Hold the presses! An update from our correspondent in the field.
Well. Bleh. Lots of stuff has been happening lately. Where to start with it all? Been really sick for about a week now, but I'm finally getting better. They had me on some pretty heavy meds, an antibiotic, a nebulizer (you know, I'm not sure if that's even how to spell that...), and this inhaler disk thing.... Advair or something. It was interesting, to say the least. What is fun is after doing the nebulizer thing I hack and cough up stuff for about half an hour. All the coughing I do these days has given me pretty much constant headaches and caused some muscle crampings, which I find hilarious when I'm not yelping in pain. But ah, c'est la vie.
Just got my admission certificate from USF today. I'll be finishing my AA this semester from SPC (with about 80 credit hours, too. Hehe.), just before I turn 18. I'm pretty happy about that for some reason. I don't know. Hopefully I can keep up that 4.0 this semester. Maybe they'll write something neat on my degree like "high honors". Ohh boy, it's going to have the honor society seal on it from Phi Theta Kappa too, and I'll get those crazy gold tassel…sash… stuff. Wee. Maybe I need to take a look at the priorities in my life.
Ethics Bowl is in two weeks. If you talk to me much in real life you probably already know about it, since I seem to bitch about it quite a bit. Regardless though, it seems like a good experience overall. Basically, 40 colleges across the country are selecting 5 students and sending them to San Antonio Feb. 24 and making them face each other, debating cases of ethical difficulty. The basic point is thinking through your argument logically and defending your thought process against barrages questions and an opposing team doing it's best to muddle your points. So basically I'm practicing about 10 hours a week with the 4 other students and the couple coaches to be ready by then. I'm only arguing 2 of the 15 cases, and they were both pretty simplistic matters for me to decide on. One is about a man named Kac who had scientists genetically modify an albino bunny rabbit (which he named Alba) by adding in genes from a jellyfish that creates phosphorescent proteins in the bunny's skin/fur/etc. Mr. Kac claims he did it for the sake of art, and is making a project out of the media attention surrounding Alba. The other is a case in which the HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority) of the UK changed it's rules to allow families with a terminally ill child to use pre-implantation genetic diagnosis to select an embryo almost guaranteed to be a compatible donor with the sick child for in-vitro fertilization. Essentially, they are helping families have another child to save an earlier child, and allowing a technology that will give a 98% chance of creating a compatible donor, rather than a 25% chance through natural conception (at least in the specific case of the family in question). While the judges could actually ask any question (on which I will have to give a 10 minute response), the first question will generally be the main ethical topic of the case (the weirder questions get asked later). I argue for the genetic modification of Alba given the fact that Alba is being well taken care of, although I make the point that "art" is not a proper justification for any action, and that the reasons ultimately don't matter in the end. As for the HFEA, I argue in support of the use of technology to maximize the chances of the second child being a proper donor, or (if it is asked) in support of it being ethically permissible to have a child to save an earlier child. Needless to say, this will be interesting. But for now I have at least two practices a week that are keeping me busy (6:30 - 10:30 Wed night, 9:00 - 2:00 Saturday morning), as well as a few times where I will be getting up and presenting in front of a few random ethics classes at SPC. It's a lot of work, but I've never really done public speaking before, much less with such a formal atmosphere, so it's certainly helping me learn some good life skills. Not to mention the honor in being one of only 5 chosen (and yes, I was approached about this, I didn't sign up) throughout all of the SPC campuses. Anyways. Yadda yadda.
I withdrew from my Tuesday Chem II Lab. The instructor was a freaking psycho nazi, and I was already pretty booked up and stressed this semester, so I just didn't need his shit. Those who know me will realize how uncharacteristic of me this was (I've never withdrawn from a class before. Ever.), but this man seriously needs to be fired. What was funny though was how ridiculously difficult it was to drop the lab but not the lecture. Apparently at the Tarpon Springs campus (the rest of my classes are at Clearwater) they have a rule that if you withdraw from one you have to withdraw from the other. So I talked to the head of the Math and Science department except low and behold, she's a complete tight-ass nazi bitch. Complaining about a psycho to a nazi, it's really quite funny. Thankfully my parents went to bat to with this woman for me (I was a little busy attending a chem lecture), and argued with her for about an hour and 45 minutes before she finally agreed to see us in person and get everything worked out. She basically gave them a run-around about how rules are rules, etc., so they brought up my 4.0, extracurricular, etc. Arguing ensued, there was a great deal of yelling, but she finally relented to at least meet us. Once there in person, she was rather helpful (although she did bring in an aide to record the entire conversation), giving me the override to escape the lab but not the lecture. I can't help but think the only reason she gave up was to be rid of us. Whatever. I just feel bad for the 7-8 kids in the lab who were equally as disturbed by this man as me ( 2-3 just dealt with it, and 2 just didn't give a flaming fuck). The guy wouldn't even let my old lab partner join a different group, saying "groups are of 2 or less people". It seems to me 3 is more of a "group" than one, but hey, I don't have a Doct- Oh wait, neither does he.
It would seem I have reached a new level on the geek totem pole, as I am soon to be a LARPer. My friends and I are going up to Georgia for SOLAR March 18-20 (I believe…) . Still need to get my costuming and weaponry started, that's going to take a while. Hoo-boy.
Anyways, there's more I'm sure, but these days I consider it an accomplishment to post anything at all. Hope everyone is doing okay. Now, on to that lovely quiz that has taken the journal communities by storm! (Ho ho! I think I got bitter again in there somewhere!)
LJ Friends Meme by coolerq
• You must tell 10 people about this game.
• Dani is the one that you love.
• Emily is one you like but can't work out.
