Wow. What a day and it is only a quarter to ten. I woke up this morning to find out that the university is completely open (quite a bummer), got dressed and did some major cramming for an exam just to keep the facts in my head, suited up for the cold weather and headed out about fifteen minutes earlier than normal. I arrived at the hall about seven minutes earlier than normal (ice made for a slower walk), sat down with my notes on paper and did the last bit of my cramming.
Once the class before us left (Chemistry of some kind I think) I headed in, set my stuff down, grabbed an exam, and started working. All of the questions on the front (short answer and one short essay) were very easy. The matching and multiple choice on the back were a little bit more difficult, but there were only maybe ten that I wasn't completely sure that my answer was the right answer and that was out of forty or fifty.
Since I finished about thirty minutes before the class was over (I finished it in about twenty five minutes) I left to go get breakfast from the dining hall. Other than the vegetarian gravy on the biscuits and gravy its been pretty good. It is very quiet.
I figured out yesterday that I am not technically supposed to get wireless signal in the dining hall because there technically isn't any, but somehow I pick it up. Go figure. I'm not complaining at all.
Well I've got things to do, so tata for now.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Cold and snow
It is too cold for the common good today. It is currently 10 degrees (Fahrenheit) and with windchill that feels like -2 degrees, which is colder than I can ever remember being in before. A foot and a half of snow. A Thanksgiving weekend two days longer than it was meant to be. I'm wondering if we have school tomorrow, which I think we will because there will be nothing really new happening tomorrow except possibly a little more snow. I guess I should check the school website.
The website doesn't say anything about tomorrow. I guess they're being cautious because yesterday they said that school would be open unless something happened in the night and they would have a final decision this morning. At 6:40 this morning my suitemate came in and told my roommate and I that there was no school today. I kind of want to have a class tomorrow because it would give me some intellectual stimulation and I haven't worked out for about a week because I only work out when I have class. If we don't have school tomorrow, as of noon it will be a week since we had classes.
My opinion is that the cold is too much. I am chilly in 50 degree weather so this weather is really getting to me. The snow is nice I guess since snow like this happens rather rarely, but the cold front is not appreciated. Not going to class has lost some of the charm it had in elementary, middle, and high school mostly because I (well, really my parents) are paying for these classes out of their own pockets instead of through taxes.
At this point I am upset at the people who renovated this side of the building because they forgot (conveniently for them I guess) weather stripping on the doors which means all the cold air gets in through the crack in the door.
Well I think I'm going to go finish "The Corporation" now.
The website doesn't say anything about tomorrow. I guess they're being cautious because yesterday they said that school would be open unless something happened in the night and they would have a final decision this morning. At 6:40 this morning my suitemate came in and told my roommate and I that there was no school today. I kind of want to have a class tomorrow because it would give me some intellectual stimulation and I haven't worked out for about a week because I only work out when I have class. If we don't have school tomorrow, as of noon it will be a week since we had classes.
My opinion is that the cold is too much. I am chilly in 50 degree weather so this weather is really getting to me. The snow is nice I guess since snow like this happens rather rarely, but the cold front is not appreciated. Not going to class has lost some of the charm it had in elementary, middle, and high school mostly because I (well, really my parents) are paying for these classes out of their own pockets instead of through taxes.
At this point I am upset at the people who renovated this side of the building because they forgot (conveniently for them I guess) weather stripping on the doors which means all the cold air gets in through the crack in the door.
Well I think I'm going to go finish "The Corporation" now.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
The Die-In
There is nothing more powerful in the world than a group of hundreds saying "no". No to war, to the killing, the violence, the hatred. No to corrupt politicians who promote war to make a dollar. No to those who make a mockery out of democracy.
Today, in Red Square, more than a hundred people said no to these very things. They wore red to symbolize the blood shed and died, for seven minutes, to send a message to the politicians in Washington D.C.: Get us out of war in Iraq. Among those in the crowd were people who carried posters, scraps of cardboard, with a unified purpose, a unified statement: We don't want any more of this. We are tired of war, tired of people dying, tired of our family, friends, neighbors being sent overseas to fight in a war that never should have been started in the first place.
I don't really have any more to say. It was powerfully moving and politically significant. We said to the world "You can't ignore us."
