Sunday, June 27, 2004
Nyet, nyet, soviet, soviet jewellery...
Two questions about Sunday nights:
1. Why is the Main St. Starbucks always so packed?
2. Why does the Mix play such weird music? (see this post's title)
Two questions about Sunday nights:
1. Why is the Main St. Starbucks always so packed?
2. Why does the Mix play such weird music? (see this post's title)
Thursday, June 24, 2004
I got it bad and that ain't good...
Just when I thought I was safe; just when I thought my hours of working out the perfect 4-year schedule to two degrees (BA (psyc) and BScH (biochem SSP)) was going to pay off, Queen's screwed me in a way I never anticipated.
That's right - there was only one lecture slot for chem223 (Organic Rxns) and one for psyc272 (Brain and Behaviour II) - and they were the same one! >.<
Not having psyc272 means I can't take psyc371 (Research problems in behavioural neuroscience) in 3rd year (the psyc course I was probably looking most forward to), and without those two half-credits in psyc, I can't get my BA!
I was pissed off for a couple of days, but I think I've found a way to salvage it. I have to drop psyc272 and 371, but instead I pick up psyc240 - social psychology. Arguably my favourite (and most readily applicable to everyday life) of the psyc100 modules, I tried to fit this one in but was dissuaded by a PASS advisor, who said I should take more sciency courses if I want to go into neuroscience (and she's probably right). However, with some of the more sciency courses unavailable, I'll resort to this course which I'm pretty much taking for fun.
So next year's schedule looks like this:
Chem 211*/223* - Main group chem./organic rxns
Chem 212*/222* - Chem. reactivity/structure determination
Stat 263* - Intro to Stats
Biol 205* - Mendelian & molecular genetics
Psyc 240 – Social Psychology
Psyc 271* - Brain and Behaviour I
Micr221* - Basic Microbiology
All except the psycs are required courses (except micr221, but that's a recommended elective, and I want to take it anyway). In third year, hopefully I'll be able to pick up psyc305 (Human memory) and psyc205 (Experimental Psyc: Learning - which I was going to take this coming year but dropped for psyc271), which will fill up my 5 psyc courses and net me my BA! ^__^
Oh yeah, one more thing: CHEM ROCKS!
Boo to all you people who dislike, loathe, or just plain hate chem. Don't hate the game, hate the player...and in this case, that player is YOU!
Just when I thought I was safe; just when I thought my hours of working out the perfect 4-year schedule to two degrees (BA (psyc) and BScH (biochem SSP)) was going to pay off, Queen's screwed me in a way I never anticipated.
That's right - there was only one lecture slot for chem223 (Organic Rxns) and one for psyc272 (Brain and Behaviour II) - and they were the same one! >.<
Not having psyc272 means I can't take psyc371 (Research problems in behavioural neuroscience) in 3rd year (the psyc course I was probably looking most forward to), and without those two half-credits in psyc, I can't get my BA!
I was pissed off for a couple of days, but I think I've found a way to salvage it. I have to drop psyc272 and 371, but instead I pick up psyc240 - social psychology. Arguably my favourite (and most readily applicable to everyday life) of the psyc100 modules, I tried to fit this one in but was dissuaded by a PASS advisor, who said I should take more sciency courses if I want to go into neuroscience (and she's probably right). However, with some of the more sciency courses unavailable, I'll resort to this course which I'm pretty much taking for fun.
So next year's schedule looks like this:
Chem 211*/223* - Main group chem./organic rxns
Chem 212*/222* - Chem. reactivity/structure determination
Stat 263* - Intro to Stats
Biol 205* - Mendelian & molecular genetics
Psyc 240 – Social Psychology
Psyc 271* - Brain and Behaviour I
Micr221* - Basic Microbiology
All except the psycs are required courses (except micr221, but that's a recommended elective, and I want to take it anyway). In third year, hopefully I'll be able to pick up psyc305 (Human memory) and psyc205 (Experimental Psyc: Learning - which I was going to take this coming year but dropped for psyc271), which will fill up my 5 psyc courses and net me my BA! ^__^
Oh yeah, one more thing: CHEM ROCKS!
