What are your first impressions of Carleton's new president?
Seems like a bit less of an academic than Oden (actually, not a whole lot of academic papers et cetera on his CV). I'm willing to bet he speaks at least 8 fewer languages than Oden.
But it looks like he's got a lot of administrative experience and was extremely effective. And it seems the committee was impressed with his personal demeanor throughout the entire process.
Did any of you current Carls see him speak or anything during the selection process? I'm curious to hear what you think.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
P-P-P-PLASMA
I haven't had a REAL post since early January. Not too much has changed in my life since then, but still, news is news.
The biggest news is that I chose my thesis advisor! HOLY CRAP LIFE DECISIONS. This is basically the biggest decision I've made since choosing to be a physics major. And I think it was a far more difficult decision to make. All fall semester I met with professors. I started out looking at research groups that worked with carbon nanotubes, graphene, nanoparticle science, and just generic nanotechnology. The research was interesting and the professors were great advisors, but I couldn't see myself working in those fields for the rest of my life..not to mention some of them didn't have funding. I started to branch out a bit and looked in the bioengineering department. It is important to consider here that I didn't take a single biology course in college. Needless to say, meeting with those professors was awkward because they would talk about weird shit like chondrocytes. I didn't even know what a protein was (its a sequence of amino acids)! So I met with them and they loved the fact that I was a physics major and I'm pretty sure they assumed that I could easily learn (memorize) all the biology I needed to. At this point I was determined to work in the bioengineering department because I really liked the idea of my research helping to improve people's lives and health. Unfortunately, the two professors whose research interested me most did not have funding so I couldn't join their group. I was very close to working with one of them to apply for a fellowship, but we stopped because we didn't think we would have enough time to complete it. This was all last semester.
Then, one day about a month ago, I got an email from a professor who had taught a course I took the previous semester. He studies plasma-surface interactions. His email basically said, "(obligatory hello sentence). If you haven't found an advisor, I have a very exciting research project I'd like to discuss with you." I was intrigued. How exciting could it be? I had nothing to lose, so I met with him. Turns out that his new project was about how plasmas interact with biological surfaces! It was a great combination of amazing science combined with the ability to increase public health! The best part is that the groundwork for this area has yet to be laid out. It would be so exciting to be a part of the foundation of a brand new field. I talked with his current graduate students and they all said that he was a very good advisor and that his lab has a great reputation in the plasma world. Also, it seems like I'll be learning a lot because I'll be getting into the nittygritty of how the equipment works; I won't just be turning giving my samples to a technician. In case you couldn't tell, I joined his lab and now I work in the Institute for Electronics and Applied Physics. I really like the two other grad students in the group. There are also two post-docs that I don't know well yet, but I'm going to be working closely with one of them and he doesn't speak english too well. What we'll be doing is creating a plasma at atmospheric instead of at low pressure. One thing we'll be working with has been called a plasma needle and it looks like a mini-lightsaber
Other than that, I've been just livin-n-shit. I went to a party with my sister and my friend Will in DC that was straight out of a movie. We parked the car and walked up to this loading dock where a big dude patted us down for weapons. The place was called "the warehouse loft" and when we walked in there was hardly any lighting and extremely loud music. At one point I was waiting in line to go to the bathroom and these people were taking forever so I started banging on the door. Then this guy and two girls come out and I was thinking to myself "wow, did that guy just have a threesome?" I was impressed until later on my friend told me that they were probably snorting coke. Sheesh! Anyway, my sister introduced me to her very attractive friend who had beaten final fantasy 13 before I did...such a rare breed of woman.
Last weekend I went to a party at a grad students house. It was the first time I had partied with the older graduate students. It was a shitload of fun. The two guys from my lab were there, and it was really nice to see them let loose. Perhaps the strangest part is how hard these grad students party (mostly physics majors I might add), but I guess it shouldn't be that weird to me considering the ocho had 3 physicists.
My brother has a new show that will be airing on USA. It's called Covert Affairs and stars the girl from Coyote Ugly who also happened to be the pink power ranger. I've seen the pilot and I think its pretty good. You can watch the trailer online. It's sort of like Alias...but I've never seen Alias so I don't know. I've just read the comparison.
