Meson23 - Archived Blog Posts

[meson23]

Well I thought I would try to start this thing up... hopefully I can keep it running

I guess it's good to tell everyone a little about me for starters -
I'm a grad student at Miami University, living in Oxford Ohio. So far this place doesnt impress me much, too many rich conservative stuck up brats for my liking... but the eye candy sure is good

Unfortunately most of my time is being taken up with school, and teaching (one of the many joys of a grad student is that you get to teach your own classes).

When I am not overwhelmed in my academic life I like to play xbox, chat online, or go camping.

Aight, so that is enough for now.... wake up everyone.

 

[meson23]

Do you ever think about how one seemingly small, insignificant choice you make actually worked to shape your entire life in a particular way?
For me it was simple, go to a meeting or not... at the meeting I met a prof at a university I knew nothing about. Had I not met him, I wouldnt have gone to that university... then I wouldnt have met my best friend.
He wouldnt have got me started at a pt job I hated and worked at for 2 years after graduation....
I wouldnt be in graduate school now, here at Miami...

One simple choice... go to the meeting or not, shaped my life...

dont know where I was going with this, just something I had been thinking about.

 

[meson23]

Why do physics profs need to make people hate physics more than they already do?
Let me set the scene...
I'm a grad student in physics, so obviously I like something about it (although less and less each day).
I'm just fed up with the profs making tests that are so amazingly complicated, where you learn nothing except to hate physics. Why not test us over the material that you "taught" us? I really think when the average score on a test is in the 40% range, and the highest is no more than 60% that the test was crap.
Now grades are still ok, because in physics grades are just randomly assigned at the end of the semester. Its never based on how hard you work. They have to have their "physics distribution" of grades.
One of our duties as grad students is to teach lab classes... 100 level physics lab class that is 1 credit hour... how am I supposed to get the students grads to meet the required distribution?

Everyone's answer: make the quizzes so hard that the average score is a 50%... WTF, these are Freshmen kids who are taking this class because they have to... why make them hate it more. God forbid we make it a fun and enjoyable experience for them... something that they can learn from.

Just had to vent... I have a test tomorrow, and I know I should study... but why? the test will be over material we havent learned, or concepts so twisted that you cant see the connection with our a tour guide. Plus, I am taking heat cause one of my classes isnt turining out the way it should with an acceptable number of B's

 

[meson23]

Well I took that test today. It actually was slightly manageable. I know I still got around a 50%, but hey, its physics... thats honors material (note sarcasim).
Now I get to do test part 2!!! All physics test have an in class portion, which is hard, mostly impossible, and then a take home portion which is impossible, quite laughable. But what the hell, 3 more days, 3 more and I am free for a week. Free to sleep a little, and get caught up on my reading and research. Afterall isnt that what spring break is for? to catch up on schoolwork so that you can hold your breath for the dive till the end of the semester?

 

[meson23]

Today I got to experience a Miami tradition known as green beer day. I know most of you, as did I , thought this was reserved for st. patricks day... but Miami University sees fit to have our spring break every year the week of st patricks day.
This motivated students to improvise, and invent green beer day.
To be properly celebrated, one must be in line at 5AM to get into a pub and eat green eggs and ham. Then at 530AM all bars are open and start serving alcohol. The point is to drink green beer until you have to go to class, then go to class and come back out and drink more green beer.

Unfortunately I did this all wrong, I didnt start with the food at 5am, so I got drunk too fast
I managed to get lost for 5 minutes walking to class, it was quite funny. I remained drunk through out my 2 classes, but sobered up by afternoon. I was, however, too tired and not in the mood to go back out, so I feel as tho I missed part of the experience.

Next year I will definately go to bed early the night before, start with food so I dont get drunk so fast, and party all day long. I hope that I dont have any classes that day, so it will be much better!

 

[meson23]

Why do I always have to get sick whenever we have a break from school? Its just plain not fair.
Instead of being out enjoying myself, I am stuck at home hugging my box of kleenex. Instead of drinking beer and playing xbox, I am living on nyquil and laying in bed.
I always get sick right before we go on any kind of break. I hate it! Its just not fair.

