TASP 2003 at UT Austin:
The Mystery of Creativity |
Thursday, February 26, 2004
Adrian, (and/or Matt/Jared) you flatter me with the idea that any type of sex involving me is 4 hours long.
But that is not the purpose of this post. Kelsey reminded me of another x-rated story I had promised to drop off on this blog, but had, as of yet, not gotten around to. So this is it; as told to me by the President of Deep Springs, his wife, a Professor there, and the student "Cowboy" Ryan, the story of why Deep Springs and the Telluride Associations are estranged siblings.
It all began when the Telluride Ass. became co-ed many years ago. Suddenly the two institutions had a major difference, and it was a fundamentally ideological one. Whereas before this up to half of the Cornell house was certainly going to be Deep Springers, after this that number dropped to one or two Deep Springers per Branch at best. But for the next twenty years the problem did not grow because there were still so many deep springers that were members of the Telluride Assoc. But after 20 years of few to no Deep Springers continuing at Cornell or the then Berkeley house in 1990 there was an inner fight at the Telluride Association ending with them voting that all TASPs must be co-ed. This included the Tasp that had for decades been hosted at Deep Springs. But because Deep Springs didn't want a huge fight, and because tradition demanded it, and because deep springs was already considering going co-ed, and because it was essentially 26 boys voting on whether or not to host ten 17-yr-old girls over the summer, Deep Springs still held a Tasp in 1990. .......and it was fine. But in 1991 when they hosted a tasp there were "sexual relations between almost every boy on campus and every girl in Tasp." So no more Tasps at Deep Springs. That same year Deep Springs found out it would be going bankruptcy in 8 years if things didn't change. So they put off debating going co-ed, and they started a capitol donations campaign, that included some money from the Telluride Assoc. that for tax purposes was made as a loan and not a grant. But then a few years ago, now that Deep Springs is back on track, the Telluride Assoc. voted to recall the loan if Deep Springs doesn't go co-ed by 2010. Ironically, Deep Springs probably will go co-ed by then, but won't if they think they're being black mailed into it.
However, one of the reasons CBTA and MBTA houses are so cut-throat this year, is because lots of Deep Springers are going there now, in hopes to patch up relations in the future.
And i'm sure I got some of that story wrong, but that's essentially the version I heard. Except my version was told by rugged smelly Deep Springers with more hand gestures, and during the x rated parts, more sound effects.
Get it Sax-O'-phone.
Hey, do either Matt or Jared remember that one night where John was on the phone with his girlie for like four hours and we made all those phone sex jokes? Well, since I am the designated pervert (all societies must have some) perhaps I can contribute that trinket to the s(a/e)x-O'-phone conversation.Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Since I don't think anyone here understands Sanskrit, what does "Datta. Dayadhvam. Damyata." mean? The only cliché that I know in English is "Tat tvam asi," "That art thou," or today, I suppose "You are that;" since all things are connected through Brahman, and all things from this greater being, your self, you Atman, is really an extension of the universal self; in essence we are all one part of the same being who is universal.
Ah Singapore.
Well, happy birthday nonetheless. The 18th is the day to leave the realm of beasts and joining that of human beings. Well, really it's not, but wouldn't it be cool if it were? Atleast you can sign your own field trip forms now.
Verily, my dear Brianagurya, it is here. The coca-cola is here, while the essence of it is in writing. The essence of writing is word. The essence of word is hymn. The essence of hymn is sound, and verily, my dear, the essence of sound is the universal “Om� and is Brahman.
1 I use verily because they use the word way too much in the Upanisads.
2 I think the deadline though, Brian was like October 31 or something for the preliminary thing. Did you do it?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAE-YEOUN!
(we love you)
does anyone know anything about the coca-cola scholarship?
I stayed away from the blog for five days and it tore at my soul. I'm baaaccckkk from Baguio* and I get this odd suspicion that you guys are a lot more talkative when I'm not around. Hmmmm. Give me time to digest the posts and update the recommendations list (sorry). Congrats to Alex and Eunice, to Adrian and Brian (18!!!), and anyone else who can prolong a discussion on 'saxophone' for as long as we have.Tuesday, February 24, 2004
*Baguio=mountain city 6-12 hours North of Manila depending on the traffic. It was the anniversary of the People Power revolution** today, and the not-so-powerful people of Manila celebrated by throwing a rally. Coming back from Baguio, we saw a thick column of black smoke rising from Edsa, one of the three [real] roads in Manila, and at least thirteen fire trucks passed us while we waited in the traffic.
