Why I live in Lawrence...

The fact that this article appears on the front page of the online Journal World is a pretty good indicator of why I live in Lawrence.

Logicomix

On a whim I picked up a graphic novel called Logicomix that is a biography of the early life of Bertrand Russell. It outlines his quest to formally define mathematics that lead he and Whitehead to write Principia Mathematica. Are you bored yet? Don't let that run you away from this incredible book - it is currently the New York Times #1 selling graphic novel. It is not in any way a tutorial on mathematics or logic, but in fact a really fun story to read. It was so compelling that I read the entire book in three sittings.  Yes, it does outline a period in history where logic and mathematics were redefining themselves for the 20th century.  You will get a good dose of history, but it is more a story about people than about logic.  Anyone who knows what I do technically knows that I love studying the work of early 20th century logicians.  I even give public talks on what Hilbert, Godel, Russell and friends were up to.  Putting that love aside, I can honestly recommend this book to anyone.

RIAA loses one

Finally, it looks like the RIAA is being forced to accept reasonable compensation for file sharing damages.  Still excessive according to the judge, but the message has been sent.  The same law that protects large companies from excessive verdicts applies to individuals as well.  No doubt that copyright violations should be prosecuted, but the RIAA and friends have simply been given far too much power.  Here's hoping we can come up with something reasonable when this is all said and done.

Happy Birthday Alan Turing

I learned last night that today is the 98th anniversary of Alan Turing's birth.  As anyone who's taken my Honor's Tutorial knows, I am rather a big fan of Turing and am looking forward to Turing Year in 2012.  There is much I can say about this, but much of what I know is summed up quite well in this blog post from Wolfram.

I am reminded that Turing was only 41 when he died.  One has to wonder what else he would have achieved had his life been longer.  I am also reminded that his work was not widely recognized in his own lifetime.

RSA Animate - Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us

Very cool video on motivation. Both in terms of what it says and in terms of how it is said. Definitely worth a watch.

ITTC Director

It's pretty much official at this point that I am the new ITTC Director.  After a successful advisory board meeting, it's time to charge ahead and grow ITTC.

Summer is here

So summer is officially here and I'm looking at my last post on January 31. Wow. What the heck happened to last semester. My class was a blast, I had great fun at ITTC, lots of things happened except writing on the blog. I know I'm committing blogging heresy by talking about not posting in a post, but I'm doing to do it anyway. Just remember, AT LEAST I'M NOT POSTING IN ALL CAPS WITH LOTS OF EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!!. I will try to do better.