In franchise history, the Dodgers have never had a season in which none of their pitchers has won 10+ games.
This year, our win leader is Ross Stripling (with 8 wins), who is currently on the disabled list.
We have a good chance to make the playoffs, and there is an even better chance that none of our pitchers will get double digits in wins. "Accomplishing" both of these things in the same season is not easy.
(I found this out from Charley Steiner on tonight's broadcast.)
My name is Mason Porter. I am a Professor in the Department of Mathematics at UCLA. Previously I was Professor of Nonlinear and Complex Systems in the Mathematical Institute at University of Oxford. I was also a Tutorial Fellow of Somerville College.
Friday, August 31, 2018
Thursday, August 30, 2018
"Do Complex-Systems Scientists Dream of Emergent Sheep?"
I came up with this title earlier today, and I need to write an article (or book or something) with this title.
Update: And, to complete the picture, note that there is also an old game called Netrunner.
Do complex-systems scientists dream of emergent sheep? :)
— DynamicalSystemsSIAM (@DynamicsSIAM) August 30, 2018
Update: And, to complete the picture, note that there is also an old game called Netrunner.
Carpeting Dragon*Con
The old carpet at the Atlanta Marriott — which unfortunately was replaced with something much more boring — has become a big part of the legend of Dragon*Con. (It also appeals to me mathematically, of course.)
Many Dragon*Con costumes and related things still invoke the old carpet.
Here is an article (to which I can't get full access) that appears to be about carpet-related costumes more generally (though the front picture is one from Dragon*Con).
Many Dragon*Con costumes and related things still invoke the old carpet.
Here is an article (to which I can't get full access) that appears to be about carpet-related costumes more generally (though the front picture is one from Dragon*Con).
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Scientific Journals are for Kids!
The journal Frontiers for Young Minds is very cool!
It is "an open-access scientific journal written by scientists and reviewed by a board of kids and teens."
Here is some text from their online blurb:
That is why distinguished scientists are invited to write about their cutting-edge discoveries in a language that is accessible for young readers, and it is then up to the kids themselves – with the help of a science mentor – to provide feedback and explain to the authors how to best improve the articles before publication.
As a result, Frontiers for Young Minds provides a collection of freely available scientific articles by distinguished scientists that are shaped for younger audiences by the input of their own young peers.
I approve!
(Tip of the cap to Petter Holme.)
It is "an open-access scientific journal written by scientists and reviewed by a board of kids and teens."
Here is some text from their online blurb:
That is why distinguished scientists are invited to write about their cutting-edge discoveries in a language that is accessible for young readers, and it is then up to the kids themselves – with the help of a science mentor – to provide feedback and explain to the authors how to best improve the articles before publication.
As a result, Frontiers for Young Minds provides a collection of freely available scientific articles by distinguished scientists that are shaped for younger audiences by the input of their own young peers.
I approve!
(Tip of the cap to Petter Holme.)
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Advice to Students: "Think for Yourself."
This statement gives excellent advice! In fact, it's the main thing that I try to convey to students.
"We are scholars and teachers at Princeton, Harvard, Yale, and other institutions who have some thoughts to share and advice to offer students across the country. Our advice can be distilled to three words:
Think for yourself."
The full statement, which I signed, is worth reading.
"We are scholars and teachers at Princeton, Harvard, Yale, and other institutions who have some thoughts to share and advice to offer students across the country. Our advice can be distilled to three words:
Think for yourself."
The full statement, which I signed, is worth reading.
Monday, August 27, 2018
The Karate Club Will Long Live in Network-Science Infamy
Especially with the new Karate Club lore that has made it into the 2nd edition of Mark Newman's textbook.
(However, Mark misspelled "awesome" as "dubious", for some reason.)
P.S. You can see the history of the ZKCC at this website and buy ZKC memorabilia at The Power Law Shop.
(However, Mark misspelled "awesome" as "dubious", for some reason.)
Snarky Karate Club lore (t-shirt + ZKCC) has made the 2nd edition of Mark Newman's textbook on networks (the closest thing we have to a standard introductory text).
— Mason Porter (@masonporter) August 27, 2018
Should I be happier about having papers & research cited in the 2nd edition, or about the t-shirt being cited? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/yCjq4MCzer
P.S. You can see the history of the ZKCC at this website and buy ZKC memorabilia at The Power Law Shop.
Friday, August 17, 2018
Infinite Loop
well played pic.twitter.com/KVZV799qmB
— Leon Fayer (@papa_fire) August 16, 2018
(Tip of the cap to Manlio De Domenico.)
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
What Happens at WorldCon 76 Stays at WorldCon 76
I am at the airport — experiencing a lovely 2.5-hour delay in my flight — and will be flying to San Jose, California to attend this year's WorldCon. Several of my friends will be there, so it should be lots of fun.
I am looking forward to geeking out!
