I am fancifully fascinated at the prospect of speaking French. In Africa. As a missionary.

The notion struck me today in chapel after Wilf Hildebrandt said "...And there is much need in those 12 French speaking countries". I had known before hand that there were French speaking countries in Africa, but the thought never occured to me that I could go there.

I had had thoughts about ministering in Quebec, as a French-speaking minister. But I quickly lost sight in it, mainly due to the fact that I still doubt myself as a minister. I still hang on to the plan of someday going back to highschool to teach.

Even so, just a phrase from some distant testimony can speak life into another dream. In Africa, there are endless possibilities. The idea that I can go somewhere, earn enough to support living, make endless friends and even family, all while doing God's will is just so incredibly joyous.

I imagine a 3-4 month trip, after junior year at Summit. Maybe I will teach? Maybe I will minister by music? Well... I sure hope not. How can western music be of any effect to an African audience?

Either way, this will need prayer, and there is a long time ahead of me. I wonder if this is another pipe-dream resembling Quebec, or if this is a mature, reasonable, attainable life-goal. All things through Jesus Christ are possible.

And to think I said to myself "Oh God, I hope I never go to Africa".

Isn't it strange how much easier it is to talk to girls when they talk to you first? Wow. I mean not all girls, only those girls that you're afraid to talk to for making a fool of yourself.

It's not even that you're afraid not to impress them. Not that your afraid to fail at gaining favour, but that you're afraid to lose favour. Yes, these girls are easier to speak to when they first speak to you.

On a seperate note: God works in mysterious ways. My Rejoice team has been swapped. I was playing with Tae, Dan, Andrew J, Geri, Erin and Natalie, a dream team really. Full of wonderful musicians, wonderful voices. And I show up (yesterday) to set up sound for the other team (which I asked not to do, because I need to sleep) and Dave says to me "We need to trade you to the other team beacuse the team you're on has no driver, and Steve is the second driver on the other team". Good reason to do it.

But what about breaking up me and Tae? We are TOGETHER. Drum and Bass clickage. I mean two musicians, one player. Go ahead and break us up!

So I practiced with the other team yesterday, then. And much to my suprise, I am playing with a lot of key musicians! Key vocalists! I will say this much: I feel less "glamourous" playing for this team. Maybe because pride is hurt? Well good then, there's no room for pride in worship music. But also, Todd is an amazing bassist. He says to me "If you get the song, I'll just lock into your bass." And he does just that! He's down with alternate rhythm (something he was staved of with other drummer) and he's far more flamboyant than Tae. I find him to be a bit off the beat at times, simply because he's too busy, but that is easily fixed. My team now consists of Chris, Julia, Todd, Melanie and Sarah. However there is already conflict and one member may be leaving.

*sigh* Rejoice. *sigh* Girls...

Rejoice is very important to me. Girls... not so much? Maybe so much.

Sleep is very impotent. Lately, it's very weak, lazy, not at all fun to have.

I have considered taking pills for this impotancy problem, but I am reluctant to become chemically dependant. Even though I'm promised a good time.

I wonder if the cure to this impotance is elongated exposure to stimulation. I find that if I can't sleep, maybe I should just stay awake.

So everyone: recognize the impotance of your sleep. Don't take it for granted.

...Oh, what? ImpoRtance...

Sleep deprivation: a second sign of insanity?

Andrew: It's good to have you here. Have trouble finding the place?

Mac: No, not really. But my "explorer" sure did.

A: Ouch, dude. (Chuckles) I see you're eating McDonald's at two in the morning...what up with that?

M: Well it's simple: I'm hungry, and it's late. This is the product of that combination. Personally, I sure wish it wasn't such low "quality" so close to bed time.

A: Understandably so. Now, Mac, you are reputed to claim to be ranDOMinion's #1 writer. How can you make such a claim??

M: See, Andrew, again, this is a simple matter. If you visit any of ranDOMinion's writer's profiles, and bothered to look at the "words written" count, it is made brutally obvious that by far I have written the most.

A: I did notice that six out of the last ten posts are yours. Also, I noticed that it has been a long time since some other members of ranDOMinion wrote stuff.

M: Yea, and I can almost hear Dave protesting now, "I just wrote stuff". But really, it was over a week ago. When they decide to care, they'll own up to their responsibility.

A: I would hope so. You've made several claims about upgrading the blog's graphical quality...Is this ever going to happen?

