Only in LA for a little while longer. Heading back up to Stanford on Tuesday, at which point my life will become immeasurably busier. Not really looking forward to that (of course), but I do think most of the program I'm working at is gonna be an absolute blast, so I'll be happy to get that started ( Read more... )

A sad thing happened today. Right before dinner, a large moth flew into the apartment and was zooming around haphazardly in the general vicinity of the dinner table. The girls did the usual (shriek, flee) and I got up to try and catch it and take it outside. I didn't want to grab it as fast as I could, for fear that I would squish it, but I ( Read more... )

Adventures in LA are pretty much continuing as usual. I am excellent at sitting around doing nothing, which is fortunate since I do it frequently here. It's not that I don't have opportunities to do other stuff -- I do sometimes, but I am pretty lazy.

I have started playing some taiko, though. =) I practiced with Yukai Daiko on Monday, and ( Read more... )

Congratulations to all of the '07 graduates this year. =) I...have not graduated, but I'm almost there. That's why I'm in LA now, taking a just scintillating physics class at UCLA. Actually, it's not so bad. The whole arrangement is kind of expensive, but maybe this is like an actual summer "vacation" of sorts? I don't know ( Read more... )

( Another crazy and long dream... )

I have just played a game of Pocket Tanks.

This is the beginning of my liberation from the Tyranny of this past term.

This term still seems to be hanging around as if it's welcome or I'm enjoying it's presence. Neither of those is true.

I'll let you guys know if I fail this ethics class, though, 'cause that would be interesting information. Hopefully I won't. Ethics are さっぱり要らない anyway.

Time for more problem sets now. Ja ne.

The urushi sap contains an oily substance called urushiol. When exposed to warmth and humidity, an enzyme is activated and extracts oxygen from the water and supplies it to the urushiol. The urushiol solidifies, forming a hard film. Even after it has hardened, the urushi retains some water content, making it look perpetually wet and shiny ( Read more... )

Bought a $300 piece of bamboo yesterday. It plays music, though, so I feel like it's marginally justified. I know I'm supposed to be saving money, but...um...I wanted it ( Read more... )

( Survey Sype. )