Strider's Blog

Do I dare?

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:09:00 +0000

*slowly ventures back into the world of blogging*

wow...not much going on, eh?

So...I'm in school...dropped university symphony to take the honors section of my Concepts in the Biomedical Sciences course. I think it's been worth it. The class involves freshman research, and is the only class at MSU to do that, and MSU is one of only three universities to do freshman research. So...basically for the last ten weeks I've been isolating, amplifying, cloning, and inserting a gene from Tetrahymena thermophila, - a pond organism - into E. coli cells. This will allow research to be done on this gene, which is a homolog to the Sirtuin 2 gene in homo sapiens, which regulates ...something with cell life longevity, and gene transcription silencing or something. Still working on that part. :p Anyways, different projects can then be done on the Ttherm gene to figure out what it does, and to make relevant generalizations to the Sirtuin2 gene in humans. It's actually related to cancer research, believe it or not.

As of now, I have A's in all of my classes. In fact, I have set the curve for both exams in psychology, and I have a 115% average in that class. Praise my God. :) BMS and Chemistry are both bordering on the "A" line, and my religions class (don't take religion at a state school, btw), is 94%, I think.

So...there's a quick update..enjoy!

The Interminable Wait

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 01:36:00 +0000

H.O.L.Y. C.O.W. Talk about taking a while between blog posts. :p Aunt Kady, this post is for you! ;)

Okay, so I ended up purchasing the Asus EEE PC 1005ha netbook. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220551 I also purchased a Samsung external CD/DVD player with USB power since no netbooks come with an internal media drive. After about a week of having it, I went ahead and upgraded to 2gb of memory from the stock 1gb. Total, the netbook/accessories have cost $465. Mom and dad paid for about half of that for my birthday/graduation gift. It's a pretty sweet little thing, and it runs most of the games I own. Unfortunately, the native screen resolution is 1024x600 (widescreen), and most games don't look too good in that resolution. I have an 17in CRT monitor at home that I use as my external monitor. It's not the best looking monitor, so I hope to upgrade come Christmas time with a 20" LCD flat panel monitor, saving room on my desk and making the screen look a TON better. As far as system capabilities go, I can run my chat client, watch a Hulu.com video and browse the internet all at the same time. Occasionally the Hulu.com video will run a bit choppy, but if I pause it and let it buffer, it's okay again. Just watching the Hulu.com video, it never has problems.

Okay, enough about that...

I am in NY right now. Over the weekend my family helped my brother move up to Buffalo, NY so he can attend the school there in hopes of obtaining his Ph.D. in chemistry. After getting him settled, my parents, two younger sisters, and I crossed the state and came to Long Island, where my grandparents live. *waves hi to grandparents* We are spending about a week here before heading back to Missouri.

And on to school..
I have no idea what the last thing I said about school was. I received a $500 scholarship from the Medical Explorers group I am in at the hospital towards my school fees, plus I received a $500 scholarship from Southwest Home Education Ministries for use towards the same end. I went through the Student Orientation, Advisement, and Registration program at school (freshman orientation), and have registered for all my classes for the fall. I am taking Concepts of Biomedical Sciences, General Chemistry 1 for the science major, Introduction to Psychology, Literature and World of the Old Testament (honors), University Symphony, and Introduction to University Life (honors) for a total of 16 credits. To be technical, provided I do not drop a class this semester, I will be a Sophomore at the end of this fall semester, with 30 credits to my name.

And for the future...
I am contemplating a mission trip to Haiti next summer. I have yet to actually talk to the missionaries my family knows down there about that, but my parents and I are praying about it. I'll probably email the missionaries when I get back home from NY, if not while here. I'll keep you updated on this item, and we'll see if it goes anywhere. I was challenged to go on another missions trip by a friend...it struck me as odd that even though I consider "missions" to be a large part of my calling by Christ, I've only been on two missions trips in my whole life. To be fair, I DO consider doing music and preaching at the local mission to be "missions" work, but I feel called to foreign missions...anyways, I felt very strongly that I should again pursue some overseas missions work. So...we'll see what happens. :)

Okay, that's enough for now. Sorry again for the lengthy wait between posts.
Laterz,
Siah

Scholarships and PC's

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Sun, 24 May 2009 18:03:00 +0000

OH! One thing I forgot to mention....I was selected to be the recipient of this years Medical Explorer Senior Scholarship. It's a $500 award, deposited into your student account at whatever institution you are planning on attending. It's awarded based on academic achievement, community service, and evidence of leadership. I was pretty stoked about getting that one. So I've got another $1000 in my student account at MSU in addition to my scholarships...I'll probably either save it for a couple of years and buy a really nice MacBook, or use it on food when I'm practically living at school.

Oh, speaking of MacBooks and computers...I'm debating between getting a Netbook (mini-laptop) or a real Laptop (like as a replacement desktop) or a Netbook and a Desktop...or other various combinations of those 3 items...

A netbook would be very handy for school. It weighs an average of 3 lbs, and is about 10-11 inches diagonally. It's excellent for word processing, email, and internet. It's media processing ability is below-par. Hard drive size is around 120-160 GB. Average cost of a decent netbook, outfitted, is $450.

A Desktop is great for at home use. It allows for games, hi-speed internet, word processing, and a myriad of other things, such as media work. It's the fastest option in processing power, and will have the largest hard drive (600-800 GB). Average cost, $750.

A Laptop would most likely be used as a desktop replacement. It would be powerful enough to play games and work with media, but also portable enough to take to school. It would be about 9 lbs, and measure anywhere from 15-18 inches diagonally. It's not quite as fast as the desktop, but still is decent, and will have a medium sized hard drive (320gb). It runs about $1000-1200 on average.

Then of course, through all of this, is the eager waiting for the new Windows 7 OS to come out...it runs with half the processing power that Vista requires, and from talk from Beta users, runs better with the un-finished Beta then Vista does fully updated.

Finals, and WHAT is Research, Pt. 1

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Sun, 24 May 2009 17:16:00 +0000

To Ms. Laura....I'll eventually get around to answering your question that you asked regarding "research" on my last post.

