But finally finals are over and I have free time again. Writing over forty pages of paper in a few weeks was a feat I never hope to accomplish again. I practically lived in the school computer lab the last two weeks of the semester. But, grades are back, I have over a 3.8 GPA, and all is well.
I'll be looking for a part time job this summer, but not until after my dad's visit. I already have enough stuff going on that weekend that I don't want to have to fit work into it as well. I'm really looking forward to seeing Dad and Laurie. It's been almost a year since my brother's visit, which was the first (and so far only) time family has come out to visit me. I'd like to go back and see Washington, I'm just not sure money wise. Maybe I'll take a look and my bank account and try to squeeze in plane tickets.
I'm all registered for next semester. Overall, it looks harder than this last semester, which worries me a bit. Art History 482? Yikes. Hopefully Japanese Architecture is as interesting as it sounded when I signed up. Also, I need a non-Western history class, and the only one that sounded remotely interesting for fall semester was Modern Korea. That has the potential to be a bit depressing. I swear though, if we need to write a paper, I'm going to try to write it on Starcraft. :-P
In other news, springtime is gorgeous near our apartment. There are ducklings and goslings out on the lake and they are adorable. It's still a bit chillier than I'd like, but then I remember the oppressive heat and humidity of last summer, and try to enjoy 60 degree days.
Some spring pictures:
It's been awhile...
OSBP
Sometimes, when you know your culture has a stereotype, maybe you should, I don't know, try not to be the embodiment of said stereotype?
Behold: The Open-Source Boob Project.
You can't make shit like this up. Way to live up to the mouth-breathing, socially retarded gamer stereotype. :-\
A fun day of classes.
This semester, I was an idiot and scheduled all my classes on Mondays and Wednesdays. It's painful going into classes at 9:30 in the morning and not getting out until 7:10. I only have one hour long break, everything else is back-to-back classes. It sucks.
It was made a little more bearable yesterday by showing 3 out of 5 classes just how big of a nerd I was. Sadly, I could not work nerditry into my grammar or phonology class. I should ponder how I could accomplish that.
But in my Intercultural Communications class I talked about the racial diversity of Star Trek. In my History of American Pop Culture Class, I talked about how Bruce Campbell is the master of camp, and then I got to call Frank Miller a misogynistic dick. And finally, in my Sociolinguistics class, I got to help out with a mini-lecture on leet speak.
I think I've also figured out my fall schedule, though I probably should clear it through my advisers. As I've figured it out though, I'll be taking Japanese (for my major), Art History 482 Japanese Architecture (for my general university requirements), History 402 Modern Korea (for my minor,) Linguistics 464 Word and Sentence Structure and Linguistics 410 Linguistics and Grammar in ESL Education (both for my major.) Most of the classes sound interesting, thank goodness. I'm a bit worried about the Modern Korea one, but we'll see. I'm not even really sure why I'm getting a history minor. I think it was because I had all these extra credits I needed to take.
Also, why am I considered a senior? I've been considered that since I registered for Spring semester. I've only really had two years of college. I'll be graduating a semester ahead of the 4-year plan already. Maybe they're counting the year I spent in a Computer Information Systems program. I think I'll try to finish up that Associates when I move back to the northwest. Degrees like that are useful no matter what your field of work is.
What's the point of religion?
What's the point of religion? Is religion something you should just give your whole life over to? What about the lives of your children? I'm not talking about giving up your Sundays to church, or taking the time to pray 5 times a day. I'm talking about murder and torture.
In Wisconsin last week, an eleven year old girl died from Type One diabetes because her family believes in prayer over medicine. Dying from that type of diabetes means that you have been incredibly sick for weeks. It's being reported that she was barely more than a skeletal waif when the authorities found here. It's also important to note that the only reason the authorities went to her home, although they were sadly too late, is because relatives IN CALIFORNIA had heard how sick she was and knew that her parents wouldn't take her to see a doctor. After all, they hadn't taken her to the doctor since she was three. They had also pulled her out of school this semester.
Going on what I've been told, from someone with firsthand evidence, being sick with diabetes like that is extremely painful and a miserable and horrible experience. Those parents tortured their daughter to death because of religion. The thing that makes me the angriest was this quote:
"They said it was the course of action they would take again... They firmly believe even if they had taken her to a doctor, if this was the time God had chosen for her to die, she would die regardless of medical interference."
