Year in Review

I was thinking a while ago about doing one of these, and I think I will. In about four hours, 2007 will be gone and 2008 arrived (in this timezone, at least.) With the passing of the year, I think back to what I've achieved, and what I have left to do.

This year I:
Graduated from high school
Started college
Finished the IB program and got a diploma
Started this blog
Read an amazing number of books
Held down three jobs
Joined the Colby College Chorale

Next year I will:
Have a radio show (streaming live online, website link to follow eventually)
Continue college
Keep this blog

My New Years Resolution:
To live life to the fullest. (Seems like an ambiguous cop-out resolution sometimes, but I'm sticking to it.)

Happy New Year, everybody!

Bravo, I suppose

Just finished with the Giants-Patriots football game. Glad the NFL Network decided to let it be seen after all. Why on both NBC and CBS, though?

Of course, the result is more important than the broadcasting networks. I suppose a congratulatory comment is due to the now 16-0 New England Patriots, so here goes: Congratulations.

Sorry if I couldn't muster much enthusiasm. If you'll recall, I don't particularly like the Patriots, and I thought for much of the game that the Giants (yay!) would win. Sadly, they wasted lots of time on their last scoring drive, and kicked the onside right into the Patriots' hands. Final score: 38-35 Pats, and a great game despite the outcome. Both teams are in the playoffs, and we just might see them play each other again. Maybe.

Yet more randomness

I've been rather prolific lately...it may have something to do with the glut of free time that winter break translates to. Of course, I'll have far too much free time in January as well, but at least then I'll be at school, with complimentary distractions.

Today I introduce you to the fascinating world of dorm life at Colby, using my own experience. The basic (weekday) schedule is as follows:

1. Wake up. This could be at any time, but during the week generally occurs at about 7 or 7:15.

2. Shower. My room is pretty much in the middle of the building, so I leave in pajamas, walk past four rooms, head to the bathroom. Waking up at 7 in the morning has its perks: I hardly ever have to share the bathroom. It also means that there are very few witnesses to my towel-wrapped walk back to my room.

3. Get dressed. Quickly, because the room is cold. Once shivering has stopped, pack the backpack and load up the pockets, because we're headed outside.

4. Breakfast. Choose from any of our three dining halls: Dana, Foss, or Roberts (Bobs). Generally Bobs is good for breakfast, as it's closest to the dorm.

5. Class. In the event that waking up did not occur right at 7, it is likely that the previous step of breakfast will have been skipped, and I will have proceeded directly to class. Class will then take up the morning.

6. Lunch. Usually at Bobs, but occasionally Dana or Foss. In the coming semester, there will be very little time for lunch. My schedule on Mondays and Wednesdays will begin at 9 and end at 6 and 4 respectively. Breaks? I don't need no stinkin' breaks!

7. Work/Lab. Again, this will probably be changing next semester. I work at the campus bookstore, doing things like shelving product, doing inventory checks, and receiving shipped items. The fun, it never ends. Or I could be in bio or chem lab. Also fun.

8. Chorale. On Mondays and Thursdays, 4-6. Non-sarcastic fun. Chorale is one of my favorite things about Colby, and I can't wait to go on tour.

9. Dinner. Usually Dana, occasionally Foss. If I can help it, not Bobs, which is truly terrible for dinner.

10. Fun. Usually playing cards/hanging out downstairs. If there's an exam coming up, I study. The wonderful thing about two sciences, math and a language is that there's very little busy work.

Weekend schedule alterations:

1. Sleep may continue until noon or beyond, but I like to wake up early. The hours of daylight are already too few as is.

4. At Foss, if I can. Foss features do-it-yourself waffles, which when dosed with whipped cream are amazingly delicious. Also, hash browns.

5. Not on the weekends. Thank goodness.

6. Breakfast and lunch are one and the same. There's allegedly a separate breakfast at the student union, but it's not worth it.

7. On the weekends? You've got to be kidding me. The only time I ever worked at the bookstore on a Saturday, I slept in, got there late, and then spent three hours reading at the cash register.

9. Anywhere but Bobs. Very rarely, we order in Thai or pizza.

10. All day long on the weekends. Also, lots of movie watching.

That's pretty much a summary of what I do at school...aside from the occasional social event or interesting lecture, it's pretty monotonous. However, it's an entertaining monotony. That sounds...good? Well, I like it. Seems to me that's the part that matters anyway.

Out of boredom comes...

More blog posts. Today's video is an interesting piece of insight I was directed to by my dad. If the future is now, then ten years from now should be pretty interesting indeed.

Watch!

Oh yeah - if anyone can tell me where the audio for the video comes from, I would be greatly indebted to you. It's definitely something I want to have.

How the movie industry lost its creative spark

I cannot possibly be the only one who sees movie after movie based on book after book and think "Don't they have any better ideas?" After seeing the Golden Compass today, I have to step back and wonder. In the previews (of which there were perhaps five or six (ever notice how it's hard to remember all the previews after you leave the theater?) there were two based on books: Inkheart (by Cornelia Funke, now with a sequel Inkspell) and of course the classic Dr Seuss, Horton Hears a Who. (I hereby pause this post to send a missive to Steve Carell: GET THE HELL OUT OF MOVIES). Sorry, but I absolutely despise Little Miss Sunshine. Dan in Real Life is decent, but not justification for Carell to have a career in film. Yes, I enjoy Office, but "lovably awkward" is the only character I see in Steve Carell, and I just don't see him as a good actor.

