Apparently this got into the news in Japan and America, and apparently was felt quite strongly all the way over in Aussie. Felt it last night, thought I was just lightheaded or something (how I'd imagine vertigo would feel). Lasted quite a while, too - about 30 - 40 seconds. GeoNet originally estimated it was a Mw 6.6 as the automatic measuring thing doesn't measure as long as the USGS array, which had it at Mw 7.8 - now they both agree it was Mw 7.6 I think. Maybe Mw 7.8, but either way that's rather large. Got all excited and spent most of today waiting for aftershock information - whee! Anyway, now attempting to continue writing my thesis. Have a list of geological books I want to buy. Unfortunately most of them are also rather expensive. Oops. Ah well. Edit: I also accidentally posted this to the geology lj_comm instead of picking out my geology icon. Whoops. Today has been filled with these kinds of slipups, mostly on the part of a couple of my friends. Oh well. Edit2: I wonder when the Alpine Fault is going to go.......................... - Tags:geology
- Currently at:Geology
- Feeling a bit:excited
 - Listening to:ATLAS - Crawl
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So I've been going over my thesis so far... Here's a list of what I need to write up...
Abstract
Introduction
Paleomag
Micropal
Isotopes
Conclusion
So that's 5 chapters and an abstract. Ok. Discounting things like figures, etc... I've got about half of my intro written and some of my micropal chapter. The other three are practically clean slates. I can write my paleomag, but I'm yet to do my isotope lab work, so... Yeah. And abstract will come last.
Am wondering if I can get my intrduction done for the meeting on monday, and my micropal done by next friday. Hrm.
Why the hell did I decide on August 31st? Not even sure I can make that, but I'm sure as hell going to try... At least the 31st is a Monday, so I can have the last weekend to freak out.
May as well get to it. - Tags:5th year geol
- Currently at:Geology
- Feeling a bit:okay
 - Listening to:Stratovarius - Cold Winter Nights
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So this has been a... good and interesting day. In first news, I've finished all my census counts! Yay! No more census counts ever!* In the second piece of news, I went to talk to the prof in charge of the first year labs this afternoon. Told her I would demonstrate again this semester. She was pleased - they're short of both teachers and assistants, so... yeah. And this'll be the fourth year I'll be doing these labs, so it's not like I'm lacking experience. As it is, she asked me what I was going to do next, and after some discusion about a phd without funding (uh, no.), she suggested I go into teaching. Told her that eventually I wouldn't mind at tertiary level... But no. She meant secondary school level. Saying that with my papers in biology and zoology I could teach Biology and science. Apparently (in her view) there aren't enough teachers at secondary level with a background in geology. Erk. On the one hand, I see this as a compliment to my skills as a teacher/demonstrator. So yay. On the other, seconadary school teaching? Erp. Not sure I'd have the patience. Or the will. ( ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) cytrix, definate kudos to you here!). Either way, I'm not sure if she realises there's a high chance I'd be going out of the country soon (well, within the year, likely) anyway? Hmm. In any case... I need to talk to my supervisor. About the possibilities of phds or industry, or, apparently, teaching. Ack. I also need to rethink what I want out of life for the next few years anyway, I think. *for a given value of 'ever'. Edit: ' LIBRA - 07 Jul : You might need to consider your priorities within your career area such as prospects of promotion and working conditions. How much independence do you need and how secure is a particular position? If you are seriously job-hunting, don't refrain from applying for jobs where you have had no previous experience.' ... Seriously. Horoscopes are disturbing sometimes. O.o | |
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Why did I decide to try and finish in August? NJ is now working v hard to as well. Craaaaaaaaap. My micropal is taking forever!
Eep.
Gonna have to do a demonic-working impression over the next couple of months....
Oh well, gotta start somewhere.
A now has two possibilities, germany of south africa. Should be interesting to see what happens.
Also, Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? is a funny movie. :D
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Booooooooooored out of my mind and it's only 10am.
Says a lot, doesn't it. And it's a sunday, too. Should still be asleep. Especially considering I didn't go to bed till after 1 (dinner at 11, haha). Anyway.
Currently uploading FReD scans onto the database. And waiting for washing so I can stop using up power here and go use it up at uni (yay heatpump).
No idea how I'm going to get all my census counts done. Have a feeling tomorrow is going to be something of a late night. Ah well. It'll be worth it, to have the micropal out of the way.
Ok, looking at the Kathmandu website was officially a Bad Idea. Oops.
Incidentally, used my new backpack for the first time yesterday. Is awesome. Don't know why L and I have different length hoses for the hydration bladders, but either way. The 2 hour walk along the river trail was fun.
A's off collecting rocks all today. Hmm. Might be an idea to collect something lunch related before going to the department so I don't need to leave again till this evening. | |
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Latest XKCD entry ftw. Seriously. There are definately gatherings I've been to that've been like that and I've zoned out thinking about something geology related...
Finished marking. Now just have about 5 or 6 hours of data entry and 10 census counts to go.
This weekend is seriously going to be the death of me...
