Education? Yes Please!

Because of Kent State’s recent refusal to allow me access to my Federal Pell Grant I have decided to do a bit of research on the cost of education and legislation that has affected education.

The cost of higher education has steadily been increasing every year for the past twenty years as federal loan and grant programs have remained relatively static. Since 2005 the average cost of attendance for four year universities has gone up $1000 a semester or $2000 an academic year. Private institutions have raised tuition by (roughly) double that figure. The cost of tuition in the past four years has increased 15%-17%. The other statistic increasing in the US? Unemployment. Ohio’s unemployment is now at 11.2%.

Why is the cost of higher education increasing at such a startling rate? Supply and demand. In the United States students are encouraged to attend universities without any real knowledge about the realities of a college life style. With private student loans handed out like candy to anybody who applies, everybody can afford to go to college. Everybody can afford to go to college if he or she is paying 9% on their loan amount.

My estimated cost of attendance (according to KSU) is $21,000 per academic year. Yet, Kent State just yanked nearly $5,000 worth of aid from me. Keep in mind my program GPA is 3.23 and my overall GPA is 2.9. My GPA is acceptable. So, it being too late to get scholarships, I may have to not attend this year.

Why does the system insist on students graduating with debt? Isn’t it a step backwards?

…Not happy about it.

So.

I hear that the teaser trailer for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland is out and about for everybody to see.

I go to youtube.  Disney blocked it.

I went to The Huffington Post… Disney blocked it

I went to Disney.com and searched for Alice in Wonderland… No Luck

Now… is it just me or is this Copyright bullshit a bit…old?

I understand for music… and video games… and feature films but… Teaser Trailers?  I mean really??

Disney… Don’t you want people all over the planet to see this trailer and start talking about your movie?  Yes?  Then why in the hell are you keeping us all from seeing it??  Bad PR Disney… Bad PR…

 

EDIT:  The teaser isn’t supposed to be out till Comic Con…  Fuckers

Edit: Thanks Stef

A Little Rant…

So, you want to know what’s wrong with America and most of the industrialized world?  I’m going to tell you.  Watch all of those world’s strongest man competitions.

First, watch and see if you see any Asians or 3rd world contestants.  No.  Never.  You never see a huge-ass jacked up Asian.

Now… when you’re watching these big fucks pay attention to how they show off their superhuman, steroid induced, elephant, strength.

They TOSS beer kegs over a 20 foot bar above them.  They pull 747’s on chains… What The Fuck!?  THEN you see them stick a Volkswagen on their shoulders and carry that fucking thing like 20 yards… 

These guys are unbelievable. 

So, what’s wrong with this…?

Why not have these human hormone pills do something practical to show off their huge muscles?

Give one of these guys a pick-axe and send them to Africa.  See how many diamonds he can mine.  Or send them to The Congo and have them chop down trees and pull the fallen wood back to villages?  How does’ pulling a 747 help anybody?

It’s the End of the World as We Know it…

The end of the world?  Yea, the thought of it scares me.  It doesn’t help that it’s been part of the social fabric of our society of our culture for the past ten years. 

 

First it was mad-cow disease, y2k, 911 and, bird-flu.  Now people are talking about asteroids, swine-flu and, super volcanoes.

 

 

Turn on any “educational” TV channel and you’ll see shows like, “Life Without Humans” and “The Real Armageddon”

Jesus Christ, I can’t take it anymore!  What are the chances any of us experiencing the end days?

What would you do if you knew the end of the world was coming?

 

Leave Your Comments!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, deserving of mixed reviews.

Before the Potter geeks get all violent, let me say that my review is purely about the film adaptation. I have never read the book nor will I. It’s just way too damn trendy.

Unfortunately, The Half-Blood Prince didn’t impress me like the previous films. The reason? Frankly, the film was dull, slow, tedious and boring. I get it. The Potter movies are not simply about action but throw us a bone here. Most of us expect the movie to deviate from the book. It’s ok to use artistic license and throw in a massive dragon battle scene, we don’t mind.

