quote:

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Here we are now going to the south side,
I pick up my friends, and we hope we won't die.
Ride at night, ride through heaven and hell.
Come back now and feel so well.

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Why? Well, I used to work in the Moody Towers residence halls at the University of Houston. December 16, 2000, was when my resignation took effect, and I was released from my position as the Desk Manager for the complex. I had to pack all of my belonging and leave the "South Side," which is what we lovingly called the South Tower (where I lived). I chose to resign in lieu of being terminated for failing to maintain my grades at the level necessary for continued employment.

I inaugurated the Desk Manager position, and I did a fine damn job. I almost completely turned around our security/information desk operation. Along with other big problems at the time, my job devotion took its toll on my grades. So, I've spent the last three months mounting my return. Three weeks ago I submitted my application; two weeks ago I interviewed for my old job. Yesterday, the letter telling me whether I had been rehired or not arrived in my mailbox. It read:

Dear Chris,
Congratulations! On behalf of the Department of Residential Life and Housing, I am pleased to offer you a Senior Staff position for Fall 2001. At this time, you have been placed as the Desk Manager...

It was a good thing I was outside when I read the letter because I'm sure that my jumping about, screaming, and juvenile celebratory antics would have gotten me in trouble had I been in my room. Needless to say, I'm EXTREMELY HAPPY AND OVERJOYED that I'm going back to the finish my work. I'm coming back to the South Side and feeling so well after going through hell and heaven.

Me? Oh, just feeling those Natual Blues.

Southside IS a great song - I love the guitar near the end.

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At that point, McDonald fired his gun three times in the air to emphasize his point. The crowd, estimated at 350,000, loudly cheered the new candidate.

"Let me make this clear: I am the law! I am your ruler! And you will have fries with that, motherf*cker!"

This is why I think the song is titled "South Side." It took me by surprise, but the song is about a group of friends that decide to go on a drive-by shooting. As each direction is rattled off, there are increasing hints: weapons, side arms, watching out for the sunny day. I take "sunny day" to mean either the police, the rival gang, or the day that they too will die.

The verse for the south side seems to be the most somber. It seems to be tinged with a bet of fear and regret going into the situation.

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Nic: She's not a practicing lesbian. We need PRACTICING lesbians!
Me: I have a camcorder.
Nic: But no lesbians.
Me: Ahhh... no.
Nic: DAMN IT MAN! WE NEED LESBIANS! LOTS AND LOTS OF LESBIANS!

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"Am I not destroying my enemies when I make them my friends?" - Abraham Lincoln

"America is a large, friendly dog in a very small room. Every time it wags its tail it knocks over a chair." - Arnold Toynbee

"Fighting for peace is like f***ing for virginity." - Anonymous