"The nerve of those Whos. Inviting me down there — and on such short notice. Even if I wanted to go, my schedule wouldn't allow it. 4:00, wallow in self pity; 4:30, stare into the abyss; 5:00, solve world hunger, tell no one. 5:30, Jazzercize. 6:30, dinner with me. I can't cancel that again. 7:00, wrestle with my self-loathing — I'm booked. Of course, if I bump the loathing to nine, I could still be done in time to lay in bed, stare at the ceiling, and slip slowly into madness. (pause) But what would I wear?" - The Grinch (How the Grinch Stole Christmas )
You know the Nike logo - "Just do it"? Well finally someone has (and no one really seems to be reporting all that much about it). The rapidly raising costs of health care has been sighted as one of the U.S's biggest problems.
Now Walmart and Meijers are actually doing something about it. (And you all know what a huge un-fan of Walmart I am). Walmart is starting to offer $4 drugs. Meijers has also jumped in offer free antibiotics and several other drugs. (Information regarding Michigan I suggest this article.
My biggest surprise was the lack of news "excitment". But I guess it doesn't really have much drama to it. However, this kind of stuff effects most people. Most health plans (especially if you are like me and have the student kind) don't cover simple prescriptions like antibiotics. I am glad to see that stores are stepping up and doing something. Now if the press would just get on the bandwagon and let the people know...but that is a whole 'nother issue.
New favorite song on the week: "Bring On The Wonder" by Susan Enan (as heard on an episode of Bones).
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Sunday, October 15, 2006
And We Fade Into Blackness...
"It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what." - Harper Lee ("To kill a Mockingbird")
Go Blue! "Researchers make nanosheets that mimic protein formation"
I never thought I would see the word wobbly and extinction in the same sentance: "Wobbly Earth causes climate change, extinctions: researchers"
I got my winter/fall catalog from Bath and Body Works in the mail yesturday. I noticed a new/different flavor of their Aromatheraphy line called Black Currant Vanilla. Their Fall Temptations almost looked good enough to eat!
I haven't been watching tv except for two shows Battlestar Galactica (Friday night) and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (Monday night). In Battlestar the humans continue to fight the toasters. On Studio 60 they are going to have the guest star/singer Sting perform "Fields Of Gold". The show is full of touching, only-seen-on-an-Aaron Sorkin-show kind of moment. If you are not watching Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, you aren't watching good television. Of course, don't let my opinion influence you or anything ;-)
Well, I better get back to work. Semester is definatly in full swing. Lots of exams and homework came falling down, just like the first snow fall. Always to soon and it never sticks around long enough...
Go Blue! "Researchers make nanosheets that mimic protein formation"
I never thought I would see the word wobbly and extinction in the same sentance: "Wobbly Earth causes climate change, extinctions: researchers"
I got my winter/fall catalog from Bath and Body Works in the mail yesturday. I noticed a new/different flavor of their Aromatheraphy line called Black Currant Vanilla. Their Fall Temptations almost looked good enough to eat!
I haven't been watching tv except for two shows Battlestar Galactica (Friday night) and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (Monday night). In Battlestar the humans continue to fight the toasters. On Studio 60 they are going to have the guest star/singer Sting perform "Fields Of Gold". The show is full of touching, only-seen-on-an-Aaron Sorkin-show kind of moment. If you are not watching Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, you aren't watching good television. Of course, don't let my opinion influence you or anything ;-)
Well, I better get back to work. Semester is definatly in full swing. Lots of exams and homework came falling down, just like the first snow fall. Always to soon and it never sticks around long enough...
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Snow Comes A'nocking
Song Obsession of the day: "How to Save a Life" by The Fray
Quote for today: "One's destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things." - Henry Miller
It is Snowing and it's not even Halloween yet!?! When I was coming back from class a few minutes ago it looked like a little mini-blizard. OK, I think they over shot that "snow shower" prediction. However, it is 32 degrees out so there is snow on the glass. The roads mostly are wet (or atleast that was way earlier this morning when I left). Good thing I could find my warm winter coat in the closet. Seriously, it was like 69 on Monday.
News Linkies:
No, I am not from Michigan, I just temporarily live here: "Mich. Board OKs Curriculum on Evolution"
We learn something new everyday: "Rapid Sea Level Rise in the Arctic Ocean May Alter Views of Human Migration"
Everything is being Google-fied. Nothing is safe, not even writing or spread sheets: "Google launches online writing and spread sheet service" (Of course, I really believe this is a good thing - honest).
The seven secrets of successful programmers (which almost no programmer ever does until they work on a huge project and someone else is going to have to read their code).
Keep you data save, have Darth Vador guard it: "Limited Edition Star Wars USB Flashdrives"
Oh so funny (and somewhat true) comic.
There is no shortage of people bring out video/music players: "Sony says developing video Walkman"
Thanks for stopping by and reading! Stay warm (and dry)!
