nolamark

I agree, but...

The challenge is how do you really know if you love doing research, committing to graduate school, before really doing research? It is hard to know how the sausage is made without spending/doing time at a meat-processing plant. My undergraduate experience doing research, including be published, was much different than the graduate experience. And graduate experience was much different than the assistant professor experience.

It took me two trips to grad school to get a PhD. The first on their terms, I burned out. The second, on my terms, was a much better/different experience.

In an interesting collision, I saw this article, _The University after AI_, at the same time I was reading The Atlantic article ( https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=7453440 pdf downloadable) . It covers much the same ground from an academic economic framework, describing the University of a platform/market maker connecting 15 different entities (student, faculty, employers, donors, researcher, ...).

And proposed some restructured institutions, but also saying that solutions were likely to be greenfield rather than changing existing model with the intwined revenue streams and battle inherent in change.

Damn, has it really been 40 years. I remember chatting with Cliff about the book on USENET. I'm glad time has been kind to us.

I think you should focus on letting yourself grow. Perhaps you will learn something that makes you decide to pursue a field you didn't know anything about when you started college. If you finish in CS great, if you switch to something else that is also a positive if it fills you with "joy".

Focus on learning to express yourself clearly, in English and in code.

Focus on learning how to learn, how to acquire new knowledge, and how to enjoy the process. Focus on learning how to work with others, especially those you don't agree with or like.

Don't forget to have fun. There is plenty to be had if you avail yourself of the opportunities.

Saw a Wall Street Journal article (behind paywall) on this topic which was a short version of this upcoming book: _Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose_

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FFZY9V8V/

"What these retirees were describing wasn’t just disappointment in a lack of opportunities. It was an erosion in something far more fundamental—their sense of mattering, the deep human need to feel valued and to have a chance to add value to the world. We plan for our wealthspan and healthspan, mapping out financial security and physical well-being. Yet very few of us prepare for an equally essential dimension of retirement: our mattering span, or how we will continue to feel seen, useful and capable of making a difference in this next chapter of life."

https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/the-retirement-crisis-no...

Okay, one last project to share. If you are more a start from zero sort of person, see this wonderful set of videos on designing a 3d printable manual knitting machine. Realistically, more of a wonderful educational process you should see, than an economically viable one. (Meaning you can buy used mass produced hardware for cheaper.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUKiXIdw2pI&list=PLWDnfcUpk7...

If out are willing to move the carriage back and forth manually, and transfer yarn manually (for increases and decreases, etc.), the route to go is buy an electronic Brother machine and replace the electronics. The old standard was the AYAB board that you constructed yourself. (the evilmadscientist.com version is no longer in production) https://www.ravelry.com/groups/ayab for help and to meet fellow travelers. (circuit board and components: https://www.etsy.com/shop/redpinkgreen)

The less DIY more professional looking way is the recently released eKnitter, which replaces the electronics, but in a manner that more closely resembles the original form factor of the machine. https://eknitter.com/produkt/eknitter/

As for build a primitive one at home, (assuming one == machine controlled knitting machine) see the journey of Gerard Rubio from OpenKnit to Kniterate

https://www.labonthecheap.com/the-openknit-machine/ https://www.kniterate.com

"This work is in part a collaboration with folks currently and previously at CMU, including Jenny Lin, Tom Price, Jim McCann, and Hannah Fechtner."

Facebook got a Interim award. The former employee was not present at the emergency arbitration hearing.

https://about.fb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Arbitration-...

Seems like she, personally, has been spared the need to go out and promote the book, the only thing Facebook seems to have gotten out of the arbitration. In return they provided far more promotion than her appearing on podcasts would have done.

IANAL, and would really like to read some legal commentary of what Facebook thought they were going to achieve. As far as I can tell they have a pretty hollow victory. Even if they were somehow able to stop her from receiving royalties, it seems like Macmillan could pay her sideway with a contract and advance on her next book, her story of Facebook trying to silence her. Once again, IANAL, desperately want to read multi page thoughts from one on the Facebook strategy.

Yes, I bought the book and am enjoying it immensely. It has a nice fun irreverent sense of humor.

In the case of APPL it is fun to think about what the money I spent on a computer that year like a Power Mac G4 could have been worth today if I had invested in the stock instead.

I remember local developer group chats about BTC / ETH in early 2010s. We met weekly next to local restaurant bar. I like to calculate what if I had skipped a meal or a drink one night and instead bought BTC or ETH with the that money what it would be worth today.

Personally I find it really fun. Helps keep chasing money in perspective.

Could have, should have, would have.

