Twenties Life

Think of the coolest person you know.  I know this might sound childish, who thinks of people in terms of cool anymore, right?  But stay with me here… think of the most interesting person you know, someone you seem to gravitate to regardless of whether you like them or not.  What are they like?  What do they do?  What are their interests?

Chances are that they have hobbies and/or skills that somehow seem to make them infinitely cooler than you think you are.  In reality they may or may not be cooler than you, but it just seems like they are.  I’ll tell you why.

They create & express.

The most interesting people in the world, you know the ones who seem smart, skilled, educated, and just fun to be around often share two characteristics, if no others.  They create and they express.
We as humans are, in spite of our preferences, attracted to people who create things.  These things could be music, art, inventions, architecture, or a number of other things.  But the fact remains that they use the skills and assets they have and create something that did not exist before them.  And we think that’s awesome.

We also love human expression.  That’s why marketing campaigns that play on human emotion do so well.  If they can get us to feel what they express, they own us.  Think poets and song writers.  The best ones are incredibly in touch with emotion, and paint a picture that hits us in the heart.

Without getting to far into the psychology of our attraction to creation and expression, let’s cover a few hobbies you can pick up that will make you infinitely cooler than you were before.

Art

Music

Writing

Cooking

Do-It-Yourself (DIY)

Fix a leaky faucet

Build & troubleshoot a computer

Home remodeling

Build a campfire

Find great deals online

Decorating

Perfect gift giving

BBQing

Gardening

Cosmetic Application

Web Design/Development

Repurposing (finding creative new uses for old products)

Sewing (Fixing a button, patching a tear, etc)

Investing

Fitness Training

There are plenty more, but these few will definitely get you started.  Having a decent knowledge of each of these will make you the Renaissance man of your circle of friends.  And everyone loves that guy or girl.

I’m sure there are plenty of other hobbies that would make me infinitely cooler than I am now.  What are some that hobbies that you are interested in that you think make you cooler?  Leave a comment below and let us know.  I could definitely use them. =)

I’m the kind of guy who loves a good product that does exactly what it’s supposed to do, and does that excellently.  I don’t need frills, and it doesn’t need to be able to check my email, it just needs to do what it is intended to do.

With that in mind, I’ve been searching for a travel mug.  Here’s what I wanted from a travel mug (also these are the reasons why I could never find the perfect one… until now):

1. It should be easily carried (and used) with one hand; this includes opening it, sipping from it, and closing it

2. It should be well insulated and able to keep drinks warm or cold for at least a couple of hours

3.  It should be easy to clean and reuse

That’s it.  Sadly, I’ve tried many different brands (most more expensive than the fantastic one I finally found), and none of them were able to meet my 3 simple needs… until now.  I introduce to you, my new favorite Product that just plain works: The Contigo Autoseal Travel Mug.

This cup is sexy.  It’s simple.  It does exactly what it is supposed to, and looks great doing it.  The lid seals perfectly (you can spin it in the air and it wont leak).  The push-button sipping mechanism is easy to use with one hand and flows perfectly.  Twist off the lid when finished, rinse out the cup and run hot water through the lid and you’re ready to go again.

I tested it this morning for it’s ability to keep coffee warm.  I made a cup at around 7am, and when I took the last sip at around 10:05 am it was still really warm.  Since most cups of coffee don’t last 3 hours (I was really trying to stretch it), I’d imagine the insulation in this mug is more than enough.

So that’s it.  I’ve finally satisfied my desire for the perfect travel mug.   And here is the lowest price I could find online so that you can satisfy that need as well.  Enjoy!

Contigo 16-Ounce Double Wall Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Tumbler – $19.95

Or if you want to get one for yourself and one for a special someone else, here’s a two pack!

Contigo Double Wall Vacuum Insulated Travel Mugs in Silver and Green – 2 Pack $38.95

Do you know of a product that just plain works?  Contact me with details and share your awesome find with everyone else.  If it sounds like something we’d be into, I’ll pick one up and write a review.  And you may just help someone find the perfect product they’ve been looking for.  Click here to recommend a product that just plain works.

It’s the 200 year anniversary of Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. I have the privilege of attending the actual Oktoberfest to see what it’s all about. If anything I’m in it for the fashion, of course. It’s definitely a challenge learning how to put together Oktoberfest attire with all of the options you come across in Munich. Not only is it all authentic but Dior is also celebrating the occasion, in high style.

