Back to Java!!

For all those people wondering what Java (as in software, not as in the life-fluid of all grads) has to do with Biomedical Engineering, I got a new job to develop a GUI (I used to hate these) in Java for one of the profs.
So it's back to Java and Eclipse for me! I didn't know how much I missed Eclipse till I sat down in front of my PC (details below) and started using it.
So Now I am going to work 15 hours a week on a Apple machine, with specs:


20" widescreen,
2.7GHz,
8 GB RAM (that's not a typo, you demons of envy)
And there is a new addition: a webcam


Now I come to think of it, some people used to envy me for a machine with 1GB RAM... (tsk tsk tsk)

And come 15th Dec, I will be moving to a new office (again not a typo), while other grads are languishing in their tiny cubicles. Like my prof said, I need to watch my back…

Time: 29th Oct, 2005, 11:00 am
Venue: Radiology Lab

My prof wants to use my machine for some work. I have some work till 12, so I tell him that I will be back after some time, and continue the work. At 12, the machine is still busy. So I go off and have some coffee. Back @ 1:40, still the machine is busy. At this moment, he turns to me, and says, "It's a nice afternoon, why don't you take the day off?" I don't mind if my weekend starts on Friday afternoon...


And whole next week, he is away in some part of Europe. :D

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Post Test

Again a homework and a mid-term this week.

The midterms are over (finally)... The papers were good (as all Question papers are, its the answers... you got the idea). For Electrobiology, we had to write our own question and answer it, worth 18 marks. And before any of you say it's good, please imagine yourself sitting in the exam hall trying to frams a question, let alone answer to it. For imaging test, we had to give the "story" (in our prof's words) behind 8 equations. (Chris, if you are reading this, your flash-cards helped a lot. Thanks man!) All in all, an entirely different experience from the one we are used to...

These two weeks were extremely draining (emotionally and hence, physically) for various reasons, and this coupled with the good news that I got full marks in last week's Stat homework helped me decide to take 2 days off from studies. These two days will be dedicated to comparitive study of detective fiction, with special emphasis on Byomkesh Bakshi, thanks to this discussion and an extermely lucky co-incidence of finding two Byomkesh books (in english) in Duke Library.

Update: The two days are almost over, tomorrow I start again working on the Statistics homework due next week. For the results of my study, keep watching my other blog.

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Duke Chapel

A great photo of Duke Chapel I found on the Duke site. For the photos I clicked, please keep watching this space (will do it sometime this weekend, or maybe next weekend)

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A Short Breather

Finished Fall Break last tuesday.

Schedule of this week:
Monday: Start a new job
Tuesday: Electrobio Test
Wednesday: Stat H/W
Thursday: Imaging H/W

Start studying for these: Last Friday.
Finished homework: 12.30 am today.

These were three of the most packed days of my life till now (yes, even including porsche)... Didn't call home, anybody.

Half way through this marathon, you get so stressed out that you are ready to walk in Kroger in your night suit, just to avoid the hassle of changing clothes when going out.

So finally, exams and homeworks are done, I have some breathing time to access the damage to my brain and get up-to-date on my blogs and communications. And I am already half way through the next Stats homework (due next tuesday), and wondering what is the latest time for which I can dare to keep the start of study for Imaging exam...

No wonder these professors using automatic transmission forget that we have something called 1st and 2nd gear, and even any self-respecting vehicle will stop running if you put it in 4th gear from neutral.

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Start of the Fall Break

Sitting in front of my (ok, the one I borrowed) laptop, looking at papers and articles. The deadline of submission for the project proposal is 5 p.m. And it's seven PM already (Fall Break starts at 7).

The day started quite well.

Location: BME 201 (Electrobiology) Lab Quiz
Cast: Our lab group consisting of 6 people

The graduate students take "Group" quizzes. So we can freely discuss the problems (with kind consent of out professor), as long as we value the honour code (i.e. not look into our notes). Today, we had one problem in the lab quiz (the actual data is different for different people). After discussing for 15 solid minutes, we come up with the (wrong) formula. 3 people out of 6 somehow mess up the calculations, and get the right answers. And guess what...
I am one of those to get the wrong answer. Looks like my "famous" luck started the fall break a bit early.


The fall break has just started... Four days of relaxing, fun and enjoyment.

Tasks for Fall Break
1. Complete project proposal
2. Send replies to all e-mails I got in last week (last count was 10)
3. Call up home
4. Call people in US
5. Study
6. Cook for myself
7. Anything I have forgotten to put here

So looks like I have a period of great fun on my hands...

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