tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post4369663650687358602..comments2023-07-05T09:38:23.624+01:00Comments on The Half-Dipper: The End of TermHobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719619695211038389noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-55894818727274320472009-12-19T23:10:20.977+00:002009-12-19T23:10:20.977+00:00Dear Adam,
Graph theory is rather useful for us...Dear Adam,<br /><br /> Graph theory is rather useful for us - these days, it is finding application in Probabilistic Graphical Models, which (as I'm sure you know) is a useful framework in which to perform Bayesian statistical analyses.<br /><br /> At the doctoral level, there's lots of overlap between disciplines - so much so that it becomes almost irrelevant to partition oneself into Hobbeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10719619695211038389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-72213234533538588882009-12-17T06:14:39.377+00:002009-12-17T06:14:39.377+00:00Hobbes,
Sorry not quite engineering for me. I pr...Hobbes,<br /><br />Sorry not quite engineering for me. I prefer Maths. I'm still young in graduate studies, but I'm thinking about doing work in Graph Theory. I don't know what type of Engineering you do, but Graph theory is often used in Computer Networks and other Computer Science and Computer Engineering fields.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-64828854332551135002009-12-12T13:11:10.246+00:002009-12-12T13:11:10.246+00:00Thanks, Carla and Janneman :)Thanks, Carla and Janneman :)Hobbeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10719619695211038389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-19510178351145168582009-12-11T19:58:05.922+00:002009-12-11T19:58:05.922+00:00My condolences on the burglaries, and the loss of ...My condolences on the burglaries, and the loss of your conservatory roof. <br /><br />Glad you'll have a chance to decompress!speakfreelyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13757071341180546490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-24346521629108095112009-12-09T15:33:56.054+00:002009-12-09T15:33:56.054+00:00Grin: dragging students forward by enthusiasm can ...Grin: dragging students forward by enthusiasm can be exhausting. You could try kicking them forward, but from what I learned over the years: kicking is more exhausting and less fun.<br /><br />Good luck, Jannemanjannemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11814827971324767060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-70428432095428684822009-12-08T15:43:28.127+00:002009-12-08T15:43:28.127+00:00Dear Corax,
I'm very impressed that you'...Dear Corax,<br /><br /> I'm very impressed that you're familiar with our local pubs! <br /><br /> Thanks again for the kind wishes - I'm secretly rather looking forward to it.<br /><br /> Today, I bought a shirt from my tailor, the eternally-charming <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ede_and_Ravenscroft" rel="nofollow">Ede & Ravenscroft</a>:<br /><br />"I'd like aHobbeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10719619695211038389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-58542426386699578092009-12-08T14:56:59.201+00:002009-12-08T14:56:59.201+00:00the turf! the oldest pub in oxford! [established a...the turf! the oldest pub in oxford! [established a few months prior, i'm told, to the bear]<br /><br />friday post prandium. so i will be thinking of you early friday morning. sending good thoughts of calm and clarity and resourcefulness. all of which you already have within you! <br /><br />let us know how it goes.coraxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03645573592247798140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-17433552204337602522009-12-08T12:42:28.709+00:002009-12-08T12:42:28.709+00:00Dear TGY,
I didn't attend that lecture - bu...Dear TGY,<br /><br /> I didn't attend that lecture - but something tells me that I should have! It's nice to see that they're keeping up the level of discourse... ;)<br /><br /> I hope to visit Maliandao, but it's not a great place (for me) to buy tea, given my intolerance for bartering. That said, MarshalN's friend, Xiaomei, runs a great shop that sold me some very fine Hobbeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10719619695211038389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-86016421764380791442009-12-08T11:07:19.794+00:002009-12-08T11:07:19.794+00:00Dear Hobbes,
May you have a well earned relaxing ...Dear Hobbes,<br /><br />May you have a well earned relaxing Christmas break, with plenty of good food and most importantly, good tea!<br /><br />As someone about to begin a history doctorate in January, I will certainly be taking it fairly easy for the next few weeks!<br /><br />Seasons greetings!<br /><br />Jack :)Jack Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08460257904324332658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-51696883696799975232009-12-08T04:20:47.734+00:002009-12-08T04:20:47.734+00:00hobbes -- you are spot-on about US graduate progra...hobbes -- you are spot-on about US graduate programs. it is getting quite out of control -- most institutions have had to impose 'time-to-degree' stipulations, as otherwise students tend to get mired in graduate school for up to ten years, sometimes even more. i regularly tell my graduate students: 'we don't want it perfect. we want it tuesday.' [of course they may then feel coraxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03645573592247798140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-60625987379394648992009-12-08T00:25:33.623+00:002009-12-08T00:25:33.623+00:00Hello Hobbes,
Your students should feel blessed t...Hello Hobbes,<br /><br />Your students should feel blessed to have a diligent and witty (and sometimes purveyor of tea to ease the tension) young academic like yourself teaching them. <br /><br />American graduate school PhD tracks are brutal. My wife almost went that route. In a sense I am glad she opted for something else rather than sanctioned educational slavery.<br /><br />I know you have tieguanyinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00924156330301285699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-71446441553928640762009-12-07T19:19:38.404+00:002009-12-07T19:19:38.404+00:00See? All the cool people studied engineering.
(...See? All the cool people studied engineering. <br /><br />(Little-known fact: Scotto is the doppelganger of a young Alec Guiness.)<br /><br />Thanks for the words of encouragement! I'm hopeful!<br /><br /><br />Best wishes for the Yuletide season,<br /><br />HobbesHobbeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10719619695211038389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-32069884991249691492009-12-07T18:55:35.155+00:002009-12-07T18:55:35.155+00:00I can affirm your assumptions about the US graduat...I can affirm your assumptions about the US graduate system in engineering. There is a required course workload, a research/dissertation requirement, and often teaching as well depending on the particular grant you are receiving. It was five years of absolute hell for me at a fine Ivy League institution. I feel your pain!<br /><br />Good luck and get some rest over the holiday.<br /><br />Scottohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04656973438961641057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-52867399137394307512009-12-07T16:48:14.431+00:002009-12-07T16:48:14.431+00:00Dear Adam,
You know, I think it is actually qui...Dear Adam,<br /><br /> You know, I think it is actually quite different in the US, from my very limited understanding. Here, we just have 3-4 years of intensive research, with typically no requirement for (and, usually, very little involvement in) teaching. I understand that doctoral programmes in the US include class attendance, the taking of graduate courses, and, sometimes, work as a Hobbeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10719619695211038389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-92184848541227446732009-12-07T16:31:12.092+00:002009-12-07T16:31:12.092+00:00Sadly I fear its not going to be much different ov...Sadly I fear its not going to be much different over here in the states, I am in the middle of applying to Doctorate programs, of which I can only hope that tea will sustain me through the rough times.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-61477429237240509262009-12-07T16:24:34.327+00:002009-12-07T16:24:34.327+00:00Thanks, Kenny - I'm not expecting "Christ...Thanks, Kenny - I'm not expecting "Christmas", but am planning to (i) eat lots, and (ii) make a sound like a deflating tyre as I relax throughout the vacation.<br /><br />Pfffffthbrbt.<br /><br /><br />Toodlepip,<br /><br />HobbesHobbeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10719619695211038389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-24566230831141819522009-12-07T16:22:16.151+00:002009-12-07T16:22:16.151+00:00Christmas in Beijing? That's something new hah...Christmas in Beijing? That's something new hahaa do have a safe and enjoyable trip! =)sp1keyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03208125950452022524noreply@blogger.com