It appears I've got some minor flu or something. My neck has been sore for the last 4 days and today I got a light but persistent headache. Good news is I found out that the Kerr Cafeteria, where I eat, serves soup every day. I had two bowls of warm soup and felt immediately better!
If anybody talks with my mother about this, please be careful. She's capable of mailing me antibiotics and then we'll all end up in Guantanamo on biological warfare charges!
With the enormous amount of $15 left in my bank account until Friday, I was very glad to find out that the College Inn, the dorm I live in, features a small but very interesting library. I had already finished the books that I had brought with me from Greece, Stephen King's 'Wizard and Glass' and William Gibson's 'Pattern Recognition', so I was in desperate need of new material.
There were a lot of interesting books in the mini College Inn library but I finally settled on a hardback edition of Dean Koontz's 'From the Corner of His Eye'. I found it rather satisfying and I can say that by drawing comparisons to an older novel of his, the famous 'Watchers', I was able to understand his mindframe all the more better. His private little 'fixations' include extremely polarized manifestations of good and evil that are bound by fate (the dog and the monster in 'Watchers', Bartholomew and Enoch Kain in 'From the Corner of His Eye') and groups of people that are forged into 'families' of some kind through great adversity. There even was a tribute to 'Watchers' hidden in FTCOHE: there is a little girl, called Angel, that keeps asking for a puppy. Eventually she decides that she wants a puppy that talks!
After many trips to you-know-where-I-do-most-of-my-reading, I finished the Koontz book and had to refill. It was a tough decision. I actually flirted with rereading Asimov's Foundation series (they have at least the first 3 books) which was an all-time favourite in my early teens. When I found out that there was a hardback(!) edition of 'Tribulation Force' available, I knew that my search was over. It is book number two in the infamous 'Left Behind' series. It is argueably the fiction literature analogue of a bucket of s#@%t. Taking into account where I read it, I find the whole issue extremely amusing!
Anyway, the basic storyline begins with a large part of the population disappearing without a trace. Apparently, God has hand-picked His own and the rest must live through seven years of hardship, called the Tribulation. The lead characters, a small group known as the 'Tribulation Force', are people who turned from infidels to devoted Christians in about 30 minutes. Now, their only concern is to defeat Nicolae Carpathia, the europian UN Secretary General and also (ofcourse) the Antichrist. Having read about 45 pages, I have already been treated to such literary gems as:
There's plenty of evidence that Carpathia fits the prophetic descriptions. He's deceptive. He's charming. People are flocking to support him. He has been thrust to power, seemingly against his own wishes. He's pushing a one-world goverment, a one-world currency, a treaty with Israel, moving the UN to Babylon(!). That alone proves it. What are the odds that one man would promote all these things and not be the Antichrist?
The main characters are acting exactly like newly initiated fanatics of a para-religious cult. They are willing to forego their jobs, education and relationships to pursue their cause and have a fail-proof Bible-centric explanation for just about everything. I am having tons of fun, but if one actually takes into account how popular these books are, things appear rather grim. Take a look at the site www.leftbehind.com and you'll see a large part of what's wrong with this country.
The big news of the week is that Albert, one of my officemates, got married! I can't even begin to describe the shock. You see Albert is a really cool and relaxed guy and (probably) is actually younger than me. And he got married yesterday! If any of my friends in Greece intends to get married, please break the news to me as carefully as possible. Anyway, people here in the Bible Belt, tend to marry at a really tender age. Once they finish college, they get engaged and pretty soon married. Funny thing is that I don't think they are that religious (you know 'living in sin' and stuff). It's just ... the way they do things down here. Plus I've been told that the credit system allows them to get decent loans to get their homestead started. So they don't hesitate on financial grounds as young adults in Greece do. It's still very very weird.
Remember the exam I gave in my two 1010 sections the previous Thursday? After some really exhausting grading sessions, I handed it back this Thursday. I was very pleasantly surprised since both sections did incredibly well. The average was somewhere around 75% and I only got 7 people out of 75 with grades below 50%. The exam was not easy and I am not really lennient with my grading, so the stats are pretty impressive. I still got people whinning about their grades, which pissed me off to be honest. Each time I enter the classroom, I learn something valuable about teaching. Sometimes I screw things up royally, but therein hide some of the most valuable lessons, I guess :-)
Remember those two paranoid mice, the Pinkey and the Brain? Remember how they always schemed to 'take over the world'? Well, you can forget about them. The new millenium belongs to the ...('Imperial March' from Star Wars)... Albino Squirrels from Denton!
