Final Friday

"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest." - Mark Twain

Today, the class I teach takes their exam. Yep, I think we are the last exam being run. Seriously - up on the engineering campus anyway. This part of campus is pretty much dead.

As I handed out the exam I remembered why I don't always love Word so much. There was multiple choice on the exam. When I went to make my solution key - I noticed a small error. I am talking one character change! So I fixed it and printed out a new version. Took it to be copied. Anyway, I handed them out to my class to find that it had altered the multiple choice headers from A, B, C, D to A, A, A, A! Ugh! Oh and it did it to the first 2 pages of multiple choice, but not the third?!?

I just don't get it. It was a tad annoying. Nothing that bad - I had them circle the correct choice since there was absolutely nothing I could do about it at this point. Well, it was better then last term when I skipped question number 4. I had number 3 followed by number 5. Yep, I am a grad student - no I can't count :)

Here is some news you might care about (or not):
"Science may hold the clue to an ancient riddle"

For your inner geek: "Charge-n-Start: jump your car from the driver's seat"

"Wal-marts Wikipedia War" - I just think I will say, no comment on this one...

Let Love In

"And I wonder where these dreams go
When the world gets in your way
What’s the point in all this screaming
No one’s listening anyway"
From Acoustic #3 by Goo Goo Dolls

I purchased the newest Goo Goo Dolls CD (Let Love In) on Tuesday. Excellent CD! It was a great CD to listen to in the car. The CD has the song "Better Days" on it - which has got to the second best song of the Goo Goo Dolls. (The first being "Iris").

The term is almost over for me. I have to give an exam tomorrow morning. However, my exams are complete. I have been catching up on my sleep. I have even had a chance to working on my stack of "fun" reading. Oh and I also bought a new pair of sandals! (Yes, I have a thing for sandals...well shoes in general...most of them are black...but I say to each their own...) Lets just move on...

I also wanted to point out the following article: "Our Universe: A Quantum Loop". Oh and I wanted to point out another article: "Google Puts Money Behind Firefox Movement".

The truth is out there...or not...

Well, I hope you are enjoying your spring weather as much as I am enjoying mine. It is in the mid 60's here in Michigan. There is a slight breeze making everything seem so very nice and relaxing. Thanks for stopping by and reading!

Sunday Linkies...

"Sometimes all it takes is a voice, one voice that becomes a hundred, then a thousand, unless it's silenced." - Bryan Denton (Newsies)

Sorry for the lack of updated. I have an exam Monday morning (8 AM) and my take home exam is due at 11 AM. I haven't had much time for anything else. I decided to take a five minute break and post up a blog really quick.

News Related:
"Future Computer Chips Could Be Cooled With Nanofluid"

"Microsoft, EU to face off in court over massive antitrust fine" - that's not good...

I am just going to post the link to this article, but I am not going to comment on it.

Other stuff:
No comment but it doesn't surprise me that there is a site for it.

I don't think we have a phone in our office...

Bunch of Linkies....

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

Go Apple Go! The Light is Green: "Apple's Safari showing major growth amongst browsers"

Try saying this five times fast: "Code for 'Unbreakable' Quantum Encryption Generated at Record Speed over Fiber"

The lastest regarding everyone's favorite: "Google, Sony create online 'Da Vinci' game"

Technology helping to fight crime: "Digital camera 'fingerprinting' developed"

Opps: "MS patch glitch cripples HP computers"

"Supercomputer simulates black hole collision" - my question: ummm...OK...why? According to the article: "breakthrough in the observation of black holes and in the understanding of the entire universe".

Today it is suppose to be (surprisingly) be in the 70s here in good old Michigan. Actually, for a change we have been having pretty nice weather. But as always the case with Michigan springs the weather is just a tad unpredictable.

I wrote this blog while having office hours. Of course, I don't think anyone will actually come, but I am having the office hours. These are the last office hours I am having for this term. I won't be having an office hours until the summer term. I got a job teaching a lab section of an intro class. It should be interesting. It is on the "main" part of campus which I have only ever visited twice.

Well thanks for stopping by and reading and all that. I should go do something productive and whatnot...hmmm...yeah...

April Music Obsessions

(and other rambles about who knows what...)

"I think you're brilliant. But there is a fine line between brilliance and lunacy." - Clark (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman)

I decided that, due to a lack of anything better to blog about, I would subject you to my list of favorite music (at the moment). Honestly, this is the iTunes playlist I am listening to at this very moment. So anyway, this may be totally boring to you but what the heck...

