Don't even talk to me about 'cross. Ohh wait-nobody really talks to me anyway...
I'll have to just stop reading about so and so's training/prep/schedule/race report-as I can already tell it'll make me crazy. Hell, even this apparent nationals registration thing has already happened. Guess I'll be on the back row. Speaking of, I should find some time to build a cross bike. But in the meantime, I literally have to draw a stapler 25 times in perspective. The same prof asked if it upset me that 50 cent was a millionaire based on being a drug dealing, shot-to-hell thug retard (my word), when I'm spending so much time and money on an education?
What the fuck do I care about how successful 50 cent or any other retarded artist is? That has no bearing on my life. He could be a billionaire and it won't play a part in how much money or success I'll have. But the undercurrent of that question, which I failed to realized in my initial response was about the values of the audience- the consumers of the product. People value 50 cent-they'll pay for his tracks and shows and movies. So I think really what he was asking is this: In the strange world, do I find it annoying that I'm trying hard to learn about what people want-to essentially create tools that will enhance your life (at a minimum-of course there is so much more to it), when at the same time someone who touts thuggery, drug dealing, banging bitches and survives a rattatattat is an icon? When someone who makes a name by not enhancing anything legitimate (except a club song!) and becomes looked up to for it.
Still doesn't seem to change my answer. Lots of things aren't fair, and I sure as hell don't feel entitled to more because I spent time and money on Universities. Hell, that dude got shot and lived. I can't say I think he's a good artist, but artists can spend entire lives trying to please people. In that sense he's won the game. Thats a game I may never win. I've been drunk and danced to his tracks (at Player's probably!) and I'll bet when I have my stamp on some gadget he probably won't ever be rocking it.
Food for thought anyway. What do you think? I would guess that most anyone could see that the values that make him famous (and lots of other musicians-Notorious BIG, amy whinehouse, etc) are really fucked. "Hey-you know that guy who shot my brother and deals crack to my mom and gave my sister ass herpes-he's such a great rapper!")

In better news, Wouter seems to like Savannah (notice his nametag, bottom right). All of his 45lbs roll nicely down flat streets, underneath scary looking old trees.