Randomness Continued

"Wow... Dad. Tell me you're wearing that shirt because someone has to spot you from space." - Shawn Spencer (Psych)

Friday was another fun tv night. The season ender for Psych was on and yes the mummy did it. It was quiet funny episode and an interesting lead-in for next season (which will start in the summer).

The fourth to last episode of season 4 of Stargate Atlantis was also on Friday night. The wraith try to get onto earth. The whole midway station was pretty cool - while it lasted. Totally recommend watching it if you have not already done so. I just love the part where the guy faints. The look on the wraiths face - priceless.

I went shopping Friday to get gloves to match my new coat! I did find a wonderful pair that are so soft and match perfectly. I also got a pair of jeans and a shirt (all on clearance 75% off). I have my eye on some shoes, but I am waiting for further mark downs. However, I am excited to see that spring clothes and shoes (sandals - my fav) are starting to be advertised and in stores! It helps to forget about the winter wonderland outside.

Well, I better get back to my reading. Lots to do for next week. I also have a bunch of grading! Spring break is coming up and I am so looking forward to the week off. I have a bunch of books just waiting for me to read them! Thanks for stopping by and reading!

I'm Getting Old...

"I think friends should always encourage friends to get their heads examined." - Alan (Boston Legal)

I recently celebrated my birthday. It was quiet fun - I went shopping. I think I have purchased 4 pairs of shoes in the last couple of weeks. As you may remember I love shoes. However, I did have to face the fact that I have gotten another year older. Of course, I am not really feeling all that much older. (I guess I will have to give it a few years).

Current song obsession: "Walking in Memphis" by Marc Cohn: Honestly I can't really explain why I like this song so much. I just do. It has very interesting lyrics actually. But I think the thing that really gets me is the fact that song is the heavy piano parts. It is simple while being complex and elegant.

Not much else to report (hence the lack of blogs). Well, until next time...

Interesting news articles:
"Researchers Find 2,100 Year-Old Melon"

"Algorithm could help chipmakers work with tangles of nanotubes"

"Hitachi Ships Quarter-terabyte Laptop Hard Drive"

Music, Quantum Computers, etc

"Just a little bit louder, because this song is intended for humans, okay? Way Back Into Love, take two." - Alex Fletcher (Music and Lyrics)

Current Music Obsession: Soundtrack for Music and Lyrics

I recently watched Music and Lyrics on DVD. Excellent funny movie. If you haven't seen it, rush out and get it. Seriously. I don't see you rushing ;-) Just kidding. It is quiet funny. If you are into romantic comedies, this is one of the best. Plus, you get to see Hugh Grant sing and dance 80s style and if that doesn't make you laugh you are seriously not trying.

I then rushed out to purchase the soundtrack. A couple of really catchy songs. My favorites are: "Don't Write Me Off" and "Way Back Into Love". Both songs are quiet important to the plot of the movie.

Complete side note: Interesting article: "Scientists demonstrate quantum state exchange between light and matter"

My class is going well. Summer classes are so weird. You do in for the day which is really like a week in the normal term. Since I am only taking the one class it is kind of fun to just be focusing on it. Of course, I am suppose to also be narrowing down what I want to do research-wise. Unfortunately, that is on the back burner. Why? Because I like too many areas! I simply can't make up mind. (Yes, I am completely aware of my insanity. Moving on...) By the way this comic and this comic perfectly explain thesis.

Spring has arrived in Michigan. It is sunny and warm today. As normal we have had a bit of rain, but the temperatures are finally starting to pick up. Normally we are in the 70s at least and on often in the 80s. I can finally get out my short sleeve shirts and summer clothes.

I have been enjoying wearing sandals. I have my eye on a couple of interesting pairs at the store - but I have yet to buy any...yet. Of course, any of you who know me well know that it won't be long before I am buying new sandals. I did buy some clearance shoes the other day. Not sandels, but I need something to wear the other days of the year. (Yes, that is my story and I am sticking to it). I got this really cute pair of flats to wear with these pants that I recently got on clearance...

Enough about my shopping "issues" ;-) I better get back to my school work. I have a bunch of exciting reading about histogram algorithms (and other fun pattern recognition topics.

Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog. Until next time I remember to update my blog...

Along Came Friday...

