Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in cliffardo2001's LiveJournal:

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Monday, July 30th, 2007
7:57 am	Timshel I woke up this morning on track to make my coffee, nearly burn my toast, and listen to my local public radio, and still be on time for my eight o'clock class. Usually during my walk to school, I fuel up at a coffee shop near the school of music. On my walk this morning I thought I'd take a different route, which led me to want coffee from a more ubiquitous chain, though forgivably masked in an historic building. As I approached the slightly hallowed ground my morning, which was perfectly on track, became suddenly derailed. I saw people enjoying things that I enjoy (or remember enjoying): people reading, relaxing, and reflecting in the intense glow of a new day. Overcome with an indiscernable feeling, I decided to skip class and re-acquainted with the morning. I know I can be a creature of the night, the after-effects of which leave me unable to enjoy the offerings of the morning, but I wish I could enjoy it all. We'll see. Current Music: This American Life (Comment on this)
Wednesday, July 4th, 2007
3:14 pm	iAmamazed So, I'm making this post fromm very new iPhone. I know what you've heard about the keyboard being a headache, but I've had it for less than a week now and it's going marvellously well. I recommend that all iphone users refer to David Pogue's user guide to the keyboard (you'll save precious seconds when trying reply to those important e-mails). It does take some time to get used to it, but trusting the keyboard is exactly what you need to succeed. I think the criticisms I have are minor interface issues that will be rectified soon enough. Having an iphone has also made a small celebrity around:I was literally mobbed at a restaurant on Friday. I've posted using my iPhone. During this post I've been listening to music on the iPod portion of the phone (I never had to leave Safari to change the music: I just used my headset to do that) and received a call, after which I was immediately returned to this screen. Current Music: Amy Winehouse: Rehab (Comment on this)
Sunday, June 24th, 2007
3:47 am	How Painfully Beautiful Sometimes there is music that just slices right through you. Right to your gushy musical core. That core that you might have been pretending didn't exist. When this happens, you just burst with effusive energy. (Comment on this)
Friday, June 1st, 2007
1:55 am	Eyes My eyes sag like those of a world weary old man (Comment on this)
Friday, May 25th, 2007
4:14 pm	hello again (some questions) I seem to not have the discipline that I once had when I first wrote blogs. I suppose I find the possibility of semi-enlightened erudition to be both daunting and distasteful. What is the point of spending the time to translate a seemingly meaningless event in my life in to something deep and profound and then share it with anyone who cared to glance over these writings? It is dangerous to ask what the point of anything is, of course, but I am suspicious of the motivations of a few. Does the eloquent inflation of the mundane make one appear more reflective and discerning than his peers, and therefore more worthy of their admiration and worship? Or is it simply a sick, stuffy, and sad attempt to impress and attain those easily beguiled by gilded prose? (Comment on this)
Tuesday, February 13th, 2007
10:56 pm	HOWDY! *creeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek* *a cliffy escapes from a graveyard of dead blogs* Hey there, folks! It's Cliffy and his cliffyboy.com, having long since died, took some very fine writing down with it (it was hit with the ol' "didn't have ten bucks" bullet a while back). So, in my return to this blogosphere (is it still called that?), I have decided to resume activity with the original collector of my thoughts, Livejournal. Having resuscitated my Blog (so far), I do hold many a strong opinion (which I am too lazy to back up by decent fact, but you can bear with me anyway). Indiana University is encroaching upon the rights of students, faculty, staff, and anyone visiting, Big Brother style. That's right: a campus-wide smoking ban is going in to effect in October of this year. My guess is that pretty soon, we will all be told what to eat and what to wear! While perhaps those are rather drastic conclusions to make, they make about as much sense as a ban on smoking. Currently, IU limits smoking to be at least 30 feet away from any building entrance or ventilation system. I must admit that I have broken this regulation often. I would, however, be in favor of stricter enforcement of this regulation as opposed to a general ban. Many people would claim that second-hand smoke is reason enough to ban smoking entirely from campus. While I would agree that smoking inside can create a definite health-hazard for everyone, the smoke created by smokers smoking outside poses hardly any risk to others if it is done within the regulated area and non-smokers stay away from these areas (in other words, you don't have to choose to enter a designated smoking area). I would even say that the biggest offender when it comes to outside respitory hazards are fossil-fuel burning cars (big shocker, I know). So, what I propose is a ban on any vehicle on campus that runs on gasoline or other petroleum derived