tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31252396648350981312011-07-08T01:08:47.811-04:00"Stones are mute teachers; they silence the observer, and the most valuable lesson we learn from them we cannot communicate." - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethevaldemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.comBlogger851100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-40856166966830438092010-08-20T13:21:00.002-04:002010-08-20T13:31:04.756-04:00

I'm more or less fully moved in (a few bags, mostly clothing, are still in the trunk of the car) and while still unpacking and getting everything set up the way I want it, am pretty comfortable in the new place.I'm slowly unpacking my stuff in the new office, but can't really do much till I get a set of bookshelves up from 3rd floor storage. Till then, no point in unpacking the textbooks or

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-49330947726880589322010-08-12T16:44:00.003-04:002010-08-12T17:03:01.429-04:00

Don't pay enough attention to this thing. Probably a chicken and egg problem in which I don't have many readers so I don't make a habit of updating, which means I don't have many readers, which leads to . . .You get the point.Been a busy summer. Bought a hybrid bike, went to Wisconsin, learned building was condemned, found I LOVE road biking, blasted up to the Cabin, moved my office 3 times (

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-34232964895726505472010-04-15T22:42:00.004-04:002010-04-15T22:52:44.133-04:00

Magnitude 4.9 earthquake in Utah.Northern Utah on the UT-WY border. Felt reports coming into the USGS are currently from as far south as American Fork, UT and as far west as the Great Salt Lake. This isn't a major one, and no idea of any damage yet. It's of interest because it's an intraplate earthquake, despite it being not-unexpected because of its location in the far-east end of the Basin and

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-87354562042353682652010-03-30T09:10:00.002-04:002010-03-30T09:44:20.636-04:00

Read the posting here.If you're wondering how colliders work, ArsTechnica put up a great article this week on how they work.As a freshman at Michigan State University, my family and I had the pleasure of being able to take one of their periodic public tours of the Cyclotron facilities. One of my favorite parts was how they curved the acceleration path at one point to separate particles by mass,

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-3423637770014912072010-03-29T10:28:00.002-04:002010-03-29T10:33:30.215-04:00

Got back to the home base yesterday afternoon in time for the second half of the MSU-Tennesee game, which I'd been tuning into for the last hour or so of my drive.If I can get tickets at a reasonable price, I'm hoping to be able to watch the games in person, seeing as I live a mere hour and a half from Indianapolis. Chances are that I will not be successful in my quest, but it NEVER hurts to

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-34081463342192553182010-03-23T00:15:00.001-04:002010-03-23T00:18:23.324-04:00

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-25093892308912804252010-03-21T09:52:00.004-04:002010-03-21T10:29:13.902-04:00

Been thinking a lot about how we think and brain structures/types lately. Not going into details why, but the more simplistic of the reasons is that ADHD, something I've lived with my entire life, is a fascinating disorder. The spectrum it exists on is facsinating as well: Asperger's/ASD, manic-depressive, OCD. It's rare to sit at purely one of those endmembers.I'm no medical doctor or

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-51779214515191282822010-03-15T22:04:00.003-04:002010-03-21T18:49:21.270-04:00

Snowball Earth is a popular, controversial idea in which Earth is thought to have been completely covered at least once in ice during the Sturtian glaciation of roughly 718-700 Ma. This glaciation episode, bookended by two others, the Kaigas (~785-728 Ma) and the Marinoan (~670-624 Ma), comprise the period of the Late Precambrian known as the Cryogenian Period and are a precursor to the Cambrian

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-58335645373148837482010-03-14T10:59:00.003-04:002010-03-14T11:11:34.682-04:00

. . . Somewhat guilt-inducing, because I wake up thinking I've slept in an hour later than usual. While I haven't in terms of absolute time, social time indicates that I absolutely have!Well, at least it's Pi Day. I will not be eating pie, or any number approximately equal to 3.14 for that matter, but I will happily ruminate on the philosophical implications of the ratio of a circle's diameter to

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-53448148744398417742010-03-13T20:51:00.001-05:002010-03-13T20:57:59.161-05:00

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-64995711185245452562010-03-11T15:24:00.001-05:002010-03-11T15:24:49.285-05:00

Have there been more earthquakes lately? NO!

