RIP
We had to put our cat Romeo to sleep today. We found him in the shade of a bush, unable to move—we think he had a stroke. So my mom held him and I drove us to the vet where we put him down.
Yeah.
RIP Romers, we love you!
Today’s song: Everyone by Socialburn
+50 Bovine Damage
Haha, WoW is fantastic. I made a cow (a Tauren, but they’re cows) and his name is Hruck. I found another cow named MooMoo and we bowed and waved to each other all night.
I think it’s also pretty damn funny that Sean, Megan and I were all in their house playing WoW on our computers and chatting over the servers rather than in person.
Technology dependency, anyone?
Fun times.
Today’s song: Caught in the Crowd by Kate Miller-Heidke
Why I’m Not a Vegetarian
First off, all our morals are screwy, it’s just the way we all are. So please try not to judge me too harshly for this; if the following doesn’t seem to make sense, it’s probably because I’ve never really openly discussed it. But it makes perfect sense in my head. Okay? Okay.
So. Vegetarianism. Those who read these bloggies semi-regularly may have seen one of my posts about hylozoism—the belief that life, to some extent, is present in all matter, not just in things that we classify as conscious or even just in things that are considered animate.
I suppose in a sense that my “why I’m not a vegetarian” argument stems more from the panpsychism perspective. That is, the idea that all things possess some form of sensation or consciousness (you drop an iPod, that iPod senses it or is aware of it).
I am of this view. To me, everything responds to what we do to it. If you break a pot, that pot “feels” the break, if you cut the grass, the grass “feels” itself being sliced. I’m not saying it causes pain necessarily, but who’s to say it doesn’t? I’m certainly of the idea that the material responds in some way, and I definitely think such an argument could be put out there for things we typically consider sentient.
This is where the whole vegetarianism thing comes in. If a person wants a cheeseburger, they’re aware on some level of the fact that they’re eating a part of a cow that had to be killed for the person to consume it. They’re probably less aware of the amount of wheat that had to be cut in order to create the bun (I don’t know the general number of wheat stalks that go into an average hamburger bun, but you get what I’m saying). Or the tomato that gets picked to provide a slice.
Yeah, I know that sounds crazy. But think about it. It just seems weird to me to place more value on beings that emit an audible scream when we slaughter them than silent yet still living beings like wheat and peas. Even if such “lower organisms” don’t have pain receptors and therefore don’t respond to being removed from water/nutrients/the means to continue living the same way organisms like cows and pigs do, it doesn’t change the fact that they’re being killed.
Call me a hippy, call me crazy, call me stupid, but that’s how I see it. There are only two ways, as I see it, to provide equal “ethical” treatment to both beings like cows and beings like wheat—either don’t eat either of them (or anything else that was once living), or eat both of them. And since I probably can’t live on air (like the Astomi people apparently could), I choose the latter.
Please note: I am not condoning things like inhumane poultry housing or cruel slaughtering techniques—that’s not what I mean. Read this as if the comparisons between higher and lower organism slaughter involve the most humane way of killing, say, a cow, with the most humane way of harvesting grain.
Today’s song: Crystal Ball by Keane
Jim Davis called, he wants his dignity back
Okay, it might be the complete lack of sleep talking, but this is one of the most entertaining things I’ve found on the internet in awhile:
A few of the completely randomized ones were absolutely hilarious. Here are a few that I made, just ‘cause. Next step: Haikus.
And now that I’ve laughed inappropriately hard for about half an hour, I’m going to try to sleep. Maybe.
Today’s song: O Nata Lux by Morten Lauridsen
Waiter! FUCK YOU!
HOLY CRAP I have a new musical instrument. And it’s a guitar. And it’s gorgeous. Observe:
My amp is a cute little dude, too. So far I can play the first part of Peace of Mind and a little bit of Reptilia (and a little 4 measure thing Sean taught me). YAY!
Today’s song: Rainbow in the Dark by Dio
This Week’s Science Blog: It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s those guys at NASA being dorks!
