Blog #9: Are we happier?

I just responded to a fellow students post with the below. I felt it important to share with all as well; it's a quote from the movie Contact (1997). What's interesting is how relevant the quote is at a time when social media had not even exploded onto the scene yet, and I love the connotation that the word synthesized gives to our society.

"Are we happier as a human race? Is the world fundamentally a better place because of science and technology? We shop at home, we surf the Web... at the same time, we feel emptier, lonelier and more cut off from each other than at any other time in human history... We're becoming a synthesized society.... In a great big hurry to get the next... 

We're looking for meaning. What is meaning? We have mindless jobs, we take frantic vacations, deficit finance trips to the mall to buy more things we think will fill these holes in our lives. Is it any wonder that we've lost our sense of direction?"

Blog #8: To Be Self-Aware...

Watching Miss Representatation was a powerful view into the lives of women and the struggles they face. I had a surface level understanding of equal rights, the mis-representation of women, and the societal pressures they undergo. I have a deeper understanding and appreciation for the struggle now.

My husband works in education counseling, and I often hear stories of girls cutting themselves, hanging themselves in their home, letting men abuse their bodies over and over from Junior High on. It's even happening in elementary school now. I've heard stories about the girls who wear the rubber bands on their wrists in different colors, signifying what they have done sexually, how many times they've done it, and what they are willing to do. And while suicide would be considered the worst for a family to experience, the most gut wrenching issue I heard about was a girl in Junior High who kept a journal of all the guys she had sex with — pages of them — and she had a rating system, stats, and what they did written down. She lost it at school and a teacher found it and turned it in to the counseling office. When they called in the girl and her mother, the response was the same from each..."So What".  If I were to ask myself what would drive a girl to dis-respect her body, and most likely have such self-loathing, the question would certainly be easy to answer in this case. But most of the time it is not easy to see the source, that is until your faced with truths in a documentary such as this.

Fag, homo, queer, weak, sissy, damned... this is the definition of manhood I grew up with.  Bitch, slut, fat, skank, easy, worthless... is no better a definition for a female to grow up with either. Even with the momentous court ruling for marriage rights yesterday, I can look back at our history and know that discrimination and hatred will never cease. I only need to examine the progress we've made since the 13th Amendment, 19th Amendment, Civil Rights, and Equal Opportunity. The hate and animosity is still present and strong in our society.

I've worked in advertising for a long time, so I have plenty of first hand knowledge in regards to the meetings that happen on how to best design a campaign to twist the public mind. I've witnessed the intense air-brushing and photo manipulation that happens in producing many of these campaigns. From that experience, I live with many of the suggestions made at the end of the documentary.  I don't buy magazines. I mute the TV and walk away during commercials. In fact, I hardly watch TV and when I do, I typically watch a movie or show on Netflix or Hulu that I know has little to no advertising at all. I use Facebook & Twitter strictly for providing links to my blog. I created a dummy twitter account strictly for school purposes. I don't spend time scanning the feeds or reading the massive amount of garbage online. I only use Instagram as a means of letting those friends and family who care know what I am doing, yet only posting at most 2-3 times a month.

That said, I can't imagine the rest that women have to deal with. The societal pressure to buy $15,000 to $18,000 in makeup per year!!!  WHAT??? I have even joked a few times with some of my female friends, saying I don't know how you can afford to buy all the beauty products that you do AND still afford rent, food, bills, and any entertainment. In my eyes, a female is more beautiful without all the covering, but I know my opinion is in the severe minority.

So what do I mean by Self-Aware? The definition tells us it is "the idea that when people focus their attention on themselves, they evaluate and compare their behavior to their own internal standards and values." Looking back to those standards I listed earlier as we have been defined by our peers — by other human beings — what kind of internal standards will these girls grow up with? I've mentioned the human race issue in a few of my earlier posts. If we have evolved into beings with such intelligence, why is the human condition so destructive and so hateful to one another? Maybe if every penis was the same size and every set of breasts were exactly the same, would that make the difference?  Would it be better if everyone were blond with blue eyes? We've seen humankind make that attempt before and witnessed the devastating affect it had and the millions of valuable human life lost. Maybe soon it will be brown hair and green eyes and the rest of us will be gassed, poisoned, or just shot in the head. Crude thoughts and statements, but being uncomfortable helps to spark new cognitions.

