Crimson Crux

A few minutes ago, I just watched CNN report this historic ‘upheaval’ (is it too strong a word?) in astronomy and the whole of science, and I’m now convinced of one thing: I am getting old. While I went to grade school to learn that there are 9 planets in the solar system, my kids will be memorizing the number 8.

Many astronomers have said it was inevitable, while loyalists have pleaded for the status quo…and now it’s settled. Pluto has been stripped of planetary status by the International Astronomical Union; August 24, 2006 is now a date that will live in infamy glory as the day when the solar system was downsized.

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Remember UP ACM, the Filipino student organization who made the news last year after winning two of the five ACM International Student Chapter Excellence Awards? Well, I’ve got some news for you.

UP ACM has done it again!

The organization has won the 2005-2006 Excellence Award for Outstanding Community Service, the same category it won last year. (more…)

I’ll be going on another brief family reunion slash vacation tomorrow to Kalibo, Aklan. As with my last trip to our home province, I’ll be attending a wedding (and playing some rounds of DoTa, I guess). But this time around, I’ll be able to take my work with me, courtesy of Corsarify.

Needless to say, my laptop’s first out-of-town trip includes passing through the airport security checks. This begs an important question: Is it safe to let my laptop through the X-ray machine? Wouldn’t my data be obliterated, my job wrecked, and my life ruined? (Ok, I’ll stop.)

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