Ok this is waaaaaaaaaaaaay funny

Halloween

I think everyone loves Halloween. Even if you don't dress up you can get a kick from looking at other people's costumes. Furthermore, it is an awesome time for guys, because for some strange reason girls like to under-dress. It is even a good time for green people; they can recycle their old uncle's hippier (or rock star) clothes. Some go as far as using a Santa Claus outfit, that way they kill two birds with one stone. i have to confess that I lost the interest in Halloween since I was 15. SO I sit on the sidelines watching and analyzing people's behavior. I was a t a Halloween party last night and I concluded that Halloween allows people to get out the dumb ass inside them without being seriously judge. This because everyone acts retarded, that even clinical retarded people laughs at them. Ahhhhh haha hahaha Halloween is indeed fun.

I have nothing

Reality Check...checa la realidad

Life is so great until it hits us with a REALITY CHECK (CHECA LA REALIDAD). But what exactly is a reality check? How do I know I am experiencing a REALITY CHECK? In response to the first, a reality check is when you realize that your life experience is far below from expectations. Furthermore, it is obvious that you needed to do something ,but did not really know until the reality check hit you. One of the most common reality checks is when you realize you have been procrastinating and you have 2 papers and three tests coming up next week. You need to read 15 chapters and there is no way you can get that done in such few days. That is REALITY, you can only do so much and excel at it. At the time you experience a reality check it is only helpful to pray, tighten your belt and try your best. In the end that's what life its all about. Learning from contrasting our actions with their results. You can always do better, but it also true that it could be worse. Therefore, one is always in the middle striving to take the next step.

To start the week

That was a good one

I was particularly happy this afternoon when I opened my e-mail and saw my editor's e-mail (aka Ali R.). I followed the advice of Ali and checked the Inside Augsburg Story. I read the portion that referred to this space and I am feel satisfied with the work I am doing for the Homemade team. I guess we all try our best to appeal to students considering to attend school here. I was reflecting on the broad picture of the college and I concluded one important thing. Augsburg is a great place to learn and experience the inner workings of an institution. That is that Augsburg gives every single one of us the chance to engage in anything we want. From radical alternative hippie to be part of the student senate, not forgetting going through green advocate. In addition of working with different professional staff and professors.

So if we really look at the Augsburg experience, it could lead you to be a well rounded person in the realm of dealing with a variety of people from many disciplines and that's what the world needs. So if you want to make a change in this world, you can start your training at this noble institution. Then you can bring it with you wherever you may go.


PS The football team is going to bring it back!!! Auggiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiies! goooo! fightttt! Wiiiiin!

Finally us Pointing to the city

The truth is...

I am glad to say that I have material to work on the pursue of a more broad analysis and critic of issues posted in "The Echo." I guess more than material I had finally time to read what's been discussed in the Augsburg paper.

The Burning Gas and Burning Bridges article caught my attention because the essence of the debate. In my opinion Phillip Kaup's argument that DPS will drive away the efficiency of a hybrid car is rather dramatic. If the car is supposed to be fuel efficient, then no matter what less gas would be consumed, wasted, purchased, or whatever. Unless they decided to start driving more.
The truth is that, the wasteful driving will continue to go on, but it won't be as bad as it would be if they had purchased the Tahoe.

I admire Krohn's incentive to work with the administration of the school to get student issues addressed. What I find ridiculous is that the Green Vehicle Initiative puts that much effort in pushing for a green alternative for just one car. Ok pushing for a greener campus by having one car being hybrid is not going to do much for the overall emissions. I think is time that all the green people all over the place, here and elsewhere stop making themselves feel better for mediocre changes.

What we need is some activists that attack the big polluters more consistently. To track the public servers that are being bought by polluter companies. Ultimately they are the ones that account for the majority of the pollution. Furthermore, if green people really want a change they should push for a law that bans certain cars to circulate one day a week. In Mexico we have that law... well at least we used to now its been weakened by arguing new car's emissions are not as bad. Anyway that's a whole different arena. The main point is that the world is not better because we got one green vehicle. If you can work things out with the school administration, can you do it so with the state and federal administration? Now that's the million dollar question.

Trapped

I was working Downtown the other day and when it was time to drop mail in the Investors building I decided to explore the Skyway system a little bit. I was by the Gaviidae commons and I decided that I needed to shake hands with my tool... if you know what I mean.

