4.01.2004
Happy Fool's Day
Hey folks,
Sorry about my lack of inane posts on this blog. I am well aware that 1-3 people actually read my observations on misc. things that go on in my life, only to turn to my more high-minded blogging compatriots. I will probably be discontinuing this blog in the near future to pursue serious side projects that I have lined up, such as some upcoming freelance work with Drug Policy Alliance. I have also decided to spend my time engaged in some more personal writing (perhaps appearing in the form of another blog, with the URL undisclosed and my settings kept anonymous...but if you can search the net as well as I can, I am sure you'll stumble upon my commentaries on suburban cultural stagnation, my thoughts on psychotropic drugs and nostalgic looks back to my days as a hardcore debauchee). My recent visit to A2 (my first as an alum...woohoo) granted me an amazing perspective change, and I realized whatever I have ever published on "ego tripping" is pure shite. So yeah, I think I'll be moving on. Stay tuned for a drug (war) blog...at least then I can compete with my hardcore journo friends in some area of expertise. I'll be covering the national NORML conference in April for DPA NJ, journaling privately and perhaps taking on a freelance gig for some hoighty-toighty "Princeton Living" magazine, in the meantime occasionally going on my signature drug binges, balanced out, of course, by green teas and yoga, for I am now anally health-conscious yuppie, lest you forget (please do not take the effort to point out the obvious contradictions in my sentence structures. Ah, so much more to say, but I am already under the influence of certain things and wish to save my personal thoughts for my little black book. Take it easy, everyone...I'll be web-published again soon enough.
Love,
Le Mango
Hey folks,
Sorry about my lack of inane posts on this blog. I am well aware that 1-3 people actually read my observations on misc. things that go on in my life, only to turn to my more high-minded blogging compatriots. I will probably be discontinuing this blog in the near future to pursue serious side projects that I have lined up, such as some upcoming freelance work with Drug Policy Alliance. I have also decided to spend my time engaged in some more personal writing (perhaps appearing in the form of another blog, with the URL undisclosed and my settings kept anonymous...but if you can search the net as well as I can, I am sure you'll stumble upon my commentaries on suburban cultural stagnation, my thoughts on psychotropic drugs and nostalgic looks back to my days as a hardcore debauchee). My recent visit to A2 (my first as an alum...woohoo) granted me an amazing perspective change, and I realized whatever I have ever published on "ego tripping" is pure shite. So yeah, I think I'll be moving on. Stay tuned for a drug (war) blog...at least then I can compete with my hardcore journo friends in some area of expertise. I'll be covering the national NORML conference in April for DPA NJ, journaling privately and perhaps taking on a freelance gig for some hoighty-toighty "Princeton Living" magazine, in the meantime occasionally going on my signature drug binges, balanced out, of course, by green teas and yoga, for I am now anally health-conscious yuppie, lest you forget (please do not take the effort to point out the obvious contradictions in my sentence structures. Ah, so much more to say, but I am already under the influence of certain things and wish to save my personal thoughts for my little black book. Take it easy, everyone...I'll be web-published again soon enough.
Love,
Le Mango
3.16.2004
Unionized
I just became an official member of the Communications Workers of America (Local 1096, baby). Yep, Factiva's white-collar "information workers" are unionized, which I think is great. Really, though, none of this affects me; I just think its cool to say I'm part of a union. Oh yeah, but it allows me to enjoy the benefits of my uber-progressive oh-so-European 35-hour work week. I don't foresee any imminent A2-style "stick it to the Man" strikes...we're all shiny, happy news geeks here.
I just became an official member of the Communications Workers of America (Local 1096, baby). Yep, Factiva's white-collar "information workers" are unionized, which I think is great. Really, though, none of this affects me; I just think its cool to say I'm part of a union. Oh yeah, but it allows me to enjoy the benefits of my uber-progressive oh-so-European 35-hour work week. I don't foresee any imminent A2-style "stick it to the Man" strikes...we're all shiny, happy news geeks here.
3.07.2004
"Thank you to the people of New Jersey"
-Sopranos creator David Chase.
