A wins 322-265
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
I win tonight at Caribou in Naperville.
November 09, 2007
November 03, 2007
A. wins 350-302
A. wins 350-302
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
Finally! I won, but it wasn't easy. At the start = had 'liquor' but did not have a place to play it. I passed several times and then missed seeing that I could play 'howl' and 'liquor' for 75 points. I made up for it later with 'snoozed' for 115.
R. wins 375-263
R. wins 375-263
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
Once again, R. destroyed me in a timed game. This makes six in a row that she has won, and has reminded me that I have been slacking on posting the game pics.
October 26, 2007
Job hunt woes #1
Today, I submitted my first of what will hopefully be a few applications for a permanent job.
Preparing my application package was a time-intensive process that has taken my attention away from day-to-day activities, like some research, some course prep, some exercise, and certainly re-organizing my office. On the other hand, I did find that it made me think seriously about my teaching philosophy and research goals. I think there is some value in keeping those ideas in mind.
October 25, 2007
I just remembered a random thing that has frequently annoyed me:
Watching home improvement shows on HGTV or TLC that show a renovation project that begins with a demolition where the renovator starts by swinging a sledge hammer willy nilly really drives me crazy. First of all, demolition in this manner creates a larger mess than necessary. It is far easier to clean up large chunks than the tiny pieces of shrapnel that the sledging creates. Secondly, anything that is constructed can be de-constructed. You can salvage material for scrap or reuse and you guarantee that base structures needed for rebuilding onto are not damaged. And finally, it takes more energy to swing the heavy hammer than is necessary. You get tired easily doing the demolition the way it is shown on TV. And lastly...I've never seen a pro do demolition with a sledge.
Watching home improvement shows on HGTV or TLC that show a renovation project that begins with a demolition where the renovator starts by swinging a sledge hammer willy nilly really drives me crazy. First of all, demolition in this manner creates a larger mess than necessary. It is far easier to clean up large chunks than the tiny pieces of shrapnel that the sledging creates. Secondly, anything that is constructed can be de-constructed. You can salvage material for scrap or reuse and you guarantee that base structures needed for rebuilding onto are not damaged. And finally, it takes more energy to swing the heavy hammer than is necessary. You get tired easily doing the demolition the way it is shown on TV. And lastly...I've never seen a pro do demolition with a sledge.
September 09, 2007
A. wins 316-252
A. wins 316-252
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
After a day trip to Allerton Park we stopped in at the Coffeehound in Bloomington for drinks and a game.
September 08, 2007
August 31, 2007
A wins 342-341
A wins 342-341
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
R. led the whole game until the very last play. She had 68 points for "quits" and I had "slinGEr" for a bingo.
August 29, 2007
Science Friday: Making Science Radioactive
One of my favorite radio shows is Science Friday, which is on many NPR stations every Friday in the "Talk of the Nation" time slot. Last Friday, Ira talked with the current project manager and the former project manager of the Voyager space probes which are now 30 years old! (Hey...that's how old I am...) Listen to the podcast version of the show.
August 25, 2007
R. wins 255-253
R. wins 255-253
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
Tonight makes two in a row for R. This was a timed game, hence the lower score for both of us.
August 24, 2007
R. wins 354-263
R. wins 354-263
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
R. kicked my butt tonight! She got a bingo: griddle.
August 21, 2007
August 11, 2007
A. wins 307-272
A. wins 307-272
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
I won, but only because "fart" is not in the recreational dictionary and R. let me play "jet," "jo," and "faro" with j on the TL square for 58 points.
August 03, 2007
July 27, 2007
July 24, 2007
July 16, 2007
Nerd decorating
Awesome idea for a bathroom tile job.
July 07, 2007
Timed SCRABBLE
Timed SCRABBLE
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
This was the first timed game that we have ever played. I won 317-295 but no bingos.
July 04, 2007
Independence Day SCRABBLE
Independence Day SCRABBLE
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
We found a new Caribou Coffee to play at today. R. killed me: 381-276. She had a natural bingo: notions.
June 30, 2007
Saturday SCRABBLE at Starbucks
Saturday SCRABBLE at Starbucks
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
No bingos tonight. A. wins 342-257.
June 29, 2007
0629072116.jpg
0629072116.jpg
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
After getting my butt kicked twice in a row, I came back in style tonight. I had two bingos tonight: "angrily" and "attains"; both of which were natural bingos R. had a bingo, too:"goiters". She chose to hold the tiles for a few rounds until I opened a spot for her. Final score: 420-279.
