*cough cough*
Jesus
I just went for a run, still trying to shed those pounds from a fairly physically inactive winter, and my body let me know in no uncertain terms that it was upset with my choice of activity at that moment and that I ought to reconsider and immediately make my way home - at a much slower pace.
It gave me a blister, stomach cramps and an allergy to the pollen currently floating through our air in order to make it's point.
I did what it said. And I'm still wheezing.
Bitch.
Aside from all that, however, I had a fantastic day. I took a 'personal day' from work, got up at the same time I would if I were going but instead of work, I went to Nellie's for breakfast. A wonderful breakfast, I might add. Came home, did some knitting then spent the entire afternoon at the university meeting with profs.
Working downtown can be a drag. I walk past no less than 3 buildings that are half or fully torn down on my way down 4th st. It's grey, it's noisy, buses fly past at an alarmingly close proximity...
I arrived on campus today -for the first time since my last assignment was due- and it was beautiful...lush lawns, lilacs, students studying on warm patches of grass. I never thought of the UofC campus as a particularly attractive area, but with the warm and still-spring weather...it was like an effing oasis. I called my mum and asked her why I ever leave.
I attended my first, of what hopefully will be many, lab meetings at the Speech Development lab. My prof said I could come and watch the goings on. So cool. I loved it. Discussions on what will be done next, a PhD student presenting experiment proposals that were absolutely fascinating. Then I met with another prof who is helping me catch up on so much theory I've missed the past 8-9 years. I left feeling alive and excited again.
Then I ran...but I've covered that.
Been a long time since I've blogged. I've had some ideas and started writing some things, but it really doesn't work unless it comes organically, hey?
Lilac fest came and went. It's impossible for me to sit in my apartment when it's going on...not because I think it's exciting, it's not, but because when you've got one 'thing' going on outside one window and another 'thing' going on outside another window, you can go freaking batty. Stupid OJs woke me up with their stupid preparation for their stupid volleyball tournament, so I had a huge hate-on for them all day.
Every year, it seems, I run into probably the one ex-boyfriend that I...well...lets just say that I've had a hard time readjusting my view of the fairness and justness of a universe that allows someone like him to continue on in fairly good health and living in a way that does not cause him pain every day.
Holy crap...I just reread that. That's harsh. Ha! But continue on...
However...I think this time I've managed to stop my bile from rising. Let me say here that my feelings of revulsion every time I hear his name do not come from any feelings of loss. Oh no no no. I thank my lucky stars every day that he found someone he wanted to cheat on me with which called for the demise of our relationship (and I hope she thanks her lucky stars that he found someone to cheat on her causing their breakup...she's in a much better place now and I hope she knows it...she seems like a nice girl, she definitely deserves better). It was this breakup that signalled the beginning of a complete overhaul of my life...the aim being to get the hell away from people like him.
No...my reason for such a strong reaction was twofold. Firstly, I never really quite got over the humiliation of being with him. It's embarrassing the things I put up with and I can only point to my weakened state at the time as any sort of excuse for allowing him in my life. Secondly, and this is part of the lesson my time reexamining my life has taught me, bad people don't deserve kindness from me.
I know a whole lot of creeps. Creeps that at one time I felt the need to impress. Creeps that convinced me that some things were 'okay' when they were not.
Step one, get creeps out of life. Check. Step two, don't pretend that you approve of their behaviour or ideals by being kind. Check.
Step two actually has come quite naturally, as my story about flipping the bird to an old acquaintance in Safeway that I wrote about earlier and am too lazy to link to has shown. So when, as it seems I do every lilac fest, good ol' rockadorky walks by with his usual I-hope-we-can-one-day-be-friends half smile, it is quite a natural reaction for me to counter with my, what I now call, squeegie-kid-at-my-windshield look.
And for that look, go to the mirror and pretend that a squeegie kid has just started on your windshield while you were busy toying with the radio or fan or something. It's kinda like that defeated, unwelcoming, unhappy, faintly surprised, my-god-this-is-lame, how-akward look you get.
But you know what? Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the new girl. Small, retronaught, young...and he just looked like an aging, pathetic, slightly closeted man. In the entire time I knew him, he never really had any sort of style or personality he could call his own...just a bunch of things he put together to make some people think he was cool.
I then realized that on the scale of honour it is better to be hated than pittied...so I pity him.
Anyway...that was far too much space dedicated to poor pitiable fartface, so we won't be discussing him anymore.
I think I'll go take a bath now....I love my new eucalyptus bubbles!
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Sunday, May 21, 2006
A tip
I've been hearing how much pollen is in the air right now and that everyone's allergies are through the roof.
But not mine. And I'm the queen of the sniffle/sneeze/ichy eyes.
Not to say it's not affecting me at all...it is...it always does. But this year has been my best in many many years.
