Thank you for the post card 
dendritejungle!!! Jackie!!! I’m almost done responding to your email, though sadly my magic screwdriver isn’t so magic…but I’m almost done…and I’m almost caught up…and I have a whirlwind post coming….
…and I’m gunna go pass out now.
Peace!
Thank you for the post card
dendritejungle!!! Jackie!!! I’m almost done responding to your email, though sadly my magic screwdriver isn’t so magic…but I’m almost done…and I’m almost caught up…and I have a whirlwind post coming….
…and I’m gunna go pass out now.
Peace!
Courses
Tibetan
An amazing language, an amazing course, an amazing professor. Despite the fact that we’re up against insurmountable odds (the fact that the course is being taught once a week instead of three to five times a week) everyone – myself included – is still incredibly excited.
I should be entirely caught up with it by this evening at the latest.
Phonetics
Is going well…I did not do nearly as well as I wanted to on our first homework, but now having the sheet explaining why I didn’t do as well as I want to (the ‘homework guidelines to answers sheet’), I now know how to improve my work to lift my grade to where I want it to be. Work wise, I’m not behind in this course. Overall, it’s quite enjoyable.
Grammar & Lexicon
Is going okay, more studying, waiting to get our homework back on Wednesday. This really isn’t my thing (I’ve never been a fan of syntax) but it is important, and JP is a wonderful instructor so it’s a pleasure to take the class regardless of the fact that it isn’t my favorite area of study. Work wise, I’m not behind in this course…but I don’t feel ahead either. I think I’ll feel more (or less) comfortable after I get my homework back and graded on Wednesday.
Grey cannot be Elephants!
Good Ideas in Computer Science
The course is going okay…I’m still uneasy about it…I’ve really been quite happy operating until now under the very firm impression that unicorns make the internet work and that gnomes are really what effect the processor speed of my computer.
TA
TAing for Scott is going wonderfully; we’re progressing with the course and everything seems to be going swimmingly…everyone’s really getting into it which is great.
Independent Study
Wednesday I’ll be collecting the last of my resources for my Independent Study with Wölk and hopefully meeting with him Thursday Morning to discuss them. First draft due at the end of October…I’m excited!
Sociolinguistics
Wolf turned in my grade in Sociolinguistics. From an Incomplete I went to an A- which is acceptable, not thrilling, but acceptable.
TESOL/TEFL/TESL
The course starts the second weekend in October; I’ll have my certificate on October 28th. My friend, Amalia from the Tibetan class will be taking it with me.
Overall
I’m uneasy at the moment. All it takes is for one thing to go wrong to delay or effect my graduation, and I don’t like that…compared with the fact that I normally feel like I’m going to fail, die and cause the end of the universe (I have an intense fear of failure which is why I rocket myself towards success…it’s a fucked up cycle)…things are just peachy.
I’ll be meeting with Rev. Linda today for some counseling/a sounding board; I’ll also be cutting back on some activities to make more room for more studying which some people may be unhappy with, but my main priority is graduating and thus, such is life.
High Holy Days
The High Holy Days were spent with my family at my Synagogue, they were emotionally refreshing and meaningful and it was wonderful to see the congregation, my former Hebrew School teachers.
Kol Nidrei
Kol Nidrei is widely misunderstood; it is my favorite day of the year, surpassing all others in beauty, in emotion, in power. In fact, it’s the one service that consistently moves me to tremble.
Kol Nidrei is when you are released from the vows you have made from the year before that you are unable to fill: not for want of trying, but because you have committed yourself to a herculean task and you cannot fulfill it because it is impossible, because it is detrimental to your health, to your well being…because continuing to attempt to fulfill it would cause undue harm. It is also when you pray for those who cannot pray for themselves, who if they were to admit who they are and that they’re Jewish would find death waiting for them at their door…who have to lie about their faith for the protection of themselves and their family…who have to deny everything about who they are…through your prayer, you absolve them of their sins.
