Progress

And another week draws to a close, bringing me a tiny bit closer to being done with the semester. Final exams seem simple compared to the amount of work that has suddenly appeared with the closing out of courses. I'm looking forward to January, also known as the month of relaxation. I'll be taking a German literature course, 9 to 11, Mondays through Thursdays. To keep busy, I'll be volunteering at the local animal shelter, and hopefully following a large animal vet around on rounds. Other than that...not much, honestly. JanPlan is a quiet month, and it's buffered by breaks on both ends. I'm looking forward to it...

To whom it may concern

I'm running low on things to blog about, so today you get to hear about the weather. It was supposed to snow today...but it was more like freezing rain that just reminded everybody that November is depressing. I'm reminded of the other day's Harry Bliss cartoon: "Hear that sound? That's the sound of four months of winter depression."

Honestly, I love the winter. I don't mind the cold, the wind, even the sun setting at four thirty. But I would like to get some snow. The "wintry mix" stuff doesn't really cut it for me.

To further prove my point.

No background, just this link.

In the brief time I have...

Today's post is going to be quick; I have a bio lab in ten minutes. Might not get around to posting for the next few days; exams are creeping up, and I have two in the next week. Just a quick reminder: I hate calculus. However, I do have time to heartily recommend Seeqpod to anyone who has not already discovered this wonderful musical equivalent of Google. It's completely free, completely legal, and the only drawback is that you need an internet connection to play your tunes. Best of all, as far as I can tell, Google hasn't bought it yet. Don't get me wrong, I love Google, but there are these little things called monopolies that Google is getting close to. I have the same love-hate relationship with Microsoft...a little more hate than love, though. That's all for now!

Back to the old grind...

Thanksgiving is over, the leftovers are (mostly) gone, and it's about time to head back to school...actually, about four hours from now, I will be heading back. It seems interminable...perpetual agony of school...class, lab, work, repeat. But when I think about it, it's really not that bad. I have lots of free time, not much homework, and more freedom than I've ever had before. If I do have to stay up late doing work, it's more likely because of a conscious choice I made earlier to not do work rather than because of having too much to do. I actually make that choice a lot...too much, really. For example, right now I should be writing a biology lab write up that was assigned two weeks ago and is due tomorrow. If I actually sat/laid down and worked on it, it'd be done in an hour, tops. Sadly, it's taken me about five days because I lack the ability to actually do work uninterrupted. Oh well...winter break is in two/three weeks, and I'll finally be HOME! Time to pay some visits...and yes, the high school is high on the list.

Dan I am

This blog reflects a lot of the things I find important, and I thought I would share one of the nerdier things I do: read webcomics.

Not only do I read stuff like xkcd, Partially Clips, and Perry Bible Fellowship (which are all hilarious), I read things with interesting (and often overcomplicated) plots. These include MegaTokyo, AppleGeeks, Ctrl+Alt+Del, Home on The Strange, and Penny Arcade. Although Penny Arcade doesn't really have a plot...but I digress. These are my newspaper comics, although I would much rather be reading For Better or For Worse...if only it was still continuing Lynn Johnston's marvelous concept of aging the characters...or in fact having new strips at all, other than Sundays.

Recently, I've been reading Flaky Pastry, which is interesting. I've also been reading Order of the Stick, which is really funny to D&D nerds like me, and it even mixes in the occasional Python reference.

I think I'm beyond redemption...

Turkey Day!

It's Thanksgiving, and here's a list of what I'm thankful for:

1. Family
2. Friends
3. College out of state
4. Breaks from college out of state
5. Music
6. Wit and Wisdom

So have a wonderful Thanksgiving, everyone, and I'll enjoy my turkey tomorrow (and the next day, and the next day, etc...)

Perhaps now...

So scientists have announced they've found a way to create stem cells from skin cells. In a process that involves only four genes, two teams have bypassed the need for human embryos and therefore the entire ethical dilemma surrounding stem cell research. And somehow, the Bush administration takes credit for it all. "The White House said that Mr. Bush was 'very pleased' about the new findings, adding that 'By avoiding techniques that destroy life, while vigorously supporting alternative approaches, President Bush is encouraging scientific advancement within ethical boundaries.'"

Aren't we glad that scientists found a way around your religious inhibitions and political pandering, Mr. Bush? Isn't it nice that despite your party's opposition to anything that might be considered "unethical," that science is still flexible enough to continue vital research? We're glad you're "very pleased," Mr. Bush, because if embryonic stem cells were the only way we could get stem cells, you'd be standing in the way of possible cures to diseases that right now are death sentences.

