So, I've been working away at my master's thesis. I've been outlining, writing, and reading for hours on end. I have to admit, it gets to making one feel pretty smart. And it's a necessary feeling in order to give my thoughts and arguments that intellectual weight which keeps them going. But it's sad times when I'm mocked in my brilliance by my slippers. I always wear my slippers in the house. My feet get too cold just socked. When I read, I like to stretch out my legs and prop my feet up on a little ottoman. When I get a brilliant, earth-and-academy-shattering inspiration, I look up from my book and down at my slippers, where my idea is immediately belittled by Stupid Slipper Face. I worked up a little drawing in Microsoft Paint to show what I mean (please forgive the wonky technology, but then again, don't knock Paint). On the left is a crude rendition of my slipper. On the right, Stupid Slipper Face: In conclusion, I'm never going to get this thesis done.
1. I don't want to steal anyone's thunder, but I am pretty thrilled about one of us moving.
2. In related news, I'm getting excited about the Shoebox Tour coming here.
3. I think many of you would like this song Sean shared.
This Lent I gave up watching TV, movies, or just about any video by myself (living alone = hours of Law & Order reruns on Netflix = pathetic life). An unanticipated consequence was my discovery of podcasts.
I spent some time listening around, but I've settled on a favorite: Hang Up and Listen, Slate's sport podcast. The contributors offer insightful and funny commentary, and they are, generally speaking, professionals in a genre of amateurs. Their afterball segments are especially enjoyable--a few three-minute featurettes on, well, whatever struck each contributor.
Podcast mania has segued into a rediscovery of This American Life. Chase and I used to listen to the occasional episode on the way to bed in the apartment, but I haven't made a point to listen to it since college. I am now thoroughly hooked again. I just bought the app yesterday so I could listen to it while biking to the gym--which marks the first time I've paid money for an iPhone app.
Many of you are probably already aware of the most recent episode--the retraction of Mike Daisey's Apple/Foxconn episode. If you aren't, you should go listen to it. I have most loved the Middle School episode, where Ira Glass interviews a 14-year-old girl about her experience in middle school. She thoughtfully articulates exactly what I've been observing as teacher these last few months. Hearing it come from her mouth, however, lends those thoughts a great deal of poignancy--and reinvigorated my flagging enthusiasm for this semester.
Recently on the Ogden's porch, we had a low-grade argument about the value of This American Life. Sean thinks it rather nihilistically revolves around sad things for the sake of sadness, rather than actually seeking to tell American stories. I'm not so sure.
The question that everyone is asking, of course: Is this the best sports GIF ever?
I say yes. But you can see for yourself over here. Apparently March Madness warrants a bracket for everything. That's fine with me. Especially if animated GIFs are involved. I love me some animated GIFs.
It's March again, and time for The Sad Bear's second annual March Madness challenge.
Followers of the blog, like last year, are invited to get in on the action and challenge our brackets.
If you think you can beat us, join our group on the NCAA's "official bracket challenge" (trademark, probably). Even if you don't think you can beat us (you probably will) and know nothing about basketball (really, you have a good chance), you're invited.
Send me an email at cppurdy [at] gmail [dot] com by Wednesday and I will officially invite you to the group.
Thanks to a co-worker, I had the distinct pleasure of running into this video, which serves as an advertisement for The Guardian newspaper over in England. Enjoy.
