Midaregami

After having my statement of purpose huffily questioned by an uppity administrator—after they lost one of my recommendation letters and forced me to ask for another copy—after five months of waiting—I got an envelope from the Japanese department of the University of Hawai’i today.

The envelope contained an acceptance. How ‘bout that.

Sorry, Hawai’i—I know you’re prestigious and all, but Colorado sent me email notifying me of my acceptance mere days after I applied, weeks before the actual letter arrived. Every email I’ve sent them has been answered within hours, containing detailed information cheerfully conveyed. I’ve been able to speak with other students there, and one professor has offered to meet me before the semester starts and introduce me to other students and faculty.

I can’t ignore that kind of treatment in favor of a good reputation that might just as easily turn against me. Colorado, here I come.

I don’t know why I’m posting this. But I’m a-gonna tell ya just what I’m gonna do…

• Chase, “Get It On”

While I’m on the subject of media-inspired unworthiness, let’s discuss Flight. This is an comic anthology put together a year or so ago by a bunch of crazy young artists, loosely centered around the titular theme.

It is so good, I cannot believe it. It reminds me of the first time I read Strangers in Paradise, insofar as it highlights the fact that Americans can still do great comic books. Not all of the artists are American, no—and clearly the influences are all over the map. But it’s an Image Comics release, and it’s wonderful.

Flight Vol. 2 is just out, and it is—no joke—even better than the first one. If you enjoy interesting, innovative sequential art (and I am looking meaningfully at you, Da-chan, and you, Clarissa) these are books worth stealing from a friend. A friend who is not me.

Happy Free Comic Day.

There are moments when I am humbled by my era. I feel like a primitive monkey, a gibbon-boy, brachiating through forests of new media masterpieces, pausing occasionally to poke, hoot, and scratch my simian hide — that’s how wide the gap sometimes feels. I feel almost unworthy to partake, thinking nay, this pleasure must be meant for some higher life-form.

What pleasure, you ask? I have purchased an XBox, and it is blowing my mind. This is a move I have considered for many months now, beginning late last year. So it was not an impulse purchase. Along with the system, I obtained three games. Allow me to expound.