| Update |
[Jul. 14th, 2008|10:43 pm] |
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Sam is home |
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| Procrastination is good for the soul (checkbook) |
[Apr. 20th, 2008|11:09 am] |
After my last post, concerning Rutgers increasing my aid package to include a first year GA research position for half tuition and a stipend to cover the rest, I figured that settled the matter. I went to their open house and spoke with the professor I'll be working with, and all of the projects going on next year seem interesting to me. I even managed to find someone who commutes from Brooklyn with a similar position, which makes me feel a lot better about that aspect.
Then, I kept forgetting to look for and send back the acceptance form. Finally, about two weeks later, I remembered, filled it out, and put it aside to mail the next morning. Upon checking my e-mail that morning, however, I found another e-mail from the school. It seems like they lost the accidental game of chicken we were playing, and asked for me to call.
New Aid Package:
Year 1: "Full" GA position, 15 hrs/week, covering all tuition and 20k stipend.
Year 2: One semester free, with the expectation that I'll get another GA/TA position if I want one.
Year 3: Same as year 2.
The guy was was insistent that I understand that they expect to give me more in the future, but haven't gotten those grants yet.
I have no idea how this keeps happening, but I've been given to understand that feeling like a fraud is a sign of my academic prowess. Professional student, here I come! |
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| ConnCon and Grad School |
[Mar. 31st, 2008|01:13 pm] |
Spent an exciting weekend at ConnCon, further reassuring me that I both like gaming and hate most gamers. Fun was had by all, despite this, and I was glad to try D&D 4th Ed. It's still too early to tell, but speaking from the perspective of someone running a session, the flow seems good. Just not sure if it's D&D yet. The awards ceremony/charity auction was also fun, even though I seem to have been the only one not winning something.
The one thing that worried me from time to time this weekend was the impending deadline to apply to Baruch, in case I decided against Rutgers later. The point has officially been rendered moot, as I seem to have won the "Grad School Funding Game." (or maybe "Grad School Persona Character Creation Game")
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| Grad School |
[Mar. 19th, 2008|02:55 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  shocked | ] |
My life has been somewhat busy and mostly enjoyable of late, as I'm enjoying my senior semester.
I was feeling bad because I still haven't applied to one of my schools, but the deadline approaches. However, it may have become pointless to do so.
I got accepted to Rutgers, which was theoretically my first choice, several weeks ago. It took a week or so to get confirmation that I was accepted to the dual-master's program (M. Public Policy and M. City and Regional Planning), not just one of them.
I was going to come on here and ask what people thought about it. By all accounts, I should go. Its very well regarded in public administration, not just regionally but nationally. Applying the James test, it rates in the top ten for all of the subfields I'm interested in. On the flip side, its more expensive than my other choices (including the school I haven't applied to yet) at $10k a semester vs. $3k/per. It comes with a wicked commute, as for various reasons we wouldn't be moving any closer.
Than, I got an e-mail from the school yesterday, announcing that three different professors agreed to be my mentor, and I've been awarded a fellowship covering my first semester plus $3500. I figured that was it, but my little internal voice kept going "But it's Jersey." Besides, that covers the first semester, but I'm looking at 2-3 years here, with that higher cost. Still, tempting, especially as the letter mentioned that most students ended up working for the school, which would also cover tuition for future semesters. The letter also announced the day of the the accepted students' open house, which of course lands on a busy school day for me.
So I wrote back saying I was thinking of visiting Monday. They wrote back.
Sometimes, I act like I'm truly hot shit. Sometimes I even believe it myself. This truly astounds me, however.
Hi Scott:
I think we could meet. I am here all day, but have morning meetings. I would suggest afternoon if you can. If you can make it here at lunchtime, happy to take you for a bite to start.
I'd also like to discuss in further the aid, as I know you have applied and been admitted to our dual degree (MPP and MCRP). I'd like to get a sense of your interests, as planning (MCRP side) has indicated they have some opportunities for you as well, so your aid package below may look different. The Director of our Voorhees Transportation Center has some interest in you working with them, but I wanted to gather from you your initial focus, and then a structured plan of support considering the two programs.
I think a meeting with key professors on the 24th would be good too. Dr. Chatman for one, also Dr. Hetling and maybe a few others.
Let me know what you think. They may be free in the morning.
Best,
Steve
Possibly more money, plus the exact research center I'd want to work at, especially since they get the big federal bucks, housing a congressionally created and funded transit research division. I guess this is it. |
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| No, I'm not mad at anyone |
[Jan. 27th, 2008|05:52 pm] |
This began, long long ago, as a reply to a reply to..... a post. Whose doesn't matter, although some may find it obvious. I let it grow because it was expressing some of what I had been thinking recently anyway.
I post it here to stimulate thought, hear what people have to say. I'm hoping this is the beginning of my return to life, but make no promises. I welcome any and all comments.
___________________________________
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| Samantha Update |
[Jul. 5th, 2007|01:00 am] |
As most of you likely know, my wonderful wife went into Methodist Hospital on Tuesday for a hip replacement. To those who haven't heard it was going to happen, sorry for not mentioning it, but it sorta happened really quickly, even though we had been discussing it for awhile.
For those waiting for this update, sorry it took so long, but it has been a crazy couple of days. Despite her 2:30 PM appointment, Sam wasn't actually taken into surgery until after 8, and didn't get out of it until nearly 2 AM. Despite the difficulties though, the surgeon was incredibly pleased with the results, and even her parents and I could see the difference in the x-ray he showed us.
There have been some ups and downs concerning dealing with hospital crap, including waiting for someone to move the bed she was in to the room they were holding for her for several hours, and a very unfortunate incident this evening, that have made her very very unhappy with the hospital part of this thing. That being said, the surgery part of it still seems good, so the end result hopefully will be as well, if this place doesn't kill her.
