Cublicans // Documents of an Undergrad

Congrats to the Foo Fighters for winning five Grammys last...

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:18:00 -0500

Congrats to the Foo Fighters for winning five Grammys last night, taking home:

Best Rock Performance – “Walk”

Best Hard Rock Performance - “White Limo”

Best Rock Song – “Walk”

Best Rock Album – Wasting Light

Best Long Form Music Video – Foo Fighters Back & Forth

I am so grateful that I was able to see them again last Fall. Dave Grohl and company certainly are the best rockers around.

I’m now a full-on Instapaper user. From Instapaper,...

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:13:00 -0500

I’m now a full-on Instapaper user.

From Instapaper, “Instapaper facilitates easy reading of long text content. We (people) discover web content throughout the day, and sometimes, we don’t have time to read long articles right when we find them. Instapaper allows you to easily save them for later, when you do have time, so you don’t just forget about them or skim through them.”

With the Instapaper “Read Me Later” tabbed on my Safari browser’s Bookmarks Bar, I’m all set to go. Anytime during the day that I come across an interesting article, from browsing news sites and the tens to hundreds of RSS feeds I’m subscribed to, and I’m pretty pushed for time but I just know I’d enjoy reading that later… I press “Read Later” and boom: the article is saved to my Instapaper account, both at Instapaper.com and on my Instapaper iPhone app, in a very condensed and super easy to read format.

I’ve read great things about Instapaper over the past month and have gradually incorporated it into my routine workflow (with an idea of coding my own personal RSS feed from articles on Instapaper into my blog), but now decided to go full-on with the mobile app addition.

If you’re into reading things, now or later, check it out. And if you have an iPhone/iPad, check it out too! … for a well spent $5.

Also, if you enjoy reading the thoughts and blogs of cool designers/developers as I do… the Instapaper blog by the developer himself, Marco Arment (former lead developer at Tumblr) has had some great stuff with great links for exploration.

The highest qualities of NCAA basketball: 1. The Duke vs UNC rivalry. 2. A game winning buzzer...

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:50:00 -0500

The highest qualities of NCAA basketball:

1. The Duke vs UNC rivalry.

2. A game winning buzzer beater.

3. A Duke game winning buzzer beater over Carolina.

A Three Test Week. Don’t you just love those? I certainly...

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:30:00 -0500

A Three Test Week. Don’t you just love those? I certainly do.

In the batter’s box — Abnormal Psychology.

On deck — Neurobiology.

And in the hole — Microbiology.

I’m ready to do some Tomahawk Chopping this coming Spring if you know what I mean. I think I may have heard pitchers and catchers report in SIX days… or something like that.

My Most Useful Applications at the Moment

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:03:00 -0500

I thought I would take a quick break from my current science-mode and make a quick post that I’ve been thinking about writing.

Here is a list of my most used applications at the current moment. These are pretty much in my daily routine. They are either used on my Macbook with Mac OS X, my iPhone with iOS, and some of them on both devices. If you haven’t heard of some of these, you should definitely give them a look. All of them are available cross-platform (useable on Windows). I’ll link them to their site and then quote their description straight from wikipedia (unless otherwise noted).

Dropbox

Wiki: ”uses cloud storage to enable users to store and share files and folders with others across the Internet using file synchronization.”

I can access all the files in my dropbox folder, from anywhere with a web browser. I use this at school, in my lab, even for web hosting. I can also access all my documents (say class power points, pdf’s, etc) via their mobile app on my iPhone.

Summary: if you aren’t utilizing cloud-storage in 2012, you are really missing out!

Spotify

Wiki: A “music streaming service offering streaming of selected music from a range of major and independent record labels, including Sony, EMI, Warner Music Group, and Universal.”

I’m into a lot of alternative music. Their aren’t many “indie-enough” bands that I haven’t been able to access on Spotify. Basically, you type in the artist, Spotify lists their complete discography that you can stream whenever, where ever. Facebook integration is great as well so you can see what your friends listen to, and you can even message and recommend artists to each other. I have yet to try the iOS app yet.

Summary: if you are really into music, you will definitely get good use out of Spotify.

Foursquare

Wiki: “a location-based social networking website for mobile devices… Users “check-in” at venues using a mobile website, text messaging or a device-specific application by selecting from a list of venues the application locates nearby… Each check-in awards the user points and sometimes “badges”.”

Foursquare is a quickly growing start-up that I’ve used for a while. I’ve even got my Dad and his best friend hooked. A lot of places (especially restaurants and stores) have “specials” when you check-in or become they “mayor.” I could really see this being a lot of fun in a big city. It’s great for finding places that your friends like and recommend. If anything, you can at least use it for the recent team up with American Express and foursquare… at many businesses and restaurants, you get a $10 American Express credit when you check-in with foursquare and pay with American Express (a cause to support small businesses).

Summary: It’s a great app to travel with. Claiming the mayorship of your favorite pub, stadium, or grocery store comes with a lot of pride!

Starbucks (mobile application)

Via the Starbucks website, you can “reload your Starbucks Card, track your Stars in the My Starbucks Rewards program and scan your barcode on your iPhone at the register.”

I love using this app when I go to Starbucks. It’s very painless. I don’t have to sign for a debit card and I get rewards that add up. Plus, any Starbucks gold member gets any syrup add-ins on the house. There is a heads up for unauthorized purchases however. Just be sure to lock the app with the password option and don’t let your smartphone get into the wrong hands and you’ll be more than fine!

