Feast On

Friday, February 24, 2006
Feast Eighty-Two

Appetizer--Choose one: moving to another state, having triplets, or never being able to eat chocolate again.
Never being able to eat chocolate again. I just moved and I'm not strong enough for that nightmarish experience anytime soon. With one little one in the house, I know I'd lose my sanity with three.

Soup--Name a news story that truly shocked you.
People Freak Out Over Dubai Port Authority Deal. Seriously, this is about as big a non-issue as one could possibly imagine. The idea that any involvement by an entity even remotely associated with a Middle Eastern nation means that security is somehow jeopardized has an obvious racial/ethnic tone. Regardless of who runs the damn place, security won't change. Port security is handled by an outside entity, not the ports themselves. Yes, folks, I'm siding with President Bush on this one. I'll give everyone a moment to lift their stunned selves off the floor before continuing the feast. ::waits patiently:: Everyone okay?

Salad--What was your very first job?
At 11 years old I started mowing lawns. I mowed several lawns, including the lawn of a senior citizens complex, on a weekly basis.

Main Course--If you had the chance to read the diary of someone you're really close to, would you? Why or why not?
Absolutely not. If a diary is private, it's private. That includes a child's diary, regardless of circumstances. Think your child is doing drugs, sleeping around, etc? Talk to them.

Dessert--What's something you're looking forward to?
Summer break. We're planning on heading back to Colorado for a couple weeks, probably in June. I need to spend some time in a city.

Conversation Realities: maitre d

Tonight was one of those "show up and act like a faculty member" nights. Our department admitted seven students into the national communication studies honor society and we held a little soirre for the students and their parents. The affair was an intimate dinner in one of the campus dining rooms (which actually serve some very above average fare--nothing like that mediocre bagel from a couple days back) and, as faculty, we were asked to position ourselves strategically around the tables. When I arrived, the salads had already been placed on the table. I located a table devoid of any other faculty and joined a student and her parents. As I approached the table, the following conversation occured.

Mom: Excuse me, sir. My husband is allergic to almonds. Could we possibly get a salad that doesn't have almonds?
Me ::glances around and realizes Mom is talking to me:: Uhhh
Student ::embarrassed:: Mom! He's a professor!
Mom ::mortified:: Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry.
Me ::laughs:: Think nothing of it.

Meh

I had an exceedingly mediocre bagel for breakfast.

Self

Having realized his own self as the Self a person becomes selfless.

-Maitrayana Upanishad

Reprinted with permission from "The Wisdom of the Hindu Gurus," edited by Timothy Freke, published by Godsfield Press.

I Can't See Him!

After 25 years of the same eye doctor, I finally had to make a change. Okay, I didn't have to make a change, but I decided the 900 mile drive to an appointment was a real killer. So, I pulled out my benefits information and chose a doc in a nearby city we frequent.

To most people this process probably isn't a big deal. You go, read a few charts, get your prescription (or not), and move on with your day. That's the way I view the dentist. Beyond an occasional cavity every five years or so, my teeth issues are virtually nonexistent. I could care less who works on my mouth, really. My eyes, however, are another story. My eyesight is terrible. We're not talking "The road signs are a little blurry," we're talking "What road signs?" Without my contacts or glasses, I can't see a damn thing. I once asked my old opthalmologist for a reference point regarding my bad eyesight. The conversation went something like this.

Doc: Can you read the letters up there?
Me: What letters?
Doc: Exactly. That's the big "E".
Me: Ugh.

I am grateful, however, that contacts (-7.50 in both eyes. w00t!) and glasses correct my vision 100%.

My visit to the new doc went okay. His various and sundry equipment didn't measure up to the supremely high tech office of Dr. Adams, but it seemed to do the trick. New Doc is a high energy, likeable fellow who appears competent. He suggested a change to one of the latest brands of contacts (lighter and more gas permeable than ever!). We got along just fine . . . with one exception. In addition to having rotten sight, my eyes are extremely sensitive to light. So sensitive, in fact, that I haven't ventured into daylight sans sunglasses in 20+ years; I even wear sunglasses on a cloudy day. Put simply: bright light hurts. Knowing the pain I experience in the presence of bright light, good Doc Adams always skipped the "let's dilate your eyes" part of the exam. Maybe it was the high tech equipment he used, but he never needed to chemically dilate my eyes when peering inside. The new Doc all but insisted on dilating my eyes. I objected originally, but relented eventually. I shouldn't have.

With my eyes dilated, Doc I'm-Going-To-Burn-Your-Eyes-Out-Of-Their- Sockets-With-This-Nova-Powered-Lamp proceeded with the exam. He focused the lamp on my left eye. Pain pierced my skull. Within seconds, the headache induced stomach churning nausea. Bleh. "The light is on the low setting," he explained. While I'm sure the exam took less than 30 seconds, it felt like several minutes. As we left the office, Doc Nova's assistant handed me a pair of those goofy plastic sunglasses. I had to wear them. At night. Headlights blurred and my head continued to ache. I closed my eyes for the hour-long trip home. Thank goodness STK came along for the ride. Arriving in our dimly lit home, I still couldn't function. SIX HOURS after the exam and even the dimmest light induced a headache and nausea. I finally gave up and went to bed.

Five days later, my eyes are back to normal. The new contacts seem to be working just fine and I'm no worse for wear. That said, I'm thinking I might schedule any future eye appointments in conjunction with a trip back to Colorado. Today, A 900 mile trip to the eye doctor doesn't seem all that ridiculous.

See This

I'm having some problems with images on another blog. Let me know if you can see this image.

Brokeback Heartbreak

STK and I finally managed to see Brokeback Mountain tonight. Believe it or not, the controversial film played at the local theater, the same theater that opted out of playing Farenheit 9/11. Given the content of Brokeback, I assumed the owners would pass on the film. My thanks to them for bringing it to our little neck of the woods. Even though it made my heart hurt, on many different levels, I adored this film. When it comes out on DVD, this will be added to our collection.

X3

Okay, so I submitted my formal request for the Battlestar Galactica DVD sets. While composing the request I thought to myself, "I wonder if I could get the school to spring for an academic version of the new WordPerfect Office Suite?* Since I'm more familiar with WP, I'm more academically productive when using that application. I write lecture notes, conference proposals, and journal articles using WordPerfect. Heck, it's worth a try." So I add the request to the DVD sets (which had already been informally approved by TPTB).

Two hours later, both expenses . . . approved. Guess what I'm ordering tomorrow?

*The tech folks at the school only support Word. I'm sorry, but I REALLY don't get what's so special about Word. I've been using WordPerfect since 1992 and find it a far better word processor application. The "reveal codes" function itself makes WP a superior product. I have to use Word on an almost daily basis and it's far more difficult to make formatting adjustments. Wordperfect rules!

Huh?

Just before retiring around 5 AM this morning,* I checked CNN.com and discovered the following headline.

Games open with flaming Rollerbladers

Flaming rollerbladers? That just cracked me up. An image of several of my gay friends, in drag, rollerblading through the opening ceremonies immediately came to mind. I'll have to share that image the next time I see them.

*Ssee what happens when I'm left to my own devices? No STK and TLO and I immediately revert back nocturnal living.

All Quiet on the Midwestern Front

Silence. Now there's something I haven't experienced in quite a while. The last two days, however, have been exceedingly silent. Why? Thanks to the generosity of a family member who purchased an airline ticket, STK and TLO flew back to Denver for a long weekend. I talked to STK for an hour or two late last night and it sounds like they're having a wonderful trip; Almost every second of every day has been scheduled chock full of friends and family. STK said TLO was his usual champ of a travelling partner--he charmed anyone with eye contact on the plane, apparently.

While STK and TLO have been catching up with friends and family, I've been in full academic mode. The deadline for NCA 2006 submissions is on Wednesday and several of us have been trying to pull together a panel submission regarding rhetoric and the intersection of virtual/"real" identity. I spent the better part of last night and this morning writing the formal proposal and sent it off this afternoon for feedback and proofreading. Provided the rewrites aren't too substantial, I plan on submitting the final version tomorrow night. As I've already been asked to participate on another panel regarding science fiction television, I could have two different obligations at the convention. Here's the absract for my contribution to the science fiction television panel.

We are All Cylons: Battlestar Galactica and Fandom’s Fitting Response.

