Summer should not be ending!

I just need two extra weeks of August.  That would be perfect.  Where are those time turners when you need them?  My research is hopping along, but I still have a lot to do.  (Note wonderful three people who read this blog:  you will hear that a lot until I finish this which could be all year).

Knitting:  I have yet to finish the socks.  I have started a new project:  a knitted chimp.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I am knitting a monkey stuffed animal.  So far I have the body, the backside of the head, 1 and 1/2 arms completed.  The pattern was features in a magazine by the designer extraordinary : Alan Dart.  His designs are amazing.  You cannot tell me this is not the cutest dragon you have ever seen?  The details are amazing (check out Medieval Mice for an example).

Well, I better get back my research.  Reading, revising, writing, and designing are on the menu today.

Fresh Herbs...in about a month...

Because of the beautiful weather outside it was just to hard to not enjoy it for a little bit! (I did have coding and research to work on). Today I planted a couple of herbs (basil, lemon balm, and rosemary) from seeds. I couldn't find plants (or I would have bought some). The veggies in the garden are starting to come up. Unfortunately, a few of the beans got it after the odd frost that occurred about a week ago.

Not much else to report past my tweets on Twitter. Research is kind of consuming my life at the moment. I am hoping to make a lot of progress over the summer. Well, it is the goal anyway :-)

Recent music obsession: "Cobrastyle" by Teddybears and Mad Cobra. (The song was featured in the pilot for the tv show Chuck which I was happy to learn was renewed for a 3rd season).

Well, I better get back to that research I mentioned earlier since it will not be researching itself. (I apologize for that horrible last pun...just pretend like you didn't really read it - OK?)

Warm Weather, Movies, Chuck, and other Random Musings

"I'm looking for a submarine. It's big and black, and the driver is a very good friend of mine." - Zukovsky (The World Is Not Enough)

If you hadn't noticed, I have started twittering. Yep, figured everyone else was and it is easier than updating the blog. However, still planning to keep the blog around - because there are times were one wants to write more than 140 characters. (I will have to admit it is kind of fun to try to write a message for twitter that is exactly 140 characters...).  So you can now follow me on twitter or read my twitters on my blog.  Moving on...

Michigan has had some (surprising) warm weather recently (in the low 80s).  I am a huge fan of sandals and had great fun in getting them out of my closet.  Unfortunately, the warm weather did not last and it is back in the upper 50s.  It looks like the weather will get a little warmer as the week goes on - we might get into the low 60s.  Don't worry, Michigan has been getting lots of nice rain - regardless of temperature.  On Sunday we got quiet a downpour in the late afternoon.  Otherwise, it was been on/off drizzle.  That way we know spring is here!  :-)

Enjoyed watching the season finale of Chuck last night. Very interesting episode! I so hope it gets renewed! (If you haven't been watching the show, then I highly recommend it).

Since I really don't have much to talk about I will tell you about movies I am currently enjoying.  My life has been wrapped up in my research and teaching recently.  So actually having a "real life" hasn't been happening much :-)  Work-life balance is not something that really exists in graduate school.

Movies I have been watching for the past few months:

• James Bond (OK, not a specific one...more like slowly trying to watch all of them).
• Caprice: Doris Day has an interest role in this film.  It does have a bit of 60's spy movie spoof.  A one point Doris Day has on this wonderful fuzzy pink hat while running through an apartment complex with Richard Harris's character.  Wonderful little comedy.
• Agatha Christie's The Mirror Crack'd: Wonderful little film with Angela Lansbury as Miss Marple.  I did figure out the mystery before it was announced in the film - but only really close to the end of the film.  Some of the dialog is extremely amusing.
• The Thomas Crown Affair (1999 version): The film is excellent, music is excellent, the whole thing was excellent.  It is a must see if you haven't.  (I won't even admit how many times I have seen this film so far...)
• Married Life: This film reminds me of several Hitchcock films.  I thought it was an interesting and amusing film.  (The music was also excellent!)
• The In-Laws (2003 version):  Watched this movie again after not seeing it for a while.  This movie is an excellent comedy!  So many funny parts, excellent dialog, and plot.

Well, thanks for reading.  Hopefully, since things have slightly calmed down (i.e., spring semester is officially over) I will have more time for blogs.  Or at least tweets on Twitter :-)

Steele With You....

"... yes, information? I'd like the number of the Central Intelligence Agency... No, that is not a residence." - Remington Steele (Remington Steele)

Not much going on to report. Lots of research, teaching, etc. When people ask what time can you do blank at...I actually have to check my schedule! For once, my schedule is actually complex enough that I actually have to have it written down. (I have a lot of once a month meetings or bi-weekly meetings - so trying to remember exactly which week we are on requires me to look it up). But I have a lot of fun meetings that I don't want to miss going to!

