|
|
Sunday, May 20th, 2007
| |
2:57 am
|
|
| Sunday, May 13th, 2007
| |
12:16 pm - The Prodigal Son
|
Well, it would appear I have returned, LiveJournal. Another semester is at a close, and I have survived, albeit not unscathed. First off, grade report.
Honors Practical Genetics A
Physics I Lab A-
Physics I B+
Cell Biology B
Honors Film (Lemmon) B
Overall, a disappointing semester. I am too pissed at my Film teacher to even begin to describe, but alas, any whining on my part will be fruitless.
So without further ado, I give you cat pictures behind this cut. Oh, and one of me as a heavily rained-on Templar Knight from the Ren Fest. The cat's name is now Pandora, as was finally agreed upon by the family as a whole.
( Picture time! )
Finally, the good news. The Red Wings are doing well on the path to the Stanley Cup. For this, I am thankful. I came in second at the monthly "RISK global domination in the park" game yesterday morning (at 9am on two hours sleep from a long tabletop RPG session from Friday). It was a good game, but I eventually met my match. Oh well.
-J
current mood:  disappointed
|
|
(3 comments | comment on this)
|
| Wednesday, November 29th, 2006
| |
2:59 pm
|
Eesh, it has been a while, non? Well, I'm going to keep this one brief. Life has been kinda sucky lately, ended up taking the semester off. Haven't done that in a while, but the circumstances could have been better. I suppose I'll comment on that a bit more the next time I post, should I feel like it. Let's just leave it at "Bipolar" for now.
I got a cat a few days ago, about to take her to the vet for a checkup. She is a wonderfully cute little girl, about 3 years old... Came with the name Bella, but I'm sticking with either "Katja" or "The Ω Katt" (Omega for short). Let's see how the vet handles that one. She's great though, bit of a cold, but we'll get her fixed up good as new I'm sure.
I've been on sabbatical from the lab for a few months now, but I assume I'll be going back with the start of classes in January. All set up there, looks like a pretty decently interesting classload. Honors computerized genetics, physics with lab, cell biology, and a film class on Jack Lemmon. Quite a mix, really.
Anyhoo, there's a quick update for you all. Couldn't let Amanda have all the fun!
-J
|
|
(3 comments | comment on this)
|
| Wednesday, June 28th, 2006
| |
9:20 pm - Hello, HAL.
|
Well, 9PM at the lab again. Still have about an hour for the electrophoresis to finish, then I need to carve out the DNA with a scalpel. The system for gel purification isn't exactly pretty here. You set your gel on this big block back-light unit that spews forth UV radiation. The ethidium bromide in the DNA glows orange inside the greenish-tinted (trick of the UV light) gel when exposed to the radiation. Unfortunately, you are directly exposed as well as you sit there and try to cut out the least amount of gel possible to get the maximum yield of DNA. Very tricky, I might add, as the stuff tends to slip and jump around as you try and cut it. They at least provide you protective glasses, because the UV would just sort of burn your retinas out as far as I know. As for your arms/hands/face, well, people have actually gotten sunburns and what have you from similar devices. Ironic, we'll all get cancer in the process of curing it thanks to the double-strand DNA break ability of UVR.
I'm giving my first presentation to the lab next week, don't have much prepared yet. Just haven't had the time, it seems. I've been having a very difficult time getting up out of bed recently, and I'm always tired and out of it. Kinda sucks. On the bright side, I've been getting plenty of exercise, and practicing lots of football in honor of the World Cup. Still can't always kick it where I want to, but I'm getting better.
Everyone leaves around 5:30-6:00 usually, so it gets pretty lonely here. I wanted to be home earlier (3PM), but I just ended up arguing with my Dad on the phone (as usual, whenever we talk) so I decided to just try and work some more instead.
Upping my hours at the lab to try and get my first paper out sooner (before August ends), but we'll have to see about that. Makes getting a part time job harder. Again, I'll just have to figure it out. Any good ideas on where I should look for a job? I only have about 10 hours a week to offer. Any idea what job might fit me best?