You know what, fuck that god of theirs. If that's what their god thinks, IT'S THE WRONG GOD. How any parent could ever feel like they shouldn't provide the most basic of care to their child because of religion, then THEY ARE WRONG. Type One diabetes is one of the most treatable illness in the world. Insulin injections and the right diet mean a long, healthy life. They took 50+ years off of their own daughters life because of their selfish religious beliefs.
So... if religion causes parents to torture their children to death... then what's the point of religion? I'm pretty agnostic at this point in my life, but I always thought of religion as something uplifting... something that fills your life with purpose, something that gives your respect for other people and for this planet. I suppose that's a pretty naive view of religion. Religion has been used to enslave people, start wars, murder, terrorize, etc. since recorded history. But... why? What's the point in believing in something bigger than yourself if that's the outcome?
Sometimes I feel that other people think they have no choice but to be religious, or to follow a certain religion. I don't think that's the case. A bad religion is like a bad marriage--it might be painful, and you might have to start over from scratch, but you can leave it. A few months ago, there were lots of stories about the polygamists in Utah/Arizona, and stories about how some people left that religion. It was hard for them. It was tough. But I don't think many people would argue that they aren't better off for doing it.
Maybe I just don't understand that level of religious devotion. Maybe I just don't understand the devotion to a belief that will let your child die when a simple trip to the doctor can save her. Maybe I just don't understand the conviction that a higher power will rain hellfire down on you if you drive your own car.
Maybe I'm better off this way.
Link to article about girl in Wisconsin.
Two of my favorite stories/songs: one, a Judea-Christian flavored very short story, the second, a humanist flavored song by Voltaire.
A man is sitting on top of his house during a flood, praying to God to save him from drowning. As the water rose up over the windows, a canoeist paddled by and offered a ride. The man demurred, saying he was confident his prayers would be answered. As the water came up over the gutters, rescuers in a speedboat stopped - and were told the same thing. As the water lapped at his feet, a helicopter hovered overhead, the pilot imploring him to save himself. He replied that God would take care of that, and was stunned when the waters finally submerged him.
At the end, the drowned man asks God why he hadn't answered his prayers. "I did," comes the response, "I sent you a canoe, a boat and a helicopter."
God Thinks
God thinks all blacks are obsolete farm equipment
God thinks the Jews killed his son and must be punished
God thinks the white man is Satan
God, they know what God thinks
God thinks we should all convert to Judaism
God thinks we must all be Christians and
God thinks we should all embrace Islam
God thinks the only true religion is Hinduism
And I
I know what God thinks
God thinks you're a waste of flesh
God prefers an Atheist
God God
God thinks all people like you are hateful
God thinks all people like you are an embarrassment to creation
self-righteous, judgmental, first to throw a stone
and using His name for your own protection
God thinks the sun revolves around the Earth
God thinks there was something very wrong with Copernicus
God thinks abortion is murder and
God thinks everything that science gave us is wrong
God thinks women deserve it
God thinks AIDS is a form of punishment
I hate people who blame the Devil for their own shortcomings and
I hate people who thank God when things go right
And I
I know what God thinks
God thinks you're an idiot
God prefers a heretic
God God
God thinks all people like you are hateful
God thinks all people like you are an embarrassment to creation
self-righteous, judgmental, first to throw the stone
and using His name for your own agenda
God is a liberal
God is a democrat
God wants you to vote republican
never trust a man who puts his words in the mouth of god
and says it's absolute truth
its lies and it smells like death
its all in a day's work taking money from the poor
Why do you think that God would need your dirty money
if you want to start a holy war?
self-righteous, judgmental, first to throw a stone
and using His name for your own protection
God thinks puppies need to die and
God thinks babies need to drown
'cause God is neither good nor bad
God is you and me
God is Everything
Nostalgia
Tonight was just one of those nights when I thought about how things used to be--the people I knew, my family, what I did. It put me in a very nostalgic mood. I'm comfortable with where I am in my life right now. I'm further behind education-wise than I'd like, but I think 15 year old Lissette wouldn't have been appalled with where I am today. I'm getting a degree in an interesting, but not profitable, field. I have a great boyfriend who is sweet and funny and nerdy (that last one is especially important--being a geek and dating, or marrying!, a non-geek is a PAIN!)
But... I feel a bit out of touch. People who I used to consider my family have had kids that I didn't know about until I found them on MySpace.