Read the full story here.

Kind of Freaky

So like the nice boy I am, I agree to participate in a psych experiment. I'm still not exactly sure what the experiment was about, but it involved a personality test and then watching a video. When the video is over, the girl running the experiment comes in and tells me I've been secretly taped while watching the video.

Excuse me? I was just videotaped without my knowledge? In a room where I thought I was alone? So you were watching me the whole time? What if I had done something potentially embarrassing, say picked my nose? How would I feel about being videotaped picking my nose?

So from now on, I look for hidden cameras wherever I go. Nothing like being slightly freaked out to convince me to do so.

Buck the Fuckeyes

And Michigan lost yet another match-up with OSU. Sigh...at least we'll always have Illinois forcing the Buckeyes down to number 6.

I beat it! (Finally)

Four months after being introduced to it, and two weeks after being reintroduced to it, I finally beat Pinch Hitter 2. Actually, after getting past the 20,000 points in major league, the last task is relatively easy. Yay me!

Dodgeball

So tonight was the campus dodgeball tournament. I refereed - nothing better than getting paid to blow a whistle and boss people around. Plus I got to throw people out if they argued...fun! And...that's all for this post!

A Good Thing For A Good Cause

Have you donated blood recently? (Besides you, phschemguy, since I know you can't). I've donated twice since I've gotten to college, both because I want to and because I just recently gained enough weight to be able to donate. It's a great thing to do, and the nurses make sure you're aware that your blood WILL be used to save a life. I'm O positive, another thing I found out from donating blood, and while I can only receive O blood, I am the universal positive donor. I personally enjoy the experience (aside from the one poke with the needle). It's fun to lie there in comfort and banter with the nurses. They're all friendly and compassionate and understand if you feel like you want to fall over after donating (this wasn't me). Plus, my blood flows quickly (a pint bag filled in 4:42), so it's quick and easy, especially know that I have a card. The only thing I don't like is the mandatory fifteen minute wait after donating. I was pacing around the table to prove I was fine and could leave, but they didn't let me. Even so, the free food and drink made up for it. So I encourage everyone to donate blood! Be a life saver!

Google Analytics...cool...

So now I know that my blog does indeed get viewed occasionally. This is evidenced not only by the posting of calen, but also by google analytics. With thanks to phschemguy for the tip, I used my Gmail account to open up an account with Google Analytics. A tweak to the blog HTML, and my tracker was up and running. And today I'm fascinated by page views not only from numerous places in Ohio, and several from here in Maine, but also by a visit from Portugal and one from Stockholm, Sweden. I think I'm going to enjoy monitoring my site traffic.

On a separate note, snow is in the forecast for Friday late morning. Fingers are crossed and pajamas are inside out, which gets strange looks in the dorm.

Gel Electrophoresis is a Beautiful Thing

Especially when it works correctly. If I remember right, the fifth track from the top is the ladder, around 1000 nucleotides long. From the top, it's the control, EcoRI, HincII, and PvuII, followed by the ladder, and then EH, EP, HP and EHP. The exact procedure can be found here.

Monday Monday

Although it did just become Tuesday as I began this post...

So it's almost Thanksgiving, which is nice because it's almost the end of term. I get the end of next week off, and I'll be in Portland for five or so days. Then back to school, and two or three weeks of class and then finals, and then home again home again, until early January. I can't wait...I'm not homesick - never have been, not likely to be - but I just want off of this campus for more than a day or two at a time. I want to sleep in my old bed, see all my buddies, even visit the high school and check up with some teachers. Even if they try to turn me away, I'll just come around back and tap on some windows until I get in. I especially want to see my cat, though. Anybody who knows me knows I'm an animal lover - I work at a vet clinic, I have always owned at least one pet - and it's hard being without a pet when I'm used to seeing forty or more in a day. So I'm really glad to be coming home in a little more than a month.

This week should be light on the schoolwork...biology exam on Wednesday, but it's over basic stuff. Props to Mrs Heckman for teaching me about DNA, transcription, translation, mitosis, glycolysis, Krebs cycle and photosynthesis. I get the results of the latest chemistry exam on Wednesday too...thermochem and redox. I have the feeling I screwed up at least one thermochem question, but redox isn't a problem for me. Props to Mr. Dusch for that...Mozilla just told me that "Dusch" isn't in my dictionary. Odd...you'd think of all last names that that'd be in there.

