97% Adult

Just completed the Epstein-Dumas Test of Adultness (EDTA). My result is that I am 97% adult! :P

I recommend people of all ages take this test and see what their outcome is! More info below:

Your Total "Adultness" Competency Score is 97%

The closer you are to 100 percent, the better. You needn't have mastered all of the separate skill areas in order to be considered an adult, but if your scores are low in one or more areas, people might question your adultness or consider you immature. Your scores in each of the 14 different skill areas are as follows:

Love: 89%
Adults are supposed to know the difference between sex and love. They're supposed to have experienced love, or at least to have some idea about what it means to experience love. They're supposed to know the difference between parental and romantic love, and to know that there are many different ways of expressing love.

Sex: 100%
In theory, adults know a great deal about contraception, homosexuality, how to please a partner, and how to make babies. They're supposed to know that condoms often fail, for example, and that masturbation is common among both males and females (somewhat less so among females).

Leadership: 100%
Adults are supposed to know about leaders and, to some extent, to be able to act as leaders—as leaders of other adults, of children, or at least of pets. They're supposed to know that leaders must sometimes make tough decisions, that leaders are in some sense servants of their followers, and that leaders almost always must report to other leaders higher up a chain of command. Adults are also supposed to be somewhat brave—at least in defending their loved ones or in killing harmless insects—and they're supposed to be able to defend their rights.

Problem Solving: 89%
Adults are supposed to be able to solve a wide variety of problems—financial, work-related, plumbing-related, and personal—and they're supposed to know where to go for help when they need it. They're also supposed to know the difference between right and wrong and to be cognizant of the consequences of their actions. They're supposed to be able to think independently and even to be aware of their own faulty beliefs.

Physical Abilities: 100%
Adults, or at least healthy adults, are supposed to be physically self-sufficient. We make allowances when people are sick or injured. The infirmities of old age are handled variously: when elderly people become weak, incontinent, or otherwise impaired, we often revert to treating them like children, even though, in some sense, we still recognize the elderly as “adults.” In general, adults are supposed to be physically strong, to have intact senses, to be able to climb stairs without assistance, and so on. We expect far less of children.

Verbal and Math Skills: 100%
Adults in our society are supposed to have mastered the proverbial Three R's (reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic), and they're supposed to know basic things like the days of the week, the number of days of the year, the number of days in February (even in leap years), the number of hours in a day, and so on.

Interpersonal Skills: 100%
Adults are supposed to know how to converse with, show respect for, forgive, apologize to, get along with, and assist other people. With children, we give basic reminders like “Remember to share,” but adults are supposed to have mastered such lessons in basic civility. Adults are also supposed to be honest in their dealings with other people, and they're supposed to have the good sense to follow the instructions of police officers—in other words to recognize that people play different roles in society.

Handling Responsibility: 100%
Adults are supposed to be able to accept blame for their wrongdoing. They're supposed to be able to make commitments and then honor them. When they begin tasks worthy of completion, they're supposed to persist in completing them.

Managing High-Risk Behaviors: 100%
We try to keep children away from cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, guns, and cars, because, presumably, they'll damage themselves or others if they have access to such things. Adults, on the other hand, are supposed to be ready to handle risky items and activities responsibly. Among other things, they're supposed to know that driving under the influence of alcohol is extremely dangerous, that the heavier one is the more alcohol one can tolerate without ill effect, that mixing alcohol with certain drugs can be fatal, that smoking can ruin one's health, that the safe use of guns involves considerable skill, that improper use of prescription medication is dangerous, and so on.

Managing Work and Money: 100%
Adults are supposed to be able to get and keep jobs. They're supposed to know that it's important to be on time, that “a job worth doing is worth doing well,” that we're supposed to persevere when the going gets tough, and that it's important to prioritize and complete the most important tasks first. Adults are supposed to know how to spend money wisely, how to save, how to invest for the future, how to plan for emergencies, how to manage debts, how to write checks, and how to balance a checkbook.

