Well another year passing and a damn good one at that. A lot of really cool things happened, a lot of not so cool things happened and honestly I feel like I learned quite a lot about myself. Aside from the crazy endurance test that THON was, I didn't really retain anything from the first four and a half months. Actually there was this: if someone tells you they like you and at the same time you're chasing some chick that doesn't seem to really think much at all, don't be stupid. I went out on two dates with each of them and I seriously didn't figure this out earlier. It was the end of the semester anyway and I was not gonna see either of them again, but really *facepalm*.

The mid-May to August was a lot of very interesting things going on in my life. As well as seeing alot of shows (DeVotchKa, Rogue Wave, Death Cab for Cutie, Yeasayer and The National) and chillin with the jerks, it was a lot of work for me. I got my first retail job at the candy store that shall not be named. Although I already knew that retail was not a field I would ever consider working in, I had a PS3 to buy on June 12th and there was no way around that (of course the only time I'd ever go to a midnight release would be for MGS4). In retrospect the job was really not all that bad, the pay was good, the people were cool, the job fairly easy usually (sometimes I literally walked around the store all day). But really, how could 34-year-old Dylan Lauren picture her business venture as a literal interpretation of a candyland? There had to have been some kind of 6-year-old consult or elves or something for that place to look and sound the way it does. The moment that I truly said it was enough was a Saturday night during which a group of maybe 20 teenage girls were on a spree courtesy of a frugal uncle. This guy seriously paid for more than $800 in overpriced candies, with this birthday insisting on getting more. when I was done on my end a single guy comes up with a single item and I say pretty smugly "Wow, there's only one of you! Thank you, Sir!"

So after those four weeks of fun, I went back to the Door for my 5th and final summer. I made that announcement early and really it seemed that everyone else that had been returning for at least the last 3 years had the same plans in mind. This summer more than ever I felt like I had a project that I really could make my own even though it wasn't even my idea. Though I wasn't new to facilitating a workshop I was definitely new to dedicating all my work to it. My lesson plans were done weekly instead of the night before, I had a project that affected the program year round instead of just the summer AND I had my own desk! I sacrificed hangout time with one of the most important people in my life, but its clear that might have been the right way to do it. Still my old job was to keep him from having a stroke, definitely looked sometimes like he was damn near close to it.

Finally the fall semester. Finally at University Park, where there are never dull moments and always a party going on yet I found myself on many nights (at least until November) not doing anything. There's a lot of reasons for that, but I did get a good run going towards the end of the semester, definitely good thing going into the spring. I started doing things focused on my career, doing the internship with Intercollegiate Athletics capturing the best of Penn State sports and doing the club thing with PSNTV are both very fun and just keeping my skills honed. Again I realize another thing: if you're trying to get with some chick and at the same time finding out one chick that is pretty interested in you is just straight weird, don't be stupid. That case is unfortunate though, I'm stuck running into one, while I won't see the other til next fall. Oh well, I'm sure 2009 will be enjoyable enough that when the summer passes things will only get better.

-Mikhail

I had a pretty awesome birthday. My grandfather came from Massachusetts for the Christmas Eve party a day early, which was great since I hadn't seen him in more than a year. It was a pretty cool thing to think that he's 85 and for has looked basically the same my entire life. Encouraging I'd say. My brother got me Living on the Black which I had been dying to read since the being of the summer and my parents got me a new watch. Then of course had dinner with the jerks and played Apples after some cake. Next year is gonna just be about the same I'm sure, except no one will probably remember it without pictures. Another great Christmas Eve with the family, which of course never fails to end without being twisted mah niggas. I'm never really anxious for time to pass by, but 2009 flew right by until the fall, it'd be pretty alright.

-Mikhail

I think the peak of High Definition Television viewing has been achieved. Bear Grylls cooking and eating a turtle. Thank you Discovery Channel.

-Mikhail

Correction: Bear Grylls jumping in and getting out of a sinkhole, the peak of HDTV.

Is it weird that not even a day home for winter break I'm already thinking spring break? Not for any particularly bad reason, actually it's a really good and humble reason. More to come.

