Katrina; Pictures

Here's a couple shots I've found that may interest Tulanians. Click the title of this post for a huge ammount of photos take and submitted to nola.com. If you find any other relevant to individuals who go to Tulane, please post them in the comment section or IM them to me.

The Mushroom
The Church
Frostop
Kokopelli's
Memorial Hostpital
Walmart
I-10 Bridge
CBD
Avenue Pub
Looks like East of Downtown

Katrina; 8/31/05

I suppose it's inevitable that there are looters. And given their main goal appears to be beer, let 'em have it. But when they mention corpse dogs and marking houses with a black 'X' so they can return for the bodies later, you start to realize the magnitude.

I was reading SLC's blog earlier, and she said it well. I feel like those who are even bringing it up with me up here are using it as a water-cooloer conversation. But I can't describe to them the beauty that New Orleans holds, or the utter devastation that it actually is right now. I've stopped trying. So instead we're all just smiling reporters regurgitate the same phrases; "Mayor Nagen says some places the flooding is up to 20 ft," "did you hear the officials reported a 3 ft. shark swimming downtown?"

It's hard when you have that connection. From the accounts I've received, several of my friends homes are swamped. Now, this isn't their dorm or a 9-month-"home away from home." This is their home. And now, for however long martial law remains in effect, they live out of the backpack or a quickly packed suitcase. The current schedule is for Tulane's first day to be Sept. 21st. However, that's not for certain given the projection of at least one month for power to be restored and no estimates are out yet for water mains to be operational. And, until they're successful at plugging the levy, none of that can begin.

I'm not losing sight of the big picture here. The politics and technical aspects, the billions of dollars in damage, "dozens or possibly scores" (or hundreds) of those who didn't make it. But, as I'm sure everyone who's ever been more than just a tourist to New Orleans can attest to, I miss it. I agree with SLC's comments 100%. From riding down Rampart after a long day working in the Quarter, to haggling with cabbies, the ability to sit in a bar at midday for a couple pints and the best Manager's Special po-boy possible, to the transformation of downtown as day flows into night, and being downtown to see the night flow into day.

God, I miss that comfortable feeling. It wasn't just from campus, or the house, or the Bulldog (though, it definitely was at the Bulldog). That comfortable feeling was everywhere in the city. It was the city.

Katrina; 12am

I have heard, either directly or from reliable second hands, that all my friends have made it to safety. However, this couldn't have been a more perfect storm upon a worse city. May peace be with those homeless and poverty stricken, not to mention those tourists who's flights were cancelled.

Though I hope not to find myself as one of many telling a tale of a lost city in the future, I do want to say right now how much love I have for New Orleans. It was my home. The entire city had acquired that comfortable feeling which is rare, at least for me. I am not a religious man, but the well-being of all those effected by the storm are in my thoughts. And to those noble men and women who are riding out the night so that they may provide safety and medical services to those who had no option but to stay, may you have safe passage to those you aim to help and a safe return.

Katrina

My sophomore year I left campus during hurricane Isidore, but stayed for Lily. It wasn't that we were worried about Isidore, but since it was large on a Tuesday and hitting on late Wednesday, that meant a fairly long weekend vacation. Then I also stayed for Ivan. Ivan was an impressive name, but turned out to be an unimpressive storm. But I am more worried now than I was for all three of those hurricanes combined, and I don't even live in New Orleans anymore.

If I were still down there, I'd be doing ok. I'd have made my evacuation plans, or already left, and have made sure all my friends had made their evacuation plans, or already left. Sure, I've given everyone a ring, gotten ahold of most of my friends, and everyone's on their way out. But I still can't bust through this gut-concern over something. I know the specs, what a CAT4 can do to the city. I know the emergency plans for blowing levies and such. Yet, given all this, there's still something in the back of my mind that says the hype isn't just hype. Anyways, I'll be keeping you all in my thoughts over the next few days.

Chain Reaction

Given, I'm not sure what compelled me to get into the world of blogs in the first place. I never really intended to make an "online journal" out of it, though I admit Divergent World has tended that way from time to time. And, being inside the system of blogs, I don't really have the freedom to make fun of "bloggers." Although I agree with a lot of whats been said about the blogs linking to blogs linking to blogs, there is some good that can come out of it. "Mike, 'the undergrad,'" as 2nd years call him, is a 1st year in my Epistemology course. On the blackboard discussion section, he posted a message describing an epistemology blog that's run by a professor at MU with several contributors. It's titled Certain Doubts. In turn, one of the posts on this page is for a philosophy of science blog, titled Obscure and Confused Ideas.

