Misc. Catching Up
I finished that paper I was writing for work and my new project is actually getting interesting. However, starting tomorrow, I'll be in the next big class. Although it might seem natural to continue my other work after the lectures, it turns out that this is actively discouraged. Fortunately, the class itself looks interesting, so it should be fun, but it will probably take me away from my daily lunchtime bridge games and will require me to be at work earlier than I usually am (early lecture at 9:00AM).
I found this article explaining the economic issues as more than just the result of incompetence. At the moment, I feel like I'm watching all of this from the sidelines, as I'm not noticing any obvious signs out here (yet?). I suppose it helps that I have a full-time job and didn't have decades of retirement savings to lose in the market, but given all the hype I would expect to see ... something. I initially thought that the lack of people at Laurel Mall was a symptom, but then I was told that the mall had been that way since Arundel Mills opened. (Unsurprisingly, it's run by the same company that runs Arizona Mills.) I guess things can get much worse (e.g. this can't be a good sign) and it will be "interesting" (possibly in the sense of the supposed ancient Chinese curse) to see how everything turns out. For now, this "old" song might be appropriate.
I saw "Watchmen" a few weeks ago. I had never read the original comic book series or, for that matter, even heard of it before the previews for the movie appeared, so I didn't really know what to expect. I probably wouldn't have seen the movie on my own, but I went with the Gesher City SciTech cluster. Although the movie was a bit over the top at times (supposedly like the comic books), I enjoyed it. The finale answered a surprising number of questions, so I was mainly satisfied with it, though I've been told that some interesting details were left out. Still, even those who had read the books liked the movie.
Last night I tried duckpin bowling for the first time with the Mensa Gen-Y group. The game is quite amusing. It seems like hooks should be difficult but that straight rolls should be simple and effective, but the turned out to be more difficult than that. I started off reasonably well, but then I went downhill. Unfortunately, we ran out of time before I had a chance to roll my final frame, but that might have just spared me (pun not initially intended!) further embarrassment.
Quasi-philosophical question: It looks like I'll get a tax refund. Is this a good thing?
A puzzle mentioned by sniffnoy: There are n people and n possible colors of hats. The people know these colors and are allowed to plan a strategy for the following day, when they will each be assigned a hat of one of the n colors; there will be no requirement that all the hats be of different colors and, once they are wearing the hats, they won't be allowed to communicate. Each person will be able to see everyone else's hat but not their own, and they will all have to guess the color of their own hat simultaneously (i.e. without being able to exploit anyone else's guess). How can they guarantee that at least one of them guesses right?
I found this article explaining the economic issues as more than just the result of incompetence. At the moment, I feel like I'm watching all of this from the sidelines, as I'm not noticing any obvious signs out here (yet?). I suppose it helps that I have a full-time job and didn't have decades of retirement savings to lose in the market, but given all the hype I would expect to see ... something. I initially thought that the lack of people at Laurel Mall was a symptom, but then I was told that the mall had been that way since Arundel Mills opened. (Unsurprisingly, it's run by the same company that runs Arizona Mills.) I guess things can get much worse (e.g. this can't be a good sign) and it will be "interesting" (possibly in the sense of the supposed ancient Chinese curse) to see how everything turns out. For now, this "old" song might be appropriate.
I saw "Watchmen" a few weeks ago. I had never read the original comic book series or, for that matter, even heard of it before the previews for the movie appeared, so I didn't really know what to expect. I probably wouldn't have seen the movie on my own, but I went with the Gesher City SciTech cluster. Although the movie was a bit over the top at times (supposedly like the comic books), I enjoyed it. The finale answered a surprising number of questions, so I was mainly satisfied with it, though I've been told that some interesting details were left out. Still, even those who had read the books liked the movie.
Last night I tried duckpin bowling for the first time with the Mensa Gen-Y group. The game is quite amusing. It seems like hooks should be difficult but that straight rolls should be simple and effective, but the turned out to be more difficult than that. I started off reasonably well, but then I went downhill. Unfortunately, we ran out of time before I had a chance to roll my final frame, but that might have just spared me (pun not initially intended!) further embarrassment.
Quasi-philosophical question: It looks like I'll get a tax refund. Is this a good thing?
- Yes; additional money now is good.
- No; it means I was overcharged during the year and lost, at least, the interest on that money.
A puzzle mentioned by sniffnoy: There are n people and n possible colors of hats. The people know these colors and are allowed to plan a strategy for the following day, when they will each be assigned a hat of one of the n colors; there will be no requirement that all the hats be of different colors and, once they are wearing the hats, they won't be allowed to communicate. Each person will be able to see everyone else's hat but not their own, and they will all have to guess the color of their own hat simultaneously (i.e. without being able to exploit anyone else's guess). How can they guarantee that at least one of them guesses right?