These Woods are Squatchy!

Yesterday's message with my little sister:

"we were watching "Finding Bigfoot" on TV with dad. and that show is RAH-diculous because they like have the big foot hunters and they go to towns and ask people if "they have seen bigfoot" and theres like 50 people in each town that have seen bigfoot, and its hilarious to watch because its so retarded. and its dumb. when the bigfoot hunters are like in the woods at night hunting for it they are always like "calling it" and its this really weird call that this guy does  and when they are in the woods they will hear a noise or a tree move and they're like "these woods are squatchy!!!" and its really funny. Me and dad just sit there making fun of the show. chris me and you are gunna watch it one day ur home. but what the funny thing is, is that YOU NEVER ACTUALLY SEE ONE  and its funny. and we're like how do you know what they sound like or what the eat and stuff to know what to do? like really. yeah. its funny. so now we just say squatchy stuff, and stuff."

I had to smile. Especially because I can picture this scene going down at my house.  And I bolded her "likes," because similiar to myself while messaging with people, she types the likes she would've said in person. =] Oh Abby *sigh*.   (p.s. I know there's some that aren't bolded because they actually are semi-supposed-to-be-there)

I Click on This

Sitting in the library blogging?  Mm, yes.  These are the decisions I make.  Why was it so important to blog this right now?  One word. (Or two, depending on who you ask) Iclicker.  Which makes the title of this post so much more clever, don't ya think?  This gizmo (yes, I’m young and use the word gizmo) is becoming my new best bud. Forget the Droid, I’m carrying my iclicker everywhere with me from now on. Going to class? Don’t forget the iclicker. 

I feel like a commercial. 

What’s an iclicker, you ask? Let me educate you.

It’s a handheld wonder filled with brilliance, that sends your intuitive analyses through… something…until they end up looking back at you.

It’s pretty much like a magic 8-ball,…except not at all.  It doesn’t give you answers…it just takes them, which is a shame because being on the receiving end of answers is cool too.  And if you still can’t picture it, let me help out your imagination:

Now I know, I know, you’re probably really insanely jealous of this gadget right about now, but hold your horses.  These things come with a price tag.  And basically you can’t use them unless you're going to go iclicker hog wild.  All negatives, but don’t let these minor issues stop you. 

All joking aside, basically, you can register these iclickers with a system (like, in my case, through Cornell) and use them to answer questions in classes.  The question remains whether you just need to register them through Cornell or through all of your classes...hmm..food for thought. I was forced to get one and apparently will use it frequently throughout my education, so I might as well make the most of it.  When you enter in answers, stats can be played back to you instantaneously.  If the teacher takes a poll, you can click your A-E buttons to reply and Voila! (with the little thingabob over the "a" ...or Presto depending on if you’re thattt person) the computer has already made a chart of the votes before you can remember which option you chose.  Also comes with some colorful lights to tell you when it’s on...Probably the most exciting part. 

<<<Exhibit B of iclicker amazing-ness.  

That's iclicker, specializing in Christina's entertainment since...last week =P   Pretty handy doo-dads. 

So what does being at the library have to do with iclickers? 
Absolutely nothing.

Let's Start This Out Right...

Once upon a time, there was a girl who started her second semester at Cornell last week.  I must say, I'm feeling pretty motivated, which makes me really happy because that doesn't usually happen to me.  I actually have done all of my readings and went through my planner and wrote down all my assignment due dates and readings so I don't have to flip between all my syllabus' (syllabi? I'm not an English major...). Rereading over that last sentence I must admit, I feel like a nerd, but trust me, I'm kindof a bum.  The name Cornell means...not as much… when used next to my name because it’s essentially an oxymoron. And like jumbo shrimp and baby grands and pregnant nuns, "Christina goes to Cornell" is a bit of a preposterous statement.  They probably admitted me because of my shining personality and threat to become a winter weather car test driver.  That's Cornell.  Always lookin' for diversity.

Story of the day: The other day while reading Food, Farming, and Faith by Gary Fick (who happens to actually be my professor for the class I'm reading it for), I was in shock as I read the ending of the preface.  Now most people don't actually read the preface of any book, but in this book, it's important to do so (And also in A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, but that’s a different story altogether).  Just a little background for you, Professor Fick is my favorite professor from last semester, and I decided to take his Food, Farming, and Personal Beliefs seminar this semester where we study his book, along with the idea of appealing to people in agriculture who have faith and integrate such into their work.  The idea is that you need to essentially speak the same "language" as the people you work with, but if you don't understand the way they live or their faith, then what progress will you make?

Tangent about my Professor, he’s a great guy and role model of the Christian faith.  I go to a prayer meeting within my “college” within the university which is the College of Ag. And Life Sciences (this is getting confusing), but he’s generally present at these prayer meetings.  He also spoke at a small dinner I went to about the history of Christianity at Cornell (in a nut shell).  He knows his stuff, and I’m really happy to be able to have him as a professor, being that he’s retiring in the near future. 

Anyhow, back to the story, as I was reading the preface, I was astounded as I read this passage in the midst of his acknowledgements:  "Finally, a group of eleven students read and discussed a draft of the text as a special course I taught at Cornell.  They are..." and he goes on to list eleven students, one of which is his son, another, Collin Haight. 

Tangent: Interesting fact (and reason why this astounded me), Collin Haight went to my high school and attended Cornell as well.  I did a little research when writing this and found that he had a triple major, which is very impressive.  Unfortunately, Collin died in a farming accident my freshman year of high school, in 2007.  Since then, his family has started Collin Haight Foundation and grants and scholarships are given by his family to individuals or groups pursuing goals similar to Collin's.  Jake and I both received a scholarship from the foundation at graduation.  For more information about Collin, the website of the foundation is http://www.collinhaight.com.  I encourage you to visit it and go through some of the pages and pictures. =]

Moral of the story, READ THE PREFACE!  Jus’kiddin.  Read it if you feel the need to, but it was really awesome to see that in the book and be able to share it with Mrs. Haight when I updated her about my previous semester at Cornell.  So, if you ever wonder what I’m doing at college, I’m probably busy reading prefaces or being at prayer meetings or walking the 38,472,048 miles I have to walk on a given day.  Give or take.