Randy Pausch: Rest in Peace.

I just wanted to do a dedication to Randy Pausch, an amazing university professor and a good man who has passed on yesterday due to terminal Pancreatic Cancer. He made "The Last Lecture" which has become very famous. May he finally find the peace and happiness he deserves.

Watch: The Last Lecture

"Morals" by G.

When does one cross the line of no return? What is the division between right and wrong? Good and Evil? The definitions are limitless, but there are some common traits you can assign to them. The good side usually helps people and is selfless. The bad side is usually more selfish and doesn't put much stock on other people.

I think that everyone has some sort of morals; a code. This code has been slowly written as people have been living their lives and experiencing many different things. Good and Evil may be human ideas, but I think they are necessary for our survival. What kind of moral code a person has really depends on how strong they are on the inside. Life is gonna have stress and suffering, and it discriminates between no-one. But what seems like a petty stress to one person can take down another.

Much of the social power behind good and evil lies in perception. Back in WWII there were many propaganda posters that depicted their enemy more like demons then men, thus giving that "evil" impression. The media today has great power in twisting what they report. But back to the main idea. I think everyone has some good and evil in them. They are fighting for a constant balance. Sometimes the scale will tip in favor of one side, when something needs to be done. This could happen long term if a person does cross the point of no return. A event in their lives that is so emotionally powerful it changes some aspect of them. Balance is very important because it regulates what a person does. Being too "good" or "evil" always leads to drastic actions on that person's part. So lets wrap this up, and say that whatever moral code you have, it should have as much balance as possible. Remember that the evil side isn't necessarily bad. I consider the darker side simply to be the more aggressive and selfish part of our nature, which at certain times we do need. Just learn from your surroundings as you live, and develop your code well. I would love to hear some thoughts on this.

"Action" by G.

A man is running through a dark warehouse. He is being pursued by two armed men. He reaches a dead end, but with spectacular speed runs up a wall and does a flip. He takes out the two men with two well-placed kicks. You then reach for some more popcorn. This is just another old action movie.

What is it about the thrill that is so tempting? Action movies, extreme stunts, and dangerous sports. Many people just can't seem to get enough of it. You could say it goes back to our humble beginnings. People didn't sit in office cubicles or drive bulldozers or argue over laws back then. They were active, 24/7. Looking for food and shelter. Trying to survive. The world is a radically different place today. The middle and higher classes of people don't have to worry much about basic survival like the lower classes. Life becomes a bit of a routine, almost boring.

I believe we all have certain basic drives. To eat, drink, procreate, survive. As humankind as moved along, new drives have emerged. Ambition, Fame, and Wealth to name a few. But I also think that we have a need for action once in awhile. To move and get loose; to be free. You could say action movies are a simple way to add a bit of excitement to a mediocre life, and to give your mind something new to think about. Then there are the thrill seekers who take it up a notch. Bungee jumping, skydiving, rock climbing. Things that have a good amount of risk, but in return provide a even bigger thrill.

So yes, there is a bit of a "action" deficit in the lives of many people today. But that is only if you let it stay that way. Once in awhile we should do something we wouldn't normally do. Not to go overboard; but to feel a little bit of a thrill. It's a healthy thing for the mind. Try something new. You might be pleasantly surprised.

"The Source" by G.

A problem starts from somewhere. Its roots dig into the ground and it starts to grow. It springs forth and causes chaos. And from that single problem, more problems branch out. And one of those branches from the tree will affect someone in some way. So, now what?

A problem can be a tricky little thing indeed. Because you see, I use the word "problem" loosely. A problem can be anything we want or need it to be. To fix a problem, you must find it's source. And that is the hardest part. A problem can cause many side effects. Stress. Anxiety. Fear. Anger. These can manipulate our judgment. Our Logic. Essential things that we need to solve problems. If you try to fix what you only believe to be the source of a problem, you will only slice a branch of the tree.

