Shamazing?!Shamazing?!A simple college student trying to keep his life in order. Read what he has to say, you might find something useful. Articles
Back from the Break
2008-03-30 05:20:00 Hi everyone! I'm back from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. I should start up with the posts again tomorrow. Look for a review of Hilton Head Island as a spring break location, and perhaps a couple pictures.Have a nice day! More About: Break , Back
Spring Break
2008-03-22 05:44:00 I'm gone for a week. Going to basically sever myself from the uberconnectivity of the internet. If you want to reach me, shoot an email at:i.shamiq@googlemail.comTake care and stay safe, I'll be looking for you when I get back. More About: Break , Spring , Spring break
Tips for Traveling Light
2008-03-21 17:52:00 Leo Babauta, blogger extraordinaire of Zen Habits, has posted a laundry list of tips for traveling light. With spring breaks about to start for many people, this would an ideal read to help streamline traveling.He suggests keeping everything simple, from the what kinds and quantities of clothing packed to planned itineraries (which brings up an interesting article about planning).He recounts the typical bad experience, and then proceeds to give us the tips;Many of us have had the nightmare experience of lugging around too much luggage, waiting in the baggage claims area, trying to cram too many activities into each day, and generally being so stressed that we need a vacation when we get home.Instead, simplify your travel.Full Article Link: Zen Habits.Safe Travels! More About: Tips , Light , Traveling
First Day of Spring: Goals
2008-03-20 15:57:00 According to my wall calendar (which I recommend everyone ought to use), the first day of spring is upon us! Just like New Years, I use this day to set new goals and check the progresses of my old ones. Nothing like a bit of spring cleaning for the mind to keep your momentum going, or a swift kick in the ass to move out of a rut.So how to reevaluate goals?Take the original goal and write it down on a blank sheet of paper. Now underneath this goal, write out the sub-parts, the real meat behind it. Say your goal was to learn how to play guitar. Underneath this heading, you would list things like "learn the E chord" or "Practice 1 hour, three times a week". As you list out these pieces, keep in mind what you have been able to do, and what remains needing to be done, and what seems impossible to do.With the list generated, it's time to work through the list from the top and discuss the importance of each section. Sometimes, you'll find that each fragment could easily be considered a w... More About: Spring , Goals
Last Final
2008-03-20 03:11:00 I have one final left.This is not a poem.It just happensTo look like one. More About: Final
Blank
2008-03-18 17:18:00 I stared at the exam.It stared right back.I lost.But I'll be back. More About: Blank
A Poem: CH4
2008-03-18 13:56:00 I looked at you.You looked at me.But all I sawWas Organic Chemistry More About: Poem
Studying Tip: Cram Time!
2008-03-16 16:57:00 Since Northwestern operates on a wacky quarter schedule, it is time for me to take another round of finals. Yes, a Northwestern Undergraduate takes 50% more finals than someone on the traditional semester system, but think of all the extra wonderful knowledge you can obtain if you come to school here!In an attempt to help with cramming tips, Degreedirectory.org has compiled a short how-to on cramming for exams. Though it may not be the most recommended form of studying, cramming can help you pull off that photo finish, if you know how to do so.Their first piece of advice is the most important:Panicking isn't going to help at this point, so don't bother. Instead, take a few deep breaths and calmly assess the situation.Hope this helps with midterms for normal student, and finals for crazed Northwestern students. Link: How To Cram for a College ExamHave a nice day! More About: Time , Studying
Pandora Alternative for Europeans
2008-03-13 18:45:00 Since Pandora doesn't officially work for out of US customers, I've looked around a bit to see what else the net offers. One website that continually comes up is Musicovery. This is a French based company which offers a similar service as Pandora. The website is pretty interesting and easy enough to learn.I've heard reports that they do not offer as much of a choice as Pandora does, but something is always greater than nothing (1>0). If any of the international readers have any suggestions, I would love to hear it.And did I mention it looks really cool?Link found on: David Report BlogLink: Musicovery More About: Alternative , Europeans
More Free Software
2008-03-13 01:36:00 I found another website which has compiled a lot of useful computer programs for college students. The page is entitled Software For.org: Home of Software for Starving Students. What they have done is taken a lot of freely available software and compiled it to one CD. So Mac and Windows users can download the CD, and follow the guides they have set up to install the software.I love the first question in the Q&A section:Q: Why do you do this?A: The cost of a college education is always increasing -- usually faster than students can earn money. We hope our efforts will help lower students' software costs.Don't forget, all of this software is free for private users!Link: SoftwareFor.orgHave a nice day! More About: Free , Free Software
Studying Tool: Pandora
2008-03-11 14:58:00 Often times, when the material we are reading isn't interesting enough to completely capture our attention, a bit of background music can really prolong the duration of our studying. I admit, my rock collection does not serve me well in these scenarios, but I do have the option of creating an internet radio account and listening to some more "useful" music.Our spotlight today is on Pandora Radio. Pandora dubs itself "a new kind of radio - stations that play only music you like," and the technique they use to pick only music we like can be twisted to our own benefit. For example, we know that jazz music creates a great environment for studying. You can either type in a song name or the name of an artist. Based off of this, it will play music which it thinks best suits your specifications. If you don't know any artists or song names, you can type in the genre, and Pandora will load a list of stations other users have created with that type of music.If, for some reason, Pandora loads... More About: Tool , Studying
Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts
2008-03-09 20:33:00 I purchased Ghosts I-IV last night. It's the first time I've paid to listen to music since high school. It's the new 36 track collection by Nine Inch Nails . And it is shamazing. Purely instrumental, Ghosts relies on various synthesizers and all kinds of strange items to create the distinct NIN sound, a surreal medley of noises which meld perfectly into a cohesive whole. Ghost I is available to freely download and if you please, you can download the rest of the tracks for a paltry $5.And I am sorry for lying to you. I wanted to get my haircut yesterday, but alas time did not permit. Hopefully, I will be able to rid myself of this extra baggage before Spring Break starts, but who knows.Hasta luego!
