This morning I went to my geography class on Violent conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa. We had a great lecture on the DRC (Dem. Rep. of Congo). My teacher spent time there recently and really wanted to communicate to us the magnitude of the situation the people face there. That country is in a REALLY bad way. The factions that are all fighting and years of international intrusion have left a nation that could be incredibly wealthy due to its resources in a dire state. It's quite tragic. After all the discussion about DRC and its issues, my desire to go to Africa is even stronger. I just REALLY want to go there and make a difference. In fact, after I got home from class I sent in an application to win a trip to Africa with a NY Times journalist. The lecture today just put me in one of those mindsets where I suddenly am very aware of the incredible span of difference between the life I lead and the lives of many of Africa's poorest folks. As I got a drink from a drinking fountain right after class I realized that I should even be joyful that I have clean and fresh water that I can trust so readily available. I lead a life full of luxuries that many Africans can't even imagine, and they lead lives devoid of things I can't even imagine. It's quite sad, but makes me want to make a difference. Of course I most want to contribute to human rights, but any difference I could make at all would be great.
After my class I came home and applied to win that trip, and then after a while I headed back up to campus. On the way there I looked at my phone and realized that I'd missed a call. It was from an area code I didn't recognize, so I thought it might be a law school. They left me a message and sure enough, I got accepted to George Mason! Woot! It's definitely one of my top 3 choices. I was thinking it was one place that I was feeling fairly borderline about my admission chances.
So I was feeling pretty great about that and went and bought some food in the student center. I sat down with my food and saw that they had CNN playing on the TV there. Of course they were covering the earthquake in Haiti. It's an incredible thing when nature can shut down the center of a nation badly enough that people can't even get into the country. Watching the coverage brought my mood back down, but also reminded me of how much I want to make a difference in the world. Hopefully the more I say things like this the more I'll be driven to actually do something about these feelings.
Anyway, that was the roller coaster of feelings that I felt this morning. I can't wait to figure out what comes next. K, see ya later.
Showing posts with label earthquake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label earthquake. Show all posts
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Hot-Boiled Drat...
I heard that phrase said on an episode of the Dick Van Dyke Show the other day, and I thought it was pretty darn hilarious.
Random: If anyone that goes to USU really needs a job, even one with very few hours, please let me know. There are a few openings at my work that will be available to interview for on Friday. (Two days from now!) Anyway, let me know. You need to be pretty computer savvy, and friendly-ish. That's about it.
Anyway, all I want right now is to sleep. However, I'm at work. This isn't a great place to sleep. A great place to sleep, though, can be found in the institute building. It's quite peaceful there, and there are a myriad of couch/chair options. I had myself a nice 5-10 minute power-nap this morning. I'm a fan of power-naps. I always over sleep and ruin the "power" part of them, but when I can get in just a brief 15 minute nap or so, I feel great! Napping for an hour or more always makes me super groggy.
School is going fairly well thus far. No major complaints.
Spencer and I played racquetball yesterday, and my K-nees are K-illing me! That's all about that.
Hmm... the only other important update that I feel I need to add to this entry is that today I'll be mailing off the very last of my law school application paper-work. So I'll be officially done applying for law school after I get one envelope off in the mail to BYU. SWEETNESS~~!!!
Hmm... since I've still got about 2 hours of work left, I think I shall compose a list of a sort that I haven't done in quite a long while. A RANDOM THOUGHTS LIST!!!
K, see ya.
Random: If anyone that goes to USU really needs a job, even one with very few hours, please let me know. There are a few openings at my work that will be available to interview for on Friday. (Two days from now!) Anyway, let me know. You need to be pretty computer savvy, and friendly-ish. That's about it.
Anyway, all I want right now is to sleep. However, I'm at work. This isn't a great place to sleep. A great place to sleep, though, can be found in the institute building. It's quite peaceful there, and there are a myriad of couch/chair options. I had myself a nice 5-10 minute power-nap this morning. I'm a fan of power-naps. I always over sleep and ruin the "power" part of them, but when I can get in just a brief 15 minute nap or so, I feel great! Napping for an hour or more always makes me super groggy.
School is going fairly well thus far. No major complaints.
Spencer and I played racquetball yesterday, and my K-nees are K-illing me! That's all about that.