So what does NASA do with an old airplane? For once, this week’s science blog doesn’t involve lasers, but it DOES involve a big ass telescope.
That’s right, an old jumbo 747 jet is being used to house a telescope called the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) which is used to make observations at altitudes lower than space-based telescopes (obviously) but above the range of many of the atmospheric effects that impact ground-based telescopes.
Ground level telescopes are affected by the absorption of infrared wavelengths by water in the atmosphere. The SOFIA jet gets around this by finding the middle ground between dealing with this IR wavelength issue and the problems of getting a giant telescope into space (and then adjusting it).
Apparently they’ve been working on this project for over 14 years. They installed the telescope by cutting an 8-foot hole into the side of the jet and essentially fastening some sort of garage door covering over the lens that, when opened, doesn’t appear to affect the performance of the jet.
The scope also weighs 17 tons. Pretty snazzy.
Today’s song: Don’t Ask Me by OK Go
Friends rock
Holy crap, I love you guys. Who needs therapy when you can sit in a dark car with three awesome friends and have a bitch fest about how much all of our lives suck? I’m keeping those videos forever.
Yay.
Today’s song: Where I’m Going by Cut Copy
This blog is worth 60% of your final grade
I have a bit of an issue with this article. Not because I’m like “oh hey, I got straight A’s through college and I don’t regret it one bit LOL,” but because half the things he cites as reasons to “regret” the experience are things that can be easily avoided.
1. No one has ever asked about my GPA.
Not after you graduated, probably not. But did you ever apply for scholarships? GPA certainly matters for financial reasons while still in school, so if some scholarship/funding/what not requires high grades in order to hand you cash, why not give it a shot? Research supervisors also look at this before they decide whether or not they want to work with you.
2. I didn’t sleep.
The only time I really had the “there’s physically no way I can fit sleep into my schedule” problem was during the 25 credit semester of doom, but that was also because I would spend four hours a night watching YouTube videos, talking to Sean, making dumb Flash, and just generally dinking around. Honestly, you CAN sleep and get a 4.0.
3. I’ve forgotten 95% of it.
If what you’re studying isn’t important enough to you for you to even attempt to remember it past the tests, you’re probably studying the wrong thing. Hell, I know I didn’t retain anything from my core requirements classes ‘cause I was like “pfft, this stuff is boring and irrelevant and I feel like making dumb cartoons instead.” But if I had been like that in every class, I would think I would have realized that I was not studying the right thing.
4. I didn’t have time for people.
Take a class with some friends (band, anyone?). Organize study sessions with those people who fall into the “we know each other from class fairly well” group of friends. Make one day of each week a day where you don’t do anything school-related (for me, this was and still is Saturday…it kept me sane, and it IS possible to do).
5. Work experience is more valuable.
It depends on the major, really. The physical sciences and engineering? Sure. Business and law? Definitely. The fine arts and things like philosophy? Maybe not so much. Also, it’s pretty difficult to find relevant work experience for some majors.
What about Graduate School?
Haha, yeah, no kidding. I think this should have been listed as a preface. “Does grad school apply to you? Ignore this entire list.”
Today’s song: American Cowboy by Jada
Things Not To Do on a Freakishly Windy Day
1. RIDE YOUR DAMN BIKE. I almost got treebranched to death.
2. Forget to do a survey.
So here’s a survey!
Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?
I don’t have closet doors in my room. But my closets are always closed.
What will you be doing tomorrow?
Hanging out with SEAN!
Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotels?
Nope. My hair needs a special shampoo unless I want it to afro.
What did you do last night?
Good question, I don’t really remember.
What is your plan for the day?
DAY IS OVER! I went to the rec center and tried not to die. Felt really sick today, so treadmilling it wasn’t that good of an idea.
Last song you heard?
Cobrastyle!
When was the last time you talked to your number 2?
Who the hell IS my #2…is it Matt? If so, Sunday.
Have you ever peed in the woods?
Durh.
Is it okay for girls to kiss other girls?
Why wouldn’t it be?
