The LSC Critic Editor - Keith's Blog

Until they make us stop.

2008-05-02T10:03:00.000-07:00

I've come to a very interesting conclusion.

Remember when I was complaining about having to switch the blog I have for multimedia storytelling over to a gmail account? I had signed up using a yahoo e-mail, while this particular blog uses a hotmail account. I didn't have to switch this blog to a gmail account.

I had been wondering why until today when something occured to me: Google and Yahoo are competitors, but no one gives a rat's butt about hotmail.

I'm the victim of a turf war between two Internet gangs...er, companies. I've been caught up in the crossfire as I'm sure many other blogger users have been. Who knows how many people have had to pay the price of this war? I say to google and yahoo, bring the troops home, end this unjust occupation and learn to work together.

The real issue here, I think, is that people assume the Internet is this wonderful, unfettered virtual land of the free, when it's not going to be that way forever. I hate to sound like a hippie whining about the tentacles of the corporate machine but...BEWARE! the tentacles of the corporate machine because they're out to control the Internet.

Sure, right now it's just google being a jerk about who's e-mail you sign up with blogger on, but once google crushes all other search providers it'll be google, and the people who own google, who dictate what you get to see on the Internet.

Next thing you know, you're hooked up to a machine that uses your body heat to harness electricity while your brain is jacked into a virtual reality meant to keep you docile.

Is that something you want, America?

The madness.

2008-04-28T14:37:00.000-07:00

I feel another editorial coming on. Two to be precise. One is going to be about the amount of vandalism I see on this campus. Having worked with the custodians and maintenance, not to mention worked such jobs at other places, I actually respect these people and what they do. I'm also not so stupid as to think crap I wrote on the wall would "stick it" to any administrator. All it does is make more work for people who already work rather hard.

That's the one I'll likely articulate and print. The second one pertains more to the Critic's content, which I don't feel the need to defend in print.

So I'll defend it here.

The Critic is not a family newspaper. It's written for college students old enough to not read it if something in it is offensive to them.

If you see your eight-year-old picking up a copy of The Critic, I advise you to slap it out of his or her hand and tell the child that The Critic is not for him or her to read.

I'm no parent, but I realize keeping things out of kid's hands isn't easy. My advice: tell them that The Critic is boring. It's about school budgets, people retiring, ambassadors visiting, and other lame things children don't find interesting. Children, from what I've seen, hate boring things.

I'd be dumb if I thought this was really about the children. It's my humble opinion that it isn't about eight-year-olds picking up The Critic at all. It's about people who find the Holy Sheet column morally wrong (or gross) using their children as a debate point when it comes to ultimately deciding the content of a student-run newspaper.

Let's be honest, your child doesn't read The Critic. If they do at all, they look at the pictures and mess around with the Fun Page (which isn't for children either, so take it away from them).

Through conversations I've overheard, I know the exact people that The Critic is corrupting, and it isn't the children. Some students, as in people who are over 18 and are adults, know their parents would be upset if they were to see what's being printed in the school's newspaper.

This is the point where most student editors would say something about how you're old enough to deal with mature subjects and your parents should've known they were sending you to a college and not a convent, but I'm not going to do that.

Instead, I'm going to tell you that I don't care what your family thinks. The Critic's job isn't to protect people's innocence. It's our job to print things college students would want to read about and inform them about what's going on around the school that will affect their lives. If anything, it's our job to remove people's innocence (not that of eight-year-olds, though. Again, I implore you, keep The Critic away from your children).

We don't get much in the way of letters anymore regarding Holy Sheet. Most people were just mad that their school e-mails were being spammed up. I would hope that anyone who didn't care for the column would feel welcome to write a letter saying as much to us. We're supposed to be the voice of the student body, but I don't see why we couldn't be a public forum for everyone's use.

I'm getting a little off subject.

To sum up:

1. The Critic is not a family oriented newspaper.
2. Don't let your children or your parents read The Critic.
3. Why settle for grumbling when you can see your dislike of The Critic's content in print? Write a letter.

Of course, with all the problems on campus, including vandalism and the deficit, the only one fit to get angry about is a sex column in the school's newspaper...

You win...THE PRIZE!

2008-04-25T09:25:00.000-07:00

Looks like the Critic won Club of the Year. We were working on the paper while they were doing the award ceremony, but Ryan, our photo editor was likely eating in the dining hall at the time and grabbed the award after the thing ended. Good times.

This Critic looks pretty good I think. We had two good front page stories and the stuff on the inside wasn't half bad either. The layouts went smooth too, although we didn't get to use as many China pictures as we would've liked.

We got some pretty good letters too.

Gyarr, it drives me nuts!

2008-04-22T14:14:00.000-07:00

It seemed like we had a low turn out at the meeting today, but I knew where everyone was. We're also in better shape than we were last week. I think there's only two more issues to go, and I'd hate to get into a "Just get them done" mentality. I'd like to go out on good ones, but with this being the end of the semester, people are having final projects due and all the procrastinating they did during the semester is now coming up on their backs.

Graduating is rough, don't let anyone tell you different.

It's Reagan's fault!!!!

2008-04-21T15:14:00.000-07:00

I went to something interesting today. The school is facing at least a 500k deficit in its budget, and money from the state doesn't look to be coming. The actual deficit might be 900k, but they're praying that's not the case.

Needless to say, there are going to be some cuts around here. I think a few of the jobs they were looking to fill are going to go unfilled and there was talk of cutting some courses with low enrollment or courses that weren't strictly necessary. I asked if that would affect retention and I got some response to the tune of "we don't want to affect students much."

What I should have asked was if we're facing a deficit, why is there an $8k television screen broadcasting nothing in the ATT? Eight grand is spare change compared to the size of the actual budget, but it does make me wonder the extent of this kind of thing.

You know who I blame? The state of Vermont. They sit there in Montpelier whining about how all the young professionals are leaving the state in droves, then they turn around and don't fund higher education. Nor do they support any industry that isn't farming or tourims related. Gee, I wonder why the population is aging? What's here for someone my age? Zilch, that's what.

Perhaps someone should write a letter to the government...

Get it while the getting's good.

2008-04-18T12:38:00.000-07:00

This is the audio slide show I did for multimedia storytelling. I helped Kyle move out of my house and took pictures along the way. He's been around for...watch the video, it pretty much says it all.

One thing that irritates me is that while posting that above there was easy, it wasn't as easy as it should be. When I threw it up on the class blog, it was a simple matter of copying the embed code and pasting it. I had to fiddle a little to get this code to work right.

Why must I fiddle?

The Critic looks alright enough for my standards this week. I was a little dissapointed at the deadlines, but that's not suprising considering the break. The proof reading still stinks though. No one actually does it, they just look at the page and say they did it.

I had a job interview today, which I think went well. Meditech went with someone else, which spares me the pain of turning down a high paying job for a lower paying one.

I think something newsworthy will be announced on Monday. I have to dig through my e-mail and find out when it's being announced.

Get the beanbag gun.

2008-04-14T13:23:00.000-07:00

How odd...I've got another blogger account which I signed up with using my yahoo e-mail, and I had the hardest time last night getting into it because blogger now seems to insist we all use g-mail accounts, but I didn't have an issue with this one.

The Internet is a mysterious thing.

I just got done running the booth to get the SGA's constitution ratified. Being the editor of the school's paper as well as an SGA member isn't a good thing.

