Monday, July 02, 2007
an hour's lot of thoughts
I've spent 35 days in Europe and nearly 7233 days in the US yet every time I've walked out of a store since those 35 days, it's felt odd to not say goodbye to or acknowledge the person or people working there, as is normal in Europe. I guess it's something that, when I was exposed to it, seemed like such a natural action that I was able to disregard the previous 18 years of never really considering it standard practice. This needs to change.
Our high school driver's ed instructional videos put us in driving situations with footage from a moving car. At certain points in the video, the motion would pause and we'd have to identify potential hazards. These hazards were then highlighted in partially transparent red rectangles to make sure we caught everything. When I'm driving and an animal is running around near my car, or a kid is bouncing a basketball on the sidewalk, or some lady is opening her car door to put away her grocery bag, I see these red rectangles. I don't think the intent of the videos was to get us to project graphics in our head, but if that's what makes me a safe driver....
I run through conversations and situations, both hypothetical and previously occurring, in my head. I drift off to subconscious-land for a just a few seconds, and I catch myself mouthing words and making hand gestures and facial expressions that have occurred or would occur in that certain situation. I really hope somebody sees this happen.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
the far corners
A rain drop falling into a puddle or a rock thrown into a pond gives us a fascinating collection of circles. The Sun and Moon rise and set as circles in our sky. Circles devastate us in the form of tornadoes and hurricanes as well as bring us beauty in the form of daisies, dandelions, and dahlias. They are subtle yet they surround us.
There is no way around it; the circle is the most captivating, the most crucial of all things. However, in order to properly circumstantiate the importance of the circle, we must consider what a circle is and what a circle is not.
Algebraically, a circle is the set of all points equally distant from a given point. Geometrically, a circle is the cross-sectional area produced by the intersection of a cone and a plane parallel to the base of the cone. A circle can be defined any number of ways and every accurate definition will reveal that circles do not exist. Realistically, a true circle is merely a concept. We cannot restrict ourselves to a concept; the value of the circle lies in the shape.
Circles are everything; they are nothing. The circle represents the value of false in the binary number system and, in many languages, the circle assumed the role of the zero digit when zero became widely accepted as a number. It has survived as a letter in most Germanic and Romance languages, including English. Linguistically, it is possible for us to come full circle, go around in circles, square the circle, and circle the wagons. One can circulate, circumnavigate, circumscribe, circumvent, or even be circumcised.
In any circumstance, circles are central in our everyday lives, from the turn of a phrase to the turn of a wheel. We keep time on clocks and commit ourselves to marry with rings. We calculate the digits of pi; we bake pie. We shop with coins and shop for tires. Circles save lives as aquatic life rings. They are Life Savers. In the circle of life, the Circle is life.
i am waiting until i don't know when, because i'm sure it's going to happen then
I've successfully navigated my way out of being deprived of (read: losing) my scholarship. If nothing else it was a humbling, if expensive, experience and it's satisfying to know that the work I've put in has paid off. An even 3.5 over the last two semesters, and honorable mention for the Spring 2007 Dean's List. I suppose I just have to make sure that my next step is away from the hole I just crawled out of.
After the good experience I had in my English class and discussion group last semester I've been really motivated to explore my writing further through the UA. I'm signed up for two English classes this fall and I applied for a science writing/journalism internship. I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but I think the internship would be a lot of fun and would be a good indication of what writing really means to me at this point. I have yet to rule out the possibility that I enjoy thinking about writing more than I enjoy writing, so I figure immersing myself in it for a semester will be a good polarizer. Though I can't let myself enjoy it so much that it detracts from the rigors of E&M, Quantum, Astrophysics, and Linear Algebra. And programming. And research. And sleep? Nah.
My circles are changing. I'm quickly finding that I fit much better with the "new" people than most of the old. I'm not sure what exactly has driven me from the old people, but I'm not sure that I actually care to figure it out. It's uncomfortable at times, but I'm kind of enjoying finding my way into a niche of new people.
