Mon 8 Feb 2010
Let’s hope for a scholarship: Just got an alumni email from Dartmouth (my graduate school alma mater, at left), and the undergraduate tuition, room/board/fees for next year total $52,275.00.
For grins I also checked my my undergrad alma mater (Boston College, below). BC is now at $50,970.00.
Mind boggling, the cost of college these days; nevermind what it will be in 18 years…
Sat 6 Feb 2010
Over two feet of snow, and more coming down. Oh, the joy! At least we still have power (fingers crossed!) and plenty of food. This is a record for Maryland; from what I’ve been told, this is the most snow at one time since ~1950. Normally we get ~18 inches over the course of the winter. So far we’ve had that much dumped on us just in December, and now this current storm is in itself over 26 inches so far…
Just a bit South of here (DC) and East had actual “blizzard” conditions last night. We just had a major snowstorm. :)
Click any picture for slideshow.
Snow Storm 2-2010: Two feet.
Over 2 feet- taller than Olivia
Snow Storm 2-2010: Two feet, and he's not going to be much help shoveling...
Snow Storm 2-2010: Two feet.
Snow Storm 2-2010: Our Mailbox
Snow Storm 2-2010: Preparing for the arctic.
Snow Storm 2-2010: Preparing for the arctic.
Snow Storm 2-2010: Actic Trail left by explorers
Snow Storm 2-2010: In the arctic.
Sun 2 Aug 2009
Last month, our extended family had a wonderful vacation at the Chautauqua Institution, in Chautauqua, NY (upstate, western NY state). Highlights of the week were lectures by Professor Donald Johanson (pictured below signing my copy of Lucy’s Legacy), as well as:
Dr. Johanson signing my copy of Lucy's Legacy
The Catholic House sponsored a couple of excellent lectures as well, and Mass was offered daily. Did I mention the weather was wonderful? We’ll be going back next year; I can see why people go back to Chautauqua religiously (no pun intended :) ).
Chautauqua 2009
Chautauqua 2009
Chautauqua 2009
More pictures are on the Picture page (Chautauqua)
Wed 20 May 2009
Tonight I went to a booksigning and a panel of SF authors at Reiter’s Scientific Bookstore in DC. Among the authors present were: Dr. Catherine Asaro, Greg Bear, Bud Sparhawk, Tom Purdom, Tom Ligon, Yoji Kondo (Eric Kotani), John Hemry (Jack Campbell), Charles E. Gannon, and Dr. Arlan Andrews. The roundtable discussion topic was “How Science Fiction Changes Everything” – How Science Fiction Serves the National Interest. The Washington Science Fiction Association also sponsored the event.
Catherine Asaro
SIGMA is a group of science fiction writers who offer futurism consulting to the United States government and appropriate NGOs. We provide a new concept in public service “think tanks”– an association of speculative writers who have spent careers exploring the future. Many of us have earned Ph.D.s in high tech fields, and some presently hold Federal and defense industry positions. Each is an accomplished science fiction author who has postulated new technologies, new problems and new societies, explaining the possible science and speculating about the effects on the human race.
The event was mostly the panel fielding questions from the audience. I enjoyed the evening; it was quite interesting to hear the viewpoints of various SF authors, especially Bear and Asaro, as I’m a fan of both. At the signing Dr. Asaro mentioned that the cover of Alpha was her favorite. The artist was going to go with a flowing gown, but she told him, no, I’d rather look like this:
SF Authors: Bear, Asaro, etc. Roundtable at Reiter's Bookstore
Greg Bear
Greg Bear
Fri 10 Apr 2009
The US Postal Service will be releasing a set of “The Simpsons” postage stamps on May 7, 2009. Many years ago (as a kid) I used to collect stamps. None were as cool as these! The Simpsons has been on TVfor 20 years now; longest running comedy ever…
The USPS is even hosting a survey where you can vote on your favorite character -guess which one I voted for? Duh!
Simpsons Stamps
