Back at Skool

So here I am back at Miami for another go-around. I don't quite know what to expect yet, because it seems that I usually start the semester off in relatively the same fashion... keep on top of things for 2 weeks and then get dreadfully and hopelessly behind.

But this semester... we'll see.

I don't want to make any predictions because honestly, my word doesn't mean anything anymore. I always say that I'm going to do something and then never follow through, so I'll save everyone the roller coaster ride.

My classes this semester are:

Management Information Systems 235 - The beginning of my minor in MIS... this class is basically just going to be details about Excel and Access... I'm looking forward to learning SQL and refining my database building though...

Sociology 262 - This was the one I was really worried about. The class title is Research Methods and I've been told on more than one occasion that it is a very difficult and demanding course. So far I am keeping up, and it seems to be material that I feel at home with learning. I am confident.

Philosophy 211 - Problems with God and Religion. For anyone who's never taken a Philosophy course, if you've had one philosophy professor, you've had them all. They use so much logic that it becomes illogical, and in the end you only find out what you already suspected to be so.

Intermediate Tennis - So far I really like this course.. I haven't played seriously since 8th grade, but my backhand needs work... right now it's more like a left-handed home run.

Anthropology 175 - Peoples of the world.. this seems like a really interesting class, and a really interesting teacher. He did field research in Russia just after the cold war ended, and anyone who knows me, knows my inexplicable facination with Russia. I contributed a lot to class last week, so I think my teacher likes me.

I'm also working at Miami about 20 hours a week for CASIT and the CAS computer labs...

As far as school is concerned I feel on top of everything, but it seems that my financial situation, personal life, and other outside forces are all a mess... you can't win em all I guess.

Argh Matey

WAR!

I have an idea for deciding whether or not to go to war.

Now I know that most of you out there hate a worldwide approach to things. Diversity is good right? Well, we're going to suspend that logic for this topic and open up to my "Next Man in Line" plan.

As I stated in one of my earlier posts, the president should be picked by a Jeopardy tournament of Champions. Well, this should apply worldwide (although you have to be a citizen of the country in which you are playing).

So all the leaders of the world are also the smartest men and women in the world. Alright, got that taken care of. Now I belive that if this were the case, then we probably wouldn't have to worry about war at all anyway, since they're so smart, they can find alternatives to fighting to work out their differences. (of course, unless there's a mad scientist among the group with illusions of world domination, then my whole theory backfires) UNTIL the "Next man in Line" plan goes into effect.

I had to rack my brain about this for a long time to figure out how this would work out.

Should 2 nations decide that there is no other alternative then to go to war over something, then the dispute will be settled over a no-holds barred bare-knuckle deathmatch a la Gladiator between the two presidents. If it's important enough to fight and die for, then it's important enough for the president to fight and die for. The winner will reign supreme... until the vice president from the other country decides whether or not the issue is still worth fighting over. If they both agree again that it is still worth fighting over, then the battle shall reign on!

Now I realize that at this point the guy who won the first bout may be a little out of breath and at a slight disadvantage. Well, I'm all for fair fighting, and I'm not a total asshole, so I think that the winning president shall get a 15 minute break between fights, as well as the added benefit of knife for his next fight. Sort of a bloodlust prize. If both the combatants should still feel lucky and feel that the cause is still important, then the battle rages on!

You can see where this is going. Eventually, about 20 or so guys down the line, someone is going to wise up and say: "Hey, how about we go back to the table and start peace talks again?" They'll eventually work it out, and with only about 20 casualties from each country, we will have the fewest casualties in any active combat situation the world has ever seen. As an added bonus, we will now have people in a position of power who have the capacity to use it with dignity and responsibility, rather than carelessness and thoughtlessness.


Make sure that if you send people to die for something, you'd die for it as well.

Rude People - skip unless you're REALLY bored.

So I come into a computer lab today, as I do on most days, and as I walk through the door, I hesitate to look to my left... why? Because I know that someone over there is glaring at me viciously. Now, I'm all for being unfriendly, minding your own business, things like that. But to hate someone you don't even know as vehemotly as this girl obviously hates me is absolutely ridiculous.

Hate is an odd thing. Everyone hates, and everyone hates for different reasons. Since everyone does it, is it ok?

Some people hate because of heartbreak, some hate because someone has wronged them. But what about the people that hate because of appearances or becuase of beliefs? Is their hate any less justified than other hate? All hate only prolongs the circle of hate and is anti-progress, so why is some hate justifiable.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that we should be shiny happy people. I guess what I'm trying to say is that you and I are no better than any other human being. We're all ignorant, we all stereotype (and are stereotypical) and we all hate.

Try to be a decent human being today.