Saturday, June 11, 2005
Par-ty (rhymes with gay)
So I didn't post yesterday because I was pretty busy, at least in the evening. I went to a party in Chelsea last night. It was a very different experience for me to say the least. I had been to the apartment before and I knew a decent number of people who were there. I didn't drink or smoke anything I hadn't drunk or smoked before. No, the difference was the male/female ratio which was oddly skewed to the XY side. After a few drinks, some basic social observation and a little gaydar I deduced that there was a significant number of gay men at the party. For the record, I didn't find this jarring or disturbing in any way, it was just a first for me. I don't really have a lot of experience with homosexual persons. I know it sounds really awkward discussing people like that, but if I can't explore my own thoughts in public what's a blog for?
The party went pretty late. I didn't get home until 5 AM. I slept in most of Saturday before receiving an invitation to see my friends in Westchester again. So here I am in my hometown, blogging on friend's computer. We're going to catch a movie tonight and I'll probably be up until sunrise again. Catch you tomorrow!
つづく... (Click here to read more)
The party went pretty late. I didn't get home until 5 AM. I slept in most of Saturday before receiving an invitation to see my friends in Westchester again. So here I am in my hometown, blogging on friend's computer. We're going to catch a movie tonight and I'll probably be up until sunrise again. Catch you tomorrow!
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Warm!
I swear, I've done more walking during this week's heat swell than all three of the previous cooler weeks combined. Doesn't exercise in this kind of weather count as, um, double exercise? 'Cause at this rate I'll be totally ripped by next Thursday.
Today was a blast from the past as I went to hang out with Kazu and Jung Eun at the Museum of Natural History. Kazu really seems to dig it as he's already been there twice this month. I haven't been up there in at least a decade and things sure are...the same. How many taxidermy dioramas is too many? Seriously, that museum hasn't changed much in a long time. Ben once joked that the Museum of Natural History should be put into a museum.
I had to explain to Kazu what a "suggested donation" means. He was surprised and a little dismayed as he had unknowingly paid full price earlier. He asked me why I paid at all since I didn't have to. I suppose being an unemployed student would be justification for stiffing the museum but I wouldn't feel right about that. I threw 'em $7.
One cool new thing they did have was the Hayden sphere. You walk around it and the displays offer different scale perspectives using the sphere. For example, if the sphere represented the known universe, then this little model in front of you would represent our galaxy. Likewise, there's a cosmic pathway that covers the estimated 13 billion years of our universe's existence. At the end of the timeline is a single hair which represents the 30,000 years of human history. I always appreciate reminders that human beings are insignificant compared to the reality of outer space. That's not me being cynical either, as I also consider the vastness of space strong evidence that extraterrestrial life must exist. Given the incredible size of the universe it is statistically improbable that we are the only living creatures in it.
*steps off theoretical soapbox*
This evening my dad and I went to a test screening of Everything is Illuminated. It's about this Jewish guy who goes to the Ukraine to try and locate where his grandfather grew up. Believe it or not, it's actually pretty funny in addition to the more poignant moments. It's supposed to come out this September and I recommend it. I must say, test screenings are a lot more in-depth than they used to be. I remember filling out a 3 x 5 card in the past. Now it's a full 8 x 11 double-sided piece of paper. They make you work for that free ticket now!
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Today was a blast from the past as I went to hang out with Kazu and Jung Eun at the Museum of Natural History. Kazu really seems to dig it as he's already been there twice this month. I haven't been up there in at least a decade and things sure are...the same. How many taxidermy dioramas is too many? Seriously, that museum hasn't changed much in a long time. Ben once joked that the Museum of Natural History should be put into a museum.
I had to explain to Kazu what a "suggested donation" means. He was surprised and a little dismayed as he had unknowingly paid full price earlier. He asked me why I paid at all since I didn't have to. I suppose being an unemployed student would be justification for stiffing the museum but I wouldn't feel right about that. I threw 'em $7.