 

[meson23]

Well I found out the other day that people actually do read this, amazing. I thought I was just ranting to myself, via cyberspace
Today was a better day. I woke up around 1230PM (slacker, I know) and managed to accomplish nothing all day. Isnt that what spring break is all about?
Tomorrow I have to go to town to get my Eurail tickets...oyes!
Finally, I am done with my travel agent.... let me tell you, that was the most unpleasant experience of my life.
I mean I did all the work, ended up booking everything except the plane ticket myself. I'll never use a travel agent again. I've come to the conclusion that they are only for people who are: a) too lazy to plan their trip or b) people who dont know what the internet is.

I really cant wait to go to europe... its going to be great. A chance to see the sights, meet the people, and just GET AWAY. Trust me , I need it. This last year has tried my patience with people.... but thats a story for another day.

 

[meson23]

Well I am all packed up and ready to leave. On my way back to my parents house for the next 2 days to help move furniture for the new carpet!!
At least I am feeling a lot better now, so that makes it a little more bearable.
be back sometime friday

 

[meson23]

Ok... so I have a major problem, not sure what to do either.
As any of you who have been reading my rants know, I am a physics major (and not a very happy one). I have 1 more year to get my masters degree in physics, from there I could go out and get most engineering jobs, or research jobs, and make good to awesome money.
Here's the problem, I dont really like physics much anymore... to be honest never did. I just went into it becasue I knew I could get a good paying job.
So, do I go through with it all, get a job I dont like and make a lot of money, or do I go to school for what I want to do, make no money, but enjoy my job?

What I want to do, and what I have wanted to do since at least high school is be an archeologist. More specifically and egyptologist. I've always been really interested in egypt, the ancient culture, or any ancient culture for that matter. I remember the best part of spanish class was learning about the mayans.

Here's the major problem... archeology and physics arent related at all. not even close. So I would have to start over, I am looking at at least 4 years maybe 5 to get a masters (after I take all the undergrad classes), then another 3-4 for a PhD. thats like 8 years, making me 32. Plus I dont have the money for college, I can only go now because its all paid for by the department, since I teach for them.

One thing is certain, I am going to finsih my physics masters... I mean that would be just stupid, only 1 year left. If I got into archeology and hated it (unlikely) or cant get a job (more likely) at least I have something to fall back on.

 

[meson23]

Well I finally decided what to do about my problem with my major/career. I am going to meet with an anthro prof on campus this week. Try to get some archeology classes from here, while I finish my masters in physics. That way I can maybe cut the amount of time that I have to be in school down a little. Plus I want to see if there is a possibility of me getting a job with only a masters degree. I hope this all works out, I'm a little nervous, but its time to stop worrying and take some action. Just do it
As for endings... spring break is officially over, tomorrow at 9am I will be in my office, at it again I have mixed feelings about the ending of spring break. On one hand, I want it to not be over because, well duh! On the other hand I am glad its over, cause that makes it closer to the end of the semester and time for my trip to Europe. I cant wait for this... I've wanted it so bad, for so long!
Plus the ending of this semester is great, its the last semester I will hate so much. After this I am research bound, which means no more stupid classes I hate and dont learn anything in!!!!!!!!
As for new beginings... well tonight, I finally got rid of the title Virgin... at least here on JUB
I am on the prowl, so watch out boys... here I come

 

[meson23]

Well I went and talked to the prof about switching to archeology today. He told me that there were actually many opportunities for fusing my physics degree and interest in archeology into 1. So that made me happy, means I havent wasted the last 5 years of my life, nor will I have to continue in school for another 5 or so.
Plus he told me taht most of the schools with these programs are in the UK... I wanna go to the UK for school so bad, just to get out and get a chance to live somewhere else in the world. I plan to investigate some of these schools when I am in London this summer!
Spent all day doing a lab report, ugh. I didnt understand like half of it, so I am sure I wont do so hot on this one. Thats ok, I rocked the last one. Oyes!
Gotta wake up at like 630AM on a SAT.! Going back to the parents homestead for about an hour, then taking one of my friends and heading to Chicago to stay the night in an awesome 4 star hotel! Dont get all excited, its a girl that I am taking
We just need some quality time alone to talk, catch up, and get the final details of this europe trip ironed out!
Its going to be cool tho, cause I have never stayed in a 4 star before. I usually go for like $50/night rooms at red roof or knights inn type places, could be interesting. THis place was only $100 a night tho, they had some kind of special rate going on, so I said what the hell.... its right on the lake, great view, no clue how to get there, etc
I hate driving in Chicago... everytime I have been there (which isnt a lot) I seem to make a wrong turn and end up lost forever! One time I got lost and ended up trying to drive right through the taste of Chicago... that was interesting.
So I wont be here till sunday night, not that I have been around a lot lately.... this week was totally rocking my ass with homework. I had to work my butt off today to get to actually go on this little weekend excursion.
Come back and hit the grind again sunday night, finish some homework, proofread my lab, and start my other lab that is due next friday - Oh Joy!
Just 45 more days, thats all I tell myself... then the pain is over, and the joyous time begins. Plus, I wont take any physics classes next semester, just do my research... that means I will have so much more time... not being wasted on things that I have no clue about, nor do I care to have a clue about.
So that is my little short update... gotta hit the sheets tho, gotta wake up in like 6.5 hours... and then drive 2 hours, get a hour break, then drive like almost 4 to the hotel... I'm gonna need a drink when I get there, thats for sure!

