My goodness

Yeah, it's been way too long since I've posted anything, but I've been really busy. What can you do.

So what's happened in the past 2 and a half weeks? Let's see...

Spring term started. It's so amazingly much better than last term. First, the schedule is better. Basically, I have class from 7:45 to 12:15 MWF, 7:45 to 8:30 and 12-12:50 on Tuesday, and 7:45 - 9:50 on Thursday. Not that you need to know, or anything. I'm just filling space. Most importantly, though, I actually like my classes. French 2, Japanese 10 (into to Japanese culture) and Intro to Int'l Relations... it's good stuff. Just as much work as last term, I think, but I actually enjoy it.

My roommate's gone. Jake had a skiing accident over break, and while he's pretty much fine and will continue to make a full recovery, he's not coming back for this term. Which means the 2 room triple, originally, after only 2 people were assigned to it and Jake got hurt, is now a single with a guest bedroom. Which means you should come visit! We brought a pong table in (we play with paddles here, so it's actually a legit game) and had un fete on Saturday. It was awesome until we woke up my community director who lives downstairs... twice. And then it continued to be awesome until we left and went out.

I learned something really awesome in Gov last week. Apparently, Annie Oakley caused WWI. This is what my prof told us:
In the late 1800's, Annie Oakley was a famous American sharpshooter. As part of her performance, she used to ask for a volunteer from the audience to come up to the stage and hold an apple in his hand. Then, from across the stage, she'd shoot it out. Well, in 1889, Annie travelled as part of the Buffalo Bill show to Germany. Her volunteer from that show: one Kaiser Wilhelm. Aiming her gun, Annie had a choice. She could shoot the apple, or miss by about a millimeter, aimwise, and off the Kaiser. Annie made the conscious decision not to miss; Kaiser Wilhelm went on to play an integral part in causing WWI; QED, Annie Oakley caused World War One.

Fascinating.

I was watching NESN the other day, and there was a commercial for some Boston hospital which is the "Official Hospital of the Boston Redsox." Maybe it's me, but I think, if you're a sports franchise, you're not really projecting a great image if you have an official hospital. I know Curt Schilling had some freaky surgery, but I just don't think a hospital is one of the best sponsors.

I saw an awesome movie for my Japanese class last week called Princess Mononoke. I've never really watched any anime movies or TV shows, but this was truly amazing. If you get a chance, see it. And watch it in Japanese, with English subtitles. I think Billy Bob Thorton did one of the voiceovers, and I imagine that would detract from the film. Plus, dubbing generally sucks. Oh, and also Japanese is one of the coolest sounding languages ever. So, yeah, go with the original audio.

Best song ever: Danger! High Voltage! My friend Ray and I are going to make a music video as soon as we find a film editing genius with some free time on his/her hands.

Molly Phillips (hi Molly!) asked me to the prom, so I'm going home May 12th for that. How exciting! I'm hoping to find a friend with a tux I can borrow (anyone?) or spend less than a billion dollars to rent one. But I'm really looking forward to it!

Have I ever mentioned I love The Price is Right? ONE DOLLAR, BOB! It just came on. Bob Barker is 84. That's pretty much awesome.

I went to the first DAWG (Dartmouth Animal Watchdog Group) meeting yesterday. I was kind of disappointed, because I thought the group's focus would be more global (ie, supporting legislation for harsher punishments for animal abusers and poachers, legal protection of threatened species, etc.) Instead, the founders seemed to have a more on-campus focus. But while protecting the welfare of frat dogs and discouraging the purchase of fur products are good causes, I didn't feel that was the direction I'd like to go. We're lucky at Dartmouth to have potentially significant influence on lawmakers and the general public, and I think our time would be better spent uniting the Dartmouth community toward one cause rather than fracturing it (and also losing its support) by going after people who wear fur. But maybe that's just me.

So that's it folks. Hopefully I've come to a point where I can resume posting every day, and all will be right in the world again. Yes, they are the same thing.