Education: 89%
Adults are supposed to have obtained at least a basic education, and they're supposed to appreciate the value of education. They're also supposed to know basic education laws—for example, that young people are required to attend school until at least age sixteen or so (depending on one's state of residency).

Personal Care: 89%
Adults, unlike children, are supposed to practice basic hygiene, to comb their hair, to wear clean clothes, and so on. They're also supposed to eat three nutritionally-balanced meals a day, to avoid between-meal snacks, to brush and floss their teeth, to get a good night's sleep, to maintain a healthful weight, and to avoid too much salt or sugar or fat in their diets. They're also supposed to be able to recognize a variety of medical and psychological problems—signs of cancer, asthma, sleep apnea, depression, bipolar disorder, and so on—and to know when and where to get help if they or their loved ones need it.

Self Management: 100%
Adults are supposed to be able to manage their own behavior—to use an alarm clock to make sure they awaken on time, to keep an appointment book to make sure they know why they set their alarm clock, to keep a list of things to do so they know what they're supposed to pick up on the way back from the appointment, and so on. They're also supposed to know basic techniques of “self-control”—counting to ten, for example, as a way of preventing their anger from getting out of hand.

Citizenship: 100%
Finally, adults are supposed to know some basic things about government and about how to be good citizens. They're supposed to register to vote and to participate in elections, to pay taxes, to serve on juries, and so on, and they're supposed to know most basic laws and to obey them.

Year 2008 In Review

Wow, what a crazy year! Seriously, don't know how it just blew me away! Literally....

Family and Friends

• Josiah turned 6 on August 19th. We had a small party, with only a few of his friends. He's even funnier and smarter than last year. But also more hyper and bold against authority.
• Josiah finished Kindergarten at Ramsey, started 1st grade there, but couldn't handle 45 minute bus rides to their. So, I had to transfer him to another school. Whatever one was open which was Longfellow. Teachers there have told me, after asking me not to mention their names, that it was a bad school because problem children tended to go there and would adversely influence my child. Yet, Josiah is not able to handle himself on a bus - what makes him so much better?
• Leah Seelhoff moved to the Winona area with her daughters. Siah and I miss them. She's the only real person I used to talk to on a regular basis and not think I was crazy. :D
• On my birthday, I rescued a cat who was starving outside and was very friendly. Josiah wanted to call her "Candy Cane" but she is a Calico. She didn't look like a candy cane at all! So, I gave it some thought and a month later re-named her Kanika ( which sounds very similar to candy cane, but it sounds like a princess name). So, I rescued Kanika from starvation, got her shots, and fixed. And I won't de-claw her because that is just wrong. She is now very healthy and happy!
• My brother Tim moved in with me in January. He stayed until June. After moving to Duluth in October, he came out and SHE is now referred to as Natasa. So, you could say I was my brother's last room-mate. And that I no longer have a brother.
• I did go to my half-brother, Jerich's birthday, and still have the DVD we made of it. But my conservative father seems to have ex-communcated with me. Perhaps he feels we aren't to his liking.
• My Mother moved in with me in October. She found a new partner, Kathy, and will be trucking with her at some point in early 2009.

Financial / Emloyment

• On the last day of April, I was fired for being a political blogger. Yeah, quite illegal. But the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux believe they can trample on their employees Constitutional rights. And they like to be consistent about it. Many of my co-workers were fired this year without written reasons, and were able to get unemployment as well. ( If they applied, which most I have talked to have. ) I have nothing against Native rights. But you fired me because I am a member of the Green Party? Seriously, I think Glyn Crooks has something against Winona LaDuke.
• Took classes at the Minnesota Workforce Center, and improved my resume which improved my ability to get interviews.
• Worked temporarily through Cynthia Cook ( never trust these people ) for the John Roberts Company in Coon Rapids. They fired me because I gave them two weeks notice that I couldn't work on a specific Monday. I could work every day after that, but it didn't matter to them. ( I told them when they hired me of this date and they said it was okay!)
• Even though unemployment was okay, it was stressful filling out dozens of applications and faxing resumes ( occasionally hand delivering). Looking for a job is more than full-time work!
• I wanted my unemployment to last, so I actually took a job at Blockbuster. It was fun, chatting about mindless movies all day ( most of which I have no intention of seeing ). But the pay was pathetic. And residents of Edina are worse snobs than angry gamblers!
• I now work downtown, less than 15 minutes from LRT or bus. I am also a member of a unon: SEIU Local 26.

