Well, hello there. It's been a while. I'll try my best to catch you up on the last four months of my life in under forty seconds.
Anne Lindsay, cookbook author extraordinaire, saves my relationship every night at dinner hour. I like cooking her food and my man likes to eat it. Curried zucchini soup. Fresh tomato ricotta sauce. Seafood chowder. Chicken dijon. Every recipe is fast, healthy, easy, delicious, and inexpensive. Best. Cookbook. Ever.
I spent 54 hours on ferries over an eight day period. During this time, I learned that Queen Charlotte and Sointula are the two most beautiful places in BC and that Gravol is amazing.
Cool fact: if the world's best theoretical physicists are correct, there are ten dimensions of space and one dimension of time. Where are these extra dimensions? Find out here.
I love TED (where I learned about those other seven dimensions.) If you have never heard of TED, go to www.ted.com, click on the first picture that you see, and learn about something cool from an expert in any field in about 15 minutes. Then kiss your free time goodbye, because those videos are highly addictive. So far, I have learned about baby brains, broken brains, spoken word poetry, statistical representation, washing machines, chickasaurus, and Titon.
Strawberries + wine + juice + sparkling water = tutti frutti summer love.
On that note, local strawberries taste amazing. There is a Wednesday night farmer's market in Nanaimo at the VIEX fairgrounds from 4 to 6pm where you can acquire said strawberries.
I turned 24. My spouse's birthday gift to me was a white board for doing math. I think it's awesome and I use it all the time.
Morning workouts are amazing in a sweaty way.
My little brother graduated. Holy moly, we are all grown up.
And that is the last four months of my life in forty seconds. Unless you followed all of the links. Then this post took you two hours to read - time well spent. Until next time - enjoy the fresh foods of summer and your new addiction to TED.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Make me into a bird
I've had it. I'm finished. I give up.
No overtime. No concessions. No more.
Make me into a bird so that I can fly away.
Perhaps I would fly to the west. I would soar over the great ocean until I reached a new land...
...Or not.
Perhaps I would fly to the North. I would navigate the grand coastline and see the majestic mammals that are elegant and extravagant and....
...endangered.
Perhaps I would fly to the south.
But I would rather not live in the states.
Perhaps I would just stay put, open a bottle of wine and build a nest. It's not that bad here. See:
And in case I needed one more reason to stay:
Everything is relative. Keep it in perspective.
No overtime. No concessions. No more.
Make me into a bird so that I can fly away.
Perhaps I would fly to the west. I would soar over the great ocean until I reached a new land...
...Or not.
Perhaps I would fly to the North. I would navigate the grand coastline and see the majestic mammals that are elegant and extravagant and....
...endangered.
Perhaps I would fly to the south.
But I would rather not live in the states.
Perhaps I would just stay put, open a bottle of wine and build a nest. It's not that bad here. See:
And in case I needed one more reason to stay:
Everything is relative. Keep it in perspective.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
VIU Job Action
Welcome back. Sorry that it's been so long. I suppose that you could call me an "intermittent" blogger. If you were trying to be nice, that is.
It's quite an interesting time here in Nanaimo. The Faculty Association at VIU has been on strike since March 10th. While many of us are hoping for a speedy resolution, we are planning to be out of classrooms for a looooong time.
This has been a fantastic lesson for VIU students on the integrity and credibility of information. I am in the science program, so I am familiar with information in the scientific community. Let me put it this way: scientists are anal. They question EVERYTHING. There is a process called "peer review" which takes place before an article can be published in a reputable journal. The author submits his article to a group of peers, who question EVERYTHING and subsequently annihilate any questionable conclusions. Any portion of the article that survives this process is dubbed "peer reviewed" and the reader can have an increased level of confidence in this piece of literature. It's kind of like this:
Unfortunately, junk still finds its way through this process and so scientists are ever vigilant about what they read. Scientists who truly believe in what they are writing try to make it as clear as possible. The very few scientists who have something to hide often will not lie, but they will be vague and misleading. Sometimes they take a nucleus of bonefide fact and use it to drum up false conclusions. They may use terms and not define them and hope that the audience assumes an incorrect meaning.
To complicate things even more, on any side of an issue there is not a "good side" and a "bad side." The terms "good" and "bad" are subjective, so there may be both acceptable and questionable information coming from both sides.
What does this have to do with the VIU strike? As students, our information is limited to rumors and the odd communication from the Faculty Association (VIUFA) or the University Administration. If you support either one of these parties more than the other, it does not ensure that their every word is gospel. Scrutinize everything.
Many students want to be taken seriously during this strike. We can facilitate this by being informed and showing everyone that we are intelligent and reasonable.
