I am Spartacus

Ever have that feeling like you can easily be represented by a number? It is very anti-western to seek “oneness” in society. We all try to strive for individuality, to be the protagonist, or at the least the antagonist. No one wants to be the NPC (non-player character) in a storyline, yet how many of us just drift through life, accepting the social norm and feeling the way people tell us we should feel. Even anarchy is easily justifiable socially through simply defining what you are rebelling against. When it boils down to it are you simply a number?

I lost my keys in my pocket. That pretty much explains my rationality level for the day. I am excited about going back to my house for the weekend and can’t wait to see everyone. Unfortunately, all my other commitments decided that this was the weekend that they wanted to make landmarks in their progression. I am very glad to be going home though and am not regretting the return to the family for a short reprieve from college. I think we should all spend more quality time with our loved ones…then leave when it starts to overturn to quantity.

Thoughts of the Day:

If you score more than 100 in a test you should question how much you are learning in the class.

You cannot measure your potential and are limiting yourself by trying to!

You never walk in the same river twice, but if you pee upstream a bit you may end up in swimming in it.

The only things that are mandatory are death and taxes

Recently there has been a lack of scripture reading in my life and I can see the changes in my speech and actions because of it. I believe that the root of philosophy should run deep in the heart of man, and my readings are essential to how the advancement of my idealisms. After a light proverbs study this morning I feel like a part of me that was dark is now bright again and that what was once heavy is now light. This feeling is the essence of love, which I find in spirituality.

I have realized that my studying time has stumbled in the last week so I will re-double my efforts to achieve the greatest level of learning during this forthcoming quarter of the semester. My grades are unaffected by my lack of studying but that is mainly because I am a firm advocate of studying the subject not the test and so I often come into an exam with more information than would ever be required for an under-graduate level class (exceptions are made for research classes). I feel a greater sense of accomplishment when I am able to not only answer the questions but expound the four forms of Aristotle for them as well. (The form being: Material, Formal, Efficient, Final)

The lifestyle I am leading right now is very good, but I believe that there can be an increase in productivity if I simply alter a few points and so I shall be tinkering with my habits until I find a more gratifying system. Parkour is going well, but I am at a road block with my front flip. Ever since my last trip to the gym I am unable to commit to the jump and so I end up in a roll because of a combination of poor footwork and hesitation. It seems as vigilance is the only remedy for this, so onward and upward!

Thoughts Of The Day:

If meaning is subjective, then we must ask ourselves why everyone is looking for the same thing?

Feelings can be operationally defined, yet we still seem to have the problem of empirically recognizing them.

Science is the art of rationalizing ideas into being but it has yet to rationalize them away.

The Warm Fuzzies

For those of us who strongly apply introspect there are times in our lives when we all reach a level of Enlightenment where we understand why we are inclined towards certain idealisms. In Psyc Hist (I have decided as of now that all classes shall be referred to in abbreviations for the duration of the semester) the lecture was on Thomas Hobbes. For those of you who don’t know, I am writing a research paper on Hobbes’ Philosophy of the commonwealth. I have not yet read a great deal on his lifestyle and so when I learned in class that he was a secretary to Sir Francis Bacon, one of my earliest philosophical influences and that Hobbes was known for pushing the line on saying what makes people uncomfortable I got the “warm fuzzies”.
I made the highest grade for my three tests in my Biology class, which is a testament to how easy the test was since I spent more time studying the footnotes to my Psyc Research class than all the time I’ve spent studying for Bio. It is already Wednesday and there is still so much to do. I am still waiting for the “boredom” period everyone seems to talk about in college. My paper is going well, slowly but surely. I am going to spend some serious time on it during spring break.

Thoughts of the Day:

Did you know Thomas Hobbes was well respected by Martin Luther King Jr?

It is feels very strange to have energy but no strength.

By what tool should we measure our own success?

You're Killing Me Smalls, You're Killing Me

Okay okay, I know this is late in coming and I am a day behind but I DO have reasons! Yesterday I had two tests, an interview with my crew for the local news, kick boxing class, and a vendetta with my under sleeping to account for my absence of ranting. Today however was a nice, break neck pace however so I was able to breathe in-between parkour practice and reading for my Psychology Research class. There are a few tricks I am really concentrating on this Friday, walking turtle, handstand break dance style not gymnast, and front flip so I am going to set up a real schedule for trick mastery, or trickery tomorrow.

