Exercise, log, gain exp, ???, profit.

I came to Fitocracy by way of xkcd. And now that I've firmly cemented that I am a gigantic geek, let's move on. The basic premise of Fitocracy is to make fitness routines into an rpg (role playing game, again, huge geek). The whole system is appropriated from the basic formula of American RPGs, whether they be single player or MMORPG (massively multiplayer online rpg). Exp (experience point) values are assigned to all your basic fitness activities (as of today sex is still excluded). When a certain amount of exp is accumulated, you level up. The linear leveling is augmented by quests and achievements. This system exists alongside the typical accouterments of social media (commenting, friends, integrating directly with Facebook)

The whole system is dependent upon the user being versed in the vocabulary of gaming. Sapir notes that this sort of economical communication in possible when complex understandings are preexisting in a group. The Fitocracy user already knows that completing a quest will earn additional exp, that hidden achievements must exist in the system and the possibility for level grinding exists. I've figured out that I'll have real difficulty leveling because right now the system is geared more toward weights and resistance training. I'll accumulate fewer points in 30 minutes of running than someone capable of lifting my body weight over and over for 15 minutes could. In this aspect, like so many other video game endeavors, Fitocracy does exhibit a certain level of built in sexism.

But this too is an expectation within the 'private tribe' of gamers. As the site is still in beta, about a thousand comments have been posted regarding improvements. These improvements seem to be split between adjustments that would make the game fairer for female users and how to incorporate additional RPG elements into the system. I'm half expecting some sort of merchant system and dreading the idea as I am the worst sort of hoarder when it comes to scaving. This includes stealing pencils in Fallout: New Vegas, hundreds of pencils. I considered explaining in this post why stealing pencils is so lucrative, especially since I play with hardcore mode on, but if you belong to the linguistically specialized group of gamers, you already know.

Fitocracy perpetuates the community that it invites. While I've continued playing video games through college and into graduate school, I dropped out of the 'community' quite awhile ago. This is the most excited I've been to compete against other gamers in quite awhile because I feel like I can own this. After I post I'm probably going to go back to trying to figure out how my skinny arms can earn me a consistent 150 points a day. I really hate losing.

My dad is in ICU. I flew in to Chicago, as planed months ago, on Saturday evening. Sunday morning we were in the hospital.

He has a perforated colon that they cannot patch.

I spent the night with my mom in his room. We're taking out the breathing tube in about an hour and a half. He doesn't need it though, he should be able to breathe on his own, nothing is wrong with his lungs. He just had it in overnight to make everything easier on him after the surgery that didn't work.

When Germany and US Politics Collide

So this story is several weeks old now. But at the primary season may be drawing to a close, this may be as good a time as ever to write about it.

I have a group of 8th graders who I actually really adore. I don't run lessons with them, only assist in their classroom once a week. But they're always really excited to see me and call me Ms. Neill (instead of Mrs. Neill, Indira, Ms. O'Neil, Mrs. O'Neil...the list goes on). They're actually pretty good kids, though I couldn't imagine having to control them by myself because they're so high energy.

They all know about the primaries in the US and who Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are. One of them even knew the name John McCain, but nothing about him. Their assignment for that day was to split into 2 groups and come up with 'campaign strategies' for Clinton or Obama. Really just though, reasons someone should vote for one or the other. Predictably, most of the girls wanted to be on Team Clinton, the boys, Obama.

But not this one girl. She absolutely refused to be on the Clinton side and absolutely had to write for Obama. She stood up and stormed to the other side of the room, leaving the other girls behind. It should obviously be mentioned that she is the only Black student in the class. Actually, my students are a pretty diverse mix of Western and Eastern European, Turkish, Indian and East Asian kids. But there are remarkably few African students at the school. While I do not know for certain, this girl in particular probably has one Caucasian parent and one African parent, or maybe her parents moved from America to Germany or something. Basically, she looks mixed race and not like the students who have two parents from Africa.

I found it really remarkable that in the 8th grade, where boys against girls is the defining nature of their social interactions, she identified so very strongly with her race as to cross over enemy lines. I should also say that generally, students don't seem to form cliques based on race either. You don't see the students of Turkish decent in one corner and the Europeans in another. But it is also of note that I teach at a very middle class school, virtually all my students were born in Germany and their parents have white-collar jobs. It's considered the best school in Bremen.

But, still, she absolutely had to side with Obama.

When asked to give a reason why Obama should be the nominee she said something like "Well, Black people were slaves. So he should now get a chance. He would be a symbol." The teacher told her that none of Obama's ancestors were slaves so that wasn't a good reason. But the part about him being a symbol was good.

I really wish I could see inside this girl's head. Why this American presidential race resonates with her in such a strong way, whereas her being Black appears not to alter her interaction with schoolmates. She is by far in the minority when it comes to ethnicity, but why is it here that it shows itself so strongly? Why in the 8th grade does this cause her to break ranks with her gender and cross over?

Perhaps with non-American children, that whole question of Race vs. Gender could actually be addressed in a really interesting way.

Oh, and it was hilarious because literally, most of the discussion did become "Change!" "Experience!" "Change!" "Experience!"

And then there was the one girl who thought that Hillary should get to be president because her husband cheated on her.

