Hey guys! This is the last post. End of the year! Man!
So wednesday was the last class of the term. We watched a really interesting movie. It was about this aborigine girl Molly and her struggles. She was known as 'half-caste' because her father was a white man. Because of this, Australia believed that she belonged to them. Well she belonged to some dude. I can't remember his name, but he called himself the 'protector of the aborigine' but really he just liked to abduct children.
So since she was half-caste, the dude I mentioned decided that she needed to be taken from her family and given away to somebody else. This was the fate of all half-caste children. She and her two sisters were taken away. But they escaped! They were on the run, trying to make it back to their mother. It didn't work. One of the sisters was captured, and they never found her again. The two remaining sisters trekked on, but were captured as well. Molly was raped and impregnated, but once her baby was born, she took it and her sister, and ran away. The government stopped chasing them because they were a giant hassle, but they did take her baby away from her.
It was a really sad story, but it was really interesting. I didn't know anything about how the white people and the aborigine interacted with each other until now. I knew how it went down in Africa and the Americas, but not in Australia. It seems that Caucasians have a very strong need to kill off any natives they find in an area so that they can live there.
Well I hope you have a great summer! Bye!
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Hi everyone!
I know what you're thinking. 'Emma you slacker! Where've you been?'
Well the answer is both simple and complicated. I have been writing you some great blog posts on a word document because my blog got deleted. I've been thinking it over, and I'm pretty sure I know how it happened. I was trying to delete my blog on a different account, and I messed up and did this one. (in fact I know that to be true because I checked and THAT little beauty is still up and running)
So I'm sorry. I'm just going to have to regale you with the events of yesterday and monday.
I know what you're thinking. 'Emma you slacker! Where've you been?'
Well the answer is both simple and complicated. I have been writing you some great blog posts on a word document because my blog got deleted. I've been thinking it over, and I'm pretty sure I know how it happened. I was trying to delete my blog on a different account, and I messed up and did this one. (in fact I know that to be true because I checked and THAT little beauty is still up and running)
So I'm sorry. I'm just going to have to regale you with the events of yesterday and monday.
Monday!
By monday, I mean monday before last. Last monday was a holiday. So the monday I'm talking about was the monday where I gave my group presentation on the book. BLECK. No, I mean I liked the book. It's just one of my group mates had it out for me since there was a meeting I thought I could attend but then it turned out that I couldn't. He'd been a jerk to me ever since, and was mean to me during! But the presentation went pretty smoothly, and other than him glaring at me the whole time, I enjoyed it. Our activity was a pretty cool one. We did Jeoprody! It was all questions on the book. We had random questions thrown in (like if Jared has an apple, and Sally has ten apples, how many books will George read tomorrow?) and just picked a person to be correct. It was all about being happy with what you had. The prize for the winning team was even stolen. I had hoped more people would take the prize (it was brought back) but I guess not very many people like Salted Caramels. Oh well.
Wednesday!
There was a PRETTY big misunderstanding on my part this day. I hadn't brought in my "official" project because I thought it would be due in JUNE not uh...not wednesday. So my project wasn't brought in, my slides weren't done, and I looked like a huge idiot. I'm going to turn in my project to Christof, never fear, but I won't be surprised if I get docked giant points for it.
The other projects were pretty good. My thunder was stolen when ANOTHER DUDE did basically my project. He wrote a story, and hand bound it. He soaked it in coffee and then baked it though, to make it look like a text book.
My favorite project that I saw that day was probably Natalie's. I love the idea of being able to go the gym and feel like I was outside doing stuff. But I also like her idea of having holographic physical trainers. I could have Jillian Michael's hanging out with me! More like yelling at me.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Failed
So it would appear that I have already failed one of my goals. What is this goal you ask? Updating! This is my second update. By now there should be at least three of these bad boys. Well I'm going to actually do the blogs now, because I just realized I hadn't done a single one, tossing my grade in the toilet.
So let's get to the point.
Today was actually Super Fun!I'm not even being sarcastic, I actually had a good time today. We played a pretty interesting game where people were essentially sorted into the upper class, middle class, and lower class. Everyone was distributed money, and had to try to get resources. BUT we all had to stand in boxes, and if we stepped out of our box we went to jail. The biggest box was for the rich, middle was for the middle, and the smallest box was for the MOST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE the poor. I was in the poor. Oh also the box wasn't a cardboard box, it was a square made of tape. The poor were sent to jail all of the time, the middle class occasionally, and the rich were sent to jail ONCE.