Is Christmas stressful?
My family in close quarters? Yes.
Favorite type of pie?
I don’t like pie.
Have you ever cried while in the shower?
Dudes, do you know me?
Do you wet the toothbrush before the toothpaste?
Indeed.
Did you get a full 8 hours of sleep last night?
Pfft.
When was the last time someone told you, I love you?
To their face? Whenever I last saw my mom. To the empty air of my house? Maybe a few hours ago. I talk to myself a lot.
What is bothering you right now?
My life.
Who was the last person to play with your hair?
Rebeca!
What is your favorite color?
ORANGE, bitches!
Is there a good chance of you going out to the movies soon?
Nah.
Are you easily scared by horror/ thriller films?
Outbreak scared the living hell out of me, but I don’t know if that counts.
If you were given $100, would you spend it or save it?
Probably save it.
Are you listening to music right now?
Ahoy.
Hows the weather today?
Mother Nature wants Moscow to blow off the planet.
Could things possibly get any better?
I can list three things that would make things absolutely excellent.
Looking forward to the next couple months?
BAH.
What are you thinking about right now?
Getting naked.
What’s the greatest thing that happened to you today?
Knowing that I have fun plans for tomorrow. Not passing out.
How many TRUE friends do you have that you can tell anything to?
One? Two?
Have you shaved your legs within the past 3 days?
Yes.
Tell me about the shirt you’re wearing?
It’s orange!
What was the last movie you’ve seen?
Hell if I know.
What’s on your bedroom floor right now?
Um…my bed? That’s about it.
When were you last outside?
This afternoon. Gale force winds + Claudia = hilarity
Does the thought of marriage scare you?
No, ‘cause I know it won’t ever happen.
How many kids do you want?
ZERO
Who was the last person in your bedroom?
Up in Vancouver? My mom
Does your head hurt?
Haha, it’s like the only thing that doesn’t today.
What time did you go to sleep last night?
Like 4 AM.
When’s your Birthday?
February 2
What were you doing before filling out this survey?
Listening to music.
What was the first thing you thought this morning?
I hope the tree doesn’t blow into the house.
What are you going to do this weekend?
No clue.
Are you Irish in any way?
Haha, nope.
What do you want from a relationship?
Trust. Someone to love. Someone to talk to. Nakedness!
Where did you sleep last night?
The couch.
Are you happy right now?
Mmmmmmmmmmmeh.
What color are your eyes?
Hazel.
What’s your weakness?
M&Ms.
Who/what do you hate currently?
Grad school.
Are you afraid of the dark?
Nah.
Ever talked to someone that was drunk?
Hahaha, you forget my roommate situation a year ago.
Why do you think relationships fail?
Because people suck at basic communication.
Did you have a dream last night?
Yes?
Are you currently frustrated with a boy/girl?
Very slightly. I need clear signals!
What are you excited for?
Tomorrow.
Are you a jealous person?
I certainly try not to be.
Did you have a good birthday this year?
NO.
Haha, that ended on a sour note.
Today’s song: The World I Know by Collective Soul (thanks, Rob)
This Week’s Science Blog: The Itty Bitty Proton Committee
So it turns out the world of itty bitty things holds further surprises. The proton is now known to be about 4% smaller than previously thought (radius-wise), which is apparently a big enough deal to warrant concerns about having to recalculate basic physical formulae. Unsurprisingly (as it appears to be something that’s done a lot), scientists discovered this by shooting lasers at stuff—specifically, an exotic hydrogen atom. So why is this a big deal? According to the article, “…either the theory governing how light and matter interact (called quantum electrodynamics, or QED) must be revised, or a constant used in many fundamental calculations is wrong.”
FREAKING PROTONS, MAN, GUMMING UP THE SYSTEM.
Quine would have something major to say about this. Things like this really make me want to go into philosophy of science.
Today’s song: The World I Know by Collective Soul
“I just realized I’m illiterate and now I cacng apbtrtht kd thactgs”
WOOOOOOOOOO it’s been awhile since I’ve danced! Maggie, we missed you!
