Helloooo all you crazy people out there you read my blog!

First, David Manly updates!!!! Woooooot!
1) I got accepted to Carleton University for the Master’s of Journalism program and I am going there in September! As well, I also got offered a TA-ship. How cool is that?
As for WHAT I’ll be TA-ing, that is still unknown, but it’ll definitely make it interesting 🙂
2) I am still searching for a summer job, and I know it’s a little late in the game, but if anyone has ANY ideas…. please let me know!

Now, as most (if not all of you know), I am a little bit of a nerd. And as such, I tend to understand and appreciate math/biology/physics/chemistry jokes. An example of this is in the TV show “The Big Bang Theory”, which is about a group of physicist/engineering friends and there day to day activities searching for happiness in their work and personal lives. It is, without any doubt, the FUNNIEST show on television right now! It is on Mondays at 8pm on CBS.

Math humour even reaches movies, as seen in the new Harold and Kumar movie, Harold and Kumar: Escape from Guantanamo Bay. In this movie, Kumar writes a love poem entitled “The root of 3”, and here it is:

I’m sure that I will always be,
A lonely number like root three.
The three is all that’s good and right,
Why must my three keep out of sight?
Beneath the vicious square root sign,
I wish instead I were a nine.
For nine could thwart this evil trick,
with just some quick arithmetic.
I know I’ll never see the sun, as 1.7321.
Such is my reality, a sad irrationality,
When hark! What is this I see?
Another square root of a three.
As quietly co-waltzing by,
Together now we multiply.
To form a number we prefer,
Rejoicing as an integer.
We break free from our mortal bonds,
With the wave of magic wands.
Our square root signs become unglued,
Your love for me has been renewed.

I hope you get it, because I could not stop laughing in the theater!

Cheers for now 🙂

Before I start this entry, I’m sorry for the bit of a complicated rant on my last blog entry regarding time travel. Looking back, I can understand why some people found it a bit confusing and hard to follow. Basically, I was thinking about Back to the Future, so if you don’t understand it….. rent those movies!!!

Recently I’ve been thinking alot about what meant a lot to us as kids.

As kids, life is much simpler and the littlest things make us happy. For instance, when I was a kid, I was OBSESSED with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Literally, I was bona fide obsessed. They were my favourite show, t-shirts, toys, comic books, everything. Observing this, my parents took the entire family to Universal Studio’s in Orlando Florida. The goal was simple: SEE THE NINJA TURTLES LIVE! The day came, and the excitement was palpable in the air, I even dressed up for the occasion. I wore a purple eye-band, like Donatello, while Daniel wore a red one, for Raphael.

Finally, we arrived at the stage (which was designed like a scene from the cartoon) and I was ready to explode. They were late, but when they hit the stage, it was like magic personified. On that stage, they could do NO wrong in my eyes. During the last song, I remember it clear as day, Donatello recognized my get up and pointed at me. THAT was the first time I ever experienced TRUE happiness.

Looking back, I know that it was just a person in a costume parading about for minimum wage in a hot costume. But, even that does not tarnish the memory of that say. My dad says that we stood in line for a LONG time to get the autographs of all the ninja turtles, as well as April O’Neal… but none of that matters.

I hope that those individuals know what joy they brought to this little boy’s life, and I take this opportunity to thank you… wherever you are 🙂

Lately, I’ve been thinking about time travel. Not the most original of thoughts, but still something to mull over during the wee hours of the morning.

I cannot remember which show, [if you know which one, PLEASE let me know :)] but one had a very interesting theory which I shall share with you all now (with a little David-ness thrown in, of course).

Let’s say you have an event on a linear time scale (because time is linear):
——–*Past*——————Event—————*Future*—–
The past is before the event, and the future is after this event.
Now, let’s say the event has JUST happened, and you wish to go change it (“P” represents person)
——–*Past*——————Event–*P*————-*Future*—–

Now, if you wish to change the event, taken for granted that time travel is possible, you would go to your past (pre-event) to change it. Two “*” represent time travelled person, while ^T^ represent the person’s original time
——–*Past*———-**P**——–Event–^T^————-*Future*—–
Everyone with me so far?

