Sorry, this journal is friends only. Generally, I leave the most recent couple of updates public, but then lock everything down later. So refresh often, or leave a comment if you want an add. 

I read Regression by Kathy Bell last night. For $0.99 on the Kindle, it was more than worth the price. But it was kind of a difficult read.

The main character is a 40 year old mother of 6 who has a PhD in child development; after a car wreck on Nov 11 2011 she wakes up as a 14 year old in the 1980s--with all of her memories. As the book goes on it becomes clear that Something Bad happens on 11-11-11; but it turns out some other scientists have been sent back in time as well; The other scientists, all male, have made a huge corporation and has advanced the tech in the 80s to something like it is today; their hope is to prepare humanity for whatever happens--they don't really have a clue what.

Anyways, there are obviously gender dynamics when every other scientist sent back was male and the new Regressee is a woman. The challenging part of the novel is that half the time the woman is totally rational, but the other half of the time she's all flirty and passionate. While she's a kickass scientist, the plot shows that her fate is to be the mitochondrial Eve for the next leg of humanity; basically, a brooding mare.

I had to stop reading last night when she made out with some guy that had been treating her like dirt. Afterwards she was like, "Oh, he's my buddy now. Yay." I couldn't take anymore; but I did finish it today. It was a good book. Just challenging.

In other news, if all you drink is beer and wine for 2 or 3 days, you get a headache.

So relieved to be done with this quarter. It doesn't even matter what my grades are.

Turned in my report. My further work section says that the entire report is baseless.

Now to study for Computer Architecture, because I really need to get an A in at least 1 class this quarter..

So Chancellor Katehi just spoke to the ECE graduate students and faculty (she is an EE). She had a reasonable presentation on her life as a grad student and faculty member and spoke a little bit about the challenges and future for UCD. When the time for questions came around, no one had any wild shouts about "Our University" but rather a reasoned discussion about the public mission, etc...

Oh, well, there was that one question about the "3 characters on the slide.. what do they mean? I do not understand them." There were no slides, of course. It was just the centennial logo screen saver from the projector.

What.

I really have no idea what I'm going to write this report on, which is a big detriment to getting started on it. I did have some ideas, but after doing some research I have realized that queuing models aren't appropriate.

My other option is to do a literature survey... guess its time to hit up Google Scholar.

Update 1: Why can't I find any articles that are vaguely interesting? Well, I did find one that was 2 pages long. Bleh. The thing about queuing theory is that it only gives you the most vague of results. Like, "Yes, the queues will not get infinitely long" or "The average length is 4." And while there is a whole lot of math, that's... basically it. But we're supposed to go "Narrow and deep" rather than "broad and shallow." You know, we never even got a proper assignment with some written down instructions/expectations/etc. Just an oral description in class, which consisted mostly of the phrase "narrow and deep." I hate this class, I never should have taken it.

Update (2 am): I have an idea!

Because I really want to stay late doing my report today, here is a comparison of the DNS services provided by Comcast, OpenDNS, and the newly begun Google DNS. I've been querying each service every 15 seconds for the past 3 days and recording the latency. I have 5000 samples of OpenDNS and GoogleDNS, but so far only 3000 samples of Comcast. But that's probably enough. To be specific, the Comcast server I measured is the one that does not redirect you to their private search utility on failure.



In conclusion, if you're on Comcast, using the Comcast DNS is the fastest. However, they tend to jack things up every so often, so I'll be sticking with OpenDNS.

I don't know why Google is so slow. I read some articles on the web that they might be hosting the server in Europe or something. Edit: But that must be wrong (the minimum latency is ~30 ms which should be a rough measure of propagation delay. 30ms is only enough time for light to go only to the east coast and back); it's probably in the Great Plains somewhere. Lame.

Edit: Oh, now I find namebench. Fantastic.

Got out of the shower at 5:20 this morning and walked into my room naked.

Kitty was sitting on my chair, staring at me.

wth.

This is what I got done since I came in this morning. 600 lines of code. Vlad is probably at.. 300, but he's a cheater.



Now to make the peer app. Eventually (by 11pm) it will be sort of a bit-torrent thing.

I've been a fan of MOSAIC.WAV and Hatsune Miku for some time now. So I am obviously ecstatic to listen to Heartsnative, which features remixes and original songs with duets between MOSAIC.WAV's Mi~ko and Miku. Mi~ko is probably the only professional vocalist that has a chance of matching Miku's pitch; its really a match made in geek heaven. As a bonus one of the remixed MOSAIC.WAV tracks is 電気の恋人 -I am Programmer's Song- /* VL-3901mkII */, and it is a very repeat-listenable version, a little bit softer than /* Dreamy IC Mix */. Perfect for all the work I need to get done~~

Anyways, here is the promo video.

From Saturday's Sacramento Bee (online here):

You're pathetic.

Jason Murphy, the university's governmental relations director, got nowhere when he tried to encourage students to redirect their anger to state lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"Stop passing the buck!" someone shouted.

Facepalm.

In other news, there is a petition to pressure the district attourney not to press charges against those arrested at Mrak Hall the other night.

Stupid buildings.

Why must they block GPS signals?

why doesn't Android give me a location when it has 3 satellites in view?

Stupid Android.

My tickets to the Shakespeare's Globe Theatre presentation of Love's Labour's Lost at the Mandavi Center is for November 11th.

Still need a date, but I have no prospects :(

This is a post to serve to further procastinate.

o EEC260 stats homework due tomorrow at 4. I probably need 16 hours to do this.
o Android web proxy server turned in at 11pm tomorrow. (Basically done but need to clean up a little)
o Computer Architecture homework due Thursday 12pm. I probably need 3 hours to do this.
o ECS256 stats homework due thursday 10:30am. I probably need 12 hours to do this.
o Computer Networks homework due Friday 11pm.

These stats classes are kicking my ass. The homework problems are all really simple but it takes me forever to figure out what the heck I'm supposed to do.

On the other hand I ate oatmeal cookies and apricot bozo bars for lunch. Yum! And I also got 4 bottles of olive oil. The oil tastes really good! Cassie or Gregg should go to the supermarket and get some bread and basalmic vinegar. Oh, and if one of them could turn the crock pot on to 'low' at 5 pm or so that'd be great.

I'm going to the supermarket. The sweeties inside will give me their love. On demand. Like it should be~

;_;

Fast forward to 1:30. (This is the same video 3 times, with different soundtracks. The 2nd one has Miku singing.)


I like anime that use color like this.

Someone translate this crap.
Edit: Updated with subs

I've been watching Cosmos... so I have to post this.