Alrighty. So, usually I’m not really very concerned with being seen as normal. Very few things I do are normal. I generally think that normal is stupid. Not because I’m some dumbass anti-conformist, it’s because I thrive on logic, and logic and the norm rarely intersect. Yet, there is an issue in which I am concerned with whether or not something is so far from the norm that it will make me look TOTALLY bizarre and weird. 

Whether you know it or not, I am really into fashion. If I had my choice, I would have a wardrobe costing upwards of one million dollars. Like, really. Not because I’m a snob, just because I really get into everything aesthetic, and clothing is no exception.

The best fashion magazine in the world is called “W”. For those of you who have read it, you know what I mean. It blows any of its competitors straight out of the water. I love to read it every chance I get. And today I received an offer in the mail (don’t ask me why) to purchase a subscription for a VERY low price. It’s a totally steal, like a dollar an issue (and trust me, this magazine is worth like 5 or 10 times that in my opinion).

So what’s the problem? Well, this magazine focuses almost entirely on women’s fashion. Now when it comes to fashion, I don’t discriminate: I like it all. It all interests me greatly. The Fashion Channel is actually one of the few I constantly check to see what’s on when I have cable access. I like to keep up just as much on the latest fashion for women as I do for men. It even helps to get me interested in a girl if she tends to have a good fashion sense. Believe it or not I have actually traced that to the girls who I have been interested in.

The issue should be clear by now: Is it totally weird for a heterosexual male to get a women’s fashion magazine? I REALLY want to get it, but I have a feeling that anyone seeing me carry it around, or seeing it laying around my room might think I’m a total weirdo. I mean, let’s face it – it’s unusual enough to find a guy really interested in men’s fashion, much the less women’s fashion.

So your role in all this is to give me feedback. What do you think? Too weird or okay? Let me know what you think.

As you may have noticed, I haven’t written a journal entry in well over a week. There’s good reason for that – a little thing called “Spring Break.” I was at home in South Florida. It’s not that I didn’t have computer access, it’s just that I was morally opposed to doing anything even resembling work, and that even includes writing journal entries. But alas, I am back in Ithaca, so the journal entries can flow again.

I would, in fact, like to dedicate this journal entry to the joyous occasion that was Spring Break. To be honest, I can’t really write about what I did, because I didn’t really do anything of substance. That’s the great part about break. I just kind of hung out, laid out by the pool, slept in, watched some movies, etc. But there was one thing that is definitely worth mentioning.

The very last part of Spring Break was, quite logically, my plane ride back to Ithaca. It turns out I had a layover in Atlanta (West Palm Beach to Atlanta; Atlanta to Syracuse). On the first plane, the West Palm Beach to Atlanta flight, I sat next to this girl. Now, I’m not usually one to talk to random people on airplanes. To be quite honest, I tend to detest when annoying people start talking to me. Somehow this was different.

First, this girl was totally beautiful. It’s kind of hard not to respond to a beautiful girl when she starts the conversation; so I did. And to my surprise, she wasn’t your typical beautiful girl who couldn’t speak in complete sentences; she was amusing, intelligent, and all around pretty cool to talk to. So we talked about this and that, and connected really well.

Now, for anyone reading this who doesn’t know me, it usually takes me awhile to feel comfortable talking to someone. Only on very rare occasions do I find people that I really click with that I can just talk to when I first meet them. Well, this girl was definitely one of those rare few. So we talked almost the whole time and it was a really nice trip.

If you haven’t guessed by now, my view of this girl is that she is absolutely perfect. Beautiful, half Cuban, her father is a head of finance at one of the largest cap corporations in the U.S., fun, smart, and any other positive adjectives you can think of. The problem? She goes to University of Georgia. So the plane ride would likely be the first and last time that we would ever talk. As a result, being a realist, I didn’t even bother asking her for her number or anything like that.

