caerbannogbunny

To Do list:

Schoolwork:

• PSY290 Final Paper
  
• PSY290 Literature Reviews [ ][ ]

Compile a list of research ideas for:

• PSY 290
  
  
  • Develop a study on cuckold/hotwife fetishest to identify potential phenotypes for people involved in openly non-monogamous sexual relationships.
    
  • Polyamory vs. cheating vs. cuckoldry. Are there male relational phenotypes?
    
  • Sociosexuality x frustration = reproductive fitness
    
  • "Loose women":Secondary arousal or actual maintained size change?
    
  • Delaying sex and relationship satisfaction."
  
  
• The simulation class next semester.
  
  
  • Religion as a control mechanism.
    
  • Cryptic choice in the round-robin life?
  
  
• Graduate school.
  
  
  • The diagram from hell.
    

Administrative:

• Join Psychology Club
  
• Print out, fill out, and submit petition from New College.
  
• Find out if CLEP reimbursement for veterans works for me. If so, consider taking a few.
  
  
  • American Government
    
  • History of the United States II: 1865 to the Present
    
  • Human Growth and Development
    
  • Social Sciences and History
  
  
• Find out if GRE reimbursement for veterans works for me. If so, consider take the basic, Biology and Psychology subject matter tests..

Make to buy list for next large FINAID disbursement.

• Scrubs
  
• interview type clothes
  
• work-out type clothes
  
• a swimsuit
  
• virus protection
  
• new monitor
  
• new phone--camera?
  
• iPod?
  
• Frameless military-grade pack.
  
• Sleeping bag.
  
• Toiletry kit
  
• New compass
  
• Spare LED SureFire
  
• Mosquito net
  
• Tarp
  
• 550 cord
  
• New t-shirts
  
• New boots
  
• Wool socks
  
• New boxers
  
• Poncho
  
• High-top Sneakers... Converse?
  
• Proper first aid kit.
  
• Pocket survival kit.
  
• Mini-binocs
  
• Water bottle
  
• Watch
  
• Business Cards
  
• Carabiners

Contemplate getting a storage unit close to campus and get stuff out of mom's house.

Writing:

• Start writing out ideas and logic behind the "grand diagram" I posted a while back.
  
• Actually write fiction.
  
• Finish fanfics
  
• Write something based on dreams I've had.
  
  
  • Evil social experiment dream
  
  
• Transcribe what I want to do with my life.
  
• Finish Letter if I don't Wake up Tomorrrow.

Work out.

Workout Chart

Day:	M	T	W	R	F	S	U
Week 1: Bonus pts. Arms Tummy	07	08 *****	09 ***	10 ****	11 ****	12 **	13 ***
Week 2: Bonus pts. Arms Tummy Weight	14 **	15 ****	16 ***	17 ***	18 **	19 **	20 *** 30 248.7
Week 3: Bonus pts. Arms Tummy Weight	21 *	22 **	23	24	25	26	27

Completed:

• Paper on Origin Beliefs
  
• Take home exam for ASM 301
  
• Write reaction paper for PSY 369
  
• Write 2 [] [] Papers for Social Psychology.
  
• E-mail link to Ben.
  
• Cash small check for shoes.
  
• Look up answers to Primatology Exam.
  
• Write abstract for Sociobiology.
  
• When I find yourself bored and wandering through the hair supplies section of a Wal-mart or something... Find headbands like these: http://noxtigress.deviantart.com/art/Black-Tufted-Ears-80160893 Just plain basic plastic cheapies in black or dark brown (preferably) or white.

 

Research Idea: Intrinsic value and social loafing.

Rationale: The literature and simulations with game theory are replete with the application of costly punishment on cheaters and norm violators on economic decisions.  The primary assumption is that all members of such groups are created equal.  Looking at the phenomenon of highly paid CEO's and athletes as well as gender differences in relationships, I contend there may be a competing process at work, one of intrinsic value based on non-economic contribution. 

I propose that people may consider norm violations that result in increased group success differently concerning punishment.  In this case, people who normally would attempt to promote social compliance will not do so based on group advantages. 

A contending model--the selfish model--would ignore social norms completely and base punishment only on the observer's benefit.  The null model would be one--as in the literature--that punishment increases only in response to norm violations regardless of overall benefit.

Hypothesis: Members of a social group will tolerate violations of social norms for those who are of greater intrinsic value.

Independent Variable 1 (IV₁): Loafer's compliance with social norms.

Levels: High/Token/None

Operational Definition:  Initial investment into a round of a common goods game.

Independent Variable 2 (IV₂): Intrinsic Value of loafer.

Levels:  High/Neutral

Operational Definition:  Increased return based on the presence or skill of the loafer.  An average value is essentially the same value as any other player.

Independent Variable 3 (IV₃): Individual benefit to participant/punisher.

Levels: Profit/Even/Loss

Operational Definition:  The return on the initial investment relative to an expected average.

Dependent Variable 1 (DV₁): Punishment.

Operational Definition: The amount of resources the observer is willing to spend in order to enforce social norms.

Dependent Variable 2 (DV₂): Participant's norm compliance.

Operational Definition:  Initial investment into a round of a common goods game.

Predicted Relationship:  Three models:

Norm dominant model:  N-1) Punishment will always positively correlate with norm violation.

Group advantage model:  GA-1) As intrinsic value goes down, punishment will highly correlate with norm compliance.  GA -2) As intrinsic value goes up, punishment will negatively correlate with intrinsic value. 

Selfish model:  S-1) Punishment will be negatively correlated with individual benefit regardless of norm violation.

Thieves' honor model: T-1) No punishment and Loafer's compliance highly correlated with participant's compliance.

Confounds:

 

·         Gender differences.

·         Participants willingness to punish.

Participants:

Participants will be college students in an introductory psychology course.

Procedures:

Participants will be presented with a series of game scenarios covering an investment game and then select how much money they chose to invest as well as--if desired--how much money they are willing to spend to punish (tax the money of) other players.

The game starts with an ante or "buy in" with a normal amount specified.  Within the scenario, a designated "loafer" will either put nothing into the pot, a token (sub-norm) amount, or the proper amount.  The amount anted will then be subject to a modifier based on a game of skill.  The loafer will either have no influence on the outcome or be skilled enough to produce a significant profit for the group.  The game ends with the option for participants to pay some of their money in order to take a similar amount from another participant.

Because of the need to manipulate the outcomes, the games will be presented only in descriptive, explanatory form and both the participant's ante and amount of punishment will be recorder.  Additional questions will be interspersed to make the study's focus less obvious and avoid certain effects.