However, time to relax just a little tonight (ie make dinner then perhaps do 1 hour data entry over about 4) before the big haul this weekend. Or something. Doubt I'll be able to go to orienteering on Saturday night, glad I'm not going for a walk in the bush on Sunday. Need to get as much done as possible by Monday morning, let alone Tuesday when I said I'd have this all done...
I think I work best under a little stress, so this is a good thing. ^^ | |
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Ok, so the recent excitement has had me decide I'm going to finish my masters by August 31. That's in just over 2 months. So basically, I'm rather screwed. Ahahaha. Ahem. But I really want to apply for some of those phds. And I know I'll probably get backing from my supervisor... It's the first thing to come up that I've been so excited about (in terms of phds I've seen on earthworks). And seeing as it's a multi-disciplinary project and I'm going to have 3 disciplines under my belt (4 if you count sediments as well), I think I'm pretty well set up. Still don't know where A's going yet, but it's perfect for wherever he goes really (well, not quite perfect, but the next best thing).
There's also the fact that while the oil industry would be better in terms of money, with my leaning towards academia (despite logically knowing it's stupid, I'm just contrary like that), climate work gets pretty good funding right now, so that'd be sweet.
And... Holy heck. I'd be living on $6000 NZD a month. Hell, I could pay off my loan on a phd salary! *dies*
Mid-post edit: It was pointed out to me that that's before tax. So that'd be about $4000. And then of course something I did know was that living expenses are not-quite-double here. But it still looks like I could save a bit! This is going to be so competitive...
So basically, what I need to do to finish by August 31st...
Lab work
Micropal - be finished June 30
Sediments - Agreed with CO this doesn't need to be done (coulter counter) which is convenient, as have mud fraction from foram processing.
HCl - Dunno. Will see. Doubt I'll do it, however interesting it'd be.
Isotopes - after June 30. Hopefully asap.
Figures
A few more graphs and images.
Map.
Basically work through from now as I write I suppose. And update as lab work permits.
Show fancy depth graph in next Monday meeting.
Writing
Everything.
2,000 words down, 28,000 to go. Knuckle down and get introduction, micropal and paleomag out of the way (can finish all three), then there's just isotopes and summary chapter to go. Argh. Can get intro finished within two or three more weeks I think, and after that I should be in the flow of writing enough that I can just keep going. After isotopes is sorted aim for 1,000 words a day.
Non-masters stuff
Marking - going to be finished by the end of tomorrow by the looks of it.
FReD - Gah. When I can fit it in.
Demonstrating - Doubt it.
Training for SC - weeknights, weekends, whenever I can fit it in.
Stressed much? But all good. XD
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I spent 15 minutes this morning literally unable to stay in my seat...
There's a program that's opening up 15 phd and 3 postdoc positions across the EU, South Africa and Israel in paleoclimate and climate modelling. It sounds amazing... The positions I'd want to apply for are in Spain, or one of two in Germany... And the field area being studied? The South Atlantic currents around South Africa. *faints*
This is like... The most amazing thing I've seen on Earthworks so far, short of a phd that says 'Kris, we want YOU to study paleontology for us and go to Antarctica'. Lol.
Deadline for that is September, so hopefully if I push this along I'll have my MSc submitted and they won't mind the fact it hasn't been awarded yet... Should hopefully get good references to help my case though!
And even better, I'm now feeling incredibly motivated (and excited). So hopefully this'll stay with me for the big final push to finish this thing, especially after the last couple of blah weeks.
Also, I've been asked to do another 10 hours of marking. I get first right of refusal, woo! Would kinda like the money though, especially for Spring Challenge and possible travel coming up. Tempting. Especially with me feeling as motivated as I am. Hmm. Might say yes.
Squeeeeeeeee! | |
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Or rather, at uni before the sun for a change, but considering the weather, somehow I think that despite sitting next to a window, I still may not see the sun all day.
Had an epic weekend of working on illustrator. Am still very happy that I have that on my computer. Annoying second years used all the milk in the department, and all the hot chocolate mix though, so that put something of a damper on yesterday. That and had to use my last packet of hot chocolate mix, so need to replenish my emergency (ha!) supplies at some stage. Like before next weekend.
Epic day today planned looking down the microscope. Woot. At least I get the advantage of the heater in my office. | |
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I live in a country where, in the middle of a recession, the government decides to spend $9 million to ask the country, in a referendum, if they think smacking one's child is good parenting correction, or if it should be deemed a criminal offence.
It also turns out I live in a country run by dumbasses.
I think the Farmers Federation have the right of it - $9 million could go a long way in something more useful, like water catchment work (funny, every year they tell us we're going to run out of electricity in winter...), it could fund the health or education sectors (especially with all this swine flu stuff. Apparently we're also about to get a 'Swine Flu Minister'). Geez, if nothing else award it to Search and Rescue places like Westpac. Or the SPCA or something.
Anyway, snow is melting. Still some in our back yard this morning, and still heaps on the hills, but none on the flat. Fortunately missed the extreme!frost we were supposed to have. Am now also done marking, so can actually work on my masters again. Woo.
Camelbak arrived today - excited - can't wait to go home and check it out. The track and trace number says it's been delivered anyway, and the weather's cleared enough for cars to go around the hills. Heh.
And back to work...
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