Summer Grey

I suppose as Finals Week comes to an end, it is only appropriate to discuss some kind of plan for Summer activities.

For the moment, plans floating around are a possible cruise in Europe. To be honest, I don't particularly enjoy planes, or long distance travel of anything that isn't a car. I'm told it's a little odd, but I digress.

Otherwise, I'm hoping to find a job somewheres, hopefully somewhere that runs parallel to my interests, such as Best Buy or B&N or GameStop or some other obligatory place.

Anything else that happens is certainly fine by me to break up any mundanity.

Friendship is Magic

Recently, I developed an interest in a most peculiar show, where I don't even belong to the target audience (or target gender for that matter). My involvement in its viewing has also come from much scrutiny from friends, and I would take their opinion to heart, but at this point I strongly consider myself a true fan although I still question why on Earth I watch it; it really is addictive and mesmerizing. This show of course is My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Yes, I know. Why in the world would you even consider watching it? A show about ponies and friendship and magic? To be honest, I don't even know. The show has actually become very very popular and now has a very very large fan-base across the world. What's strange is that the main demographic of viewers are 18+ males. What's even stranger is that I actually watch it.

My dream job is working for Pixar Animation Studios. I always love to observe any form of animation, as I feel it tells a wonderful story and is a beautiful art form. I suppose this is why I simply can do nothing but constantly watch it.

Don't judge, haters.

American Decameron

Figured I'd post about our little gig considering I haven't done so.

I thought it all turned out rather nicely. The theater was more or less what I imagined and the performance went smoothly. However, it was a little disappointing when we sort of "gave up" on using the Kinects. Throughout the year we talked about how they'd be implemented in the performance, with how they would project spaces and film and such, and I was reasonably excited to see them in action. I suppose that wasn't so bad that they weren't working, I suppose, I don't know the calibrations and coding and complexity behind them.

The stories were interesting, although that was what solely remained of our performance. I kind of imagined the actors would have had to pass through some form of rigorous rehearsal (although I never seen it) but they seemed to hold their own on the dark stage. All in all, it was an interesting experience, and I hope future gigs would be accompanied by more and more of the tech we discussed.

It Must Really Suck To Be John Makowski Right Now

I positively hate Psych tests from the very depths of my being and soul.
Honestly. I attend all your lectures, I keep up with the readings, I don't cram into the night before a test and everytime I walk into your exams I feel like it consists of things I've neither heard nor read before. Plus I felt pretty confident about this one. Great.
What else can I whine about today...Oh, yes. I have to write a paper on about 3,000 readings I never have the time to do and can look toward a final exam which I most certainly will bomb. THEN I have an ACH 102 project about computer coding (shit nobody cares about) and then I will drown in my stress from everything else.
Today is a great day.

I'm Made Of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?

On a vast college campus, what makes us stand out as colorful individuals against a sea of grey?
The question of personal identity in an environment comes around in my mind today in the pouring rain; On a day like today most people look somewhat similar with umbrellas or hoods covering their heads with their sweatshirts and hoodies against a weeping sky.
In this event, it is hard to differentiate us from one another. It is only until we are presented with sunny skies and clear weather when we break out into lighter clothing and brighter colors, presenting a sense of individuality within us to everyone else.
Naturally, this doesn't particularly mean anything. It was just a simple thought that I decided to over-complex and voice.

The Bamboozle, 2011

This past weekend I had the opportunity to once again attend one of my favorite music festivals of the year, The Bamboozle. For those who aren't familiar with the event, Bamboozle is a three day musical "carnival" in the parking lots of the New Meadowlands Sports Complex in New Jersey. Hundreds of bands and musical artists of all genres play throughout each day on a number of different stages scattered around at various set times. Merchandise, from promo shirts to glass pipes, is sold at dozens of tents around the venue.

Of course, once the band starts to play, things start to get chaotic; huge crowds form around the stage with strangers of mutual musical interest packed against each other, and "Pits" are formed where people dance wildly or kick the shit out of everyone they meet (I actually had the misfortune of accidentally punching a random girl in the face, I really couldn't do anything about it).

I totally recommend the festival to everyone who loves music, as many genres are represented and it is simply impossible not to have a memorable and stellar time.

Butterflies & Hurricanes

Earlier today I sat atop the Staller Steps as I munched on a sandwich, watching a large group of students play a friendly albeit competitive game of football. The weather was particularly nice, although the grey sky cast down across the buildings and landscape, leaving no trace of direct sunlight shining down.
I then started to think about all those personal problems, thoughts and memories we all ponder over in our private free time. But I also looked about my surroundings and couldn't help but listen to the passing conversations of other students.
Against my better judgement I began to think about the sad things that accompany life, the sky doing well in fueling those emotions; society in general, social predicaments, attitudes towards one another, becoming old, etc.
As I thought about how sad and depressing life can be, I also thought about how happy and joyful it can get; music, the green, vibrant plants, the sun, laughter.
I put those thoughts together, and was surprised to see that, at least in my mind, things seemed to balance out.
It was actually a pretty interesting thought process, and I discovered how life is filled with both butterflies and hurricanes.

