Category: General

With the exception of the operating system (which I admit is a pretty big thing) I’m not running any Microsoft software anymore. This wasn’t a ideological decision, it was something which sort of just happened gradually. It started when I couldnt’ install Office because I had a ton of update disks. I said screw it and just put OpenOffice on my computer. It has served me well for 99% of everything I use office software for. (The one thing it doesn’t do yet is save presentation slides to HTML). I’m using Firefox (browser), Thunderbird (email) and Sunbird (calendar) for my other software. All are to the point where they work flawlessly. I have an account for MSN messenger, but I use Trillian as my IM client. Unless MS comes out with something spectacular, I don’t see myself going back.

I know I’m not the only one doing this. The primary reason behind it, I think, is the ease at which I can install and get updates. I don’t need a CD. I don’t need an account. I don’t need an activation key. I just go to the URL and click. That’s it. If you haven’t tried any of these programs, give them a try. Personally, I think they work better than the MS equivalent in almost all cases.

There is a new site up that is an archive of photos taken during the Apollo missions. It reminds me of a coffee table book I own called Full Moon. Its a collection of digital copies of the original Apollo photos. Most photos are copies of copies, or even copies of copies of copies. The author, Michael Light, got access to the original photos to make digital copies. To print the book they had to create a new type of black ink that could capture the blackness of space in the photos. Someday I’d like to buy a print of a photo to hang on my wall.

Michael Light also published a similar collection of photos called “100 Suns”. He made digital copies of photos taken during above ground nuclear tests. I have, I think, 5 DVD’s of footage of atmospheric nuclear tests, including one of the greatest documentaries ever made, “Trinity and Beyond” (at least visually). The photos and footage of Atomic Bomb tests are strangely compelling. If you’ve haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it. It also has one of the better original scores ever done for a documenary.

To any extempers reading this, I strongly suggest you start reading this week in preperation for mini-camp.

I had two tests on Friday in physics and differential equations/linear algebra. I kicked the physics test squarely in the ass and did good enough on the diff eq test. This week I have two finals, in biology and differential equations. I’ll focus on Biology this week till the final on Thursday, then do DE all night Thursday, and have the next two weeks to focus on Physics exclusively.

I did some minor surgery on my aquarium yesterday. I got new metal halide lights, dismanteled the pump and cleaned it, and did a 30 gallon water change. I also cleaned most of the alage off and sucked a fair amount of it out of the tank during the water change. I’ll probably be doing some more with the tank today.
It looks so much better it isn’t funny.

I also replaced my broken stools in my kitchen with some I got at Ikea. They were 1/3 the price of what I originally paid. Ikea is like a bizzare mix of Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Abba.

I saw Harold and Kumar on Friday night. It was really funny. *** 1/2
I saw the Manchaurian Canidate last night. It was mostly better than the original, but the ending was sort of weak. ***

This week I have a physics test, a differential equations test, and a major quiz in biology. As such, I’m carrying all my textbooks around this week, which really really hurts. Especially my physics book which is HEAVY. This is a make or break week for physics. I have two tests and two problem left in the course, one of each are this week. My foucs is, and has to be, physics. Biology isn’t hard and the die has pretty much been cast on my grade for the course. DE is pass/fail and so far I’m above the mean. That leaves physics.

I went to Ikea on Saturday. Its like the stylish parts of Target at Wall-Mart prices, layed out like a Home Depot…….with Sweedish names.

I saw the Bourne Supremacy on Friday. 3.5/4 *

James Oberg writes that we may soon see a time where no living human has been on the moon.

Its a thought I’ve had for quite a while now (not that there is anything super special or original about it). Given the mention Oberg’s mention, here is a run down of everyone who has been to the moon. (for the purposes of this, I’ll be conservative and count people who have orbited the moon as having been to the moon)

I had to share this. This is the result of my biology lab from this week:

The two white strips underlined in red are my DNA. Not much of it, and not a very important part, but its my DNA nonetheless.

I liken this course to riding on a roller coaster where they take your picture at the end.