It was exciting to experience my first real winter (and snow!) but I can't wait for Spring to permanently arrive. The past couple weeks we have been teased early on (73 on Tuesday) but then the weather seems to settle back into the 40s later on. I've almost forgotten what it was like walking to work in the summer heat. The subway cars are always a source of repreive...in the winter from the cold and in the summer from the heat. How did people live here 100 years ago?
Been doing a handful of fairs these past couple of weeks. Mostly in NJ but last night in Queens. I'm really looking forward to two weekends from now, when I head out to California for three weeks. Oh, and I'm looking forward to next week when Mary (and her brother Damien) come to the city. New Jersey this weekend to see the Clark clan for the first time since Thanksgiving (wow). My next month and a half are going to be nuts.
Can't wait to see all the California people!
Friday, March 30, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
The writing on the Harvard bathroom wall
Spent St. Patrick's Day in Boston. Very nice city, although I wish I had more time to walk around and enjoy it, and I wish it hadn't been as cold. I look forward to coming back sometime in the summer.Early Sunday morning Mary and I hopped on the T and headed over to Cambridge and Harvard Square. We walked around the campus a bit (which overall didn't impress me that much, but it was interesting to reflect on the history of the school) before ducking into a coffee shop in Harvard Square. I had to laugh when I went to use the restroom and noticed what was written on the walls. No plethora of "for a good time call.." or "I f--ked so-and-so here" for those Harvard kids. This was a classier bathroom wall with witty musings or meaningless phrases on life and philosophy (for example, "Immanuel Kant...and never could" - how clever). So yes, even the bathroom walls at Harvard are better than your bathroom walls.
Walking around the campus just made me start to think about my future. Maybe it was just the concept of potential that got me thinking. Students at Harvard have unlimited potential, and furthermore, greatness is expected of them. Obviously, I'm not Harvard-quality, but I feel like great things have always been expected of me (by myself and others) and am questioning whether where I am is where I really want to be. I have a good job and am going to grad school for free, but if I'm going to spend the time and effort shouldn't I make sure it's spent on something I truly want to do. I'm starting to feel less and less like education is a field that I ultimately want to end up in.
So I need to start exploring. I need to start writing more to keep my skills sharp. I need to start looking at graduate programs that interest me. I don't know if I'll pursue anything I find, but it's worth the look.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Has '24' jumped the shark?
Warning: Do not read this article if you are a "24" fan and have not watched through the February 26 episode ("4:00PM-5:00PM") or if you don't want a few spoilers from previous seasons.
For five time-ticking, heart-stopping, breath-taking seasons, FOX's hit drama "24" has been one of the smartest, most exciting series on television. Jack Bauer has become a household name. It's season premiere each January is a major television event. I have long been one of the shows biggest fans, and I still am. So now I find myself surprised to be asking this question: has "24" jumped the shark?
For those unfamiliar with the term, "jumped the shark" is used to describe a television show that has hit its creative peak. It is often used to decribe long-airing shows that tapered off during their final years. With five and almost a half seasons in the can, it's safe to ask this question for "24."
For years, "24" was the show that pushed the envelope. It seemed that each season brought a terrifying new threat, element or thrill. Season one debuted the season's defining elements: the real-time narrative and the fact that no major character, no matter how sympathetic, is safe. In season two the threat was escalated to a national level. In season three, the threat was partially carried out. Season four saw a completely reinvented and rejuvinated cast and a larger set of villians, and season five went as far as they could go by making the President himself a culprit in the plot.
It's almost as if "24" is sealing its own fate by trying to get bigger every season. By continually making the threats bigger and bigger, the bad guys badder and badder, and Bauer darker and darker, the writers of "24" have set a course that must inevitably end in failure because there comes a point at which bigger can no longer be better.
That point may well be this season. I won't recount all of it's events for the sake of brevity, but most of the shows plot elements have simply been repeats of prior episodes. A nuclear bomb explodes? Done in season two. Jack Bauer must somehow make a return to active duty? Done in seasons two, four and five. Inside plots in the White House? Two and five. It's all the same. Reed Pollack's plan to eliminate Wayne Palmer to put the V.P. in charge mirrors Mike Novick's plan to oust David Palmer in season two. Gredenko using the Arabs to take the fall for his plot is exactly what Peter Kingsley and Max have already done in season two.
The most exciting moment in the season so far - the nuclear explosion - has already been done, before and the show's next exciting moment was also a repeat. Sure, the bomb incapacitating Wayne Palmer this week so that the V.P. can take over was exciting, but we've already seen that, in season four when an attack on Air Force One put Charles Logan in charge.
There are also several, potentially intriguing plot elements that seem to just be ignored. How has the country been able to not rip apart admist 5 (now 6) different presidents in eight years, and a dozen terrorist strikes within that span? And why (besides producer Joel Surnow being an ultra-conservatve) does torture continue to always work for Jack Bauer? Why can Jack Bauer do anything, anytime? Think of the amazing plot twists that could be if the nation erupted into riots, if CTU followed a lead from a tortured suspect only to see that lead proven false, or if Jack somehow failed at something and collapsed under the weight of the past eight years?
But that's the problem with "24" this season. In place of innovative new ideas, they simply take old ones and make them bigger and bigger. In short, the creative spark that made "24" so good may be starting to leave.
What can they do to fix this? It's too late the adjust season six, so season seven needs a major overhaul. Instead of making everything "bigger and better," the writers should create a threat that is smaller, more acute. Shift the focus to the people making the decisions, make it a more character-driven show. Return the show to it's roots, season one, when the threat was smaller and not known to the public and suspense was created not by the amount of explosions, but by how the characters were forced to deal with the circumstances around them.
"24" is still one of the better shows on television. But even the best shows sometimes need to tweak their formulas, lest they risk becoming stale and uncreative or, in short, jumping the shark.
For five time-ticking, heart-stopping, breath-taking seasons, FOX's hit drama "24" has been one of the smartest, most exciting series on television. Jack Bauer has become a household name. It's season premiere each January is a major television event. I have long been one of the shows biggest fans, and I still am. So now I find myself surprised to be asking this question: has "24" jumped the shark?
For those unfamiliar with the term, "jumped the shark" is used to describe a television show that has hit its creative peak. It is often used to decribe long-airing shows that tapered off during their final years. With five and almost a half seasons in the can, it's safe to ask this question for "24."
For years, "24" was the show that pushed the envelope. It seemed that each season brought a terrifying new threat, element or thrill. Season one debuted the season's defining elements: the real-time narrative and the fact that no major character, no matter how sympathetic, is safe. In season two the threat was escalated to a national level. In season three, the threat was partially carried out. Season four saw a completely reinvented and rejuvinated cast and a larger set of villians, and season five went as far as they could go by making the President himself a culprit in the plot.
It's almost as if "24" is sealing its own fate by trying to get bigger every season. By continually making the threats bigger and bigger, the bad guys badder and badder, and Bauer darker and darker, the writers of "24" have set a course that must inevitably end in failure because there comes a point at which bigger can no longer be better.
That point may well be this season. I won't recount all of it's events for the sake of brevity, but most of the shows plot elements have simply been repeats of prior episodes. A nuclear bomb explodes? Done in season two. Jack Bauer must somehow make a return to active duty? Done in seasons two, four and five. Inside plots in the White House? Two and five. It's all the same. Reed Pollack's plan to eliminate Wayne Palmer to put the V.P. in charge mirrors Mike Novick's plan to oust David Palmer in season two. Gredenko using the Arabs to take the fall for his plot is exactly what Peter Kingsley and Max have already done in season two.
The most exciting moment in the season so far - the nuclear explosion - has already been done, before and the show's next exciting moment was also a repeat. Sure, the bomb incapacitating Wayne Palmer this week so that the V.P. can take over was exciting, but we've already seen that, in season four when an attack on Air Force One put Charles Logan in charge.
There are also several, potentially intriguing plot elements that seem to just be ignored. How has the country been able to not rip apart admist 5 (now 6) different presidents in eight years, and a dozen terrorist strikes within that span? And why (besides producer Joel Surnow being an ultra-conservatve) does torture continue to always work for Jack Bauer? Why can Jack Bauer do anything, anytime? Think of the amazing plot twists that could be if the nation erupted into riots, if CTU followed a lead from a tortured suspect only to see that lead proven false, or if Jack somehow failed at something and collapsed under the weight of the past eight years?
But that's the problem with "24" this season. In place of innovative new ideas, they simply take old ones and make them bigger and bigger. In short, the creative spark that made "24" so good may be starting to leave.
