Ice Climber

Back After Several Months

2006-01-08T22:44:00.000-08:00

Like Brad Pitt in Legends of the Fall.

Like Christian Bale in Batman Begins.

You thought Ice Climber was dead.

You thought WhatUpThen had fallen off, or had moved on to bigger and better things.

Well, it sure as hell ain't the latter.

But the inspiration has returned. All that happened was me reading the blogs from Grace and Sarah. They were typical posts, but can you imagine the effect they had on WhatUpThen? Like a Wint-O-Green LifeSaver they created a spark in the dark. Now the drive is strong. The fire is lit again!

It'll probably take some time for me to round back into midseason blogging form, but find your bookmarks (all three of you) and prepare to enter a DREAMWORLD OF MAGIC! I appreciate your patronage.

P.S.: Also check out my MySpace because that fire was lit a coupla weeks ago.

2005-10-17T23:56:00.000-07:00

Excursion

2005-08-03T00:38:00.000-07:00

I'm gonna have to get used to this "real world" living very soon. The time hasn't come quite yet, but in this limbo between being 100% finished with all of my schoolwork and not yet moved out and working, I haven't fared too well. Each recent morning I've struggled with the decision whether to waste part of the day or to waste the entire day. On Tuesday, I didn't return my library books, I didn't pay my rent, didn't watch Hero on DVD, didn't apply for jobs and I got rejected by a guy who's only 5'7". Yeah, Tuesday was something of a waste.

Let me tell you, though, Sunday was not a waste. I went back to Friday Harbor with Master P and his coworker, Ninja (I smell a sitcom!). The kick is that Prasanth flew us there in a Cessna. Prasanth has been flying for a few years now, but this was the first time I'd taken him up on an invitation. Being in a tiny plane high above Puget Sound isn't exactly soothing, although I could understand how some people could find it relaxing. It is quite beautiful, though, as the photos hopefully convey. It's nice to be exposed to the community of pilots. When there is no control tower (like at the small Friday Harbor airport), the pilots just communicate with one another to establish who is where and decide who will land/take-off first. The only scary part was when Master P was landing that thing. I was hoping for a "sliding a sheet of paper under a door" landing, and it seemed more like a "crack an egg into a blender" type. But he did an excellent job.

The San Juan Islands

5000 feet high in the friendly sky

Mount Rainier way off in the distance

Training for pizza delivery gig

The clock was running on the plane rental so we were in and out of Friday Harbor in a flash, but we annoyed the locals with our rented mopeds and enjoyed a quick tour of the island at 20-25mph. It was a nice time...got to chill out and enjoy two new forms of transportation. Maybe I should catch a freighter to the Bay Area next week.

I know I'm only a year late, but I just saw Sideways on DVD and it has the potential to crack my top 10 movies ever list. What is that list again? I actually wrote it down some time ago...you know, when I had homework to do. Ah, yes, here it is (in no specific order):

Rocky
New Jack City
Lost in Translation
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
The Godfather
Pulp Fiction
Amadeus
Back to the Future
The Breakfast Club
Die Hard

Come on now, you can't possibly argue with those! Well, yeah you can, but to me each one is a drop-everything-and-watch-the-screen kinda film. Okay, what was I talking about before? Oh yeah, Sideways was incredible. Gotta think hard about whether to replace something on the list.

Still working on those podcasts. I've got a few files already, just have to figure out how to host them so that you all can enjoy. Hey, I think I just found something to do tomorrow!

Something to Say

2005-07-29T00:43:00.000-07:00

Kevin, one of the roommates whose name I learned only after fours months of living together, left the apartment last week for a month-long trip to China. Kevin didn't even tell me; I learned the information second-hand via Jae. I'll be moved out by the time he returns, but there are no hard feelings. On the contrary, Kevin left bottles of Grey Goose, Jack Daniels and some Brand X tequila on top of the refrigerator. PLUS, when I rummaged through his cabinets in the kitchen I found a half-full case of Budweiser and some granulated sugar for my Cream of Wheat!

It's gotta be clear to readers from that last paragraph that there's absolutely nothing going on here. Now that my master's project is submitted, I have all the time in the world to work on my podcasts, blog, look for work, etc. Naturally, none of that has happened...substituting Hefeweizen for orange juice during breakfast kinda lowers ones drive. Seriously, though, I have just over a week left in Seattle, so I'm going to try my best to cheaply live it up until the flight home.

Sign Your Name

2005-07-22T00:26:00.000-07:00

My Korean roommate wants to change his name to something a little more U.S.-sounding to placate everyone when he applies for jobs. Not that Jae-woo isn't common here (Seattle, you know), but I can understand. There aren't too many Jae-woos in U.S. popular culture. Something told me to suggest he change it to the most difficult-to-pronounce, squint-your-eyes-when-you-read-it, "This applicant certainly isn't white!" name he could possibly think of just so that he could spite the corporate U.S., but in the end I was too lazy. Plus, it's more fun to think of names I actually know.

Jae gave me his suggestions. We eliminated Jeremy because it sounded too much like a kid's name. John was cut because it is too nondescript. Kennedy seemed like he would be trying too hard to fit in. Russell was my only contribution and it's still under consideration, as are Lucas and Victor.

On an idiotic note, how cool would it be if some parent named their kid Batman? I know, I know...that's way too dumb. But it seems like famous people can get away with naming their kids Apple and Rumer and Tallulah (what Bruce Willis' other kid's name?) and True. I want ordinary, everyday people to be brave enough to give their kids uncommon, original and even outlandish coined names. Oh wait, I'd forgotten about the Black community! I'm not being disingenuous at all when I thank the parents of the Dwyanes and LaBradfords and JoJuans. You're helping to make this world a more dynamic place.

Variety Pak

2005-07-19T16:35:00.000-07:00

Everyone has crazy bus stories but today was something I had never heard before. Evidently, the horn on the bus was broken and so it would sound loudly, intermittently and often. It was hilarious to look at the faces of passing motorists who all probably wondered why the bus was honking at them. You know, that or whether the driver was on that street drug, Ritalin. The best was when the bus had stopped at an intersection and honked the shit out of pedestrians in the crosswalk who all looked puzzled or enraged while the driver could only shrug his shoulders. I tell you, it's the little things that make life enjoyable.

As usual, I have a ton of notes for things I'd like to blog about but with nothing new on the site to show for it. I will say that I finally downloaded Audacity in order to seriously produce some audio. Once I get the hang of it there will be some pretty nice segments to listen to. So, here are my notes in lieu of a real post. After I submit my thesis to my professors, I'm sure no one will be able to pry me away from the computer.

Puma/SOoo Fast - All three of the commercials (I think it's worth it to click through, but that's just me) are brilliant. I've never seen anyone wearing Pumas that didn't look incredibly hip. Really, despite seeing hundreds of shirts, pants, sweatsuits and pairs of shoes...in all colors...for men and women...my eyes still pop out of my head every time I see them.

The Closer - Dude, that's my show. It's not that great. Very annoying when Kyra Sedgwick figures out the mystery but doesn't see fit to explain the crime to her fellow detectives. Of course, they all find out in the end with the rest of the audience. It's entertaining enough, though, and with a little bit of the comic relief that is missing from Law & Order.

Today's comedy - Every Wedding Crashers film review seems to discuss the contemporary oeuvre of Wilson, Ferrell, Stiller and Vaughn. You know the movies: Starsky & Hutch, Dodgeball, Old School, Zoolander, etc. Some have been better than others, but it is kinda nice to bear witness to a series like this. I mean, those movies are the defining comedies of the last few years, right? Ooh, that's not good. Anyway, who are the best comedians of this generation? I should do it Bill Simmons-style. Are there different categories for sketch, standup, TV and film comics? Do any women make the cut? In about 30 seconds of thought this topic warrants, I came up with the four aforementioned guys along with Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock. In the near future, I'll talk to some people and try to create a top 25. Hopefully there are some comedy purists out there who can put me in my place.

Indecipherables - It seems today I've seen a preponderance of men and women who look like members of the opposite sex. So much that I've had to get right next to each one as we pass on the street and look him/her right in the eyes...or chest or hips or what-have-you. It's strange how often this happened today. They've all been different, some looking like men or boys or Gwyneth Paltrow. By my humble estimation, some ugly, some beautiful but all indecipherable until that last moment where I slap myself on the head and exclaim, "Oh!" At this point, the people struggle to decipher my sanity.

Control your dog - Fucking dog owners use a goddamn leash. I'm not getting bitten again. I like dogs, I really do. But if Lassie comes charging like she did last year, it's gonna be her, not me.

Fucking Nancy Grace - I knew I shouldn't have tried watching cable news.

Void Where Inhibited

2005-07-13T01:41:00.000-07:00

Read the first three paragraphs in Morford's new column and tell me you're not hooked.

Teachers in high school writing classes across the country should use it as an example of style. And we'll just ignore the run-on sentences.

Cafe Culture

2005-07-11T00:36:00.000-07:00

I've been at the U-Village Starbucks almost every night this week (and it'll probably remain that way through Thursday when the project is due...you know, if you feel like gazing upon an internet celebrity). It's because with all of the libraries closing early during the summer, it's the only place open 24 hours. Starbucks is RIDICULOUS. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy being at the place. It's like the undergraduate library except with fewer computers, an inverted white-to-Asian ratio and with coffee.

I could do without the incomprehensible shouts from the baristas (Is there a more pretentious word in use today?) repeating orders of venti decaf double soy caramel macchiato chai with light whipped cream and God there are about 577,460 ways to better spend your $4.35. Oh, and don't forget to drop your 65 cents change in the tip jar. I do like the fashion show aspect, though. I've made record of a few simple clothing styles I want to adopt from the hip people walking around here. There's the suit jacket with jeans and a t-shirt. There's the all-white sneakers plus jeans plus a striped short-sleeve collared shirt over a gray long-sleeved. The jeans in that last one can be substituted with khaki shorts. Whoa, I need to be writing about science education!

Before that, did you know that this Starbucks is the largest in the world? And it's only about a mile from my apartment! There are several different atmospheres a Starbucks can have. There are the Downtown style cafes located in the financial districts of a Seattle or San Francisco or maybe along Wall Street. Downtowns open early, close on weekends and are characterized by ties, blazers and briefcases...or so I imagine.

Then there's your suburban hangout-style Starbucks with a wide range of teenagers and seniors and people walking their dogs. And the local-type is the closest thing to an independent cafe. Lots of people studying and just using it as something of a free space; there's no pressure to be in and out within 20 minutes. If not for it's massive size, that's what this place would be. It's pretty decent, nonetheless.

She's Multitalented

2005-07-09T19:24:00.000-07:00

A caption from this Saturday's Seattle Post-Intelligencer reads:

"Oscar winner Jennifer Tilly takes a break on Thursday, the opening day of the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. Even if she loses, she's already broken new ground as the first celeb to win one of the pro events leading up to the world championship, which concludes next week. Her boyfriend is pro poker player Phil "Unabomber" Laak."

Wait, wait, wait...something about this just doesn't add up. They're telling me that Jennifer Tilly won an Oscar??!

I guess if Angelina Jolie can win one then anyone can win one.

Good With Children

2005-07-09T18:49:00.000-07:00

If I ever needed any confirmation of my antisocial nature, it was demonstrated this afternoon. On the daily walk to the graduate library, a little kid with a skateboard and a dog on a leash approached me. The kid couldn't have been older than 11 or 12. His dog was pretty big. It had some semblance of a golden retriever but it wasn't a purebred (as if I know anything about dogs). As the dog reared up and placed its front paws on my abdomen I could see that its eyes were two different colors, like that teacher I used to work with at International Studies Academy in San Francisco. Okay then, Captain ADD!

Kid asks where the University Bookstore is, and here's where I collapse (figuratively):

First, I point in the wrong direction, toward campus. Instantly, I remember that the bookstore is really two blocks off of campus, so I point in the opposite direction, but now I've already lost the kid's faith. Pointing isn't enough so I ask the kid if he has been there before and if he knows what it looks like, drawing a semi-wary, semi-indignant "yes" from him. Meanwhile, Fido is treating my hand like it's a Tootsie Pop. In an effort to end the conversation quickly I tell the kid to walk three or four blocks north and he would see the building. But when I resumed my own journey I chastised myself as simple and precise directions suddenly materialized in my mind: "It's on University before 45th." Maybe it's because the project is due. I just need to chill out.

Na-Na, Why Don't You Get A Job?

2005-07-07T21:28:00.000-07:00

Have you ever applied for a job that seems like a little bit more than you would like to take on? I threw my name in the ring for a couple of them back at home. The jobs are at Stanford and Berkeley so that means a ton of people applied for them. Also, the reviewers will certainly get a chuckle out of my six months worth of experience in student services. Otherwise, my application was dynamite. I got all philosophical in my writing sample where they asked for the components I would include in a leadership training program for students. To justify conflict management training, I wrote:

Conflict management is another vital component because public service is seldom done alone, and good teamwork is necessary for a group to have success. Virtually no group conducts itself entirely free from disagreement, but student leaders must be able to act as moderators, diplomats or even confidants so that the completion of the service goal and group mission remains both the focus and the result.

Huh? HUH? Is that too dull? I think it's something that would interest the application review committee. Anyway, there's two pages of that stuff so we'll see if I at least get an interview out of it. Watch me have to eat my words when I get one of those "The position has been filled" emails instead.

Anyway, back to the point...what does one do if offered a job that's a bit of a reach for him (Governor of California)? Perhaps the credentials are solid on paper but the practical experiences just don't add up to enable the person to perform well (General Manager, New York Knicks). Do you decline after going through all of that trouble? Or do you accept the job and stumble embarrassingly through it? I won't worry about it, as it probably doesn't happen that often. Plus, if it were really, really out of my league I wouldn't have bothered.

To Be Continued

2005-07-01T22:59:00.000-07:00

Just like old times...

I'm upstairs in my Mom's walk-in closet typing on the iMac. It's nice to be back at home in the Haystack for the holiday weekend. It'll be my last respite before the project is due and everything else that needs to be done for me to END SCHOOL FOREVER!! Unless I start missing campus life and get motivated for that doctorate.

Remind me, someone, to stop flying Southwest Airlines. That open seating policy reminds me of junior high school all over again. By the time I board the plane, I walk down the aisle to find only middle seats available, people avoiding eye contact and purses and bags placed in spots where I might want to sit. And wouldn't it be faster and more orderly to have assigned seating anyway instead of playing that game? Plus, I can't stand the flight attendants wearing shorts.

These are little things I'm complaining about but I don't think it was because of any crankiness. I must have been in a good mood because I actually started a conversation with the woman sitting next to me. Talking with my neighbor on a flight is something is absolutely DREAD and I know I'm not alone in that regard. So what, pray tell, was it that inspired me to be sociable on an airliner? Oh, you know! Come on, say it with me now...she was ROCK SOLID. Is it perhaps time to retire my 70s-era lingo? She had an accent so I asked her where she was from, which is really all I wanted to know but she hit me with something to the effect of: "I'm from Brazil but I'm staying a year in Seattle and my sister just came up and visited me and we're going to stay with a family who we know in San Francisco. I've never been there but they've lived there for 14 years and I'm really excited to see the Golden Gate Bridge and we're not staying right in San Francisco, I don't think...where it is we're staying, Isabella? Fairfax. Fair-FIELD? No, she says it's Fairfax but I think we'll go back and forth so where are you from?" I pointed to the ground and that was about all the conversation I could stand.