We have to do our best to look at things clearly and unbiased. We are human and we make mistakes. But the human mind is a powerful entity. If we could only learn to harness our minds and have some control over our emotions, then many of our mistakes will never become problems. But that being said, problems exist, and we should deal with them with caution and a flexible mindset. Sometimes, in the spirit of trying to fix what ails us, we end up doing more harm than good.

Let's say the world finally wants to have peace. All countries disarm their military forces. Sounds good, right? But they could still be attacked. By terrorists or madmen or natural disasters in a way. They think that the source of the "problem", being a lack of peace, is everyone having a military. Do you really think that's true? Most of the time, the source of a problem is very big, sometimes to big to handle. Violence is not caused by guns. It is caused by humans. But that is a hell of a big problem to solve. Finding the source can sometimes be a problem in itself, because it can be very intimating.

So simply, to fix a problem you must find and get the source. But that is easier said than done. The best laid plans don't always translate to real life that well. But lets do our best. To really think about what we do before we do it. To look at solving problems with a fully open mind; a mind open to change. We are all capable of this. I hope one day, humanity will prove me right.

Guest Post: "Instincts" by Cielo

I know someone that might sound familiar to you. He (I'll use the male pronoun for simplicity) and I have been wonderful friends for a long time, and I trusted him more than most of my other friends. Recently, he has done things that have hurt not only me, but my closest friends as well. But, after it all, I can't believe he's a bad person. I can't believe that he has done what he did with the intent of hurting or having things his own way. I believe he makes mistakes.

I make mistakes, too. And I'm not a bad person.

Have you ever noticed that animals rarely make mistakes? Or, when they do something we deem stupid, it can be blamed on their lack of intellectual development as a species.

People don't have that kind of pardon. We screw up, and when we do, it is because of us, just how we are. How we were raised. How we think. Our level of badness. This responsibility we have to take the blame for our behavior is a lovely result of our intellectual development.

With this person, all signs point to "absolute jerk." He pretends to be someone he isn't, and when he is called out on it, he acts out. Though the mistakes he makes are worse than others', I can feel that he's not all bad.

It all comes down to this: anyone can double-cross you. I think trust is important, and in order to be happy in life, you need to have the ability to lay your life in the hands of those you care about most, and who care about you. However, even those you care about most can lie to you, hurt you.

Above all else, you must trust yourself. You must trust your instincts about people. The basis of your belief may not be something you can see, but that's alright. You can feel it. And it is only that feeling that you should allow to tell you what to do and where to go in life.

So I am going to continue to believe that this person is good. My gut tells me it's true, and there is nothing I can do about it, no matter what happens or what people tell me.

Never, as long as you live, allow anyone to tell you something that does not fall in line with your instincts. You are the only person you're going to have to be with the rest of your life, and when you can't trust your instincts, who do you have?

"Nature" by G.

Nature. It's a part of you. It's everywhere around you. And In my opinion, we have a sad lack of it in our lives. Nature has a natural beauty; a almost therapeutic effect on the mind. A breath of fresh air clears the head. A view of a bright red and orange sunset calms the soul. I am not saying to just drop everything and run into the nearest forest. What I am saying is to try and get a little more of nature in your daily life.

Modern life these days can be very hectic. Busy schedules, stressful work weeks, financial troubles; the pressures just add up. It can all be a bit overwhelming sometimes. But once in awhile, we need some time to recharge and relax. You don't need a sack of money or a rent-a-car to do this. Just stepping outside and taking a few deep breaths can work wonders. But what I long for is to visit a truly beautiful place, such as the one pictured above; China. If everyone in the world got the chance to visit a place like that once in awhile, I wouldn't have a doubt that they would find some calm for their mind and body.

Sure this is a bit of wishful thinking, but its benefits can't be denied. The simple truth is, once and awhile we need to leave it all behind and just get back to nature for a tiny bit. Whether your just taking a stroll in the park or visiting the wonders of world, it will only do you good. Anyways, hope you all have a wonderful day, or night.

