Here's the somewhat bold daily thought. I intend
to keep up with it, but wish me luck!
The writing and grammar is sometimes poor, 'cause, for the most part, it's typed
once and not prooofred.
"----" denotes a change in train of thought (and there are a lot of those).
Daily Thoughts for November 19, 2005
"New Hosting, New Organization"
So I've actually gotten around to doing a reorganization of the website.
Daily Thoughts for April 11, 2005
"Very Un-daily Thoughts"
yeah - i suck.
Daily Thoughts for November 11, 2004
"Getting it Together"
Started the new job. It's keeping me busy but I think I'm really going to like it. The place is very laid back, which I like. People even bring their dogs to work. There's a lot to learn right now, so I'm feeling overwhelmed, but no more than is expected, I think.
Daily Thoughts for October 23, 2004
"Job Searching Sucks..."
that is all.
Daily Thoughts for September 23, 2004
"And the Summer Comes to a Close"
Here's the update: Worked on my thesis like mad until early
July. At which point I was supposed to have a bunch of meetings and make a
bunch of revisions with my thesis advisor, but it turns out that he was out
of town -- in France, specifically. So I did my best to get the thing completed
as best I could so that when he returned, it would be ready to turn in. Well,
he didn't get back until just a few days before I needed to turn it in, so
there were some rushed revisions, but in the end, I turned in the thesis on
time. Done! At that point, the only thing left for me to complete in my college
career is a trip to Thailand. That day, I got a phone call inviting me to be
the student marshall for the college of engineering (kind of like valedictorian)
but I had to decline because, hey, I'll be over 10,000 miles away during graduation.
I could have changed some things and stayed, but the decision was easy... stand
around at graduation or be in Thailand.
No contest.
----
Thailand was incredible. One of the most remarkable experiences of my entire
life. I truly believe that this was the most valuable educational experience
of my college career, and I cannot believe that I almost considered myself
a college graduate without this experience. Pictures are now online, and a
fairly detailed description of events is on the way. While I was in Thailand,
I kept a journal and filled around a hundred pages (don't worry though, the
online version is heavily cut down). See the Pictures section of this website.
----
Thought on communication: It's amazing and beautiful how people write poetry,
or make artwork, or write stories, or simply talk -- all to try and explain
themselves. To be understood. Everyone is lonely and each person has the desire
to explain him or herself. Probably, that is part of the reason I keep this
website (rarely as I update it).
Daily Thoughts for May 31, 2004
"More of a Slacker than I Thought"
Amazing how busy I've been, even now that I'm out of school. ---- So here's the update: Graduating in August of 2004. The reason for the delay is that I'm taking the summer to complete my honors thesis and to go to Thailand (and the honor's college will pay for the trip to Thailand - how sweet!) The plane trip on the way there is 15 hours and 40 minutes.. so that's going to suck, but otherwise it should be very sweet and I'll be sure to post pictures when I get back. ---- UPDATES: New pictures, some new hidden away things, etc.
Daily Thoughts for March 24, 2004
"A Daily Thought Slacker"
Apparetly... Been busy lately with projects and work and *stuff*. ---- Went to the Bahamas for spring break. Was awesome. There'll definitely be some pictures posted on here... eventually. Check out the spring break link in the pictures section for a past-year's spring break story and pictures to the not-so-sunny Canada. ---- Now, however, I'm wretchedly poor and eating all of the old, weird cans in the back of the pantry (like a can of jellied Cranberry sauce). Maybe I'll start a tele-thon? Imagine: "Just five dollars a day will feed this poor college student." Accompanied by a pouting picture of me with a photo-shopped ultra-skinny middle. Hmm, maybe when I get time I'll make a picture like that just for fun. Right... when I get time. That's pretty funny. ---- Goodnight!
Daily Thoughts for January 27, 2004:
"Snow Day"
You know what I miss? Snow days. You rarely get them in college, of course, and it's such a bummer. Those random days to do whatever you choose... we should have them more often, and not just for snow. Wouldn't it be great if some high government official (we could create an office just for this and fund it with millions of dollars, just to make the government happy) would come on the TV, randomly, at 5am EST and say, "My fellow Americans, take today off!" Then they could play it over and over again all day (the TV people get to go home too). Whadaya think?
Daily Thoughts for January 22, 2004:
"Moo"
See subject. ---- I saw the Daily Show tonight on Comedy Central. John McCain was a guest on the show and he was totally ripping on politics - even his own party! Mr. McCain, I'm impressed. It seems like no one can ever say anything bad about *their* side of the political spectrum. Talk to a Democrat - Clinton was great, and who cares about lies, lack of moral fiber, letting people buy their way out of prison. Talk to a Republican - Bush isn't stupid, he's just got communication issues (HA!), so what if we never found any weapons of mass distruction, so what if we're running a friggin huge deficit. -- A little bit of honesty and humor in politics (even for your own side, gasp!) is badly needed. I haven't closely looked at everything that McCain stands for so I can't be sure that I would have voted for him, but my god, I wish he'd run in 2000 instead of Bush - it would have made that election so much more interesting.