-Mikhail

I've had a very interesting realization over the last week. Ready? Okay here it is: People think I'm good for someone. How did this come to be? Well, I went out with my friend Ricky last week to this party at his friend's place and we're just talking about things (I hadn't seen him a few weeks before that) and since then he started seeing some chick (whom before I eventually meet later that night, swears I met her at the party I last saw Ricky at). The majority of the talk I had with her on the way back to our building was about how she thinks I would be perfect for someone. I seriously talked to her for about an hour going back and forth about this because I just thought it was really funny. Most of this actually came from talks she'd been having Ricky I think. Anyway, then again last night my boy Kevin is trying to get me into looking out for "Ethiopian chicks" since he started dating one a few weeks ago. This really has made me think the last few hours, since the one chick I've been bothering all semester is heading abroad and won't see her til next fall, that its time I become that guy. You know the one you try to set your friends up with. How that'll work out is yet to be determined, but I think I've got a good trial period ahead.

-Mikhail

Wonderful weekend most definitely. Well worth staying around for Saturday to see Penn State dominate Michigan State for the BigTen title. Came home yesterday afternoon and watched the Raiders offense wake up to rape the Donkeys. Today I went to Katz's and had some most awesome pastrami because thats the only way they do it. Hopefully get to see the jerks and other assorted significant people in my city life.

-Mikhail

I'm still coughing rather violently, needless to say it sucks ass. Anyway, so things are pretty cool right now. FInally got the nerve to start talking with this chick from downstairs in person instead of just leaving drunken notes on her board. I invited her to the hell party, but unfortunately she ended up elsewhere, but I got her number which is never a bad thing. So the hell party wasn't not very hellish at all. They had a band and a jungle juice that tasted like Robitussin and Milwaukee's Beast as my friend calls it. The only thing really hellish about it was its location all the way in carajoland. Saturday had its day set on being absolutely miserable. Rain all morning and through game time. It was hard rain, light rain, sideways rain, and another rain Forrest Gump could think of. Naturally after the game, it was pretty nice out, but later that night, very windy. I went to this chicks 21st and that was alright at best. Then went to my other friend's party which was better, definitely more happening, but until my escort left to go pick up her drunk roommates I wasn't there for much longer. Then I got pizza and on my way out and back to my place someone calls out "MIK!" and look across the street and its a couple of my bros! We caught up on things since initiation, mostly on how they got ritual down, but then we went to this party which was like the other two parties that night, alright. Home in a week!

-Mikhail

I've had this nagging cough for the past three nights and it sucks ass. I've made some good progress this week in just about everything. I'll try and go into detail whenever I'm not coughing my lungs up.

-Mikhail

Anytime things just feel like they're going to get bad they don't or something else compensates for that. Why I'm saying that is beyond me, especially since for the most part things have been going quite well. Last night I got quite fucked up, to the point of throwing up once I decided to call it a night. I really hate when that happens, but I did kind of ask for it by drinking that jungle juice. This morning I got my 2nd ever hangover, first since that second night of freshman year, and it was quite the killer. This definitely was not anything I needed this morning considering I was doing two games today at 12. I ate a bagel and drank some gatorade, but stomach was having a tough time agreeing, fortunately it did enough to not find my head in the toilet again. I get to the BJC a little late but so was everyone else. After we ran down the plans for the day, we got some food which is different from doing the soccer games in which the only compensation we got for that was the hot chocolate on that cold fuckin night (definitely won't complain about that). I felt pretty good by tip-off, which was good because it would have sucked to be throwing up on the court. This was a pretty cool experience overall, in that I hadn't gone to an actual basketball game in an arena and that my first experience was on the floor for a good portion of it, something surely most people don't ever do. Also what is good about doing basketball is since the Big Ten covers alot of basketball games we get to just do more b-roll stuff and things that will be shown on the JumboTron or in a highlight, which also means we don't get limited by the use of a tripod. Needless to say, guess who's pretty excited about watching home games for free (even better if they were really good this season...not likely though). After that I hung out with one of my floormates, even though we were really just supposed to be studying for our test Tuesday, but fuck that! It's been a while since I was able to just bullshit with someone and of course I'm someone that needs to do that.

