Well, some interesting events happened yesterday, and one ultimately ended up destroying my quest. My computer was incapacitated by a virus. So, despite my attempts to get online with my phone, I could not post a blog yesterday.
And for that, I am sorry. But with some luck and a little bit of juice from a mountain yak's spleen, I am hoping to get my computer back up and running shortly. So that I do not have to post from our school's ancient computers (I think we honestly got them back in the first Ice Age).
-AFR
Friday, November 12, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Math
Watch First!
Now, I was never a huge fan of math, despite being fairly good at it, but this video sends a fairly disturbing message to me. Let me give a little background quickly.
As a kid, I was taught math using those standard algorithms and multiplication tables, so most of those methods on the video are new to me. I found this to be a great learning tool and a easy way to show the fundamentals of math. This fantastic foundation I have built up has allowed me to be both quick and efficient at my math work, as well as understanding the basic fundamentals of math.
This "new" math scares me in a variety of ways, the most prominent being the overwhelming message to rely on calculators. As many people know, I am not a huge fan of machines doing simple work a human can do, despite calculators being extremely useful for other purposes. Using calculators for basic multiplication is something that I am not usually a fan of, even though I am guilty of it at times. This reliance on calculators teaches kids nothing and actually detracts them from the fundamentals they are learning. I know if I were a kid, and handed a very simple solution to a problem, I might fall to the trap of simplicity in a calculator. From this video, it seems that young kids these days do not have the foundation to use a quick algorithm to solve a problem, which is quite scary in my mind.
Now, maybe I am slightly biased because math came somewhat easy to me when I was a kid, but I feel that a grand majority of people that I know have the necessary foundation to do a multiplication or division quickly and with little fuss. This new math books seem to be having quite the opposite effect. I was always taught K.I.S.S. (keep it simple, stupid) and I see no reason to muddy the waters with new, confusing algorithms. So in conclusion, I must agree with the author of this video and urge others to stray away from these books, no matter how glorified they may seem.
-AFR
Now, I was never a huge fan of math, despite being fairly good at it, but this video sends a fairly disturbing message to me. Let me give a little background quickly.
As a kid, I was taught math using those standard algorithms and multiplication tables, so most of those methods on the video are new to me. I found this to be a great learning tool and a easy way to show the fundamentals of math. This fantastic foundation I have built up has allowed me to be both quick and efficient at my math work, as well as understanding the basic fundamentals of math.
This "new" math scares me in a variety of ways, the most prominent being the overwhelming message to rely on calculators. As many people know, I am not a huge fan of machines doing simple work a human can do, despite calculators being extremely useful for other purposes. Using calculators for basic multiplication is something that I am not usually a fan of, even though I am guilty of it at times. This reliance on calculators teaches kids nothing and actually detracts them from the fundamentals they are learning. I know if I were a kid, and handed a very simple solution to a problem, I might fall to the trap of simplicity in a calculator. From this video, it seems that young kids these days do not have the foundation to use a quick algorithm to solve a problem, which is quite scary in my mind.
Now, maybe I am slightly biased because math came somewhat easy to me when I was a kid, but I feel that a grand majority of people that I know have the necessary foundation to do a multiplication or division quickly and with little fuss. This new math books seem to be having quite the opposite effect. I was always taught K.I.S.S. (keep it simple, stupid) and I see no reason to muddy the waters with new, confusing algorithms. So in conclusion, I must agree with the author of this video and urge others to stray away from these books, no matter how glorified they may seem.
-AFR
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Robot Unicorn Attack
Well, again not much has happened in my ever awe-inspiring life. Well, except for one thing. My brother introduced me to the game Robot Unicorn Attack.
For those of you who do not know, Robot Unicorn Attack is a game that was originally for the iPhone, but you can now play it online. Simple Google Search it and it should pop up quickly. The game involves a similar scheme to the oldie Helicopter. You play as a robot unicorn and you merely need two keys to play the full game.
Before you dismiss it because of the name, let me tell you one last thing. It is fairly addictive and quickly becomes a large timewaster. And the song rocks.
Oh, and my high single score is 16980. Beat that!
