the week in review

Golden already mentioned that my sister visited this week. I'll just add that it was nice having her visit, but that I wish I would have had a little more freedom in my schedule. She will stop by for a few hours on Sunday as well, so that should be enjoyable.

NJ came down with a cold on Monday. Golden and I both started showing symptoms Wednesday morning. I really wish there was a good way to keep from getting what NJ gets without avoiding him completely. It is starting to look like we will be getting every bug that hampers kids his age for the next few years.

I completed the two classes I am taking this semester on Monday and Tuesday. I had a harder time committing to this semester than usual, partially because I knew I would have a three-month break after the classes were complete and partially because I did not feel like the summer ended yet.

We trimmed NJ's hair again tonight. That is not really noteworthy other than to say that he did significantly worse this time than last time. He was completely inconsolable for probably fifteen minutes after the haircut was complete. I think the trimmers startled him. I know he didn't trust me for a half hour to an hour after I gave him the cut.

I think that is it. I'll get back to enjoying my first weekend without homework again.

not your father's movie

More like your father's father's father's father's movie.

I was looking around YouTube last night and came across something of historical significance. Without context, the video is not very interesting at all, but there was a time when people paid money to see it run. This is because the short, starting with a bit called Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory, is considered the first work of cinema ever produced. The Lumière brothers created this film and presented it to audiences in 1895.



What gives me pause is that almost all of the people in this film were old enough to be my grandparents' grandparents. The baby who shows up midway through the flick would be close to the oldest person alive if he or she were still alive today. Looking at this, for me, is like a peek into a completely different and alien world.

I have said this all before, but not from this specific perspective. A mere hundred years can make all the difference in the world.

well plate

Two-and-a-half years ago Golden and I welcomed a new member into our family. No, this was before NJ. About that long ago I got my car at Carmax.

Ever since purchasing the car, any time I walk around the front of the car I get a little irritated that I am a driving billboard for Carmax, as the front license plate holder contains a brightly colored cardboard Carmax plate. The problem is that I don't have anything good to replace it with.

There is not much I care about enough to advertise it on my car but care little enough about that I don't mind people associating that thing with my bad driving. As an example, I had a Jesus fish on my last car, but I regretted putting it on many times due to minor imperfections in my driving habits. I would rather people generically curse out Ford drivers than curse out God when I cut them off.

I considered sports team license plates, but I am still debating if that is how I would want my car to be identified. I have considered getting a fake vanity plate made as well, but for the money I would want it to have some meaning. I have not thought of a good vanity message that meets all of the specifications of what I am looking for just yet. So, until I make up my mind, I'll just have to continue to advertise for Carmax.

cram session cut short

As I have griped to just about everyone who would hear me this week, I have a final on Monday and one on Tuesday. They both cover quite a bit of material, so I have been studying more than usual the last few nights. This is odd, because I usually just cram for tests the day or two before they occur.

Since I normally cram, I am currently presented with a scenario that I am not used to. It is midnight, and I am considering going to bed rather than studying more. I usually do my best studying at night because there are fewer distractions and I think better at night, but tonight I am so tired it may not be worth trying. In the past I have just toughed it out because I am worthless trying to study in the morning. I think I might give it a shot this time, though.

I must be getting old, because sleep has rarely won out in the past.

the great pumpkin

"There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin."- Linus (It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown)

I hate conflict. I also love conflict. It just depends on what type of conflict it is.

I don't necessarily dislike discussing traditionally taboo topics like politics, religion, or even the Great Pumpkin. I don't mind arguing with someone or someone arguing with me, either. I can actually get quite a kick out of people disagreeing with me under specific circumstances. What I hate the most about conflicts is that there is often very little circumspection.

To be circumspect is to approach an issue cautiously and with an interest in all of the implications of the issue. So if someone wants to argue with me about my views about anything from the political to the spiritual, the first thing I want to know is if that person has truly attempted to understand an opposing viewpoint or at least thought through the strengths and weaknesses of his or her position. I even feel queasy when someone agrees with me on a serious issue without thinking through the implications of that position.

I know that I sometimes fail on this front as well, so I am a little hypocritical to judge on circumspection, but it is a good way for me to know whether discussing a contentious topic is likely to result in mutual understanding or frustrated shouting.

This is probably an example of the neurotic behavior that I am currently trying to address. Right now probably the easiest way to get me worked up is to just state a strong opinion that uses stereotypes or that belittles rather than addresses any opposing rationale. After that, I will almost definitely not be my normal, calm Bruce Banner self.

thud

Since our office was redesigned this summer, I have had a rude awakening just about every time I try to go through the door from our office to the main hallway. The door is very sensitive and it must be opened in a very deliberate motion. If I push on the door wrong when I am trying to open it the door sticks and there is a distinguishable thud as I run shoulder or face first into the door.

I used to get real frustrated at this, but now I just act irritated. My office is near this door, so my minor frustration is more than offset by the entertainment I get from the sound of other people running face first into the door. At least one person decided that kicking the door in retaliation was a good idea.

I believe that someone actually tried to address this, but apparently WD-40 is not strong enough to keep the door from sticking. For now, I'll just have to deal with getting an occasional chuckle every time I hear a thud.

the bathroom comfort scale

I have been thinking lately about the fact that I don't like to follow people into public bathrooms. Sometimes I have to, but I am a little uncomfortable doing this. I have also given a lot of thought to how standard certain bathroom discomforts are. As such, I have devised a grading scale. It is specific to the men's room because that is the one I use. For the record, my comfort level is no higher than four.

• Comfort Level 1: Unwilling to use the public restroom at all if anyone else is in it.
• Comfort Level 2: Will use urinal when in need.
• Comfort Level 3: Will use a stall if no one else is in the restroom.
• Comfort Level 4: Will use a trough urinal when other people are in the restroom.
• Comfort Level 5: Will use a stall even if there are other people in the bathroom, but will take a stall toward the back of the bathroom.
• Comfort Level 6: Not at all uncomfortable about using a trough urinal.
• Comfort Level 7: Will proudly march to an open stall with newspaper even when all other stalls are used.
• Comfort Level 8: Will strike up conversations with the person in the next stall.

I am sure that I missed some steps in my scale and I know that it does not take women's bathrooms into account. Still, it works for my purposes.