-Mikhail

Pretty happenin day today I'd say. Bullshitted with Ally in meteorology especially since that jerk hadn't been in class lately so that was cool. Then met up with my group and got our outline together. Laterwards I skipped Nutrition and went and saw that sly dog President Bill Clinton and spoke great things about the O man. Then on my way to the soccer game I ran into Joe Paterno. He was driving his BMW looking to get onto Bigler and I was crossing and he looks at me and lets me cross and I can only nod smile back at him. Then I get back to my room to a nice little note on my board of someone stopping by and of course me not being there. This weekend is gonna be great, but unfortunately no Halloween fun for me.

-Mikhail

It has been a week since I learned maybe the most shocking thing, well really in my life. No it wasn't so much that I gained another 10 pounds, but that I'm like not fit at all. I was well below average in my arm and abdomen strength, well below in my VO2 MAX test (that's how you measure the body's ability to circulate oxygenated blood), surprisingly below average in leg strength and oddly enough I'm pretty flexible. So really I'm just gonna start moving around. I need to end my sedentary lifestyle and hopefully my going to the track today is a pleasant step in the right direction.

-Mikhail

yeah.

-Mikhail

I've been reconnected with the world for an hour and already feel significant improvement in lifestyle. When you live without all the communications devices in your life you really see how much of your daily activity revolves around it. The two times I had to break my technology depravation were when I saw Wall-E because they were showing it for free this weekend and of course I hadn't seen it and when I had to register for spring classes this morning, which if I should've really registered for on Thursday but didn't know that. Anyway, what made it really hard this weekend was that I knew alot of people went home so it wasn't likely that I'd be seeing too many people anyway. Today was not bad at all, probably because of the likelihood of running into random people on the way to and from classes and therefore potential opportunities to set up times to meet up later. Well now that thats behind me time to write whatever it is I gotta write for the class.

-Mikhail

Oh it was one of those days today. Nothing spectacular to report, which is odd because I'm writing about it. Lately the highlight of my day has been pointing out things I've learned in my Meteorology class. I've never thought the weather was as interesting as it is from a meteorologist's stand point, but hey nothing really is until you see it from another perspective...well there is one thing, accounting I bet.

Another interesting Tuesday ahead (they always are), which can only mean that there's three days left in my week and therefore the weekend is just around the corner. I'm hoping the Rally in the Valley crew can get together again, for instant good times. Either that or I find an excuse to bother a downstairs neighbor of mine.

A better post in 3 days I assure you.

-Mikhail

If you catch this blog somewhat regularly (although not recently), you know of my stance in the Late Night talk show world. Letterman/Ferguson is where its at and really tonight may have been a good enough pedestal for my argument. So here's the story, economy in the shitter and potential government bailout is looming, our boys in Washington gotta go decide whether to go with it or not. Sometime this morning (let's say its still Wednesday), Obama calls up McCain like "yo, I don't know if you heard this or not, but we should probably go to work and put aside this campaigning stuff until we figure out a temporary fix to this mess, because you and I both know, whoever wins gotta really fix this." McCain didn't get the initial call, but they did speak at some point today and figured "yeah let's, in fact let's just put it off all together until we actually figure something out."

Here's where it gets good (for the first time readers I am NOT about to bash on pushing the debates), McCain was going to appear on the Late Show tonight, as Obama did a couple weeks ago, and says "hey, you know what's on the up and up, I gotta go down to Washington and take care of business, I've suspended my campaign even!" Letterman doesn't like it a bit and thinks something is up (this is coming from a man that clearly respects him and knows he wouldn't skip out for just anything). Presumably, McCain was going to have 2-3 segments on the show tonight, so instead they call up old friend Keith Olbermann to chat about why this is maybe. Live Feed from just on the studios of 57th and 5th Ave, and our buddy John McCain is talking to Katie Couric on the CBS Evening News. Now I did actually watch what he said during the interview with Couric and from what I gathered I found it just so odd that he literally said everything that he likely would've said on Letterman, but as Dave said "maybe he missed his flight."

