Author: Gary

While my math class is going OK, I looked over the Math subject test for the GRE (not the general math test that everyone takes). I’ve forgotten a lot.

I’m slowly trying to re-teach myself a lot of what I’ll need to know: vector calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and there is some stuff I don’t think I ever had before that I’ll probably need to take classes on.

The GRE subject test seems to test more for bredth than depth of knowledge.

I’m going to write a long post soon about going to school when your over 30. Suffice it to say, college is wasted on the young. I think everyone would get more out if it if they waited till they were about 21 to start college.

I was notified by Textamerica that my moblog is one of their fatured sites (at least for a few days). I’m guessing its how I captured the essense of the MIA or the cool layering pics of the snowbank.

Bietz, Kurtz, and one of my extempers also have blogs up at Textamerica.

I’m really suprised that Sprint or the other cell providers don’t buy textamercia or create a similar site. Being able to post images is half the fun of having a cell phone. I send stuff to the web all the time, but almost never send photos to other people.

I had a party for Pete last night at my house. I don’t drink much, and it doesn’t take too much to make me drink too much. I felt just awful today. Part of the problem was I had next to nothing to eat yesterday and today, which I’m sure compounded the problem.

If you happen to read this while the Oscars are on, check out James Berardinelli’s running commentary of the show.

Of the best picture nominations, the only one I haven’t seen is Seabiscut, but its out on DVD already, so I might pick it up. There are several movies that had nominated performances that I’d still like to see: 21 Grams, In America, The Cooler, Monster, City of God, and Girl With The Pearl Earring. My movie going usually goes in spurts, so I should try to start another spurt soon.

You may notice that I have Chicago crossed off the Best Picture DVDs list below. I got it this week and finally got around to watching it. It was pretty good, but not as good as the Pianist, which should have won last year.

Dude. Tell me about it.

I’ve not done much with my DVD collection as of late. It goes in spurts. There are several different sets I’m trying to complete, and since my last spurt, several have come out which bring me one step closer to completion.

The first set would be all the films to have won the Oscar for Best Picture. The DVD’s that are out currently that I don’t have are:

• 2003 Chicago
• 1942 Mrs. Miniver
• 1938 You Can’t Take it With You
• 1936 The Great Ziegfeld
• 1935 Mutiny on the Bounty

Best Picture winners that haven’t been released are:

• 1993 Shinlder’s List
• 1956 Around the World in 80 Days
• 1952 The Greatest Show on Earth
• 1937 The Life of Emile Zola
• 1933 Cavalcade
• 1931 Cimarron
• 1929 Broadway Melody
• 1928 Wings

The other big set I’m working on is the AFI Top 100 list. Released DVD’s I still need:

• #73 WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939)
• #82 GIANT (1956)
• #85 DUCK SOUP (1933)
• #86 MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935)
• #100 YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)

The unreleased AFI Top 100 are:

• #9 SCHINDLER’S LIST (1993)
• #15 STAR WARS (1977)
• #17 THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)
• #21 THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
• #43 KING KONG (1933)
• #90 THE JAZZ SINGER (1927)
• #97 BRINGING UP BABY (1938)

I know its really anal to keep these sort of lists, but its what I do. I even have one of the IMDB Top 100, but its hard to keep upto date because it changes all the time.

I have midterm exams this week. I’m pretty sure I crushed the astronomy test. I have my math one tomorrow. So far, I’m getting A’s in both classes, but in Math at least its heavily weighted towards tests, so the homework and quizes doesn’t mean too much. (20% combined I think) I think the math class is graded on a curve, but I’m not sure. Either way, at this stage of the game, I’m doing fine. School is easy the older you are.

The extempers are doing better. Some should start making finals shortly. The trend has been upward for the group, which has been the goal since the beginning.