What Do YOU Really Care?

Perhaps you should search your feelings more.

Is it always one way or the other? Is there not a compromise? Is it necessary to sugar coat things to make us seem "less" atrocious? Or, perhaps hiding our true motives behind some altruistic ideals? I don't care about your movement or goals. I want to know what you are really after.

I don't care what your views are on certain topics. I do care when people try, with excruciating effort, to paint a perfect black and white picture in every social, economical, etc. issue. Let's face it, there's a very limited number of items that falls directly under right or wrong. For the most part, nearly every issue we encounter grinds down to a matter of different shades of gray.

What else is new? There will always be justifications based on hyperbolized hypothesis of potential outcomes. Better yet, tossing buzz words that 95% (I'm gonna call this my confidence interval) of the audience have no idea what they actually mean.

Whether you sympathize with Jamie Oliver, Suzy Orman, Dr. Oz, etc. or some larger entity like a church, homosexuals, etc, does not concern me. What I'm curious about is the underlying ulterior motive each and every person/entity has beneath the mask of good intentions.

In layman's terms, "HELL with your altruistic tendencies! I want to know what you are really after when you actually accomplish your goals."

Perhaps it is the American culture, as reflected by our government, that has bred the hypocrisy most of the world always talk about when they think about the USA.

• Why call it the War on Terror when the government is trying to tame the demon it created to spite the USSR?
• Why calling it defending liberty when it's all about maintaining US supremacy (which I have no problem of)?
• Why call out other countries about environmental/social issues when we have similar problems and/or our allies are worse offenders of these so-called violations?

These are just some examples of what I call "shades of gray". Yeah, they have a point, but how does one not see the blatant half truths and double standards approach to the issues?

What bothers me often is the polarized attitude of "opposing" sides. It's always one way or another and never what's proper for a functional society. Let me enlighten you on a simple fact: only the Gospel is perfect. No changes needed there. As for the temporal world we live in, due to the long-entrenched worldliness, the reasonable solution to every issue is not a matter of choice a) or b), but something along the lines of the square root of a^2*b^2/X.

Take people's complaints about government vs. businesses or perhaps employers vs. employees, for example. Only idiots will say things like governments should stay out of business or governments should have tighter grip on the system. Little did people realize that without regulation, you'll be straight back to the 1900s when working conditions are absolute hellholes. Regulations are the reason why you don't die from simple procedures at the hospital. The problem for today is whether or not we are pushing in too far in one direction that we need to revert back to a restore point on the sliding scale when things were working properly.

That's for general issues. For more technical and scientific rundowns, they become more complicated. You see, some people will believe anything that starts with ammonia or mercury has to be automatically dangerous. Well, thanks to your unwillingness to do some research, this is why US has to import its scientists and engineers.

But what do I care? I TRY not to! I realized a long time ago that if I keep reading the ridiculous responses posted on the Internet, especially when they are not even funny, I will only become angry. Here's another fact: the people that post absolute garbage also happen to be in the minority compared to the billion user base of the Internet. It's always been a societal trend that a few cries the loudest and turn a personal grudge into an armageddon involving everyone.

What are people after by pushing their agenda? Is it fame? Is it fortune? Is it just a desire to watch the world burn? Who knows? You may think I'm pessimistic and only see people as glass half-full, but that's not how I roll. I question the very existence of the glass and the claim that it even contains anything. Like I said before, there are those who propose change to benefit mankind, those for revenge/gains, and those who bandwagon.

Remember, there's one type of person we all know Jesus despised in the New Testament: hypocrites. Don't be one of them.

What do I really care? I care about gaining wisdom through truths and knowledge, the power to utterly crush hostile opponents that hinder my goals, and the courage to stay true to myself without ever becoming a hypocrite. Sounds like the Triforce, doesn't it?

Summer Lineup

We finally got rid of all the junk!

