tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85323656584774593402024-03-04T20:23:11.683-08:00Sunscreen; The BlogYour fallacious reasoning makes mine look good.Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-7048333342216880172020-11-02T17:30:00.002-08:002020-11-02T17:30:27.400-08:00Look, I made art<p> Revision to previous thoughts: </p><p>Art, Science, and Logic are cooperative. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpL6sEpReTQ7DZ_ov7VRM5eqX1LWRWotL07AkIdPyJP0sQq0kXaVJJ6OOo_sx86REbDEfH4zixaT49m4xzwebu5GHvdfaKcGkkGnFB6PIjXkh7DSzIcdQ09BBlIGH7BLuXoYa5tExUXntQ/s1123/mental+explosion.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="794" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpL6sEpReTQ7DZ_ov7VRM5eqX1LWRWotL07AkIdPyJP0sQq0kXaVJJ6OOo_sx86REbDEfH4zixaT49m4xzwebu5GHvdfaKcGkkGnFB6PIjXkh7DSzIcdQ09BBlIGH7BLuXoYa5tExUXntQ/s320/mental+explosion.png" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-61851388792075396512011-11-07T04:43:00.000-08:002011-11-07T04:54:20.198-08:00TiredThere is a warm sophisticated comfort that exists only in the night. It reminds me that there are things in the mind that are worth more than any one thing in reality; things like Logic, Mathematics, Music and the things derived from such brilliant masters: Science and Art. As of late my mind has been in pieces. It seems that certainty is demonstrating itself as a surefire sign that I am sorely mistaken. The world, it seems, guns for those who think they know what they're talking about. Nothing isolates you from your friends like confidence. <div><br /></div><div>However, nothing makes you so useless when you are lacking in confidence.</div><div><br /></div><div>Whatever the case, these mental masters will only instruct within the mind. They do not manifest in anyway in the real world and as a result of this they are predominantly solitary tasks and those that enjoy them are probably very solitary individuals.</div>Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-20357486323356592822010-09-13T01:10:00.000-07:002010-09-13T01:11:35.168-07:00Pft,<div>The mystery in this world is getting harder to find. At first, it rest solely on the people around me. There were my parents, they were worldly and knew what-for. There were firemen, and policemen; brave and protective from the <i>bad guys</i>. Teachers; never wrong. Scientists were the holders of arcane knowledge about the world, the ungraspable by the lay person. They were <i>great</i>. </div><div><br /></div><div>None of this <i>profundity </i>exists now. They're all just jobs; professions. Done by people. People are assholes. Not all of them. But it's just something they do to get <i>paid</i>. </div><div><br /></div>Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-19718714760505757012009-11-27T14:09:00.001-08:002009-11-27T14:21:01.599-08:00Creation is not possible.<div>As of late I have found fault with those who claim to "create." I don't believe anyone can truly "create" anything. Construct, certainly, but create? No, definitely not. See, I think we construct. As humans, the power of creation is not within us, only the power to reorder is. One is restricted to simply re-ordering what might be called "elements" and building up, from those elements, structures which were not erect before. This leads us to an interesting implication. There is only a finite number of elements, and only a finite number of combonations of them. Thus there is only a finite number of structures, or ideas, etc. If one believes time to be infinite, then there has to be a lot of repetition. </div><div><br /></div><div>The notion of creativity still exists, though. However, with the previously mentioned in mind, it now spans more than just the "arts." Instead, it now lends itself to the fields of engineering, or mathematics, where one's paintbrushes, cameras and actors are replaced with physical matter or mathematical concepts. Using just those elements one can certainly create monuments of artistry if one so desired, but I feel those that weild such elements masterfully might, instead, feel inclined to lend themselves to matters of practicality.</div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, so why bother bringing this up? Well, such an idea is made to be blatantly obvious is one were to generate every possible permutation of, say, a 512x512 image with the 32 billion colors we have available to us (The number of permutations results in a number which contains more than 2.7 million in length) we would in essence be able to generate every image of every person that has ever existed, will never exist, will exist, every frame of every movie ever made, will never be made, and will be made, every mathematical equation wrong, and right, every possible world line in the physical universe, etc. In a sentence, any image that you can imagine in your mind will be created. Naturally creating every permutation and storing every permutation would take a lot of hard drive space, and a LOT of time (trillions of years), not to mention sorting out all of the useless, nonsense images. So, a friend and I have set our sites on generating just such an application - of course, we aim to make sorting the data, and jumping around the data extremely easy and possible. I just felt the idea was intriguing, however. More later.</div>Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-63470764934114984942009-09-30T19:42:00.001-07:002009-09-30T20:11:48.938-07:00So, just like that. It ended. I don't exactly know <i>what</i> ended, but the words echoed in my head: "It ends." I was crossing my driveway at the time, and recognized the distinct voice as my own. <div><br /></div><div>At the time, I was more interested in a dialogue, "What ends?" I questioned. No reply though. Then it hit me that it was odd that I was trying to talk to myself. I let it go; a figment spawned by my weary mind, I rationalized. Dream remnants, if you will.</div><div><br /></div><div>-</div><div>IVC taught me well. There was this perfect balance of mistakes with learning that left me fluent in language and mathematics. I was giddy the morning of my class, I hit up the Phoenix Grill and grabbed a cup of coffee, and figured I should get to class early. I found my room, and thought of my first day of IVC, when I entered the dirty gray room that was soon to be my Philosophy class. "This room is cleaner looking," I noted. </div><div><br /></div><div>The teacher was soft spoken. His words were <i>precise</i> and descriptive. His vocabulary bested anything I had even experienced. All of his ideas were completed with a glance to the ground and a terse "mmhm," under his breath. I made the mistake of asking a simple question. My mathematics was a little under-exercised, but the confidence was still in it. Like an aged out of shape marathoner believing he could still run a marathon because he did it "one time," I hung around after class and challenged a proof. </div><div><br /></div><div>"I have a question," I said. </div><div><br /></div><div>"Alright." </div><div><br /></div><div>The last person exited the classroom, and he took a seat. The notion that he was nervous passed through my mind (I often find a seat when I am nervous). </div><div><br /></div><div>I had prepped, I pulled a marker from my backpack, and began to write on the board. Instantly, and I do mean the instant my marker hit the board I was already defeated. The first thought in my mind had been a fallacy. No one was impressed.