Full Circle

Hey... We haven't talked in a long time. But you know what? I'm not apologizing. Its been a busy two years. A lot has changed. I'm in grad school now. And all grown up. Remember my first post? I now do laundry with ease. In fact...it was while in the laundry room today that I saw something that shocked me back into Blog mode. One could say my blog flashed before my eyes. I was throwing my wife-beaters into the machine (yes...whites were in a separate load) when I caught something in my peripheral vision. Turning, this is what I saw : Now most of you would react with a face-palm I'm sure, but I exercised some sentimental empathy. "I've been there man, I've been there". At least you used grease fighter. Good try kid. I left a link to the blog attached to one of his runaway socks that didn't make the first load. I hope he logs on. There’s knowledge here. Much to be learnt. I've come full circle. Ben

Neglection

Dear blog. Sorry for ignoring you for so long. I'll make it a new years resolution not to. In the meantime I'll make it up to you with a cool poem I found. Wanna hear?



“What shall I do with this body they gave me,
so much my own, so intimate with me?

For being alive, for the joy of calm breath,
tell me, who should I bless?

I am the flower, and the gardener as well,
and am not solitary, in earth’s cell.

My living warmth, exhaled, you can see,
on the clear glass of eternity.

A pattern set down,
until now, unknown.

Breath evaporates without trace,
but form no one can deface.”


Osip Emilevich Mandelstam

Washroom for the Super Handicaped.

So today while attending class at Begnani Hall, the new addition to Trail College, I had to take a mean leak. Attempting to do so by getting myself to the nearest washroom I was suprised to see that the door on this new mens facility had no lock. "No bother" i thought, proceeding to unzip my pants and drain the main vein. to my suprise i realized that, just as the door had no lock, the urinal had no handle to flush with. Looking around in utter dismay I noticed a huge red button on the wall beside me, with the word "LOCK" sternly printed in bold type above it. Aha. I proclaimed. I pressed the button and the door locked behind me. I also noticed a small string to the left of this button, with the words "ALARM" in the same type printed above it. Not as daring as I was with the button I decided against pulling the string, but I was startled even further, when upon turning around I noticed my face was all skinny and cramped looking in the mirror behind me. Surely I am not this skinny, I announced to myself. It was a mirror for people who are in wheelchairs and struggle to see themselves in regular ones. Upon leaving the bathroom, and pondering the connection between the strange button, the string, and the mirror, it hit me as the door closed. I noticed a large blue handicap sign on the door as it shut. Infact the largest sign I have ever seen. Alas. I have discovered its meaning. A bathroom for the super-handicapped.

Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity | Video on TED.com

Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity | Video on TED.com

Voice Recognition Autobiography

The following post is an Autobiography. A biography about myself. I wrote it in order to test the new voice recognition software on my computer. I didnt press a sigle key, simply dictated what I wanted my computer to write:

Hello. My name is Ben Mccoll. I’m a student at Trent university. Im and concurrent education, in hopes of being a teacher. History is my passion in one day in one day I hope to pursue it at the masters crude and if level. I don’t mind being in school become very good.

I’m taking a class. It’s called history of witchcraft. It studies the phenomenon of witchcraft. I am very impressed with your ability to recognize my voice: two – computer to computer. You learn a rangy you are learning very quickly im impressed with your ability to learn, but you’ll still need to learn more and have lead and hopefully in our struggle for education we will learn something off each other and become brothers brothers a higher. If the period.

It’s working now won a smoking marijuana, sometimes a factor in witch hunts, certain element of the witch to 10. As various side effects it can make your brain very very bad. Sometimes you too smart for younger for your own good then on the technology to understand even. Much of the PC’s my favourite but am also equipped with a desktop PC, blackberry, and I can’t catch an iPod touch I Point out by jean thought she might posit that she died on I thought I don’t I don’t I thought stopped. I thought I had an Italian I applaud I’d call it art: I applaud of iPod. I bought catch.

50 is essay was written completely by voice recognition. I hope it is as strong as the Azande hoping to achieve a higher among. I hope it is a high mark whiten Et. 80% 80% 80% for the period. I’m very proud of our minds sometimes the eye as I have high standards I hope to achieve many scholarships I hope to receive many scholarships kind of money if I want money I want money I would love some money. Money is good. I want some money.

High heat one voice recognition fails to my paragraphs fails to invent my paragraphs. Indebted grain that is not my strong point even a good day and voice recognition is not a handy program for grammar. You really have to think what you write about. It’s like when Harry potter is cast a spell. If he doesn’t think about this study is casting bracket bracket bracket(or feel happy thoughts) sometimes both of our. But the voice recognition or more in less than thinking about when I’m ready in less I am thinking about what I’m writing. I was at the end when going industry does so in my mind or exist or a welcome to.

The Perks of Living in Peterborough

One of the perks of living in this beautiful town is the Quaker Oats factory located on Hunter Street. Not only can you brag that the main industry of your town is cookie baking (much like the Keebler Elves) but also, the smells that waft out of this Cookie Factory are delicious. This morning I walked out the door, coffee in hand, and was overjoyed when the smell of Oatmeal Chocolate Chip hit my nostrils. Mhmmm just like Mom used to make!

On the days when the factory is baking cookies, you dont just catch the odd wiff of them. Often, the entire downtown will smell of freshly baked cookies. This phenomenon will occur about twice a week, and believe me, its impossible to have a bad day when the smells of homemade bake goods are everywhere in your city. You could be grumbling about all the homework you have, the chores you have to do, or the stress involved in student life, but when you smell those cookies all your worries in life vanish. Hakuna Matata.

This morning it was raining. My neighbor was outside cleaning up her garbage which a cat had ripped open sometime in the night. She was in her usual uptight mood, I could here her grumbling to herself. I planned on avoidance, walking by without saying anything, but as soon as I smelt that oatmealy smell my excitement couldnt be cotained "Hello Barb!" I proclaimed cheerily. "Great day huh!!". "Its a monday Ben, Im cleaning up stinking garbage, my dog is sick, and its about to downpour" This is true. The day in itself wasnt so great, but the Quaker Oats Factory makes even the worste days great, thanks to its delicious smells. I left Barb, in her obvious state of meloncholy as I skipped off down the street whisteling a tune to myself. Hopefully tommorrow they will bake Brownies.