Pre-Week

Week 1

Maggie rabbit's progress

Spanish Vocab

Learn Spanish

Camera Reviews

My Plants

Photos

Fish Keeping

xkcd comics

Penny Arcade!

World of Warcraft

<>About me

Wireless Mice

We have rabbits.

The annoying thing about SOME wireless mice/keyboards
They aren't totally wireless! We have rabbits! The receiver has a usb cord about 3ft long! Guess what? The rabbits chewed the wireless mouse/keyboard receiver! We have guarded it even better now, or they just lost interest. After coming home from Mexico to learn there was a furry attack on my desktop leaving me mouseless. I had it and decided to get a wireless mouse. I had no idea they'd be so cheap.

First and foremost, it had to have a wireless receiver
Then it has to be cheap. There is quite a lot of Logitech LX7 mice . There are optical, require two AA batteries and have a usb stick receiver. They also have 2 extra buttons on either side of the scroll wheel. Usually they are on the left side of the mouse, and you use your thumb. Those are what my friend prefers, but I can never reach the farther button, my hand is small and doesn't fit on the mouse that far up. This mouse has universal design, looks like the proto-typical mouse. Interchangeable for lefties. What I also like about this mouse is that it has an Off Button. I like the control of actually turning it off easily. Other wireless mice say you must unplug the receiver, or snap in the receiver onto the bottom of the mouse like on the Microsoft Laser Mouse 6000. [I just never turn it off.] And frankly, I haven't remembered to turn off the LX7 either. I did once. What I also like about the LX7 is that I only needed to put in 1 AA battery. I use NiMH rechargeables. I put one in and the mouse lit up. Makes the mouse lighter and probably reduces it's range, but I don't really ever need to move it more than a foot (if I put it on my leg.) The appearance is pleasing, it's a slick mouse. I have the dark blue, which is way darker than the pictures show. The sides have this slightly gripping texture. It's subtle. Unlike the slippery side texture of the Microsoft Laser 6000. Sometimes I felt like my thumb was sweating or wet. Also, it wasn't grippy - it was anti-grip. It's optical and the cursor was as fast as I need it. More importantly it's smooth. I felt that the Microsoft laser 6000 is faster but it's jumpy. I tried to hover over a line of text and it was not smooth and steady.

Questions

Death Penalty

The death penalty is a contentious punishment. Before I delve into that, I want to posit the idea out there: "Why punishment?"
When a child does something "wrong" usually meaning naughty or dangerous we might punish them. They are too young to understand reasoning but we punish them so they don't repeat. If they understood why, perhaps there is no need to punish.

Do we punish for another reason than to teach and change behavior? A simple retribution factor? It seems the case for criminals.
Rehabilitation is a term thrown around when we talk about the system but what is it? Some people that commit crime simple weren't taught the higher order thinking skills of why we don't hurt animals or other people. Mama just told me not to. Many re-offenders do not have this so-called innate care or concern for the welfare of others. Some may have deep anti-social and psychotic disorders. Can you really teach someone to care? Men whom had their wives killed for the insurance policy, treat life as worth less than money. Gang bangers that kidnapped two girls, brutally raping them, not taking turns, and then strangling them with their own shoelaces and stomping on their bodies. Can you teach them to feel remorse if they didn't care in the first place?

If we really cared about changing behavior and not about pure punishment (retribution) we would work on the rehab part. This could involve lots and lots of psychotherapy which is very expensive. It doesn't always have success. The individual has to want it too.
Others may disagree with punishment but the practicality of rehabbing all these people that do bad things is impossible, and frankly not worth it. It's simpler and easier to just lock them up to rot.[just stating, not necessarily my opinion.] Keeps recidivism low.

People complain that society pays for us to room and board all these criminals, it's cheaper to kill them. But with our current system, all the appeals processes usually involved when someone is on death row is outrageously expensive. Rehab-therapy would be even more expensive, though we wouldn't have appeals. I don't know much about the little amount of rehab we do do. I think it's mostly job-skills and helping study for the GED (high school diploma equivalent.) This helps those that rob for need, but it doesn't teach them the intangibles. Did they feel so helpless that they thought robbing would be 1.)easier 2.) better (for whom and how?) 3.)only option then say, studying, working harder?

