The Morning After...

So, I had a small dinner event last night. I bought some sausage and some chicken and some boca burgers and some beer. Invited a few people. Small. That was the idea. Well, it did not stay small. I keg materialized. People showed up (even some neighborhood punks) and the sun went down. The food was destroyed. And then it began to rain. Rain in the south on an early summer's evening is one of the greatest things in the world in my opinion. I went out to stand in a few times: to smell it, to taste it. It tastes sweet. We all crowded up on the porch and I put Sun Kil Moon on. The night went on like this and I liked it.
The only problem with hosting such Soiree is that the day after things need to be done. The dead must be picked up. But it was all worth it.

Oh my god shoes! (or weezer) (or more stuff I stole from gawker).

Brilliant. It is good to know that there are still things out there in the world that are supposed to make you smile on purpose.

Southern Gothic: Update

So I am settled. And here are some pictures. This is my new house. I like it. As you can see the porch is the main hub of activity. I have done a lot to this little house since I moved it. I have cleaned most of it, had the gas turned on, replaced an electrical fixture (proving that graduate school has not completely liquified the useful parts of my brain), planted peppers and flowers, sorta mowed the grass (my roommate has an old fashioned push mower that is not very effective), replaced the shower curtain, and replaced a shit ton of light bulbs. I feel invested.

These are some peppers I planted. In honor of Eric.
This is some venison (deer meat for those of you who aren't aware) hash and eggs I made this morning. This one is in honor of Chris.

Southern Gothic

I am moved in and still rendering sanity out of the chaos that is the house I moved into. The land lord is my friends older brother and he didn't do much to get it ready for me. I like it. Quaint. As soon as I get my camera back I will post some pictures.
I have had little impulse to do any kind of philosophy since I have been back. I am pretty content and that may have something to do with it. The last writing I did was in La Guardia at 5am on Saturday. I cranked it out. Several pages of something I am working on. It just spewed out. But being back and having sun and pepper plants to tend to has just dissolved any of the things I was thinking about. I am going to try and sit down tomorrow and do some work. I will see how that goes. I have some "real" work that needs to get done. But that can wait till tomorrow as far as I am concerned.
The whole thing just feels weird. There is a certain bucolic rawness about being back. I like it. The smells of spring have not been sublated by the smells of civilization. There is a grass somewhere that gives off the sweetest honey scent. The honey suckle mingles with this in the cool of the evening. It is a potent liquor for my senses. Everything seems to have a warm sepia tone to it. The sun casts its light on everything. There are no places of eternal shade. I can't explain it but it is as if something has gotten under my skin. Something that used to be so familiar that now feels some what alien. I am relearning how to live here.
I voted yesterday. It felt good. It felt great. God, I love this country.

Well here I sit on my front porch...

So, I am "moved in," such as it is.
I still have to acquire some book shelves and unpack but the main stock of my belongings now reside at my new house. It is a quaint two bed room/one bath/back deck/front porch (my favourite) brick house in the "Williamsburg" of LR. In that I mean it is a lot of young folks and most of the people in local bands/pizza establishments live around me. I realize this is stretching a metaphor pretty fucking far but as I have had a few PBR's ($5 a sixer) so I could care less.
I have to admit I think about NYC a fair bit. Along these lines I took a good piece of advice from my NYC friend E. today. He had always talked about quitting this philosophy foolishness and going out and growing peppers or going into pro-am cage fighting. I am a big guy but my friend E. has proved that size has shit to do with it (ask C. about this and the bruise on his ass) and I am not the violent type so I went for the other suggestion. I was out at the local purveyor of groceries and dry goods today and noticed that they were selling off plants at a heavy discount. I discovered 3 species of peppers being sold at 3 a batch and bought one batch of each (9 plants total) and brought them home to make them my own. I have just planted them and set them out on the porch. I am gonna love this porch this summer and plan on making it my own. I mean, it is awesome. I get stolen wireless from the porch swing and I am trying to figure out how to hang the half-busted disco ball I found in my closet from the ceiling.
I am still processing the move. I feel like behind my pupils are the accursed spinning discs you get on your mac when it is thinking really hard (usually right before it dies) as I sit here in the dark and smell the honey suckle and citronella.
We will see....

Currently listening to: Lucero, Self-Titled.

A Follow Up to the Previous Bil O'Reily Post

Yes, I realize that stealing things from Gawker is just that: stealing.

Rebuilding...

So here I am in the process of moving into my new place.
It is kind of an odd feeling right now. The place is great and for the most part I feel like I am segued easily from NYC to LR yet the whole thing retains this surreal quality. It is almost as if I woke up from a dream and found myself back where I started 2 years ago. On a warm sunny day that smelled of honey suckle and two day old rain. I think it will take some time to process this move. It feels just a momentous as the original move 2 years ago but so much different. In the mean time I am trying to figure out a new shower curtain and when I can get a dog.