Ah well, back to work I guess.
Yours in WEARINESS,
Jesse
current mood:  irritated
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Thursday, June 22nd, 2006
| |
9:31 pm - And ye, he entered the inferno...
|
Ugh. Still in the lab at 9:30PM. You know what I dislike? Agar plates. I cannot time the cool-down period correctly. Ever. At least these ones fit into our 50°C water bath. I'll explain more later, I suppose. Me and two lab mates (one Brazilian, one Croatian) went down to a bar to watch the football games. That was fun at least. Ah, Brazil. One of my adopted home teams. (Also: Argentina, Trinidad & Tobago, Italy, and France. USA of course, too.) Now I'm waiting for some plates to dry so I can complete this bacterial transformation and let them grow overnight. I have a dentist appointment at 8AM tomorrow, too. Tonight sucks.
( Update on me! Click, or I'll weep. Acid. )
Anyhoo, gotta get back to work. Maybe I'll be heading home by 11:00? I don't know. Too bad it's an hour drive, too. Well adios to all for now, I'll try to post some more in-depth stuff (and hopefully with a cheerier attitude) soon.
Yours, in SCIENCE!
-Jesse
current mood:  aggravated
current music: The whirring of machines
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Monday, June 19th, 2006
| |
11:14 pm
|
Woo! The North Carolina Hurricanes are the 2006 Stanley Cup Champions!
Congratulations to Cam Ward and all the rest.
More soon. Really.
current mood:  excited
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Monday, March 6th, 2006
| |
9:59 am - There they shall abide long ages; and they shall have no refreshment nor drink...
|
Ugh. Apparently that little illness I had last week has shifted into good ol' pneumonia. My Doc gave me antibiotics Friday, but I still downhill quick over the weekend (103.7 fever, severe dizziness, nausea, etc.) Worse yet, I have an organic chem II test today and an ecology test tomorrow at 8am. I was finally able to get out of bed without falling over from dizziness today, so that's some progress, but I really don't see myself making the drive to USF, y'know? Christ, I feel like shit. I think it is time to lay back down now. So much for that lengthy post.
Huh. Since when did free accounts get 6 userpics? This is new.
current mood: sick
|
|
(16 comments | comment on this)
|
| Monday, February 27th, 2006
| |
10:36 pm - Hell will lie in ambush, a home for the transgressors...
|
There is a post coming soon, I swear. I wrote a third of it last night (sickness makes me update... Sorta). A long and bitter one, too. Maybe the post will explain more why I haven't finished it yet. Anyway, bed time now, gotta get up at 5am.
Vaya con Dios-
Jesse
current mood:  crappy
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Wednesday, July 13th, 2005
| |
1:35 am - Mountains shall pass away and become like vapour
|
Hello again, everyone. My apologies in advance if some of this rambles or doesn't make much sense, I'm just in one of those kind of moods right now, I guess. Sometimes it seems like I'm incredibly busy, and yet I can't really say what it is that I've been so busy doing. I've been avoiding AIM and LJ recently, I guess I just haven't felt much like talking about anything. Summer classes are almost over (my lab final is next week), so that's good. My partner, although a cute Asian girl – a plus, wasn't very helpful and often left early or just didn't show up, so I've grown to dislike her a great deal. I seem to dislike people much more these days than I used to. I don't know what to make of that. I still have the organic chems to slug it out with, but I'll be able to start up the microbiology coursework at USF now.
Moving on. I talked to Emily a little bit tonight. That was nice, I've missed her. Too bad I never seem to have anything to say when I do talk to people, but what's new there? My classes at USF start up at the end of August, I'm already dreading it. The schedule isn't very convenient, and I'm less than enthusiastic about having a 45 some-odd minute bus ride twice a day to get there and back. I've heard a lot of things about Organic Chemistry, the horror stories about taking it at USF are discouraging to say the least. I'm a bright guy though, and if I can't handle this, I might as well rethink Med school while I'm at it. I don't need it for a career in genetic research, or even for genetic engineering, but it always seemed like a good idea. Speaking of Med school, I had the opportunity to shadow my physician around for a day, it was quite interesting. Saw a few different interesting cases, my favorite parts were probably getting to see patient X-rays and also observing a mole removal. There was a surprising amount of flowing blood involved. I should get a place to upload some pictures of me in my labcoat.
