Why are there so many problems with the education system? First off, grades are not a fair representation of knowledge, as often times teachers will give extra credit, giving certain students better grades than might accurately represent their knowledge of a subject. On the flip side, some students might have a phenomenal knowledge of a subject, but test poorly, thus making it seem they do not comprehend the subject. Another problem is that, in college, often times the classes are taught by TAs rather than the actual teacher, and some of these TAs do not have a good grasp of the subject. For example, I have a TA for chemistry who thinks that nonmetals are more likely to lose electrons and that they are the most nonreactive elements. He also does not know how to do basic math, which is a problem when he's teaching CHEMISTRY!
But maybe I just have the one bad TA out there. What do you think? Leave a comment!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
My Opinion On Other People's Taste In Music
As I search for music on youtube, I notice that all the comments have one of two forms. "OMG this is like the best band like ever! like ohmahgah! all other bands are crap lol," or "This music is crap. How can anyone listen to this and not start bleeding from their ears?" Why the hate guys? Why the elitist attitude? Can't we all just get along? The kind of music someone listens to doesn't make them a better or worse person than you. Granted, people are often defined by the kind of music they listen to, thus leading certain people to associate with other people with the same taste in music and avoiding those with different tastes, but this does not make them any better or worse than those with different tastes.
This is also not to say that everyone should listen to every type of music, but don't tell someone that they can't listen to a certain type of music because you don't like it. Personally, I would never listen to country music EVER, but I don't care if other people listen to it. I don't even care if you listen to Justin Bieber, in fact I encourage it because it leads to awesome remixes like this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvmIzxO0-n4
If you didn't click that, you should go back and listen to it. I think you'll enjoy it, but if you don't that's fine. THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT!!!
So the next time you see someone being a dick about how their music is so much better than everyone else's, tell him what I've told you just now. Maybe they'll understand, and then they could pass on this message of musical tolerance.
But enough about that, what are your favorite bands/types of music? Leave a comment, and don't forget to rate!
This is also not to say that everyone should listen to every type of music, but don't tell someone that they can't listen to a certain type of music because you don't like it. Personally, I would never listen to country music EVER, but I don't care if other people listen to it. I don't even care if you listen to Justin Bieber, in fact I encourage it because it leads to awesome remixes like this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvmIzxO0-n4
If you didn't click that, you should go back and listen to it. I think you'll enjoy it, but if you don't that's fine. THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT!!!
So the next time you see someone being a dick about how their music is so much better than everyone else's, tell him what I've told you just now. Maybe they'll understand, and then they could pass on this message of musical tolerance.
But enough about that, what are your favorite bands/types of music? Leave a comment, and don't forget to rate!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Addressing The Apparent Lack Of Foxes In The Foxhole
It appears that, besides Ash, our mascot, there are very few foxes in the foxhole. I will now address this problem, and hopefully solve it.
And now we have foxes! Thank you photographers of the internet!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Weight Loss
I personally have been struggling with my weight and an overall poor self image for a while. I used to weigh about 256 lbs. (116.12 Kg) and it got to the point where I was very depressed about it. I decided to nip my problem in the bud and started researching weight loss online. Since then I have lost about 70 lbs. (31.75 Kg) thanks to different diet tips I found and online trainers. I hope that if there is anyone out there who wants to lose weight, it is possible. With hard work and the right guidance you can lose the weight.
Now this is only if you WANT to lose the extra weight. You should be happy in your skin, no matter how big or small you may be. There are people who are in great shape, but have poor self image and it makes them almost unbearable to be around. If you are happy as you are, don't be pressured into things, especially not weight loss, as it requires full commitment, often meaning you will have to change an entire aspect of your life. I myself have become about 80% vegetarian (I don't mind eating meat, but rarely do so). So if you do plan to lose some weight, check out the links at the bottom of the post. They helped me get through some of the hurdles on my journey, which I still have yet to entirely finish.
If you are curious as to specific tips that I might have, leave a comment! I promise to get back to you.
Links:
http://www.bodyrock.tv/ - A great online trainer! Explains the workouts well and also has weekly diet challenges (and she's definitely not hard on the eyes). These workouts can get difficult if you try to completely replicate them right off the bat, so be careful and take it slow.
http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/negative-calorie-foods.html - A list of good foods to eat (it says that they are negative calorie foods, but there really are no completely negative calorie foods). These foods are great for filling you up without killing your caloric intake.
