Quantum Cowboy

Blog Terminated

2009-03-24T12:12:00.000-07:00

This blog is no longer updated. Please see www.qcowboyphoto.com for photography, www.avthespians.org for theatre, and www.hartogsden.blogspot.com for everything else.

Hiking, Photos have moved.

2007-01-26T08:58:00.000-08:00

My hiking and photography have moved to www.qcowboyphoto.blogspot.com, though the occasional life update and political rant will still appear here.

Evolution warnings don't stick - Los Angeles Times

2006-12-20T17:35:00.000-08:00

Evolution warnings don't stick - Los Angeles Times: "ATLANTA — A suburban school board has abandoned its four-year legal fight to place stickers in high school biology textbooks that say 'evolution is a theory, not a fact.'In a settlement announced Tuesday in federal court, the Cobb County Board of Education agreed never to use any similar 'stickers, labels, stamps, inscriptions or other warnings

Reality check: 95 percent of Americans had premarital sex - CNN.com

2006-12-19T19:12:00.000-08:00

Reality check: 95 percent of Americans had premarital sex - CNN.com: "'The data clearly show that the majority of older teens and adults have already had sex before marriage, which calls into question the federal government's funding of abstinence-only-until-marriage programs for 12- to 29-year-olds,' Finer said.Under the Bush administration, such programs have received hundreds of millions of

Autumn Leaves.....

2006-10-26T18:20:00.000-07:00

I've forgotten how much I love fall. Cold, crisp air... colorful leaves.... the smell of heaters, leaf-piles, and pies. You just don't get this kind of thing in Arizona. The downside is that I leave my place before the sun is up and return almost as its going down these days. Oh well, the sunrises and sunsets on my commute are fabulous, so I suppose I can't complain too much.Life has been

I now serve the emperor once more...

2006-09-12T20:06:00.000-07:00

Gamers of the early 90's will undoubtedly remember the LucasArts classic starfighter action game, TIE Fighter. They may, on occassion, have found themselves reminiscing about the good ol' days of the 486 processor and the 10 MHz PC's. Mine of course was one of the fancy ones with the "Turbo!" button on the side, injecting digital nitro into my CPU and sending it screaming to a blazing 33 MHz.

On the Trail: Temescal Canyon / Temescal Ridge

2006-09-11T21:12:00.000-07:00

Temescal Canyon and Ridge; Photo by Dan Edwards, September 2006I left early Saturday morning with work buddies Dan and Darin and headed down to the Santa Monica mountains near... well, Santa Monica. Stupid me forgot my camera, and Darin's apparently had no batteries, but fortunately Dan managed to both remember his and have it charged. Way to go Dan.At that early hour there was a thick ocean

A romantic dinner for.... myself

2006-09-10T20:31:00.000-07:00

I was just doing my regular grocery shopping when I saw it. A sign declaring "Fresh Idaho Steelhead Trout, 1 time sale!" Being from Idaho myself, I knew firsthand of course how tasty this fish can be. So I decided to go all out. I bought the filet and some other stuff, and got to work on a feast. The result:Idaho Steelhead Trout panfried with onions, basil, lemon pepper, and cayenne, served

On the Trail: Placerita Canyon

2006-09-10T15:58:00.000-07:00

Photo by Nalin A. Ratnayake, August 2006Placerita Canyon is located in the Angeles National Forest, which covers the bulk of the San Gabriel Mountains that separate the Antelope Valley from the rest of Los Angeles county. For being so close to the Mojave Desert, the canyon is surprisingly green and well-vegetated, most likely due to the snowmelt which fills the creekbed and waterfall during the

Let Schools 'Look Like America,' Too - Los Angeles Times

2006-09-08T20:02:00.000-07:00

Let Schools 'Look Like America,' Too - Los Angeles Times: "TO HIS CREDIT, PRESIDENT BUSH chose a Cabinet that (to quote former President Clinton) 'looks like America.' Now the same administration that takes race into account in assembling a government has asked the Supreme Court not to allow school districts to do the same thing in filling their classrooms."It's not often that I agree with Mr.

