Matthew Campisi

Better Than I Used To Be :)

2012-01-27T17:52:00.001-08:00

new doc coming soon

2012-01-09T12:56:00.000-08:00

Got alot of work done today with the new nossa documentary. I think our supporters are really going to like this film. We are working with alot of good people who are really serious about challenging heightism and height discrimination.

Teen mom kills armed intruder to protect newborn

2012-01-04T15:37:00.000-08:00

Check out this story - click here

Bet the intruder wasn't expecting that one from a teen mom. :)

2011 and the year ahead...

2011-12-30T07:30:00.000-08:00

2011 turned out to be an important transitional year for me. As I look back I am satisfied with my accomplishments and confident that I will continue to overcome any roadblocks. I believe in my heart that 2012 will be a landmark year for me. I want to wish you and your family only the best for 2012 and beyond. Thank you for reading my blog. I will continue to communicate through this blog in 2012.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T07:04:00.000-08:00

Critics

2011-12-16T12:49:00.000-08:00

Are critics all bad? No, critics often provide valuable feedback and inspiration. Some critics will provide valuable suggestions that you can use to make improvements. Others will help you gauge whether or not your activities are making an impact. Even hate inspired criticism can prove useful in that it can inspire and motivate you to continue your work when you might otherwise feel ambivalent or lack motivation.

That is why I would rather deal with a vocal critic than a silent friend. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” The real enemy is apathetic, indifferent, and doesn’t give you much thought. While the people in your life who can potentially provide you with the most benefit are those who are interested in you, care about you, and are thinking of you. Even if that interest is critical in nature. Surprisingly, the person who hates you can inadvertently do more to help you than your silent friend. But that will depend on you and your perspective.

If only my critics knew how close I had come to giving up, but for their words, I was inspired to continue!

So the next time someone criticizes you and what you are doing….thank them!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-21T09:45:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a very safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Resentment & The Blame Game

2011-11-18T06:15:00.000-08:00

Let's face it. It's not so easy being short. Does heightism rear it's ugly head? You bet it does! Is NOSSA working towards addressing it when it does? ABSOLUTELY! NOSSA is actively trying to change this widespread belief that short stature is an inferior trait. And this belief is deeply imbedded in the subconscious of both our neighbor and ourselves.

But as a short person, just like any other person from a marginalized group, we must avoid the pitfall of allowing ourselves to be completely defeated by prejudice. We must avoid the temptation to become that resentful person.

We must avoid the temptation to look for a scapegoat for our own failures.To blame someone or something else: the establishment, life, the breaks. The resenter resents the success and happiness of others because his own life, by comparison, is unhappy. He has been somehow deprived. We are all tempted to make our own failures understandable by explaining them in terms of something other than our own inadequacies. Unfair treatment by others, injustice, the conspiracy of circumstances, etc. make our failures easier to face.

The resenter uses up all his energies resenting, and therefore usually accomplishes very little.

The resentful person is forever trying to bring his case before the court of life, hoping that the jury of others will acquit him of his failures.

Resentment comes from the latin resentire (to feel all over again). The resenter is always rehashing the past, reliving past battles he cannot win, and he often persists in his game for a lifetime. Resentment becomes an emotional habit. No one's feelings are caused by others. Our feelings are caused by our own choices and reactions. The resenter is a reactor, not an actor, and eventually, when he realizes this, he is left with no vestiges of self respect. He has spent his life employing a failure mechanism, and he somehow knows it.

We must not allow ourselves to become that bitter short person who only wishes they were just a couple of inches taller....

We must learn to love ourselves, short height and all...Respect ourselves, short height and all...and believe in ourselves, short height and all. Because we are wonderful exactly as we are.

If we do find ourselves feeling bitter, angry, frustrated, or sad, we must try to channel that into something positive. Allow that to motivate us to become grateful and happy for our blessings in life and let it drive us to achieve the success that we dream of. If we detest heightism then don't just accept it, do something about it.

There is nothing wrong with expressing our frustration here on the forums. But don't allow yourself to be consumed and stifled by the hurt.

We only have one life to live. We must make the best of it. And when we need help, that is what our friends at NOSSA are here for.

Somebody

2011-11-14T12:47:00.000-08:00

“In order to have an enemy, one must be somebody. One must be a force before he can be resisted by another force." - Anne Sophie Swetchine

Discrimination

2011-11-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

Crockett states,

“The fact is, if you are a devout Muslim, then you cannot be a true American… Why should I arm these people to kill me? That’s suicide… I call it exercising my right to choose who I instruct in how to use a dangerous weapon.”