Tonight inspired a very rare arousal of television excitement as my favorite show made its season premiere. I have very little to say about the show other than the claim that it is unequivocally the highest quality piece of programming that exists within an otherwise unstimulating telecrap lineup. That, and it's probably one of the only things that makes me damn proud to a Jerseyan. Haven't seen the show? Other than being somewhat of a loser, you're missing out on the greatest dramas portrayed on cable TV. That, and the Sopranos offers perhaps the most accurate vision of the NJ's natives and notable locales. Yeah, we hardcore.
-Sopranos creator David Chase.
Tonight inspired a very rare arousal of television excitement as my favorite show made its season premiere. I have very little to say about the show other than the claim that it is unequivocally the highest quality piece of programming that exists within an otherwise unstimulating telecrap lineup. That, and it's probably one of the only things that makes me damn proud to a Jerseyan. Haven't seen the show? Other than being somewhat of a loser, you're missing out on the greatest dramas portrayed on cable TV. That, and the Sopranos offers perhaps the most accurate vision of the NJ's natives and notable locales. Yeah, we hardcore.
3.05.2004
Bush Re-election ads: Simply disgusting.
Two ads refer to the hijacked airliner attacks that killed about 3,000 as the Bush campaign seeks to present him as a leader. One ad shows World Trade Center ruins behind an American flag. Another shows firefighters removing the flag-draped remains of a victim.
With Republicans holding their political convention in New York in late August, victims said they hope Bush does not make it worse by speaking at the site now known as Ground Zero, which many view as sacred.
Where's the reverence?
Two ads refer to the hijacked airliner attacks that killed about 3,000 as the Bush campaign seeks to present him as a leader. One ad shows World Trade Center ruins behind an American flag. Another shows firefighters removing the flag-draped remains of a victim.
With Republicans holding their political convention in New York in late August, victims said they hope Bush does not make it worse by speaking at the site now known as Ground Zero, which many view as sacred.
Where's the reverence?
3.02.2004
Therapeutic rolling
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration has approved the use of MDMA in a major trauma study sponsored by MAPS. This historic event comes as a major victory for serious supporters of the empathogen's potential psychiatric applications.
"The DEA's move marks a historic turn for a drug that has long been both venerated and vilified.
Ecstasy, also known as MDMA, is popular among casual drug users for its reputed capacity to engender feelings of love, trust and compassion. The government classifies it with LSD and heroin as a drug with no known medical use and high potential for abuse.
Although the study's approval is by no means a federal endorsement of uncontrolled use, it will give ecstasy's proponents their first legitimate opportunity to prove the drug can offer medical benefits."
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration has approved the use of MDMA in a major trauma study sponsored by MAPS. This historic event comes as a major victory for serious supporters of the empathogen's potential psychiatric applications.
"The DEA's move marks a historic turn for a drug that has long been both venerated and vilified.
Ecstasy, also known as MDMA, is popular among casual drug users for its reputed capacity to engender feelings of love, trust and compassion. The government classifies it with LSD and heroin as a drug with no known medical use and high potential for abuse.
Although the study's approval is by no means a federal endorsement of uncontrolled use, it will give ecstasy's proponents their first legitimate opportunity to prove the drug can offer medical benefits."
2.26.2004
Salutations to all the Mrs. Robinsons
I just joined the Dow Jones Health Club--requisite, of course, for becoming a successful and well-rounded yuppie. In an effort to improve my personal health (I've enjoyed quite an "interesting" lifestyle for the last four years), I've constructed a new fitness schedule: Tu/Th--"lessons in flexibility," (read ahead) alternated with erging--the most beneficial type of self-torture--on M/W/F. I'm pretty out of shape from debauching myself on a fairly regular basis, but I'm pretty much the youngest guy in the locker room, and am therefore a superman (except in the eyes of those snooty execs who gaze disapprovingly at my tattoo...they can just enjoy their upcoming cardiac arrests).
I've enrolled in a biweekly yoga class--the said flexibility lessons--offered right in the basement of my building during lunch hours. I experimented with yoga on my last Factiva tour of duty...on days that I got it right (which was fairly infrequently), I enjoyed afternoons filled with an almost unreal sense of tranquility (sort of like a lucid form of being high on some pleasantly mild psychedelic). But what I really enjoyed about the class was being virtually the only male in a room filled with very classy, exquisitely older women...let the seduction begin...ole!
Ooh, caught blogging at work...everyone's chill as hell, though...should probably stop anyway...
