Equine Effluvium

Last night at 11:30 I stepped on to a subway car that smelled very much like a barn full of farm animals. Everyone had a sour look on their face except for a person asleep in the middle of the car, whom I suspected was the culprit. I was seriously watching for a pile of crap on the floor so I wouldn't step in it. As we started moving, one girl doubled over and started into a gag reflex. It was that bad. I asked myself audibly, "Is there a horse in here?" The gagger looked up at me and repeated the question "a horse in here?" and then erupted into histeria.

At the next stop, about ten of us ran into the next car on the train and took a deep breath of fresh subway air. The girl follwed in right behind me, still laughing like a loon and drawing looks from everyone in our new car. Imagine ten people running in and breathing deeply with green faces and smug grins on our faces.

About two stops later a couple more people came on with the same queer look. I held my nose as to say "I know. It stinks." That girl began to laugh and then the other started back up into her wailing laughter. We discussed the odor for a few minutes and agreed it indeed smelled like a horse.

Call Me 'Ice Man'

Indeed, it is cold outside. Twenty-one degrees to be exact. Collin's room is so cold that he is sleeping on the couch in the living room. However, my room is warm and my bed, toasty, which is my excuse for oversleeping this morning. Upon getting up, I had roughly forty minutes to shower, dress, and make my forty-five minute commute. Not happending. I made it to the bus stop where everyone looked like penguins dancing around with their hands in their pockets and heads hunched low into their scarves to stay warm. I am not as bothered by the weather, I enjoy it actually, so a jacket was enough warmth for me. This was not the case for my head. I was standing there pondering and experiencing negative windchill and wondered how the moisture in my hair was doing since I just got out of the shower. Sure enough, my hair was frozen solid. I thought about moving it around to break up the ice but was afraid that the curls would snap in half. I'm pretty sure I got some weird looks from people behind me, but at least I didn't look like a penguin.

Ganges River

The New York Times has an interesting photo essay on the Ganges River. The river, located in northern India, is the holiest river in the Hindu religion. The Hindi people believe that bathing in the river will cleanse the soul and having your ashes burned in the city of Varanasi and then dumped in the river will better your afterlife.

Unfortunately, the Ganges region is one of the most heavily populated in all of India and sewage flows directly into the river making it one of the most polluted rivers in the world. People bathe in the water daily and contract all sorts of diseases. The public health in these towns is attrocious with disease, infestation and no potable water.

25 Years Today - 'John Lennon of the Beatles is Killed'

As you may have heard or remembered, today is the 25th anniversary of John Lennon's death. He was shot on the steps of the Dakota in New York on December 8th, 1980.

His death was an ironic one because he and his wife were an international symbol of peace. After his departure from the Beatles (via Yoko) Lennon wrote the song 'Imagine'. I never took to heart the lyrics, but today with our country and many other parts of the world at war, and even the world around me displaying hatred, I now respect the song and also dream of the day when there will be peace.

Imagine no possesions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say Im a dreamer,
but Im not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

Reserved - Rosa

Today I got on the bus to go to work and as usual it was packed. Mysteriously though, there was one open seat directly behind the driver. The seat was covered with a sign which I didn't read but assumed it was an advertisement that hadn't been put up yet. I tried to move the sign but then the driver warned me that the seat was reserved. Reserved? I'm the last stop and no one is there yet, plus who says you can reserve seats on a public bus. Being the pacificst I am, I just walked back and stood like I always do. When I got to work, I realized that today is the 50th anniversary of Rosa Parks famous protest and that one seat on every bus is reserved for her. I'm sure I would have realized that if I had read the sign. Sorry I tried to sit in your seat, Rosa.

Part II

Tonight on my way home I made a point to look for a sign and sure enough, the sign I tried to sit on this morning was in rememberance of Rosa Parks historical protest against segregation. I decided to sit next to this seat and tried to snap a picture with my camera phone. As I sat there I reflected for the first time in my life on what Parks really did that day. While I was lost in thought, someone sat in the vacant seat next to me. Being in a sentimental mood, I stood up to leave a seat vacant for Rosa. I think the lady was a little confused by me because she then moved to the seat on the opposite side. I said I was sorry and had to explain my actions in Spanish to her. We ended up having a very meaningful conversation. The woman noted that Parks not only made great steps for Blacks that day but for Latinos like her and all other minorities' equal rights. I commented that it meant something to me to because even as a white person; I want to treated equally as others and not receive greater or worse treatment based on my race.

I have known about Rosa Parks since grade school and her recent death had little meaning to me, but today I truly began to realize the brave decision she made that day and for that I am thankful.