Devout Muslim-Americans and Obama Supporters want to kill you Mr. Crockett!?!? Discriminating against these folks is morally wrong. Though I'm certain you don't really care about that. I bet he would be crying foul however, if someone discriminated against devout "christian" firearms instructors.

andy

2011-10-29T07:39:00.000-07:00

Milonakis was born with a congenital growth-hormone condition that gives him the outward appearance and voice of an adolescent even though he is an adult in his mid-30s.

Soup of the day

2011-10-21T17:20:00.001-07:00

via Noe's FB..rofl

2011-10-16T10:15:00.001-07:00

Sage Advice

2011-10-03T13:58:00.000-07:00

How much you can get hit and keep moving forward...

2011-09-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

glock 18 demo

2011-09-19T09:22:00.000-07:00

Bad Time to Fart

2011-09-12T09:41:00.001-07:00

The queen demands severance

2011-09-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

The queen received a $334,676 severance package along with unemployment insurance!?!? She demanded it! Yet, the little people (her civil servants) got shafted under her rule. Unbelievable!

watching the first 48

2011-08-18T18:33:00.000-07:00

watching this case closely as this kid featured on the first 48 "cold and callous" episode really pissed me off. Hopefully, Texas will get this one right.

case information

Public Employees

2011-07-18T07:20:00.000-07:00

Interesting comment posted to the following article in the Federal Times

"5 years ago a woman and her husband came into our federal office inquiring about working in a federal law enforcement positon. When she asked about salary, I told her what the entry level salary would be for the position depending on the geographic assignement. Her response: "Are you kidding?" "I make $200,000 per year writing mortgages for First Magnus in my pajamas from my house." "Who in their right mind would work the federal government?" They left and we never saw them again. The mortgage company for which she worked went under in 2008 and all the employees lost their jobs and received not compensation in back salary. Now that the "good times" are over, why does the Congress see fit to punish federal employees?"

I seem to recall an article that mentioned most federal positions were underpaid by approximately 30% compared to the private sector. While I certainly understand that times are tough and that sacrifices must be made, I am bewildered by the public's attacks on local, state, and federal government employees. These are the same jobs that private sector employees balked at when times were more lucrative.

Got him! :)

2011-07-13T06:36:00.000-07:00

sunday christians

2011-07-06T16:15:00.000-07:00

Are you a Sunday Christian? Do you treat people like shit all week and then bask in the word on sunday? Probably need to reevaluate yourself. Just sayin

Hate

2011-06-17T03:52:00.001-07:00

Life is very short. Don't waste yours feeling angry and hateful all the time. Let go of past regrets and troubles. Focus on the good instead of what's wrong with your life. You'll be very glad you did.

How to die in Oregon

2011-05-27T13:33:00.000-07:00

By far one of the most moving and thought provoking films I have ever seen....

Even

2011-05-25T12:09:00.000-07:00

The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you. ~John E. Southard

Selflessness

2011-05-23T10:48:00.000-07:00

I'm attracted to those rare people who put others before themselves. These folks make the world a better place.

Osama Bin Laden is Dead

2011-05-02T07:49:00.000-07:00

Terrorism is a tactic employed by the weak. Terrorists have never been successful in the long term. Good will triumph over evil in the end.

Bravo Zulu to the United States Navy Seals who executed a flawless operation.

In the end, hate will not succeed!

all you are is mean

2011-04-29T12:54:00.000-07:00

Reds

2011-04-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

Ah, the weather is nice and it's time to get my little butt out on that water. I am intent on catching a nice red drum. I'm sticking to shrimp and i'm hitting those sandy mud bottoms hard. Wishing everyone good luck out there on the water. :)

touche' my arch nemesis.....:)

2011-04-19T08:47:00.000-07:00

Small Government & Cuts

2011-04-11T11:32:00.000-07:00

Who benefits from small government the most? Is it the struggling single mother doing her best to raise a family on her single minimum-wage salary? Is it the upper class? Is it really a good idea to cut federal funding for college Pell grants? Will we see an even greater gap between the have and have not's, when poor families cannot afford to send their children off to college for a better life?

Who needs government anyway? Right? Besides, government regulation just gets in the way of doing business....of making money. Right? Let's ensure the power remains where it rightfully belongs, America. In the hands of the power elite.

The Tea Party and it's supporters are working tirelessly to steer this country in the wrong direction. I'm afraid they are achieving great success. If you are not among the power elite you ought to be gravely concerned and determined to fight back come election time.

Justin Nozuka

2011-04-02T07:06:00.000-07:00

Justin Nozuka reminds me alot of Jeff Buckley. I really like his voice.

Life goes on......

2011-03-29T14:09:00.000-07:00

I just discovered something about a long lost old friend last night. I was happy to hear that he is doing well. It's crazy how people come and go from your life. At one point we were best friends and now we are complete strangers. I have some really good memories of us hanging out together. But those days are long gone and it's time to put my long lost old friend behind me. I wish him the best......