Also, I finally figured out how to moblog with a photo from my new phone.
June 25, 2007
I'm finally starting to recover from the incredible Cubs win tonight against the Rockies. This is the sort of thing that Cubs fans are not used to seeing.
Tonight I also heard the first fireworks going off in the neighborhood. I really wish that the fireworks nutjobs would set them off between 10 pm and 11pm, instead of between 11:30 pm and 2:30 am. It makes it hard for those of us who keep the windows open to stay asleep. I suppose I should be glad that this is the first I've heard the fireworks. Last year it seemed like they started much earlier in Summer.
"...into center...it's going to drop down! Jones is in! Here comes Koyie Hill! CUBS WIN!!!"
I've watched that probably 20 times tonight. Still love it!
Tonight I also heard the first fireworks going off in the neighborhood. I really wish that the fireworks nutjobs would set them off between 10 pm and 11pm, instead of between 11:30 pm and 2:30 am. It makes it hard for those of us who keep the windows open to stay asleep. I suppose I should be glad that this is the first I've heard the fireworks. Last year it seemed like they started much earlier in Summer.
"...into center...it's going to drop down! Jones is in! Here comes Koyie Hill! CUBS WIN!!!"
I've watched that probably 20 times tonight. Still love it!
June 21, 2007
I went out to the Sugar Grove Observatory to do some impromptu observing with one of the TCAA members tonight (last night, it's now early morning) and met a nice couple who were out to see the ISS pass by at about 10:00pm. We waited and chatted, and right on schedule the ISS rose in the NW over the trees. But, what was amazing was that Atlantis had undocked and was about 10-15 degrees away from the ISS, trailing it. The transit across the sky took a minute or so, but it was enough time for me to call R. and let her know to go out and look at it. She pointed out that without the trailing shuttle she might not have been able to recognize the ISS in the midst of the O'Hare/Midway traffic, except that perhaps you could tell that the ISS and the shuttle did not have blinking lights on them. It was really neat to watch them disappear into the shadow of the Earth before they appeared to set. Really cool!
Visible Pass Details
Visible Pass Details
June 12, 2007
My research students and I got together for the first time this summer in the lab for a very productive first day. The UIUC group is clearing out of the optics lab (and more importantly off of the optics table) for the summer, meaning we have the whole table to ourselves! We cleaned up the corner and started rearranging equipment. After a solid afternoon of working, the students had the instrumentation and PC arranged on the other side of the optics table (away from the wall) and the optical elements rearranged on the table. Fingers crossed, we should have a working speckle pattern interferometer by tomorrow if all goes well.
May 07, 2007
Ready or not here they come
One day before May Term '07 starts and I finally got some time to get some stuff together. A week is not really enough time to put together all the materials for the class, and I was too busy during the semester to do anything serious towards getting ready. But, tomorrow will come and with it 20 students whether I'm ready for it. I was happy that I crossed most of the items off of my "to do" list before I left for the night. I think I'm as set as I could possibly be.
I ran around to all the teacher supply stores and hit Toys 'R Us looking for a plastic trumpet that I'd like to use as a demo. No luck, but I did find corrugated tubes at the Dollar Store for $1.00 a piece. I also learned that it's nearly impossible to buy a Hoberman sphere anymore. Guess I'll have to get one from ebay.
I'm going to try to get to school early tomorrow and every day of May Term. More later.
I ran around to all the teacher supply stores and hit Toys 'R Us looking for a plastic trumpet that I'd like to use as a demo. No luck, but I did find corrugated tubes at the Dollar Store for $1.00 a piece. I also learned that it's nearly impossible to buy a Hoberman sphere anymore. Guess I'll have to get one from ebay.
I'm going to try to get to school early tomorrow and every day of May Term. More later.
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May 06, 2007
I started off my day in Montgomery, where R. and I had spent the weekend. She had to work today, so after she took off for work, I got up and packed the car for the ride back to Bloomington.
After a pit stop at the Starbucks in Oswego (side note: I can only imagine the nightmare the tight parking lot would be on a weekday.) I was on my way with wake-up juice and a breakfast sandwich. Two hours and about 15 podcasts later I was back in Bloomington.
One of the physics professors who could not make it to the commencement hosted a get together for the graduating seniors in CNS. He also left me his regalia so that I could participate in the ceremony. (I got to wear a Harvard hood.)
The weather was just about perfect for the ceremony. There was a thin layer of clouds early in the afternoon which was enough to block the glare of the sun, but not enough to make the sky seem completely overcast. I stood near some bio profs who had the wisdom to wear sunglasses and sunblock. Fortunately, I would not suffer for the lack of either.