The Lakers' new draft pick, Andrew Bynum, has a page on MySpace that is your typical teenager web production. Eric noted that Bynum answered one of those quiz questions: "Hot Topic or Abercrombie & Fitch?" with the incredibly accurate reply, "Neither, I'm Black (and part Cherokee)." And, in my recent post (about my little episode with the razor) I made a crack at Abercrombie and race. I've mentioned this before, but it still just boggles my mind how people can run and individuals can support such a blatantly racist company. It's no secret...I know it and Andrew Bynum knows it. I'm sure there are a ton of other racist and/or morally reprehensible companies out there. I only mention A&F because it's on my mind and it seems to be so...celebrated. Okay, Dad wants to go to sleep. This post is to be continued...

Standard Whining

2005-07-01T11:07:00.000-07:00

I think it's safe to say that recently Ice Climber has been in a creative sinkhole. Of course, many readers out there are just itching to say "Sh*t, this whole site is a creative sinkhole! What's the URL for Dooce?" Hell, I don't know. I took it off my links. I'm sure there's something interesting on Plastic, though.

It's important, I think, to understand the purpose of this website. Still, there's a hobby mentality surrounding it for me. Ice Climber is like a Tamagotchi or like that episode when I was nine and I had a tiny potted cactus; it's just an examination of yourself to see if you can make the egg hatch or, in the case of the cactus, have the willpower to keep from watering it. I just couldn't fathom a plant that needed no watering...for weeks! One day I broke down and watered the cactus. I did it out of love; it was in order to save the thing from withering away even though it showed no signs of dehydration. Anyway, the cactus died the next day...isn't it ironic? Ice Climber has been going on for well over a year, so maybe I shouldn't worry too much about creative lulls because they've certainly happened before. Somehow, though, I'd like to make it bigger and better...or just have it serve a higher purpose. I can't say anything definitively just yet, but I think before long there may be some sort of transformation.

Too Much Time On My Hands

2005-06-27T22:04:00.000-07:00

Maybe it was the Seattle Pride Parade yesterday. Maybe it was whimsy. Maybe I was just hella bored and needed something to do. Whatever the reason, I shaved my chest this morning and this is the lovely result!

This ad space could be yours!!

It was strictly a razor thing so it'll probably hurt like hell tomorrow or the next day when it gets all stubbly. No matter, though. This trial run of hairlessness went swimmingly on Day 1, and so far it's looking like it may become a regular thing. Who knows? A little more definition and maybe I could become a model for ~~Abercrombie & Fitch~~ American Apparel.

Finals Talk

2005-06-23T21:21:00.000-07:00

Alright, congratulations to the Spurs for getting the Game 7 victory over Detroit and winning the title. San Antonio was the consensus favorite at the beginning of the year (especially when they got Barry) and they rolled fairly easily through the playoffs until they hit the Pistons.

Last year, the Lakers were also the consensus favorite because they had that dynamite starting lineup although, in retrospect, people seemed to forget that Karl Malone and Gary Payton were each about 20 years past their respective primes. Plus, they're both jackasses. Anyway, when the Pistons actually showed up to play the 2004 Finals instead of being starstruck, the Lakers folded; all of the Pistons victories were blowouts and they wrapped it up in five games. Astonishing. That series, I believe, marked a shift in the NBA that closed the era of the superstar and began the era of the team.

It's not so much a charisma or marketing thing, but rather a coaching and system thing. This year, Phoenix ran a system where everyone was involved and was a potential scoring threat (everyone has to be dangerous when your team combines to score 110ppg). Detroit continued their defense-oriented style, but they spread it around also, resulting in their leading scorer averaging less than 20ppg. And the Spurs, of course, have a superstar, but his job isn't to proxy for the entire team. Last year, Kevin Garnett played the role of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the playoffs. When Troy Hudson and Sam Cassell got hurt it was the 7-footer playing point guard, firing clutch 3s and willing the team through the game. I'm not criticizing Garnett, who plays with more heart and hustle than anyone this side of Allen Iverson, but it is a clear contrast in styles. The old style is to rely on KG or Shaq or Jordan or Sir Charles...the new style is that everyone does a little something.

I think this is why it was so difficult to pick a Finals MVP last year. Chauncey Billups kinda won it by default. This year it is a bit easier because Tim Duncan was the decisionmaker (though not from the point guard position). He scored those 12 or 14 in the third quarter and he found Bowen and Ginobili for those gamebreaking threes in the fourth. Add to that the automatic double-double and not choking at the foul line and the choice becomes clear. I still can't stand the Spurs and I can't wait until the GS Ruff Ryderz meet the Knicks in the Finals, but one must appreciate how they gutted through the seven-gamer where the Lakers fell apart. Detroit was incredible, also. If they keep it up, maybe they can pull a Spurs East and win multiple titles, just not consecutively. Absolutely no shame in that.

Visiting the Gurudwara

2005-06-19T00:49:00.000-07:00

My boss asked me what event could possibly lure me to a Sikh temple in Renton, 25 miles from where we work and, in a stroke of good fortune, 0.5 miles from where he lives. An answer wasn't entirely clear, although because I've convinced myself that I'm not social enough, I never decline an invitation to go someplace new.

That policy has produced some duds like the frat house party full of kids -- drinking games aren't that fun when you've got six years on everyone else -- but it has also revealed some treasures. You know, like that dinner with the grilled salmon and the fancy cheese and those women I still haven't gotten back to (time's a tickin', WhatUpThen). As my boss and I rolled up to the gurudwara so he could drop me off, I shuddered at the thought of being stuck there for 3+ hours among dozens of Indians looking at me as if I were from Planet X (that, or trying to rob the place). By the end of the night, though, this invitation had fallen squarely in the "treasure" category and I feel incredible for having taken a slice of culture and learned from it.

If you missed it, a gurudwara is a Sikh temple. There's one in my hometown of Hayward, CA, on D Street although knowing that information surprises me because I've never bothered to take a second look. Outside, a couple of precocious 14-year olds instructed me to remove my shoes and showed me how to tie a scarf around my head. Indu and Harminder, I think their names were? It's amazing, even at that age, one can tell those two will be movers and shakers later in life. Those same kids laughed at me as I struggled for five minutes trying to tie the scarf behind my head but luckily, Sujot the Inviter came outside and knotted me up. Damn jackass kids. No, just kidding, they were really cool.

No seating in the main hall, just a carpeted floor for everyone to get comfortable. There was a giant shrine in the center that looked like an ornate casket sheltered by a canopy. I would learn that the shrine is essentially the word of the guru and each person, upon entering the room would approach the shrine and bow their heads in deference.

If you know me well, you know my eyes narrow when people discuss their spiritual beliefs. I'm probably oversimplifying it, but words such as 'god' and 'prayer' are like profanity to me. Sometimes I try to lend support to those of religious faith by thinking billions of people can't be wrong...but sure they can! (Please, oh please let the culinary institute be in Austin). Somehow, though, I must say that the principles of Sikhism seemed very basic and pure and even appealing. It could be that I just missed the objectionable stuff because it was spoken in Punjabi but I came away with a good sense that the people among me stood for equality, tolerance and, well...just plain grace.

The feature was an art exhibit created by Sikh youth about Sikh youth growing up in the U.S....which must be a BITCH. Between being teased for the religious headwear and being mistaken for Muslim or dealing with lowered expectations and being taken as a novelty and just not being understood, it's clear why the gurudwara is such a valued place. The main piece is similar to a cube unfolded with each panel showing imagery about school, immigration, duty and living simultaneously for oneself and for others. It's something built by adolescents so it's not a stylistic masterpiece, but one must appreciate the symbolism and messages; if ever something could explain the confusion and reassurance one feels during life, this would be it.

So, as tends to be the case, my fears were unfounded and I came out better for the experience. Who knows when I'll find myself as a guest of the Sikh temple again but this visit was enough to cement the beauty of my hosts in my mind.

Smooth Criminal

2005-06-13T22:12:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson leaving courthouse with unidentified body double.

I've gotta admit, I really thought Mike was going down this time. The behavior we've heard about him and the kids and families is just so outrageous. Also, I felt his fame had diminished to a point where it would no longer insulate him from the public desire to cut down a man who is no longer taken seriously, if he ever was. I hate to bring up the O.J. case, which has long since been overanalyzed and used as an allegory for seemingly all of our social ills, but there is one similarity which shines through. The primary cop responsible for much of the important evidence in the Simpson case was a racist, plain and simple, who had the opportunity to take down a famous Black ex-athlete and (for what it's worth) who was with a White woman. Couldn't you imagine the same type of person salivating over the chance to take down, say...Charles Barkley? The racist cop angle just couldn't be ignored...although O.J. did it. Same with Michael Jackson's (latest) case. Sure, there are Michael's admissions of incomprehensibly strange behavior and a less-than-sparkling image, but it just so happens that the families accusing Michael each time were total grifters and that can't be ignored. It could be that Michael was preying on the families, but for sure they were preying on him, too, and it raises just enough doubt that I think a jury could come to the conclusion that they did without having been starstruck or otherwise influenced.

In other news, The Closer was mighty entertaining. It's tough to beat the whole transgender lesbian plot twist.

The Reward is Worth the Effort

2005-06-13T00:03:00.000-07:00

There are many things I want in a girlfriend and (presumably) many things I can offer. But with so much pickup basketball going on during the weekday nights and weekend afternoons, two things that are at once trivial and important have gotta be part of the deal: she's gotta hook up the back massage and she's gotta hook up the pedicure.

What's Shakin'?

2005-06-08T00:05:00.000-07:00

Take a look around outside or think back in your mind's eye about how men under age 35 greet each other. Does a single ritual come to mind? To narrow it down, think of, say...any jock types or guys enmeshed in hip-hop culture. Their greeting and farewell is more than a wave or hello or traditional handshake; it 's the open palm clasp or handslap or clasp leading to a split-second hug or often times even a multistep handshake, the more elaborate signifying the closeness of the friendship or affiliation. I sound like a real graduate student when I break down everyday occurrences in that way but it's not to make fun of the way men greet. I have no evidence, but I know it's derived from people of color. Hell, you KNOW it's us. And it's really important; the act, I believe, has transcended the symbolization of brotherhood among Black people to now symbolize masculinity among everyone who uses it. Or maybe it's just been co-opted. Anyway, the physical contact and the act of sharing the ritual is unifying. And make no mistake, it's a masculine thing. Giving a traditional businessman's handshake to a 12-year old would seem patronizing, but raise your hand, look in the kid's eyes and clasp and it's a message of equality. I'm not sure how well I'm expressing it here but perhaps the sense of brotherhood can only be conveyed with the act itself. I've learned a couple of new handshakes from the kids at the ECC that I think would behoove my friends to pick up, if only to symbolize our friendship.

In other news, I'd like to submit Enigma's Return To Innocence as a dark horse entry for Most Ridiculous Song of the Past 20 Years. And yes, I'm listening to the 13 minute, 9 second extended version right now.

Audio on the Way

2005-06-06T22:34:00.000-07:00

Damn Pistons. I swear, when Shaq hit those two giant free throws with about 3 minutes to go in the 4th, I had no doubt Miami was gonna win it. This would have been a career-shaping title even for a player who is already one of the all-time greats. Oh well.

Here at UW, there is a student-run production called RETRO: First Mondays. It's something of a spoken word chill out party that happens once a month at the Ethnic Cultural Theater (you know, where I work). Tonight's was the last of the school year and seeing all of those students doing poetry and MCing and comedy was a reminder that performance is really valuable...I mean, in one's personal development. It's good experience to be onstage; there are skills one practices while onstage that can be reapplied at work, in social situations or wherever. To get to the point, people are always telling me that I should be on the radio because of my deep voice. But I frequently mumble and stutter through my speech. Clearly, I need to practice...and what better way to do it than to use Ice Climber? Well, there are probably a ton of better ways, but fuck that! So, I've decided to go back into the archives and make audio posts for every blogger entry. Perhaps it's more for me than any readers, but it allows me to hear myself talk (ooh, I like that idea) while continuing to make little alterations to make this blog better.

How Many Days Until Halloween?

2005-06-06T16:22:00.000-07:00

This photo is provided to you so that you can see my progress in trying to look like Green Lantern. John Stewart is the image that came to mind when I looked in the barber's mirror this afternoon, but I see now that I've got to let the 'stache drop a little more on either side and also shave my head and grow a strong goatee. It would also help to stop eating candy so that my face will be more angular, but hey, let's be realistic.

Betcha can't even tell who's who!

Ode of Sorts

2005-06-06T01:20:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah. I for sure want to live in Seattle for a coupla years, at least. Start my career, make a little bit of $$, further establish my connections and just get to know this place more intimately. The subject comes up because soon I'll be at a crossroads, deciding what to do for a living and deciding where to do it. Of course, the location may be a factor I'm forced to look past...if there's money or stability to be had, it cannot be ignored. But if it's possible then Rain City (who knows if anyone really calls it that) demands a little bit more time.

Forgetting that most barbers are closed on Sundays (and on Mondays because they are open Saturdays), I walked up to hip-ass Supreme Cutz for a much-needed, uh...cut. It's far away from the apartment so when the closed blinds came into view there was just some urge to continue the trek and make it worth my while. I ended up going all the way past Green Lake and into Greenwood; it was a pretty decent walk (wait a SECOND...MapQuest is telling me that it's only 4.33 miles! Well, those are driving directions using the more direct freeway route. I was on foot. Still...I was thinking I'd walked my ass across the state or something). Thing is, Green Lake was beautiful on a sunny Sunday with all of the runners and dogs and tennis players. Even the 70-year old, shirtless, Speedo-wearing jogger brought a smirk to my face. And Greenwood was delightful with the cheerful independent cafe waitress letting me know how good the white chocolate chip brownies are at this place and repeating my order of "12-ounce black coffee and that brownie right there" as "Sure, a Caffe Americano, no sugar in the coffee, plenty of sugar in the brownie!" And basketball was a treat because I actually went with my roommate and he brought a not-totally-serious perspective to a game we all sometimes take a little too seriously. Incidentally, Shaq is gonna destroy the Pistons and then the Heat are gonna destroy fucking Duncan, fucking Robert Horry, fucking Parker, goddamn asshole Udrih, shit who else do I hate on that team? Oh yeah, HOLY SHIT! MOTHERFUCKING BRUCE MOTHERFUCKING BOWEN! I'm surprised some crazy person hasn't tried to have his legs broken already. And no one is gonna be humiliated more than Flop King freakin' Ginobili. Goddammit. So, anyway yeah, people get all worked up sometimes about shit that really isn't that important.

And then I met some lovely young women tonight at Bradford's dinner party (note to self: go to those salsa nights this summer), so that's probably the real reason I'm in this "can't leave yet" mindset, but I just got started with this city and really there's much more to be done. So, um...maybe I'd better get that whole residency application filled out, eh?

