Bad news: Today... today I feel like leaving and being far, far away from here.

Good news: One semester remains.

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Fact #1: When I grow up, I don't want to make money for a living.

Fact #2: When I grow up, I don't want to work a job that will make me live for my weekends.

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Wanting to say it for years but never knew how...

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Waking up to my own music instead of an alarm on a clock or phone has got to be one of the best things to ever happen to me.

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I'm an extremely carnivorous herbivore. Wait... Omni? What?

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My translation of THIS song

When did a beautiful peach blossom first learn deceit?

Who pawned off the first jade hairpin?

What I see gets stranger and stranger...

Just like seeing the ocean in the movies makes me want to see it myself,

The more I sing about the love of others, the more I want to find my own

You start to cry, I start to laugh

All for love, love, love

If you open up the dictionary one day and can't find the word "love", flowers may fade, trees may fall down, but love doesn't care;

Love will still look forward with expectation, it will still see loneliness as defeat...

I love, therefore I am

Those who have found the fruitfulness of love, please consent to remain seated

As the lonely here stand up; I don't want to, but I've got to join you...

Reading of the patience of literary characters

Makes me more and more used to being patient

Singing songs about love makes me want to find it

You call out, I calm down

All for love, love, love

If you open up the dictionary one day and can't find the word "love", flowers may fade, trees may fall down, but love still thinks it's all good;

Love will still look forward with expectation, it will still see loneliness as defeat...

I love, therefore I am

You can't wipe all the dust from the sky,

You can't buy a name brand item on the street,

You feel remorse, I act the fool, now love is possible

If it's true that every age has but one announcement to make,

Then "if you've never loved, then you've never existed!"

Love's not easy to understand, and it doesn't know good and bad,

but it's all about the love, love, love

If you open up the dictionary one day and can't find the word "love", flowers may fade, trees may fall down, but it's still all good;

Love will still look forward with expectation, it will still see loneliness as defeat...

I love, therefore I am

-My shoddy translation of 方大同's song entitled 爱爱爱(Love Love Love)

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I need another story
Something to get off my chest
My life gets kinda boring
Need something that I can confess
Til' all my sleeves are stained red
From all the truth that I've said
Come by it honestly I swear
Thought you saw me wink, no
I've been on the brink, so

Tell me what you want to hear
Something that'll light those ears
Sick of all the insincere
So I'm gonna give all my secrets away

-from "Secrets", OneRepublic

(Trung, you were right...)

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Kings of Leon- Notion

Corn... vegetable or grain?

I never felt true, nearly tangible jealousy until my friend told me he was going to the World Cup.

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It would be a complete understatement to say that I love seeing this much football on AMERICAN TELEVISION. I love it so much. ESPN made a wicked good decision to not have pairs of crack-ass American pseudo-football-announcers (who are probably mostly just American football announcer converts) do the announcing and commenting this time around.

I love I love I love soccer and the World Cup. I must say, though, living in America around a bunch of Americans who only get excited about "soccer" 1 month every 4 years and spend the rest of the time bad-mouthing it is frustrating, to say the least. No, of course it's not everyone; there are plenty who keep up with everything... I just feel like most Americans are soccer prostitutes: they devote their lives to American sports for 3 years and 11 months and then suddenly "Oh, yeah! No, I know, (fill this space with Brazil or some well-known European team) is going to win, and America sucks at soccer, man"... soccer whores?

Yeah, I'm a bit of a football snob, and no, I haven't been this into football my whole life, and, believe me, I know that it's a hell-of-a-lot harder to be a soccer fan in North America than it is elsewhere, but give me a break. To thine own self be true. If basketball and baseball and American football are your thing, that's cool, yeah? Now don't pretend like you love soccer. You're just tricksing yaself, yo.

And yes, clearly, I'm a bit bitter. My solution to all of this? :

Dear American Television (part 2),

Please show more soccer on yourself. I might propose that airing English Premier League games might be a good start. Why? Because even Americans know names like "Manchester United" and... well, yeah. They know Manchester United. So that's a good start...

