Les Infrasonics et les examens

I've been spending all my time researching infrasound instead of studying for finals. Just kidding...sort of... I only have Chemistry left to go, and well...between you and me, I'm not worried.

Infrasound pretty much follows the concept of infrared light, or light at wavelengths that are just below our visible spectrum. The sound waves are at frequencies that are just below our hearing window.

Infrasonic frequencies create this feeling of unease in us because evolutionarily, we've grown to avoid the sources that create them -- big animals, earthquakes, approaching storms, etc.

Another interesting fact: in big buildings such as warehouses, the air circulation systems can create a big standing wave, resulting in that eerie feeling, and the building being labeled as "haunted." The human eye resonates at around 18Hz, right around the levels of infrasound, resulting in visual disturbances! So, if you think you see a ghost, turn off your air conditioning and check again ;)

I'm currently sitting in my little dorm room, with all of its weird posters and decorations, and looking out my window onto campus, watching cars drive by in the dark. The Christmas lights I put up around the window are hard to beat, and so is the classic holiday compilation that I stupidly bought on iTunes.

I hate pumpkin pie.

I'm getting ready for finals, and I have all my business together, including a job opportunity over the break. I'm pretending that people read this.

Christmas break will be nice, as I won't have any work to do, but I'm really only happy when I'm busy, and it's almost 4 weeks long, which is a long time to spend with my family and without Martin. You get spoiled, being able to live completely on your own schedule; I'm not used to eating, sleeping, and working exactly when three other people do. I think I'll leave my full computer here, and just take my netbook home, then I can completely detox of school and technology...worried that I'll regret that, but we'll see.

Conseils du premier semestre

The first semester of my freshman year is coming to a close. The days are long, but the months are short. Here is what I've learned; hopefully you will at least laugh. :)

1. Don't skip class. You'll realize how useless giant lecture courses are, and you'll never go back. There are all sorts of bonus points and test hints to be had, and you're missing out, even if you don't learn anything that you couldn't have found in the book or published Powerpoints.
   
   
2. Download everything you ever MIGHT need on eLC. The day you need it will be the day that it's broken, or you don't have internet access.
   
   
3. The buses can't stop. Don't walk/drive in front of them; it's embarrassing when they honk at people(you). And no, you don't get free tuition if you get hit.
   
   
4. Don't go to Snelling and stuff your face every night. You'll get fat, promise, and you should be sleeping anyway.
   
   
5. Choose one weekend and get drunk to oblivion. If you do it right, you won't want to do it again, and you'll save yourself a lot of trouble. Remember to account for recovery time.
   
   
6. Add everyone you meet on Facebook, and make friends in your classes. It'll be less awkward to ask when you need something for class, or have a question. eLC has rosters for all your classes, so asking for last names doesn't even need to be awkward.
   
   
7. Don't take chemistry unless you have to. They're dirty tricky bastards in that building. You start out learning what an atom is, with ridiculously simple material, but don't underestimate their power to thoroughly screw your GPA. After the second test, your class will be half its original size, and shit will get real, so be ready.
   
   
8. On that note, if you're failing CHEM 1211, you're doing it wrong. There are TAs in the CLC every single day doing homework help. They desperately want you to pass, as it makes them look bad when 2/3rds of the kids drop the course. And yes, the lab is curved, so don't freak out.
   
   
9. Go to sleep. It's all you ever wanted in high school. Revel in the fact that you can work all day, play, and then get enough sleep too. Don't take that from yourself.
   
   
10. Take all AP credit that is awarded to you. AP standards are much higher than colleges' are, and if you retake your exempted classes to get easy As, you'll end up working with tedious B+s.
    
    
11. You are smarter than you think you are, but that doesn't make you invincible shit. You get a head start, at best.

Le Bonheur

I really don't deserve all of the good things that happened to me this week. I was not supposed to pass my calculus exam, let alone get a B, and I wasn't supposed to get a 95 on my chemistry exam, either. None the less, I am pleased.

I'm really looking forward to next semester. Hopefully my classes will be a little less vacuous, and hopefully the physics section I want will open up. I'll be taking CHEM 1212, CHEM 1212L, FREN 3010, CBIO 3800 (neurobiology), and then hopefully PHYS 1112 and PHYS 1112L, if it opens up. If not, I'll think of something else, I guess. It'll be 14 credit hours, but 18 real hours...yay science.

I'm working on the Anatomy and Physiology test for BSO. I think it will go well. I'm a hair nervous, but I'm sure everyone is, and it'll work out.