Anyways...back to the point. I blame New Line Cinema for engineering the shift away from originality in movies. In my limited experience of movie watching, the Lord of the Rings trilogy (which, I have to say, I enjoy very much, and I'm glad that Peter Jackson will be in control of a hopefully decent adaptation of The Hobbit. Goodness knows that the current movie versions are terrible...) cleared the way for many, many other movies based on fantasy/sci-fi books. Now we have had Hitchiker's Guide, Eragon, Golden Compass, Dark is Rising (The Seeker, in movie form), soon Inkheart, etcetera, etcetera...there's a rather LONG list here. And of course, which I just remembered, Harry Potter. Thanks to Rowling, children are reading again. And those of us who were reading the whole time are wonderfully immune (mostly) to the thrill of such books. Yes, they are good. Rather impressive, really. But I for one do not succumb to "Potter mania," having other books which I hold in higher esteem.

A minor digression: some of my favorite authors: Modesitt, Barron, White (of Arthurian fame), Tolkien (of course), Adams, and many others. If anyone knows of an author (or authors) that write similarly, please recommend, and I will give them a try. There are many, however, that I simply cannot recall, but then again, if I cannot recall them, then they are likely not my "favorites."

Back to the topic at hand: honestly, I don't quite remember where I was going with it. I seem to have given facts without opinion. That's how I think I'll leave it, in fact. I reserve judgment on the book to film phenomenon. When it reaches the point that every book that grosses above a certain amount in revenue is made into a film, then I say we're in a bad spot. Right now? I dunno. I'm looking forward to Inkheart despite myself. I can always hope.

Political Correctness Can Burn

It's nearly Christmas, and that means an end to the songs on the radio, the decorations in the street, and all else associated with Christmas - at least for another year.

Being Jewish, I feel somewhat removed from all the hubbub and hype. I get asked if I'm looking forward to Hannukah - sure, why not? I get eight "crazy nights" - thank you Adam Sandler, you immature goon - of presents and candle lighting and dreidel! Fun fun! But of the winter holidays, Christmas means the most religiously. Hannukah means next to nothing as a religious holiday - it celebrates the miracle of the oil and the Maccabees' heroism. For eight days of religiousness, look to Passover. Kwanzaa? Although I admit I don't know much about it, what I know indicates a religious connection on the level of Hannukah.

But Christmas is different. It's amazingly religious. I have no objections - as a Jew, as an agnostic - to being wished Merry Christmas as I go about my day. In fact, the thing I struggle with during the holidays is remembering to wish others Merry Christmas in return. Why? Because it means something. Because Happy Holidays means nothing. It's a wimpy, wishy washy way to say "you might take offense if I get the holiday you celebrate wrong." If I were a cashier, would I say Merry Christmas? Damn straight I would. Let political correctness go right where it belongs (hint: it rhymes with 'bell'). And so I say to any and all who read this:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The Mitchell Report

Or, how baseball was and is a game of enhancements.

Since everyone has been weighing in on the Mitchell Report lately (okay, not everyone, but I just wanted a nice lead in), I thought I'd offer my two cents.

I don't care that baseball players use steroids. It's not like these players were terrible up until they took a shot of HGH or whatever. Steroids don't give a player talent, they enhance his natural abilities. Barry Bonds would still have hit plenty of homers without using steroids. Would he have broken Hank Aaron's record? Maybe not. Does it matter? To me, not much.

Roger Clemens and Andy Pettite have both been revealed to have bent over for the needle at some point. Do I think Pettite should get credit (ooh...accidental rhyming humor :) ) for apologizing? No. Do I think he should have to apologize at all? Nope. Clemens, monumental attention whore that he is, is not a terrible person for using steroids. His use of performance enhancers finally offers an explanation for why he's still playing the game at 43, or whatever age he is now.

Do I think baseball has lost some element of "mystique" because the men who play the game have been revealed to have used steroids? Not at all. Read Bill "Spaceman" Lee's two books about his years as a professional (and unprofessional) pitcher. If ever you had any thoughts about baseball being a gentleman's game, these books will quickly disabuse you of this notion.

I go to a baseball game for two reasons. The first is to enjoy a spectacle - be it pitching or hitting, I want to see a good game. And you know, if both pitcher and hitter are on steroids, then that makes it harder for either to gain an advantage. Odd, but true. The second reason is to see players I like. I'll be at GABP in June when the Sox are in town for a three game set. (Incidentally, no current Red Sox players are mentioned in the Mitchell Report). I love watching the Sox play. If they can play the way they do without steroids, then I love them even more. Would I change allegiances if half the team turned out to be users? Not a chance.

I think the Mitchell Report reveals something about baseball. I don't think it shows a problem with the game, but rather a problem with how the American public perceives the players. Were fans really naive enough to think that their favorite players were all steroid free? That steroids weren't a big problem? Performance enhancers have been part of the game for ages. Why criminalize it now?

If you pull anything out of this disjointed ramble of a post, it should be something like this: Steroids are part of the game. They may not be a glamorous part, but they're a part nonetheless. And I gain nothing in terms of enjoying baseball by raising a big stink about who's using them and who isn't. I don't care.

Google is trying to control the world!

Forget the search engine.

Forget the advertising customized to what you've been looking at.

Forget the email.

Forget the chat service.

Forget the fact that "to Google" is now an accepted verb.

Forget Google Desktop, Google Earth, Picasa, Google Analytics, etcetera.

Forget the search for clean energy.