I think I find Kol Nidrei so moving because of the other implications that is has for other groups of people who cannot admit who they are, who they love lest they too find death waiting for them. The Jewish people do not find honor in becoming a Martyr, or rather, they do not seek honor that way. The rule that supersedes all rules in Judaism is that Health and Life are above all else. If you had to eat a plate of pork or die, you eat the plate of pork.
This of course doesn’t mean that we don’t have our fair share of Martyrs: Janusz Korczak, who marched in valiant, silent protest against hate, inhumanity, and death in face of ultimate, unadulterated evil…and despite offers of amnesty – twice – went with his children to the death camps and died along with them so they wouldn’t meet death afraid and alone; or the Daughters of Israel, who when faced with their imminent rape and certain death at the hands of the Nazis, instead of surrendering to the violation of their bodies and their souls, drank poison leaving a note saying “Say the Kaddish for us…we are the Daughters of Israel…”
‘Say the Kaddish for us’
It really is about collective memory, isn’t it? Korczak didn’t know he was doing something righteous when he marched with his children, he didn’t know that one day there would be a statue of him with his arms around the worlds children trying to protect them, created in his honor…he did what he did because it was the right thing to do…and because he was righteous he became immortal.
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur was also very moving. It’s a day when everyone can just wipe the slate clean and move on. It’s a calming day, a moving day, and a relaxing day. Unlike Rosh Hashanah when I dress my best (which, really, is the only way to enter the New Year), on Yom Kippur I come to Synagogue in slightly ragged clothing, ripped jeans, a white button down shirt with the sleeves slightly rolled up (to which my Mother sometimes quickly explains to the numerous people that come up to me to comment on it that it’s ‘to humble’ myself, which isn’t entirely accurate either).
Perhaps the biggest issue I’ve had with many of my fellow congregants is that they believe you can attend synagogue once a year, fall asleep during Yom Kippur services, and because you dress in an Armani suite that somehow this will fool God, that this overpriced cloth and half hearted attempt to pretend that you care stands for anything…that they place more emphasis and belief in their belongings than they do in their faith.
If God has seen me drunk, has seen me high, has seen me doing things that no one should be doing, then why retain any pretense? He has seen me naked, he’s seen me at my best and he’s seen me at my worst (and every permutation therein): he is perhaps the person who knows me best, I can’t get away from him…he can’t get away from me…there’s no point in trying to hide behind clothing from your best friend…so I stand before God as he sees me on any other day, painfully honest with each other…I’m asking for forgiveness, he’s providing it, and I ask for it making bold notation that I’m going to fuck up again, and we’ll see each other, same time, same station, again next year…though this time, that’ll be in Israel.
Kapparot
In the ritual of Kapparot, where (and this is the cliff-cliff notes version of the ritual) a chicken is whirled around three times above the head and absorbs the sins of the fellow whirling it…(there’s an article on YNet defending it, which can be found here).
Now, first, I should probably admit my bias: I am in full support of the Chicken on this one (and not just because of my long association with rubber chickens). But, quite frankly, were I a chicken I don’t believe I’d very much appreciate the practice.
But, let’s think about this a little more logically. Let’s say that the whole Kapparot concept works (though I have my doubts…actually, I think the supreme architect(s) are looking down curiously going ‘Holy mother of…now I KNOW I never said ANYTHING about that…’) and all of a sudden this poor, innocent chicken wham -thankyousirmayIpleasehaveanother – bam has the sins of the person whirling him…but there’s a Twist…
and in a flash (though perhaps with a pause that seems to last only for a second, but hundreds of our years) the Chicken is reborn…but it was a bad sin….oh it was some kind of horrible sin (worse than wearing white after labor day)…and he’s reborn…as a slug…outside of a salt factory….all because some guy couldn’t be bothered to just go to synagogue and instead, picked him up out of nowhere, whirled him around his head three times and (perhaps, though apparently not required) glared at him in the eyes in some kind of meaningful-trancelike-gaze where the whirler went “take my sins” and the chicken went “oh cl*ck!”
