titulari

As I'm sure you all know, the year is now drawing to a close, and many people like to reflect on the year past.  For Lionel Messi, that includes a record-breaking 91 goals in a calendar year.

 

The record that he broke, though, is also worth reflection. It was previously held by German forward Gerhard "Gerd" Müller, who in 1972 scored 85 goals.  That's right, his record stood for 40 years.

Messi's 91 goals were scored over 69 games, and if you're a Messi fanatic, here's a great website worshipping his accomplishments this year. It has plenty of graphs :)

Müller's 85 goals were scored over 60 games, and if you do the math, Müller, aka "Der Bomber" averaged more goals per game than Messi.  Müller is currently ranked tenth on the list of all-time international goalscorers, despite playing fewer career matches than any player featured in the top 25. He began his professional football career at the age of 18 in 1964. Müller quickly established his value as a striker and made huge appearances in the World Cup, scoring 10 goals in the 1970 games (earning him a Golden Boot*), and scoring the winning goal against Holland to see West Germany take the 1974 Cup.  In these two World Cup appearances, Müller scored a total of 14 goals, setting a record that would not be broken for 32 years.

Müller, far left, all old school and classy. He enjoyed wearing the number 13.

Just to put this in perspective, many records are broken fairly often.  Watch the Olympic Games and you'll see a new record being made in almost every race (track and swimming, for example).  So for a record to stand so far beyond anyone else's reach for 40 years, the person who set that bar is certainly the stuff of legend.

Müller, sometimes teasingly called "short fat Müller" by his earlier coaches and teammates still holds several national and league records, as well as the international record of 66 goals in 74 European Club games.  

And who knows whether Messi will challenge any more of Der Bomber's records.  Messi still has quite a career ahead of him.  Gerd Müller himself congratulated Messi on breaking the record this December, and commented that the Argentine's only fault as a footballer is that he doesn't play for Bayern Munich.

(Hallo to all my German readers...interestingly, I do have a fair number of pageviews from Germany. :D)

*For any soccer illiterates here, the Golden Boot award goes to the World Cup player who has scored the most goals in the tournament.  The last couple awards have gone to players who have scored only 5 goals, and the average number of goals scored by a Golden Boot player is 7. 

campanis

And now for a Christmas poem:

...but first, some history.

The Civil War started in 1861. Hopefully many of you are aware of this already. What you may not be aware of, though is this: that was the same year that Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's wife, Fanny died.  It was July and the Massachusetts air was stifling and stale. In hope of relief, every house had its windows open to invite whatever breeze there may be.  Mrs. Longfellow had just finished trimming her girls' hair in an effort to cool them, and had decided to keep a lock or two.  She lit a candle to melt some sealing wax, just as the first breeze of the day entered the window she stood next to.  Unfortunately this drought brought none of the long-awaited relief Fanny was desperate for, as it led the  light summer dress she was wearing into the flame of her candle.  She was soon engulfed in flames, and in an effort to protect her young girls nearby, Fanny fled to her husband in the next room.  There, Henry tried to smother the flames with a throw rug that proved too small to be effective.  In desperation, he flung himself at her, using his arms and body to extinguish the fire.  Fanny died the next day, suffering severely from her burns. Ill from grief, Henry was unable to attend her funeral, also suffering from burns on his face, arms, and hands.

Longfellow's characteristic beard is a result of his
difficulty shaving after sustaining burns on his face. 

That first Christmas following Fanny's death, Longfellow wrote:
"How inexpressibly sad are all holidays."

The ensuing year offered little comfort, and the Christmas of 1862 was marked in Longfellow's journal with:
"'A merry Christmas', say the children, but that is no more for me." 

The year of 1863 was a difficult one on the nation as the Civil War continued without promise of ending, and it brought further tragedy to the Longfellow household, as Henry received news that his eldest son Charles, a Lieutenant in the Union Army, had been severely wounded by a bullet taken under the shoulder blade and damaging the spine. In his journal that year, Longfellow silently offered no insight to the weight of his grief.

