When I'm angry or wanting to dance, I listen to Saul Williams. I forgot how good this song was. It's autobiographical, apparently. I had tickets to a Saul Williams concert last spring. I ended up skipping it to see my grandfather in the nursing home. Hopefully Saul will come to Minneapolis again.
I used to hump my pillow at night.
The type of silent prayer to help myself prepare for the light.
Me and my cousin Duce would rank the girls between one and ten
and the highest number got to be my pillows pretend.
Now I apologize to every high ranker.
But you taught me how to dream and so I also thank you.
I never had the courage to approach you at school.
We joked around a lot and I know you thought I dressed cool.
But I was just covering up all the insecurities that came bubbling up.
My complexion had
me stuck in an emotional rut, 'like the time you Flavor Flaved me and you called me
"Yo Chuck, they say
you're too black, man".
I think I'm too black.
Mom, do you think I'm too black? I think I'm too black.
Black Stacey.
They called me Black Stacey.
I never got to be myself 'cause to
myself I always was Black Stacey, in polka dots
and paisley, a double goose
and bally shoes, you thought it wouldn't phase me.
I was Black Stacey.
the preachers' son from Haiti
who rhymed a lot and always got the dance steps at the party.
I was Black Stacey.
you thought it wouldn't phase me, but it did 'cause I was just a kid.
I used to use bleaching creme, 'til Madame CJ Walker walked into my dreams.
I dreamt of being white and
complimented by you, but the only shiny black thing that you liked was my shoes.
Now, I apologize for bottling up
all the little things you said that warped my head and my gut.
Even though I always told you not to
brag about the fact that your great grand
mother was raped by her slave master. Yeah, I became
militant too.
So it was clear on every level I was blacker than you.
I turned you on to Malcolm X and
Assata Shakur in my three quarter elephant goose with the fur.
I had the high top fade
with the steps on the side.
I had the two finger ring, rag top on the ride.
I had the sheep skin, name
belt, Lee suit, Kangol, acid wash Vasco, chicken and waffle.
Black Stacey.
They called me Black Stacey.
I never got to be myself 'cause to myself I always was Black Stacey, in polka dots
and paisley, a double goose and bally shoes, you thought it wouldn't phase me.
I was Black Stacey. the preachers'
son from Haiti who
rhymed a lot and always got the dance steps at the party.
I was Black Stacey.
Youthought it wouldn't phase me, but it did 'cause I was just a kid.
Now here's a little
message for you.
All you baller playa's got
some insecurities too, that you could cover up, bling it up, cash in
and ching ching it up, hope no
one will bring it up, lock it down and string it up.
Or you can share your essence with us, 'cause everything about you couldn't be rugged
and ruff.
And even though you tote a
glock and you're hot on the
streets, if you dare to share your heart, we'll nod our heart to
its beat.
And you should do that, if nothing else, to prove
that a player like you could keep it honest and true. Don't mean to call your bluff but
mothafucka that's what I do.
You got platinum chain
then, son, I'm probably talking to you.
And you can call your gang, your posse and the rest of your crew.
And while you're at it get them addicts and the indigent too. I plan to have a whole army
by the time that I'm through to load their guns with songs they haven't sung.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Late-night Campus Walkin'
I walked through campus last night by myself at 1am. Generally, there are people out and about. On a Tuesday night at 1am during the second-to-last week before finals, it was deserted.
I walked in the glow of familiar lights, past buildings I have never explored completely, on sidewalks with cracks and bumps my soles know like friends... I've spent all of my time on this campus for five years. I came here a single, physically ill 18 year old. I'm still here as a single 23 year old with more aches and ailments to list, many of them seemingly in my mind.
The campus has changed significantly in five years. Most recently, a building disappeared! The jolly, cracked-paint, broken-windowed exterior of the science classroom building has been replaced by a large gaping hole. I'm not entirely sure what they're building.... The sidewalk that connected directly to the top story of that ancient temporary place of learning has been sawed off and a simple chain-link fence protects the passers by from the gaping hole of the construction site. I stood there last night for a good 15 minutes...Staring at the abyss where my favorite building once stood.
It wasn't a fancy building, but it had comfortable classrooms deep underground. They had ancient chemistry posters on the walls. The Science Classroom Building was built in 1940 and was never meant to be permanent... it made it all the way to 2009. The University is generally a temporary place for its residents. People spend 4, 5, sometimes 8 or 9 years here, but never much more. Teachers stay longer, but they too come and go. People pass through the halls of Walter and Coffman... they call this place home. They pay little attention to the place that grows and evolves around them. They walk through Northrop for what is possibly the first time since the first day of classes on the night they receive their diploma (holder). Then they leave. They rarely come back. 60,000 students here at the University, all destined to leave.
Colleges are like home towns. People have fond memories here... stories to tell, you name it. But if there aren't relatives or reunions pulling them back, there is no reason to let the idyllic vision in your head become tainted. Polish it. Make it sparkle.
I decided to stay here. Year 5 ticked off on the prison wall in my head. I love Minneapolis, and I love the university. Soon this place will no longer be my home. Will I leave and let my memories flourish? Will I stay and let things like the destruction of the Science Classroom Building taint the map in my mind?
