I remember when I lived on Ohio Ave in Cincinnati with Ryan. It was my first place out of the dorms and I loved it. Ryan was a solid roommate and since we were both Chemical Engineers, we were able to motivate each other and help each other out in class. I remember when Fallout 3 came out, Ryan would sit and play it. He refused to use the targeting system, relying on his own skill. A wise choice, because he could snipe across valleys with ease. I remember the dark room and the blue couch. I remember laughing.
I remember the neighbors next door. They were the dirtiest people imaginable. Since they continually had people over, I could never be sure who actually lived in the house. One night, they woke me up at 2:00 in the morning with their noise and music. I had a big test the next morning and needed my rest. They played the bongo drums until the cops came at 3:30. I was furious...but I had to admit to myself that their beats were pretty good. The test was mediocre.
I remember sleeping with just a sheet, the window thrown open, and my giant fan on. The apartment was so hot. I'd never been in an apartment like that. Sometimes I'd wake up at night just from the heat. I loved it. I loved that I was being challenged. Those hot nights are pleasant memories.
I remember coming home from a night out with friends, drunk. I stumbled around the apartment, allowing myself to collapse on the bed. When I woke up, I had to lay there just to stop the world from spinning. After an hour, I put on sunglasses and went to Panera for orange juice and a bagel. I was happy.
I remember the Halloween party that Michelle convinced me to go to. I didn't even have a costume, but I went anyway. I stayed for a record 5 minutes until some losers started smoking pot. I hate the smell; it gives me a headache, so I went downstairs. Not long after, a huge fight broke out between a dude in a banana suit and a guy in a toga. They toppled a trash can full of glass and fought in it. The girl downstairs asked me what was going on and called the cops. Getting the inside story, I got my group out. We ended up chilling at the apartment. There were barely enough seats.
I remember Ryan sleeping with his window/door open, even in the freezing cold, because he liked it that way. It was too cold for Jayna though, and they always fought for covers.
I remember when we went to Jungle Jim's and then made bananas foster - Ryan and I loved that dessert. I remember the joy of eating together with friends.
I remember when I left for co-op, only to realize I'd left my boots back in Cincy. After work on Monday I drove straight to Cincinnati, only to realize that I'd actually left them in Huber Heights, at home. I drove up I-75, got my boots, finally had dinner and then drove all the way back to West Virginia for work the next day. The money I spent on gas could have bought me new boots, and driving for 8 hours was a challenge, but I don't regret a thing.
I remember when Max told us about Dog Fish Head - 90 Minute IPA and Ryan and I went out and bought some at Party Source. We took it back to the apartment, let it chill, and tried it. At the time, it was the most bitter beer I had ever tasted. It was like drinking charcoal, I thought. Both Ryan and I noted how "hardcore" it was. Neither of us really liked it. I ended up drinking the rest of the case though, over the coming days. Nowadays, I realize how good that stuff is.
I remember working on Fluids and Basic Strength of Materials at my desk, my room illuminated only by the floor lamp. Ryan would work at the kitchen table, even though he had a desk in his room, and we would compare answers. Together we fixed our mistakes and learned. I doubt I'll ever have a comrade like that again.
I miss the old days, but I don't want to go back. I'm moving forward, making new memories. But please forgive this entry and allow me to...remember.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Tokyo Drifting
I feel a little bad playing off of the name of a movie I have no interest in for the title of my new blog post, but it seemed like a pretty good fit, so forgive me. It's been an extremely busy time since my last entry, so, barring a creative meltdown, you should have some interesting things to read about.
So, my last entry ended with us just about to head off to Mt. Takao with Roger and the guys, so I'll just start from there. First off, Mt. Takao is a great place off the beaten path in Tokyo. It's only about an hour away by train and the fares are extremely reasonable. Roger told us about it; it is one of his favorite places. I was happy that he was willing to share with us like that and we were all excited to go. Once we'd arrived we were immediately struck with how different this part of "Tokyo" was. Although vending machines were still everywhere, much of the traffic and noise of the city was lost. Instead, trees, small shops and shrines dominated our view. After taking a moment to get acquainted with our surroundings, Roger took the lead and we started up the beginner trail. It was a surprisingly tough climb up the mountain for me. The first third of the journey, although beautiful, is somewhat obscured in my memory by the massive effort required for me to continue walking. Still, the air was fresh and the people were friendly.
After a while, we finally reached an area where the grade was less steep and I began to enjoy myself a little more. Roger and I had good conversations about history and our lives as we enjoyed the beauty of the countryside. Akira and Andrew took a lot of grand photographs and kept us entertained with their antics. There were several places where the view of the city below was breath-taking. Finally, we reached the shrine. The first thing you see when you approach the shrine area is a massive Torii gate and a long path lined with Japanese style lantern boxes. As you progress, you eventually reach a grand stone staircase, all the while catching glimpses of the shrines above you through the trees.
The shrine buildings were certainly a site to behold - the detail and thought that was put into the architecture is readily apparent, and the many statues surrounding the building create an aura of mysticism that I have seldom experienced. Eventually, Roger had to leave us to meet his wife and we began the final leg of our journey: the climb to the summit. It wasn't so bad, but by the time we reached the top we were extremely thirsty, so we stopped at a vending machine and got drinks. After downing our drinks, we went out to the overlook to see if we could spot Mt. Fuji in the distance. Unfortunately, it was obscured by the mist...but it was a grand view anyway.
And so, feeling victorious, we headed down the mountain, stopping for ice cream along the way. By the time we got halfway down, there were absolutely no lights and night was upon us, so we proceeded carefully in the dark. It was a lot of fun. The train ride home was quiet; we were all quite tired.