Within this feature I will share tips with you on how to put together an outfit for Oktoberfest, if you ever plan on attending, and I will also share pictures from the festivities in Munich.
First of all, when planning your out your attire for Oktoberfest you must find a dirndl. This is the most important piece to acquire before anything. It makes the entire outfit and will be the piece that you base everything else off of. A friend of mine let me borrow hers for the celebration, but I wanted to venture out and find my own to keep. So I started at Marienplatz. It is a center full of shops and cafes right in the heart of Munich, and is where you’ll end up finding one of a kind souvenirs, shopping, delicious bakeries – anything that you need, it’ll be there at Marienplatz. It’s easily accessible by train from your hotel, or any of the surrounding towns. Dirndls range from 35 Euro to 500 Euro. You’ve got to keep your eye out for a deal. That is not including an apron, or accessories. We find perfect lederhosen on the first day, but no dirndl. Lederhosen are what the guys wear to Oktoberfest. It’s a must to celebrate in a dirndl and lederhosen, and makes it all the more fun!

I decide to stick with the dirndl that my friend has given me to use. But I’m still not satisfied, I want to join in the fun of picking & piecing together an authentic outfit for Oktoberfest while I’m here, getting the real thing. So I try again, I decide to grab a dirndl from a shop I find in Marienplatz across from a bakery that we ate lunch at. I find a beautiful dirndl that’s gray, raw silk, and a great deal! Instead of lacing it up with ribbon I ask to buy a chain at the register, which I ended up getting for free with the purchase of a dirndl.

Instead of getting the traditional white shirt to wear underneath, I get a black one. Which in my opinion, I liked better with my dirndl. After finding that, I go to an exclusive shopping center in Munich called Ludwig Beck’s. They carry amazing brands & are advertising a lovely apron in the window. I go in to ask where it is & end up finding another apron that goes well with the fabric on the dirndl I’ve chosen.

I’m ready to celebrate with the new attire I pieced together. I’m so excited for the opening day of Oktoberfest! Perfect timing!
We go in our lederhosen and dirndl and have a blast at the 200 Oktoberfest. If you decide to attend Oktoberfest go out on a whim and piece together your own dirndl. I assure you, you will have the best time just picking it out!

If you’re debating on going, don’t hesitate! Oktoberfest is a blast and it’s so much livelier in the right attire.

Steps for piecing together a dirndl:
1. Pick your dirndl out
2. Pick a black or white shirt
3. Don’t forget your apron!

Have a lovely time at Oktoberfest! Enjoy!

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We, TwentiesLife readers, are a people committed to improvement. We spend time evaluating ourselves, identifying and improving our weaknesses, building up and using our skillful strengths for good, and trying our best to be honorable people. Our hope is that with each passing day we are better people than the day before.

And that is a fine type of person to be. We are truly the people who will make tomorrows world a better place. Sadly, though, as a younger, more modern, more connected generation (than those before us), we spend a lot of time “online” and less time “involved.” This lack of involvement could become a detriment to all that we hope for in our world. Read the rest of this entry »

Our lifestyle has become one of hardcore consumerism.  But let’s face it: that’s a lifestyle that leads to unhappiness and failure.  Unless we are to be of the top 3% or so, we’ll never have all of the things we want.  If we don’t find balance, or at least a few good ways to upgrade and increase our life enjoyment without having to spend a fortune, we may find ourselves in hard times in this economy.

But don’t fret.  It’s not really the new Apple iPhone that makes you happy.  It’s just the satisfaction of getting something that you want.  Realign your wants to be happiness and enjoyment (instead of just the retail products that are on TV today), and you’ll surely find success.  Here are a few ways:

Learn a new game

Have you ever played Mancala?  How about Chess?  Tennis?  Volleyball?  There’s nothing like learning a new game to really work your brain (and body) and really pump up the endorphins (happy feeling brain chemicals).  Obviously you aren’t confined to my ideas.  There are millions of games out there played by billions of people across the world.  Pick one and learn it.  For extra enjoyment bring a friend!

Pickup a new hobby

Now I’ll admit, most hobbies do cost some amount of money.  But buying your first guitar and buying a new iPhone are two very different purchases.  And if your new hobby is knitting (not just for old ladies anymore!), it won’t cost you much to get started.  When we learn new hobbies our brains build connections quickly like when we were children learning things for the first time.  This promotes good mental health and is super fun!

