It is going to be an interesting sort of day today, but having today off is extremely helpful, as that it means that I'll have a day to straighten things out and still keep my academics up to speed. It's amazing--two days of class and I have three chapters (and however many practice problems the teachers have decided to assign--which I have not checked yet and probably should, sometime soon), one reader, one project, and a prelab (with two online presentations to complete) to keep in mind. Which means, of course, that spring quarter is going to be very interesting indeed.
Work tonight until 8:30, I think. I got assigned to the Dish Room so--cheers. I may end up deaf yet.
Got to study the molecular structure of TNT yesterday though.
20060331
20060330
Recap: A glimpse
Spring quarter has started and with it, life returns to its course following, of course, Murphy's law. From what I've been hearing in Miller's Hall, everyone's spring quarter classes are going to be hellish. I recognized at least four other IS people in my chemistry class and officially established that yes, most people take bio 1B before 1A. Oh well. It's over and done and I got decent credits for it. Molly came back from Hawaii yesterday and bought me tea which, now that I think about it, perhaps says more about my tea addition than any claims that I made since she does live three feet away from me. But tea is good--it's soothing, and from the general impression on the first day I'd venture to say that everyone's going to need a lot of soothing these few months.
There is a girl in my bio class who looks like you, Christine. Or at least like what you used to look like when you had very long hair. She's a little taller and had a backpack that proclaimed "DOOM!" on it.
... ...no, I really don't know either.
Today's IS class got swapped for a field trip. I think. To Woodland (city just north of Davis). I have no idea what we're doing or where exactly are going but the teacher instructed us to bring along an art journal (which I hope meant sketch book).
Massive first day chaos from the highschool is generally replaced by the massive first week chaos of college. However, after that, things generally go along with frightening predictability. (i.e. lecture, lecture, lab, quiz, lecture, panick, cram, midterm.)
[edit 12:48]
I don't know if I mentioned this, but as of this quarter, my online time's switched to 8-9pm.
There is a girl in my bio class who looks like you, Christine. Or at least like what you used to look like when you had very long hair. She's a little taller and had a backpack that proclaimed "DOOM!" on it.
... ...no, I really don't know either.
Today's IS class got swapped for a field trip. I think. To Woodland (city just north of Davis). I have no idea what we're doing or where exactly are going but the teacher instructed us to bring along an art journal (which I hope meant sketch book).
Massive first day chaos from the highschool is generally replaced by the massive first week chaos of college. However, after that, things generally go along with frightening predictability. (i.e. lecture, lecture, lab, quiz, lecture, panick, cram, midterm.)
[edit 12:48]
I don't know if I mentioned this, but as of this quarter, my online time's switched to 8-9pm.
20060329
Recap: Hunting season
So an apartment is settled, at least for now, and it involved an astonishing amount of biking in order to make the final call. Annie and I will be meeting on Friday--if anything else's to be sorted out, at least with the leasing part, it will be during then. Annie said by by Friday she may feel like moving again--a sentiment which I strongly sympathize and am in agreement with. It's petty, but I'm childishly pleased that I'm not alone in my suffering. Misery loves company, and all that.
Off to my first class then. It's the beginning of another wonderful, thrilling quarter in which I get to beat myself over the head with textbooks.
And the day is dark and dreary. Literally.
Off to my first class then. It's the beginning of another wonderful, thrilling quarter in which I get to beat myself over the head with textbooks.
And the day is dark and dreary. Literally.
20060328
Random: From my calendar to yours
Another nifty (and thoroughly wacko) "traveling advice":
Eat lots of bananas.
They've loads of potassium which will save you from leg cramps and tryptophan which induce drowsiness.
So, because turkey's also loaded in tryptophan, that theoretically means that eating turkey will make you sleepy. But that makes no sense because most of your tryptophan are digested by the E coli. in your gut and tryp. is an essential amino acid and the tryp. operon in the E coli. is an repressible operon, meaning that even if you don't eat tryp. the E coli. will still be making its own and you'd still have it in your body.
Maybe eating it just means you'll get a temporary spike in your body's level of tryptophan, and that makes you drowsy.
Anyway--so, watch out for bananas.
Eat lots of bananas.
They've loads of potassium which will save you from leg cramps and tryptophan which induce drowsiness.
So, because turkey's also loaded in tryptophan, that theoretically means that eating turkey will make you sleepy. But that makes no sense because most of your tryptophan are digested by the E coli. in your gut and tryp. is an essential amino acid and the tryp. operon in the E coli. is an repressible operon, meaning that even if you don't eat tryp. the E coli. will still be making its own and you'd still have it in your body.
Maybe eating it just means you'll get a temporary spike in your body's level of tryptophan, and that makes you drowsy.
Anyway--so, watch out for bananas.
Recap: Winter Quarter Memoirs VII
Last and final picture post:
I have this in black and white, but people have eventually managed to convince me that the colored version (after I increase the saturation value by 2 in photoshop) really does look nicer.
Both this picture and the picture before are taken outside of the Oxford Dining Commons, right before my Saturday job training. I thought the cloud coupled with lighting in this one looks ...almost surreal.
And yes, this basically sums up what I do when I get to places early: read, write/draw, study, or take pictures.
Quad, at UCD. I very much approve of the whole more trees, less cement plan. It's also very soothing to walk through on a Sunday morning when there's no one else around.
My "Going above and beyond picture" (hey, I've been an amateur photographer long enough to make a jab at the tacky/inspirational). Also available in black and white, but the colors are pretty here too (and this is without any editing). Taken outside of Student Housing Office. The plant, I believe, is an Indian hawthorn.
I have this in black and white, but people have eventually managed to convince me that the colored version (after I increase the saturation value by 2 in photoshop) really does look nicer.
Both this picture and the picture before are taken outside of the Oxford Dining Commons, right before my Saturday job training. I thought the cloud coupled with lighting in this one looks ...almost surreal.
And yes, this basically sums up what I do when I get to places early: read, write/draw, study, or take pictures.
Quad, at UCD. I very much approve of the whole more trees, less cement plan. It's also very soothing to walk through on a Sunday morning when there's no one else around.
My "Going above and beyond picture" (hey, I've been an amateur photographer long enough to make a jab at the tacky/inspirational). Also available in black and white, but the colors are pretty here too (and this is without any editing). Taken outside of Student Housing Office. The plant, I believe, is an Indian hawthorn.
20060327
Recap: Winter Quarter Memoirs VI
Possibly the most random collection of winter quarter pictures taken, posted thus far. Consequence of having a moment of free time and highspeed internet to go along with free time:
Annie's fanged bunny. Which I found hilarious and therefore took a picture of. Yep, you guessed it--it's the killer rabbit from Monty Python.
For two weeks I had a strawberry plant growing in a bag on my wall. Molly poked at it, I think, but tactfully refrained from commenting on the strangeness of her roommate. (On an added note, I think this is the strawberry plant that's got the virus through vertical transfer, since I took it off of a runner. Nothing else explains the sudden 6 healthy leaflet to 0 healthy leaflet in one day transition (this morning). All the other plant diseases are slower. Then again, nothing quite beat the speed of the virus when it switches from lysogenic to the lytic cycle and starts killing cells.)
