I went to my R training session, got breakfast with Shiva, worked on the coal spreadsheet, met with Amber about wrapping up the coal project, got my hair cut, continued work on the spreadsheet, went to the department happy hour briefly, ate dinner, continued working on the spreadsheet yet again, checked my e-mail, did some admin, shortly I'll go to a party, and later I'll try to read a little in The Swamp.
It was good to start my weekend with discipline. Normally a let things slide on Friday, but I was on point today. I'm really pushing to be able to take off Sunday, which means that I need to get a lot done tomorrow. I think it'll be possible.

I've been jumping into a lot of new software lately, and I think my tolerance for uncertainty and mess is rapidly rising, which is good. In the last week or two I've used Illustrator, Indesign, Rhino, Endnote, and R all for the first time, happily with good results. I'm starting to care less about getting things perfect right up front, an attitude that I've struggled with for a long time and one that inhibits learning.

I've been neglecting the blog. Here's an update:

This morning I ran into two people from Australia outside of our inn, and we all had breakfast together. Later Runo and I went to Ginkaku-Ji Temple, Tetsugaku-no-michi, and Kinkaku-Ji temple. After dinner (donburi) I went to an Onsen and met a local guy from Kyoto. Afterward I met up with Runo again and went back to the inn.
The temples were beautiful--it's amazing how much effort they invest into keeping the grounds. I saw an employee lightly scraping the branches of a bush with a wire brush. If you had to do that for every branch of every tree there, it would take you weeks. They had a team of guys working the grounds.
The first one was elegant and enjoyable to see. They were both set against the mountains, and the paths started up the inclines but stopped, gesturing to the woods beyond. The second location was just as beautiful and more ethereal--it looked like a solid gold pagoda floating on a lake. The only problem was that it was packed with people, literally, hundreds of tourists taking pictures constantly and kids screaming in the background. It limited the serenity of the experience.
Tetsugaku-no-michi (philosophers path) was incredible, and there weren't any tourists there. It's a trail next to a river which is set in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Even in the winter it was gorgeous; I can't imagine how beautiful it would look in the spring, summer, or fall. It was easily one of the most beautiful places I've ever been, and again, this was during the ugliest time of the year. Growing up near there would provide such a rich source of imagination.
For dinner we went to this random café near the onsen and both got donburi. Mine was with avocado, tomato, and egg. It was one of the better things I've had here.
The best part of the day was the onsen. There were indoor baths, which were cool, but the better area was outside, with the rocks and trees rising up next to the tubs. A cascade of fresh water fell off the rocks into the cold pool, and people were drinking it, so I joined in, and it was super refreshing.

Prior days: since it's been so long since I've posted, I have a lot to summarize and I might repeat myself from earlier since I can't remember what I've said and what I haven't said:

* They have these things here called "manga kissa", which is a version of an internet café. The set up is mind-blowing. You buy a ticket at the vending machine for the amount of time you want (Japanese love vending machines), and then you select the type of booth you want. There are some with recliners, some with cots, but they all have computers. Then you are invited to get a drink (they're free and unlimited, and by drink I mean coffee, tea, or soft-drink), and then they show you to your booth. It's sort of like a cubicle with a really comfortable chair and in a peaceful environment. Outside the cubicle are rows upon rows of manga. The only sounds are the clacking of keys from neighboring cubicles and the boiling of water, which you can use for instant ramen. There's even a shower there. Apparently people use them as hotels all the time. So basically it's a combination of a hotel, library, newsstand, and coffee shop all at the same time.

* I went out for karaoke with my classmates and the crew from Sekisui house in Tokyo, and we had a blast. It was sort of awkward at first, but Kuzu started us off with the theme from Totoro, then the drinks came, and it just got better and better. It seemed like we were there for at least 2 hours singing. Afterward we hung out at the hotel, and people that shall not be named got a little out of hand, including ties on heads and crazy back rubs.

* The last night in Tokyo was one of the best nights I've had in a long time. Everyone, including some people from prof. Shun's Venice trip, went to a restaurant in Shibuya, ate several rounds of appetizer-type food, and enjoyed unlimited drinks for 2 hours. Right before the cut-off our table wanted to get more sake, so we put in another order with the waitress. She asked how many we wanted, thinking we'd say 1, maybe 2, and someone shouted out 5, and they actually brought it, so hell yeah. I had some fried prawn and anchovies in addition to the normal meal. They were good, but as with all the fish I've had on this trip, I won't feel deprived when I go back to total vegetarianism. After we were done, we took cabs back to Akasaka, went to another bar, and then headed home. That night I invited many people to Philadelphia, including our cab driver.

