I did something bad.
What did I do?
I realized that I can get to a total walking mileage of 2,500 for 2015 if I walk 9.8 miles per day for the rest of the year.
That’s not impossible, not at all.
I…I might need to make it happen. But we’ll see.
Christmas Comedy
Hi, all!
Patton Oswalt is not my favorite comedian (Brian Regan is definitely the best!), but these two routines are pretty great.
The animation’s great, plus everything past 6:16.
ASL
I have a sudden and very strong urge to learn American Sign Language.
Well, that’s only partially true, as I’ve always had an interest in ASL. I’m just now feeling more serious about it.
I’ve looked it up and apparently there are immersion ASL courses offered by Deaf Alberta, but they’re $430 per class (there are five levels, so five classes), which is way more than I think I can afford right now.
Maybe some day…
Test = done
UGH THE TEST IS OVER. I think I did okay. Hopefully. I kind of “blacked out” during it, meaning that I don’t really remember doing any of it, it just kind of happened.
But that’s good! That’s something that usually happens when I know the material well, and it usually results in a good grade.
NOW I CAN RELAX FOR A LITTLE BIT HOLY HELL.
Wow
Have a really, really well done Steven Universe AMV.
Having some Thesis Fun
Haha. So. I found this post tonight where someone plotted average (well, median) dissertation and thesis lengths by area of study.
So I took a screenshot of the one for the theses and put a vertical red line at the length of my UBC thesis, just to see how it compared (a better, clearer pictures of this graph can be found at the above link).
Yeah.
TO BE FAIR, many of my pages were plots, not text. But still. It was a long thesis.
AND NOW I HAVE TO DO ANOTHER ONE LASDJFLAKSDFHALFJWELKF.
Les Bubb
I can’t remember if I’ve ever posted a video of the mime Les Bubb on here, but I logged onto my OLD YouTube account this morning and was checking out my favorites, and an older video of his was on there. Searched him again and found this one. He’s really good!
Twiddle
Remember this?
It’s the big book of statistical tests that my mom got me back in like 2012. I didn’t know most of the tests in it at the time (mainly because I hadn’t done my stats-emphasis math degree yet), but now I feel a bit more knowledgeable about its contents.
So what I’d like to do as a resolution for 2016 is go through this book and focus on one test (with examples!) every week in my blog. Maybe on Sundays or something.
I’ll post more on this as it gets closer to the new year, but just a warning. There will be stats.
Flash Party
As long as we’re revisiting some old internet stuff (like we did with Ronald Jenkees), I should mention Tom DesLongchamp, since I don’t think I ever have on here.
I don’t remember quite how I found this guy (AlbinoBlackSheep…maybe?), but I found him back in like 2003 and loved his dorky little animations. My mom and I still quote a few of them, haha.
The above link sends you to his current page; this one sends you to his archives with all his old stuff posted.
I recommend:
Green Thing (I love that song)
Yay!
It’s a-me! Surveyo!
Do you prefer writing with black or blue pen?
For math/stats, it’s black. For English/anything else, it’s blue.
Would you prefer to live in the country or the city?
Definitely the city.
If you could learn a new skill, what would it be?
Sign language!
Do you drink your tea or coffee with sugar?
No.
What was your favourite book as a child?
A Fly Went By. I could read it forwards, backwards, and had most of it memorized. Unless we’re talking a little bit older; then it was Skinnybones.
Do you prefer baths or showers?
Showers.
Do you prefer reading paper or electronic books?
Paper. Though I’ve never really read a full book electronically, so I can’t really say for sure.
What is your favourite item of clothing?
Either my semi-lime green pants or my Black Mesa shirt. Yes, I love that shirt. Because Black Mesa. OR MY LEIBNIZ SHIRT BECAUSE LEIBNIZ.
Would you ever want to be famous? If so, what for?
Sure. Something statistics-related, maybe?
Are you a restless sleeper?
I sleep like I’m dead.
Do you consider yourself a romantic?
Sure.
Do you miss someone at the moment?
My mom.
Tell us about an early childhood memory.
I remember falling off the playground slide and getting my first concussion. Well, I remember everything leading up to the concussion. I was climbing on the outside of a slide and my mom was like, “don’t do that, Claudia, you’re going to get hurt!” But I disobeyed and kept climbing. Then I fell on my head.
What is the strangest thing you have eaten?
Escargot!
What can you see outside your bedroom window?
Uh, the balcony of the dudes below us, and the next block of condos over.
Do you like spicy food?
God no.
Have you ever met someone famous?
I don’t think so.
Do you keep a diary or journal?
WELCOME TO MY BLOG, YO
Do you prefer to use pen or pencil?