-AFR
For those of you who do not know, Robot Unicorn Attack is a game that was originally for the iPhone, but you can now play it online. Simple Google Search it and it should pop up quickly. The game involves a similar scheme to the oldie Helicopter. You play as a robot unicorn and you merely need two keys to play the full game.
Before you dismiss it because of the name, let me tell you one last thing. It is fairly addictive and quickly becomes a large timewaster. And the song rocks.
Oh, and my high single score is 16980. Beat that!
-AFR
Monday, November 8, 2010
Thumbtacks and the Resulting Annoyance
I have this thumbtack. It is white. It almost stabbed me in the elbow today, but that is an entirely different story. For about a half an hour now, I have been trying to flatten the edge on this thumbtack and it has availed not. This particular thumbtack has a metal wrapping which is still very loose, despite my attempts to conform it to my desired shape. It has served to be a very annoying thorn in my side and will most likely prove to be more troublesome in the future.
In other news, November seems to be quite the month for astrology. Normally, I think of horoscopes as just a bunch of buzz words intended to be applicable to a large number of people. This month is different. So far, nearly all of my horoscopes seem to apply to me, even though my way of interpreting them could be a tad different. Regardless, they have all offered at least some insight into my life and the current problems I face.
Well, enough about me and my petty troubles. I would like to hear from you, the readers. Is there a specific topic you want me to talk about? Are my blogs entertaining and interesting? Or am I just another blog in the exceeding large sea of internet writers? Any input would be greatly appreciated.
-AFR
In other news, November seems to be quite the month for astrology. Normally, I think of horoscopes as just a bunch of buzz words intended to be applicable to a large number of people. This month is different. So far, nearly all of my horoscopes seem to apply to me, even though my way of interpreting them could be a tad different. Regardless, they have all offered at least some insight into my life and the current problems I face.
Well, enough about me and my petty troubles. I would like to hear from you, the readers. Is there a specific topic you want me to talk about? Are my blogs entertaining and interesting? Or am I just another blog in the exceeding large sea of internet writers? Any input would be greatly appreciated.
-AFR
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Relaxation Weekend
So this weekend I took a breather and relaxed. My school work is mostly done, and I have very little studying left to do until finals. My conclusion: a trip was necessary. And boy did it help a lot.
Oftentimes I feel I do not have the time to do much outside of school because of the massive amount of work I have to do for it. But I think it is necessary to take a break every once in a while to relax the body. It gives the mind and the body a time to rest and creates a peace of mind for oneself. I do not really have much more to say about this, as the point I am trying to get across should be fairly self-explanatory. Just take that time to relax yourself.
And drink tea.
-AFR
Oftentimes I feel I do not have the time to do much outside of school because of the massive amount of work I have to do for it. But I think it is necessary to take a break every once in a while to relax the body. It gives the mind and the body a time to rest and creates a peace of mind for oneself. I do not really have much more to say about this, as the point I am trying to get across should be fairly self-explanatory. Just take that time to relax yourself.
And drink tea.
-AFR
Saturday, November 6, 2010
The Irrelevant Post
Today I am going to discuss what the world will be like in 1842. In 1842, humans will have invented a way to communicate with animals, specifically those of the large bovine variety. These discussions with bovines will be aired throughout the world, being the single most popular video in all the newspapers. Newspapers with small televisions in them are impossible some might say. But in the year 1842, every newspaper comes equipped with that. Writing becomes almost a thing of the past, because as everyone knows, if you add two trouts to a mango, you get the square root of a kumquat.
Additionally, the year 1842 will involve a large number of invasions of neighbouring planets, the most important one being the army's attack on the planet Xelion, in the system Holeo. The acquisition of this planet leads to the necessary pacifist treaty signed with the newly-formed denizens of Mars, keeping us from destroying them entirely in our attempts to fire a interspacial laser through their planet towards Selea, one of Xelion's thousand moons.
