I often find myself explaining to people the many reasons why we have nothing to fear in December 2012. Sure, there may be some crazy people out there but a world ending event? Not likely. After all, this so-called doomsday event has been debunked by NASA and by the Mayans themselves…

Of course it doesn’t help that programs on the History Channel and Discovery basically come to the conclusion of, “The world ending in 2012 is pretty much made up… but you never know! Watch our next program tomorrow! 2012, this is it!” But then again, what do you find on these channels today anyways? Crab fishing, truck driving, little people and pawn shops.

After 2012, doomsday theorists will pick a new date. Probably 2036. That’ll be fun.

I’m practically on what seems like paid vacation. I went from working 44-49hrs a week to working 9hrs for the next two weeks. It feels so good. It’s a huge relief. I just want to… ah I don’t know, I’m excited, I have so much time it seems.

I had Subway today, I really like eating there because it tastes good and I don’t have to feel bad or anything about eating because their subs are healthy. That’s not to say I feel bad when I eat fast food or anything, but I just feel much better when I eat healthier. Eventually I went to the track to run, I felt pretty good today. I’m getting better and running everyday which I must do as long as it’s way too cold to go cycling.

I think I’m gonna start going to visit my friends away at other colleges starting this weekend. These colleges would include MTSU and TTU. Both of those are in the 2hr zone. So, miniature road trips. I’ll get to break in my car.

Going back in time now, Thanksgiving night I hungout with Zach, Gavin, Chris, and Christine. It was a lot of fun. Especially since I haven’t really hungout with Zach since my TKE days and it’s always sweeter when Gavin’s around. The closer we get to having all five of “The Revolution” guys together, the more awesome it is. “The Revolution” being Zach Gant, Daniel Kirby, Gavin McDevitt, Chris Campbell, and Myself. I think after we practically lived together all last year we decided to just make a name for ourselves.

It ends up being awkward. I think the only way for me to properly salsa or pop dance would be for me to just lay on a vibrating bed for two weeks. That way my body would be completely limber and ready to move. I went to my salsa class this evening, it’s a free class my friend teaches at school, and tonight they decided to do some pop & hip hop routines. All was well at first, I feel like I did my best but then we started krumping.

Urbandictionary.com: Krumping is intended as an outlet for anger and as a nonviolent alternative to the street violence widespread in many of the areas where it is performed. Consequently, its dancing style is fast and aggressive. It usually involves physical contact between dancers, which can often look like a fight to outsiders. However, the participants understand this to be part of the dance.

So, you have some kind of idea what I’m talking about… or no idea at all. You have no idea. After watching a bit of that video, you can easily surmise that I looked ridiculous even trying… though I did try. And it was fun. But it has made me want to keep giving dance some effort… Of course, I can’t escape my new to constantly amuse those around me. So, my ultimate goal would be to learn all of these dances and then perform them as a sports team’s mascot.

I went to see Quantum of Solace today and I have mixed feelings about it. Not in a bad way though and I guess the point that I will eventually get to is: Casino Royale is a better film. But on that note, since QoS is the first Bond film to be a direct sequel, you can easily gather that it is really one long story… In any case, you could definitely tell that it played unlike other Bond films, from the absent gun barrel sequence in the beginning to a seemingly endless, intermittent series of chase and fight scenes. I wouldn’t call it ‘dark’ but it was definitely mellow.

The ending of Casino Royale equaled: Let’s go out and kick ass right now! The ending of Quantum was more along the lines of: Okay, that’s the end of that chapter… but now I just want to know more about the Quantum organization. I think that’s what makes me even think about questioning the solid Craig-era Bond films. This movie was about Bond helping himself for once.

And that brings up my final point on this, another reason why I left the theater a bit empty-handed… In Casino Royale, Bond was obviously inexperienced and hadn’t become the solid MI6 agent we’ve come to expect. He falls in love and finds out the hard way that you can trust no one. And so, when the movie ends I was under the impression that, “Ah, in the next movie he comes into his own. Classic double-O.” Alas, in Quantum he still had some growing to do, getting over his relationship with Vesper and at the end, once again, I was thinking, “Ah, so in the NEXT movie he comes into his own.”