Anyway, since I don't have anything better to talk about I am going to talk about my latest tv watching obsession - Remington Steele. Remington Steele is a 80s drama/comedy/detective show starting Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist. Basically, I would describe it as: what James Bond would be if it was a comedy. The part that attracted me to show originally was the references to many classic 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s movies (Just to mention a few: The Thin Man, North by Northwest, Notorious, The Maltese Falcon, Trouble with Harry, Casablanca, Murder on the Orient Express, Charade, My Fair Lady, Arsenic and Old Lace, and Rear Window). Quiet a few Alfred Hitchcock films in the list (which I watched over the summer actually - but that would be a different blog for a different time - maybe if I can remember...). Anyway, very funny show. I give it two thumbs up. Fun, light, and easy watching. I have been slowly watching various episodes (usually while I eat dinner). Great fun and highly recommended

OK, well, that is all I have to talk about in this blog. I better get back to researching...

One Big Sigh of Relief

The semester is finally starting to wrap-up! I got tons of stuff to work on over the summer for my research, but the spring term is pretty much finished. I just have to finish grading and post grades.

My immediate plans for the summer include shopping, watching movies, and catching up on my reading. I just finished Carol Higgins Clark's new book Zapped. Absolutely loved it. I also recently finished Julie Andrews's new book Home. Wonderful book about the her early career.

I recently purchased the The Thin Man DVD set. The movies are from the late 30s and early 40s. The stories and mysteries are pretty good. I love the clothes! The movies have some very funny moments as well - so it is nicely rounded out. I highly recommend it.

Thanks for stopping by and reading. I am hopefully going to update more often (I can't really update any less)!

OK, Gone Researching

"Fortune favors the bold." - Cicero

Sorry about the lack of updates.  I am alive and well.  Just busy.  Extremely busy actually.  Papers, presentations, research, coding, more research, teaching, grading, and even more research have pretty much filled up my time.  The semester is coming to a close in a couple of weeks - hence me being busy.

Although it is officially spring - Michigan has recently had two snow storms.  Yes, several inches of snow.  Of course, there is currently a lot of melting going on today since it is a little over 40 degrees out and we are having sunshine for a change :-)

I thought that this article was interesting:  World's oldest sound recording played in US and that Google has changed their main page today to bring awareness to Earth Hour.  But otherwise, I have nothing to talk about today.  Which is actually a good thing, because I have a lot of work to get done!

Well, I better be getting back to work!  Happy weekend!  Thanks for stopping by.

P.S. I edited/updated my current music obsessions if you were interested

A blog not just about the weather...

So I am going to finally write a blog that doesn't mention snow. Of course, this could be because this is the first time we haven't had any. Don't worry we had 2.5 - 3 inches on Tuesday afternoon and evening. However, I was excited to see a little bit of sun this morning when I woke up (instead of the typical gray-ness). Maybe finally some of the roads will finally get cleared of the packet snow. The expressway was just a little wet when I was out this morning - which is wasn't when I went home yesterday.

This morning I was reminded of an interesting topic that I hadn't thought about in a couple years - Huffman coding. This method is used in compression for jpegs and mp3s. It is funny how we use these things all the time, but we don't really think about it. The method is very simply and very effective. Basically, you rank each item by the number of times it occurs. You give the fequently repeated items a short encoding. Things that occur less often get longer encodings. Therefore, reducing the over all space by approximately 25%. Simple. Straight-forward. Ducky.

Complete side note: I purchased a salad for lunch. It came with a packet of dressing (1.5 oz). How on earth do they pack 210 calories into that thing? The dressing is no where near 210 calories of yumminess. Therefore, I only used about 1/2 of the package. But still. Next time I am bringing my own light dressing from home.

Well, I better get back to work. I have to read a book on fuzzy logic - not my first book. I have been reading several on and off. However, I figured I would try to read this one (Fuzzy Logic: Intelligence, Control, and Information by Yen and Langari) all the way through.

I also need to create a help guide for my students for functions and sub procedures. They have an assignment coming up and I know this concept always causes confusion. It is the nice thing about teaching a class again. You have a better idea some of the issues before hand. Of course, each term they manage to still surprise me!

Thanks for stopping by and reading! Happy sunshine (and lack of snow)!

Weekend Fun-ness

"Think of the safety. Think of the sense of well-being. And, at last, your family can be protected from the heartbreak of gorilla invasion." - Dr. Bunsen Honeydrew (Muppet Show)

Is fun-ness even a word? Probably not, but whatever. That has never stopped me before...

