things of little relevance

From Karl Marx, “Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844,” The Marx-Engels Reader

If you love without evoking love in return—that is, if your loving as loving does not produce reciprocal love; if through a living expression of yourself as a loving person you do not make yourself a loved person, then your love is impotent—a misfortune.

Marx explains it all.

then she asked me my favorite contemporary author the way i’d ask you what your favorite tampon brand is
and snorted derisively two syllables into ishiguro
dumb fucking cunt

(also see Clive Thompson on the New Literacy)

Technically, I don’t think I’m old enough to be a cougar.

Austin warned his dad, ‘You can’t get mad at me when I scream at cute guys in Speedos!’ And boy, did Austin scream. He was in gay teenage heaven.”

I have been completely spoiled by men, companions and friends, who cook for me.

In London, I asked a new friend to make me dinner, when he admitted he couldn’t really cook, I threw a slight fit (“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN’T COOK? YOU’RE A GROWN MAN STILL EATING PASTA WITH CANNED SAUCE??!!!!). He, a rational being unlike yours truly, pointed out that most grown men used canned sauce. Thankfully I am back in New York, where my male friends make a feast of pasta and lentils while I lounge on their couch, daintily, of course (“You said on the phone you and Lucy were cooking…”).

But really, as an Asian woman in this racist and misogynistic America, haven’t I suffered enough? In the words of Elizabeth Nunez, slightly out of context, “AMERICA HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM!”

My attitude towards senior year can be summed up by the refrain “I’m not going back.” in Cold Cave’s “Life Magazine” (mp3 and interview by Jamie here!).

In the meantime, the following made me giggle.

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW (via Jenny Davidson)

Jesus reinvents Judaism. Duffy reinvents catchy naïveté. Injections of Juvéderm reinvent the aging face. Thom Browne reinvents the male suit and, thereby, male calves.

Ha! (If you haven’t noticed already, there is essentially no point to reading my blog if you also read Jenny Davidson’s.)

My life according to books I’ve read this year (via Jenny Davidson)

Describe yourself:
In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower
How do you feel?
Fear and Trembling
Describe where you currently live:
Paradise Lost
If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
The Magic Mountain
Your favorite form of transport:
The Starry Messenger
Your best friend is . . . ?
Typical American
You and your friends are . . .?
The Politics of Friendship
What’s the weather like?
The Blazing World and Other Writings
Favourite time of day?
The Coming Insurrection
What is life to you?
Mimesis
Your fear?
On Duties
What is the best advice you have to give?
Life Inc.: How the World Became a Corporation and How to Take It Back
Thought for the Day?
What is an Apparatus?
How I would like to die:
A Sentimental Journey
My soul’s present condition?
Against Interpretation

[In my room, the door is closed. My mother is downstairs.]

Mom: What are you doing?

Lucy: I’m drinking with Natalie.

[Mother races up the stairs and opens the door.]

Lucy: I mean…drinking near Natalie.