Then on Ferguson, who really has been fired up lately about everything in the news (which is not from his Scottish blood in this case). A man that is ready to participate in his first general election is most definitely qualified to speak on the behalf of the public due to his fresh American eyes that are now looking from the inside. Ferguson did not mock based on his ditching of Letterman, but that he's not living up to the Democratic process. There are no suspending of the Democratic process he says. He was done with McCain, and went on to talk about the economy. He didn't say anything that every person that isn't on Wall Street already knows or thinks, but he was bold enough to just go out and say it. Not many people in the media are ever willing to challenge people with money or power and this is why the Worldwide Pants boys never get the credit on the ratings edge. Our country needs to challenge itself right now. The people that are the least American don't live on the other side of the globe, they live on the inside surrounded by a gate.

-Mikhail

edit: forgot to include some necessary citations
"Where's John McCain?" http://lateshow.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/dave_tv/highlights/index/php/bigshowhighlight.phtml
McCain on CBS Evening News http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4476356n
Obama Suggests Joint Statement http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/24/senate-dems-call-mccains_n_129009.html
Craig Ferguson's Monologue 9/24/08 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DuQGqIZCWE

HE-MO-GLO-BIN *clap**clap**clap**clap**clap* HE-MO-GLO-BIN *clap**clap**clap**clap**clap* HE-MO-GLO-BIN *clap**clap**clap**clap**clap* HE-MO-GLO-BIN *clap**clap**clap**clap**clap*

Anyway, Rally in the Valley Friday night, its gonna be awesome. White House against Illinois. Probably getting twisted mah niggas a few times this weekend.

Life is good, obviously.

-Mikhail

For one instance I would like to describe my very interesting day. Here it goes, I'm going to start with my sociology class (sure I had two classes before that, but things were slow until then). I'd like to remind you first that it is a RACE AND ETHNIC RELATIONS course, so with that said we were talking about biological and sociological differences between races. Towards the end of class we got up to statistics about blacks and hispanics having higher drop-out rates in high school than other groups, to which some chick interjects (the microphone I might add) "yeah, in my high school I think the reason that was is that the blacks and hispanics were out getting pregnant meaning that two people would have to drop-out at a time." Everyone in the class was just dumbfounded, especially given that it was the end of class, people were more than anxious to leave now even while mouthing "WHAT THE FUCK!" I'm pretty sure it even shook Sam Richards (the prof) a bit...maybe turning off her mic. According to a few people in my discussion group that met afterwards, some black girl jetted out just after she said that. What a wonderful thing to know that this ignorant girl can pick up her Coach bag and go about the rest of her day saying that in a RACE AND ETHNIC RELATIONS class. Funny enough, Sam today was making emphasis about how white people shouldn't feel bad about being white.

On a much lighter note! After discussion group I went to the first Blue & White meeting, which was cool. Followed by the Rally in the Valley committee meeting which was fantastic. Met some awesome people while pondering one of the all time great debates "cheese or oral sex?"

-Mikhail

Hey world, once again just chillin. This week has been alot of business between class and various meetings which is good for me and finally finding people on facebook. For whatever reason the latter has been more difficult than previous years. Some people are just straight up difficult to find, but I'm back to my old tricks. Last week I got twisted with my floormates Markos and James some place off-campus. I also started my internship, where I operate the camera that does the stream for the men's and women's soccer games on gopsusports.com. That's really all I got.

-Mikhail

Things of course are going great as I imagined. I've seen pretty much everyone I've wanted to see from Harrisburg that has come up here, as well as the ones that came up for the game on Saturday. Classes have been alright so far, professors are all cool, the workload hasn't been overwhelming yet, but that might change by next week. I've checked out pretty much every club that I had any relative interest in so I'm pretty much winding it down to just PSNTV, Blue & White Society and the improv group. I'm still in the process of getting my internship, so hopefully within the next week I'm doing some work with that.

