Longest Day...

Wow. Today is still not over! It is going by so so slow and i been non stop since 6:30 this morning, and still have morning to do. I finally had time to get something to eat. 2 papers down one more left. Just felt like i will let it out.

BTW i have a pounding head-ach

The disgrace in the Math system

Summer has started! And i have a laundry list of chores, task and projects that need to be completed. Don't forget school. Yea school, in the summer fun-- fun. But seriously I like school and learning. I don't know what i would do with out it. School gives my life some structure, and that is one reason why I think grade school should be year round, but that is another story. This week i have been very upset with my math class I'm taking. First i feel that I'm good at math. Math is one subject that seems to separate students. I don't know why this subject sticks out in the school system, but starting in 5th grade i have always placed in an accelerated or advanced math classes. This is fine by me, i like the learning and the challenge of problem solving. The problem spawned in my senior year, when i could not fit in A.P. Calculus in my schedule without losing my Java and Physics class, so i did not take a math my senior year. That was a huge mistake

Now i go to a school that has an open door policy, meaning they don't look at your transcripts, and any once is accepted that can afford it. My first semester i took statistics because it was assigned to me by an adverser who i never saw. That was my second mistake, not having a clear plan of what classes i need to take. I got smart and realized what program i should work to and what classes are needed. Math is critical in the program i picked, going all the way to calculus three. But i had to start on some what the bottom with College Algebra. For the most part i learned most of same material in high school algebra two, but it was a nice review, and i did pick up some new techniques.

Since i have a lot more math ahead of me, i took a summer class to catch up. Pre-calculus is next. Once again i took honors pre-calculus my junior year in high school. Being a summer class i though this would be accelerated, and will provide some challenge but i was dead wrong. The class uses the same book i had to use for college algebra, and looking at the syllabus we go over the same materiel besides two chapters. The class is suppose to be two hours long, but we spend 30 minutes do homework, and we have been leaving a half an hour early. So that is almost half of the class missing. Last week, the teacher almost through me off the edge when the class was let out 45 minutes early even though their were more sections to cover.


This upsets me greatly because this class was not cheap and I'm not getting the challenge i was hoping for. Worst yet the teacher is slow and not so smart. The class goes page by page, the teacher reads the text book for verbatim as if we we were preschool students at story time. What also up sets me, the class ends early every day. I understand if we cover all the material that needs to be covered for the day, but no. i feel that the teacher does not even know the material that well, since she is using all the examples in the book. She is not coming up with her own problem, and solve the problem step by step like how book has it.

Hand dryers != save the world

I was in restroom last week and notice bellow the button, there was plate promoting the use of electric hot air hand dryers. The main point is that it is better for the environment, then paper towels since there is no trash and it is saving trees. I totally disagree, paper is allot more environmentally friendly. My main point is that tress are renewable resources that can be farmed and grown. While the electricity that powered the hot air dryer most likely comes from a coal burning power plant. It is similar out look on using ethanol as fuel in cars. It not that it produces less toxins when burned, but growing corn and other sugar plant materials that can be easily converted to alcohol, is good for the environment, because they lower the C02 in the atmosphere as they grow. Just something to think about....

Rant :: Proprietary Software as a Standard

This one really bothers me. I'm slowly transferring from proprietary software to GPL and open source software. There for I dropped Microsoft Office for Open Office. Open office has just as much power as it counterpart, and the best part it is free. I'm so use to Ctrl+S to save, that I save every thing in the Open Document standard. This became a problem when I tried to e-mail a professor a paper, and she could not open it. I new the reason, she was using Microsoft Word, that does not fully support or even recognize the odt extension. Now with Open office I do have the power to open and save doc files, but that is not the point. Why should I save it as a doc? I'm using the open stander for documents! it is what should be used for passing files around.

The problem I see, What if Microsoft Office decides to secure and lock down their file format and use some type of encryption. I bet it would only take a few day to break, but that is not the point. In a way it force people to buy software, so they can share and communicate with others.

Rant :: ATM Machines

Yes I'm still alive. School and work has occupied most of my free time. I want to post more, but just cant, as of yet.

