Taking a more topical approach to things...
Is Osama Bin Laden dead or not? If you haven't yet heard, there are a whole bunch of rumors circulating the globe that the alleged visionary behind the WTC/Pentagon attacks is either very sick or already dead from very non-assault rifle-related complications. This whole thing strikes me as being really funny. I think it'd be great if he died of typhoid because then possibly (although I'm not even thinking about holding my breath on this one) maybe people would see how inconsequential he truly is.
Succumbing not to a geniusly masterminded internationally collaborated manhunt, but instead to some dirty water, would be a fantastically anti-climactic end to all of the drama. That way he would be denied that ever-elusive, widely sought-after title of martyr, greedy opportunistic politicians wouldn't be able to benefit from his capture and the ensuing circus sideshow they would try to call a trial (see Saddam Hussein), and pissed off Americans wouldn't be quite so lulled into a false sense of closure. That is of course assuming that Bush and Co. are even still bothering to hunt down the asshole, which hasn't seemed to be the case as of late.
A disease-dead Osama means the one nationally recognized symbol of unadultered evil, the one man for which forgiveness and salvation are absolutely out of the question would essentially become an emblematic nullity. I guess we'll just have to direct our hatred elsewhere...
The cynic in me, however, says that even if Bin Laden dies from some bacteria, Bush's approval rating will still manage to climb. Politics are dumb.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Change of Name
Finally decided on a name change for the ol' blog. It'll do for now at least.
Right now I'm still sorta stumped creatively over what I should make my movie about. I also now have an additional assignment which is having me rack my brain, although it shouldn't be as tough to come up with something. I do need to have a rough production book for it by Monday with the idea completely fleshed out, so time is of the essence. The project requires that I line up 10-15 still photos that will play one at a time (and they can't move across the screen, zoom in or out or do anything fancy like they usually do with still photos on TV these days). Underneath the photos we need to lay out 7 tracks of audio that play without any gaps whatsoever (this is harder than it might sound). The audio is supposed to tell a story that goes along with the photos. It's actually a very cool project, but again I seem to be running short on good ideas. I need some creative friends to help me out with concept creation. Execution shouldn't be a problem.
Spanish Seminar is getting lamer every class I attend. Yip.
Corey came through a couple days ago, visiting from Vermont. I hadn't seen him since New Years so it was refreshing to catch up and just chill with one of my oldest friends. As it was Tuesday night and rainy, there wasn't a whole lot going on, but we made it out to Allston to see Cecilia and quasi-celebrate Jayme's birthday, although is was extremely low key. Jayme seemed much less enthusiastic about the big deuce-deuce then she did a year ago when 21 hit.
Today I went to the doctor's for a checkup to see if this mono is making its exit yet. My spleen is still enlarged apparantly, although it is better than before. 2-3 more weeks it should be down entirely. Waiting to hear about my bloodwork to see if my liver is back to normal. I'll know by noon tomorrow, and if all is well, I can be enjoying a frosty beer shortly after. Otherwise who knows what sort of shit I'll have to deal with next? I just want to be better and back to normal at this point.
My return to Starbucks was delayed another week because of my boss forgetting to put me on the schedule. I'm somewhat apprehensive about my coming back as the store has been shaken up a good bit and a lot of the old familiar faces are going or already gone. As of the first or second week of October, we'll be down to one supervisor (plus the two managers) so I'm sure I'll be put on the fast track towards promotion out of sheer necessity. I'm still remaining optimistic as that store has been cool since I started working there 2 and a half years ago, despite a staff that has changed a whole lot.
Ridiculousness Worth Mentioning: Chilling in my room late last night with a friend and we suddenly noticed my across the alley neighbor (her window is not even 10 feet away from mine) opens up her blinds. As we are so close, we unavoidably make brief awkward eye contact, and then she commences to dump three seperate loads of garbage four stories down onto the ground. What the hell? I won't lie, I've been known to throw a thing or two out a 4th floor window during my college career, but I've generally made sure it was something the rats would be able to take care of: A rotting pepper here, some old leftover chicken there. Not three trashbags full of bottles, wrappers, and whatever else was lying around the place (including what looked like some old shelving). Also, I had enough shame to at least look around first to see if someone might have spotted me. This girl definitely knew we were watching yet didn't hesitate to hurl all this shit out her window. How tactless.
