Ignorant and Free?

I've been going through the TED talks Youtube videos lately, and I happened upon this one. It is a talk given by Bennington College's president, Liz Coleman. It is an interesting video, interesting perspective. Not quite sure what my thoughts are yet... what do you think? Post a comment, let me know...

I think that Liz Coleman says it much better than others who have tried to express similar ideas lately...

Disappointed...and distraction free!

Well, I ended up getting an invitation to Google Wave, or at least the preview version they have up and running at this point... And I am very disappointed. It just reminded of when Hotmail switched to the new version a few years ago, and I still find it annoying- well, Wave is just like that!

I didn't get distracted by it at least, otherwise I might not get the 4 hours of sleep I will tonight!!

That's all folks!

Because I need another distraction...

Google came out with a new program, called Google Wave. It looks pretty interesting, sort of like a hybrid of Facebook, Gmail, Blogger, Skype, ICQ, AIM, Jabber, and MSN all in one program, maybe throw a little twitter in there.

The thing with Google Wave is that you need an invite to use it...as if I don't have enough to worry about right now with exams...I really want an invite to use Wave!!! It'd be a great distraction, figuring it out and how to use it over the Christmas break... or between exams...

Anyway, if you've got invites left, feel free to send one along to saccampuslife [at] mta.ca

If you don't know what Google Wave is, here is the release from Google:

Crunch Time!

T'is the season! It is that time of year, crunch time. Christmas is just around the corner, you've got to figure out what to ask Santa for, what you've got to get for everyone, decorations, etc...and of course exams... I don't think it is a secret, I generally dislike exam time. Though I don't have a full exam schedule this term, I'm not looking forward to the ones I do have.

My friend Alex likes to brag about that fact that he doesn't have a single exam this term. What he usually omits from that conversation is the fact that he has 6 papers, of several million words each... Which is equally gross to so many exams, but at least you know what you're handing in, not walking into an exam blind to exactly what the prof is looking for. Ok, ok. Neither are fun options. With the end of classes though, comes Last Class Bash!

I don't know exactly what is going on for Last Class Bash (LCB) but, I'm sure it will be fun. The university Calendar is a bit funky this year, we usually end classes on a Thursday, have the weekend to study/get over LCB, and then exams start the Monday or Tuesday after. This year, our last class in on a Monday. So, we go from Monday Classes right into exams on Wednesday. No time to celebrate, unless one looks at it like...well, no studying can be compared to a party hahaha.

Well, I've got to get back to the pre-exam stuff that needs to get done; formal labs, papers, and lots and lots of reading!

'til next time!

Olympic Torch comes through Sackville!!

For 20 minutes yesterday, the entire university shut down and lined the street between the Academic Quad and the Student Centre to welcome the 2010 Olympic torch Relay.

Canadian SVP?

Trick Or Eat- Thank You Video!

Like a truck...

I've been on a bit of a YouTube and other online distractions rampage over the past few days, and I wanted to share some of them with you all.

My friend Aly and I were having a bit of an office dance party/TGIF afternoon today. I decided it'd be fun to do a bit of a 'happy childhood' flashback moment. One cartoon came to mind, Duck Tales.

After our brief flashback moment, we moved on to other hilarity. At the beginning of the year the SAC exec did a little dance in front of the Frosh. It went a little something like this:

Now while my, self-proclaimed triple threat, twin may not approve of that clip as a dance, we thought we were pretty awesome, and ended up doing a Christmas themed dance too...ok, it's really just our faces pasted onto Elves, dancing to disco music, but it is pretty freakin' awesome.

If you're interested, check it out: http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/WCTQ0JXTo7MrISpS?cmpid=ey_fb_self

Beyond the above, it's been a busy few days, with some good distractions. A friend introduced me, via their facebook status to a new website. Much like FML, this one is a submission driven site, and has entertained me for HOURS this week. The site is called MyLifeisAverage.com

There are posts such as:

"Today, my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I thought he would be really depressed or sad, but apparently he's really excited because now he can hide his own Easter eggs. MLIA."

Anyway, time to get ready for the weekend. Lots of work to be done, Allie's basketball game to go to on Sunday, and the SAC Presidential race is underway...again.