I haven't had much of a chance to pursue my art work other than brief sketches (yes I was drawing in my underwear, what of it. I haven't really practiced guitar either but I have been listening to so much music during training it feels like I am still getting my dose of melodies for the day. My tests for two classes were really easy but I didn’t do as well as I thought I would in my Psyc Research class so that means I am going to have to pwn this next one because it has been made personal. The parkour group is continuing to grow so I am excited with the direction we are heading in and ready for the gym on Friday.

Thoughts of the Day:

When your friends are more enthusiastic about your success then you, you know you have good relationships.

If jack jumped over the candle stick does that mean he was a free runner?

Is it strange that I can do one-handed push-ups yet when it comes to handstands I have trouble carrying my own weight? (I guess I don’t try to walk while doing one handed pushups)

Cogito Ergo Sum!

Howdy

Life often throws up curve balls. Sometimes we hit them and score a home run. Other times we just freeze up and get hit in the face. School feels like it is turning into a pitch and I am going to have to make some important decisions on certain paths in my life. At my History of Psychology review today we covered part of what the lectures have been on and I felt overprepared for the upcoming test. I was really tired and felt a little like I was wasting my time so I had to concentrate on not looking incredibly bored. I think the T.A. is very interesting and she really seems like she will make a great professor some day. Yesterday I had my first test for Methods for Psychology and I can honestly say, it was just what I expected. In class essays have never been my perferred method of testing but I think I did pretty well on the test, but we will see on Tuesday, haha.

It is crazy how much a life perspective changes how we feel about certain events. Today my parents came down and met my parkour team. They really got along well and that really pleased me. My dad even acted like he wanted to try some of the tricks. I can’t decide if I am being too hard on myself but I was only able to land the front flip on the trampoline and then I hurt my back a little so I didn’t get it on flat ground so I am fairly upset with myself. I guess since I really have no measuring tool to say whether I am progressing fastly or slowly I have no logical reason to be frustrated, but I think I am going to go nativist on this sucker and say “I know I could have done a front flip because I was born with the knowledge to do it.” Oh well, I was really happy to see my dad.

Thoughts of the Day:

Why are there so many hot chicks in psychology?

What would the world be like if women ruled?

Is your philosophy worth anything if you aren’t willing to die for it?

Another Day Another Dollar

My brain feels like it has been baked, fried, and just about every other way you can overheat a pound of fat. I have heard of growing pains but when you run through 800 years of philosophy I think you are going a little too far with the stretching exercise. Tomorrow is my first big test for school and I have been trying to study all day but there is so much other information that keeps crowding the recesses of my mind and forcing contemplation of life's greatest mysteries like...“if that guy doesn't stop making his chair squeak should I teach him the applications of gravity via my textbook?” Sometimes it just feels like I am the only one who is trying, I know it is not true but I would like to talk to someone who is more OCD than I when it comes to school.
After class I spent about an hour free running. The time would have been better spent napping because I felt so weak I couldn't build up the strength to attempt a handstand. I am glad I have days like this. It reminds me why I am in school, to learn how to have fewer days like this. One of the most exciting parts of studying is seeing information merge together at a point and seeing that point used in a utilitarian fashion. My parents are coming down Friday and I am psyched to see my parents as well as introduce them to my new friends. Well, I have to get back to studying, next week the posts will be longer!

Thoughts of the Day:

Is it possible to always know why girls get jealous?

If I knew what I don't know then would I know everything or just know what I didn't know and not what I knew?

If the barber shaves everyone who doesn't shave himself, who shaves the barber!?

Rock it like you bought it!

I only had one class today because Philosophy class was canceled. It was Psychology Research, right after “complicates everything man” asked a question, my neighbor and I said the same answer to his question in whispers to each other right before the teacher answered the same way, high-fives, end of story. I spent most of the morning studying for my big test on Thursday and recuperating from Kickboxing last night. This sounds like it will be my most complicated test and so I am excited for the change but also anxious for the outcome. It feels like one of those tests where you go in thinking you know everything and could write the book and you come out of it wishing that you could go back to spelling class to learn what the words used meant.

After studying I headed out to do some Parkour training with the crew and we were asked by a English Major if she could an interview with the team. Our group really does not have a leader, but one of the members stepped up to her when she asked “who is the head honcho” and so we ragged on him for the rest of the day. The group seems to be gaining recognition nicely and we now have a gym to practice in now so we are going to ace our flips and tricks. Tomorrow should be a little bit easier on the mind, harder on the body.

Thoughts of the Day

If high fives were the incentive for getting questions right in class, do you think more people would answer questions?