- Matt

angry all the time

2011-03-27T16:07:00.000-07:00

H-Fury

2011-03-14T17:51:00.000-07:00

Those who are consumed by humiliated fury are absorbed in themselves or their cause...wrapped in wounded pride.

Unions

2011-03-06T15:17:00.000-08:00

Are unions the problem or are greedy white collar criminals to blame? Wake up America!

Too short

2011-02-27T19:17:00.001-08:00

Life's too short for stupidity. Focus on what matters.

Left or right?

2011-02-18T10:10:00.001-08:00

I just "love" these extremists who believe wholeheartedly that one political viewpoint is 100 percent correct 100 percent of the time and the other is 100 percent wrong 100 percent of the time. Newsflash folks - life is not black and white all the time. There are shades of grey. The truth is often found where you didn't expect it to be. Extremists are so tragic for they are unable to see this.

11 Officers Shot in 24 hours

2011-01-24T15:22:00.000-08:00

11 Law Enforcement Officers shot in the line of duty in 24 hours today. Decent, hard-working people who put their lives on the line everyday for modest pay. People who run towards the sound of gunshots to save lives. People who work on thanksgiving and christmas away from their family to keep you safe. People who put up with your bullshit excuses of why you shouldn't get a ticket for blowing a stop sign or speeding 15 over. Thank a cop for keeping you safe. And God bless these officers and their families. RIP brothers!

Hate hurts the hater more than the hated

2011-01-07T18:10:00.000-08:00

Hate hurts the hater more than the hated.....just sayin' :)

Happy 2011!!!

2010-12-28T12:51:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a very safe and happy 2011....

Live from Daryl's House

2010-12-10T08:40:00.000-08:00

Absolutely love the webshow 'Live from Daryl's House' @ livefromdarylshouse.com Check it out!

Happy Holidays!!!

2010-12-07T11:13:00.000-08:00

Just want to wish all of my blog visitors a very happy holiday season and new year!!! Hope your new year is filled with blessings.

tree day

2010-12-01T06:26:00.000-08:00

Off to get the Christmas tree. Happy holidays everyone!!!

How about some good music for my return to blogging?

2010-11-26T07:36:00.000-08:00

Blogging again....

2010-11-26T06:18:00.000-08:00

Hello people who read my blog!

I'm back to blogging again. I've been very busy however, I will try to update my blog as often as possible and share myself with all of you. Thanks for caring! With much love....

-Matt

Joe Friday

2010-08-15T09:36:00.000-07:00

Supreme Court Gets it Right!!!

2010-06-28T12:11:00.000-07:00

So happy to hear the Supreme Court got this case right. I am reprinting the official statement of NRA Executive Vice-President Wayne LaPierre:

Statement by Wayne LaPierre
Executive Vice President/CEO, NRA
and Chris W. Cox, Executive Director, NRA-ILA
Regarding U.S. Supreme Court Decision
McDonald v. City of Chicago
June 28, 2010

Today marks a great moment in American history. This is a landmark decision. It is a vindication for the great majority of American citizens who have always believed the Second Amendment was an individual right and freedom worth defending.

The Supreme Court said what a majority of the American public believes. The people who wrote the Second Amendment said it was an individual right, and the Court has now confirmed what our founding fathers wrote and intended. The Second Amendment - as every citizen's constitutional right -is now a real part of American Constitutional law.

But, Supreme Court decisions have to lead to actual consequences or the whole premise of American constitutional authority collapses. Individual freedom must mean you can actually experience it. An incorporated freedom has to be a real freedom.

The intent of the founding fathers - and the Supreme Court - was to provide access. Words must have meaning.

The Supreme Court has now said the Second Amendment is an individual freedom for all. And that must have meaning. This decision must provide relief to law-abiding citizens who are deprived of their Second Amendment rights.

I'm a practical guy. I don't want to win on philosophy and lose on freedom. The end question is, can law-abiding men and women go out and buy and own a firearm? Today the Supreme Court said yes - anywhere they live!

This decision cannot lead to different measures of freedom, depending on what part of the country you live in. City by city, person by person, this decision must be more than a philosophical victory. An individual right is no right at all if individuals can't access it. Proof of Heller and McDonald will be law abiding citizens, one by one, purchasing and owning firearms.

The NRA will work to ensure this constitutional victory is not transformed into a practical defeat by activist judges, defiant city councils, or cynical politicians who seek to pervert, reverse, or nullify the Supreme Court's McDonald decision through Byzantine labyrinths of restrictions and regulations that render the Second Amendment inaccessible, unaffordable, or otherwise impossible to experience in a practical, reasonable way.

What good is a right without the gun? What good is the right if you can't buy one? Or keep one in your home? Or protect your family with one?

