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After a bit of thought, I've finally decided to write about two abstract nouns for my topic this entry. I've also decided that I will write about once per month, towards the middle of the month. If there are no specific topics, I shall write about two abstract nouns. (Also depends on comments. I'd like at least 23 if possible)

There are probably some people reading this who are angered by these arrangements. You can email me at cubekiddo@aol.com or just comment with complaints. I'd like to hear what you have to say. Also song suggestions, etc. are also appreciated.

I'd like to briefly introduce the subjects of my latest entry. The two subjects are "serenity" and "greed". Such topics are unrelated, but I will discuss them in detail and how they apply to life and how they affect typical humans. I'll give a brief definition of the word, then start immediately going into examples. It may be a little disorganized at first, but this is the first I've written like this, so I apologize. Accurate punctuation keys are also impossible, so I regret that I will use my own. Hope they help.



[Serenity]

"Sehr-ehn-ity" n. The quality or state of being serene.

What does serene mean, you might ask? Serene is another word for peaceful. Anything that is peaceful, tranquil, quiet, or relaxing is said to have "serenity". Now that you understand what Serenity means, you should understand what I am to write below this.

Serenity is like when you walk outside of your house, and everything is quiet and peaceful. Maybe you hear a car going down the street, or a bird chirping. Serenity is also like when you're sitting at the beach. Or perhaps when you're taking a walk, or a bike ride. Usually you're in a good mood.

Serenity is a good thing for people to have. Sometimes the world is just really hectic and your siblings or parents are getting on your last nerve. Maybe you have a homework assignment or project due soon, and you just waited to do and now you're stressed out. If you're a philosopher, you know that serenity is required to think. Serenity is also required to sleep normally.

To get a task done, or to relieve yourself from stress, serenity can really help. You should try to get away from all distractions such as parents, siblings...etc. Then maybe you should watch a TV show you like, or maybe listen to music. That way you'll be able to clear your mind while working, or just to relax in general. Make sure you're in a comfortable environment. Maybe a comfortable chair, your bed, or a nice couch. If you're working, avoid an environment that might make you fall asleep. Once you achieve a serene environment, you will feel less stressed, and may get your work done more efficiently.

Also, the people under stress aren't the only one who can help themselves. People who know that someone is under stress can try to help, but if the stress victim wants to be left alone, leave them alone. Try not to bother stressed out people, being alone usually helps them. Try to move children or siblings who might be bothering them away, or suggest that the stress victim move to another location.

I hope that helps some people get their assignments done, or maybe they will finish their summer reading quicker so they have more time to finish their summer. However this may help, I hope it helps you in some way. You may think it is utter nonsense. Express your feelings with comments.

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[Greed]

"Grreed" n. Excessive or reprehensible acquisitiveness.

Now that sounds really complicated. I'm sure everyone knows what greed is, but I'm going to give a brief explanation anyway. Excessive or reprehensible acquisitiveness is really big, but if you break it down, it means getting too many things. Getting more than someone else for instance, or just taking something because you feel it is more important for you to have it than the previous owner.

Greed can be as simple as taking more than one cookie at a free sample plate that says "please take one". Greed can be getting multiple things, even though having more than one has no purpose other than to say you have more, or to prevent someone else from having one. Greed can also go as deep as invading a country and taking it over so that you can have all the land and resources.

The human race is full of greed. Every human feels greed at some point. I know someone reading this is going to say that they don't, but there has to be a point in everyone's lives where the submit to greed. Every human being has. That is one of the main reasons that the human race is destroying the planet and in doing so, setting off a time bomb that generations from now will have to suffer from. Of course humans right now have nothing to fear. Such humans living in this time period can just screw up Earth as much as they want, but they won't face the consequences. Our great-grandchildren will.

I think humans would all be better off if they stopped and thought of the consequences of taking something before actually taking it. When I say consequences, I mean good and bad consequences...

Ex. Destroying a forest for human needs. The good consequences for the human would be logging resources, land for housing development, shopping malls, roads, etc. All of those would benefit the human. The negative consequences exist, but the human has no need to worry about them. There are no downsides to the human wondering whether or not to destroy the forest. The negative consequences would be the animals losing their habitats. More people would be concentrated in one area, making more pollution for that area, in addition to traffic increase. Also, a consequence usually forgotten is that all the trees that would be destroyed lose all of their oxygen making functionality. Humans require oxygen to live, but destroying a forest is insignificant to a human's breathing requirements because there are plenty of plants around to use photosynthesis, which yields oxygen. Since none of those consequences will directly affect the human making the decision... That human would probably choose to log in that area. He would make a lot of money, and would not have to worry about any of the negative consequences.

That is how greed works in modern human society. Humans have always been greedy, and such other examples in history are slavery, Native American deaths by invaders, rainforest destruction, clear cutting forests... There are tons more. I'm a little foggy on memory right now, so you can comment with other human greeds.

You may ask why human greed differs from animal greed? Well, human greed is influenced by the ability to get what humans want. No animals have the ability to destroy an entire forest, or build large cities destroying habitiats. The reason humans can, is power. Power is another abstract noun that I will not discuss here, but humans get their power from two little things they have on their hands. Thumbs. With thumbs, humans could develop weapons, make fires, throw things, break things, etc. And that is how we evolved to become so greedy. Power.

Side note : Other primates with thumbs lack brain development that humans have to use them for other purposes.

So before you take something, or destroy something just for your own needs, think about ALL the consequences. If humans learn to stop their greed, the planet will actually have a chance to survive. Greed is destroying our planet, and I only ask that the reader of this entry thinks about what they have read and does not act upon greed as much as they have in the past. You can help others too. I hope this section written about greed helps people in some way.

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Anyway, I hope my first abstract noun entry worked out well. And I hope the readers are happy with what they have just read. Remember, complaints and criticisms are welcome. You can always comment, or email me using the address near the top if you do not have a Xanga.

Topic considerations are very useful to me. I'd like requests on other abstract nouns. Some other abstract nouns are: power, hate, deception, significance, hunger, passion, and probably a thousand more. I'd like any sort of request, and I hope I don't get many requests from this list, because that would be a bit shallow. Please think about some good ones before commenting. I refuse to write a topic about love or happiness. I am sorry, but such topics are too broad.

Criticism is useful, but please try and tell me how to be better, not just bash things that I've said that you disagree with. Give proof and back up what you have to say. I may delete comments I find off topic, but it depends on how off topic they are.

Congratulations are always welcome. But instead of saying I did a good job, please elaborate and tell me what you thought was good, so that in the future I can use the technique and possibly perfect it.

Lastly, I would very much appreciate any corrections on spelling, grammar, usage, and mechanics. I really wouldn't like people reading a writing that has such errors. I like what I write to be as simple to read as a book.

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To Eleanor :

I asked a "Magic 8-ball" if Magic 8-balls "work". The answer was "My sources say no." Apparently, they do not work, and people accept that. The people are the "sources." Hope that made some sense. Sorry for all the quotation marks. I hope it isn't too jumbled. I love you.

Steely O. Hawkins III

::

"When animals don't like something, they adapt to change it. When humans dislike something, they destroy it."

--SOH III

"That's exactly right Steely. That ant I stepped on over there was invading my space. I had to get rid of him"

--Greg Tanner



Sorry for the lack of quotes, but two unrelated topics make finding quotes related very difficult. Those quotes could apply to greed, or perhaps maybe just humans in general. You decide.