Who makes the call that these are the appropriate standards we must live by? Based on the documentary, the media and the money belong to the most powerful outlets. It was mentioned in the documentary and I mentioned it in my Blog #3 post regarding the control of news and media by 7 giants. But then, the 99% of us have allowed the top tier elites to control us and we pour our money into their pockets practically every day. Trust me when I state...they DO NOT want us to think for ourselves.

I have no right to judge your beauty, nor does anyone else have the right to judge mine. And despite overwhelming negative observations right here in my own community, I do have an optimistic view of our future. I do believe we have it within us to be good, kind and loving to one another. We have amazing intellect, I hope we all can learn to have Independent thought versus Interdependent thought. You, me, each of us, is NOT the idea and creation of someone else's vision. Do not let social conformity guide our footsteps, otherwise we are simply puppets on a string. Then the question we will have to face is "What's the point?"

Blog #7: #LoveWins

Today's ruling has had me in tears since waking after my husband brought his phone to me to show me the tweet announcement. I've been glued to CNN and MSNBC since, scanning the social media feeds, listening to President Obama, and watching the videos from across the country (and even the world) as I sit in my own small part of it yet feeling a connection with the greater human race.

I'll have been alive 43 years this coming July, and I would have never thought that within my lifetime I would have seen this day come. You may recall reading from a previous post Death or Exodus, that in my past friends asked me if I could take a pill to make me straight would I take it. "YES" I responded immediately, because I could not imagine a lifetime living with so much hate and discrimination all around me. I would have rather denied who I knew I was than to face that hate. To paraphrase a tiny portion of the President's speech this morning, "...THAT SLOW, STEADY EFFORT IS REWARDED WITH JUSTICE THAT ARRIVES LIKE A THUNDERBOLT."

In respect to living a life of balance and pride, all of humanity in this country who have shared in my common struggle, would understand the feelings and incredible boost to my own self-esteem. The internal shame that festers within has taken a devastating attack and continues to crumble as my own journey continues.

I have lived with the man I love for fifteen and a half years now, and with disregard to government restrictions on my liberty and equality, he is my husband in every respect and I have never thought of him less. Tonight, I will join others in my community for a rally in celebration and observance of this momentous day. While it is a personal show of my joy and equality, it is more so an external observance for the gratitude of those who fought for this and their fortitude, devotion, determination, strength, courage and steadfastness to make this possible for all of us and be the voice I could not be.

Hate will still be a part of our lives, and we will always be faced with this fact just as many other minority groups live with in regards to race, gender, and sexual orientation issues. Every human has the right to their beliefs, values, and the way they choose to live, but restricting the rights of other with violence and hate crimes is NOT the right of any human. My continued hope is that humanity will look past the "race" label and finally see what I believe the truth is, that this is a "HUMAN RACE" issue. We share one precious world with a myriad of beautiful cultures, countries, and people around us in our individual communities. I hope for the release of the hate that plagues the world, it is a human race sickness that is sure to destroy the future for all.
#marriageequality #SCOTUS #LoveWins

Blog #6: A Snowy Night

Once upon a time, long, long, ago...there lived a 14 year-old boy by the name of Jerryl who lived just on the outskirts of a city in the shadow of a castle. The rulers of the land were just and fair, and its subjects happy. Jerryl was a quiet and awkward boy whose father had disappeared before birth. His mother Corinn had raised him alone.

Jerryl was tall and lanky, always tripping over things, shy around other kids, and always daydreaming. He imagined his life differently at times; as a great knight in the king's service, or a powerful mage protecting the kingdom from unknown dangers. His mother worked very hard as a seamstress in order to provide a comfortable, yet small and meager home. Jerryl's room had a small window that looked out upon the city, the castle filling its frame. He would stare at it in the distance as he fell asleep each night and wonder what it must be like live there. He dreamed of his father, and who he may be.

It was late one night during winter season, Jerryl was trapped inside while a blizzard howled outside. He couldn't fall asleep; it was close to midnight. Tree branches scratched against the window as the storm blew.

He suddenly heard a whisper on the wind, “Jerryl.”

“What was that?”, Jerryl  sat up, shivering with a chill and listened intently as the storm continued to howl.

After twenty more minutes, Jerryl climbed out of bed and walked over to the small window, he could barely see past the frame. The swirling snow was mesmerizing. He looked down for a moment, for some reason he started thinking about his father, who he may be, why he left...

