Confessions of a Ferris Wheel Junkie

Hey Hey Ho Ho

These protestors have got to go.

I watched almost a good hour of the massive protest that made it's way through Mid-town Manhatten earlier today via c-span coverage. I don't believe I have ever seen human beings acting so stupidly. Ok, I probably have. But the point is, I saw more swearing and middle fingers in the air than one rational mind can take. This is a political rally? Oh yeah, that's why I hate the idea of those...
Seriously though - If I was the dude you wanted to influence by your little rally, and you excessively used the F-bomb and flipped off news cameras as they gave you the coverage you aimed for... uh, I'd not only stop listening to you but I'd sure be hard pressed to find any reason to listen to you in the future.

For the record:
- I'm not affiliated with either party. Period. My views are just that, views.
- I have always had a very very low tolerance for stupidity. Most specifically when people with brilliant minds act stupidly; or when people just don't use their given brain power at all.
- I'm also not a big fan of Rock Stars using their influence over their respective populations to showcase their political opinions. Whether or not I hold similar opinions, something about that is just unsettling.
I, however, am not a rock star. Nor, do I have any population awaiting my influence. (thank the Lord). I also will never tell you who, what or how to believe. As a New Yorker who is proud of all that NYC means to the world at large, and heck - as a rational mind, I'm quite interested in the effects of the Republican National Convention this week.

Reflections at the start of a new year

I won't pretend this last year wasn't a hard one, or that my birthday is bowling me over with rewards and fullfillment. But the thing about that is that that's not life anyway. Life is making the most of what you have. Trusting it all. I won't lie and say that I've been any good at that lately either. Matter of fact, I suck at this game lately. But even this rough patch of hard thoughts and realizations and grappling will get me somewhere.

On a sunnier note - I wanted to share the best reflections on life as we don't always know it I've read in a long time. From the Curbside Prophecies of Jason Mraz:
The subconscious knows it will have the last word in the final round of play and allows the explorer to just be and do and make new rules for combat and make a million mistakes and so on. The adventurist is almost aware of this protagonist subconscious but not really, for the sub-character lies deeper in the grass than one would think. Like a snake the subconscious waits patiently and silently observing the surroundings until it’s safe to make a move. And when a move is made it’s nothing short of a magical moment. Fire is magic. A room painted a new color is magic. A vacation is magic. Avocados are magic. Music is magic. Friends are magic. The memory is magic. And so the adventurer realizes all is magic and he finds the will to continue his efforts and let whatever happens, continue to happen. This is how he stays so happy and motivated and free of fear to accomplish so much or so little depending on his desires. And with love, he’s in love with becoming what he’s becoming. He understands the subconscious will eventually perform a magic trick that will lead him to his life partner and an entirely new adventure will reveal itself. Until then he writes with wide hope and a loose wrist and paints with the fury of misfortune and sings from a collective sadness and sarcasm about what he thinks is true to date. He is aware of only what he is aware of and he is calm and comfortable with his settlement. This is just the way it’s supposed to be right now. (8.24.04)

But seriously, why do birthdays make me so reflective? It's kind of annoying.

that'll be quite enough

Dear Allergens,
Please leave my head. Now. I've had my fill of you already. And as it happens, I do not like having to go to work neither feeling or looking like this.
That is all.
Thank You,
One sneezy, itchy, scratchy Abs

A companion in pleasure, a remedy in sorrow

Happy Birthday to my Moms!!!

And... Happy Birthday to me (a few days early)! I received my pre-ordered cd/dvd packages yesterday. I fall in love with Jason Mraz and his stylistic renderings even more everytime I hear him. I've not had the time to watch his dvd yet, but it's most likely a given that endless joy will ensue.
My O.A.R. Limited Edition cd/dvd package is superb. (I mean duh). I know I was there when it happened, but I still can't hardly believe how amazing they were. And I gotta tell ya - seeing myself and my friend Dave on the dvd will crack me up for years to come. I'm so short it's ridiculous, but man if it doesnt take seeing yourself at the front of a crowd of six thousand on a concert dvd to prove it to you. The parts of the dvd that I wasnt present for when they happened also just floored me they were so fantastic. I'll leave it at that much though because I think we all, heck the whole world, gets the fact that I love me some ....of a revolution.

Also yesterday - I came across this: "So it's not exactly that records might unhinge the mind, but rather that if anything is going to drive you up the wall it might as well be a record. Because the best music is strong and guides and cleanses and is life itself" - Lester Bangs, 1971.

