It snowed down here in Richmond, Virginia, so I was out of school 3 days longer than I should have been, and I skipped the day we were supposed to go back. I've just been sitting around the house deppressed bacause my mother has been driving me nuts, and she's been at work while my brother, sister and I have been home.

First, I told her that I was going job hunting and that I wanted to work at this store called Spencer's in the mall. She says, "No, I don't want you working there. They sell inappropriate things there.' So, of course I get pissed about that, beacuase I know that I've heard and seen way more inappropriate things than the stuff that they sell at Spencer's.

Then, I ask her if I could go to my boyfriend's house for Valentine's Day, and she give me this whole crappy story about how his uncle just died (my boyfriend's family hated him and my mother knows that), and how we'll have to "see." Now, Valentine's day is 2 weeks away, the funeral is tomorrow, I believe that that's enough time for a family who hated the person who died to grieve. Besides, my boyfriend said that I could come over already.

All of that happened last night, today her "friend," (who is a guy) that she cheated with on my father, is here and they're doing their taxes together. As soon as she mentioned his name I have an atitude. She's now wondering why I don't want to eat any of the chinese she just bought, and he gave this whole story about how he wouldn't eat if I didn't. So, I said, "Well, I guess you won't be eating." Of course he's in there lapping up some shrimp fried rice and I'm in my room writing a node without any food. I hate his guts!. I hate his guts even more today because I started my period and I'm in excruciating pain. I feel like crawling into a small closet and crying, if only I had one.

I awoke this morning to the cat whining. Only, this time she wasn't using her usual whiny kitty meow. She sounded like a lot like Michael Clarke Duncan (large man in the Green MIle) under water.

I don't remember what she said, but I'm sure she said something about getting out of bed and serving her food. And her tone of voice sounded like her kitty waterer. I was so confused, that I figured I should go back to sleep and hope that when I awoke, I would slide into a world with friendly kitties who let their humans sleep until noon.

2rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr7SXXX7W888M
X:::::::::,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,i::: X;;;0
X,,,,,,,,,,,..............................................................:,,. 7:::0
a;;;;;;;;;rX777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777r72SSX;MWWWM
2iii:iiii:i;iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir;;i.W222M
2::::::::,:iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii::rii: BSSSM
0rrr;7XXX7XSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSXS8ZZa7MWWWM
8;;;irrrr;r7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r777777777rrrrrrrr;;rrr7777777777777rrr;;;;;;;;rr7777777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r777777777,.         .i7777777777777:           .7777777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r777777777 MMMMMMMMMMM,7777777777777 MMMMMMMMMMM 7777777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r777777777 MBBB0WWWWMa 7777777777777 @M@@W@MMMMM 7777777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r777777777 M000ZB000M2 7777777777777 WMWWBWMMMMM 7777777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r777777777 MMMMWMMMMM0 7777777777777 MMMMMMM@@MM 7777777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r777777777 MWWW0MMMMMZ 7777777777777 MMMMMMMMMMM 7777777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r777777777 MMMMMMMMMMM.7777777777777 MMMMMMMMMMM 7777777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r777777777,           i7777777777777:           .7777777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r777777777777777rrrrr7777777777777777rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r777777777777777rrrrrr777777777777777rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r777777777:     ,r777r777777777777777r777;.     :rrrr777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r77777rrrr MMMMM7irrr77777777777rrrrrrrrr:ZMMMMM rrrr777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r77777rrrr MWWWM::rrrr7777777777rrrr7rrrr.7M@@MM rrrr777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r77777rrrr M@@@M     .;rrrr77777rrrri     .MMMMM rrrrrr7777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r77777rrrr MZZZB@MMMM0i7777rrrrr7rrr.MMMMMMBZZ0M XXXXrr7777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r77777rrrr M888ZBWWWMa,7777rrrrr7rrr WMWW@W800BM 777Xrr7777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r77777rrrr MMMMMMM@@MX               ZMMMMMMMMMM.777Xrr7777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r777777777:i    2aSSa0WMM@MMMMMMMMMMMB2SSa7   .i:7777rr7777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r777777777rr;;; 88aaaZ000ZZMMMMMB@@@MZ2ZZ0a.;;;rr7777r77777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r777777777r7777:@MMM@MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM@MMMWi777X77777r77777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r777777777rrrrriri:::::::,.         ..,::i;irrrrrrrrrr77777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r77777777777777rr;;;;;;;;;i:::::iiiiii;;;;;rrrrrr7777777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r77777777777777r77777777777rrrrr7rrrrrrrrrr7777777777777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r77777777777777rrrrrrr7rr7rr777r777777777777777777777777777777;raSSXiM888M
8;;;irrrr;r77777777777777777777rrrrr777777777777777777777777777777777777;raSSXiM888M
Ziii,i:::,:i::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::,:7;;;,WaaaM
W777;22SSXaZaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa2a088ZSMBBBM
Wrrri22SSX28ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZaa088Z2MBBBM
Z... :,.. ,;iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii:;X777rW888M
MZZZSMM@@W@MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM@@M@@@W@WWWM
MZZZXMM@@W@M@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@WWWWWM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Yesterday was Higuchi-sensei's last day as the drill instructor for my section. She was definitely one of my favorite teachers ever, though I can't really point out exactly why.. she was just awesome in that kind of awesome way. I still have no idea what Informatics is, even though I have an A+ in the intro class. I completely missed a lab assignment and a homework assignment, but I still should have an A. I tend to always turn in my Japanese late or unfinished, so in it I have a low A that I believe should be a B. Last I checked it was around 95%, though, which was surprising.