The Christmas of 1864, Longfellow penned the following:

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,

And mild and sweet 

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along

The unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime,

A chant sublime

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth

The cannon thundered in the South,

And with the sound

The carols drowned

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent

The hearth-stones of a continent,

And made forlorn

The households born

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;

"There is no peace on earth," I said;

"For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

You will likely recognize this as a popular Christmas carol.  Indeed, it is one of my favorite Christmas hymns. It was set to music in 1872 and Longfellow's healing resolution has been resounded ever since.

Happy Christmas.

do

Perhaps it is time for some acknowledgement of the Christmas season?  I know there are some of you out there who can celebrate Christmas all year long, but for me, I get a little bit sick of it after so long, so I try to hold off until as late as possible.

For example, I don't listen to the Christmas music on the radio. Ever. Partially because the radio has terrible taste in Christmas music, but also because they start playing it way too early, and I think it's almost desensitizing to be exposed for so long.

You know, like being exposed to violence and swearing and sex makes you think it's not such a bad thing.  You build up a tolerance.  Well it's the same way for good things, like Christmas.  If every day after Thanksgiving (or for some enthusiasts starting immediately after Halloween) was full of Christmas music, Christmas movies, decorating everything for Christmas, reading Christmas stories and dressing like an elf (that was me yesterday at church...) then come Christmas day, there would be nothing special left to do...and it would be just another day in the life of a Christmas enthusiast.

There are, however, some aspects of Christmas that can never get old.  Last year I spent my December entertaining others via music as part of my school's Vocal Ensemble (or "Madrigal Choir", if you roll that way).  While this was exhausting and consuming, it was also really fun.  We had gigs at parties and things, and those were nice, but we also had opportunities to share some great moments as choir and audience in some more special settings.  We sang at a rest home and for church programs and all throughout the community.  My favorite experience was an impromptu performance in the quiet bedroom of a family friend of one of the choir members. And it was beautiful to see the music we had worked so hard to perfect embracing people, strengthening them and comforting them.

This was my favorite song: (Sorry if the video is a little weird.  It's a bunch of views of Logan, Utah. I couldn't find a better video song-wise.)

(Note that this song is not heard on radios or at shopping malls. This song is special.)

There are other aspects of Christmas Spirit that don't really get old for me.  One is service.  People turn December into such a huge service opportunity (think: Project for Awesome*, SilverRush, Toys for Tots, The Salvation Army's drive, and all those other opportunities to help out that you walk by every day.) and I wish that we could direct that much thought, effort and time to charitable causes and other people throughout the year, not just during one small part of it.  But either way it's wonderful to be surrounded by others who are in such giving mindsets because it makes everyone want to do more to love each other and magnify their own lives to include others.  And that never gets old because each opportunity and each experience is so unique and newly touching.

I also love the snow.  Can't have too much snow.

And the food. :D

So enjoy your Christmas traditions and the spirit of the season, and do something special to commemorate everything that Christmas means to you.

*If you don't know what Project for Awesome is, I suggest typing "Project for Awesome" or "P4A" into the search bar of Youtube and educating yourself.  It's worth it. :)

gyrus

And now, as promised, a post before the end of the world.

So my family and I visited the Yucatán peninsula a couple years ago.  We toured the ruins of various civilizations there, largely known as the Maya.  Of course, each independent civilization was a little bit different, but there were many striking commonalities between the two or three groups we studied there, and so it will be simpler and still fairly correct to lump them all into one general group of Mayans.

We visited Chichen Itza, perhaps the most popular Mayan site.

This Central American ziggurat is also believed to be a calendar, as it has a total of 365 steps on each side.  A theme throughout much of Mayan construction was that their structures would align with the sun in specific ways on important dates including equinoxes and solstices.  For example, el Castillo (above) has a snake head at the bottom of its staircase, and on the equinoxes the body is perfectly illuminated.  To the Maya, this represented the serpent either ascending or descending (depending on the equinox).  Other structures featured windows that would align with sunrise or sunset on specific dates.  One such date is April 6th, for anyone to whom that is significant. :)

There are so many fascinating things about Maya culture and the things they constructed with such careful precision. They studied the stars, and even built observatories (below), and even though they are known for being bloodthirsty in their rituals and contests, I find them to be an advanced and scientific civilization.

They created a solar calendar that is highly accurate in correlation to our current calendar, which is quite a mathematical feat.  They mastered principles of acoustics, astronomy, architecture, medicine, and so much more.  So they do have quite a bit of credence for predicting the end of the world.