What can they do to fix this? It's too late the adjust season six, so season seven needs a major overhaul. Instead of making everything "bigger and better," the writers should create a threat that is smaller, more acute. Shift the focus to the people making the decisions, make it a more character-driven show. Return the show to it's roots, season one, when the threat was smaller and not known to the public and suspense was created not by the amount of explosions, but by how the characters were forced to deal with the circumstances around them.
"24" is still one of the better shows on television. But even the best shows sometimes need to tweak their formulas, lest they risk becoming stale and uncreative or, in short, jumping the shark.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Presidential primary history
The above article is just a little history lesson about the GOP and the Democrat's choosing of their presidential candidates. The gist of it is that Rudy Guiliani, being the front-runner for the GOP right now, has a good shot at being the nominee since Republican's tend to go with their front-runners. Hillary Clinton, however, could be vulnerable because the Democrats are not as decisive early on and front-runners tend to falter (i.e. Howard Dean in 2004).
My initial thoughts are that the Republican party is largely homogeneous: predoninantly white, middle to uppper-class, and Protestant. A GOP candidate can play to that base early on and cruise to victory. The Democrats, on the other hand, have a largely fractured base. A candidate must try to balance the competing pieces, such as the anti-war people, the gay community, the labor forces or the African-American community to name a few, and often times stumble along the way.
In 2000 George Bush was able to satisfy the Republican base early on with his "compassionate conservative" message, and never let go. In 2004, however, Howard Dean may have played too much to one part of the Democratic base, the anti-war part, leaving primary voters to go with the presumably safer choice of John Kerry.
There are a lot of factors, but that's just what I thought of when I saw this. I've always said that the GOP has been better at party discipline the last decade or so primarily because their party has less diversity of opinions in the base, allowing them to easily rally beind a single message. Thoughts?
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Message from the cold
Man its been cold here lately. The windchills have been below zero the past couple of days, which isn't as bad as I expected but certainly making me ready for spring more and more. Overall I'm enjoying the winter, but I wish there were more snow. Just not when I drive (more on that below).
Lately it's been a lot of the same old, same old. Work has become pretty routine in terms of just reading applications as they come. Some days I have a full 7.5 hours of work, while others I seem to idle around because I've gotten it all done. I was officially the first one out of the road for the Spring, thanks to a lone winter national fair in Pittsburgh last week. I foolishly thought that I'd rather just drive there (it's about 6 hours) than fly. The drive in was nice, but the drive back on Friday kicked my butt. It snowed/rained the entire way, which meant it took me longer, and it was draining - not something you want after 10 hours of college fair duty.
It was back to the office and routine yesterday. I don't travel much until March, when I have a few scattered fairs in New Jersey. April, however, get's really exciting. I'll be in SoCal for a week and a half and NorCal for another week and a half, which I'm way excited about. And yes, I do get to do the college fair at Saint Mary's so I'll hopefully get a chance to say hi to SMC folk while I'm there. I'm looking forward to going, although its created some complications...
...being that I've started taking classes in Counseling here at Manhattan. I've already had to drop one of my two classes due to my travel schedule, so I'm just kind of testing the waters right now in terms of this program. I don't even know if I want a degree in counseling, and even if I do, whether or not I'll be able to finish the program.
Anyways, between class and actually trying to work out, I've found myself with less free time, which I guess has been good.
On a final note, here's an interesting link I found: Manhattan Elsewhere. Some guy went to Google Maps and figured out what the island of Manhattan looks like, size wise, compared to other (mostly) major cities. I found the comparison to San Francisco intriguing. Manhattan looks so tiny by comparison: it fits between Oakland and S.F., S.F.'s financial district is easily as wide as Midtown Manhattan, and Golden Gate Park is bigger than Central Park. It's pretty weird, and if you've been to New York you might agree with me: Manhattan doesn't feel that small. It certainly doesn't feel smaller than San Francisco. Maybe its the taller buildings, maybe its the constant crush of people, maybe its the faster pace of life, but compared to San Francisco, Manhattan seems much, much, much bigger. Any thoughts?
Lately it's been a lot of the same old, same old. Work has become pretty routine in terms of just reading applications as they come. Some days I have a full 7.5 hours of work, while others I seem to idle around because I've gotten it all done. I was officially the first one out of the road for the Spring, thanks to a lone winter national fair in Pittsburgh last week. I foolishly thought that I'd rather just drive there (it's about 6 hours) than fly. The drive in was nice, but the drive back on Friday kicked my butt. It snowed/rained the entire way, which meant it took me longer, and it was draining - not something you want after 10 hours of college fair duty.
It was back to the office and routine yesterday. I don't travel much until March, when I have a few scattered fairs in New Jersey. April, however, get's really exciting. I'll be in SoCal for a week and a half and NorCal for another week and a half, which I'm way excited about. And yes, I do get to do the college fair at Saint Mary's so I'll hopefully get a chance to say hi to SMC folk while I'm there. I'm looking forward to going, although its created some complications...
...being that I've started taking classes in Counseling here at Manhattan. I've already had to drop one of my two classes due to my travel schedule, so I'm just kind of testing the waters right now in terms of this program. I don't even know if I want a degree in counseling, and even if I do, whether or not I'll be able to finish the program.
Anyways, between class and actually trying to work out, I've found myself with less free time, which I guess has been good.
On a final note, here's an interesting link I found: Manhattan Elsewhere. Some guy went to Google Maps and figured out what the island of Manhattan looks like, size wise, compared to other (mostly) major cities. I found the comparison to San Francisco intriguing. Manhattan looks so tiny by comparison: it fits between Oakland and S.F., S.F.'s financial district is easily as wide as Midtown Manhattan, and Golden Gate Park is bigger than Central Park. It's pretty weird, and if you've been to New York you might agree with me: Manhattan doesn't feel that small. It certainly doesn't feel smaller than San Francisco. Maybe its the taller buildings, maybe its the constant crush of people, maybe its the faster pace of life, but compared to San Francisco, Manhattan seems much, much, much bigger. Any thoughts?
Friday, January 26, 2007
The GOP's '08 enthusiam problem
Sure, its a bit early to take a look at the 2008 election. I personally thought it ridiculous when Wolf Blitzer was dedicating a segment of his show to analyzing polls for an election 21 months away.
So understanding that things will almost certainly change, I think one of the initial observations one can glean from the early, early stages of the campaign is what may turn out to be a huge problem for the Republicans: enthusiasm.
If there is one thing that is true about U.S. elections these days, it's that they're close. Bush 43's majority in 2004 was 51% to Kerry's 49%. He didn't win a majority (or a plurality) in the well-scrutinized 2000 election. Clinton never won a majority. Bush 41 won 53% in 1988. So for the past twenty years, the difference in elections has been mainly about two things: winning the independents and turning out your base.
Disregarding the fact that the 2006 election showed that independents are leaning Democrat these days, the GOP may be setting itself up for a large turnout problem in 2008.
If you look closely at the top three Democratic candidates right now - Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards - along with the top three Republican candidates - Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Mitt Romney - an interesting pattern emerges.
All of the candidates have their flaws. On the Democratic side, Clinton is too cold and calculated, Obama too inexperienced, and Edwards has been out of office for two years. With the Republicans, Giuliani is too liberal, McCain too wrong on the war (at least currently), and Romney a Mormon - not a flaw of course but sadly more of a problem in the eyes of the evangelical Christian Republican base than, say, Clinton's being a woman or Obama's being black is to the Democratic base.
The difference comes down to the fact that despite their "flaws," each of the Democratic candidates seems to elicit an enthusiasm among the Democratic base that the Republican candidates do not. All of the Democratic primary talk is focused on how each of these candidates can overcome the overwhelming support of the other two. All of the Republican primary talk is focused on how each of these candidates can garner any Republican support at all.
Obama and Edwards voters may not support Hillary in the primary, but they will almost certainly vote for her in the general election should she be the candidate. If Giuliani wins the Republican primary, it's harder to see supporters of the more socially conservative Romney voting for him rather than just staying home, and visa versa.
Essentially we have a reversal of the 2004 election, magnified. John Kerry was not a candidate who could excite Democrats who would otherwise stay home to vote. Bush, on the other hand, rallied his conservative base to the polls and they carried him to victory. Bush was thus able to win despite even the fact that independents leaned slightly towards Kerry.
Again, it's important to remember that a lot can change in 21 months. But if enthusiasm continues to be a problem for the Republican candidates, give an early advantage to the Democrats in 2008.
So understanding that things will almost certainly change, I think one of the initial observations one can glean from the early, early stages of the campaign is what may turn out to be a huge problem for the Republicans: enthusiasm.
