http://seawitchery.tumblr.com/post/4070384205/i-started-out-clicking-strategically-and-by-the
WARNING: Extremely fun. You may become addicted.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Musical Squares
There's this awesome blog my friend showed to me where they have this musical squares. I'd highly recommend giving it a shot.
http://seawitchery.tumblr.com/post/4070384205/i-started-out-clicking-strategically-and-by-the
WARNING: Extremely fun. You may become addicted.
http://seawitchery.tumblr.com/post/4070384205/i-started-out-clicking-strategically-and-by-the
WARNING: Extremely fun. You may become addicted.
Monday, April 4, 2011
And this little piggy went wee, wee, wee... to my biology class.
(N.B. This is writer's blog #5)
It was that warm April day where fate decided to get a good laugh at my expense. I was placed into a group with a science-geek, a cheerleader, a vegan, and a mexican boy who didn't speak much english. Together, we were the team destined to conquer one of the most common trials found in highschool biology-- animal dissection.
What started with an uneasy sense of optimism amongst our group quickly spiraled down into chaos. We were given a fetal pig to dissect and it didn't take long for our team mates to get eliminated one by one. The cheerleader didn't want to get her nails dirty (cliche, I know, but I say this in all seriousness) and ran off to go talk to her friend about the latest gossip. The science-geek (who previously had been psyched about the prospects of the gore behind chopping up the fetal pig) quickly retired to the bathroom sink where he could be found throwing up the latest lunchroom edibles. And between the vegan, the mexican, and myself-- your average, quiet, tiny ninth grade girl-- there was an ongoing conflict where the mexican boy thought it'd be funny to throw dead pig parts at the vegan boy which quickly eliminately the two as compatible partners, leaving me to finish the dissection alone.
Honestly, there's very little I remember from the actual dissection besides the smell, the moment of piercing into the pig's flesh, and the fact that the lining inside of the pig looked like a dark rainbow metallic color. It did bring however, bring a whole new sense realism to how the inside of life systems work, similar to how Susan Offner writers that after her first dissection it showed her "that the world was a rational place, and that knowledge and understanding can come from serious study of real specimens and real data" (American Biology Teacher). When doing something hands on, it makes it more real to you. Offner states this with her main claim that "you can have a student regurgitate on a paper-andpencil test that a mamal's lungs are spongy, but there is no way that the student will understand what spongy means unless they see a real lung" (American Biology Teacher). I know that in my college level chemistry classes, I always prefer in-lab experiments over the virtual ones because I feel I get alot more out of the learning experience. However, my appreciation for real experiences came with age and maturity, something I don't think ninth graders carry as much of. Which is where I find the flaw in current day biology dissections.
Biology is typically taught as a ninth or tenth grade classroom course where all students are required to participate. In my classroom, there was no alternative to the activity besides skipping the class, which should never have to be the only alternative. I think that it would have been wiser to make this experience something gained from higher level biology courses rather than a univerally required activity during ninth grade classrooms. I feel that students who are taking biology by choice an additional year (as I did during my senior year of highschool) would be better suited for the activity. If a student isn't planning to have a career in a science-oriented field, or isn't taking the biology class by choice, then it seems less appropriate for them to be forced into the activity. Also, even if it continues to be found in common classrooms at a ninth grade level, there should be the option to choose either a virtual dissection or an in-lab experience. Not only will this cater to the small percentage of students who's personal beliefs might prevent them from performing dissections, it also caters to the students who doing feel uncomfortable with the dissection. For the science-geek in my group that ended up throwing up or the vegan boy, they probably would have learned more by being forced to use a virtual lab than forced to suffer through an actual one.
I sympathize with the PETA's articles "Dissection: Lessons in Cruelty" when they talk about how millions of animals are killed for this practice. It would seem like a waste of an animal when students goof off and play around by throwing dead animal parts at each other. However, I don't believe it should be eliminated entirely. There should simply be an appropriate adjustment to the student crowd that performs the dissection so that it is targeted towards a more mature group who can appreciate the knowledge they get through the experience. For ninth grade classrooms now, they could try testing out more of the virtual dissection programs that PETA mentions in their article such as DissectionWorks or The Digital Frog.
This topic tends to have a wide range of opinions, and personally, I'd look for some compromise between the positions. Going back, if I had a choice between the virtual and actual dissection, I probably would have still selected the actual dissection. However, with the virtual option it would have removed some of the partners I had from the group which could have been filled with more appreciative mature students.
(for anyone maybe having to do research on this topic, below are two useful articles I read over for my class)
Works Cited:
Offner, Susan. "The Case for Dissection." Opposing Viewpoints: Animal Rights. Ed. Andrew Harnack. San
Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. <http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T010&prodId=OVRC&docId=EJ3010111219&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=viva2_nvcc&version=1.0>.
(PETA), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. "Dissection Teaches Students Lessons in Cruelty." At Issue: Animal Experimentation. Ed. Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. <http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T010&prodId=OVRC&docId=EJ3010002235&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=viva2_nvcc&version=1.0>.
It was that warm April day where fate decided to get a good laugh at my expense. I was placed into a group with a science-geek, a cheerleader, a vegan, and a mexican boy who didn't speak much english. Together, we were the team destined to conquer one of the most common trials found in highschool biology-- animal dissection.
What started with an uneasy sense of optimism amongst our group quickly spiraled down into chaos. We were given a fetal pig to dissect and it didn't take long for our team mates to get eliminated one by one. The cheerleader didn't want to get her nails dirty (cliche, I know, but I say this in all seriousness) and ran off to go talk to her friend about the latest gossip. The science-geek (who previously had been psyched about the prospects of the gore behind chopping up the fetal pig) quickly retired to the bathroom sink where he could be found throwing up the latest lunchroom edibles. And between the vegan, the mexican, and myself-- your average, quiet, tiny ninth grade girl-- there was an ongoing conflict where the mexican boy thought it'd be funny to throw dead pig parts at the vegan boy which quickly eliminately the two as compatible partners, leaving me to finish the dissection alone.
Honestly, there's very little I remember from the actual dissection besides the smell, the moment of piercing into the pig's flesh, and the fact that the lining inside of the pig looked like a dark rainbow metallic color. It did bring however, bring a whole new sense realism to how the inside of life systems work, similar to how Susan Offner writers that after her first dissection it showed her "that the world was a rational place, and that knowledge and understanding can come from serious study of real specimens and real data" (American Biology Teacher). When doing something hands on, it makes it more real to you. Offner states this with her main claim that "you can have a student regurgitate on a paper-andpencil test that a mamal's lungs are spongy, but there is no way that the student will understand what spongy means unless they see a real lung" (American Biology Teacher). I know that in my college level chemistry classes, I always prefer in-lab experiments over the virtual ones because I feel I get alot more out of the learning experience. However, my appreciation for real experiences came with age and maturity, something I don't think ninth graders carry as much of. Which is where I find the flaw in current day biology dissections.
Biology is typically taught as a ninth or tenth grade classroom course where all students are required to participate. In my classroom, there was no alternative to the activity besides skipping the class, which should never have to be the only alternative. I think that it would have been wiser to make this experience something gained from higher level biology courses rather than a univerally required activity during ninth grade classrooms. I feel that students who are taking biology by choice an additional year (as I did during my senior year of highschool) would be better suited for the activity. If a student isn't planning to have a career in a science-oriented field, or isn't taking the biology class by choice, then it seems less appropriate for them to be forced into the activity. Also, even if it continues to be found in common classrooms at a ninth grade level, there should be the option to choose either a virtual dissection or an in-lab experience. Not only will this cater to the small percentage of students who's personal beliefs might prevent them from performing dissections, it also caters to the students who doing feel uncomfortable with the dissection. For the science-geek in my group that ended up throwing up or the vegan boy, they probably would have learned more by being forced to use a virtual lab than forced to suffer through an actual one.
I sympathize with the PETA's articles "Dissection: Lessons in Cruelty" when they talk about how millions of animals are killed for this practice. It would seem like a waste of an animal when students goof off and play around by throwing dead animal parts at each other. However, I don't believe it should be eliminated entirely. There should simply be an appropriate adjustment to the student crowd that performs the dissection so that it is targeted towards a more mature group who can appreciate the knowledge they get through the experience. For ninth grade classrooms now, they could try testing out more of the virtual dissection programs that PETA mentions in their article such as DissectionWorks or The Digital Frog.
This topic tends to have a wide range of opinions, and personally, I'd look for some compromise between the positions. Going back, if I had a choice between the virtual and actual dissection, I probably would have still selected the actual dissection. However, with the virtual option it would have removed some of the partners I had from the group which could have been filled with more appreciative mature students.
(for anyone maybe having to do research on this topic, below are two useful articles I read over for my class)
Works Cited:
Offner, Susan. "The Case for Dissection." Opposing Viewpoints: Animal Rights. Ed. Andrew Harnack. San
Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. <http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T010&prodId=OVRC&docId=EJ3010111219&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=viva2_nvcc&version=1.0>.
(PETA), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. "Dissection Teaches Students Lessons in Cruelty." At Issue: Animal Experimentation. Ed. Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. <http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T010&prodId=OVRC&docId=EJ3010002235&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=viva2_nvcc&version=1.0>.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Love Throughout Time
An ancent roman/greek myth I've always enjoyed was the one of Baucis and Philemon (here's a link to their story if you're curious http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baucis_and_Philemon).
At the end of their life, it is said they got to die together and turn into trees which are forever entertwined. This always struck me as a really romantic concept which I was reminded about after seeing the bones pictured above. I wonder what their story was? What happened to them? I'm also happy for them-- that they were able to die in the comfort of one another.
P.S. The bones were found 25 miles south of where Romeo and Juliet's story takes place. Interesting coincidence.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Ode to the World of Warcraft
(N.B this is wrtier's blog #4)
As I sit here picking my brain for some inspiration, I turn to one of my fall backs. World of Warcraft. The realm of Azorath actually came as a follow up to my previous obline abode of Everquest's land of Norrath. Between these two games, my love for MMORPGs (massive multiplayer online role playing games) has flourished.
Looking back, I begin to remember what brought me into this area of gaming. Many of my friends who are less approving of this hobby make it sound like there is a disease where you catch the "WOW PLAGUE" and essentially are addicted to the game regardless of it being fun. I'll admit, while I see quite a bit of people who do seem over the top with their gaming habits, I would argue with moderation this plague is really just like any other past time. And just like other hobbies it's even taught me a thing or two about life.
I started playing Everquest with my dad and younger sister probably when I was about 11-12 years old. It was awesome to have this video game as a shared activity we could partake in. I learned different lessons about dealing with people (being the only person between the three of us who was willing to set up groups, I quickly learned to meet and greet people). My typing and spelling skills skyrocketed and I also learned not to steal (after I had stolen someone else's loot for an item afterwards the incredible guilt and returned it with a huge apology and offered to comphensate them with gold). Ever since then, I never wanted to relive a moment of shame like that.
When my dad and sister put a hold on playing EQ, I wasn't exactly ready to give it up. This is when I tried out playing on a roleplaying server instead. For those of you not familiar with online lingo, on a roleplaying server basically you are acting out your character as you go through and level through the game. This would mean rather than saying "hey, stfu and gimme my loot" you could say "HARK. Unhand my loot you scoundrel or face the kiss of my blade!" (not exactly that melodramatic, but you get the idea). I joined a guild which was home to these evil sadistic vampire dark elves, and through my experiences with them I become alot better at thinking on the spot as well as improving my ability to write fantasy stories and dialogue scenes.
All good things come to an end, and when the server's prestige and guild's population faded away, so did I. It wasn't until years later I picked up World of Warcraft. For a month or two I tried out a roleplaying server there and while I enjoyed it, it wasn't enough to keep me in the game. It wasn't until I met my current boyfriend a year ago that I got back into it. With him and another friend of ours working together, I was able to raise my human shadowpriestess where now I'm currently level 85 (the highlest level available right now). This brings me to where now, side by side, I conquer adversary with my boyfriend as we continue to pursue defeat of more difficult enemies and gaining better armor leading towards the ultimate defeat of Nefarian.
This is where I pause.
You may begin to wonder what's with the biography sphiel about my gaming history, but it all leads up in my train of though to my point. I have just recently started to make my second character to level which made me realize I just stepped on the path to become of the people I typically judged most. (Granted, I have friends who are these people and they're still cool people regardless), but I always frowned up the person who put the enough time into the game to level up 8 separate level 80s. And while I am beginning to emphasize with them as I make my second main character, I also think that compared to some other players, I tend to draw a line between what is acceptable/innacceptable for gaming behavior.
This goes for any hobby, but I feel like there are two main elements that help me feel as though WoW isn't a waste of time. 1) Because I'm playing with my boyfriend and we're currently dating long distance, it provides a fun alternative to hang out. When you sit down at a computer and watch your boyfriends little avatar running around with you, it makes the distance seem less. 2) I considerably limit my game play. Coming from someone who watches no television and rarely a movie, I spend mainly Wednesdays and Thursdays on WoW later in the evening during the week. This comes in a balance where I need to keep my homework and studies under control in order to allow myself to play the game. And finally 3) play it while it's fun. You don't want to use WoW as a time waster otherwise you really will waste hours upon hours on it.
I've also enjoyed how it acted as another form of "people watching" (that activity you do when you go specifically to a park or a mall to sit on a bench and watch people.. sometimes for social anthropology classes). As one of the limited number of girls playing the game at high end content, I've gained an interesting perspective on how people act in the game. It's funny to hear how guys are in a dude realm, because most of the time I get away with chilling in the background on Ventrilo (a microphone/headset program which lets you talk with other players online). You also get caught up following along with guild drama (where I've experienced meeting people ranging from your regular annoying twit to a psycho ex-army solider who hacks into finding out other people's real life personas). In life in general, you have to learn to deal with a variety of people no matter what "world" you're in.
There's countless experiences and memories associated behind Everquest and World of Warcraft, which have overall led to a fun experience. I'd recommend it to other people to try out so long as you drag a friend of yours down the rabbit hole with you. I think the whole experience is alot more fun when you're sharing it with someone you share face-time with as well.
As I sit here picking my brain for some inspiration, I turn to one of my fall backs. World of Warcraft. The realm of Azorath actually came as a follow up to my previous obline abode of Everquest's land of Norrath. Between these two games, my love for MMORPGs (massive multiplayer online role playing games) has flourished.
Looking back, I begin to remember what brought me into this area of gaming. Many of my friends who are less approving of this hobby make it sound like there is a disease where you catch the "WOW PLAGUE" and essentially are addicted to the game regardless of it being fun. I'll admit, while I see quite a bit of people who do seem over the top with their gaming habits, I would argue with moderation this plague is really just like any other past time. And just like other hobbies it's even taught me a thing or two about life.
I started playing Everquest with my dad and younger sister probably when I was about 11-12 years old. It was awesome to have this video game as a shared activity we could partake in. I learned different lessons about dealing with people (being the only person between the three of us who was willing to set up groups, I quickly learned to meet and greet people). My typing and spelling skills skyrocketed and I also learned not to steal (after I had stolen someone else's loot for an item afterwards the incredible guilt and returned it with a huge apology and offered to comphensate them with gold). Ever since then, I never wanted to relive a moment of shame like that.
When my dad and sister put a hold on playing EQ, I wasn't exactly ready to give it up. This is when I tried out playing on a roleplaying server instead. For those of you not familiar with online lingo, on a roleplaying server basically you are acting out your character as you go through and level through the game. This would mean rather than saying "hey, stfu and gimme my loot" you could say "HARK. Unhand my loot you scoundrel or face the kiss of my blade!" (not exactly that melodramatic, but you get the idea). I joined a guild which was home to these evil sadistic vampire dark elves, and through my experiences with them I become alot better at thinking on the spot as well as improving my ability to write fantasy stories and dialogue scenes.
All good things come to an end, and when the server's prestige and guild's population faded away, so did I. It wasn't until years later I picked up World of Warcraft. For a month or two I tried out a roleplaying server there and while I enjoyed it, it wasn't enough to keep me in the game. It wasn't until I met my current boyfriend a year ago that I got back into it. With him and another friend of ours working together, I was able to raise my human shadowpriestess where now I'm currently level 85 (the highlest level available right now). This brings me to where now, side by side, I conquer adversary with my boyfriend as we continue to pursue defeat of more difficult enemies and gaining better armor leading towards the ultimate defeat of Nefarian.
This is where I pause.
You may begin to wonder what's with the biography sphiel about my gaming history, but it all leads up in my train of though to my point. I have just recently started to make my second character to level which made me realize I just stepped on the path to become of the people I typically judged most. (Granted, I have friends who are these people and they're still cool people regardless), but I always frowned up the person who put the enough time into the game to level up 8 separate level 80s. And while I am beginning to emphasize with them as I make my second main character, I also think that compared to some other players, I tend to draw a line between what is acceptable/innacceptable for gaming behavior.
This goes for any hobby, but I feel like there are two main elements that help me feel as though WoW isn't a waste of time. 1) Because I'm playing with my boyfriend and we're currently dating long distance, it provides a fun alternative to hang out. When you sit down at a computer and watch your boyfriends little avatar running around with you, it makes the distance seem less. 2) I considerably limit my game play. Coming from someone who watches no television and rarely a movie, I spend mainly Wednesdays and Thursdays on WoW later in the evening during the week. This comes in a balance where I need to keep my homework and studies under control in order to allow myself to play the game. And finally 3) play it while it's fun. You don't want to use WoW as a time waster otherwise you really will waste hours upon hours on it.
I've also enjoyed how it acted as another form of "people watching" (that activity you do when you go specifically to a park or a mall to sit on a bench and watch people.. sometimes for social anthropology classes). As one of the limited number of girls playing the game at high end content, I've gained an interesting perspective on how people act in the game. It's funny to hear how guys are in a dude realm, because most of the time I get away with chilling in the background on Ventrilo (a microphone/headset program which lets you talk with other players online). You also get caught up following along with guild drama (where I've experienced meeting people ranging from your regular annoying twit to a psycho ex-army solider who hacks into finding out other people's real life personas). In life in general, you have to learn to deal with a variety of people no matter what "world" you're in.
There's countless experiences and memories associated behind Everquest and World of Warcraft, which have overall led to a fun experience. I'd recommend it to other people to try out so long as you drag a friend of yours down the rabbit hole with you. I think the whole experience is alot more fun when you're sharing it with someone you share face-time with as well.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Monet Madness
When I was little, the first artist I ever learned about was Monet. There's a replica of his painting at the pediatrician I went to when I was little of Waterlilies. I stil think it's a gorgeous piece.
I bite my thumb at you, sir!
Alright all you hooligans-- in the past week I've come across some various forms of insults. This whole insult-craze started with Webster.com list of uncommon insults (http://www.merriam-webster.com/top-ten-lists/top-10-rare-and-amusing-insults/cockalorum.html).
Today, I came across this list of insults thanks to stumble-upon(http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1hPaX2/mistupid.com/people/page086.htm) many of which I found amusing or clever. Below are the some of my favorites from the list:
So begon with thee, and perhaps find an opportune moment to cast out one of these snazzy insults.
Today, I came across this list of insults thanks to stumble-upon(http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1hPaX2/mistupid.com/people/page086.htm) many of which I found amusing or clever. Below are the some of my favorites from the list:
“I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.”
Clarence Darrow“He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.”
William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)"Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?"
Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)“I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.”
Mark Twain“He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends."
Oscar Wilde“I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend... if you have one.”
George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill“Cannot possibly attend first night; will attend second, if there is one.”
Winston Churchill’s response to George Bernard Shaw“I feel so miserable without you; it’s almost like having you here.”
Stephen Bishop“I’ve just learned about his illness. Let’s hope it’s nothing trivial.”
Irvin S. Cobb“He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others.”
Samuel Johnson“He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up.”
Paul Keating“Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?”
Mark Twain“His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork.”
Mae West“Winston, if you were my husband, I would poison your coffee!”
Lady Astor to Winston Churchill at a dinner party“Madam, if I were your husband, I would drink it!”
Winston Churchill’s response to Lady Astor"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it."
Moses Hadas"There's nothing wrong with you that reincarnation won't cure."
Jack E. Leonard
"They never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge."
Thomas Brackett Reed"In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily."
Charles, Count Talleyrand"He loves nature in spite of what it did to him."
Forrest Tucker"He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any one I know."
Abraham Lincoln"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts — for support rather than illumination."
Andrew Lang“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.”
Oscar Wilde"That depends, my lord, whether I embrace your mistress or your principles."
John Wilkes's response to The Earl of Sandwich"A modest little person, with much to be modest about."
Winston Churchill
So begon with thee, and perhaps find an opportune moment to cast out one of these snazzy insults.
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