New Column Today

One last thing:

I have a new column running today in the Daily Nebraskan. It's part reflection, part advocacy, part empathy, part activism. I'm really happy with the way it turned out and I hope you enjoy it.

Also, I wrote two letters to the editor. One was published yesterday in the Omaha World Herald, the other was supposed to run today in the Lincoln Journal Star (but I can't find it on the website). Take a look at www.journalstar.com/letters and www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=610 (otherwise, go to omaha.com, click Opinion on the right of the page, then click Public Pulse, scroll down to the dropdown menu of dates, click Wednesday Feb 18th, click load, my letter is at the top). They're two different letters, both about the new bill in the Nebraska legislature which would effectively change the method of execution from electrocution to lethal injection (I oppose the bill). I'm really happy about the publications, and I hope this will increase awareness and opposition for this ridiculous piece of legislation.

Alright, that's all! Have a great day.

"I'd memorize Dr. King's 'I Have a Dream' speech, but would slightly alter it, stating: 'I have a dream that we will one day live in a nation where I will not be judged by the density of my bank account or the tag on my shirt, but by the content of my character.'"--Collin Sullivan (from my column today... [sorry to quote myself, but i like this line])

Busy Time for Blood (and other stuff, too)

Man, I'm so tired!! I've been swamped this week, for sure. But, thankfully, the end of the week (Thurs/Fri) shall prove to be much less stressful than the previous four days.

Three tests, a project, and a 2-page story (in a second language, mind you) all within the first three days of the week. Busy busy busy. Plus, I have RA stuff I need to do (coordinate activities, make people aware of said activites, make people aware of other stuff [social issues and the like], etc etc) AND I've signed up to donate blood today. I'm on duty tonight and Mike Weirr is going to be speaking on campus. He's a producer for "The Simpsons," quite possibly the greatest television show in the medium's short history. I might not be able to see him, partially because I could be editing a column that (hopefully) will be running tomorrow in the Daily Nebraskan (www.dailynebraskan.com). Plus, I have to read and edit three English papers for my colleagues, as well as three more that were due on Tuesday. And tonight's an easy night! In any case, I can guarantee you that I will sleep very heavily and deeply tonight. Hopefully I'll catch up and won't be so exhausted tomorrow. Oooh, that'd be nice!

On a side note, I really hope my blood goes to good use. I know they really need lots of donations, and I've been told that one pint (that amount a donor usually gives) could save three lives. I think that'd be awesome, even just to save one. But imagine! Three! Oh man that'd be a great day. I don't care how tired I am, I'd feel amazing! Plus, I guess there's this new technique that's totally safe which allows for twice the amount of blood to be drawn in the same amount of time. Hopefully I don't pass out. But, I figure, my blood will likely regenerate. If others need to take this slightly-used life juice, so be it. Have as much as you want, so long as I can still keep enough to keep me alive and comfy.

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom."--Thomas Carlyle

Thin Line Between Reality and Fiction

I've been taking this Writing of Fiction course, and so, naturally, I've been writing a fictional story.

The frustrating thing is that I've been getting all kinds of ideas for creative nonfiction work. I suppose I could do it outside of class, but seriously I don't have time, which is upsetting. Sometimes I wish I had more time for the things I'd like to do, but I often think that, if I really did have the extra time, I wouldn't use it for the things I wish I would use it for... you follow?

Tonight I was discussing dreaming with a friend of mine. I wonder... in the context of compositional genres, would describing dreams be fiction, or nonfiction? I don't mean something like "Last night I dreamt that..." because that would be straight nonfiction. I mean something like "Walking down the purple mushroom cloud, my feet gave way and I dropped into a small box." Telling it as nonfiction (as all good fiction is told) may blur the line. If this is the case, dreams may be the greatest untapped source of fictional writing we have.

On the other hand, is what we dream actually fictional? It's a perception within our subconscious, while we're unconscious. Is reality anything other than perception? If there was no sight, would color exist? As I perceive my dreams, is that the same as how I perceive non-dreams? I suppose the answer hinges on the definition of reality.

Therefore.... can I use dreams in writing of fiction? They seem pretty real to me.

Have a good night (sweet dreams!)

"Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake."--Henry David Thoreau

Super Bowl Halftime... (yeah I'm on the bandwagon)

I've been hearing all of this talk about the indecency during the Super Bowl's halftime show (by the way, GO PATS!) due to brief, partial nudity, filmed from afar. It seems there's this gigantic hubbub about a breast being broadcast during one of the most-watched events around (though during a part that is probably the least watched of the entire event itself).

I don't understand why this is the problem. People viewing a part of the human body (something that, assuredly, they've either seen before, or will most likely see at some point) should not be what people are griping about. Apparently, one Tennessee woman is so upset, she's suing Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, MTV (who produced the halftime show), CBS (who broadcast the event), and Viacom (the parent company of the two). To read more about this story, check out the Rolling Stone article here.

This is preposterous! The woman claims that this act caused her and "millions of others" to "suffer anger, outrage, embarassment, and serious injury." I guess she's seeking billions of dollars in compensatory and punitive dammages.... WHAT!?! Serious injury?? BILLIONS of dollars?? This is ridiculous. If this woman wins billions of dollars for taking advantage of the legal system for ridiculous reasons, then I think that's a better device to showcase the actual problems that afflict our country.

