One word: AWESOME.

Apparently the folks at BMW were thinking along the same lines because their newest concept its a step in that mentality. BMW’s new concept is called the GINA Light Visionary model. GINA stands for “Geometry and Functions in ‘N’ Adaptations”. The concept uses a “textile fabric that’s pulled taut around a frame of metal and carbon fiber wires”. This gives the effect of “skin” that can be pulled and stretched in to create openings, such as the headlamps for example which can “blink” closed and a hood that opens much like a chest giving way to a heart. Its quite an amazing accomplishment and although it probably will not make it to market in its current form (or perhaps even any form) anytime soon - it definitely struck a chord with me. I’m sure other car enthusiasts looking to bring their cars closer to being “alive” think the same.

Actually, I’m in the airport right now while I’m writing this blog…I’m in front of my gate at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac), 2 hours early since the shuttle couldn’t drop me off any later than 3:50 AM (grrrrr….) , so pardon my grammar if I tend to run on; I haven’t had sleep in 30+ hours.  Hopefully i’ll be sleeping on the plane, but I always hope that there is a hot girl that sits next to me and happens to talk to me (love at first sight?  hahaha who knows).

Lately, I’ve been catching up on new technologies, reading up on a guy finishing his surgical residency (Atul Gawande), reading about diseases, honing my skills on writing upside down, and mastering trigonometry & geometry (c/o Mathnasium).  Speaking of work, it has been oddly satisfying; it’s great to know that people I have taught are no longer failing!  They are earning Cs, and even Bs!  Their improvement in their math scores has been VERY drastic, to say the least (given that I’ve only been working with them for a maximum of 3-4 months).  It seems that these kids are now enjoying math, and it’s awesome to see the maturity of their work increase as well.  I guess you could say that I’m starting to get the feeling of how teachers might feel when they finally reach one of those difficult students and help them understand.

I’ve been watching too much TV;  seriously, I think it’s starting to rot my brain.  However, there have been two interesting series of late that I must mention: The Human Body - Pushing the Limits, and NASA Missions - When We Left Earth.  First, the Human Body series:  I watched a special on brain power, and I was mesmerized (not just because I was a Neuroscience major) at the descriptions and comparisons that the show made to what the potential of the brain really is, and I think it’s something that everyone should see to realize how much ANYONE can actually learn, and what kind of abuse your body can really take!  Secondly, the NASA Special really brought out an emotional side of me that I haven’t felt since studying time travel; I guess space travel has that effect on me, especially in HD.  Definitely watch it (They’re both on Discovery Channel, with NASA Special airing on Sunday Night).

Otherwise, that’s it.  On a closing note, I feel proud to call myself a Southern Californian, even if I no longer live there (for now…).  This diverse place has taught me so much, and it has given me so much more.  I hope that the future fulfills much of the promise that Southern California always gave me.  Peace!

And not a moment too soon either, its been educational figuring out I can manage roughly 320 miles per tank cruising in the Z. To that end, last month the civic actually eclipsed the F-150 as the best selling car in America. A wake up call indeed. I’m sure Tpen is owning me when it comes to millage and not only with driving skills - I heard the brew in most states if not all of them is a touch better on the millage than that 87, 89, 91 w/ additives we get in Cali.

Alright alright, enough with the petrol schpeal. I’m hoping to toss up a few more posts in the days to come and get this blog back to regularity.

Tpenology is back in session.

This video is from the TED2008 Conference (TED = Technology. Entertainment. Design)

I love to teach others about what neuroscience is all about, and I feel that this video gives a glimpse into a world that few have had a chance to really understand. I don’t claim to understand the entirety of the nervous system, but these “lesson” blog posts will provide a brief overview into the study of the brain, and perhaps you will come to love neuroscience as much as I have.

