Out There

so let your kid get muddy, suffer a few scrapes and bruises, and learn some of life's most important lessons!

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May 10, 2007

a pretty damned good life-motto

Give me 70 years full of good food, good drink and good friends

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April 11, 2007

Bacon popcorn

my curiosity (fueled in part by the knowledge of a particular former housemate of mine who had a particular affinity for bacon-anything) led me to follow a link to this recipe online: Nosheteria: Snacking Thy Name is Decadence.
and i must admit that although the mental image of a layer of bacon fat in the bottom of a cooking pot usually isn't exactly tempting, the idea of cooking popcorn in bacon fat is STRANGELY APPEALING.  i blame the abovementioned housemate...

:o)

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November 08, 2006

hybrid photos

a picture is worth a thousand words?  what happens when those words vary from "sad" to "happy" or "smiling" to "evil" depending on how far awar from the pictures?

Some pretty interesting research from the cogsci/AI labs at MIT: Hybrid Images

powered by performancing firefox

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September 25, 2006

Patenting gone wrong

Patenting is good, right? I mean, most anyone who has taken a basic economics class has been through the argument that explains how the royalties received on a patent act as an incentive for the development or creation of a new product/method/whatever. Of course, we have all probably also heard of some of the downsides of patents - anti-retroviral drugs aren't viable as a method of preventing the advancement of HIV in Africa, because the patented drugs come with an astronomical price-tag.

ok, so patents act as incentives for the development of new things, but the prices of said patented products vastly limit the spread of the products. what's more important?

how about your thoughts? does it sound ridiculous that you could be sued for just thinking about something? well, this matter, and a number of other thought-provoking issues - are being considered by the Supreme Court. Read one author's (you might have heard of Michael Crichton, he wrote that really famous movie about dinosaurs...) opnion on the notion of patenting the biological relationship between a medical condition and vitamin deficiency (absurd) and the future of a patent system gone wrong (very absurd):
This Essay Breaks the Law

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May 31, 2006

An interesting example of forward-thinking...

I wasn't aware that NYC is supposed to grow by 1 million people in the next decade or so. That's a lot of people. A lot of kids, a lot of employees, of employers, a lot of breakfast sandwiches and cups of coffee, a lot of empty coffee cups and a lot more people that in general need entertaining. This article, The Future of New York City: A vision of 2016 provides an interesting thought experiment. I find it somehwat reassuring that city planners and officials at least seem to be trying to get themselves, and the city, prepared for the increasing population, instead of panicking when it becomes a reality.

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Why do I love stanford professors? Here's why...

Here is a charming article written by John Perry, a Professor of Philosophy at Stanford University, about The art of Structured Procrastination. Reading this essay made me smile, feel slightly silly at my own proficiency in procrastination, and recognize just how accurately the author captures the sentiment of procrastination. I won't mention what task I am currently putting off by writing this entry... ; )

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April 07, 2006

Heralding spring

So there are lots of signs of spring that people look forward to seeing as winter slowly draws to a grey and sodden end. Birds singing gaily, pussywillows and green buds on the trees, crocus and other spring flowers gradually pressing their way upwards from the soil. But I've decided that the absolute sign of spring for me is when the streets are swept. In Norway we don't use salt on the roads to melt the snow and ice and kill all living things... we use gravel and sand. So come springtime, when all the levels of snow and ice finally melt, there's a pretty thick layer of gravel and sand on the roads. When the weather has finally turned warmer, the streets are swept and all the gravel is picked up and put away to be used again next year. It's like spring cleaning for the streets and leaves them nice and soft and clean-looking, and tells me that spring is here to stay : )

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March 22, 2006

What's the secret to successful web design?

well, as in many other cases, that depends on how you would like to measure your success. Are you interested in being noticed for your sleek coding and simplistic design? Or are you trying to show that you artfully master all the latest and greatest tips, tools and tricks of webdesign? Do you want positive comments on your website, or maybe even an award or recognition for your design? Do you measure success in number of visitors? Or perhaps you just are interested in the bottom line - how much money can you make on your website?

