Updating Lois
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2006Dear [Lois],
Yes, it’s been cold, but it was into the mid 40s today. Over all, this winter has been quite mild.
Yes, I’ll be attending camp again this year. Perhaps we’ll meet up there.
Later,
Tom
Archive for February, 2006
Arranging Emmy’s Next Visit
Tuesday, February 21st, 2006[Emmy],
The reservation number is 08CD50
You’ll be departing Harrisburg this Thursday, Feb. 23rd on train #43, which leaves at 1:40PM, arriving in Altoona at 4:06 PM. We’ll be there to pick you up.
Then, you’ll be returning home on Monday, Feb.27th on train #42, leaving Altoona at 9:49 AM and arriving at Harrisburg at 12:45 PM.
I told them that you’d need assistance getting on and off the train. Just let them know that when you get to the station.
Later,
Tom
Wind Advisory
Friday, February 17th, 2006Dear [Emmy],
Yep, your mail got here. We have a wind advisory here today and there has been lots of rumbles of strong gusts so far. Hopefully it won’t damage our roof.
Tom
Updating Sarah
Wednesday, February 15th, 2006Dear [Sarah],
Well, I’m writing software to better manage the songs on my computers (playing with dynamic link libraries, Windows programming, and tag management in the MP3 files). I just finished what they call an IFilter program, which allows searching through the songs for ones that have a specific tempo (number of beats per minute). That way, it’s much easier to keep rhythm going when cross-fading from one song to the next. If they match in tempo, or
If they at least closely match, you get a really neat mix that the crowds enjoy. The next project is to classify the music by genre (disco, pop, hip-hop, and so on). A few pieces must be written before I can get to that though, but hopefully, I’ll have made some good headway by the time camp gets here this summer. Have you decided if you’re going to work there again?
I wasn’t sure if my email ever got to you, and am so glad that it did.
Yes, I remember college quite well, even though it was 20 years ago. 
It was rough, but I bet it’s rougher for you, working in a hospital and all. I was just writing programs, reading the Greek classics, and working lots of Calculus problems. Calculus. It made me cry back then. But it’s coming in handy today. My software has to go through the Music files and count the beats-per-minute in each one and store the results in the tag for each song. That process looks like it’s going to involve Fourier Transforms – an interesting second-term Calculus concept. In fact, much of the more advanced digital audio such as encoding files into MP3s involves much Calculus. So I’m glad I learned a bit about it.
Anyway, I’m thrilled to hear that you’re doing okay, and hope we can stay in touch, even if you don’t return to camp this summer.
Well, gotta go. So write soon, and keep me informed on your school progress.
Take care,
Tom
Got C’s Check for Steelers Fight Song CD
Thursday, February 9th, 2006Dear [C],
Got your check today. I’ll deposit it the next time I get to the bank.
Tom
Super Bowl: 2006
Monday, February 6th, 2006Good deal. [I'm glad you received the CD Saturday, without problems.]
Yes, the game was great. We watched it at the local pub up the street here. Wasn’t looking too good in the first half but the Steelers really exploded in the second.
Later,
Tom Hesley
Weight Loss Strategies
Wednesday, February 1st, 2006Dear [C],
The disc is on its way to you. Send me a check for $8 when you get a chance. That will cover everything.
Yep, those last pounds are the most difficult to lose. I’ve read that it’s important to always keep something in the stomach, whether dieting or not. Doing so keeps the body from going into starvation mode, where the metabolism slows down and calorie consumption likewise falls. Burning fewer calories per hour as a result makes losing weight more difficult (painful) — even when you’re eating very little. This is not to say that you _can’t_ lose weight by starving yourself. Indeed you can. But that’s a very painful way to go and has many health ramifications that I’m sure you know. It seems therefore, that the better approach is to eat just enough to keep the metabolism at normal levels, yet still lose weight. For me, that seems to be around 1000 calories a day. If I eat that, and can stick to it, I’ll lose between one and two pounds a week, even when I’m not exercising. Perhaps by raising your calorie consumption a bit, the LA Weight Loss people have gotten your metabolism back up to where it needs to be in order to lose weight in a relatively pain-free manner. Good luck, and I hope you reach your goal by the alumni convention.
Tom