I’ve also been up for a few days and had to do a garage sale this morning, so my brain wasn’t really working. It was also somewhat awkward since I got felt up by some drunk guy during the first half of the first show (“yer sho frrruckkkkhing bootifull!!!!”) and then I saw Jessica (Rob’s old girlfriend) and had a super weird conversation with her. I think she was there with someone else, though, so that’s good.
Yay for fun times with friends. More Rock Band/alcohol/naked parties need to happen in my basement before I return to Finland. :)
Today’s song: Sleepyhead (Matt Sweeny Remix) by Passion Pit
NEW GOAL
DUDE I would love to have this as my job:
The viewer comments are freaking great on this one.
Food styling’s where it’s at. Apparently to get into the career it’s recommended that you go to culinary school, though, so that dream’s pretty much shot. Either way, though…rockin’.
Today’s song: Party in the U.S.A. by Miley Cyrus (shut up, it’s fun to dance to)
Hindsight also has a great sense of humor
HAHAHA, so I turned on old Vaio this afternoon and got my old MSN Messenger archives off of him. Freaking hilarious. Thus I must bombard you with random quotes.
My logic is bad for my health
Ten fingers, one brain. It’s tough sometimes.
Love is a buffalo sentence
Haha, dude, you don’t need to apologize for not being fat
Would I date this crap?
“And how is this a teen pressure?” “Teens want tasty things”
Relaxing is a pretty foreign activity for me
At the moment, the fact that I can coherent sentences is an amazing feat
Hahahaha, wow
God I hate triangles
This one’s all, “resistance is futile, I’m an isosceles!”
You know why we don’t have any triangular states? ‘Cause they’d be COMMUNIST
North Dakota’s a rectangle, dude
West Virginia: The paralellowhatthefuckgram-shaped state
How many dimensions does my cube have?
Your voice is not puke-colored, don’t worry
Screw you, NASA! I invented the moon
I like to think Dr. Pepper and Sergeant Pepper are brothers or something
Holy crap, Newton has a temperature scale named after him?
Bastard did everything
Quine is impossible to comprehend
He’s like “and here we have the Web of Belief, which works like FARTFARTFARTFARTFART, I’m a genius, the end.”
I’m going to get a PhD in “screw this, I’m going to play Quake”
Sean had to tell me his tales of being Sean
1. Don’t ask me stupid questions 2. Don’t touch me
If you pass out on the orgy couch, bad things will happen
Oh you know I love Leibniz. I WILL MAKE HIM MY COOKIE
YOU CAN TELL I’M RIGHT BECAUSE I FOUND MY CAPS LOCK KEY AND DEPRESSED IT ONCE
I know where the spatulas belong
Sean dissected his electric razor and we shaved a newspaper
Fun fact: Lanky’s height draws the mean height of the house above the rest of us, how sad is that?
Fun times.
Today’s song: Let the Bass Kick in Miami Bitch by Chuckie and LMFAO
This Week’s Science Blog: Rigidity is Fun
This is not technically a science blog, but I figured I should include sexy technology stuff every once and awhile, too. So here’s a cool video:
I love the little shapes they use. This is astounding technology.
That is all.
Today’s song: Where Is My Mind? by Maxence Cyrin
Short Blogs for Short People
I told you this was short.
Today’s song: Suite pour orchestre No. 2 en Si mineur by Richard Galliano
Waiter! There’s a Derivative in my Integral Pie!
Damn, I love the internet.
The link to the original video’s at the start of this one.
I would seriously love studying how these things go viral. Statistical analyses + internet = awesome.
Sorry, slow day.
Today’s song: Pull Shapes by the Pipettes
The United States is a GEEZER
Haha, yay for 4th of July shenanigans. I didn’t take many pictures, but here are a few videos of us being rad.
I love how every time I come back here I make new friends.
Today’s song: Practice Makes Perfect by Cute Is What We Aim For
If an atomic bomb falls in the forest…
Today’s one of those days where I just want to fall off the planet. Ever have those days?
