Carleton

Don't Get Around Much Anymore

2006-04-24T18:11:00.001-04:00

So, with the exception of those who made it to the Twin Cities for the NCAA, and Becky who receives an occasional desperate plea for attention, most people think I live in a hole/cave/top secret graduate school that cannot be named. Not far from the truth. Which is actually that for the past three years I have been through grad school, done two years as an AmeriCorps member, taught in a high school, and worked for a mayor, all of which meant my e-mails and computer use were being tracked and blocked, or some weird grad student was spilling ramen down the back of my chair, making me want to finish my stats and get a beer.

But I am a little more settled these days. A new job in an old office (I am now a program coordinator for the non-profit where I worked as an AmeriCorps member) which is pretty great as jobs go. And a new office, which means no one is looking over my shoulder at my computer. Ever. Ah Freedom. Makes me want to paint my face blue and fight for it.

So, potentially, I am back. Thank you for your patience. I look forward to getting to know you all.

Why is GM Losing Again?

2006-04-04T09:02:00.000-04:00

I don't know how long they'll keep these links up, but if you can catch them, they are hilarious.

Chuck Norris Facts

2006-03-25T21:21:00.000-05:00

Truly amazing. You must check this out.

rita- six months later....

2006-03-18T17:00:00.000-05:00

well, realizing that this blog is semi-defunct at the moment, I thought I would take a minute anyway to go into a rant, since this was the forum I ranted on initially when I first headed down to louisiana (so there is perhaps some context here for some poeple <-- or see the september archives if you forget). I just wanted to voice that my experience and frustrations with the red cross and having to leave the shelter I was working at without saying goodbyes affected me much more than I ever thought it would. I don't know if the issue was the 'unresolved' feeling of being forced out without getting to say goodbye.... the anger that I was kicked out based on my age and compassion level for something I did not do, the frustration that the redcross and fema could have made a huge difference and handled the disasters much more effectively, or the fact that these people are still being dicked around, etc.... whatever it is (or maybe the collective of all of that), my experience has somewhat (and not to be dramatic) haunted me.... there is literally not a day that goes by when I am not thinking about louisiana.
I tried to get information from the redcross in boston about my file.... I was told that there is a 'file' on me and that it won't effect me in the future. that being said, I kind of want to meet with the redcross guy who I have been dealing with since my return, although I have NO idea what I would say, to close that chapter of my life... as it is I am literally angry and upset everytime I see something that says redcross on it (which sucks, because it is such an omnipresent organization). I am somewhat comforted by the mass quanities of articles and shows criticizing the redcross (culminating with the head's reseignition) <-- just helps to know that I am not alone in my frustration. and, while I am incredibly frusterated by my experience, I think the most frusterating aspect of the whole thing is the organization, or total lack there of....
anyway, today, literally 6 months later, I was finally able to track down the residents from the shelter and talk to them. it was helpful to sort of 'close' that part of my life, rather than just leaving in the middle of the night.
louisiana is still f- up, far worse than that is the gulf coast of mississippi (where I went on my day trip to new orleans) <-- maybe you have seen the cnn piece on the area..... that is where I was and it still isn't healed. when I asked the resident (who is now living in a fema trailer) how she was doing she said 'we're surviving' (she went on to tell me about violence, and a 12 year old who was raped, etc.).

I am not entirely sure where I am going with this rant or tangent..... and perhaps you all think I am making a mountain out of a mole hill or intentionally dwelling on issues I should get over.... again, as I said, I too was surprised just how much this affected me. I have literally stay up at night thinking about how f-up the whole thing was. thankfully, talking to the residents today I think really helped. I wish I could just close that chapter... if you have a suggestion on what I could say or if there was a point to meeting with the redcross guy, I would greatly appreciate it. appologies for the rant.... but bottling it up has obviously not been helping! I would love to intellectualize this experience and move on asap.
thanks.

and since I am going blog happy.....