Daily Thoughts for January 18, 2004:
"A new year, and a last semester."
I'm hoping to enjoy my classes this semester - something I haven't even dreamt of in the past few semesters.. I really hope that I'm not disappointed. ---- Looks like I may be traveling over the summer for a few weeks. I need to get one more honors credit, and I can get it by traveling (how sweet!) ---- People sometimes confuse strength of belief with close-mindedness. The two are not the same, however. A person can have strong beliefs because he or she has thought deeply about a subject and/or argued that subject with many people. In doing so, this person's belief and the reasoning behind it has been refined. It would be difficult to shake that person's belief in the subject, because he or she has strong evidence in support of that belief. An argument with that person can be frustrating, however, because he or she seems to have a rebuttal to every point. The one arguing with this person may, in frustration, exclaim that it is close-mindedness that makes the conversation so frustrating. But, a close-minded person does not try to rebut arguments at all. In fact, the close-minded person attempts to avoid any discussion of the disputed topic for fear that someone may say something intelligent and against his or her beliefs. (This isn't to say that close-minded people do not want to talk about the subject - they just doesn't want to listen). However, someone who believes something strongly, but is not close-minded, will most likely be happy to discuss the topic. He or she will be able to explain why arguments that oppose his or her view are incorrect. This person is glad for the opportunity to test his or her arguments about the subject, and, in the case that a new argument is introduced, this person will either come up with a new argument (which further refines his or her belief in the subject) or will realize this new information as a flaw in their reasoning and change their viewpoint (and is not close-minded). ---- Someone should come up with an asexual pronoun, instead of having to say "he or she" all the time (and "one" doesn't always cut it). I propose "xe" (pronounced like the "si" in "Asia" plus "ee")
Daily Thoughts for December 23, 2003: "The Ground Thaws."
Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, and an otherwise Happy Winter Solstice.
Daily Thoughts for November 27, 2003: "Happy Turkey Day"
I love Thanksgiving. I love turkey and stuffing and cranberries and sweet potatoes and mmmmm.... I think I may need to hit the fridge for leftovers... ---- I really never update this site... sigh. New on the site: a couple of pictures pages, some quotes, some materials, some organizational improvements. ---- Can't believe I'm a college senior... I really have no idea what I'm going to do next year. Grad school? A Job? A Career? Eep.
Daily thoughts for September 11, 2003: "Two Years"
Amazing that two years ago, we all sat in front of our televisions, amazed, saddened, frightened. Amazing what has happened in the time following the attack. Good things have come of bad... but also bad things have come out of it. I'm not sure how I feel about our occupation in Iraq, but I do know that I find it horrible to realize that our military in Afghanistan and in Iraq has killed far more innocent civilians than the Americans that died in the two towers. Because they are Arab, however, it seems to be okay with everyone. We must remember that each of those who died had friends and family who mourn for them. Many had a wife, a husband, a mother, a child, who cries every night to be without their loved one. Many of these people will forever hate the America that took that person from them. Many will choose the terrorism that so escalated the conflict. Whatever our purpose, whatever our cause, we are spawning new hatred. Perhaps, if there were weapons of mass destruction, this negative effect could be justified in its protection, but now there is evidence that perhaps there were no weapons. Two years later, we mourn the loss of thousands of Americans. Let us also mourn the death of countless Arabs, and let us do whatever necessary for peace. ---- unrelated: Check the mail section for a fun little addition.
Daily Thoughts for August 31, 2003: "Here we go again"
It's time to start another school year. This one is going to be rather crazy, since there are quite a few things going on. Directing Working, kayaking lessons and a reorganization of the club, working ten hours a week, a full course load, and acting in a soap opera (yes, you heard right). I think I must enjoy losing sleep. ---- I schedule for my last semester on Tuesday - before I even take any of my classes for this semester. Bah. ---- Due to popular request, the daily thoughts won't have a scroll bar anymore. ---- A good recent Mad Libs: "Oh what twats these mortals be." Just beautiful. ---- I added a couple of chapters to the Ideal REAL section of the site, but it's not near to completion. I don't think I realized how hard it is to go from a collection of notes to something that is readable and also interesting enough to warrant reading. In any case, take a look at it and let me know what you think with the Thought Board.
Daily Thoughts for August 15, 2003: "Working"
Work has been, well, pissin' me off. There's really no one to blame for it. My boss has been dealing with some family emergencies, but it sure does get frustrating because I never get the chance to ask any questions, and the stuff I'm working on right now is stuff that I would need to take probably four classes to be up to date with. As a result, I end up wasting tons of time. It's no wonder that our defense budget is so high. (I work for ARL, funded mostly by the Navy.)
