I suppose I have to be politically correct...
__________
Let's say you have four people, a fifteen-year old teenager, an infant, a toddler, and a twenty five-year old man. Now let's say that you are asked to state who the strongest person in this group of four is, based only on the three following conditions.
The teenager is stronger than the toddler.
The toddler is stronger than the infant.
The man is stronger than the infant.
Is it possible to state who the strongest person is? Clearly, the toddler and the infant are the weakest, as they are both dominated by the teenager. But can we differentiate between the man and the teenager? If the man was strongest and the teenager second strongest, the three conditions hold true. If the teenager was the strongest and the man was second strongest, even third strongest, the three conditions still hold true. Therefore, there is not enough evidence show who is the strongest.
Consider the following argument:
The teenager is definitively stronger than two people, the toddler, and the infant. On the other hand, the man is definitively stronger than than one person, the infant only. Because the teenager is stronger than two, whereas the man is only stronger than one, the teenager has to be the strongest.
What kind of logic is this? This is the explanation that my AP Chemistry teacher provided when explaining the solution to this problem. In context, the problem asked us to compare the activity level of four elements, set-up with those conditions.
Now, occasionally, a subject/field can be very frustrating due to a minor topic. For example, memorizing the derivatives and integrals of inverse trigonometry functions in calculus wasn't particularly fun. However, seeing this type of problem-solving in chemistry is downright offensive. It seems that because there is not enough evidence to empirically solve this problem, some bogus explanation that follows no axiom of logic or critical thinking has to be created.
I truly hope that this explanation was simply an abstraction of the truth. I can accept getting a problem wrong, but I can't accept a problem that does not reward sound, empirical reasoning.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
how has the start of your school year gone so far? What is your favorite/least favorite class and why?
The school year has gone by well.
My favorite thing is the amount of independent learning I get to do this year. This semester, I have the first two blocks open to study AP Biology and calculus-based physics. Basically, I don't technically have to be at school until 10:32.
Least favorite? Not seeing any more of the seniors, or upperclassmen... I got to know a few of them very well during high school and its unfortunate to see them go.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Remaining Summer Plans?
I was thinking of posting something about my St. Paul's experience on my blog. But then I shuddered at the thought of uploading something so personal. In writing workshop, I learned using proper mechanics, complex vocabulary and eloquent sentences detracts the reader from the "candor" of your writing, especially personal essays. In order to write effectively, you must impress your personality upon the reader. Unfortunately, I have no personality, and often enjoy rhetorical flourishes, so I'm not going to write any personal essays for a while.
Nevertheless, I will touch upon some ASP stuff while writing. During my time there, I met a lot of great people, and my thirty-eight days were filled with activities with them, whether it was studying game theory, playing ultimate frisbee, eating a lot of food or talking late into the night. This was in stark contrast to how I'd spend my days normally. I simply needed alone time. I found that playing piano in the chapel or in the musical hall was a relaxing way to spend time by myself. I would often visit two or three times a week, staying there for at least an hour each time.
Piano brought me a lot during St. Pauls. I played "A Thousand Miles" in a serenade, one of the ASP traditions where one dormitory sings a few songs to another dormitory of the opposite sex. I played "Sunflowers" in first talent show, and dedicated "La Fille Aux Cheveux" to a girl in the second show. That piece was interrupted by one of my friends in our act: Three Asians showing off their piano expertise.
As the final days of St. Pauls crept closer, I wanted to keep all my experiences with me. Facebook, and facebook pictures helped me to maintain some discourse with friends. But the music was missing. Therefore, I made plans to continue learning classical music.
For the rest of my summer, and during the early part of my school year, I'm planning to learn these pieces:
This was arguably the most famous of Debussy's piano pieces. I enjoyed playing La Fille, so I wanted to continue with a similar style.
I swear that I would learn this piece before ending piano lessons. Now I swear to learn this before graduating.
Nevertheless, I will touch upon some ASP stuff while writing. During my time there, I met a lot of great people, and my thirty-eight days were filled with activities with them, whether it was studying game theory, playing ultimate frisbee, eating a lot of food or talking late into the night. This was in stark contrast to how I'd spend my days normally. I simply needed alone time. I found that playing piano in the chapel or in the musical hall was a relaxing way to spend time by myself. I would often visit two or three times a week, staying there for at least an hour each time.
Piano brought me a lot during St. Pauls. I played "A Thousand Miles" in a serenade, one of the ASP traditions where one dormitory sings a few songs to another dormitory of the opposite sex. I played "Sunflowers" in first talent show, and dedicated "La Fille Aux Cheveux" to a girl in the second show. That piece was interrupted by one of my friends in our act: Three Asians showing off their piano expertise.
