7 posts tagged “chemistry”
Thats right. Owned your face. Now lets hope the actual lab goes that well =)
Anyways. Today is going to be pretty fun I think. After my lab (first one for the semester) I'm going to Lauren's so we can get some delicious Arby's and then go hang out with Billy, Asheley, Tasha, Aaron, and a couple other people who I don't know if they will be there or not. Regardless, it should be a pretty good time. But yeah, I'm going to go back to rocking out before I go to lunch. More updates on the night's events at a later date.
"...and more than three times is statistical accuracy."
The title is a quote (or roughly so) from a James Bond movie. The above addendum is from my Chemistry Professor, who I can't really decide whether I like or not to be honest. On one hand, he reminds me of a couple of my friends: nerdy, witty, a little goofy, and enjoys being all of those. He does however, seem to enjoy mocking Al Gore and the entire "Global Warming" bit. Now, I'm not the kind of person to hate someone for their ideologies, though I do think his stance is a bit naive...or dismissive I guess is a better way to put it. Though, he only mocks Gore because of "his sensationalism, and how he uses it to promote his agenda." I'm like, "Ok....and you suppose only people without connections and renown should be able to do whatever they can for a cause they believe in?" Now, I understand his scientific approach. In a way, I even agree with it. There really IS no concrete proof that human industry is causing the upward flux in global temperature. He believes "the jury is still out" since this sort of phenomenon will take centuries of data that we just don't have to truly understand. That is something I can agree with. I mean, data DOES show the sun has cycles where it releases more solar energy, which would cause a rise in global temperatures, and there are cycles of change and fluctuation in Earth's history. What all this means, is too many hypothesis and not enough data. For a scientific explanation, as much as I hate to say it, it is just far too early to say what MUST be done to stop it, or if there is anything to be done at all. Where we seem to disagree, is on the point of what should be done now. Where as he seems to be happy to let our great-great-great grand children get the proper data to figure out what is wrong. (assuming the human race hasn't melted) [actually, that's a joke, since I'm honestly more worried about an ice age than Earth become volcanic, but that rationale is a story for another time.] I however, would rather not just sit aroud and watch people destroy the planet and make up excuses about why we can't do anything about it. I mean, the scientific method works just as well here, just not in the way he uses it to dismiss any action he might feel obligated to take. Humans are literally POURING gases and chemicals into the global ecosystem. Scientifically, that is huge error, that no amount of previous data will correlate to. MAYBE we aren't causing global warming...maybe...but does he honestly think that a massive change in the chemical cycles of such a delicate and sensitive system will have no effect at all? Or maybe he just thinks it isn't his problem at all....and everyone else should just shut up about it so he won't feel bad for being too stupid to realize that humanity has a rather large problem on its hands.
"Emperor of the Moon, Inventor of the Environment"
Ok....Now that I have that out of my system. I really do think I am sliding back in to the college routine pretty effortlessly. I was worried that I would just be too lazy to do my work, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I did most of my chemistry homework last night/yesterday, and I finished up my Econ as well, though I'm too big of a pansy to submit it online until I've gone over it a bit. Well, its time to go get some lunch before I go to my COM 100 class and do.....whatever it is this class is s
upposed to be about O.O
You know, I have a ton of Chemistry to do for tomorrow and a shower that desperately needs taking, but right now I want to make a Vox post about something i've mulled in the past and will continue mulling if i don't put it SOMEWHERE.
People have this strange way of looking at me, and other people like me for that matter. Yes, I am a very logical person, and yes, sometimes the illogical can just make me wonder "Why?" But I think there is something that few people understand, something that between last year and this year I've come to understand about people who are deemed "logical and dry" by the general population. The fact of the matter is, that art and science are no more removed form each other than love and hate.
