Stumbled, Tripped, and Landed On

Lately, my friends don't stop sending me StumbleUpon links; that is, links to anything and everything on the web, happened upon at random (or, as the website calls it, the "best of the web"). Well, now I'm returning the favor. I've collected the most creative things I've lately stumbled upon, tripped over, had shoved in my face, plastered onto my Facebook wall, and otherwise presented on my screen. We've got winners from 3 categories: Art, Music, and Language creations.

Art: Imagination by Paul Neave



Move your mouse to create beautiful swirls and colors. Extremely mesmerizing.

Imagine All the Jumbos

You've seen the flyers. You've seen the website. You've even seen the Daily article. But now, for the first time, Tufts4theCure brings you a brand-new video to send to all your friends (and family, and coworkers, and acquaintances, and frenemies, and arch nemeses, and benevolent overlords).

Worst Buy

Today I've been invited to go shopping at one of the most evil stores imaginable. No, not Build-A-Bear; I'm talking about Best Buy.

I didn't even need to open Photoshop for this one; it was the #1 Google result for "worst buy."

Cross-Post: ScribeFire (Test 1)

This post is a test to see if I can publish to Peacelight and TuftsBlogs simultaneously, or at least sequentially, without too much effort.

Admitted

On April 1, 2010, I received an email from Tufts Admissions. The first word: "Congratulations!" Why they select April Fools Day to release decisions continues to puzzle me. But yesterday I received a new email from Tufts Admissions. It, like the previous decision, determined whether or not they were going to offer a spot. This time, it wasn't an undergraduate position at the university; it wasn't even for me.

It was for this guy:

The Doors Are Alive With the Sound of Music

Have you ever been sent one of those thick Hallmark cards, the ones that play music? When I started sorting through my things to move back home for the summer, I came across a few of these singing greetings. Not needing them anymore, I started taking them apart. Before long, I had turned my musical cards into musical doors, rigging various rooms in my house to sing when entered. If you find yourself wondering what to do with your old musical cards, you may want to check this out.

Singing cards contain speakers inside. These can be removed.

Primary Error

I missed the election. That's right people, yours truly, political junky and all, didn't vote.

I was coming back from Delaware on May 17th, the day of the Pennsylvania Primary. I originally expected to be back in the state by 6:30pm, giving me time before the polls closed at 8:00pm. Then again, it was going to be close.

Be Careful What You Click For

On the internet, a click is a powerful thing. One click can pay a bill, send an important email, or download a dangerous infection. It is important, therefore, that you know what you are clicking. Here three quick tips to help keep you safe.

Stop Watching Paint Dry

I painted the cannon for the first time during my freshman year, for the Tomas for Tufts campaign. Little did I realize that, with a bit of technology, I could have started even earlier. Had I known about this website earlier, I might have been painting, screenshotting, and sharing my cannon masterpieces with friends long before I set foot on campus. Ladies and gentlemen, I share with you: PaintTheCannon.com.

Facebook Privacy Settings

In my "Introduction to Sociology" class, our professor surprised us all with a mid-lecture slide featuring a mash-up photographs. Each of these were pictures of students in the class, sometimes at parties, and sometimes with controlled substances clearly visible. Her point seemed to be that you have to be careful what you put on the internet. Others have given even more drastic advise: delete your Facebook account, never allow photographs of yourself to be posted on the internet, and never give anyone your real name.

Click Smarter

"It was free, so I downloaded it, and I didn't know what it was." Those words would make any computer enthusiast cringe as I did when I heard them uttered earlier today on campus. While that mentality keeps me employed, it is still painful to know what little thought is sometimes put into our digital activities.

No More Teachers, No More Books

Now that I'm done with school, I thought I would see if I could make those heavy textbooks disappear. I brought a backpack full of them up to the bookstore today to see what they would be willing to pay for them. After the man scanning the bar codes finished reading off the values ("$2, $3, $9...we don't carry this one...") I smiled politely, put them each back into my bag, and left. I understand that they need to make a profit, but offering me $2 for something that very clearly says "$15.00 USA, $17.00 CAN" on the back is ridiculous, considering the near-perfect condition of the product.

Digital photographic compilation of my textbooks, left over from two semesters

Be Rational

The following posters should be printed on large paper and posted across campus, especially at locations far from the Philosophy Department, where people may not have yet learned how to be rational. Until this dispersion takes place, here they are for your immediate digital viewing.

Replicator Dynamics

When we started studying “replicator dynamics” in Rational Choice, I could hardly keep from laughing. Sci-Fi fans will recognize that the Replicators are a species of metallic spider-like creatures from the television series Stargate SG-1, and later Stargate Atlantis.

Schedule: Fall 2011

It would seem that, with registration taking place during the Iowa tournament and anything else, I have completely forgotten to post my fall schedule. This really surprises me, but I searched the blog a few times over, and I'm fairly sure it's not there. In which case:

PS-43: Justice, Equality, and Liberty
It hits a requirement for a Political Science (PS) minor/major, and the professor's supposed to be excellent. It's cross-listed as a philosophy course, so it should be the perfect blend of politics and debate. Can't wait!

Reading Period

Right now, we're having something called "Reading Period" on campus. This happens during the last week or so of each semester, and it means that the people partying outside my door are supposed to be quiet, at least 23 hours a day (10-11pm is "respectful hours," not "quiet hours").

Yes, reader, I find this amusing as well. No, I did not create it. Yes, we barely read during this time.