Indeed, the brain does come in two halves - the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere.  They are connected via the corpus callosum, and although their functions differ, they remain structurally identical (in terms of neuronal organization).  Additional notes:  The left hemisphere controls the right part of the body, while the right hemisphere controls the left part of the body.  They cross in the spinal cord at a point called the pyramidal decussation, where the neurons leaving the brain stem for other parts of the body switch sides.  This decussation occurs near C1/C2, at the beginning of the spinal cord.

It’s a Dahon Speed 7 that I rented from Montlake bicycle shop near UW. I only rented it for a day, but the people at the bike shop were super friendly and gave me some great advice on finding a folding bike for a commute to the city.

Here is my setup for the Samba Fileserver:

I have my old VAIO next to my router and cable modem, with a samba setup. It allows me to connect to my fileserver using my wireless network, and it is Windows & Mac (& Linux) compatible, which makes it great for simply daisy-chaining more hard drives to use as network drives. It makes everything seamless, although performance would be much better with a wireless-N router. But hey, you win some, you lose some!

And I made some spinach ravioli, which takes forever to clean up (because of all of the cookware), but it was worth it. It doesn’t look very appetizing, but I can guarantee that it tasted GOOD.

Anyways, that’s all from my end. I promise my next post will be more entertaining and informative, so bear with me. Now, off to work! YAY!!

It’s a great place to work, but it’s an even better place to learn math.

Anyways, some other things that I’ve been working on throughout the past 2 weeks are my new logo (which I will post up by this weekend) and adding more flickr pictures.  Also, I found this one commercial that REALLY blew me away, and I couldn’t stop watching it:   Peliculas Ponder / Metro

It’s by this guy named Gabe Ibanez, and it’s UNBELIEVABLE the angle which he shows this commercial at; it really is amazing.

Anyways, that’s enough about the blurb on Mathnasium and other stuff; have a great weekend!

Monday, September 03, 2007

I use to believe that funerals were the biggest rip off of any of the big human ceremonies. People live for many years to come, unnoticed by the world in the passing of time. Then suddenly they pass on and we gather on a single day to mourn in all the memories that person had been and all those days we had to share with them but didn’t. I’m not sure if I can accept that anymore. Even if there were days we never saw them, there are people whose presence is felt beneath the great weight they have in our lives. For us, it is the accumulation of this substance which comes to a head on this day we’ve come together. The sum of that person’s effect in our lives become compressed and, in my eyes, overcomes our own vanity of wishing to have been there more. The sum of thoughts…feelings…emotion; what life that person imprinted on our hearts seems to spark and shine in immolation. And painting a picture of this fire burning inside is reflected on the sorrow on our faces. When you close your eyes and think of this person, if nothing else…not on the sorrow but the fragments of time in which it meant something more dear to have known him or her than the pain of having lost them forever. When you close your eyes and wonder, those of you who barely knew that person or not at all – think, as you will, of what human essence is eternally parted from us: hopes, dreams, desires, accomplishments, failures, anguish, triumph, as is what it is to live and not of how little impact this may have on you to have so been spared the pain of loss. We are granted a stronger sense, a more profound appreciation for our fellow man in every passing – and this is death’s gift. And it is for this reason we cherish life – not cling to it. We respect its passing – not condemn it. Life gives us value, weight, and substance. It is substantial in the vacuity of existence. In return…simply “being” is made more.

Not very exciting is it…I was relatively surprised. Although, the only differences between it and a normal starbucks is the nice gang of african-americans hanging outside singing a-cappella and the brown starbucks sign and logo (as opposed to the green circle with the lady) seen throughout the store. It’s also packed with tourists and a special blend of “pike place market” coffee along with a gang of baristas ready to take your order. Service was slightly slow, but it was a nice change from your everyday Starbucks. It’s located on Pike Street, right across the street from Pike Place Market.

The sun showed itself for the first time in 3 weeks, and everyone was out to enjoy the beautiful weather. (Yes, for all you nonbelievers, there ARE days where it doesn’t rain in Seattle)

Now, I’m at home, sleepy from my extended adventure in downtown.