The other day I saw this comic on PhD comics. Funny I happen to be grading that day too. I can so relate to that comic :-) Although, it didn't take me nearly that long. But I have to be carefully that I don't do that to the later papers. It is more frustrating to grade the end one, especially if people keep making the same errors over and over and over again. Oh the joys of grading. (Actually, I like grading most of the time. Seriously, I must have issues or something).

Weather is going to get crazy again and cold. Tomorrow we are going to have single digits and very cold wind chills. Yikes. Oh and there is going to be more snow (2-4 inches). Just what we need, even more snow.

Well, I should be getting back to work. Lots of research to do. I have a paper to read. Then I have to figure out a way to apply weighted mean to my problem while maintaining certain properties. However, I will spare you the details - else your eyes may glaze over ;-) I know I find it interesting, but I am guessing that everyone else only finds it minorally interesting.

Thanks for stopping by and reading! Keep warm :-)

Blizzard-Like Snow

Last night Michigan was hit with some pretty big storms. First, we had thunderstorms followed by a couple of inches of snow. The worst is the 50 mph gusts! My car was under my covered parking space and still got an inch of snow on it. 100's of schools and businesses are closed on this side of the state. The bad weather warnings didn't end until noon. Yet, I am writing this from my office...

Yes, I happen to be at one of the places that didn't close. Yes, I did have class. I did notice that attendance does appear to be small and there are not a lot of students around. Oh and it is still snowing and windy (we have a blowing snow advistory). Oh and they think there is more snow coming. Lovely.

Anyway, it is suppose to get better in the afternoon (at least for a little bit). So I figured I would go ahead and have my office hours anyway. I was already here and everything. However, becuase of the weather I am highly doubting that anyone is going to come.

Other than the weather, everything is going well. I am keeping myself busy with research. As a related side note, there is a paper using fuzzy logic to explain the golden ratio. I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but it looks cool. I was actually looking for something else when I stumpled over this paper.

Well, I better get back to fuzzifying data. Yep, fuzzification and de-fuzzification. Eyes glazed over yet? ;-)

Nothing Important...

"Details of your incompetence do not interest me." - Miranda Priestly (The Devil Wears Prada)

School has an interesting way of coming in chunks these days. I have spent the last week quiet swamped. Oh and it has been snowing like crazy. I think tomorrow is the first day since last week that the forcast only shows "snow flurries" and a temperature above 25. On Friday when I left for school it was 0 degrees with a wind chill of -10. Yuck. Did I mention recently how much I hate snow?

Back to the school thing. I have two presentations I am trying to prepare and homework. I heard rumors that I might be getting some grading in the near future. I have been studying up on Fibonacci heaps (one of the presentations). I also have been reading about red-black trees and b-trees. Fun stuff - no?

Once I finish up with all of that I have to create a presentation regarding my research. I am starting practising presenting my research material so that one day (in many, many, many, many, many months for now) I might get around to proposing. Of course, I have tons of stuff to do before I am any where near ready with proposing. But, I am slowly heading in the direction.

Complete side note: I don't know how I lived before I got my iPod Touch and super-ducky in-ear headphones. They are perfect for using at my office. Blocks some of the just noise-noise. There is this weird vent-fan thing that makes a high-pitch noise when it runs, but the headphones help block it out! I can't decide if I want to get the new software update. Choices, choices, choices...

Snow, Snow, Snow

Since Sunday evening it has been snowing here on this side of Michigan. There was an inch or so Sunday night, a couple of inches during the day on Monday, and possible 1 to 3 inches before morning. Alright, I have to admit that the snow is pretty (as long as I am not having to drive in it). The roads where simply wet when I was out - but that was mid-day. I hate to know what they are like now...

School is already in full swing. I am currently trying on creating a GUI in MATLAB - emphasis on the trying part. I have the design done, but adding the code has been ummm... interesting - that's a good word for it. I have the basic code pieces written, but I am attempting to make the program way more easy to interact with and hopefully make testing of what I really want to do easier. Of course, I need to complete it by Wednesday morning. So no pressure or anything!

Sadly, I don't have anything profound to discuss, point out, or anything. Not that I normally do, but I can't even fake it. Well, I better get back to work. Unfortunately, I don't have any monkeys to do my coding for me so I have to write the program myself ;-) Thanks for stopping by and reading. (Aren't you shocked I made yet another update?)

October is coming to an end

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." - Albert Camus

Intereting article regarding napping ("Napping doesn't impair nighttime sleep, research finds") which I am glad to see. As the semester wears on I find myself taking more and more naps since I am such a night owl.

