Tuesday, September 30, 2003
Celebrity
DJ Smarmy Bastard (that's me!) is about to head out to do an internet radio show. Tune in at www.radiovolta.org. It starts at 8ish, and is done at 10ish or when we get bored. By "we" I mean me, Carl, and DJ Alan Turing.
DJ Smarmy Bastard (that's me!) is about to head out to do an internet radio show. Tune in at www.radiovolta.org. It starts at 8ish, and is done at 10ish or when we get bored. By "we" I mean me, Carl, and DJ Alan Turing.
- Unknown, 7:27 PM
The stars say I'm a freak, too!
I got in an astrology conversation today, and it motivated me to put my chart in at astro.com. The picture it drew was very obviously strange, even to a novice like myself. All the lines and things were in the same part of the chart! I showed it to the person I was talking to, who said "Oh my. That is....wrong."
I'd provide a link, but, uh, kinda can't host pictures.
I got in an astrology conversation today, and it motivated me to put my chart in at astro.com. The picture it drew was very obviously strange, even to a novice like myself. All the lines and things were in the same part of the chart! I showed it to the person I was talking to, who said "Oh my. That is....wrong."
I'd provide a link, but, uh, kinda can't host pictures.
- Unknown, 5:19 PM
Monday, September 29, 2003
Meta-questioning
It's been a while since I let loose some good old fashined excessive introspection/explanation. So here I go with, as promised, why I respond to questions with questions.
I don't percieve questions as simple questions. Every question has a context, and every question supposes an answer. By context, I mean that you cannot separate the situation a question is asked from the question itself. Take something simple, like "How old are you?" The context is very different if it's some teenagers trying to get beer, or one's parents admonishing behavior, or a marketing survey looking at your buying preferences. Simple enough.
Every question having an answer is only slightly more complicated. Most kids learn about this one with "So, do your parents know you jerk off in the closet yet?" or some variation thereof. For big kids, it's "Have you stopped beating your wife yet?" I first started thinking about this, though, when I started learning about Zen Buddhism and Zen koans. The archetypal Zen koan goes like this: The student asked the master "Can a dog have buddha-mind?" and the master replied "Mu! Mu!" which translates as "nothing, nothing." By replying with nonsense, the Zen master demonstrated to his student the stupidity of the question. Now, these are both fairly extreme examples, one a childish linguistic trick, one a strange philosophical argument. But try this: let's say I'm introduced to someone who discovers that I'm a student, and asks me for my GPA. This is a factual question that can simply and easily be answered, right?
I cannot answer it.
There's an assumption behind the question that I go to a school that assigns letter grades. I don't. Antioch gives written evaluations. You can apply this sort of criteria to pretty much any question, if you can apply it to my simple factual example.
I recognize the interplay between context and assumption when being asked questions, and therefore, in order to best answer them, or avoid answering the equivalent of "Have you stopped beating your wife yet?" I often ask questions in response. I do this naturally, because I like to make certain that what I say is what I mean.
It's been a while since I let loose some good old fashined excessive introspection/explanation. So here I go with, as promised, why I respond to questions with questions.
I don't percieve questions as simple questions. Every question has a context, and every question supposes an answer. By context, I mean that you cannot separate the situation a question is asked from the question itself. Take something simple, like "How old are you?" The context is very different if it's some teenagers trying to get beer, or one's parents admonishing behavior, or a marketing survey looking at your buying preferences. Simple enough.
Every question having an answer is only slightly more complicated. Most kids learn about this one with "So, do your parents know you jerk off in the closet yet?" or some variation thereof. For big kids, it's "Have you stopped beating your wife yet?" I first started thinking about this, though, when I started learning about Zen Buddhism and Zen koans. The archetypal Zen koan goes like this: The student asked the master "Can a dog have buddha-mind?" and the master replied "Mu! Mu!" which translates as "nothing, nothing." By replying with nonsense, the Zen master demonstrated to his student the stupidity of the question. Now, these are both fairly extreme examples, one a childish linguistic trick, one a strange philosophical argument. But try this: let's say I'm introduced to someone who discovers that I'm a student, and asks me for my GPA. This is a factual question that can simply and easily be answered, right?
I cannot answer it.
There's an assumption behind the question that I go to a school that assigns letter grades. I don't. Antioch gives written evaluations. You can apply this sort of criteria to pretty much any question, if you can apply it to my simple factual example.
I recognize the interplay between context and assumption when being asked questions, and therefore, in order to best answer them, or avoid answering the equivalent of "Have you stopped beating your wife yet?" I often ask questions in response. I do this naturally, because I like to make certain that what I say is what I mean.
- Unknown, 8:00 PM
My Backpack's Got Jets
I just heard a song with the line that is my new tagline, and it had to be it. The song is called White Kids Love Hip-Hop by MC Chris. MC Chris is best known for the brilliant Fett's Vette, which appeared on Sealab 2021. Can I hook you up with Fett's Vette? You better fucking believe I can. Download it if you're a geek. Download it if you like catchy songs. If neither of those apply to you, then why the hell are you on my blog?
Wicky wicky wick.
I just heard a song with the line that is my new tagline, and it had to be it. The song is called White Kids Love Hip-Hop by MC Chris. MC Chris is best known for the brilliant Fett's Vette, which appeared on Sealab 2021. Can I hook you up with Fett's Vette? You better fucking believe I can. Download it if you're a geek. Download it if you like catchy songs. If neither of those apply to you, then why the hell are you on my blog?
Wicky wicky wick.
- Unknown, 1:00 AM
Sunday, September 28, 2003
How bout that?
The main reason I got my counter was to see what sort of things people searched for that led them to my blog. It's been boring so far, but today, I discovered that I'm on the first page of a Google search for "gay makeouts."
Cyn, you've done so well.