I walked the rest of the way home. Alone... looking for the stars overhead. There weren't any.
I walked in the glow of familiar lights, past buildings I have never explored completely, on sidewalks with cracks and bumps my soles know like friends... I've spent all of my time on this campus for five years. I came here a single, physically ill 18 year old. I'm still here as a single 23 year old with more aches and ailments to list, many of them seemingly in my mind.
The campus has changed significantly in five years. Most recently, a building disappeared! The jolly, cracked-paint, broken-windowed exterior of the science classroom building has been replaced by a large gaping hole. I'm not entirely sure what they're building.... The sidewalk that connected directly to the top story of that ancient temporary place of learning has been sawed off and a simple chain-link fence protects the passers by from the gaping hole of the construction site. I stood there last night for a good 15 minutes...Staring at the abyss where my favorite building once stood.
It wasn't a fancy building, but it had comfortable classrooms deep underground. They had ancient chemistry posters on the walls. The Science Classroom Building was built in 1940 and was never meant to be permanent... it made it all the way to 2009. The University is generally a temporary place for its residents. People spend 4, 5, sometimes 8 or 9 years here, but never much more. Teachers stay longer, but they too come and go. People pass through the halls of Walter and Coffman... they call this place home. They pay little attention to the place that grows and evolves around them. They walk through Northrop for what is possibly the first time since the first day of classes on the night they receive their diploma (holder). Then they leave. They rarely come back. 60,000 students here at the University, all destined to leave.
Colleges are like home towns. People have fond memories here... stories to tell, you name it. But if there aren't relatives or reunions pulling them back, there is no reason to let the idyllic vision in your head become tainted. Polish it. Make it sparkle.
I decided to stay here. Year 5 ticked off on the prison wall in my head. I love Minneapolis, and I love the university. Soon this place will no longer be my home. Will I leave and let my memories flourish? Will I stay and let things like the destruction of the Science Classroom Building taint the map in my mind?
I walked the rest of the way home. Alone... looking for the stars overhead. There weren't any.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
He laid it down in simple words
He laid it down in simple words...
I can't.
I just can't.
You've given me nothing.
Produced nothing.
There is no indication
Your undergrad...
Must be
Your personal life.
Not cut out.
Bad grades.
It's over if you get a C.
No funding.
No job this summer.
Get good grades and give me papers.
Then everything will be back on track...
He didn't disagree when I said I felt like a failure.
I can't.
I just can't.
You've given me nothing.
Produced nothing.
There is no indication
Your undergrad...
Must be
Your personal life.
Not cut out.
Bad grades.
It's over if you get a C.
No funding.
No job this summer.
Get good grades and give me papers.
Then everything will be back on track...
He didn't disagree when I said I felt like a failure.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
R.I.P. Geocities
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/geocities/geocities-05.html
I need to save my ancient geocities websites and host them on a different random webhost.
Jadadala
I need to save my ancient geocities websites and host them on a different random webhost.
Jadadala
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Another Epic Weekend
It turns out I had another epic weekend. It was another Basement LAN weekend. I spent a few days "fixing up" a computer for my roommate Katherine to use at the LAN party. Luckily, she really only digs the old games such as Diablo 2. Using a computer I found on the street corner (because for some reason, my old mother board is now completely fried), I put in new RAM and a hard drive and installed Windoze XP. Worked great for her, and she decided it was better than her current computer. Hard to believe as it only has about a 2GHZ AMD Processor in it O_o. The mobo is probably 5-6 years old, but I suppose her computer only has a 1.5GHZ Celeron or equivalent.
Anyway, we packed up our computers and fudstuffs into Paul's van (which he graciously let us use) and picked up Moose. We drove all the way to Glencoe, partaking in some giggly conversation. Moose was in the back, and I guess he couldn't hear what we were saying. Girlish banter generally explodes brains if at the right frequency. He was lucky... this time.
At the LAN, we played Counter Strike, and a little Diablo 2. Compared to the last LAN, this party was lame. Last time, the basement was absolutely FULL. This time, there were probably about 20 people there. Come 6pm, over half of them went to the bar upstairs. Altaris headed up there, and I joined him for a bit. Bars piss me off, in general. Something about people sitting in dark smelly places spending oodles of time and money on getting wasted, and because it's a bar, that's generally all they talk about. My anger towards them has a lot to do with growing up in a bar and alcoholism in my family. I don't *always* hate bars, and have enjoyed them on occasion with coworkers... But these trips did not involve copious amounts of alcohol and talking about alcohol. They involved deep-fried tater tots, two pitchers of beer between 8 people, and engineering talk.
After everyone left for the bar, the LAN became pretty lame. We played a little Warcraft 3, but eventually we ended up just watching movies. We watched The City Dragon (the horrible kung-fu porn-like movie I got at the dollar store), The Protector, and Ong Bak. Lots of actiony, kick-you-in-the-face type movies. Fell asleep around 5am, woke up around 11, had pizza ranch at noon, and left the LAN at about 2pm.
Drove back to Minneapolis and immediately fell asleep. I woke up at about 6:30 and walked to Coffman for another LAN party *nerdy giggling.* The Campus Gaming Society (or some other stupid name like that) was hosting a Left 4 Dead party. There were about 10 people there. Moose and I were the best ones in attendance, and it turns out that several of the people there had never even played L4D. Woo! We griefed them and managed to get a RAGEQUITTER IN PERSON! It was epic. Followed up by a great meal at Hard Times Cafe, this evening made up for the ill feelings at the Basement LAN.
