Friday, April 28, 2006

Accomplishing Little

Today I was told by the second of two people that I really could go with a new picture on my homepage, and since I do in fact treasure the honest opinions of friends, I decided to go ahead and take it down while I search for a suitable replacement (I just went through all my pictures recently and found nothing, so I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do yet.)

Gearing up for the big race at the moment. Campus seems to be going crazy today, what between ECE day, Brenton (a new PhD student who deferred from last year) visiting, and this trip I took over to the ETC to see some Claytronics promotional video (It was really neat; TEH FUTURE).

Also, I found someone who loves The Office (British AND Yankee) possibly more than I do. She was nice enough to offer to copy all the US ones that I hadn't seen and even made me feel like kind of a sellout for missing B.J. Novak's visit on Saturday night (I mean come on, I REALLY want to see him, but why do they put those things on weekends? Don't they know some of us have stuff to do?) We also had an interesting talk about the possibly effects of computers on one's ability to interact with human beings. I often think that I'm losing that ability one day at a time...

Guess that's it. Gotta figure a bunch of stuff out in the hour now before the race...

Thursday, April 27, 2006

What, 22/7 Wasn't Good Enough?

I finally bought some running shoes this past weekend. I had been running in basketball shoes for the past few months (which coincidentally is the total amount of time for which I have been running) and they were becoming very uncomfortable. So when I popped open the box after returning home, I found this little gem, which I thought was amazing:












I guess all the rational numbers had already been used up?

Oh also, there's this strange noise occurring in WEAN hall at the moment, and it has been going on for two days. It sounds kinda like guitar feedback, but it comes in and out. I'm thinking maybe it has something to do with the massive A/C units sitting 10 feet above my head, but it's massively annoying whatever it is. Maybe I'm going crazy though...

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

BlaH!

Just as work begins to really heat up for the end of the semester, I get a cold! Blah! Thanks, to my parents, it is almost impossible for me to skip anything just because I am sick. I always kinda feel like I just using it as an excuse to avoid something at don't want to do. At the same time, I run the risk of getting other people sick, which is very lame!! So I guess my advice would be to stay away from me for a few days!

As we know, there are more important things that work! This brings me to two other reasons why I wish I weren't sick. This Friday is the Random Distance Race, I am going to a Pirates Game, and I am going to the GSA Wine-Tasting event on Saturday.... Blah! I guess I better just sac up, finish my work and have an awesome time. Sounds good? Jah!!

Saturday, April 22, 2006

If it's too loud, turn it down...

Last night I went to this concert on campus; Phantom Planet/Secret Machines. If I had to sum it up in one word, that word would be loud. I'm sure it didn't help that they moved an outdoor concert into a basketball gym because of the rain.

But look, don't get me wrong, I've been to my share of loud concerts, but they had Phantom Planet, what one might describe as indie-style party rock mic'ed up like they were Molly Hatchet or something. It was so loud, that you couldn't even really hear anything, paradoxically... Two of our friends left like within 2 minutes of arriving.

I sound like an old man, I know, but since we were surrounded by 18-year-olds (the highest proportion of fans seemed to be high schoolers and freshman) I felt like one too. Oh well... Phatom Planet ended up being okay, after killing off my midrange hearing, it got a lot better. I saw them back at USC, and have casually followed them since then.

In other news, the milk steamer on my espresso machine is now officially dead! I guess that's what I get for buying a $30 espresso machine. But I regret nothing!

Friday, April 21, 2006

The Mysteries of Pittsburgh

Hey this is great:
Apparently, they are making a movie based on the book, "The Mysteries of Pittsburgh" by Michael Chabon. This is a book that I have read recently, and enjoyed at least a fair amount, if only for the neat descriptions of Pittsburgh. (I still get that "Hey I know that place!" kind of feeling when I read books about places where I live. See "Less Than Zero" and "Liquor" for further proof.)

Anyway, the big question is whether or not they will film the movie in Pittsburgh. There are of course tons of money issues, and lots of posturing and back and forth. What it boils down to is whether or not the studio can get workers cheaply enough, or whether or not the city will be willing to give the studio even more incentives. But in a perfect world it would be filmed right here in the good 'ole Burgh. I would love to see CMU's steam plant (otherwise known as the Cloud Factory) as a central character in a Hollywood movie.

In other news, because of this Carnival thing, it's absolutely dead around here. How am I supposed to get work done when I know that everyone else is enjoying themselves so thouroughly?

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Eww....

This morning I have a nose bleed. Nothing really happened, I just sort of started having one. I feel like that friend we all had when we were little who was always having some kind of nose bleed, like the slightest thing would set my nose off...

Anyway, this is only a point of interest because it is surprisingly hard to work when you have a nose bleed. I have to keep going back and forth to the bathroom because I can never get enough tissue. The funniest part was when the UPS man walked into my office (Without knocking I might add!) and I was sitting at my desk with a wadded up tissue stuck in my nose. I felt a litte dump.

Friday, April 7, 2006

Alma Matter

Today I was thinking about how my high school had an Alma Matter, and how this is probably not a common thing. This idea had never struck me before, so here it goes (I'm singing in my mind):

In the south-land's fairest city,
Reared against the southern sky,
Proudly stands our Alma Matter,
As the years go passing by.

Onward ever we are watchful,
Truth and honor will prevail.

...this is the line I forget...
Newman school we proudly hail.



And then if you were really cool, you'd replace 'hail; with 'fail.' Niiiiiice!

Sunday, April 2, 2006

Don't change your plans for me

This town is nutZ!
I was minding my own business, scooting down Forbes, when I notice a tiny shindig taking place on Pitt's campus, near the base of the Cathedral of Learning. 'What the hey,' I say as I roll down my window, 'might as well see if I know the band.' Would you beleive, Ben Motherloving Folds was giving a concert, right here? It wasn't even listed on his own tour schedule!
I take the only reasonable course of action, which is to immediately park my car and run to the concert, ignoring all other promises and responsibilities.
It was worth it, woth even flying Hans Solo. It was the first time I heard any of the songs from 'Songs for Silverman' played live. Niiiiiiice!