Prophet Pierre, Dolans discussions, and some HPU fun…. September 18, 2009

Ugh…and here I thought that Id be blogging more….guess im not doing so hot this semester already! Oh well….Iv ebeen busy with classes and reading…the usual grad school stuff.  Its beginning to look like I may make it over to the Big Island sometime this semester…and yes Stella I willl take pictures of a volcano for you and try and find you something fun with a volcano on it. I know how you are anxiously awaiting some lava love!

We have started a new ritual of going out every thursday after class to Dolans. Its been fun! Its pretty much everyone from my Middle East Diplomacy class and other DMS students and faculty hanging out and drinking. Today was very interesting…well at least the conversations were!  The conversations ranged from ragging on professors (with professors sitting right there), to blow jobs for grades (it was a joke), to tramp stamps, piercings, a little AINAC bashing (which was a carryover from class), whether doves have talons, and oh yes…the story behind my tattoos…the face on my professors face was priceless! Needless to say no topic is off limits with this group….So….while all these topics of conversation were going on, there was also a little male gossiping or as one person in our program likes to call it “intel” sharing. I wonder why men always think women are the worst gossips becuase honestly all the men in out program our worse!!!! Seriously!!! Ok enough on that rant…..

So for the DMS t-shirts this year we are doing dictator t-shirts where there will be a face of a dictator on the front with a funny or ironic quote from them on the back. Right now Mao is leading the voting for the Fall 09 tshirt, although I personaly voted for Mugabe…after all I had to represent my “African heritage” (Asselin thats for you!). But Id be happy with a Moa shirt, especially if Spring 10 is the Kim Jung Il shirt! I so want that one!! And i have decided that I am going to make a Prophet Pierre shirt with the European Underwear model on the front…after all I have to follow the newest prophet and his J 4.0 religion! Hehehe…i know most of you wont get that but i decided that I needed to be random, abstract, and have a little inside humor in there!

Later!

The lament of a slacking blogger…. September 11, 2009

Wow! I cant believe that it has been about a month since I last updated you all on my life out here in HI! Ive been busy with the end of summer classes and visitors from the mainland, and now the beginning of the Fall semester! In fact Im really tired, and its now 1:45am as im finally updating my blog. So lets begin…

Summer classes went really well. My grades overall were satisfactory, even though I would have loved a higher grade in Cold War, but alas my brain had turned to much after 6 hours a week of flat out discussions on Sino-Soviet relations by the end, and my participation within the class dropped in relation to my brain failing me….so I deserved the grade I recieved. While I loved that class it was a tough go cramming it all in in a matter of weeks rather then months. Oh well, it was my last ever Summer class at HPU. So kinda sad too.

As my summer came to an end, Jessie and Bobby came out for a visit. I dont think I have done that much island traveling tourist trap touring since I first moved out here. But it was fun, and Jessie got to experience first hand the evil that is my stairs, while I got to embarrass myself on stage at a Luau. All in all, i think they had fun, and I was exhausted by the time they left. Visitors wear me out! And i have 2 more to come while im in class this fall. At least their only requests involve another luau and just general fun. And of course I will probably end up looking like a lobster yet again. Heck Im still peeling from 2 weeks ago!

Now fall classes are in and I have already spent one night out drinking with classmates and professors, and will be vernturing out yet again tomorrow. I cant believe im going to say this, but im kinda partied out! Can I please just chill for awhile?!   I know it wont happen this week or next week, seeing as how they have all decided that since next week I am turning 29, they have all decided that I must have a “massive” celebration for my last birthday in my 20s. I just want to sleep! But then again, I think that would be the desire of any insomniac like myself!

Well I have definately gained some really great friends out here, and have spent countless hours doing random things with them. For example, spending multiple hours looking at Halloween costume ideas with Selina…I have decided to go as a bleeding heart this year. At least the costume will be simple! Im all about simple. I was debating between mobster, zombie, vampire, parrot, stick figure, an anorexic (yes the irony!), the cowardly lion, a flapper, and much much more, but then I had the genious idea of the bleeding heart and my mind is set. All I need now is my pashmina (hint hint Rich!) and my attire will be complete!

