After remaining silent for a very long time, I have finally decided to publicly support Barack Obama to be the Democratic nominee and, moreover, for president.
I am what I like to call a "Super Super Delegate". Not to be confused with those in Washington, I am my own special breed. Sure the super delegates hold a very important political position. Sure they are smart and more experienced. But I'm the future, baby. I'm the young gun who will be making moves 5, 10, 20 years from now. I, along with my fellow classmates, are what politicians talk about. We are it.
As Mr. Obama did extremely well this past Tuesday I felt it was time for me speak out. Although those close to me knew where my loyalty lied all along, I felt now was the time. This process has gone on for an extremely long time and we are fast approaching the end.
The excitement and interest this campaign, but more specifically Mr. Obama, has had on me and my friends is tremendous. I now read as many articles on politics as I can. Emails will be exchanged that contain very little except for a few words such as "Big primary day today" or "The polling hours have been extended". But, of course, a lot of them center around Mr. Obama just flat out being "The Man". But its the subtle emails with a sentence or two that is a reflection of the power of this campaign year.
It is as if politics has become a sport. It has taken on a new meaning and interest. By that I mean one will constantly be checking the results, or counting down the days until the next primary is held, or buying posters and signs to hang up and show their support.
I never would have imagined I would be this into politics. It has never really peaked my interest. I am more into sports, eating, movies, and playing the clarinet. The buzz that this election year has in the States but also internationally is something else. Every time I roc my Obama shirt over in Italy, I break necks. People's eyes get real wide and sometimes, as they are staring, I just say "Yeah, I know" but in a tone that really means "yeah, he's the man".
My boy Will over at Harvard has made a video and group entitled "Lets Make a Change 2008". (http://youtube.com/watch?v=icJ-qNA5wpg) Its a cool video that he did with his friends from school. I had to chuckle to myself when I thought about how good everyone is over there in Cambridge. Sure I could have made a video like this with some jokers I know but it wouldn't be the same. They got some aura over there. Or maybe its the rule banning any facial hair and every student having at least one (blue) blazer. Don't get it wrong though, I love it over there. I mean, is there anyone famous or successful who didn't go to Harvard? I can only think of three: Michael Jordan, Jesus, and Dracula.
I don't know how this whole thing is going to play out but I am enjoying this period in history. For me to be able to participate in this election, is absolutely amazing. To be part of something like this...is truly special.
Let's hope this passion and interest in politics does not dwindle after this year.
Let's hope we take care of business in the next few weeks and again in November.
Let's make that change.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
The History of Art
Before I get started let me say this: my brother was an art history major and he is the smartest cat I know so don't think I am biased. And he even feels me on this one.
The following will only be relevant to those of you who took or are taking an art history class. You have to have sat in one of these classes to fully understand what I'm about to preach.
Ever since I took my first art history class in my junior year in high school I noticed people LOVE to talk. Not the talk that Jewish mothers do but the talk where the same people always have something to say whether its about Roman sculptures or 18th Century French paintings. We only had art history class once a week in my junior year but it was enough to see a pattern.
I chose to take art history 5 days a week senior year and was one of 4 guys in the class. Total was 18. I enjoyed that art history class a lot. The material found me well and I liked my professor. I raised my hand occasionally but was called on a lot more. But there was always those two girls who always had something to say and, although it was never disclosed, battled each other for art history supremacy.
Every time a new slide was shown there are those hands that shoot into the air quicker than Doc Holiday could draw his pistol. In my senior year, I would roll my eyes, slouch further in my chair, or look around the classroom to see who was on my level. Occasionally I would catch someones eyes and, without saying it, we would exchange a "can you believe this?!"
I am taking another art history course over here in Italy and I like it a lot. The professor is a cool older lady (aren't they always) and the material is swell. The number of girls in the class far outweighs the number of guys, of course. And you have the same folks (girls) who always talk. One of my favorite parts is, in order to remember the painting or sculpture, I decide to draw it myself in my notebook. There is a small window of opportunity because the next slide is always on the way but I manage to draw some pretty darn good stick figures if I do say so myself.
