It's the weekend! And much of the snow has been replaced with slush (oh joy!). I hate slush. I wish snow could just go away without turning into slush. Or just stay as snow forever.
Now what to talk about. Lots of essays and such due this coming week. And lots of events going on this weekend, including multiple concerts, Asia night, and a drag show. That's Cornell for you. It's a city within itself, and I guess that's my topic.
It's nice. Cornell is
In the middle of nowhere
But you don't notice
Really, Cornell is in the middle of upstate New York, hours from civilization. However, we have so many people here that it becomes a city within itself. Thanks to programs such as the Concert Commission and the Programming Board, we have fantastic speakers and musicians who come, which makes us feel not too isolated, and we have enough people here to feel like we're in the center of the universe. Of course, when you realize that there isn't a Trader Joe's for hundreds of miles or that your favorite restaurant chain is hours away, you start to realize that Ithaca is not a real place, and if it were not for Cornell, we'd be the same as any other town around here (speaking of which, I can't name any of our bordering towns, and I'm sure that most Cornell students are the same way). On the bright side, Ithaca does have the most restaurants per capita in the USA. Which means there will never be a shortage of food (just a shortage of good food).
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Trailblazing
O...M...G. That's all I can say about the weather right now. We had a "delay" today, meaning that classes between 8 and 9:30 were canceled (aka AAP and Engineer's classes). Not that it really mattered, although I'm sure some people were grateful. The main problem though is shoveling. Here's what I have to say:
Winter maintenance
Is proof that Cornell does not
Believe in winter
I'm pretty sure that snow is against Cornell's religion, and so they deny its presence. Seriously. There could be 10 feet of snow and we'd still have class. And then there's the fact that Cornell refuses to shovel or to plow most paths (they "plow" some of the main paths, but that's it). As a result, most "paths" are from people being trailblazers (minus the actual blazing, though that might help). We have practically no maintenance which is unfortunate. Especially when you consider that they could be paying someone minimum wage to go out and shovel, and it would cost them like 20 bucks to have the arts quad cleared. You know what I make of all of this? That our head-honchos are elves. Think about it, it explains in perfectly- they can walk on top of the snow and therefore don't think winter maintenance is necessary. And, since we can't all be elves, I think in the mean time I'll grab myself some snowshoes, cross-country skis, or a hoverboard, and head over to class.
Winter maintenance
Is proof that Cornell does not
Believe in winter
I'm pretty sure that snow is against Cornell's religion, and so they deny its presence. Seriously. There could be 10 feet of snow and we'd still have class. And then there's the fact that Cornell refuses to shovel or to plow most paths (they "plow" some of the main paths, but that's it). As a result, most "paths" are from people being trailblazers (minus the actual blazing, though that might help). We have practically no maintenance which is unfortunate. Especially when you consider that they could be paying someone minimum wage to go out and shovel, and it would cost them like 20 bucks to have the arts quad cleared. You know what I make of all of this? That our head-honchos are elves. Think about it, it explains in perfectly- they can walk on top of the snow and therefore don't think winter maintenance is necessary. And, since we can't all be elves, I think in the mean time I'll grab myself some snowshoes, cross-country skis, or a hoverboard, and head over to class.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Happiness is
Today's Thursday and it's a BEAUTIFUL day outside. People may consider it gross, but I think it's wonderful. I went frolicking in foot-high snow, filled my ankle-high shoes with it, and still didn't mind. I'm in a fantastic mood.
To be in a good
Mood at school is a rare thing
That should be cherished
Between tests, essays, reading, studying, more tests, class, and all that jazz, college can be incredibly stressful. Oftentimes we'll be gloomy for no apparent reason (probably from the weather), and sometimes we'll be gloomy for a very, very good reason (which relates to Tuesday's post). Occasionally though, and I'd like to think that this is true of all students, I'd like to think that we can all be in a good mood. Our brains are just wired to be cheery once in a while, it's just a question of what triggers you to bring out that good mood. Whether it be a falling snowflake, or a falling freshmen, you might just end up feeling happy. I am right now, and I plan to keep it going as long as I can.
The title is from the "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" song.
