Oh Look, I Have Some Change

Try the updated Blogger interface? Pshaw...

Hey there, classmates.

The new Blogger dashboard colors are Orange, White and disgusting.

That's my personal opinion, at least.

I realize it's been there for a while, so you're probably asking yourself: "Why does he address this NOW?"

I've got a good answer to that one.

I logged on to Blogger today wondering what in the world I was going to post about today. I was then, and suddenly, annoyed by the "Try the updated Blogger interface" link that pooped up at the top. I'm a firm believer that Blogger is fine JUST the way it is. Why is this? Well I'll explain it like this:

When one thing stays the same for a long time, and your mind gets used to it -- gets comfortable with it -- then when something or someone tries to change it to the way THEY think is best you naturally get very, very annoyed.

So what is change?

I'll stop here and state that someone needs to make a theme song for my definition time. It's quite an important event.

Let's define it:

Change:

1.  to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone: to change one's name; to change one's opinion; to change the course of history.

2.

to transform or convert (usually followed by into ): The witch changed the prince into a toad.

3.

to substitute another or others for; exchange  for something else, usually of the same kind: She changed her shoes whenshe got home from the office.

4.

to give and take reciprocally; interchange: to change places with someone.

5.

to transfer from one (conveyance) to another: You'll have to change planes in Chicago.

"Pfft, dude, we know what change means."

Yea, I know. We all do. It happens every second of every day. Every time we breathe some minuscule thing changes.

So what's the big dealio with change, then?

Well it's a big deal when it, itself, is BIG. So when you breathe, the air changes. How will that affect you? It won't. Now you're brother who's been gone for more than a year moves back in to your cozy little nook of a home on the corner of Burgess and Marie and wants to change his lifestyle. Does this affect you? Big time. My cozy little home has suddenly changed. Everything I was comfortable with having to myself I am now uncomfortably sharing. It's annoying, it's frustrating and it's not fair!

Well, Mr. Jacob, life isn't fair sometimes. Sometimes you have to sacrifice or change things so that others can better themselves.

Who says? Who's gonna make me?

The answer to the second one is: Know one but yourself.

The answer to the first is: G-d says.

Sacrificing ourselves for others is something G-d rewards, and something you'll feel good about afterwards.

Change things for others, help them along at the expense of yourself, and you will be blessed.

Now here comes the big "book-tie-in".

Sherlock Holmes.

The Hound of the Baskervilles.

As I've not read very far into the book yet, I couldn't find anything to do research on. But listening to the story of the Baskervilles lineage... Well I'll give you two characters.

Sir Hugo Baskerville–This 17th-century Baskerville ancestor spawned the legend of the family curse. Sir Hugo had been the picture of aristocratic excess, drunkenness and debauchery until, one night, he was reputedly killed near Baskerville Hall, in the wilds of Dartmoor, by a demonic hound sent to punish his wickedness.

Sir Charles Baskerville–The former lord of the manor of the Baskerville estates in Devon, Sir Charles was a superstitious bachelor in waning health. Long terrified by the Baskerville legend, his footprints show that he must have been fleeing from something at the time of his recent death in the grounds of Baskerville Hall. Furthermore, the paw-prints of a large dog marked the soil near his corpse. Sir Charles had been a philanthropist. His enlightened plans to invest funds in the isolated district surrounding Baskerville Hall prompts his heir, Sir Henry, to want to move there and continue his uncle's good works.

Sir Hugo's description is very well.. descriptive. He was a wicked man, lead by his emotions so far as to bring this "curse" upon his family's lineage.

Sir Charles' doesn't really describe him as well as they do in the book. He was constantly scared that the curse would be brought onto him by the wicked acts of his ancestor. Therefore he swore to do right. He was an honest business man, a friendly host, and was constantly giving great sums of his wealth to charities.

Sir Charles' example, though one formed on his cowardice, still stands firm amongst the ranks of others. Can you changing your ways, going against the evil of your ancestors, change your curse into a blessing? Indeed, it can.

So, in hindsight, maybe I should give Blogger's new layout a chance. Who knows, maybe it needs it.

As always, your host,

Knowing Your Enemy

Why thank you, Mr. Grant...

Hey there, classmates.

It's been a while.

I just haven't felt like blogging much lately.

There were two reasons for this:

1. Life.

2. er.. laziness.

Life is consuming -- it's meant to be.

It IS after all your life.

And one of the biggest enemies of someone's life is laziness.

Speaking of enemies, that's what today's post is about.

Here comes the big in-post title text!

Knowing Your Enemies

Phew, that's a big title!

What is an enemy?

Let's define it.

Enemy:

1. a person who feels hatred for, fosters harmful designs against, or engages in antagonistic activities against another; an adversary or opponent.

2.

an armed foe; an opposing military force: The army attacked the enemy at dawn.

3.

a hostile nation or state.

4.

a citizen of such a state.

5.

enemies, persons, nations, etc., that are hostile to one another: Let's make up and stop being enemies.

Some dandy definitions.

In fact, the book I've been reading recently -- Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant -- is all about war and enemies. One thing he suggests during war is to Know Your Enemies. Wise man, but if you think he meant just on the battlefield or against a bully at school then you're sorely mistaken. He definitely meant both of those, but sometimes we fight even bigger battles inside ourselves. So should we know the enemies that are raging war within us? Precisely.   

So as an example, let me speak of one of the enemies inside of myself.

One of my greatest enemies is a big, ugly man named General Lazy the Couch-potato. To shorten his name, we'll call him General Lazy. It's not a bad thing to lose interest. It's a bad thing to lose interest out of laziness. As soon as I gave in to General Lazy's demands, I found that I'd lost interest entirely in blogging. It didn't happen the very day I felt too lazy to blog. No it happened after a few weeks of me feeling too lazy to blog.

No excuses for me there, eh?

Well, I found him out. I found his weakness. I knew what he was. General Lazy is very weak to something called "do-it-anyhow". And so I did it, I blogged, and here it is -- it feels great!

I'd then, of course, love to say that I took this secret weapon and utterly eradicated General Lazy and his armies of laziness... But I didn't. Sure, I found a way to fight him, but I remain fighting him every single day. Yet, as surely as I'll remain fighting, it will get easier to fight him every day. Boy, how my invincible foe will be laughed at then!

So what's the enemy inside you?

Tell me in the comment section below.

And be honest, as I was with you.

As always, your host,