The school year is over. I'm glad I'm not going back, there was too much misery in the job. Which kinda sucks, I still really like working with young'uns. Seeing progress in their Spanish was delightful. I really loved all my kids, too.
I can't say the same for all my students. Some of my loved kids were completely terrible at being students.
Alas. In the future I think better classroom management would significantly lessen the misery. Also, all of the bullshit in the job, the grading, the meetings, the paperwork, all of it. I can see this being a really great job in about ten years when my life is mor settled.
That was another problem. I'm too young to be doing this right now. I want to get out, run around and be a crazy idiot. I want to meet tons of people. I want to travel and live more spontaneously. I don't want to be tied down to a job that I'm not happy with. I'm not ready for that part of the American Dream.
Plus, running into students at parties is totally, totally lame.
So, here's to summer. I'm going down to VA in a week and from there I'll be trekkin' over to Europe to tool about for a month. Then I'm moving in with Nick Poulin (yes, Pedro, Elvira, et al. that's Zack Poulin's older brother), Jeremy Griffin and Matt Bassett. Maybe there's only one "t" in "Bassett." In fact, I think that's exactly the case.
Then I need to get me a job! Hopefully writing or newswork or something.
Anyway, that's the update for now.
20.6.07
11.6.07
Heartening News
I can't remember the exact bill that did it, if I had to guess I'd say it was the Patriot Act, but one of the laws of the land gives the president power to declare anyone, absolutely any citizen standing, an "Enemy Combatant." If you are declared as such all the normal rules of prisoner care are tossed to the wayside. Perhaps most disturbingly the fact that you can be held indefinitely without having any idea why. The arresting officials have no legal obligation to inform a "suspect" why, exactly, s/he is being held.
the courts have shot that motherfucker down.
This is excellent news. We've still got legs to stand on. We're still being heard. Hopefully this act won't turn everyone complacent and we'll still be vigilant, responsible and informed citizens.
All right, sleep time.
the courts have shot that motherfucker down.
This is excellent news. We've still got legs to stand on. We're still being heard. Hopefully this act won't turn everyone complacent and we'll still be vigilant, responsible and informed citizens.
All right, sleep time.
Hey! All right!
Looks like I can post on my Blog with Safari again! Oh frabjous day, callooh, callay!
Expect more posts later. I have no thoughts right now except that the end of the school year is bittersweet (mostly because I want out but it's the easiest part lessonplan-wise) and it's too warm in my room, so I'm going to put on shorts.
Yes.
Expect more posts later. I have no thoughts right now except that the end of the school year is bittersweet (mostly because I want out but it's the easiest part lessonplan-wise) and it's too warm in my room, so I'm going to put on shorts.
Yes.
6.6.07
Open Source Living
This is a bit of an unfocused ramble. I just saw a bOINGbOING link (forgive the lack of a direct URL, school forbids the site and I saw it through google.reader's proxy) that mentioned this upcoming weekend in Toronto is going to be "OpenCity." People will wander and exchange ideas etc. It's an "unconference." No doubt this is a direct result of things that the internet has afforded people, contributions from across a diverse field of interests, suggestions from outsiders, anonymity in posting comments etc. I'm not sure exactly how OpenCity works, but I image that the goal is to be as much like an internet forum as possible. A wiki, if you will. People are going to form a community and be together while maintaining some level of distance, I guess.
It seems like an interesting idea. The best solutions are the ones that are created by a group of people with a varied field of reference and different interests. It is because of different perspectives etc. that great solutions arise. New viewpoints unite with trained professionalism to create some wonderful innovations.
So here's my question, will the open freedom of the internet further manifest itself on society? Will events such as OpenCity continue to be a fringe group, outsider activity or will it come in and sweep the norm? I'm kind of hoping it does. I feel like a Webocracy would have some nice benefits. I'll admit I lean a little toward Socialism, so I'm excited that a Webocracy would most certainly provide some fantastic services for The People. On the other hand, the competitive edge of trying to make your service the one people use will ensure better products for all.
So, if this trend catches on, and I'll make this my formal prediction that it will, you can bet I'll be grinning about it.
Forget Web 2.0. Let's gear up for Life 2.0.
EDIT: OpenCity Toronter Lizink
It seems like an interesting idea. The best solutions are the ones that are created by a group of people with a varied field of reference and different interests. It is because of different perspectives etc. that great solutions arise. New viewpoints unite with trained professionalism to create some wonderful innovations.
So here's my question, will the open freedom of the internet further manifest itself on society? Will events such as OpenCity continue to be a fringe group, outsider activity or will it come in and sweep the norm? I'm kind of hoping it does. I feel like a Webocracy would have some nice benefits. I'll admit I lean a little toward Socialism, so I'm excited that a Webocracy would most certainly provide some fantastic services for The People. On the other hand, the competitive edge of trying to make your service the one people use will ensure better products for all.
So, if this trend catches on, and I'll make this my formal prediction that it will, you can bet I'll be grinning about it.
Forget Web 2.0. Let's gear up for Life 2.0.
EDIT: OpenCity Toronter Lizink
1.6.07
Assisted Suicide
I'm going to start off by saying this: I'm all for it.
