8 years ago
28 January 2008
27 January 2008
Struck Out
Saturday was spent with a visit downtown from my beloved Cousin Michael. We went to see 1981 French film "Diva," which was playing at the E Street Cinema for a reason I still do not understand. It was well done, and my cousin, the former Parisian expatriate, thoroughly enjoyed it, which counts for something.
After that, some friends and I ventured to a Sammy-affiliated house for a rush party. This is not to say that we intended to pledge, but rather we just sought out free dranks. Overall it was a good time, but one particular incident transpired that cannot be easily overlooked. In hindsight, no one can remember how it became conversation, but political ideology was inquired about by two sorority pledges. When it was disclosed that Rafik, Drew, and I had socialist ideals, they immediately terminated a dialogue between us. Cold-blooded, close-minded, and dressed in tacky maternity-style blouses, we didn't feel like we were losing too much in these two young ladies.
After that, some friends and I ventured to a Sammy-affiliated house for a rush party. This is not to say that we intended to pledge, but rather we just sought out free dranks. Overall it was a good time, but one particular incident transpired that cannot be easily overlooked. In hindsight, no one can remember how it became conversation, but political ideology was inquired about by two sorority pledges. When it was disclosed that Rafik, Drew, and I had socialist ideals, they immediately terminated a dialogue between us. Cold-blooded, close-minded, and dressed in tacky maternity-style blouses, we didn't feel like we were losing too much in these two young ladies.
23 January 2008
Free in the City
When people from home inquire if I like college, I routinely answer that 'of course I like college, the opportunities are plentiful.' This assertion has remained true with the advent of two free events that I have attended this week.
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Yesterday acclaimed NPR broadcaster Daniel Schorr promoted his book and gave a lecture at Politics and Prose bookstore. I was among the few young faces in the immense crowd, to the point that it took me 4 minutes to walk 50 feet to exit the store as a result of the elderly and their walkers. Despite the intimidation these folk impressed upon me with all of their wisdom and age, I managed to build up enough courage ask a question - "Speaking metaphorically, Mr. Schorr, which do you perceive to be better: the detached youth who can't get by without his iPod, or the NPR podcasts he is enabled to listen to?" to which he responded that he was unable to deliver a fair answer due to his unfamiliarity with modern technology. After the telling of several humorous anecdotes and a question and answer session, I was able to have him sign my Moleskine. Overall, it was pleasurable to hear a radio voice in person, and to see firsthand that, unlike Garrison Keillor, not all broadcasters have faces made for radio.
A different experience tonight - Kimya Dawson played a free set outside an Adams Morgan record store. It was enjoyable enough to see the hobo-chic (anti)folk singer in person, and I enjoyed the tunes.
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Yesterday acclaimed NPR broadcaster Daniel Schorr promoted his book and gave a lecture at Politics and Prose bookstore. I was among the few young faces in the immense crowd, to the point that it took me 4 minutes to walk 50 feet to exit the store as a result of the elderly and their walkers. Despite the intimidation these folk impressed upon me with all of their wisdom and age, I managed to build up enough courage ask a question - "Speaking metaphorically, Mr. Schorr, which do you perceive to be better: the detached youth who can't get by without his iPod, or the NPR podcasts he is enabled to listen to?" to which he responded that he was unable to deliver a fair answer due to his unfamiliarity with modern technology. After the telling of several humorous anecdotes and a question and answer session, I was able to have him sign my Moleskine. Overall, it was pleasurable to hear a radio voice in person, and to see firsthand that, unlike Garrison Keillor, not all broadcasters have faces made for radio.
A different experience tonight - Kimya Dawson played a free set outside an Adams Morgan record store. It was enjoyable enough to see the hobo-chic (anti)folk singer in person, and I enjoyed the tunes.
22 January 2008
Catholics Are An Attractive People
My mom awoke at 4 am to come to the District for the annual Right to Life march (to protest the anniversary of Roe v. Wade) and to give me money. In order to obtain said cash and see my mom and sister, I too had to get up at an unreasonable hour. It was a nice change to my daily routine to get up early and celebrate mass with family. It was also enjoyable to see Fr. Ted and talk politics with someone as solidified in his beliefs as him. Accordingly, there is no overpopulation problem and it's propaganda used to justify birth control. Interesting theory.
During mass, I was afflicted once again by my weakness--girls. It's hard to pay attention when there are cute ones around. This will probably always be a problem.
I am writing this post in Finite Mathematics class, which I am justifiably upset about paying for. Because of American's commitment to a liberal arts foundation, a mathematics course is required. This means that for someone as disinclined as myself, he is degraded to a review of middle school algebra. As Thom so correctly put it, I am taking "re-re math," because I am re-re-learning it. Should make for an easy A. After Rafik earned a 4.0 last semester, I was inspired to strive for the same. My first semester yielded a 3.78.
