Spotted

Four pest control trucks are parked outside Lathrop...

Oh, the jokes I could make...

Welcome to the Jungle TONIGHT

VP of Lathrop, Hilary Tandy '12, just sent us this message regarding their UpC party, Welcome to the Jungle:

Welcome to the Jungle is a villard-room-style dance party but with an element of sustainability (Vassar Greens)! It's an opportunity for everyone to release their inner animal and get back in touch with mother nature! some food and drink will be provided. And (it should be noted) one of our own is doing the DJing (he's totally AWESOME)!

"Get back in touch with mother nature?" In UpC? This sounds suspiciously like that "Forces of Nature" party Strong threw last year...

Jewett is also a cosponsor of this event.

I'm Going to Miss This

Today, I decided to take all my pictures off my wall. It looks really sad. While putting them away, I found notes that we had all written to each other after a play I was in senior year. I just finished reading them. I feel like I’ve changed a lot from the person they describe, and I’m trying to figure out if it’s in good or bad ways. I think a little bit of both. I’m glad to be going home soon, because I want to return somewhat to the me in those notes. Not that I’ll loose what Vassar has added, of course. Especially all the amazing people who have helped me through.

Whenever I think of how soon I’m going home, I get really excited. But then I remember I have to pack, clean, take an exam, and say goodbye to everyone. That makes me a little less excited. But I did steal a tray (with trayfitti) from the DC to preserve it for next year! And to go traying.

I know you will all have amazing summers, but aren’t we all going to miss this? If you need more proof, just look at that picture. I can’t wait to see you all again next year!

-Peabo

Intriguing....

There seems to be an awful lot of shit going down right now in my life, the lives of those close to me, and the whole Vassar community. And those three are unrelated. But still, crazy. And all right before exams, so not very conducive towards studying.

For those interested in the Vassar community drama, there's a very interesting comment war going on at Mads. I recommend checking it out. That's what I've been doing instead of studying for my astronomy final...

Good luck to all of you with all your various endeavors.
-Peabo

To Clear the Rumors

The guy in the library who fell and hurt himself during primal scream will be alright. So far all I know is he is a senior and a great guy, and probably just had a very bad shoulder injury, but is conscious.

Just a reminder to everybody out there to be careful and take care of yourselves. Good luck on finals.

~Rad

Unbelievable

Some of you may have already read about the recent incest case in Austria, but for those of you who haven't, here's the link for the article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/29/world/europe/29austria.html?scp=2&sq=Austria+incest&st=nyt

I am shocked that this has happened. How can a father go through with something like this? To completely ruin his daughter's life (not to mention the lives of all her children and his wife) in such an appalling way? Can anyone reading this article even fathom the idea of locking up an 18-year-old girl for 24 YEARS and having 7 children with her? Because I can't. It makes every part of me ache, honestly.

To me, this case reveals a glimmer of the extent to which a human psyche can become fucked up. And who's to say that there aren't other cases like this out there (and even worse, perhaps, though it's hard to imagine having it any worse)?

Thank God we as humans have societal standards, and a means to punish these perverts.

-Crito

I've Been Lightly Drinking, and a Little Heavy on the Thinking

Few people know her name, but this sexy gal from San Diego just released a killer album. Tristan Prettyman is a former model turned singer-songwriter (and also Jason Mraz's former girlfriend), but don't let that turn you off: she's got a lot of talent and it shines through every inch of this sophomore album. The sound is sort of folksy and upbeat, and the lyrics are just really simple, direct, and honest. Her voice is soft and lovely and very pure. Also, those of you who know Yusuf Islam (the former Cat Stevens), he's featured on one of the tracks. Badass. You should check her out!!

My favorite tracks on Hello...X are Hello, Echo, Handshake, and In Bloom. The title track especially is ridiculously awesome.

love,
Rad

Oy Vey

Done with classes! Everyone is kind of winding down, chilling out, even partying it up. I still have work to do. It's my own fault because I put it off, but I still have to do it. How many of you get to chill out for a while, and how many of you have to keep right on trucking? Kinda sucks, right? But the finish line is in sight. Just one more big sprint and we're there! Trouble is, I've always sucked at running.

Godspeed!

-Peabo

"Ladylike"

I’m actually really excited to be staying in tonight. This past week has been hellish, with many nights of 3 or less hours of sleep. I feel like a zombie. But tonight, I’m going to eat a good dinner, go to the limit show, watch Gosford Park, and sleep. I am so excited for the sleep. And then I get to wake up early on Founder’s Day! Have any of you read the story of the origins of Founder’s Day? It’s actually really sweet. The college threw a surprise party for Matthew Vassar on that day, and he was so touched, it was cute. I love stories like that. Although there’s the little sidebar notice that the girls were instructed to wave their handkerchiefs silently because cheering wasn’t “ladylike.” I hate that word. Last night, one of my friends told me that her first impression of me was prim and proper. I laughed so hard that I snorted. Charming, right?

