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Today I decided that I am going to be a Rhodes Scholar.
It will be tough, but totally worth it.
And hell, if I fail (and I probably will), at least I can say I gave it a shot.
I'm running the Chicago Marathon next year. Anyone wanna do it with me?Current Music: One Day More! - Les Miserables 10th anniv. Royal Albert Cast |
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I hate being the only person at my math instructor's office hours because, invariably, I end up looking like the mathematical moron that I am. I had a really simple question, but it needed answering so I went, and was the only one there. So I'm doing alright at not embarrassing myself too badly when the phone rings. My instructor (a PhD student) answers it and with a look of shock in his eyes tells me that his graduate adviser is coming over. "OK, whatever," I think, but I soon find out that his adviser is Vladimir Drinfeld, winner of the 1990 Fields Medal in mathematics:
"Fields Medals are given every four years to the most distinguished mathematicians aged 40 or under. In the absence of a Nobel prize in mathematics, they are regarded as the highest professional honour a mathematician can attain."
He shows up five minutes later, I start sweating profusely, can't figure out that x/x cancels, and have one of the best mathematicians in the world leaning over my shoulder. I quickly ask another quick question, pretend like I understand, and leave.
I miss lunches in Mrs. Williams classroom. |
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Today was just one of those days when everything was just so beautiful that I could hardly stand it--like the kid in American Beauty.
I just stood outside, walking around taking it all in.
The way the birds sail over the buildings, swirled around in the wind like a school of fish.
The colors of the mostly brownish/yellow leaves that are all that remain from two weeks of colorful splendor, and the way they crunch beneath your feet and swirl in the wind.
A squrill jumping through the branches.
The clouds catching the perfect glow from the sun as it set.
The way my TA's hair falls on her face as she explains to me the alienation of labor, sensuous reappropriation, and species being.
Overall, it was a beautiful day out. The whole week's been great really. I love this weather.Current Mood: Happy Current Music: Five For Fighting |
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Alright, so this last weekend I went to Philladelphia, PA to compete at the U Penn Model UN conference. It was an absolute blast. The highlight of the trip was probably my fight with a huge Bulgarian guy. Suffice it to say that it took six members of the U Penn Secretariat to hold him back and a designated guard on me to make sure that I did not leave the hotel room. My buddy Misho who knows him from Bulgaria says that he is very "provincial". Conference was great and the team took second place only to Yale, who brought a totally stacked team. We were half new kids and we kicked Harvard's ass who also brought about half new kids.
The weekend however was not a very good thing for my academic life, which here at the UC is a pretty intense gig. With only 10 weeks in a quarter, it becomes necessary to resort to drastic measures to get work done. My roommate ordered 5 pounds of espresso beans, obstensibly to set up a little coffee shop in our room selling "buck shot" or a buck a shot. This has not happened yet and so ever since i arrived in Hyde Park at 1 AM monday morning, i have been chewing on these beans. I had a paper due today online at 6:00. I sent it in with my suitemate throwing down a countdown with 30 seconds to spare and I only got halfway through my grammar revisions. I hate having papers due by e-mail, it causes so much procrastination.
I have not had more than 4 to 4.5 hours of sleep for over a week now and my head is begining to look like sailboat moored during strong winds. . .if you know what i mean.
I think i might go to the sauna tonight. I just found out that we have a sauna right accross the street. Then I am going to sleep.
Thanksgiving is coming. . . .mmmmm
I'm trying to decide if I should go home on tuesday. I'd have to skip calculus, but that's no real big loss. . . |
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Nov. 1st, 2005 @ 07:36 pm
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So, about that last entry:
Turns out it was Dan Worthen and Nora Malone who got mugged on the quad. . .
wierd |
| » Life on the South Side |
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My daily e-mail usually includes some of the following:
"Police report two more armed robberies, these on Thursday evening, October 27, that are part of the pattern of armed robberies which has been the subject of two recent Safety Awareness Alerts. The same man is likely involved in this pattern. Unfortunately, the victims' descriptions of him are not distinctive enough to help others trying to distinguish the offender from pedestrians in the area.
At 7:25 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 27, on Kimbark Avenue between 55th and 56th Streets, a woman was walking when a man came up from behind and grabbed her. He put a gun to her head, took her bag and IPod, and fled.
At 8:05 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 27, on Greenwood Avenue between 57th and 58th Streets (Hutchinson Quad area), a woman and a man who were walking together were confronted by an armed man. He put a gun to the woman's head, demanded and took her purse, and fled.
There have now been thirteen incidents since September 12 in this pattern, which has occurred within a broad area of Hyde Park between Hyde Park Blvd. (51st Street) on the north, 58th Street on the south, Drexel Avenue on the west, and Harper Avenue on the east. However, six of these incidents have occurred on or close to Kimbark Avenue. Police are investigating.