The main reason I got my counter was to see what sort of things people searched for that led them to my blog. It's been boring so far, but today, I discovered that I'm on the first page of a Google search for "gay makeouts."
Cyn, you've done so well.
- Unknown, 2:20 PM
Uh. Wow?
So, I went on a date. Yeah, I know I don't Date. It was a date. Not a Date. I'll get around to explaining the difference sometime later. Anyway, I discovered this morning, while walking and talking with her, that I had opportunities to tease her and WASN'T TAKING THEM. I'm not sure how I can explain this to those of you who haven't dated me. I consider conversation like fencing. Poke, poke, parry, thrust, a hit, a palpable hit! And no joke, none, absofuckinglutely none, is not worth trying.
My motivation for not taking the teasing opportunities was very strange, too. Most of the time, if I don't take those opportunities, it's because I'm not comfortable doing it. You know, you don't mention kinky sex to your co-workers anytime they say a vaguely relevant word, that sort thing. This wasn't that. This was me thinking "I have nothing to gain by making this joke. She likes me, I like her, it's not funny enough to waste the time."
This is a strange new world for me.
So, I went on a date. Yeah, I know I don't Date. It was a date. Not a Date. I'll get around to explaining the difference sometime later. Anyway, I discovered this morning, while walking and talking with her, that I had opportunities to tease her and WASN'T TAKING THEM. I'm not sure how I can explain this to those of you who haven't dated me. I consider conversation like fencing. Poke, poke, parry, thrust, a hit, a palpable hit! And no joke, none, absofuckinglutely none, is not worth trying.
My motivation for not taking the teasing opportunities was very strange, too. Most of the time, if I don't take those opportunities, it's because I'm not comfortable doing it. You know, you don't mention kinky sex to your co-workers anytime they say a vaguely relevant word, that sort thing. This wasn't that. This was me thinking "I have nothing to gain by making this joke. She likes me, I like her, it's not funny enough to waste the time."
This is a strange new world for me.
- Unknown, 3:07 AM
Friday, September 26, 2003
Ahhh, leaving the house
Yesterday, I went grocery shopping. I came home with a video game. How did this happen, you ask? Did I mysteriously come across a video game store in West Philly? No! There were Cheerios boxes ON SALE that included copies of the old Hasbro board game video games. There were three boxes left. Two Scrabbles and one Candy Land. Obviously, I chose Candy Land, as it's exactly the sort of intellectual game that I can play all day.
Also noteworthy: a panhandler was opening the door to let people in and out of the store. Which is, frankly, brilliant. The main reason people don't give money to panhandlers is that they can be ignored. They had to acknowledge this guy. The second reason it's brilliant is that he provided a service to them. One of the best ways to get a person to do something is to invoke reciprocity. (this is the Hare Krishnas work even a little bit: they give those flowers out, people are compelled to give back) So, in a couple of weeks, I know what I'll be doing!
Another good panhandler tip: ask for a very specific amount of money. "Spare thirty-eight cents?" is far more likely to succeed than "spare some change?" Because a person starts thinking "What could they possibly need thirty-eight cents specifically for?" and the ingoring becomes more difficult.
But let's go back to the cereal thing. This is fantastic. I mean, seriously. These games were, as I recall, good games. Well thought of. Their only problem is their age. And there are tons of great old games out there these days. I mean, imagine buying Lucky Charms, and discovering that you now own TIE Fighter. A box of Life gets you Master of Magic. Cinnamon Toast Crunch brings you Metal Gear Solid. Would anyone possibly be against this?
Yesterday, I went grocery shopping. I came home with a video game. How did this happen, you ask? Did I mysteriously come across a video game store in West Philly? No! There were Cheerios boxes ON SALE that included copies of the old Hasbro board game video games. There were three boxes left. Two Scrabbles and one Candy Land. Obviously, I chose Candy Land, as it's exactly the sort of intellectual game that I can play all day.
Also noteworthy: a panhandler was opening the door to let people in and out of the store. Which is, frankly, brilliant. The main reason people don't give money to panhandlers is that they can be ignored. They had to acknowledge this guy. The second reason it's brilliant is that he provided a service to them. One of the best ways to get a person to do something is to invoke reciprocity. (this is the Hare Krishnas work even a little bit: they give those flowers out, people are compelled to give back) So, in a couple of weeks, I know what I'll be doing!
Another good panhandler tip: ask for a very specific amount of money. "Spare thirty-eight cents?" is far more likely to succeed than "spare some change?" Because a person starts thinking "What could they possibly need thirty-eight cents specifically for?" and the ingoring becomes more difficult.
But let's go back to the cereal thing. This is fantastic. I mean, seriously. These games were, as I recall, good games. Well thought of. Their only problem is their age. And there are tons of great old games out there these days. I mean, imagine buying Lucky Charms, and discovering that you now own TIE Fighter. A box of Life gets you Master of Magic. Cinnamon Toast Crunch brings you Metal Gear Solid. Would anyone possibly be against this?
- Unknown, 12:42 PM
Thursday, September 25, 2003
I'll go on an update with you
Links have been fidgeted with. L'emboutaillage is a french word that means "traffic jam." It also happens to be the diary of Emily, who interned at the same place I did this summer, and is now off to college. She writes quotes from Confucious that are very gay. And everyone loves gays! Also included are Lex and Amy, who are both from Canada, but we won't hold that against them. I had a long conversation with them both today about MILFs. (Apparently Amy "has got it goin' on" iff'n you know what I mean)
If I'm forgetting you, let me know.
Links have been fidgeted with. L'emboutaillage is a french word that means "traffic jam." It also happens to be the diary of Emily, who interned at the same place I did this summer, and is now off to college. She writes quotes from Confucious that are very gay. And everyone loves gays! Also included are Lex and Amy, who are both from Canada, but we won't hold that against them. I had a long conversation with them both today about MILFs. (Apparently Amy "has got it goin' on" iff'n you know what I mean)
If I'm forgetting you, let me know.