One cool new thing they did have was the Hayden sphere. You walk around it and the displays offer different scale perspectives using the sphere. For example, if the sphere represented the known universe, then this little model in front of you would represent our galaxy. Likewise, there's a cosmic pathway that covers the estimated 13 billion years of our universe's existence. At the end of the timeline is a single hair which represents the 30,000 years of human history. I always appreciate reminders that human beings are insignificant compared to the reality of outer space. That's not me being cynical either, as I also consider the vastness of space strong evidence that extraterrestrial life must exist. Given the incredible size of the universe it is statistically improbable that we are the only living creatures in it.
*steps off theoretical soapbox*
This evening my dad and I went to a test screening of Everything is Illuminated. It's about this Jewish guy who goes to the Ukraine to try and locate where his grandfather grew up. Believe it or not, it's actually pretty funny in addition to the more poignant moments. It's supposed to come out this September and I recommend it. I must say, test screenings are a lot more in-depth than they used to be. I remember filling out a 3 x 5 card in the past. Now it's a full 8 x 11 double-sided piece of paper. They make you work for that free ticket now!
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Outraged Again (and again)
Just like a few weeks back I'm all worked up inside again after seeing some documentaries on DVD. Last night it was Outfoxed, an attack/exposé of the "fair and balanced" Fox News Channel. I've never liked Fox News but this movie really highlighted the worst of Fox's distortive behavior. I suspect someone could make a similar film if they monitored CNN 24/7, but I think that's the larger point of the film: TV news sucks dick and 24-hour cable news licks ass.
The second (and far superior, BTW) film was Super Size Me. I thought I knew all the reasons why fast food was bad for me. After all, I read Fast Food Nation and got pissed off about it, eventually settling on the notion that I loathed the concept of fast food but still needed to eat it at times. Surely here in the city there's little point in eating fast food because there's so much awesome real food to be had. But seeing this movie really jarred me because some of the problems Spurlock encountered during his experiment mirrored my recent health problems. I know I suck at saying things and then sticking to them, but maybe (just maybe) this is the wake-up call I needed to try and do something about my atrocious diet.
Hey, it could happen...
つづく... (Click here to read more)
The second (and far superior, BTW) film was Super Size Me. I thought I knew all the reasons why fast food was bad for me. After all, I read Fast Food Nation and got pissed off about it, eventually settling on the notion that I loathed the concept of fast food but still needed to eat it at times. Surely here in the city there's little point in eating fast food because there's so much awesome real food to be had. But seeing this movie really jarred me because some of the problems Spurlock encountered during his experiment mirrored my recent health problems. I know I suck at saying things and then sticking to them, but maybe (just maybe) this is the wake-up call I needed to try and do something about my atrocious diet.
Hey, it could happen...
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Sweatin' like an Oldie
It is H-O-T in NYC right now, and I'm not speaking metaphorically. I can't believe I was sleeping with the window closed just last weekend. Now I don't even dress unless I have to leave the apartment.
Speaking of dress, I had an interview today. I had to carefully consider how formal to dress up, as I wanted to look respectable but at the same time it's 90 fucking degrees outside. I opted for a short-sleeve shirt (button down but no tie) and long pants as a compromise dress/casual outfit. I think the interview went pretty well but I have to consider whether or not I should even accept the job if they offer it to me. I applied for a lot of different positions in the last few days, so maybe I should hold out for other offers? Can I do better than $6.50 an hour right now? Can I afford to pass? I'm not even sure.
For some reason I ended up taking a goddamn stroll from the East Village to the West Village before I went back uptown to get my library card. I know I need to exercise more often but this was not the best day to walk aimlessly around Manhattan in long black pants. I suppose I was kinda looking for other job opportunities but after a few blocks I just walked without stopping in anyplace (except for lunch).
