The Journal of a Prizefighter

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Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

a vista from glacier
2007-06-05 03:13:00
On Flickr, I found this fantastically stunning image taken at Glacier National Park in Montana. Credit for this photo goes to Artisan.
More About: Vista

dryness
2007-06-05 02:15:00
This is a recent photograph showing the dryness caused by the chemotherapy treatments.

6/4 update
2007-06-05 01:17:00
On Friday evening, I watched The Departed. I enjoyed it a lot. The cast of Hollywood superstars is great and the twists at the film's conclusion are riveting.Su and I took an architectural boat tour of Chicago on Saturday afternoon. The trip was a 90 minute ride along the Chicago River. The notable architectural wonders of the city were pointed out and details of their history were explained to us. We were worried about the threat of rain on Saturday, but it held up. We were okay. I snapped well over 200 photographs on the boat tour. The lighting in many of the photographs is poor due to the cloudiness that day. Nevertheless, here are some of them.Following the boat tour, we visited Navy Pier. Below are two photographs that she took around Navy Pier.This afternoon I called Dr. Castro-Malaspina's office at Sloan and made an appointment for Monday, June 25th at 9:45am. I also spoke to Sinda, the unrelated donor coordinator. The blood samples of two potential unrelated dono...
More About: Update

the human giant
2007-06-03 03:48:00
I found some other hilarious web videos on the website, Funny or Die, where I watched "The Landlord" with Will Ferrell. There are several web videos starring the cast of the Human Giant , an MTV show that I wasn't aware of since I don't have a TV in my place in Chicago.Watch their crazy video, the "Job Interview" here and check out some of their other hilarious stuff. Other videos from the show Human Giant are available at mtv.com, such as one titled, "Bruce Willis Lookalike," viewable here.
More About: Uman

6/2
2007-06-03 01:41:00
So far, I haven't had any major issues from the start of the 3rd cycle. The only thing of note has been the return of sensitivity to my feet and the joints of my fingers. Dr. Rosenbaum told me which of the drugs was responsible for the sensitivity, but I forgot.I haven't done anything of importance today. I have relaxed listening to the radio, playing Sim City 4 Deluxe, and working on my blog.Yesterday was the last day of classes, which was marked by the department's annual end of spring quarter cookout/potluck.My final grades for the quarter were posted yesterday. I earned an A in Arabic, A- in "Byzantine Military History," and an A in "Egyptian History and the Novels of Nagib Mahfouz."

please donate to help tammer reach his goal
2007-06-01 04:17:00
I am excited to share some wonderful news. My friend, Tammer Ramini, who graduated from the same MA program that I myself am about to graduate from at The University of Chicago will run his first marathon in Chicago in October through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training Program. He will run in honor of his cousin who passed away from leukemia, an 11 year old leukemia survivor and yours truly. His goal is to raise $5,000 for the LLS in order to help it continue its excellent work in the fields of cancer research and patient advocacy.I, like many other blood cancer patients, have used the resources of the LLS, whose services are well-known for their quality and scope.Below is the text of the e-mail that he sent me and others. I'm trying to spread the word about Tammer's wonderful undertaking. Please read his message and I ask that you donate whatever you can to help Tammer and the LLS. Please spread the word!Thank you.Dear friends,I hope this email finds you he...
More About: Donate , Goal , Reach , Lease , Ease

what a gift
2007-06-01 04:12:00
The University of Chicago Receives Anonymous $100 Million Gift for Undergraduate Financial AidWhat great news! This largesse will help thousands of future UChicago students.
More About: T A G

beau sea
2007-06-01 04:08:00
Following my post on 5/26 about Hollywood's continual use of Asians as stock characters when one is even fortunate to find them in television or film, Su introduced me to Beau Sia, a def poet, who in the following Def Poetry Jam performance spoke to this very issue of the caricatural representations of the Asian community:

the landlord
2007-06-01 03:57:00
"The Landlord," a new web video starring Will Ferrell, has received a lot of buzz during the past few days. I learned about in the NYT article, Comedy Business Turns to the Web. I found it to be hilarious. Watch it here.