But did they really do that?

Something interesting about the Mayan culture (almost religion, really) is that they were very dedicated to cycles.  Seasons, years, astronomical events...there are countless cycles that we experience throughout a lifetime. The Maya believed that the Earth completed many different cycles, some 52 years long, some 5125 years long.  Today marks the end of the thirteenth 5125-year long cycle, called a Baktun, and the beginning of a new one. Many people are elated at the new beginnings and believe that we have started a new and better age.

So where do we get all these prophecies of doom?

Well, the Maya do believe that the Earth goes through elemental cleansings from time to time (another cyclical occurrence).  One such cleansing, that of Water several millenia ago, is commonly known as Noah's flood.  So there has been speculation that this new Baktun could usher in another elemental cleansing, perhaps of fire, earth, or air.

Aside from the Maya, there has been mass speculation from the scientific world for several years now saying that the world is due for a few massive explosions having to do with tectonic pressures and other sub-surface happenings.  Yellowstone National Park is one such hotspot, waiting for a meltdown.

There have been several astronomical speculations from the scientific world as well, as the end of 2012 coincides with a solar maximum, an 11-year cycle where the sun reaches a maximum of sunspots and radiation.

In addition to the solar maximum, our solar system is allegedly passing through an area of its orbit through the galaxy that will bring it closer to the center than ever before, and some are expecting disasters to yield from our unusual proximity to what is commonly regarded as a black hole at the center of the milky way.

And for the Mormons reading my blog, there's quite a bit of hearsay about China opening soon (or already being opened, depending on who you ask, and whose Bishop's wife heard it from a relief society lady who was friends with the wife of an Area Seventy who overheard it in an elevator in the Church office buildings...)

(If you're not Mormon and you have no idea what China opening means, and how that even relates to the end of the world, all I can say to you is to investigate the Mormon church's missionary system and maybe you'll get an explanation later.)

Overall, it seems to me that 2012 is the coincidence of any number of cycles beginning anew, reaching an apex, or some other significant part of the cycle, and the sum of it all is what many are regarding as the end of the world, which is something we seem to have been waiting for for quite some time.

Personally, I do not believe that this world will end anytime soon (which is a very relative term, so...I'm right no matter what, ha!) but I do believe that it is the beginning of a new epoch. I wouldn't be surprised if there were any manner of disasters, natural or otherwise. I might even be excited for the challenge.

So for now, keep on being alive, go ahead and celebrate being alive if you must (which is something you should do every day...you don't need an excuse like an apocalypse to do that) and participate in the cleansing of the earth by improving yourself and the world immediately around you.

draconum

Today marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of the Brothers Grimm's first book of fairy tales.

...is that the possessive of "Brothers Grimm"?  Personally, I'm more in favor of "Brothers' Grimm", but...either way, now you know that it belonged to them.

So originally I wanted to make a post about the end of the world, since today is supposedly the last day we have to live.  But I think I will postpone that until tomorrow morning (explanations and justifications to come...tomorrow) and go for some commentary on fairy tales instead.

See, procrastination at its finest.

For now, it's time to spend my last hours talking about fairy tales.

Which is something I never thought I would be doing.

So, 200 years ago the Brothers Grimm wrote down some fairy tales.  They didn't invent these tales, because the description of these two men provided by Google is:

"The Brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, were German academics, linguists, cultural researches, and authors who together collected folklore."

So although they are listed as authors, they also collected folklore, and I have reason to believe that fairy tales fall under the "folklore" genre.  Even though the fairy tales are so universally popular and often common.  Or perhaps because they are.  I mean, we're still making fairy tale movies. All the time.  And even though I've heard the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs countless times and seen many movie variations and read the story in countless variations....I still watched a Snow White movie last night.

And the funny thing is, I still found it engaging. Despite Kristen Stewart! I still found things to think about that I hadn't necessarily thought about in that way before. I knew exactly what was going to happen throughout the plot, and I still had hopes and anxieties concerning the ending.

And, of course, I still wondered what in the world is the appeal of kissing a dead person.

Any clarification on that would be welcome in the comments.

