So, some updates. The first meeting of the club was really cool. There were 8 people all in all, and I didn’t know any of them. I’m pretty happy that so many people found out about it by chance, and came. I went with the audiobook of Moby Dick, and it was really boring. Though, it was boring to the point that I didn’t enjoy it. Next week, no one came, which amused me to no end. I went with Chillits over the audiobook. In fact, I’ve gone with Chillits every week since. Though it is still very, very small group, I’m hoping it can still grow. I probably need a better time for it.
One week, I got an email from a girl who wanted to write an article about the club for her journalism class. That was the second week of the club, and I was alone when she showed up. I’m not sure what she thought of me by the end of the interview, but her article was probably funny. This week, I’ve been contacted by someone who writes for the paper, and they’ll be by the club on Monday. That should be amusing too. At least I won’t be the only one there.
Conclusion: Schedule the club at a good time, and make the environment relaxed - not boring.
Just an idea I had while listening to a recent story from This I Believe. It was a recent story from a prisoner in Michigan. The essay was recorded by phone, since they don’t allow recording equipment inside the jail. This got me thinking about a few blogs I’ve seen run by friends or family of inmates, who post letters they get from prisoners online. Its basically blogging by proxy.
But most prisoners don’t have someone who can do this for them. What if we could set up a site that nearly completely automated the process? OCR is at a point where it would be trivial to scan a letter and post it online. Or it could even be possible to set up a phone number that prisoners could call and their message could be converted to a text post. It seems pretty feasible, and I’d imagine it would be incredibly interesting, so I’m going to keep this idea stewing until I found out what the best way to do this would be.
Yes friends, its true. I’m so proud. With this simple recipe, I was able to make bread from start to finish in about four hours or so. If you choose to do this, I have some suggestions: get a real pot holder/oven mitt. I’ve got a real nice burn because the paper towel I was using was not adequate. On the plus side, I’ll have a really interesting looking fingerprint from now on. Also, don’t let your first impressions trick you. It may come out of the oven rock hard, but its just about perfect. Once it cools you can cut it up and enjoy. Oh, and you probably shouldn’t bake on plates you use to eat, even if they are oven safe. And if you do, you should probably oil them or something so there isn’t a layer of bread burnt on to them.
Applied Daydreaming
Instructor: Som Juan
0 Credits - Fall 2008
Meets M/W/F - Time/Place: TBD
Prerequisites
Childhood.
Part I: Course Description and Requirements
You are expected to bring a piece of paper and writing utensil to every class. It is up to you whether you use them or not, but you are expected to bring them.
Each class will feature selected readings from Wuthering Heights, Moby Dick, The Joy Luck Club, and other works conducive to daydreaming. Class will be dismissed 15-20 minutes before the scheduled time to allow people a chance to share what they thought about.
Part II: Class Participation
Strictly forbidden. There will be no questions allowed during class, and any other distractions that would disrupt other students are highly discouraged.
If, however, you wish to practice public speaking, or otherwise help out with the class, talk to the instructor after class. It can be arranged for you to read from the text during one or more of the class sessions.
Part III: Course Objectives
The aim of this course is to help students rediscover daydreaming by exposing them to situations where daydreaming is unavoidable. This is not a course discussing the merits, styles, or philosophy of daydreaming.
Part IV: Grading Policy
Grades are based entirely on attendance. There will be no test or quizzes, and all homework is optional. At the end of the semester, the student will grade their own performance based on the quality and quantity of their class sessions.
What a good day. I woke up this morning to an email from a guy running the diesel program at Cheney Tech in Mansfield - he offered their services in getting the bus operational (both maintenance wise and the veggie conversion). Then about a dozen people showed up downtown to terrorize the populace as ninjas. We went from crosswalk to crosswalk, one cluster of ninjas on each side of the street. When the crosswalk changed to WALK, be bolted out into the center of the street, and fought the other group/anyone around us. Once it changed back to DON’T WALK, we ran back to one side or another. We went up Main St. and Washington St., and even managed to get some other folks to join in. Good stuff.