Today, in Red Square, more than a hundred people said no to these very things. They wore red to symbolize the blood shed and died, for seven minutes, to send a message to the politicians in Washington D.C.: Get us out of war in Iraq. Among those in the crowd were people who carried posters, scraps of cardboard, with a unified purpose, a unified statement: We don't want any more of this. We are tired of war, tired of people dying, tired of our family, friends, neighbors being sent overseas to fight in a war that never should have been started in the first place.
I don't really have any more to say. It was powerfully moving and politically significant. We said to the world "You can't ignore us."
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Expressing an opinion...
If you are offended by opinions in general, do not hesitate to leave this blog right now. Run, don't walk. Out. Now.
Now that I've gotten out everyone that might possibly be a problem, I'm actually going to be serious because I've been thinking. Seriously. I had to write a couple paragraphs for an online discussion for one of my classes and this got me thinking, in general.
Thing number one: Democrats have control of Congress. After many long years, it's just about time. Now I make it my general policy not to vote straight party lines, picking the best person for the job, actually reading my voter's pamphlet to help me decide about non-partisan issues. I am a literate American. I would like to make it clear, however, that the two-party system is corrupt, and I would rather just have the choice to vote for people that have the same or similar beliefs as me, without the party label, but because there is this party system in the United States, I've learned to deal with it. So I vote Democrat. As moderate as the Democratic party has become in the last decade or so, to me it is still better than the Republicans.
Still on thing number one, just a new paragraph. I was watching TV while I was working out, like I usually do, but instead of watching The View or Tyra, or something like that (mindless dribble that keeps my brain away from the fact that exercising isn't exactly pleasant) I watched our dear beloved president give a lovely speech about the fact that, scary thought (to him at least), the Democrats had the House and that (even scarier thought to him), there was a woman in charge. Oh, and the fact that Rumsfeld "resigned" to make way for (drumroll) somebody from Texas. Am I surprised? No. The only word I have for this is cronyism. Is that a real word? I don't know. But it sure fits the circumstances. Let me tell you, I kept my hands firmly planted on the handles on the elliptical machine, resisting the urge to flip the people on the screen off, simply because I was in a public place, and I, unlike some people, respect that some people have different opinions than I do.
Thing number two: I promise you this has almost nothing to do with politics. Pinkie swear. It has to do with gender roles. I know, big exciting subject isn't it? But it is something I've been thinking about.
Where to start? Well this seems about right. Who am I to judge what you identify as? I am starting to recognize, very much overdue, that so much of this isn't black and white. Why do we look at people and automatically say man or woman and then base all of our interactions with that person on how they look, whether they look like the traditional/stereotypical man or woman? Why? There is so much more than that. I know that I personally have been mistaken for a guy more than once, simply because, I believe, that I had a haircut that was more masculine than feminine. These little experiences have shaped me.
I used to carry my wallet in my back pocket. My left back pocket. Everywhere I went, there it was. Most people would consider that a male/masculine thing. A purse was a burden I didn't need, but now I don't carry my wallet in my back pocket anymore for numerous reasons. I drive now and sitting on a wallet is not the most comfortable thing in the world, as I have been told by some of my male friends. I have a cell phone now and women's jeans are not designed for women to actually be able to carry things in their front pockets. It isn't fair. It forces women to either buy guys pants or carry a purse. Back when all I carried in my pockets was loose change and chapstick, this wasn't such a big problem. My purse is a burden on me. A very large burden. I would not carry one if I didn't need to. I don't when I don't have to. Does this make me less feminine? No. If you think it does you have more than a few loose screws.
I don't wear makeup that often and when I do wear it, I usually go for a very minimal effect. I don't like eyeshadow and the only reason I like eye pencil, totally defying the above statement, is that I can put it on thick and draw attention to my eyes. I save makeup, like swearing, for special occasions.
Why do we judge people like this? Is a female that has a short haircut, a wallet in her back pocket, and who rarely wears makeup except for dramatic effect, less of a woman than a female who curls her hair every morning, carries a big purse full of stuff, and puts on a whole face every morning? Is a male that isn't athletic, has emotions and isn't ashamed to express them to people close to him, and who is comfortable with having women as just friends any less of a man than a male who is jock, who bottles up his rage, fear, and sadness, and who believes that men and women can't be just friends? Why does society assume such a dichotomy? It isn't black and white! It can never be.