If there is one thing that is true about U.S. elections these days, it's that they're close. Bush 43's majority in 2004 was 51% to Kerry's 49%. He didn't win a majority (or a plurality) in the well-scrutinized 2000 election. Clinton never won a majority. Bush 41 won 53% in 1988. So for the past twenty years, the difference in elections has been mainly about two things: winning the independents and turning out your base.
Disregarding the fact that the 2006 election showed that independents are leaning Democrat these days, the GOP may be setting itself up for a large turnout problem in 2008.
If you look closely at the top three Democratic candidates right now - Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards - along with the top three Republican candidates - Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Mitt Romney - an interesting pattern emerges.
All of the candidates have their flaws. On the Democratic side, Clinton is too cold and calculated, Obama too inexperienced, and Edwards has been out of office for two years. With the Republicans, Giuliani is too liberal, McCain too wrong on the war (at least currently), and Romney a Mormon - not a flaw of course but sadly more of a problem in the eyes of the evangelical Christian Republican base than, say, Clinton's being a woman or Obama's being black is to the Democratic base.
The difference comes down to the fact that despite their "flaws," each of the Democratic candidates seems to elicit an enthusiasm among the Democratic base that the Republican candidates do not. All of the Democratic primary talk is focused on how each of these candidates can overcome the overwhelming support of the other two. All of the Republican primary talk is focused on how each of these candidates can garner any Republican support at all.
Obama and Edwards voters may not support Hillary in the primary, but they will almost certainly vote for her in the general election should she be the candidate. If Giuliani wins the Republican primary, it's harder to see supporters of the more socially conservative Romney voting for him rather than just staying home, and visa versa.
Essentially we have a reversal of the 2004 election, magnified. John Kerry was not a candidate who could excite Democrats who would otherwise stay home to vote. Bush, on the other hand, rallied his conservative base to the polls and they carried him to victory. Bush was thus able to win despite even the fact that independents leaned slightly towards Kerry.
Again, it's important to remember that a lot can change in 21 months. But if enthusiasm continues to be a problem for the Republican candidates, give an early advantage to the Democrats in 2008.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Three strikes, Bonds is out!
Bonds reportedly failed amphetamine test - Baseball - MSNBC.com:
People on the East Coast have often asked me how I feel about Barry Bonds. I don't know how they know I'm a Giants fan. Could be the Giants calendar that's been in my office since August. Or the bobblehead that sits on my desk. Whatever. Anyway, I've always told them, "conflicted." I thought, I would say, that he was guilty of taking steroids. But then again, I would add, so were a good deal of other players and it was unfair to single Bonds out. Besides, he's on my team. Laker's fans root for Kobe, right? The French still adore Zinedine Zidane, right? Actually they could hate him. I didn't full fact check that one. I digress.
But as for Bonds and I, no more.
Apparently he tested positive for amphetamines. Strike one. Now, amphetamines aren't steroids. They're little pills that pep you up. Take them before a game, give you good energy. Like coffee, but without the peeing and upset stomach. Players have been using them for years. Even Willie Mays was known to have them. That doesn't make them right, but like the first strike, it's not too harsh of a count against a player.
He tested positive for them last season, after they were banned by MLB. Strike two. Bonds showed a flagrant disregard for the rules of baseball on this one. Taking the pills before they were banned is one thing. Taking them after they were banned, especially after one has denied any and all baseball wrongdoing before, is a sign of one who believes he is so great as to be above the rules.
Bonds was in a tough position here. An 0-2 count can be precarious. The public is willing to throw a few outside the zone, but one miss and its back to the dugout.
Bonds then proceeded to blame an innocent team mate, Mark Sweeney, for providing him with the pills. Ladies and gentlemaen, a big, BIG, swinging strike three. Barry could have gained back some of his lost respect by owning up to what he had done and facing the consequences. Maybe his career would have been done, maybe he wouldn't ever get Hank Aaron's all-time home run record, but he would still have a good shot at the Hall of Fame. Nothing counts more against a great player's entry into baseball's shrine than character. Ask Pete Rose.
No, instead of owning up to his mistakes, Bonds said that he stole a bottle out of Sweeney's locker and took what was inside without knowing what they were. You get the idea.
Dante reserves the lowest circle of hell for those who betrayed friends. Judas, Brutus, and the lot. Nothing is lower in sports than trying to turn your own team mate into a scapegoat. Few thought Barry could sink lower in terms of personal character. Barry just lowered the bar for them.
If someone asks me now what I feel about Barry Bonds, I think I have a more clear-cut answer. I want him out of baseball. I want him off my team. The Giants still haven't finalized their $16 million contract with him. If they have any respect for the integrity of the game, they'll end negotations and force Bonds to fruitlessly look elsewhere, effectively forcing him into retirement.
Bonds has had a long career, one full of more successes than most players dream of. He got a lot of cheers from me. But not anymore. He may have over 700 long-balls in his career, but this time he's struck out big time.
"NEW YORK - Barry Bonds failed a test for amphetamines last season and originally blamed it on a teammate, the Daily News reported Thursday.
When first informed of the positive test, Bonds attributed it to a substance he had taken from teammate Mark Sweeney%u2019s locker, the New York City newspaper said, citing several unnamed sources.
"I have no comment on that," Bonds' agent Jeff Borris told the Daily News on Wednesday night."
People on the East Coast have often asked me how I feel about Barry Bonds. I don't know how they know I'm a Giants fan. Could be the Giants calendar that's been in my office since August. Or the bobblehead that sits on my desk. Whatever. Anyway, I've always told them, "conflicted." I thought, I would say, that he was guilty of taking steroids. But then again, I would add, so were a good deal of other players and it was unfair to single Bonds out. Besides, he's on my team. Laker's fans root for Kobe, right? The French still adore Zinedine Zidane, right? Actually they could hate him. I didn't full fact check that one. I digress.
But as for Bonds and I, no more.
Apparently he tested positive for amphetamines. Strike one. Now, amphetamines aren't steroids. They're little pills that pep you up. Take them before a game, give you good energy. Like coffee, but without the peeing and upset stomach. Players have been using them for years. Even Willie Mays was known to have them. That doesn't make them right, but like the first strike, it's not too harsh of a count against a player.
He tested positive for them last season, after they were banned by MLB. Strike two. Bonds showed a flagrant disregard for the rules of baseball on this one. Taking the pills before they were banned is one thing. Taking them after they were banned, especially after one has denied any and all baseball wrongdoing before, is a sign of one who believes he is so great as to be above the rules.
Bonds was in a tough position here. An 0-2 count can be precarious. The public is willing to throw a few outside the zone, but one miss and its back to the dugout.
Bonds then proceeded to blame an innocent team mate, Mark Sweeney, for providing him with the pills. Ladies and gentlemaen, a big, BIG, swinging strike three. Barry could have gained back some of his lost respect by owning up to what he had done and facing the consequences. Maybe his career would have been done, maybe he wouldn't ever get Hank Aaron's all-time home run record, but he would still have a good shot at the Hall of Fame. Nothing counts more against a great player's entry into baseball's shrine than character. Ask Pete Rose.
No, instead of owning up to his mistakes, Bonds said that he stole a bottle out of Sweeney's locker and took what was inside without knowing what they were. You get the idea.
Dante reserves the lowest circle of hell for those who betrayed friends. Judas, Brutus, and the lot. Nothing is lower in sports than trying to turn your own team mate into a scapegoat. Few thought Barry could sink lower in terms of personal character. Barry just lowered the bar for them.
If someone asks me now what I feel about Barry Bonds, I think I have a more clear-cut answer. I want him out of baseball. I want him off my team. The Giants still haven't finalized their $16 million contract with him. If they have any respect for the integrity of the game, they'll end negotations and force Bonds to fruitlessly look elsewhere, effectively forcing him into retirement.
Bonds has had a long career, one full of more successes than most players dream of. He got a lot of cheers from me. But not anymore. He may have over 700 long-balls in his career, but this time he's struck out big time.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Tres holidays
It's been awhile since I've posted. I guess when you fall out of habit of blogging it's hard to get back into it. So what's happened to me the past five weeks? Mary's come and gone, twice. The LVs have come, the JVs have come. I've spent Thanksgiving in New Jersey, Christmas in California, and New Year's Eve in Brooklyn. Where to start?
Mary and I have certainly been spoiled by the holidays. We had five straight days together over Thanksgiving weekend and ten total days together over the Christmas break. I think being in a long-distance relationship that works can be, while painful, really good for the relationship in a sense. You don't really appreciate how much someone means to you until you have to live without them for weeks at a time. I don't know how long-distance relationships worked before cell phones, e-mail and instant messanger.
