Hand Washing and Gun Toting

The Tuscon shooting has re-raised a lot of incongruencies Americans have all ready been arguing about for years, it's just fresh in the media again. From freedom of speech, to gun control. To how to identify psychopathic killers to the how the mentally disturbed purchase weapons. Democrats and republicans are rabbling YET again, pointing fingers, blaming the small scapegoats; politicians who pride themselves on being armed (think Palin or Cheney), to the big scapegoats; gun culture in America.

To me it's as simple as washing your hands after going to the bathroom. And for the past year, I've noticed a significant decline in people around my age (21-34) washing their hands after or before using the toilet. Granted I only have a men's room perspective, but I'm sure women don't face this disgusting habit. But nonetheless, gun control shouldn't be this complicated over convoluted topic; it should be clear cut and straight forward. Something our parents taught us when we were younger, and we should just always know when to do it and how to do it-- end of story.

 

So we are facing a plethora of reasons as to why the attempted assassination even occurred. There are therapists examining the mind of the madman, and they are drawing all sorts of conclusions as to what set him off-- was it a mix of drugs and temperamental disorders? Was it the refusal from the army to let the 22-year old young man enlist in serving his country, or the political rhetoric he saw as pulling the wool over America's eyes?

And why aren't Millenials washing their hands more? I'm seeing this everywhere, from retail stores, to restaurants, to every bar I go to. I'd say 1 in 6 guys wash their hands, and it's nasty! They're going back and touching their face, their food, their girlfriend's body...revolting. So we've got these two completely uncorrelated unrelated topics, yet they have so many of the same lessons behind them.

Gun Control is most heavily paid attention to in the North Eastern states and California (minus Vermont). The laws are strict, families are focused on practicing smart gun safety, and homicide rates are lowest. The rest of the country is a bit of a toss up; it's more like a video game everywhere else. 'Men have guns because they want guns, so they go and they buy them because that's a right as an American citizen, and nobody will mess with me if I have a gun', seems to be the mentality.

Actually if you take it a step further and look at where a majority of the higher murder rates happen, and where gun use is more prevalent you see it occurring mostly in the southern states, mid west, central, and western states. So maybe the Tuscon shooting isn't only a matter of digging into this manifesto of why a 22-year old went berserk, and maybe a more appropriate time to examine the scope of focus as to why gun control is so lenient in those regions of the United States.

Now break it down more-- the more conservative states and republican states for the most part are the ones with more guns per household. Not to pigeonhole people, but these regions also have higher divorce rates, not as good of schools, live with a more archaic mentality; Bible lovers, close mindedness, lower incomes and live in less developed communities.

And why are these states fighting tooth and nail for these rights instead of looking at the greater common good? It doesn't seem logical to me that these areas have such decrepit laws on gun control. Do all of these backwards civilizations not wash their hands as well?

In the end-- these deep over analysis that the federal government is taking underway to determine why mass murderers do what they do could be talked about and hypothesized for years to come. We could talk forever about different outlooks and opinions and back it with scientific data. We cannot learn that sort of deep excruciating detail about the human psyche.

But sometimes (and most times) there will never be one clear cut reason as to why-- we just need to not overlook the basic fundamental flaws in the American system. If the United States just DID something about their state laws using their facts and statistics, maybe they could rule their fist over the issue more firmly. This would mean making stricter laws in the states where they see the biggest conflicts-- thus eliminating the problem at the root of evil. But democrats are afraid to do so because they know gun control is a touchy subject with republicans-- and they want their votes!

However, just letting these states and regions bear arms and then vote accordingly to how their gun laws work just isn't sufficiently working right now. The Tuscon shooting is only the tip of the iceberg of what we can expect to see with political rhetoric and 21st century technology as it advances and propagates more controversial issues within federal and state government.

We need to be a more congenial country, with less fanaticism and more bravado in how we handle threatening situations. It starts in the home with our parents, teaching proper gun mentality, explaining the difference between 'wanting and needing' them and needing them from a security standpoint.

Again it all comes down to us, GenY, the fastest growing generation since our parents. It will be our duty to communicate these terms effectively and push for members in Congress to act more hastily and not let gun laws lollop over the next 10-20 years as we grow. I don't want to grow up in a place where any states have such ease of access to weaponry.

Be sure to wash your hands every time you know it is appropriate to do so. Step-by-step thought process on how to deal with an objection, identify the need, and fill the need is a great talent to applaud yourself on. Now all we have to do is raise a flag and catch the eye of the out-of-touch 'big wigs' in Congress. We have to let them know that this is our growing country (not theirs), and their stupid and slow reaction time to gun safety is absurd.

I don't know about you, but the rest of the country could learn a thing or two from the North East's smart laws on gun control, family habits, and how to instill natural tendencies in children. Maybe then we won't have to reteach the rest of the nation how to wash their hands and act adult with gun control...because I certainly don't want to be washing blood off of my hands for the next 50 years on the count of the American Government.

*So wash your hands GenY men and stop being so nasty and illogical. It starts with good habit. Teach good habits.

Rock n Roll Will Save Your Mortal Soul

Where the fuck did rock and roll go? Why do bands these days think rock and roll is singing about slitting your wrist while doing this with black eye liner on? My british invasion rock and rollers would frankly say “now that is a load of bloody fucking bullocks”. Where is the soul, the passion? Rock and roll really died when everyone started singing for the paycheck, instead of singing for the love of message. A message through song can be a three minute bible. 

It can be a timeless masterpiece that my kids will hear from me, as my parents passed it on to myself. All I am trying to say is frankly this: “If you do not like classic rock, then you have no fucking soul and therefore shall perish from this earth with no more reminiscence than the breeze that blows the rose pedals off the arrangement on your grave.”