Saw Fantastic Four with the parents, wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. Also went and saw the Wizard of Oz at the Tampa Theatre with my dad, about damn time I saw such a classic, but I was a little disappointed. Unfortunately my membership there has lapsed, but I'll renew at the end of the summer for next year's summer classic series. The roleplaying group switched from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer RPG back to Vampire: Dark Ages, that Old World of Darkness classic. I'm absolutely loving it, but I never really did like Buffy all that much. Currently we are playing a game set in 1210 between the Fourth and Fifth Crusades, and I'm playing a Knight Templar, Sir Thomas of Tripoli. Those who know me know my passion for history, and the crusades is one of my favorite periods (second only to the rise of the Roman Empire). Knightly Orders only make it that much better.
Finally, I've stumbled upon a new site that has re-lit some of that righteous (oh, yes, righteous I say!) political rage that I felt so long ago. Namely, "The Jesse Factor". There are some interesting coincidental similarities between us, most obviously in our name, second in the use of FOX News / Bill O'Reilly slogans, and third in our political hackery. The differences are every heartfelt belief we have. Now, I've re-written the sentence meant to go here about 15 times, and each time I either sound like a hypocrite, a lunatic, or just an asshole, so I'll leave it at that.
Now. On to the things I've been tagged with. Thanks a lot Dave, making me work.
( Read more... )
current mood: crappy
current music: Fitness to Practice - Paracetamoxyfrusebendroneomycin
|
|
(5 comments | comment on this)
|
| Friday, May 20th, 2005
| |
1:25 am
|
Well, it's official, I'm 18 now. Happy birthday to me. My family has a game we play on each of my birthdays where we ask what someone of my new age can do that they could not do a year previously. What can an 18 year old do that a 17 year old can't? The answers I have so far are: go to prison (well, under 18y/os get that a lot in florida, too), have my vote not counted (a yuk yuk), and not be lying when I click "I Agree". Anyways. Life has been busy, and I'm just plain worn out. I graduated a week ago monday with my AA from SPC, just waiting on the degree to show up in the mail. It's all pretty exciting, really. Kept up my 4.0 this last semester (almost didn't make it in Chem II), but it was close. Have to take Chem II Lab over the summer now (TR 12:30 - 2:30), it started last tuesday. It's tough because it only lasts for two hours, and we have to do all our lab notebook stuff in class, we can't take it home, so it's tough to fit everything in the allotted time. Still Ohtamaa is multiple factors of ten better than Coppock (*shudder*), so I'll take what I can get. There's a whole bunch of stuff I've been meaning to write about here, but I've been pretty distracted since finals week. It's only 1:28am right now, but I have an early appointment tomorrow, so I don't think I'll get into any of it right now. My grandpa has been visiting (and taking up my room/bed, but at least he gave me an air mattress this time for the living room) since a week ago wednesday, and still has about a week left here. It's been nice to see him and all, he's pretty much the only family I really like, but the whole thing has really added to my stress levels and helped to minimize the relaxation I had hoped to get from the one week down between semesters. Rargh. Anyways, that will do for now, I'll try to post more soon.
current mood: discontent
|
|
(8 comments | comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, March 22nd, 2005
| |
10:24 am
|
Grah. Got back from SOLAR at about 1am Monday morning, and I'm still pretty much scatter-brained and sore from the whole thing. I had a great time though, even the lengthy car trip (9+ hours one way, but with a bunch of friends it's not so bad). I'll try to post something more in-depth about it to let everyone know what it's like a little later. For now, I'm answering a silly little survey that found its way from Roy to Amanda to me, and then off to take a nap. And on a closing note, I've now had the experience of mexi-packing a $51/night Super 8 room with 7 people. What a fascinating trip.
