Times Change

So this semester I've been enjoying a class in Fluid Physics which emphasizes earth science applications, inevitably some aerodynamics shows up too. In an attempt to get away from the long derivation based lectures the professor shows videos on fluid mechanics that were made back in the late 50s and early 60s. I very much enjoy these videos and can't wait till the next Wednesday class each week; the semester is coming to an end which is unfortunate with respect to this part of my week.

Anyway I get my hands on these videos (VHS) and convert them to a digital format so I may enjoy them for years to come, they really are a treat to watch. And one thing I have come to admire is the immaculate hand writing of the narrator/host, Ascher Shapiro. His penmanship is in start contrast to much of the hand writing I see on a daily basis, especially that of my professors. I got to thinking (during class usually) how things like this change, maybe it's my romanticized view of by gone eras, or maybe it really is that people in general had better writing back then. I can't help to think as I peck away at some letter label buttons how little I actually 'write' and how much life now depends on typing. I always appreciate aesthetics, although some might say I don't, but I find it very rare to see a nice piece of penmanship. I know I am not gifted with this ability, but after the last few weeks I have become more aware of my own writing.

I have always thought my writing was mediocre at best, but it seems to get the point across. And that's the thing, I think people feel like writing is such a slow use of time that they hurry through it with out much concern for it's ability to communicate to other readers. I know I am guilty of this. I would say that 99.99% of my writing is solely for personal use; notes are essential to students, and even then I am always critiqued for how sparse and dense my class notes are. But now after watching the wonderful strokes of Dr. Ascher Shapiro I am very aware of what can be done with practice of the arm-hand-eye coordination, I will strive for this for some time to come.

As I sit here writing this out I can only think of the modern equivalent to what I have identified, the rush to finish typing because it feels like such a drain of time. Again I am guilty as charged. Many times reports and papers have to get done and nearly all of those many times a deadline is breathing down your neck, the result, poorly written text. (See! I'm not sure if I even got the punctuation correct on the end of that last sentence.) Now the thing I fear! People who can't physically write clearly enough so that other people can read it, and people who can't express their ideas to get their point across in the first place. I don't like what popular technology does to some parts of our lives.

Do I make myself clear?

Back To The Grind...

...Only 3 more wild weeks and one fluid filled day left until the end of the semester. This is both good news and bad news. Good because it can't last too much longer, bad because there's so much to do in such a short time; the questions is, can Team Phelan get it done in the remaining 2 weeks!?! Yep that's right 2 weeks and counting until Critical Design Review. Eeeeek!

That being said the Thanksgiving break was a very welcome change of pace for several days. I had a great time with Mom, Pop, and Alice; I also got to spend some time with Grand-Pa, Sara, Scott and Carrie.

Thursday was spent talking, cooking, eating, playing with dogs, walking, and being a tour guide.
Friday was an enjoyable day of bike riding, walking, and lumber jacking. Alice turns out to wield a mighty maul and saw. Watch out for those trash cans, they'll get'cha!
Saturday passed with the retrieval of a new kitchen table form Pineville, and a driving/walking tour of my olde stomping grounds.
Sunday mmmmm banana bread!

A great break with a little hard labor, a little exercise, and lots of good food and relaxing times.

Officially the World's Strongest Man

I can tear a phone book in half.

Dream Art

No EC for me...

After several months of being on the fence about my participation in the Everglades Challenge 2008, it is now official; I will not be on Mullet Key March 1, 2008.

Here's why:
1) Aerospace senior design is eating up lots of time. If I were able to have a spring break, I would not be able to take the full week off anyway, needless to say a couple days before the break actually started.

2) I am already booked solid for the Thanksgiving and Winter breaks so I won't be at school to do work, and apparently to be worthy of good work I have to be at school? Anyway I would much rather spend my whole Thanksgiving and Winter breaks away from school than spend some of that time away and still not be able to do the EC08.

3) And the last reason, for now, its that the entrance fees are increasing. Seeing that I am going to graduate soon I need to start really saving money until I have a job or some other source of support.

Maybe I can be the 'ground crew' for the Stewarts' and Adam, that'll give me a fun thing to do during the week.

Sigh, what great times I had last year.