Finals are over. I got a B in Calculus 1 and an A in English Composition 2. I was rather excited about both. Going into my english final, I had only recieved 3/5 papers back from the teacher. So I only knew that I had an 82.5% average for my papers. I really wasn't sure what my grades were in the class, because he wouldn't tell us a lot about how attendance and in-class work affected our grades...but apparently I did good enough, cause I got an A. Calculus 1 I was also very excited about. I had to get a 69% on the final to get a B, which I apparently got....I wish you could see the final, and see what score you really made, etc....

My senior recital is coming up rather quickly. Very scary, actually... 6 days. I have a total of 7 solos and 2 duets...solos have to be memorized...I can ...get through all but two of the solos by memory...but only 2 fairly decently. I'll make it, I know..it's just nervewracking. My hands were swollen so bad on Tuesday. I couldn't hardly grip anything or make a fist with either hand. It wasn't too hot. lol But they are better now, and I'm back to practicing and staring at my music for a few hours a day.

Okay...now...MY view of Research....
I saw "research" as....mm...an exploring of a topic, and then writing my conclusion about that topic. So, in the case of home schooling which I wrote about (and I believe I have posted on my other blog), I wrote my conclusion, based on a question that I asked at the beginning to get me jumpstarted. My question was "Is home schooling effective?" I looked at the history of homeschooling, the legality of homeschooling, the cirriculum available to homeschoolers, the academic acheievements of homeschoolers compared to their public school counterparts, the success of graduates after high school, and the satisfaction of homeschooled graduates and their parents after homeschooling. I came to the conclusion that "Yes, home schooling is a generally effective method of schooling, and has higher average academic achievement rating then other methods of home schooling." This view I expressed in my paper, not really including other viewpoints or bringing any "other sides of the arguement" into play. This was mainly because there WASN'T a lot of good evidence against home schooling. It was mostly people calling it "child abuse" and ranting about how "homeschoolers aren't socialized, won't know how to function in the real world, etc"....actual evidence (usually done scientifically, or using psychological studies, see Dr. Brian Ray, etc) goes directly against these claims. So in my paper, which is essentially my conclusion of the research I've done, I ignored these false claims, and only used evidence which actually had something to back it up.

I'll get to the "school" version of research in my next post....

Piano Papers...

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:06:00 +0000

I have a piano recital tomorrow. And for once, I actually made it TWICE through my song at my piano lesson today (by memory)...this is unheard of. Usually I memorize my song at the recital itself. They have this little piano upstairs.............

I'm playing The Easy Winners, by Scott Joplin. It's pretty cool, although playing 5+ minute rag wears on your arms.

The Evangel University Garage Sale "starts" tomorrow. By "starts," I mean that the helpers involved with the garage sale start to clean out the dorms and sort different items. It's an event that lasts till Tuesday evening. Then on Wednesday, the sale REALLY starts. The nice thing about working and helping out is that if you see something you want while items are being placed out in the gym area, you can grab it and set it aside, purchasing it on Tuesday...so you basically get first pick on stuff. I can only help on Saturday, since I have a large amount of school to do in the next two weeks.

Speaking of school....I have two english papers (one of which is for the final) and two calc tests (one of which is the final) to do within the next 2 weeks. Oh. Boy.

Oh, and I got a grade back on my Research Paper...an 85%...not so good. I mean, It's okay, but still not what I wanted. I had NO grammatical or syntax errors, only an apparently total mis-understanding of what "research" is...*sighs*...

SHEM recap, and the next week in preview..

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 16:50:00 +0000

The SHEM convention is over. A rumor I heard from a board member said that there were between 1350 and 1500 attendees at the convention. Those numbers are up slightly from last year. The convention this year did not seem to be nearly as busy and packed, at least at the registration table...

Friday night, I "graduated." Sort of. Mom and Da handed me my diploma, but it was unsigned. My Da stated that before they would sign it, I had to "finish my school, including American Government and Spanish 2." So technically, I'm not graduated. And I have no excuse to skip on those classes either. ;)

Saturday at the convention was fairly boring for me. I got reassigned to the back loading dock of the convention hall. There were some parking issues that I had to make sure didn't occur. I spent over 10 hours back there, mostly by myself. The take-home calc quiz got worked on quite a bit. O- lent me his laptop, so I was able to goof around on that for awhile too...Basically the day was slow, until about 5:00. Then the vendors on the lower floor started to pack up, and pull their vehicles around to the back loading dock. I ended up being the loading dock "manager," directing traffic and assisting with loading and parking. That was fun! Not extremely labor intensive, but mentally nervewracking a few times.

My next english paper is due on Thursday, and I have a Calc test on Tuesday. My paper is nearly done, except for re-writing the first paragraph, and doing some editing. I'm fairly well studied for my Calc test too....this week should be fairly easy. EXCEPT for the fact that my mom's sister and her husband are coming for a few days this week. AND I have a piano recital this weekend. AND the annual college garage sale that my family always helps at is this weekend. I sense tiredness coming on. :)

Laterz...

My life, as you know it.

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:16:00 +0000

Hmm....apparently it's been a while since I've blogged! Per request from a few friends, I will resume blogging, at least for this post...

My life begins right after the last post ended....and continues to this day. I shall attempt to fill you in on the large details...

No major repurcussions occured as a result of my accident. I still get pretty sore from time to time, and I am just starting to be able to rebuild my strength. But other then that, I'm okay.

The insurance company ended up giving us $3500 for the totalled vehicle. We bought a 2000 Buick Century with that money.

Other then that, my life has been filled with school and applying for various scholarships, etc. I did not recieve Drury's or Missouri State's Highest Academic scholarship. I had to interview for both of those, and neither school selected me. I do, however, get all my tuition paid for at MSU, and the Bright Flight Scholarship, which equals $2000 a year, until next fall, when it will be $2500 a year.

I recently found out that I had missed the deadline to join the Honors College at MSU. I sent them an email requesting an extension, and they granted it. So my Honors College Acceptance letter is in the mail, on the way to MSU.

