I got a medal today! It's very fancy and detailed. I've also had the last presentation today which means that I'm as good as done here. Also moving out tomorrow. This chapter of my life is coming to an end, which is something I haven't really internalized yet.
Hey guys. Miss y'all. I'm not on hubski ever recently, mostly due to switching to an old flip phone and because my job --maintenance, construction, and camp counsellor training at a summer camp -- is in high gear. I think I had 10 minutes of free time yesterday. I received some really disappointing news yesterday morning. Some of you know that I did a year of community service with a federal program called AmeriCorps. It was extremely formative and I credit it with interrupting my less than sustainable lifestyle at the time. I had planned to do the program again I loved it so much, except this time in Denver. So I applied again. I found out after a few months of anxious waiting that I was not accepted. Yesterday morning I was crushed. I experienced feelings of personal fault and failure that accompany rejections like this, a feeling I'm sure is familiar to many, though no less hard to shake. It's so damn difficult not to get upset. So. My life is blown open-endedly again. I talked with some family and it was incredibly reassuring. I'm lucky to have such fortitude and love in my corner. I think I'm still going to move to Colorado in the fall, I really want to live there, and now it's a matter of finding a job and something interesting to do, hopefully the two being the one and the same. And speaking of pubski, I could go for a good drink.
Rejection is never easy in the moment. I'm glad you've got good support and are maintaining a good attitude. In the not-too-distant future, this rejection will feel like one of the best things that ever happened to you. Denver is dripping with opportunity right now. PMs to follow.
Dripping with opportunity. I've never heard a sexier phrase.
Last friday I found out I didn't get into my program for next year either. In my experience, it's best to allow yourself to feel that grief you're feeling - Just don't let it control you. If you move to Colorado you can join that significantly sized outpost of hubskiers there. If those folks ever meet up it'll be a heck of a party I think.
I'm sorry to hear that. Grief it is! But feeling so low and then, with the help of others, realizing that it'll be ok, has been oddly and surreally an invigorating experience. Reminds me that I'm alive? That life isn't smooth? That we are the obstacles we overcome? I look forward to a Rocky Mountain Real Life pubski in my future.
clenches fist and screams at the sky: eightbitsamurai!! Stay alive!!! I will find you! No matter what occurs!
Keep putting yourself out there. Don't stop applying for things you want to do. Get to Colorado and good things will happen. Let's get you in that Ninja show!! That's what I'm talkin about
No matter what, you will love Denver. I still haven't been yet, but a ton of people I know live there and seem to really enjoy it. The plan is to make a trip out there hopefully before the end of the year. Ideally before it gets cold since I'd wanna do some hiking rather than skiing.
Greetings from the Outer Banks, NC. My regrets to thenewgreen, I never make it as far in as Raleigh-Durham, my family lives in Elizabeth City, so we just fly in and out of Norfolk. I was really wishing for some Hubski-tier reinforcements yesterday when my mom brought me a bottle of homeopathic ear drops to remedy my ear ache, which I'm almost certain is a swimming-induced earwax blockage (gross!). This culminated in a debate about what homeopathy's literal meaning is, how it differs from naturopathy, etc., crescendoing into a fairly bitter argument. Most of my family is not of a scientific mind. Skimboarding here is brutal! The beaches are much steeper than Texas, and the shorebreak is serious business. I've spent a lot of time with sand in my mouth after taking a beating. I love it. Tonight's cigar night, I've got some Montecristos and a handle of Maker's Mark to enjoy with my uncle, cousin, and perhaps (but I doubt it) my father. I was pleasantly surprised that my dad chose to participate in the family game of Cards Against Humanity, which has yielded such phrases as "I get by with a little help from a bitch slap". I owe a few of you responses, don't despair, when I'm not on "vacation", I'll get back to it. Quotations because every "vacation" is spent in an exhausting whirlwind tour of any and all surrounding areas, filled with activities. I've given up pretending that I'm a chill person. Cheers!