**The original was in 1986 when they overthrew Marcos and dear Imelda. Part II was the cellphone revolution.
***this is not a footnote but I like the asterisks. Adrian - I have absolutely no idea why it came from Singapore. I sent the letter from Manila, and the music/art exchange that won't take place till the second week of March is in Kuala Lumpur this year. Strange - they accidentally sent my camera to Singapore when I took it to the service center to get it repaired... Oh, also, I haven't read anything from the Upanishad but Dr. Monas mentioned it in relation to Vico's thunder story. He raised his fist a little to emphasize each word as he said, Datta. Dayadhvam. Damyata.
****this isn't a footnote either, but I wanted to end this post with two music recommendations. I'm not sure if I've talked about the Brahms piano quartet (G minor, op. 25) already but it's all I've been listening to the three weeks prior to Baguio. While I was in Baguio, though, I found myself making my friend sing-play Elliot Smith's Between the Bars on a daily basis.
Looking forward to the reunions--
(you know I'll at least be there in spirit)
Eunice, I found that my school's censoring apparatus does not catch art sites (the good ones), so one of my favorite places, www.Domai.com, is allowed. Thus, back sophomore year I was in the akward position of having a computer screen frozen, bearing a lovely 16-year-old Russian (slatsynov was the photographer and all of his are russian I think) nude smiling and standing in a doorframe, when my business teacher walked over to see why I wasn't typing. Such moments are the reason stupid grins exist. What did I say?Monday, February 23, 2004
"It's art, why else would the filter not catch it."
I used my foot to cut the power before I got in trouble, well, really before the teacher could register the site and have it banned from the future. ...
I checked the beauty of the day this very morning in studio art. It's not that great, but some are.
Has anyone here read any of the Upanisads?
it might be moot to say this... but im not an ez n00b so even if you provet at blogging - i AM posting and publishing.... i just had to say that... sorry for wasting your time...
Sorry for posting twice. Jacob, could you please post "The Tragedy of Mice" on our website? I would love to read it.
I love new semesters. A little late to be saying this, you think. I think not! I am gleefully typing away on our school "email/blog/aim censored" computers. Apparently the system has crashed, and they have not had the time to reprogram all the restrictions into the computer. (Eunice does her best to cackle evilly) So, for now at least, expect more giddy blogs from Eunice.
Let me say to things that I realized as I went to bed I had forgotten to write last time.
1. Bummer about the head injury Kelsey.
2. Tae-Yeoun, thank you for the letter; this may sound fake, but, that was like the single most considerate thing I can think of anyone ever doing for me. I got home and I'm like 'A letter from Singapore? Who's in Singapore? Oh, Duh, Tae-Yeoun with that there music thingy."
Hey, how did you get to read applications? I wish I could have (plus I know at least three people who applied). -Sounds really cool. Did you get a letter or something?
Hey brian. If you Add an A to your name, it's Abrian, which is almost Adrian. So
-- HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABRIAN! --
I'm laughing like an idiot this very moment because I took today off to work on scholarships... like 8 are due today, 3:00 pm, and I think I've finished three.
I wish you a Merry Monday and a Happy New Moon.
congratulations to our two cornell branch acceptees, and cigarettes and porn to our two birthday boys!Saturday, February 21, 2004
o man o man adrian, your post made me laugh out loud (quite literally) about seven times. happy birthday! i'm sorry to hear that you're not getting any (telling the truth is indeed overrated, especially to girls), but congrats on the animal husbandry qualification - at least you're knocking somebody up. (rimshot, cue applause) also, yeah, jacob, that lagunitas is quite a poem, keep 'em coming.
so yesterday i went to the bay area tasp reading day and read hundreds (okay, tens) of essays from potential future taspers. there were sushi and grapes. i had a lot of fun letting my judgemental side run free (okay, even more free than usual.) i just want to let you know that if any of you had wondered how you got into tasp....you should stop. there were some real stinkers. i totally fell in love with a couple kids' essays, too. if they don't get in i copied down their phone numbers so i can stalk them.
i got a ride back to the city with a man who had been the president of berkeley branch when it was still around, and he confirmed that paul wolfowitz is indeed an asshole. (apparently, he had been strongly against berkeley branch's existence...because they smoked pot. in 1967, in berkeley, big freakin shocker. abram shulsky, though, was a nice enough dude.) there were about 10 people there from all different eras of tasp and we chatted it up about all sorts of things. it kind of made me sadder about getting rejected from telluride house, because i realized that my connections with telluride pretty much end here, and there are all sorts of really fascinating folks that are a part of the association. so, i know that you guys who got in have a whole bunch of excellent options and it's gonna be a hard choice to make, but...just don't forget what a rockin opportunity you've got in the telluride house, even if it is ass-cold in ithaca. just my two cents.