On Earth, the Communist Republic of Yugorussiamany (a country that occurred when Yugoslavia decided to annex both Russia and Germany), nearly gets overthrown by a violent coup, where the Emperor of All Time almost getting assassinated by an over-zealous, suicide kiwi from Australia. Nearby, in the Soviet Republic of Canada, the world's scientists have gathered to seek refuge from a huge number of coconut-laden swallows, intent on destroying the new energy generator that runs on children's farts. This in turn causes the Bird War I, in which the laden swallows end up getting overpowered with Canadian geese armed with tissue paper in the shape of forks.
Mutations in the human genome in 1842 are fairly common and cause a high number of superhuman humans with dorky powers. The most significance of these new SuperDorks is Toaster Man, whose amazing ability allows him to turn the mucus of any human being into multiple pieces of toast. These new crime fighters take on a huge number of criminals, who have resorted to using lasers of highly concentrated Lady Gaga music to fend off the multiple SuperDorks coming their way. This fight wages in many abandoned cities, with the citizens of these beautiful cities leaving because of the all-to-horrible stench that is emitted from these wars between the two parties.
And how do I know all this? Because I am a time-travelling space monkey.
Additionally, the year 1842 will involve a large number of invasions of neighbouring planets, the most important one being the army's attack on the planet Xelion, in the system Holeo. The acquisition of this planet leads to the necessary pacifist treaty signed with the newly-formed denizens of Mars, keeping us from destroying them entirely in our attempts to fire a interspacial laser through their planet towards Selea, one of Xelion's thousand moons.
On Earth, the Communist Republic of Yugorussiamany (a country that occurred when Yugoslavia decided to annex both Russia and Germany), nearly gets overthrown by a violent coup, where the Emperor of All Time almost getting assassinated by an over-zealous, suicide kiwi from Australia. Nearby, in the Soviet Republic of Canada, the world's scientists have gathered to seek refuge from a huge number of coconut-laden swallows, intent on destroying the new energy generator that runs on children's farts. This in turn causes the Bird War I, in which the laden swallows end up getting overpowered with Canadian geese armed with tissue paper in the shape of forks.
Mutations in the human genome in 1842 are fairly common and cause a high number of superhuman humans with dorky powers. The most significance of these new SuperDorks is Toaster Man, whose amazing ability allows him to turn the mucus of any human being into multiple pieces of toast. These new crime fighters take on a huge number of criminals, who have resorted to using lasers of highly concentrated Lady Gaga music to fend off the multiple SuperDorks coming their way. This fight wages in many abandoned cities, with the citizens of these beautiful cities leaving because of the all-to-horrible stench that is emitted from these wars between the two parties.
And how do I know all this? Because I am a time-travelling space monkey.
Friday, November 5, 2010
The Sweatshirt Fascination
I need a hoodie. Why? Well, with all my enlightened knowledge, I still failed to actually bring one with me when I went to university. And hoodies are nice. They cover your head when it rains, make a great tool to block throwing stars with, and can be used as a bartering tool in a cinch. Needless to say, I absolutely have to have one.
While I discussed this forlorn fact with a friend, a thought popped into my mind. Why do girls feel the need to request their boyfriend to hand over their sweatshirt for the women's use. What is this fascination with all things hooded and warm? Is it because they are cold? I do not think so. I think it is a conspiracy. Let me tell you why.
There is an aphid species that can essentially poop out clones of itself. Why? To breed quickly and efficiently to fill the world with a high number of females. Are women trying to do this to? Is their motive to weaken males to allow females to slowly take over the world? It is possible, and actually highly probable. By weakening the males, their mind control devices will have an easier access to the male brain, thus enabling them to take over the male population and make it easier to eliminate any unnecessary males. Well I have news for you girls. It will not work. You would reduce your genetic variation within the species until it would become nearly nonexistent and all humans would be incredibly similar.
And I think the narrator sums that fact up quite well: "Having sex with your own clone is the most useless sex imaginable."
And if you understood my logic for this, you are either a superhuman, or just as crazy as I am.
-AFR
While I discussed this forlorn fact with a friend, a thought popped into my mind. Why do girls feel the need to request their boyfriend to hand over their sweatshirt for the women's use. What is this fascination with all things hooded and warm? Is it because they are cold? I do not think so. I think it is a conspiracy. Let me tell you why.
