Newsy

Here are two cool sites to view the news in different methods. Ten by Ten searches multiple news sources and shows images relating to popular keywords from those news sources. Its interesting to see the images that show up over and over again.

Newsmap shows many of the headlines, and you can select which topics and country, by searching news.google.com and displaying the more popular headlines but also how recently they were posted. Pretty cool.

Ah yes, a healthy way to relieve stress, and have a drink when you're done!

Call me Vanna White

Wow! 100 site loads in about a week since I got the counter. That's pretty cool.

So, if you didn't know one of the love's of my life is the University YMCA. The Y is the mothership of a lot of student programs, including my very beloved Alternative Spring Break. (Should we start a counter now as to how many times I reference that site?) The Y helps a lot of these organizations in helping with organization, networking student leaders, building leadership skills, and simply providing a welcoming venue to hold meetings and other events. And, if you're here on U of I's campus, they have very reasonable and very yummy Thai food from 11-3 M-F. If you've never had thai food, I highly reccomend it. Tonight was the annual auction fundraiser for the YMCA; dinner, wine, music, silent auction, and live auction. I attended as next year I am going to be on the Y Student Board/Board of Governers, so I felt it would be a good idea. ASB definitely had the largest student representation there. I ended up being one of three girls showing off the items for auction; somehow we all showed up pretty dressed up so it worked out well, and I got some free stuff out of it, so that was cool. But yeah, YMCA, good cause, lots of people spending lots of money. And tomorrow I have a YMCA luncheon. Woohoo.

Oh, and I forgot (aka this is an edit). Geoff Merritt, over at That's Rentertainment, donated 100 movie rental blocks for sale at face value (so $100) to anyone who wanted them last night, with all of the proceeds going to the Y. That's Rentertainment is an AMAZING place - locally owned and operated, cheaper than bigger chains,a better selection than Blockbuster, and Geoff in active in the community. Check it out.

Funniest moment last night: Becca, the program director of the YMCA, threatening to kick people out of the auction if they didn't let her husband win the Cubs tickets. Funny.

Slugs and Goats

Goat-a-palooza was today, which is inherently awesome. Some of the lovely people in Allen hall borrowed a female goat and her two kids (heh) to raise money for Heifer international. Heifer's a pretty neat organization, if you haven't heard of them I seriously suggest you check them out. Not sure how much money they raised this year, but I know last year they managed to buy a BUNCH of animals.

Anyone that wants to go see Slither at the Beverly next Tuesday should come. I'm going to the 7:30 showing and its 50 cent popcorn if you bring your own bucket, so that should be awesome.

Speaking of bugs, if you watch Animal Planet you might see a show that my dad helped tape a segment for. Its a 3 minute segment of "The Silk Spinners" of David Attenborough's show "Life in the Undergrowth". It was more or less filmed in my backyard, meaning Lexington, KY. My dad and stepbrother helped out with the segment on bolas spiders, and my dad is given thanks in the credits. How cool is that! (And this is why this blog is called Geekin' out. Silk spinning spiders, who cares?) WOAH! Even cooler, my dad is listed as a scientific advisor in the credits at IMDB. More about bolas spiders is here. Oh, and if you didn't know about IMDB (international movie data base), it is now your new best friend.

Which reminds me of probably one of the coolest stories I know. While filming the spider sequence in Kentucky, the crew took a break to go eat at Denny's, because it was near the farm they were at. David Attenborough asked to see the wine list at Denny's. That's got to make you grin, even if you don't know who David Attenborough is, but knowing that he's "Sir David" should give you some idea.

Ok, I think I've nerded myself out now.

Call us before we send you rats

Thanks go to Tim for this video. Funny stuff.

I've been puttering around cnet.com looking at reviews of mp3 players for about 4 hours. It doesn't help anything that I'm not feeling well and thus have MORE procrastination skills built in. I'm basically looking for an mp3 player that will be suitable for roadtrips, is less that $250, has 2-6 gigs of storage (though I wouldn't be opposed to more), and allows "on the go playlists". If it can't do playlists while I'm using it in the car, I don't want it. I don't really NEED recording capabilities or video/photo capabilities, its seriously going to be used in the car. Not a big fan of AAA battery players, I want something that is rechargeable. If anyone has strong feelings towards certain MP3 players, and/or experience, let me know. I'm reluctant to get an Ipod, due to cruddy battery life, and based on other people's experiences with Creative players I'm completely opposed. I'm currently looking at this bad boy. My big problem with it is that it just came out - so theres no telling how long they last or how well they hold up even in the first few months. And buying the first iteration of a tech product usually isn't that great. But I can't stop looking at it. Perks: on the go playlist, removeable battery.

Summer Excitement Moody forest for 1.5 weeks in May, here I come. I swear, this summer is going to be nutso.

Oh, and everyone should go here everyday and click. Because its for the rainforest, and all. There are 5 other similar sites, and all it does is take 20 seconds to load a page and click. So I'm sure everyone can find a cause they care about there. Yes. And some of the jewlery is really spiffy.

I can not WAIT for 8:30 pm next Sunday. Relief off shoulders, hopefully.

3.5 Weeks

Only 2.5 more weeks of class, and a week of finals. Crazy. This semester just flew by.

Tomorrow is the Shedd aquarium! How exciting! I love aquariums. And Sea Dragons.

