I understood the part about the food...

I got the following e-mail from the mailing list for people who plan on majoring in math here at the U.

"Mathematics Undergraduate Colloquium
Wednesday, Sept. 3
12:55
LCB 225

Mark Zajac will present "Depolymerization Can Drive Cell Migration"

Abstract: Cell migration promotes wound healing yet allows cancer tospread. I will present a two-phase model for the solid cytoskeleton andfluid cytosol inside a crawling nematode spermatozoon. This modeldemonstrates that disassembly of the cytoskeletal polymer network canprovide most of the force that drives a cell forward. The drag forceexerted by cytosolic fluid also plays a significant role.

The model also shows that cytoskeletal anisotropy is required. The model uses level set methods to provide an implicit representation ofthe cell surface. Testing the model requires image processing, which can becast as a minimization problem, leading to a differential equation.Tracking cytoskeletal features makes use of correlations.

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There will be pizza and discussion after the talk."

Engineers

You know what's frustrating? You think of a lot of good things or experiences for your blog, but then you don't get around to it, forgetting it completely. Hence why I'm blogging in between classes. So I won't forget!

I'm all settled here at the University. I met my new roommate, Kaylee. She's a senior, and she's awesome! Her friend Anand (pronounced something like "AHN-and") is over all of the time and cracks me up. He is Indian (from India, not Native American...) and he is as American as we come. However, he has an arranged marriage to someone in India, and gets to go there every so often. I thought that was just a stereotype, yet it's not. Arranged marriages still happen today!
Anyway...back to Anand. He's a Civil Engineer major, and he has a lot of amusing stories about engineering and engineers in general. I thought I was a nerd until I heard that he has even taken a shower in the engineering building. Apparently, many of the engineering majors have bad enough hygeine, that they installed showers in the building they so often visit, hoping to give a hint.

...And the stereotypes about engineers? A lot of them are actually true. Sure, not the whole fits the stereotype, but at least a good 75% do. Heh.

...The good thing about being a friend with an engineer is they have a lot of resources. For example, the book I need for physics isn't in in the bookstore. The silly bookstore didn't order enough, so now I have a 2 week wait. Unfortunately, my first homework assignment is due on this Friday. I happened to be telling this to Kaylee, and she told Anand, and he brought the physics book over with the step-by-step solutions to the problems on the homework if I get lost.

Hmmm....I like engineers. The ones with social skills anyway...

The finished product...

Let's just say it's a good thing I actually don't have the real software to make movies. I had way too much fun making this one!
It's low quality, but it was one that was actually free and easy so...yeah.
Maybe someday when I'm rich and old, I'll finally buy some decent software and waste my time like I just did.
(But it was fun!)



if the youtube video doesn't work, try this one, I suppose.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Random pictures

So after an exhausting day at Lagoon, going to bed at midnight, my dear mom wakes me up early in the morning. Blast! I forgot I had to go on a hike!
We drove up through Milcreek canyon and started the trail from that side of the mountain. Our destination? Gobblers Knob. These fellows thought the trail was quite steep, but I have to disagree with the times they gave that it takes to hike up there.

The first part is dreadfully steep with lots of rocks rolling under your feet. Then you emerge on the hike material I'm more familiar with. Dirt. And a gradual ascent. Unfortunately, after Alexander's Basin (which was gorgeous, don't know why I didn't take pictures...oh yeah! I was struggling to keep up with Emily and Mom), the uphill gets even steeper.

Even worse? We lost the trail. So we decided to climb over the boulders and little rocks that like to move under your feet. If you fell, you had to be wary where you put your hands: we were in thistle city.

The view was beautiful and it made it pretty much worth it. Fortunately on our descent, we found the trail we should've come up. It consisted of really steep switchbacks about 10 feet across (if that).

Yup. I wore my chacos. And it was worth the dirt. Mom and Emily complained that the steepness smashed their toes inside their shoes. My toes were dirty and breathing air. Ahhh...

This is mom's hibiscus she's so proud of and has to take pictures of it every year. I don't blame her.

Pullman!

According to many, Pullman is an ugly, hillish place.
But I have to disagree. My third visit here has convinced me that a love for Pullman is an aquired taste--and a knowledge of where one should go for fun.

This may be your first (and only) impression of Pullman. Lots of golden wheat, lots of hills, can't quite see anything.

But fancy this! Trees? In this area? No...

Even Trolls dwell in caves and grin mischieviously at you.

The slides in parks are very steep and wet (well, when it rains). And you fly off the end like superman!

....But perhaps a little...wetter than Superman.

Here is grandma, being Princess Poppy's royal throne.

Here's the father troll, not quite sure how he's going to catch a frog.

And here's my favorite picture of all.

(If you wish for pictures on our little 32 mile bike ride to and from lovely Harrison, visit the Oatmuncher's blog.)