Happy Birthday, Jesus

Nothing creative accomplished as of yet, although I did get to start another book, Lenin's Path to Power: Bolshevism and the Destiny of Russia, of which I am about halfway through.
It was nice to see how much people from my past have aged, whether taller or more wrinkled and grey. I am horrible in social situations, so video games (Halo & SOCOM) were my savior tonight. I did get to see a new kid, whom works in a paintball magazine and has a clothing line; rather than spawning jealousy he forced me to reflect upon my own work and approach to publicity. I neither wish to work in publication or fashion, but would rather take greater comfort in my work's ability to touch people on its own. Let the work be my publicity manager.
Multiple-family time is always nice. Glad it happened.
I am more than ready to abandon consumerism holidays, but doubt many will grasp, let alone concur. Sigh.
Keane is attempting to force me into an old hurtful summer fantasy, but gaining moderate results. I have no choice but to lay back and hit repeat.

Happy Holidays.

Limbo

The room in Brooklyn fell through as well as my winterim class. I'll be able to work 15 hours a week, with Thursdays and Fridays off, and I need to see about an internship.
I began work on the Decemberists Songbook, and hope to have it complete in less than two weeks.
The more I watch films, the more I wish to create them; but I apparently lack the ability to tell stories and keep from sleeping with clichés. Snatch, Fargo, Gangs of New York, The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Great movies. Damn you, Coen brothers.
Christmas is just about 'round the corner, and I couldn't be farther away from the spirit. I really wish I would stop receiving gifts; seeing people and being able to touch them, feel warmth, and hear them laugh is enough for me.
I thought of Irina on the night walk to 7-11 for ice cream, and wondered if she had any family to keep her warm this holiday. I thought of inviting her to sample my family to replace any loneliness there might be. I know that sounds weird, but it is not just her. I just worry about other people's loneliness, and want to eradicate it. I wonder how Jack is doing.
I was dirt tired today, in spite of 8+ hours of rest. Can't seem to keep a schedule. Whatever.





Night.

Places to live, Stuff to do.

Good News.
Today I received a response to my post on Craigs List about housing for the month of January, and it seems most promising. We'll see how this goes.
I have been accepted to the new dorms for the spring '07 semester, and once again must cope with another male roommate. I hope this works out better than my initial dorming year. Its a large double, with kitchenette and private shower. I'm slightly excited, although I wish I were alone.

Things to accomplish this break:
• Find a place to live for the month of January, rather quickly.
• 2-4 Protests for a contract for FIT's faculty & staff
• Documentary about the FIT union situation
• Complete overhaul of the Studio Dorje site
• Write paper on summer internship
• Find a new internship
• Create 1-3 hardcover books
• Catch up on various films on DVD
• Read all my books:
† Peasant Russia, Civil War: The Volga Countryside in Revolution, 1917-1921
† Lenin's Path to Power: Bolshevism and the Desitny of Russia
† The Furies: Violence and Terror in the French and Russian Revolutions
† State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration
†The Russian Revolution | 1917
I believe thats all of it...

Things are moving pretty fast, and I hope all parties are ready for a grand leap after graduation into a new residence and life. It seems so far off, yet I can feel the warmth of its breath down my neck. I think I am ready to experience drastically new things.
I think.




My love
for you
burns deep
inside me,
so strong.
Embers
of times we've had
and now
here I stand,
lost in a memory.
I see
your face,
and smile.



Adieu.

Its Over?

Last class and presentation was today. Wow, its over. Right?
Already I feel I have little time over the break with all the projects I would like to complete. For example, I'd like to make two or three more hardcover books, redesign my website, write my internship paper due in the spring, enhance my thesis paper for myself, and catch up on all my books (I've started The Russian Revolution | 1917 and its pretty good so far).

Now it is time to go celebrate with livvifer at the Olive Garden. Goddamn good breadsticks.

.mmmm.tasty.








^_^

More Books!

Was in Strand and well... couldn't help myself. Again. Pfft.
• Lenin's Path to Power: Bolshevism and the Destiny of Russia
• The Russian Revolution | 1917
Damn. Can't wait to start reading.


^_^

Planned Attack

This weekend will be crazy. Finished my three last advertisments for FIT's 'Tolerance Week' today, and plan on completing the Agitator process book's layout today. Tomorrow is the day for papers: 1) a 4-page editorial, and 2) a 5-7 page final paper on US union history.
Final week. Here we go.

Communist Kits: Now on Sale!

Product: the Agitator, a series of three kits. The Bureaucrat, the General, and the Guerilla Fighter; Joseph Stalin, Mao Tse-tung, and Ernesto "Che" Guevara.
I'm currently working on the process book, which I hope to have up on the Studio Dorje site in two/three weeks.
The proposal:
A product that envelops entertainment, historical illumination, and satire. Entertainment by including materials that are functional. Illumination by first-hand written accounts of theories and history. Satire the thinly veiled political stance against three particular ideologies while creating an image of concurrence. Military coup. Bureaucratic corruption coupled with systematic assassinations. Military insurrection. Ernesto Guevara, Joseph Stalin, and Mao Tse-tung respectively. Please, enjoy.

Changes

Tonight, I will cut my hair. surprise.

A new day.

For fun.

Final draft of my thesis paper is almost complete; with a lengthy, but indispensable quote from Dr. King.
For lack of a coherent train of thought to complete this blog, I leave you with this:

"We must honestly face the fact that the Movement must address itself to the question of restructuring the whole of American society. There are 40 million poor people here. And one day we must ask the question, “why are there 40 million poor people in America?” And when you begin to ask that question, you are raising questions about the economic system, about a broader distribution of wealth. When you ask that question, you begin to question the capitalistic economy. And to ask questions about the whole society. We are called upon to help the discouraged beggars in life’s market place. But one day we must come to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring. It means that questions must be raised. You see, my friends, when you deal with this, you begin to ask the question, “Who owns the oil?” You begin to ask the question, “Who owns the iron ore?” You begin to ask the question, “Why is it that people have to pay water bills in a world that is two-thirds water?” These are questions that must be asked….
When I say question the whole society, it means ultimately coming to see that the problem of racism, the problem of economic exploitation, and the problem of war are tied together…. A nation that will keep people in slavery for 244 years will “thingify” them, make them things. Therefore they will exploit them, and poor people generally economically. And a nation that will exploit economically will have to have foreign investments…and will have to use its military might to protect them. All of these problems are tied together. What I am saying today is that we must go from this convention and say, “America, you must be born again!”

Are you working?

• Tweaking thesis paper: Illegal Immigration: A Brief Overview
• Tweaking website here and there. www.studiodorje.com
• Finalizing three packages and branding for the "Agitator." It consists of three "revolutionary" kits: the Bureaucrat, the General and the Guerilla Fighter (Joseph Stalin, Mao Tse-tung, & Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, respectively).
• Tweaking a three-ad campaign for a contest at F.I.T.
• Reading Black Earth obsessively. Okay. Its not work.

Looking forward to this winterim, where above-all I hope three things absolutely happen:
1) Find an internship at a small print shop.
2) Find a comfy room or small apartment.
3) Read all the books that I have acquired this semester but failed to touch since its acquisition (three or four).








"Just why are you here?" someone would ask.
"He's looking for a Russian bride," someone would joke.
"He's a spy," another would jibe.
Whenever doubt or suspicion arose, Andrei saved me. "He just enjoys watching dead empires in decay," he'd answer.
Black Earth.

Pledge

I pledge to:

• Try and write in this consistently; in the least once every full moon.
• Notify about website updates and various projects I'm working on.
• Trim the excess blubbering.
• Spell check.