TASP 2003 at UT Austin:
The Mystery of Creativity |
Sunday, October 31, 2004
Had my computer taskbar clock set to synchronize with internet time, then watched it jump from 1:59:59 to 1:00:00. I love it.Thursday, October 28, 2004
This is for Matthew and it comes to us by way of very-right-wing blogger Mickey Kaus over at Slate magazine, who nonetheless, doesn't lie too much even when he distorts things. Essentially Saddam and his type want Kerry, Osama and his type want Bush.Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Polarized Terrorists: Some evidence that, as predicted in this space, terrorists are split when it comes to Bush vs. Kerry:
Mowafaq Al-Tai, a London-educated architect and intellectual, said different types of resistance fighters have different views of the U.S. election. The most pro-Kerry, he said, are the former Saddam Hussein loyalists — Ba'ath Party members and others who think Washington might scale back its ambitions for Iraq if Mr. Kerry wins, allowing them to re-enter civic life. The most pro-Bush, he said, are the foreign extremists. "They prefer Bush, because he's a provocative figure, and the more they can push people to the extreme, the better for their case."
(Alex: absolutely mantastic. thank you.)Tuesday, October 26, 2004
It is wonderful to see that at least on this blog the election is decided by rational civil discourse. I was going to let it rest but Aimee insists. Here are a few thoughts.Monday, October 25, 2004
Can we think that the words those terrorists fed to the media (Bush helps us, etc...) are any less subversive and manipulative than the bombing in Madrid? What is the outcome they hope their rhetoric will have and why do they desire that outcome? The fact that the terrorists are speaking in ways that will hurt Bush before the election shows the outcome they desire (Can we doubt it?) and suggests what outcome we should prefer.
It is interesting that you should mention Bush’s framing of this war, but I disagree with your characterization. Bush has actually embraced moderate Muslims like the leaders of Pakistan, Jordan and Turkey. He has gone so far as to tell the Muslim world that he prays to their God. However aggravating his drawl and swagger are to Western liberals, it is not enough to cause one of our fellow youths to kill themselves and others. Real reasons are the poverty of many Muslims and the oppression of Palestinians (which Kerry favors as much as Bush). Actually, if Mecca has a Carthage, it is Paris. There anxious secularists are openly attacking the Muslim faith; here our president praises its god.
In Beowulf, King Hrothgar is unable to stop the murderous attacks of a terrible new foe; it is only when one man dares to take the battle to its lair that the kingdom is safe. His courage is also called on to battle Swedish army and slay a dragon. The Beowulf poet’s genius was his prophetic anticipation of the Promethean threats we face in the war on terror. At times it will require law enforcement, at others, regime change. What remains constant is their remedy: the dynamic, proactive, and adaptable courage. Kerry hopes to limit our options to policing and trying (really hard!) to keep them out of the country. One can draw many lesson from Beowulf but the greatest is the necessity to be willing to do whatever it takes (even regime change, as it seemed to) to fight terror. Bush, like Beowulf, is willing to take the fight to them and out of them by fighting the agents and causes (see my last post) of terror abroad.
I’d like to steal your words, John, and say that all you Democratic Taspers are the citizens we need, willing to challenge and change. There are some great reasons to vote for Kerry. Yesterday Kerry promised to hold a rural summit and implement a host of reforms that would help rural America. This move alone makes me think he may well deserve my vote, even though I disagree with him on free trade, the Mexico City Policy, stem-cell research, etc. ad infinitum… Still, even casting aside all the rhetoric I spewed about the war on terror, I am convinced that Bush will do a better job of moving us from an age of terror to a time of peace. This consideration trumps all others, even the issue closest to my heart.
I officially declare a KELSEY APPRECIATION MONTH.
Dear Kelsey,
We love you!!!
Excerpt from Rilke that I quote everytime I have a desire to serenade someone but find myself undeserving of such an honor:
Yes - the springtime needed you. Often a star
was waiting for you to notice it. A wave rolled toward you
out of the distant past or as you walked
under an open window a violin
yielded itself to your hearing.