Now, remember the first two, but combine them. Make it so that every time you Google (there's that verb) something, you get an ensemble of advertisements that are not only matched with what you're looking at, but that also come directly from Google. When you click on one of those advertisements, Google is making money. Billions upon billions of dollars go into online advertisement every year, and the amount is increasing daily. Google is now poised to control more than 40 percent of that amount, with the now approved purchase of the advertising giant DoubleClick. Basically, Google now makes money not only from the ads designed to fit your search history, but also from the ads that are simply integrated into the pages your search turns up. The EU has already taken issue with the 4-1 approval of the merger by the FTC, saying consumers' privacy is threatened.

Again, I love Google. And I'm going to keep using it. But someday soon, they will buy a small nation, arm it, and take over the world. I'm just saying...you heard it here first.

Madness

I learned the hard way yesterday that "ex-students" may not visit the school during the school day. The conversation went something like this:

Me: Hi
Security Guard: Can I help you?
Me: Yeah, I'd like to visit a few teachers
Security Guard: Do you have an appointment?
Me: Um...sure.
Security Guard: Are you a student?
Me: Well, I'm an ex-student...
Security Guard: You can't visit now. You can come back after school is over.

That pretty much covers it...but why can't I come in? The security guards all know me from the four years I walked the halls as a student. They know I'm no real threat to anybody. Are they worried I'd cause a distraction in class? On the last day of school before break, no less? They're right, I'd probably just crash the class party, and nobody wants that. I didn't really want to swing back around that afternoon, but I'll be back. Look for me when school's back in session - after school is over, of course. I wouldn't want to disrupt class.

And the obligatory video link: It was pretend to be a time traveler day two Saturdays ago, and this is what resulted.

You know you're bored when...

Today was quite possibly the most boring day I've ever had at Colby. It's a Monday, which automatically makes it bad, but it's also the second to last day that students are allowed to be on campus. The college is virtually empty - of around 2000 students, I estimate about 200 or less to still be on campus. Aside from the friend I'll be riding to Portland with tomorrow, there are about ten people I actually know left here. That being said, I spent the day (since I woke up at 10) on my computer. Aside from lunch (ate alone), saying goodbye to the last few stragglers I know leaving today, making popcorn, and dinner (with a friend), I've been holed up in my room listening to the local classic rock station and playing various computer games. I even sunk so low as to try the Survivor computer game Austin loaned me. I gave that up after I got voted out in the third tribal council. (Austin, by the way, is the resident reality show fanatic. He's currently hosting the campus Survivor game I think I mentioned in a post last month. I'm participating, so I can't tell you what's going on. You'll have to wait for it to all come out on Youtube.)

Other than computer games, I spent about ten minutes packing for the trip tomorrow. How did I make my packing time that short? Easy. I simply shook out the contents of my laundry basket over my empty bag. I'll be doing a rather large load of laundry on Wednesday.

I was just reminded of my love for the Sox...if you're a Red Sox fan, check this site out.

Because I'm feeling random: the song I'm currently listening to? The Grand Duel, Parte Prima, from Kill Bill. Thanks to Seeqpod and Mr. Dusch for the tunes. Next up on the playlist is the theme from Jurassic Park. I do so love John Williams. After that, I'm thinking the theme from Shaft.

While you're at it, check out this video. And this one. And finally, this one. No, I'm not going to embed them. I'm too lazy right now to do that.

Now for some Allman brothers...then House of the Rising Sun. And then possibly a movie...either Airplane or Munich. They're very, very different. I'm not sure. I watched Saving Private Ryan and Miracle last night with a few friends, but they're all gone now. I'm not sure if I'm up to watching Munich alone...I might have to move away from the window.

For now, goodnight. I'll probably post again when I'm sitting in the Portland Jetport for hours and hours tomorrow. I need to find some headphones.

Yay

So finals are over...now I just have to hang around campus until Tuesday...fun fun. What really sucks is that the huge snowstorm that was in the forecast has been downgraded to "snow, heavy at times, with sleet, accumulating 2 to 4 inches." I can't wait to be around for that...You know what would really be fun? Sleeping until Tuesday.

I'm flattered

Cash Advance Loans

By the way, there's a foot and a half of snow in the forecast for Sunday and Sunday night. Yay?

Final Exams Suck

Well, two exams down, and two to go. Calculus and biology back to back = not a fun afternoon. Or morning, for that matter. Actually, they didn't go that badly. Now tomorrow I'll be studying for the chemistry final (multiple choice, sweet), and the Italian final. Hopefully I'll do better on the final than I did on the midterm. Languages, unfortunately, are not really my thing.

As a side note, I'll be traveling homeward in less than a week, and I could not be happier. Nothing breaks up monotonous college life than a lack thereof. And after two weeks at home comes a month of one class days, with little to do other than read medieval German literature. Not by choice, mind you, but because that's the subject of the course. I've put in an application for a radio show over January, and if I get it, and it goes well, I may continue that into the spring. Also, the choir is going on tour. Twice in the next four years. Spring 2009 and spring 2011. It's going to be lots of fun. The thought is that Argentina will be the first choice in 2009, but Europe is in the cards for 2011. Whatever the destination, it'll be a blast.

This is really interesting

The human mind is a wonderful thing. We use only a fraction of it, and we're still capable of amazing things. Well, some of us. And yet we still have the same social abilities as our closest evolutionary cousins. That's fascinating. At least to me, that is. So, here's the link. Tell me what you think.

So who are you people anyway?

