tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89312613133412251922024-02-20T12:45:11.088-05:00Heather's Life in Grad School!!!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-60171319048989463392013-04-19T16:54:00.000-04:002013-04-19T16:54:02.080-04:00April 19<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>April 19, 1995</b></span><b>: 4th grade, Bombing of the OKC Federal Building</b></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>April 19, 2013</b></span><b>: 5th yr PhD student, Ongoing manhunt for terrorist responsible for Boston Marathon explosion and killing an MIT Police Officer on campus</b></div>
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What I remember from that day in the 4th grade was my teacher immediately becoming quiet and somber and making a brief announcement of the event. The silence in the room was heavy, but I didn't understand what her words meant- there's someone who did something bad? Why? Over the next days, I would experience this sadness permeating everywhere I went. </div>
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18 years have passed and it only gets harder to deal with a similar situation. It doesn't matter that the number of casualties are lower. My accumulation of knowledge does nothing to help me better understand why such events happen. The passing of time has just meant that I've seen more manifestations of the darkness that comes in this world. That's forced me to construct a framework of thinking in which it is feasible that a person could carry out a horrendous act on innocent people. </div>
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As I sit here in lock-down in my room, I'm reflecting and searching for hope. I am overwhelmed by the thought of evil infiltrating the very streets I take to the grocery store, to my office. I feel restricted, stuck. Looking outside shows me what evil results in: emptiness. In the moment, evil is terrifying. Afterwards, it leaves emptiness - just as empty as the streets now are devoid of people. </div>
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But the sun is beating down (for the first time in how many months?) and I watch two white birds flying gently back and forth across the river. I'm reminded of <i>grace</i> - the ultimate gift. God has already born the heaviness of sin and evil so that we need not be left with that emptiness. </div>
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To this day, Oklahoma residents remember and honor that horrific event in 1995. It's not merely a thing that happened in the past that we take a moment of silence for once a year. It's something that strongly shapes the attitude of humility, gratefulness, and love that people there live out.</div>
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Undoubtedly, something similar will happen here. Bostonians are tough and Cambridge is full of Type A personalities. It will take very little time for us to respond and re-define what it means to call this place home.</div>
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I'm encouraged by that- not just because we will experience a one-ness when the terror is over, but because that is a small picture of what God desires us to have with him. Through the most profound act of injustice, we are freely offered unity with God. And that is more than enough.</div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-1521613626603716322011-05-12T00:39:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:37:00.860-04:00Light FestivalCulmination of the MIT 150th Celebration was a light festival last weekend:<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/fast-light-0509.html">http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/fast-light-0509.html</a></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-92160370404226498912011-04-06T14:49:00.001-04:002011-04-06T14:51:51.919-04:00Vote for my team in the MIT Global ChallengeI'm part of a team (Practical Energy Network) that entered the MIT IDEAS/Global Challenge Competition:<br /><a href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/vote-global-challenge.html">http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/vote-global-challenge.html</a><br /><br />If we win the Community Choice Award, we get more funding. Please vote for us!! :)<br /><a href="http://globalchallenge.mit.edu/teams/view/138">http://globalchallenge.mit.edu/teams/view/138</a><br /><br /><br />Here's our webpage to give you a better idea of what we're doing:<br /><a href="http://energyidea.xvm.mit.edu/doku.php">http://energyidea.xvm.mit.edu/doku.php</a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-7596135571884856212010-12-23T15:33:00.000-05:002010-12-23T15:34:13.319-05:00Nature Editorial on Singapore<a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v468/n7325/full/468731a.html">http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v468/n7325/full/468731a.html</a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-37936220395712722772010-11-20T23:10:00.002-05:002010-11-20T23:13:01.655-05:00Prof on front page of NYTThe professor of the Physical Oceanography class I'm taking was on the front page of the New York Times.