At this point, I have no clue where I'm going or how quickly I'm getting there, but in considering where I am at the moment, I'm not sure that's a bad thing.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Cinque Terre and Athens
Switzerland
The view from our hike from Gimmelwald to Murren.
The view from the street in front of our hostel in Lauterbrunnen. Just an outrageously gorgeous place.
Our hostel in Interlaken, probably the best we've stayed in all trip. I believe that's Jungfrau in the background.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Amsterdam
Paris
Bwahahaha!
The view of Champ de Mars from the 2nd level of the Eiffel Tower. The view was a sea of buildings expect for this little area right next to the Tower.
The Arc de Triomphe. The traffic circle around it is ridiculous: 12 streets feed into it and there are no traffic lights or anything.
Me in the Pyramid at the Louvre.
Barcelona
Our hostel overlooked a street called La Rambla, sort of a crazy 4th Avenue kind of place. Here we witness the convention of Michael Jackson impersonator and Gold Man.
The water in Barcelona was crazy. It looked exactly like the picture: teal out to the shelf, then a defined line where it goes to a deeper blue. No fade, just a perfect line.
The beach in Barcelona, what else?
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
more pictures
pictures
Me in front of the Tower Bridge, not to be confused with the London Bridge which is not exciting at all and just looks like a regular bridge. It was windy, don't worry my hair isn't that ridiculous.
Me in front of the Blarney Castle. They let us in 45 minutes before it opened, so we had some nice tourist-free time.
I took this during our early morning hike from Cork to Blarney. That is sunrise in foggy Ireland. That's about how far we could see as well.
Monday, May 29, 2006
subtle/not so subtle differences
-Lines of people or vehicles are called queues.
-People walk on the left side of the sidewalk, as they drive, just as we tend walk on the right because we drive on the right.
-Everything is more conducive to travel than in the USA. There are ATMs, currency exchange places, information booths, public transportation services, hostels, maps, and internet cafes everywhere. There are just a litany of services for travellers.
-Everything obviously has a different prices, but everything also has different values. Some things have a higher or lower average price than here, which is hard to adjust to. You may not be getting ripped off just because you paying way more than you would if you were home; the item may just naturally cost more wherever you are.
-Hostels are noisy, but they're cheap so it's OK. We paid 12 euros, about 15 dollars, for a bed the other night. You tell me where you can sleep for 15 dollars a night in the US.
-People tend to be more friendly here. Being approached by and talking to random people is much more common and acceptable.
-When people get in other people's way, whether it be walking or driving, the second person doesn't get all ticked off or start honking. It's almost normal for people to be sitting across 2 lanes in their car without other people caring.
-Everyone here drives better than everyone back home. Everyone's faster, more aware, more skilled. You should see these people parallel park. If the space is 1 foot longer than their car, they'll find a way in.
-Bottles are shaped oddly because, for example, an average bottle of soda is 100 mL, as opposed to 20 oz.
-Coins actually have viable use here. There are coins of value up to 2 pounds or 2 euros. Our biggest common coin is worth one quarter of one dollar. Pocket change actually adds up, you can buy dinner with only coins and people don't look at you funny when you do. It's like emptying your pocket at the end of the night and having 10 dollars in coins.
-The above circumstance makes it way easier to spend small amounts of money on menial items much easier, thereby more frequently.
-Streets a labelled incredibly poorly. In many places, major streets aren't even signed. When there are signs, they have no definitive location, like on posts on the corner, so you can find them on buildings, on lamp posts, anywhere.