Google informs me that I actually have some people who read this blog regularly. However, I don't see this expressed through comments or anything like that. So I'm going to straight up ask everybody: Who are you? If you want, you can follow a structure:

1. Do I know you?
2. If yes, how?
3. Why are you reading this blog?
4. How did you find me?

Or you could just leave a random comment. It's up to you, the choice is yours. With great power comes great responsibility. Oh, and anonymous posts are allowed as of recently, too.

I have to go study for finals. Whee...calculus and biology in the same day. Followed by a multiple choice chemistry exam. There's something so wrong with that. And a Saturday morning Italian exam. I can hardly speak English at nine on a Saturday morning...and they want me to speak Italian? That should be interesting

Summary

So the first semester of college is almost over. It's been good to me, bad to me, cruel to me, and kind to me. I've made friends, enemies (although no arch enemies - yet), and in between. I've experienced college life, from drunken morons peeing in the stairwell at two in the morning to the Christian Fellowship, with possibly the nicest people I'll ever meet. (Sorry, not converting). I've discovered that college is like high school, with the same drama, the same cliques, and the same prejudices. I've discovered that college is unlike high school, with more freedom, more fun, and more alcohol. (Can't say I've indulged - excessively, at least. And yes, I know who's reading this, and no, that isn't really affecting what I write).

But the first semester is almost over. I'll be home in a little more than a week. Back to my old room, my old friends, my old life. Except it will be different. I'll be different. I'm excited to see all my old friends - but will I feel the same with them as I did four months ago? The answer is likely yes, but it might not be the same next year. You never know. I'll be able to drive a car freely for the first time when I come home - will a curfew be imposed? Something that didn't matter for all of high school - I got my license two days before arriving in Maine - is about to matter. And I have no idea how.

Not everything is changing. Some things are the same. I say the same stupid things, act the same immature idiot. I can fake maturity when I need to, but deep down I'm just a goof. I like being a goof. It's an identity. And yet even though I'm the same on the outside, I've been changed by college. I've tasted freedom. I don't know if I want to turn back.

Of course, the most likely choice is D: none of this will matter, and I'll be home and gone again so quickly that it will be like nothing happened. Next summer, we'll see. It's going to be a whole different ballgame...and I don't know if I want to play.

More Snow Photos...can't get enough

The winter is upon us

And I have lots of pictures, complimentary of friends. Seeing as I don't have my own digital camera (hint hint).

I'm a schmuck, you're a schmuck...

Gotta love the Onion...and Mel Brooks. Inquisition!

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/mel_brooks_starts_nonprofit

There is joy

Snow snow snow snow
Snow snow snow snow
Lovely snow! Wonderful snow!
Snow snow snow snow...etc

It's finally decided to be winter here in Maine (or at least the nice part of winter, with pretty snow to accompany the bitter cold). So far there's about four inches on the ground, with another six or so predicted to fall. Two of my four classes today were canceled. Unfortunately, I still have a chem exam at 5:30. Studying commences...now!

You know, just because

It'd be nice if my dorm room was warmer than 50 degrees all the time. I have found that shivering is not conducive to doing work. I'm wearing my coat all the time, and I try as much as possible to work in places where their heaters either a.) work, or b.) are not counteracted upon by a large window that serves to suck all the warmth out of the room.

Cold is good. I like cold. Walked four miles to and from Wal-mart yesterday in the sub freezing weather. I can deal with cold in places where I should have to. But is my room really one of those places? Is it really necessary that I should have trouble bending my fingers after spending an hour working at my desk? Note to self: space heater. Yesterday I had boiling tea in the morning to help me wake up/warm me up. I left it sitting for ten minutes while I write some emails. I then take a sip - cold as ice. It's currently about 20 degrees outside. That's fine. I'm inside. Unfortunately, inside is about 45 degrees. That's just not cool.

I don't want to whine too long...you get it, I'm cold. Get over it, I will be told, I who willingly went to the frozen north, submitting myself to four years of snow and temperatures better dealt with by running south. On a lighter, brighter note, some amount of snow will fall tonight and tomorrow. Projected accumulation is anywhere from six to twenty inches. Did I hear somebody say snowball fight?

I'm going to go stick my fingers in the microwave to warm them up. Until I write again, Ciao!

Progress

And another week draws to a close, bringing me a tiny bit closer to being done with the semester. Final exams seem simple compared to the amount of work that has suddenly appeared with the closing out of courses. I'm looking forward to January, also known as the month of relaxation. I'll be taking a German literature course, 9 to 11, Mondays through Thursdays. To keep busy, I'll be volunteering at the local animal shelter, and hopefully following a large animal vet around on rounds. Other than that...not much, honestly. JanPlan is a quiet month, and it's buffered by breaks on both ends. I'm looking forward to it...

To whom it may concern

I'm running low on things to blog about, so today you get to hear about the weather. It was supposed to snow today...but it was more like freezing rain that just reminded everybody that November is depressing. I'm reminded of the other day's Harry Bliss cartoon: "Hear that sound? That's the sound of four months of winter depression."

Honestly, I love the winter. I don't mind the cold, the wind, even the sun setting at four thirty. But I would like to get some snow. The "wintry mix" stuff doesn't really cut it for me.

To further prove my point.

No background, just this link.

In the brief time I have...