Experience another culture

This one is as easy as picking up a new cookbook (from the library) or having dinner at a friend’s house.  Learning about a new culture by experiencing it is a wonderfully enjoyable way to learn.  Taste the foods, hear the music, listen to the language.  Talk to the elders, observe the dress, learn the traditions.  Our lack of experience and knowledge of other cultures in America has led to our ignorance.  Don’t let our generation repeat the mistakes of the previous.

Volunteer

I know you’ve probably heard this one before, and I bet you’ll hear it again.  But let’s not wait till next time to do something.  Volunteering your time and energy is one of the most compassionate things you can do for your fellow man.  And you’ll benefit from it too.  People who volunteer aren’t just the most compassionate.  They are also the most content, the happiest.  People who spend all of their time thinking about themselves often find that there is no happiness at the top if you haven’t brought others up with you.  But those same people would have been content at the bottom if they were in good company.

Submerge into a story

I’m sure I can’t be the only twenty something that’s done this.  When you get your head into a good fictional story, your mind can really take you anywhere.  Through books I’ve seen London, Paris, New Orleans, a vampire underworld, the future, and a whole lot more.  Can Jersey Shore really compare?

Reconsider your relationships

Relationships can be the best part of your life, but they can also be the worst.  When we grew up, we learned to choose friends based on proximity.  Later we learned to build relationships based on common interest.  But now it’s time to learn again.  Now you must learn to choose and develop your relationships with a conscious mind.  You need to choose your friends wisely, and you need to build those relationships into something great.  Your friends don’t need to have a common hobby or live close to you.  They need only to share your newly found zest for a wonderful life.

Forgive

So you’ve been holding bitterness and resentment for years.  Sometimes you don’t even remember why you’re angry.  But you are passionate and you won’t just let it go.

I feel sorry for people trapped in that kind of mentality.  It’s poison.  How can you attract success and happiness in your life when you have room for that kind of poison in it as well?  Learn to forgive, to reconcile, and to let your pettiness go, and you’ll find that your world will instantly seem brighter.  Forgive not for your enemy or friend, forgive for yourself, so that you may find an inner happiness greater than the pettiness that it shall replace.

Find nature

This means something different to all of us.  For some it’s a walk in the park (literally).  For others it’s a weekend camping trip.  For others it’s a month long retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life.  Whatever it takes, reconnect with nature.  Watch the trees and sense their calmness.  Nature has been here for millions (or thousands if that’s what you believe…) of years, and it will be here once we’re gone.  It sustains not only our own lives, but the lives of every other creature on earth.  We move quickly, work hard, and pursue all sorts of things, while nature just is.  There is a sense of calmness in taking time out of your life to reconnect with that sort of existence.  You should do it often.

Express your emotions

Nothing feels better than expressing yourself.  It’s something innate in us.  But for some reason, we learn to repress it.  For instance, when is the last time you gave your mom or dad a hug?  When’s the last time you told your brother or sister how much you love them?  When is the last time you smiled at a stranger, simply because you wanted them to feel your happiness.  You’ll find that when you get better at expressing yourself, all other aspects of your life get better as well.

Redefine Happiness

All of these examples are ways to help you redefine what happiness really is to you.  Believe me, happiness is not in your next purchase, it’s in your next experience.  At the end of your life, are you going to want to have stockpiled the largest list of retail products, or will you want to have the greatest list of stories to tell.  I don’t know about you, but I want to be the old guy that amazes the next generation with my experiences, even if I don’t have a dollar in the bank.

Life is all about getting what you want from it.  And as we can see Americans are an amazingly efficient group of people when it comes to getting what we want.  If we define what we want, and constantly remind ourselves of it, it wont be long until we surround ourselves with others who want the same thing, and work every day towards achieving it (rather than the next big screen TV).  Trust me, redefine your happiness and you’ll never look at your retail-queen friend with envy again.

Hello readers of TwentiesLife! Stefan here, from StudySuccessful.com. I am Dutch. No I am not from Amsterdam, I’m from another place in the Netherlands, you probably only know Amsterdam because of the Red Light District and smoking marijuana.. I don’t blame you, we have some crazy rules here in our little country, but you know what, I am standing behind them, all of them.

