It still works!

Well, I bit the bullet today and went out and purchased a new HD for my laptop, then installed it myself. The way I figured it, I couldn't screw the computer up much more than it was already. I was just sick of reinstalling OS X every few weeks or so when my old HD ceased functioning. I went over to Birmingham to CompUSA at the Galleria complex and bought an 80GB for $70 (after rebates). I was never able to run tests on it since to run tests on the HD, you can't boot from it, so a gentleman at CompUSA ran a test for me and said it was bad, then went and found a HD for me to purchase (there's a "B" story here about another store associate not knowing what he was talking about, but I pressed on). Got it back home, and opened my computer up to install the new HD. Booted it up and it worked fine (just needed an OS on it). I purchased 10.4.6 while I was at CompUSA so I did that too and now I am back and ready for the world. Here are a few pictures from the "surgery": The first, the pulled off components (sans the screws, they're sitting on a paper guide), then my new HD, The second, the open computer with the old HD still in it and the tools of the trade, The third, same as the second basically but with the old HD removed, the fourth is the computer rebooting and preparing to install OS 10.4.6--this is the first sign that I didn't completely destroy the hardware.

You asked for it (and by "you", I mean Kelly)

Since Kelly specifically requested it a few weeks back, I am going to post copies of my two (now officially completed) non-thesis papers for all who want to observe them. Everyone is of course welcome to view them--not just Kelly.

The First Paper:
Urban Transportation Problems in the Third World: A Study Abroad Experience in Ghana, West Africa.

The Second Paper:
A GIS Based Network Analysis of Fire Station Service Areas in Boise, ID; Des Moines, IA; Mobile, AL; and Richmond, VA.
Plus associated maps and appendix.

I had to create a separate file for the maps in the second paper because trying to include them in the paper file caused their quality to decrease significantly. The maps may not show up properly on your computer as they may well require a specific font set to be able to be viewed which in all likelyhood is not available on your computer (to be fair, unless your computer has ESRI software, it likely won't have the proper fonts). I think I found a workaround to that this morning in the export process, but until I can get to some computer without ESRI fonts, I won't know (such as my laptop, desktop, etc.). All the computers as school and work have ESRI software so I can't tell here.

"Enjoy"!

Simplify, simplify, simplify...

Second (first in order of completion) non-thesis paper is now 99% done...

Changes needed for final copy:

1. Simplify the title
2. Move abstract to another page
3. Create title page (which I'll have to do for the other paper too I suppose).

He also suggested I think about getting it published in a Geography journal. He said it wasn't up to publication standards yet, but with some minor changes, it could easily be published. It probably won't be published in something like Annals of the AAG or the Journal of Transport Geography, but it'll be published nonetheless--those are my words, not his. Dr. Seth isn't the first to suggest publication...Dr. Greg Gaston who chairs the Geography Dept. at UNA (and chaired the geography section of the Alabama Academy of Science) suggested it too. We'll see. Now I just have to get several copies of each paper printed up. One copy of each paper for each reader (subtotal: 4), one copy of each for my file (subtotal: 2), and one copy of each for my own edification (subtotal: 2). So at roughly 70 pages between the two papers, that totals somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 pieces of paper to give their all for my research--not to mention countless hundreds of other pieces of paper "wasted" on drafts.

The much anticipated "downhill slope" is officially here!

Nearly on the downhill slope

Not only is it less than two months away now...
Not only do I have my cap and gown (and master's hood)...

My non-thesis papers are rapidly ending in terms of my work on them.

I got my second paper back from the second reader today in my graduate student box. On it was written: "No substantial changes. Solid non-thesis paper. Please give me a final copy of this and your other paper for your file. Dr. Richetto." It was |___| <---that close to having a gold star, or a smiley face on it I suppose. My first paper is still technically in the second reader's hands, but I talked with Dr. Seth today about it briefly (and by that I mean about thirty seconds--he was getting ready for a class today). He asked me to drop by between 10:00 and noon tomorrow to talk about it. He said it was good, but wanted to sit down with me and discuss it rather than just hand it back with no input--that's his style anyway.

So it appears my two years of graduate school really is about to end, and with great haste at that. The major hurdles have been cleared. After I got done with my comprehensive exams in September, people asked me if I was on the downhill slope. I replied that I wasn't, that it more plateaued rather than getting any rougher and that would have to wait until I got through with my papers. One paper is officially done, and the other is almost there--and hopefully will be so between 10:00 and Noon tomorrow.

If I'm not on the downhill slope now, I certainly can see the edge of the plateau.

(once I get the final papers "in my file", I'll post copies for all to enjoy. Kenny Gilbert Guarantee: "My papers are a cure for insomnia, or your money back!")

Job Search Update

Ahoy all...

Here are job search details as of midnight on 3/13-3/14:

Applied (by locale as known, in order of application):
Knoxville, TN; Charleston, SC; National Park Service; Huntsville, AL; Daytona Beach, FL; Guilford Co., NC (JUST finished this application).

Heard back from:
Huntsville, AL (scheduled phone interview).

Prospects:
Right now, just a job in Hanover Co., VA, but more do pop up daily.

Get in touch with me if you want more details. I'm talking around Farrah Hall to see if any professor knows of other jobs in Alabama. Meeting with a (full) professor some time next week who is an AICP member, and lives in Birmingham--used to teach at UAB...now is at the main campus. He should have a perspective of Birmingham area jobs.