…though on the other hand I guess we do have to allow for the possibility that maybe he got flung around by a Tzaddik a bit (though I question whether a Tazaddik would take part in the practice) and now he’s living the high life as a Koala Bear munching on Bamboo or he’s a Labradoodle or something.
Either way though, I think we can all agree that this has the potential to have serious implications for the animal kingdom.
Really, most religions when practiced by those who are in the middle and aren’t on either end of the extremes are incredibly, incredibly similar: do good (though what that ‘good’ is, is subject to debate), don’t hurt each other, help each other out, feed each other, be righteous, say you’re sorry…the most major differences, as far as I can tell are when people go to extremes on one end or the other and then we get to see what the real differences are, as they manifest themselves in various things…like chicken whirling.
A Life Update Later
I still have more to write about, but that’ll come later. For now, I need to shower and then get in another nap before I getup for the day.
Courses
Tibetan
An amazing language, an amazing course, an amazing professor. Despite the fact that we’re up against insurmountable odds (the fact that the course is being taught once a week instead of three to five times a week) everyone – myself included – is still incredibly excited.
I should be entirely caught up with it by this evening at the latest.
Phonetics
Is going well…I did not do nearly as well as I wanted to on our first homework, but now having the sheet explaining why I didn’t do as well as I want to (the ‘homework guidelines to answers sheet’), I now know how to improve my work to lift my grade to where I want it to be. Work wise, I’m not behind in this course. Overall, it’s quite enjoyable.
Grammar & Lexicon
Is going okay, more studying, waiting to get our homework back on Wednesday. This really isn’t my thing (I’ve never been a fan of syntax) but it is important, and JP is a wonderful instructor so it’s a pleasure to take the class regardless of the fact that it isn’t my favorite area of study. Work wise, I’m not behind in this course…but I don’t feel ahead either. I think I’ll feel more (or less) comfortable after I get my homework back and graded on Wednesday.
Grey cannot be Elephants!
Good Ideas in Computer Science
The course is going okay…I’m still uneasy about it…I’ve really been quite happy operating until now under the very firm impression that unicorns make the internet work and that gnomes are really what effect the processor speed of my computer.
TA
TAing for Scott is going wonderfully; we’re progressing with the course and everything seems to be going swimmingly…everyone’s really getting into it which is great.
Independent Study
Wednesday I’ll be collecting the last of my resources for my Independent Study with Wölk and hopefully meeting with him Thursday Morning to discuss them. First draft due at the end of October…I’m excited!
Sociolinguistics
Wolf turned in my grade in Sociolinguistics. From an Incomplete I went to an A- which is acceptable, not thrilling, but acceptable.
TESOL/TEFL/TESL
The course starts the second weekend in October; I’ll have my certificate on October 28th. My friend, Amalia from the Tibetan class will be taking it with me.
Overall
I’m uneasy at the moment. All it takes is for one thing to go wrong to delay or effect my graduation, and I don’t like that…compared with the fact that I normally feel like I’m going to fail, die and cause the end of the universe (I have an intense fear of failure which is why I rocket myself towards success…it’s a fucked up cycle)…things are just peachy.
I’ll be meeting with Rev. Linda today for some counseling/a sounding board; I’ll also be cutting back on some activities to make more room for more studying which some people may be unhappy with, but my main priority is graduating and thus, such is life.
High Holy Days
The High Holy Days were spent with my family at my Synagogue, they were emotionally refreshing and meaningful and it was wonderful to see the congregation, my former Hebrew School teachers.
Kol Nidrei
Kol Nidrei is widely misunderstood; it is my favorite day of the year, surpassing all others in beauty, in emotion, in power. In fact, it’s the one service that consistently moves me to tremble.
