Statistics

I do not trust statistics, despite the almost absoluteness of math and numbers, because those numbers have been manipulated for the sake of appearance – nothing has really changed. There is no solution solving, only placation or further argument. If you can logically, and soundly, tell me how a statistic makes sense, rather than just throwing it out at me, I’ll be willing to accept it.

Notice, I will not necessarily accept it. A lot of people trust the facts, and I am one of those people. Many people view statistics as facts – but they’re the numbers that really are merely numbers. They are not good evidence, because statistics are, more often than not, a selective truth. Not false, just not all the truth.

Otherwise, how could they be convincing? The truth hurts, but most people get the statistc instead of the reality – we don’t have time to all find it ourselves. The people trust the researchers to gather information and then present it accordingly. I trust that they have done the former, but unless they explain, I will not very readily trust the latter.

I dislike statistics – those numbers, despite being given so much weight, are the most worthless. What I like are explanations, logical reasoning and the like; number-wise, an equation or formula – something solveable. Don’t throw numbers at me – they will be dully noted, and then, without a followup, you will be ignored.

Ties of Blood

flip the coin and watch it fall;
see which side your name will call;
now the question: do you’ve the gall?

•´ ¨ )
¸.• ´ ¸.•´ ¨ )¸.•´ ¨ )
( ¸ .•´( ¸ .•´

New blood and Old blood, so much blood. Why the emphasis? All it is is blood. It no more carries history than you let it; powerful only for those who gave it power. All it is, is blood. It holds perhaps a piece of your fate, but it only writes as much as it’s allowed. Leave behind the ties of blood.

Instead, forge new ties of life. It is your life you live, isn’t it?

Let’s make something of our opportunity.

Maelstrom

A lot can happen in ten days. Okay, so a lot can happen in one minute, but geez. We’ll go in reverse chronological order, because that’s how I’m going to travel through the memory stream. Deal with it. Oh yea, the aftermath has left me a tad detatched and generally not too sociable.

So yesterday and today were the days of rain. Yesterday was the constant drizzle, today was the constant afterglow. Perhaps not very freshly smelling of rain, but still a hint of it along with very cool air – a very rare oddity in the middle of august for me. Went running when the drizzle picked up, swam today. Saw somebody I knew at the gym. I think he noticed me, doubt he knows I know. But whatever.

The weekend; the center of my maelstrom. I may be sucked back in – not sure yet. This may be a lull afterall. Anyway, weekend: tax free, had fun, bought 4 shirts from Macy’s at their sale – the tax exemption helped; Phelps won gold bitches; my brother is a complete idiot. Not that I wouldn’t have helped him had he asked Saturday night, it was just stupid. If I had a hand in it I could at least then make it a matter of pride and also maybe damper some of the stupidity. But he didn’t, so I was stuck wondering if he’d do something so stupid I’d regret it.

Sunday comes, it appears to come to a head. Parentals get on the case, and shit hits the fan. But, after staying with me a bit and kinda hiding away (as I let him do – he needed that much at the least) he seems to disappear. The terrible anxiousness and worry and fear and general hecticness all comes back. And then I’m like that until my emotional safeguard locks into place, and I shut down. Ta-da! – dispassionate, detatched, rather emotionless me.

And then of course, all of last week. One word to generalize: registration week. Oh, but I’m not just picking up my schedule (which I’ve learned we all have to go back and re pick up first day of school anyway), I’m there to help out. Essentially, I got to play secretary. Thankfully, none of that kinky, philandering kind of stuff. But other insider perks provided. Having access (the only of all the student helpers) to pizza, even if I wasn’t going ot eat it, was a main one. Not having to constantly advertise and generally chat with students and their families was another. I like that job, maybe I should become a secretary.

But I get away from myself. Basically, too many people due to hold ups further along the line, and the A/C was not on as it usually would be in a public building – that is, cold and circulating. Gods above, it was muskyyy in there. And almost intolerably so (not that muskiness should really ever be tolerable). Especially that last day with all the freshmen and taggers on.

And that, ladies and gents, was a summary of the last ten days. Yea, it doesn’t seem like too much of a maelstrom, but I glossed over many many details.

Water Sports

Opening Cerenmony of the Bejing Olympics yesterday. It was amazing.

Commentators mentioned lack of swimmers parading out due to being first in line to compete. Then all I could think about was swimming, and swimmers, and thus Michael Phelps. Only 3 more things need to be said: sexy, wet, fun.

I’m a swimmer myself, though no where near competition level. Swimming for is me is more of a pleasure, and I’m happy to stay fit as a bonus. But looking that trim, toned and sexy? Yea, probably not going to happen to me too soon. Would have, if I had joined the swim team. The requirements for such were a bit mroe than I was willing to sacrifice though.

Idiot? Yea, maybe. I’m not drop dead sexy, but I have several hours a week of time not spent pushing myself to the brink in the pool with strokes I detest. Not that I don’t mind pushing hard and swimming myself out – just not all those strokes over and over. I’m a freestyler, all the way.

Nonetheless, I’d like to have more time to go swimming, freely. Not because I’m scheduled in for practice. Not because I have practice. And not because I have nothing else to do. But because I just have time to swim. Be nice to have a friend.

…

Okay, so I probably do still really really want to be on swim team. But that’s okay, as long as I can still swim I’m fine. That wonderful feeling of being in the water. Yea, you wish you could have more wet fun, suckerss.

Three Aye Ehmm

I have only one thing to say:

That call you recieved at 300AM this morning was not me.

The number may happen to be mine, but I assure you, I was headed to bed and did not call you.

That is all.