As the final days of St. Pauls crept closer, I wanted to keep all my experiences with me. Facebook, and facebook pictures helped me to maintain some discourse with friends. But the music was missing. Therefore, I made plans to continue learning classical music.
For the rest of my summer, and during the early part of my school year, I'm planning to learn these pieces:
This was arguably the most famous of Debussy's piano pieces. I enjoyed playing La Fille, so I wanted to continue with a similar style.
I swear that I would learn this piece before ending piano lessons. Now I swear to learn this before graduating.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Expression
A week or so after I wrote this, I realized that it was a pretty crappy piece of writing. But I didn't have much time to work on it... I guess I'll leave it up anyways.
_____
Time signatures and musical notes are like the architecture or design of a train. The instrument that delivers the music is like the head of the train. But most importantly are the dynamics. They are the caboose of the train, making the whole experience interesting. In music, dynamics range from “as soft as can be played”, pianississimo, to “as loud as can be played”, fortissimo. The idea behind playing a piece of music is that a range of dynamics is chosen that can best represent the music. Playing fortissimo for a majority of the sound hinders the music when volume must be built up later. The same follows true for playing pianississimo. Generally, one should save extremes for critical moments in a piece of music, like the ending, for example.
Most are familiar with the mantra, “Practice makes perfect”. When dealing with piano music, however, experimentation is necessary. You must take the piano out to clubs from time and time, and experience the soothing stream of a screwdriver. You must understand how your inhabitations are lowered as it gently guides you back to its home. Only then can you understand your relationship with it.
While that was just an awful attempt at sarcasm, it holds truth. In order to play a piano effectively, like in a concert setting, you have to fully aware of its range of expression: what soft sounds like, what loud sounds like, how sensitive the three pedals are, etc. To be efficient in this process, the pianist often focuses on specific music sections that require heavy usage of such aforementioned techniques. After all, he is still tormented with the fear of being the target of thrown tomatoes and various vegetables. He must make haste.
Now what happens when we apply this concept to life? Actions and words are as expressive as music. However, are we aware of the extremes of behavior? There is no objective way to gauge such a shady issue. Unfortunately, this ignorance is often exploited.
___
Now, the pre-writing:
So here I am on a Sunday morning at St. Paul’s, simply enjoying the time that I don’t have to spend dealing with other people. Yes it sounds anti-social, but this past week has been fast-paced and hectic, leaving little time for self, and self-reflection. I decided to write something that may appear unrelated to my explicit feelings, but actually share some parallels with them. It is going to feel abstract both writing and reading it. I also rushed through it, so don't expect it to be fully coherent.
_____
Time signatures and musical notes are like the architecture or design of a train. The instrument that delivers the music is like the head of the train. But most importantly are the dynamics. They are the caboose of the train, making the whole experience interesting. In music, dynamics range from “as soft as can be played”, pianississimo, to “as loud as can be played”, fortissimo. The idea behind playing a piece of music is that a range of dynamics is chosen that can best represent the music. Playing fortissimo for a majority of the sound hinders the music when volume must be built up later. The same follows true for playing pianississimo. Generally, one should save extremes for critical moments in a piece of music, like the ending, for example.
Most are familiar with the mantra, “Practice makes perfect”. When dealing with piano music, however, experimentation is necessary. You must take the piano out to clubs from time and time, and experience the soothing stream of a screwdriver. You must understand how your inhabitations are lowered as it gently guides you back to its home. Only then can you understand your relationship with it.
While that was just an awful attempt at sarcasm, it holds truth. In order to play a piano effectively, like in a concert setting, you have to fully aware of its range of expression: what soft sounds like, what loud sounds like, how sensitive the three pedals are, etc. To be efficient in this process, the pianist often focuses on specific music sections that require heavy usage of such aforementioned techniques. After all, he is still tormented with the fear of being the target of thrown tomatoes and various vegetables. He must make haste.
Now what happens when we apply this concept to life? Actions and words are as expressive as music. However, are we aware of the extremes of behavior? There is no objective way to gauge such a shady issue. Unfortunately, this ignorance is often exploited.
___
Now, the pre-writing:
So here I am on a Sunday morning at St. Paul’s, simply enjoying the time that I don’t have to spend dealing with other people. Yes it sounds anti-social, but this past week has been fast-paced and hectic, leaving little time for self, and self-reflection. I decided to write something that may appear unrelated to my explicit feelings, but actually share some parallels with them. It is going to feel abstract both writing and reading it. I also rushed through it, so don't expect it to be fully coherent.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Life and Death
Sixteen is a liberating number. In cities across the country, it is the youngest age at which you can test for a driver’s license. Being able to drive holds great implications. Providing for your own transportation introduces a sense of independence and freedom. With this comes a time-consuming education period. During my hours of driving, I came to understand the transience of life and the abruptness of death.