Dutch rules on taboo topics
In The Netherlands a lot of things are legal which are illegal in almost every other country in the world, why is that? Are we just a bunch of pot-smoking douchebags who like to go to the red light district? Or are we one of the most progressive state in the world? I think the last one. I will discuss several topics, which are legal here and illegal over there (which is around every other country in the world). This will be: smoking weed, prostitution and abortion. Quick note: I am an atheist, I think you should know that. Put your clog on, check if the windmill is still turning and get a piece of cheese, you are about to experience Dutch knowledge.

Smoking weed
What is America doing at this point, marijuana is illegal (except the ‘medical use‘) and there is a big ‘War on drugs’ thing going on. But how is it possible that I still see a lot of green sticks at a tv show like Entourage? How is it possible that if there is put in that much money, the drug use still didn’t stop or even decrease? And why is it still one of the biggest problems America face? I believe that is because prohibition is never an answer. In the early 1920′s they’ve tried the same thing with booze and the mafia has grown big because of the bootlegging. Drug mafia is nowadays one of the richest crime sectors in the world and that is because everything is illegal. Prohibition does not takes away the curiosity of experiencing something like smoking weed, nor it is taking away the need. It is only a way to force people to sneak around to smoke something, instead of buying it at a place where you can actually control it.

If somebody who has never been on the earth before is coming to the earth and he has to divide the different ‘drugs’ that exist into ‘hard drugs’ and ‘soft drugs’ (as we know it nowadays), alcohol will definitely be on the hard drug side. But that is legal and something which is not even that bad for you (weed) is illegal.

So here we got my point. I think that if you are legalizing something like soft drugs, you are getting control of it. By legalizing it, there isn’t a big underground scene which is providing marijuana, no street sellers who sell their stuff to young kids. We have ‘coffee shops‘ where you can buy what you want, a place which is controlled in the end by the government, where there is control of the customer, of the addicted. The stuff they are selling is of good quality, no crap added, so stuff that is not that bad for you.

Controlling is better than a big expensive offensive, in my eyes at least. Of course, we (the Dutch) are also against hard drugs, as they are really, really bad for you. But fighting something which you can never win, is probably not a good idea, especially when the need isn’t that big. If you can control the use and the quality of marijuana, it is better to legalize.

Prostitution
This taboo is a tough one. You will never see scenes where women in really short skirts are on the side of the road looking for potential customers in the Netherlands. Over here, prostitution is actually legal. There are houses where you can go for your needs. A good thing? I think so.

Here is the same with the legalization of soft drugs. This is a problem which can cause a lot of trouble and it is hard to prevent these kind of crimes. But now it is about people. If prostitution is illegal, there is a lot of underground work. There will be a need of big organization who will control where is who. There will be different levels of pimps, controlling women who are paid for sex. And that can’t be a good thing, fur-wearing men who are controlling women who have to have sex, right? That is why it is legalized in the Netherlands. I have to be honest here, there are problems every once in a while. Sometimes it turns out that there are under-aged girls who are put out there, but at least we have an idea about the size of the problem. We know what is going on, where. If something isn’t right, the human rights are coming in, houses will be closed and the government will take care of the girls. Ban the oldest profession in the world will be impossible, controlling it won’t.

Abortion
Abortion means ending the life of an unborn child. Ending your pregnancy before it should end. And yes, this is legal in the Netherlands.

There are a lot of rules about this though. You can’t just go to the doctor to get it removed without consultations and time to think. Women who go to the doctor with this request will be forced to think about it.

Why I think this should be illegal is not the everyday arguments you hear all the time. Not about ‘what if it is a rape’ or ‘what if the girl is way too young?’ I think we shouldn’t think about the mom, God or anybody, but we should think about the baby. What is best for the unborn child? What is happening here is a problem of timing. It is not the time for the baby to be there yet. If the mother doesn’t want the baby, if she is not ready, if the father is a rapist who impregnated the mother, this is just not the time for the baby to be there. Selfish? No, not at all. Because if abortion wouldn’t be possible, if the baby will come anyway, there will be nothing but problems. The mother will love the baby anyway, for sure. But what are the future plans? If this woman just could have finished her major, if she is with a father which makes her happy, the future chances of the baby are way bigger than ever before. The baby will have everything he needs, including a loving mother and a loving father. Without abortion? He also has a chance of a good life, but I think a slighter chance.

Is abortion murder? Am I able to just murder an unborn child in order to greater his chance of a good life? No. I don’t think it is murder as the fetus isn’t viable yet. It doesn’t have a mind yet, it isn’t a human being yet.