Education

• My career goal: dietitian. Will dietitians exist if our society collapses? Probably not, but any education will look good on a resume until then. :D
• I wanted to start college this fall at MCTC. Getting laid off had me post-pone it until January. I intend to go to college even if I have to pay for it myself and move to a smaller place to make it happen.
• I haven't taken any college classes yet owe over $35,000 in co-signed student loans. I was paying Megan Kyllonen's at $400 a month, until I was laid off. Worried I couldn't get another job if they checked my credit rating, I put $8500 of her loan onto my Discovercard. Bad decision, because now I can't pay any of Brandy Kyllonen's loans, which are in default. I will also not be able to pay on Megan's anymore after the payments catch up in February of 2010 ( I think ). What is most ironic about this situation is that I could have had my college paid for by the National Guard, but Brandy insisted that she go. She's 12 credits shy of graduating with an associates degree in culinary arts.

Health

• After being laid off, I lost my health insurance. So did Josiah.
• Within a week of being laid off, I was supposed to have surgery to get teeth removed and then get myself braces. My teeth are very genetically inferior. But without income, or insurance, there was no point in adding $200 a month to my expenses. I canceled my appointments and someday will be able to fix my teeth. ( I already paid for some plaster of my mouth to be made, photos of my teeth at all different angles, a couple consultation appointments. Wish they would have warned me that they would be firing people at random! )
• Been a vegetarian for seven years now ( in November ) !
• I did have a health assessment at Mystic Lake in March. I am very healthy! ( and now I don't work where there is second-hand smoke! )

I look forward to 2009 as a better year and one that I can build towards a better future.

Advanced Personality Test

After reading that one in five young adults has a personality disorder, I assumed I should take a personality test to see how abnormal I am.

Found this spiffy app on Facebook. The results (my comments in italics):

Low Extraversion - you are not very social. This can
be harmless preference but for some it correlates to
unhappiness. Go out. Do stuff. Make friends. -- maybe I
should make this a New Year's Resolution?

Interdependence - you enjoy working with others.
You understand that you can't accomplish things alone,
so maybe avoid jobs where you work alone.

Low Need to dominate - you have little interest in
leadership. When you feel you are the most capable,
step forward on occasion.

Romantic - you desire true love. Take note though,
romantics are more likely to stay too long in bad
relationships. -- *sigh* SO true

Low Wealth - You're not rich. You're probably not
even a fiscal conservative - I try :P

Humanitarian - you want to make the world a
better place. I hope to hell you recycle.

Honor - you are true to your word. This is admirable
generally but keep in mind that inflexible honor can
sometimes be less than admirable/wise (like staying
loyal to a bad person).

Low Paranoia - you trust people generally. This
generally suggests health unless you have a pattern
of trusting bad people in which case you need to be
more discriminating. -- Grrr... must be more paranoid. :D

Low Extravagance - you are not into the bling-bling.
Vapid attractive people might not want to sleep with
you. -- This is why I turn them down first. Ha!

Above are my outliers, below are moderate scores:

Stability - you are tough and resilient. You have an advantage
over others in challenging and high stress careers / activities.
-- this could be why I survived all those jobs most people could not
withstand for five minutes!

Orderliness - you prefer an organized life. You would likely
prefer the predictability of a corporation to a startup company.

Intellectual - you want to advance your knowledge. Find
job(s) and/or hobby(s) which can satiate your curiousity drive.