The weather here in Michigan is definately fall like. The tree leaves have changed and are falling fast. The temperatures are hovering in the 50-60s. There have been a few chances to wear sweaters - much to my excitment. I was shocked to realize that October is almost over! Where has the fall term gone? School has been busy with midterms (taking and grading). Projects and research are moving along. So much to do...

Well, I better get back to work!

Cold Snap

"Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight." - Benjamin Franklin

The weather has definately changed around here. Last weekend it was in the upper 80s. This weekend it is hardly 60. Of course, the great part has been getting out all of my sweaters :-)

Stargate Atlantis was on last night. An interesting episode with two story lines and some interesting action sequences. There was a lot of funny dialoge (especailly over the fruit basket).

I don't have much exciting to talk about. Because of the recent climate change (and temperature drop) my allergies have been acting up. However, I started taking my allergy medication before the temperature drop so I haven't been that bad off - just some coughing and occational sneeze!

My life is pretty much filled up with research. Two research projects (one for a class) is keeping me busy. I have been hunting down articles from the 80s. Interestingly, most of these articles have only been archieved online back to the mid 90s. Therefore, I have to find either authors who have posted copies of these articles or libraries that have bound copies. Scare part is when the closet library is in a different country (and they actually give you the distance from said library).

Finished another interesting mystery book "Murder of a Botoxed Blonde: A Scumble River Mystery" by Denise Swanson. This is the most recent book in the series (I haven't read the other yet but I am planning too). The book is like many of the others I read - young unmarried woman solving crimes. I liked the humor in many of the scenes and the fact that the main character was often concerned with what other people might think of her or her behavior. This gave the character a much more down to earth feel. Also, the plot was complex that I actually didn't figure it out until the end when the main character figure it out. (I always like it better when I can figure out the whole plot before the end, but that is just my personal preference).

Well, I better get back to work since those research papers are not going to read and summarize themselves. Hmm...maybe I could invent some sort of artifical intelligent agent that could do that for me...

Music, Quantum Computers, etc

"Just a little bit louder, because this song is intended for humans, okay? Way Back Into Love, take two." - Alex Fletcher (Music and Lyrics)

Current Music Obsession: Soundtrack for Music and Lyrics

I recently watched Music and Lyrics on DVD. Excellent funny movie. If you haven't seen it, rush out and get it. Seriously. I don't see you rushing ;-) Just kidding. It is quiet funny. If you are into romantic comedies, this is one of the best. Plus, you get to see Hugh Grant sing and dance 80s style and if that doesn't make you laugh you are seriously not trying.

I then rushed out to purchase the soundtrack. A couple of really catchy songs. My favorites are: "Don't Write Me Off" and "Way Back Into Love". Both songs are quiet important to the plot of the movie.

Complete side note: Interesting article: "Scientists demonstrate quantum state exchange between light and matter"

My class is going well. Summer classes are so weird. You do in for the day which is really like a week in the normal term. Since I am only taking the one class it is kind of fun to just be focusing on it. Of course, I am suppose to also be narrowing down what I want to do research-wise. Unfortunately, that is on the back burner. Why? Because I like too many areas! I simply can't make up mind. (Yes, I am completely aware of my insanity. Moving on...) By the way this comic and this comic perfectly explain thesis.

Spring has arrived in Michigan. It is sunny and warm today. As normal we have had a bit of rain, but the temperatures are finally starting to pick up. Normally we are in the 70s at least and on often in the 80s. I can finally get out my short sleeve shirts and summer clothes.

I have been enjoying wearing sandals. I have my eye on a couple of interesting pairs at the store - but I have yet to buy any...yet. Of course, any of you who know me well know that it won't be long before I am buying new sandals. I did buy some clearance shoes the other day. Not sandels, but I need something to wear the other days of the year. (Yes, that is my story and I am sticking to it). I got this really cute pair of flats to wear with these pants that I recently got on clearance...

Enough about my shopping "issues" ;-) I better get back to my school work. I have a bunch of exciting reading about histogram algorithms (and other fun pattern recognition topics.

Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog. Until next time I remember to update my blog...

Old Made New Again...

Back when I was trying to finish my master's project I wrote a blog entitled: 10 Ways to Know You are Working to Hard on Your Project. Since it was funny then I decided to write another list which I have high hopes of being equally as humorous. If it isn't - forgive me.

15 Ways to Know You are a Grad Student:

1. You are really tired of people asking you "how many more years are you going to in school?!?"

2. Anything cool you hear abou you put on your "To-Do-After-I-Finish-Grad-School" List (and it now has more than 10 items on it).