What final had done to the state of our rooms. The mug is crime-scene evidence of my current tea-dependence which, unless I'm very much mistaken, is now also shared by Anna.
And to think that chemical-wise, coffee is more addictive.
Annie's fanged bunny. Which I found hilarious and therefore took a picture of. Yep, you guessed it--it's the killer rabbit from Monty Python.
For two weeks I had a strawberry plant growing in a bag on my wall. Molly poked at it, I think, but tactfully refrained from commenting on the strangeness of her roommate. (On an added note, I think this is the strawberry plant that's got the virus through vertical transfer, since I took it off of a runner. Nothing else explains the sudden 6 healthy leaflet to 0 healthy leaflet in one day transition (this morning). All the other plant diseases are slower. Then again, nothing quite beat the speed of the virus when it switches from lysogenic to the lytic cycle and starts killing cells.)
What final had done to the state of our rooms. The mug is crime-scene evidence of my current tea-dependence which, unless I'm very much mistaken, is now also shared by Anna.
And to think that chemical-wise, coffee is more addictive.
Recap: Winter Quarter Memoirs V
When you've dedicated an entire quarter to nothing but work and academics, there's not a whole lot of exciting social events pictures. I'd take pictures of our work environment, as that there's always plenty going on there, but I don't think I can do that without a license. Besides, my camera doesn't function as well when it's indoors and/or dim.
Daffodils from March 8th, International Women's Day. Taken outside of Bowley's Head Houses right after being attacked by the hordes of lavender.
We've established there's something with me and plant pictures, yes? Taken outside of the Student House Office, in the round-about, while being stared at funny by the passing-by cyclists. It has pretty colors for a print/oil color, if you happen to like this sort of thing.
Two shots of arboretum, at slightly different (though not by much) angles. It looks almost like a primordial jungle from this point, if you ignore the two dark specks that are the ducks. Ducks are fun to watch, but they tend to ruin the feeling of primordial wilderness.
I mean--please--DUCKS.
Daffodils from March 8th, International Women's Day. Taken outside of Bowley's Head Houses right after being attacked by the hordes of lavender.
We've established there's something with me and plant pictures, yes? Taken outside of the Student House Office, in the round-about, while being stared at funny by the passing-by cyclists. It has pretty colors for a print/oil color, if you happen to like this sort of thing.
Two shots of arboretum, at slightly different (though not by much) angles. It looks almost like a primordial jungle from this point, if you ignore the two dark specks that are the ducks. Ducks are fun to watch, but they tend to ruin the feeling of primordial wilderness.
I mean--please--DUCKS.
Random: What gmail can do
Under the SPAM folder, gmail has taken to offering you spam recipes. As in spam, the luncheon meat, but with the intended 'clever' (AHEM--Lucy, did you have a hand in this?) pun on the email SPAM.
It's...quite a novel idea, let's say. And I find it amusing enough to share the recipe that's offered today, posted below, courtesy of, of course, gmail:
SPICY SPAM KABOBS
Recipe By :
Serving Size : 4 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Main dish Meats
Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/4 c Lemon juice
3 tb Minced onion
1 tb Olive oil
1 t Dried leaf thyme
1 Garlic clove, minced
1/2 t Whole oregano leaves
1/4 t Red pepper flakes
16 Pea pods
1 cn Pineapple chunks packed in
-light juice, drained (8 oz)
1 cn SPAM Luncheon Meat, cut into
-24 cubes (12 oz)
1 Red bell pepper, cut into
-1" pieces
4 c Hot cooked rice
Combine first 7 ingredients in 9x12" dish. Wrap pea pods around
pineapple chunks. Alternately thread SPAM cubes, pineapple chunks,
and bell pepper pieces on eight skewers. Place in dish with marinade.
Cover and marinade 2 hours, turning occasionally. Grill kabobs over
medium-hot coals 10 minutes, turning occasionally. Or, broil 5" from
heat source 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally. Serve with hot cooked
rice.
It's...quite a novel idea, let's say. And I find it amusing enough to share the recipe that's offered today, posted below, courtesy of, of course, gmail:
SPICY SPAM KABOBS
Recipe By :
Serving Size : 4 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Main dish Meats
Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/4 c Lemon juice
3 tb Minced onion
1 tb Olive oil
1 t Dried leaf thyme
1 Garlic clove, minced
1/2 t Whole oregano leaves
1/4 t Red pepper flakes
16 Pea pods
1 cn Pineapple chunks packed in
-light juice, drained (8 oz)
1 cn SPAM Luncheon Meat, cut into
-24 cubes (12 oz)
1 Red bell pepper, cut into
-1" pieces
4 c Hot cooked rice
Combine first 7 ingredients in 9x12" dish. Wrap pea pods around
pineapple chunks. Alternately thread SPAM cubes, pineapple chunks,
and bell pepper pieces on eight skewers. Place in dish with marinade.
Cover and marinade 2 hours, turning occasionally. Grill kabobs over
medium-hot coals 10 minutes, turning occasionally. Or, broil 5" from
heat source 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally. Serve with hot cooked
rice.
20060326
Recap: Winter Quarter Memoirs IV
Pictures from the UCD arboretum, visited with Annie, on another Friday.
We were sitting by the river bank. There were ducks. I had a camera. Therefore you get duck pictures. They're so fun to watch--and very soothing too, in a whimsical way.
The real deal looks much better than this picture, which is bleached by the too-bright sunshine of the moment. I tampered with the saturation in Photoshop for a bit but realized that all the modifications will only make it look fake because the sunshine value in photos is not meant to be tampered with.
The part where the river widens into a semi-lake. Again, looks much better in real life.
The arboretum, by the way, is awesome.
We were sitting by the river bank. There were ducks. I had a camera. Therefore you get duck pictures. They're so fun to watch--and very soothing too, in a whimsical way.
The real deal looks much better than this picture, which is bleached by the too-bright sunshine of the moment. I tampered with the saturation in Photoshop for a bit but realized that all the modifications will only make it look fake because the sunshine value in photos is not meant to be tampered with.
The part where the river widens into a semi-lake. Again, looks much better in real life.
The arboretum, by the way, is awesome.
20060325
Recap: Winter Quarter Memoirs III
More random photos:
Kate, in the cafe at Dr. King library, making a statement. I'm not sure if it would count as a fashion statement, but it involved wearing a baseball cap sideways and at an angle.
Dutton Hall, on the day when I biked all over Davis to look for a copy of receipt at the order of my parents only to find out that the UC automatically mails you the form, two weeks later. I wish the lighting was better, because when it's just right, the place looks very pretty.
When people and scenery aren't available I seem to spend an uncanny amount of time taking photographs of plants. Done on a Friday, in the greenhouse near the Sci Lab, while with Annie.