Company I was working for didn't go public until the end of March that year. No horror stories from me, was a fun time to be working, lots of great memories.

but a great bet as the bubble was bursting was not mining equipment for the prospectors, but instead energy drinks for the coders. Specifically $1000 invested in Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST) would be worth $1,187,849 today.

same $1000 invest peak dot com on March 10, 2000 Apple (AAPL): Value today : $266,862. Nvidia (NVDA): Value today : $882,065. Amazon (AMZN): Value today : $256,482.

I agree that it can be fun. I also devised a retirement plan as a graduate student, figuring out what sum of money I would need to live the rest of my life living the graduate student lifestyle without the hassle of being enrolled. Less than a decade after finishing my PhD I was able to walk away from my career into that lifestyle. Certainly not for everyone, but if it floats your boat, it is certainly an achievable plan.

I do hope you write the entire entire essay.

Guess my question is did you have any plans what to do with that freedom? Or did the vision just stop with freedom?

Must be I was less ambitious than you. I too started out with goal of tenure and financial independence. 3 years in on tenure track I figured it was easier just to get financial independence and give myself tenure than to play someone's game.

One I reached financial independence (probably a much lower threshold than your), I didn't have any trouble find trouble finding things to fill my days with fulfilling activities that I had long put off. Always fun stuff to learn.

So interested to learn if it was that you still had something you felt you had to prove? Just plan inertia?

Can really put my finger on it, but what if in "I am (not) a failure" essay in addition "Lesson Learned" for each attempt, you had a "Joy Experienced" (perhaps too corny) section as well.

I understand your intent, but "Nobody" is as just as much of a myth.

I self funded my PhD. I prefered it that way.

Seems like he has more than the average number of legs as well.

The fact that he has a wiki page, and that many folks with born without or who have lost legs (~500,000/year Americans experience limb loss or are born with a limb difference https://amputee-coalition.org/resources/limb-loss-statistics...) do not, suggest that the number of people with < 2 is far greater than the number of people with > 2. So the average is still less than 2.

For better or worse, number of legs (or number of arms) is canonical example people use to demonstrate the statistical principal a significant majority of a population can be above average of some metric.

Since we are being pedantic, your statement may be true but it is unsupported by the data you presented. To make it simple, let's talk about the imaginary basketball league with four players, of unit less heights of 4, 4, 4, and 1. The average height is 3.25, yet 3/4 the players are taller than average.

A paid promotion of International Median is not Average Association.

The officers were specifically NOT charged for the raid because of their ignorance and incompetence

https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Speci... See pages 99 onward

“But the special prosecutors also concluded that police — despite their misunderstanding of evidence, a rushed investigation, and faulty and unlawful search warrants — didn’t commit any crimes by investigating a baseless suspicion of identity theft or carrying out the raid.“ https://kansasreflector.com/2024/08/05/special-prosecutors-p...

The changes against the chief are for asking a witness to delete text messages after the raid

My understanding is that there were no changes for the actual raid, but "with felony interference in the judicial process" due to actions taken after the raid.

"In Monday’s report, prosecutors highlight a section of state statutes indicating that charges against Cody might be related to statements made by former Marion restaurant owner Kari Newell that Cody urged her to destroy evidence of text messages the two had exchanged."

http://marionrecord.com. Paper cleared; ex-chief faces felony charge

https://kansasreflector.com/2024/08/13/former-marion-police-...

A conviction would likely only result in probation for a low level felony he is no longer in a position to repeat offend in.

https://www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/dion-lefler... "We can safely assume the video recording is accidental for two reasons: 1) At the start of the conversation, Cody warns Newell, “We can’t write anything” to each other and she replies “Yeah, I know, I understand.” And 2) Immediately after he hangs up, Cody video-recorded himself taking a leak in the men’s room at a Casey’s General Store."

https://www.kake.com/features/special-content/untold-story-k... "The day after we completed this interview, Newell revealed the chief had asked her to delete text messages between them after rumors began that they were romantically involved. She says there's no truth to those rumors, but she deleted the texts anyway - then immediately regretted it."

Not Tommy Tutone's, so less a direct connection to the article, but I love the tech career of James Williamson of the Stooges. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Williamson_(musician)

"In 1997, he was hired as Sony's vice president of technical standards; in this capacity, he liaised with competitors and helped to codify nascent industry standards, most notably the Blu-ray Disc"

I remember shopping at record store in Claremont, CA in early 80s and finding all these rare Iggy and the Stooges albums. Clerk says Williamson comes in the store every now and then and brings in more, and that I should check back from time to time. I shrug and think nothing of it. Turns out he was going to nearby Cal Poly Pomona and graduated in 1982 with an EE degree.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMHStOPPte0

bookmark the nuwa pen project, and check back in 6 month or so when/if experience reports are in. ( https://nuwapen.com/en-us )

If you are willing to use special paper, there is existing Neo Smartpen ( https://shop.neosmartpen.com/ )

Both will force use to us D1 ballpoint pen cartridges, so no suggestions in you must write with favorite fountain pen, or are a Hi-Tec-C only pen lifestyle.