-alex
Sunday, May 28, 2006
London > me
-alex
Friday, May 26, 2006
i haven't seen "Hostel", but i'm 80 percent sure it's based on the place i'm staying tonight
Car ride from Tucson to Phoenix
Plane from Phoenix to Chicago
Plane from Chicago to London Heathrow
Bus from London Heathrow to London Gatwick
Tram ride from North Terminal to South Terminal
Plane from London Gatwick to Cork, Ireland
Bus from Cork Airport to Downtown Cork
Bus from Blarney, Ireland to Cork, Ireland
Train from Cork, Ireland to Dublin, Ireland
Train from Dublin, Ireland to Galway, Ireland
And walking. An obscene amount of walking. Some of it's fun. We hiked 6 miles from our hostel in Cork to Blarney, home of the Blarney Castle and Blarney Stone. It was a sunrise hike through rural Ireland, but you couldn't see the sunrise because it was so foggy. At best you could see 100 yards in front of you. I don't know how people drive here. The Blarney Castle was amazing. We got there at 8:15am, and it didn't open until 9am, but the guy opening the admission place saw us waiting and let us in, so we had the grounds all to ourselves. And of course we kissed the Stone.
Some of the walking...not so fun. Busy city streets aren't fun when you're searching for a hostel to crash in. Being wholly and entirely lost isn't too fun. But I guess in a way it is.
Best thing I've overheard so far: While sitting next to this weird smoking enclosure in Gatwick airport, a guy walks by and says "Look, they've got a fagger's bin." Guess you had to be there.
Even when it doens't rain here, there's this fog/mist in the air so thick that it get's everything wet anyway. But it's not rain. It's hard to explain.
The epitome of backpacking. Going to bed at 6pm in a hostel. Waking up at 9, getting ready for the day, and going to the train station. The station's closed. It's getting darker out. Everyone's at the pubs. What's going on? Oh, right. We didn't sleep through the night and wake up at 9 in the morning. We slept 3 hours and woke up at 9pm at night. Needless to say our hostel owner thought we were a little crazy.
Oh, and written on the bottom of my hostel bed is "I hate hostels. Especially this one." Encouraging. The bed next to me has nails sitcking out of it. Also very encouraging.
-alex
Saturday, May 20, 2006
i'm standing here, outside your door
Eagle Creek Explorer LT Backpack
Sleeping Bag
Sleep sheet
4 T-shirts
3 pair of shorts
4 pair of boxers
3 pair of socks
1 bathing suit
1 bath towel
Mini Shampoo/Conditioner
Mini Toothbrush/Paste
Mini Deodorant
1 box of contacts
1 Bottle of contact solution
2 contact cases
iPod + charger
Canon SD 200 camera + charger
2 Europe Travel books
Travel Journal
3 backpack locks
And of course:
Passport
Plane tickets
1 Month Eurail Pass
This list looks about as long as the loaded pack weighs. I guess I could cut some stuff out, but I still have a fair amount of room, so I'm not concerned.
-alex
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
it's going to be weird we graduate college and May isn't the landmark end of school/beginning ot summer month anymore
I felt mostly invincible going into this school year, and with two weeks left before my final final I've been wholly humbled and hobbled. Apparently learning things is difficult and even working hard (blasphemy, I know) doesn't always...work. Although a majority of the people I know in the Astronomy/Physics program are fairing about as "well" as I am, I'm not sure I find consolation there. Repeating classes and failing tests wasn't necessarily what I had in mind a year or so ago. I suspect the next 3 years will be similar. Er, make that 8 or 9 with that whole graduate school thing, assuming that my grades and research will be good enough to get me into...well, anywhere. I think my inability to see anything nearer than a year away is the only think keeping me from academic despair. Of course the whole "finding out who I am and what my life is going to be" thing adds a little weight on the shoulders. Not that much though. Only because I'm really pretentious. In a good way...
