Saturday, January 9, 2010
The other walks of life
I went to Anime Los Angeles, and found something interesting about the people there. If you are a normal guy looking for a girl; this might very well be one of the best places to look. The women vary from very ecentric, to rather normal with a small odd hobby. Of the women there, there were easily 75% of them would be worth giving a shot. (this means that 75% were physically between 6 and 9's out of 10)Wait, what!? Yes, I said it. The men on the other hand, reminded me of when I met a man at a university who was at best mildly retarded, and at worse, absolutely retarded. It made me sad. So for women; look elsewhere then these events, unless you are one of the few who make these expo's their lives.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Racism, sexism, and other 'isms'
Today I was surfing the internet, and went on Facebook, the commonly shared website for those of use who like to feel connected with people we havent seen in years. I saw a person put Pink in their status, and made a joke, asking if they just put the most random thing they could think of, or if they were shopping at Victorias secret. Then they commented that every girl was doing it. SO I searched it, and found nothing. What!?!? Nothing!!
Then I saw that it was women's bra colors. I commented a few other jokes, and then was told it was for Breast Cancer, as if I was some sort of jackass.
Do I resent the cause, NO, I resent the method the person pushing the cause used to exclude 50% OF THE POPULATION from supporting it. It was secretive, and intended to be both secretive, and call to the elitist in everyone. It was intended to influence the average person to feel like they were part of a 'special and elite' group which was to support Breast Cancer at the expense of allowing men to support it. Let me clue the person with that idea in, while women are the majority of patients, men are also breast cancer patients and survivors.
This is one of the few things in life that bothers me. Not the cause as above, but people who can not comprehend that influencing people in methods that play to emotions and peer pressure is wrong. In the above case, it was wrong to exclude men from being able to support the cause.
This is similiar to a large pet-peeve of mine, racism (in either direction). Racism against caucasions is almost not concidered a crime, while anything against minorities is. when I have news for those reading this. Caucasion is a minority. While when this country started, this was not the case, that does not change the fact of today. This means that every time I see an application for 'minority applicants only,' you better bet that I am going to apply if it is a job I want. I applied to internships that were for African American students only, and many other things if it was a job or experience I wanted, and I will always encourage that to occurr. Why would I encourage something like this?
For the same reason it is illegal for me to disqualify an applicant because they are a minority, it is ilegal to disqualify them if they are caucasion. If I ever find an opportunity that I want, I won't read if it says for minority applicants only. I will apply, and if I am lucky enough to have an interview I will check again, see if it says it is for minority applicants only. You can bet that if it does, I will get a tape recorder, and have it running. If I am disqualified for my race, just as I hope would happen with any person discriminated the opposite way, I will have a lawyer serve the persons within a day.
What is Racism. If you look at your friends, and you can tell me quickly and easily which ones are black blue purple and green.... you might be a little bit racist. If the first way you think to describe someone is their skin color, you might be a little bit racist. I am actually proud that my weakness in observation of fashion is my strength for this. It takes effort to figure out what race/ethnicity my friends are, because I have NO IDEA unless I try to figure it out.
So what does it mean to not be racist? It means not noticing what a person looks like, and only caring about how they act, and what they do. Is being a little racist bad? If you ask that, you are asking a very good question. The Human race has survived by selecting the strongest and best to survive. This means that the survivors are the best. Equally,when looking for friends or a mate, your biology fights to keep you protected, and matched to the strongest mate. The short answer? Listen to your body, but don't treat people differently, just know what attracts your instincts, and listen. It is the same with humans and aracniphobia; humans are fearful of spiders because of a humans developed to be fearful of things that can make them sick, or even die. These examples have answered the question. Discriminating factors have kept, and will keep the human race alive. Use it carefully.
Then I saw that it was women's bra colors. I commented a few other jokes, and then was told it was for Breast Cancer, as if I was some sort of jackass.
Do I resent the cause, NO, I resent the method the person pushing the cause used to exclude 50% OF THE POPULATION from supporting it. It was secretive, and intended to be both secretive, and call to the elitist in everyone. It was intended to influence the average person to feel like they were part of a 'special and elite' group which was to support Breast Cancer at the expense of allowing men to support it. Let me clue the person with that idea in, while women are the majority of patients, men are also breast cancer patients and survivors.
