Interlude

Because I haven't time to recount part deux of le grande CPW adventure, you'll just receive a brief update on Mon. & tod. [Tues. wasn't imp.]

Monday
Film festival day w. Marisa! We went into the city of brotherly love for some shopping & some movies.

I: independent bookstore. Bought "I'm not gay, but my boyfriend is" button for sheer comic value. The range of implications is endless. Mostly, though, I feel it represents my adoration for teh ghey menz.

II: Blondie boutique. 2 pairs of shoes for $15. Can never resist shoes/deals. Mmm. Shoes. So I bought these fuchsia & black fetishy high heels decorated with bits of fishnet PLUS these weird hot pink sneakers with see-through plastic sides. They are the most ridiculous shoes I've evar owned. J'adore them.

III: Jewelry store, anime store, random stores.

IV: Realize we have no idea where the Bridge is, walk to Ritz at the Bourse to learn that it's at 40th and Walnut. Take bus.

V: Get there just in time. See The Edukators. V.g. German language + radical politics + crime + sex + indie kids = good times. Also v. humorous. And I loved being able to understand teh Deustch.

VI: Take bus east ~37 blocks. Eat dinner at Cosi. <3 tomato basil mozzarella.

VII: Escuela de seducción. Battle of sexes tiring at times. Some amusing moments nonetheless.

VIII: Home.

Wednesday

Okay, and now for tod.'s adventures in suppression of freedom of expression. I present this in the form of a commonplace book.

1a. A large aquatic rodent of the genus Castor, having thick brown fur, webbed hind feet, a broad flat tail, and sharp incisors adapted for gnawing bark, felling trees, and constructing dams and underwater lodges. b. The fur of this rodent. c. A top hat originally made of the underfur of this rodent. 2. A napped wool fabric, similar to felt, used for outer garments. 3a. Vulgar Slang. The female genitals. b. Offensive & Vulgar Slang. A woman or girl. 4. A piece of armor attached to a helmet or breastplate to protect the mouth and chin. 5. The visor on a helmet.
[dictionary.com definition of beaver]

Elected in 1914 to represent a school of ambitious engineers, the beaver mascot has been embraced by every subsequent generation of MIT students. One of the secrets of its success is its enduring appropriateness as a symbol of the community. Originally chosen for its engineering skills, industriousness, and nocturnal habits, the North American beaver has not changed much over the century, but its likeness on campus morphs from generation to generation.
[MIT Graphic Identity: Symbols: Mascot]

web.mit.edu/savetfp/beaver.pdf
[SaveTFP's "celebrate deviance: love your beaver" poster.]

In general, students are expected to wear appropriate clothing conducive to learning and study. (Students who wear clothing considered to be disruptive, bare midriffs, muscle shirts, clothing with obscene language or pictures, or other attire depicting the use of drugs or alcohol, will be asked by school personnel to change their clothing.)
[Abington High School Student Handbook, emphasis added]

1. Offensive to accepted standards of decency or modesty. 2. Inciting lustful feelings; lewd. 3. Repulsive; disgusting. 4. So large in amount as to be objectionable or outrageous.
[dictionary.com definition of obscene]

For something to be "obscene" it must be shown that the average person, applying contemporary community standards and viewing the material as a whole, would find (1) that the work appeals predominantly to "prurient" interest; (2) that it depicts or describes sexual conduct in a patently offensive way; and (3) that it lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.
[legal definition of obscenity]

Yeah, so if you couldn't tell, I wore my spankin' new MIT souvenir tee & was told to turn it inside out. Mostly I was too bewildered to argue. Of all the ridiculous things students wear that might be perceived as offensive, I considered "love your beaver" relatively harmless. But apparently the administration decided otherwise.

Damn the man.