(no subject)
Holy crap, delicious was listing my real name on my profile. I had no idea it even HAD that data, but it just decided it going to scour its data and list whatever name it had on file on a public page. EVIL SITE CONTINUES TO BE EVIL.
(no subject)
Am I the only one watching Euro2012? The live feeds on ESPN are extremely convenient...and seem to be free in the US.
I just realized the reason why the Greek's win today resonated with me so much: like my Giants, they get one goal (run) and then depend entirely on defense (pitching) to win. Lulz. An effective "strategy".
I just realized the reason why the Greek's win today resonated with me so much: like my Giants, they get one goal (run) and then depend entirely on defense (pitching) to win. Lulz. An effective "strategy".
(no subject)
I think AVOS’ Delicious Disaster: Lessons from a Complete Failure says everything. I am very sad to see it destroyed like this, but glad that I exported yesterday. I guess I'm going to fork over $ for pinboard, which should be worth it because of how frequently I use it. And at least being a paying customer means they can't totally destroy it overnight, right? ...
(no subject)
So, I've been living in middle of nowhere, USA feeling like a TOTAL snob. Now I'm home for the holidays. Two things which may explain my snobbery: my daily run ends when I encounter James Hetfield's fence (Metallica)...and I found out today that my mother is using the same contractor as Al Gore to redo my bathroom. WTF.
(no subject)
Celebrations! My new comp was going nuts on me, and I found someone who posted word for word my symptoms AND had spent like a month determining the solution, which was ridiculously easy. Thank you, anonymous person. I was going to do something extreme if I had to deal with "tech help" for my SECOND new computer. OMGWTF.
So, if you have windows 7, and it seems to freeze temporarily (??) when you leave it idle for a long enough period of time for the screen to go blank...wonder no longer.
So, if you have windows 7, and it seems to freeze temporarily (??) when you leave it idle for a long enough period of time for the screen to go blank...wonder no longer.
(no subject)
I'm watching Friday Night Lights season one, and despite not really knowing any rules of football (ie: what is a touchdown? IDK seems important?; what does a quarterback do? IDK seems to run with ball...or throw it...), I am totally in love. Somehow, though, all my ships are het! I am OTPing with canon, people. It is a novel experience, only previously experienced with QAF.
In other news, my Jensen Ackles icon is pretty. *__*
In other news, my Jensen Ackles icon is pretty. *__*
Entry tags:
(no subject)
I feel somewhat empowered having decided to buy (another) new computer after my new HP (purchased in March) has proven itself completely useless. It bluescreens constantly even after reinstalling windows! WTF. BOO. It's still under warranty, so technically they could send me a new one, but at this point I would never be able to trust anything they sent me.
Never buying anything but Dell again for a desktop PC, because even if Dell crams all sorts of undesirable programs into its installs, at least they reliably work for years.
At least I didn't nearly cut my finger off today like I did the last time it started bluescreening after I thought I'd repaired it. (Urgent care after three hours of ranting at tech support in India about your malfunctioning computer: not recommended.)
ETA: "Escalated" my case with HP to bitch with higher ups about $ and returns, bought new Dell with a notebook for $1,000. Ugh, with my $1,100 dentist bill, this is an expensive month. (Moving next month will probably be worse, though. So much for adding to my savings any time in the near future...)
Never buying anything but Dell again for a desktop PC, because even if Dell crams all sorts of undesirable programs into its installs, at least they reliably work for years.
At least I didn't nearly cut my finger off today like I did the last time it started bluescreening after I thought I'd repaired it. (Urgent care after three hours of ranting at tech support in India about your malfunctioning computer: not recommended.)
ETA: "Escalated" my case with HP to bitch with higher ups about $ and returns, bought new Dell with a notebook for $1,000. Ugh, with my $1,100 dentist bill, this is an expensive month. (Moving next month will probably be worse, though. So much for adding to my savings any time in the near future...)