Seen in the hands of faculty: reading material for the name reading part of the ceremony.
We marched in and stood in front of our seats while the graduates filed in. I was in the third row back from the front of the faculty, so my view was pretty good. By the time everyone was seated and I looked around it was pretty amazing to see the sheer number of people filling the quadrangle. The steps of Sheean Library formed the stage. It's the most use the building gets all year.
The ceremony itself was nice, although the seats we were in were packed a little close. Three of the four speakers were really good. I'm sure the class president's speech was good for the students in the class who got all of his in-jokes. The president of the board of trustees gave a great intro which invoked Vonnegut. I heard some of my colleagues behind me saying they thought it was one of the best commencement speeches they had heard. The professor of the year talked about "casting you bread upon the water" and "it comes back buttered". And the keynote speaker told the graduates to "Question Everything". The messages they all delivered were unique and appropriate and well received. I really enjoyed it, my personal comfort notwithstanding.
Afterward there were the traditional scones and strawberries for refreshments. There were photos with the graduates and chatting with the families. I was hoping to get some work on the May Term class done, but left a bit too tired to get anything accomplished.
I am glad that I was able to participate. It was fun.
After a pit stop at the Starbucks in Oswego (side note: I can only imagine the nightmare the tight parking lot would be on a weekday.) I was on my way with wake-up juice and a breakfast sandwich. Two hours and about 15 podcasts later I was back in Bloomington.
One of the physics professors who could not make it to the commencement hosted a get together for the graduating seniors in CNS. He also left me his regalia so that I could participate in the ceremony. (I got to wear a Harvard hood.)
The weather was just about perfect for the ceremony. There was a thin layer of clouds early in the afternoon which was enough to block the glare of the sun, but not enough to make the sky seem completely overcast. I stood near some bio profs who had the wisdom to wear sunglasses and sunblock. Fortunately, I would not suffer for the lack of either.
Seen in the hands of faculty: reading material for the name reading part of the ceremony.
We marched in and stood in front of our seats while the graduates filed in. I was in the third row back from the front of the faculty, so my view was pretty good. By the time everyone was seated and I looked around it was pretty amazing to see the sheer number of people filling the quadrangle. The steps of Sheean Library formed the stage. It's the most use the building gets all year.
The ceremony itself was nice, although the seats we were in were packed a little close. Three of the four speakers were really good. I'm sure the class president's speech was good for the students in the class who got all of his in-jokes. The president of the board of trustees gave a great intro which invoked Vonnegut. I heard some of my colleagues behind me saying they thought it was one of the best commencement speeches they had heard. The professor of the year talked about "casting you bread upon the water" and "it comes back buttered". And the keynote speaker told the graduates to "Question Everything". The messages they all delivered were unique and appropriate and well received. I really enjoyed it, my personal comfort notwithstanding.
Afterward there were the traditional scones and strawberries for refreshments. There were photos with the graduates and chatting with the families. I was hoping to get some work on the May Term class done, but left a bit too tired to get anything accomplished.
I am glad that I was able to participate. It was fun.
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April 28, 2007
A. wins 323-304
A. wins 323-304
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
It has been a month since our last game. One bingo tonight: harvests.
April 25, 2007
On the way home.
On the way home.
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
I saw this squirrel on the walk home a few weeks ago.
March 17, 2007
March 13, 2007
I guess you could say I had "one of those days" today.
It started off with running late for the morning lab. I got to campus a little after my usual time, and because lab was in the library, I was about 4 minutes late getting over there. I got everyone started on the lab, but then we discovered that the website was having bugs that actually prevented anyone from completing the lab.
I convinced the class to follow me back the science building where we could do an activity on the phases of the Moon in a dark lab. This was no small task to convince the class on such a nice Spring-like day.
Then, in class, the computer again refused to play my videos. :( I lost all control of class for a good 15+ minutes.
Afternoon lab was relatively relaxing as the students were given a "free day" to study and ask questions about their physics homework.
After going home for a quick bite, I went back to the observatory for some evening observing. No students showed up, but my TA was there, so I went across the street for a milk shake. I met a really friendly student who is in one of the Monday labs (that I'm not teaching). We had a nice chat, and it made it seem like all the bad stuff that happened today wasn't so bad after all.
It started off with running late for the morning lab. I got to campus a little after my usual time, and because lab was in the library, I was about 4 minutes late getting over there. I got everyone started on the lab, but then we discovered that the website was having bugs that actually prevented anyone from completing the lab.
