Like listen to weird techno music: http://www.cardamar.com/mixes.html
Find anagrams: http://wordsmith.org/anagram
LOLcats: http://icanhascheezburger.com
Yup.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
While I'm on a quiz kick...
...the Belief-O-Matic. It's about the 20th time I've taken this, and it's different every time, but the first two are almost always 100% and 96%ish.
http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Quizzes/BeliefOMatic.aspx
My results:
1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Neo-Pagan (96%)
3. Secular Humanism (82%)
4. Liberal Quakers (81%)
5. Theravada Buddhism (78%)
6. New Age (75%)
7. Reform Judaism (64%)
8. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (64%)
9. Nontheist (63%)
10. Mahayana Buddhism (59%)
11. Baha'i Faith (46%)
12. Orthodox Judaism (46%)
13. New Thought (45%)
14. Taoism (41%)
15. Scientology (41%)
16. Sikhism (40%)
17. Jainism (39%)
18. Hinduism (37%)
19. Islam (36%)
20. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (29%)
21. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (27%)
22. Orthodox Quaker (26%)
23. Eastern Orthodox (25%)
24. Roman Catholic (25%)
25. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (24%)
26. Seventh Day Adventist (19%)
27. Jehovah's Witness (11%)
...there didn't use to be any ads between questions. That got annoying.
http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Quizzes/BeliefOMatic.aspx
My results:
1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Neo-Pagan (96%)
3. Secular Humanism (82%)
4. Liberal Quakers (81%)
5. Theravada Buddhism (78%)
6. New Age (75%)
7. Reform Judaism (64%)
8. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (64%)
9. Nontheist (63%)
10. Mahayana Buddhism (59%)
11. Baha'i Faith (46%)
12. Orthodox Judaism (46%)
13. New Thought (45%)
14. Taoism (41%)
15. Scientology (41%)
16. Sikhism (40%)
17. Jainism (39%)
18. Hinduism (37%)
19. Islam (36%)
20. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (29%)
21. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (27%)
22. Orthodox Quaker (26%)
23. Eastern Orthodox (25%)
24. Roman Catholic (25%)
25. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (24%)
26. Seventh Day Adventist (19%)
27. Jehovah's Witness (11%)
...there didn't use to be any ads between questions. That got annoying.
The Political Compass
Where do you stand?
I took this test some time ago, and I was (-2&¢,-2&¢)...meaning minus two and change.
Now, I'm (0.00,0.46).
Quite interesting, that in six months I could become more conservative and less "libertarian", even though as time progresses I find myself feeling more libertarian (as opposed to liberal, that is).
Take the test and lemme know your results! Let's see how we all compare :)
The Political Compass
Economic Left/Right: 0.00
I took this test some time ago, and I was (-2&¢,-2&¢)...meaning minus two and change.
Now, I'm (0.00,0.46).
Quite interesting, that in six months I could become more conservative and less "libertarian", even though as time progresses I find myself feeling more libertarian (as opposed to liberal, that is).
Take the test and lemme know your results! Let's see how we all compare :)
The Political Compass
Economic Left/Right: 0.00
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 0.46
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Blog #12
b*Have you met anyone new who is important to you? Have you rekindled any old friendships that have made you stronger?
I've known Chris for 4-5 years now, but never really got to know him until this year, seeing as I share 80% of my classes with him this term (except anatomy lab and sociology).
Other than that, I've had a really tough time making friends out of my UN100 cohorts - what friends I have made of my peers have been half-friendships, and I'm not socially skilled enough to maintain medium-depth friendships. You're either my best friend whom I pledge undying loyalty to, whom I invest lots of emotional stake, or you're someone I just smile and say hello to in the hallway. I'm really bad at small talk, and really bad at maintaining friendships in the middle, especially to 18-19 year old girls, especially when they're cool (or hot!) and I might end up liking them when I'm still crazy about Kasey (even after 4 years!). Especially when I'm a complete dork and they can't stand me anyway.
*Have you experienced any major changes academically or personally?
