:: Running from the Thought Police ::

:: Friday, October 31, 2003 ::

Livin' in the Fridge

There's a container of chicken salad sitting in the room's fridge and it's been there, oh, about a week and a half. I now highly doubt that it's safe to eat anymore.

:: The Squire 2:45 AM :: email this post :: ::
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I Like Characters Who Know Their Own Importance

"Cut off in mid-sentence. I might have been...I was saying something important." -The Fourth Doctor

:: The Squire 10:08 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Seeing The Seasons Change From Space

Very cool photo showing the leaves changing in northern Wisconsin and the UP (via David Appell)

:: The Squire 8:56 PM :: email this post :: ::
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It's A Shame

When your own Treasury Secritary says you've done a shitty job (though not in so many words).

:: The Squire 1:02 PM :: email this post :: ::
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The Joys of Learning

Brad Delong's Thirteen-Year-Old comments on the complexity of economics and its causal factors.

"You mean that back before civilization economics was much simpler?" asks the Ten-Year-Old.

"Yes," says the Thirteen-Year-Old. "Back then, Principles of Economics books were really simple. They said: '(1) Find a rock. (2) Throw the rock to kill some small furry creature. (3) Eat the small furry creature.' That was it."

:: The Squire 3:49 AM :: email this post :: ::
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Be Still, My Sweet

For the first time in my life, I have held a crying woman. I couldn't do anything to make her feel better, only hold her close to me as she sobbed. I felt a new and powerful mix of powerlessness, concern, pity, and sorrow as I held her. Sadly, it also looks like this may be repeated a few times before it gets better.

:: The Squire 2:13 AM :: email this post :: ::
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It's a Pumpkin-Eat-Pumpkin Kinda World

Who knew vegetables could be cannibals? Link thanks to Dave Barry.

:: The Squire 3:47 AM :: email this post :: ::
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I'm Such A Nerd

I'm listening to a techno remix of the Tetris theme.

:: The Squire 12:35 AM :: email this post :: ::
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Really Annoying

My computer won't cut and paste at all. Maybe a reboot will help....

:: The Squire 9:12 PM :: email this post :: ::
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As Good an Ex-President as He was a President

The Clenis™ strikes again, this time making AIDS drugs cheaper for the developing world.

:: The Squire 9:10 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Does It Ever End?

I can't wait until I can go to chem lab and not leave with me and all my stuff smelling like methyl benzoate.

:: The Squire 8:04 PM :: email this post :: ::
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It's Cold

Sitting outside, 47 degrees out, for four hours starting at midnight with only my own personal heater to keep me warm and company, is still really cold.

:: The Squire 4:28 AM :: email this post :: ::
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The Outrage!

Textbooks cost half as much overseas.

Just like prescription drugs, textbooks cost far less overseas than they do in the United States. The publishing industry defends its pricing policies, saying that foreign sales would be impossible if book prices were not pegged to local market conditions.

But many Americans do not see it that way. The National Association of College Stores has written to all the leading publishers asking them to end a practice they see as an unfair to American students.

"We think it's frightening, and it's wrong, that the same American textbooks our stores buy here for $100 can be shipped in from some other country for $50," said Laura Nakoneczny, a spokeswoman for the association. "It represents price-gouging of the American public generally and college students in particular."

I guess I'll have to hit the net when I get my book list for next semester...

:: The Squire 7:27 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Great Out-Of-Context Quote

"Dick sores - now that's something I can use!" - My Roommate

:: The Squire 7:24 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Problems that Don't Go Away

A month ago, housing screwed up my billing and overcharged me $2000 for no reason. I called them on it and they said they gave me a $2000 credit and would call it even. So I get my student accounts bill today and - lo and behold! - there's no credit.

Zip. Zilch. Nada. Nothing. Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $2000 credit.

Because of this screw up, the university is now charging me INTEREST on money I don't owe them. As soon as I go eat lunch, heads will roll over at Clark Hall.

Now all I have left is to decide whether I wish to display my cranial trophies on a pike or on a platter.

:: The Squire 1:05 PM :: email this post :: ::
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From the Deep Recesses of My Mind

I remember reading somewhere that you can judge the greatness of a country by how it treats its veterans of war. If this story is true, then we're a pretty craptacular country.

:: The Squire 1:04 AM :: email this post :: ::
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The One Problem With My GF

Is that studying can turn into "studying" real fast. Not that I mind...

:: The Squire 1:18 AM :: email this post :: ::
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There's Only One Bad Thing About My Computer At School

I can't see all the cool fonts that everyone uses on IM because I don't have any of them on my machine.