I knew exactly where the bathroom was, but that specific day the escalator was broken so I headed to the elevator. In a desperate and rather anxious reaction I decided to take the stairway. What could happen is just one floor. I got to the double stairway and made my way up. SURPRISE MISMO!!! There is not access to any of the other floors. I panicked and started to try several floors jumping back and forward from stairway A to B. I was sweeting. I loosen my Ferragamo tie and I pull out my cell phone. Who can I call to get me out of this situation? I mean I am supposed to be working and now I am trapped. How am I going to explain this to my supervisor. Hey Ahmed, I wanted to take a leak and got trapped in the Gaviidae commons stairway. Ahmmm could you send Dan to let me in... No that does not make sense. I know call 911, Hi my name is Luis Monterrubio and I am trapped... No I don' even know how to describe well how to get here... Bollocks!!! If only this god damn place had signs warning the lack of accessibility to other floors through the stairway. A moment of enlightenment toll me to that I could either try all the way down or all the way up. Since I was already experiencing some claustrophobia I headed to the bottom. I ran like the wind with cell phone on hand and 911 on the display. I could not believe it! I was out and I had never felt so free in my life before.


Moral of the story: You can have adventures at work...

The musical proposal to begin the week

I think I have always dreamed to have a job involved with music. Since this space is all I have (and is also a job), I post some music that I think is worth listening.

Here is some Gotan Project:

Just not enough time

I have been thinking that society's demand on individuals is sick and irrational. What do I mean? just think about all the crap you have to fit during your College Time. Internships, Graduation Requirements (i.e community service), Involvement Credentials, multiple jobs. All for what? So a bunch of pricks tell you that since you are not involved because your involvement is not good enough. Bollocks!!! All that's left me is little time to really do what I came to do... STUDY!!! I could try harder right? The truth is that by the time I can get to study my brain is not willing to do so. let's be careful, because I am not making a victim of myself by writing this. Rather, I am raising awareness of how premature and nonsense the society is...

Inside the MBA

This semester is particularly difficult for me because I have to balance way too many things. One of them is my apps to grad school. Yesterday, I had an interview with William e. Simon from Rochester NY. It went fine (I think). I just thought about all the great things I do at Augsburg and how I feel I am prepared to go into a full time MBA right after college. Well After the interview I went to the main event where several big name grad schools were recruiting locals. If you had asked me in my high school years if I would ever consider any of those schools to attend grad school, I would probably say hell no!!! Anyway, the event was better than what expected... I mean they had free buzz. SO I decided to get a few drinks in have fun and talk to people. I really enjoyed myself. I did get snubbed out of the admissions process from many U's... just because I have no full time work experience. Bollocks! This people want experience in just a sector of life... I would like to be modest, but I may just be able to school half of them in some intellectual ideas... Yes I am arrogant, but the system pisses me off. In any case, I had a great time...

PS I was also more than likely dressed nicer than 95% of them... Does that count for admission? That's what I thought.

Nuruddin Farah's visit

Well its done it finally happened. The great Somali Novelist was in Auggie Ville this past Tuesday and Wednesday. To be honest I was expecting a much different vibe from the event. Don't get me wrong I loved having him read and answer people's questions. I guess I was expecting to see the same Nuruddin I saw in the BBC documentary of a decade plus ago. I realized that thinkers change and evolute way too much throughout their life. Maybe, I was expecting to revive that old feeling with some young enthusiasm. He did say a handful of remarkable things one that caught my attention the most was: "When I knew little I thought I knew a lot." )I'll get back to this quote some other time). In any case (ha haha) He was still awesome and I am sure everyone there took something positive home.

Exercise

I want to share with you an exercise that I learned from Dr. Stephen Bezruchka.

Instructions.
Follow the money and decide who is the buyer, the seller, and the product in the following media:

TV
Radio
Internet


Please post you answers!

Dear Hang

I understand that you take it personal. However, I mean no offense to the people in Asia. As I pointed out this is the second year Augsburg goes to recruit there. I do think you are right, there are far more students from Latin America. So to make it even, why not bring French, British, or Australians?
Anyway, how are things going over there?

Something to chill to

Is it just me or...