In the retrospect? I totally should have. I’ve only connected like this to someone when I first met them a few times in my life. So she’s in Georgia. I could have found a summer internship in Georgia, who knows. But I ruined it. Now I can only hope that by some accident of fate we run into each other again sometime. Of course, I’m not holding my breath, but a guy can dream, right?

So there’s this radio station at home called “Power96”. It’s a great Miami-based radio station. It plays “party music,” which basically consists of dance music, rap, r&b, etc. It has been my favorite radio station for at least 5 years. I was so in love with this station freshman year, that I had my (then) girlfriend send me a tape of the station to listen to here. Luckily, the next semester they got a live stream over the internet. These days you can walk by my room and there’s about an 80% chance you’ll hear it.  

Like most popular stations, even this one has a few drawbacks. The first problem is that they do overplay songs. For all intensive purposes it’s a “rhythmic top 40” station. There is a little variation, they play a great deal of old school, freestyle, and latin music, but its mostly the current hits. I can live with that. The greater issue is the enormous amount of commercials. The air time is nearly 1/3 commercials. For every half hour, they pay about 10 minutes of commercials.

So recently, a new radio station has been taking South Florida by storm. I forget the name now (it’s been 2 months), but it plays strictly dance music. That means trance, techno, etc. The real kicker – it has about 2 minutes of commercials per half hour. This new station has presented a great alternative to Power96 for those who dislike commercials and prefer strictly dance music.

As it turns out, I dislike commercials and prefer strictly dance music. Thus, this station was a perfect match for me. At first I felt bad; it was like I was cheating on power96, but eventually I gave in. I figure if power96 doesn’t do something to compete, then they deserve to lose me as a listener.

Well, then power96 decided to do something about the commercials issue. It was actually a rather brilliant idea. Many stations have had contests where, when they play a certain song, the listeners call in and win something. Well, power96 did something similar, only instead of a specific song, they make it specific commercials! As a result, they have increased the demand for commercials. People now WANT to hear the commercials, because they want to be able to call in and win money. It was their perfect solution. They couldn’t compete with the new station otherwise.

While I openly admit that this was an ingenius plan, I’m not sure how I feel about it. I mean, it’s kind of sketchy. They admit that they play way too many commercials, but rather than attack the problem, they try to make light of it. It’s like rather than cleaning your room, you just throw the junk under your bed. The problem still exists, but they’ve masked it. And it certainly doesn’t help me, since I can’t win from Ithaca. In fact, they do not even play the commercials on the internet stream.

So where will my loyalties end up? To be honest, if I could listen to the new Dance Music station at school, I would. Unfortunately, they do not yet have a stream. As a result, I have been a dedicated power96 listener as usual this semester. When I go home? Well I’d have to say that the Dance Music station will grace my dial far more often than power96. I can’t really visualize myself calling in a music station to win a couple hundred dollars, so the incentive isn’t there for me to listen to commercials. And I still think that their plan is a little bit suspect. But I gotta hand it to them, they definitely found a way to have their commercials and appease most listeners as well. And I still love a few of their DJs, so I don’t mind listening to it here at school!

So recently something happened that pissed me off. Have you ever been in a situation where someone tried to deceive you? Not necessarily in a very serious way, but they tried to pull a fast one on you, ya know? 

Sometimes this works. Some people are so dense, correction – most people are so dense, that it’s easy to pull a fast one on them. Luckily, I am not one of these people. As a result, when someone tries to pull a fast one on me, I’m not fooled. It’s one of those pleasantries of being me.

You too probably would love to have the ability to recognize when this is happening to you, so let me give you some tips. First, always pay attention to change. If something changes, then that usually means something. For example, let’s say you have this friend who is always complaining about everything. Then one day, when you talk to them, they’re suddenly really pleasant and use all their words saying nice things about you. Something isn’t right here. This is an extreme example. These changes are usually far more subtle, so you need to be very good at paying attention to change. In fact, often such changes are merely an omission of the norm.