Most homeopathic ear drops are not homeopathic strength; they're homeopathic constituents at like therapeutic doses. The garlic ones in particular. Xylitol gum is semi-effective for ear infections. Nothing beats augmentin or Cipro, though. If it is wax-induced, debrox is the shit. If you've never done that you will be amazed how you lived your life with multiple cigarette butts worth of grodiness in your skull.
It was some Sulfur suspension drops, I think. I will refrain from speculating on my mother's train of thought. I'm headed to K-Mart (what, they have one here?) in just a couple minutes to pick up some Cipro, it's only like $200/oz., thank god I have good benefits. My aunt, a pediatrician, has diagnosed me with swimmer's ear, which I've had about a million times before. Had tubes put in as a kid to no avail, apparently. Just glad to have actual doctors in the family, too bad it's not nuclear. Obligatory "I still love you, mom". I've been to med clinics that have pulled shit out of my ear big enough to name and take home as a pet. The girlfriend said no.
Yeah... the thing about the true homeopathic stuff is I'm not sure that the magic works topically. But then, my theories on such things are pretty hazy (much like homeopathy in general). I'll say this: when I ate it on the KLR650 the first time, my wife put arnica gel on one leg but not the other. The one with the arnica didn't bruise. Fuckin' pissed me off. No idea what was up with that.
Homeopathy, according to Wikipedia: If that doesn't smack of pseudoscientific bullshit, I don't know what does. A similar idea went into vaccines, but it's really apples to oranges. It sucks that you don't have an identical twin that got into an identical accident with an identical wife who applied arnica to neither leg, or the leg opposite your arnica'd leg. That would be much more conclusive, but even then, not statistically conclusive. That's what people can't grasp, and it blows my mind. Even more simply, the idea of a control group and the rationale behind a double-blind study. Do they not read articles or listen to the radio, where these concepts are discussed from time to time? No, they do. I'm trying to locate the disconnect, and coming up empty....a form of alternative medicine created in 1796 by Samuel Hahnemann based on his doctrine of like cures like (similia similibus curentur), whereby a substance that causes the symptoms of a disease in healthy people will cure similar symptoms in sick people.
The one with the arnica didn't bruise.
d00d. So here's the thing: Saying "one leg but not the other" was an oversimplification. the fact of the matter is, she put arnica gel on the parts that hurt. The parts that didn't, didn't get any. Two days later, the parts that hurt weren't bruised. The parts that didn't hurt were. And here's where your attitude is unhelpful, and here's why I tore you a new one over vaccines: I have zero faith in the operating principles behind homeopathic remedies. I grew up in a house with a rippin' Zeiss microscope, the son of a Ph. D. microbiologist with a degree from Cornell. My father in law has a dozen patents in organic chemistry specifically related to blood. BUT I saw, with my own two eyes, some sort of effect from that gel. I have felt an effect from homeopathic remedies before. So what I'm stating, in fairly explicit terms, is that the theories behind homeopathy are bunk but their effects, based on my own personal experience, are non-negligible. I would usually follow this up with some discussion on the woeful lack of study of the placebo effect, the fact that certain ethnicities respond better to some placebos rather than others, the pragmatic discussion that if magic vaseline cures my bruises I'll bloody well use magic vaseline, particularly as it's a fraction of the cost of neomycin and antibiotics aren't any good on bruises anyway, etc. I can't have that discussion now though because, like most skeptics, your reaction has been - scorn - sarcasm - castigation for ignoring the scientific method - incredulity at the stupidity of the human race at large. In effect, I'm saying "yeah, here's this thing I don't really understand and I'm a reasonably clever person" and your answer is "no, you're a fucking idiot just like everyone else." Do you see how that's a problem? Do you see how it might cause undue friction with a mother that is just trying to make your ear stop hurting? Come-to-jesus moment: I got /r/alternativehealth shut down because they were espousing medically dangerous notions (and operating as a spam haven, but that was just the tax evasion to Al Capone's arrest) and you're pissing me off. Do you think maybe your rhetoric is unnecessarily vitriolic?If that doesn't smack of pseudoscientific bullshit, I don't know what does. A similar idea went into vaccines, but it's really apples to oranges.
