The Aliens - Robot Man

Best song ever. Good album as well. Sounds a lot like The Beatles. I don't think I'll bother posting the lyrics to this one.

ZOMG. SOLID STATE QUANTUM PROCESSING.

ZOMG. SOLID STATE QUANTUM PROCESSING.

- * -

I haven't had a chance to read this yet, but I'll try to edit this blog post when I do.

The nerd-o-meter

I by no means condone this so-called nerd-o-meter but I will give you my score if you are interested.

Part one: knowledge and skills [computers] : 28pts

Part two: knowledge and skills [science]: 24 pts

Part two: knowledge and skills [math(s)]: 18 pts

Part three: lifestyle: 23 pts

Part four: nerd humour: 11 pts

Part five: others
Linguists: 9 pts (fail)
Philosophers: 8 pts (also fail)
Politics:6 pts (fail again)

GRAND TOTAL: 127 pts => 110 - level 5: Hardcore nerd. No time for a social life

Hot Minneapolis is Hot

I'm sitting here at my desk, drinking horrible soldier-themed coffee and eating generic Ritz crackers (they're not very Ritzy then are they) to stay awake. My work is an air conditioned, albeit plastic smelling paradise. It sometimes gets cold enough for me to wear a sweater. This is generally between cups of coffee, so we won't count it. In any case, I keep a sweater here for those occasions where I'm not drinking coffee.

I want to add a little bit of the air conditioned-ness and maybe some plastic smell to my house. Granted, I don't spend much time there these days. Between work (gone 7am to 4:30pm every week day) and spending time with Moose (<3<3<3<3<3), I generally only spend 2-3 hours a day at my house. My sister apparently feels like I no longer live there. HOWEVER, when I am at home, I am way too warm. I worry about my kitties overheating. I'd worry about Oscar as well, but he's not around right now (he's been in Duluth due to missing Henry and the 'rents). I'm not entirely sure how bunnies cope with heat, but being on the ground floor on the floor probably means Pepper is alright.

I want to buy a big-ass air conditioner. *peers off on the horizon, squinting, making sweeping gestures with her hands* It needs to be a big-un. Ten thousand... maybe twelve thousand BTU... whatever that stands for. I don't care enough to look it up even for this blog entry... Capable of somewhat cooling a small, three bedroom house... Allowing me to move my air conditioner into my bedroom so that I no longer have to sleep in inappropriate "clothing" if a manfriend or normal friend is staying over... It would be so sweet... I could make the house smell like plastic by attaching tiiinny little strands of duct tape on the fan output... they could waft in the delightful airy coolness of the hunk of metal and plastic designed to cool air... ahhh. *closes her eyes and sighs*

Hopefully I can get one. Every time I want to go look at a used one from Craigslist, it ends up selling before I can even look at it. I might be stuck dropping $300 on a new one. But damnit, it might be worth it at this point. 100 degree is unacceptable weather, Minneapolis. Damnit. Minneapolis, you should buy me an air conditioner if you're going to act like that. Watch out for my pimp hand.

Summer

Yesterday was the first day of summer.

Right now in Minneapolis, it is 91 degrees fahrenheit with a 10mph wind and a humidity of 54%. "Feels like 96 degrees fahrenheit."

Right now in Duluth, it is 61 degrees fahrenheit with a 6mph wind and a humidity of 94%. "Feels like 61 degrees fahrenheit."

Oh Duluth, I adore thee.

100,000 miles

Sometime today or tomorrow, my car will reach a major milestone.

100,000 miles.

It's been a little over two years since I purchased my car. I remember going to the memorial day car fair at the DECC in Duluth. I was in love with Volvos because of my good old 89 Volvo I affectionately named "Friddy." There happened to be a Volvo at this car fair. A beautiful black 1998 S70 with a turbo engine and a spoiler. I took it for a test drive and couldn't help feeling like I was driving a more responsive version of my semi-decrepit Friddy.

