For What Is A Man...
It's been entirely too long since I had a substantive update. Granted, that's because the substance of life hadn't been changing much. Even so, it's long past time for me to get back to this journal.
Fall 2004 - A full-time research semester. For those of you that don't remember what's going on with my academic life, I'm working towards a doctorate in chemical engineering (hoping to be done by April 2006), with my research geared towards thermally conductive polymers for use in fuel cell applications. Things were reasonably calm and collected, and I had a couple of undergraduates helping me get work done. Not much happened here in the social scene because, well, this is Houghton.
Spring 2005 - Had two classes this semester. Transport, a class I'm retaking because the professor doesn't think I know the material well enough (three successful exams and a passed qualifier not withstanding) and Design of Experiments (mathematical optimization of experimental design). Passed both classes and am officially taking only research credits from now until the end. Had 10 undergraduates working with me this semester. Got a lot of work done on their projects, but my work kind of suffered because I had to spend so much time working on their stuff. All in all, fun. But it means I'm going to have to work harder in Summer 2005.
Summer 2005 - Shaping up to be fun. I have 2 major projects going and 5 undergraduates to help me get the work done while I write up the papers associated with them. I have to actually start writing my dissertation now if I want to be defending in February. Where all that time went, I'll never know.
Overall social scene - not much. Back in Fall 2004 I directed a show for Student Theatre Association that, despite having to break through some heavy prejudices to get the job, actually came off very well. A link to the video of the performance can be found at http://zoomtard.com/download.php?view.53 for anyone that wants to take a look at it. I really need to get back into theatre again after grad school - Cabaret was so much fun back in Spring 2004, and directing this crew of students that (mostly) cared and wanted to make the show go off well was therapeutic. The thing that amazes me about that show was that half of our total practices (and 2/3 of our full-cast ones) came during dress rehearsal week. And most of the blocking and delivery was worked out by the cast themselves.
In the romance arena, I'm resigning myself to the fact that bachelorhood seems very much in the cards for me despite my myriad efforts. I'm not going to be something I'm not to get ahead in that arena. I've done too much of that in other places and it's never worked out well. If I'm going to lie to people, I'll do it on stage where it's called "playing the part" and is thus acceptable.
If there's other details that people want to know about, leave me a message and I'll get back to you on it. In the meantime, there's a meme I want to put out in the open and then a bunch more stuff behind LJ cuts.
The Meme
01. Reply with your name and I will write something about you.
02. I will then tell what song/movie remind me of you.
03. If I were to apply an o'clock to you, it would be...
04. I will try to name a single word that best describes you.
05. I'll tell you the most memorable moment I've had with you.
06. I will tell you what animal you remind me of.
07. I'll then tell you something that I've always wondered about you.
08. Put this in your journal.
Warrior, general, poet and song writer. How can we truly describe this man of "Green eyes, black hair, dressed in black and silver," wearing a silver rose as his symbol and the famous sword Grayswandir? He fathered Merlin and drew his own version of the Pattern when he thought the original was destroyed. At the end of The Courts of Chaos by Roger Zelazny, Corwin says of himself, "And what about the man dress in black and silver with a silver rose upon him? He would like to think that he has learned something of trust, that he has washed his eyes in some clear spring, that he has polished an ideal or two. Never mind. He may still be only a smart-mouth meddler, skilled mainly in the minor art of survival, blind as ever the dungeons knew him to a finer shade of irony. Never mind, let it go, let it be. I may never be pleased with him."
Which Amberite are you?
this quiz was made by Mysti
You are Professor X!
You are a very effective teacher, and you are very
committed to those who learn from you. You put
your all into everything you do, to some extent
because you fear failure more than anything
else. You are always seeking self-improvement,
even in areas where there is nothing you can do
to improve.
Which X-Men character are you most like?
brought to you by Quizilla
Morpheus
?? Which Of The Greek Gods Are You ??
brought to you by Quizilla
~*~Result nr 1~*~
Your power is: Clairvoyance
Explanation: Your power is that you can
look into the future and see what is coming.
How far and long you can look is all depending
on your skill level. This can, as all powers,
be used in both evil and good. Even if it may
seem like a boring ability it is a huge
responsibility for the carrier, becase they are
constantly tempted with doing the wrongs deeds
(e.g. cheat on a test). It takes high morals to
not be brought down with it.
Therefor you fit with this power quite well.
You take responsibility and do what is the
right thing to do. This does not make you a
saint, since you're only human after all. But
it makes a trustworthy person and you are loyal
to camrades and/or team mates. In school you
were probably a good student. If you were
social varies from person to person, but most
clairvoyant people tend to prefer their own
company or that of close friends and family.
That is because you are wise and knows how to
treasure the reliable in your life, since you
know popularity can be a false element. You are
also not that big on taking risks and prefer
what is already explored. That is because you
don't like suprises, they can turn out bad and
then you won't be in control.
Negative aspects: Since you're always
doing the right thing and being trustworthy all
the time you can become frustrated. Also, all
that you carry on your shoulders may stress you
out. You need to relax to be in good mental
shape.
What Power is Compatible With You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Your Lightsaber is Blue
Blue is often associated with depth and stability.
It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom,
confidence, and truth.
What Colored Lightsaber Would You Have?
brought to you by Quizilla
And now, the end is near;
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I’ll say it clear,
I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain.
I’ve lived a life that’s full.
I’ve traveled each and ev’ry highway;
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.
Regrets, I’ve had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.
I planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.
Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;
And did it my way.
I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried.
I’ve had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.
