Creations and Findings from the Night

this LJ was created mostly so that I could revel in the creations of my own hobbies, share random fact-findings, and/or eternalize great works of journalism that I come across. I update occasionally and sporatically. 2005 Movie List
2006 Movie List
2007 Movie List
2008 Movie List
2009 Movie List

Sometime two years ago or even as recently as last year, a spunky, slightly awkward freshman among the sea of CVN volunteer student members in the organization stood out to me. He was friendly, enthusiastic, and exuded a drive of passion that is so rare in people, much less a freshman. This guy would show up to almost every show, usually even more prepared than me, ready to help. Through casual conversation, I learned the student was an engineering major (typical, I thought) aiming to reach the stars. Literally. His goal in life was to work for NASA.

As time went on, he became more and more involved with CVN until one day he was voted in as one of the new executive board members. Throughout the entire secret election process, I was rooting for him because unlike the majority of the other applicants I knew that were applying, he was genuine. I could feel it.

Sad to say, little Randy only served with us on the board for half of a semester. He did not return to us this year. And you know why? It's because that ambitious now-sophomore is now interning for NASA in Houston, Texas. This guy--he made it, and as strange it is for me to feel this way because I barely know him, I am so proud of what he has accomplished thus far. NASA is not an easy organization to get involved in. When he first texted me last semester that he just barely got an interview with the recruiter but was moving on in the process, I empathized with his happiness. I don't empathize often.

I am glad to have met this individual and am glad that such hardworking and passionate people really exist. Now read this blog post he wrote and tell me Randy isn't the coolest guy.

( When they asked me why I wanted to work for NASA in the interview, I told them the story I tell everyone about how I used to pretend I was in Mission Control when I was 3. But I also told them about how I had learned to love engineering, technology, serving others, and serving my country from my Grandpa. )

Josette linked this article on her Twitter last week wondering why it hasn't been turned into a movie yet. And how! This story of Mike Royko's love for a woman named Carol for all his life supersedes any Nicholas Sparks book and any film ever made by Hollywood because it was real. For years Royko wrote singing love letters to Carol explaining his feelings and hoping that she would one day return the favor. As it should happen to a man of such romantic stature, she one day finally fell into his arms. Sadly, Carol passed away suddenly and one can only wonder the heartbreak he must have felt when he so finitely lost his lover for the last time. Below is the article detailing Royko's amazing story and how one man never gave up pursuing the best thing that ever happened to him.

( You’ve made me the happiest, luckiest, most fortunate guy in the whole wide world. Oh sweetheart, thank you for being you. )

For the first time in four years, I'm not setting a goal for 2009. This year's is just for the sake of records. Gotta focus on college, graduation, jobs, and things like that..

( Five golden years. )

I'm actually pretty fucking clueless about the extreme details of politicana this election year but I'm always up for some good scandals. And this McCain-Palin-Bristol thing is pretty cream of the crop as of late. Of course, as all the speculation about what and how Bristol's pregnancy changes the Arizona senator's campaign is flying about, some are more concise than others. This story by Gawker is one that actually got me reading all the way through.

( But when McCain runs as the experience candidate and ridicules Obama's lack of foreign policy experience and seriousness and then defends Palin by saying her foreign policy experience is that her state is close to Russia it causes the serious-minded commentators to take notice of the only sort of political malfeasance they genuinely can't abide: violating your own message. )

I don't know how to pronounce his name, much less know who he was, but this eulogy for Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn is very romantic and got me interested in his significance. Such is the nature of eulogies, I suppose. On August 3, 2008, Russian author and political writer Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn departed this world but left behind his brave expose on Soviet labor camps, The Gulag Archipelago.

( ...in the '70s, Solzhenitsyn sat his sons astride the rock and told them that someday it would turn into a flying horse and take them back to Russia. )

I don't remember the last time I related so much to an article as I did with this story in today's New York Times. While reading each new inhabitant's story, I constantly grinned and nodded in understanding because they I could relate exactly to some of them (so much so that it was almost eerie). The story isn't written very well but it gets the point across.

( That was when I realized I was getting in sync with the city. )

I am most definitely a very new and very temporary addition to the Brooklyn mosaic but even in my short time off the 5th L train station, I've seen evidence of the gentrification that defines this column. Larry Livermore's reasoning for the inevitable growth and sprawl of riches in the city--any viable living city--is well supported without being cocky. A great read on the way to work this morning on the subway.

( Cities, healthy ones, anyway, are living, breathing organisms, and as such they share a common denominator with all living things: constant change. When you try to freeze a place in time, stop it from growing or changing, you wind up with a quaint but stultified, pretty but pointless little village like, say, Boston or San Francisco. )

I'm not all too familiar with Ted Kennedy's accomplishments or work history but I understand he is a very respected member of the political game. Regardless, I found this story to be very concise and directive given its limited page space. It certainly conveyed the tragedy of the news to an unknowing and the reminder that like Ted, we all are mortal.

( Kennedy was born into wealth, nursed on power and indulged in every appetite--but the one luxury denied him was the illusion of immortality. )