Fall Break at Moab, UT

Biking!

More biking!

Obscure rock formations!

Pretty scenery!

Moonrises!

On a lighter note...

...here are some pictures I took last Saturday at the impossibly crowded free day at the Denver Zoo. I was pretty impressed with how well my camera did with the difficult picture taking conditions encountered at zoos. Enjoy.


Lizard


Polar bear


Polar bear again.


Tiger


Hey, it's one of those things from the CSU emblem!


Penguins! Fun!

Beauty

Right now a group of three guys are sitting next to me playing a game of Halo 2 over the LAN with some guys in another room. I've seen R-rated movies with cleaner language than these guys are using right now. It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for the shear mind-numbing, repetitive nature of it. Hearing "f*ck" every five seconds wouldn't be quite so bad if there was some creativity involved. If you're going to curse, at least try to explore the boundaries and possibilities that come with it, rather than repeating the same trite curses over and over again. Try to explore some of the interesting textures and moods that can be created by a good, well though out string of cuss words. Like anything (if you'll excuse the trite phrase), if you're going to do it, do it well.

However, this post isn't simply an exhortation to more creative cursing. Rather, I think that this sort of behavior (that is, continuous, mind-numbing use of profanity), is just one symptom of a larger problem: most kids my age don't appreciate beauty. They appreciate (in a sense), the beauty inherent in the opposite sex, to be sure, but they don't really extend the concept beyond that. I have always enjoyed reading interesting books, getting outside and seeing nature, listening to good music, eating tasty food, and going to see fine visual art. I like to travel, see new places, get a feel for the place, and take in the sites and sounds. I like to ride my bike through the mountains, breath the crisp air, and enjoy the brilliant colors of fall. I like to think about God's grace, love, and the beauty of his character (of which all earthly beauty is merely a reflection). All these experiences are enjoyable because of one simple concept: beauty. Love, grace and beauty are greatest concepts of the human experience. In my opinion, it is the existence of the ideals of love, beauty and grace, more than anything else, that argues for the presence of God. What are these ideals but the reflection of God's image in ourselves?

Yet here I am, sitting next to a guy yelling "Sh!t f*ck" as loud as he can (note: Sorry, stacking two words and flipping their usual order doesn't meet my criteria for creativity in profanity as outlined in my first paragraph. Try harder next time.) No grace, no love, no beauty. Try talking with your average college student about art, music, or religion with any real depth, and enjoy the awkward silence before the conversation turns to the relative merits of various sports teams, or what kind of beer gets you drunk the fastest. Why is it that it's so hard to find people who will talk about the finer things of life? Does anyone care about these things, or are they too distracted to notice, or even unaware of their existence?

Of course, I'm not really being fair in my above statement. I myself spend more time talking about computers and gadgets than I do about any of the "beautiful things" I mentioned before, even though my thoughts my thoughts generally (and I'm truly being honest here) dwell on the "beautiful" side of things. Why is it so hard to have real conversation like this? Why do I always take the easy way out of a conversation rather than trying to really dig in deep and talk about things that really matter? I've been feeling pretty frustrated about this lately, and I have a tendency to blame those around me for the lack of depth in conversations. However, I realize that I myself am negligent in trying to steer conversations in the right direction. Having better conversations is one of my main goals for personal growth, but it's certainly not an easy one. I hope that with God's guidance I can grow more in this area, and help encourage others in the same way.

21 Days...

....until A-Basin's target opening date! Feel the anticipation!

Moviing to more pressing matters, it's a Friday night. I can either.....

1. Drive home, pack up my desktop computer, CRT monitor, and myriad of cables, load them in my car, drive to a friends house, load all the stuff into his car, get to DU, take previously mentioned stuff into Comp Sci building, set up computer, play CS(I don't have any of the other games they're playing), get owned, have pizza (yay!), pack up computer, drive back to friends house, load stuff in my car again, drive home, re-set up computer, and drive back to school.

My evaluation: Too much work for the amount of fun I'll be having

2. Canvass the campus to find some people to see Serenity or Corpse Bride with me.

My evaluation: Minimal work, pretty fun if I can get a good group and the movies are good.

3. Stay here, work on developing my mad Python skills, and watch Babylon 5.

My evaluation: Fairly enjoyable, but a little too lonely, I think.

I'm going to try for option two, we'll see how things turn out....

Yes!

I think I aced my Calc II exam last night, which is good news since this was the only new material I will be covering in the class all year. It's all review from now on, baby!

Life in the dorms is pretty crazy. Yesterday my roommate splashed the biggest guy in the hall with water, and called another wrestler guy an offensive name. They both promptly proceeded to harrass him in various ways, by taking his room key, blocking his path down the hall, and attempting to throw him in the shower. After all this, my roomate proceeded to show everyone he met a picture on his cell phone of a guy on our hall looking at a rather dirty picture(hint: it involves a horse)with his shirt off. The subject of the picture then wrote threatening messages on our door. Good times, people, good times.

In matters that don't involve horse porn, me and another guy have been trying to get a jazz band going. We theoretically have all the members we need, so now its just a matter of organization and practice. Should be a lot of fun, if everyone is willing to work at it.

Survey

A found this on a friend's blog, and thought it would be fun to post here, since I can't think of anything better to write at the moment.