Thoughts...

So I am here in bed. I just got done with a milk shake and Juno. I downloaded Cat Power's You Are Free.
I mailed the majority of my earthly belongings home yesterday. My mom and grandmother get into Newark tomorrow morning. Thus, the world turns and I head home. I have to admit what was originally supposed to be a great and momentous event has become nothing less than emotionally muddled and confusing. I am not sure what to think. The city of New York with its anonymous strangers, foul smells, and expensive drinks is not my friend. But there has always been another gentle dimension to my NYC experience. It would come in moments: my friend the upstairs cat, the kids on the subway, the sun breaking in the window over the church behind me, crawfish with strangers. But mostly it is the people, my friends: S1, S2, Sh, W, R, C, K, Bartenders, Prof 1 and Prof 2, etc. These are the people that made the experience what it was. I mean there were great things about this town. Museums, ethnic cuisine, randomness, chaos, and a depraved beauty that can only come from the writhing pain, torment, excess, joy that comes from so many people living together, living in the capital of the world. There are plenty of things for me in Little Rock. There are some of the most special people in my life. There is family. There are azaleas, dogwoods, redbuds, and the wild flowers whose names I don't know. There is yellow dust and green grass. There are dogs and front porches. Shade trees and grandmothers. But I am going to leave something behind when I go home to all of that: A little bit of myself. I know am forced to admit that it will be a larger piece than I had previously realized it to be. Nothing tangible. I do not have the power to leave my mark on this town. That is the business of titans and artists. I go home slightly defeated but better for it. Who knows. This is the end of this. But for how long?

I will never understand American Apparell ads.

I give you President John "Oops I dropped the C-Bomb on my Wife" McCain

An Excerpt from this book thanks to The Raw Story.com
"Three reporters from Arizona, on the condition of anonymity, also let me in on another incident involving McCain's intemperateness. In his 1992 Senate bid, McCain was joined on the campaign trail by his wife, Cindy, as well as campaign aide Doug Cole and consultant Wes Gullett. At one point, Cindy playfully twirled McCain's hair and said, "You're getting a little thin up there." McCain's face reddened, and he responded, "At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you cunt." McCain's excuse was that it had been a long day. If elected president of the United States, McCain would have many long days."

That is the guy I want running this country.

My Redneck Nietzschean Summer and Other Considerations...

This picture basically should sum up my aesthetic this summer (except NO Tennessee flag, as Tn "sucks in the summer" and I am from the Natural State) .
So this will be my redneck summer. Not quiet the summer of George but it will have to suffice. I have decided that this is my summer to go a little crazy and mark my passage into my "mid-twenties." I am going to garden, drink beer, jog (not very redneck I know), and wear my boots and jeans and t-shirts. I am planning a possible road trip to west Texas with C.B. and think that this will be the summer when I need to buy a gun rack even if I don't have a gun or a truck to hang it in. This will be my Nietzschean summer as well. I have become very sympathetic with the idea that it is not the Socratic quest for self-knowledge that drives us but the Nietzschean notion off self-creation, of living life aesthetically (and not epistemologically) that should be my goal. So yeah, I am going to try and meld living life with a few rough edges and dirt with the notion of self-actualization. I think the two go hand and hand personally. The vita contemplativia is just not enough anymore. Ok, I am kinda hungover and now just simply ranting.
Another things that excited me about my return to LR is the fact that there are some hot races going on right now. I am especially interested in a judicial race and also ballot initiative to instate a lottery. As a man with a Methodist upbringing I am against gambling (unless it is horse racing in H.S. in which case it is ok because god always punishes me for being a sinner by making me hungover and broke afterwards). Take that bullshit to Mississippi where it belongs. But needless to say I am stoked about voting. Hella stoked! I like to vote. I think it is the pinnacle of being a U.S. citizen. While I am well aware of the cosmopolitan movement amongst my colleagues (and the general notion amongst intellectuals in general) I am proud of being an American. We got our problems (hell at least we aint Myanmar) but I cannot imagine feeling to bad about this country when you vote. I mean, I get pissed as hell pretty often but i feel like I make a difference when I stand in that little blue booth, mark my ballot, stick it in the reader, and get my "Fuck yeah! I voted!" sticker.
I am not looking forward to heat though.

For once capitalism has shot itself in the foot...

So there is a case in federal courts where some South Africans are suing American corporations (including Citigroup, General Electric, I.B.M., General Motors and ExxonMobil) for wrongs suffered under apartheid. The case was thrown out in 2004 and reinstated by the 2nd circuit court in October. The corporations (and needless to say, the Bush administration) want the case thrown back out. But the problem is that an unprecedented number of justices had to recuse themselves: 4. Why? Because 3 (Alito, Breyer, Roberts) own stock in some of the companies and one (Kennedy) has a son who works for Credit Suisse. So that is not enough justices. The suit stands and there is much rejoicing.
I have to admit I think this says a lot about the state of things in the world. Full story here.

