Debating Deadlines

The mock election meeting today went as usual. Mike tried to control the group, we got severely off topic several times, and someone had to settle us back down. I think Danny Perlstein is my favorite person to waste time with. He's educated, and he's got a good grasp on political humor.

Anyway, Mike asked for the text of the pamphle (the one I spent all last night making), and I told them all I could send it out tonight. They all flipped out over the inclusion of Cynthia McKinney. I think she's a big name, and an important illustration that we do draw a diverse group of speakers to campus, but I was maligned for my choice and told that Cynthia had to go becuase she was "too liberal." Alas Ms. McKinney, we hardly knew ye.

I mean, it's not my fault that there are very few conservative speakers on campus, and those who do choose to come do so in almost complete secracy. There were plenty of announcements for Cynthia McKinney, but who hearlded the arrival of chief Bush Economic advisor Stephen Friendmann? No one.

Anyway, one kid got all uppity and wanted to see a new pamphlet tonight. On the other hand, I had promised the guys a roast, and I was in severe need of a nap. 2 p.m. quickly turned into 8 p.m., and following a brief family phone odyssey I was ready to start the roast -- at 9 p.m. Around the time I was knee deep in peeled potatoes, the phone rang. Grumbling, I grabbed at it and tried to jab the on button with my starch-covered fingers. The voice at the other end was Mike Zuckerman.

"Hey, can you send out that pamphlet now?"

Now I'm not sure if these people understand, but to do a high-quality print job, and make it look good in the end, you need some pretty high-end software. The Sun has it, I don't. For me to "send the pamphlet out now," I need to walk down to the paper, open the office, start up the sports computer (it's the only one that can read Quark 6.0 files), and then I can get to work on editing the file. That's a good 20 minutes of prep time, not counting the actual time it'll take to change the file. Then I know they're going to send me some more "suggestions" (i.e. questionable changes, or other things they don't like), and I'm going to have to repeat said process. All in all, I'm probably looking at a couple more hourse of work on this stupid thing this week.

But anyway, Roast, annoying phone call during which I tried to explain to Mike what I just wrote in the last paragraph, and then Dan McAlvin called. For those of you who haven't checked out his site recently, I suggest you do so. It's listed on the left as "Here.but.Not," and has just been pimped out with multimedia clips of Dan, doing Dan-like things. My contribution was a small video of us getting kicked out of Tops supermarket. It was a contribution that took up another good 30 minutes, but one I didn't mind. I had been neglecting to do this for Dan for over a week now, which was severely uncool of me, espcially since Dan did me a favor by carting my ass out to Tops in the first place. We're in for good times next year, for sure, if I can just survive this week.

So then I went for a walk with Christine. Uneventful, yet still very nice, very peaceful. Enough said.

So now it's 4 a.m., and I have just gotten home to check my e-mail and mail out the pamphlet text. See two angry e-mails from said committee members, who were upset that I had not sent out the pamphlet information. I warned them that it would be "sometime tonight" (and as Todd so aptly defines it, if I haven't gone to bed yet, it's still tonight). I offered them hard copies to peruse over and take home while at our meeting, telling them that they should make their changes there and e-mail me corrections. They declined and opted to wait for my e-mail. And wait they have.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to cause these people grief, but if they reject my intial offer for a chance to have instant feedback, I'm not going to jump through hoops becuase it suddenly becomes convenient for them to take an interest, especially not when I'm in the middle of preparing a major culinary undertaking such as a roast. Mike told me we needed to have the pamphlet ready for some VP guy on Thursday, I sent the text, I'll make the corrections I get after my Comm Law final on Wednesday -- end of story, particularly becuase this dog doesn't learn tricks.

The biggest frustration is that I just did something any of these people could have done. Adobe Acrobat Reader has a text-capture tool. I just selected the text in the PDF I sent out and put it into a word file. These people are honestly idiots, especially if they couldn't figure it out after I gave them instructions. I hate cleaning up after other people's idiocy, which is truly what has prompted this rambling 4:50 a.m. posting.

Now if you'll excuse me, the Sand Man is waiting. I'm late for my appointments in dream land with Anson Rowe, Alexander Hamilton and Jessica Alba.

Doors and Windows

I hate it when people use cliches. I usually think less of them for not coming up with something clever of their own to say.

That said, when God closes a door, he opens a window...

