Only at Caltech I was in the gym today, sitting on a bench taking a break between reps with some dumbells, when this guy starts randomly talking to me. We got some new equipment in the gym, which included dumbells, and he made a comment about their "moment of intertia." I decided to ask him how that was different than the center of gravity, and a conversation was born.Turns out this guy was the most recent Nobel Prize winner in physics, headed to accept his award in a couple weeks! He was very humble about it, as it was I who pryed the information out of him. I got the feeling it was refreshing for him to have a normal conversation with someone who had no idea who he was. I have to admit, it was tough to go back to "normal conversation" mode after learning of such news.
Iridium Phones During my plane ride to Miami a while ago I was reading through the inflight catalog, SkyMall. If you've ever seen the magazine, you know just about everything in it is overpriced, and much of it is stuff you don't need, but it's an entertaining read none the less. Needless to say I've never bought anything (nor know anyone who has), but this particular issue was a little different. While I still didn't buy anything :) I did find a product that was so cool, I had to take the magazine with me when the flight was over: the Iridium 9505 Satellite Phone.Before this add, I had only heard about these phones through grape vine-ish resources. I was under the impression that they were only available to the most hard core of expedition teams (the likes of which even National Geographic envied); hence my astonishment when I was presented with the opportunity to own one (while in a place so casual as an economy class flight no less). I then saw the price however, and that dream of owning one went right back to the same place it was hiding before I boarded the flight… actually, I take that back, it curled up and died. With this deal, after I shell out the $1400 (USD) to get the unit, I'd still have to come up with the $1.45 for every minute I wanted to use it! I think the cat would quickly get my tongue. There is the disclaimer however: "Incoming calls and messages are free." Maybe my dream is still alive after all :) I can see it now, "mom, I'm in the Sahara and ran out of water! Call me back."
Asian Sensation part duex My first go at stir-fry last week went well; today was my second time around. Although I learned from my mistakes the first time, things are still far from perfect. For the meat I'm using these steak strips, which I think I'm cooking too long (they're kinda tough). More importantly however, the whole thing just doesn't have that umph that I'm looking for - it feels rather bland. I marinate the meat in my own little concoction and use that as a sauce, but it's not enough. I think I need some MSGs or something :) I'm gonna figure it out one of these days.
Ouch… I was really looking forward to some change there on Capitol Hill. Instead I got two of the three branches of government controlled by the same party, and the third ready to succumb to that control. Mr. Bush certainly defied all odds in getting reelected, including a seemingly insurmountable onslaught of negative press. Part of me isn't really surprised though; when I heard a few weeks ago that he won the Weekly Reader Poll, I kinda figured Kerry didn't have a chance.Regardless of how you feel about what happened yesterday (along with this morning), one thing is for certain: Karl Rove is a genius. When he won the White House in 2000 I knew he was a force to be reckoned with, but after this years election I realise his brilliance surpasses that of even David Hasselhoff. I mean, between Karl Rove and Johnnie Cochran I don't think anything is impossible.
Elections are here! Man is it a circus here in the US. Everybody's got their predictions: no one can seem to nail down what's going to happen; candidates are spending outrageous amounts of money to get their message out; and it seems even American's who can't vote have something to say about this one. It's better than Super Bowl Sunday. James Lester at the Oregon State Daily Barometer wrote, "I'm giddy with anticipation, and am doing all I can to control my bowels from leaking their repulsive contents" - my feelings exactly.What's going to be tough to get adjusted to though is life after this (regardless of who wins). With all the hoopla that's surrounded this years elections, news isn't going to have that entertainment edge it's possessed for the past several months. Unless of course we have the same fiasco that went down in the 2000 election. The lawyers are being put into the starting blocks however, so even that scenario's still got a chance.
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