So I'm all moved in now to the new apartment, with a few minor things to clear up. Still have to get some boxes unpacked, get the massive amounts of clothes off the closet floor and into drawers and on hangers, and of course get the kitchen into an operating condition.
What we lack:
-Couch or other comfy seats for the living room.
-Cable.
So the cable company, which is the only one provided in the zip code I'm moving to, won't get to us until June 22nd. So I'll be running in and out of the department to get internet until... oh... June 22nd. This really ticks me off seeing as I might not even be here on the 22nd, and my roommate would be working around the time they would get to us (supposedly 8 to 11). Why the heck is it nearly two weeks away from when I called? Because they suck. Can I do anything about it? Not really. Except complain on the internet.
Comcast stinks. There.
Saw the Da Vinci Code and X-Men three with my parents over Memorial Day Weekend. I found the Da Vinci Code was not insulting to Catholicism or Christianity. No I was more offended at the fact that supposedly Isaac Newton was part of this super secret club, and the best clue that the author could think up to give him was some silly trick riddle about an orb and "apple." Now, I looked it up, thinking the apple story was about as credible as Washington chopping down the cherry tree ("I cannot tell a lie... except for this story"), but it turns out (at least according to wikipedia) that Newton did draw inspiration by musing and walking through an apple orchard. It's the old cartoon gag of the apple beaning Newton on the head that isn't backed up. But that doesn't take away from the fact that the man who gave us integral calculus (with Leibniz... "this is the best of all possible worlds... except I really don't believe that"), physics, and light theories that revolutionized scientific and mathematical thought, and he supposedly couldn't think of a better clue for his contribution to this super-secret conspiracy treasure hunt than A FRIKKIN CROSSWORD PUZZLE??!?!?!?
Five letter word for fruity orb. Apple. Orange. Grape.
Da Vinci paints the last supper, and Newton says, "huh huh, I'll put an apple in the mix. Apples are cool" (best said with a Butthead voice -for all you Mike Judge fans-).
Forget Opus Dei. I think they got off easy in this movie (mad masochastic monastic murdering albino and all -anyone know an "m" word for albino that isn't too terrible?-). I think Isaac Newton should be offended... if he were alive today. If only that apple hadn't crushed him so long ago.
But the most entertaining part of the movie is seeing such amazing actors as Audrey Tautou, Tom Hanks, Ian McKellan, Jean Reno, and that Brittish guy who played the monk (he's been in something else... can't remember what though) saying some of the worst possible lines I have ever heard in my life. Of these award winning actors, the only one who seemed to pull it off was dear old Ian, but I'm guessing his experience as a comic super villain, and a magical wizard with a thing for Hobbits and their weed, probably was used to delivering a few... well... odd lines (Fool of a Took). I'm wondering if Ron Howard saw the script and thought, "Well I've just come off of doing Arrested Development. I feel like doing more comedy... heyyyy... if I get Tom Hanks to say 'fallous' in a completely serious manner, that would be really funny." Or maybe I'm the only one who was giggling during that scene... hehehe... the guy from "Big" said "chalice"... hehehe.
I would like to point out one last glorious thing about the movie...
Tom Hanks sporting the pseudo-mullet. I know, I know, it wasn't a mullet proper (how many times will you get to hear the phrase, "mullet proper"). There was no "business in front" and it was all pretty much long. But when he had it slicked back, I really couldn't help but think... Tom Hanks in a mullet. Wonder if some one can get him to sing "Enter Sandman" while he still has that 'do.
And seriously? Sarcophagus of Mary under the Louvre? You don't think... I dunno... some one would notice? The contractors, the architect, the extermitator (there've got to be some rats down there somewhere)? At least it gave us the one good line Jean Reno got in that movie:
"Do you like our pyramid? It is a scar on the face of our city."
... actually now reading that... no. Maybe Jean Reno was also working pretty well with what he had.
So definite "Bad Movie Night" fare if you want to get with friends and talk during a movie.
Enjoyed X-Men 3. Has there been a movie released in the past few years that hasn't had Ian McKellan in it? Oh right... Slither (slugs from outer space vs. the guy from Firefly). Which I highly recommend. Ian should've been in that one though.
Still waiting on quals results. Just waiting.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Which is worse?
Moving to a new apartment or qualifiers?
Well judging by the move out of my much despised old apartment, I would say qualifiers were better. But not studying for qualifiers. That was just pure hell.