WMB                                                                                              XMW
WMM ;;;;;;;;;;;;;a:                                                               8;;;;;;;;;;;;; BMW
WWMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM0                                                              ;MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM@W
WW@MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMi                                                               MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM@WW
WW@ZBBBBBBBBBBBBBMX ........Z                                          S:....... iMBBBBBBBBBBBBB8W@W
W@W ;;;ir;;;;;;;;i@MMMMMMMMMM                                          MMMMMMMMMMMi;;;ir;;;;7rrr:8MW
WMM:222Sa222a2222r0MMMMMMMMMM                                          MMMMMMMMMM@;222Sa222SaaaarWMW
WMMi222222222222278MWWWWWWWWM    ;                                r    MMWWWWWWWMB722222222SaaaarWMW
WMMi222aSSSSS2a22SXr;;;;;;;;iMMMMM                                MMMMM7iiiiiiiii72222222222aaaarWMW
WMMi222aS222S222222222222222:MMMMM                                MMMMM;S2222222S2222222222SaaaarWMW
WMMi2222S222S222222222222222;MMMMM                                MMMMM7S22222SSS22222222222aaaarBMW
WMMi2222aaaaa222222222222222XriiiiMMMMMW                    XMMMMM:iii;XS22S2aaaa222222ZaaaaaaaarWMW
WMMi22222222222222222222222222222iMMWWM;                     MWW@M,22222222S22222222222aaaaaaaaarWMW
W@Mi22222222222222222222222222222iMMWWM,                     MWW@M,222222SSS2222222222Sa22222222rBMW
W@MraaaaaaaaZ22222aZaaaa222222222iMMWWMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMWW@M,222Saaaa2a2222aZZZaaZZZZZZZZZ7WMW
W@M;aaaaaaaaa222222aaaaa22222SXXX:MM@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@MM.XXXX22222222222aaaa2Zaaaaaaaa7BMW
W@M;aaaaaaaaa222222aaaaa222272rrr;@MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMirrrX722222222S2a2222aaaaaaaaa7WMW
W@M;aaaaaaaaaaaZZZ2S22222222iMMMMM;,:::::::::,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,:::,,MMMMMX2222aZZZaaZZZZaZZZZZZZZZXWMW
MMM;22222aaaaaaaaa2222222222:M@@@M7X222222222SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS222SiM@@@M;S222aaaaaaaaaaaZZZZaaaaaX@MM
MMM2rrrSXaaaaaaaaa2222222222;MMMMM2X222222222SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS222S7MMMMMXS22Saaaa22aaaa2ZZZZS2XXXaMMM
   MMMMMraaaaaaaaaaaaaaa2222X;:::;7S222SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS222222222S7r:::;Saaaaaaaa2aZZZZZZZZZXMMMMM   
   MWWWMiaaaa222222aaaaa222222222aS2222SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS2222222222Sa2222aaaaaaaaa2aZaaaaaZZZrMWWWM   
   MWWWMiaaaSX;;;rX2aaZa2222a2aaaa22222SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSX2222222222Sa2222aaaa2a222SXX777S2ZZZrMWWWM   
   MWWWMiaaa7MMMMMW722222222aSSSSS22222222222SSSSS2a22222222222222a2222aaaa2ZZZZ20MMMMMXZZZrMWWWM   
   MWWWMiaaa;M@WWM8r22222222aS222222222222222SSSSS2222222222222222a2222aaaa2aaaaSaMWWWMrZZZrMWWWM   
  .MMMMM7iii B@WWM8r22222222aS222222222222222XSSSX22222SSSSSSSSSSS2222Saaaa2aaaaSaMWWW@,;;;SMMMMM2  
        MMMMMMWWWM8r22222222aS22222222222222222222222222aaaaaaaaa2Zaaaaaaaa2aaaaSaMWWWMMMMMM        
        MWWWWWWWWM8r22222222aS222222222222222222222222S22222222222aaaaaaaaa2aaaaSaMWWWWWWWWM        
        MWWW@MMMMMW7222222222SSSS2S2222SSSSSS22222SSSSS222222222SSaaaa222222aaaaS0MMMMM@WWWM        
        MWWWM;:iir7S2222222222aaaa222222aaaaa22222aaaaa22222aZaaaaaaaaaZZZZZaaaa2SX77r;MWWWM        
        MWWWMXX22a222222222222222222222222222S222S22222222222aaaaaaaaa2aaaaaaaaaaaZaa27MWWWM        
        MWWWMXSaaZ2S22222222X;::::,,,,:rS2222SSSSS2SSSS2SSSX7;iiiiiiii;Saaaaaaaa2aZZZaXMWWWM        
        MWWWM7X22S2ZaaZa2222;MMMMMMMMMMWX222aaaaa2ZZZZaaZZZ20MMMMMMMMMMSaaaaZZZZZZZZZaXMWWWM        
        MWWWMXX2222aaaaa2222,MWWWWWWWWM8r222222222aaaaaaaaaXaMWWWWWWWWM72aaaZZZZZZZZZaXMWWWM        
        MWWWM7X22S2aaaa2S222,MWWWWWWWWMZr22222222Saaaa2a222X2MWWWWWWWWMr2aa2aZaaaZZZZaXMWWWM        
        MWWWMXSaaaaaaaaaaaaaiMWWWWWWWWM8XaaaaaaaaaaaaaaZZaaSaMWWWWWWWWMXaZZZZZZZZZZZZaXMWWWM        
        MWWWMXSaaaaaaaaaaaaaiMWWWWWWWWM87aaaaaaaaaaaaa2aZaaSaMWWWWWWWWMXaZZZZZZZZZaZZaXMWWWM        
        MWWWMXSaaaaaaaaaaaaa;MMMMMMMMMMBX222222222222222aaaS8MMMMMMMMMMS2aaaaaaaaaaaa27MWWWM        
        MWWWMXSaaaaaaaaaaaaaXaXXXXXXXXSS2aaaaaaaaaZZZZZZZZZa22SSXX2SSSZ2ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZXMWWWM        
        MWWWMXSaaaaaaaaaaaaa2a222222222aaaaaaaaaaaZZZZZZZZZZaa2222aaaaaZZZZZZZZZZZZZZaXMWWWM        
        MWWWMXX22222222222222Zaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa2aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZaXMWWWM        
MMMMMMMZMWWWMS2aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZa8ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZXMWWWM0MMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMWWWMS2aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZaZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZaXMWWW@MMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMM8rrr7X2aaaaaaaaaaaaaSSX77XS2aaaaaaaaaZZZZZZZZZa2SXXXSaZZZZZZZZZZZZZa2SXXX8MMMMMMMMMMMMM
             @M@@MB2ZZZZZZZZZZZZZSMM@@MBaZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ8M@@@M2ZZZZZZZZZ8888Z8M@@MM             
             MM@@M0SZZZZZZZZZZZZZXMM@@MB2ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ888a8M@@@MS888888888ZZZZa8M@@MM             
             @MWWM8XZZZZZaaaaaaaaXMMMMM07XXXXXXXXXXXXXXSSSSXZMMMMMSZZZZZZZZZZZZZaZMWWMM             
        MMMM2MMWWM8XZZZZZZZZaZZZZ28ZZZa0WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWBZZZZ8a8888ZZZZZZZZZaZMWW@MSMMMM        
        MMMMMMWWWM8XZZZaZZZZa8ZZZZa222X0M@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@MWSaaaa88888ZZZZZZZZZaZMWWWMMMMMM        
        MMMMMMMMMMMXXXXS2aaaaZZZZZZZZZSBMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM@2ZZZZ88888ZZZZZa2SS2@MMMMMMMMMM        
   M000W ........ XMBBWW2ZZZZZZZZZ88ZZaZ088888888888888888808Z888Z88888ZZZZaBWBBMZ ........ 0000M,  
   MMMMM          iMMMMMSZZZZZZZZZ8888ZZaaa22ZaaaaaaaaaaaaaZZ8888888888ZZZZ2WM@@MZ          MMMMMi  
   MMMMM          7MMMMMSSSSSSSSSSaZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888888Zaaaaa22222MMMMM@          MMMMM   
S2S;;;;@     882227;;;::M00000000WZZZZZZZZZZZ8888888888888888ZZZZa@BBBB0000Mr,;;;7222a@     07;;;X2S
MMM          MMMMM7     MMMMMMMMMMZaZZZZZZZZZ8888888888888888ZZZZ2M@@@@MMMMM      MMMMM          WMM
MMM          MMMMM8     MMMMMMMMMM02222222222aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa2222ZMMMMMMMMMMi    iMMMMM          MMM
S88          8822W;     M22222222:@W8888000080000000000000000000BM.22222222@      @22a@          S0S
                                  WMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM                          

