I’m happy to see that many of my favorite websites are “blacking out” against this nonsense.  

Viva la internet!

Information from Craigslist on SOPA/PIPA.  

Upon hearing the news that a court ruled in favor of the police discriminating against inducting new officers with high IQs (125, not even that high), I think that the government has royally fucked itself over.

Until now, the government would like you to think that it is made up of the smart individuals who determine and enforce the laws of the land for all of us to follow.  Well, this example has proven this wrong.  The government is made up of blind followers or people who might think they are the smartest in all of the land because of their status.

I am not saying that a high IQ necessarily defines all realms of intelligence, but it certain defines some.  People with high IQs may be able to determine a more fair and rational construct of society rather than what we have today — or they may feel belittled and “brought down” for having to succumb to the circumstances that those with an inferior intelligence (sadly, the majority) have brought upon them in the form of a government.

Generalizing, intelligent people are most likely not to be the kinds of people who commit murders and crimes against humanity on a regular basis.  They have most like thought about and developed within their minds a society that promotes the most peace, the best standard of living and general prosperity for all.  These people have taken into account the problems of the past and today and developed workable solutions for a better future.

Technology and communication have made it possible to facilitate interactions amongst people who feel as if they are “stuck” in a world that is beneath them.  They are frustrated, angered, and trapped  in a world that seems to lack genuine progress.  While these people are the ones that are making the “world go round” through their hard work, academic strength, entrepreneurial spirit, philosophical ideas, community service and so on, they are still held back by means of a government that not on their level and inflicts social ills that are morally damaging.

For example, while a few collective individuals of a certain country play around with nuclear arms and create unrest in the world, as well as potentially creating a variety of issues for the citizens of their countries, it should be of no concern to people who are fully capable of realizing the irrationality of this occurrence.  Why should I, for instance, be a part of such outright silliness that has nothing to do with my day-to-day activities as a student and part-time worker?  Many people feel the way that I do, yet they are forced to pay taxes to support the establishment continuing to make a mockery of intelligence in front of our very eyes.

Therefore, I would like to declare that after taking into account this court case debacle and the current state of governments throughout the world, that those of us who feel as if the overall “intelligence quotient” of government is beneath us, we should either A) declare ourselves exempt from it (this may win in court if citing this case) and B) simply living our lives peacefully and as we would like them and inevitably committing acts of civil disobedience against the state.  Option B, for example, would include not paying taxes because this is a peaceful way of living life without government.  Now is our time!

So many people take my Spinning/cycling classes because there is sweat, blood and tears by the end of class.  But that is by riding a bike.  Try squatting in place or putting all your weight on one leg for some time.  And then do it again and again and again.  I felt a heat in my right leg and a burning that I would never get with biking.  So intense.

And I do weight lifting (when I’m not on winter break, ha) and I’ll have 45 pounds on my back and I’ll be doing squats — but never did I get that intense burning feeling.  Ah!

Anyway, I’m learning “first form” now, I will update when completed, maybe post a video!

I was thinking about all the people that hate libertarianism that I know.

Most people say that libertarians are the individualists, egoists, and “only care about themselves.”  

But wait a minute.  I would say that a large majority of libertarians are the people who are pretty well off — own/rent decent homes, work, live comfortably, in general.  But they still care about other people — such as those affected by the drug war, the poor trapped in the welfare state, innocents in other countries being hurt by war, etc.  

And then I look at the non-libertarians.  While we are alike in that we are both “comfortable,” but non-libertarians do not seem to find anything wrong with government inflicted damage to fellow human beings.  

It is interesting that we are “collectivists” in our sense of caring for fellow human beings, but not in the sense that we would join groups or tag along with government because it is the “easy way” out.  We don’t have to care, actually, it hurts to care, but we do anyway.  It is obvious why many choose not to care, they don’t have to in order to live comfortably.  That’s not to say that society’s problems won’t eventually catch up to them, which is why more and more people are becoming libertarian as the years go by.  We will see what the future will bring — I am hoping that “philosophical revolution” comes soon!

1. The dog will pee (or poop) on the floor no matter how many times it goes outside.
2. The cat will attempt to escape the house in the a sneaky manner when you’re not looking (and may succeed).
3. The more you stressed out you are, the more bad things happen (this is in just about every scenario).  
4. The owner will lock their pet in their bedroom door and not leave you a key — so you then have to unscrew the door knob and use a crow bar to get in.  Or something like that.    
5. You’ll get about 100 texts and calls asking if the owner’s pet is okay even though they didn’t leave enough food for it while they were gone.  
6. You will lose your keys.  You will panic.  Then you will find them. 
7. Pets > Children (to the owners)
8. Owners will demand you to drop off their keys to them at no extra charge.
9. The doormen at apartment complexes don’t remember you even if you come everyday and give you trouble when you are trying to get in. 
10. Daily text/email updates are hardly enough — send photos, sound clips, hold the phone up to the pet’s ear while its owner talks to it.  Not kidding.