You're a living goddess and the world exists for you.
yep. but i see opportunities a-plenty. :) What is everyone doing for thanksgiving break?Sunday, October 24, 2004
Matt- i'm waiting for your response! (you're not taking john's and alex's argument in silence, are you?!) A true case for bush! exciting. (that doesnt mean to be condescending/anti-bush- this college is just damn liberal)
My two cents on the presidential debates is pretty much just that I hate em.
I was banking on the debates, but no.
Kerry: "Random Meaningless Statement!�
Bush: "Random Meaningless Statement is wrong! (because of fact A, B, C, etc.) New R.M.S.!�
Kerry: "New R.M.S. is wrong! (b/c of D, E, and F)�
But the value of the matter in contention is still in the air.
It's stupid, and frankly, the ability to prove or disprove trivial statements is not something I look for in a president (and I’ll get by without esthetic gestures). But that said, there's nothing else to evaluate with.
So I unashamedly say that I will vote for Kerry for no logical reason.
Yes, Bush is bad for the environment, but so are atomic bombs.
Yes, Some of Bush’s actions hurt, but I don’t assume that “anyone would be better.�
And I have no idea who to believe.
I just dislike Bush. He doesn’t argue like a philosopher. He’s too proud of his integrity of decision (contrasted to Kerry’s wishy-washy-ness)-that kind of ‘integrity’ risks being drastically wrong. His debate behavior makes me feel like he doesn’t ask enough questions- I think Kerry thinks more. Partially, I relate more to Kerry- so I infer that he’d make more of the same decisions that I would.
Anyhow, this is why I am doing the least philosophical thing possible and voting on character. Please, someone give me reason to do otherwise.
speaking of new york, it has recently (like ten minutes ago) come to my attention that aimee and olga both happened to be in new york last weekend BUT THEY COMPLETELY MISSED EACH OTHER!Wednesday, October 20, 2004
tragedies like this happen when people don't announce things on the blog.
So we started discussing Genesis today, and we got into the concept of the biblical narrator and the documentary hypothesis was mentioned and I got all excited because I'd had no clue what it was until Jacob posted on it a few months ago. Yay Jacob!
Today, I finally stopped by the Beinecke Rare Books & Manuscripts Library at Yale, and stumbled upon my second Gutenberg Bible. It made me think of the HRC and how much I missed it.
I know I'm a bad person for posting 3 times in a row. But I needed to make sure everyone knows that GAME 7 RED SOX v YANKS is happening RIGHT NOW! Almost certainly the single most important event of any of our lives.
UPDATE: HOLY #*&%Y(#(#*&$#$!!!!! THE RED SOX WON!!!!RED SOX WON!!!!RED SOX WON!!!!
Susan- Jacob, when I talked to him in early Sept. he said term one he was Grounds/Orderly, which is a pretty self explanatory thankless job, but term two he was going to be GL (general labor). GL could be anything from fixing fences to laying pavement to cutting grass and anything else you can imagine. in fact, I know they are still trying to cut willows down from the lower resevoir. But I think they're in term three by now, so he could have traded for a new job.
And I think he said he was aiming to get the dairyboy job by spring or next fall. Its pretty coveted I guess.
Matt- I'll save the sadness at your decision because good Republicans are hard to find, and we need you.Monday, October 18, 2004
But I do have to say that, fundamentally, I think Bush is flawed in the very areas that you
think are his best attributes. It is Bush, to me, who is unwilling to address the cause of terror, and in your own words, someone we therefore cannot afford to elect.
Name one mistake he is asked, and he cannot not name one. It is this willful denial, ignorance of the world around us, which I see destroying America in the long haul...and I don't care if Bush is encapsulating himself in a bubble of like-minded willfully ignorant advisors because he is stupid, or because he is ideologically driven, the end results are what matter.