Well I am off to relax and try and sleep although I know I will fail miserably at that!

Later!

Living in a Spiderweb, leave a message and Ill call you back….maybe August 13, 2009

Gwen Stefani-No Doubt

No Doubt-Gwen

No Doubt-Adrian

Well my feet are hurting, my ears are ringing, and it sounds like everyone is talking with a helium voice, but I couldnt be happier! Went to the No Doubt concert tonight and it was Awwwwwesome!  Matt Costa opened for them and he was really good, so now I think im going to go download some of his tunes…maybe ill wait til i cant hear again first! I loved the fact that while going through security they cleared my camera for use, and then when I actually started using it, they told me I couldnt because ti was “too big” and it was just my point and shoot! Imagine if it had been my digital SLR! Oh well, I got some good pics and video anyways…and ive included some in this blog for everyones enjoyment.

Classes are slowly coming to an end, and I have 2 more papers and a presentation to write…I will get them done, i will get them done, i will get them done…I have to keep telling myself that because Id love nothing more then to be a slacker for a few days and relax…and maybe read for fun…that stack of books keep growing, and yet the HPU stack diminishes slowly only to be restocked…Its kinda neverending!

I am listening to some category 4 drizzle right now and its ringing in my ears. Hurricane Felicia never came to be, and we got hit by a tropical storm? tropical depression? tropical low? Who knows, its only meant an increase in rain, which for me isnt that big of a deal since I live off the Pali and get rain daily…just usually not in this quantity!  So Im hoping its passing soon because I want to head to Waikiki tomorrow, and somehow I think that even if its raining here, it will be nice and dry there…thats always how it is!

Well off to bed..maybe…kinda hope…probably not though!

Later!

Windy Weather and following the Clintons August 5, 2009

Well, summer classes are almost done and I just bought a crap load of books for my 3 fall classes…I wish I could say that the expenses would stop there, but alas, after those classes come my thesis research and the bill that comes with that. Oh well, maybe Ill get a job to help pay for all these books…and a place to put them!

Ive been catching up on all the news following the release of the 2 journalists from North Korea, and the mission Clinton undertook to Pyongyang to secure their release.  I couldnt help but laugh a little because Kim Jung Il took a page right out of Maos ways to wage a revolution! Offer release if a high level envoy comes to Pyongyang. Then when that happens, spin the news on local media and help bolster your reputation domestically! And of course since the US is the evil in the world, a high ranking envoy from them would be the best propaganda of all! Im still glad that Clinton went because to the rest of the the world, it showed a sign that the US is willing to take diplomatic measures to end issues, even if the North Koreans spin it as the US is weak and bowed down to our demands…which is what is beginning to happen. Whatever Kim Jung Il…you can paint the US however you want, all it will do is maybe help reinforce domestic support…..maybe.

The other Clinton…aka Madame Secretary of State…is touring Africa right now, and Ive been following the news there too (of course!). I personally cant wait for some news on the talks she is going ot hold with the Somali President…not that anything that results from that meeting will be able to be implemented since that government is being propped up by AU and international support. The US tactics have been to supply weapons and other military aid to the Somali military, but that hasnt worked yet, and personally dont think that it will now!  With no stable government since 1991, its about time that the International community joins and trys to sort out the mess there, but then again, tribal loyalties get put aside when international players come to town…so what is the answer? anyone?

In case you arent aware…Hurricane Felicia is knocking on my door…Im waiting for it to cross the 135 parrellel and a Hurricane Watch to be effectively  put into place….I hope it doenst come this way though, cause honestly, even a Catagory 1 would wipe out Hawaii…and I dont necessarily want to be here for that event!  I think I need to go buy some water…and enjoy these nice cooling winds that seem to be coming before the storm.

Later!

JJ Dolans random discussions July 29, 2009

Wells its been along while since Ive last blogged. My life hasnt been that interesting, mainly consisting of reading, writing, and actually attending class. Ive also taken a hiatus from world news because honestly I was tired of giving myself headaches over the constant disagreements i found myself having with random world leaders and policy decisions…But alas, im back!