fuel. And, if school's administration is truly concerned for the health of its students, then the Pizza Hut and Burger King should be banned from the IMU, as well as the McDonald's in Read, and the Chic-fil-a in the Wells library. In addition to this, overweight and obese students should not attend IU. All students should fall within weight boundaries that are considered healthy for their height and body type. In fact, I propose that these guidlines not only be imposed upon the student body, but upon every faculty member, staff person, and every member of IU's administration and board. That's right, President Herbert: you'd better lose some weight, or you're outta here, fatty. And while we're controlling what members of the university put in to their body, caffeine should be banned from campus and citations issued to those caught consuming it and random tests conducted to catch caffeinated offenders. Hey, it makes about as much sense as banning smoking from campus. So, why not? (Comment on this)
Sunday, June 12th, 2005
7:49 pm	It's Hard to Say Goodbye (and Not Because I Don't Want To) Most of you who know me know that I smoke. A good friend of mine, also a smoker, once told me that smoking was a dirty, nasty habit, and that I should quit. I didn't really give much heed to the advice at the time, even though I have known people who have lost their lives because of smoking. And recently, another friend of mine had to quit smoking because it was causing heart complications. And months after being told by my friend how dirty and nasty smoking is, I am finally believing it. How is it dirty and nasty? Well, I am not a scientist, but if what I was told in grade school is correct, my lungs are a very vital organ, and by smoking I am merely destroying them. So, why would I continue to do something that inhibited my body's ability to function properly? Also, my fingers turn yellow: that's certainly dirty nasty! My clothes reek something awful. Also, smoking makes my teeth yellow and my breath smokey. I remember the first smoker I kissed before I was a started to smoke, and I remembered what a horrible taste it was. What can be gained by smoking? Nothing! Why do I still do it? Boredom (do something else when you are bored, say...READ A BOOK!) and addiction. I have too much I want to do in life to only shorten it by smoking. I don't value my life enough if I deliberately kill myself through each puff. A friend recently told me that I only have one shot at life; so far, I am only shooting myself. Of course, I will be a major bitch during this process of quitting, so a little support and encouragement would go a long way. Wish me luck! (9 Comments |Comment on this)
1:23 am	Bored Since I am massively bored, I have decided to consult my magic 8-ball widget on several matters of the heart. Following are the questions and the 8-ball's answers (I know it doesn't really mean anything, but it's fun for nothing to do). 1. Does my crush like me? As I see it, yes. 2. Will we be boyfriends? Cannot predict now. 3. (A minute later) Will we be boyfriends? You may rely on it 4. Will we have a long term relationship? As I see it, yes 5. At this moment do you think he suspects I like him? Signs point to yes 6. Will it be a long time until we get together? It is decidedly so 7. Will we still be young men at the time? Outlook not so good. 8. Are you a crappy lying 8-ball? Very Doubtful (scary answer) 9. So, I mean, does he really like me or not? Without a doubt 10. Do I like anchovies (the correct answer is no)? Ask again later 11. Do I like anchovies? Yes 12. Do you know you just gave me a wrong answer? Signs point to yes (now he's being a smart ass) 13. Are you capable of telling the truth? Yes definitely 14. Do you promise to tell me the truth from here on? You may rely on it. 15. (Let's see if it knows about me for real now) Do I like to paint houses (no)? Don't count on it. I give up Current Music: "(Nice to Meet You) Anyway"- Gavin DeGraw (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Saturday, June 11th, 2005
4:30 pm	I am So Fabulous I have suppressed my ego for too long and only now has it started to emerge. Just as soon as I exhibit loads of confidence, I want it to hide again, for I am simply not used to this sort of positive attention. Some of the readers of this blog may have noticed my recent complaints of having no social life or friends. It would seem that my situation has been dramatically shoved to the other extreme. Too many other people tell me how fabulous I am. It's welcome, sorta. I should get used to it, though, because, "Cliffy You're a Star." At least I will be someday...soon... (Comment on this)
Wednesday, June 8th, 2005
7:32 pm	Had To Put Him Back Together Again Since I think Christianity (and religion in general) is just a fairy tale that people take seriously, I thought I would make a Grimm parody of the Holy Bible's 23rd Psalm. The Humpty is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to beat his spilt yoke in aluminum bowls: he scrambleth quite well. He filleth my bowl: his cooked insides flow down my paths of digestion for my health's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of cholesterol, I will fear no heart attack: for thou art in me; thy white and they yoke they comfort me. Thou preparest an omelette before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with shells; my hair is quite a mess. Surely contentedness and shit shall follow me all the times that I eat you; and I will sit on the toilet because of Humpty Dumpty forever. Current Mood: mischievous (1 Comment |Comment on this)