The next day was slightly less strenuous, but did see us heading out on another adventure. We went to a Japanese clothing store to attempt the dye our own towels and handkerchiefs with natural indigo dye. It was especially challenging because the store owner only spoke Japanese and we had no translator. However, we made it through alright and our cloth came out quite nicely. Went to Shibuya with our friends from Taiwan afterwords to do some shopping. I left a little early because I was tired and we had all kinda split up anyway.
Friday was set to be another big day because I was meeting my language partner in Harajuku after walking through Meiji-Jingu with Roger. Meiji-jingu is a park dedicated to the memory of the Emperor Meiji and is a most excellent place for a walk indeed. It also has a incredible Torii and shrine along with a peaceful tree-lined paths. Apparently, it has a distinct sort of beauty in every season. I'd like to go back to see it in each of its forms. I've unfortunately lost my videos concerning it, but since I plan on going back it is okay. If I had to choose one place to visit in Tokyo, it would probably be there. I feel like it just resonated with me, somewhat like Ueno did. Also, I really enjoyed talking with Roger...not to mention reaping the benefits of his knowledge of Japan. I give him my heartfelt thanks.
After our walk, I went to wait for my language partner, Tomoko, while Roger went home. Tomoko is another one of the excellent people I have been fortunate enough to be introduced to while in Japan. We met up, walked around Harajuku, and talked about all sorts of things. For example, she thought it was funny that I knew that Japanese word for right (directional) but not left. Here's kinda how the conversation went:
T: So you know the word for right...why not left?
J: Right is just easier to remember...
T: Left is easy too!
J: Hmm, humph. みぎ and...
T: ...ひだり It is easy to remember.
J: Hahaha, okay, I think I've got it now.
I haven't forgot it since. Another funny story is when I explained to her what the English phrase "pull it off" meant using a hypothetical bank robbery scenario.
J:"Do you think we can pull it off?"
"We're smart and are quick. We can pull it off."
We ended up settling in a cafe and talking about a play. I also had the opportunity to share some of my favorite music with her, i.e., Flogging Molly and Modest Mouse. She was kind enough to listen and seemed to enjoy it. It was an excellent evening.
Saturday was another day of constant motion. I left the apartment early in the morning to meet with Robert, Kurt, and Tyler, the co-ops from UC currently working in Japan, in Shinjuku for a trip to Enoshima and Kamakura. They are all truly excellent individuals and I learned a lot about what living in Japan for an extended period is like from them. Robert was gracious enough to provide me with a ton of useful information about places to go too. Anyway, after reasonable train trip we stepped out, much to my (ignorant as I am) surprise, into a bay-side area. I was overwhelmed by the wonderful sea-breeze.
The short walk to the island of Enoshima was dominated of tales for Robert of climbing Mt. Fuji and hiking through Hokkaido. Upon reaching the island, the adventure really began as we climbed up the steps leading us around the island. Please enjoy this video of Robert explaining the legend behind the island.
On the island I took a lot of great videos of the sea, the cliffs, and the grand buildings. We also ended up inside a cave on the far side of the island where the dragon in the story of the island is supposedly enshrined and then took the path less traveled along the far side of the island to get back. Inside the cave we walked with candles and saw supposedly naturally neon florescent rocks...that really just looked spray-painted. It is a tough call though. The cave was great because it was so cool and there was water dripping everywhere. There were also a ton of old statues lining the paths.
After our island experience we went to Kamakura. We several shrines both big and small and hiked all around following the hiking path. I enjoyed both the company and the architecture. It was great exploring a new place so rich with culture and an array of impressive sites. Perhaps I'll go into a bit more detail later, but I'll at least talk about the Daibutsu now but it was my favorite. This was maybe the third place we went to and it was surrounded by a wall. I paid my two dollars to get in and saw a sight unlike any other.
Here is the video of the Daibutsu 大仏 we saw. When I first saw it appear through the trees I truly realized I was in a foreign land. I must emphasize how very impressed I was by it - I was awestruck.
For those of you who don't want to watch the video I'll say that the Daibutsu is a gigantic statue of Buddha that towers over you while sitting in a peaceful pose.
I'm afraid this entry has gone on too long. But I'll have to do another one soon because there is so very much left to tell. I hope you all enjoyed this one though. Thank you for reading so far! Here's wishing you all the best.
**BONUS VIDEO**
A video of a small amount of the cheering that occurs nearly constantly at Japanese baseball games. Cheers.
So, my last entry ended with us just about to head off to Mt. Takao with Roger and the guys, so I'll just start from there. First off, Mt. Takao is a great place off the beaten path in Tokyo. It's only about an hour away by train and the fares are extremely reasonable. Roger told us about it; it is one of his favorite places. I was happy that he was willing to share with us like that and we were all excited to go. Once we'd arrived we were immediately struck with how different this part of "Tokyo" was. Although vending machines were still everywhere, much of the traffic and noise of the city was lost. Instead, trees, small shops and shrines dominated our view. After taking a moment to get acquainted with our surroundings, Roger took the lead and we started up the beginner trail. It was a surprisingly tough climb up the mountain for me. The first third of the journey, although beautiful, is somewhat obscured in my memory by the massive effort required for me to continue walking. Still, the air was fresh and the people were friendly.
After a while, we finally reached an area where the grade was less steep and I began to enjoy myself a little more. Roger and I had good conversations about history and our lives as we enjoyed the beauty of the countryside. Akira and Andrew took a lot of grand photographs and kept us entertained with their antics. There were several places where the view of the city below was breath-taking. Finally, we reached the shrine. The first thing you see when you approach the shrine area is a massive Torii gate and a long path lined with Japanese style lantern boxes. As you progress, you eventually reach a grand stone staircase, all the while catching glimpses of the shrines above you through the trees.