Study lounge of Miller Hall on a Saturday morning. The stuff on the table's mine, and yes the clock is working correctly.
Kate, in the cafe at Dr. King library, making a statement. I'm not sure if it would count as a fashion statement, but it involved wearing a baseball cap sideways and at an angle.
Dutton Hall, on the day when I biked all over Davis to look for a copy of receipt at the order of my parents only to find out that the UC automatically mails you the form, two weeks later. I wish the lighting was better, because when it's just right, the place looks very pretty.
When people and scenery aren't available I seem to spend an uncanny amount of time taking photographs of plants. Done on a Friday, in the greenhouse near the Sci Lab, while with Annie.
Study lounge of Miller Hall on a Saturday morning. The stuff on the table's mine, and yes the clock is working correctly.
20060324
Recap: Winter Quarter Memoirs II
More pictures:
A few of my dormmates left me stuff on St. Valentine's day (yes Lucy, you've seen right--that IS an HP Valentine's card--we have HP-obsessed people over here, too). The memory still makes me smile. I've taken a photo for the records.
This is the awesome double-spiral DNA model of the Life Sci building, spanning something like three floors in length and very beautiful when the light manages to shine down on it directly (not happening in this picture as that neither the time nor the weather was correct that the time). Taken while waiting nervously to see if I need to take stats again.
Both shots taken after a biotech seminar, while on my way back from Wickson Hall to my dorm at Segundo North. This's the grove right next to the Student Housing office and the people were, yes, looking at me a bit strangely.
I've concluded that it's almost impossible to take scenic shots while on the Davis campus (and not within a building) without having a bike in it somewhere.
A few of my dormmates left me stuff on St. Valentine's day (yes Lucy, you've seen right--that IS an HP Valentine's card--we have HP-obsessed people over here, too). The memory still makes me smile. I've taken a photo for the records.
This is the awesome double-spiral DNA model of the Life Sci building, spanning something like three floors in length and very beautiful when the light manages to shine down on it directly (not happening in this picture as that neither the time nor the weather was correct that the time). Taken while waiting nervously to see if I need to take stats again.
Both shots taken after a biotech seminar, while on my way back from Wickson Hall to my dorm at Segundo North. This's the grove right next to the Student Housing office and the people were, yes, looking at me a bit strangely.
I've concluded that it's almost impossible to take scenic shots while on the Davis campus (and not within a building) without having a bike in it somewhere.
20060323
Recap: Winter Quarter Memoirs I
I got all the winter quarter pictures edited in one go, but was decided to post them here with explanations because some of them would be very random if there're no explanations.
I'll be posting them a few at a time, a tribute to the internet speed and the fact that they don't have anything in common, aside from the fact that I took them all during the winter quarter.
They'll still be random, even with explanations, but at least they will make marginally more sense. Marginally.
This is my 'plot', where I planted my vegetables in the fall. If you squint very hard at the tag you can barely make out my name on it. It's getting plowed over right about now, I imagine, for the spring quarter's class. My name tag'll be be shredded and left to decompose (it's wood and environmentally friendly) and be 'immortalized in the field'--to quote the teacher.
A longer shot of my row of vegetables. Those yellow flowers in the back are bok choy. That is what happen to bok choy if you don't pick them after a while. They can get pretty tall.
The entire plot of field belonging to this class. (Each row is one student.)
I'll be posting them a few at a time, a tribute to the internet speed and the fact that they don't have anything in common, aside from the fact that I took them all during the winter quarter.
They'll still be random, even with explanations, but at least they will make marginally more sense. Marginally.
This is my 'plot', where I planted my vegetables in the fall. If you squint very hard at the tag you can barely make out my name on it. It's getting plowed over right about now, I imagine, for the spring quarter's class. My name tag'll be be shredded and left to decompose (it's wood and environmentally friendly) and be 'immortalized in the field'--to quote the teacher.
A longer shot of my row of vegetables. Those yellow flowers in the back are bok choy. That is what happen to bok choy if you don't pick them after a while. They can get pretty tall.
The entire plot of field belonging to this class. (Each row is one student.)
20060322
Random: A play is done
This is as much as I can contribute to this before I start making it worse (or so I feel) so, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the finals project for the IS class of fall quarter, 05, "Happily Ever After- A Play About the End of Days", with 2 angels, 3 acts, 7 scenes and 1 God.
Rated: PG-13 for consecutive decimating of populations, blood-filled seas, and extremely harmful levels of footnotes (which you are not allowed to laugh at because I'm the one who did all the out-of-class research).
Warning: May induce hysteria.
Rated: PG-13 for consecutive decimating of populations, blood-filled seas, and extremely harmful levels of footnotes (which you are not allowed to laugh at because I'm the one who did all the out-of-class research).
Warning: May induce hysteria.
Recap: Sunny homes
I spent a glorious 11 hours lying in bed and 10 of those hours I was completely unconscious (slept through neighbor's vacuuming, even). It's lovely. This morning envolved nothing so far except breakfast, taking care of a few plants (the mealy bugs are almost all gone now, but the aphids remain), editing photos, writing, and reading and oh my goodness no studying.
Heh. Needless to say, I'm enjoying myself immensely.
Everything in my room is, actually, almost at the same place that I left it, which is nice. There are no other living organisms persisting in my room besides me, which is even nicer. I spent some time thinking over all the events of the winter quarter and eventually concluded that it was a challenging, highly educational experience that I hope I will never, ever have to repeat again but, knowing Murphy's law, will probably have to--not only that, but will have to in the near future.
Oh well, at least I had the experience. And I'm really enjoying myself too much right now to worry about it.
In response to Lucy's comment yesterday:
Well, if you suddenly disappear, we'll know that we need to wander into the untamed jungle of your room to rescue you from all sorts of biohazards that had decided to acquire a life of their own. Though hopefully nothing had evolved past the prokaryotic stage yet.
Heh. Needless to say, I'm enjoying myself immensely.
Everything in my room is, actually, almost at the same place that I left it, which is nice. There are no other living organisms persisting in my room besides me, which is even nicer. I spent some time thinking over all the events of the winter quarter and eventually concluded that it was a challenging, highly educational experience that I hope I will never, ever have to repeat again but, knowing Murphy's law, will probably have to--not only that, but will have to in the near future.
Oh well, at least I had the experience. And I'm really enjoying myself too much right now to worry about it.
In response to Lucy's comment yesterday:
Well, if you suddenly disappear, we'll know that we need to wander into the untamed jungle of your room to rescue you from all sorts of biohazards that had decided to acquire a life of their own. Though hopefully nothing had evolved past the prokaryotic stage yet.
20060321
Recap:
At the more or less subdued stage of the finals now, where the last day is two days away and the halls become eerily quiet during hours. Eerily quiet, because you know that most of the people are there, and they're just being unnaturally quiet.
Weather looks rather uncompromising, but we'll see. The weather in general has been wacky lately.
Weather looks rather uncompromising, but we'll see. The weather in general has been wacky lately.
