Did you stop having sex because your high school didn't give out condoms?

I didn't think so.  Schools in Provencetown, Mass. are considering a policy to allow the school to give out condoms to students who ask.  Check out the story here.  Abstinence only sex-education costs somewhere in the range of $200 million dollars.  American girls (teens) are four to five times more likely to become pregnant, have a baby, or have an abortion compared to teenagers in the rest of the developed world.  For goodness sake, when will everyone give up on this idea that abstinence only sex-ed actually works?  Wonder how many more teens would stay in school or avoid having a child at 13, 14, or 15?  Geez...

I literally got chills.

Omg.  AarontheBond mentions that the Half Blood Prince was a terrible adaptation.  Agreed.  I left frustrated and disappointed (not to mention the whole lack of 3-D thing).  Don't confuse that this means I will be missing this movie.  Ahhhhh...I have to read the book again before it comes out.  I will be seeing it in IMAX.  The Marbles Kids Musuem in downtown Raleigh shows IMAX 3D movies.  I'm positive they'll be showing Harry.  I can not even wait.

My two cents :: Morals and religion.

That's right.  This post is getting serious.  I don't like to get too serious...but sometimes I like my pedestal and to just talk with no one talking back.  Beware...this is a lengthy post.

Stepping back on to my pedestal...

I grew up mostly in a pretty non-religious family.  We basically went to church on holidays and the odd occasion.  When I was partially through high school, they discovered (were "converted," brainwashed, whatever you may...) a local church.  I think they were invited by a work friend or something.  For whatever reason adults feel the need or desire to become involved in organized religion, they did.  The next thing I knew, I was being thrown (almost unwittingly) into this new "Godly" lifestyle.  Now I don't remember if I was given the option to start going to this church or if I was required to by my parents.  Regardless, at the time I didn't mind too much.  It was a group of new "friends" who accepted me (come on...high school was still an awkward time of fitting in and figuring ourselves out).  I still didn't want to drop all the school friends for the church friends but couldn't really combine the two.  It resulted in more difficulties with trying to mesh and balance the two groups.  

As I went to college, I became intertwined with a "college group" of kids from the same church.  Throughout that first year, I had a tight knit group of good friends.  Something did not quite feel right for me though.  I played the part well (don't we/they all?).  By my second year of college, I started separating myself from the church crowd.  This caused I'm sure a lot of prayers from them about me and tension between my parents and I.  Long story, short(er)...I stopped going to that particular church as did my parents a short time later.  Seems some things came to light for them as well.  I ended up having a summer of newly found "freedom" and fun.  I think it was the rebellion and partying of my freshman year that I never got.  I ended up dating D, and my parents temporarily found another church.  They made/enticed me to "try" this new and improved church.  I remember leaving D's apt. on a Sunday morning to meet them at church.  It lasted longer for them than me.  I think I ended up somehow making a bargain with my parents as to how not to go anymore.  

By this time, I had developed a lot of my own ideals about life, living, people, etc.  Of course since then, I have developed many more thoughts on life, living, and people.  Personally (and in no way forcing my ideals on others at this time), I do not believe in religion (although some would concur that the non-belief in a god/gods, etc. is a "religion").  I really hate how people (including me back in the day) just accept and believe things without research and questioning them.  I can not stand people (of any religion) using "values" from their religion as a basis for doing wrong, denying people rights, etc.  I especially hate this argument being used in a political arena.  I do NOT hate people who follow or believe in a religion.  I would like to hear the argument that shows me proof that Christianity is RIGHT and all other religions (Islam, etc...which many oddly share similar stories) are wrong.  I would like to hear the argument as to why it is ok for Christians think they can follow some of their sacred Bible and not all of it.  I only use Christianity as an example here because so many people in the US. characterize themselves as Christians.  There's a lot I would like to hear.  Here are a couple of really interesting books I've found questioning religion and Christianity:

Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris is my current read.  His book is pretty much a letter addressed to Christians.  Obviously he questions a lot of the motives and theories behind Christianity.  Here's a quote from his foreword,

“Thousands of people have written to tell me that I am wrong not to believe in God. The most hostile of these communications have come from Christians. This is ironic, as Christians generally imagine that no faith imparts the virtues of love and forgiveness more effectively than their own. The truth is that many who claim to be transformed by Christ’s love are deeply, even murderously, intolerant of criticism. While we may want to ascribe this to human nature, it is clear that such hatred draws considerable support from the Bible. How do I know this? The most disturbed of my correspondents always cite chapter and verse.”

My first ever read on non-religion was God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by Christopher Hitchens.  I love this book.

It says everything so well and in ways I never could.  It should be my Bible ;)  This is an amazing book with lots of thorough research and knowledge.

