Crud

Today is the last day of crud.net. Fortunately, we can hoo underwater.

My blog will move to http://edgeofhearing.blogspot.com/

Get Out Of My House

A note for non-loop readers (all two of you): Aaron Kemp is NOT the regular Aaron from the strip. Also, in case it is unclear, the speech bubbles that point to no one in particular are coming from him.

Acceptance

So I... I got into Simmons. I don't know how.

They've sent me a series of letters, warning me that if I don't get that third rec to them, they'll shred my application. And then burn it. And since their deadline was Feb 1, I had long since given up hope of getting that rec to them, trying not to think of the bizarre rituals they had promised to perform on my application. So I never even bothered asking my new recommender to send it to Simmons.

So then I got a letter today. Normal envelope size. It was thick, a little too thick for a rejection, I thought, maybe a waitlist though because it was certainly not the full size packet of an acceptance.

And now they've gone and let me in. I have a choice to make. I'll have to compare programs (and prices - I know Regis is expensive, I don't even know the price of Simmons). I'd have to take a summer course online, but it's not even organic chem, like I thought.

This also raises questions about my application to UMass Worcester. A month ago, they called me to say that as soon as they got the 3rd rec, they'd set up an interview. As of yesterday, they should have that rec. I've called, left a message, no response. For them, I have an interview outstanding. Will I get a letter?

The Decemberists - Castaways and Cutouts

A recommendation from G. Downen led to the purchase of this album. The two tracks he sent me indicated that a world of 1800's-esque rock and roll existed beyond the shores of Pinataland. Here's what I discovered.

Pinataland sticks to one musical style (they bill themselves as brooklyn's finest dark old-world five piece rock orchestrette), though the subject matter of their songs, while sticking to real-world events, may occur in the past (generally 1800-1950) or in one case a future that didn't happen. The Decemberists instead allow their sound to bleed from the old-world sound into straight-up indie rock from song to song.

However, it is in the lyrics that the strongest differences lie. And my complaints. The Decemberists, much like Modest Mouse, have an incredible morbid streak in them. For example, the first track of the disc is about the premature birth and subsequent death of a child by a preumably too-young mother. Yeah. And I am torn, because it is that track that most perfectly hits the depression-era sound which I crave.

And man do I love that upright bass.

This is, having looked it up just now, their first full-length album. More exist, which I will be more than willing to give a try to, in time. Because I wish to join the Youth and Beauty Brigade.

Monadnock

Acceptance

I got in to Regis College.

This is something of a relief, for one big reason: recommendations. They don't have my third one. No school does. Because my third recommender was too stupid to use (A) the US postal service, (B) a fax machine, AND (C) email. I have been somewhat stressed as a result, that I would not make it into any schools because I was dumb enough to select an ocelot to write me a letter of recommendation.

Now I've got M. Hime on the job and that third letter should be floating in to offices about now. But it's cool anyways, since I've at least been accepted to one school.

Relative Value

Last week was rather busy with nursing apps and Amanda's visit, so I didn't post.

This week I will be prepping for the big ST:CCG tournament in Jersey this weekend. There will be people there who I cannot crush like a bug.

Approved!

...

So... crud will be going down at the end of the month. Seriously. Nathan's picking up the server after it's all over, so it may go up again someday, but this is the end of an era.

Loopcomics will go down with its ship.

I can't really envision loopcomics without crud. It doesn't make sense. So there will be three more strips and that's it.

Battlestar Galactica Miniseries

Last night Nathan and I watched the Battlestar Galactica miniseries in its entirety. I had been interested in watching it ever since I'd heard that it was (A) good and (B) involved Ronald Moore, who was very involved with DS9. Here are my thoughts on those two points.

First, let's address (A). Yes, I enjoyed it a lot. I believe it helps that I never watched the original, which I've heard is mediocre. So, by it being different from the original, it avoids the same mediocrity. And since I never saw the original, I avoid being an uber-dork who is mad that they strayed from the original formula.

(B). There are definite overtones of DS9 to it. Primarily in the characters, which was really DS9's strength. Edward James Olmos, who plays the captain on the new series, seems to give off strong Sisko vibes. There's one guy, whose name I'm not looking up, for whom they really should have just gone ahead and gotten Alexander Siddig (Dr. Bashir) for the role. In any event, they've got an interesting bunch of people in what promises to be an interesting situation, so I look forward to the series' appearance on DVD so Nathan and I can rent that too.

All of this begs the question (to me at least): Why can't they do cool stuff like this for the Star Trek universe. They already had Moore, but let go of him and kept Braga. As I would notice DS9 similarities in the characters, I kept thinking about how cool it would be in the Star Trek universe with Star Trek characters. I mean, it'd be no the Next Generation, but so little else is. This could have at least been something engaging in the Trek universe, which I thirst for,

Oh well. Next week Nathan's got Babylon 5 season 1 disc one queued up for rental, so I hope to get a glimpse of what I missed.

And! I can sort of play the bridge from They'll Need a Crane on the guitar, and I am excited about that.

And the choir is on tour now, so I am jealous excited about that.

Guided By Voices - Human Amusements at Hourly Rates

The best of Guided By Voices. 33 short, catchy, witty songs. Hi-fi, lo-fi. The album's just long enough and the songs are just short enough to keep me interested and not get sick of the song. And after some of the less accessible albums I've listened to recently *cough*ModestMouse*cough*, it has been amazing to enjoy the sound of a song on the first listen. It has been in my car for three weeks, keeping me upbeat with it.

I did actually intend to change it for the weekend, since I had a lot of driving to do, and I had already been listened to it for so long. So I listened to it on the way to the Star Trek card tournament (which I won) in NY, and I listened to it on the way to visit Holly at college, where we had a great time and I made a fun new friend.

But now, on my way to work this "morning", I changed the cd. And then on the way home I changed the cd again. Two cds in one day! And I even skipped tracks as I listened to the second cd. First I use a post about an album to talk about my activities over the weekend, and now this? Decadence!

This is why the Roman Empire fell.