"Life Is What You Program It To Be" by Shinji

A lot of kids and teenagers (even some adults) keep wanting more realistic video games, be they a Grand Theft Auto installment or a wrestling game or whatever. The reason people play video games, however, is so they can do something fake. So why do they want their video games to be as realistic as real life if they know it's fake? Pretty soon the days of the controller will be absolutely gone. Gamers will only think virtual reality is good enough while they're stealing a car, putting a guy in a sleeper hold, or whatever. In my opinion, video games are meant as a break from reality, not an alternate reality. So keep it at that. Graphics don't have to have high high definition quality. Actions can be a button press or twist of the controller.

Not to mention, I've noticed that once kids play video games, they go outside and re-enact the games. I've seen a few local children in my area play a video game (Medal of Honor to be exact, a war game) and then go outside and use toy guns to shoot one another. If that's what is being brought into this world, maybe they could be ones to re-enact violence. Even a few teenagers of today re-enact video game violence. Imagine what this next batch can do.

So let's wrap this up here. Gamers these days constantly demand more realism in the video games they play, despite video games being a break from reality instead of an alternate reality. Children keep re-enacting video game violence, maybe not harmfully but they still re-enact it, and it may become a problem in the future. Don't get me wrong, I am a gamer and I'm not against video games, but maybe some people just take video games a little too seriously.

"How far can you go?" by G.

It's six o' clock in the morning. A man wakes up, a bit reluctant, but determined. He grabs his sneakers and heads out the door. And then it begins. He starts walking; you know, to get the blood flowing. Then he increases his speed. One foot over the other. It flows into a jog. He has no particular destination. Not a physical one anyway. But there is a place he does want to reach. A state of being that for now only exists in his head. So he keeps jogging. His heartbeat thumps with a steady rhythm. And now his legs and arms start to tire. Maybe he should go back? Wouldn't want to go pull a muscle now would he? But each few feet that his body transverses brings him that much closer to what he wants. So, despite the cries of his body, he moves onward, confident that his sheer desire to make his thoughts a reality will help him pull through.

I guess you can say its a question that mankind has asked itself eternally. How far can we go? Well, we usually have these "comfort zones". We don't usually like to venture into unknown territory. Our own minds, for the reason of protecting us, give birth to a mental barrier of sorts. A mental barrier that causes physical and mental effects. In the case of the man above, it would be his mind finding excuses to stop and his body becoming a bit sore. But I will stress and always stress this simple fact. You must go past your comfort zones if you are ever to change or if you ever want anything to happen. The idea of comfort zones is there to protect you and your feelings. But sometimes we have to toughen up and take matters into our own hands. The answer to the question I've proposed has no straight answer. The answer is provided by you.

"Heroes" by G.

I've written a post about the hero a while back, but I think this topic warrants another. I've always been fascinated about the notion of a hero. When I was a kid, I would watch those action movies with the suave hero, and walk out of each one wishing that hero was me. But that's a limited view of a hero obviously. Heroes are just so... amazing. They are usually unique; are very talented and skilled. These are people of high intelligence. But the hero, he usually isn't a hero for no reason. Something made this person take action. He fights for some kind of cause.

One unifying characteristic of heroes is their bravery. Firemen, the passengers on the doomed 9/11 flights, a person who tackles a pedestrian out of the path of a speeding bus. These are all brave people. What you see in the movies is one kind of heroism. But really, you don't need a costume or superpowers or a genius level intelligence to be a hero. But you have to believe that there is a problem. Something bad that is happening that no one is doing anything about. And you see this problem growing worse by the day. And you must have the overwhelming desire to fix this problem. Whether this is a immediate thing, like a house suddenly bursting into flames, or a long-term problem, like the oppression of your country by external forces, there is something in you that makes you spring into action.

And yes, you must possess something else too. The bravery. It's the spark that lights the fire. It's what caused the man to jump into the train tracks to save a child. It's what makes people fight for something that they truly believe is right. It inspires humankind everyday to do extraordinary things. So in the end, heroes can be anyone. All you need is the problem. The bravery to do something about it. And the willingness to become the solution.

"Warfare" by G.