Seriously...stop eating sugar.
It helps.
Sugar...and I've said it before...is the sweet sweet devil and if you stop eating it, you will not have bad allergies this year.
There...I've said my piece.
g'night
But not mine. And I'm the queen of the sniffle/sneeze/ichy eyes.
Not to say it's not affecting me at all...it is...it always does. But this year has been my best in many many years.
Seriously...stop eating sugar.
It helps.
Sugar...and I've said it before...is the sweet sweet devil and if you stop eating it, you will not have bad allergies this year.
There...I've said my piece.
g'night
Monday, May 15, 2006
Holy Jesus Crap!
I did the Mother's Day run yesterday...and since I'm fucking hardcore I was like, 'dude, I'm TOTALLY doing the 10K run. None of this 5K shit for me, yo'.....completely ignoring the well established fact that I hadn't run for months. I only started running again (after months of not) the past 2 maybe 3 weeks.
I was wholly unprepared for the stubborness that would make me push myself through those 10K beyond what my body was acclimated to.
Actually, I did okay. I finished not too far off of my time last year (not that I'm keeping very good track of these things) and felt alright the whole run.
But, yesterday evening...
that was an entirely different story as I nearly cried in pain each time I got up off the couch.
HOLY SHIT MY KNEES!
My knees are so mad at me they want to meet me at the bikeracks after school.
I was wholly unprepared for the stubborness that would make me push myself through those 10K beyond what my body was acclimated to.
Actually, I did okay. I finished not too far off of my time last year (not that I'm keeping very good track of these things) and felt alright the whole run.
But, yesterday evening...
that was an entirely different story as I nearly cried in pain each time I got up off the couch.
HOLY SHIT MY KNEES!
My knees are so mad at me they want to meet me at the bikeracks after school.
Monday, May 08, 2006
the things you find out with site meters
A long time ago, I wrote this post.
anyway, I was just going through the referals to this blog...you know, how people got here and stuff.
One person got here by googling toddler ingested roundup weed spray.
did someone's kid swallow Roundup Weed Spray?? and if he/she did...why was the first place they turned the internet instead of the hospital??
anyway, I was just going through the referals to this blog...you know, how people got here and stuff.
One person got here by googling toddler ingested roundup weed spray.
did someone's kid swallow Roundup Weed Spray?? and if he/she did...why was the first place they turned the internet instead of the hospital??
If I had a picture, I'd show you...
I finished my first straight-outta-my-head-gettin'-down-wit-the-knitty project.
Stripedy legwarmers.
Right. Effing. On.
However...they're a little too big and they're more like stripedy anklewarmers.
I say 'a little too big'...g-damn...they fit on a friend's head.
I still love 'em. I'm wearing them now.
In other news...
My marks came in...*proud*. I'm halfway through the text my syntax prof wanted me to read...*proud*. I'm waiting on a huge gift from Amazon.ca which will include three phonology texts, a knitting socks book, and a Vinyl Cafe cd.
What am I? 80?
I decided to go the high road at work and tell them straight out that I"m quitting to pursue lovely linguistics in Sept, but I wanted to work full time during the summer. They said yes. I had to check again, but they really didn't mind. So, I'm adjusting to my once again new schedule and spending the down time at work (there's lots, currently) practicing my sentence trees and trying to figure out a thesis...and knitting.
I, like, totally get paid for this shit, yo. With monthly bonuses. Too bad I can't stand the thought of another year of dead end oil and gas jobs, because as far as dead end oil and gas jobs go...it's hard to beat.
Physically, I'm not sure my body is quite out of the crazy school phase since I'm still suffering from anxiety periodically without knowing why. I'll just wait it out, I guess.
uh..what else?
Nothing really...just excited for the future.
Stripedy legwarmers.
Right. Effing. On.
However...they're a little too big and they're more like stripedy anklewarmers.
I say 'a little too big'...g-damn...they fit on a friend's head.
I still love 'em. I'm wearing them now.
In other news...
My marks came in...*proud*. I'm halfway through the text my syntax prof wanted me to read...*proud*. I'm waiting on a huge gift from Amazon.ca which will include three phonology texts, a knitting socks book, and a Vinyl Cafe cd.
What am I? 80?
I decided to go the high road at work and tell them straight out that I"m quitting to pursue lovely linguistics in Sept, but I wanted to work full time during the summer. They said yes. I had to check again, but they really didn't mind. So, I'm adjusting to my once again new schedule and spending the down time at work (there's lots, currently) practicing my sentence trees and trying to figure out a thesis...and knitting.
I, like, totally get paid for this shit, yo. With monthly bonuses. Too bad I can't stand the thought of another year of dead end oil and gas jobs, because as far as dead end oil and gas jobs go...it's hard to beat.
