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Ming's MathematicalizationLet there be Math |
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6/29/2009 Usnews (new) World Top 400 Universities....From Usnews.com (http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/worlds-best-colleges/2009/06/18/worlds-best-colleges-top-400.html), They updated this (brand new) ranking mid year (well yeah it's time for them to publish some world type ranking) based on the data from Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings in 2008. I picked out those in the United States and those in Greater China (including Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan). The ranking itself though is quite..... how I should put it.... I don't know :) no comment so far....
6/6/2009 My Plan for the next 3 or 4 years....It's been a while, actually quite a while, since I wrote my last blog about my current life in Pittsburgh. The past semester proved to be quite a busy and yet a fruitful one. My time had soley spent on going to 4 classes (11 credits with only 4 credits counted toward my PHD study), assisting in two recitations (cal2 and cal3) and preparing for two prelim exams. And luckily enough, I've passed both of them with one in mid 70% and one in mid 80% (the passing scores for both were set at 66%, I know I screwed up at analysis :(, please don't yell at me). So having eventually settled down in Pittsburgh, I spent the summer doing my first ever research thingie: deconvolution operator and sparse grid implementation. I also have to take one class (parallel computing) which offers me such a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the beauty of Fortran 90 (should've been 95 or 2003, well, I'm pretty comfortable coding in Fortran 90 now). Hopefully I'll have the draft paper ready by the end of August, and then get prepared for a brand new semester at Pitt. And yeah it snowed quite crazily in Pittsburgh for the past winter, which's why I got some cold and kept coughing for a while (over a month?). Looking forward to taking first ever advanced courses in numerical analysis (NSEs in advanced scientific computing, and numerical PDE), and I have to start plan for my comprehensive exams, which's the second key set of exams before dissertations. two months left for summer, and begin a new academic year :) 3/17/2009 New Life @ PittsburghMoved to Pittsburgh a few months ago, and finially got a chance to write about my new life. Applied to Pitt in mid October last year, and they sent me offer letter by the end of October 2008. After careful consideration, this time really careful consideration, not like last time I kinda rushed to the conclusion that CUNY GC was better than JHU (well, since I got a fellowship offer), this time I've really thought about what my intention would be for my future career. Pure Math is good, only when I'm studying the analysis branch of it or PDE (which's also kinda in the realm of analysis). I like algebra, especially the modules and representation and galois theory parts of it; however I'm not a big fan of topology. although at one time I was fantacizing myself about being a differential geometrist, which's why I fancy UC Berkeley a lot (as well as SUNY SB). I found myself better suited for programming and analysis. so I think , hopefully this time my assumption is right, numerical analysis might be a better choice. so I packed up, and started to move. New York City is not really my cup of "hot chocolate". City style of life, with daily subway rides (old, cracky, dirty subway in new york), crowded, old, messy new york city. I had to say byebye to manhattan. Living in pittsburgh is totally different from that in new york city; a bit similar to that in los angeles. And I get to teach again, although this time to assist in recitations and labs. they have calculus labs (working on math projects in maple); for that I got to learn another new languagues (programming in maple, well not really programming) for teaching purpose. Everything's working fine now. 9/27/2008 3 Year AnniversaryIt's been more than 3 years since I first created this msn space (yeah, originally it was called msn space back in 2005). I did it in April 2005 but didn't have a chance to post anything till September, to be exact, 09/26/2005. I intended to have this lil private space of myself to write something about my school, about my life (it was boring back then), my cars, and about something I have been wanting to accomplish for the future. And glad that I did finish my master degree. now that the only thing left is this doctoral one. I'm not however planning to make it look fancy or fantastic in way, to rhetorically impress others (rhetoric, I learned this from David, thanks bro. hope you got your paper on Rhetoric Advantages). I'm not an English major, thus I don't suppose I can write some blogs to impress somene (well, if take boredom into consideration, I might be able to make someone scream for a while, for instance). Having a lil over 25 thousand clicks exactly reflects my philosophy, or laziness if you prefer to call my attitude that way, about my own blogs, just for fun and to show myself and my friends, take David for example, to have some good laughs over what I've done (esecpaily some silly deeds). and some pictures for my parents, mainly, for them to spy on my daily life. Thus I've been updating my blogs, picture albums once in a while, I'm not gonna say that I can keep it up-to-date three times a month;I'd say probably twice. sometimes school can be very time consuming and heart torturing...I mean work, in fact. looking back, I found those blogs are quite entertaining, solely to myself. every once in a while, I'd post some memorable quotes about movies I went to, they have to be some good ones, or fun ones to interest me. I also made some linear, yeah straight line property, you know that I study math, report about recent life change. I'm pretty happy, so far that no report about people mentally injured by my dry and tastless blogs has reached me. even there are some, I probably won't care at all; except David, if he gives up his evo8 because of that, I'll be more than pleased to take his banana-like toy, considering I don't have my own car now.
