Ah, Boxing Day. No one knows what it’s good for, no one knows why it’s called Boxing Day, and nobody likes boxing. Definitely one of the stupidest days of the year.
Yesterday (although still technically “today” for me, since I’m still up) was, of course, Christmas, and I got some great stuff from Mom and Joey. The goodies include a new toque (so-Canadian-it-hurts), gloves, boots, and a scarf to keep me warm, a new set of headphones (since my old ones broke back in October), and some blank DVDs for my brand new DVD burner (16X! Dual-layer!). Since I have a laptop, not well known for liking 5.25″ drivers, it’s external. The case is very cool. I made my first DVD before coming to work, which consisted of Brian Greene’s “The Elegant Universe” Nova special. Fun stuff. I also feel like I’m forgetting some items from today, but I’m very tired, so it’s excusable for the time being.
From the bad-news-we’re-gonna-die-seriously-we’re-screwed-here-guys, that asteroid that they discovered the other day (officially called “2004 MN4″) has had its trajectory recalculated. The initial announcement said the chances of it hitting us were about 1/233 — not great odds, really. The revised probably was 1/63, which led to a bit of panic. They recalculated again, and as a Christmas present, decided that the odds are actually 1/45. That’s really bad. (Sure, you can say that a 2.2% chance isn’t bad, but think of what the odds of winning the lottery are, and look at how many people win.) I’m not freaking out at all, I’m just saying that the odds are such that they make me nervous.
Incidentally, Tony (voted “Most Inconsiderate Basemas 2004 Participant” for forgetting to buy a present for Nick 
) is now an uncle. Actually, it was a baby girl, so Tony is an aunt (please, somebody catch the Friends reference). Someday, he’s going to be a role model. Isn’t that scary? (Just kidding, Tony, we all love you. Sorta.) The little lady is named Paige.
Finally, I’ve gotten three out of my four marks back for this semester. I expected diaster, and woe, and much gnashing of teeth, since it was a pretty rough semester. However, I didn’t do too bad: I expected to fail calculus, but got a C — not good, but not terrible. I expected to do really bad on algorithms, but got a B-. And in compiler construction, which I thought I did okay in, I got a B. Now, I’m just waiting for software architecture. I think I did okay in that.
Comments
Kitta
I thought only aussies called it boxing day. :o/
Mark@Work
Nope, it’s an international stupidity.
Crispin
I guess im going to have a little kid from tony then
Apollo
"Boxing Day is so called because on this day it was the customary for tradesmen to collect their Christmas boxes or gifts in return for good service throughout the year. Also, it included giving money and other gifts to charitable institutions, and the needy.
The holiday may date from as early as the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is not known. It may have begun with the Lords and Ladies of England, who gave there Christmas boxes/gifts to their servants on December 26, or maybe by priests, who opened the church’s alms (charity boxes), and distributed the contents to the poor and needy."
Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.
Steve
Caring is the other half, I doubt this battle will be won anytime soon.
Tony
uhm. I’m not going to make a baby with you, Nick.
Anyway, Royal Gigolos - California Dreaming. Soo great. Very Boogie Pimps like
Stanley Gerard Carreras
Great! We are all going to die now because of some asteroid. All the money I’ve been saving up for that trip is shot. Thanks for blowing it for me.
Stanley Gerard Carreras
Mark@Work
Wow, what a boring history Boxing Day has. I say we scrap it.
And Tony, Nick was implying that you have to give him Paige, since you didn’t bother getting him a Basemas gift. Happy kidnapping.
Crispin@home
Thank you Mark for explaining that to him. And on another Note LOOK AT THE SNOW YIPPIE. Who wants to go sledding?
John
screw you nick
I hate snow
Crispin
I’m sorry John.Please forgive
But its so pretty oh so pretty