When it fits nowhere else.
Wow, I can’t believe this is even still here. I mean, I haven’t updated in almost FOUR YEARS!
Anyway, since August 31, 2003, I moved my site to .Mac, and then to a new host. For whatever reason you are here, you may want to head over to my current site Atomicow for more relevant information.
So, I still can’t really remember what I wanted to post yet, so we will skip around it till I do.
Anyway, not sure if you were all aware of this, but I found it interesting.
When you learn math, you are put under the impression that these are all the same:
4 x 5
4 · 5
4 * 5
But, that isn’t necessarily true. It turns out x and · are opposites of each other and include a trig function. We learned about them last week in physics because they are used for forces and torques. Apparently, they used to be taught in general algebra courses, but have been moved to very advanced courses (higher than I have ever taken) over the years. So, the actual values are…
4 x 5 = 4 * sin(θ) * 5
4 · 5 = 4 * cos(θ) * 5
4 * 5
so, for θ = 90°, your answers would be:
4 x 5 = 0
4 · 5 = 20
4 * 5 = 20
Weird, huh?
BTW, you have to use ugly ASCII codes to get ·, θ, and ° to show up. I hope you appreciate it.
nick
Polls, Ads, and Gas.
Thanks to a new feature in my poll software, I can set future polls that automatically post. I had set the next one to post at midnight on April 1, but since everyone voted already I moved it up to midnight tonight. I will begin thinking up the next poll soon.
As far as this poll, the results were yes as long as it isn’t distracting. So, I will be putting up a small ad near the bottom of the sidebar soon, maybe tonight. I will leave it for a while to see what it actually does. Google only pays out when you reach $100, so if it is going to take me several years to reach that I will probably not keep the ad.
I was going down Wilder a few days ago, and saw at a gas station that they have an electronic display for the price of regular out on the street sign, but the plastic numbers for mid and premium. Why? They all change at the same time, always $0.10 from each other. How is it any easier to change 2 prices with their long poll than 3? Isn’t the whole point of switching to electric display so you don’t need to go out and change the prices? I have seen this at several stations, and it just confounds me.
OK, thats all for tonight.
Next time, uhm, I can’t remember.
Bike Racing and Survival shows I think. TV stuff, I am pretty sure of that.
Polls and green beer.
As you can see to the right, there is a new poll up. Either Sunday or sometime next week when I get bored I will, well, it depends on your votes really. I have some plans for changes to the polls, which I will either begin with soon, or after trying to import the old polls.
Remember, St. Patty’s day is soon, parade in Bay City is Sunday. Today was pi day too (3/14, 3.14, get it, hahahahahaha!, yeah), though it’s a bit late to mention it now, being 1:12 am the day after.
OK, that is all from me for now.
nick
It all comes to an end.
So, this is my last post this year, and the last post at the library. It’s a little depressing, but I will see everyone occasionally.
Still, this was a great job, and I will miss it.
Next post I will do a year-in-review and resolutions update. Until then enjoy your new-years.
nick
My “Super Linky” telling of our “School’s Out” Vacation trip.
So, with school out and some last Christmas shopping to get done, Jenn and I decided we needed a little vacation, and that is what we took over the weekend.
Friday I went to the staff meeting, and then Rudy J’s with everyone (for the last time) after which Jenn and I left. We arrived in Kentwood around 2:30 for our 2 night stay at the AmeriSuites Grand Rapids – Airport. I was rather tired so I took a nap, but Jenn ordered a pizza to tide her over as she didn’t get Rudy J’s (her choice, I offered but she didn’t want to wake up early). When I got up, we decided to go find some food, so we drove down 28th street, the Bay Rd. of Kentwood. We drove and looked at the offerings and wound up several miles down at US-131, which is quite a ways down from where we started. So, we got on 131 and went up to downtown (yeah, that makes alot of sense) and looked at Spectrum for Jenn some, then got on I-96 and went back toward the hotel. We again headed down 28th and decided on BD’s Mongolian Barbecue, it was a very good choice. We also stopped at Meijer for a few things we had forgotten or just hadn’t thought of, and partly just to browse. They have a much greater selection than the Meijers around here. That was about it for Friday, we watched some TV and sat around, but nothing very exciting.
