Marylou Lenhart

Whether you believe it was created by a higher power, or it evolved from nothing, I think that one cannot deny that the Earth, and maybe the whole universe, is a perfect ecosystem that works and evolves and lives without the need for intervention. Even if you believe it was created, God does not need to come in every day and tweak the oxygen levels in the stratosphere. He made a perfect creation and it works because He set it up to do so on its own.

I digress.

If we don't agree the Earth's ecosystem is self-sufficient, we shall save that for another discussion. Let's assume this is true.

If we can say it is self-sufficient, we can kind of see it as a living organism. A very large one. And as per the typical MO of all living organisms, its default function is to Survive. And it is doing rather well so far.

However.

What happens when an organism enters your body and begins to wreak havoc? Generally, your body fights the shit out of that thing. It's called your immune system.

I like to think the Earth has its own immune system. It has a homeostasis state of sorts, and its goal is to constantly maintain it. Why? Well, some people like to think that the Earth was created for humans, so its job is to stay in a state that will sustain life. And I ask those people to please re-read more carefully that book they hold so dear. It doesn't say that. It says we are caretakers of the Earth. The Earth is a caretaker of no one and nothing.

So regardless of one's beliefs or lack thereof, our goal, as organisms in this fine universe, should probably be in line with that of the Earth's: to Survive.

I worry about our species because it seems we have completely forgotten our role on this world. Whether you believe we are caretakers because God said so, or because if we don't take care of the Earth, we will not Survive, it is incredibly ignorant to think that a species that has come in and covered a good portion of the Earth's surface doesn't have a significant impact on its ecosystem. You'll notice that most other species' on this planet contribute to the bigger picture in a significant way.

And please remember: the Earth's ecosystem? Is our ecosystem.

What happens when the Earth begins the retaliate? And if that sounds like good Science Fiction, I remind you that most Science Fiction comes true eventually. There are these ants that seem to be trying to kill all our crops and infest the entire country. Then of course, there's AIDS. An STD that breaks down the immune system until you eventually die from something else. So not only does it deter us from mating, it breaks down our major biological mode of survival.

Maybe I'm just paranoid. But it doesn't mean I'm wrong. The biggest ailment of the Human Condition is Ego. Selfishness. Greed. Pride. I think that perhaps we should each stop for a moment each day and remember just how insignificant we are. We could benefit from quite a bit of humility these days.

Our goal needs to be to have consideration for our impact not just on each other, but on our environment.

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For my career, as well as a hobby, I am a computer programmer. It is a field in which I am able to create something out of nothing. It's pretty awesome.

It involves a lot of creativity (if you're doing it right), and fields that require that also yield to the ups and downs of an artistic temperament. Sometimes I don't feel inspired to create. Sometimes I feel so inspired to create that I will not sleep for 2 days, constantly working on a project until it is completed. Cool, huh? While this is not exactly a schedule that fits into the confines of Corporate America, lots of people try to make it do just that. But that's for another blog post.

One really interesting thing I've discovered lately is that when I'm in a slump, be it because I'm stuck on a problem I'm trying to solve or I'm just not inspired to think about it, I find that the first thing I want to do is talk to somebody. They always said back in school that it's always best to get another set of eyes to look at what you're doing, because after staring at code for hours, you're bound to miss something. However, what usually ends up happening is that while somebody else is watching me, I show them the problem I'm having, and then I solve it in my head before they have a chance to process what I said. I just needed somebody around so I could voice my problem. It's as though I needed to speak out, as though speaking it draws it out of my body, lays it out onto an imaginary white board in thin air, and suddenly I see it differently.

Or maybe there's something about communication with other people that makes things click in our brain.

I like to think that the reason I'm anywhere near as smart as I am is because I hang out with smart people. You can't learn anything if you stay with people who don't challenge your brain. Not to mention that we, as humans, just don't work correctly without being around each other. If you haven't noticed, when large groups of people, or even small groups of people, gather together and try to solve a problem, you have some of the most interesting and innovative solutions that arise. The more we communicate and discuss together, the more we are able to recognize creative solutions, and find ways to employ them. This of course requires very effective and diplomatic communication skills, and that, we learn with time.

Very Good Real Life Example

Your brain is a muscle, and it needs to be used. What better way to use it than to solve problems? What better way to learn than with others?

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I heard this rumor that they're taking Cap'n Crunch cereal off the market. "Who are these fiends taking away that delicious sweetened oat from my daily routine?" one might ask. I, as well, find this reality a very cruel and unusual one.