Physically, I'm not sure my body is quite out of the crazy school phase since I'm still suffering from anxiety periodically without knowing why. I'll just wait it out, I guess.
uh..what else?
Nothing really...just excited for the future.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
don't know what I'll do
I've got one more question of my semantics takehome exam to write out 'in good' and then I'm finished for the year.
*long exhalation*
wait...have I mentioned how genius I think these guys are:
anyway...aside from my recent fascination with youtube.com
So, I spent today writing out my semantics takehome exam 'in good', like I said, and left for school early in order to meet my cousin, continue to write out my semantics and meet with my prof to discuss my group project and it's sucky-ness, and hopefully hand in this thing so I don't have to go back up there.
Yeah...that didn't work quite how I wanted it to.
I forgot my homework at work...and my prof had little sympathy about the group project. No, she had sympathy just not the kind that translates itself into better marks.
bummer
So, I took all this as a sign that I must be meant to drink cider and hang out at home with the bf.
I wanted to do everything tonight...I knit a little, played a little WoW, and even managed to make a double batch of applespice loaf and that is why I'm up at 12:14 typing in my blog...aside from the fact that blogging was another thing I wanted to do, I'm waiting for my appleloaf to finish baking.
I'm exhausted from my relaxing night.
*long exhalation*
wait...have I mentioned how genius I think these guys are:
anyway...aside from my recent fascination with youtube.com
So, I spent today writing out my semantics takehome exam 'in good', like I said, and left for school early in order to meet my cousin, continue to write out my semantics and meet with my prof to discuss my group project and it's sucky-ness, and hopefully hand in this thing so I don't have to go back up there.
Yeah...that didn't work quite how I wanted it to.
I forgot my homework at work...and my prof had little sympathy about the group project. No, she had sympathy just not the kind that translates itself into better marks.
bummer
So, I took all this as a sign that I must be meant to drink cider and hang out at home with the bf.
I wanted to do everything tonight...I knit a little, played a little WoW, and even managed to make a double batch of applespice loaf and that is why I'm up at 12:14 typing in my blog...aside from the fact that blogging was another thing I wanted to do, I'm waiting for my appleloaf to finish baking.
I'm exhausted from my relaxing night.
Monday, April 24, 2006
belated wishes
Firstly, if you're idea of success is in a picture attached to this post...eat a dick.
Yeah, I know. I know. He's rich. They're beautiful. Blah. Blah. Fucking blah. Look closer. See what's missing? Aside from clothes? Uh...souls.
Yes, indeedy do-dah..it's Hef's 80th. Apparently he celebrated in his usual creepy style with a lingerie party. Who does that who's not grody? Let's make that set of x, where x is an individual, x throws lingerie parties, and x is NOT grody a little smaller. Who does that when they're 80 and is not grody?
These blonde ladies pictured with Hef...these ladies are his girlfriends. Joe Rogan once said that he's got so many girlfriends because they require a support group in order to be with him (paraphrased). Considering that between the time when I heard JRogan say that until now, Hef has gotten older and Hef's gf brigade has tripled in size! I would say that JRogan was pretty accurate in his musings.
So, I checked out his b-day greeting website. You can find it here, filed under depraved lameness. If you are so inclined, I would ask you permit me a few words before you go zooming off to The Grotto.
Please please please check out the birthday greetings. They come in three flavours: celeb, centerfold, and girlfriend.
*ahem*
The celeb Hef-80-barfday-greeting was enlightening. It was eyeopening. It was wonderful. Because if I ever thought that these people were better than me somehow....I've proved myself wrong and I can continue holding my head high.
My friend once said, 'money does not buy class'. Now, she was talking about Calgary during times of the Stampede or the Red Mile, but I found it to be extremely profound and carry it as I do so many proverbs. Let me tell you, it applies here. You only need to see Paris Hilton and her birthday song/wish to understand what I'm talking about.
The centerfold Hef-b-day-wish vid was also something to behold. To sum it up:
Hef, you are amazinggg
Hef, I love you
Hef, you've done more for me than anyone
Hef, you gave me a personal masturbation tool
Oh? He did more for you than anyone? So...he sent you to school, did he? Encouraged you in artistic endevours? Helped you find your true self?
Or did he plaster your tits all over his shitty magazine and use you for eye/handcandy at his grotto parties?
And what is an 80 year old man giving a 20-something girl a 'personal masturbation tool' for? Name anywhere else that would be cool. Anywhere.
Okay..and so what if he does show pics of these girls boobies? What's the big deal? It's not like these women are ruined afterwards, that's true. It's not like they aren't doing it completely willingly and getting quite nicely compensated for any pains taken.
I just hate that he gets glory for this. Everyone in the g-damn world thinks this guy is the cat's pyjamas because he knows how to exploit the beauty of the women who let him. Yeah, so does Larry Flynt...but Larry Flynt doesn't try to come off as some sorta high class guy.