Sidenote: I consider MySpace the devil. Seriously people, I don't want to look at flashing glitter graphics just to see what you're up to. It's called Facebook. Use it. /end sidenote.
Also, I just feel old. People I graduated high school with are putting their kids in grade school! Meanwhile, sometimes my cat feels like too much work.
Ah, enough being melancholy about the past.
On the bus home...
A week or so ago, on the bus home from classes, I saw this poem by Walt Whitman on the bus wall:
When I heard the learn'd astronomer,
I'm usually not one for poetry, but I adore this one. All the stuff you learn about the universe, and how old it is, and how mind-bendingly big it is--it can make your brain hurt. It's nice to just sit and look at the stars every now and then, and just appreciate how beautiful and magical they seem.
Women and Gaming
When I saw this article on CNN.com, my first instinct was to roll my eyes. I thought it would be yet another condescending article telling guys that to get their girlfriend to play video games, all the had to do was get her "cute" and "easy" games, like Animal Crossing or Princess Peach, and help her with the bosses, because they would be too hard for her. However, it mostly dealt with how one group is trying to get more females into the game industry.
I remember getting so mad at the articles I saw in gaming magazines about women and gaming. They were usually accompanied by sexually suggestive pictures of women, and talked about women like we wouldn't know how to jump and hit a Goomba on its head. Ugh, I did a Google search trying to see if I could find any of those old magazine articles. Instead I found this crap.
I suppose I shouldn't get too worked up. I know some women that love the girly-girl games, and I'm just coming at it from a "I've been gaming since I could hold a controller" mind set. Not everyone can be as awesome as me. :-)
A few YouTube favorites
Absolutely one of the most beautiful songs ever, paired with an amazing video:
Probably only funny if you play MMO's, but my favorite web show:
Nerd Thesis
Well, I've finally decided on the topics for my two big research papers I have to write this semester. I've managed to make both of them fairly nerdy topics.
For Language and Society, a paper about how internet/gaming speech is moving into "normal" conversation. For instance, how "blog" and "google" are now commonly used verbs.
For Popular Culture (1850-Present), a paper about how comic books now tell stories as in-depth and thought provoking as novels on the New York Times best-seller list. I'm not the biggest comic book nerd out there, in fact, I hardly ever read comics or graphic novels. But there are a few I'm quite fond of.
Some snow actually melted today. I about had a heart attack from surprise. There has been just a ridiculous amount of snow this winter. 70-some inches. Why did people ever settle in Wisconsin?
Tuesday is the Wisconsin Democratic primary. I'm very excited about being able to get out there an make a difference. But this whole super delegate thing is just a big farce. How do they think the voters will feel if the person we voted for, the person we want to be the Democrat running for president, looses because of some overpowered super delegates? This election has had just an outpouring of involvement by the youth voters--do we really want to disenfranchise them? If they feel their vote in the primary didn't count because of some super delegate, don't people think that will translate into them thinking their vote won't count in the actual election? Bah, politics. It's just to.... political for me.
Whew....
Ok, I've made if few the first few weeks of school. 18 credits can be exhausting! The ease back into school has been helped by all the cancellations on campus. Professors have been sick, and all classes today have been canceled because of the storm.
I'm anxious for the rest of the presidential primaries. I desperately want Obama to win the nomination. I came to the realization that there has been either a Bush or Clinton in office as The President since I was 6. I'm ready for a change! Also, the concept of super delegates is stupid.
In nerdier news, evidently I should be hot for Spiderman.
I always pictured myself as more of a Batman girl.
And Yet They Complain...
about not being able to find (and keep!) qualified teachers:
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=710766
This is honestly one of the dumbest things I have ever read about education.
He loves his job.
The kids love him.
And they're firing him.
Fun Fact: I live in the same ZIP code he does, only in the Milwaukee part.
Suck It, Sony
From The Wall Street Journal:
The Wii finished the year as the top-selling console, with nearly 6.3 million units sold domestically. That compares to 4.6 million units for the Xbox 360 and nearly 2.6 million units for the PS3 for the year, according to NPD data.
Among handheld devices, the Nintendo DS fared even better, with 8.5 million in sales for the year compared to 3.8 million for the Sony PSP.
I have no idea why I take such joy in seeing Sony decimated, but I do.
