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reference wanted
Dec. 7th, 2003 01:13 pmAnyone got a good reference for increases in RAM over time? I'd love a handy little URL showing a chart of some sort ...
essay brainlock
Dec. 6th, 2003 11:22 pmOK, I need a word. This word means "cause-explaining", as in looking at past events & explaining why things are now the way they are. Here's the sentence:
'This inability prevents geographers from using GIS in either a [cause-explaining] or predictive role, for as Hägerstrand noted as early as 1970, “geographical information is time as well as space-specific” (Gittings, 2003[a]).'
Yes, I realise the sentence as a whole kind of sucks. But I don't feel like refining it until I've got the word I want.
'This inability prevents geographers from using GIS in either a [cause-explaining] or predictive role, for as Hägerstrand noted as early as 1970, “geographical information is time as well as space-specific” (Gittings, 2003[a]).'
Yes, I realise the sentence as a whole kind of sucks. But I don't feel like refining it until I've got the word I want.
With the subsidence of the London Royal Mail strike, & the cooperation of the University's Computer Services group, & the alignment of the planets, & just for good measure the sacrifice of a black rooster on the Day of the Dead, I now have internet access from my dorm room.
Wow! That only took 45 days!!
Wow! That only took 45 days!!
American folk art
Nov. 3rd, 2003 08:54 pmIn the maelstrom of last Friday, I forgot to mention that last Thursday night I gave a few of my floormates a demonstration of an authentic American folk art: jack'o'lantern carving.
They were unbelievably enthusiastic over this one little lame grinning pumpkin. Selina had a fit today when I announced it was time for Jack to visit the magical kingdom of the rubbish bin, but after Hsin-Yi took this picture, off he went:
( Introducing the Royal Family )
They were unbelievably enthusiastic over this one little lame grinning pumpkin. Selina had a fit today when I announced it was time for Jack to visit the magical kingdom of the rubbish bin, but after Hsin-Yi took this picture, off he went:
( Introducing the Royal Family )
Update post
Oct. 26th, 2003 11:51 amOops, haven't posted in a few days. All right, here's the quick summary:
Thursday: something like 11 hours of classes & labtime. Not at all exciting.
Friday: all-day seminar with Chris Date, one of the researchers who helped create relational databases. He talked alot about the theoretical underpinnings of the relational model, & about why current DBMS software doesn't do a good job. He reserved special venom for any & all aspects of object-oriented programming. Yes, it was just as interesting as it sounds. Three interesting side effects of the seminar:
1) By trashing both SQL and object-oriented programming, Date essentially undercut the theoretical foundations of two of the three classes I'm being assessed on this semester. Considering the third one seems to be about teaching people how to be consultants (& I was a consultant for five years before coming to grad school), I'm pretty much ready to pack up & go home. OK, not really.
2) Since our database instructor was observed sleeping during the seminar, we've all concluded that we can safely sleep in his lectures. This theory will be tested this Thursday.
3) Since we were all extremely agitated & angst-ridden after a whole day of set theory & language structure, we had a most excellent pub crawl on Friday night.
Saturday: woke up, ate breakfast, donated blood. Came home, took nap, studied all afternoon. Watched movies with Heather & Tania Saturday night.
Sunday: went to church. I'm starting to realize I don't really like service at the High Kirk of St. Giles. They're just too formal. I may have to shop around to find a better session.
And now I'm here, in the geography computing lab, realizing that the software package I need (Microsoft Project) doesn't seem to be installed on the machines in the downstairs lab. Boo. I don't know how to make a Gantt chart without Project!
Thursday: something like 11 hours of classes & labtime. Not at all exciting.
Friday: all-day seminar with Chris Date, one of the researchers who helped create relational databases. He talked alot about the theoretical underpinnings of the relational model, & about why current DBMS software doesn't do a good job. He reserved special venom for any & all aspects of object-oriented programming. Yes, it was just as interesting as it sounds. Three interesting side effects of the seminar:
1) By trashing both SQL and object-oriented programming, Date essentially undercut the theoretical foundations of two of the three classes I'm being assessed on this semester. Considering the third one seems to be about teaching people how to be consultants (& I was a consultant for five years before coming to grad school), I'm pretty much ready to pack up & go home. OK, not really.
