WHAT ARE THE HAPS MY FRIENDS

In Which They're Baaaaaack

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:57:37 GMT

Those laughing girls are here AGAIN. I think they're here every single monday, ugh. I'm about to tell them to get their own study room or something if they're going to be so disruptive. >:(

In Which I Need To Pay Attention To AM and PM

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:41:15 GMT

Nothing quite like waking up at 1:30 because I set my alarm for 9:30 PM by mistake.

Running time!

In Which My Geekdom Helps Me Become Incensed

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:44:14 GMT

http://www.giantitp.com/index.html#MZvsP18xmNXpVDwvCRQ

What the flying hell? Are these people really that stupid? As it said, us filthy heathen satanic D&D players can't help raise money to HELP FEED STARVING CHILDREN?

In Which I Excise Things To Improve Work

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:49:04 GMT

So, I've got an email correspondance going on with my ME80 professor, and amongst other things he told me that I'm not doing so hot in that class. I'm not in danger of failing or anything, but I'm not satisfied with my grade by any means, and between this and the massive timesink that is ME43 I feel like some changes need to be made.

So, I think my first step is going to be deleting every game on my computer. I really don't need the added distraction contributing to my workload, it's just making everything more difficult. I toyed with the idea of deleting my chat program, but I realized that I did actually need that, and I don't feel like it's nearly as major a distraction as the games have been.

If it comes down to it, I know I'm going to wind up absolutely miserable and exhausted until the semester ends, but if that's what it takes... blah.

In Which I Manage To Keep Quiet

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:00:54 GMT

Okay, I know it's not a big deal, but WHY CAN'T PEOPLE LEARN THAT IN A LIBRARY YOU SHUT UP?

People are trying to work in here, and there's this one group of people that WON'T STOP LAUGHING. It's mostly one girl who can't seem to hold it in, and I'm largely mad at her, but why the hell are her friends CONTINUING TO MAKE HER LAUGH?

Honestly, people are working! You're disrupting the entire room with your annoying guffawing. Knock it the hell off.

In Which I Remember What This Place Was Actually Called

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:35:13 GMT

Anyone recall the movie I posted to youtube where I got up at 5AM and cycled around taking pictures?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq-cKMZWtko

Well, I was surfing around looking for stuff about UL and found a word that I remembered my irish friend Huw using: Ardnacrusha.

Turns out Ardnacrusha is the largest hydroelectric power station in Ireland, located on the River Shannon. I also remembered the word Headrace, which I guess is another name for the big canal leading up to to hydroelectric plant.

So I figure, hey, people know about it, why not Google it? To my surprise, I actually found things!

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1379/1454752788_cb09c396e4_o.jpg

That's the fence I climbed over (and had to haul my bike over) to get to the Headrace. There's a little step on the left there, I'm assuming for that purpose. Wouldn't want cows getting through!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/374652711_00cbc809df.jpg?v=0

That's a nice sunset view of the Headrace... I got a few photos similar to that one in that youtube video.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/154/407908712_6cd44789f4_o.jpg

Searched around a bit, that church is the one you can see in one of the photos, again, in that youtube. At least I'm fairly sure it is. I'll have to have another look once I'm on a computer that can do video.

Edit: That church is actually the one I saw, but it's in this video, not the other - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F23ZayQmCEo&feature=related

---------------

The point here, if there is one, is that the area around the Headrace and leading up to it were, essentially, where I went to relax. I started out exploring once just for the adventure of it, and found a few places that I really liked, and the Ardnacrusha Headrace was one of them. It was almost bizarrely peaceful, the quiet of that 5AM morning broken only by the occasional bird, or a lamb complaining noisily about something or another on the other side of the canal. I could have ridden all the way to Clonlara, the town with that church, or all the way to Ardnacrusha itself, which Huw and I later did, circling all the way around into Limerick city and then back to UL (in fact, I think we rode over this bridge: http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/scattery/IMG_0892_1.jpg ). I came back a few times, just sitting and looking at clouds for a good half hour, riding around aimlessly for another hour or two, just seeing what was there, before finally heading back to UL.