Sincerely,

CK

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Gemma Hayes FTW

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You say that I only hear what I want to, that I talk all the time. I thought what I felt was simple, that I just don't belong, but now that I'm leaving, I know that I did something wrong 'cause I missed you.

And you say I only hear what I want to, that I don't listen hard, that I don't pay attention to the distance that you're running to anyone, or anywhere.
I don't understand if you really care; I'm only hearing negative...

So I turned the radio on, and I turned it up,
and this woman was singing my song, where the lover's in love, and the other's run away, then the lover is crying 'cause the other won't stay.

Some of us hover when we weep for the other who was dying since the day they were born; this is not that- I think that I'm throwing, but I'm thrown.

And I thought I'd live forever, but now I'm not so sure... You try to tell me that I'm clever, but that won't take me anyhow, or anywhere with you.

You said that I was naive, but I thought that I was strong. I thought, "Hey, I can leave" ...but now I know that I was wrong, 'cause I missed you.

You said, "I caught you 'cause I want you and one day I'll let you go." You try to give away a keeper, or keep me 'cause you know you're just scared to lose.

And you say, "Stay."

Lisa Loeb's song "Stay", edited and rearranged for no apparent reason

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Why is being overweight or obese and feeding one's child(ren) the same food that one feeds oneself not viewed with the same (or more) disdain as smoking and emitting second-hand smoke with one's child(ren) in the vicinity? How can children learn healthy eating habits if their parents are teaching them to "finish their plates" of crap food?

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Challenge of the day: go to your pantry. Pick up a loaf of store-bought bread- whole grain, whole wheat, white, whatever. How many nutrients does it have? As in, vitamins. As in, at the bottom of the "Nutrition Facts" label thing? Alright, now how many of those nutrients do you think are actually naturally found in the grain, and how many of those nutrients do you think were added into the mix artificially?

Finally, which of those foods is more nutrient-dense- vegetables and fruits, or bread and grains (even those grain sources fortified with minerals.)

*Shrugs shoulders*

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Click on this

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This is cool

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"If loading takes forever, why did they even make it?"

-Boss' 7-year-old son waiting on his Star Wars computer game to load...

That's a good question.

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This post is quite bitter. Just imagine me laughing and smiling and you'll remember that I'm not always bitter.

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Sara Groves- You Are The Sun

"The softness of my heart is tainted by the world which seeks to harden it"

I find that the girl of whom I dream is but a shadow of the real one, and I like the shadow more.

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I don't understand how believing that America is a nation "set-apart", that America is somehow not only unique but also better than other countries... I don't understand how this isn't racism.

America is, indeed, unique, but, just as I am not better, just as I am not vindicated in telling my Chinese or Korean or Mexican friends what to do or how to do this or that or how to be or do anything ever based on my own "better-ness" as an American, so America is not better than every other country

Furthermore, I find that it follows that, if you do believe that America is "set-apart"-a holy nation, if you will, there's a chance you might be a racist.

...and you might wanna check on that.

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I wrote a 3500-word paper at the end of last semester. Anybody who has ever received a personal e-mail or Facebook message from me knows that I can't not write a lot. A lot.

Suffice it to say, not exceeding word or page limits for school papers has been an issue for me since high school. Hence, one can imagine that the prospect of writing a 3500-word paper was somewhat enticing because I figured there would be no way I could possibly exceed that many words... and I figured wrong.

I finished the paper with more than 3700 words, and I didn't even bother trying to get the word count down to 3500... who knew I could write so much about Confucianism in Modern Chinese Literature?

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Whose idea was it to put North Korea and Iran's pavilions adjacent to one another at the World Expo in Shanghai?

I don't mean anything by it...

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I hope Liverpool does better next season. In the meanwhile, though, we have a little thing called the World Cup to keep our attention. My boss said I can watch scores on the computer while I'm working. I have a feeling that it's going to turn into me just staring at the score update window and not getting much of anything done... and in no way is that a bad thing. ?

