tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76071527633105822522024-03-18T21:16:06.981-07:00AstroknotBringing it all together: Science, Life, and Self.Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-76210364258975443212011-12-14T23:28:00.001-08:002011-12-14T23:28:59.924-08:00thingsThings I will miss about Denmark:<br /><br />Some of the kindest and smartest people I have ever met<br />A ridiculously welcoming and warm work environment (with the bonus of the best work-based christmas party ever)<br />The solitude--the haunting and echoing loneliness of being in this city of spires and no skyscrapers, where everything is quiet at night and the lights glittering on the far side of the black and isolated lake make it seem welcoming, but so far away.<br />The food--damn, can the Danish bake! They also have some mean shawarma places that VA doesn't do any justice to whatsoever.<br />The city's attitude towards the holidays. I think it encompasses the absolute best parts of the holidays in the states--tiny white lights glittering through the darkness, the smell of pine trees wet in the rain, christmas markets and hot wine, and the gathering of the ones you love.<br />The outdoor mentality--it's very much a city good for walking and biking, for spending time out of doors.<br />An excellent bus and metro system<br />The ability to go pretty much anywhere without it costing $3000 and requiring a visa six months ahead of time.<br />The wind that sweeps this city every day and makes lovely pulling sounds on the windows.<br />Lots of yarn stores.<br /><br />Things I won't miss about Denmark:<br /><br />Not being near my family and friends<br />Not having a cat with me.<br />Smokers. Everywhere. Can't wait to be free of them.<br />Not having a car.<br />Being alone.<br />How frickin' expensive it is to live here. In most cities you can get a quick cheap lunch for <$10 without much effort. Here, you are luck to find anything <$20 at any given time. Laundry costs me $5 wash, $5 dry.<br />It being gray all the time. Damn do I miss some sunlight.<br />Having to say "Sorry, I only speak English" every time any one bothers to talk to me--and also the fact that that so very rarely happens.<br />The way everything in the city closes at 5pm every day of the week, 3pm on Saturday, and all day Sunday.Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-58429180202113455282011-09-27T00:14:00.001-07:002011-09-27T00:14:40.713-07:00blooooarrrghdoes anyone know why my blog is down?Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-71995930968294623152011-08-15T10:56:00.001-07:002011-08-15T10:56:12.481-07:00a storm is gathering its folds on the horizon, above a molten sunset. Cold wind licks the face of the building and whispers through the open window. The trees stir and toss, restless and sleeping. Gold fringes of dying sunlight gild the swollen surface of the clouds, glossing over the gray and scudding base of the storm. The first whistling drops of rain sound out on the tile roofs of this foreign city, hissing through the leaves, tousling poplar and birch and oak. A magpie launches itself from the garden, raucously objecting to the rain. Its cry and the flash of its blue feathers the only thing for miles and miles. Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-26433219035594435082011-08-09T06:51:00.000-07:002011-08-09T06:52:09.118-07:00Ah, my old nemesis, coffee. We meet again. mwahaha!Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-66619140758355373992011-07-08T10:11:00.001-07:002011-07-08T10:11:40.876-07:00I will never be an astronautI will never be an astronaut<br />which is a dream I didn't even know I had until today. The last launch of the space shuttle was today, and watching the astronauts suit-up made me bawl. I don't know why. I hate heights, I hate flying, even. But to be able to taste that feral, untamed edge of the world, to see the positive curvature of the earth falling away, to have all the stars exposed and naked, to see the glow of the planet below cutting across a sky so black it aches...<br /><br />I didn't know I wanted those things. But they'll never be mine now. And in 5 years, or 10, we'll go to space again, and I'll have missed my chance, and a whole generation will grow up without knowing what that dream is reaching for, without knowing what it means to break through the boundaries of human existance and fly just that little bit further into the vast unbroken emptiness of space.<br /><br />Hubble is dying. That's the nature of a telescope--there's only so much maintenance that can be done, only so many repairs. Kind of like a car--eventually, even if you replace every component in it, it will fall apart. It's not a piece that's broken. It's everything wearing down. Old age. Chandra is dead, and Spitzer is dying. WMAP is running its course. We have reached the end of the great space telescope era, and that burns even more than the loss of space flight. To think of all the things left in the universe to see and to understand--to think of the inspiration, the portal into the most alien of realms that Hubble gave us, and to know that in 5 or 10 years we will not even be close to seeing anything like that again--that's a deeper, bitter hurt. The James Webb Space Telescope has had its funding slashed, fallen victim to the partisan politics that cater only to money. I know it's a small thing in the face of the poverty, illness, and ignorance that the politics also fosters--but it is a terrible blow to the future. I cannot think but that it is a bad idea to sacrifice the future for the moment.Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-3575251795863065672011-03-19T06:21:00.000-07:002011-03-19T06:33:54.195-07:00Me and Knitting booksI have a secret affection for owning knitting books. I know I can find 1000s of free online patterns. My ravelry queue is more than 5 pages long and a single search for a particular type (say, hat) nets me 5 or 6 new ideas. I have 3 or 4 projects on needles and I keep thinking of new ones. But I really like the books because reading them absolutely drives my inspiration. I find all sorts of things I really love, and I think about changing them, and dream about the types of garments I could make if I had the patience to shell out for 12 balls of yarn.<br /><br />The problem with this is that I'm frugal. I don't want to purchase a book that has patterns that I dislike. Since I've never encountered one book with 100% me-appropriate patterns, I've settled for a reasonable percentage. 50% to consider it. I'd like to say 80% to purchase, but I've bought a few books far below that. <br /><br />This is especially a problem with the felting books I'm currently looking at. I am very interested in wool and the concept of felting, and I want to give it a try. I'm a scientist. I'm sure I can figure out how to do it from a minimum of research (and I already know it involves 100% natural animal fibers, hot water, and agitation) that I can do on the web for free, but I want a book because I want to read all about the complications in size, gauge, and color effects. <br /><br />But every single one of these books (that I've found on Amazon) has felted balls.<br /><br />I hate felted balls. <br /><br />I'm sure they look really cool on some people as necklaces, or in some houses as decorations. I even understand the usefulness of starting with a simplistic project to teach me about not killing the washing machine, and the behavior of animal fibers under the hot-water-and-agitation principles. But to me they are nothing more than a cop-out in the pattern department. They're round balls, for crapsake! You're lucky if they're on a necklace and not just something you stuff in a bowl! They are not remotely <span style="font-style:italic;">useful</span>. I know that it is a lot to ask for patterns to be useful, but I suppose I really mean, "something I would ever employ as a knitter." I don't need felted balls, and I really really don't need decorative balls that go in a bowl to look pretty. I don't have kids, but I do have pets--decorations do not last long in my house. Including them as one of your 10 or 16 patterns means that they are 5-10% of the value of the book--this is not fair!<br /><br />All right, grumpy aside, I think I'm going to have to put up with them if I want to get a felting book. Maybe I can just cut that page out and pretend it doesn't exist. Yeah. Repression is the answer.Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-81243547139584420192011-03-11T08:41:00.001-08:002011-03-11T08:48:59.268-08:00what to cast on next?I finished a shawl! well, it's really more of a shrug, and I haven't blocked it yet, but it's done!<br /><br />which means, *drumroll* I get to cast on another project.<br /><br />Now the real test. what to do? Things I have in mind:<br /><br />A Pi Shawl by Elizabeth Zimmerman in greens and browns<br />mittens with that peruvian wool (but... they'll felt :( )<br />an apple discloth a la Mason-Dixon Knitting (<a href="http://www.masondixonknitting.com/archives/2009_09.html#002718">here</a>)<br />socks from my 5 or so possible sock yarn combinations<br />something vintage and tunic-y with that caron spa bamboo mix yarn<br />something with the noro I got on sale<br />a first major lace knitting project with that heinous scratchy ancient gray caron in sport weight? maybe it softens after washing!<br />another amigurumi? maybe the loch ness monster this time?<br />a cat bed with the heinous leftovers I have<br />gifts: something pink and lacy for Robin, something red and hatty for the WI senators, a buttonhole bag using up that scratchy yellow wool, or the tried and true lace-up wrist warmers<br /><br />gahhhh! so much to knit! so little time!Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-69120797809700442912011-03-10T05:43:00.000-08:002011-03-10T05:50:31.219-08:008 things8 things about me:<br /><br />1. I have a twin sister! I'm so used to it that I often forget to tell people, and they are always surprised.<br /><br />2. Just got my hair cut supershort... not short enough, I think!<br /><br />3. I have half a semester of classes left before I get my Master's Degree and get to do research 24-7<br /><br />4. If I had a million dollars I would start a foundation for the advancement of society through logic, intelligence, and compassion.<br /><br />5. I am waiting to hear back from a research grant that will send me to Denmark for 6 months. If I don't get it, my advisors have discussed sending me anyway! (but I'd have to see what my collaborators decided). This is especially exciting to me as I have never before been out of the country<br /><br />6. If I had to choose one place to live for the rest of my life, I think it would be Puerto Rico. Especially if I could get all my family down there. The land, the people, the science... it is all amazing!<br /><br />7. One thing I really don't understand, after studying for however many years, is Quantum Mechanics<br /><br />8. I firmly believe it is insufficient to merely survive, to merely do what is good for ourselves--we must without question strive to leave the world a better place than what we entered into.<br /><br />I'd tag someone else but all of my friends have been tagged. So if you visit this blog and I don't know you--you're it! leave me a comment and let me know when you've done your 8, and I'll come read it!Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-75198353686399795572011-01-30T17:45:00.000-08:002011-01-30T17:46:22.880-08:00want!Must... make... amazing things: http://wolfdreamer-oth.blogspot.com/2009/08/luma-plushie.html<br /><br />http://www.knittingninja.com/patterns/chain-chomp-hat/Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-83174426976695850772011-01-30T05:22:00.001-08:002011-01-30T05:41:27.008-08:00Best peeples evar!Holy carp! I've been Yarn Stormed!<br /><br />whoever you are, thank you thank you thank you thank you!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUF9M9J6FU6CRwLESImqR8KDGWzELKtuI9yEEJMsJ9BUsTVUhkpqRJNOvLbTfccuenV2IFflgfZMiRCmZaJAHTcGCMUkEqJ5PZFmZJQhN98pM_CzIbJsJZis-nVYdDn14hUzljf9K7Abp/s1600/yarn+520.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUF9M9J6FU6CRwLESImqR8KDGWzELKtuI9yEEJMsJ9BUsTVUhkpqRJNOvLbTfccuenV2IFflgfZMiRCmZaJAHTcGCMUkEqJ5PZFmZJQhN98pM_CzIbJsJZis-nVYdDn14hUzljf9K7Abp/s320/yarn+520.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567969750018403282" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ovrlteJdaZqFZH2x3yMZLp4uWN_S4HjhbrPxgIVTFN1k5uY3hcmc5qDNYhggNizUjfMb3S12VdCvcXjEWvBI62FX6dz2vtJm2CJ3zqfPsbBoYXPWXNFOnzJYGSrjatPBMuorrZrdFoLT/s1600/yarn+521.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ovrlteJdaZqFZH2x3yMZLp4uWN_S4HjhbrPxgIVTFN1k5uY3hcmc5qDNYhggNizUjfMb3S12VdCvcXjEWvBI62FX6dz2vtJm2CJ3zqfPsbBoYXPWXNFOnzJYGSrjatPBMuorrZrdFoLT/s320/yarn+521.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567969752697755762" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5R5D5SWOV0VGsRo9ONBSLAHy8vn7232egqRAY_wLDRQ5dK45rdJeGPzoj4c1fFYmro9b5HzUwCL8XkSLVwoKKxQlJB7Agdb1H6rT61WI73-W0ovVABZktA65hNNkYRZsapqHmv07RF0T/s1600/yarn+532.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5R5D5SWOV0VGsRo9ONBSLAHy8vn7232egqRAY_wLDRQ5dK45rdJeGPzoj4c1fFYmro9b5HzUwCL8XkSLVwoKKxQlJB7Agdb1H6rT61WI73-W0ovVABZktA65hNNkYRZsapqHmv07RF0T/s320/yarn+532.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567969795764675522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WDJe0U9g5F1QMg0zaFWv7jecFIOV-6zjGjlimxwi65Ej7SAHNntaIqs8TFgobdOHH2gHAo9SFWk3ehhVnnkFYGSV8E5s9UNEL7CjgPnLHyNUvjN1oS79R83At6idQ81hZKsXApZyvMHP/s1600/yarn+524.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WDJe0U9g5F1QMg0zaFWv7jecFIOV-6zjGjlimxwi65Ej7SAHNntaIqs8TFgobdOHH2gHAo9SFWk3ehhVnnkFYGSV8E5s9UNEL7CjgPnLHyNUvjN1oS79R83At6idQ81hZKsXApZyvMHP/s320/yarn+524.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567969791860226098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9vZ5oYQmgACZfuSMpeNVq30_xa786U-P9ds9Y8xar02-hEudp5aMdXljE97cgmP5b0Mxmt5IGdtpNrR409lOFZJQ9-yTT7XyVJUv69tl1zTCEOD4aoWbyciN0IXJQVsWLdFmCRfv4Ttr/s1600/yarn+523.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9vZ5oYQmgACZfuSMpeNVq30_xa786U-P9ds9Y8xar02-hEudp5aMdXljE97cgmP5b0Mxmt5IGdtpNrR409lOFZJQ9-yTT7XyVJUv69tl1zTCEOD4aoWbyciN0IXJQVsWLdFmCRfv4Ttr/s320/yarn+523.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567969758674616482" /></a><br /><br />so many luscious fibers, and so many beautiful colors!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggA3Xei_VSTu0ZPWpEVQ-BxUX_60x0gALLC-6MzQjyQ2opfF3LLZppYBKnPvUhjhXsH5lgGtpTPYPukApj-fasCWRa233q-HwuGpP2FLwK24zHd4udtkGqP7M00pUt36oy7HaV3HK6l0J4/s1600/yarn+540.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggA3Xei_VSTu0ZPWpEVQ-BxUX_60x0gALLC-6MzQjyQ2opfF3LLZppYBKnPvUhjhXsH5lgGtpTPYPukApj-fasCWRa233q-HwuGpP2FLwK24zHd4udtkGqP7M00pUt36oy7HaV3HK6l0J4/s320/yarn+540.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567971135149127954" /></a><br />And it was completely unexpected. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1WjoMO7-77WiWb-c-g-fmd00d12nsjZE7gvLrKExCI5rkBB3siCkzsmEBENOXA1VtBcO601i9flyPTEDK1WiphUf3rmsBv1hI8IPA0jUpMduRD9guX7Faj27tK9dWKtFzd4BG74sed46/s1600/yarn+543.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1WjoMO7-77WiWb-c-g-fmd00d12nsjZE7gvLrKExCI5rkBB3siCkzsmEBENOXA1VtBcO601i9flyPTEDK1WiphUf3rmsBv1hI8IPA0jUpMduRD9guX7Faj27tK9dWKtFzd4BG74sed46/s320/yarn+543.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567971134274551138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTf0ou0FSF8j8kOOMKQLWXWuZ0dExL7iBZsRhAtIZ2c4weNssdNGrEx2bFxxDXNqSB0Qd6cYnk_zguzOC7wHEYkxBVodcScQi-W9OCBoFsoe17Oe8U4MDNTmQqgoxbEO0pv7WoEnuF1Rp/s1600/yarn+538.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTf0ou0FSF8j8kOOMKQLWXWuZ0dExL7iBZsRhAtIZ2c4weNssdNGrEx2bFxxDXNqSB0Qd6cYnk_zguzOC7wHEYkxBVodcScQi-W9OCBoFsoe17Oe8U4MDNTmQqgoxbEO0pv7WoEnuF1Rp/s320/yarn+538.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567971131202720274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uB9RdK2tLUlkxp5bSyc6_uN4v_DnfOe_QNngBqixSV4KahQSXPjgh5hZrEwZXf6UABQg5v-_nsBzZGW49gWQmB5mKV1AWmzIrlvl74aXQNgL5NtykPpOGo68I2tT6cl481HixkL-lSSd/s1600/yarn+536.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uB9RdK2tLUlkxp5bSyc6_uN4v_DnfOe_QNngBqixSV4KahQSXPjgh5hZrEwZXf6UABQg5v-_nsBzZGW49gWQmB5mKV1AWmzIrlvl74aXQNgL5NtykPpOGo68I2tT6cl481HixkL-lSSd/s320/yarn+536.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567971128329130114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-VUI0lOX9ZrhiFUeTYQ-Tb7h5vN1c9v1F76hGZtTVWKrKpqhwvzY9sjd4Phyf4rnztAVJrpt5DszbXthur0qyzkiGvRXMlDRWbN7O7MVTeqWSrCjKGLM-f-xnm15OBHioCzsmUiAglFU/s1600/yarn+533.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-VUI0lOX9ZrhiFUeTYQ-Tb7h5vN1c9v1F76hGZtTVWKrKpqhwvzY9sjd4Phyf4rnztAVJrpt5DszbXthur0qyzkiGvRXMlDRWbN7O7MVTeqWSrCjKGLM-f-xnm15OBHioCzsmUiAglFU/s320/yarn+533.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567971123092749314" /></a><br /><br />Sunshine heartily approves:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzadnz9ucZji9IyEDN5H48MOHWmWWPz_A_yVJFI6yU0ojvK8zpCj8ZmWgUN6GNntdv_WOQ3Aqx7To0txRWNXTs-BmLxr0G0QaxEoTus0CuFl7rf2wIknepWt5G4jpqRNoXxMr0EI-L223I/s1600/yarn+586.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzadnz9ucZji9IyEDN5H48MOHWmWWPz_A_yVJFI6yU0ojvK8zpCj8ZmWgUN6GNntdv_WOQ3Aqx7To0txRWNXTs-BmLxr0G0QaxEoTus0CuFl7rf2wIknepWt5G4jpqRNoXxMr0EI-L223I/s320/yarn+586.