Welcome to the Family!

It's official! Peter Mansbridge is going to be Mount Allison's next Chancellor!!! It is pretty exciting news on and around campus. The school had a lot of publicity around the "Big Announcement". None of us knew what to expect. There were rumours of course.... but a lot of people were surprised to hear that John Bragg was done his term, and that Peter Mansbridge is going to be taking over.

This was one of the best kept secrets at Mount A over the past few weeks. Students, Staff and Faculty were all sent hints and invitations like this:

And we were all asked to show up Monday, November 9th at 11am. The university put a lot into the event, CBC showed up, they had free food (essential when trying to attract students to an event) and after the ceremony, gave out over 250 copies of Mr. Mansbridge's book! Unfortunately, I didn't get a copy, but I'm sure there will be a few floating around campus. To the gals over at University Advancement, awesome event! Maintaining the tradition of excellence across the board!

That was the big excitement of this week. In SAC news, nominations for our 3rd Presidential election in this academic year (...4th over the calendar year...) close this Thursday (tomorrow) and we'll find out who's running officially. So far, only two people have put their nominations in, Trevey Davis, and Mike Glover. We'll see if anyone else drops off a form.

I find it so weird that the past few elections have had a consistent few candidates in the race, and now we've got two brand new candidates. One of them boasts some SAC experience, while the other is running for a SAC position for the first time. Both of them are or have been varsity Athletes and I guess we'll have to see what else they've got going for them once speeches and campaigning starts.

That's all for tonight folks, I hope you all had a nice day off from classes, and a good Remembrance Day! Till next week,

Patrick

Happy Anniversary!

I realized today, as my twin brother who is an actor and lives in the big city and I were talking over the phone, that my blog has now been up and running for a year + one day. I also came to realize...my family is now reading my blog... I just don't know how I feel about that.. While I come up with something:

Finished the song yet? Too bad, I'm still trying to come up with a witty post that will make my, soon to be successful actor twin brother, and non-chancellory Peter father, laugh.

Some recent snaps

Delivery!

Today we made our delivery to the Food Bank here in Sackville with all of the food goods we raised on Halloween, during the Trick or Eat campaign. $4400 worth of food, 1759 meals, and a lot of happy, less hungry people!! I am beyond amazed at the success we had this year, and a huge shout-out has to go to the Campus Life committee, and the rest of the SAC exec for making it a big success, Thanks guys!

Saturday night was the night of many events, after running Trick or Eat, I moved onto getting the student centre ready for the Halloween party that we were hosting that night, THUD.

THUD could have been a huge FLOP, we could have not been anywhere near ready for when the doors opened at 10pm, the bars could have been empty or understaffed, people could just rush the doors and trample over everyone trying to collect money and ID them. None of those things happened. The doors were staffed, the bars were great, the dance floors were packed, and it seemed as though everyone was having a good night.

The past few days have been recovery and clean up, and I ended up pretty sick and stuck in bed Monday and Tuesday. I've been in recovery mode today, still exhausted with a wicked cough, but I am on the mend...for now. H1N1 has hit Sackville, and a lot of people are sick around campus, but it is also that time of year when people start getting colds, and the regular flu, and other stuff. If you're sick, stay home! Don't go to class, it makes other people sick!

That has to be one of my pet peeves, sitting in an exam or in a class with someone in my immediate vicinity that has a cough or runny, sniffley nose, and of course doesn't have any tissues or won't step out of the room to blow their nose... but I am also aware of the fact that I've also caught myself as that person once or twice. Oh the joys of being a student, you know you have to go to class, but if you're sick, how sick do you have to be to justify staying home? Ever the question!

That's all for now folks, I'll try and upload some pics from Saturday night's Trick or Eat and THUD festivities.

Patrick

Food Bank!

We're delivering over $4000 worth of food goods today to the local food bank! So exciting, so proud!
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Brevity

It has been a crazy couple of weeks. I haven't got time to post much about it tonight, I am still sick and need to get some sleep, but I will have some time tomorrow to post. Until then, check out this youtube video, pretty cool.

A quick synopsis of the past few weeks:

1) New SAC elections for president...again.

2) Trick or Eat- HUGE success this year, I am beyond happy about how it went.