-alex
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
deja vu all over again
-Alex
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
conveyor belt memories
-alex
Sunday, April 10, 2005
i'll admit it, i had to spell check the word "hypocrisy"
-alex
Sunday, March 06, 2005
the intricacies of chocolate and cheese
Have you ever thought about how rarely someone accurately answers a question you ask? We all ask people questions as part of daily life. In most cases the answer satisfies us so we move on. But if we stopped for a second and considered if our question was truly answered, we might be surprised at the answer. Think of a simple question....Hey, can you give me some help? "Give me a couple minutes." Ah ha! I did not answer your question. You assume that this means I will help you, in a few minutes of course. But really my answer has no connection to your question. I played you like a fool, like a fool! The problem is that in many cases, answering a question accurately sounds archaic or even rude. Do you know what time it is? "Yes, yes I do." And by actually answering what you've asked, I've annoyed you and ended our conversation. So we settle for giving responses that will simply appease the inquirer rather than address the question that was asked. What do you think of that car? "I like it." Well that's fantastic, but I didn't ask whether you like it or not. What's up? We've all heard the clever little answer to this classic. What kind of question is that anyway? What's up? Clearly we have an astonishing mastery of our language if we can come up with a dandy like "What's up?" In retrospect there's no real solution to all this. If you actually answer people's questions they're going to look at you funny and probably won't ask you questions anymore. So why did I write all this? It's probably best for the credibility of this rant that I don't try to answer that question.
How much extra gas does your car burn because it has an antenna? Think about it. Obviously the antenna creates wind resistance, which creates a force on your car in the opposite direction that the car is moving, which means the engine has to work harder to move the car. Of course the wind resistance is tiny, but it still exists. Let's say you have the privilege of owning a particularly reliable car, perhaps a 1997 Toyota Camry (ahem), that lasts for about 200,000 miles. The amount of extra gas the engine consumes is probably miniscule but the number still exists. Think of all the factors you'd have to consider to actually calculate this amount. You'd have to consider the altitude in order to find air pressure and obviously the altitude is changing with every dip or hill. That alone would be difficult enough. Then you'd have to take into account the speed of the car, the surface area of the antenna, wind speed, mileage of the car without an antenna, other measurements of the car that I don't even understand, and so on. I'm sure the master equation would be littered with atmospheric and structural constants and such. Everything considered, actually figuring out an exact number is impossible, right? I doubt it. Keep a couple instruments on the car that record factors like altitude and such and I'd imagine that you'd have enough information to calculate it. Not easy, but not impossible...I guess this really isn't as interesting as I thought it was when I was in the shower a while ago. Umm...yea, this paragraph is cheese, the first is definitely chocolate.
-alex
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
slowdance on the inside
Chris, it's been fun.
-alex
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
despite my best efforts
-alex
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
spell check found 17 errors in this post, i fixed none of them
Since I was in seventh grade I had planned the whole college scenario: where I'd apply, where I might actually go, what I need to do to get in and so on. I always figured as soon as I had access to an application I'd fill it out in a matter of days, send it in, wait for a response and repeat the process for the 6 or 7 schools I'd apply to. I thought by Christmas I'd have a new school. As is usually the case with me, my thoughts were the antithesis of reality. I've completed two applications, one to a school I know I'm not going to. I've forgone the application process for three other schools because I know I won't go to those either. I have one application left to complete and less than two weeks to do so. Apparently, in the opinion of the Stanford Admission Department, prompted essays are the best way to judge someone's character, so here I sit, writing an instant message in one window, a text message in another, a blog in this one and an essay about my most meaningful personal activity in the last. And as I'm exercising my multitasking muscle, I realized that the latter of those is the least genuine form of writing. In the essay I can't begin a sentence with "And" like I just did, nor could I change tenses within a sentence, as I did in that same line. I can't overdose on commas, by far my favorite writing technique. I have to take into account the suits sitting around a desk up in Stanfordland and whether they're old or young, male or female, liberal or conservative (It's northern
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
the unheralded power of the traffic control system
Enjoy your next red light.
-alex
Thursday, October 14, 2004
the baseball metaphors run wild/i would love some cheese with my whine
-alex
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Blogification = 1/Lifeitude
-alex
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
apparently staying up late kills my ability to articulate my point
-alex
Sunday, September 26, 2004
the one with all the money
-alex
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
blogger confessional
-alex
Monday, September 20, 2004
return of people watching
-alex
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
a spade's a spade
***** Hand History for Game 50841069630 *****
NL Hold'em 10 Buy-in + 1 Entry Fee Trny:6779168 Level:4 Blinds(50/100) - Wednesday, September 15, 21:26:20 EDT 2004
Table Play money 1257577
Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 3
Seat 2: BHawk00 ( $5715 )
Seat 6: koyre ( $315 )
Seat 10: afay05 ( $1970 )
Trny:6779168 Level:4
Blinds(50/100)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to afay05 [ Js Qs ]
koyre calls [100].
afay05 raises [250].
