oh, Neil

I honestly think that Neil LaBute just wants to get under our skin.

When I went to college, there was a fraternity that had the following LaBute-esque motto: "Loved or hated, but never ignored." Sounds like this fits our playwright to a T.

He wrote an article calling for color-blind casting in all roles, including African-American, Asian-American, etc.

This is the dumbest idea I've ever heard.

Look, if you're telling a story about tea, or football, or war, then you can play with race, or gender. But if you're telling a story about Asians, doesn't it confuse the matter somewhat if you cast the piece with a bunch of Black people?

Maybe I'm crazy. Read the article, and let me know what you think...

workin'

Evenin', ladies and gents. I'm here, safe and sound in Rockport, hard at work already.

I got only an hour and a half of sleep on Saturday night - had to wake up at 4am to take the train out to JFK to make my flight. I'm still trying to catch-up.

I've been running around for three consecutive days, so I'm pretty wiped. I'm hoping that I have a bit more energy tomorrow - hopefully I'll have time to write more. Guess we'll see.

Right now, though, my makeshift king-size bed is calling me.

kids today...

While walking to the subway the other day, I passed a couple of middle school kids holding hands. Very cute.

And then, another middle school-aged kid came up to them, pointing and yelling. You know how their hormones are raging, so they can't handle romance with other kids, and have to make a scene whenever they see it? That's what happened.

Except the kid said, "OMG!"

Yes, he actually said OMG. He then followed it up with the traditional, "Oh my God!" but the fact that he actually spoke in text-speak was alarming. Are we really that lazy of a society?

I must be getting old.

ping pong balls

I love the NBA Draft Lottery.

It's nothing fancy, just opening up some envelopes to tell us who will pick where...but I still love it. (I also love the NFL Draft, too, but that's another story.)

So I'm happy that it looks like basketball may be saved in the northwest, and I'm happy that the Knicks didn't end up squandering the #1 pick, and I'm happy that the Celtics are screwed once again. Good times.

Off to bed. I leave in five days...are you excited?

pop quiz

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted anything - trying to get my NY life in tip-top shape before I take off for the summer. I finally found a sublettor - who was willing to pay all three months up front, which is awesome - thanks for the help that several of you offered.

I actually wrote this post on a piece of paper on Wednesday afternoon, after an adventure of mine on Tuesday night. All quizes will count towards your final exam. All questions should be answered as if you were The Rover.

1. If alcohol didn't exist, I would be:
a. ten pounds lighter
b. less fun
c. rich
d. the 40-year old virgin

2. Making out with someone with a significant other is only ok if:
a. s/he has decided they want to end the relationship
b. s/he has a history of being unfaithful
c. you had a previous encounter/relationship together
d. one or both of you are leaving town
e. it's not - you are a horrible person

3. Sleeping with a Republican makes me:
a. a bad person
b. a uniter instead of a divider

sublet hell

I'm SO frustrated.

For the past couple of weeks, I've been trying to sublet my room, with little success.

Part of the problem is my schedule - I've been really busy, and I haven't been available to have people come by.

Part of the problem is my roommates - they have busy schedules, and getting them in the same place at the same time is difficult.

And part of the problem is luck.

I showed the place to a guy last week. He liked it, but he needed to talk to the roommate that wasn't present, and he wasn't sure about the money. He said no on Friday.

I cancelled a trip out of town to show the place to a woman on Saturday morning. She loved it. She needed to talk to the roommate who wasn't present. But, an hour after she saw the place, she called to say that she found another place, and it was equally suitable, and they could commit to her right then, so she was taking it.

Now I have an open house scheduled to start in ten minutes. I sent out info to 20 people. Four replied that they were coming. One just cancelled.

Both of my roommates aren't coming (which REALLY aggravates me, since this is the whole reason I'm doing this on Sunday night, because they both said they would be there).

I leave in two weeks, and I just want to get this over with, so that I can deal with the million other things on my plate.

the french have taught me something today

The French have a new president.

Now, normally, I don't take my political cues from France. I mean, these are people who protest when they have to work more than 35 hours a week. Unbelievable.

But, in their election, there's one thing that they have gotten so unbelievably right.

Their first-round election was a couple of weeks ago.

Their general election was today. (84% turnout, too.)

And when does their new president take office? MAY 16.

I bet that it would be a lot easier to have focused campaigns if they didn't drag on for, oh, TWO YEARS.

I'm just sayin'.

to the girl i ate wings with tonight

First off, welcome to F&G.

Second, you're kickass.

Third, your football proclivities seriously make me want to marry you.