Now this is only if you WANT to lose the extra weight. You should be happy in your skin, no matter how big or small you may be. There are people who are in great shape, but have poor self image and it makes them almost unbearable to be around. If you are happy as you are, don't be pressured into things, especially not weight loss, as it requires full commitment, often meaning you will have to change an entire aspect of your life. I myself have become about 80% vegetarian (I don't mind eating meat, but rarely do so). So if you do plan to lose some weight, check out the links at the bottom of the post. They helped me get through some of the hurdles on my journey, which I still have yet to entirely finish.
If you are curious as to specific tips that I might have, leave a comment! I promise to get back to you.
Links:
http://www.bodyrock.tv/ - A great online trainer! Explains the workouts well and also has weekly diet challenges (and she's definitely not hard on the eyes). These workouts can get difficult if you try to completely replicate them right off the bat, so be careful and take it slow.
http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/negative-calorie-foods.html - A list of good foods to eat (it says that they are negative calorie foods, but there really are no completely negative calorie foods). These foods are great for filling you up without killing your caloric intake.
Please Follow My Friend As Well
If you guys enjoy laughing then you are going to LOVE this guy. He's a good friend of mine so please give him the same kind of support you've been giving me (that is if you aren't already following him)
http://www.ohaiderr.blogspot.com/
If you know of any other good blogs, leave a comment! Spread the love around!
http://www.ohaiderr.blogspot.com/
If you know of any other good blogs, leave a comment! Spread the love around!
Just so everyone's clear.
So in case you didn't see, at the bottom of each post are two check boxes, one for "Foxy" and one for "Fauxy." If you like something you see, rate it "Foxy," if you don't, rate it, "Fauxy." This helps me gauge what content is prefered, i.e. you want more video game news rather than world news.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Inception: Here Come The Arguments *SPOILERS*
By now I hope you've seen "Inception," because, in my opinion, it's a great movie. If you haven't you may want to skip over this article. For those of you who have seen it, it's time to talk.
The most argued aspect of the film is the ending. Is Cobb back to reality? (Oh, there goes gravity?) Is he in limbo? Did the top fall down or is it still spinning? What was the point of the movie? I'll answer these questions, relax.
It seems that right before the scene cuts out, the top begins to make more noise. This is due to the top beginning to tilt, as when a top starts to fall down, the surface area of the top that is in contact with the surface it is spinning on increases. If you wish to test this spin a top (or a coin) and pay close attention to how it sounds and how it looks as it gets closer and closer to falling down. Of course if it doesn't fall down you should wait for a train. By this logic, Cobb is out of Limbo.
Another reason I believe Cobb is back in reality, is that after he gets off the plane, only the people he knows respond to him, whereas, in the dreams, the entire subconscious would respond, either by looking or attacking. Another aspect of this is the fact that when Cobb and Mal are in limbo together, there are no people, only them, whereas, after the dreams there are people everywhere. Now this brings up the argument, "Couldn't Cobb create people to give himself a sense of reality?" If he could do this, why would he bother creating the airport scenario? Why wouldn't he just allow himself to be with his family right away, and therefore wouldn't he create another version of Mal?
But these arguments take away from the real point of the end of the film. The scene cutting out represents how Cobb no longer cares whether or not he lives in reality. By confronting Mal he achieved his catharsis and felt redeemed, ridding himself of his guilt. This is Christopher Nolan's point. To cleanse ourselves of our past misdeeds, or missteps, we must take responsibility and confront those whom we've wronged. Only then can we enjoy that cathartic feeling of relief.
But this is just my opinion. What do you think? Leave a comment. And please refrain from comments such as, "you're wrong." Please elaborate. Discussions are nice.
The most argued aspect of the film is the ending. Is Cobb back to reality? (Oh, there goes gravity?) Is he in limbo? Did the top fall down or is it still spinning? What was the point of the movie? I'll answer these questions, relax.
It seems that right before the scene cuts out, the top begins to make more noise. This is due to the top beginning to tilt, as when a top starts to fall down, the surface area of the top that is in contact with the surface it is spinning on increases. If you wish to test this spin a top (or a coin) and pay close attention to how it sounds and how it looks as it gets closer and closer to falling down. Of course if it doesn't fall down you should wait for a train. By this logic, Cobb is out of Limbo.
Another reason I believe Cobb is back in reality, is that after he gets off the plane, only the people he knows respond to him, whereas, in the dreams, the entire subconscious would respond, either by looking or attacking. Another aspect of this is the fact that when Cobb and Mal are in limbo together, there are no people, only them, whereas, after the dreams there are people everywhere. Now this brings up the argument, "Couldn't Cobb create people to give himself a sense of reality?" If he could do this, why would he bother creating the airport scenario? Why wouldn't he just allow himself to be with his family right away, and therefore wouldn't he create another version of Mal?
