Tuesday, October 26, 2004
JeremyHoffman03: nothing's better than IMing with you
sarahsarah513: haha
sarahsarah513: thanks!
sarahsarah513: i aim to please!
JeremyHoffman03: LOL
JeremyHoffman03: i AIM to please
JeremyHoffman03: hahaha
sarahsarah513: HAHAHAHA
sarahsarah513: i didn't even think of that!!!!!!!!
sarahsarah513: what a great pun!
sarahsarah513: haha
sarahsarah513: thanks!
sarahsarah513: i aim to please!
JeremyHoffman03: LOL
JeremyHoffman03: i AIM to please
JeremyHoffman03: hahaha
sarahsarah513: HAHAHAHA
sarahsarah513: i didn't even think of that!!!!!!!!
sarahsarah513: what a great pun!
Monday, October 25, 2004
For no reason in particular, here's a picture of me taken by someone (Nana's?) cell phone at tonight's hall dinner:
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Man, I feel like I've been so busy. I'm gonna skip going to the football game today (Homecoming, even) to try to get caught up in CS 228 (Probabilistic Models for AI).
My dad brought to my attention that the CS 228 professor, Daphne Koller, recently won a MacArthur Fellowship (aka "the genius award"). Impressive! And intimidating. Now I know this stuff is hard.
Ben Karlin, executive producer of The Daily Show and co-author of Jon Stewart's "America (The Book)", was at Stanford yesterday. As a huge Daily Show fan and an owner of "America (The Book)", I was delighted to attend.
It complemented the perspective on the show I got being in the studio audience for a taping in August.
They discussed Jon Stewart's now-infamous Crossfire appearance. They were actually a bit embarrassed as to how that went down. They assured us that the tone of the Daily Show wasn't going to change, and they weren't going to be on some kind of crusade. However, they're in amazement of the positive reaction they've gotten, especially among college students who watched it on the Internet.
So, yea, it was cool. I forgot to bring my copy of America (The Book) to get it signed, and I was tired so I decided to take a nap rather than go get it afterwards and go back to the Bookstore where they were doing more signings.
One other interesting thing they mentioned: Someone asked them about how being on cable affected their show. They said that it didn't really make that much of a difference, a bit of profanity, but... the main difference was regarding RELIGION. Broadcast stations cannot make jokes about religion, because of the massive response by organized religion they would get (nonstop letter-writing campaigns and other attacks). Apparently Comedy Central ducks out from under that.
Oh, and they confirmed: all of the people "in the field" they interview for feature stories are 100% real. No actors.
My dad brought to my attention that the CS 228 professor, Daphne Koller, recently won a MacArthur Fellowship (aka "the genius award"). Impressive! And intimidating. Now I know this stuff is hard.
Ben Karlin, executive producer of The Daily Show and co-author of Jon Stewart's "America (The Book)", was at Stanford yesterday. As a huge Daily Show fan and an owner of "America (The Book)", I was delighted to attend.
It complemented the perspective on the show I got being in the studio audience for a taping in August.
They discussed Jon Stewart's now-infamous Crossfire appearance. They were actually a bit embarrassed as to how that went down. They assured us that the tone of the Daily Show wasn't going to change, and they weren't going to be on some kind of crusade. However, they're in amazement of the positive reaction they've gotten, especially among college students who watched it on the Internet.
So, yea, it was cool. I forgot to bring my copy of America (The Book) to get it signed, and I was tired so I decided to take a nap rather than go get it afterwards and go back to the Bookstore where they were doing more signings.
One other interesting thing they mentioned: Someone asked them about how being on cable affected their show. They said that it didn't really make that much of a difference, a bit of profanity, but... the main difference was regarding RELIGION. Broadcast stations cannot make jokes about religion, because of the massive response by organized religion they would get (nonstop letter-writing campaigns and other attacks). Apparently Comedy Central ducks out from under that.
Oh, and they confirmed: all of the people "in the field" they interview for feature stories are 100% real. No actors.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
(I promise I'll start making some posts that actually relate to my life soon.)