Notes:

References:

Axelrod, R., & Hamilton, W. (1981). The evolution of cooperation. Science (New York, N.Y.), 211(4489), 1390-1396.

Carpenter, J., Bowles, S., Gintis, H., & Hwang, S. (2009). Strong reciprocity and team production: Theory and evidence. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 71(2), 221-232.

Fehr, E., & Rockenbach, B. (2004). Human altruism: economic, neural, and evolutionary perspectives. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 14(6), 784-790.

Hagen, E., & Hammerstein, P. (2006). Game theory and human evolution: a critique of some recent interpretations of experimental games. Theoretical Population Biology, 69(3), 339-348.

Hamilton, W. (1963). The evolution of altruistic behavior. The American Naturalist, 97(896), 354-356.

Henrich, J. (2004). Cultural group selection, coevolutionary processes and large-scale cooperation. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 53(1), 3-35.

Janssen, M., & Bushman, C. (2008). Evolution of cooperation and altruistic punishment when retaliation is possible. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 254(3), 541-545.

Johnson, T., Dawes, C., Fowler, J., Mcelreath, R., & Smirnov, O. (2009). The role of egalitarian motives in altruistic punishment. Economics Letters, 102(3), 192-194.

Nakamaru, M., & Iwasa, Y. (2006). The coevolution of altruism and punishment: Role of the selfish punisher. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 240(3), 475-488.

Nelissen, R. (2008). The price you pay: cost-dependent reputation effects of altruistic punishment. Evolution and Human Behavior, 29, 242-248.

West, S., Griffin, A., & Gardner, A. (2007). Social semantics: altruism, cooperation, mutualism, strong reciprocity and group selection. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 20(2), 415-432.

This survey consists of two parts, a demographic survey asking questions about your background and a second portion where you will be presented with a series of scenarios about a game.  Your decisions on how you play the game will be evaluated to help identify a general strategy, so please play to win.

The game is relatively simple and a derivative of blackjack.  You will be assigned to one of four teams and the teams will compete for tokens as well as competing for placement within teams.  You will be given 150 tokens to start with.

The game has four rounds.  Each round starts with an ante.  Each person contributes however many tokens they desire up to a maximum of 30 tokens per round into the communal pot.  Each individual plays three hands of blackjack and the number of winning hands are counted collectively and the pot multiplied by the number of wins.  The pot is then split evenly among the players, odd tokens being discarded.

At the end of the round, each player has the opportunity to pay tokens they have in hand to reduce the payoff of another player up to a total of 30 tokens.  This is useful if someone fails to contribute to the team effort.

Research Idea:

Rationale: Rape--sexual activity by force--has individual and social consequences.  In humans, it's usually about power for the male.  However, as a potentially procreative act, it might be seen as or--and as some researchers have posed--it might be a reproductive tactic.  In some other species--including orangutans--it is a reproductive tactic for the non-dominant male phenotype.  My supposition is that rape without durable control by the rapist can only be a stable strategy when 1) Pregnant females are able--through individual or social means--to support offspring until adulthood.  2) The individual cost of the rape does not prevent successful breeding.  3) Mother's support of offspring is not negatively influenced by the character of the conception.  (Either there is no emotional connection between the two or there is a stronger influence.) 4) Disruption of social support for the mother and offspring are not seriously disrupted.  Rape with a durable level of control--i.e. capture and maintain custody over long periods--would be a different story where resource requirements would be shared between rapist and mother and I expect the key factors would be stress on the mother and the degree of social support required vs. available.

Hypothesis: 1) The incidence of rape--on average--is correlated with the fraction of resources needed by pregnant women divided by the fraction of resources a pregnant woman is able to self-provide when social support of raped women is minimal.  2) The incidence of rape--on average--goes up when pregnant women in general have high levels of either social support or independence of resources.  3) The incidence of rape decreases in populations with a large degree of social and gender interdependence.

Independent Variable 1 (IV₁): Social economic support

Levels:

Operational Definition: The amount of living resources--caloric and expenses--provided to a woman that is not generated by her.

Independent Variable 2 (IV₂): Personal economic support

Levels:

Operational Definition: The amount of living resources--caloric and expenses--provided by a woman that is generated by her.

Independent Variable 3 (IV₃): Degree of social and gender interdependence in a culture.

Levels:

Operational Definition: (To be determined)


Dependent Variable 1 (DV₁): Incidence of rape.

 

Operational Definition:

 

Dependent Variable 2 (DV₂): Survival to adulthood--as a proportion of all births--of children of rape.

 

Operational Definition:


Predicted Relationship: Incidence of rape is negatively correlated with social/gender interdependence, negatively correlated with low levels of personal economic and social economic support in stable situations.

Confounds:

 

·         Situation stability (radical changes in economic levels)

·         Cultural effects on consequences of rape.

·         Socio-economic Status (SES).

·         Religion.

Subjects: TBD.

Procedures: TBD.

Notes:

References: TBD.

Prostitution Economics

Interesting in light of my research project. Need to keep in mind for a question or two--especially the comments.

Irony of monogamy

Ditto with this page. Keeping in mind...

Hybrid answer: I believe all countries--at least the ones that want to last--should require some level of service from all non-criminal citizens not otherwise occupied with society and culture-building activities. That service should include a basic level of military training, education in the laws of the land, safety and hygiene education, and some level of disaster education. They shouldn't be used as armed forces except in a dire emergency when the professionals are no longer available. The service--after training--should be pro-cultural or environmental. Wilderness firefighting, disaster support, forestry, border security, or help in the rough areas.

Opting to go into the military instead should be an option. The infirm, criminal, and disabled should be exempt (although the disabled could volunteer for a modified service based on what they are able to do individually). For those able to serve, tie governmental education support--grants, loans, etc.--to completing service.

Opting to go directly into professional civil service or delaying service to complete an appropriate school--like nursing--would also help.

• Write Hummingbird color preference paper, due... er... today.
  
• Develop survey questions for Psych project
  
• Submit application for IRB approval
  
• Contact Dr. Sabo about Incomplete again
  
• Find part-time job
  
• Work on relationship
  
• Other stuff I've likely forgotten

Yeah. Go me.

I looked over and they suggested I friend http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000318445370&ref=pymk . Yes, that's the ex-Psycho. I swear, I saw that and my pulse rate jumped.

I take get directly threatened, almost dying, and car accidents easier than that.

I mean, honestly, it freaked me the fuck out.

I had hoped I was more recovered than that. I mean, she doesn't know exactly where I am. It's a gated access with multiple locked doors and I still am just... apprehensive.

I looked at the profile and there aren't even friends in common.

I just... I don't know.

