This is literally the worst time I have ever had with an essay. 12 pages due tomorrow (er, today) and I have haven't done 1. Or anything for that matter. There are 9 topics, all boring but more importantly I don't really know enough to write on any of them. And it's economics, not something you can just bullshit your way through. I really have no idea what I'm going to do. The late mark policy is pretty generous, but what will be different about tomorrow vs today? I've been seriously thinking along the lines of 'well if I don't do it, I'll only knock 1.6% of my average for the year'. So I hate hate hate this thing.
I shouldn't end this on a down note though, cause that's not fun. Good news, good news... uh... oh. My shrimp video has been seen over 1200 times! And been favourited 11 times! So I can create something useful to somebody I guess.
Actually, I only have two (2) things to say. The first is a question. Is anyone satisfied with their current cellphone plan? Could you recommend one? I want to get a cellphone but I have absolutely no inclination to go around comparing phone plans. The thought of it tires me.
This second item is mostly for Neil, but also for Matt if he's still with us. This comic was in Excal a few weeks back. I was meaning to post it earlier, but I didn't. Better late than never, tho.
Leonard Cohen (from the album 'SONGS FROM A ROOM' 1969)
The door it opened slowly, my father he came in,I was nine years old. And he stood so tall above me, his blue eyes they were shining and his voice was very cold. He said, "I've had a vision and you know I'm strong and holy, I must do what I've been told." So he started up the mountain, I was running, he was walking, and his axe was made of gold.
Well, the trees they got much smaller, the lake a lady's mirror, we stopped to drink some wine. Then he threw the bottle over. Broke a minute later and he put his hand on mine. Thought I saw an eagle but it might have been a vulture, I never could decide. Then my father built an altar, he looked once behind his shoulder, he knew I would not hide.
You who build these altars now to sacrifice these children, you must not do it anymore. A scheme is not a vision and you never have been tempted by a demon or a god. You who stand above them now, your hatchets blunt and bloody, you were not there before, when I lay upon a mountain and my father's hand was trembling with the beauty of the word.
And if you call me brother now, forgive me if I inquire, "Just according to whose plan?" When it all comes down to dust I will kill you if I must, I will help you if I can. When it all comes down to dust I will help you if I must, I will kill you if I can. And mercy on our uniform, man of peace or man of war, the peacock spreads his fan.
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Now, I know Remembrance Day was yesterday, but it was last night I was in bed listening to this and I got it. Look at the last three lines carefully. This was 1969 and I'm guessing Vietnam was on his mind, but think about it in today's context. The man whose purpose is so holy he'll sacrifice young men's lives.
It's also one of Cohen's better tunes. The website has a 30 second sample.