</div><div><br /></div><div>I left feeling quite defeated, and shaken. </div><div><br /></div><div>Similar happenings emerged in my classical mechanics class. My logic skills are still up to par though, so that is a positive. </div><div><br /></div>Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-42445953624382827262009-09-01T11:48:00.001-07:002009-09-01T12:59:14.477-07:00Beating my head against a wall...I am so constantly, and tirelessly amazed at the insanity of some particular individuals. Often times, I feel I might very well be arguing with limited mental capacities. So often, it is the case that I am pouring my total effort in to reason and it is as though every single statement I make, exists in isolation, separate from the context, and independent of statements which precede it.<br /><br />It is surreal. It is as though they are entirely aware of what the truth of the matter is, but do everything they can to evade it.<br /><br />Recently, the heat as made me <span style="font-style: italic;">tired</span>. So, rather than argue I will just stare, in my little stupor, as they <span style="font-style: italic;">say words</span> that are supposed to hold such profundity but ultimately exist in isolation from any kind of profound truth,<br /><br />"What is the mathematical formula for math itself?"<br /><br />"Prove that beauty exists"<br /><br />"Explain to me how a catapiller becomes a butter fly," My dad says. "If I can't, does this mean there is no explanation?" I wonder to him, out loud. "No, it is just inexperience, with your soul," he responds. A sense of foreboding washes over me. If it makes any sense to say so, my sense of self just sank a little bit, and I do believe the world just got a little darker looking.<br /><br />Initially, I go in to the conversation, alert, feeling good. Then, about an hour later, I will feel the wear of the conversation. Nothing is getting accomplished, no one is gaining understanding. It's a chance for him to practice his defenses against <span style="font-style: italic;">reason</span> and my chance to practice getting rhetorically defeated by insanity.<br /><br />I woke up just a few minutes prior to ten in the AM. I grab the coffee cup from the day before sitting on my desk, and flip on my Mr.Coffee cup warmer. I then head downstairs. Every two or three steps the familiar <span style="font-style: italic;">jingle</span> of the television turning on and off can be heard. "It sounds broken," I think to myself. I get downstairs and see my girlfriend's father sitting on the couch, just staring at a blank screen. He is holding the remote and is persistent in his efforts to persuade it to stay on. "It is most definitely broken," state my impulses. Wanting to verify, I ask "Is the TV not working?"<br /><br />"Sometimes, it just needs a little time to warm up before it turns on."<br />"Looks broken."<br /><br />He mumbles something, completely and totally incomprehensible. He doesn't like when people state the horrible truths. With this individual, things just seem to work better when only nice things are said. The TV being broken, and thus stating out loud that it is broken, is just the kind of thing that breaks TVs.Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-66036764640753361582009-07-06T00:14:00.001-07:002009-07-06T00:27:12.304-07:00Change of topicRecently, I've taken to a few "self improvements". I have a nasty habit of harvesting z's amongst the daylight hours. I figure that while most people till the lands during the day, I shall till the books in the night. This isn't always the case I've found. Since <span style="font-style: italic;">the mind</span> has grown accustomed to the summer laze, it has taken its sweet time conjuring up motivation for what, for as accurately as I can recall, were tasks that were automatic. There was a time when I went to the gym <span style="font-style: italic;">everyday</span> and it was easy. Now? I'm a god damned escape artist! From myself! So, I've created a sleep schedule to stick to.<br /><br />Another thing is this new declaration of vegetarian. The acceptances have been mixed. Some are certain I will explore this avenue for awhile and ditch it, others suggest that I am not even a vegetarian and that this is less than a phase, and some full on think I can do this. Some don't even care - I ask them, "Did you know I declared myself vegetarian?" They look at me, "Really? Cool..." and then a topic change.<br /><br />I'll elaborate more another time. I need to get to bed now.Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-40489475740255990792009-06-10T22:04:00.000-07:002009-06-10T22:14:27.297-07:00"I am my own cloudy sky!" he continued on, and on, in a nonsensical manner.OH! The boredom.<div><br /></div><div>Summer is here, so I LAZE. Oh, how I freaking laze. I think I want to do something else, and what ends up happening? LAZING. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm working on interesting articles behind the scenes, but I think I miss the point of blogging. It sort of breaks down in to, "Lets follow Bohrstein down some thought experiment where he contemplates trivial everyday happenings," says some abnoxious reporter, live and on the scene. It's not exciting, most people don't care; I have nothing to give. I'm also constantly lacking in the mathematics, or so I feel. See, why would I write that?</div><div><br /></div><div>Gosh, I'm in a dreary mood today.</div><div><br /></div><div>Out.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-53910458713025219592009-06-02T08:26:00.000-07:002009-06-02T13:24:06.825-07:00Barely conscious...I have been awake for 18 hours now, that isn't really a <span style="font-style: italic;">long</span> day (actually, that's pretty normal), but because I have been up for an entire night, for some reason, this is thrashing me. Sure, maybe it was the trip to the gym, and the huge load of laundry and all the cleaning I did, coupled with a stressful family dinner, but "meh," I say.<br /><br />The all nighter serves a purpose. Since school has ceased for a little over a week now, my life has tripped over itself. For years now, I have been in school nonstop with little more than, at most, a weeks break (oh, and the Christmas breaks). I now have MONTHS free. My brain can't comprehend this, so I have maintained studying. The problem is, I don't know what to study. I've downloaded entire science, mathematics, and philosophy collections, searching for the eBook which seems about my level so that I may continue. For about a day I was reading about quantum mechanics, and tensors for general relativity. After reviewing my future UCI course load, I'm finding I don't need the tensor knowledge until graduate school. Drat, what the heck am I to study then? I realize that I had been excited about tensors and then pause to consider what the upper division courses will consist of. "Please be interesting," I beg to the ghostly concept.