So you have this abnormality, then what? Well, first you need to make sure it’s really an abnormality. In my example above, maybe this abnormality is just a permanent change. Maybe this friend who used to complain all the time finally got laid and now s/he has a different outlook on life; who knows. Chances are better than not, however, that the abnormality is not a permanent change, and something is up. Humans are creatures of habit.

Okay, you’ve got a definite abnormality. How does it affect you? That’s sometimes the hard part. Sometimes it’s obvious. In the example above, perhaps this person wants something from you and is trying to butter you up. But the really fun part is when it isn’t obvious. Why is it fun? Because now you get to do some problem solving. That’s where the critical thinking comes in. You need to try to logically deduce what this abnormality can signify. This is the part that most people will have a problem with; critical thinking doesn’t come easily to most.

Luckily, my life revolves around critical thinking. Physics and Philosophy – c’mon people, critical thinking is a way of life. That’s why it amuses me so much when I catch people trying to deceive me, because they don’t succeed. It only takes two talents to make sure that you catch ‘em: Being highly observant (so to recognize the change) and strong critical thinking skills (to analyze the change).

Now comes the REALLY fun part. You have two options: You can confront them or you can let it go and just be amused that they think they pulled one over on you. I usually choose the latter, just because it’s more amusing. I love it when people think they’re so slick, when you know the truth. Then you’re holding a trump card. If you’re ever in a situation where you need something from them, or they threaten you, you have an instant measure of retaliation. This might seem harsh, but don’t forget: They deceived you; they deserve it. Heck, they’ve earned it.

So to my reader, I hope that you do not fall in the boat of the many who have tried and failed to deceive me. You may be in the boat and not even be aware. If you have ever tried to pull a fast one over on me, and think I don’t know, then you’re wrong. Don’t trip. I’m holding that trump card and I have it ready in case I ever need it.

I have the gift of being blessed with thick, fast growing facial hair. That means that I can grow a serious beard in like 2 weeks. Lately, I haven’t felt like shaving; and thus, I have grown a “serious” beard in about 2 weeks.

Who cares? Probably no one. I don’t even think I do. So why am I wasting your time talking about it? Because the whole reason you bother reading journal entries is to procrastinate, right?

Okay, I do have a point. Beards are fun. They’re fun for a couple of reasons. First, they’re fun because they drastically change your appearance. I’ve gotten all kinds of amusing comments the past week. People have said that I look like a carpenter, Al from “Home Improvement”, a terrorist, and more. I was wearing a wool cap and snuck up behind this girl I know the other day while she was walking and scared the bejesus out of her. She thought I was “some scary guy.” A beard can do all this and more.

A beard can also reveal how others perceive people. It’s really fascinating. For instance, you can do an incredible case study on discrimination by growing a beard. Yes! People with beards ARE discriminated against. Having a beard is not a societal norm, so people are wary of those who have one. They also just treat you differently in general. Let me give you a few for instances. First, if there was any chance of my getting a date before, that’s all clearly gone out the window with a beard. Chicks don’t dig beards. I can’t say that I blame ‘em – I wouldn’t really want to kiss a guy with a big thick beard either. (Come to think of it I wouldn’t want to kiss a guy in general, buy you know what I mean.) So beards are a great girl deterrent. For some reason beards also imply poor hygiene. It is completely ridiculous to believe this to be true, but the connotation is definitely there. It’s much easier to not have people sit next to me in class with a beard than without. And then I have somewhere to put my coat and backpack, pretty sweet.

Finally, beards are just fun in the raw physical sense. I had prelims this week, and it is definitely amusing to be able to run your hand down your chin when thinking about a prelim question. It’s also fun to smile with a beard. That might seem ridiculous, but it feels funny and it kind of tickles when you smile. So I’ve been smiling a lot this week, not really because I’m happier than usual, but because it’s fun to.

