As the title states this, the week before finals, is my unofficial anti-fun week. I hereby am not allowed to enjoy myself until I finish the mountain of school work I have. Looking at the big picture makes it seem like I have an immeasurable amount of stuff to do, but once I break it down it's not all that bad. I was actually working on a paper (the one I was supposed to be doing in comp class) before I started typing this. Unfortunately, I hit a writer's block and need to fool around a bit so my subconscious can figure out the problem. That is how the creative process works isn't it? Do a little work. Leave it alone. Get inspired. Finish magnificently.
Now that I'm really thinking about it I only have two main things I need to finish. #1, this comp paper, which actually only needs to be a draft and is due Wednesday. #2, a philosophy research paper which is due Thursday. Even though it's only Monday I feel like I have no time. Maybe it's just because today was so crazy and fast paced. Well I'm glad I decided to update and sort out my thoughts a bit.
Tomorrow is also when I'll be doing my chemistry lab practical. Shouldn't be too hard, we didn't do anything ridiculously complicated in Principles of Chemistry.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Being Machiavellian
Niccolo Machiavelli was a 16th century Italian political philosopher. He believes that the only thing people are ultimately concerned with is the gratification of their own personal desires. He is most often associated with his book "The Prince" as it nicely outlines the pillars of his philosophy. I think we're all a little Machiavellian from time to time. Maybe not as extremely selfish and cynical as he suggests, but it's definitely there.
Right now I'm in my composition class "working on a research paper" and playing up my own Machiavellian desires. What's paradoxical about this is that I'm technically goofing off on blogger, but at the same time I'm writing about Machiavelli, which is what the assignment is. Unfortunately, I doubt I'll get any credit for this. Though it may help me sort out my thoughts and eventually start the actual (graded) writing process.
The reading in the actual book is a bit dry, so that's where sparknotes comes in. He's got some interesting views as to how things work so it's definitely work skimming over. It's especially useful if you are planning on managing a principality in Italy anytime soon! What's cool about Machiavelli though is that his principles are not just limited to 16th century Italy, they are applicable even today.
An article I came across, cleverly titled "Fresh Prince" (which is disappointingly NOT about Will Smith's endeavors of the 90s) is about Robert Greene's book "The 48 Laws of Power." It's thought to be a modern day version of Machiavelli's "The Prince." The article itself was kind funny, it talkes about how a bunch of big name rap artists use this book's principles to govern both their businesses and personal lives. I'm thinking about purchasing the book myself, it seems like something that would interesting AND useful, and that doesn't happen to often with things I like. =P
Right now I'm in my composition class "working on a research paper" and playing up my own Machiavellian desires. What's paradoxical about this is that I'm technically goofing off on blogger, but at the same time I'm writing about Machiavelli, which is what the assignment is. Unfortunately, I doubt I'll get any credit for this. Though it may help me sort out my thoughts and eventually start the actual (graded) writing process.
The reading in the actual book is a bit dry, so that's where sparknotes comes in. He's got some interesting views as to how things work so it's definitely work skimming over. It's especially useful if you are planning on managing a principality in Italy anytime soon! What's cool about Machiavelli though is that his principles are not just limited to 16th century Italy, they are applicable even today.
An article I came across, cleverly titled "Fresh Prince" (which is disappointingly NOT about Will Smith's endeavors of the 90s) is about Robert Greene's book "The 48 Laws of Power." It's thought to be a modern day version of Machiavelli's "The Prince." The article itself was kind funny, it talkes about how a bunch of big name rap artists use this book's principles to govern both their businesses and personal lives. I'm thinking about purchasing the book myself, it seems like something that would interesting AND useful, and that doesn't happen to often with things I like. =P
Friday, November 28, 2008
Let There Be Light
Ta Da.
I don't know where to start, so I'll just start here. I made this blog to share some of the things I like with other people. There's a quote somewhere that says the internet doesn't make you stupider, it just makes your stupidity more accessible to others. That's my goal exactly! Except stupid is a rather unpleasant way of describing things. I prefer, eccentric, deviant, idiosyncratic, or just fhqwhgads.
So, the title is probably my creative limit as far as writing goes. I'm more of a scientist than a writer or artist (pronounced "ar-teest"), which leads to my first point:
GEEKS
They are welcome here. I am a geek. I remember one time a friend and I listed things that were stereotypically dorky about me, here's some of them.
GREEKS
I am not a Greek. Though they too are welcome here, what I meant by "Greeks" was ancient Greek philosophers. I've gotten somewhat interested in philosophy since college started. It seems like one of those things that have merit, but is hard to actually apply to your life. My belief is that the world would be a slightly better place if everyone took a minute to examine their lives every now and then. What's good about philosophy is that it's thought provoking. So even if it isn't intrinsically "useful" I think it makes me happier, if only for the amusement it gives me.
Another thing I'm associating with "Greeks" is the whole fraternity thing and just college in general. I realize not everyone in college goes Greek, but college is a big part of my life now, and I'd like to see you fit that into the title some other way! =)
I am actually considering joining a fraternity so it is sort of applicable.
SLEEP (or lack thereof)
Yes, I do sleep. Sometimes more than I should. Sometimes not very much.
There's two main things about sleep that intrigue me enough to write blog entries about.
1. Dreaming
I think I have a mild obsession with dreaming. Particularly lucid dreaming. There will definitely be future posts about that, as well as some of my own dream happenings.
2. Polyphasic Sleep
Fancy person's term for "napping." Basically what it entails is getting sleep in more frequent, but shorter periods instead of one big long eight hour sleep marathon (or the "normal" way, as most people would call it). There's a fair amount of detail to this subject that I can get into later.
So this blog will basically be about what goes on in my head: my spontaneously nerdy stuff, my ambitions as a starving college student, and maybe my subconsciousness that is even more confused than I am.
I don't know where to start, so I'll just start here. I made this blog to share some of the things I like with other people. There's a quote somewhere that says the internet doesn't make you stupider, it just makes your stupidity more accessible to others. That's my goal exactly! Except stupid is a rather unpleasant way of describing things. I prefer, eccentric, deviant, idiosyncratic, or just fhqwhgads.
So, the title is probably my creative limit as far as writing goes. I'm more of a scientist than a writer or artist (pronounced "ar-teest"), which leads to my first point:
GEEKS
They are welcome here. I am a geek. I remember one time a friend and I listed things that were stereotypically dorky about me, here's some of them.
- enjoys calculus
- wears (slightly bent) glasses
- chemistry major
- computer programming hobbyist
- plays mmorps
- plays Magic: The Gathering
- competitive DDR enthusiast (yes, it is still cool...for some people =P)
GREEKS
I am not a Greek. Though they too are welcome here, what I meant by "Greeks" was ancient Greek philosophers. I've gotten somewhat interested in philosophy since college started. It seems like one of those things that have merit, but is hard to actually apply to your life. My belief is that the world would be a slightly better place if everyone took a minute to examine their lives every now and then. What's good about philosophy is that it's thought provoking. So even if it isn't intrinsically "useful" I think it makes me happier, if only for the amusement it gives me.
Another thing I'm associating with "Greeks" is the whole fraternity thing and just college in general. I realize not everyone in college goes Greek, but college is a big part of my life now, and I'd like to see you fit that into the title some other way! =)
I am actually considering joining a fraternity so it is sort of applicable.
SLEEP (or lack thereof)
Yes, I do sleep. Sometimes more than I should. Sometimes not very much.
There's two main things about sleep that intrigue me enough to write blog entries about.
1. Dreaming
I think I have a mild obsession with dreaming. Particularly lucid dreaming. There will definitely be future posts about that, as well as some of my own dream happenings.
2. Polyphasic Sleep
Fancy person's term for "napping." Basically what it entails is getting sleep in more frequent, but shorter periods instead of one big long eight hour sleep marathon (or the "normal" way, as most people would call it). There's a fair amount of detail to this subject that I can get into later.
So this blog will basically be about what goes on in my head: my spontaneously nerdy stuff, my ambitions as a starving college student, and maybe my subconsciousness that is even more confused than I am.
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