For those who don't know, Liz is moving out here in late July. I'm really excited for that. The long distance thing is such a pain in the butt. I'm moving out of my current place on May 31st and moving back in with my parents for a couple months. I don't think it will be too bad. I already go back home once a weekend anyway. Plus I'll be saving a lot of money.
LATER ALL. No fun websites, hilarious videos, countdowns, or raps.
The biggest news is that I chose my thesis advisor! HOLY CRAP LIFE DECISIONS. This is basically the biggest decision I've made since choosing to be a physics major. And I think it was a far more difficult decision to make. All fall semester I met with professors. I started out looking at research groups that worked with carbon nanotubes, graphene, nanoparticle science, and just generic nanotechnology. The research was interesting and the professors were great advisors, but I couldn't see myself working in those fields for the rest of my life..not to mention some of them didn't have funding. I started to branch out a bit and looked in the bioengineering department. It is important to consider here that I didn't take a single biology course in college. Needless to say, meeting with those professors was awkward because they would talk about weird shit like chondrocytes. I didn't even know what a protein was (its a sequence of amino acids)! So I met with them and they loved the fact that I was a physics major and I'm pretty sure they assumed that I could easily learn (memorize) all the biology I needed to. At this point I was determined to work in the bioengineering department because I really liked the idea of my research helping to improve people's lives and health. Unfortunately, the two professors whose research interested me most did not have funding so I couldn't join their group. I was very close to working with one of them to apply for a fellowship, but we stopped because we didn't think we would have enough time to complete it. This was all last semester.
Then, one day about a month ago, I got an email from a professor who had taught a course I took the previous semester. He studies plasma-surface interactions. His email basically said, "(obligatory hello sentence). If you haven't found an advisor, I have a very exciting research project I'd like to discuss with you." I was intrigued. How exciting could it be? I had nothing to lose, so I met with him. Turns out that his new project was about how plasmas interact with biological surfaces! It was a great combination of amazing science combined with the ability to increase public health! The best part is that the groundwork for this area has yet to be laid out. It would be so exciting to be a part of the foundation of a brand new field. I talked with his current graduate students and they all said that he was a very good advisor and that his lab has a great reputation in the plasma world. Also, it seems like I'll be learning a lot because I'll be getting into the nittygritty of how the equipment works; I won't just be turning giving my samples to a technician. In case you couldn't tell, I joined his lab and now I work in the Institute for Electronics and Applied Physics. I really like the two other grad students in the group. There are also two post-docs that I don't know well yet, but I'm going to be working closely with one of them and he doesn't speak english too well. What we'll be doing is creating a plasma at atmospheric instead of at low pressure. One thing we'll be working with has been called a plasma needle and it looks like a mini-lightsaber
Other than that, I've been just livin-n-shit. I went to a party with my sister and my friend Will in DC that was straight out of a movie. We parked the car and walked up to this loading dock where a big dude patted us down for weapons. The place was called "the warehouse loft" and when we walked in there was hardly any lighting and extremely loud music. At one point I was waiting in line to go to the bathroom and these people were taking forever so I started banging on the door. Then this guy and two girls come out and I was thinking to myself "wow, did that guy just have a threesome?" I was impressed until later on my friend told me that they were probably snorting coke. Sheesh! Anyway, my sister introduced me to her very attractive friend who had beaten final fantasy 13 before I did...such a rare breed of woman.
Last weekend I went to a party at a grad students house. It was the first time I had partied with the older graduate students. It was a shitload of fun. The two guys from my lab were there, and it was really nice to see them let loose. Perhaps the strangest part is how hard these grad students party (mostly physics majors I might add), but I guess it shouldn't be that weird to me considering the ocho had 3 physicists.
My brother has a new show that will be airing on USA. It's called Covert Affairs and stars the girl from Coyote Ugly who also happened to be the pink power ranger. I've seen the pilot and I think its pretty good. You can watch the trailer online. It's sort of like Alias...but I've never seen Alias so I don't know. I've just read the comparison.
For those who don't know, Liz is moving out here in late July. I'm really excited for that. The long distance thing is such a pain in the butt. I'm moving out of my current place on May 31st and moving back in with my parents for a couple months. I don't think it will be too bad. I already go back home once a weekend anyway. Plus I'll be saving a lot of money.