Learning to drive was a long process. When I began driving, the car moved erratically; it paid no attention to my actions behind the wheel. A tap on the brake would result in a lurch forward; a tap on the accelerator would result in a lurch back; a turn of the steering wheel would result in a lurch to the side. With more time and more experience, however, these problems lessened. Abrupt brakings became smoother; wider turns became more precise. As I grew more comfortable with the car, my zones of driving widened. Parking lots led to neighborhood streets. Neighborhood streets advanced to interstate highways.
A new perspective of the world resulted from being in driver’s seat. After all, it was a different experience. For teenagers in general, a significant portion of their childhood lives were spent in the passenger seats, simply observing the world pass by. These numerous hours can be interpreted differently. Many view it as the time necessary for transportation. Some perceive it as time to relax, start a conversation or enjoy the scenery. Others perceive it as a waste of time and bring work to do on the ride. Despite the differences, these various interpretations all share the element of passive waiting. Their actions have little influence on the driving. However, driving itself requires the element of active control.
This element brought about the discoveries I made about life and death. It was a typical Thursday afternoon, and I was driving back home. This was a routine path: travel down Broad Street to Interstate 3, cruise south on the freeway to Exit Four, head north-east for Downtown Nashua and turn right towards my neighborhood. While on the highway, my prior experience took control, reminding me to maintain my speed, keep my distance and stay alert. This went smoothly, until I steered the car towards the exit ramp. In my peripheral vision was a frightening sight. The carcass of a small squirrel was on the side of the road.
Road kill is not a foreign sight. In fact, I have seen more of it in recent days, possibly from the city government’s lack of funds to clean the streets. Usually, road kill rarely evokes strong emotion from me despite its graphic nature. After all, it’s simply natural selection in action. One view speculates that hunger had motivated the squirrel to venture out of its original habitat to in hopes of finding sustenance. However, it did not consider the traffic of the road. Its life was quickly ended and the squirrel gene pool became slightly smaller. Another view considers the incident as conflict between man and squirrel. The squirrel’s small delicate body is unable to compete with the man’s intellectual capacity. The outside world, shaped by man’s willpower and intellect, is too dangerous for the squirrel to understand.
However, the contrasts present in this scene immediately struck me. The human mind is constantly analyzing the world around. This can be applied to the details of the car trip. For example, the mind handles time management, selecting appropriate routes and estimating arrival times. It absorbs sensory details, seeing the light from the rear-view windows and listening to the rev of the engine. It manages physical coordination, rotating the steering wheel or depressing the gas pedals. These aspects, and many others, merge to compose the entire experience of driving. On the other hand, the squirrel follows its basic animal instincts, searching for necessities like food, water and shelter. My effort was put into driving carefully. The squirrel’s effort led to its abrupt death.
Insights can be drawn when considering this incident at a larger scale. Any observer may look upon the squirrel and notice its powerlessness. Its lack of intellect makes it appear insignificant and disposable. Yet its death brings the existence of a higher life force into question. Does this force view human life as insignificant, just as we view the squirrel as insignificant? Are we humans merely squirrels on the side of the highway? We may be living under a deluded sense of control of our own lives. Flash floods in Ohio and France, earthquakes in South America and Indonesia, tornados in Mid-West America and other natural disasters cause heavy casualties. The squirrel’s life was extinguished at the hands of nature and the unpredictability of life. One day, ours will be too.
I continued driving on the high way ramp, and merged back into local traffic. The remainder of the trip followed the daily routine. However, I now saw the climactic moment of getting my driver’s license in a different light. Yes, it introduces more independence. Yes, it grants more control. But do these matter in the long run? I can do everything humanely possible to work for my future. Yet I rest in the providence of a higher force.
_________
This was another essay in my AP English Final Portfolio. I enjoyed writing it, so I decided to upload it.
Learning to drive was a long process. When I began driving, the car moved erratically; it paid no attention to my actions behind the wheel. A tap on the brake would result in a lurch forward; a tap on the accelerator would result in a lurch back; a turn of the steering wheel would result in a lurch to the side. With more time and more experience, however, these problems lessened. Abrupt brakings became smoother; wider turns became more precise. As I grew more comfortable with the car, my zones of driving widened. Parking lots led to neighborhood streets. Neighborhood streets advanced to interstate highways.
