Does anyone still read this?

I never update this anymore, but I do update my Vox account regularly. healthypanda.vox.com. Check it out.

Obligatory Olympics Post or: Ice Skating, anyone?

Hello, faithful readers...no one? It's okay, I haven't updated this in forever. I figured that since the 2006 Olympics is almost finished, then I should make a post about them.

I will be absolutely honest-I only watch the Olympics for the women's figure skating. To me, it's the only sport I'm willing to put aside time for to watch. The Winter Olympics are chock full of sports with creative names and even more, questionable pursuits (the Skeleton and Curling sports come to mind). Since I have already been exposed to about a fifteen minute debate on the merits of what is a sport (the conclusion-something that isn't judged, can be timed, and has an offense/defense, is debatable), I'll spare anyone my thought on those sports. Instead, I'll talk about my favorite Olympic sport: figure skating.

I am one of those who began watching the Olympics figure-skating after the Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding fiasco of 1993. I could do some pretty mean impressions of Nancy Kerrigan post-kick in the knee (come on, I was nine, give me a break). But after my reenactments lost their flavor, I asked myself, what is this sport? And viola, I began watching figure skating, just like many other gossip-intrigued women of the 90's.

The audience has tapered off over the years, due to the fact that we no longer have a redneck skater who causes major drama off the ice anymore. The biggest name since has been Michelle Kwan (while a fantastic skater, she could never pull it off at the Olympics).

I watch skating because it reminds me of a time when I was little, when we would hog the tv (to the chagrin of my dad and brother) and watch the competitions for hours. I watch because I hope for a performance like Sarah Hughes' thrilling 2002 Olympic performance. You can't watch that skate without getting chills down your spine.

And I watch because I respect the sport. After a failed practice jump in my hallway that resulted in a hole in the wall, I gave up any ambition of becoming a skater. I skated for the first time this summer-it's hard! How those athletes (and yes, they are athletes) can pull off those impeccable jumps, I'll never know.

I want some Americans to win. I want Irina to medal because I'm interested in a good comeback story. The Italians have not placed, so there goes any hope of supporting the home country. I can't wait to watch Thursday's finals. And after that, I only have to wait another four more years to watch again.

The Joy of Finals or: Manners Go to Hell

Well, this is my first post outside the confines of English class. It also means I probably lost all of my (2) readers. C'est la vie.

Finals is never fun for anyone. Especially this semester. Granted, I had only 3 finals, so I should shut up and not complain, but I had two back-to-back ones on Friday. Determined to do well, I decided to camp out at the library and study my little heart out.

So on Wednesday and Thursday, with the college student staple in my hand-a medium mocha, I snuck into the library (yes, it can be done!) and settled into a comfy seat on the fifth floor. Mind you, the fifth and sixth floors are designated as the quiet study areas.

I can listen to music and still get something done, but something about talking IRKS me. Especially in a quiet place. I have been told to be quiet several times, but while both of these times occurred on the fifth floor, I was in a group table with the sign "Group Study" hanging overhead. The study nook I chose was hidden. Single desks. No talking allowed, bitches.

I heard quite a few whispers and giggles which made me mad. Why is the library so full around finals time? Why does everyone decide that the library is the coolest hangout after abandoning it all semester? Oh, hell, I hardly went to the library this semester either. What am I bitching about?

People seriously have double standards though. I keep my phone on vibrate and leave the area when I answer it. This happened on Thursday when a buddy wanted to borrow my notes. I got up to answer it, and two people who were chatting and whispering two seconds ago suddenly gave me this deer in the headlights look. You know, the look that reads, "How dare you bring a cell phone to the library?" Oh I'm sorry, did my vibrating cell phone INTERRUPT YOUR CONVERSATION?

Last week also marked a momentous occasion-the first time I ever, ever asked someone to quiet down. And it wasn't for talking. It was for this mouse clicking. I tried to put up with it. I mean, I hate being told to pipe down, I admit it-one time someone told me that the music from my headphones were too loud. But this non-stop mouse clicking drowned out my music and was incessant. After ten minutes, I finally went up to the person, and apologetically told him it was distracting. Guess what he was playing? Some rip-off version of Minesweeper. Dude, take a real study break.

I guess everyone is too preoccupied with themselves to worry about anything else. I feel it, y'all, I do. I forgot a friend's birthday. My mom tells me I sound distant on the phone as I worry whether Professor K. will ask anything about Type 2 Sedimentation on the final. It's just funny to see it in others. Talking in libraries, people bumping into you and not saying "excuse me," annoying mouse clicking...I'll be glad when finals are over and everyone can stop being drones!

Ethics Post #9

I had mixed feelings about 301 online, to be honest. I feel like we've had a great teacher (thank you, Mrs. Raisor, for letting me call your home to get help with the research paper!)

But I feel, overall, the online design of the course needs a little work. The calibrations are just terrible. I can understand the reasoning behind it, but I feel like the implementation of the calibration needs to be improved. Nobody thinks like an English teacher at our level. I think that the peer reviews should count for a lower percentage if calibrations are eliminated, and have teacher input count for a higher score.