20060320
Recap: One more day
Yesterday's shift, surprisingly, wasn't that bad at all. Halfway through I realized why:
People are usually all back by Sunday dinner, anyway, and the minimum number of workers needed by salad bar is one, which is me, for Sundays, anyway, so even if they're short on people, my work's not going to change.
New shifts as known to me, last night:
3/31/06
4:45-8:30pm
4/2/06
5:30-9:30
4/4/05
4:00-9:30
Though hopefully when the first week sorts out (lots of people requested not working the first week) my work hour per week will drop to five, because otherwise spring quarter will be moving from masochistic to suicidal.
People are usually all back by Sunday dinner, anyway, and the minimum number of workers needed by salad bar is one, which is me, for Sundays, anyway, so even if they're short on people, my work's not going to change.
New shifts as known to me, last night:
3/31/06
4:45-8:30pm
4/2/06
5:30-9:30
4/4/05
4:00-9:30
Though hopefully when the first week sorts out (lots of people requested not working the first week) my work hour per week will drop to five, because otherwise spring quarter will be moving from masochistic to suicidal.
20060319
Recap: Trends
Cakes, as in the spongy concoction with frosting, often baked in the often, was held as a facet of western culture (even though it's pretty much intergrated into the main culture by now) in China. Growing up, it was something rather exotic and I remember, by the time of when I was five, at least, that the 'tradition' of getting a cake on your birthday had already started. So, in my household, you get a cake on your birthday. And that has continued all the way till when we get here, where cake is really, REALLY common and so it's extended that sometimes we'd get cake during gatherings too. Then my mother decided that she quite liked cake and I seemed to like it too and so just last year it's been extended to all sorts of 'special occasions' as well...such as the few days right before I left for college. Malvina can testify, she was the cashier who checked out the cake at Safeway. Now, apparently, my parents have decided to get cake for no apparent reason.
Cake is getting very common. I have yet to learn how to make a chocolate cake from scratch but will chalk it up to one of the many goals that I hope to accomplish in life, regardless of its individual significance. Like going onto a rooftop, which I have already accomplished.
Cake is getting very common. I have yet to learn how to make a chocolate cake from scratch but will chalk it up to one of the many goals that I hope to accomplish in life, regardless of its individual significance. Like going onto a rooftop, which I have already accomplished.
20060318
Recap: Untitled
Yesterday was Amber(my neighbor)'s first day of work at the Segundo DC. She worked at the Bistro (traditional American food style) for lunch and this morning was telling me about how I was right about the pace being hectic and people came in masses. I told her that I worked at the Bistro last night, for the dinner shift and got the response "... ... oh."
Amazing what the silence can say, isn't it? Also, as a result of high number of students staying here this week end and low number of students available to work (both as a result of the finals) today and tomorrow's shift promise to get ...very interesting.
Hybrid orbitals (chem) are evil. That is my newest conclusion.
Amazing what the silence can say, isn't it? Also, as a result of high number of students staying here this week end and low number of students available to work (both as a result of the finals) today and tomorrow's shift promise to get ...very interesting.
Hybrid orbitals (chem) are evil. That is my newest conclusion.
20060317
Recap: Antz
It is inevitable, that when the sun turns warm and the weather clears that ants should suddenly increase their migration into the building. It must have something to do with the time of the year, and how spring (with the exception of those crazed migrating birds that move TWICE a year) is the season where animals repair their nests and relocate during the slowly lengthening days. It is a yearly ritual that is, evidently, evolutionarily quite sound, because otherwise it would not have continued to this day. It also consequently meant that I have picked out two ants from my bedside, one out of my hair, two off of my laptop (one from the screen and one from the touchpad), and countless milling individuals off of walls and desks.
As a plant biology major, I feel like I ought to be developing a strong tolerance for insects of all kinds. I have nothing against ants--they are an important part of the ecosystem and makes up around 10% of the world's biomass. They're both essential and useful for the correct functioning of the biosphere. They're also numerous and omnipresent so that dealing with their existence is a necessity that the men of the food preservation industry have worried about for as long as the industry of food preservation have existed. I have nothing against ants, I know they're necessary, I simply wish that they are not a) on me or b) on anything that I'm planning to eat.
End rant.
As a plant biology major, I feel like I ought to be developing a strong tolerance for insects of all kinds. I have nothing against ants--they are an important part of the ecosystem and makes up around 10% of the world's biomass. They're both essential and useful for the correct functioning of the biosphere. They're also numerous and omnipresent so that dealing with their existence is a necessity that the men of the food preservation industry have worried about for as long as the industry of food preservation have existed. I have nothing against ants, I know they're necessary, I simply wish that they are not a) on me or b) on anything that I'm planning to eat.
End rant.
20060316
Recap: Dead day
Today is called a Dead Day, here at UCD. Otherwise known as The Day Without Classes So the Students Can Panic Unrestrained Before the True Horrors of Finals Are Unleased Upon Them the Next Day. Or so I gather, mostly from the first years around here. I'll be taking full advantage of this day sometimes in June, meanwhile, I have to go to a chem review session scheduled today. Then read more chem, because everyone agreed that chem finals are evil because they are, more likely than not, cumulative.
It looks like it will rain today, but then again, appearances can be deceptive.
Random question: 'everyone' is singular, isn't it? Because it groups individuals into one...group, which therefore becomes one object?
[edit 14:10]
Unless I am very much mistaken (let's hope that I'm not), I've just gotten myself out of the bio final tomorrow so instead of the planned meeting with the frosh doc professor at 7, taking the final at 10:30, job training at 3:30, and work at 5:30, I only have the job training and work.
Hopefully I haven't spoken too soon.
Meanwhile, I have seen the practice chem final and problem 1 is worth 102 points. It is somewhat unnerving. (Total test, 8 problems.)
It looks like it will rain today, but then again, appearances can be deceptive.
Random question: 'everyone' is singular, isn't it? Because it groups individuals into one...group, which therefore becomes one object?
[edit 14:10]
Unless I am very much mistaken (let's hope that I'm not), I've just gotten myself out of the bio final tomorrow so instead of the planned meeting with the frosh doc professor at 7, taking the final at 10:30, job training at 3:30, and work at 5:30, I only have the job training and work.
Hopefully I haven't spoken too soon.
Meanwhile, I have seen the practice chem final and problem 1 is worth 102 points. It is somewhat unnerving. (Total test, 8 problems.)
20060315
Recap: Carrots, eggs, and coffee
Last night was "Casino Night" (or something along that line, can't remember the name exactly) at our DC--and they did a rather good job of it. Then again, getting very shiny and very sparkly decorations shouldn't be TOO difficult right now...but even so, they did some very interesting things such as having a cotton-candy machine and popcorn machine (actually making those food, yes) in the middle of the room. I had some sort of pasta that I don't know the name off, that vaguely resembles seafood salad dumped over extra-thick spaghetti that's hollow. Either that or overly long maccaroni (these pasta names are horrible). There're lots of random things that I've never seen before, and from what I saw of it, it was rather popular. I think the people count (and I went early at around 6pm) was around 964...or something like. Veronica was speaking in Spanish so it may have been something else. Also they had on what I suppose must be typical casino music. One of which was French and the only word I caught was "love" and "beauty" which, figures, you know, French song. Forgive my prejudice, influence of teacher.
