New Romance

Today is my first day at UMD. In fact as we speak (as I speak anyway) I’m sitting in the hallway of the Francis Scott Key Building writing this from my brand-spanking new Mac book. So far the orientation stuff has been a headache but hopefully that will be over soon. I couldn’t get into an orientation group, as they were all full by the time Maryland decided to let me in (suckers…) and no orientation means no registering for classes. Right, its sort of a big deal. I got into two history classes unofficially but I’ll deal with all of that on Friday.

Classes should be good. The Medieval World (which is the second to last lower level class I’ll ever have to take, that only took four years!) and Old Regime France which is taught by a professor who’s name is Donald Sutherland. Unfortunately I’m pretty sure it’s not the Donald Sutherland of “Kelly’s Heroes” fame. I hope I’ll be able to get into a Lit. class and either more history or whatever else I need.

The new laptop is super-sweet. I’m in love. I take it with me everywhere. His name is Mortimer. I never thought wireless internet could be so easy. And the photo booth is providing Elizabeth with endless entertainment. I’ve still got to fix my router at home but I think I’ll even be able to use it in my room.

So besides school and technology upgrades my house got struck by lightning (I wasn’t there but the tree that got hit looks pretty scared), I have a new title at work (“Homeland Security Liaison”) which, I’ll grant you, I invented and it sounds way cooler than what I actually do (which is put information into a database) but still…how awesome does that sound?

Numerous concerts are coming up that I want to go to so anyone in the mood should call.
The Editors @ 9:30 Club Sept. 4
Metric @ 9:30 Club Sept. 20
Jose Gonzales @ 9:30 Club Oct. 2
Spoon @ 9:30 Club Oct. 22 & 23 (which I think is sold out…)
Yo La Tengo @ Birchmere Oct. 23
Kenna (with She Wants Revenge for some reason) @ Black Cat Oct. 27
Stiff Little Fingers @ Black Cat Nov. 15
The Locust @ Ottobar Nov. 21

So, that’s about it. I’ll hopefully be deliriously busy from now until…oh I don’t know, Graduation. Or there about. Since I like being early and get bored easily I’ll probably keep you updated on any academic revelations from the early Dark Ages in Europe. I’m sure you’re all thrilled.

Listening to “Love Will Tear Us Apart” by Jose Gonzales (Really good cover) and “Holy Names” by Pretty Girls Make Graves (New Romance is one of my new favorite albums)

Heart & Soul

Yesterday, at age 57, Tony Wilson died. From Joy Division to the Buzzcocks to his club the Hacienda he was an important part of the Manchester post-punk scene, hell for a while he was the Manchester post-punk scene, and an infamous but loveable character. He once said that one “either makes money or history.” I’ve always loved that quote.

He will be missed.

Listening to my Factory Records Mix in honor of the dearly departed.

I Wanna Rock

While reading an article in the New York times about the video game world's annual preview and business summit the author of the piece used the word "wiivelution." I laughed so hard I almost fell out of my chair. It was way better than my off-handed use of "wiiality" or the wider spread use of "wiiysics" by some of the people I know that use the Nintendo wii.

Also in video game news the MTV game "Rock Band" where they have taken the basic concept of "Guitar Hero" and expanded it to not just the guitar but bass, vocals and drums!

Oh, and Tuesday (or possibly the 24th depending on the website you go to) will make the release of Guitar Hero 2 Encore: Rock The 80's. The new game will feature the songs like "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors, "I Ran (So Far Away) by Flock Of Seagulls and Hold On Loosely by .38 Special. Don't worry I've already pre-ordered my copy.

Sorry to geek out but I was too excited...

In other news: this past Thursday my speech teacher asked me if my sideburns were paste on and then told me that red-heads were not to be trusted... so I'm having a great time at school too.

Baltimore on Friday was great. I got to see everybody up there, which hasn't happened in a while. We went to Frasier’s and I got to talk about Mathematical Logic and Russell’s theory of Analytic Philosophy with D. I haven't gotten past saying those words without the person I'm talking to falling asleep.

Listening to "The Eton Rifles" by The Jam

More Than Meets The Eye

Sorry for the lack of posts recently. The new job is great, the school stuff is good. But this is why I wanted to resume my verbal leavings into the Internets:

http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2007/7/9weaver.html

I love it!

