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***Entry 365***
Sunday, January 26, 2003
03:39 p.m.
What I've Been Up To...
Well...no time for a formal update...so I'll leave you with this link to the press work I've been doing on the Sorry State of the Union event.
Everyone's been asking me how I currently am: I hand them a business card and a Sorry State of the Union flyer. That [sadly] explains my current situation almost entirely.
Meanwhile...Jill has updated her blog with some recent activism...
***Entry 364***
Friday, January 24, 2003
10:28 a.m.
Off the Blog
I'm super busy these days. Until the State of the Union, I'm not going to be blogging much. Furthermore, I apologize to all my friends who I have been ignoring lately. As soon as I am free...I promise to get back in touch.
***Entry 364***
Wednesday, January 22, 2003
10:46 a.m.
Michael Kelly is a moron
In one sentence: the Left is *not* only ANSWER.
***Entry 363***
Wednesday, January 22, 2003
09:24 a.m.
Sinking into the Same Ol' Same Ol'
The "plot" of my favorite recent commercial: an alarm clock, an alarm clock, hitting the alarm clock [split screen into 4 parts], more alarm clock hitting, make coffee, make coffee [split screen into 4 parts], more coffee, put on the tie, put on a different tie, walk through the office wearing a white shirt, walk through the office wearing a blue shirt [spilt into 4 parts-->many different walks wearing different shirts], more coffee. Etc. Etc. Etc. The ad is for the new Beetle.
The advertising agency intends to use the ad to show that the new Beetle breaks the monotony of everyday life. All the alarm clocks ringing, coffee drinking, suit wearing, etc. will someday allow the character to achieve his greatest desire. Freedom. Freedom as a Beetle.
If only freedom was that easy. If only the monotony of daily life could be absolved through buying stuff, especially cars. But, simply put, it cannot.
And that's why I'm so upset about this news that the DC local government is attempting to subvert New Hampshire's status as the first presidential primary state.
The connection might not be as blatant to my readers as it is to me. So, in the spirit of violating my usually cryptic messages, I will explain myself.
My life: The alarm wakes me up at 7:45 am. I struggle to get out of bed. I shower. I get ready. I get dressed. I go to work. I work all day. I leave work and go to meetings. I leave meetings and go hang out with friends. Every day it's the same...but the Beetle won't save me.
Freedom, in some convoluted logic, for me...is escaping from the city. Freedom is a temporary move to New Hampshire to work on a presidential campaign.
Freedom would be annihilated by this new proposal. There would be no reason to go to New Hampshire if DC was first. This is where I'm from [now] and this is where I should work if the presidential primaries are here first.
I'm beginning to think that DC is a time-released black hole. After two years, freedom from DC becomes a struggle. Now, let me drink my coffee and get back to work.
***Entry 362***
Tuesday, January 21, 2003
03:32 p.m.
Scary Stuff
This is one of my greatest fears.
About 60 passengers had to be evacuated at 8:19 p.m. Monday after the last car of the Blue Line train derailed. No one was injured. Passengers in the last car said they felt a violent lurch and tried desperately to get the crew to stop the train.
The last two wheels of the car had came off the rails, and they hit against the third rail, the power rail. The car traveled about 1,500 feet before the train came to a stop, and it smashed the insulators along the third rail, Metro officials said today.
***Entry 361***
Tuesday, January 21, 2003
09:42 a.m.
Snow? No: It's getting hot in here...
The word is out! Preparation for a State of the Union event has never been *so* thrilling. The staid, boring monotony of opposition expressed through nonchalant newspaper reading is hereby revoked. Next Tuesday--plan to be on the streets.
And, if you, like me, are working for the weekend...Just a reminder that this weekend is the National Conference on Organized Resistance [NCOR]. Take a look at the workshops...and plan to be there as well.
***Entry 360***
Sunday, January 19, 2003
03:12 p.m.
Throw out the Medicine
The public figure/private individual debate never got more interesting.
***Entry 359***
Sunday, January 19, 2003
01:19 p.m.
We Collide
And...here's a critique of my breaking news compliation yesterday. I'm slightly concerned that this person, may in fact, know me. Regardless, my response is classic.
Additionally, I want to note that my current detractor is correct on at least one point he makes; the apathy of DC residents to these large scale protests, is a legitimate critique. I plead absolutely guilty to be skeptical about the goals and approaches of these large scale coalition groups.
Furthermore, I see no reason why the breaking news section needs to aspire to some sort of "objective" reporting. That is hardly the nature of the indymedia project. Like I mentioned in my response to the above noted individual, If he wants to criticize my work--he should get involved and save me from compiling breaking news and doing adminstrative work. [I'm a writer--I should be out *covering* these protests.]
On the other hand, if he wants to criticize me as an alcoholic or a blood+guts fan, he's clearly mistaken.
***Entry 358***
Sunday, January 19, 2003
10:14 a.m.
On The Protests
My housemate Chris Strohm has written a fantastic review of yesterday's massive protests. [The brief story about Jesse Jackson's behavior is incredibly telling...] Strangely enough, his account mentions the discrepancies inherent in the numbers game. I say "strange" because this was a post-angle as well. And, speaking of the post their protest-team could only pen this review whereas, the team of indymedia reporters called in these reports all day.
And...speaking of breaking news: I'm on it again today. And, I'm super appreciative of my fan base. It's why I was going by the nick "fameiszoe" yesterday over at indymedia irc. What can I say: I'm already beyond vanity.