As with the comparison of love and hate, the outward differences mask the critical similarities that are necessary to understand either one. That key is passion, creativity, ingenuity, and thought. These things are obvious in art I suppose. Few can argue that artists are not passionate and creative, or don't put ingenuity or thought into each new piece they work on. This is much harder to see in the logical half. Like in the comparison of love and hate, few realize that hate stems from the same quantity of passion as love. A true scientist/mathemetician/economist/accountant/social scientist/doctor/whatever must have the same sort of things in their work as an artist. I've seen my Chemistry professor explain his latest research with the same sort of fire as my First Year Seminar Professor (Who teaches the Classical Guitar classes here) talks about her next performance. And, i suppose I can say from my experience in dabbling in both creative writing and the sciences, that my thought process and the frame of mind I am in are exactly the same for both. Of course both require a very different set of skills. And I'm certainly not as good a writer as i am at Science, but still, I have seen classic literature by people who were Mathemeticians. I'm reading the quote, and its a bit more than i feel like typing up, but I'll sum it up with a snippet from it: " It is impossible to be a mathematician without being a poet in spirit...the poet must see what others do not see, must see more deeply than other people." I think that sums up what I'm trying to get across here. Few people understand that it isn't the logic of science that catches my eye and makes me willing to do hours worth of work that seemingly has no point. It's what lies beneath, the ethereal foundation of unlimited possibilities for me and humankind that draws to me to it. Its not the minuteness of the detail, but how the details and numbers can do things that were never possible before. Artists turn their passion for life and emotions into physical (be that musically or otherwise) manifestations, scientists do the same, just in a way that seems unorthodox from the other side of the line.
Or for those of you who read my blog who would rather a shorter explaination:
Well, I have deemed it time to post something on Vox that isn't the QotD or whatnot. So, as is custom when I'm out of things people might legitimately want to hear, I'm just going to think out loud (sorta).
Let's see. Chemistry is being hellish for some reason. I have a C in the class, which blows, because I want to at least get a B. I can still pull a B if I get an A on the next two tests, so, you can imagine how much studying I'm going to be doing the next two weekends :/ But, right now, I'm no too concerned about that. What I am actually concerned about at the moment is my job. Though I guess this is the good kind of concern to have, so i shouldn't complain about it too much, but still, I have to put something here o.o
I've been working in Multimedia now for over a month, and its not a bad job really. It isn't too hard, pay is decent considering, and its convenient. Problem is, a job has just opened up in the tech Shop in the same building. See, thats what i wanted to do in the first place, but there weren't any positions open. Now that they are, I would like to switch, but I feel sorta like an asshole for just tossing the Multimedia guys away for a better opportunity. Then again, I guess its just one of those things that you have to deal with. I mean, I run the risk of being stuck working with less cool people, but I will get to actually learn what i wanted to learn in the first place, which is how to be a computer geek. (tangent incoming)
Thats one thing I have been wanting to do for forever. I spend so much time on the computer, and its already been determined I'm a nerd. sadly, my nerdiness only pertains to Chemistry, which is just not as fulfilling as it used to be. I mean I do enjoy Chemistry, don't get me wrong, but computers are consuming every facet of human life at this point, and there will always be a need for technologically savvy people. Yet, since i've spent so much time being a Science geek, I haven't learned any of the basic crap that most computer geeks know. I can barely use Photoshop. I can't do anything in HTML. I can't make webpages and stuff. Perhaps this isn't common knowledge that people just have, but its stuff I just get this gut feeling that I NEED as a prerequisite for even getting involved in Computer science programs here at Wake. I don't like feeling behind. In fact, I hate it with a passion. I don't have the time to really put into it though. I can't even let myself play World of Warcraft longer than an hour without feeling guilty for not doing work. UGH! Whatever. I guess I'll just have to dive in unprepared and pray I can catch up.
Here comes that guilt again. guess i better try to finish this Chem lab.