Physics is incredibly time-consuming but also incredibly rewarding. At the moment, C.W., Fergus, Mike Snow, and I are working on a rather interesting problem. We have a hollow aluminium cylinder with a radius of 5 cm and a thickness of about half a centimeter which masses about 600 grams, and to the inside we can attach one of three rods with screws. The rods are the same length, but have differing diameters and masses. The one we're currently working with has a radius of about 1.3 cm and a mass of about 170 g. With this rod attached, the center of mass of the cylinder moves by a bit over 7 mm from the center point of the cylinder. With this position for the center of mass, and a total mass of 784 g (counting the screws whcih shouldn't affect the center of mass at all) - or, in fact, with ANY non-centered center of mass and a given mass, how would we determine the position as a function of time? Any position - that of the cylinder, the center-of-mass, or the angle the center has rotated through - should be able to be found. We know the torque on the object (as a function of the angle between the center position and the center of mass), which gives us angular accelertation, and given the angle rotated through, we can model the position, &c.. but we absolutely cannot solve any of these models for elapsed time. I have no idea how to get time into any of these things or how to account for it, etc. It's really, really annoying.


                                         :rX22Z88W008ZaSr;:                                         
                    ..  .        SMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM;          .   .                  
                 :.         .0MMMMMMMMMMMMMM@0Sr; :;X20MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMZ        . .                  
                    .    :MMMMMMMMMMWi                        7@MMMMMMMMMM       .                  
        .   .         rMMMMMMMMW.          .:ii:ir;i;ii:.          iMMMMMMMMM                       
             .,     MMMMMMMM7       :i;rrrr;;;;;r;;;;;;rrrr7X7i.       8MMMMMMM2       .            
                  MMMMMMMZ      :;rrrr;iiiiiiiiii:iiiiiiiiii:i;rX7i.      @MMMMMMa      ,           
         .      MMMMMM@     ,i;7r;i:::iiiiii::::::iiiiiii::iiii::i;rr;:     ,MMMMMM8                
              BMMMMM2     i;rriiiiiiii:,. .,::iii:::iii::::::::iii::i;;;;;     @MMMMMS              
            iMMMMMB    .rr;:;;::i:::i;i ..    ,:i::ii::iiiiiiii:::ii::i;i;;X     MMMMMM             
           MMMMMM     Sr;::i,,;i:::;i. rMMMMM.   .;:.;i:ii:::::iii:::::::iiri;:    MMMMM8     .     
  .      iMMMMM    .77i::ii;ii:  .:i,i;    ,MMM@   :ri:i,:iiiiiiiiiiiiii:i;:irr;.   2MMMMM          
        7MMMMM    :r;ii;:i::i  ;7              WMW   ::;iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii:::,i;i;r;    MMMMM         
       @MMMM@   ,r7:ii.       7MM,,8MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMW  ,i,::::ii::::::iii:i;i::iiirX    MMMMM7   ..  
 .    MMMMM.   7;;;,;:.MMM@0MMM0  @MMa           aMMM7  i;i:i::iiiiiii:::i::i:i:::r;i   ZMMMM7      
     aMMMM;   X;i:i,:, raWaMMa  .     . i:,,,:,.    MMM;,i:i:,i;,,i:::::iiiii:::i:i;r,   0MMMM:     
    iMMMMi   ii;,,i;iii    M2  :iii;::i:ii:iiiii:,r  iS:,;,          .:::::iiiiii:ii,2,   WMMMM     
   7MMMMS   i7;ii;.::,;:: 0M; ,:i,::ii::::ii:,:::i:,,. .:,.aMMMMMBXi     .,:ii::::i:i:7,   MMMMM,   
   MMMMW   rr7.i,;,ir:ii, MM  ::iii:i::ii:ii:i;i:i:ii,:;:;:..,7WMMMMMMMM7    ::i:i:r::;ii   MMMMW   
  ZMMMM   :7:,i::i::::::  MM ,;,::::::::::::::::ii::iii::::.      SMM, 8MMM7  r:::ii::iri.  :MMMMr  
  MMMMi   ;r::;:iiiiiii: 2MZ .::i:iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii:iiii:::,   8MW   MMM   Si,ii:i;;r   8MMMM  
 8MMMM   iri:ii::iiiiii, @MS ,::i:iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii:::ii:::i:  rMM    i0M  i:iii:iir    MMMMX 
 MMMMS  .;;:i:,i:iiiiii  MMZ ,i:i:iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii::::iiiii:.. iMM  . MM  ,i:i::::;;.  BMMMM 