Saturday we got up around 9:30 to go try the free breakfast, it was better than most: sausage, scrambled eggs, bagels, waffles, english muffins. They weren’t keeping up with it real well though, there was no waffle batter left and the eggs were overcooked and getting cold. It was free though. After showering, we headed up to Howard City, to see the city we would probably have moved to, had we not seen it. Wow. To call the town a little hickish would be an exaggerated compliment to the trailer park, bar, and dollar store that somehow managed to get on the map. It’s not horrible, I suppose there is still a chance, but we are definitely exploring other options now. After that, we went to downtown Grand Rapids and went to the VanAndel Museum. Lots of cool stuff there, from the whale to the $1000 bills, a piece of meteorite, and wildlife exhibits of Michigan. We even got some astronaut ice cream.
Following that fun, we drove back toward Kentwood and stopped at Panera for lunch. We headed back to the hotel for a nap, then went out to the mall to finally get in some Christmas shopping. We went through the entire Woodland Mall finding nothing, so we headed over to the slightly crummier CenterPointe Mall. We still were finding nothing, and decided that the bar back in Woodland could be a good idea. Right after this decision, we found the first gift.
We went back to Woodland, and went into Bar Louie. Jenn had the Pom Peche Martini, and I the Riptide, and we shared some loaded tater-tots. While sitting there, I saw Dragon’s Milk on tap, and we tried that too, freaking awesome beer, and made in Holland, MI too. So following our refreshment break, we went on to find the remaining presents we needed, and head back to the hotel for some time in the hot tub, followed be a failed attempt at a good nights rest.
Sunday we woke up at 10 ish, packed, and headed out right at checkout (which is 11, we left around 10:59, really). We weren’t realy hungry so got on the freeway and started our way east, getting off in Lansing so Jenn could show me around. We ate at IHOP (my first time, as was it my first time at every restaurant we stopped at this trip) which was pretty good. We then headed to Perry, because we have a connection to the village, then headed home.
So, that was our weekend. We had fun.
That’s all for now, a smaller update before the weekend.
nick
How to make me happy.
Eating Munchos, drinking root beer, and watching Blues Brothers 2000 makes me very happy.
Though I would be happier if it was Barq’s, and original Blues Brothers
iBook-a-versary, Textbooks, Room, and Class.
Back on Tuesday my iBook turned 4 years old. A few more months and I will be replacing it, but it has been quite good to me.
I was cleaning up my room some and started to go through my old textbooks. Looking through them, I really wondered why the hell I decided to keep them. Most have information that is easier to access online, and the rest are largely just of no use. Granted, I have a few that are useful, but most are not. Now, of course, Delta has moved on to a newer edition and they are useless as far as selling them back, so I don’t really know what to do with them. I wonder if I can donate textbooks to the library? That or I can take them camping, that’s always fun.
Anyway, I cleaned my room some, that is an accomplishment. Not like “Wow, your room is really clean, Nick”, but more of “Wow, you have a floor? I never knew.”
Yesterday I took a nap on the couch before class. The problem occurred around 4:30 when I woke up and it was dark out, and I realized I went to sleep at 4:30, and it was 4:30 both times I woke up and checked what time it was. So, it was actually about 6, and my class was beginning, and I decided screw it.
iTunes
For whatever reason, it bothers me when my playlist has songs that have not been recently played. Not like, has been a few weeks, but songs not played since May 2004. There are a few reasons why this happens.
So, I decided to fix that. My new headphones have helped, and since I tend to browse around at stuff randomly, I decided to just quit Mail and Safari. So, for 3 months now, I have been listening to music from a “Not Recently Played” playlist, that only included songs not played since before September 7. In 1 hour, 20 minutes, I will finally be done with my 36 hour long music library. I figure that will hold be for another 2 years. Probably not, but it makes me feel good for now.
To help with the play-through, I downloaded LED Spectrum Analyzer. It strangely amuses me. Then again, I am happy for hours staring at a camp fire, and it does sometimes resemble flames, when the led colors are right.
OK folks, that’s all for now.
nick
I got bored, sorry.
For those of you that are students, you may with to skip the next paragraph, because it may very well just piss you off.
I got back my grade for our business test Monday. It was a 94%, pretty darn good, I would, in any other case, be very happy with it. However, I put the grade into my little grade tracking spreadsheet, and the wonderful 94% dropped my overall grade in the class by a full percent, from 96% to 95%. That is still well over the 93% for an A so it isn’t a big deal, but how sad is it that I got an A on a test and it brought DOWN my grade? I am sure some of you wish you had such a horrible situation for yourself.
