Bees

I've been pretty bust lately with schoolwork, but took a little break today to do some revamping. Thought I'd let you in on my other downtime pastime lately which has been plowing through this monstrosity. It's really interesting and even has a website devoted to further clarifying or complicating, depending on your perspective, the author's propositions. Been a great read so far though, and I'm looking forward to the remaining 2,000 or so pages.

Security?

I wonder how much longer people will be able to continue to lap up the warm milk of deceit being consistently served up by the American governement. It's disconcerting considering the recently expanded power of these so-called intelligence agaencies and their cache of unfettered instrumentation.

Tahnkfully, though, we won't have to put up with this brute. And he was in law enforcement?

R.I.P.

I don't have much time, or much to say, but I wanted to acknowledge the tragic passing of someone who brought me joy.

Night Out

So, I went to see this band tonight. You know, I've been ruined on the idea of the sublime ever since I've been really going over Dostoyevsky, who has been confirming many of my worst suspicions about conceit. Regardless, there still exist moments that trancend the norm, and their music really gets at that. Really, they are most striking in their aptitude for subtelty. It's a rare gift to powerfully execute an idea in this manner. It's an especially comforting and agnostic mode of expression, and is as poignant as possible in this time where the only absolute is uncertainty.

Mostly I'm just glad I was able to get out and away from the seriousness of my life and to remember and now be able to reassert my ambiguity and enjoy myself.

Rockin

Cloistered

That's what I am these days. Research paper due in two weeks. Library all day tomorrow. Saturday too. And readin' and writin' the rest of the time. So, all of you non-readers, I apologize for the intermittent nature of posts for the next two weeks. Drink one for me and smoke 'em if you got 'em.

The News in My Briefs

I'm not sure how regularly I'll be addressing the news in overly-masturbatory posts, but tonight is one opportunity for you, all of the non-readers of my blog, to feel me.

For starters, yesterday I'm stunned by a NY Daily News headline peeked at on the PATH declaring some person the "Ultimate Patriot." Now I'm quite sure that the News isn't awarding Chomsky or Nader their proper laurels, so I later nick a copy expecting to be appalled, but not to this level. I was particularly saddened by the following passage from UP's wife shortly after her ebullience for his beliefs:

"He was my first and only. I've loved him for as long as I can remember," she said. "He was my everything."

"My boys will have something to be proud of, something to tell their kids," she said

Now it comes to light UP's wife is pregnant. Yet, Johnny keeps marching on.

And of course I have to address one of the bigger sports items of the week. Ty Willingham was dismissed as Notre Dame's football team's head coach faster than any other person to hold the position since 1933. I don't have much to say here beyond the Irish are racist? Since when?

Brush with Nerd Fame

Tonight I had to make a special trip up to school to see the author of New Chinatown, Peter Kwong speak about the development and transformation of Chinatowns in the United States. The book is excellent, and he spoke well on topics not thoroughly examined in the book such as the impact outsourcing has had on actually decreasing the number of immigrant, especially those whom are undocumented.

But to the chase. As I'm waiting for the train who strolls onto the platform, but one Dr. Kwong. He was on the phone for a while, but just before the train I arrived I approached him and mentioned I enjoyed his talk and book as well, and asked him a few questions. Rode the train back with him and talked about all sorts of things from trouble finding places to chain a bike in NYC to the RNC to whiteness studies. Really interesting fellow, and nice too, as he seemed as tired as I was (very), but indulged my curiosity. Even invited me to email him anytime.

Wherever you are tonight Dr. Kwong, rest well, and thank you.