The shrine buildings were certainly a site to behold - the detail and thought that was put into the architecture is readily apparent, and the many statues surrounding the building create an aura of mysticism that I have seldom experienced. Eventually, Roger had to leave us to meet his wife and we began the final leg of our journey: the climb to the summit. It wasn't so bad, but by the time we reached the top we were extremely thirsty, so we stopped at a vending machine and got drinks. After downing our drinks, we went out to the overlook to see if we could spot Mt. Fuji in the distance. Unfortunately, it was obscured by the mist...but it was a grand view anyway.
And so, feeling victorious, we headed down the mountain, stopping for ice cream along the way. By the time we got halfway down, there were absolutely no lights and night was upon us, so we proceeded carefully in the dark. It was a lot of fun. The train ride home was quiet; we were all quite tired.
The next day was slightly less strenuous, but did see us heading out on another adventure. We went to a Japanese clothing store to attempt the dye our own towels and handkerchiefs with natural indigo dye. It was especially challenging because the store owner only spoke Japanese and we had no translator. However, we made it through alright and our cloth came out quite nicely. Went to Shibuya with our friends from Taiwan afterwords to do some shopping. I left a little early because I was tired and we had all kinda split up anyway.
Friday was set to be another big day because I was meeting my language partner in Harajuku after walking through Meiji-Jingu with Roger. Meiji-jingu is a park dedicated to the memory of the Emperor Meiji and is a most excellent place for a walk indeed. It also has a incredible Torii and shrine along with a peaceful tree-lined paths. Apparently, it has a distinct sort of beauty in every season. I'd like to go back to see it in each of its forms. I've unfortunately lost my videos concerning it, but since I plan on going back it is okay. If I had to choose one place to visit in Tokyo, it would probably be there. I feel like it just resonated with me, somewhat like Ueno did. Also, I really enjoyed talking with Roger...not to mention reaping the benefits of his knowledge of Japan. I give him my heartfelt thanks.
After our walk, I went to wait for my language partner, Tomoko, while Roger went home. Tomoko is another one of the excellent people I have been fortunate enough to be introduced to while in Japan. We met up, walked around Harajuku, and talked about all sorts of things. For example, she thought it was funny that I knew that Japanese word for right (directional) but not left. Here's kinda how the conversation went:
T: So you know the word for right...why not left?
J: Right is just easier to remember...
T: Left is easy too!
J: Hmm, humph. みぎ and...
T: ...ひだり It is easy to remember.
J: Hahaha, okay, I think I've got it now.
I haven't forgot it since. Another funny story is when I explained to her what the English phrase "pull it off" meant using a hypothetical bank robbery scenario.
J:"Do you think we can pull it off?"
"We're smart and are quick. We can pull it off."
We ended up settling in a cafe and talking about a play. I also had the opportunity to share some of my favorite music with her, i.e., Flogging Molly and Modest Mouse. She was kind enough to listen and seemed to enjoy it. It was an excellent evening.
Saturday was another day of constant motion. I left the apartment early in the morning to meet with Robert, Kurt, and Tyler, the co-ops from UC currently working in Japan, in Shinjuku for a trip to Enoshima and Kamakura. They are all truly excellent individuals and I learned a lot about what living in Japan for an extended period is like from them. Robert was gracious enough to provide me with a ton of useful information about places to go too. Anyway, after reasonable train trip we stepped out, much to my (ignorant as I am) surprise, into a bay-side area. I was overwhelmed by the wonderful sea-breeze.
The short walk to the island of Enoshima was dominated of tales for Robert of climbing Mt. Fuji and hiking through Hokkaido. Upon reaching the island, the adventure really began as we climbed up the steps leading us around the island. Please enjoy this video of Robert explaining the legend behind the island.
On the island I took a lot of great videos of the sea, the cliffs, and the grand buildings. We also ended up inside a cave on the far side of the island where the dragon in the story of the island is supposedly enshrined and then took the path less traveled along the far side of the island to get back. Inside the cave we walked with candles and saw supposedly naturally neon florescent rocks...that really just looked spray-painted. It is a tough call though. The cave was great because it was so cool and there was water dripping everywhere. There were also a ton of old statues lining the paths.
After our island experience we went to Kamakura. We several shrines both big and small and hiked all around following the hiking path. I enjoyed both the company and the architecture. It was great exploring a new place so rich with culture and an array of impressive sites. Perhaps I'll go into a bit more detail later, but I'll at least talk about the Daibutsu now but it was my favorite. This was maybe the third place we went to and it was surrounded by a wall. I paid my two dollars to get in and saw a sight unlike any other.
Here is the video of the Daibutsu 大仏 we saw. When I first saw it appear through the trees I truly realized I was in a foreign land. I must emphasize how very impressed I was by it - I was awestruck.
For those of you who don't want to watch the video I'll say that the Daibutsu is a gigantic statue of Buddha that towers over you while sitting in a peaceful pose.
I'm afraid this entry has gone on too long. But I'll have to do another one soon because there is so very much left to tell. I hope you all enjoyed this one though. Thank you for reading so far! Here's wishing you all the best.
**BONUS VIDEO**
A video of a small amount of the cheering that occurs nearly constantly at Japanese baseball games. Cheers.
Monday, August 17, 2009
The Second Update
Well, I heck of a lot has happened since my last update. The videos I'm posting today though are only about one of them though. Perhaps the coolest thing I've seen so far in Japan is the Kaminarimon and Sensou-ji. That is, the Gate of the Thunder God and the temple Sensou-ji. My goodness was that some amazing architecture. It was a great visual and culture experience and I was certainly happy to be able to take it all in.