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567971637029281202" /></a><br /><br />Want the detailed analysis? Visit my new blog, <a href="http://yarn-porn.blogspot.com">YarnPorn</a>Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-13993405691836640852011-01-17T18:26:00.000-08:002011-01-17T18:33:27.634-08:00Martin Luther King, Jr. and CompassionI realize belatedly that no mail today means holiday, and yes, it turns out it's Monday and it's already MLK day. <br /><br />"Compassion and nonviolence help us to see the enemy's point of view, to hear their questions, to know their assessment of ourselves. For from their point of view we may indeed see the basic weaknesses of our own condition, and if we are mature, we may learn and grow and profit from the wisdom of the brothers and sisters who are called the opposition."<br /><br />One of the things that I find most fascinating about MLK is his commitment to peace. Not just in terms of the idea of non-violent mass protests. That type of protest was a vital part of the endurance of the civil rights movement, allowing them to stake out the moral high ground on which their goals were based. But his opposition to the Vietnam war, to war and to violence in general, and his support of the ideas of compassion and human interconnection--those are what really impress me. Like Gandhi, like the Dalai Llama, to advocate the moral high ground not just for the civil rights movement, but as a way of life--this, I think, is what really made him unique, and part of what makes his legend endure. I hope I can pursue and advance that ideal as well.<br /><br />"True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. A true revolution of values will soon look uneasily on the glaring contrast of poverty and wealth with righteous indignation. It will look across the seas and see individual capitalists of the West investing huge sums of money in Asia, Africa, and South America, only to take the profits out with no concern for the social betterment of the countries, and say, "This is not just." It will look at our alliance with the landed gentry of Latin America and say, "This is not just." The Western arrogance of feeling that it has everything to teach others and nothing to learn from them is not just. A true revolution of values will lay hands on the world order and say of war, "This way of settling differences is not just."<br /><br />"This business of burning human beings with napalm, of filling our nation's homes with orphans and widows, of injecting poisonous drugs of hate into the veins of peoples normally humane, of sending men home from dark and bloody battlefields physically handicapped and psychologically deranged, cannot be reconciled with wisdom, justice, and love. A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death."<br /><br />Thanks. Be at peace.Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-30427902453701478622011-01-17T13:32:00.000-08:002011-01-17T13:37:16.162-08:00astronomyLots of studying in the past 3 days, and plenty more to do.<br /><br />Tonight I'll finish going through the topics for Astro Techniques and start reviewing the homeworks<br />Tomorrow I'll finish reviewing the homeworks for Astro Techniques and for Galactic Astro as well<br />Wednesday I'll go over the homeworks from Astrophysics and from Stellar, and have the evening review of the Astrophysics stuff with anyone interested<br />Thursday I'll review radio, pick out and memorize the truly relevant equations, and talk to Mark about any extragalactic questions I have remaining.<br />Friday I'll go through and review all the notes I've taken, study the details of things for Extragalactic, and work on memorizing the radio equations again<br />Saturday is the first part of the exam<br />Saturday night I'll briefly review the notes from the other 5 classes and try not to freak out<br />Sunday is the second part of the exam.<br /><br />I should get done with enough time to watch the Packer game and get really smashed.<br /><br />holy crap I have WAY too much material left to cover.Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-20013194171143844952011-01-15T12:39:00.000-08:002011-01-15T12:50:33.946-08:00PreparationOwning a cat has taught me that I would be a terrible mother. I am apparently quite controlling, always saying no and shooing or chasing her away from stuff. I am not able to let her explore in an open fashion, to learn about, interact with, and come to understand her environment. Perhaps it's because, in her desire to learn, she keeps chewing on my speakers, and laptop, and my good furniture (as well as the bad furniture and any bit of paper or plastic on the ground). But at the same time I can see this control issue manifesting in her behavior. She still eats the other cat's food. She still tries to eat my speakers every morning. and she is now very skittish.<br /><br />Of course she's also energetic, and a kitten yet, and she was a stray for however many months (I adopted her when she was 7 months). So maybe the blame isn't entirely on me. Nevertheless, I'm sure having a kid would be 1000x worse.<br /><br />Or maybe this is just practice, so if I ever do pop out a munchkin, I know not to be a complete doyt about it?<br /><br />Studying continues at a limping pace. Hard to cram more info in my head without the old stuff leaking, but I feel like I'm going somewhere. Slowly and surely, but going. <br /><br />Knitting is on hiatus until my needles return from WI, but I am making plarn out of all my plastic bags and I hope to crochet at least a couple of grocery totes.<br /><br />Writing... is never on hold. It always simmers on the back burner. But I still don't know how to get Indara and Kaina from leaving their tiny home city to the big city where Kaina is ill and eventually gets stolen. Or how to get Dudrect and Bali from their hotel to Dudrect's fortress. Or what Ilviras and Siraya's real quest is, and why. Or why the necromancer would enslave a human man who steals his book. And I can't figure out what it is the two witches are summoning in the urban city, or how Tasiha reunites with Ialio and what happens to her at the mage-school in Kiral.<br /><br />Nor how to make Crocodile Boy more whole, nor how to tell the tales of Newton in poems.<br /><br />*sigh* and I've got data to reduce and research to do for no less than 3 separate projects, all about equally important, I would say.Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-10272917462477216412011-01-11T11:58:00.000-08:002011-01-11T12:07:31.481-08:00tea!Outside, the gray and clotted sky gathers itself like the folds of a cloth. The wind moves through the dessicated bushes and the long yellow grasses. The ancient pines before the Astronomy building move gracefully with it, shedding sweet incense. <br /><br />My mint tea grows golden in its glass, warm and sweet and intense, the color of honey. Before me, the pages of lecture notes to cover fall away, while Ingrid Michaelson tells me that maybe, just maybe, I won't die alone.<br /><br />Healing, like living, is not a goal. It is a process, a journey. I am living my healing. Some days are better than others. It helps to have people who care around me, to have the work I love before, to have deadlines (Denmark application, due in 2 days!) and scheduled events (Qualifying Exam in 10 days!) giving me focus and guidance. I still lose one day a week at least to grief. But cats and the strange winter wind of the south and hot mint tea are all part of it now.Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-46138175331083967562011-01-02T10:42:00.000-08:002011-01-02T10:45:52.990-08:00Knitting!I can't understand why for the life of me I decided it was a good idea to leave every last one of my knitting needles in the car in WI while I returned to the south.<br /><br />I have plenty of yarn and lots of ideas for new projects<br />But... nothing to knit with.<br /><br />Plans: a hat, using that lovely worsted wool in shades of brown<br />Another hat, using the many-shades-of-blue<br /><br />I suppose I could give in and turn them both into scarves.<br /><br />Something lacy with that Lagoon yarn I ordered online.<br />Another lacy something with the three skeins of discounted hand-dyed Chilean-inspired green and brown wool.<br />3 pairs of socks (purple and gray, blue and green, and tones of red... o, curse you, sock addiction).<br /><br />Some day I should do something with that Lamb's Wool Cotton-and-Wool in deep purple.<br /><br />So much to knit! so little time...Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-63334194926550741892010-11-10T13:24:00.001-08:002010-11-10T13:32:06.789-08:00Wearing plaid makes me feel beautiful.<br /><br />People in the classroom across the hall are cheering. Note: they are not astronomy students*. That's probably the anarchy class.<br /><br />Going off to math class, where the prof has decided to surprise us with a 4th exam on harder material that's take-home, instead of the extra credit he promised us. Also he doesn't curve and he's decreasing the worth of the two exams I've already taken that I did quite well on.<br /><br />When I get home, I'm going to start my new radio homework.<br /><br /><br />*astronomy students just cry gently** to themselves late at night when their Q parameter doesn't work out and they can't make a program that creates elliptical orbits, or understand why being in a rotating reference frame doesn't change the frequency of an epicycle.<br /><br />**Except there's no crying in Astronomy. People just die.Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-86056729039713166522010-07-26T16:40:00.000-07:002010-07-26T16:45:05.610-07:00awesome<a href=http://infovegan.com/2010/07/26/how-to-focus>How To Focus</a>, which is of great advice to me. Guess I'll try training.<br /><br />While we're in the mood for goals, here are mine for today:<br /><br />go quick grocery shopping<br />Pack up 1/2 living room<br />Pack up all of den<br />Sort bedroom into books and clothes<br />Pack bedroom books<br />Not more laundry tonight, but I'd say start packing the clean clothes into the suitcase.<br />boil eggs<br />boil corn<br />bake potatoes<br />eat peaches<br />do 2 or 3 quick dishes<br />watch Star Wars episode 6Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-75347197367971966942010-07-21T08:27:00.000-07:002010-07-21T08:28:28.142-07:00Scary!<a href=http://www.ep.tc/problems/38/cvr.html>This</a> may be the scariest thing I've ever seen.Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-51922757439245895522010-06-30T15:17:00.000-07:002010-06-30T15:23:03.152-07:00Fresh Fruit SeasonI love fruit.<br /><br />Strawberries, apples, pears, and peaches. Blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries, and currants. Cherries. Pineapple. Limes and lemons and oranges.<br /><br />Except for blueberries.<br /><br />Maybe it's the strangely dry texture, or the fact that they tend to be sour-er. Or maybe it's just the weird skin, or the hint of bitter.<br /><br />But I'm just not a real blueberry fan.<br /><br />This week I got a POUND of blueberries with the food CSA, and I think I may have finally figured out what to do with them.<br /><br />smoothies!<br /><br />I have yogurt, and a blender, and ice. And many many frozen and fresh blueberries. I can add some fruit juice (which was on sale this week, so I have lots!), and I bet even a blueberry smoothie will be pretty tasty!