| A political rant to get out of the way is better here than facebook. It's ok not to read. |
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| 11:02pm 20/10/2009 |
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An hour or so ago, I began to read (the mostly ignorant) discussion on CNN.com regarding Don't Ask, Don't Tell. As usual, both sides of the argument really didn't have anything new to say.
Therefore, I'm going to try and make a point about Don't Ask, Don't Tell that hasn't been made yet. I'm going to skip the novel idea of someone checking you out while you shower, so stick with me on this one. When it comes down to it, the best way to make people listen is when you talk about money. Call me shallow; I think it's the truth. So let's talk money.
I'm going to assume that most of the population pays their taxes mostly honestly (I know, I know -- this is just for the sake of argument). Homosexual people with partners have a greater percent of taxable income than married heterosexuals, since one of the perks of marriage is a tax break. That means that homosexual adults with partners have a greater percentage of their income going toward the military than heterosexual married counterparts, while the United States has a discriminatory policy toward the people they're getting the most money (per capita) from. Add the fact that if you can't tell, your partner doesn't get federal benefits, and you're adding insult to injury.
So I decided to do some number crunching, and I tried to do it with mostly credible sources (US Census, factcheck.org, etc.). There were a number of estimates for the average federal taxes paid per US citizen per year, so I decided to take the lowest one -- $8,400 (the highest was above $13,000). There were also multiple estimates for the percentage of income tax that goes into military spending. Once again, I took the low one, and that's 23.6% ( I found an estimate that nearly doubled that, as well). That means the average US citizen pays $1,982.40 to the military each year. Lastly, I looked at the estimated population in the United States that was openly gay, and got the magic numbers of 1.5%, or 8.8 million (I took the low estimate again; the highest estimate was 5% of the US population identifies as gay. Keep in mind the 1.5% was the number taken by the census bureau in 2000; I'm going to guess it may be somewhere around 3.5% in the 2010 census). That means nearly 17.5 billion (not million -- thanks, Atom, for correcting my math mistakes!) dollars are paid to the US military each year by gay people -- if you take a low estimate. If you take the highest estimate, gay people pay 83.8 billion dollars to the military each year. That's a lot of money.
I think (and I'm sure many people won't agree with this), that the real way to get this Don't Ask, Don't Tell thing done with is for every gay person to deduct whatever portion of their taxes will be used for military spending and write a letter to the IRS, their congressperson, and Barack Obama saying that they won't fund a group that discriminates against them, government-run or otherwise. I don't really think the IRS will want to audit between 8 and 15 million people on top of their other bullshit, and I think that the US government will decide that when two wars are being fought, between 17 and 83 billion is a lot of money they can use. As far as I'm concerned, everyone else can suck it up and deal, cupcake. I'm kind of sick of the idea of whining and making protest signs. Plus, I'd like to see 17.5 to 83.8 billion dollars go to, I don't know, Save the Music, or the World Wildlife Fund, or the Human Rights Campaign, or whatever your particular poison may be. It might be a more productive use of a lot of money. |
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| I don't have much time before I'm getting picked up, but I thought I'd do a quick entry. |
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| 01:04pm 04/10/2009 |
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Hey all!
Atlanta rocks! I love it! I was wearing shorts yesterday... in October. Plus, there's so much to do. Anyway, bullet points about Atlanta.
- The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra! Holy shit, that symphony is where it's at, with everything from the vibe to the music. It's in the Woodruff Arts Center, which is in itself super cool, because in this huge area is the Atlanta High Museum of Art (about to bring in a DaVinci exhibit!), a theater, and the hall for the symphony. It's just the coolest. And the vibe is great. Whereas I think most people who go to the Syracuse Symphony are, well, old with the exception of the SU students who go, there's a really good smattering of people at the ASO. Young professionals, middle-aged people, older folks, and students. And going to the symphony is kind of a hip thing to do. The symphony itself sounds great. Musically, they really go for everything (ask Pat -- that was my one tiny little beef with the BSO this summer, although they were the cleanest orchestra I'd heard up to that point). I saw Pictures at an Exhibition on Thursday night... for free because one of my friends from school used to work there. Flippin' sweet. I want to work or play there so bad, and if not there, in a place just like that.
