Ugly Puffer Fish

Halloween Beard Costume Ideas

Ξ October 30th, 2009 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Creative |

So Halloween is here again, and once again, it makes life a little difficult having facial hair. Now other than the usual lame Jesus, Osama Bin Laden, ZZ Top or possibly Evil Spock (totally not lame). So I did some digging into what is out there for bearded men looking for Halloween ideas for the modern nerd – I figured cartoon characters, video game folk, etc etc. Almost nothing… other than some guy with a blog complaining that he didn’t have any ideas. Anyway, I put together this list as a start… feel free to add to it if you find this site… which you won’t.

South African Foundations

Ξ October 29th, 2009 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Old School Papers |

Written in February of 2001, some sort of book review I believe…

Growing up in South Africa lends an interesting insight in reading literary works concerning my former homeland, such as Nadine Gordimer’s “Once Upon a Time”. In a what first appears to be a seemingly arbitrary introduction, Gordimer tells the story of her waking one night to fears of an intruder, only to realize that the noises she hears are from the creaking as her house, being built on top of the Johannesburg gold mines, begins to buckle under the stress. What is less apparent is that she is trying to show that South Africa is a country that is founded on the principles of exploiting black people for cheap labor to mine the richest gold and diamond fields in the world.

When Gordimer writes that the “passages of gold mines have hollowed the rock” (75), she is saying that the “house’s foundations” (75), the system of apartheid, is responsible for the fear that white people live in, waiting “already a victim” (75) of the next knifing by a “casual labourer…dismissed without pay” (75), or some other such “tsotsis” (77). She then proceeds to tell herself  “a bed-time story” (76) about a family living in a very South African city. (more…)

More Big Top Flea Market Trash

Ξ October 27th, 2009 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Tampa |

Fetal Responsibility

Ξ October 22nd, 2009 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Old School Papers |

Written around January 2001 for a discourse essay

On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in the case of Roe v. Wade, announcing that the United States Constitution protects a woman’s right to decide whether or not to terminate a pregnancy (Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court transcript 14). Seven justices voted in favor legalized abortion under limited circumstances and two dissented.  This landmark ruling consolidated the rights won by women in the ‘60s and early 70s, and delivered instant benefits for women’s health and quality of life. It also delivered far-reaching social benefits to American society. The current threat to the ruling should be a matter of concern to all clear-thinking people. (more…)

Tampa GWAR Show at Ybor Ritz

Ξ October 20th, 2009 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Tampa |

So we took Justin to Gwar for his birthday. Red Chord opened for them, and I was lucky enough to remember how bad music can be!

Anyway, we had a time good enough to be had by those much younger. I hate getting old, Gwar was almost too loud… Can you believe it? I actually had a ringing in my ears for like a day afterwards. I’ve been to at least 4 or 5 GWAR shows in Tampa before, so either they’re getting louder or I’m getting older…

Research and Telehealth

Ξ October 15th, 2009 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Old School Papers |

Written around December 2000

For psychologists, direct patient care involves a number of activities including assessment, psychotherapy, crisis intervention, patient education, case management, and, increasingly, medication support. Increasingly, this work is conducted using telecommunications devices such as telephones, electronic mail (e-mail), or even video teleconference equipment.

The literature on “telehealth” is growing rapidly, doubling approximately every 6 months. The quality of the research is quite varied. Some studies are completely uncontrolled surveys based on measures with unknown reliability. Other studies are controlled, randomized clinical trials. Much of the literature is still theoretical, or at best descriptive. (more…)

Psychometrics Class

Ξ October 8th, 2009 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Old School Papers |

Written around December 2000 – complete garbage

My group and I designed a test titled “So you think you’re a world traveler?” It was designed to measure a person’s world knowledge. In theory, it can be used to job screen a person for a social secretary position. The test measures whether a person has well-rounded knowledge of different countries, customs, foods, airports, currencies, capitals, and landmarks.

When designing the test, we divided up a map of the world into 6 blocks, using the 6 main continents of the world. From there, we generated 6 questions for each block using the categories of customs, foods, airports, currencies, capitals, and landmarks. (more…)

Genetic Factors in Nicotine Addiction

Ξ October 1st, 2009 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Old School Papers |

Written around November of 2000

I do not understand the mechanisms of addiction very well. I have been exposed to the “runner’s high” during competitive swimming, and while enjoying it, it didn’t move me on any level. Nicotine seems to have no affect on me, and alcohol is something that I enjoy at many occasions, but have never felt the need for a drink. My friends (many of whom smoke, exercise excessively or spend an unhealthy amount of time on Internet chat lines) attribute this to the fact that I don’t have an addictive personality. Is there such a thing? Well, it has become increasingly common knowledge that the sons of alcoholics are more likely to have a drinking problem, in fact I have a friend who abstains totally due to his father’s daily whiskey intake, but is do the sons of runners want to run more? Are the sons of smokers more likely to need nicotine to get through the day? (more…)