Why Do We Suffer?

Theodicy....

"Is God dead?" in the immortal words of Nietzsche (I know a little out of context...but still valid)...Can God exist with an Evil world were innocents suffer? How many times have we heard the story of the righteous man that suffers. OR the great examples: Genocide, Rape, Murder...

Or the religious man who claims suffering is punishment for sin and blessing a reward for righteousness...What about Job? He did nothing wrong, yet he suffers. Job losses his family, wealth, credibility, ending up in the ashes. Why?

If we suffer for soul making, to build better character, then why doesn't it end there? Besides that why can't we be taught bravery, compassion and sensitivity through good rather than pain?
If the Problem of Evil stems from Free will, then why didn't God give man free will with a preference for good, instead of a sinful nature?

If instead the world is ruled by Karma and we suffer because of past misdeeds? Then why strive for good in this life?...you won't remember in the next life anyway....there is no help for the sufferer of Karma. Does the existence of evil and suffering mean there is no God?

Try answering this in a 3 page essay! Its impossible...Paradox exists within God and within our suffering for a purpose. Personally, I believe these issues are meant to be contradictory and paradoxical. This paradoxical nature proves that God’s Nature is beyond human conception. God is always beyond what we make of him...once we create a notion of God, suffering, pain, and injustice shattering this image of God. The problem of Evil has no satisfactory answer.

P.S. Offer any opinion on the subject! I'd love to know any ideas about theodicy, or God!

Richie Rich? Investment in Entertainment or Stupidity on the Rocks?

Guinness World Records held a special ceremony to crown an original Trader Vic’s Mai Tai as the most expensive cocktail in the world. At $1480 per cocktail at the Merchant Hotel in Belfast in Northern Ireland you can sip this sweet confection. This Mai Tai is made from 17-year-old Wray and Nephew Rum used by trader Vic Bergeron to create the original Mai Tai over sixty years ago. Even though the 750ml bottle of rum looks plain but it costs £26,000 per bottle. A rare batch of the 17-year-old rum was recently acquired with one bottle being purchased by Merchant’s Bar. There are only three of the world’s most expensive cocktails have been made. Can you believe it? Honestly....the more money the less worry over what is done with it, but the more worry over making it? I wouldn't know, I don't even have enough for the toothpick afterward. Take a look, I dare you!
http://www.forbes.com/wineandfood/2007/04/05/cocktail-expensive-decadent-forbeslife-cx_pl_0406cocktail_slide.html
For me its impossible to imagine spending that much on a cocktail. Definitely not what I would do with that much money. Can anyone explain to me how you can rationalize spending more than 5 bucks on a cocktail? Maybe at a wedding, anniversary or birthday, but still more than 20 dollars is ridiculous.

Honey, you belong in the kitchen with a baby on your hip....

I will not allow double standards, stereotypes, or backward thinking exist in my world any longer. I am sick and tired of being seen as an incapable female. To any man or woman out there who believes women should be mothers and daughters and allow the Patriarchy to rule the world...THE TIME WHEN THAT EXISTED IS OVER...GET OVER IT! I am a woman and I am just as capable as any man. I am sorry for who this might offend, but I can't stand the thought that women are only equal to men part of the time. My Mother and Sister just finished explaining to me how a woman could not be president due to the fact that they are "emotionally unstable" What are they saying? How can they say that? So I am less than a man and can not ever be president, a CEO, a international leader...I will always be subordinate and ruled over by men because women were made different and think with their hearts? ABSOLUTELY NOT! I will not be defined by the fact that I am able to bear children...that fact doesn't change my intelligence, level of stability, logical or critical thinking ability or incapacitate me as a human being. It drives me insane that in the world of today...under my roof...there are intelligent women who are okay with saying they deserve less pay...deserve less respect. HOW?.....I can't go on....I better stop now...PLEASE....Look around and Listen to reason, Women are Equal and not just on paper, I am not less stable than a man, I have the ability to lead, live and think at the same level as any man! Understand, I am not man bashing...I am simply stating that there are several successful woman that lead countries such as The president of Finland, Bhutto from Pakistan, Madeline Albright, Janet Reno, Margaret Thatcher....and many more...they served their countries as well as any man. Women and Men share the same abilities one is not the stronger sex. Men and Women are different nature vs. nurture...but the differences are not so big that it should serve to force a label of "emotionally unstable."

Naughty Pleasures!

Who isn't a fan of BBC? I love Blue Planet...Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple...numerous shows of the yester year and a few new. I have a confession to make to all BBC humor fans: I found the Monty Python films very disturbing, and vowed never to watch anymore after the Search for the holy grail. I thought I had put to bed any love I had for BBC humor. I was wrong...I confess I have found a well of humor in FAWLTY TOWERS. I believe it was first aired in 1975 and only aired for a short time ,but its wickedly humorous and terribly naughty.The episodes are not the least bit Politically correct...but I nearly laughed myself into the hospital after the episode "The Wedding Party." John Cleese is spectacular...his legacy shall be remembered forever. It should be illegal to have as much trouble as poor Basil does! Fawlty Towers has redeemed BBC humor and given me the itch for a bit more.Now..I may not go in for Hotel Babylon or the Office, but Fawlty Towers will go down in the Softhearted handbook of hilarium. Any recommendations?