I suppose another post or more might emerge from me about this in the next few days, but I wouldn't want to promise to it. In addition, Sam will likely be writing about the experience, and there is a good possibility that she'll have me post some if she doesn't get computer access soon. |
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[Jan. 2nd, 2007|02:40 pm] |
Every so often, I start thinking about how crappy I am about talking to people and letting them know whats going on in my life. I also sometimes go on introspective kicks, usually related to my not talking to people. Recently, I got heavily into one of those moods while writing an e-mail, which I'm going to post here for all of who I somehow never get the chance to talk to. I think everyone will be able to read it as if it is written to them, but please feel free to comment or ask a question.
( This is very long ) |
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| Shit keeps getting worse |
[Dec. 29th, 2006|01:13 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  pissed off | ] |
So, in addition to the various shit going wrong alread (such as the loss of my DS), I got a new phone last night, and the idiots at the store managed to only transfer 17 numbers to my new one, and lost the rest. As a result, I have no phone numbers for anybody. So, please give me your number, if you think I had it or should have it. Either e-mail it to me (scott at stackers dot org) or post it as a comment here which will be screened. Hell, give me other people's numbers if you think I probably had them/should have them/ would like to have them. The worst part is that I don't even know whose numbers are lost, as theres a ton of you whose numbers I had even if I never really called much. |
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| Wii |
[Dec. 3rd, 2006|10:20 am] |
Target, 8AM this morning. 3 hours of sleep. Left my house at 7, biked down, super-locked the bike, got on line. 7:18, #7 on line. Indoor mall waiting place, quite comfortable. Calm line, once the gate went up. Everything for the Wii behind one counter, neatly sorted, very efficent. Home before 8:30.
End result: Wii, Zelda, extra Wiimote, extra Nunchuk
8272 7191 9272 3207
I have numbers for Chris K., Carl P. and Jon S. (too tired to link)
Kris? Anyone else?
I demand more facial hair options!
Good night. |
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[Oct. 4th, 2006|12:50 pm] |
My poor brother.
My little brother started college this year, and he just gave me a call to tell me about how half his classes got cancelled this week due to holiday schedule changes. I'm sitting here, procratinating writing my paper about the my classmate, and going on mini-rants about social theory and my integrated belief system of people should stop being dicks.
First, I started ranting about how one should take at least one stats course in college, as it allows you to read studies and graphs and stuffs, thus raising your ability to determine who is trying to bullshit you about what in class readings and in later life. This, in turn, allows you to get more quickly to the root of what any particular piece of bullshit is about lets one get to the point of why this thing was assigned, and thus write papers about it.
Then I started ranting about how my current paper was therefore evil, because I have no data to work from.
Then, he "suddenly" had to go.
Sommething happened to my brain recently in terms of my perceptions, I think. I'll hopefully post about it soon.
Amusingly, I think the process either completed or became recognizable sometime around all the fasting and praying, leading to my various odd responses to people's posts this week. My brain's sorta been on fire since then, anyway. |
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[Oct. 4th, 2006|10:44 am] |
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Winter
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I appear to be a glutton for punishment |
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| How Al Gore Invented the Internet |
[Sep. 19th, 2006|02:19 pm] |
So, my assignment for class was to write an etiological myth, greek-style if possible, on any subject I chose. Sadly, I couldn't choose a topic of my own, because ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) jeded1ah came up with a wonderful idea, which I felt I had to embrace, to represent his particular brand of insanity at Hunter this semester.
Also, I hope this will spur me writing a bit more.
So, without further ado...
( How Al Gore Invented the Internet ) |
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| A year |
[Jul. 25th, 2006|09:04 pm] |
Birthday time again!
I have so much to say, that I've been thinking about for months now, but this doesn't seem the time to start the torrent.
Suffice it to say for now that this past year was probably the best I've had in some time.
And that this year's birthday and celebration (as a combo and probably individually) were among, if not the, best as well.
Thanks to (alphabetically by LJ-Name) cacophonesque, clucas6416, failedoptimist, luminifer and Anne, malcolmsprye and Selen, noranac and Jason (not a couple, but living together counts), penguinjunky, terriblepotato, Dave, Alina and little Nate for all coming out to my surprise party, which was indeed a surprise.
Thanks to fr33m4n and jeded1ah for not only being at the party but also for making me go out to a mall to stand on lines all day, only slightly to get me away from the party area, which I would have counted as a great day even without it being followed by the party.
And of course, thanks to my wonderful wife fiendess, for the party and for everything else. |
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[Jul. 15th, 2006|03:40 pm] |
I escaped from the Dungeon of GMonger!I killed Reverend Dave the gelatinous cube, Clucas6416 the floating eye, Kledic the rat and Loinfruit the giant spider. I looted a Figurine of Malcolmsprye, the Shield of Mikestuy, the Axe of Soulchanger, the Dagger of Epinephric, the Amulet of Fr33m4n, the Wand of Luminifer, the Dagger of Kinfae and 64 gold pieces. Score: 139 Explore the Dungeon of GMonger and try to beat this score, or enter your username to generate and explore your own dungeon... |
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| Sad News |
[May. 22nd, 2006|10:06 pm] |
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Johnny wanted me to let people know that his grandfather, John Sr., passed away, and is going to be down in PA until at least Friday for the funeral. Hence, no usual thursday plans this week. |
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| Why I'm back in school... |
[May. 2nd, 2006|11:32 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  energetic | ] |
Sometimes, the New York Times gets my day started productively. |
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[Apr. 8th, 2006|04:18 pm] |
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I'm home |
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