Dax's Christmas List

Money for some books
Ninja Turtle Sewer Base
Where's Waldo the Ultimate Fun Book
Monkey Mania
Ninja Turtle Ceareal [sic]
Donnatelo [sic] Suit
Pizza Party
Shiver Me Bones
Flying Pirates

Yooper Invasion to Commence

Yo Trolls,

Paul and Tristan are planning on boarding a Bradley Fighting Vehicle they stole from the Marquette Armory and plowing our way from Ishpeming to the Mackinac Bridge, and then down I-75 to southeastern Michigan, where we will proceed to party extremely hard, wreaking havoc and leaving the area in a shambles. They will arrive on the 3oth. Be prepared.

Religious Rarities ~ Post 1: Clarence 13X

The Nation of Gods and Earths, commonly known as the Five Percent Nation or the Five Percenters, is a social and Black revolutionary movement. It was founded in Harlem in the late 1960s by Clarence 13X, who proclaimed himself to be Allah (the Arabic term for God). The Nation of Gods and Earths angered religious and political leaders, who viewed the group as a radical offshoot of the Nation of Islam, which was already viewed by conservative Muslims as heretical. This came with the Nation having stated its predicted coming, and its goal of seeking freedom, justice, and equality from economic, political, social, and religious injustices in the United States and the world over.

The group was founded by Clarence 13X (Clarence Smith), who was deified by Five Percenters as Allah, and was also called the Father or Father Allah. He is credited with originated the teachings that form the foundations of the Five-Percenter movement. Clarence 13X, a Korean War veteran and martial arts expert, was a member of the Nation of Islam, and attended NOI Temple #7 in Harlem, New York, where Malcolm X was a minister from 1960 to 1963. Following his questioning about the unique divinity of Wallace Fard Muhammad being in opposition to the core teachings of the NOI, which taught of the divinity of all Black men, Clarence was disciplined by the group, and he was eventually excommunicated sometime in 1963. This led Clarence 13X to shed his Muslim name and beliefs, and to teach his own interpretation of NOI beliefs. He found success in late 1964, with the disenfranchised youth on the streets of Harlem, and won many young converts to his movement. The Five Percenters established a headquarters in Harlem, New York, known as the Allah School in Mecca, in 1967, with the help of the Republican Mayor of New York, John Lindsay, and his assistant, Barry Gottehrer.

She made dresses for them.

This whole thing is bizarre:
http://www.instructables.com/id/EPJA77NB7SET2JXXBN/

What You All Have to See.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dmVU08zVpA

Vail Diaspora Reunion Flyer Centerpiece

Dax left this out of his post ... I got your back, Dax!

3rd Annual Vail Diaspora New Year's Summit

Here's a rough idea (from what people have mentioned) of what the New Year's celebration at Adam/Stefan/Chris/Eddie's apartment may be like [all is subject to change]:

Su 12/31

Video Game Tournament
Fields of Industry Jam + Performance
Leopold Bros. until the ball drops
Dance Party at the apartment

M 1/1

WCBN - Josh will be DJing, others are invited to witness/help out.
Rose Bowl

Unresolved Issues
1. Some people have expressed interest in arriving to the apartment on the 30th -- direct inquiries to the residents.
2. Dinner -- nominations for a place? Once we have a consensus decision, we need to confirm how many people will be there.
3. Leopold Bros. -- this was chosen by default. It has sort of a communal experience, but if people are interested in going elsewhere...
4. A huge fuckin' stereo.

This is all up for discussion.

Purchase Suggestion

Dear Dax,

Thank you for your purchase suggestion. The library has recently ordered Illustrated Guide to Extended Massive Orgasm and we have placed a hold for you.

Sincerely,
Sarah Redman

Adult Selection Specialist
Capital Area District Library

Detroit Report

I'm coming to Detroit and the state of Michigan on the 19th. I'll be in the state until the 30th. I want to buy gifts for people back here and out there all in Michigan in order to help out the economy.

I still have my beard.

Bias?

