Archive of Bfine107’s Xanga

one pie, an IM, and some itunes action.

So from the looks of it I need to make one pie, send some IM’s podcast more and get my commenting to work on my other blog.

Took care of the commenting.  Apparently I’m not cool enough for Ajax at the moment.  Sorry about that folks.

As for the RSS feeds for podcast.

rnEDIT: Based on the interest in my podcast I did a bunch of switching around and fixed up my podcast RSS stuff a bit.

this is the RSS for Trying to Follow.  I’ll try to make thesernonly the well done worthwhile ones but that’s not saying much for theirrnquality:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/TryingToFollow

This is the ALL podcast option:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/AriahsThoughts
or you can try out Odeo

Tornadd those to iTunes just go to the Advanced tab on itunes and subscribernto podcast… or something like that and just copy it in.

peace.

how should I talk to you

Blogs aren’t for everybody.

The thing is I’ve used it as a form of communication with a number of friends, and I’m realizing it’s probably not the best way to communicate.

So, would you rather I:

1. Called you
2. Emailed you
3. Sent you a postcard
4. Commented on your blog
5. text messaged you
6. podcasted to you
7. baked you a pie
8. drove to your house to talk to you face to face
9. sent a pack of trained monkeys to do a song and dance routine for you.
10. IM you
11. OPTION FOR THOSE WHO DON’T like multiple choice!

Your limited to one (or maybe two) choices.

p.s. pray for Mindy, she hasn’t been getting much sleep.

Web design frenzy…

So, I got sort of carried away this weekend and started messing withrnsome web design stuff.  Basically a close friend (I won’t say anyrnnames Zach) made fun of my facebook profile (because I didn’t havernanything on it), and then he posted photos of his apartment on therernand didn’t even tell me!  I decided I must enter into the facebookrnworld, so I fixed up my profile. 

rnThen I figured while I was at it why not do up a myspace profile for anyone interested.
 
  And that’s when I ran across a new set up for my other blog which you might like.
 
Now I just have to change xanga.com/ariahfine and we should be rolling.

My other blog, now available for you Xangans

For those comment shy, internet lazy friends of mine, I’ve found a way to repost all my entries on to another xanga.

rnSay hello to: http://Xanga.com/AriahFine/

rnOnly subscribe if your okay with more then one post a day.

Random thoughts

I realize I’m not a good disciplinarian.  I gave three guysrnconsequences for inappropriate things, and they just were so pissed,rnand I was so upset that they where so disrespectful.  I justrnwanted to sit and work things out, but they weren’t hearing it.  Irndon’t know if my “let’s talk like two people” attitude worksrnhere.  The ones who seem to get the discipline are the staff whornare “do what I say or I’ll make your life miserable.”  Rough night.

rnI’m handing in that article tomorrow, thanks for all your helprnfolks.  I work Thanksgiving Day, which is fine, tough that thernguys have to be there and not home with family. 

rnI haven’t wanted to own a dog (cost too much), but we saw our friendsrndog the other day, adopted from the humane society, shivering timidrnbeyond belief (definitly seemed like she was abused) and I wanted torntake her home and just love on her.  That’s the first time Irnconsidered owning a dog.

rnStill trying to get my life in order, any suggestions?
rnAre we all really to busy to talk to one another?

200 word Sidebar, anyone else want to be in here?