Jonathan Kvanvig, the moderator of the epistemology blog, is actually coming to NIU as our keynote colliqium speaker. Should be a pretty interesting talk. In the meantime, you may (or very well may not) enjoy taking a look at those pages. However, it is a Friday night. I'm off to the Annex.

Love of Wisdom

For the most part, this summer I haven't really had much to write about. Unfortunately, now I have the exact opposite problem. I don't even know where to begin. I'm taking 3 courses for credit, and sitting in on another: Epistemology (theory of knowledge), intermediate logic, and philosophy of science, while sitting in on a Descartes seminar in preparation for the comprehensive exams come March. I gotta say, it is exactly what I've been looking for in philosophy. Given the logic course is going to be a breeze with my modal background, but we're discussing the validity and soundness to the theories proposed by psychology in the philosophy of science course and we're starting with skepticism and semantic externalism in epistemology. It's more the abstract, higher-order approach that I'd been wanting all the while I was taking the political theory and histories at Tulane.

Anyways, once I can find a place to dig in, perhaps I'll post some thoughts on how we can justify having hands...or, perhaps some other topic. Not to say I haven't already began going through my readings. Seems like every day I come home and get all my reading done for the next week the night of. I know, it's odd to look forward to my "homework," but perhaps it's not true demensia quite yet. Afterall, it's not like I have anything else to do when I get home. Though I did make an excellent spaghetti dinner this evening...

But things are good and philosophy students are socially awkward. Oh, and work starts up tomorrow, so maybe a few debaucherous stories will come from that. After all, it is the service industry. Till then...

Namaste.

Post Scripts...

The Outside World

Tomorrow marks my first day of actually having to do things. I honestly couldn't be happier. Sitting around my apartment today, not having yet unlocked the door to go outside (at least, out the front door) I could use a little stimulation. Yeah, yeah, the grass is always greener. But it has been a rare day in my life where I've been too busy.

I guess for most in the ivory tower school starts up tomorrow. For me, this came as quite a surprise last Wednesday. Not an unpleasant one, but a difference from the Aug. 31st start date I was expecting it to resemble. The finishing touch will be when I get out of Epistemology at 8:40 tomorrow evening and am expected at Ruby Tuesday's at 9 for my orientation test. It'll be possible, but tight.

Speaking of Ruby Tuesdays, and life up here in general for that matter, it reminds me of the motto: "Striving for mediocrity since 1970." Or whatever year fits your schedule. I cannot believe how asinine their training manual was. As a consequence, I'm even more ready for my next project. I haven't mention this to many people, but I will be dropping my name into the hat for substitute teaching in the school district around here. It's 80 a day and I'd be getting off, latest, at 2:45. With the schedule I currently have and the one planned for next semester, I'd be able to carry three days a week. My neighbor keeps telling me every sub she knows gets called daily, so that would cover my basic operating budget. Maybe if I start that up and it's working out for me, I can drop down to a few shifts a week at RT or even stop working there for a much easier schedule (read: more road trips to see friends as I would have 4 day weekends whenever I pleased).

Anyways, don't mind the random life update. Until your next regularly scheduled reality disappearing, enjoy the filler content.

Peace.

Post Scripts...

My Current Mood: Echoic

Post Scripts...

Orientated

I had my orientation for the philosophy department today. Not much news, other than a 3.0 minimum and a long couple slides on sexual harassment. But the good point was "amenities." At this juncture, the prof. handed it over to the second years to describe what the perks were about being in the department. Amidst a couple random comments, one guy said there'd be a party at his place for all the grad students tonight. BYOB and all. I was honestly surprised to see how many people ended up showing up. I figured some, maybe most of the first years would go as it was a good introduction to some of the guys, but it ended up being four or five first years and nearly all the second years. It was a good time, though. I met quite a few of the second years, and a couple first years as well. Anyways, it's late and it was a BYOB party, so I'd better cut this short. Leave it to say that I'm content with the way things worked out.


Post Scripts...

Balls

Alright. I know I'm a dork for finding this funny, but this cracked me up.