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-8896330966958486222010-03-11T11:10:00.005-05:002010-03-11T11:21:03.345-05:00

These are probably aftershocks, but I got these e-mails from the USGS about an hour ago:Magnitude 7.2, Libertador O'Higgins, Chile 3/11/10 14:39:48 UTC[This has since been revised down to magnitude 6.9.]Magnitude 6.9, Libertador O'Higgins, Chile 3/11/10 14:55:30 UTC[This has since been revised down to magnitude 6.7.]Magnitude 6.0, Libertador O'Higgins, Chile 3/11/10 15:06:03 UTCAftershocks may

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-25493732951875386242010-03-08T21:14:00.000-05:002010-03-08T21:15:26.409-05:00

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-89739468575603579712010-03-08T20:08:00.007-05:002010-03-08T20:43:24.751-05:00

In other news, Concepcion, Chile is now sitting ten feet further west than it did previous to the magnitude 8.8 earthquake.Only about 3.1 meters displacement, you say? For one event, that is pretty damn significant. That and in the grand scheme of things, there's only a smidgen of crustal shortening and subduction going on there. Amazing to think about how much ocean crust once did exist there

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-52094230383026830432010-03-07T09:14:00.003-05:002010-03-07T09:33:46.083-05:00

This was one of the forms of entertainment of choice at field camp - the dreaded Flash Bang. During periods of downtime and carbo-loading, it was discovered fairly early on that the sighting mirrors of our compasses, particularly those of the Brunton brand, reflected sunlight REALLY well across large distances. (This is also very handy to know for potential field emergencies in which signaling

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-79764443968960218072010-03-06T20:07:00.003-05:002010-03-06T20:19:29.716-05:00

It's a monocline that looks like a SHIP! I hope everyone else sees that too!This is a picture from the start of the San Rafael Swell in Utah. A monocline is sort of like an anticline (convex fold), except it only has one leg. It tells us that the area was undergoing some sort of uneven compression that caused one side to kink up and form a leg, while the other side slooooowly tapers downward to

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-88435711104279953012010-03-04T17:16:00.003-05:002010-03-04T17:17:57.643-05:00

I'd like to point out that reading my class' text, which is the same one I used when I took the class as an undergrad at MSU, is MUCH easier now that I've been out of the class for a while and actually use this stuff every day.Now off to the world of granite typing.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-63172786787147367492010-03-03T20:54:00.004-05:002010-03-03T21:12:03.154-05:00

Had possibly one of the most exciting meetings ever this afternoon!There's not much in terms of detail since things are only in the barest of planning stages, but what I can say is that it's a collaborative effort with one of the other research groups in the department and if things end up as interesting as we suspect, and better yet if we can develop some new models, this could be VERY important

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-82821154168713113752010-03-01T23:01:00.003-05:002010-03-01T23:11:20.284-05:00

From BoingBoing: Chile quake changed Earth's figure axis (based on center of mass, not north-south axis) and shortened Earth's days.Forgive me for saying this, but this is what makes earthquake science COOL. And yes, I'm definitely keeping Chile in my thoughts; a friend of mine has plans to live there for a short while after she finishes her master's degree next year so my degree of separation

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-4061266430521084492010-03-01T17:37:00.004-05:002010-03-01T17:51:16.689-05:00

Here's a really good article on earthquake frequency in light of the recent quakes in Japan and Chile.I'm not going to copy/paste anything directly into this post from that article, but I recommend reading through it. It is a strong testimony to the extremely short memory of us as a society, not to mention how uninformed the public are on earthquakes.Many of the earthquakes studied in this

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-35744147767683536942010-02-28T23:23:00.003-05:002010-03-01T00:00:05.734-05:00