• Big Yellow Taxi by Counting Crows
  
• Better Days by Goo Goo Dolls
• Bright Lights by Matchbox Twenty
• Thinking Over by Dana Glover
• 100 Years by Five For Fighting
• Savin' Me by Nickelback
• Nothings Changed by The Calling
• Wunderkind by Alanis Morissette
• Clocks by Coldplay
• Welcome to Wherever You Are by Bon Jovi
  

All weekend (OK, since Sunday) I listened to Wunderkind by Alanis Morissette (from the Narnia soundtrack) quiet a bit. It is a song that just makes me want to listen to it over and over and over again.

Actually, come to think of it most of the songs on this list are that way - for me that is. Most of these songs have the same "feel" to them - well maybe with the exception of Bright Lights by Matchbox Twenty it is a little bit different. Of course, if you pick any other song by Matchbox Twenty it would complete fit in the above list.

Other stuff:

"Paint-on laser could rescue computer chip industry from 'interconnect bottleneck'"

For the hidden MacGyver in you: How to Make a Potato Clock

"Enormous Meat-Loving Dinosaur Found"

"Octopuses have trick elbows"

Hope I didn't completelty put you to sleep. Thanks for stopping by and reading!

Happy Easter!

"I suppose I'm a lemon! " - Hannah Brown (Easter Parade)

Saw a couple of news items I wanted to point out really quick before I get back to studying and what-not...

For those who 'dig' ancient stuff: "Ancient seaside villa found near Rome". (I know horrible, horrible pun, forgive me).

Soon to be TV movie: "Robots embedded at school in quest to bond with humans"

For the geek in you: "Quantum dots self-tune their color for ultra-efficient nano lasers"

Hope you enjoy your day! Well, I better get back to studying...and what-not...

Music to blog by: Soundtrack to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
(There is even an song sung by Alanis Morisette - ducky!)

Sandals are my friend!

"Your space ship is double parked in my living room." - Tim O'Hara (My Favorite Martian)

It is a wonderful 70+ here in Michigan. I have been testing out my sandals this past week. Seriously, I love sandals. Spring has finally arrived in Michigan - now that the spring term has ended. The irony.

I have picked out a couple of news articles that I thought you might find interesting:

From the Final Frontier: "ESA Sends First Images of Venus " and "NASA employees mark shuttle anniversary"

"Microsoft Searching in Academia" - this reminds me of something...hmmm...where have I heard of something almost exactly like this before? Oh wait I remember now. (Sorry to all my Microsoft employed friends...)

"Virtual reality gets real"

I honestly can't believe I am posting a link to this. (If you are not a Quicktime/Apple fan there are more links here to other formats).

For those of you who celebrate Easter - Happy Easter! For everyone - Happy Weekend! Hope you are able to enjoy this nice spring weather. Of course, it is in the 70s and I am inside on my computer doing work...but...but I did go outside today for like 15 minutes. I can see the outside...does that count?

GSBO and Bunnies...

"What, am I supposed to everything? You want me to fly the airplane, you want me to work the radio, what are you gonna... What are you, the hostess?" - Benjy Benjamin (It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World)

This is annual GSBU (Graduate Student Burn Out) Week. This is the close of the second to last week of classes. We have been in school all year, projects are being due and exams are coming up. Fun times :-P I threw the bunnies in the title because some one gave me a small "lucky" bunny today (Thanks Mohamed!)

Where is some news articles I wanted to point because...they was there...yeah...
"High efficiency flat light source invented"

Sci-Fi meets real life: "'Tractor beam' traps protein molecules"

Latest from everyone's favorite: "Google Launches Web Calendar"

For those of you who want to be just like Daniel Jackson from Stargate SG-1: "Ethiopian bone-anza buttresses human family tree"

Happy Weekend Folks! Here in Michigan we are enjoying the wonderful sunny skies and 70 degree weather! Yippee. Hope yours is as nice. Now I have to go and help students at a lab. It should be fun, fun, fun!

Needs a Good Laugh

" Let me give you a little life lesson about thieves. They're not really in touch with their feminine side." - Jack O'Neill (Stargate SG-1)

EDIT: I found two articles that I wanted to post links to. "Jumpy eggs caught on camera" and "TicTac flashlight" for the hidden MacGyver in you. Now you can go back to whatever you were doing that I am sure is way, way more important!

I sort of stumbled into finding two new funny articles. So I figured that we all need a good laugh. Enjoy the links!

Or maybe their library books were overdue?

Opps...missed it by that much...

Other stuff:

Science meets everyday: "No More Broken Antennas at the Carwash"

Check out the latest geek toy... Oh and while you are there look at the iTod the toddlers MP3 player. (Nope, not kidding).