Vacation was too short. Once again, I'm getting the feeling we'll have another fun Critic this week. Coming back from a break is always rough for the paper.

Bad puns are my relegion.

2008-04-03T12:23:00.000-07:00

I've taken our paperwork into my own hands. The SGA treasurer has been telling people our forms have been signed, when they haven't. Another club guy informed me of this, and I found that we had a few weeks of paperwork backed up in the office. I took them out, had the SGA president sign them, made copies, and then hand delivered them to the Business department and put the account codes on...because no one in the SGA seems to know them.

I guess if we want anything done at all, we've got to do it ourselves.

The House meeting ran quite well I thought. It went extremely fast, and knowing we had 15k to spend, we didn't begrudge students that pay activity fees and are to busy having lives to show up to House meetings, a thousand dollars or so.

Certain other people didn't think we were being effeciant enough. They showed up about half way through and seemed suprised that we'd actually gotten a lot done in a short amount of time.

I've tried to not have an opinion, or at least a balanced one, on the level of control certain college employees have over the SGA, but I think I've got an opinion now. See, the acronym SGA stands for Student Government Association. It's not SLGA (Student Life Government Association).

Thankfully it was my second to last House meeting, and thankfully I won't be returning for another year of this. I like this college, I'm glad I came here, but I'm glad to be leaving. I've had my fill.

Here's what I think I should be doing with The Critic once we get back from break. I'm going to make a list of things Ben needs to know how to do, and start having him take charge bit by bit. I remember when I took this job, there was a lot of things I hadn't been told I needed to do, or how to do them.

That'll let me begin my slow disconnect from this school, which will make finding work once I leave easier.

Beware, the shrew.

2008-04-01T13:02:00.000-07:00

I've decided not to bother with a certain staff member anymore. They keep doing the same things over and over again, they don't want to put effort in, and the last thing they sent me was basically a big middle finger in text format. The teacher of the class this paper is attached to can find another project to grade him on.

I've decided to team up with maintenance to keep track of Critics. When large stacks get chucked, we'll know about it. I don't think it happens often on campus, or for malicious reasons, but sometimes I get the sense people are removing large piles of Critics, and thus harming the 1st amendment.

That gets thrown around a lot, but in this case, I mean it.

And for no reason, a frog I captured late last fall.

Wanted: Evil Spirit Editor.

2008-03-28T12:16:00.000-07:00

Alright, there's a certain computer in LAC 409 that has The Devil living inside of it. Once again, the front page became corrupted and I had to make it anew. Guess what computer I'm not using anymore?

We put Harry Swett on the front page. He had Catherine take a photo of him with goofy teeth, so the front page looks good. Overall, a good issue with some stupid mistakes. Gwen's cooking column was a cooking contest type deal, but I didn't know that, so I had the bottom part cut off for space...making it a contest of one...

The local Umbrella chapter seems to think it's a club of some sort and should get free ad space. They're not a club, and nor do they get free ad space. Heck, I don't think even the clubs try to use that ability.

What happens in NYC, likely get spread around and lands us all in jail...

2008-03-18T16:14:00.000-07:00

Back from New York and only half an hour late for work.

One thing that did bug me was the $5 and $7 water bottles in the rooms that were set on light sensors. If you took them off for more than 30 seconds, you got billed. I had a free one for being a speaker, and I'll say this much: the water was not worth what they were charging. Not by a lot.

I learned quite a bit at the convention. I've got some ideas I'd like to put to work with the Critic. Mostly layout and design stuff, but anti-paper theft and increasing our ad revanue are some other things.

I was told I should focus on one thing at a time. I've got roughly half a semester left, so if I try to do too much, I'll get nothing done. I pick design and layout...maybe some ads. I'll leave the rest for my successors.

My damned AC adapter died too. The problem was the adapter all along...so I need to get on that. I pretty much live off that lap top of mine.

Go check the Critic's Web site for the article on the homeless guy I spoke with. The interview was pretty intense. He insisted on writing his answers with my pen and note pad. I've never had a subject do that before.

Homeless types are characters, I'll tell ya. I've met quite a few and I have yet to meet one that wasn't an odd ball. That could be why they don't have jobs. If I ever get work as a reporter and get sent after homeless people, I'm going to find out why they can't get work. I think I know why, but some solid stuff on it would be nice.

Anyway, the convention was crazy. I need to collect my thoughts on it.

Behind me, some one is getting tutored in business. They seem to be complaining about the assignment they got. Life is rough, I'll get my tiny violin.

CIA is code for hot.

2008-03-16T16:44:00.000-07:00

Guess what I did today?

I asked Valerie Plame-Willson out on a date. She said she had plans. I got shot down...

Still, it was pretty cool. I asked her a serious question first. I was going to ask via microphone, but they ended the question and answer session before I could get a chance. I stopped her as she was walking out.

Lets see, what else happened today? I came up with some ideas for the Critic that Ben can implement. We should print on Tuesdays instead of Fridays. It hit me like a ton of bricks. It seems so silly to print when we do, because no one is on campus when we distribute.

I'm a little off my rocker at the moment, so I'll post more later.

Live from New York, it's Keith.

2008-03-15T16:06:00.000-07:00

Jesus, that's a lame post title...

We got into NYC sometime around 4:30. I heard the two Charter buses CAB hired broke down an hour outside the city. We had some trouble finding where the hotel has its parking, but we made it.

After monkeying with the Internet, Dan and I went to meet Mary, who showed us where she works at Red Book. We've got a day before the convention starts, so sometime tonight I've got to look over the schedule and see what's up.

New York isn't as bad a place as I'd expected, at the least the part I'm looking at. We're in Times Square, and I was slightly dazzled coming in. It's one of those places you always see on TV and hear about, but seeing it with your own eyes is something.

As far as Critic stuff goes, I've got to find some way to run the paper from down here. I'm thinking some e-mails are in order.

Do YOU love freedom? Say it, say you LUURVE it!!!

2008-03-11T13:50:00.000-07:00

I need to keep an eye out for things to make photo spreads of. We're in the same boat as usual, although we might be better off content-wise.

This week is our SGA themed issue. It was a good idea, but I'm worried about the exocution. I've only seen one article for it so far and some people didn't seem to think it was even this week we were doing it.

Gwen also still has my green book. I need that book. Somehow I knew the second I passed it off, I'd never see it again.

Maintenance has been recycling Critics. That means I've got no idea whatsoever how many actually get read. Ugh. Also, I found a few in the garbage the other day. Small stacks, meaning someone junked them. Freedom hating communists, most likely.

Matt's column got us some mail, which is great. It's hate mail, but I count that as a win.

Round 15.

2008-03-10T12:18:00.001-07:00

Let's recap the last issue. I put Matt on the front page, had to edit the article and make some phone calls, as well as take pictures. I thought it was a good issue, but I'll likely change my mind once Adviser has time to review it. I'm guessing he'll not like the fact we have yet to mention two resignations from the SGA. I see his point.

The issue looked good. Due to my infinite skills, I was able to make the bottom front page photo relevant to the article next to it. We've got a two-week streak of the front page photos being relevant.

Right now, I'm gathering material for this week, as well as collecting for the editorial I've been planning on writing. I don't open my editorial mouth often, so I like to make it count when I do.

My other task, and I'll likely be sorry I signed up for this, is to work with the SGA Board of Elections.

New York this weekend, so I need to write up my stuff for that and drink heavily. I'm not looking forward to it, and I'll be glad once the pannel is over.