The ones I've done/seen are in bold. Comments are in italic.1. See an erupting volcano2. See a glacier - Seen some cirqes and glacial valleys3. See an active geyser such as those in Yellowstone, New Zealand or the type locality of Iceland - Old Faithful and Steamboat, plus a few other unnamed ones near Yellowstone Lake.4. Visit the Cretaceous/Tertiary (KT) Boundary. Possible locations include

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-34849338112884712542010-02-28T09:41:00.004-05:002010-02-28T09:56:20.489-05:00

Watched the online CBS stream coming out of the local station in Hilo yesterday afternoon, where the station's traffic cameras had been pointed seaward, attempting to capture live video of incoming tsunami waves.Needless to say, it was a success! The camera looking across Hilo Bay had some of the best views - it was somewhat incredible to watch water quickly drain out of the bay, then back in 3-4

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-54720949738334850122010-02-27T11:31:00.004-05:002010-02-27T13:03:06.127-05:00

I was thinking about doing pancakes for breakfast last night, but because I'm still finding info online, 1. no pancakes, I'm eating cereal instead; and 2. I'm not going to get that much work done today. I'll get some done, but probably not till after we get some initial tsunami reports from Hawaii.List of places under tsunami warning from NOAA. (text only)One of my favorite people to follow on

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-69528116532635416732010-02-27T10:44:00.005-05:002010-02-27T11:14:38.104-05:00

Wow. This is what happens when I decide to sleep in!The map says 8.6 because that was the original calculated magnitude; it was revised up to 8.8 a short time after. Revisions are possible because as more time passes, more seismic stations worldwide pick up readings from the earthquake. The more seismic readings, the better scientists can analyze the nature of the earthquake and how it travels

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-81851154047729958292010-02-26T17:11:00.002-05:002010-02-26T17:14:24.342-05:00

Struck at 20:31 UTC. The map below shows that it was a strike-slip quake, or two tectonic plates sliding past each other. Two other types of earthquake typically involve a vertical component; either two plates running into each other or apart from each other.USGS quake information here.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-25677823466168945032010-02-25T22:58:00.004-05:002010-02-25T23:07:22.199-05:00

. . . Here are a few pictures from Curaçao!

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-13984711629953475242010-02-25T22:34:00.004-05:002010-02-25T22:57:53.491-05:00

From National Geographic:In a satellite image released today by NASA, two neighboring Russian volcanoes are seen erupting at the same time.Article here.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-85027790767494103222010-02-25T08:23:00.003-05:002010-02-25T08:53:10.990-05:00

I eventually wandered back this way to clean up my last entry of spam comments and realized I last posted in August right before school started. I don't know if anyone even comes by here anymore, but that's okay.Since my last post:-Discovered I don't connect with many civil engineers well.-Got the worst sinus infection of my life, and it knocked me flat for 3 solid weeks. Teaching through that

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-14795866738848008452009-08-23T21:08:00.003-04:002009-08-23T21:21:56.350-04:00

. . . As Dad would always sing as the school year neared.Or whenever the "back to school" commercials would start airing.In June. July if we were lucky.Anyway, sometimes it's hard for me to believe that I'm coming up pretty quickly on 23 years of age and I'm still anticipating the first day of school, which this time around, happens to be tomorrow. The fun part about going to school at this point

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-28107033369515677422009-08-19T23:05:00.005-04:002009-08-19T23:11:36.152-04:00

So that means I'm officially a TA, right?Maybe not - still have department-specific orientation tomorrow and Friday. While this is the part of this week I've REALLY been looking forward to, I'm sort of anxious to get going again on the Iceland samples I've been starting to process. At least one is ready to balance RIGHT NOW. Also need to spend more time in the rock room - the well-welded samples

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-69951713329471440322009-08-15T23:47:00.002-04:002009-08-16T00:15:18.401-04:00

Not grumpy by any means - frustrated, mostly, that I fell asleep instead of going out for a jog like I'd planned. Woke up in time to catch most of the BTN's MSU practice special. It's the 2000 MSU-ND game now. That bilious green turf field in Spartan Stadium is certainly something else! And with the trend within the college football realm of having turf fields (which are nice to march on except

