The New Helm

I nearly forgot to mention this. How could I?! I'm so proud! I constructed my own desk! It's my new helm upon which I'll tackle the second year of university. It's already cluttered. I need ornate boxes.

This time last year

I received an important letter in the mail that changed the course of my life. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

Roughin' it

Rough times ahead. I have two midterms at the end of the week. I also accepted two overnight shifts at job I really like. I decided that to indulge the best of both worlds (high marks & money) I would have to start cramming early. I recognize that I'll have to cram even more to retain the information and this isn't nearly as efficient, but it's a sacrifice that I can live with.

I had an excellently productive day of studying from 1:30 to 11 PM, with a break for food and socialization. I also fit in a super study buddy session with Carolyn, who joined me on the second floor of Dafoe just mere meters from where I chucked last week. She kept me focused and in her wisdom supplied some comedic relief when I thought I couldn't go on any further. I provided the Ritz crackers. I did not throw up, even though she's really pretty.

Face THAT!

I am currently taking an evening high school math class in an adult high school, so that I can continue in my degree. It doesn't feel much like high school.

• Before I was very unpopular in high school: Now I'm too cool to care.
• Before I had to raise my hand and get permission use the bathroom: Now I simply go whenever. I actually got yelled at once by my old high school teacher for leaving during free study time. I was 18, and indignant about the entire situation. All the cool kids in the class took the side of my teacher.
  
• Before I had no cell phone: Now I have a cell phone, and the teacher doesn't mind when I text all class so long as I don't bother anyone else. While this might seem like extremely disrespectful behavior at face value, it pales in comparison to the audacious drama the other (so called) adults in this evening course dish out. Tonight I was flirting with Carolyn using math formulas over text.
  

We get one fifteen minute break out of a 3 hour class. I wandered into the empty computer lab to check my email and do some Facebook maintenance. Much to my surprise, Facebook was a banned website on the school's network! I have heard of this on the news before: companies and schools block access to Facebook because it is a time waster, they say. What they fail to realize is that I am above their policy out of the virtue that I'm playful with life and have friends application invitations to reject. Seize the day, or at least my break!




After a quick Google search I discovered faceyourbook.com, a free hack site that allows you to cut through any network blockage and surf the net as though it were a God given right. It can be used for any website that has been blocked, anywhere. Go forward with my blessing.

P.S.
Does anyone know how to watch LOST on abc.com from within Canada? I can't get past their ip defenses.

Update:

Alexander said this post reminded him of an episode of Frasier.

Dead Sexy

I recently got new glasses. Aren't they sexy? I had never seen a floating frame before and everyone fell in love when I put them on. The frames are Derapage Spoiler 07. I decided to switch to glasses because I felt they would be easier on my eyes with all the reading and computer research I must do for school. So far, that's not the case.

My prescription has increased since my last checkup in 2001, and with each prescription change one usually must go through a period of adjustment, headaches, and disorientation. It's been a long time since I wore glasses on a daily basis out and about in public. I forgot that with each stronger prescription objects appear further away and smaller. I also forgot that glasses have fields of view, which sounds silly but when I sit down at the table to eat I wonder where my food went. I have to look down much further to see it in focus or push the plate further from me. I'm surprised I haven't stained every shirt I own.

The same principal applies to reading. In order to see a book now, whereas once I would place it on the desk and turn my eyes down without having to move my head, I must now either turn my entire head down, move the text further from me, or position the text on an angle. I think I will get a mini pulpit for my reading needs.




Due to the adjustments required to learn how to see through designer glasses, my body has gone on strike. My neck is killing me from the amount of new strain I've put on it, and my eyes are throbbing since I have to hold books further away. My shoulders are aching since I must sit further back from the laptop screen. Last night I couldn't climb the ladder to my loft and slept on the floor. This is the last thing I need, as I have a test coming up on Monday and will be studying for the whole weekend. Who knew that designer glasses would give me faux whiplash? I got these because I want to give my eyes a break. Instead they're working overtime :(

They do look damn sexy though. Casey says I could be Wired's Sexy Geek of 2008. I say sure, if I survive to accept the award.