To be fair to some of the people, art history does give students more of an opportunity to speak in comparison to calculus or biology. The teachers like to hear what the students think and encourage them to share those thoughts. But there is a limit. Its not just the students who get tired of hearing the same voice (in the front row) over and over. Teachers hate it, too. They definitely see your hand when it first goes up but pretend they don't. They stall to give others a chance and to delay hearing that one, same voice.
But is there anything better when those girls go on a two minute speech about a certain work of art and then the teacher hesitates, thinks for a second, and then says they are wrong? I mean that is beautiful. It usually starts off with the polite "Not exactly" or "Not in this case". I love that. I keep a little tally in my notebook, you know the one where you draw a line for a point and on the fifth you draw a diagonal one. Its great.
I'm not trying to say that those who take art history and talk a lot should stop. I'm just saying don't talk all the time. Sure you are helping the awkward pauses when nobody else knows the answer but sometimes just take one for the team and keep your pie hole shut. Its on the other students, too. Y'all gotta step up and take a risk every now and then, too. You might not be exactly right but the teacher will appreciate the participation. And how wrong could you be? A lot of art is based on how it makes the observer feel and what they think about it.
Constant talkers: talk a little less
Non-talkers: talk a little more
It's that easy.
The following will only be relevant to those of you who took or are taking an art history class. You have to have sat in one of these classes to fully understand what I'm about to preach.
Ever since I took my first art history class in my junior year in high school I noticed people LOVE to talk. Not the talk that Jewish mothers do but the talk where the same people always have something to say whether its about Roman sculptures or 18th Century French paintings. We only had art history class once a week in my junior year but it was enough to see a pattern.
I chose to take art history 5 days a week senior year and was one of 4 guys in the class. Total was 18. I enjoyed that art history class a lot. The material found me well and I liked my professor. I raised my hand occasionally but was called on a lot more. But there was always those two girls who always had something to say and, although it was never disclosed, battled each other for art history supremacy.
Every time a new slide was shown there are those hands that shoot into the air quicker than Doc Holiday could draw his pistol. In my senior year, I would roll my eyes, slouch further in my chair, or look around the classroom to see who was on my level. Occasionally I would catch someones eyes and, without saying it, we would exchange a "can you believe this?!"
I am taking another art history course over here in Italy and I like it a lot. The professor is a cool older lady (aren't they always) and the material is swell. The number of girls in the class far outweighs the number of guys, of course. And you have the same folks (girls) who always talk. One of my favorite parts is, in order to remember the painting or sculpture, I decide to draw it myself in my notebook. There is a small window of opportunity because the next slide is always on the way but I manage to draw some pretty darn good stick figures if I do say so myself.
To be fair to some of the people, art history does give students more of an opportunity to speak in comparison to calculus or biology. The teachers like to hear what the students think and encourage them to share those thoughts. But there is a limit. Its not just the students who get tired of hearing the same voice (in the front row) over and over. Teachers hate it, too. They definitely see your hand when it first goes up but pretend they don't. They stall to give others a chance and to delay hearing that one, same voice.
But is there anything better when those girls go on a two minute speech about a certain work of art and then the teacher hesitates, thinks for a second, and then says they are wrong? I mean that is beautiful. It usually starts off with the polite "Not exactly" or "Not in this case". I love that. I keep a little tally in my notebook, you know the one where you draw a line for a point and on the fifth you draw a diagonal one. Its great.
I'm not trying to say that those who take art history and talk a lot should stop. I'm just saying don't talk all the time. Sure you are helping the awkward pauses when nobody else knows the answer but sometimes just take one for the team and keep your pie hole shut. Its on the other students, too. Y'all gotta step up and take a risk every now and then, too. You might not be exactly right but the teacher will appreciate the participation. And how wrong could you be? A lot of art is based on how it makes the observer feel and what they think about it.
Constant talkers: talk a little less
Non-talkers: talk a little more
It's that easy.
THAT Bag
I do not come here before you to tell you how to live your life. I have written stories and information that pertain to me with hopes of entertaining you. However, I must put my foot down on one thing that doesn't exactly pertain to me: that got damn Louis Vuitton bag.
