Hey remember when I was all "no more writing papers at the last minute and no more staying up until 6 am"?
Well here I am writing a paper. I am trying to wrap it up as much as I can as I have a little time to work on it tomorrow and am pretty tired and sick of it already.
"I used to think the world was broken down by tribes. By black and white. By Indian and white. But I know that isn't true. The world is only broken into two tribes: The people who are assholes and the people who are not."
Anyone else know how angry I am at myself that I did not see this man speak when I had the chance? I am quite upset. He best not keel over before I see him.
Also, how upset am I that I did not go to U of Chicago? Look at this essay prompt: "Don't play what's there, play what's not there." -- Miles Davis (1926-91)
And this one: Chicago professor W. J. T. Mitchell entitled his 2005 book "What Do Pictures Want?" Describe a picture and explore what it wants.
And my favorite: Modern improvisational comedy had its start with The Compass Players, a group of University of Chicago students, who later formed the Second City comedy troupe. Here is a chance to play along. Improvise a story, essay, or script that meets all of the following requirements:
* It must include the line "And yes I said yes I will Yes" (Ulysses, by James Joyce).
* Its characters may not have superpowers.
* Your work has to mention the University of Chicago, but please, no accounts of a high school student applying to the University–this is fiction, not autobiography.
* Your work must include at least four of the following elements:
o a paper airplane
o a transformation
o a shoe
o the invisible hand
o two doors
o pointillism
o a fanciful explanation of the Pythagorean Theorem
o a ventriloquist or ventriloquism
o the Periodic Table of the Elements
o the concept of jeong
o number two pencils
STRESS CHECK
One paper due Tuesday. Exam for same class on Tuesday. Currently have a D+ in this class. Thank goodness I can write it in English.
One paper due on Friday. Tons of questions also due on Friday. Currently have a C in this class. Oh PS this is the one in French.
One paper was due last Friday. I stayed up all night writing it. Got maybe two hours of sleep. I do not want to do that again but here I am, not writing any papers.
Two exams next week.
Laura's birthday on Thursday. The What's Morally Wrong with Homosexuality guy is coming on Wednesday. I would like to get these things done ahead of time but I just wasted all my weekend.
::
2008 14 April :: 8.59pm
:: Music: Modest Mouse- Missed the Boat
i gave it another shot. While we're on the subject
Could we change the subject now?
I was knocking on your ears
Don't worry, you were always out Looking towards the future
We were begging for the past
Well, we know we had the good things
But those never seemed to last
Oh, please just last
Everyone's unhappy
Everyone's ashamed Well we all just got caught looking
At somebody else's page
Well, nothing ever went
Quite exactly as we planned
Our ideas held no water
But we used them like a dam
Oh, and we carried it all so well
As if we got a new position
Oh, and I laugh all the way to hell
Saying, "Yes, this is a fine promotion"
Oh, and I laugh all the way to hell
Of course everyone goes crazy
Over such and such and such
We made ourselves a pillar
But we just used it as a crutch We were certainly uncertain
At least I'm pretty sure I am
Well, we didn't need the water
But we just built that good goddamn
Oh, and I know this of myself
I'd assume as much for other people
Oh, and I know this of myself
We've listened more to life's end gong
Than the sound of life's sweet bells
Was it ever worth it?
Was there all that much to gain?
Well, we knew we'd missed the boat
And we'd already missed the plane
We didn't read the invite
We just danced at our own wake
All our favorites were playing
So we could shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
Tiny curtains open and we heard the tiny clap of little hands
A tiny man would tell a little joke and get a tiny laugh from all the folks
Sitting, drifting around in bubbles and thinking it was us that carried them
When we finally got it figured out that we had truly missed the boat
Oh, and we carried it all so well
As if we got a new position
Oh, and we owned all the tools ourselves
But not the skills to make a shelf with
Oh, what useless tools ourselves
"The college recognizes academic freedom certainly in the classroom," [Balog] said. "But even in the classroom, professors are not supposed to use their activities as a way to attack beliefs of the church."
"The programming board had been actively advertising since January and they canceled the morning of the event. It was very disrespectful to Corvino, and to the students that wanted to hear him speak," said junior Bev Pels, 21.
"I think they're not bringing him because there's so much outside pressure. It's not that the administration is homophobic, but the policy appears to be that way and it's alienating to students."
She said organizers are hoping to find a new, off-campus venue that can seat up to 70 people. Corvino has offered to speak for free.
I used to be so proud of my school...
They canceled the speaker. Here is what they said:
"This morning, I met with members of the Programming Board, staff, members from Campus Life, and other students to discuss the establishment of a policy regarding events on campus that might conflict with Catholic Moral Teaching. We agreed that discussion of important issues is something we should encourage as a college and especially as part of our efforts to continue and extend the Catholic intellectual tradition. A committee representing the several constituencies of the campus will be assembled to develop a policy regarding these issues. This policy will be designed to provide guidelines for speakers and activities, including performances of various descriptions. Absent such a policy at the moment and given the amount of time it will take to develop one, I have decided that the appearance of Dr. Corvino, which had been tentatively rescheduled for later this month, will be canceled.