I'm crurious as to where all the Critics go. I wonder if they don't get chucked by person's unkown...Perhaps I'll come up some Saturday and check the trash bins...maybe I'm being paranoid.

It's on MyPod and iSpace

2008-03-04T13:35:00.000-08:00

The point of having news meetings on Tuesdays is so we can get stuff assigned ahead of time. With only half, on a good day, of our members making the meetings I'm wondering if something shouldn't be done.

Ben tells me we've got pictures, I told them to think in terms of photo spreads, and we're still waiting on people's articles.

To the mind of a student, especially a student journalist, due Tuesday means sometime Wednesday, or at the earliest, 11 p.m. Tuesday evening.

Last issue was the best so far, I'm hoping for a repeat this week, but I've got that feeling. People tend to be a little rusty coming off a break, including myself.

Budgeting meetings start this week. Let's all pray the Critic's budget doesn't get slashed to pieces because I didn't sell ads. It would be silly to punish next year's staff for my errors. At least that's what I'll tell them.

Currently, the Critic's greatest threat is the Final Fantasy Tactics game I bougt for my PSP over the weekend. It's just like the old Playstation version, only they changed what stank and left in what rocked. Rare for a game company, I know. I see myself sinking a lot of valuable hours into it.

If it weighs ten pounds, does it matter if it's a frog or a toad?

2008-02-22T12:42:00.000-08:00

We don't print the week before a break, so I had it easy the past few days. I was a bit nervous about our budget packet getting through, but even the House meeting was relatively smooth. We were out by 11 and I didn't have a headache when I left.

Our business manager might wrangle us some ads before long, via an ad agency. Perhaps, cross our fingers everyone, we'll have some fundraising to report come budget time.

I edited some articles for the online version a few minutes ago. Punched up some headlines and tweaked the content.

Over the break, me and the adviser are going to plan our pannel for the convention we'll be attending. Guess what I'm not looking forward to doing? Stage fright to say the least.

Oh, the VP of SGA resigned. Seems they can't have more than two exec board members at anyone time or something...maybe I'll stick that up on the Web site over break. I'm sure there's a photo of him around somewhere.

Oh, apparently the Gay/Straight Alliance was mad at us. Champagne's article about Kemp and Buckley briefly mentioned their selling penis and vagina cookies for a fundraiser. He was comparing it to something about Kemp's lack of a shirt...I guess they were upset. I haven't figured out why, or the reasoning behind it, but it wouldn't be the first time I've heard complaints with no grounds whatsover.

We did a story on RAs a semester ago and one got upset and accused us of putting words in her mouth or something to that effect. She was basically quited as having no comment, so I'm not sure what she was mad about either.

I guess it's the valid complaints I should worry about, like the Valentine's Day messages. Giving some one their money back would be much easier if they'd let us know who they were to begin with...

Give all of your money to The Critic, or you hate freedom.

2008-02-17T08:44:00.000-08:00

I finished the budgeting packet. Sadly, I had to report $0 in fundraising. I'd rather not have selling ads go on my list of failures when it comes to this newspaper. Unless something changes soon, as in by the end of the week, I'm going to look into things. This is something I should have been up on in the fall, but for some reason didn't get to.

Not having much money for enxt year is currently my biggest headache. I'm not going to be here, but I'd hate to leave the Critic in a mess.

This week we don't print, but I'm planning to work on something that should take up a page if I work it right. The level of apathy on campus has finally gotten to me, so I think I'll drop an editorial about it. I've only done one before and that was to clear the air about the sex column incident.

Technically, I've got a busy week ahead of me, but without a paper to put out, it's a cake walk. I finished that paper for my English class Friday night, so that's off my mind. It's an awful paper, but not as bad as my first idea for it. I was going to compare Superman Returns to The Scarlet Letter...

Green Mountain coffee: mold blend.

2008-02-15T10:34:00.000-08:00

I'd say this issue is a good one. It had a lot of pictures, ones that actually fit the articles they were enxt to, and a lot of news. We even had to people write in to us, althoug I suspect at least one was a class assignment.

The column that was supposed to raise a stink had more to do with conduct, not so much what was written. Still, the paper has been out about three hours, so we'll wait and see.

Speaking of hours, the paper was sitting in the mailroom since about 9:30 this morning, little did I know at 11:30 until I wen't down to check out mail. Good thing someone was looking at caught me through the mail box hole...I didn't get a call or anything, I just happened to catch their attention when I went down.

Last week I asked if the delivery guy left it in the breezeway to please give us a call. Nothing more. They seemed a little cold towards me this morning too. I wonder what we did to piss them off? If anyone should be annoyed at us now, it's the bookstore and Student Affairs. I don't recall upsetting the mailroom that much recently.

Let's see, I've got some critiques to write, an essay for Alan's class, and I've got to type up a budget. This will all be after my work hours in the writing center and after I take Kathy out to dinner.

Thankfully, next week isn't a busy one, as there's no paper. Still, I've got me an idea for an editorial.

On a funny note, a Hezbolla commander was killed. The funny part: he looks exactly like my father. Or rather, he looked like him. I told my old man I'd found what his estranged brother had been up to all these years; he laughed.

The pretzel supplies are running low.

2008-02-12T17:28:00.000-08:00

The meeting could have gone better. Some people seemed shocked that we need to constantly be writing articles and generating story ideas each and every week for the paper to, you know, print or something.

Perhaps I'm being too pessimistic. We've got a ton of photos going in and everyone (most everyone) has an article assigned to them.

My one worry for this week is a column. It hasn't been written yet and already people are upset. I'll have to make sure there's nothing in it that warrants a lawsuit, but even so, I'm sure I'll be in for a few interesting House meetings. I guess it comes with the job, though, so I guess I'll live.

What else? We lowered our ad rates. Burke even seemed to think we were high. That thing about ads isn't quite shaping up like I had hoped...perhaps I thought it would be easier than it actually is.

We're headed off to Burlington this weekend. Kyle is headed home for a visit. Normally, we'd all go down, but he hasn't been home in a while.

I wonder if my car will make the hill tonight?

Tell me to beware, I'll tell you where to be. Chicken pot pie...

2008-02-11T13:40:00.000-08:00

I just got done poking around the Blood Drive, asking questions, taking pictures. If we do it right, that should fill up a page. I've got about three columnists now, so I'm thinking editorials might bleed over onto page four. One woman who writes for us had a pretty good idea for a column, so we're going to run with it. Stay tuned for "Dear John" the best thing since Holy Sheet.

As for last issue, I guess I'm more happy with it today than I was the day it came out. It had some horrid spelling errors and some odd picture placements, but I'll live with it. The guy I have who converts the files converted them wrong, so for a second I was looking at a PDF with no pictures showing up and feeling ill. The problem was fixed though. So, barring techincal difficulties, the Critic should roll right off the press this week.

One thing did annoy the crap out of me Friday. A guy I know related to me that there's this woman who likes to sit down and "correct" all the Critic's spelling errors when it comes out. He asked her why she simply didn't join the Critic as a copy editor and her response was something like "Because then I'd have to be a part of it," or something insipid like that.

What kind of person takes a student newspaper the day it comes out and marks the errors on it when they could just as easily show up some night and make sure the errors never see print? A *****, that's what.

I guess there's nothing for it but to make a big deal out of proofreading. If I let stuff like that bug me, I'm not going to get far.