3. You actually have a "To-Do-After-I-Finish-Grad-School" List

4. You own more than 4 shirts with the name of a college you have attended

5. You start looking like the horrible picture on your student ID

6. Eating health is a goal. But the pizza at the university cafe looks soooo good...

7. By your diet plan, caffine must be a food group

8. You get in arguements with other graduate students that very few other people could understand or follow

9. In a given day only having one presentation or homework assignment to work on (but due tomorrow) is considered a "light day"

10. You have friends that tell you about their lives and you realize how different yours really is (and then you realize that you don't really have a life, but you pretend you do)

11. You make horrible jokes that relate to your field of study.

12. When discussing your summar plans you include research

13. The kitchen in your apartment hardly gets used except for the storage of take-out food bags

14. When reading material to preparing a presentation for a class you are realize you own some of the books on the reference list

15. You understand all the jokes in the Piled Higher and Deeper comic

No, the blogger is alive

"You aren't going to fire me. My face is on buses." - Jack Taylor (One Fine Day)

Sorry about the lack of blogs. Two words: compiler project.

The weather here in Michigan has been absolutely beutiful! OK, so it rained a few times, but the temperatures have been in the 70s. I have been loving it. Sandels are just itching to be brought out of the closet. Did I mention my obsession with shoes recently? I got this really cool pair a couple weeks back at 75% off - chocolate in color. So very comfortable. Anyway moving on...

My recent music obsession has been Regina Spektor. Her new CD entitled "Begin to Hope" is excellent. I have several favorite songs on the CD - "Fidelity", "On the Radio", and "Hotel Song". Check out the music (or music videos) on the website if you want to hear it for your self. I got "Fidelity" off iTunes first and loved it so much that I got the CD from Target the other week and have been listening to it quiet a bit.

The other week I was sitting in class listening to a presentation. Since it is a class about theory, there are always a lot of greek symbols and what not. I realized that even after all of the years (and math, theory, and statistic classes) I still have trouble remembering my greek symbols. Anytime I give a presentation I look them up ahead of time. Seriously.

A couple years ago a friend suggested (while discussing homework for a theory class) that we make up names when I mentioned I couldn't remember the name for a symbol. It was a trick she had used in undergrad. The symbol in question at the time was the alternate version of phi that you often see in textbooks.

Anyway, my sleep deprivated brain said the first thing that came to mind (which is always a mistake) "butt on a stick". I realized after I said it that it was totally the wrong to say. However, it did cause my friend to laugh and even more amazingly to actually use my horrible name. Of course, whenever I see that symbol it causes me to giggle in memory. Did I mention I (and my friend) were seriously sleep deprived graduate students? We would have laughted at anything. Oh wait, we did.

This past week I was equally sleep deprived. The fun never stops here in grad school land! I love it, but if I got a few more hours of sleep some weeks I would love it even more :-) Speaking of sleep, I am giving a presentation in the morning. I better get to bed so I don't sound any more confused than I absolutely have to tomorrow ;-)

Oh, I am giving a presentaiton on probabilistic Turing Machines. Cool and fun stuff. But I better quit rambling and get to bed. My bed is calling me.

Yes, my bed is calling me. I hear you laughing at me...go ahead enjoy...it is pretty funny now that I am reading what I wrote. I could change it, but I am way to lazy...

It's Wednesday...

"Winds in the east, mist coming in, Like somethin' is brewin' and bout to begin. Can't put me finger on what lies in store, But I fear what's to happen all happened before." - Bert (Mary Poppins)*

I honestly don't have anything to tell. I have been working on research and teaching. The students are working on classes and overloading operators. Fun stuff todo, not so fun on the teaching aspect. You feel like you have gone over the same couple topics so many times...with so many students...it gets to be interesting. Of course, I know have my little "speal" memorized. Would you like to hear it? No, I wouldn't either if I were you. It's not that good - honest.

Otherwise, I have spending a bit of time reading all about The Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy system. I am trying to write this program see - for research see - and well at least I sort have a little bit of understanding regarding fuzzy stuff. I know a lot more the fuzzy terms now which helps a lot when I am reading some of the papers. Still have a long way to go.

Links to articles I thought you might find interesting:
"Scientists develop algorithm for ultra-secret security technique"

"Researchers uncover earliest dental work in this hemisphere"

"Microsoft Adds Webcams To Hardware Line"

"Two Butterfly Species Evolved Into Third, Study Finds"

*I absolutely love the Mary Poppins movie. I have read the books that the movie was based. Of course, the movie makes Mary Poppins a much more lovable character then the books. Anyway, the point is, yes I like the movie and there is no point in smirking at me regarding it. You know who you are. For everyone else, please continue having a bright and shiney day! Thanks for stopping by :-D