(I guess today I'm a bit self-hating.)

The family has hit varied financial challenges in the past few months. Today I recieved word that I won a share of the really big Comm department Scholarship. Closed doors, open windows ... I almost feel like I'm in a diverse and caring environment that really wants to make me a better individual. Then I remember I'm at Cornell, and the administration hates students. At least someone(s) in the Comm Dept. likes me.

Hooray for Computer-mediated-communication theories.

Trouble Sleeping

I always seem to have issues going to bed on the weekends. I feel like if I get to sleep, I'm going to miss something big. It's a rediculous feeling, the anxiety. Right now I'm sitting in my room, alone in the apartment, with work piling up around me, and my biggest fear is missing this mysterious and unkown "something."

I think part of it stems from me feeling that I need to make up for lost time. I managed to come back and finish up the academic semester, but with the illness I've found myself becoming more withdrawn. Some of it is a physical thing -- I just can't make it to the fraternity house and back, or to upper collegetown for that friend's party. I've become the definition of lame, both physically and socially.

But then there are the other issues. I just don't feel social. It's hard when you keep catching colds. It's hard to be jovial and joke around when you're constantly reaching for tissues, or getting dizzy. Things are much better now, even than just a week ago, which I think is what adds to the anxiety. I also feel that the "something" isn't necessarily an event as it is a person, like that new great friend or romantic interest.

I've been doing a lot of reading about the sociological and psychological impacts of humor. Humor is apparently more affective with highly masculine personalities (independent, and dominating people -- not necessarily just males). The Comm theories aren't all that helpful, but do break down humor into clownish humor and wit. Apparently those who demonstrate clownish humor quickly build their popularity, yet don't hold any sway over their peers. Those who demonstrate wit don't help their popularity (haven't figured out if they hurt it yet either), but there are some prestige effects. People view witty friends or aquaintances as more influential, more intelligent. The Comm studies also delve into the learning effects associated with laughter. Very interesting stuff, and suprisingly it's relatively unexplored (although it's not surprising that no one ever took humor seriously). I think I may have found a focus area for my thesis. Perhaps combining a CMC element would help narrow the field ...

Like a Bee

I think I'll be able to breathe next Thursday. Next Wednesday is my only final, but I've also got quite a few papers to finish before then, one of which is due today at 5 p.m., and I've only got one part answered so far (of five). It's 8 a.m., however, so I'm not incredibly worried. I am actually not worried or motivated at all, something that is a bit disturbing.

I remember wondering how I used to pull all-nighters, and how they seemed easier to manage sophomore year. Now most of you are probably painting this picture of me, procrastinating so that I had to pull an all-nighter. In actuality, my work at the Daily Sun necesitated them. I'd be there from 5 p.m. until 3 a.m. most nights I desked, which means that by the time I took the flats over to the printing press and walked up the hill it was 4 a.m. Then I would usually finish up an assignment or two, putting the time at 6 a.m. Rather than try for an hour or two of sleep, I just stayed up. I didn't trust my alarm on those sleepless mornings, it usually didn't wake me up when I had gotten eight hours or so.

So last night, I had the option of working through until dawn, or going to bed and getting up early. I chose the latter. I just couldn't imagine staying up any later. I had been falling asleep since I woke up, and I couldn't imagine trying to pound out five pages past midnight.

I think it's the mono. It's been holding me back lately, even though I'm in week eight. I still feel lethargic and tired. I still need more sleep. I still have a sore throat. I still pick up every cold that goes around campus. I'm waiting for a change of scenery with baited breath, and am close to counting down the days until I head home. I know I'm coming back here for reunion, but it'll still be nice to be home for a week or two.

Most people here understand my recent mode of thinking. They've come to accept that fact that no matter what they want out of me -- work, writing, friendship -- I've (tried to) put my studies and health on the top of my list as I finish the semester. They've come to accept tha fact that I'm not going to always comply with their requests on my time. They understand why I say no when I've picked up that latest cold ... for the second time. Recently, however, I ran into a few people who couldn't understand why it took me so long to finish a project. It's study week, I didn't have any exams in their mind, so I should have had plenty of time to finish it up. Said project, however, is for an extra cirricular activity which right now is at the bottom of the list. I'd rather spend another night desking at The Daily Sun and be up until 6 a.m. doing work than finish this thing up. It'll get done -- I usually finish what I start, but I'm not going to try to squeeze it in amongst papers and group projects for class. Nor am I going to sacrifice sleep. I don't like to tell people I have mono, but the ones that matter know. Now these people do, too.