I don't want to conform to society's standards of beauty, but the sad fact is that whether I want to or not, the pressure is incredible to do just this. I will not justify any of my above statements or preface them with comments that totally negate their effect. All I will say is that I love myself, I love who I am, and if you try to change me, I will not be happy with you at all. I will be mad.
Thing number 3: A lighter subject than the above ones, and, admittedly, less likely to offend, not that it really matters to me. I love it that the food vendors at college don't try to restrict extremely, what you eat, especially with respects to nutritional value. If I want pizza I get pizza. If I get fat form eating pizza everyday (which I don't) then it is my own fault, not the fault of my parents or the school. I am in charge of my eating. Every time I want salad, I get salad. When I don't want it, I don't get it. "Nutritional" food is not forced on me by the school. They offer nutritious options, but they are just options. I don't have to pick them and when I want to choose them I can. Choices are a wonderful thing.
Thanks for listening to my ranting and raving if anybody is at all. I appreciate it immensely.
Tata for now.
Now that I've gotten out everyone that might possibly be a problem, I'm actually going to be serious because I've been thinking. Seriously. I had to write a couple paragraphs for an online discussion for one of my classes and this got me thinking, in general.
Thing number one: Democrats have control of Congress. After many long years, it's just about time. Now I make it my general policy not to vote straight party lines, picking the best person for the job, actually reading my voter's pamphlet to help me decide about non-partisan issues. I am a literate American. I would like to make it clear, however, that the two-party system is corrupt, and I would rather just have the choice to vote for people that have the same or similar beliefs as me, without the party label, but because there is this party system in the United States, I've learned to deal with it. So I vote Democrat. As moderate as the Democratic party has become in the last decade or so, to me it is still better than the Republicans.
Still on thing number one, just a new paragraph. I was watching TV while I was working out, like I usually do, but instead of watching The View or Tyra, or something like that (mindless dribble that keeps my brain away from the fact that exercising isn't exactly pleasant) I watched our dear beloved president give a lovely speech about the fact that, scary thought (to him at least), the Democrats had the House and that (even scarier thought to him), there was a woman in charge. Oh, and the fact that Rumsfeld "resigned" to make way for (drumroll) somebody from Texas. Am I surprised? No. The only word I have for this is cronyism. Is that a real word? I don't know. But it sure fits the circumstances. Let me tell you, I kept my hands firmly planted on the handles on the elliptical machine, resisting the urge to flip the people on the screen off, simply because I was in a public place, and I, unlike some people, respect that some people have different opinions than I do.
Thing number two: I promise you this has almost nothing to do with politics. Pinkie swear. It has to do with gender roles. I know, big exciting subject isn't it? But it is something I've been thinking about.
Where to start? Well this seems about right. Who am I to judge what you identify as? I am starting to recognize, very much overdue, that so much of this isn't black and white. Why do we look at people and automatically say man or woman and then base all of our interactions with that person on how they look, whether they look like the traditional/stereotypical man or woman? Why? There is so much more than that. I know that I personally have been mistaken for a guy more than once, simply because, I believe, that I had a haircut that was more masculine than feminine. These little experiences have shaped me.
I used to carry my wallet in my back pocket. My left back pocket. Everywhere I went, there it was. Most people would consider that a male/masculine thing. A purse was a burden I didn't need, but now I don't carry my wallet in my back pocket anymore for numerous reasons. I drive now and sitting on a wallet is not the most comfortable thing in the world, as I have been told by some of my male friends. I have a cell phone now and women's jeans are not designed for women to actually be able to carry things in their front pockets. It isn't fair. It forces women to either buy guys pants or carry a purse. Back when all I carried in my pockets was loose change and chapstick, this wasn't such a big problem. My purse is a burden on me. A very large burden. I would not carry one if I didn't need to. I don't when I don't have to. Does this make me less feminine? No. If you think it does you have more than a few loose screws.
