Indeed

Education... has produced a vast population able to read but unable to distinguish what is worth reading.

G. M. Trevelyan, English Social History (1942)
British historian (1876 - 1962)

Perhaps...

You, Sir, think too highly of originality. Besides--for one is so dour--they really ought check out how happy Jesus has made these people:


HBM Out
i have a friend in jesus

A Gentle Response to a Thought for the Day...

"Manuscripts do not burn..."

Let me tell you about being a writer, sir. Being a writer is nonsensical and absurd. I am a writer, but I cannot be published.

And as for a cure, or being loved, I can tell you that neither are possible. Indeed, I am the Master, but I am silenced before the world. 

Yes, love is a convenience that some allow themselves - at times - to justify otherwise ridiculous behaviour. Love of writing is no cure, as it drives one mad. Besides, people have seen me burn my own writing... and I can tell you that they burn quite nicely.

I have discussed this before, but, to repeat my conviction, I will tell you that education - the worst of all sins - has led us to believe that what one puts to pen and paper is of consequence or relevance. There are no more writers, there is no more creative passion other than destruction, and there is no cure.

All for which one should hope is not life, nor death - but merely peace. Even that is not my idea.

Kitaev

lonely, cold, and isolated.

Thought for th Day

The real writer is one
who really writes. Talent
is an invention like phlogiston
after the fact of fire.
Work is it's own cure. You have to
like it better than being loved.
-- Marge Piercy, For the young who want to
in The Moon Is Always Female.

Waves

The sounds of waves, rolling, alongside of this balcony remind me that there is no water where I find myself these days. I tell myself that this is in fact what I yearn for, yet the sound makes me afraid. I worry about the nature of such things, but not for too long. There is a feeling I get, every so often, that reminds me that I have yet to truly chart any kind of course. Not that all I've done so far has been ill conceived or reckless. It's as if I have been waiting. I find the analogy of longing to "wake up" tiresome; it supposes that I have not truly be at the helm for the majority of the trip, the navigation ordered in file and directive. Nonsense. If man has any sense of control, it is only control of the moment. Nothing else.

A decision, nevertheless, is now place squarely center-stage. It could not concern matters of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the Obama Administration or the advent of the forthcoming decade less, that is not to say such things are inconsequential. Instead, it seems that a newer, fresher moment of opportunity is emerging--rooting it's way forth with vim and viger. I must not hesitate to seize such the very moment I am able to. We will not know, necessarily, it's shape or form, it's character or conscience. It matters not. All we need to do is fight that fear--the one that come when we see the moment for what she is--and press on because we simply cannot regress; that would be too depressing.

HBM Out
i'm not sleepy and there is no place i'm going to

A Word on Dudes v. Bros

Hat Tip Bobby Big Wheel:

I worked with a guy I didn’t like. He was friendly, always nice to me, but he was just so, intense. He acted like he was always on Red Bull (not coke, he would’ve been way more fun if he were always on coke). He was always trying to get me to do social stuff with work people. I don’t want to be reminded of work on the weekend, unless I’m actually working on the weekend. Yeah, Loverboy is a prominent influence on my life. In theory, I should like this guy; he was a sociable, amiable guy who was about my age. But I couldn’t bring myself to. And then it hit me. One day he ended an e-mail to me by saying “thanks, bro.” You see, he’s a bro. And I’m a dude. And that’s often like being oil and water. I know this dichotomy is probably foreign to you, so let me break down these two personality types.

Q: How would you describe dudes and bros?

A: It’s all about how they get people to try and think they’re cool. Dudes assume people will think they’re cool when they get to know them, so they just act the way they want to (but still try to be nice to people). Bros try hard to get people to think they’re cool. Their desperation is a stinky cologne; you can usually tell who they are right away. Most of the guys you see at the gym running with their eyes locked ahead like they’re in a fucking triathalon are bros.

Q: Does that mean a dude can’t be an athlete?

A: Of course not. One of my best friends is a dude and he’s a sick athlete, but he doesn’t play sports to get people to think he’s cool. He just loves sports and wants to do well at them. That doesn’t mean he’s an ass at the gym.

Q: What are some good examples of dudes and bros?

A: The ultimate dude, naturally, is The Dude. Every dude secretly (or not-so-secretly) wants to be The Dude. The Dude is great because he doesn’t have much going for him; he’s broke, his friends kind of suck, he doesn’t get laid that much, but he’s still a happy guy and doesn’t try to impress anyone. The ultimate bro would probably be Brody Jenner. I’ve never seen his show, but calling a friendship a Bromance and having a reality show to become your friend is one of the most bro-y things to do. A dude would call a bromance a “friendship” or, worst-case scenario, “man crush.”

Q: Are these the only male personality types?