 MMMM   ;;i:;i,;:iiiiii ;MMW  i::iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii::ii:iri  ,MM  . MM  .::::i:ir.  ,MMMM 
.MMMM   7i::::ii:iiiiii 8MMM, i::iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii::::iiiiiii:::. ZMX . iMMr   ;i,:i;:   MMMM 
7MMM2  ,riiiiiiiiiiiiii MM,MS ,i:iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii:::iii;  MM   MMSMMMS.r:::i7.  @MMM.
8MMM.  .;iiiiiiiiiiiiii MM MM, ::iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii::iiii,.  .  8Mi   Bi i.ii;i.  2MMMi
BMMM   7iiiiiiiiiiiiii: MM  M@ .i::::i::::iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii:i:.:;;i:,   M0  i   ;i:;::r,  2MMMr
MMMM   7iiiiiiiiii:::i: MM  MM7 ,i:ii::ii:iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii::ir:.ii.:  MM ,7,i;i:::,ii7:  rMMMX
MMMM   7iiiiiiiii::::ii MM   MM7 .i:ii,i:iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii,.iiii  2MM  i.;::::iii:i;.  ;MMMS
WMMM   ;iiiiiiiii::::ii MM    MM7  ii,ii:iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii:ir;..  MMM  :i;::iiiiii:i7,  SMMMr
0MMM   i;iiiiiiii::::ii MM     MMa  i:i.;iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii:,,,   MMM  ;,:,;:iiiiii:i7,  2MMMi
XMMMa  ,ri:::::ii::::ii MM      ZMM.  ii::i::::::::::::::::::::::i:  .@MMa  iii:ii:iii:::i:r   @MMM.
,MMMM   rii:ii:i:iiiii: MM        MMB   :::iii:::::iiiiii:ii::i:   .WMMMa  ::ii:i::::i:iiii;   MMMM 
 MMMM   ;;i:ii,i:iiiiii 8MMr       7MMM    ,:i;;i;iiiii:,;::i    ZMMBMMS  :ii::::i::ii::iiX    MMMM 
 MMMMi  ,;i:ii:i:iiiiii XMMMMX        MMMMi      ....        .MMMM  MM  .::iiiiiiiiiiiiiii7   WMMMM 
 0MMMM   i;iii:i:iiiiii .MMMMMM,        7MMMMM0;       ,;0MMMMM;  ;MM  :,;:iiiiii:ii::ii:;:   MMMM2 
 ,MMMM   i;iii:i:iiiiii. MM@@MMMM2          rMMMMMMMMMMMMMM;     MM0  :i;i:iiiiii:iii:::iX   0MMMM  
  0MMMM   rX.ii::iiiiii: 2M0X2aBMMMM;                          ZMM   ,i::i:iiiiii::;,;;ir.   MMMMX  
   MMMM8   ;r;,i:iiiiii:  MM0088ZBMMMMMZ                     ;MM8  .i;i::::iiiiiii:;.:;ii   @MMMM   
   SMMMMi   7ii;:iiiiiii, WMWa8008WMMMMMMMMMS               MMM,  :;i::iiiiiiiiiii.i;;r:   0MMMMr   
    SMMMM   ,;7,:iiiii::: .MMB8008Z8@MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM,  ::iiiiii:::ii:::ii;:i:;   BMMMM.    
     MMMMM    ;7i:::i:iii. aMMZ000088aaBMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM;  ,,iii::ii::i::::iii:iiXi   7MMMM7     
      MMMMM    rriii:::iii  MMM880B0BBZ2aBMMM@MMMM@MMMMMM:   ;i:i::ii::i::::iiii:::2:   rMMMM8    . 
   .   MMMMMr   ;i;ii;;:,i:  aMMZ8B80WW08aBMMM@MMMMMMM0    i:,,iii:iiiii:::iii::i77,   MMMMM2       
        ZMMMM0   .rrii:iiiii  ZMMWZZ0BB808Z0@MMMMMMM2   .i:::i;i:::iiiii:ii:ii;;i;    MMMMMi   .    
         aMMMMM    ,r;ii,:i,i.  MMMMB8ZZZ0Z8MMMMM8    .iiiiiii.,ii::iii:::i:i;;;.    MMMMM,  ..     
    .      MMMMMX    iX;i;,ii,:   ZMMMMMMMMMMM7     ,iii:::::i;;:,ii:::ii:i:rr,    MMMMM@      .... 
            aMMMMMi    ;7r;i:::,,               :::ii:::iiiii::::iii::iii;r7i    WMMMMM:            
              MMMMMM,     i77;iiii:,       .:iiii:iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii:ii;;r;.    ZMMMMM@              
         .     iMMMMMMZ     :;r7r;i:iii:,:::::::::iiiiiiiiiiiiiii:ir7r;,     @MMMMMM                
         , ,     .MMMMMMB:     .:r7riiii::::iiii:::::::iii::ii;;rXri.     7MMMMMM@      .           
                   ;MMMMMMMW       ,rr77XX7r;;;;i;;;;;i;;rrXX7;:.       MMMMMMMM                    
                      ZMMMMMMMMS          .:iiirrXr;;rr;::          ZMMMMMMMMi                      
                .  .     aMMMMMMMMMWi                          XMMMMMMMMMMr     :                   
                            2MMMMMMMMMMMMM@2;,        :7aMMMMMMMMMMMMMMr      .  :                  
                                XMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMB:        . .                     
                                       .;X2a88W0@@@WWB0ZaS7i                                        