But these arguments take away from the real point of the end of the film. The scene cutting out represents how Cobb no longer cares whether or not he lives in reality. By confronting Mal he achieved his catharsis and felt redeemed, ridding himself of his guilt. This is Christopher Nolan's point. To cleanse ourselves of our past misdeeds, or missteps, we must take responsibility and confront those whom we've wronged. Only then can we enjoy that cathartic feeling of relief.
But this is just my opinion. What do you think? Leave a comment. And please refrain from comments such as, "you're wrong." Please elaborate. Discussions are nice.
Craigslist Ends Adult Services Section. Sleazy People Must Return To the Streets
There comes an end to all things. One of the most recent of these "things" being the Adult Services section of the popular site Craigslist. Craigslist, a site used to list different items, services, etc. for sale – similar to the classified section in a newspaper – pulled its Adult Services section down after coming under fire from a group of state attorneys. The attorneys were arguing that the site could be used as an, "intermediary" for prostitution.
This argument is extremely flawed for one particularly apparent reason. The internet itself is an intermediary to every crime imaginable. If Craigslist were akin to prostitution, then ebay could easily be likened to a fence (one who buys and sells stolen goods) for the tech savvy kleptomaniacs out there, but we aren't threatening ebay now are we? Similarly, Facebook, the popular social networking site, can be likened to stalking, as people can spend the day looking at pictures and videos of their "target." These stalkers could also find out what their "target" likes, where they will be, etc.
By those attorneys' opinions, the entire internet has to be shut down. Well I think that our series of tubes should remain open.
What do you think? Leave a comment.
Links:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Craigslist-strikes-adult-apf-1613379133.html?x=0
http://www.craigslist.org/
This argument is extremely flawed for one particularly apparent reason. The internet itself is an intermediary to every crime imaginable. If Craigslist were akin to prostitution, then ebay could easily be likened to a fence (one who buys and sells stolen goods) for the tech savvy kleptomaniacs out there, but we aren't threatening ebay now are we? Similarly, Facebook, the popular social networking site, can be likened to stalking, as people can spend the day looking at pictures and videos of their "target." These stalkers could also find out what their "target" likes, where they will be, etc.
By those attorneys' opinions, the entire internet has to be shut down. Well I think that our series of tubes should remain open.
What do you think? Leave a comment.
Links:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Craigslist-strikes-adult-apf-1613379133.html?x=0
http://www.craigslist.org/
"Duke Nukem Forever" finally coming out. Bigfoot, Loch Ness Monster now officially plausible.
As the name implies, it took FOREVER for this game to be developed. Duke Nukem, an FPS (First Person Shooter) video game series, was quite popular in the 90s, and anticipation for the next installment was high after "Duke Nukem 3D" (1996). Unfortunately, 3D Realms – the studio previously developing the game – ran into a number of different issues, ranging from not liking the engine being used to build the game, to lawsuits with Take-Two, another game developer.
As a result of all the conflict over the past 12 years (that's right, this game was first being developed during the Clinton administration and it STILL hasn't come out yet) 3D Realms announced on September 3 that they are shifting development to Gearbox ("Brothers in Arms" series, "Borderlands"), a company so much more on the ball that they have a playable demo at PAX (Penny Arcade Expo). Duke Nukem Forever is slated to come out 2011.
So what do you think? Will this game be worth the 12 year wait? Leave a comment and while you're at it, list your favorite Duke Nukem quote. Mine has got to be, "It's time to kick ass and chew bubble gum, and I'm all out of gum!"
Links:
http://www.dukenukem.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Nukem_3D
http://www.gearboxsoftware.com/
http://www.paxsite.com/paxprime/index.php
As a result of all the conflict over the past 12 years (that's right, this game was first being developed during the Clinton administration and it STILL hasn't come out yet) 3D Realms announced on September 3 that they are shifting development to Gearbox ("Brothers in Arms" series, "Borderlands"), a company so much more on the ball that they have a playable demo at PAX (Penny Arcade Expo). Duke Nukem Forever is slated to come out 2011.
So what do you think? Will this game be worth the 12 year wait? Leave a comment and while you're at it, list your favorite Duke Nukem quote. Mine has got to be, "It's time to kick ass and chew bubble gum, and I'm all out of gum!"
Links:
http://www.dukenukem.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Nukem_3D
http://www.gearboxsoftware.com/
http://www.paxsite.com/paxprime/index.php
Welcome to the Foxhole
Hello Internet!
Welcome to the Foxhole! Please, have a look around, click some stuff, enjoy yourself. I know I will.
Now you're probably wondering what this blog will be about (you can pretend you aren't, but I know you are!). The Foxhole is going to cover any topic that tickles my fancy, and there are quite a variety of things that can do that. So come on in! The fox is waiting!
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