escargonaut

Thanksgiving

2009-11-06T16:59:57Z

We'll be hosting a large-ish Thanksgiving dinner at Graham St. this year. If you're in Pittsburgh and would like to join us, please consider yourself invited (and let me know if you'll be coming).

escargonaut @ 2009-10-14T07:55:00

2009-10-14T12:56:33Z

The plenary talk about to start is titled "Insect-Machine Hybrid System".

Wug

2009-08-11T22:56:04Z

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/11/science/11naming.html?em

escargonaut @ 2009-06-12T15:08:00

2009-06-12T19:09:38Z

Played hooky this morning to go to a big farm stand/garden shop. It felt like Idlewild and other places I grew up around. Sadly, the strawberry crop was small this year, so the advertised pick-your-own wasn't happening, but there were strawberries and ice cream on waffles, a petting zoo, and friends to convince me that it was the right opportunity to start a windowsill herb garden.

Hey San Francisco People

2009-06-06T22:51:33Z

On my departure from Seattle, I'll be in your wonderful city from the afternoon of Saturday, July 4 through the afternoon of Wednesday, July 8. I don't have anything solid on my dance card yet, and so am actively seeking suggestions (and a sense of who'll be around so I can make sure to see everyone :-) )

Hey Seattle People

2009-06-06T22:39:16Z

I will be attending a conference in your fine city from June 28 to July 1, and then staying through the morning of July 4. I know I'll be seeing some of you at the VNV concert, but there should be more adventures (or oven-chars, as is your preference). lakmiseiru and I are getting tickets for the Friday, July 3 8pm Underground/Underworld tour (the uncensored version of the tour, http://www.undergroundtour.com/underworld/index.html). You should join us.

Other adventuring suggestions are highly encouraged.

Roommate Search

2009-03-31T16:48:21Z

With my housemates leaving the country or getting married, I've got two rooms open in my house:

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/roo/1100645172.html

Research

2009-03-17T01:06:23Z

I'm giving a seminar talk (with cookies!) on Wednesday at 4:30 in NSH 1507. It's on my thesis research, which offers a new perspective on how locomotion works and points out that coordinate choice really does matter. I'm shooting for the main flow of the talk to be understandable at a basic (engineering) vector calculus level, with bonus insights if you've seen some differential geometry.

Gilbert and Sullivan trip

2009-02-03T00:19:17Z

I'm planning to go see the Pittsburgh Savoyards production of Iolanthe next month. Anyone interested in coming along?

My work loves me

2009-01-12T21:13:14Z

Thanksgiving

2008-11-28T15:14:07Z

My housemate Greg and I hosted a Thanksgiving dinner, for work-friends from the lab and hospital.

From right to left, onion cornbread, sweet potato (contributed by a guest), turkey, rosemary-chive red potatoes, crisped green beans, stuffing, and onions in cheddar-cream sauce.

Thanksgiving in Pittsburgh

2008-11-22T16:30:31Z

I'm figuring out food for Thanksgiving. If you'd care to join us (or are still deciding), please let me know so I can update my estimates of necessary foodage.

In DC

2008-09-24T16:29:46Z

Got to DC last night, having left Pittsburgh by bike Friday at noon. Pictures and stories to follow.

Accepted for publication

2008-07-01T12:29:49Z

Just got the acceptance letter for my conference paper. I'll be in Arizona in October.

Housing

2008-04-02T15:08:35Z

Keeping the word out that I'm in the market for a new place to live. Key features are onsite laundry, bike storage, and grocery store proximity. I'm very happy in Friendship, but would consider Bloomfield, Squirrel Hill, or Point Breeze as well.

If we found a big place, one of my current housemates is looking partly in conjunction with me.

Housing

2008-03-05T02:36:52Z

I just learned that my landlords are starting a family, and are planning to renovate the house into a one-family. This means that I'm looking for new housing in July. Anyone else looking?

Key features I'm interested in are laundry in the building, and either some kind of garage space or a basement at or close to ground level. I'm fairly partial to the Friendship/Bloomfield region, but that's negotiable.

What'd be really awesome is if I could round up a few people to try the warehouse/loft thing, with lots of project/common space...

Snake Robots

2008-03-05T02:00:21Z

My lab's snake robots have a YouTube video:
http://digg.com/gadgets/Modular_Snake_Robot_Compilation_Video

Anyone around Cambridge on the 21st?

2007-12-19T20:25:33Z

I'll be getting into Logan on Friday morning, and I'm strongly considering hanging out in Cambridge or the surrounds for the day before heading out to family in the suburbs. Anyone going to be around then, and free?

Bike ride

2007-05-14T02:57:48Z

First (loaded) century of the season complete. 100.something miles, centered on the Montour trail.

Stickers

2006-10-30T04:42:23Z

I'm looking to sticker up my winter/lockup bike to make it look less new than it is. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find any bumper stickers up to the caliber of those at Pandemonium. Anyone in BosCamberVille want to send me a selection? I'll pay for one or two for you, or buy you lunch next time I'm in town.

escargonaut @ 2006-10-26T17:03:00

2006-10-26T21:05:52Z

As I started leading recitation today, I got asked "Do you really have a Jaguar, and if so, does it run anymore?" Apparently, my advisor has been horribly misinforming the students as to the provenance of the mechanical parts he shows them during lecture.

Quals

2006-09-28T14:39:51Z

I passed :-)

Quals are finished

2006-09-27T15:09:35Z

Now back to the grind.

Bicycle Camping Trip

2006-09-15T19:47:38Z

I'm organizing a bicycle camping trip to Moraine State Park and McConnell's Mill, to happen at the CMU midsemester break (October 20-22). We'll bike up on Friday morning, stay two nights at the park and ride back down on Sunday. On Saturday, there are a number of interesting sites around the parks, all within short bike rides of each other.

If you're interested in joining the trip, drop me a line, and let me know what kind of bicycle and camping equipment you have and whether you'd be more interested in tent camping (we should be able to secure tents for those that need them) or renting a cabin at the park.

The Friday and Sunday rides will be about 40-50 miles at an easy pace (this should be manageable for most people who ride a bike with some regularity; If you're concerned about this, let me know).

I have two bikes suitable for making the trip, so I can lend one out if needed.

Musical Happiness

2006-09-13T02:18:22Z

I got the Where's Neil? CD and the new Cruxshadows single this week. So much shininess.

I don't really know enough of Gaimen's work to get all the connections, but the songs are solid in their own right. Rasputina's offering is a nice mix of their signature style and newer stuff. TSN is good fun, as always. I love the hook on Tapping the Vein's song based on "The Day I Traded My Dad for Two Goldfish" and the whole feel of Joachim Witt's "Vandemar".

The Cruxshadows single isn't anything especially new, but eminently listenable/danceable (hooray for big rooms :-) )