The Mother of Year-End Lists (for news junkies, anyway)

Each December, Google releases data they have collected on user searches to come up with a complete picture of news, fads, entertainment, and politics from the previous year. The collection of information is called

zeit·geist | Pronunciation: 'tsIt-"gIst, 'zIt | Function: noun | Etymology: German, from Zeit (time) + Geist (spirit) | Date: 1884 | Meaning: the general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era

There's also an interactive Zeitgeist which allows users to see how ridiculous 2004 was broken down by month, complete with pictures and a geographic display of searches.

Resolutions

I rarely do New Year's resolutions, they're usually stupid stuff that you're not gonna follow through with anyway. But, despite this, I've gotta a few things I want to do next year. They're not all true resolutions, but rather things to accomplish in the coming year.

1) Work out more often. 1 or 2 times a week outside of frisbee. This one's pretty cliche', but it's something I should actually do. It looks like I'll have some more time next semester, maybe I'll actually be able to get my ass out of bed to go running in the morning.

2) Write more. This shouldn't be a problem since I'll probably be writing constantly for class.

3) Follow through with my study abroad plans. (In case this doesn't happen... anyone need a roommate 2nd semester?)

4) Become more culturally literate. Watch more movies, listen to more music. Read more.

5) Post to this blog more often. Try to articulate my opinions through writing.

6) Conversely, waste less time sitting at my computer. This is probably the biggest one. When I'm in my room, I rarely leave the computer. I want to be a little less connected. A little more unplugged.

7) Sample the million different restaraunts in Madison.

8) Have a real job this summer. I've got a few things in mind, and it'd be a first.

We'll see if I actually follow through with this stuff. If anything, hopefully I can actually work out more and be on my computer less, the other stuff should be easier if those things happen.

I'll be in Madison through the weekend, watching badger hockey, badger football, and hanging out with awesome kids.

HAPPY NEW YEAR and GO BADGERS

I should really be going to bed now....

But it's Christmas Eve and this just needs to be posted:

Track Santa on NORAD

Happy Holidays!!!

Under Construction...

Hey, remember when people had websites on like AOL and had little "under construction" signs up with a little animated guy digging on a yellow background? Yeah, well, I'm not going to have one of those, but you can just pretend. I'm spending some time tweaking the layout and adding features to the site, as well as trying to come up with some kind of description of what the hell this thing is. If anyone's got suggestions as to how to improve the site or what else to put on it, let me know. Looks like I've found a new hobby...

Done For the Year

As of yesterday, I'm done with class for the year, and in almost three hours I'll be done with work as well. Tonight I'll be going home and hanging out with my awesome friends who I haven't seen in forever. I'm really looking forward to being home with basically nothing to do for three weeks. I've been working hard lately, writing way too many papers, and I feel like I've missed out on the whole Christmas thing, spending time with friends and family. Since I'm coming back to Madison for New Year's, I'll get to see kids that live here over break, and pretty much everyone else lives within driving distance. Not a bad deal. Plus, I get to go to Florida and play Ultimate just before classes start. Now I just need to get into some of those classes...

Only a few more hours... and I'll be home for Christmas

G-Mail Invites

I've got 4 more G-Mail invites. Let me know if you want one.

It makes me want to cry, even more than exams

(A little LJ homage)
Current Mood: Not really sure
Current Music: The Postal Service - Brand New Colony

From the NY Times, this morning:
In U.S., 44 Percent Say Restrict Muslims

ITHACA, N.Y. (AP) -- Nearly half of all Americans believe the U.S. government should restrict the civil liberties of Muslim Americans, according to a nationwide poll.

The survey conducted by Cornell University also found that Republicans and people who described themselves as highly religious were more apt to support curtailing Muslims' civil liberties than Democrats or people who are less religious.

I think this makes it official: we're failing as a nation. I was thinking about it as I was writing my Journalism exam 20 minutes ago, we've come so far in the past two centuries, but there's still so much to do. And it's so easy! To me it all seems so obvious! That's what's frustrating. I really want to sit down with the 44% of Americans and try to understand how their thought process works. Where are these dillusions coming from? Is it the media? The supposedly "liberal" media? Is it our government? I'd say, yes, to an extent. There isn't a congressman in Washington right now who will come out and denounce this sort of thing AND BE HEARD. There are a handful of Representatives (I'm not sure how many Senators), who will and have spoken vehemently against civil liberties abuses and just plain stupid policy. But being against this sort of thing isn't enough. New policy, pro-active policy, rights GIVING policy needs to be created. There are just too many people who don't "get it". Logically, it seems like just a simple explanation is needed, but of course that's not the simple answer. It's a combination of discussion and education, neither of which is being adequately addressed. There are major discrepencies in educational opportunities around the country and Democrats and Republicans can't even sit in the same room without yelling at each other. I don't know what needs to be done, but if anyone figures it out, let me know. I'll do the same.

The Newest Vernacular

I'll still be updating my LiveJournal, and for a while at least, most of the stuff I post will be posted to both blogs. I'm trying out blogger to see how I like it. It's got a lot of features that LJ lacks, but it's not as community centered. We'll see where this goes, I'll provide more description on the addition later, probably over break. It's so close...