The Daily Show's Rob Courddry, on what mudslinging we can expect in the last days of the campaign:
"Kerry is going to accuse Bush of secretely planning a backdoor draft of flu-stricken seniors, while Bush is going to say that Kerry, if elected, will detonate a bomb in one of our major cities that turns everybody gay. Oh, we're in for it, Jon. In these next thirteen days, we're gonna hear about arson, witchcraft, necrophilia, uh, MILF-hunting, uh... something called Hitler-massaging..."
The Daily Show's Rob Courddry, on what mudslinging we can expect in the last days of the campaign:
"Kerry is going to accuse Bush of secretely planning a backdoor draft of flu-stricken seniors, while Bush is going to say that Kerry, if elected, will detonate a bomb in one of our major cities that turns everybody gay. Oh, we're in for it, Jon. In these next thirteen days, we're gonna hear about arson, witchcraft, necrophilia, uh, MILF-hunting, uh... something called Hitler-massaging..."
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
QotD, from The Onion:
"Tha H-Dog so dope, he give tha pencils calluses."
"Tha H-Dog so dope, he give tha pencils calluses."
Monday, October 18, 2004
Ironic Times:
"Gays by Choice endorse Bush . . . . . . Frankenfish killed by Frankenfood . . . . . . Bush touts job creation on campaign swing through India . . . . . . Scientists identify gene that controls luck . . . . . . Nader moves into virtual tie with LaRouche . . . . . . Bush calls for constitutional ban on debating . . . . . . Canadian druggists endorse Kerry . . . . . . Bush: 'Read my lips, no new draft' . . . . . . Starbucks expansion to keep pace with universe"
News Quiz:
John Kerry falsely accused George Bush of never having met with the Congressional Black Caucus. In fact, Bush did meet with them last February after members of the Black Caucus:
A ) were escorted to the White House in a motorcade of presidential limousines.
B ) were flown to the Crawford ranch on Air Force One for a Bush family barbecue.
C ) were taken to Kennebunkport on the space shuttle for a weekend of lobster and water sports.
D ) showed up uninvited at the White House after repeated attempts to meet with the president had been rebuffed, were told he wasn't there, but refused to leave until he met with them.
Report: Most High School Students Not Prepared for College
78% lag behind in math, binge drinking.
"Gays by Choice endorse Bush . . . . . . Frankenfish killed by Frankenfood . . . . . . Bush touts job creation on campaign swing through India . . . . . . Scientists identify gene that controls luck . . . . . . Nader moves into virtual tie with LaRouche . . . . . . Bush calls for constitutional ban on debating . . . . . . Canadian druggists endorse Kerry . . . . . . Bush: 'Read my lips, no new draft' . . . . . . Starbucks expansion to keep pace with universe"
News Quiz:
John Kerry falsely accused George Bush of never having met with the Congressional Black Caucus. In fact, Bush did meet with them last February after members of the Black Caucus:
A ) were escorted to the White House in a motorcade of presidential limousines.
B ) were flown to the Crawford ranch on Air Force One for a Bush family barbecue.
C ) were taken to Kennebunkport on the space shuttle for a weekend of lobster and water sports.
D ) showed up uninvited at the White House after repeated attempts to meet with the president had been rebuffed, were told he wasn't there, but refused to leave until he met with them.
Report: Most High School Students Not Prepared for College
78% lag behind in math, binge drinking.
Jon Stewart is my idol.
Watch Jon Stewart's appearance on CNN's "Crossifre," where he lambasts the media and calls Tucker Carlson a "dick" on his own show: http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2652831.
Transcript here: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0410/15/cf.01.html.
His bestseller, "America: the Book," is also awesome. The man is really a hero of modern media.
Watch Jon Stewart's appearance on CNN's "Crossifre," where he lambasts the media and calls Tucker Carlson a "dick" on his own show: http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2652831.
Transcript here: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0410/15/cf.01.html.
His bestseller, "America: the Book," is also awesome. The man is really a hero of modern media.