- Unknown, 10:03 PM
CREEPY!
I just discovered one of my ex's hairs on my bed. Thin, medium length, dyed red. . . yeah. What the fuckity fuck?
I figure it had to be attached to something of mine that I've unpacked, but still, more than a little disconcerting.
EDIT: For those who don't know, I have moved a little more than twice since I last saw her. This is a persistent hair.
I just discovered one of my ex's hairs on my bed. Thin, medium length, dyed red. . . yeah. What the fuckity fuck?
I figure it had to be attached to something of mine that I've unpacked, but still, more than a little disconcerting.
EDIT: For those who don't know, I have moved a little more than twice since I last saw her. This is a persistent hair.
- Unknown, 3:53 PM
I have engaged in coitus in a Burger King bathroom, as well.
I have been downloading MP3s lately. The two highlights of this process have been:
Tom Waits covering James Brown. Papa's Got a Brand New Bag, which means it's Tom Waits covering James Brown at his best. Sadly, the song is much cooler to think about than it is to listen to. It's not bad, but it's not the profoundly life-changing experience it promised to be.
An indie hip-hop song featuring Humpty Hump. Yeah, it's really Humpty. Includes the immortal line "If my parents get home, just tell 'em the Burger King story."
I have been downloading MP3s lately. The two highlights of this process have been:
Tom Waits covering James Brown. Papa's Got a Brand New Bag, which means it's Tom Waits covering James Brown at his best. Sadly, the song is much cooler to think about than it is to listen to. It's not bad, but it's not the profoundly life-changing experience it promised to be.
An indie hip-hop song featuring Humpty Hump. Yeah, it's really Humpty. Includes the immortal line "If my parents get home, just tell 'em the Burger King story."
- Unknown, 12:14 AM
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
This is perhaps a bad thing
I am now at the point where I pretty much need to figure out that sort of job I want to do, and then actively work on getting it.
That thought makes me want to stay in bed all day.
Groan.
EDIT:
I read a throwaway line in an article about Bush's handling of the economy that said that 7 out of 10 college graduates this year wouldn't have jobs.
Now, not only is that me in a few months, but I'm not even a college graduate YET and I don't have a job. The line was unsourced, and predicting the future of the economy, so it's almost certainly not literally true, but damn, it was depressing.
I am now at the point where I pretty much need to figure out that sort of job I want to do, and then actively work on getting it.
That thought makes me want to stay in bed all day.
Groan.
EDIT:
I read a throwaway line in an article about Bush's handling of the economy that said that 7 out of 10 college graduates this year wouldn't have jobs.
Now, not only is that me in a few months, but I'm not even a college graduate YET and I don't have a job. The line was unsourced, and predicting the future of the economy, so it's almost certainly not literally true, but damn, it was depressing.
- Unknown, 12:20 PM
Chugga chugga
Introducing, the Friendster Drinking Game! You play it like this: Every time you see someone who looks really cool, but has Amelie listed as one of their favorite movies, you take a drink.
That's the only rule.
Hopefully, you'll get drunk enough to say "ehhh, they look interesting enough otherwise" that it'll be worth your while.
Introducing, the Friendster Drinking Game! You play it like this: Every time you see someone who looks really cool, but has Amelie listed as one of their favorite movies, you take a drink.
That's the only rule.
Hopefully, you'll get drunk enough to say "ehhh, they look interesting enough otherwise" that it'll be worth your while.
- Unknown, 2:09 AM
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
ADD Redux Redux
Since the cocky and ballsy girl hasn't responded to my e-mails in a few days, and more importantly, I don't feel it's a good description, I have a new one. My friend Lex drew me a picture that has this line on it. Link forthcoming.
Since the cocky and ballsy girl hasn't responded to my e-mails in a few days, and more importantly, I don't feel it's a good description, I have a new one. My friend Lex drew me a picture that has this line on it. Link forthcoming.
- Unknown, 5:01 PM
Santa
I'm organizing my room, now that I have most all of my stuff, and noticed that, in my closet, is rather a lot of wrapping paper. Now I just need people to give presents to, and money to purchase said presents with!
I'm organizing my room, now that I have most all of my stuff, and noticed that, in my closet, is rather a lot of wrapping paper. Now I just need people to give presents to, and money to purchase said presents with!
- Unknown, 2:17 PM
Monday, September 22, 2003
A New Queen
I had a talk with an old internet friend, who said she was now engaged. She met the guy after she posted a picture on Hot or Not? as part of a bet. He sent her an e-mail saying "I have to meet you." And they fell in love.
Dorkiest. Thing. Ever.
I had a talk with an old internet friend, who said she was now engaged. She met the guy after she posted a picture on Hot or Not? as part of a bet. He sent her an e-mail saying "I have to meet you." And they fell in love.
Dorkiest. Thing. Ever.
- Unknown, 8:41 PM
I Have My Moments
. . . like the "Sign my guestbook" thing. That was a rare flash. Tonight, I think it happened again. I was talking with some girl named Sarah, and she was telling me her major/minor combination for school. "all of it worthless" was her last line. I hit back with: "Duh. The point of going to school is not to get a better job, it's to avoid having to get a job for as long as possible."
Thanks, Antioch. Without you, I might have thought the working world was something to aspire towards!
. . . like the "Sign my guestbook" thing. That was a rare flash. Tonight, I think it happened again. I was talking with some girl named Sarah, and she was telling me her major/minor combination for school. "all of it worthless" was her last line. I hit back with: "Duh. The point of going to school is not to get a better job, it's to avoid having to get a job for as long as possible."
Thanks, Antioch. Without you, I might have thought the working world was something to aspire towards!
- Unknown, 2:50 AM
Who I Am
I answer questions with questions. It's what I do. I like to do it, and don't think it's wrong. Maybe I'll write about why I think it's good sometime. But it's 2AM and just feel like copping a tude.