Today's post is going to be quick; I have a bio lab in ten minutes. Might not get around to posting for the next few days; exams are creeping up, and I have two in the next week. Just a quick reminder: I hate calculus. However, I do have time to heartily recommend Seeqpod to anyone who has not already discovered this wonderful musical equivalent of Google. It's completely free, completely legal, and the only drawback is that you need an internet connection to play your tunes. Best of all, as far as I can tell, Google hasn't bought it yet. Don't get me wrong, I love Google, but there are these little things called monopolies that Google is getting close to. I have the same love-hate relationship with Microsoft...a little more hate than love, though. That's all for now!

Back to the old grind...

Thanksgiving is over, the leftovers are (mostly) gone, and it's about time to head back to school...actually, about four hours from now, I will be heading back. It seems interminable...perpetual agony of school...class, lab, work, repeat. But when I think about it, it's really not that bad. I have lots of free time, not much homework, and more freedom than I've ever had before. If I do have to stay up late doing work, it's more likely because of a conscious choice I made earlier to not do work rather than because of having too much to do. I actually make that choice a lot...too much, really. For example, right now I should be writing a biology lab write up that was assigned two weeks ago and is due tomorrow. If I actually sat/laid down and worked on it, it'd be done in an hour, tops. Sadly, it's taken me about five days because I lack the ability to actually do work uninterrupted. Oh well...winter break is in two/three weeks, and I'll finally be HOME! Time to pay some visits...and yes, the high school is high on the list.

Dan I am

This blog reflects a lot of the things I find important, and I thought I would share one of the nerdier things I do: read webcomics.

Not only do I read stuff like xkcd, Partially Clips, and Perry Bible Fellowship (which are all hilarious), I read things with interesting (and often overcomplicated) plots. These include MegaTokyo, AppleGeeks, Ctrl+Alt+Del, Home on The Strange, and Penny Arcade. Although Penny Arcade doesn't really have a plot...but I digress. These are my newspaper comics, although I would much rather be reading For Better or For Worse...if only it was still continuing Lynn Johnston's marvelous concept of aging the characters...or in fact having new strips at all, other than Sundays.

Recently, I've been reading Flaky Pastry, which is interesting. I've also been reading Order of the Stick, which is really funny to D&D nerds like me, and it even mixes in the occasional Python reference.

I think I'm beyond redemption...

Turkey Day!

It's Thanksgiving, and here's a list of what I'm thankful for:

1. Family
2. Friends
3. College out of state
4. Breaks from college out of state
5. Music
6. Wit and Wisdom

So have a wonderful Thanksgiving, everyone, and I'll enjoy my turkey tomorrow (and the next day, and the next day, etc...)

Perhaps now...

So scientists have announced they've found a way to create stem cells from skin cells. In a process that involves only four genes, two teams have bypassed the need for human embryos and therefore the entire ethical dilemma surrounding stem cell research. And somehow, the Bush administration takes credit for it all. "The White House said that Mr. Bush was 'very pleased' about the new findings, adding that 'By avoiding techniques that destroy life, while vigorously supporting alternative approaches, President Bush is encouraging scientific advancement within ethical boundaries.'"

Aren't we glad that scientists found a way around your religious inhibitions and political pandering, Mr. Bush? Isn't it nice that despite your party's opposition to anything that might be considered "unethical," that science is still flexible enough to continue vital research? We're glad you're "very pleased," Mr. Bush, because if embryonic stem cells were the only way we could get stem cells, you'd be standing in the way of possible cures to diseases that right now are death sentences.

Read the full story here.

Kind of Freaky

So like the nice boy I am, I agree to participate in a psych experiment. I'm still not exactly sure what the experiment was about, but it involved a personality test and then watching a video. When the video is over, the girl running the experiment comes in and tells me I've been secretly taped while watching the video.

Excuse me? I was just videotaped without my knowledge? In a room where I thought I was alone? So you were watching me the whole time? What if I had done something potentially embarrassing, say picked my nose? How would I feel about being videotaped picking my nose?

So from now on, I look for hidden cameras wherever I go. Nothing like being slightly freaked out to convince me to do so.

Buck the Fuckeyes

And Michigan lost yet another match-up with OSU. Sigh...at least we'll always have Illinois forcing the Buckeyes down to number 6.

I beat it! (Finally)

Four months after being introduced to it, and two weeks after being reintroduced to it, I finally beat Pinch Hitter 2. Actually, after getting past the 20,000 points in major league, the last task is relatively easy. Yay me!

Dodgeball

So tonight was the campus dodgeball tournament. I refereed - nothing better than getting paid to blow a whistle and boss people around. Plus I got to throw people out if they argued...fun! And...that's all for this post!

A Good Thing For A Good Cause

Have you donated blood recently? (Besides you, phschemguy, since I know you can't). I've donated twice since I've gotten to college, both because I want to and because I just recently gained enough weight to be able to donate. It's a great thing to do, and the nurses make sure you're aware that your blood WILL be used to save a life. I'm O positive, another thing I found out from donating blood, and while I can only receive O blood, I am the universal positive donor. I personally enjoy the experience (aside from the one poke with the needle). It's fun to lie there in comfort and banter with the nurses. They're all friendly and compassionate and understand if you feel like you want to fall over after donating (this wasn't me). Plus, my blood flows quickly (a pint bag filled in 4:42), so it's quick and easy, especially know that I have a card. The only thing I don't like is the mandatory fifteen minute wait after donating. I was pacing around the table to prove I was fine and could leave, but they didn't let me. Even so, the free food and drink made up for it. So I encourage everyone to donate blood! Be a life saver!

Google Analytics...cool...