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-58303911110781006432009-08-10T21:52:00.002-04:002009-08-10T22:21:34.284-04:00

. . . Disregarding the fact that I've had a place to live here since June, I AM making my first post from the U of I.This place is REALLY nice. The style of the campus is reminiscent of (a better-tied-together-architecturally) MSU, with a slightly smaller campus surrounding a series of quads. The building I'm already busy at work in backs up to the main quad, which means it's REALLY easy to find

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-48451966413027346742009-06-29T10:27:00.002-04:002009-06-29T10:29:44.902-04:00

Here and there. Sort of doing that "can't stay in one spot for long" thing that's been the staple of my last few summers. Landed here at home for now and recovering from a (hopefully) minor throat thing.It's hot, it's muggy, and I don't really have much to say. My life's changing and I need a rock polisher. And a detailed strat column. And a place where I can go hiking!!!!

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-21163310293790517932009-06-02T09:37:00.005-04:002009-06-02T22:35:37.442-04:00

I suppose I should resurrect this thing!What I've been doing since the last update:-Research-Finishing up classes and attempting to keep my head above the proverbial waterline-Research-A couple of small, random band functions-Research-Final exams-Research-Moving out-Research-Graduating-Research-More moving out-MORE research-Commuting between GB and EL to tie up the big loose ends in my research,

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-21281825498112494352009-03-30T21:23:00.004-04:002009-03-30T21:30:30.418-04:00

Spartan Brass celebrating victory over Louisville at the Elite 8 this year (I'm holding the trombone, far right)! Next stop: Final Four in DETROIT!! I couldn't be more pleased to perform my last couple of gigs as a member of Spartan Brass at an event of this level, let alone in my home state! This will also be the third (!!) Final Four I've performed at.2005: Traveled with the women's basketball

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-8051452326557382982009-03-26T10:56:00.002-04:002009-03-26T11:01:44.699-04:00

-Nearly caught up. Made it through what I'm hoping was the worst of a burnout period.-Withdrawal from long-term medications upon which one grows dependent sucks.-Non-science major students in a general science class are cretins when it comes to grades.-I love basketball. I love March. I'm getting pumped for the spring game, and I wish hockey was still playing.-Trying to find time to fit a run

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-3953398609661662142009-03-04T01:58:00.000-05:002009-03-04T01:59:06.583-05:00

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-63622181244350698822009-02-25T02:23:00.002-05:002009-02-25T02:26:27.932-05:00

No info on offer, and there's a provisional status appended. We'll see what I can dig up when I go visit tomorrow. I'm still not fully packed. Yay getting up 90 minutes before go-time and already having the car gassed up/loaded with food.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-30203842231769857982009-02-18T14:31:00.001-05:002009-02-18T14:34:22.804-05:00

No letter yet. Via e-mail from the prof who'd be advising me. Whoa.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-48088812827574210392009-02-16T01:46:00.003-05:002009-02-16T02:14:17.818-05:00

So . . . welcome to my next two weeks. Mom says I need a twin. I've always wanted one. I think I've proven my point. Things have been made infinitely more complicated because the Mystery Rock Room User Who Doesn't Clean Properly didn't clean properly again and as a result everyone's keys have been voided and the undergrads who are not employed IN the lab (I am a University employee, but as a TA,

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-40410412739543495942009-02-06T13:48:00.000-05:002009-02-06T13:50:04.324-05:00

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-27037814617109142732009-02-03T15:48:00.002-05:002009-02-03T15:48:55.391-05:00

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-9453517708051245302009-02-01T23:57:00.001-05:002009-02-02T00:03:32.933-05:00

Courtesy of Natalie Dee.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-2729947914107389632009-01-24T02:18:00.004-05:002009-01-24T03:13:23.534-05:00