Good luck with the end of classes, and have a very happy founder’s day!

Peabo

Rich Horowitz is a god...and so is William Booth!

So I went in to the Office of Res. Life in the hopes of getting some advice on my housing situation. After all the talking, sending of forms, yada-yada-yada, I still had no roommate! I took refuge in Rich's spacious office, on his slightly squishy couch, as he went through my draw number and the possibilities for rooms (I am a lazy bastard with all of that, by the way). And wouldn't you know it, my draw number is just good enough to grant me a single next year! Woot! The big deal for me is not that I won't have a roommate and rather an entire room to myself (although that is still frickin' awesome); but rather that I just no longer have to worry, after having worried and not done much about it all. Life's sweet during those moments when you don't have to take responsibility for your lack of care about pressing things. But let's not count those chickens just yet...

On a side note, I also walked to the Salvation Army thrift store further down on Main towards Downtown. I have to say that they do a great job accommodating all of those in need. William Booth, the founder of Salvation Army, is a good guy in my opinion. Care to counter?

-Crito

Drowning!

I have a paper due in 26 hours. 8 pages, worth a third of my grade, in my future major. And I have a paragraph. Yet all I can think about is room draw. And I think I'm getting sick. But I flat out just do not have time to go to Baldwin. And I refuse to be sick for Founder's Day. So I'll just have to cope. I'm hearty, right? I'll be fine. Assuming I don't fail this damn paper.

I'm sure many of you are in similar situations. Good luck, to you and to me. May nobody's brain explode this lovely rainy day.
-Peabo

Vassar Food Celebs

I know that a lot of people welcome Wednesday's Chili Day, but I'm curious: does anyone feel passionate about Saturday's Spaghetti and Meatballs special? If you haven't tried it, I strongly suggest that you do. Now even I admit that S&M (no pun intended) is no match for a warm plate of rice smothered in chili and with cornbread; but this may change if people give S&M a chance!

-Crito

Phew...Finally

I'm sure that many folks reading this will know exactly what I'm talking about when I say that it feel fucking GREAT to have just finished and submitted an intense paper. Because this one is supposedly the final official paper for the class, the kick-ass feeling is heightened, too!

Also, does anyone ever feel really eloquent immediately after this? I feel like I could whip Shakespeare BIGTIME right now...I'd school him in that iambic pentameter like mad yo! Shiiiiiiaat!

No, not really.

-Crito

PSA

My friend just called me very upset. Her laptop just got stolen, along with her roomate's. Their door wasn't locked, as it usually isn't, so someone must have just wandered in and taken them. Turns out someone else in their dorm had the same thing happen (but didn't say anything), so it isn't an entirely isolated thing.

So she wanted me to post about this and I was only to happy to oblige. People, if you have stuff stolen, say something! And it's probably wise to lock your doors. Security sends around a lot of reminders, but not very many people seem to listen. I know I usually don't because I think it's safe. But 3 computers in a couple days, even for the whole campus, is nothing to be scoffed at.

And that is my own little PSA. Be careful guys! And please don't be that jackass who takes other people's stuff.

-Peabo

I'm Your Tangerine, Babe!

Campfire. Sunshine. Barbecue. Summer! Summer!! Summer!!! (well, almost)

What I love most about this time of year are the smells. I love the smell of sunscreen, and how it takes so long to get absorbed into my skin. It makes me think of lying on the beach with my skin getting warm and that sunscreen scent floating up over the entire coastline, hovering like fog, drifting into the doors of coffee shops and ice cream parlors and bars as bare feet carry sand indoors. I love the smell of coals and burning wood at night, and feeling my eyes sting just a little when the wind pushes the smoke my way. I miss how cool night are just north of where I live, by Mendocino and Humboldt Bay, and how it gets dark faster in the forest, where the giant trees almost block out the entire sky. It gets so quiet there you can hear the ocean. Aaaargh I can't wait to go hoooome!

Those of you who didn't go out in the quad today for the hip-hop/speakers/yummy BBQ, you don't know what you're missing. Homework? Psh. Save it for tomorrow. Get yo stunna shades on and cut up those old blue jeans. It's time to play!

~Rad

I'm Minoring In Your Mom (So I Can Do Her Well When I Graduate)

This morning, walking to my dorm entrance, what did I find but an (unused) red condom, lying on the stairs, baking happily in the sun.

Oh, Lathrop.

