The Coffee Chronicles

So, what with all the weblog-posting getting done these days, it's beginning to feel a lot like old times. Remember the bad old days before the blog-revolution? During the homesteading days of the Internet, when all anyone wanted was a webpage, no less an entire website? Everyone was "on" AOL - the devil, in case you were wondering - and going public with your personal thoughts, opinions, or seditious ways was a challenge, if not an impossibility. Hunched over a keyboard, designing layouts in raw html, trying to figure out a way to get your webpage to look like a set of diary entries? And then, voila - here comes Blogger, Movable Type, and all the rest. Ah - in the spirit of a mini-revolution such as this, what I wouldn't give for something really interesting to say, for a change. Not to mention how I would appreciate the glorifying masses to read it. But, don't worry - tcc's time will come.

For the time being, check out this nonsense. Just for reference, I've never heard of such a thing as "dB drag racing" but it would seem, judging from this random keyword search on Google, that it's a veritable movement, an homage to intellectual idleness and general slack like none the world has ever seen. And apparently it's very big in Belgium, so there you go.

And lest you think that I've given up on the world of science, there's this bit of grossness from the Pacific coast of South America. Local scientists aren't sure what they've found, but it looks to me like we've found another Presidential candidate to challenge the Democrats! Read on!

I've been searching for something to do all day, and it would seem that I haven't succeeded in finding something really, really engaging, yet. Of course, I should probably be working on something, seeing as I'm currently at work, and all; nevertheless, I can't seem to bring myself to become productive. What's even more disturbing is that I can't even seem to settle down to do work for my other job; which usually is a sure bet; after all, when one is required to perform some task, almost anything stands a pretty good chance of getting done instead. Sort of a "grass is always greener on the other side of the to-do list" kind of work ethic.

Witness the following examples:

1. I have never cleaned my home as thoroughly and with as much zeal as during the times when I have other, less domestic, work to do.
2. I spent my entire undergraduate career reading my roommates' textbooks rather than my own - which was significant only because they were pursuing completely different majors than I was at the time. I now know all there is to know about Water Resources and Structural Engineering - superficially speaking, of course.
3. Some of my better creative thinking (if I might say so myself - since, most probably, no one else will) has been done while in the throes of an all-out responsibility war with my conscience. This pretty well explains all the gut-wrenching journal entries and heartfelt emails I churned out during my one miserable year of full-time graduate school in Troy, NY. But, that's a whole different blog.
4. When in the employ of two jobs, I usually daydream of one while trying to be productive at the other.

That last one doesn't seem to apply today, of course, but I think that's because there seems to be nothing going on around here today. Had I been overly busy on the hill, I might have tried to write a lesson plan or two, in preparation for classes I'm teaching tonight or next week. But, no. Other than some requisite calculations and busy work, my day has consisted mainly of walking to and from the bathroom, going out for lunch, paging quickly through the course texts, and - of course - drinking my way to the bottom of a pot or two of coffee.

But I've also been perusing other blogs, of course, and as a not insignificant side-note - and in keeping with the recent pervasive spirit of cross-promotion - I think you should head right over here and check out the noted reference to this entry at Truth. Said blog is in fine form today, and quite informative; besides, where else will you see the words like "scuba'd" created on the spot? There's also a gratuitous use of the phrase "wooden seamen," which I think is just roar-out-load, piss-on-yourself funny. Enjoy.

You know, I never intended for this blog to become a political column. Prosaic jousting with the establishment, perhaps. A witty recounting of my daily interaction with life, yes. A pithy send-up of the subtle but razor-sharp differences between NYC and LA, absolutely. But a scathing, cynical commentary on the state of global politics? Never. The thing is, I can't help it. Perhaps it's the same way with a car wreck, or really nasty sex between really ugly people - or, if you prefer, first-run episodes of Monica Lewinsky's new/old show "Mr. Personality" - but whatever your taste, you probably understand.

Most of the time, in any case, I feel less like I'm actually weighing in on an issue than simply painting the appropriate political landscape in day-glo versions of black and white - here's this side, here's the other side, but they both suck, and here's why - I have no real agenda save pointing out irony and stupidity. Oh, don't bother showing me the error of my ways - it was pointed out to me long ago that some might consider me spineless in my stubborn reluctance to leave the position of devil's advocate, and to simply pick a side. But I choose not to choose overtly, simply to be comfortable tucked in among the ranks of fellow politicrats in a shoulder-to-shoulder stance against whatever we're fighting today. And don't try and tell me that you think I'm left-wing down the line, either - so I lean a little to the left; so sue me. Find a a perfectly symmetrical human being, and I'll show you someone who is really, sinfully, boring. Issues are both too complex and too important to simply walk a party line - doesn't anyone see that? We've been dealing with a mere two dominant parties for decades now, and it's just too long. I can't imagine that all our problems can be solved by a simple 1-out-of-2 choice. So, in my open letter to the American political machine, I will write:


If that doesn't light the fire under the Green Party's ass, I don't know what will. Perhaps finding someone with a better podium presence than Ralph "The Great Mumbler" Nader would help, too. But maybe it's just me. Thanks for your time.