We've wined, we've waited, now it's time to celebrate 2016

[Neist]

13 minutes ago, MarineBluePsy said:

And the moving procrastination with too much tv continues.....anyone else watching Bates Motel?  I just can't believe that happened!  I mean I knew it would happen, but I really hoped it would be like the very last episode of the show ever, not right now.

I'm curious if they are going to end the entire series after another season. I mean, of course it had to happen, but....  

[hippyscientist]

@MarineBluePsy well, we call it a dissertation at my university but hey, same same! 

I haven't been watching either of those shows but I am rewatching Gossip Girl, and watching for the first time True Blood. I am loving both  

[Cat_Robutt]

@hippyscientist I just started watching Gilmore Girls for the first time about a month ago....am almost done with Season 1. It's like there was this whole side of American pop culture that I just get now!

Unrelated, I just got an admission decision notification from a school where I withdrew my application. The notification was a standard rejection, and all I could think was "that's a little passive-aggressive, y'all." Also got my assistantship notification today, and am super excited!!! I get to help with a class called "Media & Democracy." Stoked!

[Neist]

4 minutes ago, Cat_Robutt said:

Also got my assistantship notification today, and am super excited!!! I get to help with a class called "Media & Democracy." Stoked!

Woo! And congrats!  

Hopefully I'll get my assignment soon. It'll probably be a survey course, but I'm not sure.

[hippyscientist]

24 minutes ago, Cat_Robutt said:

@hippyscientist I just started watching Gilmore Girls for the first time about a month ago....am almost done with Season 1. It's like there was this whole side of American pop culture that I just get now!

Unrelated, I just got an admission decision notification from a school where I withdrew my application. The notification was a standard rejection, and all I could think was "that's a little passive-aggressive, y'all." Also got my assistantship notification today, and am super excited!!! I get to help with a class called "Media & Democracy." Stoked!

I was very behind on a lot of pop culture stuff, and am finally catching up! It feels good. Gilmore Girls is amazing. Maybe I'll watch that again after I finish True Blood and Teen Wolf... can you tell my taste in TV? lol.

Yay about assistantship notification! Media & Democracy - that sounds interesting, what does it comprise (other than media and democracy!)? Like how democracy influences media or vice versa or something completely different? I'm still waiting on mine but I hope it'll come over the next few weeks. I want to start reading up on the class... Also I just realised that the classes I'm signed up to take in the fall are basically variants on different modules I've taken in my MSc. Hoping that stands in my favour! 

[rhombusbombus]

I've started packing but I'm taking a break for the next 1.5 week to go see my sister. Then I'll have only a week and a half left!

 

I registered for some classes but I still don't know what I'm doing. I think I'l get more direction in July when I start about my academic plan.

 

[Neist]

I've been going through boxes of old class materials and I'm going to attempt to scan it all during the next few weeks.

It looks like it's going to be thousands of sheets. I might just give up and only scan papers with hand-written critiques and old syllabi. I might just throw away my marked-up journal articles. Probably best to look at them with fresh eyes if I ever need to return to them.

[Pink Fuzzy Bunny]

13 hours ago, hippyscientist said:

Thanks fuzzy! I think it will mentally be pretty restful, although I need to learn to use MATLAB better. It's getting pretty exciting now. Hows the research group going?

Ooh, what are you using MATLAB for? But seriously, take that month and rest.... don't even think about work-related things!

I really love my research group and find the work they do fascinating, which is surprising since I wasn't really excited for it until very recently - this week-ish in fact. The other graduate students are great, but I feel bad for following them around like a lost puppy since I'm not skilled on anything enough to, you know, accomplish anything. I have only ever done theoretical physics, so until this week I had never used any sort of microscope, spectrometer, chemicals, or anything. Thank goodness for Google so I don't have to bother them with questions like "what is a microscope slide cover?"

 

Also, @Cat_Robutt, isn't Gilmore Girls the BEST THING EVER?!?!?!?!

Edited May 19, 2016 by Pink Fuzzy Bunny

[Neist]

So, I've been reading a lot of books. A lot of books. Can you be addicted to books? Is that possible? I burned through 400+ pages today.

In other news, my sent me a document filled with timetables and procedures up until the fall. Yay! Time to start planning.

[Pink Fuzzy Bunny]

4 minutes ago, Neist said:

So, I've been reading a lot of books. A lot of books. Can you be addicted to books? Is that possible? I burned through 400+ pages today.

In other news, my sent me a document filled with timetables and procedures up until the fall. Yay! Time to start planning.

Isn't that your job though  If there's one person to be addicted to books, I'm glad it's you!

 

Also, I just ate an egg sandwich that had been left out for 8+ hours, and the inside was green which I realized after chowing down on about 80% of it... it's been nice knowing you all.