OK, ok, ok...a little harsh? absolutely not. A little close-minded? maybe. I do like some of todays music; some being the keyword. Most of todays music can be played in concert without instruments. Now where is the music in that? where is the melody? While some songs are catchy, most have absolutely nothing on the Pink Floyd’s of the world, or the Led Zeppelin’s of the world. These bands I speak of are more than bands. They are more than the million people that continue to hang their posters on their wall. These bands were the identity of a generation, and to think that my generation will be remembered by the music of Lady Gaga makes me want to throw up on the Grateful Dead shirt I have on. 

But I could never do that, not only would that be a slap in the face to ever-so masterful Jerry Garcia, it would be an insult to the time, the culture, the hysteria, that went along with seeing these bands perform live. They did not play for an hour 30 minutes and walk off the stage a happy group. They played for hours because they love to do what they do, and they love the fact that we love them just as much as they love themselves!

I received a record player for christmas, which probably goes down as one of the best gifts I have ever received. I went out and bought some records since then and this is what I bought:

            -Dark Side of the Moon

            -The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan

            -The White Album

            -Damn the Torpedoes

Now I have no obligation to tell you whose albums these are because if you do not know the first three (the second one is given to you), then you should cease to exist and should throw out your entire ipod library and start from scratch. Listen to these albums from start to finish and they have messages in the words, messages in the melody, and have some serious rock and roll that can save any mortal soul. It just flat out drives me insane to think that people would rather listen to the shit on the radio these days, than to listen to music that will never die.

Classic rock will never stop playing. It will forever be played on the radio. In movies. On commercials. And to make a comparison between that and some of the shit out there today is blasphemy. Lady Gaga 40 years from now will be a blank spot in the minds of the people that actually decided to listen to her from the get go. Real music is music that is timeless, and classic rock will never have an expiration date.

I know I have never been able to see the Beatles, the Dead, or Floyd perform, but I have seen plenty of other classic rock bands from Tom Petty, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Styx, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Steve Miller Band, the list goes on. And I can honestly say that even 20 years out of there prime, any one of those bands can still rock, perform, sing, and out-do any rock band right now. And why is this?  because of the passion and the soul that goes along with going up on stage night after night. 

So in other words, stop filling your mind with this shit on the radio these days. It does nothing but fill you up like bread and appetizers. Broaden your horizons. Open your mind to something meaningful. Open your heart and soul to Classic Rock, for it will never perish and let the words and rhythm beat in you, as it beats in me, for the rest of eternity. And when I die, I want this music being played at my funeral, and I want to be buried face down, so all of you Classic Rock critics can come kiss my ass.

(Thank You Bob Knight)

A Classic Rock supporter and open Utilitarian,

Carl D. Pitts

Tough and Stupid is Out -- Smart and Healthy is In

In the few weeks I've had two interesting foot-in-mouth situations. Maybe over the course of time, and by that I mean the past fifty years...tough strong guys have been the winners in outcomes. Pointdexters and dweebs were always the frail weaklings.

The 'thick neck' could out swear you, push you down, and do it in such a robust manner that women would flock to their pythons as they hop into his muscle car, smoking you out as they peel out with their loud car.

Those days are obviously over. None the less, tough guys have turned into three categories of meat-headedness. You have the athletic 'brochachos' who think that being loud, somewhat in shape, and being a sports fan or ex-athlete automatically makes you tough.

Then you've got the pretty boys blinged out in rhine-stone Tshirts, ripped jeans, and gelled hair who workout so much and chug protein shakes that their muscles look as fake as their spray on tan.

Lastly you have the worst kind, just the plain old idiots who aren't educated enough to give you a witty verbal battle, but they'll throw their cigarette down and attempt to trade blows.

Moving from Luxembourg at 14 to a cookie cutter neighborhood where everybody sticks their nose in everyone else's business, where conservatism runs amok and open mindedness is shunned...I definitely experienced my fair share of cheap shots.

Kids are mean, and they learn these mean habits from their mean parents not exposing them to more in life. So I faced bullies, for my braces, accent, scrawny awkwardness...but for a long time I was picked on.

Growing up, getting through high school, experiencing a different lifestyle in college, working multiple jobs; I began to figure myself out a lot more.

I've developed a level of confidence that is unparalleled to most people's, and I contribute that to having strong work ethic, something not everyone our age understands or has.

So when I came across these two situations most recently in Boston (not counting the 'green pants fag' conflict) I couldn't help but grow a little bit annoyed; mainly because of the fact that I never want to use physical violence. I prefer verbalities because it reflects more on your behalf and shines your ego in a better light. We are way past the close minded days of when women were really turned on by haunchy taunchy machoness.

I prefer to call it douchebaggery.

This past Saturday night, I was at a local sports bar called Tavern at the Square; the best  joint in town. And a prime example of a modern day bully called me over, granted I was alone looking for my entourage in a crowded bar, wearing a shirt that said Hustler. I won't get into the details and depth of conversation, but he looked nice enough so I went over to see why he waved me over. It was to make a joke in front of his no doubt frat-boy friend and two girls they were with. Little did they know Joe was behind me, and Je's the bouncer at this restaurant. Joe is a half Arabian half American fella. A no nonsense sort of dude with a slick Massachusetts accent.

Long story short, these couple of pecker suckers ended up looking like the laughing stock of their party in front of their highly unimpressed women. We exchange words, I look him right in the eye, and by now he's just apologize because he doesn't want him and his elephant walking buddy to get them and their dates tossed out like a couple of bottom feeders. Joe told them, "just finish your drinks, then leave kindly so we can fill these seats with customers who aren't assholes." So my friends and I got to sit in their seats--sick!

-Thanks Joe.