I guess I'm just really, almost overwhelmed when I think of it... I never realized it at the time of course, just like my trip to Edinburgh with my friends, but looking back on it, I really did have an amazing experience. Yeah, I am having minor inconveniences at Tufts, what with missing classes that I should have taken last semester. Yeah, I am having to deal with actually being given weekly homework again. But, as eager as I was to get back home while I was over there, I do miss it. I had a virtual countdown in my head, of sorts, reminding myself that I was going to be home in May, and that everything would go back to normal, which would be kind of reassuring. If anything, that made my experience over there almost like a dream... you can tell your friends and family about your dreams, and how amazing XYZ was, and that sort of thing, but they weren't there. They didn't experience it, and it's very frustrating to try and convey what it felt like to be there.

Seeing those pictures just now, I suppose it just really hit me like a wave, almost. I'm NOT the only person who knows about that place, there are other people out there who've seen it, who got to the end of that tree-covered street and saw that gate, who looked down that canal and thought "man, this is beautiful." And somehow, that just really brought the whole thing back, and made it ever so slightly more real. Almost like, now I KNOW I didn't dream the whole thing.

In Which I Get $17 More Per Week

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:53:09 GMT

Just got two more hours at the library on Monday. Woo! I can't imagine it will be any less slow than it tends to be during all my other hours, but at least it will provide me a solid two hours to work on homework :p

Also: holy crap it's windy today. And warm and sunny. What I wouldn't give to be able to go to the beach...

In Which I Award Obama Fifty Points

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:14:36 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXcvbnzNIjg

Nobody says this kind of stuff anymore. It's wonderful to see a politician actually taking a stand against the religious right.

In Which I Try To Get Back Into Posting

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 03:32:44 GMT

So school's started again! Go figure I spend the entire summer NOT posting.

Ordered my textbooks online this year, interestingly I think I only have to buy two books. Cost me less than ONE book would usually cost me, thanks for the tip-off, Ali :)

Other than that... yeah, it's pouring. I had to wade through small streams to get back to my room from Jim's a few minutes ago, it shouldn't take that kind of effort.

Hopefully going to Jim's house tomorrow for a pool party, assuming it doesn't rain. Should be fun though, and then monday is a nice easy-class day!

In Which - Oh By The Way...

Wed, 28 May 2008 18:10:41 GMT

I'm back from Ireland ;D

In Which I Decide To Act Like I'm A Famous Actor

Thu, 08 May 2008 19:28:25 GMT

What is your favorite word?

-Think I'd have to go with "Indubitably."

What is your least favorite word?

-Never liked "malaise."

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

-A really good landscape... lakes, hills, trees, sunsets, oceans...

What turns you off?

-Ugly urban sprawl, I suppose. Dusty dirty dinginess.

What is your favorite curse word?

-The F word is just so very versatile... so very rude, but hey. Gotta be careful not to overuse it like most people do. Save it for effect! :p

What sound or noise do you love?

-Music with certain chord progressions or harmonies. Some just get to me, I'm not sure why.

What sound or noise do you hate?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cVlTeIATBs&feature=related

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

-Pirate. Enough said :D

What profession would you not like to do?

-Watch Dirty Jobs, that'll give you an idea.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

-"Aw hell no, don't worry dawg, we cool."

-----------~-----------

IN OTHER NEWS, I got my lab report for Heat Transfer back, and I got an 80%, which apparently over here is incredibly high. The example they gave of a very good grade was a 31/40, which is a little over a 75%. So all that work paid off!

Also had my Geoscience exam today. Was very easy stuff, the only thing I couldn't remember was the name of one of the three types of light scattering I was talking about, and I still managed to remember what it did. I think I did pretty well... hand hurts though, tons of bloody writing.

In Which I Remember To Say

Tue, 06 May 2008 14:00:06 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=scifisyko

Watch-a mah movies!

In Which I Make Pre-Exam Plans

Thu, 01 May 2008 02:11:17 GMT

Okay, so, I'm going to Carrigaline this weekend to go to a ceili!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceilidh

Doubt I'll be doing much dancing, but I know two of the people in the band (stayed in their house, actually), and it should be very cool.

Also staying at a B&B.

http://www.willowsbb.com

Looks pretty nice... it's not overly cheap, but it's only one night, and I need to relax before finals.

Besides, I'll make the money back this summer. I'm only here for a little longer!