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
The Onion is awesome:
Cheney Vows To Attack U.S. If Kerry Elected
You Want To See Some Goddamn Optimism?, by Sen. Jon Edwards
Cheney Vows To Attack U.S. If Kerry Elected
You Want To See Some Goddamn Optimism?, by Sen. Jon Edwards
Monday, October 11, 2004
(in a discussion of death and the meaning of life)
Robert: "I took Visions of Mortality last year. The final exam question was, 'Is death bad for you?'. I know my shit."
Me: "No, you know your bullshit."
Robert: "I took Visions of Mortality last year. The final exam question was, 'Is death bad for you?'. I know my shit."
Me: "No, you know your bullshit."
QotD:
"Saying that Java is nice because it works on all OS's is like saying that anal sex is nice because it works on all genders."
-from Mike Altizer's profile
"Saying that Java is nice because it works on all OS's is like saying that anal sex is nice because it works on all genders."
-from Mike Altizer's profile
Friday, October 08, 2004
I've come down with some kind of illness that involves a sore throat and fatigue. It feels like a cold except my nose is fine.
Yea, so I'll be falling a bit behind in my classes, and skipping the scavenger hunt in San Francisco. (It's OK, I did the scav hunt last year, and the freshman experience is the important thing.)
I'm gonna take a nap now, so I can go to dinner in time to see the Prez Debate Round 2.
Yea, so I'll be falling a bit behind in my classes, and skipping the scavenger hunt in San Francisco. (It's OK, I did the scav hunt last year, and the freshman experience is the important thing.)
I'm gonna take a nap now, so I can go to dinner in time to see the Prez Debate Round 2.
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
QotD:
"It seems that katana duels have gone out of fashion, so rock-paper-scissors is often used here to make important decisions. The Japanese metagame appears to be scissors-heavy, probably because the players really wish they were holding katanas after all. My trusty rock has led me to many crushing victories."
-Collin Jackson, on his experience in Japan
"It seems that katana duels have gone out of fashion, so rock-paper-scissors is often used here to make important decisions. The Japanese metagame appears to be scissors-heavy, probably because the players really wish they were holding katanas after all. My trusty rock has led me to many crushing victories."
-Collin Jackson, on his experience in Japan
Monday, October 04, 2004
History QotD, from my Carnegie Mellon friend Kevin Chang:
"Kissinger is a fun read; it's almost as if God was keeping a blog while creating the world."
-Professor Laurie Eisenberg
"Kissinger is a fun read; it's almost as if God was keeping a blog while creating the world."
-Professor Laurie Eisenberg
Programming Style QotD (paraphrased, because I don't have perfect memory in the morning):
"You should never use global variables, except maybe two or three times in your life, and CS 106 is not one of those times. Why are global variables so bad? Remember our metaphor of a function being like a toaster? Well, what if you put some bread in your toaster and push the lever, and the refrigerator explodes!? You'd say, 'I didn't want anything to happen to my refrigerator, I just wanted some toast.' But the toaster was affecting variables outside of it that you couldn't even see, and now you've got bad times."
-the awesome Mehran Sahami
"You should never use global variables, except maybe two or three times in your life, and CS 106 is not one of those times. Why are global variables so bad? Remember our metaphor of a function being like a toaster? Well, what if you put some bread in your toaster and push the lever, and the refrigerator explodes!? You'd say, 'I didn't want anything to happen to my refrigerator, I just wanted some toast.' But the toaster was affecting variables outside of it that you couldn't even see, and now you've got bad times."
-the awesome Mehran Sahami
Sunday, October 03, 2004
I am very excited about this, brought to my attention by my UMD friend Patrick Stahl: Fox orders BNL comedy/variety show pilot.
The members of Barenaked Ladies are really fun and goofy guys, and absolutely great musicians. This show could be right up my alley.
Ironically, this is not what you'd expect from a Fox show with "Barenaked Ladies" in the title. I wonder how many people will be disappointed when they tune in expecting something like "World's Most Naked Women Caught On Tape."
The members of Barenaked Ladies are really fun and goofy guys, and absolutely great musicians. This show could be right up my alley.