<br />Data she collected in Greenland is what we use in class to learn how to calculate transport processes :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/14/science/earth/14ice.html?_r=5">http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/14/science/earth/14ice.html?_r=5</a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-23652563836588049922010-10-10T17:54:00.001-04:002010-10-10T17:55:44.878-04:00MIT's 150th BdayI go to a school that does some exciting stuff:<br /><a href="http://spectrum.mit.edu/articles/normal/mit-innovations-a-brief-history/">http://spectrum.mit.edu/articles/normal/mit-innovations-a-brief-history/</a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-31831428068809599182010-06-14T17:11:00.001-04:002010-06-14T17:17:15.527-04:00Sad NewsProf. Bill Mitchell passed away.<br />I had no idea it was coming!<br />I was going to take one of his classes :(<br /><br /><a href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2010/obit-mitchell">http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2010/obit-mitchell</a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-92184477693774691612010-03-18T11:12:00.003-04:002010-03-18T11:14:42.186-04:00McMoon in Science<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrrUdm1yvhYK12lGs4RJr1Gw-LhcBlvB1FxgknPkwJoGAPwhWx5BeL8eZphXPcg51YzU691u65c5DngExbVgMq7dktR3PSf8viyuFg42XDp_dH2khCjE7vNgIfuhh4ueSU7NwQcKPu8k/s1600-h/327_1322_F3.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrrUdm1yvhYK12lGs4RJr1Gw-LhcBlvB1FxgknPkwJoGAPwhWx5BeL8eZphXPcg51YzU691u65c5DngExbVgMq7dktR3PSf8viyuFg42XDp_dH2khCjE7vNgIfuhh4ueSU7NwQcKPu8k/s320/327_1322_F3.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449992429579704978" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span>"McMoon" as my old intern group so lovingly calls it (I mentioned it in a post or two a while back) made it into <span style="font-style: italic;">Science</span>.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/327/5971/1322?rss=1">http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/327/5971/1322?rss=1</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsA1vaViHvLCIOhsoy3GGXYdzBCmQV5ruZRH7nDmdLCWmsH9H1AhAE9NU_4JGszHTW1hf3JMRmn7_G347mBEKZW_a-ZEK2NIAdrFxfweNMI1-te73bl-V7v-6UXs2RAoh0iKvuCT5a7Q/s1600-h/327_1322_F2.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsA1vaViHvLCIOhsoy3GGXYdzBCmQV5ruZRH7nDmdLCWmsH9H1AhAE9NU_4JGszHTW1hf3JMRmn7_G347mBEKZW_a-ZEK2NIAdrFxfweNMI1-te73bl-V7v-6UXs2RAoh0iKvuCT5a7Q/s320/327_1322_F2.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449992425567520146" border="0" /></a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-90196056467976383932010-03-15T14:11:00.001-04:002010-03-15T14:11:30.859-04:00Hunger v. Obesity<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/nyregion/14hunger.html?hpw">http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/nyregion/14hunger.html?hpw</a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-56634866254347164812010-03-09T15:41:00.001-05:002010-03-09T15:44:18.437-05:00ABE Lost at Sea<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kLTwrcrj2P8Al_p_Rz8Pb-4Ht-AtqkmvmXVlZrgf67bAHpDoRQqacZBfs_skTIzCF90GwClzHJWJ8L3SA48-rnbvUkzXCf-Ahon_50rfY3dRG_VQbJXHkvcFLoKphu1Rm5GVOGZa6h8/s1600-h/ABE_cullen_550_104728_thumbnail_104729.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kLTwrcrj2P8Al_p_Rz8Pb-4Ht-AtqkmvmXVlZrgf67bAHpDoRQqacZBfs_skTIzCF90GwClzHJWJ8L3SA48-rnbvUkzXCf-Ahon_50rfY3dRG_VQbJXHkvcFLoKphu1Rm5GVOGZa6h8/s320/ABE_cullen_550_104728_thumbnail_104729.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446737695240508834" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Aaaah! So sad!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.whoi.edu/page.do?pid=7545&tid=282&cid=70487&ct=162">http://www.whoi.edu/page.do?pid=7545&tid=282&cid=70487&ct=162</a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-8486347599727552982010-02-24T23:26:00.001-05:002010-02-24T23:27:46.183-05:00Flour Bakery Opening<a href="http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/dishing/2010/02/flour_3.html#comments">http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/dishing/2010/02/flour_3.html#comments</a><br /><br />Woohoo! Flour Bakery opening close to campus this summer!