Quote for today: "One's destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things." - Henry Miller
It is Snowing and it's not even Halloween yet!?! When I was coming back from class a few minutes ago it looked like a little mini-blizard. OK, I think they over shot that "snow shower" prediction. However, it is 32 degrees out so there is snow on the glass. The roads mostly are wet (or atleast that was way earlier this morning when I left). Good thing I could find my warm winter coat in the closet. Seriously, it was like 69 on Monday.
News Linkies:
No, I am not from Michigan, I just temporarily live here: "Mich. Board OKs Curriculum on Evolution"
We learn something new everyday: "Rapid Sea Level Rise in the Arctic Ocean May Alter Views of Human Migration"
Everything is being Google-fied. Nothing is safe, not even writing or spread sheets: "Google launches online writing and spread sheet service" (Of course, I really believe this is a good thing - honest).
The seven secrets of successful programmers (which almost no programmer ever does until they work on a huge project and someone else is going to have to read their code).
Keep you data save, have Darth Vador guard it: "Limited Edition Star Wars USB Flashdrives"
Oh so funny (and somewhat true) comic.
There is no shortage of people bring out video/music players: "Sony says developing video Walkman"
Thanks for stopping by and reading! Stay warm (and dry)!
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Life, Snow, Homework...Not always in that order
Today's song obsession: "Savin' Me" by Nickelback
"Doesn't make us right, Colonel, just a whole lot of people wrong." - Apollo (Battlestar Galactica)
Yep, my song obsession for today is the one from the Battlestar Galactica commericals on Sci-Fi channel. I really didn't pay that much attention to it until maybe the 10th time I saw the commerical. At that point I had to figure out what song it was and find a copy of the song. I thought I had it - it was just finding it that was the interesting part. The hardest part was trying to find time to find the song.
It was been a very busy few weeks. The homework is definately starting to come pouring in. Plus, I am giving a midterm on Thursday. Students have been emailing me questions regarding the course (which involved my typing answers this morning at 2 AM). Not that I minded or anything. I am happy to answer student questions. Actually, I am really excited to do so. However, it tells one a lot about themselves if they are up at 2 AM answering emails.
UML and profiles are still giving me a difficult time. I feel like my diagrams are still missing something. However, my small problem is that I don't know what they are missing. So, I am simply going on a gut feeling that something is missing. (OK, everyone say it together: "Stephany is an obsessive grad student and is going crazier by the day").
Snow is schedules on the forcast for the evening out here in the "wilds" of Michigans far side. It has been raining since last night and will turn to snow over night. I think the fall just came womping in. The high for tomorrow is something like 40. Get out the sweaters and turtlenecks!
"Microsoft Tests OneCare Beta for Vista"
"Scientists find more bones of big camels"
Now if you will excuse me, I have to get back to staring at a bunch of diagrams hoping that I get some sort of amazing revelation. Of course, that isn't a complaint, more of a wish or hope. I like what we are doing, just while one is trying to grasp the concepts it can be a bit tiring.
Anyway, stay warm and dry!
"Doesn't make us right, Colonel, just a whole lot of people wrong." - Apollo (Battlestar Galactica)
Yep, my song obsession for today is the one from the Battlestar Galactica commericals on Sci-Fi channel. I really didn't pay that much attention to it until maybe the 10th time I saw the commerical. At that point I had to figure out what song it was and find a copy of the song. I thought I had it - it was just finding it that was the interesting part. The hardest part was trying to find time to find the song.
It was been a very busy few weeks. The homework is definately starting to come pouring in. Plus, I am giving a midterm on Thursday. Students have been emailing me questions regarding the course (which involved my typing answers this morning at 2 AM). Not that I minded or anything. I am happy to answer student questions. Actually, I am really excited to do so. However, it tells one a lot about themselves if they are up at 2 AM answering emails.
UML and profiles are still giving me a difficult time. I feel like my diagrams are still missing something. However, my small problem is that I don't know what they are missing. So, I am simply going on a gut feeling that something is missing. (OK, everyone say it together: "Stephany is an obsessive grad student and is going crazier by the day").
Snow is schedules on the forcast for the evening out here in the "wilds" of Michigans far side. It has been raining since last night and will turn to snow over night. I think the fall just came womping in. The high for tomorrow is something like 40. Get out the sweaters and turtlenecks!
"Microsoft Tests OneCare Beta for Vista"
"Scientists find more bones of big camels"
Now if you will excuse me, I have to get back to staring at a bunch of diagrams hoping that I get some sort of amazing revelation. Of course, that isn't a complaint, more of a wish or hope. I like what we are doing, just while one is trying to grasp the concepts it can be a bit tiring.
Anyway, stay warm and dry!
Saturday, October 7, 2006
UML, Profiles, and Fall Colors
"Best defense is a good offense." - Storm (X-Men III: The Last Stand)
This weekends homework involved UML (both class diagrams and object diagrams). Of course, these aren't your normal diagrams. We are actually using a concept called Profiles to extend the metamodel (of UML). The metamodel of UML is kind of a like a class diagram of class diagrams.
I know it sounds like so much fun, I bet you are jealous! (OK, so I can't probably say that with a straight face to anyone...)
