I know that New Years Resolutions are a tradition to do every year, but I don't know if people really take them too seriously. Why do you need to make changes and set goals in your life just once a year? Maybe New Years just makes it feel special, or maybe it feels right because everyone else is doing it, but I think it's a load of hooey. The new month is about to start, so I'm making some resolutions for the new month:
1) Tackle stupid habits (i.e. fidgeting. This includes (and I'm sure none of you will know what I'm talking about because I don't do this stuff during videos or, obviously, through text) rolling my wrists and ankles; tensing my shoulders...)
1a) Tackle oral fixation. It's nice to know I'm not the only one. I have a lot of weird little habits, all centered around my mouth, that I'm trying to get rid of. According to The Art of Voice Acting (yes, an unexpected source, I know), a habit takes about 200 repetitions or about 21 days to dispel. I started yesterday, and the oral part is going alright. I've come so close to getting rid of these habits, and then I just fall apart.
2) Spend less time online, but also make sure to keep posting videos when I get busy at school.
3) Stop saying demeaning things about myself (like, "oh, I'm stupid). I know I'm kidding, but still. [that was a bit convoluted, no?]
I'll probably add to this. I know there's something I'm forgetting about.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Normal
Not until recently did I realize:
I have never wanted to be normal.
Perhaps this isn't an uncommon thought, especially for people in my age vicinity. But growing up, I was always trying to find ways to be different from other people. I got excited when I heard people call me "weird", because I considered it to be a good thing (and I still do!). I would inwardly remark on things that make me different from others (mannerisms, hobbies, etc.) - or so I thought.
In the last few weeks, several things that I thought made me unique (for instance, I didn't know that riding bikes causes lots of people's hands to go numb; I always just thought I had weird nerve endings) have been exposed to not be as such.
(Well, that was a convoluted sentence!)
I'll admit that I'm a little disappointed when I'm proved to be like everyone else- everyone wants to be different. But I think that, though most people are "normal", what make them "strange" and interesting are the subtle differences from one person to another that you usually don't encounter until you get to know a person. For instance, my syntax and conversational manner is completely different from anyone I've met. Sometimes I forget about it because everyone I know is used to me switching topic abruptly and being super animated, for example. But when I'm talking to someone new, they can't follow what I'm saying because of the different accents, voices, topics, and tactics I throw at them.
And I'm not making that up just to seem different. That is, in fact, something I wouldn't have realized if someone hadn't pointed it out to me.
Sure, it's easy to think everyone is normal, but the funny part is that no one is normal. "Normal" is just an ideal- an overly perfect mean, right smack dab in the middle of humankind. Some people strive for it, some rebel. No matter what, though, no one resides in that category. That's what I mean: it's easy to label someone as "normal" and just get it over with so you don't have to keep trying to figure them out and smack a sign on their head, but if you keep talking to John Doe, you'll probably find that he secretly subscribes to Seventeen Magazine, or that Tina Typical absolutely cannot wear the color red.
And then there's also the topic of "who says what normal is?" Maybe you are John Doe, and you really do subscribe to Seventeen and think that men who don't are abnormal. Normality is established by whom and what you surround yourself with. I'm sure that many Nerdfighters felt abnormal until we all congregated and became normal once in the presence of others who are abnormal in the same ways we are.
In the end, I'm not disappointed to feel like everyone else. The subtleties of life are what make it interesting.
I have never wanted to be normal.
Perhaps this isn't an uncommon thought, especially for people in my age vicinity. But growing up, I was always trying to find ways to be different from other people. I got excited when I heard people call me "weird", because I considered it to be a good thing (and I still do!). I would inwardly remark on things that make me different from others (mannerisms, hobbies, etc.) - or so I thought.
In the last few weeks, several things that I thought made me unique (for instance, I didn't know that riding bikes causes lots of people's hands to go numb; I always just thought I had weird nerve endings) have been exposed to not be as such.
(Well, that was a convoluted sentence!)
I'll admit that I'm a little disappointed when I'm proved to be like everyone else- everyone wants to be different. But I think that, though most people are "normal", what make them "strange" and interesting are the subtle differences from one person to another that you usually don't encounter until you get to know a person. For instance, my syntax and conversational manner is completely different from anyone I've met. Sometimes I forget about it because everyone I know is used to me switching topic abruptly and being super animated, for example. But when I'm talking to someone new, they can't follow what I'm saying because of the different accents, voices, topics, and tactics I throw at them.
And I'm not making that up just to seem different. That is, in fact, something I wouldn't have realized if someone hadn't pointed it out to me.
Sure, it's easy to think everyone is normal, but the funny part is that no one is normal. "Normal" is just an ideal- an overly perfect mean, right smack dab in the middle of humankind. Some people strive for it, some rebel. No matter what, though, no one resides in that category. That's what I mean: it's easy to label someone as "normal" and just get it over with so you don't have to keep trying to figure them out and smack a sign on their head, but if you keep talking to John Doe, you'll probably find that he secretly subscribes to Seventeen Magazine, or that Tina Typical absolutely cannot wear the color red.