This Body Pays The Bill$

Probably the worst thing that I could think of in existence other than the dentist or shitty drivers are shitty haircuts.
I mean, seriously. I spend months working on my flow and then all of a sudden, I need one.
So I go to the barber and he asks me what I'd like for him to do and I tell him, "Slight trim, not too short, keep the front".
Naturally he goes and cuts it, until he decides to no longer heed what I had just said and cut it way too short.
Then I get to spend the next few days trying to get over how god-awful it is.

Fortunately today wasn't like that.
I go to a new guy, say "Slight trim, not too short, keep the front" and he just goes and DOES it.
Once or twice I piped up and told him how I like certain parts of my hair, and he'd just laugh and nod like he already knew. He even asked me if I had a bad run-in with a barbershop, to which I sheepishly laughed and agreed. Serious business, though.
After the storm, he asked if he "passed the inspection". He did very much so, and I left satisfied.

Some may say hair is just a little thing, but for me, it's everything. This body pays the bills.

When She Loved Me

She left me in the pouring rain with the shards of her soaked, ruined mix-tapes pressed into my palms.
I drove back to my house in a state of confusion and endless tears; "It was just a high school relationship..." She'd say later.

She asked me who I'd take to prom. All this time I had wanted to dance with her and see her in that dress.
But she didn't want to; my friends didn't care for her much, therefore, she wouldn't go.

She told me she was glad she didn't have to talk to me again. I was her biggest mistake.

She got mad when I wouldn't add her back on Facebook after she defriended me and sent me home in tears once again.

She gets angry when I don't hang out with her, she asks if there's some kind of problem because she can't see any.

"It was just a high school relationship..."


Now I ignore her. She talks to me, but I simply answer. She wants to catch up, but there is nothing more to say.
My roommate tells me to be friends, but how can I?
How can I sit next to the girl I once loved, the girl who broke me into pieces and call her a "friend" again?
She'd ask me if I met any girls, and would get angry and question me when I told her I still wasn't over that terrible breakup a few months prior.

And now, I don't know if I should feel bad...

When it was good, we used to joke about over who loved who the most,
I did. I must have.


But when she loved me...

Kinect + Garry's Mod = ...

Recently I've stumbled upon this video where someone had somehow rigged his Xbox Kinect with Garry's Mod.
Being familiar with "Gmod", I was in awe at such an idea and upon viewing the clip in its entirety I was rendered speechless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBjOIjc5qn0


Interesting, no?

Playing With Fire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIM-fVpJ9y4

This will be my first video-log.

Once upon a time in a land known as Tabler Quad, a group of dashing, suave suite-mates created one of many messes in their common room.
One Sir Weinstein did not take this act very lightheartedly and took it upon himself to bestow upon his guild an ultimatum; either tidy up this tiny mess by Thor's Day, or face an alleged execution by the hands of Lord Sean, the RA.

It was this event that stemmed into the Great Boycott of Vacuum Cleaners of 2011. The four most handsome suite-mates, Sir Makowski, Sir Uddin, Sir Chen and Sir Cabral spearheaded this event, as they simply did not care enough.
Sir Weinstein, fed up of the apathy of his comrades, brought upon them the Alaskan Bull Worm, a vacuum cleaner approximately the size of Alaska.

In subtle response, the apathetic knights continued to sip their tea and pay the matter no mind. Absoultly enraged, Sir Weinstein cried out in sheer anger and declared war on Sir Uddin. Ever the diplomat, Sir Cabral advised Sir Uddin to back of moments before Uddin could send a slew of foot soldiers in the form of his fists. Without a further option, Sir Weinstein fled to Lord Sean the RA, leaving the knights in utter confusion.

This is their story.

Welcome to the Family

This is just me posting the "Throw-Your-Family-Albums-Into-Photoshop" project.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59957567@N05/

(Posting the link like this because I am tremendously paranoid with everything, just making sure it works)

Getting these photos was easy enough; I simply called up Mom and asked her to scan over some old photos, the oldest she could find, actually, for I do love looking into past generations through this kind of "window".
The majority of these photos contain, and I must admit, numerous individuals whose identities I am unfamiliar with, but whose stories I am familiar with. Poland, circa 1940's, was always a time period I enjoyed peering into; seeing the aged dresswear, automobiles and military uniforms make you think about how life must have been.

Of course, that's just me.
However, I hope you may enjoy them too.