One small step for the computer lab, and a small step for the users as well

FINALLY, the AA computer lab has banned students from rendering during the day in the computer lab. While I am greatly relieved that we will again be able to use the computers in the lab, I still have my complaints about the printers.

rendering
"In computer graphics, rendering is the process of generating the pixels of an image from a high-level description of the image's components. Rendering is important in both 2D and 3D computer graphics. " (thank you wikipedia)
"The process of creating life-like images on a screen using mathematical models and formulas to add shading, color, and lamination to a 2D or 3D wireframe."
(thank you www.directron.com/videoglossary.html)

This process takes HOURS AND HOURS. The process of converting to the slickest-looking, hi-fi image takes FOREVER and requires so much power that people often end up using up to 3 computers (don't ask me about the technical details) for one image. The programs they use for this probably wouldn't even open on my computer, or at least I certainly wouldn't get very far.

Anyway, this is more-or-less interesting, depending on how many computers are not in use for me to print my simple measly word document or pdf. Often, the rendering process would render about 5 computers out of service as well, rendering me infinitely frustrated.

Well, as I've nearly completed all the things for which I'll need to use the computer lab for a long while, it matters not to me.

Silly Signs

A review of silly signs I've encountered recently:
In Berlin, in an airport, on the innards of a jet engine:


At least you can still smoke.

If this is a 4-star rated toilet....


You are not part of the scenic experience.

SillyFor reasons of procrastination

For reasons of procrastination, a short list of silly things from the past few weeks:

• I bought these headphones in Spain that had a super cool coil action thingy, so that the cord was rolled up automatically, preventing that terrible moment when i pull them out of my purse along with all the other things they've gotten tangled up with: odd pieces of paper, keys, pens, etc. Other than the cool spring action, I bought them because they were cheap, like 6 euros. But, of course, the spring action kept getting the wires all tangled inside the containment contraption, (a smaller-scale version of the same problem that happened in my purse), and, of course, I pulled too hard and the spring action broke. hooray. At least the sound still works, but the cord continues to get mixed up with keys, etc. boo.


• Note: I think this was the first time I ever bought fresh fish on my own.
  I went to this fresh fish shop the other day (what is that called? a place that sells meat is a butcher shop...), and got overly excited by their bargains. I got 2 bags of snapper for 5 pounds! What a deal!! When I arrived home, I realized that, silly me, I didn't notice that the fish were neither gutted nor scaled. hmm.
  Since I have no problem with gross things, I gutted the fish myself. Very exciting, though I'm sure my flatmates were less than pleased :) First time! So, of course, I cut my hand because I had no idea what I was doing. Not badly, but I kept hoping someone would ask my what had happened to my hand so I could tell them that I was gutting fish. So weird. Unfortunatly, I never got that opportunity and the wound is healing.
  As for the scaling, I just baked the fish and took off the skin. Scaling in the kitchen is a little too much... also because I'm not so keen on cleaning up a kitchen scattered with fish scales, though I don't mind the counter covered in innards.

Somewhat-subject-related photo from this cool seafood restaurant in Barcelona, where you choose your own fresh seafood, which is then cooked immediately. Not only great because you can see that your meal has not been previously frozen and is fresh and maybe still alive moments before you eat it, but also important when your Spanish is really bad, so you can still be somewhat confident of what it is you have ordered.

p.s. I apologize for my lack of... ability to think of the right words. I've been writing all day and my brain is tired.
p.p.s. I am not actually an idiot, and if anyone recounts these events to me in order to poke fun, I will vehemently deny their occurence. Please, these are a few events out of my otherwise brilliant existence, small slip-ups from my mind-like-a-steel-trap. Please.