2) Since our database instructor was observed sleeping during the seminar, we've all concluded that we can safely sleep in his lectures. This theory will be tested this Thursday.
3) Since we were all extremely agitated & angst-ridden after a whole day of set theory & language structure, we had a most excellent pub crawl on Friday night.
Saturday: woke up, ate breakfast, donated blood. Came home, took nap, studied all afternoon. Watched movies with Heather & Tania Saturday night.
Sunday: went to church. I'm starting to realize I don't really like service at the High Kirk of St. Giles. They're just too formal. I may have to shop around to find a better session.
And now I'm here, in the geography computing lab, realizing that the software package I need (Microsoft Project) doesn't seem to be installed on the machines in the downstairs lab. Boo. I don't know how to make a Gantt chart without Project!
* * * *
This is a message for residents of Richmond Place
* * * *
There have been problems with the electricity over the last few days, which has caused all room heaters in the buildings to be nonfunctional. I understand that the unversity is trying to resolve this as a matter of urgency. I will send an update when I know that the problem is solved. I am sorry that rooms are cold: we are doing all we can. Many thanks for your patience: please be assured that Accommodation Services takes this very seriously.
Nick Adams
Warden
????????????????????
I still have my window open.
This is a message for residents of Richmond Place
* * * *
There have been problems with the electricity over the last few days, which has caused all room heaters in the buildings to be nonfunctional. I understand that the unversity is trying to resolve this as a matter of urgency. I will send an update when I know that the problem is solved. I am sorry that rooms are cold: we are doing all we can. Many thanks for your patience: please be assured that Accommodation Services takes this very seriously.
Nick Adams
Warden
????????????????????
I still have my window open.
other goings-on
Oct. 10th, 2003 10:40 amLast night Heather convinced me to go with her to a VERY important student society meeting ... the Whiskey Society! Yes, it's exactly what it sounds like: a student society that meets to try different whiskeys. What it boiled down to was, you pay £5.00 at the door & then you get served five doubles in two hours & go home completely pie-eyed.
At first, the whole group of neophyte whiskey-tasters (this was the Society's first meeting this term) seemed to be having trouble with the concept of liking the taste of the stuff. When the head taster asked us to say out loud the tastes we detected in the whiskey, the returning society members were saying things like, "Vanilla!" or "Fruit!" & us newbies were shouting out things like "Smoke!", "Pain!", or "Poison!" But in truth, the meeting was very informative. I discovered that I can actually tell the difference between Lowland, Highland, Speyside, & Island whiskeys. I found a couple of whiskeys that I even enjoyed. So while I'm not ready to join the society, I may just venture back for their special events, like a Christmas feast or the Robert Burns dinner.
At first, the whole group of neophyte whiskey-tasters (this was the Society's first meeting this term) seemed to be having trouble with the concept of liking the taste of the stuff. When the head taster asked us to say out loud the tastes we detected in the whiskey, the returning society members were saying things like, "Vanilla!" or "Fruit!" & us newbies were shouting out things like "Smoke!", "Pain!", or "Poison!" But in truth, the meeting was very informative. I discovered that I can actually tell the difference between Lowland, Highland, Speyside, & Island whiskeys. I found a couple of whiskeys that I even enjoyed. So while I'm not ready to join the society, I may just venture back for their special events, like a Christmas feast or the Robert Burns dinner.
matricula-shon
Oct. 8th, 2003 01:00 pm/* Note: I tried to post this around 1:00 PM today, but LJ was ganking on the database connection. Thus, the backdate. */
I finally got through the matriculation process today. Whoopee! I'm officially a student now. What a stupid, ass-backwards process. My basic observation of this country so far is this: Scottish people as individuals are wonderful, fun, generous people. However, Scottish institutions are bureaucratic, obstructive, inefficient, & callous.
We're finally having some stereotypical Scottish weather today too - raining, misty, cold, windy. But I bundled up & grabbed my unbrella & life's OK. I'm off to get some groceries, then I'm going to find a place to buy an answering machine so I don't have to tangle with that STUPID voice mail "service" any further.