-Mikhail

So now that summer is over I figure I'd go back to the regular just random posts when I feel like. First few days at University Park have been pretty cool. Haven't gone partying yet, but I'm sure that'll change this weekend. Meeting some cool peoples, classes aren't too shabby so far. Professors are chill so I think I'll tough it out. I've been checking out alot of clubs, trying to figure which ones I'll stick with, as well as getting in line with an internship during the fall filming and editing Penn State athletics games and putting them online. Good times ahead!

-Mikhail

Well last week home. Its been a great summer once again. Lots of good times with the jerks, good times at the Door. Its hard to believe that my time there is pretty much done, but who knows might end up working there again if the situation allows it. Well, a lot of packing in my immediate future. I'm looking forward to meeting some cool new people and seeing the few cool people I know already.

-Mikhail

Man its been a little while. A lot has changed since last post. Manny Ramirez is on the Dodgers now, Brett Favre is a Jet and I have a BlackBerry, which I'm posting this from actually. Two weeks from today I'll be getting ready for class (hopefully asleep at this time). Got another 12 days here to enjoy. Last week at the Door should be good and then one week to just get everything together. This year is gonna be awesome!

-Mikhail

Good week since last. Doing the work thing, always fun and crazy. Tried and Indian food and hookah which were both great. Drank with my family Saturday after working the All-Star FanFest. Sunday bought clothes and met Don Mattingly who was signing autographs at Foot Locker. Then hung out with David and Franco, More work this week, hopefully flies by.

-Mikhail

Man its been a good two weeks since last post. Working at The Door has never been as great as this year. Definitely alot more grateful for it since working at a certain designer's daughter's store. I went to Economy Candy, and to Katz's for some pastrami. Needless to say great fuckin afternoon. Friday saw the fireworks, which was bad ass surprisingly. Saturday at Vice's brothers' graduation bbq, which was great as well. I'm hoping I get paid this week, considering I really need to get some paper flow.

-Mikhail

I've had a nice week off since leaving Dylan's. I'm well rested, my legs and feet don't hurt as much, and mental stability has returned. I finished MGS4 last week, not much after my last post. Snake can finally rest like I have the last week. On Wednesday I went to the Penn State Communications mentoring thing at the Hearst Tower. It's a beautiful building there and got to see one of my favorite people there which was nice. Went to the museum and drank with the jerks on Saturday, good times of course. Tomorrow I go back to where I'm supposed to be the Door. I got a very busy summer ahead, so it should be interesting.

-Mikhail

Tomorrow's my last day at Dylan's, which is great. Got my PS3 on Thursday with David. MGS4 is just spectacular. I'm almost done with it I think and the story is coming together nicely as usual. On Wednesday I get to go to the Hearst Tower for a speed mentoring deal for communications majors at Penn State. That should be interesting. Football tickets on sale tomorrow morning so looking forward to that.

-Mikhail

Its my last full week at Dylan's and I start off closing Sunday, Monday and Tuesday off and the rest of the week work 1-10. Death Cab and Rogue Wave tomorrow night, very excited. Sneaking out on Thursday, whether its in the wee hours or just before noon.

-Mikhail

Last week needless to say was really up and down. I discovered my absolute hate for working at Dylan's because its just straight up creepy to spend the day in. The hours have been really exhausting especially since I closed both Friday and Saturday. During those two days though I got to talk more with a couple of my coworkers, both can understand my desire to leave (one of which actually is around the same time I am). That's what kind of sucks about it because for the most part everyone there is pretty chill. Anyway, today I went to the Door to get a gist of this year's plan. I'm definitely excited about that as always, so it makes me more anxious to get the next two weeks out of the way. Less than 11 days til MGS4, wooooooooooo! Oh yeah, observation for the week: what is this new fascination with Avante Garde?


-Mikhail

Interesting week since last post. Went to see DeVotchKa on Tuesday night, which was amazing. Immediately prior to that I got a call to come in and work at Dylan's Candy Bar. Started on Wednesday, worked crazily Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Its not a terrible job at all, but it really isn't my type of thing. I'm gonna stick with it until its time to work at the Door so I can get MGS4 woooooooo and pay off other miscellaneous debts. In the meantime I can tell tales of customers I've had.