The same way goes, I feel, for home - both the loved ones at home and the place itself. I was amazed by how much I appreciated being "home" in the college sense. That is, you know you don't live there anymore but you still feel so comfortable there. I quickly forgot that I had an apartment, a job, and a whole life 3,000 miles away. Zach Braff described the seemingly haphazard plot of "Garden State" as being just like actually going home: there's no set order to what happens, you just seem to bounce from place to place to place without a plan. It's both saddening and comforting those brief hours (or minutes) you see old friends. Saddening to realize that you can only really connect with these people once or twice a year, comforting to know that the friendship is strong enough to suffer because of that.
Likewise, coming back to New York wasn't that big of a deal. Like going home, there was no "well, I'm home" or "I can't believe I live so far away" or anything like that. As small and cluttered my apartment is, it's my new home and I feel comfortable there as well.
I never thought I'd have a chance to experience New Year's Eve in Times Square. I never thought I'd pass it up to go to Brooklyn. I'm glad I did. The Jesuit Volunteers are a fun bunch, and I hope to get to know better the ones who live here in New York City. It was all so simple: some Chinese food, a few beers, and a rooftop with a clear view of the Manhattan skyline on a clear night were all that were needed to ring in 2007.
Besides, Mary and I decided to save Times Square for next year.
So after an eventful week and a half, it will be weird to start the normal routine again tomorrow. I really don't know how productive I'm going to be at work tomorrow (sorry Kevin). I'm going to try to post more often, but I want to get past this "here's what I did today" phase. Have any ideas on something to write about?
Mary and I have certainly been spoiled by the holidays. We had five straight days together over Thanksgiving weekend and ten total days together over the Christmas break. I think being in a long-distance relationship that works can be, while painful, really good for the relationship in a sense. You don't really appreciate how much someone means to you until you have to live without them for weeks at a time. I don't know how long-distance relationships worked before cell phones, e-mail and instant messanger.
The same way goes, I feel, for home - both the loved ones at home and the place itself. I was amazed by how much I appreciated being "home" in the college sense. That is, you know you don't live there anymore but you still feel so comfortable there. I quickly forgot that I had an apartment, a job, and a whole life 3,000 miles away. Zach Braff described the seemingly haphazard plot of "Garden State" as being just like actually going home: there's no set order to what happens, you just seem to bounce from place to place to place without a plan. It's both saddening and comforting those brief hours (or minutes) you see old friends. Saddening to realize that you can only really connect with these people once or twice a year, comforting to know that the friendship is strong enough to suffer because of that.
Likewise, coming back to New York wasn't that big of a deal. Like going home, there was no "well, I'm home" or "I can't believe I live so far away" or anything like that. As small and cluttered my apartment is, it's my new home and I feel comfortable there as well.
I never thought I'd have a chance to experience New Year's Eve in Times Square. I never thought I'd pass it up to go to Brooklyn. I'm glad I did. The Jesuit Volunteers are a fun bunch, and I hope to get to know better the ones who live here in New York City. It was all so simple: some Chinese food, a few beers, and a rooftop with a clear view of the Manhattan skyline on a clear night were all that were needed to ring in 2007.
Besides, Mary and I decided to save Times Square for next year.
So after an eventful week and a half, it will be weird to start the normal routine again tomorrow. I really don't know how productive I'm going to be at work tomorrow (sorry Kevin). I'm going to try to post more often, but I want to get past this "here's what I did today" phase. Have any ideas on something to write about?
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
What I've learned
Travel season is what probably drives most admissions counselors from this job after only a couple years. Oh, that and the extremely, extremely low pay.
A rolling suitcase probably would have been useful.
Washing my car is futile.
While New Jersey is known for Newark (the shitty place across the river from New York City) and Camden (the shitty place across the river from Philadelphia) the rest of it is actually quite nice.
Driving in New Jersey, however, always sucks.
Most guidance counselors are just people who are angry that they're guidance counselors.
Students need to have the following things beaten into them: 1) You can't major in football/basketball/etc., 2) 2.0 will not get you into college, and 3) just because we're in New York doesn't mean we have Fashion Merchandising or Interior Design as a major.
Sidenote: don't major in Fashion Merchandising or Interior Design. You'll simply lack a fallback when you don't get the job you want.
Parents need to have the following things beaten into them: 1) Stop asking questions for your kid, 2) stop asking questions for your kid, and 3) please, for the love of God, you're not going to college stop asking questions for your kid.
No matter what happened in "The Office," there is no Chili's in Scranton, PA.
Atlantic City is where Las Vegans must go if they want to feel sleazy.
High schools will apparently still let strange men in suits wander around the halls dragging an unmarked black rolling suitcase.
Do I sound jaded? More to come possibly...
A rolling suitcase probably would have been useful.
Washing my car is futile.
While New Jersey is known for Newark (the shitty place across the river from New York City) and Camden (the shitty place across the river from Philadelphia) the rest of it is actually quite nice.
Driving in New Jersey, however, always sucks.
Most guidance counselors are just people who are angry that they're guidance counselors.
Students need to have the following things beaten into them: 1) You can't major in football/basketball/etc., 2) 2.0 will not get you into college, and 3) just because we're in New York doesn't mean we have Fashion Merchandising or Interior Design as a major.
Sidenote: don't major in Fashion Merchandising or Interior Design. You'll simply lack a fallback when you don't get the job you want.
Parents need to have the following things beaten into them: 1) Stop asking questions for your kid, 2) stop asking questions for your kid, and 3) please, for the love of God, you're not going to college stop asking questions for your kid.
No matter what happened in "The Office," there is no Chili's in Scranton, PA.
Atlantic City is where Las Vegans must go if they want to feel sleazy.
High schools will apparently still let strange men in suits wander around the halls dragging an unmarked black rolling suitcase.
Do I sound jaded? More to come possibly...
Friday, November 10, 2006
Notes from all over
Just some notes about all sorts of things.
First, a non-partisan observation about Tuesdays election:
A lot of pundits are debating whether Democrats won on Tuesday or Republicans lost. They only need to look to the Northeast, to two of our smallest states, to get the answer to that question. Take Rhode Island and Connecticut. In Rhode Island, Lincoln Chafee, the most moderate Republican in the Senate and the only Republican in the Senate to vote against the War in Iraq, was ousted from his seat. In Connecticut, Joe Lieberman, a strong supporter of the war and of President Bush, staved off a challenge from a farther-left Democrat, Ned Lamont. Even though Lieberman ran as an Independent, he is well known as the long-time Democratic Senator from Connecticut. Chafee, the more liberal of the two, was ousted because he is a Republican. Lieberman, a supporter of the war, was kept because he was a Democrat. The label mattered more than the voting record. So now, Republicans need to start questioning what made voters so angry at their party (maybe their ultra-extreme neoconservative, Christian Right agenda?), and Democrats need to realize that tuesday was less about them and more about George Bush and Republicans (Jon Stewart accurately decribed the Dems election strategy as "slowly leaving the room while your older brother is getting yelled at).
Recent albums that I'm listening to:
"Wincing the Night Away" by the Shins.
Technically not available until Jan. 23 (thank you Aman), The Shins third major release surpasses anything they've done before, and solidifies my impression that The Shins are possibly the "Arrested Development" of the rock world: highly critically acclaimed and loved by the fans that they have, but not widely listened to. By the way, if you've seen "Garden State," you've heard The Shins ("Oh my God, you have to hear this one song, it will change your life"). On "Wincing," lead singer and songwriter James Mercer explores darker themes than before, including a single about two lesbians from a small town that just can't understand them ("Phantom Limb," their first single off of the album available on iTunes Tuesday). Once again, I'm just taken aback by Mercer's lyrics, asking myself where in the hell he pulls this stuff out of, and realizing, as Aman said last year, that maybe it's just "poetry beyond our comprension." Some lines from my favorite song, Austrailia:
Dare to be one of us, girl,
Facing the Andrum's conundrum,
Ah, I feel like I should just cry,
But nothing happens every time I take one on the chin,
You’re humoring your cote,
You don't know how long I've been,
Watching the lantern dim,
Starved of oxygen,
So give me your hand,
And let's jump out the window.
Half the fun is figuring out what the hell the songs are about. Still working on that one, but if you want a good value for your 99 cents, buy "Phantom Limb" on iTunes Tuesday - and let me know what you think!
