Everything unfolds like a rose.

I'm currently in the library, or, more precisely, since there is more than the one library, I'm in the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre. I have no idea why it's called a "Learning Centre." It's a library. Well, yeah, one does learn in a library, but c'mon! Anyway, the Main library is being torn down, and this building is the first one to be built on the old foundation. The (ahem) Centre has become my favourite place to study these days. The building's interior is very modern and has huge windows, there's a lounge with long, wooden tables that resemble the libraries in old American universities and it's in a pretty central location. I've been told the law library is equally good, as well as the forestry building.

The reason I'm writing is two-fold. First, the pain in my side disappeared this morning and then returned just now. I did some serious "chair stretches" and now the pain is gone. Huh. Second, I was chatting with Lisa about technology, and here's a thought: technology sometimes has trouble keeping up with established social processes, especially in the computer field where the advances are towards usability. Unfortunately, because technology may be isolated from social processes, there's a cultural lag. That's why when we see an intelligent design (I think it's called "intelligent design" (not to be confused with the philosophical position) or "human design" or "human-orientated design") we truly appreciate it, because the design has aligned itself to current social needs. That moment of appreciation lends technology its aesthetic quality; the synthesis of form and function (since it outwardly expresses the designer's intention and relative position on design theory) is flawless, and as consumers of both materials and aesthetics, we consider the design to be successful. That is why we become frustrated and angry when the design is not properly aligned.

Also, wearing earplugs when you're studying? Golden.