I told my dad about it. The first thing he asked was "Does it have a good stereo?" Which is, of course, the most important thing to consider when buying a car.

After having my dad's friend THE ENGINEER look at the car, he decided, through smacking lips, that I would have troubles with this car because of its age. I would be better off spending an additional four grand and get a brand new economy car.

My dad, of course, listens to THE ENGINEER and not to the reputation of Volvos, and of course our history with Friddy. (On another note THE ENGINEER purchased Friddy in a time of dire straits and drives her to this day... sans brakes)

Eventually, my dad decided I *should* have the speedy black Volvo with the eight speaker factory stereo system. He'd pay a down payment and six months of insurance. I would be responsible for the remaining $6000 and insurance, a bill of approximately $300 a month for the next five years.

I was excited. I had a car. I immediately had repairs and issues, but have been fairly lucky for the last two years. One of the original intents for my car (which still does not have a name) was a trip to the Boston area for Lemonic Demonade. This did not happen due to concerns about my transmission (this turned out to be a faulty oxygen sensor).

I've been nowhere exciting in my car. Unless you count the nearly bi-weekly trips to visit my parents, or trips to and from LAN parties, friends houses, and exotic restaurants. Right now it has been used to travel to and from my job. A 50+ round trip drive every day. It has quickly put the miles on my car.

When I purchased my car (please help me name it), it had approximately 75,000 miles. In two years I've put 25,000 miles on it. I hope to have it for a while longer, maybe for much longer. It doesn't get the best gas mileage or work entirely correctly, but it is dependable and damned sexy. Perhaps I'll keep it until I pay it off. Mayhaps by then Friddy will have failed THE ENGINEER and he will be looking for a new purchase.

Animal Collective - My Girls

My sister started singing this song one day when we were standing in the kitchen. She got it stuck in my head. I heard it last night in my car at about 11:45pm and this morning at about 7:10am (get some more sleep, Dri). Another hot band the current plays often.



Is it much that I feel I need
A solid soul and the blood I bleed
With a little girl, and by my spouse
I only want a proper house

I don't care for fancy things
Or to take part in a precious race
And children cry for the one who has
A real big heart and a father's grace

I don't mean to seem like I care about material things like a social status
I just want four walls and adobe slabs for my girls

Phoenix - 1901

Another song I like that I've heard on the current every day for the last two weeks. This band is peforming in Minneapolis on June 23rd... I might have to look into getting tickets.



Counting all different ideas drifting away
Past and present -- they don't matter.
Now the future's sorted out
Watch, you're moving in elliptical pattern
Think it's not what you say
What you say is way too complicated
For a minute thought I couldn't tell how to fall out.

It's 20 seconds 'til the last call, going "hey hey hey hey hey hey"
Lie down, you know it's easy like we did it all summer long
And I'll be anything you ask and more, going "hey hey hey hey hey hey"
It's not a miracle we needed, and no I wouldn't let you think so
Falling, falling, falling, falling

Girlfriend, you know your girlfriend's drifting away
Past and present, 1855-1901
Watch them build up a material tower
Think it's not gonna stay anyway
Think it's overrated
For a minute, thought I couldn't tell how to fall out

It's 20 seconds to the last call, going "hey hey hey hey hey"
Lie down, you know it's easy, like we did it all summer long
And I'll be anything you ask and more, going "hey hey hey hey hey"
It's not a miracle we needed, and no, I wouldn't let you think so
Falling, falling, falling, falling
Falling, falling, falling, falling

Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream

Another song I've been hearing on The Current. They have funny outfits.



How can I explain
Talking to myself
Will I see again

We are always running for the thrill of it thrill of it
Always pushing up the hill searching for the thrill of it
On and on and on we are calling out and out again
Never looking down I’m just in awe of what’s in front of me

Is it real now
When two people become one
I can feel it
When two people become one

Thought I’d never see
The love you found in me
Now it’s changing all the time
Living in a rhythm where the minutes working overtime

Catch me I’m falling down
Catch me I’m falling down

Don’t stop just keep going on
I’m your shoulder lean upon
So come on deliver from inside
All we got is tonight that is right till first light

I'm tired

I'm tired.
I'm so tired I nearly fall asleep when I make my 20-30 minute commute to work at 7am.
Ugh.