Concluding thoughts

Well, these opinions are mine. These opinions are shared by a great part of the Dutch population, we think that taboo topics aren’t topics we should forget. These topics are important and while we have these rules, there is a lot of talking about these rules. Are these rules the right ones? Shouldn’t we change the rules? The answer is always no. This country is a country of possibilities, of freedom to choose. What do you think about the Dutch rules? Are we insane? Are we out of our mind? Or are we actually progressive in a way a lot of countries will follow, eventually? Let me know in the comments!

This is a guest post by the Dutch Stefan Knapen who runs the blog StudySuccessful.com, a blog full of study hacks and personal development tips.

Here’s a new feature TwentiesLife will be rolling out.  We will be randomly posting real life advice from guys and gals to the opposite gender.  This is something that you can only find on Facebook and Twitter, so if you aren’t our Facebook Fan and aren’t following us on Twitter then you won’t get the news. <—-Click each of the links there to follow us and get the tips.

Want to share a tip?  Email us at contribute[at]twentieslife[dot]com.

Here’s two just for stopping by:

Things SHE wishes you knew #16:  ”Real men drive stick!”

Things He wishes you knew #8: “It’s not what you’re wearing that’s sexy, it’s how you wear it.”

Please contribute your tips and help the opposite gender get a clue.

Some of us are headed back to school.  Others of us just want some new gadgets.  So what gadgets are hot right now?  TwentiesLife has got you covered.  Now be forewarned:  Most of these gadgets will make you cooler.  Many of them will impress your peers.  Some of them will help out your dating situation.  And one or two might actually be useful when that dating situation progresses to something worth watching over and over, if you know what I mean…  Here come some pretty awesome stuff.

Canon PowerShot A490 10.0 MP Digital Camera

Have you ever used a Canon Powershot?  If you have, you know why I’m recommending it.  If you haven’t, you need to get your hands on one of these.  It’s the only point-and-shoot camera that I could use.  In fact, it’s the only camera I like that isn’t a Digital SLR.  Need something that just works well and takes phenomenal pictures?  This is the camera for you. Price $84.00

Logitech Webcam C210

Are you using Skype?  Google Chat?  AIM?  MSN Messenger?  Yahoo Messanger?  Are you video chatting?  If not, it’s time to get with the times.  Video chatting is so much more fun than text chatting.  You can see and hear your friends/family from all over the world.  It’s awesome!  And this webcam will help you do just that.  Logitech makes solid products that will last you as long as you want to use them.  Don’t think, just buy. Price $29.99

Sanyo HD Waterproof Camcorder

Over the summer I went to Antigua, West Indies.  The beaches were amazing, and I could actually swim with the fish.  How awesome would it have been to be able to capture that for less than $200, and in High Definition?!?  I need to grab this thing, and if you live a life worth sharing with others, you do too.  It’s insane to think that just a few years ago, camcorders were only for rich people.  Now we can all make our own HD movies! Price $179

Apple iPad

I’m going to explain this as simply as possible;  if you are the average computer/gadget user, this product will blow your mind.  If you are the kind of person who doesn’t like the iphone because Apple limits what you can do with it, you’ll still like this product, but you wont love it.  I am the latter, and I still like the iPad because I can watch videos, read books, browse the internet, and even control my desktop computer, all from my bed/car/office/wherever.  It can’t do everything I might like it to, but the things it does do, it does well.  Read more about what I think of the iPad here.  At the end of the day, the product just has to work, and iPad works well.  At $599, it’s a little steep, but when you consider just how often you can use this over your phone/kindle/laptop/desktop/magazines/books/coffee table(?!) it’s worth it’s weight in gold.  Or at least $599.  Price $599

Macbook Pro

At the risk of sounding like an Apple Fanboy, let me preface with this:  I own a mac, but I don’t use it.  It is my wife’s new Macbook, and because she just started medical school and needs something functional, simple, with a long battery life, and without worry, we chose the Macbook Pro.  Sure, we could have found a laptop with twice the hardware for half the price.  Sure we could have installed Linux and figured out a way to make everything work.  Sure we could have installed a bunch of anti-spyware software and hoped for the best.  But we didn’t want to have to worry.  We just wanted it to work.  And since she isn’t as “techie” as me, I knew the Macbook was the perfect solution for her.  If this sounds like you, then it’s perfect for you too.  Just buy the Macbook.  Or don’t.  You won’t hurt my feelings (my laptop is an HP)… Price $1139.89

That’s it for the back-to-school round up.  Did I leave anything out?  What do you have to run out and get before school?  What’s your favorite back to school gadget?  Tell us in the comments below.