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Please don't be a racist.

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I have no shame in admitting that I believe that Miley Cyrus' "Party in the USA" is a complete jam.

Read: songwriters Lukasz Gottwald, Claude Kelly, and Jessica Cornish and other people in the studio and behind the scenes did a fine job. Sure, I might have appreciated it if someone else had actually performed the song, but, regardless, "Party in the USA" is a quality pop song.

No shame.

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Writing and travel broaden your ass if not your mind and I like to write standing up.

-Ernest Hemingway

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Why do we say, "Here goes nothing..." when we really mean, "Here goes everything!"?

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Every time I get deja vu, I get the feeling that, the last time "this" "happened", things didn't turn out well, but THIS time, everything's going to be just fine...

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Unhealthy people make a lot more noise than healthy ones. Don't believe me? Next time you are in some fairly quiet place with a lot of people, just listen and watch.

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I appreciate the way that, on many non-American radio stations, the music seems to automatically go quiet when the DJ talks. If you've never heard that, I don't know how to explain it... but I like it.

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If you take issue with something you read here, don't shut up. Tell me, if you want. Comment, or something.

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Uffie- Our Song

Uffie- Art of Uff

Some mur

Holy craps it's been a while since I've written! School is finally out. It was a good semester, but I can't say I'll miss it. I'm looking forward to next semester, even though I won't be able to say I miss it when it's over, either... I always start out optimistically, but, a few weeks in to the semester, I'm slightly less enchanted by the idea of... school. Right now, I'm thinking, "Hey! Fourth-year Chinese, Literary Chinese, and Meta-Physics should be really great!" Actually, they probably will be.

A lot has happened since the last time I wrote. I have a job. Two jobs. Job #1 is a summer job, for now. I sit behind a big desk in a room, answer phones, fill in invoices, charge credit cards, blah blah blah for these two websites. Job #2 starts at the end of summer and lasts for the fall. I'm the cymbal tech (looking out for the cymbal line) for the ASU marching band drumline. That's right.

Since I haven't written in a while, I have a ton of things to write about... or do I? I have a huge list of things that I could write about, but we'll see if everything is still relevant. I might split everything up over a couple of posts, too...

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To begin, Kaskade's latest album, Dynasty, rules. I have a major soft spot for vocal dance tracks with female vocalists. Kaskade and Late Night Alumni FTW!

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Events which possess sad or unfortunate elements are not necessarily incapable of being laughed at... Par example:

Listen for "Dada!"

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"Pain is what makes us remember. We remember what hurts us most. We need memory."

-My Existentialism notes

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I think that it should not surprise us that we find fictional media, especially those of the sci-fi and fantasy genres, so intriguing and, to an extent, appealing. What's fiction to a 1st-grader? "Not real". Right. Sci-fi and fantasy stories especially present to us places, objects, and phenomena with which we are not realistically acquainted. If we are so deeply attracted to those "not real" places, if we feel even an inkling of a desire to live in a place that is "not real", what does that say about Earth, about the "real" world? I submit that our propensity toward immersion (by reading or watching media) in those unreal worlds points to the idea that we do not belong here.

If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy,
I can only conclude that I was not made for here
If the flesh that I fight is at best only light and momentary,
then of course I'll feel nude when to where I'm destined I'm compared

Speak to me in the light of the dawn
Mercy comes with the morning
I will sigh and with all creation groan as I wait for hope to come for me

Am I lost or just less found? On the straight or on the roundabout of the wrong way?
is this a soul that stirs in me, is it breaking free, wanting to come alive?
'Cos my comfort would prefer for me to be numb
And avoid the impending birth of who I was born to become

For we, we are not long here
Our time is but a breath, so we better breathe it
And I, I was made to live, I was made to love, I was made to know You
Hope is coming for me
Hope, He's coming

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Existentialism Professor:

"We tend to invest (in endeavors) where we're getting encouragement and rewards"

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15 days until FIFA 2010 World Cup! I am beyond stoked.