<br /><br />A slight divergence. I'll be honest, I am a little <span style="font-style: italic;">disheartened</span> by the fact that I won't be taking any advanced mathematics courses. A close friend of mine is a mathematics major, he is gleeful because he gets to take a topology course, <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> a set theory class in his first year. I flip through the course book; lower division: Quantum Mechanics, and General Relativity, upper division: Quantum Mechanics, and General Relativity <span style="font-style: italic;">again</span>. What do I study in graduate school, you may wonder? Quantum Mechanics, and General Relativity. I smile at this. I am a Philosophy of Science major (POS) as well, I figured it suits me well due to the fact that I sometimes can sit and stare and be blown away by my own existence. I don't want to write myself off as a nut, but I sometimes like to imagine that, while the whole of Physics (P) is not entirely wrong, it is missing out on some large part of reality, "something hidden in plain site," I imagine to myself. It's just fantastical dreaming, but, man, I wonder.<br /><br />Anyways, since I am supposed to be double majoring P and POS, I was reading the POS course load as well: Quantum Mechanics, and General Relativity. Oh, and an elementary set theory class *glee*.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Internet Vagrancy</span></div><div>I am writing to help keep myself awake for another 5 hours. Around this time in my plan, I find that after the thrill of reading, studying, or anything constructive and playing video games have worn off. This leaves me in a state of internet vagrancy, i.e. virtually wandering about the internet. I googled "philosophy tired," and aside from the makeup I can get for my tired little eyes, I found <a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1576116/being_tired_is_a_state_of_mind_my_philosophy.html?cat=5">this </a>article by Jeff Williams on some seemingly obnoxious site.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jeff is a terrible thinker:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 19px; font-family:arial;font-size:13px;"><blockquote>For many years I have said that being tired is a state of mind. I feel that the only way one becomes tired is if they let themselves, into that realm of thinking. If one truly believes they are not tired, then why should they be? </blockquote></span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 19px;font-family:arial;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 19px;font-family:arial;font-size:13px;">Jeff continues,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 19px;font-family:arial;font-size:13px;"><blockquote>According to <i style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Wisegeek.com</i>, it is said that we as humans only use 10% of our brains; reason being, we don't use every neuron in our brains. So what about the other 90%? Imagine if we did use every neuron. The question that comes into question is what would we be capable of?</blockquote></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 19px;font-family:arial;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 19px;font-family:arial;font-size:13px;">Jeff is wrong. <a href="http://www.wisegeek.com/what-fraction-of-our-brains-do-we-actually-use.htm">I checked out his source.</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 19px;font-family:arial;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 19px;font-family:arial;font-size:13px;">His source didn't say that either.In fact, it specifically says</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 19px;font-family:arial;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family:Arial;"><blockquote>...Therefore, we’re using much more than a one tenth fraction of our brains at any given time... </blockquote></span>In short, Jeff seems to think that because when we feel tired we are capable of getting up and moving around to get a little extra waking up, this implies the ability to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">train</span> our bodies to stay awake indefinitely by somehow using "the other 90% of neurons that are not used". He then claims that athletes have the capability of controlling the chemicals being released in their bodies. He then mentions something about narcoleptics and staying awake, and then concludes that...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 19px;font-family:arial;font-size:13px;"><blockquote>...If one has enough body control to control their chemicals in one's body, then one should truly be able to say tired is a state of mind. We as humans could be capable of this if we discover a way to explore the 90% of neurons that we do not use. These neurons should give one capabilities of blocking chemical levels that put one to sleep...</blockquote><blockquote><br /></blockquote></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 19px;font-family:arial;font-size:13px;">Ok, Jeff.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 19px;font-family:arial;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial; font-size: 48px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 19px;font-family:arial;font-size:13px;"><br /><br /></span></div>Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-12915677287634799842009-01-12T22:25:00.000-08:002009-01-12T23:00:28.269-08:00Distracted?Started the new semester today. I am excited, for the first time I will have a chance to study modern Physics in an academic setting (as opposed to the non-mathematical texts I read on the toilet, or scanning about the web).<br /><br />Let me back track for a moment though. About a week and a half ago I got the invitation to join the Abstract Algebra honors class (Math 13 at IVC). Last time I was offered an honors track of classes was in junior high; for English. I turned it down, but I used to be way ahead of my peers, and I continually failed all of my classes - they figured I wasn't being challenged. I don't even know. I don't think I have demonstrated any worth in these things; I'm not a great mathematician, but I enjoy it. Some argue this is enough.<br /><br />Anyways, I figured I should give it an honest effort for at least the track of time before I can drop it without taking a fail, i.e. until February 2nd (I think) as long, I reasoned, that it doesn't jeopardize the major related classes. Don't get my wrong, I'm not a 'grade grubber' but one of the things I have come to realize over time is that, I can't honestly fulfill my interest in all things. I do my best to focus on everything I feel I can put an honest effort in to, and my attraction to generality is usually a pretty useful tool, which allows me to spread my mind across several topics in a short period of time. For example, working in mathematics allows me to study set theory, as well as physics, as well as computer science. My interests in philosophy seem to allow a connection between any literary attractions as well as the obvious logical connection within mathematics. Anyways, long story short, I would love to ignore my grades, and enroll in endless classes and take all I can from them in the short time I am allotted, but truth is: time is valuable. I don't have endless amounts of it, and I have to be selective.