Be street wise. Be alert and aware of who and what is around you, especially at night in areas where few others are walking. Try to keep to well lighted areas and walk when possible in groups. Do not hesitate to cross the street or to walk in the street to avoid suspicious circumstances. Use the University's emergency telephones, located throughout the community, to summon police quickly if you have concerns.
At 8:43 p.m., Saturday, October 29, near 58th Street and Woodlawn Avenue, a man was approached from behind by a man who placed a gun to the victim’s head and demanded and took his valuables. The offender then struck the victim in the head with the butt of the gun when the victim asked for the return of his identification cards. The offender then fled. The victim was not hospitalized. Police believe that this attack may be related to the series of armed robberies previously reported this fall. Police patrols have been increased as a result. "
Note to self: Asking for ID back=pistol-whipping. Bad Idea.
In other news: Rufus Wainwright was pretty good. His voice was really hoarse so he had to keep stopping, and starting again, with a joke in the in-between.
I'm going to UPenn this weekend. Should be Sweet. Nothing like a party Model UN style!
Oct. 31st, 2005 @ 09:31 pm
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| » oh god |
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My roommate on last night to someone else:
So you've seen Matt kinda drunk, right?
Well, multiply that by 10.
Oct. 27th, 2005 @ 10:49 pm
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The White Sox did it. I'm proud, elated and content. I don't even know what to say about it. I'd point to Connor's entry as the summation of my emotion as well.
I'll never forget coming home from a long day of work this summer to watch a little Ozzie Ball and just being happy, knowing what could be in store.
I'm so glad that I could be in the city to witness this. I went for a run out to The Point yesterday before the game and I saw the city all lit up with "SOX PRIDE" on the Blue Cross Blue Shield building and "SOX" written down the side of the AON building. Chicago is truly the best city in the world.
Last night I went out to celebrate in style, and I got wasted in the middle of the week. Although I had a blast, that is never going to happen again. Going to class shit-faced is an awful idea.
Rufus Wainwright tomorrow!
UPenn Model UN next week!
. . .and I have so much to do.
Oh yeah, so I started lifting on Tuesday. I can honestly not stretch my arms out all the way, they're so sore/tight.
Oct. 27th, 2005 @ 08:17 pm
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| » Where's Judy "You're full of shit" Weinstock when you need her? |
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Adam Smith is so full of shit, his entire body is one big factory of shit so that through this division of labor, enough shit can be produced to smear over 1086 pages.
Seriously though, this guy makes up everything he says as he says it. What a stud, no one even realizes this unless they actually take the time to read him, which virtually no one does. We're all just told that Smith comes up with this idea of the division of labor in Econ AP or 101, but it's all bullshit!
The Wealth of Nations is really a book of conflicting social theories. My essay is about the tensions between contrasting ideas of "natural social harmony". I really shoulda started it before the day before it was due.
Fuck Fuck Shit Fuck
Oct. 17th, 2005 @ 02:01 am
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Sorry about that last entry. If I could figure out how to delete it, I would. . .and I did.
The Sox are going all the way.
And now, Mahler 5:
I have spent the last 6 hours partaking in one of the most enjoyable experiences I have ever had.
A group of us went into the city to see the Chicago Symphony Orchestra play Mahler's Fifth Symphony.
We left for the city at 4 because we heard the tickets were going to sell out, and they did, shortly after we got our $15 student tickets.
If you haven't heard the symphony, it's hard to describe it's progression. Starting with a Funeral March of epic proportions, the Trumpet leads the way into 5 movements which, for me, tell the story of a troubled life. However, right next to this funeral march and raunchy agony, is absolute beauty and passion, creating a dichotomy between a phantasmagoric, somatic personal battle on the one hand, and intimate sentimental reflections on the other. The result is an other-worldly sense of the essence of life. This sounds cheesy, but it really does encapsulate the full spectrum of human emotion in 5 complex, evolving movements. In the third movement, the opening theme is reiterated throughout, only in a minor key, and it doesn't get past the first line. It just keeps building up all this tension, until finally it comes back, bigger than before, and you jump out of your seat, only to be sedated and taken on a tour of sentimental memory in the fourth movement. . .
Although there were some minor technical problems, including Martin's weak opening, and a failure to capitalize on a few crescendi and build-up moments, the overal product was "delicious".
There's so much I could say about it. Suffice it to say I enjoyed myself. Oh, and Dale Clevenger, Christopher Martin, Larry Combs, Jay Friedman, and so many more are phenomenal. It was great fun watching their faces turn beet red, they were playing with so much power.
Oct. 16th, 2005 @ 12:05 am
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SUCK A D, DELAY!
