Monday Musings

North American Scum

Oh I don't know, I don't know, oh, where to begin
We are North Americans
And for those of you who still think we're from England
We're not, no.

Today's Give Away Sure-Signs I'm an American (from the Mid-Atlantic) in Copenhagen:

01. The weather hit 50F (10C. Danes don't do Fahrenheit.) and I broke out my Rainbows for the first time this year! Rachel is also wearing flips today. Hooray! Spring has sprung!

02. Upon seeing my flipflops, one of my colleagues asked "Aren't you cold?" To this I responded, "No. Rachel and I were laying out on my balcony in bikini tops yesterday." My colleague told me I am a viking. This, I knew.

03. On my way to to work today, I listened to Crime Mob's "In My White Tee." Remembering that I am wearing a white tee under my polo, I spent the entire bike ride thinking of things I could do in my white tee today and rap about later.

04. I brought a fresh tin of Old Bay to work to use on my lunches now and throughout the summer.

Other fun things:

01. Johnny Mathias is waiting not so patiently for skirt day and wondering about a possible College Park Secret Hot Girls Club. The Diamondback.

02. Some humor-lacking feminist wishes he wouldn't affront the female population of College Park with his blatant misogyny. Lame.

03. The Christian Science Monitor explores Ten things to do when your flight is canceled. Suspiciously absent: drink, yell at various airport staff, yell bomb in a crowded terminal, and spend copious amounts of money in duty free.

04. Stuff White People Like #96: New Balances. I own a pair. Figures, I'm white.

When you meet a person wearing New Balance shoes it is a good idea to ask them about the marathon for which they are inevitably training. If they say “I’m not training for a marathon,” this is a good opportunity to raise your status by saying “oh, I thought only runners wore those. My running club all wear New Balance except for a few jerks who won’t shut up about Asics. I’m still a bit sore from the 10k run this morning.”

This is an extremely effective move since white people who jog are generally viewed as being better than white people who don’t. Although perhaps it’s more accurately stated that white people who jog feel the need to constantly prove they are better than white people who don’t.

Well, obviously. :)

05. Google. define: atheist

"A person for whom the idea of god is senseless. Not to be confused with a person who hates (and neccessarily believes in the existence of) god." OR "Atheism entails the absence of belief in the existence of God or other deities. Absence of belief:*"Atheists are people who do not believe in a god or gods (or other immaterial beings), or who believe that these concepts are not meaningful. ..."

Google. define: oxymoron

"A paradox reduced to two words, usually in an adjective-noun ("eloquent silence") or adverb-adjective ("inertly strong")

Now see here: Atheists go to church too!!

Novak is part of the growing group of American atheists who have left traditional religions but still feel a desire to be part of a religious group... So they join religious organizations that are accepting of atheists, form churches just for atheists or even attend traditional theistic churches.

Also...

the Humanistic Judaism movement, made up of nontheistic synagogues, can be a way to participate in Jewish life while being honest about disbelief in God.

06. It's a good thing I'm registered as an Independent, because I like both gin and Chick-fil-a.