(I am also looking forward to getting out of this crowded, shitty airport. LAX is awful.)
I am looking forward to geeking out!
(I am also looking forward to getting out of this crowded, shitty airport. LAX is awful.)
Monday, August 13, 2018
A Wassermanian–Faustian Bargain
Earlier today, I was looking for 'balance' in "Social Network Analysis" by Wasserman & Faust, but instead I found the 'beast'.
— Mason Porter (@masonporter) August 13, 2018
(I suppose that social network analysis is sometimes a Wassermanian–Faustian bargain.) pic.twitter.com/cm4jZiupeW
Friday, August 10, 2018
"Network Analysis of Particles and Grains"
Our review article on granular and particulate networks, which appeared in advanced access a few months ago, is now out in final form (with its page numbers and other coordinates). Here are some details.
Title: Network Analysis of Particles and Grains
Authors: Lia Papadopoulos, Mason A. Porter, Karen E. Daniels, and Danielle S. Bassett
Abstract: The arrangements of particles and forces in granular materials have a complex organization on multiple spatial scales that range from local structures to mesoscale and system-wide ones. This multiscale organization can affect how a material responds or reconfigures when exposed to external perturbations or loading. The theoretical study of particle-level, force-chain, domain and bulk properties requires the development and application of appropriate physical, mathematical, statistical and computational frameworks. Traditionally, granular materials have been investigated using particulate or continuum models, each of which tends to be implicitly agnostic to multiscale organization. Recently, tools from network science have emerged as powerful approaches for probing and characterizing heterogeneous architectures across different scales in complex systems, and a diverse set of methods have yielded fascinating insights into granular materials. In this article, we review work on network-based approaches to studying granular matter and explore the potential of such frameworks to provide a useful description of these systems and to enhance understanding of their underlying physics. We also outline a few open questions and highlight particularly promising future directions in the analysis and design of granular matter and other kinds of material networks.
Title: Network Analysis of Particles and Grains
Authors: Lia Papadopoulos, Mason A. Porter, Karen E. Daniels, and Danielle S. Bassett
Abstract: The arrangements of particles and forces in granular materials have a complex organization on multiple spatial scales that range from local structures to mesoscale and system-wide ones. This multiscale organization can affect how a material responds or reconfigures when exposed to external perturbations or loading. The theoretical study of particle-level, force-chain, domain and bulk properties requires the development and application of appropriate physical, mathematical, statistical and computational frameworks. Traditionally, granular materials have been investigated using particulate or continuum models, each of which tends to be implicitly agnostic to multiscale organization. Recently, tools from network science have emerged as powerful approaches for probing and characterizing heterogeneous architectures across different scales in complex systems, and a diverse set of methods have yielded fascinating insights into granular materials. In this article, we review work on network-based approaches to studying granular matter and explore the potential of such frameworks to provide a useful description of these systems and to enhance understanding of their underlying physics. We also outline a few open questions and highlight particularly promising future directions in the analysis and design of granular matter and other kinds of material networks.
Thursday, August 09, 2018
A Touching Song about a Matrix Entry that is not Well-Defined
This is a touching song about a matrix entry that is very sad because it is not well-defined.
Monday, August 06, 2018
Workshop on Evidence-Based Diversity Initiatives
I hope that some of my mathematics, networks, and complex-systems peeps attend this workshop! It looks good.
(P.S. Jess Wade has been doing amazing things in her prolific writing of Wikipedia entries.)
Tired of expensive diversity initiatives that haven’t really changed much? So are we 😴. We want to give you 💰 to work on projects based on evidence. Meet new people, change the game. Join us on Sept 21 + 22 @turinginst: https://t.co/gOH4KvRQM7 #womeninSTEM x @STEMGamechange pic.twitter.com/PPgDvIqqy9
— Dr Jess Wade 👩🏻🔬 (@jesswade) July 25, 2018
(P.S. Jess Wade has been doing amazing things in her prolific writing of Wikipedia entries.)
Saturday, August 04, 2018
What Happens in San José (Costa Rica) Stays in San José (Costa Rica)
I am heading off to Costa Rica for a visit related to an epidemiology project related to combatting Dengue Fever, Zika, and Chikungunya using mathematical modeling and network analysis.
Thursday, August 02, 2018
Our Physics Today Obituary of Norman Zabusky
David Campbell, Alan Newell, and I wrote an obituary of Norman Zabusky for Physics Today. It just came out.
Previously, we wrote an obituary of Zabusky for DSWeb.
Previously, we wrote an obituary of Zabusky for DSWeb.
Wednesday, August 01, 2018
2018 Fields Medals
The 2018 Fields Medals in mathematics have been announced!
You can also read short prize citations for the four Fields Medalists and the Nevanlinna Prize (in theoretical computer science).
You can also read short prize citations for the four Fields Medalists and the Nevanlinna Prize (in theoretical computer science).