And Hef is not some sorta high class guy because money does not buy class.
I'm not even going to talk about the girlfriend's vid...good lord, it kinda speaks for itself.
Oliver Stone says in his b-day wish that Hef is a man that lives his dream and he (Stone) is in awe. Yeah, me too, Ollie...me too.
Yeah, I know. I know. He's rich. They're beautiful. Blah. Blah. Fucking blah. Look closer. See what's missing? Aside from clothes? Uh...souls.
Yes, indeedy do-dah..it's Hef's 80th. Apparently he celebrated in his usual creepy style with a lingerie party. Who does that who's not grody? Let's make that set of x, where x is an individual, x throws lingerie parties, and x is NOT grody a little smaller. Who does that when they're 80 and is not grody?
These blonde ladies pictured with Hef...these ladies are his girlfriends. Joe Rogan once said that he's got so many girlfriends because they require a support group in order to be with him (paraphrased). Considering that between the time when I heard JRogan say that until now, Hef has gotten older and Hef's gf brigade has tripled in size! I would say that JRogan was pretty accurate in his musings.
So, I checked out his b-day greeting website. You can find it here, filed under depraved lameness. If you are so inclined, I would ask you permit me a few words before you go zooming off to The Grotto.
Please please please check out the birthday greetings. They come in three flavours: celeb, centerfold, and girlfriend.
*ahem*
The celeb Hef-80-barfday-greeting was enlightening. It was eyeopening. It was wonderful. Because if I ever thought that these people were better than me somehow....I've proved myself wrong and I can continue holding my head high.
My friend once said, 'money does not buy class'. Now, she was talking about Calgary during times of the Stampede or the Red Mile, but I found it to be extremely profound and carry it as I do so many proverbs. Let me tell you, it applies here. You only need to see Paris Hilton and her birthday song/wish to understand what I'm talking about.
The centerfold Hef-b-day-wish vid was also something to behold. To sum it up:
Hef, you are amazinggg
Hef, I love you
Hef, you've done more for me than anyone
Hef, you gave me a personal masturbation tool
Oh? He did more for you than anyone? So...he sent you to school, did he? Encouraged you in artistic endevours? Helped you find your true self?
Or did he plaster your tits all over his shitty magazine and use you for eye/handcandy at his grotto parties?
And what is an 80 year old man giving a 20-something girl a 'personal masturbation tool' for? Name anywhere else that would be cool. Anywhere.
Okay..and so what if he does show pics of these girls boobies? What's the big deal? It's not like these women are ruined afterwards, that's true. It's not like they aren't doing it completely willingly and getting quite nicely compensated for any pains taken.
I just hate that he gets glory for this. Everyone in the g-damn world thinks this guy is the cat's pyjamas because he knows how to exploit the beauty of the women who let him. Yeah, so does Larry Flynt...but Larry Flynt doesn't try to come off as some sorta high class guy.
And Hef is not some sorta high class guy because money does not buy class.
I'm not even going to talk about the girlfriend's vid...good lord, it kinda speaks for itself.
Oliver Stone says in his b-day wish that Hef is a man that lives his dream and he (Stone) is in awe. Yeah, me too, Ollie...me too.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
hyperventilation!
I've even written Ralph Bakshi himself trying to find these...
(awhile ago...before youtube.com)
(awhile ago...before youtube.com)
Monday, April 17, 2006
Huzzah!
I just finished 17 pages worth of creole linguistics...and boy are my arms tired.
I hand this in tomorrow, then one more assignment due before my semester ends and I am finished this year. What a year.
I've given myself until today to eat sweets...tomorrow it's back on my no sugar kick.
This post is lame, I know..but I wanted to write the thing about the no sugar so that I make sure I do it.
Coming soon, though...my opinion on Hef's 80s b-day.
Here's a preview: Happy Birthday, you loser jackass.
Night all!
I hand this in tomorrow, then one more assignment due before my semester ends and I am finished this year. What a year.
I've given myself until today to eat sweets...tomorrow it's back on my no sugar kick.
This post is lame, I know..but I wanted to write the thing about the no sugar so that I make sure I do it.
Coming soon, though...my opinion on Hef's 80s b-day.
Here's a preview: Happy Birthday, you loser jackass.
Night all!
these are always fun
| Greed: | Medium | |
| Gluttony: | Medium | |
| Wrath: | Medium | |
| Sloth: | Low | |
| Envy: | Very Low | |
| Lust: | Very Low | |
| Pride: | High |
Take the Seven Deadly Sins Quiz
Friday, April 14, 2006
SO GOOD!
These are the most awesome things I've ever seen in my entire life and they make me want to sing.
Teen girl squad mittens. The girl who made them is very likely the next messiah.
