A History of the Newton's Methodists

I've gotten quite a few strange looks when I respond to the question of what's my religion. I am proudly a Newton's Methodist and have come before you today to explain exactly what we stand for as well as to provide a little background to this mysterious new following.

About 3 years ago in a little town in Eastern Washington a group of high school students, being fed up with all the pointless math assignments being forced on other students, took it upon themselves to liberate all math students from the evils of Calculus and other Math courses.

Actually it was more like a bunch of students decided to take a second year of calculus because they had nothing better to do in high school and then proceeded to slack off and have the best class ever. We all had already taken Calculus AB (for those of you not in the AP know that is first year calculus) and were now taking BC, but we had the best teacher ever who tried to teach us a little bit at the beginning of the year, but eventually gave up and let us goof off. Most of my misadventures actually originated in this class.

So one day, when we weren't watching Mr. Young play Age of Empires II or buying donuts from WinCo we decided to start our own religion. I think it was inspired by Mr. Young trying to teach us something about Newton's Method and another student making a funny comment. I'm not quite sure anymore, its been so long. So we set out who had what positions in our new Theocracy. Sadly I can't remember who got what positions anymore. I swear, its like I'm getting old or something. Anyway, we then proceeded to write these new positions up on the ever cluttered white board in the back of the class.

This white board was amazing, every day some of us (namely Party Pete) would draw some random pictures on it just to confuse Mr. Young's other classes.

This is just a taste of the craziness that was Calc BC. So there you have it, a little history of the Newton's Methodists. Now, you're probably not wondering what induced this blog. Well, I'm going to tell you anyway.

I was sitting in my incredibly boring linear algebra class today and at one point in the lecture the professor turns to the class and states something along the lines of: "Now I bet this is fresh in your memory from Calc I (which I took 4 semesters ago...) But how many of you remember Newton's Method?" and then proceeded to talk about how it was a good approximation for solving nasty polynomials or something, I'm not sure, I wasn't really paying attention. But I did just have to chuckle to myself. For 1) it had been a very long time since I took Calc I and b) it reminded me of the Newton's Methodists.

Well, that turned out to be less exciting than I imagined in my head. But oh well, I hope it provides a little clarity for those of you in the dark about this new and exciting religion.

(Btw it smells like fruit loops in my room right now. My roommate claims it was the result of "lovespell" scented lotion. I don't really want to know what "lovespell" smells like, but for some reason fruit loops is the last thing I would imagine. And yet, that is what I smell...)

That is all from the pulpit.

Tired Musings...

(This picture does not do justice to the massive amount of snow coming down at the time)

Well, as usual not much has been happening in the exciting life of Sam. The most exciting part was the ridiculous spring storm we got last week. I don't think the weather got the memo that its MARCH. Nonetheless I woke up Thursday to look out the window and just see white. It then proceeded to snow off and on all day going from huge flakes that coated everything in a wonderful white powder to wet almost rain to thunder and lightening hail storms. It was crazy. Luckily I was given a ride to campus that morning. While I love the snow, I was done with it. It hadn't snowed in months and all of a sudden it dropped about 6 inches in a day. The lamest part (yes I did just say lamest) was that the next day it was ridiculously sunny and warm, melting most of the snow. THEN, just when I thought I was in the clear it snows again on Saturday leaving even more snow and ice. Then on Sunday, surprise surprise, its sunny and warm again with blue skies and not a cloud in sight. It proceeded to be nice (albeit cold) until Monday when it dropped another 6 inches that morning. I didn't class until noon so I was lucky enough to avoid the blizzard. This is because right at noon, after I got up in my warmest winter clothes, the sun came out and and clouds disappeared... Seriously, the weather here is so bipolar. The roommate and I decided that this is all the work of the eye trying to keep people from being able to drive home for spring break. Sadly it missed by a week so I think we are all good. (For those of you not in the know, we have a conspiracy that the Brian Hall clock tower is actually the eye of Sauron. If you've ever seen it at night when it glows a vibrant red, you will know, also Eastern Washington is like a nasty hell that is only comparable to Mordor.)

The rest of the week it was miserably cold and sunny. Almost as if the weather were mocking us. "Hey its nice and sunny, you don't have to wear 2 pairs of pants" *goes outside* "Damn you weather, its like 5 degrees outside!" On Wednesday when I walked to work at 8 in the morning my muffin actually got a layer of frost on it...

There has also been another incredibly amazing sign put up in my hall this week. I swear I must meet the person responsible for these...


Hm, other than that, I'm just trying to get through exams and projects before I am off to see Wicked in Portland on Sunday. And then will be bored for the rest of spring break. Oh, I did find a hilarious picture online that I know the movie review guy from the MiX would appreciate (for I know his hate of Nicolas Cage) You can see it here . Well, now that that was incredible disappointing I am off to sleep. I probably shouldn't post this seeing as I am half asleep right now and rather unispired... Oh well.