This was the cover of the New York Post the day after the Iraq Study Group report was released:

East Quad Memories

Oh, soon we'll be out amid the cold world's strife
Soon we'll be sliding down the razor blade of life
But as we go our sordid sep'rate ways
We shall ne'er forget thee, thou golden college days

Hearts full of youth!
Hearts full of truth!
Six parts gin to one part vermouth!

Tom Lehrer

Tiny Tim

A conversation with my mother & sister:

Mom: Is this Tiny Tim?
Dax: Yeah. Are you a fan?
M: [pointing her finger accusingly] YOU are!
D: What are you talking about?
M: You used to love Tiny Tim. All his records are here.
D: When was I into Tiny Tim? And why would I have blacked out--
M: I used to run all over town looking for his records. Oh, you used to go crazy over Tiny Tim.
Nicole: Are you confusing him with Weird Al Yankovic?
M: Maybe it was Weird Al... But he saw Tiny Tim on TV once, too.
N: Was it love at first sight?

More Movie Madness

Hi guys,

I haven't posted in a long time. School wrapped up fairly well. It was really difficult, the most busy I've been in a long time, but I think I did a good job. Film school's pretty cool, I can tell you more about it over the holiday.

Well! Here's a nice holiday treat for you all. Youtube goodies.

Here is my fourth directing project. Again, I did not write the terrible script. This was my first ever video with dialogue. Also, look out for the dolly shots. I'm pretty pleased with how smooth they are.



Here's a video of Nicole counting change in our apartment.



I didn't make this, but it features Greg Tonner circa 2002 as a typing ninja. It's pretty sweet.



There's a couple more oldies, but I'll save them for later. Also, check out my Youtube favorites, I've been adding to it more and more: link.

Dax also has a great favorites section going, I'm sure he won't mind if I post it: link.

New Years Plans

Hey guys.

Sarah offered to have the New Years festivities at her house. We could get a keg and just have a blowout dance party. Some considerations:

1. If people wanted to go out to a bar it's a bit of a walk
2. The floors are not carpeted, so it wouldn't be comfortable to sleep there
3. Wooden floors are good for dancing and clean up of spilled fluids (whatever the fluids may be)
4. There's plenty of parking in that area

I was thinking everyone could pitch in $5-$10 for beer, champagne and some snacks. Of course the band can still play there, and we could go out if some people were willing to drive.

What do y'all think?

Ya, guys, I completed my thesis, hmah, hmah, hmah!

Just to inform all those people who are not here to share my joy at being done with this hunky paper I've written: I am fucking done!!! Well, at least with for now, but I actually have another 15-page paper due tomorrow that I haven't started yet. Anyway, I know this is boooring, and a bit self-indulgent. But the title is "Fragments of Babel: Marginalia on Reading and Translating Miroslav Krleza." It's 125 pages long and if they don't give me highest honors I will personally go into the Comp. Lit office strapped with dynamite, suckas! Not really, I am just glad I'm done with it.

Sees ya'll at the New Year's party where I can gloat some more (that's not gonna happen, don't worry). Suckas!

Beards 1

I'm growing a beard for the break, so that I don't have to shave and will have a warm face. At work here in Cambridge, Tahar is growing a beard because this year he will be doing hajj. He snuck up behind me today and saw that I had started a beard, like him. He told me and everyone around us that this year is the year of the beards. YEAR OF THE BEARDS. He said that our boss will think that we are both becoming radicals. Samira said that no women like beards...to be(ard) continued...

Pimp: The Story of My Life

A pimp is happy when his whores giggle. He knows they are still asleep... all whores have one thing in common just like the chumps humping for the white boss. It thrills 'em when the pimps makes mistakes. They watch and wait for his downfall.

"A pimp is the loneliest bastard on Earth. He's gotta know his whores. He can't let them know him. He's gotta be God all the way."

Top Ten 2006

One thing I like about being associated with all of you is the range of interests and fields of study represented within our social circle.

So, in the hope of continued intellectual cross-pollination, I propose that we all share equal to or less than 10 ideas/concepts/theories/experiences that most captured your interest this year. This can be interpreted narrowly or broadly.