* I finally got to go to Akihabara after dreaming of that place since middle school. It was cool, but if it weren't for its sentimental status, it wouldn't be a big deal. One of the weirder things there was this 5 story building entirely dedicated to manga, but 2 of the 5 were for "womens' manga", and another 1 of the 5 was for a "cosplay kissa". Womens' manga was like a cartoon porno version of the trashy romance novels they sell in grocery stores, and the cosplay kissa was a café where the waitresses dress up like animé characters, which in our case meant girls in French maid outfits and cat ears. It was kind of weird. Unfortunately they wouldn't let us take pictures, and Kazu told me people have been arrested for taking voyeur-style pictures there.

* I learned about tanuki, one of the top 5 coolest things about Japan. They are forest creatures that are a cross between a raccoon and a dog. In myth, the males can enlarge their testicles to fill a room the size of 8 tatami mats and crush its victims. Classical Japanese art also depicts tanukis sleeping on their balls and bashing people with them. Another ability they supposedly have is the ability to turn into humans. Speaking about their balls again, they are said to be made of gold, and businesses often have tanuki statues outside the entrance (and yes, the statues have giant balls on them). Aside from the myths, they actually exist in real life and there's a Youtube video with some random guy that tried to domesticate one.

* The studio started out well and apparently the people from Sekisui House were pleased, so thumbs up all around. We basically did site visits and mini-studios capped by a mid-review and a final review. I'm psyched to get back and continue working on it.

* We got to go to the Sekisui House office in Tokyo, and it was pretty insane. Corporate hierarchy is rigid and formality is strict. Decisions take a long time to be made, and most things are accompanied by symbolic rituals. There was one really old guy, who seemed like a high ranking member of the company, that just sat around cracking up during the meeting. He was awesome. We each gave an introduction and had it translated, and he'd laugh both during the English part and for the Japanese translation. After the presentations and introductions, they had a lovely reception for us in a building that looked like a British mansion. The food was top notch and the company was great. The laughing elder was present and in fine form. He told me a long story in broken English, and at one point he stopped abruptly to laugh wildly, followed by an equally abrupt departure. I kind of wish I was that guy.

* The Shinkansen was cool, though getting from Akasaka to the train platform involved long subway tunnel walks, confusing transfers, and just a generally confusing experience. The countryside between Tokyo and Kyoto is lush and dramatic. We passed mountains (including Mt. Fuji), the ocean, fields, and towns. Backpacking this country in the summer with some knowledge of the language would be such a treat.

* Kyoto seems cool so far. Right off the bat we got lost near the inn, and the hospitality people showed us was amazing. We asked a random guy where the inn was, and even though he didn't know, he said he'd walk with us until we found it. He took us into a residential area and asked this lady getting on her bike. She said she didn't know and rolled away. Next he asked this old lady, and she stood there trying to think of whether or not she'd heard of it. Then, the lady on the bike came back and said she had just found it and gave us directions over there. Next, the original guy walked us over there, and we finally found it. The amazing thing was that everyone in the neighborhood came out and seemed so eager to help us.

* Urban design/architecture wise, Kyoto is interesting. Compared to Tokyo, the buildings are smaller, the streets are smaller, and it's mostly dark, even on the main streets. At first it comes off as looking dingy and anti-climatic. But then, you start to notice these brilliant interior spaces in the blocks and in random spots, and the whole thing comes alive. The philosophers walk was amazingly beautiful, as were the temples. The people are very accommodating and friendly, and the food and culture seems excellent. Overall, so far, I'm just as impressed with Kyoto as I am with Tokyo.