So now I know that my blog does indeed get viewed occasionally. This is evidenced not only by the posting of calen, but also by google analytics. With thanks to phschemguy for the tip, I used my Gmail account to open up an account with Google Analytics. A tweak to the blog HTML, and my tracker was up and running. And today I'm fascinated by page views not only from numerous places in Ohio, and several from here in Maine, but also by a visit from Portugal and one from Stockholm, Sweden. I think I'm going to enjoy monitoring my site traffic.

On a separate note, snow is in the forecast for Friday late morning. Fingers are crossed and pajamas are inside out, which gets strange looks in the dorm.

Gel Electrophoresis is a Beautiful Thing

Especially when it works correctly. If I remember right, the fifth track from the top is the ladder, around 1000 nucleotides long. From the top, it's the control, EcoRI, HincII, and PvuII, followed by the ladder, and then EH, EP, HP and EHP. The exact procedure can be found here.

Monday Monday

Although it did just become Tuesday as I began this post...

So it's almost Thanksgiving, which is nice because it's almost the end of term. I get the end of next week off, and I'll be in Portland for five or so days. Then back to school, and two or three weeks of class and then finals, and then home again home again, until early January. I can't wait...I'm not homesick - never have been, not likely to be - but I just want off of this campus for more than a day or two at a time. I want to sleep in my old bed, see all my buddies, even visit the high school and check up with some teachers. Even if they try to turn me away, I'll just come around back and tap on some windows until I get in. I especially want to see my cat, though. Anybody who knows me knows I'm an animal lover - I work at a vet clinic, I have always owned at least one pet - and it's hard being without a pet when I'm used to seeing forty or more in a day. So I'm really glad to be coming home in a little more than a month.

This week should be light on the schoolwork...biology exam on Wednesday, but it's over basic stuff. Props to Mrs Heckman for teaching me about DNA, transcription, translation, mitosis, glycolysis, Krebs cycle and photosynthesis. I get the results of the latest chemistry exam on Wednesday too...thermochem and redox. I have the feeling I screwed up at least one thermochem question, but redox isn't a problem for me. Props to Mr. Dusch for that...Mozilla just told me that "Dusch" isn't in my dictionary. Odd...you'd think of all last names that that'd be in there.

And so I begin to ramble. Please excuse me, it is past midnight, and it's been a rather extended day. Mondays are generally unfriendly; they start with calculus at eight, then chem at nine. Italian follows at ten, then bio at eleven, succeeded by lunch at noon. By one I'm in bio lab (I have a picture of gel electrophoresis I need to scan in...it's so cool). Depending on how long lab runs, I have anywhere from an hour to ten minutes to grab my music and get to chorale by four. Then we sight read Mozart and Benjamin Britten for two hours. Then it's time for dinner with the freshman gang from the dorm (you'll eventually be introduced to most of them through this blog), and then it's work/play time. Tonight was playtime, as we didn't get much done beyond several games of Durak and watching a couple episodes of our favorite reality show (other than Survivor), The Amazing Race. There is a Colby edition of Survivor in the works, hopefully to be uploaded to Youtube before the spring semester ends. Spoiler Alert: I get voted off early!

Alright...I should probably get some sleep. As in stop blogging. Just to add a picture...

Sigh...

Well, the Giants lost to Dallas...not that I'm really surprised, just disappointed. At least the Bengals delivered some satisfaction for once.

Responsibility

So MIT is suing Frank Gehry, the architect who designed their Stata Center, because of what they call design flaws. They say the design has caused constant cracking, leaks, and drainage problems. The building is apparently falling apart, but Gehry blames cut corners in the building process.

Read the full article here.

Another Funny Thing I Found on the Interblag

Christopher Knight for School Board TV Commercial #1
This is AWESOME.

This is actually pretty interesting

Found this completely by accident...but it raises an interesting point. Halo 3 inspiring suicide tactics? An interesting concept.

And for something a little less heavy...

The World Toilet Summit.

Oof

Today I renewed my dislike for thermochemistry. Bleah. Can't wait to get back to redox and orbitals.

I Remembered (Barely)

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up King and Parli'ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

More Football Woes

I cheered for the Colts...I watched, and I saw them with the ball at midfield with about three to go...and I left to walk back to my dorm. I got back to see the Patriots with the ball. Why???

Football Woes

It's hard being a Colts fan in New England. Especially now, the Pats being 8-0 and the Colts 7-0, today is going to be interesting. I won't be cheering too loudly. Still, it's a good time to be a Giants fan, which is nice, because the Bengals have returned to the kingdom of suck. Honestly, the Giants didn't strike me as a good team this season, starting off 0-2. But they've won six straight, and they're only one back of the Cowboys, who sadly just won't lose. But those teams don't matter today. Today all that matters is the Patriots-Colts game, where one team will lose it's undefeated status. Here's hoping that team is the Pats.

On myself

You know, I haven't really been clear on who exactly I am. I'm a mystery person, unless you happen to know me/read my blogger profile. So because I want to, and really because I wanted to post and couldn't think of a good topic...this one's about me.

So to start: I'm a college freshman, at Colby College in Waterville Maine. If you've never been, go. It's totally worth it because the weather is great (it's New England) and everybody is nice. So I'm here at college, getting used to the idea of not having to let somebody know where I am at all hours, not having a curfew, not having to sleep in my own bed every night (before you go there, don't). All in all, college life is pretty sweet. Classes for me are intro chem and bio, single variable calc, and intro Italian. They're "fun."

