Spelunking the Universe
Posts tagged personal
Weddings and WTF?
Aug 27th
For those curious about the last update, I’ve just been really tired with the incredibly up front racism that’s been on a few 24 hour news stations and the internet at large. Even my facebook has its fair share of “Snicker, Muslims==murderers&&rapists&&terrorists.” That sort of stuff is disheartening, you don’t want to think that your friends are retarded, I of course mean that in the willing sense as opposed unwilling handicap from birth and genetic defects. They can be hard to distinguish but I’m making that separation. I try to convince myself that they are just being sarcastic and I missed it, but at this point in the evolution of the internet the [/sarcasm] tag has become standard enough to be expected.
Today is my last day in California for over a week! I leave for Washington to get married and I must say that overall I am getting more pleased by the day. About the only unfortunate thing right now is that I have a nasal voice from that cold, it really put my throat and nose through a harsh loop. Hopefully I’ll be fully vocal and normal by September 4th. I’ll be investigating any sort of “cures” for this issue that don’t involve half a pound of over the counter medication…wish me luck I suppose.
So yes, short update. I hope my last one wasn’t hyper nationalistic sounding, I’m not necessarily saying Americans are the best people ever because that conflicts with many of the psychological and philosophical beliefs that I’ve explained on here. But when you proclaim that you are a people of higher moral standards, of stronger will, and of greater overall stature then you should damn well act like these things or at least one of them. Many of these people involved with the entire anti-middle eastern movement are none of them and yet they don’t get laughed out of the country like the scabs they are.
It’s a darn shame. A shame that I won’t be thinking the least about on the 4th 
. But until then and possibly after then it will bother me. Only because you would hope that within something like ten thousand years you could get people to at least a 98% “Head not-in-ass” state. Maybe science will invent a cream that you can rub on your temples and it’ll dissolve all the stupid that gunk up for these folks.
Admittedly it is still a very small part of the country, but any percent that is not itself a percent of a percent is too much. The anti-intellectual movement is troublesome and benefits nobody, not even the people pushing it.
Rico the Grumpguin: Weddings and Noses.
Aug 16th
I think from time to time, when I’m feeling extra grumpy, feeling a few decades older than I actually am that I’ll post what I like to call a “Rico the Grumpguin” talking about what makes or is making me grumpy. These are basically “rants”. These are extremely loosely written, they’ll likely be written when I’m tired, sick, or sick and tired. So feel free to skip any of these when you see them.
Firstly I’ve had a sore throat for days now. Why? Well quite simply I fell asleep on my back a few nights back and my nose leaked into my throat. My nose is basically a bastard, an added change to my face that does little more than break out and clog. It does these things in no particular order and sometimes likes to do them at the same time en masse. It’s existence is little more than to a blight in my life and I have never had a moment where I thought “Oh thank the heavens…I can breath through my nose.” It is such an unlikely scenario that I feel I merely gave up on the hopes of such a thing long long ago.
So with throat raw, swallowing endless, and head aching I start thinking about part two of what makes me grumpy. Now honestly, Marriage for me will be extremely easy. I have been with the same person, if you can call her such and not be downplaying the awesome that is she, because I can be upset with a person, I can indeed hate a person, I can go so far as to not care if a person ceases to exist. But she is something of wonder and her very existence in my life makes it all survivable and complete. Marrying her is merely putting a legal stamp upon something that I had known from the second I was afraid to say “I love you.” Why afraid you might ask? Every single person I was not related to that I told those simple 3 words left me almost immediately (There is 0 hyperbole in that). The fear of losing her gripped my heart tightly and threatened to kill me outright.
The workspace of a Penguin
Apr 27th
For those that have wondered what my workspace looks like here is a brief glimpse into my life. These were all taken with a particularly stubborn 99 dollar camera, I love the little guy but focusing with it is sort of like hitting yourself in the groin with a hammer. So excuse the grains .
You’ll notice it’s relatively clean. This is purely doctored I assure you, took this image while holding my Coffee .
This is where all the mess is hiding. We’ve got rubbing alcohol, a bunch of writeable dvd’s and CD’s, games galore…oh and is that a PSP and a DS laying with one another…the hubris!
You’ll notice the tacky grey and white drives in a black case. Oh and clutter…lots of clutter. Just barely you can make out my sexy headphones on top of the tower. I love those guys. 
This is actually the lightest my action figure collection has ever looked. I may take a picture of all my DnD miniatures sometime. I’ve got a whole bunch of them, once I get a job its going to get grotesque too I’m certain. That’s Daemon in the back there with his hands outstretched, one of my favorite old toys.
About the only thing my SPORE game does anymore is sit inside its exceptionally nice case. I ended up getting that for 10 dollars cheaper than the regular copy. It wasn’t a bad game if you don’t play it. Also that’s Doraemon, the best Japanese kids show character ever.
