sentio

It's been a while. To be honest, I've had difficulty in writing things lately, hence the blogging hiatus.

And surprisingly, none of this has been due to writer's block or a lack of ideas or drive.
No, all those necessary elements have been quite present.  In abundance.

I've actually had difficulty in writing things lately because I have had too many thoughts that I wanted to develop into posts, and too many passions that I wanted to discuss.

If you frequent literature, you might know the feeling.

Anyway.  It's probably about time I make my public announcement on the blog.  I'm going to be leaving for a time.  18 months, to quantify it.  So there really won't be much new stuff to look at here.  I doubt I'll be able to get anything up here in the time I'll be away.  But if you insist on returning to read your favorite posts, please feel free.  I encourage you to start discussions in the comments with other readers.  (I will say that's one thing that's always bothered me about a blog.  It's very one-sided interaction.  I write things, you read them...the end.  I wish there were more comments and discussions made on blogs in general.  So if I come back to 18 months' worth of commentary, I really won't complain ;D)

That being said, I still have a week here on the blagoblag.  And in order to sort out some of the things happening here in the world and some of the thoughts going on here in my head, I'd like to go out with a bang and blog ALL of the days!  After all, I have so many things to write about that I simply can't write at all.  And the quantity and quality of things to be written continues to build.

And now that we've gotten through all the announcements and apologies, I'd like to move into a small thought that might begin to summarize the surplus of thought that has been surrounding me lately.

It is this:

Hearts break, and minds blow...open.

When your heart breaks, it breaks open.  And that allows new feelings and new love to slip inside that otherwise wouldn't have had that opportunity.

When your mind blows, it becomes more open and ideas can find a home that would have been locked out previously.

So don't be afraid of breaking your heart or blowing your mind.  Embrace all your experiences with no regrets and no reservations.  Feel things.  Feel all the things.

genius verus

Aaaand...it's Pi day. :D

Hopefully the majority of my readership is well acquainted with pi, though.  So I thought it might be important to celebrate another event in conjunction with pi day.

Don't worry, fellow nerds...pi is not being abandoned, nor is nerd-dom.  

It's time for a birthday party :D

Today in 1879 in Germany, Alberto Einstein was born.  Being German, his parents opted to call him "Albert" for short.  Born on pi day.  He was destined for greatness.

young Albert quickly outgrew the awkward baby stage

and became a dapper young lad.

Most people know the standard Einstein trivia: he was a theoretical physicist, he was a pioneer of the Manhattan project shortly after becoming a US citizen, is one of the more prominent geniuses of history...

I mean, you really cannot dispute the genius of a man whose brain has its own wikipedia article.

By the way, all of the silliness saying that Albert Einstein's brain was significantly smaller than the average man's is...partially true.  We'll have to discuss this fascinating neuroscience later.

(Just don't believe everything you hear about brain sizes; you might begin to believe that women are stupider than men because their brains are smaller.)

So.  Einstein was all about mathematics and physics and the universe and complex stuff like that, right?  Well the funny thing about being human is that you must also dabble in things like religion and arts and other aspects of life.  Man cannot exist on math alone.  Albert Einstein did many things throughout his lifetime.  He learned to play the violin as a child and continued his beloved hobby passionately, perhaps to get his mind off math once in a while.  He went through three marriages and had three children and learned a thing or two about love in the process.  He offered a fair amount of political and theological commentary, as well as physical theories.  His ideas in physics were met with much higher regard, however, leading to a Nobel Prize in physics.

Einstein would often hang out with Niels Bohr (Sorry, that's not a creation of Bram Stoker...it's a scientist) and discuss quantum mechanics.  You know, the way that buddies do. 

Despite being so heavily involved in math and physics, Albert Einstein is quite quotable. Many people seem to think that people who are crazy with the hard sciences are difficult people to understand and are probably too smart to talk to, but I believe that a conversation with Einstein would be fulfilling, enlightening, and enjoyable no matter what your IQ was or where you were in life.

Here are a few quotes of his.  He had many, and it's difficult to choose a favorite. (If you have a favorite, mention it in the commentary of this post!)

• Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.
• Science is a wonderful thing if one does not have to earn one's living at it.
• The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.
• Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.
• The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.

I'm often inclined to list Albert Einstein as a personal hero or inspiring example in my life, and I think the vibe that people get from that is "Oh, look who's the physics hotshot now" which is really not what I'm aiming for.  He was a lot more than just a high-functioning brain somewhere in the universe.  Some science, some philosophy, some music, some religion, some math,  some politics, some love, some humor...

And a whole lot of life.

valentini

Today is one of most hated days of the year.  Which is ironic, seeing as the day is dedicated to love.  Well done, society.

I must admit that I have joined in on the Valentine's Day hating too.  Why do we hate it so much though?  It's really not different from any other day of the year--there are single people on February 15th and there are overly passionate couples on February 13th...so there's really nothing special about the 14th to love or hate.
But we've still constructed this silly notion that the 14th of February has to be some magnanimous lovers' event, whether we participate in it or not.

What this results in, more than anything, is people getting their hopes up unreasonably.  I'm not saying that we should avoid hoping, because that would lead to avoiding living, but that we should be reasonable about it all.  For example, if you are single and not currently dating anybody, and not really making much of an effort in the dating scene in general...don't get your hopes up that some fairy tale is going to come along and just happen to you.

If you want to hope for something, you have a degree of obligation, then, to work to make it happen.  Wishing on stars is nice, but it just sets you up for disappointment when you don't do anything about it, and then your wishes never come true.
Funny how that works.

So, we hate Valentine's Day, but it's a little bit of our own faults. Which sucks.

What I suggest we do about this is start loving Valentine's Day. I mean, it's a day dedicated to love...but nobody said that had to be the lustful kind of love. 

Basically I'm saying use the day as an excuse to do something special for your friends and family and other loved ones.  Bake cookies, make a card, eat ice cream, watch horror films...

And if you've been caught down in the woes of "she doesn't know I exist" lately...DO something.  If you're waiting for a Valentine's Day surprise, sitting around is not going to make it happen.  Use the silly holiday you're so fond of as an excuse to do something nice for someone that normally you would have to think up a reason for to avoid looking stupid.

"Hi, I just wanted to stop by and say hi, and....I have no reason to do this other than I want to be with you"

versus

"Hi, i just wanted to say hi and Happy Valentine's Day, and I was wondering if you'd eaten lunch yet? I was just heading to the café...wannna go together?"

One of them sounds so much more reasonable...and promising.

And if you want to get in on the real love, send them a nice nerdy card. :D

So don't hate the day, and don't be so bitter about the situation.  Find a way to love today that fits the love you have.

Happy Valentine's Day, my blog readers. :)  I appreciate you guys!

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. :)

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.

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.