2006-03-07T11:04:00.000-05:00

can we get an update on how everyone is doing/how new jobs are going/any future exciting plans? cool.

and speaking of....

2006-03-07T11:00:00.000-05:00

speaking of cash..... since the oscars just aired, what are some movies that you might recommend for the year?

with the exception of 'brokeback mountain' and an independent documentary 'the boys of baraka' (both worth seeing), oh, and the 'chronicals of narnia' <-- I don't think I have seen any movies in the theater in a while! has anyone seen 'block party'? that was going to be my next theater excursion.

what's your favorite cash song?

2006-03-07T10:57:00.000-05:00

it is so trendy to like johnny cash these days, isn't it..... but I love this cover of his, LOVE it:
http://www.universalstudios.com/cgi-bin/g2script.cgi?nashville/losthighway/440063339_2.rm

this is funny!

2006-02-27T20:20:00.000-05:00

these websites made me laugh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfODSPIYwpQ&search=brokeback%20to%20the%20future
this one is pretty good too:
http://www.youtube.com/w/shining?v=1J9ufqCoqyo&search=shining

Being locked in the garage.

2006-02-09T13:48:00.000-05:00

Yes, I was one of the 200 locked in the West parking garage of the Russell Senate Office Building last night. We were there for about three hours (from 6:45pm-9:45pm), which wouldn't have been a problem if we had had some food and...well...we weren't in a garage. When they started rolling out the showers, I thought we might be in trouble. I managed to stay fully clothed, though, and made it home by 10pm. So yeah. It was a long night. Here are my photos. They aren't very good, but I didn't want to be obvious when I was taking them.

Congrats

2006-02-06T18:57:00.000-05:00

Carrie. Hope your first day went well. Can't wait to hear how you like it.

File this under weird

2006-02-03T01:18:00.000-05:00

Hmmmm.... gotta love Detroit. This from Sports Illustrated. When does Osama get his key to the city?

• "Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick gave homeboy Jerome Bettis a key to the city this week, reportedly only the fourth time that honor has been bestowed.

The other three recipients? Well, let's see. There was actor James Earl Jones. Detroit neurosurgeon, Dr. Benjamin Carson, of Johns Hopkins University. And ... oh, yeah, somebody named Saddam Hussein, who got one back in 1980, before he seemed to fall out of favor with certain members of the U.S. government. And the U.S. Army for that matter."

By the way, what exactly is a "key to the city"? I mean, does it open all the doors? Can you just walk up to a random house in detroit and open the locks?

Brokeback Mountain

2006-02-02T00:33:00.000-05:00

After watching Duke and BC for about thirty minutes and 27 of those minutes of hearing Vitale praise Redick over and over again, I'm wondering if some time ago, Duke Vitale and J.J redick didn't herd sheep somewhere together in Utah.

Vitale looking deeply into J.J's eyes- "I wish I knew how to quit you..."

I'm (Almost) Famous

2006-02-01T16:34:00.000-05:00

Click on the title and it will take you to the ol' college basketbal mailbag on SI.com, where yours truyl submitted a question...and it was answered!

I wonder, can this become part of my portfolio for the journalism degree?

I also wonder why no one will place Stan Heath on the Hot Seat where he definitely belongs. I mean, it's year four Stan, you've got 2 maybe three road wins TOTAL, and not even an NIT berth to show for it. Where's the passion, Hogs? I give up. Go SLOW and BORING Badgrers....oh wait, nevermind. Screw them too.

Love,
-Bitter in Badgerland.

Great question

2006-01-31T11:13:00.000-05:00

Click the title for some great questions from past Super Bowl Media Days. My favorite is the one to Joe Montana.

Quote Of The Day

2006-01-31T10:31:00.000-05:00

Ahhh Superbowl Media Day...home of great reporting.

As proof, check out this exchange from a few years back...

Reporter to Titans DT Joe Salave'a: "What's your relationship with the football?"