In which I complain, a lot.

2008-02-07T05:34:00.000-08:00

You'll want some coffee for this one:

So I go to the House meeting like usual, no big deal. My friend John gets his Jujutsu club started, great, fantastic. This is after the usual rigmarole of House, with the minutes and the re-electing the executive board, you know, stuff you do every meeting.

It comes time to ask for the Critic's trip money. Now you might think that by my tone, we didn't get it. Quite the opposite really, we got $300 extra because the guy from Ultimate thought we'd need more for gas money. This threw me off so badly, I actually argued with him. I argued against getting more money. Read that last line again, just so it sinks in.

Anyway, despite all that, we got the motion passed and I was more than grateful.

The meeting progressed and that's about when my good mood came down with a bad case of cancer and died. I think we spent over half an hour discussing things that didn't need to take five minutes. Stuff we'd already talked about and formed committees to act upon.

For example: We spent a good half an hour talking about a tardiness policy. How should people be punished for leaving early or coming in late and thus not suffering as long as everyone else. At some point, the question was raised "Who even wants a tardiness policy?"

Guess how many? ZERO. We spent half an hour talking about something no one cared about.

The meeting adjourned sometime around 1 a.m. I was pretty irritated, but not half as irritated as I was about to be. I live up a hill, which in the wintertime, becomes impassable for my front-wheel drive Buick Skylark. Mainly at 1:30 a.m. when the plows are all asleep.

As you can imagine, I try to make it up the hill. No luck, so I try to back down only to back into a snow bank where I get stuck. One a.m., snowy hill, still half a mile to go.

Lucky me, a snowmobiler shows up and gave me a lift. Froze me, but I got home before 2, so I'm not complaining about that. In fact, I take back every bad thing I've ever said about snow machines.

Anyway, I'm at school early on four hours of sleep and there's a Critic to put out. It's going to be quite the day.

Until you run out of cake.

2008-02-05T12:50:00.001-08:00

Well, we just had our Tuesday meeting and I can't say as I'm pleased. Two people didn't show up and didn't send e-mails telling me why and the one who had an excuse didn't send her e-mail with her story ideas. If it wasn't for this being the week when stories are due for the Advanced News Writing class, we might be up a creek.

I'm not completely irritated, though. The people that did show up have done their part, and I'm not too worried about filling this week's issue. It's next week I'm concenrned about. I might have to end up doing a few myself here like last semester, which is annoying because I'm no longer graded by my writing.

My Wednesday is free and clear, so we'll see what I can scrum up tomorrow or some of today. I'm hoping I see one of our columnists so I can speak with her about something. Which reminds me, "Moments Like These" should be back, plus there's that Portner thing I keep forgetting.

Oh, we did go see NEK sportsnet.com's production facility...classic Vt. small business. They had their stuff together despite being in a basement (a nice basement too). We'll be working with them for a class, but I'm not sure what we can give that they don't have in spades already.

Theo?

2008-02-03T13:54:00.000-08:00

Someone has been running around and writing "Theo" on everything. Have I mentioned this? Well I'm saying it twice then if I have. It's written all over LSC and even on the wall in White's Market. I'm thinking of ways to publicize this (graffiti is news in Vermont...) without encouraging it. I'm thinking, if it continues at least, that headlines like "Who is Theo?" and et cetera, should be avoided.

But for real, who the hell paints "Theo" all over the place? What bugs me about petty vandal crime is that it lacks class. "Theo" says nothing, nor is it hard to write "Theo" on random surfaces.

I remember hearing about some people hacking Wikipedia and putting a tracker on who updated. It was illegal, but they found out that oil and cigarette companies were editing entries on their companies to make themselves look better. Now there's a crime with class.

We're having another news meeting on Tuesday, as usual. Hopefully Thursday night didn't scare my staff off. It gets easier folks, I swear.

One down, 10 to go.

2008-02-01T19:21:00.000-08:00

The first issue of the semester is out. All things considered, it went pretty well.

I guessed it was going to be a long night. The crew was pretty green, but they learned well enough. I lost the damned front page and had to do it over again, and the printer kept telling us they hadn't received the files via Fetch, so we had to e-mail them.

I wasn't quite clear on what I wanted from people writing-wise, so I had to alter a few articles quite a bit. No big deal, I've got a plan to help that matter on Tuesday. There were some rather unfortunate mistakes in the paper as well. Something about prizes and a guy named Barrie Sanders...

The last hour or so I spent messing with blogger for Dan's class. I can make slide shows now, so maybe this blog will have something cool of that nature in the near future.

What's that stuff taped to the wall?

2008-01-29T13:58:00.000-08:00

Today's news meeting didn't have that hot a turn out. I knew where most people were, so I thinks it's a case of the stars aligning badly, but still, when four out of eight people show up, it makes me a little gloomy.

On the bright side, I got sent a lot of columns that I didn't think I'd be getting in such a timely manner. It's come to my attention that a lot of people read papers for the columns, especially the more opinionated ones. I think the bookstore might be a little mad at us come next week. Perhaps a disclaimer is on order.

We're still dangerously low on photos and general content though. I think U-wire and some photography are in order. I might have to do things myself, but part of media managment is managing other people.

I'm getting dinner in half an hour. Being the money-grubbing fool that I am, I signed up for more writing center hours, so on Tuesday's I'm here from 9-9. Blech. Thank God I don't have to get up early tomorrow, although this week I do because the old man needs an oil change.

I just remembered, I needed that paper signed by the dean...maybe he's still here. I'll go look.

Error Code: 3600:0649 the tuna has gone bad, I repeat the tuna...

2008-01-28T12:54:00.000-08:00

So after some online researching, I found the trouble with my lap top's power is in fact, the AC adapter. I guessed it was probably that, but I'm a little slow when it comes to computers. I'll see about a cheap, compatible cord at Radio Shack, but I might see if IT is selling any. I heard they don't deal with hardware, so I'm likely out of luck.

I came down early today and got about half of the paperwork I need processed done. Now all I need is to find a certain dean and get him to sign something. I also have to write up a money request for the SGA. We're only asking for a little over a thousand, so we should get it. Still, it doesn't pay to be optimistic about the House's generosity.

I'm a little behind on my reading. I need to get done with the Scarlet Letter and then part of a history book. Sometimes it's fun when courses intersect, but the Puritans are only interesting for so long, in my oinion.

We had Kyle temporarily thinking I was keeping a tarantula under my bed. He wasn't fooled for too long though.

I'm sure I've got some people to e-mail about stuff, but I can't remember at the moment as to who...

Who stole all the soda?

2008-01-22T13:14:00.000-08:00

First day of my last semester down. I kicked it off by being about 45 minutes late to my first class. I read my schedule wrong and didn't think I had to be in until 11:00. Turns out it was more like 9:30.

I was on time for my Vt. history class. We had it in a room where the projection screen pulls down over the motion sensor that controls the lights...they went off about every twenty minutes. I'm wondering who designed that room. It's not even the light thing that bugs me, it's the fact that it's crooked.

My hopes for the Critic are rising a little. We had a productive meeting today. It seems as though we've got some people who are interested in journalism on the staff. I'll tell you, people who are interested are much prefered to people who aren't so much.

All of my classes so far look like they might be enjoyable. I haven't gone to portfolio yet and that Jumpstart Your Future one hasn't met yet either, so we'll see what they are like. I also need to get some paperwork done for an independant study and a check request. The woman I owe money to is going to start breaking my thumbs soon...

