BREAKING NEWS

My apologies for no updates yesterday, with just History class there was nothing worth mentioning. We went in, went over what we read (though some folks didn't realize there was reading or what a document reader actually was) and was done in an hour. I think I spent more time driving, walking to class, waiting for class to start and then walking back and driving home more than I actually did IN class. Jury is still in the positive with the way this Professor runs her class and course. I'm curious as to where I'm going to be seated...perhaps I should email her with that request.

Now then, back to BREAKING NEWS and Crazy Harry here. So, once again, I passed by the Obama is Hitler folks. They had stationed themselves just south of my Algebra class and we had a longer conversation as I walked.

I informed Porn-Stache...yes, the same guy from before...that Germany has had Universal Health Care since before there was a Germany approximately 1880.Here is the following...

PS-"But he's not doing Universal Health Care!"
JG-"Yes, and you cannot determine whether you want him to be a Nazi or Communist."
PS-cannot hear his response honestly
JG-"You're just a bunch of sore losers is all"
PS-"But I'm a Democrat!"

Huh...there are two possibilities...they are unable to respond or they are unwilling to respond. Wait, no that is the first run in with Reliant. Either he's lying through his teeth, or they are the jaded ultra-left who wanted everything completed the very next day. Therefore, the next time I run across them I will actually take their pamphlet. I will read over and let you see any goodies, maybe even bring the camera and take a few pictures. This was a turn of events I did not see coming...time will tell what is going to happen.

Peter Brown and the Four Laws

Though I avoided folks yesterday, today I actually stopped and talked to two folks during my break between English and Math. First I was asked by an alumnus to sign a petition to get Peter Brown onto the Mayoral ballot this fall. Now I've seen his big ass sign a few blocks away, and believe that everyone should have the opportunity to run, so I put down my John Hancock and filled out the petition.

Looking over his pamphlet and his website, I like the guy. No where on the pamphlet or website does he mention any of the "hot button issues" of national politics. Instead he is focused on things that are important to the city, things that are working towards making the city safer, most cost effective and most of all hurricane proof. Hell, he is even the City's quality-of-life "green" Council Member.

As we continue to look he is an UofH alumnus, and from there went to Berkley and Penn...nice credentials. Finally, and it took Wikipedia till we found it, we have his political party. He is a Democrat (the city council is non-partisan). The best news, in a sad way, is that the current Mayor (who the wife and I are fans of) is term limited so we don't have to be torn. So yay me for signing said petition.

Now then...onto why I have that graphic posted. Earlier in the day I noticed that the only group still out and about today was the Christian groups. Luckily none tried to hand me crap so I didn't have to inform them that if I touched it my Elder Gods require I eat them on the spot, so problem avoided. Since my English Prof let us out so early I had over two hours to kill before Math.

I ate some food and then moseyed on over to a park bench (where I experienced the squirrel mentioned earlier) to smoke and basically people watch. About a half-hour into this a man approached. An older man, even older than I, with a binder of some sort. He asked if I could bother answering some questions for a "class" and at the top of his paper it said Philosophies of Life. I was just waisting time so I did the friendly thing and said sure, I got time.

After some getting to know me questions, and thanks for military service, we got into the are you religious questions. I responded in the negative. Then there was a question of, how you rate your philosophy of life? Definite, Vague, None. I thought about this and replied, "Well, it's somewhere between definite and vague. I have a philosophy of life, part of it is definite and part of it is vague."

It was at this time that I apparently began to speak Klingon. With the confused look in his eyes, I took pity and told him to just put down definite. We then moved on to the question of if there was one root cause of the world's problem what would say it is? There was about twenty options ranging from Sin, Economics, Environmental, Money, etc...but sadly no option for religion so I went for intolerance, which is really just the same thing.

Then came the preaching, in a way, do you believe in the Four Laws? Then came out a tiny pamphlet, which is pretty much verbatim (down to the images) of the site linked, with little places marked with pencil to emphasize his little points. I figured we shall go over these...


1. God LOVES you and offers a wonderful PLAN for your life. (citing John 3:16, 10:10)
God LOVES us...yet we will all burn in hell for eternity for returning that love...or if we don't do what we say. Apparently God is Ike Turner.

2. Man is SINFUL and SEPARATED from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life. (citing Romans 3:23, 6:23)
This section makes no real sense. We are sinful, and that is why we die according to the bible versus. How you get being separated from God and not experiencing God's love and plan I'm not really sure. Then again we're going back to Ike Turner of us not doing what God said, his plan, and we gonna die for it. The only bonus is the image of Sinful Man firing arrows up towards a Holy God, go sinful man, don't take that abuse!

3. Jesus Christ is God's ONLY provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life. (citing Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 15:3-6, John 14:6)
At this time I was informed that there is actual evidence that 500 people saw Jesus after he died. I was not impressed as Elvis has had more sightings last week. Though looking up the "evidence" on the internet it appears that the "500 people" statement comes from Paul...who wasn't even around with Jesus at the time. I think we have more evidence of Tupac and Biggie still being alive.

