What’s on your mind?

[goldmac2006]

Better to have more work than the alternative.

I’m almost back at work after holidays. Already been listening in on some meetings to keep up with what they are doing.

It’s my last day of my hybrid NASA internship. Today is a 6 hour shift we worked 11 hours in the office and around town in the last three days fixing up rovers, programming them, doing paperwork 📋 and getting ready for the panel presentation. Yesterday’s work day consisted of our boss taking us upstairs to the comet observatory and I night mode shotted stars and looked at the telescope to see Venus and mars. Lots of sitting at the office yesterday with my department working on rover rescue work but the observatory was the most exciting part of yesterday’s work day.

 

[avro707]

It’s my last day of my hybrid NASA internship. Today is a 6 hour shift we worked 11 hours in the office and around town in the last three days fixing up rovers, programming them, doing paperwork 📋 and getting ready for the panel presentation.

That sounds extremely interesting!

On my mind today is the idiotic people setting up dangerous traps to make bicycle riders crash on corners. This morning it was trailbike riders who had been doing wheel spinning on the gravel on the inside of a blind corner, putting it all over the path.

I had to break off a branch from a nearby shrub and use that to sweep away the mess. Very annoying. But I always do that to keep everyone safe.

 

[goldmac2006]

That sounds extremely interesting!

Thanks friend. Work is over now and the internship is in the books 📕. My department scored the highest in our panel presentation and the rover so far and we did it! So grateful and back home after three big eleven hour shifts last week and a 6 hour shift today. Apple Watch battery endured all the way through too. .
Our chaperone treated us to a nice dinner at BJs at a stop during the bus ride home.

 

[AVBeatMan]

What’s on my mind is how dumb am I? Met a beautiful lady by chance in a coffee shop and got chatting about all things including dating later on in life, me 60, she in her 50’s. We had a great chat about our past relationships and got on like a house on fire. I left and on the way home thought “why didn’t ask her out?”!! Doh! I think “will I ever meet someone again” and then when opportunity knocks I just walk right away!

 

[KaliYoni]

Doh!

You are not alone…

Regret (Maupassant)

Phosphorus (Levi)

 

[The Clark]

What’s on my mind is how dumb am I? Met a beautiful lady by chance in a coffee shop and got chatting about all things including dating later on in life, me 60, she in her 50’s. We had a great chat about our past relationships and got on like a house on fire. I left and on the way home thought “why didn’t ask her out?”!! Doh! I think “will I ever meet someone again” and then when opportunity knocks I just walk right away!

happens to the best of us. Go back until you see her again and dont make that mistake again.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

Those of us who are the carers/staff for kitty people know that they get the 'zoomies'. Mine (avatar <- see left) gets them at 3 am, when she gallops up and down the hallway, before leaping onto the bed and then jumping up and down on me (never my beloved, only me...).

But, who knew that stingrays could get the 'zoomies'???
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01...water-marine-mystery-for-scientists/104837300

 

[splifingate]

What’s on my mind is how dumb am I? Met a beautiful lady by chance in a coffee shop and got chatting about all things including dating later on in life, me 60, she in her 50’s. We had a great chat about our past relationships and got on like a house on fire. I left and on the way home thought “why didn’t ask her out?”!! Doh! I think “will I ever meet someone again” and then when opportunity knocks I just walk right away!

You can wave your hands, produce flowers from your cuffs, and walk-like-Jebus-on-a-puddle . . . if she isn't present to the moment, that's just the dance you'll end-up doing.

If I were to be Counsel, I would counsel returning to said coffee shop (as often as life/time permits) to be present in your Moment . . . when she returns (as She will), just make sure you achewly exchange Contacts

 

[splifingate]

I teach at a School (Xavier-Esque), and we necessarily bring all sorts of elements to the educational-table.

One of the +1's we do is to highlight as many aspects of the biological lifecycle, as is possible.

Butterflys represent an important Lesson . . . not just in their ephemeralness, but as Icons which exemplify the transitional process of Life.

Last week, we had a Special Weather Event (snow/ice/etc.), and it precipitated a degree of preparation; namely, Staff needed to be on-site.

So, we created a reluctant/willing slumber-party in the School; to best-be-prepared for the next Morning's needed care-needs.

It was cold.

Thermostats were adjusted.

Temperatures were increased.