[Cat_Robutt]

@hippyscientist I'm not sure yet––I emailed the professor (who I'm also taking a course with) to get some deets. Also, I've never watched Teen Wolf or True Blood, but I do love Penny Dreadful, so that counts for something right? My media is super random, ranging from lighthearted Steven Universe to super weird Danger 5 to melodramatic Penny Dreadful to chirpy Gilmore Girls. I'm like the test audience Nielson never knew they never wanted.

And @Pink Fuzzy Bunny How were your green eggs and ham? Was the sandwich at least tasty.....?

[Pink Fuzzy Bunny]

5 hours ago, Neist said:

I've been going through boxes of old class materials and I'm going to attempt to scan it all during the next few weeks.

It looks like it's going to be thousands of sheets. I might just give up and only scan papers with hand-written critiques and old syllabi. I might just throw away my marked-up journal articles. Probably best to look at them with fresh eyes if I ever need to return to them.

You might want to see if your university has automatic document feed scanners... I mean, unless you want to be feeding in pages for the next few months

 

[rhombusbombus]

 Steven Universe <3 <3 <3

I love that show so much and hate that it only comes on every so often. I hope it never gets canceled.

Edited May 19, 2016 by rhombusbombus

[Danger_Zone]

1 hour ago, Neist said:

So, I've been reading a lot of books. A lot of books. Can you be addicted to books? Is that possible? I burned through 400+ pages today.

In other news, my sent me a document filled with timetables and procedures up until the fall. Yay! Time to start planning.

I wish I could get through that much reading but my attention span/eyes won't let me. But I'm probably slightly addicted, though I spend a lot of time on other things too.. Like video games.  

[Neist]

1 hour ago, Pink Fuzzy Bunny said:

You might want to see if your university has automatic document feed scanners... I mean, unless you want to be feeding in pages for the next few months

They probably do, but it's dozens and dozens of documents. 

I guess I could just scan it all in one mighty huge PDF and call it a day. *shrugs*

@Danger_Zone, I actually own a large number of video games, but I admit I haven't touched them in quite a while. I should sell them. 

Edited May 19, 2016 by Neist

[MarineBluePsy]

11 hours ago, Neist said:

I'm curious if they are going to end the entire series after another season. I mean, of course it had to happen, but....  

But if they end Bates Motel how will I fill that hour of tv each week?!  Plus I get so many fashion ideas from Norma's wardrobe, it's a darn shame the whole thing is custom made for her and can't be bought in stores.

11 hours ago, hippyscientist said:

I haven't been watching either of those shows but I am rewatching Gossip Girl, and watching for the first time True Blood. I am loving both  

Good idea!  I came into Gossip Girl after a couple of seasons and never saw they early years that explained the long standing grudges and drama. 

9 hours ago, Cat_Robutt said:

@hippyscientist I just started watching Gilmore Girls for the first time about a month ago....am almost done with Season 1. It's like there was this whole side of American pop culture that I just get now!

Gilmore Girls is amazing!  I'm rewatching it now since its what I call comfort tv, sorta like comfort food.  I'm almost done with season 2 and hoping to finish rewatching all of it before the Netflix reboot starts.  I still don't get all those pop culture references, but it's all part of the fun.

6 hours ago, Neist said:

I've been going through boxes of old class materials and I'm going to attempt to scan it all during the next few weeks.

It looks like it's going to be thousands of sheets. I might just give up and only scan papers with hand-written critiques and old syllabi. I might just throw away my marked-up journal articles. Probably best to look at them with fresh eyes if I ever need to return to them.

Don't you have library interns or volunteers that can do that?  There really is no point in having minions if you don't make them work.

[hippyscientist]

5 hours ago, Pink Fuzzy Bunny said:

Ooh, what are you using MATLAB for? But seriously, take that month and rest.... don't even think about work-related things!

I really love my research group and find the work they do fascinating, which is surprising since I wasn't really excited for it until very recently - this week-ish in fact. The other graduate students are great, but I feel bad for following them around like a lost puppy since I'm not skilled on anything enough to, you know, accomplish anything. I have only ever done theoretical physics, so until this week I had never used any sort of microscope, spectrometer, chemicals, or anything. Thank goodness for Google so I don't have to bother them with questions like "what is a microscope slide cover?"

 

That sounds amazing though! I think lost-puppy syndrome is expected at first - new environment, new research, learn from those who know it. Plus it sounds like you're being sensible by not asking questions that you can Google - but remember, there is no thing as a stupid question so don't rely on Google all the time  

I basically will use MATLAB for everything come Fall. It's the go-to software for my field and I'll need to be able to do everything from inverse dynamics to complex simulation models. I thought I'd be using it for my MSc research but it turns out I'm sending my data to Hong Kong to be analysed so I don't need to do that bit. Maybe I'll use that time to figure some of it out haha.

@Neist reading is awesome. While not academic reading, I have just finished fiction book #8 of the year. Pretty happy with that progress seeing as I seem to fall asleep with the book on my face every night.

You guys, what is Steven Universe? I'm seeing love for that here!

[sjoh197]

6 hours ago, hippyscientist said:

I basically will use MATLAB for everything come Fall. It's the go-to software for my field

Blech... matlab.  