Commencement Speakers

The List of Possible Commencement Speakers:

Jon Stewart
Will Ferrell
Dave Chippelle
Elian Gonzalez
Arnold Schwarzenegar
Mark Cuban
Mike Tyson
Cicely Tyson
Peep O'Bryson
Bill Walton
Mackey Sasser
JFK
RFK
LAX
(Okay, enough with the airports, back to the real list)
Charles Barkley
Bob Barker
Jared Diamond
Stephen Hawking
Alf
Joumana Kidd
Bob Ryan
Joumana Kidd and Bob Ryan, together
Saddam (we have him anyway, we could dress him up and make him do sketch comedy with Andy Dick)

If you think any of these are good choices, please e-mail classof2005@cornell.edu and let them know.

A Response

There is an interesting posting at www.nagowski.com. I'll save you all some time and summarize. Some whiny theatre major writes the proprietor an e-mail about how terrible it is that no one ever comes to see the Risley theatre shows, or sees the student exhibits in Sibley, or goes to the Jazz concerts, or ...

I take it you understand the concept. Somehow, though, I just can't sympathize with this person. I think the reason no one goes to these shows is becuase people don't want to gamble their time on what may be a complete lack of vision and talent. The CTA shows almost always sell out, I know becuase I've tried to get tickets on several occasions only to find the shows full. People come to the Hangover and Waiter shows becuase they know what they're getting. Why can't Risely Hall theatre attrack the same audience? We could blame the lack of an upper-classman presence on North Campus, leaving all freshmen secure and isolated in their world of general indifference, but the bigger issue is time vs. talent.

This claim that no one ever goes to see art exhibits, or jazz concerts is bogus. I remember a packed house when Wynton Marsalis came. Why? As mentioned before, it's the talent vs. time issue. People will rearrange their busy Cornell schedules when they know they'll get a good show. Perhaps instead of whining in e-mails to his friends, this student should go back and practice some more.

---

It's raining and yet still sunny in Ithaca. Very strange. Also, the NWS has issued a second severe thunderstorm warning in as many weeks. I usually enjoy the rain, but with this head cold I wish it would subside. I just can't shake it, and I'm sick of popping all these pills to cut through the congestion.

---

I'm going back to the gym this week, but only to run. I want to be able to do five miles before I get to DC this summer, so that I can stand the heat. I'll have to slow down a little once I'm down there, but it should only take a week to get used to the conditions and humidity.

Geography lesson

Jevon: (pointing at Kevin Garnett) That guy's from Minnesota
Adam: You know what else is from Minnesota? The Dallas Stars.

The Passion

When I first met Ben Lowe, I hated him. He was an attractive guy, very smooth and personable, and he had an amazing solo voice. He made the Glee Club last Fall, had quit his acapella group, and was quite vocal on wanting to be in the Hangovers. It was jealousy that made me hate Ben, and as the old saying goes, I kept my enemies closer.

Ben and I despartely wanted the same thing then, to be a member of the Hangovers. We saw it as status, as a chance to travel and see things we would otherwise have been left in the dark about. I hated and feared Ben, however, because I thought he was a sophomore. After two semesters of trying out for the group, making call backs, and not getting in, I thought the third time would be a charm. The group had lost enough members at my voice part where I figured they had to take me -- there weren't many other viable options. Then Ben appeared out of thin air, threatening to block me from the one thing I had wanted more than anything -- the one thing that made me pick Cornell over Penn, and Syracuse. He threatened to take the spot that could have been mine in the Hangs.

We sat next to each other during his new man dinner, and talking to Ben I realized I didn't have to hate him anymore. He was a junior (the group has this thing about taking too many guys of a certain year), he was just as nervous and paranoid about his audition as I was, and -- as previously mentioned -- he was a smooth and personable guy. We laughed, swapped stories, and took turns trying to impress the other that night. In the end a friendship was born.

Being new guys, Ben and I were close during that first semester in the group. We played kick rock, went to parties on the weekend, and caused general panic in the Asian markets. I heard all about his dreams, his fears, and mostly what songs he really wished he had a chance to sing the solo on. He was a confidant and partner in crime. Ben idolized the Hangs of yesterday, and loved the songs and music that they had arranged.

