18 October 2009

knives out

Midterm week is over and I survived – well, mostly. I bombed my PSYC 201 midterm; the score is too vulgar to display here. But that's OK. I'll easily redeem myself on the final, and I'm confident that I will ace the two written assignments. I anticipate ending the class with an A. My poor psych midterm performance can be blamed on the A&P 102 midterm, which was the obvious priority going into this crucial week. Obvious because finishing with an A in A&P 102 is an absolute must. To do this, my calculations require an 85% on the midterm and final; a 90% on exam three; a 100% on the six remaining discussion boards; and 90% on the five remaining lab quizzes. On Friday I pegged an 85% on the midterm, so goal accomplished on that end. Regarding my third class, ENGL 211, no worries there.

On Saturday Panda Bear and I saw Paranormal Activity. Going into the theater I held some high expectations for the film, thanks largely to the incessant hype churning through Twitter. The film provided a good scare (actually, quite of few); however, I was hugely disappointed that the film failed to meet my expectations, and, looking back, I'm not sure if any film could have satisfied such rabid anticipation. I'll keep the film's secrets away from this space, but I will say that, as I watched the flick, it was difficult to avoid unconsciously comparing it to The Blair Witch Project. Aside from the classic Blair Witch, here are five frightful flicks for October: Halloween; Halloween III: Season of the Witch (Season's
synth-tastic soundtrack is a personal fav as well); Poltergeist; Requiem for a Dream; and Jacob's Ladder.

Although I don't want to spend any unnecessary time or energy on "the roommate situation," I've got to get a few things off my chest. First, relations certainly haven't improved; in fact, they have deteriorated further. And that's OK, because I realized some weeks ago that any semblance of a friendship evaporated months prior. When a man realizes that the relationship with his girlfriend is progressing into something more serious, he changes, he matures. He realizes that living in a shit bachelor pad is neither cool nor attractive – especially when he is over 30 years of age. I don't expect my roommate to ever realize these things because his disgusting habits and inconsiderate behavior will prevent him from establishing a relationship with any respectable woman. And the sad thing is I don't think he realizes that his actions are objectionable. Or maybe he does and simply doesn't care. Honestly, I don't know where his head is. He is 34, 35 years old with no discernible goals, and while I utterly despise living with him now, I realize that when we part he will no longer be a figure of loathsomeness, but a figure of pity.

xx


09 October 2009

friday’s blurb

I awoke this morning to discover that President Barack Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize. The news shocked many, including his ardent supporters like myself. I believe this disbelief has arisen because the Right has contaminated this country's political atmosphere so badly that even the President's supporters have forgotten that the Commander In Chief is a source of admiration – and hope – the world over. Indeed, President Obama's vision has been obfuscated by the dreadfully slow machine that is Washington, D.C., but his signature is the sole source from which broad national and international change can come.

xx

08 October 2009

is al qaeda hiring?

Lyrics for Toby Keith's "American Ride"

Winter gettin' colder, summer gettin' warmer
Tidal wave comin' 'cross the Mexican border
Why buy a gallon, when it's cheaper by the barrel
Just don't be busted singin' Christmas carols

That's us, That's right
Gotta love this American ride
Both ends of the ozone burnin'
Funny how the world keeps turnin'
Look ma, no hands
I love this American ride
Gotta love this American ride

Momma gets her rocks off watchin' Desperate Housewives
Daddy works his ass off payin' for the good life
Kids on the YouTube learnin' how to be cool
Livin' in a cruel world, pays to be a mean girl

That's us, That's right
Gotta love this American ride.
Both ends of the ozone burnin'
Funny how the world keeps turnin'
Look ma, no hands
I love this American ride
Gotta love this American ride

Poor little infamous America's town
She gained five pounds and lost her crown
Quick fix plastic surgical antidote
Got herself a record deal, can't even sing a note

Plasma gettin' bigger, Jesus gettin' smaller
Spill a cup of coffee, make a million dollars
Cousins caught a buzz with an aerosol can
If the shoe don't fit, the fit's gonna hit the shan

That's us, That's right
Gotta love this American ride
Both ends of the ozone burnin'
Funny how the world keeps turnin'
Hot dog, Hot damn
I love this American ride
Gotta love this American ride


04 October 2009

short: death

Eleven days after I asked my psychiatrist about the dead animals I found myself staring at my mother, silent in her casket. Those eleven days prior, Dr Furrow asked me if I had had any personal encounters with death, such as losing a close friend or relative. No, I told her, I've never lost a relative or good friend to death. Dr Furrow proceeded to tell me that adults who lived a youth free of death usually develop a strange curiosity about death, which is why my highway eyes seem glued to road kill.

Gazing at her frozen face I chewed my lips until they bled, and as I heard all those stories and saw all those sad people and accepted the realization that my mother was gone forever, I realized I was no longer curious about death. I still catch myself staring at mangled road kill, however.

xx