Haha... was just flipping through the channels on my television and I realised that I have close to one hundred channels to chose from. Anyway, sometimes it feels really good to just laze in front of the tv and watch people do silly things. And when I get bored of the news, I'll switch over to watch some sitcoms.
Two nights ago, I was channel surfing and saw that they were showing re-runs of "Who's the Boss". For all of you who are wondering what's so good about the show, let me give you a few hints: "Sam", "Alyssa Milano", "Alyssa Milano back in the 1980s".... Haha... I think you get my drift....
Anyway, what I really wanted to write about was the sitcom that came after "Who's the Boss". I was very happy on my sofa, so I didn't bother to move or switch channels. So that's when I saw my first episode of "The Wonder Years". It was fantastic! It is actually one of the episode in the 6th season (first aired on 31 March 1993). It was about how 2 guys, a boy and his dad, were feeling very insecure when their partner were doing very well. In the case of the boy's girlfriend, she got a better SAT score than him. In the case of the mother (who was previously a housewife), she found a new well-paying job. The guys ended up being very insensitive and unsupportive of their partners new-found "successes", which resulted in quite a bit of tension. The solution came in the form of a bowling match, guys vs. girls. The guys trashed the girls, their ego were restored, and then they were able to be magnanimous (actual term used in the show) again and be genuinely happy and congratulate their partners on their SAT and new job. It is quite MCP, but definitely an accurate depiction of the male ego. Haha... I can understand how irritating the male ego can be at times, but a mastery of it can result in very advantageous outcomes.
More information on the show can be found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Wonder_Years_episodes
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
Buy SINGAPORE Math Textbooks!!
Below is a video clip showing someone's distaste for the math books that are used in American schools today. Anyway it's a long video and I kinda skipped the middle portion. But I more or less got her argument. It's is interesting that she recommended SINGAPORE math textbook towards the end of the clip.
To me, it is a question of finding the right balance between developing the logic and creativity of the individual. Einstein once said that "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind." If I may modify his quote to fit our context, "Math without problem-solving is useless and problem-solving without math is absurb".
More comments on the video/topic at the youtube site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr1qee-bTZI
To me, it is a question of finding the right balance between developing the logic and creativity of the individual. Einstein once said that "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind." If I may modify his quote to fit our context, "Math without problem-solving is useless and problem-solving without math is absurb".
More comments on the video/topic at the youtube site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr1qee-bTZI
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Engineer joke
Haha... I think I have heard this joke more than once, but I still love it. Anyway I got this off a website from one of the professor in my department. Haha... better do proper acknowledgment. http://www.ise.ufl.edu/capehart/engrjoke.html
An architect, an artist and an engineer were discussing whether it was better to spend time with the wife or a mistress.
The architect said he enjoyed time with his wife, building a solid foundation for an enduring relationship.
The artist said he enjoyed time with his mistress, because of the passion and mystery he found there.
The engineer said, "I like both."
"Both?"
Engineer: "Yeah. If you have a wife and a mistress, they will each assume you are spending time with the other woman, and you can go to the lab and get some work done."
An architect, an artist and an engineer were discussing whether it was better to spend time with the wife or a mistress.
The architect said he enjoyed time with his wife, building a solid foundation for an enduring relationship.
The artist said he enjoyed time with his mistress, because of the passion and mystery he found there.
The engineer said, "I like both."
"Both?"
Engineer: "Yeah. If you have a wife and a mistress, they will each assume you are spending time with the other woman, and you can go to the lab and get some work done."
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
UF student got tasered
A few days back, a UF student got tasered while asking the senator a question.
I hope that they are not showing this in Singapore man, else my parents will start calling me. Not that I don't like their calls, just that I think that it isn't something to be overly worried about. Anyway the university has sent out an email to say that they are looking into the incident and that we will be informed of the updates.
I hope that they are not showing this in Singapore man, else my parents will start calling me. Not that I don't like their calls, just that I think that it isn't something to be overly worried about. Anyway the university has sent out an email to say that they are looking into the incident and that we will be informed of the updates.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Foosball Competition
I was recently informed that the CSM department (my previous work place) had just held their foosball and pool competition. Congrats to the winners.
Partner, looks like you maintained your skills and hmm...the results this year just goes to show that you were the reason that we managed to get fourth last year ^.^
Anyway, this got me thinking about an old problem that I didn't work out the previous time. There were two questions that I was asking.