A Side-Effect
Today I realized that as a side-effect of leaving my job, I no longer will look at the Journal Sentinel homepage, and see all the shootings that are within a half-mile of my work. The shootings won't stop, sadly, but I never have to come on this side of town again. Thank goodness. It is a bit nerve-wracking to see that most of the homicides and shootings in Milwaukee take place near my work.
The Decline of Civilization
This was the most heartbreaking photo of the Vietnam War. It won a Pultizer Prize. It captured the absolute horror that is war. It showed the evils of napalm. It was taken by photographer Nick Ut. You know what he's doing lately?
Yes, the photograph of Paris Hilton crying, a photo that shot through the glass of a car, was taken by the same Nick Ut.
So, he went from taking photographs that made people stand up and sasy "End this war!" to taking photographs of rich young women in horrible situations. *sigh*
The End of an Era
Today is my second to last day of work. I'm so relieved that it is amazing. I never thought much about how much stress my job put on me. It was never the "take your work home with you" type of stress. It was more of the "this is hard, it's not a good fit, I feel like throwing up" when I go to work type of stress. Quitting was the the best thing to do in my situation. My stress level will drop considerably, I can go to school full time and be done in just over a year, and I can pursue night-time activities that I otherwise would have missed (dance classes, for example--I've been wanted to learn belly dancing for years.) And, to be quite frank, me quitting was the best thing for the kids as well.
Last night, as we were getting ready to leave, a 6-year old boy look at me and said "You know, everyone's really glad that you're leaving." He ran away before I could give a response, but I probably would have said "You know, I'm glad too." I've never really made a connection with the kids. I'm not sure how I could have. Before when working with kids, I've always made connections through common ground. "Oh, you play Halo? I did the Library level last night, I love using the shotgun," or "Really? I enjoyed Final Fantasy VIII. I think it only gets a bad rap because of how much people adored VII." or "Of course I know who Korn is!" With this group of kids though... nothing.
I'm not into fashion and hair and make-up, which is what the little girls talk about most of the time. Fair enough, at previous jobs I've always connect with the boys much easier than the girls. Only these boys... not at all. I don't like sports. I don't like rap music. I don't like playing Def Jam Vendetta. I could not find anything in common with them.
They also seemed to resent me when I told them to do something, even if it was as simple as cleaning up their area. Last summer, one of the summer workers, a lady about my mom's age who was a teacher's aide during the school year, told me that in all probability, it honestly had something to do with my race. "They don't want to listen to you because you're white. They try to get away with more stuff." I can see how that could be true, as much as I hate to admit it. My boss or co-work tell the kids to do something, to them it's like a parent or aunt or uncle ordering them around. I tell them to do the same thing, all of a sudden it's this random white chick telling them to clean up after themselves.
I tried. I spent a year and a half trying, although to be quite truthful I wasn't trying very hard this past school year. But there's only so much one person can take. I tried to help the kids out. I tried to show them new stuff and expose them to new things. But I'm sick of trying. That might say something bad about me as a person, but if they don't want my help, it's time I help myself.
Gogo Packers fans...
I know that not all Packers fans are like this... but you never see child abuse over sports in the Northwest. At least, not anything that I've seen reported.
From the Journal Sentinal:
Charge: Dad made son wear Packers jersey
Portage - A 36-year-old man tied up his young son with tape for an hour after the boy refused to wear a Green Bay Packers jersey during the team's game on Saturday, local authorities said.Mathew Kowald, 36, was cited for disorderly conduct in connection with the incident with his 7-year-old son at their home in Pardeeville, Lt. Wayne Smith of the Columbia County Sheriff's Department said. Pardeeville is about 30 miles north of Madison.Kowald was arrested on Monday after the boy's mother, Kowald's wife, told authorities about the incident. Kowald was taken to the county jail and held until Wednesday, when he pleaded no contest, paid a fine of $186 and was released.Kowald's wife filed a restraining order on Wednesday, so Kowald will not be able to have contact with his family, Smith said. Smith said other domestic issues have surfaced, though he wouldn't elaborate.The boy refused to wear the jersey on Saturday, when the Packers beat the Seattle Seahawks in a playoff game, Smith said. The father was accused of restraining the boy for an hour with tape and also taped a jersey onto him during that time.Smith said the incident sounded strange when reported at first, but the mother took pictures with her cell phone and that type of evidence is difficult to dispute.The boy's refusal to wear the jersey may have just been rebellion, he said."We've been unable to uncover any evidence to suggest that this boy was not a Packers fan," Smith said.