I had breakfast with Buck, Pam, and Morgan, went to the studio, got bento boxes for lunch, visited Tama, went back, got off at Chofu with Eirini and Kristal, walked with them all over the place including Shinjuku, Harajuku, and Shiboya, and then came back home.
Japan is invigorating. Tokyo on the whole feels tremendously modern, efficient, sanitary, safe, and tidy. Even the homeless, who are seemingly rare and out of sight, live in perfectly maintained boxes with a hole cut out carefully for them to get in and out. They had their clothes stacked neatly beside the box, and they were sitting in the box eating noodles with chopsticks. People walk around with facemasks, both because of concern for getting sick and also out of respect for others if they themselves are already sick.
Presentation is a really big deal. Even small things, like candies, are wrapped and labeled with colorful graphics. This morning I got a sandwich, which came in a cardboard stand, wrapped meticulously in plastic, placed in an attractive bag, and then sealed with a sticker. The environmentalist in me cringes, but another part of me is pleased by these demonstrations of aesthetic sensibility.
Transactions, even small ones, are treated as special. Hostesses bow and thank you when you pay at a restaurant.
Visually, the cityscape is bright and intense, especially Shinjuku and Shiboya. Stores are overwhelming and bright, almost blindingly so. We went into some insane department stores that were 4, 5, or 6 stories high, seemingly had everything, and were overloaded with visuals and cheery.
I played Pachinko in one parlor and some random arcade games elsewhere. The locals kicked my ass on both games, though I'm out of the loop on that stuff, so whatever. It's true about manga--it's extremely common.
Food-wise, my bento at lunch had shrimp, and it was delicious. I got a random happy apple drink from one of the countless vending machines, and it was pretty good. For dinner we went to one of the conveyer belt restaurants and got sushi a la carte. I've wanted to go to one of those for years, and it was a dream to finally make it happen. It's a brilliant concept, because as the food passes, you both get to see it before committing to ordering it, and you also feel like you already have ordered it if you're tempted (i.e., you'll be more inclined to just snatch it if it's in front of you, so it makes sense from a business point of view).
There seems to be significant efforts to create private conditions in public spaces. For example, on the subway, people put in headphones and close their eyes. Few people speak, other than us loud, barbaric Americans. Also, in this bar we went to, each table had a booth that was separated by screens and curtains. You could hear other people but not really see them.

First day in Japan, and it's pretty awesome so far. The airport and transit systems are clean and efficient. I appreciate that. The ride from Narita to Tokyo was interesting. It seemed like a slowly densifying sprawl as we approached Tokyo, without a center and without any sense of overall composition. In one sense the scene was depressing. There was metal, concrete, grey skies, and very little greenery. Despite this, it strangely felt inviting or comfortable to me.
In the city proper, the strands and textures stacked so tightly together makes for a mind-blowing experience. There are nooks and crannies everywhere, stacked every which way, and the buildings switch styles dramatically. There are alleys galore, and restaurants and shops that open out onto the street. It looks like it would be impossible to eat at every restaurant during one's life, even if you never left Tokyo and ate at a different place every night.
Once I checked in, I walked over to the presentation from our client. I get super lost while I was heading over, and it just got worse when I tried to take the subway to save time. It's like taking the information load of being a student at MIT and splashing that all over the physical world in a blinding spectacle of LCDs, signs, crazy graphics, etc. and it makes it hard to get a handle on what's going on. I think I paid way too much for my subway ride, but whatever.
The meeting went well and the project is interesting. Our hosts brought out snacks and Japanese beer after we finished, and we talked and sat around for a while. Later I ate some sushi at a random hole in the wall, and it was quite good. I decided that I'll eat fish while I'm here, just as I did that one time in Baltimore.

It snowed briefly last night, but then it switched to rain. Shame...I'm eager to see my first snowstorm of the season.
Today I did work and handled administrative tasks. Based on Shiva's recommendation, I tried the spicy basil noodle dish at Thai Café, and it was actually really good! I had tried something else there before and it sucked, but this one is a winner.
I continued my workout streak. Three days doesn't seem like a lot, but at the end of last semester I was probably working out once a week, if that, so if I can keep this up, it'll be great.
I installed Office 2008 after getting fed up with little bugs that seem to be all over OpenOffice. I like the interface, and so far I haven't noticed any problems. I'm doing a lot of spreadsheet work for my research, and OO kept causing problems, so I'm hoping this will be better.
I'm wondering about whether I should generally try to acquire music in digital or physical form from this point forward. Pros of digital: cheaper, quicker to acquire, nothing to lug around when you move, and better for the environment / pros of CDs: beautiful physical object, decoration for a room. My pros for CDs might sound weak, but I think they're important. I enjoy entering a room with a robust and varied CD collection on a shelf. It's a pleasure to physically scan the labels, pull one out, admire the book, read liner notes, and hold an actual object in your hands. I want to get Arvo Part's Tabula Rasa album, but I don't know which format to get it in. Thoughts?