Boo to all you people who dislike, loathe, or just plain hate chem. Don't hate the game, hate the player...and in this case, that player is YOU!
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
That's when we'll be free...
My parents (and sister) are back from Alaska. And, as with any good trip where one family member is left stranded, they brought goodies back home! ^__^
What kind of goodies? Beautiful prints/pictures (maybe one might be coming to Kingston?), an Ulu knife, and an awesome shot glass (biting your styles, Bri, I know...what can I say?). Actually, the best gift of all is them being home (cue "awww-ing") - because I can finally shirk all the responsibilities for the pets, house, lawn, and garden. ;)
But it IS good to have them back...the house just doesn't feel the same without them. I'm sure I'll be wishing they were back on vacation soon. :P
Alright, time for some studying, then hitting the sack. Take care y'all.
My parents (and sister) are back from Alaska. And, as with any good trip where one family member is left stranded, they brought goodies back home! ^__^
What kind of goodies? Beautiful prints/pictures (maybe one might be coming to Kingston?), an Ulu knife, and an awesome shot glass (biting your styles, Bri, I know...what can I say?). Actually, the best gift of all is them being home (cue "awww-ing") - because I can finally shirk all the responsibilities for the pets, house, lawn, and garden. ;)
But it IS good to have them back...the house just doesn't feel the same without them. I'm sure I'll be wishing they were back on vacation soon. :P
Alright, time for some studying, then hitting the sack. Take care y'all.
Friday, June 18, 2004
Some like it hot...
Ignore my bitchy ramblings from last post - pretty sure now that this ain't allergies, but more of a head cold/flu thing.
Hopefully it'll be gone soon...sucks to be sick during the summer.
Ignore my bitchy ramblings from last post - pretty sure now that this ain't allergies, but more of a head cold/flu thing.
Hopefully it'll be gone soon...sucks to be sick during the summer.
Thursday, June 17, 2004
After the rain...
Well, I finished Soul Mountain a couple of days ago, but due to leaders' debates, "pubbing" last night (w00t for going dry!), and now this allergy/illness thing (more on that later), I haven't had a chance to talk about it.
That having been said, I thoroughly enjoyed most of it. It took a bit to get used to the style of the book, and I found the last 75 pages or so monotonous and boring, but the middle 400 pages were toight. If you like story, plot, character development...this book is absolutely not for you. If you enjoy pseudo-philosophical, quasi-existential ramblings, amusing and/or interesting anecdotes, or sex (or, rather, reading about other people having sex), then I definitely recommend it.
I do feel I should explain though - the sex "scenes" are definitely not bodice-ripping, Harlequin-esque, detail-encrusted rants. I mean, it's mostly on the level of "they raped her, then killed her", sometimes delving into imagery we I didn't need to read, like "the stone was like a woman's nipple".
Thanks, Gao...I'm eating here! >:| (actually, since I mainly read it at work during breaks/lunch, I probably was eating when I read that)
I think I liked the anecdotal part of it...in many ways it's just an amalgam of folk stories, campfire tales, and a man detailing his journey through mainland China in search of himself.
On to my next book, which is...I don't know. I have nothing at home, so I'm going to have to go begging. Tom and Tom, I'm looking at you right now...unless anyone wants to lend me "Life of Pi".
Now, an explanation of my "illness". As most of you should know, my family left for Alaska on Tuesday, meaning I'm stuck guarding the fort...including my dog and cat. I sleep in the basement, which, with its steep wooden steps, is inaccessible to my dog, who's coming along in years. So my mom begs me everytime she's gone overnight to sleep upstairs.
Bad idea.
The cat, which I'm certain I'm allergic to, spends many hours sleeping on the beds upstairs during the day, and usually comes and sleeps there at night. This means I wake up the next morning with itchy, watery eyes; a nose running like a tap; and sinuses clogged to Hell. Well, my mom convinced me that he goes out at night, so it wouldn't be a problem.
