Last week in Operations class - Decision Models - we were instructed to describe the solution to a linear optimization problem without using numbers. I think it was my group partner that suggested it, at any rate, we kicked it up a notch.
Operations Haiku
max out revenue
within production constraints
and supply demand
Note that we've followed an English 5-7-5 Haiku format. I learned while reading up on Haiku that it's more appropriate to use a 2-3-2 format for English Haiku since the Japanese version is the 5-7-5 form. I think I got that right...anyway here is a good site to learn more. :)
Saturday I took some time to load Windows XP Professional Media Center on my laptop and on my old Dell desktop at home. It was an interesting process, finding all the right drivers since I hadn't planned out that aspect of it ahead of time. Thankfully I had backed-up drivers not to long ago. Also fun playing around with Media Center and setting up music, pictures, etc.
I also set up Media Center Extender for Xbox (unfortunately I do not yet have the Xbox 360). While the animations and smoothness of the Media Center GUI are not present on the Extender for Xbox, it's pretty slick to pull all the music, pictures, and videos that I want. I even paid too much for a 50 ft ethernet cable just to set it up this weekend. Oh and I ordered this Hauppauge card as TV tuner.
Finally, the major challenge of setting up Extender for Xbox is getting the firewall settings correct. I'm currently using the Windows OneCare Beta, and needed to manually (I guess that is the correct verb for typing in specific port values for it to work) set the ports. This Microsoft Knowledge Base 883352 Release Notes has a helpful section on networking - I opened the ports described (only for internal router traffic) and it worked. :)
We went back to Goshen this past weekend. Good time to relax, rest, and enjoy the cold winter weather. A friend had Microsoft Streets and Trips with GPS, which was very cool to play with. Roadtrips would never be the same with a GPS device and a laptop. :)
Last Tuesday was the start of classes and my first class was Economic Analysis of Major Policy Issues. When Gary Becker walked into the room the class went silent. He is a very un-assuming and speaks quietly and very matter-of-factly. Check out his CV...
Oh, and I have to admit that I was embarrased on the first day of class. I was diligently taking notes when he stopped and asked what I thought was a yes or no question about two points on an efficieny frontier curve. I answered 'no', but he was looking for a more something other than a yes/no. In my follow-up response, I unfortunately did not provide exactly what he wanted...
Do check out his blog - Becker-Posner - also linked at the side.
I'm thinking about building a Noguchi coffee table. I first saw it in a DWR catalog and had wanted to see the Noguchi exhibit in Seattle this past summer (never did).
I thought I'd start on it over break, but only finished up the diagrams and figuring out a way to produce paper versions of the diagram for the base. I also need to find a source for the glass top because it is a unique shape and also because it might require grinding?
Classes started again today, and I had the priviledge of being embarrased by Mr. Becker in class - thanks mostly to semantics of a question. :) Be sure to check out the Becker - Posner Blog for interesting economic analysis. The class, Economic Analysis of Major Policy Issues, is definitely a unique experience taught tag-team style by Professor Becker, Professor Murphy, and Professor/Dean Synder.
This quarter is going to keep me plenty busy...little overwhelmed first week as first classes have a lot of reading to catch up on.