( So here, have a bloody survey. )
current mood: sore
current music: Wichita Lineman - Glen Campbell
|
|
(9 comments | comment on this)
|
| Wednesday, February 23rd, 2005
| |
12:02 am - Big hats, executions, chili, and the alamo
|
Eaugh. Leaving for San Antonio tomorrow morning at 7 with the rest of the team: Becky, Jo Ellen, Kerri, and Jordan, as well as Mr. Manias. The Ethics Bowl will be Thursday, it starts really early in the day too. This should all be very interesting, I really don't want to go right now, but I think that's just because I'm lazy. I don't know. I'm feeling very tired, but I'm pretty much all packed. I still don't know where the line is when it comes to genetically modifying animals... Eh, it'll be entertaining when the judges ask that. I'm gonna practice writing out my overviews on the plane (really crappy flights, by the way, not even that cheap given the relative crappiness), given that they need to be memorizes since we can't bring any notes in. I'll be flying back home Friday morning, should be able to hang out with the gang assuming they're doing the usual Friday thing, so that'll be cool. and no more Saturday morning practices, so yay! Got my first Chem II test back today, got what I expected at an 84 (not including the 5-7 point curve, he hasn't decided yet). The average of the class was about a 70, all the heavy hitters I expected to do worse than ended up with high 70's except Cincae (Sinsae? Sincee? She's a nice, cute, funny asian girl. I keep running into her around places, which is cool.) who got an 86. Apparently there were two or so As. I'm amazed how well I did in comparison considering I studied the morning of with the hour or so I had between giving an ethics presentation in front of a class for practice and the actual test. I feel kinda bad too, because I'm just not trying that hard in class and I don't really get the material while other kids work their butts off and just don't do as well. I don't get how it all works sometimes. I got a 100 on my humanities I test, fucked up the curve for everyone else (I'm in the 5:30 class, the 3:30 class had a 4.5 point curve, highest being a 95.5). That test was fucking hard though. Mrs. Yakle may be a cool, awesome person, but Mio Dios, that was not an easy test (slide identification, 300 word essay, 13-17 not-so-short "short answer", then some easy matching and multiple choice. I ran out of time but managed to just finish off the essay fully. ) Anyways. I ramble, but that's what you get on LJs, stream of consciousness type stuff. I blame God. I have a speech to give next Wednesday, I'll have to choose a topic and write it and practice it this Sunday once I get back I guess. So much for planning ahead. I'm thinking of applying for Student of the Year and the Apollo Award at SPC for my graduation in May... Might be fun, I don't know. Bleargh. I'm done for now. Need to head to bed for the early flight tomorrow.
Wish me luck everyone, I'd appreciate it.
I'll be thinking of ya'll -
...Jesse
current mood:  anxious
current music: Charles Trenet - Boum!
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Friday, February 11th, 2005
| |
1:15 am - Hold the presses! An update from our correspondent in the field.
|
Well. Bleh. Lots of stuff has been happening lately. Where to start with it all? Been really sick for about a week now, but I'm finally getting better. They had me on some pretty heavy meds, an antibiotic, a nebulizer (you know, I'm not sure if that's even how to spell that...), and this inhaler disk thing.... Advair or something. It was interesting, to say the least. What is fun is after doing the nebulizer thing I hack and cough up stuff for about half an hour. All the coughing I do these days has given me pretty much constant headaches and caused some muscle crampings, which I find hilarious when I'm not yelping in pain. But ah, c'est la vie.
Just got my admission certificate from USF today. I'll be finishing my AA this semester from SPC (with about 80 credit hours, too. Hehe.), just before I turn 18. I'm pretty happy about that for some reason. I don't know. Hopefully I can keep up that 4.0 this semester. Maybe they'll write something neat on my degree like "high honors". Ohh boy, it's going to have the honor society seal on it from Phi Theta Kappa too, and I'll get those crazy gold tassel…sash… stuff. Wee. Maybe I need to take a look at the priorities in my life.