Again, I have nothing against any of my friends or those I know who follow a religion.  I understand why people want and need religion.  In my humble opinion, I just do not agree with any of it.  I do not want or need it in my life.  I'd love to have the thoughts and comments of any of you, who do characterize yourself as following a religion, who may have read either of these books or similar.  Since I am semi-hypocrite right now, I have not yet sought out books that (almost) directly oppose the thoughts and ideals in the above books.  Please let me know of any books that do provide evidence and research to disprove these books. 

Ok...if you made it through the monster post and are considering no longer reading my blog....it's up to you.  I promise, I RARELY post (full posts that is) on such touchy subjects...

For those of us who do not give a crap about Twilight...

D, my sister, Maggie, and I went to see Toy Story 3D last night. 

That's right.  It was good, cute, whatever.  I'm consistently unimpressed by the 3-D fad.  If you're going to make a movie in 3-D, make it worth the extra $5 I have to spend.  Don't even get me started on the Harry Potter Half Blood Prince 3-D IMAX debacle.  I wanted to cry for wasting my money on that shit.  I want things flying off the screen at me!  Some of the previews have had better 3-D effects than the actual movies.  Cinema better start upping their game or everyone will end up buying the 3-D tvs and no one will waste their money on the movies.

**Ps. I refuse to ever give a crap about Twilight.  Those books sound more and more fucked up every time I hear something about them.  As appealing as the previews may be on the big screen...I will never give in.

Vamos, vamos Argentina

I've been watching the World Cup and it's been awesome.  One thing I love most is the memories it is bringing back.  This time four years ago, I was in Argentina.  Soccer in Argentina is HUGE.  The World Cup was going on at that time four years ago as well.  Argentina's 0:4 loss to Germany on Saturday was INSANE.  I was rooting for Argentina...but I've been to Germany too.  And you have to give Germany props for the mad skills they displayed!

I stayed in Argentina for two months with a study abroad program.  I won't go into all the details, but here are some pictures that really make me smile from the trip...

Wine tasting with our study abroad group (not all of them)

Such funny memories when I look at this...it was a party at the home of one of our guides.  So much fun.

We got to go to a soccer game (not the World Cup)!  They got us all jerseys with our names on them.

 A day trip to a ranch in the country.  We got to ride horses, eat delish food, watch a performance, and watch horse tricks.  Note...the creeper guy made me hold his hand.

Weekend trip to Iguazu Falls (border of Argentina and Brazil).  Not the actual falls here...but I was shaking like crazy.  Scary.

Iguazu Falls....definitely recommend a trip here!  You can see Brazil from across the falls.

Weekend trip to Bariloche.

Hilarious/ridiculous skiing experience here.  But it was beautiful.  At least I can say I tried to ski in the Andes mountains.

**I realized I don't have all my pics on my computer.  Another day I'll update with pics from our weekend trip to Uruguay (love, love, love it there) and my last month in Argentina.**

Living in Raleigh :: Happy Birthday America.

Let's all remember how on the birthday of America...we may have our independence and freedom to do [mostly] as we wish...yet Americans are still not all seen as equal and give those rights that are supposed to be granted to us.

Stepping off my pedestal...

D and I have really been enjoying our time (and my freedom from school for the moment).  Since we're low on the funds for the summer, we headed out to Kure Beach, NC for the day on Saturday.

D chilling out on the beach

 Kure Beach

The day and beach was just gorgeous!  The weather was perfect...breezy and only high of 80 degrees.  Now the waves on the other hand...CRAZY!  I could barely go in up to my knees.  I got thrown under once by a wave and I was done for.  Still a fabulous day though.  We packed beer, Subway sandwiches, chips, fruit and water.  Perfect start to the weekend.

We spent our fourth watching a lot of Dexter...trying to get caught up on Season 3.  After that we ventured around downtown Raleigh trying to find an open restaurant where we could drink beer.  We stumbled upon a bar serving Terrapin Wake N Bake on draft, only my favorite beer!

Delicious coffee oatmeal stout goodness

We enjoyed some pints, some chips and dip, etc.  Delish.  Good start to my fourth.

We then headed out to the fireworks at the NC State Fairgrounds.  Crowded but we got in, enjoyed, and got out.  

D looking super excited about the fireworks?  Ps. we should totally look more tan after the beach the day prior.

 

 Pretty :)  Right before my camera started freaking on me and telling me lens error (as if any of you care)

 

 My wonderful photography skills capturing the fireworks

 

My night ended by finishing it all off with a wonderful Terrapin/Left Hand Depth Charge ...heaven in a glass.

 

 

They're HOT!

That's right...I'm referring to the world cup players. Soccer players are some of the most beautiful pro sport players I've ever seen. I love having the World Cup to entertain me at the gym :). Did any one watch the US' last world cup game?
We went to the Busy Bee in Raleigh (google it!) and drank (lots of) delicious beer and ate yummy food. We'll probably be watching Ghana vs. Uraguay tomorrow at 2:00. I adore Uraguay but have to cheer Ghana for my bf, KD. Pictures above are of our beer and food at the Busy Bee :)