Several of us wrote a paper, from the perspective of both organizers and speakers, for DSWeb about our efforts to move a SIAM minisymposium online.
Authors: Heather Z. Brooks, Yuxin Chen, Michelle Feng, Yacoub H. Kureh, Mason A. Porter, Alexandria Volkening
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.
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Thursday, July 23, 2020
Play Ball!
Today it's time to start the weirdest Major League Baseball season ever!
Given the circumstances, I'm much less excited than usual about the baseball season. But, anyway: Play ball!
Given the circumstances, I'm much less excited than usual about the baseball season. But, anyway: Play ball!
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Mookie is Here to Stay!
The Dodgers have signed Mookie Betts to a 13-year contract (with 2020 as the first year), so he's going to be with us for a long time. Maybe he'll wear a Dodger hat on his Hall of Fame plaque?
Monday, July 20, 2020
Cardboard "Fans" at Dodger Stadium
To make the cardboard fans at Dodger Stadium more realistic, one should only start placing them in the stands after the 3rd inning starts. ;)
— Mason Porter (@masonporter) July 21, 2020
(I write this as a die-hard, lifelong @Dodgers fan!) pic.twitter.com/t3EXkIXF2w
Sunday, July 12, 2020
"FIPO"
This is your occasional reminder about the mantra known as "FIPO" ( = "Fuck it. PLOS One.")
It is best used in verb form.
Example usage: "My paper got rejected from more than half a dozen journals and I wanted it out of my life, so I decided to FIPO it."
It is best used in verb form.
Example usage: "My paper got rejected from more than half a dozen journals and I wanted it out of my life, so I decided to FIPO it."
Friday, July 10, 2020
The Princess Bride: The Home Movie
I just finished watching the last installment of The Princess Bride: The Home Movie, and there are quite a few amazing appearances in it.
As it turns out, this movie also includes Carl Reiner's last screen performance.
If you have seen The Princess Bride, you definitely need to watch this version.
(And if you haven't seen the original version of The Princess Bride, you have some catching up to do!)
P.S. I have the right hair for Inigo Montoya (but I think that I would make a great Dread Pirate Roberts).
Update (7/11/20): I really enjoyed this version of the movie. It is kitschy, of course, but it's supposed to be. There are some really cool performances and choices of actors in it. And some cool bits of humor with improved props. It's definitely worth watching. Obviously, it's not polished like the original, but it isn't supposed to be.
As it turns out, this movie also includes Carl Reiner's last screen performance.
If you have seen The Princess Bride, you definitely need to watch this version.
(And if you haven't seen the original version of The Princess Bride, you have some catching up to do!)
P.S. I have the right hair for Inigo Montoya (but I think that I would make a great Dread Pirate Roberts).
Update (7/11/20): I really enjoyed this version of the movie. It is kitschy, of course, but it's supposed to be. There are some really cool performances and choices of actors in it. And some cool bits of humor with improved props. It's definitely worth watching. Obviously, it's not polished like the original, but it isn't supposed to be.