Ugh

2005-06-04T12:58:00.000-07:00

Goddamn spitting toilets.

And the waterfree ones all over Seattle do nothing to eliminate the oppressive scent of urine. Or maybe it's just my imagination. There's gotta be a balance somewhere.

Resealable Bubble

2005-06-02T22:26:00.000-07:00

Headed to Safeway after work to grab a sandwich for dinner. Safeway Deli is great; they make made-to-order sandwiches with all of those good meats and cheeses and sprouts and avocado and whatever-the-hell-else you want on it...and still for less $$ than Subway. Maybe it doesn't quite warrant such a high level of astonishment because it's not like delicatessens outside of the corporate umbrella haven't been serving up delicious sandwiches for hundreds of years, but it works for me.

There was a fire truck and an ambulance parked outside Safeway as I walked up. A young woman was collapsed in one of the aisles and...well, it didn't look too pleasant. I stole a bunch of furtive glances as I zipped around the store, getting water and canned fruit to go along with the sandwich. Two things: it was scary to see the woman so motionless; had someone attacked her or did she have a seizure or was she drunk, maybe? Second, it was a bit surreal (wait, lemme look that up and make sure I'm using it correctly...okay, yeah, that's close enough) to find everyone just going about their business. That's the only thing one can do, though, right? I suppose the situation was being addressed, but it just seemed like a little reminder of our impersonal society, you know? Anyway, as I left the store, the homeless man selling Real Change told me she had had a seizure. So, after that moment of concern I've returned to my selfish enclosure.

Audio bird identification exam at 7am tomorrow. Better start studying.

Check It Out

2005-05-31T23:57:00.000-07:00

Did I already apologize for disappearing for two weeks? If not, then a big "My bad" to all of the lovely people that read Ice Climber. You know how it is sometimes. There's no theme to this page, nothing perpetual or consistent to fall back on for material. Since the posts are generally about me, I think my willingness to post hinges upon how I feel at the moment. And, I guess for the last two weeks I've just felt uninspired. But "uninspiration" is a dangerous thing. Not being inspired to write my thesis for the past six months is why I didn't have it completed on May 19, when it was due. Perhaps it has taken two weeks for me to come to terms with the fact that finishing graduate school actually requires a great deal of effort. In any event, it's time to get back on track, which includes sharing curious anecdotes and sensationalizing myself (NEVER!!) through this incredible blog. So, uh...off we go.

Check it...I'm totally finishing my master's project this summer. It's about the motivations of underrepresented students in the sciences (and their implications on diversity in higher education)! This isn't going to be some groundbreaking document, but the investigation on diversity tends to focus on the background and socioeconomic (such a university word) characteristics of students. What about the student's thinking? One thing that has been illuminated from a few interviews so far is that people perceive the sciences as where the $$ is. I mean, if you want that SL500 and you're not an entertainer, how are you gonna get it? Well, evidently lots of minorities take business, so there's that. Otherwise, it's physics, dammit.

Hey, take a look...it's June! I'll hit you all later.

Still Here

2005-05-30T19:48:00.000-07:00

Just having serious mental block lately. Which is alarming, considering this blog isn't exactly the New York Times. In any event, I'll get something up here soon.

Dusty Lake Trip

2005-05-16T23:01:00.000-07:00

The Dusty Lake field trip wasn't nearly as fun as our class' first two field trips to Olympic National Park and San Juan Island. Desert environment, a ton of mosquitoes and a ton of ants. No cabin this time; everyone pitched a tent outside in the brush minutes after we arrived at the campsite. Everyone except me, that is. The 6-7 person family tent I borrowed from Kristian was missing poles, and of course I didn't notice this until we were three and a half hours from Seattle because I didn't realize what components were necessary to pitch a tent. Yes, there's a dirty joke to be said there.

If I were totally immature I would have identified my oversight as a golden opportunity to make nice with some of the women in my class because really I had nowehere to sleep and there's no question the mere act of sleeping in each other's close proximity would undoubtedly fetch me dates and lovin' for, well...until the end of the quarter, but that's incredibly foolish. Plus, none of them had room. I ended up bunking with Devon (shown below) in his 2-person tent. Turned out as something of a blessing in disguise because I'd never spoken with Devon at length before this past weekend but he seems to be generally a decent guy. In fact, that's my wifebeater he's wearing in the photo.

Check out the Dusty Lake area. I call it Grand Canyon, Jr. because these high rocky walls surround an expansive valley. It's quite lovely.

Make no mistake, this thing is fucking HUGE.

Future Journalists of America

2005-05-12T23:17:00.000-07:00

Another weekend, another field trip.

Tomorrow the class is headed out to the aptly-named Dusty Lake. It reminds me of something of the Grand Canyon although I've never been to either place. The power of photography, man. We'll be camping for real this time; the 6-7 adult family tent will accompany me tomorrow. It's much too big, of course, but it's the only one I could scare up from among my friends. It's all good, though...I'll run a hotel for the class, you know?

I've written before about how the UW campus seems to be divided across racial lines. Or at least among the hard-hitters, those students who are active in student organizations and also community and Greek groups. The battle for ASUW office seems to always boil down to the white Greek organizations versus some combination of progressive white students and students of color. I can't even remember what it was like at Stanford. Certainly not as contentious as it is here, but then again, what power did the Stanford student government really have? I suspect that at Stanford there is an overriding sentiment that the school is run as it ought to be and that it is fair for everyone. The concept of Stanford pride and honor is pitched at all times and perhaps all of that pride and gratefulness clouds students' imaginations on how to make things better. Not so at UW, though. This student government has cash, power and influence; it is the flagship institution of the Northwest.

Anyway, let me get to the point. One of the students running for the Director of Diversity Efforts position is Miranda, a young woman I've interacted with often since starting my job. The campus newspaper ran an "endorsement" for Miranda that was neither challenging, nor supportive, nor informative. In fact, it was just racist trash:

"Miranda Bethay as a candidate is like vanilla: Her responses were very standard and she didnt make us want to go out and diversify. When did vanilla get to be such a bad thing? asked our opinion editor. When chocolate was invented, an editorial board member responded. Exactly. We wish we could offer a flavor to the position of diversity efforts, but seeing as Bethay was the only candidate to show up to our forum for an interview, the only choice we can offer is the standard vanilla variety."

Is this a play on Miranda's being half-black and half-white? Is her job to make other people want to diversify? And what kind of ignorant crack is this about vanilla and chocolate? I think it is totally inappropriate to even use euphemisms like that for this particular candidate. If the Daily editor missed that when reviewing this piece then he's a fucking idiot. If he didn't miss the offensive content, then one must wonder why it was allowed to run. Mind you, this isn't the humor paper or conservative rag on campus (not that the nature of the paper would have made it acceptable) but rather the widely-circulated, student-funded and presumably unbiased source for news. These are our future journalists, people. The people writing for the Daily, who chose to deliver a backhanded slap to Miranda instead of offering no endorsement, are the ones the public will rely on in the future to deliver facts about politicians so that we can make the best decisions. I wish I could get angrier at this and I wish more people recognized this when they read it...it's just the sort of unnecessary, "innocent" bullshit that happens every day.

That said, I finally got some photos from the Bachelor Auction. Ignore the dates on the photos; these are from about 3 weeks ago. Did I mention that I went for $20?! Two guys went for less, thankfully for me, but really I could kick anyone's ass who was at that thing. View, enjoy and have a good weekend!

Twin MCs. These guys ought to go professional.

Myself and lovely Angelita, $20 poorer.

Way to keep that camera above waist-level

Accessorized with phone and rose

I think this dude went for less than me.

This crazy girl spent $170 on this dude. No pressure at all!

Cross my heart.

3 Wonders

2005-05-06T00:12:00.000-07:00

There must some way to snazz up my webpage so that visitors can be satiated when I don't post for, like, two weeks. I oughta start by replacing that hit counter. The CoolCounters thing seemed like a good idea because there were some cute images, it gave interesting information like search terms (more on that later) to arrive at this page and it's only $2/month. But, as it turns out, there aren't that many images I actually want on here and I want something that will positively bombard me with data. Every hit on Ice Climber will be like its own focus group. So, yeah...I'll look into it soon.

Someone gave me this Letterman-style list today. #1 is mighty clever.

Top 3 Things NOT overheard at a D&D convention:

3. “What is that movie with the Ewoks? You know, it's that one movie...”
2. “Wait, porn? On the Internet?”
1. “The most interesting thing happened to me today.”

And last, Joan Ryan asks, what the fuck is wrong with these people?? Ignorant, racist, irresponsible, greedy, inconsiderate...you name it. Even for people who are passionate about the "A&F image", so go buy some Hollister or American Eagle. I guarantee no one will know the difference.

Celebration 2005

2005-05-05T00:48:00.000-07:00

My boss at the ECC has been out sick all week so he tapped me to take his place at Celebration 2005, an awards banquet for EOP students here at UW. It was a pretty hoity-toity affair with the president of the school in attendance and hundreds of university staff wearing suits, waiters serving wine and fish with ginger sauce served for dinner. The last two parts were especially nice. I've gotta make it a habit to eat more fish.

But this Celebration was about the students. Pretty amazing students, at that. Dozens of them were also in attendance...easily identifiable by virtue of wearing casual clothing amongst all of the lipstick and cuff links. Twelve students were being honored and given scholarships for their research and academic achievement. Listening to the stories of these students...from tough backgrounds, first in family to attend college, divorced with two children makes one sympathetic and awestruck at the same time. How it is that the young woman who has worked since age 15 is the Phi Beta Kappa-qualifier and also has completed four undergraduate research projects? How is it that the C-student in high school whom the university rejected, raised his GPA in community college, then raised it to Dean's List-level upon his transfer to UW, then became the head of the Student Senate Judiciary Committee for two years and has already been accepted to a Master's program at Columbia? It's the kind of thing that reminds me that I've got to take advantage of the opportunity...and so does everyone here. It shouldn't take a life of adversity for students to dawn on the fact that they are capable of, and somewhat obligated to, doing great things. Sometimes it just takes a reminder like tonight and so I congratulate all 12 scholarship recipients for grabbing life by the horns and, in doing so, reminding us that we can do the same.

One More New Link

2005-05-04T13:40:00.000-07:00

I've been reading Women's Hoops Blog for several weeks now and it is, most definitely, the most insightful, well-referenced and informative basketball site this (non-corporate) side of ESPN.com. The focus is on women's college basketball and, now that it's nearly summer, the WNBA, but the topics covered often address men's leagues and there's a bit of social commentary as well. Okay, you can click over now and see for yourself.

Links

2005-05-04T00:49:00.000-07:00

Changed some links again. Got rid of that Listen, Lady... link because that blog hasn't been too interesting lately, in my opinion (look who's talking). That site did introduce me to Questionable Content, however, which EVERYONE should be reading because it's fucking awesome.

I changed the Sprizee link because it has been broken for some time now. Sprizee graduated to Movable Type publishing tools, I believe. How long will it be before Ice Climber does the same? Correct...no time soon. Finally, I'd like like to share with you all Overheard in New York. I just found this last week. It is very New York and it is very amusing. Good night, everyone.

UITC - That's What I'm Talkin' About!

2005-05-03T23:24:00.000-07:00

Last year, when WhatUpThen was holed up in his apartment learning the basics of epidemiology, the College Republicans of the University of Washington threw one of those Affirmative Action Bake Sales that have become increasingly popular at schools across the country. I hate linking to FOX News, but it has the blurbs about the different schools. It's a horrible thing, in my opinion, first because affirmative action has been illegal in Washington as of 1998, and second, because the premise of the bake sale is flawed. The concept of the sale is that women, people of color and disabled citizens pay less for the items sold; it's supposed to be an allegory for those groups putting forth less effort for the same job or college admission. However, let's use the college example. Every university in the U.S. has minimum standards for admission. No school would bring in a student who did not meet those standards, so every person admitted has put forth the effort, or "paid the total price". It's also insulting to suggest that white males have a more difficult time advancing in life than women and minorities, yet that assertion is implicit in the CRs claim that whites are paying the most. Of course there are white males out there in truly fucked-up situations, but there are privileges to whiteness that, if anything, allow whites to pay less than everyone else to obtain the same things. I hate to even talk about this whole "payment" idea because really everyone should be judged on their talents, abilities and skills. We've made a ton of progress in the right direction but we aren't anywhere near that day and I know I won't see it in my lifetime. There's a lot of other stuff I'm missing, but I should move on.

The Bake Sale last year ended badly. There was a lot of shouting and someone got hit and one student (I've met her and she's fucking awesome) tore down the CRs sign and canopy. It wasn't totally crazy...not like anyone was arrested or anything, but it wasn't just another day.

Long story short --> Last week, the CRs put on another Bake Sale but this time the sane students on campus were ready. The GBLT Student Commissioner rallied a ton of student groups to essentially have a fair that day and in the same location as the CR Bake Sale. The idea wasn't to confront the madness, but to drown it out with music, promotion of events, frisbee and FREE baked goods (I got my hands on a few donuts before I left). It was a great success. There were no confrontations and the unnecessary and divisive messages were largely ignored this time around. I'm impressed by the student's ability to mobilize in such a short time (just 6 days for the whole thing) and also I was happy to see so many groups encompassing so many ethnicities working together for a common goal. It was called Unity in the Community. If you were an employer, wouldn't you want to hire a student who put this together?

Here are a coupla more links to Leoule's column in the UW Daily and the counter-argument by the CR president, Nick Dayton.

This crowd wasn't just for the bake sale.

I shoulda gotten in this photo.

ASA next to Amnesty Int'l...everyone got involved.

The Young Democrats are outspoken in their own right.

At least he passed up the MSA.

Leoule (being interviewed) was the driving force behind UITC.

Doing the MEChA clap.

Bunch of my students smiling for a job well-done.

Starter (B)log

2005-05-02T08:39:00.000-07:00

If you visit this page regularly you know that I have a TON of blogging to do. Cramming the last two weeks into a single, gigantic superpost crossed my mind last night, but there was homework to finish, that new episode of Family Guy to watch and, later, my first visitor to Seattle. By the time all was said and done it was 2:30am and ever since freshman year I've been in a struggle to not go to sleep so late. Sooo...I'm gonna do that backblogging again and broken up into chunks. It'll be like reading last week's newspapers.

While it's on my mind, let me just say that the Family Guy episode, the first one since it was brought back from cancellation, was fucking hilarious. The list of cancelled shows on FOX, the Bed, Bath and Beyond joke and that fucking Passion 2 trailer...those things that genuinely make me laugh out loud are rare. Hopefully the show has some longevity this time around.

Wed. night

2005-04-20T23:44:00.000-07:00

Ice Climber began almost a year ago in the Odegaard Undergraduate Library here at the University of Washington. I'm here again tonight after a bit of studying. It's always fun to come here. It's like a fashion show, no kidding. The 18-20 year old young women in here seem to embrace one of two extremes: either pajamas in public (a pet peeve of mine) or full-on, hair styled, make-up'd, skin-flashing near tartness. Not that I'm complaining. It's the guys, too. Right now I'm looking over at a dude wearing that multi-colored, vertical-striped dress shirt that I know I've seen in Macy's for $55. It's nearly midnight, so he got the hour right, but he forgot he is in the library and not Club Medusa...or wherever kids these days like to party. And this other dude has salt-and-pepper hair but there's no way it could be natural. How the hell did he do that?!

