Bog

I've been talking to my most favorite Jen about life, the universe, and everything, when the topic came up of, essentially, what would you do if you found out you only had a limited amount of time to live?

Actually, that's a lie, the topic came up first as a question of would you or would you not get your genome sequenced? Furthermore, if you did, would you get it checked for the diseases and complications that you would likely get as you age?

I suppose it really starts off as a question of "do you want to know?", and I'm sure people will fall all over the spectrum on this topic.

The implications and consequences of finding out you don't have long to live are staggering, and I can't help but feel that if we are given this final countdown, chances are we will try to beat it, either knowingly or not. (For instance, chasing some elusive, sketchy medication that could just kill you prematurely, or doing things well outside the norm without fear for your life, resulting in an untimely demise - you get the point)

I for one would like to see what's probabilistically in store for me - I'm too curious not to, and I do believe the advance knowledge would allow me to either minimize the impact or greatly reduce the odds of anything bad happening. That and I'm pretty much living on borrowed time, if you count the medications I'm already taking, so I've sort of learned to appreciate life a bit more than others, I think (someone can vouch for me before I sound self-centered?)

I also don't think my life would change all that much. At least, not for my short-term goals. I'd finish my degree, for sure. I might even go for graduate studies, time permitting. I'd stop procrastinating as much, and finally put forth the effort I should have from day one.

What would probably change is my pursuit of a few things. I suppose my so called love life is pathetic as is, but if I was living on time even more borrowed than now, this might be one thing I might stop pursuing altogether - at least, a serious one. Those that know me can probably ascertain why.

The topic drifted to a man named Randy Pausch, who delivered a spectacular last lecture, found here: http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=the+last+lecture&emb=0#

It's an hour or so of your time, but I greatly recommend watching it. Reading about it is one thing, but watching it is another, entirely. I watched this lecture days after it was delivered, and again after news broke out. I'll leave the mystery of what I'm talking about to you. Those not interested need not apply.

So I'm curious about a few things...

Would you want to have your genome sequenced?

Would you want to see what the probabilistic future has in store for you?

What would you do if you found out you didn't have long to live? Would your life change profoundly? Would you live it as before?

This random posting brought to you by Jen's hotness (mental and otherwise). Well, it was actually brought up by her oh so gentle prodding to get it up. But I'm gonna stick to the first.

I've always wondered if the parents who were once our age as well, who have argued with their parents - even hated their decisions, or them - see the irony when it comes full circle, and it is them doing the same to their children.

No, this isn't what is happening to me, but a good friend of mine just had to go through that while I was visiting.

An explosion of (admittedly good-intentioned) criticism, all the way to all out character attacks. On her own flesh and blood.

I suppose I'm really lucky my parents are who they are.

So I've had a very hectic month and the end is almost in sight... for the term at least.

Many major projects, many midterms (7 this term... bleh) and what is soon to be my exam death week have been keeping me occupied throughout the term. Those that actually keep up with my rather bland existence know that the second I have school I drop off the face of the earth. Nano does that to you.

I have no idea how I'm going to keep this up for another three terms, with my next term having three labs, two of which are six hours each, and the need to start my last year project, not to mention interviews and a full course load.

That aside, this has been a pretty good weekend. I've had an excellent time watching the Dark Knight (the new Batman movie), and next to the Lord of the Rings, this movie has been quite possibly the best thing I've seen in theaters, ever. Note that I've missed a lot of good movies in theaters so they don't count in this comparison.

I'm almost done working on another major project, but a good friend of mine was all demanding that I update this, so there you go.

Oh, so I got the PS3 back from sony and my brother's saying it's fine so next time I go back I'll catch up a bit on it. I really hope I have the time for it...

Umm, besides that not too much to say. I've had the regular amount of drama, and general life, but I always forget the interesting bits when I have to talk about them. So pry them from me if you're interested.

I hope the rest of you are all well, I haven't quite read LJ in a while again.....

I'm currently living in a semi-moldy house with a busted AC and with the humidity making it feel like a sauna.

This has actually forced me outside of my home, and for those that know me, this would seem a most terrifying thing indeed.

So what brings me back to this journal? Boredom.

I'm sitting in a study room doing homework, enjoying the brilliant cold. I prefer being too cold to being too warm. My body can adjust to extreme cold faster and more comfortably than to extreme warmth. Well, extreme humidity. Plus the hippie/hockey hair isn't helping.

In any case, this is the first time I'm writing this through live writer or whatever it's called. We'll see how screwed up it is.

Also, has anyone noticed an inverse proportion of time invested to mark outcome on assignments?