Monday, September 12, 2005
Interregnum
I apologize to my regular readers (and I'm convinced there are some!) about my recent lack of regular posting. Sitting behind a desk all day, doing useless busywork, lends itself to blogging. Running around a campus chasing ID cards, course registration and tutorial locations does not. Hence my silence. But I've been thinking Marxist thoughts and will be prattling on at length about them soon.
In Memoriam
Last Wednesday, in a haze of fatigue brought on by moving, orientation and standing in front of a room being stared at by twenty 18-year-olds, I got on the metro with my iPod. 5 hours later, I opened my bag and discovered I'd gotten off the metro without my iPod. Or I lost it on a long walk I took around campus. In any event, the above picture is scarily accurate: it's exactly what some lucky soul who picked it up now has. I don't often give spontaneous $400 gifts (well, actually never), so I hope they appreciate the early funk, conscious hip hop, Britpop and 1938 recording of Leon Trotsky sending greetings to Fourth International.
Lest my iPod possession seem bourgeois, I'll quote Big Bill Haywood, Wobbly leader and lifelong revolutionist. When asked about the nice cigars he smoked, he replied, "Only the best for the working class." I'm a worker, and that iPod got me through many work-related traumas: bus rides (riding the bus thinking, "Oh god, another day of work") and stress-relieving jogs. In an ideal world, we'd have access to all the music we wanted, all the time. In a capitalist world, I'm reduced to singing out loud to myself. Which is not a good thing, trust me.
The workers deserve iPods with 40 Gbs and colour screens! - Big Bill Haywood
Errata
I must retract my denunciation of Dave Bronstedder. A few weeks ago I called him a scab because he was still broadcasting during the CBC strike. However, a comrade tells me that CBC in Quebec is not on strike. So, while he's not demonstrating any solidarity with his coworkers, he's technically not scabbing. I don't retract the bit about him being whiny and annoying, though.
This fact would've come to light had I allowed non-bloggers to comment on my blog and correct me. So I've changed the settings: anyone who visits can leave a message. We'll see how it goes: if I get a torrent of right-wing vitriol then obviously I'll remove anonymous posting. If, on the other hand, the enlightened denizens of blogland shower me with adulations, then it's all good. However, if you do post anonymously, a website, email or a name would be appreciated.
"Finally! - I can write back."
In Memoriam
Last Wednesday, in a haze of fatigue brought on by moving, orientation and standing in front of a room being stared at by twenty 18-year-olds, I got on the metro with my iPod. 5 hours later, I opened my bag and discovered I'd gotten off the metro without my iPod. Or I lost it on a long walk I took around campus. In any event, the above picture is scarily accurate: it's exactly what some lucky soul who picked it up now has. I don't often give spontaneous $400 gifts (well, actually never), so I hope they appreciate the early funk, conscious hip hop, Britpop and 1938 recording of Leon Trotsky sending greetings to Fourth International.
Lest my iPod possession seem bourgeois, I'll quote Big Bill Haywood, Wobbly leader and lifelong revolutionist. When asked about the nice cigars he smoked, he replied, "Only the best for the working class." I'm a worker, and that iPod got me through many work-related traumas: bus rides (riding the bus thinking, "Oh god, another day of work") and stress-relieving jogs. In an ideal world, we'd have access to all the music we wanted, all the time. In a capitalist world, I'm reduced to singing out loud to myself. Which is not a good thing, trust me.
The workers deserve iPods with 40 Gbs and colour screens! - Big Bill HaywoodErrata
I must retract my denunciation of Dave Bronstedder. A few weeks ago I called him a scab because he was still broadcasting during the CBC strike. However, a comrade tells me that CBC in Quebec is not on strike. So, while he's not demonstrating any solidarity with his coworkers, he's technically not scabbing. I don't retract the bit about him being whiny and annoying, though.
This fact would've come to light had I allowed non-bloggers to comment on my blog and correct me. So I've changed the settings: anyone who visits can leave a message. We'll see how it goes: if I get a torrent of right-wing vitriol then obviously I'll remove anonymous posting. If, on the other hand, the enlightened denizens of blogland shower me with adulations, then it's all good. However, if you do post anonymously, a website, email or a name would be appreciated.
"Finally! - I can write back."
