Flavorwire did a piece about the most beautiful University Libraries in the world.
http://flavorwire.com/240819/the-25-most-beautiful-college-libraries-in-the-world

Some of them are truly beautiful, like this library at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore:

I’m pleased that one of my almae matres made it to the list, Widener Library at Harvard:

But sad that UIUC did not make it with its ingenious underground library.

Did you know that by building the library underground, UIUC was able to keep the Morrow Plots, one of the oldest gardens in Central Illinois, in full sunshine!

Shell just submitted a proposal to the Department of the Interior, which calls for ten new exploratory wells in the Arctic Ocean.  They claim that the operations will be completely “safe and clean”, but are in fact based on the same flawed methods that caused the oil spill in the Gulf.
While the Department of the Interior is considering Shell’s proposal they have opened up a public comment period to hear from us. But we only have 24 hours before the comment period closes so it is important that we send them in now!

One single oil spill could completely destroy this fragile ecosystem forever.

Join me in sending a comment to Secretary Salazar today to reject Shells proposal to drill in the Arctic by clicking the link below…

http://us.greenpeace.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=865&s_src=taf

lolcats for a gray day.

From Minnesota Congressman Mike Beard who is promoting the construction of coal burning power plants:

Beard also told Shelby that God would prevent the planet from running out of fossil fuels like coal: “God is not capricious. He’s given us a creation that is dynamically stable. We are not going to run out of anything.”

http://minnesotaindependent.com/77707/gops-beard-wants-more-coal-plants-because-god-will-fix-global-warming

Also from the same article:

“A lot of what Beard knows he learned in church,” wrote Shelby. “One Congressman, talking about global warming, recently said that God wouldn’t allow man to do anything to destroy the planet. Beard told me, ‘It is the height of hubris to think we could.’”

And it is the height of stupidity to think we won’t deplete our planet’s natural resources. Is this man really so deluded that he believes God will solve all of his problems? Or is he making theatrical religious statements to take the attention away from his real motivations? Perhaps a large check from coal industry lobbyists?

This was our first thanksgiving with just three Banerjees. It wasn’t that great – we miss Joya a lot. But it wasn’t awful either. I had a nice few days of relaxation, TV, and squeezed in some drinks with friends and a few edits on my Thesis.

We’ll see Joya (little sister) soon though. She moved to South Africa in October to work for the CDC. She likes her job but I imagine she’s a little lonely. We’re about to fix that though! I bought my tickets to fly into Johannesburg on 12/26, and my parents are coming soon after. What a great way to kick off the new year: a little safari in Krueger Natl’ park, a little partying in Cape Town, and some great wineries.

I realized just now that I haven’t posted anything substantive in months on this blog. Life has been busy!! I moved to DC on September 18th and started a new job on the 20th. I am working as a software engineer at an awesome small company (startup?) called OPOWER. We make energy efficiency software. I am also looking to buy a new condo in DC, and wrapping up my master’s thesis. I like DC a lot, and I like being busy. It is great to be close to Melissa. Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving!

These are the seats on Nissan’s new GT-R (Egoist Model). They look so much like Jabba the Hutt from Star Wars it is frightening to me.

The car is fairly good looking. It ain’t no Porsche though.