Hello again,

Wow, I can't believe it's been a whole year.  I'm going to give out clues for my costume again this year.  Like   last year, they are going to start out hard and then get easier.

Without further ado, here is clue number 1!

I read stories all the time of religious groups doing things that confuse, annoy, and outright disgust me. However, usually these tales are from other states, or even other countries, and I can be hopeful that my home is immune to such things. Then I read this article.


Valley High School, not too far from my own alma marter, has had a monument of the Ten Commandments in front of their school for years. When asked to remove the monument, because it obviously goes against the constitution, the school board replied with: "I personally believe the complaint is ludicrous," board President Bob Pallone said. "We as a district do not intend to take down the monument. We feel confident this is not a violation of church and state."

Let me break that down for you:

1. "The complaint is ludicrous." Really? So it is ludicrous to request that a school district adhere to the rules and standards of any other public, government-funded institution? It is ludicrous to be law-abiding citizens? What kind of example is this setting for the youth at this school? I would argue that Pallone's remark that the request is "ludicrous" is setting an example for the students that reads, "its okay to defy authority and break laws."

2. "We as a district do not intend to take down the monument." Again, this is the school board basically saying "its okay to break laws, as long as its for religion". People have been using that argument for far too long.... There is no argument that keeping the monument up is against the constitution.

3. "We feel confident this is not a violation of church and state." This is just hilarious. Maybe the board President should go back to school if he doesn't understand how this is a violation of the separation between church and state. In fact, maybe we should replace the Ten Commandments monument with the Bill of Rights, so students (and faculty) could actually learn something useful as they walk into the school every morning...

I can only hope the school removes this promply. Not only does it send a negative message to the students, as I mentioned above, but if the school district takes this to court, they will be wasting tons of money. In the current state of public education, no penny should be used for anything except the well-needed education that every child deserves. Maybe the school board should be putting the students first, instead of their over-sized christian egos.

Halloween: Post 3

Posted by clarinetchloride comments (0)

Well, I do believe my costume is "FINISHED"!!! I will need to add a few final touches, but I am quite happy with how it turned out!


Brackenridge trick or treating is October 31st, 6 to 8 pm, so I might try giving out treats that night! There is also a "Trick or Treat" event at the mills Thursday, October 27th, 6 to 8, so I might go to that too! I am so looking forward to halloween weekend!!!! I hope to go to approximately 898908357 halloween parties and haunted houses! I hope all of my sewing will hold up! I wish there was a "official" halloween party with all of my friends, so maybe I will try to put one together. :)

Anyway, here is my FINAL CLUEEE!!!

Ncc-1701(-d!)

^^^That pretty much GAVE it away. happy halloween week!

Halloween: Post 2

Posted by clarinetchloride comments (0)

I was hoping to be farther along with my costume by now... Oh well, here's a new clue:



Halloween: Post 1

Posted by clarinetchloride comments (0)

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. I really don't understand why....


Is it the dressing up into a new character? That's certainly fun. Pretending to be someone new is a nice escape from being yourself. Especially when those new characters get to be extraordinary, like a princess, superhero, or vampire. Plus, you can showcase your interests in who you chose to become. I think a costume says a lot about a person. But there's more to Halloween than just dressing up.

Is it the food? Well, it's no secret that I enjoy candy. Free candy, especially. Plus, pumpkin is so deliciou

s too. But I could eat these foods anytime, and it just isn't the same.

Is it the weather? Ah, the crispness in the air. The cool nights by the bonfire. Wearing hoodies, jeans, and flip flops. This is the perfect weather. This is the conditions I long for all year long. And I certainly love the fall, in general. But Halloween is only a few days in the fall.

Is it being frightened? Haunted houses, scary music, and horror movies seem to consume this time of year. Although the release of adrenaline from being frightened is intriguing (and I love enjoying a good haunted house or having a scary movie night), I don't believe that the fear alone is what makes this holiday so special.

Is it the drinking? Halloween is up there in those wonderful "celebrate by getting drunk" holidays. Topped by only St. Patrick's Day and New Years, Halloween is a wonderful excuse to get wasted. But I've loved Halloween before I even knew what alcohol was.

It must be a combination of everything. Halloween is a compilation of almost everything that I love. Cool weather, hoodies, pumpkins, black and other pretty colors, dressing up, candy, alcohol, hanging out with friends
, corn mazes, fog, witches, vampires, etc. etc. etc.

Most importantly, it is full of happiness and spending time with my best friends.







P.S. Here's a hint at what my costume will be this year (although most people probably won't know who I am. That's okay, I'm still excited) !!!!!!!:


"I was born that way. I have had those feelings, those longings, all of my life. It is not unnatural. I am not sick because I feel this way. I do not need to be helped. I do not need to be cured. What I need, and what all of those who are like me need, is your understanding. And your compassion. We have not injured you in any way. And yet we are scorned and attacked. And all because we are different. What we do is no different from what you do. We talk, and laugh. We complain about work. And we wonder about growing old. We talk about our families, and we worry about the future. And we cry with each other when things seem hopeless. All of the loving things that you do with each other, that is what we do. And for that, we are called misfits, and deviants, and criminals. What right do you have to punish us? What right do you have to change us? What makes you think you can dictate how people love each other? "


- Quote from Star Trek, The Next Generation (The Outcast episode)

I am a recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon University. I received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and Psychology. This blog will be about how I view the world, including my opinions and lessons I have learned throughout my life. Enjoy.

Copyright 2009 - Reality as I know it...

Blogspot Theme designed by: Ray Creations, Ray Hosting.