As long as we are fighting a war against "terror," that is, not against "terrorists" or "terror-states," then we are fighting a war against an ideology. I for one think that it is probably a just and right war; the ideology of hatred and the ideology of terrorism should be battled on every corner of the earth. But I don't think anyone not in willful denial of the facts can believe that any ideology can be stamped out by dropping bombs or imposing occupations. We find confirmation of this daily...terrorism increases the longer we are in Iraq. Every father we kill (granted, who was trying to kill our soldiers who were just defending themselves) still has five kids, two of whom will stand in to replace him. I don't think John Kerry has much of a better plan to address this fundamental flaw of the war on terror than GW does, but at least John Kerry can admit the flaw is there. As long as our commander in chief and his appointed leaders in this war cannot see the truth of what is happening, we'll never win this war or any other, the war on drugs, the war on crime, the war on poverty.
Eventually, with Bush's blind ideology, the exact ideology that one of my favorite leaders of all-time, LBJ, also gave himself over to, we will be left pondering the same question: "how do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"
tasp kicks ass
After some doubts coming from the first debate I'm now convinced that Bush will be a better choice than Kerry. On Korea, Bush favors the promising multilateral talks (which include, most importantly, China and S. Korea) whereas Kerry wants to return the bilateral talks that enabled Kim Jong Il to advance his program in the 1st place. Bush's national security policy is also more developed than Kerry's. Kerry promises the world would greet his election with new troop commitments in Iraq; common sense and the European media both deny this. Bush is in fact not stupid but actually sets the global agenda. He has a vision of spreading democracy, health and wealth across the world -begining with Iraq, the fight against Aids and free trade. Kerry denies the necessity of addressing the causes of terrorism and is willing only to take measures here at home. Adding more firefighters and police officers will please the unions, yes. But the truth is, Mr. Kerry, that a firehouse in Baghdad will do more good than one in Scranton. Kerry has fine thumbs (as evidenced by his bizarre trademark hand gesture) but sticking them in the dyke will do little good. We can not afford to elect a leader who refuses to address the causes of terror. The media, successful as they've been in demonizing Cheney (who was smeared because he refused to talk to the media and they cynically intuited that much of post-Enron, post-Newsom America would be wary of an executive and lesbian's father) has only succeeded in calling Bush "stupid." As we all know, Texas has nothing to do with stupidity. The president's world view, simply as he expresses it, is consistent with the mainstream of 20th century foreign policy and a prudent response to terror. John Kerry's is reckless in its naivety. Though none of us agree with Bush on all things I think we can all agree with him on the one thing that is paramount: His is the most proactive, developed and promising vision for making the world free from terror.
Aww Alex I miss you too!Saturday, October 16, 2004
Adrian needs to announce his performance schedule if he wants to be wished good luck as well. He also needs to be in his room more often so that Tae-Yeoun can return his prayer beads. (<-- from the Austin Meditation Center)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX Y!Friday, October 15, 2004
With 17 days left in the Election, and only two weeks until GOTV time- I thought I'd give a little update on Nebraska. Kerry is probably not going to pick up any electoral votes, but his momentum and volunteers are what will Propell Nancy Thompson into congress. I wrote a diary entry about it at the wonderful Left-Wing Blog www.dailykos.com.Thursday, October 14, 2004
I got to see Mr. Edwards and shake his hand at about 4pm yesterday as well! I think every woman in the crowd was smitten beyond belief. Most of the guys too. He's going to be president in the next 12 years, or at least the democratic candidate for prez. It will be an amazing race. But I've got to keep my eye on this race, so I'm going to go back to writing emails to try to win last minute cash for the Nancy race.
Midterms anyone? I've got 3 next week and it's starting to scare me...
GOOD LUCK ALEX!Wednesday, October 13, 2004
(more like congratulations by the time you read this)
from campus events schedule:Tuesday, October 12, 2004
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2004
GAME NIGHT!!!!!!! 8PM APPEL COMMONS FIRESIDE LOUNGE Interested in relaxing after a long week of classes? Come out to GAME NIGHT every Friday in Appel. Members of the DDR Club (Dance Dance Revolution Club) will be providing hours of great entertainment. If you have ever played or wanted to try, now is your chance!! Its free and they will even help you learn the game if you want!!