It sucks that you don't have an identical twin that got into an identical accident with an identical wife who applied arnica to neither leg, or the leg opposite your arnica'd leg. That would be much more conclusive, but even then, not statistically conclusive.
Didn't mean it to come across that way, but I can see your beef. I never meant to insinuate that I don't believe your anecdote, because I certainly do. I respect you immensely, and generally take your claims as gospel. When I have failed to acquire enough personal experiences to make up my mind one way or the other on something as scientific (or at least potentially scientific) as practicing medicine, I defer to scientific consensus. Such was the case, in this instance. Is there something going with homeopathic medicine worth studying? Probably. So why aren't we doing so? $'s. Similar concept to medical marijuana. If the shit you need is growing/growable in your backyard, lovely capitalism has little incentive to fund studies. Am I wrong? Also worth noting; Just because I'm attacking homeopathy doesn't necessarily mean that I'll blindly defend western medicine. FDA approval doesn't mean shit, other than the company pushing the drug has a sizable reserve of money. We've killed handfuls of people after a drug "passed" clinical trials. My apologies if you felt that I was attacking you, your intelligence, or your story, because I had no such intention. I certainly did intend to attack the theories behind homeopathy, but not claims of results, here and there. Yesterday, I apologized to my mother for questioning her intentions of making me feel better. So at least I'm that far. I might look into this "magic vaseline", I've got a gnarly contusion brewing where the skimboard smacked into my shin on an incoming wave with some serious force. Like with most drugs, the best guinea pig for determining how it will affect me is... myself. P.S. [AltMedz2theXtreme] Ever been on CureZone, where people periodically tell others to drink their own piss? "Not feeling better yet? Keep drinking your own pee, it gets better before it gets worse." Yikes. Hope that never made it onto any subreddits. Edit: Ah, I can see how you thought I lumped you in with the average dumbdumb. My bad. Shouldn't multitask when I'm making an argument.Do you think maybe your rhetoric is unnecessarily vitriolic?
Found your problem. Here's some serious, take it at face value pragmatic rhetorical advice: When you have these conversations, your counterpart has already rejected scientific consensus. Not saying they've rejected it correctly. Not saying they've rejected it rationally. Not saying they've even rejected it calmly but the fact of the matter is, you think you're saying "double blind testing" but they're hearing "one plus one equals three BELIEVE IT INFIDEL." It will get you exactly nowhere. It will escalate things from dispassionate to ad hominem. And it will read, as it was surely intended, as a dismissive attempt to silence dissent. If you wanna get people back to "scientific consensus" territory you need to figure out where they stepped off the path first. For some people, it may be way the fuck back - my wife worked with a woman who rejected germ theory. For some people, it may be in the weeds - yeah, there have been a couple studies that insist echinacea does fuckall for colds, but nobody with a clue recommends echinacea pills for anything and they sure don't recommend them for colds. On the one hand, you're pre-pasteur. On the other hand, you're arguing about research protocols. In neither case does "dismissive" open a dialog. Arnica works best when you put it on immediately. I'm about 98% of the way to chalking that up to placebo effect, but I'm also the kinda guy that will gleefully leverage the placebo effect whenever possible, even on myself. Especially on myself. CureZone sounds like a frightening place. There's some truly batshit stuff out there, and "it gets worse before it gets better" has a long and storied tradition.When I have failed to acquire enough personal experiences to make up my mind one way or the other on something as scientific (or at least potentially scientific) as practicing medicine, I defer to scientific consensus.
I have, in fact, yelled "PLACEBO YOURSELF!" at someone before, don't remember who or why, only the juxta-oxy-whatever. I hope that it was directed at a close friend. Thanks for your time and insights. I will be heeding the vast majortity of your advice, if not all of it.
