Archive for 2005
Indies
I’ve been meaning to write a post on the fall movie season for some time now, to the point that all I’ve written so far on it is now outdated. Eventually (read: never) I’ll post that, but for now, here’s a list of the independent films out that I’d like to see.
2046
The Beat that my Heart Skipped
Grizzly Man
Junebug
Me And You and Everyone We Know
The Memory of A Killer
Murderball
And more mainstream:
Broken Flowers
The Constant Gardener
Why do I want to see these films so bad? Because they’re not the schlock that gets thrown into theaters every week (*cough* The Man *cough*).
I think Rob made a good point about things in general the other day. When talking about getting his new bike, he said “Once you get something newer and better it’s impossible to go back to the older, worse thing. You think you can, but you really can’t.” It might seem somewhat obvious, but it’s really true. Of course, the classic example is the computer. Once you get the new super-computer, you can’t just go back to the old computer. It’s not any slower than when you left it, of course, but if you need something, the thing freakin’ crawls through the bootup process. You feel so unproductive in that moment.
I’m not sure this is human nature, the thought process of an engineer at work, or the alarming commercialization of America. One could, I think, argue for each. Is it our genetic code telling us to do things better and faster? Is it the new car principle, where just the smell of a freshly minted auto can send us into a euphoric bliss, applied to everything? Is it the innundated world we live in, adverts screaming by cramming their message into every open orifice that makes us demand better conditions?
The most beautiful thing, someone once said, is a free upgrade. The glimpse into the way the rich pamper themselves with reclining sofas on planes, five star food, back massages, hand massages, foot massages, God-knows-where-else massages. But once exposed to the opulence of the upper class for a brief flicker, we’re left wanting. We become sick with our four star food. We want that little bit more.
Of course, I fall victim to this as well. When I see a movie that doesn’t force-feed me product placements, sticky-sweet messages of hope, the triumph of good over evil, or an action fest extravaganza, I’m thrilled. I can’t wait for the next.
Do I see movies that aren’t thought-provoking? For sure. And not every film can get categorized into “piece of crap” or “Academy Award Winner” (my hard-core film friends would say those are the same.) There are films that do what they want very well, and I love them for it.
But when I get a glimpse into a world filled with purer thought, where a little bit of insight into life, into reality, into passion, into reason, I’m left wanting when I go back to my Zoolander and my Titanic and my Lord of the Rings.
I’m left thirsting for more.
Words
Sometimes, I hate my own words. Hate the way they sound, the way they feel when I press them back into me. It’s not just the poison barbs I am so fond of throwing; it is every trite comment, every sarcastic backhand, every soul-bearing sensitive expose. I will not lie: in time, I will probably come to hate these very words, and the cycle will continue. These words, every word of mine, lost in a canyon of idiocy.
I know my problems, know their edges and definitions as though they were my eyes in the mirror. I use humor as an escape from unpleasantness. I dodge questions. I’m never serious. I’m too serious. I don’t ask enough questions. I talk too much. I don’t talk enough. I interject too often. I never have anything meaningful to say. Nobody confides in me.
His fortress, his Xanadu, his stronghold completed, the prince ponders his life. Nobody can get in - at the prince’s request, the engineers have seen to that. The moat lies filled with crocodiles, the walls lined with poisoned vines. It is an impregnable castle, a stony face to the world. But deep within, the prince sits alone, lost, afraid. For not only can anyone get in, he can never get out….
This is my SOS. Save me from the prison I have built. Ask me questions. Don’t let me dodge them. Don’t let me make fun of them. Don’t let me ramble on. Look me in the eyes. Make me look at you back. For 20 years, I have been blinded by arrogance. Open my eyes for me. Make me uncomfortable. Knock me down - physically, if need be. Drive into me that I am not better than you. I need to be reminded, however painfully, of that.
Where are all the first years?
Some other things I’ve noticed since I’ve been back:
I keep running into the same dozen or so first-years. I’m making a real effort to keep saying that instead of freshmen, but I slip sometimes. Personally, I don’t think it’s as big of a deal as some people make it out to be. Maybe it’s ’cause I’m a guy. Maybe it’s cause “first years” sounds like Harry Potter. Whatever. Point is, there are, what, over 70 of them? Where are they all? I went over to West Hall night before last, and there were only a handful of people in the lounge. I feel a little awkward just walking into a first year’s room, but I would like to meet 25% of the school’s population.
The number of quirks Olin went up astronomically with the opening of East Hall. I understand, it’s a work in progress, etc. But the wacky door on the West Wing is still tricking me. And the motion-detector lights - I feel like I’m breaking out of Alcatraz everytime I walk down the hall. By the way, we need a better system of saying things like East Hall West Wing. It’s getting confusing. In the future, when corporations run everything, Oliners will say “I live in Starbucks Hall, Amazon.com Wing” It’s inevitable.
The dining hall is now constantly crowded for lunch and dinner. Damn.
East Hall isn’t as close to the rest of campus as I originally thought. I know, I know, it’s no where near as far as the mods, but still, it looked so close. Even if you lived in East Wing of West Hall (see, it’s confusing, dammit!) you could walk in the West Wing door. Now, it’s all the way down the path. Far away. In the mud. I hate mud.
