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sechan19The past couple weeks have been mightily relaxing. My mother has provided a perfect Shangri-la for me to hide out in, and I've indulged in movie-watching, novel-reading, golf-viewing, music-listening, and late-sleeping. And not much else. (Although I am now making some flashcards for Japanese brush-up.)
Here's a roundup of some stuff:
* The new Nine Inch Nails album, The Slip is fantastic. It's also available for download completely free, as a token of Reznor's gratitude to his loyal fans. Go thou and download it--it's fantastic. (Yes, I know I said that already. I'll say it again: fantastic.) There will never be a better time, or a more economical way, to secure new music. (That is, there won't be until Reznor comes up with another incredible record and another brilliant marketing scheme.)
* My tax rebate arrived like magic in my checking account yesterday, which was a good thing since I spent over $200 on concert tickets yesterday. I had intended to spend the rebate money in Japan and therefore foil the attempts of the US government to use me as a pawn in their foolhardy economic stimulus plans, but I've got mad love for Nails and 雅-miyavi-, and I don't mind indulging the government a little bit to show my support for them.
* I've tried to stay away from news of the world, but the primaries have been much on my mind. I was disgusted the other day to watch footage of droves of white men shaking hands with Barack Obama and asking him to "beat her, please." Nora Ephron had earlier queried whether or not white men hate blacks or women more, and although she was speaking mainly about the Pennsylvania primary I think her comments are a fair sum-up of the primary as a whole, and I think the answer to the question is also relatively clear (although, let me say plainly, by no means do I consider it an absolute description of every white, male voter in American). Watching the vitriolic hate that the majority in this country seems to have for its minorities, and the ways the minorities in this country allow themselves to played against one another, has been rather demoralizing.
* On the suggestion of my dear friend, A.O., I read a great article about food and nutrition that was published over a year ago in the New York Times, Unhappy Meals by Michael Pollan is an eye-opening look at the history of so-called nutritionism. It doesn't quite inspire me to go over to the dark side of vegetarianism (bacon is life, soyfucker), but it does make me consider the benefits of--as Thomas Jefferson once apparently suggested--treating meat more like a flavoring. (In passing, who knew Thomas Jefferson could have such good suggestions? I wonder if I should forgive him for introducing the concept of campaigning into politics... ...nah.)
* On the academic feedback front, I'm still waiting for my grade in the War seminar. The professor, who had to undergo surgery very suddenly toward the end of the term, has collected the papers but is going through them slowly from what I understand. I don't expect to have his feedback until sometime in June. I did get a grade from my adviser, and it's left me a little worried. She gave me an A-minus. (wince) I can only assume that something needs to be fixed with my paper before it becomes a thesis. All in all, I'm sorry not to have come up to her expectations this time out, but I'm glad that she's being so thorough with my work--it'll result in a better product in the long run. Next week I'm planning to email her to ask for feedback. When I get to California it'll be time to dig in to the summertime workload--grant applications and the thesis rough draft are priority one.
* Of course, I may not have time to work in California (or even sleep!) Mom may have brought the sanctuary, but Dad is bringing the thunder. We're going camping, white-water rafting, wine-tasting, concerting, museum sight-seeing, movie opening-night-ing, play viewing, family visiting, barbecuing, and I don't know what else. I can has a ball? Yes, I fucking well can. ;>
Here's a roundup of some stuff:
* The new Nine Inch Nails album, The Slip is fantastic. It's also available for download completely free, as a token of Reznor's gratitude to his loyal fans. Go thou and download it--it's fantastic. (Yes, I know I said that already. I'll say it again: fantastic.) There will never be a better time, or a more economical way, to secure new music. (That is, there won't be until Reznor comes up with another incredible record and another brilliant marketing scheme.)
* My tax rebate arrived like magic in my checking account yesterday, which was a good thing since I spent over $200 on concert tickets yesterday. I had intended to spend the rebate money in Japan and therefore foil the attempts of the US government to use me as a pawn in their foolhardy economic stimulus plans, but I've got mad love for Nails and 雅-miyavi-, and I don't mind indulging the government a little bit to show my support for them.
* I've tried to stay away from news of the world, but the primaries have been much on my mind. I was disgusted the other day to watch footage of droves of white men shaking hands with Barack Obama and asking him to "beat her, please." Nora Ephron had earlier queried whether or not white men hate blacks or women more, and although she was speaking mainly about the Pennsylvania primary I think her comments are a fair sum-up of the primary as a whole, and I think the answer to the question is also relatively clear (although, let me say plainly, by no means do I consider it an absolute description of every white, male voter in American). Watching the vitriolic hate that the majority in this country seems to have for its minorities, and the ways the minorities in this country allow themselves to played against one another, has been rather demoralizing.
* On the suggestion of my dear friend, A.O., I read a great article about food and nutrition that was published over a year ago in the New York Times, Unhappy Meals by Michael Pollan is an eye-opening look at the history of so-called nutritionism. It doesn't quite inspire me to go over to the dark side of vegetarianism (bacon is life, soyfucker), but it does make me consider the benefits of--as Thomas Jefferson once apparently suggested--treating meat more like a flavoring. (In passing, who knew Thomas Jefferson could have such good suggestions? I wonder if I should forgive him for introducing the concept of campaigning into politics... ...nah.)
* On the academic feedback front, I'm still waiting for my grade in the War seminar. The professor, who had to undergo surgery very suddenly toward the end of the term, has collected the papers but is going through them slowly from what I understand. I don't expect to have his feedback until sometime in June. I did get a grade from my adviser, and it's left me a little worried. She gave me an A-minus. (wince) I can only assume that something needs to be fixed with my paper before it becomes a thesis. All in all, I'm sorry not to have come up to her expectations this time out, but I'm glad that she's being so thorough with my work--it'll result in a better product in the long run. Next week I'm planning to email her to ask for feedback. When I get to California it'll be time to dig in to the summertime workload--grant applications and the thesis rough draft are priority one.
* Of course, I may not have time to work in California (or even sleep!) Mom may have brought the sanctuary, but Dad is bringing the thunder. We're going camping, white-water rafting, wine-tasting, concerting, museum sight-seeing, movie opening-night-ing, play viewing, family visiting, barbecuing, and I don't know what else. I can has a ball? Yes, I fucking well can. ;>
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no subject
Date: 2008-05-08 10:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-11 08:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-11 08:33 pm (UTC)Yummmmm! ;>