I have a new pet peeve: large groups of people who stand in the center of busy hallways and have conversations. Get the hell out of the way please, you're annoying. I saw a kid get shoved into the wall today by some guy who backed up while everyone was filing through the narrow space between his group and the wall.

The dukes of Halo.

2008-01-18T18:45:00.001-08:00

Today was interesting. The other day my father had pulled a muscle in his chest, only he did it so bad, it was worse today. So he ended up calling the doctor, who seemed to think he was having a heart attack. I was informed of this while half awake, so I spent the day thinking he might be having a heart attack.

Turns out it was just a muscle problem. But I did get some cleaning done and picked up a scholarship check. This weekend I guess the plan is to go see some friends, one of which is having his b-day. Should be interesting.

It's the smell!

2008-01-16T05:43:00.000-08:00

My car sprung a gas leak yesterday. I smelled it coming out of work and checked it at the bank (where I was going to get some cash to buy gas) and saw it pouring out of a connection. Calling the mechanic from the bank didn't work for some reason, so I just drove it down on fumes and left it there. I called them this morning from work and they said it was a connection they had rigged before that had come undone, so no charge.

They even knocked some cash off the inspection. I'm also getting a headlight fixed along with a belt. At least the lines weren't rusted out.

Already, work for the Critic is starting. I've got some people to pay, business managers to hire, and a plan to write up. My lap top is having battery issues, which isn't good.

I'm painting walls today. I don't know what the dorm kids do to the damn thing but...they must walk on them or something. I painted over some McDonald's sweet n' sour sauce that was plastered to a wall in Wheelock the other day. It was gross. Especially the smell.

I had a funny title earlier...can't remember what it was.

2008-01-11T11:36:00.000-08:00

Ah, good old Friday. I painted the stairways in Whitelaw and Crevecour. They were pretty nasty looking.

It was pretty windy a few nights ago. I had to take a chainsaw to a pine tree that got across the road to get down the hill. The power went out too and a tree came down in the driveway. Good thing I moved my car.

Me and Kyle are off to see Malcolm tonight. We'll be in Manchester for the weekend, which works out because Kathy is headed down to Mass. to help her brother move to a new place.

Hornswoggle!

2008-01-07T18:39:00.000-08:00

I spent today cleaning Wheelock. Mostly I changed shower curtains, but I did some mopping and took down a bunch of tape. The day went pretty good, but the woman I was working with got called away for a family emergency.

My lap top's battery is refusing to charge. I think the adapter is having an issue, but it runs on AC power just fine. I've been looking for a setting that might fix it, but as you can imagine, that's not helping at all.

I started reading Heart of Darkness today. I bought it way back in the warmer months and just haven't gotten around to reading it. Forgot I had it actually.

Too much foam.

2008-01-03T21:02:00.000-08:00

I went up to Newport and got my long overdue photo ID. Now when I get pulled over, maybe I won't get so many funny looks when I show my license. I had one of the un-laminated kinds and after three years in my wallet, it was pretty much unreadable.

Stopped by Matt's, watched the gang play RE4. That keg still isn't gone believe it or not. I would have thought they'd have it all drank by now.

I had to edit my stomach.

2008-01-01T18:38:00.000-08:00

New Year's was a success. Me, Kyle, Mia, and Kathy all headed over to Matt's, which is apparently the place Lyndonville goes to drink. We had a keg set up, plus something called Jungle Juice, It's a big tub filled with fruit and whatever people pour in for liquor. You'd think it would taste awful, but it was extremely good.

I don't think anyone died, we avoided two potential fist fights, and best of all the girls, Kathy and Keri, seemed to settle their issues and are friends again. Quite frankly, that was better than Christmas.

Me and Kyle ended up crashing at a friend's house, special thanks to them by the way, and then Mia and Kathy went back to Kathy's with Kevin, who was the DD. Kyle was the DD, but then we met up with friends who lived near by and had floor space, so we said to heck with it.

That said, I think I'll lay off drinking for a week. Maybe two. My projects for this week are to try to make it to the gym and get a new driver's license. Mine looks like a meal ticket I had in elementary school.

Kevin is still here. Looks like he's headed back to Burlington tomorrow, as the weather right now is frigh...bad.

Why don't YOU think of a funny title for a change?

2007-12-28T16:40:00.000-08:00

My connection works again.

I haven't done a thing in the past two days, although I found an amusing missprint in a book I own. It repeated about fifty pages and then restarted thirty pages after the missprint, leaving a large chunk of the book essentialy missing. Good thing I had already read it a few years ago, and this was just a new copy. I'd return it, but I chucked the recipt.

Speaking of books, I bought a few in B-town on Wednesday with a gift card. World War Z and one by the guy who wrote Fight Club (he needs a new last name, I always pronounce it as phallunkiicks, or some variation on that).

Me and Kyle have decided to go looking for Matt, or possibly visit Kathy and Mia. I need to get out of the house.

I hate Kingdom Connection.

2007-12-26T14:38:00.001-08:00

My Internet connection has been kaput since last week. I'm amazed I'm even on now. Christmas went well. I got a PSP, but then had to go drop fifty something dollars for a memory stick or whatever. I thought that was pretty lame, but I'm not complaining much.

I didn't hear back from the Physical Plant, so it looks like I'm jobless for the break.

Kyle just told me something funny. I can't say what is though. I'll leave you all to ponder it.

You'd think I would have more to say after such a long lapse, but there's not much. I'm contemplating getting a pet tarantula or a scorpion. I'd use it to terrify certain people. Kathy would probably think it was cute though.

Watch out for the Crumpus.

2007-12-20T21:26:00.000-08:00

I went to B-town (Burlington) with Kyle today at around two. The weather was foul. We saw maybe five or so accidents, one they had to close part of route 2 for. Still, we made it and picked up Kevin, Geoff, and Keri and then went shopping. I got the old man a funny present. I'm going to try to take a picture of his face when he opens it.

The Bible exam was pretty easy, I thought. I new all the answers, so...yeah. I also managed to process a check request for the Critic in record time. They should have faculty parties more often. That way you can them all in one place to sign stuff you need them all to sign.

I'm not on my lap top, so no pictures today. Maybe later I'll transfer some nice ones.

There are no pumpkins in coffee.

2007-12-18T06:10:00.000-08:00

Looks like Tak spiced up my layout. I approve.

Remember how I said I was going to put snow pics up? Yeah, well I lied. Someone took the snowblower to the driveway before I got a chance. Apparently they wanted to be able to leave or something lame like that.

The above was taken several years ago. Don't ask me the number, that's math major stuff. I'm the guy in the black above the guy in the red. It's a picture of the TWF, the backyard wrestling federation I used to belong to. We had our monthly shows broadcast on the college's TV channel. KATV or something. I wonder if they show reruns?

I was reminded partially because we were all at the Critic gathering last night and Jordan reminded me of it. That and I was browsing through my photos looking for something that wouldn't get me fired to post for your viewing pleasure.

Here's an interesting fact: LSC used to have a backyard wrestling club. They went to House meetings, had a budget, the whole nine yards. LSWF I think it was called. I can't imagine the trouble they had to go through to get that that ship sailing.

