nothing edifying » Asides

Advice Worth Listening To

mim — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:27:08 +0000

Really enjoyed Jeff Bezos’s commencement speech at Princeton — thought provoking, and not boring, about choices and choosing.

When you are 80 years old, and in a quiet moment of reflection narrating for only yourself the most personal version of your life story, the telling that will be most compact and meaningful will be the series of choices you have made. In the end, we are our choices. Build yourself a great story.

kottke>

Watson

mim — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 02:21:24 +0000

Watson, an IBM supercomputer, is supposed to be able to answer natural language questions (or I suppose in this case, provide questions for natural language answers?). First Deep Blue played chess, now Watson’s going to take on Jeopardy. I hope it has a chance to play again Ken Jennings. :)

OMGWTFBBQ!

mim — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:14:54 +0000

I. Cannot. Believe. This. My goodness, when Georgetown lost, I thought that was bracket-busting craziness. But today, well! First Villanova fell, then Kansas fell — Kansas, the overall number one ranked team in the country. Sheesh.

An Explanation for the Previous

mim — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:17:38 +0000

I don’t even remember what we were talking about, but I said something or other, and Yut called me a big nerd! To which I replied that I was not! (It was a v. mature conversation between two adults, I assure you.)

But he insisted that I was, anyone would agree! And I said, I don’t know dude, I mean, consider everyone we know! Lots of nerdy types, variously! I think I might be a v. minor nerd if that!

So I polled you guys. It’s a small sample size but , I think I was right! Leaf was the only vote for yes, everyone else basically said, ok, nerdy, but not a big nerd! So I win. And that’s what’s important.

A Poll: Am I a Big Nerd?

mim — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:03:11 +0000

So what do y’all think? Am I a big nerd?

Please just answer in the comments.

Bible?

mim — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 05:31:46 +0000

I was at the Other Change of Hobbit when a man walked in and asked if they carried the Bible. They don’t. He was kind of agitated, and became more so, in a way that intimated that he could not understand why the place wouldn’t carry the Bible. The Bible! At least some edition! What is the world coming to!?

I’d never considered it, but I suppose it could be somewhat surprising that a bookstore specializing in science fiction and fantasy didn’t carry the Bible.

Today

mim — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:02:31 +0000

So far today, I have woken up later than I meant to, spilled hot tea on myself, and in a separate incident, spilled tea on my desk (luckily not my keyboard). It’s only 10am!!! Gawd I need this week to be over.

Happy New Year!

mim — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:09:33 +0000

Happy Lunar New Year — 恭喜發財 (gong xi fa cai)!

Not that I’m much of a traditionalist, but I’m wearing some red, and no black or white. And I won’t wash my hair tonight. And I had noodles for lunch (for longevity) and I’ll have an orange tonight (for good fortune); I’m also gonna drink some tea, but I think that’s just cos I like tea. :p

No firecrackers everywhere alas — check out Elyse Sewell’s Journal (she’s in China) for some clips of the fun: oxing day.

Bush: A Statistical Retrospective

mim — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:38:48 +0000

Harper’s Index: A Retrospective of the Bush Era [Daring Fireball]

Well… I really don’t see how Bush is gonna be vindicated by history. I hope not.

Portion of his presidency he has spent at or en route to vacation spots: 1/3

Are You Smarter Than a 1-Year-Old?

mim — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:17:27 +0000

Okay, admit it, you didn’t even know all of these:p And you’re probably not as cute! (Or is it just me? :p) [kotaku]