sinclair_furie

So, this post is going to consist of an awesome thing my math lecturer said today. There are two versions of the introduction- one for people who have knowledge of Linear Algebra, and one for those who don't. (Incidentally, this is the lecturer that claims he was "was almost as adorable [at the age of three] as I am now, hard as that may be to believe.")

Math Heavy Intro:
So we're learning about infinite dimensional vector spaces in linear algebra (as opposed to finite dimension vector spaces like lines and planes through the origin), and one example that came up in class was the vector space of all real functions defined on x=0 to x=1 such that f(0)=f(1)=0. We defined f(x).g(x) as the integral of f(x)g(x) over this interval, and then started talking about how the dot product is only zero if f(x) is zero, but then came up with a counterexample of f(x)=0 except for at a single point, where it was non-zero. At this point we decided to exclude functions with point discontinuities.

De-Mathed Intro:
We're doing some math-y stuff in Linear Algebra. We defined some cool properties for equations that also exist for matrices, and were happy when they worked, but then found weird counter examples. They made us sad.

The Steven Johnson Explanation of this sad fact:

So this is the problem with infinite-dimensional vector spaces. They work fine as long as you're reasonable and have well behaved functions, but you can always construct perverse counterexamples for which they don't work.  These never come up in real life, but this is what mathematicians like to do, come up with these weird contrived examples.

Well, in this class we're not going to be perverse. We're going to follow the Google model: Don't be evil.

He is the greatest thing EVER.

Also, you should look at the links. They are filled with silly pictures of him.

Ok, so, Doctor Who season finale. Not quite as good as I hoped. It got downright silly at times, but still, ( Spoilers for Season Finale! And an audience poll! And pictures! )

Speaking of things made of awesome, I would like to direct everybody's attention to the most wonderful thing I found today. Which is the community mac_hearts_pc . In case you can't guess, it's a community dedicated to slashing the anthropomorphic Mac and PC of Apple's famed "Get a Mac" ads.
<333
Seriously. The ads are so adorable. I recommend you watch "Counselor", "Flashback" and "Goodwill." Justin Long (Mac) is pretty hot in the blue collared shirt. :)
Some adorable/awesome things I have found: (all of these are by dysmorph )

• Crossdressing wherein PC tries to get into Mac's pants. Not in a sexual way.
  
• Overclocked wherein PC is bluescreened. :)
• iKink, which is just generally awesome.
• Shared Music Library, which is the cutest thing ever. OMG <3
  

They're more or less safe for work, some more suggestive than others.

Oh, and cute icons!

BECAUSE JOHNNY DEPP NEEDS NO PANTS.

By the way, now that I have my camera, I could totally play Nadia's tell me what to photograph game, which she completed here.
So! Tell me what you want to see photographed and I shall obey!

Hey Forbes, this should make you happy:
Carnegie Mellon Researchers Develop New Type of Mobile Robot That Balances and Moves on a Ball Instead of Legs or Wheels
(longest headline ever, omg)

Carnegie Mellon University researchers have developed a new type of mobile robot that balances on a ball instead of legs or wheels. "Ballbot" is a self-contained, battery-operated, omnidirectional robot that balances dynamically on a single urethane-coated metal sphere. It weighs 95 pounds and is the approximate height and width of a person. Because of its long, thin shape and ability to maneuver in tight spaces, it has the potential to function better than current robots can in environments with people.

And LOOK!

Right, because seeing is believing. (click for larger versions)
Shirtless Dean:
Shirtless Sam:
See, don't you want to watch Supernatural now?