So here's one: This chick is standing at bulk candies in front of the Sour Patch Kids.
Me: Need some help?
Lady: Do you guys sell individual flavors of Sour Patch Kids, I need the red ones?
Me: No, you know we do have the Sour Patch Cherries.
Lady: Yeah, I saw those, but my boyfriend only likes the red Sour Patch Kids. He'll buy a pack eat the red ones and throw them out.
Me: Okay, you have fun with that.

-Mikhail

Beginning of week 2 of Summer of SIH!! The OCHO. Nothing really going on as you could suspect. Thursday I applied at Dylan's Candy Bar, some crazy candy shop on 60th & 3rd, interview went well so I hope to hear back. Afterwards bought Craig Ferguson's book Between the Bridge and the River read the first couple chapters and looks to be something good to read for the summer. Saturday had my first driving lesson, which wasn't too bad at all. Driving is fricken hard though, alot of things to consider when making any move at all. Hopefully in 6 lessons I know enough to pass the test and be on my way to drive around. Just heard from Greg about plans for the summer, so if I'm unemployed still by the end of the week, I might be getting an early start on that.

-Mikhail

Well, its great to be back home. Of course the way I officially know I'm home is when it only takes me 10 minutes to put shoes on, find the downstairs key and money and buy a slice of pizza and come back. I'm more than happy to be done with this year. This was definitely the toughest year ever because I missed out on a lot of good times. Whenever I saw my friends from last year they were easily the highlight of that week. It sucks that now most of them decided not to go to University Park, but I know I'll be seeing them during football season and other times.

On another note, I think this is gonna be a great summer. I've seen the people that I can see for now and thats the best way to start the vacation. Hopefully tomorrow, I can go get my driving lessons on while looking for work. I need some serious money this summer so that I can get MGS4 and PS3, new phone, new TV maybe, and pay off my credit card before going to University Park.

Good Times Ahead,
-Mikhail

Holy shit, I don't think I've ever been as sick as I've been this week. Officially I have an upper respiratory infection, which implies that not only is my throat all sore, but my nose and surrounding upper respiratory areas are all fucked up. I'm now trying to irritate my sore by gargling a simple saline solution and drinking highly acidic orange juice. I'm hoping my reverse psychology works because it really sucks. Only 2 weeks left of class and a few finals and i'll be home in 3 weeks time.

-Mikhail

I'm so sick of this place, it has really taken a toll on me mentally and physically. Last week I had to work on two major papers and study for a quiz that I was actually sick. Sure it was my usual change of weather sick, but it was really just pounding me bad. I saw a buddy of mine today from last year that unfortunately due to lame circumstances couldn't come back to school this year. He saw me and said "Mikhail, I'm glad to see you! You're like one of the most chill people I've ever met." I wish that were still true, but too many things here really make that impossible. There are some people, there are some rules, this place in general just is here to ruin your day and with proper combination of each it definitely will. And you know how they say things get better with time, well in this case its not because you get used to it, its because there's a time limit fortunately. My new situation at University Park is less than 5 months and I'm lucky enough to know that its not a drag on you, but rather enhancing. Classes are gonna suck already for me, but at least a friendlier atmosphere is there to keep from dreading them. Oh well, 5 weeks to go before I become a workaholic again.

-Mikhail

UPDATE!

So I'm working on this project for sociology, that is ridiculously difficult in that I never meet with my group. It always involves several exchanges of emails and text messages the day before a project or presentation is due. Its cool though, our group does the best at all of these things. Anyway, I've been playing MLB 2K8 lately, which is possibly the most frustrating video game ever. Their pitching interface is pretty innovative, but one would hope that when putting this in it'd be at least near perfect. After looking through the 2K forums I of course found I was not the only one with this problem and someone put up a very helpful diagram. Since seeking this advice I've won 4 of my last 5, with 3 shutouts and the other win taking a no hitter into the 8th inning before tossing a meatball that goes over right field.

7 to go.