• You care most about Josh.
• Frank is the one who knows you very well.
• Thomas is your lucky star.
• Walk like a Man is the song that matches with Dani.
• Black is Black is the song for Emily.
• Old City Bar is the song that tells you most about YOUR mind.
• and Boum! is the song telling you how you feel about life
Take this quiz
Just got my admission certificate from USF today. I'll be finishing my AA this semester from SPC (with about 80 credit hours, too. Hehe.), just before I turn 18. I'm pretty happy about that for some reason. I don't know. Hopefully I can keep up that 4.0 this semester. Maybe they'll write something neat on my degree like "high honors". Ohh boy, it's going to have the honor society seal on it from Phi Theta Kappa too, and I'll get those crazy gold tassel…sash… stuff. Wee. Maybe I need to take a look at the priorities in my life.
Ethics Bowl is in two weeks. If you talk to me much in real life you probably already know about it, since I seem to bitch about it quite a bit. Regardless though, it seems like a good experience overall. Basically, 40 colleges across the country are selecting 5 students and sending them to San Antonio Feb. 24 and making them face each other, debating cases of ethical difficulty. The basic point is thinking through your argument logically and defending your thought process against barrages questions and an opposing team doing it's best to muddle your points. So basically I'm practicing about 10 hours a week with the 4 other students and the couple coaches to be ready by then. I'm only arguing 2 of the 15 cases, and they were both pretty simplistic matters for me to decide on. One is about a man named Kac who had scientists genetically modify an albino bunny rabbit (which he named Alba) by adding in genes from a jellyfish that creates phosphorescent proteins in the bunny's skin/fur/etc. Mr. Kac claims he did it for the sake of art, and is making a project out of the media attention surrounding Alba. The other is a case in which the HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority) of the UK changed it's rules to allow families with a terminally ill child to use pre-implantation genetic diagnosis to select an embryo almost guaranteed to be a compatible donor with the sick child for in-vitro fertilization. Essentially, they are helping families have another child to save an earlier child, and allowing a technology that will give a 98% chance of creating a compatible donor, rather than a 25% chance through natural conception (at least in the specific case of the family in question). While the judges could actually ask any question (on which I will have to give a 10 minute response), the first question will generally be the main ethical topic of the case (the weirder questions get asked later). I argue for the genetic modification of Alba given the fact that Alba is being well taken care of, although I make the point that "art" is not a proper justification for any action, and that the reasons ultimately don't matter in the end. As for the HFEA, I argue in support of the use of technology to maximize the chances of the second child being a proper donor, or (if it is asked) in support of it being ethically permissible to have a child to save an earlier child. Needless to say, this will be interesting. But for now I have at least two practices a week that are keeping me busy (6:30 - 10:30 Wed night, 9:00 - 2:00 Saturday morning), as well as a few times where I will be getting up and presenting in front of a few random ethics classes at SPC. It's a lot of work, but I've never really done public speaking before, much less with such a formal atmosphere, so it's certainly helping me learn some good life skills. Not to mention the honor in being one of only 5 chosen (and yes, I was approached about this, I didn't sign up) throughout all of the SPC campuses. Anyways. Yadda yadda.
I withdrew from my Tuesday Chem II Lab. The instructor was a freaking psycho nazi, and I was already pretty booked up and stressed this semester, so I just didn't need his shit. Those who know me will realize how uncharacteristic of me this was (I've never withdrawn from a class before. Ever.), but this man seriously needs to be fired. What was funny though was how ridiculously difficult it was to drop the lab but not the lecture. Apparently at the Tarpon Springs campus (the rest of my classes are at Clearwater) they have a rule that if you withdraw from one you have to withdraw from the other. So I talked to the head of the Math and Science department except low and behold, she's a complete tight-ass nazi bitch. Complaining about a psycho to a nazi, it's really quite funny. Thankfully my parents went to bat to with this woman for me (I was a little busy attending a chem lecture), and argued with her for about an hour and 45 minutes before she finally agreed to see us in person and get everything worked out. She basically gave them a run-around about how rules are rules, etc., so they brought up my 4.0, extracurricular, etc. Arguing ensued, there was a great deal of yelling, but she finally relented to at least meet us. Once there in person, she was rather helpful (although she did bring in an aide to record the entire conversation), giving me the override to escape the lab but not the lecture. I can't help but think the only reason she gave up was to be rid of us. Whatever. I just feel bad for the 7-8 kids in the lab who were equally as disturbed by this man as me ( 2-3 just dealt with it, and 2 just didn't give a flaming fuck). The guy wouldn't even let my old lab partner join a different group, saying "groups are of 2 or less people". It seems to me 3 is more of a "group" than one, but hey, I don't have a Doct- Oh wait, neither does he.
It would seem I have reached a new level on the geek totem pole, as I am soon to be a LARPer. My friends and I are going up to Georgia for SOLAR March 18-20 (I believe…) . Still need to get my costuming and weaponry started, that's going to take a while. Hoo-boy.
Anyways, there's more I'm sure, but these days I consider it an accomplishment to post anything at all. Hope everyone is doing okay. Now, on to that lovely quiz that has taken the journal communities by storm! (Ho ho! I think I got bitter again in there somewhere!)
LJ Friends Meme by coolerq
• You must tell 10 people about this game.
• Dani is the one that you love.
• Emily is one you like but can't work out.
• You care most about Josh.
• Frank is the one who knows you very well.
• Thomas is your lucky star.
• Walk like a Man is the song that matches with Dani.
• Black is Black is the song for Emily.
• Old City Bar is the song that tells you most about YOUR mind.
• and Boum! is the song telling you how you feel about life
Take this quiz