So, what is up with our seemingly innate fascination with fairy tales?  I mean, here I am, a known skeptic and perhaps even hater (or anti-fan?  do those exist?  Well, they do now, and I am one) of fairy tales, and yet...they're making an appearance here on Martin.

And they're so cliché!  We have countless fairy tales, but they all have so many things in common.  Magic and curses to be broken, orphaned children, stepmothers, kissing dead people, dragons and other fantastic creatures, groups of three, princesses, kingdoms, good versus evil, the power of love...

So it might be nice to have all this touchy-feely imagination stuff balanced out by some hardcore science and realistic mathematics.  Enjoy the following quote from Albert Einstein:

“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” 

Apparently our friend Mr. Einstein is an advocate of fairy tales. Perhaps this is a conspiracy, though, because both Alberto and The Brothers Grimm were German-born...

So, perhaps a quote from an Englishman. G.K. Chesterton:

“Fairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” 

That no matter how evil your stepmother is, or how many apples she gives you, or how many small men you have to clean up after, there's still a way for you to win a man and a kingdom in the end.

That even after a wolf has eaten your grandmother and in some versions, yourself, his digestive acids are very slow, and he didn't chew his food well at all, so a nearby lumberjack can come and free you by chopping the wolf up with his axe while keeping you unharmed.

That after someone curses you to die at the hand of a spinning wheel and your father destroys them all, then foolishly sends you to live far away from any protection so you die anyway, fairies can drug everyone into sleeping for thousands of years until a prince finally finds his way to the castle (needed to wait for GPS to be invented) where he can kiss this rotting dead girl, suck the death out of you, and marry you.

It gives us this unrealistic expectation that no matter how bad it gets, there's still a way for it to end happily.  It will require sacrifices, but after the big battle, you're settled down with a prince, the dragons are gone, the kingdom is at peace, and the happily is ever after.

But it is nice to be taken out of our own world and our own dragons to a much more objectified world, where villains wear capes and the good-looking are also good people.  Where things are predictable and there's always a catch to the evil plans. Where there is a clear line between good and evil, where evil is fated to fail, and good is destined to prevail.

And I think it's important to visit this place from an early age, and to indulge in a return on occasion, but certainly not to live there.  It is important to live in your own world, which is indeed a different world from anyone else's.  Our individual worlds are affected and sometimes even defined by other worlds though (such as Jupiter shielding the earth from fatal asteroid attacks...there's some science for you) which is why it is important to choose worthwhile worlds to visit.

So here's an answer that might just say a lot about you:
What is your favorite fairy tale?  And if you care to provide any explanation, go for it.

sciscitator

I've been thinking about superheroes lately.  There are plenty of different ones with varying powers and situations and nemeses, but the other day when I was watching part of Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, I thought it was a little bit funny that so many villains shared a common trait:

Science!

And who do we have to defeat misguided nerds like Lex Luthor, the Mad Hatter, Doctor Two-Brains, the Terrible Trio, Megamind, Doctor Octopus, and the Lizard?

Heroes!

The typical hero is brawny and has origins either on another planet, or from some radioactive mishap.  They defeat science by punching things and bending steel and flexing muscles.  Yeah, a lot of superheroes use science and gadgets and technological wonders, sometimes built by themselves, sometimes built by their inventor-ally, but on the whole, the people seen in the laboratories doing the science and math are the villains, and the people seen punching things and succeeding in life are the heroes.

And I am well aware that this is not characteristic of every superhero-villain setup.  Indeed, there are many superheroes and villains and they represent a varied array of strengths and former lives, but how many villains' names include the word "Doctor"?  How many superheroes' names have the suffix "-man"?  It's a fairly recurring theme.

And it seems a little too reflective of the Jocks beating up on the Nerds.  Like society is supporting these weirdos from other planets coming in to beat up on someone half their size.  The fact that the scrawny nerds were about to destroy the city could explain for this glorification of middle-school violence, but I think the bullying stereotype still stands in comics.

Is there something just not heroic about knowing lots of math and pushing the limits of science?  Does scientific research always get pushed too far and end in manic disaster?  Because it certainly seems to be the theme here...

So.  If you know any comic book designers or movie script writers or anyone working with DC or Marvel, tell them it's about time we had a nerd hero.  Who uses math and science and maybe even language and history for the common good!  Who defeats muscle-brained bullies with their smarts!  Who throws protractors as ninja stars!

