How's the Weather Up There?

Lab today was quite humbling--and very frustrating to boot. Why? Because my lab set up is taller than I am. I can't see behind any of the equipment without standing on a chair.

It's not even like it's on some giant rack, either. It's just on an ordinary lab bench. So I feel ridiculous climbing on a chair just to turn a lock-in amplifier off.

You'd think the impossibly ludicrous programming and equipment problems my lab partner and I had today would have been more frustrating. But I can eventually fix those. I, however, cannot make myself grow several inches.

I need some sort of easily portable step-stool.

Movin' On Up

WRUW's spring 2006 schedule has been made!

Thankfully, my time slot has dramatically improved from last semester. Music Is My Boyfriend is movin' on up to Mondays from 3-5pm. No more waking up at 5am on Sunday mornings!!

Maybe people will actually listen live for a change. But, as always the archives (kept for one week, and posted immediately after the show airs) can be found here. Simply click the 56k link for Music Is My Boyfriend, and 2 hours of delightful music and my occasional babblings are yours. No excuses for not listening.

My first show is this coming Monday the 23rd. I'm very excited to use our brand new air studio for the first time. Hopefully I don't get yelled at by crazy listeners this time.

Any suggestions or requests for themes this semester?

"You, shake your junk."

This is a bit old, but I've been super lazy as of late. And for that I appologize.

For those of you that may not be aware, Diplo has remixed Ray Charles' "I Got a Woman," and it's absolutely wonderful. An mp3 can be accessed on his official website under mp3s (the first dinosaur), posted on Deceber 5th 2005. I hate flash sites and their lack of direct links.

As usual, Diplo manages to inspire all sorts of booty shakin'--the song is just plain fun. I'm still incredibly sad about missing him in Chicago for New Years, and listening to this song reminds me of why. Diplo is a super sweet DJ, with a real knack for making songs dancable. This remix in particular isn't as good as the original (how could he beat Ray Charles?), but it's certaintly a superb club-friendly adaptation.

P.S. - If you recognize the song but can't quite place it, it's the Ray Charles song Jamie Foxx imitates in the sample used in Kanye West's "Gold Digger."

The Fruits of My Labor

My 10-something cousin has always commented on my tie purses whenever I see her. This Thanksgiving, in her 10-year-old-subtle way, she made it very clear that she wanted me to make her one--"I really like your purse, Amy. You know, that would make a really great present for someone." So, being the pushover that I am (and being really bored at home), I decided to appease her.

The more of these I make, the easier they get. Though I think I get more and more critical of the stitch work every time. This one was a bit different, since I was designing it for a little girl rather than myself. Everything got scaled down a bit.

Anyways, here's the end result of some thrifting and not quite a day of sewing:

The front.


And the back.

It turned out very sparkly with all the gold. But I suppose little girls like that sort of thing. At least I hope.