Journal one

April 25th

First time I've went five days without an entry. Hopefully it doesn't become regular.

I got a 32/34 on a biology test. In my opinion, the teacher should have set up check boxes for each of the terms instead of the free-response format because I got some of them wrong due to formatting errors. I was instructed to do something like this:

type of evolution; the following limb represents: homologous, vestigial, analogous

and wasn't given much else as instruction.

So I've decided to start up my other book again (the one called "uploaded") and I feel like I'm running on a treadmill because there's one part I really want to write and I already have basically the entire scene memorized in my head because of how much I've wanted to write it, but the quality of my writing leading up to that part has always been subpar to that of the idea I have in mind. So this time, I'm going to take it slow. I think I've been writing it worse because 1) my writing is bad, and 2) I've been rushing the writing to get to that part. So this time I will not rush. Chapters may each take weeks to come out, so if you actually read my other book then that is what you should expect in the future.

I got two collaborations with other music producers, one of them has already started, so I have something going on in that part of my life. But I feel that I haven't done a solo project in a while. Sure, I released the single "Far" and a bunch of remixes, but remixes don't count in my opinion as they have stems from other people and Far seemed like it was done just because I wanted to put music out. I want to make a song for me, not to put it out into the world, not to help another producer learn, but for me. I feel like this might help me start really enjoying producing again. I still enjoy it, don't get me wrong, but not as much as I used to. It used to be the only thing I'd want to do, and that passion is what helped me improve as much as I did in the past year and a half that I've been producing for.

I know none of this is coronavirus related, but I know some of you don't come here for COVID related stuff. So I'll ask a question: why do you keep reading this? Am I actually entertaining? Do you feel a commitment and don't want to make me feel bad by leaving? Or is it coronavirus and how I can relate to you that keeps you reading? I won't be offended at all if you leave, if you answer in any way, I guess I just want a reason, really. Lie or truth, it doesn't matter. If you don't want to answer, that's fine, too.

Well, I'm going to include some coronavirus related things so that this journal can still be called a "coronavirus journal".

I'm never sure if I'm sneezing because I'm sick, or because of my allergies. My mother has occasionally forced me to wear these fabric masks she made because she thinks it's the former.

I've heard that Georgia, the main state of the CDC, is loosening social distancing restrictions. The very state the CDC is mainly collected in. Even if the CDC were located somewhere else, it would still be ridiculous to loosen those restrictions. Many people blamed China for letting the virus out to other countries; if we loosen restrictions here in the US too soon, then everyone may blame the US for letting it back out to infect those who thought they were now safe from the virus.

Zoom, the popular video call application, has made "updates" to their system. They changed their 128 bit encryption to 256 bit encryption. This is something they should've done AGES ago. 256 had been the worldwide standard for such a long time. Even worse, they lied about it. They claimed they were using 256. I honestly wonder if they just forgot or if they actually knew they were lying.

Despite all the vulnerabilities of Zoom, I still use it because literally every single one of my school meetings has been hosted on Zoom. I can't work around that. Zoom also allows you to join zoom meetings as someone else, not just by name but actually control that other person's activity—basically if you type in the same url that someone is using during the meeting, you can type in their name, talk in their name, etc.

Does anyone know why Zoom gained popularity during this pandemic? Why not Skype, or Google meets, or maybe even Discord? In my opinion they're all better.

That's all I really have to say for now. Thank you guys for listening and keeping conversation with me. It's nice to have people to talk to when distance between us is keeping us safe.