Because really, the nerds are the ones bringing about the progress of society.  Saving lives from cancer, diseases, unsafe conditions, car crashes, drowning, bridges collapsing, pollution, constantly studying ways to improve our lives and make things a little bit better by solving real-world problems.

And we do still have the brawny heroes like soldiers and firefighters and the FBI, but they too rely on their nifty, nerd-made gadgets and safety apparati. (Apparently "apparati" is not the plural of "apparatus", but it should be.) 

So don't buy into the silly superhero mindset and wait for some muscly, hansdome fellow to come punch all your problems away.
Start sending your distress calls to the nerds in your life ;)

prima

In case you have not been on the internet yet today...check out the Google Doodle!

Okay, so it's not really up anymore, because of time zones or something...and it is pretty late in the day...but don't get mad at me, because I've done several hours of physics today in preparation for finals.

Anyway.

It's a tribute to Ada Lovelace, who was the first person (get that, PERSON.  Not "woman".  PERSON!) to envision a computing machine that was much more complex than just a simple calculator.  If you know much about computer history, you'll recognize the name "Charles Babbage", who is the inventor of the first mechanical computer.  Well, our girl Ada worked alongside Mr. Babbage and developed the first algorithm to be interpreted by a computing machine...making her the first computer programmer.

SHE'S A WOMAN AND A SCIENTIST AND A MATHEMATICIAN AND AN INVENTOR AND SHE WAS THE FIRST.

In case you can't tell, I am a little bit excited to learn that this is one of those rare instances in history where women were the ones breaking boundaries. None of this "the first man in space, then the first woman in space" or "first president, first female president" or "first comment on a youtube video, and then twelve comments later, a comment saying 'FIRST!'" crap.
FIRST.  PERSON.

I am elated.

Also, something noteworthy, Miss Lovelace was born "The Honorable Augusta Ada Byron of Lovelace"...also known as Lord Byron's daughter.

This girl has got EVERYTHING going for her.

Though her mother did remove her from her father's influence when Miss Ada was but one month old.  Her mother apparently wanted to avoid her father's influence of more "eccentric" careers like poetry and naming bridges and guide young Ada down a more practical path, namely maths and science.  (Way to go, Mom!)

Miss Lovelace took such a big role in technology that was not the norm back in 1833 that she now has a holiday, aptly named "Ada Lovelace Day". (perhaps her father could give that a more imaginable name sometime when he's not busy...)  It is celebrated by people writing about women in science and technology whom they admire.  And apparently the date is variable (perfect for a mathematician, no?) because it was last celebrated on March 24th, but the next Ada Day will be October 15th, 2013.  PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDARS NOW.

My only question is why we don't do this every day?  Or even just write about PEOPLE we admire?

(And if you need help admiring someone, just spend some time on wikipedia learning about influential people in whatever interests you.  Like soccer, math, or bacon.  You will find lots of noteworthy people.)

And so...get ready for some posts in the near future about admirable people :)

And in the meantime...POWER TO THE PEOPLE, when we can lead and be led by men and women alike, and nobody has to wait for the Same Old White Guys to be first at everything.

sileo

Thoughts from moments: The end of the semester

I've been here for a semester now, and this coming week will be full of finals and stress, and then it will all be over.  A nice holiday break will commence, and then it will be time to return to school for one final run before the freedom of summer.

I'm looking forward to the break, to being liberated from school and able to spend three weeks meeting my own deadlines and studying my own passions, rather than focusing so much on those that are required by the university.  I'm looking forward to spending time with old friends and eating heartily and singing.  Oh, how I'm hoping to sing.

But I'm also a little disappointed that the end of the term is here already.  I was just beginning to be comfortable with the people around me, and so the thought of no longer having classes with these particular people is a little bit disappointing because I've just barely gotten to know them.  Perhaps they will be in some of my classes next semester as well, which would be very pleasant, but for now it's a step into the unknown, as far as goodbyes.

