Today most of western Tucson suffered a series of power cuts spanning much of the morning and early afternoon. 25,000 homes were cut off (including ours) aswell as the university, frying computer servers, networks and delicate connection nodes across the campus. IT technicians we're literally in tears watching their beloved systems being abused in this way. And the culprit? The usual incompetent digger operator working on the nearby freeway! He'll be sure to get a tongue lashing from his boss!
In other news, scientists in Florida have reconstructed voices of Neanderthal humans from the fossil records! It's true! Aparently they spoke differently to us without some of the basic vowels sounds that make up modern language allowing us, for example, to tell the difference between "beat" and "bit". And from South Africa, 2 19th century Rhino horns stolen from a museum have been deemed "life threateningly dangerous". Museum workers say they thieves have put themselves in a greater danger than that of arrest since the horns are coated in poison! I like this sort of counter-productive assault on criminals. "I've got your Rhino horn!", "You've got arsenic poisoning!"
Now Tucson has seemingly recovered from the black-outs, it's back to working. It's amazing how much you rely on your computer for work and internet for communication, especially when you haven't got it. It was a chance to chill by the pool and read a book though - getting a sun tan at the same time in this glorious weather us Arizonan's are enjoying. Anyway, it's back to work.
Laters!
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
Sunday, 13 April 2008
Poll
Ok, it's been ages since i've put a poll up on my blog - not since I was trying to decide where to go during the Christmas vacation when I completely ignored the overwhelming 2 person vote and went to Peru instead of Alaska. This time it's a very non-serious question about where I should study for my PhD after i graduate next year. Answer honestly but equally, you don't seriously think I'm going to make the choice merely on what you lot think do you?!?!?
You can vote more than once so if you think you've really got a great piece of rock in your back garden then keep voting for it!
Laters!
You can vote more than once so if you think you've really got a great piece of rock in your back garden then keep voting for it!
Laters!
Friday, 11 April 2008
35 Celsius in April
Not that it's cold now but, next week it's going to warm up abit! Mid 30's all week down here in Tucson hopefully.
Some interesting news came out of London this week. The new sport of Chessboxing - alternating rounds of chess and boxing - is attracting quite a crowd. I guess if you can't beat someone at chess you can just, well, beat them!
Not too much news this end this week. The internet is finally working back in the apartment (someone had just bluntly disconnected us!), the pool is tempting as ever and it's really just countdown time 'til home in 5 weeks. I'm starting to prepare myself for the higher prices back in the UK after 9 months of cheapness. Especially annoying is the fuel prices - over £1 a litre takes the micky. Hence my new car (hopefully a Ford Focus) will probably be converted to LPG or at the very least a diesel. We shall see.
In the mean time, hiking idea's for the summer - I need some! Of course it depends on how much time i've got but trans-Pyrenee's way would be awesome or LEJOG but both are quite long to say the least. Idea's are welcome.
What a boring blog this week! Laters!
Some interesting news came out of London this week. The new sport of Chessboxing - alternating rounds of chess and boxing - is attracting quite a crowd. I guess if you can't beat someone at chess you can just, well, beat them!
Not too much news this end this week. The internet is finally working back in the apartment (someone had just bluntly disconnected us!), the pool is tempting as ever and it's really just countdown time 'til home in 5 weeks. I'm starting to prepare myself for the higher prices back in the UK after 9 months of cheapness. Especially annoying is the fuel prices - over £1 a litre takes the micky. Hence my new car (hopefully a Ford Focus) will probably be converted to LPG or at the very least a diesel. We shall see.
In the mean time, hiking idea's for the summer - I need some! Of course it depends on how much time i've got but trans-Pyrenee's way would be awesome or LEJOG but both are quite long to say the least. Idea's are welcome.
What a boring blog this week! Laters!
Tuesday, 8 April 2008
Highs and Lows
It's been a funny few days. Yesterday I found out that my GSA research proposal wasn't going to be granted for my work on Mars (although they commented that the project was of interest and the chances of success were high). Such is the process of applying for research money. On the up side, I brought tickets to see Metallica play in Tucson on Friday 16th May, the day before I leave to go home. A chance for some mindless violence that is 'moshing' along with awesome music from one of the greatest live bands.
Speaking of coming home, I've also booked my flight back home since it is only 5 1/2 weeks away. Tucson to London Heathrow via Dallas leaving May 17th arriving May 18th so if your at any of those airports on that weekend, be sure to say hi and help me carry all of my luggage.
Today I've got my fault paper to hand in for structural geology - 7 slightly tedious pages on the Hurricane Fault of south-west Utah. It really is as interesting as it sounds! Any how, it should be a good week. Laters everyone!
Speaking of coming home, I've also booked my flight back home since it is only 5 1/2 weeks away. Tucson to London Heathrow via Dallas leaving May 17th arriving May 18th so if your at any of those airports on that weekend, be sure to say hi and help me carry all of my luggage.
Today I've got my fault paper to hand in for structural geology - 7 slightly tedious pages on the Hurricane Fault of south-west Utah. It really is as interesting as it sounds! Any how, it should be a good week. Laters everyone!
Sunday, 6 April 2008
Geodaze
So thursday, friday, saturday of last week was the annual Geodaze symposium here at the UofA. The event is organised and ran by graduate students and is seen as a change for all geology students to present their research to win prizes (up to $1000 for best talk!). There's also a party and fieldtrip for good gesture and best of all, its free! So i was there watching the talks, eating and drinking the free refreshments at the party and rocking on the fieldtrip (excuse the pun). This weekend infact has been all in the field. Saturday was the geodaze trip up in the Catalina Mountains with George Davis - good trip, interesting rock, very hot weather. Sunday was the last structural geology fieldtrip towards the Tanque Verde area in a canyon. The scenery was great, great rocks, plenty of climbing to do - all in all a good couple of trips. This week, however, is back to work at uni! 6 weeks til home!
And finally, a story from the US state of Georgia. A classroom full of 9 yr olds are being investigated by police for plotting to tie up and hurt their teacher. The children had brough in a steak knife, handcuffs and electrical tape with a plot to tie up and repeatedly hit the teacher over the head with a paperweight. Aparently the knife was just their to cut the tape!
Laters!
And finally, a story from the US state of Georgia. A classroom full of 9 yr olds are being investigated by police for plotting to tie up and hurt their teacher. The children had brough in a steak knife, handcuffs and electrical tape with a plot to tie up and repeatedly hit the teacher over the head with a paperweight. Aparently the knife was just their to cut the tape!
Laters!
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