Been a while since I've posted on here. Apologies to anyone who was bored enough to keep up with this blog. I guess I thought I wanted this blog to go one direction and only that direction (political opinions) but I've decided to allow myself to post about a larger variety of things. Starting with this one about [my] life.

When I was in high school, I remember reading a poem/song/something a friend had posted on their AIM profile and recall being moved by the profound use of words and puns. For some reason I still think back to some of the words and wish I had it in front of me to read. Unfortunately, I don't have it. It had to do with reminiscing about the past/childhood and how life has become so much more complicated. If I ever manage to find it or come up with a coherent stream of at least one verse, I'll post it.

Little did I know, back then, that trivial love/dating pursuits would not be the core of my problems a few years down the line. Now I'm faced with the prospect of so-called adulthood and feeling more and more lost and confused. In this labyrinth I've learned to call life- I've only found myself deeper within the maze with few options left of escape.

I've been facing many difficult decisions of what to do with my future these days. In high school, it was whether or not to go to college (pretty easy decision at the time). In college, it was which organizations to be a part of as well what to study. Now I'm faced with the all too-important-yet-confusing path of going to grad school's (and if so, what to study) or in what field I would like to pursue a career in.

I know that later down the line in my life I will only be facing more difficult decisions, but right now I can't help but feel more helpless than I ever have my entire life. Where do I go from here?

WARNING! The below video may be inappropriate to view for some.
(p.s. anyone know how to hide the field unless clicked on? I know livejournal has this feature but I don't know if blogger does as well).


This video seems to have become quite popular on the internet as of late. But I am baffled by it. If you haven't seen the "don't taze me bro" video referenced in the video, look it up. I encountered it when my brother turned it on for me to watch. Essentially, that guy was being civil and, truly, had his right of free speech taken away from him. This man, on the other hand did otherwise.

His petulance gravely irritates me. Perhaps many years ago it would have been acceptable to flaunt your privates in public as a form of expression, but that is no longer the case. But my case isn't to be presented against just him, but the crowd and many of the people who are posting comments on the video as well (click on the video and it will take you to the link as well). All who are not only egging on the obscene acts, but also jeering at the law enforcement officials for taking away his rights, stating "It's Coachella! Who cares?" For starters, I do.

Law enforcement (or peace officers, whomever they may have been in the video) are there to protect. I agree that he was not physically harming anyone, but my eyes sure did burn while seeing that. And I saw a blurred version of what others were viewing in real life. The "wizard" was also quite evidently on some sort of psychotropic and dangerous drug. My deduction on the case? He was tazed for a good five seconds yet managed to fight back. If you've ever seen someone been tazed (whether it be a video or in person), you know that the person becomes completely debilitated and nearly collapses on the ground.

I will not deny that the officer dropping his knee on to his chest was not excessive, but to say he did not show any signs of resistance is a lie. Or other accusations saying that if asked, he would have complied to leave the premises with them. But his disrespect for authority (yes, I am arguing that they are in fact considered an authority figured having been imbued with the duty of civil service of protecting citizens) should not have gone unnoticed. They officers had obviously politely requested his put his clothes back on and handed it to him when he he went so far as to throw it in the other direction. They were even polite enough to retrieve it for him multiple times only to be insulted time and time again.

I will have to say that the officers could have handled it slightly better (but they did handle it much better than I would have), but the man got what he deserved.

Subsequently, I will leave you with this video to leave on a lighter note:

Wanna go out on a date?

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cover1-2009feb01,0,3550273.story

I saw this a few months ago and never got around to posting it until now. It sounds fun, who wants a date with Mike?

Something on my mind.

As many others may have noticed, Carrie Prejean, our current Ms. California, has been under an extraordinary amount of scrutiny in recent events as a result of her statements on gay-marriage. One of the largest opponents on her case has been Perez Hilton. Before I begin my argument as to why I am a proponent of gay-marriage and homosexual relationships (as she has stated otherwise), I would like to first delve into some issues with their frivolous argument.

I am not a fan of Hilton. Period. The fact that we are entitled the right of free-speech and the freedom of the press in the US does not entitle nor obligate others to exploit it; others like TMZ also fall into this category. Of course there are the select few who still enjoy having their lives posted for the world to see, but surely not everyone in the entertainment business wants to have their lives spread across tabloids and newspapers; nor do they enjoy having a hoard of paparazzi scrutinizing their every movement. Now, to why I disagree with what Hilton did rather than what he does as a profession.

By no means should anyone commit such malicious slander against some one's character because of their beliefs. I don't agree with where Prejean stands on the issue either, but she stated her faith and was attacked for it. Hilton, on the other hand, needs to learn how to control his temper and realize that making snarky, rude comments will get him nowhere when debating over a topic that is still controversial to some. His churlish remarks were uncalled for and ultimately put a disrespectful face to a population. He (mistakenly) became the representative for the gay community which now needs to feel the wakes of his boorish remarks and defend not only their position further, but also their character. Onward.

Prejean really did walk away the victor in the midst of this debacle. Her composure and standing up for her beliefs while knowingly being robbed of the title of Ms. USA is above admirable that the younger generation (and older generations for that matter) should take note of. Oddly enough, this event reminds me of Cassie Bernall. The girl from Columbine High School during the massacre that happened on April 20, 1999; while it may be disputed in recent events, it doesn't deny the impact that it had on our community. Purportedly, she was asked if she believed in God during the incident; when she had replied the affirmative, she was consequently shot.

Prejean's life may not have depended on it, but why is it that in the face of religion, Bernall was forgiven, if not praised, for valiently holding steadfast to her beliefs while the other was verbally abused? My point is this: while I do not agree with Prejean's comments, I admire her decision to stand for what she believes in. I hope that we can all learn a lesson from this. While our values may be challenged in the future, it is infinitely more admirable to stand for what you truely believe in than to compromise your beliefs (be it religious or not) for something so ephemeral as a crown. And to Prejean being a follower of Christ, I pray that God is smiling down on her for making the right deicision and allowing Him to use her.

To those who don't know who I am, I go by Michael, Mike or Mikey; depending on which stage of my life you've encountered me. The name of the blog, "Mike the Lion" comes from my being a Leo. The name of the blog came as more of a fleeting, fickle idea that popped into my head rather than some sort of serious well-thought out named other blogs may have. My other option, on the other hand, would have been "Mike the Ox" stemming from my being born in the year of the ox, which could have only been slightly awkward.

In any case, I could begin with some sort of biography, but I would much rather have you gather the pieces of my life I lay before you in the next few days and weeks on here to figure me out yourself. I do ask of my readers one thing, though: when the blog transforms from being about my life to complaints about my life, call me out on it. It will be a helpful reminder that life is bigger than me and not the other way around.

Thanks! And have fun reading this for as long as I keep this blog up.