And on the whole, I've made a much smaller deal of the goodbyes and all than many people (especially the teachers and presidents of groups and such, who perhaps are obligated to do so), but I suppose the biggest loss here is that of opportunity.  I waited too long to get to know people, and now they're being moved away from me, and I from them, and perhaps I'll get a second chance, and perhaps I won't.  Perhaps I'll learn to be more forward with new people and get to know their names much earlier (I must admit, there are still a few people in even my more interactive classes whose names I don't know...)   Perhaps I'll make other people a larger priority in my life, even though I don't yet know them.  Perhaps I'll even initiate conversation with other people, for little apparent reason.

Perhaps I won't overdo it, though.

In any case, the coming semester is a new start, which is always nice, but it's also important to take what you learned from the first semester and continue to move forward.

And really that's the only thing that makes fresh starts worthwhile.  If you weren't able to carry new knowledge and experiences with you into your renaissances, then you would be doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over, and restarting would be fruitless and frustrating.

And the only thing that makes endings worthwhile is the opportunity to start anew...

credere

A brief list of things which I firmly believe:

• Human beings have more things in common than differences.  Guys and Girls.  Democrats and Republicans.  Scientists and English majors.
• Everybody deserves your respect and basic trust until they've done something to violate it.
• If you're going to change the world, you'll have to do it with kindness.
• A person should be served and respected because they are a person.  Not because they are elderly, a woman/girl, or any other group that is often targeted by chivalry.
• If you are near a door when someone approaches it, open it for them.
• If you are a girl and a guy gets the door for you, say "Thank you," and walk through.
• If you are a guy and a girl gets the door for you, say "Thank you," and walk through.
• If you are a person and a person gets the door for you, say "Thank you," and walk through.
• Living in fear is not living at all.
• Always be willing to try something new.
• The meaning of life is other people.

tempus

Today is December 7th, and unfortunately that statement doesn't really do much for many people.   Allow me to jog your memory (better me than Fezzik) :

Still not sure what's going on?

Oh yeah.  Pearl Harbor.  The entry of the United States to World War 2.

It seems to me, though, that the only people really commemorating the anniversary today are history buffs, WW2 vets, and the few people still alive who were around back in 1941.

I mean, Google didn't even commemorate the anniversary with a Google Doodle.

Contrast this to the attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center.  It's been just over 11 years and the majority of the country still gathers in commemoration and sometimes mourning.  There are differing reactions to it, some regard the victims as heroes.  Some argue that we ought to move on and stop fighting terror wars in the Middle East. Some are  almost indifferent, having little connection to the people and events of the day.  But the popular motto of the day is "We shall never forget".

This is a nice sentiment, certainly for those who lost loved ones in the attacks, to never have their sacrifices for their country be forgotten, whether they were in the towers, the pentagon, on the planes, or part of the response teams.  But is this a promise that we can really keep?

You see, time heals all wounds.  You may be skeptical of this statement, but given enough time, pain eventually loses its sting.  Which is why today, Pearl Harbor Day, is not a big deal to anyone.  No songs sung, no grand memorial services, no public programs..maybe a special on the History Channel.  It's not because we've forgotten that Japan attacked us 71 years ago, it's that the pain of the event has dulled for us as a country.  We're no longer bitter enemies with Japan, we've since recovered in Pearl Harbor, and it's not weighing on our minds and hearts anymore.  We've moved on and replaced that pain with other pains since.

And one day in the future, we'll adopt the same attitude about September 11th.  Those with a very personal connection will still honor the day, but their grief will diminish from year to year.  Perhaps we'll pull out of our Middle Eastern turmoils, and maybe even form alliances with those nations who have harmed us.  (After all, we did so with Japan, Germany, and other Axis powers.)  We'll still remember, but the event will be far in the back of our minds.

So take a minute, if you would, to pay some respect to our Armed Forces.  If you have a personal connection to a serviceman or woman, thank them.  But don't feel too bad for not going to extremes to commemorate an event.  After all, you can barely see America's Pearl Harbor scars anymore.

bibliothecarius

Today I did many things, but perhaps my two favorite deeds were these:

1) I ate an avocado sandwich, which I got for free :D

2) I read An Ideal Husband, by Oscar Wilde. (which I also got for free, via the Library.)

And in doing these, I realized that both Oscar Wilde and avocados are very tasty.  Indulgences, even.

So, first of all, If you've never read Oscar Wilde before, you are contributing to the problems of society today. Go and educate yourself, please.  Really any of his plays are witty and meaningful (although Salome is more serious) But I especially love An Ideal Husband.  

