My brother (hopefully) graduates as an engineer today and what better gift than a drawing from his kid sister? ;)
Friday, June 27, 2008
Congratulations bro!
My brother (hopefully) graduates as an engineer today and what better gift than a drawing from his kid sister? ;)
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Being a Feminist
For as long as I can remember I've been a feminist. While feminism can mean many things, I'm with the dictionary on this on, "the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes." I firmly, one could almost say religiously, believe in the equality of the sexes.
Sometimes I'll talk to people that don't believe sexism is a problem today. That feminism has accomplished everything already. Some even argue that men are being discriminated because of feminism*.
I don't know what world people that don't perceive sexism as a problem live in. Perhaps they're just so used to it that they don't notice. When Berlusconi says that, "The left has no taste, even when it comes to women", that's sexism. Think about the implications of his statement. Apparently women aren't part of the left. Only the men count.
Look at some of the coverage of the presidential campaign in the US. That video made me both pissed and depressed. The part about how you couldn't have a woman in the oval office because of PMS and mood swings? Yeah, fuck you! I'm not really a violent person but that statement had me wanting to smash something.
I will grant the people saying sexism doesn't exist one thing, though. Things do look good on paper. It's people's attitudes and thoughts that are the problem. Like when people think women shouldn't do sports that are too physical.
I wish people would let go of their narrow ideas of what being male and female means and instead become feminists. It's good for your sex life.
*I know. That's not really a fair and representative link to choose. I just have a hard time sympathizing too much with the whole "the evil feminists took over everything and now it's just so hard to be male" point. I'm not saying there aren't instances where that is the case. But that's another blog post. I get mad when restrictions are made based on gender no matter what gender is being discriminated against. Hence the whole "equality of the sexes."
Sometimes I'll talk to people that don't believe sexism is a problem today. That feminism has accomplished everything already. Some even argue that men are being discriminated because of feminism*.
I don't know what world people that don't perceive sexism as a problem live in. Perhaps they're just so used to it that they don't notice. When Berlusconi says that, "The left has no taste, even when it comes to women", that's sexism. Think about the implications of his statement. Apparently women aren't part of the left. Only the men count.
Look at some of the coverage of the presidential campaign in the US. That video made me both pissed and depressed. The part about how you couldn't have a woman in the oval office because of PMS and mood swings? Yeah, fuck you! I'm not really a violent person but that statement had me wanting to smash something.
I will grant the people saying sexism doesn't exist one thing, though. Things do look good on paper. It's people's attitudes and thoughts that are the problem. Like when people think women shouldn't do sports that are too physical.
I wish people would let go of their narrow ideas of what being male and female means and instead become feminists. It's good for your sex life.
*I know. That's not really a fair and representative link to choose. I just have a hard time sympathizing too much with the whole "the evil feminists took over everything and now it's just so hard to be male" point. I'm not saying there aren't instances where that is the case. But that's another blog post. I get mad when restrictions are made based on gender no matter what gender is being discriminated against. Hence the whole "equality of the sexes."
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Gadget pointing device
I got tired of my right wrist always hurting and I think this gadget is the perfect solution! :D
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
I knew it!
Being a big child isn't necessarily bad! Read for yourself about playground rules to live by at Dumb Little Man.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Monday, June 09, 2008
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Bruising my foot
I've somehow managed to bruise my foot. I think it is from smashing into a rock in the ocean. It doesn't hurt, though. :)
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Summer
The summer is here and it's fantastic! But my apartment gets extremely hot so I have to either roast or listen to traffic. I chose the latter.
Monday, June 02, 2008
The Lessons of the Thesis
About two years ago, quite a while before I even knew what subject I would choose for my thesis, I didn't really see the point of writing a thesis. Sure, it was required to get my master's degree but what could I possibly learn from writing it that would be useful when getting a job out in the real world?
Flash forward a few years. I've been working on my thesis since May 10. I should have started a while before but that didn't happen. Thesis work is quite different from having courses. When you have courses, you read the required material*, show up for the lectures*, hand in the mandatory hand-ins, look at the exercises, show up for the exercises, email your TA and what not. You always know what you should be doing.
At any given day there is always more you could be doing. But if you've prepared for all lectures and exercise classes the next day and you've planned a bit ahead so you can still meet all your deadlines, you really don't have to do any more. You've been a good student and you can take a break. When you've met a deadline, you might have a few beers with your friends. While this may hurt your short-term productivity, the deadlines ensure that you make up for it later.
So how does this compare to thesis work? Well. Right now I have 1 deadline. It's November 10 when I have to hand in my finished thesis. I have no scheduled lectures or exercises. I have no hand-ins. In short, I have no short-term deadlines that automatically make me work. On the other hand my biggest vice is that I procrastinate an awful lot. Yeah. That's not a good combo.
One could see this as a bad thing. I choose to see it as an excellent opportunity. I'm finally forced to beat the procrastination even without a deadline nearby. I can already see myself making progress. I'm learning how to hack myself. How to get stuff done without a solid deadline. How to learn stuff on my own. When I finally hand in that thesis, I'm going to be Wonder Woman!
*Well, I do, anyway.
Flash forward a few years. I've been working on my thesis since May 10. I should have started a while before but that didn't happen. Thesis work is quite different from having courses. When you have courses, you read the required material*, show up for the lectures*, hand in the mandatory hand-ins, look at the exercises, show up for the exercises, email your TA and what not. You always know what you should be doing.
At any given day there is always more you could be doing. But if you've prepared for all lectures and exercise classes the next day and you've planned a bit ahead so you can still meet all your deadlines, you really don't have to do any more. You've been a good student and you can take a break. When you've met a deadline, you might have a few beers with your friends. While this may hurt your short-term productivity, the deadlines ensure that you make up for it later.
So how does this compare to thesis work? Well. Right now I have 1 deadline. It's November 10 when I have to hand in my finished thesis. I have no scheduled lectures or exercises. I have no hand-ins. In short, I have no short-term deadlines that automatically make me work. On the other hand my biggest vice is that I procrastinate an awful lot. Yeah. That's not a good combo.
One could see this as a bad thing. I choose to see it as an excellent opportunity. I'm finally forced to beat the procrastination even without a deadline nearby. I can already see myself making progress. I'm learning how to hack myself. How to get stuff done without a solid deadline. How to learn stuff on my own. When I finally hand in that thesis, I'm going to be Wonder Woman!
*Well, I do, anyway.
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