What's the latest in people's lives?

[kostmayer]

I have been accepted for Master's program in the UK! I will have to choose between these three schools who accepted me:

- Newcastle University (Master of Art - International Politics (Critical Geopolitics))
- Aberyswyth University (Master of Art - International Relations)
- University of Bristol (Master of Sciences - International Relations)


Since the course that interests me the most happens to be the one given at Newcastle University, I am inclined to pick it over the other two. But I think it wise to hear first advices from UK-savy people who might know more about the conditions in either of these locations.

Not much Though I can tell you that Aberystwyth is a gorgeous town. Though last I heard they had an accomodation shortage and were sleeping 2 to a room in some cases.

[Mikey]

Nutso - Eli did nothing of the sort. He played well enough to not lose. Yes, I've always said that he's got a good two-minute drill, but spun stats notwithstanding he still misses reads, still fails to check down, and still refuses to look for a hot route. Just watching the Super Bowl, I could see - on TV, no less! - outlets to which he had a clear lane and no underneath coverage... outlets at which he refused to look.

I'm not saying he's mentally impaired, like my wife does. I'm just saying that empty numbers like the ones you mention don't tell the story, and that he is not a QB for the ages like some folks make him out to be. Forgot the stats, and just look at the way he plays the game. You really think Eli Manning belongs in the same company as Staubach, Stabler, Marino, Johnny U., Baugh, etc.?

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

And now I am on vacation! And it's clear skies on my flight date!

[Reliant121]

Have fun

8 days remaining till the big 17. I'm out polishing the big bike every day now, checking the oil, making sure the electrics are all wired properly. I'm bouncing off the walls in anticipation.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Thanks, Reliant. I think I will.

[shran]

With the timely finishing of my bachelor thesis I won't be showing up in the next few weeks/months. I hope to be back by june.

[Teaos]

After about 50 hours travel by plane bus and taxi I amd in Argentina! Carnival! To bad I am to shattered to enjoy it.

[McAvoy]

Wow. What a morning. I blew out my sidewall on my tire maybe 100 feet away from my place. Then I realize my donut is way underdeflated. Then I tried to use my own air pump which broke. So... moral of the story? Make sure your donut is fully inflated because it's fucking heavy after 4 miles of walking (2 there and 2 back).

Oh and when you buy a airpump for a tire rated for car tires, make sure the nozzle is durable (not plastic).

[Mikey]

Well, that sucks. How'd you blow out the sidewall?

[McAvoy]

No clue. Maybe a defect. It was on the other side of the tire too. I am leaning on the defect because the tire had 40k miles on it and I could not find anything wrong with the tire beyond the sheer destruction of that sidewall. It is goes nearly all around the tire.

Anyway this would be a good time to just replace all four tires, but since I am too broke to do that I will just buy a used tire with the appropriate treat wear.

I am also under the current opinion if the government wants to get involved in something trivial, they should make it mandatory that all vehicles should have full size spares in the trunk and not donuts. This I would not mind at all.

[Mikey]

Believe it or not, the general lack of a full-sized spare isn't entirely due to cheapness on the part of the automakers. There are real-world factors affected by it, also - space (the vast majority of vehicles with a full-sized spare are the ones that are able to carry a crank-down spare underneath) and weight: don't underestimate the difference between a donut wheel and the rim used for a full-sized tire.

[mwhittington]

Well, I went to the range yesterday, and discovered that my shooting sucks in variable high winds (15mph+) beyond 200 yds. With no wind, I can consistently hit a pumpkin sized target at 500 yds., but yesterday, we had a low pressure system move in, and the wind royally messed up my shots. I consoled myself with the wonderful aroma of Hoppe's No. 9 when I got back home. BTW, I'm currently using factory ammo, but I'm saving the brass and am learning how to reload from a friend of mine. I can't wait to shoot my own reloads!

[McAvoy]

Believe it or not, the general lack of a full-sized spare isn't entirely due to cheapness on the part of the automakers. There are real-world factors affected by it, also - space (the vast majority of vehicles with a full-sized spare are the ones that are able to carry a crank-down spare underneath) and weight: don't underestimate the difference between a donut wheel and the rim used for a full-sized tire.

Oh I know. Space and weight are issues especially in smaller cars. I have a mid-size sedan. Nissan Altima. I can easily fit a full size tire down there. I did this morning.

Weight shouldn't be too much of an issue since stock rims are much heavier than aftermarket ones. They could maybe mass produce their own version of the aftermarket ones.

Here's the kicker, apparently the car came with high quality near racing tires from the factory. Yes, I bought the car brand new and these are still the same 'stock' tires. I did a real good lookover half an hour ago to see if there was any sign why. I cannot find a single thing wrong with the tire (aside from three six inch long cracks in the side wall with numerous smaller ones). I just look like it exploded.

The other alternative is making some sort of inbetween.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Now back from Utah. The vast majority of the trip was fun. The flight back home... not so much. I'll post more later, but I am exhausted!

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

And... my trip. Wall of text ahoy!

The flight out Thursday night was fine. My mother drove me to the airport. We left home 1:30 and got there 2:25, and it took about five-ten minutes to go through check-in and security. Did I mention my flight out was at 4:30? Connection to Chicago was fine, got to Utah about 9:30 PM local time, 11:30 PM my time. I was a bit... tired. :p I got to where I was staying and basically passed out on the bed.

Friday, I met Kathy where LTUE was taking place. here's the schedule. CXontrol+f Jonathan Ellis to find me. Our panel went well, we even had some people stay behind to discuss stuff about mentoring the chosen one, or as I call it, teaching the hero how to be a hero. After we attended another panel on Captain America and patriotism in American comics... except the presenters never showed, so some guys rambled a bit but never got close to a topic. We also attended a live recording of a podcast called 'Writing Excuses'. After we went to Barnes and Noble and Kathy bought me Captain America and Thor, late Christmas presents. Then we went for Indian food-my treat, natch. Back to her apartment where we watched the Bakshi LOTR. *Shudders in disgust*

Saturday she worked 9-12, so I met her at the local mall where I bought us lunch and we saw a movie called 'The Woman in Black', starring Daniel Radcliffe. Not bad... but not my cuppa tea. After back to her apartment where we and some of her friends watched the animated ROTK... complete with disco orcs! Then some Doctor Who. The Time Warrior, my 'horrid Who' in The Twin Dilemma and the latest Christmas Special.

Sunday was church, where she sang in choir and has a lovely singing voice. Back to where I was staying for turkey dinner and Transformers fanfic writing, and I gave her some V-Day presents, which she loved. She wants to fly out here next year.

Flight home... I got to the Salt Lake City all right, because the people I was staying with are awesome. Flight to Chicago... not bad. But there was, for lack of a better term, a traffic jam on the tarmac. We finally get deplaned and my connecting flight to Manchester is already boarding! I run there and get on, not having a chance to eat. The flight attendants... were horrid. They ignored me and one was a snarky jackass. I get home starving, but my mother had a sandwich and can of mountain dew waiting for me.

So, overall? Awesome time out, wish it didn't end and I'm off until Saturday.