Sure, Cap'n Crunch is the most painful cereal on the market. It rips up the top of your mouth similar to the results of a cheese grater. So much sugar exudes from it while in milk that the spoon is left with a film, not to mention your teeth.

But it builds character.

All they would have to do is put it into a smoother shape so it doesn't feel like you're eating a wood chipper.

But would it taste the same? No, because you wouldn't have that faint hint of blood to go along with that diabetes-flavored goodness.

So I suppose it's best this way. Leave us with fond memories of our favorite blood thirsty cereal, rather than try to sell us some cheap knock-off. It's best to quit cold turkey, anyway, right?

Cap'n Crunch: Making Vampires Out Of Your Children For Decades

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All my life, I had heard rumors and stories about how the McRib sandwich at McDonald's was ... something. Nobody ever said anything about it that was memorable, except that it was a rarity. When it was brought back into existence from time to time, there was an aura of excitement. It's been an intrigue and a mystery for the whole of my existence. So at 24 years of age, I finally decided to buckle down and go back to McDonald's after a months- or maybe years-long hiatus.

Why do I avoid McDonald's? Do I even need to answer that question?

I'm a self-proclaimed foodie. The worst kind, really. I know just enough to sound pretentious but not nearly enough to actually know what I'm talking about. In all honesty, I love food. I love cooking, and creating new things, and learning about the origins of certain foods. Some of my favorite genres of food include Mexican, Mediterranean, Middle-Eastern, and Indian; I'd like to start learning more about French cooking soon. I also love baking. And beer. And wine, although I know a lot more about beer. The list goes on. So there's an appreciation for food as a whole, but a pretentious air when it comes to actually eating food. Because I only eat good food.

However, I will give almost anything a chance. Even something I've never tried at McDonald's.

Confession: The final motivation, and possibly 80% of the motivation, was because they mentioned the McRib on How I Met Your Mother, the only half hour of TV I watch per week (not including Steelers and Penguins games).

So the journey began. I made mention of this quest to a coworker, so he decided to be the enabler (and order one himself). When we arrived, there were 2 lines ahead of us full of small, loud children. Suburbia Hell. However, the light at the end of the tunnel indicated there would be much rejoicing...

I just ordered the sandwich. I regret that a little. Why go to McDonald's if you aren't going to indulge in the fries?

Then, we made a stop at Starbucks on the way back to work. While we're at it, why not give even more of our hard earned cash to Corporate America? I already gave them my soul.

The ribbon cutting ceremony...

And then I ate it.

A lady always leaves something on her plate.

...

The Verdict
Well, guys. Honestly. I couldn't have expected anything different from McDonald's. Processed pork, pressed into a ribs-shaped patty, with very little taste. Barbeque sauce that probably consisted mostly of ketchup. And pickles. Pickles. on a Rib sandwich. What? Also, having had awesome pork ribs in the past - like real ribs; from Omaha Steaks for instance - made this all the more boring.

Am I disappointed? Not really. Not surprised at all. However, it was relatively anti-climactic.

Color me indifferent.

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I subscribe to Felicia Day's blog, because she's one of the few celebrity females who is both in the spotlight and respectable. She's a classy dame.

So I'm going to give her a bit of free advertising (not that she needs it) because I am to read and review her new comic book, which is based on her web series The Guild. The first issue just came out as an iPhone app (which I can get on my iPod because I still have a Verizon contract and I'm too poor to break it, so I am waiting for Verizon to magically acquire the iPhone </rant>) for 99 cents! I'm pretty excited.

I may have almost no real frame of reference or history in comic books, let alone reviews of them. But I like them. So I'm going to start. Right now.

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THE GUILD Issue #1

The Guild is a story about a girl named Cyd, probably in her mid to late 20s, who has a douche bag boyfriend, and is seeing a therapist because she just can't seem to get out of a depressed funk. She plays the oboe in an orchestra, and her boyfriend did too before he quit to join a crappy band. The plot begins with her first discovery of MMOs, where she is invigorated to find that she can completely reinvent herself in a new world online.

It's an intriguing plot, and you really care about the main character (who basically IS Felicia Day... and is therefore hot). And it's funny. And you wanna kind of hit her for dating a douche bag. The artwork is really clean and cool. It kind of reminds me of some old school Batman cartoons. Not too trying-to-look-real but not too cartoon-y either. And a good use of color. Like a really good use of color.

And you know what else is really cool? Reading it on my iPod. :) Although I may just straight up buy the second issue tomorrow. It will probably be a lot more than a dollar, though.
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