I answer questions with questions. It's what I do. I like to do it, and don't think it's wrong. Maybe I'll write about why I think it's good sometime. But it's 2AM and just feel like copping a tude.
- Unknown, 2:09 AM
Sunday, September 21, 2003
ADD Redux
Notice the raunchy new tagline! Do I think I'm Cyn? Nah, there's a reason for this. First of all, my secret internet buddy, Meghan who gave me the Adds Merriment tag, has disappeared. She seems to think "getting laid" is more important than talking to me. What the hell?
For the second part of the story, well, it involves Onion/Nerve personals. Out of boredom a few days ago, I decided to check and see if anyone terribly interesting had posted. They hadn't, but I discovered that Nerve has a new thing where they sort the profiles by who logged in most recently. So my checking-out-of-boredom bumped me to the top. And suddenly, someone sent me a message. Checking that bumped me to the top. And another message. It's a nasty cycle. Anyway, I was exchanging e-mails with someone with a bit of fire in her belly, and she called me "ballsy" in one e-mail and "cocky" in the next. I'd say that I don't get turned on by girls who degrade me, but . . . uh. . . look at the time!
Notice the raunchy new tagline! Do I think I'm Cyn? Nah, there's a reason for this. First of all, my secret internet buddy, Meghan who gave me the Adds Merriment tag, has disappeared. She seems to think "getting laid" is more important than talking to me. What the hell?
For the second part of the story, well, it involves Onion/Nerve personals. Out of boredom a few days ago, I decided to check and see if anyone terribly interesting had posted. They hadn't, but I discovered that Nerve has a new thing where they sort the profiles by who logged in most recently. So my checking-out-of-boredom bumped me to the top. And suddenly, someone sent me a message. Checking that bumped me to the top. And another message. It's a nasty cycle. Anyway, I was exchanging e-mails with someone with a bit of fire in her belly, and she called me "ballsy" in one e-mail and "cocky" in the next. I'd say that I don't get turned on by girls who degrade me, but . . . uh. . . look at the time!
- Unknown, 11:40 PM
Pop Quiz
Something's new! First person to comment on what it is wins a prize.
But probably not a very good prize.
Something's new! First person to comment on what it is wins a prize.
But probably not a very good prize.
- Unknown, 1:56 AM
Saturday, September 20, 2003
Lazy lazy days
Saturday used to be cool, back when I did something the rest of the week. Now, weekends are those days when nobody does anything. Like update their blogs!
I totally should have set up today as Soul Calibur 2 day. Curse my lack of hosting ability!
Saturday used to be cool, back when I did something the rest of the week. Now, weekends are those days when nobody does anything. Like update their blogs!
I totally should have set up today as Soul Calibur 2 day. Curse my lack of hosting ability!
- Unknown, 12:56 PM
Friday, September 19, 2003
Needed: Toys
Top secret surprise revelation: I have ADD. I fidgit. A lot. A LOT. I used to have these magnets. They were the best fidgit toys ever. I've been playing with them pretty much nonstop for seven years. I brought six with me here to Philly. One vanished into the bottomless pit that is Cyn and Phil's couch, after I childishly threw it at her. (moral of the story: when being childish, make certain you throw other people's things). Sometime in the next few weeks, the other five disappeared. I have no idea where to, but unless I lost them at movie night, I almost certainly lost them somewhere I'm not back to. These magnets came from opening magnetic/magic marbles, so one would think replacing them would be easy. But one would be oh so wrong. Most magnetic marbles have these slimy, broken magnets inside. Boo! Need complete, cyllindrical, clean magnets! To summarize: at least seven years of history, lost.
So, I had to find something else. My intrepid hands decided that the antenna for my cell phone would work. And it did, for the last couple months. Until I discovered it missing yesterday!
No fidgit toys BAD. Make Rowan destructo-ADD. Nobody wants that.
Top secret surprise revelation: I have ADD. I fidgit. A lot. A LOT. I used to have these magnets. They were the best fidgit toys ever. I've been playing with them pretty much nonstop for seven years. I brought six with me here to Philly. One vanished into the bottomless pit that is Cyn and Phil's couch, after I childishly threw it at her. (moral of the story: when being childish, make certain you throw other people's things). Sometime in the next few weeks, the other five disappeared. I have no idea where to, but unless I lost them at movie night, I almost certainly lost them somewhere I'm not back to. These magnets came from opening magnetic/magic marbles, so one would think replacing them would be easy. But one would be oh so wrong. Most magnetic marbles have these slimy, broken magnets inside. Boo! Need complete, cyllindrical, clean magnets! To summarize: at least seven years of history, lost.
So, I had to find something else. My intrepid hands decided that the antenna for my cell phone would work. And it did, for the last couple months. Until I discovered it missing yesterday!
No fidgit toys BAD. Make Rowan destructo-ADD. Nobody wants that.
- Unknown, 11:49 PM
My Timbers Are Totally Shivered
Stop struggling! Stop struggling! Beg for mercy before me! Stop struggling! This is how true despair feels! Power flows through me! Stop struggling! No mercy!
Which is cooler, a gay pirate or a zombie pirate?
Ar.
Stop struggling! Stop struggling! Beg for mercy before me! Stop struggling! This is how true despair feels! Power flows through me! Stop struggling! No mercy!
Which is cooler, a gay pirate or a zombie pirate?
Ar.
- Unknown, 12:38 PM
Thursday, September 18, 2003
Grrr. Smash.
Woke up to another phone call from a place saying they didn't have room to take me for the fall, so I'm still jobless. This is weird. It was another job Antioch has set me up with. That's two in a row. In the past, I've basically said "I'm interested" and the job has been handed to me. Now, I may have to start working on my presentation, and stuff like that. Weird.
