Gmail

I'm done with the Spanish and math tests. Now on to the literature paper. Less unpleasant news: I have a new email address. I'm going to add extra characters in a different colour in hopes that publishing the address here won't lead to any spam:J_a_m_e_s_L_u_c_a_s_@_g_m_a_i_l_._c_o_mI'll still be checking the AOL acount for quite a while (probably at least a year).

Dark Light

So, I was wandering around this fine Internet of ours, and I stumbled upon this of all things. These are the lamps that hung in the airport cafe where Marget and I said our final in-person goodbyes. Its a pity I hate these things, because I will forever remember them. (There are some other, better lights from the same company, which is a a division of Dark.)

Earth Day

Happy Birthday, Earth! ...maybe. Anyway, its Earth Day 2004, and I celebrated by consuming my 11th free Chocofino (in about as many days) at Starbucks. I'm thinking about going again tonight to make it an even dozen. This one was particularity special in that I got to share the moment with my friend Melissa Gombar, a fellow student in my Spanish class who has a far greater gift for the language than I. (My apologies, but the answer is "no," ye of inquisitive minds; she has a boyfriend; his name is Will.) The coupons expire tonight, so this is the end of the run. I think I will actually miss a couple of the employees there, who have noticed my repeat business...er..."business."

My Big Break

PRH had a film crew here at the Langdon today to shoot a commercial, and I got cast as the "studious person at the bar in the game room." I sat and read Robinson Crusoe for five minutes. I was then recruited to be an extra in the theatre. They put on HBO, and we saw a bit of the movie Max. Unfortunately, the part we were watching was all Nazi propaganda. I think it was being viewed critically, but that wasn't evident from the little bit I saw out of context. There was a puppet show depicting a Jewish woman seducing an Aryan man. I don't think that shot is going to make it into a commercial for the dorm.

Est. 1982

Happy twenty-second, Mom and Dad.

The New Film

I saw Kill Bill Vol. 2, which was very well done. I was especially amused to learn that the Bride's name is Beatrix Kiddo. I can't wait for Quentin Tarantino's next film; I suspect that he'll wisely move away from the movie-that-knows-its-a-movie concept, as he pretty well maxed out with this one. I finished Dune while I was waiting for the movie to start. I'm more strongly tempted to read the rest of the books that I thought I would be. It won't be for a while in any case.

Chicago (after)

The trip to Chicago went well for both Kyle and myself. Transportation worked out okay, although with 6 busses and 3 trains, it was more complicated than I expected. The show was great, and the poncho that was on our front-row seats was most handy in protecting us from mashed banana, half-chewed Capt'n Crunch, and a small bit of paint. Our excellent host Eric Rogers gave us great directions and bought us lunch at a nice little restaurant on the University of Chicago campus called The Medici. It was really great to see Kyle again.

Chicago (before)

I'm off to the Windy City tomorrow to reunite with my old roommie and see the Blue Man Group's Tubes show. I'm taking a Vangalder Bus back and forth between Madison and Chicago. I won't be back until around midnight. Hopefully there will be much to report on Monday.

In the mail today:

"April 1, 2004...
Dear Mr. Hepokoski,
I am pleased to inform you that you have been admitted to the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation's 'Introduction to Architecture, A Summer Studio in New York' as a special student (non-matriculated) for the Summer 2004 term....We look forward to having you at Columbia.
Sincerely,
Loes Schiller
Associate Dean"

New York won't know what hit it.

Air America

I've been listening to a lot of Air America Radio. Some of the shows are just a little overloaded with angry liberal propaganda, but Al Franken's show (The O'Franken Factor) keeps in light and is pretty darn funny. Another pretty decent show is Unfiltered, where I just heard from the famous blogger Joshua Micah Marshall.

It's streamable, and worth a try. Just know some of it, like The Randi Rhodes Show, comes on too strong.

April Fools?

BBC News reports: Cold war bomb warmed by chickens.