<br /><br />This Week's Haul:<br />2 heads of delicious bibb lettuce<br />4 ears of corn<br />2 cucumbers (I traded one for another ear of corn)<br />1.2 lbs of green beans (but not your average green beans.. I don't know, these look like peas more than anything else)<br />2 lbs of tiny red potatoes (omnomnom!)<br />1 little pint of blackberries<br /><br />(why couldn't I get more blackberries than I know what to do with, instead of blueberries? I have a blackberry upside down cake recipe that looks pretty good).<br /><br />And of course eggs, and I bought 5 peaches as well. I do love fruit.Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-91985833767934832842010-05-06T10:50:00.000-07:002010-05-06T10:54:15.032-07:00OmnomnomI am waiting for the sun to come into the office so I can make sun tea. <br /><br />Picked some mint leaves from my white mint plant this morning. It's certainly thriving! The chives and chervil might not make it, but the mint will, certainly.<br /><br />Studying for finals. I hope this semester ends beautifully. Of COURSE I'm worried. But I only have the two exams, so after Saturday, all my attention can focus on that last exam. I am sure that will help.<br /><br />To do:<br />arrange to pay my disconnect fee/get reimbursed<br />arrange payment for my internet bill<br />play with my program more and at least set it UP to get from s to u, f, and h.<br />study for the first exam<br />do the dishes<br /><br />Peace. Come in, sunlight.Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-25799872354159094622010-04-25T19:35:00.000-07:002010-04-25T19:46:39.739-07:00Meet Squashy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbur6TZwuGNfIpRkAER7rcXQi3olxu8qqJCYvgJrRmGx7q_yS6atWGGJtV3rCgg8bZBluNemBT2OOegTdIwoAn4A2-AU_o9pqifDp0yLyzBRkq_iIdXGYDZvryAARCJ6AV2Pxr9pSJKrxW/s1600/041610+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbur6TZwuGNfIpRkAER7rcXQi3olxu8qqJCYvgJrRmGx7q_yS6atWGGJtV3rCgg8bZBluNemBT2OOegTdIwoAn4A2-AU_o9pqifDp0yLyzBRkq_iIdXGYDZvryAARCJ6AV2Pxr9pSJKrxW/s320/041610+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464269339390016498" /></a><br /><br />Meet Squashy the Quatchi! He comes to me courtesy of <a href=http://resurrectionfern.typepad.com/>Resurrection Fern</a>, and he's Canadian (eh?). Ms. Oomen does glorious artistry with thread and rock and plants and cloth. I happened across her blog not too long ago, and I stayed to gaze at the pretty pictures. (Hey, I'm in Astronomy... <a href=http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/>pretty pictures</a> are part of the trade). Then during the Olympics, Squashy here was sent on a foreign exchange program to cultivate peace between our two lands.<br /><br />He's landed happily here in the Astronomy Department, providing a little comfort and joy in our darkest hours. Or, when needed, he dons a mask and gives us motivation.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dailypets.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/angry.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.dailypets.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/angry.jpg" border="0" alt="What are YOU looking at?" /></a><br /><br />So thanks! The next time I get to go somewhere fun, Squashy will be with me, getting pins and being trained as an observer.Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-29289103686051174162010-04-11T08:44:00.000-07:002010-04-11T09:19:21.282-07:00EverythingI got some gorgeous new yarn from <a href="http://www.yarnia.net/">Yarnia</a>, mostly with projects in mind.<br /><return><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPoztHcg_6G4-i3qe-HIWSotAL-2_P4kJAjLOqVgsEKQvu6V2KaSz_kqXn0JRfmPX2RM6uf5j2uFMkaCKGSt7ltapGh3QO8N87pdgTVKt2GvOwLjCDmFY0fWZnIk9XpH1zcMaR-RDNQgSs/s1600/032910+044.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPoztHcg_6G4-i3qe-HIWSotAL-2_P4kJAjLOqVgsEKQvu6V2KaSz_kqXn0JRfmPX2RM6uf5j2uFMkaCKGSt7ltapGh3QO8N87pdgTVKt2GvOwLjCDmFY0fWZnIk9XpH1zcMaR-RDNQgSs/s200/032910+044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458907184609104050" border="0" /></a> First I got Lane Borgosesia Cashwool in Wine. This is a laceweight yarn that I really want to use for a lace pattern, like Wing O Moth or the Hex pattern put out in Knitty a few months ago. The red is so bright that it glows.<br /><br /><return><br /><return><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIU6xTHTYR5P4_f74_Loa37EoruJMgb5dgRsHLXQyy2AcGqM2cY4tdFKrbwy7JILff4FBQATZz0f1D32q56x1NWNAHEtYQbYr7xAyOEw-Kp1Y9L_Pli7tQy8MbSXMep2bZ8zoycHBRsJp/s1600/032910+062.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIU6xTHTYR5P4_f74_Loa37EoruJMgb5dgRsHLXQyy2AcGqM2cY4tdFKrbwy7JILff4FBQATZz0f1D32q56x1NWNAHEtYQbYr7xAyOEw-Kp1Y9L_Pli7tQy8MbSXMep2bZ8zoycHBRsJp/s200/032910+062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458909022108534738" border="0" /></a></return></return></return> Next is some nice thick Crystal Palace Iceland brown wool; two balls, which will hopefully help me finish off my log cabin blanket. Though looking at the blanket now, I begin to see that even that might not be enough. <br /><return><br /><return><br />I mean, just look at the size of this thing!<br /><return><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0oXo3WF8HqX52xd1eS0q7mL3q3WJmusN5-s6b6r73TqmlNY3pOKVO4q7NTKsony9I_hNHlKozm4TUI3sUd-MBQ6oFpPCEFIEEME94w9SiaPjBPmmkW0npSHG4uygdG84KZz9jnce_2qAb/s1600/032910+066.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0oXo3WF8HqX52xd1eS0q7mL3q3WJmusN5-s6b6r73TqmlNY3pOKVO4q7NTKsony9I_hNHlKozm4TUI3sUd-MBQ6oFpPCEFIEEME94w9SiaPjBPmmkW0npSHG4uygdG84KZz9jnce_2qAb/s320/032910+066.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458909565725429874" /></a><br /><return><br /><return><br />I also picked up 600 yards of what's called Lagoon Space Dyed. It's an acrylic, and I hate acrylic--but this is seriously some of the softest stuff I've ever felt. I want to make it into a wrap so I can just snuggle with it whenever I feel like it. Haven't found the perfect pattern yet though! any recommendations? I only have the 600 yards to work with (but... maybe I'll get some more? .... hmmm...)