If'n you don't know for what I speak, I suggest you hightail it over to homestarrunner.com and watch funny in action.
Might I suggest a wee taste of episode 8?
Teen girl squad mittens. The girl who made them is very likely the next messiah.
If'n you don't know for what I speak, I suggest you hightail it over to homestarrunner.com and watch funny in action.
Might I suggest a wee taste of episode 8?
Sunday, April 09, 2006
The funniest thing...
I went to the doctor today...
About a month ago, I noticed....
...well, you know when you've got a dry throat and you swallow a pill or bit of food or something? You know that stuck feeling? That's what I had.
...so I noticed that it felt as though something was caught in my throat. I was in the midst of tests, papers, and assignments, so I wasn't able to deal with it. I said to myself that it was probably stress, so if it didn't clear up after I was finished all these things, I'd see someone about it.
Aside from that, the bulk of my time was spend on assignments in my Speech Pathology class and I know my own psychology enough to know that it was entirely possible that some sort of psychosomatic thing was going on. I'd studied so much on throat defects.
The 6th came...that was the day I was clear of all that school stuff. I worked at "day-work" all day, and then went to the theatre that night...finished working at midnight. I came home and I started to fret. I was certain I had some sort of throat cancer. I tossed and turned that night until 2:30'ish quitely crying so that I wouldn't wake up bf. I decided I needed to see the doctor.
I went today (long story as to why not friday). I want to say here that if you live in the Mission area of Calgary and you want to go to the walk-in clinic on 4th and 23rd...don't. The doctor is pompus, arrogant and won't listen to you. After 5 minutes of talking to me, he asked me if I was hoarse! He'd been listening to me...shouldn't he know if I was hoarse?
Blah blah blah...the upshot of this is:
I called my mum (as one does) and explained how the dr. swabbed my throat and sent me out, but I was not satisfied because I was certain my problem was not an infection. My cousin happened to be over visting Mum. She (my cousin) called me back and told me how, apparently, a few of my family members get this with intense stress. She (they had discovered she had a brain tumor soon after she had her baby) was so freaked out that she choked on tea because her throat felt just like mine did.
The doctor told her it was stress and if she stopped thinking about it, it would go away. She said, once she heard that, it was gone in two days.
I talked to her at 5'ish. It's 2am now and my throat feels almost back to normal.
Weird, hey?
About a month ago, I noticed....
...well, you know when you've got a dry throat and you swallow a pill or bit of food or something? You know that stuck feeling? That's what I had.
...so I noticed that it felt as though something was caught in my throat. I was in the midst of tests, papers, and assignments, so I wasn't able to deal with it. I said to myself that it was probably stress, so if it didn't clear up after I was finished all these things, I'd see someone about it.
Aside from that, the bulk of my time was spend on assignments in my Speech Pathology class and I know my own psychology enough to know that it was entirely possible that some sort of psychosomatic thing was going on. I'd studied so much on throat defects.
The 6th came...that was the day I was clear of all that school stuff. I worked at "day-work" all day, and then went to the theatre that night...finished working at midnight. I came home and I started to fret. I was certain I had some sort of throat cancer. I tossed and turned that night until 2:30'ish quitely crying so that I wouldn't wake up bf. I decided I needed to see the doctor.
I went today (long story as to why not friday). I want to say here that if you live in the Mission area of Calgary and you want to go to the walk-in clinic on 4th and 23rd...don't. The doctor is pompus, arrogant and won't listen to you. After 5 minutes of talking to me, he asked me if I was hoarse! He'd been listening to me...shouldn't he know if I was hoarse?
Blah blah blah...the upshot of this is:
I called my mum (as one does) and explained how the dr. swabbed my throat and sent me out, but I was not satisfied because I was certain my problem was not an infection. My cousin happened to be over visting Mum. She (my cousin) called me back and told me how, apparently, a few of my family members get this with intense stress. She (they had discovered she had a brain tumor soon after she had her baby) was so freaked out that she choked on tea because her throat felt just like mine did.
The doctor told her it was stress and if she stopped thinking about it, it would go away. She said, once she heard that, it was gone in two days.
I talked to her at 5'ish. It's 2am now and my throat feels almost back to normal.
Weird, hey?
Chomsky
I am very familiar with Chomsky's theories...
...on language, that is.
I am not quite as familiar with Chomsky's social views.
This gets me in trouble.
For the last few weeks, I've been involved in a debate over Chomsky and his alleged 'hypocrisy' involving my friend Bumf, and his partial posting of this guy's article that ended up in the Western Standard. Well, these guys might not know I've been involved in this debate, but I assure you, students in the linguistics department at the UofC do.
W.G.'s argument was that Chomsky is a hypocrite because he believes language is an innate feature of the human mind...and he's left wing.
