Final Scheduling

I am putting together the list of classes I will take next semester, and it looks good. If the math department's schedule matches last spring's, I'll be able to take CS 430 (Hardware), Math 818 (Modern Algebra II), and Math 325 (Analysis) all in a row MWF and only Design Studio on TR. This leaves plenty of time for team time and not being all over the place like I am this semester.

This semester is much harder than I anticipated. There just isn't enough time to work on all these applications and my project and my classes and my research. I guess I could start organizing my time better, but I think I'll burn out really quickly if I give up any more sleep or relaxing time. We'll see.

Genius Alert

Sometimes I accidentally come across a person I didn't know about but should have because he/she makes my life seem insignificant and pointless. Such a man would be Leonard Adleman, whose name I thought I recognized at first, with good reason. He is co-creator of the RSA encryption system, which is the standard security model for all communication over the internet these days. He's also developed the first DNA computers and coined the term "virus" in the computing sense. Take a look at his work if you're interested.

The Battleship Potemkin

I'm currently writing a paper for my film history class on The Battleship Potemkin, a 1925 silent film made in Russia to glorify the mutiny aboard that ship. However, when I was rewatching it, I noticed the ship's chaplain looked a lot like my grandpa:

Bad Statistics

Last night, I had a disturbing dream. It was a very wacky setup that I'm not completely clear about, but I do know one part that is particularly interesting.

I was apparently in this building in downtown Lincoln that was a giant day care center. Basically, there were rooms where parents could stash their kids for a while and then have fun downtown. However, in Wal-Mart fashion, these rooms were on the top floor of a multi-level mall. There were no elevators, only escalators, so they had to walk past all of the stores in order to unload their "burdens."

At one point, I got lost in this place, and was at a certain part where about 10 escalators converged, but they were all exiting on my floor, so I couldn't take any up or down off of my floor. More yet, the escalators where absolutely packed with people who somehow knew a way down. While I was looking for a way down I see a sign, with bright colors and a picture of a kid with a thumbs up that said:

Our escalators are safe: Only one mama killer in 5!

At this point, I realized the absurdity of my dream, and started laughing hysterically, still dreaming lucidly while everyone in the mall started looking at me strangely. I really just wanted to find out what those units were... one in 5 years? one in 5 escalators at any given moment? one in 5 people?

Degree Auditing

I'm old. My degree audit has a very low number of NO categories, and most are either done or IP (in progress). The only NOs I have are CS major (need a hardware and applications course, CS 430 and JDEP 402H respectively), Math major (24 hours 300+, 9 400+, Math 325 and Math 817 respectively), and Japanese Minor (won't actually be completed). It is kind of scary to realize that I only have one more semester of classes after this. It should be a fun semester, too. I'll have the introduction analysis course (325), advanced modern algebra (818), and hardware (430) along with Design Studio without being a team lead (402H). Hopefully, all of these will fit with my schedule and I can have all 12 credit hours accounted for. Otherwise, 818 is optional and I could swap it with any course I wanted to keep full student status (Vines, Wines, and You?).

Mathematical Considerations

The more I think of it, the more I'd rather be a Math Ph.D. than Computer Science.  I tend to think that Analysis would be better than Systems classes.  Also, Math grad students are not as common, so I'd have better chances or better financial support.  I have put several math departments on my list: UNL, UIUC, CMU, UCSD, and MIT.

I've decided to apply for the Math Ph.D. at UCSD for only two reasons:

1. I have family in San Diego

2. Fan Chung Graham has Erdös number 1, so I'd have a chance at a 2.

As far as Computer Science departments are concerned, I plan to apply to CMU, MIT, Stanford, UIUC, and UNC-CH.  There are several reasons why these schools are picked.  The first three are the top overall, UIUC is top for computational geometry, and UNC-CH is top for graphics and my research advisor got his Ph.D. there.

Now, I need to collect all necessary dates and materials and start asking for letters of recommendation.

How I Learned to Love the Bomb

Last night, I accidentally turned off my alarm for working the night shift and got a call to wake me up.  For some reason, in my frantic, groggy mood and after watching too many episodes of 24 in rapid succession, I thought I was getting the call that "the bomb" had gone off.  That is what I expected to hear when I put the phone to my ear.  I wasn't much happier with the actual content of the call.

iTunes Movies: Weak

The new movie feature for selling movies on iTunes [Music] Store made me wish that iTunes would let me rip my DVDs into my library. However, this isn't the case. I'm sure the MPAA wouldn't like it, but it would be nice to have. I really want a better way to browse movies on my computer other than just browsing files. I guess Front Row or Media Center would be better, but I'd rather have something meant for a mouse.

Stealing Work

I found out today that the reason I haven't been getting students asking for help is because there is a designated tutor for an hour or two in the Great Hall 5 days a week. While this is very useful for the freshmen, it means that the two things that let me get to 10 hours a week with my TA job are now gone, and I only have the 5 hours of normally scheduled activity: office hours, class, lab, and 1 hour Sunday study session (which overlaps a tutor, by the way). This is, of course, after my grading responsibilities were taken as well, which I only let slide because I could make it up with extra help. Now, they have two TAs, who are each paid for 3 hours of unuesd office hours a week, who grade different things, but the one who grades things that "take too long for an undergraduate" and actually have an impact on their grades is the one who is unreachable to students. Hooray.

Still Alive

Some girl told me I should update my blog, so I did.  Happy now?