Classes are going well, and tonight we ended class early in the pursuit of beer….and thats always a good day! Turns out that Brian Linn was in ton reviewing the DMS program. For those of you dont know who he is, hes a big time miliary historian who has connections with the faculty out here. He currently is at Texas A&M (i think!). So a few of us met up at JJ Dolans for drinks and were joined by several professors and Dr Linn himself. It was fun talking to everyone and having random conversations that didnt have anythin to do with class….and as usual I talked myself into a situation that left me laughing and hiding my head…lets just say that it revolved around some of my more interesting tattoos….those of you who know me know which ones im talking about.=) Oh well, it wont be the first, and it wont be the last time those are a topic of conversation!

Conversations that occurred tonight: Professors who date their students (actually this one was started in class and just continued afterwards) (by the way…the rule is its acceptable with grad students, not with undergrads..but Russ seems to think there should be no distinction), the evils of the Cincinnati Reds and other baseball teams (i so didnt bring this one up!), the bureacracy of the US government and the then contemplation of a coup d’etat by us DMSers of the US government, our lovely dictator shirts which are being designed as we speak, assassination of policy makers(which the price kept decreasing the more there was agreement), thesis topics and how Hart likes to approve topics that are too broad (I even got Linn to agree on this one!), and well, im sure much more.  One thing that i was left contimplating was how all these Ohio State University ex faculty and students ended up leading and reviewing the HPU DMS program!  About 1/2 the people there tonight were either from Ohio or went to school or taught at OSU!  I know its a big school, but still! Wow..oh well…Ill chalk it up to either coincidence or an evil conspiracy….im kinda leaning towards the conspiracy!

Well…after much much beer, im off to relax…well try to at least…until Im awaken by chainsaws again tomorrow morning.

Later!

Sleep deprivation, island fever, and dry heat May 8, 2009

Well, sleep deprivation is something Im use to, but it kinda sucks to begin an insomnia kick right before I begin a flight that will take me 1/2 way around the world! Oh well, I guess Ill get whetever sleep I can, whereever I can.

Well, year one of grad school is done! And in one more month I will begin year 2…at least im getting a break! And a nice visit back to the mainland will hopefully get me away from the insufferable heat on the island right now, because for some reason, the gods are not smiling down on us and blessing us with those infamous tradewinds, so its a very stagnent dry heat…and for all its dryness, the mosquitos seem to still be surviving if not thriving! Hopefully, Ohio will be a little bit better, but Im not holding my breath! I did get to see the ocean for the first time in months…ok yes I live on an island and I may be exagerating (but just a little),  and it was wonderful. But I think the tan I had back in October and December is gone, or at least highly faded, cause my pastiness seems to be coming back. But it is nice to be somewhere the sun doesnt seem to want to immediately burn me! I havent even worn sunscreen once out here, which is just a foreign concept to me! The only other place I was able to pull that off was Togo! Yet Detroit, Florida, Ohio, and many other seem to produce a Kristina that resembles more of a lobster then a human. Oh well, ill thank my luck and take it!

It will be nice to see family and friends, but for the first time in the past 4 months my island fever has been waining…maybe it wasnt so much island fever as it was school fever. My life consists of books, papers, class. I see the inside of the classrooms, library, and my place…all I do is study! So maybe it is a little more cabin fever than island fever, but the sight of Honolulu Harbor today got me thinking twice about my pending flight. Oh well…somehow my 18-20 hours of airplane/airport time may actually be too much for once! Who thought i’d be sick of flying! Hmmm…

Well, Im off to read…but for fun! Im kinda tv/movied out…and for all the reading ive been doing this semester, it actually sounds like fun right now..i know weird!  But since I have no hope of sleep, in part to the insomnia, and in part due to the rooster outside my window who is insisting on making a racket at 6:30am, i might as well do something that will relax me!

Later!

Oh and congrats to my Aunt and Cousin who are graduating tomorrow! I’ll try to watch the grad ceremony online…but it will be 3am out here! But heck, my insomnia may actually be good for something for once!