I'm not going to get into all that right now. You can read it in my post before this, if you want. I did eventually comment to W.G. and I hope he responds.
But this whole thing has been haunting me.
Now...this being the case, I did a little research. I intend to do more because I think starting my M.A. in linguistics in the fall would warrent I do a little research into philosophy beyond language acquisition...but as I do research into Chomsky's politics, I'm finding something interesting.
Now...as a woman studying linguistics, believe me...I know Chomsky can be a difficult read. Hell, I've attended a speaking engagement here in Calgary a few years ago and didn't understand a word (the acoustics were terrible). But I've seen Manufacturing Consent. My boyfriend reads Chomsky regularly. I'm not entirely blind to his politics. And I've done some additional research.
So..what I found was interesting. Frankly, I don't think anyone who argues against Chomsky has read/listend to him, either. They've certainly read/listened to each other...but not necessarily him.
They describe him as a socialist. And hate him for it. Well...my own politics aside..from what I understand, he's not. He's an anarchist (with a socialist bend). Look:
CHOMSKY: The introduction to Guerin's book that you mentioned opens with a quote from an anarchist sympathiser a century ago, who says that anarchism has a broad back, and endures anything. One major element has been what has traditionally been called 'libertarian socialism'. I've tried to explain there and elsewhere what I mean by that, stressing that it's hardly original; I'm taking the ideas from leading figures in the anarchist movement whom I quote, and who rather consistently describe themselves as socialists, while harshly condemning the 'new class' of radical intellectuals who seek to attain state power in the course of popular struggle and to become the vicious Red bureaucracy of which Bakunin warned; what's often called 'socialism'. I rather agree with Rudolf Rocker's perception that these (quite central) tendencies in anarchism draw from the best of Enlightenment and classical liberal thought, well beyond what he described. In fact, as I've tried to show they contrast sharply with Marxist-Leninist doctrine and practice, the 'libertarian' doctrines that are fashionable in the US and UK particularly, and other contemporary ideologies, all of which seem to me to reduce to advocacy of one or another form of illegitimate authority, quite often real tyranny."
So, when I read "...because he argues that our sociability is also natural, and therefore in a better world without capitalists, etc, we would all be loving socialists like him." I wonder where that came from.
From what I understand, and I do intend to get more familiar with it this summer when I have time, what he's against is extreme forms of politics...because they end up needing some sort of oppression in order to keep themselves going. That's his problem with capitalism, that an unusual amount of power has been given to "the corporation".
And actually...that's what I thought he was all about the whole time.
...on language, that is.
I am not quite as familiar with Chomsky's social views.
This gets me in trouble.
For the last few weeks, I've been involved in a debate over Chomsky and his alleged 'hypocrisy' involving my friend Bumf, and his partial posting of this guy's article that ended up in the Western Standard. Well, these guys might not know I've been involved in this debate, but I assure you, students in the linguistics department at the UofC do.
W.G.'s argument was that Chomsky is a hypocrite because he believes language is an innate feature of the human mind...and he's left wing.
I'm not going to get into all that right now. You can read it in my post before this, if you want. I did eventually comment to W.G. and I hope he responds.
But this whole thing has been haunting me.
Now...this being the case, I did a little research. I intend to do more because I think starting my M.A. in linguistics in the fall would warrent I do a little research into philosophy beyond language acquisition...but as I do research into Chomsky's politics, I'm finding something interesting.
Now...as a woman studying linguistics, believe me...I know Chomsky can be a difficult read. Hell, I've attended a speaking engagement here in Calgary a few years ago and didn't understand a word (the acoustics were terrible). But I've seen Manufacturing Consent. My boyfriend reads Chomsky regularly. I'm not entirely blind to his politics. And I've done some additional research.
So..what I found was interesting. Frankly, I don't think anyone who argues against Chomsky has read/listend to him, either. They've certainly read/listened to each other...but not necessarily him.
They describe him as a socialist. And hate him for it. Well...my own politics aside..from what I understand, he's not. He's an anarchist (with a socialist bend). Look:
CHOMSKY: The introduction to Guerin's book that you mentioned opens with a quote from an anarchist sympathiser a century ago, who says that anarchism has a broad back, and endures anything. One major element has been what has traditionally been called 'libertarian socialism'. I've tried to explain there and elsewhere what I mean by that, stressing that it's hardly original; I'm taking the ideas from leading figures in the anarchist movement whom I quote, and who rather consistently describe themselves as socialists, while harshly condemning the 'new class' of radical intellectuals who seek to attain state power in the course of popular struggle and to become the vicious Red bureaucracy of which Bakunin warned; what's often called 'socialism'. I rather agree with Rudolf Rocker's perception that these (quite central) tendencies in anarchism draw from the best of Enlightenment and classical liberal thought, well beyond what he described. In fact, as I've tried to show they contrast sharply with Marxist-Leninist doctrine and practice, the 'libertarian' doctrines that are fashionable in the US and UK particularly, and other contemporary ideologies, all of which seem to me to reduce to advocacy of one or another form of illegitimate authority, quite often real tyranny."