Hmm... the only other important update that I feel I need to add to this entry is that today I'll be mailing off the very last of my law school application paper-work. So I'll be officially done applying for law school after I get one envelope off in the mail to BYU. SWEETNESS~~!!!
Hmm... since I've still got about 2 hours of work left, I think I shall compose a list of a sort that I haven't done in quite a long while. A RANDOM THOUGHTS LIST!!!
- I hate making résumés. Really not a great activity.
- I ate a really good cherry cheese danish this morning. Mmm...
- I just randomly got the song with the phone number "867-5309" stuck in my head. Or, I guess I should say, I got the chorus for said song stuck in my head.
- I feel for the people in Haiti. I wish I could actually go there and do something to help out. I think it's great to donate money and all, but really I wish I could actually physically help, ya know?
- I really want to go to Africa. If I can't get a decent internship this summer, or don't land any other great job, I really want to volunteer for an international aid group or something for the summer. That would be a dream come true.
- My friend said a word the other day to describe gross stuff (like skuzz, or goobers, or whatever) that I think is DISGUSTING sounding, but perfect for said definition. The word? Bonch.
- 867-5-30 NIIYINE...
- I hate when my leg starts bouncing involuntarily and I can't control it. I'm sure other people around me hate it, too.
- I just had a craving for a sausage egg Mcmuffin! Gross...
- Some people look cool.
- BONCH!
- There's some dude that keeps wandering around by the front door of the lab... what a weirdo.
- I don't think I should be allowed to call other people weird. Besides, he just left.
K, see ya.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Top Ten Reality TV Game Shows
Is it just me, or does it seem a lot like there are more huge earthquakes than usual lately? I mean, I guess I don't know for sure how often larger earthquakes happen, but I have certainly heard about earthquakes in the news a lot more than usual lately. The Ring of Fire seems like it's particularly active. There were a couple big ones in Indonesia a while ago, the largest one of 2009 near American Samoa (8.0 on the Richter), and now there have been a series of big ones near Vanuatu. It's nuts! Anyway, maybe it's just my awareness of them, but it does seem like there are more than normal.
Well, here's a random top ten list:
Call me lame, but I really like reality TV.
TOP TEN REALITY TV GAME SHOWS (That I actually have watched):
10. America's Got Talent
This one definitely just barely makes the list and was completely disappointing this year. I can't believe I watched the whole season as it all ended in a sub-par country singer winning a million dollars. Can they please get some classier judges? I mean, at least Jerry Springer isn't the host anymore, but c'mon. Sharon Osbourne? David Hasselhoff?
9. The Real World/ Road Rules Challenge
So, I have to admit that it has probably been more than 10 years since I've ever seen this show or even really thought about it. I used to really like it, and I have to give props to at least the Real World half of it as The Real World was there in the very beginning of reality tv.
8. Fear Factor
This one was always entertaining to me. I would never go on this show, but I did find enjoyment in watching it. Especially when they did CRAZY stunts. I hated when they had to eat gross crap though.
7. Here Come the Newlyweds
Not really sure why this is so high on the list. It's not an amazing show. I just needed one more to make 10. I did enjoy watching it this last season, but mostly just because there was a Mormon couple on it.
6. American Idol
Ok, I'll admit that I like it. I don't watch it faithfully or anything, but I do like it. And yes, I pretend I'm a contestant when I'm alone in my car with my music at some insane volume. Simon Cowell is the most entertaining part of course.
5. The Apprentice
While I am a big fan of the fact that The Celebrity Apprentice raises money for charity, I really don't like anything else about it. (But yes, I watched it.) Anyway, the old classic The Apprentice was awesome. It's just a really interesting premise, and I think is definitely a lasting favorite of mine. And I don't like Donald Trump, either!
4. I Survived a Japanese Game Show!
Ok, I'm positive that I'm probably the only person in the world that would rate this show so high on a list like this, but I am a big fan! I think the Japanese are awesome and that their insane game shows are very entertaining. I don't necessarily love the reality part of this show, but moreso the actual Japanese game show (Majide) that the Americans participate in. It makes me laugh, and I think I would go on this show. (Despite the occasional eating of gross things which would have kept me off of Fear Factor.)