That said, there's some issues with it. I certainly don't feel like I could be a... um... euthanizer. And there's some gray area about the wishes of the soon to be deceased in cases of the-somewhat-comatose but by and large, let people control their lives. If you're rational and conscious and dying horribly, why not take that final step yourself? That way your lose ends will for sure be taken care of by you. And it is impossible, or at least improbable, for some terminally-ill-yet-coherent patients to do the deed themselves. Step right up, then, and hire yourself someone to do it for you.
That's the main reason why (for a while, at least) I didn't understand the uproar about Dr. Kevorkian. He seems like a decent enough guy just helping people out one final time.
But I think I get it a little bit now. A lot of the anger and resentment comes from hurt on the families of the "victim." Or of people who have been in similar boats. Death is that final goodbye and it is hard to accept that someone would want it. That all the uncertainty and darkness of death could seem better than all the loveliness of life. If life's lost its luster, though, death's dark door looms decidedly more pleasantly on the horizon.
Suicide is, however, fairly selfish. It takes into account only what's in your best interest without considering the effects it might have on others. The people who rally out against Kevorkian are the same who have been wounded or could see themselves being wounded by someone ending it all.
Or maybe it's by those who are jealous of the courage they must have. Those who embrace the unknown and step out into the darkness necessarily have some guts backing up their decisions. I can't even imagine it. Is it nothing? Is it like falling asleep? Are there dreams you're always forgetting?
Anyway, I'm rambling a bit. Kevorkian has done good work and while I'm sad he won't continue it (part of his parole) I'm glad he'll still be able to speak to it. It's a travesty that he lost eight years of his life for something as noble as granting someone their one last wish.
That said, there's some issues with it. I certainly don't feel like I could be a... um... euthanizer. And there's some gray area about the wishes of the soon to be deceased in cases of the-somewhat-comatose but by and large, let people control their lives. If you're rational and conscious and dying horribly, why not take that final step yourself? That way your lose ends will for sure be taken care of by you. And it is impossible, or at least improbable, for some terminally-ill-yet-coherent patients to do the deed themselves. Step right up, then, and hire yourself someone to do it for you.
That's the main reason why (for a while, at least) I didn't understand the uproar about Dr. Kevorkian. He seems like a decent enough guy just helping people out one final time.
But I think I get it a little bit now. A lot of the anger and resentment comes from hurt on the families of the "victim." Or of people who have been in similar boats. Death is that final goodbye and it is hard to accept that someone would want it. That all the uncertainty and darkness of death could seem better than all the loveliness of life. If life's lost its luster, though, death's dark door looms decidedly more pleasantly on the horizon.
Suicide is, however, fairly selfish. It takes into account only what's in your best interest without considering the effects it might have on others. The people who rally out against Kevorkian are the same who have been wounded or could see themselves being wounded by someone ending it all.
Or maybe it's by those who are jealous of the courage they must have. Those who embrace the unknown and step out into the darkness necessarily have some guts backing up their decisions. I can't even imagine it. Is it nothing? Is it like falling asleep? Are there dreams you're always forgetting?
Anyway, I'm rambling a bit. Kevorkian has done good work and while I'm sad he won't continue it (part of his parole) I'm glad he'll still be able to speak to it. It's a travesty that he lost eight years of his life for something as noble as granting someone their one last wish.
31.5.07
I know what Hunts You
Lord of the Rings quotes I don't want to hear in the bathroom
10. I was there the day the strength of men failed.
9. That one scream Treebeard yells when he sees all the deforestry Sauruman's been up to.
8. Nobody tosses a dwarf.
7. What is this new devilry?
6. If in doubt, always follow your nose.
5. Cast it into the fire! Destroy it!
4. My precious!
3. Keep it secret, keep it safe.
2. Share the load.
1. It comes in pints?
Letdown!
I recently saw this banner ad:
and was initially excited. 'Hooray!' I thought, "We're finally free of Ann Coulter!"
And then it turned into something much, much worse. It is upsetting there is a market for a rabid, psychotic, bigotted creationist.
She's got balls, though.
and was initially excited. 'Hooray!' I thought, "We're finally free of Ann Coulter!"
And then it turned into something much, much worse. It is upsetting there is a market for a rabid, psychotic, bigotted creationist.
She's got balls, though.
30.5.07
Intolerance
"I don't think it's right. I don't think it's natural. If we were supposed to be like that, we'd all be like that. We'd be able to reproduce that way."
I must admit, this is, perhaps, the absolute shittiest argument I've ever heard against Gay Marriage. It is so outside the issue and comes from such a weird point of view. It's almost like he doesn't believe homosexuality exists.
I'm sure this kid looks at homosexuality as some sort of a choice. Like someone woke up some day and said, "Yep, this straight thing is all well and good but I think I'm gonna go for the lifestyle that's most likely to get the shit kicked out of me."
While we're outlawing homosexuality, we might as well outlaw being black, handicapped or Jewish. I mean, if we were supposed to be any one of those things (or some combination) we'd all be that way, right?
