David Takes On: The Holiday Season (again)

So here I sit. Another Christmas Eve. There really is something magical about this time of year. From the bells of the Salvation Army volunteers, to the jolly (albeit somewhat forced) laughter of mall Santas, to indeed the lights on the houses of the neighborhood, there's something to be said for this holiday. It's always been one of my favorites, even after becoming an atheist. Why? Because as far as I can tell, Jesus is not the reason for the season. This holiday was being celebrated well before the birth of Christ, and was not until well after his death that the Roman emperors could be persuaded to make his birthday an official holiday. Even then they had to tack it onto a pagan holiday, one people were already celebrating anyway. You may know it as The Winter Solstice.

Ridiculous religious ceremony aside, I still love this time of year. I could do without sanctimonious Christians trying to cram THE LORD into every little aspect of the season, but I guess I'll live. I love Christmas almost as much as Thanksgiving, as a matter of fact, because it reminds me that things are not all that bad, and there's much to be thankful for. It's a time to spend with one's family, enjoying company, catching up. It's a time to eat yourself stupid on Christmas ham or goose or turducken, or whatever it is that your family makes. It's a time to celebrate not the birth of Jesus, but instead the re-birth of our commitments to our family, friends, and loved ones.

Well, that's how I feel from where I sit. Far be it from me to tell you how to celebrate this day. I'll still sing the odd religious carol, I'll jingle my bells, I may even be cajoled into seeing a nativity play. But that's ok with me, because I'm secure in my ideals. I celebrate Christmas how I want, and you by all means will celebrate it however you want. I seem to remember making a point last year of people who couldn't stand to see the word "Christmas" anywhere. Those people are missing the point. Most Christians couldn't care less if a group of people don't believe in god. Of course, then you've got the fascist ultra-right who believes that anyone who so much as entertains the shadow of a doubt should be burnt at the stake as heretics. I would advise that you yourself, dear reader, be a little more moderate and understanding of people's beliefs.

A quick note to my Jewish friends: as an atheist, understand that I don't begrudge you anything either. Your way is an ancient one, but still not one with which I agree. But that also doesn't mean that I don't wish you anything but the best this Hannukah. Light your candles. Spin your dreidels. Eat matzoh and latke. I'd even come participate if you'd want.

I am reminded of a quote by Voltaire: "Sir, I may not agree with what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."

We should all be free to do and worship as we please, if that is our wont. Conversely, we should also be able to profess a disbelief and not be persecuted for it. Not that many atheists are, mind you, but we're still the most distrusted minority group in the US. That, I think, says something for religion. Especially for the religions that espouse harmony and brotherly love (I'm looking at you, Christianity).


Anyway, tangents aside, enjoy your holiday. I will certainly enjoy mine.

Consider yourself taken on (again!), Christmas.

David Takes On: His Brother

So you're probably wondering to yourself: "Where the hell have you been all these months?"

I submit to you, Gentle Reader, that I have been furthering my education.

So I'm sorry. Sue me.

I only took one class this semester. Friday nights and Saturdays for the last 4 months I have been training to become an EMT. An EMT-Basic, no less. I've decided to make good on my promise to myself to help people. In whatever way possible, I've wanted to make lives of my fellow citizens better.

But why EMS? Why not social work, or volunteering at an old folks home, or serving soup at a shelter?

Good question. I actually didn't ask myself that until just now, which I guess makes my answer all the more candid. I guess my brother had a lot to do with it. My older brother was an EMT when he was in college. When he told me he was doing it, I was proud. But I was so jealous. Why did he get all the good genes, I thought, when I got all the crap ones?

Of course, this was a long time ago, and I had a very skewed logic. He was better at a lot of things than I was. He still is. But I've found my own place in the world, or am finding it. Turns out you don't need all the good genes to be an EMT. :)

All that aside, throughout the years, regardless of the spats or misgivings about each other we've had, I have loved and admired my brother through it all. I've always wanted to be half the man he was. So when he told me that he was an EMT, it just kinda became lodged in my head. He was selfless. He was brave. He was putting his knowledge to good use. That's how it all looked to me. So when I came to a point in my life where I had to make a decision about what I wanted to do with life, his decision to be an EMT eventually guided my own.

My brother really is awesome. He's creative, rational, and most of all, smart. He has influenced a lot of my life. He's made me a lot of who I am today, and I would not have been half that without him. I've still got a lot to learn, and I'm glad every day that he has been able to teach me as much as he has, whether he knows it or not.

So consider yourself taken on, bro. I love you, man.

David Takes On: His New Hero(ine)

Check this story out:



It's a little dated, but it's a stark reminder of how small and petty some people can be. How can a religion claim to espouse unconditional love and tolerance, just to belittle and intimidate a teenage girl for what she doesn't believe?

It's stupid, and so is religion.

David Takes On: The Best Show On Television Today

Ladies and gentlemen:
I give you Metalocalypse.

I could spout on and on about how much I love this show. It's grotesque. It's hilarious. It's an amalgamation of everything metal. Pick up the DVDs, or download an episode or two on iTunes. You will not be disappointed.

David Takes On: Death

Death.

It's going to happen to you. Whether you like it or not, you, and everyone you've ever known and loved, is going to die.

It's not so much that we die, but how we die I think is what scares us the most.

The reason I mention this is because my grandmother is dying. I am watching her waste away before my eyes. She has cancer. It started in her breast, moved to her bones, and finally metastasized and spread to her lungs, liver, and kidneys. Her liver is shutting down. She's jaundiced. She is a pale shadow of her former exuberant self. It's made me think a lot about why we die, and when, and how.