This morning I also went to pick up my last pot of plants before they get disposed, which was cyclamen. The professor instructed me to place them in a shaded area, preferably the north side of the building. I established where the east was and went to deduce my directions from there, but the professor apparently decided that I was taking too long and had me face east and stick out my arms and told me my left arm pointed at the north, and that's how I should do it from now on. Or, in his actual words, he told me to "face east and have wings, your left is the north."
So yes, Lucy, I thought of you. If you ever get lost and only know which direction east was, "face east and have wings."
Hem.
Bio midterm this afternoon, mostly genetics stuff so let's hope I do well because this time I actually have something to prove.
This morning I also went to pick up my last pot of plants before they get disposed, which was cyclamen. The professor instructed me to place them in a shaded area, preferably the north side of the building. I established where the east was and went to deduce my directions from there, but the professor apparently decided that I was taking too long and had me face east and stick out my arms and told me my left arm pointed at the north, and that's how I should do it from now on. Or, in his actual words, he told me to "face east and have wings, your left is the north."
So yes, Lucy, I thought of you. If you ever get lost and only know which direction east was, "face east and have wings."
Hem.
Bio midterm this afternoon, mostly genetics stuff so let's hope I do well because this time I actually have something to prove.
20060314
Recap: Ensename
I never had to study for meiosis and photosynthesis at the same time before, due to the fact that in books, the author generally put them in different sections with related things. However, having only three months to cover the molecular parts of biology, prof. Gerhart is forced to skip around and I once caught myself thinking about photosynthetic chromosomes.
Right after that I decided to take a ten minute break.
Yesterday during my IS class I suddenly noticed how MANY people are sick. It is most definitely a trend: that students start off a quarter with the best of health and then it gradually deteriorates from there. If out of 30 people there are around 10 who were either couphing, sneezing, or moaning, et cetera, that gives you 33.33% of the student population--pardon, FRESHMAN population--are currently suffering from some strain of virus, one way or the other.
Stress is proven to have adverse effects on a person's health. I have seen living proof with statistically significant numbers.
Molly had to get her forth replacement key yesterday (or card, in our case, since our doors are the swipe-in type) and for some reason it wouldn't let her swipe in, so we'll see how that turns out.
[edit 9:17]
Successfully logged into UCD wireless for the first time. Am sitting in the library right now. V. convenient.
[edit 11:22]
First time-
Caught in downpour, then hail, while on bike. Luckily remembered to put laptop in plastic bag before leaving the library so it's (as you can tell) perfectly fine. Am wet and cold and in need of a hot shower, which shall take now.
Just looked outside of the window. Can see blue sky again. Insane weather.
Right after that I decided to take a ten minute break.
Yesterday during my IS class I suddenly noticed how MANY people are sick. It is most definitely a trend: that students start off a quarter with the best of health and then it gradually deteriorates from there. If out of 30 people there are around 10 who were either couphing, sneezing, or moaning, et cetera, that gives you 33.33% of the student population--pardon, FRESHMAN population--are currently suffering from some strain of virus, one way or the other.
Stress is proven to have adverse effects on a person's health. I have seen living proof with statistically significant numbers.
Molly had to get her forth replacement key yesterday (or card, in our case, since our doors are the swipe-in type) and for some reason it wouldn't let her swipe in, so we'll see how that turns out.
[edit 9:17]
Successfully logged into UCD wireless for the first time. Am sitting in the library right now. V. convenient.
[edit 11:22]
First time-
Caught in downpour, then hail, while on bike. Luckily remembered to put laptop in plastic bag before leaving the library so it's (as you can tell) perfectly fine. Am wet and cold and in need of a hot shower, which shall take now.
Just looked outside of the window. Can see blue sky again. Insane weather.
20060313
Recap: Why hello there
According to my schedule, as known to me of last night, I no longer have to work the morning shift tomorrow. Of course, knowing that this was exactly what I thought last week, this time I even got Craig, the shiftleader, to check for me to affirm that yes, I'm not working tomorrow and if someone calls me to work tomorrow it would not be my problem, thank heavens.
Speaking (or rather, typing, ha) of work, yesterday felt like my initiation to the Boy's Club at Work, which consequently began with Daniel leaping out at me. Leaping out, as in jumping out from behind one of the columns and going "BOO!" at me. I was very proud of myself for not dropping anything and learned, in the hours that followed, that guys can be obsessed with their body image to a degree that is truly amazing. (Anyone seen a movie called "Fight Club", or something along that lines? I'm missing a few references there.)
The chem professor is giving me a headache. He gave us the "What did I do wrong" speech today, as a result of people's inability to answer the in-class questions he posted.
No more drafting stories in my head for this and the next week. I have something like seven chapters to memorize.
Also, Lucy: I liked your xanga post but alas, having no xanga, will need to post that observation here. You can pretend that I gave you 2 eprops, or whatever those things are called.
Kate: No, not so much with the refraining from answering rhetorical questions. Am still working on it.
Speaking (or rather, typing, ha) of work, yesterday felt like my initiation to the Boy's Club at Work, which consequently began with Daniel leaping out at me. Leaping out, as in jumping out from behind one of the columns and going "BOO!" at me. I was very proud of myself for not dropping anything and learned, in the hours that followed, that guys can be obsessed with their body image to a degree that is truly amazing. (Anyone seen a movie called "Fight Club", or something along that lines? I'm missing a few references there.)
The chem professor is giving me a headache. He gave us the "What did I do wrong" speech today, as a result of people's inability to answer the in-class questions he posted.
No more drafting stories in my head for this and the next week. I have something like seven chapters to memorize.
Also, Lucy: I liked your xanga post but alas, having no xanga, will need to post that observation here. You can pretend that I gave you 2 eprops, or whatever those things are called.
Kate: No, not so much with the refraining from answering rhetorical questions. Am still working on it.
20060312
Recap: Where the sun has gone off to
Pyong, my co-worker from Friday, had commented that it's colder here now than it was during the winter. After some biking on Friday and Saturday (haven't been out yet today), I'm inclined to agree. After arriving at the DC on a bike, for the first thirty minutes I was serving food with a hand under the hot lamp so I could regain the feelings in my fingers.
Pyong reminded me to smile. I reminded him not to lean on the counter. Everyone who had taken Module 1 at this point is well aware of the joke now. The people who made the rules seldom had a clear idea of what it was like to work in the DC. When the "rush" hits, you don't have time to ask everyone "how are you".
Especially when the line's about fifty people long.
Molly didn't came back all night last night. I woke up at 2am and wondered where she went. She's still not back yet. Shuyin (from three doors down) have introduced me to the idea of pitcher-styled water filter, which I shall be considering from now until the summer, seeing how I'll be in Davis for at least three more years.
Annnnd tomorrow starts the last round of midterms,(or, shall we say, "midterms",) leading straight into finals. I still don't know where the "H" of the schrodinger's equation comes from.
The beginning of people reciting things to each other in the lounge.
That's it from me for today. Over and out.
Pyong reminded me to smile. I reminded him not to lean on the counter. Everyone who had taken Module 1 at this point is well aware of the joke now. The people who made the rules seldom had a clear idea of what it was like to work in the DC. When the "rush" hits, you don't have time to ask everyone "how are you".
Especially when the line's about fifty people long.
Molly didn't came back all night last night. I woke up at 2am and wondered where she went. She's still not back yet. Shuyin (from three doors down) have introduced me to the idea of pitcher-styled water filter, which I shall be considering from now until the summer, seeing how I'll be in Davis for at least three more years.
Annnnd tomorrow starts the last round of midterms,(or, shall we say, "midterms",) leading straight into finals. I still don't know where the "H" of the schrodinger's equation comes from.
The beginning of people reciting things to each other in the lounge.
That's it from me for today. Over and out.
20060311
Recap: End of one mystery
I know it's sort of irrational to feel this proud about it, but apparently during mid February UCD's dining services got the "mystery dinner" evaluation and Segundo scored 100% on that. Tercero, the dining hall to the south of us, scored 95% and we're the highest scoring school among all the UCs.
And I found out about this yesterday during job training which, as it turned out, was about customer service and involved such things as "Don't say 'no problem', say 'I'll be happy to', don't lean on the counter, stand upright and smile." Fitting, is it not?
Annie has a stuffed E Coli (at something like 100000 times its natural size) that has what might be either purplish hair or pili and big brown eyes. It was very unnerving to be stared at by an E. coli. That's fluffy. And has big eyes.
Someone apparently decided to feed flowers ketchup last night. At this point in time, it's not so much of 'what are they thinking' as 'why'.
Of course, if you've studied your philosophy, the correct response (according to this one guy who got the answer 'right' at least,) is 'why not'.
No, I did not find that particularly reassuring either.
And I found out about this yesterday during job training which, as it turned out, was about customer service and involved such things as "Don't say 'no problem', say 'I'll be happy to', don't lean on the counter, stand upright and smile." Fitting, is it not?
Annie has a stuffed E Coli (at something like 100000 times its natural size) that has what might be either purplish hair or pili and big brown eyes. It was very unnerving to be stared at by an E. coli. That's fluffy. And has big eyes.
Someone apparently decided to feed flowers ketchup last night. At this point in time, it's not so much of 'what are they thinking' as 'why'.
Of course, if you've studied your philosophy, the correct response (according to this one guy who got the answer 'right' at least,) is 'why not'.
No, I did not find that particularly reassuring either.
20060310
Recap: The attack of the ants
So, having removed my plants, the next case of major attack that I have heard about ants is in Shuyin and Amara's room, featuring beef jerky, I think, and massive rearrangement of furniture.
At three floors up, you have to admit, that's pretty impressive for an ant. Or rather, a whole colony of ants.
Slight issue with wireless connection, hope to sort it out this afternoon or, if not, at least sometimes before the end of this school year since I'm predicting the increasing usage of my laptop as an actual laptop (and not a desktop, as I generally use it as right now) next year, with the increase of distance between where I live and where I have to spend most of my time on weekdays.
My that's a long sentence.
Cleaning and some homework. Job. Massive amounts of studying.
Happy Friday to you too.
At three floors up, you have to admit, that's pretty impressive for an ant. Or rather, a whole colony of ants.
Slight issue with wireless connection, hope to sort it out this afternoon or, if not, at least sometimes before the end of this school year since I'm predicting the increasing usage of my laptop as an actual laptop (and not a desktop, as I generally use it as right now) next year, with the increase of distance between where I live and where I have to spend most of my time on weekdays.
My that's a long sentence.
Cleaning and some homework. Job. Massive amounts of studying.
Happy Friday to you too.
20060309
Recap: Untitled
Three, I've decided, is where the limit should be. I've concluded that I probably shouldn't be online and talking to people unless I'm awake and alert enough to do it and it's only taken me three tries to figure that bit out. I suppose I'll try switching my online hours from 9-10pm to 8-9pm for the next quarter. Of course on certain days that's not going to be enough at all but it should help. Otherwise I can just not stay very long online since that seems to work out for most of the people here, when they're not up to it. Long enough for my parents to know that I'm still "alive and well" since my mother, at least, had finally caught up to the convenience of IM (which, believe it or not, allows Chinese, or at least the program I'm using does).
Three is also going to be my maximum number of errors with the scheduling. Veronica told me that people need to check their work schedules obsessively, and I think I'll take her up on that.
The last bio quiz is done today, the next midterm is next Wednesday, the final is next Friday but I haven't decided whether or not I'll take it yet (all depends on how my grades will churn out, most of which I'll know by next Tuesday).
And we're back to the stage where there're people falling asleep on the lounge couches.
Three is also going to be my maximum number of errors with the scheduling. Veronica told me that people need to check their work schedules obsessively, and I think I'll take her up on that.
The last bio quiz is done today, the next midterm is next Wednesday, the final is next Friday but I haven't decided whether or not I'll take it yet (all depends on how my grades will churn out, most of which I'll know by next Tuesday).
And we're back to the stage where there're people falling asleep on the lounge couches.
20060308
Recap: Decreasing enthalpy
Yesterday Annie's backpack got stolen while it was left in the DC, in the front portion where people generally have to leave their bags before they're allowed to enter the DC. By 'stolen', I meant that she watched the security tape and actually saw the person (or persons, as the case may be) take it, along with someone else's purse. This morning (approximately three minutes ago, by my estimate) I checked my campus email and found that a notice had arrived, from the housing office, annoucing that yes, the number of thefts going on in the DC have been steadily increasing and please, everyone, take care of your belongings. (Ignoring, of course, the fact that the lockers in the DC are mostly broken and we're not allowed to take any bags in so the logical solution is either to a. leave the back there or b. go all the way home, drop off your things, then walk back to the DC.)
I got called yesterday at around 11am by the manager who inquired why I wasn't at work. That's the third time now, my mistake with the scheduling. And I checked even (Sunday) to see if all my schedules were where they were suppose to be, which they are, but they just randomly added my working hours. Because apparently I wasn't getting my required working hours for the quarter and they're going to adjust it two weeks before the quarters end. Right in times for the finals.
So here's my work schedule, as I'm aware of it, for this week and the next:
This Friday, 10th:
4pm-5pm, job training
5:30-8:30pm, work shift
11th
4:30-8:30, shift
12th, 4:00-9:30, shift
14th (Tuesday)
7-10:45am, shift
17 (Friday)
3:30-4:30(? uncertain), job training
5:30-8:30, shift
and Sat and Sun as per ususal. Now looking at my final's schedule, the next two weeks promises to be very interesting indeed....