OMG OMG i'm TOTALLY getting to see a bunch of you in a few days lyke 4 rEaLz OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111111
all quiet on the western front...wow.... definitely one of the best war novels i have read....
secondly, adrian, might want to try sci-am: and be careful with discover in april... they like to pull pranks... and btw, congrats to eunice and alex.
thirdly, jacob, you must share your play.... i need to read it... after all, we are studying creativity.
While I'd like to de-wing an angle, I do have dolphin news... About seven hours ago, I was standing behind the trainer Tim and the dolphin Sira and I was given the following instructions: "Go ahead and rub her, just don't touch the pectoral fins, the eye, the ear, or the genitals. You don't want her to get the wrong message." ha. I turned 18 today and that was perfect since I qualified (finally) for secondary animal husbandry, and I get to help the trainer in the water during the shows. Ah, those dolphins. There is a little fat, but their skin is tight and firm like the muscular thigh of a female athlete. I like the thighs of female athletes, and I wish I could caress such lovely things more often.
ha.
Well, here's news that you all probably don't need to hear; I finally told this girl Sharon whom I've been having sex with since August that I didn't find her all that interesting, I just couldn't get anyone better. Telling the truth is overrated.
I'm glad that everyone is reading so much. I feel ashamed. I haven't read much outside of school assignments. This book for Asian studies, Arrow of the Blue Skinned God --about the Ramayana, is wonderful. I've also started to read Discover from cover to cover, it is like the best magazine ever. well, I like it anyway.
Since I have nothing really great to write in answer to discussion topics, I'm just going to put a funny story down (though it kinda is tangent to Jacob's comment on Nabokov). So this dude I run with, Lyndon, is in English class. They're going to read Lolita, and had to have this copy from the book store. The teacher asks them all to look at the cover. She describes how it features this lovely black and white photography; a young girl's legs, dark skirt and light shoes; her beautifully innocent skin and school-girl stockings light against the deep of the background. lovely. ... Well the teacher asks the students what their first impressions of the image were, so the class begins. One girl says "innocence," another "perversion," Lyndon says "Adrian LeCesne."
As the Outrider unit from Dark Reign said "hide your daughters."
1, Alex, I really like that "Hip" story. Great stuff.
2, The Lagunitas is quite a poem.
Congratulations, Alex! I also got into CBTA.Wednesday, February 18, 2004
that's lovely bryan dear, but don't forget to push "post & publish" (this goes for everyone)
aren't you guys proud of me? im making a real effort to check this blog... *hint *hintTuesday, February 17, 2004
eeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwww - not a fan of gabriel garcia marquez. everytime i pick up his books, i feel like im running a marathon that i don't understand. heh. anyhow, god of small things kicks ass. kudos
dr. foley sends word that his older daughter picked saxophone, to which i say "rock!" another girlie saxophonist, sweet! (i still have pride although i have not touched my sax in over a year. heeheehee, sax sounds like sex.)Monday, February 16, 2004
i got rejected from telluride house, woot. i also fell down the other day and hit my head really hard and now i have a huge scrape on my face and a pounding headache that is three days old. good times for kelsey.
adrian: i just read this interesting article about indian nationalism and female sexuality, talking about feminine depiction of passive resistance and the such...i could scan it in and email it to you, if you want. also: more dolphin news please. every time you post without mentioning marine mammals an angel loses its wings.
why i love my town. look at those wedding pictures and tell me again how is this eroding the american family? i'm a cynical cold-hearted bastard, and even i can't help tearing up a little. love is love is love is love is.