Then most recently I was leaving a pub Sunset, (an A-crowd fun environment might I add) and I was trying to cross the street. With two heaps of snow on each side, only select areas are able to cross. And this cigarette smoking, inbred idiot slaps me on the chest and says, "you can't cross. Not ever." I said, "who are you, the gatekeeper?!" This guy was larger than me though, but again as I begin the battle of smarts, instantly he throws his butt down and looks at me ready to hit me without reason. This guy thought he was the man picking on smaller kids in life, and ten years later he's unchanged. A friend, Ryan, saw what was coming and quickly stepped to, chest out and in an instant the guy realized he was outmatched mentally and physically. He took his saggy ass torn jeans, and wet clothes as he continued to walk away a sorry sight.

So between growing up being picked on for a while for mundane reasons like braces and for being a bit different, to going to school in superficial Tampa, to now experience the new type of bullies in my mid-20s just makes me chuckle. I thought violence was over and done with post college.

I don't need to pick fights anymore, my words will speak much louder than my actions. So bullies of Generation Y, grow up please. Nobody should have to physically fight anymore unless in a dire situation.

Stop being that doucher and stop living in the past. Women like guys in touch with themselves, confident, and who can kick ass through logic and being clever.

It's cool to be smart. It's whack as hell being a 50s bully in the 21st Century.

NFL Superbowl = NFL Supernothing

Nobody take this personal even if you live by the sport or still play. So please keep in mind QTIP--  quit taking it personally, (no matter how much you might hate the screenshot).

People are going to hate me for this one; they'll call me unpatriotic, they'll want to punch me in the face, they'll call me a Frenchie or some other slur.

But I'm so sick of it, after watching the Patriots lose to the Jets for my first intense playoffs game, I just am over the fuss.

Just am OVER it! Don't get me wrong, American Football is a great game (I wouldn't say historic though). It involves skill, 1-on-1 battles, huge burly men sprinting and crashing into one another pulling off epic plays. And after thoroughly understanding the schematics of the game, the positions, the plays, the challenges and obstacles...I get it. I've wrapped my head around it and understand it through and through.

But come on people--it certainly isn't soccer (the original 'football' by the way).

My associate Carl Pitts was not too happy I chose to write about this topic;

"Ew, hating on the nfl? Why its one of the most successful businesses in the country. So you are saying capitalism is bad? The NFL generates so much money for citites throughout the country that without there sports team they wouldnt have the capitol and funding that they have. It produces jobs in and out of the country. Every year it is the biggest sporting event to attend and watch on tv with the super bowl."

All valid points. And I know they give to charities, but still dig deeper, look at the longstanding effects of what sort of culture the NFL brings.
 

But trust me, I'm on board with the whole capitalism train, and I know it is the most watched sporting event on television every year. But let's break it down a little bit more:

The NFL is a sporting event that consists of 15 minute quarters. The game should ideally last 60 minutes right? WRONG. In stead it is a perfect representation of money gone amok.

Flags and arguments happen so periodically that this game of skill and technicalities turns into a three hour event. And why are they so long? Literally to cram product based commercials in between every break they get, and to encourage Americans to spend spend spend and buy buy buy. And I get it, my uncle John said it best; "The commercials help to not only employ ad-people, but the people who manufacture and sell the products," sure, but how much is too much?? I think NFL commercials exemplify that

I just don't understand the mentality of it, that's all. It enslaves millions of people for entire afternoons, and just encourages sleuth, gluttony, and bad manners. 

Again--I love good competition and talking shit about other teams in sports. But soccer for example is two 45minute halves, no TV time with commercials, no coaches challenging plays when they know clearly know their player is in the wrong. It bewilders me.

Over the years watching the sport, becoming accustomed through my best friends who live and die by it-- I just don't see the intelligence. These are players who don't seem the smartest take big hits damaging their brains and bodies, party, use steroids, demand higher pay checks, and why? So they can help fuel the growth of the NFL monster by promoting people to stay fat and be stupid.

And of course our grandparents grew up playing the sport, then it became popular in the 60s and really took off with television and what not. Then we grew up watching it with our parents (The babyboomers), and before it was too late to point it out to them, they're all ready hooked. They love the fact they can waste an entire day eating crappy food and filling their all ready obese bellies with beer. And then there's the stupid rowdiness!

Gen-Y, I think capitalism is great, I think America is fabulous and a key player in helping to lead the rest of the world. But we have to curtail this sport, how long it lasts, the complaining and whining of the coaches and team owners. We canNOT give them uncapped salaries and let them rob the country while never giving back to the community. Lets all push for players being drug free, not living too lavishly with their all ready over paid pay checks.

Lets try to strive for the good old days where it was all about sport and not glamor and fame. It was about unity and bringing hard competition to the table so that you could rant about your state's successes, but it's turned too violent and obscure for me. The talent is over sized, the pay is ludicrous, and we shouldn't be throwing money at entertainers who have even worse entertainment at their half time shows.

We should want them to be good role models for the kids and for our future generations. But we can't feed into the NFL bullshit. Don't even get me started on the MLB and how they take advantage of everybody-- with fat players who chew tobacco, shoot up roids and go on strike when they don't get paid enough--babies.

Soccer (the original football), basketball, and hockey though? Those are sports ladies and gents. Not just 3-5 hour televised programs controlled by conglomerates to feed off our obsessions to buy spend and watch their programs endlessly.


But still....be active, go play something this weekend!

Meditation for the Google Generation

I know I haven't written in about a week, but everything is very hectic in Boston--

 

Small things still bewilder me considering it is the 21st Century; like the process of switching car plates, insurance, and anything involving the DMV. I cannot believe the process isn't more seamless yet, I'm having to park four to five blocks away every day just to avoid getting a ticket since my resident parking sticker can't be given to me until my plates are switched, but I can't do that until I get a new license, but THAT can't happen until I get my RMV-1 form from Progressive, but they won't ship it to me until the USPS sends me a confirmation letter of address change.

