How do you even ignite bones?

Libraries are dark and somber places by their nature, and never more so than during finals time. Here at NYU, the crunch begins immediately after Thanksgiving. Students of all stripes--Finance, History, Film, Nursing--are thrown headfirst into mountains of papers and a seemingly endless gauntlet of exams. In many ways I am exceptional, but in this arena I am not. I am faced with a daunting array of exercises designed only to needle me and break my will. Unfortunately for my exams, I am made of stronger stuff than candy and marshmallow.

I was feeling slightly uneasy about one of my assignments when I was taking the train back to Manhattan on Sunday, but the strangest thing put me at ease: the song "Fix You" by Coldplay. I'm not what you would call a big Coldplay fan, but I do like what they stand for--namely being British, posh, stylish, making relaxing music and marrying film stars. I also like that Chris Martin is friends with Ricky Gervais and has the ability to make fun of himself. I think you should listen to the song "Fix You" while walking down the street of a major city at night. It feels like the way the song was meant to be picturized, and if you're anything like me, a steady wave of calm will wash over you and bathe you in its peace. If I subscribed to this sort of thing, I would say it was an almost religious experience. I can't articulate how it felt, but I can say I wouldn't mind if it happened again.

Family Time Isn't Just for Families

Other than my actual family, my roommates are the only people I've lived with for extended periods of time. You'd think that five guys living together would be a hassle, but I love it. They are a reasonable approximation of a family, and Tuesday night is family night. This is when we usually gather in Matt and Jeritt's room and shoot the shit for an hour or two. If I tried to list the topics we cover, it would make most gentleman and a lot of truckers blush, but it is an invaluable component of the roommate experience. I remember being a freshman and wondering how I could keep a sliver of privacy while still living with so many people. The answer is you don't. In order to fully embrace cohabitation, you must be willing to be a masochist--namely be made fun of and have your self-esteem turned inside out regularly. Men interact by constantly ragging on each other, and it is the truest form of bonding we have. Any misstep you ever make will be frozen in time, and repeated ad infinitum in front of your parents, girlfriends, and guests. It is the unending quest of your roommates to shame you in new and innovative ways every day. It is incumbent on you to treat them in the same way. Women do not understand this--girls pretend to like their friends in public and hate each other in private, while Men act like they hate their friends in public and continue to say mean things in private. Having roommates who are incredibly quick and sharp makes it even harder to get away with doing/saying anything wrong or exhibiting weakness. It is much like sharks--we attack at the merest hint of vulnerability. It sounds cruel and impossibly inhuman, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Except Ramirez: I'd trade him for a 5-pack of Trident.

Master of the House?

It seems that Democrats have taken a majority in the House of Representatives. This excites me, not because I think the Democrats are going to do a particularly good job, but because I like drama and upheaval at periodic intervals. Also, I like the idea of another party in control of one of the chambers in government. It holds the possibility of fiscal discipline and the hope of a generation of new ideas. That would make me happy--but it will probably be another two years of idiotic name calling and childish grandstanding.

Can't wait.

Borat '08

I cannot say anything about Borat that hasn't already been said in any of the glowing reviews who are falling over themselves to say how great it is. I will say only this: I have been to hundreds of hilarious movies, but I have never been in a place where so many people have sustained so much laughter for so long. The theater of jaded downtown New Yorkers squealed with delight at the sheer absurdity of it all in a bizarre unison--it was an experience I will not soon forget. See this movie. Full title--Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.

You should also listen to the song "Circus on the Moon" by Bruce Hornsby. I heard it on Pandora, and it's the kind of song that you should listen to it while walking alone on a brisk fall morning. You'll feel like you're in a TV show. A good one.