Some shorter reviews:
"Unfold" by Andrew Heringer
I was introduced to Heringer by my brother, mainly because Herigner attends the same college as my brother. Heringer's music is part jazz, part pop, part singer-songwriter, and part rock. Think John Mayer meets Billy Joel (because Heringer is adept at both piano and guitar) meets Dave Matthews Band (not as hard rock as DMB, but its the willingness to use nonconventional rock instruments such as violin and sax that counts). My impulses tell me that he's going to be huge someday, but music is such a tough business, you never know. Still, he's just as talented (or perhaps more so) than anything that's on any Adult Alternative radio station out there (think Alice, SF people). If you like rock or AC, check out Heringer. Also, on iTunes.
"The Last Five Years"
Another one that my brother gave me, this time a few months ago that I just got around to listening to. A musical about a couple, Jamie and Kathy, who meet, get married and divorce over the course of five years. Except Jamie tells the story forwards in time, starting at their first date, and Kathy tells it backwards, starting from the day Jamie moves out. Most of the show is in solliloquy form, and in fact the only time the two sing together or even appear together on stage is during their wedding, when the disjointed narratives connect for just a few moments. Overall, while the story itself is nothing too out of the ordinary, it's the way it is told that keeps you interested (as there are many facts about the relationship you don't find out until the last few songs). The music is very reminiscent of Steven Sondheim, which is a good thing.
Anyways, besides that:
Seeing Borat tonight!
Travel is almost over (a week and a half more!).
Looking forward to Thanksgiving.
My back hurts.
It gets dark on the East Coast way too early (like, 5:00 right now).
I'm happy it's the weekend.
First, a non-partisan observation about Tuesdays election:
A lot of pundits are debating whether Democrats won on Tuesday or Republicans lost. They only need to look to the Northeast, to two of our smallest states, to get the answer to that question. Take Rhode Island and Connecticut. In Rhode Island, Lincoln Chafee, the most moderate Republican in the Senate and the only Republican in the Senate to vote against the War in Iraq, was ousted from his seat. In Connecticut, Joe Lieberman, a strong supporter of the war and of President Bush, staved off a challenge from a farther-left Democrat, Ned Lamont. Even though Lieberman ran as an Independent, he is well known as the long-time Democratic Senator from Connecticut. Chafee, the more liberal of the two, was ousted because he is a Republican. Lieberman, a supporter of the war, was kept because he was a Democrat. The label mattered more than the voting record. So now, Republicans need to start questioning what made voters so angry at their party (maybe their ultra-extreme neoconservative, Christian Right agenda?), and Democrats need to realize that tuesday was less about them and more about George Bush and Republicans (Jon Stewart accurately decribed the Dems election strategy as "slowly leaving the room while your older brother is getting yelled at).
Recent albums that I'm listening to:
"Wincing the Night Away" by the Shins.
Technically not available until Jan. 23 (thank you Aman), The Shins third major release surpasses anything they've done before, and solidifies my impression that The Shins are possibly the "Arrested Development" of the rock world: highly critically acclaimed and loved by the fans that they have, but not widely listened to. By the way, if you've seen "Garden State," you've heard The Shins ("Oh my God, you have to hear this one song, it will change your life"). On "Wincing," lead singer and songwriter James Mercer explores darker themes than before, including a single about two lesbians from a small town that just can't understand them ("Phantom Limb," their first single off of the album available on iTunes Tuesday). Once again, I'm just taken aback by Mercer's lyrics, asking myself where in the hell he pulls this stuff out of, and realizing, as Aman said last year, that maybe it's just "poetry beyond our comprension." Some lines from my favorite song, Austrailia:
Dare to be one of us, girl,
Facing the Andrum's conundrum,
Ah, I feel like I should just cry,
But nothing happens every time I take one on the chin,
You’re humoring your cote,
You don't know how long I've been,
Watching the lantern dim,
Starved of oxygen,
So give me your hand,
And let's jump out the window.
Half the fun is figuring out what the hell the songs are about. Still working on that one, but if you want a good value for your 99 cents, buy "Phantom Limb" on iTunes Tuesday - and let me know what you think!
Some shorter reviews:
"Unfold" by Andrew Heringer
I was introduced to Heringer by my brother, mainly because Herigner attends the same college as my brother. Heringer's music is part jazz, part pop, part singer-songwriter, and part rock. Think John Mayer meets Billy Joel (because Heringer is adept at both piano and guitar) meets Dave Matthews Band (not as hard rock as DMB, but its the willingness to use nonconventional rock instruments such as violin and sax that counts). My impulses tell me that he's going to be huge someday, but music is such a tough business, you never know. Still, he's just as talented (or perhaps more so) than anything that's on any Adult Alternative radio station out there (think Alice, SF people). If you like rock or AC, check out Heringer. Also, on iTunes.
"The Last Five Years"
Another one that my brother gave me, this time a few months ago that I just got around to listening to. A musical about a couple, Jamie and Kathy, who meet, get married and divorce over the course of five years. Except Jamie tells the story forwards in time, starting at their first date, and Kathy tells it backwards, starting from the day Jamie moves out. Most of the show is in solliloquy form, and in fact the only time the two sing together or even appear together on stage is during their wedding, when the disjointed narratives connect for just a few moments. Overall, while the story itself is nothing too out of the ordinary, it's the way it is told that keeps you interested (as there are many facts about the relationship you don't find out until the last few songs). The music is very reminiscent of Steven Sondheim, which is a good thing.
Anyways, besides that:
Seeing Borat tonight!
Travel is almost over (a week and a half more!).
Looking forward to Thanksgiving.
My back hurts.
It gets dark on the East Coast way too early (like, 5:00 right now).
I'm happy it's the weekend.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Shut Up and Sing
I really want to see this movie, "Shut Up and Sing." It documents the Dixie Chicks after they made their now-infamous comments about President Bush. I don't really listen to them a whole lot but it looks really interesting. And I didn't know it was coming out until just today (it opened in NYC) so I thought I'd spread the word. I've always found it amazing that the people who claim to be the most patriotic are the ones who are seemingly so willing to limit the reaches of free speech. Anyways, I think that's what the movie is about, and it is a very interesting debate.
Sorry for being so politicky lately. I promise once I finish travel season I'll move this stuff to another blog.
Out.
Sorry for being so politicky lately. I promise once I finish travel season I'll move this stuff to another blog.
Out.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
"What are you doing out here?"
That's by far the question I get most from other people (not college-related) throughout my travels. I guess it surprises people so much when they find out I'm from the West Coast. Most people go the other way, they say. Why would you leave California for here (especially now that temperatures haven't been out of the 50s in two weeks)? Then, since that's apparently the most interesting thing about me, the conversation about California begins. They'll talk about how they have a relative in LA ("No, that's nowhere near where I'm from), how they've visited in the past ("Why did you go to LA?") or how they'd like to visit ("Come to San Francisco, not to LA). Despite all of my vanities, I really don't like always talking about myself to everyone I meet. The joke goes that people don't like tourists but once they find out you're from California you're a god. I guess it's kind of true. Not the god extreme, but once they find out where I'm from it's hard to get them off of the subject.
Also, I should apologize to anyone who may have been offended by my comments about New Jersey (if any were). I should clarify that I do not enjoy driving so much in New Jersey, and my comments should be seen as in no way a reflection upon the people who live here. It can also be a quite pretty state in many places (mostly those where no one lives).
I'm back in New Jersey this week for travel in Central Jersey, if there is such a distinction (as opposed to North or South Jersey). The weather has been getting colder, but I've kind of enjoyed that. Fall on the East Coast is everything everyone said about it and more. The trees have been beautiful for the past few weeks, and I do enjoy the crisp air. There is something nice about putting on a sweater and a jacket and heading out. I probably won't be saying the same thing in two months when I need to put on several sweaters, a jacket, a scarf, a beanie, long underwear and boots just to head outside, but for now I've loved it. And call me crazy, but I'm looking forward to the first snowfall here (maybe this weekend!) - so long as I don't have to drive in it!
Where it was absolutely beautiful was Syracuse, which I visited for the first time this weekend. I got to see Mary, which in itself is worth any drive anywhere, but I also got to see where she lives and meet all of her roomates. Taking her words the first time she saw my apartment in the city, it made everything "real" for me. For two months as we talked on the phone she would talk about where she lived and who she lived with. Now I am able to visualize her life there. Friday night we had a great dinner and then went to a brewery in downtown Syracuse ($2 beers!). Saturday Mary and I went for a hike and then a nice drive through some very pretty areas. Saturday night was calm and relaxing, and it was sad to say goodbye on Sunday. I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving where we will have more than 2 days to spend with each other.
