If your castles are in the sky..

http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/course/76-451/watts.html
Commonly Confused Words





Two words often confused are farther and further. Is it farther down the road or further? Do you have to read further in the book or farther? Do you further your education? Yes! Let's take a look at the meanings for these two words.

FARTHER denotes physical advancement in distance.

FURTHER denotes advancement to greater degree, as in time.
 
 

The correct answers to the above examples follow:

It is farther down the road. (For distance physically traveled.)

You read further in the book. (To a greater degree than where you are now.)

You further your education. (To a greater degree than what you have now.)
(http://www.lessontutor.com/eesfarther.html)
 

further is used in conjuction with the word "more", meaning exactly that...more. Farther is a function of distance.

Examples:

I want to further my career.

How much farther do I need to run to get to the finish line.

The farther I travel down this road the further behind schedule I get.
(http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_further_and_farther)



 

PSC 104 Thoughtful Reflection for Dr. Brown:

Initially I, like many students before me and even more to come after, signed up for PSC 104 because it was merely yet another stepping stone towards reaching my lofty dreams of future world domination. Little did I know that this class would serve as not only a milestone in my college career, but also as a tender brush with nostalgia forever more—I assume—in my years to come. Upon encountering these words, some might ponder as to how such a seemingly trivial college requirement could result in such a profound impact on one student’s life. Well I shall tell you how.

From the very first day I set foot in room 435 and thus commenced the discussion of politicking, I knew my life had been forever changed. I had fallen in love with a new lady on the block, and her name was American Civics. Although I had tasted political science’s other flagrant flavors—Chinese politics, international organizations theory, and, of course, international politics—I hadn’t ever really sampled this less bold, yet inclusively rich flavor. I wondered how I had ever managed to let a national delicacy slip through my wispy fingers for so long…

But enough dwelling on the past. I dare not dabble again in those dark days without my one true love. It is as if I had spent years in cold solitude, detached from the world of American politics and its warm embrace. But now those illuminating rays have bombarded the emptiness and void in my heart, leaving only realization and democratic tendencies in its wake. Oh, the happy days that are to come!

I can see it now, American Civics and I, frolicking through a grassy meadow of bureaucracy, hand in hand at a congressional filibuster, lost in each other’s presence and knowing that it came so easily. It was love at first sight. Civics understood me, and I Civics. There must have been some favorably mischievous play amongst the political cosmos that day we met. Our threads in time were at once intertwined when the nymphs of the stars interloped mine with that of my love. Whoever or whatever unknown forces brought us together, I am forever in their debt.

So here is a tip of advice for the budding new PSC 104 pupils: be wary of your introductory footing in this class. You may be like me and unknowingly stumble upon your new life love. If you’re not careful, you may overlook her and her utility. Don’t let her be the one that got away—I didn’t.

Current Location: WEHL
Current Mood: exanimate

"Those who dance are considered insane by those who cannot hear the music." - George Carlin

That's some verbose verbiage goin' on there.

So right now I'm sitting at work, in front of a computer on facebook and LJ, surrepticiously absconding my librarian duties. lol
I should be writing my final PSC 406 paper...but I'm not. ^_^ I'm having waaay too much fun looking up random words in my readings from Kesselman about transnational contentious politics. I seriously love squandering my precious homework hours on Dictionary.com, looking up words that I have heard and used but could never give a concise, not to mention accurate, definition for one.

Here are just a few of my lexicon travels for today:

*Antipode: opposite; contrary; antithesis
*Iniquitous: Nefarious
*Pedagogy: the art or profession of teaching; preporatory training or instruction
*Utility: state or quality of being useful; usefulness; advantage, benefit, avail
*Normative: having to do with a norm
*Valence: the capacity of one thing to react/cause a reaction with another
*Breadth: freedom from narrowness or restraint; extent
*Propriety: decorum; etiquette; appropriateness to the purpose or circumstances

Yay for words! Cuz knowledge is power!

Also, I've got a lot on my mind as of late... I may make a private entry later divulging in *breadth. (BAM! Vocab *Utility!---I'm on a roll.)
I've realized that there is a serious lack of my personal life on here. I might wanna leave a few details so that down the road I can refer to my journal and be like "Oh yeah, I DID date someone while I was in college." Don't ask. It's complicated. At least not right now. I have to be in the zone to talk about it. Like I said---maybe later.