Ever wondered what goes on in the ugliest house on the street? Neither have I. I'm going to tell you a little bit about our mad house for my own amusement. Because...Pinecone!

There are two reasons why I'm writing about my roommates:

1. It's long overdue. I generally blog about it whenever we have a occupant change.
2. I'm sick of writing about my thoughts on controversial issues we see on social media each day.

In short, I am tired of the extremist views shared on the comment sections. Then again, the loudest voices tend to be in the minority; at least, I hope it is so. Otherwise, we have a grim future dominated by people who not only know nothing about resolving a issue, but creating more conflict while playing the "force fix/update" button on society.

Without further delay, I shall bring on the house lineup. As usual, I'll order the tenants here by age.

Circa February 2014

It is unfortunate that I'm oldest in this house. Luckily, age is just a number. I recently finished up all my coursework at BYU, put myself in self-imposed unemployment to prepare for the MCAT, and will now start an internship at the Intermountain Medical Center up in Murray in July. More surprises coming in the next year or two!

My near future goals are obtaining more "power", work for a year to save money, and eventually more schooling.

I don't even know... when did this happen?

Between John and Tyler, they are the next in line. 

John is currently employed by the Church as a paid intern. He is putting all information systems knowledge to good use. He is also one of the last original six including me.

Good games, good times, and good workouts are all but part of John's busy life.

Tyler is new to our house, but he is no stranger to us! This man has been an integral part of our madness since the days of IX at Miller.

A diamond in the rough when it comes to future careers. He's got many options, and now we will see which path he will take. By the way, this man is from Jersey and I'm always partial to East Coasters.

Nick & Amanda

Our resident filmmaker is taking the next big step in the course of life. Nick and Amanda are scheduled to be married in late July.

It'd appear that we are marrying off all the Missouri boys! When you see Nick, be sure to pass on your congratulations! That is...if you can find him.

He's as fresh as they come!

Normally, we have a tight grip on who gets to join us, but this one slipped through the cracks thanks to all the unexpected changes coming from Jonathan and Klint.

In case you missed them, Jonathan is in the Marines and Klint is scheduled to be married in October this year. In addition, T.K. will rejoin us when Nick moves out.

Jared is a good man. Fresh off of his mission in Russia; still got the recent RM aura all over him.

Jared is from Arizona, studying computer science at BYU. His hobbies include eating healthy and working out. He's a bit shy, but more than willing to make friends. Sadly, he is only with us until the end of the summer. Get to know him while you can!

Seems awfully relaxed for someone that works 50+ hours a week

Last of all, we have Alex: the TRUE car guy.

Life can be difficult for a car guy, especially when we are all mostly amateurs compared to his vast knowledge and interest about cars.

Alex is currently working full time (and then some) and plans to study mechanical engineering at BYU.

Much like John, good games and good times are also part of his busy life. Not to mention, he's got a summer project car that he is working on while time passes. If you have an insatiable interest in cars, he's the man to tickle your fancies!

That will be all for now! Be sure to look for another post in the fall!

Victims, Victims, Everywhere

Pretty sure that's K.O. right there.

Time couldn't have been worse, especially during the hots of the #YesAllWomen trend on the Internet thanks to Elliot Rodger and his warped sense of reality. Alas, I'm not here to discuss specifically about either events, but to relate to you my personal stories of how the problems of our society (or world to be precise) wind up affecting normal relationships and place unnecessary hostilities between innocent parties. *DISCLAIMER: I do not know everything that happened to the individuals that will be mentioned here in this post, but it's safe to say they don't know everything that happened to me either. **WARNING: post is obviously overgeneralized.

It has been a few years since the events occurred, so I feel comfortable discussing them. I returned to BYU the summer of 2010 after my mission. I decided to dwell in Wyview as I had during freshman year. I was glad to get back into the swing of things. Of course, that included socializing, social media, etc. One day, my roommate thought it would be funny to update my Facebook status to something along the lines of "I have the biggest crush on the girl across the street". Normally, I find it funny. The funniness only lasted before my neighbor informed me that one of the girls actually thought it was referring to her and started saying things such as "I hope it's not me" and some other possibly not-so-kind things I won't write here. I didn't do anything about it because I figured no harm done.