A new perspective of the world resulted from being in driver’s seat. After all, it was a different experience. For teenagers in general, a significant portion of their childhood lives were spent in the passenger seats, simply observing the world pass by. These numerous hours can be interpreted differently. Many view it as the time necessary for transportation. Some perceive it as time to relax, start a conversation or enjoy the scenery. Others perceive it as a waste of time and bring work to do on the ride. Despite the differences, these various interpretations all share the element of passive waiting. Their actions have little influence on the driving. However, driving itself requires the element of active control.
This element brought about the discoveries I made about life and death. It was a typical Thursday afternoon, and I was driving back home. This was a routine path: travel down Broad Street to Interstate 3, cruise south on the freeway to Exit Four, head north-east for Downtown Nashua and turn right towards my neighborhood. While on the highway, my prior experience took control, reminding me to maintain my speed, keep my distance and stay alert. This went smoothly, until I steered the car towards the exit ramp. In my peripheral vision was a frightening sight. The carcass of a small squirrel was on the side of the road.
Road kill is not a foreign sight. In fact, I have seen more of it in recent days, possibly from the city government’s lack of funds to clean the streets. Usually, road kill rarely evokes strong emotion from me despite its graphic nature. After all, it’s simply natural selection in action. One view speculates that hunger had motivated the squirrel to venture out of its original habitat to in hopes of finding sustenance. However, it did not consider the traffic of the road. Its life was quickly ended and the squirrel gene pool became slightly smaller. Another view considers the incident as conflict between man and squirrel. The squirrel’s small delicate body is unable to compete with the man’s intellectual capacity. The outside world, shaped by man’s willpower and intellect, is too dangerous for the squirrel to understand.
However, the contrasts present in this scene immediately struck me. The human mind is constantly analyzing the world around. This can be applied to the details of the car trip. For example, the mind handles time management, selecting appropriate routes and estimating arrival times. It absorbs sensory details, seeing the light from the rear-view windows and listening to the rev of the engine. It manages physical coordination, rotating the steering wheel or depressing the gas pedals. These aspects, and many others, merge to compose the entire experience of driving. On the other hand, the squirrel follows its basic animal instincts, searching for necessities like food, water and shelter. My effort was put into driving carefully. The squirrel’s effort led to its abrupt death.
Insights can be drawn when considering this incident at a larger scale. Any observer may look upon the squirrel and notice its powerlessness. Its lack of intellect makes it appear insignificant and disposable. Yet its death brings the existence of a higher life force into question. Does this force view human life as insignificant, just as we view the squirrel as insignificant? Are we humans merely squirrels on the side of the highway? We may be living under a deluded sense of control of our own lives. Flash floods in Ohio and France, earthquakes in South America and Indonesia, tornados in Mid-West America and other natural disasters cause heavy casualties. The squirrel’s life was extinguished at the hands of nature and the unpredictability of life. One day, ours will be too.
I continued driving on the high way ramp, and merged back into local traffic. The remainder of the trip followed the daily routine. However, I now saw the climactic moment of getting my driver’s license in a different light. Yes, it introduces more independence. Yes, it grants more control. But do these matter in the long run? I can do everything humanely possible to work for my future. Yet I rest in the providence of a higher force.
_________
This was another essay in my AP English Final Portfolio. I enjoyed writing it, so I decided to upload it.
This I Believe: Teamwork
“FIRST is the only varsity ‘sport’ in which all participants can actually turn pro”. This quote by Francois Castaing became a popular description of the FIRST robotics program. In fact, this program has made an impact on many high school students by attracting them with real world experience and challenging them with a complex assignment. But most significantly, it teaches the importance of teamwork. During my second year in the FIRST robotics program at Nashua High Schools, I came to understand this.
This past year, I was assigned to write software, or a set of instructions that the robot follows, for a camera. This would be used to establish a video stream between the robot and the drivers. After reviewing documentation, I began work, placing my initial code within the primary file to test the camera’s functionality. Soon, however, I began adding more instructions, like driving forward. Because the code made sense to me, I did not leave notes explaining my work. What initially was a simple comment turned into hundreds of lines of indecipherable code.
This proved troublesome for the rest of the team. In order to perform their own testing, other programmers had to sift through the tangled mess I left behind. Also, the adult advisors had to read each line of my code to understand my overall intention. Imagine a hotel. After entering its lobby, I decided that it was too warm, so I took off my sweatshirt and left it on the floor. The following day, I realized that my backpack was heavy, so I took it off and threw it onto a chair. This process continued until many of my belongings were in the lobby, rather than in my designated room. “After all”, I thought, “It’s more convenient for me”. This inevitably resulted in frustration among the other patrons of the hotel. Likewise, my code strewn recklessly in the primary file disrupted the rest of the team.
