| I've finally put my portfolio up, since I'm looking for a team to join after I graduate.
I've also been adding more photos, and put up a new theme, too! Fun fun fun ('till my daddy takes my t-bird away)... | comments: 2 comments or Leave a comment   |
| Now that my website is back up (again), I uploaded the photos of Scout that I culled from my gallery.
Here's the whole album In memoriam of Scout. There's also a really fun video of Dad and Scout playing tug-of-war.
I got to play with another Black Lab this weekend; he reminded me of Scout a lot, but had his own quirks and differences. Throwing a ball for him, and petting him, made me smile.
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| I put together a short writeup of my project for ME203. Here's the course description:Design and Manufacturing
Prototype development techniques as an intrinsic part of the design process. Machining, welding, and casting. Manufacturing processes. Design aspects developed in an individual term project chosen, designed, and fabricated by students. Labs, field trips.
My project is an indoor waterfall with two goals. First and foremost, it should sound like a large waterfall, even though its size should be small. In other words, rather than a gentle tinkle tinkle sound, it should make a more Niagra Falls-esque WSSSSSHH sound. Second, it should not splash water everywhere.
If I can nail the sound, then I can worry about controlling the splashing. With that in mind, my prototype focused on creating the sound Im looking for.
 I assumed that the most important factor in the sound would be a combination of water pressure and the height the water fell from (in fact, I think they might be interchangeable). The second most important factor might, I thought, be what the water fell into (in terms of both diameter and water depth). So I began experimenting. I poured water into a medium size vessel (cookware I had in my dorm room) from different heights, and with two different pressures. Pressure didnt have any effect (probably because I couldnt control it very well), but height didnt seem to make nearly as much a difference as I thought it would.
 I went on to larger containers, eventually finishing with the largest vessel I could find: a spare trashcan I have. Still, the sound just wasnt right. I realized that it sounded like turning a faucet on, rather than a waterfall. What do waterfalls have that faucets dont?
 Multiple streams!
So I tried two streams at once, and it worked! I experimented a bit with altering the height, and that did add a bit of volume. But switching between one and two streams, theres just no comparison: faucet or waterfall.
My next prototype will focus on refining my understanding of why multiple streams makes it sound so much better, and trying to optimize the sound even further. (Are three streams better? Four? Five?)
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| We put Scout down this morning. For anyone who doesn't know, Scout was a Black Labrador. Scout was a member of my family. Scout was my little brother.
It was time. His health has been getting worse for quite a while. He'd actually gotten to the point that he couldn't go up, or down, stairs on his own. (And my parents live in a two bedroom house, with the bedrooms upstairs.) He was on a lot of medications, and towards the end, was having trouble even breathing.
My parents took him in to the vet earlier today. I flew in a little while later, as fast as I could get here. My parents and I spent the rest of the day together, and then got dinner with my sister as well. We have spent a lot of the day reminiscing, often with tears on our cheeks. It hurts, losing him; but it's fun to think of him, and to tell all our stories about him.
And I've been expecting it for quite a while. One of the times I was down previously, I sat with him for an hour or so, just petting him and crying; I actually thought he was going to die that night. Another visit, I slept in a sleeping bag so I could be next to him the whole night.
Suffice it to say, I had already said my goodbyes, more than once.
It was still a shock, though. Hearing that we were going to put him down...
I miss him, and I'm tearing up writing this... but I also know I wouldn't change it for a second. I loved Scout, we loved Scout, and he loved us. And the time I got to spend with him is absolutely worth the pain of losing him.
I love you Scout. Thanks for being in my life. Thanks for waking me up by burrowing your nose under my arm. Thanks for looking so silly, carrying your own leash in your mouth. Thanks for coming in to find out why I was down, even when I wanted the whole world to leave me alone. Thanks for making me laugh and smile. Thanks for making almost everyone you ever met, smile.
I'll miss you.
PS: Wil Wheaton went through some of the same experience with his cat Felix. It's beautifully written. I highly recommend it, especially if you've also lost someone (pet, family member, whatever).
PPS: I'll be putting up some kind of memorial for Scout in the coming weeks (photo or video, I think). And I guess I'll have a name to write on The Temple next year.