Pen.
What is your star sign?
Aquarius. The best star sign.
Do you like your cereal crunchy or soggy?
Crunchy. Soggy cereal is gross, which is why I rarely eat cereal with milk.
Do you like ice in your drinks?
No. Extreme dislike of ice in drinks.
What is your favourite scent?
GO TO HELL
Do you address older people by their first or last name?
Depends on what they prefer, though by default it’s usually the last name.
Do you prefer swimming in pools or in the ocean?
Pools.
What would you do if you found $50 on the ground?
Look around to see if anybody’s nearby. If not, it’s mine!
If you had to have a tattoo, what would it be and where would you get it?
Something involving Leibniz. Somewhere on my body. Clearly I’ve thought this through.
What can you hear right now?
My compy buzzing softly.
What is one thing you want to overcome/conquer?
Grad school.
If you could travel back to any era, which would you choose?
Mid- to late-1690’s. No reason whatsoever…
What is your most used emoji?
No emojis. Use words, dammit.
FIRE
Holy hell, so today started out with something rather alarming. Nate woke up this morning and said he smelled smoke, so he was double-checking that it wasn’t coming from our condo or our building. I was kind of standing around uselessly ‘cause we all know I can’t really help in those type of situations.
But then we looked out the window and saw that the mall kitty corner to us had a big plume of smoke coming out of it. It didn’t look like too big a fire, but our first concern was that the cats that inhabit The Cat House, a cat-centric store with all sorts of scratching posts, toys, beds, and food, were safe.
Anyway, Nate goes off to work and I head to school about an hour later (I’m not a morning person, haha). By the time I leave the building, the air is full of smoke outside. I have to pass that mall to get to school, and I can see that the fire has gotten quite a bit bigger and they’ve got three fire trucks there trying to contain the blaze. They’re actually in the process of closing the street to traffic as I walk by.
I get to campus and check the news right away; luckily, I read that the cats from The Cat House were rescued and are doing fine. The fire, though, burns most of the day and produces a lot of smoke. The university even sent an email giving campus an air quality warning since the wind was blowing all the smoke right over top of U of C.
Anyway, the fire was finally contained and extinguished, but not before about a third of the mall was burned to the ground (including The Cat House—sad!). Apparently the fire started in one of the businesses and just spread like crazy because the building was so old.
So yeah.
Update: The Cat House is fundraising to get a new location.
Update update: It sounds like they’ve found a place and are negotiating a lease right now. Hopefully they’ll be up and running soon; they had a lot of toys Jazzy would like!
Jenkees!
So I don’t think I’ve ever blogged about Ronald Jenkees before (I’m too lazy to check, hahaha), but one of his songs, Disorganized Fun, came up on shuffle this morning, so I decided to share the video of him playing it. I think I originally downloaded this song in…2010?
Anyway, he’s pretty awesome.
Mad skillz.
BUH-DUHDUH!
Hahaha, oh my god, these are fantastic.
Jaboody Dubs is great.
A wild pedestrian appears!
I need this. I need it now. I’m a faster walker than about 94% of the population, and 99% of the population doesn’t know how to courteously walk down a sidewalk, so this would be a very convenient and unobtrusive way to let a slower walker know I want to pass them. Currently I usually just scrape my shoe loudly against the ground as I’m approaching someone from behind so that they know I’m back there. It’s not always effective; half the time they look back at me and don’t even freaking move out of the way. WHY DO YOU THINK I’M MAKING NOISE?? This bell would make me sound like a bike, though, which would probably get them to actually move.
Maybe.
ZOOM ZOOM I’M A LOOM
UGH.
I’m completely burnt out on school, yo.
Screaming sun understands me.
Have some gifs.
Edit: THIS IS FANTASTIC.
Shel Silverstein’s “Where the Sidewalk Ends” is actually referring to every other block in Calgary
Nate and I did another 20-mile walk today! This time we walked to Sunridge Mall and back. A nice big loop.
(The map route is approximate.)
I’m also REALLY CLOSE to hitting 2,000 miles for the year. I’ve got about 8 more to go.
YAY!
Another music post, sorry
UGH, marathon grading of STAT 217 midterms gives me a headache.
But anyway.
So awhile ago (like back in March or something) I said that of all the Marvel movies, Thor: The Dark World had the best music.
But now I take that back. BOTH Thor movies had the best music, in my opinion. The current song I can’t get out of my head is from Thor and is called Sons of Odin.
Other favorites:
Woo!
I’d just like to use today’s post to wish the love of my life a happy birthday. You are an amazing and wonderful person.
(And hopefully I’ll get this blog posted before your NEXT birthday, haha.)
