It's the American dream

"Another week has nearly come and past, the innocent will never last. Wake me up... "Ahem, anyway. Although, its not completely irrelevent, September has absolutely flown by and now we encroach on october and realise it isnt long until Christmas and the opportunity to do some much needed travelling.

Tuesday i had my first proper exam in America, thursday i got the marks back at 94.5% which i dont consider to bad. Monday and wednesday we had the last of the oil companies coming in to give some speil about why we want to work for them and how good they are. This time it was Conoco-Phillips and Exxonmobil respectively, both of whom i was pretty impressed with although the chances of getting an Internship (with Exxon atleast) are minimal. They like to hire people from the country they work in so i wont get into the USA section and the UK area is going to be tough since they like to recruit people directly from their University presentations rather than via phone or similar. Ive still got Conoco, Chevron, BP and Schlumberger plus loads more smaller oil and mining companies. Whats more, ive got loads of freebie's sitting on my desk including 2 almost identical geological timescale cards. One from Chevron and one from Exxon about 50% bigger! A little bit of inter-company competition there!

Yesterday evening we sat down and watch abit of "quality" American TV, the first ive seen since being out here. The new series of CSI Las Vegas started with a cracking episode. I dont confess to being a big fan but it wasnt too bad; except for the inumberable adverts, dumb victims of crime, lack of action, endless flaws (like someone spotting something really small through binoculars and then only running 20ft to it!) and unrealistic portrayal of FBI agents or whatever they are! This was followed by the 'Late show with David Letterman' which was actually quite amusing in sporadic surgers again with way too many adverts but did contain a funny bit about similarities/differences between President Bush and Iranian President, Mahmood Armadinnerjacket or whatever his name is.

Armadinnnerjacket: Speaks in poor, broken English

President Bush: Speaks in poor, broken English

This was followed by the Late Late Show hosted by some weird Scottish guy whose favourite pastime's seem to be welcoming people as "my favourite little naught ponies" or whispering in his guest's ear trying to "escape from his captives who make him do the show". It was crap!

And so comes forth the weekend. Rent to pay, a little homework to look at but not much, mountains to walk! Whoo! Cya

Arctic Monkey's LIVE in Tucson!

Yep, thats today's headline! Saturday night brought the Arctic Monkey's down to Tucson as part of their western USA tour, and they rocked! The support act (Foxtrot) sucked. They had technical difficulties and didnt really produce a performance that warrented having 5 band members. There was always someone doing nothing and the lead guitarist even broke one of his strings but carried on playing for several songs sounding abit crap tbh.

Anyway, everyone was there for the monkey's and what a set they put on. The Rialto Theatre is only a small venue, i reckon only 1000 or so people were there, but it came alive into raptuous "singing" and moshing all through the Arctic's set. 'I bet that you look good on the Dancefloor' was undoubtedly the best song but the band presented a variety and depth which amazed me considering they only made it big a year or 2 ago. Overall, an awesome night out!

Now, however, ive got some work to do and an exam to revise for on tuesday! Furthermore, we have 2 more oil companies coming in this week (Conoco today, Exxon Wednesday) which promises more opportunity to apply for internships and the all important free food. Laters!

Careers and constellations

Schlumberger, Chevron-Texaco, Rio Tinto, Cleveland Cliffs, Newmont and Asarco are just some of the geology related companies that have been on campus this week. The list is huge and it really puts Leicester's careers efforts to shame. They also like taking people out for dinner aswell, which is awesome! Honestly, who could refuse free food from the likes of BP, schlumberger and Chevron. Whats more, weve got Conoco and Exxon-mobil coming in monday/wednesday of next week respectively!

So its a busy time sending CV's here and there, trying to convince people that i am remotely employable and would really like to do more than perfect my coffee-making skills. Lets see what happens! I might even get so far as to tea and biscuits!

In geology related news, a "new" meteorite crater has been formed in Peru. Measuring some 30m across and 6m deep, local residents report seeing a "fireball falling from the sky" before impacting with the ground forming something of a tourist attraction. Ironically, people have falling ill due to the poisonous waters and gases which now fill the hole. But still they return!

And finally, yet another exam of America's gun crime problem. A teacher in Orogen has sued for he right to bring a gun with her into the classroom. What kind of kids does she teach???

Tucson Mountains

Just realised i havent 'blogged' in quite a while so thought id send up a brief note.





Went into the Tucson mountains last saturday on another of my "crazy" biking trips. Its only 10 - 12 miles up to the top car-park but its pretty steep, very hot and frankly incredibly hard work. It was well worth it though, the views down to Tucson and across the next valley were amazing. It took considerably less time to free-wheel back down, taking care to avoid the dead rattlesnake on the road.