Truth be told, I didn't know her very well. I vaguely recall doing a slow dance with her at one of the BYU dances and she happened to be in my ward that summer. Just a silly misunderstanding. That is, until someone overestimated her own worth and pretended that she was being eyed on by someone she barely knows; instead of the other way around. What did I do? Nothing. Simply never talk to her, even today.

April of 2011 was another time when I felt I was unjustly judged because of the imagination (or lack of logic) of some women's heads. Those who knew me were aware of my busy schedule. I hop between work and school with plenty of pit stops in the HBLL (the main library at BYU). At the time, I recently got out of a relationship and was more than happy to talk to anyone I recognize in order to not think about her (on a side note, we did make up eventually, so that's good :) ).

There was one woman, who I home taught freshman year, that I started to bump into frequently and became acquainted with her younger sister. The problem started when I received a Facebook message, around finals week, from her younger sister stating that the older sister is creeped out because they believe I'm stalking her and made it clear that she's interested in another man. She "politely" asked me to stop seeing her sister.

What is wrong with this picture?

1. I was a regular at the HBLL. The fact that I didn't bump into them until April suggests they are bandwagon library goers who only utilize the facility during major examinations such as finals.
2. I was also recently out of a relationship and was in no mood to start again.
3. The fact that they don't see me after that message is because the semester was over NOT because they were right about being stalked, etc. My spring/summer schedules are vastly different from normal semesters. I left town with Ammon on a road trip afterwards.

There are more examples of these scenarios even after 2011. What's my point? Yes, women have anxieties when it comes to abuses and violences because they experience them more often than men. To the point where fear can become unrighteous judgment to those around them, stunting them not only spiritually, socially, but emotionally. What can we do to change that besides teaching people correct principles and hope they govern themselves? NOTHING. The fact everyone has choices in how to proceed in dealing with others makes it difficult to overhaul anything,.

Dangers are out there. This is why the Savior counseled us to be as wise as serpents but harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16). 

Random 30-second Google searches:
[A quick search shows about 20% of women (about 31 million if using 314 million as US population and simply use 50% as cutoff) have experienced rape, and their various forms, in the USA. It will also indicate about 4.5% (about 7 million) of men committed rapes in the USA, which is roughly the same number for men who were raped by women. Then, there's the uncommon men raping men at about 1.5% (about 4 million). When I mesh all these numbers together, I get a ratio of 3:1 when it comes to women to men raped in our country. Truth is, the actual numbers are probably higher. The good news is the majority of the crimes are committed by a minority of people. The bad news is, it is still too high.]

I don't enjoy being labeled or assumed to be someone with ill-intentions. Perhaps this isn't just a #YesAllWomen problem, but everyone's issue. I think one of the reasons why most women have higher anxiety, besides actual violence, is because of upbringing. The media reports these atrocities. Parents warn their daughters about the potential dangers. A girl has had that in the back of her mind since the day she became a teenager. As for a boy, that isn't the case. Has any guy received the same lecture about avoid being raped, etc. from their parents or heard many stories in the media about the said scenarios on men? Probably not. It isn't as common as the usual female victimized by a male, but yet, still in the millions.

With such disturbing trends, is it a wonder that we can't have normal interactions with each other? Like racism, I personally believe we would make more progress if we take an united approach versus a segregated one. If US politics hasn't taught us anything, I hope everyone realizes that when issues become "us vs. them" situations, they go nowhere.

There are those who seek progress to improve lives. There are those who seek progress to exact revenge (or push away responsibilities). Then, there are those who seek progress to bandwagon without ever actually knowing anything. Choose your side.

