Checking Email

Ever since I got my Blackberry Curve, I've sort of neglected to use a computer for checking my email. When I use the computer, I'm always very thorough about organizing my emails, responding to them, throwing them away or sending them. On the Blackberry, I do this selectively and less frequently that I do on the computer.

Now I have 124 unread messages that need to have something done with them. I try never to let it get past 40 because after that point it's just annoying, so I really need to do something about this.

Identity

I don't want to be known as "the AP girl." I don't want to be known as someone whose sole interests and life lie within the realms of schoolwork and academia. People who think that of me only are seeing part of the picture, which gets quite annoying. I don't want to be thought of as some stuffy up-tight person (you've got another thing coming if you think that) who studies all day (pfft....I hardly ever study) and gets perfect grades (hah! as if...) on everything. That's not me at all. Y'all just don't know me, and maybe that's the way I want it because I have dark and devious plans for the lot of you, or maybe it's because *somebody* just needs to make more of an effort not to make assumptions about a person's bloody personality.

The iPad, Target Markets, and DRM - quick thoughts

- This is a very condensed and simple piece of my thoughts on a few things. It's not meant to be an in depth analysis, I just wanted to get at least something down here. - 

So the iPad doesn't use OS X, have USB or FireWire ports, can't run more than one app at once (let's remember the battery life this thing has, eh?), has no webcam, and doesn't have Flash. It wasn't created to be a computer in the sense that most people think of it; it's built for a market whose computing needs are more about finding a simple, fast, and intuitive way to use content rather than taking time to sit down and create content. (Plus, it's got the aesthetic that so many people are drawn to...Apple's been good at that.) This was made for people who have an iPhone, but want a more convenient way to type their emails and something to read their digi books on. (Yeah, I'm calling 'em "digi books.") It's for light computing and surfing the net. Hopefully Apple will allow for multiple apps to run at once in later versions of the iPad, which I  think would help them in accomplishing their goals here. The Flash issue is an interesting one. Even though it has over 90% of the market, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's the best, and plus it's proprietary, which takes it in the opposite direction that the Internet is headed in. Annoyingly, much of the internet relies on this program, so hopefully the free software movement and Apple can help smother Flash. (An applause for YouTube by the way for switching over!) Be brave, and go out and kill it.

This product is for people who aren't very computer literate, don't need to be, and don't care to be. They don't care about how any of what they're using works as long as it does in fact work, and also don't care much about doing any modifications to their devices. They just want to check their email, play Tetris, listen to whatever bad genera of music they like, and surf teh interwebz. This product isn't for you, so don't buy it. It's as simple as that. For example: If there is phonics book targeted towards small children, it doesn't need to IPA transcriptions of the words being learned for its purpose to be accomplished. I know this book is for small children who couldn't care less about the IPA and will probably never use it at all in their lives, so why should I complain about it? I'm not the target group. If I want a book that shows IPA transcriptions of those same words in various regional accents, it'd be foolish of me to buy the one for kids, and it'd make no sense to complain about it in the first place.

Oh yes, on the iPhone OS....(or rather, on something related to it.)

The DRM issue is ever vexatious. We can all despise the record and label companies for having Apple attempt to stop people from tinkering with their products and trying to gain control over them. On one hand, this may discourage new generations of people who may someday seek to unlock the full potential of their Apple device (or any one really), but on the other, it'll simply strengthen the resolve of those already committed to the free software movement. The people who do truly want to expand the functionality of their devices will do so, and the more certain entities attempt to crush the movement, the people will push back all the harder and louder.  Yes, the trend that DRM is setting is awful. Hopefully though, eventually it'll make people mad enough that they'll force things to turn around for them.

The Movie

There were some things I'd have liked to have changed on the movie.

1. fix the colour in a few of the scenes
2. change the dialogue in the classroom scene
3. get a variety of angles on a few people in the classroom scene
4. cut the walking down the hallway scene; it's much to long 
5. add some more shots to the classroom scene
6. shoot some things for the ending
7. cut the music from a few parts
8. re-record the sound in the classroom scene because it's atrocious(not that scene again! aggghhhh!!!! ><)
9. re-record a few lines of narration here and there
10. record someone banging on the door; the foley sound we have now is painfully inadequate.

Over all though, I think we did a pretty good job. However there's always somethings else that could have been done differently/better, but there's always a next time.

Essays...

Today I've gotta work on this essay where I have to analyze the how American agriculture changed after the Civil War up to 1900. I've got my thesis down and I know what I'm going to write, I just need to get the heck off the internet and start writing it. *chuckle*
 
First I wanted to finish this post though, since the end of February draws near and if I do not fulfill the required amount of blog posts, I shall undoubtedly incur the wrath of my media teacher who checks them!

Okay, he probably won't be so much angry as "Alex...you don't have very many blog posts here....you better go do some...you've had a month to do them...."  Then I'd say "Sorry, I got a little caught up studying for some things and working on the movie...I'll make double the amount of posts for next month."

"What's this?" you ask; a movie? Yes, I made a movie. Well not just me, but I'll blog about that in my next post. Muahaha....

New Gift!

So I just received a new coffee-table book as a gift; 'tis awesome! It's called "Pheromone: the insect artwork of Christopher Marley" This is exactly the kind of coffee table book I like.