Now, what is you tried to change it, but the event stayed the same? This is known as causality, which is “cause-and-effect”. What if the effect occurs regardless of the cause?
For example, what if Lincoln was not assassinated in Ford’s theatre? But was murdered outside the theatre by a different shooter? Lincoln would still be dead, so time ‘course-corrected’ itself.

BUT, now for the fun stuff. What if you SIGNIFICANTLY changed the time before the event? For example, you tried to prevent it, but instead caused a mu;lti-vehicular collision, which caused a public outcry, which resulted in total governmental control of the state/province? This creates what is known as an alternate timeline.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo—————————–*Future*——–
——-*Past*———-**P**-/——Event–^T^————-*Future*—–
The “/” represents the split in space-time, which caused an alternate reality that diverges from the normal timeline, while the “o” represent a time BEFORE this timeline was created. Both time line’s still exist, just in separate dimensions.

If you’re lost, this will help. Remember “Back to the Future Part 2”? In it, Marty attempts to buy a 2000 Sports Almanac from the future to capitalize on knowing the results of sport events before they happen in his real time line of 1985. However, it gets taken by future Biff, you steals the DeLorean and gives it to his younger self. Biff then uses this to become a multi-millionaire who murders Marty’s father to marry Marty’s mom. So, when Marty travels back to 1985 from the future, everything is different because of a separate timeline was formed by Biff becoming a millionaire. And the only way to resolve it? Went back in time, AGAIN, to steal the almanac before Biff can use it.

Fun stuff, eh? And THIS is what I think about when I’m BORED!!!!!

Catch y’all later!

So, I decided to amalgamate 2 separate posts into one 🙂

Firstly, a bit of good news. Last week, I got an acceptance letter for the Master’s of Journalism program at Western!!!!!!!! Cool, huh?
As of right now, I am not 100% sure if I’m going to take it just yet, but I’m leaning to it. The main issue is, the term starts in MAY, not September. Therefore, a huge amount of problems are creeping up (where to live, money, etc…).
BUT, those are good problems, right?

And now, something I thought of yesterday, and have given a LOT of thought about a VERY old question:
What came first, the chicken or the egg?

Now, I am NOT a philosophy guy, I’m more a science guy (as you all know). Therefore, I am going to take this from a scientific perspective.

According to Darwininan evolution, every unique organism evolves from an ancestor that passed on good genes to its subsequent offspring. The offspring also posses some new spontaneous mutations, that make it more ‘adapted’ to its current environment.
**This is a VAST oversimplification, as it takes thousands and millions of years for this to happen, but go with me here**

Using evolution, EVERY organism evolved from an ancestor that was similar to it, but not quite. Therefore, a chicken must have evolved from a chicken-like ancestor.
Everyone still with me here?

This chicken-like ancestor must have almost been a true chicken (but NOT a chicken as we know it today, even if one gene differed, it’s still not a ‘present day’ chicken). So, when this chicken-like ancestor mated with another chicken-like ancestor, it produced an offspring within an egg, which was the layed. THIS offspring is the chicken as we know it. BUT, it is still only an embryo that must grow into a chicken. However, it is incubated WITHIN AN EGG UNTIL IT HATCHES INTO A CHICKEN.

Therefore, the answer to the age old question, what came first: the chicken or the egg?
The answer, is of course, the EGG layed from a chicken-like ancestor that contains a chicken.
TADA!!!!!! *Takes a bow**
Please, hold your applause…. thank you, thank you 🙂

Let me know any arguments/rebuttals to this solution. This is not set in stone, let me know what you think and I will/can adapt it accordingly.
THIS IS MY IDEA AND MY IDEA ONLY……… please do not pass it off as your own!

G’day mate!

WOW, it’s been over a month since my last post! Time flies when you’re staring into the beady and lifeless eyes of a monster that knows no fear… just pain. And yes, I am talking about YORK UNIVERSITY!

