Wondermazement

Through my Twitter feed, I am always finding random, hilarious, weird, interesting content. There was no way to collect these things in case I wanted to refer back to it. Thus, Wondermazement was created. I try to update from time to time, but it all depends on how often I find stuff to post.

One of Those Nights

Tonight is one of those that I feel like staying up. The coffee might have contributed to my alertness and I have been fairly productive. This semester has been a drastic change from the previous one...seldom am I pulling all-nighters and rushing to finish assignments. Now, my body just shuts down on me and I fall instantly asleep. How convenient. This has contributed to more than one incomplete assignment, mostly those for programming.

Matlab (programming in general, rather) is not any easier the second time around. I still have trouble grasping various concepts such as recursion and least squares regression. Programming is basically conceptual math and physics. We have to spend countless hours writing functions that calculate fairly simple tasks such as matrix multiplication and solving linear equations. It just does not interest me whatsoever. At least now I know I hate two things with a burning passion: organic chemistry and now programming. At least my engineering graphics design class is somewhat fun.

On a different note, I haven't been very successful in keeping with my New Year's goals/resolutions. My plan was to work out at least once every two weeks...at the time it seemed like a practical goal. Even then, I haven't exercised once since the new year began. In the past, I've been fairly good with keeping up with my goals, but after entering college, I have been much lazier. I would much rather watch a TV show or movie for hours on end than spend just 15 minutes running. My lack of motivation is also very evident in this very blog. Posts are few and far between. This is all going to change (I hope). I will try to update more often and start exercising...soon.

Up and coming

A post is long over due...it's been more than three months since my last one. Time has been passing by and I haven't been able to record it all...a whirlwind of thoughts linger in my mind, with no where to go.Without writing them down, they are all lost among a sea of memories.

Soon...

Recursion

Yet another late night and my third update in less than 36 hours. Like every other all nighter I've pulled this semester (which is literally every other day), I am at a dead end trying to figure out the correct coding for my programming assignment... For my programming class, we are assigned an assignment each week which contains problems where we have to code to perform a certain task/function. These packets with the prompts are getting thicker...let's take a tally shall we?

Assignment #1
Assigned: August 31st, Due: September 11th
(11 days)
Pages: 5

Assignment #2
Assigned: September 11th, Due: September 18th
(7 days)
Pages: 6

Assignment #3
Assigned: September 18th, Due: September 25th
(7 days)
Pages: 10

Assignment #4
Assigned: September 25th, Due: October 2nd
(7 days)
Pages: 9

Assignment #5
Assigned: October 2nd, Due: October 14th
(12 days)
Pages: 10

Assignment #6
Assigned: October 16th, Due: October 25th
(7 days)
Pages: 18

If you couldn't tell, we are assigned a new assignment the day our previous one is due. These assignments haven't gotten any easier and at the same time, they are getting longer and longer (for the most part). It is a guarantee that at least forty-eight hours leading up to the due date, I get no sleep. My next one is due in seven hours yet I have barely finished a few problems. One of the parts deals with recursive functions, which are functions that call itself (in a loop). It is trial and error. If one command does not work, then try one after another. Essentially if you don't use the right commands, you could be going at it for hours on end to no avail...that is happening to me right now.

It doesn't help me that I had to turn in the past two assignments for this class incomplete...there are only seven weeks or so in the semester and I am struggling in all three of my technical courses...looks like I really need to pick up the game and get some help...some sleep would be nice.

Death and Taxes

Today is a big day for me; after much hesitation and struggle, I finally declared my minor in Theater & Performance Studies! For a long time, a part of me was conflicted in minoring in theater and also not falling behind in the classes I need to take for my major. Since the year started, I have a lot to consider and to think through in regards to academics, the ideal career, life, and certain personal issues.

This past weekend, I visited home for the first time after the second week of school; for the most part, it was good to see my parents again. I finally brought up the idea of minoring in theater to my parents. Suprisingly, they were somewhat receptive to the idea. Both of them mentioned that I should minor if I am interested, but also make sure to keep up with schoolwork. In addition, my mom added that although she is fine with me minoring, I can't major in theater, reasoning that I wouldn't be able to make money

I don't completely agree with her. A career shouldn't solely be about money; it should also be something one is passionate about. The key is to find the balance between following a passion and also having a well-paid job. As long as I'm not starving and going into poverty, I should be able to pursue what I want even if it isn't a high-paying job. For the most part, money isn't the key to happiness. It can definitely help with being happy, but it is also the cause of problems and arguments.

So my compromise is to major in engineering (pursuing a job as an Imagineer, I hope) and to minor in theater. That way, I can follow my interests in acting and not completely drown in the depths of science, math, and technology. It's only the first day...we'll see how everything turns out...

But in regards to the minor, I have shown some dismay with the department. I feel that they try to be too "innovative" and "cutting edge" and ends up failing in what it sets out to be. There isn't much variety in the styles of pieces which in turns shuts out a lot of possibility and appreciation for theater. More popular plays and musicals are never produced here on campus by the department. Because of this focus on this mindset of being innvoative, it draws on selected few who will take the effort to explore this theater. Thus, the appreciation for the arts and theater of campus is very selective. Very few people know about the department or choose to see shows. Let's hope my views of TDPS will change sometime in the next two and a half years and that I will end up eventually embracing theater on campus.

My Current Playlist

Songs I absolutely CAN'T stop listening to....these five songs have been on my playlist and on endless repeat for the last three weeks or more...I have been recommending "Somebody to Love" to everyone.

1. Keep Holding On
2. Somebody to Love
3. It's My Life/Confessions, Part II
4. Halo/Walking on Sunshine
5. No Air

All by Glee Cast. The soundtrack (volume 1 -- five in total) will be out November 2nd. I have yet to pre-order it, which contains select songs from this first season. SO EXCITED to get it. Without a doubt, I will be listening to it on endless looping repeat.

More than one person has referred to the GLEE-ified versions of the songs as similar to "Kidz Bop". Quite the contrary. Well, I guess to give them credit, there is the similarity of both having an ensemble singing group, but the GLEE versions re-invent the songs and keep them upbeat, unlike "Kidz Bop". By the way, have you seen the music videos?? They are HORRENDOUS...it is literally kids in front of a green screen jumping around and doing motions...

There are plans for a music tour with the cast. If that happens, I AM THERE! -- no question about it. I'll probably be the sole college guy amongst a group of tweens. Whatever... In addition, Jonathan Groff will be starring in at least five episodes and Joss Whedon will be directing an upcoming episode!

Catch it every Wednesday 9/8c on FOX. I know, I sound like a commercial.

The Next Big One

On October 17, 1989 at 5:04pm, a slip along the San Andrea fault in the Santa Cruz Mountains caused a fateful 6.9 earthquake that would be remembered for years to come. There were 57 deaths as a direct result of the quake and thousands of injuries. The most deaths occurred on the Nimitz Freeway (Interstate-880) where the upper deck collapsed on the lower, killing 42 people. In addition, a 50-foot long section of the Bay Bridge collapsed resulting in one fatality. An estimated $6 billion of damages occurred, which at the time was the most expensive natural disaster in the history of the United States.

As the 10th anniversary of the Loma Prieta quake passes, let us remember the deaths that occurred as a result. And with the next big one's imminent arrival, be prepared so we can minimize the damages and respond accordingly.