I convinced the class to follow me back the science building where we could do an activity on the phases of the Moon in a dark lab. This was no small task to convince the class on such a nice Spring-like day.
Then, in class, the computer again refused to play my videos. :( I lost all control of class for a good 15+ minutes.
Afternoon lab was relatively relaxing as the students were given a "free day" to study and ask questions about their physics homework.
After going home for a quick bite, I went back to the observatory for some evening observing. No students showed up, but my TA was there, so I went across the street for a milk shake. I met a really friendly student who is in one of the Monday labs (that I'm not teaching). We had a nice chat, and it made it seem like all the bad stuff that happened today wasn't so bad after all.
March 03, 2007
This morning, I was sitting at the computer upstairs and looked out at the tree in the front yard and saw a woodpecker with an incredibly bright reddish-orange head.
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Whatbird.com: "Red-bellied Woodpecker Breeding Male: The breeding male Red-bellied Woodpecker has black and white barred upperparts and pale gray-brown underparts with a red wash on the belly. The head has a bright red crown and nape and pale brown face. Copyright © 2002-2007 Whatbird.com"
February 24, 2007
R. wins 378-265
R. wins 378-265
Originally uploaded by achmorrison.
This was last night's SCRABBLE game at the coffee shop.
I did get a bingo with "riposte" even though I got my butt kicked.
February 03, 2007
January 22, 2007
A colleague and I were just talking the other day about the old saying that "no two snowflakes are alike." He pointed out that the same could be said for grains of sand on the beach, but that no one (save a materials physicist) would point that out. How appropriate that the following article came up in my news feed today:
LiveScience.com - Scientist: Maybe Two Snowflakes are Alike:
LiveScience.com - Scientist: Maybe Two Snowflakes are Alike:
"'How likely is it that two snowflakes are alike? Very
likely if we define alike to mean that we would have trouble
distinguishing them under a microscope and if we include the
crystals that hardly develop beyond the prism stage—that is,
the smallest snow crystals,' Nelson said."
January 20, 2007
Untitled
Two of my students who are going to be helping me in the observatory this semester braved the cold weather this week and grabbed a pretty good picture of the Orion Nebula.
technorati tags:astronomy, astrophotography
December 01, 2006
November 30, 2006
November 28, 2006
November 27, 2006
November 26, 2006
November 14, 2006
Another Tuesday blows by, and it seems like I barely had time to breathe. All three classes met today and I wasn't really prepared for the lab this morning. I arrived on campus 10 minutes before lab was supposed to begin, so I parked over by the observatory so I could let the students in while I ran over to the science building to make copies of the morning's labs.
After lab, I was working on MP and was able to knock that out before lunch. At the lunch table we talked about some surveys that students conduct on campus. 'Twas a lively conversation! I ran back to the science building in the rain and nearly forget to copy the labs for the afternoon section!
MP and FA went relatively smoothly. After my office hour (no one stopped in, surprise, surprise...) I went home for an hour, kicked back and had a bite to eat. I changed clothes and hopped into the car ready to head to the gym when I remembered the internship fair that I wanted to check out. I dropped by that and was able to meet representatives from Senator Durbin and Senator Obama's offices. They seemed interested in the possibility of the Senator attending a HFH event next term!
After lab, I was working on MP and was able to knock that out before lunch. At the lunch table we talked about some surveys that students conduct on campus. 'Twas a lively conversation! I ran back to the science building in the rain and nearly forget to copy the labs for the afternoon section!
MP and FA went relatively smoothly. After my office hour (no one stopped in, surprise, surprise...) I went home for an hour, kicked back and had a bite to eat. I changed clothes and hopped into the car ready to head to the gym when I remembered the internship fair that I wanted to check out. I dropped by that and was able to meet representatives from Senator Durbin and Senator Obama's offices. They seemed interested in the possibility of the Senator attending a HFH event next term!
November 07, 2006
I voted in Bloomington for the first time since moving in '05. I had to google the location of the polling place. Bloomington handles its elections seperate from the rest of McClean county, so I had to find the Board of Election Commissioners page first. Then, I searched by my address and found the polling station. It was on the way home from school, so that was convenient, although the parking lot closest to the entrance was rather small. But, there was a free space and the voting was quick. Maybe it's not surprising that there were a lot of local seats uncontested by Democrats in this area.