I just found out today that I am one of two recipients for the SouthWest Home Education Ministry Scholarship, given by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. The award is worth $500, and is deposited into the student account of the University you attend. So..that'll pay for some meals and books and what not. I'm pretty happy about that one. I really didn't expect to get it. Praise the Lord!!! :)

2nd Tuesday in May I'll find out if I was awarded the Medical Explorers Scholarship. Only one of those is awarded per year, and it's also worth $500. I would absolutely love to get both of those scholarships. :) One down, one to go. :) If I get it, it will be good news in the midst of finals week.

Yes, finals week is approaching. I have 2 and a half weeks before finals week. I believe as of 3 weeks from tomorrow, that I will be done with this semester. I have a graduation this Friday, at the SHEM convention. I am also planning a Senior Recital, to take place at the end of May. That will really be my "graduation, it's all done and over - finally" celebration.

So...english papers seem to be my problem this semester. I procrastinate FAR too long, then I slap something together that I don't have time for, and I get bad grades. B and C so far this semester, in fact. I turned in my research paper last week, which is worth double any other paper. I hope that it goes better then my past papers. :)

Of course, SHEM is up and coming. I am volunteering as a page yet again, with my two younger sisters. I love the work. It puts me around people, yet still gives me the opportunity to move around and not be stifled. Plus, as one of the older young men involved with volunteering, I have a lot of responsibility generally placed on me, something I greatly enjoy. Well, for limited amounts of time, anyway. And in novel places and with novel things.

Well, I think I have just about written down all I can for now. Look for another blog post in a "country" month! (ie, 2-4 "real" months).

Auto Accident

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:46:00 +0000

I’m going to use the street names from the town that the accident occurred in. Kansas Expressway is a two-lane divided highway. It town, it has numerous stoplights, and functions as a large road. Atlantic Ave. is a minor road that intersects Kansas Exp.

6:45AM

I am driving a 1997 Buick LeSabre, heading Southbound on Kansas Expressway, right lane. I have a green light as I approach the intersection of Kansas and Atlantic. Several cars on the Northbound side of Kansas Expressway are in the left-hand turning lane. They have a green light on yield. Four cars turn in front of me. I am far enough away from the intersection that it is not a problem, and I only slow slightly as a precaution.

6:46AM

I enter the intersection of Kansas and Atlantic, driving 40 mph, and realize with a shock that a 5th car has decided to turn from the left-hand turning lane of Northbound Kansas Expressway onto Atlantic. I am already in the intersection as the driver in a 1990 Ford Ranger XLT attempts to barrel in front of me. I have only 10 feet in which to make any decision. I cannot remember if the left lane beside me is empty or not, so I choose to slam the brakes and stay in my lane. My brakes lock up, and I impact the passenger side of the pick-up truck, directly behind the cab. At impact, I throw one hand up to block the air bag as it deploys. My car imbeds itself in the side of the truck, and both spin together towards the right. My southbound vehicle is now pointing almost west, and his west bound truck is pointing north, northeast. Not knowing if the dust/smoke in the air is from the airbags or from the engine smoking, I unlock the door, and shove it open. The engine is appears to be smoking slightly, so I run around both vehicles to the driver’s door of the truck. The driver is okay, and he exits his truck. I ask him if he has a cell phone with which to call 911. He replies in the affirmative, and calls 911 immediately. Another truck pulls up alongside of the wreck, and the driver rolls down the window. He tells me “As long as the both of you are okay, I can’t stay, cause I have to get to work. I saw the accident happen though, and if you need a witness to prove that it was his fault, you can contact me at this number.” He hands me a piece of paper with his name and number on it. I thank him, and he drives off.

6:48AM

I return to my vehicle to search for my cell-phone, which appears to have been lost. I find it. As I’m standing outside my vehicle, trying to sort it all out, a good friend of the family’s drives by, and sees me standing there. He pulls over, and instructs me on what information to get from the other driver, and helps me to get my belongings from the vehicle.

Long story short: The other driver was ticketed (I’m not sure the exact citation). My car was towed to the lot, with damages as follows: Both front airbags deployed, hood crumpled in two on itself, front right end of vehicle smashed in, and anti-freeze fluid leaking. His car was drivable, with damages as follows: Side of truck smashed in nearly 1.5 feet. Passenger door dented.

Other bits and pieces of description:

A bird (slightly smaller then a robin, tan, with black specks) lay dead outside my drivers door. It was unmangled, unsmashed, and there was no blood.

A man in scrubs from St. John's stopped and asked if we were okay. After assuring him we were both okay, he left. He was wearing tan scrubs and a dark blue jacket.

My car is worth 2000-2300 bucks, according to Kelly's Blue Book.

Ah...Inaugurations...brain dead.

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:37:00 +0000

Okay...breathe in, breathe out...you got something done...it's okay...just rest now....

*sighs* Welcome back, readers. I'm still trying to comfort my fried brain...why it's breathing, I don't know..but...okay whatever...blog post!!

I haven't applied for Graduation yet...I'm working on my recital; I've picked some pieces out...I haven't applied to Camp David yet...I finished my apps for DU and MSU, I finished compiling my portfolio for DU and MSU (I still have a wee bit left with that, but nothing too hard or time-consuming),...

I did my spanish!! And went to the Dentist...I wrote the essay for MSU...I did my 5 pages (front and back of college lined paper) of calc homework...

and not on my list, but completed...chores. :) and piano practice..and blogging!! And I worked today...well...this morning, anyway...

Sorry...my brain is still trying to recuperate...I'm not really all here...hence the ellipsi..

Oh, my choir teacher is gonna try to find me a song that I can voice at my senior recital, since I love to sing..

And ...today marked the last full day of President Bush's 8 year term. God help us now. I'm not the biggest fan of Bush. I think he made mistakes. But...he IS human. And whether he did the best thing, at least he DID something. He did what he thought was right. History will be his judge, but I at least will honor him for his commitment to doing what he thought was best...he certainly wasn't trying to run a popularity contest.

We'll see how Obama handles. I sincerely wish him the best of luck in his first term. He's gonna need it. I hope...well, my first wish would be that he actually has some sense in him and rules moderately. I'm not sure that'll happen...so if it doesn't, then I hope he rules so rottenly that people will not re-elect him. What I REALLY don't want is for him to rule just moderately enough that he gets re-elected to a 2nd term. I really don't want to have him as my Commander-in-Chief if I join the military in 4.5 years.

okay...laters...everybody watch the election, even if you hate Obama. It's historical..it counts for school credit. :)

It's okay, my sweet brain. You will recover...

