Finite Simple Group (of Order Two)

If you are nerdy and love math like me, you will love this video!!!

Sleepless…

Its one of those nights when I know that I should be sleeping but can’t and thus am sitting here of all the assignments I should be doing. At this point, life sucks. The semester is just about over, all I have left is one Geography essay (which I haven’t started and is due Monday), one Math assignment, two Education Math assignments, two Geography labs, and a history quiz or two. Not even mentioning the studying I will need to do for my finals but, those aren’t until April.

This semester I have been able to go into the schools and have been teaching math to students once a week. It’s really exciting and I enjoy seeing the students when they truely understand a new concept but the experience is teaching me that I don’t think that I would be able to teach at the middle years level as they never seem to be sitting in their desks and they are never working on something productive, I guess I just would like more structure in my room.

I am yet again playing rec volleyball this semester and last night we beat the first place team in the round robin, hopefully moving our ranks up, we have decided that it is our turn to win the T-shirts!

Well I think I should probably head to bed now as the computer screen is finally making my eyes want to close!!

The Return…

Well it has been almost 4 months since I have done my last post and I really do not know why I have been gone for so long. I guess between school, work and life I have just been really really busy. Little updates since I last posted:

• my car broke and I was forced to fix it….again!
• I got a job at the first Applebees in Saskatchewan!!!!
• the semester is going pretty good thus far and, the best part about it, its almost over.
• my family got a puppy for Christmas and she is an ultimate brat!

But I should be getting ready for school…..

Hero of War

So, I’ll admit it, I’m addicted. I don’t know why but the song “Hero of War” on Rise Against’s newest album, Appeal to Reason, is amazing. The first time I listened to it I wasn’t really sure what to think but now, I can’t get it out of my head and I love it. The lyrics are amazing and seem to really hit home so I thought that I would include them below: (click here to listen to the song)

He said, “Son,
Have you see the world?
Well, what would you say
If I said that you could?
Just carry this gun and you’ll even get paid.”
I said, “That sounds pretty good.”

Black leather boots
Spit-shined so bright
They cut off my hair but it looked alright
We marched and we sang
We all became friends
As we learned how to fight

A hero of war
Yeah that’s what I’ll be
And when I come home
They’ll be damn proud of me
I’ll carry this flag
To the grave if I must
Because it’s flag that I love
And a flag that I trust

I kicked in the door
I yelled my commands
The children, they cried
But I got my man
We took him away
A bag over his face
From his family and his friends

They took off his clothes
They pissed in his hands
I told them to stop
But then I joined in
We beat him with guns
And batons not just once
But again and again

A hero of war
Yeah that’s what I’ll be
And when I come home
They’ll be damn proud of me
I’ll carry this flag
To the grave if I must
Because it’s flag that I love
And a flag that I trust

She walked through bullets and haze
I asked her to stop
I begged her to stay
But she pressed on
So I lifted my gun
And I fired away

The shells jumped through the smoke
And into the sand
That the blood now had soaked
She collapsed with a flag in her hand
A flag white as snow

A hero of war
Is that what the see
Just medals and scars
So damn proud of me
And I brought home that flag
Now it gathers dust
But it’s a flag that I love
It’s the only flag I trust

He said, “Son, have you seen the world? Well what would you say, if I said that you could?”

I highly suggest you listen to the song and let your mind think about the events, how you would react and how it makes you feel. I think it is good to look back and reflect on these types of things becaue sometimes, you can learn something you never knew about yourself, you might surprise yourself pleasantly or you might even scare yourself. Either way, its good to push your boundaries because one day someone else will and you won’t know how to react. Put yourself in this soldier’s shoes…would you join in?????

Hypocrites

If there is any one thing that I actually hate in this world, it would have to be hypocrites. I know that hate is a very strong word and I do not use it very often but, how can you respect someone who says one thing and then does the opposite. It drives me up the wall! Granted there is a place and a time where not following your own advice is okay but that is very situation specific and does not happen very often. Those who make passionate statements and then turn around and do the very thing that they were condemning make no sense! For example, saying that “I understand that plans change” and then the very next day getting pissed off because my plans changed. Where is the logic in that???? That’s right, there is none! Honestly, say what you mean, never say something that you are going to wish that you hadn’t and always choose your words wisely because you will never know when someone (especially someone like me) will call you out on your inconsistencies.

I guess the moral of this is: I really need to move out where certain people are no longer there to play ruler over because it’s really pissing me off….and they wonder why I’m stressed!