I really need to get some storyboarding done tonight, so I'm gonna stop procrastinating.
Right now I'm still sorta stumped creatively over what I should make my movie about. I also now have an additional assignment which is having me rack my brain, although it shouldn't be as tough to come up with something. I do need to have a rough production book for it by Monday with the idea completely fleshed out, so time is of the essence. The project requires that I line up 10-15 still photos that will play one at a time (and they can't move across the screen, zoom in or out or do anything fancy like they usually do with still photos on TV these days). Underneath the photos we need to lay out 7 tracks of audio that play without any gaps whatsoever (this is harder than it might sound). The audio is supposed to tell a story that goes along with the photos. It's actually a very cool project, but again I seem to be running short on good ideas. I need some creative friends to help me out with concept creation. Execution shouldn't be a problem.
Spanish Seminar is getting lamer every class I attend. Yip.
Corey came through a couple days ago, visiting from Vermont. I hadn't seen him since New Years so it was refreshing to catch up and just chill with one of my oldest friends. As it was Tuesday night and rainy, there wasn't a whole lot going on, but we made it out to Allston to see Cecilia and quasi-celebrate Jayme's birthday, although is was extremely low key. Jayme seemed much less enthusiastic about the big deuce-deuce then she did a year ago when 21 hit.
Today I went to the doctor's for a checkup to see if this mono is making its exit yet. My spleen is still enlarged apparantly, although it is better than before. 2-3 more weeks it should be down entirely. Waiting to hear about my bloodwork to see if my liver is back to normal. I'll know by noon tomorrow, and if all is well, I can be enjoying a frosty beer shortly after. Otherwise who knows what sort of shit I'll have to deal with next? I just want to be better and back to normal at this point.
My return to Starbucks was delayed another week because of my boss forgetting to put me on the schedule. I'm somewhat apprehensive about my coming back as the store has been shaken up a good bit and a lot of the old familiar faces are going or already gone. As of the first or second week of October, we'll be down to one supervisor (plus the two managers) so I'm sure I'll be put on the fast track towards promotion out of sheer necessity. I'm still remaining optimistic as that store has been cool since I started working there 2 and a half years ago, despite a staff that has changed a whole lot.
Ridiculousness Worth Mentioning: Chilling in my room late last night with a friend and we suddenly noticed my across the alley neighbor (her window is not even 10 feet away from mine) opens up her blinds. As we are so close, we unavoidably make brief awkward eye contact, and then she commences to dump three seperate loads of garbage four stories down onto the ground. What the hell? I won't lie, I've been known to throw a thing or two out a 4th floor window during my college career, but I've generally made sure it was something the rats would be able to take care of: A rotting pepper here, some old leftover chicken there. Not three trashbags full of bottles, wrappers, and whatever else was lying around the place (including what looked like some old shelving). Also, I had enough shame to at least look around first to see if someone might have spotted me. This girl definitely knew we were watching yet didn't hesitate to hurl all this shit out her window. How tactless.
I really need to get some storyboarding done tonight, so I'm gonna stop procrastinating.
Monday, September 11, 2006
The Semester to Come...
Instead of homework, I shall update...
Well, I have seen my semester and I can say much of it will be spent at an AVID workstation (especially the end). I can honestly say this doesn't bother me much as I like working on AVID, but lord do I have a lot of work ahead of me.
I'm basically taking three capstone courses at once. My Advanced TV Production class is literally just one giant project that will result in my creating a short long-form feature (15-60 mins). It's actually pretty awesome because there is no restrictions or limitations on what we want to do. If we want, it can be completely experimental. It's gonna be a huge pain in the ass pulling together a crew and actors and all that (assuming I do fiction). It's already making my head spin, but the possibilities are endless since it's the only project we have for the entire class. The last time I had to write, produce, and direct a feature, I only had 3 weeks to pull it together, so everything was rush and sucked. This is much more promising.
