One down, one to go.
Apr. 7th, 2006 12:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
silveradeptGave a final paper and winged a presentation out of it - was going so well that the teacher stopped me at the end of my time. No more worries in that class, yay!
Another missing link found? The fossil could be of a creature that was in the transition from water to land. Would help fill in a few gaps in the theory. Other scientific news, such as the resutls of studies on climate change, may be having their words changed or deleted by the government. Not sure whether this is "Well, those are still claims, not proven things, so we can't state them as such" or, "You're saying things that are inconvenient to the government, stop saying them."
More involving the government, though - President Bush may have authorized the release of Vaelerie Plame's name. If that's so, then it's another thing that counts on the list of "high crimes and misdemeanors". A full, independent investigation into this administration and all of its people feels warranted enough. Will a lawyer kindly ask and a judge kindly issue such a writ?
Take the following with whatever salt you require to taste. I'm not entirely sure I trust the source on this, so caveat emptor, and think for yourself before you buy any of it. Former head of Star Wars program points the finger at Dick Cheney for 9/11. The article expressed that really, it's the people who ordered drills about planes being flown into buildings the day of that are responsible. You may file it with "whacko conspiracy theories" if you like - or you may keep it as yet more proof of the existence of the conspiracy. For as much as I may try to persuade you here and there, my main focus in profession is that you think. And that you learn. (Learning how to think would be good, too.) More about my opinions after the rest of the news and links.
Perhaps some advice to CS programmers and students, and especially the Microsoft programmers: Code like a girl. Make your code beautiful, elegant, and functional. Make sexy code so that anyone who improves upon it can make it even more beautiful.
For those of you who would rather shoot rubber bands at the girls, however, here's a recipe to make your own rubber bands. Lots of fun for the kids and the kids at heart.
Speaking of the kids, it might be worthwhile to cancel your cable and interact with the world. One does run the risk of being alienated from the pop culture, but if one doesn't particularly care much for the pop culture, then there's no worries there. Experiencing the world is a good thing, most certainly. Also, by going out and doing things one can avoid the health perils of the geek lifestyle, some things that I should probably get to doing.
The Gospel of Judas? Telling another of the many stories of Jesus and his disciples. Seems a little strange that the Christian Foundational Writings reject so much material. Was Tanakh similarly an exclusionary sort of place? There's a lot more material in there than there is in the C.F.W., and they're augmented by things like Mishnah and Talmud. I think I'd like to have been in on the meetings that happened where the canon was chosen. Perhaps, if I needed to, I could bring a cannon and play the 1812 Overture for all of them.
A thought has been rumbling around in my head for a bit, partially inspired by a conversation I had with the Council (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sharpsight) about social anxieties that I have. They're still there, and they still exist, but I might have a better idea why now. And strangely enough, it has to do with opinions and learning.
I like to learn. I'm wired for assimilating new knowledge into my brain, even if it has little practical use (witness my bachelor's degree in Medieval and Early Modern Studies as proof). And one of the things I like to learn a lot about is people. People are fascinating creatures, in their behaviors and their brains. Every time I meet someone, I get to learn a little more about them.
How does opinions play into this? Well, I think that hearing someone's opinions on a matter is an excellent way of learning a lot of information about them. However, I've seen occasions where learning could happen and was prevented because both sides knew they were on opposite sides of an issue. Admittedly, this tends to happen in situations where both people are strongly opinionated. Perhaps my brain has noticed this, and thus I strive somewhat to have the appearance of no opinion, even if I do have an opinion, because the opportunity to learn something new trumps the possibility of expressing my own views from the beginning. At some point, of course, deep learning can happen when people exchange their opinions and the reasoning (and evidence) behind them, so at some point, if asked (or not, if I feel things are warranted), I will give my opinion. It's not that I don't have them, after all - they show up in my commentary on links, on the links I choose to post, and in myriad other ways. I just would rather not have my opinion drawn out of me or volunteered before I'm ready for it.
