I've been immersed in the production of my radio documentary lately, which means that I've been eating, breathing, sleeping, and dreaming journalism and all related topics.  My doc this term is about high school bullying, a topic that is close to me.

I went to a private school in my elementary days.  Which means that the students were mostly wealthier, snottier, and more spoiled than the milk sitting in my fridge right now.  These were the kids that called me poor and insisted that I must be on welfare when I switched to the public school system rather than move on to one of the other more prestigious private schools (read: other super expensive schools which don't really give you that much of an edge once you graduate). 

These kids were not kind to me, and for good reason.  I was taller than everyone in my class, skinnier, lankier, oblivious to any notion of social grace, and just all around awkward.  The braces didn't help.  And the Harry Potter glasses were not a symbol of cool back then.

I followed my mother's advice when I was a kid.  You know, the usual "if you ignore the bully, they'll get bored and go away."  It resonates in my head still, and I curse my younger idiot self for not having the guts to retaliate back then.  That sentence is as useless as landing an interview after the article is due (see?  too much journalism.)

Do not ignore the bully.  It will get worse.  The people that I have spoken to for my doc are testament to that.  I am testament to that.  Give 'em a good swift kick in the balls, do the explaining later.

On that note, Dir en grey's new Dozing Green single is coming out in two days.  It was leaked a few days ago, and I wasn't even aware O_o.  I might not feel the same level of obsession that I did for so many years before, but it still gives me a thrill of anticipation.