Stolen Prisoner shirt, a chocolate car, and more Favre drama May 5, 2009

The last couple of days have been spent working on some end of the semester papers…so Ive been slacking on my blog…Its kinda hard to get motivated to write even more, even if it is for fun.  As of tonight I am done! I think…

Ahh the ingenuity! When you hear someone of going green..i bet you dont think of chocolate!  Scientists have created a new racecar that will go 145mph that is made of plant fiber, soybean foam, and runs on oil and chocolate…yes thats right chocolate.  The car is almost edible!

Ahh the yearly Favre speculation begins yet again. And here I thought I would actually get to avoid the talks this year, but nope…cause Favre got his release from the Jets and is going to talk to Minnesota about a possible comeback. Give me a break!  Yes Minnesota would be likely to take him, but any team that even considers it has to be insane at this point, cause at the end of next season, he will retire, change his mind, change teams, and decide to play again. Im actually glad the Packers stuck to their decision last year and shipped him off to the Jets. Thats not to say Im not a fan, but I happen to like my team more then 1 player…and if that 1 player isnt going to help, then do what you gotta do. The only thing that is even more frustrating to me right now is that the stock on my autographed Favre ball is not exactly rising here!  Make up your mind Favre! Oh and to the NFL source who thinks Favre is coming back to get revenge for not being released by the Packers….grow up! Are we in Junior High again? When someone in their 30s is deciding his/her future based on revenge scenarios then you know something is extremely wrong!

A 20 year olf California man was locked up after being charged with stealing a Prisoner t-shirt form the county jail. He was previously charged with felony possession and child abuse, and after being released from jail he was seen riding his bike wearing his Prisoner t-shirt and re-arrested and charged with recieving stolen property.  How is it recieving stolen property. He was issued it and simply stole it…he didnt recieve it after it was stolen!  I guess I need to brush up on my criminal law again! Its been awhile since Ive read the statutes…Oh well…In my eyes if he wanted to announce to the world that he was a Prisoner, then let him, cause I guarentee people would have avoided him!

Random google search of the day that led to my blog…”to find a theif by vodoo[sic]” …yes my voodoo ways are becoming mainstream apparently!

Later!

Canadian rednecks, naked frisbee, and the new way to prevent Drunk Driving May 2, 2009

Hmmm…todays last class of the semester shed some interesting light on my classmates and my professor. First, I think there will be bets or a ew drinking game created for next semesters Middle Eastern Diplomacy class..its the only way many will stay sane! Second, apparently all right wingers think that their ability to say whaterver pops in their head is a good thing, and actually are glad to identify that characteristic as a right wing phenomenon because apparently us liberal minded folk dont speak our minds (funny). Third, conversations on rednecks can be very interesting in Hawaii cause the term becomes international…like for example, did you know there are some real trailer park rednecks in Canada…I wonder if they are really draft dodgers from the US though. Lastly, I think my professor has a secret addiction to reality tv , and more specifically the Real Housewives of NYC…cause he seems to know a little too much about some lady who calls herself the Countess…and can actually then explain he family connections in historical terms which is scarier! But alas, US Diplomatic History is over…well except for that 25 page paper I have due in a couple of days.

Well I guess the PR campaign to stop calling the “swine flu” “swine flu” can officially end. The pork industry was up in arms over the name cause there had been no connection to the flu to pigs and thus the name was hurting sales….well pork industry, the name is back…a Canadian farmer who just returned from Mexico has pigs that have tested postive for the H1N1 virus, so your PR campaign needs to be reworked! Mabe the flu should be renamed human flu since it seems the pigs are getting it from the humans..somehow it just doesnt have the same ring…

Hmm..there is ultimate frisbee, but will naked frisbee ever make it mainstream? If the University of Oregan frisbee team has anythng to say about it then it might happen. Apparently during sectional play against Oregan State they shed their pants and underwear and proceeded to play pantless. Hmm…kids cover your eyes! Of course this didnt fly with the school and the team, whom were already in trouble for serving alcohol to minors and excessive noise at parties, was forced to end its season early. Of course that didnt stop them form complaining about the fact that they did nothing wrong. Hmm…public indecency isnt wrong?! If only there was a law stating that playing naked was ok! Oh wait, the Ultimate Frisbee association says that you have to wear clothes in their own laws? Ooops, guess the boys spent to much time playing naked to actually read the rulebook, oh well…at least they arent getting county soap!