There is an aphid species that can essentially poop out clones of itself. Why? To breed quickly and efficiently to fill the world with a high number of females. Are women trying to do this to? Is their motive to weaken males to allow females to slowly take over the world? It is possible, and actually highly probable. By weakening the males, their mind control devices will have an easier access to the male brain, thus enabling them to take over the male population and make it easier to eliminate any unnecessary males. Well I have news for you girls. It will not work. You would reduce your genetic variation within the species until it would become nearly nonexistent and all humans would be incredibly similar.
And I think the narrator sums that fact up quite well: "Having sex with your own clone is the most useless sex imaginable."
And if you understood my logic for this, you are either a superhuman, or just as crazy as I am.
-AFR
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Microwaves
It seems that in North America, there is one unspoken rule: everyone uses microwaves. Well except for my family. We are firm believers in home-cooked meals and we use the oven for everything. I am not here to hate on you microwave users, but merely explain my view on the matter.
My experiences with microwaves have been less than cordial. One of them involved me trying to successfully heat a wrap to a proper temperature. It ended with me eating a boiling hot outside and a still-frozen inside. Not too pleasant. Despite swearing off microwaves, I still ended up using one quite recently. The situation pretty much called for it. Darn my human emotions forcing me to be polite. Well, once I pulled my defrosted bread out of the microwave, I proceeded to make a sandwich and hope for the best. Alas, it would not be. The crust of the bread was unusually tough, and the sandwich just did not taste right. So again I am trying to swear off microwaves. Again.
And why do I not like microwaves? Well really it boils down to about two reasons.
1. The microwaves that bombard the food when placed into the microwave disrupt chemical bonds and change the function and viability of the nutrients in the food. Such a sudden increase in temperature cannot be good for the food or the health benefits they would offer.
2. No one truly knows exactly how much microwaves due due to our lack of knowledge of them. Their impact could be a lot worse than possibly thought. And that is scary. Just like cellphones may prove to cause an increase in susceptibility to cancer, microwaves could do something similar.
Not that I expect to convert any of you to my ways, just a little of a spiel on the implications of microwaves. And because today I hatd to use the danged contraption.
/rant
-AFR
My experiences with microwaves have been less than cordial. One of them involved me trying to successfully heat a wrap to a proper temperature. It ended with me eating a boiling hot outside and a still-frozen inside. Not too pleasant. Despite swearing off microwaves, I still ended up using one quite recently. The situation pretty much called for it. Darn my human emotions forcing me to be polite. Well, once I pulled my defrosted bread out of the microwave, I proceeded to make a sandwich and hope for the best. Alas, it would not be. The crust of the bread was unusually tough, and the sandwich just did not taste right. So again I am trying to swear off microwaves. Again.
And why do I not like microwaves? Well really it boils down to about two reasons.
1. The microwaves that bombard the food when placed into the microwave disrupt chemical bonds and change the function and viability of the nutrients in the food. Such a sudden increase in temperature cannot be good for the food or the health benefits they would offer.
2. No one truly knows exactly how much microwaves due due to our lack of knowledge of them. Their impact could be a lot worse than possibly thought. And that is scary. Just like cellphones may prove to cause an increase in susceptibility to cancer, microwaves could do something similar.
Not that I expect to convert any of you to my ways, just a little of a spiel on the implications of microwaves. And because today I hatd to use the danged contraption.
/rant
-AFR
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Forgiving Headphones Kid
A couple of events have transpired recently that have got me thinking about holding on to things. Some are a little personal, others not so much. Recently, I talked to with my friends about holding grudges, a thing I can do extremely well when it comes to certain things. I want to reverse that concept of holding on to things, whether it be grudges, feelings, or something along those lines, and discuss a little bit about letting go.
Let me begin with a story. About a year ago, my residence held an "Olympics", where the various residence houses competed to determine who was the best house. On the fateful day, we played a number of games, the most significant being dodgeball. Now there was a kid, dubbed hereafter as "headphones kid" and for whatever reason that day, I decided to release whatever amount of anger or bitterness out on him. Now, moving back a bit to the dodgeball came, everyone was having a good time, and me, my usual nimble self, was managing to stay in the game. Well, I saw a golden opportunity present itself, in the way of an incoming dodgeball. I picked it up, ran forward, and whipped it at the nearest opponent, who just so happened to be headphones kid. Well, he did not go out. And that is what began my long, bitter hatred of headphones kid.