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-59706468703238216872009-10-08T19:32:00.000-04:002009-10-08T19:33:47.851-04:00Some good acoustic performances<a href="http://www.fromthebasement.tv">www.fromthebasement.tv</a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-90408608934253105932009-09-25T12:46:00.001-04:002009-09-25T12:46:40.074-04:00Germans and their Bratwursthttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/24/world/europe/24bratwurst.html?8ur&emc=urHeatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-60748658932322604312009-09-15T23:25:00.003-04:002009-09-15T23:54:03.374-04:00Photos from 93,000 feet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichEhcoN9pvrsDjjGN0NUne7uaHgOWZj55BOHeuPEUbDcnP8S6-5QEscKye_3kU0z0x_EMtyhJqJsDiUnPYM4YRh4ORDUGUWAEzoDtjm97RXBi_2BQv699XZk9SXUQKfXbLgbCwqc3R5M/s1600-h/thumb-660x495.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichEhcoN9pvrsDjjGN0NUne7uaHgOWZj55BOHeuPEUbDcnP8S6-5QEscKye_3kU0z0x_EMtyhJqJsDiUnPYM4YRh4ORDUGUWAEzoDtjm97RXBi_2BQv699XZk9SXUQKfXbLgbCwqc3R5M/s320/thumb-660x495.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381908553641559618" border="0" /></a><br />My mentee is famous! :)<br /><br />The first year MechE who was assigned to me as my mentee this year told me about his cool weather ballon/camera side project a few weeks ago (right before their latest launch). And I just now found out that this project has been making it into quite a few online sites.<br /><br />Ahh these MIT kids impress me. Just wait til you hear about the OTHER side projects they're working on.<br /><br />Basically, they've carried out a launch on the very low budget of $150, took some amazing pics, and hope to spread this launch know-how to younger students to inspire interest in science.<br /><br />The weather balloon launch reminds me of the Mars Plane project I worked on in undergrad :) so this was all really exciting for me!<br /><br /><br /><br />http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/09/the-150-space-camera-mit-students-beat-nasa-on-beer-money-budget<br /><br />http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-328198<br /><br />Their website:<br />http://space.1337arts.com/Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-65825178245180806812009-09-08T19:55:00.000-04:002009-09-08T19:56:07.402-04:00Human Space Flight Committeehttp://www.nasa.gov/offices/hsf/related_documents/summary_report.htmlHeatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-39591807592325518422009-08-25T23:32:00.002-04:002009-08-25T23:38:20.681-04:00Long time no updateLots to update on. Not enough time :(<br /><br />Suffice it to say: summer is awesome. I've been soaking up the sun, eating a lot, doing a lot, spending a lot of money, spending a lot of hours in lab building stuff, and enjoying everything!<br /><br />I'm now going to hide in a hole for the next semester and hunker down to study for the qualifying exams...Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-64425894972359201792009-06-01T00:04:00.004-04:002009-06-01T22:58:17.641-04:00JP Winter RetreatWe, the outdoorsy :) Joint Program students organized a retreat to New Hampshire in February. We rented a huge house and ~50 of us stayed there over a long weekend. Activities like this are the reason that winters in New England can still be fun!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20vcDTMMdOGIiPFlFyU-YOoSV24O_yCNwbuZrBG1M2RTcfayU5_8FzaWvEH_7ZN-rB-DYyzShZJWs2_UdsIcf7Vsbv1acc_kQ4-JFlAbrmmUAbfqcqvQTKbeU-ZC2L1YYoa0jUBXuJJ4/s1600-h/n568814139_1226256_3120.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20vcDTMMdOGIiPFlFyU-YOoSV24O_yCNwbuZrBG1M2RTcfayU5_8FzaWvEH_7ZN-rB-DYyzShZJWs2_UdsIcf7Vsbv1acc_kQ4-JFlAbrmmUAbfqcqvQTKbeU-ZC2L1YYoa0jUBXuJJ4/s320/n568814139_1226256_3120.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342553284601249266" border="0" /></a>We split up into different groups on Saturday, and I joined the group that went skiing at Attitash. It was sooooo icy that day. I guess by this time of year, very little fresh powder can be found. Yay east coast......<br />The conditions were so different that it was as if you had to use different techniques to work your way down the slopes.<br />I was surprised that only one other person out of this group would go up to the top of any of the mountains with me (I don't understand how some of them already shelled out lots of money for their own gear if they aren't brave enough to go on blues.....) Thankfully for Allison, I got to go on some of the tougher trails with a buddy. And....she convinced me to go on a double black. This one went much more smoothly than the double black at Tahoe. That's just because the NE mountains are smaller and therefore easier though.