Sunday, I slept all day and "played" Dungeons and Dragons in the evening. Moose is DMing a session, and they recently had a player drop. I'M A HALF-ORC BARBARIAN GRRAAARRR. I'm going to have fun with this!
Weekend over.
Week started.
Already Tuesday.
Too much to do, as usual.
Paper due Friday. Homework due Monday. Project stuff to work on.
I've already wasted 15 minutes typing this blog entry. I hope you enjoyed it. IT CAME AT A PRICE!!!!!! Now I don't get to eat lunch until 2pm! :-p
Anyway, we packed up our computers and fudstuffs into Paul's van (which he graciously let us use) and picked up Moose. We drove all the way to Glencoe, partaking in some giggly conversation. Moose was in the back, and I guess he couldn't hear what we were saying. Girlish banter generally explodes brains if at the right frequency. He was lucky... this time.
At the LAN, we played Counter Strike, and a little Diablo 2. Compared to the last LAN, this party was lame. Last time, the basement was absolutely FULL. This time, there were probably about 20 people there. Come 6pm, over half of them went to the bar upstairs. Altaris headed up there, and I joined him for a bit. Bars piss me off, in general. Something about people sitting in dark smelly places spending oodles of time and money on getting wasted, and because it's a bar, that's generally all they talk about. My anger towards them has a lot to do with growing up in a bar and alcoholism in my family. I don't *always* hate bars, and have enjoyed them on occasion with coworkers... But these trips did not involve copious amounts of alcohol and talking about alcohol. They involved deep-fried tater tots, two pitchers of beer between 8 people, and engineering talk.
After everyone left for the bar, the LAN became pretty lame. We played a little Warcraft 3, but eventually we ended up just watching movies. We watched The City Dragon (the horrible kung-fu porn-like movie I got at the dollar store), The Protector, and Ong Bak. Lots of actiony, kick-you-in-the-face type movies. Fell asleep around 5am, woke up around 11, had pizza ranch at noon, and left the LAN at about 2pm.
Drove back to Minneapolis and immediately fell asleep. I woke up at about 6:30 and walked to Coffman for another LAN party *nerdy giggling.* The Campus Gaming Society (or some other stupid name like that) was hosting a Left 4 Dead party. There were about 10 people there. Moose and I were the best ones in attendance, and it turns out that several of the people there had never even played L4D. Woo! We griefed them and managed to get a RAGEQUITTER IN PERSON! It was epic. Followed up by a great meal at Hard Times Cafe, this evening made up for the ill feelings at the Basement LAN.
Sunday, I slept all day and "played" Dungeons and Dragons in the evening. Moose is DMing a session, and they recently had a player drop. I'M A HALF-ORC BARBARIAN GRRAAARRR. I'm going to have fun with this!
Weekend over.
Week started.
Already Tuesday.
Too much to do, as usual.
Paper due Friday. Homework due Monday. Project stuff to work on.
I've already wasted 15 minutes typing this blog entry. I hope you enjoyed it. IT CAME AT A PRICE!!!!!! Now I don't get to eat lunch until 2pm! :-p
Monday, April 20, 2009
Little Joy- With Strangers
I keep finding myself listening to this band. I really like them and hope that they come out with another album. We'll see though, rumor has it The Strokes are working on their fourth album... and that would pull away the drummer of this group.
I think I just enjoy melancholy love songs.
I bet you’re wondering how I knew
that this would come to an end
He stole your heart from you
so you tossed me out to the wind
I keep pretending not to care
oh the winter scent in her hair
compels my hands to do
the things my heart wouldn’t dare
I’ll keep holding on to you
single years
perfecting lives with strangers
if only you
if only now
And in the twilight of the south
when fools are mistaken for men
this shadow suits me well
my regrets are faced in the end
I’ll keep holding on to you
single years
perfecting lives with strangers
if only you
if only now
I’ll keep holding on to you
single years
perfecting love with strangers
if only you
if only now
I think I just enjoy melancholy love songs.
I bet you’re wondering how I knew
that this would come to an end
He stole your heart from you
so you tossed me out to the wind
I keep pretending not to care
oh the winter scent in her hair
compels my hands to do
the things my heart wouldn’t dare
I’ll keep holding on to you
single years
perfecting lives with strangers
if only you
if only now
And in the twilight of the south
when fools are mistaken for men
this shadow suits me well
my regrets are faced in the end
I’ll keep holding on to you
single years
perfecting lives with strangers
if only you
if only now
I’ll keep holding on to you
single years
perfecting love with strangers
if only you
if only now
Sunday, April 19, 2009
"You used me like an ashtray heart..."