A: Of course not. A douche is a guy who gets people to like him by being an asshole. A dork is well, a dork; any attempts by them to be cool are just laughable. A guy is like a dude, he doesn’t really try to impress anyone but he just goes with the prevailing social trends. A goober would be someone like Kenneth the Page, or Chipper Jones. And black guys really don’t fit in this taxonomy; they’re pretty much all way cooler than white guys and are operating on a different level. Finally, there are religious people. Let’s all just leave them all alone.

Q: I’m a woman, what personality types exist among women?

A: I can’t hold down a fucking girlfriend, I’m the wrong guy to ask about women.

Q: I’m a woman, what type of guy should I date?

A: I dunno, depends on what you want. Bros are, on average, in better shape than dudes and have more money. They’re also more likely to let you push them around if you’re more attractive than them; bros want to impress their friends with your hotness. You’ll probably have more fun with a dude; they’re nicer and funnier, but they’re less ambitious and are notoriously indifferent to female complaining. But a dude is way less likely to physically abuse you than a bro.

Q: Can dudes and bros coexist as friends?

A: Of course. But they can’t become best friends. And they have to exist within a circle of friends where the strengths they bring to the table are put to good use. One of the guys in my close circle of friends is a bro. I have a great time hanging out with him because he’s pretty aggressive on hitting on ladies (and needing a wingman) and good about organizing people to go out. I don’t really like hanging out with him one on one, though.

Q: Could you point out what famous athletes are dudes and bros?

A: Sure. For the record, the biggest bro in sports is Matt Leinart, and the biggest dude in sports is Laird Hamilton.

Bros: Kobe Bryant, Philip Rivers, Roger Dorn, Brett Myers

Dudes: Shaq, Eli Manning, Ricky Vaughn, Johnny Damon

Q: I thought black guys couldn’t be classified in this system

A: I don’t have much to work with in the NBA, cut me some slack

Q: Isn’t it very un-dude of you to write all this about dudes and bros, let alone come up with this classification system?

A: Ever hear of procrastination, fuckwad?

Grey Skies

It's as if it never happened, like following the chase after Professor Woland for the chance to be at peace, and I was suddenly back here as the chapter finished. No, it never happened.

Right, enough about Master and Margarita. You probably haven't read it, you illiterate masters of the bourgeoisie!

I have spent too much time in this city, and I was required to leave North Carolina in what seemed an all too hastened manner. The drive back was horrible, as a character known as "dHarp" required a ride, two hours out, to Charlotte. Virginia was not reached until 7.30, and having had no where to stay, had not arrived in this wretched place until 11.30 at night. I am too old for that sort of thing, or at least too crippled. Still otherwise besides from that, and enjoyable trip.

So go to law school, sir, and feel comfortable for at least a few more years. W&L would be awesome. I feel more safe as a drifter in the real world, but that might change soon. And as for you, the other one here, we will have words about the art of bullshit in philosophy soon.

Kitaev
I probably don't get out enough...

Law School Letters

In at University of Denver, Waitlisted at W&L

"Dear Admissions Committee:

After careful consideration, I regret to inform you that I'm totally awesomer than you could possibly fathom. Seriously. My awesomeness exists in dimensions that have yet to be discovered by the human mind. Carl Sagan and I once played connect-four together, and I somehow managed to connect-five on him. I'm sure this surprises you, as I didn't have a chance to tell you about it on my application. There simply wasn't enough space, so I only listed accomplishments you could comprehend within the framework of your standardized forms.

Also, I fully understand that it would be a little awkward for me to be surrounded by other students who would be intimidated by how awesometastic I am. Flowers can't grow in shadows. Mushrooms can, though. And, no, I'm not even going to think about making a "fun guy" pun right here. Why? Because even though I have yet to be accepted to a law school, I've graduated from the school of hard knocks (magna cum laude) and that's where they teach you the difference between right and wrong.

I appreciate your interest in me as an applicant.

Sincerely,
Me"


HBM Out
this ain't sea-world, this as real as it gets

Indeed

“ I ceased in the year 1764 to believe that one can convince one’s opponents with arguments printed in books. It is not to do that, therefore, that I have taken up my pen, but merely so as to annoy them, and to bestow strength and courage on those on our own side, and to make it known to the others that they have not convinced us."

-Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, The Waste Books, Notebook E, 1775-76

Back in Virginia

Well I'm back from my week long trip to Colorado to see HBM and into a CRAZY paper for my metaphysics class... I've decided to do it on reducible complex theory or the biochemical challenge to evolution, it's pretty deep stuff. I've been holed up since yesterday morning and I'm going a little crazy. Not going to lie it's tuff. Just plugging along and I think that I should have it done by this evening.

Colorado was amazing, HBM took his sister and I to see Coheed & Cambria (the band that brought the two of us together). We also did a bunch of outside stuff because the weather was beautiful while the East coast was being slammed with a blizzard. We also went and played the slots at Cripple Creek, HBM was blown away with my luck... We had a lot of fun and got really smashed.

Well I have a window of opportunity to run to the store... Gonna take it.

Until later,
KA

welcome home