P.S Starbucks has their Gingerbread back! Having soft fresh slices of gingerbread at a coffee house should be illegal...there are probably 400 calories...in one slice. What I would do for a pill that would make those 400 calories disappear with no work...

21st Birthday Plans

Without a doubt your 21st birthday is quite a milestone. Yet isn't every year along the path a milestone. I don't know one person who has turned 17 twice or 32 three times. Each year you reach, you will never reach again except in the depth of your dreams. Introspection leads me to question whether I should be that excited about my 21st birthday. My Mother sweetly asks, "Darling, what would you like to do for your 21st birthday?" My thoughts center on the facts surrounding my birthday I have to be at school the whole day till 6, half my family will be gone 4 days before my birthday, the other half will leave to go on a cruise the day after my birthday. So what I am suppose to plan my own birthday party for them to all enjoy as they stop their busy lives for one hour? Sorry, I don't think so. I'm thinking about sending out invitations with the following inscription "I was born 21 years ago, October 16th 1986, On a day like any other, Thanks Mother, Thanks Father, without you, I would not be, please send any money you would spend on gifts in an Envelope to the charity of your choice" Do you think that would be offensive? I'm a firm believer that the only reason to celebrate is to be the company of Good Company and Good Food, otherwise I always have my new best friends Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, Captain Morgan and Jose Cuervo. Who knows I just might set sail with Captain Morgan and never leave dry land....but seriously, just buy me pound of coffee and a jug of Irish cream...who needs anything else. I don't ever want to be drunk and I am not a particular devotee of any liquor cult...My question is why don't we make the 21st milestone be that of a person being old enough to take up a cause or begin to donate blood...this special holiday to celebrate coming of age to consumer liquor...doesn't really appeal to me...any one can drink a beer, but home many of us can say we have donated 20 gallons of blood?

50 First Days!

The title is only a reflection of a friendly recommendation gone wrong. Frankly, I hate Adam Sandler. I find his humor frequently obscene, x-rated and prejudice. One night a friend invited me to watch 50 first dates, I had no idea he was one of the stars or I would have made up a creative excuse. Forgive me! Friend accuse me of being a prude, stuffed shirt and in the most extreme cases an old lady, they may be right. Yet, I'd like to think of myself as appreciating culture, tact and genuine entertainment. Decide for yourself: my last movie rentals were "over the hedge" "the ghost and Mrs Muir" and Vincent Price's "House on Haunted Hill", the last horror movie made this in the last 7 years I have watched was the new "House on Haunted Hill" I still have nightmares, I get recommendations of books and movies from my Grandparents. Really, Life is about enjoyment, don't feel your mind or your time with disturbing horrific images look for truth, dignity and worth. Any way this is sort of a disjointed blog post....I just have a few thoughts and worries to mull over. I realized that unlike in grammar school, middle school, junior high, and high school where you only have one first day for the whole year, In college you have several first days depending on your course load. I have 4 first days, that is so unfair. 4 new professors, 4 new groups of students. Its quite exciting, but nerve racking. I worry that I have taken too many hard classes together or managed to get a professor with a chip on his or her shoulder. My biggest problem is I worry...Well....that is enough worrying tonight...its off to Irish history tomorrow morning. Give me a speedy commute with safety, Hot coffee, nutritious breakfast and intelligent stimuli. Goodnight Cyberspace...hope that tomorrow I have better things to add to the mix.

Ink'd

What is the charm of injecting ink into your skin? Having ingrained images of teddy bears, scorpions, dice, stars, naked women, names permanently implanted on your lower back, bicep, ankles or face. I by no means intend on being offensive, but the idea is somewhat disturbing. Tattoos seem to be crowding the skin of people from 16 to 105. Is it peer pressure, is it a beauty mark, or is it a sign of power? The ability to set through hours of pain and have something to show for it? I find that tattoos do not enhance the appearance of beautiful women or handsome men. Actually to me they are ugly accessories, too many tattoos cover up the importance of the human underneath.
How much do they cost? 80 to 100 dollars an hour ! The average time for a extensive complex tatoo: several hours. What really is most abhorrent to me is that tattoo ink isn't regulated by any type of health or human safety organization, no FDA or initialized government department. Often tattoo inks contain several heavy metals, carcinogens, and nasty additives that if ever released into the blood or exposed to the right conditions can cause poisoning, cancer and hepatitis. Do people realize this when they go into a tattoo parlor, that it's like playing Russian roulette with your blood stream? Bertha, Julia, Mona and Marissa, might someday divorce, leave or move on and then you have to get that ugly monument to lost love lazered off?