Random Thoughts

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Originally Posted by Mara

Oh, dear. I assumed you were speaking hypothetically. That's an awful situation.

:sad:

Let us know what happens.

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Pretty sure I already know what will happen and it's not what I want but at least it will be "out there" and I won't look back years from now and regret not saying anything. The best (and worst) part about this all is I DO have an amazing wife and while I'll be totally broken if this other girl rejects me at least I can get back to focusing on my wife and working on our marraige. As it stands now I am just a torn mess of a man.

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Originally Posted by Benny Profane

As it stands now I am just a torn mess of a man.

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I'd say so...two stars for Night of the Hunter?

In what world...

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Originally Posted by Benny Profane

Pretty sure I already know what will happen and it's not what I want but at least it will be "out there" and I won't look back years from now and regret not saying anything. The best (and worst) part about this all is I DO have an amazing wife and while I'll be totally broken if this other girl rejects me at least I can get back to focusing on my wife and working on our marraige. As it stands now I am just a torn mess of a man.

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I know how you feel, somewhat.
I wasn't married (girlfriend for two years), but I was a mess.
Two break-ups later I still am. Don't feel like dating anymore.
Never want to feel like such a bastard ever again.

Can't get the lyrics from Tori Amos' Little Earthquakes out of my head:

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"Give me life, give me pain
Give me myself again

Oh these little earthquakes
Here we go again"

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Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to replace school textbooks in California with free open source ebooks.

I fucking love Arnold Schwarzenegger.

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Originally Posted by Daniel Davis

Is it because he's a cyborg?

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No, it's because he's a supercilious old pedant.

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Originally Posted by chrisnu

No, it's because he's a supercilious old pedant.

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Does he wear a bow tie and a monocle?

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Originally Posted by number8

Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to replace school textbooks in California with free open source ebooks.

I fucking love Arnold Schwarzenegger.

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They should just use Wiki.

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Originally Posted by Daniel Davis

They should just use Wiki.

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More or less the idea, actually.

http://gov.ca.gov/index.php?/fact-sheet/12455/

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Digital textbooks will allow students to learn on new and multiple levels. Traditional hardbound textbooks are adopted in six-year cycles, meaning six years of missing information. Digital textbooks can be updated much more easily, allowing students to learn about current discoveries and technological advances as they happen.

• Frequently updated digital textbooks will better prepare California's students to compete in the global economy. Knowledge is power - the more students have, the greater opportunity they have to succeed.
• Digital textbooks open the door to more interactive learning. Students will be able read about a science experiment then watch a video demonstration - giving them more than one way to digest the information.

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But isn't outdated information delivered through ineffective, antiquated teaching methods the backbone of the American education system??

This morning, I sent off three Netflix DVDs--two of which I've had since July, one I've had since November.

I've cut myself down to the one-at-a-time plan now, finally. Sigh.

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Originally Posted by Sycophant

This morning, I sent off three Netflix DVDs--two of which I've had since July, one I've had since November.

I've cut myself down to the one-at-a-time plan now, finally. Sigh.

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My friend and I are currently splitting the cost of the plan where you get only one movie at a time, but you also have instant viewing. I don't watch enough movies to really want to get more than one at a time, anyways.

In the United States Senate, today is Seersucker Thursday!

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Originally Posted by Sycophant

In the United States Senate, today is Seersucker Thursday!

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I love seersucker suits! Fantastic.

High school tends to be pretty basic foundational stuff. You don't need an e-textbook for Calculus or for History or Physics or Chemistroy or Literature or for a language class or for the vast majority of your classes. With History it's good to have alternate readings but you don't need an etext for that.

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Originally Posted by number8

Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to replace school textbooks in California with free open source ebooks.

I fucking love Arnold Schwarzenegger.

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Originally Posted by Davis

Is it because he's a cyborg?

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i happen to read this two posts together side by side with no context, and i'm like....huh? :D

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Originally Posted by Qrazy

High school tends to be pretty basic foundational stuff. You don't need an e-textbook for Calculus or for History or Physics or Chemistroy or Literature or for a language class or for the vast majority of your classes. With History it's good to have alternate readings but you don't need an etext for that.

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I think the bigger goal is reducing the cost of purchasing physical books. The "we want to give the kids more updated information" is just political posturing.

I wonder, though, if they will force kids to do their reading online or if they will provide an electronic reading device to all the students (like Kindle).

Headin for dollar drafts and The Hangover. :)

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Originally Posted by EvilShoe

I know how you feel, somewhat.
I wasn't married (girlfriend for two years), but I was a mess.
Two break-ups later I still am. Don't feel like dating anymore.
Never want to feel like such a bastard ever again.