Anyway, the photos from Black Boy haven't been sorted out yet. In the meantime, I'm going to put up my notes from last week's camping trip...a process neglected earlier this week, again, because of the play. So read and N'Joy like non-dairy creamer.

This color is for writing done onsite.
This color is for writing done tonight.

I stole the term "backblogging" from the Texas Cooking Woman because that's what I'm forced to do for this field trip. I have my phone but there is no reception up here in the woods so there will be no audio post. Damn T-Mobile. It's all good. Practicing writing in the notebook is a good idea.

Four-hour drive to get up here to the Olympic Mountains. Naturally, I'm more interested in my classmates than our surroundings. Everyone here is an up-and-coming naturalist, for sure, but a couple of guys have their own band, one woman is a bartender who looks like a combination of Rachel Dratch and this girl Haane I met in college. Lastly, the three professors along with us are very good-humored. Evidently, they both attended Cal and they've been working together for the past 30 years. So, by now, they've established a little bit of a rapport. Anytime a grown man can say to another grown man "you stupid son of a bitch" and it's absolutely no problem between them...well, that's a sign of true friendship.

It's ten minutes after twelve and we've gotta wake up at 6:30a to go bird-watching so maybe I ought to wrap up. Also, my head is killing me after a margarita, two tequila shots, a Smirnoff Apple and a Lucky Lager. Oh, and Brite Crawlers. How can you top that? Best field trip ever.

Oh, snap! Saw a coupla bald eagles today. One of 'em flying around with a twig! This afternoon, my classmates and I got down and dirty searching for salamanders in a creek. It was cold as FUCK. WhatUpThen is not the outdoor-oriented person, but I certainly didn't want to stand out or otherwise hold the class back. So I put on my rain gear, raised my Leaf Shield and dove headfirst into the brush, baby! Before long, they're gonna start calling me Wood Man.

Spirit of the Woods

Bit O' Weekend

2005-04-19T00:52:00.000-07:00

Let me first say that last weekend's class field trip to the Olympic Mountains was, in a word, money. That's money as in a whole lot of it spent on rain gear, etc., as described in a previous post. It's money as in the $25 I spent at a Mexican restaurant the first night, the $33 I spent at a steakhouse the second night and an amount spent on beer at the grocery store that I don't wish to disclose at this time. God, I like to spend money. But, perhaps most importantly, the trip was money in that it was totally valuable, totally enjoyable and I'm totally ready to do it again. Dig?? I got a crash course in forestry, chilled out with some amphibians, met a few very nice people and my cheap equipment survived the excursion.

Unfortunately, the big play is tomorrow and with so much preparation for it I haven't had time to savor the memory of the weekend. Plus, I have no photos because I can't seem to figure out how to upload the images from the damn school-loaned camera and it is due back today. They threaten to bar future equipment borrowing for three months if you return your borrowed items late, so it is a choice between no photos for this trip or none for the next three. I envision an electronics tutorial in my near future.

On Tuesday during the day I'll play host to our performer and this evening I will MC the show, so there's a ton happening tomorrow that I should probably get to bed. To be quite honest, though, I'm most excited because I get to check out a Chevy Suburban from the university's motor pool. I've never driven an SUV before. I've never driven in Seattle before. And if you think I'm turning THAT thing back in a split-second before the motherfucker is due then I don't know what blog you've been reading all this time.

Ho ho! Check it out!! I just figured out the camera! Here are photos. I'm gonna hit the sack. Wish me luck tomorrow!

It's a newt. Must remember what type before midterms roll around.

It's a salamander. Ditto on the ID deadline.

Behind Devon, Victoria, myself and that guy on the right is a 200-foot drop.

Even human structures can't hide the beauty of earthforms.

Off to the Woods

2005-04-14T22:42:00.000-07:00

Turned on ER for the first time in a while. The show was about halfway through before I realized that the new cast member was Shane West...not Doogie Howser.

First field trip for ESC 351 is this weekend so I'll be away. I'm set, though. Backpack, shoes, sleeping bag, binoculars and camera so I'll take a few photos for the archive. Maybe National Geographic will visit Ice Climber and pick me up as a new, hotshot photographer.

xXx: State of the Union

2005-04-13T09:51:00.000-07:00

I love secondary titles for sequels like "State of the Union" and "Armed and Fabulous". Somehow it seems to guarantee the cheapness of a movie and its entertainment value for all the wrong reasons. Yes, I'm including The Phantom Menace and whatever the 2nd/5th Star Wars was called. Back to the Ice Cube thing...I can't imagine it would ever be a good thing when the press materials for your film begin with: "Actor/rapper Ice Cube, reprising the Vin Diesel role..."

Most Popular Post

2005-04-12T01:17:00.000-07:00

It's a quarter after one in the morning and I've taken a break from writing to glance at my counter stats. Ice Climber must have finally gotten included on some search engines or something? I don't really know how it works. Last week I commented about how some individual searched "men naked showering locker room" and ran across my page. Since then, variants on that general theme have been popping up as search terms leading to this page. Back in May 2004, when Ice Climber was barely a month old, little did I know that my post about the benefits of showering at the gym would become my most popular entry. Just in the last week, I've recorded gems such as these:

showering in the locker room
showering in women's locker room
guys showering in locker room
showering at the gym
ladies showering
showering ladies

and the one that started it all...men naked showering locker room

The first four on that list may not understand the operation of search engines...the "in" and the "the" wouldn't have been factored into their search. The last coupla folks got the hang of searching keyword-style.

It's exciting to realize that Ice Climber is the destination for so many people seeking legitimate information! Another day I'll write something about the non-perverse/voyeuristic search terms. Until then, I'm sure writing this post guaranteed me another 100 hits from people who, uh...let's just say they're looking for a little something extra.

1-for-Psyching Myself Up

2005-04-10T23:45:00.000-07:00

It's the little things: Safeway had a 2-for-1 sale on 96oz. Minute Maid orange juice. I drink so much orange juice and the 96-ouncer is amazing! It seems no matter how many glasses are guzzled, there's still MORE JUICE! It's virtually neverending. And get this...there's another 96-ounce jug YET TO BE OPENED. If there is a heaven and it really is like a characterized, idealized life on Earth there will be plenty of fresh-squeezed orange juice...selling 3-for-1, dammit.

Last week, a student who shows a surprisingly high (that is to say, more than zero) interest in my love life expressed alarm when informed that I haven't dated anyone since I've been in Seattle. She said: "You're handsome, you're funny. What's wrong with you?"* To which I could only smile. She's so charming with that delicate Dr. Phil touch. But I appreciate her concern. That's 20 months for those tallying numbers. I know that was a damning statistic, but its meaning was amplified this weekend when I attended the Cambodian New Year dinner, dance and celebration on campus. It was an incredible event; entire families were there, but for a slew of reasons I couldn't get a date/buddy to accompany me. But, no, I didn't feel self-conscious at all sitting at a table with my director (and his wife), my co-director (and her husband) and my immediate boss (and his girlfriend). Even when the dance began and the thirtysomethings started to ship out, the director told me to "stick around and get you a girl, WhatUpThen!"** Why does everyone have input all of a sudden?

So now that I've been summoned to rise from this relationship-free stupor, I will do so. Mine those prospects 'til I can shout "Eureka, I have found it!" (CA state motto; my family owned an encyclopedia set when I was a kid). Plus, I certainly don't want to leave this city with a sense of defeat. Hey, I'm 2-for-3 in the got-your-own apartment/job/car qualifier, so I'm good to go. Enough window shopping, time to make a purchase. Ooh, maybe I'll run across a nice 2-for-1 deal!

*verbatim
**verbatim; name changed to protect the incredible

What I'm Working On Now

2005-04-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

I've decided that it's okay to stay up until 3am as long as I'm doing something constructive and defined. For example, reviewing graduation criteria or writing my first blogger post in a week. For certain, in not having posted anything new my two readers have been alienated, but perhaps they will be forgiving once they discover how busy I've been.

First, I should tell you about my new discovery. Last year, I found Urban Soul Nation on Internet radio. It was run by one person back East. I even chatted with him for a bit on Yahoo! Messenger and he told me about his struggles in running an Internet radio station: startup equipment costs, maintaining a website, paying royalties. He also sent me the mp3s for Prince's Money Don't Matter 2Night and Brownstone's 5 Miles to Empty. That alone is more than I could have asked for. Anyway, earlier this week I ran across Virgin Radio Groove. It's broadcast out of the UK, classic soul and disco. Absolutely phenomenal. Absolute classics mixed in with shit I've never heard before. Marvin Gaye, Jackson 5, SOS Band, Gladys Knight, Dennis Edwards, Average White Band and SHALAMAR. Come on, now...freakin' Shalamar. Not many people know this, but I've named my left arm Shalamar (and my right arm Excalibur). I would like to name my little boy Shalamar (and my little girl Cassandra...for short, she could be called either Sandy or Cassie!).

Wow, what an aside! Now to make my title relevant. At work, each of the five staff members was supposed to come up with and execute a project for our Culture Series. After a couple of weeks to mull it over we had a meeting to discuss our ideas. My coworkers' ideas were as follows: host a Chicano theatre group, hold a reception for women of color on campus, host a performance by a Broadway actor and host a well-known comedian. My idea was to write book synopses and post them around the Ethnic Cultural Center. I did execute my project, and while everyone raved about it, it just wasn't the dynamic or entertaining impact of a performance or a party. It was called a reception but there were so many women of color, I treated it like a party. Plus, my boss is the one bringing the comedian. It's Dat Phan, and he is pretty fucking funny. Jeff, my boss, is incredible and I know it's not a competition, but it's possible to feel just a little inadequate when I'm writing book reports and he's booking heavyweight comics.

Perhaps out of pity, the ECC director passed his project off onto me, so I'm responsible for promoting that "performance by a Broadway actor" (see above). His name is Charles Holt, he was in The Lion King...those seem like credentials enough. Now he's touring a one-man show based on Richard Wright's autobiography Black Boy. So, I've been going wild trying to promote and as soon as I get our badass poster online I'll link to it, but for now here's this. So it's been a ton of printing, calling, flyering, emailing, postering, chatting, convincing and stressing to make sure I get 500 butts in seats to check out this play. It's supposed to be a real gem, so there's no conning anyone. Plus, it's a free show. But scheduling an event and making it a success are two very different creatures. So, that's that. If you're reading this and you live in Seattle, you need to be in the HUB Auditorium on Tuesday, April 19. It's late, I'll fill stuff in later.

Awesome

2005-04-01T22:55:00.000-08:00

I should start compiling a list of the best, funniest, most frightening search terms used by people to find my page. The little CoolCounters device with the Sonic logo records that stuff. Just a minute ago, I learned that Ice Climber pops up if you search "showering in women's locker room" on Yahoo! Somehow I doubt that was a person concerned about getting Athlete's foot.

WhatUpThen the Camper

2005-03-30T10:03:00.000-08:00

WhatUpThen has decided to finish off graduate school with a bang. For all of studying and research on science education and forestry and environmental science and environmental justice, I've never been camping. In my room you won't find a folded-up tent, binoculars, a sleeping bag, spiffy New Balance cross-trainers or rain gear. And you sure as hell won't find a Nalgene bottle. Those things are incredibly obnoxious. Soon you will find most of those things in my apartment, though, because I'll need them for this monster 8-unit environmental science and resource management class that includes four weekend field trips. One is to San Juan Island and one is to the Olympic Mountains. I can't remember where the other two trips are and I couldn't even tell you where the first two are located since WhatUpThen isn't exactly outdoor-oriented.

But I'm not concerned, and doesn't it make sense to do this? We want our teachers (and other professionals) to have had experience doing the things they teach to others. One could be the master of X's and O's, but how could she (Good job, Stanford women!) coach a basketball team if she hasn't played on a team? Hmm...what's another example? Oh yeah...one could join with a political family through marriage and pay attention to national affairs while making movies in Hollywood and becoming a star, but how can you become Governor of California if you've never held public office? In fact, how can one even think he is capable of performing the job duties? Maybe they're not that tough?? Anyway, you get the point. This course is gonna be great and it really is necessary if I'm gonna exhort to students the importance of the natural world.

Incidentally, does anyone reading this have camping gear I can borrow? I'm talking tent, sleeping bag, binoculars, galoshes, a headlamp, a backpack...I don't even know what else. The way I figure it...I don't know you and you don't know me, but if you send me something relatively clean, I'll send it back to you in June with maybe $20 and a coupla lottery tickets. Can WhatUpThen build community or what?

Romance for the Condemned

2005-03-28T00:47:00.000-08:00

One more article --> it's about women writing to and proposing marriage to Death Row inmates like Scott Peterson. It's a curious one, no doubt. If everI feel inadequate or unsure of myself, I'll be sure to reread this article to gain some confidence. Then again, any woman writing romantic letters to The Night Stalker has gotta be pretty hard up.

What's Wrong With Our Kids?

2005-03-27T18:50:00.000-08:00

Joan Ryan column on the teenage girl who slashed the throat of a 75-year old woman in a nice Berkeley neighborhood. Attack seemed random. Not for gang initiation or for money. No bad blood between the girl and the elderly woman. Just unforeseeable craziness. The line from the column which hooked me is this one describing a burnt-out juvenile prosecutor:

"He is tired of kids like this girl coming into court without parents. He is tired of hearing rap lyrics that glorify self-centeredness and greed and brutality. He is tired of seeing the strange disconnect between a juvenile detainee's casual demeanor and the seriousness of the crime being charged."

Wouldn't you agree with him? You've just gotta shake your head sometimes.

Labels

2005-03-27T18:38:00.000-08:00

Some things ought to come with a label just like the Parental Advisory sticker. I think any music that synthesizes vocals should be labeled. It's not to warn people of vocals from electronica bands like Air. If anything, Air purchases should be subsidized so that more people can listen and chill out a little bit. And certainly it's not to warn the public about a group like Zapp & Roger who use the talkbox. You remember those songs, right? More Bounce to the Ounce? I Wanna Be Your Man? If you're curious or clueless I'll send you a coupla mp3s. No, I'm talking about all of the pop stars who use the machine that can raise or lower your pitch. I mean, if taking steroids is cheating in baseball and in track (to use a timely reference) shouldn't pitch adjusters be considered cheating in singing? It's not destroying the world or anything but, seriously, isn't anyone else bothered by this? I'd imagine there are a ton of talented singers out there at their wit's end and ready to kill someone if they continue not to be recognized in favor of 15-year old girls with songs written for them and receiving digital vocal assistance. Maybe "kill" is a bit extreme. You've gotta excuse me, I've been watching The Shield season 3 on DVD for most of the afternoon.

