A Midsummer Night's Dream

see it

Gem of the Ocean too

How Full Throttle Made My Day

It was a long weekend. I literally spent most of it grading papers. I was particularly disappointed with the lack of improvement from the previous batch, but when I entered the grades this morning I'd somehow managed to up the average score! (I blame the nice weather for somehow keeping me in an optimistic generous grading mood). This morning I was rushed and feeling rather stressed out, not looking forward to the new batch of essays to grade already that I would be collecting later on today from my other class.

 

Then something wonderful happened. As I walked back to my office from the other end of the mall area I saw a huge line in front of the Union. As I got closer I saw a black truck withe the Full Throttle logo on it. Full Throttle being my favorite energy drink, I immediately got excited. While the long line deterred me slightly, I walked over the bridge to get a closer look. To my delight the Full Throttle was indeed being handed out free to passers by, and there wasn't even a line! (that was for the pizza which I wasn't interested in)

 

Joy! And on top of THAT i was handed (by random chance of the dude's reaching into the large cooler) one of the new orange flavored version that I had yet to try. As with all of their spin off tastes, I don't like it as much as the original (a HIGH standard to approach), but for the first time I really like the new flavor on its own right. It's basically like what you think of as generic orange soda, a nice light crisp taste perfect for e burgeoning summer day!

 

Somehow that's all it took. Even before I opened it and was given the much needed energy boost (5 hours of sleep last night, I still had to prep for lecture today after finishing grading..) my mood lightened. I know it's not really accurate to consider a free drink generosity from a corporation (It's made by Coca Cola after all), but it made my day, so that's all I really care about right now. Thanks Full Throttle!

Neighborhood Racism with a Side of Christian Hypocrisy

The following are excerpts from a discussion thread on my neighborhood email list (I've bolded the key lines; plus a humorous payoff for those who make it to the bottom):

So I was having coffee this morning and a city employee (I won't name names) told me the police don't really care about alley trawlers....

These people are completely fearless of what might happen as a consequence of this illegal behavior. This one Asian woman (sorry, she's Asian. what can I say. I'm not on a first name basis with her.) stands two feet in front of me and watches me call the cops, almost as if she is calculating how much time she has to rummage through my garbage before she needs to waddle off down the road. I end up throwing rocks at her to get her to leave. If you're reading this lady, it might be mace next time.
Since when do cops do whatever they feel like? Oh, since forever I suppose.
--
Darla Jae Abraham

My roommate responded:

Yes, it sucks that people are stealing copper wire and recyclables, etc. However, the problem is not simply with the people doing this. They aren't animals that you can throw rocks at. Like you said, the government needs to do something: they need to fund public housing. We need to have a welfare system that works. We need to stop giving tax breaks to corporations and, instead, give them to human beings. We need to not forgive bankrupt companies, but
help the people going through foreclosures on their homes. While individuals do have some responsibility, the society that works against them does as well.The people who are taking your garbage (not the other things, like the copper) aren't hurting anything. They are simply trying to find money for food. It defies the stereotype that homeless / poor people are lazy. What would it take for you do go through someone's garbage? That is what these individuals are facing.

I responded as well, basically reiterating Krissy's thoughts and adding a few related ones, then Darla responds to mine:

When you catch one of these poor souls stealing your kids' bikes or the siding off your house or kicking in your back door to steal the two dollars worth of brass fittings in your basement why don't you invite them in for dinner to discuss the sorry state of socio-economic affairs in this country?? Oh, and make sure you ask them to join the neighborhood watch since they spend so much time here, they must be really concerned about what goes on in Sheridan. And while you're at it make sure you ask them if they pay taxes on the revenue they steal from the city. Don't make the "ignorant assumption" the poor aren't civic-minded. And here's a really great idea - why don't you come on down to the outreach ministry where I work eveeyday FOR FREE and help out some really poor people. And good job missing the point!

Who's missing the point, now? Well, I couldn't help myself. After clearing it with Krissy, I sent the following:

I do not intend this to be personally insulting. But let's be clear about what was said: you threw rocks at a human being  while you yourself were in absolutely in no danger. Then to top it off you boasted about it to the neighborhood mailing list seeking sympathy. That's wonderful that you work at an outreach ministry, but I hope you can see the Christian doctrinal irony of throwing the first stone yourself.

Insane Star Trek Captains?

Thanks to a random blog post that scrolled through my Twingly this afternoon I discovered the most amazing news since the impending coffee shop across the street Patrick Stewart is playing Macbeth on Broadway while I'm in New York! I am now determined to get tickets. I saw Sean Bean play the role while I was in London and it's one of the most memorable performances among the dozens I saw on that trip. The timing is perfect, it closes the weekend I leave for home.

Wake-up Call

I woke up this morning to my radio alarm at the precise moment the MPR speaker said "81 percent of Americans think the U.S. on the wrong track." I can't decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Bad because we are most definitely on the wrong track, and despite the phrasing's abstract language, it has led to real harm in the world. Good, because the American people are finally waking up to this fact. Let's go fore hopeful today and pick the later.

P.S. I refuse to allow Obama fanaticism steal the word hope from my vocabulary. I use it with no such political connotations.