Already, I feel like the social dynamic has changed. It could just be me, but I don’t see or hear in East Hall on my way back to my room. Granted, my room is 25 feet away from the door on the first floor in the corner with a sign that says “Beware of the Leopard”, but still: no one’s in the lounge. No one’s coming over to hang out.
Maybe (this isn’t a plea, or a feeling sorry for myself moment) it’s just I don’t have as many friends as I thought. Maybe it’s just that the people I thought were my friends were the ones I lived near, saw constantly, and mistook that level of familiarity for friendship. I guess I saw the writing on the wall last year: I knew it was bad news bears when I couldn’t find a suite that made sense. And while I love my giant corner room, I’d trade it for being closer to cool happenings. (That’s not a real offer, so don’t ask.)
Still, all in all? It’s great to be back. Seeing everyone makes me so happy. And happy is good.
Back.
“Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends. We’re so glad you could attend, come inside, come inside”.
Yes, I know it’s on your blog, L, but it’s fitting for me right now, and besides, you didn’t think of it first. Emerson, Lake and Palmer did. I’m not stealing from you, I’m stealing from them. Got back to Olin yesterday after getting up ridiculously early. Proceeded to go to my meeting, unpack, fall asleep around 10, and - you guessed it - get up ridiculously early today. I’m now a good 3+ hours off of the standard Olin Student schedule. Sigh.
One of the things about being metablogged into Planet Olin I’ve noticed is that I’ve become slightly less willing to just post randomness/craziness and things other people might take offence to. I also feel like I have to state where I’m coming from a little more, as well as be more concise. I’m not trying to judge other peoples blogging habits, but I’ve never really been a fan of the “livejournal” way of posting (one line, usually something like “how could you do this to me??” current mood: depressed) if, for no other reason, because you’re left in the dark about pretty much everything. Who. What. Why. Essentially, every person that came into contact with the LJ blogger that day, week, month, or eon is at risk. More information, please! And another thing: minor spelling mistakes and awkward punctuation are a little annoying, true, but not the end of the world. I know I have some mistakes here, so I can’t have a double standard.
In the end though, I’m glad we have OP. It’s a pretty good at-a-glance tool, provided people keep blogging.
Here and there.
Every time I come home, it feels like I have to turn around and leave again. Which is, partly, true. I’m in for two weeks usually, a month at the longest, and then I fly back. Usually on an early AM flight, getting into Boston on my 6th cup of coffee when most people are still on their first. Do I want to go back? Without question. Olin is where I’m happiest and most productive.
But, sometimes, I just want to stay here. There’s so much here that needs my attention. So much I just don’t get done while I’m here. I wish I could come home more during the semester, but it’s just not possible, being thirteen states away and all.
I guess coming home this time was worse, for reasons I won’t go into here. And even though it’s something that doesn’t effect me in the short term, I feel helpless about it.
“So much time, so little to do. Strike that. Reverse it.”
Iraqi Constitution
Partial Text of the Iraqi Constitution
Article (14): Iraqis are equal before the law without discrimination because of gender, ethnicity, nationality, origin, color, religion, sect, belief, opinion or social or economic status.
Wow. Pretty amazing that it’s explicitly stated in a “democracy” that’s been going strong for about, oh, 6 months, and not stated in our constitution, which has had about 228 years of practice.
You know, we should probably fix that. We could learn a thing or two from these Iraqi folk.
Tags: News
Google Talk
Since I’m here, I might as well talk about Google Talk as well.
I’m not really sure I completely understand it. I’ve got it running, I need people to talk to, but it just looks like anytime I try to add a friend who I think already has it, it sends them an invite.
Also, can anyone tell me what it really is? I’m supposed to use this instead of AIM? In addition to AIM? I think it’s interesting, but not worth the 5 emails, 2 forum posts, and 3 IMs I’ve received today.
Bodies
Not sure if I’ll have a chance to check this out before I head back to Olin next Tuesday, but the amount of free publicity the Museum of Science and Industry received over this exhibition is amazing.
Essentially, the state anatomical board wanted control over these bodies since they were being used for educational display. MOSI and the exhibitor felt that since it wasn’t a medical display, (i.e. for med schools) the Anatomical Board couldn’t exert control. As is the great Florida style, a legal battle erupted, between the Attorney General of the State and the Anatomical Board versus the Museum and the exhibitor. In the end, MOSI played the “If we open before you have a chance to say anything about it, you can’t close us” card, and the exhibition opened two days early. And, of course, because people either thought the exhibition would close prematurely, or just the ridiculous number of times it was mentioned in the newspaper, people came out in force.
Ah well, even if I don’t see it now, there’s always Christmas.
Olin does rock my socks so.
Ah, Olin, you’re a pretty kick-ass place.
Even the Princeton Review thinks so.
Meh. There are some things I disagree with. Like our #2 in food (since I personally think the dining hall missed the mark last year. Does this mean food at a non top 20 school is served by persons wearing radioactive hazard suits?) but overall, a pretty good picture of the school.
Need to get me a gift?
With Bodhi Day right around the corner, there’s no better way to show you care than to buy something off this list of DVDs.
Shaun of the Dead
The Third Man
Anchorman
Old School
Batman Begins (when it comes out)
The Rock
The Royal Tennenbaums
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
The list will grow. And if you see one of these for cheap, get it, and I’ll pay you back. Or return it secretly behind your back. Either/or.
