Science Project!

UPDATE: There's a third frame that got cut off. Please click on it to read the rest!

My dad found this comic in the paper he was reading on our flight back from upstate New York on Monday. I think it will be quite applicable to Louis and I in the future... hopefully I can set aside my perfectionism to let him make the project ;-)

Busy

Sorry everyone. Life has been extremely hectic. I'm so busy at work that I have no time for anything else besides hanging with my family. Well, and updating Twitter. I highly recommend you follow that instead of this blog, as it's gone by the wayside unless I have something really great to talk about that a few tweets can't handle. Anyway, once I get some time I hope to pick the blogging back up, but for now, you're stuck with endless status updates.

Anyway, for a life update, all I really have to talk about is my family. If you didn't see on my website, I graduated with a combined BS/MS in mechanical engineering this past December and am currently working toward a PhD in the same field. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm real excited about my PhD research because it's a little more mathy (dynamic modeling) than kinesiology (for my MS). Linnea is great, she's got 2 part time jobs, one of which she works from home to spend more time with Louis. Louis is amazing. Every day something new happens, and it's so exciting. He recently learned to crawl and can pull him self up to stand. It's been very exciting (and scary) watching him move around and become more independent. Unfortunately, he'd rather play with the dog's toys and food bowls than his own toys. If you'd like more of Louis' updates, let me know and I can add you to the list. We're too chicken to un-password protect his blog for now...

Oh, how things change...

I started writing this post about how I realized the differences in my class taking habits between undergrad and grad school, but it started sounding real lame. Here's a recap:

Undergrad: Get A or B while skipping as much class as possible and never starting assignments early.

Grad: Actually learn what's being taught.

I was writing a bunch of stuff up on this when I realized that while I am trying to learn more rather than just pass these days, my classsroom work ethic hasn't improved too much. I still usually start homework the night before it's due, and if I have an afternoon test, I'll usually start studying that morning. There are exceptions. When I'm in a very time consuming class (where we get 2 weeks to complete an assignment), I'll actually start the homework 2 days before it's due. I guess that's a big improvement...

Thanks, Delta

I was going to post about this a while ago, but I've been extremely busy with class and work. I haven't even been keeping up with my photoswap scavenger hunt. It's unfortunate because anyone who was by chance keeping track of it probably isn't anymore... Oh well. Anyway, back to the post at hand. Linnea, Louis and I went to Atlanta on December 26th to visit her Dad's side of the family. It was a really great trip, and Louis was really great on the plane, but that's not the point of this post either. So what the heck am I posting for? I'll tell you...

We're walking through the airport, I can't remember which at the moment, when I see these Delta people signing travelers up for something. I spot a teddy bear being handed out, so we walked over to their little table to check it out. That's when I spotted the travel coffee mug. Bingo! They hooked me with the teddy bear (for Louis), and they reeled me in with the coffee mug. It wasn't a big deal though, as they said it was a sign up for sky miles. Awesome, no harm in signing up for that, at least until they made me put my SSN on the form. What? They said something about confirming my citizenship, and I think that's awfully strange for an airline miles program. Oh well, I went with it for the mug.

Well I SHOULDN'T have! What do I get in the mail a few weeks after we get home? A "skymiles rewards" Discover card. A credit card, not a frequent flier membership, a credit card. That sucks, I don't need a credit card with +10% above my other cards. So I sighed in disgust, and since I'd have to inconvenience myself by calling and cancelling the card. Luckily it was really easy since I hadn't activated it yet. At least I still have the bear and the mug, and they didn't get any money from me...

Unfortunately it didn't end there. After I got that card in the mail, I remembered the previously forgotten travel mug. Woo hoo! So I used it. The first time I used it some coffee was dripping down the side as I briskly walked from the parking garage to class. I shook it off. I do tend to walk hard, if you can describe walking as hard, and I also thought that it was on account of me trying to drink while walking hard. But no, what happened the next time I used it? It freaking spilled EVERYWHERE!!! This is coming off a long night. I needed that coffee to make it through class. I tried my best to fix it while walking "hard," but nothing was working, and I was making even more of a mess. Oh, I had gloves on too, so that was great, they're now mocha black instead of black. I finally determined that the o-ring wasn't seated properly. I was fed up at this time. I threw the cap in the next garbage can I passed, dumped some coffee to avoid splash-over (on account of my hard walking), and tried drinking as much as I could before getting to the last garbage can before class, in hopes that it would keep me coherent enough to at least copy all the notes down.