Summary: If you go to Starbucks and have a smartphone, why not just try it out! You just open the app and swipe your phone at the register.

These may not be new to the raging web 2.0 advocate, but I enjoy incorporating these apps into my busy-second-decade-of-the-millennium life.

“The Nike+ FuelBand is designed for anyone who wants to be more active. It measures your...

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:02:00 -0500

“The Nike+ FuelBand is designed for anyone who wants to be more active. It measures your daily activity and turns it all into NikeFuel. So you can set a goal for every day and then go out and beat it. Life is a sport. Make it Count.”

This is a pretty sweet route Nike is going. I think it’s just what the society of 2012 needs.

1/7/12 — Candy Land, the race was on.

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:02:50 -0500

1/7/12 — Candy Land, the race was on.

This is Chad. He has been my chemistry teacher for the past week...

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:49:00 -0500

This is Chad. He has been my chemistry teacher for the past week and a half. He has gotten great reviews over at the Student Doctor Network for being a top resource for chemistry review. I’ve been trusting his lectures to give me quality and refreshing overviews of my general and organic chemistries. The lecture set for both chemistries cost $60 and each has an accompanying outline and online end-of-lecture quiz which have been great.

I am in my second serious and full week of studying for the DAT, which I plan to take the second week of March, and I can totally say that I am in a deep world of science for the next couple of months. The balancing of DAT studying (Gen Chem, Organic Chem, Biology, Perceptual Ability, Quantitative Reasoning, and Reading Comp) with my classes for this semester (Neurobio, Microbio, Medical Entomology, Abnormal Psyc) has proven to be a great way to take up not only all the day-lit hours of the day, but most of the moon-lit hours as well.

This is quite the adventure, but I am learning to enjoy and embrace it all, one day at a time.

Spending Friday in some serious sciences. There are a lot of...

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:30:56 -0500

Spending Friday in some serious sciences. There are a lot of review options out there and I recently stumbled across DATqVault which has given me a different perspective on some Biology topics — it has been especially efficient in highlighting my lack of developmental biology knowledge!

Always love a fire in the woods of suburban Atlanta.

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:03:46 -0500

Always love a fire in the woods of suburban Atlanta.

Loving the Elements!

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:57:00 -0500

Loving the Elements!

Taking a nice break from the Organic chemistry prep I’ve...

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:38:00 -0500

Taking a nice break from the Organic chemistry prep I’ve been busy with today and doing a little coding/tuneup. I redesigned the layout of the blog earlier last year but never really finished as classes, soccer, and whatnot really got busy. One day it will be finished… or I will come up with some crazy new layout which will replace this one that’s perpetually in progress. That’s how a web-based-hobby goes though!

The Christmas break has been a very good one. Had a great time with family in Columbus for Christmas and a great time with my and Shade’s family here at home. I’ve been doing some shadowing as well, which has definitely put a spark into my DAT preparation (I have A LOT to re-understand).

I shadowed in two very different dental atmospheres which is always a good thing. The large practice vs the private practice… the specialist vs the general dentist. All this is so new and exciting, the boundaries of what it is possible are really out of sight. It has been a great time to get in and shadow and get psyched while classes are on halt as an excellent semester and quality/worthwhile DAT studying is most certainly needed in the coming months!

Admissions Test Prep (Taken with instagram)

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:08:15 -0500

Admissions Test Prep (Taken with instagram)

Here’s to the last hour of 2011! (Taken with instagram)

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:58:34 -0500

Here’s to the last hour of 2011! (Taken with instagram)

I would love to see this one day.

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:39:18 -0500

I would love to see this one day.

Kalbi box, from Korea! “갈비” (Taken with instagram)

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:10:03 -0500

Kalbi box, from Korea! “갈비” (Taken with instagram)

French Pressin’ (Taken with instagram)

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 10:55:15 -0500

French Pressin’ (Taken with instagram)

Now that’s a Coke. Go Dawgs! (Taken with instagram)

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 13:31:56 -0500

Now that’s a Coke. Go Dawgs! (Taken with instagram)

Merry Christmas! (Taken with instagram)

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 07:53:57 -0500

Merry Christmas! (Taken with instagram)

Hi. I’m Jacob, or to the guys who awarded me the apellation...

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 12:00:00 -0500

Hi. I’m Jacob, or to the guys who awarded me the apellation (yes, I thesaurus’ed this awesome word for nickname) — Cublicans. This is my venture-based weblog. Along with the occasional coffee-shop-turned-aha-moment, I enjoy writing about the latest n’ greatest in the art, tech, and sport worlds.

(Next to me in Krzyzewskiville is my lady, Sheida. We like Duke.)

A Little Bio

After two injury prone seasons and three surgeries as a soccer player at Winthrop University, I decided to transfer back to my home state and continue my studies and collegiate journey at The University of Georgia.

I am studying Biology and have an ultimate goal of attending dental school in the near future.

In my spare time I like to dabble in a few hobbies. I enjoy recording music and front-end web dev. I also believe in rock n’ roll.

I keep up with the likes of the Gunners of North London, as well as local favorites the Georgia Bulldogs and Atlanta Braves.

Find Me Elsewhere

I always enjoy a nice bi-daily tweet @cublicans.

Of course, I’m on Facebook too.

Projects

JacobLee.Me — my ever changing creative hub on the net.

An Eye For An iPhone — A small startup that I mingle with from time to time. I’m an experienced iPhone surgeon.