Isabella Rossellini was hot... Until this.

The entire series of shorts can be seen here.

Stole this from my cousin's FB page. Brilliant!

If you ever wanted to understand what happened with the housing implosion...

Then you should listen to the episode of This American Life (Thanks for the heads up W.) episode that aired this past weekend. It is called "The Great Pool of Money" and can be found here. It shows a lot of villainy, a lot of ignorance, and an even greater degree of banality.
In other news the President's daughter got married. I have to admit I am somewhat pleased by the fact that the ceremony was small (by this presidents standards of grandiosity, he didn't hold it on an aircraft carrier and fly in behind a banner that said "Matrimony Accomplished."). Anywho, I suppose this is either a president in retreat or in shame. Considering everything else that is wrong (and oh by goly are they) it was a smart move. As Mr. Bush said, "we're mighty blessed." At least some people are...

I am still packing. Kinda depressing I must say but its gotta be done. Who knew I had so many books of matches?

This is a guy that obviously would go on to be a brilliant political mind...

I am going to name the moon...

Ok, so there are two uses of the word moon. The first is capitalized and refers to our moon, The Moon. The second refers to a planet's/any planet's natural satellite, A moon. I think this is kinda crazy. That is like saying that we are the earth and every other planet in the solar system is a earth. One is a token (the moon) of a type (a moon). One is a category (natural satellites). One is a member of that category (the Moon). So why don't we give the moon a name? Something it can be proud of? I am going to think about a name for the moon and then declare. Possibly I shall start a fund so that I can fly to the moon and place a commemorative
plaque or flag there to reflect my naming it.
Also, I am packing. I have a lot of stuff. Too much.

So I am going to say...

I think that we can say that Obama will be the nominee come November.
I like Hillary. I think she has spunk. And unlike Lou, I don't hate spunk. I think that this long drawn out affair has forced the party to look at the way it does business (and yes it IS a business). As for myself, I think it should force a good hard look at the way the party system works. I am not in favour of parties and anyone who read the previous blog can find ample evidence to support this. I think they are bad for democracy. I think that Hillary may have been bad for the party but SCREW the party! I don't vote for the democratic party. I vote a person who shares my values. These values tend to reflect those held by the DNC but the point is that the party should facilitate choice making not BE the choice. There was a time when parties were considered to be divisive and those times were the birth of this nation and those people thinking that were founding fathers. I think they are on to something. We complain about consolidation of the media. We complain about behemoth corporations. We complain about about a lot of things that curb choice and the free exchange of ideas and goods. But what is the two party system? Exxon and Shell of politics. Get rid of that my friends. I appreciate what Hillary did (though I am not sure it was her intention or if she knew she was doing it). She followed through and provided an alternative. Not much of one but she did. I am not saying I like any of them. I don't. Thinking you should be president should disqualify from the position automatically! Anywho, that is enough from me for now. I have to pack. :(

I am an alien made of plastic! I am here to eat your children and the dollars you spend on my movies which you should be using to feed your children!

More stuff...

So the weather here is terrible and I kinda like it. I have a lot of work that has to get done before Wednesday so rain and a recently (and briefly) deactivated facebook acct. should help me focus.
I have to go get coffee soon or I am going to implode. I like having a Dunkin Donuts in such close proximity to my abode.
So the facebook thing. I have to admit that I am spending more time on Gotham and myspace (but there is much less to do here). So we will see how much time actually gets saved. It is so odd to not be on facebook. And it is only odd because I do not particularly miss it. I think the things that kept me looking at it so often were the email updates. This is generally how the disappearance of an hour starts:
"Whats that you say gmail?! K. has just asked me to be his friend!? Thank you gmail for alerting me to this alert! Well, as long as I am confirming this friending I should look around and see what ol' so and so is up to! Oh! My god! Ol' so and so is now single, buddhist, a member of the green party, has a baby, listed Bend it like Beckhamis their favourite movie and posted pictures from their weekend out drinking at an 80's/90's/toga/business suit/st patties day/expensive looking self-thrown birthday party! My god! How on earth will ever digest all of this psuedo-data!"
And that children is how Uncle D wastes hours of his day. So no more of that folderol!
My mother and grandmother get in on wednesday. I am not sure how happy I am about this. I love my family but their timing sucks.... in a big way.
My friend the cat has not turned up. But I hear they melt in water. Like packing peanuts. I am sure (in the absence of FB) I will distract myself again later.

Stuff...

