Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Survey Says....

"I've experienced life, and I'm here to tell you it's overrated." - Murphy (Murphy Brown)

Bunch 'o links:

Technology and Family: "Study shows modern families grappling with technology overload" and "Families pack 43 hours of activity into 1 day: study"

Statistics and show anything. Seriously, anything: "Computer games linked to plump children"

Now this was very interesting: "Canadian scientists reveal Mona Lisa mysteries in 3D"

"'Cannibal' Dinosaur Wrongly Accused, Study Says"

Well, I better get back to my homework and office hours! Today is actually sunny and so was Monday. It has been a nice change from all the rain. Of course, thunderstorms are predicted for tomorrow. However, I plan on enjoying the sun while I can!

Monday, September 25, 2006

Movie of the Day: Bridget Jones's Diary

"We have blue soup to start, orange pudding to end, and, well, for a main course you have, uh, congealed green gunge." - Mark Darcy (Bridget Jones's Diary)

I actually saw the second movie first. So I decided to watch the first one when it was run on Bravo. As minor characters there is the person from the Harry Potter movie and the guy from the new version of Battlestar. Anyway, the whole thing is just funny. It is also nifty to see the everyday girl get the guy.

Link Worthy:

"Tree Rings Offer Insights to Hurricanes"

"Report finds gender bias in university R&D"

"Universities see sharp drop in computer science majors"

Well, I better get back to working on homework. I got water in my ear over the weekend. Therefore, I have partial hear in my left ear. Which makes it quiet interesting. When I talk there is a slight echo. Anyway, I found that putting light pressure and having my head sideways appears to help and clear up my hearing. Therefore, I have been doing everything sideways :-)

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Apple-if-ic!

"I am profoundly and irreversibly screwed up." - Maggie Carpenter (Runaway Bride)

My blog title has a double meaning today. First off it is apple season here in Michigan. For those of you from Michigan you know that this when as a grade schooler you went to an apple orchard, picked an apple, and got a very little cup of cider (which was probably a good thing because you hate apple cider or maybe that was only me). No seriously, in my younger years I have been apple picking several times. It was fun - honest.

Apple season also means some of the best cinnamon donuts ever. They are fresh and they smell delightful. This of course could be a bad thing if you are trying to overall eat less calories so that you don't continue to gain weight since as a grad student you spend most of your time sitting. I wonder how many calories you burn typing? Anyway, back to the subject apples.

The second topic envolving apples is Apple's iTunes 7. I updated my version yesterday during my office hours. The new feature of Cover Flow is pretty ducky. Not that I couldn't listen to music perfectly well without it, but it is just a nice little fun thing to play with when you are completely bored during your office hours or something. Not that I am all that bored since I am so busy studying and stuff. ;-)

I have a new favorite song "I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker" by Sandi Thom. It is a really fun song that almost makes me want to sing along with it. (I say almost because I can't sing and hence don't ... unless no one is around or that kind of thing. I always wished I could sing but it is a simple fact that I can't. But that is a hold different topic for a different day).

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Bat-er-if-ic!

"Insanity runs in my family... It practically gallops." - Mortimer Brewster (Arsenic and Old Lace)

Today I received my first free book. Publishing companies send free books to instructors of courses. (Hence why every professors office has books stacked everywhere). Anyway, I got my first free book. I felt very cool for all of 15 minutes, but that is besides the point. And I am guessing that anyone even reading this doesn't even care in the slightest, so I shall move on.

James Bond meets the business world: "Lock-Pickin’ Business Card"

No comment on this one: "Thief accidentally turns himself in"

And the winner of the most unique table setting goes to: "Tea Time: Lamborghini Gallardo as ultimate centerpiece"

On an unrelated side note: I thought this comic has quiet amusing...

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Topic-less

"You can unlock any door, if you only have the key." - Mrs. Brisby (The Secret of NIMH)

For the first time in well months I had a blog that didn't start with a quote. Of course, this was mostly because I couldn't find a quote that seemed fitting. So after such an insightful blog full of spelling mistakes, I decided to go back to the kind of blogs I normally write.