<br /><return> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZg9drhnEPjgLHaa_62XS2h4UORhw5GdPzMwPMiWVFRWDZtf0Z3K9dLhgrC0C5R9DwS-F42BiZkuYAxKDTMTBIlSGngYP6PgcI93moRguiHv6Wqzi5DJnuQ9z3_leHvSbQcSVvHboDWyq/s1600/032910+039.jpg"><img style="float:center; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZg9drhnEPjgLHaa_62XS2h4UORhw5GdPzMwPMiWVFRWDZtf0Z3K9dLhgrC0C5R9DwS-F42BiZkuYAxKDTMTBIlSGngYP6PgcI93moRguiHv6Wqzi5DJnuQ9z3_leHvSbQcSVvHboDWyq/s200/032910+039.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458910564355965698" /></a><br /><return><br /><return><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vGaBfjbuz1UmDSmT1zgRA2-j7cEtCIGoH8zgStsv1ezjCr_NH8eeLeH-8ugNIA0L5o6eHoSwAzPz-Y6hf0rp1hXz1kj7-P-Be_l3VJ80Rt8QWwNzC_8tBqHueq2G0uWUezqu7AUg6Ur4/s1600/032910+056.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vGaBfjbuz1UmDSmT1zgRA2-j7cEtCIGoH8zgStsv1ezjCr_NH8eeLeH-8ugNIA0L5o6eHoSwAzPz-Y6hf0rp1hXz1kj7-P-Be_l3VJ80Rt8QWwNzC_8tBqHueq2G0uWUezqu7AUg6Ur4/s200/032910+056.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458910986304534178" /></a> I couldn't resist snagging a couple skeins of Aslan Trend's Santa Fe sock yarn. It comes in absolutely gorgeous colors, and I find that it's delightfully springy and stretchy.<br /><return><br /><return> Finally I grabbed some fizzy stuff by Fizz so that I could get free shipping. It's not hideous. By the way, if you want cheap novelty yarns, Yarnia is having a major sale on them. How dorky is that? pretty dorky, I suspect.<br /><return><br />Did some cooking with my friend K. this weekend. We made <a href="http://www.frenchietbd.com/2010/03/brown-butter-brown-sugar-shorties.html">Brown Butter Brown Sugar Shorties</a>, but ours turned out a bit different from the original site's--they kind of melted in the oven. However, they were still delicious! so we ate a lot of them.<br /><return><br /><return><br />When I was hanging out with L. a few weeks ago we went to Ikea, since I had never gone before. It was silly and fun and cheaper than I thought it would be. I picked up two nice plates and some jars for storing dried goods (currently filled with flour--I think I need more of them for the sugar and tea and and and and...<3 jars!). Anyway, my favorite part, cheap candles and nice draperies aside, was their little discount section at the end of the store. I picked up a couple of cute little tea cups with saucers for 50 cents! To quote the matrix, whoa! Well, they were really plain, so I dragged L. off to a Michael's and picked up some ceramic paint and now they look like this: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUq4ZkaaPw9dOeL0-FoF6Qxwvi_Ttu_YKOvUpwtGAx9HojzqkcITKBd3E3KEx88fHcn5Rl2ZylFz061bzuOuzCFIavqnUQSh7SnYZxNGxb07dG2HiCmtuTE78oYkBCatuug77Z7Jp5Tjr/s1600/032910+071.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUq4ZkaaPw9dOeL0-FoF6Qxwvi_Ttu_YKOvUpwtGAx9HojzqkcITKBd3E3KEx88fHcn5Rl2ZylFz061bzuOuzCFIavqnUQSh7SnYZxNGxb07dG2HiCmtuTE78oYkBCatuug77Z7Jp5Tjr/s200/032910+071.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458912352122514402" /></a><br /><return><br />Craftiness aside, I've delved much further into research of late. I'm looking for more ways to stay on top of my field. It always seems so challenging, especially at this early stage--I feel like there is NO way I will ever know enough. Add in the fact that I spend all my free time immersed in homework and programming, and I really can't see how getting to true understanding is even feasible. Ugh. Well, just keep slogging on, right? That's what graduate school is for--learning that you'll never catch up.<br /><return><br /><return><br />If you have a reasonably clear horizon, at this time of year in the west you can spot a really bright <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/worldbook/venus_worldbook.html">Venus</a> shortly after the sun sets. Now if you look three fingers to the right of it and one finger down, you'll notice a tiny little fleck of light. That's <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/worldbook/mercury_worldbook.html">Mercury</a>! Mercury is normally really really difficult to see, because it's so close to the sun that it's always hidden in the solar glow. You should take the time to see it now, because you probably won't be able to see it again for half a year or so.Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-71741660516392695802010-03-23T21:01:00.001-07:002010-03-23T21:22:19.605-07:00Happy Ada Lovelace Day 2010!Have you hugged a woman in science and technology today? For example, <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jocelyn_Bell_Burnell>Jocelyn Bell Burnell</a>?<br /><br />Let me tell you a little story. When I was a 2nd year undergraduate student up in the cold midwest, I spent a lot of time putting together a <a href=http://cmb.physics.wisc.edu/WSTAR/index.html>little radio telescope</a>. We built it from scratch based on designs and schematics from <a href=http://www.haystack.mit.edu/edu/undergrad/srt/index.html>MIT</a>, and since I didn't have the faintest clue how much of it worked, it took a lot of time. But after a couple years, we finally got this sucker deployed on the roof and started taking real sky data--looking at the sun and comparing it to the sky, just to simply see if we could differentiate. And there, right smack in the midst of my absolutely <b>blank</b> sky data, was a beautiful, beautiful blip. Not just any sort of blip--an enormous blip with little nasty resonances that raised my continuum by several thousand kelvin.