Late Nights and Early Mornings…A Vicious Cycle

You know when you leave that essay, assignment, project or studying until the last minute and then, all of a sudden, you are forced to stay up to ridiculous hours trying to get it done and yet trying to not make it noticable that it was a last minute scramble? Cue me right now. You know that whenever you do this, not only is your grade lower than it probably should be but you are also a lot more tired for the rest of the week (possibly more depending on your plans and schedule for the weekend) and you always get to that point where writer’s block crossed with extreme boredom, anger for leaving things until the last minute and the want to give up and go to sleep happens. For me this is usually about 1:30am and guess what time it is as I write this post…1:34am. Its like students, especially those attending university, like to inflict themselves with this self-torture and really, I’m not sure why, even though I am guilty of it too. Why don’t we get our butts in gear and get things done ahead of time?? Well I guess some of us do and those are the ones who pull of ridiculously high marks in all their classes all the time and the rest of us resent them while secretly envying their ability to be organized. Back to my question though…what do we enjoy putting ourselves through hell? We drink coffee and energy drinks to keep awake but our concentration keeps going down and, when you look back at that paper you wrote, you can see how you just really wanted to end it and go to bed as the quality slowly decreases. I’m sure that our professors know that we left it to the last minute, how could they not? But then again maybe they understand. They were undergrad and graduate students at one time too, pulling all-nighters and doing things at the last minute. Or at least that’s what I like to think, they were most likely the organized ones who always handed things in early for some ridiculous reason.

I guess all I really want to say is…I’m at that stage and I’m going to give in and try to finish it in the morning (good luck to me on that one) and, for the rest of the week, I will be extremely tired…..excellent!

What does it mean to you??

Are you ever in a store and all of a sudden a certain song comes on and a specific person or group of people come to mind? It’s weird how something as simple as a melody and some words are connected to our everyday lives and influence us much beyond the initial and most obvious need for music, dancing. If you are anything like me, music is almost what your life is based on as it is always playing in the background and helping to create memories. Memories such as:

Money Honey by State of Shock- my “marriage” to Sam from work and us being in Extreme Pita and it coming on

I’ll Be by Edwin McCain- Brie and good times in volleyball

Get Low by Lil Jon and the Ying Yang Twins- my highschool volleyball team

Low by Flo Rida- Josh, my valedictorian from highschool

Glamorous by Fergie- my entire graduating class

Dirty Girl by Terri Clark- Ali and our random times

And those are just to name a few. Music plays such an integral part of our lives, whether you are active in the local  music scene in your area, only go to big name shows that come around, have a song playing either on an electronic device or in your head all the time, or you just listen to the radio to keep from absolute boredom while driving to and from where you need to go. Music is amazing, there are sooo many different genres that everyone can find their niche and thrive in it. Music is there whenever you need it too, if you are sad and need comforting, there is a song for that. It’s 2 minutes till game time and you need something to help pump you up? There is a song for that. Just relaxing at home and are “vegging out” for the day, you have peaceful, melodic genres for that.

Music is one of the most important things that humans have in common, if you ask me. You can tell a lot about a person by what they listen to and yet, at the same time, you can be completely surprised at the same time. You know that quiet, shy girl who sits in your class? How would your opinions of her change if you found out she is out moshing on the local scene every weekend? How about that guy everyone is afraid of? You know, big, intimidating, covered in tatoos and looks like he would be at home in a biker gang. What if he listened to mainly acoustic? These aren’t examples that I know of personally but, given the nature of music, I guarantee that it has happened, and its happened more than once.

Not only is music used today to help us express ourselves and to remember events, it is used in all sorts of other ways. From religious ceremonies to national anthems to advertisement jingles, music is everywhere you go. I find it funny when people say that they don’t really listen to music, they just don’t know that the song is going on inside their heads and in their subconcious. The music is ALWAYS there.

So here is to the musicians that make our lives meaningful, relatable and pleasant. Who help us remember those special occasions such as the first dance, first kiss, and graduation. Whose tunes we hum, get stuck in our heads, and can never quite remember all the words. Thank you for making our lives just a little bit better!

Notes on Love

I was going through the various documents, etc. on my computer today and came across two that contained what I will call a form of a love letter…kinda. I’m not really sure what to call them but I read them and can see why I saved them and wanted to share them with you. I’m sorry that I don’t know where I got them from so that I can credit the original authors.