I remember wanting to start a billiards club, but then I found out there already was one. Sadly, they never met. An innactive club is actually worse than a non-existant one. If a club doesn't exist, interested parties can create the thing. On the other hand, if the club exists but can't be found *cough*SPRI, AKA the ghost hunting club,*cough* anyone wanting join is more or less up a creek.

Deb's making pumpkin spice coffee for the Writing Center...I can't remember if that flavor was horrid or not. I'll let you know next time.

The snow took my car.

2007-12-16T15:16:00.000-08:00

I'm not going to work tonight. The weather is pretty much awful, so I e-mail everyone telling there were free hours.

I didn't crash Saturday night at Kathy's like usual because I wanted to avoid the snow. It was clear most of the day, but now it seems like coming home was a good idea. Tomorrow should be fine. I'll go nab my portfolio and then do my hours before heading over to the Critic exam.

I keep running over my toes with this stupid chair...I'll take pictures of my buried car tomorrow and post them so you can learn to fear and hate the winder up here, if you don't already.

Strange smells in the WritingCenter.

2007-12-14T19:08:00.000-08:00

You smell that? It smells like the last day of classes. Smells like a lot of snow, to tell the truth. I don't like snow, but last winter was a little creepy. It was January thaw weather the whole way through except for the end where it froze.

Here's why I'm glad I took the Bible as Literature class: I can now argue with my brother on a topic he likes to argue about, and know more than him. Usually he sticks to science and junk where he's got the high ground, but this time I've got him! Ha!

Next Thursday looks to be long. At 1:30, I'm off to B-town to shop and see my brother. I'm not interesting in crashing the night there, but I might change my mind by then.

I need like, seventy tetrabytes....that okay?

2007-12-13T19:41:00.000-08:00

You have no idea how nice it was to put the finish touches on the last issue of the Critic for the semester. Ten issues and we didn't crash and/or burn once. Next semester I'll have a fresh crew, some of which are actually into journalism which means I might be able to turn my attentions to stuff that isn't writing articles and assigning stories. Stuff like ads and making something the next editor can build off from instead of this Throw Them to the Wolves setup that's been going for I don't know how many years.

I've got some billing info to sort out, plus the Critic's constitution needs something done to it. They neglected to tell the clubs just what the problem with their constitutions were, so a few of us are a little worried.

Christmas shopping for Kathy next week. Need to check my pictures for middle fingers...whoops.

Lets see...I think I can pretty much relax a little now, even though it doesn't feel like it.

I think I'll House for a new car.

2007-12-12T13:37:00.000-08:00

After tonights House meeting, I'll feel much better. The last Critic won't be a big deal. The font page might stink a little though. I didn't get time to do the article I wanted, so whatever I can get on Thursday will have to be what we run.

I think I've got my life figured out. It mainly consists of these things.

1. Complaining about the Critic.

2. Complaining about going to House meetings.

3. Complaining about boring lectures.

4. Gaiaonline.

5. Going home and writing on my lap top.

Which reminds me, I need to head over to maintenance sometime to see about a job over the break. I'd love nothing more than to loaf the entire time, but the bank account says otherwise.

Sarah is graduating tomorrow. Me and Kathy are going to show up after Bible class.

Here's a picture of my brother, Kevin. He goes to UVM, which according to him "Ain't nuthin' to $&*%^ with!"

I disagreed and spit a mouthful of soda in his face. Heh, heh, ha!

Fun with photos.

2007-12-11T11:01:00.000-08:00

You know those pictures I've been promising? Well here's three. The one to the left was taken over the summer in the Stonehenge parking lot. Kathy is the one holding the turtle which she promptly captured after seeing it walking by the maintenance shed.

We both worked on the paint crew over the summer, so that pic was taken at about 3 in the afternoon.

The guy on the right in that picture is my old pal Kyle. He hates turtles and other horrible forest creatures.

The picture on the right is me and Tom, AKA Red.

We all went down to Bakuretsucon this year (an anime convention in Colchester) and got tore up.

I'm the one on the left without the flaming red hair. Normally I avoid touching him at all costs, but I was pretty far gone by then.

Bellow is a Role Playing Club meeting from last semester. I ran a Vampire: the Masquerade game. It went pretty good, but I'll never run one again...ever.

I apologize for tha gawdawful layout of this post. I just barely figured out how to put pics up and move them around. This is the result of about half an hour of tinkering. Turns out all I need to do is drag the images. Tomorrow's post should look nicer.

Joey was kidnapped by gnomes...that's the only explanation.

2007-12-10T15:20:00.000-08:00

I got all of my prints done today. Like a moron, I forgot about the ones I left to dry over the weekend and ended up making more than I needed to (not good ones either). Now all I have to do is buy some stupid plastic holders and stick them all in a binder...then I'll be done photography forever.

I had myself my usual egg salad/tuna fish sandwich today. Once again it prompted the usual "That's an odd combination," from the guy making it. Nothing mean mind you, but...how should I explain this without sounding like a jerk? Being different, in any way, is often punished in some fashion. Whether it's extra questions or being stoned to death in the village square.

I've got something to do right at this moment, so that's all for today.

Can't stop eating pretzels.

2007-12-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

Saturday I did a whole lot of nothing. Kevin wanted to see what the game Bioshock was all about, so I thought I'd play it for an hour or so, but ended up beating the stupid thing after roughly five hours. Something was weird with the way the game was saving and I would've had the thing beaten weeks ago had it not set me back at least twice.

We decorated the Christmas tree too on Friday and made fun of Kevin's candy cane. When we were younger we would make decorations out of paper and whatnot, so Kevin made a straight candy cane with some scribbles for red stripes. It wasn't funny until Kathy started decorating with us a few years ago and though it was hillarious. Now it gets made fun of every year.

Today was more active. We went down to Barre with Kyle, did some shopping, and ate at Friendly's. My parents had been there earlier that day and had apparently eaten awful food.

I'm at work right now, but before leaving the house for my Sunday night shift, Kyle got stuck in the driveway moving out of my way. Thankfully he didn't get as stuck as most people get and was out in about ten minutes. I knew he'd get stuck in that end of the driveway eventually. Everbody does.

Sign, sign, everwhere a...monopoly dollar?

2007-12-07T10:21:00.000-08:00

It's been brought to my attention that some one had been putting weird little notes all over campus. Stuff like "Stop lying to yourself" and there's a monopoly dollar taped to the clock in the hall near the science wing with a note "What would you do for this?"

Joey tells me he's been noticing them all over. How bizzare. Kind of creepy too. Josh took a bunch of pictures of them. I might post them latter if and when he sends them to me.

I should note the Critic came out alright. The front page was once again a little dumb, but I'll live with it.

You know what stinks? Graduating in December. I'm graduating in May, but I went to Keri's December graduation last year and I thought "This kind of stinks." Seriously, it was like Graduation-lite or something. Yeah, you get speakers and a bagpipe band, but it's inside the theater and if I remember right, no robes or stupid hats. You can't have a graduation without robes and stupid hats.

My eighth grade graduation was sans robes and stupid hats...so December graduation is lamer than high school graduation, which was full of robes and stupid hats.

Speaking of things that look stupid: graduates who dress down. You know, the losers who wears shorts, sandals and sunglasses under their robes. It's like "Go roll another joint, jerk." Dumb kids need to learn to clean themselves up a little.

That complaint stems from my high school days, so it's about four or five years late. And no, I'm not a super senior. I took a year off high school to clean floors at Price Chopper. On the up side, I made so much money I haven't had to get a real job during school. The other up side, I learned working for a living stinks.

