The Topic of Great Randomness

[Kathy Li]

Eric, that's an example of a theory that just won't hold up in practice. Not only do you have to get the fans, you have to POWER them. In the middle of inaccessible desert country with no roads...probably not gonna happen. And even if you do line them up, what makes you think you can then force the direction of the sparks?

We're talking 70mph hurricane-force winds here (at the start). Put two fans facing each other, then throw flour into the space in between, and see if you can keep it from scattering far and wide or going all to one side ... In fact, the coastal wind, while helping keep the fire away from me, is actually causing problems for the firefighters.

The reason the fire spreads is because of sparks borne on the wind, and because there's dry dead grass EVERYWHERE from the summer/fall drought. Wherever a spark lands, a flame can start. More wind, in more directions scatters the sparks over a LARGER area, not a smaller one. In the news footage I saw, sparks were flying horizontally for hundreds of feet on the wind. The Interstate 15 is a 10-lane wide strip of concrete. In these types of conditions, the fire can hop right on over the I-15.

And the fires are over miles--entire hills, entire ridges, entire canyons and plains.

Cal Fire knows what it's doing. It's had a ton of experience. As I said--this is far from our first fire storm. Two of the best weapons we actually have in this situation are bulldozers and controlled burns to create firebreaks. Although the very best weapons we've got are the firefighters themselves and their collected bravery and experience. The most severe injury so far were burns sustained by a firefighter--they had to put her in an induced coma.

Nature's power is not easily overcome.

BTW, for those unfamiliar with Southern California distances, between where it says "San Diego" and where it says "Los Angeles", that's a distance of over 100 miles.

This is satellite imagery from NASA's earthobservatory site. Our fires can be seen from space.

[Rhi]

Wow, I had no idea the fires were so BIG. That is a_lot of smoke...well, the nice thing about fires is that they eventually burn out, right? The only question is, when they will burn out and how much stuff they'll burn up before they spend themselves out...take care of yourself, Kathy!

In regards to my little guy issue...I feel like such a complete idiot; when I asked N to go to the party with me, I told him it was Friday because I just automatically assumed that was the day. Um, yeah, next time I am DEFINITELY looking at a calendar; the 27th is a Saturday *slaps forehead* He seemed real cool about it, though, and in fact he said Saturday was a better day for him anyways, so I guess that all worked out pretty good...I am so nervous and excited all at once; I've had butterflies in my stomach for 5 days straight (hmm, does anybody know what causes that? physically, I mean?) I'm so scared that I'll make a complete fool of myself, or that I'll say something stupid, or that I won't have anything to say at all, or all of the above and more. Why does love have to be so confusing?! Heck, why does life have to be so confusing? *sinks into dramatic slump* Okay, I'll stop being such a drama queen....I've just never been on a date before, or anything closely resembling a date, and I have no idea...but now I'm rambling.

[Emi]

Rhi, I don't have much experience in that matter, but I can tell you to just be yourself. Chat with a few friends when you get there, and then start talking to your guy. I don't know if that works or not... like I said, I've never been in that situation before. On the topic of butterflies in the stomach this should help... It sounds resonable.

Kathy, that just astonishes me that you could see the smoke from the satellite!! It's insane that's what it is.

Well, I only have three more classes of Driver Ed left, and I'm pretty stoked. I can't wait til I get my license. Even though I probably won't be able to go to the mall or anything, it'll still be a lot of fun to be able to go somewhere on my own. Wal-Mart is going to be my second home... Ha ha! (That's the farthest I can go.)

We're learning about WWI in American Studies 2 this week, and how it was an "avoidable war" for the United States. It's pretty interesting actually. The only thing that got us rallied was a letter to Mexico from Germany that was intercepted by the British, saying that Germany will help Mexico take back some of the land we took from them. IF Germany wins the war. No wait they said WHEN Germany wins the war. That was what started our engines! My class is pretty funny because we go from one topic (in the past) and then go to another topic that is happening now, and we just debate about it! It's so much fun. I love debating...

I'm rambling, I have to stop rambling! Nano starts in six days or so. I'm super excited.

Well that's all. Dai.

