Public Service Announcement

Kids, when you're thinking of a future career, I urge you: do not be a writer. The writer's path is one of pain, misery, and financial ruin. Writing professionally can lead to alcoholism, addiction, suicidal tendencies, and even elaborate schemes of procrastination. You will be seen as worthless to the majority of the world and hounded by your inner critic who will continuously cripple your ego and self-esteem. Could you live a life in which you second-guessed every word you wrote? Paradoxically, it can also prompt a person to greater heights of arrogance and superiority; delusions of grandeur brought on by the imaginary worlds in which a writer lives become a writer's shield against wholesome social interaction. Isolation and a sense of inequality between oneself and the outside world may prevail. It's damaging to one's social life to constantly correct everyone else about their grammar or their views on Tolstoy. Writing is truly a psychological disease: writers often hear voices like schizophrenics and may find themselves driven to unhealthy habits in order to rid themselves of these phantom thoughts. An infamous example is the "3a.m. Purge" in which a writer, having been unable to sleep due to the "voices" of their "characters," must scribble out nonsense on tiny post-its by their bed until the mental chaos shuts down. Sadly, I suffer from this profession, and I have seen its effects on myself and others like me. Truly, the Purge is like exorcising demons. I might be better served by keeping a basin of holy water on my bedside table and shouting, "the power of Christ compels you! The power of Christ compels you!" than I am using a mere pad and pen. The worst part of the affliction is that once you begin on the path it, like the Dark Side in Star Wars, will forever consume your thoughts and insist you continue the rituals that first began it. Though some might charmingly refer to this as inspiration, it is becoming more obvious to those that have observed writers that once begun, the path is nearly impossible to leave. Thus, I remind you, writing is not the career you are seeking--for most who call it their profession it does not even afford them the funds that other careers might have. Should you choose it, you would be condemning yourself to a life of self-doubt, insanity, and that well-known muse-addicted withdrawal known as writer's block. Be kind to yourself and your loved ones and choose something less devastating--be a doctor, a teacher, or maybe something calm like a shipping clerk.

(no subject)

Breaking up is hard, but keeping dark is hateful
I had so many dreams, I had so many breakthroughs
But you, my love, were kind, but love has left you dreamless
The door to dreams was closed. Your park was real dreamless
Perhaps you're smiling now, smiling through this darkness
But all I had to give was the guilt for dreaming

We should be on by now

( quiz )

Christian Fundamentalists, Human Sexuality, and America Going Down the Tubes

Wickedwish's summation of the reason Bush stays in power. (brilliantly written)

Christianity in America (via tulaq

Most of these links are from the first link above by [Bad username or site: wicked wish @ livejournal.com]:

Vaccine to Prevent Cervical Cancer? Great! So What's the Hold Up?

"Mislead" is the polite way of saying they out-and-out lied!

Effectiveness of Sexuality Education You know, in most European countries they teach their kids how to use condoms, avoid STD's, and prevent pregnancy and they have significantly lower teen pregnancy and STD rates than we do. *sighs*

Sex Laws. I love this one from my own state: In Washington State there is a law against having sex with a virgin under any circumstances (including the wedding night!).

The Scary that is Pat Robertson If he were just some lunatic wearing a sandwich board on the street, I could ignore this, but he's the leader of a very large flock of sheep, many of whom have power. *shudders* (Yes, today I'm playing the role of Captain Obvious.)