Current Mood: contemplative

Pandora.com effing rocks:

Channel: Fidelity :: Regina Spektor

Lilly Allen :: Smile
Psapp :: On Site
Venus Hum :: Wordless May
Goldfrapp :: Strict Machine
The Blow :: True Affection
Merril Bainbridge :: Mouth
Au Revoir Simone :: Dark Halls

Postal Service
Imogen Heap
Deathcab for Cutie



NPR/PRI effing rocks as well:

These United States
Ximena Sarinana

Current Location: Woork--- West End Huntington Library
Current Mood: awake
Current Music: Alley Cat :: Sherwood

So i', totally feeling the rammifications of procrastination right about now. This week is so busy. Sometimes, it honestly floors me how i'm able to juggle all the things i do, like school, work, relationships(my social life), and interests, and still be able to maintain that hectic schedule which i call life. My story: I'm addicted to cashews and pecans right now. They're amazing, gift from "god" for lack of a better term. I can't believe that for so long, many years mind you, I hated nuts, peanuts, any of the legumes, but now i realize the error in my ways. It's little gems like these that make me wonder what else i've been holding myself back from.. myself. That's why I've been trying many things I always thought I wouldn't like or wouldn't take the time to try, but obviously trying new things is truly more beneficial. As long as it doesn't get out of hand of oucrse. There's nothing wrong with being that girl sifting through the bottom of the mixed nuts can schrieking, "WHERE ARE ALL THE FRICKIN PECANS AND CASHEWS?!" I deny that I have a problem because I don't. Let's just be honest here--they NEVER put in enough cashews and pecans(I think i like saying "cashews & pecans" rather than "pecans and cashews."<---*AKWARD*). This sad picture i've painted is a fairly accurate parallel to my current state in life. I've missed out on some really fantastic adventures in life because i was scared. Now that's not to say that I haven't been thankful for missing out on some against others. I'm well aware that there are some things that i'm okay with being secondary accounts.  But i think it bears repeating that I am all about tryin new things and long story short: I get into too many new things at once.Sometimes. So i just thought i'd share that tidbit with everyone. Yay.

PS: I'm in love with NPR. I'll give my account on the debates, eventually.---AND Brave New World. damn so much to do, so little time. anyways, I don't mean to abscond my position, i just HAVE to finish reading Stephen Colbert's I am America (And So Can You!),(Which i read two-thirds of yesterday), and write a book review on it tonight--of course it's due tomorrow! when else would i start cramming?-- and go to APO(My Community Service Fraternity i joined) for blanket-making for daycares. busy night. i'll get around to my other obligations and interests soon enough.. i hope. 0.o

Update: I got voted Pledge Captain! Hurray!

Current Location: The Avian Sepulcher.--a bird died here before i moved in.
Current Mood: exhausted
Current Music: Disarm: Smaishing Pumpks

Current Location: the Rents Livin' Room
Current Mood: creative
Current Music: Cool word: Farce, Watching Hellboy

Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto mentioning that Osama Bin Laden was murdered:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnychOXj9Tg

Bush caught lying about seeing the first plane crash on 9/11:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm73wOuPL60

I might reflect on this later.

Oh and being a librarian is the coolest.

DISCLAIMER:

Aside from knowledge resources, I have never been a big fan of the internet. I get creeped out thinking that people might be watching everything I do/say online. Someone might think they know me and feel really connected to me because they read my blog and monitor my statuses. To those stalkers out there--no offense(please don't start stalking me. I'll give you a candybar. ^_^), but there is something completely different from knowing someone online or any other medium as far as technology can elicit, and actually sharing an organic moment with someone in person. I have always advocated maintaining a certain degree of mystery, even in person, which is why this doesn't make sense at all, my current and past online journaling.
So, those of you reading are prolly wondering why I would consent to virtual strangers(I'm pretty sure no pun intended) peeking in at my thoughts. The truth is--and I know this may be hard to believe--but I'm not actually that interesting of a person, or at least i hope, not many people are going to spend most of their time seeking out my thoughts. Despite my fear of attracting the wrong kind of attention, I believe that not many people care enough to read my entries and the ones that do, I doubt that I'd mind what they think/say anyway. I have this vision--and it may be a misconception--that the only people who will read this blog will be the ones who are meant to find it, the ones who kinda accidentally happen upon it. I don't really want a lot of attention. I just wanted to be able to write ideas down, and get a little feedback every now and then. I want to write more often, just because I have all these thoughts and ideas cluttering my mind so that I feel like I'm a plastic baggy full of liquid and I'm about to pop and ooze all my insides all over everyone around me, whether they want it or not. I know, pretty graphic. Don't know what I was thinking, but that is a pretty accurate portrayal of how I feel lately. I feel so creative and I don't have a hole big enough to let it all out at once so I might as well do it little by little each day.
Anyway, my main point is that I'm gonna start writing more often and not worrying so much about people paying attention to me. Jeez, you'd think I have some kind of virtual social anxiety or sumin'.