And on that note - what music makes that quote ring true to you? That is surely music I want to know about.

Silver

Happy 25th Anniversary to my Moms and Pops!

Higher Educrap-shoot

So... is this really the place I want to finish off my BA? Sure it's convenient, literally right around the corner... but this just makes me laugh with disdain...

SUNY at Albany's
Best 357 Colleges Rankings

Rank
#19 - Class Discussions Rare
#5 - Professors Get Low Marks
#1 - Professors Make Themselves Scarce
#1 - Their Students (Almost) Never Study
#13 - Long Lines And Red Tape
#11 - Students Dissatisfied With Financial Aid
#9 - Lots Of Beer
#7 - Lots Of Hard Liquor
#1 - Party Schools
#7 - Reefer Madness
#2 - Campus Is Tiny, Unsightly, Or Both
#5 - Dorms Like Dungeons
#3 - Is It Food?
#3 - Least Happy Students

(taken from the Princeton Review)

Having done the SUNY (State University of New York) system before - long lines, red tape and dissatisfaction with financial aid are things I'm well familiar with. However, I gotta admit none of the above are things that appeal to me in the least. Finishing school, as quick as possible is quite appealing. But then again, so is a magic wand.

Funkin it Up

R.I.P. Rick James

What an odd weekend. Was there some kind of moon phase retrograde or something? Quite a few people I know had really hard weekends. My weekend was certainly full of ups and downs as well. On the plus side, I somehow, throughout the entire weekend was generally calm and happy, no matter what. Don't ask, cuz I still don't know how that worked.

My downs went like this - managed to get lost or turned around while driving through Long Island burbs a total of 8 times. Also managed to lock my keys, and all my belongings in my car. This, luckily, happened just after I arrived at my friend's apartment, and so there were landlines available to call for help. Small family down - apparently just after I left my Aunt's house, somehow between my 7 year old cousin and a couch, their pet chinchila found it's demise. And to think, one of its final acts on earth was to crawl up my shirt and crap on me. R.I.P. Pepper the chinchila.

On the Ups were - Spending an absolutely gorgeous afternoon in my Aunt's backyard just simply hanging out. Spending the evening with Cara, who I had not seen since before I left New Paltz (er, four years ago). Spending time just talking with my Grandparents. And, of course, and most hapily, the driving force behind the trip... seeing Matt Nathanson, Howie Day and O.A.R. at Jones Beach!! Seriously - no better place on earth to see a show than on the Atlantic ocean on a beautiful clear night. I wish I could have brought my camera in. The music was amazing. Of the five shows I've been to for ...of a revolution now, this was definetly the best. We really lucked out too, because we got a complete rarity and a brand new, never played before, song both. I sure wish there werent noise ordinance laws though - 11 pm is too early to end a show. Alas, now I can't wait for November and the NYC shows. Or maybe I'll luck out and Albany will get a fall tour stop, either way - still can't get enough.

Kanye West?

Whats the deal with this guy?
I happened upon the video for his song "Jesus Walks" tonight and was blown away. Not by his flow or rap skills really, but the lyrics and the video itself.. holy crunk.
I've seen his name scattered across blogs and message boards so apparently the kids like him. Must find this out for myself.
However, in the meanwhile... catch that video... it's superb.

2:20 pm and other tv nonsense

Random: Everyday at 2:20 pm my television turns itself on for a total of five minutes. It then shuts itself off. Most days at 2:20 pm I am in my car on my way to work, but lets face it - I'm no model of punctuality- so most days I'm actually just turning off lights and running up the stairs to leave the house at that time. At first this phenomena was quite frustrating as I'd run back to shut the darn thing off (I mean who gave it permission to do that anyway...). Then there came a day that I just happened to be in the same room, and not watching the tv at said time, and found it only to be a five minute daily excersize - no big deal. Thus my television won the battle, and every day at 2:20 pm it does its thing.

Not so Random: It's no secret that one of my favorite ways to unwind is to watch the Mets Rewind on the MSG Network. Also, I'm occiasionally lucky enough to catch an afternoon game on FSNY (Fox Sports New York). As of yesterday, I no longer have the benefit of either of those and it almost makes me laugh. While on the one hand, yes it blows not to be able to watch as much of my favorite teams as I could be, on the other, it's all because of a ridiculous, seemingly endless contract war and that just makes me shake my head and laugh. Mets and Knicks fans suffer enough without not even being able to watch the games. I hope this nonsense gets cleared up soon.