In Which I Add To April 5th's Entry

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:11:41 GMT

This is an article from elsewhere (IE, I didn't write anything after this colon):

According to some local sources, Rep. Davis contacted Rob Sherman to apologize. Rob Sherman's web site agrees and says he accepted her apology:

-------

Yesterday, State Representative Monique Davis (D-Chicago) called me from the Floor of the Illinois House of Representatives to apologize for what she had said to me at last Wednesday's hearing of the House State Government Administration Committee. Rep. Davis had said, among other things, that atheism is dangerous to the progression of the State of Illinois, that children should not be allowed to know that my philosophy (atheism) exists, and that I had no right to testify to any Illinois legislative committee because the People of Illinois believe in God. She concluded by ordering me to "Get out of that seat!"

Some bloggers have asked what I said to instigate Rep. Davis' comments. I was testifying about why the Governor's proposal to donate one million tax dollars to Pilgrim Baptist Church is unconstitutional. Specifically, I was reading, in a very calm manner, from my laptop computer, the words in the March 4th "Latest Update," which appear below and which explains why the proposal to give money to the church is unconstitutional.
Rep. Davis said that she had been upset, earlier in the day, to learn that a twenty-second and twenty-third Chicago Public School student this school year had been shot to death that morning. She said that it was wrong for her to take out her anger, frustrations and emotions on me, and that she apologized to me.

I told her that her explanation was reasonable and that I forgave her. I also suggested that if she really was concerned about public school students dying needlessly, she should look into helping me to get passed legislation to get lap and shoulder seat belts on school busses that is pending in the House and in the Senate.
She thanked me for forgiving her and said that she would look into those two pieces of legislation.

-------

Personally, I think Davis' explanation is pretty thin. Her anger at the shooting may be justifiable, but one could hardly believe it would cause her to suddenly feel prejudice toward atheists. (If it had been a Jewish person testifying before her committee, would she have started shouting, "You Jews believe in destroying!"?) More likely, because she was upset, she let slip a prejudice that she already held. Still, if Sherman accepts it, that's good enough for me.

In Which I Want To Kill Someone But Don't Know Who

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:01:43 GMT

Someone apparently thought it would be really effing funny to mix salt into my hot chocolate powder. So now I have to chuck the whole thing out, as it's completely and totally unusable. Who the hell does that? That's not even REMOTELY funny.

I wanna smack someone, but I have no idea who did it. This really frickin' irritates me.

In Which I Do Another Quiz Thingy

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:13:52 GMT

My Personality


Neuroticism	59
Extraversion	53
Openness to Experience	65
Agreeableness	75
Conscientiousness	51

You very rarely feel depressed and are usually in a good frame of mind, however you experience panic, confusion, and helplessness when under pressure or stress. You lead a leisurely and relaxed life. You would prefer to sit back and smell the roses than indulge in high energy activities. You prefer familiar routines and for things to stay the same. You can tend to feel uncomfortable with change. You are tenderhearted and compassionate, feeling the pain of others vicariously and are easily moved to pity, however you feel superior to those around you and sometimes tend to be seen as arrogant by other people. You take your time when making decisions and will deliberate on all the possible consequences and alternatives.

Take a Personality Test now or view the full Personality Report.

In Which I Discover The Epitome Of Lyric Writing

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:53:04 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32oU8YSFR8E

Watch out Bob Dylan.

The only question I have is... how does one do as this song suggests?

In Which I Hate It When This Happens

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 05:23:49 GMT

It's not so cool planning a day trip to Dublin based on waking up at 6:15 and getting a 7:30 bus from Limerick city center, doing said getting up at 6:15, then checking the timetable for the shuttle from the University into the city center and seeing it doesn't start running until 11:20 on Sundays.

Argh. Guess I'll go to Dublin this Saturday then, when the shuttle runs at 7:00. Back to bed, I guess.

In Which I Clarify

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:19:41 GMT

This is what I was talking about when I was lamenting the loss of Ben Stein's awesome.

http://www.expelledexposed.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiNGK3y5Ypg

"There is no reason why intelligent design proponents cannot follow in the footsteps of these distinguished scientists who overcame sometimes considerable opposition, sometimes for a very long time, before their scientific views prevailed. Unlike ID advocates, these researchers didn’t skip past the research phase to try to influence the public before they had scientific support. None of them formed groups to lobby school boards to teach their views in the public schools; they just buckled down and did the work. None of them drafted model legislation or penned op-eds in newspapers and magazines decrying the supposed persecution they suffered at the hands of The Establishment; they just buckled down and did the work. None of them hired former Nixon speechwriters or game-show hosts to compare their opponents to Hitler; they just buckled down and did the work."