- I guess I fit in here in a sartorial sense... and what I mean about that is for whatever reason black guys about my age really seem to be where my niche in style is. So far I've been stopped on the street or on MARTA by guys who want to know where I've gotten my green shorts, my white fedora, or my messenger bag. It's really funny.
- You can't buy alcohol on Sundays at the store. I just learned that today.
- The best drag show ever is here. For serious. Tell me what other city you were in that you saw a drag queen in roller skates take to the (busy main) street, and maybe I'll concede this to you. It's called Dragamaki, because you eat Japanese food and watch drag.
- There's a reason boiled peanuts have not made it up north. It's a good reason. They're really weird.
- Uh, Atlanta has the biggest Aquarium in the U.S. And there's a baby baluga.
- My trumpet teacher rocks, and I think she's a pretty good fit for me. She's like 5' tall and does triathlons and shit.
- I'm told it's in the fifties during the day in wintertime here. I will confirm or deny this when winter comes.
- I have slipped into saying "ya'll" once but I was a little tipsy. On the flip side, my roommates make fun of me for the way I say things like "Wegman's".
- Speaking of Wegman's, there is nothing quite as good. The closest thing is the Dekalb Farmer's Market, which is great, but doesn't have quite as much (although sometimes it has more random international things) and is not open 24/7.
That's all for now. I'm getting picked up in 2 minutes. Love you all! What's going on in your lives? |
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| I want to publish 'zines, and rage against machines... |
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| 02:33pm 10/08/2009 |
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Atlanta is the promised land! Well, we'll see if I say that once school starts and gets into the swing of things, but for the most part, things are pretty amazing here. I figured I'd update and tell people I still existed or something. I have my digital camera here, but have lost the cord to hook it to my compy compy. Rest assured, though, pictures will be coming soon. ( Oh snap, this got long. ) |
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| 99 Red Balloons collide... |
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| 02:30pm 13/12/2008 |
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Dear World,
I think I have a problem. This problem has to do with self-sabotage along the lines of grad school applications.
I seem to be behind in my abilities to submit supplemental application materials correctly or on time. I realize I probably do this because I'm more behind on my trumpet preparation than I should be at this time (this is not completely my fault, as my trumpet teacher seems to have turned into a complete flake over the last month and has subsequently cancelled or rescheduled a number of lessons with me), and if I screw up sending in supplemental materials, then I won't have to waste money auditioning to screw up my trumpet playing. This is dumb. I know this is dumb. But it's still how I'm operating. Somebody please either smack me or say something wise, because this is not the type of behavior that will get me into a warmer climate than Syracuse anytime soon.
Thanks,
Katy Messere |
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| Ninety-six tears through twenty-four hours... |
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| 05:29pm 16/09/2008 |
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I know I am preaching to the choir, but this entry has been spurned by some recent things I've read and heard and most recently by the block of Sarah Palin supporters I heard speak on NPR much more articulately (and unfortunately, more incorrectly, in my eyes) than supporters of the Obama campaign: some personal thoughts, if you will.
You can respect Sarah Palin for being a successful working mother with five kids if you want. But you'd damn well better question that respect when you find out that she has a son being sent to Iraq and doesn't know as a bloody Republican governor what the Bush Doctrine is. That is when you are not well-informed enough to be a responsible parent.
You can send her accolades for wanting to lower America's dependence on foreign oil. But you'd better then do your research and find that drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (which is her proposal) won't give America a sustainable supply of oil and will probably be too costly to start to be worth it. And that's only your biggest concern if you don't care about wildlife or the Inuits that live or have lived there. It should also be noted that existing oil plants in Alaska create more nitrous oxide (ie smog) than Washington, DC.