This is an accurate reflection on what happens today. You even see it in this game called SimsCity. In SimsCity, you can make your neighborhoods low income, medium income, and high income. You can upgrade each grouping of people with sports areas, parks, and venues. If you have a huge swath of low income neighborhoods that you haven't upgraded, criminals will start popping like crazy in the low income neighborhoods. This happens in real life too. More crime seems to happen with poorer people. Not ALWAYS of course. I'm sure Ted Bundy is rolling in grave. But it can't be that rich people don't commit crimes. We KNOW they do! They typically have bail money however, so if they get in, it isn't for long.
I think that we need to share the wealth! And I don't just mean money. I mean food, water, housing, health care. Everything! We need equality. I guess that kind of sounds like communism. But I don't want a communist government. I just want the sharing of the wealth bit. How can we walk past dying people in the streets and be okay with that? I ask myself that question a lot, and I still don't have an answer.
Emma
OH WAIT
Actually today I gave a news blast which was pretty cool. I talked about how humans are feeling empathy for robots when the robots are put in human situations. The robots were loved, but they were also brutally abused which made people sad.
You can find the full article here! http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130423091111.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Bundy There's Ted Bundy if you want to learn more about this fantastic stand up dude that has nothing to do with my news blast.
So let's get to the point.
Today was actually Super Fun!I'm not even being sarcastic, I actually had a good time today. We played a pretty interesting game where people were essentially sorted into the upper class, middle class, and lower class. Everyone was distributed money, and had to try to get resources. BUT we all had to stand in boxes, and if we stepped out of our box we went to jail. The biggest box was for the rich, middle was for the middle, and the smallest box was for the MOST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE the poor. I was in the poor. Oh also the box wasn't a cardboard box, it was a square made of tape. The poor were sent to jail all of the time, the middle class occasionally, and the rich were sent to jail ONCE.
This is an accurate reflection on what happens today. You even see it in this game called SimsCity. In SimsCity, you can make your neighborhoods low income, medium income, and high income. You can upgrade each grouping of people with sports areas, parks, and venues. If you have a huge swath of low income neighborhoods that you haven't upgraded, criminals will start popping like crazy in the low income neighborhoods. This happens in real life too. More crime seems to happen with poorer people. Not ALWAYS of course. I'm sure Ted Bundy is rolling in grave. But it can't be that rich people don't commit crimes. We KNOW they do! They typically have bail money however, so if they get in, it isn't for long.
I think that we need to share the wealth! And I don't just mean money. I mean food, water, housing, health care. Everything! We need equality. I guess that kind of sounds like communism. But I don't want a communist government. I just want the sharing of the wealth bit. How can we walk past dying people in the streets and be okay with that? I ask myself that question a lot, and I still don't have an answer.
Emma
OH WAIT
Actually today I gave a news blast which was pretty cool. I talked about how humans are feeling empathy for robots when the robots are put in human situations. The robots were loved, but they were also brutally abused which made people sad.
You can find the full article here! http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130423091111.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Bundy There's Ted Bundy if you want to learn more about this fantastic stand up dude that has nothing to do with my news blast.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Spring Term Blog!
So today, I am going to talk about my personal goals for this term. First, I'll give you a nice tidy list. After, I'll go into detail about each one.
- Don't save the hard things for last.
- Do work early!
- Calendar all assignments.
- Blog entries AT LEAST twice a week.
- Read the book, but keep on track with rest of class. No reading ahead, or falling behind.
- E-mail professor when I am confused about assignments. Potentially set up meetings.
- Make use of library--don't always study in room.
- Eliminate as many distractions as possible.
- Calendar not only assignments for FRINQ, but also for other classes to compare.
Don't save the hard things for last.
I like easy things. Who doesn't? When you see an easy task next to a hard task, you want to knock out the easy task first. The problem for me is that I do all the easy things first, and then procrastinate on the hard things. Then, at the last minute, I realize I have a whole lot of work to do. This term, I want to make sure to get the hard things out of the way, and then breeze through the rest, knowing that it will be simple and easy to get it done.
Do work early!
Saving work to do at the last minute is something I am excellent at. There are tons of things I'd rather do than write a 10 page paper, like doing my laundry five times. But when the due date comes, and I realize that nothing has been done, I go into panic mode. The work gets done, but not as well as it could've--no, should've--been.
Calendar all assignments.
Everyone always mentions calendaring assignments so that you know when you should work on it. Monday: Math for 2 hours. Yes, that is one of the things I'm planning on doing, but the major thing is calendaring the
due dates. Making a study schedule is pointless if I don't know when things are due.
Blog entries AT LEAST twice a week.
