I did 4 events today, Using the Web, Physics Lab, Road Scholars, and Practical Data Gathering, back to back. I guess things went as expected. I didn't familiarize myself with the rules for Using the Web enough, and so the vague way they presented the task totally confused me, and I think I bombed the event. Physics Lab I could have learned basic Optics a lot better the night before, but owell, it wasn't a total disaster, but nothing significant. Road Scholars is the usual, Ryan and I got 2nd in the state, and I did Practical Data Gathering with Ryan too and we got a Gold 1st in the state for that one. So basically, I used my 9th grade training for events this year (Practical Data is essentially the same event as What Are You Trying To Tell Me, and I got national medals for both of those in 9th grade). That's actually pretty funny.
Team-wise, the 3 big KC teams annihlated us. They've probably been working on Science Olympiad since the beginning of the year, those 3 teams are totally working to try to secure one of the 2 spots to go to Nationals, I'm sure the heat has been on for them quite early. So we got 4th, and that's very satisfactory.
It was really really windy today, and they had to cancel Bottle Rockets, in the fear that too many of them will land on the roof of buildings. It's a shame, cause we brought 2 seniors along with us just for that event, and they worked on it Friday night till 2:00, only to get a canceled event. That kinda stinks.
So this is my last Science Olympiad competition. It's so sad! I love Science Olympiad so much, even though it's a minimal effort now, versus being basically my entire life in 9th grade...
Friday, 6th of April, 2001
Thursday, 5th of April, 2001
They had this old computer lying in their basement they don't want, so they let me have it. It's a Micron Home PC Pro P-150, but it's totally loaded. 32 MB RAM, 6X Teac CD-ROM (exact same one that I already have), a Diamond Stealth 3D 2000 4MB, a Voodoo 1 (yeah, old school), EIDE, an ISA SupraExpress 28.8 modem, a Linksys 10/100 PCI NIC, SB16-clone (Vibra 16S chip?), a MiniDV input card (don't know how good it is, it's ISA), a 1.5GB and a 2GB HDD. Wow, this is a very useful machine to me!
Wednesday, 4th of April, 2001
Well, at least one person I know got accepted to Stanford University, found out today. Wow, that's awesome!
Tuesday, 3rd of April, 2001
Monday, 2nd of April, 2001
When Audi calls the Audi TT's AWD system "Quattro", it's actually a totally different system than the other Audis, because of the transverse-mounted engine. The transverse-mount system is not technically an AWD system, it powers the front wheels first, basically making it a FWD car, until tyres start slipping at the front, and then it diverts some power back. So the normal bias is like 100%/0% Front/Rear, I guess. That's annoying, they shouldn't confuse the definition of Quattro like that. The Audi TT is not a Quattro at all! On the other hand, Car and Driver last month said the 4MOTION on the Passat is the same as the Quattro on the A4 Avant. From what I can see, it appears to be the same, yet in Europe, they have AWD systems on cars such as the Golf, which have a transverse mount, "4MOTION", but obviously they use a different system. I think I have everything straight in my head now. And of course, Audi is so cool by mounting everything from their I4 to their V8 engines longitudinally. Except for the S3/A3, but that's not sold here in the U.S. yet. So Audi is still cool on my AWD list, while I'm going to have to ban the TT.
Sunday, 1st of April, 2001