My car has been showing it’s piece-ness. When I sit down in it, anyone standing around can visibly see it sink on the driver’s side. That I know of right now I need a near complete suspension, wheel bearings, and valve cover gasket. I called Jason 2x now, but not much heard back. Maybe my brother’s friend Shelby, or just take it to a garage. Or maybe, I will find a super awesome job and get metric shitloads of cash, and be able to buy a new car. I wish I had the same problem with money that I have with grades.
Speaking of jobs, I am going Monday to look for a new workstudy position. I talked to Beth Friday and she said she would appreciate if everyone stay until Dec 31, which is understandable. In my case, it’s not a big deal because a new workstudy wouldn’t start until Jan 1 or so. For say Dan, who applied at Staples and I am sure they will want him working for day after Thanksgiving, it may become a problem.
I want to let it be known that I do very much enjoy my new headphones. I am listening to them now (Megadeth – Trust) and my favorite part, beyond the fact that they are probably the best sounding headphones I have ever used, is that you can wear them for hours and never irritate your ears, and when you take them off, you don’t feel naked either. I love them.
Being early November, it is time to begin Christmas shopping. I have no idea what to get pretty much anybody. Jenn said “there is something I really want, but I won’t tell you, I want to wait and see what you get on your own”. Well, that’s a really good way to not get what you want, I can pretty well promise that. I guess I should say I don’t know what to get anyone. I have ideas for Chris, my Mom, my Dad, I guess that’s all I buy for. Jenn too, of course, but her I really don’t have any idea.
…
…
…
Nope, nothing. Oh well.
Just before I came to write this, I had a very long, about 3 minute, conversation with Dave’s away message. Granted, 3 minutes isn’t that long, but with an away message it it.
Speaking of long, as I said Megadeth – Trust was playing, then came Alice in Chains – Grind. Now, as I talk about long periods of time, what comes on, but In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. I have about 15:30 of it left. I think it’s the longest song I have. I will check, 1 sec…
…
…
…
Yes, 17:02, followed closely by November Rain at 12:29, then Metallica – Outlaw Torn in a distant 3rd at 9:58. I used to have some classical, symphonies and the like, and some of those were up in the 20 and 30 minute area in length, but I got rid of those because anything over about 10 minutes is a chore to listen through unless it’s really good. Then again, some songs are a chore at 3 minutes. Semi related, the shortest song I have is the Sealab 2021 theme, at 28 seconds. I really wish that was a bit longer.
Returning to In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, I loved the Simpson’s episode where Bart switched it for the church organist’s music sheet. They cut away, come back 15 minutes later to her playing the last few seconds (among my favorite sections of the song, no, not because it’s the end) then fainting. I laughed for like 4 minutes.
Fitting in with Simpson’s , there is supposed to me a new movie preview tonight, in about 20 hours, during the Simpson’s. Just a little heads up.
Down to 8:15 of song left.
This is becoming a really long post. I wonder how long my longest post is? Would probably be one where I posted a story, but the stories have been removed, and probably wouldn’t have counted anyway, since they were more of an attachment, and had been written earlier. Except the Woods Runner, that was written on-the-fly, so it would count. One of the rants on ethiopians, or the 3 day long post, or when I lost iBlog because I forgot to pay for it. One of those most likely, or it could be this. I really don’t feel like checking, but maybe I can find a plug-in for wordpress to do it for me. I will have to check the word-count before and after posting this, to see how long it is. I could probably copy-paste into Word and check like that too. I guess.
Down to 4:30.
I was just writing, and going on and on, and had the feeling that this would be long, but then when the song with a name that is rather hard to spell and quite long as well came on (yes, I know the description, and now this explanation of it are incredibly longer that the name of the song is, but I really don’t care, shut up) I told myself I would write mostly non-stop until the song ended, and I am actually pretty close to doing that right now.
I think this is enough now, the song is down to 2:00. I am going to go get a wordcount, brb…
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…
…
1030 so far, holy shit.
OK, we end now, I will talk to you all later, and no complaining I don’t make long pointless posts, because this was a complete 1071 words, with absolutely no point behind any of it.
nick