I continued research today, spending the morning writing a report for a conference call later in the day. The call itself went well and I have a good sense of where I'm going with the work over the next few days. Later I worked out, and in general, I followed a healthy routine.
While walking home, I asked Shiva a question that I had been pondering in my research, and we talked about it for the duration of the walk, which was maybe 15 minutes. By the end, a solution had emerged from the conversation. The amazing thing is how powerful even a few minutes of focused dialogue about a topic can be. Of course, St. John's demonstrated this to me repeatedly, but it's easy to forget at MIT. It seems we get inundated with information and have to respond relatively quickly to it and produce some output. Contemplation is an activity that is non-existent on a day-to-day basis. This is a serious problem and one that I will try to address this semester by pacing myself better and trying to zone out distractions. Sometimes sitting and "staring" at a problem, metaphorically speaking, causes a solution to present itself, but it takes time, and at first the problem may seem impossible.
Along these lines, I reinstated my habit of listening to electronica while doing sustained, productive mental work. I got into this while I was doing architecture, and it's a great way to zone out and evoke a mood ideal for intellectual activity. Oooo, but just now I switched over to Arvo Part and it is lovely...

I worked on research today, exercised, got coffee with Shiva, and had a conference call. The pleasure of drinking coffee has been greater than normal lately, and my hypothesis is that I am enjoying it more because I am rested and mentally restored, so I already feel good, and I can feel the positive effects of coffee without the noise of fatigue, pain, or other distractions/distortions. Anyway, it has been a pleasure to have a cup over the last few days.
The work is going well, and I'm moving ahead at a nice pace. It's fulfilling to work on one project in a sustained way over a long period of time. I'm also learning a lot about coal, economics, chemistry, energy in general, ecology, and human health. It's a win-win all around.
Among my strategies to maintain a higher level of health for the semester is the strategy of reading and dealing with all new e-mails on a daily basis. At the end of the day my new mail tally should be zero. I seem to average 20-40 per day and the count quickly spirals out of control if I let it slip.
I worried that I might have a hard time working out with the snow on the ground, but it was actually easier than in Media, where the ground is frozen but there's no snow. The reason is that the snow provides some padding, like grass, which allows me to do Samson Stretches (an exercise that requires kneeling and placing weight on the knees).
I read an interesting article from the Boston Globe about psychological studies on cities vs nature. It claimed that urban stimuli are detrimental to the ability to focus and control oneself, while nature restores this capacity. Parks apparently mitigate this effect, and the best parks in this regard are the ones with the most biodiversity. It's interesting to me that urban diversity dulls the mind while biological diversity stimulates the mind. Maybe the researchers are on to something, but I find that the impact of urban phenomena on me depends on the nature of the phenomena and the design of the systems and context in which it happens.
For example, as an anecdote, once I was walking over the Market Street bridge toward Center City in Philadelphia, and to my left I saw a Regional Rail elevated beyond JFK boulevard, a USX freight train passing under the bridge next to the Schuylkill Banks Trail, a plane flying overhead, cars flowing all around me, pedestrians walking in both directions on both sides of the bridge, and a skateboarder skating on a metal curb lip. Above all this was the glimmering lights of the city sky scrapers, to my sides were the lit stone and metal bridges over the river, and below was the river itself, shimmering in the lights and quaking in the wind. This scene struck me as so marvelous with all of its motion, complexity, and to me, sublimity, that I was inspired, felt invigorated, and set my mind to work when I got home. To be fair, the study seems to admit that although they think urban environments dull certain aspects of the brain, they have a superior claim on spurring innovation and creativity through the same diversity and intermingling of people.

I came back today--I took Amtrak to get back up here. It was tough leaving as always, but I'm ready to get started again. The train ride itself was pleasant. I worked on my research for the duration of the trip. There are a few things I notice on that train ride that are striking: 1) the modernist high rise housing right before you leave the boundaries of NYC, on Erskine Place in the Bronx. They're so classic. They could be the textbook entry for American Modernist High-Rise Housing. 2) Norwalk and New London CT. I love old port/industrial cities like that, with the brick factories, narrow streets, and waterfront areas. 3) the building which I assume is the city hall for Providence. It's amazing--that building alone made me ponder what it would be like to live in Providence.
Of course, go Eagles! That was great. Later I did laundry, unpacked, and went grocery shopping. I talked to Drew, who I haven't talked to in a while. It was nice to get caught up and cool to hear he might be in the area soon.

I got up early without much hesitation, got ready, ate a nutritious breakfast, and started working on my coal research. I went until 12:45, at which point I stopped to nap. Up until then, I had been fighting sleep, despite already having had a cup of coffee. On the one hand, I felt like it would be a waste of time to continue to struggle with tiredness and that it would be better to nap ASAP and then get back into my work refreshed; on the other hand, I wondered if I'd actually be able to keep my nap short and get back out of bed. I decided to nap, and I was not able to get back out of bed when my alarm went off. I think this experience settles my personal debate about naps: I should avoid them at all costs unless it's an absolute emergency, like those times during the semester when I basically had to choose between literally passing out, or taking a controlled nap in the library. In general, I'm going to push through the best that I can (for whatever reason, I don't handle naps well. I feel horrible if I wake up before my body wants to, and I've tried the 20-30 minute thing, and it doesn't work).
Despite that, I still got my planned 10 hours of work complete, worked out, checked my e-mails, and made my budget for the coming month. The workout was tough, but my body handled it surprisingly well. It was cold though...Anyway, the work was productive and it felt good to focus and be industrious again. I think I've allowed myself adequate rest time for the vacation, so now I can start again, and make sure to maintain a sustainable routine so I don't burn out again.

Today I had breakfast with my dad, got a haircut, bought some toiletries, got SEPTA tokens from PNC, bought groceries at TJ's, watched À Bout de Souffle, sent some e-mails, did some Christmas shopping, checked e-mail, ate dinner, and went for a work-out.
Doing all of the above was a pleasure today, as I didn't feel compelled by tight deadlines. It's odd--I really did accomplish a lot, but it seemed like a day off in comparison to what I'm used to. The movie was excellent. The first time I watched it I thought it sucked, but I really liked it this time around. Also, with my e-mails, I got back down to zero unread e-mails for the first time since October. It's such a relief to have finally gotten to the end of them.
Tomorrow I'm going to order a present, do some French, maybe deal with some BS with Sprint, and possibly mess around with GIS. Ben is coming up tomorrow night, and earlier I might hang out with Bjorn. It should be a sweet day.

There were a couple of things that happened yesterday that were so nice that they deserve mention. First, Shiva and I went to Fugakyu in Brookline for dinner. The place had a hilarious interior--it was colorful and almost looked like Japanese Disney Land. Some diners had private rooms with sliding doors covered with translucent material. The food was excellent, and it was the first incredible meal I've had so far in Massachusetts.
Later I had a lovely moment where I was doing paperwork at my desk, listening to Rachmaninoff, having a little bit of brandy, and outside my window it started snowing. It was perfect.
Today I left Cambridge in the morning, spent most of the day on the train, got dinner with my dad at the Indian place in Media, and came home and unpacked. The train is definitely the most pleasant option between plane, train, or bus. I read the latest issue of Philadelphia magazine, which was quite good. They managed to make yet another article about cheesesteaks interesting and relevant beyond food--nice job.
Tomorrow, and during the whole break in general, my primary goal is to relax. This means sleep, reading, eating, and hanging out. However, there are a few things I need to do. Tomorrow I want to get a haircut, pick up some groceries and toiletries, use my Amazon gift cards possibly to get some people gifts, and write to some people in Kyoto about possibly meeting up with a design/planning student there. I'm going to be in Kyoto for a few days after Tokyo, and I think it would be cool to meet someone there and have them show me some interesting stuff and make a new friend.

Depending on how you look at it, Rollins may have been right about 100 wins. If you include the post season, I think the Phillies have won 102 games. Now let's see one more and I'll party like it's 1999.

