Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays to everyone. Things here are in perpetual motion it seems. I can’t tell if I’m coming or going. Today was a day to pause between the opening presents and the getting back to work. A nice little break, in which I installed guiders so the snow plow would know where the driveway is when it snows. So I suppose even then it was working.

I pretty much decided grad school is a necessary evil. Don’t much care for it, other than the fact I recognize it as a necessity for my future. It also means I need to a) get over moving and b) get over moving to Wisconsin because it looks like that’s the basket I should be placing my eggs in. Brrr. Why couldn’t they have school some place nice and warm, like Tahiti? Days to miss being a marine science major. I could have studied tropical fish. Alas.

I do like my position at the museum. I get to go exploring and it’s all about learning new things so that’s always a fun time. The people in my program are lovely. Some are from the south so we get to reminisce in all the wonders left behind. As I look back it nearly seven months ago, there’s something to be said for South Carolina. Even if it does have blizzards. The next day you can go play in the snow in flip flops. (Not that I encourage that).

Personally things are at a standstill, I’ve been so busy and focused on grad school and doing well that not having a life was the norm. I don’t miss that part, but being in an apartment, in a huge city, makes you realize how alone you can be. It’d be nice to meet someone I guess. Preferably someone that is not a total jerk like the last three exes, but I digress. And it’s not like I would really have time, I’m still in grad school, I still have a Masters to complete and a PhD to accomplish so I suppose having a personal life will wait even longer. As it stands with my family at the moment, it’s probably not a good idea to bring any one new into the mix.

This Christmas it seems has been one to reflect on those who have passed. Perhaps it’s because Gigi’s sister died just last week at the very young age of 28, from something that could have been prevented that makes you sit there and go, well hell, what’s next? Dad has pneumonia again and with the other issues well any news now is good news, because not knowing is just worse. Of course as J pointed out, “you are so damn stubborn, you had to have gotten it from somewhere, so just make him more stubborn.”

Ah, love J somedays, she makes everything better with cookies or a fight. It’s sad how much you miss having a roommate. Casual conversations can be deep philosophical talks without intending to, (but what do you expect when you get scientists’ who read Shakespeare and Plato for fun.)

H has been there too, cyberaly. There’s only so much she can do being across an ocean, course she sent cognac home so worse comes to worse drowning the sorrows or celebrating with heavy intake will work just as well.

Well this was not meant to be as depressing as it’s turned into so....I will just wish everyone many happy returns for the holiday seasons. Be grateful for friends new and old, and enjoy the winter/summer (where ever you may be) oh and you know if you have white stuff on the ground, don’t shovel, make a snow angel.

Piracy...not the kind you're thinking

So I’ve just finished Piracy by Adrian Johns, and I have mixed feelings. It was 600 pages and for one class it did make me want to cry but as historical and legal books it was amazing. The idea that intellectual property is really something that was an abstract idea even hundreds of years ago is something I suppose I didn’t consider. Johns however is quick to set you straight. The beginning is a fascinating look at the Gutenberg Press and how the concept of intellectual property came about. The fact that China had a printing system far more advance hundreds of years before and never came upon the idea of intellectual property makes Europe’s case so much more interesting.

Now however its something we take for granted. You know what happens if you plagiarize. There’s a good chance you’ll get kicked out of school or seriously reprimanded. If you do it a field that lives on citations your career is over. Yet its not simply just cite the author, there are rules and formats and what can and cannot be citied and what’s common knowledge and what’s not. It can be quite complicated.

Piracy in other formats, media is what comes to mind first, is also exceptionally common. Limewire, Torrent, YouTube, everyone uses it, and everyone does it. Does this make us bad immoral people? Or do we just want our favorite movies and music for free, because we’re cheap? I’m not sure. I do know, after reading this book I’m going to be much more careful about what I write in papers and where I get my music and movies from.


Anyway...just food for thought.

In other words I would like to get a little Elizabeth Swan and kick some ass on a certain ‘authority figure’ who is responsible for my grade and degree. At least she’s a universal hater? And on that note, I’ll stalk to see if the preview for Pirates 4 is out yet?