Can we have a not depressing post? (I know, it's finals and hot and people won't stop dying.) I'm currently in Berkeley taking time off (more details would be depressing), and I've finally found the time to explore the awesomeness of the East Bay via my car. What are cool places to visit and things that must be done while I'm here my friends for the summer? Also, points for things which are free.

( My suggestions behind the cut )

UC Berkeley student found dead

:(

edit: just realized this was mentioned in an earlier post.

so after reading through bustopratbag's entry & the comments that followed, i'm almost starting to get depressed about my own experience here at berkeley. i'm a graduating senior who hates my major as well (MCB--go figure) and i wouldn't say my past four years have been the greatest of all times, but there's definitely positive memories i can extract from it.

my friend recently decided to transfer here in the fall and she is debating between an art history or english major. i'm embarrassed to have shown her this lj blog given some of the morose posts made here lately (especially given the recent disappointing one about how the english major/being a junior transfer sucks/being a berkeley student sucks).

can anyone, especially junior tranfers or english/art history majors vouch for an otherwise positive experience here?

I have two or three extra tickets or the UGS commencement ceremony Wednesday morning (UGS = American Studies, Cognitive Science, Interdisciplinary Studies, Mass Communications, and Religious Studies). Face value ($3.50, I think) and you gotta come get them in Oakland. I live a block off the 51 line.

Anyone have extra tickets? (I'll email the office to see if I can get more, but technically friday was the last day for ticket sales) To my mom, "i need to know BEFORE friday" means calling me at 11pm on Friday asking for more tickets.

Does anyone know whether or not we are allowed to decorate caps during graduation? It was strictly forbidden in high school, and I'm wondering if it is the same here! Thanks!

Anyone know what the usual curve is for Chem 3A. I am stressing about passing the class and want to try and figure out how poorly I can do on the final and still pass, because I know I am not going to do very well at all. Thanks

...Crime scene van, yellow tarp, taped off, four cop cars...

Anyone have any information? These murders are getting ridiculous. I'm crossing my fingers that this wasn't murder, but everything is pointing to that conclusion.

I need to get this off my chest.
I don't know how you guys will react, but I'm trying to see if there's anyone else out there who has similar feelings.

As I walk around campus and see those posters on the light poles, I'm angry that they all celebrate Berkeley like it's a den of kittens and rainbows. I want my picture up there with the caption:
"Going to UC Berkeley was possibly one of the worst decisions I ever made."
Maybe it's because I choose the wrong major. I've excelled in English since I was young and I want to be a writer, so it seemed like the most obvious choice. But trying to race through book after book, poem after poem, paper after paper that were all the fucking same, I got over it VERY quickly. But because I came in as a Junior Transfer, I didn't exactly have the wiggle room to switch majors and pursue something more suitable for my interests and personality. I'm an extremely creative person and writing the same paper over and over again on different material was mind-numbing. I wasn't interested in anything I was "learning", I felt bitter for having to trudge through books, poems and plays I hated and couldn't care less about. Living in the dorms was more or less a crappy experience. My roommate was... nice, but spoiled and self-centered. I always ended up feeling like the bad guy because she was from another country and the transition to Berkeley was difficult for her.

Well, fuck, it was difficult for me, too.
I only made one real friend in my hall, which was a blessing and he's been THE best friend I've made at Berkeley, probably one of my best friends ever. Otherwise I felt so different from everyone else.

It didn't take me long to become very very depressed and suicidal. I have been getting treatment since December 2007, but I don't know if it's helped that much.

I finally got to a point where all I wanted was out. All I cared about was finishing and never looking back. So I kept my head down and just tried to get through. I don't know what happened. Maybe it was the move away from home, maybe I wasn't ready to handle the responsibility that was thrown in my lap, maybe I'm too spoiled and lazy for this school. I've heard people say that going to Berkeley is a great honor and I should feel lucky. I don't. I really don't. I don't know what to do, I don't know what happened to the girl I was two years ago.

I thought college were supposed to be the best years of my life, instead I'm left feeling like I've lost something.

Looking for something to mitigate the stress of  those final papers? The dance remix of O'Reilly's melt down should help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j2YDq6FkVE

Now, back to work.

Are there any buildings on campus with a real air conditioning system? I want an air conditioned room that rivals a supermarket. All the buildings I've tried to study in today are insufficiently air conditioned for my needs.

Anyone have experience with applying for a Canadian visa?