This view helps to explain some of my social anxiety - I'm feeling around for opinions to see whether there's ground that I can have mine and still be accepted, and I'm looking to see what the display of opinions are. Admittedly, this may lead to some subconscious tailoring of my presented persona so as to ruffle as few feathers as possible, allowing me to slip into observer mode and for many purposes become invisible. When I want to show myself and ask some hopefully relevant questions, I can. If I really feel that I should show my opinion, because of being convinced of the inherent wrongness of the other, I can. (I don't know how often this happens, but I don't think it's very often. Unlike Calvin, I have been cursed with the ability to gain perspective and at least some inclination to use such an ability.)
Yeah... so my shyness and social anxiety might be born out of a desire to know. I might be taking it a bit far, wanting to know with certainty before saying anything, but the part about wanting to learn about people isn't a bad thing, right?
Another missing link found? The fossil could be of a creature that was in the transition from water to land. Would help fill in a few gaps in the theory. Other scientific news, such as the resutls of studies on climate change, may be having their words changed or deleted by the government. Not sure whether this is "Well, those are still claims, not proven things, so we can't state them as such" or, "You're saying things that are inconvenient to the government, stop saying them."
More involving the government, though - President Bush may have authorized the release of Vaelerie Plame's name. If that's so, then it's another thing that counts on the list of "high crimes and misdemeanors". A full, independent investigation into this administration and all of its people feels warranted enough. Will a lawyer kindly ask and a judge kindly issue such a writ?
Take the following with whatever salt you require to taste. I'm not entirely sure I trust the source on this, so caveat emptor, and think for yourself before you buy any of it. Former head of Star Wars program points the finger at Dick Cheney for 9/11. The article expressed that really, it's the people who ordered drills about planes being flown into buildings the day of that are responsible. You may file it with "whacko conspiracy theories" if you like - or you may keep it as yet more proof of the existence of the conspiracy. For as much as I may try to persuade you here and there, my main focus in profession is that you think. And that you learn. (Learning how to think would be good, too.) More about my opinions after the rest of the news and links.
Perhaps some advice to CS programmers and students, and especially the Microsoft programmers: Code like a girl. Make your code beautiful, elegant, and functional. Make sexy code so that anyone who improves upon it can make it even more beautiful.
For those of you who would rather shoot rubber bands at the girls, however, here's a recipe to make your own rubber bands. Lots of fun for the kids and the kids at heart.
Speaking of the kids, it might be worthwhile to cancel your cable and interact with the world. One does run the risk of being alienated from the pop culture, but if one doesn't particularly care much for the pop culture, then there's no worries there. Experiencing the world is a good thing, most certainly. Also, by going out and doing things one can avoid the health perils of the geek lifestyle, some things that I should probably get to doing.
The Gospel of Judas? Telling another of the many stories of Jesus and his disciples. Seems a little strange that the Christian Foundational Writings reject so much material. Was Tanakh similarly an exclusionary sort of place? There's a lot more material in there than there is in the C.F.W., and they're augmented by things like Mishnah and Talmud. I think I'd like to have been in on the meetings that happened where the canon was chosen. Perhaps, if I needed to, I could bring a cannon and play the 1812 Overture for all of them.
A thought has been rumbling around in my head for a bit, partially inspired by a conversation I had with the Council (
sharpsight) about social anxieties that I have. They're still there, and they still exist, but I might have a better idea why now. And strangely enough, it has to do with opinions and learning. I like to learn. I'm wired for assimilating new knowledge into my brain, even if it has little practical use (witness my bachelor's degree in Medieval and Early Modern Studies as proof). And one of the things I like to learn a lot about is people. People are fascinating creatures, in their behaviors and their brains. Every time I meet someone, I get to learn a little more about them.
How does opinions play into this? Well, I think that hearing someone's opinions on a matter is an excellent way of learning a lot of information about them. However, I've seen occasions where learning could happen and was prevented because both sides knew they were on opposite sides of an issue. Admittedly, this tends to happen in situations where both people are strongly opinionated. Perhaps my brain has noticed this, and thus I strive somewhat to have the appearance of no opinion, even if I do have an opinion, because the opportunity to learn something new trumps the possibility of expressing my own views from the beginning. At some point, of course, deep learning can happen when people exchange their opinions and the reasoning (and evidence) behind them, so at some point, if asked (or not, if I feel things are warranted), I will give my opinion. It's not that I don't have them, after all - they show up in my commentary on links, on the links I choose to post, and in myriad other ways. I just would rather not have my opinion drawn out of me or volunteered before I'm ready for it.
