Summer Plans - Goals
I figured it would make some sense to set some goals for this Summer. Hopefully, I can accomplish all of them. If any of you guys would wanna join me, that would be awesome :).
Toki Pona
For those who don't know, Toki Pona is a Conlang. For those who don't know, a Conlang is a "constructed language". Basically, Toki Pona is an attempt to make the simplest language possible. As proof of this, the language only has one-hundred-and-thirty-five words, while English has about one million.
It is said that this language can be learned, to a conversational level, in about thirty days.
I think it would be really funny to learn this language, especially seeing it has a cool writing system as well. (Pictographic, as shown above.)
I will probably use the available textbook for the language, as well as this youtube series . (There was another youtube series, but I can't seem to find it.)
Guitar (Classical)
I already enjoy playing the classical guitar quite a bit. It is a very relaxing instrument to play, mostly due to its very warm tone.
This Summer, I would like to improve my abilities. If I can, I will attach an audio file of my current playing.
I would like to be able to play songs like this cover of the Balatro Theme and optimistically, Gymnopédie No. 1 . (Impossibly, Toccata and Fugue, BWV 565 )
For those who may not know, there IS in fact a difference between regular acoustic guitars and classical guitars. The most notable differences are how the strings are wound / tied and the thickness of the neck. Additionally, and more importantly, is the type of strings that are used on the classical guitar. The nylon strings play much more to the strengths of classical guitar playing, and are also a bit easier on the fingers.
Outside of just regular warm ups and practice, I will also be using the textbook, Pumping Nylon. It was recommended to me by a professor, so I am fairly sure it is a great option. (I will have to learn to read music, but it is something that I should already know to do anyway.)
Drums
Drums are awesome. They sound amazing, and they are so fun to play.
That being said, I am absolutely terrible at the drums. This Summer, I just wanna improve my drum playing.
I am not super sure what path I will take to do so, but if my drum playing has improved by any margin by the end of this Summer, I will be happy.
No Caffeine
With the semester over, I no longer need to be having copious amounts of caffeine. By the end of this Summer, and ideally much earlier, I would like to be completely off of caffeine.
It is terrible for my stress levels, especially with how much I normally have.
Sleep Schedule
Similar to not wanting to have caffeine anymore, finals week played a large role in my development of a terrible sleep schedule. Near the end of finals week, I was averaging four hours of sleep per night, which is no bueno.
In short, I would like to sleep eight to nine hours per night, and at similar times each night.
Drawing
Drawing, and art as a whole, have never been something that I've been even remotely good at. This above all, is the thing that I would like to work on this most this Summer.
I am not sure of the BEST way to go about learning to draw from essentially scratch, but from what I have been able to find, DRAWABOX seems to be a solid option.
On top of this, I would also like to add some "fun stuff", like maybe anatomy / figure drawing. I haven't a clue of what would be possible to accomplish in a Summer, but I have high hopes.
Additionally, I would like to document all of my progress. (Not super sure as to how I want to do it yet.)
Summer Classes
Believe it or not, I actually passed all of my classes this Spring. Here are the classes that I am taking this Summer. I have to take classes in the Summer to graduate in a timely manner -_-.
Electrical Circuit Analysis II Lab (Laboratory)
This is the lab section of the class that I just took this Spring, and I think it will be a good opportunity to continue my learning of the classes' content. The professor for this section is apparently abysmal, but I don't have much of a choice.
Digital Logic Design (Lecture and Laboratory)
This one seems like it'll be fun. Basically just using digital logic like "and", "not", "xor", etc. to make complex digital systems.
It seems tangential to the class on Computer Architecture that I took in community college. The professors for these sections aren't highly rated either :/, but once again, I don't have much of a choice.
App Development Using JAVA (Lecture)
This is an elective class, and I chose it because I really wanna try to supplement my Computer Engineering curriculum with more Computer Science stuff.
Fun fact, Java used to be my favorite programming language.
Hopefully, this won't be too much for this Summer, but I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up being a bit difficult. Fortunately, all of the classes are online and asynchronous, so I am sure that level of flexibility will help a ton.