Before I left my apartment in Monroe for the summer, I took 20 or so tennis balls (a long story for why I had so many) and a piece of cardbooard and, using one of the shelves in the medicine cabinet for a ramp, made a trap for whomever next opened up the medicine cabinet in that apartment. At the time I was just hoping to humor one of the janitorial staff who always look through every cabinet for anything of value left behind. As it turns out, it must have worked. I was back in Monroe doing an odd job over the summer and decided to check on my trap. It was sprung, with a bunch of tennis balls all over the bathroom and into the bedroom. So, taking another piece of cardboard (to keep them in there while I close the door) I re-set the trap. At this point I knew I was leaving, and as it turns out, nobody opened up the medicine cabinet until DW, my replacement, moved in. He was cleaning the sink and toilet when he got 20 tennis balls bouncing out at him. Ahhh...I know I'm a dork, but I'm still laughing about it.


Post Scripts...

The Lighter Side of Buddhism

"One day a young Buddhist on his journey home, came to the banks of a wide river. Staring hopelessly at the great obstacle in front of him , he pondered for hours on just how to cross such a wide barrier.

Just as he was about to give up his pursuit to continue his journey he saw a great teacher on the other side of the river.

The young Buddhist yells over to the teacher, "Oh wise one , can you tell me how to get to the other side of this river"?

The teacher ponders for a moment, looks up and down the river and yells back, "My son, you are on the other side."

This excerpt thanks to the direction given by Isaiah Knows Nothing. Though I just came across his site yesterday evening, I highly recommend it. For more Buddhist Humor, click the title of this post.


Post Scripts...

ID v. Darwinism

The title of this post is linked to WBUR, Boston, which has a program called "On Point." Though it's not a head-to-head debate on ID v. Darwinism, I think the host gives due credit in both sections; the first with Gilder on ID is honestly somewhat frustrating, but the interview with Dawkins is amazing. I highly suggest taking a listen, maybe skipping ahead to the latter half.

It's not that I simply disagree with ID, because I think at it's root there is a little something to it. But to use an anthropomorphed version of intellect, which Gilder directly says they're not doing while indirectly confirming the entire way through, is circular. Naturally, to get an intelligent director to start off the first cells or even macromolecules, you'd need something to start off the intelligent director. And, though I fully endorse the following argument, something tells me even the ID proponents don't think "it's turtles all the way down."

But, regardless of your take on ID v. Darwinism, even if you live in Kansas, the Dawkins portion of the interview is funny. Just a few transcripts to entice you to listen:

[For those who don't know, Richard Dawkins is British. This refers to the recent Kansas decision as well as for Bush.] "Well, it's not that we don't have wing-nuts and creationists in this country, we do...the difference is we don't let them have political power"

[A phone in questioned how human being could come from nothing, how as complex as we are, Darwinism couldn't explain how we came to be] "Well, really the only thing I can tell you is to go away and read a book." [he goes on to explain a few things about it, but then says] "But basically I cannot explain this all in a soundbyte, so go away and read a book."

Anyways, hope you enjoy it. Feel free to leave comments if you've got them.

Post Scripts...

My Rune Reading

What do I need to keep in mind right now? The Cross spread is used to plot the arc of your life and the forces acting on it. It is the most popular spread, giving a very complete view of the situation. Stone Runes are most commonly used for questions about the natural world and things beyond human control. The left rune represents an important element of the past. Algiz can be easily recognized as the antlers of the elk that it represents. The elk can represent victory, but is much more appropriately associated with the thrill of the hunt itself. This rune therefore can portend vigor and success in active endeavors. Also, this rune seems symbolic of a hand with outstretched fingers - a protective hand. This hand may suggest that you will be shielded from things negative - the problems still exist, you are spared the brunt of their force. The middle rune represents a deciding element of the present. Inguz is the rune of completion and fertility. The presence of this rune suggests that tasks which have been initiated will come to fruition. This rune is associated with Ing and Frey, it is this connection that explains its connotations of both fertility and sexuality. The variant of this rune shown here is reminiscent of the twin strands of life, and of the challenge and rewards of bringing together things complimentary. The top rune represents a force that works for you. Isa is the rune symbolizing Ice - cold, stagnant, frozen, and unchanging. This rune suggests heat removed not just from anger or conflict, but from passion as well. Paradoxically, Isa conveys images of slippery slopes and unsure footing, but also of circumstances that have crystallized and become utterly immutable. Remember that in the cold north, ice is not just THE challenge to be overcome, but the very nature of the environment. Be courageous, for you work against this element every day. Will you fight alone or with others against this, our common foe? Is there much worse than lack of change? The bottom Rune represents a force that works against you. Sowelu is a strong symbol, for it represents the sun. Unlike equatorial cultures that may see the sun as a harsh and imperial force capable of causing droughts, in the cold north the sun is a purely feminine force that gives life and allows crops to grow. In dark times, this rune represents clarity of sight and the victory of good over evil. Sowelu is irreversible, as the cycles of the sun and seasons are perpetual. The right rune represents the critical element of the future, at the core of the final outcome. Ken is the rune of light and knowledge. The rune is shown reversed representing a state of darkness or ignorance. Either you are unable to obtain information that you need, or the information is being withheld from you. In darkness there is fear, but remember that darkness does not mean isolation. Friendship and comfort can still be available, although they are not immediately visible.