Stress...

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:36:00 +0000

YAY!!! This is my 100th blog post, if you are interested. I'm happy. :)

So school started on Monday for me. My first day in Calc 1, and we had to take a quiz. Basically a review of what we should know already, but what we would most definitly know by the end of the semester...Luckily it wasn't graded, cause...well...I got 1.5 out of 7 correct..

Woohoo!! I had my first english class yesterday..it looks to be a decent class...our first quiz is on Thursday...we have to list the first name of every other student in the class...that should be exciting...

Okay, so I'm a wee bit stressed...I have to plan my senior recital...apply for graduation through SHEM, apply to Camp David, finish apps for DU and MSU, finish portfolio for DU and MSU, do 4 spanish lessons, go to the dentist...write an essay for MSU....oh...and somewhere in there, I have to do school homework...

all that has to be in the next week, so I must needs beg off of writing more, and go to work.
laters..

Lewis, Tolkien, and School

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:39:00 +0000

Bah humbug. The Christmas season was delayed me from posting. So...until I get back in the swing of a schedule, here are some quotes from two of my favorite authors, CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien.

LEWIS:
Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.

Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.

A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.

Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.

God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.

Humans are amphibians - half spirit and half animal. As spirits they belong to the eternal world, but as animals they inhabit time.

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.

If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning.

If we cut up beasts simply because they cannot prevent us and because we are backing our own side in the struggle for existence, it is only logical to cut up imbeciles, criminals, enemies, or capitalists for the same reasons.

If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.

Let's pray that the human race never escapes from Earth to spread its iniquity elsewhere.

Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.

The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.

The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.

There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, "All right, then, have it your way."

Thirty was so strange for me. I've really had to come to terms with the fact that I am now a walking and talking adult.

What we call Man's power over Nature turns out to be a power exercised by some men over other men with Nature as its instrument.

You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.

TOLKIEN
Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.

I am told that I talk in shorthand and then smudge it.

It's the job that's never started takes longest to finish.

I warn you, if you bore me, I shall take my revenge.

There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.

What do you mean? Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good on this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?

Fair speech may hide a foul heart.

Some who have read the book, or at any rate have reviewed it, have found it boring, absurd, or contemptible; and I have no cause to complain, since I have similar opinions of their works, or of the kinds of writing that they evidently prefer.

"What has it got to do with the story? Where is this place? Why emus? And what is the thing in the foreground with pink bulbs?" ~On a cover painting for The Hobbit that depicted a hill, two emus, and a Christmas tree.

"I begin to feel that I am shut up in a madhouse." ~On hearing that the artist of the aforementioned painting had not read The Hobbit

"Charge 'em and they scatter!" ~On driving a car among other vehicles

Hope you enjoyed some of these!!

I start school tomorrow. I'm still going part time at home, part time at the college I was at last semester. This semester I'm taking 8 credits at college. A five credit Calculus 1 course and a 3 credit English Composition Course...woohoo. Calc 1 is 4 days a week, 75 minutes/lecture period. Ick.

A's, Calc, Good Teachers, Headsets swelling

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:18:00 +0000

Okay...so...I haven't posted in a while. Not anything deep, anyway.

I got my grades back from ENG 101 and Trigometry. I recieved A's in both classes. So Praise the Lord on that!!!!

Next semester I am taking Calculus 1 and ENG Comp 102. It's a little awkward in higher math classes like Trig, Pre-Calc, and Calc, cause I am a highschool student taking 4th and sometimes 5th semester math classes. So like all my fellow students in Trig were 3rd semester. My Math partner was 29 years old...the age range is so big in a community college though.

My teachers were just absolutely wonderful!! I hope next semesters' teachers are just as good. From what my sister says (who got her LPN degree at the same college), the teachers at this college are the best...too bad I'm transferring out next semester...

Christmas was great...we stayed at home and lounged around all day for once. I got a bluetooth headset for my cell phone as a gift. It's pretty sweet. :)

I've not been feeling too swell for the past week or so. Well, I'm sure it's been longer then that, but I just have this short term memory loss problem, so I wouldn't remember. :p

ttfn,
Siah

Something to read...although it's not magnifique.

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:29:00 +0000

Somehow school caught up to me, and slapped me in the face...

This is finals week. I took my english final this morning. If my grading skills are accurate...I should have to only get a 65% or higher to get an A in the class. I'm half way confident that I did better then that.

Trig finals are on Thursday. Then I'll be done with this semester!!

Here are some goofy things, since I don't feel like writing seriously.

If life gives you lemons, make grape juice. Then stand by and laugh as the world watches and wonders how you did it.

A Women's heart should be so lost in God that a man has to seek Him in order to find it.

Barack Obama sounds so much like: Iraq Will Bomb Ya.

Opera: When a guy gets stabbed in the back, and instead of bleeding, he sings.

Caution, water on road during rain.

I'm not random, you just can't think as fast as me.

These are all from things I found on Facebook. The second to the last one was a signpost.

Anyways...

Shopping Freaks and Thanksgiving Break...

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:25:00 +0000

I hope all of my readers had a most enjoyable Thanksgiving and found much for which to be thankful. On a side note, one of my pet peeves is people calling "Thanksgiving Day" "Turkey Day." ARGH. But I digress...I'm feeling wordy and important today...not sure why, but I'll hang loose and roll with it. Shaka shaka..

I've just posted for the first real time on my In Deus Ego Fides blog. Feel free to check it out. Be forwarned, it's a lengthy post, seeing as how it's one of my english papers. But I think it's a rather easy read, and it flows decently. You shouldn't have too much trouble understanding it.

I played frisbee on Friday for the first time since my accident. Actually, I did a little bit more then that. I hadn't had much physical activity since the accident. I was trying to hurry up and heal. Well, I was feeling pretty good. I had been for several days. So on Black Friday...I gave myself a workout.