ASHTRAY HEART
The Original (Captain Beefheart):
The Cover (The White Stripes):
You used me like an ashtray heart
Case of the punks
Right from the start
I feel like a glass shrimp in a pink panty
With a saccharine chaperone
Make invalids out of supermen
Call in a "shrink"
And pick you up in a girdle
You used me like an ashtray heart
Right from the start
Case of the punks
Another day, another way
Somebody's had too much to think
Open up another case of the punks
Each pillow is touted like a rock
The mother / father figure
Somebody's had too much to think
Send your mother home your navel
Case of the punks
New hearts to the dining rooms
Violet heart cake
Dissolve in new cards, boards, throats, underwear
Ashtray heart
You picked me out, brushed me off
Crushed me while I was burning out
Then you picked me out
Like an ashtray heart
Hid behind the curtain
Waited for me to go out
A man on a porcupine fence
Used me for an ashtray heart
Hit me where the lover hangs out
Stood behind the curtain
While they crushed me out
You used me for an ashtray heart
You looked in the window when I went out
You used me like an ashtray heart.
The Original (Captain Beefheart):
The Cover (The White Stripes):
You used me like an ashtray heart
Case of the punks
Right from the start
I feel like a glass shrimp in a pink panty
With a saccharine chaperone
Make invalids out of supermen
Call in a "shrink"
And pick you up in a girdle
You used me like an ashtray heart
Right from the start
Case of the punks
Another day, another way
Somebody's had too much to think
Open up another case of the punks
Each pillow is touted like a rock
The mother / father figure
Somebody's had too much to think
Send your mother home your navel
Case of the punks
New hearts to the dining rooms
Violet heart cake
Dissolve in new cards, boards, throats, underwear
Ashtray heart
You picked me out, brushed me off
Crushed me while I was burning out
Then you picked me out
Like an ashtray heart
Hid behind the curtain
Waited for me to go out
A man on a porcupine fence
Used me for an ashtray heart
Hit me where the lover hangs out
Stood behind the curtain
While they crushed me out
You used me for an ashtray heart
You looked in the window when I went out
You used me like an ashtray heart.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Nope.
You've been on a full RA; this means that you've been putting in 20 hours a week of research since September (so hundreds of hours of research). What have you done since mid-December? As far as I can tell, last week you wrote one generic paragraph (that I can't really decipher). Anything else? Have you assembled unimolecular/bimolecular versions of Brian's modules? Run simulations on any of our modules? Produced new filter designs (say an IIR with programmable coefficients)? Assembled filters with full module locking?
Nope.
(I think it's safe to say I won't be getting an RA position this summer.)
Nope.
(I think it's safe to say I won't be getting an RA position this summer.)
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Captain Beefheart - Space Age Couple
This was my favorite song back in about 10th or 11th grade when I went through a really big Captain Beefheart stage. This is from one of my favorite Beefheart albums "Lick my decals off, baby." I'll keep the video for this song because I like the Jetsons.
Hey, I *do* like something other than Andrew Bird, I swear.
I want to get a Beefheart album for my newly acquired phonograph... excuse me... "Hi-fi." I'm currently listening to some sort of horrible Disco mix vinyl. Macho Man was on it.
Space-age couple
Why don't you flex your magic muscle?
Space-age couple
Why do you hex your magic muscle?
Space-age couple
Why do you hustle 'n bustle?
Why don't you drop your cool tom-foolery
'n shed your nasty jewelry?
Cultivate the grounds
They're the only ones around.
Space-age couple
Why don't you flex your magic muscle?
Hold a drinking glass up t' your eye after you've
Scooped up a little of the sky
'n it ain't blue no more.
What's on the leaves ain't dew no more.
Space-age couple
Why don't you jus' do that?
Why don't you jus' do that?
Hey, I *do* like something other than Andrew Bird, I swear.
I want to get a Beefheart album for my newly acquired phonograph... excuse me... "Hi-fi." I'm currently listening to some sort of horrible Disco mix vinyl. Macho Man was on it.
Space-age couple
Why don't you flex your magic muscle?
Space-age couple
Why do you hex your magic muscle?
Space-age couple
Why do you hustle 'n bustle?
Why don't you drop your cool tom-foolery
'n shed your nasty jewelry?
Cultivate the grounds
They're the only ones around.
Space-age couple
Why don't you flex your magic muscle?
Hold a drinking glass up t' your eye after you've
Scooped up a little of the sky
'n it ain't blue no more.
What's on the leaves ain't dew no more.
Space-age couple
Why don't you jus' do that?
Why don't you jus' do that?
Grad School Thoughts (Part 5 of many)
It's been a while since I thoroughly complained about my situation. The beautiful Minnesota spring is doing little to alleviate the recent blow to my psyche. I failed take-home math exam I spent nearly 100 hours on. I mean F-A-I-L-E-D. Apparently there were several people in the class that achieved grades of 90s and 80s. I think there are about 10 people in the class.
I GOT A 58. Wooo!! I'm pretty sure that's the low score.
The prof went over it like this:
Class Participation: 10%
Homework: 30%
Midterm: 30%
Final: 30%
EXTRA CREDIT (which you will really have to work for): 10%
Of course, I've calculated it all out. Assuming I get A's in my other two graded classes this semester (I'm pretty sure I will), I need at least a B- in my math class in order to stay above the required 3.3GPA for the Ph.D. program here at the University of Minnesota. If I somehow went through all the paperwork to transfer into the masters program, I could scrape by with a C.