Kol Nidrei is when you are released from the vows you have made from the year before that you are unable to fill: not for want of trying, but because you have committed yourself to a herculean task and you cannot fulfill it because it is impossible, because it is detrimental to your health, to your well being…because continuing to attempt to fulfill it would cause undue harm. It is also when you pray for those who cannot pray for themselves, who if they were to admit who they are and that they’re Jewish would find death waiting for them at their door…who have to lie about their faith for the protection of themselves and their family…who have to deny everything about who they are…through your prayer, you absolve them of their sins.
I think I find Kol Nidrei so moving because of the other implications that is has for other groups of people who cannot admit who they are, who they love lest they too find death waiting for them. The Jewish people do not find honor in becoming a Martyr, or rather, they do not seek honor that way. The rule that supersedes all rules in Judaism is that Health and Life are above all else. If you had to eat a plate of pork or die, you eat the plate of pork.
This of course doesn’t mean that we don’t have our fair share of Martyrs: Janusz Korczak, who marched in valiant, silent protest against hate, inhumanity, and death in face of ultimate, unadulterated evil…and despite offers of amnesty – twice – went with his children to the death camps and died along with them so they wouldn’t meet death afraid and alone; or the Daughters of Israel, who when faced with their imminent rape and certain death at the hands of the Nazis, instead of surrendering to the violation of their bodies and their souls, drank poison leaving a note saying “Say the Kaddish for us…we are the Daughters of Israel…”
‘Say the Kaddish for us’
It really is about collective memory, isn’t it? Korczak didn’t know he was doing something righteous when he marched with his children, he didn’t know that one day there would be a statue of him with his arms around the worlds children trying to protect them, created in his honor…he did what he did because it was the right thing to do…and because he was righteous he became immortal.
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur was also very moving. It’s a day when everyone can just wipe the slate clean and move on. It’s a calming day, a moving day, and a relaxing day. Unlike Rosh Hashanah when I dress my best (which, really, is the only way to enter the New Year), on Yom Kippur I come to Synagogue in slightly ragged clothing, ripped jeans, a white button down shirt with the sleeves slightly rolled up (to which my Mother sometimes quickly explains to the numerous people that come up to me to comment on it that it’s ‘to humble’ myself, which isn’t entirely accurate either).
Perhaps the biggest issue I’ve had with many of my fellow congregants is that they believe you can attend synagogue once a year, fall asleep during Yom Kippur services, and because you dress in an Armani suite that somehow this will fool God, that this overpriced cloth and half hearted attempt to pretend that you care stands for anything…that they place more emphasis and belief in their belongings than they do in their faith.
If God has seen me drunk, has seen me high, has seen me doing things that no one should be doing, then why retain any pretense? He has seen me naked, he’s seen me at my best and he’s seen me at my worst (and every permutation therein): he is perhaps the person who knows me best, I can’t get away from him…he can’t get away from me…there’s no point in trying to hide behind clothing from your best friend…so I stand before God as he sees me on any other day, painfully honest with each other…I’m asking for forgiveness, he’s providing it, and I ask for it making bold notation that I’m going to fuck up again, and we’ll see each other, same time, same station, again next year…though this time, that’ll be in Israel.
Kapparot
In the ritual of Kapparot, where (and this is the cliff-cliff notes version of the ritual) a chicken is whirled around three times above the head and absorbs the sins of the fellow whirling it…(there’s an article on YNet defending it, which can be found here).
Now, first, I should probably admit my bias: I am in full support of the Chicken on this one (and not just because of my long association with rubber chickens). But, quite frankly, were I a chicken I don’t believe I’d very much appreciate the practice.