Ok, that's it. lil something about this not-so-important anniversary. and I'm keep it up for another, say 40ish years?, darn I can't really imagine if I would have time to write blogs after I get a job. even if I do, it might be just full of some math symbols? glad that I'm not good at creating math formulas here.
so happy anniversary :) to me, gotta give myself some treat tomorrow. 9/24/2008 Memorable Quotes from Batman 2: the Dark KnightOne of the best movies I've ever seen in 2008. Here are some of the quotes from the movies. some of the lines are really worth of remembering... although the movie's a bit violent and bloody, and explosive... well it's a movie for grownup anyway. most of the points made in that movie, I personally think, is only understandable to adults. so...Enjoy the quotes:
Bruce Wayne: Targeting me won't get their money back. I knew the mob wouldn't go down without a fight, but this is different. They crossed the line.
Alfred Pennyworth: You crossed the line first, sir. You squeezed them, you hammered them to the point of desperation. And in their desperation they turned to a man they didn't fully understand. Bruce Wayne: Criminals aren't complicated, Alfred. Just have to figure out what he's after. Alfred Pennyworth: With respect, sir, perhaps this is a man that *you* don't fully understand. Mayor: [regarding The Joker] What do we got? Lt. James Gordon: Nothing. No matches on prints, DNA, dental. Clothing is custom, no labels. Nothing in his pockets but knives and lint. No name, no other alias. Alfred Pennyworth: A long time ago, I was in Burma, my friends and I were working for the local government. They were trying to buy the loyalty of tribal leaders by bribing them with precious stones. But their caravans were being raided in a forest north of Rangoon by a bandit. So we went looking for the stones. But in six months, we never found anyone who traded with him. One day I saw a child playing with a ruby the size of a tangerine. The bandit had been throwing them away. Bruce Wayne: Then why steal them? Alfred Pennyworth: Because he thought it was good sport. Because some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn. [later in the film] Bruce Wayne: The bandit in Burma, did you catch him? Alfred Pennyworth: Yes. Bruce Wayne: How? Alfred Pennyworth: We burned the forest down. The Joker: You just couldn't let me go could you? This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. You truly are incorruptible aren't you? You won't kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness, and I won't kill you, because you're just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever. Batman: You'll be in a padded cell forever. The Joker: Maybe we can share one. They'll be doubling up, the rate this city's inhabitants are losing their minds. The Joker: [to Det. Stephens] Do you wanna know why I use a knife? Guns are too quick. You can't savor all the... little... emotions. In... you see, in their last moments, people show you who they really are. So in a way, I know your friends better than you ever did. Would you like to know which of them were cowards? Batman: What did you do? The Joker: I took Gotham's white knight, and brought him down to our level. It wasn't hard. Y'see, madness, as you know, is like gravity. All it takes is a little...push. [laughs] [last lines]
Lt. James Gordon: Because he's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now...and so we'll hunt him, because he can take it. Because he's not a hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector...a dark knight. The Joker: You'll see, I'll show you, that when the chips are down, these uh... civilized people, they'll eat each other. You see, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve. The Joker: If you're good at something, never do it for free. Alfred Pennyworth: I suppose they'll lock me up as well. As your accomplice...
Bruce Wayne: Accomplice? I'm going to tell them the whole thing was your idea. Batman: Sometimes, truth isn't good enough, sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded.
Alfred Pennyworth: [looks at the large gash on Bruce's arm] Were you mauled by a tiger?
Bruce Wayne: It was a dog... Alfred Pennyworth: Huh? Bruce Wayne: It was a big dog! [pause] Bruce Wayne: More copycats today, Alfred, with guns. Alfred Pennyworth: Why don't you hire them and take the weekend off? Alfred Pennyworth: Know your limits, Master Wayne. Bruce Wayne: Batman has no limits. Alfred Pennyworth: But you do, sir. Bruce Wayne: Well, can't afford to know them. The Joker: You have nothing, nothing to threaten me with. Nothing to do with all your strength.
