Philonoist.net

“Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends. We’re so glad you could attend, come inside, come inside”.

Yes, I know it’s on your blog, L, but it’s fitting for me right now, and besides, you didn’t think of it first. Emerson, Lake and Palmer did. I’m not stealing from you, I’m stealing from them. Got back to Olin yesterday after getting up ridiculously early. Proceeded to go to my meeting, unpack, fall asleep around 10, and - you guessed it - get up ridiculously early today. I’m now a good 3+ hours off of the standard Olin Student schedule. Sigh.

One of the things about being metablogged into Planet Olin I’ve noticed is that I’ve become slightly less willing to just post randomness/craziness and things other people might take offence to. I also feel like I have to state where I’m coming from a little more, as well as be more concise. I’m not trying to judge other peoples blogging habits, but I’ve never really been a fan of the “livejournal” way of posting (one line, usually something like “how could you do this to me??” current mood: depressed) if, for no other reason, because you’re left in the dark about pretty much everything. Who. What. Why. Essentially, every person that came into contact with the LJ blogger that day, week, month, or eon is at risk. More information, please! And another thing: minor spelling mistakes and awkward punctuation are a little annoying, true, but not the end of the world. I know I have some mistakes here, so I can’t have a double standard.

In the end though, I’m glad we have OP. It’s a pretty good at-a-glance tool, provided people keep blogging.

Filed by Adam College at 7:20 am under Life
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Every time I come home, it feels like I have to turn around and leave again. Which is, partly, true. I’m in for two weeks usually, a month at the longest, and then I fly back. Usually on an early AM flight, getting into Boston on my 6th cup of coffee when most people are still on their first. Do I want to go back? Without question. Olin is where I’m happiest and most productive.

But, sometimes, I just want to stay here. There’s so much here that needs my attention. So much I just don’t get done while I’m here. I wish I could come home more during the semester, but it’s just not possible, being thirteen states away and all.

I guess coming home this time was worse, for reasons I won’t go into here. And even though it’s something that doesn’t effect me in the short term, I feel helpless about it.

“So much time, so little to do. Strike that. Reverse it.”

Filed by Adam College at 3:27 pm under Life
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Partial Text of the Iraqi Constitution

Article (14): Iraqis are equal before the law without discrimination because of gender, ethnicity, nationality, origin, color, religion, sect, belief, opinion or social or economic status.

Wow. Pretty amazing that it’s explicitly stated in a “democracy” that’s been going strong for about, oh, 6 months, and not stated in our constitution, which has had about 228 years of practice.

You know, we should probably fix that. We could learn a thing or two from these Iraqi folk.

Tagged with: News

Filed by Adam College at 1:45 pm under Everything Else
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Since I’m here, I might as well talk about Google Talk as well.

I’m not really sure I completely understand it. I’ve got it running, I need people to talk to, but it just looks like anytime I try to add a friend who I think already has it, it sends them an invite.

Also, can anyone tell me what it really is? I’m supposed to use this instead of AIM? In addition to AIM? I think it’s interesting, but not worth the 5 emails, 2 forum posts, and 3 IMs I’ve received today.

BBC Link

Filed by Adam College at 11:16 am under Web
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Not sure if I’ll have a chance to check this out before I head back to Olin next Tuesday, but the amount of free publicity the Museum of Science and Industry received over this exhibition is amazing.

Essentially, the state anatomical board wanted control over these bodies since they were being used for educational display. MOSI and the exhibitor felt that since it wasn’t a medical display, (i.e. for med schools) the Anatomical Board couldn’t exert control. As is the great Florida style, a legal battle erupted, between the Attorney General of the State and the Anatomical Board versus the Museum and the exhibitor. In the end, MOSI played the “If we open before you have a chance to say anything about it, you can’t close us” card, and the exhibition opened two days early. And, of course, because people either thought the exhibition would close prematurely, or just the ridiculous number of times it was mentioned in the newspaper, people came out in force.

Ah well, even if I don’t see it now, there’s always Christmas.

CNN Link

Filed by Adam College at 11:11 am under Life
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Ah, Olin, you’re a pretty kick-ass place.

Even the Princeton Review thinks so.

Meh. There are some things I disagree with. Like our #2 in food (since I personally think the dining hall missed the mark last year. Does this mean food at a non top 20 school is served by persons wearing radioactive hazard suits?) but overall, a pretty good picture of the school.

Filed by Adam College at 9:01 pm under Olin
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With Bodhi Day right around the corner, there’s no better way to show you care than to buy something off this list of DVDs.

Shaun of the Dead
The Third Man
Anchorman
Old School
Batman Begins (when it comes out)
The Rock
The Royal Tennenbaums
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

The list will grow. And if you see one of these for cheap, get it, and I’ll pay you back. Or return it secretly behind your back. Either/or.

Filed by Adam College at 11:35 pm under Life
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Filed by Adam College at 10:44 pm under Life
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is a Progressive Politics and Ideas Club.

I’m not joking. While we may be a left-leaning school in the most liberal of states, we’re certainly not doing our part to ensure progessive ideas are heard and acted upon on our campus. So, in all seriousness, why hasn’t Democrats of Olin College started?

Yes, part of it is preaching to the choir. And I’m not really afraid that Olin will ever lose its left-leaning position. But, in reality, just how left-leaning are we? I’m sure anyone who is interested in politics at Olin can pick out most of the Republicans. That certainly doesn’t mean everyone left is a Democrat. And just because someone chose not to vote for Bush doesn’t mean they *liked* voting for Kerry.

As the Center for American Progress notes, “While the media perceives U.S. campuses as bastions of liberalism, the right wing has spent 30 years organizing to gain the upper hand. Conservative groups spend over $35 million every year pushing their agenda on campuses through speaking programs, funding for student publications, and leadership training, plus tens of millions more for academic programs.”

The fight back begins now.

Filed by Adam College at 7:05 pm under Olin
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I went to my local Blockbuster Video yesterday to rent a couple of movies. Certainly seems like they renovated the store, and when I went to pay, I realized where the money for the renovation had come from.

“$9.19 please.”

$9.19! For two movies? Part of the absurdity is the Florida state sales tax (6%) and my counties tax on top of that (another 1%). But still, the vast majority of the increase in rental fees to $4.29. That’s ridiculous. Netflix charges $17.99 a month for 3-at-a-time rentals. If, say, I want to watch four movies in a month or more, I’m better off going with Netflix.

But here’s the problem with Netflix or Blockbuster Online: If I want a movie, say, right now, I’m pretty much screwed. I either eat the $4.29 (which is, yes, still cheaper than the movie theater) or I ship back a movie today, wait 1-2 days for processing, and then wait another day for them to ship it out to me. We’re talking 4-5 days minimum there. (Blockbuster Online does allow for free rentals from Blockbuster brick stores, but only two a month. Use them wisely, I say.)

I guess $4.29 isn’t terrible for a movie rental. I suppose it’s on par with Pay Per View rentals. But, looking deeper, I rented one semi-new-release (Shaun of the Dead) and one older movie (To Kill a Mockingbird). They were both $4.29. I remember when Blockbuster Classics (a low-cost pricing scheme for older movies) were a $1.99 each. Sigh. I guess because they were both on DVD, Blockbuster Classics don’t apply. Then again, the whole freakin’ store is DVD, so I guess Blockbuster Classics is a thing of the past.

Still the fact that I used to get five movies for $20 and now only get four does tick me off. Paying outrageous prices to fuel a brand name and/or company motif is absurd.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go to Starbucks and get a venti.

Filed by Adam College at 10:14 am under Life
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