I just found some unemployment statistics here. It turns out the 3 best states to live in (in terms of unemployment) are:
North Dakota - 3.5%
South Dakota - 3.9%
Nebraska - 4.0%
Sadly, my home state of MN isn't doing quite as well, at 6.9%. It's almost tied with WA, which is at 7.1%.
One piece of good news is that WA's unemployment agency is hiring.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Save the Economy!
If you don't care about the economy, that's fine. Just stay home and mind your own business. But if you do care, and you're willing to play your part to ensure that things get better, start drinking. I know I will!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Stuff Engineers Like #7 - Exclusive OR
Many engineers have to take a digital logic class at some point. For me, it was a sophomore level class. After taking that class, engineers suddenly have a new favorite joke. When somebody asks them an "or" question, such as "would you like coffee or tea?", they will answer "yes".
For you non-engineers I will explain quickly why this is. In digital logic, there are several key operations, with which you can build complex systems (such as computers.) The 3 most basic operations are AND, OR, and NOT. The NOT operation is simple - it simply inverts a signal. I.e. if a 1 goes into a NOT box, a 0 will come out the other end, and vice versa. The "AND" function and the "OR" function each take two inputs and produce one output. For the AND function, if the two inputs are both 1, the output will be a 1. In all other cases (0 and 0, 0 and 1, 1 and 0) the output will be a zero. It makes sense because both input A "AND" input B have to be 1 (or true) for the output to be a 1. In the OR case, the inputs 0 and 0 produce an output of 0, but all other cases (0 and 1, 1 and 0, and 1 and 1) produce a 1. This makes less sense at first because a 1 is produced not only if input A "OR" input B is true(0 and 1, 1 and 0) but also if inputs A "AND" B are true(1 and 1).
It turns out that there is another logical operation called the exclusive or, or XOR, which does what one might expect for an or. If A and B are (0,0) or (1,1) it produces a 0. Only if A and B are (0,1) or (1,0) does it produce a 1.
When engineers learn about the exclusive OR, they feel magical, as though they have just been sworn into the Freemasons. They are now privy to this secretive information about the "true" (or, at least logical) meaning of the word OR. Hence, the "yes" joke.
If you'd like to avoid hearing this slightly overused joke while simultaneously scoring some points with an engineering friend, just phrase your question like so: "Would you like some coffee exclusive or tea?" It may sound dorky, but trust me. He or she will give you an engineering fist bump because you are now on the inside.
For you non-engineers I will explain quickly why this is. In digital logic, there are several key operations, with which you can build complex systems (such as computers.) The 3 most basic operations are AND, OR, and NOT. The NOT operation is simple - it simply inverts a signal. I.e. if a 1 goes into a NOT box, a 0 will come out the other end, and vice versa. The "AND" function and the "OR" function each take two inputs and produce one output. For the AND function, if the two inputs are both 1, the output will be a 1. In all other cases (0 and 0, 0 and 1, 1 and 0) the output will be a zero. It makes sense because both input A "AND" input B have to be 1 (or true) for the output to be a 1. In the OR case, the inputs 0 and 0 produce an output of 0, but all other cases (0 and 1, 1 and 0, and 1 and 1) produce a 1. This makes less sense at first because a 1 is produced not only if input A "OR" input B is true(0 and 1, 1 and 0) but also if inputs A "AND" B are true(1 and 1).
It turns out that there is another logical operation called the exclusive or, or XOR, which does what one might expect for an or. If A and B are (0,0) or (1,1) it produces a 0. Only if A and B are (0,1) or (1,0) does it produce a 1.
When engineers learn about the exclusive OR, they feel magical, as though they have just been sworn into the Freemasons. They are now privy to this secretive information about the "true" (or, at least logical) meaning of the word OR. Hence, the "yes" joke.
If you'd like to avoid hearing this slightly overused joke while simultaneously scoring some points with an engineering friend, just phrase your question like so: "Would you like some coffee exclusive or tea?" It may sound dorky, but trust me. He or she will give you an engineering fist bump because you are now on the inside.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Where Were You on 1.20.09?
Sigh. I'm going to have to tell my grand kids that I was sleeping when our nation's very first black president was inaugurated. Oops. I knew that the ceremony started at 9:00am, but I figured it wouldn't really get going right away. So I hit the snooze button a couple times and got up at 9:20 - just in time to tune in and see everyone clapping for the end of Obama's speech.
In my defense, I did try to rally people to go watch it at a bar, but everyone had to "work". Lame. I did watch the speech on Hulu after I got home from school... it was good. Anyone have any better inauguration stories?
In my defense, I did try to rally people to go watch it at a bar, but everyone had to "work". Lame. I did watch the speech on Hulu after I got home from school... it was good. Anyone have any better inauguration stories?
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Notes about OurJoules
I am really excited about how the site is coming along, but one area that still needs some work is the "ideas" page. This page should be full of links/information about various energy-saving projects that people can undertake.
I only have a few links so far and half of them are companies that are based in Seattle. So, if you have any ideas for this page please let me know!! And of course I'd like to hear any other comments on the site too. If something is confusing, or you have suggestions or questions or comments, please tell me!
Here's the ideas page: Ideas
I only have a few links so far and half of them are companies that are based in Seattle. So, if you have any ideas for this page please let me know!! And of course I'd like to hear any other comments on the site too. If something is confusing, or you have suggestions or questions or comments, please tell me!
Here's the ideas page: Ideas
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Funny Bathroom Sign
Last year my sister and I went to our family reunion, and we saw this sign in the hotel bathroom. I don't know how to express how much this sign makes me laugh. All I can say is, good thing laughing REALLY hard has not been known to cause diarrhea.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Railroad Stuff
I just read this really long but very interesting article about railroads, and I thought I'd share my favorite parts of it here:
I also will post it on my facebook group (which you should join!) about electrifying U.S. rail.
I'm a facebook group! Join me!
The Railway Express Agency, which attached special cars to passenger trains, provided Americans with a level of express freight service that cannot be had for any price today,offering door-to-door delivery of everything from canoes to bowls of tropical fish to, in at least one instance, a giraffe. Into the 1950s, it was not uncommon for a family to ship its refrigerator to and from a lakeside cabin for the summer via the REA; thanks to the physics of steel-on-steel conveyance,appliance-sized items could be moved for trivially larger amounts of money than smaller goods (think about that the next time you shell out an extra $50 to check a suitcase of dirty clothes on a domestic flight).
Today, the nation's rail network is just 94,942 miles, less than half of what it was in 1970, yet it is hauling 137 percent more freight, making for extreme congestion and longer shipping times.
For a brief time in 2004, UPS did persuade two railroads to run a train fast enough to handle this business. But due to insufficient track to allows lower trains to get out of its way, the UPS bullet train caused massive congestion, freezing up the Union Pacific system for months until the railroad at last canceled the service.
Today, most other industrial countries make extensive use of electric locomotives, and for good reason. They are two and a half to three times more efficient than diesels, more powerful, and cheaper to maintain. They also last longer, accelerate faster, and have much higher top speeds. Trains carrying containers at 100 miles per hour are more than possible. Powered by an overhead wire or third rail, electric locomotives don't have to lug the weight of their own fuel around with them.
Another potential use of steel wheel interstates would be auto trains. Today, Amtrak offers a service that allows motorists to drive their cars onto special auto racks that are attached to the back of a passenger train. The train runs daily between northern Virginia and central Florida,saving users 855 miles of driving down I-95. The service is particularly popular among northern "snowbirds" who spend the winter in Florida and want to have their cars with them.
I also will post it on my facebook group (which you should join!) about electrifying U.S. rail.
I'm a facebook group! Join me!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
World's Coolest Scholarship
I got an email the other day about the Bonderman Travel Fellowship and it had the word travel in it so of course I had to read it.
This is the world's most unbelievable scholarship. If you don't want to click on the link here's the highlights:
- $20,000 for >= 8 months of travel (You can travel longer than 8 months if you don't run out of money.)