Through this experience, I learned the value of teamwork. My prior experience and a classic approach to software both told me that centralizing code is most efficient. This implies that functionality is valued over readability. The folly of this mindset was illustrated by Randall Munroe’s comic of a mathematician’s analysis of love. After a series of failed attempts involving algebra and trigonometry, he exclaims, “My normal approach is useless here.” Like love, working in a team is based on more than raw technical analysis. It involves consideration of others’ interests. Therefore, writing code for my personal convenience inconveniences the team.
Eventually, I realized this mistake. I moved my code to a separate file, so other programmers could test in the primary file while still having access to my work. In general, my original design was modified to connect with those of others, opening up lines of communications between sections of code. This past year’s experiences taught me the importance of teamwork. When I “turn pro” after college, I will keep this lesson close to my heart.
_________
This was one of the essays included in my AP English Final Portfolio. Today, I submitted it to the "This I Believe" essay contest. I enjoyed writing it so I decided to upload it.
This past year, I was assigned to write software, or a set of instructions that the robot follows, for a camera. This would be used to establish a video stream between the robot and the drivers. After reviewing documentation, I began work, placing my initial code within the primary file to test the camera’s functionality. Soon, however, I began adding more instructions, like driving forward. Because the code made sense to me, I did not leave notes explaining my work. What initially was a simple comment turned into hundreds of lines of indecipherable code.
This proved troublesome for the rest of the team. In order to perform their own testing, other programmers had to sift through the tangled mess I left behind. Also, the adult advisors had to read each line of my code to understand my overall intention. Imagine a hotel. After entering its lobby, I decided that it was too warm, so I took off my sweatshirt and left it on the floor. The following day, I realized that my backpack was heavy, so I took it off and threw it onto a chair. This process continued until many of my belongings were in the lobby, rather than in my designated room. “After all”, I thought, “It’s more convenient for me”. This inevitably resulted in frustration among the other patrons of the hotel. Likewise, my code strewn recklessly in the primary file disrupted the rest of the team.
Through this experience, I learned the value of teamwork. My prior experience and a classic approach to software both told me that centralizing code is most efficient. This implies that functionality is valued over readability. The folly of this mindset was illustrated by Randall Munroe’s comic of a mathematician’s analysis of love. After a series of failed attempts involving algebra and trigonometry, he exclaims, “My normal approach is useless here.” Like love, working in a team is based on more than raw technical analysis. It involves consideration of others’ interests. Therefore, writing code for my personal convenience inconveniences the team.
Eventually, I realized this mistake. I moved my code to a separate file, so other programmers could test in the primary file while still having access to my work. In general, my original design was modified to connect with those of others, opening up lines of communications between sections of code. This past year’s experiences taught me the importance of teamwork. When I “turn pro” after college, I will keep this lesson close to my heart.
_________
This was one of the essays included in my AP English Final Portfolio. Today, I submitted it to the "This I Believe" essay contest. I enjoyed writing it so I decided to upload it.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Motivation
An Attempt to update my blog:
_________________________
"Self direction is essential for social success." This quote of my own (how pompous) describes how the importance of having a sense of movement and flow one's life. As a student, this means preparing for college or finding work after high school. As an athlete, this usually means predicting difficulties in future competitions and conditioning to overcome them. No matter what state of existence you are in, having a strong sense of direction gives you an outline for future action. This is inherently good.
Problems occur when your sense of direction negatively influences your motivation.
For example, a person so immersed in getting good grades for college may only motivate themselves to get those grades by thinking of college. They lose sight of the larger idea that should encourage their studying: a life-long pursuit of learning and intellectual development. This goal contains far more long-term advantages than simply getting that coveted "A".
The situation that I described is the current rut I find myself in. The AP tests are coming up in a
weeks and I still have content to learn and master. In this studying process, I've become more selective about the knowledge that I intake. "Do I need to know the Heisenberg Uncertainty principles to answering the multiple choice questions about quantum mechanics? No? Well, why bother reading about it?" While getting a good grade on the AP exam has real financial benefits, it now towers over a genuine interest in learning. My self-direction has taken a detour towards this AP studying and testing period, replacing my motivation to learn with a motivation to get a 5.