For those of you who wanted souvenirs (and some of you who didn't), it is worth mentioning that I picked up some really great things at the Tokyo National Museum. I hope that they meet with your approval. Speaking of the Tokyo National Museum, we went there yesterday (Sunday 16th). It was a generally great time and was comparable to a top notch museum in the states. The one crucial dilemma was that there weren't English translations for some of the objects on display (not that I'd expect there to be, really), but, honestly, they provided a lot more English descriptions than I expected...it was more than enough to give me a feel of what I was looking at. I saw exhibits on Japanese archeology, swords, art, and Buddhism, among others. We also took the English language tour (by volunteers). That was really nice, but I think I liked going on my own more.
After the museum, my friend Akira's father took us out for an authentic Japanese meal. I had so much food! He ordered us tons of great things like, sashimi, tofu, fried tofu, mackerel, roasted miso paste and nuts, cow tongue, and Japanese salad. Of course we also had a round of beers and then Akira's father and I got to drinking sake. We each had three tokkuri in traditional Japanese style. I was pretty much done at that point and we left to go on a walk through Ueno's famous park...that's when he saw an Irish pub. So, I learned how to drink like a Japanese business man and about the interesting life of Akira's father. I must say he was very, very kind to us all. Surprisingly enough I made it home with little trouble and woke up (after sleeping for 10 hours) feeling rested and ready for class. Amazing! Class really did go well today too. We learned how to talk about our families. Good stuff.
Well, I'm doing well here in Japan. We're going to a Tea Ceremony tomorrow, out with our friend Roger on Wednesday, to a clothing making event in Kamagome on Thursday, and then on Friday I am meeting up with my Japanese language partner in Harajuku. Busy times, but good times. I hope you all are going very well back home...or wherever you may be. Cheers.
For those of you who wanted souvenirs (and some of you who didn't), it is worth mentioning that I picked up some really great things at the Tokyo National Museum. I hope that they meet with your approval. Speaking of the Tokyo National Museum, we went there yesterday (Sunday 16th). It was a generally great time and was comparable to a top notch museum in the states. The one crucial dilemma was that there weren't English translations for some of the objects on display (not that I'd expect there to be, really), but, honestly, they provided a lot more English descriptions than I expected...it was more than enough to give me a feel of what I was looking at. I saw exhibits on Japanese archeology, swords, art, and Buddhism, among others. We also took the English language tour (by volunteers). That was really nice, but I think I liked going on my own more.
After the museum, my friend Akira's father took us out for an authentic Japanese meal. I had so much food! He ordered us tons of great things like, sashimi, tofu, fried tofu, mackerel, roasted miso paste and nuts, cow tongue, and Japanese salad. Of course we also had a round of beers and then Akira's father and I got to drinking sake. We each had three tokkuri in traditional Japanese style. I was pretty much done at that point and we left to go on a walk through Ueno's famous park...that's when he saw an Irish pub. So, I learned how to drink like a Japanese business man and about the interesting life of Akira's father. I must say he was very, very kind to us all. Surprisingly enough I made it home with little trouble and woke up (after sleeping for 10 hours) feeling rested and ready for class. Amazing! Class really did go well today too. We learned how to talk about our families. Good stuff.
Well, I'm doing well here in Japan. We're going to a Tea Ceremony tomorrow, out with our friend Roger on Wednesday, to a clothing making event in Kamagome on Thursday, and then on Friday I am meeting up with my Japanese language partner in Harajuku. Busy times, but good times. I hope you all are going very well back home...or wherever you may be. Cheers.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Here's a video of the Bon Festival we went to over the weekend. I absolutely loved the dancing and stayed after other people had left.
The biggest event of the night was yet to come. Since the festival was far away in Yokohama we took a long time getting back on the train. We arrived Iidabashi station at 12:13AM and made a mad dash, 480m, to catch our train at 12:15. Although I ended up falling down the stairs, hurting my knee, and ripping holes in both of the knees of my pants, we made it...and were promptly kicked out 8 stops into our 16 stop journey since the train's last stop was in Toyocho. That began an adventure of epic proportions: a four hour, >9 mile walk, crossing three rivers, that finally saw us all falling into bed at 4:30 in the morning. My right leg was shot and I had blisters like you wouldn't believe, but it was an experience unlike any other. There is no better way to learn a city than to walk it, and let's just say we got to know a good bit of Tokyo and Ichikawa that night. Good times and lots of good stories. Cooper got a lot of it on film with my HD video camera...I'm sure he'll have something worth sharing in the future.
Well, just a short update tonight. I hope you all are well!
Monday, July 13, 2009
The Journey Begins
Ladies and gentlemen of the Internet. Allow me to update you on my crazy and exciting life. Anyway, that's what I said on June 13th when I started this entry...maybe I can finish it now.
For those of you who don't know, and there probably aren't many of you nowadays, I will be leaving for Japan on August 1st. I'll be taking language classes in Tokyo for 7 weeks while living with my friend, the excellent Mr. Chris Cooper. This is, to me, very exciting. But you folks should probably not worry about it too much.
Other miscellaneous updates for your information (numbered, for your convenience!):
1.Spring quarter was an amazing success, at least as far as classes go. I learned a lot and got good grades. The Chemical Engineers also had some crazy nights out that I'll remember for years to come.
2.Two of my best friends were married on June 27th. I was a groomsman. It was a gorgeous ceremony. Unfortunately, I got a bad sinus infection directly after the wedding. Better than before it though, right?
3.I realized that I'm actually quite poor and going to Japan is going to kill me financially...but screw it; I am going. If I give this up I will never forgive myself. My family's motto is "Fortitor et celeriter". It is time I lived up to it.