One other task accomplished - I joined the student gym (the Centre for Sport & Exercise). So now I can start SWIMMING! Hooray! I'm also considering cross-training on weight machines, but it's been so long since I've lifted, I kind of want to talk over a regimen with a trainer.
Update on the back: it's a little better but not much. I'm getting along without any more Valium, since I simply cannot take that stuff & remain functional. I'm also still saying "No" to codeine. I'm doing my stretching exercises, so hopefully a couple more days will see me through this. I also think swimming will help, by getting my shoulders stretched out.
I finally got through the matriculation process today. Whoopee! I'm officially a student now. What a stupid, ass-backwards process. My basic observation of this country so far is this: Scottish people as individuals are wonderful, fun, generous people. However, Scottish institutions are bureaucratic, obstructive, inefficient, & callous.
We're finally having some stereotypical Scottish weather today too - raining, misty, cold, windy. But I bundled up & grabbed my unbrella & life's OK. I'm off to get some groceries, then I'm going to find a place to buy an answering machine so I don't have to tangle with that STUPID voice mail "service" any further.
One other task accomplished - I joined the student gym (the Centre for Sport & Exercise). So now I can start SWIMMING! Hooray! I'm also considering cross-training on weight machines, but it's been so long since I've lifted, I kind of want to talk over a regimen with a trainer.
Update on the back: it's a little better but not much. I'm getting along without any more Valium, since I simply cannot take that stuff & remain functional. I'm also still saying "No" to codeine. I'm doing my stretching exercises, so hopefully a couple more days will see me through this. I also think swimming will help, by getting my shoulders stretched out.
today was hard
Oct. 2nd, 2003 08:32 pmHow anybody gets any work done when they drink like this - all the time! - is beyond my comprehension. Unfortunately, many things were beyond my comprehension this morning. Unfortunate because today was the start of learning UNIX, one of several new computer programming languages I'm going to have to master this year. Thank God I'd seen some of it before & I was able to keep up. Thank God also for strong coffee in the department's break room. I did almost crack up when we learned the command "whoami" (it lets you know what name you're logged in as, but it struck a deep existential chord with me today).
Took a long nap this afternoon & I'm finally feeling better. My floormates are renting a DVD player tonight so we're going to watch a couple movies & call it a night.
Also - I finally got my POS laptop working. Now all I need to do is buy one converter (doggle for a USB) & I'll be able to do email (& other online tasks, like homework) from my dorm room. Progress. My floormate Brian has proved very helpful, & he also told me that he's an experienced programmer in several of the languages I'll be using. Ehhhxcellent. Between him & the Hive, I'll have strong geek backup for this adventure. I have a feeling I'm going to need it.
Took a long nap this afternoon & I'm finally feeling better. My floormates are renting a DVD player tonight so we're going to watch a couple movies & call it a night.
Also - I finally got my POS laptop working. Now all I need to do is buy one converter (doggle for a USB) & I'll be able to do email (& other online tasks, like homework) from my dorm room. Progress. My floormate Brian has proved very helpful, & he also told me that he's an experienced programmer in several of the languages I'll be using. Ehhhxcellent. Between him & the Hive, I'll have strong geek backup for this adventure. I have a feeling I'm going to need it.
a little about the Geography Department
Oct. 2nd, 2003 08:10 pmWell, actually, here's a lot about the buildings we occupy.
As it turns out, I didn't go to bed after posting last night. Instead, when I got up to my floor, it turned out that my floormates had appropriated all the leftover wine & were carrying on in our kitchen. Before I knew it, a glass of red was in my hand, we were talking ... & suddenly it was 2.00 am.
Morning came early & unfriendly today. And now I'm supposed to be learning UNIX.
Morning came early & unfriendly today. And now I'm supposed to be learning UNIX.
deadline approaching!!
Sep. 4th, 2003 05:02 pmOK, last round of pre-arrival paperwork went in the mail to the University of Edinburgh today. I now have my dorm room secured, my classes chosen, my tuition payment plan selected (eeeep!), receptions registered for, new swim team contacted, church found, etc. Once I get there, I still have to open a bank account, get my student ID card, & scope out local features such as groceries, laundromats, & pubs.