3) THUD- the super stud party that happened the same night as Trick or Eat, went off pretty well, and we even did better than making it break-even. Yay for UNICEF and the local Food Bank!!

4) Sick. After a crazy few weeks, I ended pretty ill, but I'm on the mend.

5) I am going to bed now.

6) goodnight.

Mid-Term Mania!

I wish I could post a longer blog tonight, but I am just Blogcratinating right now (blogging as a means of procrastination).

Two Mid-terms tomorrow. One I am pretty prepared for, the other...less so. Dr. Jordan, go easy on us... please?

We had our first SAC council meeting tonight, it went well, for what was discussed. A lot of councillors are new to their positions, our bylaws and constitution, and rules of order, so I feel as though a lot of them were a bit more timid than they usually are...or will be.

The major point of discussion on the agenda this evening was our Presidential situation. A few talking points were presented as potential options. I really don't know what council is going to decide to do, all I know is I have my one vote in council, and who knows how far that will go.

It made for some interesting albeit occasionally circular discussion.

We transfered power back to Council, from the Executive- we hold power over the summer while there is no elected council, so we can get stuff done and still function as an organization- it was as simple as a motion, a 2nd, and then a vote. No more executive control. It is a bit of a relief. At the same time, kind of disappointing.

Physical Geography and Women/Gender Studies midterms tomorrow... not looking forward to the two of them, back-to-back, and a morning full of meetings just before.

I'll survive to blog again another day.

Back to the books, night!

Home Sweet Gravy

One of the perks to being home- amazing food. My mom makes the best Roast Beef, with gravy that cannot be beat.

I'm going to give this mobile blogging/blog by email thing a try. It seems a bit like Twitter...without the tweeting.

Hope you're having a great thanksgiving weekend! Off to the country tomorrow for the big family dinner, so excited! Food is involved, of course I am!

Night
P

*Monday, October 12th, 12:28 am: Dinner was amazing, we did a little family photo before hand (see above). It wasn't a large turnout this year, just about 15 of us. Can't wait for Christmas now!

Turkey Time

Thanksgiving, much like Christmas, is a time for the Forestell Family to get together, eat way too much food, see enough of each other until the next major holiday (or Saturday morning at my uncles place in the City Market), and have the perfect excuse for a nap both before and after the meal/event. It's how we roll. There is a set order to which Aunt/Uncle/Cousin hosts which event/dinner. Aunt B does Thanksgiving, at she and Uncle J's cottage. Christmas Eve is our thing, which always works out that we've got a few too many left overs... Now I'm just hungry.

I am happy to be out of Sackville for a few days, it has been getting pretty busy with school and SAC stuff. We're now on week 6 of the Presidential By-Election. We thought we were going to have a president elected by the first few days of October... we've been through 2 different presidential elections -one voided because of balloting errors, and the other the result of the voiding- and we just got the results from the 2nd election. Looks like we're out of luck again. We had enough people vote to make it a valid election, but no one candidate won by the required 50% + 1 vote. We still don't really know what is going to happen, but I'll post an update once I know what's going on. I wish the elections were over, it would make my life a bit easier.

I've got midterms through next week, and a few papers due, so I really hope that the election stuff doesn't get in the way of those. I am enjoying classes now that they are getting into more than just the intro stuff. We've done a lot of outdoor labs for Physical Geography, which has been good...and bad. The day we had our "Soil Lab" scheduled...it was pouring rain. It was honestly the most rain I've seen in Sackville since the Landsdown Field flooded and was a pond for most of campus for a day or two. Conveniently, I had a very important meeting which happened to be scheduled at the same time, inside... not in the rain... I don't think I'll ever live it down from Jess, she was not pleased that I didn't show.

I've been missing bigger cities, and the west coast a bit the past month or so. I think what I really miss is having a regular pay-cheque, ha! Anna Chujunian wrote about the reasons to miss big city life in the Argosy this week, so I'll leave it to her, and to you to read it. I do love Sackville, everyone just has a day or two every once in a while when they want to get out. I think that is commonplace, no matter where you live.