Last Thursday, an advocate for gay rights was going to speak at Aquinas. His lecture was called "What's Morally Wrong with Homosexuality?" So I thought, awesome, maybe this will start a discussion...I am so glad my Catholic school is not as Catholic as it seems. Well even though the event had been well-publicized and the club on campus that brought him in had emailed professors to tell/warn them about it, the speaker was canceled at the last minute.
Instead of the speaker, a bunch of students met in The Moose (the coffeehouse on campus) to discuss the reason for its cancellation. It was revealed that the speaker was canceled because it was necessary to present "the Catholic view" of whatever he was going to say. Needless to say, people were pissed.
So all of the people who had thoughts on the event and its subsequent cancellation were invited to the Student Senate meeting today. It was pretty exciting. Most people broke their issues down to the fact that it was canceled so suddenly that it was rude to the speaker and to us.
Then the president of the college showed up and told us that in the bylaws of the blah blah there is something that says all teachings at AQ need to be according to the Catholic belief system. So we all threw a fit. Since it's technically a student-led, student-planned, student-funded event and one of our school things is diversity, we thought it was okay.
Well anyway. It sounded like his hands were tied by donors and by the group that I have learned to hate this year: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. I seriously am not liking this whole Catholic thing. First I had my theology class that taught me that sometimes you stay in a marriage because the other person needs you (and the whole no divorce thing) not because you love them. And now there's this whole if we weren't a Catholic institution it would be totally cool but since I'm seeing the pope when he's in the country and we have CATHOLIC written all over us, we can't be open to others.
So yeah.
I have decided that I am going to be on Senate next year. I'll probably try to be a rep for history club or something but the meeting was just so awesome today that I want to get involved somehow.
I have two papers due the week after next week. One in French (6-8 pages) and one that was going to be in French but thankfully is in English (6-? pages). I kind of want to get them started/done beforehand because I am going away next weekend but I don't know if that's going to happen.
Our French class is having dinner at our prof's house on Friday. That's going to be exciting. He was apparently pretty pumped about it today in class.
There was an incident on campus last week and I am going to the Student Senate meeting tomorrow to talk about it. I will tell you more about it later, Nick wants to hang out for a bit.
I forgot to post this a few days ago...
Start: April 4, 2008
End: January 1, 2011
The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).
Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.
Last week's John Adams recap
I am a week behind in John Adams episodes so tonight I'll talk about last week's episode. I was going to talk about this week's episode too but Nick doesn't want to watch another one and I should take a shower anyway. (this is long so I cut it to be nice to you guys)
On the episode from two weeks ago, poor John went to France and screwed everything up because he didn't know how to deal with the French. Franklin was a playa and John sent J Quince off with some creepy guy to Russia. The episode ended with John being in the giant Rembrandt painting that was The Netherlands of the 18th century and being very ill. On the homefront, Abby infected everyone with smallpox (some might say...inoculated against smallpox) so they wouldn't die. Everyone got really sick. Will Abigail be pissed when John returns without a son? Will John ever go home? Why is Benny Franks so popular with the French? Was that creepy guy a child molester? We find out on last week's episode of JOHN ADAMS. Read more..
The Rock Band tournament last night was so much fun. Our band was Ovaryactive. At first, it was just me and Bekka but then Brad (a kid from our EU class) got his sister and her friend to join us. It was very, very awesome. I did not win most awesome contest but I was still awesome.
Afterward, we went to the bar and I felt like a college student.
Good news on the homefront
So one of my French papers, the longer one, received good news today:
1. The decision was made to have all students enrolled in the course turn in their final term papers in English (and not in the target language French, German or Spanish as originally stated).
2. FH, GN and SH students are still expected to conduct research that includes scholarly readings in their respective target language. These sources should also be cited in the bibliography (MLA style) of the paper.
Weight lifted, captain.
I still have not found an outfit for Friday. We had band practice yesterday and I thought that all our mediocre skills would somehow combine to form awesomeosity. This did not turn out to be the case. We will definitely not win on skills. I shall need the costume of all costumes or we will need stage presence beyond all stage presence.
I gave my speech for my EU class today. It was terrible. I blacked out, I seriously don't remember much of it but I'm not concerned.
I am entering a Rock Band competition with Bekka and maybe Laura on Friday. It will be fantastic! I am thinking of getting a really awesome outfit and just rawking. That way, we at least have a chance of winning. What I will wear? I do not know.
I am sorry I have not called you back yet Jessa. I have had no time. I'll try to call you later this week but it might not be until after the weekend.
::
2008 1 April :: 2.21pm
:: Mood: accomplished
:: Music: Arcade Fire - (Antichrist Television Blues)
Best of 2007
This is hella late, and I still have a few flicks to pick up from Netflix, but I figured I shouldn't wait any longer.