The younger cast members have all grown up and they have done so gracefully. Radcliffe is “brilliant” as usual. Emma Watson and Rupert Grint keep the audience intrigued enough to keep us awake. Michael Gambon (Dumbledore) really shines in his final Potter film.

The real problem was not the action or the direction yet, the screen play that wasn’t flashy enough to excite the casual Potter fan. Keep an eye out for the final installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, in two parts, coming November 2010 and July 2011.

Regina Spektor- Far- Album Review

My love for Regina has been around for nearly 5 years now ever since I heard her single “Us”.  This Russia-born New York piano princess has recently released a new album titled “Far”.  For this album Regina teamed up with legendary producer Jeff Lynne, who has worked with Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and many other class A artists. 

  “Far” is an eclectic piano pop album with subject matter ranging from a man’s death to wallets.  Regina keeps her quirkiness as well.  Some tracks include her signature little vocal flurries.

Once again Regina is making her signature in the quirky pop world.  The only way to describe this album is “a fun and gentle experience.”

Thanks Regina

The Fat Guy Rap

Just came up with this in the shower.

Life ain't easy as a fat guy
I look down my balls are squeezed between my thighs
Don't worry no need to sympathize
I goto Mac Donalds order super size

I wear size 46 bitch
I break chairs every time I sit

triple triple triple X G
Now I need some burgers that are mini
to feed me
in my belly

Now do the fat man...

*A couple measures of a dance*

Hey, what's that over there?
I gots Burger King in my crosshairs
You skinny people eat one burger
that's not fair

When I eat 12 everybody stares
Life's not easy as a fat guy
I have my breakfast
with a side of pie

Random Free-Write… Dylan Style

Change is coming

it’s coming soon

as grass is green

and flowers bloom

and those who eat

from silver spoons

will be singing

different tunes

from me and you

me and you

from me and you

me and you

 

This is the hour

hold the wire

as they fall

from ivory towers

all their fruit

has gone sour

let them lie

in the shower

as we take

all their power

 

As time will tell

the truth be told

for the hugs

are mighty cold

the great ones say

don’t talk, behold

this right here will

take the old

and change anew

the way things were

through and through

when rotten meant

just like you.

 

A gunshot rings

the weakest ears.

Seriously….? This is what I’ve been saying all along!

Read This

Spider vs. Spider… The Daddy

This morning, after the great thunderstorm that made its way though Kent, I saw a huge daddy long-legs chilling in my living room.  “No big deal”, I thought as I was slipping my shoes on for work, “daddy long-legs are my friend”.

Tonight, I come home and start to pack up my kitchen.  I see “the daddy” making himself at home.  “The daddy” is exploring my little kitchen with his long and skinny feelers out in front of him.  He seemed to be enjoying his new home.

I made a pot of tea.  I’m so civilized.

Then, I look down and see him, my little friend, dangling in another spider’s super deadly web.  I paused.  Thinking.  Thinking.  Deciding.  Should I save him?  Should I save the daddy?

I grabbed my flashlight and shinned down on him like an angel.  He must have been relieve to see his savior a mere inch away from helping him from this rut.

Alas, I would not be playing God today.  The other spider was faster than I. 

The daddy contorted and wiggled and writhed in, what must have been, pain.  I’m not familiar with arachnid nervous systems but I’m sure his obviously had better days.  Days when the movements it made were voluntary.

It is a beautiful thing, mother nature.  The smaller, more nimble spider simple out-witted the mammoth daddy.  And with a single kiss, sealed the marriage between predator and prey.

I watched.  The smaller spider took his time wrapping the daddy up.  Meticulous.  He would occasionally nibble off the sticky webs and replace them with stronger, more permanent, webs to ensure the daddy’s stay.

