Meet my best friend Robitussin!

Dr. Jung, my IRP sponsor, basically outlined the next five weeks like this:

He told us that, especially in the engineering field, it takes months, years, lifetimes, etc. to do a complete project. So he is doing his best to give us the five-week version. And he is interested in wind energy so he is ordering us a model turbine kit for us to have fun with. So that's the plan. 

What does that have to do with my new best friend? Well, one camper must have brought some terrible viral disease to SouthGate, and I caught it. My throat is sore and I sound like a man. And today has been especially congestion-y. My bottle of Robitussin is almost gone. You know what that means . . . Walmart tomorrow! The plan (see above) allows time for "Literature Review" this week . . . So I didn't have to go to the laboratory! I could sleep in! I could stay in my room and be miserable! 

Well, it wasn't that miserable. I got a Irish Creme Latte at the ever amazing Sweet Shop. Then, Priyanka and I enjoyed some nice warm non-stuffy fresh air! And guys, guess what? I actually did some "Literature Review."

Volkswagen Beetle

In my project (in a few weeks) we will be using Pressure-Sensitive Paint (PSP). Back in the olden days scientists and engineers monitored pressure via mechanical pressure transducers. While this was cutting edge science at the time, it resulted in limited spatial resolution - that is you received pressure readings only where the transducers were located. PSP, founded in biochemistry, gives the complete pressure picture. Just add radiation and a super duper camera and you can see exactly where pressure is impacting the object the most. 

Additionally, I also researched the best types of roofs. It appears that gable roofs are the least hurricane resistant, but also the most common because they are easy to build and relatively inexpensive. From what I have read, most experts recommend hip roofs (four slopes) or more. At this point I am thinking that my roof design might have more than four slopes . . . Risky, I know! But more research is to come! 

Well, it's about dinnertime. Let's just hope that it is something good tonight. Generally, if lunch is sub-par, then dinner is sure to be . . . edible. 

Toodles. <3 Nerdy Green.

Hello World!

And on the third day Nerdy Green said,

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

// my first program in C++ #include <iostream> using namespace std; int main () {   cout << "Hello World!";   return 0; }

Hello World!

Apparently this is a program. And I done did programmed it.

Anyway, the classes are definitely challenging. My math class called, "Some Interesting Differential Equations," is very . . . interesting. And difficult . . . I understand everything Dr. Oberlin says in class but his homework is ridiculous.
For example:

(2)      A 500 gallon tank originally contains 100 gallons of fresh water. Beginning at time t = 0, water containing 50 percent pollution flows into the tank at the rate of 2 gallons per minute. The well-stirred mixture leaves at the rate of 1 gallon per minute. Find the concentration of the pollutants in the tank at the moment it begins to overflow. 

I don't know. I don't care. Just don't drink the dumb stinky water! No one else got it. But at least he will tell us the answer tomorrow and I am certain the whole class will go, "Ooooh!"

Biochem is . . . not for the faint of heart. First class he took our blood. Second class he made us play with flies. But the third class was not that bad we just did a very complicated series of steps in order to isolate our own white blood cells. Want to try? Click here. You won't be able to but you can pretend!

Apart from the nerdy days spent in class, I have lab. I finally got to meet my professor and he is very nice. Unfortunately, he told us we will be researching for the next two weeks before we actually do anything hands-on. So this girl is going to be an expert on wind engineering and hurricanes in the next couple of days.

End of nerd lyfe.


Beginning of fun time.

Saturday the counselors made us go to the freezing cold Wakulla Springs. And it was like 68 degrees. Maybe less. I got up to my knees then it was just too cold. So I walked to this here platform shown below, shouted YOLO, jumped, and screamed the entire way down.



I was so proud of myself. I did it three times. Oh, and even more spectacular . . . I got a tan! Overall, Wakulla Springs was a lot more fun than I thought it would be.

The fun continued on Sunday! I got to try vegetable sushi! Then I went to see the incredible cute and oh-so-Scottish film Brave. I very much enjoyed it and is was so cute!



See it with your mom! So much better than the creepy-butt-scary-movie-not-made-by-Disney-Pixar called Prometheus that some of the nerds went to see.

Last thing, my throat hurts. And I felt terrible yesterday. But I have amazing friends who went to Walgreens at 10:30 last night to by me cough medicine. I definitely owe Jamila and Priyanka one . . . or ten! Thanks guys! I'm feeling better thanks to them!

Nerdy Green has homework to finish. Night y'all. <3

FSU YSP 2012

Sir Nathan of my Essentials of Science Computing course demands that his students begin a blog.

So, 'tis my blog. 

Who is Sir Nathan and why must I follow his orders? Well I, Nerdy Green, am part of a prestigious science and mathematics summer program at Florida State University called the Young Scholars Program (or YSP for short). Basically, during this six week resident program I must wake up at ungodly hours (like 6:57AM) of the day to do extremely nerdy activities. And I am surrounded by geniuses from all over the sunshine state.  So as part of this super science summer, I must attend a computer, math, and science class every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On Tuesday and Thursday, I am supposed to go to a research laboratory (at the College of Engineering) to work on my own project - I haven't been able to do much laboratory-ing because my professor has been out of town.

Do I like it? Yes, and no. I find the classes challenging and extremely fun in a nerdy way (especially that Essentials of Science Computing class taught by Sir Nathan). I also like the atmosphere of FSU and the camp. But I am going to start whining here a little bit - sorry! My bed is uncomfortable, the walls are thin, the food is getting old, I haven't been in my lab yet, FSU is pretty deserted during this first week and I just not sure I can handle all that early morning nerd talk . . . Whew! Glad that's over. Already, I have made some great friends and had more than one good laugh. I've also enjoyed some wonderful beverages at The Sweet Shop, found an amazing place to chat on top of the SouthGate parking garage, and earned several new bruises.

This blog shall chronicle my adventures at YSP, including all the fascinating computer information I learn from Sir Nathan, and future chapters in my nerd journey.

This is Nerdy Green, signing off. O.o