My TV Editing class is just one huge AVID tutorial whereby I learn lots of techniques on how to become an editing machine. Truly tedious stuff but post-production editing is something I love doing. It's really one of those instant-gratification sports whereby you have something to show for all your hard work as soon as you finish. If I were to enter the television industry and rise to the position of post-production editor, while my life would be spent hellishly in a small room staring at computer screens for hours upon hours on end, I think it would give me great satisfaction to still have the opportunity to do so. The other plus side of this class is that everything I learn can be applied to my Advanced TV Production class.
My third class is Spanish Seminar which is actually just about Argentinian culture. While I have almost no knowledge or understanding of Argentina (nor much interest to learn about it at this point, to be honest), I do need this class to complete my Spanish minor so I will have to suck it up and deal. The professor is the head of the Spanish department, who happens to be a past-middle-aged Jewish guy who seems to have an unhealthy fixation with Argentina. That's fine I guess. The only thing is, although the class is to be taught entirely in Spanish, half the time he can't figure out how to make his point so he ends up going on in English anyway. Honestly, I'm all right with this, but it does make one wonder if he may have raised to the position of department head by some peculiar circumstances. The class itself actually looks to be pretty difficult. Some of the readings he assigned are downright impossible for me to comprehend. Some of it is really abstract stuff written in collegiate level Spanish (I probably can read at an 8th grade level if I had to guess). It's the reading for this class that I am currently not doing so I could update my blog.
Still hanging low with mono or whatever I have. Got an appt. with the doctor on Wednesday. Hopefully this'll be cleared up by then and I can resume being normal. I think this is the longest I've gone without a beer since I've turned 21. I guess I shouldn't complain that I'm forced to be healthy, but there's always something worth griping about, eh?
Not really a whole hell of a lot to report on otherwise. It's nice being in Boston, however it sucks being stuck in my room most of the time. Maybe things will get a little more interesting once I'm out and about. 'Til then...
Well, I have seen my semester and I can say much of it will be spent at an AVID workstation (especially the end). I can honestly say this doesn't bother me much as I like working on AVID, but lord do I have a lot of work ahead of me.
I'm basically taking three capstone courses at once. My Advanced TV Production class is literally just one giant project that will result in my creating a short long-form feature (15-60 mins). It's actually pretty awesome because there is no restrictions or limitations on what we want to do. If we want, it can be completely experimental. It's gonna be a huge pain in the ass pulling together a crew and actors and all that (assuming I do fiction). It's already making my head spin, but the possibilities are endless since it's the only project we have for the entire class. The last time I had to write, produce, and direct a feature, I only had 3 weeks to pull it together, so everything was rush and sucked. This is much more promising.
My TV Editing class is just one huge AVID tutorial whereby I learn lots of techniques on how to become an editing machine. Truly tedious stuff but post-production editing is something I love doing. It's really one of those instant-gratification sports whereby you have something to show for all your hard work as soon as you finish. If I were to enter the television industry and rise to the position of post-production editor, while my life would be spent hellishly in a small room staring at computer screens for hours upon hours on end, I think it would give me great satisfaction to still have the opportunity to do so. The other plus side of this class is that everything I learn can be applied to my Advanced TV Production class.
My third class is Spanish Seminar which is actually just about Argentinian culture. While I have almost no knowledge or understanding of Argentina (nor much interest to learn about it at this point, to be honest), I do need this class to complete my Spanish minor so I will have to suck it up and deal. The professor is the head of the Spanish department, who happens to be a past-middle-aged Jewish guy who seems to have an unhealthy fixation with Argentina. That's fine I guess. The only thing is, although the class is to be taught entirely in Spanish, half the time he can't figure out how to make his point so he ends up going on in English anyway. Honestly, I'm all right with this, but it does make one wonder if he may have raised to the position of department head by some peculiar circumstances. The class itself actually looks to be pretty difficult. Some of the readings he assigned are downright impossible for me to comprehend. Some of it is really abstract stuff written in collegiate level Spanish (I probably can read at an 8th grade level if I had to guess). It's the reading for this class that I am currently not doing so I could update my blog.
