Monthly Archives: June 2006

Summer School is Crazy!

Posted on June 21, 2006 by |

Man, this IPE class is killing me. So far I’ve read a textbook, two other books, taken a mid-term, and written a paper, all in two weeks. And to think, I have another month-long summer class after this one. Bleh.

I’m finding it difficult to focus on … well on anything with the move coming up. It’s much more fun to shop for a european power adapter for my laptop, or think about how much I’m going to be missing mexican food. Little things like that creep in when I’m supposed to be studying.

I gave notice at my job the other day. My CEO was very supportive of the move and made it clear that they would be waiting when I came back. So far everyone has been really supportive and I’ll be sending a ton of thank you cards … from Europe, of course!

I also turned in my post-acceptance (SFSU) forms and grabbed an ISIC card (lyss did too). At this point I’m just waiting on my official acceptance packet from the UvA, which should tell me how to register for classes and all that.
The anticipation is mounting!

Posted in All, Journal, Main, Study Abroad

Knee stuff

Posted on June 18, 2006 by |

So for those of you that don’t know, I had knee surgery about two weeks ago. Here’s the pre-op photos:

Pre-op Derek

Me in my funny gown/robe/hat/chair

Knee pre-op

This knee is both the right knee and the right knee. I’m so punny. Also note the sexy shaved-ness.
Knee 2 weeks

Here’s what it looks like now. It’s far less purple than my webcam makes it out to be.

So anyway, I’m able to walk around on it and everything, and I get the stitches out on Tuesday. Stairs still suck a bit, but I’m looking forward to running again sometime in the future. Yay4working knee!

Posted in All, Journal, Main

History of the World in Six Glasses

Posted on June 7, 2006 by |

The California World Affairs Council has a wonderful lecture by Tom Standage, Technology Editor for The Economist and author of A history of the World in Six Glasses. His overview of his book seperates history into six eras, dictated by types of drink. It’s available here (mp3 or real audio). Good stuff starts about 5 mins into the lecture.

Did you know?

  • Pyramid builders were paid in beer
  • Agriculture may have been ‘invented’ to make beer, not bread
  • Scholarly gatherings are called “Symposiums” because of Roman communal wine drinking
  • Jesus’ first miricle involved wine, and it was the last drink before his death
  • Trade Triangle (Slave Trade) involved brady/liqour trade as much as slaves
  • Britian’s Naval supremacy was due to rum (grog, actually)
  • At one point there was 1 coffee shop in London per 300 people in 1700s (take that, starbucks)
  • The London stock exchange started as a coffee shop
  • The French Revolution started in a coffee shop!

… and there’s lots of other fun bits of knowledge. Obviously history has more factors than just beverages, but this is a wonderful way to learn about the historical impact of our favorite drinks. It’s about an hour long, check it out.

Posted in All, Main, Random, Spirits