But, let’s think about this a little more logically. Let’s say that the whole Kapparot concept works (though I have my doubts…actually, I think the supreme architect(s) are looking down curiously going ‘Holy mother of…now I KNOW I never said ANYTHING about that…’) and all of a sudden this poor, innocent chicken wham -thankyousirmayIpleasehaveanother – bam has the sins of the person whirling him…but there’s a Twist…
and in a flash (though perhaps with a pause that seems to last only for a second, but hundreds of our years) the Chicken is reborn…but it was a bad sin….oh it was some kind of horrible sin (worse than wearing white after labor day)…and he’s reborn…as a slug…outside of a salt factory….all because some guy couldn’t be bothered to just go to synagogue and instead, picked him up out of nowhere, whirled him around his head three times and (perhaps, though apparently not required) glared at him in the eyes in some kind of meaningful-trancelike-gaze where the whirler went “take my sins” and the chicken went “oh cl*ck!”
…though on the other hand I guess we do have to allow for the possibility that maybe he got flung around by a Tzaddik a bit (though I question whether a Tazaddik would take part in the practice) and now he’s living the high life as a Koala Bear munching on Bamboo or he’s a Labradoodle or something.
Either way though, I think we can all agree that this has the potential to have serious implications for the animal kingdom.
Really, most religions when practiced by those who are in the middle and aren’t on either end of the extremes are incredibly, incredibly similar: do good (though what that ‘good’ is, is subject to debate), don’t hurt each other, help each other out, feed each other, be righteous, say you’re sorry…the most major differences, as far as I can tell are when people go to extremes on one end or the other and then we get to see what the real differences are, as they manifest themselves in various things…like chicken whirling.
A Life Update Later
I still have more to write about, but that’ll come later. For now, I need to shower and then get in another nap before I getup for the day.
I really, really want some V8 Juice…I’ll get some tonight…but first, a nap…probably until midnight…then cartoons and studying.
Peace all.
– M
I really, really want some V8 Juice…I’ll get some tonight…but first, a nap…probably until midnight…then cartoons and studying.
Peace all.
– M
Moonlight covers your body as I look down your chest, my head turned into you, as your arms wrap around me holding me tight:unable to move:your chest rises and falls as you breathe, feeling me wiggle, worried I’m trying to leave you, your muscles tighten and with one motion/one flex of your biceps you draw the air out of my body holding me breathless while you take in my scent as your nose nuzzles the top of my head; the cool breeze blowing in through our window with slight raindrops falling on my skin as you whisper through my hair “you’re not going anywhere”
Through your chest I hear your heart beat, your abs becoming my blanket of steel as your body wraps around and through mine:in the bondage of your limbs and muscles is a freedom to exist without fear or motion:to just be at one with you as you try to exist within and through me and I find myself wanting to do nothing more than hold you harder than you’re holding me as your body begins to slightly rock, moving to the beat of the falling rain outside, your lips tracing my neck…your teeth gently leaving marks and yet, through words left unspoken:I will treasure:I will hold:I will love you as we dance this midnight dance:this silent tarantella of two men intertwined that some fools would mistake for lust.
…I do have to say, I really…really love Marines.
Moonlight covers your body as I look down your chest, my head turned into you, as your arms wrap around me holding me tight:unable to move:your chest rises and falls as you breathe, feeling me wiggle, worried I’m trying to leave you, your muscles tighten and with one motion/one flex of your biceps you draw the air out of my body holding me breathless while you take in my scent as your nose nuzzles the top of my head; the cool breeze blowing in through our window with slight raindrops falling on my skin as you whisper through my hair “you’re not going anywhere”
Through your chest I hear your heart beat, your abs becoming my blanket of steel as your body wraps around and through mine:in the bondage of your limbs and muscles is a freedom to exist without fear or motion:to just be at one with you as you try to exist within and through me and I find myself wanting to do nothing more than hold you harder than you’re holding me as your body begins to slightly rock, moving to the beat of the falling rain outside, your lips tracing my neck…your teeth gently leaving marks and yet, through words left unspoken:I will treasure:I will hold:I will love you as we dance this midnight dance:this silent tarantella of two men intertwined that some fools would mistake for lust.
…I do have to say, I really…really love Marines.
