ShorterPearson's Xanga

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 00:22:10 GMT

News item: Biological Basis For Creativity Linked To Mental Illness.

Why does this make so freakin' much sense?

Monday, July 30, 2007

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 01:18:35 GMT

This place is turning out to be my holding cell for things I plan on commenting on later.

First, one of my favorite memes from my former life online, the Christianity Index. And I actually know who composed that, too, because that links to the original Usenet post containing it.

And second, my first ever video upload to YouTube, on behalf of one of my favorite artists EVER (and not just because he sent me a copy of his CD before he released it), Tim McAllister. I'm really hyped over this one.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 12:11:57 GMT

I need you, my geeky friends, to hold me accountable: One of these days, I need to explain why PZ Myers is just as much of an uneducated moron as the people he rages about.

It's unbridled arrogance like this that make me want to march over and join the Discovery Institute, damage to my academic career be damned.

Monday, June 04, 2007

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 12:14:22 GMT

Why is it so tempting to link to this article?

Donald McCabe says he has the research to prove it: Business students probably cheat the most.

"Students in business already have a bottom-line mentality," said McCabe, founder of the Center for Academy Integrity and a professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey. " 'I have to get the job done, and how I get it done is less important.' That kind of thinking."

In a survey of 32 schools, 74 percent of business undergraduates admitted to having engaged in one or more of 13 behaviors listed in a cheating index, compared with a mean of 68 percent from all other students, he said. Business students also topped the list in graduate school, he said.

Second on the list of cheaters, he said, are engineering students. Both business and engineering are problem-based.

I mean, it can't be PURE schadenfreude, because it mentions engineering students. (Remember: Rose-Hulman is all science and engineering, all the time, and engineering physics is still near and dear to my heart.) But I will can't pretend that my feelings towards business majors are all pure and altruistic, either; not if I want to be honest.

Actually, it's not really the majors themselves, I think; it's the brand of student that is simply ranging from apathetic to bitterly cynical about their education. That's the student who really doesn't care about learning (and honestly, many of those students already know the material in the course like the back of their hand); they want the piece of paper that certifies that they have learned, so they can get the paycheck that comes with it.

For some reason, though, business and engineering attract this breed of student more than any other major.

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Sat, 07 Apr 2007 18:49:51 GMT

In order to avoid shutting down this thing completely with music-stuff: You Don't Know Jack!

I've gotten addicted to the game lately, because I've always cherished good buzzer games and this is as close as you can get online. Why I didn't go for the DVD/computer game while I was in grad school, I have no idea. (Oh wait, yeah I do: I was BROKE.)

If you are of the conservative/Bush persuasion, fair warning: Don't take it too seriously. They don't mean for you to.

Friday, March 30, 2007

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 21:19:47 GMT

I really wonder whether music postings aren't my excuse on this thing to avoid shutting it down entirely and going to one blog. But I do need someplace to stick random, not completely for public consumption thoughts.

So: the Friday afternoon, typing up stuff and jabbering about biochem with Amber Compton playlist!

Straylight Run - Extestentialism On Prom Night
Atmosphere - Trying To Find A Balance
A Fine Frenzy - Rangers
Madonna - Cherish
The Frames DC - Revelate
David Gray - Say Hello Wave Goodbye
The Statler Brothers - Flowers On The Wall
The Ataris - A Soundtrack For This Rainy Morning
Counting Crows - Catapult
Nickel Creek - Smoothie Song
Coheed & Cambria - Welcome Home
Cartel - Runaway
Rachael Yamagata - Known For Years
Over The Rhine - How Does It Feel (To Be On My Mind)
Lou Reed - Busload Of Faith
Peter Gabriel - Signal To Noise
Sixpence None The Richer - Melody Of You
Further Seems Forever - Wearing Thin
Joe Jackson - Baby Stick Around
The Cure - Prayers For Rain
Trevor Thompson - Pick Up The Pieces
Thomas Dolby featuring Eddi Reader - Cruel
Phish - Simple
Neville Brothers - Witness
The Innocence Mission - I Remember Me
Leftover Crack - Life Causes Cancer
Ingrid Michaelson - Breakable
Renee Stahl - Music 101
The Lightning Seeds - Pure
Collective Soul - Precious Declaration
Electronic - Getting Away With It
Mr. Mister - Don't Slow Down
Tyrone Wells - Need
Evanescence - Lithium
Neil Finn - Addicted
The Posies - Friendship of the Future
Finger Eleven - Thousand Mile Wish

The Pearson LAUNCHcast station is a wonderfully eclectic and indie little thing, with just enough popular stuff on there to keep/grab your attention every now and again. Listen sometime, if you'd like.

Friday, March 02, 2007

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 22:40:55 GMT

Just in case
I will leave my bags packed
so I can run away
I cannot face these feelings

I don't have a lot of prospects
that can give some kind of peace
There is nothing left to cling to
that can bring me sweet release
I have no fear of drowning
It's the breathing that's taking all this work

Do you know what I mean
when I say I don't want to be alone?

Empty spaces
with shadows hit by streetlights
Warnings signs and weight
of tired conversations

In the absence of a shoulder
In the abcess of a thief
On the brink of this destruction
On the eve of bittersweet
Now all the demons look like prophets
and I'm living out every word that they speak

Do you know what I mean
when I say I don't want to be alone?
What I mean
when I say I don't want to be alone?
What I mean
when I say I don't want to be alone?
Alone?
Alone?
I don't want to be alone...

I have no fear of drowning
It's the breathing that's taking all this work

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 22:27:50 GMT

My pastor will embed YouTubed videos to bring out some deep theological point.

I, on the other hand, embed YouTubed videos because the song and the sentiment are embedded in my skull and TOTALLY REFUSE TO GO AWAY NOT ONE TIME EVER.

Not only were we all teenage dirtbags once, some of us still are.

Monday, January 08, 2007

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 02:00:31 GMT

Your meme of the night is courtesy of Chad Orzel. See if you can figure it out.

I Am A Pilgrim
I Am Always The One Who Calls
I Am An Emotional Man
I Am Fred Astaire
I Am Missing
I Am No Good
I Am Not The Only Cowboy
I Am The Very Model Of A Cartoon Individual

I'm A Loser
I'm Alright
I'm An Adult Now
I'm Ashamed Of Myself
I'm Burning
I'm Looking Through You
I'm Mad
I'm Movin' On
I'm Not Ashamed
I'm Not Ready
I'm Not The One
I'm Not There
I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today
I'm OK, You're OK
I'm So Sick
I'm Sorry
I'm Still Here
I'm With You

And then, just for good measure: Who Am I?

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Tue, 26 Dec 2006 03:52:20 GMT

I just started to type a post, decided it Said Too Much, and dumped it into private. Blast. It probably needs a wider airing than just me.

Let's suffice it to say: I took damage this semester, and I've been in a brain-dead stupor for the past two weeks, but I'm coming out of it, and Christmas Day helped a ton. My family rocks hard-core.

Pretty much everybody who reads these thoughts, I miss a great deal. I'll see you and talk to you soon.

...and let me be among the last to wish you Merry Christmas.