(no subject)
As I have decided to go to Illinois (!), I am awkwardly composing my own rejection letters for two schools to decline their offers.
Buffalo just wrote me to say that they acquired a line of funding for me (until this point, I wasn't even taking their offer seriously). My reply to that is, "Um, great, but, like, I'm not going. Even with the money." If I'd rejected them earlier, I could have pinned it on $ and the whole thing would be kinder.
Even more awkward, Pittsburgh offered me a fellowship that I'm going to have to decline. Ack. I mean, these things are really great and I would be ecstatic if I was in love with the schools and intended to go, but I'm not.
I should not be complaining: I got into a top-ten program for the field of psychology (note: this is INSANELY hard), and arguably the top program for my subfield of brain and language (depends on individual specialties). WIN.
Buffalo just wrote me to say that they acquired a line of funding for me (until this point, I wasn't even taking their offer seriously). My reply to that is, "Um, great, but, like, I'm not going. Even with the money." If I'd rejected them earlier, I could have pinned it on $ and the whole thing would be kinder.
Even more awkward, Pittsburgh offered me a fellowship that I'm going to have to decline. Ack. I mean, these things are really great and I would be ecstatic if I was in love with the schools and intended to go, but I'm not.
I should not be complaining: I got into a top-ten program for the field of psychology (note: this is INSANELY hard), and arguably the top program for my subfield of brain and language (depends on individual specialties). WIN.
(no subject)
AHHHHHHHHHHH!!
I have an interview at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign!
This is kind of huge, guys. Not only are they a top-ranked Psychology program, but my specialty matches theirs.
OMG OMG OMG
\o/!!!!!!!
Note this does not mean I'm "in" or anything, just that there is hope. OMFG.
I have an interview at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign!
This is kind of huge, guys. Not only are they a top-ranked Psychology program, but my specialty matches theirs.
OMG OMG OMG
\o/!!!!!!!
Note this does not mean I'm "in" or anything, just that there is hope. OMFG.
(no subject)
Spent the weekend in Pittsburgh, touring/interviewing at the University of Pittsburgh and the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition. Very cool stuff. It just made me wish I had more interviews and touring opportunities coming up (other than SUNY Buffalo, which has severe funding "issues").
I think I applied to too many high-end universities and not enough mid-level, but I've only actually been rejected from one (Penn). I think I might be in a wait-list scenario at a lot of schools, where they just had too many applicants who were qualified to deal with everyone. This was SO not the year to apply -- tons of unemployment (=people going back to school) + low funding (=fewer people accepted) = everyone gets rejected.
Glad I did not apply to Michigan as EVERYONE I talked to had been rejected a couple weeks ago. Le sigh.
I think I applied to too many high-end universities and not enough mid-level, but I've only actually been rejected from one (Penn). I think I might be in a wait-list scenario at a lot of schools, where they just had too many applicants who were qualified to deal with everyone. This was SO not the year to apply -- tons of unemployment (=people going back to school) + low funding (=fewer people accepted) = everyone gets rejected.
Glad I did not apply to Michigan as EVERYONE I talked to had been rejected a couple weeks ago. Le sigh.
(no subject)
I have ONE easy-ish application left. I'm kind of baffled by what to do with all this guilt-free time I have.
Ever since early August I've had things hanging over me: "study for the GRE!"; "get professor rec letters!"; "send your transcripts!"; "figure out the GRE codes for each school!"; "figure out where to apply!"; "get your profs to actually follow through on the letters!"; "figure out the app system for each school"; "write your statement!"; "update resume!"; "buy a new scanner to upload unofficial records!"; "that statement you wrote--fix it!" ... and on and on.
I can see why people would only be able to apply to three schools, because doing nine was extremely draining. I guess now I wait? Or something? OMGWTF life.
