Fair Weather Excercisers

Sometimes I'm a real jerk...Yesterday I was annoyed at what I would call fair weather excercisers. That is, all the people who excercise a few times a year, and it's on days like yesterday and today when it's the first warm weather in a while. My annoyance was initiated becaues of lack of trail etiquette by fair-weather excercisers. Then I just got annoyed at the whole idea. It's like trying to get your summer tan all in one weekend.

How do I know who is a fair-weather excerciser? Bad trail ettiquette (as already mentioned), Bad gear, e.g. running in sketchers and too much clothing for the weather, and finally the look of death due to lack of breadth.

Okay, now before you all really think I'm a jerk. Let me say in general I love it when people exercise or start a new excercise. Just think of the benefits: Less people stressed, and therefore, less crazy violence, road rage, etc; healthier population, and therefore, lower healthcare costs; healther people make alternative transportation easier, e.g. they actually CAN ride a bike.

Anyway, get out and excercise in this beautiful weather, just don't let this be the only time you do it.

Politics on Cspew's behalf

Since cspewer is busy this week, I suspect he might not post about the next political conversation. However, the next conversation with the candidates is this Wednesday, at 4pm at the Public Library, with mayoral candidate Don Langrehr. I personally believe he has a reasonable perspective and he should be interesting to hear. I am going to try an make it out, so feel free to give me a buzz if you want to join me.

Color Observation

So I've noticed around campus that the color turquoise is appearing at increasing rates. I'm not saying that turquoise is the next black, but it is playing more of a role in accesories: bags, jewelry, shoes, etc. Does anyone recall in the late 80s early 90s those Berrettas that were turquoise? Back then I thought they were hot, thank goodness I didn't act on that impulse reaction! Anyway, my prediction is we'll start seeing turquoise in cars again, and of course in other places as well.

Fibonacci Inspired homework

Inspired by comments on Jil's most recent post, let's have a little quiz from the teacher. Seeing that most of you have had some basic math classes, this should be cake. Thanks to R, we all now know the fibonacci sequence begins with 1,1,2,3,5,8,.... Each number in the sequence is simply the sum of the previous two (after being given the first tw0). That is, we begin with f(1) = 1 and f(2) = 2, and then f(3) = f(1) + f(2) = 1+1 = 2. More generally, f(n) = f(n-1) + f(n-2).

Now here is the question:
Form a new sequence X of numbers by dividing each number in the fibonacci sequence by the previous number in the sequence, starting with the second number in the fibonacci sequence.
e.g. X(1) = f(2)/f(1), X(2) = f(3)/f(2), ..... X(n) = f(n+1)/f(n).

This new sequence X converges to what number as n approaches infinity?

The rules of this quiz are that you can only use a paper, writing utensil, and calculator...no spreadsheets or web searches!!! The first person to post the correct answer wins something.

Kiteboarding

What is kiteboarding? Here is an explanation, and here is a video. Video comes complete with girls in bikinis! More on the video, the guy in it, Dimitri, was boarding "with" us, or at least next to us. In reality he was over us. We were in the boat and this guy jumps right over
us, probably 20ft in the air...amazing stuff.

So anyway last week, big-M and I tried our hand at kiteboarding. As many of you know, we have a trainer kite and it was finally time to utilize our skills for some travel. We had a great time, but this is not a sport for the periodic vacationer. We worked really hard and barely got it. However, I'm feeling pretty good about our progress. In kiteboarder magazine, they list how you should progress. After 2 sessions, we are about where they say you should be after 5....looks like we'll just have to go again!!! It is quite a thrill. I was nervous/scared much of the day.

I've attached a few pictures for your enjoyment. Unfortantely for big-M, all the pics are of me because I didn't touch the camera, mostly because it was really wet and I figured I'd end up dropping it in the water.

Here is the kite:



Ok, next I need to get the kite in the air:

The next step is to gett the board on my feet while keeping it up and depowered so it doesn't yank me out of the water:

Finally, ready to ride, just need to control the kite's power enough to get me out of the water and not so much that it takes me flying (not yet anyway).

dowp! Too much power, ripped me right out of the board.

The goal and the pro, Demitri, flying high:

Kiteboarding anticipation

We signed up for kiteboarding classes. We've been wanting to do this for a couple of years now and I can hardly wait! Details, including exaggerations of the multiple feet of air I'll get, will follow.

Blogger Tagging

Is there really such a thing as blogger tagging? Seems to me it's like a forwarded email, but extra pressure to forward it on. Instead of threats of bad luck if I don't forward the email, I'm tagged in front of my blogging community and everyone then knows if I break the chain or not. Those who like the forwarding game think I'm evil for breaking the chain and definitely destined for bad luck.

Anyway, for whatever reason I'm willing to play along. I guess I enjoy reading these types of posts about others, so in case anyone is reading this and cares about random details about Nastiness, then here goes. Props to J and ML for actually getting me to play along. However, I'm drawing the line at the tagging. Sorry, but I can't get myself to "forward" it.


Four Jobs I've Had:

1. Sailing Instructor
2. Lifeguard
3. Graduate Research Assistant (way too many years)
4. Fulfillment Manager (aren't you curious what that means)
   

Four Movies I can Watch Over and Over:

1. Jackie Brown
2. Princess Bride
3. I really don't watch movies more than once, so you'll have to settle for 2
   

Four Places I've Lived:

1. Bloomsburg, PA
2. Upland, IN
3. Soddy Daisy, TN (more curiosity, huh?)
4. Raleigh, NC
   

Four TV Shows (Events on TV) I Love:

1. Arrested Development
2. Jay Leno
3. March Madness
4. Olympics

Four Places I've Vacationed:

1. Telluride, CO
2. Camden, ME
3. Portland, OR
4. Salzburg, Austria

Four Of My Favorite Dishes:

1. Drunken Noodles
2. Mushroom Korma
3. Tomato, basil, and mozzarella - all must FRESH
4. Pasta w/ Hot Sausage
   

Four Sites I Visit Daily:

1. VT Blackboard
2. College-Industry Council on Material Handling Education
3. Amazon
4. At least one blog in my extended blogger community

Four Places I'd Rather Be Right Now:

1. Whister, BC snowboarding
2. Seal Beach, CA surfing
3. New River Gorge climbing
4. Hatteras kiteboarding

Based on this final question, I've concluded I have issues sitting still.