Honey.... I'm Home!

So, that was interesting.


Not the first time I've ever lost interest in something temporarily, nor probably the last. But it was a fun two months of schoolwork and exams. Oh, and Work. I probably shouldn't complain, because I have a job in this economy, and it's paying well. So, been having fun, otherwise.


Makes me wonder, though. What was it, in the development of our civilization, that made us need jobs, in the way that we do now? In times of old, they didn't have cubicle farms. What the hell is a cubicle farm for, anyways? See the Anekdote zur Senkung der Arbeitsmoral.


Well, more on that later... Oh, by the way, I won't be posting anymore for the rest of the month. Starting up again next month.


Words cannot describe...

Happy Days, Oh Happy Days

Today was A-WE-SO. Oh wait, I was there! So it was A-WE-SO-ME! For you illiterates, it was jut plain Awesome.

First of all, I got to sleep in. And who doesn't like sleeping in? After rousing, I realized, It's My Birthday! Thank you to all those out across the interwebs that wished me a happy one. Woe betide those of you that didn't!

Then the next best thing happened. I was called. With a Job Offer. Can this day get any better?

Almost! School finally got back to me on some paperwork I submitted. I was told we were going out for dinner, and that I got to choose where. Until I was told,"No, not there"... Bah Humbug.

Well, got some things I wanted. A mouse (mine crapped out on me [same night as my trac-pad]), and Fluxx, this awesome card game I've played before.

So, all in all, a pretty good day.

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Nadda

Sorry guys and gals (the 2-3 people that even glance at this), I'm skipping this week.

I had a pretty hectic weekend, filled with work, denied job applications, emails and Star Wars, so I'm taking a break and hitting the hay about 3 hours earlier than usual.

As compensation, look at some Cracked stuff...

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Observations II

Last Sunday, I mentioned that I had some Observation Days coming up at my old grade school. Well, I've done two days of it (only 4½ Hours, though) of observation, and I must say, my former teachers had an amazing amount of patience...

On Monday, I went and sat in on one of the First Grade classes for an hour 'n a half. Those kids do not need extra sugar... They were bouncing off the walls at times. I also sat in on a Kindergarten class for about an hour that day. They were (surprisingly) more mature than the first-graders, it seemed.

Today, say in on the Fourth Grade class of Mrs. Johnson. This is a dedicated teacher. She was my Fourth Grade teacher, so you know she's been around for a while. I knew some of the students from outside of the school (mostly from Scouts), so she enjoyed the opportunity of regaling them with a story of my time in her class... Whoo boy...

But all in all, this has been a very interesting experience. I do have to do a few more hours, and need to do a few more by next week, so I do need to get on the ball.

Words cannot describe...

Observations

So tomorrow, I have the pleasure of going back to my old Elementary School. No, this isn't because I failed out of College. This semester, I am taking an "Introduction to Teaching" Class, and this class requires that I go out and observe other Teachers-in-action.

This doesn't seem to be too bad, except that I'm nervous as hell. Even though I don't live to far from the school, and I occasionally run into the teachers and current students, I just don't want royally screw it up, or anything... I am quite happy that the principal, Mrs. Bosnak, is graciously allowing me to come back for the visit. Especially since she still remembers me as a student...

I hope things go alright tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Oh, and if there are are any parents out there that ever read this, do not worry! I will not corrupt your children's minds. I am only observing, not teaching. =D

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Philosoraptor Series #1: Colonization

First off, I want to welcome you all to this new series of discussions, inspired by our good friend, the Philosoraptor. In this series of discussions, I will, at the very least try to, provoke thoughtful response on a number of questions from a broad range of topics. Some of these topics will be on subjects that concern us now, such as political observations, to things that will likely not affect us until even I am dead and in the dirt.

If you see something worthy of note, please let me know. If your views are differently, tell me, and, tell me why. The very reason philosophy exists is to try and change another's viewpoint. Something said here could very well change completely my, or someone else's, view. Also, please keep in mind that I, for the most part, speak in generalities, and if you find error, please alert me of such.

Anyways, on to the meat of the post.

In popular culture of science-fiction, we are presented with scenarios and occurrences that, while unlikely, could theoretically happen. This will range from the "mundane", a base on the Moon and genetic engineering, to the "don't-count-on-it", of galactic domination and time-travel. But since this tends to form narratives of what could be, we can use this to model our actions against.

While reading [or watching] the typical Science-Fiction, we see a theme for the Colonization of Space, which often follows the fairly simple formula of: (Earth invents Space-Travel → Earth colonizes known Universe → Humans / Universe Prospers → Earth made Political Center of Universe.) Examples of this include the entire Star Trek universe, and the Ender's Game series by Orson Scott Card.

Now while this formula is good and all, why do we always suppose that things will be so peachy keen? One supposes that if Earth was to form a colony elsewhere, be it Mars or the Moon, we would expect that colony to produce, through means of money or resources, for the government or organization that provided its means of existence. It's a question of "Why Invest, if we get Nothing from it?" That is by all means a legitimate question, as it is human nature to want to "get something out of it", to receive payment on an initial investment. But at what point will the colony change from nothing more than a resource mine, to a sovereign Nation-state or Planet? Will there be a set time-frame for this? Or will it happen through Revolution?