I cannot help top think that international Admissions is being a little bias. Don't get me wrong, I love Marissa and the Admissions crew. But really, why Asia again? What's in there that we want to recruit people just from there. If if they sent her to Asia last year, this year she could of gone to Europe, Australia, Mexico, etc. Well maybe not Mexico, because people there are more than likely not going to have enough resources to come here. However, you can always target the private schools. Anyway, I feel that if the college advocates for diversification, focusing only in that region of the world is not going to do it.

Augsburg is Random

Oh Yeahhh!
But lets be honest, we all like that. The reason is that since the essence of the college environment is so random, no one really over judges your actions. You are just seen as part of the overall randomness of the campus.
Whether you play the bagpipe in the park, come to have lunch without belonging here, dress up like a character of Miami Vice, carry a boom box around, or support the republican party you are what just makes this place random.
Moral of the story if you want to be truly yourself, come visit Augsburg... you do not even need to attend college here, just bring your randomness to make this institution even more colorful than it is.

Technology is actually great!

Lately I have been complaining about technology being one of the main causes of our society decadence. It also true that, if we used technology for more productive purposes, we will be living a much better world. You might ask yourself what are you talking about Mismo? For what I'd reply: well just think about all the damn time you spend surfing through pointless websites on the net. Or better yet how much time you spent creeping on other people's profiles on Facebook or whatever. Let me ask you one thing: Have you used internet to learn something on a regular basis? Oh and reading the news is all right, but it is not what I mean.
I have and people do not seem to like that idea. I have shared this approach with many people and no one seems to believe in technology. The reason for this is because they see technology mainly as means of entertainment and not self study.

Anyway, I could go on forever. Today I was very shocked at how technology could be used very positively. I am working on a research project for my Keystone class (Eco 490). I decided to use some lit by Dr. Stephen Bezruchka. Last night I decided to write Dr.Bezruchka to ask for guidance in my project, and contrarily to what I expected I got a response from him pointing me towards some good resources. It meant a lot to me, because I proved myself that technology actually does some good in this world. I am going to try to contact some other renown academicians and see how many reply to my message.

Special thanks to Dr. Bezruchka wherever he is... possibly Washington
-il Meme

Sunday remarks

The truth is that I have been rather busy this semester. I have not been able to keep up with this lovely space, nor with many other things. However, I think today I realized I complain too much about being busy with school related matters. I think that if I can get myself to stop complaining and spend that energy tackling tasks down, everything will be much better. It is so hard though, because it is my last fall walking around this streets as an Auggie and I want to enjoy too. Too sad too bad... senior year is here to stay and I better get my shit together so I can graduate ha haha. I do gotta admit I have my share of fun... So thanks so much to the people in particular one person that is helping lessen the burden of this semester... Oh! And see you TH night at D town...

Everything is New

I think many of us lie when replying to the following question:
What's new with you?
"oh nothing" "same old" "not too much"
If you think about it there are many things that go on every day and yet we do not share them because think them to be irrelevant. Here is a list of things that I think would be irrelevant in answering the question above mentioned, but that at the same time made my day.

1. Drunk guy gave me $13 on the light rail
2. I saw a raccoon very closely by Luther Hall
3. I gave $6 to a stranger
4. I think I saw a raccoon (the same I saw at LH I believe) hanging out in the quad

Life is quite interesting even it its most irrelevant details. Live, experience and share even those silly things.

Too premature

That's how I would describe post modern life in two simple words.
Most things nowadays are rushed it seems that everything has to be started at, in my point of view, an irrational time. .
Kids start smoking,drinking, and having sex too early
If you don't get work experience before graduating from college or grad school you can't get a good job. I mean is in it school supposed to make me a knowledgeable individual so then I can apply that when I graduate. Ok it is cool if you have the chance to get some experience while attending school. However, this should be the exception and not the norm. Plus, I feel that now everyone is taking advantage of that internship term to disguise positions. That is, they call it internship and it is really not that great, or not an internship at all. Like being a sales clerk... not an internship. You can go to the Augpost and check all this ridiculous positions listed as internships. This is the message I get. Yeah lets call it internship, lets have it be unpaid, we'll fire the person currently doing that, and we'll get a stupid college student to fill up the position.

