Finals Ahh

The finals they are kicking my butt. I accidentally deleted my entire solidsworks project by destroying my USB right when I was just about done with everything. I actually shed a few tears when that happened.

For MAE 200: Statics, The teacher decided to assign two homeworks and two quizzes sunday night, the week of finals week, as well as a 2 hour take home final that I am allowed to take 4 times. The homework usually takes me 10 hours each no matter what. The quizzes are 3 attempts at an hour each. The next week is going to be a work life balance challenge.

Here is what my last week looks like as I race to the end of the semester

Take Back the Night Protestors Attacked (or) Why I do not feel safe on campus

source

There was a Take Back the Night Event at SDSU on November 21st. A protest group of approximately 35 mostly female students held neon signs to protest 7 reports of sexual assaults so far this semester alone. They were meet with with so much hostility its unreal. Male Frat students waved dildos and screamed obscenities at the protestors. Several potentially unassociated driverbys threw eggs out their windows from the street. One of the female protestors reported feeling scared.

What were those frat boys thinking?
(more...)

A+?

I just learned about Blackboard's "My Grade" feature. I am getting >97% in both of my classes! It looks like I am keeping up pretty good so far for all extensive purposes even though I feel like I have been falling behind.

The metric I've been using for "falling behind" is the 2 hour/lecture hour rule of thumb I heard during undergrad. I shortened it a little and promised myself that I would study 2 hours for every lecture period (even though the lectures are an hour and a half). By that metric, I am exactly 4 hours behind on studying.

I am really happy with my performance so far. It looks like I am balancing work and school quite nicely, and I'll be in a good position walking into both of my finals. If I can get an A in the course, I'll be well on my way to applying to a Ph.D program in 4 years. 

Hope after all

Class : Statics
What I learned today: nothing -- Midterm day

Other Notes: I think there is a chance I could get an A in my statics class! I took a midterm today and got the previous one back. I did well, and I'm excited to hear that I am getting almost a 100% so far in my class. Just 2 more midterms to go and I'll be home free

I'm preparing for a long weekend in Joshua tree to celebrate. Its like next week doesn't even exist.

Maria

Statics Midterm #2

Class: Statics
What I learned today: That one can take a moment about an entire axis.

Projection View

Path to the Parking Garage.

 Class: Modeling
What I learned today: How to put multiple types of parts in a single drawing.

Assemblies

Class: Modeling
What I learned today: Assemblies.

Other notes: I am officially one week ahead in my solids modeling class. This means I can probably skip class next friday! I am planning to visit joshua tree for rock climbing!

Trusses

Class: Statics
What I learned Today: forces acting upon joints in trusses can be calcaulated via the method of joints or the method of sections.

Bail

Class: Statics
What I learned today: Just because a computer worked in one work period, doesn't mean it will work in the next

Other Notes: I left class early today. The teacher didn't have any new parts to teach us and my computer was crashing every time I clicked. The class was also so full that there weren't any open computers for me to move to. It didn't help that I had some very residual stress from work and not even enough moments in my personal life to take a shower. I left from class early not only because I grew frustrated from the work environment, but because I needed some time to myself.

I never thought the school-life-work balance was going to be easy, but I didn't think that at times it wouldn't be worth the effort.

Midterm So Soon

Class: Statics
What I learned today: That a particle in static equilibrium in 3d space is governed by 6 equations of equilibrium

Other Notes: There is ANOTHER midterm next week! I was planning on going to Joshua tree next weekend, but I suppose having a midterm directly before my trip is better than having one right after.

Free Body Diagrams

Class: Statics
What I learned today: The type of pin/support that attaches one figure to another dictates the type of normal force that originates from that area. A pin support has both x and y componants of the normal force whereas a roller only has a normal force perpendicular to the ground.

Coaxial Holes

Class: Statics
What I learned today: To make a coaxial hole (vs one defined radially), I must hold down control while clicking on the plane and axis.

Moment Simplification

Class: Statics
What I learned today: In the vector equation Mo = r x F, r is the position vector between the origin of rotation and the force point.

Inventing the Wheel

Class: Statics
What I learned today: That I must revolve cut holes that have uneven counter bores instead of putting counter bores on both sides. The teacher was really adamant about that.

Moments of Couples

Class: Statics
What I learned today: how to calculate moments of couples. To only use the force contributing to the direction that the moment is tending towards.

Datam

Class: Modeling
What I learned today: How to make a datam aside from the 3 that are given in the program.

Triple Scalar Product

Class: Statics
What We Learned Today: That triple scalar products are the same as cross products. That we can use vector analysis to find the moment of a projection.

Revolve_Cut

Class: Modeling
What I learned Today: How to make a centerline when you don't have a reference. Using a round edge as a reference. Selecting a centerline as an axis of rotation. Making a pattern. Making Radial Holes. It was a big day

Through Next

Class: Modeling
What I learned today: How to add references after the initial sketch, a distinction between through next and through all

First Midterm

Class: Statics
Today I learned: That I have to write given-find-plan on every single problem during the midterm.

Revolve

Class: Modeling
What I learned today: Revolving around a set centerline as an alternative to extruding.

Midterm Review in Class

Class: Statics
Today I learned: That the test does not cover moments.

Other Notes: We had a review session today in class. The whole class period was maybe a list of the topics covered, which I did not find all that useful. I did not learn a lot today in class to speak of, but it was useful not being given any more content to study the day before the exam.

Coaxial

Class: Solids Modeling
What I learned today: How to make holes oriented coaxially (opposed to in the x-y plane)

Other notes: I wish the computers they offered at school were more powerful. I hit the lottery by saving my document as soon as I got out of sketcher, but I had to start from that save point at least 3 times from the computer crashing so much. Everyone else in my class had to start completely over at least once. For some reason, dragging the arms manually crashed the creo driver like whoa. Class was only an hour long today so I was able to get out in enough time to feel like I could do some homework when I got home.

Midterm Review Session Already

Class: Statics Midterm Review Session
What I learned today: That if a force but not a magnitude is known, there are still only three unknowns. (Previously, I thought 4).

Poor Communication = A waste of time

 

Class: Solids Modeling (ME 101)

What I learned today: the different types of holes I can make in Creo. I don't know, the lecture was only five minutes long and that wasn't enough time for me to really absorb anything. 

cross products

 

Class: Statics (ME 200)

What I learned about today: Calculating moments using cross products

Other Notes: I am exhausting myself by waking up at 6:30 am some mornings and at 7:30 others. I am going to have to come up with a consistent schedule if I want to keep illness and depression at bay. Some people may be able to slide an hour here or there but not me. Also I am starting to think that I may have taken at least half of this class before. Cross Products? I could do a cross product blind folded with ne'er a sign out of place.