Top Movies of 2007
1. There Will Be Blood
2. Ratatouille
3. Once (2006)
4. The Darjeeling Limited
5. Juno
6. No Country for Old Men
7. God Grew Tired of Us (2006)
8. I Am Legend
9. Knocked Up
10. The Bourne Ultimatum
11. American Gangster
12. Breach
13. Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix
14. Zodiac
15. The Simpsons Movie
Top CDs of 2007
1. Arcade Fire :: Neon Bible
2. Modest Mouse :: We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
3. A Fine Frenzy :: One Cell in the Sea
4. Radiohead :: In Rainbows
5. Johnathan Rice :: Further North
6. The Shins :: Wincing the Night Away
7. The Decemberists :: The Crane Wife (2006)
8. The White Stripes :: Icky Thump
9. Spoon :: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
10. Grinderman (2006)
11. Bright Eyes :: Cassadaga
12. Foo Fighters :: Echoes, Silence, Patience, & Grace
13. Once Soundtrack
14. Rilo Kiley :: Under the Blacklight
15. Silverchair :: Young Modern
::
2008 31 March :: 12.08am
:: Music: Happier by Guster
blast from the past!
The ballet was awesome. I almost want to go back to ballet. If only I was coordinated or flexible...
Hannah is awesome too. I wish I could hang with her more often.
Announcement: we can no longer be friends if you cannot smile witchyer eyes. There will be a test at the end of the week to weed out you non-smilers.
I have a speech on Tuesday that I haven't even started. Oh and I have to watch a movie and write a paper on it for French class on Friday. And really I am not stressed about it at all.
I have not yet watched this week's episode of John Adams but I believe I shall blog about it when I do.
It is going to be warm and awesome this week with rain and awesomeness. I plan on wearing dresses.
I got a facial today. Not that kind. The other one. It included a foot massage (or feet massage since I have two foots), hand massage and back massage. I am so incredibly chill still from it and it got done at 7. It was two hours long and now my stress is nonexistent. I highly recommend it.
I saw Run Fatboy Run with Katti, Oliver and Nick today. It was good. It was slow to start but it got fantastic once it picked up.
Also, why I love these people: "Fuck Princess Peach. It's motherfucking Princess Toadstool, you assholes." said Katti. "Is there a reason why they changed it?" asked Nick. "It wasn't girly enough. You know what I think of that? I think I want to shit on them. I am not normally into shitting on people but that deserves a nasty taco Cleveland steamer."
I have papers and taxes and scholarships due and I am not stressed about them at all. Lallalalala.
I swear I had something to say but I don't remember. OH! I did not wear a bra today and it felt wonderful.
Also, I am obsessed with Twitter because I can update from my phone. So, that's a good place to catch me dropping it like it's hot. Or whatever. Word to your mother.
blogtastic
The other day, I went to Barnes and Noble with Katti and Oliver. Oliver spied a giveaway for two tickets to Grand Rapids Ballet's production of Don Quixote. Oliver entered and made Katti enter and I entered because, really, why not? The only thing holding me back was who to take with me.
You probably know what's coming. I just got a call from GRap's Ballet saying I won two tickets to the show on Sunday, March 30 at 2. Who could I drag with me that would really appreciate it? Hannah, of course.
So on Sunday I will take my lovely sister with me to the ballet. And I am pretty excited. I haven't been to the ballet since I saw The Nutcracker with my girl scout troop. And I get to dress pretty! Yay!
In other news, I was going to write at least half of one of my papers today and my speech for next week but the internet wasn't working for a while so I got started on my romance novel. And it is so much fun that I don't want to stop. I'll start writing and researching later tonight.
::
2008 21 March :: 8.41pm
:: Music: The Darjeeling Limited Soundtrack
concerts
Jimmy Eat World is coming to GRap a month from now and even though they aren't one of my favorite bands, I do love their music. I don't know if I can convince anyone to go with me though.
Cloud Cult is coming to Chicago and to Ann Arbor in April. I love them but, again, I can't get anyone to come with me. I keep hinting at Nick but it's not working.
I saw The Darjeeling Limited tonight. My life will never be the same again. It was fantastic.
I am getting my haircut tomorrow.
I accidentally burnt myself again. I am awesome. It was pretty stupid, the way it happened.
My left shift key is making a cool noise. I'm sure it's not good but it's a cool typewriter noise. The letter a is making a quieter version of the same noise. I would love to have a typewriter.
I am also doing karaoke tomorrow. Call me and let me know if you want to come along.
To MSU fans everywhere:
Wanna help put Sparty on the cover of a video game? EA Sports is allowing fans to vote for their favorite mascot; the winner will be featured on the cover of the Wii version of NCAA Football '09. According to the site, Sparty is currently in second place behind Washington State (can't let them win... I don't even recognize theirs!). That means we need a good push to get him into first! The problem is that voting closes on Friday, so make sure to forward this to all of your MSU friends. You can vote once per day from each computer you are using. Here's the site:
