I haven't written in awhile. It has been a really busy semester. I am taking more credits worth of engineering than I have ever taken before, sixteen. In previous semesters, I took 13 credits and there was usually a general education required class in there somewhere. Hence, this semester has been challenging.
I have also been interviewing and polishing the Bent on campus to try to earn a spot in Tau Beta Pi: the engineering honor society. On top of this, I have been spending my weekends helping out on concrete canoe with ASCE. I've helped measure ingredients, placed concrete, and I have even sanded the canoe. I feel very proud of the project. It has also been refreshing to be around such awesomely smart people. It makes for wonderful conversation, so I appreciate the time I have spent with my fellow peers.
I have been working really hard on my schoolwork too. I am taking 5 classes and 2 labs this semester. Hence, everyday has been jam-packed with stuff to do. Every semester, I think the same thing, "If I get through this semester, I can get through anything." Last semester, I experienced the combination of transportation engineering, a research project for the transportation department, the mechanics of materials class, water software, et cetera. I remember that I felt like I always had plenty to do. It was a tough, but rewarding semester. I am even considering working on a transportation department research project for my senior capstone project next year, which I had never thought about before. I intend to specialize in Water/Environmental, but my perspective has opened a bit since my semester of Transportation Engineering. Given the problems with pedestrians getting hit in the Southern Nevada Valley and the large number of flash floods that hit the valley this past fall, perhaps a project about driver's education or flood remediation on roadways might make more of a difference to society.
In any case, I have been trying to increase my club involvement while also still working hard on my course load. Every week, I think, "I can't believe I did all the stuff I did this week." I'm so proud of my efforts. This semester, I am in Civil Engineering Materials. Like most of my classes with labs, I usually enjoy the lab sessions better than the class. I think it's SO COOL that I've been mixing concrete this semester, making cylinders and beams. I was so proud of myself that I was able to use the air compressor to detach the concrete cylinders from the molds.
I have mad skills at tamping the concrete layers for the slump test. It's so great!! I even have done compression and tensile loading loading tests on what we make. I love that I am able to do this stuff as a woman. It reaffirms my belief that a woman can do anything a man can do (except pee standing up...women weren't built for that).
In any case, I also like that I'm taking Soil Mechanics along with Materials this semester. I often see the correlation with Materials and I believe it is a great combination since aggregates feature in both courses. Even though I'm really busy this semester, I am proud of my efforts and my increased capabilities. I also think it's great that I've been helping with concrete canoe this semester. It makes me understand concrete better, which helps with Materials.
In a nutshell, that is why I have been so busy lately. I'm really working hard and trying to be more involved than I have been. I hope life continues to get better and that I am able to shatter my own internal glass ceiling of what I thought I was capable of everyday. I hope that increased engineering experiences make me even more confident as a person, as well as become a better engineer.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
List of Things I've Done That I Never Thought I'd Do
I keep thinking I should make a list about the things I have done in my life that I never thought I would do. I keep thinking that it is amazing to think life will go one way and find out that we change in magical ways that we never thought we would.
So here's the list:
1. Performed an experiment with lasers
2. Used flame absorption spectroscopy to analyze sodium and calcium levels in both water and snow samples in Pittsburgh, PA (it was an analysis regarding road salt)
3. Helped build a playground in Turtle Creek, PA (I was on the spiral tube slide team.)
4. Performed a lab experiment about surface tension and recorded it on video
5. Used Excel to create a user-friendly dropdown menu mathematical model on the net energy balance of corn-ethanol
6. Presentation on the math portrayed in Alice in Wonderland
7. Volunteered at a Biofuel's Convention in Pennsylvania
8. Took the GRE and did well in it for only studying 2 weeks
9. I attended UC-Berkeley for a semester in their Civil and Environmental Engineering Master's program.
10. Rode the BART and the Subway
11. I've been to New York and have seen Ground Zero.
12. I've explored a monastery in New York.
13. I've toured pump stations, rate-of-flow stations, and the Hoover Dam.
14. I've seen construction sites with inspectors.
15. I've been a substitute teacher in middle school and high school math classes.
16. I've been a registration typist and worked at conventions.
17. I've been a bridesmaid and I even caught the bridal bouquet.
18. I've mastered cookie-baking.
19. I know how to sew and have even hemmed pants.
20. I can cook
21. I know how to use a soldering iron.
22. I've babysitted young children.
23. I've driven to Overton for a funeral by myself.
24. I've used statistical programming to perform linear regression analysis.
25. I wore braces for over 2 years and now I have straight teeth.
26. I've dressed up like the Easter Bunny #Mascot Style
27. I've had a hollowed out pumpkin jack-o-lantern on my head to be the Genetically Modified Pumpkin in a Halloween maze
28. I've read a speech in front of people.
29. I've sent stories I've written in to contests.
30. I've been groundtruthing.
31. I've weighed ingredients to be used in a concrete canoe.
32. I've placed concrete on an oddly shaped mold.
33. I've sanded a concrete canoe.
34. I've performed a Modified Proctor test.
35. I've used an air-compressor to remove concrete cylinders from molds.
36. I've polished a brass bent statue with Greek letters on it.
37. Hit a metal plate with a sledgehammer to create P-waves that were picked up by geophones (seismic waves lab experiment!) (I was the only girl who wanted to swing the hammer, by the way.)
...
So here's the list:
1. Performed an experiment with lasers
2. Used flame absorption spectroscopy to analyze sodium and calcium levels in both water and snow samples in Pittsburgh, PA (it was an analysis regarding road salt)
3. Helped build a playground in Turtle Creek, PA (I was on the spiral tube slide team.)
4. Performed a lab experiment about surface tension and recorded it on video
5. Used Excel to create a user-friendly dropdown menu mathematical model on the net energy balance of corn-ethanol
6. Presentation on the math portrayed in Alice in Wonderland
7. Volunteered at a Biofuel's Convention in Pennsylvania
8. Took the GRE and did well in it for only studying 2 weeks
9. I attended UC-Berkeley for a semester in their Civil and Environmental Engineering Master's program.
10. Rode the BART and the Subway
11. I've been to New York and have seen Ground Zero.
12. I've explored a monastery in New York.
13. I've toured pump stations, rate-of-flow stations, and the Hoover Dam.
14. I've seen construction sites with inspectors.
15. I've been a substitute teacher in middle school and high school math classes.
16. I've been a registration typist and worked at conventions.
17. I've been a bridesmaid and I even caught the bridal bouquet.
18. I've mastered cookie-baking.
19. I know how to sew and have even hemmed pants.
20. I can cook
21. I know how to use a soldering iron.
22. I've babysitted young children.
23. I've driven to Overton for a funeral by myself.
24. I've used statistical programming to perform linear regression analysis.
25. I wore braces for over 2 years and now I have straight teeth.
26. I've dressed up like the Easter Bunny #Mascot Style
27. I've had a hollowed out pumpkin jack-o-lantern on my head to be the Genetically Modified Pumpkin in a Halloween maze
28. I've read a speech in front of people.
29. I've sent stories I've written in to contests.
30. I've been groundtruthing.
31. I've weighed ingredients to be used in a concrete canoe.
32. I've placed concrete on an oddly shaped mold.
33. I've sanded a concrete canoe.
34. I've performed a Modified Proctor test.
35. I've used an air-compressor to remove concrete cylinders from molds.
36. I've polished a brass bent statue with Greek letters on it.
37. Hit a metal plate with a sledgehammer to create P-waves that were picked up by geophones (seismic waves lab experiment!) (I was the only girl who wanted to swing the hammer, by the way.)
...
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Salem Witch Trial Tactics Towards Gun Control
I was washing a load of dishes while listening to CNN. Apparently, the government is considering confiscating weapons from people who are deemed mentally unfit to have them. The reporter and her guest speakers were discussing depression and how depressed people may not be fit to own weapons. A psychologist was consulted about whether or not depression was a condition affecting whether or not people should own guns or not. From the discussion, I found myself under the impression that CNN was arguing that guns should be taken away from people who are depressed, even though antidepressants are common prescriptions prescribed in the United States.
Now, I kind of have a problem with this logic for several reasons...
First, the right to bear arms is in the Constitution. I feel like going on a "witch hunt" (or a "wacko hunt" in this case) would infringe on that right of the American people. Ironically, a strict constructionist would be all up in arms about even the idea of this sort of hunt (politcal humor).
I also believe that if the government was going to go around hunting people down because of the medications they take and require hearings on whether or not every person was mentally fit to own a gun...on the upside, the authorities would never run out of work, but people might also start riots. (And there might not be many mentally fit people left to own guns at all...gun manufacturers might suffer...hunters might suffer as well.)
Furthermore, just because people are taking medications like antidepressants, it doesn't mean that they are unfit mentally. Several people take antidepressants regularly and it helps them function better than if they were not taking them. Also, the people who take antidepressants are not always taking such medications for depression specifically. There are these afflictions called migraines which are often treated with antidepressants. Anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and fibromyalgia are also treated with antidepressants. People experiencing less head pain and body pain are probably less likely to go on a shooting rampage...but that's just my opinion.
I also feel like this concept of doing mental fitness assessments to determine whether or not people should own guns or not is just a way to place blame on mass shootings. To be honest, if someone really wants to cause anarchy, they can figure out a way to do it (whether or not they have guns or not).
Let's consider September 11th. Planes and big buildings were used in this awful event in American history (not primarily guns...although maybe they were used to keep hostages in line). There was also the Oklahoma City bombing. In this, the bombs were again the more focal elements than the guns. There is also the concept of bioterrorism. Anthrax scares within the United States Postal System was not a gun-related scare. In fact, the idea that something microscopic can kill off a large amount of people while they are unaware of the existing threat seems much worse than something like a gun (which we can see and possibly stop with security guards). (However, scares like this did inspire the episode of NCIS where DiNozzo opens Gibbs' mail and inhales a mutation of the bubonic plague....Now, that's good TV.)
People learn how to make potato guns from the internet. People learn how to make bombs with fertilizer. People can kill people with all sorts of objects. Just look at the Mythbuster episode on the weapons made in prison museum. If people have the mind to hurt other people, people can certainly think up a way to do so even with a lack of resources. People are inventive and will come up with new ways to accomplish their goals (nice goals, nefarious goals, mundane goals).
So what will taking away the guns really accomplish?
CNN noted that a lot of people in New York are packin' (as in, own a gun). This makes sense because New York (at least on TV shows) has high crime rates and it is a city having a great amount of walking populace. Similarly, in Las Vegas, there is a hodge-podge mix of inhabitants and many pedestrian-heavy areas (like the Strip). Thus, it would make sense if people in Las Vegas, NV carried weapons more commonly than in tamer areas of the U.S. (if there are any...maybe in Montana). But in any case, I feel that taking away the guns in higher crime rate-having areas, would upset the local residents a great deal.
And what would taking away the guns really accomplish?
It means the aspiring burglars would meet less resistance because the people without guns would be both mentally-impaired and living without an intimidating weapon to defend themselves. A gun is probably easier to use at a longer distance than a baseball bat or a cane (sorry, old people).
I propose that if mental fitness is a concern regarding whether or not people can carry a weapon, these people should be encouraged to take personality tests or love language tests to figure out what they could do with their misguided energy to increase their happiness with their lives (because my Mom says that if I don't like my life, then I should change it). Thus, we should try to provide more means of happiness to people. Happy people are less likely to go crazy and shoot a whole bunch of people (unless they are trying to abate boredom). But if people are using their misguided energy up, then they don't have the energy to go on a shooting spree (because they're too tired, even if they ARE bored).
Loving others and loving ourselves enough to face our own demons in a healthy manner (like by journaling or by talking to someone) is a better use of everyone's time than wreaking havoc on society. Others of us decide to use our time to build things that will improve life instead of end the lives of others. Improving our imperfect world through inventions and engineering is a better purpose than most, but everyone has their own path to follow. Everyone can make a difference.
That being said, psychological services are very expensive for the entire nation. Thus, this lack of availability of affordable emotional health services could be addressed to improve the mental fitness of the nation instead of going on a "gun hunt".
Now, I kind of have a problem with this logic for several reasons...
First, the right to bear arms is in the Constitution. I feel like going on a "witch hunt" (or a "wacko hunt" in this case) would infringe on that right of the American people. Ironically, a strict constructionist would be all up in arms about even the idea of this sort of hunt (politcal humor).
I also believe that if the government was going to go around hunting people down because of the medications they take and require hearings on whether or not every person was mentally fit to own a gun...on the upside, the authorities would never run out of work, but people might also start riots. (And there might not be many mentally fit people left to own guns at all...gun manufacturers might suffer...hunters might suffer as well.)
Furthermore, just because people are taking medications like antidepressants, it doesn't mean that they are unfit mentally. Several people take antidepressants regularly and it helps them function better than if they were not taking them. Also, the people who take antidepressants are not always taking such medications for depression specifically. There are these afflictions called migraines which are often treated with antidepressants. Anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and fibromyalgia are also treated with antidepressants. People experiencing less head pain and body pain are probably less likely to go on a shooting rampage...but that's just my opinion.
I also feel like this concept of doing mental fitness assessments to determine whether or not people should own guns or not is just a way to place blame on mass shootings. To be honest, if someone really wants to cause anarchy, they can figure out a way to do it (whether or not they have guns or not).
Let's consider September 11th. Planes and big buildings were used in this awful event in American history (not primarily guns...although maybe they were used to keep hostages in line). There was also the Oklahoma City bombing. In this, the bombs were again the more focal elements than the guns. There is also the concept of bioterrorism. Anthrax scares within the United States Postal System was not a gun-related scare. In fact, the idea that something microscopic can kill off a large amount of people while they are unaware of the existing threat seems much worse than something like a gun (which we can see and possibly stop with security guards). (However, scares like this did inspire the episode of NCIS where DiNozzo opens Gibbs' mail and inhales a mutation of the bubonic plague....Now, that's good TV.)
People learn how to make potato guns from the internet. People learn how to make bombs with fertilizer. People can kill people with all sorts of objects. Just look at the Mythbuster episode on the weapons made in prison museum. If people have the mind to hurt other people, people can certainly think up a way to do so even with a lack of resources. People are inventive and will come up with new ways to accomplish their goals (nice goals, nefarious goals, mundane goals).
So what will taking away the guns really accomplish?
CNN noted that a lot of people in New York are packin' (as in, own a gun). This makes sense because New York (at least on TV shows) has high crime rates and it is a city having a great amount of walking populace. Similarly, in Las Vegas, there is a hodge-podge mix of inhabitants and many pedestrian-heavy areas (like the Strip). Thus, it would make sense if people in Las Vegas, NV carried weapons more commonly than in tamer areas of the U.S. (if there are any...maybe in Montana). But in any case, I feel that taking away the guns in higher crime rate-having areas, would upset the local residents a great deal.
And what would taking away the guns really accomplish?
It means the aspiring burglars would meet less resistance because the people without guns would be both mentally-impaired and living without an intimidating weapon to defend themselves. A gun is probably easier to use at a longer distance than a baseball bat or a cane (sorry, old people).
I propose that if mental fitness is a concern regarding whether or not people can carry a weapon, these people should be encouraged to take personality tests or love language tests to figure out what they could do with their misguided energy to increase their happiness with their lives (because my Mom says that if I don't like my life, then I should change it). Thus, we should try to provide more means of happiness to people. Happy people are less likely to go crazy and shoot a whole bunch of people (unless they are trying to abate boredom). But if people are using their misguided energy up, then they don't have the energy to go on a shooting spree (because they're too tired, even if they ARE bored).
Loving others and loving ourselves enough to face our own demons in a healthy manner (like by journaling or by talking to someone) is a better use of everyone's time than wreaking havoc on society. Others of us decide to use our time to build things that will improve life instead of end the lives of others. Improving our imperfect world through inventions and engineering is a better purpose than most, but everyone has their own path to follow. Everyone can make a difference.
That being said, psychological services are very expensive for the entire nation. Thus, this lack of availability of affordable emotional health services could be addressed to improve the mental fitness of the nation instead of going on a "gun hunt".
Monday, December 31, 2012
December is Gone; Bring on a New Year
It always amazes me how life always fills up with stuff to do. I found myself running around like a mad woman the last week of the semester because my mom needed prescriptions filled, I had to study for final exams, and I ended up babysitting my niece and nephew both before and after finals were over (since my mom was out of commission). Somehow I managed to do all of that (because I'm AWESOME).
It just amazes me that even after the semester was over, there was all of this family stuff to do. It's amazing how having a family-oriented life never allows it to be boring. I also went bridesmaid dress shopping with my sister and mom. I am thankful that my sister put my comfort on wearing dresses first during the whole process. My little sister is really beautiful and looks great in everything she wears.
My brother is renewing his vows with his new wife in about 2 weeks in Arizona. I'm really excited that my brother found such an amazing woman to marry. I think she's one of the nicest people I've ever met in my life. She has a wonderful heart and I couldn't ask for a better sister-in-law. I'm glad to have her as a new member of my family. <3
In any case, I spent a lot of time in December shopping for Christmas with my youngest brother Matt. We handled most of the Christmas shopping. We did not end up starting the Christmas shopping until a week before Christmas, but we managed to accomplish a lot over the course of 7 days.
On Christmas Eve, I baked cookies for Santa with my niece and nephew. I decided on chocolate chip cookies, since they are easier to make than cookies that require chilling time (like snickerdoodles, to the dismay of my nephew). However, these cookies had a short life. They were all gone in less than 48 hours of existence. It made me feel nice to know that my cookies were so well-liked.
Christmas came and went. Since I was watching my niece and nephew a lot this month, I chose to introduce them to Miyasaki films. The only ones I haven't shown them are Spirited Away, Ponyo, and The Secret of Arriety. I don't own Ponyo or The Secret of Arriety and the Spirited Away DVD menu is written in Kanji, which I cannot read myself. Thus, trying to set up the film to play in English has been challenging. Sadly, my niece and nephew would have to read really fast to keep up with English subtitles in order to watch Spirited Away in Japanese. I might be able to figure it out eventually. I googled it and could not find the answer easily. I have high hopes, though.
In any case, another year is almost over. I'm very grateful for what I have and the people in my life. I feel like that is what the new year should be all about: being thankful for another year full of many blessings. I hope that everything works out for all the people I love and all the people who work hard with good intentions. Happy New Year!
It just amazes me that even after the semester was over, there was all of this family stuff to do. It's amazing how having a family-oriented life never allows it to be boring. I also went bridesmaid dress shopping with my sister and mom. I am thankful that my sister put my comfort on wearing dresses first during the whole process. My little sister is really beautiful and looks great in everything she wears.
My brother is renewing his vows with his new wife in about 2 weeks in Arizona. I'm really excited that my brother found such an amazing woman to marry. I think she's one of the nicest people I've ever met in my life. She has a wonderful heart and I couldn't ask for a better sister-in-law. I'm glad to have her as a new member of my family. <3
In any case, I spent a lot of time in December shopping for Christmas with my youngest brother Matt. We handled most of the Christmas shopping. We did not end up starting the Christmas shopping until a week before Christmas, but we managed to accomplish a lot over the course of 7 days.
On Christmas Eve, I baked cookies for Santa with my niece and nephew. I decided on chocolate chip cookies, since they are easier to make than cookies that require chilling time (like snickerdoodles, to the dismay of my nephew). However, these cookies had a short life. They were all gone in less than 48 hours of existence. It made me feel nice to know that my cookies were so well-liked.
Christmas came and went. Since I was watching my niece and nephew a lot this month, I chose to introduce them to Miyasaki films. The only ones I haven't shown them are Spirited Away, Ponyo, and The Secret of Arriety. I don't own Ponyo or The Secret of Arriety and the Spirited Away DVD menu is written in Kanji, which I cannot read myself. Thus, trying to set up the film to play in English has been challenging. Sadly, my niece and nephew would have to read really fast to keep up with English subtitles in order to watch Spirited Away in Japanese. I might be able to figure it out eventually. I googled it and could not find the answer easily. I have high hopes, though.
In any case, another year is almost over. I'm very grateful for what I have and the people in my life. I feel like that is what the new year should be all about: being thankful for another year full of many blessings. I hope that everything works out for all the people I love and all the people who work hard with good intentions. Happy New Year!
Saturday, November 17, 2012
I Deserve A Medal; Imaginary Points For Being A Trooper
Sure enough, I predicted it on Halloween. I blinked, and now it's almost Thanksgiving. I'm currently dealing with what is probably bronchitis (I say probably because I haven't gone to the doctor to get an "official" diagnosis, but given the chest pain, it's no ordinary cold. Trust me.)
I find myself swamped with homework, more so than usual: Chapter of Mechanics of Materials homework, Transportation Engineering homework, a lab report, Water Software homework, scheduled all-day presentation at my old high school to survey students about driver's education, and it's all due at the beginning of this week and 3 of those assignments I haven't started yet. I could also do a drafting module, if I'm feeling ambitious. And I'll probably do a module anyway, because I hate the idea of having additional work hanging over my head like a storm cloud.
My day today was rather hectic. I slept until 10:00 am, because I figured I should given being sick and needing rest. Then, I started to drive up to the university. On the way there, there was steam rising out of the hood on the right side where the coolant tank is located. My dad always calls it the reservoir. So anyway, given the location of the steam, I hypothesized that the coolant reservoir had overtopped, so the steam was probably coming from there. I watched the temperature gage and it didn't reach above halfway. However, given the visual steam, I called home to inform my parents. Then, I printed out 100 surveys for my transportation engineering project, called an online driving school to see what I needed to do to make surveying students possible, talked to my professor overseeing the project about it, went downstairs to touch base with a different group member to make sure the meeting time was good for 3 pm later, and then talked to another professor about the errors I was dealing with in my water software class.
Then, I called home about whether or not I should drive my new steam engine home or not. I couldn't get the radiator cap off and neither could two manly bystanders. So I filled the coolant reservoir with additional water. And I was impressed that I managed to tilt the jug of water so well as to not spill any water on the ground under the car. I must have done this a lot.....*cough*cough*
Then, I drove the car home, while watching the thermostat. The only motivation I had driving this car home was thinking, "I will earn (imaginary) points with Dad, if I manage to drive the car home." And miraculously, I managed to keep the car in good stead by running the air conditioning full-blast and trying to not get stuck idling too long before intersections. The temperature kept fluctuating until I turned to pull it into the driveway. That's when the temperature finally reached the red. So I still count this expedition as a success. That's debatable.
Then, I drove up to the high school to deliver surveys to some of my teachers for transportation engineering and made the Tuesday appointment with one of my teachers to survey her students. Then, I drove home. I laid in my bed for 10 minutes, got up, and drove back up to school for a water software group term project meeting. Then, we met for approximately 3 hours to get started on our project. Then, I drove home. Then, I ate, bathed, and made an online survey form for my transportation engineering project. Then, I decided to blog about my hectic day because I believe I deserve a medal.
I had a migraine all day and I even coughed up blood. So I'm the best teammate ever!! And I hope my efforts are rewarded with many survey responses in the future and less stress over stuff I have accomplished.
I hope I feel better soon! And I hope I can get everything done that I need to get done this weekend.
I find myself swamped with homework, more so than usual: Chapter of Mechanics of Materials homework, Transportation Engineering homework, a lab report, Water Software homework, scheduled all-day presentation at my old high school to survey students about driver's education, and it's all due at the beginning of this week and 3 of those assignments I haven't started yet. I could also do a drafting module, if I'm feeling ambitious. And I'll probably do a module anyway, because I hate the idea of having additional work hanging over my head like a storm cloud.
My day today was rather hectic. I slept until 10:00 am, because I figured I should given being sick and needing rest. Then, I started to drive up to the university. On the way there, there was steam rising out of the hood on the right side where the coolant tank is located. My dad always calls it the reservoir. So anyway, given the location of the steam, I hypothesized that the coolant reservoir had overtopped, so the steam was probably coming from there. I watched the temperature gage and it didn't reach above halfway. However, given the visual steam, I called home to inform my parents. Then, I printed out 100 surveys for my transportation engineering project, called an online driving school to see what I needed to do to make surveying students possible, talked to my professor overseeing the project about it, went downstairs to touch base with a different group member to make sure the meeting time was good for 3 pm later, and then talked to another professor about the errors I was dealing with in my water software class.
Then, I called home about whether or not I should drive my new steam engine home or not. I couldn't get the radiator cap off and neither could two manly bystanders. So I filled the coolant reservoir with additional water. And I was impressed that I managed to tilt the jug of water so well as to not spill any water on the ground under the car. I must have done this a lot.....*cough*cough*
Then, I drove the car home, while watching the thermostat. The only motivation I had driving this car home was thinking, "I will earn (imaginary) points with Dad, if I manage to drive the car home." And miraculously, I managed to keep the car in good stead by running the air conditioning full-blast and trying to not get stuck idling too long before intersections. The temperature kept fluctuating until I turned to pull it into the driveway. That's when the temperature finally reached the red. So I still count this expedition as a success. That's debatable.
Then, I drove up to the high school to deliver surveys to some of my teachers for transportation engineering and made the Tuesday appointment with one of my teachers to survey her students. Then, I drove home. I laid in my bed for 10 minutes, got up, and drove back up to school for a water software group term project meeting. Then, we met for approximately 3 hours to get started on our project. Then, I drove home. Then, I ate, bathed, and made an online survey form for my transportation engineering project. Then, I decided to blog about my hectic day because I believe I deserve a medal.
I had a migraine all day and I even coughed up blood. So I'm the best teammate ever!! And I hope my efforts are rewarded with many survey responses in the future and less stress over stuff I have accomplished.
I hope I feel better soon! And I hope I can get everything done that I need to get done this weekend.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Campaign For Later Labs, Literary Humor in Trailer and Commercial
This semester has been a rough one. I suppose the main issue is taking Mechanics of Materials along with Transportation Engineering during the same semester. If any aspiring engineering students see the aforementioned course combination in their schedules, I recommend that you rethink your decision before you go mad. That is, unless the student reading this is an intuitive genius. I suppose in that case, there is no cause for worry.
I keep finding more that as time goes on, I need to take care of myself more. I remember when I used to be able to stay up late working on homework and I wasn't as phased as I feel now when I try to do that. There's the possibility that I am not remembering the past as accurately as I remember the nearly present moments. People always idealize the past. Hence, it wouldn't surprise me if I have always been frazzled by having to do schoolwork.
Then again, maybe I just wasn't born to be a morning person. The professors who schedule labs at 8:30 am in the morning astound me. Why should students be working on lab equipment when they are half asleep? There's so much talk about lab safety, but being drowsy during lab hardly seems safe. I should launch an awareness campaign against morning labs. "Don't let students operate machinery drowsy. Only you can prevent the loss of limb by a rotating saw blade."
I keep hoping that I will get all that I need to get done finished and I'll have a glorious break, but I'm obviously dreaming the impossible dream. I never run out of stuff I can do. On the upside, I never have cause to be bored, just overworked. Haha, is "overworked" even a term that exists for the Murphy side of my family? I don't think so.
But in any case, it is 22 days until Halloween!! I am really hoping to watch the Halloween movies again this year. I almost went and saw Paranorman simply for the Halloween music joke in the trailer.
I love the art of humor by allusion. I love smart humor that I understand. Recently, I saw the new Miracle Whip commercial that alludes to The Scarlet Letter and I love it every time I watch it. Literary humor just gets me.
Hopefully, I will be able to write something more this month, but if not, I'm buried under a pile of homework and shoeing the demanding cats away.
I keep finding more that as time goes on, I need to take care of myself more. I remember when I used to be able to stay up late working on homework and I wasn't as phased as I feel now when I try to do that. There's the possibility that I am not remembering the past as accurately as I remember the nearly present moments. People always idealize the past. Hence, it wouldn't surprise me if I have always been frazzled by having to do schoolwork.
Then again, maybe I just wasn't born to be a morning person. The professors who schedule labs at 8:30 am in the morning astound me. Why should students be working on lab equipment when they are half asleep? There's so much talk about lab safety, but being drowsy during lab hardly seems safe. I should launch an awareness campaign against morning labs. "Don't let students operate machinery drowsy. Only you can prevent the loss of limb by a rotating saw blade."
I keep hoping that I will get all that I need to get done finished and I'll have a glorious break, but I'm obviously dreaming the impossible dream. I never run out of stuff I can do. On the upside, I never have cause to be bored, just overworked. Haha, is "overworked" even a term that exists for the Murphy side of my family? I don't think so.
But in any case, it is 22 days until Halloween!! I am really hoping to watch the Halloween movies again this year. I almost went and saw Paranorman simply for the Halloween music joke in the trailer.
I love the art of humor by allusion. I love smart humor that I understand. Recently, I saw the new Miracle Whip commercial that alludes to The Scarlet Letter and I love it every time I watch it. Literary humor just gets me.
Hopefully, I will be able to write something more this month, but if not, I'm buried under a pile of homework and shoeing the demanding cats away.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Rant About Upcoming Presidential Election 2012
Here's the deal: I really love Obama and all, but I kind of think his time as President should be over. However, the idea of slick Mitt Romney and topsy-turvy Paul Ryan being at the head of this country bothers me. I don't like them. I get the sense that they are salesman and it irritates me.
Ironically, Mitt Romney looked better appearance-wise long before the convention. Romney is starting to resemble Richard Nixon in appearance now. It's creepy! I'm hoping that his looks don't help him get elected to office, due to the resemblance of a past President (even though it is to a notorious one).
In any case, given that I believe Obama is the more intelligent and genuine of the 2 major candidates, Obama is going to get my vote. I wish Obama wasn't running again, because I'm still a huge Hillary Clinton fan. I'd rather have Hillary as the next President, truth be told. If I thought I could get her elected writing her in, I would.
I don't know. Maybe I'll do what I did for the last election and vote for Ralph Nader. I hate having limited choices to 2 major candidates, when I'm not gungho about either one.
I feel like the past years have shown politicians as circus performers, who talk a lot, have a lack of morals, and get paid a lot of money on the national level to do their song and dance. I have lost faith in my government. This relates to the news coverage on the two houses and not on Presidential candidates.
I want a fresh face and I don't want that face to be Nixon-esque Mitt Romney. Why did Ted Kennedy have to die when he did? I wanted Ted to run. He paid his dues and had the congressional experience. It's too bad that he couldn't throw his hat into the ring.
What happened to single term Presidencies? I'm sick of these Presidents running twice, thinking that another four years will make a difference. That's insane. That's a gamble because the only way that Presidents get more stuff done is if their party has a majority in both the Senate and the House and that's not a sure thing any given congressional election year.
I also don't like that these politicians speaking at these conventions talk in extremes because it's all a show to get nominated only to change to moderate stance later. I think these politicians think the general populace is ignorant of how the political system works. I'M NOT IGNORANT!
And why don't we just do away with the Electoral College? I would like to believe that these conventions weed out unsuitable candidates anyway. So why can't we, the people, select our own President?!! It doesn't make sense to me to keep an antiquated electoral system such as the Electoral College when so many people in America are educated now.
In any case, I'm not satisfied with the choices that the upcoming Presidential Election has given me. I'm not satisfied with the state of this nation's electoral system. I WANT MY OPINION TO MATTER!
Disclaimer: Not wanting Obama as a 2nd term President is not the same as not liking and respecting my nation's leader. He's the Denzel Washington of Presidents. <3 I just want somebody new and fresh. And my comments about Romney being like Nixon were only related to my observations of his appearance at the latest Republican National Convention. I do not intend to slander anyone. I am simply ranting about my frustration with my limited choices for the Presidential seat in 2012.
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