Link-time!

A week of no links? Well, not that much linkable showed up in that time anyway...

Snapshot photography? A number of issues show up, the most notable being that some people, when in front of a camera, act strange or always have the same smile: exhibit A (I have no Idea who this is, but that's not the point). Also, red eyes are a problem, although not as much as is the case in exhibit B. Well, my new camera is an Olympus too - does this mean undead hordes and suchlike are out to get me?

Games? Games take an awfully long time to make - good ones don't show up too often. For those that like break-out variants there's the reasonable game involving balls. For those who like weird, calm puzzles, there's balance (hint: some obects aren't allowed to be in the water). Have fun!

Saturday

The last day of an absurd week. So many things have changed in many little ways that make a huge difference. Yesterday of course saw the Graduation ceremony, which marks the end of three years of milling around in college. The weather helped by being warm, though maybe a bit too warm. Most of all, however, the people around made the day one of those wonderful days. As I'm now slowly starting to shut down completely (my legs gave way about 45 minutes ago, I really like my chair now), the reflection on the day is good. I'll post pictures when I have time to do basic editing and downsizing.
This week also saw the (final 5 minutes of the) songefestival. In itself this is not something that is worth dwelling on and even watching it is not exactly the event of the year. In fact, I didn't quite follow the broadcast that well in detail at all - as other matters were far more important. What happened next (or at least the outcome) is clear to most UC people I know (and since yesterday after the ceremony my parents as well). As a note: I have mastered denial to a certain extent - it's the way I work, I build walls of assumptions and convince myself nothing is going on. When it all comes down, confusion follows - but that's okay. Anna got through and caused quite some confusion - and I couldn't be happier about it.

Taking a Break...

Though some people seem to be expecting a post (nice spike on the registered pageloads graph), it's not going to happen. Due to circumstances (including planning and such), no new posts until next Saturday at the earliest. Sorry.

And More Running Around...

As I didn't go into it in the previous posts: The Maastricht trip in short: Basically we didn't really do that much; we walked from the station via the old bridge to the Vrijthof and the two churches. From there we walked past the University College Maastricht (not that interesting) and through some random streets following signs to the caves (which are outside of town, on top of a hill). The view is nice, but not spectacular, and as we didn't really feel like the caves, we walked back down again to the Onze Lieve Vrouwen plein and church. From there another cross through to market square and after that 1.5 hours of free shopping time before heading to the station and catching the 18:30 train out. The weather was nice, so all in all a nice, but brief, town visit.
Yesterday saw the Efteling trip. more than 20 people were invited, only 7 showed up. Of course the NS made us miss the bus, which was okay as some people travelled after us late because of discount reasons. The last person actually joined us inside the park, after we had done the entire sprookjesbos, Villa Volta and Droomvlucht. Seeing as it was raining early in the morning, and rain was expected for the entire day, not that many people showed up, and the rain decided that that wasn't going to be fun to rain on, so it gave up before we reached the park and it was sunny instead. This lead to nice weather and short (max 5 min) queues. Pancakes in Den Bosch ended the day in a nice manner. It was good to get out a few times this week, even though my shoulders are protesting by being very disargreeable today. Ohwell, it'll pass.

Why Digital Cameras have Advantages...

For one thing, the results are visible as soon as you load them onto a computer (NO, that small screen on the back of the camera doesn't show you if the picture worked out okay - it only shows you whether you snapped what you were hoping for, not if the focus was okay, what the field of depth is etc...), for another it saves time scanning them (or installing a scanner - NEVER buy Philips - technology as logical as the box it comes in? don't make me laugh. It took me 2 hours to get the damn thing to work - including a very nasty crash brought on directly by the installer). Anyway, as an addition to the pictures of the snow doughnut by day, one of the evening time shots. Apologies if the colours are too dark - my laptop screen isn't optimal for previewing pictures. Higher res picture available by clicking the thumbnail.

Never a Dull Moment...

