Friday, December 21, 2007
The last day of my first semester.
Well, the poor Biomechanics undergrads had to stay around for the final time slot of this week to take their final. We had a review session last night and they were really hurting. I tried to help them out but I think I scared them more. So, Brian (my mentor) and I walked down to the testing room, which wasn't in our building, the final schedule is super weird around here. Anyway, we got there with plenty of time for me to sit and chat with some of my students. Then we passed out the test and the scantrons...well we were a few short and Brian ran up to get more, so I stayed there as the kids started the test. As I sat there waiting for one of them to ask a question, I looked at them and I was sad. They were a great class, good people, very fun, and I had a good relationship with them. I am sad to see them go. My first little chickens, off to fight bigger battles! Well, good luck little clucks! Thanks for such a great first semester!
MARS! WOW! and Space violence
SO I just found this picture, and many more, from the Hubble telescope. This is from the closest pass of Hubble to Mars! AMAZING!
From: http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2007/37/full/
A powerful jet from a supermassive black hole is blasting a nearby galaxy, according to new data from NASA observatories. This never-before witnessed galactic violence may have a profound effect on planets in the jet's path and trigger a burst of star formation in its destructive wake.
Known as 3C 321, the system contains two galaxies in orbit around each other. Data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory show both galaxies contain supermassive black holes at their centers, but the larger galaxy has a jet emanating from the vicinity of its black hole. The smaller galaxy apparently has swung into the path of this jet.
This "death star galaxy" was discovered through the combined efforts of both space and ground-based telescopes. NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, Hubble Space Telescope, and Spitzer Space Telescope were part of the effort. The Very Large Array (VLA) in Socorro, N.M., and the Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) telescopes in the United Kingdom also were needed for the finding.
"We've seen many jets produced by black holes, but this is the first time we've seen one punch into another galaxy like we're seeing here," said Dan Evans, a scientist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Mass. and leader of the study. "This jet could be causing all sorts of problems for the smaller galaxy it is pummeling."
Thursday, December 20, 2007
I almost forgot.
Ok the lifts are NUTS at Tremblant. (see previous blog for pictures) All the ones I went on are high speed quads and I have to say, no other quad I have been on is like this. They go as fast as the gondola and you fly into the bull wheel, so fast you don't think you are going to stop. Then it throws on the breaks right before the ramp, but not before you can use all the momentum to get off super fast if you time it right. So much fun!
And the lifts close at 330pm...what? why so early? Well, because we were so far north that it got dark early enough that in order to be safe in getting people off the hill, they have to close early...how cool is that?
And the lifts close at 330pm...what? why so early? Well, because we were so far north that it got dark early enough that in order to be safe in getting people off the hill, they have to close early...how cool is that?
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Bonjour!
So, the big thing I did this week was go to Canada! Yes, Canada. I went to Mont Tremblant to go skiing for a few days, during FINALS WEEK, how crazy is that? Well the whole experience was crazy from the beginning. These are some of the pictures I took of the "base" and the hill.
So, lets start off with the drive up through Vermont. Well, I missed the turn off to get to Burlington, which isn't that big of a deal because we could get into Canada another way, it would just take a bit longer. No worries. Until a VT state patrol vehicle followed me for about 10 miles, after he had already passed me. The only way I could get him off my tail was to turn off at Newport VT. That is another story. This little town was where we decided to get food and gas. There was ONE light, completely unplowed roads and no one around at 830 at night. There were very funny people who helped us though, funny in a hick, let's make fun of them kind of way. So, we went out to THE light and "banged" a left and got back out on 91.
Well then we went through a BIG border patrol. I didn't get a picture because the story of crossing was much more hectic. Let me explain. We pulled in about 9 and no one else was there. I pulled out my passport and the guy who was with me had his license. Well, we were asked several questions, and then were told to pull around and "come inside." So, we did. We then were asked several more questions, some of them repeated, probably to see if we would change our answers. We didn't, but they proceeded to check something out. We never did find out, but a half hour later we were allowed to enter Canada. Maybe it was the California drivers license of the guy, or was it the Utah plates of someone who goes to school in Massachusetts with a passport from Germany? Who knows, but that was quite the adventure.
Then we drove down dix ouest (10 west) into Montreal. There wasn't much out there, and it was strangely different from Northern Vermont. Vermont is completely rugged and wooded and right over the boarder Canada turns into flat nothingness. Interestingly the boarder is halfway to the north pole, which I though was cool.
Then we drove through Montreal which was fine because it was well signed. But then when we were driving to Tremblant, the adventure became even more interesting. I didn't know exactly where to get off, I figured that it would be easy to find. HA! There was the "Mont Tremblant" and "Mont Tremblant ski resort" and one came before the other...I'll let you guess which one came first. So, of course, that was the off ramp we took. Well, that road proceeded to drive AROUND Mont Tremblant. There was a sign that said, Tremblant 25 km...no sweat! That road ended and then there was a fork in the road (See the sign, sorry it is fuzzy, it was late and super dark). Notice that it says Tremblant in really fancy print and it was to the right only 3 km and to the left the plain sign says Mont Tremblant is 22 km. Well, after having driven 25 km already we thought for sure to the right was the right choice. It wasn't, although the next day skiing I learned that it was the "backside" or the north side.