:: The Squire 12:43 AM :: email this post :: ::
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Only Campstaff Will Get This One

One of Dave Barry's blog readers brings an entirely new meaning to KYBO candy.

:: The Squire 12:34 AM :: email this post :: ::
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You Have The Right To Remain Dead

Any brainwaves, agonal breaths, or myocardial fibrilations will be held against you.

:: The Squire 4:42 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Admission of, Well, Not Guilt....

The past week blogging's been somewhat lighter than normal because, well, I've found something else to do with my free time. No, not a drinking habit, but worse - I'm seeing someone! As before, no names will be given, but she's a junior in An-Sci and she's also Pre-Vet. As much as I've looked forward to going home to watch my sister's play (she's assistant director for the fall play) I'm now kinda regretting that I have to leave campus.

:: The Squire 5:50 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Statistical Goodness

Enron explained in terms of Roulette, one of Statistic's favorite chance games.

:: The Squire 11:19 AM :: email this post :: ::
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Groan

Sorry for not posting. Things have been, hmmm, busy, and next week I might actually post something about it. In more recent news, I have just become convinced of the complete benevolence of my Poli Sci 100 professor.

:: The Squire 11:05 AM :: email this post :: ::
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So True

"I belong to no organized party. I am a Democrat." -Will Rodgers

:: The Squire 11:40 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Zing!

Dave Barry takes a crack at Cubs fans everywhere.

:: The Squire 6:21 PM :: email this post :: ::
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I Wonder

What "Rocket Man" sounds like in Chinese.

:: The Squire 11:31 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Wow, Actual Thought in the DI

Adam Zmick has a good Anti-Chief editorial in today's DI.

:: The Squire 11:06 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Tsk, Tsk, Tsk

Somebody didn't do a hasty search.

Link thanks to Dave Barry.

:: The Squire 9:38 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Winning and Losing Some

I got a 49/50 on my Pol S 100 test (from over a week ago, grumble). However, I also got a 72/100 on my Chem 234 exam, which I'm not too happy about.

:: The Squire 11:08 AM :: email this post :: ::
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Pespective Is All That Matters

It doesn't take much to amuse a cat.

:: The Squire 11:40 PM :: email this post :: ::
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For His Next Trick, He'll Run To His Mommy and Cry

Apparently Dr. Kathuria didn't like the Tribune's recent coverage of him, so he's sueing the bejebus out of everyone. ArchPundit describes how this isn't the smartest move.

:: The Squire 8:19 PM :: email this post :: ::
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More Self-Delusional Americans

Emma has a wonderful post up about the myth of the status-driven family. While I agree that this normally doesn't reflect reality for most of the country, one must remember that most of the media in America is aimed at the Upper-Middle class. Coming from SW DuPage County as I do, I can attest that of those in the Upper-Middle class, everything is about status for them. That the rest of the world isn't like them is part of the culture-shock I've had to deal with since leaving DuPage and coming here to college.

:: The Squire 2:32 PM :: email this post :: ::
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If We Make Enough Noise, Maybe the SCLM Will Listen

David Neiwert gives the rundown of the seriousness of the Plame incident and the Bush adminsitrations complete failure to act in the public interest on it.

:: The Squire 2:05 PM :: email this post :: ::
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It's Sad

When I own a source that a journal article cites and I'm actually proud of it.

:: The Squire 2:17 AM :: email this post :: ::
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I've Looked So Hard, Yet THIS Is What I Find???

I've finally found another UIUC blogger. My peer is female (good), a cubs fan (bad), and a mouthpiece for craploads of conservative positions (very, very bad). I'm undecided on whether or not to grace her with a permanent link.

:: The Squire 5:01 PM :: email this post :: ::
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As You May Have Noticed

While I don't trumpet it from the tops of the mountains hills nearest folds in the ground, I am decidedly anti-chief. This mainly stems from my involvement in the Order of the Arrow and my resultant level of cultural understanding. As such, I've decided to add a link to Retire the Chief. While I am not a member, I do agree with some of their arguements. The chief is outdated, the time has come for him to be retired.

:: The Squire 4:57 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Cleaning Occasionally Has Its Merits

Like the two boxes of granola bars that I'd completely forgotten about.

:: The Squire 4:30 PM :: email this post :: ::
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This is the Best They Could Come Up With?

The Chicago Tribune reports that while Chirinjeev Kathuria, the proposed Republican candidate for Fitzgerald's soon-to-be-vacant seat, looks good on paper, that's where his political attractiveness ends.

Under close scrutiny, however, many of Kathuria's claims don't hold up. Instead of an eye for business development, he has a gift for self-promotion and a record of corporate flops and non-starters.