More to come, and hopefully before Friday's Finite class.
During mass, I was afflicted once again by my weakness--girls. It's hard to pay attention when there are cute ones around. This will probably always be a problem.
I am writing this post in Finite Mathematics class, which I am justifiably upset about paying for. Because of American's commitment to a liberal arts foundation, a mathematics course is required. This means that for someone as disinclined as myself, he is degraded to a review of middle school algebra. As Thom so correctly put it, I am taking "re-re math," because I am re-re-learning it. Should make for an easy A. After Rafik earned a 4.0 last semester, I was inspired to strive for the same. My first semester yielded a 3.78.
More to come, and hopefully before Friday's Finite class.
15 January 2008
14 January 2008
How Will the Red Butchers Dispose of Your Family?
The other day I went to Sam Records off the U Street Metro stop, where I purchased:
Communist Trickery by Dr. Fred C. Shwarz, some old anti-Commie propaganda
The Great March to Freedom by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Message to the Grass Roots from Malcolm X
happy listening indeed
Communist Trickery by Dr. Fred C. Shwarz, some old anti-Commie propaganda
The Great March to Freedom by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Message to the Grass Roots from Malcolm X
happy listening indeed
09 January 2008
To Avoid What Should Be Addressed
In light of what has transpired lately, namely my Global Exchange Reality Tour to Ecuador, I have gained insight into my long-term aspirations and immediate goals. Break has been going very well and it is relaxing to the utmost degree to be able to awake and know nothing is due that morning nor the next. I do not intend to address the profound impact that the vacation made upon for a couple reasons, the first being that I do not have the pictures to complement my words. I intend to make such an entry over the course of the next few days, complete with sets of both serious and humorous pictures, before things get too hot and heavy with my new coursework on Monday the 14. Until then . . .
I remember quite clearly when Rafik told me that the feature film, "In the Land of Women," featuring Adam Brody, was awful. I immediately told my sister his esteemed opinion when she opened the movie as a gift on Christmas morning. She insisted that she enjoyed the movie, and especially the soundtrack (which she proceeded to open only minutes later), but one needs to take into consideration that she is a heterosexual female*, and popular culture tells us that Adam Brody is a demi-god among teenage girls oriented heterosexually. Anyway, I decided that I should probably give the movie a chance, seeing that my sister insisted upon it, and I wanted to be able to discuss it with the OC-cult followers of American University. My opinion, which is quite critical of Brody and other set members, will undoubtedly shock them. The movie proved to be self-serving in the highest fashion, striving to come across as artistic and consequently imploding with superficiality and self-mockery. In fact, I couldn't even finish the movie before I decided that I needed blog about how awful it was. The highlight--the Mates of State song played during one of Brody's amorous highlights. Conclusively, I don't think this blog is the place to assign letter grades or numeric values to movies, but I highlight recommend you don't waste 97 minutes of your time solely in just to be able to gossip about something with some cute girls. Besides, you won't match up to Adam Brody in their eyes, anyway.
* This is where I take into consideration that among the faithful 5 or so blog readers I have, one of them might be a female and she may very well be bi- or homo-sexual. I applaud myself for this consideration.
I remember quite clearly when Rafik told me that the feature film, "In the Land of Women," featuring Adam Brody, was awful. I immediately told my sister his esteemed opinion when she opened the movie as a gift on Christmas morning. She insisted that she enjoyed the movie, and especially the soundtrack (which she proceeded to open only minutes later), but one needs to take into consideration that she is a heterosexual female*, and popular culture tells us that Adam Brody is a demi-god among teenage girls oriented heterosexually. Anyway, I decided that I should probably give the movie a chance, seeing that my sister insisted upon it, and I wanted to be able to discuss it with the OC-cult followers of American University. My opinion, which is quite critical of Brody and other set members, will undoubtedly shock them. The movie proved to be self-serving in the highest fashion, striving to come across as artistic and consequently imploding with superficiality and self-mockery. In fact, I couldn't even finish the movie before I decided that I needed blog about how awful it was. The highlight--the Mates of State song played during one of Brody's amorous highlights. Conclusively, I don't think this blog is the place to assign letter grades or numeric values to movies, but I highlight recommend you don't waste 97 minutes of your time solely in just to be able to gossip about something with some cute girls. Besides, you won't match up to Adam Brody in their eyes, anyway.
* This is where I take into consideration that among the faithful 5 or so blog readers I have, one of them might be a female and she may very well be bi- or homo-sexual. I applaud myself for this consideration.
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