Still hanging low with mono or whatever I have. Got an appt. with the doctor on Wednesday. Hopefully this'll be cleared up by then and I can resume being normal. I think this is the longest I've gone without a beer since I've turned 21. I guess I shouldn't complain that I'm forced to be healthy, but there's always something worth griping about, eh?
Not really a whole hell of a lot to report on otherwise. It's nice being in Boston, however it sucks being stuck in my room most of the time. Maybe things will get a little more interesting once I'm out and about. 'Til then...
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Migration Complete
Oi.
I'm back in Boston in my sweet new dorm apartment! It actually is pretty sweet. I have my own fairly large bedroom and the apartment itself is good shit. I have 3 roommates who I haven't really gotten to know at all. Everybody seems content to sit around on their computers when they are in. Whatever. I'm sure we'll get to know each other as time goes on. Two of the guys went on an IKEA shopping spree, so we have stylish odds and ends garnishing the place such as attractive lighting, bamboo shades, and shelving for the kitchen. They also put tasteful art up in the common area. Saaaweeeeet.
So I've been wrestling with mono (or a close cousin of it) for the last week and a half. It's been a big pain in the ass and has come at a terrible time in my life. With mono comes an enlarged spleen and liver which equates to no physical activity and no drinking. Basically, in my last semester of free living, off the bat I can't party with my friends, can't work at Starbucks and save up some much needed fundage, can't run around and do a million things I want to now that I'm finally living in Boston again. I'm more or less dorm-bound for the month of September, barring a sharp improvement in my condition. Of course everyone has been wanting to hang out, go out, and do all sorts of shit almost every night of the week which is making me feel left out, but I guess that's life. I'm hoping all housewarming parties get held off til October this year. I really need to get out before the weather turns terrible for 5 months.
So it's been funny, cause I was remembering that a distinct feature of being away for a really long time was that I had cravings for all this shit I don't normally like from back home, but wanting it anyway since I couldn't get it. The best example is probably Choco Tacos. You know, those ice cream come things that came in taco form (with sugar cone taco shell, mmmm). Anyway, they are delicious and disgusting and I haven't had one since I was maybe 12, but I think there was a solid 3 months in Spain/England where I didn't go a day without craving one. The same thing happened with the Price is Right. I hadn't seen that show since I had a sick day sometime back in early High School, but once I knew I couldn't see it at all, I longed for Bob's frisky white haired antics and his appeals for cat sterility. So now that I'm back, I ate a Choco Taco (meh), and watched the Price is Right: Bob is way too senile to be doing this anymore, and the whole show comes off as really awkward half the time. I think now that I'm older and more observant, I notice all the scowls and side glances from people getting pissed about being bid on top of by one dollar and the poorly feigned enthusiasm of a 55 year old woman who just finds out that she has a chance to win a twin set of dirt bikes. Uh, what was my point? Oh yeah, now that I can experience all this stuff again, it's really nothing special. I guess it's a little bit of grass is greener syndrome or whatever, but it really is the stupid little things you miss when you are away.
As I've been sitting around a lot the past weeks, most of my days have involved websurfing, reading, watching movies and TV, and playing videogames. I watched United 93, the movie about the 9/11 airplane that was headed for the White House but because of supposed passenger intervention, went down in a field somewhere in Pennsylvania instead. I gotta say, it was a painful movie to watch. Regardless of whether or not you buy into the whole hero story aspect that's been reported, it was an amazingly well done film. A lot of the parts of the ATCs and military folks were played by the actual people, so the whole thing had an eerily real feeling to it. Regardless of the fact that you basically know what's coming, the whole thing plays out in heart-wrenching real-time and you just wait for the inevitable shitstorm that is coming. If you're prone to getting really emotionally involved in films, this could be a tough one, but it's definitely entertaining (or at least gripping) no matter how you feel about the subject. I haven't seen Ollie Stone's blockbuster WTC flick, but I've never been a big fan of his so I'm doubting I'll be too into it. I'd definitely recommend the smaller budget United 93 if you're in the mood for an engaging plotline.
