Indefensible

While I was doing my economics homework I was listening to the radio via my iTunes player. I find it's an easy way to hear music I wouldn't usually hear, and sometimes I get some real gems. This time, I saw the link for WNYU, my beloved university's radio station. Feeling a swell of pride, I click on it.

I must say, I really love NYU. I like the classes, the faculty, the facilities, the students, New York. I have no regrets about choosing NYU, and I will frequently defend NYU against what I feel is sometimes unfair bitching. So, it was fair to say that when I started to listen to WNYU, I really wanted to like it. What I found was some of the most uncomfortable radio ever.

At a school like MIT, or Cal Tech, I would not be so taken aback by a radio host who was stumbling and mumbling like he had a ham sandwich in his mouth. But NYU is sort of renowned for its performing arts program. Is it too much to expect that someone who has a show on NYU's radio station would be somehow familiar with the concept of "dead air" and "speaking clearly?" This young man gave the impression like he had been thrown on the radio 30 seconds ago, and told "Do a radio show right now, or I'll kill your mother." In all fairness, that may be the case, but even if it were, you'd probably do a better job. Some people need the pressure. I listened for about 2 minutes, felt a tightness in my chest, and had to switch in case this bad radio gave me a heart attack. I hope for the sake of the university's reputation and my own health that someone improves the NYU radio station. I'll pay you.

Well, not really. But someone else might.

Man (almost) on Fire

At about 11 AM, I was riding the NYU bus back to my dorm, because it's free and I have no money. While the subway is less crowded and runs more frequently, the NYU bus drops me off in front of my building, a huge plus. I was reading something for my Econ class, and we'd only been moving for a few minutes, but the driver stopped on Broadway just north of Houston street and told everyone to get off. I didn't really know what was happening, but he seemed serious and there was a crowd of people around the bus. I step outside and glance over to where everyone else is looking.

Right there, directly under where I was sitting, was a fire. The bus was on fire.

Luckily, the fire was small, everyone was off the bus, and calls to the right people were being made. Another NYU bus came by and they called someone using their radios. I was very curious as to what was going on, and wanted to find out more. However, as anyone who has seen a Jerry Bruckheimer movie knows, things on fire tend to blow up, especially when that thing is a few tons and has very large tanks of combustible fuel. I walk south on Broadway, but keep looking back to see the smoke getting larger, and people start to run. They've probably seen Bad Boys too and wanted to get the hell out of there. I haven't heard anything about it since, and hope everything is alright.

I have another class later today, but I think I'll just walk.

Karma's a sassy lady

This morning, my roommate Matt and I decided to revive an old tradition and get ourselves some breakfast. We used to eat breakfast, the most important meal of the day, together all the time. It was probably how we became such good friends, since there is nothing else to do on the walk from Brittany Hall to the Weinstein Dorm/Dining Hall other than talk. Nowadays, we run on different schedules, so this was a rare and anticipated event.

As we left our building, the hot and humid New York air smacks us in the face, and we instantly remember why rarely leave our air conditioned penthouse. Befitting our status as college students and the bank account that entails, we head over the a gourmet breakfast spot known as Dunkin' Donuts. I'm not sure if you've heard of it, it's pretty exclusive. As we both order egg and cheese meals on croissants, I can detect some confusion and furtive whispers among the staff. A woman from behind the counter approaches us holding a croissant. The exchange went as follows:

Woman: You guys are waiting for egg and cheese on a croissant, right?
Us: Yes.
Woman: Well, we only have one croissant. Which one of you wants...
Simultaneously
Woman: a bagel?
Matt: Me.

At this point, I realize that Matt, thinking he was securing himself a croissant, actually agreed to having a bagel because he stepped all over the woman's sentence. I, knowing an opportunity when I see one, gamely step in.

Me: Well, it's too late now. You've just ordered a bagel.
Woman: (to Matt) What kind of bagel would you like?
Matt: (utterly dejected) Plain.

In one fell swoop, Matt learned a valuable lesson about interrupting people and trying to screw over a friend. He shan't be trying that again.

Blindsided

Why is it that everytime I meet someone who my friends insist I will like because he is just like me, or because he reminds them so much of me, I think that guy is a total ass? He usually talks too much, makes very obtuse and poor jokes, or constantly tries to dominate conversations with his loud voice and pretensions of intelligence. Why would my friends think I would like....Oh.

I get it now.

Chief Justice Handsome

These past two days, I've been watching the Senate confirmation hearings for John Roberts. I think the Supreme Court, and the Chief Justice position especially, is an incredibly important body. While I don't know if I agree with everything Roberts believes, I can certainly respect his right to hold his views, and in many instances I think he defends his opinions with a delicate balance of intellect and common sense. I also like to watch him politely defer to Senators who seem more interested in hearing their own voices or solidifying 2008 bids for higher office. I will say, without equivocation, that if confirmed John Roberts will be the best looking man to ever serve on the Supreme Court. He's a handsome devil.

Since I've moved into my new dorm, my roommate Bryce has had an incredibly positive impact on my diet. Bryce is from Los Angeles, and thus only eats organic vegetables and animals that agreed to be killed in the first place. He's very sensitive that way. Over the summer, my breakfast would very likely be 3 bowls of Honey Bunches of Oats, a very delicious and sugary cereal whose name certainly overemphasizes the number of oats per bowl. These days, I start off with a bowl of GoLean cereal, from the Whole Foods in Union Square. GoLean consists of "crunchy fiber twigs, soy protein grahams and honey puffs." It has no processed sugar, but does use cane sugar. I then add some organic skim milk and munch away, content with the notion that my body welcomes some food that wasn't drowned in chemicals and high fructose corn syrup in Battle Creek, Michigan. Best of all, it doesn't taste half bad. It's good, and good for you.

You can't beat it with a crunchy fiber twig.