My guess it is partially addressed in the Non-Latin names section of the "Help Wanted" section. ...because I want to celebrate the fact that computer science is a fantastic worldwide enterprise.

https://www-cs-faculty.stanford.edu/~knuth/help.html

You ought to be able to find a pen without a scratching feeling. The nib, the ink, and the paper can all contribute to a scratchy feeling. If you have been trying with an old pen, the nib could be damaged, or the ink too dried out.

If you are writing with a new pen the you might need a wider writing nib, a medium or above is your best bet. In pen reviews, look for how "wet" the pen writes.

I like writing very tiny letters and use a Pilot extra-fine, an it is can be scratchy, but I replaced the medium nib my Pilot Metro was sold with. It was not scratchy with the medium.

Jetpens has some 5 pen sampler pack if you're are $25 curious. https://www.jetpens.com/JetPens-Beginner-Fountain-Pen-Sample...

Mentioning for completeness, they do also have printable ncode pdf files of various flavors for download on their site. Others have had success with them, I have not.

Livescribe has a similar product line. No direct experience with it, so can't contrast and compare.

you are correct. (Note from grade school report card: Mark missed 39 of the 81 spelling words this month).

But it does point to another issue with handwritten notes. Sloppy spelling and dislexia (sic)

Discussion prompted me to find NeoSmartpen accessory, seems like it could help with the sharing.

https://shop.neosmartpen.com/collections/accessories/product...

an impulse purchase I am fighting not make, not actual experience with the tablet. Do use Neo Smartpens

Here is a first draft. I'll expand if I have more time and energy.

Rule #1. Every thing gets a date (And more an aspiration than reality a time.) I am truely an oddball and have my own date format 2023_12Dec_26Tue_1312. Rational, when used a a corresponding file name, it sorts naturally assuming you used 0 prefix on one digit numbers. Day of week, just another memory clue to try to recall specific thought experiment.

Rule #2. It is a process, not end product. Like the article mentions, no erasure. Point is re remember mistakes, not hide them.

Rule #3. Take you time to write neatly. It is for your future you, and you will thank yourself. May feel like a debt due to slowness, but really an investment for your future self.

Pros. reMarkable likes: feels like nice inkflow. Can get a fine line not quite comperable to a Pilot G-Tec-C 0.25 pen, but fine enought. I write small to increase information density per page. NeoSmart pen: doesn't just feel like ink flow, it is inflow

Cons. NeoSmart pen: notebooks are expensive. Cheapskate in me, writes less than I should. Remarkable tablet: Miss the real estate of two pages open in a labnote book. Also, miss the leafthrough feel of physical notebook. Can't as easily binary seach to find something like one can in paper notebook

Just saw Smart Plate at neosmartpen site, resisting urge for impulse purchase

Edit - update to expand

Additional cons or NeoSmartpen: Very limited number of pen widths.

Note: When I worked for a living, it was much more likely to be greenfield project, not a repetition of a existing workflow. Even on repetitive projects, debugging is a good match for a notebook. Now my projects are for learning, never finished product. As always, your mileage may vary.

Try to formalize your process and have repeatable actions done in repeatable ways. I have a collection of tokens. Before starting I write down a #GOAL, useful for climbing out of rabbit holes. Of course, the all important #ASSUMPTIONS. If the goal is not likely achievable in one session, write down a #PLAN. If need motivation to pursue a path, I write #BABYSTEPS for an action to start with. If I have a thought that would distract from present pursuit, I write a #STASH. If I do have a distraction I pursue, I note #DETOUR. End of day gets a few #LESSONSLEARNED and a #WRAPUP.

I have a target audience of one, me. Thru trial and error I know what I'll want to know in the future, usually from stuff I regreted not having written down. From time to time, recall, revise, and document "process" currently in use in notebooks. Date_Time are links to other notes in notebook, Date_Time_Notebook are references to other notebooks. Date_Time and Date_Time_Notebook are also typed as comments in associated computer files, be they source code or what serves as documentation.

To re-emphasize importance of Rule#1: Truth value of things changes with time. Time, usually, but not always, serves as a shortcut description of context, or at least provides enough hints to re-build the context

Habit of lab notebook has stuck with me since college. Shoutout to reMarkable tablets and Neo Smartpens, for helping combine the analog process of handwriting with digital search. Likely a personal thing, just like to take hands off keyboard from time to time. Seen hints of research re benefits of handwriting, but never really dug into it.

Kapture audio from 2013 kickstarter (not so recent memory) was 4 minutes too short?

https://web.archive.org/web/20140208000114/https://kaptureau...

EDIT: had to share promo video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arQoSSXKaSQ