25 January 2008
Discheveled Plant
I see that disheveled is the Word of the Day for today. "Disheveled Plant" was one of the top names I was considering for the name of my website (and, by extension, this blog.) What can I say? I have a lot of very disheveled plants... In the end, I choose "Oakwar" because it's one word, easy to spell and unique enough to be easily distinguished from other sites.
22 January 2008
It Pays to Be Helpful, Apparently...
My campus has few options of food vendors for people with the smallest meal plan possible. (What can I say? I'm cheap, especially when I'm being taken advantage of...) The Country Store: a gas-station-like grocery selection with high-end deli prices. The Food Zoo: the campus cafeteria named by the students which lives up to its name, in every way. And that's it. Needless to say, I try to mix it up as the Food Zoo is cheaper, but I find myself frequenting the Country Store more often.
Today, being no exception, I bought my breakfast at the Country Store (incidentally, the cafeteria doesn't open for breakfast) with the intention of returning in the afternoon to restock my dorm fridge. After class however (around 2pm), I returned to find the store locked and barred. I was confused and currious, as this was out of the ordinary and the store had been open this morning. So, I proceeded to see if I could find some sort of note or sign indicating what had happened. I passed a couple of people on the way in who had obviously been heading for the same destination in the pursuit of food, including one girl who I would encounter later. A small, hastily printed sign, which I assume had once been taped to the door via a single piece of scotch-tape, had now been kicked into a corner of the floor with several wet foot prints on it and was the only acknowledgement that something was not quite right. Apparently a pipe had burst quite unexpectedly and the store was closed until further notice. I should have got my food stores this morning, silly me.
Walking back to the dorm, I passed the cafeteria. I decided, rather spur of the moment, that perhaps I would give them the benefit of the doubt. Not much was waiting for me back in the dorm and I was starting to feel a little hungry. At the door, I saw the girl from before. She was inquiring about the carry out option of the cafeteria and I indicated that I wanted that option too. I turned to her, smiled and said,
"Busted pipes, eh?" She smiled and nodded as the kid behind the desk tried to explain to us what we had already found out. She turned to him and said as she pulled out two five-dollar bills,
"So, I don't have a meal plan..." The kid looked up and said,
"Uh, well, without a meal plan it's about $8 and with a meal plan it's $3.25..." I shook my head and stepped forward,
"No, that's crazy. Here, put two meals on my card." I handed him my card and turned to her, "There's nothing much out right now, totally not worth $8." She looked surprised and grateful.
"Thank you. Um, here." And she handed me one of the fives she had been holding.
In the end, she was saved from paying $3 more and I received an extra $2 for my trouble. Of course, we're probably both being ripped off by the not-even-worth-$3.25-when-it's-not-regular-meal-time selection, but when you're hungry... Conclusion: It pays to be helpful, apparently...
Today, being no exception, I bought my breakfast at the Country Store (incidentally, the cafeteria doesn't open for breakfast) with the intention of returning in the afternoon to restock my dorm fridge. After class however (around 2pm), I returned to find the store locked and barred. I was confused and currious, as this was out of the ordinary and the store had been open this morning. So, I proceeded to see if I could find some sort of note or sign indicating what had happened. I passed a couple of people on the way in who had obviously been heading for the same destination in the pursuit of food, including one girl who I would encounter later. A small, hastily printed sign, which I assume had once been taped to the door via a single piece of scotch-tape, had now been kicked into a corner of the floor with several wet foot prints on it and was the only acknowledgement that something was not quite right. Apparently a pipe had burst quite unexpectedly and the store was closed until further notice. I should have got my food stores this morning, silly me.
Walking back to the dorm, I passed the cafeteria. I decided, rather spur of the moment, that perhaps I would give them the benefit of the doubt. Not much was waiting for me back in the dorm and I was starting to feel a little hungry. At the door, I saw the girl from before. She was inquiring about the carry out option of the cafeteria and I indicated that I wanted that option too. I turned to her, smiled and said,
"Busted pipes, eh?" She smiled and nodded as the kid behind the desk tried to explain to us what we had already found out. She turned to him and said as she pulled out two five-dollar bills,
"So, I don't have a meal plan..." The kid looked up and said,
"Uh, well, without a meal plan it's about $8 and with a meal plan it's $3.25..." I shook my head and stepped forward,
"No, that's crazy. Here, put two meals on my card." I handed him my card and turned to her, "There's nothing much out right now, totally not worth $8." She looked surprised and grateful.
