Engineering Open House was a great success today. The final numbers I heard were 7,300 visitors in attendance. I ended up working at the main welcome table for CSE, in the Atrium, and hardly had a chance to catch my breath until my shift was over. Lots and lots of excited kids, from elementary school through high school seniors.

It was nearing the end of the school day when I took these pictures, so it doesn’t look nearly as busy as it actually was.

AA’s underwater robot exhibit Date/Time: 2006:04:28 12:40:42 Camera: Canon Canon PowerShot S100 Aperture: F7.1 Exposure Time: 1/250 s ISO: Flash: No Size: 1600x1200 Focal Length: 5.40625 mm click to enlarge

You can spot the autonomous blimp in this photo.

CSE Atrium Date/Time: 2006:04:28 12:44:18 Camera: Canon Canon PowerShot S100 Aperture: F2.8 Exposure Time: 1/90 s ISO: Flash: No Size: 1600x1200 Focal Length: 5.40625 mm click to enlarge

The breakout areas on all of the floors were the site of various demos titled “How It All Works,” with topics like counting in binary, ASCII, and error correction. I’ll be running one of these demos tomorrow.

How It All Works Date/Time: 2006:04:28 12:45:32 Camera: Canon Canon PowerShot S100 Aperture: F2.8 Exposure Time: 1/60 s ISO: Flash: No Size: 1600x1200 Focal Length: 5.40625 mm click to enlarge

I was most pleased yesterday when I saw the construction workers taking down the black-enameled chain-link fence that surrounded the fountain. It’s a relief to see that it was indeed just a very nicely done temporary fence rather than an ugly permanent one.

Today they had the fountain running, too. The central column was only at about half of its usual height, but some fountain is better than no fountain.

Fountain Date/Time: 2006:04:28 12:47:57 Camera: Canon Canon PowerShot S100 Aperture: F7.1 Exposure Time: 1/350 s ISO: Flash: No Size: 1600x1200 Focal Length: 5.40625 mm click to enlarge

In general, campus is looking the nicest it has in months, now that most of the construction is gone from around the fountain (they’re still pouring concrete around part of it, but it’s mostly done) and just yesterday they finished cleaning up the construction trailers and fences around Johnson and put down sod. The last time I saw it like that, I had just been admitted to my department and had yet to start classes.

First few buses…

I’m working at the Allen Center today from 11:30 to 1:30 (helping at a table or to direct people around the building) and tomorrow from 10:00 to 2:00, giving a demo on how computers store text, if anyone wants to stop by and see me.

It should be fun. I’ll post some more about the event at the end of the day.

On Sunday, Brad, Amanda, and I went down to the area northeast of Husky Stadium. The weather was excellent and it’s a nice place to spend an afternoon.

Tree Date/Time: 2006:04:23 13:18:11 Camera: NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D70 Aperture: F6.3 Exposure Time: 1/160 s ISO: Flash: No Size: 1600x1063 Focal Length: 27 mm click to enlarge

Ducks Date/Time: 2006:04:23 13:24:20 Camera: NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D70 Aperture: F5.6 Exposure Time: 1/125 s ISO: Flash: No Size: 1600x1063 Focal Length: 70 mm click to enlarge

Houses across the water Date/Time: 2006:04:23 13:25:36 Camera: NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D70 Aperture: F6.3 Exposure Time: 1/160 s ISO: Flash: No Size: 1600x1063 Focal Length: 70 mm click to enlarge

Pathway Date/Time: 2006:04:23 13:27:35 Camera: NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D70 Aperture: F7.1 Exposure Time: 1/200 s ISO: Flash: No Size: 1600x1063 Focal Length: 18 mm click to enlarge

Another tree Date/Time: 2006:04:23 13:44:04 Camera: NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D70 Aperture: F5.6 Exposure Time: 1/125 s ISO: Flash: No Size: 1600x1063 Focal Length: 18 mm click to enlarge

Turtles Date/Time: 2006:04:23 13:50:20 Camera: NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D70 Aperture: F5 Exposure Time: 1/100 s ISO: Flash: No Size: 1600x1063 Focal Length: 70 mm click to enlarge

White blossoms Date/Time: 2006:04:23 13:57:22 Camera: NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D70 Aperture: F4.5 Exposure Time: 1/40 s ISO: Flash: No Size: 1600x1063 Focal Length: 70 mm click to enlarge

Rainier Date/Time: 2006:04:23 14:09:21 Camera: NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D70 Aperture: F9 Exposure Time: 1/320 s ISO: Flash: No Size: 1600x1063 Focal Length: 70 mm click to enlarge

Pink blossoms Date/Time: 2006:04:23 14:11:52 Camera: NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D70 Aperture: F9 Exposure Time: 1/320 s ISO: Flash: No Size: 1600x1063 Focal Length: 40 mm click to enlarge