I looked on the website and it says you send in all the application materials via mail. I was wondering if it was possible to do it in person instead at one of the satellite offices.

I'm also wondering if you know how long it takes to process, because I would be turning in the materials the last week of May and hoping to get the visa by June 3.

Also, any other information you can give me is greatly appreciated.

Jenny

Berkeley High School Student Injured in Shooting

A Berkeley Technology Academy student was injured in a shooting near Berkeley High School this afternoon.

According to Berkeley police Lt. D.E. Delaney, the student was shot near the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Dwight Way.

Delaney said the student is 16 or 17 years old and sustained at least one gunshot wound to the abdomen. Police say the incident may have been the result of a disagreement between students.

As of 4 p.m. police had not yet taken a suspect into custody.

"There were a lot of witnesses but so far we have not been able to identify a shooter," Delaney said.

According to witness reports, there were four or five shots fired.

After the shooting, nearby students flagged down a teacher, who began to take the student to the hospital.

Paramedics intercepted the vehicle and took the student to Highland General Hospital in Oakland.

A second 16 or 17 year old Berkeley Technology Academy student was also grazed by a bullet but was not injured, Delaney said.

This is the second shooting within 48 hours in the city. Berkeley resident Maceo Smith was shot and killed Tuesday on Durant Avenue.

Jacqueline Johnston of The Daily Californian contributed to this report.


http://www.dailycal.org/article/101706/berkeley_high_school_student_injured_in_shooting


Yikes!

Has anyone taken Physics 7A with English or Zettl? I'd like to know how the instructors are before I register. =)

My parents *cough* my mom *cough* wants me to find good restaurants to celebrate graduation. Since I don't know anything about restaurant, and would really rather eat at In-N-Out or something fast so I don't have to listen to the family ask me about my future plans--ugggggh--can anyone suggest places in SF or the East Bay that would be a good place to grab early dinner?

EDIT: Apparently my mom  wanted SF. Christ.

So I'm living at an off-campus apartment with 3 other guys.  In particular, my roommate keeps to himself a lot and doesnt like to talk!  It's been a really strange experience, and when I retell others about my living situation they say it must be really awkward (it is..)


It's been really awkward, and I've already decided to move out and live with another group of friends.  The problem is, lease ends 5/31 and I haven't told any of my housemates (they are assuming we are living together again).  How should I break out the news without making it so awkward?   Kinda serious question... but I'll accept humorous solutions too for the sake of laughter

Presenting the people who put together the finest newspaper .... in all of Eshleman Hall.

Hi.

I'm... bored of all food.

Does anyone have an amazing, revolutionary suggestion for a HEALTHY lunch on Southside?

I've probably already tried it, but you never know!

Thanks!

Hey there people...So I'm in Unit 2, and I have a mini-fridge here I'm looking to get rid of (well a mini-bar with the way we've used it...don't worry it doesn't smell like alcohol). And I thought I'd see if anyone wanted to take it off my hands. So here goes the cheesy pitch. PS, I apologize in advance:

This silver beauty is PERFECT for keeping your food and booze cold, storing or stashing away incriminating evidence, or if you have just never owned a fridge before (like Creed from The Office). It's in prime working condition, and it will be cleaned and ready for use by next Thursday.

Does it cryogenically freeze things, you ask? Unfortunately not. But it DOES keep things cold enough for them to stay fresh.

How does this miracle-product work you might wonder? Well...It's all very scientific. You see through a mystical, magical endothermic process...*wait wait wait, slow down with all that science-y jargon,* you might say. Ho ho ho...well fair enough. To put it simply, it's a fridge. And it keeps things cold. Just like at home.

So how much does a technological wonder like this cost? At other retail places you'd see it go for $70. *BOO! F-YOU TARGET! I'M GONNA BURN YOUR F-ING STORE DOWN!* What's that you say? You're a poor college student who can't even afford to buy a pair of shoes? Well fear not friend, because I'm slashing prices here! This magnificent fridge could be yours for--not $70, not $50--but $30, that's right, only $30! But wait! There's more! If you're not satisfied, then neither am I! Therefore, I'm just CRAZY enough to negotiate prices! *gasp*

Plus order before May 22, and you'll recieve a set of FREE "Wacky Word" fridge magnets! *WHOA!* Impress your friends, neighbors, and the Pope by writing your very own HI-LARIOUS fridge messages.

--Don't let this opportunity pass you by! Act now! And (if you're interested) reply to this message or e-mail me at tidybowlboy182@berkeley.edu!

