Bran Flakes: My Morning Catalyst

Just woke up about half an hour ago, but I've got nothing better to do so I might as well talk about what's happened recently.

Two old friends of mine moved into town earlier this week and are in the middle of (hopefully) finding jobs. Seems like I'm having the same luck. Either that or work-study is far more competitive this year (then again, the University of Iowa had a record enrollment number this year).

I don't know if it's just my boring classes, but lately I've been doubting if the Biology major I'm pursuing is really what I want to do. Maybe after I get through all the basic stuff and start getting into the good stuff I'll change my mind again, but what does it mean when you don't find the spark in something you used to have for a long time?

I'm a bwwwaaad whittle boy

This is kinna scary... I think I'd make a great career at being a pathological liar if I didn't actually have standards.

I have to say that my absense is more out of laziness rather than being busy, but after writing so many literature papers I have to write something I actually give a damn about. This is just so you know that I'm still alive, although in the mists of college work it's hard to even acknowledge that you exist, and that you're not just another person that sets the <50% of the grading curve.

workwork

After two weeks with my summer genetics research job, I think it is something I can manage with, and possibly come to enjoy. I helped out a little bit with preparation of our experiments so far, but I figure that as I get used to protocol I'll become more comfortable doing a project of my own. The pay's not bad either.

From "the other news" department, I bought myself a used Imac, one of those older colorful ones with the CRT monitor built-in. It was only $10 from the university's surplus store, and I figured it would be worth it to get my feet wet in Mac OS if I'm doing the same with Linux. That and I needed a cheap replacement for now while I try to resurrect my other PC, if it hasn't already reached postmortem

This Is A PSA Board, The More You Know

I am still here and very much alive. Is an ~8 hour a day job enough to prove that I'm still breathing the CO2 that everyone else around me is exhaling? Wait, back up, let me start over.

About a week and an half ago I said goodbye to college for the first time, and certainly not the last. I took my first year in stride and survived it. It appears all is still on track for now towards getting some slip of paper that makes CEOs fork out $30,000 a year to me. That, of course, is a wonderfully crappy number in today's economy. Graduate school doesn't sound so bad right now, assuming I make it through the next 3 years unscathed.

I'm hoping for my next update to not take at least a week to come up with some kind, any kind of material.

0043, or when I clicked the "Publish Post" icon.

Damned if I'm gonna be this inconsistent with my posting when summer comes. Of course, I've no idea what the physiological and psychological effects are from working all-day in a genetics lab. Guess I should mention, I got a position in a genetics student program for the summer at The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. No rest for the wicked I suppose, and by that I mean that there must be someone out there that thinks my radical ideas are wicked, in one way or another.

I'm slowly beginning to realize that my greatest difficulty with my college life won't be calculus, which I edged out in last semester. There's some other odds and ends with other courses that I get snagged on. I'm trying my best not to let the difficulty sway my goals or expectations

Do Robots Dream of Electronic Bank Transfers?

Today I had stopped by the public library to pick up my copy of Malcolm X (the movie) that had just come in. At the same time I payed off a $1 fine I had lingering on my account for several months. Before I handed the dollar over to the circulation desk, I noticed along the top was written "You are a robot". Many connotations could be derived from that, and far too many for this little post. I'm glad I didn't go with sociology for my major. I worry enough about human interactions just being a biology major. Hope that didn't come out wrong...

By the way, if you're an aficinado of video game music, I suggest you check out Galbadia Hotel right away. No they're not MIDI remixes; they're all almost pulled off the official soundtracks. From what I heard about how much they spend on bandwidth last month, I don't think said site has to worry about becoming slashdotted

Heartbreaker

Around 1320 hours yesterday, I saw someone from the 14th seeded Northwestern State Demons hit a fadeaway 3-pointer from the corner with about two seconds to go, just enough to edge out my Hawkeyes, 64-63.

I'm not really a "sports fan" (though the term carries several connotations), but these Hawks were the first that I actually put effort into following their accolades and disappointments. Of course, my mom winning season tickets helped fuel my interest with them, but they're a sports team that I connected to on a certain level. Maybe being an Iowa student is part of it, but I for once can actually 'felt' that shock, that stunned feeling the players must have felt right at that moment. Yes, for once, sports has made me feel heartbroken.

As the cliche goes, there's always next season... and higher tuition.