When it comes to sex, people from every corner of the world have their own stigmas, morals, beliefs, and in many cases even laws.  There is merit in many or at least some of these beliefs, but some are just bizarre.  You start to wonder what the motivation behind them is.  I’m going to explore a few different ideas that relate to sex and rules.

Sexual Double Standards

This is probably the most prevalent sexual stigma in western civilization today.  It is quite commonly accepted that men will engage in sexual activity before marriage, and frankly they are rewarded socially.  It is seen as some sort of accomplishment.  But when a woman engages in the same amount of sexual activity she is seen as “slutty” or “whorish.”  Why is this?

I have a crazy theory.  In our society women aren’t supposed to enjoy sex.  They are especially not supposed to enjoy sex outside of marriage.  Women are supposed to engage in sex only to please men.  This is why you’ll find that both men and women condemn a woman of “loose morals” while only (some) women will condemn a man of the same actions (although this is also evidence that women judge each other more harshly than men do, but that’s a topic for another day).  Our patriarchal society has deemed it appropriate, (i can only assume because of a man’s insecurity), for men to engage in as much sexual activity as they possibly can, while women are meant to be selective and only have sex under certain constraints.

Sexual Stigmas

There are way too many stigmas here to possibly try and explore them all, but a few stick out in my mind, so I’d like to explore them.  First off, sex without emotional and/or physical commitment.  It has been made appropriate (whether by religion, morals, or whatever) that in order to not be a whore, one must be in some sort of committed and faithful relationship.  Why is this?  What difference does it make if I say I love you before I have sex with you?  Why does me not having sex with anyone else make it ok for me to have sex with you?  50 years ago the stigma was sex outside of marriage, but something changed.  Had it been the same as before, I might consider that it had something to do with religion or at least the sanctity of marriage, but that is obviously not the case.  So tell me, why is it important to be committed to a person before sexual activity is deemed appropriate?

Sexual Orientations.  Some people are gay.  Some are straight.  Some are bisexual.  Some are transsexual.  Some are trans-gender.  Some are confused.  Some are sure.  Some are just pleasure seekers.  Some are filling a void.  But here’s my question for you: why do you care?  How does any of this affect you?  What makes you so arrogant that you think you know better, or that somehow by being who and what you are you have the right to tell anyone how to live his or her life?  Assuming that these people aren’t hurting anyone, what gives you the right to oppress them with your beliefs?  Please, do tell…

Sexual Fetishes. Similar to different orientations, some people are into different sexual fetishes.  You might argue that they are oppressing others or “crossing the line,” but I think we both know that there is no line.  What you find degrading, someone else might find liberating.  What you find to be immoral, someone else might find exhilarating.  Again, assuming that nobody is being hurt (or engaging in an activity that they do not want to), what right do you have to try and control or limit, or even judge silently, their actions?  Remember that religion is not an arguing point, because you cannot force YOUR religion on someone who doesn’t believe the same.

I might be Muslim, Christian, or Jewish, but in America where there is no religious law, what right do I have to express or oppress my views on others?

Sexual Legislation

In some countries it’s illegal to be gay.  In some countries sodomy is illegal.  There are places where it is illegal to be in possession of a sex toy.  There are places where group sex is illegal.  Maybe you can help me understand this.  Why, where, and how would it be a good idea for a country to impose legislation on the sexual lives of it’s citizens?

Here’s an example I know of personally.  In Saudi Arabia it is illegal to be a homosexual.  The reasoning for this is that Saudi Arabia is a country of Islamic law, and it is forbidden in Islam to be homosexual.  As an American, I would wish that all countries had the freedoms that I have, but I know that this isn’t possible.  Or maybe it isn’t wanted by everyone else in the world.  What do you think?

I think we often take on the beliefs of our parents and elders unknowingly, and we never stop to question them.  But in the society we live in today, we need to question.  Because questioning leads to knowledge, and knowledge leads to understanding and appreciation.  I might not be gay, but I appreciate a persons right to live how they feel fit, so long as nobody else’s rights are infringed upon.  Do you feel the same?  Why or why not?