WTF!--So anyways, my bad. I am going to stay on top of my writing game more often; there are still a plethora of topics to be discussed regularly on here.

For example; I've been informed Jersey Shore Season 3 started; are you joking MTV? Are you trying to stick your finger through our eyeball and into our brain so you can swirl it around and around and around....it's impending! And you are to blame.

But lets try to stay positive--for it is 2011, and a new year for new exciting progressive challenges. I have been keeping busy, networking, and really trying to be the most outstanding new Boston recruit ever. 

We lost in the playoffs--uh oh. The game wasn't nearly as entertaining as the fights that broke out between blacked out rival fans for the rest of the day.

But I've really been in my own bubble lately, focusing on today's topic which is meditation.

GenY would benefit from becoming more spiritually involved and focused on activities such as prayer. For most of my life I have associated prayer with Christianity and meditation with silent monks. But what I have begun to appreciate is using the power of prayer and verbal meditation, after all meditation often involves invoking or cultivating a feeling or internal state, such as compassion, or attending to a specific focal point.

It doesn't have to be about being quiet, but instead hoping for good things, knowing that if you do good things the best will follow. Being self aware and just always putting yourself in the most optimistic state as possible. Do not be afraid to go into the light and when mistakes are made, you just have to shrug them off and apologize. Whether this be to yourself, someone you hurt, or just aloud in hopes that somebody hears.

And this goes hand-in-hand with inspiration and having passion for what you want out of your life. A lot of us GenYers are in our 20s now, and this is a climactic time in our lives. We are more selfish with our time, focused on ourselves and our own growth,  and really driven by what makes us happiest.

But it is crucial for us to be spending our time wisely, paying attention to all signs, and acting on all opportunities. I make it an effort to shake at least three people's hands a day, introducing myself and asking questions; while listening attentively. Because you never know when the right person could be the right person.

NYTimes had an interesting post about faith in one's self to understand your true self of belonging and being. I just think it is important for all of us Millenials to step back for 5-10minutes each day, appreciate what has happened, take note of the things that stood out, and thank somebody for them--even if it is saying it aloud when you're driving or washing your face, or cooking dinner...WHENEVER!

I used to only associate prayer and meditation with religion, but it is more about internal spirituality and the understanding of what brings us to our state of eternal bliss. For being the generation all about buzzing technology, faster communication gadgets, instant gratification, having binge amounts of fun, spending money carelessly, buying always but seldom giving; we feel too entitled too much of the time.

My mentor in college taught me QTIP-- quit taking it personally. Don't focus on the mistakes and the bad parts of your day, just trek through and past those moments and remember the good. I even write down the 3 best parts of each day every night before bed. You'd be surprised how much it has helped me therapeutically. Meditate once and a while, out loud or to yourself quietly. Hoping for the best and telling yourself it will happen are some of the best things you can do each day. It zones you in and helps you focus.

GenY, have a great day and please just try to be the best person you can be in all facets of your life all the time. Always be helpful, sincere, and passionate about what you want and where you want to go.

-I'll focus on writing a lot more to you all, you're all incredible individuals. We are the smartest generation to date, we just haven't fully noticed it yet. It starts now.

~~Rob

Stupid 'celebrities' rob this Country Stupid ... thanks to us

I dont know which is worse; the attention our generation gives celebrities or the great lengths celebrities go to in order to ensure our guaranteed attention by lowering standards and contributing to dumbing down society.

Watching Lady Gaga perform like a heroin-addicted drag queen on stage is one thing, but then acting as if rhinestone hats and orange glow tans are cool is another. Either way-- all these detrimental factors are hurting us as a country. We look like a bunch of clown shoes not worthy of being worn by Bozo himself.

          And why do we encourage this behavior? Feeding into celebrity egos is a terrible thing to be doing. It creates trends that are trashy; ie: ten years ago we were all sagging our pants, now guys sag their underwear four inches below the bellybutton. Thanks to the Britneys and Lindsey Lohans of the 21st century I see children wearing shorts that have words across the backside, are you kidding me? What doped out sick parent lets their daughter wear flirtatious 'sex appeal' clothing when puberty hasn't even hit? These women are god-awful role models ... and are especially damaging to women.

This is fah-Q'd up ladies and gentlemen. These are drug addicted, strung out, unhappy, incredibly superficial human beings that we are fueling every time we watch their crap on TV. Literally YOUR attention makes them money (sometimes millions), they rob the country stupid...OUR country.

Reality TV stars aren't even worthy of being compared to movie stars who know how to act, but because the media posts them on their magazine covers, then we watch their shows out of boredom, they treat themselves as acting prodigies.

          So what does this say about us, the future of America, Generation Y? ... we're lowering our moral standards and being entertained by literally, actual, decrepit, losers. I don't care if watching that one reality show or reading that one celebrity Tweet is your guilty pleasure after a hard day's work. It makes them feel important--even news anchors feel like they're admired celebs because Americans give in to their egos through the tube.

Get over it, we're being challenged by the world now. Other countries pride themselves on knowledge, being smart, having strong iconic appeal. But this is what we enjoy now? Rock of Love buses, The Real Housewives of so and so, A Real Shot at Love, Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader, Jersey Shore, Jon and Kate Plus , come on!

I'm embarrassed to write about it here; I think it's stupid that any body watches and wastes their time on these shows. It reflects nothing intellectual about yourself, you don't have to think (nor does it make you think), and it really subconsciously lowers your competitiveness. 