Spring Might Be Here!

"If the Witch understood the true meaning of sacrifice, she would have interpreted the deep magic differently. That when a willing victim who has committed no wrong, offers himself in a traitor's stead, the stone table will crack, and death itself will go backwards. " - Aslan (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)

Happy Tuesday! We are having a surprisingly warm day here in Michigan (low 70s!) Of course they are forcasting rain for tomorrow, so I am enjoying the sunny and warm weather while I can. (I even wore sandals today!)

Wow! "Disney puts hit TV programmes online for free"

Science meets history: "Benjamin Franklin's London House
Opens Its Doors"

Because Easter is coming up: Read all about Jelly Beans and the Easter Bunny. To learn the religious reasons for the Easter Bunny I recommend this link.

I am currently hanging out at my office hours. (When am I not?) I gave my last lecture for CS1060. Next week I am running a review session, but today I covered my last topic sequential and binary search. It is weird that the semester is coming to end. There are two weeks of classes and one week of exams. Yikes.

Well, thanks for stopping by and reading. I have to get back to work. Although the semester is coming to a close I have a lot of stuff to wrap up over the next three weeks. Hope you are all enjoying the weather as much as I am. Now if you will excuse me I have to go figure out what I am taking in the fall. Choices, choices, so many choices....

Observations

"Captain, where there's a will, there's an 'or.'" - Jack O'Neill (Stargate SG-1)

Yesterday I filled out all of my tax stuff. I had five to do. One for the state I use to work in, one for the city I use to work in, one for the school district for the city I use to work in, one for the state that I am a permenant resistent, and one for the federal government. I don't recommend working in two different states (and going to two different schools) during the same year. Part of the confussion had to do with the different ways the tuition is covered. Plus, one school just did pay checks and one school has pay checks and a stipend. Yeah, it was a lot of fun :-P

On my drive out to school I made several observations that I decided to share with you all. Why? I haven't the foggiest idea. But when has that ever stopped me?

About half way to school I pass Fort Custer. As I was approching the exits for the Fort Custer area there were huge billboards advertising a hotel never Fort Custer on Sprinkle Road. (Just think for a minute about that one if you don't get it right off).

WMU has huge billoards advertising various areas of the University (Engineering, Natural Science, Aviation, etc) along the expressway. Each of these billboards are very close to exits for various community colleges between here and Ann Arbor. Coincidence or what?

Well, now that I have shared enough of the blah, blah, blah of my life lets move on to other stuff...
Space the Final Frontier News: "NASA Adds Moon Crashing Probes to LRO Mission"

I saw two articles regarding health. Fatty plaques beware: "Free-electron laser targets fat". Also (and more importantly), Nanoparticles armed to combat cancer

Google Wonderful: "Google buys new search algorithm"

Well, my 5 minute break is over. I have to get back to my projects (which are due this week)...

Go Go Animals...

"And that information could save your life one day." - Jack O'Neill (Stargate SG-1)

Edit - had to add the following: Yet another amazing services via your cell phone (oh yea, you better bet I am being sarcastic)

Long live the penguins

"Ancient Ants Arose 140-168 Million Years Ago"

"Museum unveils world's largest T-rex skull"

If you are looking for some ducky space wallpapers to jazz up your computer I suggest this site

Don't forget to watch this weeks episode ("Election Day II") of The West Wing on Sunday night. Reviews suggest that the next two weeks episodes are going to very moving since they are dealing with the death of a great character (and actor).

Happy Saturday people! Hope you are having a sunny day like I am! (Although, it is only in the low 40s temperature wise so you don't have to be to jealous).

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

"Packing food. You'll thank me later. Mr. Beaver gets cranky when he's hungry." - Mrs. Beaver (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)

I watched The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe last night. Wonderful, wonderful movie. The music was absolutely magically. I am so going to have to buy the CD. The graphics were stunning and well integrated into the live action scenes. It came out on DVD this week and if you haven't seen it you should. (However, I am guessing that almost everyone but me has seen it already).

By the way today is World Health Day.

Like Halo? Then don't read this comic. My apologies for the premoting of making fun of the evil...err...Microsoft and Bungie. (Honest, I don't hate them. I know some very nice people who work at Microsoft. It's not my fault that they end up being make fun of in various comics. OK, it is my fault that I point out these comics...but well...yeah, I don't have an excuse for that one...err...sorry?)

Moving on: "New data storage design likely to increase data capacity"

Soon to be plot of make for TV sci-fi movie: "Viruses 'trained' to build tiny batteries"

That's all the time I have for today's fun filled blog. Happy reading and happy weekend! I am going to now go bury myself under all my work for my projects...