Ever since early August I've had things hanging over me: "study for the GRE!"; "get professor rec letters!"; "send your transcripts!"; "figure out the GRE codes for each school!"; "figure out where to apply!"; "get your profs to actually follow through on the letters!"; "figure out the app system for each school"; "write your statement!"; "update resume!"; "buy a new scanner to upload unofficial records!"; "that statement you wrote--fix it!" ... and on and on.
I can see why people would only be able to apply to three schools, because doing nine was extremely draining. I guess now I wait? Or something? OMGWTF life.
(no subject)
I need to stop reading (admittedly mediocre) fic! Brown, UIUC, and a joint program of Pittsburgh/CMU are all due on Jan 1, and Indiana is due Jan 15. WTF, self. I am ruining my own vacation by being anxious over something I could finish...if I would just concentrate and follow through.
(Oh, no, now I see UIUC is due Jan 2. I could continue procrastinating...FAIL.)
Hope everyone's holidays went well. Mine were awkward due to having three Christmas breakfasts, one of which I sort of crashed. I just wanted a tour of the progress on the building construction, and then -- hey, why's the rest of your family still in PJs? I also discovered that I HATE having late dinners, so two nights of delayed food until 9pm made me crazy.
(Oh, no, now I see UIUC is due Jan 2. I could continue procrastinating...FAIL.)
Hope everyone's holidays went well. Mine were awkward due to having three Christmas breakfasts, one of which I sort of crashed. I just wanted a tour of the progress on the building construction, and then -- hey, why's the rest of your family still in PJs? I also discovered that I HATE having late dinners, so two nights of delayed food until 9pm made me crazy.
(no subject)
It is cold and rainy! WTF, San Diego? I feel betrayed.
Progress on the apps front moves along sluggishly. Submitted MIT tonight (joke?). Five schools to go, as well as at least three other program/related apps. Wooooo... yeah, not really. At least my Statement of Purposes grows increasingly rockstar-ish since I'm applying to so many schools and keep reworking sentences and paragraphs like a totally crazy person. Seriously.
Progress on the apps front moves along sluggishly. Submitted MIT tonight (joke?). Five schools to go, as well as at least three other program/related apps. Wooooo... yeah, not really. At least my Statement of Purposes grows increasingly rockstar-ish since I'm applying to so many schools and keep reworking sentences and paragraphs like a totally crazy person. Seriously.
(no subject)
I just had an adventure! I was driving along on an elevated portion of a major interstate freeway, and then there was a fire below the freeway...and then I could see flames and embers, so I changed lanes...and then it was huge and moving...! We could see the flames a mile away after we escaped, but I think they put it out now.
Still, this was in the actual city of San Diego, not an outskirt. Like, there were large hotels a couple hundred yards away. WTF. I especially enjoyed seeing how they'd blocked traffic coming from the other direction (and presumably behind me), but I got through before this safety measure occurred. Daaanger zone. Ack.
IDK what just happened there, but it was pretty wild.
Also, it is pretty crappy of people to take pictures on the side of the road of a developing natural disaster. The emergency vehicles could not use the emergency lane because of them. SERIOUSLY. WTF people. Do not take pictures of the explosive, developing, MOVING fire to upload to twitter. Just don't.
Still, this was in the actual city of San Diego, not an outskirt. Like, there were large hotels a couple hundred yards away. WTF. I especially enjoyed seeing how they'd blocked traffic coming from the other direction (and presumably behind me), but I got through before this safety measure occurred. Daaanger zone. Ack.
IDK what just happened there, but it was pretty wild.
Also, it is pretty crappy of people to take pictures on the side of the road of a developing natural disaster. The emergency vehicles could not use the emergency lane because of them. SERIOUSLY. WTF people. Do not take pictures of the explosive, developing, MOVING fire to upload to twitter. Just don't.