One of the Cubs blogs that I read, and often disagree with, had a list of great ideas for election reform: an election holiday, 24 hour voting, open polling, electronic check-in, and paper ballots. Definitely worth a read. Any candidate that would support this would have my vote.
One of the Cubs blogs that I read, and often disagree with, had a list of great ideas for election reform: an election holiday, 24 hour voting, open polling, electronic check-in, and paper ballots. Definitely worth a read. Any candidate that would support this would have my vote.
November 01, 2006
The physics club has been talking about having a movie night soon. I mentioned this to one of my colleagues and he suggested that they show a physics-appropriate movie. In the past, the students have just picked a random DVD off of a shelf. But, if they show something that in someway relates to physics, perhaps they could get some of the first-year students to come and be engaged with the physics club.
So, I went to Google to find movies that related to physics or science. I found a few pages of reviews of movies with bad physics in them (see the popular Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics page), but few pages reviewing good physics movies.
There were a few good articles that I found which listed movies where physics (and science, in general) were well represented in films. A list of 10 good sci-fi movies from Guardian Unlimited and and article titled "Hollywood physics" were the two of the best compilations I could find. So, I'm going to try to compile my own list of good physics movies.
So, I went to Google to find movies that related to physics or science. I found a few pages of reviews of movies with bad physics in them (see the popular Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics page), but few pages reviewing good physics movies.
There were a few good articles that I found which listed movies where physics (and science, in general) were well represented in films. A list of 10 good sci-fi movies from Guardian Unlimited and and article titled "Hollywood physics" were the two of the best compilations I could find. So, I'm going to try to compile my own list of good physics movies.
October 20, 2006
October 13, 2006
October 07, 2006
September 12, 2006
Tuesday and Thursdays are my busy days this term. Lab in the morning for 2 hours, then an hour and a half before lunch. Lunch for 45 minutes or so, then two classes in the afternoon with a half hour break in between each of them. Tiring. Yesterday, I was able to blow through the modern physics class and cover a lot of material. Today, it seemed like I was going at a good clip, but didn't quite get as much covered as I thought I would. Astronomy was a lot of talking so I could get through enough material to make up some ground.
Yesterday was the first all-faculty meeting of the year. Last year, I only went to one such meeting; and the one I attended was in the Spring. (Last Fall I taught right up to the time of the meetings, and often had students after class.) I find it interesting that the others in this department do not walk over to the meeting together. Not that it's a big deal...I mean, we're all adults that can get to meetings on our own, right? It's just telling of the general atmosphere.
While the meeting was getting started, I had a chance to fill in my calendar. I'm almost up to November with my weekly schedule. Surely by then I'll have it memorized. The interesting parts of the meeting were hearing the president and provost. I suppose part of their job description is to paint rosy pictures for the faculty. It never hurts to hear it, though.
After the meeting, I needed to clear my head. I ran for 20 minutes on the treadmill. Same deal today: 20 minutes on the treadmill. Yesterday, it cleared my head. Today, I felt less energetic after the run. I may need to start going earlier, before I am hungry for supper.
Tomorrow is a good day to get some research done.
Yesterday was the first all-faculty meeting of the year. Last year, I only went to one such meeting; and the one I attended was in the Spring. (Last Fall I taught right up to the time of the meetings, and often had students after class.) I find it interesting that the others in this department do not walk over to the meeting together. Not that it's a big deal...I mean, we're all adults that can get to meetings on our own, right? It's just telling of the general atmosphere.
While the meeting was getting started, I had a chance to fill in my calendar. I'm almost up to November with my weekly schedule. Surely by then I'll have it memorized. The interesting parts of the meeting were hearing the president and provost. I suppose part of their job description is to paint rosy pictures for the faculty. It never hurts to hear it, though.
After the meeting, I needed to clear my head. I ran for 20 minutes on the treadmill. Same deal today: 20 minutes on the treadmill. Yesterday, it cleared my head. Today, I felt less energetic after the run. I may need to start going earlier, before I am hungry for supper.
Tomorrow is a good day to get some research done.
September 10, 2006
Friday I invited CC down to give a talk/demo session for the division's weekly colloquium. It went off perfectly! The lecture hall was packed and everyone had a great time! C brought more than 20 demos, half of which he put out in the atrium. It took about 3 hours to set things up, but it was totally worth it. The best demos were the "magic wand", the optical illusions regarding the shadows, and all the persistance of vision demos. He only had enough time at the end to do a couple color mixing demos, but it was still really cool.
Afterwards, we (R, C and I) all went to the Central Station Cafe in downtown Bloomington. I had the special, which was the beef tenderloin. YUM!! So good. The service was great, too.