Here's a piece of paper - protect yourself. That's no right at all!

Victory is when law abiding men and women can get up, go out, and buy and own a firearm. This is a monumental day. But NRA will not rest until every law-abiding American citizen is able to exercise the individual right to buy and own a firearm for self defense or any other lawful purpose.

Shai - If I Ever Fall In Love (Acapella)

2010-06-05T13:20:00.000-07:00

A right to discriminate?

2010-05-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

First please watch this....

Notice Stosssel says, "it's none of government's business..."

It brings us back to the major political debate of....

What is the role of government?

I believe that indeed it is the role of government to prevent and correct social harms. Prejudice and discrimination is a social harm. We cannot as a civilized society just sit back and allow social harm to continue unabated. We have to consider the impact of prejudice and discrimination.

Where You Go I Go -Kim Walker / Jesus Culture

2010-04-21T13:12:00.001-07:00

Ol' Blue Eyes

2010-04-17T19:32:00.000-07:00

OL' BLUE EYES!

Clash of the Titans

2010-04-02T08:04:00.000-07:00

Ok, so one of my favorite movies of all time has been remade. While I am excited to see the modern visual effects, I am still wondering why hollywood feels the need to go there. Clash of the Titans is a classic and the original suffices for me...

Spring

2010-03-21T09:36:00.001-07:00

hello spring..... :)

I will rise up

2010-03-11T08:51:00.000-08:00

In the darkest hour, in the dead night,
As the storm clouds gather, and the lightning strikes,
And the thunder rolls, and the cold rain blows,
The future it holds, what God only knows.

And I will rise up, and I will rise up,
Though I be a dead man, I said yes and amen.
And I will stand tall, and I will stand tall,
Until I meet my end, until I meet my end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_mNJkYlP9A

Supreme Court to address limits of gun control

2010-03-02T06:55:00.000-08:00

CNN is reporting today on the Chicago gun case that may change gun laws here in the United States.

I support the right of law-abiding citizens to carry firearms. Restrictions should, in my opinion, be limited to those with a history of criminal behavior and mental illness. Also, carrying a firearm while intoxicated should always be against the law no matter what.

Let's hope our justices get this case right. This will be a historic moment in our nation's history...

Liberalism, atheism, male sexual exclusivity linked to IQ

2010-02-27T08:42:00.000-08:00

Interesting article posted on CNN today...

(CNN) -- Political, religious and sexual behaviors may be reflections of intelligence, a new study finds.

Evolutionary psychologist Satoshi Kanazawa at the the London School of Economics and Political Science correlated data on these behaviors with IQ from a large national U.S. sample and found that, on average, people who identified as liberal and atheist had higher IQs. This applied also to sexual exclusivity in men, but not in women. The findings will be published in the March 2010 issue of Social Psychology Quarterly.

The IQ differences, while statistically significant, are not stunning -- on the order of 6 to 11 points -- and the data should not be used to stereotype or make assumptions about people, experts say. But they show how certain patterns of identifying with particular ideologies develop, and how some people's behaviors come to be.

The reasoning is that sexual exclusivity in men, liberalism and atheism all go against what would be expected given humans' evolutionary past. In other words, none of these traits would have benefited our early human ancestors, but higher intelligence may be associated with them.

"The adoption of some evolutionarily novel ideas makes some sense in terms of moving the species forward," said George Washington University leadership professor James Bailey, who was not involved in the study. "It also makes perfect sense that more intelligent people -- people with, sort of, more intellectual firepower -- are likely to be the ones to do that."

Bailey also said that these preferences may stem from a desire to show superiority or elitism, which also has to do with IQ. In fact, aligning oneself with "unconventional" philosophies such as liberalism or atheism may be "ways to communicate to everyone that you're pretty smart," he said.

The study looked at a large sample from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), which began with adolescents in grades 7-12 in the United States during the 1994-95 school year. The participants were interviewed as 18- to 28-year-olds from 2001 to 2002. The study also looked at the General Social Survey, another cross-national data collection source.

Kanazawa did not find that higher or lower intelligence predicted sexual exclusivity in women. This makes sense, because having one partner has always been advantageous to women, even thousands of years ago, meaning exclusivity is not a "new" preference.

For men, on the other hand, sexual exclusivity goes against the grain evolutionarily. With a goal of spreading genes, early men had multiple mates. Since women had to spend nine months being pregnant, and additional years caring for very young children, it made sense for them to want a steady mate to provide them resources.

Religion, the current theory goes, did not help people survive or reproduce necessarily, but goes along the lines of helping people to be paranoid, Kanazawa said. Assuming that, for example, a noise in the distance is a signal of a threat helped early humans to prepare in case of danger.