( I'm such a whiney bitch. And longwinded, the worst kind. )
It would seem I have reached a new level on the geek totem pole, as I am soon to be a LARPer. My friends and I are going up to Georgia for SOLAR March 18-20 (I believe…) . Still need to get my costuming and weaponry started, that's going to take a while. Hoo-boy.
Anyways, there's more I'm sure, but these days I consider it an accomplishment to post anything at all. Hope everyone is doing okay. Now, on to that lovely quiz that has taken the journal communities by storm! (Ho ho! I think I got bitter again in there somewhere!)
LJ Friends Meme by ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) coolerq• You must tell 10 people about this game.
• Dani is the one that you love.
• Emily is one you like but can't work out.
• You care most about Josh.
• Frank is the one who knows you very well.
• Thomas is your lucky star.
• Walk like a Man is the song that matches with Dani.
• Black is Black is the song for Emily.
• Old City Bar is the song that tells you most about YOUR mind.
• and Boum! is the song telling you how you feel about life
Take this quiz
current mood: irritated
current music: BtVS: Once More with Feeling - Standing in the Way
|
|
(8 comments | comment on this)
|
| Saturday, December 25th, 2004
| |
1:31 am - Ho, ho, ho.
|
Merry Christmas everyone! I hope everyone enjoys the holiday, and let me know what presents you receive (if you do the whole give/get thing). Florida Christmases just.. aren't quite the same. Much warmer. We put some ornaments and decorations on the palm tree in front of our condo. Good enough for me, I suppose.
Talk to you all soon-
...Jesse
current mood:  okay
current music: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Thursday, October 28th, 2004
| |
11:23 am
|
Well bleh. I didn't go to my morning classes on wednesday, but I rather -had- to go to my lab. You just can't make those things up. I'm feeling a little better today, but I'm still really tired. My homework is all starting to back up, it's looking really bad. This weekend is going to suck, and it's the last schoolbus figure 8 at the Sunshine Speedway! Why did this have to happen this weekend!? Anyways.
There was a fascinating little discussion about gay marriage on this board right here. The board is actually for NationStates, about an attempt to repeal a UN resolution protecting gay rights. While it's based on a game, the argument is very real and rather well argued (it gets good about 4-8 pages in...). Of course The Psychotic Dictatorship of The-Brotherhood (My first nation) does not recognize the need for protecting gay rights, as no marriage is sanctioned by law and all pregnancies are pre-arranged by the government. Thankfully that nation isn't the one I sent to the UN, as only one nation per player can be. But moving on.
The video card on -my- computer fried yesterday. Silver is the computer's name, for those in the know. The Card was an AGP (4x. hehe.) GeForce2 64mb... pretty old by now, but it worked for me. I'm debating what exactly failed, but it looks like it may have just been the fan. It would boot up and run okay, with all sorts of graphical distortions... The fan wouldn't start at any point, and it would overheat within a few minutes. Oh well. Went to Staples and CompUSA and ended up with a new GeforceFX 5700LE 128mb... $100 in the end. It works great, no complaints yet but I don't really have time to test it on a game.
I fucking hate the Rubik's cube. It taunts me as I walk by it, always watching me from it's perch on the edge of my dresser. It thinks I have given up... But it's wrong. As soon as I'm caught up... It will be next. Just wait and see.
Bush supporters keep lining up along McMullen-Booth Road near where I live... They haul out little children too, which makes me feel bad as I roll down my window and flip them off when I drive by. Oh well. The causeway was completely back up the other day because Bush and Kerry supporters had formed little groups all along it and cars would slow down to honk or wave or whatever, causing some serious traffic. It was almost funny, but at least I got to wave to some Kerry people. Apparently they don't live by me, and the bloody Democratic Org. of Pinellas didn't have any more Kerry T-shirts for me to buy. Bah. There's an awesome one on the website(www.JohnKerry.com), that says "Estados Unidos, Estamos Unidos". I want that shirt really badly. I also want to make a 527 ad. That would be great. That's it for now, I better go get to work.