Speaking of television, I caught that show Veronica Mars for the first time last Tuesday. It was totally implausible, of course...cameras hidden in staplers, teenagers throwing around several hundred dollars in cash, and I suspect that radio homing devices aren't quite as common as Hollywood would have us believe. Still, though, it was some great Nancy Drew-style investigative action. And entertaining. That's all you can ask for, right?

Rose thinks any album featuring a singing rapper (Andre 3000 on Roses, Eminem on Cleanin' Out My Closet) should have a bright red caution sticker no less than 2 inches diameter affixed to the covers of all such albums. Hell, I think so too.

There was a tampon brand in the drugstore I noticed today. No really, listen. It was in a brown box is the thing, so it caught my eye. And it wasn't Tampax or...or, um...lemme think...O.B.! It wasn't O.B., either. Have you ever seen a box of tampons that wasn't blue? Or like pink or something? I'd imagine the tampon market is a tough one to break into. Well, that's what I was thinking about today.

Watching Pros

2005-03-25T11:00:00.000-08:00

Brian and I didn't actually go to the Warriors game a few nights ago. Instead we fired up the television and checked it out from his apartment. Not to attack the sanctity of a trip to the stadium or the arena but I'm beginning to think that if you have a nice TV, a nice couch and a Zesty Chicken Bowl from Taco Bell, that the stay-at-home game-watching experience is superior to the hassle of driving, parking, paying and sitting in the upper deck a mile away from the floor at the Coliseum. And it is the Warriors, after all.

We did miss out a little, though. The game we watched was the one against Dallas where Dunleavy went nuts after the bogus foul call and proceeded to yell, point and curse at the ref (One of life's simple pleasures is to read angry athletes' lips on TV), get ejected and take off his jersey and fling it into the crowd. It was clear on the screen that the crowd was going nuts. Hell, Brian and I were going nuts on the couch. The Black players on Dallas were laughing at this White guy showing some attitude. The fan who caught Dunleavy's jersey immediately put it on, covered himself with a coat and shot evil glances at anyone who looked in his direction. It was amazing. What a great night to have been at the arena. You never know when stuff like this will happen.

I don't know whether I think athletes have it hard or easy. Perhaps I should just say they have it different. With the Dunleavy thing, I realized how aptly named the Coliseum is. All these fans roaring because someone got ejected? How does that feel to be under the spotlight and cameras and pressure with so much noise and so many people egging you on several nights per week? Everyone (people you don't know, people you don't care to know, people you'll never meet) has an opinion about you that's unflappingly positive or negative based on the stereotypes of ten of thousands of people who came before you. Well, that part doesn't really count because everyone judges everyone else, regardless of athlete status. Anyway, it's crazy. Something the most of us just can't ever comprehend.

Totally unrelated: Saw Melinda & Melinda last night with Rose. It was entirely pretentious and enjoyable.

Placemarker

2005-03-24T03:00:00.000-08:00

Oh, I'm so sorry for not posting. No one wants to hear excuses but I'm written so much on my notepad and I just can't find time to jump onto the computer except for times like this...at 2:57am when I'm just dying to go to bed. You know what, though? I'll compile all of this week's posts into a single, long kinda Spring Break journal once I get back to Seattle at the end of the week. You'll love it, I'm sure, and you'll continue to visit and bookmark and tell your friends, huh, huh??! Yeah, well, I'm gonna plop down now. Tonight was a nice night. I'll say something about it and tell some jokes and some helpful advice or something related to it later. Bueno.

P.S.: Reminder to self to download some music by Blondie.

Last Day

2005-03-17T19:17:00.000-08:00

Back at the Stan-Stan, students customarily had three hours for finals. That was the assumption when I stepped in to take the wildlife biology exam at 8:30 this morning. But right around 9:05 the guy who told me the story about how he smashed his testicles on a stairway railing while trying to do tricks on his BMX got up and submitted his test. I believe in the abilities of all people, but let's just say I wouldn't have pegged this guy to finish a 3-hour exam in 30 minutes...well, not while I was still on page two. A mysterious seed of doubt had been planted in my mind, however, and it grew when a couple more students turned in their exams a few minutes later. It was time to go to the front of the room and take action.

Chris: [whisper] "How long do we have for this test?"
TA Proctor: "Ends at 10:30."

SHEEEEEEEIT.

So one hour for the first 2 pages, followed by one hour for the next 6. I know my responses for the questions I answered were all correct, but of course I didn't answer all of the questions. Once that building bell rings, other students flood into the classroom like male enhancement emails. What are they so excited about, anyway?

Well, enough about that. Quarter's over. Got to celebrate with some noontime basketball before work. Washington was playing, but there was no need to watch since it's the whole 1-seed versus 16-seed deal. Playing was a real delight, though. As many Eastern European guys as there are in the NBA and I don't think I've ever played with one...until today! He was our center; just like Zydrunas Illgauskas. Big and slow, yet powerful. He hit his jumpers, he made some passes that make you say "nifty" and he had some crazy little contortionist pivots to score. I love meeting people from outside the U.S. This guy kept talking to me about the status of the game:

"Maybe you should guard him. He is too quick for me."
"I got his arm before I got the ball."
"You pass to me after we switch."

Maybe I'm not communicating it right, but I was cracking up because I never have these little conversations while playing pickup with random gym guys. Maybe I was laughing because he was being so friendly (how horrible!). It reminds me of when the African guy walks up to me and asks me if I'm from Africa because I guess I look African. No, but I like eating at The Blue Nile? Maybe? Yes? Or maybe it was the general giddyness from it being the last day.

Reopening in 24 hours

2005-03-16T14:19:00.000-08:00

You've all gotta excuse me. It's just that one of my more important final exam of recent memory happens tomorrow and I've tried to be single-tracked of mind of late. I can look into the future, however, and I envision a big-time blooger post WITH AUDIO coming tomorrow afternoon once the wildlife biology testing is over. That is, if I can recall all of the information that has been on the periphery these past few days.

Vanity Autumn Jackson

2005-03-11T00:19:00.000-08:00

I think Autumn Jackson is the absolute coolest name a Black woman can have. It's expressive and nondescript at the same time. Wait...why only a Black woman? Anyone could have this name and it would be so, so cool! Where did this crazy thought come from? Well, I was jogging and I mistakenly put in an Air CD instead of the one of my fast-paced The Running Man mix CDs, so I was contemplating instead of grooving to the beat. Back in elementary school I had a puppy love crush on a girl named Autumn Jackson. The name was funktional even way back then. So, of course I googled it when I got home and found out it's also the name of the woman who tried to extort Bill Cosby. So, uh...yeah, that's great. It's clear that I have nothing to say tonight.

Wait, I take that back. I was talking to my boss about cartoons because he's a big cartoon and comic book fan. He says that Snorks came before Smurfs, as evidenced by the Smurfs' hats which have that strange forward bulge. He believes the Smurfs are hiding the snork remnant proboscis (or whatever) under that hat. He also said that there were exactly 100 Smurfs. I don't remember that, but then again I thought the Smurfs sucked.

Except for Vanity Smurf. That dude was G. The high, feminine and lilting voice. The hand mirror. And the flower in the hair, baby! But imagine if the Smurfs were a new cartoon for 2005. There would be a total uproar over "gay" Vanity Smurf. It's so true. That Parents Television Council would challenge the inclusion of the character and rail on and on about how Vanity Smurf is an attempt to corrupt the morals of our children when really it's a lesson in tolerance because Hefty Smurf was cool with Vanity Smurf and who knows, maybe they liked to spend their free time together. And so many people of my generation probably don't even remember Vanity Smurf so it really doesn't have an impact, anyway. So, my boss and I thought of that dumb little Spongebob hubbub and realized that, as minor as the issue is, it still signifies a step backward for U.S. society.

Vancouver Photo Blowout

2005-03-09T11:59:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos from the trip to Vancouver. What a beautiful place, don't you think? Cities are so great.

What's up with the behind bars? Who the hell took this?!

Master P looks like he owns the joint.

All half-mast because four mounted police had just been killed.

Straight out of a John Hughes film. Weird (Computer) Science

Mayor McCheese

Check out the integrated staircase/wheelchair ramp!

Cityscape

One of many giant bridges connecting different parts of the city.

Although it does have more than its fair share of problems, I'm not someone who hates the United States. But I do have some fascination with other places. I fell in love with Costa Rica when I visited there and it wasn't for the rainforests or tourist attractions because I never actually made it to those places. Just the streets, you know? Everyday goings-on and the normal business of people delights me. Vancouver was much the same. I was hooked the moment I saw the cityscape made up of residential high-rises. It didn't look pretty or sleek or new...in fact, it looked drab and old and unfinished. But something about a city...there's a million lives being lived and million stories to be told.

Artists & Creativity

2005-03-09T00:28:00.000-08:00

I totally went to Vancouver last weekend with Master P and his technogeek coworkers. That's not a slam on them, of course, but just a description. I borrowed a digital camera from student services at the university but, unbeknownst to me, the thing had only a 32 meg card in it, so I have only about 12 photos to put up here. Plus, I left the camera in Master P's car, so I have only about 0 photos to put up here. I'll get them up tomorrow and write a little something about our 15-hour trip to Canada.

So onto the post...

On the first Monday of each month students put on a show in the Ethnic Cultural Theatre aptly titled First Mondays. It's mostly a poetry thing like the Friday night show was. WhatUpThen barely made it there because he was tired after work and it didn't start until 9pm and, strangely, his back had been killing him all day. But I went because I hadn't seen it before. Boy, was it worth it.

Let me tell you, there are some mighty talented young men and women out there writing insightful social commentary, keeping the crowd chill as MCs and...playing upright bass. I gushed about the Friday show, too, and I'm not saying that these kids are all geniuses or the collective second coming of Langston Hughes, but it was good shit. Even more wonderful is to witness the result of the creative process. We see a 20-year old Black man (yes, it's WE ...I can't exempt myself from these presumptions) wearing basketball shorts and his hat cocked to the side and we don't realize he carries a notebook in his bag stained with lyrics that would force anyone to reconsider. It's the creativity and effort and art that I appreciate coming from these students. Do any of my friends write poetry? What are our creative outlets...I don't even know. I'll be sure to find out very soon.

On a semi-related note, I finally watched Ray last night. As soon as it was over I had to IM Master P and tell him what an incredible movie it was. So much of it made me want to cry/tell my Mom I lover her/sing/call you-know-who. It was Amadeus-ian, this portrait of an artistic genius splitting time between the tortured, exploited and likeable blind man and the savvy, awe-inspiring yet insufferable virtuoso. What's it like to be the best of the best? To be in the zone your whole life so that people barely understand you. I suppose when we encounter these special people we've just got to appreciate them and let them soar.

Identity Show

2005-03-05T01:21:00.000-08:00

I haven't been thinking about it as much as before, but still I haven't skipped a day. Still I feel tread upon. Betrayed, then ignored. Still I am so angry. Still I do not understand.

But such is life, I suppose. Tonight was the MIXED UW Spoken Word Show. It was excellent. Especially those teenage poets with all of the angst and vivid emotional storytelling. Teenage angst is cliched, I know, but the way these kids channeled it into sound, clever writing and performed it onstage was tres impressive. Of course, it isn't a good idea to always wear one's emotions on one's sleeve, but I always appreciate people who can get angry, genuinely excited or otherwise passionate about something. Also performing at the show were Jevian (whom I've seen a lot of in the past week and a half, it seems. Interesting how different people just sorta ebb and flow in your life) and the dude who stands outside the student union every day with the giant wooden sign extolling (?) people to praise the Lord. He's like Y'Shua or The Hate Man in Berkeley...the same guy is in every big city, you've seen him. Anyway, he wasn't so bad, nor was he so frightening. Maybe next time I pass by him I'll congratulate him on his performance. You've always gotta give credit for a person who goes up on stage. Whether you're shaking or soaking it up it takes a lot of guts.

(Community) College Ball

2005-03-04T01:55:00.000-08:00

Let's go back in time...

To last weekend, when I attended not one, but TWO community college basketball games. They were the men's and women's games between Shoreline Community College and Bellevue Community College. If you've never been to a community college game, let me tell you, it's just like high school except there are fewer people in the stands. So why the hell was I there? One of my students runs a dance team that performed at each halftime show and my job is to keep my finger on the pulse of the student, so I went. Also, she said there would be dancing girls and my imagination just ran with that one.

The games were entertaining and the shows were entertaining. One interesting thing, though...these are Seattle community colleges. However, I looked at the program for the men's game and one player was from Oakland Technical HS, one was from Skyline HS and one was from Alameda HS. Those high schools aren't in Seattle, they're right down in Oakland, California. I know this because, well...I can almost walk to Oakland (you know, if I ever decided to get some exercise) from the house I grew up in. Plus, I used to work at both Oakland Tech and Skyline. I had to run this by my sister because I didn't think that community colleges recruited students but it couldn't be a coincidence that 3 students from three different Oakland high schools were all at Shoreline CC. Rose said to me: "Didn't you see Hoop Dreams? The guy didn't pass his SAT or something so he had to go to that community college." But Rose, they don't offer scholarships, right? Aren't JC's only like 20 bucks a unit? "Living expenses, Boo," she said. She also told me that City College of San Francisco is a national football powerhouse among community colleges. Players who aren't quite blue chip or who can't get admitted directly to major college programs go to these places for two years, then transfer to more familiar programs to play sports. Somehow this never had occurred to me.

Anyway, learn something new every day. And now I need to watch Hoop Dreams again. I'll add that to the list including Bamboozled, Sideways and The Harder They Come.

One Man's Big Break

2005-03-01T15:45:00.000-08:00

My sister sent me this link to a New York Times article. I guess each of us just has to find our own niche.

Hot Links

2005-02-28T22:18:00.000-08:00

The links are changed now to show sites that I visit regularly because they're supposed to be my recommendations, right?? Trust me, these are great pages...not that flash-in-the-pan kinda temporary shit. I wouldn't steer you wrong.

Louise - She has drive. She doesn't stand for injustice. She's a U.S. woman in Venezuela.

Plastic - God, these asshole posters infuriate me sometimes with their self-important commenting and efforts to sound cultured and intelligent. Take, for example, this comment by Cutta about the Oscars:

I have not seen Million Dollar Baby, so have no real grounds for saying this, but not giving Best Supporting Actor to Thomas Haden Church was a fucking travesty.

So Cutta insists there was a grievous oversight despite not knowing the disparity between the performance he favored and the winning performance. I mean, none of this shit is important when over 50% of graduating seniors at a high school fail the minimum proficiency exam, so when someone displays such "fucking" emotion over it, it's kinda upsetting. Otherwise, the site is great!!!

Wonda - From what I gather, Wonda is a model for motorcycle and ricer magazines. She also has a dynamite webpage. It is here that I learned about the Paris Hilton cellphone leak before it was on cnn.com. Quite amazing.

Sprizee - This woman is emblematic of Seattle. If you're young, hip and thinking of moving here you can read this and get a sense of what your experience will be like.

Listen, Lady... - Dude reads comics, watches movies, sings and socializes. It's just like my fantasy.

Secret Storm - An excellent writer from Toronto. I know nothing about half the subjects but the expression is so skilled I can't help but be hooked.

