Finished reading the Learning Python text. But as everyone knows, reading about something and doing something are two entirely different things. So to get my hands dirty, I decided to write an IRC bot using Python and the python-irclib library. I’ve been a skeptic up until now, but it really is true - Python gets the job done.
I’m really starting to hate these Thermodynamics quizzes. They are trivially easy but I keep making silly mistakes. Finished reading Part I of Learning Python, covering the entirety of Python core features. Two more chapters to go before the book is completed.
The majority of the day was spent studying for Thermodynamics. I’m disapointed with the way I’ve been managing my time recently. Things have to change rather quickly or I’ll start to fall behind. I wrote a small Python script using urllib to interface with Jon’s Idle RPG game. As usual, Python never fails to deliver.
I met with Luke and Mark in the afternoon to finish a rough draft for our Computers and Society interviews. The goal of the report is to identify three people whose work is affected by computing technology. Finally, I met with Chris in the evening to work on assigned homework for Thermodynamics.
I wonder where all my time disappears to. It’s quite frustrating. I spent the early afternoon in the library studying for Electromagnetics. I had a small problem with Georgia Power changing my account number without notifying me, but the matter was promptly corrected by the helpful customer service operator.
In the evening, I finally demystified the derivation for a volume element in spherical coordinates. Intuitively, one must simply imagine a spherical wedge, much like that of an orange slice; in doing so, it becomes clear what the differential elements are.
The goal for tomorrow, of course, is to work on Thermodynamics. There is plenty of time after that to work on other projects. But why does school always have to get in the way?
Recitation was cancelled so I had no classes today. Caught up on some reading and homework, but there’s still a lot more to go. Finished Problem Set 3 for Electromagnetics, and read chapter 7, Project Planning, in Fundamentals of Engineering Design for Professional Practice. With the exception of my Thermodynamics exam this Friday, this week should be fairly light.
Had a quiz in Spanish. Met with Steven after classes in the library and worked on Electromagnetics homework. He seems like a nice guy. After classes, I chatted over MSN with Juan Eduardo (Edward), a Linux user in Granada, Spain, to work on my Spanish speaking skills. I learned quite a bit from our two-hour chat session. And, since we both run fringe operating systems, it us gives us real topics to discuss and talk about.
The US Opportunity successfully landed on Mars at about 12:06 a.m. EST (0506 GMT), three weeks after its identical twin Spirit set down. Opportunity touched down on the Meridiani Planum, a smooth plain near Mars’ equator on the other side of the Red Planet from its twin rover.
It is both an incredible and amazing human achievement that we can see the same pictures that NASA mission control sees, live over the Internet.
Adam and I had a late lunch at Pizza Hut. Studied Spanish in the afternoon, primarily, the irregular preterite tenses. Found an interesting English-Spanish Cultural Exchange, and contacted several of the visitors. The list seems very active, and I think that this is a great way to meet new people and learn a new language. I’ve already gotten a response from a girl in Nayarit, Mexico! Made some minor JavaScript modifications to the website.
I made a mistake in units again on the Thermodynamics quiz. NIST recently released a Computer Security Incident Handling Guide. The document presents general incident response guidelines that are independent of particular hardware platforms, operating systems, and applications.
Adam and I concluded Fruits Basket, an anime series that gives astonishing insight into human character and emotion. What made the series fascinating to me is that I saw a little bit of myself in each of the characters - the reclusiveness of Yuki, the misdirected anger of Kyo, the optimism of Shigure, and the sadness that Hatori must forever bear. Of course, I also like happy endings.
I discovered that BBC News provides RSS newsfeeds. Read chapter nine in a Gift of Fire, which discussed the broader issues on the impact and control of computers. Added a feature to the online journal which denies access to the site to other users while the site is under development. Chris and I met in the afternoon in the library to study for our Thermodynamics quiz tomorrow.