Darwin Mania

Recently I began to feel guilty about my system of beliefs on evolution and now I feel guilty for most people. Growing up Christian, I was taught that evolution was false. Now I'm wondering why this is. You see, the debate on the validity of evolution is hotter now than it has been since the Scopes trial in 1925. Opposition has become strong against its sole occupation of the science classroom. Many people argue that an alternative theory of 'Intelligent Design' also be taught. Debates are ugly and extremely biased. From what I've noticed, most of the arguments are based on peer opinions, religious beliefs and even political biases. Such is the case with these Grand Canyon tourists. Few of these debates actually involve informed arguments. This is why I am upset; people are so adamant that their theory is the truth but very few have gone to the extent of researching each side with an open mind in order to shape an educated opinion. Instead, arguments are formed from using a high school science education and vague religious beliefs. As far as I can tell, few Christians have actually studied evolution in depth. (I am by no means claiming to have an advanced understanding) On the reverse side, some will argue ID to the death without fully understanding what it implies.

Science has basically proved microevolution to be true. The question lies within macroevolution; all species sharing one common ancestor. Christians don't realize this and deny all evolution. Few have even opened a book which discusses the theory and know close to nothing about the topic of which they so passionately debate.

Also, no one has ever explained to me, and I still await and explanation, why God could not used evolution to create the earth. Why??? A recent article in Time actually interviews Christian scientists who believe God did just this. I have a hard time telling thousands of scientists who dedicated their lives to researching the topic, that they don't know anything.

My goal is not necessarily to take a side, since each belief has good evidence to disprove the other and support theirs. Instead, I am taking an open mind and educating myself on the topic and forming an educated view. I don't expcet to come out saying "Yes, it was evolution" or "Evolution is false. ID prevails!" No, I just want to be able to have an educated discussion on this theory. I wish other Christians and Evolutionists would seek to understand both sides too so we can have an educated discussion instead of a bunch of dummies throwing unread books at each other.

A few of my favorite resources thus far are:


NYTimes.com - a section of the website devoted to the growing debate

Darwin's Black Box - Behe's well researched argument for Intelligent Design

American Museum of Natural History - A special exhibit featuring Darwin's notes etc.

Newsweek - Last week's cover story

Doodle Me

Yesterday I was on the train downtown after church with Wes and Andrew. We were standing in the middle and having a funny conversation. I noticed this girl sitting near us take out a sketch pad and then she began to draw ME. I faked ignorance, but tried to catch a glimpse of the pad whenever she looked down. Unfortunately I never got a good look at myself on paper. It made me feel really proud to have this girl frantically trying to sketch The Alex before her stop. I wanted to say something but wasn't sure of the right words. Before she got off she appolgised for letting the chair slam up and I just grunted back. Oh well, I was sketched yesterday and today I feel art worthy.

Sign Language?

I love people like my roommate Collin because you think you have them figured out and then they continue to surprise with random qualities. He was a film major at an acredited art school, does graphic design for NBC, avid whiffle ball player, Whole Foods nut and dreams of being a candle maker... just full of whacky quirks. Well, on Friday he did not fail to amaze anyone. We walked into McSorley's (as usual) with a big group and split up into two tables. Tommy delivered the ales and I took some over to Collin and Andrew. Collin asked me for a German town in Texas that begins with B. I answered 'New Braunfels?' and he begins to sign the answer back to a table of deaf people. It turns out that Collin is fluent in sign language and takes classes every Monday. He had a two hour conversation with these people while the rest of our group sat there with our jaws on the table. No one had any idea this guy eve knew what sign language was and here he is teaching them the sign for 'Ireland'. Amazing.

Cheers! to Collin for keeping us on our toes.

Wes goes Ivy League

My buddies Wes Hutchinson and 'Tamborine Pete' played a gig in Princeton, NJ last night so Andrew and I went with. The bar was a micro-brew called Triumph which was across the street from campus. It was a cool place with great pumpkin ale and plenty of Ivy League prepies. Wes is going to start playing there once a month. Along with the new monthly gig, Wes received word that one of his songs will be the intro to the T.V. show 'Laguna Beach' as of this week. None of us have ever seen the show but it sounds cool anyway. Way to go Wes!

Google Local - Maps Go Moblie

Google made their popular map webpage available on some mobile phones today. Luckily I have one of those phones and have spent valuable time at work testing the program today. It takes a bit to understand how the application runs, but it is easy and efficient once you get it down. This will come in super handy when I get lost in the West Village or can't remember where a certain restaurant is.

My only concern about the program thus far is cost. Its free to download, but you must have a data plan from your phone company that allows you to access the internet. My plan is free for a certain amout of data, but I get charged significantly after my limit. This could mean some expensive cell phone bills if I get lost in the Village.