Cheating gets you nowhere

So while patroling the internet earlier I found the following story on a cheating ring at Harvard that is currently under investigation.  Click here for full story.

So I read the story and here are the facts:
A Harvard professor gave his/her students a take home exam. Upon grading these exam the professor found similarities in the words used. Based on this information the professor "assumes" that students, worked together to complete their exam with the possibility that they also used their textbooks and internet as a source for their knowledge.

The comments below the article mostly consist of two types of comments.

1) people hating on the Ivy League as this proves that all Ivy Leaguers are cheats and thus no better than everyone else as they are wont to think. - really? everyone is a cheat because of this?

2) those who are hating on our countries politicians, saying that now they know where those in government learned to lie and cheat. - perhaps a bit of a stretch.


OK now here are my thoughts on this:

1) to the people leaving comments-  back off, you probably did the same thing at least once when you were in school. They made a mistake but we can't blame our governments entire political system on this one incident that has no "actual" ties to our politicians. It’s all speculation.

2) to the students that got caught- really? If you are smart enough to get into an Ivy League school shouldn't you have realized that writing pretty much the exact same thing or something so similar could get you caught? Think next time.

3) to the professor- duh! If you administer a test where the students are not monitored they will find a way to get the answers. There are so many ways to do this: in a study group, textbook or online. If you want to make sure they don't use these things then you have to monitor them. Get off your lazy butt, this is your job.

What do you think?

Most Excellent

I just heard some stellar news! "Strange things are afoot at the Circle K," ... and they are coming out with a third installment of the Bill and Ted movies.  This information is based on a story from MTV Blog.

For those of you who have never watched Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure or Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey I urge you to go out and rent them, I am sure it will only cost $1 for both.  Some cities even have them showing in the theater according to IMDB. There was even a short lived animated show voiced by the same actors, called Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventures, which was made between the first and second movies (some of these episodes are available to view on IMDB).

While not thought provoking, I love these movies because they are funny and mindless 80's movies, but also include jokes that you would appreciate if you know your history. Sometimes a good laugh is all you really want and need.

According to what I have read, the third movie will continue the story of Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves).Their band is supposed to hit it big and write a song that will save the world according to the first two movies. Apparently they have not done this since the end of the 2nd movie, which was released in 1991 and are desperate to live up to their destiny. Apparently in following suit with the first two films their will be some element of time travel or perhaps another journey with the Grim Reaper, in order to fulfill this quest.

The obvious glitch to the third installment will be the absence of Rufus (the late George Carlin), unless of course the character is re-cast, in that case the actor has some large shoes to fill.

Until they release some more information regarding the project one can only speculate as to what is in store for us. So while waiting for that remember "Be excellent to each other!"

Fairy in the Garden

Sorry for lack of posting, things have been a bit crazy here.

I just wanted to post something quick that makes me smile. So here are a few pictures I took of my daughter over the weekend.

Time Machine

"Life happens while you're busy making plans" ~John Lennon

Sometimes I long for the days when I didn’t have to wake up early, get dressed, take care of 2 dogs, get a 2 year old ready and to the sitters, just to go to work for the next 8 hours where I have to deal with difficult people. 

Normally I love my life but it's often a job that never seems to end and you just feel the need to take a vacation. I sometimes would like to take a break from "real life" and jump in a time machine or a hot tub (Hot Tub Time Machine) and go to another place or time. I could jump in the Tardis with Dr Who (2005 Series) and be off to have an adventure like Rose or visit a time and place that I have already been to.

What could be a better vacation than going back in time and spending a week as your younger self (suggesting of course that you could pick where you end up) ?  You already know whats going to happen, you could be in your favorite place with your favorite people or have an experience that you consider one of your favorites. 



So IF I could go back in time (to my younger days) for a small vacation here are a few stops that I would like to make, in no particular order:



#1





1) Hanging out with my Besties in College - most are married and have their own lives and are happy, which I am thankful for. But sadly most of us have moved from the city we went to college in and are not geographically near each other, so we don't get to hang out and see each other often enough.   



#2



2) My Honeymoon in San Juan -  a little over 5 years ago my hubby and I had our first vacation as a married couple. We spent a wonderful week in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The atomasphere, people and foods were all wonderful and we hope to one day make it back again. Hopefully next time I won't get sunburned.



#3



3) Christmas - any year.  I love Christmas, but not because of all the presents... although they are a plus. I love it because I get to spend the day with the people that I care about and they are happy and having fun riping paper away from their newest "toys".  Granted I am exhausted after the whole day is spent going from place to place but I always think it's worth it in the end.

I think these would all be wonderful "time machine vacations" but since I have yet to develop a time machine and the hot tub doesn't seem to work no matter how much I drink before I get in it, I guess we will just keep on moving forward and looking at the pictures instead.



I'm A Water Personality

Real Simple Magazine had this quiz online that would tell me what my color personality is. I have no idea what that means but since it was only 10 questions long I figured, "Hey why not?"

After making the choices my answer was calculated. I am a Water Personality.  Here is the screen shot:

Hmm... Does this sound like me? We do have a lot of blues, greens and greys in my house's paint scheme.  People do relax with me, since I am usually calm, happy and usually lazy after a long day.  I guess this sounds like me, but since I haven't been diagnosed or read any of the others its difficult to tell if this one is the most spot on... maybe another day.

Take the Color Quiz

Spice Up Your Life!

So the Olympics are starting next week in London. Generally I watch the Opening Ceremony and a few events here and there depending on the sport, interest level and my availability. While I have never been to London its a place that I find very intriguing (I have a degree in History and love the Tudor's craziness) and would love to someday visit, I think that I am glad to not be going during this hectic time...although there is one thing I would love to see.

The Closing Ceremony!

If you haven't heard, the closing ceremony will have some of England's most popular musical artists performing. George Michael, The Who, Take That, Jessie J, and the SPICE GIRLS!!!!

I have to admit that while I was surprised that Elton John (who I saw in concert earlier this year), the Rolling Stones and Adele were not included in this list I was pumped about the "girl power" that the Spice Girls used to have.

Back when the Spice Girls were popular in the late 1990's I owned their CDs, watched the Spice World movie nearly endlessly (this was on VHS so you had to wait for re-wind), had posters on the wall and envied their style. Now 15 years later I still have the CD's and sing along to any song that pops up on the radio or my iPod; think that the movie is a bit cheesy - it did only get 3 out of 10 stars; and I have moved on to family pictures and art on my walls. But the 13 year old girl in me is screaming the lyrics to "Wannabe" and insisting that I try to find a pair of platform shoes.

I suppose as long as the 13 year old inside of me doesn't start singing "MmmBop" and asking for Hanson we are all good, after all I want to leave something left in the closet.

Olympics London 2012 Schedule of Events

Find the original article here:
http://olympics.yardbarker.com/blog/olympics/article/spice_girls_to_perform_at_closing_ceremony/11263972

Whatcha Waiting For?

I sometimes feel as though I spend my entire life waiting for one thing or another. Waiting to grow up, waiting to go to college, then graduate, wait to get married, have a house, a kid.... forever and ever. Once one thing happens there is always something else that you are waiting for, be it long or short term.

Like right now on my short term list: I can't wait til the weekend and for our trip to the amusement park at the end of the month.

On the longer term list: My sister's wedding next April and a real vacation (that may never happen).

So to get me through the big waiting lists I have composed a list of movies, TV Shows, games and books that I can barely wait to see, read, play, or re-see.

Movies to See (in no particular order):

1.   Brave - Pretty sure my 2 1/2 year old would love this, she loved Tangled

2.   Batman (Dark Knight Rises) - Hubby loves the Batman Series and I love Christian Bale, good enough reason to see it.

3.   Catching Fire- Still waiting to hear who all made the cast list. Hope some of my dream list make the cut.

4.   Great and Powerful Oz - I love everything Wizard of Oz, James Franco and Mila Kunis

5.   Hangover 3 - I hope that they switch it up again, I am just wondering if there is anything left for them to do.

6.   Toy Story 4- ?? WHAT ? Is it possible? I have no idea what they could do, but I will watch it!

7.   Ready Player One - The book was awesome, I hope they do it justice.

8.   Les Miserables- Love the story and the music. Not sure about some of the actor selections though.

9.    The Great Gatsby - Love Leonardo DiCaprio and the trailer looked awesomly deco.

10.  The Host – So Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight Series was readable in book form but I didn’t care for the movies. Lets pray that this adaptation is better. Personally I like this book the best out of her books.

TV Shows:

1.      Futurama - Ok I know the newest season is on tv right now... but alas I have DirectTV and they are not getting along with the carrier of Comedy Central, thus no Futurama until they make friends.  :(  Best Show EVER!

2.      How I Met Your Mother- We are getting closer to finding out all the answers that I have been waiting for since season 1. Hope they don't disappoint.

3.      Big Bang Theory - I just want Leonard and Penny to be happy... together. Those wacky guys have to grow up at some point.
4.      Revolution - This is JJ Abrams newest show. Hopefully, they will keep it on longer than Alcatraz (which I will miss). Its about how our world would change without the use of electricity. I think it could be a great show.

Video Games:

1.      South Park Game - OMG I feel like a middle schooler all over again, giddy thinking about it.

Books:

1.      Dead Ever After (Charlaine Harris)- Hoping that this completes the series by answering everything I want it to. The last few books have disappointed but perhaphs she was waiting to show all her cards at the end.

2.      Anything by Rick Riordan- this guy is awesome, even if the books are geared towards kids.

3.      J K Rowlings upcoming book - even if its not Harry Potter.
4.     Anything by Meg Cabot - I love her Princess Diary books and Heather Wells series.

So what are you waiting for?