So we were close, just not where we were to stay. SO we drove 22 km to the left to the ski resort. Well, was that just a normal drive? NO! It was on a dirt road covered in about 4-6 inches of snow with many switch backs and whoopdie dues! That was awesome and at 1200 at night, it just made the story that much better, and becomes one more time I've taken the jeep off road after midnight. But to know that I did it in Canada is pretty cool.
Well, it was cold the first day (-4 F) but the snow was awesome. Then the next day it was a bit warmer (20 F) but the wind made it feel worse than the day before. But again, the snow was incredible. The mountain was big with a lot to choose from. I pretty much skied the bumps all day long for two days...my back is killing me. I know, waah! I got about 50 runs in in two days and, believe me, I'm not complaining, just telling. It was a great two days of skiing in Canada with a great adventure of travels. (Actually, the ride home was void of adventure except for traveling Canada speeds on a country road racing to the boarder in a blizzard...those canadians are crazy drivers.)
So, lets start off with the drive up through Vermont. Well, I missed the turn off to get to Burlington, which isn't that big of a deal because we could get into Canada another way, it would just take a bit longer. No worries. Until a VT state patrol vehicle followed me for about 10 miles, after he had already passed me. The only way I could get him off my tail was to turn off at Newport VT. That is another story. This little town was where we decided to get food and gas. There was ONE light, completely unplowed roads and no one around at 830 at night. There were very funny people who helped us though, funny in a hick, let's make fun of them kind of way. So, we went out to THE light and "banged" a left and got back out on 91.
Well then we went through a BIG border patrol. I didn't get a picture because the story of crossing was much more hectic. Let me explain. We pulled in about 9 and no one else was there. I pulled out my passport and the guy who was with me had his license. Well, we were asked several questions, and then were told to pull around and "come inside." So, we did. We then were asked several more questions, some of them repeated, probably to see if we would change our answers. We didn't, but they proceeded to check something out. We never did find out, but a half hour later we were allowed to enter Canada. Maybe it was the California drivers license of the guy, or was it the Utah plates of someone who goes to school in Massachusetts with a passport from Germany? Who knows, but that was quite the adventure.
Then we drove down dix ouest (10 west) into Montreal. There wasn't much out there, and it was strangely different from Northern Vermont. Vermont is completely rugged and wooded and right over the boarder Canada turns into flat nothingness. Interestingly the boarder is halfway to the north pole, which I though was cool.
Then we drove through Montreal which was fine because it was well signed. But then when we were driving to Tremblant, the adventure became even more interesting. I didn't know exactly where to get off, I figured that it would be easy to find. HA! There was the "Mont Tremblant" and "Mont Tremblant ski resort" and one came before the other...I'll let you guess which one came first. So, of course, that was the off ramp we took. Well, that road proceeded to drive AROUND Mont Tremblant. There was a sign that said, Tremblant 25 km...no sweat! That road ended and then there was a fork in the road (See the sign, sorry it is fuzzy, it was late and super dark). Notice that it says Tremblant in really fancy print and it was to the right only 3 km and to the left the plain sign says Mont Tremblant is 22 km. Well, after having driven 25 km already we thought for sure to the right was the right choice. It wasn't, although the next day skiing I learned that it was the "backside" or the north side.
So we were close, just not where we were to stay. SO we drove 22 km to the left to the ski resort. Well, was that just a normal drive? NO! It was on a dirt road covered in about 4-6 inches of snow with many switch backs and whoopdie dues! That was awesome and at 1200 at night, it just made the story that much better, and becomes one more time I've taken the jeep off road after midnight. But to know that I did it in Canada is pretty cool.Well, it was cold the first day (-4 F) but the snow was awesome. Then the next day it was a bit warmer (20 F) but the wind made it feel worse than the day before. But again, the snow was incredible. The mountain was big with a lot to choose from. I pretty much skied the bumps all day long for two days...my back is killing me. I know, waah! I got about 50 runs in in two days and, believe me, I'm not complaining, just telling. It was a great two days of skiing in Canada with a great adventure of travels. (Actually, the ride home was void of adventure except for traveling Canada speeds on a country road racing to the boarder in a blizzard...those canadians are crazy drivers.)
Caroling at the OSV.
The young men and women of the stake had an invite to Old Sturbridge Village to sing. OSV opens around Christmas time at night for Christmas festivities, including caroling. It was really fun, with a lot of fun things to make and do. My driver kind of got lost, ok we got really lost, so we actually missed the singing part, but we still got to take part in the fun.
This is one of two churches portrayed at the Village. This night there was a real choir singing inside all dressed up in red robes for Christmas. I'm glad we weren't part of THAT choir and were THAT late.
This is a large family home in the town square and people were making people shadows all night.
This is where we would have been had we made it in time to sing, by the campfire!
This is one of two churches portrayed at the Village. This night there was a real choir singing inside all dressed up in red robes for Christmas. I'm glad we weren't part of THAT choir and were THAT late.
This is a large family home in the town square and people were making people shadows all night.
This is where we would have been had we made it in time to sing, by the campfire!
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