That's looking like my only option right now. As it is, grad school is just killing me. My sister tried to be nice to me today by telling me I'm just not used to the workload yet. That's bullshit. Undergrad classes have a great deal more workload than graduate classes, and I'm only taking 2 "real" classes. I think the material and the speed are just way above my head.
You know what I wish I was doing right now? Designing circuit boards. Writing microcontroller code.... writing reports on what components were chosen and how much the cost is going to be for 10,000 units. MY OLD JOB.
*sigh* I miss being an electrical engineer.
I GOT A 58. Wooo!! I'm pretty sure that's the low score.
The prof went over it like this:
Class Participation: 10%
Homework: 30%
Midterm: 30%
Final: 30%
EXTRA CREDIT (which you will really have to work for): 10%
Of course, I've calculated it all out. Assuming I get A's in my other two graded classes this semester (I'm pretty sure I will), I need at least a B- in my math class in order to stay above the required 3.3GPA for the Ph.D. program here at the University of Minnesota. If I somehow went through all the paperwork to transfer into the masters program, I could scrape by with a C.
That's looking like my only option right now. As it is, grad school is just killing me. My sister tried to be nice to me today by telling me I'm just not used to the workload yet. That's bullshit. Undergrad classes have a great deal more workload than graduate classes, and I'm only taking 2 "real" classes. I think the material and the speed are just way above my head.
You know what I wish I was doing right now? Designing circuit boards. Writing microcontroller code.... writing reports on what components were chosen and how much the cost is going to be for 10,000 units. MY OLD JOB.
*sigh* I miss being an electrical engineer.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Crazy Weekend / Introspection
I think I just had one of the most amazing weekends of my life.
Star Wars role play, a party in Glencoe, meeting my new neighbors, and of course Andrew Bird *swoons*. Jam-packed action, mostly involving my good friend Altaris. We stayed up until 3 or 4 in the morning every night and slept until 3 or 4 in the afternoon. Lazy AND jam-packed. Hard to beat.
Andrew Bird rocked my socks and my brain and my heart and pretty much melted all of my circuits for the two hours proceeding his concert. Not only were there calm melodies found on the CDs, but Andrew Bird and his now four-piece band (including himself) rocked out on several numbers. Many of his songs should only be listened to live. The sheer wall of sound produced by his band is amazing. Also, when the spinny speaker thingy (I may insert the name later if I can remember of it) is a great end to several songs. The sound is thrown out into the venue and you can feel its waves wash over you. *sigh*
Unfortunately, my schedule became skewed by all of the awesome. I couldn't fall asleep last night and I had to get up at 9:30 in order to get a good start on my day. Makes me think that I need to start going to bed early and getting into the lab early.
As much as I enjoy staying up late and talking to my friends, the fact of the matter is I get little work done. It was advantageous to me to stay up late when Tara and I were sharing an apartment, but now that I have my own room I have no reason to be up late. Granted, when I stayed up late with Tara and developed these bad habits of mine, I didn't have friends that were up until 4am and were willing to talk to me.
Look for me online less. Watch for me working more. Talk to me and hopefully find that I'll have a better outlook on my situation.
Gotta get this paper done by Thursday.
Star Wars role play, a party in Glencoe, meeting my new neighbors, and of course Andrew Bird *swoons*. Jam-packed action, mostly involving my good friend Altaris. We stayed up until 3 or 4 in the morning every night and slept until 3 or 4 in the afternoon. Lazy AND jam-packed. Hard to beat.
Andrew Bird rocked my socks and my brain and my heart and pretty much melted all of my circuits for the two hours proceeding his concert. Not only were there calm melodies found on the CDs, but Andrew Bird and his now four-piece band (including himself) rocked out on several numbers. Many of his songs should only be listened to live. The sheer wall of sound produced by his band is amazing. Also, when the spinny speaker thingy (I may insert the name later if I can remember of it) is a great end to several songs. The sound is thrown out into the venue and you can feel its waves wash over you. *sigh*
Unfortunately, my schedule became skewed by all of the awesome. I couldn't fall asleep last night and I had to get up at 9:30 in order to get a good start on my day. Makes me think that I need to start going to bed early and getting into the lab early.
As much as I enjoy staying up late and talking to my friends, the fact of the matter is I get little work done. It was advantageous to me to stay up late when Tara and I were sharing an apartment, but now that I have my own room I have no reason to be up late. Granted, when I stayed up late with Tara and developed these bad habits of mine, I didn't have friends that were up until 4am and were willing to talk to me.
Look for me online less. Watch for me working more. Talk to me and hopefully find that I'll have a better outlook on my situation.
Gotta get this paper done by Thursday.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Andrew Bird - "Anonanimal"
I love this song. The lyrics, the backings, everything. I even like the subject matter. Andrew Bird, I love you.
Album cut:
Live cut:
I see a sea anemone
The enemy
See a sea anemone
And that'll be the end of me.