“ Jerryl.”

He turned back to the window; the storm stopped abruptly.

“ Jerryl.”

“What the hell?” He knew he wasn't imagining the voice.

Turning back to the window the clouds quickly dissipated and a full moon revealed itself. The landscape sparkled in the moonlight. Excitement suddenly spread throughout his body; he had to get outside. He pulled on some warmer clothes and slowly opened his bedroom door sneaking into the hallway. He did not want to wake his mother. He tiptoed down the hall, floorboards creaking, and into the small kitchen. He stopped for a moment to be sure he had not been heard. After he was sure his mother was still asleep he snuck to the back door. He put on his winter coat and boots. All bundled up, he unlocked the back door and stepped outside.

Jerryl's feet sunk into the soft snow. He took a deep breath of the crisp, cold air; condensation filled the air in front of him. His lungs felt alive! The night was still, with diamond snow as far as he could see. Jerryl felt a pull in his chest and headed into the woods near the house. He came to a small clearing, bare of snowfall. The moon filled the space with bright radiance.

A pulsing blue glow on the ground caught his eye. Looking down he saw a number of objects that appeared to be small rocks, but they couldn’t be. As he bent down to pick one up, the pounding of his heart increased. Immediately he felt warmth flow through his body.

“I must be dreaming!” He said aloud.

Compelled to gather the objects, he filled his pockets. His body grew warmer and calmer, his heartbeat slowed. He returned home, sneaking back to his room. Finding a small wood box, he emptied his pockets; the blue glow pulsed. Jerryl was suddenly so tired and slumped back into bed, in seconds he was in a deep sleep.

He awoke the next morning feeling more refreshed and alive than he ever had in his life. On the stool next to his bed rested the wooden box, full of the objects he found last night; it hadn’t been a dream. They pulsed together as if they had a joined heartbeat. A low humming sound suddenly filled his room, it seemed to penetrate his entire body. The objects began to softly vibrate and shake within the box. Before his eyes, they floated up, filling the space in front of him. An outline of a person formed, connected by the glow within each object. The light intensified and filled the room, he shielded his eyes.

“Son," a voice spoke from the light.

Jerryl opened his eyes and the glowing form of a man stood before him. He was dressed as no man Jerryl had ever seen, floating a few inches above the floor. He was dressed in fantastic, colorful robes, with a staff in one hand. He immediately knew who this man was, even though he had never seen him his entire life.

“Son,” the man reached out his hand. Jerryl his own hand and placed it into his; he was real!

“Father!” Jerryl fell into his arms. He wrapped him in his glow and held him.

“Son, I am so sorry I had to leave you, just know I left to keep you and your mother safe. Fate has allowed me to find a way to return to you this morning. I want you to know how much I love you and how much I've missed you.”

“Father, I've missed you so much.” Jerryl whispered as he looked down to the floor, tears filling his eyes.

“Jerryl, look at me.” His father put his hand beneath his chin and lifted his face.

“You must know I have never left you, and never will leave you. I understand this is difficult for you to comprehend, but I have always been here.” He said. "All will be revealed shortly. But first, I have a gift for you, a gift that will forever change your life."

The glow around him grew brighter, Jerryl felt the touch of his fathers embrace loosen as he reached into his robes. As his father withdrew his hand, he held a ring out to Jerryl. Examining it closely, he noticed it glowed with a faint blue light; made from a metal he had never seen before. He slid the ring onto his finger and immediately felt strength fill him — he sensed the presence of all things around him. It felt amazing!

"Your journey is just beginning son, but you will never have to be alone now." Looking down at the ring, then up again at his father, he rushed back to his arms to hug him.

"Now let's go wake your mother," he said.

Jerryl smiled with excitement and shook his head in agreement. Laughing with joy, he took as fathers hand realizing nothing after today would ever be the same again. His own adventure awaited him, and no day had ever looked brighter.

And they all lived happily ever after...

Blog #5: South Carolina

I am beyond disgusted — eyes welling up off and on this morning watching the news and throughout the evening after today's classes as I watched Rachel Maddow. I feel nauseated, crushed, and have to understand living in a country that once again will point the finger and yet do nothing. It horrifies me to see the lives of my fellow human beings ended. I am white, agnostic, gay, married to my wonderful husband for over 15 years, and feel nothing but gratitude and privilege to have wonderful friends, family and loved ones of every race, religion, relationship status, and sexuality. This is not a race issue, this is a human race issue.

