Comments for The Life of a Math Major

Comment on SimHeart 2.0 by asymptote

asymptote — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:04:30 +0000

Well, at the moment, it can’t be applied to much of anything. It’s still an extremely approximate model, a sort of hobby model, if you like.

Comment on SimHeart 2.0 by David Secaecg

David Secaecg — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:44:55 +0000

Wow I supply Seca ECG equipment, so was having a browse of all things heart related its amazing the diversity of interests, that most poetic of organs has. My question is as a layman what can the above software be applied to, sorry if im being a bit thick!

Comment on Superstar: VY Canis Majoris by asymptote

asymptote — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:01:39 +0000

Meaning no disrespect, where did the theological debate come from?

Comment on Asymptote’s Zombie Infection Simulator — Version 2.0 by asymptote

asymptote — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:59:04 +0000

Yeah, I figured that the problem probably had something to do with the random-number generator. I did try to do a kind of double-randomization, but that didn’t help.

Comment on Superstar: VY Canis Majoris by shashan

shashan — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:16:35 +0000

Happenstance my ass!!! GOD has created a beautiful universe!!!

Comment on Asymptote’s Zombie Infection Simulator — Version 2.0 by Daniel

Daniel — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:50:25 +0000

The downwards movement has to do with the flocking behaviour, there seems to be something wrong with the mean heading command - maybe the pseudo-random number generator is a bit less than random. Perhaps world wrap around should be disabled - but it caused a pileup when I tried it after some editing.

Comment on Asymptote’s Zombie Infection Simulator — Version 2.0 by Daniel

Daniel — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:47:07 +0000

The downwards movement has to do with the flocking behaviour, there seems to be something wrong with the mean heading command - maybe the pseudo-random number generator is a bit less than random.

Comment on Superstar: VY Canis Majoris by anonymous

anonymous — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:18:21 +0000

I think it’s funny how christians take this info and use it to convert nonbelievers. I’m not gullible enough to fall for that. Like NASA is saying, it’s all gases. The earth is made entirely out of gases. Don’t believe me? Research it. Everything is made out of happenstance.

Comment on “Extreme Science Fiction” by asymptote

asymptote — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:29:06 +0000

I don’t know…given what I know now, I’m pretty sure my previous argument was essentially indefensible…and I wasn’t really willing to expose myself to any more crap SF than Hollywood had already crammed down my gullet.

All in all, I’m thinking I never should have written that post in the first place…

Comment on “Extreme Science Fiction” by midiguru

midiguru — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:59:08 +0000

Your original essay would have been a lot more convincing if you had backed up the complaints with a few examples from recent novels and movies. In fact, I’d love to see you add examples of bad SF in yet another diatribe. (Send me an email if you do.)

Also, don’t forget Sturgeon’s Law: “Ninety percent of science fiction is crap. But then, ninety percent of everything is crap.” There was an enormous amount of crappy SF in the Fifties! It wasn’t a Golden Age, but our memories tend to be very selective.

Comment on The Trouble With Science Fiction by “Extreme Science Fiction” « The Life of a Math Major

“Extreme Science Fiction” « The Life of a Math Major — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:33:46 +0000

[...] June 20, 2008 — asymptote Last December, I wrote a poorly-argued post about the trouble with modern science fiction. Almost immediately, someone viciously cut me down, and I put up a rather pathetic defense against [...]

Comment on Zombie Infection Simulator by asymptote

asymptote — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:34:15 +0000

It’s out now, actually. You can run it (or download it) here:
http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/models/community/Zombie_Infection_2

Comment on Zombie Infection Simulator by harrison

harrison — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:29:27 +0000

when is it going to be out it looks so awsome!!!!!!!!

Comment on Asymptote’s Zombie Infection Simulator — Version 2.0 by Genghis Philip

Genghis Philip — Mon, 26 May 2008 03:12:21 +0000

Nicely done, nicely done.

Comment on New Short Stories by asymptote

asymptote — Sat, 24 May 2008 18:35:54 +0000

Thanks for looking at them.

Comment on New Short Stories by Terry Finley

Terry Finley — Thu, 22 May 2008 00:10:40 +0000

Thanks for sharing your stories.

Comment on A Trillion Red Plastic Cups by asymptote

asymptote — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:42:07 +0000

Whenever I try to write meaningful things, there always seems to be that risk of falling into cliché. Actually, I hadn’t really planned to use that ending until I got to the end, and tried to tie all of it together. I guess that’s what I get for trying to be dramatic!

And yes, I do plan to publish these at some point. I just have to find a publisher or a fiction magazine willing to take them.

Comment on The Unbreakable Cup by New Short Stories « The Life of a Math Major

New Short Stories « The Life of a Math Major — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:34:44 +0000

[...] thus, The Unbreakable Cup was born. I really enjoy this kind of short-but-sweet story, mainly because my insomnia has [...]

Comment on My Arm by Derek

Derek — Tue, 20 May 2008 05:51:21 +0000

hah, great story. loved this one. you left 18k out of the ending though. wasn’t it supposed to be the exit?

Comment on On/Off by Derek

Derek — Tue, 20 May 2008 05:15:25 +0000

thats a scary thought. reminds me of a mix between the matrix and 1984. really bueno story btw.

Comment on A Trillion Red Plastic Cups by Derek

Derek — Tue, 20 May 2008 05:03:31 +0000

great ideas on what to write stories about. you should really think about publishing some of these. although for some constructive criticism: fairly cliche ending. saw it coming from the beginning. I have been thinking about printing out a couple of these stories and having my old English teacher read them.

Comment on The Unbreakable Cup by Derek

Derek — Tue, 20 May 2008 04:55:45 +0000

“…the unbreakable cup had convinced Eric that the world didn’t really make as much sense as people liked to think. ”

Its good and I quite like the second to last paragraph. real paragraphs.

Comment on Absence by Derek

Derek — Tue, 20 May 2008 04:46:02 +0000

hah, done with school for the summer. horray WSU! hope you do good in finals and stuff. i gotta read the iron man review now. kthxby

Comment on Whatever Happened to Revolution? by asymptote

asymptote — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:20:04 +0000

I’m incredibly pleased that I’m not the only one, at least, who thinks that way.

Comment on Whatever Happened to Revolution? by Brandi

Brandi — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:42:43 +0000

I’ve been thinking about the same thing. However, the lack of motivation to change the world probably has to do with how lazy people are now. No one wants to riot when there is reality television to watch. Change the world? Nah, not today. Someone is going to get voted off American Idol!
It’s really sad how far we’ve fallen.