I had NO doubt that C would give a great talk. I'm just really glad that the students showed up. I knew they would enjoy it. I'm definitely glad everything worked out in the end.
Afterwards, we (R, C and I) all went to the Central Station Cafe in downtown Bloomington. I had the special, which was the beef tenderloin. YUM!! So good. The service was great, too.
I had NO doubt that C would give a great talk. I'm just really glad that the students showed up. I knew they would enjoy it. I'm definitely glad everything worked out in the end.
September 01, 2006
August 31, 2006
Today I started trying something new. To a few select emails, I replied by top-posting. Top posting goes against every instinct in my fingers when I go to type the message. I don't get the arguments in support of top posting, either. The only argument that seems to be out there is "this is common practice in the business world." I don't get it. I'll keep trying, though.
We're almost through the first week of class now. I'm not as far ahead as I wanted to be, but I'm not as far behind as I feared I'd be.
Last week (before classes began) was interesting to compare to last year. Last year, the week before school started I buried myself in my office and hardly came out during the day. This year, I was still really busy last week, but I got out and walked around campus during the daylight more. I totally missed the first-year students (and their parents!) that arrive on campus 3-4 days before the rest of the students! I must have given directions to a building almost every day last week. I slept through the faculty/staff breakfast, which bummed me out, but I did make it to the faculty conference on Friday.
Today, I was again nearly killed by the treadmill at Shirk. It powered off five minutes into my run and the belt just froze. I told the person running the desk and happened to run into the Wellness director and also told her. Funny how something like that can zap my desire to work out.
We're almost through the first week of class now. I'm not as far ahead as I wanted to be, but I'm not as far behind as I feared I'd be.
Last week (before classes began) was interesting to compare to last year. Last year, the week before school started I buried myself in my office and hardly came out during the day. This year, I was still really busy last week, but I got out and walked around campus during the daylight more. I totally missed the first-year students (and their parents!) that arrive on campus 3-4 days before the rest of the students! I must have given directions to a building almost every day last week. I slept through the faculty/staff breakfast, which bummed me out, but I did make it to the faculty conference on Friday.
Today, I was again nearly killed by the treadmill at Shirk. It powered off five minutes into my run and the belt just froze. I told the person running the desk and happened to run into the Wellness director and also told her. Funny how something like that can zap my desire to work out.
August 22, 2006
August 08, 2006
I worked from home today, and after a frustrating morning on travelocity, I actually acomplished a lot of work.
First, the good news: I've been making steady progress working on the Modern Physics course I'll be teaching in the Fall. Steady, but still slow. I've been hacking away at relativity for what seems like an eternity now. But, the end of that fight is coming; I can feel it.
What held me up this morning was trying to book the flight and hotel for the conference that I'm attending the week after Thanksgiving.This morning I checked my email and saw that there were airfare specials from Bloomington that I could use for the trip. I went to travelocity (travesty) and found that they had a promo for $150 off the package if you book for 5 nights. No problem. I find the flights we want and the hotel R. picked and even chose the seats for this flight. When I went to confirm the reservation, I was greeted with a message that said I had to use a different credit card than the one I was using. I checked the promo page and NO WHERE did it say anything about using a specific card. However, the page linking to the promo codes had a Mastercard logo on it, but also didn't specify that Mastercard had to be used. I called customer service to ask about the promo, and the guy who answered the phone had no idea what I was talking about. Huh. Funny, as it pops up on the homepage about every fourth time it loads! By this time, my session had expired and I had to start over.
When I redid the exact same search, I found that flights from Bloomington were suddenly about $300/person more expensive. So, I quickly abandoned that idea. I searched on orbitz, southwest airlines, delta and united before giving up for the morning. Everything was coming up about $300-600 more expensive than it had on the first search of the morning and every search I had done in the last 3 weeks.
I have my suspicions that the more times you search on travelocity, the higher the average price gets until you are scared enough to pay an elevated price.
The pricing of airfare and vacation packages in general is rediculous much in the same way our cable company's pricing scheme is out to screw the customer (i.e. me).
I cannot call the cable company any more, because my phone number is tied to my account and they will look up my account whenever I call to see what deals are available. Over the weekend R. saw that Our cable bill had jumped by 50% to $120. Instead of calling them on Monday, I walked into their office with my bill in my pocket. When I asked how much digital cable and broadband internet costs per month I was told "it depends. Are you already a subscriber?" WHAT??? How hard is the question, "How much does your service cost?" I grudgingly admitted I was a subscriber and the agent immediately wanted to look up my account! Cripes! I know how much I'm getting charged. I want to know what everyone else is getting charged! Why is this so hard??
