The Hope diamond might be worth anywhere from $200,000 to $250,000,000, but if you can't do anything with it, is it of value ( Read more... )

Another fall, another semester started--I think I'm going to love my Integrated Sensors class. Hassibi has a great perspective on what students should leave the class knowing. Today in class, he mentioned that we shouldn't memorize certain derivations of ideal quantization noise since it wouldn't really matter in the end. Awesome! Now I have to ( Read more... )

I'm now the proud owner of a Nikon D40x with kit lens and 55-200mm lens as well! Got the package for $450 off CL, although I do have to admit that I'm really sad that the 55-200mm lens isn't VR-equipped. I mean, who wants a non-VR lens these days? And how do you get a 55-200mm VR or 70-300mm VR lens without paying a fortune ( Read more... )

I'm not drooling over the movie...but I recommend that you see it once. The theater does enhance the experience, but I doubt you'll be regretting not seeing it in theaters later if you see it on Blu-ray or DVD. Be sure to use the restroom before you watch this movie--it's a long one ( Read more... )

Well, okay--I'm not that deterministic.  Time isn't a puppetmaster, but it's strange and sometimes sad how people cut ties with each other.  Those with whom you had thought you could be friends with for life suddenly disappear and move on--or even worse, disavow connection with you for reasons unknown.  Others decide that they're too good for you ( Read more... )

Weddings are just one of those things.  Since this weekend is Memorial Day, it seems a lot of people are having their wedding on Monday.  Two friends of mine each have performance gigs with different weddings...and I'm no different--one wedding performance coming up!  It's going to be good--I love the music, and I know the couple and the guitarist ( Read more... )

i've been in lab for far too long--excepting sleep/food trips to hampton, i've been here since sunday night, and it's now tuesday morning. well, i did pull an hour at the CHOP yesterday at 3AM...and that was refreshing ( Read more... )

Within the last five days (as of April 18th), my circle of high school friends has lost two parents. It's the first time consciously experiencing death this personal, more due to luck than anything else. I don't remember losing the attachment of grandparents passing quite as well since it happened so long ago--time waits for no one, and for ( Read more... )

From The price of gold, published Aug. 4, 2004.China's Olympic prowess, though, is hardly a reflection of a nationwide passion for sweaty competition. Unlike Americans or Australians, the vast majority of Chinese are not sporty people who tote racquets or join gyms. China's international athletic success is about nationalism; it is the physical ( Read more... )

I'm so happy I could kiss a horse. Stanford men's basketball beat Marquette to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time...since I've been there anyway. Coach Trent Johnson was ejected in the first quarter on really stupid premises, or so national opinion goes, and the team righted ship at halftime to force overtime and win on a last second ( Read more... )