Pun Intended

Alright, so not having the mouse is not the only problem. I was supposed to be able to order a free upgrade to Windows 7. This would be good to do because it's 64-bit and I have 6 GB of memory. But I can't get the upgrade because the tool used by the HP website to check my eligibility is giving a message that this computer has already had an upgrade ordered. Peculiar, but I'll get this sorted out.

That's right. I'm updating from my new laptop. Pretty cool. My parents got me a carrying case as a Christmas present. The only problem is I forgot to get a mouse, so for now I'm stuck with this silly touchpad (my old mouse is totally incompatible with this newfangled technology). I'll remedy that soon enough.

I really want to write something now, but I can't find anything to say. I should also get back to updating the chemistry blog, but the next topic is nomenclature of cyclic alkanes and I just haven't felt like doing that. It seems like such a crappy reason to ignore the whole project. Whatever, I don't mean to whine, but I guess I'm doing that. Oh well.

So I was just thinking that it's probably good that I'm majoring in chemistry rather than biochemistry. I was a bit torn between the two, but while I know I could memorize metabolic pathways (and probably will, to some extent), it's not the sort of thing that fascinates me the way functional groups, retrosynthetic analysis, bonding theories, reaction mechanisms, and such do. Of course, to be fair, I find protein folding and some other biochemical stuff pretty fascinating too, but I want a strong base in the chemistry behind it. And then at some point while thinking these things, I realized that I am going back to my local community college to take a language class. I'm not majoring in anything really. I thought I was because I applied to the UW and listed chemistry as my preferred major. But you know, I didn't get in. And it still hasn't really sunk in that I am going back to GRCC. Well, if it doesn't soon, it sure will when I am sitting in my classroom.

There are many words and phrases that I should perhaps give the benefit of the doubt. Or maybe not. Most likely, some of them I should and some of them I shouldn't. Some words and phrases have, through my experience become triggers that evoke my suspicion. I become analytical, cynical even, as I hunt for bullshit. Seeing such triggers is not the only way I can detect bullshit, and not every instance of one of these is necessarily indicative of bullshit, but my reaction is my reaction. Of course, in some instances it might behoove me to change my reaction. We shall see. For now, here's a list (I'll add to it if I think of more)...

Non-physical
Judeo-Christian
Western medicine
Patriarchal
Androcentric
Gynocentric
Heteronormative
Methodological naturalism
Supernatural
Toxic chemicals
Paradigm shift
The greater good
Only a theory
Unproven theory
Hidebound reactionary
An infinite number
Family values
Unconventional weapons
Activist judges
Mark my words
Sin
Begs the question
The Free Market
That's your opinion
Scientifically proven
Globalism
Materialist
Ad hominem
Subjective experience
Positive energy
Cost-benefit analysis
Propaganda
Elitist
Privilege

Of course, many of these terms have legitimately useful functions. It's just that in my interactions, the bullshit uses are more numerous or more prominent than the regular ones. I wonder what this list might reveal about me. Surely some things on my list would look strange to other people, while their lists would get similar reactions from me...

Yes, me linking to something again. I am impressed with how many directions they took this joke.

One of my tasks at work is making sure the public printers are stocked with paper. Only one of them sees enough use to warrant checking more than once a day, so this is pretty easy. Of course, if I forget or if it's not my turn and the person who is supposed to do it forgets, someone will try to print and will complain that the printer is out of paper. When that happens, no big deal. They call for me and I bring paper. But on the occasions when this happens, there are usually a few people standing at the print station waiting for the printer to be available again. When I refill the paper tray, they typically thank me. But when things go as they are supposed to, no one notices that I am regularly checking the printer. I get ignored for doing my job correctly and I get thanked for screwing up. Hm...

American Virgin (2009)
The Box (2009)
Disney's A Christmas Carol (2009) in Disney Digital 3D
The Crew (2008)
"Dr. G: Medical Examiner": Season One
"Fawlty Towers": The Complete Collection Remastered
Franklyn (2008)
Hanna D: The Girl From Vondel Park (1984)
Hooking Up [Unrated] (2008)
I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009)
Infestation (2009)
"Pale Force"
Paraiso Travel (2008)
Disney's The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Rage (2009)
Spread (2009)
Stan Helsing (2009)
Weather Girl (2009)
Where the Day Takes You (1992)

One of the high school guys at judo brought his chemistry textbook and was studying from it. Because of a comment I made about the textbook, some of the guys started quizzing me for fun, asking me what kinetic energy was and what potential energy was and something else I think. Then one of them asked where to find the clitoris. I started to answer, but was stopped. Then one of them asked if I knew from experience or from a book. I forget what I said (probably just "from a book" or something like that). I should have said, "From the internet, of course."

Still slacking off on updating the new blog or my chemistry blog writing anything at all. Dammit, my internet connection keeps getting interrupted and my hands are kind of numb while I'm trying to type because it's below freezing in my room and I didn't dry my hands off enough after washing them. Also, the string cheese I am handling is cold. I probably shouldn't eat while typing because I am going to run out of keyboards that are compatible with this ancient computer. Anyway...

I think this 600 entries in 6 years thing is totally doable. But I need to pick up the pace. There may be some really stupid updates in order for me to reach my quota. I apologize if this annoys you, but okay, not really. I don't. So yeah, prepare for a flood of entries if you're actually going to read this space. And then toward the end of January, prepare for absolute silence because I'll only be posting on the new blog. Anyway, better post this one before LJ deletes it or something.

I was actually going to post something here, but I have been neglecting my vague, self-imposed internet duties and instead playing Diablo II all the damn time. In fact, I was going to post several things here, but each time, played Diablo II instead because I was on my computer and Diablo II is on my computer. More later? Maybe. I might just play Diablo II instead. We shall see.