Control or lack thereof (Part 3)

You know what's funny? When someone takes your idea, and passes it off as their own. It's like intellectual plagiarism. For example, I said something today, you know, just a nice little announcement to tell people something. As soon as I said that, the leader of our group thingy says basically the EXACT same thing. Of course, it was with more force, but still, it was my idea, and that person was usurping the power.

Now, power isn't always the greatest thing. I just read the Lord of the Flies, and that book is all about power being a bad thing, and the struggle for power. And I don't want to get into arguments with people over who has power. But when you blatantly take an idea that was someone else's, and you make it seem your own, when it's completely obvious who was the first to come up with the idea is just infuriating. I can't help but think some people need to be the biggest people in the room. It actually reminds me of a Machinima App commercial. Not the greatest commercial, but funny nonetheless. But back to my point, some people need to be the biggest people in the room, and therefore try to overshadow other's and their accomplishments as well.

We were having a leadership meeting in YIG and I was talking about how one of the bad leaders I knew tended to take all the credit for themselves, but also tried to dodge the blame once things went south. This is just sickening. One of the most important responsibilities of being a leader is being able to take responsibility, whether good or bad. But when it's good responsibility, share the wealth. If it's bad responsibility, take the blame. Sure, you might be sacked, but it's about gaining respect, and doing the right thing. If the only thing you can do is be an egotistical person, what good are you? People need to learn to be less selfish, and more unselfish. Look at politics. Everyone thinks they are right. And everyone else is wrong. See something wrong with this mindset? Our politicians can't even AGREE with each other anymore. We're so egotistical that bartering and walking over the aisle is like equal to getting the Black Plague. JUST SO MUCH RAGE!!!!!

Ok, that was all. Hope you have a great night.

The man is a genius at music. Enjoy.

The Problem with it is that it's the problem (Part 2)

Have you ever thought the reason you couldn't do something was because of lack of information? Or perhaps too much information? I feel that this is a huge problem. When someone doesn't give you information on a project, and expects you to do that project, the end product wouldn't be pretty.

One example of this in my life is college apps. I was hoping the school would put on a seminar, "How to do a college app," but they didn't. Now, my knowledge of the process is limited at best. I've been going along based on how the application looks, and am literally doing it by the seat of my pants. I've had productive talks with my deans, and I am making progress, but it seems like slower than others. I've been confused for most of this process, and I'm just hoping I don't screw up. I'm applying early, and if I mess up this application, what does that mean for the rest of my apps?

Of course, I don't want to be overloaded with large amounts of information. If that happened, I would be just as confused. Sites like College Confidential are get, but sometimes it's just TOO MUCH INFO. Your mind can't process all the information, and the multiple threads just make the entire site a bit more confusing.

So what do I want? I think if someone gave me a roadmap, and provided helpful information along the way would be sufficient. I think this is why I'm looking to my friends for help, since the administration hasn't provided much. But yeah, that's my rant.

Here's some culture. Learn Chinese. It's good for you.

The problem with this is that it's the problem (Part 1)

Over-preparation. It sounds like a oxymoron. Can you really ever OVER prepare? 

I think in some things, definitely. Take, for example, Science Olympiad. 

This year, we're going digital with a lot of the planning. This was for efficiency purposes, and I think it will definitely have a positive impact in how our team is run. Yet, I do worry about this process. If we over prepare, collecting data to no end, and making sure that everything is ready 2 months before the actual competition, does that provide any good things in reality? 

Yes, we are prepared for the season, but we also dehumanize the process. Instead of treating people like people, we treat them as numbers, just stats on a sheet. I think this happens a lot, regardless of where you are. People in a hurry will just overlook you as a small thing compared to "more important" jobs. It's like a teacher changing a grade of a student whose parents pester just enough so that's its an annoyance. The justification is that it's one grade, how will it truly impact the life of both the teacher and the student? Obviously, it's more than that, but I digress.

So, the problem with over preparing is that over preparing is the problem. Funny how that works. 