I found myself reprioritizing my study habits. To be honest, I really cared a lot at the beginning of the semester about everything, and as about week 5-6 rolled around I figured out which classes I needed to care about and cared more in these classes and less in others. I prioritized sociology a bit low around midterm time, bombed one test and learned my lesson.
I think the most important thing I learned this semester I learned in school but not in any of my classes, and that is: keep real life and school life separate. Real life has been pretty much hell for the last 4-5 months and it's been tough enough just to keep my head above water financially, and I've lost a lot of sleep for it. That said, I haven't slacked off too much and I've kept whipping myself into doing my homework. When I go to class, I leave my real life behind, and become an entirely different person.
I've also found that I behave differently in each class too:
*What is your one BEST or FAVORITE memory of this semester?
Outside of school: probably playing Rubber Fest in Escanaba on 10/14.
In school: playing Cigarette for my sociology class, all while wearing that Scream-Meets-Terminator mask I had.
*How will you live your life to the fullest?
I can't live my life to the fullest, because I have too much responsibility in me. If I were to live life to the fullest, I'd be a touring musician. Can't support yourself, let alone a family, on that, and you can't further your education while you're doing that either. So I grew up. *shrug* Hell, I get blown off by the other musicians in fucking Marquette!
I've known Chris for 4-5 years now, but never really got to know him until this year, seeing as I share 80% of my classes with him this term (except anatomy lab and sociology).
Other than that, I've had a really tough time making friends out of my UN100 cohorts - what friends I have made of my peers have been half-friendships, and I'm not socially skilled enough to maintain medium-depth friendships. You're either my best friend whom I pledge undying loyalty to, whom I invest lots of emotional stake, or you're someone I just smile and say hello to in the hallway. I'm really bad at small talk, and really bad at maintaining friendships in the middle, especially to 18-19 year old girls, especially when they're cool (or hot!) and I might end up liking them when I'm still crazy about Kasey (even after 4 years!). Especially when I'm a complete dork and they can't stand me anyway.
*Have you experienced any major changes academically or personally?
I found myself reprioritizing my study habits. To be honest, I really cared a lot at the beginning of the semester about everything, and as about week 5-6 rolled around I figured out which classes I needed to care about and cared more in these classes and less in others. I prioritized sociology a bit low around midterm time, bombed one test and learned my lesson.
I think the most important thing I learned this semester I learned in school but not in any of my classes, and that is: keep real life and school life separate. Real life has been pretty much hell for the last 4-5 months and it's been tough enough just to keep my head above water financially, and I've lost a lot of sleep for it. That said, I haven't slacked off too much and I've kept whipping myself into doing my homework. When I go to class, I leave my real life behind, and become an entirely different person.
I've also found that I behave differently in each class too:
- In Anatomy, I tune everyone out except Dr. Froiland. No matter how many asides Chris tries to sneak in there, I pretty much blow him off, not to be a douchebag but because I seriously need to copy down every word he says.
- In Chemistry, I try to pay attention. I really do. But I seriously learned this crap in 11th grade. On the last quiz (6) I was the only person to get 20/20 in my class. (Surprised me!) I'm not pulling 100% like I was for the first 6 weeks, I miss one here and there and my lab grades aren't perfect. This is the only class where I'm guilty of doing my blog, Facebook, games, etc. I just can't pay attention when it's crap I already know. Dr. Li's teaching it fine, it's just seriously stuff I already learned. She has in the past pulled me out of a game I was playing, had me come up to the board and I was like boom boom bang done. (Funny story. Once, I was actually paying attention, and she had me come up to the board and I made like four mistakes and had to go back to the board twice to the comic relief of the class, but I was a zombie that morning and didn't care, lol.)
- In Freshman Seminar, I actually feel like I can be myself. You have no idea how valuable that is, to have an environment where I can be comfortable in front of people that I didn't know until now and would never otherwise hang around with (mostly because I'm 26 and they're 18-19) and I've learned that cheerleaders are people too :) but they hate being studied sociologically!
- In Sociology, well, that's a whole other story. Love the class, and it's super easy, but the book is so difficult and unjoyous to read that I can't stay focused in it, and I can't study from it. So I consistently pull 82-88% on my exams (less one bomb).
*What is your one BEST or FAVORITE memory of this semester?