A Farewell to FaceSpace

2006-09-07T17:27:00.000-07:00

Facebook and MySpace (let us collectively refer to both as “FaceSpace”) have changed the face (no pun intended) of social networking as we know it. I’ve been an active participant and sometime proponent of both, but now I have to say that I am leaving. At least mostly. The personal profile, photos, and group affiliations are all going, though I’ll keep my account and contact information up

On the Road: CA-14, Mountain Stretch

2006-08-26T21:37:00.000-07:00

Near CA-14. Photo by Nalin A. Ratnayake, August 2006.Known as the Antelope Valley Freeway, State Highway 14 itself is relatively short and boring compared to many of the roadtrips you could be taking. From end to end (Mojave to Santa Clarita) the highway is only about 60 miles, and a good portion of it goes through possibly the two most most boring towns in Los Angeles County, Lancaster and

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Pluto vote 'hijacked' in revolt

2006-08-26T21:34:00.000-07:00

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Pluto vote 'hijacked' in revolt: "A fierce backlash has begun against the decision by astronomers to strip Pluto of its status as a planet.On Thursday, experts approved a definition of a planet that demoted Pluto to a lesser category of object. But the lead scientist on Nasa's robotic mission to Pluto has lambasted the ruling, calling it 'embarrassing'. And the chair

Go on, be a rebel.

2006-08-23T17:43:00.000-07:00

There she is, the Canon Rebel XT Digital SLR Camera. With easy to use advanced features, over 60 optical lens attachments, and a (relatively) low cost, this fine piece of engineering is much-loved standard in the amateur photography world. And boy I certainly can't wait to get one. I can't afford it now, but I'm saving... The base camera is about $800.00, and with an additional telescopic lens

On the Road: US-395, California

2006-08-20T15:22:00.000-07:00

Photo by Mike Teague June 2005. US Route 395 begins at the Canadian border in Washington state, about 50 miles west of the Idaho panhandle. It passes through Spokane, then angles southwestward to Umatilla, where it crosses the Columbia River into Oregon. In Oregon, the highway cuts through two national forests before heading into California near Goose Lake and continuing south almost the

On the Road: The Trail Begins

2006-08-20T14:28:00.000-07:00

Having a car is wonderful. Back in the college days at ASU, I was one of those poor souls without a vehicle, trapped within walking distance of campus unless I lucked out and got a ride from someone. With the exception of Honeywell, the airport, one camping trip in Globe, and a few parties, in four years of living in Arizona I really only saw a four mile square block of Tempe and the

A Sentimental 4th

2006-07-04T21:48:00.000-07:00

“Ode to the American West”Words by Nalin RatnayakeMusic pending by Ryan Johnson.Here’s to high desert winds that speak of vastness, of the open spacesAnd to the northwest rain that will never leave my songs aloneAcross the West my story is spread like sage and sunny skies.It towers and thunders, whispers and wanders, and bears the scent of home.The land drinks the snowmelt, it bathes in geysers

Do Not Call!

2006-06-20T20:23:00.001-07:00

REMINDER....12 days from today, all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies. You will start to receive sale calls....YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLSTo prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222. It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years.You must call from the

Negative on Affirmative Action

2006-06-16T22:37:00.000-07:00

With the Supreme Court's recent agreement to rehear affirmative action, I thought it may be time for me to weigh in on this issue. In a nutshell: I find it offensive that anybody could take pride in an achievement or position that was obtained by default by simple virtue of their race. I hate it. I find it detestable. And yes I know it benefits me as a minority, and I don't care. But until

Moving Out and Moving On

2006-06-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

Well, just one more week in Boise and then I leave for California to start a new career and a new life. Sure, four years ago I left Boise to start a new college education, but it seems a lot different this time around... My parents are considering a move as well, to northern California, and with all my friends mostly gone, I'm stuck with the sinking feeling that nearly all of my ties to the

Semi-Yearly Political Compass

2006-06-08T09:29:00.001-07:00

You are a Social Liberal (65% permissive) and an... Economic Moderate (41% permissive) You are best described as a:Centrist

Futbol is Life

2006-05-28T17:01:00.000-07:00

My most recent purchase from Borders, Franklin Foer's "How Soccer Explains the World: An {Unlikely} Theory of Globalization," is a fascinating sports travelogue that seeks to explore the deeply-entrenched entanglement of soccer with the cultures that play it, and the associated effects of globalization, the international economy, and resurgent nationalism around the globe. Foer, a senior editor

IT'S OVER!... or just beginning?