"It helps life to be paranoid, and because humans are paranoid, they become more religious, and they see the hands of God everywhere," Kanazawa said.

Participants who said they were atheists had an average IQ of 103 in adolescence, while adults who said they were religious averaged 97, the study found. Atheism "allows someone to move forward and speculate on life without any concern for the dogmatic structure of a religion," Bailey said.

"Historically, anything that's new and different can be seen as a threat in terms of the religious beliefs; almost all religious systems are about permanence," he noted.

The study takes the American view of liberal vs. conservative. It defines "liberal" in terms of concern for genetically nonrelated people and support for private resources that help those people. It does not look at other factors that play into American political beliefs, such as abortion, gun control and gay rights.

"Liberals are more likely to be concerned about total strangers; conservatives are likely to be concerned with people they associate with," he said.

Given that human ancestors had a keen interest in the survival of their offspring and nearest kin, the conservative approach -- looking out for the people around you first -- fits with the evolutionary picture more than liberalism, Kanazawa said. "It's unnatural for humans to be concerned about total strangers." he said.

The study found that young adults who said they were "very conservative" had an average adolescent IQ of 95, whereas those who said they were "very liberal" averaged 106.

It also makes sense that "conservatism" as a worldview of keeping things stable would be a safer approach than venturing toward the unfamiliar, Bailey said.

Neither Bailey nor Kanazawa identify themselves as liberal; Bailey is conservative and Kanazawa is "a strong libertarian."

Vegetarianism, while not strongly associated with IQ in this study, has been shown to be related to intelligence in previous research, Kanazawa said. This also fits into Bailey's idea that unconventional preferences appeal to people with higher intelligence, and can also be a means of showing superiority.

None of this means that the human species is evolving toward a future where these traits are the default, Kanazawa said.

"More intelligent people don't have more children, so moving away from the trajectory is not going to happen," he said.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/26/liberals.atheists.sex.intelligence/index.html?hpt=C2

Hahaha

2010-02-20T08:26:00.000-08:00

Chris and Steve were recently guests on a radio show hosted by a lady by the name of Kim Iverson. They both did a great job trying to explain heightism.

Unfortunately, most folks seem to chuckle at the mere suggestion of heightism. Conservatives use it as evidence of the "insanity" of the liberal. Liberals (for the most part) find it comical.

Does society value short stature?

If no, why not?

Valentine

2010-02-14T18:04:00.000-08:00

Hope your Valentine's day is filled with love.

Oh well

2010-02-07T18:47:00.001-08:00

There's always next year...

Go Colts!!!

2010-02-07T13:05:00.001-08:00

Bring home another win baby....

Don't be resentful because it only hurts you

2010-02-06T11:11:00.000-08:00

Resentment is like a glass of poison that a man drinks; then he sits down and waits for his enemy to die.—Unknown

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.”

Mobile Broadband

2010-01-27T17:45:00.000-08:00

So I'm looking for a good mobile broadband carrier. I hear that cricket is crap. I'm thinking of going with verizon. Any ideas drop me an email or post a reply.

Just Breathe

2010-01-05T12:51:00.000-08:00

2010

2009-12-30T17:06:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everybody!!! Hope your new year is filled with love.

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-14T10:12:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to all. May your holiday be filled with love.

2009-11-19T05:32:00.001-08:00

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong. " - Ghandi

Life is good

2009-10-09T11:50:00.000-07:00

Life is truly good. I am very happy.

RIP Patrick Swayze

2009-09-15T11:09:00.000-07:00

Strength in the midst of tragedy

2009-09-07T08:10:00.000-07:00

"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him." And, "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them."

"Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows." If you truly turn to God, He will care for you as no one else does, and in a way that no one else can.

Daring Greatly

2009-06-10T04:06:00.000-07:00

It is not the critic who counts;not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;who strives valiantly;who errs and comes short again and again;who knows great enthusiasms,the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while DARING GREATLY so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.

-Theodore Roosevelt 26th President Of The United States

Appearance Discrimination

2009-06-04T15:59:00.000-07:00

I came across this great post about height/weight appearance discrimination on the internet:

"We live in a world in which we are constantly judged by our appearance despite the ideal "judgment by merit." People we pass by in a crowded city will size us up and immediately form an idea in their head of whom they think we are in less than two seconds; often times, this idea is completely wrong, as many people judge solely on a few factors of a person's appearance.Either way, there are several cases in which it is blatantly wrong to be judged by your appearance, yet most people probably do it every single day.