Outside of school: probably playing Rubber Fest in Escanaba on 10/14.
In school: playing Cigarette for my sociology class, all while wearing that Scream-Meets-Terminator mask I had.
*How will you live your life to the fullest?
I can't live my life to the fullest, because I have too much responsibility in me. If I were to live life to the fullest, I'd be a touring musician. Can't support yourself, let alone a family, on that, and you can't further your education while you're doing that either. So I grew up. *shrug* Hell, I get blown off by the other musicians in fucking Marquette!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Blogs 9-11: Holy Playing Catchup, Batman!
It's a personal observation of mine that the more time you spend living life, the less time you spend blogging it. The Blog King has fallen, but I seem to have gotten up again.
BLOG NINE
1) What are you most stressed-out with at the moment? Why? Is your body re-acting to this stress? Devise a plan to deal with it.
Right now, money or lack thereof. The residence headache is over with, and I'm all settled into the new place. Got Internet and cable hooked up today, and it's about effing time.
Anyway, my plan to deal with it is to find a new job. I really like the job I have right now, I really enjoy it, but it just plain flat out ain't paying the bills and I have to scrounge for a job that will. Those are hard to find in this economy.
2) FFN: Chapter 8 / This is a creative writing exercise! Read the following scenario and finish it based on your knowledge after reading Chapter 8.
You are "Raul" and have just immigrated to the American West illegally from Mexico. You brought your wife and two young children with you on a frightening and expensive 4-day journey in the back of a beat-up truck to arrive in Texas. You can't find work there and Border Patrol is cracking down, so you decide to migrate north a bit where you have relatives in Colorado. You are hired on the spot by ConAgra to work in one of their "beef processing" plants.
-Describe in sensory detail your place of employment. (What's it look like, what is going on, how do people act, what do you wear, what is your job? etc..)
-How much $$$ do you earn?
-How do your days go? What are your work hours and what do you do after work?
-Where do you live, what do you live in, how is your quality of life?
I'll save this one for when I have some time.
BLOG TEN
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."--Nelson Mandela
Chapter: 11 - please answer the following question on your Blog.
"Who are the people in your life that you tend to turn to for social support when you are experiencing stress or need personal encouragement?"
In times of duress I oftentimes shut myself off from society and, as was mentioned in class yesterday, I tend to keep relatively few social relationships. I tend to anyway, just because I have a really tough time dealing with superficial relationships - medium relationships are difficult for me to maintain. You're either one of my very close friends or you're an acquaintance that I keep at a distance, not due to anything other than the fact I really have no idea how to conduct a medium-level relationship. I put a lot of emotional stake into the relationships I forge and take things highly personally when it comes to friendships, and I have been burned in the past. The older I get, the more socially experienced I get, the easier it gets (sorry to use "get" so much) to conduct myself socially, but I have years and years of pariahdom to overcome and it's really difficult, especially with the latter half of my exile being of my own volition.
Right now, my complete trust lies only with Kasey (my gf), and the only other close relationships I'm really maintaining at the moment are with my mom, dad, brother, and Trent. Other than that I'm pretty much staying out of the social limelight due to how horrible of a month it's been.
BLOG ELEVEN
“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” –Stephen Covey
1) Reflect upon what you read in Chapter 11 of Thriving in College. What does this quote mean to you or how can you apply it to your life?
I'll call from the Wiccan Rede: "Soft of eye and light of touch; speak ye little, listen much."
I spent most of my life trying to get the world to get me, and then I basically went "screw you guys" and became a recluse. Now, I've grown up a bit, and I've noticed that you've gotta try to see things from others' point of view before anyone will really give you the time of day, and when I see other people making the same mistake I want to tell them the answer - but I also know that when I was young and stupid (well, I'm still stupid) I wouldn't listen either, and I think I was even told this a few times. Some things you just gotta learn on your own.
2) (Refer to page 380 of the text):
Are you a “Crisis Tickler,” “Withholder,” “Irritator,” “Blamer,” or “Gunnysacker?” Explain.
