Archive for the 'whining' Tag

The Housing Crunch

I don’t profess to be an expert, or even an amateur, at Economics. But the bailout seemed (and seems) like a poor idea to me. Mostly, this is because it (a) seems to let the financiers who made terrible decisions get away without repercussions and (b) it seems to be treating a symptom rather than the cause. The cause, in my opinion, is an American way of life that’s out of touch with our economic realities. Especially in the housing market. I clipped a nice comment from Slashdot regarding the housing crunch, read on to see it. I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts on the bailout/economy!
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The Weekly Ebb of Time

Ever have a moment that really grabs you and makes you notice that time either seems incredibly slow or incredibly fast? I was just talking to my friend CloneBot, and I noted that I’d probably be out of graduate school in 90 weeks or so. Only 90 weeks! So many things in my life occur on a “once per week” basis– and those weeks pass so, so quickly. Read on for more analysis of my upcoming weeks. (continued)

Sandwiches are beautiful, sandwiches are fine, I HATE sandwiches, I eat them all the time

Something is bothering me. Something insidious, devious and beloved by many… and for once I’m not talking about Disney. I’m talking about sandwiches. (continued)

Candidacy Exam Anticipation… Forever!

As a warning, this is going to be a bit of a whining post, but I really want to get it out. I’m in a molecular biology PhD program and in my specific program I have to write an approximately 20 page proposal on a topic (completely unrelated to the topic I’m actually studying in my lab) and then defend it in front of four established professors in my department (usually in a 3+ hours meeting with only white boards as props) in order to advance to candidacy. I’m at the stage where I submitted my proposal, have done a mock defense, and am now just waiting for the thing to be scheduled (professors are busy!)… it’s now been over 3 weeks since I submitted it and there’s no date picked.
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Where Was I?

I was going over my links tonight, and I realized that I haven’t posted anything on ParadoxDruid.com in quite a while. It’s never intentional– I love the opportunity to have a soapbox on the internet, and I hope that if you see this page you enjoy it. I have a new theory to sum up my vacancy, then: You never lose old responsibilities, you just gain new ones. Hence, the older you are, the more things you’re trying to juggle at once. I assume by the time I’m seventy, I’ll be too busy to sleep. More prattle and things that have been going on if you continue…
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Random thought from a Cafe

At the Courtyard Cafe today, I noticed a small plaque which reads, “We have the right to refuse service to anyone”. What a strange thought! It’s as if they were trying to create a new “write” for themselves out of thin air– I can’t put up a plaque saying, “I have the right to smack people around” and expect to get away with it. Just saying something doesn’t make it factual or true.

Even though they somehow manufactured that statement and went with it, it’s still blatantly false. If they used their “right” to refuse service to, say, all black people who came in to the cafe… Well, I don’t think that policy would fly for very long. Guess they aren’t right about their right. I recall some similar thoughts on signs in the Illuminatus trilogy, I may have to pull it out tonight and re-read.

A Wii Lament

So, the Nintendo Wii game console is coming out any day now… and I don’t have one pre-ordered. Which means I might not have one until Christmas, or (egads!) even later. I can’t think of a time I’ve been as excited about a game (except perhaps my misguided and ultimately disasterous infatuation with the terrible game Black and White). So, yes, a lament. On a side note, I quite like the first Nintendo Wii commercial that’s airing.

My bike was stolen

I was riding the bus home with my neighbor Ping yesterday, and she remarked, “I’m surprised you left your bike at work.” I told her that I didn’t ride it yesterday and she expressed worry– she hadn’t seen my bike in the bike rack that morning. Sure enough, my bike has been stolen. (continued)

What is wrong with America?

I’m sitting here at work, completely dumb-founded, after I just read that the Bush administration wants to push to renew the American capacity to make nuclear weapons– 125 freaking nukes a year!

I’m shell-shocked. The U.S. just seems doomed to me some days.

I make $13 a day

On the way to work today, I did some mental math, figuring out how much money I “really” get per day of work, when you take away taxes, rent, electricity, and all the other stuff that you never really feel like you’re getting anything for (until they’re gone, of course!). The result? I make $13 a day. Let’s break it down: (continued)