I say this because there is ample precedents in our history, precedents that are rather hard to ignore. The easiest example I can give (because of where I live) would probably be the colonization of North America by Britain. Up until the 1760's, the Americas had primarily been a Resource Mine, to coin a term. They were used to provide cotton, sugar, and other raw materials were shipped to England, and was then sent back in the form of manufactured goods.

An example of the Atlantic Triangular Trade. (Click for Larger Image)

[Source: Google/http://lylesj.tripod.com/trade/tritrade.html]

As time went on, tensions increased and came to a boiling point with the 1765 Stamp Act. The events that followed led to the formation of the United States as we know it.

To bring us back on point, what can we learn from this? From the way I see it, if we simply engage in the act of colonialism with the intention of enslaving some place that is not currently "ours", either the colony will fail, or we will gain little more than an embittered colony population and another chance for warfare. But, if we keep ourselves aware, and our eye on the endgame, we can allow said colony to become sovereign after a set time. Better to plan for it, than to cause it to happen through war.

For those of you Reading this, what are your views? If/When humans colonize extra-terrestrial regions, what should be their course of action? How should this be brought about? At what point is it appropriate to let go of something that is advantageous to you? Leave your responses in the comment section below. Man, Is that how RayWilliamJohnson feels when he says that?

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Philosophically Speaking...

Alrighty, it's been a good long time since I last posted here, and I think it's time I change that.

For a little info of what's been going on lately...
I've started my Fourth Semester of College, with 17 Credit Hours this time around.
I had a good Holiday Break.
I've been going nuts and having fun with my classes.

Ok, so that's enough. It's "a little", and it's really all you need to know. Besides that, I've been thinking in a philosophical way as of late. Which I suppose is rather odd, considering I've never taken a philosophy class, or anything of the like, in my life up to this point. And going on from there, I would like to know what others think of these philosophical musings I've been having.

This is where you, the reader comes in. Now I make no grand assumptions that "I speak therefor you listen" is in play here. I know quite well that very few eyes have ever alighted on this Blog. But if there is any chance for these questions to be answered, I need them to be thought about. So if you do happen to see them, please give the courtesy of making me aware of your presence, please.

That being said, I shall see you all very soon, barring any mishap.

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Does not Bode.

This week started off great.

And by great, I mean horribly. I don't really want to complain here. Anyone else that is on the internet does not want to read my sob-story. Particularly not mine. But this being an exceptional case of the Monday-Fails, I thought it'd be worth your while.

I wake up. It's Monday, November 30th. (Picture that with one of those Law&Order/CSI scene-opener kinda tunes in the background...). Sun is shining. Weather is Beautiful. I walk out the door, realizing that, leaving this early, I'll make it to class well before it starts, not just-as! Now since this hasn't happened much in the last two or three weeks, I'm ecstatic. Get it my car. Turn the Key. Nothing.

Nothing at all. Turns out my key was worn out (or something like that) and they had to replace the entire ignition system (or something like that). Well, two missed classes later, I was having a fairly good day. My Bio class (the only one I made it to that day) was as fun as always, and a good friend, back from (is back the right word?), anyways, a friend of mine who's back home, he gave me a lift.

Next, I shall grace your web presence with what has also happened the last few days. Let me start out by saying that me and my brother are not always on the best of terms. A "tough-love" description is probably the best fit. A common mutual annoyance is possibly even better. Anyways, to cut an explanation short, if we get into a bit of an argument, we tend to "devolve" and settle it the old fashioned way. Simple rules, first to knock the other over is "winner", and the "loser" leaves them alone.

In the spirit of the stupid spat, I pinned him. But in the process of doing so, I twisted my back (or something like that). Hurts like hell. But this does not seem to bode well with my recent Job Offer. Yes, you read/heard me right. I got a job offer. But as luck may have it (or unluck, in light of my back) it is a job with a Package company. You know that entails? Lifting things™. Hoo boy... Not at all. Bodes not at all...

Well, I'll keep you up to speed on the Job. I start Monday.

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Whaaahooooo!!

So, here we are, three weeks later... And I finally got the Grade back. Mind you, there were about thirty of us, and we all had to present our papers. So I went on the school's site today, check all my classes' announcements, and then my grades.

And then I nearly fainted. I had gotten a perfect grade on it!!

A+, 100/100, perfecto, whatever. And who says it's hard to do well in Sociology? It was quite tough presenting, as I, 1) Suck at it, and 2) don't enjoy it. But you do what you gotta do.

In other news....
Been putting in a number of Application, here and there. A temp job for the holidays would suffice, really, but it's hard enough getting even that... Had an interview with UPS, looked kinda promising, and one or two have called saying "we aren't hiring anymore." which is frankly annoying. Neh... One must keep his hopes up.

Words cannot describe...