What do you say to someone who sneezes and doesn't believe in God?

So I am sorry that I haven't written in awhile, I am sure I have disappointed the two people who follow this blog...

I have been contemplating this blog for some time now, but the thought of discussing God and other religions almost frightened me away.  But then I thought, I am pretty brazen with the words that come out of my mouth, so why not the words that come from my key strokes?

One day, in December I was listening to Kenna (pictured above).  My friend, Lauren Rinker, introduced me to this amazing artist.  He was born in Addis Ababa but immigrated to Virginia Beach.  There he met and befriended "Chase" Chad Hugo from the Neptunes.  He encountered some problems with releasing his album, but finally got New Sacred Cow out to the public. This album has a myriad of religious references and it made me think about what to say to someone who sneezes if they do not believe in God. (Funnily enough, while writing this, I was sitting at my parents' house and I sneezed.  And I got the usual response of...)

BEWARE: This video is shocking!




My normal response to someone sneezing would be: "God bless you."  But would that offend some people?  If they were atheistic?  Polytheistic?  Or believe in Allah, YHWH, or some form of a Higher Being that I do not even recognize?

If I thought about this (for saying, "God bless you," is a natural instinct), would I say, "Excuse you."  I may be wrong, but that seems rude.

And for that matter, when I stub my toe or I am angry, I saw a variation of the Lord's name in vain and possibly an expletive or two thrown in.  I am not saying it is right, I am just stating what I do (this is for protection from my extremely religious family).

So what would a Muslim do?  Allah damn it!

                                                         A Jew?  YHWH damn it!

                                                                                                                              A pagan?  Gaia damn it!

Or are these religions more respectful of their deity?  I know America claims to be a secular state, a clear separation between Church and State....blah, blah, blah.  While we may not have a single Church of America, it is a single type of religion: Christianity.  Have we ever had a Jewish or Muslim President?  Has anyone from those religions ever run for president and even gotten close?  And (pardon the Christian saying) God forbid someone from a polytheistic religion run for president!  That poor person, he/she would be torn apart from those conservative and "liberal" CHRISTIAN politicians, alike!  I am just saying that Americans are so inundated with Christianity, despite the fact we try to convince ourselves that we aren't, that maybe we have grown somewhat jaded towards the use of our Supreme Being.  I mean I see little children using the Lord's name in vain and (believe it or not) they aren't getting reprimanded or even their mouth washed out!  Oh yea, remember those times?  What I am saying is that perhaps Christianity is so ever-present in America, even if you aren't Christian, that it just isn't a big deal anymore...  Thoughts?

**this blog is not to be meant for any form of malice or mockery, I would truly like to know what you think.  I have often wondered what someone from a completely different religious background thinks of this**

Comments are always welcome, thanks for your time!

Is he or isn't he...

...hot?  Americans have been programmed to think that you are only the best of the best if you are rich, famous, and BEAUTIFUL!!!!  Now, where is the paradigmatic locale for these three traits?  Los Angeles. There are some people who irrefutably embody this "magnificence".  For example...

Charlize Theron

Johnny Depp


And then there are the Hollywood Heartthrobs, that I think CAN be attractive, and also at times CANNOT be.  Such examples (in my opinion and this does not reflect on their acting abilities) could be, Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz, and CHRIS PINE.

This new up and comer played Captain Kirk in the new Star Trek film (this is him in the above movie poster).  As someone who never followed the decades of the TTV series, I went to see it.  Hello!  It had Eric Bana in it, even if he did look reptilian.  With all the hype, I am happy to say that the movie wasn't bad.  Yet there was one thing that bothered me, Capt. Kirk!  In some scenes he was hot and others he was not.  Now I know that sounds really shallow, and maybe I am, but I want to know my footing.  I do not want to be distracted by trying to decide if the actor is good looking or not, I just want to focus on the acting, plot, etc...


In the Star Trek ad above, it is safe to say that Chris Pine is attractive.  Hello, Photoshop!  Obviously in contemporary society, every photo is airbrushed, but does that make the model less than attractive?  Chris Pine has something, that much is obvious, if he can survive in Hollywood...  Not to mention he was reportedly messing around with that chick from The Hills, Audrina Patridge (yes I read too much US Weekly).  I haven't really followed The Hills thing, well not for a couple years, but I think she is relatively hot. (See below picture)

But, does being with a beautiful woman guarantee attractiveness?

Example: Cisco Adler and Mischa Barton

Side note:  When are we going to more gorgeous men with not-so-gorgeous women.  There are a few, but I am not going to hate on my own sex.  Hey, it is my blog, my rules!

Ok, so back on track, Chris Pine?  Hot or Not.  I would love responses (opinions, other examples, etc.)

See the two pictures to help with your decision, both are of Chris Pine.

      

Driving in Richmond!

I happen to live in the Museum District, and sometimes I just want to rip my hair out after I have driven.  I am sorry, I know a lot of my friends who do not live in the city will get mad.  But if you do NOT live in the city or haven't lived in the city, DO NOT DRIVE around the city on WEEKENDS.
I know you may think that you are a good city driver, but take it from me, YOU ARE NOT!

 I used to live in Midlothian, and despite the fact that I drove around the Museum District everyday of Junior and Senior year of high school (SGHS), I was an awful driver  (especially in the city).  Now, you could chalk this up to being a young, inexperienced driver.  Ok, to prove you wrong, I would drive around Richmond well into my early twenties.  I can honestly say, I was not a city driver until after six months of living in the city.  If you are not a city driver, please please PLEASE stay in your suburb until the week begins (and avoid rush hours).  You guys cause more accidents than you can imagine.

I am sure my road rage was exacerbated by the fact that I am sick, but because of a UofR and W&M game, all of these Suburbanite drivers with their big, huge gas-guzzling SUVs (that do not fit on Richmond streets) are driving around idiotically.  Letting pedestrians walk when the light is green, thus making a normally 5 minute drive  a 15 minute drive!  I am not saying that you people are bad drivers (overall) I am saying that you do not know how to drive in a city.  I was so angered by the pure incompetence of the "visiting" drivers that I became enraged, and I am lucky that my anger did not influence me to cause an accident.  Please, if you must come into the city, CARPOOL, or try drive as little as possible.

I do want to note that this piece was written in extreme anger, which I may later regret.  Yet, I do want people to know that I felt this way before and I am sure I will again.  Just be aware of how everyone's driving effects everyone else's driving.