1. Get informed. Check the labour updates on VIU's webpage and then read the VIUFA's updates at viufa.ca. When reading ANY communication, ask questions about anything that you are unsure about. Email the VIUFA and labourinfo@viu.ca if you need the definition of confusing terms. Ask what statistics mean. When a party has received a "40% compensation increase" ask "with respect to what?" and "what does that look like? a raise? why did they decide to increase funding?"
2. Send letters to VIUFA, Dr. Ralph Nilson, Dr. David Witty, the board, MLAs, Christy Clark, your Student Union, and the media. Students have a voice, so let's use it. Attend or organize student rallies.
3. Our situation is bad enough as it is; we don't need to exaggerate. This is not a "hostage situation", it is a labour dispute. If we refer to ourselves as hostages, we lose credibility.
4. Ask tough questions. Why are the communications to students from both VIUFA and VIU so confusing and misleading? What are they hiding? Do they think students are stupid and we won't figure it out? We want to be a part of this process, but we can't be if we are only given junk information. Demand clear information.
5. If you should speak to the media, please kindly remember that you are representing the student body. We want to be taken seriously, so please act accordingly.
6. ENCOURAGE DISCUSSION! If people are speaking up but you feel that they are misinformed, consider it a teachable moment. Most people who post untrue comments on facebook do it because they are upset and because they believe that they are correct. They should be commended for using their voice while correct or contrasting information can be communicated. This is not a student vs student battle. This is a labour dispute between VIUFA and VIU. While factions of students may support different parties, we don't need to be fighting each other. Please exercise tolerance.
Careful digestion of information is useful in ANY context. This is a lesson that we are learning outside of the classroom today.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Apples. A lot of apples.
As we come to the end of another busy semester, my brain is continuously on the edge of melting down since the demands on it are peaking. Sound familiar?
It kind of reminds me of this.
Except in my case it's "All homework and no sleep makes Kate something something."
My worst enemy this semester was not procrastination (for the first time!), but mental blocks. My brain would just give up, even though my will hadn't. Initially, I thought that if I studied harder I would get better at math and would avoid mental blocks. Although that will help in the long term, I also tried some short-term-mental-block-busters. I have to admit, I was skeptical. To my surprise, some of them were extremely successful. Here are some tested brain decloggers:
1. Apples. A lot of apples.
Maybe its the shot of glucose to the brain. Maybe its the vitamins. Maybe its some combination.
An apple makes math easier for about half an hour. A friend of mine coined the term "mapples," meaning "apples eaten to ease the study of mathematics." Mapples are now a staple in my diet.
2. Getting up at 6am.
Sometimes, getting up early may feel like this:
But you may surprise yourself with the results that you get before sunrise. One of my profs suggested to me that if I was stuck on a problem, to try to solve it the instant I opened my eyes in the morning. I have to give him credit for his suggestion; I got some of my best results this way. It was as if I knew the answer all along and as if math is the easiest subject on the planet.
3. Get moving.
When apples and early morning study sessions just weren't enough, I took a long ride on the city bus. You know, the bus that goes down every single side street. It takes you an hour to make a trip that, had you gone on a direct route, would have been five minutes. That bus is the Solution Express. There is something about watching the houses and streetlamps pass you by that makes equations appear like magic.
More important than any of the above tips:
You're brain is an organ in your body and it will work best if you take care of it. Adequate sleep, proper nutrition, and regular physical activity are compulsory to keeping your brain functioning well.
Happy studying! Good luck to those writing exams.
It kind of reminds me of this.
Except in my case it's "All homework and no sleep makes Kate something something."
My worst enemy this semester was not procrastination (for the first time!), but mental blocks. My brain would just give up, even though my will hadn't. Initially, I thought that if I studied harder I would get better at math and would avoid mental blocks. Although that will help in the long term, I also tried some short-term-mental-block-busters. I have to admit, I was skeptical. To my surprise, some of them were extremely successful. Here are some tested brain decloggers:
1. Apples. A lot of apples.
Maybe its the shot of glucose to the brain. Maybe its the vitamins. Maybe its some combination.
An apple makes math easier for about half an hour. A friend of mine coined the term "mapples," meaning "apples eaten to ease the study of mathematics." Mapples are now a staple in my diet.
2. Getting up at 6am.
Sometimes, getting up early may feel like this:
But you may surprise yourself with the results that you get before sunrise. One of my profs suggested to me that if I was stuck on a problem, to try to solve it the instant I opened my eyes in the morning. I have to give him credit for his suggestion; I got some of my best results this way. It was as if I knew the answer all along and as if math is the easiest subject on the planet.
3. Get moving.
When apples and early morning study sessions just weren't enough, I took a long ride on the city bus. You know, the bus that goes down every single side street. It takes you an hour to make a trip that, had you gone on a direct route, would have been five minutes. That bus is the Solution Express. There is something about watching the houses and streetlamps pass you by that makes equations appear like magic.