This article, The Surprising Truth About Ugly Websites, brings up the classic debate of form vs. function, and reminds us that in fact

a large part of our society is actually afraid of the Internet.

and that it is often this part of society that actually drops the dollars at various websites (often by bringing in ad money). So the bottom line here is actually not a big surprise - especially if you know a little something about the fundamental tenets of marketing - it's all about trust. The important part is determining your target audience and then figuring out the best way to earn their trust.

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February 24, 2006

themed movie nights

i haven't had a movie marathon in ages, but for some reason the idea popped into my head a while back... i'll throw up some of my ideas here for (primarily personal) future reference.

:: Major Junior-High flashback evening ::
Reality Bites & Empire Records

...more to come...

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October 27, 2005

incompetence!

grr. so i have a nice digital camera that does all kinds of cool tricks and does much to flatter my amateur photography skills. a few weeks ago i was going to try to use one of those nice bright yellow machines at Walmart to print out some digital pictures, and i figured that the best way to do this would be to bring the pictures in on my memory card. when i plugged in my camera to my computer and went to press the button that said "Uploads images to camera" but the button wasn't active.
so i wrote in to Canon and asked them why the software option is there, but not possible to use. This is their reply:

The EOS Digital Rebel XT does not support uploading images from the computer to the camera. We regret this inconvenience. Decisions to include or exclude a particular camera feature are made by our engineers and product designers in Japan, based on a number of factors. Consumer demand, technological limitations, and customer feedback are all taken in to consideration. Unfortunately, I am unable to provide you with an exact reason why this particular feature was not included in the EOS Digital Rebel XT.

grrr. i mean, come on now people, how hard could it really have been to include this "write" function??!?? i have this ginormous memory card, but can't use it to bring my pictures to be printed. this just seems like someone took an idea 95% of the way, and then just stopped. this pisses me off to no end... *rar*

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October 19, 2005

the battle over high-def DVD: the real losers...

so we discussed this issue at stanford this summer, and it really just bugs the crap out of me. DVDs are moving to the next generation - high definition - but the industry cannot agree on a common technology, and therefore the VHS vs. Betamax battle from the 1980's is going to repeat itself. the winners? too soon to tell. the losers? consumers.

So the deal here is that two different companies have separately developed their own high definition DVD technology. On one hand there is Blu-Ray developed by an association that includes among others Sony and Phillips, on the other is HD DVD which is being backed by companies like Toshiba and Sanyo. I'm not going to get into the details of the technology. The main point is that to enjoy either of these technologies you need to buy brand new equipment (estimated at $1000) and the two technologies are incompatible. This means that movies will be issued on either Blu-Ray discs or HD DVD discs (depending on which studio is behind the movie - studios and software companies are taking sides in this battle...) and that you will only be able to watch Blu-Ray discs on your Blu-Ray equipment.
What does this mean for consumers? Well, in all likelihood, there will not be room for both of these technologies in the long-term market, so one of them will eventually be forced out of business by market forces. However, any consumers who have invested in what will end up being the losing technology will be left with some expensive equipment and discs, that will no longer be compatible with the high definition DVD market items. basically, they lose.

So, the bottom line here is that the competition between companies to develop this technology independently has led to the emergence of two incompatible technolgies. Motion picture studios, software companies, and consumers will be forced to choose sides, and ultimately, one camp will lose out. Big Time.

Who's it gonna be?

Posted by lara at 09:54 AM | Comments (1)

October 17, 2005

Kicking up leaves...

I was out walking the dog today and as I was walking down this gravel road that is lined by large maple trees, I found myself walking over on the edge of the road where the multi-colored leaves were fairly thick. totally subconsciously, i was absentmindedly kicking up the leaves with each step... and smiling about it. so i started to wonder why kicking up fallen leaves is so much fun... perhaps it's because there really aren't that many days of the year when you can do it. or perhaps it's because it makes such a satisfying swooshing sound. or perhaps it's the tiny little display of colors as the leaves flutter back to the ground.
who knows?

it's fun. you should try it.