I have managed to move most of my furniture into my friend's apartment with the exception of the futon and the desk my dad made that holds the computer (as well as the computer itself). There are a few other things that were left (books, bikes, cleaning supplies, bass), as they are just too much hassle to deal with as far as getting out the way too small doorways and down the stairs. Did I mention the complex decided to repave the parking lot which in no way could hold as many cars as were driven by the people who lived there? So I have to park half a block away. Most of the moving has been done by parking illegally with my hazard lights on, and hoping to God a cop doesn't show up.
But around Friday morning, somewhere between getting new tires (four hours at a Honda dealer + Jared Diamond's "Collapse" = bearable), and getting a new phone plan where I can make cheaper calls to Mexico (woohoo!), I decided to head back to Tulsa for the weekend. I don't need to be completely done with everything (out of the apartment, returned cable equipment to the cable company, change address at a few other places) until the 31st, and apparently I'm not getting any news on the quals until my micro prof gets back in early June and actually grades them.
Of course I had to choose Memorial Day weekend to travel.
Ah yes... are we seeing a pattern here? Luckily, since the quals, I've just been too tired to care about the fact that my complete lack of planning sometimes frustrates me. Ah well.
I'm here until Monday morning (was going to be Monday night, but considering traffic getting out of Dallas, I figured I'd be better off getting in around 9 or 10 AM), and then I once again start the moving process.
My roommate just told me that he is thinking seriously of moving back to his hometown in May, so odds are I'll be doing this again, but at least I got a place that was close, good, and living with some one semi-responsible and clean (at least, to the amount that I am), before quals and didn't have to worry about it.
Really want to make the rounds and have dinner with the folks who live down in Dallas when I get back. Think I'm going to start with our good friend Torchness' family and see how they are holding since I last saw them in... jeez, December. I have been a little hermit (crab at some points too) these days haven't I?
Well judging by the move out of my much despised old apartment, I would say qualifiers were better. But not studying for qualifiers. That was just pure hell.
I have managed to move most of my furniture into my friend's apartment with the exception of the futon and the desk my dad made that holds the computer (as well as the computer itself). There are a few other things that were left (books, bikes, cleaning supplies, bass), as they are just too much hassle to deal with as far as getting out the way too small doorways and down the stairs. Did I mention the complex decided to repave the parking lot which in no way could hold as many cars as were driven by the people who lived there? So I have to park half a block away. Most of the moving has been done by parking illegally with my hazard lights on, and hoping to God a cop doesn't show up.
But around Friday morning, somewhere between getting new tires (four hours at a Honda dealer + Jared Diamond's "Collapse" = bearable), and getting a new phone plan where I can make cheaper calls to Mexico (woohoo!), I decided to head back to Tulsa for the weekend. I don't need to be completely done with everything (out of the apartment, returned cable equipment to the cable company, change address at a few other places) until the 31st, and apparently I'm not getting any news on the quals until my micro prof gets back in early June and actually grades them.
Of course I had to choose Memorial Day weekend to travel.
Ah yes... are we seeing a pattern here? Luckily, since the quals, I've just been too tired to care about the fact that my complete lack of planning sometimes frustrates me. Ah well.
I'm here until Monday morning (was going to be Monday night, but considering traffic getting out of Dallas, I figured I'd be better off getting in around 9 or 10 AM), and then I once again start the moving process.
My roommate just told me that he is thinking seriously of moving back to his hometown in May, so odds are I'll be doing this again, but at least I got a place that was close, good, and living with some one semi-responsible and clean (at least, to the amount that I am), before quals and didn't have to worry about it.
Really want to make the rounds and have dinner with the folks who live down in Dallas when I get back. Think I'm going to start with our good friend Torchness' family and see how they are holding since I last saw them in... jeez, December. I have been a little hermit (crab at some points too) these days haven't I?
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
It is finished...
Quals are done...
...
...
well?
....
what?
You're expecting some information? Maybe later ;)
...
...
well?
....
what?
You're expecting some information? Maybe later ;)
Monday, May 22, 2006
The jub-jub bird...
"Beware the jub jub bird,
and shun the frumious bandersnatch."
-Lewis Carroll
Those of you who snicker (as opposed to snicker-snack) at the sound of the word "bandersnatch", please take a moment to do so.
Now let's get on with it.
Took the micro qual this morning and I feel good about it. It is like the jub-jub bird,a nd the frumious bandersnatch in that it should be carefully dealt with, but not like the jabberwocky itself. No blades going "snicker-snack" on this one, but I do think it went well.