: )
Thanks.
aii, between the LETTERS:
Format :: Font :: [the tab that says Character Spacing]
but to attend to Matt's seemingly more urgent formatting needs: (<- the colon: it's like a visual snap!)
it's
Format :: Paragraph :: [line spacing]
for which you have the standard single, 1.5, double spacing, and my favorite, Multiple, for which you can squeeze in 1.37 and no one will know how 1.5 spacing came to look so good.
This weekend I discovered MyTunes Redux and have downloaded 2.9 days' worth of music in a couple of hours. Creativity? Mystery?
Amazing contribution Matt, considering you both began, and ended, the 10 post punctuation run (with a post in the middle too!). Actually, it is still an amazing feat of Tasper literary prowess. Or of Tasper literary nonprowess, however you paint it. So bonus points to observational skills of the Princetonian.Monday, October 11, 2004
I, by a twist of fate, read the King James Jeremiah just last week for my New Test. class in order to compare him to the "Prophet figure" some people say Luke was making Jesus out to be.
And finally: http://atomfilms.shockwave.com/af/content/slam_bush this is the best election related video of any kind I've seen anywhere the entire race! (if you don't count OK Repub. remarks about "rampant lesbianism" just this weekend- Listen)
Amazing. Of the last ten posts, eight begin with a fragment punctuated by a colon. Where is the mystery? where is the creativity? what has college done to us?
Also I must recommend the King James Jeremiah: poetic, prophetic exhilirating. "Trust ye not in lying words saying, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD are these."
Question: How can I increase the spaces between the letters on my word documents? Mo'nica showed me how to do this but I don't remember. Thanks.Sunday, October 10, 2004
Question for everyone but especially directed towards Alex Y because he watches disturbing movies: have any of you watched 'The Piano Teacher'? It's been on my to-find-and-watch list for a while and I've just been reminded of it now that I want to read the actual book (Tae-Yeoun so shallow - only read the book after the author wins the Nobel). Has anyone read any of Jelinek's books?
Calling something "clean" doesn't mean it is clean, amply demonstrated by sky and water acts put forth by the current admin. If he'da just left things as they were, the'd all be a little better than they are now.
Matt, I thought that article post was great.
It's taken me three weeks, but I have finally figures out that I am alergic to latex. I am one of the unlucky 2% of folks who develops a delayed responce hypersensitivity reaction. Every friday I've been putting on latex lab gloves for chem lab, and every saturday-tuesday I've had a rection, but the 24-72 hour delay meant that I didn't know what the source of the reaction was. In short, allergies suck.
Remember all, that calling an act "clean skies" or "clear water" doesn't mean it has to improve on said commodities. The following has been amply demonstrated by the current admin.Saturday, October 09, 2004
I can't believe the guy won't name 3 mistakes of his. I would go so far as to say I can't name three real successes. What a lot of people call successes of the religious party really are collossal losses for the planet. Matt, good article post.
THANK YOU JOHN!!! THANK YOU EUNICE!!!Friday, October 08, 2004
random freaky thought:Thursday, October 07, 2004
Okay my Italian homework is to write about what I did last winter vacation. And I just don't remember! I've gone through my calendars, diary, archived emails, have called up friends I must have been with over those weeks, and none of them know, nor do they remember what they themselves did that winter! Straight out of fiction!
More relevantly, I was having dinner last night when a girl I had never seen before just walked up to me and asked if I did TASP. So I met Stacey, Cornell TASP '04, who is visiting Yale from LA. I'm all caught up on the TASP '04 gossip (ask me!) and it seems as though our Texan successors have been a rowdy infamous bunch.