Woke up to another phone call from a place saying they didn't have room to take me for the fall, so I'm still jobless. This is weird. It was another job Antioch has set me up with. That's two in a row. In the past, I've basically said "I'm interested" and the job has been handed to me. Now, I may have to start working on my presentation, and stuff like that. Weird.
- Unknown, 6:33 PM
A New Low
I was just thinking "I'm kinda hungry. What can I go make?" Well, I just bought some stuff for peanut butter sandwiches. So I could do that, right? Then I was thinking "Hmmm, I'm not sure if I want to make the effort to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich."
Then I realized what I was thinking, and forced myself to do it.
I was just thinking "I'm kinda hungry. What can I go make?" Well, I just bought some stuff for peanut butter sandwiches. So I could do that, right? Then I was thinking "Hmmm, I'm not sure if I want to make the effort to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich."
Then I realized what I was thinking, and forced myself to do it.
- Unknown, 1:08 AM
Tuesday, September 16, 2003
Freeeeaaaaaky
I scare normal people.
Tonight I hung out with someone who called herself "normal." She wasn't that normal, I think, but she wasn't a bisexual vegetarian, she had no abnormal piercings, and so forth. Things got a little weird when I mentioned that the last book I read had been, ah, liberated from a Barnes and Noble. Also, she looked completely bemused when I asked her if there was anything girls liked more than boy they can play dressup with. And again, she wasn't that normal.
I think this means I'm going to have to do some personality retooling to make friends with the local Greeks. No, not THOSE Greeks. . . no, not them either.
I scare normal people.
Tonight I hung out with someone who called herself "normal." She wasn't that normal, I think, but she wasn't a bisexual vegetarian, she had no abnormal piercings, and so forth. Things got a little weird when I mentioned that the last book I read had been, ah, liberated from a Barnes and Noble. Also, she looked completely bemused when I asked her if there was anything girls liked more than boy they can play dressup with. And again, she wasn't that normal.
I think this means I'm going to have to do some personality retooling to make friends with the local Greeks. No, not THOSE Greeks. . . no, not them either.
- Unknown, 2:22 AM
Monday, September 15, 2003
I . . . won?
The long drama may finally be ending! Last you heard, dear readers, my old housing situation was precarious. The people I dealt with were not the person who had returned to the apartment and declared me to be "a complete slob." My stuff, in limbo. Chances of my deposit returning, slim, as the person returned to declare the place unlivable, her beautiful furniture destroyed, whine whine whine. I has officially given her a double-diagnosis of Drama Queen and Pretty Pretty Princess, and ladies and gentlemen, that's not a good combination. Anyway . . . I managed to avoid dealing with her, and have since dealt with a nice person. She said she would work on getting my stuff back, and today, I got an e-mail, saying that she did. Better yet, without prompting, she said she was planning to give me pretty much the full deposit back, which I was not expecting. In fact, I'd have been ok with getting half of it back at this point.
If you're parsing this correctly, you should be reading "Soul Calibur 2 in just a few days." Hee hee hee.
The long drama may finally be ending! Last you heard, dear readers, my old housing situation was precarious. The people I dealt with were not the person who had returned to the apartment and declared me to be "a complete slob." My stuff, in limbo. Chances of my deposit returning, slim, as the person returned to declare the place unlivable, her beautiful furniture destroyed, whine whine whine. I has officially given her a double-diagnosis of Drama Queen and Pretty Pretty Princess, and ladies and gentlemen, that's not a good combination. Anyway . . . I managed to avoid dealing with her, and have since dealt with a nice person. She said she would work on getting my stuff back, and today, I got an e-mail, saying that she did. Better yet, without prompting, she said she was planning to give me pretty much the full deposit back, which I was not expecting. In fact, I'd have been ok with getting half of it back at this point.
If you're parsing this correctly, you should be reading "Soul Calibur 2 in just a few days." Hee hee hee.
- Unknown, 2:27 AM
Sunday, September 14, 2003
But I am the last junkie on earth . . .
Last night, I went with Cyn and Christie, who exists, to see the Dandy Warhols. They were strange. For one thing, there was no opening band. They got on stage, at about 9. When we had to leave so Cyn could go to work and Christie and I could catch the train (shortly before midnight) they were still going strong. I dig bands that do long shows in general.
As another plus, they did random covers. AC/DC, The Smiths, and The Stooges (the Stooges are my only friend) were those that we recognized.
Most fun of all, though, were the drunken dancing people. The Dandy Warhols are ironic. They are seeped in irony. Look at their name. It's so stupid it starts coming out brilliant. They deliberately take songs that could be catchy, huge hits, and make them sleepy. They do druggy songs about not doing drugs. And so on. Now, these drunken dancing folks, they were sincere. Earnest. And, in the case of the guy, well on his way to fat and bald. They were really, really, really happy when the single from the new album got played - as if the single from the new album wasn't going to be played. They were eventually joined by another pair. The new guy was obviously a hipster who kinda wanted to dance, but felt he should bob slightly to the beat, as opposed to throwing his body around to a song much faster than the one that's being played. The new girl, and the previous dancing girl, on the other hand, seemed to get along jussssst fine, as evidenced by the fact that they started kissing. Hot hot straight-girl-on-straight-girl action, as Cyn remarked.
None of them, however, managed to fall over the balcony and plummet to their untimely deaths. Which is probably good, as they were very amusing.
Last night, I went with Cyn and Christie, who exists, to see the Dandy Warhols. They were strange. For one thing, there was no opening band. They got on stage, at about 9. When we had to leave so Cyn could go to work and Christie and I could catch the train (shortly before midnight) they were still going strong. I dig bands that do long shows in general.
As another plus, they did random covers. AC/DC, The Smiths, and The Stooges (the Stooges are my only friend) were those that we recognized.
