Friday, February 17, 2006

Imagine this as my profile pic


because I can't figure out how to get it on there right now. . .

Listen Up, Y'all

In my overzealous progression of all things postmodern, I have created [with the much appreciated help of Elizabeth Tussey] a creative writing radio show.

The Postmodern Experience

is set to air this Monday at 4:oo

on Kent State's student-run internet radio station,

Black Squirrel Radio

My show will basically emulate "This American Life," in that we are featuring stories on a general theme that ties into a broader social issue. Whether the show can actually acheive this end is questionable, but it will be a fun process.

We are trying to podcast the show, so one can download it at his or her leisure.

But I still recommend listening to the live broadcast, Monday at 4. Simply click Listen Live! and follow the instructions for streaming audio. It's roughly as simple as making brownies.

Hope to have some listeners!

Also, if anyone is interested in joining our mailing list, or would like to submit some stories, e-mail us at postmodern.experience@gmail.com.

Good times. Good radio. Good stuff.

My Asian roommate


As I've been spending more late nights at my desk, if front of my computer, I've been getting lonely. Fortunately, I have this guy to keep me company.

Gus, an Asian lady beetle, like the one to above, has been hanging around my work space lately. He has been recently obsessed with my desk lamp.

I think this guy's been in my room since the beginning of winter--how he's managed to survive is beyond me--so I've actually had a third roommate this whole time. Curious as to the origns of my Far Eastern friend, I googled him.

Turns out the Asian lady beetle was brought to the States to control the aphid populations. Aphids eat trees and such, and our own capitalist ladybugs got lazy and stopped doing their jobs. So the hardworking Asians were sent in. I guess it'd be considered outsourcing [or would that be insourcing]. Either way, the lady bugs' Oriental cousin did a much better job, as expected, and their populations thrived. In late autumn, the Asian lady beetles are known to swarm around buildings in preparation for hibernation [overwintering] and have become kind of a nuisance.

Yet, this guy doesn't bother me too much. He keeps me entertained as I meddle away at my laptop. I can't help but feel a bit silly [sad, even] making an entry about my lady beetle friend, but such is my life right now.

FUN FACT: As a defense mechanism, the Asian lady beetle secretes a yellowish liquid from its leg joints. This happens when it is about to be squashed [i.e. if a bird were to eat it]. This would explain why the walls behind my picture frames have stains running down. And all this time I thought my walls were bleeding.

Good one, Gus!

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Today's image

I strolled past the squat neon green monstrosity that is Screwy Louie's on this blustery evening. A black cat darted out from the side of the building. It stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, catching a glimpse of me and stopping dead. The cat flashed its eyes and retreated back in the shadows adjacent to Screwy Louie's. The situation really made me question my luck at the moment. I mean, a black cat was too afraid to cross MY path. Then again, maybe it thought I was leaving Screwy Louie's. I'd take bad luck any day.