Aaron Gillespie

Column is…. GO:

I have a lot to write about. Also, I think I have a long time to write it in. Those two might combine for a deadly column (“deadly” meaning if you try to read it all, you will likely die of old age) I don’t think people like reading volumes of information on a blog, though. I’ll have to find a way to trim the fat. So far, I’ve done a terrible job.

Joe Sliter wrote a note on Facebook that criticized the effectiveness of John McCain’s tax cuts when it comes to bringing up the standard of American living. He used the example of Wal-Mart and how ineffective the “trickle-down” theory is when put into practice (at least in this example). The note stirred up a debate, the majority agree with Joe, leaving the dissenters in the minority. The note currently has 23 comments (which is by far the most I’ve ever seen on a note. Granted, only 10 different people make up all 23 of these comments, but that’s still well above average as far as I’m concerned. I’m glad to see that Facebook can actually be used somewhat intelligently. Once again, I find myself wishing I had some form of debating experience… Tearing down the argument of some guy from Oklahoma that I’ve never even met and tearing him a new one was nice. It’s funny how, in all the years I played basketball, I never really thought of making somebody “my bitch,” but when it comes to my first real political debate (to speak of), I can’t help but think I made Oklahoma my bitch. It’s strange how things work sometimes.

There’s 2 t-shirt competitions I’m entering right now (the “design-a t-shirt” type not the “wet t-shirt” type. I am designing a shirt for all of McCollum to wear, and a shirt for all of KU to wear… Naturally, I’m putting more effort into the one that has prizes. I’ve submitted literally >35 different KU Game Day Slogan shirt ideas online to the group putting it on. I want an iPod. Plus I guess it would be cool to see everybody wearing one my shirts. I’m having a hard time coming up with short witty ones… most of mine are serious… which is relatively unlike me.

My life has been busy lately. Unfortunately, most of it has been either dry and school-related or much too personal to write about. I’ll do something interesting and write about it soon. You’ll see. There will be an adventure for you to read.

Philosophy is interesting, but I’m beginning to get to the point where I am thinking “wait, what point does this serve… it doesn’t matter who’s right and who’s wrong on this argument, we are arguing about abstract ideas. What does it matter if gobledgook is yellow or not. We aren’t having arguments that are that dumb, thank God; but the ones we have are just as pointless to me as of yet.

Jon Sliter is amazingly attractive and available.

Top 5: My favorite Proposals to the Game-Day Slogan T-Shirt contest:

5. If you don’t like KU then FU

4. Jayhawk: Mythical bird that beats the snot out of all that oppose it

3. Please don’t stain our court with your tears.

2.       haiKU:

          Jayhawks in my heart,

          All hail our Alma-Mater,

          Forever KU

1.       Hearts of steel,

          Athletes unstoppable,

          We live in this land,

          Kingdom of tradition,

          Sitting on a hill

Quotes:

“ Jon Sliter is Fergilicious "
         - Jon’s status on Facebook (apparently Logan wrote it, though) -

Column is…. GO:

Today has been surreal. By the definition of the word- nothing really has seemed real. It has been like I’m watching myself do everything I’ve been doing. From some vantage point just beyond the scope of change. A helpless witness to the endless struggle out of the woods, forced to observe in the same way you can’t help but watch a car crash. A helpless child strapped into his car seat, his favorite toy just out of his reach, with nobody around to help. I am the eternal rat in the maze. Lost in the haze. These are my days.

I Love Allegories, Symbolism, Metaphors, and Similes.

I’m still unsure as to what I’d like to do in life. I don’t have the patients with computers to make it that far with them. I don’t like the idea of coding things for the rest of my life. I do understand that I wouldn’t be doomed to a life of coding computers if I were to continue with a degree in Electrical Engineering- but I’d definitely be well on my way. I just don’t really know what I want to do. I’d love to be a writer… for a comedy. Or something like that. Too bad it’s completely unrealistic. I might consider journalism, but I don’t know if I could really put my heart into a story about how Jake Sharp broke his personal record with 31 carries last game (which actually happens to be true) or something about how some policy is going to change somewhere that won’t ever directly affect me.

If only they paid people to sit back, reflect on life, and write about those experiences. That would rock (and/or roll).

