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Thursday, March 30, 2006
Reminder Just a reminder to everyone out there who has a
computer:
Folding@Home is a project at Stanford studying some important science stuff that has to do with disease, so its results could benefit everyone. The deal is that you can help out by downloading a small program to your computer. Everyone's computer works on small pieces of the problems, so more work gets done faster. You don't have to do anything after today; just install the software and you're already helping. More info: Home | FAQ | Download So, don't forget to install Folding@Home if you haven't already. If you have installed it before, just double check to make sure you're still running it. It's easy to forget to install it on new computers or after cleaning your system. I decided to write this post after a psocial psych lecture on social dilemmas, specifically "Public Goods" dilemmas. Don't think you're just a "drop in the bucket." "Thanks." Tuesday, March 28, 2006 Just FYI The
Alphabet of Manliness by Maddox is now available for pre-order from
Amazon for only $10.37, in case you're into that stuff. Despite how much time he
may have put into this, he has nothing on a selection of merchandise I am about
to introduce. Seriously. Stay tuned.
Sunday, March 26, 2006 Spring Break is Over I have to be awake again in four hours, I have a
presentation tonight, and I recently spilled Pepsi on my head. Also, the U.S. is
colder than Mexico.
Friday, March 17, 2006 What's the deal with Billy Joel? A while back, I created the Facebook group called
Billy Joel
Cannot Properly Pronounce The Word "Ask" That One Time In "Don't Ask Me
Why." Well, thanks to Brendan, I got to hear him sing the song live in
concert tonight at the Verizon Center (not the MCI Center, Brendan). It's now
obvious that the pronunciation is intentional, as he clearly said "axe" in the
concert. However, in the recording he does it on the 3rd to last "ask," while in
tonight's concert he did it in the last verse, before trailing off with several
repetitions of "Don't
ask
me why."
I'm also the creator of Elton John Cannot Properly Pronounce The Word "Garage." Billy Joel | Elton John | Billy Joel & Elton John Spring Break Happy Spring Break, kids. Be good.
Thursday, March 16, 2006 Survey Says My apartment phone just rang, and when I
answered, the caller introduced herself as being from the office of the Johns
Hopkins Dean of Somethingorother. I shouldn't have anything to worry about, but
I did panic for a moment when I didn't know why she was calling. She then told
me that she was doing a survey about community
issues
(we've been having a few), and I assumed it was going to consist of questions
about my wild and crazy social
life. However, her second question was, "Are you a full-time college
student?" When I answered, "Yes," the interview was over. I guess she wanted the
other side of the story.
I'm sure you all find this fascinating. Concert This is my last entry of the day, because I'm
about to go see Billy
Joel! I don't know why; he just called and wanted to hang
out.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006 Honestly, I just want you to read the last line Blake Mattern:
so
Blake Mattern: im back on adium Blake Mattern: i got real irritated by all these people saying when they went to look at my profile or my away message they would get kikd off AIM Blake Mattern: one of the few times i'll compensate for windows users Blake Mattern: im converting people left and right though Blake Mattern: kate already said her next comp is gonna be a mac Blake Mattern: my friend chris wants one Blake Mattern: and a bunch of other people are looking at them Blake Mattern: one person at a time Blake Mattern: oh yeah Blake Mattern: but i didnt know blogger wasnt new Blake Mattern: what do you think of it so far? Blake Mattern: should i switch to that or keep xanga? Blake Mattern: oh, have you seen my burt's beeswax lipbalm? Blake Mattern: oh Blake Mattern: and when i'm finally done my senior research paper Blake Mattern: would you possibly post it on yoru site Blake Mattern: ? Blake Mattern: your Blake Mattern: ugh Michael Wyszomierski: the best thing about conversations with you is that it's really not necessary for me to participate While he was in the library... Blake Mattern:
i'll be back in a few
min
Blake Mattern: i need to go home and get some pants Michael Wyszomierski: umm Michael Wyszomierski: no Michael Wyszomierski: i'm not going to ask Friday, March 10, 2006 2 Memories I thought of two things today (well, maybe one
was yesterday) that are fuzzy in my
head.
The first memory that came to me was a segment from a TV show or movie in which an audience is booing a performance, and their dissatisfaction escalates to the point where they are launching lettuce onto the stage via a catapult. I'm pretty sure that the bowl of the catapult is clear. I may be totally off, but I'm pretty sure it's a Muppet segment. The other thing I'm pretty sure is from a Dave Barry book, in which at a young age he sees his date with another guy and says, "Umm?" or something similar. I can't remember which book that is. If you know what I'm thinking about in either case, please email wysz@mac.com or click on "Feedback" below. Wednesday, March 08, 2006 Das Students Sometimes I really feel like an idiot relative to
the students here at JHU, but then there are days like today. In one of my
classes, which has only nine students, we were given an assignment with only
one
requirement.
Three of
the students didn't follow the assignment, and didn't realize that they did
something wrong. On top of that, we had another assignment due today which half
of the class simply didn't do.
With Highest Honor I was wondering if anyone can help me out. I want
to legally change my name to "Michael Wyszomierski summa cum laude" before
graduation, and then change it back to normal following the
ceremony.
