JeremyBlum.com

So, I just got through my first set of exams here at Cornell…  To give you an idea of the tests, the average score on my first calc test was a 36%.  Granted, they aren’t usually that bad; it seems they over estimated how long they made it…  Anyways, I did okay on that one (as in, near the average score).  I haven’t gotten my chemistry test back yet, but based on the responses I’ve heard from my friends in who are in the class with me, the average won’t be much better.  I hear these tests were a fluke; last year’s first calc test had an average score in the 80’s I believe…But still, it’s a little unnerving.

On the “not school work” front, I’ve decided on a concentration for the Solar Decathlon Team.  I’m going to a design a complete home automation system.  It should be really cool when complete.  Myself and a few others are planning to end up with a user-friendly interface for doing everything from controlling the music and lights, to monitoring the house’s power consumption.  Conveniently, I worked with an electrical engineer this summer, and did some work similar to what will be required to get this home automation thing running.

Hmmm….what else…I had a really good peanut butter milkshake (I promise it’s good) last night at midnight, fell asleep around 2AM, and was awoken at around 6:30 by my roomate coming back from an all night session in the library.  He had to basically design a new language for his english class.  So yeah, that sums up the college experience I think: study, work all night, eat at random hours, procastinate, socialize when not doing the doing the above, repeat.

I figured I’d provide an update on my activities for the 3 people who may actually be interested :)

So I’ve been at Cornell Engineering for about a month now, and everything is going pretty well.  I’m taking calculus, chemistry, intro to mechanical engineering, and a writing seminar course.  I’ve joined the Cornell Solar Decathlon Team, which should be a really great experience.  I’ve been very interested in alternative energy sources for a few years now, and I felt like this would be a fun way to get my feet wet.  You can check out the team webpage here.  The purpose of the team is to build a fully operational, envirnmentally friendly, solar powered house.  Members include engineers, architects, business majors, and pretty much everybody else.  I’ve joined the Control Engineering subteam which will focus on home automation and power management techniques.

I’m in an undergrad research program here, and will certainly be starting research by second semester.  I haven’t decided for certain what the topic will be yet, but it is likely that it will involve research in intelligent robotic systems.

Hmm…so I suppose that’s it so far :)

It has begun!  I’ve been at college for about a week now, so I figured I’d just give a brief tour of my room.  I’ve put together a photosynth 3D Tour, or you can just check out the pics.  Both are below.

PhotoSynth:

Photos:

view slideshow

On August 22nd I’ll be heading up to Ithaca, NY to start my college education at Cornell University’s Engineering college.  So what do you think the one thing that stressed be out about college was?  The workload?  The pressure?  The upperclassmen?  Nope.  My one worry was this: How will I survive without a powerful computer!?  The problem is that I won’t, which I why a recently built a new desktop to take with me up to college…in addition to by Dell D630 Laptop.  If you are anything like my parents, you’re probably thinking, “Why do you need such a massive powerful computer!?”  It’s who I am, people.  I’ve got a need for processor speed.  So without further adeiu, I introduce you to my newest speed machine: