one third the time but the same quantity of material!!! :O

Over the last week I have spent so much time with my new family. It’s the most wonderful thing in the world. I am so blessed to have such kind and loving in-laws. I feel like my sister in law, Jasmine, is my best friend. When she leaves this time it will REALLY take some readjustment. She has been inspiring to learn more about Christianity, the witnesses, and Jehovah. For those of you who don’t know my husband and in-laws are Jehovah’s Witnesses. I have tried to avoid religion for so long despite the fact that my mother is a Christian herself with Catholic beliefs. When I first learned they were witnesses I freaked out. I had a lot of hostility in my heart and I wanted my husband to change because I had a fear that he wanted to change me. However, I learned this was not true and for awhile I was quite content.

I can’t say that I’m fully a believer of all this yet. But as I learn more I become more comfortable with the material. It’s funny because it’s a little bit like my chemistry course I’m taking. When I started this semester I hated chemistry and just knew I was going to fail. But here I am 3/5 into the semester and I have an 85% (B) in lecture and a 90% (A-) in lab! It seems the reason I had past trouble with chemistry was that I just wasn’t ready for all the responsibility. The practice and repetition. Now it’s not so bad. I have a feeling this will happen with my religious learning as well. Earlier I felt EXTREMELY awkward hearing the word “Jehovah” but now I will say it and feel fine almost good about it.

I am eager to learn but I REALLY want to start in private. I want to have studies with Josh and Jasmine only. I’d like to attend a Sunday meeting and we might be able to this weekend. I still feel very fragile when it comes to learning and I don’t want to spoil it by withdrawl. So right now I feel as my studies should be with a protected group of people (my family).

Hey welcome to my page. When somthing comes to me I will write it later. Maybe… just kidding.

“Death is man’s fate… But a chance to live a happy life is also man’s fate”

Death
Siduri, a character in the Epic of Gilgamesh, says these timeless words. The phrase is the basic meaning behind the Epic. Its power comes from its subject - death and the fear of it. The ancient Mesopotamian culture had religion to be sure, but the afterlife was a place of dust and boredom. Thus, the afterlife was obviously not a mechanism to relieve a fear of death. I feel that this makes the epic more interesting because we are able to look into the past to see how these people dealt with these issues.

Religion
The most popular modern religions provide relief from the fear through denial. I would wager that it is a shallow relief even for the most faithful. Deep down inside everyone knows the truth - whether they freely admit it to themselves or not. My respect goes to the man(or woman) who is realistic and has the courage to see the truth, the man who looks at the world as it is and not as he wishes it to be. Not only does it take courage to be an atheist, but it takes a great deal of humbleness. An atheist is not arrogant enough to think that the universe revolves around his world, that he is so important as to have an all-mighty power listen to his words or be made from its image, nor is an atheist arrogant enough to think he can build sacred temples or, yes, even escape death.

Happiness
So, what kind of life is the happy life that Siduri talks about? She says that one should “fill your belly with good things, dance, let your clothes be fresh, and cherish your family”. Sounds like a good start. Yet, I think that many people think of a happy life as one in which they themselves are happy. I argue that making others happy and having a feeling of worth are what really makes a person happy. A person lying in a hammock on a tropic beach would start to get bored and unhappy quicker than you think.

Values
This is where we benefit from the resources of religion: Morality, values, family, integrity, character, honor, and innocence. This is what makes a man happy in the long run. Not money, not drugs, not any kind of short-lived hedonism. However, it is unfortunate that the society we live in does not take those words seriously. Indeed, many people roll their eyes at the words “morals and values”. Looking in the mirror and knowing that you are looking at a man with morals and values is more satisfying than anything in your wallet. Waking up in the morning knowing that you are a positive, productive member of society - that your existence is making the world a better place- is a greater high than any wake-and-bake will give you.

And so we come back to the Epic of Gilgamesh, a book most people have surely read in school. Reading about Gilgamesh’s struggle with the fear of death, as real today as it was 5000 years ago, reveals universal truths. That is what great literature does.

