Like June. I had this since June 15, 2012. Anyway, this is a collaborative poem, written by Cerasi, Cylon and myself while at Java House. We did two rounds of each of us writing. We did not furnish a title.
Everything feels bigger
in here,
Either I shrank
or life is expanding.
Like the hypothesized universe,
this big bang of life
Now it's slipping out of reach
it's drifting from my grasp
Empty. There is nothing here.
I stand here waiting for something to collide
But there is nothing.
It is empty.
I'm waiting for the
God particle,
but at this point
I'd settle for rent or
a half a handle
of anything.
Is there anything left
for me?
Not even two atoms to
rub together
Or someone to ride this
collision train with me
Where is god?
I have prayed many times with no answer.
May the chemicals in my brain find some meaning.
Higgs Boson was proven
So where is god?
Friday, September 21, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Update from the Battleground!
Hey guys,
By this time you all know I made the decision to do one more campaign before the season ended. You guys know which one, but this time around it is different. Below I will list reasons why I may not respond to our correspondences until November 8th:
Average Week:
Monday-Thursday 9AM-11PM
Friday 9AM-9PM
Saturday 9AM-9PM (if lucky)
Sunday 12PM-10:00PM
This is an 'average' week. So from the looks of it I only work an 80 hour week, but actually for the last two weeks I have been working 100 hours a week. That is 100 hours of nothing but politics.
Average Beverages:
Protein Water (Okay, so it is Special K protein sugar things in a canvassing water bottle)
Coffee (I get it a large latte every morning from an awesome local place) (also i have filled their punch card twice in the past week)
Beer (Blue moon, bud light lime and fat tire, maybe pbr or natty ice if I get desperate)
Soda
Water (I seriously need to drink more water)
Now it looks like taking the caffeine out of Four Loko may have hurt my beverage choices. Answer: Yes, yes it did, but keep in mind I dont drink beer till 8PM at night and only after a LONG day so about 4 days a week.
Average meal:
Nothing.
Bags of pretzels (we got a giant box donation of pretzels recently)
Scones (with coffee of course)
Bagels (there is a really awesome bagel place around the corner that is only open till 2PM)
One time I had thai food
Nothing.
I have gone two days without eating so I have to put an alarm in my phone to tell me to eat. This happens to me every campaign so I went to hyvee at 10PM last night and bought food for my office. I had a PB&J tonight for dinner with a side of mac and cheese. Need more veggies in my diet.
Websites I visit while bored:
politico
gottavote
cnn (specifically their awesome electoral map that all of you should check out and play with)
the hill
public policy polling
rasmussen
campaignsick.tumblr.com (pretty much my whole life on a tumblr)
Outside world things I just learned tonight that do not involve politics:
Pussy riot and russia
that there is a anti-masturbation asl jehovahs witness video that is set to ignition by rkelley
mean girls is on netflix (everyone on my campaign constantly quotes this movie)
not doing your laundry for a month is a terrible college habit i have kept so I am doing two loads tonight
that when i become more tired i cannot capitalize properly
theres a painting in my room
i ran out of conditioner awhile ago and have been using two different types of shampoo when i thought one was a conditioner
that i have missed a lot of pow and i am going to catch up asap
Amount of times I have dropped my work phone onto the ground and thought that the screen had broken and I would be fired since beginning this sentence: Twice
Hours I text Tyrion throughout the day: Inumerable
How much I miss you guys: Indefinable
So this is my life. I will be sending you guys my address and work phone so that we can communicate on fb. I'm sorry if I don't respond immediately to texts or calls, but I work so much that I am a tired mess. I am always on my work phone and always texting my vols (volunteers).
Love you much,
cylon
By this time you all know I made the decision to do one more campaign before the season ended. You guys know which one, but this time around it is different. Below I will list reasons why I may not respond to our correspondences until November 8th:
Average Week:
Monday-Thursday 9AM-11PM
Friday 9AM-9PM
Saturday 9AM-9PM (if lucky)
Sunday 12PM-10:00PM
This is an 'average' week. So from the looks of it I only work an 80 hour week, but actually for the last two weeks I have been working 100 hours a week. That is 100 hours of nothing but politics.
Average Beverages:
Protein Water (Okay, so it is Special K protein sugar things in a canvassing water bottle)
Coffee (I get it a large latte every morning from an awesome local place) (also i have filled their punch card twice in the past week)
Beer (Blue moon, bud light lime and fat tire, maybe pbr or natty ice if I get desperate)
Soda
Water (I seriously need to drink more water)
Now it looks like taking the caffeine out of Four Loko may have hurt my beverage choices. Answer: Yes, yes it did, but keep in mind I dont drink beer till 8PM at night and only after a LONG day so about 4 days a week.