3. The Biggest Loser
I never watched this show before the last season. I have to admit that it's pretty amazing. It's awesome because it encourages people to make a huge POSITIVE change in their lives. All the rest of these shows aren't quite as inspirational (or inspirational at all actually.) As opposed to the last entry, I like the reality part of this one a lot more than the game show part of it.
2. The Amazing Race
I'd consider participating in this one above all the others. I love that you get to see all sorts of places around the world while being a part of one of the craziest races ever. The very first season was the coolest because it seems like they didn't help the people NEARLY as much as they do now. I still quite like this one and am watching the current season.
1. Survivor
I've been a big fan from the beginning. I missed quite a few seasons in the middle there, but I watched all of the first 5 or 6 seasons, I watched last season, and I'm watching the current season. I love this show. It's reality tv to the core. It's a faux reality of course, but it's still an awesome show. I think it, more than any other reality tv show, demonstrates the true character of its participants. The current season has the NASTIEST player I've ever seen. He's SUPER manipulating. Anyway, this has always been my favorite and is really the only reality TV show that I'd put in any sort of top ten favorite TV show lists.
Well, here's a random top ten list:
Call me lame, but I really like reality TV.
TOP TEN REALITY TV GAME SHOWS (That I actually have watched):
10. America's Got Talent
This one definitely just barely makes the list and was completely disappointing this year. I can't believe I watched the whole season as it all ended in a sub-par country singer winning a million dollars. Can they please get some classier judges? I mean, at least Jerry Springer isn't the host anymore, but c'mon. Sharon Osbourne? David Hasselhoff?
9. The Real World/ Road Rules Challenge
So, I have to admit that it has probably been more than 10 years since I've ever seen this show or even really thought about it. I used to really like it, and I have to give props to at least the Real World half of it as The Real World was there in the very beginning of reality tv.
8. Fear Factor
This one was always entertaining to me. I would never go on this show, but I did find enjoyment in watching it. Especially when they did CRAZY stunts. I hated when they had to eat gross crap though.
7. Here Come the Newlyweds
Not really sure why this is so high on the list. It's not an amazing show. I just needed one more to make 10. I did enjoy watching it this last season, but mostly just because there was a Mormon couple on it.
6. American Idol
Ok, I'll admit that I like it. I don't watch it faithfully or anything, but I do like it. And yes, I pretend I'm a contestant when I'm alone in my car with my music at some insane volume. Simon Cowell is the most entertaining part of course.
5. The Apprentice
While I am a big fan of the fact that The Celebrity Apprentice raises money for charity, I really don't like anything else about it. (But yes, I watched it.) Anyway, the old classic The Apprentice was awesome. It's just a really interesting premise, and I think is definitely a lasting favorite of mine. And I don't like Donald Trump, either!
4. I Survived a Japanese Game Show!
Ok, I'm positive that I'm probably the only person in the world that would rate this show so high on a list like this, but I am a big fan! I think the Japanese are awesome and that their insane game shows are very entertaining. I don't necessarily love the reality part of this show, but moreso the actual Japanese game show (Majide) that the Americans participate in. It makes me laugh, and I think I would go on this show. (Despite the occasional eating of gross things which would have kept me off of Fear Factor.)
3. The Biggest Loser
I never watched this show before the last season. I have to admit that it's pretty amazing. It's awesome because it encourages people to make a huge POSITIVE change in their lives. All the rest of these shows aren't quite as inspirational (or inspirational at all actually.) As opposed to the last entry, I like the reality part of this one a lot more than the game show part of it.
2. The Amazing Race
I'd consider participating in this one above all the others. I love that you get to see all sorts of places around the world while being a part of one of the craziest races ever. The very first season was the coolest because it seems like they didn't help the people NEARLY as much as they do now. I still quite like this one and am watching the current season.
1. Survivor
I've been a big fan from the beginning. I missed quite a few seasons in the middle there, but I watched all of the first 5 or 6 seasons, I watched last season, and I'm watching the current season. I love this show. It's reality tv to the core. It's a faux reality of course, but it's still an awesome show. I think it, more than any other reality tv show, demonstrates the true character of its participants. The current season has the NASTIEST player I've ever seen. He's SUPER manipulating. Anyway, this has always been my favorite and is really the only reality TV show that I'd put in any sort of top ten favorite TV show lists.
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