Three chapters down...

Okay, if you have to ask "what's new?" I'll have to answer with a facepalm. Three chapters officially done. So that leaves JUST three more plus the appendices. Did I mentioned there's less than 3 weeks to go? Hmmm, the threes are definitely happening today. The good news, is that seriously the first three (there it is again) chapters are going to be the longest. How long do you say? Well without the references combined, we're talking over 200 pages.

I could've went for 333 pages, but then that would be just scary and besides 333 x 2 = 666 and that would be just mental (yeah, I'm all conspiracy theory today).

A few things outside the thesis I've been following. First, it's gone viral over the net but it's really moving. I'm not a fan of reality talent shows. I was bored of the first American Idol. But leave it to the media to take something and beat it over our heads. Now we've got "So you think can dance/sing/chew-gum-at-the-same-time!" all over. Talent shows are nothing new, but really, now it's like every country "Got Talent". So yawn... whatever. However earlier this week while reading my trusty Cdn news wesbite, I was directed to Ms. Susan Boyle. If you haven't heard of this story yet, go watch the video then come back.

Wow, hmmm? That's something rare: a honest moment of truth in this harsh judging materialistic labelling world. So many people can identify with Ms. Boyle. It'll be interesting how far she'll go now. I wonder if the makeover shows are now fighting over the rights to re-invent her. Regardless of what may come for Ms. Boyle, a golden Mad beaker award to thee.

Other things on the net chatter. Twitter! Yes, I've recently became another follower of this micromessenging fad. But of late it's becoming "who's more popular" war. Like the number of "friends" in your facebook profile. More recently, it was Ashton Kutcher vs. CNN for a million followers. I hear now Oprah is wanting in on this too (oooh I hear the Rocky Anthem). I do agree with Ashton saying that Twitter is democratizing media and removing filters between celebrities and fans, big media companies and their customers. There's always this wall between celebrities and fans. It's honestly in place for a good reason. But the strange thing is that it's the media that governs this wall. Now Twitter punches a hole in it, allowing some singer/writer/actor/activist/your mom to communicate freely with their group base. Of course you've got to be careful with what you believe. Hell I could start a twitter site as Heath Ledger or Albert Einstein. So if I follow anyone "famous", I'm a lil hesitant to believe it's actually them. It's just some harmless fun. There's the flip freak side of twittering: suddenly unknown people are following you. Most were companies trying to get me on board with their product. See that's a scary thing, next thing I know that ShamWoW dude will be following me. Or maybe Billy Mayes. Yeah... scary indeed. With all this following, I suspect Twitter will give birth the next schizo generation.

Okay, in my ear... a cult classic by Warren Zevon Aaaaahhhhhwoooooooooooooo!

holy sh!t it's fall already?

Maaaan this summer was a blur. Okay 30 second update:

The most vivid memories were the 10 days in Canada's Ocean PlayGround (aka Nova Scotia). I took my mom there for her 60th bday. Although she turns 60 in November, I decided in July that I'd take her for three reasons:

1. the maritimes in November don't have the best weather
2. the November I'm finishing my thesis, thus I don't have time for a 10 day retreat (though come November that's exactly what I would wish to have)
3. summer holidays are meant to be in summer

So we had an awesome time. Spending 10 days with your mother may seem irritating, but we managed not to get on each others nerves for 9 days. The 10th day, I think we were just cranky due to the whirlwind tireness of running around the province. We did all the tourisy things, but will definitely return to the fave spots. There's a cove in the highlands with our name on it, definitely going back there!

SoCal Kelly visited me again, she braved leaving her nirvana of sunny California to northern Canada. Sadly I was preoccupied with experiments, but managed to take off nights to enjoy the visit with her. We always enjoy our time together.

August... back to the bench, madly doing new experiments for a manuscript resubmission and then more experiments to leave what I'm calling a "legacy" for my lab. The data coming from it will jump start endless projects for the next decade or more. The downside is that I'll have to wait that long before getting credit for it in journal form. Woe well.

September - the return of undergrads underfoot. I think the more time you spend in university is porportional to the underlining dislike of lost undegrads. They can't help but be clueless and immature. But seriously, don't ask me to hold your hand to show you where the bathrooms are. I often just screw with their minds, "Oooooh you want THAT room... well you're in the wrong building."

The good news about fall - ice hockey begins again. I'm back in the crease. This time I'm going to improve on a few things: butterfly stops with my stick where it's SUPPOSED to be. The other is working on my weight. I'm not thin, neither pudgey. Clincally I'm obese, but I'm wanting to really work on that. Nothing drastic, just better eating and a lil more active. Who knows, I might shave off a dozen stones.

What's an intreresting blog without photos? All text and no eye candy make a scientist unpublishable (ick, need to work on catchy sayings too). So me will try to find some comics/pics that I enjoy. Maybe state my mood of the day.

I rented a van over this past weekend to pick up a TV from a friend. It had a GPS system on it (free of charge) which reminded me of this comic from XKCD.com