Average meal:
Nothing.
Bags of pretzels (we got a giant box donation of pretzels recently)
Scones (with coffee of course)
Bagels (there is a really awesome bagel place around the corner that is only open till 2PM)
One time I had thai food
Nothing.
I have gone two days without eating so I have to put an alarm in my phone to tell me to eat. This happens to me every campaign so I went to hyvee at 10PM last night and bought food for my office. I had a PB&J tonight for dinner with a side of mac and cheese. Need more veggies in my diet.
Websites I visit while bored:
politico
gottavote
cnn (specifically their awesome electoral map that all of you should check out and play with)
the hill
public policy polling
rasmussen
campaignsick.tumblr.com (pretty much my whole life on a tumblr)
Outside world things I just learned tonight that do not involve politics:
Pussy riot and russia
that there is a anti-masturbation asl jehovahs witness video that is set to ignition by rkelley
mean girls is on netflix (everyone on my campaign constantly quotes this movie)
not doing your laundry for a month is a terrible college habit i have kept so I am doing two loads tonight
that when i become more tired i cannot capitalize properly
theres a painting in my room
i ran out of conditioner awhile ago and have been using two different types of shampoo when i thought one was a conditioner
that i have missed a lot of pow and i am going to catch up asap
Amount of times I have dropped my work phone onto the ground and thought that the screen had broken and I would be fired since beginning this sentence: Twice
Hours I text Tyrion throughout the day: Inumerable
How much I miss you guys: Indefinable
So this is my life. I will be sending you guys my address and work phone so that we can communicate on fb. I'm sorry if I don't respond immediately to texts or calls, but I work so much that I am a tired mess. I am always on my work phone and always texting my vols (volunteers).
Love you much,
cylon
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Because we need to post more
I know we are all very busy. I am in fact very busy. Especially right now. But looking at the count from last year's posts and this year's is saddening. We are not even to half of last year's number, and we didn't even start blogging until May of last year.
:(
So here's a fun article to read. About how being smart is such a terrible burden. And I must be really smart since I suffer from ALL of these things!
Like this!
:(
Anyway, I'm sure you really want to read about the
:(
So here's a fun article to read. About how being smart is such a terrible burden. And I must be really smart since I suffer from ALL of these things!
Like this!
Anyway, I'm sure you really want to read about the
5 Unexpected Downsides of High Intelligence
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Becoming a Better Writer
Nice article (well, really it's a smattering of quotes someone called an article..) I came across today:
http://99u.com/tips/7082/25-Insights-on-Becoming-a-Better-Writer
Who better to give us advice than other writers!
I think we got #15 covered <3
25 made me laugh a little.
Enjoy!
25 Insights on Becoming a Better Writer
http://99u.com/tips/7082/25-Insights-on-Becoming-a-Better-Writer
Who better to give us advice than other writers!
I think we got #15 covered <3
25 made me laugh a little.
Enjoy!
Friday, August 17, 2012
For Jedis Only
Hey Guys!
I wrote a post that I wanted you to read, but not be available for the whole of the internet. When you feast your eyes on it, it will be clear why. It's saved in drafts. I love you guys lots. Read away. <3
-Cerasi
I wrote a post that I wanted you to read, but not be available for the whole of the internet. When you feast your eyes on it, it will be clear why. It's saved in drafts. I love you guys lots. Read away. <3
-Cerasi
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
3 Lies
"No," I say more emphatically. "There's no one else here."
I stand with my family. I stand on the creaky old floorboards afraid of their frailty. I stand afraid because there are more beneath my feet. Five more.
The man in the grey uniform continues to scowl. I keep the bored look on my face. My little Adelina is scared, clinging to my wife's skirt, and I will the harsh man to leave.
But I could never say so. Even if the double "S" was not stitched in red on his collar. Even if his Mauser Karabiner 98 wasn't slung on his shoulder. We would still be at war.
And I am a traitor.
The SS officer in grey finally gives another disdainful glance around my home and leaves. I suppose he is satisfied with my answers. He slams the door.
I can almost hear the floor below me heave a sigh of relief. Though I know it doesn't. The five souls below me have hardly uttered a sound since I yanked up my floor to hide them in the crawl space below.
