The Happiness Thread

Good show, Mackers!

 

I'm happy because on Monday I finish my a level exams, have the summer and then am starting a new job in September!

 

I'm completely stoked

Because I figured out

What was preventing me from being able to format my posts and start new paragraphs..

Now, I can post like a normal member, again. Huzzah!

 

Yay! My son finished his grad degree, applied math. Ceremony is Saturday.

 

Cool! Does he have any interest in teaching? We need more good math teachers.

 

Two more exams till I finally get my life back. Ok, it's not quite that bad, but still. It's nice to know I have some free time to look forward to.

 

Everyone A lot of people thinks a math degree means teaching, but applied math is really a different degree these days. From the graduation program, (just got back ), here are a couple of the doctoral research titles (even though his degree is a masters) to give you an idea what people do with applied math degrees:

"Single-column and mixed-layer model analysis of subtropical stratocumulus response mechanisms relevant to climate change."
"Data analysis techniques applied to image recognition and dynamical systems, and Raman fiber laser/amplifier modeling."
"Value function approximation methods for linearly solvable Markov decision process."

So it involves a lot of mathematical modeling, both of the physical world like how liquids and gasses flow and mix translated into numbers and formulas. Or one can go a different direction and model brain cells or people/behavior, or financial markets, that sort of thing essentially what is needed these days where computer programs and mathematical modeling are involved. I understand what it is, but beyond that, actually doing it is way over my head.

 

Not at all. I'm a bit of a math geek myself, and I am appalled at the state of math education these days.

We need good teachers, and we need aggressive math curriculae.

No child left behind really means every child kept behind.

 

I'm proud to say that, regardless of the fact that this is truly "the dark time" in US federal service, I have managed to gain a promotion to a GS-14 position as an International (Tax) Issue Specialist. It's one of those things that I was tempted to take in stride, initially, but now, realizing how quickly our government is becoming totally dysfunctional (for reasons I won't go into here), I have to give it a bit of a "hooray!"

 

Just finished a maths night class and finished all the tests, I can now relax. I should have posted this a few days ago, but didn't as I was enjoying myself. Let us just say I am still suffering the consequences.

 

Ferry from France to Ireland and flights to Reno via Chicago booked for our August relocation to Carson City - It's official - woohoooo!

 

You're coming to Nevada? Wow. That'll be quite a change. Do you have ties to Carson City?

I used to live in Susanville, CA which isn't too far away. Lassen Volcano is near there, had the last eruption in the US on the mainland before Mt St Helens. And look how close you'll be to Burning Man! Have you ever been to Burning Man?

 

My wife's sister is in Carson, she'll have the pleasure of our company for a couple of months and Burning Man is defo on our list of to do. My other half as been, will we see you there?

 

Not likely anytime soon. I have no reason to travel to Lake Tahoe or Reno. I'd go to Lassen again if I were in the area. As for Burning Man, I'd go if I had the time. This time with a trailer or motorhome, the tent was an issue. I went with my son a couple years ago and I loved it except for the sandstorm. My son didn't mind the weather but he's less comfortable among strangers than me so he doesn't want to go back anytime soon. There are still two tiny piles of dust inside my instrument panel plastic cover in my car. The dust seeped in through the clock and milage dials that come out through the panel. Amazing.

If I was in the area again I'd love to explore the geology. The area used to be under an ocean where those hot plumes occur.

 

I'm going to be published in Andromeda Spaceways Infight Magazine -- and I've been buzzing about it all week

 

As well you should, mon ami. Congrats.

 

Hey, congrats Banzai. That's amazing news, though I think I see something related to this on Facebook. Not sure.

 

And they even pay! That's fantastic.

 

Made ribs on the barbecue for my dad for Father's Day. First time ever. Followed a few basic instructions I found on the internet. They were awesome!

 

Congrats! That's great news. Do you know what issue it's going to be in?

 

I got a new computerrr!!!!

Well. Notebook. Uhhh, Chromebook to be precise.

I AM IN LOVE. Except for the fact that we have a wired internet router and the new compy doesn't have a port for an ethernet cable. So now we need a wireless router, because it costs way too much for me to use my phone as a wi-fi hotspot. Lovely.

 

Yep

Issue #60. Not until January 2014, so plenty of time to get excited!

 

was that your first foray into the art of burning meat? Sounds like it was a success!

 

Not meat in general. I can deliver up a steak that will make you see God, but I had never tried my hands at ribs. It was the undiscovered country. The language I did not speak.

 

Near-death experience??