When we signed up for cable, about a year ago, I was told that I could get digital cable and broadband internet for $70/month and they had a special promo going on where you would get 9 Showtime channels for free. The $70/month was $5 off the regular price, I was told. Sweet!! Sign me up! Three months ago, our bill went up by $15, and I called to ask why that was and was told that the free Showtime package had expired. Oh, okay. I explained that no one had bothered to mention there was a limitted time on that deal, but no biggie I thought. It was canceled and we were happy. This time, when I went in I was told that our free "premium broadband" trial had expired and the "promo basic cable rate" had expired. Huh?? This was news to me. I never knew that I had "premium broadband" whatever that was. And I was told that our digital cable box rental was a special promo rate that was set to expire "any month now". WHAT THE HECK?!? Why was I not told that all this stuff was only good for a year? Why they can get away with bait and switch tactics by not letting new subscribers know the full extent of the promotion details is beyond me. Surely they were not losing money on me when my bill was "only" $80.
So. Frustrating.
First, the good news: I've been making steady progress working on the Modern Physics course I'll be teaching in the Fall. Steady, but still slow. I've been hacking away at relativity for what seems like an eternity now. But, the end of that fight is coming; I can feel it.
What held me up this morning was trying to book the flight and hotel for the conference that I'm attending the week after Thanksgiving.This morning I checked my email and saw that there were airfare specials from Bloomington that I could use for the trip. I went to travelocity (travesty) and found that they had a promo for $150 off the package if you book for 5 nights. No problem. I find the flights we want and the hotel R. picked and even chose the seats for this flight. When I went to confirm the reservation, I was greeted with a message that said I had to use a different credit card than the one I was using. I checked the promo page and NO WHERE did it say anything about using a specific card. However, the page linking to the promo codes had a Mastercard logo on it, but also didn't specify that Mastercard had to be used. I called customer service to ask about the promo, and the guy who answered the phone had no idea what I was talking about. Huh. Funny, as it pops up on the homepage about every fourth time it loads! By this time, my session had expired and I had to start over.
When I redid the exact same search, I found that flights from Bloomington were suddenly about $300/person more expensive. So, I quickly abandoned that idea. I searched on orbitz, southwest airlines, delta and united before giving up for the morning. Everything was coming up about $300-600 more expensive than it had on the first search of the morning and every search I had done in the last 3 weeks.
I have my suspicions that the more times you search on travelocity, the higher the average price gets until you are scared enough to pay an elevated price.
The pricing of airfare and vacation packages in general is rediculous much in the same way our cable company's pricing scheme is out to screw the customer (i.e. me).
I cannot call the cable company any more, because my phone number is tied to my account and they will look up my account whenever I call to see what deals are available. Over the weekend R. saw that Our cable bill had jumped by 50% to $120. Instead of calling them on Monday, I walked into their office with my bill in my pocket. When I asked how much digital cable and broadband internet costs per month I was told "it depends. Are you already a subscriber?" WHAT??? How hard is the question, "How much does your service cost?" I grudgingly admitted I was a subscriber and the agent immediately wanted to look up my account! Cripes! I know how much I'm getting charged. I want to know what everyone else is getting charged! Why is this so hard??
When we signed up for cable, about a year ago, I was told that I could get digital cable and broadband internet for $70/month and they had a special promo going on where you would get 9 Showtime channels for free. The $70/month was $5 off the regular price, I was told. Sweet!! Sign me up! Three months ago, our bill went up by $15, and I called to ask why that was and was told that the free Showtime package had expired. Oh, okay. I explained that no one had bothered to mention there was a limitted time on that deal, but no biggie I thought. It was canceled and we were happy. This time, when I went in I was told that our free "premium broadband" trial had expired and the "promo basic cable rate" had expired. Huh?? This was news to me. I never knew that I had "premium broadband" whatever that was. And I was told that our digital cable box rental was a special promo rate that was set to expire "any month now". WHAT THE HECK?!? Why was I not told that all this stuff was only good for a year? Why they can get away with bait and switch tactics by not letting new subscribers know the full extent of the promotion details is beyond me. Surely they were not losing money on me when my bill was "only" $80.
So. Frustrating.