Dolla dolla billz, ya'll.

Department of Eagles - No One Does It Like You

Another day, another song to share with my internet record of life. I think that the band Department of Eagles either shares members or has some sort of guest singer guy from Grizzly Bear... I dunno, but I like this song. Again, I heard it on the current. In fact, when I heard it yesterday, I saved the link to the song information just so I could share it today. Enjoy.



Out in the morning come
You don't need to ask an alibi
And in the morning comes
You don't need to be so honest

And in the morning come
You don't need to ask an alibi
And in the morning comes
You don't need to breathe so easy

I laughed so hard I fell down
I cursed these lanes I walked on

No one does it like you
No one does it like you
I tried so hard
But no one does it like you
No one does it like you
But I tried so hard

I tried so hard
I tried so hard

Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks

I have heard a lot of Grizzly Bear on the current lately. It turns out they played at First Avenue a week or so ago. They remind me a lot of Tally Hall, mayhaps because the singer sounds a lot like Joe Hawley. Also, they have a retro style as well. I'd have to say this is my favorite song of theirs I have heard. I'm going to look into buying their albums.



Save up all the days
A routine malaise
Just like yesterday
I told you I would stay

Would you always
Maybe sometimes
Make it easy
Take your time

Think of all the ways
Momentary phase
Just like yesterday
I told you I would stay

Every time you try
Quarter half the mile
Just like yesterday
I told you I would stay

Would you always
Maybe sometimes
Make it easy
Take your time

Another weekend, another LAN, another awesome time

Last weekend was another LAN weekend. I left from work at approximately 4pm on Friday afternoon and did not return to Minneapolis until 3pm on Sunday afternoon. There were a lot more people in attendance this month than in April (the last LAN I attended). I figure this is because it is now "summer vacation (whatever that means)."

We didn't play many games or watch many movies this LAN. In fact, people played a lot of the new game Prototype. Prototype is a single-player game... so, there wasn't much interaction for a great deal of the LAN. I played it for probably 5 hours or so. It is very enjoyable and it does not crash my computer. In the game, there is an disease outbreak in Manhattan, you have super powers, and apparently everyone is your enemy as you try to figure out what happened to you. I like it. If I get the chance, I will probably play the rest of the game.

Katherine also came to the LAN party, with The Ghost in tow. The Ghost is the name I gave to the computer I found on the curb. Fixed up with RAM, a new harddrive, and a fresh windows install, it works fairly well for most of the games that are played at the LAN parties. Granted, we play a lot of things like Starcraft and Diablo 2. Games from our childhoods. Le sigh. She seems to really enjoy the LAN and it gives her the chance to talk to nerdy boys and get away from Minneapolis. :-p

In other news, I took a different route to work this morning. Hennepin to 394W to 100S to 62W to 212. I left at about 7am and arrived here at 7:20am. Whoa. I am used to getting here in about 45 minutes. It is probably a combination of when I left and the route I took. I think I'll stick with this time schedule. This means I can probably leave work at about 4pm every day. I can dig it.

I hope to post another blog entry about grad school and what's been going on with all of that business. I also hope to post some of the new music I've been hearing on the radio on my way to work.

*goes back to comparing gerber files*

New Job n Stuff

I've been rather busy the last few days, but I've got a few minutes so I figured I'd write a little bit about my new job.

On Monday I started work as an intern for a company that designs, builds, and manufactures rapid prototyping machines. These machines are essentially ink jet printers that instead of giving you a 2D picture on paper give you a 3D plastic model. Pretty interesting stuff. They brought me on this summer after experiencing layoffs in February and needing more help with projects. In my first two days, I've received a whirlwind tour of the facilities and an overview of the technology. I'm still a little confused, but as I get more in depth with my work, hopefully things will become more clear.