To think I did all that;
And may I say - not in a shy way,
No, oh no not me,
I did it my way.
For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows -
And did it my way!
Fall 2004 - A full-time research semester. For those of you that don't remember what's going on with my academic life, I'm working towards a doctorate in chemical engineering (hoping to be done by April 2006), with my research geared towards thermally conductive polymers for use in fuel cell applications. Things were reasonably calm and collected, and I had a couple of undergraduates helping me get work done. Not much happened here in the social scene because, well, this is Houghton.
Spring 2005 - Had two classes this semester. Transport, a class I'm retaking because the professor doesn't think I know the material well enough (three successful exams and a passed qualifier not withstanding) and Design of Experiments (mathematical optimization of experimental design). Passed both classes and am officially taking only research credits from now until the end. Had 10 undergraduates working with me this semester. Got a lot of work done on their projects, but my work kind of suffered because I had to spend so much time working on their stuff. All in all, fun. But it means I'm going to have to work harder in Summer 2005.
Summer 2005 - Shaping up to be fun. I have 2 major projects going and 5 undergraduates to help me get the work done while I write up the papers associated with them. I have to actually start writing my dissertation now if I want to be defending in February. Where all that time went, I'll never know.
Overall social scene - not much. Back in Fall 2004 I directed a show for Student Theatre Association that, despite having to break through some heavy prejudices to get the job, actually came off very well. A link to the video of the performance can be found at http://zoomtard.com/download.php?view.53 for anyone that wants to take a look at it. I really need to get back into theatre again after grad school - Cabaret was so much fun back in Spring 2004, and directing this crew of students that (mostly) cared and wanted to make the show go off well was therapeutic. The thing that amazes me about that show was that half of our total practices (and 2/3 of our full-cast ones) came during dress rehearsal week. And most of the blocking and delivery was worked out by the cast themselves.
In the romance arena, I'm resigning myself to the fact that bachelorhood seems very much in the cards for me despite my myriad efforts. I'm not going to be something I'm not to get ahead in that arena. I've done too much of that in other places and it's never worked out well. If I'm going to lie to people, I'll do it on stage where it's called "playing the part" and is thus acceptable.
If there's other details that people want to know about, leave me a message and I'll get back to you on it. In the meantime, there's a meme I want to put out in the open and then a bunch more stuff behind LJ cuts.
The Meme
01. Reply with your name and I will write something about you.
02. I will then tell what song/movie remind me of you.
03. If I were to apply an o'clock to you, it would be...
04. I will try to name a single word that best describes you.
05. I'll tell you the most memorable moment I've had with you.
06. I will tell you what animal you remind me of.
07. I'll then tell you something that I've always wondered about you.
08. Put this in your journal.
Warrior, general, poet and song writer. How can we truly describe this man of "Green eyes, black hair, dressed in black and silver," wearing a silver rose as his symbol and the famous sword Grayswandir? He fathered Merlin and drew his own version of the Pattern when he thought the original was destroyed. At the end of The Courts of Chaos by Roger Zelazny, Corwin says of himself, "And what about the man dress in black and silver with a silver rose upon him? He would like to think that he has learned something of trust, that he has washed his eyes in some clear spring, that he has polished an ideal or two. Never mind. He may still be only a smart-mouth meddler, skilled mainly in the minor art of survival, blind as ever the dungeons knew him to a finer shade of irony. Never mind, let it go, let it be. I may never be pleased with him."
Which Amberite are you?
this quiz was made by Mysti
You are Professor X!
You are a very effective teacher, and you are very
committed to those who learn from you. You put
your all into everything you do, to some extent
because you fear failure more than anything
else. You are always seeking self-improvement,
even in areas where there is nothing you can do
to improve.
Which X-Men character are you most like?
brought to you by Quizilla
Morpheus
?? Which Of The Greek Gods Are You ??
brought to you by Quizilla
~*~Result nr 1~*~
Your power is: Clairvoyance
Explanation: Your power is that you can
look into the future and see what is coming.
How far and long you can look is all depending
on your skill level. This can, as all powers,
be used in both evil and good. Even if it may
seem like a boring ability it is a huge
responsibility for the carrier, becase they are
constantly tempted with doing the wrongs deeds
(e.g. cheat on a test). It takes high morals to
not be brought down with it.
Therefor you fit with this power quite well.
You take responsibility and do what is the
right thing to do. This does not make you a
saint, since you're only human after all. But
it makes a trustworthy person and you are loyal
to camrades and/or team mates. In school you
were probably a good student. If you were
social varies from person to person, but most
clairvoyant people tend to prefer their own
company or that of close friends and family.
That is because you are wise and knows how to
treasure the reliable in your life, since you
know popularity can be a false element. You are
also not that big on taking risks and prefer
what is already explored. That is because you
don't like suprises, they can turn out bad and
then you won't be in control.
Negative aspects: Since you're always
doing the right thing and being trustworthy all
the time you can become frustrated. Also, all
that you carry on your shoulders may stress you
out. You need to relax to be in good mental
shape.
What Power is Compatible With You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Your Lightsaber is Blue
Blue is often associated with depth and stability.
It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom,
confidence, and truth.
What Colored Lightsaber Would You Have?
brought to you by Quizilla
And now, the end is near;
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I’ll say it clear,
I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain.
I’ve lived a life that’s full.
I’ve traveled each and ev’ry highway;
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.
Regrets, I’ve had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.
I planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.
Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;
And did it my way.
I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried.
I’ve had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.
To think I did all that;
And may I say - not in a shy way,
No, oh no not me,
I did it my way.
For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows -
And did it my way!