This is one of the few things in life that bothers me. Not the cause as above, but people who can not comprehend that influencing people in methods that play to emotions and peer pressure is wrong. In the above case, it was wrong to exclude men from being able to support the cause.
This is similiar to a large pet-peeve of mine, racism (in either direction). Racism against caucasions is almost not concidered a crime, while anything against minorities is. when I have news for those reading this. Caucasion is a minority. While when this country started, this was not the case, that does not change the fact of today. This means that every time I see an application for 'minority applicants only,' you better bet that I am going to apply if it is a job I want. I applied to internships that were for African American students only, and many other things if it was a job or experience I wanted, and I will always encourage that to occurr. Why would I encourage something like this?
For the same reason it is illegal for me to disqualify an applicant because they are a minority, it is ilegal to disqualify them if they are caucasion. If I ever find an opportunity that I want, I won't read if it says for minority applicants only. I will apply, and if I am lucky enough to have an interview I will check again, see if it says it is for minority applicants only. You can bet that if it does, I will get a tape recorder, and have it running. If I am disqualified for my race, just as I hope would happen with any person discriminated the opposite way, I will have a lawyer serve the persons within a day.
What is Racism. If you look at your friends, and you can tell me quickly and easily which ones are black blue purple and green.... you might be a little bit racist. If the first way you think to describe someone is their skin color, you might be a little bit racist. I am actually proud that my weakness in observation of fashion is my strength for this. It takes effort to figure out what race/ethnicity my friends are, because I have NO IDEA unless I try to figure it out.
So what does it mean to not be racist? It means not noticing what a person looks like, and only caring about how they act, and what they do. Is being a little racist bad? If you ask that, you are asking a very good question. The Human race has survived by selecting the strongest and best to survive. This means that the survivors are the best. Equally,when looking for friends or a mate, your biology fights to keep you protected, and matched to the strongest mate. The short answer? Listen to your body, but don't treat people differently, just know what attracts your instincts, and listen. It is the same with humans and aracniphobia; humans are fearful of spiders because of a humans developed to be fearful of things that can make them sick, or even die. These examples have answered the question. Discriminating factors have kept, and will keep the human race alive. Use it carefully.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
My girlfriend
Few times in life can a person truly feel in Love. What is Love? is it the first time you feel like you trust a person completely? No. Just because you think you can trust someone completely does not mean that you can. In fact, it is exactly then that you must be most weary.
Even the most secret of secrets my girlfirend and I both discuss. This unfortunetely also means that we have to struggle to understand what we are thinking and feeling. If we don't, we can't express it, and if we can't express it, then we have to figure out how. As we grow, we have different experiences, and oppinions that we learn as we grow. This sometimes can be challenging. The question I never have to think about is of course, is it worth it? Yes.
So how do you know what Love really is?
You can always do the 'front porch' test, and see how they fit in with you and your friends.
You can try to see if you like them enough that if they could never had sex with you again, you would be able to survive.
Ask yourself if they fit in your 'plan'
Ask yourself if you can see youself growing old together.
The above listed are easy to get into a relationship and have these happen. The test I have always found most important is; if they cheated on you; how would you respond.
My greatest fear is the silent treatment. Communication is required for something as damaging as infidelity.
Have I ever cheated, no. If my Girlfriend did; I would rather have her tell me afterwards then to have her lie. Sex is sex, it is who you want to be with for the rest of your life that matters. Truth is one of the only things that can help any relationship last.
But I haven't answered what Love is.
Love is what I experienced a month ago. I realized that I can tell her anything, and she doesn't judge me. She asks me why, and then she listens. She corrects me when I am wrong. She gets me focused when I talk about myself too much. She keeps me in check. She deals with me when I am distant, and even more then I am Clingy. She understands when I have energy, and can even tell when I am working to show having energy when I really have none. She can tell when I am lying, which is something very few people can do . She sometimes does the most annoying things possible, and I Love her for it.
When you can't think of a single thing that you don't like, that is Love.
Even the most secret of secrets my girlfirend and I both discuss. This unfortunetely also means that we have to struggle to understand what we are thinking and feeling. If we don't, we can't express it, and if we can't express it, then we have to figure out how. As we grow, we have different experiences, and oppinions that we learn as we grow. This sometimes can be challenging. The question I never have to think about is of course, is it worth it? Yes.
