In Which I Suffer From Writer's Block

So it has been a little while since I've updated my blog, but in my defense I've been pretty busy. Let me bring you up to speed:

Earlier this month I finished my first semester of grad school in NYU's Public Relations and Corporate Communications Masters of Science Program. Finals were a little bit stressful, but ultimately I got the grades I was hoping for and am happy to get the first semester under my belt.

I've heard a lot of people make the claim that grad school is "easier" than undergrad and that the real trick is getting into a program. I don't necessarily believe that. See while my GPA this semester was significantly higher than 95% of those during my undergrad work, I feel as though I had more work in 3 classes than I typically did during my 5 class course load as at UConn. Is it possible that grade inflation is the culprit in my high GPA? Sure, I mean I've always been a "B" student my entire life and it seems strange that all of a sudden I'm getting "A's." But there are also other explanations such as : 1) I'm paying for grad school out of my own pocket and am more motivated to succeed and 2) after being away from school for 2.5 years I am more mature and treat schoolwork like a job now.

Either way, I'm glad the semester is over - even though I have already started summer classes (6 days, sweet break NYU).

The other big part of my life that came to a conclusion last week was the Jersey City Municipal Elections. I had been working for Mayor Jerramiah Healy's team as a press assistant/speech writer/office manager etc. etc. The candidate I did the most work for was Nidia Lopez in Ward C. After a hard-fought campaign I am happy to announce that Mayor Healy won reelection on the first ballot with over 50% of the vote and Nidia R. Lopez pulled off a major upset by not only defeating established JC politician Jimmy King, but on the first ballot no less.

The win for Nidia was especially historic because it made her the first Hispanic Councilwoman in the city's history.

Here is a photo courtesy of the Jersey Journal:

(Yours truly far left)

So that's where I'm at right now. Been kind of busy but now things are calming down as I await word on my next job.

Only problem now is, I have no friggin' idea what to write about.

It's about 10:30 p.m. and I'm listening to Stevie Ray Vaughn's "Texas Flood." Staring blankly at the screen. I scribbled down a couple of ideas over the weekend, so for the hell of it I'll just throw them out there in the next couple paragraphs:

During Robert Prsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" the author makes a very eloquent point about how those who rely on their "faith" really rely on nothing. Prsig uses the sun rusing as a metaphor. He doesn't have "faith" that the sun will come up tomorrow, he knows it will. No matter what may happen on our planet with people, there is an indisputable fact that the sun will come up. However, when someone says they believe in something and that their "faith" in Christianity (or whatever other institution) is strong they are really expressing doubt.

Too me it's funny that those who get so riled up over how strong their faith is, really are stuck mired in a battle with doubt. People fight wars and die over a concept that is riddled with doubt. Does that seem stupid to anyone else?

That's about as far as I got with that one.

The next one is an idea that my friend Jeff and I have had for years. I thought about elaborating on it, but in light of the new Terminator movie this idea kind of goes out the window.

You know what the best thing about the Terminator trilogy is? They're the prequils to the Matrix movies. Think about it, the third Terminator movie ends with nuclear war and the machines becoming self-aware. Now what does the Matrix start with? Hmmm, let's see: human beings have been reduced to living underground because they nuked the hell out of the planet (I know that technically skynet nuked the planet in the Terminator movies, but it's not implausible to believe that the world never found out that's what happened), the Machines are running the show and the resistance has just found it's leader and is hoping for a turning point in the war.

Yeah I know it's a stretch, but kind of fun to think about.

Ok that one was probably pretty painful, but hey that's writer's block for you.

The last one I'll share for you is just three words on one notebook page. It simply reads:

Dane Cook Sucks.

Can't argue with that. He really does suck.

Anyway I'll be back tomorrow with Cover Song Thursday's, hope somebody enjoyed this entry.

Cover Song Thursdays: Cash Kills It

In many ways this Nine Inch Nails cover by Johnny Cash has become more famous than the original.

Now I'm not one of those music snobs who believes that a cover can never be as good as an original. But I have to admit, when somebody told me that Cash was covering "Hurt" I was more than skeptical. Nine Inch Nails's Downward Spiral was one of my favorite albums growing up and "Hurt" has a special place with me. If I could put together one CD full of songs that remind me the most of my high school years, "Hurt" would definitely be on it.

Reluctantly I listened to the Cash version and, lo and behold, the man in black absolutely killed it. Nearing the end of his life, Cash's older solemn voice gave new life to the song. For me the song changed from a typical remorseful song of events passed and wondering what could have been, to an old man at the end of his life looking back on the wrongs he committed.

Anyway, enough waxing poetic. Enjoy the tune.