Myers Briggs

In High School I took a personality test and it told me that I was an ENTP. There, however, was a problem with the way that I took the test. I felt, in my infinite wisdom, that introverts had no friends. That did not seem to fit the role that I had defined for myself as a freshman, so I looked at the questions, figured out what the metrics were and how my answers fit me into a profile and manipulated the results to fit how I saw myself.

Up until about a year ago I would have classified myself as an extrovert. That was a miscalculation of epic proportions. I am, without a doubt, an introvert and proud of it. Kimmy has taught me that. So, with my new self realization I decided to take a Myers Briggs test again and this time answer based on my actual tendencies as opposed to how I perceive myself or how I think I should act.

I am, and I can say this with confidence, an INTP. After doing some research I have found that the following quotes taken from http://www.personalitypage.com/INTP.html fit me fairly well:

- see everything in terms of how it could be improved, or what it could be turned into.
- live in the world of theoretical possibilities.
- do not like to lead or control people.
- shy when it comes to meeting new people.
- very self-confident and gregarious around people they know well, or when discussing theories which they fully understand.
- their well thought-out understanding of an idea may not be easily understandable by others, but they are not naturally likely to tailor the truth so as to explain it in an understandable way to others.
- exhibit weakness in performing maintenance-type tasks, such as bill-paying and dressing appropriately.
- intensely interested in theory, and will put forth tremendous amounts of time and energy into finding a solution to a problem with has piqued their interest.
- may have a problem with self-aggrandizement and social rebellion (see the humbility article)
- very tolerant and flexible in most situations, unless one of their firmly held beliefs has been violated or challenged.
- if they do not realize the value of attending to other people's feelings, they may become overly critical and sarcastic with others.
- at their best when they can work on their theories independently

I was born like this. Any of the traits that do not apply to me can be attributed to, in this order, God, Kimmy, my family, my friends, baseball, and pharmacotherapy. The combination of all 6 has made me the man I am today.

Albums EVERYONE should own

In my mind there is a distinction between an album and a CD. A CD is a physical object, something created by a machine that contains some semblance of music. Quality of music can be debated etc.

Albums, on the other hand, are masterpiece CDs. Things that are so amazing that they cannot possibly be lumped in together with other music CDs and are almost transcendent in their quality. This list is not debatable, since anyone with an iota of music taste will agree with me on their quality, whether or not they agree as to their universal appeal is a fact to be debated. These are masterpieces and in no particular order.

1) Rage Against the Machine - Self Titled
2) Sufjan Stevens - Come On Feel the Illinoise!
3) Cake - Fashion Nugget
4) Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed
5) Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
6) The Beatles - White Album
7) Metallica - The Black Album
8) DC Talk - Jesus Freak
9) The Clash - London Calling
10) Elton John - Madman Across the Water
11) Lauryn Hill - Unplugged
12) Nirvana - Nevermind
13) System of a Down - Toxicity
14) Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
15) Dr. Dre - The Chronic (2001)
16) Sublime - Self Titled
17) AC/DC - Live
18) Black Sabbath - We Sold Our Soul For Rock and Roll
19) Beck - Odelay
20) Stevie Wonder - Innervisions

I may add more, but 20 seems like a good round number. Happy Shopping :)

I am a Levitical Socialist Objectivist Christian

I finished Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand a few weeks ago and I have finally figured out what it is about the book that fits in with my views of humanity, Christianity, and the world in which we live.

1) I believe that adding value to humanity is the highest goal a person can attain and that when one does add value to humanity, one is truly operating in the image of God.

2) I believe that it is every human's responsibility to create value in one way or another. That the creation of value does not show in our bank accounts but through the productiveness of the mind, spirit, and body that God gave to us. We are stewards of said attributes, and as stewards it is our obligation to use our mind, body, and spirit to further the cause of ourself and those around us.

3) I believe that God created every human being with the ability to create value in one way or another. There are no social parasites in the Kingdom of God because people who do not have the mental capacity to be productive add value through their display of Godly virtues. The giving and receiving of love, laughter, and care adds just as much value as does the production of a car. Money is only one of the forms of value.

4) I believe that the even trading of value for value is the way that our world will operate in the Kingdom of God. Imagine the freedom in knowing that to show someone respect was to gain it yourself or to show love was to receive it. Knowing that love was a commodity to be purchased, not callously, but actually being able to percieve the transfer of love from a homeless man when you gave him $20 or a hug.

5) I believe that the fallen nature of man has devalued all virtues other than the one that we have the specific ability to produce. One man is intelligent and sees people of lower intelligence as worth less. Another man is generous and sees people who are not generous as worth less. The monetary emphasis in our culture today is a direct result of the people in power having money. In the middle ages it was land and people could be classified into castes based on their land ownership. When Christ comes, all of these values will be equal. Having a high amount of money will be worth no more and no less than having a high amount of love. Rich men have a problem entering the Kingdom because they are unwilling to see their money as an equal to another's love.

Let me know what you think and/or if you think this is a crock.