Non-sequiturs

I love non-sequiturs, this is no lie. The phrase is of course latin meaning, "it does not follow." While occasionally cropping up as a logical fallacy, the non sequitur is most often used as a comedic literary device where it's lack of meaning relavent to the comment if follows is absurd to the point of being humorous. Often it is described as being socially inappropriate, but it is the absurd quality that I find so wonderful. I tend to see life as fundamentally absurd, and that so many things people do illustrate this point.
I once heard that laughter is an emotional response to one's "reality" breaking down. This seems appropriate since a person can respond to an absurd situation or comment in a variety of ways, laughter being just one. Absurity is also often uncomfortable because it gives rise to a feeling of uncertainty of how to act in the face of it. Indeed, Sartre's character Antoine Roquentin in the novel "Nausea" is the quintessential literary embodiment of this. However, while this novel is usually characterized as dark and depressing, Sartre claimed that it wasn't the only authentic reaction to an absurd exisence. Quite the contrary, he felt strongly about the liberating, and even theraputic possiblities of acknowledging that life is, at bottom, absurd.
This is how I view the non sequitur. It has an element of dynamism and, while essentially meaningless, it destroys preconception, mocks stereotypes, and turns convention on it's head. In short, it's a slap in the face that one can be offended by or laugh at.
Of course this is all fine and good and at face value appears to be very erudite commentary. However, it was all a simply a deception to allow me to type, "soft, fleshy, man-boobs."

Happiness is Where You Find It

There is a saying that, "truth is stranger than fiction." Well, I have to agree. To illustrate I shall relate a story from my hometown involving "real people" that I am related to. Recently my sister contacted me via email to update me on the misadventures of my family in the back woods of Minnesota. Truely, nothing spells disfunction like f-a-m-i-l-y.
One of my younger cousins, (we'll call her Amanda) currently in her mid-twenties, has become the family's "dark horse" as a result of her relationship with a 38 year old meth-head who has two kids,neither of whom he is allowed to see as a result of a restraining order, (we'll call him Earl). Well, recently Amanda got into a bar fight with another girl over this guy and got her eye socked out for her efforts. Of course, word travels fast in a small town where the primary pastimes are drinking and well... whatever else the better part of society does in a small town (going to church, I'm wagering). My cousin's mother decides to round up the posse to, "teach this other girl a lesson." Her gang of toughs are the notorious B- sisters, which include my mother. Apparently they cornered this girl in some bathroom somewhere (probably the local bar) and gave her a stern talking to... my mother incidentally just held the door.
Now, while I spent my first formative years in the very town where the aforementioned events transpired, and was raised by the same group of firebrand sisters, I claim no expertise in the realm of small town livin'. Still, it's hard for me to imagine any situation where a thirty-eight year old, divorced meth addict with two estranged kids is not only a catch, but is worth getting your lights punched out for. Then again, reading a good book makes me happy.

What's up????

Wow, I'm really on the ball this time, I have already published pictures of Paris and Nice, France on my website (this post's pic not included).
Check 'em out.












Or wait till my next installment where we will explore some amazing topics like,

"Poop, it's a problem... or IS it?" Commentary

and,

Inventions: The Amazing Telescoping Anal Sphincter

Culture, "Spreekt u Engels?"

"Dysfunction in Rural Minnesota" an Expose

Don't miss it!

Pictures of Russia!!

At long last I have pictures of my trip to St. Petersburg. Check them out by clicking in the link to the right. Hopefully I will have my pictures of Paris developed soon as well.
Tot ziens!

I'm Full of Puss

How's that for an attention grabbing headline? I'm sorry to have misled. The sad truth is, I am not full of puss, but it is a great medieval reference to the plague. I seem to get a lot of emails from friends who (I hope jokingly) ask me whether I've gotten avain flu yet. To be quite honest if I didn't have regular dosages of American fear-mongering it's quite likely that I would forget about the "vogelgrippe" altogether. I'll admit I do, from time to time, hear about it (someone in Egypt just died from it) but not to the extent it would apear my fellow Americans do back in the mother country. I guess nothing smacks of headlines quite like "Killer Bird Flu Ravages Europe!" but I hardly think of it.
Seriously though, the reason I started with this whole puss thing is that I actually am sick right now, but before we call the undertaker or sound the claxion to "bring out your dead" let me just say that it was a mild chest infection, the kind I seem to get once every fall, and again every spring. I can still feel the little buggers rattling away somewhere within my lungs but as of yet I still haven't noticed any buboles, "red rosies," or the like. Of course, just to be safe I have been stocking up on the live leaches. A guy can't be too careful you know.

Twiddling Me Thumbs

Well, it's been just over five months since I've moved to the Netherlands and I honestly have to admit that at this stage not working or having any other responsibilities is getting quite boring. I'm sure there are many people who would love to be in my situation but the truth is that I just don't do well without a job. I've explored a good deal of Den Haag at this point and can get around pretty well, however, there isn't much use in knowing how to get around when there isn't much reason FOR getting around. Of course, to say I have been doing nothing is to overstate the matter a bit. I have applied to graduate school and now have to wait for a reply. I've applied for a residence permit which I am also waiting to hear about. I have yet to apply for a work permit, since I need a residence permit to do that... more waiting. I am registered for French lessons but I don't start those until the beginning of next month (ahem... waiting). All this waiting is getting on my nerves.

How do you like that?

Well, it seems as though the fabulous piece I wrote about Dutch food will not post for me. I have no idea why, but it has been frustrating. So frustrating that I haven't bothered to post anything else in the mean time. After all, why would I go to all the trouble to come up with such interesting and witty banter only to be told (by my browser) that such genius will never reach my adoring public? In spite of this I am moving on. There are many other things to talk about so I will get down to it. Thanks for your patience.