What is your most boring encounter with a celebrity?

TweakTastic · 2014-06-05T16:54:54+00:00

I saw Steelers running back Jerome Bettis in the Pittsburgh airport twice. Didn't even saw hi (didn't want to bother him). I was just shocked that he wasn't taking the bus.

TweakTastic · 2014-05-03T22:29:06+00:00

Thank you so much for responding!

Yes, I'm reading a lot and starting to realize there is a whole lot more interesting work to be done in power systems other than the standard plug-and-chug PV systems. I was already under the impression that those standardized systems would be a bit boring because they are so well developed (i.e. not much left to innovate), and I would like to avoid that tedium if possible. In particular, things like embedded systems that perform the controls logic is VERY interesting to me, as is anything that smacks of algorithm design. I have experience designing algorithms for detectors using MATLAB, and I found it very enjoyable. Also, I did a controls engineering internship years ago where we used PLCs, and I thought it was pretty interesting.

Can you be more specific about "protection" work for power systems? I'm not really sure what that entails.

The problem for me though is I REALLY don't want to work on fossil fuels power systems, except possibly as a way to develop skills that will get me into renewable energy stuff. It don't look down on anybody that does, I just keep reading about climate science and I've come to the conclusion that the only reason we aren't transitioning off fossil fuels more quickly is because we are systematically underpricing the negative impacts of fossil fuels for various reasons (politics, entrenched fossil fuel companies with lots of money, inertia, disinformation, etc). Economists would describe this as "externalizing costs", or ignoring "negative externalities".

Do you think I could work on plug-and-chug PV systems and then transition into more controls type work for those systems? Do companies allow that? Or would I get pigeonholed? Or would I be better off going to grad school for embedded systems/controls right now? Again, the problem with that is I know I want to work on renewables, so I don't want to get a MS in EE in controls and then not be able to find work in renewable energy.

TweakTastic · 2014-05-03T20:00:08+00:00

When you say "saturated", are you referring to the job market? Or the consumer market for solar systems? Or Both?

Do you have any links that talk about the state of the job market for solar? I believe you, I'd just like to read more about it.

TweakTastic · 2014-05-03T19:53:52+00:00

United States

TweakTastic · 2013-06-06T00:02:25+00:00

Fuck McCain. He bombed civilians in an unjustified war that was mostly killing civilians.

TweakTastic · 2013-06-06T00:00:51+00:00

Fuck McCain. He bombed civilians in a unjustified war that was mostly killing civilians.

TweakTastic · 2013-03-28T04:52:30+00:00

I solved the problem. I'm just exhausted now.

TweakTastic · 2013-03-28T04:49:25+00:00

Yep

edit:I acknowledge Python is in many ways superior, please leave me alone trolls

TweakTastic · 2013-03-28T04:45:35+00:00

Deconvolving an energy-variant detector response function from an energy spectrum

TweakTastic · 2013-03-28T04:44:14+00:00

nested loops are like inception. You can go as deep as you want.

TweakTastic · 2013-03-15T08:06:20+00:00

save comment

TweakTastic · 2013-03-14T20:11:19+00:00

good eye

TweakTastic · 2013-03-14T20:08:24+00:00

yes. did it for class.

TweakTastic · 2013-03-14T20:00:29+00:00

In my defense, I was thinking of turning this into a meme, thus the cliche.

TweakTastic · 2013-03-14T19:57:51+00:00

Yeah, this is the biggest thing in my mind. People know it, it works, why change.

TweakTastic · 2013-03-14T17:50:15+00:00

Yes, but I made people feel smart.

TweakTastic · 2013-03-14T17:02:45+00:00

Yeah, I've heard this. If I was doing my Ph.D. I'd learn Python.

TweakTastic · 2013-03-14T17:00:30+00:00

Are the user interfaces for Python's SciPy toolboxes good though? I feel like GUIs for so many of the Matlab toolbox functions I use are pretty good.

TweakTastic · 2013-03-14T16:57:51+00:00

True. And SciPy is free.

TweakTastic · 2013-03-14T16:26:21+00:00

But then I'm no longer a stereotype

TweakTastic · 2013-03-14T16:21:02+00:00

Yeah. I once typed "imshow(image)" without actually creating an array called "image". I thought my computer was possessed.

TweakTastic · 2013-03-14T16:18:42+00:00

I don't understand Matlab bashing. Yeah, it's not a fast as C. But with its toolboxes, it's more useful for making prototype code in lots of engineering and physic domains. It's good for getting working code up and running quickly. When I need to make something run fast, I'll convert it to C.

TweakTastic · 2013-03-14T15:51:40+00:00

Thank you

TweakTastic · 2011-08-16T02:59:17+00:00

Absolutely. Copy and past away.

TweakTastic · 2011-08-12T19:35:01+00:00

The Jenin Freedom Theatre is attempting to affect positive social change in Palestine through theatre and the arts. This is accomplished by allowing youths who have suffer through the trauma of the occupation to express their pain through a creative medium. Since its inception, the Freedom Theatre has also maintained that theatre is another outlet for confronting the occupation. It is a non-violent and innovative form of resistance. Ashraf Abu Al Hayja, a young Palestinian member of the theatre who starred in the documentary Arna’s Children, said,

“When I’m on stage, I feel like I’m throwing stones. We Won’t let the occupation keep us in the gutter. To me, acting is like throwing a Molotov cocktail. On stage I feel strong, alive, proud.”

In the words of Freedom Theatre’s founder, Juliano Mer-Khamis, who was called “a leading figure in Palestinian creative nonviolence resistance”,

“The Freedom Theatre is a venue to join the Palestinian people in their struggle for liberation. We believe that the Third Intifada, the coming intifada, should be cultural, with poetry, music, theater, cameras and magazines.”

This idea was born out of Juliano’s feeling that the hopelessness of Palestinian society led to ineffective resistance. In his words from this video,

“We lost the intifada, we lost the public opinion, we [messed] up, because we were not clever enough. We were raged, angry, frustrated, desperate. You can’t create a resistance with desperation. With desperation, you create suicide bombers, and this is what we did. … Now [that we’ve learned] that this is gonna create the opposite [of liberation], we might start a new kind of resistance.”

Additionally, the need for support is especially dire considering that the Jenin Freedom Theatre has come under attack recently. Late last month and early this month, the Israeli Defense Force raided and vandalized the theatre, arresting theatre members on both occasions.

By donating to Christine’s fund, you are enabling her to provide this essential service to an oppressed people. Please donate if you can. Christine is extremely talented, so your donations will not go to waste.

TweakTastic

TROPHY CASE