Open Letters to Media Pundits

Dear Chris Matthews,

It's no secret, you say a lot of dumb shit. Unlike some people, I don't believe it's because you're a moron or anything like that. You're not normally offensive in my view. The problem you have isn't that you don't think, it's that you think and speak simultaneously, and when you're doing a lot of hypotheticals, as you are wont to do to, that lands you in hot water. But I forgive you because you have such a childish (childlike? I can't decide which) enthusiasm for politics, for the horse race, and so do I, If I'm perfectly honest with myself, I prefer the media coverage of the elections to the actual policy battles. But can you really blame me? My majors were Art History and (German) Cultural Studies, I'm applying for media studies programs in grad school. Point is, media coverage matters thus, the horse race matters. But I digress.

Looking through a bunch of videos I had not seen on msnbc.com, I find a segment on Joe and Mika's program where you actually said something so succinct and eloquent that I fear you may have stolen someone else's idea. But until I'm proven wrong, you'll get the credit:

If this were a parliamentary system she (Senator Clinton) would go straight to Prime Minister.

Yes.

This is it.

No, really something about this idea has radically changed my view of this election. I'm still a supporter of Senator Clinton, and until the nominee is decided I will be but now I think I've come to the point that I won't be emotionally devastated if she's not the nominee.

What have you, Chris, made me realize? That not being president will not be the end of Senator Clinton's political career. She's a really smart legislator. She will continue to be a really smart legislator.

I tend to believe the best Congresspeople are those who know they will not be president, because they no longer have to care about how their decisions will play out on a national scale. They become much bolder in their actions and rhetoric. Look at Senator Kennedy, look at Senator Durbin, look at Senator Biden. Senator Clinton will get back to work after this, I know it. And she'll join these men as leaders of the party going forward.

After my dual disappointment in 2004, that Governor Dean lost the nomination and Senator Kerry lost the presidency, I don't know if I can get behind Senator Obama with the kind of passion other people in my age bracket can. But I was always comfortable voting for him come the general election. And, for what it's worth, the resentment I feared I would have, yeah, I don't think I'll have it anymore. Sorry, Chris, but I don't get a tingling sensation in my leg when I hear him speak. He doesn't connect with me like it did in 2004 when my parents and I watched the DNC on television together, turned to each other and said, "this man will be president." I cannot go back to that moment, but slowly, bit by bit, I'm getting there.

All I have left to say is:

Thank you, Chris.
Indira

The Math of John McCain

The Republicans have had 32 primaries and caucuses.
Of these, John McCain has won 13
Of these 5 have been in 2004 "Red States" (Arizona, Oklahoma, Missouri, Florida, South Carolina)

This means 38% of the states that John McCain won in the primaries, thus far, are in previous Republican states.

I wouldn't bank on Florida though, I'll give it to him he may pull New Hampshire away from the Dems. But let's be nice

Of the 32 states that have held primaries and caucuses, 20 were Red in 2004

John McCain has won just 5 of the 20 or 25%

Of the 12 states he has won, there would be a hypothetical 225 electoral votes.

Of these 216, 63 come from 2004 Reds, 29%

Now, I'm not saying other Red States aren't going to fall in line behind McCain, but I think this makes it pretty clear why Republican leaders have reason to worry. In all truth, McCain has proven not to be the representative candidate for the party base in states which they can win. (Sorry, Reps, you're probably not getting New York, California, and Illinois.)

Primary Predictions

Woah, way to go super tuesday. That was a wild ride.

I've got lots of things to say on the subject, I'll post this weekend about anything and everything I thought about the big night. Results, punditry, my students' responses. Everything.

But right now I want to make a prediction about what's going to happen next. There are a lot of conditions first.

So for the Dems

Both candidates make it to March 4th. That's the next magic date.
Delegates remain fairly split down the middle.

February 12th is Virginia. On March 4th there are primaries in Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont. April 22nd is Pennsylvania.

Howard Dean rounds Clinton and Obama at this point

Case #1 Same candidate wins Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania

If one candidate wins both Ohio and Texas, they will be the top of the ticket. The other candidate gets the VP slot.

Nothing is announced until after Pennsylvania on April 22nd. I am fairly sure if the same person takes both Texas and Ohio, they will also win Pennsylvania.

If this is true, the next day the loser concedes. They have the VP slot.


Case #2 Ohio and Texas split

If same candidate has one either Ohio or Texas and also both Pennsylvania and Virginia


Case #3 Ohio and Texas go to one, Pennsylvania to the other.

If one candidate has Virginia, Ohio and Texas, top of ticket. There is a one week wait before concession occurs.

Case #4 One candidate has Virginia and Texas, the other Ohio and Pennsylvania

Nomination goes to Ohio/Penn

Case #5 One candidate has Texas and Ohio the other Pennsylvania and Virginia *or* One has Texas and Pennsylvania the other Virginia and Ohio

Howard Dean jumps off a cliff

I believe these situations is the only way of getting the "dream ticket." Rather than have to wait all the way till the convention, deals get brokered beforehand. Delegates can't decide this with the proportional rule. I think the outlined plans are the best way for the Dems to save face with everyone and avoid insulting people but still get a nominee at a reasonable time.

Why I love Meet the Press

Why I love Meet the Press:
James Carville and Mary Matalin
Oh my god it does not compute.
And for old people, they're pretty adorable.
They're so strange and this week, Matalin's facial expressions were made of win.

edit:
Also, this is why I'm also in love with Candy Crowley. She writes the *best* posts on the 360 blog.