You might think its great that she holds family and religious values upon a pedestal. But man, thinking that the activity of humans is in no way correlated to global warming is so 20th century.
Sure, it might be kind of, in some weird way attractive that she hunts her own moose and makes her own mooseburgers. But, I gotta say, it's not so attractive that she believes polar bears should be taken off the endangered species list, since, you know, people don't cause global warming and getting the rights to drill in the Wildlife Refuge would be a lot easier if other people hated polar bears, too.
You may think it's a novel idea that she can see Russia from her country. I think it's a novel idea that she attempted to ban a large number of books from the Wasilla Public Library (get it -- novel?). That's so traditionally... communist -- at least if you watch Indiana Jones movies. Oh, and included on that long list are A Clockwork Orange, A Wrinkle in Time, East of Eden, The Canterbury Tales, Catch-22, Catcher in the Rye, and a majority of the Harry Potter books.
There's plenty more, but I'm getting hungry, and I really have the urge to eat some raman noodles right now. So I'll summarize it with this. Basically, there's one think I kind of like about Sarah Palin, and that's that she played point guard on a state championship high school basketball team. Oh wait, that was in Alaska -- I could totally have done that, too, if I were only located there. 5'2 me would have been a starter. |
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| And I feel that time's a wasted goal... |
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| 11:21am 29/07/2008 |
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I have gotten really, pretty bad about writing in this thing and keeping in touch with people. But it's been a busy month of July and my car has been on the fritz on top of that (bringing it to the garage today, but let's be serious; there is no use putting much more money into that car). But I miss everyone. I got a Harborfest call from Matty Joe Bob of all people on Sunday. And everyone who's going somewhere new is gearing up to do that soon, too.
So here's my list of plans for the rest of the summer into September or October.
Go to Liz's best friend's wedding.
Go see the Philadelphia Orchestra in Saratoga (anyone want to go with or want to meet me?)
Hopefully getting up to camp Messere -- although it's been sadly rented for most of August. I will figure something out though, and when I do, of course everyone is invited.
Figure out an easy, not too expensive way to get back and forth to Oswego, because missing everyone has gotten me pretty bummed out (ideas anyone? People willing to come to Syracuse sometime to hang out or take me back to the 'Sweegs at some point?)
Go to Toronto. Maybe via a bus from Montreal (anyone else in?)
Pennsylvania, hopefully.
Drive in. Sometime
On a different note, I think I'm going to be the Joker for Halloween. The newest Batman movie was pretty incredible (and I was thinking of going to see it again -- is it at the drive-in anytime soon?).
So that's the news here. The moral of the story is when I get my act (and car) together, I'm going to be a lot better about keeping in touch. And seriously, if people call and make plans to hang out, I can almost always get it together. Love you all. |
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| So let's pack our bags and settle down where palm trees grow... |
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| 11:47am 07/05/2008 |
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Oh yes. It's that time. Time for a sappy eljay entry. It's been two months since my last post about Arizona State not taking a masters student, so here's what's going on now.
I'm graduating this weekend. Holy shit. I might technically need to take an online class over the summer, depending on if one of my sequences in Music History counts as a legitimate continuation or not (funny requirements), but either way, I'm graduating. Shit son. So what do I do now? I guess this year I'm going to find myself in Syracuse again. I just signed the lease to a big ass apartment with Dianna and Bunger on 125 Cambridge Street -- we can move in during June. Huge, real person apartment, so if all you kids who are moving away (both Oswegonians and SUers) ever need a place to stay, there's a couch you can assuredly crash on. It's two blocks away from Westcott and another two blocks away from Liz and about a mile away from the SU campus. I'm going to get hopefully a real person job-- at least kind of. I'm applying for a (non-musician) part-time position with the Syracuse Symphony; hopefully, if I get it, it will transform to a full time one during the fall. They might need more trumpet subs for the Symphony, too, since they're doing a Mahler Symphony with eight trumpets this winter. There will be some auditions in store for me. I'm trying to get my foot in the door as a brass instructor with the Liverpool Marching Band, and/or maybe some other bands around the area -- the earlier I get a job offer, the better. I'm going to apply to Music and Arts, and try to double as a sales associate and trumpet teacher (if anyone inquires) like Jared did last summer. I want a real musical resume. It would be better than working at Wegman's or Starbuck's, even though they have benefits.