While the vicious fish was caught unawares
In the tenderest of tendrils
Underneath her tender gills
I will become this animal
Perfectly adapted to the music halls
I will become this animal
Anomalous appendages
A non-animal
Hold on just a second
Don't tell me this one you know
I know this one I know this song
I know this one I love this song
Hold on just a second
Don't tell me this one you know
I know this one I know this song
I know this one I love this song
I know this one
Underneath the stalactites
The troglobites lost their sight
Uh oh
The seemingly innocuous plecostomus
Though posthumous
They talk to us
They talk too much
See a sea anemone
The enemy
See a sea anemone
That'll be the end of me
Vicious fish was caught unawares
In the tend'rest tendrils
Underneath her tender gills and
I will become this animal
Perfectly adapted to a music hall
I will become this animal
Anomalous appendages
A non-animal
Album cut:
Live cut:
I see a sea anemone
The enemy
See a sea anemone
And that'll be the end of me.
While the vicious fish was caught unawares
In the tenderest of tendrils
Underneath her tender gills
I will become this animal
Perfectly adapted to the music halls
I will become this animal
Anomalous appendages
A non-animal
Hold on just a second
Don't tell me this one you know
I know this one I know this song
I know this one I love this song
Hold on just a second
Don't tell me this one you know
I know this one I know this song
I know this one I love this song
I know this one
Underneath the stalactites
The troglobites lost their sight
Uh oh
The seemingly innocuous plecostomus
Though posthumous
They talk to us
They talk too much
See a sea anemone
The enemy
See a sea anemone
That'll be the end of me
Vicious fish was caught unawares
In the tend'rest tendrils
Underneath her tender gills and
I will become this animal
Perfectly adapted to a music hall
I will become this animal
Anomalous appendages
A non-animal
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Andrew Bird - Not a Robot, But a Ghost
Another song from Noble Beast. This song is a collaboration between Andrew Bird and drummer Martin Dosh. I'm also a big fan of Minneappleton Dosh's solo work. This song is very rhythm-centric. I like it.
I run the numbers through the floor
here's how it goes: I crack the codes
I crack the codes that end the war
I crack the codes that end the war
I pushed a note under your door
here's how it goes: things come to blows
but we don't want this anymore
No we don't want this anymore
We don't want this anymore
I crack the codes, you end the war
I hear the clockwork in your core
time strips the gears till you forget what they were for
I push the numbers through your pores
I crack the codes
I crack the codes that end the war
How's my living, you can call
encrypted numbers on bathroom stalls
there's something burning it casts a pall
it's melting numbers right off the wall
I run the numbers through the floor
here's how it goes: I crack the codes
I crack the codes, you end the war
I run the numbers through the floor
here's how it goes: I crack the codes
I crack the codes that end the war
I crack the codes that end the war
I pushed a note under your door
here's how it goes: things come to blows
but we don't want this anymore
No we don't want this anymore
We don't want this anymore
I crack the codes, you end the war
I hear the clockwork in your core
time strips the gears till you forget what they were for
I push the numbers through your pores
I crack the codes
I crack the codes that end the war
How's my living, you can call
encrypted numbers on bathroom stalls
there's something burning it casts a pall
it's melting numbers right off the wall
I run the numbers through the floor
here's how it goes: I crack the codes
I crack the codes, you end the war
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Andrew Bird- Oh No
I'm going to be posting a lot of songs from Andrew Bird's new album Noble Beast. I'm seeing him in concert on Saturday!! It's going to be a good time.
Here's my favorite song from the album "Oh No." This is the first song on the album.
in the salsify mains of what was thought but unsaid
all the calcified arhythmitists were doing the math
it would take a calculated blow to the head
to light the eyes of all the harmless sociopaths
oh arm and arm we are the harmless sociopaths
oh arm and arm with all the harmless sociopaths
calcium mines were buried deep in your chest
oh calcim mines you buried deep in your chest
oh no we're deep in a mine
oh no a calcium mine
so let's get out of here
past the atmosphere
squint your eyes and no one dies
or goes to jail
past the silver bridge, oh the silver bridge
wearing nothing but a one-sie and a veil
oh oh deep in a mine,
oh oh a calcium mine
arm and arm we are the harmless sociopaths
arm and arm with all the harmless sociopaths
in the calcium mines buried deep in your chest
oh the calcium mines buried deep in your chest
oh oh deep in a mine
oh no-- calcium mines oh no
Here's my favorite song from the album "Oh No." This is the first song on the album.
in the salsify mains of what was thought but unsaid
all the calcified arhythmitists were doing the math
it would take a calculated blow to the head
to light the eyes of all the harmless sociopaths
oh arm and arm we are the harmless sociopaths
oh arm and arm with all the harmless sociopaths
calcium mines were buried deep in your chest
oh calcim mines you buried deep in your chest
oh no we're deep in a mine
oh no a calcium mine
so let's get out of here
past the atmosphere
squint your eyes and no one dies
or goes to jail
past the silver bridge, oh the silver bridge
wearing nothing but a one-sie and a veil
oh oh deep in a mine,
oh oh a calcium mine
arm and arm we are the harmless sociopaths
arm and arm with all the harmless sociopaths
in the calcium mines buried deep in your chest
oh the calcium mines buried deep in your chest
oh oh deep in a mine
oh no-- calcium mines oh no
What I need to know to be officially in the Ph.D. program.
The year after obtaining a masters or the second year of a Ph.D. program, a prospective doctoral candidate has two chances to pass what is known as a "Preliminary Written Exam." With this exam, you are officially part of the Ph.D. program. Your basic knowledge of your field is expansive enough and detailed enough to be all doctory and shit.