What people ought to be upset about was how that act (a man ripping a woman's clothes off on national television) reinforces terrible social norms. Things like this are a reflection of and a cause for the dominance so many males feel over females. This, in turn, works to support the structural violence by which we are so afflicted.

Ugh. People complain about all the wrong things! Don't be upset about a boob. Be upset about domestic violence, about social hierarchy, about the fact that women make (on average) 75 cents to every man's dollar! Please, accept the human body, and reject gender roles.

"It did cause people serious injury. I might have carpel tunnel now."--Ryan Dunn, resident on my floor

Pondering Computers and Free Will

Hey,

Have you ever yearned to be a computer? Ever wonder what it might be like to be run by the same central processing unit that sits in front of you? I was thinking about how convenient this might be. Imagine, every time you say something in which all grammar is thrown completely out the window, a message pops up: SYNTAX ERROR. You have the ability to memorize and categorize an AMAZING number of things. Plus, you'd have the ability to hook up, mentally, with anyone else in the world (so long as they're late-model, updated and have the capabilities)!

I think it'd be easier... but not better. Convenience is nice, organization is nice... but I'd rather express free will (which is, in itself, arguable). I don't want to be managed and dealt with by the hands of another. That would be too frustrating.

Anyway, I have homework. Sorry for the babbling.

"The actions of man are never free; they are always the necessary consequence of his temperament, of the receivecd ideas, and of the notions, either true or false, which he has dormed to himself of the happiness; of his opinions, strengthened by example, by education, and by daily experience."--Paul Holbach, The Illusion of Free Will

Tropical Temperatures, More Snow Tonight, "A Crow Left of the Murder," and a New Column

Today's temperatures are in the 20s. In comparison to what we've been experiencing recently, 24 degrees is tropical. I was still bundled up in sweatshirt, jacket, hat and gloves/mittens, but I was smiling more. Today wasn't so bitter... finally! A break.

This'll be short lived, though. Tonight through tomorrow we're supposed to get anywhere from 6 to 12 inches of newfallen snow. That'll bring the total to something like 16-30, depending on where you are (Omaha will probably have a higher total than Lincoln). Ah well. Lots of sledding, hopefully.

Just picked up the new Incubus album last night. Best Buy may be the greatest place for immediate deals on new stuff. I picked up the album with a special edition DVD for $10.69 with tax. Great deal. And what an album. I'm still trying to decide about my favorites, trying to figure out my overall opinion of the album (only on my 2nd listen through), but so far it's great. I mean really great. "Agoraphobia," "Bewar! Criminal," "Sick Sad Little World," and "Zee Deveel" are my immediate favorites. I'll update later, I suppose, after I give it a few more listens.

In other news, I have a column that will be published tomorrow. There must have been some mix-up in the scheduling, because I got 2 weeks in a row, running a column during the last week of January and the first week of February. I asked my editor if it was some mistake, and she said, regardless, we'd better stick to the schedule. Fine with me. This one's about the international arms trade. I think it came out pretty well. I still have to go through with the final edit, meeting with my editor tonight. Expect something pretty good.... if it's not, it means I'm not working hard enough. Check it out: www.DailyNebraskan.com, the opinion page.

Anyway, I'll talk to you soon. Homework and food coming soon.

"On the tip of my tongue an offense is poised and rearing. My intention: a bullet! My body: a trigger finger! ...and my pen is a pistola."--Incubus, "Pistola"

PATRIOTS WIN!!!

Well, folks, it's official. The New England Patriots are the best team in the National Football League. In some heart-stopping, last-minute heroics provided by Adam Vinatieri (certainly helped by Tom Brady), the Patriots sealed a 15-game win-streak when Vinatieri kicked the game winning field goal, putting the Patriots up 32-29 with 4 seconds remaining. Talk about excitement and exhiliration.... I was pacing back and forth for the final 20 minutes of the game! (realtime, not game time)

I thought it fitting (and, at first, ironic) that Vinatieri was the man leading the team out of the tunnel at the beginning of the game. A kicker! Leading an entire team out. Usually a wide receiver or quarterback or linebacker or someone is the first out. But this was the kicker! Then he went on to miss his first 2 field goals. Man, was I hearing it from the Panther fans. Ah well. I suppose I had the last laugh, eh?

Man, everyone back home was SO excited! Except for Al. He hates the Patriots. Sorry Al. Maybe next year the Jets can be the best team in the pros. But not this year. This year it's our PATS baby!

I was thinking about why I get so excited when a team I like wins a championship. I think it's because I feel like a part of it. Friends of mine and I congratulate each other. We cheer and yell and jump and scream whenever something great happens to someone else, who just happens to be on the team I enjoy watching. Why do I like to see them succeed and the opposing team fail so much? I have no idea. But I do like to root root root for the home team. And I'm from New England... sooooo... yes. I'm riled up.

Anyway, I have work to do and sleep to miss out on. Although I'm tired, I probably couldn't sleep at a time like this. THE PATRIOTS WON THE SUPER BOWL!!!

"If you're not fired with enthusiasm, then you will be fired with enthusiasm."--Vince Lombardi