-The Yellowstone swarm is picking back up? Frequency of quakes have risen in the last couple of days.-If being a geology (or old-style environmental geosciences) major and religious simultaneously doesn't make you question your beliefs, you're not doing it right. Some friends of mine in this department who have had a religious influence in their lives have had one hell of an ideological struggle

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-3242353361473944962009-01-15T15:52:00.004-05:002009-01-15T16:22:47.460-05:00

From NPR's Talk of the Nation, 1/15/09.I'm probably going to open a can of worms with this one . . .I tuned into the show somewhere into its first hour, and a lively discussion on religion and atheism was ensuing. Being NPR and rational as the whole organization is, there was no preaching or condemnations during the part of the show I was listening to, which is nice. That happens FAR too often

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-65858148789820024792009-01-10T19:06:00.001-05:002009-01-10T19:07:32.337-05:00

Mom: What're you eating?Me (mouth full): Gllrm.Mom: Tomato?Me (mouth still full): Yrrr!

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-54989132330974513142009-01-09T21:23:00.003-05:002009-01-09T22:02:47.832-05:00

MSU Geology Club visited Upheaval Dome during Spring Break last year (first week of March). It's interesting because it's one of the rare naturally-forming circular surface structures seen around the world, and debate has raged for years over what formed it. Two popular explanations prevail.One hypothesis suggests that it is the remnants of and uplifting salt dome, eroded away presumably during

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-58188857084492132642009-01-09T12:36:00.003-05:002009-01-09T12:39:27.204-05:00

I'm applying to six graduate schools plus MSU as a backup. Seeing that many schools don't need copies of your transcript if you've already attended, I was assuming (stupid thing to do with this applications, evidently) that I wouldn't need to send my transcripts to MSU, seeing as, you know, I'm a student here and all.Got an e-mail from Jackie, the graduate secretary in my department, this morning

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-49514329214273052972009-01-08T20:41:00.003-05:002009-01-08T20:44:56.130-05:00

So I have the BCS Nat'l Championship game on in the back room here, and it cut to commercial after an interception. I look up at this commercial and see . . .an African savannah upon which a herd of desk chairs are running from a safari vehicle.The phrase "Do Not Attempt" appears at the bottom of the screen.WTF?

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-19266504894886166512009-01-06T12:20:00.003-05:002009-01-06T12:28:45.413-05:00

Does anyone else think that Mecc/The Learning Company could make a KILLING if they re-released a bunch of their old games for Mac and PC? Maybe as a classic set or something.It would have to include:Oregon Trail I and IIAmazon TrailGizmos and GadgetsThe Math Blaster games (these are actually owned by the Davidson company)The Odell games (Odell Down Under, Odell Lake)Number MunchersStorybook

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-53252566990659568042009-01-06T00:34:00.001-05:002009-01-06T00:34:35.276-05:00

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsus/Maps/US10/37.47.-115.-105_eqs.phpWatch this page. It's been interesting since 12-27-08.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-88988205208502256472009-01-05T23:50:00.002-05:002009-01-05T23:54:15.068-05:00

Been busy (if busy means "insane"). Last week of break. Back from Florida, officially retired from SMB, trying to get some graduate applications in, and generally getting more sleep and regular meals (HAH) these last few weeks. Except for band.Too lazy/distracted to post pictures right now. I'll put up squad senior pictures from the bowl game, maybe. Texas just beat OSU in the Fiesta Bowl, damn.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-74865068566716690682008-09-29T23:22:00.002-04:002008-09-29T23:27:02.321-04:00

Time for a short update, I guess.My petrology class and the undergrad group that accompanied us returned last night around 9 pm. Well, technically that was when the last of us got in -- the other two cars chose to go on ahead of us once we crossed back into the U.S.It was a good time! Lots of great old basalts in surprisingly good condition, especially when the whole vesicular (high surface area)

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-38676044795818225072008-09-19T22:31:00.002-04:002008-09-19T22:35:22.257-04:00