More important than any of the above tips:
You're brain is an organ in your body and it will work best if you take care of it. Adequate sleep, proper nutrition, and regular physical activity are compulsory to keeping your brain functioning well.
Happy studying! Good luck to those writing exams.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Snow is for Children to Play In
My apologies for the drought in blog posts. I've been doing math.
Autumn in Nanaimo is a transition from the constant stream of sunshine to the perpetual parade of precipitation. Each day is different, and as a result it is fresh. Our landscape undergoes a metamorphosis, from green to fiery to subdued. Our evenings progressively get colder. Our sunshine supply is decreased, so its value increases to the point where we truly appreciate our lovely sunny days (thanks for the economy lesson, Alek). Our heating begins to get turned on in the morning, sporadically at first as we get into the routine. Our hot coffee drinks become more sophisticated. And at some point, we begin to entertain the idea of snow.
Did you hear? It's going to snow this weekend. Definitely.
Maybe.
My father is a man of catch-phrases. Every time the flakes start falling, he says, "Snow is for children to play in." As a child, that made perfect sense to me. Why else would snow exist? Its only practical application is for construction of fort walls, projectile ammunition, and friends with carrots for noses. 10-20cm meant hot chocolate, a happy mum and, if we were lucky, an extra five minutes at recess.
As an adult I am still pro-snow. I know that it makes commuting a God awful nightmare, but I still love it. Especially right now. We are in anticipation of the very first snowfall of the season as we transition into winter. That anticipation drives us to do things that we associate with winter, like bake cookies, brew some tea or coffee, and snuggle in to watch Elf. If this precipitation materializes, I highly recommend a late night walk, complete with a hot toddy in a travel mug and a midnight kiss. And hiking boots and reflective clothing of course; safety first.
Autumn is my favourite season in Nanaimo. Everyday is a little different from the last, and the anticipation of the beauty of winter keeps me tuned into my environment. I hope you enjoy the weather this weekend, snow or not.
And now for that hot toddy.
Autumn in Nanaimo is a transition from the constant stream of sunshine to the perpetual parade of precipitation. Each day is different, and as a result it is fresh. Our landscape undergoes a metamorphosis, from green to fiery to subdued. Our evenings progressively get colder. Our sunshine supply is decreased, so its value increases to the point where we truly appreciate our lovely sunny days (thanks for the economy lesson, Alek). Our heating begins to get turned on in the morning, sporadically at first as we get into the routine. Our hot coffee drinks become more sophisticated. And at some point, we begin to entertain the idea of snow.
Did you hear? It's going to snow this weekend. Definitely.
Maybe.
My father is a man of catch-phrases. Every time the flakes start falling, he says, "Snow is for children to play in." As a child, that made perfect sense to me. Why else would snow exist? Its only practical application is for construction of fort walls, projectile ammunition, and friends with carrots for noses. 10-20cm meant hot chocolate, a happy mum and, if we were lucky, an extra five minutes at recess.
As an adult I am still pro-snow. I know that it makes commuting a God awful nightmare, but I still love it. Especially right now. We are in anticipation of the very first snowfall of the season as we transition into winter. That anticipation drives us to do things that we associate with winter, like bake cookies, brew some tea or coffee, and snuggle in to watch Elf. If this precipitation materializes, I highly recommend a late night walk, complete with a hot toddy in a travel mug and a midnight kiss. And hiking boots and reflective clothing of course; safety first.
Autumn is my favourite season in Nanaimo. Everyday is a little different from the last, and the anticipation of the beauty of winter keeps me tuned into my environment. I hope you enjoy the weather this weekend, snow or not.
And now for that hot toddy.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
I've Got Problems
Have you ever had a teacher tell you the following?
"If you can solve the questions, then I will give you more, and they will keep getting harder and harder and harder until I crush you."
Neither had I, until yesterday.
I'm taking a class on problem solving. Unlike the prescriptive learning style of other classes (read: you demonstrate, I repeat), in order to learn problem solving you need to challenge your mind (read: you blindfold me and stick me in a hole of unknown size at an undisclosed site and leave me for dead, and I find my way out. Alone.) I am the most frustrated and the most content that I have been in a long time. My sleep is being replaced with a scratch pad. That's okay. That's what espresso is for.
Here is a logic problem that my teacher gave us to try. I have already heard this one and I know the answer. Since I can't enjoy it, I thought I'd pass it along to you.
You are alone in the basement of a house. In the basement there are three identical light switches. One of the switches can turn on a light bulb, which is located in the attic. The other two switches are broken and have no function. Your mission is to determine which of the three switches turns on the light bulb. You can flick as many switches as many times as you like, but you can only go to the attic once to check. How do you do it?
Many people ask questions like, "Can I phone a friend?" or "Is there a window in the attic." The answer to these, and any other "Can I..." or "Is there..." type questions is always NO.