Harvey Dent: You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. Harvey Dent: The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming.
Lucius Fox: Let me get this straight: You think that your client, one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world, is secretly a vigilante who spends his nights beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands. And your plan is to blackmail this person? Good luck.
[Batman has just fought off Scarecrow and a group of Batman wannabes]
Batman: Don't let me find you out here again. Brian: We're trying to help you! Batman: I don't need help. Dr. Jonathan Crane: Not my diagnosis! Brian: What gives you the right? What's the difference between you and me? [Batman lowers himself into the Batmobile] Batman: I'm not wearing hockey pads! Maroni's Mistress: Can't we go someplace quieter? We can't hear each other talk. Salvatore Maroni: What makes you think I want to hear you talk? Batman: Then why do you want to kill me?
The Joker: [laughs] I don't want to kill you! What would I do without you? Go back to ripping off mob dealers? No, no, you... you complete me. Bruce Wayne: People are dying, Alfred. What would you have me do?
Alfred Pennyworth: Endure, Master Wayne. Take it. They'll hate you for it, but that's the point of Batman, he can be the outcast. He can make the choice that no one else can make, the right choice. Bruce Wayne: Well today I found out what Batman can't do. He can't endure this. Today you get to say "I told you so." Alfred Pennyworth: Today, I don't want to. [pauses for several moments] Alfred Pennyworth: But I did bloody tell you. The Chechen: [after bringing out a man under the influence of fear toxin] Look at what your drugs did to my customers.
Scarecrow: Buyer beware. I told you my compound would take you places. I never said they'd be places you wanted to go. The Chechen: My business...repeat customers... Scarecrow: If you don't like what I have to offer, you can buy from someone else. Assuming Batman left anyone to buy from. The Joker: [to Gambol's thugs] Now, our operation is small but there is a lot of potential for 'aggressive' expansion. So which one of you fine gentlemen would like to join our team? Oh, there's only one spot open right now so we're gonna have...
[breaks pool cue over knee] The Joker: tryouts. [throws broken pool cue at the thugs] The Joker: Make it fast. Lucius Fox: It emits a high-frequency pulse for mapping an environment and records a response time.
Bruce Wayne: Sonar. Just like a... Lucius Fox: Like a submarine, Mr. Wayne. Like a submarine. The Joker: I had a vision, of a world without Batman. The mob ground out a little profit and the police tried to shut them down, one block at a time. And it was so... boring. I've had a change of heart. I don't want Mr.Reese spoiling everything, but why should I have all the fun? Let's give someone else a chance. If Coleman Reese isn't dead in sixty minutes then I blow up a hospital.
The Joker: [speaking to Two-Face] Do I really look like a guy with a plan? You know what I am? I'm a dog chasing cars. I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it. You know, I just do things. The mob has plans, the cops have plans, Gordon's got plans. You know, they're schemers. Schemers trying to control their worlds. I'm not a schemer. I try to show the schemers how pathetic their attempts to control things really are. So, when I say that you and your girlfriend was nothing personal, you know that I'm telling the truth.
The Joker: It's the schemers that put you where you are. You were a schemer, you had plans, and uh, look where that got you. I just did what I do best. I took your little plan and I turned it on itself. Look what I did to this city with a few drums of gas and a couple of bullets. You know what I noticed? Nobody panics when things go according to plan. Even if the plan is horrifying. If tomorrow I tell the press that like a gang banger will get shot, or a truckload of soldiers will be blown up, nobody panics, because it's all, part of the plan. But when I say that one little old mayor will die, well then everyone loses their minds! The Joker: [Joker hands Two-Face a gun and points it at himself] Introduce a little anarchy. Upset the established order, and everything becomes chaos. I'm an agent of chaos. Oh, and you know the thing about chaos? It's fair. [with the gun in Two-Face's hand, Two-Face pauses and takes out his coin] Two-Face: [showing the unscarred side] You live. The Joker: Mm-hmm. Two-Face: [flips, showing the scarred side] You die. The Joker: Mmm, now we're talking. Salvatore Maroni: [to Batman who is interrogating him about The Joker] No one's gonna tell you anything. They're wise to your act. You got rules. The Joker, he's got no rules. No one's gonna cross him for you. You want this guy, you got one way. And you already know what that is. Just take off that mask and let him come find you. Or do you want to let a couple more people get killed while you make your mind? |
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