4:48 pm	Songs as Salves I usually think music is debased when people try to apply it to their or other people's lives as some sort of ephemeral salve. I really haven't worked out all of my thinking with that, but to me it feels like I am either degrading music or over-valuing it. But, I must say that a line from a song I listened to on my walk today made me feel better. I was upset because yet another potential employer failed to employ me (absolutely their loss). I asked the manager why they weren't going to hire me, and he said that they needed open availability and experience. I wanted to tell him that on the application I put down that I was available all the time and every day. Obviously, this manager hadn't really read my application, so, instead of pressing forth with more questioning (for I truly wanted to know why they weren't going to hire me), I told the monkey OK, and wished him a nice day. Of course, I was piping hot once I hung up the phone and decided to take a walk with CliffyPod. I selected the Shuffle Songs option and a Kara's Flowers (a band who became defunct and were later reincorporated as Maroon 5) song came on called "If You Only Knew." The line was "if all my days go wrong I'll remember last night; it was right." This line actually has romantic implications in the song, but the line itself seemed pertinent to me, because I did have a good night last night meeting new people and having a good time after a 6 week lull in socializing. So it would seem that music does have the power to induce a catharsis, but it wasn't the music itself: it was the words that helped me to feel better. I happen to believe that the best music is without words, for words can hinder music's unique abstract communicative capabilities, simply because words can be a discriminating element (limiting the possible success of the communicative process to only those who speak the language). In other words, I believe that by mixing the articulate (words) with the inarticulable (music), an admixture is created. Now I am not by any means saying that music is a universal language: the culture that you have been raised in will determine which organizations of sounds and rhythms will mean anything to you. I must say that these are just thoughts and conjectures I have been toying with. Let me know what you think and once you have, send this journal to others to ask what they think. Thank you. Current Mood: Quizzical Current Music: "If You Only Knew" - Kara's Flowers (3 Comments |Comment on this)
2:33 am	Fabulous! I finally got to go out tonight! I met some wonderful new people tonight and I can't wait to hang out with them again. I also might have a job working at a nightclub! This is certainly one of the best nights I have had since I got here. I can't wait to meet with y'all again:) Current Mood: ecstatic (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, June 6th, 2005
9:00 pm	AppleTel Most of you have heard by now of Apple's intention to begin using Intel chips, instead of the powerpc, by this time next year. What has been an absolute source of mind numbing annoyance has been so many people's blogs that I have read that are shockingly short sighted, uninformed, and presented as a valid point. I would really like to begin to clarify people's misconception, but I simply haven't the patience to waste on it (and it isn't worth my brainpower). If I could sum it up in one acerbic phrase, it would be this: the people most offended by this move are those so-called Mac faithful who have their thumbs jammed so far up their asses that they can't see the benefit (perhaps necessity) of the transition through their myopic maniacal madness. Current Mood: annoyed (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Saturday, June 4th, 2005
7:58 pm	Follow the Who? Follow none other but yourself. Trust yourself. That bit of advice is better than any purported wisdom I have read in any religious literature. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
12:10 am	A Breath of Relief In my last post I was obviously distressed. Tonight I hung out with my cousin. As the night progressed, it became apparent to him that something was biting me and it was biting me quite viciously. I came to realize that since I arrived here in Oxnard, CA, I had been distressed over the feeling that I would have to go back in to the closet, so-to-speak. I finally told my cousin about all of this, about being gay. He said he had already heard, and, quite frankly, he didn't care. He said that it didn't matter and that we were family. All of this is so obviously true to me, but given my (mis)conception about most of my family. So, tonight, I can breathe a sigh of relief and know what I have always known, but know it again: it doesn't matter, and my family loves me. It's all good. Current Mood: relieved (Comment on this)
Friday, June 3rd, 2005