Ha...ha...yeah right.
So, begrudgingly, I sleep in the guest bedroom (which used to be my sister's until she took over the room that used to be my brother's) on Tuesday night. After cleaning up a big puddle of dog piss (she gets vindictive if my parents leave and I spend any time whatsoever in the basement...stupid fucking mutt), I go to bed somewhere around midnight. I wake up the next morning around 4:30 with a headache and a sore throat. Not to mention being extremely tired. Doze off and on 'til 5:45, get up, do my morning routine (breakfast, do stuff for animals, etc.), and go to work. Sore throat stays with me all day; I chalk it up to lack of sleep and possibly the fumes from dog urine/floor cleanser/potpourri (sprayed nearly half a can of that stuff up there cuz it reeked) that I was inhaling all night.
That night (Wednesday), I begrudgingly sleep up there again. If I don't, my dog will spend the night wandering around, probably find a kleenex box or whatever and chew it up (leaving a mess all over the house), and quite possibly piss and shit all over the floor again. This morning, I wake up at 3am. Eyes itchy as Hell and watering like mad, sinuses totally clogged, nose running like crazy, massive headache, and a sore throat so bad I can barely swallow.
"Fuck this shit", I think, and grabbing my pillow head down to my room. To Hell with what the dog does.
I spend the next two hours or so awake, unable to sleep because of my throat and head (plus having to blow my nose every minute). I must have dozed off around 5, because I wake up at 6 with my alarm blaring. Eyes aren't itching, nose is a bit less runny, headache is diminished, and my throat hurts MUCH less. Still, there's no fucking way I'm going into work...I've had basically no sleep all night and I still feel like shit, albeit significantly less shitty than before.
And I still can't really get to sleep. So 7:30 rolls around, I call in to work (shift started at 7), and try to go back to sleep...maybe get another hour in. Rest of the day was spent attempting (unsuccessfully, usually) to sleep, and watching Weekend at Bernie's.
Since my symptoms were drastically reduced once I moved downstairs, and this whole thing only started happening from sleeping upstairs, and the symptoms (minus the throat, which usually doesn't happen) are exactly like my usual allergy symptoms, I can only assume that there's something up there (again, my guess is cat dander) that I'm allergic to. And sleeping in something you're allergic to is definitely not a good idea.
Anyway, I'm gonna spend the next few nights down here, see how it goes. And once I get the name of a good allergist (my parents have one, but I'll have to wait until they get back to get it from them) I'm going to get myself checked so I can finally say with definite proof that the cat's the problem and we can kick him out for good. Guess I'll lock the dog in the laundry room for the night or something...if she doesn't like it, she can blame my stupid parents for getting another fucking cat after the last one died. I'm going to bill them (my parents) for at least the $66 I lost at work today...they owe me big time.
Well, I finished Soul Mountain a couple of days ago, but due to leaders' debates, "pubbing" last night (w00t for going dry!), and now this allergy/illness thing (more on that later), I haven't had a chance to talk about it.
That having been said, I thoroughly enjoyed most of it. It took a bit to get used to the style of the book, and I found the last 75 pages or so monotonous and boring, but the middle 400 pages were toight. If you like story, plot, character development...this book is absolutely not for you. If you enjoy pseudo-philosophical, quasi-existential ramblings, amusing and/or interesting anecdotes, or sex (or, rather, reading about other people having sex), then I definitely recommend it.
I do feel I should explain though - the sex "scenes" are definitely not bodice-ripping, Harlequin-esque, detail-encrusted rants. I mean, it's mostly on the level of "they raped her, then killed her", sometimes delving into imagery we I didn't need to read, like "the stone was like a woman's nipple".
Thanks, Gao...I'm eating here! >:| (actually, since I mainly read it at work during breaks/lunch, I probably was eating when I read that)
I think I liked the anecdotal part of it...in many ways it's just an amalgam of folk stories, campfire tales, and a man detailing his journey through mainland China in search of himself.