That sucked! I don't even want Louis to play with that bear anymore. I think I'll throw him away (with his bomber jacket too, stupid Delta bear...). Moral of the story: Don't be an idiot. If they hand out free stuff, it's a credit card.

Patience is a virtue

Sorry to Taylor, or anyone who in the future feels the urge to comment on one of my posts, but it seems to only be Taylor. He's probably the only one who has my blog in a feed reader, so he's the only one who knows that I actually started posting again. Oh well...

Anyway, "gooooood girl" keeps posting about how amazing she thinks my blog is, but I've uncovered her dubious scheme. Her picture is a fake! I thought it looked cartoonish... Well, it's all a ploy to promote full tilt poker's website, as that's the only information on her profile. That's funny, because I've used full tilt poker. But, I got sick of seeing her fake-pictured comments on my blog, so now I'm moderating them.

I know, it sucks when you post a comment and can't get the instant gratification of seeing it on the page, but I'll try my best not to take too long screening them.

Commencement?

Since I'm so awesome and finally deposited my thesis this December, I'll be graduating with my B.S. and M.S. all in one shot. I participated in commencement on Saturday. What are we commencing though? Is it simply the cliché "rest of our lives?" I'd rather think of it as an ending to all the crap I stressed about, because if it's a celebration of new beginnings, then I'll just get more stressed about all the crap I'll be getting stressed about while trying to earn my Ph.D.

Oh well. I "commenced" mainly because my Mom wanted to see, as I never graduated after my undergrad since I was in a combined B.S./M.S. program. I would have been completely fine with the whole thing had the guy not completely butchered my name. I mean, it was unrecognizable. I don't know how he turned 5 syllables into 2, and he forgot "the third," which made it even worse.

I guess the one consolation I have is that I got to wear this sweet-ass hood for being a M.S. graduate.

Done, kind of...

Okay, I'm finally finished. It took 6 1/2 years, but I'm finally a college grad. Oh yeah, and throw in a MS too! Turning in my thesis on Thursday was one of the best school related feelings I've had. Too bad I followed it up with an incomplete final on Friday night. Oh well, that will count toward my PhD, so it doesn't really affect my happy feelings, since I rocked a 4.0 MS GPA. Anyway, life goes on and I have to pick back up with getting some manuscripts publishable and workng on my PhD research, but I took a relaxing extended weekend. That was nice.

Also, I'll be resuming my photoswap scavenger hunt today, so make sure to check out the pics I find!

New one

A guy from my class was talking on his cell phone during our break. He was peeing in a urinal at the time, his phone wedged between his cheek and shoulder. Then he left without washing his hands.

I know, you know how to pee without gettng it on your hands, but that doesn't mean all the germs on your hands don't exist.

Too long...

Sorry for the huge gap between posts. I guess it's been a busy month. I assume that since I haven't posted in a while, nobody will read this anymore, except the possible few who might subscribe to the feed. I find my free time dwindling, and when I do get some, I'd rather just relax or hang out with my son. There have been countless things I've experienced since my last post that I really wanted to write about, but just didn't pick up the computer. Maybe I'll add a list at the bottom of the post. Anyway, my iPhone is still great, a month later, except that it needs to get charged at least every other day. That's a little annoying. Man, that just reminded me of something else I've been putting off. I have $50 from my birthday to buy music, which I haven't done for 2 weeks. I really need to re-stock my collection.

Ok, so as a recap of the last month (since my last post), I gave 2 conference presentations (that took up way too much time, now I'm behind on my thesis), Linnea was Matron of Honor in Angela's wedding (where Brandon and I made quick friends with bartender Tom, and got free shots for trying a "cement mixer," and my iPhone rocked it out so we were able to keep track of the Illini tear it up against Indiana), We went to a Chinese Halloween party (where Louis dressed up as a horse, and Linnea and I dressed as babies, diapers and all), we had a great birthday dinner for me at a decently cool pizza / arcade place with ok pizza, started going to a bi-weekly bible study / dinner with people our age at church, witnessed the Change (we'll see if I believe in it, but at least the next Pres is a Sox fan!), turned 24, Louis got baptized, Illini football sucked, Louis went to his first Illini basketball game, and most recently (i.e, right now), waching the Bears blow chunks against the Packers. Absolutely horrible. Oh yeah, and I told Linnea not to let me buy Call of Duty: World at War until I finish my thesis. I'm thinking now that that was a big mistake.