I would highly reccomend going to see Ice Age 2. Its not at all a let down after Ice Age. And if you haven't seen Ice Age, you need to get off your mature horse and embrace your inner child. Go to.

Geekin' out:
I guess its about time I post links to the webcomics I read. Because I'm cool like that.
Real Life
http://somethingpositive.net/
Friendly Hostility
Questionable Content
Toothpaste for Dinner

While I may not be going to CHI, it looks like the poster Spencer and I are designing for the Portal Frames paper probably will be. Gripping Story. But I am seriously geeking out about it. Just got an email today from the guy who's project it is saying he wanted to use our concept, and what direction to take it.

Warning: Addictive Posting

I'm supposed to be studying. Watch me go.

This game is bad for productivity. Oh, and this one too. And the coolest part? They benefit computer vision and image searching. They've been bought out by google, go figure.

I'm a huge dork. Of course we knew that, but I found this comic and article about urinal usability really amusing. Which goes hand in hand with You're in Control. Punny.

Positive Event Chain is amazing and lights up my life. Especially finding out I'm not so much of a loser, or that at least people are on a similar page. "You can't have intimate without inmate." And regifting dumpster chocolates, for example. Compliments are amazing. So is not studying.

Have I mentioned I'm sad I'm not going to CHI2006? Montreal, man. Theres always CHI2007 in San Jose, CA. BUT I might be PUBLISHED by next year for our digital bulletin board? How frickin' sweet would that be? I'm not even planning on going to Grad school JUST yet. There will be a link to that when we have the website up and running, which shouldn't be too long.

Mandolins are Sexy

Yeah, I know the fonts on the right aren't that readable. I'll fix that... soonish.
This post is rather sleep deprived.

Today was rather amazing, from 2.5 hours of doing nothing that was supposed to be compliments on the quad that resulted in a slightly sunburned face, to vegetarian dinner and general hanging out, to free concert of Matt Pond Pa (only caught a couple of songs, but did catch the ONE song of theirs I knew) and Nickel Creek.

More instruments on Lauren's approval list:
Mandolins
Fiddles
Banjos
Upright Bass
Dulcimers (not used tonight, but totally sweet anyway). I miss the Berea Arts and Crafts Festival.

So yeah, Nickel Creek was AMAZING. The female of the group/fiddler (Sarah) is so cute and has an amazing voice (listen to the song Anthony). Mandolins are seriously underrated, and there was an amazing performance of Bach by Mandolin. The main guy/mandolin player kind of looks like Marty, which is somewhat weird. The group was pretty funny too, and just seemed very candid. Foellinger isn't the best place for a concert generally, but people were eventually standing for "The Fox" and everything afterwords. Nickel creek is heavily instrumental so not standing the whole time was nice, but still... kind of a bum audience.

Best part of the night:
Britney Spears "Toxic" Played on a guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and upright bass. Seriously. Amazing. My mind is blown. The only thing that would have been better would have been if they had played the Firefly themesong. I think I would have peed my pants.

Random Musing:
The words feast and fast are very similar, and yet mean very different, if not opposite, things.

Listening Pleasure

I LOVE the local music scene around here. I seriously wish I'd gotten in to it earlier (and/or Starcourse).

Last night went to a free concert at Courtyard Cafe in the Union, and saw, in reverse order, Lorenzo Goetz, Elsinore (who could use a sweet website, as they just won the best live show at the Champaign music awards), The Elanors, and Ghost Buffalo, who were awesome and I half bought a CD with Casey and were local, which is pretty amazing.

Yet another local band around here are The Headlights, who apparently were featured in an episode of Grey's Anatomy, which is pretty sweet.

For your listening pleasure, some hilarity.

Random Musings:
Good conversation yesterday about the difference between Naked and Nekkid and Nakers.

Geekin' out:
Because I often forget to check daily: Woot!

Little things

Its really amazing how some things can make your day. On walking into the union, someone said to me "I take it you're a chem major". This comment was based on my messenger bag, and basically led to a conversation with a stranger all about how big of a nerd I, and he, were (as neither of us are Chem majors). It made both of our days, I think. "Thanks for the laugh."

Musings

2nd time around.
My little sister is too cool. "It has handclaps and xylophones, its good by me." We went to see The Format in Chicago on Tuesday, and it was pretty amazing.
"Snails see the benefits, the beauty in every inch" And the lyrics have been stuck in my head since.

I'm becoming a music junkie. I don't know how I feel about this, other than concerts cost a lot of money but are amazing. And my music taste is all over the place.
Music needs more: Handclaps, Xylophones, Accordians, and Banjos. But no polka.
I miss dancing, swing and forro (Brazilian dance with accordian - heavy music).
Life needs more: Pudding, Fuzzy Socks, Dark Chocolate, and Cheese (but not Swiss). List from ASB Bronx

My apartment is going to be lonely, seeing as either Grace or Becky has also been in the apartment since... two days before Spring break, till this morning.

Useless info:
The phrase "bug" in relation was coined by a woman. Grace Hopper, actually.
These picture frames just amuse me.

So...

Time for a new blog, less whining.

Starting off with the essentials of geeking out:
scheedule.com UIUC scheduling, pretty nice and visual, but not as much direct control as Illinexus
pandora.com - Internet radio, and pretty amazing
www.postsecret.com Just flat out beautiful

Random Musings...
I want to be Prof Karahalios and have some of the toys she gets to play with.