What I NEED to concentrate on is writing the 18+ vignettes for my research project so I can submit it to the Institutional Review Board.

Christ, I'm less nervous about talking to anyone that doesn't include her.

*shakes head*

Research Idea:

Rationale: Assuming social norms have an evolutionary basis for development—somewhat like language acquisition—that includes some level of biological predisposition for compliance, a logical exceptions or competition would be individual benefits from reproduction. Given the biological investment in the consequences of reproduction are biased toward the female—pregnancy, lactation, a significant portion of child-rearing—the propensity for violating social norms for one’s own benefits would be more likely to be detected in women. As well, the ability to cognitively take into account social norms affecting reproductive fitness should somewhat—like the ability to learn new languages—flexible.

Hypothesis: 1) Given a set of social norms known to a reproductively capable woman, she should make reproductive decisions that are biased towards her own success—even in violation of social norms—when they are reproductively advantageous to her and at a low social cost (either by not being caught or not costly). 2) When required to make decisions given a new set of social norms that impact reproductive decisions, the same pattern of compliance/non-compliance should continue.

Independent Variable 1 (IV₁): Social norms

Levels: Default / Artificial.

Operational Definition: Default norms will be established by survey of a cross section of social peers prior to the experiment and by correlating demographic cultural/religious information. Artificial norms will be presented within the decision scenarios based on real world norms from historic or other current cultures.

Independent Variable 2 (IV₂): Type of decision.

Levels: Non-reproductive / Resource decisions / Sexual partner decisions

Note: For analysis, the last two may be lumped into “reproductive decisions”.

Operational Definition: (To be determined)

Independent Variable 3 (IV₃): Proximity of decision.

Levels: Self / Related woman / Population at large.

Operational Definition: (To be determined)


Dependent Variable 1 (DV₁): Compliance with social norms.

 

Operational Definition: Mean differences between proscriptive norms and decisions made.

 

Dependent Variable 2 (DV₂): Selfishness.

 

Operational Definition: Mean differences between proscriptive non-reproductive decisions and reproductive decisions made.


Predicted Relationship: Women should make selfish decisions, violating social norms, when the reproductive benefit is greatest to themselves—self > close > public—and comply with the proscribed social norms on non-reproductive decisions. If cultural norms are cognitively flexible, there should be no difference between the non-reproductive decisions under the default social norms and the artificial social norms.

Confounds:

 

·         Sociosexuality (restricive/unrestrictive).

·         Cultural effects on sociosexuality.

·         Socio-economic Status (SES).

·         Religion.

Subjects: TBD.

Procedures: TBD.

Notes:

References: TBD.

Simple problem:

	A	B	C	D
A		11/12	14/14	12/12
B	1/12		1/1	0/1
C	0/14	0/1		1/2
D	0/12	1/1	1/2

You read across from the left. The first number is the number of encounters that crayfish won and the second is the total number of encounters between the two.

Or--simpler--the 1 indicates dominance over the other, a 0 indicates submission, and a 1/2 shows an unclear situation.

	A	B	C	D
A		1	1	1
B	0		1	0
C	0	0		1/2
D	0	1	1/2

The question is: Is it a linear hierarchy (A > B > C > D), a non-linear hierarchy (A > Everyone else), and does it matter that it looks like there may be a circular hierarchy in there possibly (A > B > C > D > A...)?

Ugh.

*head desks*

Searching "Dominance Hierarchy Statistical Tests" got me a bunch of papers on the subject--some dating back to the 1920's--arguing about what the appropriate statistical tests are to identify linear dominance hierarchies. Some even requiring you to access those older, 1920's papers or later 1950's papers to get a table.

I really, really hate dominance hierarchies right now and... yeah.

*sigh*

http://www.kaust.edu.sa/about/about.html

So, if you apply and get accepted, they pay your entire way through your Master's?

On the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia...

I could just imagine...

"You were a soldier during the first Iraq War... you ever been to Saudi?"

"Sure."

"What unit?"

"Unit? Nope, I got my graduate degree there..."

Need to finish working out Psych research project and generate ideas for Animal research.

Also thinking about doing a simulation for paper on crayfish.

Will try to write out concept for Psych research paper later.

*head desk*

First, I made Emily sore again and--if she was home--probably gave the RA in the next room an audio show like she gives on occasion. We didn't even start it as sex, only cuddling and kissing, and it was very worthwhile.

Second, while Emily was in Chemistry and getting hair done, Carl did the macho thing up and down 3 flights of stairs, trying to kill Chinese hats, and generally reminding himself that one of his (revised) lifetime goals is to have either a job or money enough to hire movers when he really has to move.

Was a workout and the lower back is still a little tight, but it didn't keep Carl from making Emily sorer or doing anything else--at least with a little thought of pacing, anyway.

Oh, and I fixed a space-bar on a friend's typewriter.

Ya'know, I really miss about three things about manual typewriters--definitely not the effort needed to make the keys work--the ding as you approach the end of the line that tells you to prepare to end and return, the feel of throwing that carriage back for a new line, and the smell of the oil and rubber platen. It sort of brings a down-to-earth and mechanistic feeling to writing on one. Don't get me wrong, when I had to actually do assignments in high school on one, I really appreciated the electric and/or electronic versions. Even at North Central Animal Hospital, I liked having a correction tape on the typewrites. Still, there is something about a simple, mechanical typewriter.

What else?

Slept well after moving stuff. Today, we didn't do too much, but Emily and I went to the store for a few things--intending on baking chicken--and ran across pork chops on sale. It was $3 for a package of 6, so we breaded and baked them, made veggies, and this "instant" pasta salad stuff. Was good and the leftovers--half of the pork chops--are probably going to be lunch and/or dinner tomorrow for me.

I so am happy I'm learning how to cook stuff and Emily is aiding and abetting.

*grin*

Should work on homework though.

*smirk*

...but earlier, in Animal Behavior lab, we were talking about how to identify if hummingbirds prefer red flowers...

...and--after a team mate suggested dying flowers--I created a nifty concept:

You find two flowers--say a red one and a white one--and see if hummingbirds actually prefer one or the other. If it's white, experiment over. If it's red, it might be the color or it might be some other factor, say, shape.

Flower Color	Prefers?
White	Less/None
Red	More

So, here's where the dye comes in. You keep some white flowers, some natural red flowers, then you start dyeing flowers. Some of the white and natural red, you try dyeing red. Some of each, you also dye black.