So how do you know what Love really is?
You can always do the 'front porch' test, and see how they fit in with you and your friends.
You can try to see if you like them enough that if they could never had sex with you again, you would be able to survive.
Ask yourself if they fit in your 'plan'
Ask yourself if you can see youself growing old together.
The above listed are easy to get into a relationship and have these happen. The test I have always found most important is; if they cheated on you; how would you respond.
My greatest fear is the silent treatment. Communication is required for something as damaging as infidelity.
Have I ever cheated, no. If my Girlfriend did; I would rather have her tell me afterwards then to have her lie. Sex is sex, it is who you want to be with for the rest of your life that matters. Truth is one of the only things that can help any relationship last.
But I haven't answered what Love is.
Love is what I experienced a month ago. I realized that I can tell her anything, and she doesn't judge me. She asks me why, and then she listens. She corrects me when I am wrong. She gets me focused when I talk about myself too much. She keeps me in check. She deals with me when I am distant, and even more then I am Clingy. She understands when I have energy, and can even tell when I am working to show having energy when I really have none. She can tell when I am lying, which is something very few people can do . She sometimes does the most annoying things possible, and I Love her for it.
When you can't think of a single thing that you don't like, that is Love.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Who am I
My Name for this purpose, is Demosthemes. I intend to use this blog as a way to learn more both about myself, as well as to stimulate any persons who enjoy educated discourse on subject from the philosophers such as Locke to the benefits of proper footwear. Broad as these topics may take us, I intend to be as accurate as possible, and if an error is found, please let me know quickly such that I may assist in either correcting my error or yours.
Today was filled with an interesting discussion on the benefits of a high Grade Point Average in College. To start, I am a trained Mechanical Engineer. This profession requires great depth of understanding as well as seeing intricate details, and missing small things can cause large problems that often cost alot of repair. My current job can have a mistake be from a small change of an excel file, to a change that costs the company its reputation, and several hundred thousand dollars or more.
Some would say that for me to have been hired, and what demonstrates my likelyhood to reduce errors, is my GPA. That being said, I held a 2.66 in College. Does this mean that perhaps I am just a bad engineer, and don't know better? I would ask why I was hired in the middle of a Human Resources no hire policy, and a month before a second round of layoffs.
Wait!, you must be confused as to how I was hired even with this! It obviously wasn't because of my GPA. Or was it?
If a professor is tough, but is a fair professor, it is time to play ball, and let them be tough. A tough professor will still give you an A.
If you have a good professor, there is no reason you shouldn't do well.
If however you have my experiences, you would have either sucked up to earn the grade, or learned the incorrect things.
Lets say you start as a perfect student.
Of my professors, two classes I can out with 'average' marks, and I could have cared less. I worked very hard, and earned every bit of the grade, and it felt great. These lowered my GPA, however they increased my knowledge of the subject. You can never dislike a professor you learn alot from, and these lwered marks will never make up the entirety of your GPA, so should your GPA dropping 0.5 points from these classes matter? NO. (you now have a 3.5)
On the other hand, if you have a professor or two that talks politics in a physics class; uses scare tactics to scare students into their view;giving impossible questions on tests and expecting you to 'do them anyways'; or grade based on personal feelings; a failing grade on your record may be well worth retaking the class. Especially after a takehome final is graded as a 54 while the person you worked with recieves a 94. You know you can't deal with this Ivory Tower professor barely teaching, scaring students, and being inapropriate. What is your action? retake it, show up as little as possible to get a passing grade, and deal with it. (your GPA is now a 3.2)
Wait!! what if your professor is teaching a several required design class with no design experience while you have nearly a year in it! This is a bad plan... Just say goodbye to alot of your gpa, the professor is so clueless that he tries to tell you that a cheap bearing will perform as well as a well designed one. (your GPA is now a 2.9)
Wait!!! even though you a perfect, you mispelled a word on a paper, and you forgot to do some of your homework. Then you got sick for a week, and missed a quiz. And don't forget that one semester you thought you could handle 22 units of coursework on top of your 2 jobs and your volunteer position. (your GPA is now a 2.5)
Wait!!!! That isn't right! your just average?! Add the grade inflation for your core classes that you were dumb enough to choose professors that don't inflate the grades!