But i have a rant this week. ATM machines, or more pacifically Webster ATM. The problem is not a big problem but a very simple one to fix. Ever time i go withdraw or deposit money, i insert my ATM card. I get prompted for my language. no big deal? I'm in a rush. And after selecting English for my past 100 transfers, it would understand that i only know English and that is what i prefer. In my mind that is not to hard to program and integrate. Stop and Shop self check out, if i don't use my card i get promoted for either English or Spanish, but as soon as a i swipe my card it chooses English 

Rant :: Writing

I fine it odd that over the years on English class I taken, ever teacher specified how to write. Yet at the same time in my later class, high school and higher, they empathized on examining the text of the author. The goal is to better understand the authors thoughts and opinions. More importantly understand why, he/she wrote the text as she did? Understanding his/her choice of language is important to get a complete understanding of the text.

The problem I run into is how teacher seem to demand how to write. since elementary school things went in a chronological order, starting with a introduction, then few body paragraph, and ending in a conclusion. In my mind writing has changed over the time. And it is obvious. I don't even think it is a matter of debate. Time and history has changed the writers style.

So while we study each writing style and under stand the history and reasoning behind it. Teacher seem keep the students writing technique static. In a compensation class I would expect to compose a piece of witting.  Much as what composer of a symphony would do. I don't think any one dictates to him on what and how he would compose is scores of music. I understand that before you be creative you need to know the basics, what each note sounds like, and how it work with others. I also know my writing skills are quite poor still, but it is something I noticed.

Rant: Bathrooms

Consider this a small rant. It came to me yesterday between classes, after pounding down a large ice coffee. I headed of to the mens room to releiave my self. During the processes, another person walked in and headed strait to the stall. Not to go in great detail, but i think any guy know that in the average piblic bathroom there are urinals and toliets in bath room stales. Each ast ther own purpose. Any ways this guy that walked in, went straight to stall, and in my mind missed used it. Fine this guy is pee shy. But i think it quite selfish in one matter. What if some one else had came in and realy had to go and had to use the stale? Is that guy SOL?

Rant :: Calliforinai Water Pump System

This is a small rant i have. It came about watching Modern Marvels on the history channel. They were talking about the Big Lift, a pump and pipe system in California to deliver water over the mountain rang, and down to the dry southern areas of California. What bothered me is how the guy answer the reason why this need to be done.  He  said that the northern parts of California gets to much water, while the southern part needs the water for the millions of people  living down there. What bothers me, that this would not be needed if was not so over populated in that area.

It is a very simple principle, if there is no water or food in the area don't live there.  Having a water supply where it is not attended, alters the environment and most likely hinders growth and normality. I would not be surprised in years to come with more water issues in the area.

Rant: smokers

I don't under stand why people still smoke, especially cigarettes. I just think it is stupid. I don't see any benefits, but that may be because i never smoked. It is not that cigarettes kill or shorten the smokers life span, but those who chose not to smoke and still have to deal with it. Cigars and pipes don't bother me as much, they still stink, but i think they still have some class.  Cigarettes used to have some class, and status symbol, but that was long ago and has died out. One the other hand cigars has more prestidge. Those who know cigars, become connoisseur, much like a fine wine connoisseur. That just not the case with cigarettes.

Also the littering cigarette smokers contribute too. They just flick them any where, with out a slightest hesitation. I was hit by one driving in my car, the other week. It did not leave a mark but gezz watch where you toss it next time, Or better yet jut don't smoke.

Wheres the rant?

I don't know if it is because i'm in the holiday spearit, or just felling a little under the weather. I just don't have any thing to rant about. Thats why there was no rant Thursday. The only possible thing i could think about was ranting again about how my adviser screwed me and my classes up. But i don't feel like talking about school again since I'm don't and on break.

I been spending my free time playing a demo. Black and Wight 2. It is a strategy game like Age of empires, but your God, and you can be a good or a bad good to your people. You might see a review of it coming up in the next few days. Also say tune to a little how to and my experience with Dell computers.

RANT:: Learn how to drive!

Fuck, you would think living in New England, people would know what snow is and how to drive in it. Today, school was canceled, so i decided to do a little x-mass shopping. I found my self stuck in traffic on the highways, since every one is doing 5 mph. That is not an exsasuration. I understand that it is important to drive safely in the snow, but it is the 21 century, cars can handle it. Only if the drivers new how to drive. For example my car is a front wheel drive with TCS (traction control system), with ABS. It also has a mode, that will start in 3rd gear, to keep the rpm low, to prevent tire spin. Even if the tires start getting loose, TCS will kick in and will start to throttle down my throttle, so the tires wont spin. It is almost imposable to get out of control in this car and it is 8 year old car. I don't wont to sound overly confident, because that can cause accidents too.

