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?