7:24 pm	So lonely I often have long conversations with my uncle about a multitude of topics. The primal nature of human beings has come up quite a few times. One aspect of human nature seems to be our need to socialize. Of course, I can't speak with any auhority on sociology, so I must present mere conjectures. I certainly have a strong need to socialize with other members of the human race; in particular, humans my own age. Now, I am living in California with my Grandma, which is great: she lets me sleep here for free and she cooks as well. My plan was to get a job and work without having to pay for the cost of living. Also, a benefit of working would be the making of friends. Sadly, I have been unable to secure steady employment, therefore eliminating the potential to make friends at a workplace. By this time you might be thinking, "Cliff: why not go out on your own and meet people?" Ah, one more facet to my problem. I don't have a car and so I can't go out and socialize when I want. That would entail getting Grandma to take me in the nighttime to where all the young people are, and then hoping she could give me a ride back home. So, it's a Friday evening. It's not unlike other Friday evenings I have had lately. I am home, yearning to satisfy my need to socialize, but immobilized and unable to do so. I am near the point of tears and simply want friends out here. I feel like I am falling apart at the seems. I don't know what to do, other than sit here, reading, watching TV, listening to music. Please understand that I am grateful for the amenities that I have and am much better off than so many other less fortunate people in the world. However, that does not change my fundamental problem of being without a social life. I CAN'T STAND IT! Current Mood: discontent (Comment on this)
Thursday, June 2nd, 2005
11:12 pm	SOC Blog #1 I have had this idea for the last few days to do a Stream of Consciousness blog, or SOC Blog. I am going to give myself about 2 minutes to type everything that comes to mind and then I will publish it as is, mistakes and all. So, here goes: So, this is different, why the hell am I writing about what I am writing about. I have so many other things on my mind want a job like this music I am listening to he's hot, Kyle Riabko. I want to leave this town get a job elswhere in the town I will be living in going to school in music majoring in composition at Bloomington Indiana. so many boys I want it should be a crime maybe it is. I want a pony. not really it just sounds good. I want a powerbook I want many things but I want a job I want friends I don't have any friends here in Oxnard. I miss my friends in Little ROck, I miss Geoff in Little Rock. I want them in little rock. I want myself there. I want as many as I can get freind s where ever I am sheehs Current Music: "Devil"-Kyle Riabko (Comment on this)
Tuesday, May 31st, 2005
12:10 am	Dashboard I just got Mac OS 10.4 (Tiger) a couple of days ago, and I am still feeling my way around. So far, I am overall pleased. I didn't think I would like the widgets so much, but, as I write this post, I am using a Livejournal widget that allows me to update my journal from Dashboard. So, let's see. In Dashboard I can look words up, see the weather, control iTunes, check my calendar, look up phone numbers, post reminders, check flights, do my taxes, find a friend's address, see what's on the TV, check my stocks, get instantaneous translation, and....well, there are tons of widgets that I have downloaded that I absolutley love, like this particular widget, and the wikipedia widget (which allows me to see the results without having to leave Dashboard). Whoever says dashboard is useless.....I don't know what to sayto you. Oh, as in Exposé, hold shift when you press your Dashboard hot key! Current Mood: excited (Comment on this)
Monday, May 30th, 2005
8:13 pm	That's all folks I would like to thank everyone for their suggestions. Ryan's comment still stands as the absolute best of the bunch. Most of you wanted Cliffardo: it had a vote of 4 out of 7, which is a clear majority. Zinear thought it best that I go with the full name, just in case I may become a professional some day (which is similar to Ryan's reasoning for the name of his website). But, for the time being at least, I dont think cliffordgagliardo.com wasn't snappy enough. But, I must weigh in on what I like. I am particualrly fond of the nick name "Cliffy." Yes, Bryan said that it would be most appropriate for a porno site (hey, maybe it will be nice to have this domain name locked down, for who knows what tomorrow will bring). Often, I refer to myself as Cliffy, just like my grandpa referred to himself as turkey (except that his name wasn't Turk, so the logic is not quite the same, but you get the sentiment). Many others call me cliffy. Yes, cliffardo is largely how I am identified on the web with an AIM name of cliffardo2001 and my e-mail address being cliffardo@gmail.com. But, in this site, I want an air of lightness, beguiling, even. While cliffardo had a clear majority, I did not feel it overwhelming. So, I choose cliffyboy.com. The website shall be up and running at least before the end of the summer if not well before that. Thank you again (Comment on this)
2:44 pm	Vote for a domain name! I want to have my own site, but I need to come up with a domain name first. I have several ideas to choose from, so I was hoping that one of you (likely only one of you) would help by putting in your vote (write-in candidates are also allowed). The candidates are: cliffardo.com thecliffardo.com cliffyboy.com cliffordgagliardo.com thecliffy.com Enjoy picking one out, Adam! (16 Comments |Comment on this)