2006-05-20T10:02:00.000-07:00

Well this is it... I've graduated, and with Honors too! It really came down to the wire: going into this semester I had a 3.18, just short of the 3.25 final cumulative needed to graduate from the Barrett Honors College at ASU. With a whopping 155 credits of weight behind the former value, I needed a 3.7 this semester to get to a final GPA of 3.245, which I fervently hoped would round up to

10 States, in Challenge to U.S., Plan Suit to Force Better Mileage Rules for S.U.V.'s - New York Times

2006-05-02T11:11:00.000-07:00

10 States, in Challenge to U.S., Plan Suit to Force Better Mileage Rules for S.U.V.'s - New York Times: "Ten states, including California and New York, plan to file suit this week to force the Bush administration to toughen mileage regulations for sport utility vehicles and other trucks.The suit, which the states are to announce on Tuesday, contends that the administration did not do a rigorous

Novell SuSE 10 Kicks Ass

2006-04-02T19:58:00.000-07:00

With the first complete draft of my honors thesis complete and my presentation for the 2005 AIAA Region VI Student Conference this week done, I finally have some breathing room to post something I've been meaning to write on for awhile.As of this semester, realizing that I need a 3.67 semester GPA to graduate from the BHC, I went completely cold-turkey on computer games. This was of course much

Accountability Office Finds Itself Accused - New York Times

2006-04-02T11:52:00.000-07:00

Accountability Office Finds Itself Accused - New York Times: "A senior Congressional investigator has accused his agency of covering up a scientific fraud among builders of a $26 billion system meant to shield the nation from nuclear attack. The disputed weapon is the centerpiece of the Bush administration's antimissile plan, which is expected to cost more than $250 billion over the next two

Spring Break Update

2006-03-19T18:00:00.000-08:00

Its the last day of spring break and finally on my flight back to Phoenix I have some time to update before the second wave of classwork hits. These last four days I have been in Seattle visiting family and friends in the area and also of course to have a good time with Ryan and Ru. The weather was fantastic for the most part, it only rained for about half of one day, which Ru says is typical

Democrats Vow Not To Give Up Hopelessness | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

2006-03-04T13:40:00.000-08:00

Democrats Vow Not To Give Up Hopelessness | The Onion - America's Finest News Source: "WASHINGTON, DC—In a press conference on the steps of the Capitol Monday, Congressional Democrats announced that, despite the scandals plaguing the Republican Party and widespread calls for change in Washington, their party will remain true to its hopeless direction.'We are entirely capable of bungling this

Fun With Meyers-Briggs

2006-02-14T17:38:00.000-08:00

The Meyers-Briggs personality test came up today in senior design during a discussion of the importance of diversity of perspective in engineering design teams. Intrigued, I took one:*****************************************Your Type is:ENTP - Extroverted Intuitive Thinking PerceivingStrength of Preferences:44% more Extroverted than Introverted75% more Intuitive than Sensing38% more Thinker than

A Young Bush Appointee Resigns His Post at NASA - New York Times

2006-02-10T12:33:00.000-08:00

A Young Bush Appointee Resigns His Post at NASA - New York Times: "George C. Deutsch, the young presidential appointee at NASA who told public affairs workers to limit reporters' access to a top climate scientist and told a Web designer to add the word 'theory' at every mention of the Big Bang, resigned yesterday, agency officials said."This kind of situation is not only unethical, its dangerous.

Wha....?

2006-02-09T09:53:00.000-08:00

The following takes place between 9:15 and 10:30 am on Thursday, February 9th. A hush falls across the lecture hall as the professor enters, a moustachioed Chilean particle physicist with a suave step and a marked South American accent. It looks like just another day in PHY 361, a survey of modern relativistic, quantum, and particle physics required of all engineering majors. But this day is to

The Final Stretch

2006-02-08T12:34:00.000-08:00

Well, this is it.... the final semester. In about three months (assuming I pass my classes), I will have completed my Honors B.S.E. in Aerospace Engineering. w00t. The post-graduate plan as of now is graduate school towards an M.S., followed by a (possible) two-year stint in Teach for America in whatever city Emily is in for law school. After that, all bets are off.I've applied to six

Science and Engineering in a Growing Ireland

2005-12-12T10:11:00.000-08:00

For those of you interested in the development and future of science and engineering in Ireland (and I know you are), I have posted my term paper on the subject which was part a part of my Inventing Ireland honors seminar this semester. It's a great class by the way; the reading is interesting and the professor is fabulous. Of course, I did find it a bit ironic that after a semester of

Reporting Decisions Lacking

2005-11-22T00:56:00.000-08:00

To the Editor of The State Press:To say that I am disappointed in you would be a gross understatement. For the last two weeks, three student organizations (AIAA@ASU, Daedalus Astronautics, and Camp Sparky) came together to give 120 elementary students some fun-filled exposure to science through designing, constructing, and launching their own model aircraft and rockets. This effort was almost a

House Approves Spending Reductions

2005-11-18T16:48:00.000-08:00

House Approves Spending Reductions: "The House narrowly approved a broad five-year budget plan early this morning that squeezes programs for the poor, for college students and for farmers, handing Republican leaders a hard-fought victory" ...sigh.... Nalin.

Grad School App Fiesta!

2005-11-01T13:35:00.000-08:00

Apps in progress:University of WashingtonStanford UniversityUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborPurdue UniversityGeorgia Intitute of TechnologyArizona State Universityw00tNalin.

What Would Den Hartog Do?

2005-10-29T21:04:00.000-07:00

Though I'll be keeping personal updates and my more virulent criticisms of conservatives here, a good deal of my creative and intellectual blogging will be done at the all new Hartog's Den. Click it.... click it... click it now....Nalin.

Honors Thesis!

2005-10-24T23:59:00.000-07:00

Yes, despite my doubts at the beginning of the year, I think I actually will make it to an honors graduation! A special thanks to both Drs. Lynch, the gf, and my research director for egging me on to turn in my prospectus and commit to a thesis.The Mach2 magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) codes are designed to read thermodynamic equation of state (EOS), opacity, conductivity, physical property, and mean

NY Times | Atomic Agency and Chief Win the Nobel Peace Prize

2005-10-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

"The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded Friday to the International Atomic Energy Agency and its chief, Mohamed ElBaradei, whom the Bush administration tried but failed to remove from his job just months ago. [...]"The roots of the disagreement stretch back before the invasion of Iraq, when Dr. ElBaradei was openly skeptical of the Bush administration's accusations that Saddam Hussein had rebuilt a

Kilkelly

2005-10-01T13:17:00.000-07:00

Ireland... so much beauty and so much pain.Nalin.***********************************************"Kilkelly"-Peter JonesKilkelly, Ireland, 1860, my dear and loving son JohnYour good friend schoolmaster Pat McNamara's so good as to write these words down.Your brothers have all got a fine work in England, the house is so empty and sadThe crop of potatoes is sorely infected, a third to a half of them

Meme

2005-09-26T16:26:00.000-07:00

Yoinked from Stranger Fruit.Rules1. Go into your archive.2. Find your 23rd post (or closest to).Growing Problem for Military Recruiters: Parents (June 6th, 2005)3. Find the fifth sentence (or closest to).4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.We must live up to our obligations and finish the war, even though this means shit for an economy, increased national

The Racism of Colonial and Imperialist Subjugation

2005-09-25T21:21:00.000-07:00

A reading response from my Modern Irish Identity class, which my professor found to be particularly well written :-D! I'm sooo glad she likes my writing and ideas; I feel so out of my element in that class, as fascinating as the subject is. The 10/10 was most reassuring.**************************************In 1923, the case of U.S. versus Bhagat Singh came before the Supreme Court. Singh

Links Repaired

2005-09-23T22:06:00.000-07:00

Recent news links were faulty it appears. Apologies, the error has been repaired.Nalin.

BBC NEWS | UK | Britons warned over 'segregation'

2005-09-22T17:02:00.000-07:00

BBC NEWS | UK | Britons warned over 'segregation': "'That is why, for all of us who care about racial equality and integration, America is not our dream but out nightmare.'"

BBC NEWS | Health | A few cigarettes a day 'deadly'

2005-09-21T22:15:00.000-07:00

BBC NEWS | Health | A few cigarettes a day 'deadly': "Smoking just one to four cigarettes a day almost triples a person's risk of dying of heart disease, according to Norwegian researchers."

Water Vapor Discovered on Tiny Moon of Saturn

2005-09-19T10:21:00.000-07:00

Water Vapor Discovered on Tiny Moon of Saturn: "From a height of 109 miles, the Cassini spacecraft trained instruments on a cloud of water vapor venting from fissures at the moon's south pole."

Birthday Test

2005-09-17T19:37:00.002-07:00

Your Birthdate: July 11Your birth on the 11th day of the month makes you something of a dreamer and an idealist. You work well with people because you know how to use persuasion rather than force. There is a strong spiritual side to your nature, and you may have intuitive qualities inherent in your make up, too. You are very aware and sensitive, though often temperamental. Although you have a

Wired News: FU, Cheney: See Movie, Buy Shirt

2005-09-15T00:29:00.000-07:00

Wired News: FU, Cheney: See Movie, Buy Shirt: "In the past two weeks, Dr. Ben Marble of Gulfport, Mississippi, lost his house, saw his wife give birth by flashlight and became an instant celebrity for telling Vice President Dick Cheney to go fuck himself."

The Idaho Statesman -Dalai Lama calls for hope, compassion

2005-09-12T21:09:00.000-07:00

Local News - The Idaho Statesman - Always Idaho: "'Don't give up on the world' — a simple plea, offered by a simple Buddhist monk, also known as His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, echoed Sunday across the football stadium at the Wood River High School under a pristine blue Idaho sky."

The ID Strategy

2005-08-29T09:44:00.000-07:00

Bingo.Nalin.

Army Contract Official Critical of Halliburton Pact Is Demoted - New York Times

2005-08-29T09:41:00.000-07:00

Army Contract Official Critical of Halliburton Pact Is Demoted - New York Times: "A top Army contracting official who criticized a large, noncompetitive contract with the Halliburton Company for work in Iraq was demoted Saturday for what the Army called poor job performance."

In War Debate, Parents of Fallen Are United Only in Grief - New York Times

2005-08-28T17:29:00.000-07:00

In War Debate, Parents of Fallen Are United Only in Grief - New York Times: "'The lady is not honoring her son's sacrifice, because we don't have a draft, and he went and signed his name on the dotted line,' said Mr. Clemons, of Winchester, Tenn., whose son, Nathan, 20, was killed by a roadside bomb on June 14. 'She'd better not be presenting herself as the voice of all the fallen.'" There seems

BBC NEWS | Middle East | US anti-war grans face no charges

2005-08-27T19:12:00.000-07:00

The women aged between 65 and 81, who belonged to an anti-war group called the "raging grannies of Tucson", had been charged with trespassing.">BBC NEWS | Middle East | US anti-war grans face no charges: "Charges have been dropped against five elderly anti-war protesters who tried to enlist at a US military recruitment centre, a city prosecutor has said. The women aged between 65 and 81, who

U.S. Wants Changes In U.N. Agreement

2005-08-25T08:37:00.000-07:00

U.S. Wants Changes In U.N. Agreement: "The United States has only recently introduced more than 750 amendments that would eliminate new pledges of foreign aid to impoverished nations, scrap provisions that call for action to halt climate change and urge nuclear powers to make greater progress in dismantling their nuclear arms."

The Onion | Evangelical Scientists Refute Gravity With New 'Intelligent Falling' Theory

2005-08-17T21:01:00.000-07:00

The Onion | Evangelical Scientists Refute Gravity With New 'Intelligent Falling' Theory: "As the debate over the teaching of evolution in public schools continues, a new controversy over the science curriculum arose Monday in this embattled Midwestern state. Scientists from the Evangelical Center For Faith-Based Reasoning are now asserting that the long-held 'theory of gravity' is flawed, and

Dessert Party Rumble

2005-08-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY! One night only, its the Nalin's Dessert Party Political Rumble! Watch as a hardline fiscal Republican and a moderate Libertarian (huh?) take on a moderate Dem, a leftist Dem, and two Greens while the political agnostic watches from the middle and makes mental bets to herself! AND, to loosen the tongues and tact, we've thrown in 35 bottles of beer and three bottles of

The Onion | Bush Vows To Eliminate U.S. Dependence On Oil By 4920

2005-08-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

The Onion | Bush Vows To Eliminate U.S. Dependence On Oil By 4920: "Bush promised a legislative package that would mandate severe cuts in oil-production subsidies and provide new funding for alternative-energy research and development. According to the timetable he presented, these bills could be introduced as early as 3219, and U.S. energy consumers could start to see radical changes by the

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Scientists aim for lab-grown meat

2005-08-13T09:58:00.000-07:00

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Scientists aim for lab-grown meat: "Growing the meat without the animal could reduce the need to keep millions of animals in cramped conditions and would lessen the damage caused by the meat production to the environment." Whoa.... anyone want to commment? I'm all for reducing the environmental impact of farming, which, while not very serious here, is destroying

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Peace fears as Sri Lanka mourns

2005-08-13T09:41:00.000-07:00

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Peace fears as Sri Lanka mourns: "Lakshman Kadirgamar, a Tamil and fierce critic of the Tigers, was shot dead in a gun attack in Colombo on Friday. President Chandrika Kumaratunga has declared a state of emergency and appealed for calm."

Ugh.

2005-08-11T09:15:00.000-07:00

So, trying out this blogging via gmail thing... hopefully this goes through.You'd think with it being summer vacation and all I'd have more time to post meaningful updates to the ol' blog, but alas, that really isn't the case. Now summer is very nearly over and I still have yet to produce more than a couple posts of any worth. I've been working at both Honeywell Aerospace in Phoenix as well as

Seething Unease Shaped British Bombers' Newfound Zeal - New York Times

2005-07-31T09:22:00.000-07:00

Seething Unease Shaped British Bombers' Newfound Zeal - New York Times: "They are alienated from their parents' rural South Asian culture, which they see as backward. Reared in an often racist milieu, they feel excluded from mainstream British society, which has so far not yielded to hyphenated immigrant identities as America has. They have come of age in an era marked by conflicts between

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Astronomers detect '10th planet'

2005-07-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Astronomers detect '10th planet': "It is bigger than Pluto, the ninth planet, which is 2,250 km across, and was discovered by three US astronomers. It is the largest object found in our Solar System since the discovery of Neptune in 1846."