I had kind of forgotten about this. Then I received an email about the last exam for this year. It included this link: PhD Written Preliminary Reading List. So I printed it off... The topics are:
So basically, EVERY CLASS I'VE EVER TAKEN IN THE EE DEPARTMENT IS RELEVANT AND COULD BE ON THE EXAM!!
So, you have 4 hours, 14 questions, department supplied scientific, non-graphing, non TI-89 calculators. Questions are graded by the faculty that wrote the question. You must turn in the answers for three questions. Four questions may be turned in as well (top three scores will be taken into account).
3 pass, 0 fail = pass
2 pass, 1 fail = careful scrutinizing, possible failure.
everything else = automatic failure
Two chances. November and April.
I think I know how my summer is going to be spent!! Reading my old textbooks and taking old exams. That, of course, is assuming I pass my classes this semester :-p. Scary shit, man.
I had kind of forgotten about this. Then I received an email about the last exam for this year. It included this link: PhD Written Preliminary Reading List. So I printed it off... The topics are:
- Computer architecture
- Magnetics
- Computer Aided Design
- Software
- Optics
- Fields and Transmission Lines
- Power Systems and Power Electronics
- Communications
- Signal Processing
- Controls
- Analog and Digital Electronics
- Semiconductor Materials
- Semiconductor Devices
So basically, EVERY CLASS I'VE EVER TAKEN IN THE EE DEPARTMENT IS RELEVANT AND COULD BE ON THE EXAM!!
So, you have 4 hours, 14 questions, department supplied scientific, non-graphing, non TI-89 calculators. Questions are graded by the faculty that wrote the question. You must turn in the answers for three questions. Four questions may be turned in as well (top three scores will be taken into account).
3 pass, 0 fail = pass
2 pass, 1 fail = careful scrutinizing, possible failure.
everything else = automatic failure
Two chances. November and April.
I think I know how my summer is going to be spent!! Reading my old textbooks and taking old exams. That, of course, is assuming I pass my classes this semester :-p. Scary shit, man.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Bulimic Cats
"Evi puked all over the carpet this morning."
"Yeah, she always does that."
"Maybe you should put their food away, not have food out for them all the time. They don't need it."
"Yeah they do. Cats are like that. It's not like they're fat or anything."
"Well they're just eating and puking, eating and puking. You have bulimic cats and I don't like it."
"Yeah, she always does that."
"Maybe you should put their food away, not have food out for them all the time. They don't need it."
"Yeah they do. Cats are like that. It's not like they're fat or anything."
"Well they're just eating and puking, eating and puking. You have bulimic cats and I don't like it."
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Mom's Visit
My mom came to visit me this morning. After being delayed due to snow, she pulled into my drive way and called. After giving her the grand tour, I showed her my room. I commented on how one of my light bulbs had burnt out but that I wasn't able to figure out how to get the fixture apart. She of course found a stool and got it down. I ran and got some light bulbs and handed them to her. While taking out the burnt-out bulb, she dropped it. It hit her head and shattered all over the ground. I got the vacuum cleaner and started picking up the large pieces.
"Only here half an hour and I'm already vacuuming" she commented.
Next, we decided to go rug shopping, a hobby of hers. My dad always says that if she could, she would buy a new rug every day. We ventured to the Rosedale mall. After scoping out Kohls and JCPenneys, we decided to go to Herbergers. Mom decided that I needed a new bed spread, and then we could more easily match the rug to the rest of the room. When we finally found one I deemed "not too feminine" and of the colors of my choosing, my mother rushed to purchase it. We then went back to JCPenneys and found the PERFECT match in a rug. All told, I think she spent almost $400. "I'm not buying anything else for your new apartment" she said.
We came back home and set up my room. Looks great, dontcha think? Tara got back from her convention and we decided to go to dinner. Turned out that somebody from the neighboring house, with which we share a driveway, had parked in the end of the driveway, blocking my mother's car in. She cursed and said "They have a lot of balls to do that." Upon getting into the car she kept repeating "I wish I had my jacket." I finally told her I had one she could use in the trunk.
We decided to go to Kafe 421... quite possibly the best restaurant in Dinkytown. We stuffed ourselves. Salad, grilled bread, pasta... even a brownie and Greek coffee for dessert. Walking back to the car, my mom was glad she had my coat. It was windy, and the 3 block walk to the car seemed long. We got in the car and I handed her my leftovers while I started up and began driving. "OH MY GOD MY SHOE!!" she yelled. "What?" Tara and I both asked, giggling. "MY SHOE! MY SHOE IS BROKEN! MY FOOT HAS BEEN HURTING! THE STITCHING IS ALL GONE ON ONE SIDE!" She struggled to pick her foot up and look at her shoe. We just laughed and continued to drive home. "IT'S NOT FUNNY! WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITHOUT SHOES?"
We got home, noticing the neighbor still had the driveway blocked. I walked to the other side of the car and opened the door for my mom (due to the broken locking mechanism). She sat there, looking at her crotch. "What? What is all over my pants?!" I looked at her and noticed her pristine black jeans were covered in some sort of brown liquid. "Adriana! Your food was leaking all over my pants! THAT'S THE LAST TIME I HOLD YOUR FOOD FOR YOU. Boy, am I glad I brought an extra pair." She finally got out of the car and I noticed there was balsamic sauce all over my leather seat as well. Laughing, I said "Mom, you were paying too much attention to your broken shoes. You probably were holding the food so that it could leak all over you." She angrily went inside.