The baker's family next door. They are the ones that inhabit my floor. Emmiel, the baker and father and friend. He came to me that night of terror. The night their reality shattered along with the wide window of their bakery.
"We need a place to hide," he pleaded.
"You need to get out," I replied.
Emmiel swallowed and glanced at his wife and three children. They are all blonde. His sons are twins with deep brown eyes. It is his oldest, his only daughter who has the blue eyes the party idolizes. But she is Jewish. They all are. Emmiel knows he cannot protect them all tonight. This night of broken glass.
I hide them. I cannot deny them this small comfort. It is dangerous. But these days, there is little that is not.
I close my eyes. Remembering these events is tiring. More so is the question they bring to mind of the future. How will I get them out of this country?
"Daddy?" Adelina asks, as she tugs my sleeve.
"What, my little cupcake?"
"I said," her small hands are now on her hips, mimicking the impatient stance her mother makes when I am late for supper. "Why did that man come into our house?"
I scoop her up into my arms, unsure of how to answer my five-year-old daughter. I don't want to lie to her. But is telling a five-year-old the truth too dangerous?
"He just wanted to know who lives here, sweetheart."
"Isn't he a soldier?"
"Yes."
"Then why isn't he fighting in the war?"
I smile but it is laced with heavy sadness. This war is not just with other countries. It is with some of our own citizens. This war of domination and purification. "He's a special soldier and he stays here." These thoughts sicken me and I hope Adelina has no more questions for me.
She seems content and wriggles until I release her to the ground. She runs to Fritz and begs him to play. My twelve-year-old roll his eyes, but is only joking with her. I am relieved to see his face returned to his jovial nature instead of the worried look he wore while the SS officer inspected our home.
My wife, Cora, slips he slender arms around me from behind.
"I was so nervous," she whispers, hoping the Jews we harbor cannot hear her. She rests her head on my back.
"What do we do, Bernd, if they come back?"
I take a deep breath before I answer.
"The same thing."
I feel her sigh. She worries. About us. About our children. About what might happen.
"I will get them out," I promise. She releases her embrace and i turn to face her. Cora's lovely face in my hands.
"I'll get them to safety."
Cora smiles, but it's tainted with concern.
I cannot stop the next lie.
"Everything will be fine. I'll make sure of it."
I stand with my family. I stand on the creaky old floorboards afraid of their frailty. I stand afraid because there are more beneath my feet. Five more.
The man in the grey uniform continues to scowl. I keep the bored look on my face. My little Adelina is scared, clinging to my wife's skirt, and I will the harsh man to leave.
But I could never say so. Even if the double "S" was not stitched in red on his collar. Even if his Mauser Karabiner 98 wasn't slung on his shoulder. We would still be at war.
And I am a traitor.
The SS officer in grey finally gives another disdainful glance around my home and leaves. I suppose he is satisfied with my answers. He slams the door.
I can almost hear the floor below me heave a sigh of relief. Though I know it doesn't. The five souls below me have hardly uttered a sound since I yanked up my floor to hide them in the crawl space below.
The baker's family next door. They are the ones that inhabit my floor. Emmiel, the baker and father and friend. He came to me that night of terror. The night their reality shattered along with the wide window of their bakery.
"We need a place to hide," he pleaded.
"You need to get out," I replied.
Emmiel swallowed and glanced at his wife and three children. They are all blonde. His sons are twins with deep brown eyes. It is his oldest, his only daughter who has the blue eyes the party idolizes. But she is Jewish. They all are. Emmiel knows he cannot protect them all tonight. This night of broken glass.
I hide them. I cannot deny them this small comfort. It is dangerous. But these days, there is little that is not.
I close my eyes. Remembering these events is tiring. More so is the question they bring to mind of the future. How will I get them out of this country?
"Daddy?" Adelina asks, as she tugs my sleeve.
"What, my little cupcake?"
"I said," her small hands are now on her hips, mimicking the impatient stance her mother makes when I am late for supper. "Why did that man come into our house?"
I scoop her up into my arms, unsure of how to answer my five-year-old daughter. I don't want to lie to her. But is telling a five-year-old the truth too dangerous?
"He just wanted to know who lives here, sweetheart."
"Isn't he a soldier?"
"Yes."
"Then why isn't he fighting in the war?"
I smile but it is laced with heavy sadness. This war is not just with other countries. It is with some of our own citizens. This war of domination and purification. "He's a special soldier and he stays here." These thoughts sicken me and I hope Adelina has no more questions for me.