Considering this is the qualifier I was extremely worried about, I now have a generous boost of confidence for the Macro on Wednesday (9 AM, yet again), and hopefully that will go just as well.
So this of course brings up the question: was it worth it to cut into the time my lovely, beautiful, and oh-so-smart Harvard bound girlfriend and I were supposed to be enjoying as our last few moments before this became a long-distance thang? ... nope. The studying was good. Glad I did it. But I still think the quals are stupid because I didn't get enough time with the ardilla before she left. Sucks to be me. But maybe I'll pass these things on the first go...
More stories later. As it is I'm taking a couple hours this afternoon to decompress and relax, and then I go back in for a late night of studying, and early morning of reviewing.
Almost there.
and shun the frumious bandersnatch."
-Lewis Carroll
Those of you who snicker (as opposed to snicker-snack) at the sound of the word "bandersnatch", please take a moment to do so.
Now let's get on with it.
Took the micro qual this morning and I feel good about it. It is like the jub-jub bird,a nd the frumious bandersnatch in that it should be carefully dealt with, but not like the jabberwocky itself. No blades going "snicker-snack" on this one, but I do think it went well.
Considering this is the qualifier I was extremely worried about, I now have a generous boost of confidence for the Macro on Wednesday (9 AM, yet again), and hopefully that will go just as well.
So this of course brings up the question: was it worth it to cut into the time my lovely, beautiful, and oh-so-smart Harvard bound girlfriend and I were supposed to be enjoying as our last few moments before this became a long-distance thang? ... nope. The studying was good. Glad I did it. But I still think the quals are stupid because I didn't get enough time with the ardilla before she left. Sucks to be me. But maybe I'll pass these things on the first go...
More stories later. As it is I'm taking a couple hours this afternoon to decompress and relax, and then I go back in for a late night of studying, and early morning of reviewing.
Almost there.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Six days
Six days and counting until the first qualifier (Micro). I have been spending my days and nights cooped up in the econ library with M, studying for hours on end.
The couches are a good thing. Every now and then (usually around 3) is a good time for a nap. I'm just hoping none of my prof's walk in.
M got a new laptop and went to the video library to get some DVD's to check it out. Naturally, he rented an Aishwarya Rai movie (he's Indian and he's male... so therefore he is a big fan of hers), and was walking up to the library with it. As he was coming up the stairs a certain jovial micro prof (who is writing a fourth of our qual) stopped him with the graduate advisor (we think soon-to-be-department chair, or that's the word on the street... and by street I mean the coffee machine, and by word I mean what we gossip about since we have no social lives to speak of) and suddenly started giving M a hard time (for the fun of it... as he does). "I never see you work, M! You are always slinking around the halls, and it seems like you never get any work done... what is that in your hand?"
And then of course the prof's see his Rai DVD. It should be noted they are also Indian, also male, and also big fans of her... uh... work.
I think it took the prof's a good four minutes before they could breathe again from the laughing, and M slinked back into the library to hide.
It's been going around the department by the way. Everyone now has a story affixed to them of what they are up to other than studying. Not even M could avoid that. J and his wife, K and his tennis player, Mama-Turk and her baby, and me and my undergrad.
K had a similar story last year. Stressed out from Quals and needing a break, feeling like he'd never pass, his life would end, blah blah blah (a common sentiment these days around 8 PM), he decided to go see a movie. Where he ran into not only his micro prof, but also one of his macro prof's. The Macro prof, being a bit of a joker started in on him about how he should be studying right now, and K, taking it too seriously complained that he just could not study anymore.
"Oh no?" the macro prof said. "Not another subject."
"Have you studied -insert subject here-?"
"No, I'm not there yet?"
"Well I'll let you in on a secret... it's guaranteed to be on the qualifier."
There are two differing accounts here. According to K, he walked, with a dignified and calm demeanor, out of the theater to go study.
According to the faculty, he ran as fast as he could out the exit, and most likely ran from the theater all the way home. ... wow... we have no lives.
Really want these tests to be over. Done reviewing Micro I. Half done reviewing Macro I. Fourth of the way through Micro II. The Macro II review doesn't start until Thursday or Friday. By "done" I mean I've outlined the whole chapter and worked at least half the homework problems. So that means a 30 minutes review everyday on certain subjects that aren't more "done" than others.
The couches are a good thing. Every now and then (usually around 3) is a good time for a nap. I'm just hoping none of my prof's walk in.