If you look at all of these you must be pretty bored, but since you weren't doing anything anyway it will be worth your while.

News and Basketball Philosophy

2005-02-28T15:37:00.000-08:00

At my desk this Monday afternoon enjoying the graduate student cuisine of instant oatmeal and Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper. To be honest, the stove has been hopping lately. Yesterday I finally made that Italian sausage sandwich I had envisioned for several weeks after seeing Rachael Ray prepare it on 30-Minute Meals. A sourdough roll and your favorite basil-infused sausage link, both sliced in half lengthwise, saute some onions and red bell pepper, throw the bread in the pan for awhile to toast it then stack it: bread, provolone, sausage, sauteed veggies, sprinkle black pepper, bread. The cheese will melt from the heat of everything else and you're left with a gorgeous-looking, filling and totally unhealthy summit of tastes. So good that I made another one for breakfast this morning.

This morning in class my professor took some time after the lecture to impart some wisdom. He told us that he had open-heart surgery before the start of the quarter and that he had taken the time to reflect on life and what is important, as I imagine many people in life-threatening situations do. His field is wildlife biology and it is his passion but, he said, the important things in life are one's relationships. With friends, spouses, parents, lovers, colleagues and even strangers. Even God, he said, although I amended that to a relationship with oneself. The relationships don't all have to be positive; it's naive to imagine we each can be friends with everyone we meet. But he said to let others know how you feel. My professor took the opportunity to talk with his family before his surgery and he felt it was a liberating experience, and he felt lucky to have the chance to talk to them after the surgery, too.

Maybe relationships are like cultivating flowers in a garden. Actually, no, because there's effort coming from both sides, not just the gardener tending to his plants. No metaphor offhand, but regardless just gotta maintain those relationships so they don't become wilted flowers...although it's not a garden...am I rambling now?

It's 11pm now...had to go to work before I could finish this. Also, I'm drinking Pacifico. Just giving you setting. So this post was supposed to be about basketball as metaphor for life. I've been playing well recently but this stuff runs through my head all the time. There are a few maxims of basketball I keep in mind that translate to real life:

1. Keep Everyone Involved - a basketball team is very dangerous when every person on the floor is a threat to score. So even if there is a weak link on the team it's important to get him or her an easy bucket so that the defense has to pay attention. The opponents will win if a team doesn't take advantage of their double-teaming. So, for life, this is essentially bringing the disadvantaged along with you. Everyone has something to contribute.

2. Hustle and Play Defense - I think defense is easier than offense; be responsible for your man except when there's an immediate threat to score, then you guard the basket. On offense one must set screens on and off the ball, switch directions, crossover, pump fake and move in $ynchrocity with one's teammates. The point, though, one can't be ignored over the other and both must be done well. In life, we are all capable of great things so why not do them? It's like Justice Page from last week excelling in the NFL and becoming a state judge. Do it all and do it all with excellence.

3. Feed the Hot Hand - When someone is hot let him take over...it can make the game really easy. What this means in life? Umm...uh...give recognition and support when deserved?

4. Be a Good Sport - Because it's just a game. Compete, exert yourself and experience the thrill and agony, but in the end be able to laugh, smile and be content. I think that's life lesson-worthy. James Worthy.

Minor Alterations

2005-02-24T00:16:00.000-08:00

How do you like the eyes photo for the profile? I'm just really into taking photos of myself lately. So vain! The idea came from Street Fighter Alpha 3, of all places. Eyes are great, though...probably the most expressive parts of our face...certainly the most beautiful. They say it's like looking directly at one's soul. I decided to look away, however, so that the photo will seem contemplative or hopeful.

I'm gonna make some more changes maybe this weekend. The links section ought to be more representative of the links I actually use. That means out with Hyperwest, which I never look at, and in with five other great pages to join Louise's chronicles in Venezuela.

Questionable Tattoo Page

2005-02-22T23:09:00.000-08:00

There's a new link in the Links section. Questionable Content is this great web comic I ran across a couple of weeks ago. Great artwork, and the dialogue is really clever and funny. Kinda Frasier-ian what with the witty banter between Marten, Faye, Dora and Pintsize. I replaced New Jack Swing 4Ever, well, because although I really do listen to old New Jack nearly every day, reading about it just doesn't have the same appeal.

Glanced at the UW Daily this afternoon at work and found an article about precautions when getting a tattoo. It frowned upon getting a tattoo of the name of one's significant other because relationships are dynamic. Yeah, I'll say. I'm not saying not to love and to accept love, but beware that after committing to that tattoo you could be hit by the figurative truck. I still just can't comprehend the bizarre and uncharacteristic behavior. Rage, sadness, miscommunication, lack of communication...it's like a thousand song lyrics come true. It's amazing how much easier and faster it is to tear something down than to build it piece by piece.

Oh...made fried rice for the second time in as many days. First time I used too much oil. This time I used less oil, sliced more carrots and yellow and red bell peppers, added pepper, less soy sauce, some celery and an egg...it was really good.

One last quick thing that deserves more space than I'm gonna give it tonight since it's closing in on midnight. Attended the Justice Alan Page talk this evening. Black Justice on the Minnesota State Supreme Court and former NFL MVP...he looked like what Taye Diggs will look like at age 59, that is, if he grows some facial hair. Won a national championship at Notre Dame as a college player, went to 8 Pro Bowls as a pro and, of course, that MVP award as a defensive tackle, of all things. As impressive as that is, he attended law school while playing pro ball and worked his way up the lawyer ranks in Minnesota, became D.A., then State Attorney General and now he's a judge. Either one of those paths of accomplishment is phenomenal and this guy did both...and he's still going! Anyway, Coach Tyrone Willingham (pretty accomplished in his own right) introduced him and Page talked about the importance of education...demanding excellence and equality. That's right up my alley as an Education student. He also talked about the importance of the judicial system and impartiality of the judge. A judge's purpose, he said, isn't to impose his will but to impose his judgment....that's why they're called "Judges" not "Wills". It was impressive to see a person who clearly has a vested interest in seeing certain things happen be able to set his will aside and use only his judgment. I've always wanted to be a judge and I've been called a person with great integrity...have I lived up to that compliment? I think...and hope, I have. It's only the right way to be.

Tru Blogga

2005-02-17T23:04:00.000-08:00

What up, then?

No real post, I just think this photo is G. Yes, I used "G" as an adjective. I ought to make it my profile photo.

Sugar Sugar Candy in my Mouth

2005-02-17T22:35:00.000-08:00

Those of you who know me personally know that my favorite candy is Brach's Marshmallow Eggs. The label actually says Bunny Basket Eggs but I'm too hard to allow those words to escape my mouth...yeah, right. As if marshmallow eggs sounds any better.

So, after work I walked up to the grocery store to buy celery and carrots for my soup. Oh? You'd like background information? I never cook much here in Seattle because I don't have good supplies or utensils in the apartment. And that's still the case, except last weekend I bought a medium-sized pot and a long-handled spoon. I also bought a dress shirt, cream-and-brown Pumas, five pairs of socks, two pairs of corduroy pants, a red ceramic bowl and Prince of Persia for the PS2, but that's besides the point. Now I have what I need to cook rather than just prepare my meals. Very exciting. I decided to start with egg drop soup like I used to make last year and it's only fitting since I live in an apartment full of Asians. My roommate from China, whose name I can't remember and who is probably considering moving out after last Sunday's Audio Post Blowout, cooks nearly every day. He'll flip when he sees me in the kitchen using something other than the microwave. Perhaps I'll let him taste my soup so that he can appreciate his own ability even more.

Back to the story, though, I walked in Safeway to find some veggies but out of my eye I caught the cardboard holiday candy display. I'm picky about my candy so normally this wouldn't mean much to me except the display was YELLOW...an unmistakable sign that the Easter candy season had begun. Knowing Safeway doesn't sell Brach's Marshmallow Eggs, I dropped my basket on a checkout counter, left the store and walked directly across the street to Walgreens. "Are they there? Is it too early?" No, man. No, it's not too early. February 17...instead of vegetables, I bought my first 3 bags of Easter candy. I swear, this might be the year that shit kills me.

Audio Post Blowout!!

2005-02-13T20:05:00.000-08:00

WhatUpThen sings Enchantment, Stevie Wonder and even Eminem!! Enchantment is out of my range, so I'm singing an octave lower. Need to work on the ad-libbing. I consider the performance laughable, but then again, that's why I do it in my room. Eminem...well, I'm not a rapper. I'm proud of the line "watchin' ballers while they flossin' in they Pathfinders", though. So, enjoy/fall out of your chair laughing. I do it for you.

WhatUpThen sings "Gloria"

WhatUpThen sings "Overjoyed"

WhatUpThen sings "Rock Bottom"

Call Me

2005-02-13T19:07:00.000-08:00

I just realized that Macy Gray and Prince have songs with very similar titles. Macy Gray's is "Why Didn't You Call Me?" and Prince's is "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" Anyway, I like them both and I find myself singing them often. In fact, I may have already done a "How Come U..." audio post already? Did I? Well shit, then, maybe it's time!!

The Little Things

2005-02-13T13:36:00.000-08:00

One little thing in life that's enjoyable...talking at the movies. You know, you're at the movies watching something worth laughing at like Hide and Seek and it's totally cliched and predictable and asinine so you enjoy the moment with your friends right then and there. Ha ha, why is he going in the cave alone? Snicker snicker, Elisabeth Shue driving up for a booty call! Hee hee ho ho, this is just like The Sixth Sense! Anyway, it was fun to go out. Dinner at Beppo's and I'm still full. The other couple behaved as if they hadn't seen each other in a month! I'm talking jaw-dropping PDAs. No such physicality between WhatUpThen and his date, but I'm just glad we get to do it again.

Also, happy birthday to Eric. Are you 26 now? That doesn't seem right. But I guess you weren't born in '80, so it must be. Damn dude, hella old! I wish you a happy year and I know it will be if you refuse to simply fall into place.

In life, the script flies by fast
And we don't know how the roles will be cast
The outcome is unclear
But I read on without fear
Knowing I have friendships that last

VaginaVaginaVaginaVaginaVagina

2005-02-12T00:50:00.001-08:00

I'll admit that this is kinda the second time I've seen The Vagina Monologues. A few years ago there was a production at Cal some friends and I went to. Damn, what was it called? I think it had some Indian name and it was essentially TVM: South Asian Edition. Noni Bat, was that it?? Oh, hold on...I just googled "South Asian Vagina Monologues" and found the title. It's Yoni Ki Baat...guess that translates directly to "talks of the vagina". Quite nice. I wonder what will turn up if I just drop the "monologues" from those search terms? Anyway, so I saw Yoni Ki Baat before but I wanted to see the original, you know? If the spinoff production was so satisfying (especially the performance by that one disturbingly attractive young woman who also sang in the Golden Overtones and why am I thinking about this several years after the fact?) then the original had to be, well...orgasmic?

Maybe it's because I'd seen it once before, but it all just felt so contrived to me. Female readers stop here. Please sign a mental release stating that you won't cease reading Ice Climber based solely on the content of the next few sentences. I don't know how many times I looked at my watch during the show. I found myself thinking: "Yeah, yeah people make a big deal out of menarche and society makes you stuff it with dry cotton and your vagina is angry and if it wore clothes it would wear red leather because you are all just so badass don't you realize that Elektra has already left theatres and it probably only made 25 million and I hope the suit Jennifer Garner wore was actually vinyl so the producers were able to save a little bit of money but seriously could you hurry up and get off the stage so we could see the next freakin' act?"

And some of the men jokes..."The next monologue was written by a woman who had a good experience with a man," cue laughter. Dude, that shit's not funny. It's clever but it's not fucking funny and holy shit why am I taking this so personally oh yes it's because I'm thinking of my own experience and I hate to see it boiled down into dumb sitcom-caliber cliches. Annnnnyway...I see I'm channeling my inner Neanderthal so I'll quit. All in all, though, it was better the first time around.

Worktime Blogger

2005-02-10T18:48:00.000-08:00

Interesting thing about a salaried job...despite not having submitted a timesheet, I've already been paid twice! It probably is a good idea to fill those things out, though...maybe during this downtime at work.

That's right, it's my first-ever worktime blogger post. Things are kinda slow right now. Filipino American Student Union had a giant meeting and leftover cake and, well...let's just say I don't like to waste food. My badass book project for work is finally done and the ECC is decorated with a dozen lovely posters created by our student graphic designer. Somehow I've gotta get images of these posters on this site. Maybe I can borrow Master P's digital camera for the weekend.

I really ought to get the camera because it should be a decent weekend. Got some cash now so a trip to Macy's is in store. Am I the only straight male on Earth who would admit that Macy's is his first destination after payday? Gonna see The Vagina Monologues...the real one, for the first time, oh only about 5 years after it was all the rage. And, (ho ho!) there's a d-d-double date on the horizon for Valentine's weekend! I'd like to pretend this happens often enough that I'm not crazy-excited about it but, alas, I cannot. So, yeah I'm looking forward to it. This is my most eventful weekend in some time, it's gotta be recorded for posterity. Oh yeah, and I have to get back to work.

J-Church, N-Judah, K-Ingleside

2005-02-05T22:33:00.000-08:00

Following an entertaining, yet ultimately time-wasting, bleary-eyed IM chat with my ex's fiancee at 7am Saturday morning, I spent seven hours at place where I normally wouldn't be caught dead...a church. I went to churches twice during all of 2004 only for very special events. Before that...who fucking knows when??

One of the UW student groups I advise is planning to bring an anti-racism workshop to campus for faculty and staff to undergo. My boss and I figured that if I'm going to help the students execute the workshop that I ought to at least go through it and get the experience myself.

It was held at Freedom Church in West Seattle. It's a Black church housed in an old Safeway building. Looking around, one can tell it was formerly a supermarket but it looks very nice with pews (is that the right word? Church and WhatUpThen don't really mix) installed and a podium/lectern and even microphones and drum set!

The workshop itself was moving. One of my profs has a system about meaningful things...he says to ask yourself whether something touched you, whether it pushed you or whether it moved you; this Undoing Institutional Racism training was most definitely the latter of the three. It's completely inappropriate to place the session in a nutshell, but I'll try. There's no doubt that racism is a reality today, but the workshop leaders threw out some definitions that I hadn't heard before. If racism is a process by which whites, based on their skin color, are afforded benefits that others don't receive, then all White people are racist and no person of color can be racist. Isn't that some provocative shit?! Essentially, they are using the idea of institutionalized racism to define "racism." It sounds a little less pointed when you say: "All White people benefit from institutionalized racism while no person of color benefits from it," but I am starting to believe that the automatic benefits are what distinguishes racism from prejudice, hatred and bigotry, which we know people of all colors, nationalities and sexes are capable of.

Anyway, it was also good just to hear everyday people talking candidly about their experiences and about what we need to do. In the real world it is so rare that people talk openly but everyone appreciates it when it happens. It did rankle me a bit each time someone credited God, told me that they were blessed or when I had to pretend like I was praying in a group. But one thing I can say about these church folks, they were welcoming with open arms. Don't get me wrong...I'm not about to go all Vaya Con Dios on you, but being in that setting really makes one examine oneself and that's something I needed to do right about now.

