Wow, that feels good

Just came from the algorithm class - probably the last one in this semester. I had wanted to get some feedback forms and get it done by the students. I know that they like me.. but just wanted to get some points on which I can improve.

For the first time, I really feel exhausted after a class. Today it was a marathon session - which covered Fibonacci series, Complexity analysis, Trees, Sorting, Logarithm details etc etc. We just discussed stuff, revised some parts.

I can't say that it was very organized or anything. One thing I've noticed is that in my classes, I tend to give real-life example - including the coin-sorting at Shabarimala to the Chess-playing in Harry-Potter. Lot of real life stuff - I am so surprised that I am able to invent very decent real-life examples when I need to explain something. And I feel wonderful about it. :)

Anyway, I am sure that I will be a really good teacher. Just that I am confused - which is the best age-group to teach? :).

When I came in the morning, I was not at all in a good mood - after realizing that I made tea with some milk which was slightly spoiled, I left to uni. Then at uni, I found that the coffee-machine was being cleaned - no coffee either. Then I went to the class - but now I am full of energy - at the same time exhausted. Is it possible? I think, yes!

My dear reader(s), that's all for now.

Lately, my research is lagging a little bit - for many reasons. Time to catch up.

Signing off, Sands.

PS: Can't leave without telling this much - MACINTOSH SUCKS (BIG TIME)

Irritate me

There is some activity which I enjoy a lot - that is arguing/debating or whatever you call it. I personally think that I am really good at it. I think, Vimal will vouch for me! There are quite a number of my friends who know this.

I argue with passion. I will always bring up something to support me. I have done this even when I knew the other person was right. I know it very well that losing an argument need not always mean that you are wrong - many times it means that the person with whom you argued was doing his job well.

I love this - winning an argument even when you know well that you are wrong. I've done it quite a number of times.

Once the whole thing is over, I mostly go and confess that the whole thing I wanted was to prove my point - even though wrong.

So, that's what I am telling - I love arguments. There had been many times I have lost - priyakkutty and guru being the people who would have beaten me most in counts. Seeing your arguments getting crushed -- even that's a wonderful feeling. That's the opportunity to learn new methods.

I lose always when the argument becomes non-logical/emotional. Because I get irritated - to the core. At the same time I would be putting all my energy to bring the whole conversation back to the light of logic. But the opponent would be someone who doesn't believe in something called LOGIC! And I miserably fail to learn this - that you can never teach them. That's genetic (LINK HERE - Some people never learn).

This happened this evening and it took a long time for me to get normal.

Every time this happens I decide not to argue with such people anymore. Why don't I ever learn that they will never learn! (Is it I who have the genetic problem?)

On an unrelated note: I have started "Operation potbelly" - it's again time to fight!

Signing off, Sands.

Improving your language

Four years are gone since I started having conversations in English. It's almost the same since I started reading English books too. My command over the language has improved by leaps and bounds.

All through this time I used to compare my language skills with others. A lot many of the Indians I've met have had terrible language - something like - "I didn't wanted to....". At the same time, many other Indians (especially girls from large cities) have wonderful language.

Otherwise, I have spoken with many Europeans (NON-British) - many of them simply rape and kill English.

For the same reasons as above, I should think that my improvement was mainly from reading. I must have read about 30-60 books altogether - that's all.

But, Now I am getting in touch with some English (yeah, I mean Englishmen). Every time I speak/e-speak with them, I get a new phrase or a style. Wonderful!

Off Topic: Is is possible to forget one language because you learned some other language?

Signing off, Sands.

Scared about research?

About a month back, I had written about some new idea which struck me (regarding my research). Later I wrote that it was not as promising as it looked. Nevertheless, it was not very bad either.

Now I have found out something (from a 2004 publication) which could be used with what I had in mind. Again this looks very good. Now I need to sit and work out how good/bad it could be!

The earlier idea was not very bad as such - just that it would have needed a couple of Terabytes of primary memory and a couple of months to finish the calculation!

If I can incorporate this newly read technique too, then there could be a reduction. I should first discuss with professor before I start looking deeper.

A funny thing is that I am slightly scared that someone would come up with a better result (or even with my same idea) before I can tell something about this. I'll fall back to somewhere near square one -- can't imagine now.

Another worry is that "Am I doing OK? Or is it all some crap which I am building up?" - I am not able to believe that the problem is too difficult and too simple at the same side - The definition is very simple, the method to solve is too difficult. :)

Signing off, Sands.

~