There were a few more things I wanted to post about but I can't really remember them right now. After the travel season I think I'll probably start a political blog to 1) speak my mind freely about current events, about which I am still passionate and 2) keep my writing skills honed should I ever try to return to journalism. For now, my current event is Barack Obama saying that he is considering running for president in 2008. I was quite excited to read that news. I think Obama, despite the lack of experience (although neither Abraham Lincoln nor Woodrow Wilson had much experience before being elected) represents the type of politics Americans are looking for. He is liberal, but there is more of a "common-man" liberalism about him. People seem to respect that he understands their concerns on a genuine level. He is also not a polarizing figure like Hillary Clinton or even John McCain. I just hope he pursues this goal.
Also, I should apologize to anyone who may have been offended by my comments about New Jersey (if any were). I should clarify that I do not enjoy driving so much in New Jersey, and my comments should be seen as in no way a reflection upon the people who live here. It can also be a quite pretty state in many places (mostly those where no one lives).
I'm back in New Jersey this week for travel in Central Jersey, if there is such a distinction (as opposed to North or South Jersey). The weather has been getting colder, but I've kind of enjoyed that. Fall on the East Coast is everything everyone said about it and more. The trees have been beautiful for the past few weeks, and I do enjoy the crisp air. There is something nice about putting on a sweater and a jacket and heading out. I probably won't be saying the same thing in two months when I need to put on several sweaters, a jacket, a scarf, a beanie, long underwear and boots just to head outside, but for now I've loved it. And call me crazy, but I'm looking forward to the first snowfall here (maybe this weekend!) - so long as I don't have to drive in it!
Where it was absolutely beautiful was Syracuse, which I visited for the first time this weekend. I got to see Mary, which in itself is worth any drive anywhere, but I also got to see where she lives and meet all of her roomates. Taking her words the first time she saw my apartment in the city, it made everything "real" for me. For two months as we talked on the phone she would talk about where she lived and who she lived with. Now I am able to visualize her life there. Friday night we had a great dinner and then went to a brewery in downtown Syracuse ($2 beers!). Saturday Mary and I went for a hike and then a nice drive through some very pretty areas. Saturday night was calm and relaxing, and it was sad to say goodbye on Sunday. I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving where we will have more than 2 days to spend with each other.
There were a few more things I wanted to post about but I can't really remember them right now. After the travel season I think I'll probably start a political blog to 1) speak my mind freely about current events, about which I am still passionate and 2) keep my writing skills honed should I ever try to return to journalism. For now, my current event is Barack Obama saying that he is considering running for president in 2008. I was quite excited to read that news. I think Obama, despite the lack of experience (although neither Abraham Lincoln nor Woodrow Wilson had much experience before being elected) represents the type of politics Americans are looking for. He is liberal, but there is more of a "common-man" liberalism about him. People seem to respect that he understands their concerns on a genuine level. He is also not a polarizing figure like Hillary Clinton or even John McCain. I just hope he pursues this goal.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Why I hate New Jersey
Why I hate New Jersey:
1) You can't make left turns (previously opined upon)
2) There is construction everywhere (which is ironic, because the roads are still horrible).
I'm just upset because these two facts combined for me tonight on the way home, as I was forced to drive five miles past my hotel because construction eliminated all of the u-turn spots near it.
Other ways the travel gods were against me tonight:
1) Torrential downpour of rain
2) Someone pulled the fire alarm at the school I was at tonight, forcing us to stand out in the rain for over half an hour
I just find it weird that the East Coast, with all of it's extreme weather, has really bad roads. Also, even their major roads and freeways don't have street lights.
I guess I'm just a little road weary. It's another marathon two-week go for me. More visits tomorrow and Friday, work on Saturday, fair on Sunday, and back at in on Monday.
1) You can't make left turns (previously opined upon)
2) There is construction everywhere (which is ironic, because the roads are still horrible).
I'm just upset because these two facts combined for me tonight on the way home, as I was forced to drive five miles past my hotel because construction eliminated all of the u-turn spots near it.
Other ways the travel gods were against me tonight:
1) Torrential downpour of rain
2) Someone pulled the fire alarm at the school I was at tonight, forcing us to stand out in the rain for over half an hour
I just find it weird that the East Coast, with all of it's extreme weather, has really bad roads. Also, even their major roads and freeways don't have street lights.
I guess I'm just a little road weary. It's another marathon two-week go for me. More visits tomorrow and Friday, work on Saturday, fair on Sunday, and back at in on Monday.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Left turn: next right
If you ever drive in New Jersey, remember this: if you want to turn left off of a major road, you must make a right turn. It's driving me crazy. All left turns on these streets are like freeway exits, so you have to make a right turn and loop around to the street you want to turn onto. Also, you can't turn left when there's not an intersection, so if your destination is on the left side of the road, you have to drive past it, turn right, loop around, make a left turn back onto the street you were just on in the direction you just came from, and then proceed to your destination. What is wrong with New Jersey?
I guess they make it up by not making you pump your own gas.
So my first consortium this week. It's great. Fifteen schools in the Red Bank area (about an hour south of NYC) in New Jersey get together, work out a college fair schedule all on their own, and all you have to do is show up. You get to meet more kids than a regular presentation and also you get to socialize with the other counselors.
The problem with that, however, is if you end up being, due to the alphabet, next to a really annoying counselor, you're stuck with them all week. The two counselors to the left of me have been great, but to the right of me has been an older (looks like late 50s) counselor who talks a lot and really doesn't seem to understand that what he says could be offensive. Very offensive. He's well intentioned - knowing I'm a rookie he's been giving me road tips - but still, can get annoying and uncomfortable - and racist. A few examples:
Today, my talking about living in California led to talk about Schwarzenegger, then Reagan, then Bush. This guy is as rabid of a Democrat as I am, but didn't seem to think that talking about politics might not be appropriate when trying to recruit students.
Consistently referring to some schools as "black schools." For example, saying that a school used to be good but now it has gone downhill since it has become a "black school" in a "black area." What he's trying to say, I think, is that the areas have become poorer, and generally consisting of more minorities, and thus the schools have become poorer. But how he says it just comes out as ignorant and racist.
At one of the "black schools," saying after a, shall we say, "well-endowed" and curvaceous young woman: "she's got a body."
When talking about Boston, saying it is a great city because they've kept the blacks in certain parts of the city, thus making the other areas safe to walk around it.
So needless to say, the next three days of standing next to this guy are going to be not fun at all.
After the fairs today went down to the beach for a while before it got too cold. It was the first time I had really been to the Atlantic Ocean. So I guess it's kind of cool that I've been to both oceans now. It was very nice - to the north you could see the skyscrapers of Manhattan, and to the south the shore disappeared in the distance. It was good to get out and see it, if not just to get out of the hotel room.
After getting my beach fix, I turned right and headed left, back to my hotel.
I guess they make it up by not making you pump your own gas.
So my first consortium this week. It's great. Fifteen schools in the Red Bank area (about an hour south of NYC) in New Jersey get together, work out a college fair schedule all on their own, and all you have to do is show up. You get to meet more kids than a regular presentation and also you get to socialize with the other counselors.
The problem with that, however, is if you end up being, due to the alphabet, next to a really annoying counselor, you're stuck with them all week. The two counselors to the left of me have been great, but to the right of me has been an older (looks like late 50s) counselor who talks a lot and really doesn't seem to understand that what he says could be offensive. Very offensive. He's well intentioned - knowing I'm a rookie he's been giving me road tips - but still, can get annoying and uncomfortable - and racist. A few examples:
Today, my talking about living in California led to talk about Schwarzenegger, then Reagan, then Bush. This guy is as rabid of a Democrat as I am, but didn't seem to think that talking about politics might not be appropriate when trying to recruit students.
Consistently referring to some schools as "black schools." For example, saying that a school used to be good but now it has gone downhill since it has become a "black school" in a "black area." What he's trying to say, I think, is that the areas have become poorer, and generally consisting of more minorities, and thus the schools have become poorer. But how he says it just comes out as ignorant and racist.
At one of the "black schools," saying after a, shall we say, "well-endowed" and curvaceous young woman: "she's got a body."
When talking about Boston, saying it is a great city because they've kept the blacks in certain parts of the city, thus making the other areas safe to walk around it.
So needless to say, the next three days of standing next to this guy are going to be not fun at all.
After the fairs today went down to the beach for a while before it got too cold. It was the first time I had really been to the Atlantic Ocean. So I guess it's kind of cool that I've been to both oceans now. It was very nice - to the north you could see the skyscrapers of Manhattan, and to the south the shore disappeared in the distance. It was good to get out and see it, if not just to get out of the hotel room.
