Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Day to Remember: December 19, 2010

This post will be similar in structure to this one from many months ago. I plan on making these a bit more uniform in title, as well. I envision reading these long from now and perhaps being glad to have recorded them. I guess we'll see.

I suppose I could technically start the "day" at midnight when I was playing Magic with some CA friends in Vent. I don't think I won a single time, but it was enjoyable to test wits and pseudo-randomness and a great way to wind down after an intense and unsuccessful finals week. Plus, I was a little tired of high-strung action with the new TF2 update.

...Wait. That was Saturday morning/Friday night. Still, that's an important contrast to make that'll carry over into Sunday. Let's try this again.

From midnight until 2AM I am trying to piece together my extremely late M2G2 article. I both completely forgot and was too tired to complete it in time the previous night, which still, of course, leaves me culpable, but that's beside the point. It's another round of "Success", meaning the articles in which I tally what songs that I suggested were actually put into games. Turns out a substantial amount. I go to bed pretty soon, though, because I know I need to be up early for the rest of the day's events.

Wake up at 8AM. Get up at 8:20AM, the lazy bastard I am. Get ready to leave and start driving home a bit after 9AM. Make it home for just a bit before setting off to Kennesaw Mountain for my brother's Eagle Scout project. We get there earlier than anyone to meet the guy who coordinates these things and knows what's going on. It's cold, but we all sign some paperwork and step inside for a bit to wait for others.

My brother, the head guy, and I talk about various topics in the warmth of the indoors until people start showing up. Several more than originally anticipated! We gather tools, give an introduction to what's happening, and set off. The drive is about halfway up, followed by a 25-minute hike to the trail spot we're fixing up. I'm lugging along two rock bars with the help of one of Rhett's friends, and I relish the fact that I haven' t been hiking in years. It's cold, but getting warmer.

We reach the spot, and my brother starts taking charge a bit, picking out groups to do these different tasks. We start working to move a huge rock down from the hill above, slowly letting it slide without tumbling out of control. We drag it along to where we want it and position it properly. Now, those few sentences were about an hour and a half with all the precautions and hikers passing through.

Much of the rest of the work day, from about 10-3, was the same: trying to move a couple huge rocks out of the way of where the new path is supposed to be. Other groups are smoothing out the dirt, and it's really starting to take form! We're all pushing and shoving these huge rocks, inch by inch, over these hours, digging dirt out of the way and figuring out the best way to operate.

That's about all there is to say about rock-moving, other than that Subway sandwiches and water taste exponentially better when you really, really need it. After digging away at dirt and pulling rocks, water tastes great. The day ends with us accomplishing more than the head guy expected, though we'll have to come back another day as planned. I think I'll be there again, too.

We pack up and hike back half an hour. For some reason, this was by far the most difficult part of the day, and we all felt it. Lugging heavy equipment back a long distance really took its toll on every one of us, but it was nice to be on the same page about everything. Also, for being afraid of how cold it was, the weather was awesome once we were out there and moving. Absolutely nothing to complain about there. So we head home, and soon after I'm chilling downstairs, feeling good about accomplishing manual labor. In a few hours I'll be getting food and going to see Tron with a friend. Those hours pass without me finishing my article, though.

We drive to get Mexican food, and it's just fine. Then we drive far away to a move theater that's not "under construction". Fine by me; I like driving. At the theater, in the parking lot, you could hear what I later found out was the intercom from Home Depot across the street. Apparently they have it blaring 24/7.

The movie is awesome, and Olivia Wilde is hot. Those two things are not completely unrelated. I really liked how the movie actually used some real command line stuff for the computing segments, instead of always those fake UIs that you see in all other movies. That's not to say I'm always bothered by it, but I do appreciate realism when I see it. Anyway, that's just one point I'd like to mention. The movie was, again, awesome otherwise.

Oh, and Daft Punk. Can't forget Daft Punk being in there.

So we leave, and this is where I ask the ticket girl what those loud noises across the street are. (At that point, it was a constantly-ringing telephone.) I drive my friend home and head back to campus myself.

Upon going inside, I meet my RA and one of her roommates. As I go into my apartment, one of my roommates is playing Rock Band. They notice, and conveniently make a 4-person group. Strangely enough, my normally aloof roommate is the first to point out the idea. So after a few minutes, they come in (bearing hot chocolate, no less!) and want to play. We do this for a few hours, and it is totally awesome.

It's not every day you get 100% Expert Vocals on "Carry On Wayward Son" and kick ass on "Ramblin' Man".

I wish this kind of thing happened every weekend. I relish the times freshman year where a bunch of us we gather in one room and play SSBM for hours into the morning, watch Cowboy Bebop in its entirety in two nights, or... beat Super Mario Sunshine. I dunno. It was great.

But that's the extent of that long, eventful day. I'd just really like to remember it.

Edit: Despite what the posting time says, I started this on the 21st, but finished it before leaving for the GT bowl game on the 26th.

Monday, December 20, 2010

On Satire

I wrote this during finals week but didn't want to post it during that time. I shouldn't have wasted some of it writing, anyway, but I'm a little glad I put this down on paper. It's an interesting comparison, I think, and one just about anyone could chuckle at.

---

The new War on Christmas is upon us.

Our country is under attack. Americans, we must unite in our common beliefs and repel this menace. Long ago, we suffered under the tyranny of an oppressive minority. We fought those who sought to control us and have since become what might be called "dormant allies." Until now. What was once a battle of steel is now a war of hearts and minds, and acting resolutely is the only recourse.

This group has cropped up again: drama queens rampant with indignation and self-importance. Year after year they redouble their efforts. They wish to overtake society at large by starting small, from the pitch to this new war. This nation was founded on a set of ideals: ideals that set us apart from our enemies then and lead us to be the prosperous land we are now. What are these ideals? Freedom. Charity. Diction. Equality. These are the core elements that make us who we are and separate us from these chavs.

Even now the enemy's influence is spreading. I shall not hesitate to shine a glaring light at these recent infiltrations. Harry Potter himself is among their ranks, and despite adoration towards him, you know it is against your upbringing. The television character House is one of them, relatively undercover. Ozzy Osbourne, icon of satanic metal, permeates our airwaves. Christopher Hitchens, the fool, has gone so far as to become a citizen of these fair lands. Open your eyes. They are all around, spreading their rubbish.

So please: Americans all across this world, let us be united in our cheerfulness and boldness this holiday. Do not shudder away from saying the phrase the gives reason for the season. Do not be mired by political, social, or adjectival correctness. Do not cave in to dangerous foreign influences. Let not one utterance of that blasphemous expression be heard in our streets, stores, or homes. Let not one American be seen giving credence something so against our values that it dare not be spoken.

I shall not be wary to warn of the implications of accommodating on this issue. It may seem "natural" or "all-encompassing," but do not be fooled. The next year they will expect lifts in our buildings and boots in our cars. They will go on holiday for Boxing Day. Their ridiculousness knows no bounds.

This winter, be kind, but be vigilant. Turn away from a "Happy Christmas," lest we all be left to a bloody hell.

Merry Christmas, America

(And Happy Christmas, Brits)

Monday, December 6, 2010

On Zealots

This post is a reminder that I need to do a long write-up on anti-religious "zeal" and how infuriating it makes me that I am accused of such a thing.

What's even more angering is that I don't have the time right now to be angry. I have too much to do, too many pressing matters, to be preoccupied by frustration.

But FUCK, man. FUCK