To a girl

I’m not perfect, but I try to improve my faults. I like to hold hands, and be there for people in hard times. There’s a fine line between picking a girl over friends, and that girl should know that, because she’d probably feel the same about her friends too…Bros before hoes, chicks before dicks, or whatever you want to call it. That line will be broken at times, no doubt, but being consistent and fair is key to making everyone happy. I’ll stay up late to talk to her, even if I have to get up early the next day. I’d be there in the sun, the rain, the snow, the dark, and I’d kiss her on the head, the cheek, the lips if it’s ok with her. I’ll lay on grass, a dock, a blanket, a couch, or wherever it may be, or just sit in my car, drive around until I find a good spot to just park, talk, and listen. I’ll play her songs till my fingers are blistered, and bring her flowers if I find any good ones in my yard. I may forget things she’s told me, but I’ll sure try my hardest to remember if it means a lot to her. I’ll want to listen, and I’ll try to listen, but I can’t help it that my mind wanders like a balloon on a windy day. I’ll hug her for hours, and watch chick flicks with her, but if we ever watch scary movies, secretly I’ll be more afraid to put my feet on the ground than she is. I’ll try my best to make her laugh, and also to make her feel beautiful, and I know I’ll sound cheesy doing it, but at least it’ll be sincere. I’ll carry her when she’s weak, and chase her when she’s strong. I’ll peak around a corner, or through my fingers when she needs her privacy, but then after she smiles and throws a pillow at my head, I’ll quit with the joking and let her be. I’d want her to be who she is, no matter who’s around, unless it’s a matter of being polite to the elderly, or tender with the young. I’ll let her know that although MOST peoples opinions don’t matter, that some still do, and that sacrifices must be made to keep friendships and relationships going strong. Ideally I’d like to go steady with her, but part of dating is getting to know the person you’re thinking of being with for a very long time. I’m a realistic person, who lives in a world of denial. I’d like to get problems into the open, so they can be discussed and solved, before they blow everything out of proportion. I’m not a one night stand sort of guy, but I have made my bad calls and my mistakes. I pray this won’t be one of them.

All that I ask, is that she gives the same effort in return.

And the second one:

When a GIRL is quiet … millions of things are running in her mind. When a GIRL is not arguing … she is thinking deeply. When a GIRL looks at u with eyes full of questions … she is wondering how long you will be around. When a GIRL answers ” I’m fine ” after a few seconds … she is not at all fine.

When a GIRL stares at you … she is wondering why you are lying. When a GIRL lays on your chest … she is wishing for you to be hers forever. When a GIRL wants to see you everyday… she wants to be pampered. When a GIRL says ” I love you ” … she means it. When a GIRL says ” I miss you ” … no one in this world can miss you more than that.

Life only comes around once make sure u spend it with the right person …. Find a guy … who calls you beautiful instead of hot. who calls you back when you hang up on him. who will stay awake just to watch you sleep. Wait for the guy who … kisses your forehead. Who wants to show you off to the world when you are in your sweats. Who holds your hand in front of his friends. Who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares about you and how lucky he is to have you. Who turns to his friends and says, “That’s her!!”

Ariel Mura Updates

I have three updates regarding Ariel Mura today, one good, one bad, and one that doesn’t really fall into any category.

First with the bad. (It’s always the best to end with the good news!) Apparently the U.S. border patrol consists of idiots. Unfortunately, they denied Ariel Mura at the border and thus, any shows planned in their Western Canada/Northwest U.S. Tour that were on the state-side, have been cancelled. Well not completely cancelled, the other bands are still playing and I highly suggest that you go and check them out if you live in the area as I’m positive they will be good shows.

Now with the doesn’t really fall into any. If you are living in or around Toronto, or are just visiting during Indie Week, you have a chance to see Ariel Mura perform live! She was chosen as one of 80 bands from around the world to play and compete to win a chance to play in the Indie Showcase in Ireland in 2009. If you are going to be around definitely go, place your vote, and show your support as it will be greatly appreciated. This would be an amazing opportunity for the group to play in front of many industry representitives and to spread their music further.

And now for the good. Have you been wanting to show your support for Ariel Mura in a more direct way? Well now is your chance! A Street Team is being started to help with spreading the word and running the shows (ie. working the door, handing out stickers, etc.) and volunteers are needed in all cities/surrounding areas.  Each show in your area will consist of about 3-4 hours of time (although the more Team members, the less time one has to put in) and for each show that you help out for, you will get free admission…I would say that is a great deal! If you would like to help out in your city/area, send them an email.

Back to the Books

Tonight marks the end of the first week back to school. I’m really excited for this semester as I think I will enjoy all of my classes and the profs all seem to be pretty good ones. Heck, my Anthropology prof was talking about how to cook a dog today if you ever want to try it! It was a little disturbing but speaking in the context of different cultures and therefore cultural foods, it was very valuable and, as unaccepted as it is in Western culture, that is how things are done in parts of the world. The fact the the subjects that I am taking are also things that interest me a lot will also play a major factor in how much I like the semester too though! I must say however, that  seeing the kids (I will call them that only out of habit) that are a year younger than me (as I refer to them “little kids”) around the school is weird and makes me feel kind of old…the jury is still out as to if that is a good thing or a bad thing yet……..