Showing posts with label Simply Uncategorizable. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Simply Uncategorizable. Show all posts

Friday, October 17, 2008

In Which I Meander Aimlessly

I'm too scattered at the mo for a solid-topic post. For one thing, the election is near and for another, I'm being asked to 'do things' during my afternoon serenity time, aka my reception job. So that sucks. How's a girl to plog?


Even with Obama ahead, I'm plagued by fears. But my fears about the election are trite. Let me share with you another fear: that "Love Lockdown" will worm its way into my heart. When Mr. West rolled it out last month, "Love Lockdown" was generally agreed to be a debacle. Kanye's singing was ear-splitting, the beat was a woeful rough draft--even Auto-Tune threw up its hands in despair. After humiliating himself at the VMAs, Yeezy was supposedly 'working on it,' but the radio release was no better. We all laughed schaudenfreudistically. The mighty shall fall. But I fear that Kanye, in his beat-making all-knowingness, has put one over on us. That weeks from now we'll all have to admit that it's good after all. That fear is nourished by the fact that "Love Lockdown" is in my head right now.


Paulie James Walnuts III had his final vet follow-up (following up on his recent brush with death) this morning and he's in excellent form. But we knew he was better when he resumed being a total dick and paragon of self-involvement. The other day, I got him purring just by taking a long series of photographs while he moved from one sultry pose to the next. And that's not personification; it really happened. Results of the photoshoot to come. I'll promise you some pix of the chickens and harvest pr0n while I'm at it.


I'm in a weird frozen state vis-a-vis the election. Maybe I hope that if I just freeze and don't think about anything too much, the rest of the world will also freeze and we'll defrost on November 5th in a deep blue map ocean.


Also, Lupe Fiasco has finally decided to get over himself and spare a verse for an Obama-ey song.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Globalidatin

When my friends, and even my own kin, are turning up with people named Assaf and Mehr on their arms, from Tel Aviv and Lahore, respectively, or contemplating a move to Montreal to be with a canadien airplane mechanic, I have to wonder: has this globalization thing gone too far?

Brian's from Anaheim, and what with the OC/Inland Empire beef, I didn't know if our relationship could make it. When it's 85 degrees and he's wilting from "the heat," I still wonder, Is this going to work out? Are we just...too different?

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Are You Ready To Make a Difference?

Sorry, Clebketeers. I know you've been lonesome for me lately.

Well, I'm back with a very special post. I got an email today that really struck me. It's from an organization called Brian's Lights, which is addressing a problem most of us would prefer to ignore. Here is the email in its entirety:

The Problem
At 7:55 am Brian sat, hunched over his concoction of nonfat yogurt, granola, and sweetened condensed milk. He stared ahead at the 55 gallon marine aquarium in his living room. It was glorious. A labor of love, he basked in its gentle blue glow like a newborn plant on the first day of spring. But there was also a look of melancholy on his face, what some might refer to as a pallor. When his girlfriend/caretaker of 8 years inquired as to his downcast appearance, his reply was heartbreaking: "This is my only tank time of the day."

TT/WT Conflict
You see, Brian had an affliction that affects so many of us in the marine aquarium community: tank time/work time (TT/WT)conflict. Brian was already late for work, yet the swirling mini-sea of life inside his tank had only begun to rouse itself. He had no choice but to console himself with the few stolen minutes that he could grab before work. By the time he returned home, huffing and puffing on his bicycle at 6:00 pm, the lights would be off and the majestic fruit of his labors, the corals and fish and marine invertebrates that he worked so hard for, would be tucked in to bed, fast asleep for another long night. Oh, sure, the fuge lights were on a reverse timer and would come on at 11:00, but who wanted to party down there? That chaeto always seemed like it was coming on to him, and as for those slimeball pods...well, 'nuff said.

The Plain Facts
Consider this: over 90% of amateur marine aquarists have jobs. This statistic alone is staggering. Now consider this fact: many of us have to go to our jobs during what would normally be prime tank time. Because there is so much shame associated with this conflict, the problem often goes underreported. Nevertheless, TT/WT conflict is rampant throughout our community. That's why Brian decided to do something about it, not only for himself, but for all who suffer TT/WT conflict. A charity had to be started, and it had to have Brian's name in it.

Brian's Lights (tm)
For every $30 you contribute to Brian's Lights (tm), a moonlight setup will be installed in a deserving aquarium. With every $40, you can help replace a pair of sick and/or damaged actinic lights. For those in our "Seahorse" category ($80 or more), you can rest assured that Brian and others like him will have metal halides for years to come. But a special place will be reserved in all of our hearts for the "Light of My Life" givers, who donate the opportunity cost of a day's work ($160) to allow Brian and so many other sufferers the simple chance to stay home and stare at our tanks all day.

Not able to afford such a sizable donation? Wait, you can still contribute. For each $10 you give, ("Bubble Algae" class) you can defray the energy costs of running the lights for another hour, giving Brian (and others) precious moments with the tank after work.

From Problem to Solution
There is a way out. All across the country, and indeed the world, people are looking towards their tanks not in sadness, but in hope. I'm asking you to be a part of this change. Reach down, deep down, into your heart and your wallet, and pull out something big.


Brian's Lights (tm) is a nonprofit charity specializing in meeting and solving the lighting needs of today's modern aquarist.