Thought

I don't even know what to take pictures of with my digital camera. I guess I do have some photos from this past weekend. My dad came to see me with his friends, and we saw a hockey game in Detroit, as well as a real football game here at Michigan Stadium, which was exciting for a while. Most exciting was to go food shopping and to be able to go out to eat at a nicer restaurant in town.

I have been thinking recently about values and morals and my behavior, to me more specific. By being exposed to so much humanistic, classical, antique, religious and political thought, I am starting to really find it hard to disregard questions about religion, virtue, true human nature, and so many more things. Looking at the Renaissance paintings from Italy, each one tells the viewer about some righteousness or vice, how to be better and what will happen when I die. And it becomes more difficult to think that religion is trivial. And if there isn't a heaven, and I am not pious, then no problem, but if heaven does exist, then it would be in my best interest to choose a faith and feel like at least 50 more years of being a loser will pay off for an eternity of good.

Considering that intelligent people do generally disregard religion as impacting on their lives, but more like a curious phenomenon that can be studied and its influence on society in general This is the topic of many lectures and interests in centers of education around the world. So then the leaders of our society are then sent to hell? this doesn't seem to make much sense at all. The countless people that existed before Christ and didn't even HAVE the chance to be faithful now sit, supposedly, in Hell, and though they mostly are just punished by the longing for something better, not necessarily by pain or retribution.

So what is the best course of action? I am a glutton in the cafeteria, I have taken part in drinking and mirth, I am Vain along with so many kids, and intrude on the rights of others sometimes to gain an atvantage myself. Heresy flies from my mouth. The list of sins and wrongs go on. And does it make sense that I could just get rid of it all with a confession? I must also admit to question this practice. There is an interesting thing happening to me at the moment, a questioning of myself as a person. My parents told me that I would someday have to decide how big of a role religion will play in my life. In this frame of mind, however, that the decision comes to us all and that it is a matter of yes or no, does not seem to be enough. What appears to be true is that access to heaven will only result from great sacrifice and great inconveniences on the young adult that I govern and exist as.

And is it even worth it to worry what others thought centuries ago? When I really want to believe that I am a bag of genes and work everyday towards passing those on and to make sure that my kids will survive?

Yea, thats right.

Kostya.

I got an A on my politics mid-term.

Halloween:
Baird (my roommate) and I



Gabby with his table costume.



Mariel as the bunny eater?



Brendt as Bob Ross.



My room, I love it.



Football! The big house folks. Should have some better real film photos of this soon.

Back for Halloween

Well I suppose that I apologize that I haven't been updating... but really, it doesn't matter. I have been having so much fun and keeping so busy that though I do THINK about updating this thing, I choose not to so that I can work or study or not be in my room too much. But I actually think that i am in my room quite a bit... well.

I am doing great. Speaking of work, i got a job. I am now a laboratory assistant and YES, Brendt, I do get a lab coat. Excellent. It is for medical research, but the emphasis is on chemistry, so it may be a little shaky at first. Though I hightly doubt that I'll be doing much with the actual science, I hope I get a little knowledge for myself.



Two weeks ago I went to Morgantown for a visit, and didn't take any pictures, it being a little sad and a little unfamiliar (the town) anymore, I did stop by at school and saw that they still have Dr. Seitz's sign up on his door. Good. You know who is teaching AP History now? Bill Hedrick. Damnit. A football coach. Dr. Seitz said that so painfully... ugh.





Yes, so I eventually came back home and enjoyed, actually, my first BLUE BOOK exam. The superstition is that if you step on this M before you take your first one, you will fail it, but though i had defiantly stepped on the M before, I still retreated to tradition and took a conqueror's photo after having (hopefully) aced art history. Yes.





This past Tuesday my friend Alli Kade took me to Detroit to see a concert. We got in for free, of course, her being buds with the club management. But before hand we looked at the Renaissance Center, GM's headquarters.