To many, AP testing is not just a detour. Grade-point average and class rank continue to motivate students, instead of the notion of intellectual and personal development. Unfortunately, students begin to question their own intelligence and ability when they see that they have not achieved the almighty "A". It sickens me how society can be this effective in transforming the attitudes of so many students.
_________________________
"Self direction is essential for social success." This quote of my own (how pompous) describes how the importance of having a sense of movement and flow one's life. As a student, this means preparing for college or finding work after high school. As an athlete, this usually means predicting difficulties in future competitions and conditioning to overcome them. No matter what state of existence you are in, having a strong sense of direction gives you an outline for future action. This is inherently good.
Problems occur when your sense of direction negatively influences your motivation.
For example, a person so immersed in getting good grades for college may only motivate themselves to get those grades by thinking of college. They lose sight of the larger idea that should encourage their studying: a life-long pursuit of learning and intellectual development. This goal contains far more long-term advantages than simply getting that coveted "A".
The situation that I described is the current rut I find myself in. The AP tests are coming up in a
weeks and I still have content to learn and master. In this studying process, I've become more selective about the knowledge that I intake. "Do I need to know the Heisenberg Uncertainty principles to answering the multiple choice questions about quantum mechanics? No? Well, why bother reading about it?" While getting a good grade on the AP exam has real financial benefits, it now towers over a genuine interest in learning. My self-direction has taken a detour towards this AP studying and testing period, replacing my motivation to learn with a motivation to get a 5.
To many, AP testing is not just a detour. Grade-point average and class rank continue to motivate students, instead of the notion of intellectual and personal development. Unfortunately, students begin to question their own intelligence and ability when they see that they have not achieved the almighty "A". It sickens me how society can be this effective in transforming the attitudes of so many students.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Why don't you blog as often as you used to?
1. Writers block
There are times when I'm just at a lack of things to write about or develop.
2. I'm a slow writer
As you can see, it took me quite a while just to answer this question. Usually I like to "digest" a thought before writing about it.
3. School, extra-curricular activities etc.
All these take up time that I could have spent writing
Although my main purpose for writing is for the sake of writing, it's always nice to get feedback, comments etc. It's definitely an encouragement to continue writing posts when I get the sense that people actually read it.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
formspring.me
What is your favorite book?
Of Mice and Men. Its a short captivating read that manages to explores many concepts about American society that all American citizens should be aware of.
I surprised myself by choosing this book, as I might have chosen a pop novel by Dan Brown or Stephen King a few months ago. However, I've begun to think more about the issue of sensationalism in today's media. In movies, it has taught the American consumer to prefer bloody fighting and steamy sex scenes, over dialogue and acting. In music, it has taught the consumer to prefer the generic, repetitive and "catchy" music rather than the complex and intricate. Likewise, in literature, it has taught the consumer to prefer symbolic anti-Christian conspiracy novels over the classics. Classics are now referred as "boring" even though they are abundant with interesting allusions and nuances. It is a sad to see society's artistic tastes degenerate towards the bland, mediocre and shallow.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Threads of Social Theory in Facebook
Does the obscenely large amount of fans or supporters of the multitude Facebook groups, which typically feature the most banal human urges, suggest a shifting societal phenomena where the individual seeks to validate his or her latent psychological desires through attempting to identify with an online community of "similar" individuals instead of accepting that certain desires or behaviors are the manifestation of a progressive society, which is contrapuntally based on the principles of independence and individualism?
If you didn't get that, just keep joining your groups.
Monday, February 8, 2010
formspring.me
What kinds of qualities do you look for in a girl/ want your future partner to possess?
Great question, because I'm probably going to end up over analyzing this as well.
An individual's personality, or even his or her identity, is a very intricate concept. You can often describe a friend or acquaintance with relatively concrete adjectives like "down-to-earth" or "laid back". However, when it comes to assessing what makes a person attractive overall, the individual is a tangled mess of personality traits and mannerisms that just appears oh so beautiful. To stop equivocating, I can mention some of the characteristics that I admire, but it can never act as a template for that special someone. You can't lower Earth's gravitational force just because you want to feel less heavy.
I really wish I could mention some of the girls that I've found/find attractive. But since this is an anonymous question that more than a few might see, I really can't. But anyways, here goes:
1. Energy - This definitely contrasts with how many people, outside of my closest friends, see me. But at the same time, "opposites attract" is a legitimate argument. The point here is that a specific balance would be appreciated. Neither withdrawn nor obnoxiously ditsy.
2. Pride/Humility. This is another balance issue that actually incorporates intelligence, self-esteem and understanding. Obviously, it's undesirable to have someone that's too strong-headed or boastful, but at the same time, someone that doesn't show any confidence or self-esteem isn't attractive either.