-Mikhail

Here's an interesting article about joke-stealing.

Oh and me? Alive, eight weeks left in this hell-hole...can't complain.

-Mikhail

Here's an interesting video.

Spring Break coming up Thursday. I'm very excited about seeing my family again and going to Stony Brook to hangout with the jerks. I'm probably gonna go back next Thursday since allegedly I'm hanging out with some chick I've been meaning to meet up with for a while. This would be alot easier if this place had more housing or if I was more mobile. Anyway gotta get through anal-rape Wednesday (one with 3 scrumptious tests) and Thursday. Oh yeah, hopefully MLB 2K8 comes tomorrow, that should pass the time.

-Mikhail

You know...February wasn't at all too bad. My weekends this month have been incredible. On Saturday the ninth I went to New York with Katie and she ended up meeting my folks and the jerks as well. The Saturday after that we went to the University of Pennsylvania for our district conclave. It was great to meet brothers from other chapters and learn about what they do in their chapters. This weekend of course was THON 2008. Just like last year it was amazing, but this time the dancers were people I have been friends with for a good part of my college career. Me and Micah decided to spend the night at Bryce Jordan Center instead of going to the hotel, which was crazy because we really were like the dancers and had no idea what time it was. We did the line dance many times, sung and danced to songs we sure as hell knew we hated (my favorite being Adam suffering through "Blue") and met cool people such as my potential neighbors next semester and Gwen, who I'll refer to as "Micah's friend". Another great Penn State weekend.

-Mikhail

This Texas Ranger Doesn’t Play Baseball

With the rise of the Internet no one person has been given hero status more in the past three years than Chuck Norris. Before I became familiar with Chuck Norris in his current form, I found myself in one of the many dojos where he practiced in Harlem. His hero status has been assumed since he started appearing in his own feature films during the 70s where he of course roundhouse kicks fiends and takes names. In the 80s he had a cartoon show where he lead a team of a couple of kids and a helpful sumo wrestler pal fighting a crazy ninja and some dude with a freakish golden claw. In the 90s Chuck was Walker, Texas Ranger, who was fighting crime (while selling home gym systems at that) when Texas was having some serious issues apparently…for eight years too. Well in this decade Chuck Norris is now a supernatural being that until about two months ago, was greater than God.

One characteristic of the rise of Chuck is his continuous gain of power, which of course was helped by immense training, but was enhanced with the powers of his facial hair. The rise of this hero starts with a really big fall inn a fight scene with Bruce Lee. Not only does Bruce Lee beat him to death, he had hair ripped right off of his chest! In the 1980s he had a mustache while fighting ninjas in The Octagon. While on his Texas Ranger stint he had a full beard hiding another fist. Back to the Bruce Lee fight, no mustache...just wimpy sideburns.

In 2005, Chuck Norris became a phenomenon once again because people were learning more and more about what a brute, unforgiving force he was to humans, nature and pretty much the entire universe. Our beloved crime fighting Texan was not only striking fear into the eyes of criminals, but everything alive…maybe even dead in some cases. The Chuck Norris facts became an amazing hit and of course Chuck Norris being the man he is acknowledged the jokes and was willing to laugh at his own awesomeness.
Unfortunately it was time for another fall, when Chuck Norris decided to show that maybe God actually does have more power than what Chuck Norris gave to him. He began running ads to promote Bible study in schools, which of course to many shows that Chuck Norris may be a God fearing man, but he can snap your neck faster than you can blink. In late 2007, he sued a book publisher for releasing a book of the mythological Chuck Norris facts, which of course makes the threat of “Don’t F*** with Chuck” true because he’ll sue your ass.

Well now that that’s taken care of Chuck Norris has teamed with Mike Huckabee in a line of ads including “Huck-Chuck” facts, which were of course “Chuck Norris Approved”. By the way, this paper would not exist had Harry Truman decided to use the atomic bomb instead of use Chuck Norris, since it was more humane.

-Mikhail

Man I'm tired. Next two weekends should be cool. UPenn next Saturday with the boys. THON the week after that. Good times.