Lunch Buddies

2005-02-04T01:00:00.000-08:00

Dr. Emmert, WhatUpThen and Rachael!!!

University of Washington President Dr. Mark Emmert is a man with considerable knowledge and experience in academia. Prior to his hiring at UW, Dr. Emmert served as the president at LSU for 6 years and as the chancellor and provost at the University of Connecticut for four years. Dr. Emmert pioneered the National Flagship Agenda designed to raise the academic standing of UConn to place it among the nation's best universities. LSU took on many of the ideas laid out in that plan when Dr. Emmert arrived and several other major universities have followed suit. Dr. Emmert has also worked in administration at the University of Colorado and at Montana State University. He is no stranger to Washington, though, having graduated from the UW with a bachelor's degree in political science before earning his master's and doctorate in public administration.

In about 11 hours, WhatUpThen will attend lunch with President Emmert in a rare forum for students. It's not everyone, though, out of over 35,000 students enrolled at the school only 50 special individuals were chosen to attend. What, you might ask, makes WhatUpThen such a valued member of the University of Washington community that he would be among the select few chosen to learn from the president and vocalize student and community issues on such a rare occasion? Well ,one night, I was up at about 4 in the morning playing Mario Kart Advance, trying to complete the Rainbow Road on 150cc. It's extremely curvy, there are few walls and the computer drivers are very fast so it's a tall order, no doubt. Suddenly an email from the ASUW President appeared in my Inbox saying the first fifty students to reply with their name and ID number would get to have lunch with President Emmert the next week. The first thought that went through my mind was: "Damn Luigi keeps stealing the item blocks!" The second thought I had was: "Holy shit, that lunch thing is probably catered!" I immediately replied and a few days ago I was informed that I was among the distinguished group identified to meet Dr. Emmert. So that's us at the top...two of a kind. I wonder if I can scrounge up another National Security hat to give him as a gift...

Seriously, though, I will bring up a question about relocating the Ethnic Cultural Center (where I work) onto campus. We are presently three blocks off campus on a site that was supposed to be temporary...back in 1972. It's cool to put of construction for a couple of years, but it's another thing to shelve it for over 30. I doubt my question will spark a sudden and efficient movement to relocate the ECC, but it's better to be vocal than to be silent.

Study Break

2005-02-03T14:11:00.000-08:00

Yes, the hat was free.

This photo will be used as evidence in my stalking trial.

Nothing happening. Just sitting at my desk cranking out a little bit of work. Got bored and decided to give my webcam something to do since I don't really use it anymore. I'm giving strong consideration to the idea of making a real post after work.

I wonder if I have a thing for "Rachel" variants...Raquel, Rachael...does Rochelle count?

More-or-less Milestone

2005-01-31T01:58:00.000-08:00

Counting this low-effort post, Ice Climber has featured 84 posts and has enjoyed 527 hits. Those aren't traditional milestone numbers but it's a nice feeling that this page has survived a ton of schoolwork, a tumultuous and computer-scarce summer and blows to its ego from awareness of damn entertaining weblogs such as this one and this one. But WhatUpThen will make a promise now to himself and to all of you who climb the mountain...uh, yeah, I'll keep trying to make it better. Enough. Go watch Maria, Full of Grace.

New Link

2005-01-30T23:23:00.000-08:00

I've added a new link down in the links section. Although I haven't yet scoured the entire site, WorkingForChange includes several newspapers columnists that I like. It's really a voice of...let's say "mainstream progressives." Ellen Goodman, Bill Moyers, Molly Ivins, Byron Williams...generally intelligent writers who aren't as run-of-the-mill as they ought to be. Plus, the site has This Modern World and The Boondocks -- two strips that make the comics page worthwhile.

In other news, WhatUpThen bought a new book. Someone call the fire department.

Class Notes

2005-01-29T04:01:00.000-08:00

Another late night with not enough work done to justify the hour...but I do have some ramblings:

If you're white, in college and you want to be perceived as cool, start attending meetings of minority group organizations in your area. It might be awkward at first, what with people wondering if your grandparents were of some particular ethnicity or if you just got too sloshed and wandered away from the frat boys' turf, but eventually the silent accolades will stream in. For bonus points, become an officer.

Does anyone else become strangely proud when noticing a large wound on their body for the first time and having not the slightest idea where it came from?

Honestly, if you're walking in with your punch card to get your 11th burrito free you've got some sort of problem.

Yes, Dennis Quaid really does look like Vince McMahon. No, I'm not sure which one should be more upset by this.

I've played basketball aganist this man several times. He walks his way up the court, shoves people while trying to grab rebounds and during a jump shot he either makes a kissing noise or exclaims: "Daddy...love him." Complete asshole...that is, until I saw him on CNN interviewing Arnold Schwarzenegger. Now I just can't decide whether to respect him or not.

Did Clay Aiken win something? Is he special? Why are people still mentioning his name in articles?

Four weeks into the quarter and I have no idea what my biology professor's name is.

Is it just me or is a deep-voiced woman just the sexiest thing? There must be something physiological about that. Like maybe deep-voiced women ovulate twice per month. I must find out for myself.

Hidden pleasures from staying up until 4am...Bosom Buddies is on TV RIGHT NOW!!

No one asked, but since getting paid I've bought a Fossil Arkitekt watch, some new Nikes, a new cell phone and 4 enchiladas from Taco Del Mar. I was tempted to go buy an iPod this evening, but you know what they say: A fool and his money are soon parted. Aack!

Heh, a fool and his girlfriend...

If you want to see a grown man cower and run away just put him on a racquetball court for the first time in his life. It's comedy, you know.

God, this show is dumb.

Yeah, Napoleon Dynamite was pretty good. But, come on, it wasn't all that. Way to get some Jamiroquai in there, though. Go producers!

Alright, then. Time to go to bed, get up and get back on track. Love you all out there...make today a good one.

Power of Blogger

2005-01-25T01:20:00.000-08:00

Good article on people blogging their emotions here.

Good ol' SFGate!

WhatUpThen is certainly one of those emotionally guarded individuals. It's very rare that you see me bare my soul on the Ice Climber and, even then, we're discussing a muted version of whatever the feeling is. I really appreciate those people, though. There is certainly a feeling you get...some familiarity as if you really know these people. Hell, as crazy as Wonda is, I felt for her when Steve cheated on her with Lora...now why would I possibly pay attention to these random people? That's just the power of Blogger!

Clever Words from a Clever Man

2005-01-24T13:12:00.000-08:00

I'm on 24, so I didn't see all that much Johnny Carson. Maybe my parents didn't even let me stay up that late back then. But I've seen some episodes and some monologues and I had a bit of respect for him. Enough to want to read all of the tributes and obituaries. While scouring them I found this reprinting of a monologue. Kinda funny, but I completely forgot where it came from. I apologize to you out there, but read and enjoy. Thanks Johnny Carson.

A Carson monologue given as a tribute to the newly-fallen Soviet Union in 1991, with "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" played in the background:

Democracy is buying a big house you can't afford with money you don't have to impress people you wish were dead. And, unlike communism, democracy does not mean having just one ineffective political party; it means having two ineffective political parties. ...

Democracy is welcoming people from other lands, and giving them something to hold onto — usually a mop or a leaf blower. It means that with proper timing and scrupulous bookkeeping, anyone can die owing the government a huge amount of money. ...

Democracy means free television, not good television, but free. ...

And finally, democracy is the eagle on the back of a dollar bill, with 13 arrows in one claw, 13 leaves on a branch, 13 tail feathers, and 13 stars over its head — this signifies that when the white man came to this country, it was bad luck for the Indians, bad luck for the trees, bad luck for the wildlife, and lights out for the American eagle. I thank you.

WhatUpThen Singing "St. Patrick's Day"

2005-01-22T04:32:00.000-08:00

Quite a voice on that young man

Background music is extremely faint. Coupla missed notes and I screwed up the transition to falsetto. Singing quietly because of roommates. I've got to do this in the daytime.

Go. Sit. Watch.

2005-01-22T03:20:00.000-08:00

Okay okay, I still haven't seen White Noise but, trust me, Michael Keaton is my favorite actor. Plus, I may have missed my opportunity because it doesn't seem to be playing in University District theatres anymore. It'll be tops on the list when it comes out on video...no, really, it will be.

WhatUpThen is dishing out the stars for a couple of current movies, though...The Woodsman and In Good Company. The Woodsman is bleak and hopeful at the same time and the climactic scene is jaw-dropping. Fine acting, fine writing. The only thing is that everyone seems connected to molestation in one way or another. For how many out of every ten people is this a vivid reality? I'm sure it's more than I realize.

In Good Company has Quaid, Topher Grace and My Girl Scarlett Johansson. Let me give you a chronology for that: first I saw Ghost World, then I saw An American Rhapsody, after that I started calling Scarlett Johansson My Girl Scarlett Johansson, then I saw Lost In Translation, then The Perfect Score, then My Brother the Pig, so to sum it up I'm a big ScarJo fan. Quickly, it's sappy but not too sappy, has its message about monopolization and corporate unification, is funnier than I would have dared it to be and, well...it's enjoyable. So go spend your money.

And then there's Briana showing some of that New York resilience.

And, totally unrelated...how did the Suns lose that game against San Antonio??

Do You Have The Time...

2005-01-15T23:28:00.000-08:00

To listen to me whine?

As I sit at my desk this late hour drinking Cerveza Pacifico and listening to New Jack Swing...

I'm still thinking about her. It is difficult when one has lost the object of their affection. Life is unfair, I know. There are situations where I know I must deal with it...move on...grin and bear it...tough break, kid...life's a bitch, then you die. That last one is a personal favorite of mine. But I still can't get over how it happened. What did I do to her? Why didn't she warn me?

Then there's the motherfucker who appeared out of thin air...

It feels like I wrote the proposal, did the research, formed the argument, typed the essay and slid it, stapled and polished, into a yellow, manila envelope. Then, while I was away, the new employee signed his name on my envelope and turned it in to the boss, just as she was looking for some material to review. When did we hire this new guy? Why is he in my office? What do you mean I'm fired? Haven't I been a good employee? I really need this job! I love working here!

If you're wrongfully terminated from a job, you can sue for damages or to get your job back. But if you're wrongfully terminated from a relationship you can't sue. If you complain or retaliate it looks like you're the crazy one. How frustrating is it to be put into a situation where you have no options? And no information? And no love? I guess wrongful termination doesn't apply to couples.

Well, enough whining. I'll get over it. Plus, there are people with real problems out there.

Don't Be Ridiculous

2005-01-13T23:27:00.000-08:00

In the Seattle P-I today it says Kraft Foods will scale back advertising on some of its high-sugar and high-fat foods for kids like Capri Sun and Oreos in response to concerns about U.S. childhood obesity. The funny part, though: "Kraft won't cease all advertising of fatty, sugary products such as Lunchables and Pebbles cereal, however -- TV ads for such products will still be seen during adult and family shows such as "According to Jim." The only thing...they forgot to put quotation marks around the word "adult". I'm sure everyone watching "According to Jim" has the sophistication of a nine-year old, so it sounds like a good advertising strategy.

Now that it's on my mind, TGIF has been crap television ever since I was a kid. I looked it up on Wikipedia and they have quite a bit of information on it. I mean, look, when you've been on the air for 14 years (since 1988 but with a 3-season hiatus) and your crowning achievement is Balki Bartokomous...let's just say you haven't been performing a service for the community. Here are some TGIF "highlights" if you don't feel like clicking over:

Sabrina, The Teenage Witch
Hangin' With Mr. Cooper
Full House                   Perfect Strangers
Mr. Belvedere              Family Matters
Step By Step
Boy Meets World - btw, Ben Savage went to my school. I heard he's a jackass.

Sadly, this is the greatest character ever on TGIF

But there's no shortage of trash television today, evidently. In that same issue of the P-I is an article about the TV midseason. Undeterred by the ban on cameras in the courtroom for Michael Jackson's upcoming trial, E! is gonna re-enact each day of the trial using actors. They'll be using the court transcript as their...well, script. All I can think is that the actor (actress, perhaps, since MJ is 5'10" and something like 120 lbs.? Maybe whomever placed second on America's Next Top Model) playing Michael Jackson will get some good career exposure. Otherwise, well...I guess it's good I don't watch a ton of TV these days.

WhatUpThen Singing "One In A Million You"

2005-01-12T01:55:00.000-08:00

Hip then, Hip now

I screwed up the lyrics in the first verse because I don't really know them. Also, I continue to sing in the lower octave when Larry Graham goes up just because it's almost 1am and I don't want to wake my roommate. I should do this more often.

An Example I Follow

2005-01-11T23:35:00.000-08:00

Sprizee is a blogger whose page is my most frequently visited bookmark. I don't know her; she's some woman in Seattle just minding her own business and probably wondering why she gets so many hits from the University of Washington. Thing is, she is the blogging standard I aspire to. She talks about herself, like me. Yet, she is incredibly consistent in postnig frequency where I am a binge poster of sorts. Sprizee is pretty funny--somehow the sarcasm is communicated through the writing. -->

Hang on for a second. I just gotta say that David Bowie's Ashes to Ashes is playing right now on my Winamp. I've heard this song a thousand times...own the CD and everything...but I had no idea this song has words! For like 3 years I thought it was an instrumental. Okay, now Shonen Knife's Gyoza is playing. This definitely has words...

Spiced, minced pork
Wrapped in a small pancake
Steamed or fried
Tastes so good

Fucking Amen!

<-- And Sprizee seems reasonably hip, intelligent and well-adjusted, so there. That's the model for Ice Climber. Tailored to the peculiarities of WhatUpThen, of course.

Work. It's uh, picking up. Heh. Amazing that it's only Tuesday, I only have one class and already the weekend can't arrive soon enough.

Morford: Void Where Inhibited

2005-01-05T15:39:00.000-08:00

This Mark Morford guy (the one with the very nice bio page) seems to write about Bush and the polarization of the United States every week. And in the San Francisco paper, too...he's the perfect example of preaching to the choir and I don't know how effective his formula is compared to, say, Joan Ryan, who actually writes material to make the reader think rather than just nod in agreement. Don't get me wrong, I like the guy. Just sometimes seems his reminders on the backward nature of this country get a little tired. His resolutions column is damn entertaining, though:

"Resolution #6 - More houseplants fewer Pottery Barns. More nipples fewer Parents Television Councils. More relaxed patience less bitter tailgating. More local and sustainable less factory farmed and chem injected. More authentic moans fewer fake smiles. More Nick Cave less Shania Twain. More grass-fed less hormone blasted. More yoga less Monday Night Football. More good porn less Spice Channel. More Whole Foods less Safeway. More truthout and commondreams and AlterNet, less MSNBC and CNN and even the slightest stain of Fox News."

Am I link-happy this afternoon?

Step Into My Office

2005-01-04T15:28:00.000-08:00

From Wildlife Biology Lab:

When the Eastern Salamander mates with the Western Salamander they sometimes produce infertile offspring. But even if fertile, the offspring can have a tough time finding a mate because its courtship methods are out of whack. Neither Eastern nor Western salamanders will recognize or respond to its behaviors --> Hey, that sounds like some people I know! Shit.