On to my next book, which is...I don't know. I have nothing at home, so I'm going to have to go begging. Tom and Tom, I'm looking at you right now...unless anyone wants to lend me "Life of Pi".
Now, an explanation of my "illness". As most of you should know, my family left for Alaska on Tuesday, meaning I'm stuck guarding the fort...including my dog and cat. I sleep in the basement, which, with its steep wooden steps, is inaccessible to my dog, who's coming along in years. So my mom begs me everytime she's gone overnight to sleep upstairs.
Bad idea.
The cat, which I'm certain I'm allergic to, spends many hours sleeping on the beds upstairs during the day, and usually comes and sleeps there at night. This means I wake up the next morning with itchy, watery eyes; a nose running like a tap; and sinuses clogged to Hell. Well, my mom convinced me that he goes out at night, so it wouldn't be a problem.
Ha...ha...yeah right.
So, begrudgingly, I sleep in the guest bedroom (which used to be my sister's until she took over the room that used to be my brother's) on Tuesday night. After cleaning up a big puddle of dog piss (she gets vindictive if my parents leave and I spend any time whatsoever in the basement...stupid fucking mutt), I go to bed somewhere around midnight. I wake up the next morning around 4:30 with a headache and a sore throat. Not to mention being extremely tired. Doze off and on 'til 5:45, get up, do my morning routine (breakfast, do stuff for animals, etc.), and go to work. Sore throat stays with me all day; I chalk it up to lack of sleep and possibly the fumes from dog urine/floor cleanser/potpourri (sprayed nearly half a can of that stuff up there cuz it reeked) that I was inhaling all night.
That night (Wednesday), I begrudgingly sleep up there again. If I don't, my dog will spend the night wandering around, probably find a kleenex box or whatever and chew it up (leaving a mess all over the house), and quite possibly piss and shit all over the floor again. This morning, I wake up at 3am. Eyes itchy as Hell and watering like mad, sinuses totally clogged, nose running like crazy, massive headache, and a sore throat so bad I can barely swallow.
"Fuck this shit", I think, and grabbing my pillow head down to my room. To Hell with what the dog does.
I spend the next two hours or so awake, unable to sleep because of my throat and head (plus having to blow my nose every minute). I must have dozed off around 5, because I wake up at 6 with my alarm blaring. Eyes aren't itching, nose is a bit less runny, headache is diminished, and my throat hurts MUCH less. Still, there's no fucking way I'm going into work...I've had basically no sleep all night and I still feel like shit, albeit significantly less shitty than before.
And I still can't really get to sleep. So 7:30 rolls around, I call in to work (shift started at 7), and try to go back to sleep...maybe get another hour in. Rest of the day was spent attempting (unsuccessfully, usually) to sleep, and watching Weekend at Bernie's.
Since my symptoms were drastically reduced once I moved downstairs, and this whole thing only started happening from sleeping upstairs, and the symptoms (minus the throat, which usually doesn't happen) are exactly like my usual allergy symptoms, I can only assume that there's something up there (again, my guess is cat dander) that I'm allergic to. And sleeping in something you're allergic to is definitely not a good idea.
Anyway, I'm gonna spend the next few nights down here, see how it goes. And once I get the name of a good allergist (my parents have one, but I'll have to wait until they get back to get it from them) I'm going to get myself checked so I can finally say with definite proof that the cat's the problem and we can kick him out for good. Guess I'll lock the dog in the laundry room for the night or something...if she doesn't like it, she can blame my stupid parents for getting another fucking cat after the last one died. I'm going to bill them (my parents) for at least the $66 I lost at work today...they owe me big time.
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Give me the beats boys...
Always thought it was "give me the Beach Boys..." - well, looks like that Unkal Krakar or however he spells his name (lots of K's is all I remember) cover is good for something.
But I digress...