I don't think it hurts to die, per se. It hurts a lot more to live. Grandma is comfortable, at least. She's on medication for any pain she has. And of these days very soon, she is going to fall asleep, and she won't wake up.

I've often wondered what happens we die. Anyone who ascribes to any major religion believes in an afterlife. Christians, Jews, and Muslims all have a heaven to go to, whether it's inhabited by the savior, your ancestors, or 72 Virginians (I still think Robin Williams had it right when he said that's what await martyrs in heaven... at least, that's what I like to think). But I think it's a lot more simple than that. Try to think back to before you were born. Back beyond your earliest memory. There's nothing there, is there? There's nothing to remember. And that's what I think death is like. It is literally nothing. It's not an infinite blackness, it's no paradise, there's no purgatory or limbo or hell or zombies to worry about. To fear death is to fear nothing. Because death is nothing.

So I'd like to reiterate this from an earlier post: be good to one another, because life is far too precious not to.

Consider yourself taken on, Death.

David Takes On: More Music!

You know already that I like a lot of things. I made a post a few weeks ago about music, and about how much I like that.

I have neglected to tell you, however, what kind of music I like, so I will render my preferences without further wordy ado.

Okay, maybe a little more ado. In addition to the sandwiches thing, I'm also going to try to keep you all updated on what I'm listening to lately. That said, let's begin:

Arch Enemy (Rise Of The Tyrant)Fuck yeah.

From the first track to the last, it's an ear-splitting, soul-crushing metal assault. Angela Gossow, lead singer and hot chick extraordinaire, doesn't let up with her guttural vocals. Forget Flyleaf. That chick has nothing on Ms. Gossow. Among the tracks that stand out for me are "Rise of The Tyrant", the first track, which I don't think has ever started off a metal album better in my opinion. Arch Enemy toss you to the metal wolves right from the start. Other ass-whomping tracks include "The Last Enemy", which is so high-adrenalin I wanna throw myself out of an airplane or fight an alligator. Also of note is the single, "Revolution Begins", which does not disappoint in its ability to get your blood boiling. That's what I've always loved about good metal. There's just a way it gets inside you and pumps you up. This album is one of my new Island Albums, as in, I'm not getting stranded on a desert island without it.

Ted Nugent - Great White Buffalo (Double Live Gonzo!)

File photo.

I gotta say, this song is another one of those that just get your mojo working. Yes, Ted Nugent is a Republican, yes, he's kind of a geezer now, and yes, goddamn it, yes, for the last time, he was in Damn Yankees. Also, I hear he's crazy. But in a fun "holy shit what's he gonna do next" type of way. At any rate, this song is awesome. It has the hookiest riff I think I've ever heard. It's so memorable and upbeat that it never fails to put a smile on my face. Plus, it's about buffalo. A Great White Buffalo, to be exact. A Great White Buffalo that whomps ass and takes names. Yes, yes, double yes. I believe I have met my "yeses in a blog post" quota for the day, yes?

Cake (Discography)No, wait...

Look, it's not the picture that's important. This band fucking rocks. There's really no Cake song I don't like. It's quirky, eclectic, and sometimes it scares the shit out of me, but all in all, it's just good music. I like to play a little game when listening to Cake: every time the singer says "Alllll right", "awwww no", or "awwwww yeah", take a shot. I guarantee you will be dead before you finish the whole album. But that's just flavor, and it's just plain fun to listen to. Check them out on Pandora.com, which is a great site (if you haven't heard of it, you must be living under the roots of the majestic Banyan tree somewhere) for getting into new music. It's like internet radio that doesn't suck. In conclusion, Cake is better than your grandma, and I don't care how many cookies she bakes, and what their quality is like. Cake is softer, chewier, chocolaty-er, and has more macadamia nuts than your old bag of a Nanna. So there.


And there it is. More to come, I am sure, so keep it dialed right here for all your "What the hell is David up to" nonsense.

Consider yourself taken on, music I listen to.

David Takes On: The Best Post Ever

My god, how could I have been so stupid?

How could I have let this slide through the cracks?

Listen, people: you know what I love, more than atheism, America, and RickRolling?

Sandwiches.

Let's begin! For starters, I just had an Amazing Brainstorm™, and probably ate the most delicious sandwich I've ever put in my mouth.

The Chicken Fajita Sandwich (more or less):

Two slices of bread (your choice, really. I used 7-Grain Whole Wheat and was pleasantly surprised, though I think Sourdough might have been a good decision too)
Roughly 3 oz. pre-cooked fajita chicken meat (I used Tyson)
A healthy handful of shredded cheese (I used Cheddar, as I had nothing milder, still came out good)
1/8 onion, diced (but not too small. Keep those chunks in there)
2 oz. canned green chile

So I put everything into a bowl, first off, and hucked it into a pan at medium/low heat. This was a bit of a mistake, since the cheese started to melt FUCKING IMMEDIATELY and the chicken had barely any time to warm up. So, we can make the reasonable conclusion that we should warm the chicken first, then throw everything else in. After that, stir the concotion about until everything is mixed up in everything else, then remove it from heat. Stir it so the cheese doesn't solidify on you, then put that masterpiece between the slices of bread. Next time, I'm going to toast the bread as I warm the chicken, so everything dovetails a little better.

Makes one totally awesome sandwich.

Seriously, I am a goddamned culinary genius. The sandwich possibilities are limitless. I will totally post more as I get around to making them.