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On Structured Sponteneity
The University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt, known to the participants as ScavHunt or simply Scav, is a massive 4 day undertaking by the undergraduates of one of the United States premier academic institutions. During Scav the undergraduate population, usually confined by an intense and rigorous curriculum, explodes in an orgy of artistry, creativity ( Read more... ) -
On the death of the soul
"The worst I thought could happen to me was to die; they taught me differently.
Many things are worse than death. One is to fall into the institution's hands. Another is to come out of a mental hospital submissive, unable to fight back. A third is fighting back in silence. The fourth is breaking the silence and finding the women around you doubtful ( Read more... ) -
On the Correction of Error
This evening I received the following jewel-like message on Facebook:
Hey we deff dont know each other but I got this thing. Its like this reight, I got this meeting with Theo Koupelis. I noticed you were in the love/hate fan club.
Any way its like this i sent a mass email to my classmates in the class im taking soon and i was basicly like ill ( Read more... ) -
On Communication
I often find myself asked to explain "things" to people. "Things" can encompass any topic, but invariably the questioner will pick something that could not, in any universe, be explained to an inattentive listener over the clean-picked bones of the Christmas turkey. My usual response, which I've gathered is somewhat undesirable, is to attempt an ( Read more... ) -
On Culture Shock
I just looked at my first boyfriend's wedding album. -
On Neutrality
I have been accused by another wikipedia editor of being paid to whitewash Tibet articles for the Chinese government. -
On Fixed Action Patterns
I keep my tooth care supplies and my deodorant next to each other on my bureau. At least three times since arriving in Chicago I've found myself in the bathroom with my toothbrush poised over an open stick of deodorant.
If my breath smells like "Fresh Rush", you'll know why. -
On Animal Cruelty
There are these fabulous stickers plastered around campus reading: Fur is DEAD. Whenever I see one, I think -- unbidden -- "Well, of course. Mink would never sit still long enough to be sewn into a coat." -
On the Midwestern Psyche
A friend of my father, a retired ophthalmologist, was looking through his dad's things after he died, sorting out what to keep and what to throw out. He opened up the drawer of the cluttered desk in the shop where his dad had futzed for years with little projects and inside he found a cigar box. On the lid, in crooked capital letters, was written ( Read more... ) -
On Perspective
Wild Geese
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving ( Read more... )