<br /><br />So, Math 13 isn't necessary, I don't even think I am required to take it at all (I might at UCI), but it is something which strikes me deeply with a sense of familiarity, it is something I feel I can 'roll' with. So, I say, I am going to give it a chance.<br /><br />The other problem is that it is at 9 am in the morning. I don't function well that early.<br /><br />The other class is Electromagnetism, which also is a brilliant subject in and of itself, and Linear Algebra: A class I have honestly been looking forward to since, junior fucking high. I must have been quite the little genius, geez. The reason, you ask? Well, I liked to play video games a lot when I was in junior high, and while I was showing myself around the programming languages (C and C++ specifically), I came across a wonderful little API: OpenGL (which has lost most of its luster over the years), which was governed by the math known as, yup, Linear Algebra.<br /><br />Also in the news, I recently bought an Apple MacBook, which as proven to be a brilliant little machine with a wonderful operating system ("PC people" bang on Macs more than they deserve). I never bought in to the mac bashing because, well, I had no basis really. Of course, I didn't realize the amount of crap that was borne from the mouths of Mac bashers until I actually bought one of these things. But that is for another day, why I bought one is the interesting part: Specifically, to attempt to pay for college. See, "The Girl" bought me an iPod Touch a year ago for Christmas and a few months later Apple opened up the platform (the iPhone OS) to development. So, I decided I'd take this opportunity to spend some time developing applications for it (specifically games) to see if I can make a few dollars. Just to familiarize myself with the routine of development, I created a WAR game which I just submitted to Apple for review. With any luck, by the weeks end it will be on the application store, selling for $0.99. From an ethics point of view, I almost feel as though I am doing some great injustice to its purchasers, but I always argue: I am not covering up the applications lack of greatness with some odd persuasive advertising techniques, and I am not forcing people to buy it (I can't anyways).<br /><br />I started a '<a href="http://www.distractedentertainment.com">company</a>'. It's not a real company (hence the 'wit quotes') and if it was one, it'd consist of me, and my friend. I'm the programmer and he would be the acting artist. I just needed a name to work under: this is it.Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-55933269515535709402008-12-10T01:22:00.000-08:002008-12-10T02:30:58.457-08:00The Grouch and See? I'm not bitter and crazy...<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">The Grouch</span></div><div><br /></div>SO...<div>Yeah, it's nearing the end of the semester, a time where much mixed emotions filter in to the steaming hot mug that is me. I.e. said feelings are kind of like creamer, and I'm just sitting there on the counter, and one can observe the feelings mixing in a cool little dance.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am wrapping up what will be, probably, the most hectic mathematical semester of my existence. I took 2 of the top level classes, and one class which I often argue is a joke (but really, it should have not been), and one that I just kind of enjoyed: Vector Calclus, Differential Equations, Physics 4A, and Discrete Mathematics.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've got to say, I've surpassed all of my own expectations and nervousness about said classes. I thought myself to be quite the dummy, and very insecure about my mathematical abilities (rightfully so, as I've maintained a C average most of my life), and now I am coming out on top in some of these classes (As and Bs). Go me. Next semester I dive in to my physics classes with Physics 4B, and 4C (Electromagnetism, and Relativity/Quantum Mechanics respectively), and a class that I have been looking forward to since junior high (no joke!): Linear Algebra.</div><div><br /></div><div>If all goes well, next semester I get my acceptance letters and I will be spending my falls basking in the flourescent glow of the lights within the Science Library at UCI. </div><div><br /></div><div>All of this worrying about success, and whatnot has had me thinking <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">a lot</span> about optimism, and pessimism. That and I was recently described as the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">grouch</span> in the house. I tend to have a problem with what I usually <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">sense</span> as false (or fake) optimism (and I usually point it out). As I've already explained, things like "well at least...," usually perterb me (my friend insists I am an ass because of this). Or when someone purposesly ignores a potential negative to narrow in on a positive. For example, today I took a test in Differential Equations (DE) and did <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">iffy</span>. A local turd said "Ah, not bad!" I said "What?" (I thought he was implying that 'iffy' was a good thing)</div><div>"Well," he continued, "It's not good, and it's not bad! So I say, not bad!" <br /></div><div>"Oh," I rolled my eyes.</div><div><br /></div><div>OK, so when I am feeling impatient, I have to wonder if I am behaving in a rational manner - I find that I am coming up <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">quite short</span> on this one. I can't figure what is the most 'rational' way to behave. </div><div><br /></div><div>I often try to keep in mind that I want to perceive the world in an as much a 'realistic' light as possible. I.e. I don't try to sugar coat things, and I don't try to paint things in a dark demeanor. I try to use any skills I have for describing things, not my <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">interpreting</span> skills. I.e., reality is to be described, not interpreted like a piece of art. So I feel it makes sense for me to be <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">irked</span> when someone alters the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">truth</span> of what I feel I am accurately perceiving. It's like being lied to, in a sense. </div><div><br /></div><div>None the less most people, it seems, are optimistic or better yet (I think) hopeful. </div><div><br /></div><div>An example:<br />Often, after a math test for example (such as tonight), I find myself humored as we gather about outside the door to discuss our test. It's interesting to note how unsure everyone is (and rightfully so, since none of us have the answers) and yet how <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">optimistic</span> we are. We discuss the problems we remember as being annoying, and usually a group majority will come to a consensus about what the solution actually is. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Even if</span> one is out numbered in their solution, that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">one</span> will usually believe they are the correct. I have done this, friends have, and at least 3 other students did this tonight. And, of course, the other students (the one part of the group consensus) feel they are correct. So, everyone feels as though they have succeeded (via some self-fulfilling confirmation bias) and thus feel content when going home.