First day of class, as a commuter.

With the exception of going to the wrong room for Media Production (I should have known when the professor started talking about Anthropology), my first day of classes as a commuter went exceptionally well. On Thursdays, I have four out of my five classes - which might make it seem like a long day, which it is and it isn't. Yes, I do have to wake up at 5:30am and catch the 6:30am bus... but the fact that I only have class three days a week saves this from being a complete bust (on my part with the scheduling of my classes). My Philosophy teacher, Professor Kilivris, was completely down to earth - but also presented us with our first ice breaker of the day. The variety of favorite songs and films of the moment was, to be honest, quite baffling - ranging from "Hearing Damage" by Thom Yorke to "Superman" by Eminem, and Righteous Kill to (500) Days of Summer. I went with "Winter '05" by Ra Ra Riot as my current favorite song, although it is quite clearly not. I think I was just inspired to say it by the snow falling outside, and the fact that that season of that year seems to be, upon reflection, a pivotal year in my life. I guess my favorite song of the moment, that I only heard yesterday, would be "Odessa" by Caribou, which will be on their upcoming album Swim.

After Philosophy is when I began making mistakes, none too awful. First, I forgot my pea coat in my Philosophy classroom, so I had to run back there to get it. Then I went to the wrong room for my aforementioned Media Production course, so I arrived at the right classroom roughly twenty minutes late. My teacher gave me a syllabus, and a classmate from last semester, Ian, helped me log onto the Mac I chose in the computer lab. Our first assignment is an artist's statement - which seems pretty juvenile, but I guess I enjoy doing assignments like it... even though I know whatever I try and express will be a jumble of words which no one will understand.

After Media, I had a short break so I met up with Sasha. We went to the cart outside Hunter North and got bagels, and I got coffee. Note: From now on I am using my Sundance bottle for water - firstly so I do not have to pay for water all the time, secondly so I can reduce bottled water waste and contribute to saving the environment.

Next came Astronomy, wherein the teacher began teacher within the first ten minutes. This kind of bugged me because no one had a textbook already, and he did not exactly succeed in making me interested in Astronomy, as I was hoping. At least I have a friend in this class - don't know what I would do if I didn't. I'd probably fall asleep, and have no one to get the work from.

Then came another break before Introduction to Literature, with my Expository Writing teacher from last semester, Ms. Baish. During this break, I went with Colleen to Shakespeare & Co. and got all of my books, except for the edition for Macbeth I need that I ordered off Amazon. I also need to find out what textbook I need for American Government. My Astronomy textbook was $126.50. What a waste - but I shouldn't speak too soon.

Introduction to Literature was fun. We introduced ourselves and our favorite books - I said Death in Venice, even though I think Naked Lunch is probably my favorite. Actually, I really can't rank my top three - the third being Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. We ended the class by going over what a sonnet is, and then I quickly scurried out of the class to come home to my bed. Right now, I should get to work and begin my assignments - Plato reading, sonnet readings and responses, and Astronomy Chapter 1. Until next time... ciao.

Sundance: A trip in photographs.

the wait list line at Eccles Theatre for the world premiere of HOWL, did not get in but met some cool people.

snow and tree capped mountains of Park City, Utah.

"this is cinematic rebellion" - inside Racquet Club Theatre.

a snowy side street off Main Street, the main strip in Park City.

Gaspar Noé, director of Enter the Void, with actors Nathaniel Brown and Paz de la Huerta.

Josh Radnor, writer, director, and actor of happythankyoumoreplease.

Rodrigo Cortés, director, Chris Sparling, writer, and Ryan Reynolds, (the only) star of Buried.

Sundance Film Festival 2010 - no sleep, just film.

Nightmares and delusions of grandeur.

I have recently been imbued with a feeling that is so fleeting for me, a feeling that I can actually change the world one person at a time. A detective I have become, willing to put my time and energy into cracking this case that has been open since August and which will have a hole burnt in it by June. I'm not worried, though. I will wait and see where it leads me.

I feel like I should be supporting a family; holding two jobs, what do I do with this money? For now, I'll put it in the bank and act like it doesn't exist until I need it for transportation to and from school come the end of this month.

Last night I had a dream about Stanley Tucci raping and killing me, ala The Lovely Bones (which I do not plan on seeing; I really just want to hear Brian Eno's score). It was creepy and rooted in strange suburban values.

When I woke up I thought I heard my mother speaking about my grandmother; I quickly fell back asleep and dreamt that my grandmother had passed. When I awoke again my house was empty. My mother arrived home a few hours later to deliver some awful news about another member of my family, which I feel uncomfortable disclosing on this blog.

Tonight I am seeing Owen Pallett (formerly Final Fantasy) at Bowery Ballroom with Samira; tomorrow I am seeing Vampire Weekend (for the second time) at Bowery (again) with Kevin. I look forward to both nights of music; let's hope that humanity does not get in the way. Thursday I take off for Park City, where I will try my best to update on all the films I see.

The Facebook Stalker Manifesto.

It’s funny how these social networking sites, like Facebook, are supposed to help people keep in touch. I am not one of those people. I admittedly have a Facebook, but it helps me less with keeping in touch with people and more with stalking them.

This becomes problematic when the people I’m stalking know I’m stalking them. With new applications like “Profile Watcher”, anybody with a Facebook can find out who is looking at their profile. Is this information correct? Who knows, all I know is it makes me worried that people may know I’m looking at their profile or through their endlessly boring photo albums.

Or does it, really? I can’t say I’m really worried, because first of all not everyone adds these applications. Secondly, what do I care if my classmates from high school know how many times I go on their profile or through their pictures?

Finally, and most importantly, I actually do wonder what the people I stalk think. The people in non-question are people I do not see on a daily basis; the people in question are the people I do.

Looking forward to: Greenberg.

Click here to watch the trailer.

Release date: March 12, 2010 (limited)

Directed by: Noah Baumbach

Written by: Noah Baumbach

Story by: Jennifer Jason Leigh & Noah Baumbach

Starring: Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, Rhys Ifans, Mark Duplass, Chris Messina, Jennifer Jason Leigh

And to cap it all off, new music by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem (who makes a subtle appearance in the trailer; cookie for anyone who spots him).