Speaking of the `04 Texas TASPers, the two that I met at the New York event last week were under the impression that (i) they weren't allowed to swim in the pool because something went terribly wrong (like someone drowned or something) when we tried to the year before, and that (ii) Winedale was so terrible (no pie this year, but hot stew on an hot Texan night with mosquitoes) that we recommended it to them because we hated it ourselves.
Labor quote of the day:
"Now, Plato's Form of a Bed, is it a queen-sized bed?"
"It's a philosopher-king-sized bed."
ahh, Plato.
An interesting variation on a familiar theme:Monday, October 04, 2004
from economist.com:
AMERICA is unusual in the extent to which its politics is shaped by questions of values rather than economics. Church attendance, for example, is a far better predictor of political affiliation than income. In no other rich country is abortion such a galvanising political issue. In no other rich country do leading politicians feel the need to spend so much political capital on stem cells or gay marriage.
The most vivid images of the way that values drive American politics are maps of the deadlocked 2000 election which show the (red) states in the heartland and the South voting for George Bush and the (blue) states on the coasts and around the great lakes voting for Al Gore. Such maps conjure up a host of cultural stereotypes: metropolitan America versus suburban and rural America; sophisticated America versus Country & Western America; Starbucks America versus Wal-Mart America—even, indeed, the porn belt versus the Bible belt.
A map of the market for pornography that appeared in the New York Times just before the 2000 election bore an eerie resemblance to the eventual electoral map. Mr Gore carried the areas with the highest percentages of sex films in the home-video market (40% on the west coast and 37% in New England and the Middle Atlantic states); Mr Bush carried the areas with the lowest percentages (14% in the South). The two candidates split those areas where sales were middling.
Good luck with the studies, especially you Yalies in Directed Studies!
Alex Y and Matt might be the only ones who know who they are: but I'm hanging out in a room with only The Faint, Beep Beep (the opener), and a few tech and merch guys. I'm doing a John Kerry table at their show and so I get to meet 'em, be around for sound prep. Definatley the best part of being a Kerry worker so far.Sunday, October 03, 2004
THE FAINT!
Finally, my contact info:
Matthew Schmitz
Blair 61
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ 08544
(402) 340-2910
"Anyone who doesn't read Cortazar is doomed. Not to read him is a serious invisible disease which in time can have terrible consequences. Something similar to a man who has never tasted peaches. He would quietly become sadder...and, probably, little by little, he would lose his hair."
--Pablo Neruda
i just finished reading hopscotch (by, of course, julio cortazar) and also just started reading it again, because it is incredible. READ IT READ IT READ IT
Now the two cocks have gone head to head I think I can say Jersey is no swing state. It was a little queer looking how Bush was filmed closer to the top of the frame to put him at the same height as Kerry -it would take a similar trick of logic to say he won. He has led with a disastrous boldness but he still has many good ideas. School vouchers, opposition to an autocracy of activist judges and multilateral talks in Korea: these are all good things. Still, it is sad that there was no Republican primary that could have been won by Hagel or McCain.
And kudos to Jim Lehrer for bringing up Darfur. I think we need to aggresively push the African Union to step in, or failing that do it ourselves -I'll volunteer.
Things that remind me of TASP:Saturday, October 02, 2004
Conversation with Taiwanese-American on life in rural Nebraska: She asks, "So am I the first Asian you've ever met?"
While wearing my TASP shirt: "Hey, you're not a Texan."
No, I went to a program there.
Oh, TASP! You must be a genius...
"WERE YOU IN THE BROCHURE????"
- a TASP'04-er at the New York TASP50 event.
Cornell screened the debate at the movie theater- overflowing. The debate did not impress me; neither candidate said anything. But Kerry's image kicked Bush's image's ass.Friday, October 01, 2004
Sorry to post twice...but that was one amazing debate last night. I was really impressed by John Kerry last night; I don’t know how anyone watching could help but be. He was in command of his facts. He was in command of his language and articulation. He was in command of the screen, and at times it seemed, command of the entire discussion. He just seemed, ironically, so much more Presidential than Mr. Bush.
We had a party with like 250 people there; it was great. anyone else watch?
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