I am excited about next year, I just signed a lease or a house! It is a gorgeous house, pretty close to campus, the grocery store, all the good stuff. And I am living with some pretty wicked people, one of them being my cousin, Hannah.

Ok, pretty long post. But I guess it's been a while. I'll be back on after this weekend, I am going to turn off my computer and blackberry, disconnect for a few days. I think everyone should have a few days a month like that, techno-detox. Thank goodness for digital cable though... oh I miss even having TV in Sackville. I opt'd not to get cable but I am starting to question that decision...

Have a happy Turkey Weekend! To those traveling, safe travels! See you back in Sackville in a few days. To those in Sackville... Go Skydiving or something! I can't wait until I can afford to go again!

Mr. Currie, for you:

Urgent Update!

I forgot to mention this in my last post, but I think it is one of the most notable things to happen in Sackville over the past few months; Jean Coutu now carries Socks and Undies! They are cheap and they saved me from having to do Laundry for a few days...Suzette, you were right.

Thought you all should know.

Happy Equinox! Down with the Leaves!

It is now officially Fall, Autumn, that thing after summer and just before the snow gets here, whatever you want to call it; Summer is over.

School started a few weeks ago, and the assignments and tests are already starting to pop up. Stuff in the SAC office has been steadily busy, with the SACtivities Fair (where all the clubs and societies on campus recruit for 5 hours one sunday afternoon in the same cramped room), Homecoming (which we lost, but it was still fun to go to. I organized the Half Time Show and from what I've heard, I think it went well), and the elections coming up. If you hadn't yet heard, the SAC is holding elections this fall for House Counc. and Off Campus Counc positions on the SAC. We are also holding a Presidential By-Election due to the resignation of our former president-elect, Paul, who did end up back at Mount A this year. It has made for an interesting and somewhat stressful summer/fall. It is very weird being guided by Mike (our Interim-President), but to know at the same time that he's not going to be the one helping us along, and guiding us through the next portion of our terms in office. Mike Currie, a big thanks for all the work, help and guidance over the summer months, and just over the past few weeks I think I've come to value the leadership a lot more. So yeah, Thanks!

There are three people running for the Presidential position; Mayme Lefurgey, Ryan Robski, and Chris Durrant. We had our first round of speeches tonight, which I thought would assuage some of my concerns about several of the candidates, but in all honesty, it seemed to affirm some of them. They are all great candidates, with very different personalities and working dynamics, so it will make for an interesting year regardless of who ends up getting elected. I almost feel bad for them, having to come into an executive committee that has already been working together very closely for nearly 6 months now. It is going to be a difficult transition for both sides, but I am pretty sure the current exec is hoping to make that as easy as possible for whom ever is elected.

Aside from election stuff, not much else is going on right now. I've been back and forth to the doctor because I was an idiot and injured my knee one night just before the first day of classes, but I hope it isn't too serious.

Alrighty, well I think I am all caught up with you guys. I will post some pictures from Orientation events soon, they all went pretty well. Sex with Sue, Mudsliding, the Trews, all pretty awesome events. Shout out to everyone who helped out with Orientation! Good job everyone.

Here is a song that pretty much got everyone through Orientation weeks:

Pictures to come soon!

Cheers,

Patrick

Welcome and Welcome back!

It seems as though Sackville has gone from the sleepy picturesque place it is during the summer, to a sleepy picturesque place with about 2800 more people in it, and one more pub open now. Residences are full of frosh!

It is nice having people back in town, but what I am enjoying most is classes resuming! A regular schedule is something I missed more than I expected to.

A few weeks ago the SAC exec (All the VPs and President) went on the annual Executive Retreat. We made our way to the French River area, on PEI, where one of our exec members has a cottage. It was pretty nice there and we accomplished everything we'd hope to and had a lot of fun. The only weird thing was that there was a hurricane while we were there, and it got pretty wild right along the coast. It was amazing to see, but really loud when we were trying to sleep. The day after we got back was the beginning of International Orientation.

International Orientation and Orientation went pretty well. It was a really busy time, lots of events that the SAC coordinated and others that we were invited to. The busy time has really begun. Meetings, election stuff, and classes are all underway, so I am juggling a bit...but enjoying it.

That's a bit of a brief update, but I'll post again soon.

Patrick