I was walking on the University of Oregon campus today and saw this mailbox in front of the law school. I just had to post it on here.
I wonder if R2 does a better job of delivering mail than his regular old blue brothers. He can use hyperdrive.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Graduate School Exit Project
Unlike most people in my program, I was given the opportunity to start my exit project early. Most projects start in the middle of May, but I was given mine in February. This was great because the project emphasizes study in Japan, and I was in Japan for the first week of my Asia Field Study in March.
I decided, though, that I don't like the video quality that Windows Movie Maker gives me. I took a lot of video on the trip and want high-quality movies on my computer. If anyone can recommend a better program, please do so. Here's a YouTube video clip of one of the baseball games I watched while I was there. For more details about this clip, visit My Asia Trip Blog:
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Tri-Met
I take the MAX every day to campus for several reasons: 1) It is cheaper to buy a term-long bus pass than a term-long on-campus parking pass, 2) I don't like to add to the congestion of morning rush hour (i.e. I don't like to drive in traffic), and 3) I think carpooling and using public transportation is a very important step in protecting our environment. I do, however, drive from my house to the MAX station because I have always found Tri-Met's bus service to be unreliable and a further tax on my time. The station I park at usually fills up by 8:30, so even though I don't have class until 10am, I find myself leaving the house no later than 8 just to find a parking spot. Sometimes, though, I end up parking near some very disrespectful individuals.
We've all see it: the guy with the fancy car who parks as far away from the grocery store as possible and straddles four different parking spots so no one will scratch his baby. I usually laugh at them because they do that when parking lots are completely empty and end up walking from one end to the other out of their own vanity. When I see someone doing the same thing in a crowded parking lot - one that I use and occasionally have to abandon because it's too full - it just irritates me. Take exhibit A for example:
Everyone else who uses this MAX station is very respectful because they use it every day. I have been parking here every day for almost a year and - knock on wood - have yet to see an accident. What would motivate someone to park like this other than his or her utter disrespect for fellow commuters?
I did forward this photograph on to Tri-Met to complain as well. They have their own security company and the city police department has a car drive through the parking lot to keep an eye on it at least every couple of hours. I'm rarely one to wish fines on anyone, but this parking job is just insulting to me and everyone else who tries to park in the morning on the way to work or school. I want this driver to if nothing else at least get a warning from Tri-Met. There are more cars on the road in many cities than places to park already; just because we haven't caught up yet doesn't mean this person needs two parking spots for one car.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
New story idea
So here's the deal. I finished my first short story for the Writers of the Future Contest before I left for Asia. I'm here now, but I get bored easily and started working on an outline for my next story. I don't want to go into details yet, but I do hope to gather some information from everyone on how to put together the story line.
What I need is a profession for my main character. I don't want him to be a businessman or teacher. The one recommendation I've gotten thus far is "dolphin trainer," but I don't think that will really work. In my story, he needs to be walking home from the subway at one point and be brave enough to run into a burning building to save someone. I realize that just about anyone could do that under the right conditions, but I want a profession that would fit that kind of character. Any ideas?
Also, there is going to be a lot of neurological discussion in my story, but I'm not very familiar with literature about it. Can someone refer me to some short articles or paper about neuro surgery and psychology so I can have convincing technobable in my story? I don't need to come across as a Ph.D., but I want my characters to sound like they know what they're talking about.
Any and all help is appreciated!
Oh, and I'll keep you informed about how my previous story goes over with the competition. Whether or not I win anything I will post my story here eventually for all of your reading enjoyment.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Rock Climbing
I have been involved in outdoors activity since I was a child. I was in the Boy Scouts and am still active as an Assistant Scoutmaster now even five years since I earned my Eagle badge. I love camping, hiking, canoeing, and climbing. For these reasons, I have decided to go into marketing to show people the things I love and encourage them to join me in the outdoors. I have also decided to start my own outdoors consulting company; it will deal mostly in equipment and facility reviews as well as providing advice and counselling to those starting in outdoors activities. To that end, I am putting a very informal first review of a local rock climbing facility up here today.
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Stoneworks Rock Gym
Location: Beaverton, OR
Stoneworks Rock Gym is a medium sized climbing facility located off Denny Rd. in Beaverton, OR. The gym features regular bouldering, top-roping, and lead climbing. It also has limited fitness facilities upstairs.
Stoneworks is built into what looks like an old office building. Much of the climbing area is two-stories tall, but some lead routes go into skylights that add another 5 feet to the challenge. There is also a U-shaped bouldering cave in the back of the gym and a members-only fitness area in a loft above the gym.
The walls are made out of molded artificial rock and provide very satisfying smears and feature holds throughout the gym. Stoneworks also uses high-quality artificial holds for its routes, employing everything from jugs to tiny nibs. Keep in mind, though, that none of the routes are rated. Know your limits and be sure to either ask before you start or have a crash pad beneath you when bouldering as some of the more difficult and high routes can appear deceptively easy from the ground.
If you don't have your own equipment, Stoneworks will provide it for you at an added price. They have shoes that are all in fair condition and plenty of harnesses for any group you bring. They keep all of their top-roping routes roped and leave quick draws in several of their lead routes to make things easier on novice climbers. Be forewarned that you might need to bring your own gear for some of the more difficult lead routes.
Like most gyms, Stoneworks does not allow loose chalk. They sell chalk bags and chalk balls if you forget this rule. Leave your ATCs at home, too. Gri-gris are the only allowed belay devices.
Many of the staff member seem knowledgeable about climbing. Others seem to care less about day climbers and more about either the daily crossword or team climbers who are in training. It really depends on both the day and time of day you decide to climb.
If you're willing to shell out the extra money, Stoneworks offers introductory and developmental courses for beginner and intermediate climbers. Their instructors are all intelligent and experienced and will make any lesson enjoyable for the learner.
Facilities: 7.0 out of 10 - Routes go unlabelled and you spend more time finding a good one than actually climbing.
Equipment: N/A - I always bring my own.
Staff: 1.0 out of 10 - The staff focuses on their own team members and private lessons and ignores day climbers who are not regular members. I had several instructors tell their students to ignore me while they were climbing and had two teenagers almost fall on my head because they were trying to climb over the top of me in the cave. Route-setting gear was left unattended in the middle of the gym in a location where a fall could have caused serious harm. A staff member even started taking down a route I was working on while I was in the middle of climbing it.
Overall Experience: 4.0 out of 10 - High quality architecture does not outweigh unlabelled routes or rude employees.
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