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| Amused
Walking to the housing office, I pass two guys walking, and one sings out "Whenever life gets you down Mrs Brown, and things seem hard or tough!" (Know what he was singing?) I was really amused; Stanford is awesome. Sadly, I didn't react fast enough, I should have sung the next part back!
Confused
The package I picked up wasn't something I ordered. It's a gift package from a recruiter! They're at a company that's been recruiting me really hard, and says sent December 19th. Weird. It's got 2 books inside:
I guess this is a compliment, that they'd send that to me. Seems vaguely unethical, but perhaps I'm being weird. | | comments: 9 comments or Leave a comment |
| I got an unexpected text message today.Hi greg
My name is Yaacov Benzaquen and I am a Rabbi at Hillel. a friend of yours asked me if I could get you some chicken soup and I would like to deliver it. R u in your dorm?
I am an orthodox Rabbi and my wife made the soup (in case you are wondering about the kashrut)
please let me know soon as I am on my way to campus Naturally, I responded; however I was in class, so I couldn't have him deliver it. I asked if there was any way I could pick it up later.No prblm
I can leave it at the hillel fridge.
Can you get it from there? After looking online to figure out what building Hillel was, and then at a map to figure out where that building was, I responded with an enthusiastic yes!there are 2 containers with soup marked G. Schwartz at the hillel main fridge. Let me know when you get it.
And feel better. Refuah shelema (that's a prayer/wish for complete healing) I picked it up a little while ago. And then my phone died. So after I got back & heated it up, I replied and thanked him again!No problem. I look forward to meeting you when you feel better.
Have a great channukah and shabbat shalom !
So the big question I have is... he didn't say who! Who was so awesome, and do I get to thank?! | | comments: 5 comments or Leave a comment |
| So, why? Because we just don't have the chemistry we both want.
We're still friends, and we're both doing pretty well. It was definitely the best breakup either of us have ever had. We talked on the phone (and then on Skype when her cell phone died). Laughing, and crying together over the phone. The best part was when we were acknowledging each other different for things.
Within the context of Landmark Education, "acknowledging" someone actually means more than normal. So it was really touching and fun to get to acknowledge her, and to be acknowledged.
And the training that both of us have gotten at Landmark helped make that easy/gentle breakup possible. Every time one of us would get on it, we could realize that we were feeling like "I'm a jerk for breaking up with her", and that wasn't actually true. And so we could let it go, and not be controlled by that feeling any longer.
So, the relationship was [april 22 - october 9] = about 25 weeks, nearly 6 months.
Oh, and I'll be hanging out with her when I come down for Thanksgiving, so have no fear about inviting both of us to events. | | comments: 3 comments or Leave a comment |
| 785 cases.
2 years.
Lots of friends, and some good memories.
And a cool "yearbook"!
Bye bye Web Advanced! Hello Stanford! | | comments: 1 comment or Leave a comment |
| I'll be doing a going away party this Friday, in the evening. Not sure where or exactly when, yet. But it'll be a chance to hang out once more before I head off to Stanford.
(Thanks to Olson & Michael Genereux for the reminding to actually schedule this!) | | comments: 2 comments or Leave a comment |
| Since I'm helping Nick move his fridge early on, here's a full schedule. Mostly for my usage, in planning & telling ppl when to arrive.
| | Miles | Duration | End Time |
| Greg & Francine leave Irvine | | | 8:00 |
| Irvine -> Garden Grove | 16 | 0:25 | 8:25 |
| pickup truck | | 0:30 | 8:55 |
| Garden Grove -> Tameko's | 14 | 0:15 | 9:10 |
| Load fridge | | 0:45 | 9:55 |
| Tameko -> HB | 7 | 0:16 | 10:11 |
| Unload fridge | | 0:30 | 10:41 |
| HB -> Irvine | 16 | 0:23 | 11:04 | People helping me should arrive |
| Load furniture | | 1:45 | 12:49 |
| LUNCH | | 1:00 | 13:49 |
| Irvine -> SC | 22 | 0:30 | 14:19 | Need people to follow in cars
|
| Unload truck | | 1:15 | 15:34 |
| SC -> Truck drop off | 3 | 0:10 | 15:44 |
| Drop off truck! | | 0:15 | 15:59 |
| SC -> Irvine | 22 | 0:30 | 16:29 |
And then Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is playing at the Hollywood Bowl, and we head up there for an 8:30pm show! | | comments: Leave a comment |
| I think I'll go on a cruise. Cause I want to take a vacation with Francine. (I loved being with my family while we were in Hawaii, but I missed her!)