I'm going to keep taking lessons from Melissa Bushee. Every once in a while, I might shell out the $100 to take a lesson from the teacher at Eastman. Maybe if I end up in Boston or Chicago for a weekend, I'll shell out the cash to get a lesson from Charlie Guyer or whomever else is worth taking lessons from.
It's weird, though. It's time to have adult aspirations. It's also that time when people are moving away, which is really sad. We're all entering a really interesting crossroads. I know I haven't been any kind of model of it this semester, but I hope we all keep in touch. It's going to be weird without all my friends who are family around.
That's the news here, kids. Love you all. Let me know when you Oswegonians are back in town, and with the exception of this weekend and June 1st-6th, I'll try to make an effort to get up there. Love you all. |
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| 'Cause baby, I'm an anarchist... |
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| 04:26pm 24/02/2008 |
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It's weird how much can happen in a month. One complains how nothing ever really happens and then less than a week after that, something REALLY happens; and the type of something that doesn't happen often, either. This world is a weird one.
I took my grad school auditions; I still need to hear back from three of the schools. Two of my auditions weren't nearly (I don't think) good enough -- and true to that I already got my rejection letter from Duquesne. Please no comments of sympathy about that one; the audition went so inexplicably poorly that I don't even feel bad about it. I just figure that it's a sign that I'm really not supposed to end up there, and the only way one can really figure that out is to go try for it. Based on my auditions, I guess I'll probably end up in someplace warm (Texas or Arizona) if I end up any place at all next year. It's weird; All I can do about it now is sit wait and think about my plan B.
The weird part is I think Plan B might ultimately be better than Plan A; maybe I'm not ready to go to grad school just yet. I think more preparation on my own might be good, and Arizona State just 'clicked' so much that I think if I got into Texas and not ASU, it might be good to wait a year and try again; there are few trumpet schools better than ASU anywhere, and it really just seemed to work when I went there. And I'm more attached to Syracuse at the moment than I thought I'd be. Pretty seriously attached.
I might work for the College Light Opera Company in Cape Cod this summer; I'm going to at least send in a tape.
Just some random thoughts in an update. I miss you O-towners like whoa. Does anyone have their spring break starting on March 8th? Let me know. Anywho, love you all. |
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| I'm turning my head up and down, I'm turnin' turnin' turnin' turnin' turnin' around... |
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| 11:56pm 17/01/2008 |
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I went scrolling through my last twenty entries right quick -- not even reading them, just seeing when the last one was on bottom (so I read half of that one). It was right after Easter, I think, and I said I felt like something big was about to happen, like I was biding my time until the world came along or something.
I wish I knew what that was. I wish something would happen. I mean, I'm caught up in all this school and trumpet stuff -- heck, my first grad school audition is a week from Saturday in Texas -- but it feels like something really big should have happened by now. I don't know, I've gone a few places, met some new and wonderful people, but I didn't really find a something or meet a someone or anything like that. I'm just starting to forget what it's like to have my mind totally blown, and I think that's one of my favorite feelings.
Maybe I watch too many movies. Maybe I'm so used to having a soundtrack going in my head at all times that I feel like I should be living in one. They don't go this long without something coming along or the protagonist having some revelation (of course, since I'd probably be the supporting role in the movie of, like, life, maybe no revelations shouldn't be the most surprising thing ever). I'm on the verge of just doing something nuts. I mean, one of my favorite song lyrics ever is "Leaving with a clear mind, I didn't wait on my graduation."
