Does "selflessness" even exist? It seems that selfishness and altruism come in an inseparable pair, and that even the most selfless acts contain, in themselves, a mode of self-interest.
Consider religion: people doing generous deeds, performing kindhearted, well-intentioned actions - but in the end, these actions are not selfless. On the contrary, they are performed very much so with the self at the center. "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you," reads the Bible (Luke 6:31), for example. Not "do good deeds because it's just the right thing to do," but "hey, you wouldn't like to be treated like that, would you?" Even the foremost document of "selfless" acts contains selfish motives - you want to help people.
Tuesday was a relatively inauspicious day. I woke up. I went to class. I came home around noon and called my buddy to go eat. He had an alternate suggestion, and we ended up drinking lunch. We staggered outside utterly blitzed at two in the afternoon. Since my stumbling was down to a minimum, I walked to the nearest vehicle and used a pistol to bust open the driver's window and, subsequently, his skull.
Many Yolo County residents have ridden down County Road 98 to observe both Putah Creek's wonderful contribution to the wildlife and its demise as a damaged ecosystem. In an effort to improve and preserve the creek's beauty and viability, several independent and campus wildlife groups have teamed up to grow native plants to modify Putah Creek toamorenatural state.
Since Apr.22,serving trays have not been made available to Tuesday diners at theUC Davis dining commons.This move,whichwill continue for at least the rest of the year,is expected to cut water and electricity usage from daily washing and deter customers from taking more food than they can eat.
I love Rage Against the Machine.When I was a pissed off13-year-oldmiddle class white male living in suburbia,their anti-establishment lyrics and angst ridden music appealed to me instantly.But just as I began to actuallyunderstand their lyrics,the lead singer left the band.That day ranks among the worst of my life,right up there with the death of Mitch Hedberg and the day I found out the Power Rangers weren't real.
In the end, Senator Obama suffered a marginal defeat in Indiana while conjuring an overwhelming victory in North Carolina. But the match as a contest was over a while ago.A string of consecutive victories guaranteed Obama's pledged delegate leadastheoretically unassailable.With his latest triumph, however, bloggers, newscasters and the Drudge Report - the premier portal of breaking news - arefinallycalling Obama "the nominee." The curtains,for once, are truly drawing to a close.
On selflessnessVirtual unrealitiesMay 8, 2008
Editoral: Human impacts will be overturnedEditorial: Losing trays not worth losing sleepRage Against the bellsA heroic endChildren at playMay 7, 2008
Relationship talkLost and foundMay 6, 2008
Editorial: Hospital foodOn friends, part IIOld dog, old tricksA warm welcomeMay 5, 2008
Questions aboundingGone greenDoggone Walk-a-Thon fundraises for Yolo County SPCAMay 2, 2008
Adam's pathNot-quite-magic school bus
