Fall is arriving in New York. Sadly so are midterm exams, term projects and an ample number of problem sets, but it’s nice to see a little color on the occasions that I manage to escape the city for a bit.
Category Archives: Daily
Glitches
Since moving in to my apartment I’ve been trying to get my computer setup ironed out. I’ve hit a few glitches along the way.
Chance Encounters
I went down to campus this morning to do some work at the library. On my way out, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a concert in progress on the Low Steps. Quite a talented group, particularly the lead singer Bri Arden. Chalk that up as another good reason not to stay indoors on a pleasant Saturday afternoon.
Mobile phone annoyances
Thanks to (previously mentioned) problems with AT&T at my new apartment, I’m in the market for a new cell phone carrier.
Unfortunately, this being the US, that means I also am in the market for a new phone. Mind you, I’m perfectly happy with my current phone. if I could use it on someone else’s network (i.e. not AT&T), I’d be happy to. But I can’t.
AT&T Wireless Woes
I finally got my housing assignment from the university last week (I was waitlisted). Pretty nice place if I do say so myself.
Only one problem: I don’t get any cellular reception in the apartment. I’m not talking about having 1 or 2 bars and suffering dropped calls. I’m talking about no reception whatsoever. Oh sure, if I open a window and lean out at the right time of day, I might get 1 bar. On a good day. If I’m lucky. Other than that I get nothing.
My first instinct was to blame AT&T. After all, it’s AT&T that had a huge dead zone in the middle of campus at my last school, and it’s AT&T that offered almost no coverage at home back in California.
Apparently, my instincts are correct. My roommate, who also has AT&T, has the same problem. My neighbor, who has Verizon, has no problem at all.
So naturally, I called AT&T to complain. Their suggestion, after I had spent a nice chunk of the afternoon on hold, was to purchase a ‘MicroCell tower’. This device which attaches to your internet connection, acts as a cell-phone booster and re-routes cellular communications over your network.
Here’s the problem: I’m already paying AT&T monthly (~$65) for service. Now they want me to pay $60 in addition, just so I can use the service I’m already paying for?
Thanks, but no thanks. Goodbye AT&T. Somehow, I don’t think I’m going to miss you.
A Dash of Color
A good friend was in town to look at business schools. I took the afternoon off to wander about central Manhattan, camera in hand. We started at the main Columbia campus, meandered through Central Park, and ended up on the west side. I came across this particular building around 90th street. The long hot summer has finally moved on, leaving the sort of cool crisp weather that makes fall my favorite season in NY.
A Transportation Gripe
As I haven’t found a place to stay yet near school, I’ve been commuting in to New York City for the last few weeks. The distance from Hartsdale to Columbia is about 20 miles by. Without traffic, it’s a half hour trip. Even with traffic, it’s usually less than an hour. The same trip, via public transportation, averages an hour and a half.
To get downtown using mass transit, the first problem is getting to the train station. I’m staying about 3 miles from Hartsdale station, 2 blocks from one busy road, and 3 blocks from another. The good news is that there’s a bus. The bad news is that the bus runs 3 times in the morning (6, 6:30 and 7:00) and 3 times in the evening (5:00, 5:45 and 6:30). It takes roughly 20 minutes to make the 3 mile trip.
Back home. At 10000 ft. Finally.
It’s been a busy few days.
Thursday at 5:30PM I took my final exam for my summer algorithms course. Then I went back to my grandparents’ place and packed. I went to bed around midnight.
Is this thing on?
Well, this is a little embarrassing. No updates in almost a year.
Actually, I have been fairly busy, but not in ways that have lent themselves to posting here. Hopefully, that is changing.
In the meantime, for a peek into my current side projects, have a gander at www.openhorizonsphoto.com. My main camera just passed the 45,000 shot mark. Many more photos to post, when I get the chance!
Telescope Peak and Death Valley trip
For George’s birthday, he decided to climb Telescope Peak, near Death Valley. Having never been to that area we were happy to go along. We spent the first part of the day after the climb exploring Death Valley.
Summary
Telescope Peak and Death Valley: 4 December – 6 December 2009
Day 1: Driving to Ridgecrest (5h30 from Cupertino). Stayed at motel.
Day 2: Climb Telescope Peak from Mahogany Flat (14 miles, +3000 ft round trip). Drove to Furnace Creek. Stayed at motel.
Day 3: Explore Death Valley (Zabriskie Point, Badwater, Natural Bridge, Artist Drive and Rhyolite). Drive home (8 hours).
Participants (hike): 6