AskLG

Today, I was working on creating an algorithm to optimize binary search trees. Its not too hard to get a binary search tree optimized in O(n^3) time, but cutting it down to O(n^2) time has proven quite difficult. Dr. Knuth has an algorithm to do just that (written in 1971) but deriving and proving has been terrible. Six hours of work today on this and a few related problem with not much to show but intellectual progress. At least now I know what doesn’t work. That means something right?

So while I fire up XCode to figure this stuff out, here’s a nice little video from BBC and Google. Its going to be tough to hold out for an Android-based phone. I’m excited to see what’s next.

Apple fanboys and fangals rejoice! Today several high ranking tech blogs, such as Engadget and Gizmodo, were invited to Apple for an iPhone roadmap and SDK event on March 6th. What does this mean to iPhone owners? You could get really cool, probably free, applications for your iPhone soon. This announcement doesn’t mean they are releasing on the 6th, but they will have a status report at the very least. Once released, developers get to work their magic to create apps to make your life easier. I suspect applications for social networks will be hot at first, as well as things such as a Twitter updater so you can view multiple friends at once. Overall, cool things happen when the framework is opened up. Just look at how Facebook took off with their applications.

Speaking of Twitter, I finally got me an account. I know, I know. I’m probably 2-3 years behind the curve, but I never really thought it’d be useful. I’ve been having trouble trying to keep up with all my friends, so I have made two changes. First I downloaded Flock. Its a web browser with a twist, and great way to connect with friends. I’ll be writing a full length article on Flock a little later. Next, I signed up for a Twitter account. Mine’s here. Problem is, not many of my friends use twitter. Oh, well. Maybe it will come in handy later.

click for the spoilers to be spoiled if you can’t wait till Friday.

(more…)

A $20 million payday awaits the undefeated WBC welterweight champion when he takes on Big Show as part of WWE’s “WrestleMania XXIV” at Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on March 30.

read more.

Warner Brothers announced this week that “Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins” will hit theatres on May 22, 2009.

The fourth “Terminator” film, which begins shooting in New Mexico in May, stars Christian Bale as the leader of a group of survivors who try to stop the machines after Skynet nearly destroys humanity in a nuclear holocaust.

In a joint statement with the network, WWE announced Tuesday that it has made a deal to make MyNetworkTV the official home of SmackDown! beginning this fall.

WWE SmackDown, the company’s number two series, will end its run with The CW Network at the end of the 2007-08 broadcast season.

The CW broadcast of the show had been airing on Friday nights; it is not certain that SmackDown! will retain that slot this fall.

“The momentum at MyNetworkTV continues with this major acquisition. We have demonstrated tremendous growth and this partnership with WWE, the premier sports entertainment franchise in the world, is a perfect fit for our viewers, advertisers and affiliates,” said Greg Meidel, president of MyNetwork TV.

Don’t you hate it when people say, “You don’t need to know this, but I’ll tell you anyways” or something like “This is too difficult for you to understand, but I’ll quickly go over it.” Yeah, me too. I mean, if you don’t think I need to know then why waste your time telling me? Shouldn’t you be telling someone who actually needs to know whatever it is? Likewise, why do you quickly explain something to me that you don’t think I could understand with a regular explanation. Shouldn’t you be spending more time on that subject to ensure full comprehension? How is that statement logically justified?

I was watching my local news tonight, and saw an interesting article. Today Starbucks closed its doors. They kicked out all of their customers and locked up early. This horrible (heh, so relative) event happened at every single Starbucks across the nation. Then I found out that doors will still be open tomorrow and for years to come. All of the employees underwent a coffee appreciation moment courtesy of their employer. I would really like to know exactly what went on during those 3 long private hours, but all I can do is guess. I really do like this idea though. Starbucks gave up millions (no reference to cite that, just speculation) in revenue to close shop. They gave their employees a great experience (hopefully). I applaud them for making such a bold move. Maybe other places should close shop for a day to further enlighten their employees and make it a happy place to work. In some circumstances, it could really make it a delightful place to work where people actually enjoy working.

Google does this at their campus in Mountain View. They offer free food, gym, and just so much more. I’m not even going to list all they have since I’m sure its always changing. The key is, they keep their employees happy. Happy employees probably work better and treat customers better. State Governments, take note! I want you to give perks to those unhappy people at the DMV and at the courts! Seriously…

You’re in a conversation when something is said that causes the interaction to take a detour, and not for the better. What I think people fail to realize is how selfish people really are. Once you think about it, it does start to make sense. Why not talk about yourself? Why talk about someone else that you don’t know?

I always refer to myself in discussions mostly because that’s all I know. Makes sense right? You’re with you all the time so why not use you? To me, communication would be a lot better if people either knew what everyone was thinking, and we didn’t have to talk, or they would subscribe to the Fortune Cookie Method. I intentionally made it easy so everyone could apply it. Ready??? It works the same way when you add “in bed” or “on the toilet/john” at the end of a fortune from a cookie. Whenever someone says something just add “to me” at the end of it. For example, Jane says to John “that looks horrible” and John would think “to me” in his head. It’s that it itself is hideous but more that it looks hideous to Jane.

Conversations will be much more clear because now you know a little bit more detail about what point one person is trying to get across. Now the flip side works the same way. You have to realize that you are giving your point from a biased point of view … your own. Use that knowledge as a tool. It works, I know, because I came up with it. OK, I’ll break it down. The principle behind it is something you’ve heard most of your life, if not all. No one really sees reality but rather what they interpret it to be. And why wouldn’t we? We are not two people in one person’s body, so why not have a slightly slanted point of view? As humans we take things for “face” value but don’t realize that we are relating the situation to us and not accepting reality for what it is. This spurs another topic that we won’t discuss but it’s fun to think about. What is reality anyways??? Remember this next time you go out and use it. You might be surprised that I’m right. Of course there are few cases where something is wrong, inappropriate, or not very functional like a square going in a round peg. Ok, most of the time I’m right      …. to me. 

Impact spoilers for 2/28/08 and 3/6/08

(more…)

Its been a month of grad school in 2008 already! Wow, time flies when you’re busy. Today I got my first Automata test back. I made an 80, and I’m pissed! On the last question of the test, I copied the variable down wrong. I put a ‘c’ instead of a ‘b’. The method was completely correct, but since I copied it down wrong (and consequently solved the wrong problem), he took off 12 points. It killed me. I’m the smartest idiot I know.

In other news, Sarah Silverman recently (eh.. kinda) was on Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show. Jimmy and Sarah have been dating for quite a while (5+ years), so it was nice to see them together on the show. To celebrate his anniversary show, she rolled a video proclaiming she is F*cking Matt Damon (soooo nsfw).

It was only a matter of time before the retaliation came. Jimmy came up with this after the Oscars. He decided to take something dear to Matt Damon, which is apparently Ben Affleck. Again, probably nsfw (unless you have a great job).

Simply hilarious. I love his power to get stars in on his. Harrison Ford, Cameron Diaz, Robin Williams, Brad Pitt, and others were simply hilarious.