The wordcount of my novel has died. It is currently 6774. Today and yesterday, I wrote nothing. The day before I wrote 219 words. I still plan to finish this story, which will definitely take longer than 50,000 words, and probably longer than January. So I lose NaNo, but I gain SoulForged. Lately, instead of writing, I have been doing homework (gasp!!), which might explain my lapse in wordcount. At the moment, I ahve one full survey to transcribe, plus one that I'm a third of the way through taht I don't understand, and one taht I'm almost done with taht has some errors in recording. Fun. At elast I did two and a half more today (!!!). I am planning a TriStat (Big Eyes Small Mouth, Silver-Age Sentinels, etc.. very easy to learn and light on rules) campaign set in the Rockman X universe (no knowledge required). So far I only have 3 players interested, and I'd like somewhere between 3 and 10 total, especially experienced people who can lead the story in interesting ways, as I'm definitely not a good storyteller but I'm probably the most knowledgable about the setting. Anyone in B-Town who's interested in playing, even if it's only a one-shot deal (you can always be killed off or play one of the Irregulars), comment away. Because the way I structure the unit (I'll either do character creation absed on player input or provide guidelines to everyone based on waht I want) will depend on how large it is, I need to know demand before I get into the nitty-gritty details.

8888888ZZ8ZZZa0MMMMMMMMM2SaZ8ZZ88888888888888888ZZZZ88Z8888Z88888Z888888Z88ZZa2SSXSS2ZZZ888888888888
888888888888a8MM      2MMB2Z888Z8ZZZZZZ888ZZZaaaa2aaaaaZZZ88ZZZZ888888888ZZZa20MMMMM02S2Z88888888888
8888888ZZZZ8Z8MM7      7MMZaZ88Z8888Za2X77XXSSS2aaaa2SSXX77XS2ZZZ8888888Z8ZS0MMMMMMMMMM8a88888888888
8888888888ZZa28MMMMMX   XMB2ZZ8ZZ2SXX2aBMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM@0aSXX2aZ8Z8Z8Z2WMM       ZMWa88888888888
8888888Z88808Z2SS8MMMMM22M@2ZZ27XaBMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMW8SXX2Z882ZMM:     iMMM0aZZZZ8888888
888888888888888ZZZS778MMMMM8;7ZMMMMMMMMMMMar,         .rSaWMMMMMMMMMWaXX22WM,  7MMMMM@22Z88008Z888aZ
8888888888888888ZZZ88aXXX2080MMMMMMMMX     .::,,i;77ri.      .aMMMMMMMM0SX0MMMMMMM2XXSZZ888ZZa222Z88
88888888888888888ZZZZZZSr2WMMMMMM2    :;rrrrr7XXX7r;;rr77;;;i.   iBMMMMMM@MMM@8SS2aaZ8888ZaSS280ZSSZ
888ZZZZZ888888888888ZaXaMMMMMMB.  :r7r;;rrrrrr;;rr7777rrrX7r7Xr;i,  rMMMMMMBr;X2ZZ808ZZZaXSWMMMMMMBS
ZaSXXXXX7X2a2Z8Z88ZaSaMMMMMMr  .irrrrr777rrr777777rrrr77rrrrrrr7r;ri   aMMMMMW22Z8ZZ8ZaX2@MMX    MMZ
SBMMMMMMMMB2XXXaZZ2S0MMMMMa  ir77rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr7rr77ri, :WMMMMM8S28ZZS2WMMMMBai   MM
MMMX     0MMMM@8aSaMMMMMB, :r77rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr7X7r;r7ri. rMMMMMB2SZ8WMMMMMMMMMMM ;M
Mr      rMMMMMMM22MMMMM7 ,i7X;r7rr;i:,..,,:i;rrrrrr77rr;i:,,,,,,:;7XX7r77i  8MMMMW222BM@a77XSXXMMMMM
M:    MMMM27Xr77ZMMMM@, ir7rr7;.    .:ii::.:,i7r7r7rrri,..::,,,:    ,;rrr7X: rMMMMM22aSSaaZZZZaSX8@a
M@   0MMZSaZ882ZMMMMB:.;7rr7;. :aMMMMMMMMMMMW;7;r7rr;7iWMMMMMMMMMMMX..,;7rr7i.rMMMMMZ2Z888888ZZZZa2a
WMMMMMMZSZZZ8a2@MMMW, iX;77i ,@MMMMMMMMMMMMMZ r7r777rr,8MMMMMMMMMMMMMB  i;::,  .MMMMBXZ088Z888888888
XXXXSSX2ZZZ8aS@MMMM. r77;77 SMMMMMMa7r.  ir7i:77r777rr:iSSi,::;a0MMMMMMZ.:r;,:. .WMMM0rX2aaZ88ZZ8888
ZZZZZaZ88Z88S0MMMMi ;7;:,..7MMMMZ    .,:,.,:r7;rrrrrr7ri,  ,,.     ZMMMMriMMMMMMMMMMMMMMBaSSaZZZ8888