Enjoy your cigars and Makers. Sounds like a fun evening. I was just back home and shared a similar evening with my family. I wouldn't despair if your dad doesn't want to imbibe. My dad is all too accommodating. I sort of wish he'd ease up :) Have fun!
You're a business man of sorts, at least as far as I'm concerned from my career here. Is there some sort of North Carolinian law preventing the sale of cigars and liquor and/or liquor and beer at the same location? The situation at OBX is ripe for someone to come in here and set up a one-stop-shop for all your vices, legislation notwithstanding.
Yep, that's where I scored the Maker's. And that explains why it felt like a prison. Businesses in ABC states should be required to remove the "spirits" portion of the "wine, beer, and spirits" claims in their taglines. Thanks!
Tonight I'm going to eat crazy amounts of sushi and drink Japanese beer. I've earned it.
Good morning Hubski. On Monday I have a review with my boss. I've been working hard but things outside of my control are hampering me. I'm worried. It's funny that I was all about living in NC but when things get rough, it makes me wish I was in MI. My dog has fleas. Got them from the kennel he was staying at. I gave him a pill that was supposed to get rid of them in 24 hours. It worked. But now I'm worried they are in my rug. So, last night I put a bunch of water and dish soap in small plates with a candle in the centre and put them on the rug. The Internet told me to. It didn't work. Or, maybe there were no fleas in the rug? Anyways, the hubbub from the most recent reddit migration seems to have halted, which is fine. Once again, Hubski emerges unscathed imo. Shoutout to Hubskiers I miss: ButterflyEffect -hope your travels are well. T-Dog and ghostoffuffle -let's make some music!
When things were tough in Akron, I definitely wished for home. Maybe it's not Michigan, but the people who are there, whom you miss? Old friends, old habits, like old shoes worn just the right way. Good luck with dealing with the blood suckers. Oh, and the fleas.
Hey everyone, just created an account and found this when looking at tags to follow. I'm a bit of a music fiend, enjoy traveling, and follow soccer pretty closely. My wife and I just finished solidifying and booking everything related to our honeymoon a couple weeks ago, and we're leaving on Aug. 1st. Starting in NYC to visit my sister-in-law for a few days, then flying direct to Nice before renting a car and stopping off in Geneva, Paris, and Brussels. After we drop the car off in Brussels, we're taking the train to London, and the goal is to see a Premier League match (either Arsenal/Liverpool, Palace/Villa, or West Ham/Bournemouth) during the four nights we're there. We also speak French, so that's why so much of the trip is through francophone areas. I've seriously been looking forward to it for over a year and a half now.
That's awesome flopper! Congratulations!!! Enjoy this time together and whenever possible introduce each other as, "my fiancé." -You'll get to be each others spouses for many years, but "fiancé" is a short lived, and very special thing.
Flopper, do you know why this comment appeared several times?
Good morning hubski. I was inspired by eightbitsamurai to write a blog a day during Ramadan, but have become bogged and waterlogged and preoccupied with shipwrecks in Shakespeare. I will find my way ashore.
G'morning hubski! I've just rolled out of bed for a day of frantic studying and lab simulations - I started a 4-credit course last night and have the final tomorrow, eesh. Gotta love when institutional and personal schedules collide. On the upside, passing the exam means I've done 12 credits in 24 days. Not a bad pace, methinks. Had some fun in IRC last night with a few folks, too! A fun time all around with galen, ccc, Quatrarius, and asdf. Some IT talk was had, some music was shared, I introduced them to the wonders of Mongolian throat rap... Not a particularly exciting week, but a good one. Hope all is well with you lot. All the best, hubski.
Mongolian throat folk songs I have heard, Mongolian throat metal I have heard, but Mongolian throat rap? This I need to hear!
Here you are, my friend! Ethnic Zorigoo ft. Zaya - Khuleg Baatar
Thanks for that! I will definitely give it a listen as soon I can access a proper computer again (probably tomorrow).