Well, the UNT Campus seems to be flooded with squirrels these days. When I first came, I would see one squirrel every two days maybe. Now they seem to be everywhere! They climb on walls with the same ease they climb trees, so they sometimes look like little furry superheroes as they cling to the face of the buildings. Their frequent appearances would be funny I guess, if not for the whole Albino Squirrel buisiness. You see there is an urban legend that claims the presence of one or more squirrels with snow-white fur and red eyes in the campus. There are even photos of these albinos, although I am not sure they are indeed from campus. Do these abberations guide their brown brethren towards some hidden ulterior goal? Will Denton be overrun by the Rodent Menace? What will the President do about this?!
On a less end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it tone, I am sitting at another 'artistic' Denton coffee house, the Brickhaus Cafe. It looks like an unholy crossbreed between an Exarchia 'alternative' cafe and the Starbucks. If you compare the 'Pita Pan' fast-food souvlaki with the 'Kavouras' souvlatzidiko on Exarchia Square, you'll understand the relationship between the Starbucks and this place. It probably used to be some kind of garage, because it reminds me a bit of the summer mornings when my father would take me with him to the garage where he worked. Large open space, worn tables and chairs and bare concrete walls. No visible grease though :-)
One of the guys from the Math Department came over to Denton for a couple of weeks, as a guest of Prof.Alikakos. I've known him since my first day as an undergrad, so it's kind of weird him being here. Anyway, it was funny talking in Greek in front of the Americans. I kept thinking that I could release a torrent of profanities and it just wouldn't register. I am pretty sure they don't even know the infamous Malakas word over here (good luck trying that in England).
It's been almost a week since my last entry. Let's just say I've kept myself a little buzy. I gave away the first midterm exam in my MATH 1010 sections on Thursday, and now I am sitting at 'Jupiter's House', grading my way through the pile of papers. Did you know that 2+3=6? Well, my students seem to love it! Oh dear God, what else will my poor eyes see by the end of the day?!
Anyway, I find myself thinking more and more like a teacher. I met two of my students in the cafeteria yesterday; they were shouting 'Professor Vantzos, Professor Vantzos!' and I was like 'who, me?!'. I am really worried on a Carmic basis, since I didn't have a really high opinion of most of my teachers ad now it looks like its payback time.
I watched David Cronenberg's 'Crash' yesterday and I found it pretty interesting. There seems to be a pervasive 'technology/science bonds/alienates the human body/mind' theme to almost all of his fims. We have means of transport in 'Crash', typewriters in 'Naked Lunch', TV in 'Videodrome', medicine in 'Scanners', virtual reality in 'ExistenZ', all bonding with the human body most of the times in a visceral/organic/sexual way. The human mind in Cronenberg's films is always accessed through the weaknesses of the human body, almost never directly. Perverse organic needs and their satisfaction through artificial means is what drives Cronenbergian Evolution, not higher ideals or spiritual quests. It quite frankly doesn't resonate with me, but I do detect a hidden optimistic message to it; even dysfunctional people that are completely commanded by their obsessions have a chance at ascension through the very thing that ruins their lives. I sure miss the 'Mage: the Ascension' RPG some times!
I'd like to say a word or two about Denton. It is just a small town, the essential opposite of Athens, but I find myself liking it more and more. I can see the main square with the Town Hall (I think) from where I am sitting and the whole scenery has a soothening effect on me. People here are pretty laid-back and they always seem to find time to read a book or even play some music. It's pretty bohemian!
My quest for a cheap ticket for the Winter Break continues...
Don't you just hate it when you feel tired, but you simply can't sleep? I absolutely loathe it!
Anyway, I went this morning to that cafe place in Denton, which is actually called 'Jupiter's House', and listened to some live music. This place is on one side of Denton's central square. On my way back, I got confused and left from the wrong side of the square. The result was me getting hopelessly lost and walking a huge distance in the hot Texas sun. The place here is so flat and the houses look really similar, so I had absolutely no idea I was heading in the wrong direction!
These days, I am watching movies directed by Kevin Smith (Mallrats, Clerks) and Richard Linklater (Waking Life, School of Rock). Now, Linklater is from Austin,TX, and many of his movies are shot there (for instance Dazed and Confused). There are many Austin people here at UNT and they tell me that Denton looks a lot like Austin, so if you want to see what the place here looks like check 'Dazed and Confused'. It's supposed to be late 70s, but it still reminded me of Denton.