So today was the Maastricht trip. Started off with a trip to collect my pictures (they turned out really well) whilst my traveling partner went to the pharmacy. Of course, the person in front of you wants something gift-wrapped (at the kruidvat for crying out loud) whilst the other checkout is not available as someone is trying to buy half a pharmacy without really knowing what they're buying, but attempting to ask (in their opinion) intelligent questions anyway. Result: missed bus 1 by 20 seconds. Central Station saw the right train come in at the right time. Amazing. Less amazing: it reached 's Hertogenbosch 7 minutes late - we got off here to drop some stuff off, before continuing on the train exactly one hour later. With supplies picked up at the supermarket. At Eindhoven the announcement was made that this train isn't going any further and the real train will show up in a few minutes. This actually happened, the train left on time, made it outside of the station, and broke down, meaning that it was stuck within visible range of the station for just over 30 minutes. Of course, this means that come Sittard, they're not going to bother to continue on to Maastricht, so changeover to the stoptrain is the thing to do. 4 hours of random mucking about gets you there though - Getting that food was a good idea... The trip back? Eventless, as ever.

More public transport tomorrow - bring it on...

Nerd!

Okay, link-out time! Theme of this mini-post: Nerd-levels. First of all, for the Science people around: the Nerd test. (I scored 72%, which makes me a Mid-Rank Nerd).
So for those who are looking for Nerd gadgets, I think the site on telco powered products may be the thing.
Still not entirely sure what a Nerd is? Looking for info on the occurance of the Nerd in art and literature? The wikipedia entry for Nerd will help you out.

That's Solved

With only three days to go until the end of the semester, it's finally clear what happened to my Masters' programme application (for Biomolecular Sciences). Apparently I was accepted, on the condition that I manage to graduate before September 1st. Okay, short of insulting a couple of teachers, extending my stay here, dying or running into unforeseen circumstances, there is not much that I can screw up on that one. The reason why I didn't hear about it: They are having problems with the University's computer system, and hence can't register anybody for the programme (although they have been promised that it'll be fixed soon). So in short - I now as good as have a study place and a place to live.

Keep Going...

[Draft]
and the inside joke

Running Around

...In circles, not getting anywhere any more. Which is probably the consequence of the highly effective round of finishing off things earlier this week. The good thing is, that there are few things left to get at, academics-wise. Anyway, meeting in 15, so time to dump the links and run.

Revelation! 666 is not the number of the beast
And the sad thing is, that the Satanists just use it to spite the Christians...
Pizza Call
Anyone paranoid about the linking of information?
Parking: Battle of the Sexes
This post's game of the post

Coherency is so overrated

It's monday, I think. Yes, that would be it. Finished German today (except for actually bundeling everything, which I get to do in class next Monday), Multimedia exam tomorrow. Hopefully I'll finish the flash animation tomorrow as well (still need to find and add two sounds, as well as an intro message and revamping my notes into the kind of report that actually makes sense to more people than just me). But basically, after that, it's course two out of the way, leaving enough time for course 3 (immunology) and the council. Don't start complaining about how you have 5 exams next week Friday, as I know those semesters as well, and seeing as this is my last one here, let me have my fun.
Anyway, I haven't posted for a week. Why? Well, nothing important happened, and, nothing interesting got posted on those sites that I check in those 5 minute breaks. The links are therefore going to be rather dull or unimaginative, but have fun anyway.

Edited images
Worth 1000 had two, imho, quite decent Lord of the Rings out of place pictures. They're called 'Welcome to New Jersey' and 'Fellow of the Ring'.
In the news lately
The NOS ran an item on the image of The Netherlands in the US being tarnished, mainly by conservatives, who, uninhibited by any actual knowledge whatsoever, claim that babys can be euthanised here if just about anything can be labeled as being wrong with them (the example mentioned being having four fingers). The article 'Florida girl has abortion blocked' is yet another instance of where conservatism goes bad. For clarity's sake: the girl is 13.
Flash animation, but then good
An animated video clip for Cake - Comfort Eagle. Why I'm posting it, I don't really know. You might like it though.
Commercial, of dubious nature
I wonder if this is an actual add and whether it was actually allowed. Anyway, it's labeled as a Blaupunkt commercial.