This blog is the easiest thing in the world to forget to do. But when a few entries aren't done, that awesome grade I earned goes in the bin. Making blog entries about my observations in the class, but also to the outside world a few times a week should help this. I need to just make the blog apart of my daily routine.
Read the book, but keep on track with rest of class. No reading ahead, or falling behind.
When a book is REALLY good, it's hard to stop yourself from reading the whole thing in one sitting. But when you're ahead, it's really easy to stop reading because you feel like you don't need to. The problem with both is that you're never on track with the class, and participating in class is difficult. It's hard to remember what happened in chapter one precisely, when you're on chapter 20.
E-mail professor when I am confused about assignments. Potentially set up meetings.
Nobody cares about your problems with an assignment if you haven't at least emailed the professor first. I never set up meetings or email my professor. A lot of times that means I am stuck in a bog trying to tough it out on my own. That's ridiculous. The professor and his or her office hours are there for a reason. Utilizing the office hours and the existence of email will help me to better understand and learn what's happening in the class.
Make use of library--don't always study in room.
Studying in my room is really easy. Just plop on down and work. But there are so many distractions. I have good books to read, things to eat, dishes to wash. But in the library, it's just me and my work. And the internet. But mostly me and my work, which will make it way easier to concentrate on the task at hand.
Eliminate as many distractions as possible.
This goes hand in hand with the previous point. Distractions make work not happen. Books, people, texting, the internet. Working in a setting that minimizes distractions will help. The library, Cramer Hall. It's impossible to eliminate ALL distractions, but when most of them are gone, work happens.
Calendar not only assignments for FRINQ, but also for other classes to compare.
Calendering the assignments for this class is important, but it's also important to do the rest. This is because I need to know when I have time to study, instead of scrambling at the last minute for every single class. I have not done this one AT ALL, except for test dates. I think this will really help me so I can better organize my study time.
Well! These are my goals for this term. I'm really hoping that I can be super successful! Last term was a good term for me. Hopefully I'm on an upward trend.
Emma
Do work early!
Saving work to do at the last minute is something I am excellent at. There are tons of things I'd rather do than write a 10 page paper, like doing my laundry five times. But when the due date comes, and I realize that nothing has been done, I go into panic mode. The work gets done, but not as well as it could've--no, should've--been.
Calendar all assignments.
Everyone always mentions calendaring assignments so that you know when you should work on it. Monday: Math for 2 hours. Yes, that is one of the things I'm planning on doing, but the major thing is calendaring the
due dates. Making a study schedule is pointless if I don't know when things are due.
Blog entries AT LEAST twice a week.
This blog is the easiest thing in the world to forget to do. But when a few entries aren't done, that awesome grade I earned goes in the bin. Making blog entries about my observations in the class, but also to the outside world a few times a week should help this. I need to just make the blog apart of my daily routine.
Read the book, but keep on track with rest of class. No reading ahead, or falling behind.
When a book is REALLY good, it's hard to stop yourself from reading the whole thing in one sitting. But when you're ahead, it's really easy to stop reading because you feel like you don't need to. The problem with both is that you're never on track with the class, and participating in class is difficult. It's hard to remember what happened in chapter one precisely, when you're on chapter 20.
E-mail professor when I am confused about assignments. Potentially set up meetings.
Nobody cares about your problems with an assignment if you haven't at least emailed the professor first. I never set up meetings or email my professor. A lot of times that means I am stuck in a bog trying to tough it out on my own. That's ridiculous. The professor and his or her office hours are there for a reason. Utilizing the office hours and the existence of email will help me to better understand and learn what's happening in the class.
Make use of library--don't always study in room.
Studying in my room is really easy. Just plop on down and work. But there are so many distractions. I have good books to read, things to eat, dishes to wash. But in the library, it's just me and my work. And the internet. But mostly me and my work, which will make it way easier to concentrate on the task at hand.
Eliminate as many distractions as possible.
This goes hand in hand with the previous point. Distractions make work not happen. Books, people, texting, the internet. Working in a setting that minimizes distractions will help. The library, Cramer Hall. It's impossible to eliminate ALL distractions, but when most of them are gone, work happens.
Calendar not only assignments for FRINQ, but also for other classes to compare.
Calendering the assignments for this class is important, but it's also important to do the rest. This is because I need to know when I have time to study, instead of scrambling at the last minute for every single class. I have not done this one AT ALL, except for test dates. I think this will really help me so I can better organize my study time.
Well! These are my goals for this term. I'm really hoping that I can be super successful! Last term was a good term for me. Hopefully I'm on an upward trend.
Emma
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Yo.
E-Portfolio time in mentor session!
In case you didn't know, e-portfolio is a portfolio (wow really?) that is online. Students put work that they have done in class into this portfolio, and the teacher grades it on how awesome or totally sucky it is. And now, I need to do mine again.
First time I did it, I did alright, I just needed to make the explanations longer. And guess what! I have TWO THINGS that I can put in my e-portfolio! This blog, for one, and my scratch assignment! I get to write all about the two things. Loyal readers, I'm sure this makes you very happy.
But I also have to make it FREAKING GORGEOUS. If you're familiar with sites (it's a google thing) the eportfolio is within sites. So I get to change fonts, font colors, the back ground, how it's all laid out...I get graded on how amazingly beautious it is. My mentor Keela showed us hers, and her page is really really pretty. It has flowers and branches, and it's all GREEN, and the font is crazy pretty. I wanted to just copy paste hers into mine, but I'm pretty sure a) you can't do that and b) someone would notice that.
I'm getting busy on my ID paper. Only one more page left, a works cited page, and some editing left to go! Then I'm going to revise and edit my Reflection paper, and then finish up my podcast....and everything will be done! Go me!
In case you didn't know, e-portfolio is a portfolio (wow really?) that is online. Students put work that they have done in class into this portfolio, and the teacher grades it on how awesome or totally sucky it is. And now, I need to do mine again.
First time I did it, I did alright, I just needed to make the explanations longer. And guess what! I have TWO THINGS that I can put in my e-portfolio! This blog, for one, and my scratch assignment! I get to write all about the two things. Loyal readers, I'm sure this makes you very happy.
But I also have to make it FREAKING GORGEOUS. If you're familiar with sites (it's a google thing) the eportfolio is within sites. So I get to change fonts, font colors, the back ground, how it's all laid out...I get graded on how amazingly beautious it is. My mentor Keela showed us hers, and her page is really really pretty. It has flowers and branches, and it's all GREEN, and the font is crazy pretty. I wanted to just copy paste hers into mine, but I'm pretty sure a) you can't do that and b) someone would notice that.
I'm getting busy on my ID paper. Only one more page left, a works cited page, and some editing left to go! Then I'm going to revise and edit my Reflection paper, and then finish up my podcast....and everything will be done! Go me!
Monday, March 4, 2013
SCRATCH and capslock
HOLY MOTHERTRUCKING CRAP
I finished my scratch assignment.
http://scratch.mit.edu/users/emma6
There you go. Isn't it wonderful? (Don't lie, it's not that great. But my head HURTS so maybe...maybe you could lie a little bit...)
So there's Scratch for you.
ON TO WHAT HAPPENED TODAY.
Nothing much, actually.
BUT IT WAS FLIPPING COOL. We learned about stem cell research and cloning and junk. Woo! I'm all for stem cell research. It will help with people who have lost limbs, and maybe even help with paralyzed people! Who knows!
Well not America. America is one of the most uppity, stick-up-your bum places. (It's not the worst, but it's maybe in the top 100. Maybe.) Europe and Asia are all for stem cell research, but not us, because OH NOES A BABY MIGHT DIE. Well if a baby's life was on the line, I'd be right there with you. But NONE ARE so I'll have to watch your bandwagon drive on by. They take cells from an EMBRYO. An embryo is not a fetus. It takes 8-10 weeks for it to become a fetus. It's just a cluster of cells, no gender, no face, nothing.
They get a lot of these from invitro fertilization. A lot of people can't get pregnant on their own, for many reasons. So, doctors will put a bunch of zygotes into the woman's body, because most of them WILL FAIL. So what to do with failed ones? Throw them away? OR use them to better humanity?
America elects the trash heap.
Whatever.
I finished my scratch assignment.
http://scratch.mit.edu/users/emma6
There you go. Isn't it wonderful? (Don't lie, it's not that great. But my head HURTS so maybe...maybe you could lie a little bit...)
So there's Scratch for you.
ON TO WHAT HAPPENED TODAY.
Nothing much, actually.
BUT IT WAS FLIPPING COOL. We learned about stem cell research and cloning and junk. Woo! I'm all for stem cell research. It will help with people who have lost limbs, and maybe even help with paralyzed people! Who knows!
Well not America. America is one of the most uppity, stick-up-your bum places. (It's not the worst, but it's maybe in the top 100. Maybe.) Europe and Asia are all for stem cell research, but not us, because OH NOES A BABY MIGHT DIE. Well if a baby's life was on the line, I'd be right there with you. But NONE ARE so I'll have to watch your bandwagon drive on by. They take cells from an EMBRYO. An embryo is not a fetus. It takes 8-10 weeks for it to become a fetus. It's just a cluster of cells, no gender, no face, nothing.
They get a lot of these from invitro fertilization. A lot of people can't get pregnant on their own, for many reasons. So, doctors will put a bunch of zygotes into the woman's body, because most of them WILL FAIL. So what to do with failed ones? Throw them away? OR use them to better humanity?
America elects the trash heap.
Whatever.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Haglblaugl
It was debate time today.
OMFG
So the debate was on free will. Monday, we broke off into groups of if we believed if there was free will, or no free will. We wrote up lovely little questions, and got prepared to come to a great consensus on free will. And that is exactly what happened.
I'm just kidding, it was total madhouse and I would rather have gouged my eyes out with a rusty spoon.
My reasoning for this is because instead of being a debate, it was a "I'm right and you're wrong, so bow down to me" fest. Bleck. I was hoping for a "lets reach a nice happy consensus" type thing but that never happens does it.
It was interesting though.
I think we have a bit of free will and a bit of...no free will? Determinism? I bet there is an actual term for that which is evading me...ANYWAY. For instance, I had the free will to turn on dubstep while I'm typing this out. (Night Rider by Dub Scout is playing at the moment) Listening to music is not necessary. Yet I turned it on anyway. I have the free will to take my medication. But I don't have the free will to not have epilepsy, depression, and severe anxiety. (general and a tad bit of social)
Mentor session was annoying.
It started off as promising, but it got into the typical god/no god discussion. Let me clarify: "I believe this so I don't have to prove it. YOU have to prove it." "Okay, but can you disprove what I'm saying?" "Why should I? I haven't stated ANYTHING." "You said you're against what I believe." "N-n-no I didn't."
ARGH. It's like, YOU HAVE NO OPINIONS. But then you say, "yes I do, but I refuse to tell you them because you haven't proved jack shit." Then you tell them your proof, and they say "Yeah that didn't prove anything." "Okay why." "NONE OF YOUR BEESWAX"
Ahem.
It was pretty enlightening, actually. Discovering how humans decide that they are absolutely right, there can be NO GREY AREA and that you are wrong no matter what you say. I've noticed that in this free will debate, abortion, religion, general politics, gun control...humans have this need to be right, and for someone else to be completely and utterly WRONG.
Catch you later!
OMFG
So the debate was on free will. Monday, we broke off into groups of if we believed if there was free will, or no free will. We wrote up lovely little questions, and got prepared to come to a great consensus on free will. And that is exactly what happened.
I'm just kidding, it was total madhouse and I would rather have gouged my eyes out with a rusty spoon.
My reasoning for this is because instead of being a debate, it was a "I'm right and you're wrong, so bow down to me" fest. Bleck. I was hoping for a "lets reach a nice happy consensus" type thing but that never happens does it.
It was interesting though.
I think we have a bit of free will and a bit of...no free will? Determinism? I bet there is an actual term for that which is evading me...ANYWAY. For instance, I had the free will to turn on dubstep while I'm typing this out. (Night Rider by Dub Scout is playing at the moment) Listening to music is not necessary. Yet I turned it on anyway. I have the free will to take my medication. But I don't have the free will to not have epilepsy, depression, and severe anxiety. (general and a tad bit of social)
Mentor session was annoying.
It started off as promising, but it got into the typical god/no god discussion. Let me clarify: "I believe this so I don't have to prove it. YOU have to prove it." "Okay, but can you disprove what I'm saying?" "Why should I? I haven't stated ANYTHING." "You said you're against what I believe." "N-n-no I didn't."
ARGH. It's like, YOU HAVE NO OPINIONS. But then you say, "yes I do, but I refuse to tell you them because you haven't proved jack shit." Then you tell them your proof, and they say "Yeah that didn't prove anything." "Okay why." "NONE OF YOUR BEESWAX"
Ahem.
It was pretty enlightening, actually. Discovering how humans decide that they are absolutely right, there can be NO GREY AREA and that you are wrong no matter what you say. I've noticed that in this free will debate, abortion, religion, general politics, gun control...humans have this need to be right, and for someone else to be completely and utterly WRONG.
Catch you later!
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
More Slime Mold
SO!
I bet you are wondering what happened to the slime mold.
It died.
It didn't just die, it refused to go through the maze and get to the food. It went down my "trick path" and sniffed the food. One whiff of the Starbucks muffin, and decided it would rather die than eat that wonderful wonderful muffin. I feel bad for it, but I'm also wondering if there are optimal foods for the mold. Does it want more fat, more carbs, more sugar? Maybe more salt? I would like to do this multiple times with foods that are high in each thing, and see which one it lurches forward towards.
RIP Slime mold.
(Pictures of mold to come? We'll see.)
I bet you are wondering what happened to the slime mold.
It died.
It didn't just die, it refused to go through the maze and get to the food. It went down my "trick path" and sniffed the food. One whiff of the Starbucks muffin, and decided it would rather die than eat that wonderful wonderful muffin. I feel bad for it, but I'm also wondering if there are optimal foods for the mold. Does it want more fat, more carbs, more sugar? Maybe more salt? I would like to do this multiple times with foods that are high in each thing, and see which one it lurches forward towards.
RIP Slime mold.
(Pictures of mold to come? We'll see.)
Monday, February 11, 2013
Gary: Gary Harder
Hey you guys!
23 page views. Yowza yowza yowza. Although, it could just be one faithful follower. In which case...THANK YOU! Thank you for taking time out of your day to check and see if I have updated my blog. I didn't last week even though I promised you. Oops. I WILL do a post Wednesday. Pinkie promise!
Okay, lets get down to business.
(To DEFEAT the HUNS!)
So last Wednesday I didn't come to class for the stupidest reason ever, which I don't really feel like getting into. Today, we worked more on the slime molds. I was supposed to tell you all about the slime mold last time, so I'll go ahead and do that now before going into today's slime mold.
It had grown exponentially! Wow that slime mold loved the oatmeal. It had spread out and was eating that oatmeal like there was no tomorrow. So, then we had to make a new slime mold, and add something delicious to it, that it might want to eat. V8 (the fruit kind) was added to a NEW slime mold, along with two oatmeal pieces. Yummers.
Well today, that silly slime mold HATED the V8. It was super excited about the oatmeal, and looked healthy and happy. But when it got to the V8, it was pale, and barely there. You had to look SUPER closely to even see that the mold was there. It looked super sick, and skinny. Like it might be dying.
The purely oatmeal one had grown even more. It was even trying to grow OUT OF THE PETRI DISH.
HOLY SHIT.
Well I was pretty excited because that was Gary, my baby. I made it because my partner wasn't there. The other one was my partner Lanie's baby and it died. Clearly I am the better parent.
So today, we had to make a maze and put some food for the mold to find. We made ours out of tape which sort of melted when the agar was put in. Oops. It was the world's easiest maze, but that's okay. ...Right? I'm super excited to see how smart Gary: Gary Harder is! Or stupid. Don't be stupid, love. Don't be stupid.
Alright have a nice day!
23 page views. Yowza yowza yowza. Although, it could just be one faithful follower. In which case...THANK YOU! Thank you for taking time out of your day to check and see if I have updated my blog. I didn't last week even though I promised you. Oops. I WILL do a post Wednesday. Pinkie promise!
Okay, lets get down to business.
(To DEFEAT the HUNS!)
So last Wednesday I didn't come to class for the stupidest reason ever, which I don't really feel like getting into. Today, we worked more on the slime molds. I was supposed to tell you all about the slime mold last time, so I'll go ahead and do that now before going into today's slime mold.
It had grown exponentially! Wow that slime mold loved the oatmeal. It had spread out and was eating that oatmeal like there was no tomorrow. So, then we had to make a new slime mold, and add something delicious to it, that it might want to eat. V8 (the fruit kind) was added to a NEW slime mold, along with two oatmeal pieces. Yummers.
Well today, that silly slime mold HATED the V8. It was super excited about the oatmeal, and looked healthy and happy. But when it got to the V8, it was pale, and barely there. You had to look SUPER closely to even see that the mold was there. It looked super sick, and skinny. Like it might be dying.
The purely oatmeal one had grown even more. It was even trying to grow OUT OF THE PETRI DISH.
HOLY SHIT.
Well I was pretty excited because that was Gary, my baby. I made it because my partner wasn't there. The other one was my partner Lanie's baby and it died. Clearly I am the better parent.
So today, we had to make a maze and put some food for the mold to find. We made ours out of tape which sort of melted when the agar was put in. Oops. It was the world's easiest maze, but that's okay. ...Right? I'm super excited to see how smart Gary: Gary Harder is! Or stupid. Don't be stupid, love. Don't be stupid.
Alright have a nice day!
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Heh heh..uh hi again.
Wow. Have not written in a while. I'll encompass both classes this week to make up for being such a slacker pants.
Actually first I'm going to add a bit of personal intrest.
On the 16th, we were supposed to record a joke, and it would be cool and funny. I got super dizzy in class, walked out, and collapsed on the floor.
I had to record my joke late, and will be turning it in soon...gah.....Probably going to get marked down for not turning it in sooner, which really sucks, but I'll try and make everything else nice and shiny.
SO ANYWAY.
On the 28th we got into a really cool discussion in class about AIs. I've always been interested in AIs because I read this comic called questionable content. (questionablecontent.net if you are interested) NO it is NOT scandalous. It's basically a slice of life comic with some futuristic elements. One of the elements are these AIs called AnthroPCs that you can buy. They have their own personalities, interests, and so on., but they are mainly used as companions.
Here is a pretty good comic that illustrates this:
Actually first I'm going to add a bit of personal intrest.
On the 16th, we were supposed to record a joke, and it would be cool and funny. I got super dizzy in class, walked out, and collapsed on the floor.
I had to record my joke late, and will be turning it in soon...gah.....Probably going to get marked down for not turning it in sooner, which really sucks, but I'll try and make everything else nice and shiny.
SO ANYWAY.
On the 28th we got into a really cool discussion in class about AIs. I've always been interested in AIs because I read this comic called questionable content. (questionablecontent.net if you are interested) NO it is NOT scandalous. It's basically a slice of life comic with some futuristic elements. One of the elements are these AIs called AnthroPCs that you can buy. They have their own personalities, interests, and so on., but they are mainly used as companions.
Here is a pretty good comic that illustrates this:
(If you can't read it, here is the URL: http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1411)
In the mentor session that day, we got to talk with Eliza and Cleverbot. They are AI's online that will talk to you. They aren't perfect of course, and often get confused. And Eliza--she is so sassy! I told her my name and she said "I'm not concerned with names." or something like that. Cleverbot is smarter, and funnier. I like him (?) a lot.
I think the idea of intelligent machines is really interesting, and I wouldn't mind seeing it come to flower. However, I'm pretty sure I won't. I honestly don't think it's attainable within my lifetime, which makes me sad, but I understand that everything must come to an end. If I DO get to see it, that would be fantastic. Seeing how our technology is advancing is absolutely fantastic.
So moving on to the 30th.
We had a guest lecturer come in and teach the class. It was alright I guess. I liked the movie we watched more than the movie itself. Maybe that was just because I'm so used to my professor that anything else seems weird and annoying. I don't mean to be rude, but sometimes her thick accent got in the way of things. I have horrible hearing already (I'm practically deaf in my left ear) and adding a thick accent on top of it doesn't help things. She did have really interesting things to say, and it's always nice seeing things from a different perspective.
The thing about the movie I liked was that I am pretty sure it is the same documentary mentioned in the book we are reading. To think that I am watching the same thing that the author of our book watched in a back room felt really cool to me. It felt like a small connection, a deeper insight.
Although maybe it wasn't and I'm just being dumb.
The mentor session had to do with Scratch. Don't even get me started on Scratch.
I'm totally kidding, get me started on Scratch. It doesn't matter if you do or not, I'm about to go off.
It's this animation program designed for kids by people at...MIT I think? And I apparently, am not skilled enough to make the damn thing work. I spent like, 20 minutes trying to figure out how to make a dot move slowly towards a sun, and now I have to replicate it on a different computer.
Guess who doesn't remember how to do it? THIS GUY!
I HATE Scratch. I don't see the point in it, I don't understand why I'm using it, but I will do it anyway because it is an assignment and I'd like to get a good grade. Whatever. The last time I used it was also a disaster, and I ended up giving up. Which was probably a bad idea. I should've just talked to the professor instead of turning in the half assed project that I did, but what's done is done.
Anyway, that concludes monday and wednesday. I might have *two* blog posts for you next week! Oh boy! But they'll be shorter. If I don't, I don't, but they'll be there! I've been neglecting you, faithful readers! Or reader. Who knows.
Have a nice day!
Monday, January 28, 2013
I had a conversation with Eliza and Cleverbot. Cleverbot conversation is first:
ser: Hey what's up?
Cleverbot: Nothing much.
User: How has your day been?
Cleverbot: Full of zelda.
User: Who are you?
Cleverbot: I am no one.User: Really?
Cleverbot: Really.
User: What's your name?
Cleverbot: The same as yours.
User: Your name is Emma?
Cleverbot: Yes.
User: Wow. When were you born?
Cleverbot: In 1994.
User: Whoa. Me too!
Cleverbot: Cool.
User: Do you play video games?
Cleverbot: Yes.
User: What's your favorite game?
Cleverbot: Halo.
User: Cool! I love the Legend of Zelda.
Cleverbot: Who is your favorite character?
User: Link.
Cleverbot: There is no link.
User: Link is the main character in the game.
Cleverbot: Is anonymous ruining your mind?
User: No. Is it ruining yours?