School starts and this blog gets boring. Typical.Notre Dame week and prepping for no less than TWO research projects. And working all the while. The only interesting (read: unpredictable) events are SMB gigs and my knee, neither of which are interesting enough to post about.So, 9 am rehearsal tomorrow and bed as soon as the laundry's done.Later, homies.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-80251749278232748742008-09-09T21:59:00.002-04:002008-09-09T22:06:23.223-04:00

This is me, five years ago at Freshman Dress 2004. I came back from the gig I played tonight to find a bunch of old pictures in one of my old section leader's albums had been tagged, so this was sitting at the top of my home page.Now? Much different.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-65720634216788424432008-09-02T07:33:00.003-04:002008-09-02T07:42:21.452-04:00

. . . That one keeps growing until about the age of 21. Initially published sometime while I was in high school, that gave me hopes late in high school that I could make it past the mark of 5'7" I've been hovering near since the early 2000s. However, we've also known, thanks to near-identical elementary and middle school projects, that my wingspan has consistently been 1/2" longer than my

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-36913561232977985822008-08-30T16:07:00.002-04:002008-08-30T16:09:22.318-04:00

FOOTBALLFOOTBALLFOOTBALLFOOTBALLFOOTBALLFOOTBALLFOOTBALLOh glorious football has begun. Please no commentary about any broadcasting quibbles, coverage, etc. here. All I'm doing here is expressing the pure joy of the season beginning today. I've been waiting all summer for this!!!

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-80005050952540897872008-08-24T21:33:00.002-04:002008-08-24T21:35:26.605-04:00

Definitely harboring mixed feelings about this one. Exhausted and glad to be able to sit and rest, but it's my last one ever. All good things do eventually come to an end.Next up: FOOTBALL!!

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-70760609999880226362008-08-17T00:49:00.002-04:002008-08-17T00:53:10.839-04:00

Leadership sessions and fundamental review today, as well as a nice little 2.5 minute run -- roughly a half a mile or so 'round Munn.I've been fighting this crazy headache thing for about a week. Finally gave in tonight and bought some Excedrin for the painkiller+caffeine duo and it seems to be helping. Bag of ice does wonders as well. It's not debilitating, thankfully, but annoying and

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-89842023887042118352008-08-13T00:01:00.002-04:002008-08-13T00:05:02.172-04:00

Happy Birthday, Sasquatch! We miss you!

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-66108227262760111512008-08-11T23:47:00.004-04:002008-08-13T00:07:31.210-04:00

. . . Teh Prof says it's a "typical gneiss," but I've never seen a "typical gneiss" look like this thing. Our hand samples must be a little too . . . perfect.EDIT: To clarify, our hand samples are also never boulder-sized.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-22678220601035817402008-08-11T00:27:00.002-04:002008-08-11T00:39:34.924-04:00

Friday:-Rode past Dem Field ony my way to work and saw they had the lines painted and Grounds was mowing the field. Marching season has begun!-Spent the day (while at work) trading the occasional e-mail back and forth with my research professor regarding my intentions to head up this weekend to gather some field samples.-Left work early and headed to my research prof's office to discuss field

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-25070172523453870342008-08-03T19:44:00.002-04:002008-08-03T19:47:33.141-04:00

. . . The final disassembly of my trusty iBook of the last ~4.5 years. I'm typing now from a brand new "BlackBook" (black MacBook). As I've gotten it configured, it's started to feel a little more like "home," but won't be fully so till I can get the data off of my old computer. With a little elbow grease and a little case to run the hard drive from my iBook out of, making this computer "home"

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-19159673023460187122008-08-01T10:53:00.005-04:002008-08-01T11:11:36.087-04:00

Alas, the solder job was my last stand. I can't keep fixing it like this. Not an hour after I posted last night, I had the Frankenbook running in my room, and I jogged it - nothing bad (normally), mind. It promptly went into "I'm gonna sleep because I think the lid's closed" mode again (and again, staying as such), and this is making me think there's another component near the lid catch that's

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-60514592442698254212008-07-31T19:41:00.003-04:002008-07-31T20:04:52.408-04:00