I write this while sitting in the back of Epidemiology 513, taping the class for my Classroom Services job. But I won't be working here much longer. In fact, when I get off in about 2 hours I'm telling my boss I quit. "Why?" you much be asking yourself. It's because I got a new job, baby! Graduate Staff Assistant in tha HAAAAAAAOOOOOUSE!! It pays 2.5 times what I'm paid at Classroom Services and with the same hours! It's located on the same block as my apartment! It pays my tuition! I have an office! Did you read that last sentence? I HAVE AN OFFICE!!! Now all I need is a secretary...

Seriously, though, this is a big thing for me. I'm going to be advising all 36 student groups affiliated with the Ethnic Cultural Center on campus and helping them put on their events. I'm going to have to know a lot of people and do a lot of work; it's certainly more involved than any other job I've had. But it really is time. There are many ways I feel I haven't proven myself to other and to me, but I'm ready (oh so ready) to do this.

Fuck, how am I gonna face my boss about quitting Classroom Services? By the time I write this will have already quit, but it's so bad to quit so abruptly and unexpectedly like this. Reminds me of another situation, actually...well, no, it's not quite the same. Oh well, gotta do what you gotta do. I'm sure this job will produce many blogworthy people and stories and stories about people.

HAP #9

2004-12-30T15:22:00.000-08:00

HAP #8

2004-12-27T21:04:00.000-08:00

HAP #7

2004-12-27T02:51:00.000-08:00

HAP #6

2004-12-27T01:27:00.000-08:00

HAP #5

2004-12-26T01:50:00.000-08:00

HAP #4

2004-12-26T01:49:00.000-08:00

HAP #3

2004-12-24T10:15:00.000-08:00

HAP #2

2004-12-22T23:50:00.000-08:00

Holiday Audio Post #1

2004-12-22T01:39:00.000-08:00

Bleary-Eyed Update

2004-12-12T04:42:00.000-08:00

It's 4am and I'm hella fucking tired, but I haven't made a blogger post in over a week. There are so many notes written on the backs of so many sheets of paper but somehow the diligence to simply type the stuff in has eluded me of late. So it's time to throw down the hammer and post and just sleep later. Hell, you know what?? I'm making this an audio post! I'm done with classes, anyway. I only have to wake up sometime to go shopping with Master P. The Helly Hansen store has been calling my name ever since I saw my boss wearing this awesome insulated jacket. Seeing him wear that jacket is what made me accept the job, no lie! Well, that and not having enough change to print out homework at the library.

In other news, it's great to have friends who can save an evening for you. Take tonight for example...I didn't know what I was gonna do. I knew I was 175.8 lbs because I'd just come back from the gym (that's some kind of record for me...who knows the last time I was under 180). But besides that I didn't know much. I felt like Linda Rondstadt and Aaron Neville. But then Cara calls and suggests dinner at Hillside Quickies which sounds like a quality restaurant if I've ever heard of one. It was a vegan place which threw me for a minor loop because the main course was meatloaf. Huh? Oh, I meant meetloaf. But it was excellent, really. I'll certainly be going there again. Plus it was only $5 and you know I liked that. Most definitely a different experience from the $30 I spent at Todai last weekend. Good shit, though.

Afterwards we rented Audition, some Japanese horror film. Yeah, that was wild. It had so much calm setup, then all of a sudden the movie goes all Mulholland Drive on you with an extended and absolutely crazy-incomprehensible-fucked up dream sequence. Hmm....there's remarkably little information about this movie on IMDB. The girl at the Blockbuster counter knew about it and she looked about 17, so I figured it must have been somewhat popular but I suppose not. The torture scene in the movie reminded me of Saw even though I've never seen Saw. That's what reading every review of every movie does for you. Without spoiling it, the plot wasn't far from a desireable fantasy...if only the woman had kept the straddling and scrapped the piano wire. Oh, oh shit, okay...there wasn't any IMDB info because I was looking at the wrong movie. There's a ton of stuff here. Yeah, rent it. You'll enjoy it.

Super-update coming soon!

Ice Climber Awards

2004-12-09T22:26:00.000-08:00

Oh please, please, PLEEEASE don't let my child grow up to be like my cousin. I mean, arrested-FUCKING-development! This girl is in COLLEGE! How is it that she survives? I've said before that the defining characteristic of teenagers is immaturity but she takes it to an extreme. Teenagers have rebelliousness but my cousin has unjustified defiance. Teenagers change their demands; sometimes they want to be treated as adults, sometimes they want to be treated like children -- but my cousin acts like a six-year old. She talks like a preschooler, she buys into stereotypes about the roles of men and women and she acts like she's ENTITLED to everything. I've just never seen anything like it. Is there a psychologist who can study her? I think my 18-year old cousin is destined to have a hard fall in life. For her sake I hope it comes sooner rather than later.

So 2004 is coming to a close. TIME Magazine picked Bush as its person of the year, signifying the person having the greatest impact, good or bad (Did bin
Laden get it in 2001?). Without a doubt, the 2004 Ice Climber Person of the Year is the lovely Raquel Vega. I will discuss her as well as others I'd like to recognize.

E-Money: For showing courage by quitting his job and taking time to unwind and discover how to pursue his passions. And for being a great receptacle for all of the details that don't make it to Ice Climber.

MK3: For being the most levelheaded person I know (including me, which is really amazing) for helping reassure me of my value and sanity and for being eye candy whenever I'm at her apartment.

(And E-Money has just declined his award.)

Mom: She gets too little sleep, she helps so many people and she is underappreciated (the defining characteristic of mothers?). Between taking care of her 88-year old father, working, exercising and doing all of the thankless things mothers do how could I ever complain about the minor little issues in my life? Thanks, Mom, for enabling me.

Cara: Many people say they are tolerant, that they are individuals an that they don't care what others think. No one is any of these things 100%, but Cara comes closer than most. For living your life as you want i to be lived, and for setting a good example. Can't believe her ass just turned 21.

Brian: Fucking Bergondy. Some would call him a college dropout. Some would call him a compulsive gambler. Some would call him a cradle-robber, irresponsible and without stability...and they'd all be right! But B has strong morals and generosity instilled within him, and I get the feeling that he would remain no matter how far everyone else drifts away.

Raquel: For making me happier and sadder than I've ever been before. Really, thank you. She brought out emotions in me I didn't know I had and I'm better off for it. I more eagerly await the next chapter in our saga than with anyone else.

The rest of you motherfuckers try again next year! HAHAHAA! Just kidding, I love you all.

RESOLUTIONS
- Make some incomplete friendships complete
- Finish school and start a new stage in life
- we'll see what else

Should We Make Amends?

2004-12-04T15:50:00.000-08:00

On my way back here from the library this morning I noticed the USA Today on the newspaper rack. It asked whether we should Amend for Arnold, of course talking about a possible constitutional amendment which would allow foreign-born citizens to become POTUS.

First of all, this is purely hypothetical. I mean, the situation exists where some people might want to take steps to get Arnold Schwarzenegger into the highest office, but it's not gonna happen. Not with the collective xenophobia our nation has. I think one thing red and blue-state people have in common is a fierce sense of propriety of the Constitution, and questions about the necessity of an amendment and the capabilities of our natural-born citizens would arise. To pass this amendment would almost be to admit some sort of defeat. That's one way of thinking.

I am fervently opposed to the idea "Amend for Arnold" because I don't think Arnold has any business thinking about the presidency, nor should he have run for governor of California (It's California, people, come on!) But if the question were of someone besides Arnold, for some brilliant and proven diplomat, maybe my thinking would be different. Isn't it best to have the most qualified person in charge? There are certainly foreign-born citizens who know their U.S. history and, more importantly, its recent history and who comprehend the regional cultural nuances and issues people are concerned about. I believe the superintendent of Seattle schools was born and grew up in India. Why should this sort of factor out of the control of the candidate determine his or her eligibility? One could say it's like prohibiting based on race or sex. And would an amendment like this realistically endear more Americans to the idea of a non-White and/or female president?

Could this happen anywhere but the U.S.? I guess Fujimori was president in Peru but, as I understand, he wasn't exactly a fair (or merciful or law-abiding) leader. I mean, imagine an American living in Japan. Brilliant individual, understands contemporary Japanese culture and produces insightful commentary on it. Maybe this person is a water systems engineer who became a lawyer and now has his sights set on public office. Do you think he could become president in Japan? No fucking way. I picked the most homogeneous society I could think of for this example, but I really think the same would apply anywhere. So why is this issue on our newssstands in the U.S.? Our society is more heterogeneous than most. Are we more forward-thinking than everyone else? Or are we ignoring any and all vestiges of nationalism because we are fed up with ourselves? It's a tough call.

Don't Forget, There Is A War Going On

2004-12-03T09:50:00.000-08:00

Thanks for this site: Fallujah in Pictures
And this one: Get Your War On

Where would this world be without individuals who speak up? They deserve the most respect.

You ARE the Father!!

2004-12-02T22:48:00.000-08:00

The work is seriously piling up right now. Lucky for me, though, two of my three classes will be over by Tuesday, leaving me with only the Spanish final and delivering slide projectors to classrooms. It might be time for me to have a computer-free weekend so that I can concentrate on this work. One would think that I haven't been using the computer since I haven't posted in so long, but I have been usnig it a lot, you know...for other things. Let's leave it at that.

I actually wrote this post about the Maury Povich show while I was at work. I love those jobs where you can sleep during work hours or do homework or write Blogger posts. Then again, I guess that's why I get paid $7.80/hour. Have you seen it? There are only 3 or 4 topics ever: unruly children, believe-it-or-not couples, cheating couples and the crown jewel of trash talk show topics...PATERNITY TESTS REVEALED!! Nothing beats paternity tests revealed, but it's sooo bad. Can you imagine talking to your parents one day and your Mom says she went on Maury when you were a year old to find out which of three possible guys was your father?? It's crazy, I tell you.

So the Mom comes in some guy and she always wants him to be the father, but she's not certain if he actually is. She has 3 possible reactions based on the paternity test results:
Remember, the mom always wants a positive test result!
Guy wants + test/Test is +: Mom feels Joyous
Guy wants - test/Test is +: Mom feels Vengeful
Negative test always yields: Mom feels Embarrassed

And for the guys, there are 4 possible reactions.
Guy wants +/Test is +: Guy feels Joyous
Guy wants +/Test is -: Guy feels Sad
Guy wants -/Test is +: Guy feels Embarrassed
Guy wants -/Test is -: Guy feels Avenged (then he gets to yell "Yeah, you fuckin' slut" on national television...great for the kids.

What is the motivation for these emotions? Isn't that horrible if one's parents are ashamed of themselves or sparring with one another? I'm not saying that uncertainty about paternity indicts everyone involved as bad or irresponsible, but to take the issue on Maury is an indictment on the parents' sensibilities. I wish those kids luck.

These shows are trash. They hardly deserve this sort of analysis/celebration. They are pretty entertaining, though. Guess that's why they're still on the air.

Thanksgiving Roundup

2004-11-27T19:46:00.000-08:00

Back in Seattle now, so I can manage a coupla photos here on my computer. Hang on, lemme just put on Atlantic Starr's Masterpiece...aww yeah. Now is time to write a little something. In retrospect, being home was much better than I made it sound a few days ago. A week is, of course, too little time to see everyone so it feels like you're bouncing around from place to place trying to make appearances. Making appearances is for Paris Hilton and, to tell you the truth, I've never really been a fan.

On the bright side, though, all family and friends are doing pretty well, enjoyed success with the holiday cooking and I had one of the greatest shower experiences of my life just last night. A woman's apartment is so different from a man's. In my shower there is a bar of Dial, a Mach 3 razor and a 90% empty bottle of brand-X dandruff shampoo turned upside-down to make sure every last drop can be squeezed out. Contrast this to Brian's girlfriend's roommate's shower which she graciously let us guys use after playing basketball (yes, one at a time). This was my first shower with clear walls instead of frosted which meant I could observe myself in the bathroom mirror. Ooh, but what about steam fogging up the glass? Guess what? There was a SQUEEGEE HANGING ON THE WALL!! That's right, baby. Wipe down the wall and check out that body in all its glory! And I haven't even gotten to the bath products. Do all women have 30 different shampoos, conditioners and bath gels in their shower? Am I displaying my naivete by asking that question? Well, point is, I tried all that stuff and came out smelling like a lime/hibiscus/vanilla/rose-something or other. Whatever, it was great. When I get paid, the first thing I'm gonna do is femme up my shower. Okay, here are some photos:

It's Stouffer's macaroni, but I made the rest, really!

Rosita and Uncle Hector like it

Mom and Dad like it

This is how you know it was good.

Thanksgiving in Tha Haaaaaaaouse!!

2004-11-25T22:42:00.000-08:00

Okay, this is pretty unbelieveable. On the news they just said that the average American eats 3000 calories at their Thanksgiving dinner alone. First, that's a suspiciously round number for an average, and second, that would be truly amazing. Americans eat a lot of shit there's no doubt, but 3K in one meal as an average?? That means some people are putting away four thousand, forty-five hundred and maybe even five thousand calories? Crazy. Also, realize that WhatUpThen isn't a big calorie counter but he's probably no longer 182 pounds.

So I had the Thanksgiving cooking duties this year. Move over, Rachael Ray! Actually, don't go too far. Here, why don't you sit in my lap while I show you the wonderful feast I created. I did forget the cranberry sauce, the parmesan cheese and the artichoke hearts, and it's not like I made the meal from scratch or anything, but I was rather proud with the finished product. Turkey, candied yams, stuffing, baked spinach, greens, salad, macaroni, rolls, apple pie...and, of course, each of those dishes is far more complex than their one or two-word titles. The greens,for example...gotta wash the collard greens, then fry the bacon and save the bacon grease and mix in the thyme and add the liquid to the greens then cook them for hours, all while preparing the other foods. It's a process. I appreciate those people who really can cook...like my Food Network girl. I'm so buying her books.

State of Being Adrift

2004-11-24T15:55:00.000-08:00

Back at home again for Thanksgiving holiday. It wasn't so long ago that I was here so why have I forgotten how it works? Bored when I'm at home yet feeling guilty to be away. I guess that's what happens when you visit home at age 24...you feel like you're on a leash. Plus, I'm generally depressed for the usual reasons.

It's been a decent week, at least, though. Uncle Hector is still bouncing off the walls (getting his photo in the archive is a high priority), grandfather is coherent enough to talk about why I shouldn't waste money seeing Alexander, and I've gotten to see lots of friends that I wish I could see every day (sigh). Hmm...maybe downgrade "every day" to "more often." Much more often...yeah, that's about right. Had three drinks without throwing up (it's coming back, baby!) and generally, well...decent, not spectacular. Blah. Next paragraph.

Have I mentioned Mr. Brian on Ice Climber before? If not, then congratulations, I'm gonna talk about you now!! I am excited about Brian's new girlfriend because, quite frankly, the 18-year old, smoking, swim instructor wasn't cutting it. So, B, bask in your newfound compatibility and ride the coaster 'til the ride stops.