I wonder what the deal is with those signs...???

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I'll bite ya, tomorrow...

2007-12-06T14:19:00.000-08:00

Critic day again and alas, the front page looks to stink. It bugs me when I have to run photos on the front page that have nothing to do with the front page's articles. Oh well. I'm thinking the thin ice photo would be good. It's got footprints across the pond next to a sign that says to stay off it.

There's this weird type of candy in a bowl on a desk in the Writing Center. At first I thought they were plastic shower curtain holders or something. I thought "Why in God's name are there colorful shower curtain holders in the candy bowl? I mean, I know it's Christmas and all, but...oh, they are candy."

I ate one to make sure. I think plastic wouldn't have broken so easily. They were tasty enough, but they got sticky easy and were breakable. All in all, I didn't like them.

You can tell my life is exciting.

I find myself on Web forums during my free time picking arguments. One I've found myself in lately has been the whole to-do about "The Golden Compass" movie coming out. I read all three books back in high school, so what bugs me is that it didn't become a controversy until someone took the story and put it to moving lights and sounds. As in, it's only worth talking about once it become a movie.

People can be dumb.

Enough of my high horse. Perhaps something interesting will happen tomorrow.

Workin' hard for the money.

2007-12-05T13:59:00.000-08:00

You know what I hate? People who stretch the page on Livejournal entries. For the next God-knows-how-long everyone has to scroll to the right.

I was able to make four prints today. I need at least fifteen, so with what I've already got, I only need to make two on Monday. Even with my slow methods, two should be do-able.

I handed in the Joyce essay, but I had to keep it sitting face down next to me in the few minutes before I passed it in. It's painful to look at. The class was more boring than usual today, although I learn things in the lectures I would never get from the book. Like which characters have children and whats going on. You know, complicated stuff like that...

For the next hour I'm going to look over U-wire (the AP for college papers) and get some filler. Jornan's sex column looks good. It's basically how to have a quickie at a party without being caught. It's pretty much the kind of stuff he should be writing about. I wonder if we'll get more hate mail.

It looks like the plan is for Kevin and Keri to come down Friday. Kathy has decided to come by on Saturday and hang a few decorations. I have to find out how long Kevin and Keri are staying first.

I'm not gonna lie, this is really annoying. It would be nice to have the family able to get together, but because some people can't bring themselves to reach out one last time, it has to be like this. There aren't words for how much this sucks. It's not so bad on the surface, but when I think about what the situation could be and isn't, it pisses me off.

This coffee is rancid, but I drink it anyway.

Did I shut the coffee pot off?

2007-12-04T14:17:00.000-08:00

I'm going to count today as a success. A fair margin of stories came in on time and this was the last news meeting of the semester.

Tena Star, from the Caledonian Record came in to speak with us. She's the one that interviewed me about Jordan's sex column that caught all that heat a few months back. Apparently being a reporter pays a little more than I thought, but it's also a lot of work. She told us she does two articles a day, which made me laugh because some people complain about doing two a week.

We also discussed a few ethical issues she'd run across. You run into some icky stuff when you're a journalist. Hearing Red's long-winded answer to her moral dilemma was also amusing.

Kathy decided she might come to the tree decorating get-together my family usually has. Normally she'd be there along with everyone else and there would be no problem, but this year she and her best friend, AKA my brother's girlfriend, decided to have a falling out.

I feel like I've mentioned this before...probably because it's been a slight issue for a little while now. Neither one of them cares enough to reach out to the other and it doesn't look like either one will, so it looks like it's going to be an awkward scene come Friday or Sunday, depending.

Personally, I'd rather eat the damned Christmas tree than be in the same room with tension like that.

Speaking of eating trees, I was down in South Station once where I put two bags of green tea in a cup before boarding a train for a nine-hour ride to Baltimore. Can you guess what that much green tea tastes like? A pine tree, that's what. I don't advise it.

Chemicals taste bad.

2007-12-03T14:24:00.000-08:00

The roads are bad today. The college was closed until about one, which did me no good because none of my classes start until three today. I came in and the photo lab was empty, as I thought it might be so I was able to make prints in peace. The downside being that I had to set up and clean up by my lonesome.

I think I fogged some of my paper. That doesn't make me happy in the least. That stuff is expensive.

I read my e-mail and I see my next Critic article. Some looney came up to a woman in her car and got after her about something. She drove off and called her roomates. The Public Safety Director explained the entire event in an e-mail and then did a follow-up explaining how it was a case if mistaken identity.

I'll interview him tomorrow about it. My guess is I'll get no new info and names, as usual, will be withheld.

That makes kind of sense for this case, but it's the same way with any other type of thing. Someone does something bad on campus, they get caught, they get punished, their names are withheld.

I was always under the impression that a large part of the concept of punishment was deterence. If people don't know anything happened, it only stops that one person from misbehaving. It happened with a few things last year.

Perhaps I'll suggest a change next time I get a chance.

Anyway, the drive home is going to be fun. It's still snowing, I also need to buy gas.

Do elephants paint peanuts?

2007-12-02T18:19:00.000-08:00

I just "finished" the biggest B.S. essay I've ever written. I decided to respond to a Joyce notebook on aesthetics, where he said something about photography not being art. By his own definiton, I thought he was wrong, so my essay centered around that and painting elephants. Now all I have to do is provide evidence of the elephant I saw on 60 Minutes that one time who could paint.

Right now I'm IMing with my brother who goes to UVM. He's got some large chemical presentation he has to do. For some reason, this reminds me that I have to set a date to go to Manchester and visit Malcolm again. I told him late November, but we see how that turned out.

Classes are delayed until 1:00 tomorrow. I don't have to go in until 3:00, but I need to get those prints done for my portfolio. I hate photography classes...don't take them if you're short on cash. Film, paper, binders, folders and plastic jackets rack up a bill after a while.

It's not delivery, it's a frozen pizza....

2007-12-01T16:52:00.000-08:00

The RPC game day would have been a bust had it not been for Halo 3. At first, because the stupid screen in the Rita Bole confrence room was on the fritz, it didn't look like we'd be able to do system link. Plus we only had one copy and one xbox. So we eneded up having to go get one from a guy's room and I made a trip down to Price Chopper to rent another copy.

Mental note: get a new driver's liscense. Mine isn't lamenated, so it's shot. I can't even buy beer with the stupid thing, much less convince Price Chopper to part with it's precious game. Had to use Joey's account.

I took pictures, but they're lame. As soon as Eric gives me back my USB cable, I'll put 'em up anyway.

That's basically all that happened today. One big Halo-athon. Fun to play, not so much to hear about. Tonight me and Kathy are going to go house sit for someone. Their dog, Martin, needs watching. He's a cute, hyper little creature. Maybe a pic of him too, but we'll have to see.

It's hard to come up with funny entry titles.

2007-11-30T10:55:00.000-08:00

I witnessed one of those awkward scenes...two women, one older, one younger, come into the Critic office. They ask to use the phone. I say, "sure." Why not? It's not like we're billed on it or anything.

Turns out the girl was some kind of client working with the older one. A human services type thing, or something. The girl, it appeared, had a severe disagreement with the older one and there was much yelling and accusations of lying.

None of us in the office were busy and I don't think the worker planned for the scene to occur, so it's no big deal. Still, it's somewhat amusing that we were all quiet and had all suddenly found something to read while this was going on. As though we weren't paying attention to the scene unfolding. Funny how people do that.