My opinions are not definite. I feel that there is a just need for a society to protect itself. Though I feel a lot of disdain for police, I am reassured by them. Though I feel a lot of contempt for our legal system, I am glad one exists. I feel ambivalent about many aspects. Punishment: I question the ability for a society to do this. You do something bad, we do something bad to you. Eye for an eye? The end result though, is that we want them never to repeat. Locking them up does accomplish this - if they never get out. But we lock some up, and then release and they re-offend. What has locking them up the first time accomplished? Prevention of more crimes? Our punishment is locking them up in prisons for a short or long time and possibly executing them after a long time. Depends on the prison but one can work, watch TV shows, eat three meals a day, have a warm bed and shower, read books, take classes. They can't leave. But they aren't suffering in the sense of torture or impoverished people. I do question how much punishment that is. Now horrible things also occur in prisons, rape, beatings- I do not condone that, I abhor it. I think it should be eliminated.
On one hand, there are brutal murderers whose crimes can only be called heinous that make me feel that it would be 'wrong' for them to breathe the same air, and read books and watch the same TV I can. That their direct victims can no longer do. I also believe that the friends and family of dead person are also victims and they suffer the longest.
I used to be definitely for the death penalty in cases where it is strongly provable, and mostly where the defendant confessed; no fishy things, no reversed testimony or cops manhandling. I read about several executions in which the men were completely remorseless and fully admitted to several murders. In these cases, I think the world would be better off without them. If dead, it is a punishment, and protection - they can never hurt anyone else. However, I still question the ethics of a society imposing death on another member - well, maybe these certain murderers aren't part of society and that's another tangled issue. I am for the death penalty in murder cases in which the murder was horrendous. I would not consider a shot to the head (immediate death implied) horrendous. Death that takes time, that is painful is horrendous. Also, the things done to the victim against their will before the death also adds to the heinousness. Rape then murder absolutely fall into that category. Murder then rape isn't really rape. I'd call that defilement and necrophilia. I don't even know if I'd really have a separate entry in the legal system for that alone. Like in conjunction with murder I think it adds to the person's character, but if a person just violates a corpse - no real victim - should it be punishable? Maybe how they got the corpse in the first place should... I don't know how I feel about that. Thinking about it, if my dad died of old age, and was buried (which he won't be) and somebody dug him up and stuck a golf ball up his rear I'd make a confused face and I think it'd be ridiculous. If they had anal sex with him, I'd find it odd and gross, but not offensive. And to make it more real, I thought about that scenario with my grandmother who is actually dead. Same thing. BUT! If someone dug her up and cut her, mutilated her, I'd be pissed. I'd find something disturbing and 'wrong.' I think that would be my definition of defilement. I do know that I believe our system needs revamping! Consistent sentences for black or white or hispanics for starters.

Pepper classifications

Did you know that what makes a pepper spicy is a chemical called capsaicin? It's concentrated in the placenta of the fruit, in the veins and seeds. There is an actual scale, called Scoville scale to measure how spicy a pepper is using chromatography.

Habanero Pepper; The King of Spicy

100,000-300,000 Scoville units

Thai Pepper

75,000-150,000

Serrano Pepper

5,000-20,00

Cayenne Pepper

30,000-50,000

Hungarian Wax Pepper

5,000-15,000

Jalape�o Pepper

2,500-5,000

Anaheim Pepper

500-2,500

Saturday 5

The group watched Bourne Supremacy. I sat next to Mike, but he left, and then Jason sat next to me. We were still getting to know each other. Then it was like midnight. And people left to go pack and sleep for the trip tomorrow. Bryce, Antuan and I were left and they were saying that I should stay up all night and sleep on the bus. I watched another movie but fell asleep during it. I don't remember if there was another movie but at 4 am I was like that's it for me. I'm going to bed. Bryce was all like "weak!" I had to get up at 6:30am and pack.

Wednesday 2

I got up, had bread. Went to the cafeteria, got a chocolate milk, but it was a fiber drink. Maybe it helps cause i have not had any digestion problems at all. Not once and I drink the water on campus. I get to class and it is announced that there will be an advanced section! We are going with Armando, the vida y cultura profesor. We basically discusssed who were are and what we study but it lead to a semi-discussion about the American education system. He doesn't understand that we don't study careers. 4 year degrees are not careers. Anyway it was good. Then life an culture class in a computer room. the monitors were very distracting and he was speaking so fast. I really wanted out of there.

Internet! Had to enter my mac address. Guess they turned on the filters.

Then we got lunch. Chilled then went shopping for supplies to another Soriana. It's a grocery store like a Wal-mart but more like Target, but I'd rather go to Wal-mart or Target, better stuff, cheaper prices (at least Wal-mart). I had to buy a sleeping bag. They had a crappy one for $17. I hope I can take it back with me. I got delicious goodies from the bakery. I also got some plastic food containers, 2 packets of instant rice and 1.5L botella de agua for the week in rural area, because they may not have water for us for a day. The thing that makes me think, is what water are the people there living on?

