[Nem]

Stop talking to me when I'm eating!!! >_<!

Some of us actually like to chew our food before we send it down. Not just inhale it between paragraphs.
_________________
Never forget,
We stroll along the roof of hell
Gazing at flowers.
- Issa

[jookadook]

Why are textbooks so bloody expensive? I get intellectual property and copyright stuff but I mean, seriously. How many students at university can honestly and easily afford over $500 of textbooks every quarter? I've got one of the best jobs on campus and I can't afford my own books.
_________________
bluh.

[Grimwatch]

No, I will not sell your 10 year old a copy of Grand theft Auto.
No, I will not sell you a copy of Grand theft Auto to supply to your ten year old.
No, abusing me loudly will not make me change my mind.
No, throwing the game case at me and saying several unrepeatable phrases as you leave will not make me change my mind.
No, saying you'll never shop here again really doesnt bother me. Kind of the opposite actually.

*sigh*
(This goes on far too often. For the record, supplying a minor with a restricted item in NZ carryes a $10K fine)
_________________
If it's not on fire, it's a software problem
Asa Dub (Forums Mk1) = Green. Grimwatch = Greenwitch = Green

Coach of the Maulers 'n' Brawlers Blood Bowl team - winner of the "Most casualties inflicted on opponents" award for T.A.G 2008, mwahaha...

[jookadook]

A sign that needs to be posted in all retail stores:

Children left unattended will be given a Red Bull and a puppy.

Alterable as necessary; one might change this to "Instead of selling your child a restricted item we will supply them with a highly caffeinated drink and a puppy."
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bluh.

[IronHorse]

Do not try to string together words and phrases you saw in a magazine article to make yourself appear more intelligent. It will not work.

From an e-mail received at work, enquiring when I would be available for a meeting:
"I would appreciate your input as to the status of your availability."

I used to want to beat my head against the wall when I ran into things like that. A few months back I realized how silly it was to beat my head against the wall.
_________________
Well, we've never let fear and common sense stop us before....
=================
Q: How many guitars are enough?
A: Just one more.
=================
Q: How long does it take to tune a twelve string?
A: Nobody really knows.
=================
GENERATION 21: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig and add 1 to the generation. Social experiment.
=================
Dubbed Bit by Asa
IronHorse = Horse = Bit

[Asa]

It's called hyper-formality - you just pulled it in your intro thread. People do it when they're nervous, or talking to a superior, or in a tense, foreign environment. You see it a lot in courtrooms, too.
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Self-styled Forum Grandmother, because I hand out nicknames and hugs whether you want them or not. ^_^

Keeper of the Library and the Gateway to Haven

Nem: "It's the sort of face you just know is getting ready to poke you with something sharp."
BS: "...then insist you eat a brownie."
__________________
If we shadows have offended,
Think but this and all is mended...
Give me your hands if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.

[Tenshi]

I tend to do it when I'm feeling particularly snarky, myself. If a person does it to try and present themselves as vastly more intellectual or something like, then that can be a bit frustrating. Actually, a lot frustrating.

I think it has more to do with the tone that the person normally carries. Where I tend to use a fair amount of those "five dollar" words in my everyday speaking, it's actually not that jarring should I elect to launch into a rather more academic eloquence.

But if I keep it simple, and don't talk above people's heads most of the time, then it's going to be a lot more rude to just up and start doing it to make myself look better.

I have a special phrase I like to use for people who try to stroke their own ego with fancy language, though. Intellectual or Literary. . . . erm, the non-PG word for "dexterous manual stimulation". >_>
_________________
. Dubbed "Usagi" by AsA .
Keeper of the Siderean Swords

"If by chance some day you're not feeling well, and you should remember some silly thing I've said or done, and it brings back a smile to your face or a chuckle to your heart, then my purpose as your clown has been fulfilled."
Red Skelton

[Asa]

I don't think you needed to try and say it in the first place...

That kind of thing still stems from insecurity though, don't you think? It may come off as annoying and frustrating, but it's rare that a person does it purely to needle others. If you look closer you might find that it's something of a defense mechanism, or a bluster shield. And as a benefit it gets a rise from others, but still.
_________________
Self-styled Forum Grandmother, because I hand out nicknames and hugs whether you want them or not. ^_^

Keeper of the Library and the Gateway to Haven

Nem: "It's the sort of face you just know is getting ready to poke you with something sharp."
BS: "...then insist you eat a brownie."
__________________
If we shadows have offended,
Think but this and all is mended...
Give me your hands if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.

[Maeniel]

Our executive director defaults to hyper formality whenever he doesn't like someone, or as a mechanism to avoid conflict. I feel like it's a poor defense because there are less formal and more tactful ways of saying things/asking for things; being hyper-formal lets the person know exactly how you feel about them, at times.
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Keeper of Zaebos' and Jormand's powers.

[Tenshi]

I'm tired.

/rant
(kidding!)

I have been pushing myself, though, and I can begin to feel it. I logged my hours on campus last week, and it came close to 80 hours. Between the long days studying, the extra time I've spent running to campus, and time spent there because I can't use the internet at home, I'm there more often than I'm home. Maybe it's not quite 80, but even still. I have one day where I'm scheduled by courses to be on campus for minimum of 12 hours. I tend to arrive early and leave late, and I mirror those hours several other days.

There's a reason for this, though. One of them is the proof of its effectiveness. In English, Math (which surprised me), and Sociology I'm pulling nearly 100%, if not 100% exactly. In Communications, I have a very high B or low A (I haven't calculated the latest assignment, yet). Biology is my lowest, with a C, but I'm actually realizing how proud of that I should be.