(your GPA is now a 2.4)
Add the classes that you disliked the subject, and didn't work as hard as you should (your GPA is now a 2.3)
Add the Math professor who said "If you are an engineer, expect to fail this class"
Your GPA is now a 2.2)
and I got a 2.7, and was hired as I was.
What does this mean?
GPA means little as a benchmark. If you want a mindless zombie that can give you textbook answers.. hire the 4.0 student. If you want someone who thinks hard about what goes on, challenging ideas that should be challenged; go for the student with the not perfect grades. It isn't worth having another mindless lacky working with you.
For those of you without perfect grades?! Make sure you really know what you are talking about. If you got a 2.5 gpa when you deserved a 1.5gpa...enjoy it, I won't hire you.
GPA: not the best way to tell how a person with perform as a professional.
Today was filled with an interesting discussion on the benefits of a high Grade Point Average in College. To start, I am a trained Mechanical Engineer. This profession requires great depth of understanding as well as seeing intricate details, and missing small things can cause large problems that often cost alot of repair. My current job can have a mistake be from a small change of an excel file, to a change that costs the company its reputation, and several hundred thousand dollars or more.
Some would say that for me to have been hired, and what demonstrates my likelyhood to reduce errors, is my GPA. That being said, I held a 2.66 in College. Does this mean that perhaps I am just a bad engineer, and don't know better? I would ask why I was hired in the middle of a Human Resources no hire policy, and a month before a second round of layoffs.
Wait!, you must be confused as to how I was hired even with this! It obviously wasn't because of my GPA. Or was it?
If a professor is tough, but is a fair professor, it is time to play ball, and let them be tough. A tough professor will still give you an A.
If you have a good professor, there is no reason you shouldn't do well.
If however you have my experiences, you would have either sucked up to earn the grade, or learned the incorrect things.
Lets say you start as a perfect student.
Of my professors, two classes I can out with 'average' marks, and I could have cared less. I worked very hard, and earned every bit of the grade, and it felt great. These lowered my GPA, however they increased my knowledge of the subject. You can never dislike a professor you learn alot from, and these lwered marks will never make up the entirety of your GPA, so should your GPA dropping 0.5 points from these classes matter? NO. (you now have a 3.5)
On the other hand, if you have a professor or two that talks politics in a physics class; uses scare tactics to scare students into their view;giving impossible questions on tests and expecting you to 'do them anyways'; or grade based on personal feelings; a failing grade on your record may be well worth retaking the class. Especially after a takehome final is graded as a 54 while the person you worked with recieves a 94. You know you can't deal with this Ivory Tower professor barely teaching, scaring students, and being inapropriate. What is your action? retake it, show up as little as possible to get a passing grade, and deal with it. (your GPA is now a 3.2)
Wait!! what if your professor is teaching a several required design class with no design experience while you have nearly a year in it! This is a bad plan... Just say goodbye to alot of your gpa, the professor is so clueless that he tries to tell you that a cheap bearing will perform as well as a well designed one. (your GPA is now a 2.9)
Wait!!! even though you a perfect, you mispelled a word on a paper, and you forgot to do some of your homework. Then you got sick for a week, and missed a quiz. And don't forget that one semester you thought you could handle 22 units of coursework on top of your 2 jobs and your volunteer position. (your GPA is now a 2.5)
Wait!!!! That isn't right! your just average?! Add the grade inflation for your core classes that you were dumb enough to choose professors that don't inflate the grades!
(your GPA is now a 2.4)
Add the classes that you disliked the subject, and didn't work as hard as you should (your GPA is now a 2.3)
Add the Math professor who said "If you are an engineer, expect to fail this class"
Your GPA is now a 2.2)
and I got a 2.7, and was hired as I was.
What does this mean?
GPA means little as a benchmark. If you want a mindless zombie that can give you textbook answers.. hire the 4.0 student. If you want someone who thinks hard about what goes on, challenging ideas that should be challenged; go for the student with the not perfect grades. It isn't worth having another mindless lacky working with you.
For those of you without perfect grades?! Make sure you really know what you are talking about. If you got a 2.5 gpa when you deserved a 1.5gpa...enjoy it, I won't hire you.
GPA: not the best way to tell how a person with perform as a professional.
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