I have limited space on my shelves. So you’ll see graphic novels stacking on top of one another . 
Another shot of some of my books, I have a pretty large DND collection I might take a shot of sometime as well. Add it to this little series. 
Alien Hominid 
. Got this from PAX with the game.
One of the Maps on the walls here. I love maps and any game that comes with one gets an automatic thumbs up.
Just another shot of the same map, I dunno, whichever you like best.
This is another map, from the box of Elder Scrolls: Oblivion.
A map that came with the expansion, Shivering Isles. Great detail .
So that is it for now. I’m sure that I’ll have a plethora of other images from the various nerd points in the apartment. Need to take them soon before we destruct and move. Obviously none of the images will reveal our location, don’t want any of my ravenous (and entirely fictitious) fans coming here 
.
Future Dreams
Feb 9th
Today’s post will be more personal than usual. Partially because I had to walk from my home to the college today (which is a very tiring operation).
I am certain I know what Job I’d like to do. I want to be a teacher and eventually a professor. But why?! You might ask…oh its quite simple!
Well first we look at the schedule. I realize that teachers work extra hours before and after the average school day, likewise I realize that ‘short days’ are not short for teachers. However anytime I think to myself “what days am I working next week?” The answer will be pretty simple “Oh right! Monday through Friday!”
I like that sort of consistency, it provides me with a very manageable life schedule which will make my writing a plausible activity (seeing as I need consistent time frames to keep my mind in check). Likewise I love helping people and I can see few better ways to help people than to help them learn the most that they possibly can. The consistent breaks each year would also be very pleasant. I know most of my professors go to other countries to enjoy things related (and not so related) to their studies.
The pay might not be the greatest in the world but that’s not necessarily a terrible thing. The US is an amazingly interesting place if only for the fact that across our country there are millionaire CEO’s that have more money than they can even figure out what to do with, yet they’ll die in obscurity just like all the people around them. Short of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates (two people who are more famous for what they invented than their finances) I can think of no CEO’s name. However I can name most of my favorite teachers and professors.
The almost entrancing freedom it would give me in terms of my writing also excites me greatly. So I think I’m set. As for what I’ll teach that’s up in the air, but just about anything interests me. Which might be another thing to chock up on the list.
So I suppose that’s it for today. I apologize for the succinctness as well as the somewhat random nature of this post, but my face feels like its swallowing itself (I’m … really … tired) and I don’t think I could manage something much better tonight.
I think for the sake of future sight, there is a great chance you’ll see an article about Determinism on here tomorrow. Mostly because I think it’s an interesting topic…and I hope you will to.
People to meet before I (or they) Die (Part 1)
Jan 31st
It pains me to say that at one time I would have put Steve Irwin on this list, when he died a part of me died. People may have joked about him and said he was silly but I feel that Irwin was an individual of great charisma and incredible talent. He was a wonderful individual caught in a truly unlucky situation (being I believe the 13th person in the world to die from a stingray attack). If there were any justice in the world people like him would be allowed to live for as long as they wish, at least that’s how I feel.
Neil DeGrasse Tyson (Image from NYT)
Neil DeGrasse Tyson is one of the most energetic people I have ever seen in action in my entire life. I am always incredibly happy to see people who take a profession that they enjoy and I am truly hard pressed to find more than a half dozen people on the face of this Earth that are as enthralled with what they do as Dr. Tyson. I’ve read many studies that say that happiness is contagious and by that respect I’m quite sure anywhere within 300 feet of this individual is in a permanent state of energy and joy. I couldn’t tell you where to go to meet him (although considering he was born in raised in New York as far as I know) but if you are ever in an area where he is visiting I cannot emphasize enough how much of an impact I’m sure a mere few minutes of talking with him about the universe would have upon your life. Just watching his short interviews on television inspire me and I find myself thinking well on into the morning.
I hope when all things are said and done I can enjoy my job (whatever it ends up being) as much as Dr. Tyson appears to enjoy his. Then again had I known how much I liked astrophysics back when I first started college I might have been able to spend my time working towards working for or with him. He is a man who appears to always be thirsting for more knowledge, so much so that he wasn’t even able to leave the Green Room of the Daily Show without completing a Rubics Cube that was on the table. Finally I feel Dr. Tyson has deserved every honor that he has ever received (which are quite numerous from looking at his website).
In fact I see that he will be in Seattle Washington on the 23rd of February, It’s hell to get around the place by bus but that would certainly be worth the 5 dollar entrance fee .