(Updates will probably become very random for the next two weeks).

Linky, Linky...

"Just trust me, it's a math thing." - Sam Carter (Stargate SG-1)

Today in class we learned all about Amdahl's law. Bascially (the nuts and bolts definition) Amdahl's law tells us that regardless of the number of processors we have, there is a ceiling for the value of the speed-up we can obtain (from adding additional processors). Amdahl's law has significant influence on parallel computing.

Edit: (added link I forgot to post the first time) "Chameleon clothing lets you vanish into the background"

"NBC Tries Speed Ads"

"RFID Robot: Someone to Watch Over Me"

"'Link' Between Fish and Land Animals Found"

Well, I better get going I have to try and figure out how to write a make file for C++. I has been what like 5 years since I have written one of those. Ugh. I have to write it for this evening. Good thing there is Google.

Let's Watch Movies

"I have a theory about this..." - Jake (Must Love Dogs)

Over the past month (and then some) I have finally watched all of two movies: Must Love Dogs and Raising Helen. Both were pretty funny movies. If you are a fan of romantic comedies then Must Love Dogs is a must see. Raising Helen is a great comedy with a lot of interesting characters. Anyway, I recommend both movies. (Both movies have a great soundtrack). My descriptions are totally not doing the movies justice. So just go see them for yourself (if you haven't seen them already).

Complete side note: I wanted to point out the following article - "Huge 1,500-year-old pyramid discovered in Mexico"

Well, that's all I have to report. I have to get up extremely early for my classes tomorrow. Plus, I still have a lot of project work to do. Yikes, projects are due this coming Tuesday! The semester is quickly coming to an end - I can't believe it. Of course, I am having a hard time believing that it is April. Maybe it is the whole not having a life thing because I am in grad school. Hmm...I am going to have to think about that in a few weeks when I have time ;-)

I want to take a moment and mention something important. I love grad school. Honest. Would I be going through all of this if I didn't? There are days where I wonder about my sanity, but I think that would be true regardless of me being in grad school. I view this as sort term sacrifice of things (like life, eating 'good' food, sleeping, mental health, etc) for long time rewards. Benificts you ask? Seriously, who wouldn't want to make everyone call them Dr.? (Just kidding, I don't think I would make people do that...although it would be tempting...no really I don't think I could keep a straight face while they did it).

Anyway, I wanted to clarify that important point, because I wouldn't want people to get the wrong impression. Grad school is absolutely wonderful. I recommend that everyone try it. (You don't know you won't like it unless you try it!) It has been an extremely cool experience. I can't even begin to describe to you how wonderful getting to teach has been. So if you were considering it - my advice: go for it.

Well enough of my rambles. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great weekend! :-)

Today's music to blog by: Torn by Natalie Imbruglia

Oh, Gosh!

"There's always a chance, Doctor, as long as one can think." - Basil (The Great Mouse Detective)

Look a blog title without the word bunnies in it! (I know you all must be shocked). I will have to think up a new title theme. Back when I started this blog I actually had themes for each blog entry. Now it has become a bunch of rambles by me.

However, you are in for a little surprise. I am going to talk about cell phones. Why because I say this article: "Disney's phone lets kids talk at parents' discretion".

Now before I start, I just want to say that I have a cell phone. I love my cell phone. I have had a cell phone of some sort since I was 16. My parents got me a cell phone for Christmas. Do you remember the cell phone ads with the Jetsons and the phone ringing under the Christmas tree? Yep, my parents did that. It was pretty funny at the time. Where was I? Oh right the cell phones.

I have a cell phone. It goes everywhere with me. I think they are an excellent thing to have. I am not against kids having them. Actually, I think it is great that they make cell phones for kids. I remember with I was signficantly younger (and before I had a cell phone - so think ancient). I would spend hours and hours during the summer at the ice rink. Back then if we needed to call home we had to put 25 cents into a pay phone to call our parents. (See what did I tell you ancient history).

Anyway, cell phones are a big issue right now. And these new kids phones are the talk of the town. I think they are a wonderful idea. If I had a kid, I would get them one. Of course, you know they have to be popular if Disney is going to make one.

Yep, that is really what I wanted to say regarding cell phones. Now that I think about it I haven't a clue why I just wrote this big long blog. Hmm...I originally thought I had some sort of idea going there. Well, it's gone now. Thanks for listening to me rant. Maybe later I will write a blog that has a purpose. Wait, I never write blogs with purpose. Well, I will write another blog anyway. (Got to give you something to read right?)

More Bunnies...