~Rad

Nonsensical advertisements...grrrr >:(

So today, I stopped by the retreat around noon to pick up lunch. I decided to sit down and actually eat there instead of rushing out with my food. What did I find at my table? Of course, one of those advertisements. This one was for the "Civil Rights and Clean Elections Dinner and Discussion" event, happening today actually. I read the statistics listed on top - about how 51% of Americans thought in 2008 that racial minorities have too little influence on policy in Washington, and about how in 2004 G.W. Bush raised 91.7% of his campaign $ from predominantly non-hispanic white zip codes.

So, I get the intended point of these blurbs: to show how there are issues with racial representation and campaign bucks in elections. But something is wrong with those statistics: maybe, just maybe, Bush gathered most of his money from white zip codes because he was conservative, not because he had something against minorities. From what I remember from Gov. Pol., most conservatives are white and most minorities are Democrats (or rather liberals; I somewhat doubt that Democrat and liberal can be assumed the same nowadays). That statistic has anything to do with civil rights and little influence.

On the issue of money, I'm not quite sure how reasonable it is to say that $ in campaigns is an evil thing (because that's what the blurbs imply). There are quite enough restrictions on campaign donations and funding already, and I'm not sure it's ethical to have more.

-Crito

Exploration Nation

I love exploring this campus. I always find something new. Like today, when I needed to get something signed by the art department to get credit for a class over the summer. I'd never been in Taylor before. It's amazing! Might even be the most beautiful building on campus, and that's saying a lot. There were these amazing cathedral doors just chilling out on one of the staircases. My mouth literally dropped open when I saw them. But hey, I'm a geek like that. Then in the library, I found new bathrooms. Right down the first staircases inside. They are cool bathrooms. I know that none of this is anything close to secret, but it's always fun to find new little nooks around Vassar campus. We have so many and they are often so gorgeous.

Also, the seniors were outside Swift during my history class, celebrating with champagne because their theses were due today. It made me happy. That'll be me in 3 years! Scary and exhilarating all at once.

Then, after exploring, I came back to my room and took a nap. Naps are awesome. They make everything better.

Yeah, that's about it.

-Peabo

Jeffrey Sachs Coming to Vassar

New York Times best selling author, United Nations advisor and renowned economist Jeffrey Sachs will discuss the rise of global poverty. Thursday, April 24th at 6 pm in the Chapel.

Peabo’s Take: This is awesome! I just recently learned who Jeffrey Sachs is and, for those of you who don’t know, he’s an economist who basically spends his life promoting economic development to help combat poverty. He’s also a huge advocate for working on economic development and environmental stability hand in hand, which is truly badass. That’s a rather insignifigant description; so you should all look him up because he’s pretty awesome. And he’s coming to Vassar! Operation Donation managed to finagle it, so they are clearly fantastic. I hope I see you all there, six o’clock next Thursday! I have a prospie tomorrow and I am totally using this as evidence for why she should come to Vassar.

Two Doors and Candy Apple Walls

**WARNING: THIS POST CLOCKS IN AT MORE THAN 400 WORDS.**
(For the record, the Blog9 Admin thinks that this is a BEAUTIFUL post.)

We checked out the apartment yesterday. It borders the graveyard on the opposite side of Noyes, with an entrance through two doors leading back to back and opening onto each other in opposite directions. Then there is a narrow staircase up into three small bedrooms, a living room, and a tiny kitchen with a balcony. My room is light blue and looks over the playground. It's rockin'.

This whole living off-campus thing was a decision that required about as much deliberation as two people who are mutually attracted to each other partake in when locked up together in a dark closet, naked, and with a bottle of Bacardi: it just kind of happened. I had my heart dead set on becoming a student fellow; then I didn't get it. Instead I got the blue bedroom, and maybe a pair of Lovebirds to keep me company. Not to mention two incredible roommates to share it all with. (And cable. Baaaaaaller.)

And I'm thinking, it's funny how things work out so well. Most of my life ends up being this high-speed emotional Rollerblade chase involving laser beams and highly flammable slinkies being thrown all over the place, terrifying innocent bystanders. I stay up in the dark, staring at the piping along the walls, wondering whether or not the water is carrying me down the right stream. Because don't we all want to end up somewhere safe, to wake up in the places our minds have visited, places we think we know well? And then I remember that the beauty of living is tied up with this tendency of everything to strive towards certain balance. Think about it: we exist solely because of this motion of things towards equilibrium. It is in our very cells, it is a part of every process necessary for our survival, it is what allows us to exist as individual beings separate from our environment. It is so important. And I believe this osmosis of sorts happens on a greater scale as well, involving me, and you, and everything within and without us. I believe that when something doesn't work out the way we planned, it is just a sign that there is something else out there for us, something good that we're missing. And because of this selective permeability of life, I really do think we should be taking it easy, that we should not be thinking too far ahead, that we should learn to take things as they come and go. So get low with the flow if you know what's good for you. Take a breath. Take a break. Take your time.

I'm yours,
Rad