The worst part about my job is the commute. I hate driving in the metropolitan area, and I generally avoid traveling at rush hour at all costs. The freeways are packed, the cars are occupied solely by the driver, people are on cell phones... I hate it. Unfortunately, I must drive what is normally a 25 minute drive every morning and every evening. I believe it is approximately 40 miles round trip. On my first day (Monday), I left early. The traffic wasn't terrible... but it was bad enough to cause me to slam on my brakes, giving the ambulance traveling behind me the opportunity to see if it liked how my bumper tasted. It gave it a lick, but found the paint unappealing. After assuring the ambulance driver that I was indeed okay, I made it to work. I also faced rush hour on the way home from work as well, needing to leave at precisely 5pm. One thing they never tell you is that "Minnesota Nice" does not apply when driving and when given the opportunity, drivers are asses. Highway 62E has a stretch of one-lane traffic due to road construction. Miles leading up to this juncture are slow going, sometimes crawling more slowly than my speedometer cares to register. Upon reaching the bottleneck, traffic moves freely at a normal 40-60mph. If everyone obeyed the merge signs properly and cordially, perhaps it would not be as much of a hold up.

Anyway, I'm done ranting. I've got to get to work!

pssst... LAN PARTY THIS WEEKEND YAY!

Today, on my way into work...

Today is my first day of work at my new job.

I left early this morning, not knowing what traffic would be like.

The roads were fairly packed, but at least we were moving.

Then somebody slammed on their brakes.

The ambulance driving behind me smashed into my car.

I was rear ended by an ambulance.

There is no permanent damage.

As long as you don't count the damage I inflict upon others when I tell them this story.

Bon Iver- Flume

I can't recall if I've posted about Bon Iver before. I saw them live just as he was hitting fame. In fact, it was approximately a year ago. He is amazing. I would definitely recommend the album For Emma, Forever Ago. Apparently, he wrote all of the songs one winter in his father's cabin whilst recovering from a breakup or something.

LIVE VERSION:



NOT LIVE VERSION:


LYRICS:
I am my mother's only one
It's enough

I wear my garment so it shows
Now you know

Only love is all maroon
Gluey feathers on a flume
Sky is womb and she's the moon

I am my mother on the wall, with us all
I move in water, shore to shore;
Nothing's more

Only love is all maroon
Lapping lakes like leary loons
Leaving rope burns
Reddish ruse

Only love is all maroon
Gluey feathers on a flume
Sky is womb and she's the moon

Paprika Opening Credits

Watched this movie for the second time lately. I really like this song, so I figured I'd post it here. Movie is definitely recommended. I'm going to look into watching more movies/anime by the same director.

Woe is June

A lot has happened since my last May-dated blog post.

1) I got a job! YAY! I will be working at Stratasys in Eden Prairie for 40+ hours a week this summer. I hate having a full time job over the summer. It seems that most people I know only have part time jobs, which makes hanging out, etc rather difficult. I'll make it work.

2) I'm no longer on academic probation. I'm not sure if I posted anything about this previously, but I received an email from the electrical engineering department regarding removing my hold for registration.

3) Shortly after receiving the email about my registration hold, I got another email. Again from the electrical engineering department. This one was somewhat of a shock to me. "Please remove Prof. Riedel as Adriana's PhD adviser and put Prof. Parhi, Director of Graduate Studies in its place. Thank you." [edited for search-ability] WHAAAT? This was news to me. I had spoken to my adviser regarding what my plans were. I would have thought he would email me in regards to dropping me as a student... but apparently not. Now I must decide what I'm doing. I'm also probably no longer have funding for next year.

In addition to these lovely occurrences, I am going to visit my family in Duluth this weekend. I haven't been to Duluth since Spring Break... Almost 12 weeks. It'll be nice to go home, even though it will be brief. When I come back to Minneapolis, my lazy lifestyle will be over and I will be a working girl once more.