Hmm…when did being the DD for someone involve wrecking cars? A Palm Beach County woman told police she crashed her car into her boyfriend’s truck to prevent him from driving drunk. The best part is that she did this with her 2 kids in the car and has now been cited for 2 counts of child abuse! Oh wow…I guess the days of taking keys and claling a cab are over.  Remember this next time Moe…there will be no more head tapping…I will just take the truck down to the river! J/k!

Later!

Vitamin C, Mexican Vacation, and goodbye Souter =( April 30, 2009

Well its been a few days since I last blogged. Its the end of the semester and I am almost done…2 more papers to go! I am working on one right now…well not right now, im procrastinating and decided to update my blog, but I will get back to my prospectus update as soon as I am done here! Class was relaxing tonight, and for once we got out early which was a nice plus! Unfortunately the bus was running late, so I only made it home about 30 min prior to my normal time, but hey, 30 minutes is an eternity in grad school!

In case you havent seen the news…Justive Souter is planning on retiring. Im personally amazed that Justice Stevens is till kicking it! I thought for sure he would be one of the first to retire after Obama was elected , but hey, to each his own.  But for all of you out there who are obsessed with the hot topic issues, a court nomination will bring out all the crazies on both sides of every issue, so it should make for some interesting blogging!

Well earlier today I read an article about how Airline seats to Mexico are easy to come by right now….wanna take that dream vacation to the Mexican Riviera, well this is the time to do it.  While some professionals seem to think that its the flu and the economy that are making an excess of seats available, Im goign to bet its because of Speidi being there…come on, who wants to have to watch those 2 do photo ops all day!

Going along the lines of the ridiculous and needlesss information that seems to be floating around out there… Sarah Jessica Parkers surrogate may or maynot be from Ohio….who cares! Or how about the Jellybean thief…a robber in PA broke into a home, but all he took were some jellybeans….seriously?! How much you wanna bet its a kid who did it! Or how about the coke smuggling Grandpa in Italy…you have to admit it was pretty genius to put the coke inside of his oranges, and then tell the cops he needed the oranges for vitamin C. Regardless, news seems to be full of random and stupid things these days…maybe its the gecko flu…

Later!

Shark cruelty, poison curry, and a night of oddities April 22, 2009

Well tonight seems to have been a night of oddities. First…Martinis and Oyster shooters do not mix (lesson learned!), Secondly…according to the bus it is 1/1/97 and it is 1130am. Hmm hopefully they fix that soon cause that could get really annoying! And lastly…i have a new pact…at the age of 85 I will be moving to South Florida with Selina and my fellow HPUers and we shall all play shuffleboard with out walkers…yes…we actually discussed this. Selina suggested we get state department tattoos too since according to Erik we will all live in DC and most of us will work for the state department. Oh well…i never said my friends were sane…just fun!

The President of Liberia was on the Daily Show last night, and if you get a chance, you should check it out! Heres the Link!

Hmm…scientists in Germany actually studied the spit of people from around the world…their belief…”(W)e can get more insights into human populations (from saliva) than we would get from just studying human DNA.” However…the study ended up concluding that people spit regardless of region or diet didnt vary significantly…guess you cant learn more from saliva then DNA…oops!

Wow…and we thought that our justice system was harsh…a Japanese woman was sentenced to death for the deaths of 4 people and making over 60 ill at a county fair from her serving a curry dish.  Dang…the death penalty for mass food poisoning?!  Oh..what?!?!?  It wasnt food poisoning? Oh she actually poisoned the crowd with arsenic for being shunned by her neighbors? Ok…I guess thats actually a just reason for the sentence then! 

A case of animal cruelty in Australia has me stumped…a live shark was left on the doorstep of a local newspaper….First…how do you catch a shark, keep it alive, and transport it across town without anyone noticing?  Secondly…Why???? Is this some new mafia gangster message to someone at the newspaper? Were they seeking publicity? Cause if thats the case they did it all wrong. Or is this some late April fools prank…either way…if caught the local police plan to charge them with animal cruelty charges…

Later!