We forgot to run a few ads in the paper...they were free, so I don't feel THAT bad, but still...something we'll have to rectify somehow.

Right now I'm questing for a short essay on James Joyce and Shakespeare that I can respond to for five pages. Actually, I'm leaning towards disagreeing with something Joyce said about photography not being art...I want to agree with him, but I don't think I do.

I'm faced with a decision: go see Matt later, or take it easy. I just spoke with him, we discussed New Years celebrations. Should be fun, now that Kathy drinks. She used to hate drinking like bees hate cell phone towers, but she's lightened up recently.

Speaking of Kathy, we had an argument last night over MSN. We have one about every few months, so it's not a big deal, but sometimes, after thinking about the subject matter, they seem more like venting than anything else.

She was mad at me for being snappy at her earlier that day. I said I was sorry, but then added a few complaints of my own. Somehow we ended up arguing over moving to Colorado with my brother and Kathy's ex-best friend...

That's all I'll say about it. I had a co-worker one time who talked on and on about his relationship...I swear, the worst story another human being can tell is one about the intricacies of his or her relationship. It might be a guy thing, but I remember Kathy, who worked there too, didn't care for it either.

Sometimes it was funny, but not often.

"Dude, where are all the chics?"- Everyone at the bar.

2007-11-29T13:53:00.000-08:00

Well, the House meeting was as awful as I thought it was going to be. Sure, the agenda looks short, but people feel the need to talk for fifteen minutes at a time about the same crap every week. Although this week the discussion on the minute taking took less that 15 minutes this time, so overall it was a success.

I ended up going to the Packing House after the meeting got out to find Joey, who volunteered to cover the thing. He was gone when I got there, so after watching some topless girls dance on a pole, I went to talk to my old pal Matt, who's a bouncer. Crazy bugger works outside, so I hung out there a bit.

As it happens, Joey didn't get any notes. Can't say as I blame him though, althoug it was a bit vexing. I ended up calling the Packing House today and interviewing the manager, plus I spoke with Joey and got a few quotes from Matt. So there's 500 or so words on the GGW at the Packer, the pictures could be better, but we can't have everything, now can we?

I should warn you all, Thursday is Critic day for me. All I have to say about Thursday is how the newspaper is going. I don't have time for much else. It's Bible class, watch Richard bend time, then off to the office where I sit from 12:30, after getting food from the snackbar, until I'm off to be a tutor at 4:30. Then at 6 it's paper time until 10:30 or 11 depending on how well things go.

I spoke with both a comic artist (a good one!) and a business major. So perhaps we'll have ads and comics soon...less articles, which is good.

Holy crap, it's Thursday...the weeks go by so fast now. Seems like it's Monday...blech. I put an end to the RPC game I run on Friday, so after 2:30 I'm free, free as the wind blows...so long as it blows home and either naps or plays Resident Evil 4.

Anyway, here's to hoping the photo lab doesn't get locked.

You would think this would be easy...

2007-11-28T13:07:00.000-08:00

The reporter I assigned to cover the Girls Gone Wild bus being at the Packer suddenly remembered she has to baby-sit. Which means I now have to find someone to go up there and cover it. I sent out an e-mail to everyone I can remember who's written for the Critic, but somehow I get the feeling I'm spitting into the wind.

You would think getting someone to write about topless women would be easy, but it's actually more difficult than you would think. It's only been about five minutes since I put out the call, so perhaps I'm overreacting. Naw...

I'd do it myself but I have to attend a House meeting. There aren't words for how lame that is by comparisson. Especially this particular session where the SGA prez gets to defend his veto of three unanimous decisions. Fweee!

For real though, we suck if we don't get an article on that GGW bus... I'll be the first person to admit that it's not the most intellectual thing going on, but considering our audience and where we're located, it's a big deal.

I will be thoroughly annoyed if we get zilch on it.

On a better note, photo class was short, if non-existant, so I was able to get some real work done early. Mainly responding to a mess of e-mails I'd otherwise forget about.

I'm still up a creek on that Joyce essay. I have no idea about what I'm going to say on Ulysess. From all the lectures I've heard, no one knows. The only people who might have been driven mad by Joyce and thus, write like him: incomprehensibly. Thankfully, I only need to write five pages, as opposed to the ten I would need had I been lazy earlier this semester.

I've got a bad feeling about this week. Thursday night, the night we put the Critic together, is going to be one of "those" nights. Granted, I say this every week, but this time I mean it.

Pray for me people. And pray for someone to get up to the ******* Packing House.

Why am I dizzy?

2007-11-27T10:18:00.000-08:00

So I'm sitting in my chair last night at about 12:30, when for no reason at all, I get dizzy. I blame that two-day-old pickled beef stuff. That'll teach me to try new things.

I have this one professor who uses the phrase "in any case" a lot. This semester I began keeping a tally of how many times he says it. I thought I'd seen the limit one day when I counted 13. The next class I had, he said it 15 times. Today, 23. A bizzare hobby, I know, but it helps me pay attention.

I heard that the Girls Gone Wild people will be at the Packing House. Normally, I avoid the Packer like the plague, but I might make an exception.

I went over a bunch of advertising material for The Critic with Dan. Hopefully, after I meet with the guy who wants to sell for us, we'll really get into the swing of ad sales in the spring. From what I was told, a $7,000 goal wasn't all that unreasonable. The question would then be: what to do with that much money?

Solid gold notebooks...solid gold digital camera...print The Critic on solid gold plates...one copy of course, but it would be the best issue ever.

I forgot that the RPC's Game Day is this Saturday. You pay three bucks at the door and you play whatever video game system from noon until about midknight. SNES, Gamecube, Xbox (hopefuly at least one 360...HALO 3!!!!) and some PS2. I remember it being succesful last year. I'll bring my TV and maybe my Cube, but I'll cut back on the PS2 games. All the multiplayer ones I own are lame.

I'm taking a nap when I get home. Today was my early day. I took a 9-11 shift at the writing center as a tutor, which means afternoons are for sleep. Just as soon as I get done with this news meeting, which will be depressing seeing as how more or less no one got their stories in on time. Oh well, not much I can really do.

Back from break.

2007-11-26T11:34:00.001-08:00

Ah, it's the first day back from the Thanksgiving break. I managed to kind of avoid eating myself stupid over Thanksgiving, but there's enough leftovers to feed a small guerilla army. Not that I have one that needs feeding, mind you...

Anyway, I go into my photography class at three and apparently they're mad some one didn't pick up all of the chemicals from the last time it was used. They say if it keeps happening, they'll close the lab off and limit its use to during class hours only.

I'm no photo whiz, so I need that extra time. I can't make enough prints in the hour and twenty minutes class takes up for a half decent project grade. Also, I was the last guy there today, so lucky me, I ended up being the guy to clean all the chemicals, plus I got to fix up the developer sink. I hate messy people.

On a better note, my essay on James Joyce isn't due until next week. I thought it was this Wednesday. I hade the rope to hang myself all tied and everything...still, once that essay is done, I'll only have two more Critics to worry about before the nice, long, winter break.

The Critic is the school's newspaper. I edit it. It's pretty much the best thing on campus, period. You should read it. Heck, join it.

There's some political forum going on tomorrow. I'll have to send a reporter to see if we can cover it. Things like that are always hillarious.