So, I have been in a bit of an academic state of late. I will not bore you with it here but I guess I do have to say that it is real and it messing with my head. The notion of a "limit" has become very omnipresent. That there is something that an attempt to philosophize about misses. That we are something than what we actually is not what we perceive it to be. Time is a good example of this. Think about time and tell me what is really there to think about? I sometimes feel as though I am watching brilliant people throwing themselves against walls that are not really there. I supposed I am not smart enough to see things that are not there. Oh well....
My friend the cat turned back up today. He is a lovable scamp. I am assuming it is a he. Not sure why. It just seems to fit. The first occasion of his visit was discomfiting to me because he woke me up in my bed. I had no idea where he had come from. Well, I think he lives upstairs. I think I shall miss him most about NYC. Here he is.
I need to keep working in my notebook. This assists in sanity. I also notice that the more I write in it the clearer my broad strokes become. If I keep it up I can begin to work on something of my own. Something original. I also need to keep up with the wikipedia log. I have filled up a whole page thus far. I think getting things out of my head and on to paper is what allows one to say "this is bullshit, or stupid, or nonsense, or the kind of thing I would expect to here from (insert sophist a-hole I do no respect or probably like). Maybe someday I can contribute to the great raging debates of my colleagues.
Listen to the Hot Snakes.
This is what I had for dessert tonite.I would post some more Ryan Adams stuff but his blog is down again. I wish I had as much free time to be myself as he has.

Kinda like this...

(Edited Drunk Post)

B)Pants: Pants that are obtained or worn in the following ways should be avoided;
a)white
b)leather
c) purchased from american apparel
d)leather
e) purchased in Brooklyn are a bad idea
f) yeah! take that!

(I have removed most this post because it was nonsense. I have left the important part.)

That's Right Kids. Nazis! In! Space!

I cannot tell if this is brilliance or insanity.

For those of you who are shopping for my next Birthday or Xmas present...

I want the one on the right. Built in speaker you say? Awesome! I say.

Our Ryan Adams Quote of the Day.

"I want to spit in John Mayers mouth. from a distance. this would be the best black metal thing to do but i think it might be rather disgusting (for him) as i brush when i feel like it. Take that poseur metal heads"

What my friends do

And they are pretty good at it.

It is actually a lot better this way...

http://garfieldminusgarfield.tumblr.com/

Be the fish... Wait! I don't want to be the fish!

If I could credit animals with conceptual thinking I would say that this is an excellent metaphor for what is going on right now. I can see the jack coming. It will crush my head. Knowing my friend Collin (and I do) I will have to be struck at least two or three times before I totally give up and die. School (plus everything else I have to do) is a bitch.

This is the way to spend a day.

Some Philosophical Remarks...

So I think I am pretty much decided (barring any unfortunate or amazing events) on taking a year off from school and New York. I have been up to a lot of things that have forced serious reflection. It is hard to get past what makes you anxious and figure out what it is that is really troubling you and how you can really get a handle on the situation. One question is whether or not I can do anything useful by pursuing a terminal degree in philosophy? Is there anything really that can be done in philosophy that is not utter nonsense? Also, could I do anything pursuing a career in law? As the situation stands I am completely at the mercy of Wittgenstein and Dewey who have very low opinions of professional philosophy.
There is also the issue of New York City. Which has become increasingly ambiguous. There are things about this town that I hate. Abhor. Despise. And the list goes on. This being said.... I wonder how much of my dislike is me blaming the geography for problems that I have. I also think that a lot of it has to do with the New School. There is no one particular aspect of that bothers me. It is more of an aggregate of small things that I will not list here. I can say that it is not a problem with faculty (with one exception, *blood pressure begins to rise*). I just need some space to think and look at my life.

I Wish I Knew...

Many people I see out and about in Gotham seem to know exactly where there are going. They have a plan (for at least the next hour I suppose) of what's going on.
I am envious of that. I am usually on my way to do laundry or go to class or something silly like that. Are these people going to see their families? Are they going to important jobs that will surely impact my future? Probably not. But I hope so.

The First Post!

Well, here it is. My new blog. My new blog that is not attached to my name. My new blog that means I can dispose of the other one and begin shrinking my internet footprint. I said I would launch this blog yesterday but that did not work out. The reason this blog was supposed to go up yesterday was to celebrate the 3rd birthday of Ryan Adams' Cold Roses which as most of you know is in various ways very close to my heart. Well, heres to this new blog business and now Mr. David Ryan Adams himself!
This is obviously NOT from Cold Roses but is one of my favourite D.R.A. songs. My sister directed me to this song long ago and I scoffed. I was wrong. So I dedicate this first post to her.
This blog will have lots to say as I do as well. It is an interesting time in my life with lots to think about. Enjoy I suppose.