For those complaining about the new Star Wars/The nerdiest crap you will ever read

I have seen quite a bit of people complaining about the new Star Wars trailer. Here are some examples of what I've been seeing:

"Hurr durrr the lightsaber is different. y would they do that. y pls somebody tell me y."

"That little soccer droid is stupid droids never looked like that in the other movies. I'm pissed."

"That speeder looks like a big brown popsicle speeder bikes don't look like that."

"A black stormtrooper? They're trying too hard."

"Abrams is just trying new things in Star Wars but he's trying too hard."

You guys do realize that this movie is set 30 years after the original trilogy, right? Also, technology advances over time. I bet half of the tech that we saw in the teaser were leaps and bounds ahead of what took it's place in the past. As Star Wars is a technologically based universe, it isn't hard to piece together that droids, weapons, transportation, and misc. items would advance as soon as they could. I find your lack of faith in Abrams disturbing.

On the stormtrooper, that can easily be answered in EU lore with a simple explanation. The Empire decided to use multiple templates for the cloning of the troopers after a situation with the Fett template caused a massive issue for them. Not only that, but people could enlist in the Imperial Army and undergo training to join the ranks of the Galactic Empire. A few Google searches and 5 minutes would reveal that easily. I understand that the internet is a wretched hive of scum and villany, but if you were curious as to why things look a tad different than you're used to, a quick Google search will ease your mind.

I understand that this is completely out there for anybody who doesn't know about the Star Wars EU, but the stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf-herders complaining about changes in technology really need to be educated on what 'advancement of society' really means. Look at our own history. We have made quite a leap in technology in the past 30 years.

If you aren't excited about this movie and the new breath of life being brought into this universe, then you need to go home and rethink your life.

Society and homosexuality

People are different. People are similar. People are beautiful. People are terrifying.

1. Just because you do not agree with something does not make you right.

2. Just because you are offended does not put you in the right.

If you disagree with something, spreading your view doesn't quite have the effect that you might think it does. Perception trumps intent every time. Don't look like a fool. There are real life issues, then there are disagreements. If people put as much effort into campaigning against actual problems in the world as they do lifestyle differences, then maybe the world would be a little bit easier to live in.

The most frustrating thing about humanity and homosexuality is the fact that people have to accentuate on the fact that they love homosexuals. They just HAVE to express that they love them. You are creating a topic that doesn't have to exist. If you love them so much, then treat them like you would anybody else. Don't make them feel like something that needs to be accepted. Don't make it seem like you have to make it look like you aren't the bad guy. Do not alienate them. Just be you and let them be them. Life is made way too difficult by people who can not mind their own business. Choose to live life simply. Stop being so complicated. Just be.

Why I didn't buy a baby book

When Ariane and I finally wrapped our heads around the fact that we were going to be parents, she decided that she wanted to go out and buy baby books so that we wouldn't be completely clueless to parenting. As we walked around Barnes & Noble looking through book after book, I noticed that motherhood books follow a positive path. They lead women down a road of positive thinking and empowerment. Books about fatherhood, on the other hand, have a very different tone. Going through books supposedly aimed at me, I kept seeing the same thing: "Having a baby sucks and you will hate everything but it's cool and you will get through it." I have to say, that doesn't exactly make me want to drop loads of dough on your book. Needless to say, I left the store empty handed.

I talked with my own father about fatherhood and how his experience was. Referencing the wonderful reading material that I skimmed, I asked him if it was really as miserable as it sounded. He pretty much scoffed and dismissed the idea, saying that it was tough but he never once hated it.

You see, when it comes to men and women in raising a child, I've noticed something. Women have all of this wonderful reference material and positive reinforcement telling them that they're good to go and that it's all going to be fine. Men... have sub-par books that just kind of tell them to hang in there.

I don't have this big tummy that you can rub and feel a baby kick. I don't have doctors appointments to give me updates on what I should expect and what I might be feeling. I don't have anything to show that I'm going to be a father any day now. Honestly, it kind of sucks. I wish people could look at me and see how proud I am to be what I am. I'm with my love and together we are going to be the parents of the coolest kid.

Here's what I know: My kid is going to be such a badass. He already has tons of great friends and family just waiting on him to get here. It makes the future a lot brighter knowing that. Yea, it's going to be tough raising him and showing him the world, but I'm not dreading any of it. I've always looked forward to being a father, and now it's happening. I don't need a book to tell me any of this. I feel it now, and that's good enough for me.