LATER ALL. No fun websites, hilarious videos, countdowns, or raps.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Throw Caution to the Wind: Spring Term 2010
It's spring term! I thought I'd share some of the great times we've had so far here at Carleton and keep you guys in the loop of the fun that is soon to come.
Let me say that its been great so far. I have a little more work than last year's spring term, but that's also because I took BS classes (except for Harry's class). So one of my classes is a lot of reading ALONG with a big ongoing research paper (25-pages) that is supposed to get us into the comps-mindset. It blows. But hopefully my comps will come out of this paper, which would make my fall next year so much easier. The important thing to remember as I do work is to "Throw Caution to the Wind," which is what Alfredo, Anna and I decided is the theme for Spring Term 2010 (Although Anna rarely complies).
The Synchro Show was first weekend. It was the weekend after my birthday, so I personally was still emotionally, physically and mentally recovering. But it was still quite fun. Except for that glass breaking and me having to change from drunken synchro member to head guard.
We haven't been back to Froggies, but thats mostly because Mia and Alfredo have been working on their Chem comps and have been too busy on Thursday nights. But Joe and I were just discussing how we will soon make our triumphant return to Froggies and start to take over Ole-Night.
Easter was the other weekend. Very fun times. I had to be sober for the first half, but I took great photos. I'll put them on the ol Facebook sometime soon.
Tim's been down on weekends and we've went to the bars a few times. It's been good times. They are still exciting for me. So has paying for alcohol at the liquor store - which I have been doing too much... $ does NOT grow on trees... well sometimes.
The swim team is involved in a record number IMs this term! Softball is obviously the biggest hit (no pun intended... okay it was intended). But we also have a Frisbee, Basketball team, and supposedly a beach volleyball team in the works. Our softball team name this year is "The Maize and Blue Balls," which is what we first tried to name the Bowling Club, but CSA rejected it because the Admission Office wants to put clubs on their website. [*** EDIT: This just in: we DO have a volley ball IM team. The name is "The Beached Whales" - how timely]
Speaking of Bowling Club, its going well! We keep expanding, and we actually have THREE non-swimmers, so we are a legit club now and we aren't embezzling. But some members of the budget committee are starting to question whether to keep funding us as we expand. I believe one member said, "Guys, aren't we just giving them money to go bowling for free?" That is exactly what they are doing and its awesome.
Last weekend was battle of the bands and a bunch of us did a power hour. But the real good times are ahead for students at Carleton:
This weekend: OleBall, we are starting at 2pm and going until we drop. 3 kegs, 2 taps. A few handles for the after party. and then Ebony/Sayles Dance at night (like we'll make it that far).
5th Weekend: Midterm break. Holla. Some burrito/crow's nest action is gonna occur. Maybe I'll find some more ancient money in a Scientology book like last year.
6th Weekend: Progressive (anyone got good ideas for themes?)
7th Weekend: Rotblatt (Switched Weekends with spring concert!!! I fear change...)
8th Weekend: Spring Concert. Brother Ali is headlining. Should be great.
9th Weekend: Superhero Party
Good times? I think so. So even though Stadium is not my home currently, I'm still workin hard to live in a way that embodies "life under the bleachers."
Let me say that its been great so far. I have a little more work than last year's spring term, but that's also because I took BS classes (except for Harry's class). So one of my classes is a lot of reading ALONG with a big ongoing research paper (25-pages) that is supposed to get us into the comps-mindset. It blows. But hopefully my comps will come out of this paper, which would make my fall next year so much easier. The important thing to remember as I do work is to "Throw Caution to the Wind," which is what Alfredo, Anna and I decided is the theme for Spring Term 2010 (Although Anna rarely complies).
The Synchro Show was first weekend. It was the weekend after my birthday, so I personally was still emotionally, physically and mentally recovering. But it was still quite fun. Except for that glass breaking and me having to change from drunken synchro member to head guard.
We haven't been back to Froggies, but thats mostly because Mia and Alfredo have been working on their Chem comps and have been too busy on Thursday nights. But Joe and I were just discussing how we will soon make our triumphant return to Froggies and start to take over Ole-Night.