3. Introversion - Contrasts a bit with the whole "energy" idea, except that there are plenty of shy people that have a "different" personality around their friends. This adds a little bit to the concept of understanding
4. Distinction/Achievement. This left last intentionally because it may appear too legalistic or materialistic. However, achievement is representative of a forward looking and optimistic mindset. Also, and I can't stress this enough, I want to be able to admire someone for their own ability, to look at them as an individual, rather than just a good friend or spouse.
I think that's enough for now.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Technical Writing? - Thoughts on Engineering, Science and Literature
I was planning to post something over winter break vacation, but I never got around to it. It might have been for the better anyways, because I found some xkcd comics to help illustrate my points more clearly. I’m not really sure where what direction this writing will take, but I hope to touch on the few points that I will somehow succinctly express in the title. Like in my previous posts, this current paragraph helps me to find a way into the piece, because, in a sense, I’m explaining my purpose and what has led me to write. It might seem a little pompous adding a paragraph long introduction for just a mere blog post that only a handful of people might skim over, considering that most probably won’t have the attention span to make it past this sentence. Anyhow, I feel that the informal tone of this helps a lot (not to say that what is to come is more formal).
__________________________
Today, January 9, 2010, was the kick-off of the six-week build season for FIRST Robotics. It was very much similar to my experience from last year’s kick-off: mildly-interesting speeches, great food and intensive designing. Despite this, the first few days of robotics are quite slow because it is centered on design and strategy, rather than implementation. The team spends hours discussing the pros and cons of the various actions involved in game play and how effectively certain designs could accomplish those actions. Once the design is formulated, it is presented to BAE engineers and team sponsors in a preliminary design review. After this, the three groups of the team, mechanical, electrical and software, split off and work on their respective technical problems.
The design phase of the build season raises a question. All three sections work together in order to brainstorm a design when only two work to actualize it. Structural design deals with structural efficiency, something that only the mechanical and electrical people will work on after the design is finalized. On the other hand, making the robot perform its functions, like kicking a ball or navigating terrain, is the sole task of the software team. Why ask them to contribute to an aspect of design that they are not responsible for? Personally, this seems incongruous. It is similar to asking a mechanic which language he would prefer the robot to be coded it. Of course this never occurs during the build season, because the software team, not the mechanical team, will be writing the code. Likewise, there is no need including software in a task that they will never be involved in.
The audience tangibly sees the physical form of the robot, rather than the code that makes it work. Is the inclusion of software some latent form of altruistic narcissism where one assumes that the design will be better when more are involved? The concept of “the more, the merrier” does not apply in a situation when “the more” are people that primarily concern themselves with the loops and conditionals rather than gear ratios and forces.
________________________
http://xkcd.com/451/
This comic helps the reader visualize the differences between technical and humanities careers. The biased opinion does not give enough respect towards writing. One does not need to be familiar with the terms “deconstruction” or “inextricable” to understand that the engineer is portrayed to be infinitely more analytical and perceiving than the literary critic. Despite the divide, there are clear similarities between the two fields.
Simply put, engineering involves itself in solving a problem. The solution must account for the limitations in design and address the requirements. This is seen in software engineering. The limitations are often the space and time constraints for program execution, and the requirements are often the layout of the interface and the presentation of the end result. As a student in AP Computer Science last year, I often had to create user interfaces that allowed the client to do something. This often involved splitting the problem down into simpler steps and combining these steps into a complete program. On the AP test, the program would be graded on how it addressed each of the shorter code fragments that accumulated into a complete program. Points would be given for each section and totaled at the end.
For the sake of clarity, I will change the subject of literary criticism to writing, specifically, writing essays. Essays are one of the most overlooked literary forms, although they are most effective in uniting the reader and the writer. They are involved in introducing a stance on an issue and convincing the reader why that stance is justified. A different level of analysis is involved, where the writer must gather information and formulate arguments in order to be effective. This process is also known as synthesis. In this sense, the writer often encounters a task of the same difficulty as an engineer, even if the only limitation may be the amount of words and the only requirement is to convey a point.