Don’t they blow chunks?
I’m not the “run away from my problems type,” but sometimes it’s the most appealing option I’ve got.
BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH ignore this.
Sorry this is short.
Today’s song: Pas Besoin de Frapper by Sylvain Cossette
OH GOD A TWILIGHT BLOG
Random blog about Twilight ‘cause I heard some people talking about it at the rec center.
I admit that I want to read at least the first book (or at most the first book…from what I’ve heard I’d probably shoot myself if I had to read more than one of them), mainly because it’s such an anti-intellectual dumping ground of stupidity, stalking, dependency, and just overall “what the fuck is this?” that reading it would probably be pretty hilarious.
I watched the first movie on Netflix last summer to see what exactly everyone was adoring/hating. I couldn’t catch if there was a plot or not ‘cause it moved at the pace of a semi-paralyzed snail trying to crawl through molasses, so by the time Edward had taken off his shirt and sparkled like a glitter factory I was half asleep. The only “action” came in like the last fifteen minutes, I’m not even kidding. The rest played out like an instructional video of how to properly stalk in teenage relationships.
I’d like to know what makes people go freak-crazy over Twilight. I remember discussing it briefly at one of our little grad school get-togethers and a few of the ladies were like “oh my god, are we talking about Edward?! HE’S SO FREAKING HAWT!” and it was at that time that I realized that Twilight was essentially like some sort of literary plague.
And that’s pretty freaking depressing. What happened to the desire to read good literature? How is Candide, which is FORTY THOUSAND TIMES AS EXCITING as an emo vampire and his dull girlfriend, not going viral?
Bah.
Today’s song: Cobrastyle by Robyn
Canada Day? More like LEIBNIZ DAY
GUESS WHOSE BIRTHDAY IT IS? (hint: it requires caps lock)
YAY!
Go buy yourselves some Choco Leibniz and do some calculus to celebrate.
Or put on an ostentatious wig, find some guy who looks like Isaac Newton, and have an epic battle in the street.
I’m going to sit here and think Leibniz thoughts for the rest of the afternoon, myself.
Today’s song: Yours to Keep by Teddybears (featuring Paola)
IT’S A TRAP!
Haha, nothing like fun with friends in the basement. And Obama never texted me back, in case you were wondering.
Oh, and here’s the month’s song review:
Graph of genres
Mean song length: 3:37
The five stars: Take It Home by The White Tie Affair and Hey There Mr. by Leisure Alaska
Yay!
Today’s song: Stamp On The Ground (Radio Edit) by ItaloBrothers
:D
Woah.
Today was great.
That is all.
Today’s song: Transistors In My Mind by Leisure Alaska
Florida, you disappoint me
So I was watching CNN (or something) this afternoon and some commercial came on. It started with a pan of some Florida beach with the announcer saying something to the effect of, “I know everyone is concerned about the extent of damage caused by the BP oil spill,” in this serious tone, making it sound as if it’s going to be a “Florida understands the environmental damage occurring and is doing its part to try and help” kind of ad.
Instead, the voice suddenly changes into a happy “but don’t worry, there are still over 200 unaffected Florida beaches, so you can rest assured that your summer beach excursions will not be interrupted. Come to Florida!” Cue pictures of happy people frolicking on Florida beach.
Okay. I understand the needs of the Florida tourism industry to continue to promote their beaches and make it known that the oil spill that is affecting so many things down there is not affecting them—they ARE just making a living, after all—but really? Could they have found a tackier way of saying it? “The oil spill is killing a whole bunch of jobs and animals, but screw that, we’ve got beach volleyball!”
Nice.
Today’s song: Supah Dupah by Sound of Stereo
WOOO USA
HI PEOPLE!
I have returned to the states and am now sitting in my dad’s basement.
We totally need to do something fun while I’m back.
Sorry this is short, it was a long ride down here.
Today’s song: Kids (MGMT cover) by The Kooks
Eigenblogger 