The Medford Shooting Range
The Stony Brook Rifle Club has grown considerably since its inception last year. Tonight (Friday night) was the club's first trip to a shooting range this semester, and it drew a large and diverse crowd of Stony Brook students. In fact, there were so many people interested in going that there were two trips to accomodate everyone. The club was not publicly advertised other than by word-of-mouth, so the turnout for the range trip is amazing.
It was my first time handling and firing a rifle. I was nervous at first because I was inserting live ammunition into a gun clip; I was afraid that one of those cartridges could potentially go off in my hand. Fortunately, I was assisted the entire time. I was shown how to operate the .22 step by step, from inserting and removing the clip, to clearing and loading the chamber. I will admit that my first shot was pretty off. I compensated for the recoil by aiming slightly over to the right: the rest of the shots were consistently in the center from then on. The .22 was manageable and fun to shoot.
The 9mm on the other hand was an intimidating rifle. Nevertheless I gave it a try towards the end of the night, and it was quite an experience. The sound of each shot pierced through the ear protection I wore. The butt of the rifle also dug into my shoulder from the recoil. I don't have a paper target to show off my 9mm shots, but at least I didn't clip the wire overhead like someone before me. You know who you are. :-P
written at 6:53 AM on November 17, 2007
Major Gas Leak at Roosevelt Quad
Emergency Notification from SBU. A major gas leak occurred at the old Roosevelt Cafe in Roosevelt Quad. Fire officials are on scene checking buildings in the area. Police have traffic on Cirlce Road, West Drive and Roosevelt Drive diverted. Crews are on scene working to secure the leak. The EOC will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on the Emergency Management website at http://www.stonybrook.edu/sb/emergency/alerts.shtml
11/16/07; 9:00 a.m.
written at 9:45 AM on November 16, 2007
Finally did something about it
After attending the event at the SAC with Bobby and Jamie Deen, I went back to my room and googled "Stony Brook cable." The page Stony Brook Channel Listings is part of "Network Operations Center." I filled out the comments and suggestions form with the following:
The form didn't send when I pressed the submit button: internal server error. So I copypasta-ed the information into the complaints form, and that form didn't work either. I resorted to calling the DoIT phone number, and reported the broken forms. I also mentioned that Food Network should be added to the Stony Brook channels. The person who took my call told me that she talked with her supervisor and the response was something along the lines of "the Food Network was not provided with the package" and "your suggestion will be considered."
Right now, the comments/suggestions form works: http://tesla.noc.sunysb.edu/comments.shtml. If you're a Stony Brook student and you want the Food Network on the Stony Brook campus, comment there.
written at 7:55 PM on November 14, 2007
Bobby and Jamie Deen at Stony Brook University
Jamie and Bobby Deen, hosts of the Food Network food and travel show Road Tasted, came to Stony Brook University today for a cooking demo and Q&A. Stephanie and I were fortunate enough to get aisle seats on the side because the SAC auditorium was quite crowded by the time we got there. After adjusting my camera for indoor lighting and higher resoluations, I took photos and video clips of the event.
After giving a lengthy introduction, they demonstrated how to make marinated chicken wings with an avocado dip, as well as "Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding." Samples were handed out and when I first bit into the chicken wing, I was pleasantly surprised at the hint of lime; I overlooked the ingredients for the recipes, provided on the back of the flyer. The banana pudding with homemade whipped cream was orgasmic. I coerced Stephanie into asking my question: We don't have the Food Network on the Stony Brook campus. Can you help put in a good word for us getting the Food Network?
That point was bound to be brought up and it sparked a lot of conversation afterwards.