"Once again, my life has been saved by the miracle of lasagna. " - Garfield (Garfield)

Hello and welcome to Tuesday! The sun is shining and it is in the 40s, but did I mention it was sunny? Actually if you look at the clouds they look like cartoon clouds. Seriously. I am not making this up. (If I was don't you think I would think up something better than that to make up?)

I am currently having office hours. Which really means I am sitting in my office trying to look busy. I have been working on my projects actually. Oh and preping lecture notes for next Tuesday. I figure it is best to read them before I actually try to give the lecture. (Just kidding - I really do spend time preping for my lectures. However, it is easier this term since I am teaching the same class).

Oh and I decided to change the template - again. I got tired of the last one. Figured it was spring and well I decided to go for something a little brighter. The last template was good for winter, but now I want something airy. Enough of my chatter...

News because it was there:
"Professor Predicts Human Time Travel This Century"

"Alcohol cloud spotted in deep space"

Saw this site on Digg - if you are into causul web design it might be helpful.

I want one: "Company's robots want to do your chores"

I deceided to not comment on this one: "Jesus Walked on Ice, Study Says"

"Smart glasses switch focus in an instant"

"Alarm wakes sleeping astronauts on space station"

Thanks for stopping by and checking out the blog. I appriciate it. Of course, I really don't know if people are or not. I like to pretend people are coming and reading my blog. It makes me feel less silly. (The thing is I would probably write them either way). Now if I could just come up with better titles for my blogs. I think the bunnies theme is getting kind of old - 'eh?

Psychotic Bunnies...

"It's amazing the clarity that comes with psychotic jealousy." - George Downes (My Best Friend's Wedding)

At least this time the title and the quote have something to do with each other. Of course, they don't have anything to do with the blog. Unless you consider me to be psychotic, which is probably a pretty true statement. (No, I really don't think I am psychotic...I just have psychotic tendencies...)

It is Monday. The start of a new week. Michigan spring has shown up. And by spring I really mean rain season - with a possible chance of snow. Yep, they are predicting snow for tomorrow! I was a bit shocked. I don't mind the rain actually. I like watching the rain and hearing the rain. (OK, I know you are now thinking the whole psychotic thing might not be that far off. So lets just move on...)

I predict that it is going to be a wonderful week. I am looking forward to Wednesday since it is ice skating day :-) (It is an hour where I pretend like I have a real life and that I exercise and eat health food).

News for you:
"Record ocean waves are recorded"

"Google Outwits Others in Search"

I always wondered what people with billions of dollors did. Now we know.

What it means to be a grad student...

Bunnies with Little Hats...

"In mathematics you don't understand things. You just get used to them." - Johann von Neumann

It took me a while to find a quote for today's blog. I really could think of one I wanted. Of course I also had a hard time coming up with a title for this blog. Maybe because I have to fit the word bunnies into it and well that just makes the whole thing harder.

So what results is a blog title that doesn't make any sense and a random quote that well I sort of tossed in there for good measure. Give me a break. It is Sunday night. Over the weekend I have left the house twice - both for about an hour (for lunch).

I have been working on stuff all weekend except 8-9 PM in which I watched The West Wing. I thought this weeks episode was interesting and different. If I was asked to summerize the episode as a plot builder and character relationship builder episode. It ended in a typical episode cliff hanger way, but not a lot of big things happened in the episode Lots and lots of little things happened. But enough of my rambling becuase most of you probably don't care what I thought about the episode. So shall we move on?

"Nicotine interferes with chemotherapy, study finds" - I want to comment on this, but I deceided against it.

Same is true of this article.

"The convenience of an ATM, but so much more"

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you had a happy weekend.

April Showers Bring Bunnies

"Why, so you can be king of Groundhog Day?" - Jack O'Neill (Stargate SG-1)

Favorite Music to Blog by: Soundtrack to Finding Nemo

For the Stargate Fans: StargateWiki and the Blog.

It is Saturday and surprisingly warm (50) here in Michigan. We have had a lot of rain and storms last night. It is pretty cloudy today, but that is the normal for this time of year.

Google's April 1st joke is pretty funny this year. You should check it out if you have not already done so.

This is a joke - right?

Read all about April Fools Day on Wikipedia

Funny, yet somewhat true...OK, very true. See I admit it. Graduate students don't have a life or anything resembling one. However, I liked to point out that if people think grad students are so weird - why do so many people apply to graduate school? Huh? See, I think I made my point...maybe...OK, just leave me alone with my crazy rant...

Thanks for stopping by and reading my crazy blog. Now you can go on with your merry life and go do better things...and what-not. I will just go back to my projects and coding and homework and students emails and.....