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Welcome to the club. Hell I can't even talk to female friends of mine without feeling like shit afterwards. Like this problem I have right now regarding a female friend...I want to post what's going on but it's kinda long...does anybody mind?

Those of us with a prying disposition are dying to know.

And those who do not can skip it.

Well, okay here goes. I'm putting it in spoiler tags, as it's kinda long:

[

Show Spoiler

There’s a girl I’ve known for 2 years, and she’s made a huge impact on my life. She’s been incredibly friendly and nice to me and enjoys talking to me. She makes me feel good about myself and she makes me want to better my life because I know that there is good in this world. However, she has a long-distance boyfriend while we go to the same campus. I have no intention of asking her out, though, because her kindness and friendliness are too valuable to risk losing in a relationship that might not work out.

We have been talking for 2 years until this past May, when the end of the school year came around and I thought I'd ask her if she wanted to meet me for lunch before we went home for the summer. So one day I ask her and she said she’d love to but she was afraid her boyfriend wouldn’t like it. I told her I didn’t mean to come in between them like that and I only meant that as a friend. She told me that she knew and that it was okay and thanked me for the offer. After we got off the phone I texted her and said that I was sorry if I came off like I wanted to date her. She texted me back saying I didn’t have to apologize at all and not to worry about it.

But I sent her a facebook message this past Monday asking her how her summer has been and she hasn’t messaged back. I’m thinking either she’s busy...or she doesn’t want to be friends with me anymore because I came in between her and her boyfriend and she turns out to be fake all along (but a part of me thinks she's not, because if she were, she wouldn't have texted me back after I had apologized) or her boyfriend doesn’t want us to be friends anymore because I came in between them. So I was thinking, the next time I see her should I ask her something like, "Hey is it okay for us to still be friends? I ask because I sent you a facebook message a while ago and I was worried you didn't want to be friends after I asked about lunch." or something like that?

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...or maybe I'm just blowing all this out of proportion thanks to being born with severe anxiety.

If the girl has an ounce of sense-- and from your description, it sounds like she does-- she won't take it personally at all.

I'd actually recommend not bringing it up again. You've already apologized more than enough, and it might become slightly embarassing. Just be friendly and polite, but respect the distance.

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Originally Posted by DavidSeven

I wonder, though, if they will force kids to do their reading online or if they will provide an electronic reading device to all the students (like Kindle).

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I think Plastic Logic need to be all over this like fat kid over cake.

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Originally Posted by Ivan Drago

Well, okay here goes. I'm putting it in spoiler tags, as it's kinda long:

[

Show Spoiler

There’s a girl I’ve known for 2 years, and she’s made a huge impact on my life. She’s been incredibly friendly and nice to me and enjoys talking to me. She makes me feel good about myself and she makes me want to better my life because I know that there is good in this world. However, she has a long-distance boyfriend while we go to the same campus. I have no intention of asking her out, though, because her kindness and friendliness are too valuable to risk losing in a relationship that might not work out.

We have been talking for 2 years until this past May, when the end of the school year came around and I thought I'd ask her if she wanted to meet me for lunch before we went home for the summer. So one day I ask her and she said she’d love to but she was afraid her boyfriend wouldn’t like it. I told her I didn’t mean to come in between them like that and I only meant that as a friend. She told me that she knew and that it was okay and thanked me for the offer. After we got off the phone I texted her and said that I was sorry if I came off like I wanted to date her. She texted me back saying I didn’t have to apologize at all and not to worry about it.

But I sent her a facebook message this past Monday asking her how her summer has been and she hasn’t messaged back. I’m thinking either she’s busy...or she doesn’t want to be friends with me anymore because I came in between her and her boyfriend and she turns out to be fake all along, or her boyfriend doesn’t want us to be friends anymore because I came in between them. The next time I see her should I ask her something like, "Hey is it okay for us to still be friends? I ask because I sent you a facebook message a while ago and I was worried you didn't want to be friends after I asked about lunch."

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...or maybe I'm blowing all this out of proportion thanks to being born with severe anxiety.

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I actually went through a somewhat similar situation earlier this year.

The best advice I can offer is for you to not think about her for a while and not worry about it for a while. Then shoot her one more casual hello/what's-up. If she doesn't respond, don't push it. Let it go.

The most important thing is that you not beat yourself up. Don't regret your actions. If there's ever an opportunity to find happiness with someone, you have go for it.

You just also have to know when to bow out gracefully.

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Originally Posted by DavidSeven

I wonder, though, if they will force kids to do their reading online or if they will provide an electronic reading device to all the students (like Kindle).

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The former, of course. The idea is to cut down costs, so they won't give the kids anything.

I think the positive side effect is also forcing kids to be computer literate, especially in poor urban areas. If they encourage using computers in class and kids going to the library to use computers they don't own and wouldn't otherwise bother with, it'd be for the better.