First off, I went shopping. For those of you who don't know, I enjoy shopping. Anyways, I needed a winter coat, having not had one for 2 years since I was growing too much. But I've stopped growing now, and so was eager to get an actual heavy jacket instead of putting on 42 layers every morning. I had my eye on a coat at Macy's...But JC Penny's opened first, so I decided to look through their coats first. Arriving at 4:20AM, I found shoppers already coming out with their purchases. Freaks. Just kidding...Penny's opened at 4AM, and I'm sure many of those people had been standing in line for a good long while. Anyways, I couldn't find a jacket that I liked AND could afford, so I left Penny's and headed to Macy's...about a 1.5 minute drive, since they are in the same mall complex...speaking of complexes, I thought only girls' had those, but apparently Malls and Apartments have them too...

Got to Macy's 15 minutes before it opened...Stood in line...Freezing...now I'm a freak....The store was giving out free packets of Craisins and Cranberry energy drinks..that was quite enjoyable...I knew exactly what coat I was looking for, so I was able to find it quickly. After trying on a couple of different sizes, I paid and left. I got a $280 jacket for $50, which I thought was quite the deal.

On a side note: I heard it said that on Black Friday, females shop like men. You aren't Christmas shopping, you are Christmas getting. You know before you walk into that store exactly what you are wanting, having picked everything out the night before in the shopping ads...your main goal is to get into that store, find the item(s) you are looking for, pay, and get out as quickly as possible. Just like a guy shops. Welcome to a Man's Life. Freaks.

Anyways...back to my overwhelming day. After shopping, I headed out to one of my friend's house...we played some basketball in the morning, and then went to shoot skeet...still not a good idea cause of my accident, but I did it nonetheless...After shooting, we played frisbee for 3 hours at our normal place. Then our whole group went for dinner at friend's house...we played capture-the-flag in the dark...By the time I got home and went to bed, I'd been up for 20 hours straight with only 4 hours of sleep the night before. Plus I had done a lot more physical activity then I had for the previous two weeks put together...needless to say, I don't feel quite as good as I would like...

My apologies to anyone who dislikes the word "freak"...I mean it in the nicest way possible, and it was the only word I could come up with the really got what I meant across...if anyone has a nicer word, suggest away...

Okay...back to getting all my college applications finished up and a rough draft thrown together for tomorrow's English Class...boohoo, I'll miss you, Thanksgiving Break!!!

Christianity? vs. Intolerance?

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:12:00 +0000

I'm going to post a rather long piece tonight. Most of you know that I am a Christian. My life goal is to spread the Gospel of Christ to whomever I come in contact with. I prefer to establish some sort of relationship with the person before sharing that Gospel.

One of my friends, who reads this blog, wrote what I thought to be an interesting piece on Christianity, Atheism, Worldviews, and Intolerance. I will post it here, then post my reply, then her reply to my reply. Everything is verbatim, with the slight exception of some sensitive material which she asked me not to post, and is reproduced with her explicit permission.

_____________________________________________________________________

A friend sent this to me. Watch it, then I'd like to say a few words. I welcome your thoughts and opinions. But please, hear me out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piuoGb-Nhfw&feature=related.

I received an amusing anecdote this evening. The plot was obvious and I knew the punchline, but I laughed nonetheless. My gut reaction was 'What was the professor's name? The student's name? Sorry, but this is only a witnessing tool, not a true event.' But that's all right, a thing like this doesn't have to be true, it doesn't even have to be just a witnessing tool.

The video says it's intended to make you think. It did make me think. Think about how people don't stand up against views they feel are wrong. Which inevitably lead to me thinking about why a person feels their view is the “right” view. And about people who feel their view is the ONLY “right” view.

Stubborn judging of right and wrong is what creates tragic malice between men. It manifests in prejudice, hate crimes and wars. It's bigger than religion and non-religion, it is everything man can have an opinion about. Race, sexuality, creed, philosophy, which was the better Enterprise captain on Star Trek. It is an inability to imagine the Other, an inflexibility of the heart and mind. It is easy to cling to what you know, to shout it until you believe it, but that won't enhance your heart. What is infinitely harder, and truly character building is to sacrifice just one of your views; even for a moment, to imagine the other side of an argument.

Seemingly Irrelevant Example:
I love Picard, I would follow him to the edge of the time and space. But there are merits to Kirk, though it's hard to imagine what they are most days, and harder to begin admit them. But there are merits, and it's that small gesture of trying that makes the difference. To prove this example isn't the shot in the foot it feels like.... Kirk was a better independent thinker than Picard. Picard let his crew do a lot of the problem solving, but Kirk would come up with a tenacious plan on his own and go at it gung-ho. Resisting the urge to delete that last line.... this doesn't mean I'm a traitor, just...accepting...Picard likes open mindedness!..... okay, I can live with this. Moving on.

Weak people, like the professor, feel vindicated and "right" and faithful, because they were loudest. (I would argue the professor's atheism is equally a faith because he must convince himself of his views and beliefs just as diligently as someone who worships a god. But the intollerance of this particular video is a discussion for a later time.) Whereas people like the student who take a quiet, but sure stand are the most convincing and most touching. Insecure people shout. Strong people act.

Sadly, the student in the story botched that profound and rare moment of quiet faith by becoming the professor. By pushing Jesus on his fellow students just as the professor had pushed Atheism on them.

So, no one in the story grew for the events that happened. No one tried to imagine the other side of the argument. The twenty years worth of students were too cowardly to go against what is being shouted at them. The professor didn't learn, because when faced with opposition he ran instead of being open to growth. And the stubborn student learned nothing because he became the professor. Sad yes, but remember, it's a witnessing tool. You aren't supposed to notice the hypocrisy. The good news is we can learn from these fictional character's mistakes and do our best to grow.

I want to thank the person that sent me this video, and all the other witnessing e-mails she has sent me in the past. It has sparked many a wonderful evening of thought for me. There is so much more to read in them than Jesus or Satan. Faithful and Unfaithful. Right and Wrong.

So to wrap up, you now have three options, though really there are only two.
1 - Pretend you never read this.
2 - Shout at me.
3 - Or Think.

Next time you feel inclined to fall back on shouting to prove your point, try your hardest to imagine the other point of view. It doesn't make you weak or unfaithful, it makes you thoughtful and wise.