M got a new laptop and went to the video library to get some DVD's to check it out. Naturally, he rented an Aishwarya Rai movie (he's Indian and he's male... so therefore he is a big fan of hers), and was walking up to the library with it. As he was coming up the stairs a certain jovial micro prof (who is writing a fourth of our qual) stopped him with the graduate advisor (we think soon-to-be-department chair, or that's the word on the street... and by street I mean the coffee machine, and by word I mean what we gossip about since we have no social lives to speak of) and suddenly started giving M a hard time (for the fun of it... as he does). "I never see you work, M! You are always slinking around the halls, and it seems like you never get any work done... what is that in your hand?"
And then of course the prof's see his Rai DVD. It should be noted they are also Indian, also male, and also big fans of her... uh... work.
I think it took the prof's a good four minutes before they could breathe again from the laughing, and M slinked back into the library to hide.
It's been going around the department by the way. Everyone now has a story affixed to them of what they are up to other than studying. Not even M could avoid that. J and his wife, K and his tennis player, Mama-Turk and her baby, and me and my undergrad.
K had a similar story last year. Stressed out from Quals and needing a break, feeling like he'd never pass, his life would end, blah blah blah (a common sentiment these days around 8 PM), he decided to go see a movie. Where he ran into not only his micro prof, but also one of his macro prof's. The Macro prof, being a bit of a joker started in on him about how he should be studying right now, and K, taking it too seriously complained that he just could not study anymore.
"Oh no?" the macro prof said. "Not another subject."
"Have you studied -insert subject here-?"
"No, I'm not there yet?"
"Well I'll let you in on a secret... it's guaranteed to be on the qualifier."
There are two differing accounts here. According to K, he walked, with a dignified and calm demeanor, out of the theater to go study.
According to the faculty, he ran as fast as he could out the exit, and most likely ran from the theater all the way home. ... wow... we have no lives.
Really want these tests to be over. Done reviewing Micro I. Half done reviewing Macro I. Fourth of the way through Micro II. The Macro II review doesn't start until Thursday or Friday. By "done" I mean I've outlined the whole chapter and worked at least half the homework problems. So that means a 30 minutes review everyday on certain subjects that aren't more "done" than others.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Letters From a Nut - Pre-Quals Edition
So far I have managed to survive finals. My last is at 11:30 this morning, and this is probably the one I'm most prepared for. I've managed to pull off a B- in metrics and a B in Micro so I'm happy about that. (Veeeeeery happy about the B in Micro).
Met with the apartment people for setting up living arrangements with my friend for the summer and into next year. Hopefully it will all go smoothly, but I'm just not going to worry about it much until after quals.
Ardilla graduates soon as well. Change has pretty much been par for the course since last year, so while I'm trying to figure out the logistics of everything (which is difficult as it all hinges on two days of testing in May), I'm not concerned or worried. Things will work out as they should.
I thought I'd put up a new look for the "Qualifiers Edition." Very "ah-ahhhh-ahhhh-ahh-ahh" (monks chanting). You know... you can't really study for qualifier exams to Benny Hill type music and situations. ... or can you... hmmm.. The carrel's are closing again, and I will lose my cube... again. This time for sure I can't go down there for at least four days (after Friday to Monday). Why? They're retiling the ceiling and they found (bum ba da DAAAAA!) ASBESTOS. Nothing to be worried about, it's just that when it gets cleaned out, they're going to have to make sure no one is down there without the proper equipment. M was thinking about going down anyway... I told him that there's a difference between flooded carpet and asbestos. He'd be better off just moving back up to the library again.
So apparently when you change the template you lose your links... yeah... didn't know that one until I hit "republish." Suckage. I'll get around to reposting those at some point. As for now... OOOOO!! New background! (imagine monks chanting, and Quijote doing many scholarly things in the... uh... lighthouse... okay maybe not so academic here, but it isn't bad).
Met with the apartment people for setting up living arrangements with my friend for the summer and into next year. Hopefully it will all go smoothly, but I'm just not going to worry about it much until after quals.
Ardilla graduates soon as well. Change has pretty much been par for the course since last year, so while I'm trying to figure out the logistics of everything (which is difficult as it all hinges on two days of testing in May), I'm not concerned or worried. Things will work out as they should.