Earth to Michael

I was totally out of it yesterday! My sense of place forgot to show up for it's daytime shift. I missed breakfast and nearly missed my first class in the morning. Then I somehow convinced myself that I had no more classes for the day. The logic looked like this:

I have two classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Today is Friday.
Thus, I have only one class today.

Perhaps I should have stayed in critical thinking! (That is called a logical contradiction, by the way)

While I was eating my lunch, I couldn't shake an underlying feeling of being entirely uncool and alone. Am I depressed? Is this animal, vegetable, or mineral? I napped for two hours in the afternoon.

--Update--
Amanda just called. She's the only person with a special ring tone on my cell phone. Not even my BOYFRIEND gets that privilege. I lamented my day's woes to her. She responded, "uncool? Michael, you are not uncool. I am calling YOU. ME. Calling YOU. Debate settled!

She's got a point. She is pretty awesome.

Endeavors

I'm having a great semester so far. I'm rounding off my first year of studies with second year Environmental Studies, Human Geography, and a really fascinating class called Economics of World Food Issues and Policies. My prescribed textbook for the latter is Fast Food Nation. I'm currently learning about the history of agriculture and animal domestication: really interesting stuff. I have a hunch that agriculture will be a part of whatever I do once I've graduated.

I dropped one course, unfortunately. Critical thinking, which was a shame because I was really enjoying the professor's lectures. He was sassy and tried his best to embarrass the students who guessed at their answers. The reason is that I can't handle the work load this semester, for two reasons:




1. I'm beginning high school math next week. The six hours of class per week required for this upgrade will be the equivalent of two university courses in time spent in the classroom. Then there's the homework. And finally, there's the historical proof emblazed upon my high school transcript that I wasn't very good at math. I need this math pre-requisite to take courses next year. It shall get the respect it deserves.

2. I'm hunting for a part time job. I want something around 5-12 hours per week, simply to supplement my income. A large course load would make that impossible.

What this means is I'll be taking summer courses, which likely won't be a problem since I've decided I'm staying in Winnipeg this summer anyways.

Summer. It's so far off....*

Amazing Enslavement: an essay

It was time to write my third essay in ARTS 1110, a writing course, and I wanted it to be something special. I had submitted two 90% essays previously and really wanted to break through the 90% ceiling. Renee told me that teachers never give more than a 90% to a first year student. The final 10% is reserved for those who come up with ideas that have never been though of before, she said. So I ponderd for something original and this idea came to me that Biblical Joseph (of Genesis) and genetic engineering science had a similarity: both have been tasked with saving a large group of people from a famine. I began to research the topics and within a day had a thesis to be excited about.




I nearly fell to the floor when I got back my submission. I got a 96% on it. My teacher said it was the best paper she's ever been handed, and that she's never read such a unique idea from a first year student. She asked me for permission if she could use parts of it in her curriculum to teach students how to write an essay. She then told me that WHEN I apply for my masters that I am to add her as a reference.

Talk about a confidence booster!

I'm putting the essay online, as well as including the short abstract below. Read it or not, but if you do than let me know what you thought!

Abstract

The story of Joseph is regarded by many as a tale of morality and good-will, with the hero Joseph saving the land of Egypt from a predicted famine. However, a part of the story which is often overlooked is of the taxable enfranchisement and relocation of an entire geographical area so desperate for food that they would sell anything to survive. Today, Earth is facing yet another famine, this time from overpopulation and overconsumption. There are similarities and differences that can be argued between the story of Joseph and the future. This paper finds that it is dangerous to rely on a monopoly for an essential service such as food, though this is exactly the situation the world might one day find itself in. It also concludes that the story of Joseph will not repeat in exactly the same way because of today's social climate and the uncertain severity of today's predicted famine. Monsanto is contrasted with the Joseph story since it mirrors many features of the Joseph administration. No conclusions are put for ward relating to the future of Monsanto, and it is used for illustrative purposes only.

Read the full essay here.

Study Tips - Test Yourself!

I'm in the height of exam fever at school, but in the spirit of procrastination I feel I have to share my study tips with you.

The end of semester one is quickly approaching and I feel good. I'm on top of my assignments and have been performing excellently thus far! I didn't always feel this way about school, though. We'll travel back in time to see me stress about registration.

Agenda

Let it

It first big snowfall of the year and my first blizzard ever in Winnipeg. A sign of things to come, no doubt!