Finally, a list of random thoughts that have popped in my head since last time. Why do I see some girls riding their bicycles wearing skirts? Why do people talk on their phone while riding their bicycle, in the middle of the road, almost getting hit by cars? Why do people cross the street without looking, assuming the drivers see them, rather than being safe and waiting for them to stop? Why does EVERYONE constantly talk on their phone while driving? Why doesn't my iPhone have a video camera? Why did I see a girl driving a sport motorcycle with a dress on? Why are people dumb? Is it a stereotype if it's true? And finally, why do some girls ride their bicycles wearing skirts?

That was quick...

So 2 days after I start writing a post about how I long for an iPhone, what happens? Linnea cracks and we go get an iPhone! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. It's sickening that I'd rather read web pages on the little iPhone screen than my computer right now, but I'm completely infatuated with it. I guess I should plug it in and put some songs on it, but I'd rather browse the internet or whatever else with it. Plus I never re-installed iTunes after my last reformat. Hopefully I'll get around to adding music to it before I actually find myself wanting to listen to music...

iWant iPhone

I've wanted an iPhone since the first commercial I saw on TV. I still remember it. It was some brief teaser ad, and it confused me more than anything. What? An iPod phone? How does that work? Get me one! Too bad once they finally came out it cost $400 with an extra $25/month on the cell phone contract. I resigned myself to the idea that I couldn't afford one until I left school and got a real job. But I still wanted one...

Anyway, with a recent budget making session, Linnea and I have figured out how much weekly "allowance" we can have for random spending. I can easily cover the now $30/month ($35 if I want to text) with part of this allowance, but how do I get the $200 to buy the phone in the first place? Now the excitement is brewing and I try to develop schemes to get that money. Luckily my birthday and Christmas are coming, so I can just ask for cash. I still want it NOW though, ever since we learned I could afford it, I've noticed myself in multiple situations per day where I could really use the email/internet the iPhone offers. Not to mention my dreams of watching movies on it on a plane, for example.

Since I want it so bad, it's really easy for me to rationalize getting it now: I need it so I'm not bored between sessions at the conference this week, we need it so we have GPS going to Angela's wedding next weekend, etc. We'll see what happens I guess.

NOTE: This is post dated because I literally wrote all but one sentence on the date it says, and I finished it right before the next post, ironically.

8:00 AM

I just realized that I make my Eight O'clock Coffee brand coffee at eight o'clock every morning.

One Fine Face

I'm sitting at work humming the same tune in my head that I've been humming in my head since I woke up this morning. What is it?

"One Fine Face" by Ernie and Elmo on Elmo's Greatest Hits.

Boo State of Illinois

I just found out today that my only reason for voting has been non-existent this whole time. Frank Calabrese, a senior at the UI, is running against incumbent Naomi Jakobsson for State Representative. I have been really excited about this because Frank wants to fight for increased University funding, among other things I strongly agree with. Not to mention he's an Orange Krush member. ANYWAY, I was perusing his website today to find out that his district, 103, which includes most of C-U falls about 500 feet short of my house! Well, it's really a little bit more than that, but literally 4 seconds in the car. CRAP. He's the only reason I was going to stroll into my polling place this year. Forget the Presidential election, this is a major catastrophe. Oh why did I buy a house in district 105? I've even disliked Jakobsson since the last time I voted (when I still lived in 103).

The worst part about it is that Jakobsson thinks Calabrese is a joke, and they're even spinning some crap about how since he wasn't elected student senate president, the students must not like him. Exqueeze me? Baking powder? I love how they exclude the fact that most of the 30,000+ students don't even know when that election is, not to mention that those who do know when it is only know about the candidates from their names written in chalk on the quad! They're also claiming Jakobsson has a record of strong support for the UI. Yeah, so much support that our funding has been dwindling recently. Good job Naomi, I guess I better vote for you since you have my best interests at heart. OH WAIT! I can't even be sarcastic about that BECAUSE I'M IN THE 105TH DISTRICT BY 2 FEET!!!

The moral of this story is that you should vote for Frank Calabrese on election day since I can't.

Update: One of my friends says he lived next door to Frank, and didn't think too highly of him, so I don't feel so bad for living outside the district anymore. I still don't like Naomi Jakobsson though.

NEW WEBSITE!!!!!!

I made a website last weekend. I'm so excited about it. Hopefully it makes up for my recent crappy blogginess a little bit. I would blog about why I decided to make it, and how I made it from scratch basically, but I talk about it on one of the pages, so you can check that out there. You wouldn't believe how much of a pain in the ass it is to make rounded corners!