4.I'm on co-op now and working as a project manager. Basically, I ensure that work gets done correctly, safely, cheaply, and on time. I'm pretty busy. It is as close as I've ever been to enjoying my work. I could actually see myself doing this for a living...for more than a year even. It is weird when older people call me "sir" though.
5.There was this girl that I liked/like and I told people about her. That's probably going nowhere...and not just because I'm going somewhere. I'll throw all the optimism I have at it though, folks. *mmmph*
6.On an unrelated note, I'm still depressed about being told off on Friday. Who knew I was so sensitive? I'll get over it, but I had to tell someone.
7.I love tennis. David beat me handily this past weekend though. I'm 1-1 on the summer...a higher win percentage than the Reds...admittedly, it is a much smaller sample size.
So here's the part of the entry where I stop condensing my life into bullet points and start a more intellectual discussion. I want to make two mostly unrelated points.
First, regarding the Internet as a political tool. The protesters in Tehran made international headlines by opposing the reelection of incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in what many consider to be a massive case of electoral fraud. While this was occurring, the Iranian government confined foreign journalists to their hotel rooms and offices, shut off cell phones, and severely limited internet access. All in a bid to stifle the ability of protesters to organize and get information out to international media outlets.
Before we go any further, let us all take a moment to reflect on how frightening it is that governments are capable of that degree of censorship. We can only speculate as to what our own, much more technologically advanced government is capable of. Frankly though, if you'll excuse my momentary descent into conspiracy theory territory, I feel that the US government has much more subtle mechanisms of control than the rather heavy-handed techniques employed by the Iranian government. But needless to say, if you make the government angry, they're more than capable of cutting you off from the world and making you disappear.
/end tangent
My real point arises from a unique facet of the demonstrations: the usage of proxy servers by Iranian dissidents to access social networking sites (read: Twitter) in order to post their first hand accounts of events on the ground. The optimist in me has this to say: hooray!, a new age of communications is upon us. The birth of our global communications network which crosses borders has brought us closer than ever to a unified world. The people of the world need no longer suffer in silence.
But let's face it folks, things aren't so simple. First, although many Iranians did reach the outside world using Twitter and its contemporaries, the net result was first, minimal, and second, only achieved through the utilization of more traditional, mainstream media outlets. If the BBC and NBC hadn't told you the Iranians were on Twitter, you probably weren't going to hear about it. Also, the nature of identity on the internet of unreliable at best. We really have no idea who is feeding us information on the majority of social networking sites/blogs etc. This makes reporting difficult and justifying any decision-making based on the information obtained from such accounts very difficult. Finally, ignoring these technical issues which can perhaps be resolved or debated, the real problem is that many people don't have access to food and water, let alone cell phones and internet access. The oppressed people of the world can't all cry out to us on Twitter when they don't even have electricity.
Maybe that's going too far though. Maybe my point about global poverty borders on the non sequitur. It is undeniable that, as we progress technologically, more specifically, as we continue to explore the possibilities brought about by our newfound ability to connect to each other nearly instantaneously, the ability of governments oppress their people continues to diminish. I feel that, the more we share with each other, the more we will feel like we are one people sharing this planet. Maybe we can start to rethink our prejudices and hatreds. Hopefully within my lifetime we can come a lot closer to seeing how stupid killing each other really is. If technology can bring that about, it is worth it.
The second issue I want to address is in the same vein as my last discussion. However, it is more of a rant than anything else. I'm sick of a couple of things. First, I'm sick of the pointless animosity between those who fight under the banners "Democrat" and "Republican". So many people use these and other similar labels as a device to demonize anyone who disagrees with them. They also allow politicians to avoid the intricacies inherent in everyone's political views and dismiss them out of hand. I think this environment is, first and foremost, self-perpetuating in that it attracts the wrong sort of individual to politics and, second and perhaps more damagingly, a detriment to intelligent political discourse. How can we come to a proper compromise when we dismiss each other as an enemy? How can we understand an issue when we disrespect the opposing viewpoint that is shared by a large number of people who think it is the right thing? How can a truly honest and moderate politician, which most people seem to want, come to power when the elections are a contest of fundraising, mud-slinging, and political pandering?
And don't think this rant has anything to do with President Obama - though I might consider saying something against him just to goad you gypsies into a reaction. But, frankly, I think he's done a good job so far with everything that has been thrown at him. I would have done things much differently with the economy, but there isn't always one right answer. And if things don't work out, people need to try to avoid scapegoating...something our country loves to do. But as far as foreign relations go...I'd say he's been top notch. Non-interventionalist rhetoric is a breath of fresh air. But I'm rambling again.
I hate to just rant on and on without presenting any thoughts as to how things can be changed, but it is so difficult to think of how we can get away from this destructive trend of party politics...which does, admittedly, have some advantages. Perhaps if we just made it a policy to try to be friends, not call each other names, and see things from the other side before making decisions we would see some change. People almost never see themselves as "evil"; they almost always have the best of intentions. Karl Marx may have been right when he said that "The path to Hell is paved with good intentions", but if by the end of the path we get to the point where we see that we're really all on the same side...Hell really can't be that bad.
Well, I've rambled on enough tonight. I apologize, dear reader. Hopefully you got something positive out of this blog entry. I really did mean well. You have my best wishes.
For those of you who don't know, and there probably aren't many of you nowadays, I will be leaving for Japan on August 1st. I'll be taking language classes in Tokyo for 7 weeks while living with my friend, the excellent Mr. Chris Cooper. This is, to me, very exciting. But you folks should probably not worry about it too much.
Other miscellaneous updates for your information (numbered, for your convenience!):
1.Spring quarter was an amazing success, at least as far as classes go. I learned a lot and got good grades. The Chemical Engineers also had some crazy nights out that I'll remember for years to come.
