Why are so many people Rhinotillexomaniacs?

In February 1995, an article titled "Rhinotillexomania: Psychiatric Disorder or Habit?" appeared in "The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry." That article was based on a study drawn up by James Jefferson and Trent Thompson, and the data that was collected is so, um, interesting to me that I just had to analyze it.

First off, rhinotillexomania is the medical term for the act of picking one's nose. I actually looked it up the other day because I had just been watching a little kid picking her nose seemingly at her own leisure. Honestly it was quite gross, but somehow my mind seemed to randomly settle on the question of whether or not there was an official medical term for the common practice. What I also discovered was that is a practice that is actually quite common.

In fact, in my, um, studies, I was surprised to learn that approximately 91% of the adults surveyed declared that they actively practiced rhinotillexomania, while the other 9% claimed that they had never done it in their lives (it has since been deduced that they must either have been lying or simply could not remember themselves doing it as a child).

Anyhow, all this information led me to my question, "so why do so many people pick their nose?"

After more studying, I found my answer. The truth is that rhinotillexomania is something to do when one is bored, needs to pass time, nervous, or even uncomfortable up there. More often than not, the person involved may not even realize he or she is practicing rhinotillexomania, they are simply doing it because they can, and they need to do something with their hands! The easiest way to rid oneself of this problem is simply to give the hands something to do, and to keep doing things.

So, don't be alarmed if you catch yourself picking and flicking, just put your hands to good use and you'll be fine.


For more information concerning rhinotillexomania, or nose picking in general, Google search rhinotillexomania and search freely all the information that becomes available.

Why do countries have so many different names?

I hate it that every country in this world has a different name in a different language. It is so ridiculous and so confusing. It would be so much easier if, like Carolus Linneaus' binomial nominclature (giving organisms scientific names that can be recognized by scientists anywhere), we simply called each country by what it's people or government call it.

For example, I will use the country known in English as Morocco. It's official name is المملكة المغربية(which sounds like Al-Mamlaka al-Maghribiya). But in other languages, the country's name is quite different. In France, it's Maroc. In Spanish-speaking countries, it's Marruecos. In German, it's Marroko. In Portuguese, it's Marrocos. All these different names refer to one country that doesn't even call itself that.

The list goes on with many other country names as well. Norway to the Norwegians is Norge. Spain to the Spaniards is Espana.

The different names of the different countries in the different languages of the world only succeeds in creating more confusion. It would be so much more politically correct and polite if we would refer to the different countries and their different peoples by the name they call themselves. It's unfair to give the different people in this world a name that has nothing to do with them and only exists because it is easier to say for the people who speak a different language different from their own.

Humans = Animals?????

So, my second blog is focused on blasting dogs and their stupidity when it comes to obedience. Well, this week, I came to the realization that humans share many similar principles of obedience with animals.
So I was in a class recently where the only way the teacher could get the students to listen to him was to feed them candy. How stupid is that???? (Although, I do have to admit that I too was engaged in the frenzy)
Why is it that every animal will listen if it is offered food, even when the food will only last them a short while????
The answer is simply that we all like food and we all need it to survive. When someone is willing to nourish us, even if it is only temporary, we will do anything to make that person happy, so long as it ensures our being filled and ultimately our survival. Often, however, it doesn't occur to us consciously that we are being obedient because of the food we are being offered, though it does occur to our minds and our bodies subconciously. The result is salivation and hunger pains- both being signs of a body that wants food, even though we, ultimately, may not necessarily need it.
Food succeeds in getting us to obey, though only while it is offered. In my so called studies with the dog I walk I've noticed that it will only walk with me if I give it food. If I forget to bring food with me, I am not guaranteed a walk with the dog. So, if ever you, the reader, are teaching or speaking or something that requires discussion with the audience, you'd best have some food with you so you get the attention and the discussion you need.

The Necessity of Secularism

While I was recently attending a class in my high school, a student brought up the subject of our secularist government (secularism is the political term used to describe the separation of church and state). She began to declare what she believed the United States would be like if all secularist principles were abolished and religion was suddenly government endorsed. Obviously in favor of a religious government, she began to argue how great a nation the United States would be if that religion was Mormonism. I respect this girl (which is part of the reason why I will not say her name), but I must contradict her argument and state why our nation must be secularist, even though I fear that some of my peers may feel differently.
The separation of church and state fully allows agency and freedom to exist in our nation. By that I mean that if government and religion were combined, many of our political ideals would be tainted. If the government were to support one religion, while leaving out the others, conflict and civil strife would almost certainly erupt due impart because of federal, state, and local prejudices. People would be discriminated against. Human rights violations would erupt left and right. I would even dare to say that another Civil War could possibly tear our country to pieces. The proof is everywhere in both history and in the world today. Even now, rumor of a civil war breaking out in Iraq between the Sunnis and the Shi’a is beginning to arise. This is simply because the Iraqis are used to an old government that favored one religion and suppressed the other. The ridiculous thing about this conflict is that both groups are Muslim- they are just different sects of it. History supports the importance of secularism, also. As one example, the Spanish reconquista in Spain during the late 15th century illustrates the “superiority” of one religion over all the rest only because the monarchs of that time were Catholic, and obviously endorsed that religion. The result was forced emigration, torture, war, and the massacring of thousands of Muslims and Jews. The problems of non-secularist governments continue in countries like Iran, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, even the Vatican City, and conflicts that have lasted for decades are still going on between Israel and Palestine, and other countries because of religion that is government endorsed. Think of how much more reasonable union on an international scale would be if all governments were to participate in and actively practice secularism. So many more conflicts would be solved and so many more lives would be saved if respectful secularism was a real resolution of every nation. However, at least for now and into the near future, I know that such a political ambition is, unfortunately, unrealistic. At least I can be happy that my country and still many others adhere to such idealistic principles!

Dating "protocols" are STUPID!!!!

So my friend got asked on a date by this girl that drives me INSANE! She and he had this sorta "thing" going last year (they weren't girl and guyfriend, though) but it ended later that year. So what does that have anything to do with this blog you might ask? Well, on Friday she decided to ask him on a date, after the sorta "thing" they sorta had going had totally ended. My friend wanted my advice regarding whether or not he should go. I told him to simply tell her no. But he's too nice, understands the rules of dating protocol, and understands how hard it can be to ask someone out, so he told her yes, he'd go with her. My reaction to his response was simply laughter...and I still laugh at him being a total SUCKER (even though I would have said yes, had I been in his situation, too!:) ).
Well I didn't think anything of it for the rest of the day, until after school an announcement came over the intercom. "HEY GUYS, TONIGHT CHANNEL 2 NEWS WILL BE REPORTING AND RECORDING THE FOOTBALL GAME, SO ALL YOU BRUIN CRAZIES BETTER SHOW UP!!!!!!"
Again you may be asking, "well so what???" Well, my buddy and I are HUGE BRUIN CRAZIES!!!!!!!!!!!! If he wasn't going on that stupid date, we could rally all our pals together, totally deck out, and be shown on TV at the game!!!! Dating ethics SUCK!!!!!!