Let's take a quick look at the Bill of Rights. Written in 1791, America had:

• Just come out of the Revolutionary War 8 years before
• Was in the middle of the Chickamauga War involving the Cherokee
• Was in the middle of the Northwest Indian War with Western Confederacy and Great Britain
• Just started the Whiskey Rebellion with frontier tax protesters
• Had 15 States
• Had 3 territories just east of the Mississippi
• Had 3 disputed areas with Spain and Great Britain
• Florida and the panhandle all the way over to the Mississippi was under Spain's Control
• EVERYTHING west of the Mississippi was still under Spain's control
• The entire Pacific Northwest was unclaimed
• Alaska was under Russian control

Now back to the Bill of Rights and specifically the 2nd Amendment, which reads: "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

Review the timeline again above. American existence was threatened by the North, South, East and West. The population was moving in masses westward (killing everything in its path, by the way). There was an understandable need to protect the free state. But where is the danger of the state being taken over now? Is Texas, or any other of the remaining 49 states in a security crisis of being wiped off the face of the map? Will Michigan just walk into Indiana and say it's theirs now? The need for citizens to have the right to bear arms has long been over. Frankly, I don't need the Supreme Court Justices or an army of lawyers and politicians in the back pocket of capitalism to convince me otherwise.

Why does government spew out crap for a week or two after a horrific act like this and nothing changes? Why is it always a time of mourning and reflection? How many months and years do we listen to politicians say "No More!"? How many times do we need to hear our leaders say we are the only country in the world where acts of cruelty and murder of this type are so high?

It's all about numbers. See the graphs below on gun sales and taxes in the U.S.

$15 BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE IN 2013, $74,450,000,000 TOTAL SINCE 2008

IN 2014, THE GOVERNMENT COLLECTED $6,654,725,428 

IN BUSINESS AND EXCISE TAXES.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics. Available online at: www.bis.gov/lau/home.htm 

Maybe the focus of attention should shift from obsession over The Kardashians, Rich Kids of Beverly Hills, American Idol, Red Carpet Events, and Selfies. The voice and pocket book of those who demand to carry guns is loud and large, and legislation is now allowing guns to be carried on college campuses under the guise of increased protection by numbers. I wonder who is giving our leaders the advice and statistics that make this sound like a good idea? Look above. For the few who truly care, it seems beyond overwhelming to find a platform to be heard while so many backs are turned to us. But let's keep trying!

Blog #4: Prison Within — Prison Without

I've watched Orange is the New Black rise to recognition and win major awards. I debated watching it as I came from the time of OZ on HBO and didn't want to invest my time in another show so similar, but involving the opposite sex. However, I diligently sat down in front of the TV earlier this week as required and dove into the series watching the first episode. If I'm going to get involved, I'm going to watch it from the start.

After I finished one episode, I immediately queued up the next as if I were a raving sex addict needing to get my porn fix. A few years ago, I did the same thing with Downton Abbey, going through 3 seasons in one sitting on a Saturday...yes I watch it, proudly. As soon as the assignment was given, the connection to Marxist analysis was certainly obvious. My thoughts on the deeper signs, symbols and meaning will be covered in my paper. But let's look at a few Marxist concepts immediately obvious as the text unfolded.

The prison system is dictated and shaped by those with the knowledge. Piper enters from a history of ideas and actions that were her own; she determined the direction of her life. She is now controlled by the Bourgeoisie (ruling class) who maintain the status quo. These "leaders" have the knowledge, the new have what the textbook calls "lack of mental production" and are therefore subject to the ruling class. The relationships are very similar to a person going off to boot camp. Piper is immediately stripped of her identity, she now has to learn the rules for survival.

Examine the very first scene where she enters the room she has been assigned. The women look around at each other, secrets abound, no one is willing to give up their information to help or guide. Each struggles to maintain their position in this caste system. You can witness this throughout the text, side glances and innuendoes, and the illusion of status is maintained as the class struggle continues.

