Category: General

Another boring school entry. Here is my final class schedule for Fall 2004:

CHEM 1021 Chem Principles I Lab 6:00 – 8:50pm Th
CHEM 1021 Chem Principles I Lecture 6:00 – 9:00pm Tu

PHYS 1302 Physics II Lecture 12:20 – 1:10pm M Tu W F
PHYS 1302 Physics II Lab 9:05 – 11:00am Tu
PHYS 1302 Physics II Discussion 12:20 – 1:10pm Th

Those of you following at home may be asking yourself, “where’s the physics?” The physics program requires Physics I, II, III, and quantum to be taken sequentially. You really can’t do much until you have that sequence taken in order, and the quantum classes are only offered in the spring. So I have lots of non-physics openings in my schedule that I’m filling with geology. I should have most of a geology degree done by the time I get finished with the core physics stuff. Next semsester I probably wont take any physics just because I’m a semester out of step with the way the classes are being taught.

Next semester I’ll be taking some combination of: Chem II, Petrology, Earth History, some other geology course, and probably a biology course. I actually have a rough outline of the next four years done, but its way too long to post here.

I think its time for an update. Given the anemic comments, I’m amazed at the number of people that read this site.

• I had a biology test yesterday. I got an A. I have an A for the course pretty wrapped up I think. I just have to not totally bomb the final, which while its possible, shouldn’t be that likely. I have wiggle room. I think I can get a 76% on the final and still get an A for the course. The thing that I did the worst on in the course were dumb 3 point pre-lab quizes.
• My last physics test was horrible. I didn’t study enough and assumed I knew the material better than I did. Thankfully, all is not lost. I did well on the first test and the tests are only 55% of the total grade, and there are 4 tests. Given the status of biology, I have to shift focus to physics now.
• I’ve scored above the mean on all my differential equations classes, so I’m not too worried about passing.
• I’m going to drop the cryptology/number theory course this fall. I’d like to take it, but I have other classes I have to fit in if I want to do everything I want. Efficency has to give way to desire.
• I’m going to leave town for a week after this term is done. I have no clue where I’ll go other than “away”. Probably north. Just me, my computer, and books.
• Navigating the University of Minnesota classes is a real pain. I’m astounded at what they DONT offer.
• I’m going to Ikea tonight.

In addition to schooling, I’ve been stopping by at the Center for Public Speaking camp this week to listen to speeches and lecture. I’ll be giving lectures on economics (micro and macro) as well as science and technology to the extempers.

It was another Tuesday and that means almost 10 straight hours of class. I had a test and a quiz in biology lab. So far so good in biology, but my last physics test did not go as well as I had hoped. I didn’t bomb it or anything, but I could have done much better.

I just finished the “Deep Hot Biosphere” by Thomas Gold. Its an interesting argument and if more data comes forward, it could be as big as contenintal drift was.

I’m enjoying differential equations more now. Vector spaces are more interesting than methods to solve equations.

I got a big Barry Bonds post at home I haven’t posted yet. Suffice to say, he’s having another crazy year. He has more intentional base on balls than he does hits. No on has ever even approached anything like that before in the history of baseball.

As is the norm for Tuesdays, I only had about 5 hours of sleep last night.

Oh yeah……………….Tim Sheaf.

I just got back from watching King Arthur.

I went through a phase where I read a lot about King Arthur and the search for the facts behind the myth. I also read all of “la Morte de Arthur” and “The Quest for the Holy Grail” where are both difficult reads.

This movie had nothing to do with either the legend of Arthur or even some of the supposed truth that might have spawned the legends. In fact, if you had changed the names of the characters in the movie, there is no way you would realize that the movie had anything to do with King Arthur.

Leave it to Jerry Bruckheimer.

Enough talking about school. I’m there 10 hours a day most days. I write about it becuase its takes up so much of my time. However, its not the only thing I have going on:

• I help Scott Kurtz manage advertising for PVP. I can really tell that the economy is picking up. We’re getting a lot more requests for advertising, and the summer is traditionally a slow time for it. Scott will also have a brand new online store for t-shirts and such up and running later this month.
• About 5 years ago, I help found a company (now) called SwiftKnowledge. We picked the absolute worst time in history to start a software company. The next several years were ones of extreme anxiety. Despite all the turmoil, everyone involved hung in there and stuck it out, and now the company is doing much, much better. They are on the verge of profitability. I do not, and have not, played a day to day role in the company, so its not as if I can take credit for their success, but its nice to have played some role and see them finally starting to kick ass. They just moved into new offices about a block from my house. That’s what spurred this mention.
• Jed correctly pointed out that the solution to y’= y is ke^x. I always forget the constant. e^x is a solution, but on the general solution.
• CPS is starting up in a week. It is looking to be about twice the size of last year’s camp. I’ll be lecturing here and there and helping out.