Most fun of all, though, were the drunken dancing people. The Dandy Warhols are ironic. They are seeped in irony. Look at their name. It's so stupid it starts coming out brilliant. They deliberately take songs that could be catchy, huge hits, and make them sleepy. They do druggy songs about not doing drugs. And so on. Now, these drunken dancing folks, they were sincere. Earnest. And, in the case of the guy, well on his way to fat and bald. They were really, really, really happy when the single from the new album got played - as if the single from the new album wasn't going to be played. They were eventually joined by another pair. The new guy was obviously a hipster who kinda wanted to dance, but felt he should bob slightly to the beat, as opposed to throwing his body around to a song much faster than the one that's being played. The new girl, and the previous dancing girl, on the other hand, seemed to get along jussssst fine, as evidenced by the fact that they started kissing. Hot hot straight-girl-on-straight-girl action, as Cyn remarked.
None of them, however, managed to fall over the balcony and plummet to their untimely deaths. Which is probably good, as they were very amusing.
- Unknown, 2:26 PM
Friday, September 12, 2003
Unknown perks
When you intern in the White House, and construct long, intricate, online pranks against computer people, they will trace your IP address will trace back to the Office of the President of the United States of America. This will take a good freaky prank, and turn it into an insane creepy brilliant rolling the floor laughing prank.
When you intern in the White House, and construct long, intricate, online pranks against computer people, they will trace your IP address will trace back to the Office of the President of the United States of America. This will take a good freaky prank, and turn it into an insane creepy brilliant rolling the floor laughing prank.
- Unknown, 1:20 AM
Choices, choices
I left my old computer at Antioch when I came to Philly. Then I got my laptop. All I brought between them was a zip disk with my documents. It was understandable. Eventually I'd get them. Now that I have the Internet, though, I can try to start to replace them. Or I can wait.
There's a lot of stuff, some of it not replacable, some of it will require some or a lot of effort. MP3s, generally easy. Except for my game music collection. "Halo soundtrack? I'm getting it, but I ain't paying for it!" Likewise, I have a pile of SNES/Genesis ROMs, and ROMs can be a pain to get. I have a good 500 megs of abandonware. And so on and so on. It doesn't really matter what it is. What matters is that I could put out effort now to get it back, or visit antioch and get it back anyway.
I'm asking this now, because I just downloaded WinAmp, and I have the best Winamp skin collection EVER.
I left my old computer at Antioch when I came to Philly. Then I got my laptop. All I brought between them was a zip disk with my documents. It was understandable. Eventually I'd get them. Now that I have the Internet, though, I can try to start to replace them. Or I can wait.
There's a lot of stuff, some of it not replacable, some of it will require some or a lot of effort. MP3s, generally easy. Except for my game music collection. "Halo soundtrack? I'm getting it, but I ain't paying for it!" Likewise, I have a pile of SNES/Genesis ROMs, and ROMs can be a pain to get. I have a good 500 megs of abandonware. And so on and so on. It doesn't really matter what it is. What matters is that I could put out effort now to get it back, or visit antioch and get it back anyway.
I'm asking this now, because I just downloaded WinAmp, and I have the best Winamp skin collection EVER.
- Unknown, 12:24 AM
Thursday, September 11, 2003
Hmmm
I am realizing now that perhaps being jobless isn't all it's cracked up to be. I no longer feel like I'm putting the fun in funemployment. I'm sitting around all day, waiting for phone calls or e-mails that never come. This is boring. Part of me wants to go out and play, but this typically requires money, and until I know what's happening with my deposit/get a job, I shouldn't spend too frivolously. Also, then I can't check my e-mail, which might be important. Bah.
I am realizing now that perhaps being jobless isn't all it's cracked up to be. I no longer feel like I'm putting the fun in funemployment. I'm sitting around all day, waiting for phone calls or e-mails that never come. This is boring. Part of me wants to go out and play, but this typically requires money, and until I know what's happening with my deposit/get a job, I shouldn't spend too frivolously. Also, then I can't check my e-mail, which might be important. Bah.
- Unknown, 3:35 PM
Wednesday, September 10, 2003
A dirty little secret
All right, here I go. I kinda like sports. Believe it or not. It depends on the sport, yes, but I don't have the liberal/hipster disdain for sports that you might think I do. I'm not gung ho about them, but, well, they're there and they're cool sometimes.
When are they cool? How about the Women's World Cup. It's not my favorite event, I think World Cups are overrated. But on the other hand, they're rare, and only a complete fluke brought it back to the United States again, four years later.
What I'm trying to say here is that there's tickets available for a double-header on Thursday the 25th. The first game, starting at 4:45 (supposedly), is Sweden vs. North Korea. If you've got work, you can be late, I'm sure. Cause the main event is at 7:30, with the USA playing Nigeria. I hear the American women are "good" at this sport. It's $30 at cheapest, but god dammit, when else are you going to see a World Cup game in your hometown? (I follow this sort of thing - 2014 would be the earliest for the men. Who knows with the women, but probably along those same lines)
So drop me a comment or an e-mail if you're interested. You know you want to.
All right, here I go. I kinda like sports. Believe it or not. It depends on the sport, yes, but I don't have the liberal/hipster disdain for sports that you might think I do. I'm not gung ho about them, but, well, they're there and they're cool sometimes.
When are they cool? How about the Women's World Cup. It's not my favorite event, I think World Cups are overrated. But on the other hand, they're rare, and only a complete fluke brought it back to the United States again, four years later.
What I'm trying to say here is that there's tickets available for a double-header on Thursday the 25th. The first game, starting at 4:45 (supposedly), is Sweden vs. North Korea. If you've got work, you can be late, I'm sure. Cause the main event is at 7:30, with the USA playing Nigeria. I hear the American women are "good" at this sport. It's $30 at cheapest, but god dammit, when else are you going to see a World Cup game in your hometown? (I follow this sort of thing - 2014 would be the earliest for the men. Who knows with the women, but probably along those same lines)
So drop me a comment or an e-mail if you're interested. You know you want to.