I got called yesterday at around 11am by the manager who inquired why I wasn't at work. That's the third time now, my mistake with the scheduling. And I checked even (Sunday) to see if all my schedules were where they were suppose to be, which they are, but they just randomly added my working hours. Because apparently I wasn't getting my required working hours for the quarter and they're going to adjust it two weeks before the quarters end. Right in times for the finals.
So here's my work schedule, as I'm aware of it, for this week and the next:
This Friday, 10th:
4pm-5pm, job training
5:30-8:30pm, work shift
11th
4:30-8:30, shift
12th, 4:00-9:30, shift
14th (Tuesday)
7-10:45am, shift
17 (Friday)
3:30-4:30(? uncertain), job training
5:30-8:30, shift
and Sat and Sun as per ususal. Now looking at my final's schedule, the next two weeks promises to be very interesting indeed....
20060307
Recap: Levanta te
For some reason Molly was up at seven today. It was strange for me because neither of us have classes early on Tuesdays, and I was planning to sleep until...oh I don't know...8:30 maybe. (I did, in fact, stay in bed until just past 8, sleeping or no) but Molly was up earlier than I was.
Strange. Very strange.
Also, Lucy, the calendar you gave me has been offering very interesting traveling tips...about packing, immunization, time differences, etc. I feel compelled to mention that yester's..."advice" is called "Literary Insights" and suggested that I bring along "one of these classics on your next trip. They'll provide timeless insights into the characters of the country you're visiting."
So from the list we have:
England, THE CANTEBURY TALES
France, MADAME BOVARY
Greece, THE ILIAD AND THE ODYSSEY
Japan, THE TALE OF GENJI
Russia, ANNA KARENINA
Spain, DON QUIXOTE
Now DON QUIXOTE and THE ILIAD are only two that I even know anything about and it sounds.... Insights about Greece from THE ILIAD? Is...? For all my Russian friends out there, does ANNA KARENINA provide "timeless insights" into the character of Russia?
Fun calendar.
[edit 10:48]
Forgot to mention that on Sunday night, while cleaning up, they had the song "American Pie" on and ...yes that brings back memories.
Block day PE, Anna, I think you've scarred me for life. Hem.
Strange. Very strange.
Also, Lucy, the calendar you gave me has been offering very interesting traveling tips...about packing, immunization, time differences, etc. I feel compelled to mention that yester's..."advice" is called "Literary Insights" and suggested that I bring along "one of these classics on your next trip. They'll provide timeless insights into the characters of the country you're visiting."
So from the list we have:
England, THE CANTEBURY TALES
France, MADAME BOVARY
Greece, THE ILIAD AND THE ODYSSEY
Japan, THE TALE OF GENJI
Russia, ANNA KARENINA
Spain, DON QUIXOTE
Now DON QUIXOTE and THE ILIAD are only two that I even know anything about and it sounds.... Insights about Greece from THE ILIAD? Is...? For all my Russian friends out there, does ANNA KARENINA provide "timeless insights" into the character of Russia?
Fun calendar.
[edit 10:48]
Forgot to mention that on Sunday night, while cleaning up, they had the song "American Pie" on and ...yes that brings back memories.
Block day PE, Anna, I think you've scarred me for life. Hem.
20060306
Recap: Of duchy and swans
As of now, this Friday my schedule's going to be from 4-8:30 instead of 5:30-8:30pm, on the account of the renewal of necessary job training. I hope there're no more videos. Those videos are...mind-numbing.
More reminders about the finals. Everyone is progressively looking more sleep deprived and stressed and further behind on homework yet the majority of people still managed to find time to go out and party and see movies. Though, come to think of it, if their outlook in life, their mission, is to have fun, they're doing an excellent job. I mean, if their goal in life is to achieve happiness and fun stuff makes them happy and so on. Just that their parents may not appreciate this logic, hence, massive paranoia predicted...let's see...in about a week and two days?
First-
-time worn one of those radio headsets at work. Despite of what you or other people may think (some people actually wondered if I got a raise, just because of the headset), it is not fun to wear. It makes the ear-phoned ear feel deaf and whenever someone spoke (everyone's on the same network, so if you activate it, everyone with a headset can hear you) it felt like they're speaking RIGHT INTO YOUR EAR. I was twitchy the first fifteen minutes (at least) because of it.
More reminders about the finals. Everyone is progressively looking more sleep deprived and stressed and further behind on homework yet the majority of people still managed to find time to go out and party and see movies. Though, come to think of it, if their outlook in life, their mission, is to have fun, they're doing an excellent job. I mean, if their goal in life is to achieve happiness and fun stuff makes them happy and so on. Just that their parents may not appreciate this logic, hence, massive paranoia predicted...let's see...in about a week and two days?
First-
-time worn one of those radio headsets at work. Despite of what you or other people may think (some people actually wondered if I got a raise, just because of the headset), it is not fun to wear. It makes the ear-phoned ear feel deaf and whenever someone spoke (everyone's on the same network, so if you activate it, everyone with a headset can hear you) it felt like they're speaking RIGHT INTO YOUR EAR. I was twitchy the first fifteen minutes (at least) because of it.
20060305
Recap: May the tongs be with you
I've concluded that not many guys who work in the various kitchens with me have actually cooked at home before. Nor do they know how to wipe a table down correctly or such things (typical of guys, I presume, assuming that the average workers I encounter here is a nice representative cross-section of the general population). Consequently, they are amazed by my "amazing skills" with tongs (partial thanks to Ms. Uji and the 7:35 chem, I believe) and one guy have dubbed me the "potato jedi" the night that I ended up serving the baked potato wedges and asparagus (no asparagus in vases that night though, only 1 item of flowers in blue energy drink).
Potato jedi. Does that mean I get to stab things with light-sabre-ly tongs?
It's also very, very wet outside today.
Potato jedi. Does that mean I get to stab things with light-sabre-ly tongs?
It's also very, very wet outside today.
20060304
Recap: Nepenthe
For reason unbeknownst to me, the time I got up this morning (which is no earlier nor later than I usually get up on Saturday mornings) overlapped directly with the janitor's time during which she was cleaning out our bathroom. Very thoroughly it seemed, because I've never seen it take this long.
Meanwhile I did laundry and read "The Raven" because I figured I really need to read that poem, just so when people mention it I'll have an idea of what they're talking about.
Mr. Poe is quite obsessed with dead ladies, it seems. An entire style of poetry.
Also, discovery of late that sexual orientation does not seem to exist in Sims, which means that, theoretically, all characters are bisexual. I wonder if that's done on purpose or if it's just a few lines left out of the general program, another option in character building? If you think about the game from the programmers' level, it's way impressive as it is. If you just think about it from the gamers' interface level, that's somewhat disturbing.
The few hours of silence on a Saturday morning. Aside from the sounds of the janitors.
Meanwhile I did laundry and read "The Raven" because I figured I really need to read that poem, just so when people mention it I'll have an idea of what they're talking about.
Mr. Poe is quite obsessed with dead ladies, it seems. An entire style of poetry.