I spent today working on my mid-term, hanging out with Shiva, meeting her sister, and discussing readings in my Gateway recitation group. My focus is on one goal tomorrow: finishing the Gateway mid-term.

I'd like to try to do this again. Documentation, reflection, and planning are all important activities.
I had Gateway this morning, did some work, went for a bike ride, had cake that Shiva brought me, watched the Phillies win game 1 of the World Series, and did some reading for tomorrow. I really appreciate all the birthday wishes that I got today, so thank you for anyone included in that group reading this.
The main focus of the next few days will be the Gateway take home mid-term. I have Econ and EPP tomorrow before lunch. Tomorrow afternoon I plan to work on the final GIS project in CRON, although I may spend most of that time reading about the LEED-ND indicators. I'm not going to stress too much about that until after the Gateway project is over.
I'm going to see if I can move my research work and meeting until early next week, again, for the same reason that everything else is being de-emphasized. One non-school task I would like to accomplish tomorrow is to set up proctoring at the local Kaplan center. Tomorrow night is another Phillies game, and since this is the World Series, I'll be watching again.

Today was registration, which was pretty straightforward. In a surprising twist, registration was actually simpler here than at SJC--the one and probably only time MIT will be less complex as an institution. I over-loaded up front to "shop" classes, as the upperclassmen recommended, but I'm sure I'll be down to a normal schedule very soon.
Later in the day I went to a Civil Engineering BBQ. I'm not sure I was supposed to be there, but it was great, because I got to meet people whose work has some overlap with what I'm interested in. I met some professors (some of whom teach in DUSP), and it was overall a great event.

I went and had dinner with two Johnnies tonight, as well as a group of their friends, and it was very nice. They were mostly from a lab that I think is called the Comparative Media Lab, and in reality I think they're mainly studying video games. Hearing their talk made me think I picked the wrong field. They spend lab time playing video games, watching movies, and reading comics, and then doing studies on their impacts on society. It seems there's a lab for most anything here.
Creating lists and things of that nature to manage my time seems silly right now. I know what I need to do--basically, complete my next assignment--so I'm trying to adapt my system to the situation that I'm in. Plus, the reviews and evaluations take tons of time, and it's not as if there's that much room for creative decision making here.
My room is starting to come together. I wish I could have had a week to work on just this aspect of moving in. Tomorrow is registration, and after that, things will be insane, so I hope that I don't still have boxes sitting around my room in November.

The time is going by quickly. I attended a math review for the econ class, continued setting things up, went to a computer workshop, completed the IT assignment, set up some software stuff, and worked my way through a back-log of e-mails.
I really enjoyed the math this morning, though I was probably one of few. It made me realize how much I miss the math we did at SJC and how sweet it was to be in a place where everyone was pumped about math. Of course, I could walk one building over and find more than enough people at this institution fitting that profile, but still, they're not in planning. Regardless, it was sweet, and a little logarithms and calculus made for a sweet morning.
The computer workshop was also cool. I feel like I'm learning an immense volume of things while I'm here, which I guess is the point.
Tomorrow I'm going to let myself sleep in a bit, do grocery shopping, work out the budget transition from the summer to the academic year, start ordering text books, work on MORE admin (I know, it must sound like I'm making things up at this point, but there's so much involved her), and then maybe hang out in the evening.
I applied to 3 research positions so far (I can't remember if I posted about that). I should know the results from those applications by next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Network failed at my apartment, which threw my schedule into chaos. I'm just wrapping up an application for another RA position (the third I've applied to). They all sound great, two of them have incredible compensation, and the third still has really good compensation. It would be amazing to get any of them. We'll see--updates forthcoming.
Being social again is fun. So many people, and everyone seems really cool. We had a big dinner tonight with all the grad students.

Today was a bunch more orientation. I got to meet some more people, and SCC hosted a dinner for us which was really nice. So far this week I've increased my push-up and pull-up reps in my work-outs to a higher amount than normal, and it's seems fine, which is great. Tomorrow I'm going to do cardio, and for that exercise, I plan to bike around Cambridge to get a better idea of the layout of my neighborhood.
Tomorrow is a lot more orientation. Hopefully I can get my loans more under control admin-wise, plus I want to call about a research opportunity, get my credit union log-in problem fixed, mail in some rebate forms, and set up the utilities in my name. Fun fun fun.