Current Mood: chipper
Current Music: Eleven O'clock Alarm by the Alarm Clock

Langhorne slim

Jessica Mayfield

Avett Brothers

The Everybodyfields

Old crow medicine show

Without my providing her any grounds on which to believe this, she said to me, "But it's good that it doesn't bother you." 
Oh it doesn't? I thought to myself.  Does it?

Current Location: Mah Room.
Current Mood: curious
Current Music: Stay On :: from Surfs Up

According to CNN, recently an employee that tested positive for a routine drug-screening at his work was fired because of medicinal marijuana use. Despite the fact that its medicinal use is legal, marijuana traces in drug tests, being medicinal or recreation, is still met with job termination. SO...

How can people even get legal access to medicinal marijuana? Marijuana, being an antiemetic (drugs used for nausea and vomiting), is used to counter the symptoms for pain, anesthiestics and chemotherapy. Only thirteen states have legalized the medicinal purposes for this drug.

The Compassionate Investigational New Drug Program has seven patients undergoing marijuana therapy, but this program is closed off to new patients.

 On a side note:

Everyone is supposed to be gettin extra money for their income taxes to encourage spending and stimulate the economy. Hopefully this will bring is back from the brink of recession. unfortunately, people will most likely use this money to pay off their debts instead of putting it back into the economy. What to do, what to do.

Current Location: In the corner at my desk.
Current Mood: awake
Current Music: CNN in the background

SCBBcaty218: omg i just pictured you like standin ouside on the street with a glass on lemonade and one hand on your hip while your shirt exposes half your belly lol
kasdorftheviking: hahaha
kasdorftheviking: was i black?
SCBBcaty218: hahaha no
SCBBcaty218: definitely white
kasdorftheviking: haha
SCBBcaty218: and your hair was up in a messy fluffy ponytail
kasdorftheviking: oo nice
SCBBcaty218: and you were squinting your eyes because of the sun
SCBBcaty218: lol
kasdorftheviking: hahhaa
SCBBcaty218: and because of the sour lemnade
kasdorftheviking: it can get sour sometimes
SCBBcaty218: true dat

Current Location: Desk
Current Mood: touched
Current Music: Hawaiin Brass

I just got home from hanging out with Laura, Ceges, Whitney and Tonya at their house. My original plans were to visit Mama and Papa, but the ominous dark clouds and all day thunderstorms shot down that day. After I got a shower, I hung out with mom and watched the ole version of "The Haunting." We talked about my predicament with confessing my love haha and then I dropped her off to pick up her car and set out to get Laura. On the way to the grandparents, we pulled over at the high school because the rain was so bad and we just talked about life. Then we went to her house and ate icecream and watched Ever After. Fucking amazing movie. It always reminds me of the first time I ever saw it way back when with erica and all the 3rd base girls. Then we watched So You Think You Can Dance, and it made me want to dance so bad, I just know I could do it. Then, me, Ceges, and Laura got up and Tonya played crazy music and we all danced the night away. It was time like those that I will keep with me forever. That girls night was more fun than most other girls nights I could ever have with any other people. Whenever I feel like other people aren't there, or aren't there for me any longer, I always goes back to family. Those are the ones who will be there no matter what, so they deserve most attention. This is why I try to consistently visit Mama and Papa. I start working on Monday with Dial America, which may put a small damper on my fun, but at least I'll be earning some mulah. Anyways, I'm exhausted and I need rest. 

ALSO, the whole reason I wanted to post in the first place is that I was watching Disney Channel and this guy said "I can fix that." That line strokes a soft spot in my heart because it always reminds me of the movie Holes and when the guy says that to Kissin' Kate. It's so beautiful. I'm ready for that.

AND the 7th and final Harry Potter book comes out tomorrow night at midnight. As tradition dictates, Mom, Jessica and I are goin' to be hittin that shit up! I'll tell ya how it goes. ^_^

Current Location: Desk
Current Mood: cheerful
Current Music: Suit Life of Zack and Cody

