Category Archives: ramblings and randomments

That word, you keep using it*

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Dear Internets,

I’ve ignored this for as long as I could. Something has to be said.

“Begging the Question” is a specific logical fallacy in which the person presenting the argument assumes what they claim to be proving. There are a whole bunch of sites where you can look this up. Here is an example:

Paranormal phenomena exist because I have had experiences that can only be described as paranormal.

(Skepdic.com)

I also like this definintion from Fallacyfiles.org:

The phrase “begging the question”, or “petitio principii” in Latin, refers to the “question” in a formal debate—that is, the issue being debated. In such a debate, one side may ask the other side to concede certain points in order to speed up the proceedings. To “beg” the question is to ask that the very point at issue be conceded, which is of course illegitimate.

Begging the question does NOT mean to raise or ask the question, like in this headline:

Latest Internet Fracas Begs the Question:
Who’s Driving the Internet Bus?

Okay? Can we all move on now?

I’m guessing not, but I had to try.

Thanks,

eringoblog

*I do not think it means what you think it means.

Today, I am…

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procrastinating
having my teeth cleaned
thinking about artistic endeavors
contemplating my all-time favorite books for a facebook meme
getting new wiper blades put on my car
wishing for a few more days of vacation
in pain (I have a baseball-sized knot in my left shoulder)
playing around with my blog
celebrating a good friend’s success
wondering how it got to be 4 p.m. already
drinking hot chocolate

that’s all…what are you up to today?

Random Monday Things

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In easy, bullet-point form.

  • Over the weekend, I purchased this book. It is chock full of low-fat, low-calorie recipes involving PUMPKIN! WHEE!
  • As of today’s “Biggest Loser” weigh-in, I am down 5 pounds from the weight that so horrified me and prompted me to join the competition. That’s nearly halfway to my target, so yay.
  • Eden just invited me to a Facebook event that brought this song to my attention. I was amused, so I thought I’d post it here. (It’s a Steeler fan parody of Beyonce’s “All the Single Ladies.” Darn it all, that song is catchy.)
  • Eden and I chose and notified our Dead of Winter contest winners. Yay!
  • It is mid-term/Regents week at school, and the marking period closes Friday. That means I have no classes to teach this week, but I have a TON of work to do. Tomorrow and Wednesday, I proctor exams. When I’m not doing that, I’ll be grading or entering grades.
  • Rand and I decided to attend Trinity @ 7 last evening. We enjoyed it, and will probably be back. What makes it even more enticing? Completely randomly, we ran into his cousin Paul and his girlfriend Tyra there. Tyra was reading! Small, small Buffalo world.
  • Have not yet located a Wii. I just need to sit down and make phone calls one of these days.
  • Chatted with my dear friend Stephanie today. It had been far too long! So thanks again, Stephanie, for pinning me down. 😉
  • Through a serendipitous series of events that led to me being online friends with Jessica (aka miss_shortskirt), I got to read an ARC of Ally Carter’s upcoming book. Squee! I *heart* this series.  I’ll have to post a review.
  • Since I was a slacker and didn’t really post last week, I forgot to mention the inauguration. I got to watch for a bit at school, and I thought it was incredibly moving.  Yay, President Obama!

    Is there more? Probably, but that’s all I can manage for now. Toodles!

    New computer dilemma

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    So a while back, because I was running out of space on my computer, I bought an external hard drive and transferred my iTunes library. Other than a semi-annoying glitch during the actual transfer, that’s worked out fine.

    Here’s where it gets annoying.

    My laptop has two USB ports. Both my iPod and external hard drive need to plug in to a USB port. I’ve discovered that these two devices cannot be plugged in at the same time. Serious bummer.

    I’ve done a bit of poking around the internet, and it appears that what I need is a USB hub with its own power source. Anyone have any experience with these?

    Hee!

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    Eden shared this on Google reader:

    Senator Franken

    Obama Pictures and McCain Pictures
    see Sarah Palin pictures

    When you say nothing at all

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    I’m tired. And cold. Brrrr…

    Tonight is yoga night, which is good…class was cancelled last week because my instructor had the flu. However, I’m feeling highly unmotivated to get up off the couch. Bleh.

    I’ve been feeling like it should be Friday all day. Wishful thinking? Maybe. But alas, it is not. One more day.

    Hmm. I must have had a point in mind when I started this post, right? Because I couldn’t possibly have opened up a post just to say that I’m cold and lazy and wish it were Friday, right?

    Um, yeah. If I did have anything else, it’s gone now. Perhaps it will come back to me later. Or not.

    Stay tuned!

    A quick update, and random internet things

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    If I start to think about all the things I haven’t gotten around to posting about…well, I’ll just find myself getting horribly overwhelmed, and that would be counterproductive for me right now. I find it strange that my life feels SO much busier than it did at this time last year, when I had *more* going on. After all, I dropped my college class (I taught one class during the fall last year) AND I am no longer planning a wedding. So why do I feel so buried all the time?

    I’m finding myself really missing the block scheduling that was introduced at the school where I worked last year. With that schedule, I found myself VERY busy two days out of every 8-day cycle, but the rest of the days were more gently-paced and productive. Now? I don’t feel like I’m ever caught up. I’m feeling better than I was at the beginning of the year, but still awfully crazy most days. And being an introvert by nature, I’m utterly exhausted by the end of the day…most Fridays, I feel ready to cry with relief when the last bell rings. This past week, I’ve been trying to focus on giving myself some time to relax and reenergize at the end of every day. I put on some calming music, light a candle, use my aromatherapy heat wrap, and this seems to be helping. I should also be working more yoga into my weekly schedule. I’ve been thinking about joining a gym as well. We’ll see…

    Anyway, here’s what I’ve been looking at on the internet the past couple of days. This post, from cracked.com, might be the most disturbing thing I’ve ever seen.

    The 5 most horrifying bugs in the world

    For the love of all that is holy, let me never come into contact with that Japanese giant hornet. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaugh!

    Then, just for kicks, I read this: a Roman Catholic priest threatened with excommunication for daring to suggest that hey, maybe Rome should consider the idea of ordaining women. That, along with the comments I’ve read on that article, remind me why I voluntarily announced my resignation from the Catholic Church a few years ago. I briefly considered writing a full-blown Catholicism-WOW! rant on this topic, but I just don’t have the energy.

    So there ya go…enjoy, and have a happy Friday!

    Ron Howard talks about the election

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    I can’t believe that I haven’t seen this on any of the blogs I frequent, so I have to share it myself…

    Wondering who to vote for? Find out what Opie, Andy, Richie and the Fonz have to say.

    😉

    See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

    John Hodgman brings the funny

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    For those who may not know, John Hodgman is the PC in the Mac/PC ads. He’s also The Daily Show’s Resident Expert.

    He’s on twitter, and his tweets totally make the debate bearable. Here are some examples:

    Also, Sarah Palin really understands: snow. And also: glasses.

    Legit question: did McCain actually speak to Joe the Plumber? Or did he just read about him on a blog?

    McCain’s tears over the John Lewis comment sure are crocodiley.

    Joe the Plumber is going to be McCains new VP