I think I just need to accept that the film series has changed under Craig. His Bond is his creation. However, I would like to see the next movie get back to more Casino Royale elements. Not quite as gritty and with more class and gadgetry. As I read in a review today, “James Bond is not a superhero.”

Mad props though for the homage to Goldfinger. And I did really enjoy the movie. I think a second viewing would clear the air for me.

|It’s a late night for me. Too bad. It’ll be hard getting up for my 11 AM class… except not really. In any event school is back in full swing and I have a pizza in the oven. I’m taking 19 hours but I think I’m managing my time wisely. It helps quite a bit that three of my classes only meet one day a week. That helps to keep me sane. There are indeed a few things that I didn’t take into account when foreshadowing my free-time this semester, more specifically how much work I would have to do for the Communicator: I didn’t anticipate the number of new staff members we would have and I didn’t anticipate how much better at my job I would become. Both elements contribute to my job getting a little easier and thus, the school newspaper will be taking up a little less time.

|In other news, there is no other news. I picked up a new New York Times crosswords book (my other two got too difficult) and a sudoku book, both edited by Will Shortz. Those will keep me occupied when I’m not studying. So, I’ve got that going for me. I’m also mourning the loss of Luciano Pavarotti, who died yesterday morning. My grandma made me aware of him when I was younger and I’ve continued to admire his voice. It’s definitely a sad day for humanity I think, whether the world recognizes his loss or not. Pavarotti’s death truly is an end of an era. I hope continued media coverage and memorials do him justice.

|In any case, that is all for now. I wanted to jot something down and hopefully get a little more blogging in before the month is out. No guarantees of course.

This took place a few weeks ago. At that time I posted these pictures to my facebook. In any case, I’ve ran into this guy a few times while taking out the trash but thanks to modern technology, I’ve captured him on film. I went in closer but the Raccoon delved deeper in the dumpster. I didn’t want to pop my head in there and get a coon claw to the face.

|I have to tell you a story. Though it happened a few days ago, and it’s a short story. I went to Chattanooga State to help out with orientation. I wore flip-flops, khaki shorts, a t-shirt and a hoodie. It was rather hot outside, yes. I usually plan ahead and on this evening, I knew I would be inside for the most part, and I get cold very easily. Thus, the dawning of the hoodie. I go walk into the Humanities building and the first complete sentence I hear is, “It’s like a hundred degrees outside, why are you wearing a hoodie?” I reply, “It’s not a hundred degrees inside.” I still get an odd look. The next person, “Gosh, it’s like a hundred degrees outside, how can you be wearing a hoodie?” Yes, they both reference the triple digit sum of one-hundred. To this person, I say, “I’m not outside right now. I planned ahead. It’s cool in here and I am very comfortable.” They’re not convinced. I decide to go to my car, take off my hoodie and put on a collared shirt. On the way there, not kidding, a girl comments to her guy friend, “Why would you wear a hoodie.. it’s so hot.”

|This utterly baffles me. It’s clear that many people will easily ridicule what they do not understand. Furthermore, they will not even think it through or consider my personal preference. I had not been in the building more than a few seconds before the first anti-hoodie remark flew at me. It’s cold in my apartment and I am always cold at Chatt. State. Foresight was practiced and executed. It’s interesting too because many people will apply their own preference to the person they are observing. Instead of thinking, “Man, I would be burning up if I were wearing that,” they’ll say, “Man, he must be burning up.” And that concludes my sociological review for the day. I probably shouldn’t wear a dress any time soon, even to make a point. Given the state of affairs in our judgmental times. Let me think:

What the?
Queer.
That’s sick!
Get away from me.
Sir, put your hands up.

No, you see, I’m just trying to make a point.
You don’t care if I’m normal. You just see a guy in a dress.