 

[meson23]

So I am back from my little excursion to Chicago.
Overall it was a lot of fun, much more so than I had originally thought it would be. The friend I went with had just recently fell and tore some ligaments in her foot, so I assumed we would mostly be staying in or around the hotel, but she was up for exploring so we got to do some shopping on Michigan ave. It was great. I tell you there are a lot of very good looking guys in that area. I met the guy of my dreams at a Walgreens, but I dont think he realized the role he was supposed to play so he left... haha, damn maybe next time.
That night we went to Navy Pier, my first time there - it was freakin awesome. Clear night, not too cold, not busy... just walking and looking back on the city, it was one of the best views.
Later that night we ventured to the bar in the hotel... I never thought I'd pay $5 for a beer unless I was at a sporting event, or had some person dancing erotically in front of me... but I was wrong. We spent way too much money at that bar, but oh well.
Then back in the room, my friend who was way beyond drunk decided she wanted a scotch on the rocks... nasy stuff I tell you. So we got into the mini bar in our room. You think $5 a beer is costly, try raiding a mini bar. Luckily I was somewhat sober, and limited us to 1 small $7 bottle of scotch and 1 $5.50 can of beer for me.
The beds in that place were the most comfortable I have ever had... I wanted to take one, but I figured they would notice.
Getting there was a chore tho... as I mentioned in my earlir blog I get lost every time I go to Chicago - This was no exception. I swear people leave out turns on purpose just to make like difficult.
By the time I got to the hotel, I was ready to start punching people in that town. I swear people in Chicago drive like crazy drunk people.
To make it worse, I could always see the hotel, just not get there via the 3 levels of streets I had to navigate
I tell you one thing, taxi drivers in that town need to be controlled, they dont have a clue how to drive. We saw like 7 near collisions because of them just turning across 3 lanes, or changing lanes without looking... I was almost in a wreck leaving today because one of them tried to cut 3 lanes to turn. I wanted to beat him. Did I mention I didnt like drivers in that town?
By the time I was about 3 blocks from the hotel I learned how to drive Chicago style... just gun it and pray... it was so much easier then, but I am sure I pissed people off.
The drive home was long. 4 hours to my friends house to drop her off then another 2.5 to my place from there.... I dont wanna drive for a long time.
I've got some pics from the trip, if I figure out how to get pics from a camera phone to a computer i'll post em... anyone have a clue on that?
Well, I spent the last 4 hours getting my homework finished up, I am miserably tired, so I think I am going to bed now....and think about the last day and a half... it was great.

 

[meson23]

Today was an awesome day, or so I was told. I got to spend it in my office doing homework all day, but at least I got to spend a few hours looking outside.
I really love when we get warm weather, cause thats when the guys start getting skimpy on the clothes
I love watching guys jogging shirtless while I am in class... makes it kinda hard (no pun intended) to concentrate on what I am supposed to be learning.

Other than that, its just nice to be able to walk outside without having to wear a coat, or freeze. I broke the shorts out today for the first time... omg my legs are so pale white, I am surprised people didnt crash from the reflection off them when I was walking to my office.

37 more days and this semester is over, OYES. that means 40 more days till Europe, double OYES. This has been by far the worst week all semester, I havent had time to even do dishes yet... and thats not like me.

