Dreadhead

Funnier that way around but I'm pretty sure the sequence is backward if you look at the snow on the deck....

I'm a "niche engineer" I guess whatever that means. I got my PhD in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (which is an engineering program not a architecture one). I'm afraid I can't offer any insight as to Columbia or any of the other schools other than out in the field I certainly can't find any correlation between a "better" or "worse" program and the quality of work out of people (at the active applied research level). I can find a correlation with their dickishness at being told they are wrong, which everyone is at time to time (I know I am). In my experience Caltech and MIT PhDs are the worst for this, they can't accept it or get petty, I think it has to do with spending so much of their young life thinking that they were the brilliant chosen few. I'll only add that going to a school with strong industry ties is a good thing because if you do well then your professors liking you is a big plus in both finding a job and finding research funding later on (if those two aren't tied together).

I dunno. I sort of wish I had not ridden. Been working my ass off on the trainer (nearly 10 hrs this week alone) and went out for the local group ride and got popped like a zit by a bunch of masters riders and my ex-coach who hasn't ridden for months due to injury and had maybe a week back on the bike. I'm starting to realize that as much as I work at it I'll probably never be competitive even at the cat 4/5 level which is just depressing. But at least I now get to enjoy the superbowl and not worry too much about dieting.

I'm too heavy for them or the Reynolds RZR 46T at a mere $6k. I have Zipp 404 clinchers already. I will probably end up with a pair of MadFiber Tubulars in the future but to be honest none of that shit really makes much difference past a point and I'll still be too slow. Excuse me if that sounds nihilistic. I had a rather depressing day on the bike today

Yeah it's only for TT's (and if my wife wants to use it for triathlons). I'm not (too) nuts. My problem is that I'm basically running out of bike shit to buy.

That sucks CJ. Just remember those decisions are sort of arbitrary. I got rejected from MIT but graduated top of my class from U of M whose program is ranked higher or the same... Hope you shine as brightly in the new job Todd

More bike shit. Including a thing to turn my regular wheels into a aero disc wheel which I'm pretty excited about.

booked a 3 days riding camp in SC with a buddy at the end of the month. Hoping for 4/5 hrs a day. Should be a good time.

Did a 4 hour bike ride with over a mile of climbing sitting on my computrainer. I then went to the DC autoshow and looked at some cars I don't really want but were pretty cool. The new CTS-V wagon was very very nice but I just can't seem myself in one. Now I'm waiting to head out to dinner with my wife.

replacement saddle for my training bike and some tubes

I am weird I guess and as I said my mom is even worse.

I know how you feel (honestly) when I was about 13 I had my pinky finger crushed (like mince meat) between to large rocks. It also broke the nearby finger as well to give you an idea of the force. I then went into a reconstructive surgery where I did the first half or so with no real anesthetic because (through my mom) I have a natural immunity to anesthetic (took two more shots before it worked). That said my mom had major surgery without it ever working...

Doesn't matter if they get paid hourly or not. Salaried people have an hourly cost just like everyone else. That said you have a point and I appear to have overestimated the salary by a lot and the cost of an hour is more like $1000( http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Utah_House_of_Representatives)

Lets see: 3 hours of some flunky to draft resolution ($100) 1 hour of house floor debate $10000 (lets say 100 members * $100/hr per member of the house) + + + not saying they would not have found something else inane to do during those hours but just saying.

^ Those scare me and make me feel inadequate a the same time

I left work at 1:30 and got home before the suck got cranked up. One of the guys that works for me took 6+ hours from DC to Falls Church. The idiocy must have been awe inspiring. The only idiocy I saw on this morning's drive in was as I pulled into the parking lot for my building (ice everywhere) the guy in front of me slammed on his brakes to get out his parking pass and nearly caused a 3 car pileup.

Good luck Ken and Nate! I left work early to avoid the CF that is traffic around here when there is snow and got home before any of the bad stuff really started. I then went to the gym in the rain and walked home in the snow which was interesting. Now I'm catching up on missed work and trying to figure out if I should actually plan on doing this presentation at 10am tomorrow or if it's going to be cancelled. I'm guessing the latter but I think I'll keep working.

congrats reks that is great news!

If only such things were true. I'm not sure how intense the classes are but my guess is order 700 cal which is like 4 beers. It's so depressing that you can't exercise away diet unless you're a pro or doing 4+ hrs of exercise. Yay piracy.

got yelled at when presenting in front of a group of "pillars" of my field. Yay life.

congrats on the BA Al. Sad I will not be hearing it. I bought another set of winter riding gloves....

^ that sounds like a bad idea.... Good luck with whichever job want most. The job market sort of sucks right now but you're also awesome at your job so my guess is that you'll have your pick.

Damn that's a lot of car in a short time Almost makes me think about actually replacing one of mine... nah

3 new shirts and a new blazer to replace my ones that are falling apart at the seams. Also 2 tubes and new tires for my good bike. Too many flats with the old rubber (3 blown tubes in 2 weeks).

Why wait for summer.....