***Entry 357***
Saturday, January 18, 2003
01:31 p.m.
More Than I can Comprehend
I'm working on Indymedia IRC talking to the other techies that are inside...and not at the protest. Also, when IRC was installed over here [I'm not that much of a techie--I can't do these things myself.], the tech site was left up. Whoa. Call me overwhelmed. And call me off IRC. I can't figure out how to get back on.
But...in irrelevant other news, the folks at Stand Down/No War Blog are leading the ANSWER march...
***Entry 356***
Saturday, January 18, 2003
12:48 p.m.
Brian Becker started speaking.
When will it end?
Update @ 12:53: Brian Becker closed his mouth. How long will he allow others to speak? [Note, Brian Becker is the co-director/co-comrade of the International Action Center and International ANSWER.]
***Entry 355***
Saturday, January 18, 2003
10:31 a.m.
Breaking News?
I'm compiling breaking news today for the DC IMC's coverage of today's anti-war protests. But, it's unlikely that there is going to be a whole lot of hot actions today...so I'm enjoying myself reading stuff like this story on Jacques Derrida...which in many ways is [nominally/painfully] accurate...
On the influence of deconstruction of the intellectual left: When words no longer retain their common sense meanings, then any statement of truth becomes suspect. ... What could be handier, if you can't make a reasonable case for what you believe, than a theory which seems to undermine reason itself and thereby relativizes all knowledge? Thus, for example, if you're a multiculturalist, you can argue — against historical evidence — that Greek philosophy is derived from sub-Saharan Africa; or if you're a feminist, you can argue — against biological evidence — that gender is entirely socially constructed; or if you're a Marxist, you can argue — against experiential evidence — that socialism is compatible with individual rights.
I wonder if any of the kids protesting today will be thinking about any of this. I doubt it--not with "leader" Brian Becker brainwashing them through his long, contradictory propaganda speeches.
That's why I'm on breaking news; I value my mind.
***Entry 354***
Friday, January 17, 2003
01:34 p.m.
Thanks...
It's Friday. It's been a long week. But, it's been an inspiring week. First, I'd like to thank everyone who sent me emails back re: grad school chances. I've thanked you all individually, but I want all the other readers of this site to know how much I appreciate y'all's helpful advice.
Second, I found that the people creating the Collective Book on Collective Process have, in fact, linked to my "A Critique of Consensus Process." This is a great complement to my work and I am very thankful. It will encourage people to continue to read my thesis...
Third, my readership on this site has increased exponentially this week. I'm not quite sure why since the intellectual level of this site peaked at the end of my undergraduate career. I'm not going to speculate any further--since what I'm implying is actually negative. However, thanks for reading this week.
***Entry 353***
Thursday, January 16, 2003
11:41 p.m.
Sorry vs. Real: A Study of Semantics [Nominally]
It seems that the Shirts Off Coalition isn't the only group challenging Bush's State of the Union. The Atlantic Monthly has published a multifacited special report on the "Real State of the Union."
One of the essays included in their special report was written by Jedediah Purdy, [smile, Joanne ha ha ha]. It's a blend of thoughts from Bowling Alone, Suburban Nation and just about every other cultural [er] critique written in the past few years.
The difference between the "Sorry" State of the Union and the "Real" State of the Union is hardly one of semantics: it's one of innovative ideas vs. imbibing the "collective mood". It's one of clearly presented thoughts vs. convoluted, redundant arguments. It's one of grassroots opposition vs. intellectual pandering.
***Entry 352***
Thursday, January 16, 2003
05:31 p.m.
Final Thoughts on My Undergraduate Career
My final gpa is a 3.471. I don't get to graduate with honors. It's somewhat indicative of my entire life--the "potential" dilemma. I've explained this before. I am always *so* close to success; and yet I never quite make it. I'm stuck at the "potential" point.
I'm guess I'm mostly upset because I'm not sure how much this "so-close" gpa decreases my chances of getting into graduate school. Any Thoughts?
***Entry 351***
Thursday, January 16, 2003
12:06 p.m.
Another Upcoming Event
I feel like I'm using the blog as an announce-forum more than anything else these days...but here I go again...
I hope I have time to check out this Faces of Iraq Photo Exhibition this Friday at the Warehouse Theater [1021 7th St. NW from 6:30-9:00]...
***Entry 350***
Thursday, January 16, 2003
12:04 p.m.
It's Alright...
Thanks to Clarissa [again] the blog looks okay. I wonder what happened...
***Entry 349***
Thursday, January 16, 2003
10:30 a.m.
Help! What's Wrong?
I archived my site eariler today...and it messed up my tables. I keep looking at the code, but nothing seems to be wrong. I certainly didn't change anything; It seems to have changed on it's own. Maybe, it's just on the computers in the office...
Help!
***Entry 348***
Thursday, January 16, 2003
09:59 a.m.
West Wing Review
Everything I could have said about last night's painfully sappy episode was already said over at West Wing Watch. See: We got into this whole business because West Wing was different. It was substantive, witty, sharp and real. If we wanted run-of-the-mill, mediocre, disease-of-the-week TV drama (“I think the best day’s got to be the next day. Life is all that’s next.”) there are plenty of other choices on basic cable.
And they are right...except that there will only be a rerun next week. It's hard to believe but I'm tortured by a television show.
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