Why? Think of it this way: Human beings are afraid of the unknown. If a person thinks he or she knows who you are, even if that thought is completely wrong, then he or she will feel more secure for the moment. One of the most common attributes I've seen people be judged by is their height. For one reason or another, many tall and average-sized people seem to have it in their heads that people who aren't quite as tall as them are somehow "inferior" to them. Folks, a person cannot control his or her height; tall people didn't "earn" their height, and shorter people weren't "unqualified" for it. Now, this is a problem that is usually common in men; after all, many girls like to date the tall guys, so the short guys are automatically taken out of the dating pool for no good reason. Additionally, people seem to have it in their heads that tall people are better athletes, and while having more height gives you an advantage in basketball, a tall person isn't a better tennis player than a short person. When coaches use this mentality, many smaller kids are cast aside before the second round of try-outs.

People are also judged by their weight. Again, even though a significant portion of the world is overweight, society seems to believe that it is okay to discriminate against obese people. Fat jokes are one thing; sometimes, though, someone will not want to associate with someone who's overweight. I've seen it happen before, and I was greatly appalled. Just as it makes no sense to judge someone by his or her height, it doesn't make sense to judge someone by his or her weight. You don't know that the person is too lazy to exercise; maybe it's a genetic thing. And your weight has nothing to do with your personality, so you really can't judge an overweight person until he or she actually talks to you; however, the damage done seems to be irreversible, and obese people may never get a fair shake in this world."

The don't judge a book by its cover adage is rarely put into daily practice. I try very hard to be mindful of appearance based discrimination and I actively work towards eliminating these prejudgments from my own life.

Please give this some thought.

like a bullet through smoke...

2009-05-26T14:12:00.000-07:00

How to Destroy Your Enemy

2009-05-18T15:04:00.000-07:00

Excellent article follows below: (Source: http://www.geocities.com/dmathew1/weeklyx6.htm

On a simply beautiful day I was walking along the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs, looking forward to eating some pastries at the Greek bakeries located opposite the dock. The sun was glimmering off the water and the air was becoming cooler even as the sun was nearing the apex of its journey across the sky. In the gift shops are sponges, some wet from their recent occupation filtering water, and numerous gifts which appeal to tourists because they have "Florida" prominently painted on them — and cheap, too, because a decal on the bottom says "China". The blue sky was interrupted occasionally by the trailing edge of a cold front which had brought a severe storm on Saturday night and a few days of cold weather. Ideal conditions such as these are very productive for the thinker because they distract the mind away from the common concerns of life. The question which presented itself to me at this time was, "How to destroy your enemy?" It is an important question indeed, and worthy of a wise and reliable answer.

Enemies take many different forms: People who behave rudely toward yourself, compete with you in your endeavors, oppose your words or actions, gossip against you or slander you, and those who hate or disrespect you. The two individuals who find themselves enemies will either not communicate or they will attempt to provoke each other's anger by words or deeds. These behaviors will motivate each of the enemies to complain about the other to their friends and others who will listen sympathetically. As the relationship develops, bitterness will create a grudge that perpetuates the attitude. Grudges become dormant once both parties no longer interact, but should they ever meet again the dormant hate and anger will emerge from its slumber. Worthy of mention also is those cases in which the hate becomes so powerful that it motivates either party to seek physical harm to the other. Violence accompanies hate just as maggots infest exposed meat. Slanders, altercations and murders signify the surrender of self control to the demands of anger and hate.

Enemies present a challenge to even the most spiritual people, and the common man usually cannot overcome anger. When a person is not bold enough to commit acts of violence, some satisfaction is found in contemplating or wishing violence upon an enemy. Lacking the tools of self control and subject to an earthly perspective, the common man seeks more passive means of destroying the enemy. When the enemy needs assistance, no help is given. When the gossip against the enemy is heard, the gossip is perpetuated without concern about the truth or accuracy of the gossip. Satisfaction or happiness follows the news that the enemy has suffered some setback or illness. The enemy becomes subject to constant criticism and complaint, and even when the enemy commits a good deed his motive is questioned and the benefits of the deed are minimized. All of these behaviors falls short of violence, but they display a short-sighted hate which is as self-destructive as it is destructive to the enemy.

"There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12). Everyone feels justified in acting evil toward an enemy, otherwise the above mentioned behaviors would not occur so often throughout society. The norms of culture declare that people ought to treat others as others treat them, contradicting the Biblical command, "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12). Your own behavior, dictated as it is by society and just in your own mind, leads you to commit the acts which offend you so much when they are directed at you. But you are not bound to live as you presently do, you may change your perspective, your thoughts, your words and your actions. No one will compel you to live wisely, you must make that choice for yourself. Every occasion in which a person becomes an enemy to you will provide an opportunity for you to refuse to become an enemy.

Proper behavior towards an enemy is, remarkably enough, identical to proper behavior towards a friend. "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (Matthew 5:43- 44). Jesus, the author of the command, displayed His own willingness to live by it when evil people of that day decided to kill Him for teaching the truth and revealing their hypocrisy. When violence cannot solve the problem of human sin, a more powerful force must take precedence. Love defeats violence even when the violent destroy the good, and love defeats hate all the time.

