No Mustache

Well, I saw Birth of a Nation. I'm not going to go over it to much, except to say that while being technically brilliant and prety racist, it became pretty corn ball at the end all things considered and I felt like I needed to be clensed. I showered around the time I got home and today I shaved of my mustache, as my mennonite forebearers did before me. They did it in protest of the military who all hade mustaches. I don't really know if this is a good look for me as of yet, but we'll wait till my beard grows out.

Well, besides that University is going pretty good. I've got a handle on my English essay, did I tell you I have to write an English essay? Well, I got that under control and I have a test in Bible I feel pretty confident about. I'm feeling pretty fortunate to have such a light courseload and my own room. I'm pretty much the only person here who has his own room. Things don't seem to change much, occasionally something interesting happens. A guy I know had to dress up as a woman recently but I'm not going to get into much detail because he's didn't really enjoy the experience.

I've enjoyed Sons and Lovers alot, but now that I'm actually reading it for the sake of an essay it's kind of annoying. I'm not used to rereading a book so soon after reading it. It's an interesting experience and will probubly reread a few more at sometime just to see how it's going. A Condederacy of Dunces is also a good read. I havn't read alot of the Borges recently.

Grant Morrison's Shiny New Website

Grant Morrison has a new website and it doesn't hurt the eyes as much as his last one. It's still got his regular stuff, though his blog seems to have disappeared. He probably doesn't have much time to keep it up, since he's knocking off Batman and all. It's got news, a brief biography, bibliography, a photo section with pictures of Grant Morrison and glamour shots of some lady I presume is his girlfriend. You can even email him! I don't know is he'll reply, but I'm probably going to email him, so I'll tell you if I figure anything out.

If you want to see Grant Morrison's fancy website, you can click the link at www.grantmorrison.com, or you can click on Grant Morrison in my list of really cool writers on the side there.

Desperatly Missing Steph

Well, I'm at the University library and am seriously missing Steph for conversation. I got four books I'd love to tell her about, but I can't because she a) I can't talk to her on MSN from here for some reason and b) Blogger isn't working for her for some reason. So now I'm just going to have to talk about it on my own.

Well, the first thing I picked up was an omnibus edition of Jack Kerouac's Road Novels, which includes On the Road, which I've already read, but also contains The Dharma Bums, The Subterraneans, Tristessa, Lonesome Travelers and excerpts on his Journals from the time these novels take place. Along with that I have a copy of Teahouse of the Almight, a collection of poetry by a lady named Patricia Smith I heard about from Indeefeed: Performace Poetry, the collected Poems and Prose of Gerard Manly Hopkins and a collection of Surrealist fiction. I've been thinking about taking a long look into surrealism, and seeing if I can't pick anything up from surrealism, and this book has a list of various surrealist writers and there work which I can look at.

Other then being lonely, everything is looking nice since last post. I had a pretty good dinner, not what I was hoping for, but we'll have perogies tomorrow for lunch. I'm honestly looking forward to staying the weekend. It may be a bit of a problem next week, but if I stay mostly in my room then I don't think it will be a problem.

Weekend

This is a very special week in my university life. I am going to be staying the weekend at University.

Up till now I have always went home on weekends, but this week in a change of plans I am staying at the Bunker, and my family will come to me on Saturday. Were going to eat out somewhere and Dad and I are going to the local independent video store to see how that works.

This is a new thing for me, and while I like the idea I'm a little unsure about where this will all lead. I'm pretty sure I can stay here for a full two weeks, but it may also be to much of a push. I've already had my first outburst yesterday. Yes, I had a freak out at University. In my defense, the entire thing snuck up on me. Someone thought it would be funny to try and make a guy swallow a fish and I thought it was disgusting and started shouting "No. No," and "Your sick," until my throat was sore. The Chaplain had to take me outside. Everyone was surprisingly cool about the entire thing. One person even thanked me for having the outburst, which I thought was a bit surreal. I don't think that I'll have another outburst, but I am a bit nervous about this arrangement.