Over the past four semesters, it has been an amazing experience to hear Ben accomplish those goals and realize those dreams. Last night during Happy Hour -- his last true Hangs performance at Cornell -- he soloed on Evaporated (Ben Folds Five), and it was amazing. There's a line in the song about pouring your heart out, basically giving everything you have. That was Ben. I've never heard him give anything less than his best on a solo, and hopefully I never will.

As I lay Dying

This "cold" thing really sucks. I mean, first it was strep, then the mono, now this. Bill and Mary Ann keep nagging me to come home, but I'd like to finish out my semester. Well, or so I thought.

I was on track for an A+ in my HCI design course, but my presentation yesterday did not go as planned. First, Tops wouldn't let us take any photos or video of their automated checkout scanners, which meant visually we were lack luster. Next, the projector wouldn't recognize my partner's computer, so we couldn't run our demo interface. Finally, the presentation sped up a bit.

It's partially my fault, becuase I handed it over to my partner a slide early, but then he glossed over our user testing, summing it up in a few sentences. Our professor (who most likely won't decide our grade, since she's been MIA and the TA has been running the course for the past two months) did ask us a redeeming question about our original interface, which allowed us to elaborate some on the design and testing process, but in the end I just got a weird vibe. Everyone in the class was just staring confusedly, which makes sense since we didn't get to demo our final interface. You really need to see it to understand the whole project and be able to ask questions.

We're supposed to show it off on Thursday, but I'm still hesitant. I know I lost my chance at an A+. Hopefully I can still get an A.

There has been some academic redemption for the week, however. I will be able to take my sociology exam on Friday instead of today, allowing me some more time to prepare as well as try to shake this cold. If I can ace the test, I'll get an A in the class. I also just e-mailed in my final Comm Law paper. I think I hit all the main points, so I can't imagine getting anything worse than an A-. But maybe that's just the cold medication talking ...

"Hey Norm ..."

Will Ferrell used to do these hilarious Harry Carrey impersonations on SNL, and at somepoint during the skit he'd ask Norm McDonald some really crazy question about food. Ribs, Yankee Stadium Hotdogs, Cheese ... they touched all the basics except waffles.

I know, I know. It looks like I'm obsessed with waffles. In actuality, I'm just happy beucase CU Tonight has agreed to fund my idea. This August, orientation will be a little bit safer, and that makes me feel good.

I'm fighting off a head cold. I finally replenished my supply of 12-hour Sudafed today, and had been using the four-hour tabs instead lately. They just didn't do the trick. I took a pair last night, got five hours of sleep, and woke up completely congested. They're supposed to last for six hours!

I'm going to take a nap now before bunkering in with my soc notes and comm law supplies. I've got one paper, one exam, and one video to edit before I can take a breather (Wednesday). Then on Thursday I need to get back to work and finish off my Risk Comm exam.

I've had MSNBC on for the past hour, blaring away while I check the e-mail and fantasy league. Politics are so rediculous. Donald Rumsfeld is on now, trying to cover his ass over the abuse of Iraqi captives. Before that George Bush was cracking jokes about foreign leaders to a bunch of rednecks in Ohio. It's a shame when entertainment takes presidence over subsantive policy discussions. Lies and jokes just don't seem help the American people like medicare and social security. I wonder if FDR operated like this.

Crunch Time

I'm going to really enjoy this upcoming study and finals period because I only have one scheduled exam. Unfortunately, I this means that I have a hellish week a head of me. I've got a comm law paper, my sociology final, my HCI final presentation, a video to edit for Risk Comm and the first part of that final exam to do. I can't believe the professor wants us to write eight pages for one question.

I'm watching the Lakers play the Spurs right now. Every writer has seemed to turn on Gary Payton lately -- they say he's lost the edge to compete. He's too slow, can't hit his shots, he's letting his arrogance get in the way.

I don't know. I'll still take the glove over any point gaurd in the league. He's a smart player with solid experience. He just had a wide open three, but instead passed inside to Karl Malone. Most people wouldn't understand why, but it worked out in the end. Malone ended up getting the three point play and a bonus; he drew a foul from Tim Duncan. If the game goes to overtime, and the Lakers can get a win, it'll be thanks to Gary Payton.

But it doesn't seem like the Lakers will get that far. None of them can hit their free throws today.