          Sure I loved jackass when it was the only type of show out there, but now people are doing idiotic stunts for attention everywhere we go; Internet stardom is the new sliced bread. Cell phones although useful and fun with all the gizmos they've got have made everyone a celebrity and made everyone an actor.

And I won't lie--I love Break.com once and a while. Short accidents caught on camera are hilarious and sometimes gut wrenching, but the ones people do just for the sake of doing it? I don't get it. We should look up to scholars, artists, successful business owners, revolutionizing engineers, comedians with witty material, effective teachers, politicians who don't skew the facts and truths. 

          Every time you watch that dumb show or pick up that idiotic magazine you put money into the pockets of twats, help rocket their ego to the top, and you ultimately contribute to society becoming a lesser competitive place. It's too easy to watch those shows, and it speaks volumes when such a large majority of folks do it. It subtly shifts what we consider accomplishments, and difficult tasks. It reflects poorly on strong work ethic.

I want to live in a smarter place, so switch on Discovery, or the History channel, or god for bid C-SPAN once and a while. Take initiative in learning new things that matter and can be put to good use. Don't give to individuals who literally give nothing back to society.

I call those people leeches.

Im ok with being immoral, if it is for the best!

Like stated before by my colleague and friend Robert Stephenson, we are in a world of quick fixes. From abortions to marriages, society today likes to answer their problems quickly and efficiently. The question, though, is why? Why do people feel the need to take the easy route in life? I think the answer is more than laziness or carelessness or selfishness. The answer is drawn from consequentialism, and consequentialism is a small stem from a larger flower. A flower that has blossomed around the minds of generation-Y without us even knowing it. This flower is utilitarianism.

Coming from an open utilitarian, it has influenced more of us in our thinking than we know. Utilitarianism is the ideology that the moral worth of an action is measured through its propensity to maximize utility, and the probability, not possibility, of the action to minimize negative utility. To further understand utilitarianism, you must understand that a utility is defined as pleasure or preference to happiness. Determining whether the action is moral and if it is worth its means of producing the result is thinking like a utilitarian. It will be easier to comprehend with a few examples.

The biggest act of utilitarianism in history is the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan at the end of World War II. While many debate that this force was unnecessary, it could have saved millions of American lives because the Japanese were in the process of finishing their own atomic bomb. What makes this act utilitarian is this: yes, we did kill thousands of Japanese civilians and caused a lot of collateral damage, yet at the same time, it ended any threat of the Japanese dropping their own bomb on us (i.e. it minimized negative utility). It also showed every country, yet the world, that throughout the history of “the bomb”, we are the only country that has been able to press that button, and that has its utilitarian effects as well. A very simple way of defining utilitarianism is the end justifies the means. If the end result was worth the means of producing that result, then it was worth it and inevitably utilitarian. The same is true today with social issues like abortion and divorce. Abortion is a very touchy topic because of the ties it has to religious thought and beliefs, yet some people believe that getting the abortion is best for them, their family, and maybe even the unborn child. This idea holds true for marriages and divorce as it does for conception and abortion.

Generation-Y is not just looking for the quick fix. We are smarter than that. We are the generation that is going to change this world. Not just through american politics or social issues. Not just through technology and social networks, yet through a new form of thinking. A form of thinking that allows for the betterment of a whole, instead of the well- being of an idea or moral belief. Abortion is a great example because of the argument as to whether it is moral or not. Utilitarians do not care about the morality of an idea or action as long as at the end of the day, the action maximized your pleasure and minimized your preference to happiness.

Utilitarians are perfect for generation-Y because I feel that our generation is becoming less and less moral and a little more open-minded and lenient towards things that were once considered immoral. This is the cause for the quick fixes of society. If you are not happy with your marriage and the only way to maximize your utility is to divorce, then

By all means sign that contract. If the only way to minimize your negative utility is to get an abortion (for whatever reason), then get an abortion. Do not do these things because you have the right to. Get a divorce or an abortion because in the end it was whats best for you, your partner, and the people around you, whether it was immoral or not.

Utilitarianism is the new in. It is the new form of thinking. It is the new process of elimination. It is the new way of reaching decisions. Generation-Y is not lazy or careless. We actually care more now than we did in the past. We care about our well-being, your well-being, and his/her well-being. Utilitarianism allows us to make decisions , moral or immoral, with the attempt to make your life and everyone elses' around you better by maximizing pleasure and minimizing your negative pursuit of happiness.

Whether shunned or stared, immoral or moral, in the end maximize your pleasure,

Generation-Y’s first utilitarian,

Carl D. Pitts

the Freshest city and state Of them All

[Still developing my blog writing style, any tips or pointers are always much appreciated]

Hello Friend and Happy Saturday,

I don't want this blog to turn into nagging and nitpicking on America. Essentially that is what I want it to be about; pointing out flaws, helping curtail bad habits, while encouraging self improvement amongst all Generation-Y'ers. Because we do need to step it up--that's a fact. (I don't need the Real Housewives or Ryan Seacrest to tell me that .)

So in the spirit of Loving the weekends (especially Saturdays) I thought maybe I can try to write a more tapered, toned down, light hearted blog for the sake of everybody not wanting to read a bunch of whining and pouting constantly.

I've lived in Boston for six weeks now, and I couldn't imagine a better place to be living or growing into my mid to late 20s. I have never been happier (and no...this is not an exaggeration).

             The city has not let me down once, not a once ! I've lived in a few very uniquely different locations in my life (Luxembourg until 14, Rochester NY until 18, Tampa FL until 22), and I am finding out that this is the most beautiful place in the United States; from the people, to the mind state, to the conversations I have daily with new acquaintances, all the way to how gracious everybody I come across is.