Ironically, this is not what you'd expect from a Fox show with "Barenaked Ladies" in the title. I wonder how many people will be disappointed when they tune in expecting something like "World's Most Naked Women Caught On Tape."
Saturday, October 02, 2004
I currently have a somewhat intense schedule picked out. I'm going to give it a try for a week or so, and if it's too much work, I'll drop one of the classes.
CS 106X: Programming Methodology and Abstractions (Accelerated) (5 units)
CS 154: Introduction to Automata and Complexity Theory (4 units)
CS 228: Probabilistic Models in Artificial Intelligence (3 units)
Math 52: Integral Calculus of Several Variables (5 units)
Engr 14: Applied Mechanics: Statics (3 units)
That's a total of 20 units.
The programming class is accelerated, but I've done tons of programming before, in summer jobs and in the Blair Magnet program, so I have to believe it won't be that hard for me. I already know the intricacies of such stylistic matters as while() loops vs. for() loops! I have a lot more experience in Java than in C++, though, and this class is in C++, so I could use the review of how to do advanced pointer shenanigans in C++. This class is taught by my favorite computer science lecturer ever, Mehran Sahami. I never fall asleep in his classes.
CS 154 is year two of abstract, math-based theory for computer science. Last year, CS 103 A&B were a decent amount of work for their 3 units each, so I'll see how this one is.
CS 228 is the hardest class I'm taking and will probably be the most work, despite the fact that it is only 3 units. It involves a lot of tricky probability and reasoning. (LOTS of proof by induction and recursive definitions in this class.) I've got a study group formed, which ideally will make the problem sets manageable, but it will still be a mental stretch, I'm sure.
Math 52 is my easiest class, despite the fact that it is 5 units. I've done multivariable integration before, in 12th grade. I still remember how to do all the basics (integrating to find the volume of a region) and I vaguely recall how to do some of the harder stuff like changing coordinate systems. I still feel like the course is worth taking, because some of the stuff at the end is really hard and really useful in a lot of areas of physics. Also, I want to take Math 53 later and I ought to follow the normal progression.
Finally, Statics shouldn't be too hard. It's a 3-unit applied physics class in the Engineering department. In the first week, we learned that forces are vectors and that they can be added. Not very difficult stuff.
My daily schedule is below. (This does not yet include a couple of lab and section times, which are TBA this week.)
Monday/Wednesday:
10-10:50 -- CS 106X
11-12:15 -- CS 228
1:15-2:05 -- ENGR 14
2:15-3:05 -- Math 52
Tuesday/Thursday:
2:15-3:05 -- Math 52
3:15-4:30 -- CS 154
Friday:
10-10:50 -- CS 106X
11-12:15 -- CS 228
2:15-3:05 -- Math 52
Three classes on Friday is a lot, but no classes before 10:00am and no morning classes twice a week is a mitzvah.
I'm working on a math problem set right now. Probably going to the Sigma Nu party later.
CS 106X: Programming Methodology and Abstractions (Accelerated) (5 units)
CS 154: Introduction to Automata and Complexity Theory (4 units)
CS 228: Probabilistic Models in Artificial Intelligence (3 units)
Math 52: Integral Calculus of Several Variables (5 units)
Engr 14: Applied Mechanics: Statics (3 units)
That's a total of 20 units.
The programming class is accelerated, but I've done tons of programming before, in summer jobs and in the Blair Magnet program, so I have to believe it won't be that hard for me. I already know the intricacies of such stylistic matters as while() loops vs. for() loops! I have a lot more experience in Java than in C++, though, and this class is in C++, so I could use the review of how to do advanced pointer shenanigans in C++. This class is taught by my favorite computer science lecturer ever, Mehran Sahami. I never fall asleep in his classes.
CS 154 is year two of abstract, math-based theory for computer science. Last year, CS 103 A&B were a decent amount of work for their 3 units each, so I'll see how this one is.