Easter was the other weekend. Very fun times. I had to be sober for the first half, but I took great photos. I'll put them on the ol Facebook sometime soon.
Tim's been down on weekends and we've went to the bars a few times. It's been good times. They are still exciting for me. So has paying for alcohol at the liquor store - which I have been doing too much... $ does NOT grow on trees... well sometimes.
The swim team is involved in a record number IMs this term! Softball is obviously the biggest hit (no pun intended... okay it was intended). But we also have a Frisbee, Basketball team, and supposedly a beach volleyball team in the works. Our softball team name this year is "The Maize and Blue Balls," which is what we first tried to name the Bowling Club, but CSA rejected it because the Admission Office wants to put clubs on their website. [*** EDIT: This just in: we DO have a volley ball IM team. The name is "The Beached Whales" - how timely]
Speaking of Bowling Club, its going well! We keep expanding, and we actually have THREE non-swimmers, so we are a legit club now and we aren't embezzling. But some members of the budget committee are starting to question whether to keep funding us as we expand. I believe one member said, "Guys, aren't we just giving them money to go bowling for free?" That is exactly what they are doing and its awesome.
Last weekend was battle of the bands and a bunch of us did a power hour. But the real good times are ahead for students at Carleton:
This weekend: OleBall, we are starting at 2pm and going until we drop. 3 kegs, 2 taps. A few handles for the after party. and then Ebony/Sayles Dance at night (like we'll make it that far).
5th Weekend: Midterm break. Holla. Some burrito/crow's nest action is gonna occur. Maybe I'll find some more ancient money in a Scientology book like last year.
6th Weekend: Progressive (anyone got good ideas for themes?)
7th Weekend: Rotblatt (Switched Weekends with spring concert!!! I fear change...)
8th Weekend: Spring Concert. Brother Ali is headlining. Should be great.
9th Weekend: Superhero Party
Good times? I think so. So even though Stadium is not my home currently, I'm still workin hard to live in a way that embodies "life under the bleachers."
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
There comes a time in every man's life when he must...
...quit his job and take another that pays more money and makes him work harder.
After much deliberation, I decided last Wednesday that now is my time. I'm leaving the relatively focused media portion of advertising to move into the relatively broad account management discipline. This means that instead of deciding where to place ads, I'm now going to be making sure that everybody works together, that the client knows what the agency is thinking, and that the agency knows what the client is thinking. I have people skills; I'm good at dealing with people. Don't you get that?
So, basically, through some alumni networking, I've managed to snag a job at a much larger/more prestigious agency working in a department that I'll enjoy more on a very intense and challenging automobile account. I will be working much harder and dedicating more of my life to this. I like the challenge.
Now that we've gotten the job news out of the way (and yes, Mark, I will post when I have worked for a while and tell you all about what I do), I can tell you all about how Johnny V and I had dinner in the Crow's Nest on Sunday night. We drank wine, ate delicious food, and peed off the top of Stadium. That's pretty much it.
There are plenty of other things that I could talk about, but I'm lazy so I'm done for now.
Foran out!
Spring Term Rap
"you know we on the bald spot with that midwest charm
"oh shit its a tornado better sound the alarm
better go in the dorms and f*(k with that girl you hooked up with in
sayles when you were drunk
cause lets face it thats how relationships start
man either that or you are one of those nerds who stays in and plays mario kart
In Spring Term people like to go cheer for CUT
Oh sh*t I forgot everyone would rather drink and work
on gettin their beer gut
Yes times like Joe's Easter and Rotblattare the best'
Cause when the cops give you that breathalyzer,
you certainly aint gonna pass that test.
Now for the ladies its the time when the coats come off and the skirts
come out
And like the flowers its like beauties spout
Everyone seems to fall in love
Good thing the health center gives a lecture on gloves
For the guys they sum up the courage
cause for so long they have felt discouraged
Cause in the winter they had no love to keep warm
But as the months went on they began to learn
Sh*t son, its all about Spring Term.