"Thank you. Um, here." And she handed me one of the fives she had been holding.
In the end, she was saved from paying $3 more and I received an extra $2 for my trouble. Of course, we're probably both being ripped off by the not-even-worth-$3.25-when-it's-not-regular-meal-time selection, but when you're hungry... Conclusion: It pays to be helpful, apparently...
How Different History Could Have Been and Still Might Be...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Mediterranean_Event
The Eastern Mediterranean Event was a high-energy aerial explosion over the Mediterranean Sea, similar to a small atamic bomb. Nuclear war could have erupted between India and Pakistan in 2002 if the asteroid had come a few hours later and exploded over the disputed Kashmir territory instead of the Eastern Mediterranean (the same latitude). How fragile our world is...
More recently, are we headed for another cold war?
http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/discussion.aspx?fldIdTopic=1165&fldIdMsg=1251
The Eastern Mediterranean Event was a high-energy aerial explosion over the Mediterranean Sea, similar to a small atamic bomb. Nuclear war could have erupted between India and Pakistan in 2002 if the asteroid had come a few hours later and exploded over the disputed Kashmir territory instead of the Eastern Mediterranean (the same latitude). How fragile our world is...
More recently, are we headed for another cold war?
http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/discussion.aspx?fldIdTopic=1165&fldIdMsg=1251
20 January 2008
Tibet at the Dawn of 2008
I have read arguments (also voiced by certain ethnic groups residing in America, I might add) against Americans decrying human rights violations in Tibet. They cite the previous and detrimental policy the United States once held toward Native Americans and the argument snidely concludes that "Time makes everything okay, right?" I respond by asking if I kill my brother, does that justify and give you the right to kill yours? Aren't both actions wrong, no matter who commits them or when?
We can all learn from our mistakes. And even though the United States is still struggling to find an amicable resolution to a situation created by an older generation from a different time, they are still making the attempt. That doesn't mean other travesties should go overlooked. It shouldn't be seen as because the country involved is a Buddhist people, who can be portrayed as a worthy cause; nor that the oppressor is China, gearing up for the massive publicity to be garnered by the summer Olympics of 2008. People question religious persecution and the debasement of innocents, no matter where it happens (even in America by other Americans.) History has taught that these are mistakes. You would begrudge others for wanting to share this discovery?
14 January 2008
Nostalgia: Europe 2004
This was the very first iMovie I ever created. When we first got back from the trip and I sat down to review the media, I heard each of these songs playing in my head. Not much has changed for my method of chosing what song to use, but now I generally only use one song per video. My style tendencies have changed as well.
09 January 2008
The Eyes of a Powerful Man and My Cringing Inner Self
What makes us different? A bold question that leads to so many more, on so many different levels. What is your drive to succeed? Few have power, while several are employed to clean the streets. There will always be someone more important or powerful than you.
Everyone has influence in varying degrees. Wield it wisely, right? And watch closely how it affects you. For you are alone in your decisions and responsibility, your situation is your own.
You have no time. That makes us all the same. No matter how much we achieve, time makes us all insignificant in the end. Nothing is permanent. Given enough time, the faces of those with power will always change. What is your purpose? In the end, it is not a question of willingness but a question of how far you will go to achieve that purpose, what you will sacrifice and the consequences you will face.
It is your burden. Please try to avoid hypocrisy.
Everyone has influence in varying degrees. Wield it wisely, right? And watch closely how it affects you. For you are alone in your decisions and responsibility, your situation is your own.
You have no time. That makes us all the same. No matter how much we achieve, time makes us all insignificant in the end. Nothing is permanent. Given enough time, the faces of those with power will always change. What is your purpose? In the end, it is not a question of willingness but a question of how far you will go to achieve that purpose, what you will sacrifice and the consequences you will face.
It is your burden. Please try to avoid hypocrisy.
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