BHawk00 folds.
koyre calls [200].
** Dealing Flop ** [ Ts, 8c, As ]
afay05 bets [150].
koyre is all-In.
** Dealing Turn ** [ Jd ]
** Dealing River ** [ Ks ]
afay05 shows [ Js, Qs ] Royal Flush.
koyre shows [ Th, 8h ] two pairs, tens and eights.
koyre finished in third place and won 20 play chips.
afay05 wins 135 chips from side pot #1 with Royal Flush.
afay05 wins 730 chips from the main pot with Royal Flush.
koyre has left the table.
-alex
Monday, September 13, 2004
place of business
-Conversations are off limits. I don't want to be in that place any longer than I have to be. Talk to me outside, never inside. Ever. Never.
-Never assume the position at a urinal directly next to an occupied urinal.
-Only use the little boys lowered urinal if your willing to sacrifice your dignity to a whole bunch of guys who won't say anything, but will still laugh to themselves.
-You don't need to be so close to urinal that you appear to be humping it. We aren't trying to catch a peek. We already know you're small.
-Don't stand 6 feet away from the urinal either. Distance urination isn't an Olympic sport. It never will be.
-Don't use the mirror. The risk of seeing something in the background you don't want to see is far too great. You look fine.
-If the guy who exits the bathroom right before you doesn't wash his hands, you can avoid touching the contaminated door handle by sneaking out as someone else enters or exits. If there is a garbage recepticle within reasonable distance of the door, grab a paper towel, use it as a makeshift glove to swing the door open safely, then toss it in the trash and escape before you become trapped again.
-Don't turn the loose hand dryer up towards your face and let it blow on you. You're not in 4th grade.
-If you're going to go through the trouble of wetting your hands so it appears you washed them, just take 4 extra seconds and use soap. Other guys notice the dunk-and-dash. You will be red flagged.
-Don't worry if you put your hands under an infrared faucet and it doesn't activate. It happens to all guys. We won't frown upon you. In fact, thank you for sacrificing yourself so no other poor man has to experience similar embarassment.
-Eyes should be horizontal at ALL TIMES. You don't want to see any wayward equipment, and it makes last minute recovery zip-ups easier to execute for everyone.
-Don't enjoy any part of your visit to the bathroom. When guys walk out of the bathroom laughing or smiling, it makes us all suspicious.
-alex
Sunday, September 12, 2004
growing up VHS
-alex
Saturday, September 11, 2004
writing under the influence of lividity
Bright white is best, but I'll take pitch black over dull gray any day of the week.
-alex
Friday, September 10, 2004
a travesty of elastic proportions
-alex
Monday, September 06, 2004
tug of war
I'm doing my best, I'll be back. No worries.
-alex
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
try to look through the gray skies
It's been fun.
-alex
Sunday, August 29, 2004
a testament to the power of public education
Yes, I do understand the irony in this. I really do.
-alex
Thursday, August 26, 2004
uncensored
-alex
Sunday, August 22, 2004
just wondering
I think the combustion engine is useful, but how smart is it to invent something that turns a finite resource into something that kills you?
Shouldn't there be a list of dating rules written so we can bring the percentage of relationships that end in disaster down to 90% from 98%? Does anyone see the foreshadowing of a future blog here?
How pretentious does a teacher have to be to claim that his/her class is the most important one?
Are $1 coins practical in any way?
What makes something so interesting when it's 20 times larger or 20 times smaller than its usual size?
What ever happend to spectacular words like 'lest' and 'alas' that provide a entertaining break from dull words like 'so' and 'but'?