So, I have performed over 100 wedding ceremonies at this point in my career with Liberty Weddings and I feel like I have only touched on the multitudes of traditions, beliefs and variety in ceremonies.  Most of the time that is spent dilly dallying waiting for the bride to finish her make up or after the ceremony is over and I am awkwardly standing around, I get to thinking about what marriage means to me.  

First off, I am one of the most open minded people that I know.  Ask me my opinion on anything, I’m usually just like, “I don’t really care, whatever floats your boat!  As long as it doesn’t affect me!”  So concerning marriage, really, I don’t care what you do to create your “union of love.”  I don’t care how you consummate it.  It can between you two, you can have witnesses, you can have a grandiose party, whatever!  Live your life on your own terms.  

However, a lot of people do not agree with me, as seen by a recent Facebook post in which I announced that i was married.  ”Is it official?  Is it real?” many asked.  Wait — so what makes it “official?”  I got two responses that I would want to argue against.  One, the government license.  And two, the need for religion.  The first as only created for inheritance and racist purposes in the past (in the United States).  Irrelevant to me and to society at this point.  Now government licenses serve as a way to deal with taxes, insurance and health care, which is coercion at its finest.  Want to stay single all your life?  Pay more taxes and more for basic life needs!  One day I would consider getting the government license, but right now it is unimportant to me and I’m still a student.  I’m on my parent’s health plan.  Next, religion.  Atheism holds the 3rd highest percentage of people in this world regarding religious affiliation.  Are you saying that they can only get married if they pretend to be religious?  That is ridiculous for obvious reasons.  My answer to people who are not religious who want to get married is to create a ceremony leaving out the whole “God thing.”  It is a bond between two people, not you, your partner and God (unless you really want him to be there, you polygamist, you).  

So, what is my plan for marriage?  Personally, I want a lot of things.  I would want a private exchange of vows and some kind of ritual (rings, handfasting).  Also, I would want the big wedding ceremony with reception that everyone is used to.  The reason for the big ceremony would be to affirm before our family and friends that we are pledging our love to each other.  Last on my list would come the marriage license, which I will hold off on unless it becomes necessary.  I want my marriage to represent that I love my partner and that no matter what crazy things may happen, no matter who might come between us (we’re all human or polyamorous here!), that love will still be there.  For me, love doesn’t die — I still feel love for those who I have been with in the past, although we aren’t together and practicing our feelings for each other, but the person I marry would be my active partner.  I’m not sure if love is as lasting to other people as it is with me, but that is why my marriage will emphasize that the love will never die no matter what we do with our individual lives. 

Goofing around on Facebook and declaring myself married was a little silly because then it seems like I do not take it seriously.  And if I do not plan on taking into account the government or religion to legitimize my union, I have to make sure there is a difference in definition between it and “just dating.”  I highlighted some points above regarding my plan, which is how and when I plan on labeling myself as a wife — the personal recognition to love for another and some kind of shared commitment to our union along with some kind of involvement of the public engaged in our relationship.  

Lastly, I’ll finish off my points on disregarding the need for a government license (besides legitimizing the state’s control on love, which sickens me).  First, you are not legally bound to a partner, so there is no need to go through a messy divorce.  Instead, you can just break up.  Some say the license adds protection, but just be smart with your finances, home, children and anything else you share and you should be fine.  Secondly, since it is a physical contract, it can be emotionally heavy on a couple — “Look, hon!  This piece of paper means we’re married and took a sacred oath that must be upheld — OR ELSE!”  Love is already heavy enough.  Lastly, same with the God argument, what purpose does the government have in watching over your marriage?  It is between two people!

No matter what path you take with your marriage, I only ask that I hope that you think about it and recognize that signing a piece of paper or being committed together by a priest doesn’t make it or break it — it is your vows, your actions, your love!  The divorce rate is beyond comprehension right now for a reason . . . think about it!

Last night upon returning home from a country that doesn’t subsidize poison, I mean food, I went to Whole Foods with Kenneth in an attempt to salvage my health.