Flower Color	Appears?	Dyed?
White, Natural	White	No
White, Dyed	Red	Yes
White, Dyed	Black	Yes
Red, Natural	Red	No
Red, Dyed	Red	Yes
Red, Dyed	Black	Yes

Why go through the trouble? Using this--changing the non-preferred's flower's color, changing the color of the preferred flower, and by administering dye that maintains the color--you can identify whether it's the flower's color, shape or other factor, or whether the dye has any impact at all.

See: (X is any number of visits not zero. X++ is a significant number of visits more than X).

Flower Color	Appears?	Dyed?	Dye!	Color!	Shape!	Color + Shape!
White, Natural	White	No	0 or X	0 or X	0 or X	0 or X
White, Dyed	Red	Yes	0 or X	X++	0 or X	0 or X
White, Dyed	Black	Yes	0 or X	0 or X	0 or X	0 or X
Red, Natural	Red	No	X++	X++	X++	X++
Red, Dyed	Red	Yes	0 or X	X++	X++	X++
Red, Dyed	Black	Yes	0 or X	0 or X	X++	0 or X

Of course, my proposal lost out because 1) Don't know the practicality of dying flowers and 2) the instructor had already bought and brought "artificial flowers". He did come over and kind of hinted that it wasn't a bad idea and I made sure to point credit at the person suggesting dyeing flowers.

More later, must go to lecture.

Picture this...

A guy walks in to a store, the only person there is an attractive woman, getting ready to close up. They look each other over, smile at liking what they see. They talk about ordering, she drops a double entendre about hooking up...

...the guitar solo starts...

...they step closer and he remembers he forgot his wallet and leaves.

Then he goes home, his room mate is sitting on the couch. The first guy sits down and the movie comes on. It's something sexy and they both start seeing if the other is looking as they talk about whatever...

...they make lingering eye contact, the thumpy techno music starts...

...and dude gets up to go to the bathroom.

Next scene is when he wakes up and his roomie's mom is there. She's busty, maybe a little chubby, and looks in on him where he's only covered by a sheet. There's eye contact and...

...you get the picture.

An entire movie of porn-scene set ups with musical cues all the way across the sexual spectrum with no actual porn. Yeah, and there'll have to be an actual plot too that you'll have to pick up on after automatically discarding it for the sexual overtones.

The final fade out will infer some sexual activity... but maybe not.

(And it will have to be something totally inappropriate.)

*smirk*

Just an idea.

...I want to sleep in more.

*head desk*

Hate getting up this early for some reason.

...Instead of waiting, getting sleepy, and forgetting.

Really.

Ugh.

*headdesks*

I used to be better at this.

I think the biggest variables are motive and consequences. If you remove the consequences--usually more severe for women in this and many other cultures--then you only have motive (and personality tied to motive) left.

In general, I think most men are more opportunistic. That's the way the biology works--especially in humans with concealed ovulation by women. In most situations, most men will try and minimize the consequences and protect the primary relationship up to or until the primary relationship is not working as well as the other(s). Then they "trade up" usually based on sexual quality and frequency (this may include attractiveness because it increases the male side of sex quality and frequency).

Women--in general--are more "rational". Rational is in quotes because some of the rationality isn't what they think about, but is a decision making element that influences the thinking part through emotions. They tend to start relationships based on a few things: access to resources, reliable support, sexual quality (often related to good genes in the man as well as immune system genes), and simple, old emotional/social stability. Generally, the resources and sexual quality factors define "who" they are attracted to, but the combination and the stability/support issues determine the "whether" on cheating.

A woman in an unsatisfying sexual relationship, a situation that is emotionally or social unstable (like an abusive one or moving to a new place) or financial problems (especially if she wants kids) is more likely to cheat to get what she wants. This can be opportunistic--like the man--or it may be an intentional attempt to supplement what's missing in the "primary" relationship. Alternatively, she may be shopping for a new primary without losing support in the meantime.

As far as believing in marriage, I believe marriage is a social tool used to apply social pressure on people in a relationship. It enlists others--family and friends especially--to promote desired behaviors in the people who marry. As long as the relationship is healthy and is meeting all of both partner's needs, it's probably benign. Otherwise, it's selling one or both partners a bill of unattainable/unsustainable/unreliable goods and creates a false sense of stability and trust along with guaranteed conflict for years.

It had a bit of an inside-the-dream deja vu effect. First, I was in a cluster of rooms--like dorm rooms--and there were a small group of people and an instructor and we were sitting around talking about something. Later, I got dressed--in an ACU (new Army uniform) for some reason and started to leave. My Hi-Power, magazines, and holster were there and I put them on under the ACU blouse.

I don't know why, but I think I was being hunted for some reason and I had to get out of the building. The building was actually a large, multi-story building with offices, escalators, cubicle farms, elevators, etc. There were soldiers everywhere in ACU's and carrying sidearms and rifles/carbines, etc.

I had the feeling I had escaped from here twice before for some reason. I crossed this enclosed foot bridge between two buildings.

At first, I simply walked through areas, avoiding giving face to where I knew cameras were, until I got between two banks of elevators and a pair of soldiers recognized me and tried to stop me. I closed right up to them--face-to-face--saying "I'm surrendering" then drew my pistol from under the blouse and pressed it lightly against one's side and shot. The other soldier tried to move around to get a clear shot and I shot him over his buddy's shoulder. I grabbed the first's carbine and magazines from a pouch. An elevator opened up, I leaned in and pressed the button for the ground floor and stepped out, heading into the stairwell across from the elevator.

I went up two floors with the carbine slung over my shoulder and moved out of the way as about 6 armed "Wackenhut" security guards came down the stairs from above. Once they were by me, I went up another floor and exited the stairs. This floor was dark and a little quiet. I walked back the direction I had come from towards the upper level of the foot bridge, then took this long escalator down that crossed this huge open space in the building. I passed the floor I had been in and saw a huge number of soldiers running towards the elevator.

The escalator ended on the floor below where I shot the soldiers and I got off. It was still something like the fourth or fifth floor of the building. I walked through a cubicle farm and a squad of soldiers came up behind me, headed for a stairwell with rifles ready. I moved out of the way initially, but--as soon as they passed--I unslung my carbine and joined the back of the pack. We went down the stairs, but at the bottom I could see someone who recognized me.

I kicked the soldier ahead of me on the stairs in the back and he pitched forward into the one in front of him and the whole squad ended up falling headfirst down the stairwell into this guy at the bottom. I shouldered the carbine, shot the guy who recognized me and the NCO in charge of the squad, then high-tailed it back up the stairs to the next floor. I hit the elevator buttons and one opened with a guard in it. I shot him, took his magazines, and left him in the elevator after pressing the button for the 30th floor.