*again if this was just waaayy too much, i'm really sorry*

so i just had this sudden craving for buffalo wings. does anyone know where I can get some good ones?

Another shooting?.

??? This is getting kind of ridiculous.

A huge favor:

Can anyone tell me what Hutson said about the final? I missed the day he actually talked about it, and the only things he said when I was there were that there were both identifications and an essay. Will the essay just be on the last two autobiographies?

Thanks!

O_O; 94 DEGREEZ

I have had health issues this semester, and Professor Rozemond has given me a few extra days to complete the final. She suggested I get the notes from someone else in the class.

Is anyone in the class willing to let me copy the notes? I can offer dinner, coffee and/or my gratitude.

Anyone want to go see Ozma on the 19th?

I used to use thesaurus.com for on the fly word options, but they've changed their product to give word choices and now it sucks ass. Do you have a favorite online thesaurus? The OED won't be available to me for much longer. Has anyone used that visual thesaurus thingie?

And to make this totally Cal relate, the new Stanley Hall is a gorgeous building! Does a particular department reside there?

So if people want a ucblj meetup, what will work? Today doesn't seem to, so the relevant questions: how many people are interested? And what will work? Is next Thursday too late?

Oh, so I fail and didn't comment to the post made yesterday, and figure people won't be going back to check it... But here's what happened during 120 review.

Most important thing: No GB trees on the exam. But we will be expected to know the differences between TG and GB.

Michael informed us it's going to be a very comprehensive exam. Makes sense, considering the kind of professor Mikkelsen is.

Other things I think are worth reviewing?

Control v Raising (Direct v Subject Control)
Conjunction Reduction
Coding + Behavioral Properties
Un-ergative v Un-accusative
RG/TG/GB Rules/Principles/Laws
Subcat Principle and Frame
Command (and how this relates to reflexives)

I'm sure there's lots more you could study, too, but this is what I know I'm having a lot of trouble with, and what we went over during review.

I hope that helps!

Oh! Structure of the exam is supposed to be a lot like the midterm. Basically, we'll be given data sets to analyze.

Where would I find the forms to recommend my MCB 160 GSI for that best-GSI-ever award thing?

I can't believe how dedicated this guy is.

"The California Supreme Court has overturned a voter-approved ban on gay marriage, paving the way for the state to become the second in the United States where gay and lesbian residents can marry."

Who's down for an anonconcon today at Strada at, say, 7pm? Let's give the heat of the day a bit of time to cool off, and then have the requisite ucberkeley end-of-semester meetup, complete with cool and caffeinated beverages. I shall have an enormous straw hat on the table to make finding each other easier.

And if this doesn't work for people, what would be better?

Hey folks,

I was wondering if any of you have the prompts (especially regarding whether sensations are private) for the final 10-page paper in Stroud's Later Wittgenstein class.

I would greatly appreciate if you would send them to me and would be indebted to you for life as a great companion or distant acquaintance who can help out when you need help in ways in which i can help out.

thankssss

Did anyone go to the review/ Q & A sessions today? I was in the midst of paper-writing hell, so i'm just curious what was said, and if there was anything important that happened.

Much appreciated!!

So I know there are a ton of psych people in this group so...

Does anyone have a copy of Keltner's Social Psychology book that they are not using for the next copy days that i could possibly barrow?  I didnt buy it cause it cost too much, and I have been using the library's one for most of the semester, but i guess other people have caught on cause its all ways checked out now, and well i need to study!  There might even be some ice cream in it for you ;)

Thanks!

Hello!

Anoncon has moved to its own community: http://community.livejournal.com/ucb_anoncon

All IP tracking has been turned off and whatnot. Come on over, and post away!

UCB Anoncon chat:
http://irc.ocf.berkeley.edu/ucblj

So, how awful was that commencement speaker??

I assume that when you're NOT a psych major, trying to get into a decade class, and you're on position 23 on the waitlist...

it's pretty unlikely, huh? I should give up.

Also, I see Psych 130 (the class I want) is up for summer courses. How are they? Anyone taken one...maybe even Psych 130??

does anyone have the gsi's email address or know if he has a mailbox in the english department? i've already tried emailing the prof to get it but haven't gotten a response yet.

thanks.

Edited: Just came across this article about another Berkeley student's death this weekend (car accident) while driving home after the murder of his sister:

http://www.ktvu.com/news/16254399/detail.html