How do people critcize Olympic athletes for taking a small step after doing 3 backflips off a 4-inch wide beam or for winning only 6 gold medals when they could have won 8?
-alex
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
real restaurant slogans
Burger King: We're Better Than McDonald's!....Who Are We Kidding, We Still Suck.
In-N-Out: Come Try Our Delicious Cult-like Following!
Sonic: If We Made Our Parking Spaces Any Smaller, You'd All Drive Golf Carts.
Wendy's: Customers Served Worldwide: Almost 14!
Subway: We're Healthy, So Our Food Must Be Terrible.
Quizno's: Take The Family....After Taking Out A Mortgage!
Pizza Hut: More Grease Than Your Average Politician.
Pizza Factory:
DelTaco: Perfecting The Fine Art of Not Advertising.
Taco Bell: Bad Restaurants. Bad Service. Bad Mexican. The American Way.
-alex
Sunday, August 15, 2004
2-7 off
-alex
Saturday, August 14, 2004
Smells like rat
Anyway, school's coming soon, so let's take a moment to reminisce about our last real summer......................And scene.
One more year people. One more.
-alex
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
tee'd off
-alex
yes, you
Note: This is in no way an attack on the people who read the blog; you're the reason I keep writing.
-alex
Sunday, August 08, 2004
gracias
-alex
Friday, August 06, 2004
Annual Rambling TV Awards
Most Played Show: The Ashlee Simpson Show. I don't even need to explain this one, you know it's true.
Late Night Award: Conan O' Brien. How can you go wrong with a show that plays Walker, Texas Ranger clips as a comedy routine? Plus Leno and Letterman just aren't funny.
Worst Commercial: YJ Stinger Energy Drink. Mmmmm, I really want to drink something that explodes with bees when I open it. Plus it's an energy drink.
You're Cool, But Not That Cool Award: People who watch The Daily Show. Granted Jon Stewart is hilarious and the show is great, but watching the show doesn't make you "unique" or "hip". It seems like a lot of people think they're "underground" because they like the show. News flash: everyone watches it, everyone likes it, you're not that cool.
Re-run the Re-runs Award: Bravo. Bravo's lineup consists of three things: The West Wing reruns, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy reruns, and Celebrity Poker Showdown reruns. Even though I love the West Wing, I can only watch the same episode once or twice a day before I'm tired of it.
I'm going to add more as I go.
-alex
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Cows with Guns
"Bad cow pun..."
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/cowswithguns.php
-alex
Saturday, July 31, 2004
looking ahead
University of Arizona
University of Colorado
Stanford University
University of Michigan
University of Maryland
Arizona State University
Those are in no particular order, and the list is pretty much devoid of small schools simply because most smaller schools don't have Aerospace Engineering, which is what I plan on doing.
My birthday's coming up, if anyone was any great ideas what to ask for, let me know.
-alex
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
plugging the friends
Katie: http://www.cerealblogger.blogspot.com
Steve: http://www.noiseandwords.blogspot.com
Good stuff. So yea I've had some serious blogger's block lately. I'll be back.
-alex
Saturday, July 24, 2004
oui?
-alex
Thursday, July 22, 2004
People who annoy me
-alex
Monday, July 12, 2004
You know what's coming
When you spend hours fishing, which animal really seems to be outsmarting the other, the fish or the human?
Doesn't it seem like you can have more fun in one good conversation than in all the parties you go to combined?
If a large portion of inventions just end up causing more problems than they solve, shouldn't we just cut our losses and stop inventing things?
Is it OK to be intolerant of intolerant people?
Which would you prefer, everyone liking you or everyone respecting you?
Aside from obvious scientific changes, how would the world be different if there was no night?
How do we know that that we don't have impaired vision and color blind people are seeing things how they really are?
Is life so complicated just because we make it that way?
-alex
Saturday, July 10, 2004
and it's keeping me awake
-alex
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
anyone play violin?
Katie: dust off the bass, it's game time.
-alex