The most interesting idea to explore is the textbook's description of the False Consciousness, "The ruling class make it their chief source of livelihood to develop and perfect the illusions of the class about itself." The concept of illusion is a highly intriguing statement in terms of the text. While analyzing the text, I had to ask myself who is truly the ruling class? How will the social classes destroy each other? Will there be a social revolution leading to socioeconomic cooperative of ownership? What about their life after prison? Undoubtedly the Marxist ideals will clash with the independent world we live in and ultimately destroy the individual. Below is a quote from author Kenneth E. Hartman and his book Fourth City: Essays from the Prison in America. Clearly the proletariat is destroyed by the prison without.

"Most prisoners are uneducated, riddled with unresolved traumas and ill-treated mental health problems, drug and alcohol addictions, and self-esteem issues far too often bordering on the pathological. The vast majority has never received competent health care, mental health care, drug treatment, education or even an opportunity to look at themselves as humans. Had any of these far less draconian interventions been tried… no doubt many of my peers would be leading productive lives. We internalize the separation and removal, the assumed less-than status, and hold up the idiotic and vainglorious pride we pretend to, like clown’s make-up, to hide our shame. In the end, the vast majority of us become exactly who we are told we are: violent, irrational, and incapable of conducting ourselves like conscious adults."

Here is a very interesting article from The Guardian that is worth reading. A small snippet below:

"Today, 164 years after Marx and Engels wrote about grave-diggers, the truth is almost the exact opposite. The proletariat, far from burying capitalism, are keeping it on life support. Overworked, underpaid workers ostensibly liberated by the largest socialist revolution in history (China's) are driven to the brink of suicide to keep those in the west playing with their iPads. Chinese money bankrolls an otherwise bankrupt America."

Blog #3: McKinney Teen Pool Party

As I watched the various news channels and coverage of the McKinney pool party that took this past week, it has been a struggle to voice any personal opinion. Most of the general public see this as another act of police violence against a minority group. Anyone who seems to have an opinion otherwise is publicly disparaged, including death threats being made against them.

In the firestorm of a degraded social structure, it is too easy to jump on the racism and police brutality bandwagon. I do agree there are many such incidents hot on the media agenda and American minds: Ferguson, Baltimore and violent outbreaks in many major cities across America.

How do the rest of us move forward as peace keepers and officers are no longer able to do their job and protect the public?  How can they when every move they make is captured on video, dissected by the public, and propagated as attacks by the media. Do we now buy extra locks for our doors, board up our windows, and barricade ourselves into the forced prison of our homes? Should every American now buy a gun in order to simply protect our right to live, to make it to the grocery store safely, to drop off our kids at school, to go to the movie theatre, or enjoy a meal out with friends?

The varying positions of CNN, BBC, FOX, NBC, CBS and MSN have been almost a collective powerhouse as it focused all attention on McKinney and formed opinions in the minds of the world for us. News media covers few topics and most often at a superficial level. They are constrained by time limits and ratings. Many complex news topics that warrant much more attention are shown in a scroll and sound bits along the bottom of the screen, often ignored by most. Anyone with a cell phone is now a self-proclaimed reporter, and the public gobbles every juicy bit as fast as possible. The rule of thumb has become report it now, even if it is not factual, and apologize about it later. The world has come to accept this standard, what does that say about humanity? There was a point in time when news broadcasters were bound by a law known as the Fairness Doctrine which required broadcasters to give equal time to opposing views of controversial topics. What would the news be like now if this law were still in effect? Would the pubic be able to make up its own mind or still allow the perceived dominating intellect to control our minds for us like they do now? Profit is the fundamental goal of any business and be assured, news is a business ready to twist our minds to make money. Check out this article on freepress.net, as well as the PBS report on seven massive media giants that control the news; we live under the "illusion of choice."

My opinion on McKinney? Let's just say I am in the minority; this is not about racism or over-abuse of power. Regardless of race, sex, creed, religion, etc., you respect the law or you face the consequences. I almost never listen to FOX News, as they are noted to be one of the most conservative news outlets with an intense bias toward one side, however I do agree with what Hannity stated this week:

"If you see an officer in the process of doing his job, you cannot come in behind him or at an angle that he can't see you. ... You've got to understand his mindset. He doesn't know if you have a gun, he doesn't know if you have a knife. You're right in his grill, you're within two feet of him. And that's a dangerous position to put yourself in..." 

Blog #2: Anathema – Self-Destruction by Brilliance

Sherlock, Episode 1: “A Study In Pink”

This show has been in my Netflix queue for some time now; it is exciting to have a reason to begin watching. As I began to watch, it immediately became a game for me; watching the show for pure entertainment versus an analytical viewpoint. The game ensued: what would I find, interpret, and analyze in my assessment in terms of semiotics?