Philip Zimbardo (Image from 3am.net)
Philip Zimbardo is essentially the man who got me into Psychology. I use the photo above in jest because frankly of the hundreds of photo’s I’ve ever seen the man in he’s always smiling or laughing. He has written many bestselling books (albeit sales does not a good book make but trust me he has some very well written pieces of literature) and conducted one of the most legendary experiments to be discussed in Psychology. I don’t believe I’ve finished a single class without it being discussed for at least a class period. Known as the Stanford Prison Study it showed the psychological effects of being a prisoner or a prison guard. It was an amazing study that overwhelmed me the first time I watched it. It is astounding how quickly people can change from the kind boys on the street to heartless monsters. It reminded me of early videos of German soldiers as the young boys laughed and tossed balls to each other. To know what they would be called to do very soon, to know that they had no idea what was over the horizon. He also has written a book that tends to always be sold out when I order it known as the “The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil” that I highly recommend anyone check out.
His personality is infectious (in the good way ;D) and his voice is one for the ages, I feel that anyone even moderately interested in Psychology or the workings of the mind should watch some of his old videos. They may feel corny by modern standards but even with the technology he had to work with Dr. Zimbardo presents even the simplest of concepts in a way that (at least in my experience) can leave you dumbfounded and hungry for more.
Jon Stewart (Right) and Stephen Colbert (Left) (Image from TVCrunch)
Jon (Too cool for an H) Stewart has been my primary source of news for many many years his amazing ability to deliver political (and sometimes not-so-political) humor is so great that few realize the amazing philosophical mind behind it. Whenever he takes a break from the comedy and begins speaking in earnest you bare witness to some of the deepest insight in the 21st century. In a country full of propaganda (I do mean full) he is a breath of fresh air that never ever fails to deliver. Much like California kidnaps all the good video game development jobs I feel that New York is hogging all the amazing people. While I realize at a time the Daily Show wasn’t starring Jon Stewart but I feel that it could no longer exist without him, it provides some hope I think in the world of journalism that maybe we’ll see more like him (and his wonderfully eclectic reporters) telling us what is really going on. The world is absolutely massive and I find it no less than a crime that there are only two truly earnest news stations on television that don’t bank on terrible events or skew political situations.
Stewart and crew may be accused of a ‘liberal’ twist (amongst other colorful titles) but it is their production of solid evidence and direct quotes that makes it all so wonderfully meaningful. If I ever go to New York one of the things I’d have to do before I left would be to go to the show. Likewise if I was really lucky maybe get a handshake from Jon, which is quite a thing since I absolutely detest handshakes. But considering I am devoid of breasts for him to sign I suppose that’s my next best option.
Of course on second thought bringing “America (The Book)” and having him sign that would be equally amazing. If you live in New York and have not been to a screening of this show I feel that you are bordering on treason (oh yes I said it).
Stephen Colbert is the quirky ‘republican’ super hero to Jon Stewarts Mild Mannered Reporter. When Tek Jansen isn’t laying space babes and falling one hundred stories buck naked he’s providing wonderfully informative (and many times painfully sarcastic) takes on the world around us. There is something behind the delivery of the material that causes the viewer to think and that is a quality that few television shows seem to do anymore. His energy is infectious (much like all those above, it’s a common quality) and his voice is powerful. Colbert embodies many of the traits that I feel make a truly great American. It’s sometimes hard to get a peg on the man behind (what may be a) mask which is even a reality that Colbert has addressed before in interviews but there is only so well someone can act.
Many of the best books I’ve read in the last few years have been as a direct result of interviews held by Stewart and Colbert. Both individuals provide a source of honesty that young Americans desperately desire. As it stands Comedy Central should just place more commercials during their daily reruns of Super Troopers and Scary Movie 1-4 so that they can run both shows without commercials.
In all honesty these days, if not for Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, I’d never turn on my television.
To be Continued… (I have a handful more individuals that I’ll talk about off and on over the next month)
A New Beginning
Jan 29th
I will be attempting something rather crazy. Well when you are about as energized as me it is crazy. I am going to attempt to write something, ANYTHING, at least once a day for every single day until my birthday hits.
So that means until August 28th this site will hopefully be fully of goodies. Even if they be as small as my almost erotic love of Macaroni and Cheese.
Since I’m technically a day late (It takes a while to back up stuff) this will be going out on the 29th but had I already been done backing stuff up you’d be reading it from the past…oh the power the internet brings us.
Also I will be cleaning up the way my site works and as you can tell how it looks. If you are using windows 7 or this Firefox theme which I highly recommend you will find yourself looking into the wondrous world of darkness that will make your eyes want to make out with you.
Because seriously your eyes are annoyed at you for looking at bright stuff all the time. If you don’t stop it they are going to quit doing things for you and make you get around using your ears…and honestly who ever trusted those idiots.
For anyone interested in going back into the ancient world of me you can find it here. It should work good enough to work (yeah I said it), and really isn’t that what matters these days?
- Rico