Mike Jack Writes

Applying for Grad School

really feels like a lot of busy-work. I get that it’s supposed to be a big deal but the application totally writes itself in a copy-paste-from-undergraduate-pdfs way. In part I’m glad that it’s not strenuous effort, but it sure makes the cost and time commitment for the degree seem less important…

Made up Holidays

We recently passed Star Wars Day (May the Fourth be with you!), and Friday is ‘ride your bike to work day,’ and I just got an invite for International Topless Day. I have to say, I’m wondering how long it will take for there to be a ‘Make up your own Holiday Day.’

Buffy Drinking Game!

(created by Mike Jack specifically for Buffy marathon events)

Everyone drink if:

·      Buffy says something cheesy before killing something

·      Drink again if her cheesy quote is interrupted or if she fails to kill said thing

·      A core character’s date turns out to be not human or wants to kill them

·      Drink again if the supposed “trying to kill them” thing is a misunderstanding

·      Buffy comments on clothing or accessories (shoes, boots, a skirt, or dress)

·      Drink again if Buffy’s dress is sluttier than the target of her comment

·      Drink again if Cordelia is the target of the comment

·      Xander gets a new job or comments on how he’s been/going to be promoted

·      Anya mentions capitalism, money, or anything about the joys of working a cash register

·      Anyone comments on how cool, unspoken, or laconic Oz is

·      Drink again if Oz responds to said comment with something cool, unspoken, or laconic

·      The villain tells his/her dastardly plan to the audience (and the scoobies)

·      Whenever a core character (other than Spike) drinks—we show solidarity!

Force everyone else to drink if:

·      You are the first to notice (or among a collective shoutout noticing) that Giles cleans his glasses

·      You notice that Buffy mysteriously changed outfits midday in school or on some other occasion when she clearly never went home

·      You hear Spike say “bugger” and say it back to the screen as Britishly as you can

·      You know the answer to a question asked in school (and say it quickly)

You alone must drink if:

·      You cry over Buffy and Angel’s heartthrobbish scene

·      You comment on the (thinly veiled) sexual tension between Spike and Angel

·      You do not cheer when Dingos Ate My Baby plays or is referenced

·      You look away from the screen due to scary or grossness! (the liquor will give you comfort)

·      You show how not nerdy you are and have to announce, “Wait, I didn’t know that [obvious reference or plot point in Buffy]”

·      You try to quote along and fail (and someone catches you)

Force someone else to drink if:

·      You can point out/interpret what is meant by some obscure literary allusion or metaphor (typically uttered by Drusilla, Buffy’s mom when crazy, Anya when talking about her glory days, Glory when talking about her glory days, the supernerd trio, and occasionally Giles)

·      You show how nerdy you are and can cite the episode (or at least the season and circumstance) alluded to by characters when they talk about former mishaps/adventures/significant-others

·      If you are wrong and called out by someone who is “more right” you must drink

New Drink! (unexpected success)

So apparently I am a wizard when it comes to the mixing.

Recently, my partner and I have begun infusing liquor. One of her trials was an Earl Grey vodka.

Today’s recipe included

• 1 part home-infused tea vodka
• 2 parts apple cider
• 1 part water (especially if the cider is too sweet)
• A few slices of lemon equaling about a quarter (best if the lemons are leftover slices from a previous vodka infusion)
• 3 ice cubes (optional)

I’m not a fan of tea, but this was good. It’s a keeper.

Regarding Someone Calling Dan Savage “Hypocritical” and “Intolerant” on Public Radio

Because many people have leapt to Dan Savage’s defense, and I have to hear about it from all of the PC, anti-racist, anti-intolerance Seattle-ites, I feel like I have to say something here.

Just for the record, Dan Savage IS intolerant, he’s a bully, he’s an asshole, and he sets himself up for comments like that on probably an hourly basis. Do you really think he hasn’t been called hypocritical/intolerant before? No. Do you think he can’t take it? No. Do you think it’s going to hurt his readership? Hell no, it’ll bolster it. All argumentative and overtly progressive liberals LOVE to see other argumentative and overtly progressive liberals condemned by the “closed-minded,” because it gives them something else to argue and be overtly progressive about. Dan Savage spews abuse; what he gets in return is not undeserved; no matter how right he is in principle, he does reflect hate in his attempt to combat it, and that’s really empowering to some people. You can agree with his views and respect his actions, but there’s not really a point in trying to make him seem un-intolerant, anti-hypocritical, or any less verbally nasty than those people who become the targets of his ridicule.

Space-Themed Karaoke List

Went out for Karaoke, started with Major Tom Coming Home by Peter Schilling as a warmup, and just took off from there. (9 space/flight songs all by different artists sung by me at Trago’s karaoke in one night.)

Major Tom Coming Home - Peter Schilling

Space Oddity - David Bowie

Rocket Man - Elton John

Learning to Fly - Pink Floyd (probably should have though of Dark Side of the Moon…)

Fly Me to the Moon - Sinatra

Drops of Jupiter - Train

Stars - Les Mis

Starlight - Muse

Final Countdown - Europe

English Language Nerds and Movie Reviews

Someone made this comical comment regarding a misused word in the plot synopsis of the movie Mimic.

“Mira Sorvino stars as an etymologist whose work results in the eradication of disease-carrying cockroaches — only to create a new breed of lethal, man-sized insect in the sewer systems of New York City.” Well, obviously things are going to go awry when someone who studies the origins of words tries to eradicate cockroaches.