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsBzbJYOIkWvmabObTl__uErr3qDV-HVN5Elad0vP4feIOxjxX6yiFQQZNCCvVRxb3sjC2lKORvQVccskR3mNYFUuQCwrW-u0JR-PPQngrYS_IDHYPzz45MsBQWvqYTB7vRk6k9pGW-I/s1600-h/IMG_3965.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsBzbJYOIkWvmabObTl__uErr3qDV-HVN5Elad0vP4feIOxjxX6yiFQQZNCCvVRxb3sjC2lKORvQVccskR3mNYFUuQCwrW-u0JR-PPQngrYS_IDHYPzz45MsBQWvqYTB7vRk6k9pGW-I/s320/IMG_3965.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342555476531168530" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmmtkS1q2epQYV5tyeYhZZn3laY_sxCdDp_Ia09AveIu6MaGoxwO4UdHfeCsrQDeJhq3TSc2femIO2CDYZF1X4SUycYx2cZJys9LmEr40oqquLJgWW2H53CkpCX10Yd-po99ZrWPUx1I/s1600-h/IMG_3964.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmmtkS1q2epQYV5tyeYhZZn3laY_sxCdDp_Ia09AveIu6MaGoxwO4UdHfeCsrQDeJhq3TSc2femIO2CDYZF1X4SUycYx2cZJys9LmEr40oqquLJgWW2H53CkpCX10Yd-po99ZrWPUx1I/s320/IMG_3964.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342555472271743906" border="0" /></a><br />Check out the huge ice patch!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj540ksKZjYeseDHODAF5yEaihd4SDjXj36VDPEtU8Qp_b7h5_rjCpJJMeZEzaanAz_T2TqyDnK4GrH85zUb3quWdspUiAXAxr3Vb47TDJd7rJc_MmYAFGPRU4xTTm_CVyWZRvjI5V6mnU/s1600-h/IMG_3963.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj540ksKZjYeseDHODAF5yEaihd4SDjXj36VDPEtU8Qp_b7h5_rjCpJJMeZEzaanAz_T2TqyDnK4GrH85zUb3quWdspUiAXAxr3Vb47TDJd7rJc_MmYAFGPRU4xTTm_CVyWZRvjI5V6mnU/s320/IMG_3963.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342555463552754162" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69VYzAb8Vyd7tGvclg4JsT80GkXHy9vZc1a810KEWaLgTbCO0q6y-o8GjCQ-KjorTGkZW9Y-Uzei6mAEaWQefGv0qdImEaZKmGWx9glLmXCzCOCa-e0V_JkRGIhRF-5WxezBVCfoPK8E/s1600-h/IMG_3961.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69VYzAb8Vyd7tGvclg4JsT80GkXHy9vZc1a810KEWaLgTbCO0q6y-o8GjCQ-KjorTGkZW9Y-Uzei6mAEaWQefGv0qdImEaZKmGWx9glLmXCzCOCa-e0V_JkRGIhRF-5WxezBVCfoPK8E/s320/IMG_3961.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342555460145752626" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjTG_VZG8EgU1hOlqALIUOEwdpgGW1y4czftBvynyN2WiLGyK2zZ3pa6RaIUlzJrd-I7RaYFtv4jyweihcqEcieIvPfT-_WmNDawxQyKz4ggFC2aCRxazVd2wpdRKNzpVhbRHKdoyoNM/s1600-h/Attitash.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjTG_VZG8EgU1hOlqALIUOEwdpgGW1y4czftBvynyN2WiLGyK2zZ3pa6RaIUlzJrd-I7RaYFtv4jyweihcqEcieIvPfT-_WmNDawxQyKz4ggFC2aCRxazVd2wpdRKNzpVhbRHKdoyoNM/s320/Attitash.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342557895645013138" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br />On Sunday, a group of us tried to find a hill to go sledding on. We ended up driving to someone's property that included an old ski lift (this was the plan proposed when guys were put in charge). We asked the owner for permission to go down it, but he said no. So, we found a small hill to hike up (still hard to do in the snow without snowshoes, especially when going at a fast pace set by a super tall guy).<br /><br />At the top:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JLqLFQRGpnDXQkeSh0PiMqGGC8SUv9JuNKlUPVuqBDQVUFTWeGGLWqqK3oQV0fpIwYGu7Gs0Htp-_83oUCAU_A8xlQSS9bcoqjs0i3mdLEM9cG9svGAHfUHNooCo36ujZdAL6VDJ9i0/s1600-h/IMG_3966.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JLqLFQRGpnDXQkeSh0PiMqGGC8SUv9JuNKlUPVuqBDQVUFTWeGGLWqqK3oQV0fpIwYGu7Gs0Htp-_83oUCAU_A8xlQSS9bcoqjs0i3mdLEM9cG9svGAHfUHNooCo36ujZdAL6VDJ9i0/s320/IMG_3966.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342555484264351186" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Some of us tried to sled down this hill anyways, even though there were trees EVERYWHERE. Certain people were less successful than others.....<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtkxtO1-o0T7xwLvk1hDxOrKGFwK27LTFLn0mv92C1x7eQhkAU8nR0qnjrJr93Co0JtSickH-5EskeN7Cku1GQeiKdjdTc6oq1MNXxu3VxKrqrAEJ6FeKtngV6oQqobX9wHJaEKe_rwM/s1600-h/IMG_3967.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtkxtO1-o0T7xwLvk1hDxOrKGFwK27LTFLn0mv92C1x7eQhkAU8nR0qnjrJr93Co0JtSickH-5EskeN7Cku1GQeiKdjdTc6oq1MNXxu3VxKrqrAEJ6FeKtngV6oQqobX9wHJaEKe_rwM/s320/IMG_3967.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342557901794646098" border="0" /></a> <br /><div style="text-align: left;">Lunch afterwards:<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijX-wK-GvaZkCdr0-bRv4wdd4Bh95DZzZGea8KYpV3qbvFqmlQNn3Hzn6HJGUNHXIONmBKq1SaiOzVNVKBHLikPEP838Pi0b8qtbHtGaJgLuiXgw14nnmUIYPXaR7pxUrXtuOqHHVgnWY/s1600-h/IMG_3970.