boarding planes to Atlanta

I'm so glad PDX has free wi-fi.  One hiccup at the security gate: I forgot to unpack my leatherman.  The nice man helped me mail it to myself.  Very friendly guy.  No other problems so far.

boarding planes to Atlanta

I'm so glad PDX has free wi-fi. One hiccup at the security gate: I forgot to unpack my leatherman. The nice man helped me mail it to myself. Very friendly guy. No other problems so far.

looming departure

We'll be getting on the road in about 30 minutes, I hope. This is about an hour behind schedule, if you ask me, which I find frustrating. I would like to be in Portland by 9, but that isn't possible now. Even getting there by 10pm is unlikely.

two friends

two friends are moving to Logan, UT later this week. I don't think it will be the last we'll see of them. M has gotten a job at Space Dynamics Laboratory, which is cool. J is going to be a mommy, which is exciting. They will be missed.

Mail Trends

Have you ever wondered about your email habits? I have, but not enough to do anything about it. Well, the boys of Google solved that little problem with Mail Trends. It's a python script that will analyze your mail data, as long as you have access to it via IMAP. I was able to install it (and the one other package that it depends on) very easily. Cool.

I was pleased to learn that I do, in fact, email my number 1 the most!

coffee review: Starbucks Espresso Roast

Overall Comment: not great, a little tangy.

Specific review info:

1. a little weak in the flavor department- I'll try 4 scoops tomorrow.
2. after taste is tangy/acidic. Not unpleasent, but not what I'm looking for either.
3. at least it doesn't taste burnt.
   

Specific brew info info:

• Water temp was just below boiling- right after bubble stop.
• ground with whack-a-bean for a 10 count.
• 3.5 scoops for 14 oz filtered tap water.
• paper cone filter.
  
• additions: 2 t sugar, 2 oz 2% milk.
• allowed to cool for approximately 1 hour in Starbucks thermal mug #2.

UPDATE: much better with four scoops. 20080422.

the latest

On Tuesday we drive to Portland to catch a plane to Syracuse, NY. We'll be there for about 3 1/2 days, which isn't much time. I hoping to see a couple of apartments, see the campus, get a road tour of the area, meet my new colleagues, and find out where good coffee and food is. We'll see how it goes.

another SP ride

(maps.google link). After three rides, the trail system is really starting to fill in!

two days and two rides at State Patrol

Last week, on Tuesday and Wednesday I too two excellent rides at SP. You can find the details by clicking on the image below.

we shall call it ADVENTURE riding

We went out for some easy riding, "a rest day" for James. Normal riding for me (being as out of shape as I am). James wanted to see some new stuff at Finley, and area he wasn't too familiar with, and I obliged.

d"et's:
who: James and I
where: Finley Hills lowlands
when: leap day 2008
weather: no wind, some sun, a little clouds, 50F
time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm

click to view in google maps, with pictures at the little flags:


see also: this other post about riding at finley.

geocaches this week

for the week of 2/24 - 3/1 2008

Harley and I went out a few times this week to find geocaches...

2/25 : didn't find GC13351

2/26 : found GCWNXC, but didn't find GCWNXP

promises, promises

Hi All,

I'm going to try the blogging thing again, at least until this fall. There are some things that I think I can expect to write about with some regularity:

  - gps related topics: mtb tracks and geocaching
  - maybe some gaming stuff, but then maybe not
  - a little about grad school updates
  - some photos, or links to photos
  - food

Thats more than I can hope to do, honestly. I have the bad habit not keeping up with my writing.

biking at Finley Hills

Mike and I went biking at Finley hills. It was a very nice ride, though a bit chilly. The grass was very green. As a bonus, we saw a herd of 9 deer and one coyote.

Time: 3:45pm to 5:00pm on 2/19/2008
Temp: 45F
Attire: shorts and jacket (and MTB)
Weather: clear and calm
Ground: damp in places, still snow in deep shadows, but very grippy generally. Still no weeds.

KMZ file (view in google maps).

Jed's Other Poem (Beautiful Ground)

Jed's Other Poem (Beautiful Ground)
This is a neat thing.

oblivion

The first thing that I have to say is "wow". And I mean "WOW" in the fullest possible meaning. The last time I really enjoyed a game this much, it was The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. I mean it, I haven't been excited to really play a game since then. Well, maybe I was pretty excited about Ocarina of Time, but it didn't pay off quite as well.

But, I wasn't totally won over by the hype. I really try not to be, after all it's hype. Usually it's junk and doesn't tell you anything about the game. One thing that I was worried about was the silly names in the game. This is my first Elder scrolls game, so I had not been exposed to just how cheesey the names can be. I mean, come on. "Hammerfell" and "Bosmer". What is this. The only guy who can make up words that sound good is Tolkein. He had a complete consistent system. He also had an unfair advantage: he as an etymologysit by trade and qualified at making up languages. But my point is this: it didn't matter. The environment is engrossing enough that I don't care what the words are, they're just placeholders so that I remember where I am going. Maybe that is why they picked the words that they did, so they would be memorable.

What really makes it is the controls. That's what did in Fable in my opion. The controls where to complicated- counterintuitive. These are simple, I had them down before I finished the opening quest. Just like Zelda. Only a few buttons, just make them do a few things. Don't make them each do ten things, depending on weather you are breathing in or out, or one eye is closed, or you're holding down this other button. But I still like that game. It's just that this one is even better.

Two more things. This place is huge. It is a really big game. I haven't used the fast travel yet, just walked form the Imperial City to Chorrol to Kvatch. It took how long you would expect, and covered a lot of stuff. And the views were great. You could see mountains, and then cross those mountains.

The other thing: it plays like I always wanted dungeons and dragons to play when I was a kid, but never got people to play. There are dungeons all over the place and treasure old ruins and all sorts of great stuff. It's like a massive d&d game. How great is that. I expect that I'll play it a lot. With Zelda it was one story. With this, it'll be fun to play a mage, as a warrior, as a thief, as on and on and on. You don't have to play it the same way each time. What fun.

Bottom line is- yeah I'm enjoying it. I'll probably mention it again here. But I really should be studying for the gre for the next week and a half. I can play after. I'll probably have Steph take it to work with her or something so I don't play when I should be studying.

hater of gamer news-blogs

grrrr. or should I say GRAW. I'm more than a little annoyed with the gamer blogs that I rss. Here are the annoyances:

1. typos typos typos! Don't you people proof read? At least have your computer read it out loud before submitting it. Sheash!

2. misinformed. Get. A. Clue. Don't publish some rumor (such as "the graw demo is up on xblm!") until it is confirmed.

3. all that babbling. This is my own fault: I'm addicted to news. I just shouldn't read it.

vortex

vortex
Originally uploaded by justingarofoli.

see, I really do have a flickr acount.

Flickr

I've got a flickr account.

gre general test

I'm taking the general test on Monday.  It looks like it won't be too much trouble, but I am a little nervous.  I haven't had a test in a couple of years!

Blogging from the dashboard:  That's it, maybe with this I'll be able to say something.  I don't have to log in, I don't have think about it.  Probably all that you'll really get out of me is a bunch of one liners like "this sucks" or "that's great".  Ha!