CS 228 is the hardest class I'm taking and will probably be the most work, despite the fact that it is only 3 units. It involves a lot of tricky probability and reasoning. (LOTS of proof by induction and recursive definitions in this class.) I've got a study group formed, which ideally will make the problem sets manageable, but it will still be a mental stretch, I'm sure.
Math 52 is my easiest class, despite the fact that it is 5 units. I've done multivariable integration before, in 12th grade. I still remember how to do all the basics (integrating to find the volume of a region) and I vaguely recall how to do some of the harder stuff like changing coordinate systems. I still feel like the course is worth taking, because some of the stuff at the end is really hard and really useful in a lot of areas of physics. Also, I want to take Math 53 later and I ought to follow the normal progression.
Finally, Statics shouldn't be too hard. It's a 3-unit applied physics class in the Engineering department. In the first week, we learned that forces are vectors and that they can be added. Not very difficult stuff.
My daily schedule is below. (This does not yet include a couple of lab and section times, which are TBA this week.)
Monday/Wednesday:
10-10:50 -- CS 106X
11-12:15 -- CS 228
1:15-2:05 -- ENGR 14
2:15-3:05 -- Math 52
Tuesday/Thursday:
2:15-3:05 -- Math 52
3:15-4:30 -- CS 154
Friday:
10-10:50 -- CS 106X
11-12:15 -- CS 228
2:15-3:05 -- Math 52
Three classes on Friday is a lot, but no classes before 10:00am and no morning classes twice a week is a mitzvah.
I'm working on a math problem set right now. Probably going to the Sigma Nu party later.
Friday, October 01, 2004
QotD regarding the debate, from CNN.com - Paul Begala's Debate Blog: Round 1 - Sep 30, 2004:
"Bush is like a PAC-10 football team: He just doesn't play defense well."
And a conversation with Brian regarding Tempur-Pedic pillows:
brichang522: Developed for NASA to relieve extreme G-force pressures, Tempur-Pedic visco-elastic material gives you a better night’s sleep as it reacts to body heat and ... brichang522: what the fuck?
JeremyHoffman03: whatever
JeremyHoffman03: the proof's in the pudding
brichang522: G-force pressures???
JeremyHoffman03: ya man
JeremyHoffman03: they accelerate
JeremyHoffman03: at multiples of g
brichang522: the pillows?
brichang522: my pillow doesn't accelerate
JeremyHoffman03: no the astronauts
JeremyHoffman03: if you're accelerating so fast
JeremyHoffman03: you're getting squished against something
brichang522: why do i care if it can withstand multiple g's? i'm not sleeping in anywhere with ultramegagravity
JeremyHoffman03: hahahha
JeremyHoffman03: what if a black hole appears inside the earth?
JeremyHoffman03: you'll have NO neck support
"Bush is like a PAC-10 football team: He just doesn't play defense well."
And a conversation with Brian regarding Tempur-Pedic pillows:
brichang522: Developed for NASA to relieve extreme G-force pressures, Tempur-Pedic visco-elastic material gives you a better night’s sleep as it reacts to body heat and ... brichang522: what the fuck?
JeremyHoffman03: whatever
JeremyHoffman03: the proof's in the pudding
brichang522: G-force pressures???
JeremyHoffman03: ya man
JeremyHoffman03: they accelerate
JeremyHoffman03: at multiples of g
brichang522: the pillows?
brichang522: my pillow doesn't accelerate
JeremyHoffman03: no the astronauts
JeremyHoffman03: if you're accelerating so fast
JeremyHoffman03: you're getting squished against something
brichang522: why do i care if it can withstand multiple g's? i'm not sleeping in anywhere with ultramegagravity
JeremyHoffman03: hahahha
JeremyHoffman03: what if a black hole appears inside the earth?
JeremyHoffman03: you'll have NO neck support
I think Kerry's debate victory was clear. Bush claimed over and over that Kerry has been inconsistent on the Iraq war. This is a hard sale when Kerry is across the ailse from Bush, calmly repeating a simple, consistent, one-sentence position. I think Kerry may have finally killed the "flip-flop" label in the public mind. The Bush campaign will need a new way to try to dismiss Kerry's positions.
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