Downtown DeKalb

Last night my neighbor stopped by to see if I wanted to go grab a couple pints. We ended up heading to "Lord Stanley's Cup," which is in "downtown" DeKalb. For all it's faults, it was a fairly decent bar. Killian's was the best beer they had on tap, but it was only a buck 50 for a pint. However, there was one (3) small problem(s).

Throughout the night, on three separate occasions and at two different tables throughout the bar, I was attacked by the dreaded deer tick. Now, I don't know if anyone is actually squeamish about these insects, but they're not really a problem in the grand scope of things. If they do feed, it takes more than 24 hours to transmit lime disease (if that particular deer tick has it in the first place, which is only about 20 to 30%). But that can be avoid with even the minimalist attempt at a daily shower. Plus they're fairly large, and I could feel each of them crawling on my arm hair far before they had time to sink they're chainsaw into me.

Now, much like SLC, I have nostalgic feelings for the splendor that is New Orleans. It isn't until you find the hummingbird-sized cockroaches that you know your night has been a success and you've made it to Gritt's before sunrise. However, there is a bit of a difference between finding cockroaches, the meek who will inherit the earth, and deer ticks, who's bread and butter is the blood of wildlife, in the middle of a "downtown" bar. Add that to the table consisting of four lesbians (aged 17 to 33), three convicts (two of whom had the sudden realization halfway through the night where they knew eachother from), one midget (who was probably the most sane one there), and all I can say is that maybe it's not so bad being isolated in my apartment until work and school start up. And no, I give you my word that is not an exaggeration.

However, this experiment in actions and reactions is still going good. I can't even begin to give examples or details, as it's not so much one catalysing event as it is just the general feel I get up here. I did end up getting a job. The GM, who I had an appointment to interview with yesterday afternoon, didn't know I was coming nor ever saw my application. But after a 6 minute conversation on who I am, he hired me, references and work experience unseen. I'll be serving tables at Ruby Tuesday's, which is honestly the top of the line in this town. If the next city was less than an hour away, I would look into getting a job elsewhere, but whether you want to go to downtown Chicago, Northwest Suburbs, or Indiana, they're all an hour away. But, to quote ASH, "a chain is a chain", and I made some fairly decent bank back in Springfield working at a chain restaurant. Anyways, that's my update. Once I figure out how to explain this very spooky set of outcomes I'm getting from every interaction that's happening, I'll write more about it. Till then...

Post Scripts...

Albert's Infinite Abyss

"My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind."

-Albert Einstein

Post Scripts...

Nomadic Shedding

CJB recently IMed me to check on how life was treating me up at my new place. I couldn't be more content with the way things are working out. I've hit a couple speed tables (Illinois has speed bumps, humps, and tables, all with distinct definitions) along the way, but overall life has been really good to me. I started describing some things and how they're all seeming to work in my favor, when I stumbled across a the reason for this.

It's part of the nomadic nature. While this might not work for all personality types, my nature allows this to be the proper course of action. Along the lines of "a self-generating, renewable piece of art," (Nietzsche) I described it to CJB as if I was shedding my old skin, allowing the flexibility and mobility to create the desired outcome for myself. Dependent on the situation, I've noticed I'm more free to be who I need to be for things to work out.

Some may start wondering if this means I'm not being myself, but I don't believe this is the case. It's the ability to move freely amongst all the different aspects of one's self. While I was perhaps known as the philosopher, a leader, introspective, arrogant, driven, stern, et al. down South, nobody knows me to be those things, or anything, up here. And while I was surely able to be many things not listed previously when I was in New Orleans, it would have been swimming against the established perception of me. Up here, however, I am able to define my name anew. After four+ years of figuring out who I am, I think I might be better prepared to define myself this time around.