Well, I think that withholders and gunnysackers are one and the same, and gunnysacker just sounds funnier. If I don't want to blow up at the person I'm pissed off at, I'll oftentimes just leave the room. I can't bring myself to blow up at people, and oftentimes I take it out on myself, most usually in the form of beating myself up emotionally until I lose sleep over it. I lose a lot of sleep, and end up sleeping through the morning. Happens a lot actually.
It also really bothers me when people keep grudges. I tend to forgive and forget rather quickly, and it perplexes me how people can harbour a grudge over the dumbest things.
How'd you guys like my awesome skating skillz? :)
BLOG NINE
1) What are you most stressed-out with at the moment? Why? Is your body re-acting to this stress? Devise a plan to deal with it.
Right now, money or lack thereof. The residence headache is over with, and I'm all settled into the new place. Got Internet and cable hooked up today, and it's about effing time.
Anyway, my plan to deal with it is to find a new job. I really like the job I have right now, I really enjoy it, but it just plain flat out ain't paying the bills and I have to scrounge for a job that will. Those are hard to find in this economy.
2) FFN: Chapter 8 / This is a creative writing exercise! Read the following scenario and finish it based on your knowledge after reading Chapter 8.
You are "Raul" and have just immigrated to the American West illegally from Mexico. You brought your wife and two young children with you on a frightening and expensive 4-day journey in the back of a beat-up truck to arrive in Texas. You can't find work there and Border Patrol is cracking down, so you decide to migrate north a bit where you have relatives in Colorado. You are hired on the spot by ConAgra to work in one of their "beef processing" plants.
-Describe in sensory detail your place of employment. (What's it look like, what is going on, how do people act, what do you wear, what is your job? etc..)
-How much $$$ do you earn?
-How do your days go? What are your work hours and what do you do after work?
-Where do you live, what do you live in, how is your quality of life?
I'll save this one for when I have some time.
BLOG TEN
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."--Nelson Mandela
Chapter: 11 - please answer the following question on your Blog.
"Who are the people in your life that you tend to turn to for social support when you are experiencing stress or need personal encouragement?"
In times of duress I oftentimes shut myself off from society and, as was mentioned in class yesterday, I tend to keep relatively few social relationships. I tend to anyway, just because I have a really tough time dealing with superficial relationships - medium relationships are difficult for me to maintain. You're either one of my very close friends or you're an acquaintance that I keep at a distance, not due to anything other than the fact I really have no idea how to conduct a medium-level relationship. I put a lot of emotional stake into the relationships I forge and take things highly personally when it comes to friendships, and I have been burned in the past. The older I get, the more socially experienced I get, the easier it gets (sorry to use "get" so much) to conduct myself socially, but I have years and years of pariahdom to overcome and it's really difficult, especially with the latter half of my exile being of my own volition.
Right now, my complete trust lies only with Kasey (my gf), and the only other close relationships I'm really maintaining at the moment are with my mom, dad, brother, and Trent. Other than that I'm pretty much staying out of the social limelight due to how horrible of a month it's been.
BLOG ELEVEN
“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” –Stephen Covey
1) Reflect upon what you read in Chapter 11 of Thriving in College. What does this quote mean to you or how can you apply it to your life?
I'll call from the Wiccan Rede: "Soft of eye and light of touch; speak ye little, listen much."
I spent most of my life trying to get the world to get me, and then I basically went "screw you guys" and became a recluse. Now, I've grown up a bit, and I've noticed that you've gotta try to see things from others' point of view before anyone will really give you the time of day, and when I see other people making the same mistake I want to tell them the answer - but I also know that when I was young and stupid (well, I'm still stupid) I wouldn't listen either, and I think I was even told this a few times. Some things you just gotta learn on your own.
2) (Refer to page 380 of the text):
Are you a “Crisis Tickler,” “Withholder,” “Irritator,” “Blamer,” or “Gunnysacker?” Explain.
Well, I think that withholders and gunnysackers are one and the same, and gunnysacker just sounds funnier. If I don't want to blow up at the person I'm pissed off at, I'll oftentimes just leave the room. I can't bring myself to blow up at people, and oftentimes I take it out on myself, most usually in the form of beating myself up emotionally until I lose sleep over it. I lose a lot of sleep, and end up sleeping through the morning. Happens a lot actually.