Z88Z88Z08882ZMMMM2 i;,  XZ:XMMMM7.irrrrr7;;7r;77rrr77rr77rrrr77r7; 7MMMM8.,;::XBMMMBi2MMMMMMZ2888888
8888888888ZS0MMMW.   iMMMMW.      .,,:;rrXXrrrr;:       .;Xr;7rrr;i::   .:ii,.   iMM:     MMMaaZ8888
8888888ZZ8Z2WMMM7  aMMMMX  :.   ,:i::.  :rrr7r. ,ZMMMMMW; :77X7rr77ri:;r7X7rr777; 7MMr     8MBaZ8888
8888888ZZ82ZMMMW ;MMMMB  ;: :0MMMMMMMMMa  ri: iMMMMMMMMMMa.,iirrrri:ir;;;;rX7rr7;..8MM:   rMM8a88888
88888880Z82BMMMMMMMMM8 .;: 2MMMMMMMMMMMMM:   XMMMMMMMMMMMM7              ,iir7r;7X.7MMM@;MMM0SZ88888
88888888ZZ28MMMMMr SMS ii.0MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM2WMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMW@MMMMMMMMMr ,rrrXr;,iMMMMMMMZSZ888888
888888888ZS8MMM@   2MM;:,SMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMB;i;77rr:,WMMMZrS2Z0ZZ8888
888888888Z2BMM8    :MMS .0MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMZ.;7r77:.WMMM0288ZZZ88888
8888888Z88X8MM.    .MM7 rMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM@@MMM@@MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM@MMMMMMMMM@MMW,;rrrr:iMMMM0SZZ808Z8888
88888888ZZ20MMMM8  MMMi SMMM@MMMMMMMMMMMMMM@MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM@@MM:i7777,rMMM@2a88ZZZZ8888
888888888820MMMMMMMMMr. aMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM8.;7rrr SMMM@aZZ888888888
8888888Z8Z2a@MMMr ,. .i.ZMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM;,rr7ri BMMMB2Z88ZZ888888
8888888888ZS0MMM8  ir7r ZMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM2 ;r77; rMMMM82Z88ZZ888888
888888888Z8aZMMMMS ;rrr aMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMi.Xrr7:.BMMMWSZ8ZZ88888888
88888888ZZ8a2WMMMMi,;r7.ZMMM@MMMMM@@MMMM@@MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM0.i777; XMMMM82888888888888
888888888Z8822@MMMa i;r.ZMMMMMM@MMMMMMMMMMMM@MMMMMMMMMMMMM@@MMMMMMMMMMMMMX Xr;; iMMMMB2Z888888888888
888888888ZZ0ZSaMMMM8 ,;.rMM@MMMMMM@MMM8MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM7,iX7 :MMMMBSa8888888888888
8888888Z88888828MMMM8 .:.8MMM@@M@MMMMX  SMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM@MMM0MMMMMMMMMMMW,.;; ,MMMMMZ28Z888888888888
88888888ZZ0ZZ8Z28MMMMW..,.BMMMMMMMMMMi,: .WMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMi aMMMMMMMMMMMa.;.:MMMMMZSZ8Z888888888888
888888888888888ZXZMMMMM    rMMMMMMMM7.;7;, ;MMMMMMM@MMMMMMM7  ZMMMMMMMMMM7  7MMMMMZ2Z888888888888888
888888888888888ZZ2ZMMMMMZ     .i;:  .r;rrii, .aMMMMMMMMMZ:  ri  7BMMMBX   ,@MMMMWS28888Z888888888888
888888888888888ZZaSa@MMMMMr  ::..,ir;;7XrX7ri,    ,,,    ,rrr;;i.        aMMMMMB22ZZZ88Z888888888888
88888888888888808Z8ZS8MMMMMM,  :r7rrXXrrrrr7rrr;i:,.,:ii;7rrr77Xriii.  rMMMMM@SXa88ZZ888888888888888
888888888888888ZZ8ZZaSS0MMMMMM7   :r;ir7r7rr7Xr;7777777XXr;rXXr;;,   ZMMMMMMZSaZ88Z80ZZ8888888888888
8888888888888888888888aS2BMMMMMM@7   :ir7rrrrrrr7rrrr77r;r77;i.  .2MMMMMMM82Sa8888888888888888888888
88888888888888888888888ZaXS0MMMMMMMMS      :i;;;r7777rii:.    ,2MMMMMMMM8SSa888Z88888888888888888888
88888888888888888888888Z88ZSX2BMMMMMMMMMM8;              r8MMMMMMMMM@aSXSa888Z8888888888888888888888
888888888888888888888888ZZZ8ZSXr70MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM@27XaZZ88ZZZ88Z88888888888888888888
88888888888888888888888888888888aSX7XS280BWWMMMMMMMMMMM@WWB082X7XSaZ88888888888888888888888888888888
I gotted a puppy two weeks ago. He’s a Shetland Sheepdog and his name is Java because he looks like a mug of dark coffee with cream swirled in. He does not look like a programming language.