books. am reading the god of small things, seems good so far. i second alex's orgasmic groan over love in time of cholera (just finished.) everyone should read everything by gabriel garcia marquez, repeatedly. can i suggest everything is illuminated by jonathan safran foer, especially for those of you who wrote about primo levi or the holocaust for the tasp research papers? it's a good book, fantastic in parts, and it tackles (with varying success) a lot of the issues from that article we read. hmm what else. dave eggers' new novel is actually really good (i didn't want to like it but did), better than a heartbreaking work of whatever whatever. i think i remember mónica mentioning if on a winter's night a traveler at tasp - whether she did or not, it's really freaking good. a post-modernist classic, yada yada yada, damn worth a read, and skinny too. all the writer types especially should read it, no everyone should, and we should all move to italy and be beautiful intellectuals together.
my head hurts. it's senior cut day today but i have to go to school anyway to do this physics lab. it involves a paintball gun though and i'm not showering, that'll show them for making me do work. i miss you all, constantly, un-festival-relatedly. come visit me, everyone, we'll get married in city hall and dance the hora underneath the lights of the golden gate bridge. this is the most wonderful city in the world but it would be better if it had taspers in it.
all righty... Eunice... i'm sorry that I wasn't there for you when you needed me. I do have the Prez stuff if you need it, because unlike my friends, i have anal parents who are like DL IT NOW DL IT NOW!!!!!!! anyhow, if you need them, just e-mail me for them at bryanylee@yahoo.com. I'll be more than happy to send them to you. Just to let you know tho, if you are going to do them through mail, you will have to mail them by wednesday to make sure they get there in time. oh and if im online at anytime just start screaming because that's what im doing... heh... not really funny.... nvm...Sunday, February 15, 2004
yay reunions!!!
by the way susan- the jamie-esque phrase that we were trying to remember: what IS up? hahaha ^__^
that brings back charming memories-
and remember jamie's wierd finger fidget? he still does it...
the visits made me remember how darn cool you all are-
my dads comment at the end of the trip, after I made him drive all sorts of random out of the way places, was not even rebuke but just "Well, you sure have some neat friends, Aimee" (from my dad, this is a hearty compliment). I know thats trite, but hey, we all know how Susan stands with the cheese. ^__^
Olga... you are completely right. I shouldn't have said what I did without thinking it through more carefully. My apologies, Susan.Thursday, February 12, 2004
Susan... if you can breakdance, I'll eat my foot. I've been trying to breakdance for the past year and all i have to show for it are several freezes and lot and lots of bruises. That is to say, I'm not saying you can't do it. I'm saying it's really really hard and trying something like that... let's just say, if you do try, i'll pray for success for you :PWednesday, February 11, 2004
Lost in Translation: ironically, the movie was released in Korea under the translated title, "Can Love be Translated?" in pink bubble letters. For months now I've been looking for an English translation of this Korean short story to share with you, and I've finally had a copy faxed to me from some random place in the US. I know there are eleven items or something on the up-for-discussion list on the right, but still, in a feat of what Bryan calls KP, I'd like to recommend Chu Yo-Sup's 'My Mother and the Roomer' ('Sarang sonnim gua omoni') to you and see what everyone thinks. I'm somewhat disappointed with how clunky it is in English; originally it's written in the vernacular but in Chu Yo-Sup's own textbook English it sounds like a Zen text. But, even though the story's lost much of its subtlety, it's forgivable because Chu Yo-Sup translated it himself in what I believe was his third language that he learned in Japan, and it's one of my all-time favorite short stories, and I don't know, it'll be fun to discuss it I think. And I'm sure Susan's read it in Korean so she can share her bilinguial insight.Monday, February 09, 2004
Missing you,
macs suck... Well, the only problem that I am aware of is that macs generally have difficulty with websites are if they are java-based. I'm pretty sure that this isn't the problem. My question is if the program crashes or whether it's the computer itself that crashes. I'm not familiar with macs, because I don't use them too often. Has she tried using another net browser other than internet explorer or navigator? Sometimes, web browsers have difficulty with certain websites.
depressing thought: Tae-Yeoun is sick with some cursed Dutch flu the MUNers brought back from the Hague. ("stop saying it's getting worse, it can't be getting worse when you're talking antibiotics." - mother dear) So my sympathies for you, John.Sunday, February 08, 2004
depressing thought #2: people, including Olga!!!, believe me when I say I have the bird flu.
#3: Eunice can use "already" and "senioritis" in the same sentence.