It’s been a crazy month, so its time for some updates:
– Reading week has come and gone, and now school is back again *damn it*
– Currently reading a book entitled “The Curious Incident of the dog in the night-time” by Mark Haddon, which is in the mind of an autistic child, not my usual horror-themed read, but I’m waiting for Daniel to finish the new Stephen King 😛
– I saw Jumper…. it was entertaining. I wish I could teleport…
– Got a rejection letter from UBC…. 1 down, 3 to go *fingers crossed*

Today, when I was walking down the halls of York, I started thinking about lives. Everyone has a story, a life to live, right? It’s as if, we are all walking around seeing and experiencing life through our own video camera. But EVERY SINGLE PERSON has their own history/story/video. And then, it occurred to me that everyone’s life is a series of moments that would be completely different if another person encountered the exact same experience. Based on our development and history, we react to new stimuli and environments to suit our behaviour. Are we all just a series of biochemical and electrical reactions? See, this is the kind of stuff I think about when I’m left alone to my thoughts….lol…just thinking about that made my head hurt.

Well, I think that’s enough innane ramblings for now.

Cheers!

P.S. I will try to update the Blog twice weekely… if I don’t send me an e-mail, and I WILLL!!! Thanks Blacky for reminding me 😀

Hello everyone!

Happy new year to those that I haven’t wished it already! It’s been quite the roller coaster new year, that’s for sure. But, good news illuminates the darkness in which we dwell, right? As of…. Tuesday night, I sent in the applications for Journalism to all the schools. I really, really hope I get in, but if I don’t, I’ll be ok with that. I’ll then plan to work at an actual newspaper (no offense Excalibur). I’ll keep y’all updated on my Journalism Journey (catchy, eh?)

And, low and behold, the beast returns. What beast? Well, see if you can guess: It is huge, pulsating beast with no soul, no heart and no compassions for those that serve it. It is a brutal taskmaster that is never satiated, no matter how much time you spend within its clutches. Anyone care to fathom a guess?
That’s right….. it’s YORK! YAYYY! 😛
It’s only been just over a week and I already have a bunch of stuff to do. Alas, no rest for the wicked (well, only slightly wicked…. my horns don’t even show yet :P)
I am enrolled in:
Genetics
Immunobiology
Microbiology
and Parasitology
Out of them all, it would seem that I’m enjoying Microbiology the best, but its still early. The labs are pretty fun (and plus, my TA is quite cute! lol)

Other than that, not too much to report with respect to me. It’s getting late, so I’m gonna pack it in for the night. BUT, I promise that I’ll post more often in the future.

Cheers!

First of all, I’d like to say HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone out there! I hope everyone’s 2008 will be full of wonderful memories, great people and fantastic memories. 🙂

In my last post, I skirted around an event that occurred to me and my family almost 2 weeks ago. It was, that my grandfather passed away, Abe Ziskin. He was a wonderful person, and he will be sorely missed. That’s not to say he was perfect, anyone who knew him knew he was STUBBORN and always right (kinda like me!). He survived many things, and as was said of him by his doctor: “He was like a cat with nine lives, but, he had used eleven”. But, enough sadness, it is time to move on to happier things.

As most of you know, an idea has been percolating in my head for the past few weeks regarding if I should pursue journalism as a potential career instead of going into research. And, I have made a decision, and I believe that this may be one of the few moments in a life where one decision significantly influences the future. I have decided, to apply for Journalism! I am extremely excited for this, and have been working in the application process for a few days now. As a precaution, I have also prepared myself for the chance of not getting in (hopefully I will, but a contingency plan is always good), and I will spend my time until the next enrollment period writing a LOT more and getting some sort of position at a newspaper or some sort of news service. SO, WISH ME LUCK!!!!

Some people have been shocked at my decision, but most have been very, very supportive. I would especially like to thank: Elisa, Abby, Inna, Irisz and my entire family. So, let me take this opportunity to THANK YOU ALL for your support and friendship, it will not be forgotten. But, most of all, I’d like to thank my sister, Sara. And it really wasn’t anything she did, she just said that she would be proud of me whatever I do, but that she thinks that this might be exactly what I’ve been looking for.