[EricG1793]

Kathy: Yes, the issue with GETTING that many fans is the biggest. In terms of power, that's no problem; they're usually gasoline powered, anyway, I am pretty sure. Or at least, when they had a hot air balloon take a couple winning students up from the soccer field at my school, the fan was gas powered (they did the whole setting up process as the whole school watched).

Rhi, just be yourself. Just as Emi said. I have not had experience with guys either (for obvious reasons, HINT, I am one! ) but just be yourself. Imagine you acting totally different and then you started liking each other with you being that way, and eventually he finds out that that's not really the kind of person you are.... The key is to be yourself. Hope this (somewhat) helps you....

[Rhi]

Thanks guys. And that article definitely describes what's going on with me right now, so thanks especially Emi I think I can feel my confidence increasing a bit; I talked to N this morning and I wasn't as nervous as I have been (and I remembered to smile, which probably helped ) so maybe this will work out *hopes so very desperately* I guess I just have to remember that he's human, not the perfect persona I've been imagining for so long (crushes are_annoying that way, you make up a whole personality for somebody then you have to actually get to know them) Oh, and I felt like such an idiot yesterday, I misread the invitation to the party and thought that the party was on Friday, not Saturday, so I had to call N and 'fess up, but he said that Saturday was a better day anyways, so maybe this is going all right after all...

[seabiscuit1009]

So. It's 2:30. On a Friday. And I've been home since 1:00. Today's been kind of a surreal day. Bad. I get to school this morning, and there's this humongous line of people standing outside the doors. After finding some friends, I learn that they're searching everyone's bag-literally everyone's. Apparently, because of some complicated circumstances involving a student at school who's body is rejecting a heart transplant, his friends got into a fight defending his "honor" and the people they fought with threatened to bring a gun to school. None of us knew about that, so we're all confused all day. I didn't do anything at school all day (while I was there) since teachers didn't want to do anything, and there weren't enough people there to do anything with. My mom called my sister and I off, because she got worried. So now I'm sitting around, a bit worried, but also annoyed that I stayed at school as long as I did! Seriously, everyone just left or got called off. The school was like a ghost town, and all of my classes were so empty. We have over 2000 kids in school. I don't know how they expected to search everyone (they did bag searches, body searches, and if you had an instrument, they searched your case too.) It's...nuts. Surreal. All I keep thinking is "how is this happening at MY school?!"

Urgh...and I was supposed to go to this football game between the school my dad teaches at and their rivals-it's the game of the year around here. However, my friend who I was going to go with learned that she's got to babysit during the game, and all the rest of my friends are busy. So...I don't have anyone to go with, which makes me mad, since getting tickets is really hard! (even if your dad works at the school.)

Basically, today stunk. I really can't think of anything good; I'd have said my lunch was good, but the person who searched my backpack smashed it, and all my food got messed up-my apple was all bruised, my sandwich mashed, chips crushed. It's...today is ridiculous. The team I want to win the football game had better win, or else this day will have officially become the worst day yet this school year. Sorry this is so depressing...it's just really hard, since no one's online, or picking up their phones, and I need to talk about it somewhere!

[Emi]

Well I'm sorry your day stunk. Hopefully it'll be better next week.

The only scare I've had at my school was a bomb one back when I was in second grade. We all thought it was a fire drill, until we kept on walking to the towns buildings. It was fun though, my friend (at the time) and I were singing kareoke!! Haha..

So, today was "DECA DAY" in my marketing class, and we got to play this Quiz Bowl game. It's part of the competition in DECA. My team won, because I like practically memorized all the questions trying to cram them into my teammates heads. It's cool though, because we get to have like a free shirt from our school store . Last year my teams would win every time... Not bragging I swear. But that was probably the highlight of my day. Besides the fact I learned that we have a combined class project and a midterm (English and American Studies) next week. That's just a double ick for me. Plus I also have an English project to start on too, but that's not due til December.

Well I'm off to write to Kevin Smith, to see if he can do an informational interview with me (English project). Wish me luck!