One thing I've noticed about college is that I have way too much free time. Even with a job at the campus bookstore, four classes, two labs, homework, etcetera etcetera, I still find time enough to blog, read, talk, watch way too much British comedy, etcetera etcetera. Along with this, the Red Sox made yet another march through the post season, which meant a month of games and post game coverage. Hours and hours with my butt parked in front of a TV. But that's okay, because they won it all, and it made it all worthwhile. But I'll save the Sox for another post.

Personal interests...hmmm...I do read a lot. Book reviews will definitely be part of this blog, but I'm not anticipating going beyond "this is good. read it." Right now I'm reading "Q" by Luther Blissett, a novel about the Enlightenment. I finally finished "Cell" by Stephen King, after reading the first three chapters a year ago and then losing the book. My favorite authors are definitely sci-fi/fantasy writers: Tolkien, Terry Pratchett, Terry Brooks, Neil Gaiman ("Anansi Boys" is a new favorite), Asimov, Barron. I also watch some TV, my favorite shows being House and The Office. Scrubs is a newcomer to my scene, but it's growing on me. Old favorites are Friends, Frasier, Seinfeld, Will and Grace, Arrested Development. I also like online games (the kind where you don't play with other people). phschemguy over at idtmi.blogspot.com is my source for a lot of them.

I think that pretty much wraps it up for my debutante post. Look for more later.

Autumnal Beauty

Fall in New England is beautiful. Fall in Maine is even better. The leaves are changing, the weather is changing, and everything is just nice. Right now it's in the fifties and dry and clear and generally great. And an obligatory picture.

Free Rice

This is just really cool...and hopefully will be really successful.

http://www.freerice.com/index.php

Red Sox

I'm a huge Red Sox fan...have been since birth...no johnny come lately am I, no fair weather fan. I cried in '95, I flinched whenever a clip of Buckner or Dent was played, I hate Aaron Boone and cried in '03. I jumped for joy in '04 and cried again in '05. And MY BOSTON RED SOX JUST WON THE WORLD SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Turning Point

I've resolved to actually make this blog worth reading. That statement basically boils down to posting regularly and mentioning interesting stuff. Of course, interesting stuff is judged by my standards, so this resolution may not make any difference. Starting today, though, I will hopefully be making this blog something notable.

I'll start off my new direction with something I found really neat: the new Radiohead album In Rainbows. Even the New York Times commented on the method of distribution of the new album, which was offering the whole album for download for whatever price people were willing to pay. I myself did not pay anything...my excuse is being a poor college student. However, many did pay money for the album despite having the option to get it for free.

I'd like to think that this demonstrates something about humanity - that overall we are a generous species, willing to give without being forced. The same kind of goodness that is demonstrated when a charity drive succeeds easily was put on show when Radiohead tried to give away their album. I know it seems silly, but the truth is that this means a lot to me - that the human race is good, deep down inside. We may have some problems, but it's good to know that we're not all bad. Even if it's only a silly little thing like the new Radiohead album.

Which, by the way, is pretty good. Not the quality of previous Radiohead, but still good. Especially when you can have it for free.

The environment is burning!

Well, sort of. As part of the blog action day, I just remembered to post about the environment today. If you want, scroll to past post "The Trouble With the Environment," and read more. As it is, I write today to tell you all that there is still trouble with the environment. Most people have some twisted idea of what is going on, and here's my own twisted account.

Basically, we have this unpleasant phenomenon called global warming greatly affecting us, and more importantly, the earth. This is NOT a repeat of natural warming periods. Whatever the scientists whose research is paid for by Exxon Mobil may say, global warming is caused by humans. We pollute like nothing else, and like nothing else before us. Our factories, cars, houses, farms...all of them put toxins into the earth. I support the greening movement, and the advent of stuff to make our homes more eco-friendly. We need to go further. Imposing limits on industries pertaining to how much they can pollute, more and more research into alternative sources of fuel, limiting sprawl...all this and more needs to be done to help the environment and to start to put right our wrongs.

This year the arctic ice melted farther back than it has in recent history. Lets try to keep that as the high point for melting. Less pollution, more awareness. The US is notorious for insular cluelessness...lets try and solve that problem too. Get cracking, America!

Sigh

So again, there is a gap. Oh well. As I sit on my couch writing this, I am compelled to make some acknowledgment of the huge pause between posts. Or maybe not...I have no readers, so perhaps it doesn't matter what I do or do not do with this post. I can continue on, appearing blissfully ignorant of the month long hiatus I have apparently taken. The best part is, I don't really have an excuse. Others may go on vacation and be unable to post; they make a note of that when they return to post again. I, on the other hand, am simply too lazy or too distracted to write. I guess if I had some readers, I would care more. But because I don't, I fail to find it in me to apologize for my absence. Since it went unnoticed anyway, why bother?

Alright then. Now that my whining is out of the way...I am in need of sleep. Sadly, there is a little thing called a job that requires my presence in an hour. Sigh...but nevertheless, I soldier on! Until next time, my nonexistent readers!

As I said before...

So a full month after my last post, I finally sit down to write another entry. I am sadly afflicted by a terrible disease known as ASAS (A Short Attention Span)...this mostly causes me to get online, intending to do something, and then get offline half an hour later having done nothing productive, let alone what I actually planned to do. This basically culminates in my getting online several times a day, checking my Facebook, my email, and my fantasy baseball scoreboard, and then getting offline. If I mean to email someone, I usually forget. Right now I can recall at least one person I promised to email, and I made the promise at least two weeks ago. I could easily flip through my Firefox tabs, go to Gmail, and email the person. Strangely, though, I really don't feel like doing that. As in, not at all.