I'm not going back outside if I can help it, not today anyway. Clothed and sticky is not match for disrobed and comfortable, thank you very much.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Speaking of dress, I had an interview today. I had to carefully consider how formal to dress up, as I wanted to look respectable but at the same time it's 90 fucking degrees outside. I opted for a short-sleeve shirt (button down but no tie) and long pants as a compromise dress/casual outfit. I think the interview went pretty well but I have to consider whether or not I should even accept the job if they offer it to me. I applied for a lot of different positions in the last few days, so maybe I should hold out for other offers? Can I do better than $6.50 an hour right now? Can I afford to pass? I'm not even sure.
For some reason I ended up taking a goddamn stroll from the East Village to the West Village before I went back uptown to get my library card. I know I need to exercise more often but this was not the best day to walk aimlessly around Manhattan in long black pants. I suppose I was kinda looking for other job opportunities but after a few blocks I just walked without stopping in anyplace (except for lunch).
I'm not going back outside if I can help it, not today anyway. Clothed and sticky is not match for disrobed and comfortable, thank you very much.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Monday, June 06, 2005
Whoa
First of all, I hate the rain. Hate it. Weather in New York lately has been teh SUCK. It's getting really hot during the day but somehow I always end up getting caught in a downpour when I go out. Maybe I should just wear a parka everyday.
Today was mostly more of the same: applications and resumes for anyone who would have 'em. Along the way I had a drink with my buddy Mike before catching a flick, Oldboy. If you haven't heard of that, I highly recommend it. It happens to be the finest (OK, the first) Korean film I've ever seen. Some have compared it to Kill Bill but that's inaccurate. Kill Bill was a straightforward revenge-movie: the Bride gets back at those who tried to kill her. Oldboy is more of a mystery because you don't know (not until late in the picture) why Dae-su Oh was imprisoned or who was responsible. The reason is a pretty wild surprise but there's more twists to be had beyond that! It's very intense and it's not for everybody, but I loved it. If you're in NY you can still catch it at the Village East cinema.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Today was mostly more of the same: applications and resumes for anyone who would have 'em. Along the way I had a drink with my buddy Mike before catching a flick, Oldboy. If you haven't heard of that, I highly recommend it. It happens to be the finest (OK, the first) Korean film I've ever seen. Some have compared it to Kill Bill but that's inaccurate. Kill Bill was a straightforward revenge-movie: the Bride gets back at those who tried to kill her. Oldboy is more of a mystery because you don't know (not until late in the picture) why Dae-su Oh was imprisoned or who was responsible. The reason is a pretty wild surprise but there's more twists to be had beyond that! It's very intense and it's not for everybody, but I loved it. If you're in NY you can still catch it at the Village East cinema.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Reference Roulette
Today I actually went out there and did a little job hunting. I'm not looking very high so I visited mostly retail outlets and a few movie theaters. After all, that's the experience I have. I had a thought while I was filling out applications. This is the first "serious" job hunt I've been on in a decade. That's ten years, Billy! Frankly, even with my adequate resume the application process is humbling and frustrating.
The worst section of any application is the "reference" section. Every form is different and it's totally worthless. First I have to try and think of my friend's addresses, something I don't necessarily have handy. But some forms specify not to list "friends." Who else would I list, enemies? Or just random co-workers whom I did not befriend? I've been filling these things out for twelve years and I've never, ever heard back from someone that I listed as a reference, so what's the point? I have a feeling it's just a test to make sure the applicant isn't some angry loner who lives under a bridge.
I only live near a bridge, although I do enjoy shopping under it...
つづく... (Click here to read more)
The worst section of any application is the "reference" section. Every form is different and it's totally worthless. First I have to try and think of my friend's addresses, something I don't necessarily have handy. But some forms specify not to list "friends." Who else would I list, enemies? Or just random co-workers whom I did not befriend? I've been filling these things out for twelve years and I've never, ever heard back from someone that I listed as a reference, so what's the point? I have a feeling it's just a test to make sure the applicant isn't some angry loner who lives under a bridge.
I only live near a bridge, although I do enjoy shopping under it...
つづく... (Click here to read more)
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