Dangerfield Out

Hoode hoode hoo.

Those words echoed out wide over the surface of the earth as the satellite that carried lost astronaut Walt Dangerfield encircled the globe; sending his transmission down to those scrapping it out in the post-apocalyptic wasteland that was left after the Emergency.

Just started reading Philip K. Dick's Dr. Bloodmoney per the suggestion of well-read man of technology Logical Gambit. It has been highly entertaining thus far with a high degree of introspection that I find necessary in just about anything I would call 'literature'. I was having a conversation with L the other day, talking about what made something a book and what rose to become literature. I think it had something to do with my going to this Popular Culture Association conference where a lot of what does not get recognized by academics finds due attention. That last part may not be entirely true. I don't think there is too much of worth that escapes the notice of our better academic institutions, but suffice it to say that discussion came up.

I was thinking that my distinction came from how much dialogue was in the novel. If there was too much they have always seemed to me to be just accounts of some stuff that we can imagine happened. The only thing you seem to get that is not dialog is 'Smith walked over and picked up his coffee excitedly'. Scripts for something that could be filmed where the narrator simply functions as the director or the readers imaginary visual experience, theater of the mind's eye and all that.

I claim no law here, just made me think of it reading Dr. Bloodmoney because it plays both role so well. There is something of the heightened visual experience without the expense toward character internalized thought, interplay between motives, actions, and thought etc.

It's a good book I am looking forward to finishing. I wanted to pick up some Philip K. because another member on the panel I going to be on is doing his paper on him, and I did not want to show up without any ground to cover should the opportunity arise.

Psycoanaltropic

I think it must move on,
at a pace that's nearing slow.
It all burns so swiftly now,
the dross kindles from below.
Fire, fire, everywhere,
and all is on the brink:
refuge neither here nor there,
it's all about to sink.
Like a bleeding liquid flame,
it harkens from the deep;
it goes without sight or name,
its nights are without sleep.
There's borders so the image holds,
the center, the herald, the focused mass,
and all this, too, shall one day come to pass.


One tries at these things and is never sure of the outcome. I was thinking of making a mix-CD for Budiak, that's where I got the name, and I thought I should pair it with something, a verse of some sort. Guess it was late enough for me to try this. And that's how it happened. Sleep might improve things.

Crisis Averted

Well - I got a quick response back from the professor. He sent it directly there and it was received with no problems. Just came home today to find a confirmation of completion email from the university.

All that awaits processing is New Hampshire, which the USPS, as of today, still has yet to deliver. I am going to be contacting each school Wednesday to make sure that everything is square and that will also be the time when I can get into the USPS if the package is still not there.

Then, on to more important things. Life is not about applications, it is about applying oneself, metaphorically, in the universal sense. AHh, this whole thing has sapped me of my English know-how (you see? I don't use the words know-how, this must be bad).

I will relax with some anime and the Tacos that my lovely wife is preparing, sounds awesome.

And now this...

And now I get word from Missouri that my application has been compiled and is complete - except that it is still missing one letter of recommendation. One that I had to send out and had not heard from the recipient since. I assumed all was well and that even my confirmation emails had arrived.

So, in short, each application may now be short one letter of recommendation that I just have not heard about yet.

Oh, and I am not sure I posted about this yet, but two letters of recommendation ended up arriving after I had to send out the packets: post-marked Jan 5th and in my mail box Jan 16th, yeah that's swell.

My other packet, destined for New Hampshire, had not arrived as of Friday. Sent Priority Mail the 9th, shipped the 10th, and as of the 19th, nothing. Called the post office and their policy leave them no option to help until it has been fourteen days... hmmm, makes me rethink spening that extra money on Priority Mail.

All shipping from now on will more than likely be Handled by Fed Ex. USPS is pathetic at best. How pathetic, well in this application process alone, let me count the ways...

Solved

Looks like someone (Nyko) solved it and will get my money.

Arrived

Last night marked the last elements that I will be shipping off to the schools that I am applying to. It was a momentous occasion with fanfare and trumpets. Actually, it was just what I wanted; my wife with me on a little couples errand, then we went to Rite Aid to get some sodas to celebrate and because my throat has been scruffy lately.

Some institutions wanted everything sent in one packet, letters, everything. I had a professor write letters, four of them, and send them back to in the mail with SASEs. He put two into each and mailed them both. I got one of the pairs last week early and those went into the packets. Yesterday came the second pair, postmarked Jan5th, and arriving to my mail box the 16th...

So that is why yesterday marked the last of the shipping elements, and I am sure everyone knows that overnighting packages is not cheap. Immensely cool that they can get it there, across country, that fast, but not cheap.

Mail or Institution?

That is the question in the blame game. So, where are my transcripts? Still have yet to arrive and I have 10 applications just sitting in my living room that could have been out a week ago that... are still laying on my floor. There is no reason they should not be here. Sac State and Folsom Lake, here two weeks ago, or wait, maybe more... Chico State, across town, still not here. Monday, better be, or they ship and I will have to overnight 10 transcripts in envelopes.

Stinko!

Shipping and Handling

Just a short note: hopefully my Chico State transcripts arrive today. That will mark the final item I need to fill the packet to be sent to each University. The extra printing cartridge was picked up last night, thank you Circuit City, and so I will be able to print off the last of my writing samples and statements of purpose this afternoon. The holidays delayed the transcripts it seems, but it does not explain why both Sacramento State and Cosumnes River colleges were able to get my transcripts to me almost a week and and a half ago. Conspiracy of some sort, we can certain of that. So, hopefully a trip to the Post Office this evening and, like so many doves released into the sky, my future hopes and dreams will fly off to various parts of the South and East coasts.

And then we wait...

More Funny Rabbids

Yes! Love me some rabbids. Hot from Rayman 4 and ready for the holidays, although this is a post script to the holidays we have all recently enjoyed, here is the rabbids holiday offering.



posting from the lovely home in Folsom, L and I had a great New Years. Thanks to Budiak and significant for the good time.