Oh well...so much for that. I got distracted again...AIM is good for that. So I bid adieu to any readers I have (sum total 0). And if you happen to read this, Mr Dusch, I hope you enjoyed the concert at the Aronoff. Nothing like some good old conflicting schedules to ruin a perfectly good evening...

Argh

School is almost over, and with it ending I have time to blog. Not that this means I'll increase my posting rate...rather all my time will be devoted to AIM and Facebook. Sorry, but that's the way it goes. As long as I'm on the personal side of things, I'd like to talk about a feature I heard on Talk of the Nation today. Apparently a high school kid in Illinois was arrested for writing allegedly violent and threatening prose. He was taken into custody about a week after the Virginia Tech tragedy, likely by overanxious personnel (teachers, principals, police) who didn't want a massacre on their hands.

And now the facts: The writer of this piece of prose? A senior on the wrestling team with a 4.2 GPA. Not exactly your typical school shooter. And why did he write this piece, anyway? Well, it turns out that it was a school assignment - an exercise in stream of consciousness writing. Students were meant to write whatever came into their heads, no censorship involved. One would think that the students wouldn't be penalized for thoughts that weren't exactly PC, right? Well apparently not.

To be put in jail for a crime you haven't committed yet, simply for writing about the idea of the crime, and not even putting yourself in the role of the criminal, is somewhat ridiculous. Actually, I take that back. It's completely ridiculous. No way can this be justified, especially not by claiming that the student represents a threat because he followed the guidelines set down by his teacher. This is just another example of our overanxious society exercising its rights to censorship and taking people prisoner without just cause. Isn't this a wonderful country?

The trouble with the environment

Global Warming! The very words spark fear in our hearts. Al Gore has kindly provided us with an ultimatum: live eco-friendly or die. Even though there are some issues with his message (even some scientists have problems with some aspects of his research and presentation), the issue remains: something is going on, and we need to do something about it.

Humans are messing with the environment. Carbon dioxide emissions are continually increasing, all kinds of other crap (CFCs and the like) are also being put into the atmosphere, and the climate is changing. Is there a connection? Personally, I think there is. Critics of the idea of human-caused global warming point to evidence that the earth goes through phases where the climate heats or cools independent of human influence. And yet science has proven the effect of greenhouse gases and has shown what CFCs do to the ozone layer, and what this does to the environment. If humans have increased production of materials that cause global warming, I think it's pretty clear that global warming can be attributed to humans.

And yet the government of the United States does nothing. We didn't ratify the Kyoto Protocol (which has its own issues), and we have so far done little to reduce the production of greenhouse gases. An industry-friendly government has relaxed regulations and essentially allowed industries to produce greenhouse gases unhindered. White House official and former oil lobbyist Phillip Cooney edited government reports to make unclear the contributions humans have made to global warming. With a government this reliable...well, it makes the idea of drilling for oil in the Arctic somewhat less attractive than it was already, making the proposition ugly as sin.

This is a separate issue, our dependence on foreign oil, but it ties in to the big picture of environmental destruction. Unlike Europe, the United States has failed to recognize the benefits of small cars, mass transport and other eco-friendly measures. We instead burn fossil fuels by the billions of dollars and send our manufacturing jobs overseas to China, which is conveniently exempt from environmental standards such as those set by the Kyoto Protocol. Such a good situation we've gotten ourselves into...and it's getting better.

The recent goals set by the president in his State of the Union address? Likely unreachable. Still, it shows he tried, right? Well, not quite. Sadly, I have little faith in a Republican agenda that is pro-environment. I await a change in regime next year, and pray for a government that is pro-environment.

With all due respect

Because I have a blog, and feel free to rant however I want...I have decided to take full advantage of this privilege. Today's topic: financial aid. This is an issue with me because I represent the group of America least aided by financial aid: male, middle class, and white.

The recent trend in financial aid, especially aid provided by the colleges themselves, is that groups are moving away from merit-based aid and towards need-based aid. I view this as an extension of Title 9 - colleges are basically giving money to "qualified" students who are from the lower income brackets, taking aid away from students who may be (and in fact usually are) more qualified than these poorer students, but who come from middle-class or upper-class families. As usual, the wealthy have no problem dealing with this, as they can typically pay for good post-secondary education without aid.

But what about the middle class? The federal government has the FAFSA, which establishes the Expected Family Contribution, or EFC, for college education. The EFC is based upon what the government thinks the family can contribute to a student's education, not what the family is actually willing to contribute. Take my example. My father works, and earns about $90,000 a year. My mother does not work. Our expenses are low, we have a decent amount of savings, and three children at home. Our EFC is $30,000 a year. My parents have expressed a willingness to contribute about $10,000 a year. A little discrepancy between those numbers, no?

That EFC of $30,000 biases the system against me. As a member of one of the nation's largest population groups (MMW), colleges have little interest in providing me with aid. I am not poor, I am not a minority, and I am not female. My good grades and extracurricular activities are unable to overcome the enormous disadvantage that my heritage has landed me in. Essentially, I would receive more money for college if my parents made $40,000 a year and had a B- average. As it is, I apply for every grant and student loan I can, hoping somebody will value academics over how much money my parents and I have in our bank accounts. Right now I'm fighting a losing battle.

Life

Just because there's nothing better to do than to sit and think, I was contemplating the known universe and life itself. I came to this conclusion: Life is short, and rarely sweet; what fun you have does not repeat.