Good day, and God Bless America.
...Jesse
( Quiz time, quiz time... )
current mood:  blah
current music: Billy Joel - Piano Man
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Monday, October 25th, 2004
| |
11:30 am
|
I stayed home from school today, which is highly atypical for me. I've been feeling really sick over the weekend, and it got particularly bad last night. It's bad timing though, as there is a Biology test today, and a paper due in ethics, and both an SGA and PTK meeting, so I don't know how I'm going to catch up on all that. I did the coastal clean-up with PTK and SGA Saturday morning (too early, I say! At school at 7:20am to carpool. I don't like mornings). Worked for about an hour and a half and then went home and laid down, started feeling ill again. Studied and worked on papers most of the day Sunday, but went to the Tampa Theatre with my parents to watch the original (well, sort-of) Phantom of the Opera (with Lon Chaney) at 3pm. I got really sick in the car, but it was a one-time only type of event and I had never seen it (especially on a full-size movie screen with live organ accompaniment, although I'm not a big fan of Mrs. Rosa Rio....), so I did my best to suffer through. The movie was pretty... awful in the end, hilariously awful in fact. It was the 1929 re-edit of the 1925 original, although I had difficulty noticing the supposed technicolor sequence during the ballroom masquerade. Oh well. I'm still glad I got to see a part of cinematic history. Maybe I'll walk around with my hand above my head for the next few days just to honor it. For those who don't get the reference (read: anybody), I'll explain it if you merely ask. Anyways, I'm going to go back to bed now I think. So very tired. I hope there's not a long wait at the doc's office this afternoon....
current mood: sick
current music: Venga Boys - We Like To Party
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Wednesday, October 20th, 2004
| |
11:08 pm - I <3 Jon Stewart
|
Well, I've decided to whore out the integrity of my journal, like the professional journalism of so many a FOX News correspondent. The difference is I don't make my readers (oh, okay, reader. When I pay her.) engage in lewd phone sex (you know, compared to...non-lewd... phone sex). Here's some of those "quizzes" you crazy kids like to take.
( I always sucked at tests... )
Now wasn't that fun? I think that was fun. Did anybody see John Stewart on Crossfire a little while ago? That was absolutely incredible. Check out this /. (Slashdot) article about it. The best part had to be when Tucker Carlson kept pushing him to be funny and trying to distract him from talking about his disdain for their show and Stewart ended up insulting his bowtie and calling him a dick. It was beautiful. I shed a tear of joy. It was great to see Jon Stewart taking things very seriously, and so sad to see him get shut down by party hacks like Carlson and Begala, especially on a shouting-heads show like Crossfire. Yes, I realize the irony of me calling someone a party hack, but I still like to consider myself a healthy mix of policy wonk and party hack, thanks. I'm like a mix of Hannity and Colmes, only I'm not a flaming jackass and I actually say something. Anyways.
Finished my goddamn insect project today, was an interesting thing. I was so disappointed when the prof effectively handed everyone an A after our small presentations... When I put hours of effort (all the night before/morning of, except for the actual hunting and photo taking, of course...) into something, I hope people would at least read it, but you'd think I'd have learned by now. What was even more funny was I had prepared for the grasshopper anatomy quiz and when I walked in it says on the board "Grasshopper quiz next week, will review grasshopper after projects today". Bloody hell. Everyone seemed amazed with my in-depth knowledge of grasshoppers when she asked us questions about them, which I thought was hilarious because it represented a total of like 45 minutes researching online. Apparently that's about 10-fold more than the average student. Did you know grasshoppers's blood is non-colored with a slight greenish tint, due to the fact that it does not transfer oxygen like in many animals? Oxygen is brought in only through spiracles that attach to tracheae. The grasshopper can contract or release muscles around the spiracles (holes along it's sides...) to allow air in or not, and the spiracles have small hairs within them to filter the air as it enters the trachea. See, this is what studying does, fills your head with useless information. Don't get me started on ocelli.