So for the atheist; fear not, for man’s fate is to live a happy life.

alright, not sure if this will work ..but lets see …

DANGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!! I finally got this thang on lock. All I have to say is READ the directions first. Well, I’m happy now. I can take my happy behind to bed. I’ll write something interesting tomorrow, IF I have time! Hollaaaa!!!!

Welome to my blog site.

You do not have to be a registered user to comment on my blog. You do not have to be a USF student either.

To comment on my blog:

1. Click the title of the entry you wish to comment on.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the screen . A comment form should be there.
3. Fill out the form withyour comment. In order for your comment to post you MUST enter your name and email address.

As I get older (lol I’m only 20), I find myself reminiscing in the past. Not necessarily wishing to change a thing but more a feeling of wishing to relive moments and take a break from the here and now. It’s funny what senses and feelings are brought back just from memories.

I haven’t lived a perfect life but then again my life was never bad either. Maybe one day when I’m old and grey I’ll sit down a write a story about all the memories I have. Not that many peoplewill probably find it very interesting. Perhaps a grandchild or great grandchild will read it and take interest. Hopefully not judging me too harshly.

I would begin to write out all of these events right now on this very site, except the internet is nevera good secret keeper. And though I myself am not ashamed most things I’ve done , I fear making these events public to the world may one day later affect me. Perhaps a job interview or something of that nature. So I will only write the socially polite memories here.

Most memories I replay in my head are concerning past loves and crushes. I am a fool for love. Always have been since I can remember. Longing to live the chase, the excitement of the first date, to love and be loved. Ahh what wonderful experiences. Of course there are break ups and tears as well. But this just comes with the terrritory of love. Sigh.

I have always been the “chaser” in my relationships. Perhaps, to society this is a bad thing. The male is supposed to be the initiator and the female is the bashful one. I guess I’m like this because I develop deep crushes on guys before I even begin to flirt with them. How funny it is to crush on aboy I don’t even know. Ha ha ha. I create scenarios in my mind of things we’d do of intimate places we could visit. Then I’m snapped back to reality when I realize I know nothing of the fellow that I have grown affectionate. Usually the crush begins just by meer physical attration and observation of te guy in social situations. Then I let all of these longing feelings pent up inside me until I can’t stand it any longer. I decide to talk to the guy, to flirt a little. Usually this comes as a shock to him.

I remember sitting out on the dock at the end of the road my parent’s lived on. Years ago when I was in elementary school or junior high my dad and another dad from down the street built that very dock. Well I developed a crush on the other dad’s son. We knew each other sine were five. He was a year ahead of me in school. We hung out together as friends when we were in elementary school but we lost contact after that. We still lived on the same road but our paths rarely ever crossed until highschool. When we began hanging out every now and then. I thought he was so dreamy so manly (lol I was like 15). Anyway I remeber going to tan on that dock, in highschool. I would go tan down there because it would mean passing his house and possile getting to see him. Anyways one day we were sitting out on the dock together just talking. And I swear we sat out there for hours. I remember he had a pair of expensive sunglasses and they got scratched and I was so worried about the scratch. How silly. But I just remember looking into his eyes and thinking how great it was to bond with him. He was the first guy I ever loved. Albeit the feelings were mainly just on my side however. I don’t think I could ever figure out how serious he ever felt. But every little thing he’d do for me meant so much to me. Even stupid things like giving me his shirt when I was cold or sharing crispy m&m’s or going to the drive-in. I remember talking about his parent’s divorce, about his best freind passing away, about his touble with the law, encouringinghim to finish school, about his first real heartbreak. I remember it all and it feels so vivid.

And it’s funny because it’s probably been a year since I’ve last seen him. But he will forver have a space in my heart. When I think of him I feel happy. I block out all the times he’d say we’d hang out but never call, the time he wanted more and I didn’t, the times I wanted more and he didn’t. That’s why it’s so funny to reminisce on the past. I look at how blind I was. How much I was missing out on. I felt on top of the world in past relationships but the truth is none of those relationships compare to my marriage that I’m in now.