</div><div><br /></div><div>I prefer to feel <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">iffy</span>. Because, then, I am not commiting. I am in, and rightfully so, a state of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">unknowing.</span> I am certain that sharing our answers doesn't increase the likelyhood of any problem being more correct than the other, as all it does is demonstrates that the group is in agreement. I think this is reasonable, and I don't see the fault with it. Sure, it isn't coated in sugar, but it seems to be the most honest (which is better, in my opinion).</div><div><br /></div><div>But, this doesn't change the fact that I am the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">grouch</span> of the house. Yeugh!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">See? I'm not bitter and crazy...</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/features/article.php/3789981/Bjarne+Stroustrup+on+Educating+Software+Developers.htm">This guy</a>, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 37, 48); font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">Bjarne Stroustrup. Developer of C++, gets what is going on with CS students these days. I'd love to see some change - alas, I am never to return to this field in academia again. </span></span></span></div><div><br /></div>Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-23906955377883425162008-12-06T22:32:00.001-08:002008-12-06T23:12:40.579-08:00At least you didn't drop a dead hooker on your foot.<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:-webkit-monospace;font-size:13px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The "At Least" argument, or various forms of it. Or hell, I wonder if you can even call it an argument. I now dub it simply a 'persuasive technique.' One that is merely meant to 'make you feel better.'</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I don't know if it is a </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">real</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> fallacy, but I noticed that people have a tendency to use the 'at least' 'persuasive technique' a lot. For example, if I were to drop a bowling ball on my foot and express how crappy the situation was, I might hear: "At least you didn't drop a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">knife</span> </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">in to</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> your foot." </span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Or, "At least you didn't drop a dead hooker on your foot. Cause, shit, then your foot would hurt, you'd probably have blood on your shoes, and then you'd be in trouble with the cops! Haha!"</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yeah, I guess that's true. But fuck, my foot still hurts...</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Anything can be justified with this lazy little argument. Lets say you really did drop a dead hooker on your shoes, well at least she didn't get blood in your mouth. What if she did? Well at least the cops aren't here yet. What if they are? Well, at least they aren't shooting at you... and so on ad infinitum. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It's a vacuous attempt at trying to seem optimistic, and it doesn't even make you feel better; unless you're a moron and you can buy in to this kind of crap. If you really don't care when I hurt myself, then be honest; when I drop a ball on my foot, mutter something like 'bummer,' and go on about your little life.</span></span></div>Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-9762508792022536002008-12-03T03:47:00.000-08:002008-12-03T14:02:04.248-08:00A couple of things, and yet, one more.So, yesterday it was my birthday. I seem to be the only guy in the local area who really despises his own birthday. It's the ritual.<div><br /></div><div>One wakes up on an another average day (I don't <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">feel</span> any different) and I trudge about as I would any other. Except when I check my mail there is shitload of "Happy Birthdays" from various people. Some I know, more I don't. It's nice to be recognized. So long as I don't think about it too much (I didn't <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">do</span> anything).<br /><div><br /></div><div>But the ritual. It's not that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I </span>have to do much of anything, it's the fact that people feel so compelled to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">do things to me</span>. They <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">buy</span> me stuff. They put me in a chair at a restauraunt, and get strangers to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">sing to me</span>. It is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">weird, </span>and if I think too much about it, it annoys me. I've expressed my dislike openly before, but it turned in to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">this thing. A</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">thing</span> involving much hostility, and people expressing hurt feelings. I take the utilitarian approach this year, because it is easier. "I'll be the only unhappy guy this day," I said, "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">y</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">ou people do your thing."</span></div><div><br /></div><div>--</div><div><br /></div><div> I have a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/12/3/">thing</a> </span>against the behaviors and practices of people around holidays. I think it is usually because people feel it necessary to say stupid phrases, with a false cheery mood, and then they hate you when you don't return the favor.<div><br /></div><div>I get very stressed this time of year. Maybe it is psychological but it is not like I hate the thought of holidays. In fact, there is something very <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">pleasant </span>about the thought of holidays. Had I my way, I'd probably celebrate the seasons. No gifts or anything, just a day where one can exclaim that they don't have to do anything, and they can orient themselves properly with time. No gifts, etc... just a gathering of people in a local square or something getting to know eachother. I think with a small town brain. Large crowds make me uneasy.</div><div><br /></div><div>--</div><div><br /></div><div>I fell in to a conversation with a friend of a friend today. We were discussing <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">this</span> or <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">that</span> and I recognized that I have a problem with <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">particulars</span>. I pride myself on my generalness. In mathematics one often learns a few theorems, and then <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">specifics.