I'm leaving for the U.K. on Monday, September 22nd, flying from Philadelphia to London. Here's hoping bomb-wielding terrorists decide to take that day off, hmmm? I'm staying in London for a few days to visit my best friend Brian & his wife Ingrid, as well visiting with my relatives who live near London. Then on Saturday, Sept. 27th, I'm taking the train from King's Cross Station in London to Edinburgh. Orientation classes start Monday Sept. 29th & the term actually begins on Monday October 6th.
I'm extremely excited about finally, finally, finally getting this adventure underway. I've been bending so much of my energy towards making this happen for nearly a year now (it was almost exactly a year ago that I began my application). And now it's almost HERE!!!
I'm leaving for the U.K. on Monday, September 22nd, flying from Philadelphia to London. Here's hoping bomb-wielding terrorists decide to take that day off, hmmm? I'm staying in London for a few days to visit my best friend Brian & his wife Ingrid, as well visiting with my relatives who live near London. Then on Saturday, Sept. 27th, I'm taking the train from King's Cross Station in London to Edinburgh. Orientation classes start Monday Sept. 29th & the term actually begins on Monday October 6th.
I'm extremely excited about finally, finally, finally getting this adventure underway. I've been bending so much of my energy towards making this happen for nearly a year now (it was almost exactly a year ago that I began my application). And now it's almost HERE!!!
U of E schedule has arrived!
Aug. 16th, 2003 09:24 amFinally! Yesterday I got a letter asking me to report to the Institute of Geography at 9.15 am on Monday, 29th September, 2003 (the British way of writing times & dates looks so funny to me; better get used to it). So now I know when school starts. I'm relieved.
I also received information about course selection. Since I only get to pick two classes, there's exactly ONE page of extremely terse course descriptions, & then a 1/2 page form to fill out with first & second choices. I'm comparing this to my first experience with Course Exchange at Cornell - the 17-year-old me frantically flipping through the Big Red Course Catalog (thick as a telephone book), trying to decide what I wanted to do with my life ....
I also received information about course selection. Since I only get to pick two classes, there's exactly ONE page of extremely terse course descriptions, & then a 1/2 page form to fill out with first & second choices. I'm comparing this to my first experience with Course Exchange at Cornell - the 17-year-old me frantically flipping through the Big Red Course Catalog (thick as a telephone book), trying to decide what I wanted to do with my life ....
I won I won I WON!!
Jun. 11th, 2003 04:54 pmJust like to tell the world that I won the Andrew Mutch scholarship this afternoon. That's $13,000 for my Scotland adventure!!
WOO-HOO!
That is all. Off to South Carolina in the morning.
WOO-HOO!
That is all. Off to South Carolina in the morning.
background
Jun. 3rd, 2003 12:50 pmI just realized I haven't made a LJ entry with my summer plans/future plans/etc. So here's a quick summary of what I've got planned over the next few months.
On June 9th I'm moving out of my apartment here in Jenkintown & heading down to my parents' brand-new retirement home in South Carolina. There, I will be taking care of my mom, who is having hip replacement surgery on June 9th. Once she's medically cleared to drive (estimate: 6-8 weeks), I'll be returning to the Philadelphia area for a few weeks (living with Stacy in Delaware). Then, in mid-September, I'm leaving for Scotland to do a one-year master's program in Geographical Information Sciences at the University of Edinburgh.
On June 9th I'm moving out of my apartment here in Jenkintown & heading down to my parents' brand-new retirement home in South Carolina. There, I will be taking care of my mom, who is having hip replacement surgery on June 9th. Once she's medically cleared to drive (estimate: 6-8 weeks), I'll be returning to the Philadelphia area for a few weeks (living with Stacy in Delaware). Then, in mid-September, I'm leaving for Scotland to do a one-year master's program in Geographical Information Sciences at the University of Edinburgh.
In Word, there are a handful of footnotes. Not important. PLEASE provide comments on improving this; it's the centerpiece of my application for a $12,000 scholarship.
( 2003 Andrew Mutch Graduate Scholarship Application Autobiographical Essay by Angela Ledgerwood )
( 2003 Andrew Mutch Graduate Scholarship Application Autobiographical Essay by Angela Ledgerwood )