Watched the leaders debates, both French and English, these past few nights (missed the first 25 minutes of the French one, though). As in the last debate 4 years ago, I am glad that the Bloc (which I believe was being lead by Duceppe then as well) is in on these things. Especially in the English debate (unfortunately, Duceppe's English is even worse than Harper's French! :/), he acts, especially this time around, as the voice of accountability, as well as general critic. Points out the flaws in each party without the bickering. Sometimes it's good to have nothing to lose.
These debates have made me depressed with all the choices. Harper's general philosophies disagree with mine, especially regarding military spending and ties with the US. The idea that to be a major player in this world one needs a strong military is no longer true. It was, certainly, 20...maybe even 15 years ago, but is not true today. With the exception of the US invading undeveloped nations, political maneouvaring is dictated by economics, not military might; this will become even more so in the future.
Yet again I digress.
Harper's idea of free votes in parliament is interesting, yet the way he used it to dodge questions in debate makes me question why he really proposes it - whether it's to ensure a democratic process, or just as a way to avoid taking a stand on some issues. I must give him some credit - near the end of tonight's debate, he took stands on some issues, and generally didn't succomb to deceptive wording (although his "budget control" vs. "budget cuts" thing was a bit stupid...)
But enough on him. Let's talk about Martin. Duceppe sums Martin up perfectly: "You have refused to answer any of my questions"
Martin avoids every question, and while he pushes his platform, there are no definite positions. It's all very wishy-washy, and he seems to play "avoid the question" all the time. Kinda like Chretien...must be a Liberal thing.
Jack Layton. He seemed pretty good in the French debate, but as Martin said tonight, "you talk and talk but you never listen." Of all the candidates, I was leaning most towards him. After tonight, I'm no longer sure. He has some interesting ideas, and he takes a stand on most of them. He avoided the issue on some, like Duceppe's bill C-20 "Clarity Act" question and his GST/health care/province question, but for the most part you knew what he stood for and he didn't hide it in a bunch of political bullshit. Unfortunately, he never had the respect or manners to give others a chance to talk, and just wouldn't shut up.
Gilles Duceppe...I've already pointed out that I liked him most, as a debater. He's clean, he's clear, he demands accountability, and (for the most part) he doesn't argue about petty stupid things or resort to bickering like a child (all other leaders were quite guilty of this). Of all the leaders, he seems to be the only one who is actually focused on issues, instead of buzz words and scandal. What can I say? I love this man.
In general, this debate had less respect and more people talking all over each other than the French one did. Part of it, in my opinion, was the moderator - the French guy was far more active than this English woman.
Did these debates influence my vote?
Possibly.
More than ever, I'm disgusted with all the candidates. I only wish now that I lived in Quebec so I could vote Bloc. But alas, I cannot...damn, I should really do some research on platforms.
Oh yeah, what is this Clarity Act anyway? Lemme know!
Always thought it was "give me the Beach Boys..." - well, looks like that Unkal Krakar or however he spells his name (lots of K's is all I remember) cover is good for something.
But I digress...
Watched the leaders debates, both French and English, these past few nights (missed the first 25 minutes of the French one, though). As in the last debate 4 years ago, I am glad that the Bloc (which I believe was being lead by Duceppe then as well) is in on these things. Especially in the English debate (unfortunately, Duceppe's English is even worse than Harper's French! :/), he acts, especially this time around, as the voice of accountability, as well as general critic. Points out the flaws in each party without the bickering. Sometimes it's good to have nothing to lose.
These debates have made me depressed with all the choices. Harper's general philosophies disagree with mine, especially regarding military spending and ties with the US. The idea that to be a major player in this world one needs a strong military is no longer true. It was, certainly, 20...maybe even 15 years ago, but is not true today. With the exception of the US invading undeveloped nations, political maneouvaring is dictated by economics, not military might; this will become even more so in the future.
Yet again I digress.