End Notes: Childbirth gets a really bad rap. It seems like when people find out somebody is having a baby that it's the worst thing to ever happen (namely when they aren't married; and don't even get me started on that subject). Get over it. At one point, you were born just like any other baby. Our bodies make other bodies. Science.

Coca Cola gets it

I did not watch the Super Bowl. Honestly, I wasn't terribly interested, and from what I hear, I didn't miss anything. I did, however, look into some of the commercials and movie trailers that played during breaks in the game. I enjoyed quite a few of them and enjoyed the comedy mixed in with the artistic expression.

Then I got on social media.

The amount of attention the Coca Cola "America the Beautiful" commercial is receiving would be fantastic if the criticism wasn't so atrocious (if you haven't seen it, the link is at the end of this post). There are people legitimately complaining that because the song is not entirely in English, it is a disgrace to America. I have a question for these people: What is America to you? You see, there are different types of humans out there. Some have darker skin than you, some learned a language other than English as their first, and some dress a little differently than you. Want to know something cool? They all live in this same country as equals. Did you know that before Columbus hit the shores there were already people living here that didn't speak a sliver of English and had a completely different world of culture? Did you know that people can legally immigrate here and pursue their own personal happiness? It's true. And yes, I know the term is overused and has become numb to use, but America really is a melting pot. We are made up of different cultures, languages, skin tones, and ideas. Instead of being angry at the television, refer to your middle school history books. 

The problem isn't that a soft drink company made a culturally widespread advertisement. The problem is that you can't accept your own identity. 

Link: Coca-Cola Super Bowl Commercial

Thoughts to think about

Before I begin I'd like to take whatever opinion it is you have of religion and put it in the neutral zone. I understand that there are many different religions besides Christianity, but where I live it is the most common form. This is my view and a collection of an aspect of my life. Respectfully, take it for what it is.

First off: I claim no religion. In fact, I don't really associate with religion in itself. The only claim I have is that I claim to know nothing (though I remain open-minded). I am a believer of life. A follower of humanity and beyond. I soak in my surroundings and adapt them into a personal philosophy. I pursue happiness for myself and for those I love; Whatever you would like to call that.

Here is a list of things that I am not: misled, condemned, blind, stupid, tempted, lost, ignorant.

I was raised on non-denominational Christianity. I attended church every Sunday and most Wednesdays. I did this until around 16 years of age. Why? I thought. I had this idea that maybe, just maybe, I was limiting myself. By the time I was 17 I decided that it was time to separate from what I had been brought up on in favor of a life of philosophical exploration. This bothered a few people close to me. Why? I may never truly know. I was happier. Much more happier. I saw the world in a different light. I saw the world as a human with his own free spirit and years ahead of him. Truly amazing to think about.

I live in a country that boasts religious freedom, but in the region I grew up in, you wouldn't even know it. If you are not a (form of) Christian then you must convert and accept a savior immediately, or risk eternal damnation and hellfire. Even if you just choose a simple life of non-belief, you are somehow offending somebody with your peace and neutrality. I will never understand that. Growing up, I was taught basically that if you are not serving God then you are wrong (disclaimer: my parents are excluded from this. They are wonderful people that taught me what is best and continue to teach me even as I float through my 20s). As I became older, I discovered many other aspects of this earth that were just.. peaceful. You would truly be surprised to know that standing on the outside is another world entirely. You get to see every category with a third person perspective. No claim, no doctrine. Just your own personal powerhouse of thought, motivation, and inspiration.

We have fights and protests about differing views and opinions. Not every person believes what you believe. Whether you are Christian, Atheist, Hindu, Sith, Muslim, Follower of Talos, Satanic, etc. I guarantee that nobody believes exactly what you do. It is sincerely mind-blowing to open up a news article or scroll through my news feed and see the absolute crap that happens out there. I'll be blunt: Your organization/group/religion/political party does not own this earth. We claim to be a free country, but are we really? With people spouting out their religious doctrine as if it is law, with hate and ignorance being poured into our children's minds, with close-minded attempts to destroy other's pursuit of happiness.. where are we really? Yes, I understand that with freedom comes the negative aspects, but we have seriously shifted into something completely different. The lack of respect for different views is astounding. We enslave each other with our ideals to the point of savagery. Step outside of your religion. For once, push it to the side and look at yourself. Look at the humans around you. The flesh and blood you discriminate against is the same as your own. Just think. And maybe, just maybe, we can progress together and edge closer to equality.