So, when I read "...because he argues that our sociability is also natural, and therefore in a better world without capitalists, etc, we would all be loving socialists like him." I wonder where that came from.
From what I understand, and I do intend to get more familiar with it this summer when I have time, what he's against is extreme forms of politics...because they end up needing some sort of oppression in order to keep themselves going. That's his problem with capitalism, that an unusual amount of power has been given to "the corporation".
And actually...that's what I thought he was all about the whole time.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Comments on iTunes #1
I fully understand that, cognitively speaking, loving Led Zeppelin puts me at 'angsty teenage boy with greasy hair and spots' level.
But so does my love of World of Warcraft...
so, perhaps I should get an age/sex change?
But so does my love of World of Warcraft...
so, perhaps I should get an age/sex change?
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
I'd like to thank the academy...
I'm so totally getting all sentimental these days.
The semester (and year) of school is coming to a close...just a few more weeks before my last assignment is handed in, then summer then grad school.
Maybe it's the PMS, maybe it's the chocolate I just ate to aid the PMS, maybe it's the fact I'm really really tired right now, but I feel so much gratitude that I want to send everyone I've ever spoken to a thank you card.
Even the people I hate.
My parents, oh good lord, my parents...I'm never able to thank them enough. All I am able to do right now is knit them hats. This summer, when I have time, I shall shower them in knitted hats. My father shall have miniature hats for all his dogs and chickens and my mother and her husband shall have a new hat for every outfit.
My boyfriend...he gets to live with me. That's enough delirious pleasure that no hat can ever live up to. But he's been absolutely the best and of course he, too, shall have hats.
But there's more...so much more. Work people...so very kind and supportive. Makes me almost feel bad about the huge 'up yours' gesture I'm planning on giving when I leave. I'll wear a sign around my neck listing those who will get flowers and may ignore the rude display.
The semester (and year) of school is coming to a close...just a few more weeks before my last assignment is handed in, then summer then grad school.
Maybe it's the PMS, maybe it's the chocolate I just ate to aid the PMS, maybe it's the fact I'm really really tired right now, but I feel so much gratitude that I want to send everyone I've ever spoken to a thank you card.
Even the people I hate.
My parents, oh good lord, my parents...I'm never able to thank them enough. All I am able to do right now is knit them hats. This summer, when I have time, I shall shower them in knitted hats. My father shall have miniature hats for all his dogs and chickens and my mother and her husband shall have a new hat for every outfit.
My boyfriend...he gets to live with me. That's enough delirious pleasure that no hat can ever live up to. But he's been absolutely the best and of course he, too, shall have hats.
But there's more...so much more. Work people...so very kind and supportive. Makes me almost feel bad about the huge 'up yours' gesture I'm planning on giving when I leave. I'll wear a sign around my neck listing those who will get flowers and may ignore the rude display.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
a few things I've been thinking and then I'll talk about squirrels
First:
My god I hate group projects. I like to call them 'poop projects'.
Second:
I put a bunch of stuff in my iTunes last week and it's SO lovely listening to music while writing papers n' shit. I like Joe Cocker. Shut up.
Third:
I am super duper excited about spending most of my time going to school, researching and learning about linguistics in September. For those of you who might read this blog and for those of you who did not know, I applied for law school as well. I've not heard back yet, but I have heard back from the ling dept. I've been thinking about how I would feel ~if~ I did hear from law...and I don't think I care. I haven't even checked to see ~when~ I should hear from them...so...I think I've made my decision.
*Mary Tyler Moore jump*
...aaannnddd freeze frame!
Fourth:
I have SO much to do right now that I'm amazed I'm not losing my mind all over the damn place. I'm generally pretty cheery for someone who's teetering so close to the crazy edge.
Fifth:
I've started a new thing and am now able to see into the future through my reading of omens, allow me to 'splain,
A couple of weeks ago while walking to work, I was waiting for the 'walk' light when a squeegie kid, smoke in mouth, threw a handful of pennies down in the middle of the intersection. He did so in absolute disgust.
I knew it then...I knew that this was a sign and that I, alone, had the ability to interpret it...
"Prosperous times ahead! If a squeegie kid had the ability to be choosey, so do you! This will be a good day and it's even a possiblity that a stranger will give you something which you may or may not need!"
...plus, angry squeegie kids are funny.
so...yesterday it happened again...and eeners can back me up 'cause I emailed her. I walked by a tree on campus the other day and saw a cuuute black squirrel hanging upside down with his round, cuuute belly facing me...all streched out and eating berries.
