2000/11/29

Since returning to school in Toronto, I can't beleive how many people are walking around w/ cell phones. The percentage appears far greater than what I observed while working in Ottawa. Every other student or commuter seems to have one. It's nice to see that the conditioning is going so well . . .

Remember, you MUST be connected, at all times. If not, you will be left out of the loop, and ultimately you will not succeed at life's academic, personal, social, or professional endeavours! YOU CANNOT MISS THAT CALL AT ANY COST! Thus, it is necessary that you carry your cell phone w/ you at all times; and make sure to have the ringer set for a loud, lengthy, and obnoxious alert. After all, it's not only imperative that you don't miss that call, but also that everyone in your near vicinity is aware of it as well, b/c YOU ARE IMPORTANT! People NEED to get in contact w/ you, whether you are on the train, in the lab, in a meeting, or even in the bathroom, you cannot let your guard down! Otherwise, you will be LEFT OUT, and the world will LEAVE YOU BEHIND.
09:32 |

Def'n: Floor Licker (n.)
An academic brown-noser who will do anything for marks above and beyond those associated w/ the regular curriculum. Ex., "Sir, can I add this to my project for a bonus mark?" "Sir, can we get bonus marks for being the only ones in class today?" And so on. The definition comes from the observation that some students, if given the chance, would lick the floor for marks.
09:21 |

2000/11/24

It finally feels like I can take breather before exams. I've spent the last week and a bit completing a lot of labs, and have nearly all of them out of the way, with one report and one last nagging assignment to go.

I'm definately hoping to take some down time this weekend, as the past two weekends were both spent on-campus. Ugh! This place gets uglier everyday.

I've moved my thesis blog to a dedicated school site, which you can view here, even though there hasn't been much progress on the project. Things will pick up next semester, I'm sure.

About the only other thing worth noting lately is that it's gotten really COLD!
20:13 |

2000/11/14

It took a while for the caffine to kick in this morning. Maybe that set the precedent for the strange day ahead . . .

I went to get my grad photos taken today. Whoa . . . "Turn your head! Tilt your chin! Look at me! Smile! Teeth! Look this way! Don't worry about it, just go with it! Look at me! Smile!" It was a whirlwind of confusing commands between bright flashes. Glad that's over and done with.

Next it was off to talk with my elective professor. I was first surprised to find out he's Chair of his department, and secondly by the haphazard organization of his office. I'm not saying that all EE professors epitomize neatness, but I can't recall the last time I've seen such a random approach to filing as I did today.

Time now for some photocopies, and what better place than the campus copy shop; they're supposed to be the pro's, right? WRONG. The first machine I used didn't work. So I tried another: it had a paper jam, and refused to give me my money back. Naturally, the line at the counter was so long it wouldn't be worth the time to complain, so I called it a day. Not without passing the campus arcade, of course. Loud (bad) music, and people (guys) playing pool and video games - how do people find the time!?

So I guess it wasn't really a "strange" day, but my jaunt across campus certainly offered some insight to how the other half(ves) live(s) . . .
16:03 |

2000/11/10

I'd just like to express my sincerest thanks to the inconsiderate automaton(s) responsible for my exam schedule that has me writing twice at eight o'clock in the morning. In order to avoid the chance of getting screwed by missing the train that will get me to school by that time, I'll have to come in early, say seven (!), and that means waking up around five! I am utterly disgusted with academic institutions and their "money first, students second" policies.
16:46 |

Highlights from the past couple weeks? Not really . . .

I didn't ever think I'd be saying this, but I just might be getting sick of pizza. With it being an inexpensive lunch solution, and free for the taking at so many on-campus employer presentations, it's made up about a third of my diet lately, along w/ cheerios and chocolate chip muffins.

I can't wait to be finished w/ school. I met an enthusiastic first year yesterday, and after telling him I was in fourth year, he immediately asked if I planned on gradutate studies. I told him I just want to get out. He went on to tell me about his plans for a high GPA and he even mentioned his future Ph.D. I suggested he just concentrate on not being a 'Christmas Graduate.' I'd be interested in seeing how enthusiastic he is once the system's beat him around for a couple years; but by that time, I'll be long gone, and won't really care.
11:19 |

2000/11/06

After what seems like forever (about three weeks, I guess), I'm FINALLY done my midterms. This is turning out to be one of the worst semesters since first year: the quantity of material is almost unbelievable, and the commute's running me into the ground :(
17:39 |

2000/11/01

They're really adamant about giving out the free newspapers - Today, and especially Metro - around here, and I can't help but wonder, why? Why are they trying SO hard to distribute their recounts of the world's happenings, which are obviously filtered through a familiar process of the media where the edges of a story become rounded as it's passed from one hand to another and another before finally making it to you the reader? I see all these people reading the free daily's and I wonder how many of them question the merit of the reporting. Seems we don't even have to pay for false truths anymore.
10:09 |

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