4. We must individually RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives. (citing John 1:12, Ephesians 2:8,9, John 3:1-8, Revelation 3:20)
This one doesn't exactly pass the logic test. According to Law #2 we are separated from God and cannot know his plan. Yet this is saying accepting Christ is a special legal loophole that lets you see the Director's Cut early. Finally there is Revelations in which Jesus is knocking on my door, not Heaven's, and wanting to come into me. Isn't possession one of the things Jesus spent his life fighting? Why use possession as motivation to get someone to convert?

After going through his spiel, in which I was very kind and courteous, he asked if I believe in this? When I said a very definitive no he then looked into my eyes no doubt ready to begin preaching the word of God and fish...but no doubt he saw the endless depths in which the Elder Gods stir and thought the better of it.

He thanked me, went on his way, and then the squirrel mischief began. This just goes to show that I can be cordial with the religious folk.

SQUIRREL!

So, even nature thought today was too damn hot. What you see here, if you look closely, is a squirrel completely spread out on the sidewalk. This squirrel was like this for a good 10 minutes till someone almost stepped on him. He was prone in this position huffing and puffing as if he just finished a marathon. He then scampered up a tree and took that position on the lowest branch.

After another ten minutes I noticed the lil thing was gone...but apparently who walked into the wrong rec room. From the tree adjacent to the previous one I heard a loud noise and looked over and saw him being chased down the tree for about twenty feet by another squirrel, bark flying everywhere, and followed him all the way past to previous tree and watched him as he ran towards Agnes Hall.

Nice post-lunch, pre-Algebra entertainment.

Class #1-99 Luftballons

So today began day one of the Self-Motivation Seminar Class, and ladies and gentlemen this class is comedy GOLD! In a minute we will get to the class activities for the day, but first we must cover the following conversation that took place BEFORE class even began.

Oh, and BTW, apparently this class begins as a giant CLUSTERFUCK as half of it has been split and are supposed to be in class the weeks we're supposed to be online. The worst part...we have to be online for that class when we're not actually in the room as in there is a set time period where we must be ONLINE AT THAT TIME (8:30-10). This has put a damper in my plans of not actually bringing my laptop to school. I may live five minutes away, but I cannot drive, park and walk to my English class in that ten minute window when we are done...sigh, I hate the word mandatory.

We open up the class with the following conversation between one student (who later on admitted to being confident to the point of being conceited) who we shall name Money and a young lady who we shall name Anh. The conversation began as Money sat down and sees Anh have her laptop out and open.

Money-Can I check my Facebook?...*Anh passes him her laptop, after a few seconds*Can I add you?

Anh-That's awkward.

Money-*to other girl at table* Can I add you too since you since you have you have your laptop open?...*awkward silence*...I love social networking.

I told you, COMEDY GOLD. Now you're probably wondering WHY I have posted the pictures of the balloons and the title of this post. It is actually in reference to our first class activity. You see as our Motivational Speaker began the class her assistant was blowing up balloons. She then told everyone to stand up, and to keep these balloons afloat for five minutes, do not let them touch the ground or everyone is getting a F for the day.

The class stood and one by one the balloons were released to the masses. My hat goes off to Money for a beautiful slide kick to save one of the balloons from hitting the floor. Though the back of the room seemed unaffected and not involved, I apparently was at ground zero and keeping balloons afloat left and right. As we finished I discovered via M.S. when asked that this exercise was not an example of anarchy, though I still beg to differ. Apparently it was an example of teamwork and communication, though I say everyone trying to keep balloons afloat with no sense of order with the result being death is a form of anarchy.

We then moved on to groups, wrote our names and wrote a little bit about where our names came from and what they mean, etc etc. I was apparently with the only group with any personality and or backstory. We discovered that Anh's parents never really told her why they named her what they did. They coped to why they named her sisters, but not her. Well, one day, she was five and she sees in a beauty salon nail polish bearing her name...and broke into tears thinking that is what she is named after. This however is not the best story.

This person, who will be named NAWC (you'll see why) told the story of his name...or should we say his father's. Apparently his father's father had run off to California with a white lady and that for some reason his grandfather had named his son after said white lady, I'm assuming prior the leaving, and now they had the first name of some white lady...as he told us I'm not a White Chick. He goes by his middle name and is tired of people on the phone thinking he is a woman because of this and once again he is not a white chick. COMEDY GOLD.

We ended the day with coming up with Outer Behaviors and Inner Beliefs that make one a good student. Each group made a list and we went around and gave our list. Many...MANY of the groups had different words, all with the same meaning. Though our M.S. did like my suggestion on non-narcoleptic as a good Outer Behavior.

We then voted on our top five...and I just shook my head. These kids really have no idea what it takes to be successful in the REAL WORLD. One does not need GOOD MORALS to succeed in the real world. Kids these days...

Sadly we still do not know where the future comes from...the search continues...