Staff comfort was achieved, but we were not aware of the unforseen-consequences.

The Butterfly pupae we had stored in our butterfly-hutch were (unfortuitously) respondent to the increased temps in the room, and one of them decided that it had become Spring, and hatched:

January is *not* the best time to exist for a fledgling swallow-tail, but (luckily) we have a heated Greenhouse.

Unfortunately, this Little Monster jived me (today), and rapidly escaped into the Wild when I re-opened the door . . . he was faster than my feet, and (truth-be-told) wedded to Freedom much more than my feelings

Fly-free little brother.

 

[goldmac2006]

Resuming my tech shopping spree for accessories for my new iPhone 15 Pro, I’ve also been catching up on NFL games, particularly the NFC and AFC Championship. I’m thrilled to be back home from my work trip, just in time for these significant games and the Chinese New Year celebrations that will take place in the last three weeks of the winter break.

You can check out the cases I purchased in the iPhone 15 Pro case thread. This particular case is from Rifle Paper Co. and features a beautiful blue flower design. It perfectly complements the blue tatty iPhone 15 Pro.

Also got MagSafe accessories in the haul and a 3 pack screen protector for $6/4 quid 💷 and I’ll miss my work fam that I have been collaborating with for the past few months in my position at NASA.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Various financial decisions on my mind.
Trying to decide on different priorities etc. It would be easier if we were getting a pay rise (we didn’t last year) of course!

 

[rm5]

Same. I’m still trying to book my Seattle ticket and don’t understand why flying into SEA is $300-400 more expensive ALL THE TIME compared to nearly every other destination. It’s an $800 round trip ticket. For a domestic U.S. flight. That’s getting pretty close to international flight prices. Does not matter what time of year you book, from which origin, or how close to your trip you book. Always more expensive than other airports.

I’ve searched up numerous different itineraries and on different airlines—Milwaukee to Seattle, Appleton to Seattle via Chicago, Appleton to Seattle via Dallas. Minneapolis to Seattle - a friend from there even offered to drive me all the way to the Twin Cities. I looked at these in October, December, and now, and they’re the same price. Ultimately, from what I’ve discerned, flying into Seattle is just insanely expensive and I have to just suck it up.

 

[rm5]

Also, congrats on finishing your internship, @goldmac2006! It sounds like you enjoyed it, which I’m glad to hear!

How long was the program? Also, are you in college now, or grad school?

 

[goldmac2006]

Also, congrats on finishing your internship, @goldmac2006! It sounds like you enjoyed it, which I’m glad to hear!

How long was the program? Also, are you in college now, or grad school?

Thanks a lot, mate! I’m actually a second-year college student majoring in computer engineering. I heard you’re also a second-year college student, which is awesome! The program is a 6-10 month hybrid internship divided into three phases, or ‘Missions.’ Two of the missions are fully remote, while the last one is in-person. It’s specifically designed for 2-year college students, but incoming transfer university students are still welcome.

Completing each mission requires meeting deadlines, especially in the second phase, where you’ll attend department meetings and work for a week virtually. It’s actually only a semester-long internship because my university is affiliated with NASA and has a Space Grant from NASA that funds STEM programs and research projects for students. This is why the counselors and administrators at my school heavily promoted these programs, which is why I applied for the summer to winter program back in the spring. Unfortunately, the application for the holiday break program closed, but the next one that will start in the summer will start accepting new applications, apply here if you are eligible.

If your institution isn’t affiliated with NASA, they’ll relocate you to the nearest NASA station or a different university with affiliate programs. The company will cover all expenses for lodging, food, transportation, and accommodation.

For the last part of the internship, we had to travel to work. NASA will notify you of your status via email, and they’ll also contact you if you advance to the in-person part. Two buses took a few interns across the state, and two very kind chaperones/supervisors accompanied and drove us. They also treated our team with a BJ’s dinner 🥘 to close it out in a stop right on the bus ride home. I’ll miss my work family, but I’m glad I made the most of it, especially since the iPhone 15 Pro arrived just before I left. I put the camera to good use.

 

[rm5]

I am not even remotely involved in engineering circles, but this is very interesting! The college I attend (which calls itself a university, but is very much a small college) doesn't have an engineering program at all, and so I doubt it is NASA-affiliated. Being a 4-year college, I don't think it's eligible for the program you participated in, either. There are biology, chemistry, physics, and geoscience majors, and interdisciplinary majors such as environmental science, neuroscience, and biochemistry - and a few others I'm sure I'm forgetting. There is also a professional pre-health program. For a university of 1400 students though, I don't think they need to offer any more than that.