However, there is a distinct difference in grading when it comes to the AP English Language and Composition test. The piece is graded holistically and a score of 1 through 9 is given. Factors like flow, diction and structure are considered, but they are not evaluated separately. This leads to some interesting issues about the discrepancies between the two subjects. I walked into both my APCS and APE class knowing very little about programming and writing, respectively. Had I taken the national APCS test on the first day, I certainly would have failed. However, the APE questions were approachable. After doing some multiple choice questions and free-response essay prompts later in the semester, I found that I would have fared well if I had taken the national test on the first day. I got around 75% of the multiple choice questions correct and a 9 on the essay. This clearly demonstrates how quantitative a subject like Computer Science appears when compared to English. The later has some concepts like “bathos” or “apothesis” that are considered esoteric, but it seems that proficiency on the AP test is based off of one's tendency to read critically and write effectively rather than one's ability to learn and use information. The writer only has to be persuasive to be proficient, whereas an engineer must be knowledgeable and analytical to be competent. The job of the literary critic is certainly difficult, but it has no adherence to grounded concepts and ideas.
__________________________
Today, January 9, 2010, was the kick-off of the six-week build season for FIRST Robotics. It was very much similar to my experience from last year’s kick-off: mildly-interesting speeches, great food and intensive designing. Despite this, the first few days of robotics are quite slow because it is centered on design and strategy, rather than implementation. The team spends hours discussing the pros and cons of the various actions involved in game play and how effectively certain designs could accomplish those actions. Once the design is formulated, it is presented to BAE engineers and team sponsors in a preliminary design review. After this, the three groups of the team, mechanical, electrical and software, split off and work on their respective technical problems.
The design phase of the build season raises a question. All three sections work together in order to brainstorm a design when only two work to actualize it. Structural design deals with structural efficiency, something that only the mechanical and electrical people will work on after the design is finalized. On the other hand, making the robot perform its functions, like kicking a ball or navigating terrain, is the sole task of the software team. Why ask them to contribute to an aspect of design that they are not responsible for? Personally, this seems incongruous. It is similar to asking a mechanic which language he would prefer the robot to be coded it. Of course this never occurs during the build season, because the software team, not the mechanical team, will be writing the code. Likewise, there is no need including software in a task that they will never be involved in.
The audience tangibly sees the physical form of the robot, rather than the code that makes it work. Is the inclusion of software some latent form of altruistic narcissism where one assumes that the design will be better when more are involved? The concept of “the more, the merrier” does not apply in a situation when “the more” are people that primarily concern themselves with the loops and conditionals rather than gear ratios and forces.
________________________
http://xkcd.com/451/
This comic helps the reader visualize the differences between technical and humanities careers. The biased opinion does not give enough respect towards writing. One does not need to be familiar with the terms “deconstruction” or “inextricable” to understand that the engineer is portrayed to be infinitely more analytical and perceiving than the literary critic. Despite the divide, there are clear similarities between the two fields.
Simply put, engineering involves itself in solving a problem. The solution must account for the limitations in design and address the requirements. This is seen in software engineering. The limitations are often the space and time constraints for program execution, and the requirements are often the layout of the interface and the presentation of the end result. As a student in AP Computer Science last year, I often had to create user interfaces that allowed the client to do something. This often involved splitting the problem down into simpler steps and combining these steps into a complete program. On the AP test, the program would be graded on how it addressed each of the shorter code fragments that accumulated into a complete program. Points would be given for each section and totaled at the end.
For the sake of clarity, I will change the subject of literary criticism to writing, specifically, writing essays. Essays are one of the most overlooked literary forms, although they are most effective in uniting the reader and the writer. They are involved in introducing a stance on an issue and convincing the reader why that stance is justified. A different level of analysis is involved, where the writer must gather information and formulate arguments in order to be effective. This process is also known as synthesis. In this sense, the writer often encounters a task of the same difficulty as an engineer, even if the only limitation may be the amount of words and the only requirement is to convey a point.
However, there is a distinct difference in grading when it comes to the AP English Language and Composition test. The piece is graded holistically and a score of 1 through 9 is given. Factors like flow, diction and structure are considered, but they are not evaluated separately. This leads to some interesting issues about the discrepancies between the two subjects. I walked into both my APCS and APE class knowing very little about programming and writing, respectively. Had I taken the national APCS test on the first day, I certainly would have failed. However, the APE questions were approachable. After doing some multiple choice questions and free-response essay prompts later in the semester, I found that I would have fared well if I had taken the national test on the first day. I got around 75% of the multiple choice questions correct and a 9 on the essay. This clearly demonstrates how quantitative a subject like Computer Science appears when compared to English. The later has some concepts like “bathos” or “apothesis” that are considered esoteric, but it seems that proficiency on the AP test is based off of one's tendency to read critically and write effectively rather than one's ability to learn and use information. The writer only has to be persuasive to be proficient, whereas an engineer must be knowledgeable and analytical to be competent. The job of the literary critic is certainly difficult, but it has no adherence to grounded concepts and ideas.
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