A second elevator opened with a pair of soldiers and I shot them and sent their elevator to the 30th floor also--after taking two grenades off their gear. I headed across the cubefarm again. People were scrambling to get under desks. I yelled "He's on the elevators. Everyone needs to evacuate to the lobby and outside immediately." I pointed to a guy who looked like he was in charge. "Who are you?"

I didn't even listen to the name.

"Make sure everyone clears this level. Don't run, move quickly to the stairs. Check in with the building commander when you are outside."

He nodded and started everyone moving. I headed toward the back of the level where--last time I escaped--they were performing construction on an expansion. I found a safety barricaded elevator shaft and slung the carbine. There was a set of rungs in the wall and the elevator car was several floors above. I climbed down past the first floor into the basement.

There was an Army supply area in the basement. There were guards down the hallway toward the main elevator banks and a broken doorway into the supply area with yellow safety tape on it. A Wackenhut guard was at a desk, looking down the hall at the soldiers setting up towards the main elevators. I stopped for a moment and asked him "What's going on down there?"

"I don't know, someone's shot some people and is trying to get out."

"Damn. Whoever it is is soooo fucked." I said.

"You're telling me."

I walked through the broken door--a hinge was loose--and into the supply area. There was a long hall with supply cages along the left side and an outside door I could see Army cargo trucks through. I walked quickly and with a purpose outside. Two trucks rolled up full of infantrymen and the platoon sargent and platoon leader got out of the cabs leaving the drivers alone.

I moved out of the way as they assembled by squad and moves down the alley behind the building toward the entrance. I walked up to the passenger side of one of the trucks and climbed up to talk through the open window. "Need a TC?"

The soldier at the wheel nodded.

I climbed in and he started to drive away. Then Emily's alarm went off and I woke up.

---

Rather detailed and interesting dream. Woke up pretty... ramped up for some reason.

I don't know why I was having to shoot soldiers, but it was only a dream. I also don't know why I took the escalator exactly.

Still... Interesting.

As was said by Emily today. Then we both cracked up and ended up eating at the Black Bear Diner--you don't have to be crazy to eat there, but it helps--instead after we saw the parking lot at Hooters.

Emily says she hears they have good wings at Hooters.

Anyway...

Ended up getting stuck at a sensing session for the ASU West class president last night. Everyone else--for the most part--wanted new restauraunts--even some I've never heard of--but I asked about a Forensic Science program in conjunction with the local community colleges and crime labs. Mostly it was an excuse to suggest more bio-anthropology courses available at West campus.

Anyway, must go bed soon... Emily up early for Chemistry.

Must also remember to post about the cute little grammar-Nazi I met.

*smirk*

A friend had a positive blood test for a medical condition that simply goes on to a possible explanation of a whole lot.

Makes sense now after bunches of classes on that particular physiological process.

Still need to finish Animal Behavior write up, but the others are caught up.

Slept okay, mostly sleep-o-the-dead.

Will catch up on e-mail, LJ, etc. soon.

Really.

...still need to do mealworm beetle write-up, but have half of Anthro paper done for tomorrow.

Just didn't sleep. Don't know why.

Grrrrr...

Been drag-assing because there isn't much data in this write-up.

Anyway, have to go to class.

I learned to sex crayfish.

It's simple, really, but you do have to pick them up, flip them over, and look.

Then we got to watch them fight.

When I was a kid... okay, teenager... I got to go after crayfish in a lake in Michigan. Can't remember which, but one around Traverse City. Those were comparatively huge by comparison to these, but some had some pretty good claw sizes. Didn't get pinched though.

I really like messing with the wildlife.

Oh... and courtesy of a glass, I learned the CA next door is simply loud and her male partner is stealthy. Either that or my hearing damage lets me white-out deeper, male tones in lieu of higher pitched female tones.

What else?

Must remember to write up Mealworm Beetle report and complete Psych assignment this weekend.

...but likely more restful than up-every-morning-before-the-ass-crack-of-dawn.

Long gap between morning class and afternoon lab. Ate at the dining hall here on main campus. They had omelets, yogurt and granola, bananas, and peaches. I didn't quite over-eat, but I think I got my $6 worth of food and drink.

Yeah.

Kinda' sleepy and almost wish it was time to go home already.

Holy crap, it's Thursday. This school schedule seriously throws weeks by too quickly.

...the Orbit shuttle I took--free shuttle around ASU's main campus--turned out to have a much more orbital route than I thought. Probably halfway to Mesa. *smirk*

Then, after class, I had to stop for food. Really.

I mean, I didn't really, but I sort of did.

Anyway...

On the way home, but have to wait at ASU-Downtown for the shuttle and hope the 5PM from Main is atypically empty. (i.e. not standing-room-only) Or, I can just wait for the 5:30 which is often 3/4 empty because the insane seem to be really impatient.

What can I say?

Need a shower. In spite of not walking the mile-plus across campus today.

Anyway... back to the bus-waiting.

...for the most part, we're limited to Psych 101 students. *smirk*

Also must really get on ball with job looking and setting up GRE exam date.

Emily's sister made a comment to her that--after meeting me Sunday--she is somehow reminded of her dad by me.

I am really not sure how to feel about that. *smirk*

Anyway, playing with facial hair again. Maybe someday I will both be photogenic and have a camera at the same time.

Must also clean room.

*head desks*

Although, I at least got most of the dishes--except the silverware, a bowl, and a mug--done.

*snickers*

...just a harmless class assignment about job searching.

If you don't want to take it, feel free to delete it.

I was hoping to do it over Facebook, but couldn't figure out how to embed the damned thing.

Anyway...

Got to see a real gas chromatograph today. Was cool.

We got a tour of Dr. Liebig's lab today. He's actually looking at pheromones in ants and identifying--based on surface or contact pheromones--the differences between the castes. This is particularly interesting in ants because the workers and the queens are essentially genetically identical except for regulatory and then developmental differences. On the comparison of the chemical signatures we got to see today, you could see where the worker's peaks and the queen's overlapped in location (i.e. the chemical makeup), but the amounts in those areas for workers were much higher than the queen's. A little further "up"--essentially, a set of longer hydrocarbon chains in the cuticle (something akin to "skin" on mammals)--the queen had an entirely different set of strong peaks.

I started asking questions about the regulatory process of insect reproduction and didn't feel like an idiot. Maybe I should apply to be a research assistant? *smirk*

Anyway...

Must eat.

First impression: Smoking smell sucks.

Lessons learned:

1. Do not try to manage more than 12 bingo cards at once.
2. Daubers are fun.
3. Bingo gets tedious.
4. I now understand why my Grandpa and Grandma Armstrong would come back from bingo either happy (they won) or half-pissed (didn't win).
5. Carl can be persuaded to go again, but only socially.