Haircut
2008-03-08 17:02:00 Every couple of months, when I decide I don't want to mess with my hair anymore, I get it cut short. Mornings are greatly simplified by short hair. Easier and faster to shower, usually doesn't need combing, and I can concentrate on getting in that last bit of studying in the morning before class. Of course, it may not be the most stylish of haircuts, but it gets the job done. I will post a couple pictures after the cut.The dance marathoners are still going strong. Just thinking about 30 hours of virtually non-stop dancing makes me woozy, but the best of luck to them! Anyway, I need to get back to finals preparations.Have a nice day! More About: Haircut
Finals approach
2008-03-07 23:23:00 Classes are winding down, and reading week is about to begin. This has been a pretty tough quarter thus far, but I actually cannot wait for finals. Quite simply, the faster they get here, the faster I will be on spring break. And dammit all if this spring break isn't perfect.My roommates and a friend are planning on going to Hilton's Head Island from March 23 until March 28. We've rented a condo, and I don't plan on doing anything other than relaxing, trying to recover before the next quarter starts. I'll try to post some pictures when we get back, but no guarantees (this depends on the condition of my camera).But anyway, I have to go support my friends dancing for Dance Marathon. For those who don't know, it's a huge fund raiser that Northwestern does. You ought to donate--it's for a good cause. More About: Finals
Stop Wasting Time Online - Wired How-To Wiki
2008-03-07 02:24:00 Any time I find an interesting article that could potentially be useful, I like to share it. This one is a bit funnier than usual. I was wasting time until I bumped into an article about how to stop wasting time, and a couple (free) tools to aid in this quest.The Web is replacing the TV as the #1 time-thief in our lives. And, unlike the TV, the Web does not respect the boundaries of work. Thus the time you spend on the web "working" is inherently intertwined with the time you spend "playing."I will undoubtedly use Temptation Blocker during my "productive times" and see if it actually helps. I have a feeling I will eventually "forget" to turn it on. But even a couple more productive days is a boost.Link: Stop Wasting Time Online - Wired How-To Wiki Hope it helps!
Wednesday Morning
2008-03-05 19:16:00 Eyes open.What time is it? Where's my phone?Oh, it's only 8:26. I can sleep a bit longer.8:59. I'm up before the alarm again...that's strange.What day is it today? Um...Wednesday .Do I have any work? Work work work, I always have work. What's that noise outside?It's the street cleaner. Did it snow? A siren now. What happened? Who cares.Did I have any work? What time is it?Morning s are disorienting.
Cool Tool: Marker Board Walls
2008-03-04 17:15:00 I always wanted a huge whiteboard for my room, but given the prohibitively expensive price, I never bothered to get one. Instead, I've been bound to using pen and paper for all of my work and brainstorming. I can't think of a more fun way to do that kind of work. To my good fortune, I bumped into this piece which details how to make one of your own cheaply: Cool Tool : Marker Board Walls . Do I smell a project?