-------------------------INTERLUDE, FOLLOWED BY MY RESPONSE-----------------------
Good post...

I totally agree with some of what you have said. For all the times I have talked to you and sat text to you, I have never once "witnessed" to you. I have only tried to live my life different then the lives you may see at other places. Whether or not I have succeeded only God knows.

I do try my best to imagine the other person's view when talking to them about matters of this sort. My post on the Bhuddist fellow I talked to would exemplify this the best....It is hard, but I think necessary. When you come across as being rude and arrogant, it turns people off. Most definitely it does. I know, cause it's happened to me. I always try my best to be humble...but in the midst of all that...I happen to be absolutely positively sure that I know the Truth. Some people say you can't know Truth. Truth is relative. But I beg to differ. In Science, how does one reason through arguments to come to a theory, law, etc?

He looks at what he sees, and he finds the best explanation or answer for it.

So....I look at my life. I look at Creation. I look at what God has done for me, personally, in my life. I look at what God has done for others. Then I look at what "no god" has not done. That is, I look for evidence that there is no God. I look for things that show God isn't. I try to answer all of Life's problems in light of no eternity.

My conclusion? I see Creation, and it screams a Designer. I see my Life, and it shouts out that there is a Master Planner. I see the World, its pains, suffering, and evil...and I still see a God who Loves Mankind, who wants to give them every possible chance to come to Him...I don't see how any problem in the world, like pain, suffering, evil, etc...could be answered without God. So...having decided there is a God...I must decide whether to be for or against Him.

Personally, I don't like the thought of going up against the Creator of the Universe singlehandedly. That would be like trying to defeat the Borg by yourself. It ain't gonna happen. Then I look at the lovingkindness of this God, and realize all that He's done for me, including the sending of His Son to die for all my faults so that I can spend an eternity in Heaven with Him. I decide that if God loves me that much, then the least I can do is Love Him back...and if He has given His life for me, then the least I can do is give my life to Him...

Having decided this wonderful news is true, I long to tell it with the World. I long to shout out what an Amazing God I serve. I try not to be inconsiderate of other people's views when I do this. I realize they may not be appreciative of my thoughts. But I cannot help but share them. The Greatest thing in the world has happened to me...the only thing my overwhelmed heart can do is scream from the mountain top that GOD LOVES ME! and that GOD LOVES YOU.

Now, once I get off the mountain top, I won't scream in your face. But I'll try to live my life as a service to God, telling others of His awesome power, majesty, love, forgiveness and mercy....which is why I'm typing this now. :)

--------------------------INTERLUDE, THEN HER RESPONSE-------------------------------
Very true, you have never once witnessed to me, which I appreciate beyond words. Your behavior speaks of your good character and faith. I greaty respect a person who ponders their faith and lives by it.

I hear you on wanting to share your faith and opinions. We wouldn't be human if we didn't. Heck, I wouldn't have written this note if I didn't want to share my thoughts. I love what you say about arrogance turning people off. That's exactly right, and if a person is turned off they're certainly not going to listen to you, and in all likelihood they're going to turn a deaf ear on a similar message in the future.

I feel the best way to handle yourself when conveying your message is with a "love your neighbor" attitude. It's when people lose that respect that all hope is lost. One of the worst things someone could do would be to criticize everything I do, slander me and my beliefs, and then tell me they said it because they Love me. That wasn't love, to call that love is to blaspheme love.

My biggest issue isn't with what people believe. It's the differences that make us strong. But it's intolerance of letting that person believe. And it breaks my heart.

I think looking at the video and only focusing on the Christian vs. Atheist side of it, while important, is too small and too polarized for a philosophical discussion.

-----------------------THAT IS THE END OF THE RESPONSES.--------------------------

Any feedback and responses to our discussion is welcomed.

School

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:48:00 +0000

So..one of the basic trig functions...is SINE...
Sine:
Latin: bay, gap, inlet, fold in clothing. This is actually a mistranslation of a misunderstood word that was mistranslated of a Greek word through Arabic...which is supposed to means 1/2 of the chord of half of the angle.
And if that's not enough, the english word "sign" is pronounced the same as "sine"...when dealing with sines, signs are important...

Prof: It’s abbreviated, but perhaps I should say ‘abrieved’
Me: How do you spell that?
Math Partner: Carefully
Prof: With an A.

My professor was drawing a unit circle (for those who don’t know what that is, just imagine a circle with crosshairs) on the board. I thought he had done a rather splendid job of free-hand sketching, so I spoke up.
Me: Beautiful!!
Prof: Thank you...but what about the unit circle?
We all started busting out laughing...and my math partner’s like "well, that was awkward."

So, I’ve got a math test next Tuesday..and a english paper due next Tuesday as well...woohoo...
I just realized that I’ve only got a total of 7 lecture periods left before the finals...and supposedly, in those 7 periods, we will:

1). Review for, and take Chapter 4 test for Trig
2). Learn and study Chapter 5 of Trig
3). Review for, and take Chapter 5 Test for Trig
4). Review for comprehensive trig final
5). Finish paper 5 for english.
6). Write papers 6 and 7 for english

Yeah, no problem. Anyday..or any of the next few HECTIC weeks...

New blog...read before forming hasty opinions.

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:35:00 +0000

I started a new blog. Yes, I am quite aware that I don't keep up with my first one. That is beside the point.

BUT!! I wanted some place to

1). Post about political news and such..

2). Post about some of my english writing.

I'm trying to keep my original specifically for the mundane day to day events that shape my life. I don't want to bore my readers with a bunch of political junk that they really have no interest in reading. ALTHOUGH...you probably should be interested, since it will be mostly important things on which I will talk.

anyway...here's the new blog address. Feel free to stop back and read occasionally!! http://indeusegofides.blogspot.com/

Post-impression update

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:34:00 +0000

Here's an update on my condition.

I'm functioning mostly normal today.