Salave'a's response: "I'd say it's strictly platonic."

You can't make this stuff up, people!

Oh....and Sansone and Richard and Carrie, congrats all on your new jobs.

But Sansone, I don't think the NSA cares if you're needlessly secretive, I mean
you could probably tell your friends what state you're in every now and then
and they'd be okay with that.

Now I work in Motown

2006-01-30T10:15:00.000-05:00

It's final. I got a great job offer from Harman Becker automotive. They make Harman/Kardon speakers, Infinity Speakers, JBL, and a ton of others. I'll be writting the code for thir "infotainment" stuff (DVD players, GPS recievers, mp3 players/controlers). It should be exciting and MUCH better paying. I'm nervous and excited. Wish me luck.

2006-01-26T01:59:00.000-05:00

Sleepy Daniel Horton...God bless you, you are the man!

81

2006-01-25T21:34:00.000-05:00

Ok, I'm not going to spout any nonsense about Kobe being better then Jordan, that was mostly just to annoy Sansone, but 81 is unbelievably impressive. What I've been most amused with is the reaction to the feat. What do you guys think? Feat of a lifetime to be appreciated? Or selfish ball-hogging? Or both?

I Got a JOB!

2006-01-23T15:28:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to let you all know that I FINALLY got a real, stable job! I will be working for Epic Systems, Inc. It's a healthcare software company (By the way, Rick, if Michelle gets a job in Madison, you should check it out) and I'll be a project manager. It means that I'll pretty much be the liaison between the client and the IT department at Epic. Not exactly my line of work, but I'm willing to give anything a try after working in the food service industry for the past 6 months.

A new job posting...

2006-01-16T22:38:00.000-05:00

If anybody is interested, Carleton has just announced that the job of head football coach has become available. Interested candidates must have thick skin and the ability to euphemize/speak in cliche extensively (we're on the right track/just need to keep giving 110%/we've got a lot to build on for next year/etc.) .

Chris Brann is taking the head coach job at Beloit College in Wisconsin.

Here's hoping GY gets his chance.

Brady is a Bitch

2006-01-13T14:30:00.000-05:00

Fear the Mountain Man!!!

You're next Peyton (or Big Ben)!

oh e-bay....

2006-01-06T23:26:00.000-05:00

go to e-bay and search for 'reborn' <-- and then tell me that is not the most disturbing thing you have EVER seen. who buys these things?

Finally...marine mammals and dynomtie....

2005-12-21T15:00:00.000-05:00

I once read that matter can neither be created nor destroyed….but it can be blown into big, fat, smelly, bits!

http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=eb44d23f-bceb-4b72-98f1-ec20f2b6333b&f=email

Happy Holidays! Rick, I'm thinking about your quotes...but I don't want to just write anything down there...

Quote Me Not

2005-12-20T08:18:00.000-05:00

I thought it might be fun to compile a list of the best quotes from this year. I'll seed it with my favorite from the SI Story(follow link above).

"Because there are no fours."
-- NBA long-range gunner Antoine Walker when asked why he shoots so many threes

"The only thing that keeps this organization from being recognized as one of the finest in baseball is wins and losses at the major league level."
-- Devil Rays GM Chuck Lamar on his team

"When you can get a discount at Denny's, it's time to retire."
-- Charles Barkley, discussing the retirement of 41-year-old Karl Malone (rick's note: I think this was a typo. It should read 410-year-old Karl Malone)

Any others?

Feeling hot, hot, hot

2005-12-14T13:44:00.000-05:00

Here is a picture
I spent a week in Montreal
stop global warming

That was my Climate Change Haiku. Ok, so I spent last week in Montreal at the UN Framework Conference on Climate Change. Thought I'd pass along a little photo I took of a Greenpeace demonstration. Those ice blocks lasted all week because it was so frickin' cold up there. All in all, it was a great learning experience, but now I'm exhausted. At least I can talk about immigration for a while now and forget about CO2.