Saturday night we had yet another free party courtesy of Dr Paul kapp and the SESS (Geology Society at the UA). Ironically, it was something of a traditionally English BBQ - it actually rained briefly!

Up and coming next weekend - The Arctic Monkey's are coming to town! Yes, to Tucson! I was amazed when i found out so defo going to get a ticket later today or tomorrow! There only $25 or so a pop aswell - wouldnt beat that in the UK would you!

Anyway, ive got a lecture shortly and a busy afternoon. Take care now y'all.

After BP - not just another free meal!

What a quality afternoon/evening BP provided for us yesterday! They started with an hour long discussion presenting the company and showing what they have to offer (which in itself is very impressive) before taking about 25 of us to dinner at the local Marriot Hotel.

The talk was essentially an advert for working at BP, and a good one at that! It seems theres endless possibility to expand your knowledge through training courses (which BP pays for!), capacity to move both laterally and up the career ladder as you please. Opportunity to work across the world (Aberdeen, London, Houston, Anchorage, Moscow to name a few) and the pays not bad either. Its also an encouraging sign that the CEO of BP is infact a Geologist!

The after-presentation dinner was something of a luxury treat. The Marriot hotel in Tucson is exquisit and the food was quality. BP footed the bill for everything (including the drinks i had before the BP people arrived!) and it must of cost them over $1000. But whats that for the worlds 4th largest company with revenues in the $10's billion?

Getting an Internship in the USA is going to be difficult for us Brits, not only because there only offering 35 in total but because of VISA issues. However, the chap will forward my details to the relevent people in the UK - a nice little contact there me thinks!

So thats the low-down on my latest free dinner (the best yet). I dont think the other companies coming in are being quite so generous but ive got another free party on saturday with food to go to so im not complaining.

Anyway, g2g and find out about this Rugby squad!

Petroluem de Grand Bretagne

You'll have to excuse that poor french translation. I was having a conversation with a friend about todays BP presentation and it descended into a series of ludicrous french accents and sayings.

So BP are coming into the department today, looking to recruit people and generally show off their business. I'm rather hoping to get some work experience next summer off them or similar companies who are coming in over the next month (Schlumberger, Rio Tinto, Exxon-mobile and Barrick Gold to name a few!). It should be awesome! BP are taking "interested students" out to dinner at the local Marriot aswell. I'm not sure what they mean by "interested students" but im certainly interested in a free dinner!

We had our first Regional Tectonics lecture with the actual professor yesterday (he was away the first 3 weeks so they were done remotely) and it has to be said he's a rather uniquely weird guy! So much so, he's got his own box on this blog (look down the right: "Ducea randomness"). He comes out with some class remarks which it seems are intended to keep you awake in his lectures. Anyway, check them out.

Wildcat Rugby Club (The UA squad) are recruiting and im thinking of joining. Ive been 5 years or so out of the game and have had the urge to go back for most of that period. Theres a meeting tomorrow so ill find out more. Its a multi-national squad aswell so looking forward to bashing some Aussie's about if i sign up!

S'all for now, got some more fun fun Geochemistry to conquor!

Riding out of this ol'town

on our (me and Russ) bikes yesterday was quite an experience. Firstly, the suburban metropolis area on the edge of Tucson is clearly not frequently visited for some of the signs and roads were pure comedy.

At a junction with a poorly tarmac'd road: "This road is not maintained by the city!"

You don't say!

On a busy road outside a school: "Warning! Deaf AND blind children crossing"

God help them!

On the same road adjacent to a golf course: "Warning, killer golf balls!"

Ok, so the last one might have said something slightly different but you get the jist of it. Besides the fits of laughter at various forms of bureaucractic stupidity, it was an awesome ride. We gained quite a lot of height heading into the mountains completely surrounded by Saguaro (a type of cacti unique to this area) covered desert with nothing for miles and awesome views back down to Tucson.

On friday night, the geology department decided to throw a welcome party for everyone which we dulely attended for the free food if nothing else. although i must say i under-estimated the affair. It was at the lovely setting of the Tucson Botanical Gardens with a traditional hot mexican buffet. We also had a new experience of a private performance from a Mariachis band (a type of noisy music with violins, horn things and silly little acoustic guitars). I was well impressed to start off with but soon joined the locals in considering it annoying and intrusive. You simply can't hold a conversation with that racket going on!

Kind of like this but bigger and noisier: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDtJmMWbDd0

Aside from that, it was a good night. Met a local Tucsonian from the department with whom we discussed at great length Anglo-American issues and the like. You'll be glad to know he isnt George Bush's biggest fan either! He did, however, let himself down on a simple fact regarding the television drama, 'House'. It is unfortunately the case that a lot of American's don't know that Hugh Laurie is English! Well he is, so get used to it!!!