 

So... with all of the stress of figuring out my funding issues, and grad school issues... I now have to go in for an MRI to see if I might possibly have to have surgery done on my ankle. Because everyone wants the chance of starting grad school in a boot. 

[hippyscientist]

1 minute ago, sjoh197 said:

Blech... matlab.  

 

So... with all of the stress of figuring out my funding issues, and grad school issues... I now have to go in for an MRI to see if I might possibly have to have surgery done on my ankle. Because everyone wants the chance of starting grad school in a boot. 

Sorry to hear about your ankle. I'm in a similar boat actually - I have to go in for an MRI on my knee and potential surgery prior to moving. I've been trying conservative treatment for the past few years but it doesn't seem to be working. So we could both be starting on crutches...

[Neist]

 

6 hours ago, hippyscientist said:

@Neist reading is awesome. While not academic reading, I have just finished fiction book #8 of the year. Pretty happy with that progress seeing as I seem to fall asleep with the book on my face every night.

What sorts of fiction do you enjoy, if you don't mind sharing? #BookNerdsUnite

9 hours ago, MarineBluePsy said:

Don't you have library interns or volunteers that can do that?  There really is no point in having minions if you don't make them work.

Oh, that'd be far too boring to ask anyone to do.  I do have an auto feed scanner that scans both sides simultaneously in my office, but it tends to jam if you put more than one piece of paper in it. It's used mostly for invoices, so it's never been much of an issue. But I'm not sure if I want to endure sitting here for 10 hours feeding in one page at a time.

9 hours ago, MarineBluePsy said:

But if they end Bates Motel how will I fill that hour of tv each week?!  Plus I get so many fashion ideas from Norma's wardrobe, it's a darn shame the whole thing is custom made for her and can't be bought in stores.

Part of me wonders if they aren't going to take some creative liberties in the series. And I guess they could keep making shows if they simply push beyond the inevitable conclusion that we must expect to happen? They are already getting close to that point.

[hippyscientist]

57 minutes ago, Neist said:

 

What sorts of fiction do you enjoy, if you don't mind sharing? #BookNerdsUnite

I love fantasy, and anything with an adventure in it. I grew up on the Famous 5 (like when I was about 5) and then transitioned to Harry Potter (who didn't?). Authors I currently am enjoying are Brent Weeks, Joe Abercrombie, Trudi Canavan, John Gwynne, Anthony Ryan etc. I loved the Farseer series by Robin Hobb, Magician series by Raymond e. Feist etc. I'm also partial to crime stories, adventure (I love love love love anything by Clive Cussler - guilty pleasure), the occasional bonkbuster (hello Jackie Collins) and I do love me some autobiographies as well. Normally sports people but I have to say the one that really sticks with me is Scar Tissue - Anthony Kiedis. Now that my book history is aired to the world, anyone else want to contribute theirs? 

[Neist]

1 hour ago, hippyscientist said:

Now that my book history is aired to the world, anyone else want to contribute theirs? 

I like biographies and memoirs, especially if they tell a bit of history during the process and especially if they are science, technology or medicine related. Although, any book in that subject area is pretty awesome.  I like fiction too, but fiction that tends to be tangentially related to that subject area. For example, a few months ago I read The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. 

I'm a reader of singular focus. A little boring perhaps, but I like'em.

[hippyscientist]

25 minutes ago, Neist said:

I like biographies and memoirs, especially if they tell a bit of history during the process and especially if they are science, technology or medicine related. Although, any book in that subject area is pretty awesome.  I like fiction too, but fiction that tends to be tangentially related to that subject area. For example, a few months ago I read The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. 

I'm a reader of singular focus. A little boring perhaps, but I like'em.

I get that. I like the Feynman books, Science: A History, anything physics-y when I'm reading for knowledge. But that stuff I only read when I feel like using my brain, which after a long day at uni I don't!  I use my books to escape from the world - I go into a meditative state and become immersed in the story, so it makes sense I like fantasy and things away from normal, regular life.

That book looks fantastic. Might have to investigate further...

Edited May 19, 2016 by hippyscientist

[Neist]

43 minutes ago, hippyscientist said:

I get that. I like the Feynman books, Science: A History, anything physics-y when I'm reading for knowledge. But that stuff I only read when I feel like using my brain, which after a long day at uni I don't!  I use my books to escape from the world - I go into a meditative state and become immersed in the story, so it makes sense I like fantasy and things away from normal, regular life.

That book looks fantastic. Might have to investigate further...

I'm the same, actually.  There's definitely some science-y books that are like that, but they have to be tied to a narrative. Books, at least for me, simply aren't interesting without a story. A story engages the reader. Too many history books lecture, and that gets tiresome.

I think it's one reason why I like biographies more. It attaches history to a story, and in the process the history becomes much more memorable. 

[sjoh197]

One of the best things about this time of year is that the fresh peaches, plums, and nectarines have finally come out.