-Mikhail

So yesterday I went to New York for the day and it may have been one of the best 12 hour spans I've been in the city. Our time in there started with my first ride on the PATH stopping at where else but the in progress World Trade Center hub, which is a crazy sight in that you are right in "Ground Zero" watching people build stuff there after the reckoning the Cloverfield monster did. We went to Chipotle's for lunch although it was the first meal for most of us. Then we went canning at our respective spots having initially moderate success. We took a break and went our separate ways for the most part. I ended up going home where I had a nice hearty meal and then took a nap only to wake up to my brother playing Ken Griffey Jr.'s Slugfest on a N64 emulator. Six o'clock hit so I went back to meet up with the others. As it should be no surprise to anyone, cluster-fucked weekend service left us waiting at each stop while "traffic" cleared. We finally met up at Times Square where the characters finally started to appear including my favorite "I GOTTA SLEEP, GOTTA EAT, GOTTA SHIT, GOTTA COOK BREAKFAST MAAAAAAAAAN." While trying to figure out our next canning locale, we heard about a bar that serves as an underground Penn State Alum spot. We head down there and low and behold you can spot a banner that says "Welcome All Penn State Nittany Lions" We imediately think this is incredibly awesome and that about ends the trip. The entire time (especially after leaving my folks place) I thought that soon enough this is how life's going to be for me. Whether it'll be other trips to day trips to New York from school or after graduation, when I'm living far from my current home and just stop by to say "Hi!" to my family. Also this day helped to give me an idea of where to find fellow Penn Staters after my time at State College is done. Best Saturday so far this year and definitely top 10 lifetime.

-Mikhail

Friday night we had our usual brotherhood development starting at TGI Fridays and then at this pool hall. As we were leaving we decided to go to my friends place to just hangout some more. On the way there our newest brother Steve turned on his GPS to take us on our way over there. The GPS kept implying that we go straight ahead for about 6 miles, when our first and only possible turned was a little more than a block down. We took the only route we could go still "following" the GPS. After a couple of more turns out of our alleged way, Steve decided to restart the thing. So he did put in the destination and the same map came on. He looks through again and somehow then realizes that it was running on demo. Before he realized that we ended up on the right road that takes us straight to school on a complete stroke of luck.

-Mikhail

Well back to the 'burg Sunday. The break has been great, much better than last year's. I'm hoping the semester flies by while at the same time slow to enjoy.

-Mikhail

Bored as usual on this second (well now third) day of the newest of years, I began looking on Facebook, as I normally do when I'm bored, and started reading notes people have written for themselves on ways they're going to improve themselves for the upcoming year. I think this practice is the most arbitrary in "life-changing maneuvers" because you literally have decided that January 1st, 2008 is the day the rest of your life begins as opposed to it being the result of a personal event and/or epiphany any other time of the year (unless yours happened to have come around New Year's...Orl Korrect for you). With that said, instead of presenting ways I'm going to better myself this year, I'll submit to you a list of things for 2008:

• Somehow hover over a 2.0 GPA for my entrance to major requirement...pretty difficult with my 3.33 cumulative.
• Have a great time at THON considering it'll be the last with Harrisburg.
  
• Somehow manage to get a PS3 for when MGS4 comes out. (this should be higher on the list, but didn't think of it until now)
• Start a physical journal one which people can write their thoughts in as well, maybe just for the year as its gonna be one of these big transition years. (this was an idea I got from a great brother of mine Joe Marks)
• Intern somewhere (hopefully with David Letterdude or any other show network or cable)
• Work at The Door for a 5th straight summer
• Take time to go somewhere thats more North than Boston, more West than State College, more South than Charlottesville, East? not much there except Long Island...I guess I could go there too.
• Start life at University Park :-)

Well those are things certainly. Surely there's more to be covered, but I think I hit the points I know are coming up. As I sure learned last year more than ever, life is fuckin crazy. There's always something that is going to be changing and this year more than any other I remember, I'm expecting lots and lots of changes not only in my own life, but in the lives of the people around me and of course the country. So this is 2008, the year of things and stuff.

-Mikhail