I have a few questions about the process: 1) How do I do it? 2) How long does it take to change one's name? 3) How much does it cost? 4) How hard is it, and what should I look out for? Thanks for your help. Please email wysz@mac.com if you have any info. Tuesday, March 07, 2006 Surprise Appearance I totally forgot that I had called Engadget
again, so I was very surprised tonight to hear that "Michael from Pennsylvania"
was the first caller for listener voicemail in Episode
72 of the Engadget
Podcast.
I asked what the deal is with copy protection in HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. For the lengthy answer, listen to the podcast. You can also hear me in Episode 64 and Episode 50. My best voicemails, one about the TalkBoy and the other about cake, have not yet aired. I also did a Back to the Future-themed one a while back as well as a fake call from jail, but they probably weren't really worthy of the podcast. Englsih 3/7/06 6:37
PM
Renee Letarte im helping my intercambio with his englsih Sunday, March 05, 2006 New Site The new and improved DVTime Studios website,
designed by Don Ray
Studios, is now live and on the air.
Remember GA? My high school class (2002) was pretty quiet,
which I suppose is mostly a good thing. 2000 had fun, and 2001 seemed to enjoy
organized crime. I don't know much about what happened after we graduated, but I
do know that I wish we had the sensibility of the 2006. Our version of the
principal recently mentioned "gangs" when commenting on a small skirmish in
which a student was punched, which is a big deal there. How did the Class of
2006 respond? They convinced him that two feuding gangs were on campus, with
defined territories and "neutral" areas such as the cafeteria. That's awesome.
In the end, they just shot each other with water guns. They've also staged two
all-day games of capture the flag, played inside the school. Players joined in
during their free periods, running down the halls to the amusement of classmates
and teachers alike. The best thing about playing capture the flag in school is
that it prompts the obligatory "Why you shouldn't play capture the flag in
school" announcement from those in charge. I don't think we did anything like
that.
This reminds me that I sent out an email a while ago about changes at the school. Nobody responded to it, so I'll just make it public. Here it is: From: Concerned
Alumni Association
Subject:
Dress
Code Revisions for Academic Year 2006-2007
Date:
January 30, 2006 12:46:01 AM
EST
To:
academyalum@mac.com
I am writing to you as a concerned alumnus of Germantown Academy. It has recently come to my attention that the Middle School and Upper School are planning to implement a revised dress code beginning in September of 2006. As I understand it, the new code makes collared shirts mandatory and prohibits any denim. While these measures are sure to make great progress in ensuring a more presentable student body, I fear that the fullest potential of a new dress code may not be realized without valuable input from the strong alumni community. Since we have yet to be contacted regarding the new code, I am sending you our unsolicited advice that we would like The Academy's students, parents, faculty, and administration to consider before the new dress code is finalized. Please read the attached report carefully and forward to any appropriate parties. report.pdf (324 KB) This electronic mail ("e-mail") message and any files transmitted with it was sent from concerned alumni and may contain confidential or privileged information intended only for the use of the Individual(s) or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail message or received it in error, you are hereby notified that any distribution, copying, or forwarding is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail message in error, please print out a hard copy of the e-mail message and eat it. We'll know if you don't. We will reimburse you for all expenses incurred. After you return the e-mail message to us please completely eliminate the message(s) from all media on which it is stored by incinerating your computer. Any error in addressing or delivery of the e-mail message does not waive confidentiality or privileges. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this e-mail message are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of concerned alumni. Finally, the recipient should check this e-mail message and any attachments for the presence of viruses. Concerned alumni accept no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this e-mail message. Talking Points I just realized that I scheduled a meeting with
someone for today for absolutely no reason. Hopefully I'll come up with one
before the meeting.
Best Card Ever I got my sister an awesome birthday card. On the
front are two horses. The bigger horse is saying to the little one, "Get ready
to sing 'Happy Birthday.'" On the inside, the little horse says, "I can't. I'm a
little horse."
I totally approve of that card. And the best part was when my sister didn't immediately get it. Saturday, March 04, 2006 Smart ATM I was in Doylestown today and stopped at Commerce
Bank to get some cash from the ATM. It's not a swipe reader; you have to fully
insert your card. I've lost two cards to these types of machines. First, I left
one in a Nashville ATM when I was in a rush to keep up with Ted's whims in a
mall. I then lost the replacement card when a machine in Baltimore kept it
because the PIN had been set incorrectly (probably by
me).
I'm sure many cards are lost every day the same way that I lost mine in Nashville, costing banks and customers both time and money. One way to solve this problem is by using the swipe-style mag stripe readers, but it can also be solved on machines with card-eating capability. At the ATM in Doylestown, after I completed my transaction, I looked at the money dispenser and waited for my cash to appear. Nothing happened, so I looked at the screen and saw "PLEASE TAKE YOUR CARD." As soon as I removed the ejected card, the cash and receipt followed. It's close to foolproof. Forgetting a card is easy, but nobody's going to walk away without cash. Just moving what could be only one line of code is going to save a lot of people from frustration. A very simple idea, but most great ideas are. Thursday, March 02, 2006 March 2 Happy birthday, Julie!
Part time blues The problem with schoolwork is that it feels like
I have six part-time jobs. I can't wait until this is over.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006 Breaking News Rotation Of Earth Plunges
Entire North American Continent Into
Darkness
I can confirm that it is indeed dark here on the East Coast. I'm hanging in there, staying close to three burning incandescent light bulbs as I work on a report. I lost consciousness for a few hours earlier, but I have recovered, hopefully long enough to finish this work. One can only hope that the sun will come out tomorrow. Or perhaps even later today. |