"Chirinjeev has Richard Nixon disease," said Ray Everngam, a former executive at one of Kathuria's failed business ventures, who filed a complaint seeking back wages. "He's his own worst enemy. He will not let himself succeed. ... He has a vested interest in failure."

[snip]

Yet much of that seems to have escaped the notice of leading Republicans and many leading media outlets, who have uncritically embraced his tales of achievement and innovation.

Of course they're willing to overlook it - they did it for Dubya...

:: The Squire 4:23 PM :: email this post :: ::
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First Amendment Trumps All

Or at least that's how I thought it was supposed to work. Apparently a muslim girl was suspended from her Oklahoma school for wearing a head-scarf. I'm waiting for the big, nasty lawsuit on this one.

:: The Squire 4:08 PM :: email this post :: ::
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It's a Small World

Dr. Drew of Loveline (which somehow isn't in the article) talks about Rush's drug addiction.

:: The Squire 4:03 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Interior Decorating

We re-arranged the room today. While I lost my unquestioned domination of the rear half of the room, by taking apart and putting back together the room's network connection, we now have Internet again!

:: The Squire 2:53 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Just Think, People!

Don't lie to the police, it's not a good idea. Ever. They really don't like it when you lie to them.

:: The Squire 5:48 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Round and Round and Round We Go

Talking in circles is quite dizzying.

:: The Squire 4:19 AM :: email this post :: ::
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Roasted, Toasted, and Burnt to a Crisp

I thought that I'd made it through my first Hell Week unscathed. Then, this afternoon, in Organic Chem Lab, with about half an hour left to go, I spilled my mixtrure of dichloromethane and methyl benzoate - the latter being the chemical I was trying to collect. Over half my sample ends up on the lab bench, which is so contaminated there's no hope of ever retrieving any liquid from it. So now I have to do the whole thing again on Wednesday at 2pm. At least I have no tests next week.

:: The Squire 12:02 AM :: email this post :: ::
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Consider Others Sometime

I'm sorry if the roomate's in the room, but if you and your significant other need to have a serious discussion, you can find a better place for it than the main stairway of the dorm.

:: The Squire 12:35 AM :: email this post :: ::
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Pointing Out The Obvious

Kos points out to some of his more thickskulled readers the potential of the political liberal blogoshpere.

:: The Squire 9:15 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Moo

Kos has his first Cattle Call for the past few weeks, with some good comments on how things stand. For those unfamiliar with the concept, Cattle Call is Kos' ranking of the 2004 Dem Presidential Primary candidates and how electable they are in comparison to each other, so it's worth checking out.

:: The Squire 12:11 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Theory and Reality

Every few weeks a new weekend schedule comes out for the Eucharistic Ministers at St. John's - and I know 'cos I am one. Thing is, as soon as the schedule comes out the emails start flying for the large number of scheduling conflicts, the end result being that the schedule is no basis for predicting who will actually EME at a given weekend mass.

:: The Squire 11:39 AM :: email this post :: ::
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And There Was Much Rejoicing

Dave Appell noticed our recent good fortune in the Nobel department, though he didn't note our recent Crafoord prize. Oh well, one can't ask for everything.

On a related note, my roommate told me that they've got Loomis Lab all decorated for the occasion, which I probably won't have time to see as I have exams and reports up to wazoo.

:: The Squire 11:02 AM :: email this post :: ::
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The Great Thing About AIM

Is that you can realize how stupid something is before you send it.

:: The Squire 2:07 AM :: email this post :: ::
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One Can Be Hopeful

Now that the University has brought two more Nobels home, maybe the state'll consider throwing more money our way.

:: The Squire 1:08 AM :: email this post :: ::
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Way To Go UIUC!

Two nobel prizes in one year: one for Medicine awarded to Prof. Lauterbur and one for Physics awarded to Prof. Leggett.

:: The Squire 12:47 AM :: email this post :: ::
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It's Cool And All, But....

It's almost as if I've read half of Michael Moore's new book just from all the exerpts littered around the liberal web.

:: The Squire 5:03 AM :: email this post :: ::
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Begrudging Praise

As much as I hate Chemistry, I have to admit that the entire deparment does a very good job of making sure that tests get handed back in timely fashion, even all free-response tests. My OChem test, which was entirely free response, was back in my hands four days after I took it. I'm told that I'm going to have to wait 10 days for my PoliSci test to get handed back to me, even though it was over half multiple choice and the free response that was there is much easier to grade.