Another problem i have with drivers, they don't understand how the high way system works. What is the leftest most lane on the high way called? If you answer "Fast Lane" your wrong. It is called the passing lane. Since it called passing lane, it implies that it is only used for passing. So if your not passing get your ass out of it. I don't care if your doing a 105 mph in the passing lane, because i will be doing 110, and want to get around you.

Lastly is the speed limit bother me. 55 on a high way! Dam my peddle bike can go faster then that. What bothers me the most is how the speed limit is scaled it makes no seance. For example: Residential streets are 25mph; No problem with that since you need to be aware of kids playing, and it is not a way to travel. Then you have main streets and routes that are about 35. This OK, not too bad. If it is a multi lane it should be higher. Next are back roads, they are at 45 mph. This puzzles me since they are often narrow, single lane winedy roads. I would like to go faster but compared to a more safe means of travailing on route, it makes no seance. Now what blows my mind is high way speeds. These are multi lane, and designed to be driven at high speeds. They are often straight, but even in a corner you can do 100mph with out pulling a full G.
So why highways designed to move alot of traffic, fastly are limited to 55mph, yet you can do 45 on a back road? This is because the 1973 oil crises. where they caped speed limits to save gas. They figure out that 55mph is the most effecent speed, that maybe true at the time, but engines have dramatically improved over the 30 years. First the cars are more aerodynamic, and the engines are better tuned. A quick example of this, my 1999 Saab 9-5 has a 3.0 litter turbo charged engine that outputs 200 horse power. Today's Saab 9-5 only comes in a 2.3 litter turbo, and it outputs 260Hp. It makes more power in a small engine and consumes less gas, It is better all around. So lets change those speed limits to 75 or higher.

RANT:: Silence I Say: SILENCE!

Not to pick on the same person again, but today was hilarious. Too bad i could not laugh out loud. Just would not be appropriate. I hope you can recall the older returning to school that chews like a cow student, if not read this: http://nblracer.blogspot.com/2007/11/first-rant-of-week.html

So you already know she can be very loud but today was even better. In class we had to write a paper that is weighted heavily, about an article on the importance of silence. Right next to me i have the loudest chewer. Chewing is not the only thing she does, she readers her paper out loud. After every other sentence she writes, she goes "hmm that does not sound right" and scribbles something and starts reading the paper from the top, OUT LOUD.

Oh she scribbles with a pencil, not that pencils don't have there place for example math, but in a quite English class a dull pencil makes a lot of noise. Have you ever notice that?

So if that was not disturbing enough, it gets better. Class was coming to an end and people were handing their papers in. She leans over to me with a remark of " and this was about silence " Like the whole class besides her miss understood the article. But i don't think she understands that she was reading out loud when ever one else was quite. Ahhh that bother me so much. Who miss understood it now?

What bothers me more is her age, not that she an older adult returning to school, but naturally i have to show respect to her, since I'm a stand up guy. You know if she was one of my peers i would poke them and make some kind of sarcastic joke to let them know that they're reading out loud and it was bothering me. But that cant happen with her, she most likely take it the wrong way.

I'm happy to say there are only two more weeks of school left, so the noise is almost over.
On another note, the class that i just picked, (http://nblracer.blogspot.com/2007/12/picking-classes.html) and thought i was done with; Turns out i cant transfer funds between the two schools with that class, so tomorrow i have to go though the class list and come up with another. Fun , Fun.

First Rant of The Week!

Like I said, I want to keep some thing regular on this blog. So you can expect a post very similar to this one. No, not the same words, the nature and tone will be the same though. This idea came from one of my favorite podcast Maximum PC www.maximumpc.com/articles/Podcast, if you like it; buy the magazine, since it’s by far the best pc mag on the self. Anyways, they have a section with a guy who goes off in a rant, on funny topics. I don't know if mine will be as funny, as much as personal therapy for my self.

So here it goes......

So in of my class, I have one of those older people returning to school kind of thing. That is not my problem, I have no problem with those who want to continue there education, good for them I say. The problem is she chews' her gum so obnoxiously; Not like your basic cow chewer but a cow chewer with 1/2 gallon of spit and saliva in her mouth. Causing very disgusting sound that has to be audible across the room, but I the fortunate one sit right next to her.

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