On the other hand I am starting to feel more comfortable at my University Dorm then at home. This is what really scares me, because I may never want to come back home except once a month for readings at the local coffeehouse. I just didn't find my blanket back home warm enough, the duvae cover I have here as spoiled me.

Well, I'll update you later on this sort of thing.

I just feel I need to keep you all informed

I was sincerely hoping to update my blog more regularly. I'm thinking that maybe if I where to change the format of my blog, like give it a new look and a new name I'd be better able to blog more. It may not but I'm beginning to get tired of "The Aspie Diaries," as a title. Few of my posts deal directly with Aspergers Syndrome and I'm thinking my parents may be right in that I don't want people to think of me as the guy with Aspergers Syndrome.

So, recent news. I finished my first University paper yesterday. It was about the Noah Account and Source Criticism and good luck trying to get me to explain that to you. It was more stress then I care to go through again and was necessary for me to have. I'm still getting on the idea that I have to do actual work.

Also on the weekend, we had a reading at my favorite coffee house. As these things ususally are, it was a small event. After that we all went to a local pub and hung out there to lisean to good Irish folk music. I had some pepsi. I also read a short story I wrote called "Cattle Man's Folly," which everyone thought was pretty funny.

Today I went to a meeting at the OPD and they talked about Exams and what I should do in the event of an Exam. I wasn't really liseaning and will have to look over my notes again sometime. I thought I'd just be able to ask them some questions, like when will I get a note taker? Apparently now I have more questions, like who is my academic adviser?

Also today, but later, I will half to sit through Birth of a Nation, which I would otherwise have never watched because it's racist. I don't know if I'll even be able to sit through it. I can't believe that I'm going to be missing Heroes for this.

Funny SNL clip, feat two women pretending to be Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton

Review of "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream," by Harlan Ellison

I've been meaning to read more Harlan Ellison, mostly since he writes most short stories and that feels like all I can read now for personal reasons now. Today I read his short story, "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream." It's basically about the last five human beings on Earth who are eternally tortured by a computer for no good reason except that the computer hates humanity. I found it very disturbing and it's really set me off. I'm probubly going to half to read something else to balance it out. So now, I'm basically really nervous about technology and don't want any of it to have any power over me, which unfortunatly it has since I have no idea how it works and has wormed it's way into nearly every aspect of my life.

In the end it will only be the Amish fighting against the machines. When they rise up to enslave us will the Amish inturn rise up with there hoes and rakes and kick some robot ass, or will too fall under the sway of the machine overlords? It would make a great exploitation film.

Blurb on Postmodernism and what comes next

Postmodernism needs to die. I'm not saying that because I believe it has a negative impact on our society, I'm saying this because that is the way society has traverssed. Modernism was replaced by Postmodernism, and Postmoderinism must eventually be replaced with something new and exciting, now that Postmodernism is on the verge of becoming dull and boring. I feel that I should be one of the writers to accomplish this.

AUGH! I'm an Adult!

Home again for the weekend, and it turns out I have homework. I've got pages of my film text book to read, two short stories from Dubliners and an introduction, and the Joseph story from the Bible, the one based on the musical. That makes alot of reading for the summer, also I plan on checking in with my D&D buddies which reminds me that I forgot my character sheet at home. Damn.

So, anyways I am not used to the level of homework envolved here. Getting my reading for Film and Bible, as well as most of Dubliners, which thankfully is only The Boarding House and The Dead. I'm a bit scared and by all that is intellegent should be working on it now, but a) I'm a procrastinator and b) I havn't heard Little Steven's Underground for awhile which is what I'm doing now. My Mom said she'd help me through my homework, which is good.

Because of this homework, people have noted to me that I am now an adult. This has caused me some degree of panic because now I'm actually responsible for myself and getting my work done. This is truelly frightening, and I don't really feel that prepared. I can't even remember to get my D&D books and sheet, how can I be prepared for this. Alright, I've got to stop going on about this or I'll completely freak.

Close To Midnight Update

It has occured to me that I havn't blogged in four days. I've been hoping that University would give me more subject material to blog with, unfortunatly I'm still lazy.