And then the show. My Morning Jacket. A wonderful Kentucky rock band that has slow southern ballads and a very talented singer.





He was very incredible to watch, and would Jam out his songs so wonderfully. It would have been an uneventful show for someone not familiar with the band, but hearing all these great songs was very exciting.







And of course, I just developed a new roll of film. I think that next semester i will take a photo class. I could. The theme of the update is Fall at U of M, so enjoy. We start with a non-fall flower patch for Mrs. Gleitzman.







And before actually, the Fall part, here are some PEOPLE photos.







Here is a really good guy. I haven't seen Matt since, though...







This is my neighbor, Gabby. He invited me to come live with him next year, but i don't think that'll happen.







Ok, here we go.











And the best of the whole collection:









Very good. Ok, well today i took pictures of John Edwards, who made a speech here today. I guess that I will show you guys something about my busy week here coming up. Tomorrow I am going to a soup kitchen in Detroit, and tonight and tomorrow nights are many choices for halloween parties, which should be pretty adventurous. Otherwise, there might be a good chance to take photos at the Converge concert i am going to, and i will be ushering next week at the Theater for the Ann Arbor Symphony orchestra. On halloween is my last midterm, and im desperately trying to write a 1000 word paper in russian. GUHG. What do you think i am putting off by writing this update? yes.



I'm max out like credit card.



Love, kostya.

So college is offering up just a lot of fun. There really isn't any other buts about it, and i have been exceptionally lucky. My hallway is great, my dorm is great, the town is great, the classes, for the most part, are wonderful. I also had a great birthday. I made those goody bags like i promised, and gave out 40 something of them. Everyone was shocked and didn't really get it at first, but it made me incredibly happy. I got birthday presents from everyone important, they hang on my wall and are in my room and are listened to and to everyone who sent them and is still sending them, thank you so much.

Speaking of birthdays, this is a picture of Maria and I playing with a balloon. Action Action.





Its fall, and this just makes me think of the last entry i did about fall, a year ago. This is much better. Shit. Look at this awesome notebook. Flutter Flutter.





Trees. Which i really wish were easier to photograph. But this perspective is basically the only one i could really have.









I found this crazy computer screen that shows active earthquakes around the world in real time. I couldn't get a clear picture but its just interesting to watch. Its about every 5 seconds. This one isn't showing them in real time, but rather which ones were today, yesterday and within the last 2 weeks.





And this is me turning in my first paper. It was about justice. Werd.





So now to the most recently scanned ones. Bus.




Bridge.




This is in Ann Arbor. I love it. We have buildings like this everywhere.





I snuck snuck. tiptoe.





Brendt (standing) and Bill want to work at the radio station, so we looked at their library. These kids are music eaters. But the point is that this library at the station is very extensive.









Just fooling around.





A band called Sigur Ros played here a while ago and i camped out outside and waited for the people to flood out so i could have that. The show cost 30 dollars, so i didn't go, but my friends did and it was great, blah blah.





Mobiles. I forgot which way is up.





My mom went to Minniapolis Minnesota recently to take her boards and took these awesome pictures. Look at them! my mom took them!









She has great taste and a great sense of Humor. All these rocks and pototoes were outside the court house in the city. I am now thinking about going there to check it out. Maybe i could live there, seems very very cool.




Notice the one in the back mowing the lawn.












Another of people leaving the show.





These are from the Hands On Museum. I volunteered there, but there weren't really any little kids to entertain, so i explored and looked at the cool stuff. Here is a tornado that you could destroy with your hand.





And some water in a pool where you build boats.





And some electricity! AhhH!







Yes so this entire scanning and posting process took maybe an hour and a half. So appreciate it. I am quickly making a new roll disappear and will have new ones up relatively soon. On friday... i am going on a little trip trip trip to see something thats lacking.



Wish me luck i have a test on monday.



Isn't it interesting how i haven't had many pictures of me up? I think i dont like my short hair.

love, kostya.

currently:

getting my shit together.

love, kostya.