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijX-wK-GvaZkCdr0-bRv4wdd4Bh95DZzZGea8KYpV3qbvFqmlQNn3Hzn6HJGUNHXIONmBKq1SaiOzVNVKBHLikPEP838Pi0b8qtbHtGaJgLuiXgw14nnmUIYPXaR7pxUrXtuOqHHVgnWY/s320/IMG_3970.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342557908929027698" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-72217430331391639042009-05-31T23:38:00.004-04:002009-06-01T00:03:33.437-04:00Boston Symphony OrchestraNow that classes are done for the semester, it's time to catch up on posting pictures from this semester.....<br /><br /><br />Went to hear the Boston Symphony Orchestra perform for the first time in February.<br />They played a couple Mozart arias, a premiere of a modern piece by Schuller, and Brahm's Symphony No. 2 :)<br /><br />I didn't realize that MIT completely payed for student tickets, so I spent $25 on the College Card like other college students have to. When I went to pick up my tickets, I realized the mistake I'd made. The guy felt sorry for me (maybe just because he thought i was dumb) and gave our group seats REALLY close to the front and in the middle. They were fantastic! I was actually close enough to see detailed finger movement on the strings.<br /><br />Having seen a few other cities' professional orchestras play, I really enjoyed the atmosphere at the BSO. Holding true to the "college town" setting of this city, many in the audience were young and informally dressed. I found this much more enjoyable than the super-dressy, stuffy, old/rich person atmosphere that other places have.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On our way to getting tickets, Jaime (my Spaniard friend) and I decided to check out a few other things in the area. First was the Church of Christian Science's huge building, which we went inside and got an on-the-spot tour of.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOBBU0sxOYoHeMzelzmRxW35_vj6SZuNyj7QZKRrwKLtdV1km0CW4bfsN8J-uZXQGBcDbdqmr8-vV1JR8dFSNrpDlKj4THusf7BlEOcFvxBFZ8LhJHHUBjbzeeKga_wDPgrjNEenS52M/s1600-h/IMG_3952.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOBBU0sxOYoHeMzelzmRxW35_vj6SZuNyj7QZKRrwKLtdV1km0CW4bfsN8J-uZXQGBcDbdqmr8-vV1JR8dFSNrpDlKj4THusf7BlEOcFvxBFZ8LhJHHUBjbzeeKga_wDPgrjNEenS52M/s320/IMG_3952.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342201907930967570" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8pIfhLIzTtp2rSgwq8U6MPT-LUaY6-oRL2w6RTzlV-9odyyFHWcamhRVmNR0leHTml5l94VUJ2yKMnN-JINZtvv4Ukb3usVFDWl0j5tJCCo0ZTaWCjJVFA-mFWMjgP13ofwUCNQmjng/s1600-h/IMG_3948.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8pIfhLIzTtp2rSgwq8U6MPT-LUaY6-oRL2w6RTzlV-9odyyFHWcamhRVmNR0leHTml5l94VUJ2yKMnN-JINZtvv4Ukb3usVFDWl0j5tJCCo0ZTaWCjJVFA-mFWMjgP13ofwUCNQmjng/s320/IMG_3948.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342203950415792834" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuKGq3-6X6ctn5rRWqpJFC7tDVfpxdU2m2OVQiWz3DjnSRpWB5LpR_McNXxEtAuB9sSl1eAebznKEs30LQdBpfcNdNygDBsM9mIwpRysmjzrQPvj7DOW8jLgdY2kevEhqCvGOIkh6nv4/s1600-h/IMG_3947.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuKGq3-6X6ctn5rRWqpJFC7tDVfpxdU2m2OVQiWz3DjnSRpWB5LpR_McNXxEtAuB9sSl1eAebznKEs30LQdBpfcNdNygDBsM9mIwpRysmjzrQPvj7DOW8jLgdY2kevEhqCvGOIkh6nv4/s320/IMG_3947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342203946251228322" border="0" /></a><br />Then we went to a music store and I took a goofy picture with the huge Elvis head<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuKGq3-6X6ctn5rRWqpJFC7tDVfpxdU2m2OVQiWz3DjnSRpWB5LpR_McNXxEtAuB9sSl1eAebznKEs30LQdBpfcNdNygDBsM9mIwpRysmjzrQPvj7DOW8jLgdY2kevEhqCvGOIkh6nv4/s1600-h/IMG_3947.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-UFsfNBssSxbqEG5aswwZWLEm1L8FJkhXwGTmgIAZ0bwh0g1zeiI9EfrDPdnszElIfrHGlAVOnVcSPHkYfLtNel8mlpI3NViI-RzQm6-Ua_OATq_87_eks-n4iDhzbaMdV0Li6M6JjQ/s1600-h/IMG_3954.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-UFsfNBssSxbqEG5aswwZWLEm1L8FJkhXwGTmgIAZ0bwh0g1zeiI9EfrDPdnszElIfrHGlAVOnVcSPHkYfLtNel8mlpI3NViI-RzQm6-Ua_OATq_87_eks-n4iDhzbaMdV0Li6M6JjQ/s320/IMG_3954.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342203961911847346" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>Pretty views from the Harvard Bridge<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSG8l5srIj0uDjABkvv5_uYZTBfTrLiYrZkZbo2tn3LnfA3bEndVmoGMuJ_KphGkTmGrGrGnv0Q9FRiYjQWAgE8vhS5igliK7gsX2JZXZUyRZttdG1llNbxIkJwqMasF4ycCGB-cF1tOw/s1600-h/IMG_3955.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSG8l5srIj0uDjABkvv5_uYZTBfTrLiYrZkZbo2tn3LnfA3bEndVmoGMuJ_KphGkTmGrGrGnv0Q9FRiYjQWAgE8vhS5igliK7gsX2JZXZUyRZttdG1llNbxIkJwqMasF4ycCGB-cF1tOw/s320/IMG_3955.