So with this glowing commentary on beards, what will be the fate of mine? Unfortunately, it will suffer an untimely death tomorrow evening. The beard is fun, but enough is enough. But it isn’t all going at once. I plan on creating an even more hideous facial hair creation tomorrow evening. It’ll consist of huge, huge, pork chop sideburns and just the “tastesaver”. What’s a tastesaver you ask? It’s that little patch of hair below the lower lip. Why is it called a tastesaver? Use your imagination. Why am I creating another hideous facial hair creation? Just for fun. I like to get people’s reactions, and it’s an amusing look for me. But alas, even if will only last about a week: When I arrive home for Spring Break I will shave it all. Facial hair definitely impedes the tanning process, which I just can’t let happen. The moral here is that if you were ever thinking about growing a beard, go for it, even if it’s only temporary. It’s fun!

I was thinking about something recently that amused me, so I figured, why not make it into a journal entry, right? It actually occurred to me a few weeks ago, and since I have just kind of kept noticing this thing in action. What I’m talking about is what I like to call the “I’m More Miserable Than You Game.”

Undoubtedly, not everyone has played this game. Here at school, however, this game is played hundreds of times a day by hundreds of people. Here’s how the game works: Someone says something bad about their day/week/life. For instance, they have a really bad prelim that night. Then someone who hears them sympathizes, and counters them with something even worse, like having 2 prelims that night. Then the first person (or perhaps another person) tries to out-do their thing with something even worse, like 2 prelims that night and a meeting afterwards until midnight.

People who go to school with me are, no doubt, familiar with this game. We’ve all played it one time or another. A few things strike me as interesting about this game. First, why the heck do we play? Is it because we want sympathy from those around us? Is it because we enjoy hearing others who have it as bad as us? Does that somehow justify our misery in our demented minds? Is this the kind of twisted logic that our university has taught us to embrace? I don’t know why it helps to hear that others are miserable; it probably doesn’t. But somehow, it seems to. Kind of strange – maybe we’re sadists and masochists? We just love pain around here I think.

Don’t think that last comment is true? Well then why do we (consistently) try to win the “I’m More Miserable Than You Game?” By winning, you are the one who has the most miserable condition, so that no one can possibly counter you. Now, intuitively, it would really suck to have a miserable life, but somehow, there is a feeling of satisfaction when you prove that your life is more miserable than someone else’s.

Here’s an example: A few weeks ago, a friend of mine was talking about how bad her Fridays were. She began by complaining about all of the classes she had on Fridays. She made the first move in the game. I countered by saying that I had 4 classes on Friday. She said that she had 4 too (not a winning move, but she was ready to settle for the tie). I then countered by saying that my classes started at 8:40am, and one of my classes was a 75 minute class. She replied, “Oh. That does really suck.” Alas, I “won” the game. As a result, I felt an enormous amount of satisfaction. Yet, what had I proven? I had proven that my life sucked. Why, in God’s name, would that produce a good feeling? Why would one even consider this “winning”? I mean, let’s face it, I may have “won” this game, but I clearly lost the battle of having a pleasant Friday. Personally, I’d opt for the latter.

So what’s the moral of the story? Probably that life here is pretty messed up – so messed up that we’ve convinced ourselves that misery is desirable. That said, I’d be happy to play the “I’m More Miserable Than You Game” anytime. Sadly, I have to warn you, I rarely lose.

Below is a piece that I wrote for the Hall Newsletter. Hopefully they’ll put it in there, but it might be a bit too long. Time will tell. I chopped a lot of the elaboration out because I was trying to get the size down. So if stuff is misunderstood, let me know and I’ll elaborate! Here it is. I hope column will be called:

Some words from the PA (Philosophically Adept)

Libertarianism and Drug Legalization

Libertarianism has been sweeping intellectual circles for the past few years. Many who acquire this political view are attracted to it not for its own sake, but for its consequences. In particular, some are attracted to its support of the legalization of drugs. I would like to provide a short argument that intends to show that this purported consequence of the mainstream libertarian view is mistaken through the libertarian’s own criteria.