I don't wear makeup that often and when I do wear it, I usually go for a very minimal effect. I don't like eyeshadow and the only reason I like eye pencil, totally defying the above statement, is that I can put it on thick and draw attention to my eyes. I save makeup, like swearing, for special occasions.
Why do we judge people like this? Is a female that has a short haircut, a wallet in her back pocket, and who rarely wears makeup except for dramatic effect, less of a woman than a female who curls her hair every morning, carries a big purse full of stuff, and puts on a whole face every morning? Is a male that isn't athletic, has emotions and isn't ashamed to express them to people close to him, and who is comfortable with having women as just friends any less of a man than a male who is jock, who bottles up his rage, fear, and sadness, and who believes that men and women can't be just friends? Why does society assume such a dichotomy? It isn't black and white! It can never be.
I don't want to conform to society's standards of beauty, but the sad fact is that whether I want to or not, the pressure is incredible to do just this. I will not justify any of my above statements or preface them with comments that totally negate their effect. All I will say is that I love myself, I love who I am, and if you try to change me, I will not be happy with you at all. I will be mad.
Thing number 3: A lighter subject than the above ones, and, admittedly, less likely to offend, not that it really matters to me. I love it that the food vendors at college don't try to restrict extremely, what you eat, especially with respects to nutritional value. If I want pizza I get pizza. If I get fat form eating pizza everyday (which I don't) then it is my own fault, not the fault of my parents or the school. I am in charge of my eating. Every time I want salad, I get salad. When I don't want it, I don't get it. "Nutritional" food is not forced on me by the school. They offer nutritious options, but they are just options. I don't have to pick them and when I want to choose them I can. Choices are a wonderful thing.
Thanks for listening to my ranting and raving if anybody is at all. I appreciate it immensely.
Tata for now.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Tapping my fingers on the table of infinity
Catchy title, huh?
The only reason I can actually get online is because of the wireless network in the Union building. The Ethernet is not working in my dorm. So I walked down to the Union building in my slippers (don't worry I had actual clothing on) in the rain to write the online responses I needed to have done by ten o'clock this morning. At least seven sentences each. The first one I was counting the sentences, but the second one I really got going on and ended up with nine sentences, most of them fairly long.
I wish I could get something at the cafe here, but there is a huge line right now and I have no particular interest in waiting. I think it will clear up sometime and I have no particular interest in leaving right now, so I think I'll just stay put and watch it from my strategic post near the market. Watch the pattern of people. Watch them come in and out, in and out, waiting for their morning coffee. Ha ha. I predict that in about eight or so minutes at ten o'clock a great deal of them will be gone and I can get my Italian soda or smoothie. I haven't tried their smoothies yet and I have heard nothing but good things about them.
I haven't had breakfast yet and I'm thinking that the market serves breakfast still, so I might give up my post watching the lines at the cafe and get something to eat, if they take something other than actual money. Maybe. No hurry.
I think I'm going to go for now, but I do have about five hours left on my battery, so I'm not too particularly worried about getting my power cable from the room.
The only reason I can actually get online is because of the wireless network in the Union building. The Ethernet is not working in my dorm. So I walked down to the Union building in my slippers (don't worry I had actual clothing on) in the rain to write the online responses I needed to have done by ten o'clock this morning. At least seven sentences each. The first one I was counting the sentences, but the second one I really got going on and ended up with nine sentences, most of them fairly long.
I wish I could get something at the cafe here, but there is a huge line right now and I have no particular interest in waiting. I think it will clear up sometime and I have no particular interest in leaving right now, so I think I'll just stay put and watch it from my strategic post near the market. Watch the pattern of people. Watch them come in and out, in and out, waiting for their morning coffee. Ha ha. I predict that in about eight or so minutes at ten o'clock a great deal of them will be gone and I can get my Italian soda or smoothie. I haven't tried their smoothies yet and I have heard nothing but good things about them.
I haven't had breakfast yet and I'm thinking that the market serves breakfast still, so I might give up my post watching the lines at the cafe and get something to eat, if they take something other than actual money. Maybe. No hurry.
I think I'm going to go for now, but I do have about five hours left on my battery, so I'm not too particularly worried about getting my power cable from the room.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Welcome to my life...
When I thought things couldn't get any weirder, they did. No elaboration will be given. This was just a comment on the status of the world.
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