Microsoft Professional and Designer Tools, Free
2008-03-03 16:16:00 If you live in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, China, Germany, France, Finland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Belgium and attend an accredited university, or are a member of a participating organization in one of those countries, Microsoft is offering you free developer tools via a program called DreamSpark.These tools include:Expression StudioSql Server 2005 ExpressSql Server Developer EditionVirtual PC 2007Visual Basic 2005Visual C++ 2005Visual C# 2005Visual J# 2005Visual Studio 2008Visual Web Developer 2005Visual Studio 2005 Professional Windows Server 2003XNA Game StudioThis tool set would run a normal customer a couple hundred dollars, but Microsoft just loves students. And probably wants to make the next generation of computer programmers hooked on MS products. Whatever the case, go get your free stuff!Here's the link again: DreamSpark.And you can read a bit more about it on the DreamSpark FAQ. More About: Tools , Free , Designer
Studying Tools: Wikibooks
2008-03-03 05:38:00 One of my newest finds is wikibooks. Think of it as an open to edit textbook for almost any subject. Say you want to learn German -- they have a textbook for it.Or maybe you are interested in Hindi? They have that too.Basic advice for using this resource:Read your text book. If you can't understand it...Search for it on wikibooks and see if you can find the course material there.If you need more help, check out wikiversity (here is their organic chemistry page).Now if none of this works, go to office hours and seek "professional" assistance. I mean, college costs money, so take advantage of what they give you.Hope this helps with the studying! Remember: Study long, study hard, then take a break. More About: Tools , Studying
Sunday Morning Bliss
2008-03-02 19:40:00 Awake at 8:30.In my gym clothes by 9:15.At the gym by 9:30.Back home at 11:15.Out of the shower at 11:45.Lunch at 12.Blogging at 12:40.51 Fahrenheit later today.Sunday , March 2, 2008 has been a great day. More About: Morning , Sunday morning
Our online lives
2008-03-01 23:52:00 From time to time, I'll stumble across something online that really makes me stop and think. Today, I ran across a site called Gmail dot Net. In itself, it is completely harmless. An anonymous medium through which the masses of the internet can post messages. Theoretically, there is a topic, such as today's "Is Barack Obama qualified to be president?" However, a user is free to post just about anything he or she wishes.This is the series of posts which bothered me, made me think:An anonymous plea for human interaction, or just another dumb kid on his computer trying to mess with people? We will never know who it was, or why they begged for human contact. We just know that someone out there asked for help, and didn't get it. More About: Online , Lives
Studying Tip: Frinday Afternoon Planning
2008-03-01 02:06:00 Friday night is typically the ideal time to recover from a hard week, but I find I keep on worrying about the week as I try to enjoy myself. So I've designed a little tactic that not only helps me relax better, but also keeps me focused when I need to work.The approach:Take a sheet of paper, and title it something like "Work" or my usual "Homework for Tonight".Write down the major areas where you have work to complete, be they classes or types of chores.Write down all the work you have to do, from now till some specified future time (perhaps until next Friday)Take this list, and prioritize the items within each area.Then, prioritize the areas themselves.Now just forget about it all for tonight!The results:You have a plan for the whole week.You can relax better Friday night because you have a plan for the rest of the week.You won't forget to do something -- you have it all written down already!Enjoy Friday night! More About: Planning , Afternoon , Studying
New York Times: The Advantages of Closing a Few Doors
2008-02-28 00:28:00 Interesting article over at the New York Times . It discusses a bit about human psychology, mainly talking about our inclination to have as many open choices as possible, even if it hurts us in the long run. Definitely a recommended read for those who are having a hard time juggling everything.Link to article. More About: New York Times , New-York
New Feature!
2008-02-27 17:00:00 Underneath the about me section, I added a small widget called Google ChatBack. Anytime I am signed into my Google Account, you can click on the Chat with Shamiq button and it will open up a window for you to chat with me. I get a notification from google talk saying that you've messaged me, and I can join the chat. Talk about instant communication...now I can't hide from you!Google Talk's official blog has more information on ChatBack, and information on how to add it to your own website or blog.Google Talkabout: Google Talk chatback More About: Feature
Still Alive
2008-02-27 02:24:00 Organic Chemistry was in the morning. It was terrible. I felt like I squandered a year and a half of my life for no purpose. And I am quite definitely in the worst mood I have ever been. I was yelling at the dishes in the sink for not being clean. How can I possibly be more irrational? It would probably be a good idea to take the rest of the night off, but I do not have time to waste.Like I've said before, the work starts, but never ends. I'm starting to agree with Bertrand A. Russell: Education is one of the chief obstacles to intelligence and freedom of thought.Let me go free! More About: Alive
Break Time
2008-02-23 07:59:00 With an Organic Chemistry exam looming on the horizon, I am inclined to hold off posting until Tuesday afternoon. Hope you have a good weekend!-Shamiq More About: Time , Break
Mhm Yum's Guide to Napping
2008-02-22 16:34:00 Feisty G, over at Mhm Yum!, has posted a nice guide to daytime napping. Though the specifics are tailored toward Northwestern students, her general guidelines are applicable to everyone.Oh, the nap! What a delightful gift to the college student! It is the opportunity to rest one's eyes in any number of locales and for many ranges of times. Today I will discuss some good places on campus for a decent nap, and some other sleepy strategies.Read the rest of her piece at Mhm Yum!: The Nap. More About: Guide
College Classes
2008-02-22 16:30:00 Sometimes, I can't tell if my professors are actually doing this...But typically, it just means I haven't read the material for class.Comic taken from xkcd. More About: College , Classes
Relaxing
More articles from this author:2008-02-21 16:30:00 Some days I just need to relax, allow my body and my mind to recuperate from the tiring tedium of being a full time student. My ideal "rest" day is pretty straightforward. Wake up just in time to get ready for classes. Go to classes, then hit the gym. Then come home, take a shower and kick back.There is nothing that can compare to the simple joy of wearing comfortable clothes, sitting on the easy chair and reading a book with music softly playing in the background. A rest day clears your mind. It helps you stay sane when the pressure has built up and you feel like exploding.It's a shame we don't relax as much as we need to. Taking one day off here and there is much more efficient than just breaking down and not being able to go any further. Go, take a break, it's good for you. :) More About: Relaxing 1, 2, 3 |
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