This view helps to explain some of my social anxiety - I'm feeling around for opinions to see whether there's ground that I can have mine and still be accepted, and I'm looking to see what the display of opinions are. Admittedly, this may lead to some subconscious tailoring of my presented persona so as to ruffle as few feathers as possible, allowing me to slip into observer mode and for many purposes become invisible. When I want to show myself and ask some hopefully relevant questions, I can. If I really feel that I should show my opinion, because of being convinced of the inherent wrongness of the other, I can. (I don't know how often this happens, but I don't think it's very often. Unlike Calvin, I have been cursed with the ability to gain perspective and at least some inclination to use such an ability.)
Yeah... so my shyness and social anxiety might be born out of a desire to know. I might be taking it a bit far, wanting to know with certainty before saying anything, but the part about wanting to learn about people isn't a bad thing, right?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-04-07 04:40 am (UTC)Honestly, I didn't find you to be shy at all, but then again, I also knew you online and via the phone before we met in person. That might have something to do with you feeling familiar enough with me. (and I like to think I'm easy to get along with in general)
no subject
Date: 2006-04-07 04:51 am (UTC)But even having no opinions is going to upset some people. *chuckles* "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth," Revelations 3:17
Which isn't meant to be discouraging, but just to show that since you can't please everyone anyhow, you might as well just have your own opinions and share them as you please.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-07 02:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-07 02:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-07 02:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-07 04:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-07 05:29 pm (UTC)1) I live the geek lifestyle but I don't really suffer the health effects. I have a very strict rule about sleep, I make sure to get some exercise and I cook (which I think makes you healthier).
2) I watch TV, I used to be anti-TV but I really like the news and the weather reports and Jeopardy and maybe a primetime show or two. More importantly, I watch TV because I have friends over for TV. That's how we bond, mocking contentants on Jeopardy or making very inappropriate comments about people on Scrubs, or awing at insane stuff they make on the pastry challenges on Food Network. (We used to play Scrabble, but I get to the verge of killing my opponents when I play that.) And plus, shows often make you think about issues that you wouldn't otherwise. So we discuss ethical questions, or society or stuff like that as we watch. Channel flipping is a lot like reading this LJ, a lot of interesting things and conversation starters.
3) You remind me of myself in high school, Silver. A lot. I was quiet, shy, active in lots of things, and always trying to get others' views on things, to fit in and yet identify who I am inside. I think I decided sometime sophomore/junior year of college that I should have stances on issues. Actually, a better way would be to say that I realized that there is more value in conflict than acceptance -- I already had opinions. You can still draw out someone else's ideas if they disagree with you and it makes for a lively debate, as long as you agree at the outset to disagree.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-07 11:25 pm (UTC)That's not to say that TV can have its uses - but most people probably don't mock the Jeopardy! contestants or think about possible significant meanings to their programming. They sponge it up instead. That's where the problems start to lie, in the people who blindly accept the television and use it as a substitute for thought. I probably sounded like I was unilaterally denouncing the TV there, which really isn't the case... I'm too much in favor of seeing sport on it.
As for the last point, I'm not sure whether it's a compliment to me or an insult to you that I resemble you so much in high school. As for drawing out opinions, on the people I trust that we can do the agree to disagree thing, sure. For the general populace, some set of whom are frothing maniacs who don't listen, it may not be worth it.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-08 01:21 am (UTC)You know something weird? I used to feel exactly like you do now. Then one day I realised that I was just getting infinite forms of the same stuff. Now its harder for me.
I still like people. I like the sense of having a new person around and I go way out of my way to meet someone new to play with, but my curiosity about their life-experiences has lessened so much just recently.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-08 01:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-08 10:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-09 12:11 am (UTC)Which is somewhat funny, considering the profession I'm going into - I'm not going to really be able to be an introvert as a librarian.