A critical look at 'Critical Mass'

( And by 'critical,' I mean, 'bitchy and shallow.' )

Culture Clash

Last night I had the unexpected treat of getting to meet kageygirl, who happens (happened, at this point) to be in Dublin. It was so much fun! I took her to Doyle's, where I drank too many vodkas and orange (although fewer than jarsy got me to consume, so points there--to whichever side, depending on your point of view) and she, much braver, tried drinks in shades of electric blue and red. Seriously, they looked like something that might be seen bubbling in the back of a laboratory in a bad '50s Sci-Fi film, and they tasted like distilled Jolly Ranchers. kageygirl, if you develop any kind of superpowers (or experience enzyme-like withdrawal symptoms), please, let me know.

Anyway, it was really great to just get to chat with someone for a few hours with the geek-filters firmly off. It may have been the alcohol, but we are so cool when we band together! Among other things, I told kageygirl about my plan to have Fandom Take Over the World. We must infiltrate Hollywood from the inside, individually getting jobs as script girls and then working our way up to become writers, producers, creators! We are the future of our own entertainment! Fangirls unite!

Ahem. Anyway, I'm so glad we got to do that, kageygirl! And anyone else passing though the greater Dublin area? I don't know any cool places to go and I can't hold my liquor very well, but I swear, we would have a blast! Hmm. *contemplates career in advertising*

This afternoon, I had the awkward experience of having to participate in a Home Rule debate--19th Century Home Rule, but still. We were assigned our positions in advance, and I had to argue the lame-o point that the Irish Nationalists would have been perfectly satisfied with Home Rule, which made me feel all American and buttinskyish. The situation was made even more awkward by the fact that, of the 20-odd people in the class, only five of us showed up. *intones breathily, à la Old Rose in Titanic* Just five. It was painful, really. And then I had to go and say this:

Me: But all of your points seem to be based on the idea that Home Rule wouldn't have been fully satisfying. When can something--especially a political something--ever be fully satisfying? Your entire argument is based on this ridiculous 'If you give a mouse a cookie' mentality and--
Everyone else: *extremely blank looks*
Me: Oh God, none of you have read that book, have you?

In conclusion (and thanks to mandysbitch) I blame The Simpsons. Clearly, they never did an episode that featured If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, and thus they betrayed their sacred purpose as The International School of Cultural Relations. Or else I just make bizarre and obscure references and I need to stop bringing pop culture into political debates.

One final note: Patrick, one of the (Un)Lucky 5, and someone who fate has conspired to keep sitting at the opposite end of the room from me for the whole previous part of the year, has the most gorgeous blue eyes I have ever seen. We were given ten minutes to coordinate our positions with the other people on our teams, and it was just me and him whispering over a piece of notebook paper. I made the mistake of looking up and...dear God. I still feel kind of achy: not with lust, not with desire, but with pure want--just to spend five more minutes talking with him, listening to him, watching him.

Of course I discover this on the last day of class. Of course.

I will comfort myself with the beautiful icons dar_jeeling made me for Christmas. SGA + U2 = LOVE.