2.Two of my best friends were married on June 27th. I was a groomsman. It was a gorgeous ceremony. Unfortunately, I got a bad sinus infection directly after the wedding. Better than before it though, right?
3.I realized that I'm actually quite poor and going to Japan is going to kill me financially...but screw it; I am going. If I give this up I will never forgive myself. My family's motto is "Fortitor et celeriter". It is time I lived up to it.
4.I'm on co-op now and working as a project manager. Basically, I ensure that work gets done correctly, safely, cheaply, and on time. I'm pretty busy. It is as close as I've ever been to enjoying my work. I could actually see myself doing this for a living...for more than a year even. It is weird when older people call me "sir" though.
5.There was this girl that I liked/like and I told people about her. That's probably going nowhere...and not just because I'm going somewhere. I'll throw all the optimism I have at it though, folks. *mmmph*
6.On an unrelated note, I'm still depressed about being told off on Friday. Who knew I was so sensitive? I'll get over it, but I had to tell someone.
7.I love tennis. David beat me handily this past weekend though. I'm 1-1 on the summer...a higher win percentage than the Reds...admittedly, it is a much smaller sample size.
So here's the part of the entry where I stop condensing my life into bullet points and start a more intellectual discussion. I want to make two mostly unrelated points.
First, regarding the Internet as a political tool. The protesters in Tehran made international headlines by opposing the reelection of incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in what many consider to be a massive case of electoral fraud. While this was occurring, the Iranian government confined foreign journalists to their hotel rooms and offices, shut off cell phones, and severely limited internet access. All in a bid to stifle the ability of protesters to organize and get information out to international media outlets.
Before we go any further, let us all take a moment to reflect on how frightening it is that governments are capable of that degree of censorship. We can only speculate as to what our own, much more technologically advanced government is capable of. Frankly though, if you'll excuse my momentary descent into conspiracy theory territory, I feel that the US government has much more subtle mechanisms of control than the rather heavy-handed techniques employed by the Iranian government. But needless to say, if you make the government angry, they're more than capable of cutting you off from the world and making you disappear.
/end tangent
My real point arises from a unique facet of the demonstrations: the usage of proxy servers by Iranian dissidents to access social networking sites (read: Twitter) in order to post their first hand accounts of events on the ground. The optimist in me has this to say: hooray!, a new age of communications is upon us. The birth of our global communications network which crosses borders has brought us closer than ever to a unified world. The people of the world need no longer suffer in silence.
But let's face it folks, things aren't so simple. First, although many Iranians did reach the outside world using Twitter and its contemporaries, the net result was first, minimal, and second, only achieved through the utilization of more traditional, mainstream media outlets. If the BBC and NBC hadn't told you the Iranians were on Twitter, you probably weren't going to hear about it. Also, the nature of identity on the internet of unreliable at best. We really have no idea who is feeding us information on the majority of social networking sites/blogs etc. This makes reporting difficult and justifying any decision-making based on the information obtained from such accounts very difficult. Finally, ignoring these technical issues which can perhaps be resolved or debated, the real problem is that many people don't have access to food and water, let alone cell phones and internet access. The oppressed people of the world can't all cry out to us on Twitter when they don't even have electricity.
Maybe that's going too far though. Maybe my point about global poverty borders on the non sequitur. It is undeniable that, as we progress technologically, more specifically, as we continue to explore the possibilities brought about by our newfound ability to connect to each other nearly instantaneously, the ability of governments oppress their people continues to diminish. I feel that, the more we share with each other, the more we will feel like we are one people sharing this planet. Maybe we can start to rethink our prejudices and hatreds. Hopefully within my lifetime we can come a lot closer to seeing how stupid killing each other really is. If technology can bring that about, it is worth it.
The second issue I want to address is in the same vein as my last discussion. However, it is more of a rant than anything else. I'm sick of a couple of things. First, I'm sick of the pointless animosity between those who fight under the banners "Democrat" and "Republican". So many people use these and other similar labels as a device to demonize anyone who disagrees with them. They also allow politicians to avoid the intricacies inherent in everyone's political views and dismiss them out of hand. I think this environment is, first and foremost, self-perpetuating in that it attracts the wrong sort of individual to politics and, second and perhaps more damagingly, a detriment to intelligent political discourse. How can we come to a proper compromise when we dismiss each other as an enemy? How can we understand an issue when we disrespect the opposing viewpoint that is shared by a large number of people who think it is the right thing? How can a truly honest and moderate politician, which most people seem to want, come to power when the elections are a contest of fundraising, mud-slinging, and political pandering?
And don't think this rant has anything to do with President Obama - though I might consider saying something against him just to goad you gypsies into a reaction. But, frankly, I think he's done a good job so far with everything that has been thrown at him. I would have done things much differently with the economy, but there isn't always one right answer. And if things don't work out, people need to try to avoid scapegoating...something our country loves to do. But as far as foreign relations go...I'd say he's been top notch. Non-interventionalist rhetoric is a breath of fresh air. But I'm rambling again.
I hate to just rant on and on without presenting any thoughts as to how things can be changed, but it is so difficult to think of how we can get away from this destructive trend of party politics...which does, admittedly, have some advantages. Perhaps if we just made it a policy to try to be friends, not call each other names, and see things from the other side before making decisions we would see some change. People almost never see themselves as "evil"; they almost always have the best of intentions. Karl Marx may have been right when he said that "The path to Hell is paved with good intentions", but if by the end of the path we get to the point where we see that we're really all on the same side...Hell really can't be that bad.