Point taken, now get on the ground!

|And then I’ll publish my own police blotter in the Communicator.

|I went to Suntrust in Hixson today to cash a check, though I am a Bank of America-Man myself, and the view of Signal Mountain from there was especially great this morning. It wasn’t great because the sun was rising or that it was uncharacteristically clear outside. It was great because the clouds rising behind the mountain looked like smoke. This wasn’t the case, obviously, because the formation of clouds stretched for much of what I could see in front of me but the sight was nevertheless an interesting one. It looked like it could fit the bill for any post-air disaster scene. Straight out of LOST or Castaway. A plane from Atlanta destined to New York losing altitude and breaking apart behind the brow of the mountain. Debris scattered for hundreds of yards over the wooded mountainside. I stood there for a minute imagining the scene. I wonder if anyone else saw it too.

“Wow, look at those clouds… they vaguely resemble a plane cra…”
“Dad!”
“Hey, son. Now, what was I thinking? Oh yeah, cool cloud.”

|After this brush with the imaginary I finished reading Puerto Vallarta Squeeze by Robert James Waller. It makes me feel a little better about spending time in Mexico, running from the federales with thousands of dollars in tow and trying to come to terms with a checkered past. I wish I had started reading earlier in the summer but I think I have time to read three more books before school starts. I need to choose wisely so I’m not bitter about it later.

|Thursday, Shannon, the other Spotted photographer, and I will be meeting with the Times Free Press photo editor, Billy Weeks. We are to bring a selection of our photos, Times and freelance alike, for Weeks to give us feedback on. It’ll be a good experience for me. I’ve only met one other photographer at the Times who works outside of Spotted. That being Brandon Smith. I’ll post the details later in the week. I’ve focused on writing for so long it will be good to hear from Weeks that I have some talent when it comes to photo journalism as well. Or not… but I’m confident.

|I think I’ve taken a long enough hiatus from blogging. An unintentional one at that. But what other kind of hiatuses are there? (It is hiatuses, not hiati by the way… I checked) I guess there are intentional ones. Like hiatuses bands take before they decide they’re breaking up for good. Or not. Fortunately, I have made one improvement for the blog. I think I’m going to have a standardized header image for each post. This will save me the time of editing photos and having to find one that fits the character of the post. I suspect I’ll still find time every once in a while.

|I watched When Harry Met Sally this evening with a group of friends. I had seen it a few times before but this time I connected with Carrie Fisher. Not that I think my life parallels her character or that it had anything to do with her character at all. The book I’m reading right now is called Surrender the Pink and it’s written by Fisher. Reading her book gives me greater appreciation for her. She has transcended the role of Princess Leia in my eyes and now when I see her on film, I have a familiarity with her and I can hear her in the words of her book. It’s a cool feeling. Something I can’t share with all of the authors I read. And I don’t suspect Noam Chomsky or J.K. Rowling will be playing supporting roles at the box office any time soon.

|In other news, I can’t use ‘gestalt’ in a sentence. I tried. That will be my goal in the coming week. As well, our first Communicator meeting is next Monday. That should be exciting. I’ll need to keep everything together to have another successful year. But we’re going to have many new writers on staff. I’ll have more help than I think… I think. That’s deep.

|I am officially done with classes and finals for this spring semester and I can feel the overwhelming relief taking its toll. Although grades haven’t been posted yet, I know what most of them are and I am definitely excited. I have excelled this semester both in my work and in my academics. Since the last time I posted an entry I started working for the Chattanooga Times Free Press as an event photographer. It has been a very fulfilling job. I have enjoyed getting to meet new people and experience a lot of new things. I really couldn’t be more happy about my position. The photos I take at events are posted to spotted.timesfreepress.com. If you’re ever at a community event, I would encourage you to add your photos as well.

|Today marks the final day of layout for the May issue of the Communicator. Our issues continue to get better, both editorially and aesthetically. I am pleased with the continuity of the design and the strong stories from issue to issue. This summer I’ll finally have an extended period of time to fine-tune the paper so the fall semester goes by with as little problems as possible. I’m confident for sure. On a side note: I’m having to put a ridiculous editor’s note in the May issue because I’m writing the story about the Chattanooga State students inducted into the Krystal Lover’s Hall of Fame; And within said story is a student named Matt Davis. I’ll have to specify that I am not the Matt Davis referred to in the story. Foresight could have been exercised in this case.