Life used to move so slowly. I remember when I was very young and I couldn't imagine what the world would look like tomorrow. Well, here I am two-thousand tomorrows later and I feel like I'm in some kind of alternate universe. I feel like I was sucked into a black hole, ruthlessly shaken in a glass jar, and spit out the other end being like "Whaaat?" Everything now is so different from, well, any time in the past. lol. I'm tellin' ya, when I came outta that shit of a hole called time, I definitley was like, "Whoa. How did I get..? How did YOU? OH, what is that on your face? You did what with whom?" If I had known then what I know now, I wonder how much fun it would have been to see the incredulous looks on their faces, if when I met each one of those significant individuals throughout my life, I told them what was going to happen later on down the road. "Hey, nice to meet you. I'm Tiana. OKAY, so, this is what's up. You and I, we're gonna click. We're gonna be best friends, things are going to be great, you'll be my saving grace in high school, then eventually we'll grow in different directions, jealousy and college will drive us apart, and one day we won't talk again...ever. That's the package, take it or leave it." If I told someone that when I first met them, they would have just been like "Riiight. NEXT!" The interesting part about life is how the people and places and objects shift around in your life, the affects that they have on you. How they change your life, help you grow and learn. How you carry each other from one phase of life to the next. How they influence you, become a part of you, and you become a part of them. I definitely think that everything I've experienced in my lifetime was all worth it. Even though I am not still best friends with the one from elementary school, not still in love with my high school sweet heart, not surrounded by the same group of friends, not with the one I let get away, I wouldn't trade it for anything. Those experiences are part of me, they help shape the kind of person I've become and am becomming. No I don't want the past again, I already know what happens. But I do still look on it fondly. Living here and now, I live an exciting life, marveling at what will happen next. And it has been marvelous.

Current Location: Desk
Current Mood: creative
Current Music: Ghost :: Howie Day

No matter what decision you make in life, you're bound to miscalculate or forget certain factors into equations that just make stupid endless possibilties. Making a decision can be so frustrating and overwhelming that if you're not careful, the mere thought of determining what you're going to have for breafast could ignite an ugly meltdown. There are so many possibilities that it's simply impossible to consider every single one. Sometimes when I have to make a decision, I consider as many potential outcomes, good and bad, as I can. Usually, based on my immediate priorities, I have at least narrowed my decision down to two paths. Soon enough, I find myself recognizing that disturbingly familiar situation---dead end. Neither of the good nor bad consequences of both options outweighs the other. This is where I proceed to bang my head against the wall for answers, figuratively speaking, of course. Suddenly it hits me, no pun intended. Since either one would be similiar to the other, I realize that I should just randomly go with one and pray that it's the right one. Then right before I do it, I go back and rethink the whole thing, finally choosing the initial decision again. It's a vicious, neverending cycle. This is the ridiculous thought process that my silly mind has systematically and religiously followed ever since it learned how to weigh the pros and cons of any situation. BUT the point that I originally set out to make, pardon the tangent, was that sometimes you just gotta make a decision and go with it because even if it's the wrong decision, it is a lesson. There are indeed always possibilities you would never fathom considering and that is why you must learn. We all must. And you will definitely remember this lesson the next time you encounter it. Trust me. I did.

Current Location: Desk
Current Mood: creative
Current Music: If You're not the One :: Daniel Beddingfield

Sometimes I wonder if I just make up my life. I wonder if everything I see and believe and feel is all a dream, an illusion. As a child I was unusually creative. I basically lived in my own little world of unbridled possibilities. I could shape the world however my little heart desired. A toothpick was a person. A bead was a priceless gem. A brick wall was the side of a mountain. Sometimes I wonder if somehow, somewhere along the way I got lost in that world of imagination. And the present is the result of my mind.

Current Location: Bed
Current Mood: creative
Current Music: If I was Your Man :: Joe

How does one remember that they have forgotten? How do they know that something is missing in the first place? It's a sad tale, the one of those who have forgotten and know nothing of it. The only way to find what is lost is to set out on an expedition through the folds of the mind. Down the halls and through the doorways. Into cabinets and files. Searching. Anxious fingers tracing the edges of folders. Open eyes glued to the tabs come across a smeared shadow where a folder once resided.. but what was it? Try to remember.  The files in the drawers spill onto the floor as they're picked up by a gust of wind from the singular and open window in the room. Only a whisper. The window. Fierce white curtains carried by the wind seem to beckon a visitor to gaze and share their secret. Over the edge of the seal, down seven stories below, just out of reach lie the scattered shards of crystal clear file. There it is! ..I'm too late. But... how...? In the doorway a silhouette of a translucent stranger heaves harsh and quick breaths. Its undivided attention fixed on this stroke of luck. It cautiously creeps towards the window, careful not to scare this opportunity into absconding. Greedy, sophocating hands stretch outward. Hands that had been dipped in madness, driven to insanity. So close, they seem to say. Suddenly, as if to warn of this lethal character, a zephyr with a mind of its own thrashes the cabinets into each other. Copious pages with fluid images blurred across the front soar around the room, revealing the unwelcome visitor. In one swift movement, those hands, the result of years of jealousy, strike the throat, at last locking their empty grasp around something of substance.

Current Location: Bed
Current Mood: creative
Current Music: Disarm::Smashing Pumpkins