MIA

Ever feel like you let someone down? Well, I completely felt that feeling last week. I realize I don't exactly have a ton of people who read this, but for some reason, I felt a bit guilty writing only two posts last week.

Missing in Action. It's the worst phrase ever, and not because it's badly worded. It's a depressing thing, to say someone is Missing in Action. It means the person you speak of is probably dead, or if he/she isn't dead, is facing really bad stuff. Of course, last week, me MIA wasn't because I was dead or facing really bad stuff. I just simply had a terrible cold. Yet, I feel I was missing OUT on the action, which is essentially communicating to you about my life. You could probably surmise that I was out with something.

Well, a new week begins, and already it seems like the middle of the week. Last week was horrible, because I was just so sick on my school's newspaper's print night, staying at school until 10 PM, and that probably led to more of me being sick, but this week, I feel like it's already Wednesday. Seriously, what is wrong with my circadian rhythms.

So, in honor of my returning from sickness, I'm going to post a video. FreddieW is hilarious, because he makes a lot of video game references. His most recent one was pretty funny.

Oh, and I'm thinking about posting about HC tomorrow. Comment below or +1 this if you agree.

Sick Part 2

You know another thing I hate about being sick? When I'm congested, my sinuses plug up, and my hearing decreases by about 50%. Seriously, I'm not kidding.

You know how you can usually hear others when you yourself are talking? Well, I can only hear myself, I can barely hear them. And normal conversations, I know I'm already pretty hard of hearing, but when you can't hear, it's even worse.

One good thing about having a cold is being able to drink chrysanthemum tea and 999 (which is tasty Chinese medicine..I know, it seems like an oxymoron). Add a bit of honey, and you're set.

But being sick really drains your energy. I think yesterday I wanted to sleep the entire day. Usually, I get over that by 3rd period. I did sleep a bit in 1st period, which is an open hour, and read all 2nd period. But I was dead tired by the time Problem Solving came along. Today, not so bad. I was able to stay awake, for most of the day, but by the end, I felt like I needed an energy shot aka 90 minute nap. Those work wonders.

So yeah, I'm still sick, but I'm chugging through.

Sick

Being sick is the worst feeling in the world. (That is NOT a normative statement.)

Being sick while going to school is the worst feeling in the world.

Being sick while going to school while working on a school newspaper is the worst feeling in the world.

Finishing a school newspaper 6 minutes the school server shuts down in the best feeling in the world.

Being sick while going to school at 6 AM in the morning (which I may add, meant I stayed at home for 8 hours) is the worst feeling in the world.

Add a headache to the mix, and you're just having a terrible day.

But, finishing with a dorm day, and then Problem Solving class makes it all just a little better.

That was my previous two days. Hectic no?

Math

So, for today's stereotypical nerd post, I'm going to talk about math.

I don't really know what to say here. This topic came about today, because I had successfully programmed a change of base program into my calculator, and then during Physics, absolutely struck out on solving a pretty easy (in hindsight) problem. Sometimes in math, you succeed, and others times, you just crash and burn. I find in fascinating how the "little" things are the stuff that screw you up the most in problem solving. One simple "oh..that's minutes, not seconds" can just provide enough facepalms for a lifetime. And sometimes, that one small thing is the epiphany and leads to you save the world (I wish.). 

For example, in my change of base program, there's a lot of logic required, and being able to run through every step of the program in your head can be very infuriating, and confusing at times. I, for some reason, just can't program while, for, and loops in my calculator, so I'm constantly using Goto loops and If then statements. That complicates things a bit, but it does provide me with some fun logic problems.

Overall, I guess what I've learned from doing math, is that, it's a process. It's not something you can figure out in a second, or in a lifetime. It's about having the problem in your subconscious, and methodically hitting that problem with different angles, until the epiphany occurs. And when that happens, math becomes absolutely beautiful and magical.

I don't really feel like posting a video today, so just look up a random Nigahiga video, and call it a day.