stress and reputation

As a very long day comes to a close, i reflect on what i have learned today. People are measured by their actions over thier lives. Typically, its the bad ones. Thats what many people remember, bad decisions. I think its because "good" decisions never ruffle feathers or rattle cages. Typically, when a good decision is made, everyone just rolls right on with their lives.

Its often these bad decisions that people make in their lives that they are known for, no matter how much they change. The story of the scorpion and the frog comes to mind. I used to think that story was true in life, but i can say its not.

One day, a scorpion looked around at the mountain where he lived and decided that he wanted a change. So he set out on a journey through the forests and hills. He climbed over rocks and under vines and kept going until he reached a river.

The river was wide and swift, and the scorpion stopped to reconsider the situation. He couldn't see any way across. So he ran upriver and then checked downriver, all the while thinking that he might have to turn back.

Suddenly, he saw a frog sitting in the rushes by the bank of the stream on the other side of the river. He decided to ask the frog for help getting across the stream.

"Hellooo Mr. Frog!" called the scorpion across the water, "Would you be so kind as to give me a ride on your back across the river?"

"Well now, Mr. Scorpion! How do I know that if I try to help you, you wont try to kill me?" asked the frog hesitantly.

"Because," the scorpion replied, "If I try to kill you, then I would die too, for you see I cannot swim!"

Now this seemed to make sense to the frog. But he asked. "What about when I get close to the bank? You could still try to kill me and get back to the shore!"

"This is true," agreed the scorpion, "But then I wouldn't be able to get to the other side of the river!"

"Alright then...how do I know you wont just wait till we get to the other side and THEN kill me?" said the frog.

"Ahh...," crooned the scorpion, "Because you see, once you've taken me to the other side of this river, I will be so grateful for your help, that it would hardly be fair to reward you with death, now would it?!"

So the frog agreed to take the scorpion across the river. He swam over to the bank and settled himself near the mud to pick up his passenger. The scorpion crawled onto the frog's back, his sharp claws prickling into the frog's soft hide, and the frog slid into the river. The muddy water swirled around them, but the frog stayed near the surface so the scorpion would not drown. He kicked strongly through the first half of the stream, his flippers paddling wildly against the current.

Halfway across the river, the frog suddenly felt a sharp sting in his back and, out of the corner of his eye, saw the scorpion remove his stinger from the frog's back. A deadening numbness began to creep into his limbs.

"You fool!" croaked the frog, "Now we shall both die! Why on earth did you do that?"

The scorpion shrugged, and did a little jig on the drownings frog's back.

"I could not help myself. It is my nature."

Then they both sank into the muddy waters of the swiftly flowing river.

SCORPION I AM NOT!!

When people hear of someones changed attitude, lifestyle, location, job, whatever, for the better, many are quick to downplay this and assert that its just a temporary thing. I think its because they are afraid. Afraid that the changed person did something brave and difficult, and they can't.

When people change for the worse, look out. Everyone is an expert, everyone knew about it, and everyone saw it coming. And boy do they have fun with it...

People can change. I have. Can you? It wasn't easy..the growing pains hurt dearly...

A friend once started dating this person i knew. I told my friend about this persons bad decisions. I am now considered a liar. Sometimes someone elses bad decsions can become yours too...0nly i drowned...

Another friend once made a bad joke with the wrong person. I spoke about this to others. Now, once again, I am considered a liar, when lied i have not. Once again, their bad decision becomes mine...we all drowned...

My heart aches...mostly because i didn't do anything, yet am blamed for it all...

I really do hate the truth, especially when I am the only person who knows it.
My world is round... i think yours is flat.. and the ship is close to the edge...but you cant see it... i think i'll just let you fall next time...

Everyone deserves a second chance...even Judas got his.. he is a saint after all..

cahill out... golf in...

Summer Reading List

Since my defunct math skills are preventing me from taking any classes this summer, I have begun to complie reading list for the summer. Usually what I do is look up a book that I know I want to read on Amazon, then look at their "Customers who bought this also bought these" list and go from there. I also check out the Modern Librarys Librarian and Readers top novels list. I also check out the non-fiction part occasionally. So far, this system works wonderfully.

I found out about the modern library list when I was lving in San Fran. I was working at Pinnacle Fittness and one of the guests always came in carrying interesting books (Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance for one). I asked him about them and he said he was a lit prof at SF State and used this list for his students to vote on what they would like to read. He selected 2, they seleceted 2. Very democratic I must say. Anyway, I have been working my way down the list for years.

Modern Library

I am listening to Atlas Shrugged. Listening, becuase I have read it a few times and now its just plain fun. Anytime I am feeling lazy about work, school or life, it's themes provide me the reason and drive to keep churning along.

Freakonomics
Started this one. Uses boring tools from Econ and Stats class to show real resons behind many issues and problems in society. Really really cool...

The World is Flat
One I have heard "I should read". Not really sure who said it, but ok.. I'm game.

On Bullshit
Need I say more

Crime and Punishment
It's on the modern library's list, and one I should probably read. A friend read it and loved it, mostly for the bold speech style.

Kimithica also gave me this one. I can't wait to get going on in, but Freak kinda got in the way of that...its but next.

Ultimately I have more than this to read for the summer, just what I have trown on the list as of now... more to come...

Cahill OUT!!

car insurance craziness

So i just got off the phone with a nice woman from State Farm who told me that my driving record has 8 points and that my insurance rate would go up. 8 POINTS! I have had 3 speeding tickets in the last 10 years, and one of them, the most recent, was no points just a fine. She told me that while the secretary of state has their point system, the insurance compaines have another. Anything that you get, either points or fines, will make your insurance go up. And their points are more severe than the true legal system. This is insane. They should use the same system that the LAW does, not their own.

Well, now that that's out of my system, I found this great site that helps you get out of tickets. It explains some little legal loopholes.

LINK

NEXT TIME I WILL GET OFF ON ANY TICKET..

Cahill OUT!

Chess Boxing anyone?

As I watch what has become my generations "Good Morning America", Sportscenter, I see something that for sure shouldn't go together, but has. Chess and Boxing. I guess now you can't say that these guys aren't total idiots. They box for 3 mins, take a 1 min break, play speed chess for 4 mins, then another min break, then back to boxing. Crazy. I don't even know how to play chess. Maybe I should learn... Cahill out...

election thoughts

I know its early....but... why will anyone vote for Hillary? If its just because she is a woman, is that enough reason to vote for her? Does she have the political experience for the job? First lady, then senator for a state she never lived in, then President? Really? If she does the same thing for the country that she did for flu shots, look out. (Piggybacking from kimithica)

While I am a Republican, own and wear a Bush/Cheney 04 visor, I don't agree with everything that everything Republican does. I merely agree with their economical views, their usual moral standings, and their general idea that involving the government doesn't fix a problem, it usually makes it worse.

Typically, the government will take the profit out of ventures and kill the entreprenureship of a market. After all, ture capitalism is privatley owned and operated. It seems that what happens in todays market is that once a product, service, or idea becomes profitable and is useful or beneficial to the govt, they have to come in a "make it fair" for everyone.

LOOTERS STAY AWAY FROM ME!!