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey
Name:	David
Birthday:	10/31
Birthplace:	Oakland, CA
Current Location:	Golden, CO
Eye Color:	Blue
Hair Color:	Light Brown
Height:	6'1"
Right Handed or Left Handed:	Right
Your Heritage:	A wonderfully diverse and unique mixture of several Northen European countries.
The Shoes You Wore Today:	My Adidas running shoes. Nice and lightweight.
Your Weakness:	Food
Your Fears:	Anything I can't understand
Your Perfect Pizza:	Free
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year:	Grow closer to God and stop worrying so much.
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger:	er...
Thoughts First Waking Up:	Gosh dang it all, I want to sleep in!
Your Best Physical Feature:	My legs. I wish my upper body was as strong as my legs are.
Your Bedtime:	11:00-1:00
Your Most Missed Memory:	Anything involving traveling, as long as I wasn't sick at the time.
Pepsi or Coke:	Coke. Anyone who says they can't tell the difference has severe issues.
MacDonalds or Burger King:	Never heard of MacDonalds before, so BK.
Single or Group Dates:	Single
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:	Lipton
Chocolate or Vanilla:	Chocolate
Cappuccino or Coffee:	Cappuccino
Do you Smoke:	Of course. If properly ignited first.
Do you Swear:	Hell no!
Do you Sing:	I've tried. It's not pretty,
Do you Shower Daily:	Yes
Have you Been in Love:	No
Do you want to go to College:	Yes. And, in fact, I am.
Do you want to get Married:	Yes
Do you belive in yourself:	I be livin' in myself right now.
Do you get Motion Sickness:	Never
Do you think you are Attractive:	Depends greatly on the lighting and acuity of the beholder's vision.
Are you a Health Freak:	No
Do you get along with your Parents:	Yes
Do you like Thunderstorms:	Yes
Do you play an Instrument:	Guitar. Yeah, I'm an original.
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol:	I'm sure I have, in trace amounts from slightly fermented juice and such.
In the past month have you Smoked:	Haven't been properly ignited.
In the past month have you been on Drugs:	No
In the past month have you gone on a Date:	No
In the past month have you gone to a Mall:	Yes. But I try to avoid them all I can.
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos:	No *lets tear fall*
In the past month have you eaten Sushi:	No. *sobs uncontrollably*
In the past month have you been on Stage:	No
In the past month have you been Dumped:	No (never in my life)
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping:	No (never in my life)
In the past month have you Stolen Anything:	No (never in my life)
Ever been Drunk:	No
Ever been called a Tease:	No
Ever been Beaten up:	No
Ever Shoplifted:	No
How do you want to Die:	Saving lives.
What do you want to be when you Grow Up:	Not sure. I can see myself as anything from a chef to a geophysicist
What country would you most like to Visit:	England
In a Boy/Girl..
Favourite Eye Color:	Green
Favourite Hair Color:	Brown
Short or Long Hair:	Long
Height:	Doesn't matter too much.
Weight:	I'm OK with fat, as long as she is fat from eating her own tasty cooking, not from being lazy.
Best Clothing Style:	Fabric based.
Number of Drugs I have taken:	Prescription? I don't know.
Number of CDs I own:	~200
Number of Piercings:	None
Number of Tattoos:	None
Number of things in my Past I Regret:	More than I'd like.
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

RMGA

Went the the Rocky Mountain Getaway retreat, with all the other front range colleges that have CCC. It was a pretty good time. Our school, though small, had a high turnout for our size. I got to have a lot of good conversations with people, which was nice. All in all, a better way to spend the weekend than being locked up in the dorms.

Keystone Resort.

Lots of kids.

Worship band.

Speaker. He did a pretty good job.

And...frisbee!

More pics!

I know this page is fast becoming extremely annoying for dial up users, but I finally got the pictures from the Quandary peak overnight hike. These aren't mine, but they're still cool:


At the top with my group. I'm second from the right, in the red/grey jacket.

I like this one because it looks like my head is exploding or something.

Virtual Tour

Here are a bunch of pics I took while on a bikeride around town. Enjoy.



Kyaker in Cleer Creak. This is fun.


Paved road along Cleer Creak.

Thats my drinking water!

Pretty flower.

Another angle.

This would have been an awesome picture if it was less cluttered.

Water supply, once again.

My bike.

Some crazy dude standing by my bike.

Wols.

Dirt road along Cleer Creek.

This is where our drinking water comes from. Nice.

Five minute bike ride, and you're in the mountains!

School from a distance.

A cool statue stashed in the maintenance lot. Sad.

If you have $50 a person, this is the place to eat in Golden. If I'm ever in a serious relationship with a girl, I'll take her here. Maybe. If she asks nicely.

This would be an awesome pic at sunset. I'll be back.

Brdige.

Wildlife.

Main Street.

Golden.

Remember that news article I linked to where we were rated #7 for "Dorms like Dungeons"? Now you know why.

If I ever have a door, you can bet I'll have this arch above it.

I think this sculpture means somthing, but I'm not sure what.

My actual residence hall (the castle thing was a joke, unfortunately). My room is on the bottom row, third from the left.
The Mines 'M.' The largest illuminated letter in the world. I'm so proud.

Interview

Just had my interview for the honors program here at Mines. It was a group interview with two other students, and two falculty members interviewing us. I hope it went OK. I think I was pretty smooth and all, and sounded interested. However, I'm a little worried about the fact the my extracurriculars were much less impressive sounding than the others (a downside of homeschooling, I'm afraid.) The top considerations for admission are the essay and the interview. My essay was good, I think, and the interview went fine except for the EC thing. Academics(mine are good) and ECs(not so good) are secondary considerations. I guess its not the end of the world if I don't get in, but I want to get in so I can get the "liberal arts" experience. Most kids at this school have no interest in reading, writing, and art, unfortunately. This program would help me get to know kids who are more "right brain" oriented, as well as help round out my education. We'll see what happens, I guess.