Anyway, I guess some day I might make this blog's layout match my web page, but maybe not, because I'm sure I'll want to change my website's look every now and then. Oh yeah, there's also a link on this sidebar to the site. So, let me know if you like it, or if you have any suggestions.

One Month

My son is one month old today. If you never got a link to his blog, let me know. That's where all the pictures are. Anyway, I had a bunch of cool stuff to talk about here, but I either forgot about it, or I'm too tired to type it out right now. I've really been concentrating on keeping Louis IV's blog updated so that everyone knows what's been going on and who he's been meeting, so my blog is kind of riding the pine right now. It's really hard too. I don't know how many times each day some random thought pops in my mind, or something neat happens, or I read something amazingly cool, and I just don't have time to write about it. I would say it eats at my insides, but if it really ate at my insides I would just blog instead of playing Call of Duty 4 in my free time. Speaking of that, I'm really kicking butt. I don't know what happened, but something just clicked one day. That's for another post though, that will probably not get posted. Excluding my brother and brother-in-law, I'm pretty sure there's only one other dude who even cares. He knows who he is.

I guess I'll just ramble quickly about some other things since I don't really want to post anything else after this post for a day or two, since I don't want to overshadow a post about my son, even though it was only about him for a second. How about those White Sox? I don't know what to think anymore. Every time they start winning, they just go back to losing (see: tonight). Oh well, hopefully they can hang on until October. It's almost like the collapse of 2005, except that they had about a 16 game lead before tanking in the second half. I remember it well, I was scared for my life. Luckily the game I picked to go to was when they broke their longest (7 games) losing streak of the season by hitting 4 homers in a row against Randy Johnson. That was amazing to watch. That season turned out o.k. though... Oh, and what do you think about that Brett guy? I dislike the Packers greatly, but I've always had a great respect for Brett's playing. Unfortunately this month long stink has left a bad taste in everyone's mouth.

Alright, I'm up for feeding the little dude, hopefully I'll get my posterizer ramped up again soon.

Throne

My new rocking recliner. Main purposes: rocking the baby, watching TV, PS3

Thanks for a good 4th, CU

I hope everyone had a safe and fun 4th of July. Happy birthday USA! Anyway, Linnea and I got pretty lucky this year. Usually, we head up to her Grandma's house on Lake Geneva and hang out with her family, and go out on the boat to see the fireworks on the lake. We couldn't do that since Linnea's ready to pop. Luckily, due to the construction at Memorial Stadium (usual fireworks venue), they put on the fireworks right down the street from us! It was awesome, we sat on our patio with our mosquito candles and had a perfect view. Then we just walked inside when done, and watched the line of cars behind the house for about a half hour.

For those keeping track, the Little Guy still doesn't want to come out yet. We have no idea what's going on anymore, because we've already had all of the "signs" that tell you you're supposed to go into labor soon.

I love Armor All

I just cleaned the inside of my car yesterday for the first time since I got it over a year ago. That's about the only productive thing I did this weekend. But man, it was all worth it when I got in this morning and my butt slid on the shiny black leather and the dashboard was gleaming in the sun as I drove to work. It was amazing; it made my weekend feel a little more productive than it was. Now, if only I had washed the exterior... Oh well, I can't really see that when I'm driving anyway.

Warning: gaydar may be faulty

I was trying to catch up on some of my Google Reader feeds that have been neglected, when I came across the article linked in the title of this post. It's an editorial about an article the writer found in the LA Times about a study that found some interesting things regarding sexual orientation and genetic traits.

The story mentions one study that found that the hair of gay men was 3.5 times more likely to grow in a counterclockwise fashion.

Still another found that men who were left-handed were 34 percent more likely to be gay. That figure grew to 90 percent for women.

Holy cow! So if you don't know me, my wife and I are both left handed (and heterosexual). So we notice other leftys, and I really doubt the lefty remark above is true. I'd love to see who they actually studied to come to these conclusions, and would hope they try and look at people from all areas of the country.

Anyway, besides the lefty thing, and depending on how the media twisted their results, this could be a pretty ground braking study that could essentially prove that being gay is not always a choice, but genetic. If they can prove it, that would be a huge step toward certain people (and church denominations) becoming less homophobic. Granted it would take a while, and these results could be totally wacky. The editorial author does bring up a good point, that if they can find pinpoint accurate traits, what if someone doesn't want their orientation known, but has those traits?

Remember: "90% of statistics can be made to say whatever you want, 50% of the time." What a great commercial...