Dai

[EricG1793]

I've had a few scares at my school.... Once in the middle of last year someone pulled the fire alarm when there wasn't a fire. Yeah, yeah, I'm sure it's happened more than a few times at all your high schools, but it's the first time in my middle school I'd ever seen that happen.

Once there was a bomb threat at the high school- and after the bus picks up us middle school kids, we pick up the high schoolers. The afternoon of the day the bomb threat was targeted, my bus driver was pretty scared because of it.... She was driving the bus really fast, nearly making me sick, and was getting everyone off as soon as possible. She sighed a breath of relief every time a high schooler got off. Everything was fine, though. You should see her when there's a bee in the bus, though; she's allergic to them. She throws her flyswatter to someone and yells, "Kill it! KILL IT!" and they're scrambling on the bus while it's moving.

And one other thing, but I really don't want to mention it here because it'd be pretty easy to trace the even to here (I think, but better safe than sorry, right?).

Well, moving on from school scare events... there was a dance this evening at my school. My mom drove me to it, played piano for something (I forget for what) and then it would work out perfectly for her to pick me up, too. Her boss said she'd be out by five on nine to pick me up (at nine). Well, she didn't get out until quarter after nine, because they started late. I was the last one to go. The principal, my Reading teacher last year, and my homeroom teacher this year were all waiting with me. My reading teacher left, as she was staring at her car and the principal said she could just go. Then the principal got bored and went to help the clean up of the cafeteria. It was then my homeroom teacher and I. I had given my cell phone to my mom, since she had forgotten hers at home. She had my cell phone, I had none. I couldn't call her. My teacher gave me hers, and she said call my cell phone, call home, call my dad's cell phone, and no answer. She just laughed after I said no answer at home and she said, "Well, that probably means they forgot about you and they're running out the door now to come." Then my mom called back, and my teacher answered it, and she was apologizing, and my teacher was fine; she was cheerful, actually, and in no rush, since my leaving was the only thing separating her from going back to her classroom and grading a stack of papers, so the more delay the better, I guess, in her case. But the dance itself was pretty good; a lot of people dressed up in costumes and it was really neat to look at that. My friend dressed up in his Darth Vader outfit. I simply said, "I... really shouldn't even try to look scary; if I tried to look scary, it'd scare everyone to death because I'm already scary enough." Just kidding.

Well, I'm going to bed and continuing the process of reading HP book 7. 'Night, all!

[Mel]

Hungry, I'm really sorry that happened. It's so.....scary! And I know what you mean about it happening at _your_ school. I think we all feel that way, until something happens.....it's really, really scary, and school shouldn't be that way. And I feel like it's been getting worse, hasn't it? Like, school used to be a safe place to be, a place to learn and be happy and what have you. Now kids hate school, they don't feel safe, bad things are happening.
I've been blessed enough to go to a school where very very few things have happened. My school is very tiny, so that everything gets out at some point. Apparently last year there was this girl who was thinking about committing suicide, and it got out and there was this whole thing with all the Seniors and the principal where they just sat down and talked for a long time, and they showed her again why life is worth living, and she's okay now. There was also something with drugs, and they her off them too. I mean, but that's the worst I've heard at my school.

But I'm really sorry, Hungry. I'll keep 'em in my prayers for you.


In other news.....it's been interesting. There was this whole thing with me old best friends that I'm still not too sure about, and then there was one of the most terrible weeks of my life scheduling wise (think lots of tests + instruments + all day play practices, and when I mean all day I mean until 9 PM). Oh, and the plays started. We've had four so far, and there are three left, one being tonight. It's actually really fun. We're doing the Sound of Music. I <3 the Sound of Music. It's such a great play with great music and everything you could think of in it that's worth loving. I'm quite sad I couldn't be in the actual play (I was forced into the Pit), but it's okay. I admit, we have an insanely good voice teacher. He's.....absolutely amazing. I have to get a voice clip of our chorale as proof. Anyway, he worked with the nuns, and they are magnificent at singing, it makes me so peaceful, just listening to their gentle, joyful voices. And the candles and everything...just beautiful.

I'm just glad I wasn't in the play 'cause I'd be a nun and I'd set something (myself!) on fire accidentally with the candle...