Have fun with this one! It's a mind bender. It helps to think outside of the box.
Enjoy!
"If you can solve the questions, then I will give you more, and they will keep getting harder and harder and harder until I crush you."
Neither had I, until yesterday.
I'm taking a class on problem solving. Unlike the prescriptive learning style of other classes (read: you demonstrate, I repeat), in order to learn problem solving you need to challenge your mind (read: you blindfold me and stick me in a hole of unknown size at an undisclosed site and leave me for dead, and I find my way out. Alone.) I am the most frustrated and the most content that I have been in a long time. My sleep is being replaced with a scratch pad. That's okay. That's what espresso is for.
Here is a logic problem that my teacher gave us to try. I have already heard this one and I know the answer. Since I can't enjoy it, I thought I'd pass it along to you.
You are alone in the basement of a house. In the basement there are three identical light switches. One of the switches can turn on a light bulb, which is located in the attic. The other two switches are broken and have no function. Your mission is to determine which of the three switches turns on the light bulb. You can flick as many switches as many times as you like, but you can only go to the attic once to check. How do you do it?
Many people ask questions like, "Can I phone a friend?" or "Is there a window in the attic." The answer to these, and any other "Can I..." or "Is there..." type questions is always NO.
Have fun with this one! It's a mind bender. It helps to think outside of the box.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Over the Edge
You're in the front seat of a roller coaster car, waiting impatiently for it to load with passengers. Your heart beats wildly and your pupils are dilated - your sympathetic nervous system is pushing its boundaries. Even though the car is not yet moving, excitement rushes through your body. After all, you love roller coasters. Right?
The car shudders to life and turns onto the conveyor that will pull it up the first hill. There's no turning back now. You're committed, whether you like it or not. As the mechanical chain pulls you and the other passengers up, you can't help but think, "What have I gotten myself into?" As you get to the top, you peer over the edge. The view from the top doesn't quite mentally prepare you for the thrills, screams, and fear that lie ahead. But, as you know, you are going over. Hang on tight, and try to enjoy the ride.
After a few years of a chemistry and biology degree, I had a change of heart and decided to give mathematics a try. So I signed up for four university mathematics courses, three of which are upper level courses. This morning, as I headed to my course on Problem Solving, I had that gut-dropping feeling that I get on the way up the highest roller coaster hill: I want to get out now, please. Why would I sign up for this? What was I thinking?
During the first few minutes of class, the teacher said exactly what I was feeling. He told us that if we didn't try then we couldn't fail. For many students the prospect of failing is more frightening than the prospect of giving up. If you give up, you will never know if you have the ability to accomplish something. But if you fail, you know that you can't do it. End of story.
Then we started with the problems. My heart beat loudly and strongly and I began to sweat. I felt like a teenager trying to impress someone of the opposite sex who was, quite frankly, out of my league. Instead of getting discouraged, I loved every minute of it! I sat and puzzled and puzzled and puzzled... and didn't come up with a single solution (yet.) But even though I couldn't get to the solution, my euphoria verified to me that I belonged in this math class. I had the adrenaline rush of the nerd world.
I don't know how many hills and valleys make up this roller coaster, but I'm holding on tight for now. And here we go, over the edge.
The car shudders to life and turns onto the conveyor that will pull it up the first hill. There's no turning back now. You're committed, whether you like it or not. As the mechanical chain pulls you and the other passengers up, you can't help but think, "What have I gotten myself into?" As you get to the top, you peer over the edge. The view from the top doesn't quite mentally prepare you for the thrills, screams, and fear that lie ahead. But, as you know, you are going over. Hang on tight, and try to enjoy the ride.
After a few years of a chemistry and biology degree, I had a change of heart and decided to give mathematics a try. So I signed up for four university mathematics courses, three of which are upper level courses. This morning, as I headed to my course on Problem Solving, I had that gut-dropping feeling that I get on the way up the highest roller coaster hill: I want to get out now, please. Why would I sign up for this? What was I thinking?
During the first few minutes of class, the teacher said exactly what I was feeling. He told us that if we didn't try then we couldn't fail. For many students the prospect of failing is more frightening than the prospect of giving up. If you give up, you will never know if you have the ability to accomplish something. But if you fail, you know that you can't do it. End of story.
Then we started with the problems. My heart beat loudly and strongly and I began to sweat. I felt like a teenager trying to impress someone of the opposite sex who was, quite frankly, out of my league. Instead of getting discouraged, I loved every minute of it! I sat and puzzled and puzzled and puzzled... and didn't come up with a single solution (yet.) But even though I couldn't get to the solution, my euphoria verified to me that I belonged in this math class. I had the adrenaline rush of the nerd world.
I don't know how many hills and valleys make up this roller coaster, but I'm holding on tight for now. And here we go, over the edge.
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