"Today will mean success through unconventional means...but you'll look adorable doing it"
I ought to get paid for this shit.
My god I hate group projects. I like to call them 'poop projects'.
Second:
I put a bunch of stuff in my iTunes last week and it's SO lovely listening to music while writing papers n' shit. I like Joe Cocker. Shut up.
Third:
I am super duper excited about spending most of my time going to school, researching and learning about linguistics in September. For those of you who might read this blog and for those of you who did not know, I applied for law school as well. I've not heard back yet, but I have heard back from the ling dept. I've been thinking about how I would feel ~if~ I did hear from law...and I don't think I care. I haven't even checked to see ~when~ I should hear from them...so...I think I've made my decision.
*Mary Tyler Moore jump*
...aaannnddd freeze frame!
Fourth:
I have SO much to do right now that I'm amazed I'm not losing my mind all over the damn place. I'm generally pretty cheery for someone who's teetering so close to the crazy edge.
Fifth:
I've started a new thing and am now able to see into the future through my reading of omens, allow me to 'splain,
A couple of weeks ago while walking to work, I was waiting for the 'walk' light when a squeegie kid, smoke in mouth, threw a handful of pennies down in the middle of the intersection. He did so in absolute disgust.
I knew it then...I knew that this was a sign and that I, alone, had the ability to interpret it...
"Prosperous times ahead! If a squeegie kid had the ability to be choosey, so do you! This will be a good day and it's even a possiblity that a stranger will give you something which you may or may not need!"
...plus, angry squeegie kids are funny.
so...yesterday it happened again...and eeners can back me up 'cause I emailed her. I walked by a tree on campus the other day and saw a cuuute black squirrel hanging upside down with his round, cuuute belly facing me...all streched out and eating berries.
"Today will mean success through unconventional means...but you'll look adorable doing it"
I ought to get paid for this shit.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Saturday, March 25, 2006
On Chomsky...
I have to admit.
I am familiar with Chomsky's political and social views, but not as familiar as I am with his linguistic views...so I needed the help of a book.
From a very broad, but useful reference to have around the house, I managed to find in words a general overview of how Chomsky's social/political theories mesh with those linguistic theories. I am in the midst of writing a paper, so I don't have time to go much deeper into it at the moment, but those folks at the Western Standard who were involved with this post seemed to have done less research than I did.
From Philosophy: 100 Essential Thinkers by P. Stokes (I know...not exactly an academic source, but all I've got at the moment)
...
"This hardwiring is, like other cognitive faculties, an aspect of our human nature. Chomsky sees this as having positive political implications. Rather than being the blank sheet of Lockean empiricism, or the unconstrained free agents of existentialism, our very nature prevents us from being subjugated by extreme and wayward forces. Our nature determines that there are only certain possible political systems that we can tolerate. Oppressive political systems...cannot completely mould our minds. Our thoughts are not, as the behavioural psychologists earlier in the twentieth century had supposed, merely conditiond responses to repeated stimuli. The concept of being a free agent is as hardwired into our nature as the constraints that act on our forms of speech.
...
He has been a constant critic of US foreign policy and of US involvement in Vietnam, Cambodia and the Gulf Wars. He remains an active supporter of radical social change in the US, as well as continuing his work as a linguist and theoretical philosopher. He describes his political view as 'libertarian socialist' - a blend of socialism and anarchism."
thoughts?
I am familiar with Chomsky's political and social views, but not as familiar as I am with his linguistic views...so I needed the help of a book.
From a very broad, but useful reference to have around the house, I managed to find in words a general overview of how Chomsky's social/political theories mesh with those linguistic theories. I am in the midst of writing a paper, so I don't have time to go much deeper into it at the moment, but those folks at the Western Standard who were involved with this post seemed to have done less research than I did.
From Philosophy: 100 Essential Thinkers by P. Stokes (I know...not exactly an academic source, but all I've got at the moment)
...
"This hardwiring is, like other cognitive faculties, an aspect of our human nature. Chomsky sees this as having positive political implications. Rather than being the blank sheet of Lockean empiricism, or the unconstrained free agents of existentialism, our very nature prevents us from being subjugated by extreme and wayward forces. Our nature determines that there are only certain possible political systems that we can tolerate. Oppressive political systems...cannot completely mould our minds. Our thoughts are not, as the behavioural psychologists earlier in the twentieth century had supposed, merely conditiond responses to repeated stimuli. The concept of being a free agent is as hardwired into our nature as the constraints that act on our forms of speech.
...
He has been a constant critic of US foreign policy and of US involvement in Vietnam, Cambodia and the Gulf Wars. He remains an active supporter of radical social change in the US, as well as continuing his work as a linguist and theoretical philosopher. He describes his political view as 'libertarian socialist' - a blend of socialism and anarchism."
thoughts?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