Speaking of fires....Kathy, please be careful out there! We all love you a whole lot and don't want you to get hurt...


hmm... what else... Ah, haha, I'm rereading Anne of Green Gables. And it's wonderful, as Anne would say, I've found a "bosom friend" who I know will be true to me, and I think will be a friend of mine for a long time. I hope so, anyway.

That's all I can recall right now, except that I'm still looking for a date to my winter dance I found this one guy I like in the play: He plays Rolf, and he's a freshman with an amazing and deeeep voice, he's really good looking, and most girls are crazy about him. And he looks older, by the way. He just doesn't know who I am. *sigh* wonderful. And it'll be hard to find a way to talk to him 'cause all the girls are _crazy_ about him, and I overheard him complaining about how crazy they are (which, though it sounds conceited, it absolutely true, they're a bit insane, to be honest). So...it'll be interesting. Any suggestions?

Hm... and what now, for Halloween?

*sigh*

Well, I'm outta here. I've got some homework, and then off to the play.

*hugs*

Mel

[Rhi]

And it'll be hard to find a way to talk to him 'cause all the girls are _crazy_ about him, and I overheard him complaining about how crazy they are (which, though it sounds conceited, it absolutely true, they're a bit insane, to be honest). So...it'll be interesting. Any suggestions?

I guess just be as direct as possible without being insane like the other girls, he'll probably like that...of course, I don't know what I think I'm doing giving guy advice; my "date" (if it can even be called that) was, um, pretty much a_total_disaster. I thought that liking the guy would be enough. Yeah right. We_didn't_talk. At_all. Okay, I'm exaggerating, but we barely talked and most of the time at the party it was "so, what do you want to do?" "I don't know, what do you want to do"...oh, and we played pool. I really stink at pool I think N talked more to his friends than to me, and I was the one who asked him, but then again I wasn't exactly the most extroverted myself last night, so it's just as much my fault as his. *sighs* When we dropped him off at his house, he said "thanks for the ride", shook my hand, and walked off. Yeah, somehow I'm not thinking that we exactly clicked...It's so frustrating, I've liked him for so long and I really wanted this to work out, but it didn't. Or maybe he's just shy or something (which might make sense). I guess I'll wait and see if he calls me...why is love so confusing?!!!!

[Emi]

Aww Rhi I was really pulling for you!! I'm sorry the "date" party didn't work out. Who knows, maybe he'll call.

I drove to the beach today, trying to get most of my hours done to get my license by the end of this week. I got like three hours today!! Only ten more to go! Pretty excited. I also got to see one of my friends that moved today because I stopped off in her town on the way back. She doesn't live that far from the beach so that was really cool. I missed her so it was nice seeing her.

Oh and I happened to hurt my shoulder some how in my sleep. I think I was doing something that required dangling in my dream, and it must have triggered something in my brain that I am hurt. Not sure how I managed that, but it really started to hurt when I drove. Hope it's nothing serious....

Dai

[magicalmike]

Has young reader gone a whole day without posting this. Wow. News on the inheritance trilogy. The third book will be released on september 23rd 2008. *SPOILERS* And it will end in the death of a main charicter.*END SPOILERS* Also there has been a confermed fourth book.

So yr why haven't you posted this. So Halloween today. We didn't get a single trick-or-treater. That means i get all the candy to myself. Nano starts tomorow, so i guess i wont be on for a while. I need to sleep now, but sugar is rushing through my viens.

[Kathy Li]

What I did last night.



Because Neil Gaiman asked for them for Dave McKean. But apparently enough people volunteered so that these guys won't be going to FedEx.

[magicalmike]

I realy dont want this to be a one liner but Kathy when Niel Gaiman asks people do.
I love that guy.
Augh so short of a post. Why have the forums died? So i have tried to start unlurking but its like a ghost town.

Look alla TUMBLEWEEDS!!!

*sigh* i miss the old days

[Lazy Leopard]

Those are impressive origami! Are they single-sheet or multi-sheet models?

I used to have a favourite paper tiger model I'd make in idle moments (and as good-luck cards), but it was a two-sheet model and wasn't too good at staying together unless the paper was just right.