As noted in the Today thread, I have no chemistry education. I never attended high school chemistry classes. I never had a college level chemistry class. We're talking about cellular biology being based upon molecules and their chemical properties. The tests hinge upon this, most of the time. That I've managed routinely to get marks in the 70's is actually somewhat impressive, now that I'm realizing how far behind I am.

I've had to study chemistry so thoroughly that, now, I think I understand it. The last test I took (just yesterday), I feel fairly confident about. Not just in the "Well, I bet I did well" way that I felt about the last two, but I genuinely think I did well. I knew those answers. This is, one, an amazing feeling. For another thing, it's somewhat of an amazing accomplishment, if I do say so myself.

Yesterday I also helped or chatted with three (fourish) people for significant lengths of time in face-to-face interaction. While not necessarily a bad thing (as I do like the physical friends now and again), it was a bit draining in a way. All I really wanted to do was get back to a text conversation I was having, for some of it. ^^; Reasons varied.

There was one girl who lacked her assignment book, and asked I make her a copy of the assignment paper to be turned in. This is not uncommon for me, it's just uncommon from her. Still, she has a lot going on in her life right now, and I know how difficult it can be to stay organized, so I don't begrudge her. It was just a bit of difficulty to work out the logistics!

After my last class (which puts this at 9PM, or 2100), I ended up essentially coming up with one of my classmates' persuasive speeches for him. He knew he wanted to do the topic on "media monopoly", but... that was about it. His argument was that he had to pirate games and movies, because they weren't there! He said he would love to pay five, ten times as much if he could get the movies legitimately. Of course, 20 minutes into the conversation, he said he wouldn't be paying exorbitant prices, and would pirate for that reason too.

*amused smile*

Anyhow, I ended up talking him through the logic of distributors and publishers. Essentially, I gave him this argument: Current law has many (arms widen) ideas coming from many different people, however these ideas all have to go through very few (hands near one another) publishers. Thus the publishers decide what content we see, what prices to set, and so on. What you want is many ideas and many publishers, so that someone would be bound to cater to smaller, niche markets.

He seemed really excited, and seemed to genuinely get it after a bit of wrangling with my explanations. So, I'm actually very pleased for him. ^_^ It was just a bit exhausting to make my brain work when I was already so tired.

He also invited me on an impromptu road trip to Georgia or Louisiana or some place. Ostensibly to play chaperone while he met this wonderful, amazing, perfect, making-him-blush-thinking-about-her girl. That made me grin. I know the type, I know one of those, myself. I told him I wouldn't be much help, and that I'd just have to see how my schedule this December plays out.

Then I got frustrated with myself, because he offered me "Like, $500" to go. >> And I could totally use the money...

Arr, I'm just frustrated. Worn out from pushing myself so hard in learning, exhausted from the stress of seeing the fuel light go off in my car, and from neurotically checking my bank balances on my phone to make sure I'm not overdrawn today. >> It's a precarious state I'm in, but it's only this one semester. I was so far behind at the beginning of the semester that I had to dig myself out of a hole just to start on even footing. That took over half of my semester's student loans! Next year should be a lot better, I should be able to manage the finances over a much longer period.

*exhale* Okay. Venting complete. It didn't feel as necessary as it did last night, but... I just wanted to whinge. ^^;
_________________
. Dubbed "Usagi" by AsA .
Keeper of the Siderean Swords

"If by chance some day you're not feeling well, and you should remember some silly thing I've said or done, and it brings back a smile to your face or a chuckle to your heart, then my purpose as your clown has been fulfilled."
Red Skelton

[Nem]

Blarg - just got the first of doubtless many threatening letters from the Student Loans Company.

"HMRC says you are unemployed - you must complete the confirmation form and return it with evidence of how you're financially supporting yourself."

I'm not really financially supporting myself. I'm living off the money I saved up from my student loans over the years. HOW THE HECK DO YOU PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF A NEGATIVE?!?!

The letter's dated the 9th of November and they want a reply in 28 days or they'll start charging me. It's the 17th today. That just leaves me 20 days - it'll probably take another 8 days to get back to them. That leaves me 12 days.

Okay - just phoned them up. I apparently count as supporting myself from savings. So a copy of a bank statement. BANKS DON'T SEND STATEMENTS ANYMORE. It's all online.

Pfffttttt, lots of stress I don't need right now.
_________________
Never forget,
We stroll along the roof of hell
Gazing at flowers.
- Issa

[Allicat]

You can request statements from your bank and hope they get to you in time? As far as the timing goes that really irks me. I got a letter of confirmation to attend my university on 6th June, they sent it on 1st June. The deadline for applying for a study permit was 1st June.

What.
_________________
He who does not eat cheese will go mad. ~ French proverb.

Keeper of the fallen leaves. 'Cos they're still pretty.

[jookadook]

It might be different where you are, Nem, but I still receive paper statements from Bank of America. You can request paper or paperless statements in the online banking website, usually.
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bluh.

[TheBritishInvasion]

Could you get your statment online and then print it off Nem?

I got a similar letter today but mine says that they know I have a job and want me to send them some details but I'm a bit confused. Their pamphlet says that you start repaying your loan the April after you graduate but I graduated five months ago and they've already taken some of it off me.

So that means A) they already have the details neccessary to take my loan out of my pay and B) they started my repayments too early.

I also have 28 days to send them the details, however, I'm only contracted for 11 more days work. So I might wait until then, see if I still have a job and then send a reply.
_________________
Britland as dubbed by AsA
Avatar courtesy of Footloose
Keeper of Tengu's electricity and Willow's 'what did you just say' eyes.

[Allicat]

I haven't recieved anything yet that I know of, but I'm waiting with baited breath to give them the evidence of my continued full-time education...
_________________
He who does not eat cheese will go mad. ~ French proverb.

Keeper of the fallen leaves. 'Cos they're still pretty.