Time for bed, and an early start to the day tomorrow.... Just got to make it thru tomorrow and then I am fine. 2 of my 3 classes are canceled on friday, so I think I will take that day off.... I havent skipped class yet this semester, so whats 1 gonna hurt?????

 

[meson23]

Ok, this is my rant for the week. It may piss some people off, but so be it.
I had just gotten out of class yesterday and noticed many of the students were seated in the lounge watching TV, of course the news about Teri Schiavo. That whole situation just pisses me off, I mean how did the US government get involved? I think they seriously crossed the line, as this administration is so fond of doing. NOw I am not going to get into the argument about if the tube should have been pulled or left in place, I dont see how anyone can make that argument without truly knowing what she wanted. I know if it was me, that I would not want it. If there is no hope for a recovery, let me go - it will be less painful for my family and friends in the end. All of my family knows this, so I dont think it would be a problem. I just pisses me off how much media attention this got, and how much our government got involved - shouldnt they be doing other things, like their actual jobs?

Then last night, I get on to play some games, chat, read posts, etc and I see the thread started about the condition of the Pope. It just made me sick reading what so many people here wrote.
I'm not Catholic, or really a very religious person, but some of the things people said really pissed me off. How can you be happy that someone is dying? Wishing them to go to hell? Isnt that a little extreme?
I dont agree with everything that he has done, and I certainly know that he hasnt been a leader in a gay rights movement... but still, thats just not right to say those things. Do you really think the next pope is going to be better? Is he going to say embrace homosexuality? I doubt it. He may be worse.
We bitch so much about tolerance, tolerance, but do we actually show it? To my knowledge he never said go out and kill gay people, lock em up, etc... he was talking about his beliefs. To most of us they seem ridiculous, but they were what he believed in anyhow.
Maybe if we truly want to reach a time in human development where gay people are accepted equally, then we should stop acting like second graders who got forced to share thier favorite toy and start acting like adults.
Just my thoughts.

 

[meson23]

I love this weather we are having here. Its about 70 degrees each day, perfectly clear skies, and the boys are plentiful and rarely fully clothed
Today my two afternoon classes were cancelled so I decided to hit up the driving range, see if I could still swing a club and hit some balls... well I stink! I need so much practice, its like I forgot everything I learned last summer.
Grillin out tonight, nice angus steak, potato, and beer... lots of beer. I love grilling out, its like part of my psyche... I grill I grab a beer. It must be the old ways coming to life... man, fire, beer, <grunt, grunt>.
As I promised, I have some pictures, like two, from my chicago trip. I will try to get a couple more up when my friend sends me copies of the ones she took. I can truly say camera phones suck at night for photographs, well duh!
Anyway, click here for the pics.
Let me know what you think. Anyway, gotta get back to the food on the grill... peace out everyone.

 

[meson23]

Today was a typical boring, long, fairly uneventful tuesday. I hate tuesdays because they are the longest days for me... but its all almost over, 2 more weeks! (yes, I am already counting this week as over) and the semester is done!!!
I did a lab today for one of my classes, it was freakin awesome tho. For those scientific people out there it was with Raman scattering. We had a laser that had a huge intensity, so it was able to populate higher vibrational levels of nitrogen, these produced their own "lasers" so in essence we had 6 different lasers being formed from 1... and the output on the wall was totally awesome... of course the actual procedure wasnt as cool, but that was an interesting side effect.
We have a new prof. teaching that class... its hard to get used to a new person with only 3 weeks left. They were supposed to do a team teaching of the class, but the one teaching now missed the first part of the semester because she was having children, triplet to be exact... ouch!
She seems nice, its just a different format than I am used to... so that bothers me somewhat... I really liked the style the other guy used... oh well.

I then found out that two TA's got into an argument over one of the others teaching style... which I guess somehow got the department chair involved... which lead to him finding out the professor in charge of this lab does nothing for it... so things are fairly tense around there now, and only getting worse... somehow I know I am going to get pulled into all this, I hate that shit.
I do my job, and do it well so what does that get me? Extra work! Part of my summer gets to be spent re-structuring the class (free of charge, of course) - all this just because I am competent in my job... what a reward.

So I am done teaching and I come home... there are kids playing in the parking lot.. 2 black kids, 1 middle eastern, a hispanic kid, and one white girl. It was so cool to see... makes me wonder when and where people learn their prejudices? These kids were having the time of their lives... they didnt care that they were "different" from each other... I think we should all start thinking more like kids.