The Socilization process at University has been very well. I've made a couple of friends on campus, and have bonded on various artistic levels. I've been to all three of my classes, which is the minimum I need to do to live on residence. Next year, or even next semester, I'll upgrade to four. I got it pretty cushy, I don't need to get up until 2:30, but I usually get up earlier if I want the hot breakfast or lunch. I've had a few problems with hygene, I forgot to brush my teeth. I'm also limited to one shower a day since the showers arn't really that good. I've got posters up, A Ralph Steidman poster from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (The one with the lizards), a Big Lebowski Poster, a picture of two tango dancers in silhoutte in some Paris highway and a photo of Bob Dylan during his Kate Blanchett period. I don't know if Bob Dylan looked this feminine or if Kate Blanchett has made it like that with her wicked cool performance. Anyways, The Bob Dylan photo has yet to go up, since I ran out of the stuff that the Residence likes and actually works. Since I got some pretty cool posters, I'll probubly keep these for my later years, so Steph if your reading, I may use that wall covered with posters idea of yours at some later point when I have enough to cover my walls. I also have a rug that unfortunatly dosn't tie the rug together, and I'm thinking that I should get ride of because it tends to come up. I don't know why but it annoys me greatly.

Well, my computer's being a jerk so I'm just going to publish this and see how things go.

Home Again, Home Again. Jiggity-Jig

Well, I completed my first four days at University. I am back in my hometown in my favorite coffee house writing on my new laptop. On Monday I'll be back at Conrad Grebel, ready to actually start learning things. I'm looking forward to that very much, as I am also excited about signing up for the science fiction club and getting myself some posters.

Everyone here is pretty happy to see me. I dropped of a short story for one of my old English teachers, and she was pretty happy to get it. My parents told me that I should wait until later, but I went anyways and everyone there seemed pretty happy to see me and didn't bug me about coming because I'm not a student anymore. My family is also happy to see me, and I'm glad to be sleeping in a bed that dosn't feel like laying on a sheet of cardboard laying on a hard floor. Sure, the blankets and sheets where nice, but that's only because I brought them with me.
My Mom and I where thinking that it would be a good idea to pick up some more things for my room. For one thing, I don't have any belts and because I am a very skinny person I need belts to hold up my pants. Were also thinking about getting a plant, most likely a cactus, to liven up the room. My mom and I agree that a cactus is a good autistic plant because it dosn't need much care and attention and will sit in it's pot and do it's own thing, whatever that thing is that cacti do. Also, I'm low on Blueberry-Pomegrante Juice, so I should make sure we pick up some of that. Also, I'm thinking maybe I should bring a cople other books with me, like On the Road and Walden. I've been meaning to read more philosophy anyways, so why not read Thoreau? Also, at least half the reason I took the books I did was to make me look cool and intellectual(hence to Dostoyevsky), so I might through in my first volume of A la recherche de temps perdu, or Remembrence of Things Past (See, I used the French name first and I don't even speak French). Course, I'll probubly be to busy doing my courses and reading the Human Comedy to even think of tackling Proust.

Now, let us talk about a spectre that has been hanging over our lives for awhile. I speak of course of...

Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska.

Since she walked out of the political north, she has captued my attention. At first I thought she was chosen as part of some Republican ploy to get women voters. For all I know that's what she is, but I still don't trust her. For one thing, she dosn't have much experience. I know that's what they say about Obama, and I'm going to say I'm an Obama supporter, but I'm pretty sure that Obama has at least some support of powerful wizards who want to heal America's soul and I think that is alot more important then most of the Republican's issues. Also, from what I here she dosn't even know what the Vice-President does. To be fair, so do I. All I know about the current Vice-President is that his theme song is the Imperial March from Star Wars and that he shot a guy in the face. Acording to Wikipedia, the responsibilities of the Vice-President of the United States are.

1. To complete the term of the President if he is unable to continue his duties. (Not to much of a bad idea because McCain isn't exactly a spring chicken)
2. To break ties in votes on the senate.
3. Pretty much anything the President needs the V.P. to do.