Well, I've rambled on enough tonight. I apologize, dear reader. Hopefully you got something positive out of this blog entry. I really did mean well. You have my best wishes.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Sine Qua Non
*munching on animal crackers*
*crunch* *crunch* *crunch*
Oh, you were waiting on me to say something...alright then. I know of no rule against typing with one's mouth full.
My co-op quarter here in West Virginia/Belpre, Ohio is nearing its end. I'm going to be working through spring break to make more money and to avoid the inevitable boredom of having nothing scheduled for a week. I'm not saying I wouldn't have a lot of good times hanging out with my friends...but they can't be with me all of the time and a lot of them are going to be working through the break too. But yeah, it has been a very productive co-op. After the disappointment that seemed to follow me back to Cincy after the last co-op quarter, I'm glad that I was able to improve myself and perform in a way I could be more satisfied with. I took the initiative; I made the phone calls; I came back again and again for more work. So, I'm proud of what I was able to get done and, in spite of the mistakes I made, I know that I did good work, learned things, and improved myself as well. Success.
It's thundering out there tonight. There are many times when I love this sort of weather and tonight is one of them. Thunder and lightning are so grand, so...majestic. Plus, I'm quite glad that the cold days are almost completely behind me.
So, two of my best friends are get married (to each other) this June. You can't believe how happy I am for them. I'm invited to the wedding too, to be in it, in fact. How awesome is that? I get to be part of something that important in their lives. It will be the first wedding I've been invited to as a friend and that is kinda the beginning of a new era in and of itself. Now if I could only come up with the perfect wedding present!
It does get me thinking though...people my age are getting married and I've had ONE girlfriend nearly FOUR years ago. I have to give myself some props...that's pretty epic. Jacob, are you worried? No, no, no. It's just funny. I don't know if I'll ever be impressed again.
I saw that Watchmen movie Saturday, you know, the one that everyone has been talking about? No? Well, I enjoyed it, on the whole. There were a couple of great lines, some amazing imagery, and several satisfying moments. It also had a decidedly philosophical bent to it. I always appreciate that sort of thing. I thought Dr. Manhattan's point about how each human, as a unique individual existing out of all other possible individuals, is a miracle (he was thinking about one in particular at the time though) was pretty grand. One thing a lot of us neglect to think about is how great it is just to be alive. I didn't exist for a long time and I'm glad that came to an end. Hopefully I can stick around for a while.
So, the title of this particular post is Latin for "without which not" or perhaps "without which nothing". I grabbed it off of Battlestar: Galactica (which is one of the best things to show up on TV for a long time). In the episode it was explained as referring to something which you cannot see yourself living without. That is, if it was taken away from you, life would be unlivable. I'm guessing it is generally a person, unless you're Patrick Henry (liberty or death...get it?). Anyway, it struck a cord with me, so now you gypsies have to deal with it for a brief moment.
Well, I can't think of anything else to say. The animal crackers are gone too.
*crunch* *crunch* *crunch*
Oh, you were waiting on me to say something...alright then. I know of no rule against typing with one's mouth full.
My co-op quarter here in West Virginia/Belpre, Ohio is nearing its end. I'm going to be working through spring break to make more money and to avoid the inevitable boredom of having nothing scheduled for a week. I'm not saying I wouldn't have a lot of good times hanging out with my friends...but they can't be with me all of the time and a lot of them are going to be working through the break too. But yeah, it has been a very productive co-op. After the disappointment that seemed to follow me back to Cincy after the last co-op quarter, I'm glad that I was able to improve myself and perform in a way I could be more satisfied with. I took the initiative; I made the phone calls; I came back again and again for more work. So, I'm proud of what I was able to get done and, in spite of the mistakes I made, I know that I did good work, learned things, and improved myself as well. Success.
It's thundering out there tonight. There are many times when I love this sort of weather and tonight is one of them. Thunder and lightning are so grand, so...majestic. Plus, I'm quite glad that the cold days are almost completely behind me.
So, two of my best friends are get married (to each other) this June. You can't believe how happy I am for them. I'm invited to the wedding too, to be in it, in fact. How awesome is that? I get to be part of something that important in their lives. It will be the first wedding I've been invited to as a friend and that is kinda the beginning of a new era in and of itself. Now if I could only come up with the perfect wedding present!
It does get me thinking though...people my age are getting married and I've had ONE girlfriend nearly FOUR years ago. I have to give myself some props...that's pretty epic. Jacob, are you worried? No, no, no. It's just funny. I don't know if I'll ever be impressed again.
I saw that Watchmen movie Saturday, you know, the one that everyone has been talking about? No? Well, I enjoyed it, on the whole. There were a couple of great lines, some amazing imagery, and several satisfying moments. It also had a decidedly philosophical bent to it. I always appreciate that sort of thing. I thought Dr. Manhattan's point about how each human, as a unique individual existing out of all other possible individuals, is a miracle (he was thinking about one in particular at the time though) was pretty grand. One thing a lot of us neglect to think about is how great it is just to be alive. I didn't exist for a long time and I'm glad that came to an end. Hopefully I can stick around for a while.
So, the title of this particular post is Latin for "without which not" or perhaps "without which nothing". I grabbed it off of Battlestar: Galactica (which is one of the best things to show up on TV for a long time). In the episode it was explained as referring to something which you cannot see yourself living without. That is, if it was taken away from you, life would be unlivable. I'm guessing it is generally a person, unless you're Patrick Henry (liberty or death...get it?). Anyway, it struck a cord with me, so now you gypsies have to deal with it for a brief moment.
Well, I can't think of anything else to say. The animal crackers are gone too.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Dancing in the Fire
Hello folks, I'll avoid the cliche of talking about how long it has been since I wrote in here...oops. Anyway, I find myself at an interesting point in my life once again. I've been to Vegas, gambled and won. I've had my best Christmas break in recent memory. I've started back at my job in West Virginia and am living the dream.