Mystical - you like to explore the unknown and mysterious.
You might enjoy being a Shaman or studying ESP.

Low Materialism - you're not interested in chasing money.

Low Adventurousness - you are risk averse. A certain
amount of risk has some place in any healthy person's life.

Work ethic - you prefer to feel productive and busy. For
you working adds meaning to your life. You would not enjoy
a slacker existence or a career that was too easy.

Low Anti-authority - You don't have a problem taking
direction from an authority. Make sure you don't follow
authority blindly.

Dependency - you want to be taken care off by others. This
trait correlates more than any other on this test with Learned
Helplessness so look that up.

Change averse - you like to maintain the status quo. You
probably would not enjoy a job with entailed a lot of
unpredictability.

Cautiousness - you desire safety and security. You
probably would not be happy living in a dangerous
neighborhood. -- East Phillips isn't that bad, is it?

Sexuality - you like sexual pleasure
(and probably pleasure in general).

Low Peter pan complex - you are very mature
and probably may even be responsible. I hate you (sarcasm).

Low Vanity - you are not superficial (or so you claim).
Please note, though, that physical beauty has been
found to correlate to physical health.

Low Hedonism - you're not big on cigs and/or alcohol.
If you have substance abuse problems that's a good thing.
If not, moderation has been shown to have some health benefits.

Physically active - you like to lead a physically active life.
You probably would not relate very well to a non active person.

Religious - you are true to your religious beliefs.

Low Self image - you don't think you are attractive
(which may or may not be true). If there are healthy
changes you can make to improve that (exercise/diet), you
should. If not, don't worry about it. -- What's wrong with average?

Family drive - you value having a family.
Over population is no joke, replacement level reproduction please!

Followed by the simply average:

Accommodation

Narcissism

Conflict seeking

Avoidant

Individualism

Histrionic

Artistic

Fiscal acumen

Accountability

I found another quiz, not as extensive, but focused on personality disorders. Now I can stop worrying about possibly having one, and focus on maintaining and improving my health.

The results:

Disorder	Rating	Information
Paranoid:	Low	click for info
Schizoid:	Moderate	click for info
Schizotypal:	Low	click for info
Antisocial:	Low	click for info
Borderline:	Low	click for info
Histrionic:	Moderate	click for info
Narcissistic:	Low	click for info
Avoidant:	Low	click for info
Dependent:	Moderate	click for info
Obsessive-Compulsive:	Low	click for info

Mystic Lake Excellence Award

I received this award only four months before being fired for my Green Party activism. The guidelines for the award are:

• Consistent and exceptional performance. A one-time incident does not meet the criteria for this award
• Only a manager or supervisor within team member's department may recognize a nominee for this award
• Only active, non-exempt team members are eligible

Obviously, I had shown commitment to outstanding service, and few questioned this. I was never fired by the Slots Department. A tribal member active in the DFL or Republican party may have decided that Green Party member do not deserve employment. Michelle Christensen, my departmental manager, did not want to have to abide by their unlawful action in late April 2008. This ordeal makes me wonder if Green is the new Red. I have never cared about Communism, yet I am treated like I am a Communist. Capitalism may not cause our society to collapse, our addiction to oil and hydrocarbons will. Mark my words in permanent marker across your screens. :P

Old work schedule

I am scanning all my old documents that remind me of the past. :D
Here's one of an old schedule and a random signature paper I found of Rochelle's ( she left it in a booth in 2004). :P

I miss this part of my past. But dang, I hated the secondhand smoke. I do not want any more of my co-workers from their to die from cancer.

Proud to have marched

Obviously there are many who still find solace in Bush claiming we can still "Win" this war. It would be nice to win, but you have to define what winning is first. Without such criteria, statements about "winning" are empty and unmeasurable.