It also really bothers me when people keep grudges. I tend to forgive and forget rather quickly, and it perplexes me how people can harbour a grudge over the dumbest things.
How'd you guys like my awesome skating skillz? :)
Monday, November 3, 2008
Post #34...I mean #8 :)
1. Do you feel that this class has been helpful to you?
This class has been instrumental in keeping me in check; I actually missed this class when we didn't have it last week.
2. Will you use anything that you learned in this class after the class is done?
Well, I've been using my planner. I've also learned that a half-ass five-minute attempt at a PowerPoint can be the difference that turns a speech into a presentation :)
Oh, and I've also learned that you'd better be careful whom you're peoplewatching, because people really resent being watched.
...OMG life sucks right now.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Blog #7
1) Post your favorite lyrics, poem, or quote for this week.
Of the two songs I wrote this week, this is the more meaningful:
"The Meaning of Life"
Life is a series of inconsequential thrills
And not a tedium to be forgotten.
Life is more than the simple quest for dollar bills
To be wasted on material possessions.
Life has a meaning, that is, if you can find it.
Life is even kinda cool if you don't mind it,
And by that I mean the everyday nonstop shop-till-you-drop
Barrage of pointless bullshit that life'll throw at you, but
I'm alive and I got you, so I'm okay, yeah.
I'm alive and I got you, so I'm okay, yeah.
I'm alive and I got you, so I'm okay, yeah.
I'm alive and I got you, so I'm okay, yeah.
2) Develop two reflection questions that you would ask your students at this point in the course if you were a UN100 Professor.
1. Describe your eating and sleeping habits, and how these might affect your grades.
2. Describe your study habits and behaviour in class, and how these might affect your grades.
3. How about them Lions!?
3) What are you passionate about? Why?
I'll play you a song in explanation.
4) How are you going to finance your three years of the Radiology program? If you will be in debt from student loans at the end, calculate roughly how much you will owe upon graduation.
I am enrolled in a program through Michigan Works! called No Worker Left Behind. One of the seventeen occupations offered is the RAT program; if I pay for the first year and successfully get accepted into MGH's program, the state will pay for the last two. It's looking like I'll be about $6K in debt by the end of this year.
5) Have you changed your mind or do you have any new concerns about your program of study after our guest speakers today (Dr. Foley & Joanne)? Are you thinking of a different major or are you dead set on Radiology? What behavior(s) will you maybe have to change in order to keep up with and make the cut?
I know what I want to do with my life. All I have to do is not slack off and let the crap life's thrown at me the last two weeks affect my ability to study or do my homework.
6) FAST FOOD NATION (You should be reading through Chapter 7 at this point)
Reflect upon the opening lines of Chapter 7:
"You can smell Greeley, Colorado, long before you can see it. The smell is hard to forget but not easy to describe, a combination of live animals, manure, and dead animals being rendered into dog food."
Good imagery. What else is there to say? Drive towards Gary, IN and smell as you approach the ancient stankiferous beast that is the former industrial juggernaut turned urban plight.
-Have you ever read The Jungle by Upton Sinclair? If so, how does it relate to FFN?
No, I have not.
-How high is the employee turnover rate in the meat industry and why don't the packing plants see this as a problem?
I'm in the mood to eat some lard.
People are merely "cogs in the great packing machine", easily replaced and entirely disposable. You can teach someone who doesn't even speak the main language to take apart a cow and put it in a grinder, wrap it and put it in a box.
We discussed captive supplies of cattle versus regular farming. Reflect upon this quote from page 150:
"To supply the beef slaughterhouse, ConAgra operates a pair of enormous feedlots. Each of them can hold up to one hundred thousand head of cattle..During the three months before slaughter, they eat grain..The grain fattens the cattle quickly, aided by the anabolic steroids implanted in their ear."
I'm getting visions of the video for The Wall.
-Do you think that these animals' emotions (fears, stress, anger) affect the meat we eat derived from them? How?