Jon Stewart on Crossfire:
The Video
The Transcript
The Wonkette
The Post
The CNN
current mood:  exhausted
current music: BOA - Duvet
|
|
(3 comments | comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, October 19th, 2004
| |
1:38 pm - A look into this fractured soul....
|
Well, it seems I've finally sold out and did a stupid little survey thing that's been going around. Bah, humbug. On the other hand, it seems I've posted twice in one day now... Incredible!
( Survey time, survey time! )
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| |
12:52 am - This and that: Redux
|
Unbelievable. It seems my computer decided to crash and wipe out my original big ol' post, so I imagine I will have to retype it as best I can now.
It's been a while. I'm starting to get through some of the projects from school. I'll probably need to go bug hunting some more tomorrow before identifying what I have for Bio II Lab Wednesday... We were supposed to get 30, but I'll be lucky to make 15. I'm not sure how many will get more than that. My Ethics application paper was due today... Started last night at 7ish and worked until 3:45, went to bed, got up at 5:30 and finished it up. 3,600 words in the end, it took me to long to write that much. I had to learn Kantianism, Rawls' Contractarianism and Rule Utilitarianism foreword and backward first though, so that might explain it a bit. I joined Phi Theta Kappa (honor society for two-year colleges) and Student Government (SGA), it's interesting. Had an SGA meeting today a few hours after classes, it was rather pointless as usual, then Gabby and I helped Haddar (Hadar? I'll have to check...) tie ribbons around most of the trees around campus to signify Alcohol/Drug Awareness Week/Month/Whatever. SGA gave me a shirt for it to that they demand I wear Wednesday, but it was nice enough that they gave it to me (even though new guys like me came after they ordered them...), so why not? Friday was the induction ceremony for new PTK members, and that was interesting. There was an oath, and we all signed a book with a feathered pen... There might have been some blood rituals, I can't quite remember. I met a bunch of neat people, Jonathan, Jacqylin (Jacqylen? I remember the y at least.), Anton... There was cake too. The speaker at the event was a joke though with this horribly long and boring story about frogs and a hole and jumping to get out of it... It was awful. If he'd done the story from "Catch me if you can" it would have been great. Two mice fall into a bucket of cream. One gives up and drowns. The other keeps kicking and struggling to live. Eventually he kicks so hard and so long that the cream turns to butter and he can climb out of the bucket. You should be that mouse. Isn't that great? It's perfect. Too bad. Bob, Hadar, Johannah and me are all members of both PTK and SGA, and Johannah is trying to get me to join the Ethics Club with her as an officer and to take over and maintain their website. I don't know if I should do that though, my schedule being as full as it is and all.
I've watched all the debates, and I've been following all the latest news in politics, regardless of the fact that I've tried to escape the subject due to the physical symptoms of nausea, headaches, and stress that it causes me, but alas I cannot seem to escape it. I just saw a new Bush add today asking if America could survive a liberal president. It said we, liberals, voted against the Gulf War, against funding our troops in Iraq, and that Reagen was a hero because he single-handedly ended the cold war. Don't you see how that makes liberals not worthy of the white house, and in fact makes them a monstrosity that will destroy America? I sure do now! Thank God! This sort of thing makes me truly hate people, and I'm not too fond of the feeling. I would have no remorse if my dream was fulfilled and the people responsible for ads like that, and especially the worse ones like that one comparing Ted Kennedy to Hitler... If they just lit up in a brief but delightful moment of spontaneous combustion. Oh well.