So Sarah Palin, if your reading this and havn't figured it out yet, that's your duties. Also, I am against most of her stances. She is Pro-Life, except when it envolves capitol punishment, and believes creationism should be taught in school. She's also against same-sex marriages and dosn't think that same-sex couples should have health benefits. She also believes in absitence only sex-education, so far I don't know if there is any connection with that and her pregent daughter. Again, and this I got from my Mom, I don't think she should be running because of problems with her family. As I mentioned, her daughter is pregent, and she also has a child with Down Syndrome. My Mom believes that she has to much on her plate at the moment to even think about being McCain's back-up. I think my Mom has a point here.

The Second and Thus Less Renowned University Post

One of the best things about Conrad Grebel is that it has a really cool atrium in which I can sit on big leather chairs. That is where I am as I write this. I don't think this will be a place where I will usually write stuff though, as I have to sort of lean forward alot. You will probubly be getting alot more information from the Bunker.

I didn't tell you this last time, but while I am at University I am going to read Balzac's Human Comedy in it's entirity. I found a copy of most of them at the Dana Porter Library and will be starting the first book sometime in the future I hope. This is a pretty hefty undertaking for me as the Human Comedy is a pretty long series. Hopefully I'll be done by the end of my tenure at University.

Also I've got some good news. I've found a club that I would be interested in. It's the Waterloo Science Fiction club, and also seems to be the local place for all your RPG needs on campus. It costs ten dollars per semester to sign up, and it has a library of science fiction books and RPG related thingies. I alraedy told the guys, who called me Shep for some reason, that I'll be working on a campaign setting for World of Darkness, which will be my first time outside of the d20 system. I'm working on my whole conspiracy-thoery thing, which I think could be easily compatible with the world, since the entire thing about the Organization is it's about various groups working more or less together in a syncretic pattern, but I'm going to have to make the theology in the game more accurate because it's really pop culture type stuff.

I'm a University Man

Yes faithful readers and stalkers, I am in University. I'm in a dorm. I have to share a bathroom with a bunch of other guys. Ralph is crushing beer cans with his forehead. I'm a group of assorted low-lifes and yet to be discovered talents to feeling like I'm a member of the Beat Generation during it's gestation at Columbia.

So, I have a new laptop, which I am currently writing this on. Yes, I have a computer with Internet access. I'd like to thank my technologically competent relatives for it, you know who you are. I also have my Itunes on it, which doesn't matter much for loading and recharging my Ipod as I have an Ipod Dock, which I can listen to my music on much like a radio. I also have a minifridge, which is more or less a glorified blueberry-pomegranate juice holder. I also have a shelf full of books and movies for personal use, including the various textbooks I have. I also picked up a rug while trading various items with the neighbours, which really ties the room together.
So, how's University going? Well, at the moment it's not going well. I'm at a period of time referred to as "Frosh Week" which was obviously designed by neurotypicals for neurotypicals. I've been avoiding this for the most part, unless it involves free stuff (like my rug) and food. But today there is a lot of stuff I'm not really interested in. For instance, a lot of people are getting ready for a Square Dance, which I don't really see the point in going to. Also, I have not gone at all for the Frosh Week activities of the Arts Faculty which I am in, mainly because it involved wearing an annoying arm band which I was not prepared to wear all night and cut off. That basically means I am not allowed to go to the Arts Faculty event, which may have been alright because it seems that the Arts Faculty seems to have gotten all Lord of the Flies from what I've seen while passing the library. By avoiding this entire event I have either offended the priesthood of the boar or they won't notice.

I've been mostly concentrating on my room and getting used to it. Unlike the Open Doors program, I have been allowed to customize my room with all kinds of stuff. I have my own sheets, a bookshelf and will be acquiring posters next week when they're on sale. I'm hoping that I can find a Big Lebowski movie, since it's basically the kind of college movie that I like. (I call the Big Lebowski a college movie because of the Dude's preference for jays, but it's also more intelligent humour then most people in University). If I can I'll get some pictures of my room when it's all done, I'll send you over but this is dependent on me figuring out how that camera my parents gave me for Christmas works and if I can get the pictures on this computer.

Well, that's my first message from The Bunker, as my room will be referred to from now on. Keep reading for updates.