Another good friend of mine, EGC.III, once told me that he missed the old Jeff, that he (the old Jeff) was a lot more fun to be around. Though I didn't know how to take it at the time, I don't disagree with the statement in hindsight. But circumstances change the scope of where one can reside within their expansive personalities. Unbounded, I am under the impression everyone's personality could hold pure compassion and understanding, but sometimes life gets in the way. Sure, I am still the onion of a self that is Jeff. I still hold true to the introspective nature and philosophical pursuits, but perhaps there's more than that to discover and start wearing on my sleeve. In short, I believe that, with life as uncomplicated as it's going to get for the next two years, this is the time to keep working on both figuring out who I am and establishing through action that I am that.

Post Scripts...

DeKalb on a Sunny Day

So forgive me for ranting in the last post. I was very frustrated with the manner in which this company does business, and though I still highly disagree with their practices and code of ethics, I am done dealing with them except for a few minutes every month to write my rent check...provided, of course, they fix my kitchen fixture which needs more than simply replaced bulbs.

However, I've had a great time this past weekend when my parents have been up here. They leave tomorrow morning, early, but it has been a very productive weekend. Thanks to the benifit of certain chairitable organizations, I have a new desk (1920's style), a dresser and another bookcase (can't have too many of those) all for about $60. I also have several nice lamps, thanks to a recently married couple with two of everything. Finally, to round out my warm and welcoming home, I have a new spice rack.

The crowning jewel of my new place, though, is a beer display that would make even TJG and ASH proud. Backlit, with an old neon "beer" sign and my complete collection of pint glasses. I'll send out a picture of this center piece soon. In short, my apartment is coming together nicely and things are falling into place where they should be. DeKalb is also slightly bigger than I once thought. There's a strip of 1st street that connects DeKalb to Sycamore, and these two town share a Walmart, Target, etc. So it won't be too bad of a place to live for two years...though I still need to find a good place to eat and at least one decent place for a pint or two.

As an ending note, I have fairly consistent internet again, and it's at least fairly quick when it is working. Thus, I will be back to my intended goal of steering this in a more palatable direction. Sorry for the life story, and the dissappearing act, but thing should be worth reading again soon.


Post Scripts...

DeKalb

I moved up to DeKalb yesterday, my Blazer laden with my life. I knew I'd be cutting it short when I arrived, as it would give me about an hour to sign the lease and get things done. Well, I honestly wish I had planned for more time. I'm not saying the place I'm moving into is a shithole, but I did have different expectations than what I arrived to find. I was somewhat between a rock and a shitty schedule, though. I was only up here a half of a day when I came up in June. I was scheduled to be out at Joe's that night for the trip to Colorado, so I had to take off without further investigating more apartments. I wasn't too disappointed at this, though, as I thought I had found an exceptional place and a very fair price.

Some things happened which I may or may not have mentioned, regarding how willing the company was to send the application through the mail and then the mix-up of what apartments they still had available. Most of these instances were negative situations, though because they rented out all the single bedrooms, I ended up with a double bedroom for the price of a single w/ study (about $15 more a month). But, unfortunately, that's really the only thing I still got going for me. The trade off was that the apartment I looked at and was supposed to be renting was about 20 years newer (I'll explain this "exaggeration" in a moment) and free of malfunctions. What pisses me off is that this company, I've now come to understand, are used-car salesmen. Maybe this is part of growing up, realizing that the whole world is this way. Maybe this has dawned on others a bit earlier and the sudden impact of this realization has just put me in a bad mood. But I just can't get over the hatred (yeah, hatred) I have for businesses that make a profit on lies. I'm not talking about the sly, persuasive method of highlighting the positive while downplaying the negative. I'm talking about the lie that the apartment I looked at and the number of which was still on the old lease he had to re-write when I was in his office, it was never up for rent. It's one of their model apartments that literally has not been lived in in the 20 years this complex has been up. Yet the deception that up until two Thursday's ago I was lead to believe I was moving into there frustrates me to no end. Having worked for Housing at Tulane for four years, I know about the maintenance and modernization that occurs within large population residences, and to me, it looked like this company was really together to be able to keep their apartments looking that nice. Then, with my life in a Blazer, my clothes and bike on the top and back of the Blazer, they show me the apartment that took that belief about their ability to run a large population residence and shat it right down the toilet.

Since I'll be living here a year, I'll be able to take a bit of the maintenance and aesthetics into my own hands. And it's not a shithole of an apartment (though, in as close to an objective opinion as possible, it's not that far from potentially being one). I'm not pissed about the condition of this apartment in particular, though, I'm just pissed at the intentional disparity created.

Very much disgruntled at societal norms as a whole right now.


Post Scripts...