Yeah that guy sang I love
College he obviously wasn't at Carleton based on his lack of knowledge
For as our moto states
The Revelation / Announcement of Your Words Illuminate
Just like after finishing that keg you tend to self deprecate
So give it up for 10 weeks of fun
cause we will all be chillin in Spring Term under that Midwest Sun
Monday, April 12, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Jolly (Roger) Times in NY
About time I got around to this...about damn time...
You guys probably already knew this, but over spring break Toto and I went road trippin' to NYC and Washington D.C.
I'm not going to write a whole lot about it because I've forgotten most of the relevant details, but we've got some pictures and a new tradition (probably, we'll see). Think Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants but less utterly lame and with A LOT more piracy.
Yup, that's me rocking the Stadium-110 Jolly Roger on the Brooklyn bridge in front of all of Manhattan and apparently feeling incredibly fucking sublime about the whole damn thing!
Nonberg, don't worry, you'll get your flag back...eventually...probably.
Toro!
As you've already inferred, NY was a lot of fun.
It was interesting driving in from New Jersey, which--near New York--was a massive industrial park/shit-hole. Then we payed something exorbitant like $8 to go through a tunnel and wound up right in the middle of Manhattan.
I found it pretty impressive how many people there are constantly streaming all over Manhattan no matter what the time of day or night.
We made it to all five boroughs (Queens for all of a 5 minute walk from Brooklyn to Manhattan), and saw lots of different neighborhoods (Dominican, Puerto Rican, Hasidic Jew, et alibi). We had a lot of good food. Good times all around.
This wins the prize for the best-intentioned-yet-most-poorly-executed street naming ever:
This little church has no business being in Manhattan between these giant skyscrapers:
No more than this turkey has no business hanging around outside the coast guard office there:
Finally, Grand Central Station is pretty sweet for several reasons. 1) This small dome-ceilinged part of the passageway around the main atrium (Toto will have to help me out with exactly where it is):
You can stand at one corner, and have someone else stand across the diagonal, then put your face a few inches from the wall as if you are being punished, and speak into the wall at normal volume. The person across from you will be able to hear you as if you are talking right next to them. Very cool.
And 2) sweet pictures like these:
There was lots more cool stuff, but after a few days we headed down to D.C. where we saw Elliot, Liz, Freho, Jen, and Barb which was equally awesome. Also, Ben's Chili Bowl; delicious. Maybe the best drunk food anywhere.
If you end up with a pirate flag sometime in the future, you know what to do.
You guys probably already knew this, but over spring break Toto and I went road trippin' to NYC and Washington D.C.
I'm not going to write a whole lot about it because I've forgotten most of the relevant details, but we've got some pictures and a new tradition (probably, we'll see). Think Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants but less utterly lame and with A LOT more piracy.
Yup, that's me rocking the Stadium-110 Jolly Roger on the Brooklyn bridge in front of all of Manhattan and apparently feeling incredibly fucking sublime about the whole damn thing!
Nonberg, don't worry, you'll get your flag back...eventually...probably.
Toro!
As you've already inferred, NY was a lot of fun.
It was interesting driving in from New Jersey, which--near New York--was a massive industrial park/shit-hole. Then we payed something exorbitant like $8 to go through a tunnel and wound up right in the middle of Manhattan.
I found it pretty impressive how many people there are constantly streaming all over Manhattan no matter what the time of day or night.
We made it to all five boroughs (Queens for all of a 5 minute walk from Brooklyn to Manhattan), and saw lots of different neighborhoods (Dominican, Puerto Rican, Hasidic Jew, et alibi). We had a lot of good food. Good times all around.
This wins the prize for the best-intentioned-yet-most-poorly-executed street naming ever:
This little church has no business being in Manhattan between these giant skyscrapers:
No more than this turkey has no business hanging around outside the coast guard office there:
Finally, Grand Central Station is pretty sweet for several reasons. 1) This small dome-ceilinged part of the passageway around the main atrium (Toto will have to help me out with exactly where it is):
You can stand at one corner, and have someone else stand across the diagonal, then put your face a few inches from the wall as if you are being punished, and speak into the wall at normal volume. The person across from you will be able to hear you as if you are talking right next to them. Very cool.
And 2) sweet pictures like these:
There was lots more cool stuff, but after a few days we headed down to D.C. where we saw Elliot, Liz, Freho, Jen, and Barb which was equally awesome. Also, Ben's Chili Bowl; delicious. Maybe the best drunk food anywhere.