M: Well, simply put--ahh we are stuck on simplicity tonight--It is a matter of time. There is vision, and knowhow, just time needed.

A: Then why not quit wasting time writing in the blog and just renovate it instead?

M: Are you kidding me?! Ratings are down! Readers are distraught! I have to please the peoples!!!

A: You are obviously a strange man.

M: As are you.

My question today is: how can you claim a right way and wrong way to argue?

From a less-than-educated point of view, arguing seems to be at the very basis of human nature; things are one way and we don't like it, so we do what we can to change it. Sometimes we don't like what people think or believe, so we would challenge their thoughts and beliefs by arguing.

The purpose of arguing, I would dare say, is an attempt to do just that: change that which someone thinks or believes through a series of questions and statements geared towards aiming thoughts in a new (or old, depeding on perspective) direction. But since we do just this from such an early age, without any concept of right or wrong arguing, how can one arguer claim to be educated, and in posession of superior and correct arguing technique? A baby exits the womb knowing how to suck a nipple.

Even now, I imagine the educated arguer saying, "But because a baby knows to suck a nipple does not mean any human can or even wants to argue". This is only just because this educated arguer has been told that there a flaw in my statement. I totally presume it's true! They would be correct to say such a thing. The point is that they choose not to allow the thought some space; instead of allowing a presupposition to subside and allow a new thought in, they are taught to defend the new thought--change is the enemy, unless it's in someone else. For the sake of argument, they will bypass the effort of a painted picture for something that is cut bone dry. There is no will to expand.

One day, even I will have to succomb to the inevitable: one day I will have to leran the laws of philosophy and arguing. It is too much a shame, then, that now I would gladly learn the laws of philosophy only to turn around and use them to dispell the said worth of such laws.

If my point comes accross, and someone understands the thoughts and beliefs that I communicate, what more is needed? Only that which is superfluous to our society, and even in our daily conversation: right and wrong arguing.

ok so I just spent 20 minutes typing up the whole side panel of a Quaker Life cereal box, and then decided that it was way to much free promo advertising so I deleted, and here is my otherwise lame post.

*sigh*

They do taste rather good, though. And they'll keep me regular? Booya.

Life and Pepsi. Ahh, the college years.

On the side: I skipped pre-work nap to write this all up for you guys. Now I will be dead in Doctrine 1 tomorrow. Well not dead dead, but near dead. Definetly lethargic.

Heads up to Christine Mudryk, headin' out to Africa in 2 days! Have an awesome time! I'll be praying.

Crouch over and watch your hands and the controls, the heads-up display disappear. All that is in sight now is the small, effectiveless windshield, and a bright yellow line.

Twist your wrist a little harder, and watch the yellow line beat faster.

Lean the curve. Don't turn yourself, feel the turn. Feel the road. All you see is your body moving against the pavement, why should you believe anything otherwise?

Hear the whine go higher and higher as the yellow beats faster. You are one with the road. Eyes, ears, mind.

The only thing reminding you of reality is nothing but the four hundred pounds between your legs, the heart of what drives you. The bike. The grip that twists, the inertia pulling you up, forcing you to lean your corners.

But even so, that massive weight for a body weighing a third of that is nothing. Almost nothing enough to let you forget; that you're floating and flying on the roads.

Nothing like that four hundred pounds. Live to ride, ride to live.

Well... it's been a LONG time since anyone wrote here. Busy packing, busy moving, busy unpacking, busy dealing with crappy internet for a couple days. But afterall, ranDOMosity strikes again!

Being back at school is great, as anyone who is attending school may also know. I've unpacked and have begun my rigorous routine of not sleeping and doing things for people (I love helping!).

My PDA, or Dell Axim, more specifically, now functions as a completely learnable/compatable remote control. I am amazed. Am I doing my homework infront of the TV or am I randomly turning it off, for fun laugh at the expense of dire hockeyers? Only I will truly know. Haha!

I envision a future for ranDOMinion: one of electronic event planning and also of project discussion. If you will, please imagine a forum-like website available to discuss the latest due paper. Which topics? Good books? Tid bits? Rants, even? This is the proposed forum I have previously mentioned. Also, an event coming up in february called "Lanfest2k4" will need nerdy coverage. So I think since it's mostly nerds at SPC and nerds' friends that visit this site (thinking of fiancés and wiccan artists and RPCyouth folk) that coverage of such an event on such a site is an investment well invested.

Counterstrike is becoming reinstated in my list of games to play... :(