Posted by lara at 11:42 AM | Comments (1)

September 01, 2005

thoughts from TV-land II

and then i actually watched an episode of Extreme Makeover, where they take people who are dissatisfied with their appearance and totally transform them - we're talking multiple plastic surgeries, botox, teeth-stuff, liposuction, and of course hair/makeup. these people completely change their visual appearance! and that got me to thinking: can you change your appearance so drastically without it having an effect on who you are? on your personality?
i mean, my body is not perfect, but a very important part of who i am is the result of coming to terms with my body, and learning to like it. your body is - sad but true - to a large degree, the most basic first impression people get from you. and so i really feel that your appearance - your imperfections, your unique traits, etc etc - are quite fundamental to who you are. so when you change them, then what?
i suppose it might be interesting to do follow-ups with these people and see what kinds of changes have occurred in their lives after their makeover. i think that it's really great to help people who have big problems with their confidence because of their physical appearance, but still... what happens to the girl who is 25 and has never been kissed because of a slightly awkward appearance, when she all of a sudden has a perfect face, a perfect body? renewed self-confidence is great, but can you really stay the same person after such a change?

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August 30, 2005

thoughts from TV-land I

ok, so i have never actually seen an episode of the Bachelor, but i canæt avoid the commercials for it... and the latest commercial is trying to get people excited about the final episode of season seven, and it struck me as somewhat odd. there is this guy (the bachelor) who is talking - with tears in his eyes, mind you - about how he never realized how hard this show was going to be, and how he is in love with both girls and doesn't know what to do. i mean, we're expected to be very sympathetic towards this good-looking guy (how else would he be on this program?) who is so torn between these two women, who he has gotten to know through this competition/program/whatever. and we're supposed to believe him that he is totally in love with both of these girls. i'm sorry, i don't buy in to that. i mean, it's not like i don't believe in love at first sight, or love that grows very quickly ( ;) ) but this guy is claiming that he has fallen in love with two people at the same time.
i'm not entirely certain what my definition of love is, but i'm pretty sure that there isn't room for two people in it - i mean, being in love, truly, with two people at once. so either this guy has a very strange definition of love, or, he's talking shit to be on TV. the latter option is quite possible, i mean, the pressure to make good TV is substantial. however, if this is the case...well, i guess i just feel sad for the guy.

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July 05, 2005

the brain as a biological organism/ analog vs digital debate

this might seem like an obvious statement.. however, the idea that it might not be leapt out at me in the first 30s of reading this article:

"Are brains analog, or digital?"

honestly, this article really annoyed me. i personally don't think that there is a need for the attitude that prevails in this guy's writing - which in itself is confusing and hard to follow. i don't think i even understand what argument the author is trying to make. other than saying that a psycholinguist and associate professor of psychology at Cornell is not "a real scientist". which i take a fair amount of offense at on behalf of the professor, the school, and the field of psychology.

so while i originally started out this entry to comment on the actual contents of the analog vs digital metaphor of the brain, instead i am more interested in finding a better source for my insight into this debate... because i can't take anything in the above article seriously.

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June 29, 2005

annoying people

yes, they do exist everywhere you go...
we're supposed to have study groups every night to go over the homework assignments for class, and we have just been assigned to a group, no choice involved. last week's group was really good, we talked through the problems, had some insight, made a lot of bad jokes... this week's group is much more concerned with drinking/partying/going out than actually studying (this is one helluva expensive way to go about partying). so last night they just all decided not to meet at all. i sat down with a few other people who had been abandoned by their groups and we went through the problems and readings.
then, today before class, who should come up to me but every member of my group (save one)? and what did they want? oh yeah, to know what the homework was... because the prof does cold calls and so you'd better know the answers. anyways, long story somewhat shorter, i explained to them what the problems were about and sketched out the answers. grr. i mean, i don't mind helping people, especially if they are having trouble understanding, but for fuck's sake, these people hadn't even tried.
*sigh*

we'll see what happens tonight i guess...

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June 01, 2005

i want a picture that captures this song...

Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup,
They slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow, waves of joy are drifting through my open mind,
Possessing and caressing me.
Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world,
Nothing's gonna change my world.

Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes,
That call me on and on across the universe,
Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box they
Tumble blindly as they make their way
Across the universe
Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world,
Nothing's gonna change my world.

Sounds of laughter shades of earth are ringing
Through my open views inviting and inciting me
Limitless undying love which shines around me like a
Million suns, it calls me on and on
Across the universe
Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world,
Nothing's gonna change my world.

Posted by lara at 03:37 PM | Comments (0)

May 26, 2005

two random observations

so i went to home depot yesterday to get a couple of things, such as paint, stains and pads. when i got over to the paint dept and told the guy that i needed enough paint to cover 215 square feet, and asked for a base color with an eggwash sheen, but not satin, he looked at me quizzically (excellent word!) and then mixed the paint. when he put it in the shaker i started talking about stains, and told him we were going to be treating new wood and asked if we should be concerned with the stain differentially coloring the soft and hard wood. he told me that this was in fact a concern, that most people completely miss, and showed me some stuff to treat the wood with to avoid it. then he told me he'd carry the paint to the checkout for me since i didn't have a cart (we're talking 2 gallons here). whatever. as we walked we talked about the stain and the grain of the wood (yes, i *know*) and when we got over to the register the guys there had this odd little exchange of looks... and then they fell over themselves trying to get me all the stuff i needed to get my manufacturer's rebate on the paint and offered to help me carry stuff to the car. honestly. just because i happen to know a little about what i was talking about...

then, on the radio the hosts were discussion Stevie Nicks (sp?) and how she's celebrating her birthday with a "world wide tour" that would take her "all over the country". i was struck by the fact that these people seem to think that travelling all around the US constitutes a world-wide tour... and it reminded me how horrified i was to hear about what my friends at vassar had learned in their history classes: nothing. well, i mean, very little about anything not involving the US. this makes me very sad, because i see the effects of not knowing much about your fellow world-citizens everyday in displays of ignorance (and we're not just talking about people asking me if Norway is the capital of Sweden). on the other hand, i realize that the US is a large country and there's lots to learn about it. however, i do feel that finding a middle ground might not be a bad idea... a lot of people are really offended by Americans and their lack of knowledge. *sigh*

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May 13, 2005

a new love

so i finally went up to the gorgeous porsche that i've been seeing in the Walker parking lot and discovered that it's a Targa. and aboslutely stunning. it's just beyond description, and i'm in love... so i found some pictures to share.

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February 23, 2005

my new favorite word

petrichor -
A pleasant, distinctive smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather in certain regions(OED online)
w00t! (i can't believe i just wrote that...)
thanks to the lovely kate for introducing me to this word.

Posted by lara at 06:50 PM | Comments (0)

January 26, 2005

musings

so, here's my question: why do girls (women, whatever) feel the need to walk around strutting their stomach? i mean, i see on a daily basis several women walking around wearing super-low-cut pants, short tops, and literally pushing out their stomach. what??!?! why is this deemed attractive? not to mention the fact that arching your back that much must be bad for your posture. *sigh* i suppose this is one of those frustrating things about getting older - a feeling of disconnection with younger people. but no, these are definately people who are two years younger than me... i don't get it.

on a happier note, I'M GOING SKIING TOMORROW! yay! i'm totally ditching my thesis (the first draft of which is due on friday) and taking a personal sanity day to swoosh down the slopes. i'm kinda frustrated that i didn't get to go skiing at home over break, on account of there being NO SNOW, and apparently people pick up on that kind of stuff and one gets invited to go skiing. yay! (i'm being repetitive)

anyways, so i've survived my second 6-9am frisbee practice. i'm a little worried about my body collapsing this semester, on account of two 6-9am frisbee practices, two tennis classes and 2-3 jazz classes a week, but i'm hoping that i'll at least get a warning signal : ) so far so good, and who knows, i just might get in shape! woohoo. time for dinner, and then lots and lots of reading.

Posted by lara at 06:24 PM | Comments (0)

November 11, 2004

once again...

http://www.livejournal.com/community/vassar/203811.html

Posted by lara at 02:55 PM | Comments (0)