          Believe it or not time is one of the most important things you can give somebody; and here I anticipate meeting new friends every day (even as I am writing, I can't wait to go walk around the block and run an errand or two). Not a lot of communities are as generous with sharing their time as people in Boston, and trust me-- time is one of the most valuable things you can give somebody. It encapsulates everything positive in a relationship; learning, dialoguing, advancing the friendship, progression, finding out new things about yourself, making connections, laughter, the list goes on forever. Without giving people the time of day you put up a wall and immediately could be missing out on opportunities and chances of a lifetime.

          To me, the smartest people in the world and in history get where they are because they take the time to focus on communicating ideas properly; they give the time to find a similar vein of interest in all aspects of their daily routine.

People will tell you that you 'need to live in NYC', or they'll rave about the west coast and its' beauty (which I do not doubt). You'll run across those who rant and rave about the south, the mid west, but nothing quite compares to the people who live in Boston--Bostonians if you will.

I've traveled more than most, whether that be throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, or North America and central, but you will never...and I mean never find the close knit brotherhood that Boston has to offer.

I thought I wanted the hustle and bustle of New York City, but I have watched people grow up there, and it takes a type of personality to live there.You subconsciously choose to live places where your persona and goals most coincide. That's why being in Boston makes sense for a go getter, big dreaming, big fish little pond person like me.

          I don't plan on moving, I intend to stay here throughout my 20s and early 30s. I want to go to law school here, I want to create a network of smart and creative individuals here. If any real change is going to happen in America (not just Obama Change), that change will start here, and it begins with the roots; GenY. So over the course of the next couple of years I want to build my own community here full of friends who love challenges and understand the importance behind growing with the 21st Century, not in it.

This is the BEDROCK of America, this is where it all began (Need I dive in and delve into the details behind what I mean?) I need you young Gen-Y'ers to move here, and realize what an inspiring place Massachusetts is. It's eye opening, progressive, forward thinking, logical, passionate.

And sure you can make a home anywhere...obviously, home is what you make it. You'll always be able to create a new entourage of best friends, and you can always get to know the community on a first name basis. But I tell you ... you come here, and you won't want to go. The only reason I could imagine somebody not wanting to come here would be, "too many fucking Red Sox and Patriots fans", what a piss poor reason to not live in the smartest most open minded place in the country.

I urge you to give Boston a visit if you have not, there is very little hate here or anything wrong with the city. We agree on three key components; we have the best educational institutions in the country, we have the best sports teams, and we've got the best beers around. We stand by those like kith and kin.

No longer do I want to be considered anything but a Boston Boy from now on; a Boston Boy who has been around the world and back. Seen the country coast to coast and experienced people from everywhere in the world ( and I mean everywhere ).

I hope this had irked you to want to come for a visit ... and stay a while, come find me, we can dialogue about your hopes and dreams for hours , I'll always promise to give you the time.

Enjoy the night and quiet Sunday,

Rob

keeping Marriages Fresh baby--that's what it's all about

I don't know about your individual hands-on experience with divorce, nor do I know much about the actual divorcing process. I've had best friends with parents in the middle of their divorce, the start of their divorce, and closing the end of their divorce. As a sideline spectator, I've learned that they are a detrimental thing in society. 

          However, in retrospect at this age it might not be something people our age can fully wrap their heads around or fully comprehend, so I try not to be too quick to judge.

What I do know (as most people do) is that we lead the world in divorce rates. (really look at the countries we are above, sort of 'whack' isn't it?) Everybody in the actual divorcing process seems determined to exculpate themselves of the sequence of events happening.             

          And what do we see in the media and 'Star' magazines? These 'appealing icons' constantly switching spouses, getting married, getting divorced, and for some reason it is of interest to communities nationwide (otherwise these magazines wouldn't fly off the shelves).

I've read articles that blame the Book of Face for contributing to couples getting divorced, which might seem like an easy scapegoat for blame, but it sort of makes sense. It makes it easier to reach out and rekindle old flames, you can easily hide secret messages, and the beeline communication to past loves is seamless; accompanied with automatic almost immediate results (physical pleasure, the thing that officially constitutes the cheating).

Then we have other celebrities (lets use T-Woods for example) who use technology to shield their promiscuity. Text messages, picture messages, the list seems endless. And what did he really do that for?-- Because he wanted to have sex with multiple partners, that shouldn't be a reason to cheat, if anything that is more of a reason not to get married. 

If you're not going to be monogamous then that might be the last sign before proposing where you should step back and reflect; 'maybe I'm not ready for the big leap into marriage'. It's all right to have those thoughts, but to simply hide them, get caught later, then blame it on 'sex addiction' is again; a pathetic excuse for a way out of a tight spot.

Looking at this from the standpoint of a single organism, in America by accepting these high divorce rates, by reading about 'iconic celebrities'  changing partners so frequently it begins to speak volumes about where our mind set is: "Divorce is all right, not everybody is happy, that's why change is good. Divorcing is just like breaking up in high school." WRONG! fucking WRONG you idiots!!

By accepting it as a civilization, we are subconsciously normalizing it. It is organically growing in the roots of our generation, and growing with us as we mature into adults. We are saying it is okay to do that for individual happiness, when really divorce represents a damaging sequence of events. It is about breaking a bond, giving up, and is essentially the easy way out. 

           Think about it: thirty years from now do you want your kids to get divorced? And if you don't want kids ever, present the question hypothetically; would you want them to? 

           Don't you want to help strengthen family values and morale? Don't you love the idea of having strong ethics when it comes to relationships?

This isn't to say thousands if not tens of thousands of remarried couples made the right reason getting a divorce, but my argument is that as the largest Generation to date, we should be encouraging sacred bonds, monogamy, and not wanting to give up when times get tough. We live in a quick fix society--yes, but we shouldn't want a quick fix to a relationship problem. What a bunch of sissies we must look like to the rest of the happily married world!