Of course, nobody actually takes directions from song lyrics unless they're in a movie (i.e. Rob Gordon in High Fidelity).
On a completely different note (well, in my head, not completely, but without further explanation) I hope I never become truly cynical. It's a thought that terrifies me the more I grow up. |
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| Sex and violence... |
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| 11:02pm 28/12/2007 |
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I just want to record the following quote.
Snippy (running through my house): Patrick! Don't put those socks in your pants!" |
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| Then something went wrong for Fay Wray and King Kong, they got caught in a celluloid jam... |
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| 02:44pm 18/12/2007 |
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God I'm a dumb shit sometimes. I just pulled into the driveway next to my parents' car and decided I was too close for someone to get into the other car easily, so I pull out and start to turn my wheel and back out, and stop, realizing I'm going to hit the side wall of our driveway, pull forward to try again, and *scrape* *crack*. I get out of the car to see the damage, and I have managed to pull my rear taillight off by hitting an edge of that damned wall, and it is hanging off my car by its wires. I'm not a bad driver, but Jesus H. Chris on a bike, my own driveway causes me more problems...
The good news is I reattached it for the time being and it seems like it would stay. Miraculously, even though it's a little cracked, the main part of the light works. The signal doesn't work, and there's no way for me to see if the brakelight works without a buddy. I guess I'll call Goodyear and see what they can do for me early tomorrow morning.
Still, though. Oi. |
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| While Frank Sinatra sings stormy weather the flies and spiders get along together... |
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| 09:41am 12/12/2007 |
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Top 5 people (dead or alive) I'd like to have lunch with:
1) Henry Rollins
2) Carol Jantsch
3) Lance Armstrong
4) Joe Strummer
5) Missy Giove
Wonderful last few nights, guys. I'll be home probably sometime tomorrow, and I'm getting inked with the O-towners this coming weekend. I'm really stoked for it, actually. This has been in the planning for ages. There's a lot more to say but I'm not sure good ole eljay is the right platform for it, really. Anyway, this semester was good, but I can't believe it's over. Love you all. |
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| I could dream all day... |
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| 02:01am 30/11/2007 |
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Easy song subject, today, kids Well, moderately. So. This semester's almost over. I have a pretty good idea of where I'll be auditioning for grad school, and the odds that I won't be in the Northeast next year are pretty decent I feel. It scares me to go away, but I'm aching for a change -- from many different climates. I've realized that a part of Syracuse life really fits me like a glove -- Crouse people and life, the band kids, my small band of NYPIRGers, how hip this little town actually is, and last but not least, the ease of being in touch with everyone from O-town -- but some of it really fucking gets to me, too. I'm not entirely happy with the way I perceive the social aspects of gay SU or if I fit in with it at all (or really want to, for that matter), I know I'd like some weather that was more conducive to being outside for more than a few months out of the year (bike? what?), and being in a major metropolitan area would be nice. So I'm basically auditioning in a bunch of sicknasty music schools in (mostly southern or southwestern) big cities that are also D-1 schools so I can go to basketball games. Priorities... yeah.
Still, though. Fall semester of senior year is almost over. I'm about to have my last required undergrad jury, since my recital next semester is close enough to jury date where I won't have to do one. Band is over. There has been no sadness nor have there have been tears. Not for lack of love, just lack of that being my style. I guess there's still the band banquet (which I have to go to because Mertz refuses to write me recommendation letters unless I go). And December is here. Andy Wiley's birthday is coming up, Secret Santa with the SU kids is coming up, and then graduation weekend with the Oswego kids is going to be simply amazing. Yeah inking. I love Christmas, and hopefully a Toronto visit will still be in order while it's 2007, too. I miss me my Mavis.
On a completely different note, the boys downstairs have been really huge douchebags. I believe they are having a large scale party this weekend sometime. I also believe I might tell people there's a band party at our place so that our friends can drink their booze. Considering how nasty they've been, I think that would end with us winning permanently.
