So first before I say anything, I'd like to note that blogger has no idea what they're talking of. This is the message accross the top of my screen right now:

Scheduled outage at 4:00PM PDT on Thursday (3/25).

It just happens that in 2009 this day/date combo doesn't exist.


In other news, I knew there was a catch to online quizzes... though technically my reasoning for never filling them out is more pop-ups and time wasting.

This makes me sad.

c'est la vie.

hum ho.
so I technically should be studying right now, but my stomach hurts, and nothing is making me very productive. I spent last weekend down in Virginia (right near DC) at a Photojournalism Conference as well as spending time in the evenings with my cousin, Kevin. Both were fun and a nice break from reality. But, alas, reality cannot stay away forever. Monday morning hit with homework and reading, and the week has just continued. I am finally getting into the shooting phase for my three long term photo projects I will be carrying out over the quarter. I still need to get a lot of reading done and out of the way for my documentary photo class. All in all after I get the stressful part of making contact with possible subjects, and finding stories of human interest, I will be able to fall into a fairly rhythmic weekly pattern.
I think that'll be easier to handle.
Well, at least I really hope so.

Also, I am much looking forward to being done with school at the same time... really??!!!?? Is it really this close? I can't quite believe it. After graduation-ness is somewhat daunting, especially since professors keep urging me on to chase internships that are over 200 miles away. Somehow I think the commute might kill me. Oh well, c'est la vie. With no job prospects at the moment, I presently intend to work on learning Spanish more, create a presentable website for my work, walk lots more and bike, too, get involved in this community, and pursue some photo story/essay ideas I've been holding under my belt (which I fail to wear pretty much all the time, but no matter).

Anyhoo, enough procrastinating. On to phone calls, cleaning up, and studying.

really??!!!???

What the crap?

"How to identify militia members:
People who ... in addition to anti-abortion activists...Other potential signals of militia involvement, according to the report, are possession of the Gagsden "Don't Tread on Me" flag..."

i vote no to this one...

this just gets too weird too fast.

the US calls this choice.

sad and horrifying.

oh veggies.

Probably my favorite St. Patrick rendition.

St. Patrick

http://www.history.com/video.do?name=St_Patricks_Day&bcpid=12040009001&bclid=1675979350&bctid=1455377204

I love St. Patrick, but I am thinking more and more I dislike what America has done to this saint's feast day. A fact I learned the other day was that pubs in Ireland until the 1970s were required by law to close in order to honor the day.

I bind to myself today

God's Power to guide me,

God's Might to uphold me,

God's Wisdom to teach me,

God's Eye to watch over me,

God's Ear to hear me,

God's Word to give me speech,

God's Hand to guide me,

God's Way to lie before me,

God's Shield to shelter me,

God's Host to secure me,

Against the snares of demons,

Against the seductions of vices,

Against the lusts of nature,

Against everyone who meditates injury to me,

Whether far or near,

Whether few or with many.

talk about pricy.

I clicked on some random link on MSN, as I do on occasion, it being the home page (for some odd reason) on David's laptop. Anyhow, the article was about over-the-top hotels you can stay in.
This was my favorite description, and as a side note, I'd never want to stay there.

Your Space or Mine? Spendy romantics have been putting money toward
theoretical trips into outer space for nearly a decade now, but the proposed 3
billion dollar/three-room hotel, Galactic Suite Space Resort, ups the ante.
Designed by aerospace engineer Xavier Claramunt, the pod-shaped suites are
projected to travel around the Earth every 80 minutes (going faster than 16,000
miles per hour). The cost? About $4 million for a "stay" of four days, so we're
hoping that includes fresh towels and turndown service by an actual Wookiee.
Assuming everything goes well, this short escape from the Earth's atmosphere
will allow you and your lover to swoon over 15 romantic sunrises per day, and
maybe even engage in some zero-gravity hijinks. The pods aren't even set to
orbit until 2012, so you'll have at least three more years to save up for the
ultimate un-cheap date.