Really pay attention the next time you're out in public running errands, signs of divorce are all over the place, subtly hidden, but they are there none the less.

On December 25th, 2010 my grandparents celebrated sixty years of solid marriage, and to be frank-- I can't fathom doing anything for sixty years consecutively. They have been together since they eloped at seventeen, and raised four children. My grandfather bent over backwards to work jobs across the country make it work, my grandmother gave up some of her dreams and passions to keep the family together.

          Divorce was frowned upon back then (as it should be today, [sorry for the reiteration] ).

When my family was toasting to them my grandmother gave three tips of advice that you had to live by to make a marriage work; 1) You have to understand and respect one anothers' boundaries. 2) You've got to be willing to forgive and say I'm sorry, because there are going to be a lot of sorry's in a marriage because as we all know, nobody knows what each new day will bring (whether it is good or bad). And most importantly, 3) you've got to want to make the marriage work. Nobody is going to do it for you, you have to do it yourself and you have got to want to do it together.

What I see when I look at them and the numbers of divorces today is the shift of responsibility. Nobody wants to take responsibility anymore; they want a fast solution to a difficult problem, even if that means giving in and getting a divorce six months into the marriage. What a narcissistic group of Millennials we've become, spoiled rotten brats.

          So gen-Y'ers, I don't necessarily advocate young marriages. To be honest, I don't think the ages 20-24 are appropriate ages to just run and get married. I've had too many close friends and family members hurt by their parents' selfish choices.

          Couples are quick to jump into it, wanting all the great benefits that come with marriage. However, on a mental level, between the ages 22 and 29 your values will change, you will grow and your priorities will differ. What you want is someone it just 'works' and 'flows' with, but don't go out searching for it now.

In a time where everything seems easier than ever and we have access to anything and everything with computers, we shouldn't want to just rush rush rush. Slow down...ease into marriage, let the one you love find you. If you did marry young and things are going great, more power to you, you're an exceptional case of a rarity in today's world.

Me--I only want to be married once just like my parents. I want to have all my ducks in a row and know exactly what I want from the ages of 30 to 60 before I do any serious commitment. If you're dating around right now, go ahead and ASK the person what is on their plan by 30, it never hurts to just ask and find out. I know I want kids one day, so it seems fruitless to talk to girls who don't; and to me that should be okay.

Just slow down, let it flow, and nature will take its' course. You don't want a divorce under your belt, and contributing to the number is just normalizing a negative and detrimental stigma.

-Its almost the weekend, go dialogue with somebody new today. learn about their life story even if it takes ten minutes out of your day.

lets hit the refresh button on Abortions

(as my blog form shapes I appreciate and enjoy constructive criticism, this week's goes out to my cousin Henry, a Graduate from the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism); "the easiest way to lose a reader is by belaboring a point," so I am working on tightening my posts.

There's always going to be two sides to everything-- it's what makes America the land of the free. you have the right to peacefully protest, you have the right to voice your opinion, you will always have a choice whether it's a good or bad one.

But there comes a time when simple common sense and facts should trump all.

The Economist had a very interesting article on abortions in America. It did the standard comparison of birth control use compared to other countries, and discussed how pro-lifers are battling a 30+ year old debate, and how pro-choicers can benefit from that.

The facts are present and clear; in America teens are having sex at the same average age as Europe and other countries ( I blame the media, 'sexy' entertainment magazines, and uninvolved parents, but that's another blog day ) . Conservatives are not happy about it, and thus, lobby billions of campaign dollars in trying to curtail teens from having sex and using birth control to help prevent pregnancy. In a weird twist of irony though, conservatives don't approve of BC because premarital sex for the most part is frowned upon (thanks to deep rooted ties to religion and longstanding American culture). 

At the same time, "our abortion rate is  about three times as high as that of Germany or the Netherlands and about double that of France." So what does this say about us as a country?

Kids are having sex at younger ages, they're having abortions, and if they aren't they are raising their baby at a time in their life when they probably aren't financially stable or fully matured into an adult. The third alternative is obviously they put the baby up for adoption, or their baby boomer parents take on the task of raising another child...pretty much as their own.

So it's 2011 now, and the two sides are still arguing over pro-life or pro-choice. In all honesty, it's fucking over my head that the American government and American people can't look at the common sense solutions;

We face the issue of over population EVERYDAY in this country, so why is it not all right for a young teenage girl with her entire life ahead of her to make the decision to have the baby aborted? Having a kid shouldn't be the climax in your life that turns you into an adult, you should have a baby when you are an adult, in a committed relationship, fully aware of the responsibilities that lay ahead as a parent.

A conservative or activist will argue that the baby is a baby at what's that word? ; fertilization? thppt** No, sorry, that just doesn't make sense at this time in life. It might be the sperm and egg starting the process, heck it might even be a fetus in a couple of weeks--but that doesn't change the fact that having the child and giving up your youth shouldn't be the 'punishment' of having premarital sex. Condoms break! Young lovers forget protection when caught up in the moment! Accidents happen!

So maybe it wasn't responsible for X to have sex with Y , but it all begins about knowing your kids, understanding boundaries, and communicating the proper messages. Like The Economist article clearly states, the only way to fully avoid pregnancy is to just keep your pants zipped! Abstinence is key (but unlikely). However, kids aren't going to do that, sex is everywhere now (the media, the entertainment business, television, MTV's Teen Mom for example, etc) , it's just too hard to keep adolescents' minds innocent now a days [sadly].

It doesn't make sense for teenagers who are having sex and getting pregnant to undergo the 9month process of having a baby when they aren't fiscally responsible or grown up enough to raise that child.

