CultofDizzo's Xanga

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:30:19 GMT

I'm about 2 months from graduation. My feeling about law school is largely unchanged from my last post over two years ago. Don't ever go to law school; due to my debt, I feel that my professional options are extremely limited. I also have yet to find a job which will take advantage of my China background.

On the extremely positive side, I'm now pretty much married. My wife's name is WuFan and she is absolutely wonderful.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 03:00:47 GMT

So let's update!

I'm in a frenzy. After getting less than stellar grades last semester, this semester I need to be twice as diligent or else I'll end up working in the bowels of some insurance company or spending my life travelling the world escaping massive debt (which is the better option). But first I'm going to try extra hard to study better and get my shit together. I know this stuff, but I have no head for details. No head at all.

The summer job search is occupying too much of my time. I have developed a mental complex after my unsuccessful search two years ago (!!) in Shanghai that no one will ever hire me. That makes me obsessively write cover letters and look for opportunities constantly, when I should probably be focusing on school. Bah!!

I want to get back to China this summer, but all that is up in the air...there are bigger things ahead...I refuse to let myself be held hostage by this degree. I decided to study law so it would help me work internationally. I was assured that that was the future and was going to be a strong point on my resume. Going to law school was a means to an end, not an end in itself. I'm going to use this degree to get the job I want.

But first, study.

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 03:59:22 GMT

FINALS FINALS FINALS FINALS

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 13:18:50 GMT

I've voting Obama for president. He's the real deal.

Is this a shock to recent commentators on my posts from years past in which I assert my conservative political leanings? Well, this just goes to show you can't put dizzo in a box! I'll keep you guessing!

Happy Thanksgiving! My first in three years!

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 12:29:19 GMT

Update!!

I'm in law school at GW. It is a lot of work, not terribly difficult per se, just a lot of work. Midterms next week.

Being back in the states is like going through heroine withdrawal. You know in Trainspotting when Ewan McGregor freaks out in bed screaming cuz he wants to shoot up? That is how I feel about China sometimes. I just wanna scream cuz I miss being over there, and I feel like I've put so much effort into learning Chinese and making a future for myself based on my China expertise, but I'll now never get a chance to use it or get back over there. It is a completely paranoid, irrational reaction, but so is heroine withdrawal.

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Thu, 22 Jun 2006 15:40:57 GMT

USA 1 Ghana 2

The US had a great team this year, but what the fuck? They control the ball for the whole game, and create countless opportunities for goals. But they simply can't do it. They can't shoot. They can only pass. So incredibly frustrating to watch. Just kick the ball towards the goal!!! It seems almost formulaic. They control the whole field, but as soon as they get within 20 yards of the goal, they just can't do it.

So frustrating!!!!! well, maybe in another 4 years...

Friday, May 05, 2006

Fri, 05 May 2006 22:55:44 GMT

Yesterday was a wonderful day.

I am in Vietnam. It is a lot of fun. We visited the tunnels that the Vietcong used to fight the USA and rode motorcycles and generally are just having a kickass time. But the best part came yesterday...

They wait-listed me back in February, but they've now fully reconsidered

I'm going to GW LAW!!!!!

Friday, April 21, 2006

Fri, 21 Apr 2006 16:28:36 GMT

VENTING!!

Chairman Hu Jintao, albiet a filthy communist, but also the leader of the "IT" country, China, came to visit President Bush. Not only did Bush not provide his visit with full "state dinner" status, but he also allowed some serious gaffes to occur: 1) Before the Chinese national anthem was played, they announced it as the anthem for the "Republic of China", which is Taiwan's official name. GOD!!! 2) they allowed a heckler to interrupt Hu's speech. JESUS!! I don't care if China is a one-party state, America is the leader of the world and we showed nothing but a half-assed effort at hosting a very important guest. I am embarassed as an American. When are we going to get a coherant strategy in regard to China??

I am no Democrat, but I am sick and tired of standing up for Bush. The blank stares and fuddled speech has made all of us uncomfortable from the start. Now we are sick of it. We need a presidential president. Bush is reflecting poorly on all of us. This latest visit by Chairman Hu is just another demonstration of this administration's tendency to blow it on even routine matters. Let's just say, I used to take government competence for granted. Not anymore. I would vote for a Democrat if he at least knew how to LOOK good, and certainly one who read a book before hosting the leader of the country who supposedly will command a larger economy than ours by the year 2045.

That is most likely a bullshit statistic, but our country still has absolutely no damn idea of what China is. It makes me angry. Anger settled deep in my chest and then smoothed out over my arms, legs and head. I'm thick with anger. Damn this anger, and damn our incompetent President.

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Sat, 15 Apr 2006 01:45:26 GMT

Long time, no update!

Shortly after my last update I had to purge the entire editorial staff of the DaveReport for political reasons, so it has been a little slow getting operations back underway. Don't worry, the new editorial staff fully supports adding a flaming skull to the star feild on the American flag.

We haven't gotten a break from classes since February 13th, and now finally some release is coming. Next week are midterms, and then we get a four day weekend! So one week from tomorrow Wu Fan and I are going to Suzhou. The chinese say, "above there is heaven, below there is suzhou and hangzhou." Well, I've already been to Hangzhou, and maybe Suzhou will make up the difference.

It has been so awful. Everyday the kids get louder. Everyday there are more screams; literally, blood-curdling screams. The bell rings and they explode out of the classrooms, and they will for no reason at all begin to scream like tiny demons, and proceed to run up and down the halls all batty and coked-up. I occasionally go out in the hall to try and knock them down, or "discipline" them, but usually I'm too busy with whatever, so the kids run wild. The Chinese teachers don't care, they consider themselves the children's servants. God help me I can't wait to have a job where I am surrounded by rational adults doing adult things... I can take this no longer...

Planning for May Break is in full gear. I'm going to Xinjiang to see the desert and the mountains and the plains (it is a big place). I will get to live in a yurt and ride a horse (i hope). I will get to drink beer with Uigar traders and merchants and such. And I'll get to visit some nice, peaceful Buddhist temples. It will be so relaxing.

I'm becoming a very spiritual person. There has got to be more to life than working, hanging out with friends, working, hanging out with friends. I'm gonna find my center, just like Shinya always said.

I was interviewed at the Charity Fair a few weeks ago by CCTV, and they were so impressed that they asked me to be the MC for a big charity ceremony they are having next week downtown. I accepted of course, only later to find out that I would have to work extra hours that day for midterms, and as much as the school liked the idea of having a foreigner from SHSID in a big venue, they said they needed me to proctor. So crap.

In an interesting note: One of my colleagues refused to be interviewed by CCTV. I asked why, and she said, in a rather obvious tone, "well, my father is in the military!" so she can't be on chinese television because it would break some sort of law? "no, it just wouldn't be appropriate" The military is apparantly not interested at all in creating a dialogue with people, and already presumes conflict with China. That's a great way to approach the problem.

I'm going for a run...

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Sun, 12 Feb 2006 06:53:56 GMT

Lauren Bennett Wallace

Uncle Dizzo is honored to report the birth of Lauren Bennet Wallace to proud parents Peter and Katrina. She's a perfect baby in every way; very smart, beautiful, and shows potential in athletics, science, and the arts. Destined to outshine even her uncle someday I'm sure!! Congratulations to the new parents!!!