Your Nonexistent Self Identity

Are members of the opposite sex fawning over you like hot cake? Many may wish this is the story their love life. However, what is the more important beyond the attention-grabbing facade? For young adults (in my opinion), it is not only a time for romance and careers, but also a sojourn to chisel out the self image of who they are deep inside. WARNING: Broad generalizations ahead. Read at your own discomfort. :v

Welcome to Provo! The best, and perhaps the worst, place on Earth depending on what you are looking for in this town. Yes, I'm talking about dating. While many of us are not as fortunate (or maybe we really are) as some of the young'uns who go on merrily with their married ways before they are no longer teenagers, it is worth noting that "later" bloomers (such as myself) have been blessed with extra time to further develop our individuality.

A friend of mine started her "men fast" a few weeks back. Now what is it? Simply put, she is abstaining from dating for an extended period of time until she feels ready (or some heaven-sent angel sweeps her off her feet) to enter the game again. Reason being: she's been on dates weekly since fall of 2013. She hasn't had the time to enjoy herself and the things she love (that include things to be discovered) due to all the suitors competing for her attention. I understand some people would kill for that universal adoration, but read on.

This segways into an intriguing question. How firm do young LDS adults stand upon the testimonies coming from the bottom of their hearts versus sticking around thanks to the spiritual herd immunity provided by those around them?

Let's make a hypothetical situation. Suppose a young woman gets married at 18 and have kids asap. Her and her husband raise them to adulthood. She starts to feel her value as a person has dissipated because she considered being a mother the only worthwhile endeavor in her life. Sounds like someone you know? Perhaps your own mother?

For those of you who feel this post is unjustified, please realize I did write a post about motherhood and the sanctity thereof a while back. Plus, read the disclaimer again.

A healthy person continues to be an influence in her children's lives and see this "uplifted" burden of sacrifice as another opportunity to fine-tune her personal life/spiritual growth. Unfortunately, some eventually develop deep depression and feel worthless. I could argue that one of the reasons could be the lack of personal finesse in the younger years thanks to hasty commitment. Think of it this way, a college senior without a post-graduation plan (not even a rough draft) at the day of commencement.

Let me put it this way, what are you after we take away your friends, your family, etc.? They may have great influence on you, but they are not you. Family is important to God's plan, but doesn't amount much when you do not have personal growth. It is with several years of experience, starting with my mission, that I started to have a grasp to who I am and what my eternal personality is like. There's nothing wrong with leaning on others. There is something wrong with being perpetually dependent and not progressing.

I must admit, I'm not the best of writers. Therefore, the concept may not come across clear as it should be. I think I'm beginning to feel what Moroni was talking about when he mentions the weakness of his writing. To start, I think it'd be best if we all revisit the misadventures of Job in the Old Testament.

Until next time, this is just another expression of Art.

[Insert Incredulous Sales Pitch Here]

Tick Tock!

Hold on to your butts! There has been a change in the creative department. I'm trying out a new approach to my blogging style (or the lack thereof) and bring to you the new edition of the former Ectomenti. Not only will I dive deeper about the changes, but will also briefly reintroduce myself in THE FUTURE, and revisit some of the recurring questions surrounding my nonexistent mystique as well.

It's time for CHANGE! Especially, when I've essentially finished with schooling for the time being. However, that does not excuse me from being ever involved in the world of academia. Creative writing has always been a thing for me since end of middle school (8th grade to be precise). Unfortunately, the stress and demands of life continually bombarded me with responsibilities, which inhibited my desires to write regularly.

For those of you who have read my humble blog from the beginning, it started out as an online journal. It went from daily records to weekly updates. The trend then shifted to more topic-based musings in response to current events and/or thoughts that preoccupied my mind. The trouble was, the format was inconsistent and stale.

From now on, the first paragraph will summarize the plot of the post and will be bolded. Readers should be able to read through it within a minute. This will relieve you the pain of reading through paragraphs of fluff before understanding what I'm getting at. You may, then, decide whether or not it's worth your time to continue perusing through the rest of my post.