If you end up with a pirate flag sometime in the future, you know what to do.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Why Morning Cartoons Were More AWEMUSTATICALLY when I watched them (more often)
Ok,
I'm angry. Everytime I wake up on Saturday morning I turn on the tv and see this crap. I mean what is up with all of these imported shows. To be honest i have no idea what this picture is of, it just reminded me of Japanese Animation. Don't you miss the day were Rocko and that guy thing were amusing us with their antics as opposed to all of these new shows that seem confusing and oft putting.
I submit to you as an example. Bakuman Brawlers, or something like that. In this show kids have little pocket monster type creatures (haven't heard that one before). So these kids and their obviously transvestite friends go off to free these things or what have you. There is no real point. Every episode is a continuation into the other ones. These things never end...they just keep going. At least when I was younger one character would blow up or heaven forbid the badguy was beatten over and over again in each episode. I'm pretty sure one day I will see one of these new morning cartoons in an episode where they go to the grocery store and the show ends. I really dislike these....damn.
So there you go. The words a bubbling to come out of my head, I just cant seem to write anymore.
Nonbie OUT (I copied you Molson...you are cool)
I'm angry. Everytime I wake up on Saturday morning I turn on the tv and see this crap. I mean what is up with all of these imported shows. To be honest i have no idea what this picture is of, it just reminded me of Japanese Animation. Don't you miss the day were Rocko and that guy thing were amusing us with their antics as opposed to all of these new shows that seem confusing and oft putting.
I submit to you as an example. Bakuman Brawlers, or something like that. In this show kids have little pocket monster type creatures (haven't heard that one before). So these kids and their obviously transvestite friends go off to free these things or what have you. There is no real point. Every episode is a continuation into the other ones. These things never end...they just keep going. At least when I was younger one character would blow up or heaven forbid the badguy was beatten over and over again in each episode. I'm pretty sure one day I will see one of these new morning cartoons in an episode where they go to the grocery store and the show ends. I really dislike these....damn.
So there you go. The words a bubbling to come out of my head, I just cant seem to write anymore.
Nonbie OUT (I copied you Molson...you are cool)
My Birthday - Part 1
So tomorrow is my birthday...
It's been a long time coming. I didn't think it was going to be a big deal (and its not), but I'm actually kind of excited. You're only twenty-one for the first time once, right?
Today, I was in the CSA Office (BOWLING CLUB, BITCHES!), and I saw a Pamphlet on underage drinking in Minnesota, so I thought I'd peruse the informational material about the epidemic I would soon be leaving.
Last year I had quite a celebration. And it was a great night overall. I wish there was some way for Tim to post the videos from his phone of me kicking Alfredo's ass...
I don't have class till Noon on Friday, so I should be in better shape than last year when i had to wake up for my 9am photo class.
The current plan is possibly drinking in the afternoon with Joe, going to synchro practice, gettin some Basils, and then hitting up the Cow for a little bit and then taking full advantage of $5 pitchers and a ton of Karaoke at Froggies!
We'll see how it goes. As you can see, this post is labeled "Part 1," meaning some follow up will occur, maybe tomorrow night?
MOLSON OUT!
It's been a long time coming. I didn't think it was going to be a big deal (and its not), but I'm actually kind of excited. You're only twenty-one for the first time once, right?
Today, I was in the CSA Office (BOWLING CLUB, BITCHES!), and I saw a Pamphlet on underage drinking in Minnesota, so I thought I'd peruse the informational material about the epidemic I would soon be leaving.
Last year I had quite a celebration. And it was a great night overall. I wish there was some way for Tim to post the videos from his phone of me kicking Alfredo's ass...
I don't have class till Noon on Friday, so I should be in better shape than last year when i had to wake up for my 9am photo class.
The current plan is possibly drinking in the afternoon with Joe, going to synchro practice, gettin some Basils, and then hitting up the Cow for a little bit and then taking full advantage of $5 pitchers and a ton of Karaoke at Froggies!
We'll see how it goes. As you can see, this post is labeled "Part 1," meaning some follow up will occur, maybe tomorrow night?
MOLSON OUT!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)