I have some sort of Native American in my family on my mom’s side. Her cousin has taken it upon himself to research the family. I recently asked him what he knew and unfortunately he didn’t know much. It was one of my grandfathers - great great or great great great. It turns out that they listed themselves as white on the census. He has the names but doesn’t know which one was full blooded. He also can’t find the tribe.
I say all that to say that part of me is disappointed that I don’t know more but your stories make me think I’m better off where I am.
That’s the sad part, and often what people who hear stuff end up feeling like. It’s definitely a very rough situation.
I read this book called Mansfield’s Book of Manly Men by Stephen Mansfield when I was in high school. I don’t remember everything about it but he was discussing the topic of masculinity from a Christian point of view, and in the beginning, he talked about how traditionally, just about all people groups have had ceremonies/rituals/etc. that made it very obvious when a boy became a man. This has largely been lost in today’s world, at least amongst Westerners, or probably any non-primitive people group.
He believed that this disappearance of clear confirmation that you were a man and had a man’s responsibilities are a big reason why so many guys suck these days. I agree with him, and I think it’s a big reason why so many Natives are doing poorly. Sooner or later, they probably would’ve become modernized like everyone else, but before they had a chance for that, everything was taken from them. Within a few generations, the men were no longer able to do any of the things that they’d been raised to do for centuries. I just think that really f*cked with them and made most members of that race feel very lost.
None of that’s probably new info for you but I just find it interesting. If I was a better writer I’d love to write a book about the history of Natives. Not all, since that’s a thousand years and technically two continents of about a thousand tribes to cover, but of the past, say 200 years and some Midwestern tribes. So much to learn just in that little bunch, and just from your example, so much that’s been lost.
Don’t completely write us off though, haha. Indian tacos - regular taco ingredients with frybread instead of a tortilla are amazing. You gotta get god frybread though - I see stands selling it at fairs in the area but I don’t know what other places are like. It’s also probably extremely unhealthy - basically just fried dough. So good though.
If you ever have the chance to make it to a pow wow, you should go. The dancing and outfits are fun to watch, and some of the singing/chanting/drums are, for lack of a less dramatic word, electrifying. Those Indians are good - the ones who really hold on to the old traditions tend to be doing better in life. I’m sure there’s some explanation there connected to what I wrote earlier - something to hold on to.
In other news, we found out this morning that my aunt died. A few days ago, my aunt’s largely absent, alcoholic bum of a father heard that the injured aunt’s sister had power of attorney and decided that he didn’t like that. Since he’s their father, the hospital chose to put him in charge of everything. His first step of action was to have my healthy aunt removed from the hospital and to not let her be in charge of anything. He went to see the injured aunt once for a couple hours, then left and never updated the family on everything or answered the hospital’s calls asking for permission for various surgeries and such. They called him all last night saying that the injured aunt’s vitals were doing badly, but he just never answered. So we’re not sure what time she actually died, but since he wouldn’t let anyone else be there, she died alone, which I think is hard on my family.
In a way I’m glad. She’s probably better off. A nurse told us she seemed to be talking to her mom. I think she would be glad to be with her again.
@Frank_C - catching up on your Back Work thread (I think it was your’s). Making me think. I know it’s not helpful but I’m always questions my approach and looking for the best way to do things, haha.
Found a website with a bunch of DIY ideas for gym equipment. Got an interesting reverse hyper idea on there that has me contemplating building it and selling mine, but I doubt a wooden one would work as well or be as comfortable.
Am thinking of building a log though, just for fun. Looks like it’d be less than $100.
Logs are great. My gym had one briefly, and I absolutely loved it. As much as I hate those, “if you could only do one exercise” questions, the log clean & press would possibly be the answer.
Hey @twojarslave, just wanted to get back to you. My sincere apologies for taking so long - I’ve been active on here but it’s been a while since I’ve felt like I’m in a good enough headspace to actually sit down and think. I do appreciate the time you took to reply to me and I hope I didn’t ignore you for too long.
OK, so I rewatched those videos.
Jotting down the questions here to remember:
1). Compared to what?
2). At what cost?
3). What hard-evidence do you have?
I think they do. I mean, they seem like something people should be asking themselves about almost anything, let alone big political decisions. For some reason, gun control came to my mind when trying to think of an issue that would go well with these questions.
To have guns vs. to not have guns.
What’s the cost of not having guns? (Or what’s the cost of having guns?)
What hard-evidence do you have that having guns is bad or that not having guns is bad?
And so on.
I think it’s interesting how he talks about conservatives being of the opinion that you must simply learn to tolerate certain evils and liberals wanting to essentially, rid themselves of said evils. (At least, that was my takeaway.)
I’d never thought about that before. And I suppose now that I’ve heard it, I can see what he means. With the current racial tension going on right now, the left is definitely becoming very extreme in wanting to get rid of any and all signs or remnants of racism, whereas the right had seemed fine with whatever was going on before. That second question is interesting here when given you look at this specific example - what is the cost of what the right is doing/wants to do, and what’s the cost of what the left is doing/wants to do? Hm.