I feel as if the spider was performing just for me.  A spot-light, an occasional gust of breath.  The spider must have known.

Beautiful.  

What would Jesus REALLY do??

Dear Jesus,

Thank you Jesus… thank you for ruining yet another day of my life.  Boy, I just can’t tell ya how much I appreciate your crazy little followers.

Now, Jesus, don’t get me wrong here… I don’t hate you.  I don’t even dislike you.  I would even go so far as to say… I appreciate what you’ve done for the world. 

BUT. 

Please.  Please.  Please!  Get some of your followers under control!! 

In particular, crazy bitch from the party tonight.

Long story short:

Crazy bitch went… crazy.  Everybody was having a good time until crazy bitch went seemingly insane and started calling everybody demons. 

Demon eh?  I know I may turn red when I drink.  I may have a potty mouth.  I may even do some mischievous things…  I have never, ever blown fire from my mouth.  Nor have I ever sprouted horns, wings or hooves.

I am NOT a demon.

I am NOT the anti-christ.

I am NOT a bad person.

Jesus, I implore you… get control of this crazy-psycho Jesus freak.  This woman snorts the lord for breakfast and she needs to stop before I give her my two cents on religion. 

Thank You,

Signed

Will Flannigan

Independence Day

Happy Independence Day!!!  Celebrate your Independence!  Find a Law and Break It!

My Dreams…I remember

It’s not often that I have vivid dreams.  Usually, my dreams consist of conversations that pass through my brain at the speed of light only to leave me wondering what the hell is going on.

I have had the occasional dream about plane crashes and tidal waves, only to see headlines the next morning. 

But, last night I had a dream that left me shaken.

I dreamed of the apocalypse.

We were sitting in bleachers, watching a once in the lifetime event.  I’m not sure what we were watching yet, something about it seemed very very important to me at the time.

It was that time at dusk where everything turns orange.

Then… sirens explode into “Waaaaaaaaas” and everybody begins to panic and run in all directions.

My friend, who I can’t identify, and myself run from building to building trying to find some shelter.  We keep looking up at the sky and the tallest building around, which happens to be 10 or 12 stories.  A plain looking building.

We then hear somebody announce, “They sent drones”.  Whatever that means.

We turn a corner and see a group of people gathered around a balloon.  The balloon is a large yellow smiley face. 

They release it.

Then, explosions.

 

I don’t know how to explain it.  That smiley face is really striking.  

Sitting at the Laundry Mat

There  really is little to love about your typical laundry mat.  For starters, the smell can be a bit of a turn-off.  Then there’s the dirty  bathroom, ghettofied with a makeshift lock on the door fashioned from some wire and a screw driver.  Not to mention the way, in some municipalities, that some people judge those who use the laundry mat as a place to hook up with drug dealers and the shady.

Me, on the other hand, I love the fucking place.  Give me a handful of quarters, a Sierra Mist, 2 baskets of filthy drawers and don’t expect to see me for 3 hours or until I need a snack, whichever comes first. 

The churning of washing clothes is enough to lull me to sleep…

All laundry mats serve the same purpose yet, not all are created equal.  Some are nice enough to offer Wi-Fi or offer an over-priced bar to serve, usually, cans of beer.  Or, like the one in which I am currently sitting, some may be open 24 hours a day, allowing the riff-raff to come in and clean clothes at their convenience.

I believe laundry mat etiquette is as follows:  Never, under ANY circumstance, look at a person or what they are washing.  If you do, you may find yourself elbow deep in a mafia cover-up, or worse yet, you may attract some of the homosexuals who frequent the place.

Example:  Two Hispanics walk into a laundry mat, no, this is not a joke.  Both men are wearing high end, expensive, top of the line clothing.  Yet, they are obviously washing aprons from the Mexican dive down the street.  Everything seems peaceful.  Then you hear the one Mexican gasp…then giggle… as the other pinches him firmly on the ass.  “Oui!”

I love this place.