(no subject)
Surprise! additional essays are no fun. I was merrily entering a list of my awards ... when I encountered the following:
How would factors such as your background, work and life experiences, special interests, culture, socioeconomic status, race, or ethnicity contribute to the diversity of the entering class, and hence to the experience of your Stanford classmates? Please describe these factors and their relevance. (700 characters maximum)
Somehow "I read and edit gay porn based on fictional characters" REALLY is not going to fly. SEND HLP.
How would factors such as your background, work and life experiences, special interests, culture, socioeconomic status, race, or ethnicity contribute to the diversity of the entering class, and hence to the experience of your Stanford classmates? Please describe these factors and their relevance. (700 characters maximum)
Somehow "I read and edit gay porn based on fictional characters" REALLY is not going to fly. SEND HLP.
(no subject)
I don't know why I've suddenly decided to narrate everything about my Grad Application Journey to you unwitting victims, but whatever, I will continue!
I now have three verified letters of rec from people who actually know me (not just "they got an A" in my "very challenging class" letters). OMG. Now it's rly srs.
I also have a pretty thorough draft of my statement of purpose (ACK), but it needs revisions like woah. On top of that, I have to basically rewrite a couple paragraphs for each school (and make it shorter, for one school - wtf), which blows bigtime. Undergrad application essays were so cute comparatively! Awww.
( Schools I'm Applying To For the Morbidly Curious )
I now have three verified letters of rec from people who actually know me (not just "they got an A" in my "very challenging class" letters). OMG. Now it's rly srs.
I also have a pretty thorough draft of my statement of purpose (ACK), but it needs revisions like woah. On top of that, I have to basically rewrite a couple paragraphs for each school (and make it shorter, for one school - wtf), which blows bigtime. Undergrad application essays were so cute comparatively! Awww.
( Schools I'm Applying To For the Morbidly Curious )
(no subject)
You probably want to skim this.
Academic progress! I secured a future letter of rec from a prof today, having stalked her office hours for the grad class she's teaching this quarter. :> But now I have to get on the awful statement of purpose stuff, because she wants to read it to tailor the letter (which is reallyreally good! but the pressure is on). Weep. So, this weekend is going to be dead to me. I'm kind of still in shock that I actually got up the nerve to go ask...
Academic progress! I secured a future letter of rec from a prof today, having stalked her office hours for the grad class she's teaching this quarter. :> But now I have to get on the awful statement of purpose stuff, because she wants to read it to tailor the letter (which is reallyreally good! but the pressure is on). Weep. So, this weekend is going to be dead to me. I'm kind of still in shock that I actually got up the nerve to go ask...
jensen ackles is pretty
Today I read my first and probably last Wincest story, which I could only manage due to my love of realism and angst (preferably co-occurring). Going back to my steady J2 and Dean/Castiel fics now... Productive fandom FTW.
I am totally exhausted from doing ten miles (morning 6mi hike with elevation, afternoon 4mi neighborhood jog/walk) today. And if that hadn't done me in, I spent the other eight hours of my wakeful day doing more research on grad programs and attempting to review every major issue in cognitive science and linguistics simultaneously. Out of my mind today!! WHYYY.
My most startling discovery of the day (besides noting that I somehow broke my firefox options such that it's impossible to open two windows simultaneously) is that I don't think I like Carnegie Mellon's program as much as I thought I did when I first encountered it. I don't know why I talk myself into liking something, knowing that it doesn't necessary match my real-life interests. Blech.
I am totally exhausted from doing ten miles (morning 6mi hike with elevation, afternoon 4mi neighborhood jog/walk) today. And if that hadn't done me in, I spent the other eight hours of my wakeful day doing more research on grad programs and attempting to review every major issue in cognitive science and linguistics simultaneously. Out of my mind today!! WHYYY.
My most startling discovery of the day (besides noting that I somehow broke my firefox options such that it's impossible to open two windows simultaneously) is that I don't think I like Carnegie Mellon's program as much as I thought I did when I first encountered it. I don't know why I talk myself into liking something, knowing that it doesn't necessary match my real-life interests. Blech.