- Unknown, 12:35 PM
How to be ingratiating
Part 1: I'm living in this little house thing with the landlord and two other guys, both of whom I've basically said "hi" to.
Part 2: I set up my room a little today, you know, plugging things in, putting stuff away, etc.
Part 3: I went out a little tonight, got back at 12:15.
Conclusion: I get into the house, and hear a beeping. Walking upstairs, I discover that it's coming from my room. Oh. The alarm clock must have been set. For midnight. So it's been going for 15 minutes, and nobody else is awake.
Oops.
Part 1: I'm living in this little house thing with the landlord and two other guys, both of whom I've basically said "hi" to.
Part 2: I set up my room a little today, you know, plugging things in, putting stuff away, etc.
Part 3: I went out a little tonight, got back at 12:15.
Conclusion: I get into the house, and hear a beeping. Walking upstairs, I discover that it's coming from my room. Oh. The alarm clock must have been set. For midnight. So it's been going for 15 minutes, and nobody else is awake.
Oops.
- Unknown, 12:53 AM
Tuesday, September 09, 2003
Talky talkerton
Now that I have the net at home, I can encourage people to chat with me. It's pretty difficult to get to this point, though, but I'll walk you through it. You see my URL? The Arkaeyn? Arkaeyn is my AIM name. It's also my Yahoo name. And it's also my ICQ name.
I call it "branding."
Now that I have the net at home, I can encourage people to chat with me. It's pretty difficult to get to this point, though, but I'll walk you through it. You see my URL? The Arkaeyn? Arkaeyn is my AIM name. It's also my Yahoo name. And it's also my ICQ name.
I call it "branding."
- Unknown, 6:09 PM
The Saga Continues
I've been a wee bit nervous about the state of a few things since my ignomious departure from my last apartment. For those who don't recall, this entailed me subletting a place under the table, and security coming and changing the locks, forcing to leave without all of my stuff, and without being able to clean. Some of my stuff that was up in the air included a thousand dollar deposit fee, which was by far the most important thing. So, I e-mailed the people I'd dealt with, and the person whose apartment I had thought it had been e-mailed me back a few days ago saying that she hadn't ordered the lock change, and she was sorry, etc. So I thought I was in good shape. She's coming back, she'll call me, I can come over and clean, and everyone's happy. Right? Hardly. I got an e-mail a little bit ago, forwarded from the ACTUAL leaser of the place (yeah, it just gets shadier) to the person I had sublet from, very pissed off, saying the place was a mess, which was true, as I didn't get the chance to clean, and that she had sublet again, which apparently was against their deal (I didn't know). So, someone's pissed off, it may fall down onto me, and I may not get my stuff back. It was recommended that I get in touch with the actual leaser, but I don't know what to say. "sorry I didn't get the chance to clean, you kind of had me kicked out. sorry I sublet the place, I didn't know. Can I just take my stuff and leave?" It's not like she's exactly going to be inclined to believe me.
Ugh. On the bright side: internet!
EDIT: I find it very telling about my personality that I feel bad about the fact that some stranger called me a "complete slob," but not about the $1K. "Someone I've never even met hates me" trumps "living money for a few months." Ugh.
I've been a wee bit nervous about the state of a few things since my ignomious departure from my last apartment. For those who don't recall, this entailed me subletting a place under the table, and security coming and changing the locks, forcing to leave without all of my stuff, and without being able to clean. Some of my stuff that was up in the air included a thousand dollar deposit fee, which was by far the most important thing. So, I e-mailed the people I'd dealt with, and the person whose apartment I had thought it had been e-mailed me back a few days ago saying that she hadn't ordered the lock change, and she was sorry, etc. So I thought I was in good shape. She's coming back, she'll call me, I can come over and clean, and everyone's happy. Right? Hardly. I got an e-mail a little bit ago, forwarded from the ACTUAL leaser of the place (yeah, it just gets shadier) to the person I had sublet from, very pissed off, saying the place was a mess, which was true, as I didn't get the chance to clean, and that she had sublet again, which apparently was against their deal (I didn't know). So, someone's pissed off, it may fall down onto me, and I may not get my stuff back. It was recommended that I get in touch with the actual leaser, but I don't know what to say. "sorry I didn't get the chance to clean, you kind of had me kicked out. sorry I sublet the place, I didn't know. Can I just take my stuff and leave?" It's not like she's exactly going to be inclined to believe me.
Ugh. On the bright side: internet!
EDIT: I find it very telling about my personality that I feel bad about the fact that some stranger called me a "complete slob," but not about the $1K. "Someone I've never even met hates me" trumps "living money for a few months." Ugh.
- Unknown, 3:04 PM
Oh. My. Goodness.
I'm in my new place now. I was told it had wireless internet. So I got in, rummaged around my bag, found the card. It was having signal strength problems at first, which made me unhappy. Then a moved closer to the door, and am now on the motherfucking internet at "home" for the first time in what seems like forever. I can download mp3s! Patch my games! Chat with people! But it's also 1AM. So first, I shall probably sleep.
I'm in my new place now. I was told it had wireless internet. So I got in, rummaged around my bag, found the card. It was having signal strength problems at first, which made me unhappy. Then a moved closer to the door, and am now on the motherfucking internet at "home" for the first time in what seems like forever. I can download mp3s! Patch my games! Chat with people! But it's also 1AM. So first, I shall probably sleep.
- Unknown, 1:11 AM
Wednesday, September 03, 2003
Free is good
Today's blog post comes from the local Free Library of Philadelphia, which had a computer available instantly, for 45 whole minutes! I am soon to be no longer officially homeless. Actually, it ended up that I wasn't all that homeless. One night in a hostel, one night on the bare floor of Cyn's old apartment, and a couple crashed at her new place. All hail Cyn and Phil! I'll totally help you guys move again next year!