 

[goldmac2006]

I am not even remotely involved in engineering circles, but this is very interesting! The college I attend (which calls itself a university, but is very much a small college) doesn't have an engineering program at all, and so I doubt it is NASA-affiliated. Being a 4-year college, I don't think it's eligible for the program you participated in, either. There are biology, chemistry, physics, and geoscience majors, and interdisciplinary majors such as environmental science, neuroscience, and biochemistry - and a few others I'm sure I'm forgetting. There is also a professional pre-health program. For a university of 1400 students though, I don't think they need to offer any more than that.

Aw man, you’re out of luck. But there are other opportunities for you to get involved with NASA. You don’t even need to be a STEM major to join NASA. Even my manager in remote areas of my job is an economics major. Just read the qualifications for the position. The NASA STEM Gateway website has postings for undergraduate and graduate students. That’s the website where I submitted my application for recruitment. You can find hybrid, remote, and onsite jobs at a NASA station near you.

 

[rm5]

Aw man, you’re out of luck. But there are other opportunities for you to get involved with NASA. You don’t even need to be a STEM major to join NASA. Even my manager in remote areas of my job is an economics major. Just read the qualifications for the position. The NASA STEM Gateway website has postings for undergraduate and graduate students. That’s the website where I submitted my application for recruitment. You can find hybrid, remote, and onsite jobs at a NASA station near you.

I don't think these programs are a good fit for me, unfortunately, because I have no mathematical or scientific aptitude. I am all over positions involving music directly (teaching music, composing, arranging, performing in any music genre), audio engineering (recording, mixing, mastering any form of audio - could be music or dialogue, foley, etc.), video post-production, or any combination thereof. I am also all over positions where I can help people lay footing somewhere, and/or help them make an important decision. I've been lucky to hold positions in all of these areas.

Here's how I view the whole STEM side of things as a non-STEM person: Obviously, jobs in those fields are really good and can be very lucrative. But there are three problems:

1. You have to be really into it to be satisfied (this goes for anything, but the high pay in STEM specifically can attract people who might not be super into it and just do it for the money and prestige).
2. There are LOTS of people applying for, and getting, jobs and internships in STEM. Therefore, the market has become increasingly competitive.
3. What "everyone else does" does not have to be what I do. Also why I am not a business major. In fact, it is noteworthy that NONE of my family works in STEM.

I have just come to accept these things as reality because there is nothing that can make me good at STEM fields. Anyway, that's just how I see it. I'm sure others in this thread disagree on all three things, but this is my opinion.

 

[goldmac2006]

I don't think these programs are a good fit for me, unfortunately, because I have no mathematical or scientific aptitude. I am all over positions involving music directly (teaching music, composing, arranging, performing in any music genre), audio engineering (recording, mixing, mastering any form of audio - could be music or dialogue, foley, etc.), video post-production, or any combination thereof. I am also all over positions where I can help people lay footing somewhere, and/or help them make an important decision. I've been lucky to hold positions in all of these areas.

Here's how I view the whole STEM side of things as a non-STEM person: Obviously, jobs in those fields are really good and can be very lucrative. But there are three problems:

1. You have to be really into it to be satisfied (this goes for anything, but the high pay in STEM specifically can attract people who might not be super into it and just do it for the money and prestige).
2. There are LOTS of people applying for, and getting, jobs and internships in STEM. Therefore, the market has become increasingly competitive.
3. What "everyone else does" does not have to be what I do. Also why I am not a business major. In fact, it is noteworthy that NONE of my family works in STEM.

I have just come to accept these things as reality because there is nothing that can make me good at STEM fields. Anyway, that's just how I see it. I'm sure others in this thread disagree on all three things, but this is my opinion.

So you are a music industry major? Do you use GarageBand 🎸?

 

[rm5]

So you are a music industry major? Do you use GarageBand 🎸?