In the past I loved the guy unconditionally but the feeling was never returned or the relationship fizzled. But now to love and be loved and not just physical feelings but the totality of love nd the acts of love. That my husband loves me even when I’m being a brat. That my husband takes care of me physically and emotionally. I know I can always go home and find the open arms of my husband to cry in when my day goes wrong. I can cook hm meals and clean his clothes and take care of him.

As I grow old I learn how important these acts of love really are. That love is not soleley about dates, flowers, candy, phone calls and excitement. That the acts of love can tug at one’s heart strings just as profoundly or even more. The labor of love is a beautiful thing it humbles oneself and makes one cherish the one they have. So in this way I welcome memories of the past to flood into my head because even if they bring back tender feelings they also remind me of the precious and one of a kind husband I have now and all the reasons why I love him. It makes me happy in so many ways.

I once had a friend that was a real trouble maker and I tried to persuade him to change his ways. The techniques that I used to presuade him into changing and becoming a better kid was that I told him how his life will turn for the better and I also told him that what comes around goes around. These techniques can be categorized as examples and they were very effective. The methods that I used can relate very well to Ethos, Pathos, and Logos ideas because all there ideas involve beliefs, values, reasonings, and appeals.

Persuading others to believe what you believe is important becuase we need to have cerain believes and standards set to have a “correct society.” We only believe what is taught to us by our loved ones and government. I remember when I had to persuade my fellow student to do well in our AP Statistics class because it does have to do with our future. He didn’t want to do anything because he felt that it won’t help with anything in his future career. But I had told him that it will help in making plans and understand how to read/avoid different types of statistics. The reason I told him that was so he can understand that it will help in choosing what company to go with in the future and not to fall into the false advertisement. I first gave him all the information about what Statitics is and then I told him the benefits. “I’ll help you whenever you do not understand or just need to study,” is what I toldhim. That is my technique of how to persuade someone. I did not know about Ethos, Pagos, or Logos when I was trying to persuade him in being responsible and passing the class. I used Pagos and Logos without realizing it. Pathos helped me get his attention and Logos helped me want to understand what is really important about passing the class. From now on I will try to use all of the techniques to persuade someone because it will be a more effective discussion.

What up my fellow classmates? This is Rob’s site, nice and simple. I’m here for any one that needs help in anything. I’m a great person and also willing to listen to anyone when they need to talk. But please treat me like family and I got you like family. Aite then my peoples I’m out. PEACE WITH LOVE AND CHICKEN GREASE.

If anyone out there needs help, I am glad to try to help you with anything. Just send me an email at rmadotta@mail.usf.edu or just leave me a comment.

It’s the same thing every morning. A different bomb, a different city.

Can I cancel my membership of the human race?

Off to vacation for a couple of weeks. Will be back in mid August!

Polymath - A person educated in many subjects.

Overview
A few months ago I began my journey in my attempt to become a polymath. I feel like I am being more productive when I read non-fiction rather than watch TV. This blog is where I will post weekly updates regarding my progress. My updates will attempt to educate and (hopefully) entertain visitors by not only commenting on books being read but also by making general insights, criticisms, and comments on politics, current events, or life in general.

Reading List
Books I have read during my journey:
“History of the World”- J.M Roberts
“Inventing America” - An American History text book
“Classical Mythology” - Greek and Roman mythology
“The Story of Painting” - Art history by Sister Wendy Beckett (She’s great)
“Iliad” - Homer
“The Odyssey” - Homer
“Walden” - Thoreau
“Great Expectations” - Dickens
The Koran
The Bible
Anthropology Textbook
Psychology Textbook
Philosophy Textbook
Plato’s works (Republic, Symposium, Apology, Meno)
Various Greek plays
Ancient Chinese and Indian literature (Analects, Ramayana, Mahabharata)

Quick Bio
My name is Mark. I am a 27 year old male originally from Tampa. Recently I graduated from USF with a degree in biology. Although I am not planning on taking any classes in the fall, I have one class to take in the Spring’06 for a chemistry degree. Since I have been formally trained in the sciences, my readings will focus on subjects where my knowledge is weak. Politically, I am very conservative on some issues yet quite liberal on others.

Here is episode two of the conversational Italian podcast, Wey Bazzi!

Wey Bazzi, Episode 2