<br /><br />I was totally thrilled at first, positive I had picked up on some obscure point source at alt 30, az 180 (those were observer's coordinates--not even horizon coordinates, much less equatorial or something useful). That lasted for 30 seconds, of course, until my advisor pointed out that it was probably a hefty dose of Radio Frequency Interference or even just a nasty reflection since the Chemistry Building was RIGHT THERE. But for a brief time I thought I might get lucky and follow in the footsteps of Jocelyn Bell.<br /><br />Well, she didn't get lucky, exactly--she put a lot of work into investigating every aspect of her data (on miles and miles of paper! no digital stuff) produced by the new telescope she'd mostly assembled and deployed herself. And as a result of her work she uncovered a fantastically consistent pulsating signal and thusly discovered pulsars. After such an illustrious career opportunity as a graduate student, she moved on to work in pretty much every wavelength you can work in, win a slew of awards, and be a pretty cool professor.<br /><br />For me, Jocelyn Bell Burnell is extra inspiring because she had in all regards quite an ordinarily successful career, despite having gotten into things in the 50s and 60s, a notoriously difficult time for female scientists. In fact in terms of professors she's remarkably normal--proof for me that despite having a bumpy beginning, it's possible to go places and do all the exciting science things that are the crux of pursuing such a career.<br /><br />Shout out to Ada Lovelace, to Jocelyn Bell Burnell, to all the other women in science and technology, both past and present, who have helped to shape my own place in all of this and who continue to carve a place in the future. <br /><br /><br />Future posts include awesome pics, as soon as I get my camera up and running.Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-17940799666863112992010-03-10T15:36:00.000-08:002010-03-10T15:55:40.352-08:00Knit Knit KnitIt's been a busy couple of weeks (surprise :P), but I think I've finally caught up. Of course that's only because we've a few days of break here, but still. I am doing all the housework that I've been putting off, taking care of the car, and looking into a new apartment for next year.<br /><br />I had a FANTASTIC couple of days up in NYC with The Twin, including a fantastic visit to <a href=http://www.thechocolateroombrooklyn.com/>The Chocolate Room</a>, which is, yes you guessed it, a little cafe devoted entirely to fantastic chocolates.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www2.worthingtonlibraries.org/teen/blog/Image/icons/chocolate.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 305px;" src="http://www2.worthingtonlibraries.org/teen/blog/Image/icons/chocolate.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Doesn't that just make you drool? I should have brought some home with me, but I was so tired I actually passed up my chance. D'oh!<br /><br /><br />I'm noticing an interesting pattern in my classwork and abilities. I'm becoming at least a little bit more focused, and a bit more of a powerful, individual worker. I tend to learn by interacting with others, but frequently I've been driving through homeworks completely independently. Of course this is currently accompanied by a decline in grades (AGH!), but that's primarily due to not giving myself enough time to get my work done. Still, it's nice to know that I'm beginning to pick up some of the skills I was supposed to have when I got here.<br /><br /><br />A few other things of interest:<br /><br /><a href=http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/57111/title/Temporary_hearing_impairment_leads_to_lazy_ear>Temporary Hearing Impairment Leads to Lazy Ear</a>. I found this interesting article on <a href=http://www.sciencenews.org/>Science News</a>. This explains a lot for me--I had tons of ear infections as a kid and I often find that my listening is impaired in strange ways now-a-days. I wonder what I have to do to go about re-training it? A lazy eye is re-trained by using an eye-patch on the good eye. Maybe if I use one earplug at a time? That might be interesting.<br /><br /><a href=http://www.startribune.com/local/west/86723927.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiacyKUUr>This article on soldiers knitting</a> from my old old old hometown newspaper. It's not very informative but the idea is still interesting. Let me know if you have any more.<br /><br /><a href=http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/56903/title/Earth_knocked_for_a_loop_>Earthquakes affect earth's rotation</a>. The earth's rotation changes on a 12 month cycle and even smaller timescales anyway so this isn't that big of a deal, but it is interesting.<br /><br /><a href=http://arxiv.org/abs/1003.1875>Finally</a> a possible explanation of dark matter? Hmm, I like this one a lot.Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607152763310582252.post-67094497141404260552010-03-01T08:37:00.000-08:002010-03-01T08:41:44.703-08:00Succinct Summary 2Lunch: Homemade meatballs on pumpernickel with neufchatel. Mmm. Also, frozen fruit for later.<br /><br />Work: Steve's homework. Problems 2 and 3 out of 5 dented. The others glanced at.<br />Work II: Stats homework. Problems 1 and 2 out of 3 dented. The others glanced at.<br /><br />I wish I had resources to talk to about these homework sets. I mean, before 11pm the night before they're due. Oh well, maybe I'll learn how to work on these things on my own<br /><br />Work I am putting off: Li's Program. eeeseeesgghh... yuck.<br /><br />Good News: Got my tax refunds today! wooHOO. Time to pay off some bills.<br /><br />Other Good News: I signed up for my food co-op. It starts mid April. Fresh fruit and vegetables! I can't wait.Tashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871581076638898272noreply@blogger.com0