Looking at all the pictures makes me feel exceedingly humble in my amateur collector-ness. Hehehe...

The Unending Darkness

Okay that title was just to grab your attention. It's much better than a long drawn out scream of frustration though isn't it? Well that's what I wanted to make the post titled so I did "The Unending Darkness" instead, since I suspect you're all tired of seeing things written in all-caps.

I first embarked upon the quest towards college a while ago, and at first I thought that through ought the journey there would be some awful monster accompanying me, leaving me to cringe in fear of it until I reached my destination at some daunting place. Now, I feel the journey is actually more stressful than frightful. The destination still looms, however it is now far more inviting and mystical than it once was.

Thanks to Pennsylvania U, I now have a list of 5 majors that I'd like to further explore. They are:

• Visual Studies (Art)
• Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
• Linguistics
• Physics and Astronomy
• East Asian Languages and Civilization

The problem is, is that I like everything. There's more that I want to do in life that's not represented on that list. I'd like to get into programming and maybe some engineering, as well as some type of history/anthropology, psychology, film, and computer animation. Also, beekeeping and aviation.

There's still time to decide, and I'm hoping things will fall into place as I go on in these next few years of life. I can always learn to fly a helicopter, learn Korean and Swedish, and work on artistic pursuits while I keep my main job as some type of physicist...or not. Hopefully I will though.

One career option I'm unsure about though is entomology. It's always been a hobby of mine and whenever I go and dig deeper I really really enjoy it, but I don't know. I feel a bit overwhelmed right now....

France's Niqab Ban

This is taken from a post I made on a thread about the controversy in France regarding a possible ban on the niqab.

I understand why some people are concerned, but I don't think that banning the niqab is really the best way to go.

You have two different ideas about what "equality" is, and two different cultures. You're not going to want to "force" integration or "force" people to be equal, especially since one culture's views of equality may differ from the other culture's. Forcing it is only going to cause resentment on both sides. Side A is going to get more defensive and less willing to integrate, and side B is going to react accordingly and there's going to be all sorts of harmful nativist backlash. ><

If a woman doesn't want to wear the niqab but her parents are going to force her to and harass her through ought her adult life for it, then yeah, she shouldn't be forced to. But if she does want to wear it, then go ahead and let her. One person might argue against it and say it makes her submissive, but she might counter and say it prevents her from being objectified by men and actually protects her.

As for the security thing...maybe there should be some extra security protocol made regarding the niqab. A lot of people probably wouldn't like that though and would shout about discrimination, but you know, what needs to be done for the sake of security just needs to be done. It shouldn't need to come to the point where Muslims/people who choose to wear the niqab or related dress (or any group of people) feel or are specifically targeted, but some people just screw it up for everyone else...I wish that didn't happen. ><

Racism is everywhere, and achieving peaceful and mutually respectful relations between two different cultures is no easy task. It's not going to get solved right away, if ever. Sometimes it takes a while, "a while" meaning over a hundred years. Just don't force things to a point where it produces too much friction, and a fire comes after it.

Facebook posts

I like to make odd/funny posts on Facebook. Here are some examples:

1) My prostitute ate my homework, THEN I ATE HER.
2) …well I wear combat boots to BED!
3) Some days I rather fancy myself as an engineer, other days a beekeeper…but today, A GARDEN GNOME!
4) The gender I most identify with is the one I saw on that internet pop-up add once in Cuba.
5) There is nothing inherently wrong with cannibalism.
6) Stabbing squash sounds much like the sound of a knife stabbing through human skulls.
7) Go to the drug store. Buy condoms, dish soap, and dog food. Attempt to purchase these items in Confederate currency. Slap the cashier when they refuse to accept it.
8) I find your lack of support for eugenics programs to be offensive.
9) TAX FETUSES; OBTAIN REVENUE.
10) Writing stories on the insides of animal bones.

Conlanging - Glad I started it!

Conlang = "constructed language."

Hopefully you read a bit into that page...if you haven't at least skim it. I only got into conlanging about a year and a half ago, though I've been interested in languages for nearly my entire life. (Yeah, I haven't been around that long, but still...) Creating languages is an interesting challenge for me, and every step I take in the development of my projects seems rewarding (even if it doesn't take me in a direction I particularly like or enjoy.) Because I need to add another blog post for February, I've decided to just briefly mention some things I like about conlanging.

For one, it's fun and a neat challenge. Plus, it can be used for all sorts of enjoyable, creative, or nefarious purposes! It also makes you appreciate language and linguistic diversity more while making you more aware of your own language and the mechanics of it. It also encourages you to develop new ways of thinking, and to consider the nature of human (or other!) communication. Plus: it helps you better understand your own language as well as others. :)

Language structure is partly determined by social structure

Language structure is partly determined by social structure

What's Up?

 I just felt the urge to document all the difference variations of "what's up" that I hear in my daily life.

So far we have:

1) What's up?
2) Wuzzup?
3) Wuddup?
4) 'sup?
5) What is up?
6) Wassup?

There we go. 6 different variations of it. At the end there are the obligatory:
- dude
- man
- girl
- yo
- homie
- my friend

ect....

Eh, not really a point to this post. Just wanted to write that down.