This essay positions Ron Moore’s contemporary reconceptualization of Battlestar Galactica as part of an on-going public dialogue concerning ethics and human rights. Touching on such thought-provoking issues as terrorism, torture, and rape, Battlestar Galactica offers a dialogic hail that requires a fitting response. Message board posts provide an opportunity to examine the way in which fans acknowledge the hail and participate in the dynamic moment of communal discernment

As luck would have it, I also discovered the following call.

A Long-Time Ago . . . : Modern Mythology in the New Millennium
Call for Chapters
Deadline: April 1, 2006
Featured as an NCA Town-Hall forum in 2004, this collection seeks to bring together scholars and cultural critics from the fields of rhetoric, media, cultural studies, and communication studies, among others, to examine science fiction and/or modern fantasy texts from mythic and rhetorical perspectives. Applications of methodology to science fiction and/or fantasy literature, film, and texts (with the goal of contributing to communication theory and practice) are especially encouraged. Chapters could feature an application of methods (including but not limited to feminist, ideological, metaphoric, narrative, generative) to a wide variety of texts (Orwell’s 1984; Lewis’ Narnia; Lucas’ Star Wars galaxy; Star Trek; Stargate; Battlestar Galactica; etc). Proposals should include (1) title page with contact information for authors, (2) biographical page (a brief biographical statement for all authors), (3) a proposal (maximum of 5 pages excluding references) following the current APA Publication Manual. Final chapters will be limited to 30 pages. First drafts of chapters selected for inclusion must be submitted by August 30th, 2006.

I believe I'll pull together a proposal and submit my NCA paper as a book chapter, too. Heck, if I get selected I'll have to write the paper by August 30, a full three months before the convention. I've already checked with The Powers That Be at school and they've given me the green light to use some of my faculty research funds to purchase the DVDs of the first two seasons of Battlestar Galactica. I love my job.

Tomorrow morning I'll probably join our Unitarian Universalist friends for a bit of spiritual centering. It will be weird to attend without STK and TLO. In fact, the last three days have been very weird without their respective presences. Everything seems just a little off. Have I mentioned how quiet it's been?

Bush Sucks

Just so people don't think I'm growing soft in my old age, I still think the President and his cronies are the most unethical bunch of pretenders to ever reign in the White House. The latest bit of appalling chicanery occured during the State of the Union address. Cindy Sheehan, the well known peace protestor, was arrested for wearing a t-shirt reading, "2245 Dead. How many more?" An excellent question, don't you think? She wasn't raising a ruckus, she wasn't shouting down the President. To make a long story short, she was arrested and removed from the premises. Unclaimed Territory-By Glen Greenwald has an excellent discussion of the entire affair.

2245 Dead. How many more?

I love his point about confusing dissent and protest. When did it become illegal to voice a differing opinion in this country? Oh, I'd say it happened about the time "the people" elected a leader who can't handle and respond to criticism. As Greenwald's article points out, the Bush folks go to great lengths, legal and otherwise, to keep protestors clear of the President.

Miracle of Mindfulness

I like to walk alone on country paths, rice plants and wild grasses on both sides, putting each foot down on the earth in mindfulness, knowing that I walk on the wondrous earth. In such moments, existence is a miraculous and mysterious reality.

People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child--our own two eyes. All is a miracle.

-Thich Nhat Hanh, "Miracle of Mindfulness"

I've kind of been in that "bleh" place the last couple days. I needed this reminder, as well as that of a friend who recommended I do some meditation, to clear my head. Life is good when you keep it simple.

Feastorama

Appetizer--On a scale of 1 to 10 (10=highest), how sociable are you?
6 or 7. That said, most people would probably rate me a 9 or even 10. I can REALLY turn on the charm when necessary.

Soup--Name 3 DVDs you currently own.
The Station Agent
Clone Wars Animated I/II
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure

Salad--If you were to win a superlative award now (such as most talented, class clown, most likely to succeed), what would it be?
The Geek Cool Award.

Main Course--What is your favorite radio station?
Radio? What's that? Okay, I'll pick KKFN out of Denver. They provide the Nuggets radio broadcasts, which I have to PAY to access thru NBA.com.

Dessert--Complete this sentence: I believe __________ because __________.
I believe we're not alone in the universe because Carl Sagan said so.