So I went to my massage therapist yesterday. She said I most likely have whiplash, causing an inflammation of my neck, of course, and possibly damaged cranial nerves. There are 12 cranial nerves in the head, that attach to the spine. They help control the 5 senses. If those nerves get damaged, or if the muscle is swollen and pushing on them, it can give the 5 senses some trouble. Hence my eye problems. Since I hit Nienna with the side of my head/ear, I possibly could have knocked around some of the inner ear structure, causing imbalance and dizziness...Other then that, the only other thing wrong is the multiple bruised ribs, and a possibly dislocated rib... =)

I'm still pretty sore and my neck hurts quite a bit. I lost the headache after the massage, but this morning I woke up with it again. All in all, I feel better, and looser, but definitely not quite up to speed. I was really kind of disappointed at the timing of this incident. I have not worked out for about a month now. I got kind of sick for a week and a half, and got a little behind on school. I was slowly regaining health and getting caught up on school, trying to get back to a point where I had the time and energy to work out again. I was ALMOST there...I was planning on starting my weight-lifting routine at school on Tuesday. But weightlifting while you have whiplash just isn't the best idea, in my humble opinion. So...I'm back to...maybe getting ahead of school...and getting lots of rest? Hope so. :)

Up a creek with a frisbee and a dislocated rib...

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:26:00 +0000

Prof: "If you find yourslef up a creek without a calculator, and feel compelled to rebuild civilization from scratch, of course the first thing you'd do is to figure out exact values of sine and cosine of 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 degree angles."

Prof: "You should never roll a cannon on stage unless you intend to fire it."

Prof: "that's good enough for a word problem, which is of course the purpose of life."

Prof: "This is an enormous amount of something. But this is an enormouslier amount of something else."

So...I was playing frisbee yesterday...and ran into one of my blog readers. Literally. I ran into her. Or it was the other way around...one of the two. Regardless of that, she left an impression on me that I won't soon forget. I bascially have a mild concussion. I've got a constant headache, my eyes hurt and won't focus super well, my whole left side is sore, the left side of my neck is swollen and tight...other than that, I'm no worse for the wear.

She, on the other hand...had to go the chiropractor and found out her neck, back, and rib were out of place...and she's got a headache...and a bunch of other stuff wrong with her...if she wants to, she's welcome to bemoan her injuries in the comment section.

I'm writing an argument paper on Global Warming: Or the Lack thereof for my english class...fun topic..but I don't really like writing...

Concealing legally, underage.

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:46:00 +0000

I've just deteremined, by looking at Missouri's Concealed Carry Firearm Laws, that I can legally carry and conceal a BB/Pellet pistol at any age, and without a permit. Also, I can carry in any Government building, church, airport, national park, etc, unless said location prohibits "weapons". And, depending on the code they specify, I may still be legally allowed to carry.

Why? Cause Missouri's laws apply specifically to "Firearms".

What is a Firearm, you ask? And how does it differ from this BB Pistol I'm talking about?

According to Missouri Revised Statues, Chapter 571 Weapons Offenses Section 571.010 (August 28, 2008), specifically Section 571.010 (8): "'Firearm', any weapon that is designed or adapted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive;"

and Section 571.010 (15) :"'Projectile weapon', any bow, crossbow, pellet gun, slingshot or other weapon that is not a firearm, which is capable of expelling a projectile that could inflict serious physical injury or death by striking or piercing a person;"

Now, see MRS Chapter 571 WO Section 571.107 for a listing of where you may not carry a FIREARM. The Section gives absolutely no mention to "weapons" or "projectiles" or "projectile weapons". Hence I can only assume that a BB or Pellet Pistol is completely legal.

According to Missouri's Law, I cannot conceal and carry a handgun until I am 23. BUT!!
Missouri law requires a person be 23 years old to obtain a Missouri Concealed Carry Endorsement. Missouri also recognizes CCW endorsements from other states. If a Missouri resident opts to obtain a Utah or Florida OOS (out of state) endorsement those states issue at 21 years of age, and Missouri recognizes those endorsements.

So..that leaves me with multiple years before I can own, carry, and conceal a firearm. Bummer. I guess I'll have to opt for a BB/Pellet Pistol...looking at those...I've got some sweet options.

http://pellet-guns.net/berettapx4stormreconbyberetta.aspx
http://pellet-guns.net/gamopt-80tacticalbygamo.aspx
http://pellet-guns.net/colt1911nickelbycolt.aspx
http://pellet-guns.net/beretta92fsnickelblackgripsbyberetta.aspx
http://pellet-guns.net/berettaxx-tremebyberetta.aspx

I'm liking it.

More in my price range though..
http://pellet-guns.net/berettaeliteiibyberetta.aspx
http://pellet-guns.net/smithandwessonmandpblackbysmithandwesson.aspx
http://pellet-guns.net/crosmanc11tacticalbycrosman.aspx

though after reading some reviews, these guns are better...
http://pellet-guns.net/daisypowerline617xbydaisy.aspx
http://pellet-guns.net/crosmant4optsbycrosman.aspx

and I think this is what I'd get...best for the money I want to spend.
http://pellet-guns.net/crosman1088blackbycrosman.aspx
Or possibly this one..
http://pellet-guns.net/crosman357wbycrosman.aspx

so..yeah. Either of those last two would work. Thanks for sticking with me as I puzzled through the guns...and if you question WHY I'd carry? I personally know someone who was assaulted in a Wal-mart parking lot in the town I live in...he was injured pretty severely. This summer, in a town less then an hour away from my home, 3 people were killed in a church service. Stuff happens, folks. And I'll do whatever it takes to defend my home, property, friends and family. "If all the good guys carried guns, there'd be no hostage situations"...and if you are thinking about all these people in a shoot out equaling lots of deaths? Read "More Guns, Less Crime" by John Lott Jr...

See ya!

Quite Easily Done Sprained Ankle Socialist English Class

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:09:00 +0000

Today in Trig, we started learning how to prove and verify trig identities...takes a lot of thought, but I'm getting it. One thing that they used to do in the olden days when they finished a proof like we are doing was to end it with the letters "Q.E.D." Q.E.D. is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase "quod erat demonstrandum" which means literally, "that which was to be demonstrated". The phrase is written in its abbreviated form at the end of a mathematical proof or philosophical arguement, to signify that the last statement deduced was the one to be demonstrated, so the proof is complete.

Prof: "It also means 'see, I told you so'..or the letters Q.E.D. stand for 'quite easily done'.."

