I had a dream last night in which I found myself in a mysterious compound. I say compound because the grounds on which the mansionesque buildings were located was expansive and desolate, like a Welsh moor from “Macbeth.” As we (I think Brigitte was with me) hurried to escape what seemed to be a dangerous situation a number of obstacles appeared. Giant rectangular pits, traps of a sort, covered with iron grates were all around. Negotiating these pitfalls required a careful, tentative kind of crawling and testing of these rusty screens. Escheresque stairs and corridors were everywhere. Strange beings in trench coats and fedoras moved furtively about, but they had no countenance, no faces, much like the Nazgul (Black Knights) in Tolkein’s “lord of the Rings” trilogy.
Blogenstein
Curdistan, isn’t that where Packer fans live?
Green wood doesn’t burn.
Mary Beth Doyle
1 – 2 inches of new snow
MSU won last night
The giants won’t cover
12.5
temple dogs
suboxone
happy birthday, brother Paul
Helen-O-Loy
Casino
Oranges
Bananas
Ambient no more
Artful codgers
Societe Generale
Gaza
January 28, 2008
January 15, 2008
September 18 - January 15
1/15/08
“Without a family, man, alone in the world, trembles with the cold.”
- Andre Maurois, The Art of Living, 1940
On this cold, dark, snowy morning, January 15, at 7:00, Trainee T. graduated from Boot Camp. It was like a scene from a movie, or novel. The whole camp, about 200 strong, lined up to watch the ritual. They were dressed in shabby orange work suits. Their faces reflected a kind of hopelessness that can only be described as depressing. A look of despair. We, the loved ones who showed up to collect our men and women children, looked on as the sound of marching feet and shouted cadences slowly came within earshot.
M.D.O.C. (Michigan Department of Corrections) guards, dressed like low budget storm troopers, looked on as the graduates stepped out, identified themselves, stepped back, and stood at attention. The last question asked was, “Are you ready to go home.” A loud and clear ”Sir, yes sir” was strongly echoed in unison. With that, the Trainees were dismissed into the arms of their families. Tears ruled the day.
“Without a family, man, alone in the world, trembles with the cold.”
- Andre Maurois, The Art of Living, 1940
On this cold, dark, snowy morning, January 15, at 7:00, Trainee T. graduated from Boot Camp. It was like a scene from a movie, or novel. The whole camp, about 200 strong, lined up to watch the ritual. They were dressed in shabby orange work suits. Their faces reflected a kind of hopelessness that can only be described as depressing. A look of despair. We, the loved ones who showed up to collect our men and women children, looked on as the sound of marching feet and shouted cadences slowly came within earshot.
M.D.O.C. (Michigan Department of Corrections) guards, dressed like low budget storm troopers, looked on as the graduates stepped out, identified themselves, stepped back, and stood at attention. The last question asked was, “Are you ready to go home.” A loud and clear ”Sir, yes sir” was strongly echoed in unison. With that, the Trainees were dismissed into the arms of their families. Tears ruled the day.
January 5, 2008
The Lowest Animal
01/03/08
“Dear Dad:
Remember how you used to take me to your classes with you, and that one time you told them I was U-M’s new kicker and the guy believed it.”
I went back to work today. Teaching, for me, is a kind of performance art that involves providing instructive information, standup comedy, and wise counsel. My aim is that the students be not only better writers but also better citizens. If this rough-hewn pedagogy seems dated, so be it. Too few of our university students today know enough about history, geography, and current events. Sometimes it seems our students are adrift in a sea of valueless apathy. They live in a culture that has trumpeted it’s moral superiority while at the same time surrendering the moral high ground. Our government fights in the name of Western Christianity (recall Bush’s slip in using the word crusade) while torturing our enemies and rescinding our citizens’ rights. This is the culture our present-day students have grown up in.
NEXT DAY: What a world. Sadly, Mark Twain’s satirical piece “The Lowest Animal” seems more relevant now than ever. Regarding the violent tribal/ethnic violence in the wake of rigged elections in Kenya, Jeffrey Gettleman of the New York Times writes: “In Nairobi, a much feared Kikuyu street gang called the Mungiki, who are said to take an oath in which they drink human blood, were sweeping through the slums and killing Luos.”
FUBAR played last night (Happy hour, 6-8, the first Friday of every month) at the Heidelberg “The Club Above.” Some of the hockey fans that attend our gigs were surprised to see Porter, Kolarik, and Naurato show up to watch a bunch of old farts like us. Consider this an invitation to come and see us when in Ann Arbor. You might recognize the musical manager, Kim French, keeping things in order. Kim plays with local musical performance artist, “Mr. Largebeat,” as well as The Cult Heroes and other local combos.
Packer fans, now that the Bears have gone into hibernation once again, I’ll cheer for the Cheese. Let’s hope the game manager rather than the gunslinger shows up at quarterback.
I guess I like Seattle (-3) and Pittsburgh (+2.5) today.
Happy New Year!
“Dear Dad:
Remember how you used to take me to your classes with you, and that one time you told them I was U-M’s new kicker and the guy believed it.”
I went back to work today. Teaching, for me, is a kind of performance art that involves providing instructive information, standup comedy, and wise counsel. My aim is that the students be not only better writers but also better citizens. If this rough-hewn pedagogy seems dated, so be it. Too few of our university students today know enough about history, geography, and current events. Sometimes it seems our students are adrift in a sea of valueless apathy. They live in a culture that has trumpeted it’s moral superiority while at the same time surrendering the moral high ground. Our government fights in the name of Western Christianity (recall Bush’s slip in using the word crusade) while torturing our enemies and rescinding our citizens’ rights. This is the culture our present-day students have grown up in.
NEXT DAY: What a world. Sadly, Mark Twain’s satirical piece “The Lowest Animal” seems more relevant now than ever. Regarding the violent tribal/ethnic violence in the wake of rigged elections in Kenya, Jeffrey Gettleman of the New York Times writes: “In Nairobi, a much feared Kikuyu street gang called the Mungiki, who are said to take an oath in which they drink human blood, were sweeping through the slums and killing Luos.”
FUBAR played last night (Happy hour, 6-8, the first Friday of every month) at the Heidelberg “The Club Above.” Some of the hockey fans that attend our gigs were surprised to see Porter, Kolarik, and Naurato show up to watch a bunch of old farts like us. Consider this an invitation to come and see us when in Ann Arbor. You might recognize the musical manager, Kim French, keeping things in order. Kim plays with local musical performance artist, “Mr. Largebeat,” as well as The Cult Heroes and other local combos.
Packer fans, now that the Bears have gone into hibernation once again, I’ll cheer for the Cheese. Let’s hope the game manager rather than the gunslinger shows up at quarterback.
I guess I like Seattle (-3) and Pittsburgh (+2.5) today.
Happy New Year!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
