radiohead brings out the writer in me

I was never a Radiohead-head in high school, but in my adulthood I'm strongly drawn to their music. It lulls me into a sleepless dream and I really enjoy swimming around in my thoughts.

I really thought I would write in my blog more since starting it. Although, I have been true my goals. I have kept working out since I began this and I have been reading more. Whenever possible, I find the time to write, but it's typically only done when convenience permits. I need to get better about setting aside time to set down with a keyboard. It and I go way back. Think of all the keyboards...

In our life time there may be five million
QWERTY keyboards are the universal manipulatable.

The toy of this generation.

More popular than Rubik's cubes in the 80s.

Every house has one, even if you only count the keyboard on a mobile phone.

Ahh...keyboards.

I wonder when the day will come when you adorn the windows of antique shops and I have to explain your purpose to passer byes.

I can't imagine that day fully, but I can hope for a glimpse into the realm of possible uselessness.



*bell rings*

Stampedes to wait in a funnel
drowning in the Co2
get gone quickly
the stop signs are fast approaching
"Watch your step" as the ledge nears.
Descend to the light of day
squinting against the luminous
sky.

sitting in a san fran backyard

This house is older than I am and I'm sure this space is considered its own ecosystem. It's Saturday morning and I'm sitting outside with the invigorating morning swirling around me.

When I walked into this place I knew it was different than other places. I felt like I stepped through a time warp.

It's my turn for the shower now, I think, so I better go.

just a quick post

I've been thinking a lot about my upcoming presentation on critiquing arguments. I don't know if I want to bring up formal logic or not. In my opinion, I don't have enough space to give even the briefest introduction to logic justice. However, I am concerned that without the logic explained, the true reason behind an argument being deemed a "good" argument will go unevaluated. As I imagine teaching argument analysis to my students, I don't want to neglect the underpinning logical axioms.

I believe my way of understanding is odd. Reflecting on what has worked for me i.e. what has improved my writing and what has improved my ability to construct and evaluate arguments, I know that an understanding of the foundations benefits me the most. However, research suggests that studying grammar in the traditional style doesn't help students improve in anything else besides knowing grammar; there is no benefit to their writing. Would the same be true for logical foundations?

To get more specific, in my view I see understanding the foundations as a means to remove the particulars from a linguistic construct. Without the particulars to trip up understanding, an individual can begin to evaluate a construction based primarily on its skeletal structure. Having only the skeletal structure, the straightforwardness of the construct is revealed, thus allowing the individual to review their understanding of logical foundations to see if the construct's skeleton is logical. I don't know if that makes sense, but I am trying to basically say this:

Suppose you are given this argument:

Duffs are never cold clams.
If Duffs are never cold clams, then heat seeking yams will drop apples.
Therefore, heat seeking yams will drop apples.

This argument is about imaginary objects, but the logical skeleton is completely valid. By understanding the logical foundations, the risk of being tripped up by the non-sensical particulars is removed, leaving an individual capable to still say something about the argument's quality of reasoning.

Bell has rung, must go.

workouts are still goin strong!

Just wanted to note here that I am now keeping track of my workouts in a small notepad because it allows me to refer to it at the gym. My workouts are still going strong!

a long day at panera

Today, I spent five hours reading and studying at Panera Bread, and it was a lot of fun. Nicole and Andrea were there with me and I really enjoyed their company. It was originally their "date" for studying, but I unhesitatingly invited myself along and am now referring to the date as if it were my idea. This is only, of course, the case because this is my blog and everything in it is about me and driven by me; therefore, I have to make every event in it one of my own conception right? Ah, well all of this sounds very innapropriate, but it seems to be the way I always start to write in this thing. I am helplessly egotistical when it comes to my blogging. I willfully plagiarise events and plans. What a bad habit...

Anyways, I am really enjoying the book I have to read by Jim Burke. He is a leading English educator, so I know I am ascribing to the present King Tut's ways of teaching English, but nevertheless I really enjoy what he has to say. I find myself scribbling "yes!" in the margins of my book because something he says rings startlingly true to my own hopes and philosophies for teaching.

Anways, just thought I'd blurb about this because I am about to delve into re-learning some of the things I've recognized I need refreshers on.

sep 7th - legs

Exercise	Sets	Reps
Squat 145lbs, 155lbs, 165lbs, 175lbs	4	12,10,8,6
45 Degree Leg Press 180lbs, 200lbs, 220lbs, 240lbs	4	12,10,8,6
Leg Extension 115lbs, 130lbs, 145lbs, 160lbs	4	12,10,8,6
Stiff Legged Deadlifts --,--,--,-- (Felt burned out and I didn't want to attempt this exercise.)	4	12,10,8,6
Calves
Exercise	Sets	Reps
Seated calf Raise 115 lbs, 125 lbs, 135lbs	3	10,8,8
Standing Calf Raise --,--,-- (Burned out)	3	15,12,10