Yeah.

Also sent Natalie well-wishes on her 6th wedding anniversary.

Yeah... wow.

Research Techniques in Animal Behavior Lab today...

First, I end up answering most of the "semi-rhetorical" questions in the class simply because there are only about three of us who are usually even willing to speak up. That makes me usually feel like I'm being too involved in a way. I intentionally pause and wait for others to respond almost all the time, but if they don't... Yeah.

So, this week we were looking at Mealworm beetles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenebrio_molitor). On Tuesday, we were presented with two groups of the adult beetles--marked "A" and "B"--and instructed to observe their interactions. First with like together--AA and BB--then with one of each--AB--and record their interactions. At the end of class we were given the "punch line": A's were adult males and B's were adult females.

Today, we talked about mating behavior and how males and females can get together and mate. Mostly, it was about how males can identify receptive, mature females. The main candidates were:

• Behavioral cues (action)
  
• Acoustic or vibrational cues (sound)
  
• Pheromones cues(scent)
  
• Morphological cues (shape/color)

So the question was how to be able to discriminate one from another between receptive females and non-receptive females.

I raised my hand--and with only a hint of smart-assitude--I suggested exposing males to dead, otherwise receptive females. My logic being: If the male responds, it's not an acoustic or behavioral cue. Then we could try finding a way to expose the male to something with the potential pheromones that isn't shaped like a female in order to tell whether it was scent or the shape. (And if the male didn't respond to the dead female, we could try descenting a living, receptive female... etc.)

Dr. Liebig kind of blinked--how he seems to show surprise, he's a really dry German--and sort of smiled. Others in the class started going "Ew!" and making necrophilia comments.

So, guess what we did during the rest of the lab?

Exposing the adult males to adult and juvenile females... and then to previously killed adult and juvenile females. On Tuesday, we talk about separating the pheromones and testing it on glass rods with males.

*shakes head*

Totally made sense to me. Totally did not expect that's what we would be doing. Totally felt like I had a clue when that happened. *grin*

Pretty good day.

Oh, and I also discovered--courtesy of a somewhat loud neighbor--that sex noises transit these thing walls pretty clearly. Must try and remember to put white noise on next time. *smirk*

Maybe if I repeat it enough, I might actually.

Or not.

Living and breathing and relearning stats--again.

A little frustrated when I "should" know this stuff.

I'll get it.

At least I can remember how to get it in the software and run and read scatterplots. I also have a good idea on what I WANT to compare and such. Now to remember the how-to's of what tests and how.

Anyway...

First weekend with Emily having full Saturday Chemistry. She's kind of excited. Diligent with her homework.

We're doing okay. I--and she, for what I can do on it--like the bigger, firmer full-size bed. Is enjoyable. Sometimes I find it funny I go as long as I do and yet--sometimes--feel like I should be able to do more...

*shakes head*

Mind keeps going back to stats, back to research projects, and back to "How do I get to grad school and then how do I actually get there?"

Anyway. Brain crashing. Up early to get to Main.

Seriously, 4 loads of laundry out of one dorm room is a lot.

But--between classes, homework, and money--today was the first real day I could.

I am... yeah. I need a nap, but Emily's coming over, I need to go get last of laundry from driers soon...

...crap, my tea is in the microwave.

I almost forgot.

Actually, gathering data for Human Mate Selection in class by going through a dating-site-not-to-be-named and pulling ages of participants, education levels, and their preferences for mate ages, education, and income ranges.

Is interesting.

So far, the women are much pickier, the men are more volunteering of info on income, and yeah...

Anyway, must away towards bus, then train, then class, then train, then bus, then here.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17671-regular-marijuana-usage-robs-men-of-sexual-highs.html

I like being interested in sex, thank you.

...but I really must review my statistics.

Yeah.

So happy when it starts cooling down again.

Gotta' go catch bus.

(DJ needs to write more... Back on task, eh?)

Went to ASB 326 Human Impacts on Ancient Environment and PGS 394 Psychology and Religion.

Dropped Psych of Religion because:

1) the PITA factor is more than other classes will allow.
2) ASB 326 Human Impacts on Ancient Environment is actually more interesting.
3) The discussion--while interesting--is a little dry given the classmates.
4) Two of the books are $90+ each and there is massive amounts of reading involved totally off on a tangent from what else I'm taking. Fun

So... Happy I sat through both first classes before making decisions.

Really must work more on keeping up with journal.

Sleepy now though. Must be on 7am shuttle to Main.

*headdesks*

And has been baiting hypocritical liberals online over the news story regarding the black man with the AR15 outside the Obama event in Phoenix.

I love how "Oh my GOD! Someone must harass him!" they get and call for the police to protect them.

So, what are the police?

Men with guns, often Glocks and AR15's just like the guy was carrying.

*snerk*

Anyway...

Classes start next week. Got some Financial Aid. Stocked up pantry.

Yay! Tea and sugar.

Ran out of flavored tea and white sugar. Was drinking rather sturdy Kroeger brand... with buttloads of brown sugar. Took that much sugar to be able to taste it over the tea.

(Thanks, Nicole, for leaving me all that tea. Got into an addiction for hot tea now. *smirk*)

Still have books to buy. So far, only 10 credit hours/3 classes.

Psychology and Religion
Research Techniques in Animal Behavior
Experimental Psychology

Oh, and finishing Biometry.

I think part of it is--when I sit down to work on it--I open the final first and go: "Ah... FUCK!" and it doesn't happen. So, I'm going to try and do the labs, in order, and then the final.

I have also been spending way too much time leaving snarky advice to military wives on:

http://www.truuconfessions.com/channels/Military%20Wives

Like:

Confession:
Posted by anonymous
08.19.09 8:46pm
truu52848
"Where is my husband and who the hell is this guy that the army gave back to me???"

Response:
"It's like Legos you lose the instructions for. You work off of the pictures on the side of the box, memory, a little creativity, and keep going until something looks familiar. Either that or you give up, toss them in the trash, and go buy an Erector set. "

I can be sort of... Yeah. *grin*

Anyway, needs beds.

Don't be strangers.

Went and helped an old friend recover his motorcycle from his now-ex-girlfriend. Mostly, I just drove and watched in case.

It seems there was an argument last night with the ex--another previous victim of an abusive relationship--and my friend called police and they helped chaperon while he got some of the essentials out. The now-ex had called her ex and he came over packing so when it was time to go get his motorcycle today, I got covering duty.

Happily, it only turned into a pleasant drive with only a few tense moments in front of house.

So, yeah.

Otherwise quiet day.

Still haven't done Biometry. There may be time left, but Emily's almost home...