War. The term coined to mean the destruction of one human being by another. Why? So many reasons. Most of them idiotic. But one thing that I do want to make clear now is that idea of "World Peace" is very, very far away. When thinking about Warfare, it is easy to get carried away with dreams like Everlasting Peace and No Armies and all that good stuff. As long as there are superpowers, rare natural resources, or nuclear weapons, Warfare will always have a place somewhere.

So, why do we fight? I hope it's a good reason. I believe that people fighting for their freedom are justified. But when two countries are trying to conduct Diplomacy, and one of them suddenly perceives the other as a threat, things can get heated. But you know what? Warfare has trashed this planet. It has trashed the minds of the brave soldiers who are commanded by their superiors into the fray. There is something deeply psychological about war. And it saddens me that we continue to fight with our other fellow humans when the biggest enemy is inside us already. Our own minds. Because really, in the end, that's where all the hate springs forth. Human beings need to take back control of their minds and their selves. And that just might be the hardest battle of all.

Happy Fourth.

On this fourth of July we commemorate the day when America declared it's Independence from Great Britain. I hope everyone has a good one. Despite the actions of our government and other regrettable events, that flag will not be tarnished by them. It stands for freedom and liberty. And no Government can ever take that away. Because America is made by the people, for the people. Peace be with all of you.

"Tolerance" by G.

You are a person. You live on this planet with over eight billion other people. Obviously there will be many differences between you and much of the other people around you. This is all a given. So how do you handle the differences?

Unfortunately, we have this silly habit of having negative reactions to the differences of our fellow men and women. I'm talking about arrogance. About putting people down. Whether these differences are racial, religious, or belief wise, people don't always treat the differences in others in the kindest manner. And you know what, some people believe in crazy things. They might have beliefs that you consider taboo. Well, here's what you gotta do. Just accept it. There will always be many differences in our fellow man. When a person believes something, that belief is deeply rooted in their soul, like a old tree with its deep roots. Trying to change what a person thinks is like trying to smash a rock with a fork. Yes, there will be people who have blind faith, or people who seem to lack rationality. But we all live on this blue and green oasis together. If we have a chance in hell in co-existing with each other, we need to recognize the differences of others, and then let go of any emotional feelings you associate with that. And then, stop focusing on the differences, and try to take a look on what makes us the same.

Tolerance is something that needs to be established. We are not gonna destroy ourselves because of these petty feelings of arrogance and bigotry. I would like to think we are better than that... I could curse at the stupidity of mankind at certain times. Just remember, no matter what you think of other people's beliefs and differences, the probability that they would a. listen to you, or b. change their ways, is as slim as a soda straw. It leads to nothing but arguments, bickering, and even worse things. So just accept what you have seen. And get on with life :P Being tolerant has greater benefits, and is a pretty non-stupid choice to make. Those are my words today. Now go have yourselves a smashing day (or night).

"Hobbies" by Sir

Hey there people. I bet most of you have occupations, right? However, do you know everything about it? Most occupations are practiced because we like them. But then again there's the people that practice something just because they're bored...

It's good to have something to keep you busy, but on the contrary, I think one should be careful about what he chooses to do, and to what extent... Most occupations are inoffensive (playing ping-pong or knitting are awesome examples), and if you think about it more occupations don't do you any harm... Most can even become fully developed passions without hurting you, but if your occupations take control of your whole life, you're riding the danger boat to trouble land.

For example people who spend their lives on their computer without ever going out would eventually end up having problems... mostly physical but also psychological as they're not always used to society. Some people can accomodate but others can't always take it...

So my point? It's pretty must just to tell you if you have occupations that you love, good call! Just don't let them overwhelm you.So what occupations do you have?

The Post Spotlight

Hey guys, I've come down with a cold, and don't feel up to writing today. I just wanted to pull out some of the more older posts here on Thoughts of G that I think deserve some more attention. Enjoy!

"Momentum" by Scythe
"Absolution" by Sir
"Think Fluidly" by G.
"Music: A Everyday Miracle" by M.K Mello
"Fear" by G.