:: The Squire 2:05 AM :: email this post :: ::
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Dumb 'Publicans

After spending months making shitloads of noise about how the Texas senate dems were derelicting their duties, the Tex republicans still haven't come up with a map and tomorrow's the deadline for a new one. So, what the hell were they doing with all that time?

:: The Squire 10:56 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Yeah, Yeah, the Cubs Won.....

But as we haven't had any reports of Hell freezing over yet, I"m not too worried.

:: The Squire 12:51 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Such Choices

I wanna eat, but I also want to (and need to) go to bed. And since I wash the sheets less often than I probably should, combining the two would be less than hygenic. Decisions, decisions....

:: The Squire 2:33 AM :: email this post :: ::
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How Low Can One Get?

No, I'm not talking national politics here. This is low on a scale that only hurting community-based volunteerism can be low. Someone stole trees from an Eagle Scout Service Project. Knowing myself the amount of work that goes into such a project, whoever did this to a guy trying to become one of my brother Eagles is without honor or respectability.

:: The Squire 12:53 AM :: email this post :: ::
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Someone Should Be Shot

I know I say that often, but this one is quite heinous. In MCB 251 they've set up the class so that we have an exam and a quiz within a week of each other. It's not as if we cover substantially more material between the two either: the exam has one more lab involved, that's it. In studying for the two I'm also re-discovering how sucky the lab manual for the course is, but that's a subject for another post.

UPDATE: I've been looking at the exam from last year, and it appears that this year they've gone over significantly less stuff before the exam. As such, they're gonna end up being more detail-specific, not like they weren't already...

:: The Squire 5:45 PM :: email this post :: ::
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The Hammer Falls

This is going to be one hell of a week. I have exams in both my lab classes, two labs due per lab class, a quiz in bio lab discussion (redundant, I know, we've already complained), a quiz in bio lecture discussion, six sources due for CHLTH 206, and I have to find time to bullshit four pages on a poll for Poli Sci, on which I have only a summary and no access to data. I'll be happy if I escape alive.

:: The Squire 5:42 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Not Good

Our military is overextended. Not Good

The Iraqi theatre is experiencing a higher casualty rate than Vietnam. Not Good

I turn Twenty next summer. Not Good

Our involvement in Iraq looks to last at least that long. Really Not Good

I'm really starting to dislike the Selective Service System card sitting in my pocket right now.

:: The Squire 5:28 PM :: email this post :: ::
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What Once Was Grey Has Now Turned Black

Oh well, I'll get over it in a bit. At least I know I'm single now.

:: The Squire 6:56 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Lemme Get This Straight

N. Korea has nukes and they're crazy enough bastards to use them. We, instead of neutralizing that threat, instead go ahead and invade Iraq, find jack shit, and overextend our military while N. Korea is thought to have missles that can hit the Pacific Northwest.

Why are we ruled by these people?

:: The Squire 2:39 AM :: email this post :: ::
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This is Pretty Sad

My exercize/raingear pants, which were always too big at the waist for me, now fit perfectly. My gut and I are gonna have to have a little chat....

:: The Squire 6:12 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Reflections of Watergate

Dr. Josh relays to us this White House press conference transcript, showing the reporters themselves asking the all important question. The whole thing's great - it's nice to see the Press Corps actually doing their damn jobs, but this snippet's the best part.

QUESTION: No, no, that an undercover official of the United States government had been outed. When did the President of the United States know that? When was he informed of that? And what was his reaction? Where's the outrage, I think, was the question that was asked.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the outrage has always been made known. If someone leaks classified information -- are you -- when did --

QUESTION: When did the President know it, and what did he do about it?

And the weird thing is, after a bit of blustering, Scott McClellan actually said he'd look into it.

:: The Squire 4:08 PM :: email this post :: ::
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Good Ol' Days of TV

Gimme a glass of water. No, no, no, you can't do that on television. Why? I don't know.

:: The Squire 3:35 AM :: email this post :: ::
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As Vulgar As It Is

The music from South Park: The Movie is pretty damn good.

:: The Squire 2:43 AM :: email this post :: ::
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And You Know It'll Happen, Too

The thermo-cups Dining Services gave us this year to take drinks out of the cafe with are "mercury insulated." Yeah, that's right, Mercury. Element, metal, liquid at room temperature, makes really accurate thermometers and barometers, really messes you up if you ingest it. That Mercury. I'm just waiting for some Business or Leisure Studies major moron to bust one of these admittedly high-quality thermo cups open, do themselves some (admittedly hard to recognize) major physiological and mental damage, and force the university to take the things away.

:: The Squire 12:29 AM :: email this post :: ::
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