Enough for now. I'll try and sleep :-P
I have been listening to Rock FM 96.3 over the Internet and they keep advertising what seems to be the last 'Pyx Lax' concert! Is it true people? I mean, I am not a fan or anything, but I have had my fair share of listening to their songs and getting drunk after breaking up and stuff. It's a freaking tradition, for Christ's sake! What will happen to all the people with Pyx-Lax Syndrome now?
Pyx-Lax Syndrome: The irrational behaviour of getting really drunk and listening to melodramatic music (which you would normally never listen to) about people getting really drunk and listening to melodramatic music ... well you get the idea. Acute cases don't even need a particular reason to lapse into such behaviour. Originally identified by Nikos Vlaseros.
Yes, today is the 3rd anniversary of the 9/11. Apparently, Denton, TX doesn't really care! You see, today is the first football game of the season and folks here at UNT are in a really festive mood. It's 'Mean Green' time! My knowledge of (american) football is about equivalent to my knowledge of brain surgery, so I don't really feel like participating. Plus, the only place in campus where I could eat on Saturday evening is closed for the game, and therefore I have to eat outside. I chose to give 'Mr. Chopsticks' a try, and that's where I am at the moment, drinking 'Singha' thai beer and waiting for my 'United Jumbo Fried Rice'.
Remember me complaining about coffee shops, etc.? Well, I walked to downtown Denton this morning and located a rather decent coffee shop called 'Jupiter's Place' (or something very similar to that). It serves an assortment of Starbuck-style coffees and it actually had customers reading or using their laptops. These last two days the temperature has gone haywire, so a cold coffee, good music and an interesting book in an airconditioned place felt like 7th heaven to me. So, I'll just keep complaining about stuff and hope for the best ;-)
I have been looking all over the Net for cheap tickets to Greece, and it appears I might be able to come to Greece during Winter Break. It's a bit early to really tell, but I'm working on it. Ups, my food has arrived, got to go!
I am sitting in my office nice and quiet, doing my homework and stuff, when I suddenly realize that one of my office roommates is staring at me. I give him an inquisitive counter-stare and try to figure out what's wrong with me. And then suddenly, I get it...
I am holding a coffee mug with the map of the London Underground (aka the Tube) on it. The background of my laptop is the exact same map. And to top that, I am wearing a London Underground logo t-shirt with 'Mind the Gap' inscribed. I am a living advertisement for the freaking Tube!
Anyway, the mug and the t-shirt are gifts from two people that I hold very very dear and are therefore (especially the mug) of extreme sentimental value. No way I would leave that mug back in Greece. Now, as for the laptop background, I just happen to be fascinated with the Tube map. Simple as that...
Yes ladies and gentlemen, it's laundry day(night) again. I've put my clothes into the nefarious washing machines and once again I must wait. So I thought I might as well write a blog entry. I am sitting outdoors, in the courtyard of the College Inn next to the swimming pool (oh, the luxury of it!). My company is a plastic owl(!) and the Doors. Don't ask..
Tuesdays and Thursdays are ultra hard work; I teach two 1010 classes in the morning and then I have two more classes to attend. By 5:00pm, I can barely spell my name. Anyway, today was pretty OK. The 1010 sections went very smooth, which I found rather satisfying. I even gave a pop-quiz. As if people weren't nervous enough about that, I turned the projector on and had a huge clock projected on the blackboard. Then I started pacing back and forth and totally annoyed people. And there was this guy, that came after I had handed out the quiz, so I didn't let him in until after the quiz. Now, this wasn't as much fun as watching over the June final exams back in Greece, where two classes of math undergrads will curse my name forever, but it was fun nevertheless :-)
I got word from Greece (thanx Reggina ;-) about the event with the Albania-Greece football match. Now, I am not a football fan myself, but I did have a great time this summer with the EURO 2004 [SIKOSEEE TO TO GAMIMEEENOOO....]. So, it's very sad to see greek football turned back into the good ol' beat-em-up-til-they-don-move thing we all know and hate. As for the racist angle of the events, it was to be expected after a very uplifting summer for Greece. It's the downside of EURO 2004 and the Olympics. Extreme right-wing people feel that after this summer, they are the only voice that can express our national pride loud and clear. And the hell with everybody, eg. Albanians, that speaks otherwise. I don't want to believe that the average Greek agrees with what happened to the Albanians, just because they did what we have been doing all summer long. I have to admit though that I don't have a clear picture of what's going on in Athens; I just read an article on Eleutherotypia's site and listened to some greek radio stations. Please do email me with any news.