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342203969411443778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7pzqJvu1GvooTi8fkS9X0PF8xBhRlo5DTBGkPTfq6DJ8Jy3UY3sMl8lD65rAR_MDom8adjWkgfD5hV_8npuF5U3XtAVvPeprVmHRXR-AZBfudZ2wTR-QyuXrjG06nPcqaliLVPiPuQM/s1600-h/IMG_3956.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7pzqJvu1GvooTi8fkS9X0PF8xBhRlo5DTBGkPTfq6DJ8Jy3UY3sMl8lD65rAR_MDom8adjWkgfD5hV_8npuF5U3XtAVvPeprVmHRXR-AZBfudZ2wTR-QyuXrjG06nPcqaliLVPiPuQM/s320/IMG_3956.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342203972218399154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7pzqJvu1GvooTi8fkS9X0PF8xBhRlo5DTBGkPTfq6DJ8Jy3UY3sMl8lD65rAR_MDom8adjWkgfD5hV_8npuF5U3XtAVvPeprVmHRXR-AZBfudZ2wTR-QyuXrjG06nPcqaliLVPiPuQM/s1600-h/IMG_3956.JPG"><br /></a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-78078778273927631852009-05-18T14:15:00.004-04:002009-05-18T14:23:50.000-04:00More on Carbon Fiber!Ok this is really dangerous.<br />I now know the major steps taken to make a carbon fiber string instrument....<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/J_gI3chGtww&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/J_gI3chGtww&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/X-A7K4TPT2k&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/X-A7K4TPT2k&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />I have a ridiculous amount of experience in laying-up composite materials from my senior design project (in fact, if there's one skill I feel the best at having completed DBF, its that I can lay up stuff all day long). Now that I know they literally just lay-up layers of carbon fiber to make the instruments, I really want to try and make one myself!<br />All I need is the extra components you add on at the end (fingerboard, bridge, sound post, etc), and a few trials of making a full system that meets my desired sound, and I'm good to go!<br />This would cost at least an order of magnitude less than what they're being sold for.<br /><br />This was very dangerous information for me to get a hold of....Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-47858876979158637582009-05-18T13:12:00.003-04:002009-05-18T13:38:51.766-04:00Lunchtime Concert SeriesThe Whitehead Institute (biomedical research center right next to my lab) puts on a free concert about once a month for an hour during lunch.<br /><br />It's a fantastically refreshing thing to attend in the middle of the day. The artists that come are quite high class too (seems like they all either went to Juilliard, played in the Boston Symphony, or did both). The arts are so alive in Boston!<br /><br />The first one I went to had the following program:<br /><br />Performers: Christina Wright, piano, and Sharon Cohen, violin.<br />Pieces: Brahms' Sonata for Piano and Violin, Op. 47, "Kreutzer"; Janacek's Piano Sonata "From the Street"; J.S. Bach's Partita for Solo Violin in d minor; Franck's Sonata for Piano and Violin in A Major<br /><br />The one today was outstanding:<br />Performers: Carmen Rodriguez-Peralta, piano, and Luis Leguia, cello.<br />Pieces:<br />Rayner Taylor's Solo for Cello and Piano;<br />Luis Leguia's Memories;<br />Heitor Villa-Lobos' O Canto Do Cysne Negro (Song of the Black Swan);<br />Brahms' Sonata No. 1 E Min, Op. 38;<br />Alberto Ginastera's Pampeana No. 2 Rapsodia para Violincello y Piano<br /><br />All of these were great! I find myself often thinking that the cello gets my pick for the most beautiful instrument.<br />The last piece was my favorite: diverse in sound and style throughout. It unabashedly explored the FULL extent of the fingerboard, and it had really beautiful harmonic chords. I've got to convince Jennifer to learn this one!!!<br /><br />So, this cellist also makes instruments. Apparently, he desired a more "beautiful and penetrating cello"than those he had played for a long time, so he eventually ended up building CARBON FIBER CELLOS. You can read more about them at <a href="http://www.luisandclark.com/">www.luisandclark.com</a><br />It's quite apparent that the one he played with gave a fuller, bolder, more resounding sound than a traditional wooden one. It is quite a distinct sound to hear, but one that I certainly was impressed with.<br />The instruments look realllly sleek too! All black and shiny like a sweet airplane part :)<br />(I wonder why he doesn't play with a carbon fiber bow though, since those are quite common....)<br /><br />I'm in the middle of selecting a new violin for purchase and now I really want to try and play one of their carbon fiber violins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xrAbfNVRunKiBK_PvYvTLiKSCf1-nX9eruh-uSMapCEAU_JTJwwxYaP_8iKrXGUrHKpeW9BcAT5lN_OSk2pryCvCbl1bV7Vb1NGDeHqHq1AmJN5oASCRkty41cHiRhqGQPwegk5PlEM/s1600-h/YoYo-Ma.81106.41.