You may be too young if you don't recognize them.

I've changed the name of the blog to 30 Seconds to Art. For those of you who know me, you see what I did there? Part of the inspirations is because of the band pictured to the right. If you don't know them, it's a great time to get acquainted with some of the bands of the late 90s and early 2000s.

Sounds relatively simple, yes? Another goal of mine is to write moderate-sized, detailed, but concise posts. I hope I can improve my writing skills and rekindle some of hobbies that academia robbed from me. In addition, I want to be become creative enough to come up with attention-catching titles and taglines for entries in the future.

All that change while keeping my current disposition? We shall see. Until next time, adieu!

End of a Chapter

There were probably more family members than students

Well, as hard as it is for me to believe, I am basically finished with university. Technically, I don't graduate until December after my internship, but I was allowed to participate in commencement and convocation this year in April.

I didn't take any graduation selfies because I am usually not a selfie person. I've taken some photos here and there and hopefully, they'll make it to whatever social media outlet I choose later this year. My family did not attend this event because, well, it's simply inconvenient. I think I might have been upset if bachelor's degree were my formal education endgoal. However, this isn't the case as I have plans for further schooling.

What's next? The first priority is to take a break. And by take a break I mean I've taken a break and ready to start again. The focus now is to cram for the MCAT set for June 14th. Seems quick no? I'm sure the training I've had as a MLS student at BYU has given me enough study prowess to jam an obscene amount of information in a short time; courtesy of multiple weekly tests.

I also plan on taking a trip out of the country after the exam for two weeks. It may be the last time I'll visit extended family for a while. Then, I start my internship up in Murray in July, after the holiday. After that, who knows? Depending on where I receive a full-time position, I may consider either staying in Provo or moving up to Salt Lake City. The idea of moving out of state is not impossible as well. In short, I don't have a clear picture of where I stand, but I will figure out something.

The nice part is, I will have more time to update this blog this spring. Can't say the same once summer hits, though. I do believe I have some good topics to write about in the near future.

Cheers!

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Master, the tempest is raging!

When life starts to mount pressure on you, one thing is certain: stress. I don't do well under stress even though I have ways to reduce and control the symptoms. The fact BYU does not have spring break contributes to the overload. I personally believe that nothing I learn in my major is conceptually difficult, but the sheer volume of information becomes daunting when I'm already feeling tired. Fatigue eventually leads to annoyance, and annoyance generally manifests as a perpetual anger that seems to radiate from my being.

Because of that, I focus less on the other aspects of life. I feel some angst when I attempt to clear the everlasting pile of dishes, or the tub of rubbish I should have sent out last night. Granted, it would be unfair to claim my housemates do absolutely nothing.

One thing I haven't been paying as much attention is spirituality. The weekly wall of tasks has transformed me into a churchgoer versus a sojourner of discipleship. I have zero desire to dig deeper into the scriptures. Zero desire to spend more time than necessary with people in the ward. That includes activities. I always jokingly exclaim that I hate people, but can't be bothered is probably a more accurate depiction of my current situation.

When the tempest was raging, the Apostles reached out to Jesus for help (Matt. 8:24; Luke 8:24; Mark 4:38). The Lord, who spent most of His time ministering to the people, was sleeping. I imagine He could have been tired, like any of us after a long day. (Although, He was probably fearless too!) Without any hesitation, He calmed the winds and put the disciples at ease. Even in a scenario where it was inconvenient, it didn't stop the Savior from performing His duties and demonstrate His compassion for common men.

What is the lesson here? Just do it? Not exactly. I do believe I'm supposed to maintain a standard when situation doesn't allow me to improve where I already stand. Or, maybe even try a little harder than I am at the moment. There are some time consuming tasks I could do without, but I am simply too selfish to give up right now.

We shall see how things evolve. I, for one, am glad the semester will conclude in less than four weeks.