You know exactly which one I'm talking about. That brown bag with the tan "LV" and tan designs that like the suits from a deck of cards and snowflakes. Now I know I haven't crossed dressed in awhile (2005 to be exact. And that one time in Cabo) but I do know a little about women's attire. I know that some shirts work better than others on a certain body while some can wear heels and some cannot. Don't even get me started on women's jeans...
I will admit, though, that when it comes to handbags and purses, my interest and knowledges diminishes. The fascination girls and women have with handbags and purses is something I will never understand. The classic line is always "you can never have too many". Um, yes you can. You can when you start to have no room to put them and ask guys to buy them for you. I don't know which is harder for me to understand with women: the fixation of purses and handbags or the lack of ability to go to the bathroom by one's self.
I cannot give advice on purses. I will give advice on that spring dress you want and I will on that pair of heels but purses I cannot. The damn thing dangles on your arm or you carry it in your hands for a few hours. You stuff a bunch of unnecessary sh*t inside it and then complain and ask why you can never find anything. Nope, I speak of nothing when it comes to this part.
But coming back to Louis. I cannot figure out what is so great bout this standard, lackluster bag. The colors of the bag, like Meg Ryan, are mediocre at best. The all over print of "LV" and wacky designs are too much on the eyes and take away from what the individual is wearing. Observers are drawn to the bag instead of the individual('s clothes). A bag should complement what a person is wearing, not take away from it.
I'm not positive, but I would be that a lot of people who own this bag (or looking to buy one), have it because it is "the bag" to have. It is everywhere. Everyone has the same one. Now, last time I checked, girls HATE when other girls have the same things. OK, you can't knock someone for getting the same company of jeans or the same color hair tie, but a purse? How does that look when a girl and her friend go out carrying the same Louis bag? Not good. Who wants to have the same bag as 200 million other people anyway?
If someone could let me know what is so sexy or great about this bag, please do so.
All I'm saying is you gotta throw in your own flavor and make it original.
Spice things up, ya digg?
You know exactly which one I'm talking about. That brown bag with the tan "LV" and tan designs that like the suits from a deck of cards and snowflakes. Now I know I haven't crossed dressed in awhile (2005 to be exact. And that one time in Cabo) but I do know a little about women's attire. I know that some shirts work better than others on a certain body while some can wear heels and some cannot. Don't even get me started on women's jeans...
I will admit, though, that when it comes to handbags and purses, my interest and knowledges diminishes. The fascination girls and women have with handbags and purses is something I will never understand. The classic line is always "you can never have too many". Um, yes you can. You can when you start to have no room to put them and ask guys to buy them for you. I don't know which is harder for me to understand with women: the fixation of purses and handbags or the lack of ability to go to the bathroom by one's self.
I cannot give advice on purses. I will give advice on that spring dress you want and I will on that pair of heels but purses I cannot. The damn thing dangles on your arm or you carry it in your hands for a few hours. You stuff a bunch of unnecessary sh*t inside it and then complain and ask why you can never find anything. Nope, I speak of nothing when it comes to this part.
But coming back to Louis. I cannot figure out what is so great bout this standard, lackluster bag. The colors of the bag, like Meg Ryan, are mediocre at best. The all over print of "LV" and wacky designs are too much on the eyes and take away from what the individual is wearing. Observers are drawn to the bag instead of the individual('s clothes). A bag should complement what a person is wearing, not take away from it.
I'm not positive, but I would be that a lot of people who own this bag (or looking to buy one), have it because it is "the bag" to have. It is everywhere. Everyone has the same one. Now, last time I checked, girls HATE when other girls have the same things. OK, you can't knock someone for getting the same company of jeans or the same color hair tie, but a purse? How does that look when a girl and her friend go out carrying the same Louis bag? Not good. Who wants to have the same bag as 200 million other people anyway?
If someone could let me know what is so sexy or great about this bag, please do so.
All I'm saying is you gotta throw in your own flavor and make it original.
Spice things up, ya digg?
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