I’m probably a bad person for having done so.

You see, I got Java at a pet store instead of from a rescue group or a breeder. I did everything I could to ensure he was healthy and I was not feeling puppy mills. I did not take him home the day I met him, when he fell asleep in my arms. I called three vets the next day—my regular vet, the store’s “recommended” vet, and the vet of a friend.

I got the same answer from all- that PassPets does a horrible job on their small mammals, but their puppies are some of the better ones in the city. They say they see very few genetic defects, and from all the pedigrees they get in, it was their professional opinion that the store uses species breeders, not mills. I examined several dogs’ pedigrees myself and saw breeder names from across the country, rarely if ever the same one on multiple breeds. His breeder seems to be a smalltime woman, she does not have a website, but she has a lot of shelties registered with the AKC. She has had, in the past 20 years, a few dogs of other breeds, a couple cocker spaniels, one dachshund, but it seems that she never bred those seriously and focused on the Shetlands. I did what I could.

That confession out of the way, the next time I hear someone talk about dogs as “man’s best friend” I will be sent into a murderous rage. So very many people buy friends—I mean dogs—with NO idea of how to handle them. If you want a companion to share your space, get a cat. Or a hamster. Or maybe a turtle or small parrot. (Not the big ones, they often outlive you.) They can go about their business pretty much with or without you, as long as they’re fed. They’re happy to see you, but most can live without you if needs be.

Dogs are totally dependant creatures. They will be absolutely loyal to you, but they will NEVER be your equals. Most people forget dogs are pack animals, not solitary ones. Dogs are happiest and healthiest as beta or even gamma members of the “pack”. They need to know their lives are in your hands, very literally.

Dogs that are allowed to be Alpha dogs almost always develop serious behavior problems. They become overly aggressive. They will often misbehave just to “put you in your place”. They may develop overly destructive behaviors. And they are much tenser dogs—they worry about defending their home and pack and spend all their time concerned and on guard. Some alphas literally worry themselves sick.

The other end of the spectrum is over coddling. Treating a dog as a baby may make you happy and you think it’s so cute, but it’s bad for the dog. Dogs that are kept as eternal “puppies mentally and never developed and worked with and given a real role in the pack have their own problems. They do feel ‘the baby’, and many become overly timid (because EVERYONE outranks them), develop serious submissive urination problems, and become nippy out of fear.