Suppose if the results of a match was 8-2, then a simple hypothesis test (one-way) will show that while there is some indication that the winning team is stronger, more games should be played for a more conclusive analysis. However, if the score was 9-1, then it is very likely that the winning team is indeed the stronger of the two.
Like all analysis, assumptions will have to be made. I assumed that the binomial model is a good representation (i.e. all the conditions for the binomial model is assumed).
Partner, looks like you maintained your skills and hmm...the results this year just goes to show that you were the reason that we managed to get fourth last year ^.^
Anyway, this got me thinking about an old problem that I didn't work out the previous time. There were two questions that I was asking.
- Suppose you are organizing a foosball competition, how many "balls" will you get your participants to play?
- Given the outcome of a match, can we conclude anything about the skill levels of the two team?
Suppose if the results of a match was 8-2, then a simple hypothesis test (one-way) will show that while there is some indication that the winning team is stronger, more games should be played for a more conclusive analysis. However, if the score was 9-1, then it is very likely that the winning team is indeed the stronger of the two.
Like all analysis, assumptions will have to be made. I assumed that the binomial model is a good representation (i.e. all the conditions for the binomial model is assumed).
勇氣 (English Version)
In case anyone requires it (hmm... I wonder who), below is the translation of the song 勇氣. I have tried to keep to the same literal meaning as close as possible, while ensuring that the words could still match the tune of the song and fit the general progression of the lyrics. Haha... actually my chinese is also not fantastic. Hopefully I never translate anything wrongly.
Words in square brackets are not meant to be sung, but just to bring out more clearly the idea of the phrase.
Since I have made my decision
I don’t care what others will say
As long as you are feeling the same too.
And with you, I will travel to the depths of the world
I know that it wouldn’t be a breeze
But my feelings for you will sure see me through
My only fear is that you’ll [suddenly] give in.
Love requires quite a bit [of courage]
To face what others will say
Yet one look from you that says you do [love me too]
Then my love is made complete.
We both need to have the faith
That together we will be.
In a sea of people, I think of you
Inside my heart I’ll keep
Your love for me.
If my silly little ways
Had insensitively hurt you so
Please be patient and forgive me
I may be too hasty
But I’m scared that I’ll lose you.
Words in square brackets are not meant to be sung, but just to bring out more clearly the idea of the phrase.
Since I have made my decision
I don’t care what others will say
As long as you are feeling the same too.
And with you, I will travel to the depths of the world
I know that it wouldn’t be a breeze
But my feelings for you will sure see me through
My only fear is that you’ll [suddenly] give in.
Love requires quite a bit [of courage]
To face what others will say
Yet one look from you that says you do [love me too]
Then my love is made complete.
We both need to have the faith
That together we will be.
In a sea of people, I think of you
Inside my heart I’ll keep
Your love for me.
If my silly little ways
Had insensitively hurt you so
Please be patient and forgive me
I may be too hasty
But I’m scared that I’ll lose you.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
勇氣
Hmm... a song from some time back. In the mood for chinese songs these days...
勇氣
於作了這個決定
別人怎麼說我不理
只要你也一樣的肯定
我願意天涯海角都隨你去
我知道一切不容易
我的心一直溫習說服自己
最怕你忽然說要放棄
愛真的需要勇氣
來面對流言蜚語
只要你一個眼神肯定
我的愛就有意義
我們都需要勇氣
去相信會在一起
人潮擁擠我能感覺你
放在我手心裡
你的真心
如果我的堅強任性
會不小心傷害了你
你能不能溫柔提醒
我雖然心太急
更害怕錯過你
勇氣
於作了這個決定
別人怎麼說我不理
只要你也一樣的肯定
我願意天涯海角都隨你去
我知道一切不容易
我的心一直溫習說服自己
最怕你忽然說要放棄
愛真的需要勇氣
來面對流言蜚語
只要你一個眼神肯定
我的愛就有意義
我們都需要勇氣
去相信會在一起
人潮擁擠我能感覺你
放在我手心裡
你的真心
如果我的堅強任性
會不小心傷害了你
你能不能溫柔提醒
我雖然心太急
更害怕錯過你
Friday, September 14, 2007
Almost Surely...
Came across the term "almost surely" while reading up on some stuff. Got the paragraph below from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almost_surely.