Before you see thernsidebar, email me if you want to help edit my article.  I set itrnup online so you can make changes right on it. So email me if you’drnlike to lend a helping hand:
rnariahfine@gmail.com

rnWhat Others have to say about Extracurriculars:

rnKatlyn Dugan
rnTaylor University
“extracurriculars can keep you from apathy and they get you from talk to action.”
rnInvolved in:
rnEthical Debate Team
rn1on1 Child Mentoring
rnWorld Christian Fellowship
Acting on Aids

rnRichard Daley

“They both help us figure out who we are and shape who we will be in the future.”
rnInvolved in:
InterVarsity
rnGospel Choir
rnCarribeean Student Association

rnMorgan Levy
rnBelmont University
“i think it’s created my life. it’s breathed life into my life. butrnit’s just because i’m doing important things. i learned to care aboutrnthings and people. i learned what’s important and what’s not.”
rnInvolved in:
Hunger and Homelessness
rnThe Relevant Project
The ONE Campaign

rnEsther Lee
rnWheaton College
“The best part of it is that you meet amazing people who are passionaternabout similar things, which really rubs off and spurs you on to do evenrngreater things you could never accomplish by yourself.”
rnInvolved in:
Koinonia Asian Fellowship
Global Urban Perspectives
Student Global AIDS Campaign
Student Government

ROUGH DRAFT #2

So I had another go at it, thank you so much everyonernfor your thoughts and advice.  I think this one is a lot more me,rnand that’s all I should ever be isn’t it?  I think it’s a littlernmore coherent too.  I have to write a 200 word sidebar too and I’mrngoing to try and include quotes in there.  I could use somernfeedback on this one too, but I don’t have time to do any majorrnchanges.  It’s due on Wednesday, and then I have another onerncoming up after that.  It’s sort of fun when you actually finishrnone.

Not Just Another ‘Thing’ To Do: Shaping your future with extra-curriculars

rnTo Do List:
rnClean my Dorm Room
rnFinish my math homework
rnCall that girl from my Economics class
rnTake action against the Global AIDS crisis
rnBuy a clipboard for biology
rnDo laundry
rnWrite Philosophy paper
rnCall home (and ask for money)
rnRead my Bible

    30,000 children will die today from hunger andrnpreventable diseases. The AIDS Pandemic is ravaging entirerncountries. Racism still exist: on our campus, in our town, in ourrnnation, and across the globe. Many people, tonight, sleep onrnthe streets with out dinner in their bellies somewhere not far fromrnyour dorm room.  If you haven’t been exposed to situations likernthese yet, you more then likely will while in college; either in arnclassroom, a chapel or lecture series, or from some group handing outrnflyers or stationed at a table in the student center.  Thernpristine world that once was your life will be shattered, and you willrncome face to face with the needs of others.  Fortunately, you willrnfind that there are a number of clubs and organizations at your schoolrnfull of students with a desire to do exactly the same thing as you byrnresponding to the needs around them: Loving your neighbors.
    The importance of putting my awareness and faithrninto action, while in school wasn’t immediately clear to me.  Whenrnyour paying thousands of dollars a year for somebody to teach yournschool work should be a top priority.  That was my philosophyrncoming into college, and it was an attitude I kept the all the wayrnthrough.  I studied hard and did ALL my reading, not for the sakernof a grade (you’d believe me if you saw my gpa) or a scholarship, butrnbecause I wanted to change the world.

“What’s your major?” Is probably the most common question you’ll bernasked as you meet new people at school.  My reply was alwaysrnsomething like this:

“I’m just here to learn.”  It would always get a smile or a laughrnout of someone, and for the most part they were satisfied.  Somernwould pry deeper and I might tell them about my interest in Psychology,rnSociology, Missions and a whole bunch of other disciplines.  “Irnwant to change the world,” I would tell them, and if I had my way,rnthat’s what my diploma would have said.

rnFor the first two years of school pretty much the only thing I did wasrnschool work.  I played some Intermural sports and spent a lot ofrntime building relationships with friends, but I didn’t join any clubsrnor groups around campus.  It was all I could do to keep up on myrnschool work (I still can’t figure out why they let me into thatrnschool).  But at some point during my sophmore year somethingrnbecame quite clear to me.

rnI realized that if my focus really was to “change the world,” then whatrnwas I waiting for?  Was I hoping to find a course on the topic,rnlike World Changing 101?  I decide there was no better time tornbegin then now. With that, I began signing up for clubs that would bernworking towards the sorts of positive change in the world that I wantedrnto be a part of.