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A "Dune" film remake is in store for 2012! I hope it's good... I suppose it doesn't have to be too great to be better than past film adaptations of the novel, but we'll see.

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"Think with the learned, speak with the vulgar."

-George Berkeley

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I enjoy listening to soundtracks and reading books before I see the films with which they correspond. I can remember listening to the soundtracks for the following films years before I actually saw them:

Schindler's List

Finding Forrester

Good Will Hunting

Kontroll

Children of Dune

The Hulk

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"Self deceit is a bitch."

-Existentialism Professor

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Check this out.

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You probably know of my rather specific standards regarding the films and TV shows that I watch. If I'm going to spend time (and sometimes money) watching a film or TV show, I want it to be worth my while.

This was more than worth my while. I recommend watching it with all my heart. If my recommendation isn't enough, it might help to know that it won an Oscar in 2008...

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Bethany Dillon- Get Up and Walk

David Holmes- 11, 12, 13

Gemma Hayes- Chasing Dragons

Kaskade- All That You Give

These are special:

Pogo- Alohomora

Pogo- Bangarang

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Plenty more...

Hi. My name is Chris, and I'm addicted to peanut butter. And almond butter.

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A couple of weeks ago, I had withdrawal. It was like the withdrawal I used to get after a week of summer camp at age 8, when I'd be apart from the girl with whom I'd been flirting for those previous six days. It made me feel hopeful, like I was going to see her again, but I'd no idea when.

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A man has to be able to make a living before he can provide a place for love to dwell.

-Lu Xun, Mourning the Dead

I don't know how I feel about this. I do not believe that love cannot dwell in a place if a man has no living, yet I sense some wisdom in the words.

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Out of all of the little intro things that come on before a film, the Dreamworks one is, hands down, my favorite. Good visuals, Excellent music.

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I have no shame in admitting that I think Erin Esurance is way cute.

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Moving out feels like moving home.

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I rest in the assurance I have that God Expecto Patronum'd all of my filth away.

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Dear American Television,

I despise you for not broadcasting the Boston Marathon. Or football (unless it's the World Cup or a USAMNT home game or select MLS games or Mexican league games on the Spanish language channels.)

Hate,

CK

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I saw two people talking to themselves yesterday. Yes, I am sure that they did not have Bluetooth things in one of their ears.

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Crossword Puzzle Update:

After my last post, when I wrote about how bad I am at crossword puzzles, I got better.

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Thanks for reading this, Bee Tee Dub.

没什么

Things have been calm recently. My schoolwork is winding down- with the exception of day-to-day assignments (which are few), I only have two papers and finals remaining. Anyway, I figure I'll do what most people do when they are bored... talk about themselves. Or, in this case, write about themselves. Myselves. Self.

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I try to do crossword puzzles, but I rarely get very far. Sometimes I get lucky and complete around 50% of a puzzle, but this is rare. My ego protects itself by telling me that "This one must be another really tough one", "You must just not think in crossword-puzzle terms" (whatever the hell that means!), or "These are all pop culture references and you just don't keep up with that stuff".

Today must be a lucky day. I'm staring at a crossword puzzle that's more than halfway done, and I'm not even close to giving up...

Actually, I'm staring at a computer screen...

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Paramore

William Fitzsimmons

Feist

Benny Bennasi

Kaskade

Phoenix

Swimming with Dolphins

Sufjan Stevens

Muse

Massive Attack

Portishead

Epik High

Gemma Hayes

Immy

Iron and Wine

Mint Royale

These are a few of my favorite things

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I mix most of my food.

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Peanut Butter

Almond Butter

Tempeh

Pizza

Yogurt

Olive Oil

Milk and Cereal

Fruit

Brownies stirred up in ice cream

饺子

烧烤

These are more of my favorite things. I do NOT mix all of these foods together.

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I haven't listened to the radio in more than a few months. I don't miss the radio.