(irc.mountai.net at #hubski) man, I'm following you around everywhere
Had a minor scare with my medication, and needed to get a blood test redone. Turns out I had fasted when I didn't need to, and that messed up some of the levels. wipes brow Phew! Appt with my doctor two-ish weeks from now so I can get onto part 2 of hormones.
I'm actually in the best physical health I've been in years - funnily enough! Blood pressure is down (not that it was ever terrible), weight is down slowly and healthily, been exercising more and eating better. Funny what you can do when you're not doing a master's degree on a shoestring budget.
My current plan B is already in progress - preparing for doctoral auditions. I've got to put together a program of an hour's worth of material. So far I've got a Brahms cello sonata and a Bottesini Character piece that I'm working on, and I'm looking for two or three more pieces. edit: also, Ottawa IS getting hot, we're in the high 20s and low 30s regularly. I missed CBC the entire time I was down in the states. NPR has good programming, but I don't think it can compete (personally).
Just an aside, as I don't really have any place appropriate to post this, but I'm really sad that I missed seeing Adrien Broner lose to Shawn Porter. I know Broner's whole schtick is probably an act to sell tickets, but I still would have enjoyed seeing him put in his place.
While visiting relatives in California, I inherited a 40 year old guitar. Now that I'm home, that guitar is all that's on my mind. Yesterday I took it to a little music shop I love and the guy gave me a free inspection just because it was so interesting to him(holla). It's got a few minor problems, but I expected that. I bought some strings for it and will hopefully have time to put them on today or tomorrow. Any tips to get rid of the old smell from an instrument, or are my futile attempts hopeless? Also, what's some cool 70's girl names? (It's for the guitar)
Have you ever seen the documentary Tom Dowd and the Language of Music? If you have even the slightest interest in Clapton, Layla, Duane Allman, etc., I have to recommend this clip about the making of Layla.
1. Congrats. When I married my wife her father gave me her mother's old guitar. It's a 1978 Gibson J 50 -best dowry EVER! 2. Use the guitar and the smell will go away. Once the smell does go away, you will miss it. Just an FYI 3. You should post a picture of the guitar, I would love to see it. What is it? Acoustic, electric, make, model, year? Once we see it, we can help you name it.
http://imgur.com/wyjdMUl She is full-blood acoustic, no electronics used anywhere. The headstock reminds me of a classical guitar, but I don't know enough about instruments to have a full diagnosis. The model/year is pretty hard to find, I havent seen anything on it besides some manufacturing numbers. I'm gonna do some more internet research on her, but because its likely a beginner guitar from a small brand, it'll be pretty hard. Thanks for the smell tip, I'll definitely be using it a bunch this summer. Mostly because she came with a case, that's the only case I have right now and I'd be to paranoid to let any of my other instruments outside without one. Edit: A Franciscan E-40 is what I could get from it so far. Also, it's Japan made. Stuff I found on the internet was only questions from other people, too.
Definitely a classical guitar - The width of the neck at the nut gives it away (makes it easier to play single notes, and to be clear and articulate while playing). I'm confident you've been told this already, or know it already, but no steel strings for that lady: There's no steel adjustment rod in the neck, and it'll bow under the tension of steel strings. You could always call it Liona.
She is pretty! Looks like a classical guitar. My first impression was that she looked like a "Julia" or an "Irene."
Still haven't gotten my beer into the bloody bucket yet. It turns out newborns require a good chunk of time. As well as watching the womens world cup. The bucket is cleaned, but need to sterilize the damn thing which takes maybe.... 30 seconds? I'm also lazy. That's probably my real issue. Work goes. My device udid's somehow got removed from the signing cert we use on our CI server so I haven't been able to test any of the damn builds. Which means I'm sending them to the automation team blind. Which has backfired on me since our CI was pointing to the wrong branch the whole time and they've been looking at the develop branch instead of the feature I'm working on. sigh On the bright side we did push a new version of the app to the ios store a few hours ago. 98.2% of users are crash free and about 51% of users are on the latest so that's pretty cool.