</span> For example, in Computer Science (CS), there is a data structure called a "tree." You learn about this in your early Data Structures classes, and then spend the rest of your CS career studying particular instances of trees. I often argue that a few examples are more than enough, and that one should focus on the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">generalities </span>of the tree, and one might be surprised how easy it is to actually use these things. I think a lot of people think like this, but they are not aware of it. They probably understand what they are doing, but, for fucks sake they can't understand why they have to learn the same thing twice. "Am I missing something?," they ask. "No. They're just trying to be helpful by repeating themselves, and applying emphasis on a particular instance of such and such a thing," I say.</div><div><br /></div><div> I like Physics for this reason. Knowing how to apply a theorem is a necessity, and it's <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">expected</span>. This thought makes me warm and fuzzy inside, and it is one of the reasons I have trouble turning my back to science, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">in general. </span>Science tends to be <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">descriptive</span>. It just describes X and you can utilize this knowledge however you want. One obtains the knowledge in a number of reliable ways, and 'truths' are found with a very nice <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">method. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">A method almost born from nature itself it seems.</span></div><div><br /></div><div> By the way, if you apply the word 'science' to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">anything</span> I find that my interest in said subject increases exponentially. </div><div><br /></div><div>This debate comes up often: general versus particular. Now that I think of it, this conversation reered its head twice today. A professor asked me recently what I thought about his tests. Enjoying the challenge of them I said, "I'm probably not the average voice, I enjoy a challenge; your tests are <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">fun</span>." He shook his head and I left. On another day he told me what the purpose of his tests are, "To make sure that students have the basics down." After thinking about it, I realized that if this was the purpose, then his tests are far too complicated. Anyways, this lead to a discussion with my friend. I said, "If that is the case, a simple essay would suffice." To which my friend replied, "Nonsense, this is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">math</span> not <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">english.</span>" </div><div><br /></div><div>Now, this happens often with students these days as a result of the way our education works. Things are partitioned in our minds, English and essays are one, and mathematics and tedious rote problems are another. There is no <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">flow</span> between our little modules of knowledge; one usually doesn't think to utilize their power of the English language to express a mathematical/philosophical/scientific/etc... idea. Why the fuck not? I don't know. I remember when the idea first struck me though, seemed novel at the time; hasn't lost its luster yet.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyways, I defended my point fastidiously. He understood what I was talking about, and argued that doing problems excessively is the best. I pointed out the obvious problem with the students in our class these days. They don't know how to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">think</span>. They are like algorithm machines. You show them some new and kind of cool mathematical truth and they just want an algorithm to solve it. They could not care less about what this truth is. These are the same people who find philosophy <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">boring. </span>The same people who argue that if knowledge can't be immediately applied to some reality it's useless. The same people who, obviously, don't wonder where there precious algorithms come from.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyways, my friend and I compromised on a mix regarding the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">theoretical</span> and some simple <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">particulars.</span> This ensures that the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">general</span> picture is understood, and that the student has picked up on the basic techniques necessary to solve said problem.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm well aware of the problems of being <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">too</span> general. One lacks substance (much like my writing here) and credibility is usually lost. But to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">only</span> be specific is to be just as vacuous. One is then simply a tool. I think the best idea is to think generally, but master self expression (so that one may be specific, i.e. apply their knowledge).</div></div></div>Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-26157719919333533262008-12-01T19:18:00.000-08:002008-12-01T21:13:22.530-08:00What is a "Good Person?"Often we hear about how person X is a "Good Person" because they "mean well," or are known for "doing good things." Leaving aside the discussion of what 'to do good' might mean, I'm trying to think about whether or not a person's actions or intentions are what actually allows them to possess the quality "good".<div><br /></div><div>Is it really enough to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">want</span> to do good? How about actually <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">doing</span> good? </div><div> <br /></div><div>I figure that the good person, is the person who has not only the intention to do good, but actually <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">does</span> good. I.e. a good person is one who wants to possess the quality of 'good,' enough so that they plan out good actions, and follow through with them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Often I find myself confused at the idea that a person can be something without actually intending to be that thing. Instead, I find that the clarification that one does as the X person might do. Where X is the quality "good," or "bad," etc... But in order to actually <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">be </span>good, or bad, or what have you, one must make the decision to be as such.</div><div><br /></div><div>An example:</div><div>A man (Lets call him A) walks in to a super market that is being discretely held up. I.e. the cashier (B) has a gun to her back, being held by a man (C) who is forcing B to put money in a bag. A trips and falls in to C, and inadvertantly knocks C out. B exposes C's gun, and calls the cops. </div><div><br /></div><div>Is A a hero? B will probably exclaim that her life was saved by A, and other people might proclaim that A is a hero. I'd say A isn't a hero. He acted as a hero in the sense that he saved B, but he never actually decided to save B, for he didn't even know B was in danger. </div><div><br /></div><div>So what about one who plans to do good?