OkCupid! sends me emails on occasion to tell me when someone has looked at my profile. (Otherwise, I'd totally forget the thing until I'm bored and want to take cheesy quizzes.)

Anyway, the last few to look at me were women from 37 to 42 and I saw ages and went: *shrug* "Okay." Was curious and looked at profiles.

I can see why none of them ever message. *smirk* I have--like--nothing in common.

Just thought I'd say that.

I've been... not doing a whole hell of a lot. No money, no transport, waiting for new semester, no "time giver" other than the alarm clock and the people in and out getting the dorms ready for Fall.

In a way, it's like the "Langoliers" here. Things moving out. Things moving in. No people, so much.

Anyway...

Tried making fried rice tonight, worked out pretty well, but I need mixed veggies for next time. I also tried breaded baked chicken. Was also pretty good.

Heh! Maybe I can survive on my own without a mess hall, wife, mom, dining facility, restaurant, etc.

*smirk*

I solemnly promise to complete at least one Biometry lab tomorrow. Really.

Picture a big, grassy, hilly area with two herds of animals. One are juicy, tasty sheep and the other are scrawny goats. Now, imagine a pack of wolves sitting off to the side, hungry as hell.

Oh, and there's a fence down the middle between the two herds of animals. The wolves are on the goat-side.

Now, most of the wolves, they have a taste for goat meat. A smaller number have a taste for only sheep. Some wolves don't care which, but they are a minority.

To get a goat, you have to wait, work slowly, approach with caution to avoid the goats fighting back. The cost in time is quite a bit and it takes the wolves working together to get one.

To get a sheep, you simply hop the fence, and chow down. See, sheep are easy and no teamwork is necessary.

The problem with sheep though, is not many of the wolves like sheep and--if you ditch the wolf pack to get a sheep--the other wolves don't like you because it messes with their ability to get goat.

So, for the wolves who like goat, there is only one choice: keep the pack together and hunt as a team.

For the wolves who like only sheep, there is two choices: 1) Hop the gate and eat sheep, but suffer condemnation and punishment from the other wolves. 2) Stay with the pack, hunt goat, be frustrated, and avoid punishment.

For the wolves who like both, there are three choices: 1) Hop the gate and eat sheep, but suffer condemnation and punishment from the other wolves. 2) Stay with the pack, hunt goat, be and avoid punishment. 3) Hunt goat with the pack now, then go eat sheep on the side.

The wolves that like sheep have to compromise between what they want (sheep) and what they feel pressured to do (hunt with pack). Their individual decisions would depend on certain traits like their ability to control their need for sheep, their attachment to the pack, how integrated they are into the pack, etc. If the pack is vital to their survival in other ways or they are particularly susceptible to peer pressure, they may simply internalize the frustration of needing sheep and either starve or make do with what parts of goat they can tolerate. However, for these frustrated wolves, watching another wolf hop that fence and get that sheep is going to particularly devastating because not only are they feeling the anger of that errant wolf violating the trust of the pack, but they are taking it personally as well because of their internal sense of frustration.

They want to do exactly the same thing but can't.

So, what are the dynamics that can change?

First, if there are enough wolves left to successfully hunt goat on their own, the tolerance for sheep-hunting might go up. Likewise, too few wolves in the pack might boost frustration/punishment.

Second, if the number of goats were particularly small, tolerance for sheep-hunters might go up because it makes more available for the others in the pack.

Third, if another food source--say "wolf-kibble"--is another option that requires no teamwork, it could mediate punishment costs to wolves choosing to hunt sheep.

---

Still need to think about this a bit and see if someone else has similar ideas, but the translation--if you don't get it--is that "goats" are sexual/relationship opportunities with women, "sheep" are sexual opportunities with men, and the wolves are an allegory for men.

Homosexual women are likely to be different because the costs might change.

Still, I'm half asleep, so...

I'm supposed to move today...

Instead, I stayed up until almost 5AM and wrote 3934 words on a story--some of it pretty porny.

Now, I need sleep.

I will definitely have to reread and probably edit the crap out of it, but--hey--it was fun and easy at the time.

*goes to pass out*

I have about a 1.5" x 1" patch of second degree burn on the inside of my left wrist. Slight mishap with getting the spaghetti sauce out of the microwave. That stuff seriously holds heat. There's a larger patch of 1st degree across the back of my thumb and wrist.

*sigh*

Good news is I heal quickly.

Saw my new room today. Mirror image of my last room, literally. Other (Southern vs. Northern) corner room of the complex. I think they are painting something in it. It's nice to have a full-size bed rather than a bunk bed--but I've always been adaptable. *smirk*

Yeah. Go me.

Your result for The Lightsaber Duelist Test...

Obi-Wan Kenobi

"I'm getting too old for this kind of thing."

Take The Lightsaber Duelist Test at HelloQuizzy

Hypothesis: Altruism/theft is a continuous trait representing personal preference for allocating finite resources--a flow--including personal investment and effort. Altruism/theft can be allocated differently between the individual, small groups, and the population of all humans. These differences in allocation have fitness implications through the effects of multilevel selection. These differences may also be derived from cultural, genetic, and developmental differences.

Independent Variable 1 (IV₁): Altruism

Operational Definition: (To be determined)

Independent Variable 2 (IV₂): Causative factors of altruism

Operational Definition: (To be determined)

Dependent Variable (DV): Fitness.

• 
  

Operational Definition: TBD.

Predicted Relationship: Predictable patterns of altruism will result in increased fitness. These patterns will correlate with cultural, genetic, and developmental traits.

Confounds:

Rationale:

Subjects: TBD.

Procedures: TBD.

Notes:

References: TBD.

My sister was elected Mayor of some small town, I was dating someone in the catering business who was a handwriting > printing nazi, and Jack Klugman stopped a suicide-death pact by two teens about to cause a major explosion by blowing them through the fourth dimension with a modified shotgun.

Oh, and for some reason, the person I was dating was breaking up with me and her adult daughter (!) started hitting on me which set off the mom and was annoying as hell.

(Note to self: Avoid dating women with adolescent/adult daughters.)

The most mind-boggling part of it all was my mother suggesting I run for Governor and--while the girlfriend was dumping me and her daughter was trying to flirt--me thinking "This isn't going to go over well at the election."

Bwahahahahahaha!

My brain pulls some interesting combinations of things. If it wasn't for Quincy and the Magic Smoothbore, it would almost have been a soap opera.

...the problem has--at least for now--been resolved.

The linkage in Em's car between the manual shifter and transmission cables broke. It's a small plastic piece in the console. I sort of identified the problem as she was calling her insurance's road side assistance. Because they only cover the first $50 of towing, the cost to tow her car to her home would have been over $100.