And then there's also the topic of "who says what normal is?" Maybe you are John Doe, and you really do subscribe to Seventeen and think that men who don't are abnormal. Normality is established by whom and what you surround yourself with. I'm sure that many Nerdfighters felt abnormal until we all congregated and became normal once in the presence of others who are abnormal in the same ways we are.
In the end, I'm not disappointed to feel like everyone else. The subtleties of life are what make it interesting.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Damn Scavenger Hunt
Yes. The title really said it best.
I couldn't stop thinking about it last night. I eventually pulled myself away and went to sleep at 11:15!! I wasn't even trying to go to bed early!
Then alleycast (or whoever) found the clue. Good for them. Now we have to wait for someone to go to Juan Solomon Park in Indianapolis. And I am warming up. For what?
HMMMMMMMM
I couldn't stop thinking about it last night. I eventually pulled myself away and went to sleep at 11:15!! I wasn't even trying to go to bed early!
Then alleycast (or whoever) found the clue. Good for them. Now we have to wait for someone to go to Juan Solomon Park in Indianapolis. And I am warming up. For what?
HMMMMMMMM
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Slang
As a subsection of my obsession with language, I'm obsessed with slang- they're such tasty, spicy little morsels. And you know what's really great? 20's slang. My friend and I were really into it for a while, and I found a letter I wrote to her with this:
SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING:
THE SURGEON GENERAL UNDERSTANDS THE PRESSURES OF TEENHOOD, BUT WATCH OUT FOR GETTING ZOZZLED, BLOTTO, AN EDGE, BENT, OR OTHERWISE DRUNK. IF YOU DO DRINK A LOT OF GIGGLE WATER, BE CAREFUL NOT TO LEAVE AROUND TOO MANY DEAD SOLDIERS. WHILE GETTING FRIED, HALF SEAS OVER, ETC. BEWARE GOING ON A TOOT AT A JUICE JOINT AND DRINKING TOO MUCH HOOCH. YOU WILL TURN INTO A RUMMY AND A GOOD DUMB DORA IF YOU HAVE TOO MUCH COFFIN VARNISH AND GET OSSIFIED AND/OR SPLIFFICATED TOO MUCH. THE SURGEON GENERAL THANKS YOU.
20's Slang 1
20's Slang 2
20's Slang 3
SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING:
THE SURGEON GENERAL UNDERSTANDS THE PRESSURES OF TEENHOOD, BUT WATCH OUT FOR GETTING ZOZZLED, BLOTTO, AN EDGE, BENT, OR OTHERWISE DRUNK. IF YOU DO DRINK A LOT OF GIGGLE WATER, BE CAREFUL NOT TO LEAVE AROUND TOO MANY DEAD SOLDIERS. WHILE GETTING FRIED, HALF SEAS OVER, ETC. BEWARE GOING ON A TOOT AT A JUICE JOINT AND DRINKING TOO MUCH HOOCH. YOU WILL TURN INTO A RUMMY AND A GOOD DUMB DORA IF YOU HAVE TOO MUCH COFFIN VARNISH AND GET OSSIFIED AND/OR SPLIFFICATED TOO MUCH. THE SURGEON GENERAL THANKS YOU.
20's Slang 1
20's Slang 2
20's Slang 3
Friday, August 22, 2008
Five Stars
So this is something I've been contemplating for a while: ratings (on YouTube). I give all videos five stars (unless they're completely horrid). I do that because
The ratings are similar to the US grading system. So many people are given A's for quite subpar work. But the teachers just don't want their students to hate them, or don't want their students complaining about having to work harder, or don't want parents complaining, yadda yadda. So I'm trying to start actually giving real ratings to videos. I mean, the whole point of the ratings system is to help other people find good videos, not to give an ego boost to the maker of the video. Yes, I will probably be sad if all my videos start averaging three stars, but... I hope they won't.
- I liked at least one thing about them
- I'm being nice and encouraging
- And I guess I don't want my friends on YouTube to look at my ratings and be like, "What? She gave Charlie's Information video three stars??"
The ratings are similar to the US grading system. So many people are given A's for quite subpar work. But the teachers just don't want their students to hate them, or don't want their students complaining about having to work harder, or don't want parents complaining, yadda yadda. So I'm trying to start actually giving real ratings to videos. I mean, the whole point of the ratings system is to help other people find good videos, not to give an ego boost to the maker of the video. Yes, I will probably be sad if all my videos start averaging three stars, but... I hope they won't.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Terminus
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
TERMINUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am FRIGGIN' EXCITED
I really need to pack. I can't decide if I should bring my guitar or not. I'm staying in a dorm-style hostel room, and I don't think it would fit in one of the lockers, so I would have to take it everywhere... Hmm...
And the Nerdfighter gathering! And the bean! AHHHHHH
I can't believe I leave tomorrow. Good god.
TERMINUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am FRIGGIN' EXCITED
I really need to pack. I can't decide if I should bring my guitar or not. I'm staying in a dorm-style hostel room, and I don't think it would fit in one of the lockers, so I would have to take it everywhere... Hmm...
And the Nerdfighter gathering! And the bean! AHHHHHH
I can't believe I leave tomorrow. Good god.
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