Strange New World

So kids these days gain weight over summer break...sad commentary on kids' lives, if you ask me.

Back in The Day, I always gained a little weight over the winter, because I was stuck inside instead of running wild in the woods/around the neighborhood until dusk.

Summer time was a time to be outside every waking moment until your parents dragged you in the house kicking and screaming after the streetlights came on. They had to hose off the layer of grime and dirt you picked up, playing in the creek or exploring the woods or playing kickball or whatever.

Now I guess kids are inside watching TV and playing video games all summer. Not quite their fault, since most parents won't let their kids out of sight for fear they'll be kidnapped and assaulted.

Youth is truly wasted on the young.

La Da Di, La Di Da

Haven't blogged much, which is partly due to the Horrific Winter Storm of February, 2007. We got some ice, we got some snow. My building never lost power, although it did flicker quite a bit. Other people weren't so lucky, and there was an emergency shelter in town here.

What I did lose was the internet. The horror of it all. One whole day without email or news about Britney Spears--I mean, I could barely cope. So what did I do? Study and write papers and be a good little student?

Nope, I watched Sopranos DVDs. The more I watch them, the more continuity issues I notice...especially if you watch from season to season. But whatever. I was wrapped up in a blanket, munching popcorn. Worse ways to spend a crappy Saturday.

I should have worked, but the store was closed down before I had to go in. Heh.

Not much else to report from here, been plugging along on my schoolwork despite the evidence to the contrary displayed above. What's new with you?

Oh, and go buy this book.

I Don't Get It

This.

"It's 100 percent voluntary, so if the passenger doesn't feel comfortable with it the passenger doesn't have to go through it," Melendez said.

...

"It does provide a higher level of security," Mitchell said.

If it's voluntary, how does it provide better security? Unless we're assuming people with weapons will opt for x-ray instead of pat-down? Which why would they do if they realize the "higher level of security" is due to the implicit statement here that the pat-down is not as effective?

I'm guessing it won't be voluntary for long.

Inside the Box

I have to write a fairly hefty research paper for one of my classes this semester, and I've been trying to come up with a topic that would be interesting to both myself and the instructor. Plus I like to be slightly "outside the box" and look at angles other people don't usually consider.

Tonight I had an "ah-ha!" moment and came upon a topic I thought would work. I pulled out the guideline sheet, and sure enough...under the possible topic ideas, there it was.

So much for thinking it was a fairly unique angle. Hmph.

Free Advice

Sick of the paparazzi stalking your every move? Are they driving you to a breakdown?

I have the solution. If you follow these steps, your life will be much less, umm, chaotic.

Ready?

Step one: Go home.

Step two: Stay there.

I'm a Jerk in My Head

To go to the library or to stay here at home...

There is someone snoring down the hall, and this has led the downstairs neighbor to retaliate with loudish music. We have thin walls. And floors.

It is frigging cold outside, and I haven't done anything with myself today but put my hair in a ponytail. I can throw a hat on, but need at least lipstick and mascara. And it's freaking cold outside.

Warm inside.

Daytona 500 is over, but still too many distractions here. Like, say, blogging.

(Holy crap, how about that Daytona 500 finish?!)

Parking isn't free unless I want to walk in the frigging cold...or unless I stay until midnight.

(Btw, Britney Spears is just an attention whore. Why else would you make a big production of shaving your head, instead of doing it at home? She's not completely insane--just an attention whore.)

All I really want to do is take a nap. I was rudely awakened this morning by someone who needed to be driven to the emergency room. I mean, what am I? An ambulance service now? (My empathy is inversely proportional to my workload. Yes, I am a horrible person for thinking like that, but I drove and held hands and whatnot. I personally didn't think it merited a trip to the ER, but whatever. And now some snoring person is here who doesn't belong here and I will be annoyed later when I am trying to sleep...I have an exam tomorrow, people.) If I'm at the library, I am less likely to give in to pillow temptation.

Hmph. Guess I'll go...the fresh air will do me good.

Most Excellent

Heh.

Mammoth Teeth

Have I mentioned lately how much I love playing with fossils?

I always kind of drag my feet about going to my Paleo lab, because it's 2 hours long and it's held after a lecture that puts me to sleep. But it's always so cool...just because of the chance to handle these amazing items.

Mammoth teeth, mastodon teeth, giant beaver skulls...you so wish you were me.

Another Exciting Day

To cap off an unbelievably exciting weekend.

Worked until 5ish, went straight to the library, stayed there until parking became free (after midnight, no lot attendant).

Can say I got a ton done. Finished notes on a 700-page book that I was halfway through (first half done yesterday), and almost completed notes on a 350-page book. Will finish that one tomorrow for sure.

It's all research for a semester-long project. I'm not sure how useful it will all be, because I'm kind of shooting in the dark right now. Meeting on Friday will give me better direction, I hope. I was given pretty vague perimeters to start with. Will present my vague report, and we'll decide on issues/people we want to flesh out better.

Gotsta sleep now.

Sizzle, Sizzle

Had to work this morning at 8ish, then went straight to the library to camp out and be productive. I was there for 6 hours, and wanted to stay longer to get more done, but I was experiencing significant Brain Fry.

Now I'm home, trying to alleviate Brain Fry with the internet and it's not working. Must sit in front of the television instead, I guess.

It's Saturday. I'm a wild one. Whoo!

Bleh

Sometimes it is so cold for so long that all you want to do is curl up under a blanket and sleep until spring.

I wish I was a bear. Hibernation. Good stuff.

Can't Say I'm Shocked

That game sucked.

(sniffle!) Bears. (sniffle!)

Waiting on the World to Change

This song makes me so angry when I hear it on the radio...

"Waiting On The World To Change"

Me and all my friends
We're all misunderstood
They say we stand for nothing and
There's no way we ever could

Now we see everything that's going wrong
With the world and those who lead it
We just feel like we don't have the means
To rise above and beat it

So we keep waiting
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting
Waiting on the world to change

It's hard to beat the system
When we're standing at a distance
So we keep waiting
Waiting on the world to change

Now if we had the power
To bring our neighbors home from war
They would have never missed a Christmas
No more ribbons on their door
And when you trust your television
What you get is what you got
Cause when they own the information, oh
They can bend it all they want

That's why we're waiting
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting
Waiting on the world to change

It's not that we don't care,
We just know that the fight ain't fair
So we keep on waiting
Waiting on the world to change

And we're still waiting
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting waiting on the world to change
One day our generation
Is gonna rule the population
So we keep on waiting
Waiting on the world to change

We keep on waiting
Waiting on the world to change

Yes, by all means, sit on your couch watching cartoons and whining instead of doing anything about all the wrongs you perceive in the world around you. That sounds like the best possible course of action.

John Mayer, I hate your damned song. What kind of passive, lame bullshit is that?! You are an effing retard. No wonder you and Jessica are dating. I really hope the two of you refrain from merging genetic material, as I am sure that your dumb asses would start the devolution of human society.