You Can Call Me Doug

I just caught the tail end of a committee on TVW. State politics are where it’s at. I need to fill some apps out, but I'm writing here and loading the next episode of heroes. The jury's still out regarding what I'm going to do, but I don't think I'm not looking for a paying job anymore - I'd rather do something like volunteer for Marko Liias. I don't know much of what he stands for (he claims to be a moderate), but looking over the bills he sponsored and his 100% voting record with the league of conservation voters Washington, I shouldn't need to feel too guilty, especially since he's just at the state level.

I'm definitely going to pursue a poli-sci degree along with whichever branch of English I choose. Journalism is still an option, but I haven't taken any journalism classes (not that it matters, precisely one of the English classes I've taken matters). Next Quarter will involve a language 101, Chemistry 101, English 3__, and maybe a poli-sci class. For the language I'm hoping for Chinese, but I could do German again...

With that busy schedule, I hope I'll be able to find some time for weekly sessions at the Bellingham dharma hall. I don't know which school I'm going to practice. What originally attracted me was they offered Vipassana, but Shambhala seems really cool too. Vipassana is a type of meditation so central to an off-shoot of Theravada (the oldest, supposedly more conservative school of Buddhism) that it takes the same name. It’s more accessible to lay people than Theravada. Shambhala incorporates elements of Theravada, Zen, Tibetan Buddhism, and art (including many secular arts). Shambhala also has indie cred (in my eyes at least). I think I'll attend both (and maybe the Soto Zen school too) and see which i like best. Perhaps I'll not be able to chose and practice multiple schools.

I've had a lot more uncharacteristically rage filled outbursts lately. I need to do something meaningful, but more importantly I think I need to get out of here and away from my parents. The problem is this is the perfect place for my studies. I'm looking into writing a bill for proportional representation in the Washington state legislature and hopefully putting it up as an initiative with in the next few years. I should get in contact with the greens (who were endorsed by the Dali Lama).


Edit 1:
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention: the environmental director for the Port of Bellingham is named Mike Stoner.

Edit 2:
After reading up on Shambhala, I'm probably not going to chose it. Vipassana was my original favorite anyways.