</div><div>Lets imagine a person (A) who consistenly thinks "good" thoughts. I.e. He continually says that he would like to donate some time to a charity organization in some town, and maybe he says he will adopt sick animals, etc... What if A never does these things? If one accepts that idea that merely 'planning to do good' is enough, then one will find they might be supporting liars. </div><div><br /></div><div>So what about the person who is found often to be doing good things? </div><div>This thought is a bit tricky, in my opinion. For, it is possible, I think, to find a person who may be accidently found to have done good. I.e. consider man A in the above example. He saved someones life, but it was inadvertant, and while it could be considered a "good event," because man A never actually planned to do this action, he can't really be given the credit. This idea might even get more interesting if one considers that it is possible that some random human doing action A, eleven days (lets say) before some crime inhibiting the actions of some "bad person" B and then being called a hero. </div><div><br /></div><div>Example:</div><div>I have a habit of locking my doors when I get out of my car. I do it to an almost ridiculous degree sometimes. For example, lets say I forget my wallet: I'll turn the car off, get out, lock the door, and run inside, grab my wallet, run outside, then unlock the door and get back in to my car, and be on my way. Consider a situation in which I can be proclaimed a hero by simply locking my door one day, going on vacation for 15 days, and within 11 days of my vacation such a series of events leads to the saving of a life. For example, because I locked my door, and on a day where no other cars are parked on the street, my neighbor with an anger problem was thus unable to get in my car, and utilize it to run down his cheating girlfriend. My actions led to the saving of a life, but because I had no plans to save a life (I was just acting out of habit) I can't be called a hero fairly. Heck, I'm not even certain it is fair to say that I acted as a hero did (does a hero habitually lock his doors?). </div><div><br /></div>Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-59787203819073997052008-08-12T00:24:00.001-07:002008-08-12T03:09:02.262-07:00With Specimens and Lasers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0uU-10lhtps/SKFCHuKUCbI/AAAAAAAAALI/ibtWVIuq9XA/s1600-h/painting_March9001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0uU-10lhtps/SKFCHuKUCbI/AAAAAAAAALI/ibtWVIuq9XA/s320/painting_March9001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233536942399031730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I used to love reading as a kid. There was a sort of natural flow with regards to my education; with learning. That was before all hell broke loose, of course. I used to fantasize that the walls of my bedroom would one day be lined with libraries of encyclopedias, and models of the space shuttles would hang from my ceilings. I'd have a lab; filled with specimens, and lasers. I used to beg go to summer school; always for science classes. Who knows what would've happened to me, had I a 'cleaner' life. I probably would have done better in school, and maybe gone farther in academia with less of a disconnect; had not all hell broke loose.<br /><br />Hell was a temporally brief sojourn. It built itself up over a period of about two years, then cascaded in to a single point that was a day in December. After about a week spent <i>not</i> at home, I returned to a divorced household. That wasn't a big deal, if anything it was the beginning of relief; sort of.<br /><br />Fast forward; just a few years. I grew up to living in the principals office, and in what was called "in-house suspension," (a dark room with about eight seats where you sat in silence and passed the time writing the same sentence, again, and again, etc...) I grew to know the 'authorities' well. As they passed in hallways they would wave at me, and I'd return the gesture. Punishment was casual. When I was being punished, I'd walk in, sign a paper, and walk out. We had it down; I knew what to do. I never argued with my punishment, I felt I understood why the system existed, and why it was necessary. I just did not think I had to be a part of it. I still don't.<br /><br />"Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time." That was my younger life's motto - it doubled up as a justification for my not-so-wise behavior; a distraction to the fact that I often evaded any punishment.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Yeup, I was raised to believe that I could do whatever I wanted; all by myself. "Don't need anyone else but yourself," my old man said. However, that view is changing as I get older. I don't know if it is because those days are behind me now, and I feel as though I am recovering from the shock, but with all the disgust and distaste in the world, such an ideal is bullshit; childish even. The way I see it, that person <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Starry_Night_Over_the_Rhone.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Starry_Night_Over_the_Rhone.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>can't possibly exist in this day and age. Right from the start, we are born <i>needing</i>. We go to school and <i>take</i> (some of us) knowledge. Even if you are abandoned as a child, there is <i>someone</i> who will care for you, even a little bit. Some have to self-sustain more than others, but that is no excuse to go bitter and <i>lie to yourself</i>, and to the world that you are a "self-made" individual. Those who would be truly self-made would stand as a finger painting to a Van Gogh. There would be no comparison, such an individual is clearly exhibiting only the worst of childish behavior, one that says that because the world hasn't the answers yet, the world should be punished. Why should they be so hostile, and stand-offish against such a wonderful world of systems that exist, and have existed before us? Why not take what they have to offer, and put them to good use build upon what exists already? Why so selfish?<br /></div>Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-51459890743075944722008-07-09T02:47:00.001-07:002008-07-09T02:47:48.184-07:00Google's new LivelyKiss my summer productivity goodbye...<br /><br /><iframe src='http://embed.lively.com/iframe?rid=7278867002459534827' width='460' height='400' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0' scrolling='no'></iframe>Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-8118835666296527202008-06-24T16:16:00.000-07:002008-06-24T17:00:17.112-07:00A Great Man, and a Roof<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080611/ap_on_fe_st/italy_unicorn">R.I.P George Carlin.</a> I'm sure you're stuck on a roof somewhere <a href="http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/284.html">looking down on us all</a>.