The other day, after a long hike with Nate Weaver resulting in a lot of extra photos, I was about to go into my dorm when I stopped to take one more picture. We have a student on campus who used to be completely deaf. He got some sort of implant which allows him to hear a little bit, and he can talk, but I always feel awkward because I have a hard time understanding (partly because I'm hard of hearing in one ear). But when he saw me taking a picture of this, he thought it was cool and said it looked like a feather. Right before I went to post this photo, my newsreader gave me this article on what language a deaf person thinks in; so I guess it's God's way of saying that everyone needs to read it and expand their understanding of deaf persons.
It's possible this will be my last post before spending a week hiking on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia. (It's supposed to rain all week. Yeehaw.)
The straight dope on being deaf.
The semi-hemi-sphere (just because I can)
Library. West side. Cool. I like it.
(For the curious, photomatix allows me to combine differently exposed shots.) (And I don't want to buy it. Thus, "photomatix.")
How I waste a lot of time
Sure enough. It's me. Doing my thing.
Kudos to Emily for the photo (taken with my old Olympus)
Mike's Virus (kinda funny)
Well, went to Aroma Cafe last night with Emily, Mike, Dave (new friend), Gina, and Angela. Had a great and entertaining night. We all crammed into Emerly's KIA "Sportage" (wow), watched others play for a couple hours, Dave and I both played and sang, and then we went to Denny's. Here is a fun video documenting some random nonsense.
Videoplayer instructions: if you're on BBC this will play and stop maybe (because of our poor network speed), so press the big play button, then press pause at the bottom left. When it has loaded, press the bottom left play button.
That's Mike talking at the beginning, and then I'm the one complaining about the foggy window. It's very dark, sorry. (Umm it's abstract art.) No more explanation needed I really.
Just another brick in the wall
Here is an extremely important article by John Taylor Gatto, New York Teacher Of The Year 1991. It is a reproduction of the acceptance speech of the award, in which he explains why schools do not and cannot educate (!!). After all, we're just another brick in the wall. I don't have to feel guilty for the sense of violation I've felt so many times over the past 16 years of my schooling. Read the article - if you disagree with it or feel it is too general, what are your points of disagreement? Respond to the problems listed - are they true? What are your solutions?
And if you're wondering whether to read it, just remember: few things are more important topic to tackle than the education of children. (Wow here I am getting all serious, imagine that.)
More on the implications to my own life (and the implications bring some almost immediate applications) will come later. Chow. Long Live Families.
Pelican Case vs....
My new camera case is TIGHT! (Well, watertight anyway.) I've wanted a Pelican case for 6 years, and I finally had an excuse to get one. (I got the tiniest one.) My camera is officially ready for World War III. So... what are we waiting for? Come on I want to see some serious apocalyptic ACTION out there! (I'm sure we'll find a way to piss off any nations we haven't managed to so far, we just need to use our resources and initiative.)
Projected Scenarios:
Pelican Case v. Hulk Hogan
... Pelican Case by TKO
Pelican Case v. Sputnik
... Sputnik is not waterproof THEREFORE Camera Case
Pelican Case v. Liberal Theology
Don't even TRY to think outside of THIS box - it's gonna it you for LUNCH! (That's right GET back in there!)
Pelican Case v. My Homework
...mehh....
Pelican Case v. Bad Hair Day
Who is going to notice my hair? I have a freakin' PELICAN CASE!!!
Pelican Case v. Lex Luther
Lex Luther is sealed into Pelican Case and thrown into the sun. Unfortunately the Pelican Case kept him intact and he is currently working on diabolical revenge schemes. Who will save us?
Pelican Case vs. [Insert Your Own]
900 Miles Later
Well I drove about 900 miles between Saturday 7 AM and Sunday 10 PM. Experiences: Boston, Vermont, Massachusets, hot tubs, non-Baptist baptismal services, abusive cops, friendly dogs, strange sick-amore (love sick?) trees, clock towers and disassembling a piano to remove a paperclip.
Vermont Pizza is GREAT! (Who woulda thunk?)
Oh I made a new word. Ya know those trucks that go by really fast and make yer car sorta swerve for a split second? Those are called "whooshers."
Snow and Mashey
Here is a picture from outside my window last night during a snowstorm
I participated in several long conversations today, resulting in the clarification of some words and the mashing of others (had mashey for lunch).
Words that have become more meaningful: art, consensus, leadership.
Words that got Mashied (mash-eed): respect, leadership, authority, spiritual. These conversations were somewhat similar to the spaghetti test; grab a noodle and throw it and see if it sticks. Slightly more productive than juggling jelly.
Tonight or bust
This pile represents a large chunk of time which will disappear today. And it's all gotta get done, because I go to Boston early Saturday through Sunday and I will NOT be studying.
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8 Ball Question Of The Day:
Q: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
[Yup.]