A Variety of Information

A big news event took place today as Disney announced the purchase of Pixar. It's huge because it makes Steve Jobs the largest individual shareholder in Disney, putting him on the board of directors and making him about $3.5 Billion. It also means that Pixar might suffer creatively from the Disney mega-empire and that other media conglomerates might be scared away from working with Apple on iTunes content (because Steve Jobs is also the head of Apple). Ironically, John Lasseter, the creative head of Pixar, left Disney years ago so he could work on experimental animation at Industrial Light & Magic, which would become Pixar.

Sorry. Nerd alert. It's amazing what you discover through Slashdot. Like that an independent production company is attempting to produce an on-demand second season of the TV show Firefly. If you think this is a good idea, support them by hitting the website and taking the short survey (no email required). A related sad note: I'm down to the last two episodes of Firefly, and after that I'm done with the series. The hardest thing isn't just seeing it end, but knowing how much each actor and producer believed and fought for the series. If only Nathan Fillion wasn't so cute.

And, there are two things I have vowed to do upon getting a job. The first is join Netflix and rent every season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (collective groans aside). I got really interested after I began reading about the complex, Season spanning storylines, and now I want to experience it all first hand.
The second thing is to give a monthly donation to Save the Children, the second largest children's charity in the world. The reason is that some of their volunteers stopped me on Michigan Ave. the other day and made me explain why I couldn't donate (I don't have a job). I then promised them that when I got a job, I would. I gave them my word, accompanied by a handshake, so I must ablidge.

As far as my Starbucks letter is concerned, it turns out that there is quite a bit of information that I need to uncover before I can effectively write the letter, and all of that information is in a variety of places. For instance:
The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report is found here.
While the Financial Report is found here.
Then the information on the Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) program can be found here.
Then their supplier code of conduct is here.
Another problem is that the 2005 CSR report isn't out and the woman I talked to said she expected it in a month but couldn't be sure.
But I did find some news so far. Unfortunately, it's bad. It turns out that only 1.6% of purchased coffee from 2004 was Fair Trade. I thought this wasn't as bad of a number because of C.A.F.E., Starbucks own system of preferred buying from suppliers who score highest on an economic, social, and environmental scorecard. It turns out that only 14.5% of all coffed purchased was under that system. So very little, 16.1% of Starbucks coffee can be considered fair if the C.A.F.E. system is just at all. This was disheartening. And their charitable giving for the year was only 2.3% of their pre-tax earnings.

Is my blog turning into something more or something less?

Roomy Room

So, here you'll see my room. I tried to make it as clear as possible. It's quite a small room and you might say that it's more like a closet. When you look at the desk, ask yourself: Is it too big, too small, or just right? This is a lot less interesting than you think, but some people want to see it, so here we go.


Everything is labeled for easy understanding. What you see here is probably the "Activity Center" of the room, the central hub of my activity in Chicago.


The desk on the left is the same desk in the first picture, and the door is my only exit. And the lamp... Well, you'll understand that in a moment.


This is the full extent of the room. both the rug and the blanket are new and from Ikea (just like the shower curtain, desk, and bookshelf. Great deals). I can't take the tour much further without being repetitive, but you'll have to trust me when I say the parts you missed are worth missing.

Lyndsey made me think about my favorite Over the Rhine songs, and I'd have to say they are Give Me Strength, from Films for Radio; Ohio, and Changes Come, both from Ohio; and then a song from Good Dog, Bad Dog that I only heard once. And I have to say I love the line from Changes Come that goes "This ol' world's too fucked up for any firstborn son." Just the way she spits out the f-word, like Alanis Morrisette on You Oughtta Know.

Today I finally opened up Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee after a significant break from reading for no good reason at all. The problem with reading this book is that the ending of every story is relatively the same: the Indians lose. Either they lose their lives or their land or their dignity, every time, it's something that is less than satisfactory. Today, I had the unfortunate experience of reading what has to be the worst of the stories in the book.
In summary, a guy named Captain Jack, leader of the Modocs, holds out from making peace with the US because his friends, who murdered settlers, beg him not to. Then they call him a coward and demand that he kill the General at the peace conference, which he then does. Then they desert him and ask for amnesty in exchange for hunting him down. Eventually he was captured and hanged. He was betrayed by the friends he had refused to betray. That sucks.

But, it got me thinking in a Social Justice way, and I realized that I had wanted to write a letter a week, like Jess had proposed as a New Year's Resolution. But I haven't done that. So I made a list of people I wanted to write to. You have lots of time when you don't have a job. First up is Starbucks, to say congrats on a good job, but also, why aren't you doing a better job? I'm going to try and figure out who exactly to address it to and will probably post it either tonight or tomorrow. Is posting my letters a bad thing? Why or why not? Is it irritating that I'm trying to force my convictions upon you?

Links for the Ladies

Well, it's been one week. And my report at the end of the week is mostly positive. Nothing bad has happened in any way and the only downside of this move so far has been the loneliness, which is to be expected given the circumstances.