rnFor many students extra-curriculars go from being something they enjoyrnand are passionate about, to another thing on the “To Do” list thatrnthey endure because of obligation or for a future resume.  Sadlyrnthis is the way many people approach life.  There is no easy wayrnfor you to avoid this attitude, but it is essential that you do.  

rnMy suggestion is that you don’t immediately sign up for things whenrnthey are offered to you.  Don’t sign up for something because itrnwill “look good on your resume,” don’t sign up for something cause thatrncute boy from your english class is the group leader, don’t even signrnup for something because your parents say you should.  Wait andrnlet your involvement begin as issues and causes begin to pull at thernstrings of your heart and you are compelled to act upon thosernconvictions.  Our involvement should never be an obligation, butrnrather a response.  We respond to a loving God, who calls us tornlove others.  We respond to a faith that compels us to care forrnthose around us.  We respond because we can not remain silent orrnnaive to the needs in our world.

rnI am not saying you need to act and respond to everything, your notrngoing to be able to solve all the world’s problems by yourself. rnWhat I am saying though, is that as a Christian you should respond tornthose convictions that God puts in your life, and one beneficial andrnamazing way to do that is to get involved.  Extra-curriculars willrnallow you to join with others to broaden your perspective and changernthe world.

Writing Paranoia? Or how do I write for a Title?

Thanks for all of the feedback on the article.  I realize this isrnreally hard because the editor gave me the title FIRST.  I’vernnever had that before, and that was basically her only description ofrnwhat she wanted me to write, and so I’ve been writing for the title,rnand it’s tough.  I really do need to find better cohesion andrndecide what I really want to say.
rnI’m also a little paranoid cause this is going to be for a print issuernof something, that’s new territory and I’m nervous about what folksrnwill think, and I think I’m changing my writing style because of thatrnfear.  I’ll just have to stick to my guns a little more. 
rnI really appreciate those thoughts, harsh and to the point, it helps me be a better writer.

rnSometimes I think I’m fooling myself though.  Lately I’ve foundrnsome people writing some pretty good stuff, and I think, why do Irnbother, I should just promote what they say. 

rnMaybe this writing thing will be quite short lived.  Who knows.

rnariah.

I need to go to work ASAP, but could you help me?

Okay, it’s BAD, but I need some feedback.  I have a deadline forrnthis article in less then a week and I just CAN’T Write.  PLEASErnread this and give me some feedback, and folks that I quoted let mernknow if that’s okay, and if you have a personal story or quote thatrnwould fit in well let me know.

rnPlease tear this to shreds if need be I want it to be GOOD, not polite.

rnthanks!

rnAriah:

Not Just Another ‘Thing’ To Do: Shaping your future with extra-curriculars

rnTo Do List:
rnClean my Dorm Room
rnFinish my math homework
rnCall that girl from my Economics class
rnTake action against the Global AIDS crisis
rnBuy a clipboard for biology
rnDo laundry
rnWrite Philosophy paper
rnCall home (and ask for money)

rnWhen your paying thousands of dollars a year for somebody to teach you,rnyour school work and learning should be the first thing on yourrnmind.  That was my philosophy coming into college, and it was anrnattitude I kept the all the way through.  I didn’t study hard andrnfocus on academics for the sake of a grade, or a scholarship though, Irnhad a more important focus.

