Change

People change. It happens all the time. But when I look back on the last five years of my life, it really amazes me how different I am from the person I was back then.

• Five years ago, I wanted to strengthen my faith and have some tangible thing to anchor my faith on during college, so I got baptized.
• Four years ago, I was totally uncomfortable living around people that had absolutely no interest in jpop and anime and boba.
• Two years ago I told my lab PI that I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of exposing people to sex pictures.
• A year ago, I was thinking maybe I didn’t want to be a doctor after all, and that it would just be a waste of time to go to my UCI interview.

Fast forward to today, where I am now an atheist, have come out to a number of friends, and am going to med school at UCI (and enjoying it so far). I now find it weird to hang out with mostly other Asians, although I still enjoy boba. I watched Shortbus yesterday — a film with lots of graphic sex — and loved it (sweetest film ever). And I totally wish I was less of a prude and had just done all the sex picture stuff for lab.

Add to that just being more confident in general (something I’m working on all the time), and all of the stuff that’s happened between my parents and me, and I’d say I’ve changed quite a lot.

Kirk Cameron vs. Atheists

ABC News’s web site has posted the video clips from the Nightline Face-Off, with Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron (from the banana video — see below) vs. Brian Sapient and Kelly from the Rational Response Squad.

I’ve been looking forward to this all last week, but the videos just make me cringe.

Christians — I thought you said you were going to prove God scientifically, without invoking faith or the Bible? I mean, I know you sincerely think that the Bible is true and all, but can you just step outside of that for one minute and imagine that, for some people, “the Bible says so” is not valid proof of anything?

Atheists — Can you be a little less loony, please? I’m talking to the audience members. You were just a little too belligerent and uncivil to portray atheism as a rational worldview. I’m sure you’ve suffered greatly and are angry at religion, but can you please step outside of that and take a look at how you appear to others? And even Brian and Kelly (not as much for her) should work on how they present themselves, although from what I’ve read, their arguments were right on.

Anyway, I don’t think either side was ideally represented, so the debate decided nothing. Let’s just enjoy the idiocy of the banana video again.

I can think of something else that has a “point at the top for ease of entry” and is “just the right shape for the human mouth.”

Could be worse…

How evil are you?

Well, “Handy Manny” does sound like a porno

I wonder about how this happened, but it’s pretty funny.

The Power of Blogging!

So now I have decided to harness the power of blogging for good.

I am participating in the Orange County AIDS Walk 2007, which is May 12. It’s a march through Anaheim and Angel Stadium, to benefit local clinics and AIDS service agencies, that provide treatment, housing, transportation, case management, and other services to people with AIDS in Orange County. And I need sponsors!

Even if you can donate only a little bit, I would appreciate it a lot. You can donate anonymously, and you can donate to the AIDS Walk directly, without sponsoring any one person. But just to let you know, I’ve only reached 50% of my goal.

My secure fundraising page.

Also, this Sunday, if you’re in the area, you can get a haircut from a top stylist for $20, and 100% of that will go to AIDS Walk 2007. Go to http://www.ocasf.org/aidswalk/oc/2007/reservations.htm for more details

Have a good weekend!