- The only stipulation is that you visit at least 6 countries in 2 major areas of the world
- No studying/research/projects while you're on the trip.
- You don't even have to write about it after you're done.
So, I have to apply for it. Sigh. I mean, even if I got it I am not sure if I'd want to run off and be without Sean for 8 months. But not applying for it would be like walking past a $50 bill on the ground and not picking it up. Or no, a $100 bill. No, a $100 bill AND a brand-new freshly wrapped Chipotle burrito. No wait. It would be like if you were walking on a beach, and you saw the $100 and the Chipotle burrito, and then a dolphin came out of the water and said "if you pick up the money and the burrito, I'll carry you on my back to a magical underwater paradise where you will turn into a mermaid and eat seaweed burritos that taste just like Chipotle". Ok I have to stop, but that is a fun game!
This is the world's most unbelievable scholarship. If you don't want to click on the link here's the highlights:
- $20,000 for >= 8 months of travel (You can travel longer than 8 months if you don't run out of money.)
- The only stipulation is that you visit at least 6 countries in 2 major areas of the world
- No studying/research/projects while you're on the trip.
- You don't even have to write about it after you're done.
So, I have to apply for it. Sigh. I mean, even if I got it I am not sure if I'd want to run off and be without Sean for 8 months. But not applying for it would be like walking past a $50 bill on the ground and not picking it up. Or no, a $100 bill. No, a $100 bill AND a brand-new freshly wrapped Chipotle burrito. No wait. It would be like if you were walking on a beach, and you saw the $100 and the Chipotle burrito, and then a dolphin came out of the water and said "if you pick up the money and the burrito, I'll carry you on my back to a magical underwater paradise where you will turn into a mermaid and eat seaweed burritos that taste just like Chipotle". Ok I have to stop, but that is a fun game!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Peak Oil Meeting
I went to my second peak oil meeting on Thursday. It was a lot of fun - I don't really care if I am now designated 'crazy' by some official standards.
The coolest part was hearing an update on the Sail Transport Network. A guy named Dave who is a very active member in the group has now done several "fossil-fuel-free" grocery deliveries. He and a couple helpers take a sailboat from Ballard (a neighborhood in Seattle) to various locations with organic farms. On their last trip they went to Sequim, which took 2 days in each direction. The entire trip isn't actually 100% fuel-free (yet) because the organic farmers drive trucks down to the marina to meet them. But the sailing is done without motors, and then the produce is sold near the marina in Ballard.
Dave & co. want to start a CSA and deliver food to customers throughout Ballard using an electric cargo tricycle. A picture of the cargo trike and other info is in the story here. I signed up to be on their mailing list, but I'm not sure if I live close enough to Ballard to get deliveries. Anyway I am really excited to follow their progress, I think it's a sweet idea!
The coolest part was hearing an update on the Sail Transport Network. A guy named Dave who is a very active member in the group has now done several "fossil-fuel-free" grocery deliveries. He and a couple helpers take a sailboat from Ballard (a neighborhood in Seattle) to various locations with organic farms. On their last trip they went to Sequim, which took 2 days in each direction. The entire trip isn't actually 100% fuel-free (yet) because the organic farmers drive trucks down to the marina to meet them. But the sailing is done without motors, and then the produce is sold near the marina in Ballard.
Dave & co. want to start a CSA and deliver food to customers throughout Ballard using an electric cargo tricycle. A picture of the cargo trike and other info is in the story here. I signed up to be on their mailing list, but I'm not sure if I live close enough to Ballard to get deliveries. Anyway I am really excited to follow their progress, I think it's a sweet idea!
Monday, January 5, 2009
No More Coffee?!?!
Recently, my delightful boyfriend and I got into a conversation about why my white shirts always end up with yellow armpit stains. I have heard that this is caused by wearing antiperspirant, which I didn't really want to give up, so I just accept it as a fact of life.
But, he claims that it's from drinking coffee. I am aghast at the mere possibility of this being true, because it would mean that for the first time in my life, I have heard a somewhat compelling reason to give up coffee. (I have often said that I will never give it up until the day I read a study that shows that it causes cancer.)