I was hoping to get the scores back from my latest trig test that I took on Thursday today. But...alas...no scores...oh well..maybe Thursday or next Tuesday..

So...today we were supposed to have a rough draft done for our 4th English Paper. I spent a good deal of time yesterday getting in finished. I walked into class this morning, the teacher asks how many people have their rough draft done. I WAS THE ONLY ONE. So...she promptly POSTPONES the rough draft due date until Thursday. WHAT IN TARNATION does that do for the class? They didn't get the stupid paper done. They should be penalized. Instead they get more time to do the paper, when they had ample time to do the rough draft. It's not even like the actual paper was due. Some of my classmates hadn't even started working on the papers!! Our teacher has scheduled extra time into the semester in case we need more time to finish a paper. That SHOULD be for the actual paper, not a rough draft that you haven't even started. So...While I did my work like I was supposed to, everybody else slacked off. The rest of my class mates use the privilege of that extra time slot, while I suffer, cause I would have used that extra time on a difficult paper later in the semester. I'm not too happy. Oh well, such is life.

Besides that, what does that let the students think? Oh, I can put this stuff off, (whether work or school), cause it doesn't really matter that I actually get it done.

I sprained my ankle yesterday...just some basketball practice in my driveway..and I was done...and I went to kick the ball into the bushes were it "goes"...and I rolled my ankle over the top of it...it was a trick spin kick...should've known better. :p....so now I'm icing it...and it's braced..and I had to forego a lot of my weightlifting today....cause I do a lot with my feet..

A private Math Quoter..

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:14:00 +0000

Prof: "Notice there's some repitition here. Notice there's some repitition here."

Prof: "Youbetcha!!!!....that's how you spell/say affirmative."

Prof: "The Earth is FLAT!...locally."

Prof: (while drawing a "right-triangle" with the right angle on the left) "Maybe it's a left-triangle since I drew it over here."

I've been taking actual notes in class now, so not as many great quotes as normal. I've got a test in Trig today..in about 45 minutes actually.

Sorry I haven't posted in a while..been a little busy. :p

I can't wait though for Saturday though!! I'm pumped about the Symphony Concert..and then I got myself and some friends invited to a private Symphony party...;)

Laters...(btw, Maddie..this post is for you. ;)
Si

Steve and Jenny's Wedding!

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 02:09:00 +0000

Steve and Jenny's wedding was today!! Congrats, you two. Jenny looked absolutely stunning, and her hair was breathtaking. Not literally, of course, becuase I'm still breathing..but it looked gorgeous.

Here are some pics...

Like I said...gorgeous hair. And pretty dress, for that matter.

I'm attempting to re-write my English paper now. I wrote a summary on Lance Morrow's "It's Time to Ban Handguns" (TIME 1981) for my last paper. Now I'm doing an analyzation of it. What made it hard was the fact that I have no idea HOW to write an analyzation of an essay. Our rough draft was due on Thursday...so we all brought it in to class...our teacher spent the whole time explaining how to write this kind of paper. Then near the end of class, she asked how many people thought they'd probably have to re-write their paper...everybody raised their hand. I'm not the only one having problems. :p

So...re-writing I am. Gotta keep my grades up. :)

The Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:24:00 +0000

So I thought I'd post some quotes from one of my favorite historical figures, Sir Winston Churchill.

"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject."

"Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb."

"From now on, ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put."

"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."

"History will be kind to me for I intend to write it."

"However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results."

"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried."

"It's not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required."

"Personally I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught."

Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

There are a terrible lot of lies going around the world, and the worst of it is half of them are true."

When I am abroad, I always make it a rule never to criticize or attack the government of my own country. I make up for lost time when I come home."

"I am prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter."

"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."

"The power of man has grown in every sphere, except over himself."

"I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals."

"There is nothing more exhilarating than to be shot at without result."

I gather, young man, that you wish to be a Member of Parliament. The first lesson that you must learn is, when I call for statistics about the rate of infant mortality, what I want is proof that fewer babies died when I was Prime Minister than when anyone else was Prime Minister. That is a political statistic."

"Golf is a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into a even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill- designed for the purpose."

"Statistics are like a drunk with a lampost: used more for support than illumination."

"A politician needs the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn't happen."

So there you go...some of my favorites...I've still got this stinking migraine, so I'm not gonna post anymore..except to ask you to comment on my blog background...what do you think of it? And ask you to vote on my poll regarding Politics to the right of the blog...thanks!

Laters..

Time Traveling Summaries of Handgunning Professors.

noreply@blogger.com (Strider) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:16:00 +0000

More random quotes from my Trig Teacher...

Prof: "I've been told that I write with an accent" (after doing a weird dealy-do with one of his letters...kind of hard to explain, but..)

Prof: "We are getting perilously close to the end of the unit. And as always, at the end of a unit, we have a celebration, also known as a test." (Yah...oh boy!)

Prof: "Let's say I ask you to choose your favorite integer that's at least 20 digits long...Yes, I know that's a nearly impossible request since there are so many wonderful digit combinations."

Prof: "I'm easily side-tracked. I'm always running off on wild tangents...or cotangents."

Prof: "Euclid made a HUGE tactical error when he allowed himself to be born so many centuries early." (For those of you who don't know, Euclid was a mathmatician, lived ca. 300BC, and did a lot of work with proving math formulas and such. In fact, one of his books, "The Elements", is number two on the all-time best selling list, distantly behind the Bible. It has been in continous print since he wrote it, and parts of it are still used today in highschool geometry textbooks.)

Prof: "Croton was on the Ball of the Foot of the Boot of Italy."

In class today, we "time traveled" to several different places, learning about mathematicians like Euclid, Thales of Miletus, Pythagorus, etc...It was actually pretty interesting. I like his approach to teaching, which essentially consists of a lot of stories and history of where mathematical principles came from rather then just an attempt at a rote explanation and memorization of formulas. I like it.

I've got a "blooming" migraine, so I'm gonna stop typing now. Oh, and I turned in another English paper today...it was a summary on the article "It's Time to Ban Handguns" by Lance Morrow, TIME magazine, April 1981. Kind of interesting. I had no idea how to write a summary...so we'll see what happens with that paper...