Also, discovery of late that sexual orientation does not seem to exist in Sims, which means that, theoretically, all characters are bisexual. I wonder if that's done on purpose or if it's just a few lines left out of the general program, another option in character building? If you think about the game from the programmers' level, it's way impressive as it is. If you just think about it from the gamers' interface level, that's somewhat disturbing.
The few hours of silence on a Saturday morning. Aside from the sounds of the janitors.
20060303
Recap: The day is done
First-
-time interviewing a college professor (for an assignment, of course, since I don't interview adults just randomly). Prof. Dave Rizzo, actually, who happens to be the discoverer of Sudden Oak Death disease and is an almost celebrity at some points (CNN coverage and all). Half an hour interview and some chat afterwards and let me have a geeky moment (ha) and say that plant virology is very awesome. (No, the oak disease is caused by a..an almost-fungi, this isn't completely related to the topic at hand.) It covers plant genetics, biochem, microbio, and ecology. And depending on what you do you might get to learn stuff such as meteorology. I am no saner nor insaner than normal, thank you, and I'll go and do something productive now except I should mention this:
I brought along my recorder/mp3player today because I can't write that fast so I thought a recorder would help (if allowed, which he did, which was very nice of him), so last night I was thorougly cleaning out the stuff there because I have no idea how long the interview will last or what format I'll need to record it in (some format takes up more space than others but is necessary if, say, the room's noisy). And I found some very interesting things. 1. I found the another track of Lucy, in LA, sounding even MORE drunk than the last clip and this time with Kate saying "you're going to be SO embarressed by this in the morning" in the background (such subtility, Kate. AHEM). 2. I found a track that's over an hour long.
Yeah, I was, to say the least, surprised.
What seemed to have happened was that when it didn't stop after the first clip when I pressed 'stop" but got on a new track somehow. I didn't know it was on, so (remember?) I appeared to be playing with the recording during this entire thing so there're some very bad distortions, where my fingers touched the microphone. I'll be trying to straighten that out eventually but...over an HOUR track!
That would explain the state of the battery the next day. Huh.
In response to Lucy's comment:
Yes, why on God's green earth indeed. Hem.
-time interviewing a college professor (for an assignment, of course, since I don't interview adults just randomly). Prof. Dave Rizzo, actually, who happens to be the discoverer of Sudden Oak Death disease and is an almost celebrity at some points (CNN coverage and all). Half an hour interview and some chat afterwards and let me have a geeky moment (ha) and say that plant virology is very awesome. (No, the oak disease is caused by a..an almost-fungi, this isn't completely related to the topic at hand.) It covers plant genetics, biochem, microbio, and ecology. And depending on what you do you might get to learn stuff such as meteorology. I am no saner nor insaner than normal, thank you, and I'll go and do something productive now except I should mention this:
I brought along my recorder/mp3player today because I can't write that fast so I thought a recorder would help (if allowed, which he did, which was very nice of him), so last night I was thorougly cleaning out the stuff there because I have no idea how long the interview will last or what format I'll need to record it in (some format takes up more space than others but is necessary if, say, the room's noisy). And I found some very interesting things. 1. I found the another track of Lucy, in LA, sounding even MORE drunk than the last clip and this time with Kate saying "you're going to be SO embarressed by this in the morning" in the background (such subtility, Kate. AHEM). 2. I found a track that's over an hour long.
Yeah, I was, to say the least, surprised.
What seemed to have happened was that when it didn't stop after the first clip when I pressed 'stop" but got on a new track somehow. I didn't know it was on, so (remember?) I appeared to be playing with the recording during this entire thing so there're some very bad distortions, where my fingers touched the microphone. I'll be trying to straighten that out eventually but...over an HOUR track!
That would explain the state of the battery the next day. Huh.
In response to Lucy's comment:
Yes, why on God's green earth indeed. Hem.
20060302
Recap: Untitled
Another round of the lit presentations have started, and I'm due to go next Monday so...practice...sometimes this weekend, of course. Most of the classes are wrapping up for the quarter already, and they're making sure that we KNOW that the classes are ending ("By the way, you only have two labs after this one." "If it makes you guys feel any better, we only have one more discussion." "Guys, please remember that the finals are basically in two weeks" Thank you, I shall keep all that in mind).
As the lit teacher, Dr. Boe, have noticed, we don't look quite so well as we did in the beginning of the quarter, being most of us are either sick or sleep deprived or high on caffeine or some variable combination of all three. The number of people wandering around in their pajamas have increased, another inevitable trend signalling that yes, it's that time of the quarter again.
Another discussion on the virtues and vices of energy drinks, anyone?
Also, despite of not choosing it as my research topic for plant bio last quarter, I've finally learned the secret to seedless watermelons.
Polyploidy, the poor confused things!
Yes, seedlessness is a result of a confused watermelon.
As the lit teacher, Dr. Boe, have noticed, we don't look quite so well as we did in the beginning of the quarter, being most of us are either sick or sleep deprived or high on caffeine or some variable combination of all three. The number of people wandering around in their pajamas have increased, another inevitable trend signalling that yes, it's that time of the quarter again.
Another discussion on the virtues and vices of energy drinks, anyone?
Also, despite of not choosing it as my research topic for plant bio last quarter, I've finally learned the secret to seedless watermelons.
Polyploidy, the poor confused things!
Yes, seedlessness is a result of a confused watermelon.
20060301
Recap: In March the wind
...blows down the door
and spills my soup upon the floor.
I read that poem in fifth grade, which did not mean all that much to me (still remember the teacher trying to explain what 'chicken soup' was to me using words that I know).
Yesterday was very windy. Gusty. Blustery. It was not technically March yet (aside from the parts of the world with the time differences that allow them to celebrate March early), but it was windy enough so that the grey skies of the morning looked...guileless, that's what..guilelessly blue by one in the afternoon and at three, going to bio, the wind first tried to steal my hat and then ended up blow me sideways, bike and all, while I was rounding a corner. Not as in turning the bike to go sideways, but as in trying to go straight and have the entire thing shifted one inch to the lee of the wind, me, bike, books, everything.
The southern part of the campus also smelled a bit like cows. thanks to the wind, which is the only indications I've seen over the past few months of their continuing presence.
and spills my soup upon the floor.
I read that poem in fifth grade, which did not mean all that much to me (still remember the teacher trying to explain what 'chicken soup' was to me using words that I know).
Yesterday was very windy. Gusty. Blustery. It was not technically March yet (aside from the parts of the world with the time differences that allow them to celebrate March early), but it was windy enough so that the grey skies of the morning looked...guileless, that's what..guilelessly blue by one in the afternoon and at three, going to bio, the wind first tried to steal my hat and then ended up blow me sideways, bike and all, while I was rounding a corner. Not as in turning the bike to go sideways, but as in trying to go straight and have the entire thing shifted one inch to the lee of the wind, me, bike, books, everything.
The southern part of the campus also smelled a bit like cows. thanks to the wind, which is the only indications I've seen over the past few months of their continuing presence.
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