She seems content and wriggles until I release her to the ground. She runs to Fritz and begs him to play. My twelve-year-old roll his eyes, but is only joking with her. I am relieved to see his face returned to his jovial nature instead of the worried look he wore while the SS officer inspected our home.
My wife, Cora, slips he slender arms around me from behind.
"I was so nervous," she whispers, hoping the Jews we harbor cannot hear her. She rests her head on my back.
"What do we do, Bernd, if they come back?"
I take a deep breath before I answer.
"The same thing."
I feel her sigh. She worries. About us. About our children. About what might happen.
"I will get them out," I promise. She releases her embrace and i turn to face her. Cora's lovely face in my hands.
"I'll get them to safety."
Cora smiles, but it's tainted with concern.
I cannot stop the next lie.
"Everything will be fine. I'll make sure of it."
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Truth in Your Lies
So I've been watching Lie to Me, a nice tv show about this British deception expert and his merry band of coworkers who help solve criminal cases because they can read people's face and can tell when they are lying or telling the truth. I won't belabor you with more details in an attempt to watch it, but I do recommend checking it out if you have the time. It's quite fun and I've been trying to do some face reading of my own...
Anyway, this IS related to my suggested prompt for the month of July. There's a character on the show that says he practices "radical honesty" where he says whatever comes to mind and always tells the truth. Wouldn't that me interesting to have a character that always tells the truth? Whatever is on his mind? Like what if you put him in a weird situation - bank robbery, funeral, etc - how would others react?
So my prompt is this, since the show revolves around lying and truth telling, write a story, poem, character sketch, whatever, about someone who is lying or telling the truth. What is really going through their minds? Are they saying it? Why/why not?
To get yall in the mood I've collect some quotes:
“Oh, what a tangled web we weave...when first we practice to deceive.”
― Walter Scott, Marmion
“Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies.”
― Oliver Goldsmith
“A truth that's told with bad intent
Beats all the lies you can invent.”
― William Blake, Auguries of innocence
“Anyone who believes what a cat tells him deserves all he gets.”
― Neil Gaiman, Stardust
“I always tell the truth. Even when I lie.”
― Al Pacino
“We all know that Art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize truth at least the truth that is given us to understand. The artist must know the manner whereby to convince others of the truthfulness of his lies.”
― Pablo Picasso
“Art, after all, is - at its best - a lie that tells us the truth.”
― Nam Le
“Artists use lies to tell the truth. Yes, I created a lie. But because you believed it, you found something true about yourself.”
― Alan Moore, V for Vendetta
“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.”
― Oscar Wilde
It is always the best policy to tell the truth, unless, of course, you are an exceptionally good liar.
― Jerome K. Jerome
Or if you want a slightly different prompt, pick one of these quotes, or any one about truth/lies, and use it as inspiration for a story or poem. May the writing be with you!
Anyway, this IS related to my suggested prompt for the month of July. There's a character on the show that says he practices "radical honesty" where he says whatever comes to mind and always tells the truth. Wouldn't that me interesting to have a character that always tells the truth? Whatever is on his mind? Like what if you put him in a weird situation - bank robbery, funeral, etc - how would others react?
So my prompt is this, since the show revolves around lying and truth telling, write a story, poem, character sketch, whatever, about someone who is lying or telling the truth. What is really going through their minds? Are they saying it? Why/why not?
To get yall in the mood I've collect some quotes:
“Oh, what a tangled web we weave...when first we practice to deceive.”
― Walter Scott, Marmion
“Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies.”
― Oliver Goldsmith
“If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.”
Beats all the lies you can invent.”
― William Blake, Auguries of innocence
“Anyone who believes what a cat tells him deserves all he gets.”
― Neil Gaiman, Stardust
“I always tell the truth. Even when I lie.”
― Al Pacino
“We all know that Art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize truth at least the truth that is given us to understand. The artist must know the manner whereby to convince others of the truthfulness of his lies.”
― Pablo Picasso
“Art, after all, is - at its best - a lie that tells us the truth.”
― Nam Le
“Artists use lies to tell the truth. Yes, I created a lie. But because you believed it, you found something true about yourself.”
― Alan Moore, V for Vendetta
“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.”
― Oscar Wilde
It is always the best policy to tell the truth, unless, of course, you are an exceptionally good liar.
― Jerome K. Jerome
Or if you want a slightly different prompt, pick one of these quotes, or any one about truth/lies, and use it as inspiration for a story or poem. May the writing be with you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)