WOAI: San Antonio News - Tracking Emily; Getting Prepared

2005-07-15T20:04:00.000-07:00

WOAI: San Antonio News - Tracking Emily; Getting Prepared: "If Emily keeps South Texas in her sights, the local streets may be extra dangerous."

Endangered Species Act Faces Broad New Challenges - New York Times

2005-06-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

Endangered Species Act Faces Broad New Challenges - New York Times: "More than three decades after the Endangered Species Act gave the federal government tools and a mandate to protect animals, insects and plants threatened with extinction, the landmark law is facing the most intense efforts ever by the White House, Congress, landowners and industry to limit its reach."

Flag Desecration

2005-06-24T21:40:00.000-07:00

It isn't hyped up 24-hour coverage news yet, but CNN has ran a couple stories on it. Recently, some legislator has put forth a constitutional amendment that would allow Congress to ban the desecratino of the American Flag. It has passed the House and will soon go to the Senate, where similar bills have died twice before in U.S. history.A post on Stranger Fruit hits the nail right on the

Pentagon Creating Student Database

2005-06-23T06:21:00.000-07:00

Pentagon Creating Student Database: "The program is provoking a furor among privacy advocates. The new database will include personal information including birth dates, Social Security numbers, e-mail addresses, grade-point averages, ethnicity and what subjects the students are studying."

Books Books

2005-06-21T20:54:00.000-07:00

I got handed this by Dr. John Lynch a few days ago... the blog equivalent of a chain letter apparently. :) Nalin. Number of books I own?I would guess probably 600, plus engineering books. Last book I bought?Guns, Germs, and Steel. Last book I read (for the first time)?Guns, Germs, and Steel. Five books that have influenced me a lot?In no particular order,1. Robert Aitken, Zen Master

Mellow / Pensive Playlist

2005-06-20T22:00:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling mellow and pensive, and as such created a playlist to fit:Aerosmith - Dream On Animals - House Of The Rising Sun Beach Boys - California Dreaming Beatles - Let It Be Beatles - Yesterday Bon Jovi - Blaze of Glory Cake - I Will Survive Eagles - Desperado Eagles - Seven Bridges Road Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Elton John - I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues Elton John -

Financial Aid Rules for College Change, and Families Pay More - New York Times

2005-06-06T21:18:00.000-07:00

Financial Aid Rules for College Change, and Families Pay More - New York Times: "As a consequence, tens of thousands of low-income students will no longer be eligible for federal grants; middle-class families are digging deeper into their savings; and some colleges are putting up their own money to make up the difference."

Growing Problem for Military Recruiters: Parents - New York Times

2005-06-03T17:07:00.000-07:00

Growing Problem for Military Recruiters: Parents - New York Times: "Mothers and fathers around the country said they were terrified that their children would have to be killed - or kill - in a war that many see as unnecessary and without end.""They don't realize that they have a role in helping make the all-volunteer force successful," said Colonel Slotwinski, who retired in 2004. "If you don't,

Bill Clinton Takes Spot On Global Stage

2005-06-01T06:51:00.000-07:00

Bill Clinton Takes Spot On Global Stage: "Clinton wants to present an alternative face of America to the rest of the world -- in implicit opposition to President Bush, and to create a legacy that builds on his eight years in office."

(Grocery) Store Wars

2005-05-27T19:15:00.000-07:00

Some tech -savvy hippe has WAY too much time on his or her hands, but I do appreciate the video nonetheless. Check out the Organic Trade Association's latest commercial. Definitely very very geeky. Hmm.... I suddenly feel an urge to go and buy organic foods....Nalin.

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Wormhole 'no use' for time travel

2005-05-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Wormhole 'no use' for time travel: "building a wormhole with a throat radius big enough to just fit a proton would require fine-tuning to within one part in 10 to the power of 30. A human-sized wormhole would require fine-tuning to within one part in 10 to the power of 60. 'Frankly no engineer is going to be able to do that,' said the York researcher."