Fall Classes
Assuming I pass everything for the Summer, this will be my lineup for the Fall Semester. As far as I can tell, this will easily be the hardest semester yet.
It has a ton of (seemingly) difficult classes, and it is all in higher division topics as well. I don't know much about these classes, but I can definitely say that I am excited for the Introduction to Microcontrollers course.
- Introduction to Microelectronic Circuits (Lecture)
- Signals and Systems (Lecture)
- Digital Circuit Design with Verilog (Lecture and Laboratory)
- Introduction to Microcontrollers (Lecture and Laboratory)
Balatro
It sort of makes sense to also include video games here. So starting off with the game I've been absolutely obsessed with for some time, Balatro.
"Balatro is a poker-themed roguelike deck-building game." (Balatro, Wikipedia)
What makes it so fun for me, is trying to find specific jokers and refining my deck more and more to match a very specific playstyle. For example, these jokers here are one set that I try to go for.
(And then of course if I can get some ectos, I try to get in a hanging chad of course)
The jokers are the best part of the game, but every other facet of the game is also wildly important. My favorite joker is easily Bloodstone, which is the red gem looking one above.
The game itself isn't terribly complex, so long as you understand linear vs exponential growth. I would strongly recommend this game to absolutely everybody.
Neverway
Man...
What can be said about this game? Technically speaking, not much, as only the demo is available at the moment.
Taking from the game's webpage, which is beautifully done:
After Fiona quits her job, she starts over on a farm and becomes the immortal herald of a dead god. Keep your life from falling apart while searching for Neverway, a nightmare reality that is slowly leaking into yours.
A game co-created by Pedro Medeiros, pixel artist of Celeste and Towerfall, and with music by Disasterpeace, from FEZ, Hyper Light Drifter, It Follows.
The game's artstyle is amazing.
The game's music is amazing.
The game's characters are pretty good so far.
I feel like this game has nearly infinite potential.
THAT BEING SAID
The game has yet to release, so it is hard to fully gauge what the game will be capable of.
The controls are really weird, I honestly have no idea what the intended method of playing is.
There are like a billion mechanics, ranging from a dating sim, to farming, to fighting, to house building, and other stuff too. Even if all of the mechanics are made well, I am worried that it might be too much for one game.
RFK Jr. Newsletter
For my Conspiracy Theories class, I had to make a documentary regarding some major figure or event. When I saw that RFK Jr. was an option, I knew I had to pick him.
While I know for a fact, at least two people who read this share similar beliefs to him, most of you already think that the stuff he spews on a daily basis is absolute nonsense.
As a brief overview, here is the outline that I made for the assignment.
While there aren’t really any conspiracy theories about RFK Jr. himself,
it is the fact that he peddles such blatant misinformation and conspiracy theories as fact
that make him such a dangerous character.
Whether or not RFK Jr. actually believes what he says,
the blatant science denial that he spews is truly despicable.
- Antivaxxer Propaganda
- Certain vaccine ingredients cause autism
- Claiming dangerous levels of mercury and aluminum are in vaccines
- Vaccines are not properly tested
- Cherrypicking statistics and misinformation
- Chronic Disease / Health Misinformation
- States that “wifi causes cancer”
- Promotes raw milk as a “miracle cure”
- States fluoride lowers IQ
- Doesn’t believe in germ theory
And here is the video documentary itself.
I feel that I did a decent job, but I've been told that I just sound angry the whole time.
This assignment was very enlightening of course, but more than anything, it was disappointing and infuriating.
It is genuinely disturbing that such buffoonery be in positions of power. It is all just really worrying, especially in regards to the future of this country and the future of medicine / science.
Outro
I don't know how long this will take, but one day, I hope that I will convince you guys to also make your own website.
It is really easy to do, and at least for me, it is really fun. I can guarantee that you guys have more than enough to write about.
If I can find random stuff to write about, you can too. Especially considering how cool you guys all are yk.
If you do end up making your own website, please let me know. I think it would be a ton of fun to make our own little webring of websites.
Also, in terms of how often I will be writing these, it will PROBABLY be about every two weeks for the Summer.