After getting my beach fix, I turned right and headed left, back to my hotel.
Monday, September 18, 2006
First travel trip almost over
Tonight is my last night in Pittsburgh. I actually enjoyed my stay in the city quite a bit. Pittsburgh I think gets kind of a bum rap (kind of like New Jersey) but it's for the most part a nice city. It's extremely scenic, because it's so hilly (almost as much as San Francisco!). I did my one touristy thing today and went up the Duquesne Incline - technically a public transit method - which is a cable car that scales Mt. Washington and gives an amazing panoramic view of the Ohio, Allegheny and Monogahela Rivers, the "Golden Triangle" downtown at the covergence of the Three Rivers, the sports comlexes along the rivers, and the hills all around the city. I'll post a picture once I get home and can upload one.
Some interesting things about Pittsburgh: 1) despite the amazing amount of bridges and tunnels, there are no tolls to cross any of them (what a thought!); 2) it is the worst city I've ever driven in (yes, worse than New York) because there is no rhyme or reason to the streets, the lights are horribly timed, and there are few if any directional signs; 3) driving is further complicated by the fact that freeway onramps have stop signs, so you have to come to a complete stop before merging onto the freeway; 4) it gets very foggy in the mornings here; 5) there is construction on basically every road.
So what did I do today? Woke up at the crack of dawn to drive to a high school about 15 miles north of the city for a presentation, then a second high school about 15 miles east of the city, and then a third school about 15 miles northwest of the city (well-planned, I know). Despite my anxieties, the presentations went well, except for the last school, at which no one showed up. Tomorrow I have two more schools to visit, and then the long, long drive home.
At dinner tonight (TGI Friday's) I was listening to a conversation between the bartender and another person about Islam and the war on terror, etc. The bartender just kept saying things like "they want to kill you and your family and so we need to just blow them up before they blow us up or we won't win." It just blew me away how uninformed he was. If I was less disiplined maybe I would have cut in and said something like:
"You can't win. You can't win the war on terror. That's not the point. It's not meant to be won, it's meant to be perpetuated so that we'll spend more money on defense. There will always be people who hate us, and there will always be people who want to destroy us. That comes with being the most powerful nation in the world. But don't say that they hate us because they hate our freedom because that's not the case. They have wants and needs and desires and we better figure them out soon because right now we're not making any new friends by blowing up their poorest countries. We can't win, so we can either keep killing civillians in Iraq and Afghanistan, or we can start working to alleviate some of the problems that cause terrorism so that terrorist is less attractive to a young, rebellious 18-year-old Musilm man."
Do you ever get the feeling that you're just more clued in than almost everyone around you? That's how I feel these days.
Some interesting things about Pittsburgh: 1) despite the amazing amount of bridges and tunnels, there are no tolls to cross any of them (what a thought!); 2) it is the worst city I've ever driven in (yes, worse than New York) because there is no rhyme or reason to the streets, the lights are horribly timed, and there are few if any directional signs; 3) driving is further complicated by the fact that freeway onramps have stop signs, so you have to come to a complete stop before merging onto the freeway; 4) it gets very foggy in the mornings here; 5) there is construction on basically every road.
So what did I do today? Woke up at the crack of dawn to drive to a high school about 15 miles north of the city for a presentation, then a second high school about 15 miles east of the city, and then a third school about 15 miles northwest of the city (well-planned, I know). Despite my anxieties, the presentations went well, except for the last school, at which no one showed up. Tomorrow I have two more schools to visit, and then the long, long drive home.
At dinner tonight (TGI Friday's) I was listening to a conversation between the bartender and another person about Islam and the war on terror, etc. The bartender just kept saying things like "they want to kill you and your family and so we need to just blow them up before they blow us up or we won't win." It just blew me away how uninformed he was. If I was less disiplined maybe I would have cut in and said something like:
"You can't win. You can't win the war on terror. That's not the point. It's not meant to be won, it's meant to be perpetuated so that we'll spend more money on defense. There will always be people who hate us, and there will always be people who want to destroy us. That comes with being the most powerful nation in the world. But don't say that they hate us because they hate our freedom because that's not the case. They have wants and needs and desires and we better figure them out soon because right now we're not making any new friends by blowing up their poorest countries. We can't win, so we can either keep killing civillians in Iraq and Afghanistan, or we can start working to alleviate some of the problems that cause terrorism so that terrorist is less attractive to a young, rebellious 18-year-old Musilm man."
Do you ever get the feeling that you're just more clued in than almost everyone around you? That's how I feel these days.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Five years later
It's been five years since our world changed. Being in New York on the anniversary of September 11th is sobering, indeed. But no, I'm not going to wax poetic with tributes to those who lost their lives that day, or resolutely declare my resolve as an American. There will be plenty of that today. Besides, I think that lost in all of the patriotism, ceremony and refrains of "God Bless America" is a real examination of what happened that day, why it happened, and how we've responded to it.
We were attacked. We were told we were attacked by people who "hate freedom" and "despise our way of life." We retaliated. We were inundated with the idea that America could do no wrong. What could we have possibly done to deserve this? Why would anyone hate us?
Those who tried to examine this issue were accused of saying that 9/11 was America's fault. How could it be our fault, they responded angrily. We are America, and we are always right. Instead of a true look into the causes of this tragedy (as all events in history occur in a sequence of cause and effect) we were told simply that we were in a battle of good vs. evil, and don't you dare question who is good and who is evil.
No where in the "debate" did anyone mention the 1953 covert action by the United States in Iran that removed a democratically-elected Prime Minister and placed the pro-U.S. Shah in power, adding to the anti-U.S. sentiment in the Middle East. No where in the "debate" was it mentioned that Osama bin Laden and his Mujahideen Army was armed and trained by the United States just 20 years prior, during the Soviet-Afghanistan War. No where was it mentioned the constant presence of U.S. troops in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
It's amazing what 20 years can do. We armed bin Laden in the 1980s because he was fighting the "evil" Soviets. We gave no thought of the consequences of those actions, or how our perception of who was “evil” would change. But that's how the United States operates. We police the world, engaging in conflicts here and there, bombing to the Stone Age the occasional tropical island or third-world country to flex our muscles, never thinking about what might actually happen to us as a result of those actions.
I am by no means excusing the actions of the terrorists on 9/11. Innocent civilians did not deserve to die that day, especially not as an indirect result of actions unknown to them taken by their government. But to say that the action was unprovoked is not entirely true. September 11th was part of a chain of events stretching back to the mid-twentieth century and before, a chain that continues today. Again, cause and effect. In fact, it is critical that we understand why we were attacked, because if we do not accept our enemy as real human beings with wants and desires, some legitimate and some not, we will not defeat him.
President Bush has said repeatedly - to defend his administrations actions since 9/11 - that "America has learned the lessons of September the 11th. I don't think he could be more wrong. I think the main lesson of September the 11th is that we live in a world that is not content to exist in the shadow of American economic, cultural and military imperialism. The jubilant celebrations in the streets that took place across the Middle East on 9/11 are examples of this. They were an indication that bin Laden was not just an anomaly, that there were millions of others who also were happy to see us attacked. The lesson is that if we continue to ignore what the other 5.7 billion people in the world want, we will suffer greatly.
President Bush and his cabinet of neo-conservatives, bent on a world dominated by American interests, have ignored that lesson. They ignored it first by bringing down the military might of the world's strongest nation against its weakest, Afghanistan. Then, with Osama bin Laden cornered in the mountains, they removed our troops from that country to begin their next campaign, against Iraq. Is Iran next? When will it stop?
President Bush today claimed that we are in a struggle akin to the cold war. Again, he could not be more wrong. The cold war was not only a struggle between two nations, but a struggle in which both sides exercised restraint, understanding that too much force would destroy them both. Today's conflict against terrorists is not a conflict against a nation, yet it is being fought as one. And it is certainly being fought without restraint. It is also being fought without any real thought to cause and effect.
I fear that if we continue along this path, another 9/11 may soon be on the way.
P.S. – Interesting story by one of my favorite Newsweek columnists, Jonathan Alter: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14753927/site/newsweek/
Friday, September 08, 2006
Travel planning (almost) done
Fridays are wonderful, especially after a short week. My travel schedule is 99% done, and I've sent all the confirmation letters out. What a big relief. Now I just need to figure out how to send something out to all the students at all of the schools to let them know I'm coming, which apparently isn't done here. I'm determined to create a process for it if there isn't already. Yay ambition.