Luckily for me, I could not find any evidence online to support this preposterous coffee theory. But what I did find was a very cool way to remove the stains! Mix equal parts water, peroxide, and baking soda, and scrub into the stain with a toothbrush. I tried this with a shirt yesterday, and it doesn't seem to work right away but after I let the mixture sit and soak into the shirt for awhile, it really started working! I feel like some kind of infomercial right now but it was unbelievable. I bought a box of baking soda at the store for 75 cents yesterday, and now I basically have a new shirt. Awesome.
PS. I may someday try a white-shirt no-coffee experiment. But clearly this cannot even be considered until after my thesis is over.
But, he claims that it's from drinking coffee. I am aghast at the mere possibility of this being true, because it would mean that for the first time in my life, I have heard a somewhat compelling reason to give up coffee. (I have often said that I will never give it up until the day I read a study that shows that it causes cancer.)
Luckily for me, I could not find any evidence online to support this preposterous coffee theory. But what I did find was a very cool way to remove the stains! Mix equal parts water, peroxide, and baking soda, and scrub into the stain with a toothbrush. I tried this with a shirt yesterday, and it doesn't seem to work right away but after I let the mixture sit and soak into the shirt for awhile, it really started working! I feel like some kind of infomercial right now but it was unbelievable. I bought a box of baking soda at the store for 75 cents yesterday, and now I basically have a new shirt. Awesome.
PS. I may someday try a white-shirt no-coffee experiment. But clearly this cannot even be considered until after my thesis is over.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Winter Wonderland
Happy New Year to everyone! I got back into Seattle on the 31st, and it really doesn't seem cold here after spending a week in Minnesota. I had fun doing all of the 5 traditional wintry shenanigans: ice skating, snowman building, strolling through the park, shopping at Mall of America, and sledding.
Sean really wanted to skate outside, but it was hard to find an outdoor rink that also provides skate rental, so instead we went to the Depot in downtown Minneapolis. This was a nice place to skate, but a word of warning - it's not cheap. It was $8 to skate plus another $7 for skate rental! (In comparison, last time I went to the Brooklyn Park Community Center and it was $2 for skating.) The one upside is that they have open skating all day, so you could leave and come back if you really wanted to get your money's worth.
Dad, two of my sisters, and I built an awesome snowman in the backyard. Its ears are mushrooms - they didn't stay in very well, but they are funny looking ears. Also, its nose is a pickle. We didn't have any carrots.
And here is the most traditional winter activity - shopping! Here's me at the Mall of America, sampling a delicious piece of Wisconsin cheese. (2 year old Wisconsin cheddar - it was super good.)
Those dang samples worked on me, of course. I bought some cheese for Sean, as well as some yummy Elk Sticks. My little sisters thought that elk is too cute to eat, but I thought they were delicious. While at the mall, I bought a zip-up hoodie, and some sweet boots . Of course now all the snow in Seattle is gone, but at least the boots look awesome!!
Sean really wanted to skate outside, but it was hard to find an outdoor rink that also provides skate rental, so instead we went to the Depot in downtown Minneapolis. This was a nice place to skate, but a word of warning - it's not cheap. It was $8 to skate plus another $7 for skate rental! (In comparison, last time I went to the Brooklyn Park Community Center and it was $2 for skating.) The one upside is that they have open skating all day, so you could leave and come back if you really wanted to get your money's worth.
Dad, two of my sisters, and I built an awesome snowman in the backyard. Its ears are mushrooms - they didn't stay in very well, but they are funny looking ears. Also, its nose is a pickle. We didn't have any carrots.
And here is the most traditional winter activity - shopping! Here's me at the Mall of America, sampling a delicious piece of Wisconsin cheese. (2 year old Wisconsin cheddar - it was super good.)
Those dang samples worked on me, of course. I bought some cheese for Sean, as well as some yummy Elk Sticks. My little sisters thought that elk is too cute to eat, but I thought they were delicious. While at the mall, I bought a zip-up hoodie, and some sweet boots . Of course now all the snow in Seattle is gone, but at least the boots look awesome!!
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