When the event ended, Stephanie joined the line for their book-signing. Here's a photo of Stephanie with Bobby and Jamie Deen:
written at 6:46 PM on November 14, 2007
For next Halloween
Better late than never: my next costume for Halloween will be a life-sized RSS icon: 
. Just how does a life-sized RSS icon look like? Take a look at this:
My first and last time dressing up for Halloween was a traumatizing experience in elementary school: I was dressed as a bunny, and my mom had sewn a "tail" on my behind that looked like a large erection in the wrong direction. I held back tears of shame the entire day. Since then, I haven't worn a costume, or enjoyed Halloween the way most of my peers have. I hope that I'll be able to wear my costume on October 31, 2008 like a badge of honor, and not a freudian slip.
written at 1:25 AM on November 9, 2007
Google Maps is using old images
I can safely say that Google Maps is using old satellite imagery for most of New York, if not all over the United States, and beyond. How do I know this? I first noticed that something was up when I was implementing a Google Maps API for the Cardozo College website. The image of the building was blurred; this obvious clue was not wasted on my web designer's senses [paying strict attention to every detail]. As I looked deeper into the matter, I noticed that the roads in Stony Brook bared incorrect/old names, and that the recently added traffic circle was not shown. Tabler and West Apts I were one of the few areas in Stony Brook that had crisp lines, i.e. not blurred. Then it hit me: West Apts II was shown as still under construction. The images are old. I remember my sister talking about another set of West Apartment buildings being built in her junior/senior year at Stony Brook. Therefore, I can estimate that the satellite images for Stony Brook were taken around 2003 or 2004.
After filling out a form to Google Maps (for incorrect map data), I used Google Maps to center on my neighborhood. I would say that this particular satellite coverage was taken during a weekday (possibly Monday or Tuesday) between 10:00 AM and late noon during the late spring of 2003. Of course I may be wrong, but it's a very accurate guess. I could tell the time-frame using the junior high school across the street from me: There are cars in the parking lot (teachers'), but the schoolbuses are not in front of the school yet. Late spring? The trees are dark green, and schools are apparently in session. Guessing which day of the week would be harder, but during 2003 and 2004, my parents both had off from work on those two particular weekdays. Both of their cars are parked outside, reaffirming the time frame. Then how would I know the exact year then? Besides the fact that my parents owned a late model silver Honda Accord until the year 2004 or so, I scrolled over to the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station. One look at the subway station told it all: It was undergoing renovation and the W was the only platform still standing. These are good memories.
written at 3:20 AM on November 6, 2007
Confessions of a hungry student
There comes a point in my usually productive Mondays when there's a lull and I start craving for gourmet food. I live for food. I appreciate all kinds of dishes and meals. What I love most about food is making it myself. There's no other kind of hard work that I would enjoy more than cooking. Unfortunately, I don't go to Stony Brook for culinary arts. We don't even have the FOOD Network on our Stony Brook provided cable. What is up with that? I'm going to go around Stony Brook University raising awareness about our lack-of-FOOD-network situation. Hopefully I will peak the interests of food-savvy individuals, and have a sizeable number of followers in getting FOOD for our campus.
written at 7:25 PM on November 5, 2007
Stony Brook is not safe
This is just one of three E-mails that have been sent out to Stony Brook students in the past two weeks. Here is a list of attacks that occurred at Stony Brook since two Mondays ago:
- October 22, 2007: A female student jogging on presumably Circle Road, is accosted by a male attacker. She was able to fight him off and call the police.
- That same day, a girl returned to her unlocked room in Roosevelt to find a male stranger inside, who attempted "unwanted touching."
- October 30, 2007 at about 9:15 PM, a guy was robbed at knifepoint in Roth quad, as described in the screenshot I took.
The Chief of university police gave vague descriptions of the male attackers who accosted the female students. He also failed to describe the attacker's race in either incident, which surprised me. The possible suspect could be anyone really. And a large percentage of male Stony Brook students of any race could fit the description.
I'm concerned for Stephanie. I'll try to walk her home as often as possible, and have her attend one of those self-defense programs that my Hall Council was pushing for. I would be interested in going myself, to see what they could teach at one of these programs.
written at 2:52 AM on November 1, 2007