RIP

Paper versions of newspapers are starting to die off.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/business/media/17paper.html

so apparently

I am training for one of the most stressful jobs in the nation.
http://www.careercast.com/jobs/content/JobsRated_StressfulJobs

simple way to serve.

the love alliance is an awesome non-profit organization. they work to educate people about social justice along with giving ideas on how others can help in the choices they make daily. one thing their website (as well as their mission statement) says that i think is very interesting and neat is:

In today’s society it is fashionable to be socially conscious. The Love
Alliance aims to take social justice beyond a trend by working to integrate
justice into who someone is rather than what they do.

this is their service idea for the month of march. simple, yet blesses others in ways we, as americans, can barely imagine.

psalm 145.

[lyrics by shane & shane]

The Lord is gracious
And slow to anger
He is rich in love
He is good to all
The Lord is gracious
And slow to anger
He is rich in love
He is good to all
Who call on Him
In truth He is near to them
He is hears their cry
And saves them, He saves them!

Every day I will praise
For You open Your hand
And satisfy desires of all things
For You open Your hand
And satisfy desires of all things
My God, the King

heh.

another reason not to use tanning beds.

daily comic.

the only comic i continuously read on a nearly daily basis is calvin & hobbes. i can thank my dad for that one. = )

news.

sad and discouraging... a story from my parent's home area.

hilarious... a headline from the land down under.


in other words, classes began for the last time ever today. i began my last spring quarter. oh RIT, how different it will be without you in my life. the two classes i had today are rather good thus far.

psychological websites.

These things scare me at how right they can be... although I can say they did get me wrong in some spots...

Personality: Moods
Go-getter
You're an adventurous soul with a taste for the good life. You have an eye for style and a creative spirit. You probably like to be the centre of the action. When it comes to art, you are definitely unconventional; you are drawn to the beauty of the human body- and the oppurtunity to express your identity through it. You like how music helps you unwind, and switch off. Music transports you far away from the everyday grind.
Personality: Fun
Conqueror
Family time is top of the pops for you. You want to savor every precious moment. Life doesn't get any better. For kicks, you'll always opt to broaden your horizons. You love the inspiration that exploring new cultures brings. You like to take risks, and push limits. You're confident and brave- life is for the living. When it comes to holidays you like to explore, and immerse yourself in another culture. Always on the go, you take in as much as you can. You find it hard to switch off, as you like to be absorbing new information all the time.
Personality: Habits
Back to Basics
You love the luxury of taking time for yourself. There's nothing quite as enjoyable as relaxing, unwinding and living a pampered life. And why not? You deserve it. Your choice of drink reflects your love of stability and comfort of routine... As for the home, you have an expressive personality with contemporary taste. You like to be surrounded by the precious possessions that define who you are (make this books & photos).
Personality: Social
Nostalgic
You're a bit of a nostalgic deep down. Nothing beats the good times that you and your friends have shared. You're always up for a trip down memory lane. When you think of freedom- you think of living for the here and now (i think this could be half and half). You're open to new experiences and take any opportunity that crosses your path.

True: this
False: this

odd collections

As a child, I always wondered if this would work, but there is no way my mother would have ever let me keep this much stuff in my room. I had less than 1% of what this child had, and I still was constantly throwing mine out. So I guess it turns out odd collections do bring in the money.

this makes me sad.
our country has lost so much respect for the human life.

some news links...

what just two people can do. i always enjoy hearing of motivated people who move within their community to make a difference.

ironic, yes?

7 days

this week.

lent began. so excited. 40 days to look at His dream for us and to compare it to what we are now and what we have settled with. 40 days to ponder, to reflect on a Love greater than any other.

settled several things for my independent study for photo in the spring.

purchased documentary photo books.

passed the CLEP test for Spanish (gives me the 4 credits I needed) with exactly a 50 out of 80. Jehovah Jireh.

updated my flickr site: www.flickr.com/photos/sgortiz check it out!

fell in love with this tattoo, but am not this brave.

watched the darjeeling limited. very colorful and beautifully shot.

" 'The times are bad! The times are troublesome!'

This is what humans say. But we are our times. Let us live well

and our times will be good. Such as we are, such are our times."

St. Augustine