Thats right, today was my first day in my entire life that I've done work that will physically culminate into a paycheck! Hurrah! Its not such a bad job either.Considering I get to sit on my butt for however many hours and do homework until something needs fixing, then I go help fix it. Preeeetty easy in my opinion. My supervisors are pretty cool too. we sat around for an hour and a half arguing about Windows Vista and how much it sucks. Because it sucks. Other than that, I was in Student health Monday with what appeared to be appendicitis until a round of "green Cocktail" (which tastes as good as it sounds..*gag*) proved it was indeed just REALLY severe indigestion. Freaking Pizza Hut. Oh well, point is I missed my Chem lab, which blows because it would have been my first time using a bunsen burner in a LONG time. I miss the smell of burning gas and beakers of boiling chemicals *sniff* Ah well, looks like next week will be just as entertaining, so hope yet remains :) I also just got my first homework assignment back, which I aced in my gradebook, though there is one question which i will need to petition, because there is no such thing as being TOO thorough, and I shan't be punished for it! Besides, I don't want a B for my first grade when it could be a 100. Anywho.....yeah....thats all I got for now.
I really hate "planning" to post here, because all i ever do is sum up what has happened, which, while being handy for future reference, isn't really what enjoy writing about at all. Which is exactly what I'm GOING to write about. Right now.
I have to write a story for English. Now, don' get me wrong, I've actually developed a bit of a liking for writing, probably because I'm good at it. If you know me, ten you know i don't really have an artistic bone in my body, which makes the whole concept of me writing anything seem a little ridiculous. See, I enjoy critical writing. I like picking apart writing and making a point and defending it through evidence in the writing. If a piece of writing is just one big organic molecule, I get to chop it up and determine its molecular nature. Its Chemistry with words. ( I = a Nerd)
But enough of that tangent, because that isn't the point now. Now I have to write my OWN story. Which is not going to be good. I mean, I've surprised myself before, but I have this problem of wanting to write too much and never being able to put it in the right words to satisfy my self without i sounding cony, stupid, or dry. Hopefully it won' be a huge disappointment, because 'm sort of excited about it in a nervous kind of way. Simply because there would be nothing cooler than to have my story published, which isn't an impossibility if its decent. I'll be sure to post it here once I have it finished and whatnot.
Anywho, now I will reap the weekend, but only because it was awesome. Or at least Friday was.
Me and my amazing girlfriend Lauren went to see Modest Mouse in Greensboro. It was definately the best live show I have been to. Granted, that isn't a hard list to top, but you get the point. I actually like their music, which is cool because I rarely like music well enough to make a point of listening to it. Now I'm going to get every CD they have out. (Atleast all heir music anyways, I'm too poor to buy things) After Friday night however, my weekend was fairly empty. Work, video games, the usual bit. Tomorrow is going to be exciting though. Im buying Lauren a present. Its seriously nothing huge, or amazing, but she'll like it. I hope. Unless she was lying about liking it. Then I will just....make use of the present which I will be purchasing myself, because I'm not entirely impartial towards this present either.
Anyways, since I feel bad when I don't add any sort of photograph when I post, I give you the best Lab Partner/Office assistant/mindless slave/Decorative Object a guy could ask for. Holding my ticket stub from Friday.
What are five things you're good at?
Submitted by HapaLove.
5 things I'm good at....wow.....hmmmm
- Science :even though I missed a few questions I should have easily goten for Academic team, I tend to be good at applied sciences such as Chemisry and Physics
- Video Games :Yes, I'm one of those nerds who sits around playing video games in their spare time...sadly that seems to average about 5 minutes a day lol, but I still haven't lost my touch. I can still create my very own chainsaw massacre out of the poor souls who come across me on Gears of War. Like I said, I'm a nerd.
- Writing: Even though I'm more of a Science nerd, I enjoy writing. No, not the crappy poetry you see from your average angsty teenager. I like rhetorical analysis, and writing about meaning of suffering in Russian novels. that sort of thing.
- Being boring: seriously, apparantly I can do that nonstop for hours on end. I should see about getting a world record or something, because i know of noone else who can apparantly be "uninteresting" for as long as I can. (j/k lol, i love you Lauren)
- Finding mediocre places to eat...that is a truth I'm just going to have to live with lol