What to do with all this extra space!

What to do with all this extra space!
Originally uploaded by Michael Tyas

My ceilings are 13 feet high. Click to see how I utilized the extra space!

Ribs in Residence

Click To Play

Something Delicious.

That's the name of the Sunday evening dinner ritual at Murat's palace in Tache Hall. Once a week Murat gathers some rezbians from our floor and invites them to shop, chop and cook SOMETHING DELICIOUS!

This is the first vlog I've made with some rezbians. Perhaps more will follow!

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov), Flash Video (.flv)

Minimum wage and the highest mark.

I am elated. My first essay of the year got me a 90%, and the highest mark in the class! Since I know you're all dying to read it, I've provided an abstract below to whet your appetite and a link to the PDF. If you do read it, let me know your opinion!

Minimum Wage and Inflation: A vicious
circle surrounding minimum wage,
inflation, and the working poor.

"Setting a minimum wage to help raise lowest paid workers out of poverty is causing more problems than it solves, rendering it more of a burden than a relief. Instead of helping to lift lowest paid workers above the poverty line, the policy instead creates a burden on the economy and small business, causing inflation to rise. Therefore minimum wage policy hurts the workers for whom it is designed to assist. This model of alleviating poverty is not working and new policy that does not contribute towards inflation should be sought."

Want to read more? Click here to access the full quality PDF.

Cracked the code

I just figured out, after an hour of toiling, how (x - 3)^{12 =} x² - 6x + 9.

I feel awesome.

New Digs

I'm finally there! Where? THERE! I'm settled into my new residence in the University of Manitoba. Here's a very quick tour of my new room.

The final update

Copied from a mass email I have been producing regularily.

Transition: Passage from one form, state, style, or place to another. My time in L'Arche is nearing an end, though I find that it hasn't really 'hit' me yet. Nor do the memories of arriving to Winnipeg on April 25 come readily, either. It's a strange feeling, knowing that I'm in denial. University begins on September 6. Orientation begins on September 4. I'm moving into residence on September 1. My last day in L'Arche is August 31. It's 11:30 PM on August 26 and I'm completely 'set up' for university. My student loans have come through. I'm admitted into residence and have a meal plan. All my courses have been selected. I have a book list.

All this is simply incredible since I didn't even know what the word ' faculty' meant in January. I'm thrilled to say that I've had excellent guidance along the way, and a huge thank you goes out to you-know-who and you and you and you, etcetera.

In the past four months I have accomplished all the things, the reasons, why I chose to leave Ontario 4 months before school began in the first place. I've met new people and made new friends, good friends that I adore and have had many good times with. I've traversed across the city and found places and things that I like, while also realizing that there's so much more of this city to explore. I've also visited the University of Manitoba campus many times and feel quite comfortable when it comes to orienteering myself towards buildings and student services available. I'm nearly 25 and couldn't imagine plopping myself into a sea of 18 year old first year students, and then attempting to figure all this out. It would be impossible. I'd have a nervous breakdown. Not seriously, but my arthritis would likely kill me.

And I feel blessed to find that there is lots more I've accomplished since I arrived 4 months ago. God, only 4 months? I've been on the 6 o'clock news. Learned how to plant a garden and harvest it. Learned how to cook delicious meals. Stood in awe under the prairie sky an watched a distant thunderstorm flash beyond my peripherals. Learned how to dance. I've even gotten another high paying part time job at the U of M BookStore as a sexy cashier (which I totally love).

I'm pretty sure that I'll be looking forward to what lies ahead once I can accept that there is something beyond this.

Feel free to visit my blog regularly, again, since I was limited in what I could post in my current job. This message should also mark the end of my mass updates, of which many people have told me were absurdly long. I thank you for your honesty and end this here.

Prosperity and favor upon you all!

Michael

P.S. Do you think you have what it takes to live in L'Arche? We need committed, imperfect people just like you! Visit http://larchewinnipeg.org/

The Letter

Click to play

Today I received a letter from the University of Manitoba, one of the institutions I applied to for environmental studies.

Formats available: Windows Media (.wmv)

Exciting Planning

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A lack of adventure compounded by deficient blog posts compels me to vlog.

Formats available: Windows Media (.wmv)