There are a couple of free newspapers available at the campus and they sometimes have useful info. For instance, check the following ad for a job:
DREAM JOB
* Country club membership
* Use of co. Limo
* Lay-down prospects
* $100k salary
If you find one like this, let me know.
If you are looking for a career opportunity in outside sales call Pete at 9**-***-**** to schedule a confidential interview.
(Don't quit your day job, folks :-)
Anyway, these newspapers remind me of the infamous Athens Voice that I used to read back in Athens. The thing that only Athens Voice provides though, is Infallible Spiritual Guidance. I am talking about the horoscope section of the Athens Voice ofcourse. I've never seen anything coming even close in terms of astrological expertise. The entity that writes that stuff is Karma Police incarnate. Any of you guys (and gals) back in Athens care to email me my Athens Voice horoscope now and then? Pretty please?!
PS: I am an Aquarius, as you probably know.
OK, every intelligent Star Wars fan in the known universe agrees that the Phantom Menace was the most convincing sign that the year 2K would actually bring the Apocalypse down on us. But the 95 Theses Against The Phantom Menace page elevates negative movie reviews to an art. I quote thesis number 88:
"Qui Gon's funeral is the least-sad thing I have ever watched in my whole life. Pol Pot dying disturbed me more."
:-O
The places were you can eat here, inside the UNT Campus, are called cafeterias, which sounds kind of Mexican I guess. They don't have much to do with coffee unfortunately, although you can have some, if that's what you want. I would really like to find a place here to sit, have a cup of coffee and really focus on what I am doing. I used to do that in the Greek cafeterias, which are coffee shops really, but I haven't found anything similar here. Anyway, the next best thing is the Kerr Hall cafeteria. People, me included, eat here and the food is actually pretty good, but I also stick around after I'm done with lunch, have some coffee and study or maybe update this blog. I get some weird looks, but who cares!
I realized today that I am eating far more vegetables here than I ever did in Greece. They have very nice salad bars in all the cafeterias and I have been taking full advantage of that. My only problem is that I keep looking for the little bottle of olive oil that even the most down-trodden Greek tavern accompanies every salad with. It's just not there! They don't use olive oil here at all; it costs too much I guess. Well, I can assure you that it makes a huge difference in taste. It's one more thing I miss...
My lack of observational skills never seizes to amaze me: after two whole weeks, I found out that the brand new pair of boots that I brought from Greece with me is completely useless. The right boot is two sizes larger than the left! How the hell could I miss that!?
I visit Apple's trailer site practically every day and I just watched a trailer about what appears to be a rather ordinary american documentary about a school project. The project involved asking Holocaust survivors and descentants of Holocaust victims from around the world to send a single paperclip to the school, so that the children would have tangible evidence of the existence and true extent of the event. Apparently the project met with unexpected success and hence the documentery, called Paper Clips.
Now I wouldn't be writting about this if not for a small detail. Why paperclips? It is a historical fact, as a NASA page can verify, that the german scientists that built the foundations of the US Space Program were brought from the Third Reich under "Project Paperclip". This might sound benign, but bear in mind that Conspiracy Theorists have claimed for years that these scientists were devoted Nazis themselves and that ballistics was not the only thing the US Goverment was interested in. A freak instance of Synchronicity or something deeper?
Now, this must be the funniest thing I've seen in a long long time. It's a short film available online at Fox Searchlight, the indie subsidiary of Fox that gave us the incomparable Waking Life. It's called Farm Sluts and it's about a guy who accidentaly opens an email at work that just so happens to link to a series of pop-ups about girls and ponnies. He loses his job and that's only the beginning. It's H-I-L-L-A-R-I-O-U-S!
It happens often enough that I discover some form of theme lurking hidden under all my activities and experiences for a given period of time. I was surfing the net yesterday and ended up reading reviews on "The Prisoner" TV Series over at IMDB, which is an all-time favourite. For those of you who don't know what "The Prisoner" is, just check it out over at IMDB. I unfortunately haven't watched it yet, but I will most probably buy the DVD Boxed Set as soon as I can. Given that I recently finished the glorious "V for Vendetta" which deals with the whole Prison concept, the synergy of those two extraordinary works of art set me thinking.
I leave you with two quotes: No Man Is Just A Number and Question Authority (I sure hope my 1010 students don't read this blog ;-)
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this page are entirely personal and do not represent the University of North Texas in any way.
This page coded using the SciTE Editor by Orestis Vantzos (ovantzos@unt.edu).
