a day to listen to radiohead.

There couldn't be a grayer day possible for Iowa City today. Bleak and rainy outside, the fog is so thick that it's harder so see much further than about 50 yards or so, but that might just be my near-sightedness kicking in.

Frankly, though, I love these sorts of days. It isn't really cold (in fact there's next to no wind, so it feels like it's in the mid-50s) and I've gathered that the weather in England is not all that dissimilar to this. There's just something about it that makes me feel productive and professional inside. I have the sudden urge to dress up more than what is really necessary and get things done for the sheer sense of accomplishment. Simultaneously, however, I'm starting to get really weary of classes and spring break (which is this next week) could not be coming at a better time.

Also, for all of you facebook addicts out there, my friend Ming Tran sent me this video. I relate to it and can't help but chuckle (and be just a tad fearful inside) that communication has distilled itself all the way down to this.

much respect

josh

PS: As I finished writing this post, some frat guy (no I'm not profiling, he was wearing his letters) walks through the slightly busier than normal coffee house where I happen to be at this moment in time, and loudly moaned, "What the f*ck is it with these people? Don't they have jobs?" I'm not a truly violent person, but I have never wanted to punch someone so hard in my life, and I'm guessing, judging by the look on their faces, a number of other patrons feel the same.

incognito

Only a handful of people may know this, but I actually returned to Des Moines this weekend, with next to no planning. My dad came down to visit and we decided that it would be nice to leave Iowa City for a weekend and spend it in a city we were both familiar with. It was nice stopping by and seeing a few select friends and family members (please don't be offended if you weren't one of them, I had a very limited amount of time) while running about town doing the things I used to (and still do) love to do.

Additionally, a friend of mine told me about this blog website, Tumblr, on which I've created a second (yes, SECOND) blog. I hesitate to use that word, though. "Blog." It's a much more static, unfiltered representation of myself and my web-surfing habits. Expect more random thoughts and links from my tumblr as opposed to actual entries that you get in this blog.

Lastly, the new episode of my podcast is out now, available through ZShare as always. Give it a download if you like.

much respect,

josh

A thought I had today in my (boring) Film Analysis screening

It's a well-know fact, fringing on cliché here in Iowa City that 90% of the people who attend the University of Iowa are either from Des Moines or "a suburb of Chicago." I think, therefore, that it is worth noting when I come across someone from a place that does not fall into either category outlined above. 

In the past week and a half, I've met people from Rochester, New York; Madison, Wisconsin; and Los Angeles, California. This bring the number of people I've met (not even people that I personally know) from states other than Iowa and Illinois to just 11, a number I find slightly low. I've previously met someone else from Rochester, NY as well as people from Potosi, WI; Dearborn Heights, MI; Anchorage, AK; St. Louis, MO; Minneapolis, MN; and Omaha, NE. I've also met a girl from London, England, which is equally cool. 

I don't know why I find this so significant, but I do. I just think there's something to be said for meeting people from other places on this Earth of ours.

Songs listened to while composing this entry:

Bright Morningstar by Tiësto

Human by The Killers

much respect

josh

These kids and their damn college classes

We seem to do so much awesome stuff in my basic acting class. Whoever wrote the syllabus is a pure genius, as I've yet to be anything less than entirely engrossed in each class session we've had so far. The other day we did a sense memory exercise that involved us recalling something that we've always wanted to say to someone but have never had the courage to follow through on it. We were to pick someone at random in the class and say it to them. Some of the comments that people chose to share started off rather lightly but progressed to some heavy stuff by the end of the class. It was a stunning experience, really. Something that will really make you think deeply and give you an odd sense of empowerment. I feel better having done it.

On a separate note, my Film Analysis professor actually bragged (I emphasize that bit) to the class on Wednesday that he had not seen a single Star Wars film and saw no need to. I love the University of Iowa as much as the next hawkeye, but I'm beginning to question my film education. I was absolutely flabbergasted to find out that one can apparently become a professor of film studies without having seen any of those films. I don't even expect him to like any of them (I honestly don't think he would), but any more you almost have to make a conscious effort not to see those movies, considering their permeating ubiquity.

much respect

josh

A fallacy...

As I was falling asleep the other day, an deep(ish) thought crossed my mind. 

Think of the most recent romantic movie you've seen (especially if it's a romantic comedy). Now think of the reasons that a character might give as to why he or she cannot enter into a relationship. They vary, but one of the more popular reasons given typically goes something like "I can't because I just got out of a bad relationship."

To me, this argument (in most cases) makes very little sense. Having seen friends deal with their own relationships and having left a poor relationship or two myself, I've noticed that most people are eager to have a quick turnaround after a bad relationship. Some are eager to one-up the previous relationship, others just want their minds off of whomever they just broke up with. Either way, most people anymore (at least in my age demographic) put an emphasis on a quick turnaround, it seems.

What really upsets me here is the fact that no one (or not enough people) cite getting "out of a good relationship" as a reason for not having a quick turnaround. You've never heard it in movies, which seems to dictate the pulse of the romantic lives of young American teens and twenty-somethings. As anyone who's fallen out of a good relationship, particularly if it was against their will, it hurts a thousand times worse than falling out of a bad relationship. We quickly wash our hands and look to the future after falling out of a bad relationship, but falling out of a good one is like getting hit with a large piece of lumber. It leaves splinters, which have a nasty habit of sticking around.

much respect,

josh

PS: I have a new podcast episode available for download from ZShare. You can download it here.

Disconcerting new guy

When I go to get breakfast before my 8:30 classes on Tuesday and Thursday, I typically go to the same meal hall that employs the same people. Very recently, however, there is a new guy at the entrance table where they debit your ID card before you go eat. He doesn't have a name tag but that's not the disconcerting part. 

He is, simply put, exceptionally loud. He greats every diner with an over-zealous "GOOD MORNING," before scanning their card and telling them to "HAVE A NICE DAY." I'm sure the guy means well, but good God, he scares the living bejesus out of me on a biweekly basis. I'm afraid that the kid might take a whole 10 minutes off of my life by the end of the semester. On the other hand, his greetings do have a knack for waking me the hell up.

much respect,

josh

The new hotness.

Let it be known:

Old and Busted: Rickrolling.

The New Hawtness: Bosscocking.

You've been warned.

much respect,

josh