So, we tried to call more local friend with house to see if we could temporarily tow car there. (That's the low cost/no cost favor, K.) Didn't get a response, probably away from phone, and thought about it while trying to call Em's parents then thought of my sister. (Only 5 miles from where we were.) They said okay... and then we decided to push car 1/2 mile to plaza place with restaurant.

I am not as young as I once was.

I pushed a bit more than 1/4 mile, and it was--honestly--kicking my ass. Speedbumps were the worst. Got help from someone with a truck though.

(When I was young and dumb, I pushed a much heavier vehicle about a half-mile by myself, half or it on gravel because I was young, dumb, stubborn, etc. I probably could have made the rest solo, but I... Well, I wised up and accepted being helped.)

Anyway.

Tried Em parentals again, they finally called back and were on their way. Turns out they were at church.

We chilled out at a place called Meatballz on 75th Ave and Greenway. Pretty good pizza and pasta, BTW.

Parentals showed up and Em's dad--rather loudly--said something about helping her and her "loser boyfriend". Ignored it. He went to work trying to diagnose the problem as I explained. It was funny as he tried to ignore what I said until it hit him that I was probably right.

Pulled the car's central console out again, this time could get the wires off the window/mirror controls and found the exact problem as I described.

Did not say "I told you so."

Anyway, there are two cables linking the shifter to the transaxle. The connector to one of them is a ball and socket joint with the socket being a press-in piece into a ring. Well, the socket was broken. We started with trying to glue it back together with epoxy (conveniently) on hand before the parentals left for parts store.

Couldn't find correct part, but came back with vaguely similar part that her dad jury-rigged to fit, but it kept popping loose when shifting. I suggested wiring it together to hold it in place and that--after a few tries worked.

So, Em drove over here to dorms with parentals in chase car. Em grabbed her stuff, and they left a little while ago with her dad driving her car and Em riding chase car.

Tomorrow, she intends on trying to find actual part and getting it replaced so she can put her central console back in.

---

Lessons learned today:

* How a mechanical shifter in a Saturn is connected.
* Albertson's fried chicken gives me the shits.
* Meatballz on 75th and Greenway is good eating.
* Em's dad still really doesn't like me, although her mother is civil.
* Look out for speedbumps in Em's car.

Why, I have no idea. Why I signed up for lessons at someone's home that I don't even know, I also don't know.

Why lessons took place on a muddy gravel road around a flooded quarry while a Renaissance Faire was going on, I understand even less.

No one got ran over by me and I didn't drown or crash, so that's good.

*shakes head*

I don't even know if the controls were even in the right (real world) place.

*snicker*

Oh, well... Must get foods and go to school.

Universal health care works as long as 1) Everyone is basically health or 2) You can force everyone to be basically healthy on the cheap or get them to leave the program/country/service. or 3) Your population has more money than brains and doesn't mind being taxed to death for everyone else's health care/social welfare along with tolerating governmental involvement in every aspect of their life or 4) Something else kills off the sick/week before you need to invest much in their care.

The problem with universal health care is that the cost depends on the health care needed and you have a very, very wide difference on what health care is needed by what person along with the fact many health problems--at least in part--are "self inflicted". You can't force people to be healthy and minimally help those that aren't, that's not ethical. You can't force people to pay out there ass for everyone else's problems without complaint--even if the relatively tight economic system could afford it.

The military has "Universal health care" and it works for them.

Why?

Because the mission has certain health requirements and a lifestyle that promotes a basic level of fitness. Those that can't maintain it and/or can't return to it in short order are simply passed out of the system and into the civilian VA or other system.

Simple, elegant, works only within the bigger system and greater mission.

The UK has universal health care and it also works for them, mostly by sucking taxes from other financial systems like national defense and the people themselves. It also forces--when there are lower cost alternatives--people to accept the low-cost alternative. Like pulling teeth instead of trying to keep them somewhat functional and limiting access to many long-term, but expensive treatments. Neither end works really well.

They also have to put up with mass exodus out by trained medical professionals at times because the system is less competitive along with mass influx from patients coming in from abroad seeking health care.

The problem with trying to do it here is--unlike Britain who--nominally--has help from the rest of the EU--we are more independent and probably have a much higher variability in health needs than England simply due to population size, demographics, and an order of magnitude less control over individuals. To cover universal health care here--if it doesn't collapse the system--will probably alienate massive areas of the country to the point of risking another civil war or at least resistance.

On gun rights, something with a significantly lower level of direct economic risk--we have multiple states passing or discussing laws to nullify federal laws in their state, one state that has overtly mentioned secession, and we're not even talking about the financial costs this system is going to force.

I agree that people should have more access to medical care. The ideal way would be to create situations where people are--without coercion--more healthy. I just have doubts about trying to make things more onerous for everyone else.

Last night, I went looking on a website with old death certificates from Michigan and discovered my mother's father's mother's father... (Pause while you try and conceive that) ...according to his death certificate, first married at 63, died at 71, and fathered 5 children, all five still alive at his time of death. (That--given the time, 1897--is unusual on its own.)

He was a farmer born here--in Pennsylvania--and died of "dropsy" (edema) from a heart problem and old age.

My mother's mother's father--also a farmer and from here--born in Indiana--conceived my grandmother at age 41 as one of 16 kids by three women and she had at least four younger siblings/half-siblings. He died at 90 on my fourth birthday. He was later a carpenter.

It really made me think being a late starter or someone who changes and keeps going into old age isn't so unusual in my ancestors. Even the age gaps between me and my current love interest are almost tiny compared to the almost 30 year gap between William Rust and Mary A. Ellis.

It's an interesting perspective.

Of course, I now have a few death certificates located that I don't know exactly if they are related and how, but they have the right (rare) surname in the right small area of Michigan at the right time and the right original birth origins...

Fun.

What else?

Strange almost post-apocalyptic dream that turned into an escape and evasion dream. Then a dream about a visit to a (Democratic) Senate public affairs sensing session that somehow ended up with me trying to locate something I left behind at a building I once lived in. Only, it was a building I've never been to in real life, with rotting, missing stairs, a hole in one side of an elevator floor, and it looked more appropriate to someplace like Chicago or New York City. Missing big sections in the stairwells and having to jump was kinda' freaky.

Anyway, must get ready to go to school.

...looked at--with GoogleMaps--a few of the campuses I want to apply to grad school at.

Wow, lots smaller physically, than ASU Main.

Some in pretty small towns--like Pullman, Washington. It would be interesting to live in a small town again. Haven't done that for a while.

*grin*