There are multiple wars being fought in Iraq. The first was to topple Saddam and ended back in 2003. Now we are trying to "help" the Iraqis by being their friendly occupying force. Unfortunately, the many factions in Iraq do not all believe we are on their side. ( whose side are won on anyways?)

I have come to the belief long ago that wars are never winnable. You can only work to mitigate their lethality and destruction. A war is a loss in and of itself.

Most wars throughout history were for imperialistic reasons. I have no doubts that the Neoconservatives believed this war would be easy. That oil would flow freely and that democracy would flourish. Of course, we Americans want to live in a Utopia of a global span. But we have these odd means of doing it known as lethality. And then we wonder why the world sees us as the new Romans.

But I am not truly worried. Every empire falls. The world is becoming multipolar once again, and will become more so once the American economy diminishes in scale. Take the hydrocarbons from America, and you take our might.

For those that think the world will be safer without an American Empire are fooling themselves. There will be more imperialistic and resource wars than ever. What America and Europe should be doing is strengthening the United Nations and upholding Global Values. If we fail at that, as we are now, then expect those like the Chinese and Iranians to uphold their own version of values.

Why should I own a car?

I have been asked repeatedly by many friends, acquaintances, and family about why I do not own a car. Many think it a necessity in the United States, like drinking water and breathing air. One cannot be truly "American" without owning a car. If true,when oil prices continue to rise and wages do not keep up, the definition of "American" will need to change.

Having successfully lived carfree 4 years, I am unsure how it is necessary to own one. I can walk to any store I need to get to, or take the light rail to Target or Cub if I must. Every type of business I need items from are within a mile of where I live. That leaves getting to work, which thankfully my employer provides.

Dureti asks me all the time "If others who make less than you own cars, why don't you?" It makes sense within a Western mentality, even though she was brought up in Ethiopia. Obviously Africans own cars too, but few can afford to. Just because one can buy a car, doesn't mean one has to.

It is the mentality that Dureti and the West have that understands why the rich spend excessively. "They have money, so why not spend it lavishly?" This is why Al Gore need not conserve, he has money. He can throw money at "offsetting" his luxurious lifestyle, while asking those who cannot afford that to simply live with less. In the eyes of the West, this mentality is acceptable and just.

But what if a billionaire decided to live more simply? Just live as the middle class did in the 80s, and own one car ( not three). There would be one family TV, not one in each room of the house. Perhaps the computer monitor would BE the TV. Maybe a landline phone instead of a cell-phone for each member of the household. Instead of buying a library full of books, they would actually go to the library. And where would these meager savings go? Perhaps they could invest in various ways: for future generations, research, philanthropy, religious institutions, etc.

There is a new book out for the West and its more conservative perspectives on car ownership. How to Live Well Without Owning a Car: Save Money, Breathe Easier, and Get More Mileage Out of Life by Chris Balish. Chris is a TV anchorman and used to be editor for Reader's Digest. He's a pretty mainstream guy, but lives carfree.This book focuses on the financial and social costs of car ownership. Perhaps I will have to get this book for those skeptical of my environmental and ethical beliefs.

As Dureti, Ruth, and other Africans claim,"You will get a car once Phanice gets here." We will see, as I am not dictator when it comes to relationships. I am rather attached to the idea of not owning a car. Perhaps if I am coerced to own one, I will end up working more to pay for one - while rarely using it. I would rather use HourCar or Zipcar, and rent one for a few days than own one.

I was not born in America to be lazy. I want a life of meaning and purpose. I do not want my life here to take away or detract from others currently living or will live in the future. If anyone out there can find a solution to Global Warming and oil depletion that includes a car for all of humanity, please let me know. But just because one can waste resources, doesn't mean one has to.

The affluence America has become accustomed to is immoral and unethical. We have the ability to improve the lives of all future generations, in addition to reducing world population to sane levels. But we are passing by the opportunity so we can buy cheeseburgers in the McDonald's drive-thru 24/7. Each individual is still responsible for their own lives, but we all affect each other collectively. Thus is the karma of mankind.