I thought I'd put up a new look for the "Qualifiers Edition." Very "ah-ahhhh-ahhhh-ahh-ahh" (monks chanting). You know... you can't really study for qualifier exams to Benny Hill type music and situations. ... or can you... hmmm.. The carrel's are closing again, and I will lose my cube... again. This time for sure I can't go down there for at least four days (after Friday to Monday). Why? They're retiling the ceiling and they found (bum ba da DAAAAA!) ASBESTOS. Nothing to be worried about, it's just that when it gets cleaned out, they're going to have to make sure no one is down there without the proper equipment. M was thinking about going down anyway... I told him that there's a difference between flooded carpet and asbestos. He'd be better off just moving back up to the library again.
So apparently when you change the template you lose your links... yeah... didn't know that one until I hit "republish." Suckage. I'll get around to reposting those at some point. As for now... OOOOO!! New background! (imagine monks chanting, and Quijote doing many scholarly things in the... uh... lighthouse... okay maybe not so academic here, but it isn't bad).
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Run Quijote, run.
Metrics final is done. The secretaries, A, and I had to reschedule the dang thing five times before we found a classroom thanks to scheduling confusion and unannounced seminars. I feel pretty good about it otherwise.
Showed Ardilla "Run Lola, Run" the other day, and found yet another nugget of life advice in that movie. A very German nugget though. Really the whole moral of "Run Lola, Run" is "BE ON TIME."
Lola wasn't on time to pick up her loser, dealer boyfriend, and he lost the money, and therefore will soon be killed unless he gets the money by a certain time (20 minutes or something like that). Lola then spends two rather unsuccessful attempts at getting this money, with the scenario usually ending in one of them dying. But at the third "alternative" ending, everything turns out great. Is it something Lola does? Not really. In fact Manni finds the bum who found the money on the train, gets it back, and the money that Lola does manage to get from the casino is really not helpful at all. But what happened that caused everything to change?
By getting hit by Herr Meyer's car, and keeping him from getting into a car crash (before he goes to pick up her father), she sets into motion all sorts of events that lead to a peaceful and happy ending (as opposed to her getting shot, or Manni getting crushed by an ambulance). So really the whole thing was made alright by the fact that Meyer showed up ON TIME. In fact, Lola could have avoided the whole situation if she'd somehow shown up on time (granted her moped was stolen... a heart breaking turn of events). So the punctuality of others actually saved their lives. How... uhm... interesting.
So the whole moral of "Run Lola, Run" is to be punctual. How very German. No wonder the movie never caught on in Spain. "Has to be there by 12 or Manni dies huh? What about 12ish? Can I get some tapas on the way?"
So unless you want to turn into a kool-aid-hair-dyed-German-pop-singer-actress running through the streets of Berlin, be sure to be on time.
This is to say nothing in reference to the song "Lola", which we all know is... well... an interesting song to say the least.
Micro final on Monday, Macro final on Wednesday.
Qualifiers in about two weeks.
Showed Ardilla "Run Lola, Run" the other day, and found yet another nugget of life advice in that movie. A very German nugget though. Really the whole moral of "Run Lola, Run" is "BE ON TIME."
Lola wasn't on time to pick up her loser, dealer boyfriend, and he lost the money, and therefore will soon be killed unless he gets the money by a certain time (20 minutes or something like that). Lola then spends two rather unsuccessful attempts at getting this money, with the scenario usually ending in one of them dying. But at the third "alternative" ending, everything turns out great. Is it something Lola does? Not really. In fact Manni finds the bum who found the money on the train, gets it back, and the money that Lola does manage to get from the casino is really not helpful at all. But what happened that caused everything to change?
By getting hit by Herr Meyer's car, and keeping him from getting into a car crash (before he goes to pick up her father), she sets into motion all sorts of events that lead to a peaceful and happy ending (as opposed to her getting shot, or Manni getting crushed by an ambulance). So really the whole thing was made alright by the fact that Meyer showed up ON TIME. In fact, Lola could have avoided the whole situation if she'd somehow shown up on time (granted her moped was stolen... a heart breaking turn of events). So the punctuality of others actually saved their lives. How... uhm... interesting.
So the whole moral of "Run Lola, Run" is to be punctual. How very German. No wonder the movie never caught on in Spain. "Has to be there by 12 or Manni dies huh? What about 12ish? Can I get some tapas on the way?"
So unless you want to turn into a kool-aid-hair-dyed-German-pop-singer-actress running through the streets of Berlin, be sure to be on time.
This is to say nothing in reference to the song "Lola", which we all know is... well... an interesting song to say the least.
Micro final on Monday, Macro final on Wednesday.
Qualifiers in about two weeks.
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