‘Virtually’ entire world can view Purdue commencement

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.” Some 24,000 people will converge on Purdue University’s campus this weekend for commencement ceremonies, however, they won’t be the only ones who can watch the event.

Purdue officials, aware that many graduating students have family or friends serving in the military or who are unable to come to campus, have set up a Webcast of the commencement ceremonies. Anyone will be able to access the Webcast and view any of the four graduations live.

“We’re really excited that we will be able to bring these family and friends together at least virtually,” said John Dietrich, video engineer for Information Technology at Purdue. “If family and friends can’t be here in person, we will bring the graduation to them. This also is a nice way for Purdue to say thank you to loved ones serving our country who might have a family member or close friend graduating.”

Those tuning in must have Windows Media Player. The Web address for those with high-speed Internet connections is accessible at (mms://streamer.ics.purdue.edu/grad2007). The Web address for those with slow-speed connections is (mms://video.dis.purdue.edu/grad2007).

The ceremonies also can be seen locally on Insight cable, Channel 5.

Scary.

You can see me Saturday at 2:30pm:

EDITED 07-24-08: Links to videos expired.

We still have finals week to get through, however, and I have three papers and one exam, stretching over Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. I am hoping that by next Friday it will hit me that I am finished and I am hoping it will feel good.

Here’s what I’m listening to:

1. Bebe — Ella
2. J Star — Elanor Reggae Rigby
3. Clare Burson — Where You Are
4. Thierry Blanchard — Superstar
5. Flying White Dots — Somebody Helps The Wizard Zoom In On The Star
6. Muggs — Morta
7. Hello Saferide — Highschool Stalker
8. Love Is All — Busy Doing Nothing
9. Rainer Maria — Tinfoil
10. Bratmobile — Bitch Theme

And here’s something that is much better than the original:

[via Kelly]

Update: And here is a version that only Peaches could do:

[via Nichole]

I got an email from one professor telling me to call her immediately regarding the final exam. Freaking out, I called as I read her phone number. Turns out, she just wanted to tell me I’m okay for the class and not to bother writing the final paper.

Text cannot express my happiness.

For the other class, the professor posted our preliminary grades we will receive if we don’t decide to take the final exam. I have hated this class, but suffice it to say I don’t have to take the final.

Happy dance, anyone?

The graduation announcements have been ordered, a cap and gown have been rented, so I have to do this.

The following, together with a stiff drink, are helping to calm my nerves:

1. NOFX — Reagan Sucks
2. Marc Colin — This Is Not A Love Song
3. Dufus — Lay Down Flat
4. The Beta Band — Squares
5. Polyphonic the Verbose — Moving On
6. XeMa — Perdure à l’usure
7. The Runaways — School Days
8. Ryan Adams — To Be Young
9. Regina Spektor — Poor Little Rich Boy
10. Christians and Lions — Gimme Diction

Also exciting is that I am now a double-major student.

Last semester, The Powers That Be at my university decided that three of my transfer credits from another institution no longer counted towards what they originally counted towards, so I was left three credits short in one of my Liberal Arts requirements (you bastards). That bumped me into a requirement of 17 credits (14 in electives and 3 in core) still needed for graduation because I stupidly had to work my first two years of university in order to live and so I took the bare minimum of 12 credit hours each semester. How foolish of me — thinking food and electric bills were important — I know.

I’ve never been keen on two-credit courses (why half-ass it, you know?) so I worked out a rough schedule with 18 credit hours in classes such as Existentialism and Social Movements, a workload sure to bust my ass. (Kierkegaard? Surely I must have been intoxicated.)

Ever the thinker, I then realized why put myself through Existentialism and 15 credits of “filler” courses when I could tack on another major! I only needed 15 more credits to bump up my Women’s Studies minor to a major, so that’s just what I did. I still had to fulfill the three credits for my core, and there is a sociology professor I want to have another class with before I leave this university, so all this brings me to a 21-credit Spring semester consisting of the following:

• Black Women Rising (Women Studies)
• Gender and Multiculturalism (WS)
• History of Love and Marriage (WS)
• Women and Work (WS)
• Scholarship on Lesbian and Gay Issues (WS)
• Introduction to the Sociology of Developing Nations (SOC; professor I want to study under again)
• Survey of Acting (Liberal Arts core requirement; filler)

My last semester of undergraduate and I’m taking 21 hours. Yes, I’m insane. Hey! I’m a double-major now!

George was the perfect dog, staying in the yard and never once snapped at anyone. He did get filthy from rolling around in dirt, though, and we gave him a bath immediately after we got home. It is ten times easier to bathe him with his short hair, something I know I will miss come winter.

The only downside to the weekend were the mosquitos. I was ate the fuck up: I have 10 on my lower left leg, 6 on my lower right leg (I was wearing capri pants), 2 on my lower back, and 1 on my right thigh (how this one happened, I have no idea). Grand total? 19 MOSQUITO BITES. N-I-N-E-T-E-E-N.

I hope I don’t die.