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xrAbfNVRunKiBK_PvYvTLiKSCf1-nX9eruh-uSMapCEAU_JTJwwxYaP_8iKrXGUrHKpeW9BcAT5lN_OSk2pryCvCbl1bV7Vb1NGDeHqHq1AmJN5oASCRkty41cHiRhqGQPwegk5PlEM/s320/YoYo-Ma.81106.41.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337219569176483282" border="0" /></a>(I didn't actually get to see Yo-Yo Ma playing a carbon fiber cello. But I can dream....)Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-1370316251230392532009-04-30T20:17:00.004-04:002009-04-30T20:36:23.142-04:00NY Times Reports on Ultimate Frisbee<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8nlmYRsuL0xsrriHRdmeOclwC_vUBgdVdWPPK_bz3sERe4mksTqvkuBoHyAd45N-lnKWJTM4XeZ7fhHMsujBbE90YP-VJd4hs5ceqVoJ6i_O8g5YmaxPaZUxIdPfqhciBUNlabUgQj8/s1600-h/30fitness.2-190.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8nlmYRsuL0xsrriHRdmeOclwC_vUBgdVdWPPK_bz3sERe4mksTqvkuBoHyAd45N-lnKWJTM4XeZ7fhHMsujBbE90YP-VJd4hs5ceqVoJ6i_O8g5YmaxPaZUxIdPfqhciBUNlabUgQj8/s320/30fitness.2-190.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330646798805041122" border="0" /></a><br />Women's Ultimate is undoubtedly getting exponentially more recognition, as proven by the NY Times' interest in reporting on the sport.<br /><br />Indeed, it is true that this sport beautifully combines gracefulness, agility, endurance, and speed- qualities that draw top-notch players, making the sport a much more intensely athletic activity than most envision.<br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/30/fashion/30fitness.html?_r=1">http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/30/fashion/30fitness.html?_r=1</a><br /><br /><img src="file:///var/tmp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///var/tmp/moz-screenshot-2.jpg" alt="" /><br />In response to some of the concern that ultimate has become "too competitive" in relation to what started out as a very laid-back, informal activity, I'd like to point out that Frisbee can be played in a variety of settings and manners- that's one of the great aspects of the sport.<br />The highly competitive level of play, however, does not at all degrade from the original mentality that the sport was created on. Refer to the UPA's description of the "Spirit of the Game" to see that the sport is solidly founded on the notion that players are required to play with positive spirit. The fact that no referees are involved in the games ensures that teams are fair and honest, treating each other as they wish to be treated.<br /><a href="http://upa.org/spirit">http://upa.org/spirit</a><br /><br />One of the best parts about Frisbee is that the level of intensity of the game can raise to an adrenaline-racing level, where you're running through your last breath, laying out and hitting the ground hard to grab that almost-out-of-reach pass, and soaring through the air to snatch a disc high above your defender, and do all of that without ever physically bullying your defender (which is the case in many other sports: basketball, soccer etc. where games quickly turn into a "bullying" contest instead of an athelticism, teamwork and skill competition)<br /><br />:) :) :) *sigh* Frisbee!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-11909096460234205482009-04-27T17:09:00.003-04:002009-04-27T17:13:48.661-04:00Number One!MIT:<br /><a href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2009/usnews-grad-0423.html">http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2009/usnews-grad-0423.html</a><br /><br />OSU:<br /><a href="http://osu.okstate.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1461&Itemid=1">http://osu.okstate.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1461&Itemid=1</a><br /><br />Our team's airplane last year was much cooler (and more innovative!) of course, but I'm still proud to see OSU dominating the DBF competition :)<br /><img src="file:///var/tmp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitne5AH4ggyP8I45eifGgJGvrjMr9JGvthDW366RkbtZIR2HeLeApeqtat81c_4YqoTEM0PhJ-WVHYADEYtiNXzxToHSIknLkTzFYe8tFWBoBAzJoQAko53xnSi99g5GmO6aAmY0r08Uc/s1600-h/dbf_blackteam09a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitne5AH4ggyP8I45eifGgJGvrjMr9JGvthDW366RkbtZIR2HeLeApeqtat81c_4YqoTEM0PhJ-WVHYADEYtiNXzxToHSIknLkTzFYe8tFWBoBAzJoQAko53xnSi99g5GmO6aAmY0r08Uc/s320/dbf_blackteam09a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329482202956399314" border="0" /></a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-58746388122315734372009-04-23T21:27:00.003-04:002009-04-23T21:29:24.595-04:00Get your genome sequencedIf you have $68,000, you can put in an eBay bid to get your genome sequenced.<br /><br />XPrize at work again!