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blackbootz  ·  2304 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: December 6, 2017

I GOT A CAT! A three-month old kitten from BARCS--Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter. I couldn't've hoped for a better personality: social, cuddly, doesn't seem to get into too much trouble with wires or drapes, is getting more independent but is still curious as, well, a cat. She's absolutely hysterical and I find myself laughing aloud at her antics while I'm home doing work.

School

Two weeks left in the semester. School has been a pleasant challenge but in response to a ramping up in difficulty, I've abstained from drinking for the last few weeks. It's been such a positive influence that I'm thinking really hard about abstaining for the entirety of next semester. Partly because next semester may quite literally require twice as much work as this one, but also because I'm hungry for a big personal project and I've enjoyed the experience, I'm seriously considering a four-month commitment to teetotalism. As it was, I spent at least 24-48 hours a week recovering from hangovers. Abstention would allow me to focus on school, soccer, and gymnastics. Speaking of which...

Gymnastics

One of the highlights of 2017 was getting back into the sport. I've increased my flexibility and skills with just four hours of practice a week since September. Today I finally managed a giant--a 360° swing around the high bar.

Bryan Caplan

An economics professor of mine is a graduate of George Mason University which is home to a number of world-renowned economists, like Tyler Cowen, Robin Hanson, and Bryan Caplan, the latter of which is publishing his book on the economics of education in January of next year. An earlier book of his, The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies, has been the most stimulating book I've read this year, and if this new book proves to be half as interesting I think we're in for a treat. I was explaining Caplan's work quite enthusiastically to my professor. Afterwards he surprises me by sharing that he's friends with Caplan and that he's going to see about inviting him to give a lecture on his book next semester. My jaw dropped. That doesn't happen every Tuesday.