I should have learned by now,

When computers run slowly, it's usually for *some* reason:




















Such as huge freaking dust bunnies of doom preventing my cpu fan from spinning. No fan -> hot cpu -> slow cpu -> not good times. Removing dust solves the problem!

Apartments, California-style

I'm in the middle of apartment hunting for a place to live in the South Bay Area, California. I hadn't realized how hard it was to look for housing across the country until I began a few weeks ago! I can tell just from the different places I've called and looked at online that my options will vary from psychotic, liberally worded classifieds postings to excessively persistent and eager professional apartment complexes. And did I mention bears? Oh my!

Ideally, I'd like to find a nice 2-3 bedroom place that is within easy biking distance of work. I will be getting a car when I move, because, my new location, like my surburban home town, has nothing of use within walking distance. However, after the beautiful summer I spent in south bay last year, I think biking to work is pretty much the greatest thing ever. I would like a "nice" place to live, where I don't have to worry about the kitchen exploding or the walls falling down, but I don't want to spend too much on a fancy business executive suite either. Housing should be cheap! I can only imagine this market is supported by our good, old friend, Supply and Demand.

Once I've found a place, a 2-3 bedroom within biking distance (c'mon...c'mon...), I will breathe a huge sigh of relief -- because I can finish planning the rest of my summer and buy a few remaining plane tickets!

A "few", you ask? More details to come...

Lessig goes after corruption

http://www.lessig.org/blog/archives/003800.shtml#003800

In an interesting turn of events, Lawrence Lessig, IP academic-extraordinaire, has announced he is switching his research focus from IP to the (more general) problem of systemic corruption. This will be interesting to follow...

The 161-step program

Cornell-withdrawal? Not quite yet, since I'm still in Ithaca. Spending my last days here with Joowon, Neil and my other friends before I head out to California -- the golden shore. If you're still in Ithaca, say hi!

I have two main activities that should be consuming my time:
(1) a research project with two awesome grad students and an equally awesome professor

(2) a housing search with Neil (we're looking at the South Bay Area)

But, as always, Ithaca summers have their own effect...


- Night-time group get-togethers (made even better by long-time friends)
- BBQ's
- Exercising outdoors
- Catching up on all the entertainment (read: video games and movies) I've missed

I always thought graduating and leaving home for good would be hard -- as hard as moving to college four years ago, or harder -- like leaving one life behind and starting fresh. But I'm realizing that, instead, I'm excited. It's time to get busy, make a difference and shake things up. It's time to prepare for a future in product management, cyberlaw, or better yet --- time to let my interests guide an open mind.

I have great friends around me, here in Ithaca and this coming year in California. I wonder why I'm not nostalgic, and I think it has to do with the connections I've made here. For all of us, moving on to bigger and better things shouldn't be a 161-step program. Great memories and great friends going forward.


-matt

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Over the next few weeks, I'll:
(1) work on my research project
(2) identify housing options
(3) say goodbye to Joowon