New employee orientation (followed by wine social) in about 20 minutes, then weekend. Don't know what I'm up to tonight, but some more work clothes shopping tomorrow afternoon and then hopefully drinks with Jenna and Chris.
Met my future new roomate Stephen last night too, which was awesome. He, my roomate/landlord Markus, Markus's fiance and I went to a great little restaurant down the street and got to know each other. The guy is just out of college and landed a part as a swing in the Broadway revival of Les Miz. Pretty sweet. Anyways, we're going to a Yankees game next week which I'm pretty jazzed about too.
Four days until my first MC college fair, and 9 days until the drive out to Pittsburgh that will officially start my travel.
New employee orientation (followed by wine social) in about 20 minutes, then weekend. Don't know what I'm up to tonight, but some more work clothes shopping tomorrow afternoon and then hopefully drinks with Jenna and Chris.
Met my future new roomate Stephen last night too, which was awesome. He, my roomate/landlord Markus, Markus's fiance and I went to a great little restaurant down the street and got to know each other. The guy is just out of college and landed a part as a swing in the Broadway revival of Les Miz. Pretty sweet. Anyways, we're going to a Yankees game next week which I'm pretty jazzed about too.
Four days until my first MC college fair, and 9 days until the drive out to Pittsburgh that will officially start my travel.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Labor Dabor
I've always found it interesting that while the rest of the world celebrates Labor Day on May 1st, we celebrate it at the end of the summer. May 1st in many other countries, mostly in Europe, is always a day for the workers. I guess we were too worried that celebrating the worker with the rest of the world would make us too "communist," so we put our Labor Day at the end of the year where, instead of celebrating the worker, we celebrate the capitalist by going shopping one more time during the summer. It's amazing how much of our modern culture is dictated by reaction to the supposed communist threat in the 50s and 60s (see: Pledge of Allegiance).
Anyways, I did have a good Labor Dabor. Woke up and moseyed (sp?) down to the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue to get a case for my new iPod. The store is really cool. It's right at the border of Central Park and the Upper East Side, so it's in the midst of all these old, ornate hotels and residences. Except the Apple Store (at least at the surface) is just a big, crystal clear glass box. It just looks really cool aside all the other buildings. But all the "box" has inside are stairs to the lower level, which has the actual store that sprawls out underground. Very cool.
Oh, and Saturday I bought a very slick suit at Men's Wearhouse. I look pretty dashing in it I must say. It will be ready for pickup just in time for me to start traveling.
Anyways, back to Sunday: after the Apple Store I came home and had some lunch before heading out to New Jersey to Daryn and Kathy's place. They had a few neighbors and friends over and Daryn made a ton of food (although my margaritas were a hit). Since Daryn was trained as a chef in his younger days, it goes without saying that dinner was very, very good. It was also good to see them and of course my cousins Hailei and Lindsey again.
The only thing worse than having to come back to work after a three day weekend is having to come back to work after a three day weekend when no one makes coffee. It was literally a scene out of "Dilbert" or "The Office" in that the person who normally makes the coffee was out today, so no one made it. We all just complained about it. At least I can say I'm new and I don't know how they make the coffee there. But regardless, it was a long morning before I became frustrated (and got a headache) trying to schedule more and more high school visits. My first college fair is in a week and I'm no where close to finishing up my schedule.
Another three-day weekend, anyone? Rise up, proletariat....
Anyways, I did have a good Labor Dabor. Woke up and moseyed (sp?) down to the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue to get a case for my new iPod. The store is really cool. It's right at the border of Central Park and the Upper East Side, so it's in the midst of all these old, ornate hotels and residences. Except the Apple Store (at least at the surface) is just a big, crystal clear glass box. It just looks really cool aside all the other buildings. But all the "box" has inside are stairs to the lower level, which has the actual store that sprawls out underground. Very cool.
Oh, and Saturday I bought a very slick suit at Men's Wearhouse. I look pretty dashing in it I must say. It will be ready for pickup just in time for me to start traveling.
Anyways, back to Sunday: after the Apple Store I came home and had some lunch before heading out to New Jersey to Daryn and Kathy's place. They had a few neighbors and friends over and Daryn made a ton of food (although my margaritas were a hit). Since Daryn was trained as a chef in his younger days, it goes without saying that dinner was very, very good. It was also good to see them and of course my cousins Hailei and Lindsey again.
The only thing worse than having to come back to work after a three day weekend is having to come back to work after a three day weekend when no one makes coffee. It was literally a scene out of "Dilbert" or "The Office" in that the person who normally makes the coffee was out today, so no one made it. We all just complained about it. At least I can say I'm new and I don't know how they make the coffee there. But regardless, it was a long morning before I became frustrated (and got a headache) trying to schedule more and more high school visits. My first college fair is in a week and I'm no where close to finishing up my schedule.
Another three-day weekend, anyone? Rise up, proletariat....
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Travel planning stress
I spent most of the past week stressing out about planning my fall travel. Even without the numerous errors I've now found on the college fair schedule I was given, it's a big task. But it's been complicated by several problems I luckily discovered on Friday, such as me supposedly having to be in two different parts of the state at the same time. Hmm. My first fair is September 12th but I hit the road the Sunday after by heading to Pittsburgh. I also hit southern Jersey and Philadelphia at the beginning, then spend the next few weeks in northen Jersey, and then back to Philadelphia and Atlantic City in November. I'm lucky in that most of my stuff is in a pretty concentrated area, I guess.
Besides that, not a lot going on. I finally caved and bought myself a new iPod, and I need to get a suit for travel season. So yay for spending money. Picked up John at the airport yesterday, so it was kind of nice to see a familiar face in the city and get out of my apartment a bit. It's been kind of a lazy weekend because it's been raining. So I'm just kind of stuck in my apartment because I don't want to go outside. My evening will pretty much be here, and then back to work tomorrow to continue the stress of planning fall travel. Wonderful.
Besides that, not a lot going on. I finally caved and bought myself a new iPod, and I need to get a suit for travel season. So yay for spending money. Picked up John at the airport yesterday, so it was kind of nice to see a familiar face in the city and get out of my apartment a bit. It's been kind of a lazy weekend because it's been raining. So I'm just kind of stuck in my apartment because I don't want to go outside. My evening will pretty much be here, and then back to work tomorrow to continue the stress of planning fall travel. Wonderful.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Another year older, another year wiser?
And I'm 22. I must admit that I wasn't looking forward to my birthday that much this year, at least not after moving. Not knowing a lot of people in the city, I wasn't sure if I would even be doing anything on my birthday aside than my usual TV watching from my apartment. Thankfully, the lovely and talented Mr. and Mrs. Chris and Johanna Buckels were willing to go out with me that night, and good times commenced. We went to a pub in the village that's basically an NYU student hangout and then up to a bar in midtown. So that was a lot of fun. The only sucky part of it was that it took me almost 2 hours to get home because the subway station I was at basically shut down. But I also got to talk with Mary - thankfully she gets cell phone reception where she's at - and my parents, so in the end it was a good day.
It was also my last Friday off of work. Tomorrow real work starts as I have to put together my travel schedule, which is just such a daunting task. I have a list of all the college fairs I'm attending (NACAC fair in Atlantic City: here I come...?) and all the high schools I'm responsible for, and I somehow have to make sense of all of it. It doesn't help that I just plain don't know the geography or anything. I just don't really know where to start. But I also know that I'm one of the most organized people that I know, so I'm sure eventually I'll get the hang of it.
Finally, I (finally) got a desk today (see below for Office Depot fiasco). It was pretty much the last thing I needed to get to make my apartment what I wanted it to be (save for some stuff to fill the walls) so it's good to finally have a complete space.
Anyways, I promise more prolific thoughts eventually, rather than just a recap of my day. Seriously.
It was also my last Friday off of work. Tomorrow real work starts as I have to put together my travel schedule, which is just such a daunting task. I have a list of all the college fairs I'm attending (NACAC fair in Atlantic City: here I come...?) and all the high schools I'm responsible for, and I somehow have to make sense of all of it. It doesn't help that I just plain don't know the geography or anything. I just don't really know where to start. But I also know that I'm one of the most organized people that I know, so I'm sure eventually I'll get the hang of it.
Finally, I (finally) got a desk today (see below for Office Depot fiasco). It was pretty much the last thing I needed to get to make my apartment what I wanted it to be (save for some stuff to fill the walls) so it's good to finally have a complete space.
Anyways, I promise more prolific thoughts eventually, rather than just a recap of my day. Seriously.
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