Do I look like I need a job?

Peer-reviewed publications are the bee’s knees. I’m excited for the day I even submit a paper, let alone get one published. Regardless, I’ve submitted a short paper on the White House Conference and Equal Rights that I’ve written about on this blog previously. I was finally able to return the the stack of old books that littered by office space.

As I strolled through an unusually empty quad on my way to the library, a young man stopped me and asked if he could ask me a question. I obliged and experienced a pang of anxiety. I assumed this young man was going to ask me for directions to somewhere on campus. My knowledge of campus is scarce, but if he asked how to get to the psychology building, library, union, or the sandwich shoppe in West Campus, I could be of service.

Immediately, something was odd about the way he postured himself in front of me, absent was a finger pointed in the direction he was going.

He asked “Are you a student here?” I said yes.

Then he asked what I was studying, ”You have a lot of old books, are you studying History?”

“Well no, not really” I responded.

At this point, I may have gotten brusque with the stranger, but the question struck me as perceptive and one that might reveal some truth about me — Am I student of history or psychology? So I answered his question honestly, which was that I was studying the history of psychology among other things. He looked dissapointed.

His dissapointment confused me. I assumed the young man was a student but now I wasn’t so sure. At the very least, he looked like a student, with his backpack and “rap-industry standard” facial hair. 

“You’re a graduate student then?”

“Yep.” 

“Okay, well we just started our business, and we were looking for interns, but graduate students aren’t usually looking for jobs. 

“Its true. I got a job.” 

He said “Later man.” and I walked away.

Thinking about it now, I wished I would have seen him again in the quad. I would have asked what type of business “they” had started. Clearly he was a sales person, he got me to listen, even for the briefest bit. But what was he selling? Perhaps he was selling encyclopedias or magazine subscriptions. Or maybe something more sinister…

Mi huella del carbon

I calculated my carbon footprint today (link). I was surprised by the amount of CO2 I’m “emitting” from things included in the ‘secondary’ category. Secondary category items included my food preference (a mix of red and white meat), organic food, in-season produce, fashion, recreation, and use of financial services. If you know how use of financial services (e.g. bank accounts) increases carbon footprints, you are smarter than me. If my internet usage was considered, this category would be higher (link).

My annual carbon footprint by category was:

• House: 0.13 tons  (based on a $50.00/month electricity bill)
• Car: 1.83 tons (5,000 miles/year at 24 mpg)
• Flights: 0.26 tons (one ~4,000 mile round trip flight)
• Bus: 0.10 tons (I ride the bus every day ~2 miles)
• Secondary: 6.26 tons (see above for description)

My Total carbon footprint is 8.58 tons of CO2 per year. The national average is over 20 tons, but the worldwide average is 4 tons. Given my ’secondary’ category was highest, I suppose I should work on reducing this portion. For example trying to buy more local food and items with less packaging. TALLYHO!

My secret life as an Altar Boy

I’ve read somewhere that if a person were interested in staying in the Oscar conversation they would need to see a whopping total of 24 pictures — a movie every other day starting in December until the awards ceremony. That figure probably only includes the “big” categories, for instance best picture, best actress, actor, supporting role and the like. Meagan and I saw Doubt last night, what a tight movie. Even though the movie was short (104 min) the characters, symbols, plot, and ambience were expertly developed.

For me, Meryl Streep stole the show, each character in the movie was afraid of her. I would extend her sphere of intimidation to each member of the crowd too. I couldn’t decide whether to cheer for her as a person trying to rid the school of improper relations OR cheer against her as a wicked principal. Phillip Seymour Hoffmann had his moments also, usually while he was in the principal’s office. I didn’t particularly care for Amy Adams as Sister James but recognize her role was a tool (e.g. foil). I liked the ambience of the picture, specifically the weather. I perceived the wind, thunderstorms, and chill as another uninterrupted cast member.  The symbols were numerous and exciting. I have my notions about the meaning of the roses, the light bulb, the transistor radio, and the open window.

But what is the symbolism of Father Flynn’s long nails?  How about the dedication to “Sister James” at the end?

My secret life as an altar boy. 

My life as an altar boy is only secret because I’ve never documented it, my life as an altar boy was not seedy. I wish I recalled the first time I served at mass. As a student at the connected catholic school I was a server quite often, sometimes for the Saturday/Sunday weekly service and also for the daily services early in the morning before school. Honestly, being an altar boy was fairly uneventful, I thought I would have more to write about. I was a server at my grandpas funeral with two other boys. After the service the priest gave the other boys five dollars each but not me…

Happy New Year!