To be in a good
Mood at school is a rare thing
That should be cherished
Between tests, essays, reading, studying, more tests, class, and all that jazz, college can be incredibly stressful. Oftentimes we'll be gloomy for no apparent reason (probably from the weather), and sometimes we'll be gloomy for a very, very good reason (which relates to Tuesday's post). Occasionally though, and I'd like to think that this is true of all students, I'd like to think that we can all be in a good mood. Our brains are just wired to be cheery once in a while, it's just a question of what triggers you to bring out that good mood. Whether it be a falling snowflake, or a falling freshmen, you might just end up feeling happy. I am right now, and I plan to keep it going as long as I can.
The title is from the "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" song.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Brinner
Annnnnnd today is test day. Also, it's laundry day. And it's Wednesday, which means there's a good chance that I shall be getting a waffle for breakfast.
You know what I've realized about dining hall breakfasts? Dining halls don't understand college students at all.
Dining halls don't seem
To realize when students like
To wake up and eat
Really. You can go into a dining hall at 10 AM, and they're already taking away breakfast items and putting out salad and lunch foods. 10 AM. People are still asleep at 10 AM. Yes, extremely fortunate people, but students nonetheless. 10 AM is not the time to eat lunch. I mean, maybe if you eat breakfast at 6, and then dinner at 3 in the afternoon followed by bedtime at 6 PM. But no one does that (usually). The dining hall really needs to learn this, and they could save a fortune on uneaten lunch foods, while satisfying their students dining needs. Oh, and they do the same thing on Saturday mornings. It's normal to sleep until 1 PM. What's abnormal is waking up at 8 AM to eat breakfast on a Saturday. That is all.
Also, it wouldn't hurt to have brinner once in a while (breakfast for dinner).
You know what I've realized about dining hall breakfasts? Dining halls don't understand college students at all.
Dining halls don't seem
To realize when students like
To wake up and eat
Really. You can go into a dining hall at 10 AM, and they're already taking away breakfast items and putting out salad and lunch foods. 10 AM. People are still asleep at 10 AM. Yes, extremely fortunate people, but students nonetheless. 10 AM is not the time to eat lunch. I mean, maybe if you eat breakfast at 6, and then dinner at 3 in the afternoon followed by bedtime at 6 PM. But no one does that (usually). The dining hall really needs to learn this, and they could save a fortune on uneaten lunch foods, while satisfying their students dining needs. Oh, and they do the same thing on Saturday mornings. It's normal to sleep until 1 PM. What's abnormal is waking up at 8 AM to eat breakfast on a Saturday. That is all.
Also, it wouldn't hurt to have brinner once in a while (breakfast for dinner).
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Preemptive Torture
Tuesday is such a strange day of the week. It''s not Monday, and it's not quite the middle of the week. I do like Tuesdays though.
I have a test tomorrow! Well, not a test technically, but it is worth 10% of my grade (enough for me to call it a test, if I do say so myself). He calls it a quiz to make sure we've been paying attention in lecture. You know how most of my classes do that? Attendance. Also, I'm pretty sure he has enough people who come to lectures who aren't even in the class to warrant not needing to test people's attentiveness. Oh well. College is college. I also have multiple papers and other project type things due in the coming weeks. Which brings me to a point about college (and high school) teachers in general.
Teachers conspire
Against students, and put all
Tests at the same time
Really, I'm pretty sure that teachers have secret conferences in which they plan this (and I feel like I may have already talked about this before maybe). I'd imagine the conferences would look something like this:
Teacher 1: "Okay, I'm planning to assign a paper due Thursday the 4th. Does that work for everyone?"
Teacher 2: "Perfect! I have lecture on Friday, I'll have a test that day"
Teacher 3: "Hmm, I think I could probably have a research report due the 3rd"
Teacher 4: "Damn, I just had a test last week. I'll have a paper due Friday I guess, and I'll assign 200 pages of reading for Wednesday."
Seriously. If teachers spaced out work, life would be simpler. But no, that's not possible, and we end up having 3 papers due the same day that we have a test.
I have a test tomorrow! Well, not a test technically, but it is worth 10% of my grade (enough for me to call it a test, if I do say so myself). He calls it a quiz to make sure we've been paying attention in lecture. You know how most of my classes do that? Attendance. Also, I'm pretty sure he has enough people who come to lectures who aren't even in the class to warrant not needing to test people's attentiveness. Oh well. College is college. I also have multiple papers and other project type things due in the coming weeks. Which brings me to a point about college (and high school) teachers in general.