Well, it isn't quite that grand. Work isn't as satisfying as I'd like. It is close to the point where I would say that I dread going to work. I'm glad to have a job though...I feel bad for the people who are not so fortunate.
There are bad times on the horizon for a lot of people. People are losing their jobs left and right. In fact, today Circuit City announced they are liquidating all of their assets and closing all of their stores. That means 35,000 people will have lost their jobs. Just terrible. I'm hoping to dodge the bullet on all of this (loans, job, etc) but my perennial luck has its limits. You know, I'm really rooting for this new administration coming into power Tuesday...but there are no miracles in government and it may be too little too late. I also worry about how we're going to pay down our massive debt even if we do survive this mess.
It hasn't helped that a large majority of my free time has recently been consumed by Fallout 3 for the X-Box 360 and Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Neither of them paint a pretty picture for the future and I often find myself agreeing with them. But this too shall pass.
On a slightly lighter note, I fell in love with House MD (the show, though Hugh is pretty sweet) over break and now have all of the DVD's. House is an extremely interesting character. I feel there's a little House in me, so I learn a little about myself by watching the show. Of course, I'm not addicted to Vicodin or anything.
I promised to write a post about my time in Sin City...I obviously delayed doing so. To be honest, after returning I was intellectually and physically exhausted. I hadn't recovered from school where I literally worked myself into an illness (and still managed to be lazy). It was a tough quarter though I did grow a lot closer to Ryan and Jayna who I miss a lot. And then after I recovered I was busy with Christmas, New Year's, and moving here. So, here I am.
This time in Parkersburg I've found myself a lot more lonely than I used to be. I knew before I even left that it was going to be this way. I don't really understand why though. For some reason I just feel really close to my friends these days. Tonight I turned to my bourbon. Yeah, I drink. My advice: Don't drink alone if you can avoid it, folks. I mean, I'm obviously not drunk and it did help me to feel less depressed...but it is a bad place to be. I'm not sure what is wrong with me. Whatever, I miss my friends. I guess I could call them, but I'd rather see them. It'd be better if they called me...especially certain people. Don't feel bad though, I'm sure the blame lies with me.
Vegas. Let me tell you, it was different than any place I'd ever been before. I had some good company and saw some amazing sights. I played blackjack, roulette, and the slots and I won on everything but blackjack which was really fast-paced. It was a constant assault on the senses walking around that town. Lots of amazing architecture and lighting and a constant barrage of advertisements for shows and women. I could probably write a big piece about prostitution but I don't have the readership or the drive to make it worthwhile. Needless to say it is not an industry I anticipate ever utilizing...but there isn't much to say beyond that which wouldn't take me several paragraphs. Oh, I saw Blue Man Group in Vegas too. My goodness, they are amazing. Spencer has good taste.
It's Saturday now...Was there something else you wanted to know?
Well, it isn't quite that grand. Work isn't as satisfying as I'd like. It is close to the point where I would say that I dread going to work. I'm glad to have a job though...I feel bad for the people who are not so fortunate.
There are bad times on the horizon for a lot of people. People are losing their jobs left and right. In fact, today Circuit City announced they are liquidating all of their assets and closing all of their stores. That means 35,000 people will have lost their jobs. Just terrible. I'm hoping to dodge the bullet on all of this (loans, job, etc) but my perennial luck has its limits. You know, I'm really rooting for this new administration coming into power Tuesday...but there are no miracles in government and it may be too little too late. I also worry about how we're going to pay down our massive debt even if we do survive this mess.
It hasn't helped that a large majority of my free time has recently been consumed by Fallout 3 for the X-Box 360 and Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Neither of them paint a pretty picture for the future and I often find myself agreeing with them. But this too shall pass.
On a slightly lighter note, I fell in love with House MD (the show, though Hugh is pretty sweet) over break and now have all of the DVD's. House is an extremely interesting character. I feel there's a little House in me, so I learn a little about myself by watching the show. Of course, I'm not addicted to Vicodin or anything.
I promised to write a post about my time in Sin City...I obviously delayed doing so. To be honest, after returning I was intellectually and physically exhausted. I hadn't recovered from school where I literally worked myself into an illness (and still managed to be lazy). It was a tough quarter though I did grow a lot closer to Ryan and Jayna who I miss a lot. And then after I recovered I was busy with Christmas, New Year's, and moving here. So, here I am.
This time in Parkersburg I've found myself a lot more lonely than I used to be. I knew before I even left that it was going to be this way. I don't really understand why though. For some reason I just feel really close to my friends these days. Tonight I turned to my bourbon. Yeah, I drink. My advice: Don't drink alone if you can avoid it, folks. I mean, I'm obviously not drunk and it did help me to feel less depressed...but it is a bad place to be. I'm not sure what is wrong with me. Whatever, I miss my friends. I guess I could call them, but I'd rather see them. It'd be better if they called me...especially certain people. Don't feel bad though, I'm sure the blame lies with me.
Vegas. Let me tell you, it was different than any place I'd ever been before. I had some good company and saw some amazing sights. I played blackjack, roulette, and the slots and I won on everything but blackjack which was really fast-paced. It was a constant assault on the senses walking around that town. Lots of amazing architecture and lighting and a constant barrage of advertisements for shows and women. I could probably write a big piece about prostitution but I don't have the readership or the drive to make it worthwhile. Needless to say it is not an industry I anticipate ever utilizing...but there isn't much to say beyond that which wouldn't take me several paragraphs. Oh, I saw Blue Man Group in Vegas too. My goodness, they are amazing. Spencer has good taste.
It's Saturday now...Was there something else you wanted to know?
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