Speaking of helping them move, it was actually kind of nice. Over Labor Day weekend, it was pretty much impossible to find a realtor who was open. So we (I'll get to "we" later) had nothing to do and nowhere to stay. It was very relaxing. We hung out in Rittenhouse Square, relaxed at a bookstore, and then, when Cyn and Phil were moving, we were able to devote ourselves completely to the moving process. Phil thanked me for helping a few times, but really, what else could I do? It wasn't like I was putting anything off to help them. The way I'm saying this seems negatively value-laden, but I found it very positive to not have to worry about stuffjobtime, and just help people out.
Anyway, onto the "we." There will now be a new character in the cast here. My friend Carl from Antioch is going to be my roommate here for the next few months. Allow me to describe Carl.
Carl is cute. Everyone notices this. Boys, girls, straight, gay. But, sadly, he's kind of in a relationship.
He had blue hair when I met him.
He plays Kilik in Soul Calibur, where he is not very good. His name is "money" in Halo, where he is very good.
As soon as he heard that the guys helping out in the move were members of a Rugby team, he wanted to join. Cyn and I ran off giggling, as he didn't yet know that they were the Gay Rugby team. I think he caught on pretty quick.
He described himself as "heteroflexible" to the Gay Rugby team, causing much merriment.
He and Cyn kind of got into a drinking race. They both crashed. But he crashed first.
What else can I update here? Ah yes. I was looking through Friendster and discovered my ex. Who joined, like, a week ago. AND HAS MORE FRIENDSTERS THAN I DO. God dammit. I should have seen it coming. I think I kind of opened the Antioch Friendster floodgates, and many of my friends are her friends too . . . but please, join Friendster and become my friend, because, uh . . . well, I don't care that much, actually. It is amusing to me.
Also: why did I have to be homeless the week the new Outkast album and Soul Calibur 2 got released?
Today's blog post comes from the local Free Library of Philadelphia, which had a computer available instantly, for 45 whole minutes! I am soon to be no longer officially homeless. Actually, it ended up that I wasn't all that homeless. One night in a hostel, one night on the bare floor of Cyn's old apartment, and a couple crashed at her new place. All hail Cyn and Phil! I'll totally help you guys move again next year!
Speaking of helping them move, it was actually kind of nice. Over Labor Day weekend, it was pretty much impossible to find a realtor who was open. So we (I'll get to "we" later) had nothing to do and nowhere to stay. It was very relaxing. We hung out in Rittenhouse Square, relaxed at a bookstore, and then, when Cyn and Phil were moving, we were able to devote ourselves completely to the moving process. Phil thanked me for helping a few times, but really, what else could I do? It wasn't like I was putting anything off to help them. The way I'm saying this seems negatively value-laden, but I found it very positive to not have to worry about stuffjobtime, and just help people out.
Anyway, onto the "we." There will now be a new character in the cast here. My friend Carl from Antioch is going to be my roommate here for the next few months. Allow me to describe Carl.
Carl is cute. Everyone notices this. Boys, girls, straight, gay. But, sadly, he's kind of in a relationship.
He had blue hair when I met him.
He plays Kilik in Soul Calibur, where he is not very good. His name is "money" in Halo, where he is very good.
As soon as he heard that the guys helping out in the move were members of a Rugby team, he wanted to join. Cyn and I ran off giggling, as he didn't yet know that they were the Gay Rugby team. I think he caught on pretty quick.
He described himself as "heteroflexible" to the Gay Rugby team, causing much merriment.
He and Cyn kind of got into a drinking race. They both crashed. But he crashed first.
What else can I update here? Ah yes. I was looking through Friendster and discovered my ex. Who joined, like, a week ago. AND HAS MORE FRIENDSTERS THAN I DO. God dammit. I should have seen it coming. I think I kind of opened the Antioch Friendster floodgates, and many of my friends are her friends too . . . but please, join Friendster and become my friend, because, uh . . . well, I don't care that much, actually. It is amusing to me.
Also: why did I have to be homeless the week the new Outkast album and Soul Calibur 2 got released?
- Unknown, 12:49 PM
Monday, September 01, 2003
Carol is an indie rocker
This just in: Carol Moseley Braun is some bizarre combination of me and Cyn.
Proof can be found here.
This just in: Carol Moseley Braun is some bizarre combination of me and Cyn.
Proof can be found here.
- Unknown, 2:28 PM
My New Country
Yesterday was amusing. My first full day homeless. Got kicked out of the hostel at ten, then killed time around the city til about 1, when I started hanging out with Cyn and helping her move. Grr! Me strong moving man! Arrr! The lowlight of the process was sitting around for maybe 3 hours at her new place waiting for maintenance to come and get the key to work. Then maintenance leaving, getting a different key, and hoping that worked. The the head maintenance guy coming, and finally opening it up.
The highlight of the process, though, would probably be riding back across the city in the back of a U-Haul. Whee! Bouncy!
I ended up sleeping on Cyn's floor after the barbeque she and Phil threw. So I am hoping my stuff in the hostel is okay. Tomorrow: finding a place to live!
Yesterday was amusing. My first full day homeless. Got kicked out of the hostel at ten, then killed time around the city til about 1, when I started hanging out with Cyn and helping her move. Grr! Me strong moving man! Arrr! The lowlight of the process was sitting around for maybe 3 hours at her new place waiting for maintenance to come and get the key to work. Then maintenance leaving, getting a different key, and hoping that worked. The the head maintenance guy coming, and finally opening it up.
The highlight of the process, though, would probably be riding back across the city in the back of a U-Haul. Whee! Bouncy!
I ended up sleeping on Cyn's floor after the barbeque she and Phil threw. So I am hoping my stuff in the hostel is okay. Tomorrow: finding a place to live!