If my group is without a leader and everyone helps each other learn and there is true equality are we considered communists?

Is it mind over matter or is just a matter of the mind?

Best I Ever Had

Hope you guys enjoyed the weekend, because it is over now! The Saints deserved their win, even though I was rooting for the Colts, they may so many mistakes I felt like I was watching an elementary school choir sing Ave Maria. Even so, I am glad football season is over. I finished one of my Hobbes' analysis books and I don't know if it is a good thing or a bad thing but it is definitely becoming easier for me to read political philosophy. I managed to hurt my neck when trying to perform a backflip on Friday in the gym, nothing more than irritating soreness, but I learned a value lesson: Never try a trick until you have a good idea of the mechanics of it.
I woke up at 8:45 because my alarm didn't seem to wake me up, luckily have experience in getting ready in under 180 seconds and made it to class with only running half way, thank you track. Mondays seem to make even the most vibrant teachers lag a bit. I think we should just turn Mondays into a “Do over” day.
“Billy you failed that test!”
“That's okay Courtney, it was a do-over day.”
Let's not look at the economic, social, ethical or political ramifications and just all sigh in the beauty of the incomplete and slightly handicapped idea of “do-over” days.
I've decided I need to find some models for my portrait drawings, I've become decent at capturing the illusive ADD undergrad student in motion but I would really like to do a more complex rendering now. I am hoping that the girls I ask won't be too self-conscience, especially since I will hold back on telling them about some of my more “intriguing” pose ideas.

Thoughts of the Day:

Massage class should be mandatory for College graduation

It is a wise prince who uses a passionate man to lead the army, an intelligent man to advise the councilors, and a jester to lead the masses.

Chicken Little probably just had an advanced understanding of Astrophysics.

PS

I am going to remove note posting on Facebook because I would like to know how many people actually read my posts, so if you want to keep reading just add me on Blogger or tab my page, it can be found under disambiguationinmoderation. Cheers!

What Was The Question?

I just finished dinner before realizing I had not even started on my post for today. I apologize to my daily reader. Thursdays are the longest day in my week. It is the only day I get home after six. My initial class, Psychological Research, was full of laughing about how we shouldn't perform unethical testing while the teacher consistently gave examples of it with very sparse examples of what was morally acceptable. Directly proceeding it was my Philosophy class where we had the fun “Free Will vs Determinism” talk. In part one of two we talked about Determinism and I had a very good time scaring people into not defending Free Will by destroying all their examples with an empirical approach, adding the asterisk only at the end of my two minute monologue that I was not actually completely for Determinism, as any of you who are keeping up on reading my blogs knows. I love college. My final class was at 3 pm and it was psychology lab. I think it is going to be the most time demanding thing, outside of my research paper for history of psychology but it is going to teach the most foundational skills for research as well.

After class I went straight over to psych club. What am I suppose to make of a “Hey, your in my class. you are the one who answers all the questions,”? Being the smooth person I am, I apologized and said it is only because the teacher challenges me with because of the way his questions are formatted. Talk about humble right? I was also mocked for saying I loved a class that is rather difficult by another girl in the club, When asked who we wanted to have speak she was yelling while wearing a mischievous grin, “Say ____! You love his class!” The people in that club are probably my favorite group of people over the number of ten I've ever met.

Thoughts of the Day:

Do you think I should cut back on answering questions in my classes or change my

methodology?

If I can get bacon not to rot in the hot sun, do you think I can get one over on the

law?

The importance of repetitiveness in learning cannot be overly stressed.

The importance of repetitiveness in learning cannot be overly stressed.

The importance of repetitiveness in learning cannot be overly stressed.

A Reputable Cognition

Good Evening!

When in want of something, one should always approach the idea of obtaining it through an analytical approach, along with a clear understanding of their range of influence and power. I have come to understand the parkour group I am interested in has a road block and being a person who does not like to be blocked in any form or fashion, I wish to prove true to the parkour axiom of turning every obstacle into a stepping stone. I have the materials needed to fulfill the group’s wishes, but I need more information.

For my History of Psychology the T.A. lectured today. She did a fairly good job, but I missed the storytelling and the running short of time that the Dr. Bruce always brings to the table, but she seems like she will actually be a very good professor someday. She even indulged my requests for information on alchemy and it’s connections with the church. My Biology lab has to be the easiest class I have, mainly because I am on a team doing tasks that any of us could easily do by ourselves, perhaps faster. They are all good students though and work hard so I am happy to collaborate with them. My Biology lecture on the other hand is a continual struggle to stay awake, but I now understand what he wants us to know for the quizzes I am more attentively in class, slightly.

