h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Captain Obvious, huh... Any relation to Captain Subtext?

Just thought I'd drop by with a quick hullo since I've enjoyed your posts in the political discussion at the Atelier.

So, still no idea what you're doing after grad school?

I can't decide if Captain Subtext is my nemesis or alter ego...seems like it could go either way. I guess it will have to depend on the kind of day I'm having
Are you speaking for oscillatory chaos, or just general?

I'm having fun at the political forum of the Atelier - it forces me to look up real numbers and think about things. It's a great group over there.

I'm basically still at a loss as far as what I should do next. I'm trying to read up on some new fields that might be fun to work in. I'd like to do the work in Europe if possible. That's a whole 'nother question.

How about you? what are you up to in RL?

Chaos theory in general. I've played around with fractals for years at this point.

The Atelier group is always good for thoughtful discussion. I've been part of it off and on since the mid 20s. It has almost become another family to me and I love all of them dearly. Even those that annoy me at times.

IRL, I'm back in tech support again - finally, after a year and a half hiatis - in Austin and planning on going back to school to pick up a degree in psychology/criminal law, hopefully soon. Texas is a beautiful state and will pay for educating you if you can demonstrate any "disability" so I think its about time I put my carpal tunnel to work for me, don't you? Other than that, I'm just trying to adjust once again to life in a new city.

Europe is a lovely place, or so I'm told, and HooToo is a great way to make contacts on that side of the puddle.

I just started reading about chaos this year, there was nice little section in a physics book I have. It's very amazing.

Good luck with getting your degree (and getting it paid for ) That sounds like a a very interesting field to be in.

Thank you muchly. I've always been a little strange in terms of things I study.

Chaos is just plain fun. There's a lovely book by... Robert Plank, I want to say, that lays it all out in a remarkably clear manner. Well, as clear as chaos can be.

that's a good phrase..."clear as chaos". i'll check out that plank book. I have a pendulum like thingy in lab, and now I always try to get it going so that it just stops at the apex - impossible according to chaos theory (I think). It's fun to watch chaos in RL.

Lots of fun! (As long as you don't stare at snow on the tv set until a pattern immerges. Causes pained eyes and gathers strange looks from friends who catch you at it. )

Another good book - now that I'm at home and can see my bookshelf - is Chaos by James Gleick.

I hear that you got to hang with two of my dearest friends in the world not too long ago - GDZ (Ben) and Marv. I have to tell you I was a little of both you and them. Too bad I moved down here, huh?

Yeah, I got to meet Marv and Ben in SLC friday afternoon. That was cool. A little hootoo meetup in RL! That would have been cool if you were still around too, it could have been a hootoo-er's convention

Do you *really* think that we girls are fooled by the contacts-and-shave approach? Believe me, we know that when you feel comfortable enough, the beard and glasses come back out. Show a girl what she'll see in three months. We can take it.

You have to admit that it must work occasionally - but I have to admit that it would be a lot easier not doing the transition from shaving to beard.
I'm so glad I stopped wearing contacts. I hate not being able to take a nap whenever I want!

Try a goatee, maybe? Halfway between the two and *Very* attractive. At least IMHO.

That is rather one of the problems with contacts, unless you get the extended wear variety. Hmmm... There's an idea. I'm due for an eye exam here shortly anyway...

I'm afraid my goatee would devolve rapidly into a beard. BUt it might be worth a shot. I like to toy with the idea of an outrageous seventies mustache.

We had a fake holiday a couple years ago, called Cinqo de Mustache. I grew my beard out for a month, then shaved it all off except the mustache - so did a couple other people in the department. Everyone else was dying seeing us all running around with real mustaches. There was a department kegger, so I ran up to a party store and bought fake mustaches for the ladies to wear. It took some beer & convincing, but that was awesome when they started wearing them

If you get the extended wear lenses, let me know how they work, and what you have to do to stay healthy. THe other problem I have with wearing contacts is reading alot. I was told when I was young to take my contacts off when reading, but I like to do that as randomly & frequently as napping.

Hey, that's funny - something that's random & frequent fits the defintion of chaos very well, right?

Random and frequent, huh? I think that I may have to use that combination in a sentence today. Chaos... well, not exactly personified, but very much "in the flesh" if you will.

I will let you know if I go with the extended wear contacts. I won't be able to see the eye doc till after my next paycheck - always waiting on that, it seems - so it'll be just a bit before I'll know.

I've often worn my contacts while reading - and have been known to take the occasional nap in them as well - with only moderately bad headaches or dryness. My worst problem is staring at the computer screen , which is why I rarely wear them to work.

I don't think that it would have taken too much beer or convincing to get me into a mustache for that party. (Sounds riotously funny, btw. May have to suggest it around here. ) But that's coming from the girl who used to randomly ask people if they were Elvis, so I'm not sure it means a lot.

great minds think alike ... I would have thought most women would have been happy to throw on a moustache. Let me know if you guys have one of those parties, I'd be glad to know the tradition was carried on.

It actually was introduced here by a friend of mine who went to Kent state, I can't take credit for the idea

I think I'll still credit you for it, since you're the one who passed it on to me.

I'll be making my suggestion of the mustache party at the next department meeting - on Thursday. I'm not sure that anyone will take me seriously as I will be short on sleep at that point, but I can still try.

thankee very much. That would be so cool if continued to move around the country. My friend Mike would be psyched (he brought it here from Kent St.) What's with the lack of sleep? Good concert wednesday night?

Nah, the next good concert I go to is a week from Wednesday - the 10th. Barenaked Ladies are coming to town and I will be there.

I won't get any sleep because of the meeting itself. The meeting is from 5-7 pm, then I have to start my normal shift at midnight.

you're gonna wait til the midnight hour...

Not that I actually like that song. That is pretty crappy scheduling. My advisor voluntarily works the night shift, and she gets pretty mad when the department schedules meetings for 9 AM Good luck surviving...

I usually survive alright - as long as the next shift gets in on time. Which rarely happens, except in my dreams.

So, chaos and Hannibal, in addition to politics which seems to mix the two really. You are showing yourself to be as eclectic as the rest of us. I am glad that you found HooToo - and this lot more specifically.

Thanks! I am amazed at the diversity at the atelier, and the range everyone seems to have and enjoy. I'm impressed with the Gaellic...I can't imagine trying to teach myself a whole new language.