"For example, imagine throwing a dart ...consider the event that the dart hits the diagonal of the unit square exactly.... the probability that the dart lands exactly on the diagonal is zero. So, the dart will almost surely not land on the diagonal, .... even though there is zero probability that it will happen, it is still possible."
For your reading pleasure....
"For example, imagine throwing a dart ...consider the event that the dart hits the diagonal of the unit square exactly.... the probability that the dart lands exactly on the diagonal is zero. So, the dart will almost surely not land on the diagonal, .... even though there is zero probability that it will happen, it is still possible."
For your reading pleasure....
When do we have enough time?
Life has been quite hectic recently. I think that I am probably taking on a bit too much things for a starting graduate student. On top of my classes and research (equipment replacement problems) here at UF, I am trying to finish up a paper (robust optimization) with my NUS FYP supervisor. One thing that I have realised is that a researcher shouldn't have too much things on his mind because it really kills the creativity. In addition, it dampens the motivation to explore the problem deeper than what is necessary to churn out the paper. That is very sad. However, my goal now is to finish up my robust optimization paper so that I can concentrate on building up my base for the equipment replacement problems that I may potentially work towards in terms of my "longer-term research".
Haha... and my list of "non-work related" problems has just gotten bigger. Two new ideas just came this week. Firstly, someone has highlighted to me that if one tries to estimate an individual's remaining lifespan by finding "the expected remaining life of that individual given his/her current age". The interesting thing is that the results may be that as the person gets older, he/she is expected to live longer. Mathematically it is possible and I am dying to try it out on real data to see what the results look like. I have also found a website that have real life data. just need the time to work out the problem.
Secondly, I was thinking what type of education is the best for an engineering academic. This thought came to me because I realise that graduate students who were educated in the United States appear to have a lot of catching up in terms of mathematical grounding. But of course those in other education systems have their own weak areas as well. So I was thinking of profiling the faculty of the top universities to see what I get.
Sigh... I gotta stop building castles in the sky and start getting these things out one by one.
Haha... and my list of "non-work related" problems has just gotten bigger. Two new ideas just came this week. Firstly, someone has highlighted to me that if one tries to estimate an individual's remaining lifespan by finding "the expected remaining life of that individual given his/her current age". The interesting thing is that the results may be that as the person gets older, he/she is expected to live longer. Mathematically it is possible and I am dying to try it out on real data to see what the results look like. I have also found a website that have real life data. just need the time to work out the problem.
Secondly, I was thinking what type of education is the best for an engineering academic. This thought came to me because I realise that graduate students who were educated in the United States appear to have a lot of catching up in terms of mathematical grounding. But of course those in other education systems have their own weak areas as well. So I was thinking of profiling the faculty of the top universities to see what I get.
Sigh... I gotta stop building castles in the sky and start getting these things out one by one.
Monday, September 03, 2007
No more 93.3FM for me!
Yesterday, a friend of mine got me to hear this chinese song by 五月天 and 陈绮贞. The title of the song is 私奔到月球. Hehe... very nice.
The lyrics and chords can be found on http://www.jitapu.com/tabPages/149/txt20075014025036.htm. I was introduced to jitapu by my ex-colleagues a few months back and I have grown to realise that is quite good for finding chords and lyrics for chinese pop songs.
Anyway, I was so inspirsed that I wanted to start listening to chinese songs again. So I tried to listen to 93.3FM online, but they gave me the following error message:
We regret to inform that users using US registered IP addresses will not be able to access our internet simulcasts due to unresolved copyright issues.
It appears that royalty fees that internet radio companies have to pay here in US has drastically increased. Sianz.... Here is a link to the story http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9732642-7.html
The lyrics and chords can be found on http://www.jitapu.com/tabPages/149/txt20075014025036.htm. I was introduced to jitapu by my ex-colleagues a few months back and I have grown to realise that is quite good for finding chords and lyrics for chinese pop songs.
Anyway, I was so inspirsed that I wanted to start listening to chinese songs again. So I tried to listen to 93.3FM online, but they gave me the following error message:
We regret to inform that users using US registered IP addresses will not be able to access our internet simulcasts due to unresolved copyright issues.
It appears that royalty fees that internet radio companies have to pay here in US has drastically increased. Sianz.... Here is a link to the story http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9732642-7.html
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