<br /><br />To any visitors who may arrive - I really, really must recommend you read this interview with George Carlin - it is his <a href="http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/brainstorm/200806/george-carlins-last-interview">final interview</a> given about 10 days I think before he died. Wonderful.<br /><br />It's just a matter of time until I get one of <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080611/ap_on_fe_st/italy_unicorn">these</a> tamed. Oh yeah.Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-34771906532711717702008-06-18T08:55:00.000-07:002008-06-18T09:02:46.911-07:00What a day... so far.My god! What a day already. Class just started about 30 minutes ago and I'm about to run downstairs, grab a fruit of some sort and an unusually large cup of coffee and get to school.<br /><br />But first, let me share this mornings happenings with you - all of them, in some way, relating to the happenings of yesterday.<br /><br />Firstly - In a single evening the Spore community has obtained about 100,000 new users and thus, <a href="http://www.videosift.com/video/When-creature-creating-goes-too-far">just about as many creature creations. </a><br /><br />Firefox had intended to set <a href="http://www.spreadfirefox.com/en-US/worldrecord">some sort of world record</a>, I wonder<a href="http://www.spreadfirefox.com/"> if they did</a>. (there is a counter at that link). The Internet Explorer team stood off to the side with a smile on their face; <a href="http://arstechnica.com/journals/linux.ars/2008/06/17/the-cake-is-a-lie-ie-team-bakes-a-treat-for-mozilla">they bought them a cake</a>.Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-19294383423092064602008-06-17T10:20:00.000-07:002008-06-17T10:27:17.066-07:00Overslept, again.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.newscientist.com/channel/health/dn14151-guzzling-coffee-may-cut-heart-disease.html?feedId=online-news_rss20">Drink coffee</a>. <a href="http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0616/italy.html">Learn to do your own dishes</a>. <a href="http://www.physorg.com/news132756872.html">Ignore the urge to eat when you are stressed</a>.<br /><br />Today is also <a href="http://www.spreadfirefox.com">FireFox download day</a> - the newest version of Firefox (firefox 3) is out.<br /><br />It is also the day of the <a href="http://www.spore.com/trial">Spore Creature editor</a> being released. Enjoy...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">I don't need to explain myself to the likes of <span style="font-style: italic;">you</span>.</span>Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-57237641808368887522008-06-15T22:50:00.000-07:002008-06-15T22:52:21.902-07:00hoop-la<span class="pg">–noun <span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="labset"><span style="font-style: italic;" class="ital-inline">Informal</span>. </span><br /><br />1. bustling excitement or activity; commotion; hullabaloo; to-do.<br />2. sensational publicity; ballyhoo.<br />3. speech or writing intended to mislead or to obscure an issue.<br /><br />Lotta it these days.Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-3383416446386968642008-04-07T23:37:00.001-07:002008-04-07T23:56:45.356-07:00Just some shit.Occasionally I feel the urge to write, a sort of irking, timid, and yet explosive sensation of "adjectory" rape flowing throughout my veins. I don't know what it is, but it strikes occasionally - usually as night approaches, and occasionally while I'm taking a drive. I think it's related to "relaxation."<br /><br />A familiar sensation, but long forgotten in the evil clutches of adulthood. I'm okay with that, but that still doesn't stop me from clawing my way to it as though I were buried alive and it rests just six feet away. You know... on the <span style="font-style: italic;">other side</span>.<br /><br />I've resorted to approaching said <span style="font-style: italic;">relaxation</span> via mass quantities of <span style="font-style: italic;">exercise.</span> Running, "ellipticalling," and light weight lifting. I have also approached said state of being in the most contrast way -- keeping busy. I enjoy what I do normally, I try to take classes that make me happy, I eat whatever I feel like, and I joke insanely in the poorest manner and in the most poor way. Some may be aware of the relatively (relative to eternity I suppose) recent Apple report, the <a href="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/iphoneroadmap/">release of their SDK</a> (Software Development Kit) for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Being the utter nerd I am, and of course owning one of these little pleasant devices, I have managed to forget (and this is <span style="font-style: italic;">fo real</span>) any grudge I ever had against Apple. As black is to white, as cold is to hot, and as false is to true - I have switched that quickly. I now have taken my odd ability to rationalize my every action to Apple's defense. I think they should pay me for this. So I have begun my new project - the construction of a pleasant mobile title I have dubbed "Epic" which I will hush up on for now until I have more to show.<br /><br />Back in reality - a few weeks ago my bud and I simultaneously dropped our arms with an abrupt huff - exasperated with the sum of money we've been paying for gas. While we do carpool, and while it does help, we have decided to go to the good ol' two wheeled bike. This summer we have resolved that we will ride bikes, but not just any bikes folks - we've decided to put our handyman skills to the test and construct <a href="http://www.electric-bikes.com/">electric bikes</a> - with a single horsepower we will man our ways in to school and work - saving thousands on gas.<br /><br />Having had to push out that last paragraph - I feel like my creative energies are drained so for now, I will bow out. I feel I should warn bloggers however, the non casual ones anyways, of their <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/technology/06sweat.html?_r=1&oref=slogin">impending doom</a>.<br /><br />Goodnight.Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-61178371965416264112008-03-13T21:44:00.000-07:002008-03-13T21:51:39.537-07:00Note: I am not originalEinstein once said that the secret to creativity was to hide the sources of your inspiration. Clearly I have done no such thing in the creation of the blog - however, I was naive enough to actually believe that I was original when summoning a cool, hip, groovy and oh-so-liberal blog title such as "sunscreen." This is clearly not the case since I have typed so many "unique" variations of the URL for this blog to pass the blogspot URL checker (which ironically enough, exists to make sure that we are all indeed unique), that the word "sunscreen," not only looks misspelled - but looks completely foreign and has indeed, ladies and gentlemen, lost all meaning.Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8532365658477459340.post-6014089482978121152008-03-13T21:41:00.000-07:002008-03-13T21:43:03.124-07:00whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience...I will dispense this advice...now.Bohrsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13688638389383476726noreply@blogger.com0