Leopards don't change their spots, but search engines apparently do: "Microsoft to Unveil New Search Engine"

Now all I need is virtual popcorn: "Apple Expands Its Video Offerings"

One small step for human kind, one large leap for our friends the robots: "One small step for robots -- jumping"

Linux + phone = totally new geek toy: "User-modifiable Linux phone ships"

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Software Development : Choleric Infant

This semester I am taking another software engineering course. After talking with friends who program for a living and discussion with others I found the above relationship. From first glance you may not quiet agree. So in true grad student style I will spend several paragraphs conviencing you that it is true.

Software development of any kind absorbs significant time and most geeks are (to put it mildly) obsessive people. I am not saying this is a bad thing. Quiet the oposite. It is a very good thing. There is an Earthlink commerical where the one person explains that a geek gets it done and a nerd doesn't. So if geeks weren't the great people that they are, then I totally wouldn't be writing this blog and life as we know it won't exist. Think about how much stuff is run by computers (both hardware and software). However, I have completely fallen off of my topic. So lets get back on it.

Everyone has or has known someone with an infant. Infants absorb the parents life. A choleric infant (for those of you who don't know) is a very fussy infant. Usually, parents walk them around or bundle them up and go for long car rides. It is the constant motion that helps to calm down the child. A choleric infant complete absorbs the parents life. It is even more hands on then an infant and general the joke is that you can't (or won't) put the child down.

Every know anyone working on a huge software project? They become obsessed with the project. Life keeps moving on and they probably don't even realize it. Software projects are massive undertakings. Geeks involved just can't seem to put the project down. (Or even if they do their brain is still working on it). The issues are unknown, always changing, and quiet frankly unpredictable.

This summer I was doing a research project. For days (almost a week) I studied the code line by line trying to find the problem. It turned out to be not a coding mistake. I had made a huge error in logic. I had all the right lines of code, but I had extra I didn't need. Ask any programmer and each have dozens of similar stories.

Choleric infants are equally as unpredictable. No one knows for sure what casues choleric infants. Some are worse than others. The long and short of it is, software projects absorb ones life. Choleric infants absorbs life. Both unpredicatable. However, in the end both result in great pride, excitement, and a sense of accomplishment. Thanksfully, software projects tend to "grow up" a little faster :-)

QED.

Wednesday, September 6, 2006

Yawn with a side of snore

(I totally stole my title from an episode of Fraggle Rock)...

Office hours during the first week of class = Wandering aimlessly around web in hopes of not dropping dead from being bored. Actually, it really isn't that bad. I have been updating lectures and assignments for my class. I all really not complaining since I am actually enjoying the silence. However, it does get to one after 2+ hours. But enough about that lets move on to topics that are significantly more interesting.

News Bits:
What? You mean all of those cartoons where not based in scientific research? "Put that in your mousetrap: mice don't like cheese"

No comment: "Speeding driver blames lack of goats"

Doesn't this sound like the plotline to a Sci-Fi movie? "Software does judge's job in China"

"IBM wins hybrid supercomputer deal"

Tuesday, September 5, 2006

School Starts Again

"My strange and bizzare mystery has just gone stranger and bizarerer" - Red (Fraggle Rock)

Hello! It is my first day back at school. I am back teaching the same material. Which is pretty cool. It is a lot about looking at all the material I have developed and updating (or in a few cases making some minor changes). I already have the first couple of lectures and assignments done.

I hate to admit it - but I actually haven't been reading the geek news. A shock, I know. I had taking most of August and part of July off. (As explained in earlier posts). Therefore, I wasn't on my computer very much. But not to worry when I went out of town for a couple of days the computer did come with me. I haven't completely lost my geeky-ness.

I was sad to see Stargate SG-1 did not get renewed for another season. At least there will still be Atlantis. The number of TV shows I watch is shrinking fast. And to show just how much of a weirdo I am I decided to tell you which shows those are.

Drive Thru History - It's a good show about history, honest. Although at times it gets a little bit "how does this relate to stuff out of the Bible" it is really interesting. The host is very amusing. This is not you average boring old history show.

$40 a day with Rachael Ray - there is travel, there is food, what's not to like?

I Want That Tech Toys - although I often have seen the stuff already I will run this show in the background will doing other things.

House Hunters - I like to try and guess which house they are going to buy. Again another great background show.

Go ahead - you can say it: "Stephany has weird tastes". Anyway, those are a couple of the shows I have been watching. Otherwise, it is stuff on DVD and old movies. I have a current obsession with old movies. Well, I better get going. Lots to do these first few days.