...All the Razor Perceptions that Cut Just a Little Too Deep...

Melchior turned his eyes, watching the dust dance in the light. his sight seemed unusually keen, for he imagined that he could actually focus on each mote. Hundreds, thousands, then tens of thousands of them were held in his mind as they formed and reformed into exquisite patterns, ghostly images that poised in air only to dissolve and be reborn again.

"What do you see?"

Melchior opened his mouth to answer but couldn't.

"Good. One should be dumbfounded to see reality for the first time -- worlds coming and going like dust in a beam of sunlight."

What the Killers Want

Everyone seems to have some sort of obligatory post about the VT shootings. This is mine. The title of this post is linked to an article on the Washington post (I can't recall if the site required registration, but if so it's free). Here's a brief quote:

"Even more than these gruesomely gratuitous incidents themselves, I have come to dread the campus shooting's ritual media aftermath -- a secondary wave of atrocity, all conducted under the guise of grief, soul-searching concern and an ostensible determination to ensure that no demented loner ever opens fire on his classmates again. Yet the bloated photographs on front pages, the repeating loops of interviews on cable news, the postings of warped creative writing assignments on the Web, and perhaps above all the airing of Cho's self-pitying, quasi-messianic video clips on every network all help ensure that similar incidents will indeed recur -- and soon."

I know; it ironic to write an editorial criticisizing the promotion of a by-product of the editorial, itself. But I still think Shrivers is justified in his piece. Anyways, that's all I'm going to say about the issue.

rBGH

Labels: Vegan

Johari Assessment

So, here's kind of an interesting webpage I came across. No worries, it's not a test or questionnaire or anything. Just a couple clicks on what personality traits you think I have, then you get to see what conceit I assigned to myself (and where we overlap). Give it a go, and then drop me a comment with your own Johari site and I'll fill it out.

Madison!

Without hesitancy or any coy slights-of-word, I'm going to Madison!

This is a decision made after a long process of pro's and con's, not to mention a long period of waiting to actually receive an offer. I was right on the lip of the waiting list for awhile now; yesterday I received the offer of admission and today, the officially deadline across the country for graduate programs, I accepted that offer.

Naturally, there are a multitude of complex motives and circumstances that influenced this choice. True, I only had a couple schools to consider (Boulder had some financial issues that, on the advice of an old professor, caused that option to be eliminated). However, I couldn't be more excited about this. The tally to the left has since been deleted and today is the last time you'll see the "Application" tag.

Oh, and perhaps now I'll finally be somewhere people will want to come visit (I'm looking at you two, SLC and JMD). I'm thinking of having Thanksgiving at my place next year, so to the gang in general, how's stuffed squash with a mango salsa, sassafras couscous with chickpeas, and sweet potato pie sound (don't worry, I'll stay away from the eggplant)?

In sum, good news all around. I'll be updating a bit more as the week progresses.

Some Interesting Links:
Madison's Philosophy Department
Map of Madison
Wiki-Madison
Definition of an Isthmus
Official Page

Another Post-It Repositioned

In an effort to get my incredibly pissed off post off the top of the page, I've got some good news. Don't get me wrong, though, as a significant layer of me is still fuming (what can I say, my personal identity is like an onion [just keep pealing...you'll find a center]).

Ok, enough with the elusive metaphors; on to the good news! I just got an e-mail today from CU Boulder with the news that I am on a "very short" wait-list. By the diction used and the information as to when he expected to hear back from the first set of offers, I can only surmise that I fall somewhere within the top three spots on this wait-list. It's not the best news possible, but it definitely adds a layer of hope to an otherwise miserable day. The side-bar is updated, now, and I'll actually be taking an active approach in e-mailing to find out what's holding up the other three schools I have pending. Also, now that it's the end-game I'll be bumping up the actual postings in addition to simply updating the sidebar. Look for tough decisions soon.

Current mood: Calm Storm

One Word

Ill: adj.

1. of unsound physical or mental health; unwell; sick: He felt ill if ever the name came up.
2. objectionable; unsatisfactory; poor; faulty: ill manners.
3. hostile; unkindly: ill actions received.
4. evil; wicked; bad: of ill repute.
5. unfavorable; adverse: ill fortune.
6. of inferior worth or ability; unskillful; inexpert: an ill example of scholarship.

It's amazing how one word with it's various meanings covers every thought you'd like to express at the moment.