As the show began, I enjoyed the small bit of history concerning Watson. In previous adaptations, I recall little to no references to his past. I learned of his loneliness, his injury, what he lost and how he came to be where he was living.  As the show progresses and the mystery takes hold, Watson and Sherlock meet in a lab and the relationship ensues. What is fascinating to observe is how the relationship between the two almost immediately took hold.

Sherlock is cold, uncaring, headstrong, reckless, obsessive, brilliant, psychotic, weak, lonely and in pain. Watson is warmer, concerned, cautious, gentle, protective, simple, strong, lonely and also in pain. A symbiotic relationship is formed and the qualities that would seem to repel most of us — such as North-North of two magnets — seem to bind the two together.

The two feed off of each other gaining strengths neither had before meeting. The most interesting were my observations of Sherlock’s weakness and Watson’s strength. While Sherlock is brilliant, a sign of his weakness took shape in the form of how he jumped into situations without thinking; his intellect pushed aside in order to reach an obsessive goal. Is this his Kryptonite? Watson moves slowly and decisively, he longs to be active yet is kept weakened by his limp, his cane and his symbol of strength — his gun.

Thankfully, he becomes the sidekick superhero he needs to be in the end to save Sherlock from his own destruction. The pink pill became a symbol of the destruction they both faced and which they both overcame. The two will now be inseparable in order to stay alive.

Blog #1: At least it's not dodgeball...

Hello Class! It would be cool to meet you all in person, but scanning the roster, I see I know some of you already from the past year of classes.

My name is Ryan Tyler, a first generation American from Michigan — my parents came from the former Yugoslavia to escape communism. I come from a very large family of 8 sisters and 4 brothers, I fall about in the middle. I moved to Dallas in 1988 and graduated from Richardson HS in 1990. I've been married for 15.5 years and currently live in downtown Lakewood. I grew up when we actually sat around the table together every morning and evening, and talked with each other. I played outside without worry, I just had to be home when the street lights came on. On school nights, we were in bed by 8pm.

After a semester of college in the fall of '90, I decided working was a better choice for me. I have been a graphic artist for 10 years, marketing manager for 7 and Director of Creative Services for the last 7 years. Feel free to browse my background on LinkedIn (links below). Due to the accelerated rate of decline of print graphics, my entire department was laid off last February. I decided to come back to school full-time to get my EMAC degree focusing on Social Media Marketing and UX/UI.

If I'm not on campus, I'm at Union Coffee or Mudsmith doing homework. I admit I am still quite old-school when it comes to getting my information. I watch the news every morning while getting ready for class. I listen to KRLD most of the time when I'm driving to and from class. I read BBC & NPR news on my iPhone, iPad or laptop. I only use Facebook and Twitter for my blog feeds, and Instagram for my random personal posts about twice a month. I find little value in letting my friends and family know what I'm having for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day or posting selfies every other minute. I prefer the phone or face-to-face conversation versus texting; but I'm working on that in the digital age.

Likes
I love sci-fi/fantasy movies, food (I'm vegan), the pool, and reading an actual physical book. My top 3 favorite vacations were Paris for 2 weeks during their Bastille Day; 2 weeks in Maui; and a 2 week driving trip from Dallas to Vancouver, down the west coast and back to Dallas by way of Carlsbad Caverns. I love being outside, and whenever possible I drive with the top down on my car. I like the snow as well and would ski over Spring Break; my favorite spot is Winterpark, CO.

Dislikes
Dodgeball — but in reality — all sports that require the use of a circular object; rude drivers, smoking, people who are unable to put their phone down for a few minutes while we have dinner, and listening to the use of the word "like" 50 times in a sentence.

My current favorite show is Younger on TVLand. I feel like I'll be in exactly the same situation when I graduate next year.

If you read my blog, you'll find a sample of my online "personality". I have not posted in a bit, school is extremely busy and I take 18 hours or more when I can. I don't want to be 50 when I graduate!

Oh, and I truly do want world peace; may I have my Mr. Congeniality sash now?

Blog: www.ryanptyler.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ryanptyler
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JourneyABalancedLife
Twitter: @ryanptyler
Instagram: @ryan_p_tyler