Daily Thoughts for June 29, 2003: "What to do?"
Usually, we know the right and wrong actions to take when problems arise. Sometimes we even choose the wrong answer, just because. That's one of the beautiful things about being human. We can have all the information lined up before us, yet still choose against it - just because. What happens, though, when we cannot tell which answer is right, and which wrong? When there is some other force that controls both our rational and emotional faculties? A mental illness can do just that - even the "minor" illnesses: depression, eating disorders, anxiety attacks, even phobias. Our ability to decide correctly based on our thoughts and feelings is destroyed, yet we still believe that it exists. That, perhaps, is the most dangerous part of a mental illness - the belief that a person's old methods of digesting information will remain intact. Example: A person with an eating disorder will honestly state that they do not feel hungry. The feeling is instead replaced with a strong sense of accomplishment. What their old sense of reasoning believes is a good sensation is instead leading the person astray. What to do then? A continual reassessment of self will probably help, but may not be enough, since there's no guarantee that the self is fit to do the assessment. The only answer, then, is the assessment of trusted others. Without that trusted backup, a person could slip even to insanity without ever knowing. ---- (on a totally different vein) I went horseback riding yesterday for the first time in about four years. I'd forgotten how much fun that is (and how much it makes your ass hurt).
Daily Thoughts for June 1, 2003: "Chicken Mc-Kozma, European Style"
And French fries with mayonnaise. ---- how's that for a quality daily thought.
Daily Thoughts for May 18, 2003: "Thinkin'.."
I think that sometimes people make decisions based on what they "think is right" that are really based on what the world will view as right. There are occasions where a person will "know" what is "right" to do, but will, instead, do what is popular, and popularly rewarding... (this is not so profound a statement, I know) - my point is that this person will then claim - and believe themselves - that their actions were based solely on the idea of "doing right." -- It's difficult to know, sometimes, what exactly the motivations are for our actions. Next time you're not sure why exactly you do what you do, try avoiding the reward - see if you still want to do it. ---- I went and saw the second "Matrix" movie this past Thursday. It was excellent, but quite different than the first one. I think that one thing that really made the first movie so intriguing was the fact that the audience didn't know what was going on until it was revealed.. there was a lot of mystery. The second movie explained much of that mystery. The effects, of course, were astounding.
Daily Thoughts for May 13, 2003: "Summer!"
Haven't updated in some time - the end of the semester was wretchedly busy, as always.
Daily Thoughts for March 30, 2003: "My Brain Hurts"
See Subject.
Daily Thoughts for March 25, 2003:
Added Member Pages. ---- I've been doing too much homework lately... I have no thoughts. bummer.
Daily Thoughts for March 24, 2003: "Working"
Why is this a dot-com? Why not? Hmm... Maybe I'll sell T-Shirts. ---- It has been decided - Working will be performed! I had a meeting with people who are interested on Sunday, and we're going to go ahead and make this a reality. I'm both excited and worried about the work ahead. This show is quite a bit more extravagant than No Refund Theatre shows generally are - I'm sure there will be those who doubt it will happen... but it will.
Daily Thoughts for March 19, 2003: "War and Peace?"
Peace.
Daily Thoughts for March 16, 2003: "random rant"
I saw a preview today for a new movie where Chris Rock runs for president. Now, I haven't seen the movie, but I really don't like this idea. First of all, like anyone wants Chris Rock in a position of power... And second, I find it insulting to black people. I'm not even black and I find it insulting to African Americans. The reason is that the preview makes a big deal out of the fact that the presidential candidate is black and shows him mixing music and dancing to hip hop in the white house with a bunch of old white ladies. Chris Rock seems to imply that it's impossible to think of a black president seriously. "Look everyone! An uncultured black president!" As thought there aren't respectable African Americans in government. Everything with Chris Rock and many black comics especially has to be a black/white cultural issue. I think that if we could just stop talking about it for five friggin minutes, we'd all be better off. Switch your TV to BET (black entertainment television) sometime and if there's a black comedy show on and the comic isn't saying something comparing white people and black people, I'll pass out. Imagine if a white comic did a routine about how black people are different... he'd be booed of the stage. (unless, he's talking about how blacks are better at basketball or something).
I wish people would just forget that skin color "meant" anything.
Daily Thoughts for March 15, 2003: "Ecky ecky neeeiboing"
You're life is more than your resume, damn it! I think I may need to expand on that, eventually. I don't know about you, but I hate it when someone says that I should do something because "it looks good on your resume." In fact, those words usually counts for points against me doing something.