In the meantime, Seth was able to preempt me on two internet finds I had wanted to share with you. First the Chuck Norris facts, and then the Punch-Out video. But, now I can show him up with three amazing videos that go beyond the possible to the impossible!

First, supposed test footage from the upcoming Transformers movie.
And then the Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny. Did you see the Arrested Development reference?
But true nirvana comes in the form of Nintendo characters battling Michael Jackson.

I might have more important things later. Stay with me.

Almost to Something

I am an Advocating Experiencer. Does that mean wallflower? I think what is more interesting are the individual ratings. I'll share mine. What is wrong with my confidence? And I am more feminine than masculine. Great.

I want to share my room and shower curtain (yes I'm serious) with you. I finally feel like the room is mine instead of just a place I'm living. The only problem now is that there is nothing on the walls because I didn't bring those things with me at first (with the idea of protecting them).

Ok, I have to share the shower curtain now. I really like it. Here.

Day Two and Day Zero

I got a bed today. Picking out a mattress is a surprisingly daunting task, despite what you might think. There are so many things to consider. And how can I really know without taking off my clothes and getting under the covers? Well, as it turns out, you have to know without doing those things "They" frown upon. But hooray. Dear sweet Ikea, why must our love be hidden for all time? You, a unique and prosperous multinational corporation; and me, a lonely boy wanting to become a man.

I'm sorry about that. Please, if you have never been to Ikea, make an effort to visit. You will be delighted by the lowest prices possible free of the guilt of abused workers the world over (and Swedish meatballs!). But that is about all I did today. As far as productive things go anyway. And who can blame me? Ikea is a day-long event. Oh, and I put my bed together. And now I am laying on it, using it and the internet at the same time. Who could have imagined?

Anyway, here is my journey to Chicago in a series of pictures:

I really like this picture, but more because of the full image it brings to mind. This is just a raised section of a very old rail bridge crossing this river. I only had a few seconds to take the picture, but it turned out so very modern or post-modern, don't you think?

The wind to our backs, mates. A beautiful wintry day.

And then, hours later, when the journey still isn't over. Miles to go before I sleep.

This is what Chicago looks like when you are trying to take a picture at night on the expressway. Suffice to say it is a very bad and dangerous idea to begin with.
I arrive to my abode. This happened at night of course, but I didn't take a picture then. I live on the first floor. I have roommates who live on the basement floor, but I don't know the people above. If only they knew about my bed!

Chicago- Day One

Here I am friends, and it turns out that there is a wireless connection running through the building, but I don't know who it belongs to, so I am stealing it for now.

I'd like to tell you about my journey here, but I can't now because I wanted to use pictures, only it was too dark to take the right picture last night and I forgot to take the picture today. So instead you will get the details of what happened after I arrived.

Things I did not know before my arrival: 1.) The trains (my backyard) shorten their intervals during the rush hours. At least it is a good wake up. 2.) The person I am replacing ("this person") did not clean before I arrive. Right. So I spent the afternoon cleaning. Dusting and vacuuming with a very old vacuum and trying to feel more comfortable. I have never thought of myself as a clean person. I just thought of myself as a normal person in terms of cleaning habits. In fact, a bit less than normal thanks to my parents constant insistence that the house was fithy or my room was disgusting. But I am finding that I might just be a bit cleaner than most.
Now, to be fair, the areas I am living in were probably not much dirtier than yours or mine are right now. However, when guests are coming over, we all get a little more conscientious of mess and make an effort to make the place look nice. So, it is a bit of a stretch to imagine the person who does not even do that for the guest who will be living in that space. Now imagine that person's bathroom. Yes, that's right. That is what I spent the evening cleaning. I can understand why he is still single.

And earlier in the day, I helped this person move extra boxes and other things that he needed to get to storage. And I did that A) because I felt guilty saying no, B) because I still needed a set of keys from him, and C) To pay for all the mean things I am saying here.

Somehow, during our time together in my car, he was frequently able to offend me. Let's be frank here. I don't know how to politely correct someone who "warns" me about the gay areas of town. I am an avoider of conflict. I don't know how to deal when someone compares two kids beating up a homeless man and Brokeback Mountain as equal signs of the destruction of our society. But this person did this. I can't comprehend that. And there was more, regarding the impoverished and a variety of minorities.

Continuing our frankness, I did not correct him once. I am ashamed of that, but I don't know how to treat those things delicately. And he didn't say it all in the easily condemable voice of hatred and bigotry. No, he said it in the more sinister and less obvious and more defendable voice of generalizations and "you know what I mean." Those slippery words, the driving force of prejudice in our nation, are so removed from true negative feelings that they can't be directly condemned. Because the person is not being hateful, they are being ignorant. And yet I still failed.

Some of you are outraged by all this, I hope. I am. Looking back, though, I still don't know what to say or do in that situation. How did I get like this? And why doesn't mainstream Christianity bat an eye? Then again, why didn't I?

I did my first real round of shopping at Trader Joe's today. It was nice but I may never buy natural peanut butter again. It's just so much work. Besides, choosy moms never chose natural peanut butter. They always choose Jif. And I discovered a really great job opportunity here that I am really excited about. They're a children's media company that looks really cool. Wish me luck, I apply tomorrow.