At least one part of my life is worth writing about. I feel completed. I feel like everything is going right. I’ve been seeing my friends a lot; and her. I’ve managed to find that balance I was looking for. I will leave it at that right now.

I’m listening to music right now. Scars on Broadway. It’s crazy how deeply it’s hitting me. I mean, I’ve hear this song prolly 40 times now. I’m really catching its meaning right now. I don’t know.

I’m sore. It’s great.

I think I’m going to try to make a video or something.

Top 5: Reasons to smile

5. Boooooobies

4. Friends

3. Family

2. The mental image of a fat person falling into a pool of water

1. Bigger boobies.

Quotes:

“ It’s true that we don’t know what we’ve got until we lose it, but it’s also true that we don’t know what we’ve been missing until it arrives. "
         - Unknown -

Column is…. GO:

Let me start this off by saying I’m in the engineering Library right now. I’m killing time until my study-buddy gets here so we can do our shit. I decided to write the column after I realized the following:

The phrase "Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick" means something entirely different when you are in the library.

There are two issues I’d like to cover in this column. So I can’t dwell on either for long.

Issue #1-  "movie mode"

I watched about half of "Donnie Darko" the other night and I slipped back into this mind frame that I always get when I watch a movie for the first time. I get an overwhelming sense of contentment. I feel as though everything I do has a meaning, has a purpose, and was done for a reason. Essentially I feel as cool as the Cheeto’s cheetah. If a movie has a moral, the mood seems to be enhanced and driven towards that moral, but even if it doesn’t it is still very much there. This effect seems to wear off over time, as I’ve seen "The Boondock Saints" well into 20 times I’d think and I don’t get this feeling anymore. Anyways, what I’m interested in is the psychology of the whole thing. Why is it that like clockwork I feel this way after watching a good movie for the first time? What about a movie does it? Is there any other ways for me to get this feeling? I imagine that’s what marijuana is like. hahaha

Issue #2- Emily Cressy

Emily Cressy is a soccer stud here at KU. There’s a big thing on her in the paper and on KU’s website today. The headlines read "Signs of success: Deaf soccer player Emily Cressy thrives on the applause she sees." Now, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Emily a few times now (due to a highly-coincidental friendship she had with my roommate last year) and I know this: Emily is a good, nice, extremely talented, and otherwise normal college-age girl. The headlines of the paper seem to only give her credit for being excellent because she has hearing loss and has excelled to the level of play that she is at today. I haven’t even read the article because I would feel bad in doing so. is it possible that Emily is an extraordinary athlete no matter what? I mean, is the fact that she’s deaf so important that it has to appear even before her name does? I think we are sending the wrong message here. If I put myself in her shoes I see the headlines reading something along the lines of "Signs of success: 6′8" tall Aaron Gillespie thrives at writing a blog, that he has to sit down to do!" Sure, I’m tall and that’s one of my traits just as much as Emily is deaf and that’s one of her traits- but don’t put me into a cardboard box along with every other tall person and don’t put her in a box with every other deaf person. I’m sure she’d probably rather have the headline play down the fact that she’s deaf if they have to include it at all. The added "applause that she sees" at the end of the headline is just a bonus "oh and don’t forget that she’s deaf!" to make sure that we pigeon hole firstly as a deaf person, secondly as a student athlete, and finally as a human being who has excelled at something she has worked hard for. Come on guys, I think we are a little better than that. It’s beyond political correctness, because it would be politically incorrect also if you completely ignored that fact. She’s deaf just as I am tall, I’m sure we’d both rather be known for something other than our obvious and uncontrollable trait. Just show a little respect for that please

Top 5: Possible other completely headlines that show a complete lack of deserved respect

5. ALS Afflicted and almost completely paralyzed Stephen Hawking writes a book about black holes!

4. Parkinson’s disease hasn’t stopped Michael J. Fox from a happy retirement!

3. African-American Barack  Obama  wins  presidency!  (did we mention he’s black?)

2. CVC Female person with NO Y CHROMOSOME Sarah Palin  accepts vice-presidential nomination! (cvc: Certified Vagina Carrier)

1. Obese loudmouth annoying lesbian  Rosie O’Donald has no other defining traits!

Come on guys, that’s bullshit.

Quotes:

“ It’s KU, they are working on a way to charge you for the air here "
         - Some guy behind me just said that to somebody on the phone -