Fish conducted an interesting in-class assignment in a freshman rhetoric course in which speeches by Bush and Kerry were analyzed. Bush won out on style; or rather he won on the simplicity of his statements and the unsophisticated logic of his arguments. Now if only someone would pay for some basic diction lessons. And perhaps some lectures on culture as well as meditation classes. Then even I too would consider casting a vote for Bush.

With my car in the shop and my plans to attend the student-faculty mixer this afternoon slipping down on my list of priorities, I’m slowly giving in to the tiredness from cleaning the living room this morning. Can’t imagine how I could read and study today, but maybe after a little nap I’ll be recharged. Every now and then a gust of wind blows some leaves down from the trees. It looks and feels autumnal despite the heat. Last night–when the car wouldn’t start and I had to cancel my 6:00 class–I sat on the sofa and longed to be anywhere but here, where I would be able to either take a bus to work and arrive in a reasonable amount of time or afford the cab fare to campus. Working as a 2nd class college instructor is wearing me down, and I’m even more determined to find a fulltime teaching position, giving up (or rather upgrading) my 2 part-time positions for a decent salary and some benefits.

While cleaning I listened to the Franz Ferdinand CD over and over. I like this album a lot, but every time I try to hum or sing the songs I automatically switch to something by the Talking Heads (“Pull Up the Roots”) or the Dead Milkmen (“Beach Song”) .

Speaking of the Dead Milkmen and Franz Ferdinand, here’s an excerpt from “Instant Club Hit (You’ll Dance to Anything).”

Okay, look at you

Don’t you look like Siouxsie Sioux

How long did it take to get that way

What a terrible waste of energy

You wear black clothes say you’re poetic

The sad truth is you’re just pathetic

Get into the groove get out of my way

I came here to drink not to get laid

Don’t try to tell me that you’re an intellectual

Cause you’re just another boring bisexual

(“I met Andy Warhol at a really chic party”)

Blow it out your hairdoo cause you really work at Hardees

80 pounds of make up on your art school skin

80 points of I.Q. located within

You’ll dance to anything by the Communards

You’ll dance to anything by Book of Love

You’ll dance to anything by The Smiths

You’ll dance to anything by Depeche Mode

You’ll dance to anything by Public Image Limited

You’ll dance to anything by Naked Truth

You’ll dance to anything by any bunch of stupid Europeans who come over here with their big hairdoos bent on taking OUR money instead of giving your cash, where it belongs, to a decent American artist like myself! You’ll dance to anything!

Ah, that takes me back … to listening to Franz Ferdinand this morning….