Is this cool, or dorky?

from the 'mather a' to the magnificent mile: ishpeming rap video

this features people from p**L's high school (grades above), rapping in ishpeming and chicago.

Q: is this serious?
A: it is what it is. they hired a "model" to dance in it, went to chicago to shoot it, so yeah

enjoy: http://geocities.com/arbitrarydog/NSHome

if you can't get enough: http://www.myspace.com/northsidesyndicate

i'm back

well, i did it.

December 4, 2006

Dear Dr. ****,

Please accept this letter as formal notification of my intention to withdraw from the doctoral program in * * at the end of the spring 2007 semester.

This has been a tough decision, made even more difficult by the excellent graduate program here at **** and my admiration of the faculty, staff, and students. I am thankful for the opportunities that I have been provided here and look forward to completing the academic year before pursuing other opportunities.

Please advise me of the steps necessary to complete the M.A. portion of the PhD degree as they relate to the work that I have already completed.

Thank you for your understanding and help. If I can be of any assistance in this process, please let me know.

Sincerely,



**** ******

(United States of) Whatever

Goro should record a bonus flexi-disc single cover version of this song (to be distributed with NME):



Brian could do the narrative bits, with Adam interrupting him ("WHATEVER!") and both sing the chorus.

The lyrics could even be adjusted to fit Goro's thematic concerns (fetus rape, bloody stool, Pol Pot, etc.).

Looking Good

I must say, I disagree with Tristan regarding the mirror episode. Like I said, a brotha gots to look good for the ladies (see comment). If I don't look good, I don't feel good. And, as you all know, I like to look good, all the time, everywhere, at every moment, just in case I run into some dame who thinks that she's the one that needs to be looked at, adored, well we'll just have to reverse that, she'll have to think twice when she runs into my leather boots, white pants, slick hair, sun glasses, and trench coat. Red scarf too, perhaps a little bit of cologne. Love it. Gets her thinking, her faculty of desire swells up like a fuckin' sausage. Next time she sees you, she might try to spark up a little con-vo, and then things really get rolling, all of a sudden, you're at her place, candles, ribbed condom (always). You know the routine. Walk out the next morning as if you never met the bitch, smooth, and then try to get with her friends, you know, just to make her jealous. All from a couple of minutes in front of the mirror.

What chimney?!

Just because I've been thinking about this lately, I wanted to share the lyrics to the second verse of Elvis' festive little song, "Santa Claus is Back in Town":

Hang up your stockings
Turn off the light
Santa Claus is comin'
Down your chimney tonight

For some reason I'm really amused by sleazy holiday music...except for "Santa Baby", because that's just annoying.

John the Revelator

When I visited my cousin last week he got me high and showed me this animation he did to a song off Depeche Mode's last album.



After that I watched him change the baby's diapers, which equally blew my mind.

Taco Hell

Every time I work my way back up to eating Taco Bell, another nasty thing happens.

Self-Righteous Complaint

It seems that every single time I go into the bathroom near the computer labs at NYU's library, one or two guys are intensely preening themselves, fooling around with their hair and striking various poses while they stare at their reflections. To do this properly, they often have to stand a considerable distance from the mirror, I guess so they can approximate the perspective of the average onlooker. The thing is, this means that they obstruct my path as I try to walk past the sinks, and make me generally irritable when I have a lot of stuff that needs to get done and have to waste precious seconds working my way around them. I don't remember this ever being a problem at U of M - why are people here so damn vain? I want to say "Look, just take it easy. You're fine. It's 12:30 in the afternoon at the library, and you really don't need to have the perfect amount of faux-messiness in your hair while you write a paper or do your statistics homework. Nobody is going to be checking you out, and you're just affirming all my stereotypes about New Yorkers."

To All My Friends

I'm sorry for not keeping in touch. I don't know why, I just can't pick up the phone to call anyone, nor do I feel ready to answer the phone whenever I receive a phone call. It's not because I'm too busy, just not prepared. And now so many people are angry with me or at least think I'm a prick...there's nothing I can do about that. I hope that this will no longer be the case, and that I'll be able to call everyone who's called me. I hope you've all been well.