T minus 40 hours

Well faithful readers, the countdown has begun for the MCAT. I have been tapering the studying this week, much like a marathoner. I just want this stupid thing to be done so I can get back to actually studying for my classes. I've been hit hard by Ochem quizzes this term which I haven't really spent any time studying for. Same goes for genetics which is tough tough tough. I feel pretty ready, at least ready enough to get a 29-31 which would be enough for me. I will return and bring you word when the great test is done.
-g

I test the body electric

Well my transcendental journey is complete. I have evolved from a historian liberal arts type into a scientist. If, that is, you extrapolate my personality from my MCAT scores, as I justifiably do. The reason for my conclusion, specious though it is, is that I just scored 11 on the physical sciences while scoring 9 on verbal reasoning. Bravo Physical sciences! Down With Rhetoric!!!
test question for you MCAT junkies out there: If the body electric radiates heat at 500 W, and a current of 14 A is flowing through the body, then what maximal potential difference exists on the plates of a parallell plate capacitor assuming an alternating current?


answer: This was a trick question!!! BWahahahaha! the MCAT only tests DC circuits.
Correlary Test question: Assuming DC then, what is the potential difference?

Solution: P=IV, so V=P/I we have then: V=500/14 =37 V (approx).

Ohm's law has also enabled us to transcend both physics and literature, because we can now figure out what kind of resistance the ol' transcendenatlist (how many times can i work that word into this blog entry?) Walt Whitman was talking about when he "Sang the Body Electric".
Solution: V=IR, so R=V/I and you can do the math yourself.

El Grande Turd del muerte

Well spring break was great, I just studied for teh MCAT and biked most of the time. Kennie and Margie, my in-laws, came into town for the weekend. I have been cramming for the MCAT most of the time. Today I took my first full lenght practice exam, with mixed results. I got an aggregate score of 28, V10, B9, P9 . The P9 was encouragin, but I need to step it up in the Bio department. The verbal component is freaking hard! I thought with my history background in reading difficult things that it would be no problem. perhaps it would have been two years ago when I was in the habit of reading academic prose rather than textbooks. This term brings me to my penultimate coursework at UO. I'm in Micro BIo, Micro lab, Ochem, and Molecular genetics. Genetics seems like it's going to be a big pain in the fundament. The teacher seems to be singularly unenthused about her material. Always an encouraging sign on the first day of class. And, my favorite, we were let out 30 minutes early. HELLO!!! I am paying to come to this so you can teach me genetics!!! May I have some tuition money back please? I just got an email back from a professor telling me we could meet to discuss working in his research group !!! YAY. THe last of my extracurriculars to get done!

By the skin of my teeth

Well, dearest reader,
You have no doubt waited on tenterhooks for the latest installment in George's moderately interesting life. Finals week ended on friday with the Ochem final. I haven't gotten the paper exam back yet, but it went pretty well. 30 hours of studying paid off. The ol' grades have come in and the forecast is good. A term average of 3.89! yay. Still trying to drag up those grades from freshman and sophomore year. I have just spent the last several hours trying to prep for the MCAT, which is in a scant 3 weeks. I took a practice PHysical sciences section, and it went well. The challenging thing to remember is all teh relationships that I have learned along the way. I feel pretty upbeat about the whole applications process. well i think the library is closing, so I will have to wrap up.
-g

The Emerald Strikes Again!

In yet another bout of journalistic intolerance and polemic pulchritude, the Oregon Daily Emerald has really outshone itself today. On the ever imbecilic editorial page the author spouted her plagiairized ideas. Should we expect less of the emerald? NO! Drawing heavily on John Krakauer's "Under the Banner of Heaven", his anti-religious soapbox, she asserts that "Joseph Smith could certainly be termed mentally ill for his belief in this personal connection with God, " Nice. For a publication that spends inordinate amounts of space extolling the need for tolerance and diversity, this statement demonstrates how truly at odds the writers of the Emerald are with their espoused values. Fortunatly, having served a two year mission, I know that regardless of what some pea-brained bigot with a newspaper column may have to say, the work with go forth unimpeded. Thank you Emerald for perking both my day and my ire!

for those of you who wish to read her tripe and the poorly concieved arguments couched therein can go to:

http://www.dailyemerald.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/03/13/4415342949518