Evil repaid for evil will only make both parties evil. At some point, the chain of self- perpetuating hate must be broken by individuals of character who will not allow themselves to succumb to their own emotions. "You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also" (Matthew 5:38-39). When no attempt is made to respond in like fashion to an evil act, the good will find themselves stronger in character and more willing to sacrifice the moment for a more exalted goal. What you gain from wisdom is more valuable than anything you may lose in the pursuit of wisdom. Life itself, which is transient and fragile, will eventually surrender itself to death no matter what course you choose. Rather than wasting time in foolish and futile acts of hate, invest each moment with the sense of importance associated with kindness, forgiveness and comfort. God created all these people, even the misguided, and we are obligated to love each and every one of them.

What use is a good act toward an enemy? Jewish wisdom declares, "Do good to one that is lowly, and give not to an ungodly man: keep back his bread, give it not to him, lest he overmaster you thereby: for thou shalt receive twice as much evil for all the good thou shalt have done unto him" (Ecclesiasticus XII). Good acts are wasted on the evil, and that is reason enough to withhold them. Or is it? A wiser teacher declares, "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. Therefore ‘If your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:29-21). The enemy does not dictate our behavior, we are responsible for that. Those who choose to live a good life must use every opportunity for good to an advantage regardless of the character of those helped. A casual act of kindness means much more than numerous small evils. A generous spirit is worthy of praise, especially when generosity is not contained by selfish consideration of what the other person may do for us.

How shall we act when an enemy suffers some setback, harm or illness? Suffering that others experience is a precursor to suffering which we must experience. Taking satisfaction in the pain of others reveals a deficiency of compassion. "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, and he turn away His wrath from Him" (Proverbs 24:17-18). Every situation presents an opportunity for you to distinguish yourself from the enemy, and a compassionate response to the enemy will powerfully convey the selfless love which Christians must have to all other people. Extend a hand to the fallen so that they may in the future extend their own hand to you.

Acts of kindness toward an enemy will provide the greatest possible tool to destroy an enemy. An enemy is never destroyed until the enemy no longer exist. Destruction of the enemy occurs when the enemy becomes a friend. Some people will never respond to kindness or cease behaving as an enemy. These people are worthy of love and compassion and also much sympathy. Have sympathy for the people blind to wisdom and foreign to the virtues, those unfortunate ones who choose to make hate the defining characteristic of their own futile life. No amount of kindness will change them, but it will certainly change you. Let the evil of others provoke you to good, let the hate of others provoke you to love, let the rudeness of others provoke you to kindness, and let the lies of others provoke you to the truth. Abandon your former conduct and life your eyes above the dirt to the glorious shining light which overcomes all things. - David Mathews

Isn't wisdom a wonderful thing? Thank God for wise people. And may the ignorant someday see the light...

Family Guy

2009-05-12T11:26:00.000-07:00

Happy

2009-05-07T23:37:00.000-07:00

Happiness is a state of mind or feeling such as contentment, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy. (Wikipedia)

Are you happy?

I've been asking myself this question a lot lately. I think despite the negatives in my life, the answer is yes.

This song is catchy

2009-05-03T13:04:00.000-07:00

Pirates of Somalia

2009-04-27T12:37:00.000-07:00

This piracy thing is getting out of hand. Something sensible ought to be done to get a handle on this problem. Pirates are a dangerous bunch and ought not be treated with kid gloves.

Hulk-A-Maniac?

2009-04-18T22:07:00.000-07:00

Legendary wrestler Hulk Hogan (who is going through a bitter divorce) was quoted as saying he "gets" why O.J. killed his wife.

Discretion is the better part of valor. He should of kept these thoughts to himself.

But at the same time, I don't think he was purposely trying to condone violence.

I think what we heard was comments from a very angry, frustrated, and hurt man who was caught venting during an extremely difficult period in his life.

So instead of attacking him like vultures, we ought to apply a bit of empathy.

if you dont know me by now

2009-04-13T16:45:00.001-07:00

wanting what you've got

2009-04-08T13:58:00.000-07:00

This economy sucks! People are losing their jobs. Families are going to bed hungry.Job competition is fierce. People are losing their homes.

I should be thanking my lucky stars I even have a job. Albeit a job that brings me little satisfaction and great distress.

They say that when you truly love your job you never really work a day in your life. Well since I've been here, I've certainly been working every day of my life.

I've been thinking a lot about my career direction lately. I think it might be time for me to reevaluate a few things.

At the end of the day (at least in my humble opinion) it's not really about how much money you make or how impressive your job title. Rather, it matters only that you are happy with the choices that you've made in your career path...