The City of Wild Onions

My dad and I have been watching Band of Brothers. Wow. If you haven't seen it, you really should. It's like watching an extra 10 hours of Saving Private Ryan. Emotionally riveting and a terrifying glimpse at the horrors facing men younger than I.
So I guess I gave in and took the Pocky quiz. How fun. And Katie- "More or less 'normal.'" is a polite way of saying "less normal," and funky is never a compliment when it comes to food.

Pock(re)marks aside, Tomorrow I am leaving this land for the city of Chicago. Are you surprised? I am too. I held off on telling you because... I didn't know how. And I don't know how soon I will be able to update again. My thought is pretty soon, because I will be so lonely and frightened that I will seek out the nearest "hot" spot so I can be the least bit closer to you. The good news is I will return to Ohio to spend my Birthday with my family and... friends?

But fear not, Monday is Ikea Day, a day of waking in a new place and smelling new smells, and using a new shower, and wondering how it will all turn out.

Dear friends,
I am excited for the day when we can support each other's achievements, and give each other much needed advice on our specializations, and work together on social or business ventures. My vision of the future shows the successful confederation of all our dreams into something that is tangible and delightful, and actively bringing betterment to ourselves and others around the world. I want to see you succeed. I want to succeed also. But we have been stuck in the mud at the bottom of the hill, trying to make dreams come from crappy jobs and slow transitions, and endless schooling, and dead ends of uncertainty.

I think this move is my coming out of the slough of the journey, and I am imagining the crest of a hill up ahead. Pray that I don't give up the fight. That we continue the race. Because we all know that we have not yet taken hold of it. But soon. I promise, so soon. Give me courage.

Fine

what flavor pocky are you?

[c] sugardew

And then the next one:

You Are Green Tea Pocky

Your attitude: natural and zen Peaceful yet full of life. Deep and thoughtful. You're halfway to tantric bliss!

What Flavor Pocky Are You?

Hurry up!

The last post was my 50th on this new blog, which I should have pointed out then, but it doesn't seem like something to celebrate since this has been running for about 7 or 8 months now.

This is going to be a shitty post. Mainly because I am feeling cranky already, but also because I'm in a public place. Sorry. Bob- Freakonomics was really easy to read. But it feels incomplete, in the sense that I want the guy to move past the data like all the people who make poor generalizations do. But it was really nice thinking about things people don't think about very easily. My two favorite parts were probably the story about the guy who lived with and studied a gang and the chapter on names. Everyone, you have probably already heard of Freakonomics, but it is by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, and I don't know how to explain what it's about. It's about how the cause of things is more complex and less complex than people think. It is on the bestseller list, so check it out. I'm off to a great start for the year in reading, I guess.

I'm having trouble moving, because I'm having trouble getting into communication with the right people. Phone tag is a lot more frustrating than I thought, despite the cute name. But now my goal is to move in by January 15th. That is a week from today. I think I can do that.

Katie- I never want to eat something called "Pocky." "Pocky" is the nickname of the kid who doesn't bathe in 3rd grade. "Pocky" is the name of the raccoon on a kid's nature cartoon. "Pocky" is not something you put in your mouth.

Don't see "Fun with Dick and Jane" in the theaters. The sole reason being is that it is a scant hour and change of a movie. I will be generous and say an hour and 20 minutes. It is a good movie, but with a time like that, we are all getting short-changed. Even you, Jim Carrey, because you can be even funnier with a little more time.

This Year is Getting Different

Hello in the 2006. Does that sound more futuristic than "happy new year"? Guess what, I am writing this in bed while watching Serenity on DVD. Quite a delight. I was going to actually go to sleep but I couldn't because I started thinking about updating and now here I am.

As of the end of the year, I didn't reach the goal of reading three more books like I said I would. However, I did complete Wild at Heart by John Eldredge, and I am about 200 pages into Bury My Heart. So, I got halfway there? I don't know. I still can't believe that Steve doesn't like Chinua Achebe, although I have to admit my only experience with him is an unfinished copy of Things Fall Apart.

I got three books for Christmas. Books that I am excited to start. The Golden Compass, the first in the His Dark Materials trilogy; Let My People Go Surfing, a business memoir by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard; and The Narnian, which is about C.S. Lewis.

I also got, among other things, Half-Life 2, for the Xbox. Let me tell you: it is more amazing than I thought possible during this generation of video games. The graphics outweigh almost any other xbox game, and the physics outweigh any game I have ever even heard of, anywhere. The storyline is also extremely polished, but something that you have to discover by listening and looking at the game playing out around you.

Having what might be the last gathering of old friends in a long time was nice, but too short. It's hard when everyone is so busy and dedicated to a variety of things. But right now it looks like I might make it to Chicago by the middle of the month, a bit later than I'd like, but necessary given the spotty communication my future roommates and I are having. I think it feels a lot like how the kicker in a football game feels when the other team keeps calling time-out and icing him. Nice analogy.

Most of the links from the last post came from a gaming site called Kotaku, just to give credit.