Melk
a historic monestary
No change allowed!
What the western side of North America was though to look like--and perhaps what it may look like after a few more earthquakes....
On the riverboat to Duernstein
a bus-sized trainSunday, June 8, 2008
Wachau Excursion
Melka historic monestaryNo change allowed!What the western side of North America was though to look like--and perhaps what it may look like after a few more earthquakes....On the riverboat to Duernsteina bus-sized train
CNN International and Art Class
My roommate and I stayed up quite late watching CNN International to see the results of the last primary and watch Barack Obama's speech after he won enough delegates to get the Democratic Party's nomination. It was great to see his speech in St. Paul--it made me almost forget that I still wasn't in America.
My drawing class finished last week. We mostly spent time practicing getting the right lines and angles, since little mistakes can make what was meant to be an exact drawing of a table look quite abstract.
Besides the ceramics class I took last semester, I've had no experience in an art class since I was in middle school, so I think I improved a lot. Here's the first portrait I actually finished--it's of Franz Kafka:
My drawing class finished last week. We mostly spent time practicing getting the right lines and angles, since little mistakes can make what was meant to be an exact drawing of a table look quite abstract.
Besides the ceramics class I took last semester, I've had no experience in an art class since I was in middle school, so I think I improved a lot. Here's the first portrait I actually finished--it's of Franz Kafka:
Adventures in Neuroscience
Signs that my prefrontal cortex is finishing its development:
1. I'm wearing a lot more sunscreen, since I realize that I soon be more concerned about having my skin age at a normal pace, and I realize that a tan isn't that great--especially when it's just on my nose. I'm Finnish and Norwegian--I shouldn't force anything.
2. I take my calcium supplement.
3. I think about cholesterol--at least once a day!
4. My ability to keep my thoughts about other people's behavior or my complaints about the weather to myself while traveling in a large group has improved. I may soon be allowed to participate in a Rick Steves tour...which I believe has a no whiners or trolls policy...something like that.
The prefrontal cortex is responsible for many of our personality traits and helps us deal with conflicting feelings, predict the consequences of our behavior, and control impulses that, if left uncontrolled, could lead to negative social outcomes. Supposedly, this region is not fully-developed until about age 25. It's a strange feeling to read that my brain hasn't matured yet, but I hope maturing won't end at age 25. :)
1. I'm wearing a lot more sunscreen, since I realize that I soon be more concerned about having my skin age at a normal pace, and I realize that a tan isn't that great--especially when it's just on my nose. I'm Finnish and Norwegian--I shouldn't force anything.
2. I take my calcium supplement.
3. I think about cholesterol--at least once a day!
4. My ability to keep my thoughts about other people's behavior or my complaints about the weather to myself while traveling in a large group has improved. I may soon be allowed to participate in a Rick Steves tour...which I believe has a no whiners or trolls policy...something like that.
The prefrontal cortex is responsible for many of our personality traits and helps us deal with conflicting feelings, predict the consequences of our behavior, and control impulses that, if left uncontrolled, could lead to negative social outcomes. Supposedly, this region is not fully-developed until about age 25. It's a strange feeling to read that my brain hasn't matured yet, but I hope maturing won't end at age 25. :)
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
It's June!
Temperatures were in the mid- to high-eighties this weekend, so my friends and I spent about four hours at the beach on Saturday. Don't worry, I put on multiple layers of sunscreen.
The Alte Donau (Danube) Bad--it's on Arbeitersstrandbadstrasse--The Wokers' Beach Bathing Street (Vienna had a couple strong socialist streaks in the past...)
Rob and Rachel
Annie
Me
After a day on the beach, we stayed inside and played Scrabble on my Travel Scrabble board. I got the highest scoring word, "acclaims," which got a double letter score, a double word score, and a 50-point bonus for using all seven tiles, for a grand total of 84 points...just for that word. Depending on who you ask, I may or may not have bribed someone for a switch for the second "a."
My toilet, like every other toilet I've seen in Europe, does not flush with a mini-handle, but with a button--either on the wall or on the tank.
Vienna is getting ready for the European Master's Cup which will be going on here, and in various locations in Austria and Switzerland all through the month of June. A "Fan Zone" is being built in the historic center of the city, near the City Hall (Rathaus) and the giant entrance gate at Heldenplatz. People will be able to watch the games on giant screens. There's also a giant inflatable tent/dome going up in Sigmund Freud Park, which I pass before class. I'll try to get a picture of that eyesore.
This comes just in time for University Finals, and the main university building is located right next to this Fan Zone. Thankfully, most of the noise will be in the evening, while most classes are in the morning and afternoon.
The Fan Zone is under construction. (I wonder if they got this idea from the Bush II-Era "free speech" zones)
Someone wasn't so happy about the Euro Cup or sexism, and decided to share this sentiment on one of the Uni builing's walls. I've probably mentioned before that graffiti is EVERYWHERE in Germany and Austria.
The Alte Donau (Danube) Bad--it's on Arbeitersstrandbadstrasse--The Wokers' Beach Bathing Street (Vienna had a couple strong socialist streaks in the past...)
Rob and Rachel
Annie
Me
After a day on the beach, we stayed inside and played Scrabble on my Travel Scrabble board. I got the highest scoring word, "acclaims," which got a double letter score, a double word score, and a 50-point bonus for using all seven tiles, for a grand total of 84 points...just for that word. Depending on who you ask, I may or may not have bribed someone for a switch for the second "a."
On Sunday, I got to move back into my room after being temporarily in another one while laminate flooring and new wallpaper was installed. I'm enjoying not having stained carpet or carpeting for wallpapers.
My toilet, like every other toilet I've seen in Europe, does not flush with a mini-handle, but with a button--either on the wall or on the tank.Vienna is getting ready for the European Master's Cup which will be going on here, and in various locations in Austria and Switzerland all through the month of June. A "Fan Zone" is being built in the historic center of the city, near the City Hall (Rathaus) and the giant entrance gate at Heldenplatz. People will be able to watch the games on giant screens. There's also a giant inflatable tent/dome going up in Sigmund Freud Park, which I pass before class. I'll try to get a picture of that eyesore.
This comes just in time for University Finals, and the main university building is located right next to this Fan Zone. Thankfully, most of the noise will be in the evening, while most classes are in the morning and afternoon.
The Fan Zone is under construction. (I wonder if they got this idea from the Bush II-Era "free speech" zones)
Someone wasn't so happy about the Euro Cup or sexism, and decided to share this sentiment on one of the Uni builing's walls. I've probably mentioned before that graffiti is EVERYWHERE in Germany and Austria.
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