Holding Back the Years

2009-04-04T14:46:00.000-07:00

Comedy

2009-03-27T13:54:00.001-07:00

I never knew how funny I was until I started working in what is traditionally considered to be a big man's occupation.I mean I must be hysterical because so many folks laugh at me. Could it be my New York accent? No, they laugh even before I've said a word. Could it be the way I dress? No, I wear a standard uniform. Could it be the silly look on my face? No, I'm pretty expressionless. Hmm...Perhaps this is the role conflict that sociologists speak of?

For in that sleep of death what dreams may come

2009-03-16T16:25:00.000-07:00

underestimate

2009-03-15T15:10:00.000-07:00

underestimate: undervalue: assign too low a value to; lowball: make a deliberately low estimate.

Do you ever feel that you are grossly underestimated by others? I've grown quite accustom to being underestimated by others. While I am by no means an overachiever, I certainly believe that I can accomplish a great deal more than my naysayers will give me credit for. I think alot of it has to do with my appearance. I don't believe my appearance commands much respect. Reminds me of the old saying, never judge a book by it's cover. Too bad few folks ever really heed this sage advice. The upside to this is the fact that it does motivate me (and others like me) to achieve.

thunder thunder thunder thundercats

2009-03-08T15:49:00.000-07:00

petty co-workers

2009-03-01T18:05:00.000-08:00

Isn't it sad how jealous co-workers will sometimes go out of their way to make you look bad at work? Apparently, some folks view me as a threat to their career aspirations. Frankly, I'm flattered! Surely if I was the incompetent boob that they portray me to be, I wouldn't be on their radar screens. It kind of makes me feel good in a strange way. I know that I'm doing something right :)

No Respect

2009-02-17T15:24:00.001-08:00

My Valentine

2009-02-10T06:08:00.000-08:00

XLIII

2009-02-01T20:17:00.000-08:00

That was a great game. While I was disappointed about my team not making it this year, I must admit that the Steelers and Cardinals did play an outstanding football game. Harrison's 100-yard interception was awesome and Santonio Holmes played his ass off. I was thoroughly entertained.

Heart of the Matter

2009-01-11T08:36:00.000-08:00

True Strength

2009-01-10T12:19:00.000-08:00

I have been pretty impressed with Patrick Swayze's outlook on his illness. I guess the strength he displayed in many of his films truly mirrored the real man. I really hope for the best for him.

BART Shooting

2009-01-09T20:37:00.000-08:00

I've been following the story of the fatal shooting early New Year's Day of 22-year-old Oscar Grant. BART Officers pulled Grant and other young men off of a Dublin-Pleasanton BART train and onto the Fruitvale Station platform after a fight at about 2 a.m.

Grant was unarmed and lying on his chest when Officer Johannes Mehserle shot him in the back with his service weapon. The shooting, which was captured by at least two people with cell phone cameras, remains unexplained.

On Thursday, Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff said he expects to make a decision in about two weeks on whether to file criminal charges against Mehserle, 27, who resigned Wednesday rather than talk to BART internal affairs investigators.

The investigation is being conducted by Oakland and BART police and the district attorney's office.

Oakland attorney John Burris has filed a $25 million claim against BART on behalf of Grant's mother and 4-year-old daughter.

I saw one of the videos of the shooting. My first thought after watching the video was that it looked as if the Officer got confused and mistook his firearm for his taser. If this is what happened here, I believe the family should definitely receive their $25 million claim. Mehserle (who at 27 I would guess is probably a rookie)is not fit to serve.

My heart goes out to everyone affected by this incident. Let's hope the BART PD makes the changes needed to prevent this from ever happening again.

Love Will Keep Us Alive

2009-01-01T08:15:00.000-08:00

"Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."
- Andy Dufresne

2009

2008-12-26T11:35:00.000-08:00

To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one's self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived - this is to have succeeded."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Get Over It!

2008-12-17T09:31:00.000-08:00

A Merry Little Christmas

2008-12-15T17:21:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

2008-12-13T17:47:00.000-08:00

I wish everyone a very safe, happy, healthy, and wonderful holiday season. Happy Holidays Everyone.

Christmas In This Economy :)

2008-12-09T11:37:00.000-08:00

Family at Christmas

2008-12-04T09:11:00.000-08:00

Christmas is a time for reconnecting with family. Life is so precious, we should treasure the time we have with those we love. Err...but what about the one's we don't? Oh, you know what I mean. Every family seems to have that condescending asshole or narcissistic bitch present to brighten up our holiday festivities. You can get through it. Grit your teeth, keep your mouth shut, breathe slowly through your nose...It will all be over soon enough. Don't allow the bad apples to spoil it for you. Remember why you are there...Who you are there for. The spirit of Christmas is rooted in love and generosity.