I would see headphones kid around campus that year, and each time I laid eyes on him, I felt that bitterness stir. To make a long story short, I have held that grudge for a little over a year now, and I feel that it is time to finally get rid of it. I feel I have been relatively judgmental in general lately, not on purpose, but judgmental nonetheless. So in my eyes, it is time to let bygones by bygones, and let go of all those emotions that I have been withholding.
So watch out world because here I come, new and improved!
-AFR
Let me begin with a story. About a year ago, my residence held an "Olympics", where the various residence houses competed to determine who was the best house. On the fateful day, we played a number of games, the most significant being dodgeball. Now there was a kid, dubbed hereafter as "headphones kid" and for whatever reason that day, I decided to release whatever amount of anger or bitterness out on him. Now, moving back a bit to the dodgeball came, everyone was having a good time, and me, my usual nimble self, was managing to stay in the game. Well, I saw a golden opportunity present itself, in the way of an incoming dodgeball. I picked it up, ran forward, and whipped it at the nearest opponent, who just so happened to be headphones kid. Well, he did not go out. And that is what began my long, bitter hatred of headphones kid.
I would see headphones kid around campus that year, and each time I laid eyes on him, I felt that bitterness stir. To make a long story short, I have held that grudge for a little over a year now, and I feel that it is time to finally get rid of it. I feel I have been relatively judgmental in general lately, not on purpose, but judgmental nonetheless. So in my eyes, it is time to let bygones by bygones, and let go of all those emotions that I have been withholding.
So watch out world because here I come, new and improved!
-AFR
Monday, November 1, 2010
The Beginning of a Quest
Hello all!
Recently I have been bogged down by a number of things, such as wrestling clowns, holding charity auctions for fallen coconuts victims and the like. I am now announcing my quest: to blog every day in November. Or for short, BEDIN. I realize that my readers are most lacking my sharp wit and stunning intellect and are in need of some intellectual and humorous nourishment. So for this month, all your wishes will be granted!
And so, the topic of my blog today. I have decided to talk about the alleviation of stress today, due to the past month's extreme workload. Here are a couple of tricks that I find very useful.
1. Drink tea. Tea is awesome. Enough said.
2. Get some sleep. I have always noticed my significant decrease in work productivity when I do not get enough sleep the night before. And those extra hours of rest are by far more useful than the cram session that your fevered brain would otherwise have to undergo.
3. Did I say sleep? Yes? Good.
4. Give yourself a little "me" time. To really relax, just take a quick hour break to read or engage in an activity to your liking. If you do not give yourself time for yourself, who will?
Well, hope that helps you a little. I realize this blog post is about as interesting as watching grass grow, but I thought I would just let you know my plan, and about the fact that I do indeed still exist.
-AFR
Recently I have been bogged down by a number of things, such as wrestling clowns, holding charity auctions for fallen coconuts victims and the like. I am now announcing my quest: to blog every day in November. Or for short, BEDIN. I realize that my readers are most lacking my sharp wit and stunning intellect and are in need of some intellectual and humorous nourishment. So for this month, all your wishes will be granted!
And so, the topic of my blog today. I have decided to talk about the alleviation of stress today, due to the past month's extreme workload. Here are a couple of tricks that I find very useful.
1. Drink tea. Tea is awesome. Enough said.
2. Get some sleep. I have always noticed my significant decrease in work productivity when I do not get enough sleep the night before. And those extra hours of rest are by far more useful than the cram session that your fevered brain would otherwise have to undergo.
3. Did I say sleep? Yes? Good.
4. Give yourself a little "me" time. To really relax, just take a quick hour break to read or engage in an activity to your liking. If you do not give yourself time for yourself, who will?
Well, hope that helps you a little. I realize this blog post is about as interesting as watching grass grow, but I thought I would just let you know my plan, and about the fact that I do indeed still exist.
-AFR
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