A dog that knows you are the boss, but that he has an important and valued place in your pack below you is most likely to develop into a carefree, loving, incredibly loyal, and overall much better companion. He will obey you, not from fear, but because he respects you as his leader and he will want to please you. If you give him tasks and things to do, he will be much happier learning and developing a niche than languishing in mental boredom.

Yet so many people get dogs just to have a pet and never take the time to properly train, socialize, and educate them. These animals get food, water, walks, and yes many of them do get love, but nothing more than that. Not what they need as pack creatures.

This rant was inspired by some of my neighbors. There are 4 other dogs in my complex. One, a fairly old toy poodle, is beautifully trained. The other three are horrible.

A Jack Russell terrier is overly aggressive with other dogs and won’t handle well at ALL on a leash when her owner is trying to talk on her cell phone. There are also two dachshund pups with two different owners that are 6 and 6.5 months old respectively. NEITHER is yet housebroken properly. The one in my building barks at EVERYTHING at all hours of the night because he has to “defend” his house. The other is so timid he will submit to my 12-week old puppy and pee out of fear because he was never properly socialized with other dogs at a young enough age.

It just infuriates me to see people ruining perfectly good dogs through their own ignorance. I am NO master trainer, I’ve never raised a puppy before. But I’ve been working with Java doing clicker training. He already understands sit, bed, and can go up and down the stairs on command. We’re working on down and drop it!. He’s pretty much housebroken. He KNOWS he’s supposed to go outside—if he misses, it’s usually my fault for not taking him out sooner. He hasn’t messed his crate overnight in a week. This is not a time consuming chore, does not take away from my daily business. It interweaves with it.

Please, people.. if you are going to get a dog (or any pet!)… do your homework. DO it right. The results will be astounding and so beneficial, for you and your animal.

In the not-too-distant future...

Somewhere in time and space...


Mike Nelson and his robot pals are caught in an endless chase...

I've been watching a lot of Mystery Science Theater 3000 lately, mostly because I've had a nasty sinus infection and have been spending afternoons in bed in front of the television, but also because the series is ending its fifteen year run on television today. Yes, the show has been out of production since 1999, but the reruns have endured every Saturday morning on the Sci-Fi Channel and, despite having the last three years of the series plus a smattering of older episodes on VHS tape, I continue to watch the weekly broadcast. At 11:00am PT today, something special will vanish from television, perhaps forever. I cannot let this moment pass without making a few comments about the series and what it means to me.

The first episode of the show I ever saw was a rerun of a Season Three experiment, The Human Duplicators, but it was episode 701 (Night of the Blood Beast) that was my first new episode way back in 1996. It took me a while to figure out just what I was seeing. Yes, I caught on to the wisecracks at the movie right away, but who were the gumball machine and the golden reindeer? Why were they watching these horrible movies and why do some episodes have this "Major Nelson" guy and others that sleepy-eyed stoned guy? Thanks to the Internet I caught up on the show's backstory and soon realized just who these people were and what they were doing on the Satellite of Love. Just as I'd begun to watch the series, I learned that it had been cancelled and would end after episode 706, Laserblast. It was around this time that I knew I had to tape as many episodes as I could. Not since the age of five and the childrens' show Gigglesnort Hotel had I sought to tape as many episodes of a television show as possible (yes, I am aware that my two television taping quests revolve around puppets. I am not sure what this means). Over the summer of 1996 my parents and I made the pilgrimige to see Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie as it traveled around the country, one theater at a time. We stood in line for hours for tickets and fortune smiled down on us, as we picked up the last of the tickets and show writers Jim Mallon and Kevin Murphy were on hand to speak about their experiences with the series following the film. Years later I look back on that night with my VHS and hard-to-find DVD editions of the film as well as an actual chunk of the Deep 13 set. When Season Eight of the series popped up on the Sci-Fi Channel in 1997, I was there, VCR at the ready. Seasons Nine and Ten came and went, and the series finale, episode 1013 - Diabolik, aired during my first weekend at college in August 1999.

And now, after five years of reruns, Mike Nelson and his robot friends leave television after episode 912, The Screaming Skull, ends. I know that I'm sorry to see them go; the Sci-Fi Channel is following in former MST3K home Comedy Central's footsteps - they are cancelling the series in order to show actual bad movies. It's a shame to see this happen because I say that now more than ever we need the simple premise of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and the purity that the riffing and satire bring. Have you seen what's on prime time television lately? Reality shows, overly scripted bland sitcoms, boring dramas, celebrity interviews, and other such claptrap. One thing that MST3K never did during its television run was to stoop to focus groups or pander to the audience. The series made you think as the references shot the gamut from classical music to poetry to obscure forms of entertainment. When's the last time you saw Must See TV do that?

It seems to be inevitable that television's smartest, funniest shows all too often shoot over the heads of the lowest common denominator in favor of shows like Eat Bugs For Money or Fart Date. Somehow, thank god, Mystery Science Theater 3000 flew under the "popular person" radar for fifteen years, giving the rest of us over 170 episodes that can never be taken away, no matter how often the unwashed masses furrow their brows and say "Why won't they shut up? I can't hear the movie!"

Godspeed, crew of the Satellite of Love. You will be missed.

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.