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/23/genome.ebay/">http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/23/genome.ebay/</a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-28604628179933057262009-04-21T18:20:00.005-04:002009-04-21T18:41:43.256-04:00Out with the old, in with the newEverybody knows that I'm a cheap-o, but recently I've been forced to make a couple new purchases.<br /><br />The backpack I was using for a long time started falling apart. If you can't tell from the picture, one of the straps was hanging on by only a few strands.<br />It lasted through hiking the Alps and up Half Dome in Yosemite, so I guess a new backpack was deserved.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rEjcJiPVFhg45AmtoCJr3sgLzn1MRHmJsUrBq-sPZMVYkj5pwwyKlNvC743UYUIG4XnfgSQa1fFxNY8_BcZF0yB6ShbqOyChrfWODybx8aR_lPoqsb9dZX9R71rDUKbuwwiCE-9Rg6Y/s1600-h/IMG_4244.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rEjcJiPVFhg45AmtoCJr3sgLzn1MRHmJsUrBq-sPZMVYkj5pwwyKlNvC743UYUIG4XnfgSQa1fFxNY8_BcZF0yB6ShbqOyChrfWODybx8aR_lPoqsb9dZX9R71rDUKbuwwiCE-9Rg6Y/s320/IMG_4244.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327274102818325634" border="0" /></a>In its place, I got a Patagonia Half Mass Messenger Bag (got a sweet deal on it), which is moving me one step closer to completing my transformation into a true urbanite (HA!). It's made out of recycled material, came with a laptop insert and water bottle holder unlike the Timbuk2 bags that everyone else buys.<br /><img src="file:///C:/Users/Heather/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1PkNKwVN6J6c8x-CZiFP1KJfxII6AA1k-B1AE8WLct27bLvvEKuMsbtSWzRaOpYIHVml3RvqfuRE_bNLW3KEagssGIQW4pQ0fCG_zhJuIS-Fl6zZGrmEpKmCvND10uXkrLpuviXT_C8/s1600-h/3537.39212_d.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1PkNKwVN6J6c8x-CZiFP1KJfxII6AA1k-B1AE8WLct27bLvvEKuMsbtSWzRaOpYIHVml3RvqfuRE_bNLW3KEagssGIQW4pQ0fCG_zhJuIS-Fl6zZGrmEpKmCvND10uXkrLpuviXT_C8/s320/3537.39212_d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327275112251769794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The other major purchase was a new laptop!!! After several difficulties with the Acer I got 3 years ago (which I was holding onto dearly, since it was my main form of payment from my internship in Taiwan that I worked so hard on), it crashed for the second time and I decided it would be more beneficial in all aspects to just buy a new system.<br />I bought basically the cheapest thing I could find that wasn't a mini.<br />Dell Inspiron 1300<br />13.3" screen<br />4.9 lbs<br />160 GB hard drive<br />Processor: Celeron 560, 2.13 GHz<br />Need to buy more memory for it<br /><br />Nothing fancy, but should hopefully prove to be cheap and reliable. It's also thinner and sleeker than most Dells, so that's nice.<br /><br /><img src="file:///C:/Users/Heather/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-3.jpg" alt="" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULv94z5pljMsRtAxXp8wq6rEDbgRJXNDqy8BD6Eu9jxT4JHlUkbNacllkak6NjveZ1z93iQzaw8dXNr3_DfEpMOwdQ-bI-t4Qvtp1vSGH9VAeYZCcAjtd4WSSnBLOj3FwNTrorra-E-Y/s1600-h/295.htm"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULv94z5pljMsRtAxXp8wq6rEDbgRJXNDqy8BD6Eu9jxT4JHlUkbNacllkak6NjveZ1z93iQzaw8dXNr3_DfEpMOwdQ-bI-t4Qvtp1vSGH9VAeYZCcAjtd4WSSnBLOj3FwNTrorra-E-Y/s320/295.htm" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327276461083104642" border="0" /></a><br /><img src="file:///C:/Users/Heather/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/Users/Heather/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.jpg" alt="" />Next up: Buy a new bike. Mine has been stolen, despite the fact that it was locked to a rack with a heavy duty U-Lock.....<br /><br />Buy a new violin. More details on that to come!<br /><br />My cheap-o ways are being forced out of me at the moment..............Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931261313341225192.post-34369489143395443362009-04-18T21:31:00.003-04:002009-04-18T21:35:09.683-04:00Volcano BoardingNew sport!<br /><br /><img style="width: 461px; height: 302px;" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/04/19/travel/19heads600.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><br /><br /><img style="width: 459px; height: 400px;" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/images/photo/2009/04/16/0419-nicaragua/27510765.JPG" border="0" hspace="0" /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/travel/19headsup.html?th&emc=th">http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/travel/19headsup.html?th&emc=th</a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00227098970582675257noreply@blogger.com0