So we're off on a 5 night cruise to Baja Mexico. Reason this is doable, is because tickets are $395 each. Yes, 5 Nights!
We went through HotWire, so we got a discount even beyond the $329 price listed on Carnival's website.
Should be fun! | | comments: 12 comments or Leave a comment |
| | Subject: | Move Out! | | Time: | 03:10 pm | | Current Mood: | ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/sam/excited.gif) excited |
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| I'll be moving out this Saturday (25th). I'll be spending the whole day moving, but I'm hoping that I'll just need help with the big stuff (specifically couch, bed, bookcases). I'll be renting a truck, and then unloading it in San Clemente. So I'd guess we'd be done by 3 or 4pm, at the latest.
Anyone around to help out? Lunch (or dinner) for anyone who can, obviously. (Might be my mom's cooking, or might go out. We'll figure it out that day.) | | comments: 19 comments or Leave a comment |
| So, it's been a while since I updated. A few big things of late:
- Saw Daft Punk before I left. To be honest, I really can't think of a way to do the show justice. It was excellent, although much shorter than I expected. Still, it was absolutely worth $50. If you're curious about the experience, go read this review for the NYC show; it sounds identical to the LA show. Or, you could check out YouTube: the first portion and the encore. Awesome night.
- Went to Hawai'i!!!! Woohoo!
- Got two necklaces. (Necklaces are pretty much the only jewelery I'll wear, but I do like them!) Here's a photo of one. I'll take a photo of myself in the other at some point.
- It was a trip of sea turtles (and one of my necklaces is a sea turtle, looks like made out of abalone shell). I'll try to post the story of the first sea turtle sighting. Summary: we snorkled a number of times, and most of them we saw sea turtles up close. The first time, it was a huge one! Cool animals.
- I got a bit of a tan. Not as much as I'd like, but I'll take what I can get.
- The evening of the Daft Punk concert, I also learned about the wonders of UnderArmour. I've since bought two shirts (one shortsleeve, one sleeveless) and may very well buy more. Used both while in Hawai'i, and tested the claim that you'll be cooler wearing them than shirtless. It's true. This stuff is incredible!
- The lease on my apartment ends August 28th.
- I'll move into Crothers Memorial Hall at Stanford on September 15th.
( More Daft Punk Videos ) | | comments: 2 comments or Leave a comment |
| First, Hawaii on Saturday! Woohoo!!!!
Second, a hilarious HALO 2 machinama music video:
Third, I've always used the term "dop kit" for the toiletries I carry on a trip. I've never known why it was called that, but my father called it that. Randomly, I decided to look it up on Google( ... ) | | comments: Leave a comment |
| Committed expenses $1,652.89
- Car $134.52
- Groceries $228.00
- Rent $855.00
- Utility $114.37
- Health $321.00
Fun money $298.72
- Eating Out $88.65
- Fun $70.07
- Gifts $140.00
Irregular expenses $418.00
Longterm saving/debt $1,000.00
Since someone asked, normally I simply toss all the data into an Excel spreadshee, categorize it, and then move cells/rows around to get space to calculate totals.
What I've begun doing instead is using Excel's PivotTable feature. Then I can just reuse the table, and have it pull out the sums for the relevant categories (as seen above). It's much faster, and much less work. | | comments: 4 comments or Leave a comment |
| So, everyone knows what helium is. Well, imagine if you had something that was the opposite of helium?
This was shown to me by my parents. We all agree that the best part is when Jay's other guest laughs as he walks out of camera. There was actually more to this bit, specifically some fun with fire, but it's not in this clip.
Update: The gas, by the way, is called sulfur hexafluoride. | | comments: 3 comments or Leave a comment |
| Anyone have any ideas?
My suggestion is people coming down to my parent's place. Big dinner, lots of people, good music & food. We'll be able to see fireworks from the balcony, too. | | comments: 6 comments or Leave a comment |
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