Overpopulating the world in a time when our demand cannot match our supply just seems like another way for pro-lifers to prevaricate the situation.


***And don't forget the crucial factor that stem cells come from the aborted fetuses' umbilical chord, which has proven evidence to helping a plethora of other fatal diseases, (but we'll touch base on embryonic stem cells another week).

Watch out for my next blog on why Gay marriage still isn't legal, the benefits of adoptions versus foster care, and sterilization; should it be considered by the American government? My verdict is yes.

Love, Robert

A not so Refreshing find

Have you ever witnessed something so tacky and putrid in person that it made you stop and ask yourself why that was happening? It doesn't have to be a huge event, or anything so eye popping that the entire community around you is gaped in awe-, but it could be as small as watching a hipster in Allston flick a cigarette butt on the ground when a trash can is clearly five feet from view.

I moved to Boston with the intent that it was a tolerant, liberal and forward-thinking city. And so far it is, I have no real qualms--but this past weekend I encountered my first dose of douchebaggery. I was running down Commonwealth Ave the other night, around 7pm in lime green pants (they are my favorite pair of sweats I own, Puma brand, so you know they're nice, very appropriate for any athlete to wear), and then as I run past a group of four clearly 'buzzing' meat heads, one of them had the audacity to yell out 'nice green pants faggot'.

I had to stop to turn and stare at the guy, because I didn't think that word was publicly used anymore, I thought that word had died long ago when everybody realized that words like that do nothing but project hate and develop a sense of hostility. Not only were these four clowns laughing and stumbling into a nearby bar, but they were no older than me; all dressed snazzy in their pea coats, Old Navy scarves, all the while laughing about the 'passerby er' they had just 'schooled'.

New Year's eve 2011 was an interesting one, downtown Boston was quite the scene for happy go luckys, well spirited individuals, and friendly go-getters. Come 2am it was time to find a taxi home, but apparently it was time for drunks to get rowdy. Now we all have seen drunken fights break out, typically in or after a bar night...but never had I witnessed groups of girls just wailing on one another.  I'm talking women, between the ages of 21 and 25 punching each other in the faces that hours earlier they had spent hours preparing for a night of socializing and meeting friends. It was a cluster fuck of girl on girl kicking, hair pulling, biting, and punching. All the while this is happening there wasn't one person (including my friends and I) getting involved to stop these girls from making the biggest mistakes of their New Year. But that wasn't what engulfed me with confusion, what floored me was the crowd of four or five guys around the rumble all taking video and pictures. 

These were all pretty girls, dolled up in what were probably brand new dresses, getting wailed on and arrested for something that could have been avoided had somebody stopped the escalation. 

But we don't live in a time like that anymore when men step in and do the stand-up thing. Instead people were literally taking video in hopes to post it on the book of face hours later to maybe gain as much popularity as Snooki getting punched by that English teacher. Again, Internet popularity seems to be the dream in this lifetime, quick exposure = quick success = money and power; that's the mindset at least.

In the morning my friends and I walked to get breakfast in Allston, reminisce about the night, and clear our heads of any blurry memories. Outside my building was what was still considered freshly laid vomit on my staircases and two broken beer bottles. What the fuck?!

The person obviously couldn't mark their territory on all of the hundreds of feet of grass three feet behind him, but they felt the need to smash two beer bottles next to it leaving me to pick up the pieces. I picked up the glass carefully as any good citizen would, and proceeded to walk to the brunchery...we walked five blocks without a single garbage can on a corner. I eventually turned into a CVS to use their reciprocal. On the entire walk we passed four mailboxes on street corners but not a single garbage can. It shocked me-- we are in the age of email, social media, and the Internet yet snail mail carriers are still on every block around here taking up the place of trash cans!

I know bar fights break out everywhere, I know there will always be bigots and arrogant nematodes yelling out slurs and other obscenities just to do it. And there will always be the occasional puke on sidewalk / broken glass smash. But I guess I just wasn't expecting such a forward thinking city with smart individuals to act in such a grotesque manner. 

When you break it down and put these scenarios in any other context in any other location the equation to embarrassment is still evident and the technology and mind set will still be there; people will video tape a fight on their phones in hopes of hitting YouTube stardom. Prejudice will run amok if we allow it to as a society and don't correct those individuals when they say offensive things ( I don't care how tipsy you are ). As for the garbage cans in Allston, I can't believe in the twenty-first century the city hasn't put any sort of garbage cans along the major streets yet still feel the need to keep things old school with USPS boxes. Where are the recycling bins? Where are the garbage cans drunks can throw their bottles out in? Cause I sure as hell don't want to be picking up people's glass weekly.

What a lot of this comes down to is the state of mind we are in now as young adults growing up. We act relentlessly in the most obscene of manners, and we fuel the fire every time we allow it to continue. Society aches for their own reality show, and feel if they can capture it they can maybe become it. But why do people still say racist things when we are growing up in one of the most highly diversified countries in the world? All it does is makes us look like uneducated white trash.

It is all about positive reinforcement, stepping in and telling your friends (as intoxicated as they might be) not to fight, or if your friend says something along the terms of 'fag' to correct him or her, don't let them just slide by with saying that because they're your BFF. And if you're going to litter a bottle (litterings never good, but if you're going to do it) just dont smash it in front of somebody's home.

Gen-Y come on...we all know it's our age demographic doing this. Step up to the plate, we are constantly being watched by people of other nationalities who are visitors or residents in our country; we shouldn't want to be egging on the tacky.

...it just isn't refreshing and it leaves a sour taste in my mouth and every other decent person's mouth. ( yah--that's what she said, no sense pointing that out, I wrote it deliberately ) ;-)

Ta-ta for now.

Back to the grind.

RS