Intro To Theater

Though this has been, by far, the most expensive class to take (over $300 in various items) it began with the biggest bang. The following is some of the first words from my Professor's mouth...

"I know on your class schedule that it says this class is a Monday and Wednesday class...that is a lie. This class is Monday ONLY and the rest is done online...*insert voracious applause here*

Though I do find it funny that our class is in a law school auditorium, that has two giant projection screens...and no projectors...and will be no doubt the toughest class I have to find this week, I do believe I shall enjoy it immensely.

Not only is my Professor much closer to my age then I am to the rest of the kids, she used a Simpson quote during the opening class. I think I can get over her being a Sooner and also teaching the Aggies...

There May Be Hope

There may be a semblence of hope in my first class. It is your basic run of the mill, US History to 1877. The professor of said class at first glance appears to be awesome. Though it is a required class, and half the freshman football players appear to be taking it, I believe I shall enjoy this class. I had a feeling this morning that this could be so.

We were going over the requirements, expectations, and things of this nature. Everything is hunky dory, nothing out of the ordinary, it appears to be your typical almost 400 student class. Then we get onto the good behaviors and bad behaviors in the class. Along with staying awake, coming to class and no texting (or as the Professor repeated of what a student said no sexting) she also mentioned participation. Actually I mentioned participation, she just took it a step further...

"There are no bad questions, just dumb questions..."

Yep, I am already in love with this class...

A Brief Synopsis

fu·ture (fychr)
n.
1. The indefinite time yet to come
2. Something that will happen in time to come
3. A prospective or expected condition, especially one considered with regard to growth, advancement, or development: a business with no future.
4. futures Business Commodities or stocks bought or sold upon agreement of delivery in time to come.
5. Grammar
a. The form of a verb used in speaking of action that has not yet occurred or of states not yet in existence.
b. A verb form in the future tense.
adj.
That is to be or to come; of or existing in later time.

I'm 30 years old, married, a six year Army veteran and a college freshman. Thanks to my former Senator Jim Webb; the US Government and taxpayers are paying my way in full to go to college. I am attending the University of Houston under the AAOP. The AAOP is defined as the Adult Admission Option Program. Basically it is a program for folks who haven't been in high school for some time and have no business having to take the SATs, ACTs, and the like all over again.

You are entered into the University automatically and it truly is a great program. The downsides are that you are not eligible for financial aid and this is due to the main downside of the program; you are listed as non-degree seeking until you have completed 18 credits. Luckily for me I am still able to use my GI Bill, but I cannot declare a major.

This simple fact brings us to the crux of this entire blog. Since I am listed as non-degree seeking/undeclared and I am being forced to take CORE 1101, which is listed as a Freshman Seminar Scholars Community. No clue, neither did I when I was told I HAD to take this ONE credit course. I thought well maybe it's a course on how to study, scheduling classes, and determining on what you will eventually wish to major in. Not bad for most 18 year olds, but it appears only undeclared students get this and that thrusts me into a class with lost teenagers who have no clue what they want to do with their life...so in a sense every kid should have to take this. I however am not one of these, and taking it makes my credits all kind of screwy.

Oh, did I mention that the class is at the break of dawn on Tuesday morning? Yes, "class" starts at 8:30, but here's the good news, we really only meet every other week, so it has that going for it. Now we're probably coming to the point of this blog, and more importantly its title.

During the last we received an email about the class Blackboard account and I logged my rather large posterior into it. I was in no shape, way, form or spiritual alignment ready for what I was about see. I notice, unlike my History blackboard, my CORE blackboard is FILLED with goodies. First up was the ebook, and clicking on Chapter one let me know the HORROR I was about to be in store for.


So...apparently this class will be taught by the Junior Senator from Minnesota, Stuart Smalley. I am taking a one credit course which in turn is a self-help/esteem/motivator seminar to tell me that I'm smart enough, I'm good enough, and darn it, people like me. This is merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this ebook and other resources. There are Support Resources (with good things like calculating your GPA, financial aid, etc) and then there is a section called Understanding My Future. This is the text that is below that link...

Here students will find information to help them understand their role in the development of the future. Students will learn things like:
"Where does the future come from?"
"How do I plan for the future?"
"What jobs will be available in the future"

...just to mention a few. Students are encouraged to explore the information in this folder so they can be prepared to make the decisions necessary for "the future."

As you see, the title for this blog comes directly from the above. Where Does The Future Come From? Now if this was a theoretical class on time and string theory I would be really excited. Sadly this is likely not the case, probably something more like Bill McGrane and less like having a conversation with Einstein.

So what you can expect in the coming days, weeks, months is a review of what happens in this class. What a 30 year old experiences when he's stuck into a self-motivation seminar with a bunch of teenagers who are still naive to life, the universe and everything and the ridiculousness that this "course" may actually bring, but hopefully some hilarity at the same time. In the end though, hopefully we may actually learn where the future comes from...other than tomorrow.