Monday, December 22, 2014

Updates and Stuff

I know that I've been slacking on posts this week. I apologize for that. I'm taking most of this week off for holidays and things, so I'm going to post again NEXT MONDAY with the full plan for next year. HUZZAH!

Monday, December 15, 2014

On Plans for the New Year

So I've made a few decisions for the new year with regards to this blog.  Hopefully they'll work!  Right now they're just in the "MAYBE THIS IS A THING I COULD POSSIBLY DO?" category.
Firstly, I'm going to try and do three posts per week.  For a whole year.  Though the whole Blog Twice A Week isn't going so well this year, that might just be due to my scheduling.  Or my laziness.  Or both.  Either way, keep an eye out for POSSIBLE NEW POSTING SCHEDULE????
Secondly, I've been thinking about doing some sort of long-term, overarching theme with the blog.  Less of a "HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED IN MY LIFE" blog and more of a "HERE ARE COOL ANALYTICAL THINGS" blog.  There are a few major things I can do with this; one of the things I was thinking was a "read along with me" series.  In order to get through the books that I want to read, the first books on the list would be A Game of Thrones.
This is all in the works, though. I'm going to figure things out and let you all know.

Friday, December 12, 2014

I'm Done With Finals!

Firstly, I apologize that this post is so late, and that I didn't post on Monday. This was finals week, so I was studying and doing other things of that nature. I'm glad to be home, to be honest. The food is better, the running opportunities are better, and I have a better chance of getting a good night's sleep. It's great! I'm excited!
Three weeks! AT HOME! HUZZAH!

I will be celebrating (and sleeping and eating well) over the weekend. We will resume regularly scheduled programming on Monday.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Things I Learned This Semester

So today was the last day of classes before the end of the semester, so it's time for the Semester Roundup, where I write about what I learned this semester and stuff.

ACADEMICS

  1. In Shakespeare class, I learned that there are a bunch of different ways to insult people. One of those ways is to address someone as "thou," as opposed to "you." (I already knew this, but it's worth repeating). I also learned my new favorite oath: "OUT, VILE JELLY!" (from King Lear. Someone's eyes got poked out).
  2. In Greek Historiography, I learned that Herodotus is allegedly the Father of History, but he was far more mythologically inclined than Thucydides. Thucydides is far more fact-based and wrote history in a manner that is closer to what we see today. Also, Xenophon wrote the Anabasis, or the March Up Country, which is about Cyrus trying to do some conquering, but gets killed 1/3 of the way through. The rest of it is about how people try and not get killed by residents of places where the army doesn't reside. Also, that Shakespeare drew some inspiration from Plutarch.
  3. In Uses of the Bible in Literature, I learned that pretty much everything is a reference to either the Bible or Shakespeare. And sometimes Shakespeare alludes to the Bible. Also, Satan was never explicitly stated as being the Fallen Angel Who Was Mean To Everyone. He was referred to as The Accuser in the book of Job. He took over Judas's brain in the book of Luke and John. He is never described in detail, however, so the whole "Satan is Evil McEvil, the fallen red demon with a pointy tail and horns" description isn't entirely Biblical.
  4. In Journalism, I learned how a proper news story (PUT HUMAN ELEMENTS FIRST), and how to write a personality profile. I learned that, as a blogger, my professor thinks I am narcissistic. I learned that there are two kinds of ledes (the lede is the opening paragraph or so): the hard ledes get the WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY out of the way immediately; the soft ledes tell a bit of a story about a person affected by the thing before you get to the news about the thing.

OTHER THINGS
  1. It's possible for a college student to write a novel in 30 days.
  2. That student may or may not doom themselves to carpal tunnel syndrome later in life.
  3. back up your files. You never know when your computer is going to crash on you.
  4. Sometimes, it's important to take a break and play with puppies.
  5. It's hard to let people go - from relationships, from organizations, from life. That doesn't mean you can't talk to them again. That doesn't mean you have to be on horrendous terms with them. You still need to be civil, and it is possible to be so.
  6. It's important to have someone to talk to, but it's also important to act. If you need to go on a tangent, do it. But when the tangent is over and your friend offers a solution, do your best to take it.
  7. Talking to authorities can be intimidating. What could wind up being more intimidating is the consequences - is it worth freaking out now to have a terrible resume/ GPA/ whatever later?
  8. Losing someone in a romantic capacity could lead to the romantic partner you never realized you liked.
  9. DILIGENCE, PEOPLE.

Monday, December 1, 2014

On Surprising Spare Time

For five years, December 1st has felt weird. It's one of the only days guaranteed to feel a bit... too open. WHAT DO I DO WITH MY TIME?
I'll leave you with that until I figure that out.