Sep. 28th, 2005 @ 05:27 pm
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Alright, so about my last entry:
That last entry was preceded by a bad night out. All the frats were lame.
However, that being said, I've had some good nights out here.
Tonight, I went to the symphony, and then the frats.
Right now there are about 10+ people in my room, having a dance party.
MORNING:
This was left up as I never got around to posting it last night.
After waking up at 1:00, my roommate and a friend were discussing Plato vs. Socrates.
I love this place.
Sep. 25th, 2005 @ 03:03 pm
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Party + UChicago = Lame
Sep. 20th, 2005 @ 09:20 am
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| » James Joyce |
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I talked to the whole Mcgee family minus leam today. They're sweet.
I just talked to my parents.
My mom fed me a story. (we were at los b's)!!!
Sweet
I went to all the high school events today
college in a week
Dave's sweet man.
Mystery, Alaska. Decent movie. WATCH IT.!
I almost streaked through Lake Ellyn on my way home
I thought better of it
'f8i was fucked up tongith.. ..
I'm fuckin sweet
chill!!!!!!!!
......
I'm retarded.
I'm seeing wicked tomorrow
that's sweet
Alright. . .enough stream of drunken conciousness. I off to bed.
Sep. 11th, 2005 @ 02:51 am
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| » Mystery, Alaska |
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I just walked home from dave's. I had a good evening--alright I guess. Ran from the sheriff, drank, and watched Mystery, Alaska. I had to walk home from dave's, as a good portion of you already know. . .I called several people, but not everyone. . .not by a long shot. I hope my parents don't find out. . .
I leave in 1 Week!!!!!!
chill
Sep. 11th, 2005 @ 02:24 am
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| » Peter Jennings (1938-2005) |
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Peter Jennings died yesterday at the age of 67.
I have watched Peter Jennings give me my nightly news for as long as I can remember. I was shell-shocked in April when he said that he had cancer, and was anxious to hear anything about his condition. When my mom broke the news to me this morning I was dumbfounded and just sad--I almost cried pouring my orange juice. Peter Jennings was as a father-figure and a role model for me. I find it difficult to believe that there will ever be another news anchor who can replace his smooth and caring voice. No words I can say can impart to you how a news anchor meant so much to me.
One of the strangest things of all is that I had a dream last night that he delivered the nightly news.
I will miss you, Peter.
Aug. 9th, 2005 @ 12:22 am
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| » I figured it out! . . .well maybe |
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R.A.B
Regeullus A. Black
Died 15 years prior to the begining of "Order of the Phoenix"
Among objects found in Number Tweleve Grimauld Place is an extremely heavy locket
Jul. 27th, 2005 @ 04:49 pm
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| » I'm totally crushing! |
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CHAMPAIGN, IL -- My sister is getting married tomorrow. That's just trippy.
I've been hanging out with my soon-to-be-brother-in-law. It's absolutely phenomenal how perspective and experience can so dramatically alter the simplest perceptions.
I've also just been watching Chapelle's Show with my cousins in their hotel room. That show is hilarious, yet has too many commercial breaks.
Instead of the usual assy hotel art, this room has amazing aerial photographs of the capitol and the golden gate bridge.
The weather has been ridiculous. There was almost a thirty degree drop of temperature in as many minutes and a downpour with flash-floods.
I am currently in the process of collecting video footage to compile into a "movie". This is really not going to be a movie, but rather an amalgamation of clips that are going to attempt to convey a feeling. My original idea was to chart a nihilistic adolescent hero's quest for meaing in the interim between high school and college. That's too much work.
Golf tomorrow with my dad, soon-to-be-brother-in-law, and the best man and my three cousins and uncle. Should be fun.
I forgot to clean my suit. It looked like shit when I got it out. It is now at a dry cleaners down here.
Public Service Announcement: my new AIM sn: Kennsomedys ...........don't ask.
Jul. 22nd, 2005 @ 12:37 am
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| » The Half Blood Prince |
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HARRY POTTER ON FRIDAY!
Jul. 12th, 2005 @ 06:30 pm
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| » Bye, bye self respect |
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So today I'm at Lake Ellyn, wiping the sweat from my brow as I take a drink of water, when an old man approaches me, presumably pushing his granddaughter in a stroller. He makes polite chat about the heat and the beautiful day, and then comments that we do an excellent job keeping the parks up. I thanked him and watched him push his granddaughter ten feet before she jumped out to stop and smell the flowers.
This summer has been flying by, and I've hardly blinked.
They want me to wear a helmet at work as they think I'm a danger to myself. They've even found an old baseball helmet for me. But oh, don't worry, It'll come back at them someday. How? Everyone always says that. They've known me for three weeks and they say that. . .
Apparently something I won't be escaping with college.
Jun. 23rd, 2005 @ 11:38 pm
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