"My father says that almost the whole world is asleep. Everybody you know. Everybody you see. Everybody you talk to. He says that only a few people are awake and they live in a state of constant total amazement. " - Patricia (Joe Versus the Volcano)

I went shopping this morning. Hey, I take this pretty seriously. I got up at 7 AM! I went to several stores. I am was amazed at the ads for today. All those doorbusters! I of course was not going for much of that - except there were these $4 DVD's at Target I wanted to look at...

I also went out to one of the large malls in the area and bought some stuff. I got some jeans, a jacket, and a shirt. There was lots of people looking, but not a lot of people buying. People seemed to be getting one or two things. (Unless it was a toy section and then there were some people buy a lot of stuff).

Anyway, I had lots of fun :) It was a nice break from all of the school work I have been doing. Well, enough rambles about my life. Lets move on to stuff you are probably actually came here to see - the links for today:

Space the final frontier: "Mars Global Surveyor Remains Silent, Feared Lost"

Survey says: "Swedes Trust IKEA More than the Church"

Well, I better get back to working on my projects! I have made some progress in the past two days - but I still have a long way to go before I get completely done. There are only a few more weeks in the semester. (I am still amazed at how fast this semester went) :-0

Real Life? Never heard of it...

"Charlie Brown, you're the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem. Maybe Lucy's right. Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you're the Charlie Browniest." - Linus Van Pelt (A Charlie Brown Christmas)

So funny (and so true).

Give a gift they will always treasure: Nanowires ("For Better Nanowires, Just Add Diamond")

Science meets anthropology: "Old bone helps crack Neanderthal DNA"

I have been busy with two projects. The end of the term is creeping closer. Of course, I am looking forward to a little vacation and lots of sleeping. Did I mention sleeping?

Thanksgiving (since I started grad school) is that holiday right before finals and it allows you to do three things:
1) Eat a "normal" meal (i.e., not take-out or from a vending machine)
2) Actually sleep (without missing important things)
3) Go shopping

No matter how tired I am, I always go shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Even if it is only for a few hours. Partly because of tradition and partly because I like going shopping. (OK, so I find shopping to very relaxing). Also, it is when you start actually enjoying all the Christmas/holiday decorations. It is most important when all of the sales start. Thanksgiving marks the beginning of "Shopping Season". Shopping Season last until about mid-January (i.e., all the after-Christmas sales). I really love shopping during this part of the year. Almost every store has a special items they get in. Clothing stores have all of their sweaters out (and many of you know how much of love sweaters).

Well, I better get back to coding if I want to go shopping next Friday! Happy weekend!

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...

What does Ikea and shoes have in common?

"A goal without a plan is just a wish." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Recently (i.e., Wednesday) an Ikea store open Michigan (Canton, Michigan to be exact). To read more about the open go here. I went on Friday morning because I am not insane (however, the jury is still out on that one). It was interest and fun. They had (and I bought) an ice cube trays in the shape of puzzle pieces ($1.50). There was interesting apartment like set ups in real apartment sizes. Actually, one of them was smaller than my apartment when I lived in Ohio. You could actually see how much (and by that I mean little) funiture you could actual fit. Furniture was interest and reasonably priced. Now I just need to save up money to buy a piece of funiture :-)

After a really long week (the class I am teaching the lab for learned about classes this week for those readers who are programmers) I took part of Friday as a shopping day. I also learned that I have an addiction to clearance shoes (and especially sandals). This week I have purchased a total of three pairs of shoes. Hense forth, I have set a goal of not buying any more shoes until next month. Of course, in my own defense the shoes were 50% off and really cute.

So lets move away from one of my many short comings and discuss other stuff. I am still looking for music recommendations. Seriously, I will take any :-) I listen to a wide range. This morning it was Judy Garland. Yesterday it was Enya , on Thursday it was Matchbox Twenty, and on Wednesday it was a little Tchaikovsky. Anyway, drop a comment if you think of anything. Thanks!

In real news:

A science article that by title only sounds completely convince (and developed by people way smarter than myself: "Nano-tip could play integral part in heat-assisted data storage devices"

"Robot with the human touch feels just like us"

Because we were all dying to know: "Spike 'wrote world's best joke'"

Well, I better get back to my attempt at coding using FuzzyJ now that I have finished the grading for my lab section. Thanks for stopping by and checking out the latest blog! Until next time...