(And I’m not choosing sides here, merely commentating on what I see. I think there are more issues in the country than some are willing to admit/recognize but I also think the current trend is going too far.)
I feel like I rambled a bit there but yes, I think those questions provide a good framework for questioning government policy.
@T3hPwnisher & @flappinit - No real comments on what you guys said to me, but I read the posts when you posted them, reread them now, and appreciate the time you both put into the responses. I will keep the info in mind - your perspectives are almost always helpful and intelligent.
It’s cool, you’re always welcome in my sporadic, very-rarely-mentioning-training training log.
In other news, life’s been okay. Definitely been better but I’m surviving. Feeling very down but given the recent loss, that’s expected. It’ll get better.
School starts in two weeks, and I’m excited for that. Taking some very fun sounding classes. I am a little bummed that the world is the way it is, because I think my classes will switch to online after a while and I just don’t like online classes, but that’s a very insignificant problem in the grand scheme of things.
I was handcuffed for the first time a week ago, haha. Some drunk driver and two passengers crashed their van into a parked car and fled the scene. I was driving in the same neighborhood as the crash, and picked up my cousin and his lady friend. We were parked, a cop drove by, saw us, and pulled in front of our car. I had been about to leave, so I put it in park, waited a minute, then a few more cop cars pulled up and surrounded us. Turned the car off, expecting to be there for a minute.
One of them used their speaker to tell the driver (me) to get out of the car with my hands in the air, then I had to walk backwards to the sound of their voice. Once I made it to them I was bent over the car, handcuffed and patted down. They then did the same to my two passengers.
I had zero clue what was going on, but then I started being asked if I’d been involved in the crash. I knew it had happened because I’d driven by and seen it, but hadn’t been anywhere near it when it happened and had no clue who had done it. After 10 minutes or so I was sent to sit on the curb (still handcuffed) while the cops discussed what was going on. I heard them saying witnesses saw Natives fleeing the car, and then the first one who pulled us over said he saw us (a group of Natives) in our car and I guess thought we might’ve been involved. Kinda pissed me off that we were detained because of bearing the very vague resemblance of being of the same race as the drunk people, but I don’t know. Maybe that’s standard.
The main thing that annoyed me was that a huge crowd had gathered and many people had their phones out and were taking pictures of us. Made us look like we’d done something wrong when we hadn’t. The pics spread pretty far too, haha. I don’t live in a tiny town but it’s not that big either, so word travels and people know each other. A picture made it on to several people’s FB pages with captions like “I wonder what these idiots did?!” Oh well. I’m lucky that I’m already 20 and that’s just my first time. Hopefully it doesn’t happen more often as I get older.
As a cop, we sometimes get very little to work with. It might’ve seemed better to detain you and your passengers and then try to figure it out. The other option is to pass by and ignore your gut and then later find out you saw the suspects but didn’t stop them.
But, you just proved a very valuable point in today’s climate - relax, do what the cops say, and let it work itself out. Imagine if you’d argued, cussed, and refused? Different outcome.
@T3hPwnisher - I’m about to make an unexpected 10 hour drive. If I remember correctly, you’re a fan of some energy drinks. Any recommendations? I’ve never used energy drinks or coffee to stay awake but I might need to tonight.
If you’ve ever had one before, you most likely aren’t going to need anything too hardcore. Monster is one of the lowest caffeine mainstream energy drinks out there with 160mg of caffeine per can. Compare that to 240mg in a Rockstar and 300mg in a Bang/Reign. I’d go with a Monster if you’re not a regular caffeine consumer: no need to go super duper heavy into it.
I only ever drink the zero sugar ones. If you get the original monster zero sugar, I find it has a cough syrup like flavor. Reminds me of dymatap. It’s nice because it’s bitter enough you’ll drink it slowly, but if you want something that tastes decent, purple is solid. It’s like a grape soda.
Xyience is pretty tasty and it has 160mg of caffeine. All is their flavors are clear. I find that the red and purple drinks by Monster taste like fake sugar. Too be fair, it is, but some taste better than others. Some just taste like chemicals.
Not a problem. These are weird times for everybody.
@T3hPwnisher - went with the purple zero sugar Monster. Drank almost two of them throughout the drive, felt pretty good until the end when I’d actually been awake for 24+ hours. Downside is that I actually really liked it, and I don’t need another food/beverage to spend money on, haha.
They’re stupidly addicting. Glad it worked out for what you needed though. As a soon to be new dad, they may become your new friend. I went through undergrad AND my masters having never touched the stuff, but once I became a dad it was over.
Coffee. It’s an acquired taste but the early effects helped me achieve that. I now drink at least 30 ounces of the stuff every day. If I’m at home, I’ll have two cups that are about 16 oz. If I’m at work, I’ll have at least two cups that are labeled 24 oz. It’s just normal to me.
