If you haven't already done so, you should check out Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution - sign the petition, watch the TV show, the whole nine yards! Inspired by Jamie Oliver and what he's started, I wrote this song:

( full lyrics under the cut )

In the vein of health issues, I thought I'd also post this poem I wrote and published in Silent Songs and Other Whispered Words (2007)
( Fighting the Freshman Fifteen (Or More) )

I'm very happy that I've been writing more lately - especially songs. In the past, poetry has been no real challenge for me to write. It is significantly harder to write songs with the goal in mind that they might one day be heard on the radio in some version or another. I get inspiration from many places, but now for the first time I was inspired by a real-life news event.

It's been in the news for awhile, but it's the story of Constance McMillen being rejected from her school prom. First they canceled it, then they said it would be back on, but they sent her an invitation with the wrong address -- to a fake prom. The fact that Constance and her girlfriend weren't the only ones sent to that wrong address was even more insulting.

I'm not happy that happened to Constance, but I am pleased with the song it inspired. So here's Version 1.0, entitled "Fess Up, Fulton (Constance Dear)".
( full lyrics beneath the cut )

I've had a few epiphanies in my life. I can always tell when it's an epiphany because when I think about it - whatever "it" is - I get this tight, sentimental feeling in my chest; I end up thinking about it for days; and it instantly becomes the single most exciting thing in my life at that moment. That happened to me again on March 4th 2010.

Short version: I am planning on trying out for American Idol Season 10, with auditions in summer 2010. If I don't make it, I'll try again in 2011. Until I max-out the age limit of 28 years old. I'm going to start 2 new things in preparation for the auditions:
   1) Kung Fu training with a cousin, thus my form of exercise. Also something I've been meaning to do - get back into Martial Arts - and that has been on my bucket list along with many other things listed below.
   2) Vocal Coaching, or at least getting a feel for how I sound through a microphone. Along with that, getting a feel for how I look when I sing, especially if I'm trying to dance/groove while I'm doing it.

You can tell me I'm crazy. It's okay. The thing is that I'm taking it as a sign that when I went to see Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, my favorite exchange was: " 'Have I gone mad, Alice?' 'I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret: all the best people are.' "

Here's the story on how this idea got into my head:
( Long Version )

Call me crazy, but I have some goals established now.

Nov 2007 - Silent Songs and Other Whispered Words
This book will get published sometime this week, which I'm excited about. After I purchase a copy of the book for final approval, Lulu will begin distribution. I already have some contacts with the local Barnes & Noble, SBX, etc. for potential book signings etc.
NOW AVAILABLE!

Feb (?) 2008 - Uncivilized
The first of a series, this will be my first published novel set in the world of Fellowship of the White Star. A preview of it is in Silent Songs and a short-story (long preview) version will be available on the FWS website soon.
Sep (?) 2008 - The Midwestern Man (tentative title)
An Ethnography in the form of a Life History, this will be a scholarly work that follows the life of my father as he grows up, lives, and raises a family in the Midwest. I expect contributions from our family, his friends, and co-workers to showcase all of the main aspects of living in the Midwestern United States: agriculture, Lutheran church, military, gaming, working in the computer industry, family life, entrepreneurial attempts, and watching football. (Go Bucks!)
Dec 2008 - The Name of The Game (tentative title)
After long hours of laborious research, I will get to publish my Senior Honors Research Thesis as a book. Currently, it is a study of the hierarchical structure of the subcultures of gamers (may change to "geeks"/"nerds") through names (will change to overall treatment).

Yep, I'm crazy.

EDIT: I am now taking orders from local friends & family to go in for a bulk order of my first book, Silent Songs and Other Whispered Words. Through this bulk order, the cost will be $5.00 (as opposed to $11.38 + shipping & handling through Lulu for a printed copy, but it is also available for download for $5.00 as well).

Just got back from Dragon*Con and trying to work on some short stories for Fellowship of the White Star. There's also the matter of my next 2 mods, one of which will require significantly more research than the other. I'm nearly done reading the Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing a Novel and plan to start reading CIG2 Grammar and Spelling soon. Always good for refreshing, right?

I start school again on the 18th of September, but thankfully don't have too many classes (3) this quarter - just ~20 hours of work on top of that.

My best friend is getting married on October 5th, which means I'm also busy on the 4th. I think that's about it for where things stand right now.