And so I begin to ramble. Please excuse me, it is past midnight, and it's been a rather extended day. Mondays are generally unfriendly; they start with calculus at eight, then chem at nine. Italian follows at ten, then bio at eleven, succeeded by lunch at noon. By one I'm in bio lab (I have a picture of gel electrophoresis I need to scan in...it's so cool). Depending on how long lab runs, I have anywhere from an hour to ten minutes to grab my music and get to chorale by four. Then we sight read Mozart and Benjamin Britten for two hours. Then it's time for dinner with the freshman gang from the dorm (you'll eventually be introduced to most of them through this blog), and then it's work/play time. Tonight was playtime, as we didn't get much done beyond several games of Durak and watching a couple episodes of our favorite reality show (other than Survivor), The Amazing Race. There is a Colby edition of Survivor in the works, hopefully to be uploaded to Youtube before the spring semester ends. Spoiler Alert: I get voted off early!

Alright...I should probably get some sleep. As in stop blogging. Just to add a picture...

Sigh...

Well, the Giants lost to Dallas...not that I'm really surprised, just disappointed. At least the Bengals delivered some satisfaction for once.

Responsibility

So MIT is suing Frank Gehry, the architect who designed their Stata Center, because of what they call design flaws. They say the design has caused constant cracking, leaks, and drainage problems. The building is apparently falling apart, but Gehry blames cut corners in the building process.

Read the full article here.

Another Funny Thing I Found on the Interblag

Christopher Knight for School Board TV Commercial #1
This is AWESOME.

This is actually pretty interesting

Found this completely by accident...but it raises an interesting point. Halo 3 inspiring suicide tactics? An interesting concept.

And for something a little less heavy...

The World Toilet Summit.

Oof

Today I renewed my dislike for thermochemistry. Bleah. Can't wait to get back to redox and orbitals.

I Remembered (Barely)

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up King and Parli'ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

More Football Woes

I cheered for the Colts...I watched, and I saw them with the ball at midfield with about three to go...and I left to walk back to my dorm. I got back to see the Patriots with the ball. Why???

Football Woes

It's hard being a Colts fan in New England. Especially now, the Pats being 8-0 and the Colts 7-0, today is going to be interesting. I won't be cheering too loudly. Still, it's a good time to be a Giants fan, which is nice, because the Bengals have returned to the kingdom of suck. Honestly, the Giants didn't strike me as a good team this season, starting off 0-2. But they've won six straight, and they're only one back of the Cowboys, who sadly just won't lose. But those teams don't matter today. Today all that matters is the Patriots-Colts game, where one team will lose it's undefeated status. Here's hoping that team is the Pats.

On myself

You know, I haven't really been clear on who exactly I am. I'm a mystery person, unless you happen to know me/read my blogger profile. So because I want to, and really because I wanted to post and couldn't think of a good topic...this one's about me.

So to start: I'm a college freshman, at Colby College in Waterville Maine. If you've never been, go. It's totally worth it because the weather is great (it's New England) and everybody is nice. So I'm here at college, getting used to the idea of not having to let somebody know where I am at all hours, not having a curfew, not having to sleep in my own bed every night (before you go there, don't). All in all, college life is pretty sweet. Classes for me are intro chem and bio, single variable calc, and intro Italian. They're "fun."

One thing I've noticed about college is that I have way too much free time. Even with a job at the campus bookstore, four classes, two labs, homework, etcetera etcetera, I still find time enough to blog, read, talk, watch way too much British comedy, etcetera etcetera. Along with this, the Red Sox made yet another march through the post season, which meant a month of games and post game coverage. Hours and hours with my butt parked in front of a TV. But that's okay, because they won it all, and it made it all worthwhile. But I'll save the Sox for another post.

Personal interests...hmmm...I do read a lot. Book reviews will definitely be part of this blog, but I'm not anticipating going beyond "this is good. read it." Right now I'm reading "Q" by Luther Blissett, a novel about the Enlightenment. I finally finished "Cell" by Stephen King, after reading the first three chapters a year ago and then losing the book. My favorite authors are definitely sci-fi/fantasy writers: Tolkien, Terry Pratchett, Terry Brooks, Neil Gaiman ("Anansi Boys" is a new favorite), Asimov, Barron. I also watch some TV, my favorite shows being House and The Office. Scrubs is a newcomer to my scene, but it's growing on me. Old favorites are Friends, Frasier, Seinfeld, Will and Grace, Arrested Development. I also like online games (the kind where you don't play with other people). phschemguy over at idtmi.blogspot.com is my source for a lot of them.

I think that pretty much wraps it up for my debutante post. Look for more later.