“What’s your major?” Is probably the most common question you’ll bernasked as you meet new people at school.  My reply was alwaysrnsomething like this:

“I’m majoring in Learning, with a focus on Changing the World.” rnIt would always get a smile or a laugh out of someone, and for the mostrnpart they were satisfied.  Some would pry deeper and I might tellrnthem about my interest in Psychology, Sociology, Missions and a wholernbunch of other disciplines. 

rnFor the first two years of school pretty much the only thing I did wasrnschool work.  I played some Intermural sports and spent a lot ofrntime building relationships with friends, but I didn’t join any clubsrnor groups around campus.  It was all I could do to keep up on myrnschool work (I still can’t figure out why they let me into thatrnschool).  But at some point during my sophmore year somethingrnbecame quite clear to me.

rnI realized that if my focus has really been to “change the world,” thenrnwhat am I waiting for?  Was I hoping to find a course on therntopic, like World Changing 101?  I decide there was no better timernto begin then now. With that, I began signing up for clubs that wouldrnbe working towards the sorts of positive change in the world that Irnwanted to be a part of.  Hopefully you’ll have an opportunity tornas well.

rnWhen you think about getting involved in some activities on yourrncollege campus, keep James’ word’s in your mind, “I will show you myrnfaith by what I do.”

rnKatlyn Dugan, at Taylor University, has found extracurriculars are arngood way to keep from being overwhelmed by the world’s problems andrnrather to respond to them, “extracurriculars can keep you from apathyrnand they get you from talk to action.”

rnThere are all sorts of reasons to sign up for extra-curricularrnactivities, from finding friends with similar interest to wanting tornspruce up your resume.  If your not careful though, yourrninvolvement in these extracurriculars becomes just another “to do,” andrnyour list looks like the one on this page.

rnRichard Daley got involved in a number of activities at his college onrnthe advice of his parents, and simply because he’d always been involvedrnin similar activities.  “They both help us figure out who we arernand shape who we will be in the future.” His involvement inrnInterVarsity in college truly did have an impact, because he is nowrnworking on staff with IV.

rnAt Belmont University, Morgan Levy has found that her involvement onrncampus has been life impacting, “i think it’s created my life. it’srnbreathed life into my life. but it’s just because i’m doing importantrnthings. i learned to care about things and people. i learned what’srnimportant and what’s not.”

(And then just a random other scratch thought that doesn’t fit):
rnExtra-curricular is a funny word, and it’s an interesting way to thinkrnabout things.  The extra makes the assumption that the main thingrnwe do is curricular, and anything other then that is consideredrnextra.  In a college setting I think that is a good way to putrnit.  In college I am a big advocate of the academic educationrnbeing first, but that is a story for another time.
rnThe truth is most Extra-curriculars are not and should not bern”extra-curriculars” for you, they should just be life.  As thernschool sees them they are in addition to what they do first, as you andrnI see them, they are just what we do.

rnFEEDBACK NOW PLEASE!
rnI know there is no coherency, or cohesion (what’s the right word!), andrnif you see some kind of good structure I could develop let me know, forrnnow it is what it is.

rnpeace.
rnariah.

Phone calls and personal emails are nice

So I’m still trying to figure out this xanga/email/phonecall/IMrnthing.  I think these technologies are amazing because they allowrnus to keep in touch with people we otherwise wouldn’t, simply becausernwe couldn’t.  From my other blog:

rnIt just wouldn’t be possible to do that ten years ago.  Regardlessrnof that being the case, we have this sort of apprehension to bloggingrntoo much.  When a comment is made, I’m tempted to stop posting asrnmuch.  But, honestly it takes about five minutes to post an entry,rnand then we have the wonderful opportunity of gaining insight into onernanothers lives.  I never used to write as much as I do, but Irnalways wanted too.  I used to journal for an hour or so a day,rnthoughts, ideas, prayers, etc.  Just cause I do a lot of writingrnon my computer doesn’t make it dorky, does it?  And I love that Irncan comment on your life.  Even an, “Amen” or “ha ha” let’s yournknow I’m listening. 
rnBut it’s not personal, this is often the case.  We talk out torneveryone, and no one in particular.  So, emails work great forrnthat, but nothing beats the intentionality of a phone call.  I’mrndone ranting, pass me your phone number in an email if you don’t thinkrnI have it, and I’ll do my best to give you a holla once in a while.