I got into an argument with a girl from my ethics class over the ACLU, NAMbLA, and the first amendment. Since I'm a liberal ACLU-hugger, it shouldn't be too terribly hard to figure out my side of the argument. Fanatics are to easy to beat though, sadly. As soon as she said "Burn all the books to save the children", it just stopped being fun. The crowning moment though was her shouting across campus as she walked away "Pray for God to show you the right choice". I mean damn, what an insult. She seems to think that her non-logic, blind anti-reason, and moral absolutism won her the day. My return shout was "I don't need my daddy to tell me what to do", a line I've started using lately in response to the type of person who relies on divine intervention in their decision making processes. I don't feel the need to rely on an almighty father figure to make my choices for me. It's not that I don't believe in God, I do, but I don't think he cares if you wear a red shirt or a blue shirt to church. In fact, he'd like you to stop bothering him with such stupid questions. Great, thanks.
Becky died. It's weird, I mean, I didn't know her all that well... I went to church with her every Sunday for a few months, but I was really closer friends with her sister... I actually had a sort of grade-school crush on her for a month or so before I wised up to the fact that our personalities had irrecoverable differences. When I heard she died I expected to be saddened, or at least to realize my own mortality or something... But there was nothing, just emptiness. The usual emptiness. It was much like when my first grandmother passed away, there was no emotional response, perhaps a twinge of "That's too bad", but ultimately nothing... I wonder sometimes if I'm some sort of monster, an emotionless robot without a soul. I feel bad for her family... I never met her parents, but I know her sister was very close to her. I'm not sure what to do exactly, is was... a long time ago. I hope they can pull through this eventually, although it will undoubtedly be a long, hard process. I don't know... I just don't know these days.
Things have been busy lately, there are so many stories to tell. Maybe I'll write more later, I don't know. I've joined a really cool role-playing group, we're doing Vampire currently. I have a 7th-gen Bohemian/West Hungarian diablerist Brujah Ex-crusader/Teutonic Knight. Intriguing. The people in the group are all really awesome, Frank, Josh, TJ, Matt, Jay, Mark, and Patrick... Hayley has also started showing up again, so that great, she's really cool too. Too bad Adam has shown up since the first time though, I really liked him, even if he was a little young.
Ah, but anyways, I'm just jabbering now. I can't believe I had to re-type all this nonsense. I think it actually became more fractured the second time then when I was typing it stream-of-consciousness. How odd. Anyways, I promise I'm actually going this time. Good night everyone, and may God bless America.
current mood: pessimistic
current music: Secrets That You Keep - Damon Troy
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Friday, August 27th, 2004
| |
2:21 am - And shepards we shall be...
|
Alrighty, I'm going to try and keep this one brief, and sadly, rather limited in politics and relevance. My classes started up Monday, and I'm still a little sick from last weekend. I'm on a different antibiotic now, which will hopefully prove more effective than the first. Classes are okay, I'm getting a little stressed, but no big deal. I have the same lecture and lab teachers for Biology II that I had for Bio I, which is neat. My American Government teacher (she's a lawyer, actually) is interesting, and I think I will like her, but it's too early to tell. My ethics teacher is a pretty funny guy, and while I was certain I would hate the class (come on. Ethics. Lots of writing about nothing...) as I read the book it may actually prove to be quite interesting. I don't have many stories to tell as of yet (only been to two classes of each), except perhaps one from American Government... This one is kind of rambly, so feel free to skip over it. I'm just still mad about it.
( Read more... )
In random news, I recently watched a few films, all very good. "Boondock Saints" is a masterpiece of action and dark humour, with pulp religion thrown in for good measure. High marks. "The Killer" is the essential Chow Yun Fat / John Woo offering, plenty of action built on a foundation of drama and morality. Very interesting. Very good.
Because I need to maintain an air of professionalism, I'll point you all to an interesting op-ed piece I read in the St.Pete Times. "The Rambo Coalition" by Paul Kruger. It is very interesting, I assure you. When I get some free time and energy, I think my next political post will be on my dislike for organizations like Rock The Vote the aim to mobilize young voters. While these organizations have a good idea, in practice it just doesn't work well. I'll elaborate further some other time.
current mood:  sleepy
current music: Leonard Cohen - Everybody Knows
|
|
(1 comment | comment on this)
|
|
|
|
|
amused