No. The program I am in is VERY unique, no other institution offers it to my knowledge. I am in a program that is 50% conservatory and 50% college. In this program, there is no "major." You're 50% music and 50% something else in the college. No one discipline takes precedence over the other. The college side can be literally ANY college major. Biology, philosophy, math, art history... anything. But it doesn’t have to be an official major from the list on the website. You can design your own second half in the college. The program is built completely around you. The hardcore degree requirements are few. There are maybe four things. Literally.

The focus of the music side is non-classical music. That is intentionally very vague. But... you can still study classical music to some degree. How much? That's also arbitrary. In the program, you can participate in any ensemble you want, in any musical tradition. The core theory class sequence is called Applied Musicianship. It is three trimesters long (one year), and it's "everything" theory. Jazz, rock, funk, country, songwriting, experimental/avant-garde, etc. The possibilities are open. Everyone comes in with a vastly different musical background. You apply what you learn to an instrument, so while in the regular Bachelor of Music degree, you do not play at all in your theory classes, in Applied Musicianship, that's the focus. A lot of multi-instrumentalists take Applied Musicianship, and so they play every genre on multiple instruments, making them very versatile. That's the goal.

Is your mind going in circles? Mine certainly was when I first found out about this program. It is very confusing. I'm just starting to figure it out in my second year. Usually degree requirements are confusing because there are so many and they're convoluted. It's confusing here because there are so few.

And yes, I have used GarageBand, but moved onto Logic and then Cubase. Started messing around with GarageBand when I was 5 or 6, Logic when I was 13, Cubase last year.

 

[goldmac2006]

Is your mind going in circles? Mine certainly was when I first found out about this program. It is very confusing. I'm just starting to figure it out in my second year. Usually degree requirements are confusing because there are so many and they're convoluted. It's confusing here because there are so few.

And yes, I have used GarageBand, but moved onto Logic and then Cubase. Started messing around with GarageBand when I was 5 or 6, Logic when I was 13, Cubase last year.

That’s quite interesting! Is it a private university? Even if you attend a university affiliated with a Christian denomination, they’d likely require you to take Bible study or theology classes as part of your general education. Just my two cents.

Which one do you use more often, Logic Pro or GarageBand? 🎸 I haven’t used an iPad in ages, so I only played around with these things when I attended a music-making workshop at a Today at Apple session at an Apple Store.

 

[rm5]

Which one do you use more often, Logic Pro or GarageBand? 🎸 I haven’t used an iPad in ages, so I only played around with these things when I attended a music-making workshop at a Today at Apple session at an Apple Store.

When I used it, Logic Pro. But now I'm working with Cubase, which is a completely different program. I have never used the iPad version of either GarageBand or Logic, because I find them very limiting and pretty useless for my needs.

 

[goldmac2006]

When I used it, Logic Pro. But now I'm working with Cubase, which is a completely different program. I have never used the iPad version of either GarageBand or Logic, because I find them very limiting and pretty useless for my needs.

More on the MBP to do your music and audio editing work, right? I know on iPad it’s hard to navigate on there too.

 

[rm5]

Or other computer, yes. Cubase is cross-platform between macOS and Windows which is one of the reasons I switched to it. Logic has also gotten extremely buggy over the years. To the point that some features are completely unusable because they just don't work due to bugs (modulation curves and articulation automation especially).

It strikes me that by releasing the iPad version of Logic (and Final Cut, too) that they're doing two things:

1. Trying to make the iPad a workstation-type machine, which it just isn't
2. Intentionally cutting functionality on the iPad version for absolutely no reason

For instance, the iPad version of Logic does not support external VST or AU plugins, as far as I'm aware. But I last checked over a year ago, so they may have updated it to include that, idk. Last I checked, Logic for iPad also has no orchestral instruments pre-loaded into it. Even if it now does have these things, I'm still not using it.

 

[The Clark]

Spent this weekend in Vancouver living the big city life. Was lots of fun, but now I must return home. I could have spent another week here easy. Such a lovely city.

 

[jedimasterkyle]

Spent this weekend in Vancouver living the big city life. Was lots of fun, but now I must return home. I could have spent another week here easy. Such a lovely city.

My wife and I visited Victoria Island as the last stop on our Alaska Cruise this past summer. We were only there for maybe 2 hours but I would have loved to explore it more. Such a different culture and vibe compared to what we're used to in the states. So clean and the people were so welcoming and friendly. I'm sure that's part of the "Cruise" experience but still...it was just so nice to see a city give a damn about it's citizens and it's citizens give a damn about the city.