Bad Touch (by Bloodhound Gang) is replacing Let it Whip by SR-71 as the first song on my Sex Soundtrack.
“The Bad Touch”
Ha-Ha! Well now, we call this the act of mating
But there are several other very important differences
Between human beings and animals that you should know about
I’d appreciate your input
Sweat baby sweat baby sex is a Texas drought
Me and you do the kind of stuff that only Prince would sing about
So put your hands down my pants and I’ll bet you’ll feel nuts
Yes I’m Siskel, yes I’m Ebert and you’re getting two thumbs up
You’ve had enough of two-hand touch you want it rough you’re out of bounds
I want you smothered want you covered like my Waffle House hashbrowns
Come quicker than FedEx never reach an apex just like Coca-Cola stock you
are inclined
To make me rise an hour early just like Daylight Savings Time
Do it now
You and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals
So let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
Do it again now
You and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals
So let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
Gettin’ horny now
Love the kind you clean up with a mop and bucket
Like the lost catacombs of Egypt only God knows where we stuck it
Hieroglyphics? Let me be Pacific I wanna be down in your South Seas
But I got this notion that the motion of your ocean means “Small Craft
Advisory”
So if I capsize on your thighs high tide, B-5 you sunk my battleship
Please turn me on I’m Mister Coffee with an automatic drip
So show me yours I’ll show you mine “Tool Time” you’ll Lovett just like Lyle
And then we’ll do it doggy style so we can both watch “X-Files”
Do it now
You and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals
So let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
Do it again now
You and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals
So let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
Gettin’ horny now
You and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals
So let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
Do it again now
You and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals
So let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
Do it now
You and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals
So let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
Do it again now
You and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals
So let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
Gettin’ horny now
I think I just like the beat better.
I do have an actual entry…after I’m done with studying…and meetings,
both of which I need to get back to (meeting at 7pm…then studying
Tibetan and watching Cartoons will commence for most of the night…).
Peace!
– M
Bad Touch (by Bloodhound Gang) is replacing Let it Whip by SR-71 as the first song on my Sex Soundtrack.
“The Bad Touch”
Ha-Ha! Well now, we call this the act of mating
But there are several other very important differences
Between human beings and animals that you should know about
I’d appreciate your input
Sweat baby sweat baby sex is a Texas drought
Me and you do the kind of stuff that only Prince would sing about
So put your hands down my pants and I’ll bet you’ll feel nuts
Yes I’m Siskel, yes I’m Ebert and you’re getting two thumbs up
You’ve had enough of two-hand touch you want it rough you’re out of bounds
I want you smothered want you covered like my Waffle House hashbrowns
Come quicker than FedEx never reach an apex just like Coca-Cola stock you
are inclined
To make me rise an hour early just like Daylight Savings Time
Do it now
You and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals
So let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
Do it again now
You and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals
So let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
Gettin’ horny now
Love the kind you clean up with a mop and bucket
Like the lost catacombs of Egypt only God knows where we stuck it
Hieroglyphics? Let me be Pacific I wanna be down in your South Seas
But I got this notion that the motion of your ocean means “Small Craft
Advisory”
So if I capsize on your thighs high tide, B-5 you sunk my battleship
Please turn me on I’m Mister Coffee with an automatic drip
So show me yours I’ll show you mine “Tool Time” you’ll Lovett just like Lyle
And then we’ll do it doggy style so we can both watch “X-Files”
Do it now
You and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals
So let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
Do it again now
You and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals
So let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
Gettin’ horny now
You and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals
So let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
Do it again now
You and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals
So let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
Do it now
You and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals
So let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
Do it again now
You and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals
So let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
Gettin’ horny now
I think I just like the beat better.
I do have an actual entry…after I’m done with studying…and meetings,
both of which I need to get back to (meeting at 7pm…then studying
Tibetan and watching Cartoons will commence for most of the night…).
Peace!
– M
moocowinthecity