Distribution of Wealth.

Defining love.

Love cannot be defined. Except by easy to understand quasi-mathematical formulae. So borrowing Mr. Mannion's equation for a moment, I have determined that love is hormones and an instinctual need not to be alone all the time, with a little bit of finding someone you get along with mixed in. This is why one can love cookies. Still following me?
By finding someone you get along with, I don't mean a friend, or someone you have something in common with. I mean someone you'd be willing to be around for the majority of your waking life without going insane. I am not referring to marriage, simply that an admission of love for something or someone means that you want the around, a lot. So save the love for people you can actually stand.
Now, love doesn't look, sound, taste, or smell like anything, but it does feel good. Kind of warm and fuzzy. Those are the raging chemical imbalances that the sight of your object of affection causes in you. Yes, love is damaging your innards with its hormonal effects. I hope you enjoy that fuzzy feeling, because it is KILLING YOU! No, not really. But it is caused by chemicals in your body. I get the same feeling after I finish painting a mini really well. That's probably just because I haven't eaten or slept for three days by that point though.
So where does one find love? Anywhere. The human being is an unfathomable beast, and we cannot say where he/she will find a suitable object of affection. We are just that random. And while I don't think there is anyone who could fail to muster love for something, I must readily admit that some people (mother Teresa, Gandhi etc...) have way too much of it.
So now you know everything you could ever need to know about love, in my opinion. Which is always FACT. And if you should run across something that isn't covered under this comprehensive guide, hesitate lengthily before asking me about it.

Punishment...

So as an interesting note, not only is this blog almost on time, but it being done means that I am finally caught up with all the blogs...bound to happen sometime I suppose.

If a person does something that society deems wrong, they should encounter consequences. Not every societal mistake needs a punishment, but norms are the tools used to regulate society as a whole, and should be followed to an extent for ease of life, right? Criminals break norms to a greater degree than the schmuck who puts his pants on backward though. They threaten society as a whole, and should be dealt a set of consequences matching their infractions against peace. What we do currently doesn't do that. So without further ado, Sean Nolan's What Should Be Done With Criminals.
Prisons suck. I would hate to be in one, so I may not be the best person to comment on their running/set-up, but they suck. To be in and in the way they are run. They don't particularly punish those placed in them, and it is all too easy for guilty persons to avoid them, and innocent persons to be thrown in. Though I wouldn't want to go to jail (I like collecting 200$ every go around, thank you very much!) after some thought it should be easy to realize that modern prisons in most first-world countries are little more than under glorified hotels, where the customers stay free. And everyone else pays for them...
So the first thing to happen in my new prison system is that the free part changes. Well, it doesn't change so much as become...less painful for the taxpayers. Get rid of the TVs, recreation, Internet, college courses, and elective activities. Make it a hole. You killed someone? And you're telling me that while you're in jail you want to check your Facebook? Not a chance. You do, however get a 5 by 5 cell complete with concrete blocks, and cot. Now give all prisoners a choice between this cell, and joining a new branch of the military. Throw those that don't join in one of the cells and feed them three times a day for the duration of the time they need to serve, or until the world forgets their existence. Now use this new military division to launch an invasion of every country we are at war in after a training period of 4-6 months. We will win those wars, and thereby end the financial strain on taxpayers due to two simultaneous wars and inefficient prison systems. This money goes back into the economy as people celebrate, and that becomes fixed as well. Now that I've solved all of America's problems in one fell swoop, I'm going to start a new warhammer army that has been inspired by my senseless ranting....Penal Legion LXVII...

Alooooone...

How am I at being alone you ask? Lucky joyous day for you! Alon-ness is one of my major sub-specialities, right after food and impotent rage. Sad as it may sound, I am often alone. I live amongst a hive of the idiotic, and do not mean that with any sarcasm or ill intention. It is simply a fact. See I'm pretty smart (I say so now without hubris, having been unable to say that at many points in my life before) and most of the people in Seaside Heights are not. See Jersey Shore for more detail. This has caused me much torment and frustration, nourishing in me the most socially-withered of introverts. So being alone? For most of my life, I only ever wanted to be alone.
Now that I have to deal with people on a daily basis, I find that perhaps my social skills weren't so terrible after all. I do enjoy the company of others, but I don't like having it foisted upon me. That's why my current situation works out so well. I have almost no close friends in Seaside, and mostly interact with the people here only when I am forced to. They are indifferent and leave me alone. Which I like. When I feel like seeing someone, having an intelligent conversation, or hanging out, I usually go to Bayville or Bricktown, wherein reside most of my friends/ acquaintances.
I don't necessarily wish for more or less alone time. I certainly wish I had more time to do things, but that's another matter. When I am alone, I usually read or think. Yes my procrastination does actually spread to things I enjoy doing, so I cannot claim that my hobby or my video games occupy most of my time. It's just sitting in my house, reading or thinking. While this does sound boring, I find that good books almost never are. And the human mind is an absolutely incredible thing for those of us using it, so just try asking yourself a question and come up with as many deeply detailed answers as you can. Sure way of entertaining yourself for a few hours at least.
So while I don't like being either alone, or being surrounded by friends, there is one thing that my alone time does give me that I am certain many of the people I know are without. I have a sense of calm in my life. I worry about things, and have deadlines to meet, like normal people (though I only rarely meet them). However, I try to move at my own pace. Most of the time I succeed and the pace, while slow, is matched perfectly to my capabilities. Besides, I need to be able to plan frequently to move at my own pace; and if there is one thing being alone gives you, it is time to plan.

Vacation Time...

Do people in the U.S. get enough vacation time? No. Does my family? No....What? You want more? Fine then.

I shall review my family's vacation time, and give a step by step statistical analysis (based on career 'choice') of it. I shall then compare this to the rest of America, and the world at large. Mostly I shall complain for those unable to do so.