But now for the good stuff. I really enjoyed keeping up this blog. I have several blogs floating around out there, and I enjoy writing. Keeping up with these blogs is a way for me to get my love of writing out. I also liked learning about how keeping a blog at work can be detrimental to your position! It reinforces my belief that if you're going to blog about that kind of stuff, keep it private!

The assignments, like writing memos, were helpful. I enjoyed working with the group wiki even though I really didn't communicate with my group (with the exception of 1). Overall, I feel like this course has been useful. Thanks!

Almost...done...

So the semester is almost over. I can't believe it. It has been a so-so semester for me. I disliked several of my engineering classes with a passion, and did not learn very much. My study habits took a beating too. I used to start studying for an exam the week before, but now two or three days is good enough for me. I feel so burned out in every aspect of my life. I'm just tired. I have no motivation for school. My runs have grown stale. I wish I had a running buddy to make them more interesting. I think I need a BREAK! I"m applying to grad school at least, and have the GRE all taken care of.

I'm sure I'm not the only '06er who has an acute case of senioritis. Have a safe and happy holiday, and Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Festivus, and GOOD LUCK ON FINALS!!!!!! I'll miss reading everyone's entries. If you're still interested in my blog, I'll keep this updated. So I'll welcome any readers! Thanks to everyone who commented on my posts, they made me feel special.

Ethics Post #8

2. The Civil War brought turmoil to both the North and the South. In early Spring of 1865, towards the end of the war, Richmond dwellers found out that Petersberg had fallen. This news did little to stir the Richmond people to great energy. As Bruce Canton writes in his book Never Call Retreat, they took the news unusually. The mood was "nothing now but a restless, fruitless stirring...in the face of approaching catastrophe" (445). Canton stresses how that day came in as a "special sort of day," and that one woman admitted that she'd "never saw a calmer Sunday morning" (444).

Canton, Bruce. Never Call Retreat. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, 1965.

Home Tomorrow...yay...

This Thanksgiving break cannot come quick enough. I have a test tomorrow, but afterwards, my dad and brother are picking me up to take me home. Yay! I have not seen them since August, so I'm really excited. Then I can enjoy my mom's homecooked meals. It should be a blast. I'm really looking forward to enjoying myself and kicking back a little, since this semester has been crazy. Sorry for such a boring entry, but this is really what is on my mind right now.

Ethics Post #7

It's impossible for news to be impartial now. Example? Turn to Fox News. Fox News is known for its more conservative views. As such, it can generally post positive feedback about the Iraqi War. Whereas CNN has a more liberal slant, they'll be more inclined to discuss President Bush's low approval rating, or emphasize the deaths in Iraq.

Of course, the approaches of these differing websites is two-fold. It's meant to provide some sort of semblance of "news" and to incite debate. A conservative can agree with the general gist of a liberal news piece, but will disagree at its presentation and its innate opinion.

In the end, while journalists post up their code of ethics, they don't always follow their own set of code. It's human nature, they're going to use whatever platform they stand on to promote what they believe.

Look at this. 10:14, and I'm posting for the assignment just now? You can tell I'm getting senioritis really badly. The upcoming Thanksgiving break can't come quickly enough! Why are the Fall semesters rough? There is only one class I absolutely adore, and that is Chem 222. If you all have the chance to take it, take it with Dr. Simanek. He's one of the best professors I've had. His class is making this semester bearable. It's hard to get into a class when the professors use overheads all the time. I have a test tomorrow and I'm not really prepared for it. And I'm getting a test back that I don't want to see the grade for? Am I ready for the break? OH YES!

Ethics Post #6

Bribery-is it needed? Ask an entrepreneur in an Italian city where the "mob" is prevalent. He might find himself paying a "protection fee" to a member in order to keep his shop open. It may not be legal, but the entrepreneur will find his shop protected. Of course, if he doesn't pay, will his store stay open? I'll let you ponder that one.

Bribery is not legal, or always ethical. But if you want to open an operation in a country that deals with bribery on a daily basis, what makes you think it can change just because you want to start an operation there? It's wrong, but if you want to do business there, you should be prepared to do business as they do-or else you won't get any. If bribery is something you really can't deal with, then don't bother keeping your operation in that country.

Aggie Ring-ness

I'm sure that blogs this Thursday were inundated with Aggie Ring posts, so here is another.

Coming into A&M my freshman year, I knew that the most important thing I could receive, according to tradition, wouldn't be my diploma, it'd be my ring. I remembered sitting in Fish Camp and being puzzled as steps to receiving an Aggie Ring were outlined. I remember thinking, uhhh, shouldn't it be the other way around? Isn't a diploma much more important?

Sure it is, but I like to think of the Aggie Ring as a nice reward for our suffering from major cases of senioritis (like me). Seeing the ring on your finger kind of puts everything in perspective. It's hard to believe that I have 95 hours under my belt, and by next summer I'll be an official college graduate. The past three years kind of came back as I slipped the ring on. Being a scared little freshman the first week, overwhelmed by my introductory engineering courses, getting my ring never seemed like a reality.

The pamphlet that came with my ring said that the five stars represent phases of development in the Aggie student signify mind or intellect, body, spiritual attainment, emotional poise, and integrity of character. Thinking about my growth in the past three years, I've developed in all five of these categories. Getting my ring is just the beginning of the chapter in my life as a girl moving into the real world.