In Which I Regret That I Never Watched Fraggle Rock

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 03:07:36 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep0mjtYTSFo

Magic, magic be with you each morning,
Each evening too,

For the magic, magic is in every moment,
Even in you.

Someday, treasure the moments you're given,
Feel how they flow.

For the magic lives in the moments you're living,
See how they go.

Magic, magic be with you each morning,
Each evening too,

For the magic, magic is in every moment,
Even in you.

Someday, treasure the moments...

Magic, magic be with you each morning,
Each evening too.

For the magic, magic is in every moment,
Magic is true.

How is it that they knew how I'd look at the world this way before I realized it?

In Which I Think I Might Sound Crazy

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 13:04:21 GMT

I would never have guessed that this would be the case, but EVEN THE THUNDER IN IRELAND SOUNDS DIFFERENT.

They don't really get that many thunderstorms... not warm enough I think. But when there is thunder, it doesn't sound like it does in the states. It's much hollower and more echoey. I've only heard it twice while I've been here, but it's definitely different.

How weird is that? :p

In Which I Prove That I'm Not Making It All Up

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:38:29 GMT

http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/04/its-dangerous-for-children-to-know-atheism-exists-says-illinois-state-legislator/

*sigh*

Another kid on Facebook put it well...

"If she said that about jews, there would be a ****ing uproar. If she said that about muslims, there would be an uproar. But atheists aren't people, apparently."

In Which I Hate This Lab Report

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:15:24 GMT

Nothing quite like going over all the math three times and seeing that it's all right, though you're STILL getting the wrong answer. I must be using the wrong equation or something.

In Which Break Ends

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:43:40 GMT

So after I left Edinburgh, it was down to Birmingham to see the Stanleys. Michelle used to babysit me when she was back in the states, so they're all family friends, and I figured I'd go see 'em. Was a lot of fun, we actually went and walked around a massively windy ruined castle instead of Birmingham though XD

After that, I went to Oxford... oh my god, Oxford. I've really never been anyplace like it. It was just so... weird really. First there was the geek factor from The Golden Compass and everything, and seeing places that were in the movie, or were in the book, and knowing that I'd been standing right there where XYZ supposedly happened. I saw the bench from the end of Amber Spyglass, I saw the Camera, all stuff like that.

I think that kind of thing made me more receptive to noticing how special the place really is. There's no other place like it, it's the oldest center of learning in the english-speaking world. It was a city in the year 952, it's unbelievable. And yet there it stands, defying time almost... it's hard to say, there's just this sort of mystical feel to the place, at least for me. The spires are mesmerizing, they look like they just fell through the cracks in time almost... they look especially pretty as it starts to get dark. Seeing the stars behind the Radcliffe Camera and the Towers of Hertford College made me wish I had a camera that could take night shots.

I also got to sit in the Botanic Gardens as the bells of Magdalen College across the street rang for Easter, they went on for hours... it was just so incredibly relaxing and peaceful, transcendent almost. I guess it's sort of this feeling like time doesn't really exist there it's so old and so unchanged, and there's nothing to worry about in a way... it's hard to describe, it's just this weird feeling like Oxford's it's own little world, and I was just sort of visiting it for a little while.

It's like leaving Disney World after a few days... you sort of have this "oh well, back to the real world" feeling... that's what it was like leaving Oxford for me.

Julia and Mela are totally gonna think I'm crazy, but man, it's an amazing place. If you ever, EVER get a chance, go to Oxford. I don't know if you'll react like I did, but if you do you'll be glad you came.

In Which I Post From Edinburgh

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:30:13 GMT

This place is SO FREAKIN' COOL. It's like the city's practically made of towers and spires and steeples and castles... I've never been anyplace like it. The hostel's pretty nice actually, I was surprised... not too many frills, but it still seems very new and is very clean and well kept up.

Should be going around Edinburgh castle tomorrow, I'll have copious amounts of pictures to post!

I just realized, if I like Edinburgh this much with it being... just, really different in a very good way, I wonder if I'm going to have an aneurysm when I get to Oxford :p

Anywoot, catch everyone later!