As one of my good friends pointed out the other day, I've been posting more about the operational status of my computer (usually during a period when it's actually operating) than I actually do about rocks or field camp. The subjects have more or less become intertwined, though, so I consider the statement nullified. >: )So, to continue with computer-related posts, the latest incarnation of

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-88640350769275120682008-07-30T21:31:00.003-04:002008-07-30T21:35:39.649-04:00

Yes, I just resurrected the "Frankenbook" for the third time. Same part, this time with a little extra solder to *hopefully* fix the problem. At least until I can get this bugger BACKED UP!!! (My external hard drive is BURIED and I won't see it again till I can move.)So right now I'm sitting right next to the Beaumont Tower and picking up wireless from the library. I'm hoping this lasts at LEAST

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-53845227539680605732008-07-28T23:14:00.003-04:002008-07-28T23:32:10.303-04:00

The co-op where I'm staying is still in one piece! It's humid like you wouldn't believe (still not used to this airborne moisture phenomenon), which slowed up tonight's run considerably. That and the 5 hours all told on the road today probably didn't help.Anyway, the Arialzone network, so pervasive throughout the "historic district" just off campus is actually working, which means teh Valdemort

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-49615442785379481062008-07-28T10:06:00.003-04:002008-07-28T10:11:06.525-04:00

Yep, the piece in question, though not detached like I had thought, did indeed need a few hits with the solder gun and the computer's been functioning as perfectly as a 4.5 year old computer can!On to the pictures!I'm here right now:And heading back downstate shortly. : (Webmomster's about to take off for Troll-land, so it's sign-off time for now. I'll illicitly post again at work.Missing my

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-15222439888914562492008-07-15T00:49:00.005-04:002008-07-15T00:53:39.918-04:00

Apparently I either did not use enough superglue or it just doesn't handle heat well: one of the display components separated from the motherboard and my computer, while still operating perfectly, is receiving bad signals because of that disengaged component and going to sleep. Power back up, goes immediately back to sleep, repeat ad nauseam.Time to go find the solder gun.When I'm back in

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-70248282270709223292008-07-13T05:03:00.002-04:002008-07-13T05:07:05.098-04:00

No one in Utah has heard of a spudger.My hinge was in four pieces.I fail at finding the Gateway shopping area in SLC.iFixit lacks directions to disassemble one's monitor. I had to improvise.I have two screws and a little plastic disc, all of which probably belong to the monitor.Screw you, Apple techs. I can fix parts and you want to do the whole damn thing. SUCKAAAAA.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-56129784781066635552008-07-08T01:18:00.004-04:002008-07-08T01:42:24.350-04:00

Broke my computer. It still runs perfectly. My roommate distracted me with what was floating in the toilet earlier this afternoon when we returned from the field (it was grass), and I had my laptop perched on the window ledge, the only place I could get Internet access at the time.I walk the 4 feet over to the toilet, where my roommate was standing, and we both jump at a *CRASH* from behind me.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-70840619596958683112008-07-02T21:43:00.002-04:002008-07-02T21:44:07.758-04:00

Working on the Bonanza project. Pictures of the Tetons to come later.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-71119295348089361732008-07-02T00:54:00.004-04:002008-07-02T00:56:11.316-04:00

And we have no Internet. I'm typing from the window ledge because I can pick up what I'm guessing to be the library's wireless connection. When Kurt resets the modem, I'll have some pictures!By the way --- everyone must go to the Tetons. They are amazing. Yellowstone is a hop, skip, and a jump away to the north as well.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-50510179258073983412008-06-22T21:19:00.008-04:002008-06-22T21:45:55.689-04:00

A few great moments in field camp so far:Standing atop an oyster bed at 7500 feet with a 500+ foot drop behind me!Lunching in the Midas Mine.The Dump Chief. Oh the SMELL.BRUNTON FIGHT!!!Acme. Fencing.Wishing we could swim in the reservoir!Roadkill at the end of a long mapping day.(Reposted photo) These are not the drinking shoes.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-12201622643600256732008-06-22T20:46:00.004-04:002008-06-22T21:19:19.589-04:00

Some shots I've been collecting for the last couple of weeks from some of our mapping areas. More posts to follow in different categories.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-79784312553696295162008-06-15T11:27:00.002-04:002008-06-15T11:29:02.092-04:00

Off to Nevada for more mapping and some mine tours. Back in four days, I think?(We don't know many of the finer details of this mission - like what we're doing in terms of food, etc.)

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-73107084270015632852008-06-14T00:55:00.003-04:002008-06-14T00:58:08.092-04:00

Too tired to make a real post tonight . . .Summary:Zebra legMy next real post is going to be amazing. I've been gathering material for it for several days.Our "day off" will be spent driving to Nevada.I like mapping . . . a lot. Who knew.Laundry. Mmmmm.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-8700301111370004942008-06-11T19:22:00.012-04:002008-06-11T20:46:03.492-04:00

Back from the field on time today! Today was part 1 of a two day field mapping project. The only comment I will make about it is that agates are present in the Quaternary wash. No surprise, since we were finding them in southern Utah washes back in March, but still cool to come across.Still haven't mailed myself the shots from my cell phone, but here are a few other fun pictures from the last

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-24323857714889048102008-06-11T08:30:00.003-04:002008-06-11T08:32:00.045-04:00

This is one of the first things I saw today. It's 6:30 am here and it's 34 degrees out.. . . Welcome to Utah.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-4117307285072242742008-06-10T00:42:00.003-04:002008-06-10T00:53:23.548-04:00

Sorry, no pics yet. Some are downloaded from the camera and still need to e-mail the ones I took on my cell phone to myself. Maybe I'll do that between sites tomorrow.-Overdressed this morning. Better than underdressing! Being a Midwesterner, it's easy to forget how much one warms up in the sun out here despite the cool morning temperatures.- ~1/3 mile hike up the Wasatch Fault at our first stop.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-36960001122141178692008-06-08T19:14:00.001-04:002008-06-08T19:43:29.682-04:00

And the Chateau has wireless, which only started working after I reset my Airport card twice.I'm at nearly 7000 ft. elevation, and it's mostly clear. Currently about 60F with light winds, so overall VERY pleasant!Took us three days to get here. We left Friday morning and camped that night just west of Omaha, in a little state recreation area in Louisville. Louisville appeared to be largely

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-31928409726711905842008-06-06T06:17:00.003-04:002008-06-06T06:21:20.085-04:00

UTAH OR BUST!!

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-39016367392044593362008-06-04T01:36:00.003-04:002008-06-04T01:44:13.312-04:00

One more post for the night! I can't resist.As all (approximately two) of my readers may know, I'm a fan of sunsets. Sunrises are cool too, if not more, however that involves hauling my arse out of bed in the mornings to see them!Anyway, here's a pretty cool picture from NASA's Image of the Day series of a sunset on Mars, taken by the Spirit rover.Thanks to BoingBoing for posting this!

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-43797436251003979192008-06-03T23:38:00.007-04:002008-06-04T00:24:46.276-04:00

T-minus 2 days till Utah!Or maybe 3 . . .In the meantime, enjoy a close-up of the famed Neoproterozoic-era Noonday Dolomite (Mosaic Canyon, Death Valley, CA). Sorry for the lack of scale; the bands are roughly centimeter-scale. Another of the Great Geological Mysteries of the planet, its formation is contested. When we discussed possible origins while visiting the site in March 2007, the popular

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3125239664835098131.post-52567396309152599562008-05-31T03:03:00.007-04:002008-06-04T00:52:56.050-04:00

Saturday, May 31st, 3:04 amBlog cleared and given a new breath of life. Unpublished old posts, changed the layout and URL.Purpose: Document random geology stuff, mostly research (general comments) and Wasatch-Uinta. It'll probably branch out, if it lasts.EDIT: Welcome to the (lava) tubes.

valdemorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06709665768542423946noreply@blogger.com1