This kind of sounds like a downer entry and I didn't mean for it to. Tonight was actually mad cool. Hung out with Paula, L, Dianna, and Jason W and Bunger and hung out and talked and watched us some SLC Punk. Word. Anyway, it's time for me to hit the sack. Love you all. |
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| The reason we're here... |
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| 11:30pm 14/11/2007 |
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Katie B. did this a few days ago. Now I'm taking a quick study break from el espanol, so I'm gonna do it.
5 Random Facts in No Order Whatsoever About Myself That People Might Not Know:
1) I'm practically addicted to Bruegger's pumpkin spice coffee.
2) I'm pretty sure that if music doesn't work out I want to be a bike messenger. I wouldn't make a lot of money, but I'd be in great shape, and it would be pretty cool to be involved in that tight knit a community... and it would be a dangerous career opportunity.
3) The more I think about it, the more I want a Mighty Mouse tattoo. I don't know why.
4) My first crush was in the 4th grade to a kid named Ben who played trumpet and sat next to me in band. Another notable crush was on a girl in modified track who would belt the Thong Song (yes, by Sisqo).
5) I am highly intimidated by girls who can beat me in sports, but I usually want to be friends with them nonetheless. I guess this goes for people in general and trumpet, too.
Ok, so let's see yours, kids. |
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| All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arrive... |
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| 11:44pm 31/10/2007 |
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Oh procrastination. Happy Halloween, kids. My personal shining moment today was fitting into a Tigger costume with Andy Wiley. Unfortunately, Mertz made us stop.
Reasons #327 and 328 why finishing college is practically excruciating.
- I really am done with academic things and really just love playing my trumpet. I mean, I like being challenged to think, and I'm all for working when it comes to application in my life, but really, when it doesn't do either of those things, why do it? Homework hurts.
- Videos like this make me realize the only viable career opportunity that I would genuinely love if music didn't work out would be being a bike messenger, and really, getting a masters to become a bike messenger is something most would frown upon.
In other news, marching band is almost over; I love the trumpet; I am not nearly done with grad school applications since I put them off because they scare me; I'm auditioning at places far away probably; basketball season is starting (and thus, Sour Sitrus and getting into games for free); my life is getting almost too gay for words and I would like my life to just BE instead of being gay or straight or in between (miraculously, I haven't had as much control over this matter as external forces have seemed to have had on me), but I'm trying to get things back to normal; hangouts with true friends are great, as are reminiscing the good old times with good old friends; a good number of the 'Cuse kids I hang out with are not signing up for any more classes in their undergraduate careers since they will be student teaching next semester and that gives me butterflies in my stomache; Phil had a birthday on Monday (happy birthday Phil!) but we have not yet gone out; and I like pumpkin pie, apple cider, and the fact that it's fall.
In short, the last couple weeks have been rough, but at the end of the night I'm usually a happy camper in spite of myself. I love you all -- I really mean it. I miss you O-towners like you simply would not believe. Night, kids. |
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| Someday you will find me caught beneath the landslide... |
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| 05:39pm 06/10/2007 |
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I'm so glad I have friends:
- That can have a Star Wars themed wedding cake
- That can dance like fools
- That can yell "Goal" when the bride and groom walk in
- That can do ridiculous Spice Girls themed photo ops -- even the dudes
- That can get into an ass slapping war in front of dressed up adults even though they should be dignified
- That are still best buds for all those years from high school and before when we're looking at the end of college
- That have a wedding where the groomsmen wear Chuck Allstars
- That can seriously consider a game of ultimate frisbee in complete dress attire
- That give many punches, but even more hugs
- That are happy together
Jennie and Ben's wedding was today, and it was beautiful. I can't believe that the first of the group is married, but I don't think I could be happier about it or that it could be more perfect. Nuff said. |
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