Moral of the story this world is messed up. It is all out fault because we all try to be better off by doing more, but really we just make it worse. This can be better explained with the so known notion of smart for one dumb for all. I have to remark that yeah... the invisible hand and free markets is an awesome concept, but it has to have a threshold where returns to scale actually become negative after crossing such a point... Ok Mismo but tell us your sources...
Sure, I am my own source and so are you. It is just a matter of looking internally and realizing that life as it is right now is so systematic, and premature. Anyway, my ideas might not be welcomed anywhere, and that's exactly what I want. That is a fundamental characteristic of ideas that have lead to a major change in the world.

-Le Mismo

Victim

I think that more than being depressed, lately I have been the victim of postmodern life. Or what in other words is known as the disenchantment of the world. This life is not the way it used to be and it will never be. In order to succeed one must adopt the systematic approach of life. Or rather become a ultra radical that will do everything in its hands to call attention for a change... or at least a slowdown.

- Mimso Forever Radical Alternative Hippie

The last of everything

I think I have been living this semester with a strange attitude. I do everything thinking that it would be the last thing I will do as an Auggie during a fall semester. This past weekend I assisted to the Fall Art Tour and I got to go to all the participant schools for one last time. After graduation is kinda impossible to tell if I will ever be at some of those places ever again. I guess it is a complicated philosophy to carry on but one that helps me a lot to enjoy everything I do.

What's your semester's philosophy?

No way!

I do not know if it is just me, but I really get angry when I see good publicity about Aviand's in Augnet. I am not a hater I am just basically relying on the facts. Like I mentioned last week yes Aviand's is helping Augsburg to become greener, but it is also making everything related with food services more inhuman and somewhat communist. Anyone that challenges this? I have really good examples.

Augsburg is going green and also communist ...Aviand's Sucks

I know! It sounds really harsh, but that is the truth. I went to pick up something for lunch to Nabo today. It had been a while since I bought anything from them so I was not aware of the new system to place the food orders. I was very surprised, but mostly upset when I learned that you have only for options of pasta to choose from. That is, they tell you what to eat pretty much. Anyway, when I got to the register and asked for the manager. I told him what I wanted and he said that it was not possible to do it my way. He said "have you gone to a restaurant, you can't change the dish"... ha haha I was like are you fucking kidding me man! You probably do not go out often. I told them yes of course you can tell them "put this on my dish" or "I do not want such on my dish". I said to him are you communist now and are going to tell me what to eat? So he took down my order which was basically:
pasta
beef
peppers
mixed with pesto sauce

...After personally telling him what I wanted. What do I get? Pasta with marinara sauce.
Moral of the story Aviand's SUCKS BIG TIME. They are somewhat communist and terrible at customer service on top of being overpriced.

Unbelievable!!!!

...

bits of meSMO

Because it speaks to my various moods, I cannot live without music. I really like to sing alone, and probably you will notice that I am always wearing headphones, and do not get scared if for any reason you note that I am moving my mouth. I am not talking to myself. I am just singing. There is nothing that makes me feel as good as music does, music inspires me.
Music compliments my emotions. The most important is that music makes me feel happy. It also provides me of a feeling that keeps me motivated through the day. Music is something I am addicted to, and I will as far as to suggest that if I could not hear music anymore life would not be worth living. I am going to continue enjoying music until I die, but before that happens I hope to hear a lot of good songs.
A right now I wish I could get Adele's record. Maybe some Wim Mertens and an assortment of Spanish songs that have been rotating in my Pandora's stations... no money though!!!

Crime report couple comments

I was skimming through the crime report that Mr. John Pack so nicely sent me twice today and I could not help to post about it. The first thing that caught my attention is that burglaries have increased 33.3333% since last year. So wait a sec... haven't Augsburg improved security measures on campus to avoid this? Well the numbers suggest that not really! I don't blame security though. I think the root of the problem is that we have become very open to community. So much that we don't care who is on campus. If you remember I caught a guy trying to steal a bike during daylight. People walked by and did not pay a bit of attention to the guy who clearly did not belong around here. Ultimately, security is something that lies partially on all of the community and it is mostly enforced by DPS. So we can ask for much when we don't give much. That is "you get what you give." So next time you are a victim of burglary ask yourself who is responsible. a) The Augsburg Community b) DPS c) Both a>b

The other interesting fact is that alcohol violations have actually decreased approximately 18% since 2005... I would guess this actually would fluctuate in the other direction. Moral of this portion: "Life is unpredictable"

PS still trying to record some pcasts :(