To begin with myself. I get just enough vacation time. The school system seems (to me) well formatted, if lacking in other areas. Surprised I'm not vehemently begging for more time out of school? Do not be. I have no life outside of school except for when I travel outside of my place of residence, which is frankly a reeking cesspool of unhappiness and broken lives. And dreams. We'll call it Seaside Heights. Also remember, I am disorganized, not inherently lazy. So for me? No, I don't need more vacation time (I frequently get more, but that is often against my will. I am sickly).

My mother. Her vacation time follows the same rules as mine (except that she is not sickly) she being a teacher. However, I don't think she gets very much vacation time at all. Between college, school, and tending to a houseful of the emotional equivalent of mewling infants (who can make quite a mess) she doesn't seem to have any downtime. Ces't la vie. At least she can say she has a vacation.


My father on the other hand, can not even pretend to take a vacation. He is a painter. when he stops, it's generally bad news. Still, being his own boss means he can take a few days off to get something done around the house if he needs to. Still, work comes first, last, and in between. Not a lot of leisure time left in there.

Would some time of make us more happy? Perhaps. Do I want to dwell on what might be/have been? Not a chance. I'll take or vacation deprived psyches over your happy ones any day.

And as for America. Lsten. Two out of fifty-two weeks is not enough. I'd try to share the message with my own family if I thought I could get through to them. Yell, lobby, do something to get more time for yourselves. And don't let people call you a layabout, or lazy scum, just because you value personal time and relaxation. They haven't gotten to me yet, after all. With luck, theywon't get you either.

Nolan out.

If someone gave me a plane ticket to anywhere in the world and unlimited monies, I would go to the British Isles. The UK. Our mother country. "Why would Sean Nolan want to go there of all places?" I hear you ask. Seems a bit boring for me doesn't it? Well, all I can say is I'm not finished yet, but hear me out about this one.

England, as it just so happens, is the Warhammer capital of the world. Sean Nolan's preferred vision of the afterlife that doesn't involve becoming an actual space marine, if you will. Games day, the Golden Demon painting competition, Forge world, Phil Kelly and dozens of events, locations, retailers, and august personages that I can only dream of ever seeing are housed within what, as far as I'm concerned, is just a corporation I like pretending to be a country.
Plus, they speak the same language (for the most part).

Don't get me wrong. This isn't my only reason for wanting to go to that particular region (though it is close to 99%). Right across a small stretch of sea is my dad's place of birth Wexford, Ireland. Between learning more about my family, picking up a damn cool accent, and enjoying the rolling green landscape, I figure there's something for me there to. I would, of course sample the cuisine, having a familiarity with some of it, and an open mind for all the rest.

Other than that, it's all about Warhammer, and I wouldn't pass up the opportunity to learn, play, and pick up a *cough* "few" souvenirs...The guy (or girl) paying for all this probably should have placed an upper limit on sovenirs purchases....unlimited funds...*begins salivating*

After this little excursion, I'd visit Brazil. Though I think the Amazon is cool and all, can't say I'd spend all, or even the majority of my time there. You see, I am not particularly stoic. And neither are you. We all say it would be cool to spend time out in that there forest, but after a bit of study (and previous experience) long stays there aren't for those of us who live a sheltered existance.

That isn't to say there aren't other reasons for going. I'd love to catch up with my family, am addicted to Brazilian food (coxinha...best...edible...ever...*drool*) and always wanted to visit the giant Jesus...

It goes without saying that I'd be looking for games of Warhammer in all of these countries the entire time. Even if I'm out of school, class is always in session...or something like that...

Too much homework...(one month later)

As our Ford once said, "excuses abut too much homework are bunk." Surprised? I've never made it a secret that I am an epitomization of the word procrastinator. Maybe that detatchment from hectic schedules and constant working makes me unfit to pass judgment on the topic, but I'll try to anyway.

You see, too much homework is the excuse students have been making since the time of the ancient greeks (Mannion). I, in the practice of moderately successful procrastinators everywhere, am good at measuring time. Also, it helps that I do the majority of my "homework" in school anyway. So do I have too much, homework? No I do not. Also, please note that when I sayI can measure time well, I am not saying I use it well. If you can, doing that helps in spades.

Do other students my age have too much homework? Maybe. But they're probably trying to do more than me in the first place. Never saw the point of taking Trigonometry if I was going for psychology all along anyway... Perhaps my procrastinative nature isn't a bad thing all the time after all. As for whether or not there has been an increase in the amount of homework given...not in any of my classes, anyway. At any rate, I must thank the people who complained enough to make ths question possible. After a bit of thought (and actually approaching this assignment) this blog was easy bait. Maybe it's just because I secretly enjoy striking out at other people's ways of life from a platform whence I cannot be harmed. That was a joke. I like striking out at other people's ways of life in publice as well. That wasn't a joke... Okay, yes it was.

Anyway, after thinking about this particular essay a bit futher funnily enough, I found that I do, on occasion learn something from homework. Like that a little procrastination is a good thing. Occasionally in math I'll learn a useful (or frankly just cool) equation. The subtle nuances of my second language would be lost to me if it were not for those english grammar lessons we had to take from first grade on up. And I'm too interested in the human mind not to take interest in psycology. So sometimes, in these and other subjects, I'll take a look at my homework (when I do it), and I'll learn something...

As a special aside for those of you not in the know, a note on the big stuff. Projects, reports, essays. Do not leave these till the last minute. You're surprised again aren't you? These things are by their nature, important. I've found that it's a bad idea to sit around doing nothing while something important is happening. Get started early, invest some effort, and for the love of all the higher powers in the universe, dazzle a bit, would you? These things are a chance to impress, and in lieu of all that homework you procrastinated away it helps to use those chances...