"Revenge of the Sith" a Redemption of the Series

2005-05-20T11:50:00.000-07:00

I have seen the light, and it is good. George Lucas finally gets his modern act together with the final installment of the legendary Star Wars sextet. I was so deeply disappointed with "The Phantom Menace" that I didn't even bother seeing "Attack of the Clones"; in short, I wasn't expecting much. But Mr. Lucas has finally (at least mostly) returned to the roots of what made the original trilogy

Summer!

2005-05-18T12:49:00.000-07:00

Ok, long time no post. Reasoning: its summer!!! Which means I have taken every opportunity over the last week to do absolutely nothing. Its so great. The first three days or so were weird due to a condition I call "finals strain hardening." I was so used to having a project to finish or a test to study for that I simply could not relax. The thought that something needed to be done kept nagging in

The Evolution of Creationism - New York Times

2005-05-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

The Evolution of Creationism - New York Times: "Every time the critics of Darwinism lose a battle over reshaping the teaching of biology, they evolve into a new form, armed with arguments that sound progressively more benign, while remaining as dangerous as ever."

The massive update.

2005-04-24T13:18:00.000-07:00

Its been quite a while since I've had time to update, and this time period just happened to coincide with a lot of exciting events, so we'll see if I can get this out in one post. It may take a few.Firstly, about a week ago I was hired by Dr. Pavlos Mikellides as a Research Assistant on his Pulsed Inductive Thruster program. This appointment was especially fortuitous, as I had only just recently

2005-04-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

JONATHAN S. LANDAY, KNIGHT RIDDER - The State Department decided to stop publishing an annual report on international terrorism after the government’s top terrorism center concluded that there were more terrorist attacks in 2004 than in any year since 1985, the first year the publication covered. . . Last year, the number of incidents in 2003 was undercounted, forcing a revision of the report

Simply Mepis

2005-04-14T17:41:00.000-07:00

Windoze XP lost one of its damn .dll's for the last time. That's right, after months of running only M$ Windoze on my laptop, I finally got fed up. So, ta-da! I now have a dual-boot system that is working wonderfully. And with all of the horror stories I've heard about dual-booting XP and Linux, this was almost anti-climatically simple.Mepis 3.3 is a Live boot linux distribution that has so far

Minutemen Update

2005-04-12T22:35:00.000-07:00

Ah, The Onion.... truely America's finest news source.[Edit: There was a slight tiff about image linking (if you'll pardon the pun). The direct link to the image is much less copyright infringing.]Nalin.

Slashdot | Caltech Pranks MIT's Prefrosh Weekend

2005-04-11T13:02:00.000-07:00

Slashdot | Caltech Pranks MIT's Prefrosh Weekend: "'Caltech students ventured to Massachusetts this past Wednesday to unleash a series of pranks at MIT's prefrosh weekend." :-D Nalin.

New Look!

2005-04-10T23:47:00.000-07:00

Comments on the new stylesheet anyone?Nalin.

Grad School Update

2005-04-10T22:02:00.000-07:00

Ryan has lately been trying very hard to convince me that U Washington is the place to be for my grad school studies, so I decided to give the school a closer look. I made several interesting new discoveries.First and foremost, I realized that the list I was using to rank my potential grad schools was incorrect. I was using the "Best Engineering Grad Schools of 2005" from the US News and World

OKCupid! The Which Operating System Am I Test

2005-04-08T20:29:00.000-07:00

LinuxCongratulations! You scored 55, %! You're cool and you know it. You've never felt you really fit in with society, and that's A-OK with you. You've downloaded the latest patch to allow you to use iTunes on your Linux machine, and while you love Mac's you hold the secret of knowing that one day Linux will rule the world...and you will be GOD...ahh...err...You also like colorful things

Border Group Reports Illegal Immigrants (washingtonpost.com)

2005-04-04T16:54:00.000-07:00

Border Group Reports Illegal Immigrants (washingtonpost.com): "Law enforcement officials said the volunteers were keeping the peace, despite concerns they might become confrontational with immigrants. Many of the volunteers were recruited over the Internet and some plan to be armed."Coming from slackjawed, redneck, backwater, hunt-loving, gun-toting, Republican Idaho (actually its really not that

Okay, We Give Up

2005-04-01T11:03:00.000-08:00

Best magazine EVER. -Nalin.Okay, We Give UpFrom the April 2005 Issue of Scientific American.There's no easy way to admit this. For years, helpful letter writers told us to stick to science. They pointed out that science and politics don't mix. They said we should be more balanced in our presentation of such issues as creationism, missile defense and global warming. We resisted their advice and

The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Contributor: Spring Forward Faster

2005-03-31T10:58:00.000-08:00

The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Contributor: Spring Forward Faster: "Extending daylight time would give us considerable energy savings in an era of record oil prices, as well as many other benefits." I know many of my friends who were raised here in AZ don't see the point in Daylight Savings Time. Knowing little about the basis behind it myself, I have always been powerless to retort.