On a different note, I saw the movie “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” and I really enjoyed it. The best part, is when he meets ‘the Beatles’ played by various actors with faux accents. And, something is said by Paul Rudd (the husband in “Knocked Up” and the guy with the box of ‘erotica’ in “40 Year Old Virgin”) who plays John Lennon, and says “There is no limit to what you can … imagine”. It was a hilarious line which I keep quoting as much as possible, so here’s the video.

It has been a very interesting week for me folks, and not in the fun way. Whenever something likes this happens, it becomes very difficult to resume your normal and mundane day-to-day activities. Everyone else is happy, cheerful and having a good time (more so during the holiday season) while you are carrying around a big burden with a large sense of loss. This feeling does go away, I promise you, and life will go on, because time and tide stop for no one.

This event has given me a long time to sit and reflect on the path that my life has taken. While not a smooth ride from the get-go, it certainly hasn’t been dull. And therefore, a sort of plan has coalesced in my mind, which contain a series of “yes or no” situations that must occur FIRST. Then, and only then, will the plan will be fully formed and in action. I will not state the blueprints here, but it concerns me and my pursuit of journalism.

While my holidays were not filled with the usual joy, I did experience my very first Christmas party at my good friend Eric’s house (by the way Eric, it costs a lot more for your last name to be included here), along with my sister, her husband and my brother. It was a very nice evening where I got to meet his family and have a good time. It wasn’t a large shindig, but good company and conversation is what matters, right? And good times were had, so thank you Eric, Taylor and your entire family for making me feel right at home 🙂

New Years plans are still up in the air though…. any invites? lol

I would like to wish everyone a happy holidays and nothing but good fortune and happy times ahead in the new year.

Cheers

Sorry its been so long since my last post….. its been a very interesting week. However, I have still decided to put new posts up, to keep y’all updated on my thoughts.

Earlier today, I was thinking about the works of Mr. Salvador Dali. I am not a big art person, but I like stuff that makes you think or is slightly different every way you look at it. I have been a fan of Mr. Dali for many years, and even have a poster of a famous painting of his in my room, the persistence of memory. Take a look at the picture above: What do you see? What do the various images mean?

In my opinion, the melting clocks appear to represent the fluidity of time, as well as the unpredictability of its movement and effects. What do the flies on the pocket watch mean? Personally, I think this references the ‘hive’ mentality of society to follow the rigid structure known as ‘time’. Lastly, to leave some things for other people’s opinions, what does the white ‘log’ appear to resemble? A woman’s face? A man? A dead seal?
Art is subjective, no one is right and nobody is wrong. If you can explain it, then you’re opinion matters.

After my foray into the world of art, let’s dip our toes into the written word. As most of you know, I am an AVID reader. I am always reading a new book, or one of my old favourites. I have read every genre imaginable, but my favourite lies with horror. I love Stephen King, I believe he is masterful; a true word smith. My favourite book penned by him is: The Stand. It deals with a large plague wiping out 98% of human life, and those that survive fall into 2 camps; those that champion the light, and those that embrace the dark. As of last year, I also enjoy books written by Dean Koontz. Especially the Odd Thomas trilogy, which deals with a fairly sarcastic protagonist who can see ghosts. As well, Michael Chrichton writes very nice medical fiction comprised of genuine science with fantastic characters. For those of you who are curious, my favourite book I’ve ever read is a two way tie:
Animal Farm by George Orwell (A satirical view of humans animalistic nature and tendencies)
Dracula by Bram Stoker (A classic horror story that improves with multiple readings)
I read both of these books at LEAST once or twice a year

In this post, I have discussed art and literature, and it is fitting that this leads to the last topic here: Music. I have been told I have a very eclectic taste. On my playlist, I have everything from:
Green Day to Timbaland, The Irish Rovers to Linkin Park, assorted Les Mis songs to South Park songs…. and the most shocking of them all: Journey to Cascada.
How’s THAT for a varied selection, eh?

There you have it folks, a brief look into the bookshelf, playlist and wall hangings of yours truly. Take some time, leave a comment, and then, take some time to appreciate a nice piece of literature, a work of art, or even really listen to a piece of music. There just might be more to it than you first thought

Cheers