It is the weekend! I am starting to catch up on all that great sleep I have been missing out on this week. It is a great Michigan fall weekend. It isn't too cold yet, but the trees are a brilliant shade of orange, red, and yellow. I have started to hunt out my long sleeve shirts and light-weight sweaters for a few of the crisper mornings.
I actually got to do a little shopping today. And I truely mean a little. Chocolate is a very "in" color this year. Not that I have anything against it. (And many of you know just how much I like chocolate). I find it surprising how much I like brown shades. I kind of considered myself a huge fan of black, but brown is a nice change. Of course, black is definately a "basic" and "classic" but I am thinking that many brown pieces could be considered very close to "classics".
Well, I better get back to homework. I still have a midterm to write!
Happy Fall everyone! Hope you enjoy the wonderful colors :-)
This weekends homework involved UML (both class diagrams and object diagrams). Of course, these aren't your normal diagrams. We are actually using a concept called Profiles to extend the metamodel (of UML). The metamodel of UML is kind of a like a class diagram of class diagrams.
I know it sounds like so much fun, I bet you are jealous! (OK, so I can't probably say that with a straight face to anyone...)
It is the weekend! I am starting to catch up on all that great sleep I have been missing out on this week. It is a great Michigan fall weekend. It isn't too cold yet, but the trees are a brilliant shade of orange, red, and yellow. I have started to hunt out my long sleeve shirts and light-weight sweaters for a few of the crisper mornings.
I actually got to do a little shopping today. And I truely mean a little. Chocolate is a very "in" color this year. Not that I have anything against it. (And many of you know just how much I like chocolate). I find it surprising how much I like brown shades. I kind of considered myself a huge fan of black, but brown is a nice change. Of course, black is definately a "basic" and "classic" but I am thinking that many brown pieces could be considered very close to "classics".
Well, I better get back to homework. I still have a midterm to write!
Happy Fall everyone! Hope you enjoy the wonderful colors :-)
Tuesday, October 3, 2006
One Month Down...
"Now we all have a great need for acceptance, but you must trust that your beliefs are unique, your own, even though others may think them odd or unpopular, even though the herd may go, that's baaaaad. Robert Frost said, 'Two roads diverged in the wood and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.'" - John Keating (Dead Poets Society)
Discover the origins of the universe, get Nobel Prize - cool: "Nobel in Physics Is Awarded to 2 Americans"
Wait - there was a company that Microsoft didn't already own? "Microsoft Buys Desktop Firm "
"Forget the Big Bang -- it's more a Deep Hum" - so are they going to change the name?
I know you think that this next article is kind of odd - "Surveys Shape Museum Exhibits on Science" but I suggest taking a look. (Hey, I know dinos came before humans. However, that doesn't seem to be true of everyone).
"MGM to Launch New Official SG-1 Site" - I haven't had a chance to go look yet, but it sounds very ducky.
Only in New Jersey: "New Jersey begins taxing iTS downloads like CDs and armored cars"
Can you believe it? It is October already. I was shocked. Now I just have to live through October, November, and part of December ;-)
The "fun-ness" of the week - ASM, Java, and Stephany hitting head on wall. I am working on using ASM to monitor a java class file. Using ASM I am suppose to re-create the classes, methods, and variables. Well, as much as one can. Basically enough info for UML class diagrams. Lets just say it is going slow. Oh and java 1.5 is so much better than 1.4.
Now if you will excuse me, I have some hitting my head on the wall...err...I mean programming to do. Assuming I don't fall asleep during my office hours...4 hours of sleep and I start getting a bit loopy.
Auto-lights are a great thing. Except when the room is your office, there are only two of you there, and you spend most of you time sitting. The lights keep turing off plunging us into darkness...
Discover the origins of the universe, get Nobel Prize - cool: "Nobel in Physics Is Awarded to 2 Americans"
Wait - there was a company that Microsoft didn't already own? "Microsoft Buys Desktop Firm "
"Forget the Big Bang -- it's more a Deep Hum" - so are they going to change the name?
I know you think that this next article is kind of odd - "Surveys Shape Museum Exhibits on Science" but I suggest taking a look. (Hey, I know dinos came before humans. However, that doesn't seem to be true of everyone).
"MGM to Launch New Official SG-1 Site" - I haven't had a chance to go look yet, but it sounds very ducky.
Only in New Jersey: "New Jersey begins taxing iTS downloads like CDs and armored cars"
Can you believe it? It is October already. I was shocked. Now I just have to live through October, November, and part of December ;-)
The "fun-ness" of the week - ASM, Java, and Stephany hitting head on wall. I am working on using ASM to monitor a java class file. Using ASM I am suppose to re-create the classes, methods, and variables. Well, as much as one can. Basically enough info for UML class diagrams. Lets just say it is going slow. Oh and java 1.5 is so much better than 1.4.
Now if you will excuse me, I have some hitting my head on the wall...err...I mean programming to do. Assuming I don't fall asleep during my office hours...4 hours of sleep and I start getting a bit loopy.
Auto-lights are a great thing. Except when the room is your office, there are only two of you there, and you spend most of you time sitting. The lights keep turing off plunging us into darkness...
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