Happy cows make happy meals. :)
The hormones that circulate through the body (dopamine, serotonin, melatonin, etc.) circulate not just through the brain but through all the muscles and such too. Since we eat the muscles of these animals, we ingest whatever concentrations of hormones are in their bodies as well. Happy cows will have high levels of dopamine and other happy hormones, which in turn will process in our bodies as happy hormones and translate into improved mood.
-How do you feel about eating steroids via consumption of "USDA Inspected" beef?
My arms are bigger, my penis is smaller and I'm even closer to cancer. Gotta love our government!
Of the two songs I wrote this week, this is the more meaningful:
"The Meaning of Life"
Life is a series of inconsequential thrills
And not a tedium to be forgotten.
Life is more than the simple quest for dollar bills
To be wasted on material possessions.
Life has a meaning, that is, if you can find it.
Life is even kinda cool if you don't mind it,
And by that I mean the everyday nonstop shop-till-you-drop
Barrage of pointless bullshit that life'll throw at you, but
I'm alive and I got you, so I'm okay, yeah.
I'm alive and I got you, so I'm okay, yeah.
I'm alive and I got you, so I'm okay, yeah.
I'm alive and I got you, so I'm okay, yeah.
2) Develop two reflection questions that you would ask your students at this point in the course if you were a UN100 Professor.
1. Describe your eating and sleeping habits, and how these might affect your grades.
2. Describe your study habits and behaviour in class, and how these might affect your grades.
3. How about them Lions!?
3) What are you passionate about? Why?
I'll play you a song in explanation.
4) How are you going to finance your three years of the Radiology program? If you will be in debt from student loans at the end, calculate roughly how much you will owe upon graduation.
I am enrolled in a program through Michigan Works! called No Worker Left Behind. One of the seventeen occupations offered is the RAT program; if I pay for the first year and successfully get accepted into MGH's program, the state will pay for the last two. It's looking like I'll be about $6K in debt by the end of this year.
5) Have you changed your mind or do you have any new concerns about your program of study after our guest speakers today (Dr. Foley & Joanne)? Are you thinking of a different major or are you dead set on Radiology? What behavior(s) will you maybe have to change in order to keep up with and make the cut?
I know what I want to do with my life. All I have to do is not slack off and let the crap life's thrown at me the last two weeks affect my ability to study or do my homework.
6) FAST FOOD NATION (You should be reading through Chapter 7 at this point)
Reflect upon the opening lines of Chapter 7:
"You can smell Greeley, Colorado, long before you can see it. The smell is hard to forget but not easy to describe, a combination of live animals, manure, and dead animals being rendered into dog food."
Good imagery. What else is there to say? Drive towards Gary, IN and smell as you approach the ancient stankiferous beast that is the former industrial juggernaut turned urban plight.
-Have you ever read The Jungle by Upton Sinclair? If so, how does it relate to FFN?
No, I have not.
-How high is the employee turnover rate in the meat industry and why don't the packing plants see this as a problem?
I'm in the mood to eat some lard.
People are merely "cogs in the great packing machine", easily replaced and entirely disposable. You can teach someone who doesn't even speak the main language to take apart a cow and put it in a grinder, wrap it and put it in a box.
We discussed captive supplies of cattle versus regular farming. Reflect upon this quote from page 150:
"To supply the beef slaughterhouse, ConAgra operates a pair of enormous feedlots. Each of them can hold up to one hundred thousand head of cattle..During the three months before slaughter, they eat grain..The grain fattens the cattle quickly, aided by the anabolic steroids implanted in their ear."
I'm getting visions of the video for The Wall.
-Do you think that these animals' emotions (fears, stress, anger) affect the meat we eat derived from them? How?
Happy cows make happy meals. :)
The hormones that circulate through the body (dopamine, serotonin, melatonin, etc.) circulate not just through the brain but through all the muscles and such too. Since we eat the muscles of these animals, we ingest whatever concentrations of hormones are in their bodies as well. Happy cows will have high levels of dopamine and other happy hormones, which in turn will process in our bodies as happy hormones and translate into improved mood.
-How do you feel about eating steroids via consumption of "USDA Inspected" beef?
My arms are bigger, my penis is smaller and I'm even closer to cancer. Gotta love our government!
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