It’s not a new month until I’ve posted a survey
Is there anyone else in the room with you atm? What are they doing?
Yup. Nate’s at his computer playing Europa Universalis. In other words, he’s turning the world into the Ottoman Empire.
Do you show your teeth when you smile, or do you prefer smiling with your lips closed?
If I’m smiling genuinely, I show my teeth, I think.
Would you rather be told the truth, even if it isn’t what you want to hear?
Yes.
What is something that you plan to buy, as soon as you’ve saved up the money for it?
I have no idea. A new iPod? But I don’t want to replace my old one until it’s absolutely necessary.
Do you play Sudoku?
No. My mom is addicted to it, though.
Have you ever had a migraine?
Boy, have I! I also get scintillating scotomas as my aura. (the video is quite an accurate depiction of what that looks like.)
What was the last book you read for pleasure?
Uhhhhhhh…The Ox-Bow Incident, I think.
What was the last item of clothing you purchased for yourself?
Probably the Kinvaras I bought in May. They’re almost dead now.
Your first serious relationship, do you still talk to him/her?
Not in person since we don’t live in the same town, but he comments on my blogs and I (very belatedly) comment back!
Who is the last person you texted?
My mom.
How close is your family?
Not extremely, in my opinion. My mom and I are super close, though.
Do you like to understand and have good knowledge of things?
Doesn’t everyone?
What is worse? Back pain or shoulder pain?
I’ve never had back pain, but I do get occasional shoulder pain from either hauling a 30-pound backpack on one of my long walks or from just having my shoulders tense all the time. So I’ll say shoulder pain.
Have you ever almost fallen off of something high off the ground?
I don’t think so. Nothing’s memorable, at least.
What’s one fruit you love in drinks?
Like…the drink has to be made from the fruit juice or the drink just has to have the fruit in it in some other context? I like apple juice, but I wouldn’t want to take a glass of water and put some apple in it.
What is something simple that you’re afraid of?
Bees.
Has this weekend been good?
It’s been okay. The last few weeks have kind of been bad in general, so that’s been affecting the weekends to an extent.
In this blog: Claudia doesn’t know how to sleep properly
So I’ve been looking at my sleep graphs from that Sleep Cycle Smart Alarm app that I’ve been using. In particular, I’ve been finding pictures of the graphs of other people and seeing if they look anything like mine.
They really don’t.
Here are graphs representative of many of the ones I saw online:
Sources, in order, are here, here, here, and here.
And here are several typical ones for me:
Dafuq?
I don’t know if it’s just because I don’t sleep for very long or what, but I don’t do the whole “multiple sleep cycles” thing at night and just kind of have two or three ups and downs. Or maybe that’s why I don’t have to sleep as long as most people. I have super long REM parties rather than short ones, so I don’t need as long of a night’s sleep.
Who knows.
Haha, that September 19-20 night of mine is wild.
I am a CRAPFEST
Well, today was garbage. Panic attacks sure are fun, especially when they happen in the middle of the day while you’re at school and you have to go find the most private bathroom in the math building so that you can hyperventilate in peace.
Also, I’m saying “screw it” to NaNoWriMo this year. I’ve got school stuff to worry about and I’m not super in love with my story idea in the first place. Plus I’m pretty sure that I’d fail at it if I tried it, and I really don’t feel like failing at yet another thing right now.
Yay.
SUUUUUN
The sun is amazing. This is amazing.
From the description: “NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) keeps an eye on our nearest star 24/7. SDO captures images of the Sun in 10 different wavelengths, each of which helps highlight a different temperature of solar material. In this video we experience images of the Sun in unprecedented detail captured by SDO. Presented in ultra-high definition video (4K) the video presents the nuclear fire of our life-giving star in intimate detail, offering new perspective into our own relationships with grand forces of the solar system.”
YAY.
Also this.
I’ve never watched a full episode of Rick and Morty, but this particular scene may change that.
Construction Complete
I am DONE with grandma’s house in The Sims! Finally!
The outside/front yard:
The dining room/kitchen:
Another shot of the kitchen:
The living room (and the other dining room past it):
The living room as viewed from the dining room:
The bottom floor:
Another shot of the bottom floor:
The backyard/pool:
The master bedroom:
Another shot of the master bedroom:
And the bird’s-eye shots from above for each of the three floors, because getting good/close screenshots of every room in this house is impossible:
I miss you, grandma!
Pentatonix
Pentatonix is legit, yo. I almost like this better than the original.
And for anyone who thinks that they can only do covers:
I love the makeup/costumes.
ZzZ
Good lord, I love the internet.
Eigenblogger 