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The severance or lengthening of relational ties is looked down upon in American society.

I submit that there is a time for severing or lengthening ties.

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It pains me to watch people picking things up with their backs instead of pushing up with their legs.

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Being shorter than average has an advantage- Most people underestimate short people, which means we perpetually have the element of surprise on our side. Underestimate in what regard? Every regard. I suppose I'm mainly thinking intellectually and physically.

I'm short, and I'm not ashamed.

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Mocky feat. Feist- Fighting Away the Tears

I do not appreciate it when my professors comment on an essay that I have written by writing the word "Why?" in the margin. It's not like they put it beside a passage in my paper that requires further explanation or background. Furthermore, it's usually the case that I have answered the question, "Why?", which they have so succinctly posed in the margin, I have just answered it at another point in my argument.

One may present a vindicating argument for said posing of question, "Why?", in the margin of a university upper-level division class essay. I find it annoying and pointless, I daresay, nonetheless. Why pointless? Because I already wrote the paper. Because the paper has been written. Because after the paper has a grade on it, it goes in the manila folder, and after it goes in the manila folder, it stays in the manila folder. And after it stays in the manila folder, it gets thrown out at the end of the semester.

Why?

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I found this article quite interesting, and I wish I could present this quote to my Chinese acquaintances when they cite, boast of, or complain about the hours and hours they spend studying and getting tutored:

Former U.S. assistant secretary of education Chester Finn recently wrote in TheWall Street Journal that the average Chinese college applicant has spent 30% more time in the classroom than his American counterpart--and that's not including considerable time in enrichment classes after school and on weekends. Finn cites that figure as something the U.S. should emulate. I could not disagree more. The amount of time in class is not the issue; the quality of that time is, and there the Chinese education system is lacking.

Here's to critical thinking...

Here's hoping for a good education reforms in China, even when they don't seem likely to ever happen.

Here's to the hope we have in Christ and His redemption of all that is so effed up...

...starting with me.

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When playing drums in a marching band drumline, if one drops a drumstick during a performance or rehearsal, one must take part in the "Lean of Shame" to pick up said dropped drumstick. It's not fun. If someone watching didn't notice that a drumstick was dropped, they will definitely notice the dropper leaning over.

I find that there exists in the classroom a similar shameful lean. If one drops his or her writing utensil and it lands or rolls to a position which is directly beneath the desk or table at which one is sitting, one must lean over to pick up said dropped writing utensil. To make matters worse, it is usually most convenient for the dropper to bring his or her head very close to the table while he or she reaches for the dropped writing utensil. This produces, for a moment, an awkward moment during which it appears that the dropper is just laying his or her head on the table or desk for some unknown reason.

Don't believe me? Try it. Drop anything under the table or desk at which you are sitting... chances are high that you won't want to put your head underneath the table or desk, and chances are high that it will be most convenient for you to keep your head above the table or desk while you reach for whatever you dropped.

I wrote way too much about this.

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"If God didn't want us to eat animals, why did He make them out of meat?"

-Samuel Rognstad

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"If you form your hands in certain ways, your enemy is gonna die!"

-Chinese Lit prof talking about Kung Fu-genre characters

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"How do you explain the music of the 80's?"

and

"Why is giving a diamond ring an expectation when getting engaged?"

Answer to both:

"It's just something that some lady made up."

-Philosophy professor

Question: How is requiring that a man give a woman a diamond ring when he asks her to marry him NOT encouraging them both to view love as something which is inseparable from money?

Wouldn't it be much healthier to start out such an incredible relationship with the giving of a $.25 ring from the toy machines in the lobby thing at Wal-Mart? Wouldn't it save a lot of money that young married couples could afford to hold on to? If a ring is representative, then it's monetary value should be insignificant.

Round 1: Fight!

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"My father told me and my brothers and sisters that his name is Gerald. I only found out that his real name is Maurice a couple years ago."

-Philosophy professor

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I don't like this post.

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I like this song.