Tonight I have my aerobic kickboxing class and can already tell you it is going to hurt, especially after working out in the gym yesterday and practicing some parkour moves today. I may need to take tomorrow off.

Thoughts of the Day:

“Function before Form” Frank Lloyd Wright

What do you make of something that is easier in practice than theory?

If Machavelli and Hobbes met in a bar, who would pay for drinks?

Unparsimonious Proclamations!

Salutations!
I’ve just realized that the classes that I am most interested in are the classes I have earliest in the morning. Both my Psychology classes are at 9 am, followed by my biology and philosophy classes on their respective days. This leads me to believe I should spend a lot more time studying the other two subjects since not only do they have the advantages of being later in the day, but have the added weight of subjectively different information than the other two classes. I have studied with a ratio of 2/6ths of my time to Psychology Research, 2/6 History of Psychology, 1/6 Biology, and 1/6 Philosophy. If I just made the classes into the categories of A and B, where A is Major focused classes (classes I will have the information repeated an unparsimonious number of times throughout my career) and B is my required classes/minor (classes I will only hear the subjective relationship with specific information a few times) I come to see A=2/3’s of my studying and B=1/3. Okay, so that was a very long winded way of saying I need to rethink my studying to maximize my time, but I really wanted to use the word unparsimonious(which was then immediately added to my dictionary after checking the spelling on a reputable science dictionary site).

My classes today were reviews of material previously covered, with the introduction of determinism in my philosophy class. For those of you who don’t know, determinism is the idea of cause-effect relationships determining everything. If it is an effect it had a cause. I find this “philosophical view” a little trite, since it is only the development of basic inductive method into a law and thus is more of a scientific observation dressed up in a toga, prancing around yelling “eureka, thy name is Newton” referred to by people who do not wish to philosophize, i.e. “It is in their nature”. I will now step off my pedestal.

Time for the thoughts of the day!
Would scientist’s work out more if they were expected to wear togas?
If you have read this was it of your own free will or was it already determined?
If you have read this was it of your own free will or was it already determined?

PS I know the toga is Roman, but I have a feeling that most people would make the mental leap to greek and for those who would complain about the toga, you are just whiner and knew exactly what I meant, so I shall NOT say the name for the Greek bath towel.(if you want to actually know the name, it rhymes with thiton.)

Hands Up!

Well, I hope all of you had a good weekend! I have wanted to update for the last 48 hours but decided not to get into that habit because I am going to try to fill my Saturdays a lot more in the not too distant future. The main reason for my want to update was not that I had anything incredibly fascinating to say, de facto, but I had so many random tidbits of information flooding the gateways of my mind I needed an outlet, to resolve this issue I decided to practice landing on my head, ahem, handstands.
Today, like all Mondays, began with the History of Psychology and I believe my meditations actually paid off because I only made one comment involving the impact of humanism in the Greek Golden Age vs the dominant view today that man is hedonistic (and so must be forced to learn through tests). Of course if you would like to hear my discourses on this feel free to contact me (hears crickets).
After class I located the books I wanted for my research paper in the library. This building is much more pleasant on the eyes than previously judged of course this is in hindsight where vision is always 20/20. Afterwards I met with my Professor and we discussed my paper’s progression. He was very helpful and insightful, encouraging me in the Platonian fashion of promoting my self-motivation.
Continuing the day in style I decide to practice my hand falling…standing on the grass instead of on a mat, because it seemed like more stable ground would help me balance better. Well it certainly did, adding maybe a whole second of “standing time “ for each attempt, and ten more seconds on my back.
To end my scholarly work for the day I had my Introductory to Biology class, which is the class I struggle, to stay awake in, the most. The Professor is affable almost to a fault, but learning how carbohydrates work just isn’t something that appeals to me. I am much more interested in the banana as a whole. Sadly, it turns out I made a 9/10 on my last quiz because of one silly mistake. The question was “what is the name for the study of animals?” I wrote taxidermy…if you are laughing right now it is because you know taxonomy is the study of animals, and taxidermy is what you do when you bag a deer. That is what I get for favoring Latin over Greek.
Thoughts to end on are: a handstand is gravitational mockery of human anatomy, If you find books on political science more interesting than how greenhouse gas affects the environment you may just be a BA student striving to survive in a world full of BS…majors, and whoever thought of piñatas may have been inspired by some very empty illustrations.