new header
2007-05-31 08:00:00
For many weeks now, I've been working with Levi of White Continent in the creation of an exciting header for my blog. Credit for the header goes to him. Thanks Levi. I'm playing around with the header at the moment, so what you see may or may not stay. Please let me know what you think of it.
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the golden, ancient beauty
2007-05-31 06:58:00
The weather has been very warm for well over a week here. Indeed, during the daytime it's a bit too warm. I sweat profusely. During the evening, on the other hand, it's particularly lovely when it's cooled by the breeze.I couldn't help but notice the golden moon tonight. Simply stunning. While admiring its ancient beauty, I couldn't help but remind myself that perhaps on nights no different than this one the luminous moon captivated our ancestors' attention hundreds, thousands, and millions of years ago.The above photo was taken by Chris Brookes.
More About: Beauty , Beau , Ancient , Golden , The Go

like back in the day
2007-05-31 06:53:00
While using the elliptical machine at the gym this afternoon, I was glued to ESPN Classic which was showing Game 2 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals between the arch rivals, Knicks and Bulls. Watching it brought me back to my adolescence when the Knicks, who were competitive then, found themselves year after year in a heated, excited contest against Michael Jordan and the indomitable Bulls. Those sure were exciting years of playoff basketball for Knicks fans. The Garden was rocking then. The voice of Marv Albert was synonymous with Knick playoff basketball. Names like Mason, Ewing, Oakley, Starks, Anthony, Paxon, Williams, Armstrong, Cartwright reentered my consciousness once again. True, we (the Knicks) never did make it pass the Bulls while Jordan led the team. They stopped us every time, but the fierce competition and energy were thrilling and memorable. It was almost as exciting to watch the rerun this afternoon as it was 14 years ago.
More About: Back , Like , Back in the Day , The D

classes round-up
2007-05-31 06:50:00
Today was my official last day of classes for the quarter. Because the professor of the Mahfouz course is away this week in Istanbul, the class is supposed to have a make-up next week. Otherwise, I'm done with classes.My last final exam - Arabic - is scheduled for Friday, but it's optional. Basically, if one's satisfied with their grades from the previous quarters then, he/she doesn't need to take the exam this week. However, if one isn't satisfied and wishes to improve their final grade, then, the Friday's exam is offered as an opportunity to do so. I did very well during the previous two quarters. After much thought, I decided to not take the exam. So, with regards to finals that's it.I had a pleasant conversation with my secondary reader on Tuesday regarding my thesis. He gave me an A. He said it is wordy, redundant in areas and has a few grammatical mistakes, but overall it is good. I'm in the process of making the corrections now. Writing, he stated, is a li...
More About: Classes , Round Up , Round

3rd cycle set
2007-05-30 00:19:00
I spoke to Kathy, the research nurse, at the hospital this morning. Everything is set for me to begin the 3rd cycle of SGN-30/GND(GVD) on Thursday.
More About: Cycle

in the news
2007-05-29 15:04:00
South Korea Joins Rush to Build Ever Taller BuildingsBlack Culture Beyond Hip-HopPlanet Hunters Spy Distant Haul
More About: News , In the News , The News

additional sources
2007-05-29 06:11:00
I spent well over an hour - most likely close to two - in the library this afternoon after working out at the gym looking up secondary sources related to my thesis. In the rush to get my thesis completed, there are a significant number of sources that I forgot or overlooked. Though the additional sources could not have added to the text of my paper since I was at the 50 page limit, they certainly would have given me a more rounded understanding of some particular issues, such as the uses and interpretations of jihad. Since I submitted it on the 18th, I have played with the idea of expanding it in which case these additional sources will be most needed. I composed a bibliography of these additional sources and plan to present it to my secondary reader tomorrow morning when I hope to talk to him about his feedback regarding my thesis.
More About: Sources

b*onds
2007-05-29 05:04:00
Having watched the HBO film, 61, I was very interested to learn more about the history of the asterisk in baseball with regards to the controversial behavior of former baseball commissioner Ford Frick during Roger Maris' historic chase of Babe Ruth's single-season home run record in 1961.An Asterisk Is Very Real, Even When It's Not

thoughts about earlier post
2007-05-29 05:01:00
Honestly, I'm surprised I have received more comments regarding my post on 5/26 titled, "In you, I can trust." Perhaps there isn't really much to be said.
More About: Post , Thoughts , Arli , Lier , Earl

bill richardson grilled on meet the press
2007-05-29 04:43:00
Yesterday afternoon I watched Democratic presidential hopeful, Bill Richard son , on "Meet the Press ." Richardson was grilled extensively by the host, Tim Russert, to the point that I started to feel sorry for him. He seems like a likable guy, but to be fair Richardson seemed poorly prepared at times. The number of stories raised by Russert, which required Richardson's clarification were almost comical. Richardson is no slick willy. Rather than wiggle his way out of the most challenging, controversial questions, Richardson came forward and admitted his wrong doings. Something about Richardson's honesty was comforting, but overall, his inconsistency did not make him look like a varnished candidate, which interestingly enough Richardson himself acknowledged.The netcast version of MTP has an extended take that was not shown on TV. In it, Richardson is asked by Russert about his diplomatic career and the skills/tactics used in negotiations. I found this part very enthralling, en...
More About: The Press