Daily Thought for March 14, 2003: "Just Call Me Seňior Chipmunk"
One thing about getting your wisdom teeth out... it greatly improves one's godfather impressions. I've been laying around a lot... eating sherbet and watching movies. ---- Nothing terribly interesting to say today - I'm just happy to have a bit of time to actually write a thought!
Daily Thought for March 11, 2003: "Ugh!"
I really should stop calling this the "daily thought" ---- I'm getting my wisdom teeth out tomorrow and I'm not looking forward to it. It is currently about 5am. I think I'm hoping that if I don't go to sleep, it won't be tomorrow. Ah well. I got a lot of website things done today. ---- Check out website mail if you haven't recently - there's a neat one at the bottom. ----
Daily Thought for February 28, 2003: "Coincidence"
Why is it that things always seem to happen together? Whenever things are going well, they go really well, and whenever there are problems, it seems like they're everywhere. It's probably just because once things start to go wrong, we see them everywhere, but it sure does seem like it's just random chance. ---- It's been a hell of a long time since there was a daily thought. Once this website is up and running, I'm going to update more often (at least as often as the old website, although, that's not saying much). ---- Take a look around and let me know what you think. Sign the guestbook too :-) Oh, and check out the "Thought Board" - it's coo, yo.
Daily Thoughts for December 31, 2002: "And Now For Something Completely Different"
This is the last daily thought in the old format. The new daily thoughts will be on the front page. I'll still archive them like this though. ---- There's a whole bunch of things I never got around to putting in a daily thought and that I made a note of. One of those notes says: "rubber band tummy." I have no idea what this means but it was probably the end to all world war... ---- New Stuff: I'm going to be in an NRT play next semester (yes, actually acting in for a change). I play a misogynistic bastard magistrate who (like the rest of the people in the play) is horny as hell. It's going to be great. My favorite line is, "(staring at the goddess) Good God! This erection is killing me!" wow. ---- Directing was awesome, and recently I've thought about the experience more. There are many things that I loved and many things that I would do differently. I suppose that's par for a first-time director. I'm going to have to decide on another play to direct eventually. It sure was tough though. One morning I received 20 emails before 10 am, and 50 by that evening. Only a small few were junk mail. ---- After everyone leaves the venue and the whole theater is quiet, there's this incredible presence that a theater has. An explosive silence. It's as though every show ever performed within those walls has been absorbed within them and if you listen very quietly, you can hear the laughter, cries, and applause of a thousands of audiences, actors, directors. ---- I'm the new president of the kayaking club, which means that I have the keys to the Nat (the pool and rec. center), muahahahahaaa!! ---- I wrote down "freshstart," but I don't remember why. ---- I got a new guitar as a gift and it is awesome. It's a Larrivée, which is a brand that I'd never heard of previously, but which I looked up and I couldn't find a single review that said anything bad, and for good reason. It so rocks. It has a cutout and electronics, so I may have to start learning how to solo. ---- A long while ago, Joe, my roommate, made cookies with double the butter (by accident - let it be known that I still make fun of him for it to this day) and they looked and tasted like the cookies from west halls. No wonder west cookies are so good. ---- I've been very disappointed with my major. I think that the faculty and students all have this attitude of, "let's just get through this so we can make money." No one really cares to understand or to teach. I've made some comments (politely) when things have been really bad... I don't think I have many friends among the faculty. ---- I had an interesting class last semester. Interesting is a nice way to describe it, I suppose. In actuality, it was painfully boring. I did however learn a lot. For example, I can do the "15 tile" puzzle on my palm pilot in under 30 seconds every time - once I was even faster than 15 seconds. There was a girl ("my god," you say, "a girl in a comp sci class?") who was doing a care bears coloring book. I thought that was pretty cool and said as much. She looked up with a happy little innocent grin and said, "it's the only way I don't kill him." How cool. I took to writing a daily suicidal thought in my notebook, such as: "What if, in the middle of a boring lecture, I jumped out of the window. What an impact!" See, it's funny because I meant impact both in my bodily impact with the ground and also the psychological impact it would have on the class and professor... nevermind. :-) ---- Happy friggin New Year!
Daily Thoughts for December 19, 2002: "End of Semester!"
YAY! ---- Turbotville? Yes, that's where I was at about 3 in the morning the day after finals. Someone said "road trip!" we started driving and somehow ended up in Turbotville. But hey, Turbotville is a good place for buying soup in a cup and ice cream (why not?). ---- Also, there's another philosophy paper online. I've been writing them in a manner that is hopefully accessible to people who don't know anything else about Asian philosophy - let me know if you like it.
Archives:
| 2002-2005 | |
| Semester 5: | May - December, 2002 |
| Semester 4: | January - May, 2002 |
| Semester 3: | August - December, 2001 |
| Summer 1: | June - August, 2001 |
| The Original News Page | |
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