I check my mail... I have a letter inviting me to join the NRA... yeah fucking right... those lunatics can go to hell.
I'm all for upholding the constitution, hell I own 3 hunting guns myself...but that organization takes it too far... I mean who needs semi-automatic assult rifles? Does it really hurt things to make people register? I sure wouldnt complain if I had to register for my rifles.
I mean seriously, do you think that when our forefathers wrote the constitution they would have ever invisioned people being as ignorant and have such access to these types of weapons? If so I bet they would have written "NO FIREARMS". Just my thoughts.
So now I am off to re-heat leftovers for dinner, work on some research and a lab report, and then relax a bit... such is a day in the life of me!

 

[meson23]

I hate the media a lot. I really think they should re-evaluate their "get the story" stance on some issues.

Yes, I know we all like news... but sometimes they do things that are just so tasteless, like tonight, that make me sick.

I am sure most of you dont know, but this past weekend there was a fire in a student rental house and three students died. In a small college town like this, anything this tragic obviously brings people together.

Tonight, there was a student led memorial/reflecting service. This was basically a time for friends and supporters to gather and reflect with each other on their friends lives. Unfortunately I wasnt able to attend, but on my way home I saw that the media was there eating this up.

I mean WTF, these people are there to support each other, to reflect on their friends lives, and to mourn together... not to have some punk ass reporter pulling them over to talk about their feelings for the news.

Have some respect, I dont think a service like this was the appropriate place for the media to show up.

So much for the plan tonight to relaxing a bit.
I hate the media.

 

[meson23]

Well the end of the semester is upon all us college students... and I for one am totally grateful! This is the semseter from hell, 3 graduate level courses plus teaching 3 classes has basically killed me!
From here on out its smooth sailing tho, I am only taking 1 class next semester, the rest is research! Then the last semester I will take no classes, just write my thesis!!

This also means my trip to Europe is so much closer than i think I realize... 3 weeks from today I will be in Dublin, actually from today I will be in Dublin on my way to London. I so cant wait.

The problem with the end of the semester is motivation... I always seem to lack it and this is the time whe the profs seem to demand it most. Like tonight for example, I did nothing school realted... I just chatted online, watched some TV and drank some beers. Ok, so I will be motivated tomorrow I guess
Or later today as it is already almost 1am.

I did some updating to my galleries tonight, added a couple of new ones so check em out.

 

[meson23]

Well its here, the time I have been waiting for since oh about Janurary... the end of this semester. THis is the last week of classes, then off to finals!
I love the last week, because all the profs realize they didnt cover all they wanted to, so they cram so much shit into the last week that we dont even have a hope of understanding it all. Plus they love to load the homework up this last week too... this is no different for me. I spent all weekend basically doing homework for 2 classes, and I have a HUGE assignment I havent even started for another yet that is due thursday. Plus sometime I have to grade the projects that my students did last week... so when are we supposed to study for finals again, I forget.

The best part about this semester being over iis that all the second year grad students will be leaving... I dont like most of them. They are mostly arrogant, prejudiced bastards. I wont be sorry to see them go (except for 2). I can only hope that the new students coming in will be a little more civilized, and respectful of everyone.
Some of them make me sick when they talk about being a liberal. If they are liberals then I am so far left that I cant even SEE the spectrum.

2 more weeks till I am off to Europe!!! I cant wait (bet you're tired of hearing that). I just bought a new digital camera tonight, it should arrive in the next 2-3 days... I had to pay extra to get it so fast, but it will be worth it. So when I get back, I should have TONS of pics to share. I bought an extra memory card that holds like 512MB of files! So I can use a good resolution too, and still take tons of pics.

Well time for me to hit the sack... gotta get up early and start the grind again. Gonna go to bed and dream about my crush, my dream guy that will graduate in a week and I most likely will never see him again... dammit!

 

[meson23]

Well I have some GREAT news! I just found out today that this guy I have a total major huge crush on is staying here for graduate school. I knew he was graduating from undergrad, and I figured I would never see him again... but tonight I found out he isnt going anywhere... that gives me like 1.5 more years to work my magic on him. Plus as a grad student he will be in the offices with me... I cant wait.
Time to celebrate