Rams' season happily over and other local news


The 49ers put an appropriate end to the St. Louis Rams sad 2009 season by clobbering them in the second half to insure that the Rams maintain the worst record in the NFL. The Rams were actually leading 3-0 at the half, but I am sure most people assumed they would collapse in the second half, and they did so in typical fashion. I had wondered if we would see a Rams' victory or a real snowstorm first this winter, and it looks like the storm should win. They are again forecasting snow this week (Wednesday evening into Thursday morning) and we can all see if anything materializes this time. We actually received more snow than they predicted two Sundays ago (Dec 27) so you never know which way it will go. I know that snow made our church service attendance plummet even though the roads were not all that bad.

And right now we get to experience this lovely cold wave that is making my walk from the Metrolink station to our building quite a cold one. I am anxiously awaiting the 2010 opening of Brauer Hall so that there would be an enclosed, temperature controlled pathway from the lovely Earth & Planetary Sciences building, through Whitaker Hall, through Brauer to the Skinker Metrolink station. I am curious if they will let just anyone walk through the buildings since that will be an obvious path to get to the Metrolink station for anyone on the Northeast part of campus. I know a lot of Engineering and Physics people already walk through our building on their way to their buildings, and everybody cuts through Physics (between Compton and Crow). I would hope they let people walk straight through Whitaker and Brauer. However, the proximity of Brauer to the Metrolink station may make it a new target for thieves looking to grab something (laptop, purse, etc) and make a quick dash to the Metrolink. They could just station a Wash U campus police person at the front door of Brauer near Skinker. More criminals seem to be targeting our campus, and having a brand new building with lots of fancy stuff to steal will undoubtedly bring some crooks our way.

And speaking of Washington University and more specifically our Earth & Planetary Sciences department, it was cool to hear that one of our research faculty members, Brad Jolliff, is one of three NASA finalists for projects for NASA's next big space mission. It made StlToday and Foxnews, but most importantly means $3.3 million in 2010 for the university. If he gets to purchase any computer equipment or software with that money, I will be the lucky person to spend that money. Do not worry though, I would never be one to waste those tax payer dollars lavishly -- I am always quite frugal with the university's money (How many other folks here buy inexpensive, refurbished products from Geeks.com and wait for their free shipping deals?). I am even using a 12 year old 20" CRT as my main monitor, even as I spend many thousands of dollars on new equipment for other folks. We never throw anything away that works!

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