I am going to wear 1 sole pair of jeans the whole week because we must wear pants. I then need some sleeping pants, because I brought none. That was $7.90.

The bananas I got on my first store trip are now very very ripe, and I need to eat them soon. I know they will be delicious. But for how much longer?

In grocery stores, laundry detergent is sold in bags. Plastic bags. Powder is most popular. I did not see much liquid. It is not in boxes or plastic containers.

The plaza in which the store was, had a sports store but only sold clothes and shoes. There was a mall, which nothing interesting inside except an ice rink.

The taxi ride there cost $31 pesos, and on the way back $34 pesos. So $65 total, divided among us 4 = $1.63 USD per person = cheap! The way I like it.

After that, we chilled, and had dinner. People were going to the fair across the street. We wanted to go later at like 8:30, so we did. It was a mediocre fair. Not very different. Many vendors selling hideous baubles. Then the midway with its scammy games. Then the creaky rides. But the food! That was the good part. I wished I didn't eat those 3 quesadillas for dinner. We got churros with chocolate.

We did see a diving show, and a dolphin show. It started to sprinkle hard and it was cold. We met up with the rest of the group and headed back home. Went to the social room where we can actually mingle with the guys and played hearts. I actually did my homework and watched.

Sometimes its hard to force myself to write this, because there's just so much to say I did. And the days blur together.

Curious fact: For lunch the meal includes a dessert, but the dinner no. This shows you the hierarchy here.

Tuesday

Got up at 8:30. Had bread. and my chocolate milk. Holly and I were late 10 minutes. The open-air hallways have clocks. Very nice feature, since I do not ever know the time. Except when at my computer. We had no idea where the class was. We were wondering around and then we found someone else and they found someone who could help us. There was no advanced class.

First day the teacher had us do this juvenile exercise of making a drawing with all the shapes once and then writing down the instructions and having someone else draw according to them. Then we reviewed the preterite tense, which is around spanish 102. I was very bored. After class, we had lunch. A big piece of a chicken, lots of bones covered in mole sauce. It wasn't appealing nor appetizing. It didn't taste good enough to excuse its appearance. We then went to the Marco, a history museum. The tour was half an hour. Barely long enough for anything. Then we (Alex and Megan) strolled por el canal (the canal). It was nice and pretty. And it was cool to be in Monterrey proper.

Monday 30

Suddenly there is life here on campus. The parkings lots were mostly filled and people swept the sidewalks, mopped the outside marble near the dorms. We were amazed. We got up at 9 to go to orientation, but it wasn't til 10 and so we found the cafeteria. Went back, chilled. Then went at ten. The whole process took forever. Finally we get to take the written test, "cuanto tiempo has estudiado espanol?" "Describe tu universidad" etc. Then the oral. I did great. But if there aren't 15 people for the advanced class --there won't be one. :( I need these 3 credits.

Then a slideshow. Then lunch! Domino's Pizza and coca cola. Lunch drawled on for 2.5 hours because that's the Mexican way. Us Americans were like... let's go already! Then more slideshows. My program is the community service one in which we travel to Zaragoza, and there are two groups, 1 in town helping jr high students build an eco-friendly garden and 1 in the mountain villages tending animals, cutting wood, collecting wood. Both are sleeping on the floor of a school. I need a sleeping bag. I did not know this. The floor! Then the one in the mountains only has a latrine. The one in town has a toilet, if I understand correctly. Let me be frank, I really like animals, but I don't want to poop like one. :(

The newest excitement is Ariel's roommate finally arrived - a Spaniard!!! I am going to dinner at the taco place with them just to be around her. Then we are going to a party off campus. Yay! I really want to get out of this fortress.

Man they are taking while to get ready to eat. It's already 8:13. I know Spaniards eat late.

So on the way there, we passed a decaying dog body. And the dogs in the gated area were not around this time. Muy bueno! I had a taco. Delicious again. I joined the restaurant's facebook grupo. Then we walked to the party at Jason's. It was so cool.

It's a rectagular shaped walled-in property. You go in the door and enter the patio. there are high tables and a rectangular pool about 5 feet wide. There are three palm trees, the walls are painted blue, and there is a hamack. It looked tropical. Inside the house was a small living room with maroon leather couches. To the right a kitchen, and back a bedroom and small tiled bathroom, and back left a black and poorly anchored staircase up 2 floors! On the second floor was an open area with 4 shower stalls. Smelled gross. 3 bedrooms. I did not want to traverse the rickety staircase up another flight. I went back down. It was essentially a normal American house party. The Hong Kongers were so surprised as they do not have house parties.

Many people said "Oh, so you don't drink?" I had to explain that when I do drink, I drink shots. So, there's no middle ground. Some high fived me for that. Ok.

Sunday 29

The pillow they gave me sucked balls. It was too thick or maybe too firm. I got up at ten. Our bathroom neighbors were loud and giggly and my roommate woke up. We met them and then a bit later, Alex our other neighbor came over. She got up at 7. I had a chocolate milk for breakfast. We then decided to walk around campus. I took more photos. It was good. We sat and chatted in the shade, very nice. The campus is large and has lots and lots of greenspace with plants and trees. All the buildings are locked and closed. The campus is very empty, destitute of people.

I woke up with a slightly dry/sore throat. Sucks.

We ventured out in a taxi to Plaza San Agustin, a giantic mall, second largest in Mexico, second largest I've been in, save for Mall of America. Inside was a full grocery/home store. We got some food. I got a pillow. Yay. The taxi ride there was 57 pesos. The way back? 70.

Then we decided to venture out walking and get dinner. There was a place close by and we walked there. The road out had no sidewalk for half of it. Five of us girls walking in the road in Mexico. Priceless.

We went to El Toro que Vuela. Delicious taco place. When they saw us staring at the menu, the owner/manager came over and asked "French or English?" He was so so so helpful. He told us about the food, brought some out to see, gave us free food, and a free alcoholic drink called a chamochela.

On our walk back, there was a gate and dogs barking at us. On the way there, I remember the dogs barking at us. What didn't happen, was them and by them I mean 4 dogs sliding under the gate to bark and chase us! I don't the girls not to run. We walked a bit and they kept at it. So, Megan turns around and yells at them to "GIT! GO HOME!" and miraculously they did! We felt so proud of ourselves.

Saturday 28

Lady at the Omaha airport forgets my order of hash rounds. I remind her and she says "Ooh, I'm sorry, have a drink free." I got a chocolate milk. I waited and when it was done she said "It's on me."

The flight to Dallas I sat behind a family with three children. Such a hassle. I arrived at 10:14 and had to take a train to gate D. My boarding pass said my plane boards at 10:15. I wait in line at the check in desk for several minutes getting really worried. She said it had not come yet and I was fine. Whew!

I arrive in Mexico. First, passport stamp. Then customs. I got my bag searched. Then immediately, I saw my pick up, which turned out to be a crew. Older gentleman, and 2 young kids. They were gorgeous. 18 and 19 years old. Waited an hour for someone else. Went to Starbucks. I never go to Starbucks. But I had a good chocolate caliente. They bought. The men also took my bags. They also waited for me to go first in line, on stairs. And when I was going to the bathroom the girl was going to come with me, like to accompany me. I was like "No, I'm okay alone."

45 minute car ride into Monterrey, and San Pedro Garcia Garza.

Campus is spread out. It is quite a ways in from the street. It is closed too. There are guards when you come in.

Las residencias son nuevas y bonitas. I love the architecture. You need your card to get inside, which upon opening the doors, the doormen open for you. Then to leave that, you must use your card, and then you walk outside into the courtyard. Walk up stairs on the outside, I'm on the third floor. Use the card to get inside, no men allowed. No girls on guys floor. No access.

Once in your room, you put your card into a slot and it allows you to turn on the A/C. If you take it out, the a/c turns off. Which means when you leave your room with your card, the room gets hot.

The furniture is nice. The mattresses are thick. We have a sink and vanity that is large. The nicest bathroom, shared with another room.

I had to pee. There was no tp. This led to a walking trip to a quick-e-mart. Which lead to being totally unaware of where we were and the blisters on the feet.

I ate hawaiana pizza microwaved tonight. The cafeterias aren't open on the weekends.
And we have to go to Orientation before we can get access, which means we have to fend for ourselves until Monday 10am.

This is supposed to be a rich city, but we walked by so many shack housing buildings. I was felt too touristy and rich to take a photo. The sidewalks are not nice. Sometimes they disappear and you walk in the street. Sometimes they just have dips for drive ways that are not gradual. We wandered around, many streets dead end. Then we found a fancy housing area. It had very square, rectangular houses that had gated front patios some with fountains. Small but nice.

I bought at the quick mart Oxxo: 2 small pizzas, 2 chocolate milk boxes, liter of Jugo, .60 liter bottle of flavored fizzy water, plastic cups, 4 toilet paper rolls, 2 1.5liters of water, trident and the grand total was $148.10 pesos(48 of which my roommate owes me) = $14 (paid!)