My new art teacher's apparently read Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain too, which is rather disturbing for some odd reason I can't identify. I have an anecdote about a time he suggested the upside-down drawing technique to a friend which is not all that funny upon second thought so I won't waste your time talking about it, BUT,
Dr. Chapelle's been having some technical difficulties accessing the blog. She brought this up a month ago but I assumed I'd think of something but never did. Her computer crashes every time she tries to log on, and I think it might have to do with the fact that both her computers are Apple macs, but I don't know, does anyone have any ideas?
Hey everyone! I just visited Deep Springs and heard the "full story" (the x rated version) of why Deep Springs and the Telluride Association are not best friends anymore. I will post it soon, but I picked up a bug in the Las Vegas airport and need to go drink more tea. I also talked up the other Tasp applicants, in fact, someone on the AppCom there remarked during my interview that I was talking about them too much and not me enough. So don't say I'm not full of Tasper pride. I do have to go though, and happy belated birthday Jacob! Q: Who is applying to the CBTA and MBTA; could someone give me the rundown?
Ha. I would like to brag that i have received my copy of tex-man from adam IN PERSON!!! Yay!!! My first petite tasp reunion. : ) we ate chowda and went bowling (without using finger holes! the special Giangkowski method.)Saturday, February 07, 2004
ohh and other tasp related things-
eunice, i'm trying to get my hands on the Koestler (essay? book? what is it?)- but then something else happened the other day that reminded me of you. I had decided to listen to the conservative radio station (i was feeling guilty about being so close-minded about the upcoming election) and just after i had heard all sorts of conservative garbage about restricting immigration and abortion, the radio-speaker-man started talking about this great guy who was an art and poetry enthusiast who he called the "real thing" and had published two great books of poetry. Then he said he was named Dana Gioya. I changed the station.
other tasp related things- i read a complete bashing of "Drawing on the Other Side of the Mind" in my ap psych book that completely discredited the essay. Ha. oh well.
I'd like to suggest Koestler's "The Act of Creation: part one, the jester" for possible discussion, upon two points. One, I enjoyed his writing; and two, I found his observations interesting. For those that don't have time to read it, (or those who have succumbed to senioritis already), one of Koestler arguments is that humor is the only form of creativity that engenders sharp physiological reflex. What do you think?Thursday, February 05, 2004
(Oh, and Reason number 3: It's about creativity!)
Adrian... wow... i am at a loss of words... that was so beautiful... to be able to capture the loathing for everything in so little... I envy you... no, I hate you... yeah... that's better... ah, i feel better already... Thanks.Wednesday, February 04, 2004
k. will call. YAYYYYYY!!!!!
btw, my dads cell is 808.960.7589.
and adam, being a royal dufus i forgot you number. What is it again?
or if anyone feels altruistic and has a TASP journal on hand, post it. :0)
Olga. so far as coming your direction, my dad says we'll play it by ear, but i'm winning ground. yayyy! hopefully hopefully see you guys soon.
Bryan, I feel you.Tuesday, February 03, 2004
Do you ever walk down the halls during some average day and think "I hate these people. I hate them because they are living, or because they are happy. I hate their joy because I have it not..." -do you ever think like that?
Ave. It isn't quite self loathing, but that too is a thing to feel.
Let me tell you that you are worth while.
I am really happy because I can finally hold two braids in my teeth. I've never had hair this long in my life, and it feels odd.
Hey did any of you know that the evolutionary history of snakes is really poorly understood? I've been doing some reading, and it isn't clear when the elongate squamete reptile with small legs lost them, and get this- An Aquatic Period may have been involved. ha.
What does everyone think of Gandhi? What about Nationalism?
hahaha well after my visit with adam i go down to st. johns (i think its monday tuesday of next week) and I was hoping to get to see you two (and say bad things about adam behind his recently turned back).Monday, February 02, 2004
: )
Let me regale (regail?) You all with the conversation that Aimee and I had yesterday :Sunday, February 01, 2004
Aimee: Adam, I'm coming to your land this weekend!
Adam: China?
well, my razor sharp wit aside, Aimee will be visiting Mt. Holyoke College, a school located in the city where both Adam and volleyball were born! The first thing we will do is talk about you behind your backs (Kelsie and Tara especially). Anyhoo I imagine you will all be jealous of Aimee, who will be sledding and getting hit with snowballs and eating clam chowder (chowdah) with all the new englanders. We will also be making fun of boston (Bawston) accents. Unfortunately for her, we've having record cold weather (-30 degrees with wind chill factor at the worst). I'm excited!
Susan, Alex B. how far do you guys live from St. John's?
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