In all, I spent about $50 (gasp)!  Here’s what I got:

• Enough fruit for the week
• Two veggie patties (latke-like spinach and feta things)
• Veggie sausage
• A big thing of yogurt
• A coffee drink
• 2 muffins
• Brussel sprouts
• Some dried apples
• A pound of salmon steak
• Distilled water gallons

This is a good start.  Obviously this shopping list is lacking a bit of substance (like a grain, beans, bread, or pasta), but it works.  I usually enjoy a lot of fruit, so as long as that holds me over, I will be good.  Today involved buying Starbucks and Wawa, so I already meddled with following a strict WF diet, but that is okay.  

Why the “sudden need” for a WF diet?  Well, I went to Belgium, my skin cleared up, I felt better, all that — so I think I need to stop it with eating the garbage over here.  Seriously important!

I really want to write up a summary of my time in Belgium. OK, I’m sitting here, I’ve got the time, LET’S GO. (Although I have to finish writing up law school application work and write a huge essay . . . ANYWAY, PROCRASTINATION).

So, I’ll start by saying, for a tourist, Belgium is awesome. Free buses, beautiful streets, freedom of your own body (alcohol, drugs, etc.), awesome chocolate, and so on — but is it all . . . fake? As in, you have to ask if the high taxes that people pay on their income and that business owners dredge through — is that why Belgium is so perfect? Well, most likely. I didn’t really have a problem with that as a tourist, but I could possibly see as a citizen, especially if you are a business owner, getting mad at the situation. Or, if you are a genuine liberty lover, forced packaging of certain goods, “free” buses that run with no passengers, etc. might push your buttons.

I did really enjoy the social freedoms. The only possible “problem” here might be the free speech thing:

“The law prohibits public statements that incite national, racial, or religious hatred, including denial of the Holocaust. The maximum sentence for Holocaust denial is one year’s imprisonment. In April the Brussels Chamber of Indictment ruled that Roeland Raes, a former vice chairman of the Vlaams Belang party and former senator, would have to stand trial for denying the Holocaust during a television show broadcast in 2001. The trial had not taken place by year’s end.

On June 21, two staff members of the Belgian Islamic Center were convicted for denial of the Holocaust. They received a 10-month sentence, which the court reduced by half, and were fined.”

Don’t deny the Holocaust!  But yeah, I feel like this will probably change in time . . . or really, no one cares.

And that is what is amazing about Belgium.  ”No one cares.”  There are little to no cops.  I arrive in Philadelphia and there are at least a dozen cops surrounding the Eagles game stadium “directing” (slowing down) traffic.  Everyone is just . . . good.  It might be a cultural thing dating back from the year 800 or something (Belgium has quite the history) — but is it impossible to reach this sort of lifestyle in the USA?  That is something to think about!  I feel as if most of our problems and crime stem from the government — the drug war, the institutionalized racism/affirmative action/that whole slavery thing, false sense of security, growing police state, and so on.  Belgium doesn’t have that.  Their government cares more about energy and bike lanes on highways (YES!) over beating up its citizens.  

 And the beer . . . I didn’t see any direct regulations on it, as the prices were lower than that of the US.  And it is not because Belgium brews more beer than people in the USA — there are tons of craft brewers, big breweries, home brewers here that could do without regulation.  And the chocolate . . . yeah, really good.  And surprisingly — the COFFEE.  

Anyway, I digress.  So, yes, Belgium is awesome.  For a less government-inspired rant on my trip, on my first day, I attended and spoke at the Jong Libertairen conference.  I found out that they are funded by the government, too (what?), which is rather interesting — “real democracy,” right?  So, before the conference, I had experienced long term sleep deprivation and stress, but during this time, I thought about certain topics in my libertarianism that I wanted to discuss — mainly what we live for as libertarians (ourselves or for others?), how to convert people/educate them, activism ideas, “now is the time more than ever because things are really bad”, etc.  It was a lot of fun, and I am thankful that I had this opportunity.  

The rest of the week was spent touring all the cities around Lochristi, where I was staying with Xavier Everaert, whose parents and himself were excellent hosts (and all libertarian).  I went to Ghent, Oostende, Brussels, Brugge, and over to the Netherlands.  I did all the touristy things and more!  I had a very relaxing break, I didn’t exert myself too much, work constantly or exercise insanely.  I totally needed this and at the same time I am now educated about another country.  

Also, Xavier inspired me to start up Students for a Stateless Society again — thank you for that!  Sometimes I forget who I am, where I have come from and all that I have done.  Traveling helps me rediscover myself.  ”Getting away from it all,” taking a step back and rethinking life.  I totally needed that.  Now, onto a term with very minimal classes, graduation, growing my businesses and getting into law school!  

And I can’t escape!  I’m going insane!  And for those of you on Facebook, I also have super anxiety and depression over it.

(Just letting you know.)