Upon changing her pants, she said "My shoe fell apart, my pants got soiled? What next?"
We'll see. She's going to be here at least until tomorrow evening. I'll keep you posted.
"Only here half an hour and I'm already vacuuming" she commented.
Next, we decided to go rug shopping, a hobby of hers. My dad always says that if she could, she would buy a new rug every day. We ventured to the Rosedale mall. After scoping out Kohls and JCPenneys, we decided to go to Herbergers. Mom decided that I needed a new bed spread, and then we could more easily match the rug to the rest of the room. When we finally found one I deemed "not too feminine" and of the colors of my choosing, my mother rushed to purchase it. We then went back to JCPenneys and found the PERFECT match in a rug. All told, I think she spent almost $400. "I'm not buying anything else for your new apartment" she said.
We came back home and set up my room. Looks great, dontcha think? Tara got back from her convention and we decided to go to dinner. Turned out that somebody from the neighboring house, with which we share a driveway, had parked in the end of the driveway, blocking my mother's car in. She cursed and said "They have a lot of balls to do that." Upon getting into the car she kept repeating "I wish I had my jacket." I finally told her I had one she could use in the trunk.
We decided to go to Kafe 421... quite possibly the best restaurant in Dinkytown. We stuffed ourselves. Salad, grilled bread, pasta... even a brownie and Greek coffee for dessert. Walking back to the car, my mom was glad she had my coat. It was windy, and the 3 block walk to the car seemed long. We got in the car and I handed her my leftovers while I started up and began driving. "OH MY GOD MY SHOE!!" she yelled. "What?" Tara and I both asked, giggling. "MY SHOE! MY SHOE IS BROKEN! MY FOOT HAS BEEN HURTING! THE STITCHING IS ALL GONE ON ONE SIDE!" She struggled to pick her foot up and look at her shoe. We just laughed and continued to drive home. "IT'S NOT FUNNY! WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITHOUT SHOES?"
We got home, noticing the neighbor still had the driveway blocked. I walked to the other side of the car and opened the door for my mom (due to the broken locking mechanism). She sat there, looking at her crotch. "What? What is all over my pants?!" I looked at her and noticed her pristine black jeans were covered in some sort of brown liquid. "Adriana! Your food was leaking all over my pants! THAT'S THE LAST TIME I HOLD YOUR FOOD FOR YOU. Boy, am I glad I brought an extra pair." She finally got out of the car and I noticed there was balsamic sauce all over my leather seat as well. Laughing, I said "Mom, you were paying too much attention to your broken shoes. You probably were holding the food so that it could leak all over you." She angrily went inside.
Upon changing her pants, she said "My shoe fell apart, my pants got soiled? What next?"
We'll see. She's going to be here at least until tomorrow evening. I'll keep you posted.
Andrew Bird and the Bowl of Fire - "Eugene"
I've had this song stuck in my head since Wednesday. While "chillaxing" in our amazing basement living room, Tara, Dave, Moose, and I decided this was good music to smoke hookah to.
Bowl of Fire music is amazing. I wish that there were more videos like this on youtube. I also wish that there were more than three albums of this amazing band.
Did you know that Andrew Bird was the violinist in The Squirrel Nut Zippers? Now you do.
Studies have shown that we like sheep are prone
To sure fatal doses of malcontent through osmosis
But don't be sympathetic, just pass the anesthetic
'Cuz sheep are benign and on the young we will dine
Burn her pale blue shroud, and tread on her bones
The din of the boys club crowd, reveals we've always been clones
Oh this being true you know there's more than just two
In the cards are four aces so turn and shoot at twelve paces
Studies have shown that we like sheep are prone
To sure fatal doses of malcontent through osmosis
But don't be sympathetic, just pass the anesthetic
'Cuz sheep are benign and on the young we will dine
Burn her pale blue shroud, and tread on her bones
The din of the boys club crowd, reveals we've always been clones
Oh this being true you know there's more than just two
So tie up your laces for the gene pool race of races
Bowl of Fire music is amazing. I wish that there were more videos like this on youtube. I also wish that there were more than three albums of this amazing band.
Did you know that Andrew Bird was the violinist in The Squirrel Nut Zippers? Now you do.
Studies have shown that we like sheep are prone
To sure fatal doses of malcontent through osmosis
But don't be sympathetic, just pass the anesthetic
'Cuz sheep are benign and on the young we will dine
Burn her pale blue shroud, and tread on her bones
The din of the boys club crowd, reveals we've always been clones
Oh this being true you know there's more than just two
In the cards are four aces so turn and shoot at twelve paces
Studies have shown that we like sheep are prone
To sure fatal doses of malcontent through osmosis
But don't be sympathetic, just pass the anesthetic
'Cuz sheep are benign and on the young we will dine
Burn her pale blue shroud, and tread on her bones
The din of the boys club crowd, reveals we've always been clones
Oh this being true you know there's more than just two
So tie up your laces for the gene pool race of races
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