Harper's idea of free votes in parliament is interesting, yet the way he used it to dodge questions in debate makes me question why he really proposes it - whether it's to ensure a democratic process, or just as a way to avoid taking a stand on some issues. I must give him some credit - near the end of tonight's debate, he took stands on some issues, and generally didn't succomb to deceptive wording (although his "budget control" vs. "budget cuts" thing was a bit stupid...)
But enough on him. Let's talk about Martin. Duceppe sums Martin up perfectly: "You have refused to answer any of my questions"
Martin avoids every question, and while he pushes his platform, there are no definite positions. It's all very wishy-washy, and he seems to play "avoid the question" all the time. Kinda like Chretien...must be a Liberal thing.
Jack Layton. He seemed pretty good in the French debate, but as Martin said tonight, "you talk and talk but you never listen." Of all the candidates, I was leaning most towards him. After tonight, I'm no longer sure. He has some interesting ideas, and he takes a stand on most of them. He avoided the issue on some, like Duceppe's bill C-20 "Clarity Act" question and his GST/health care/province question, but for the most part you knew what he stood for and he didn't hide it in a bunch of political bullshit. Unfortunately, he never had the respect or manners to give others a chance to talk, and just wouldn't shut up.
Gilles Duceppe...I've already pointed out that I liked him most, as a debater. He's clean, he's clear, he demands accountability, and (for the most part) he doesn't argue about petty stupid things or resort to bickering like a child (all other leaders were quite guilty of this). Of all the leaders, he seems to be the only one who is actually focused on issues, instead of buzz words and scandal. What can I say? I love this man.
In general, this debate had less respect and more people talking all over each other than the French one did. Part of it, in my opinion, was the moderator - the French guy was far more active than this English woman.
Did these debates influence my vote?
Possibly.
More than ever, I'm disgusted with all the candidates. I only wish now that I lived in Quebec so I could vote Bloc. But alas, I cannot...damn, I should really do some research on platforms.
Oh yeah, what is this Clarity Act anyway? Lemme know!
Sunday, June 06, 2004
[Maresias]
So it's been a while since my last update.
Why, you ask?
Because my life is boring ^__^
Things are starting to slow down a bit at Sheridan - no longer getting a couple of trucks a day (more like a truck every couple of days). Tomorrow's gonna be hot, so it looks like we might have finally gotten into this summer-ish weather (about time!)
Personally, after the past few years' over-hot, muggy, smoggy summers, I could go for a dry cool one. But I'd take heat and mug over cold and wet (or hot and wet) any day.
Rain + outdoor work != fun.
Went to P-Mall with my folks today...grabbed a DVD burner from Canada Computers, so now I can back up anime series on a DVD instead of like 8 CDs ^___^
Speaking of which, what's the best way to cut about 2MB off an episode? I was thinking snipping off the end credits (that _would_ reduce the file size, right?) - can anyone suggest a good program that would do this quickly and easily?
Finally, got back the mark for my 2nd essay, and it was much better than the first. Comments were all good, not a single criticism ^____^
Now I've just got to live up to that on the remaining 4...
So it's been a while since my last update.
Why, you ask?
Because my life is boring ^__^
Things are starting to slow down a bit at Sheridan - no longer getting a couple of trucks a day (more like a truck every couple of days). Tomorrow's gonna be hot, so it looks like we might have finally gotten into this summer-ish weather (about time!)
Personally, after the past few years' over-hot, muggy, smoggy summers, I could go for a dry cool one. But I'd take heat and mug over cold and wet (or hot and wet) any day.
Rain + outdoor work != fun.
Went to P-Mall with my folks today...grabbed a DVD burner from Canada Computers, so now I can back up anime series on a DVD instead of like 8 CDs ^___^
Speaking of which, what's the best way to cut about 2MB off an episode? I was thinking snipping off the end credits (that _would_ reduce the file size, right?) - can anyone suggest a good program that would do this quickly and easily?
Finally, got back the mark for my 2nd essay, and it was much better than the first. Comments were all good, not a single criticism ^____^
Now I've just got to live up to that on the remaining 4...