Intolerance is my biggest problem with Maine, I think. We're such a white bread state. 97% white, largely poor (except the summer tourists many resent) and fairly ignorant. I know we're not the poorest or most ignorant but I'm fairly certain the states that are beating us there are in the South. And I think we all feel the same way about that. I can't tolerate the South.
Ha, a joke!
Well. this is a sorta weak post, but I realized I must blog more frequently. I started using Safari on my home machine and it's been having some compatibility issues with blogging. But I'll do it, I'll persevere.
I must admit, this is, perhaps, the absolute shittiest argument I've ever heard against Gay Marriage. It is so outside the issue and comes from such a weird point of view. It's almost like he doesn't believe homosexuality exists.
I'm sure this kid looks at homosexuality as some sort of a choice. Like someone woke up some day and said, "Yep, this straight thing is all well and good but I think I'm gonna go for the lifestyle that's most likely to get the shit kicked out of me."
While we're outlawing homosexuality, we might as well outlaw being black, handicapped or Jewish. I mean, if we were supposed to be any one of those things (or some combination) we'd all be that way, right?
Intolerance is my biggest problem with Maine, I think. We're such a white bread state. 97% white, largely poor (except the summer tourists many resent) and fairly ignorant. I know we're not the poorest or most ignorant but I'm fairly certain the states that are beating us there are in the South. And I think we all feel the same way about that. I can't tolerate the South.
Ha, a joke!
Well. this is a sorta weak post, but I realized I must blog more frequently. I started using Safari on my home machine and it's been having some compatibility issues with blogging. But I'll do it, I'll persevere.
9.5.07
Absolutely
Absolutely wonderful video To What Love Serves.
Completely lovely. Enjoy.
You should know that I had to open up Firefox to post this entry, as Blogger and my Safari seem to be having some compatibility issues. I care that much about y'all seeing it.
Also good? I'm going to see my Dad opening for BB King on the 20th in Augusta. Cool! He'll be playing bass for Mark "Guitar" Miller.
EDIT: You can see a pic of Dad on stage with Mark here.
Completely lovely. Enjoy.
You should know that I had to open up Firefox to post this entry, as Blogger and my Safari seem to be having some compatibility issues. I care that much about y'all seeing it.
Also good? I'm going to see my Dad opening for BB King on the 20th in Augusta. Cool! He'll be playing bass for Mark "Guitar" Miller.
EDIT: You can see a pic of Dad on stage with Mark here.
3.5.07
Echoes of Salazar
I'm speaking to the riots in L.A.
Highly reminiscent of the Chicano riot that sparked the death of Ruben Salazar, the May Day protests sudden turn from Vigil to Violence could probably be analyzed for a good many years and never fully understood.
What's known is the police apparently did vocally call for the Rally to be disbursed some 2 and a half hours before the planned conclusion. Whether the announcement came from helicopter or megaphone is unclear and, frankly, immaterial. They called out in English and it has been made rather abundantly clear since then that nearly no one heard the order to move out.
The police rush in and here's where the Salazar mimicry begins in earnest, Journalists took the majority of the flak. Sure old men and children were beaten down, too, but of 10 injuries, says the article (first link), 7 were journalists. What seems clear to me is that while the police might have had proper grounds for asking people to leave, they were not comfortable with their process of eviction being recorded.
Guess that blew up in their faces.
I'm somewhat worried, though, about the police declaring "open season on journalists" - to quote H.S. Thompson from Strange Rumblings in Aztlan. Police states are a scary thing, we don't need our already fading liberties to be further crushed by a militant blue fist.
I'm not really sure how much further I can go with this without doing significant research, so I'll conclude here with this addendum, I think the most of cops are pretty all right guys. But you get any crowd of guys with an obvious need for power and control in a tense situation against a people they've been programmed to loathe and see what happens.
Ah, justice.
Highly reminiscent of the Chicano riot that sparked the death of Ruben Salazar, the May Day protests sudden turn from Vigil to Violence could probably be analyzed for a good many years and never fully understood.
What's known is the police apparently did vocally call for the Rally to be disbursed some 2 and a half hours before the planned conclusion. Whether the announcement came from helicopter or megaphone is unclear and, frankly, immaterial. They called out in English and it has been made rather abundantly clear since then that nearly no one heard the order to move out.
The police rush in and here's where the Salazar mimicry begins in earnest, Journalists took the majority of the flak. Sure old men and children were beaten down, too, but of 10 injuries, says the article (first link), 7 were journalists. What seems clear to me is that while the police might have had proper grounds for asking people to leave, they were not comfortable with their process of eviction being recorded.
Guess that blew up in their faces.
I'm somewhat worried, though, about the police declaring "open season on journalists" - to quote H.S. Thompson from Strange Rumblings in Aztlan. Police states are a scary thing, we don't need our already fading liberties to be further crushed by a militant blue fist.
I'm not really sure how much further I can go with this without doing significant research, so I'll conclude here with this addendum, I think the most of cops are pretty all right guys. But you get any crowd of guys with an obvious need for power and control in a tense situation against a people they've been programmed to loathe and see what happens.
Ah, justice.
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