A Turn

Maybe I'm partial after his incredible work at my staff's award-winning unity project from last year (Why Do You Hate France?), but Ralph Begleiter won his drawn out lawsuit against the Pentagon recently, and triggered the release of hundreds of "homecoming" photos that show the coffins of deceased soldiers returning from war. It tied into the Freedom of Information Act, and I remember him being interviewed for our school paper earlier this fall.

For the full article on it, which was a top story on Google News today, try here.

A Request to Comedy Central

A letter to Comedy Central:

I have always been a loyal fan of the UCB television show and was absolutely delighted with the quality of the first season DVD. While I am aware the show enjoys mostly a cult following and the first DVD's success was not on par with the successes of other shows' DVD efforts (Chapelle, Strangers w/ Candy), I urge you to consider finally releasing the second and third seasons in the DVD format.

The production on the first DVD was incredible and nothing made me happier than having access to high quality editions of some of my most loved sketch comedy material. It's a shame you chose to cancel the show all those years back, but there is a fan base just waiting to forgive you should you find it in your good hearts to release seasons two and three on DVD.

Why not get it all out of the way on one combined set?

Thank you. I look forward to seeing UCB on the shelves the next time I am in a video store. And believe me when I say.. I'll make sure to buy it.

You can join the cause by voicing your desire for UCB on DVD at http://www.comedycentral.com/help/questionsCC.jhtml.

Gettin' Webster on Ya

Things to note about the word "commencement"

If you check it out at first, you think "graduation" and "endings" and "shit shit shit," but upon closer examination, it actually is all about celebrating "new beginnings."

So it's actually kind of happy... or fucking with us, trying to be deceptive and such.

Wet Wet Wet Sunday

It was a wet day, today. I spent a fairly large portion of it sleeping, as I am apt to do on the weekend, but a larger portion of it running all around the residence hall due to a busted sprinkler head just around the corner from my room. Two of my residents were fooling around in the hallway early this evening (around quarter after 6:00) and somehow managed to break one of the ceiling sprinkler heads in the hallway.

This caused lots of water to pour out onto the ground... lots of it.

After it all, seven bedrooms were flooded, a few more had leaks and other various damage, and our community lounge was underneath about three inches of disgusting, nasty water. Residents had to stay in the Ray A lounge for nearly five hours while police investigators scoured the area and cleanup crews worked feverishly to clean up what they could. Us RAs had to escort residents to their rooms to retrieve belongings they might need.

I helped my two residents out by going with them to the police station and being there for them when they gave their statement. It's a real shame. These are two very good people that would never try to do anything like this, yet here it is -- an assload of damage and they're responsible. They were afraid all of their friends would hate them and it's been nice to see that's far from the truth. People are just very worried about them and their belongings, wondering why they're at a friend's house tonight and not back in the dorms.

Hell, I'd be lying low, too, just to get away from everything and everyone.

But it's cleaned up, a little damp, and not really that bad. My hall director, Sarah "Mildred" Bogusko, did an awesome job making sure everyone knew what to do, how to help, and where to be. My complex coordinator Mike Diesner was spot-on, as usual, and the rest of my colleagues on staff made it real easy work for the night.

And luckily my room was all clear.

Nothing Much

Not a whole lot to report over the past week. Davita, Melanie, and I put on a few programs in the residence hall that went well. We didn't have wonderful turnout for all of them, but the material was excellent. We brought it Dr. Gamel-McCormick from the Center for Disabilities Studies to observe and speak at our Dinner with a Twist, where students were treated to a delicious pasta dinner (garlic bread, salads, variety of pasta, punch + pie) after they had to endure a few trials with a simulated physical disability. We bound some arms, used some blindfolds, and strapped a girl to a wheelchair. I think everyone learned a lot.

The weather's giving me headaches. Probably some latent, small allergy and the frequent temperature changes. I hate how in the morning it's cool, it's somewhat a scorcher in the afternoon, and then we plunge to freezing in the evening and night. I've got residents bitching about the air conditioning and the heat the same day! But that's not too much of a gripe... I just didn't really see spring this year.

Like it forgot us.

Accepted to Hall Directorship

The Office of Residence Life at Delaware offered me a hall director position this past week, which pretty much secures returning to Delaware for grad school as a very sweet deal. I'd get to have a job I'll love, it will pay for full-time school, and provide me an apartment to live in. Still waiting on the other graduate schools to return their acceptances/rejections/etc.

So within the next week or so I have to really sit down and decide what the plan is for the future. Accept full time job? Continue applying for more full time jobs? Accept offer to graduate school? Take internship? Which internship? I suppose it's nice to have those things to decide between.

School is going fairly well. I can't believe there's less than seven weeks left -- it's really ridiculous to me when I think about it. Soon everyone will be going this way and that and starting another compartment of their lives. You all know the deep though associated with those goings on. Meh. I don't feel like detailing it too much.

Good Week Back

I've had a good week back at school. Shely visited for Sunday evening before a job interview he had in the D.C. area, I took care of some appointments and meetings, have been on top of my schoolwork, RA work, and even got back into working on some Graver things. I've practiced the bass a lot, tweaked some Monica's Ghost lines, and the weather was - for the most part - exceptional. And this morning I scored two tickets to the Weezer show at the Electric Factory next month. That's a good deal!

Interesting Tid Bit

From a sports news source: "The Phillies are 56-65-2 in season openers. They hadn't opened the season at home since 1996 and hadn't won a season opener at home since 1980." I ask you: last world series victory for the Phillies? 1980. Store it away.

I also was accepted to grad school, this morning. The CIS department here at Delaware accepted me into their masters program. More options for decisions, now.

"I think Pringles originally meant to make tennis balls"

It's sad that death is in the news so much these days. I just enjoyed the Mitch Hedberg special on Comedy Central with my parents and after the program, the channel ran a note: "Mitch Hedberg, we loved him ... 1963-2005." I just confirmed that with some online searches. He was one of the funniest acts I'd ever listened to or watched. I rank him up there with Eddie Izzard in sheer hilarity, style, and continued enjoyment. The bit about the Dufresne family and them going missing before dinner or the "racecar passenger" schtick always get me.

That's a shame. Thirty-seven years old. Heart failure in a hotel room while on tour. He will be missed.