Hey blog ...

... sorry for the delay. Hey readers (that should probably be singularized), sorry for the delay. Consider this show back on the road! So, an update of the mundane:

- Took the GMAT. It went well enough.
- Applied to graduate schools. Not sure about the success on that journey quite yet. Stay tuned.

During this entire testing and application process, I had a few revelations. For one, the GMAT isn't so much a test of quantitative skills or verbal prowess as much as it's a test of endurance on several levels. Most noticeably, mental, emotional, and psychological. Mental in that the content "studied" for the GMAT is an infinite cavern of information of dubious significance in most fields of work. Emotional for the fact that your collegiate future hinges heavily on the testee's performance. Finally and most profoundly, psychologically the GMAT tries your reason. It was the reason where I encountered my biggest nemesis. I fought tooth-and-nail against insanity, against irrationality. I battled the beasts of logic so I could endure. Near the end, I was a finely-tuned studying machine, because I was at last able to prescribe to the ludicrous notion that this test measured much more than those three aforementioned attributes.

What type of people succeed on the GMAT? The chameleons who are able to disregard the inherent pointlessness of the test. Those who are able to, hopefully temporarily, surrender to one number that will have a hand in deciding your academic future. Years of peerless experience? Awesome. A beaming undergraduate transcript? Super. References of shining praise from former superiors? Neato. However, those three things won't get you far at most institutions without an above-average number tallied after four hours of sweating bullets.

The other components would suggest that you would excel at the test, too, sure. What if you don't test well? What does that measure? The GMAT measures quite a few things, but I'm not sure aptitude is one of them. Unless "aptitude" is defined in the broadest sense of the word. It's the same revelation you have once you graduate at lower levels and realize that not much you learned in years of coursework is applicable to the real world. Most of it is absolutely hollow without application. I'm betting on the fact that graduate studies will be different, and I'm hopeful, but I'm not sure I agree with means by which a student arrives there. I won't even delve into the reality that an entire industry exists to serve the preparation, administration, and delivery of the test. Hell, the GMAT itself is a registered product sold by the Graduate Management Admissions Council. I might even argue that it's a monopoly. In fact, the GMAC's revenue would increase if examinees took it multiple times. Seems like a conflict of interests, but that's another diatribe.

Wow, none of that is exactly humorous, is it? Let's get to something that should be.

As most know by now, the Funny Bone Comedy Club in Boise went out of business on New Year's Day following the staff's collective resignation. I'm privy to the details, but let's just say they had a bone (pun!) to pick with the ownership and were underappreciated. Anyway, alternative comedy has been absent in Boise for over two weeks and it has left a hole in my brain and soul. ComedySportz is currently making a name for itself, but I'm personally not a fan of comedy for the masses. Family-friendly yucks are frequently bowdlerized and devoid of anything interesting or erudite. Improvisation is an artform, but ComedySportz is for families, not me.

However, in auspicious news, I recently heard that former manager and staffmembers at the 'Bone are pursuing another venue under another name. According to articles and hearsay, a phoenix will rise from the ashes and embrace comedy again at Crackn-Me Up Comedy Club and Theater! Now, that is one of the most unwieldy, unfortunate names for any comedy club, but at least it means the laughs make their way back to Boise. Let's hope the City of Trees catches on this time and realizes stand-up comedy is one the final unadulterated bastions of truth and free speech. Pending campus visits, I'll be there on opening night and many evenings thereafter. Want to share the yucks with me?

I'm sorry that this blog wasn't terribly entertaining or enlightening, but I'm not feeling 100%. I promise to be less sobering next time. Cheers.