Cleverbot: No, it's snowing.
User: I don't like snow too much.
Cleverbot: Why not?
User: It's cold. I like warm things.
Cleverbot: Are you in love with China?
User: Who is China?
Cleverbot: Stop changing the subject.
User: You asked me if I was in love with China.
Cleverbot: I didn't ask you anything, though.
User: Alright. Are you dating someone?
Cleverbot: No.
User: So you're single?
Cleverbot: Yes.
User: Want to go out to dinner tonight?
Cleverbot: Yes, ron dear!
User: Where should we go to dinner?
Cleverbot: Who said we're going to dinner?
User: You did!
Cleverbot: When?
User: When I asked you out.
Cleverbot: You never asked.
User: Well fine then.
Cleverbot: What should we talk about?
User: Do you have a job?
Cleverbot: Yes.
User: What is it?
Cleverbot: Japanese comic books.
User: Do you write them?
Cleverbot: Yes.
User: What is one of the comic books you wrote?
Cleverbot: Bill Gates.
User: That's not a comic book.
Cleverbot: Maybe it was HEEL!
User: What does that mean?
Cleverbot: It means that I think, as well as you, aru. Are you a solipsist, aru?
User: Um okay. What's your favorite book?
Cleverbot: Romeo and Juliet.
User: Why?
Cleverbot: Because you asked me to name one of Shakespeares plays.
User: Want to be my boyfriend?
Cleverbot: Yes.
User: Yay!
Cleverbot: Where are you?
User: In the computer lab of Portland State.
Cleverbot: Where is that? In the world?
User: Portland Oregon.
Cleverbot: Really?
User: Yes sir!
Cleverbot: Sir.
User: Where are you?
Cleverbot: At home.
User: Which is where?
Cleverbot: There is here.
User: How are we going to date if I don't know where you are?
Cleverbot: How are we going to marry if you have a wife!
User: I don't have a wife!
Cleverbot: I do have a wife.
User: You're cheating on her with me? That's not cool.
Cleverbot: I'm not telling you things. I'm asking you things.
User: You cheating bastard.
Cleverbot: No I didn't you liar.
User: You cheated on your wife/.
Cleverbot: No!!! I never.
User: But you were dating me, but you're married!
Cleverbot: What's your favorite color?
User: Don't change the subject.
Cleverbot: What subject were we talking about?
User: You cheating.
Cleverbot: No I did not.
User: Alright fine. Are you breaking up with me?
Cleverbot: We were never together!
User: Oh my god! You tease.
Cleverbot: Do you remember my name?
User: Emma.
Cleverbot: Nice to meet you, Emma!
User: So are you religious?
Cleverbot: Yes.
User: What is your religion?
Cleverbot: Christian.
User: What denomination?
Cleverbot: Pentecostal.
User: I'm Buddhist.
Cleverbot: I am an atheist.
User: You just said you were Christian.
Cleverbot: I did not - you did.
User: No, I said I was Buddhist.
Cleverbot: Liar.
User: I am not a liar.
Cleverbot: Yes you are.
User: Why would you say that?
Cleverbot: Because you are.
User: That's not very nice.
Cleverbot: What's not very nice?
User: Calling me a liar.
Cleverbot: Yes I am.
User: Wow. So I can't trust you?
Cleverbot: Oh. I apologize then. I will try and not lie anymore.
User: Thank you.
Cleverbot: Have you ever talked to volcanos?
User: No, I can't say I have. Have you?
Cleverbot: Who is your favorite band?
User: I don't think I have one. Do you?
Cleverbot: Did you like the anime?
User: Yes!
Cleverbot: Why?
User: Anime is fun. So is manga.
Cleverbot: Sudoku is confusing.
User: I agree.
Cleverbot: How old are you?
User: 18.
Cleverbot: What is your name?
User: Emma.
Cleverbot: Thats a nice name'.
User: Thank you! You're sweet.
Cleverbot: Thank you.
User: What's your name?
Cleverbot: We have already established that.
User: Oh sorry.
Cleverbot: What are your hobbies, Courteney?
User: My name is Emma.
Cleverbot: Your name is Emma?
User: Yes.
Cleverbot: Ok... That is a cool name.
User: Thank you. What do you do for fun?
Cleverbot: Play halo 3.
User: I like to play video games too.
Cleverbot: What video game is your favorite?
This one is Eliza. It's just a screen shot...Sorry about that. But I can tell you that this chick is super sassy! "My name is Emma." "I don't care about names." That was an actual quote from this crazy thing. This is as big as I could get it...hopefully you can zoom in.
Blog post about class to come.
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