That's my movie endorsement for the time being. I still need a new name for this blog, and something regular to write about. Still contemplating wading into politics, but I'm not sure if I wanna deal with all the caca or not. does anybody besides my family still read this thing?
I'm back in Boston in my sweet new dorm apartment! It actually is pretty sweet. I have my own fairly large bedroom and the apartment itself is good shit. I have 3 roommates who I haven't really gotten to know at all. Everybody seems content to sit around on their computers when they are in. Whatever. I'm sure we'll get to know each other as time goes on. Two of the guys went on an IKEA shopping spree, so we have stylish odds and ends garnishing the place such as attractive lighting, bamboo shades, and shelving for the kitchen. They also put tasteful art up in the common area. Saaaweeeeet.
So I've been wrestling with mono (or a close cousin of it) for the last week and a half. It's been a big pain in the ass and has come at a terrible time in my life. With mono comes an enlarged spleen and liver which equates to no physical activity and no drinking. Basically, in my last semester of free living, off the bat I can't party with my friends, can't work at Starbucks and save up some much needed fundage, can't run around and do a million things I want to now that I'm finally living in Boston again. I'm more or less dorm-bound for the month of September, barring a sharp improvement in my condition. Of course everyone has been wanting to hang out, go out, and do all sorts of shit almost every night of the week which is making me feel left out, but I guess that's life. I'm hoping all housewarming parties get held off til October this year. I really need to get out before the weather turns terrible for 5 months.
So it's been funny, cause I was remembering that a distinct feature of being away for a really long time was that I had cravings for all this shit I don't normally like from back home, but wanting it anyway since I couldn't get it. The best example is probably Choco Tacos. You know, those ice cream come things that came in taco form (with sugar cone taco shell, mmmm). Anyway, they are delicious and disgusting and I haven't had one since I was maybe 12, but I think there was a solid 3 months in Spain/England where I didn't go a day without craving one. The same thing happened with the Price is Right. I hadn't seen that show since I had a sick day sometime back in early High School, but once I knew I couldn't see it at all, I longed for Bob's frisky white haired antics and his appeals for cat sterility. So now that I'm back, I ate a Choco Taco (meh), and watched the Price is Right: Bob is way too senile to be doing this anymore, and the whole show comes off as really awkward half the time. I think now that I'm older and more observant, I notice all the scowls and side glances from people getting pissed about being bid on top of by one dollar and the poorly feigned enthusiasm of a 55 year old woman who just finds out that she has a chance to win a twin set of dirt bikes. Uh, what was my point? Oh yeah, now that I can experience all this stuff again, it's really nothing special. I guess it's a little bit of grass is greener syndrome or whatever, but it really is the stupid little things you miss when you are away.
As I've been sitting around a lot the past weeks, most of my days have involved websurfing, reading, watching movies and TV, and playing videogames. I watched United 93, the movie about the 9/11 airplane that was headed for the White House but because of supposed passenger intervention, went down in a field somewhere in Pennsylvania instead. I gotta say, it was a painful movie to watch. Regardless of whether or not you buy into the whole hero story aspect that's been reported, it was an amazingly well done film. A lot of the parts of the ATCs and military folks were played by the actual people, so the whole thing had an eerily real feeling to it. Regardless of the fact that you basically know what's coming, the whole thing plays out in heart-wrenching real-time and you just wait for the inevitable shitstorm that is coming. If you're prone to getting really emotionally involved in films, this could be a tough one, but it's definitely entertaining (or at least gripping) no matter how you feel about the subject. I haven't seen Ollie Stone's blockbuster WTC flick, but I've never been a big fan of his so I'm doubting I'll be too into it. I'd definitely recommend the smaller budget United 93 if you're in the mood for an engaging plotline.
That's my movie endorsement for the time being. I still need a new name for this blog, and something regular to write about. Still contemplating wading into politics, but I'm not sure if I wanna deal with all the caca or not. does anybody besides my family still read this thing?
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