Merry Christmas

The Manger by Gertrude Kasebier

This past Sunday, I decided to read some of Luke while waiting for my ward's choir practice to begin. My family had always begun in Luke 2, but I couldn't remember the chapter so I started in Luke 1. I had never really read this chapter myself (except perhaps while half asleep in Seminary), and while the general story was not new to me, the specific verses were. Mary's reaction to the angel and the news he brought really touched me; her humility and joy at such a gift were so strong (see Luke 1:46-55, in particular 1:46-49). Luke 2:19 touched me as well and helped me to understand Mary as a person. She seems to have been soft-spoken but strong, loving, and intelligent. She was the mother of our Savior, and a role model among women. I hope one day that I can be like her, the young girl that brought Christ into the world.

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!
Alles schläft, einsam wacht
Nur das traute, hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh.

Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht!
Hirten erst kundgemacht,
Durch der Engel Halleluja.
Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
Christ, der Retter ist da,
Christ, der Retter ist da!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund,
Christ, in deiner Geburt,
Christ, in deiner Geburt

We're all the same in the dark

Wanna know a secret?

Sometimes, I have a hard time realizing that other people (especially people I don't know) are, well, people. Like me. They make mistakes. They get bored. They're complex. They honestly want pretty much the same things I want: happiness, security, love, laughter.

When I was younger, I'd occasionally get this idea into my head that everyone else was a robot, or simply here because of me. Is there any way we can know for sure if this isn't true? Can we know if things simply cease to exist when we aren't looking? 

We are creatures of faith. There are those that say that it's ridiculous to believe in something you can't hear, see, or touch. But then, we all have faith all of the time that someone isn't a fake, and that something does exist when we're not there. It's like the age-old saying "if a tree falls in a forest when no one is around to hear, does it make a sound?"

To all of you people out there: I have faith that you exist as a human being with feelings and wishes and pains and thoughts with or without me.

Just in case you were wondering.

The CR-48

I figure I might as well give a brief overview of what I think of this lovely machine.
It's pretty light compared to my brick, coming in at about 3.6 pounds. The CR-48 has a webcam and a microphone that I haven't really been able to test as of yet. It starts up like a dream, taking only a few seconds to turn on and get logged in. It wakes up almost immediately from standby, though lately it's been taking a bit to reconnect to the internet. This can be a problem, since all it does is connect to the internet. Beyond those few extra seconds (which is still faster than all other computers I've come across), it's darn fast, taking about two seconds to go from one page to another. I've tried watching a few shows on Hulu, which play pretty well at the normal size. Fullscreen though was actually worst at first than my normal laptop, but today it seemed fine.
A nice feature is that it comes with the CR-48 is the two years of free Verizon wi-fi access, but only up to 200 MB a month. You can sign up for a paid plan with more usage if this is not enough.
I've had a few issues with the system crashing and restarting frequently, but that's stopped since the first couple of days since I got the computer. Google has been good at fixing issues sent in through the feedback button from what I've seen. Google Talk wasn't really working over the weekend, and it had some issues while I was on the Verizon Mobile Broadband, but isn't hasn't effected me too much.
So far, this has been a good computer for those that are ready to transition to the cloud. Before I got this computer, I thought I was, as I spent most of my time online. However, there have been a few things I miss (my main laptop isn't working at the moment) about being able to go offline. I do tend to be sentimental though...and I know that's part of it. Google Docs is good for basic things, but you can't do very much; you can't even make columns. Eventually, there will need to be apps that are able to compete with things like Microsoft Office and Photoshop in features. For now though, this is fine. It is a prototype after all, and it's a big leap across the chasm to complete internet connection. I would say that one of the best parts of cloud computing so far is the ability to access everything from any computer.

Today

Today I taught piano...then came home to find two boxes on my porch addressed to me. My first thought was "maybe someone sent me a gift..." then "maybe it's something someone bought for my parents but wanted me to wrap it" then "I did order a charger...oh no! did I accidentally order two?? but these boxes are really big..." then "I really have no idea what on Earth these could be."
So I opened the first box. Inside was a sticker from Google (which I expected) and a Cr-48 Chrome notebook (which I did not expect). In the other box was...another laptop. I was kind of freaked out, to be honest. After discovering the awesomeness of the computer and some research, I discovered that I had received at least one of them from a quiz I took on Facebook to get the aforementioned sticker. I have a couple ideas about why I got the second...but yes, I love it. Their only purpose is to access the internet, and they certainly do that job well.  They're so fast. 
Then...well, back story first: about a year ago, my roommate Sarah and I made eHarmony accounts for fun. Sometimes I get matches. Today, I got an interesting match...a guy who is actually in my ward here. I'm kind of embarrassed, but I can't really do anything about it. Oh well. Maybe he doesn't check eHarmony...or his email.
It's been a good day though.
:)

A Better World

I tend to have random and extravagant ideas and plans, and, the other day, I came up with my biggest idea yet: revolutionizing the education system in America, and perhaps the world.
I've come up with some ideas to start with...I just know that there is a better way than our current age-based system. Age doesn't determine maturity or mental ability. True, it plays a large part in one's development, but it isn't the same for everyone.
Here are some of my thoughts so far (in no particular order):

How can we be taught by abilities instead of age? We place far too much importance on age. Perhaps the ages of legality should be changed from age to maturity, measured by one's progress in school, and not in the current system; but rather in the newly reformed system where everyone is grouped by maturity, speed of learning, and intellectual strengths instead of simply by age. This grouping would be much easier accomplished if we could draw from a larger pool to create the groups; instead of by area, trying by state, or even the entire country by means of the technology we have access to today. True, we can't instantly teleport to a classroom for our group every day (yet), and in-person interaction is far better than a face on a computer, but then, we can start with what we have. The newly created need for faster transportation,  and better technology in general, combined with the new brain power of those educated by this new system, would create a push for this all to be invented. It would create a golden age in America; a period of unprecedented growth. Other nations would begin to adopt this system, and the world would flourish.

Not only would it change and improve the way we learn, but it would cause unprecedented intellectual, economical, and personal growth across America, and the world.

In a way, it's like going back to the schoolhouse system, where everyone was educated by ability instead of age.

It's true that there are some things everyone needs to know:

Reading

Writing

Basic math

Basic music skills (piano -- aids development in other areas of life)

But we must change the way we teach these basics to everyone (regardless of age)

In the beginning…we are all infinitely creative. Our growth before school is done at home, where we play and imagine and learn through creative outlets. The early childhood grades slowly phase out this creative learning for more industrial, boring learning: public education.

Some interesting thoughts from others:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc&feature=channel

The rest of my ideas are in an audio format, which I'll transcribe...eventually.

I have a lot of learning to do, research to do, ideas to develop, people to talk to, and, well, hundreds of other things that I don't know about yet. 

How would you test a child's abilities? What would you be testing for? When would you test?

It should be a long and complicated process.

But I want to do it.

I really think it could change the world.

Hp 65w AC adapters

My third one since I got my laptop in 2008 died today.


I'm not happy, Bob. Not happy.