July 13, 2006
I went to the gym tonight to get back on the horse that threw me two days ago. Tuesday, I was running on my favorite treadmill, and the belt slipped about 3 minutes into the run. No big deal, because I felt like my leg had come down weird anyway. I thought nothing of it and continued my run. A few minutes later, I was cruising along and thinking how great the run was going when....WHAM! The treadmill....stopped. The belt did not slow. It stopped. I stopped.
Thankfully, I stopped.
Try running at full tilt and then stop on a dime. I did it on the treadmill and did not hurt myself. So I finished the run on the other treadmill, which was the machine I used tonight.
After walking back to my office to gather some stuff, I walked home. My route takes me right by (or through) Franklin Park, where a band was starting to play. Earlier this summer (while I was still driving) I had passed by the park while a band was getting ready to play, but as I did not see any signs for it, I had no idea what was going on. Turns out, the city sponsors a concert in Franklin Park every Thursday in June and July. I don't know where this is advertised, since they only leave the signs up during the concert. Seems like a more effective advertising strategy would be to leave signs up before the concert. But now I know. (And knowing is ____ ___ ______.)
Other news...the lone triops (triop?) died this morning. Will hatch more soon!
Thankfully, I stopped.
Try running at full tilt and then stop on a dime. I did it on the treadmill and did not hurt myself. So I finished the run on the other treadmill, which was the machine I used tonight.
After walking back to my office to gather some stuff, I walked home. My route takes me right by (or through) Franklin Park, where a band was starting to play. Earlier this summer (while I was still driving) I had passed by the park while a band was getting ready to play, but as I did not see any signs for it, I had no idea what was going on. Turns out, the city sponsors a concert in Franklin Park every Thursday in June and July. I don't know where this is advertised, since they only leave the signs up during the concert. Seems like a more effective advertising strategy would be to leave signs up before the concert. But now I know. (And knowing is ____ ___ ______.)
Other news...the lone triops (triop?) died this morning. Will hatch more soon!
July 06, 2006
July 01, 2006
June 29, 2006
Today, at about 5:00, after I had packed up all of my stuff to go home, I decided to clean up the home directory of my office computer. Yes, that was my big accomplishment for the day. :P
I do like how it turned out, however. I created a folder called "Research and Projects". In that folder are subfolders for each research project I have going on and the side projects that I eventually want to put up on the web. I know it is not a radical implementation of a fancy taxonomy, but I think this will help with getting the projects moving from ideas in my head to a completed and tangible result.
We burned up a coil that I had wrapped a few weeks ago, so most of the research time today was spent trying to find replacement bobbins that would make for a good solenoid. I'm not sure what we have is going to work, but I can't really seem to find the coil I used in grad school, either. Hopefully, we'll get a working coil and be on to better things sooner rather than later.
I do like how it turned out, however. I created a folder called "Research and Projects". In that folder are subfolders for each research project I have going on and the side projects that I eventually want to put up on the web. I know it is not a radical implementation of a fancy taxonomy, but I think this will help with getting the projects moving from ideas in my head to a completed and tangible result.
We burned up a coil that I had wrapped a few weeks ago, so most of the research time today was spent trying to find replacement bobbins that would make for a good solenoid. I'm not sure what we have is going to work, but I can't really seem to find the coil I used in grad school, either. Hopefully, we'll get a working coil and be on to better things sooner rather than later.
June 21, 2006
June 18, 2006
June 16, 2006
Recently, I downloaded picasa for linux. I wanted to test out the blog posting function. Here's Renae outside of Spike O'dells coffee cup museum in Door County. It's a tourist trap for WGN radio groupies (like Renae, ha ha). The weather was great that day, and the Door County Bakery had nice outdoor seating for us to enjoy our breakfast. 
Police: Man severs wife's head, has crash - Yahoo! News
The following headline showed up on my Yahoo News feed this morning:
Police: Man severs wife's head, has crash
So, a guy killed his wife, decapitated her, then took her head out for a drive. Then, he gets in a car wreck and kills 2 other people in the crash! If this does not end up on CSI in the fall, I will be shocked. Shocked!
Police: Man severs wife's head, has crash
So, a guy killed his wife, decapitated her, then took her head out for a drive. Then, he gets in a car wreck and kills 2 other people in the crash! If this does not end up on CSI in the fall, I will be shocked. Shocked!
June 14, 2006
June 12, 2006
I just downloaded Google Earth for linux, and it turns out the center of the world is Lawrence, Kansas. At least, when I first started the program, that is what it was centered on. Also, this weekend I downloaded Picasa for linux, although I was not able to get it to work on my laptop.
June 10, 2006
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