The movie was great too. I've seen it twice and will probably see it again. Micheal Bay is maybe the greatest being ever in the history of existence in the universe. I could be overstating a little but not much.

For those new to the blog that last paragraph can be explained away by the fact that shiny moving parts and robots reduce me to little more than a seven-year-old...

Listening for my car to start speaking in radio stations or the booming voice of freedom.

If I Were President...

In the brief update section of this post:
+ School is good. Fake college shall officially be a thing of the past
+ Tomorrow is my last day at work! I’ll be starting at a new company soon, which is sort of exciting and sort of intimidating.
+ Shah has come and gone and I miss him dearly. We a great time going to bars, making a random road trip to the beach and “raising hell, causing chaos and eating.” I can’t wait till next time.

This weekend will be full of friends and activity. Thursday, after work, I’ll be carousing with co-workers in celebration of them finally getting rid of me. Friday is the pre-party celebration for Mr. Haresign’s big 2-1. Saturday will contain the majesty of The Power Cosmic, and Dave’s graduation celebration / farewell party. I am not sure one day can handle both to be honest. I between I’d like to see a few friends I’ve been neglecting and of course sleep…just a little.

Last night after I decided that I could not read anymore for school and was done with pressing responsibilities I decided to turn on the boob tube. In doing so I saw two of the most amazing things. The first was a commercial for Old Spice in which Bruce Campbell of “Army of Darkness” fame sang Duran Duran’s hungry like the wolf with only a piano to accompany him (which he played) while a bevy of beauties surrounded him. On top of it all the song was in a lounge act style. Needless to say I was highly entertained and nearly spat out the sandwich I was eating at the time.

The second occurred while I was watching the Colbert Report. It concerned Tommy Chong and his appearance on Fox News (I believe). They had him on a news program to discuss Paris Hilton and her recent incarceration. Chong defended Hilton and cited Mel Gibson’s “shenanigans” last year as evidence for a vindictive court. The entire segment was very other-worldly. He even managed to fluster the news anchor and make himself look quite capable. Colbert re-aired the interview and had the man himself on the show to explain himself. When asked directly if he was high his response was simply: “Of course!” with and almost befuddled expression on his face as if to ask Stephen why he would expect anything less. (I’m sure you can youtube it or whatever…)

Moving out of the realm of pop culture into the more seedy and morally murkier domain of politics—it is only a short 17 months until the general elections! You know what that means…

That’s right, I become a news junky! And for the first time since 1928 both the Rebulican and Democratic parties have no presidential incumbent. This is the stuff that dreams (and possibly money, but I’ll get to that later) are made of. While some may grip that the candidates are wasting the peoples time, their money and interrupting valuble T.V. time with their nonsense, I love it. The sniping, the scandal and everything in between. Joel Achenbach wrote a somewhat derogatory Op.Ed. in Sunday’s Washington Post. In it he called this “red meat season,” referencing the blood thirsty sport that high level politics has become. I agree with Mr. Achenbach. Completely in fact. I just think that it’s similar to the Roman Coliseum. We get to watch combat in suits instead of armor, the gladiators using words and not swords. The game is no less deadly though. I defeat early on or a fundraising snafu can spell disaster. And the greatest part about the whole thing? Instead of slaves fighting for our entertainment it is the Emperor himself….and I guess that no one has to actually die.

Call me cynical or crazy or whatever but this is my favorite time of every four years. So what about my money comment, you ask? Well I propose a pool (for whatever, even just the honor of it) in which the Primaries, Caucuses and yes, November 5th itself for a sort of March Madness-esque bracket system (similar to Amy’s system on the West Wing, if anyone is that big of a nerd?). The Republican hopefuls on one side and the Democratic candidates on the other, one could even work in the Congressional, Senatorial and Gubernatorial races along with various referendums and mayoral elections. Although that would maybe require a lot of research into a lot of places no one really cares about. Anyway, the first Primaries are on January 14th. In order to keep utter destruction of one’s brackets to at least a theoretical minimum I think the deadline for predictions should be at the end of the summer. Say August 31st. I’d love to hear suggestions and I hope I can make up a form sometime in the next few weeks.