I just joined the Dow Jones Health Club--requisite, of course, for becoming a successful and well-rounded yuppie. In an effort to improve my personal health (I've enjoyed quite an "interesting" lifestyle for the last four years), I've constructed a new fitness schedule: Tu/Th--"lessons in flexibility," (read ahead) alternated with erging--the most beneficial type of self-torture--on M/W/F. I'm pretty out of shape from debauching myself on a fairly regular basis, but I'm pretty much the youngest guy in the locker room, and am therefore a superman (except in the eyes of those snooty execs who gaze disapprovingly at my tattoo...they can just enjoy their upcoming cardiac arrests).
I've enrolled in a biweekly yoga class--the said flexibility lessons--offered right in the basement of my building during lunch hours. I experimented with yoga on my last Factiva tour of duty...on days that I got it right (which was fairly infrequently), I enjoyed afternoons filled with an almost unreal sense of tranquility (sort of like a lucid form of being high on some pleasantly mild psychedelic). But what I really enjoyed about the class was being virtually the only male in a room filled with very classy, exquisitely older women...let the seduction begin...ole!
Ooh, caught blogging at work...everyone's chill as hell, though...should probably stop anyway...
2.25.2004
A lucrative and very annoying Ash Wednesday
The frenzy over Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" is driving me nuts, but I just wanted to put my opinion out there: everyone shut the fuck up. Until today, I had very little to say on the "issue"...I'm a very undevout Catholic and frankly couldn't care less about the actual film. But then the Lenten season officially commences (in the great American tradition of shameless capitalism, a scheme is born to exploit it), and the real shitstorm begins. Now, if my extremely devout grandmother--whom I love very much--were to ask me to take her to it (which she won't because 1. she dislikes contemporary movies, 2. she has quite enough "faith," thank you very much and 3. images of gore make her ill), I would comply without protest. But I probably won't end up seeing the movie. I will admit, though, that I'm rather curious to see how a sterile Sunday school tale (that's how I knew it) was transformed into a multi-million dollar bloodfest.
I'm also curious to know how watching this particular piece of cinematography will edify the spiritual foundations of Christians, and how complaining incessantly about the film will bring about any sort of solution to the problem of anti-Semitism. One should approach matters of religion/juicy morsels of media hype with extreme neutrality (this rarely happens)...perhaps Jews should go see the film to ascertain the precise level of cultural bias while Christians stay home to read about the benefits of a non-dogmatic system of morality. OK, that's all I'm going to write about this...the internet is already awash with inane analyses of how the "Passion" is such a big deal (one of the only sensible articles coming from Tikkun--an authentically progressive feel-good source of Jewish commentary). For Lent, I plan to give up discussing the movie any further. (Aramaic? That's so damn pretentious...)
The frenzy over Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" is driving me nuts, but I just wanted to put my opinion out there: everyone shut the fuck up. Until today, I had very little to say on the "issue"...I'm a very undevout Catholic and frankly couldn't care less about the actual film. But then the Lenten season officially commences (in the great American tradition of shameless capitalism, a scheme is born to exploit it), and the real shitstorm begins. Now, if my extremely devout grandmother--whom I love very much--were to ask me to take her to it (which she won't because 1. she dislikes contemporary movies, 2. she has quite enough "faith," thank you very much and 3. images of gore make her ill), I would comply without protest. But I probably won't end up seeing the movie. I will admit, though, that I'm rather curious to see how a sterile Sunday school tale (that's how I knew it) was transformed into a multi-million dollar bloodfest.
I'm also curious to know how watching this particular piece of cinematography will edify the spiritual foundations of Christians, and how complaining incessantly about the film will bring about any sort of solution to the problem of anti-Semitism. One should approach matters of religion/juicy morsels of media hype with extreme neutrality (this rarely happens)...perhaps Jews should go see the film to ascertain the precise level of cultural bias while Christians stay home to read about the benefits of a non-dogmatic system of morality. OK, that's all I'm going to write about this...the internet is already awash with inane analyses of how the "Passion" is such a big deal (one of the only sensible articles coming from Tikkun--an authentically progressive feel-good source of Jewish commentary). For Lent, I plan to give up discussing the movie any further. (Aramaic? That's so damn pretentious...)