BBC NEWS | Health | Brain chip reads man's thoughts

2005-03-31T10:25:00.000-08:00

BBC NEWS | Health | Brain chip reads man's thoughts: "A paralysed man in the US has become the first person to benefit from a brain chip that reads his mind."This is awesome and creepy at the same time.Nalin.

Report on Global Ecosystems Calls for Radical Changes (washingtonpost.com)

2005-03-30T08:44:00.000-08:00

Report on Global Ecosystems Calls for Radical Changes (washingtonpost.com): "The new report collates research from many specific locales to create the first global snapshot of ecosystems. More than 1,300 authors from 95 countries participated in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, whose results are being made public today by the United Nations and by several private and public organizations."

The New York Times > Technology > Brazil: Free Software's Biggest and Best Friend

2005-03-29T07:31:00.000-08:00

The New York Times > Technology > Brazil: Free Software's Biggest and Best Friend: "Since taking office two years ago, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has turned Brazil into a tropical outpost of the free software movement."

Sri Lankan New Year Celebrations

2005-03-28T14:33:00.000-08:00

The ASU Sri Lankan Students Association is hosting festivities for the Sri Lankan New Year at India Gate Restaraunt (yes, the same place as that infamous b-day party last year). Join us for an all-nighter of Sinhalese food (full buffet included w/ ticket price), music, and dancing.What: Sri Lankan New YearWhen: Saturday April 9thWhere: India Gate Restaurant, 6245 W Chandler Blvd # 3, Chandler,

Goering on the Politics of War

2005-03-27T22:20:00.000-08:00

"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they

The New York Times > Washington > U.S. Is Set to Sell Jets to Pakistan; India Is Critical

2005-03-26T06:25:00.000-08:00

The New York Times > Washington > U.S. Is Set to Sell Jets to Pakistan; India Is Critical: "The United States will sell F-16 jet fighters to Pakistan in a deal that State Department officials said Friday would improve regional security. But the decision was immediately denounced by India as adding a fresh element of instability to relations between the nuclear neighbors."So... we're selling F-16'

Summer apartment anyone?

2005-03-25T15:35:00.000-08:00

Anyone need a place to stay in Tempe this summer? I'm possibly subletting my place for June/July/August, 2bd/2ba, less than 1mi. from campus, room includes bed, desk, bookshelf; apartment comes w/ kitchen, washer, dryer, dishwasher, pool, hot tub, BBQ. Must be non-smoker. $350/mo rent + split utilities with 1 male roommate. Email quantumcowboy@gmail.com for more info.-Nalin

Grad Schools and Other Matters

2005-03-20T17:40:00.000-08:00

The grad school process is heating up, as it turns out I need to start applying this fall. On the list are my dad's alma mater (and my birthplace) University of Washington, beautiful Stanford University, geek mecca MIT, aero giant University of Michigan, west coast think tank Caltech, and southern engineering powerhouse Georgia Tech.Of these I think I will possibly eliminate Caltech and U Mich...

Back to the 80's

2005-03-19T21:44:00.000-08:00

Ha. My brother recently performed a tour of the musical "Back to the 80's." It's ridiculously funny. Partly due to the script, and partly due to the *incredible* singing talent of high school actors (cough). Seriously though, it was fun. It the typical 80's story... you know, shy awkward guy secretly loves class beauty, who happens to be going out with the super jock that has the posse that picks

stranger fruit » Scientific Integrity and the Administration (again!)

2005-03-19T21:28:00.000-08:00

stranger fruit » Scientific Integrity and the Administration (again!): "It seems that facts and evidence are foreign to this administration, especially when they counter predetermined outcomes."Ugh.

New War3 Map

2005-03-09T14:04:00.000-08:00

"River of Life" version 1.10 has been added to the Warcraft Maps directory. Enjoy!N.

China, Others Criticize U.S. Report on Rights (washingtonpost.com)

2005-03-04T08:34:00.000-08:00

China, Others Criticize U.S. Report on Rights (washingtonpost.com): "China accused the United States on Thursday of using a double standard to judge human rights in other countries, adding to a list of nations suggesting that the government that produced the Abu Ghraib prison abuses has no business commenting on what happens elsewhere." Ugh.

Anonymous Posting

2005-03-01T17:18:00.000-08:00

I just discovered, thanks to Katie and Tricia, that my blog was set to disallow comments from anyone but registered Blogger users. Sorry about that, the setting has been fixed. So comment away!N.