Secondly, I have been enjoying reading the plays of Oscar Wilde so thoroughly, that the book now looks like this:

...okay, so it's not that bad, but still.  I wrote in the book because I love it so much, and then I dog-eared all the best pages (which are many) and the whole time, I can just imagine Madam Pince, the librarian from Harry Potter over my shoulder, shrieking..

"WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING TO THAT BOOK, YOU DISHEVELED BOY!?"

(it's from when she gets a glimpse of the Half-Blood Prince's potions book and nearly dies on the spot...)

I almost think I should go to the library and just get them to let me keep the book.
Sigh.  Here's my dilemma: Books are so much better than e-readers.  But books take up space, and for now, I don't have an entire room in my house dedicated to housing books.

Just one of many trials that college students today face.

And I have so much that I wish to say about Oscar Wilde, and his writing, and libraries and books and avocados...that unfortunately this post is going nowhere fast, because it wants to go everywhere.  Silly post, make up your mind.

So be prepared for more on our good friend Mr. Wilde, and avocados.  :)

archetypus

Have you ever gone to write a story, compose a song, draw a picture, or create something only to find that you're unable to make something novel?

What about romance novels?  If you've read one, you've read them all...same with listening to Taylor Swift songs.
(Please do not take the above statement and conclude that I am a reader of romance novels.  Or that I listen to Taylor Swift.  Because you would be sorely mistaken.)

But even good music and books and artwork isn't original.  No doubt you've been reading a book, and you've gotten to a certain point that has reminded you of another book you read once before.  I'm not saying that the entire book is unoriginal, but that there are pieces of it that are linked to pieces of other things.

Like a patchwork quilt.

Here is a scenario to illustrate this idea:

"I baked you a pie!"

"Oh boy, what flavor?"

"Universe flavor."

It's universe flavored because of this nifty quote I got from John Green: (not sure if he was quoting or not, though I think that is likely the case.)

"If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe."

We're constantly playing off and building from other people's ideas, discoveries, passions, and work in general.

Basically, nothing I post is my own...nothing is original, and it's better that way.  Because it makes us realize just how dependent we are on other humans.  Not only Copernican theory and Beethoven's Seventh and the Cartesian plane, but also Grandma's recipes and what your parents did in college and the fact that your big sister plays soccer.  But this is nice because we aren't constantly reinventing the wheel, and it promotes the unity and progression of humanity in general.  Which I guess is a nice side effect.

So yeah, all this time you've been reading a blog full of other people's ideas.  I've put my twist on them and presented them to you, and now they're your ideas too, and they belong to you just as much as did to me, and as much as they did to person before. (Sharing is caring!) So take them and run! And by run, I don't mean "flee from the law now that you've stolen other people's ideas", I mean take them somewhere new.  Share the things that you love and that impress you with people whom you love and who impress you.  Add a little bit of you to them. 

Ultimately, we'll end up with one huge conglomeration of the same story over and over, and it will be lovely.  We'll have invented the universe.

cuniculum

It's been a while since my thoughts have been organized enough to compose poetry from them.

But I was arbitrarily not sleeping last night, and decided to push one out.  I don't think it's necessarily my best poem, and I'm not really sure whether I want to revisit this later and polish it, or just leave it raw, but I figured perhaps I would share some poetry today.

---

"I am Tunnelling."

I have entered a tunnel,

Which I am creating.

Both to find, and to hide.

It takes not much to find.

Only enter the tunnel,

Barely beginning to dig,

And there you are. Found.

But to hide,

I must go deeper.

An hundred miles-

But not quite,

Before another found finds me.

I cannot give my findings away any longer.

Just as I have entered the tunnel to hide,

You must enter my tunnel to find.

I am no longer your gift,

Until you come to me

And we are both found.

But isn't it peculiar,

How we turn to those we hope to love

And bury those we love already.

We make gods of men, and they leave us

Alone in the dirt,

Where all we can do is tunnel

And return to being found.

---

There you are.  By far, my favorite stanza is the last one.

And if you notice the Oscar Wilde quote, congratulations!  I was reading Lady Windermere's Fan last night and finished it shortly before deciding to write this.
(Very good play, I definitely recommend it.)