Teachers conspire
Against students, and put all
Tests at the same time
Really, I'm pretty sure that teachers have secret conferences in which they plan this (and I feel like I may have already talked about this before maybe). I'd imagine the conferences would look something like this:
Teacher 1: "Okay, I'm planning to assign a paper due Thursday the 4th. Does that work for everyone?"
Teacher 2: "Perfect! I have lecture on Friday, I'll have a test that day"
Teacher 3: "Hmm, I think I could probably have a research report due the 3rd"
Teacher 4: "Damn, I just had a test last week. I'll have a paper due Friday I guess, and I'll assign 200 pages of reading for Wednesday."
Seriously. If teachers spaced out work, life would be simpler. But no, that's not possible, and we end up having 3 papers due the same day that we have a test.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Free to Be Free
Andddddddddddd it's classes again. And I have much work to do. Two essays and a quiz for Tuesday and Wednesday. And three more essays due in the next week. So now I can finally procrastinate for real again! This is the Cornell I'm used to.
You know what I love about college? Freedom. My assignment for my linguistics class is to write an essay about words. That's the prompt. I could write about swear and taboo words, euphemisms, puns, onomatopoeia, animal noises, words that make or break a career (e.g. "boooooyaaaa" or "macaca"), or anything I want. I'm choosing to write about the word etymologies of J.K. Rowling and J.R.R. Tolkien, and how the words work with the worlds. Why? Because I can.
College offers you
The freedom to do what you
Want, however weird.
Really, I have so much freedom, and I love it. Not only do I have choice on this paper, but on most of those that I write. For my decadent poetry class I can write whatever I want as long as it compares two authors (need to figure this one out still), and I can write whatever relevant topic I want for American Studies. This is usually how things work. You're usually not bound to any prompt, and can be yourself. Unless you're not in humanities. Then it sucks to write essays. No offense.
You know what I love about college? Freedom. My assignment for my linguistics class is to write an essay about words. That's the prompt. I could write about swear and taboo words, euphemisms, puns, onomatopoeia, animal noises, words that make or break a career (e.g. "boooooyaaaa" or "macaca"), or anything I want. I'm choosing to write about the word etymologies of J.K. Rowling and J.R.R. Tolkien, and how the words work with the worlds. Why? Because I can.
College offers you
The freedom to do what you
Want, however weird.
Really, I have so much freedom, and I love it. Not only do I have choice on this paper, but on most of those that I write. For my decadent poetry class I can write whatever I want as long as it compares two authors (need to figure this one out still), and I can write whatever relevant topic I want for American Studies. This is usually how things work. You're usually not bound to any prompt, and can be yourself. Unless you're not in humanities. Then it sucks to write essays. No offense.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Ithaca's Irony
It's a Sunday. Which means classes tomorrow. And which means everyone is sitting at their computers like I am now and doing work (unlike I am now).
I'm pretty sure our town is familiar with irony. Really.
Whenever it's nice
Out- sunny and beautiful,
It's always freezing
Today is an absolutely gorgeous day. However, after 2 minutes outside, you will have enough of it. Yesterday, on the other hand, was ugly but warm (comparatively). It's like the city of Ithaca is trying to torture us. And to add insult to injury, it's a Sunday. Today is the day that everyone is too hungover to go out, and has to spend time working. Yesterday though, that's when people go out and have fun. And it was ugly. I swear, this town hates its students. Just wait till Cornell Days comes around. The weather will be perfect every single day visitors are there. Before and after though? Rain. I guess that's what we get for going to school in Ithaca.
I'm pretty sure our town is familiar with irony. Really.
Whenever it's nice
Out- sunny and beautiful,
It's always freezing
Today is an absolutely gorgeous day. However, after 2 minutes outside, you will have enough of it. Yesterday, on the other hand, was ugly but warm (comparatively). It's like the city of Ithaca is trying to torture us. And to add insult to injury, it's a Sunday. Today is the day that everyone is too hungover to go out, and has to spend time working. Yesterday though, that's when people go out and have fun. And it was ugly. I swear, this town hates its students. Just wait till Cornell Days comes around. The weather will be perfect every single day visitors are there. Before and after though? Rain. I guess that's what we get for going to school in Ithaca.
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