The only other thing of note from this weekend is another encounter with local wildlife. Upon leaving the Botanical Gardens quite late at night (we were the last to leave, literally!) our path was blocked by a mini-plague of enormous cockroaches (i kid you not!). They were red in colour and easily 3 - 5cm across and since i didnt really want to get one on the underside of my shoe, the normally mundane path was turned into an assault course.

A topsy turvy week

Its coming to the end of my 3rd week of classes, and what a weird week its been. Geochemistry and Geology of the Solar System problem sets are pretty darn hard but on receiving the marks for one of my Geochem one's, it proved to be mid range which isnt too bad all things considered.

Outside of academia, someone got murdered on campus on wednesday morning. Aparently, a brawl broke out between 2 women in one of the residence halls with one ending up being stabbed, the other arrested. See http://www.arizona.edu/home/news-alert.php. Obviously my condolences goes out to the family and friends of the deceased, its a tragic thing to happen in what is suppose to be a happy and enlightening university environment but it is all too common in America. Just 5 years ago, the UA had its own gun massacre. A student who failed his course took out 3 of his professors before commiting suicide. Outside of the UA, everyone remembers Columbine and, more recently, Virginia Tech.

On a lighter note, someone im sharing the apartment with won a TV the other day! (not that American TV is much to write home about) im just looking forward to watching the Simpson's on Fox and hunting around for abit of the Rugby World Cup.

And finally, to finish with some slightly odd news from Poland. Wroclaw police arrested a Polish author after it was found he commited a murder that had been described in one of his novels. I know a writer might struggle for ideas for his next best seller but doing practical experiments is taking it abit too far!

By the way, if your thinking of going to Kazakhstan for your holidays (like you do), look out for the Lion which literally just walked out of Kazakh zoo. A gate keeper accidentally left the door open so the Lion took to a little exploring.

S'all for now folks. Got work to do, people to see.

Labouring on Labor Day

Even though it was only 2 weeks into the semester, we got last monday off so American's can have a BBQ and relax etc blah blah blah. Well i decided to go for a walk!

It was another boiling hot day, with a light breeze so i thought i'd head towards the nearest mountains and just do about of scouting around. I was walking mostly on roads except for abit along a dried river bed, which was a haven for wildlife. Spiders, Lizards, Ferret like things - you name it, i saw it (except Rattler's due to the heat). I went up to the foothills (about 3000ft) and looped back round and finished with a long, boring 7 mile dead straight walk along 1st Avenue back to the apartment. It was nice but i learnt 2 things:
1. I really shuda frozen my drinks before hand. Warm, squash etc isnt nice when your thirsty.
2. Wear walking boots instead of "outdoor trainers". They make all the difference and havent got holes in the bottom either!

Aside from that, it was a great day.

It's Labour Day Weekend

Or should that be 'Labor' Day? Another conflict of English language verses Americanism's. I don't know or really care what it "commemorates", i just know its celebrated with some typical American BBQ's and the like.

We shot a video yesterday evening, the start of the Americana Olympics with the first event; "The Ice Cream Challenge". This consisted of me "eating" a gallon tub of ice-cream in record time. Infact, the tub was nearly empty when i started but the video reaches its climax with me in the grasps of asphyxiation and collapsing on the floor (rather realistically if i may say so myself!) I might try to upload the video sometime but it is rather stupid so im reluctant to do so. Naturally, footage of me making an arse of myself wouldnt be in demand anyway!

NEW PHOTO ON BLOG - my gorgious new Gibson SG and Marshall 30w Amp. It plays like a dream, really enjoying it. I'm sure a full report will follow in due course.

Liverpool are top of the Premier League with a 6 v 0 thrashing of Derby at home, further confirming their status as title contenders. Man United on the other hand aren't doing so well, with just one win in the last 6 games! My predictions for the coming season are as follows (I accept no liability for incorrect guesses! These are all guesses and of course, Liverpool are going to win everything (i wish!) but we must give our "friends" in Manchester and London some hope!)

Carling Cup - Chelsea
FA Cup - Arsenal
Premier League Champions - Liverpool
Relagation - Sunderland, Derby, Fulham
UEFA Cup - Who cares?
Champions League - Liverpool or Barcelona

All shall be revealed in due course. Naturally we can't forget the Rugby World Cup which is due to kick off next week on September 7th. England play their first game against the USA on the 8th. All ive got to do now is find some way of watching it over here! Hmmm...