First, I will understand libertarianism to be defined as the political belief that individuals should only be restrained by the law when acting in such a way as to bring harm another. When I use the term “drugs” throughout this treatise, I do not mean drugs like Advil, Penicillin, or other such types. Instead, I mean drugs that are commonly referred to as “illegal drugs,” but particularly mind altering drugs.

The libertarian believes that the government should not be paternal. Instead, the government’s job should be to protect her and to make sure that her rights and liberty are not violated. The libertarian wants the government to govern as little as possible because she believes in the theory of the rational actor, wherein a person is responsible for herself. This is an utterly essential view for the libertarian to hold: If a person cannot be said to be rational, then there is a very strong argument for a government of rational actors to watch over those who are not capable of being rational.

Since individuals are rational actors, they should be able to take care of themselves and make decisions for themselves. Now enters the libertarian claim that all drugs should be made legal. Even if these drugs may be physically damaging, the actor will have knowledge of this and is willing to take that risk for herself.

For a moment I implore the reader to think about what happens when one takes a mind altering drug: One’s mind is altered. These drugs skew one’s sense of reality – that is their very purpose. They alter the mind in such a way that things seem to be different than they actually are. As a result, the drugs impair one’s ability to act rationally. For example, if someone under the influence of a hallucinogenic drug believes that she is shooting her friend with a water gun, when in reality she grabbed a real gun and has shot and killed her friend, then this was not a rational decision. This individual did not rationally decide, “I think I will shoot my friend with a gun, and consequently kill my friend.”

This is a problem for the libertarian: She is condoning something which impairs rationality as a rule. Those under the influence of drugs are no longer rational actors. Earlier, however, it was asserted that the libertarian argument only works because they assume that people are rational actors. Thus, for those under the influence of drugs, the libertarian argument will not work.

Interestingly, this consequence does not result in the libertarian saying that people cannot take drugs; it says that they cannot be under the influence of drugs. Yet, what sense can one make of the idea that someone can take a drug, but not be under the influence of it without the law intervening? The only practical way to reconcile this problem is to disallow people to take the drug, because surely taking the drug will cause the undesired consequence.

I hope that this argument has shown a problem with the libertarian position in regard to the legalization of mind altering drugs. If the libertarian wants to hold onto their rational actor argument, which she uses as the foundation for her position, then she needs to deny the use of drugs. The next time someone you know says that they are a libertarian because they believe in the legalization of drugs, feel free to break them this bad news.

Today I was reminded of a song I really like. The song is called “Every Time it Rains,” by Ace of Base. Whether you know it or not, I am a huge Ace of Base fan. Most people only know them for their trite dance music, but they actually have some seriously intense lyrical talent. Their production is also second to none. I own all of their albums; they’re probably my 2nd favorite group, after Stone Temple Pilots (see “Sex Type Thing”, 2-26-02). I do not wish to interpret this song, because I think it is self-explanatory. Here it is:

I see dark clouds out my window
I know the storm is coming any minute
And the thunder just confirms my fears
And I know the tears are in there
I’ll be crying unable to stop
Look here comes the very first drop

‘Cause every time it rains
I fall to pieces
So many memories the rain releases
I feel you… I taste you
I cannot forget
Every time it rains… I get wet

Darling I am still in love with you
As time passes by it just intensifies
I know I’ll never be with you again
I’ll never find another with that kindness in his eyes
I’ll be trying unable to stop
Look here comes the very first drop

‘Cause every time it rains
I fall to pieces
So many memories the rain releases
I feel you… I taste you
I cannot forget
Every time it rains… I get wet

On sunny days I’m all right
I walk in the light
And I try not to think about
The love I live without

But every time it rains
I fall to pieces
So many memories the rain releases
I feel you… I taste you
I cannot forget
Every time it rains… I get wet
‘Cause every time it rains
I fall to pieces
So many memories the rain releases
I feel you… I taste you
I cannot forget
Every time it rains… I get wet
‘Cause every time it rains
I fall to pieces
So many memories the rain releases
I feel you… I taste you
I cannot forget
Every time it rains… I get wet