Blahah blah
Geog 305: Geography of Sub-Saharan Afric…
Geog 305: Geography of Sub-Saharan Afric…
Geog 305: Geography of Sub-Saharan Afric…
Quality Filmmaking: Training Day
In my opinion, a quality movie is a rare thing to find these days. I believe most movies out now all basically have the same feel, not that they are bad, but they simply are not memorable. I think a quality movie should incorporate a decent blend of good acting, cinematography, and directing; as well as a good story line which is compelling and holds your attention. The movie Training Day is a great example of this, which I along with many other people, feel incorporates the qualities I mentioned above.
The plot of the movie basically revolves around two people, crooked cop Alonzo Harris and Rookie Cop Jake Hoyt. Basically like the title suggest, Jake is partnered with Alonzo for a day of training to see if he qualifies to be an official LAPD narcotics officer. Alonzo has a nasty reputation for not treating victims very well, abusing suspects, handling drugs and other evidence in a questionable matter, and opening fire randomly. So, Jake must watch his own back with Alonzo because he doesn’t necessarily have Jake’s best interest in mind. Fed up with Alonzo’s mistreatment, Jake as well as a few citizens of LA confront Alonzo and in the end they kill him.
Training Day is packed with memorable scenes, most which put actor Denzel Washington in his position he is in today, a well known star. These scenes vary from action packed, to touching, funny; most of the scenes of the movie have a darker look adding to the effect of its mood. Here are a few memorable scenes which depict this:
These scenes are not only memorable, but to me they are the best ones which really gives you a feel of what the movie is about. They include great acting, cinematography, directing and more; these scenes truly make Training Day a quality movie and a memorable one at that.
Class 1.
CPSC 326
First Day.
First Day.
This is also available at Google Docs – goals for CPSC 236
Syllabus
How to do well
Two examples of proof.
Reducto ad adsurdum:
Prove square root of 2 is not a rational number.
That is, prove it is not of the form p/q where p and q are integers, whole numbers
We will start by assuming it is, and show that making that assumption leads to a contradiction.
Suppose sqrt(2) is rational. That is assume sqrt(2) = p/q where p and q have no factors in common.
Then 2 = p2/q2.
So 2 p2 = q2.
So q2 is even so q*q = 2*k, so q must be even as well since the product of two odd numbers is odd
So q = 2*n.
Then 2 p2 = (2*n)*(2*n) = 4 n2 or p2 = 2n2. then p2 is even so p is even.
NOW p and q are both even so they have a factor in common, But that is ridiculous!!
Do one mathematical induction proof.
Theoretical foundations of computing
- language
- automata
- grammar
- Turing machine
- Undecidability
- computability
- NP
- Complete, Hard
Why do we study these?
we study all these so that we can address the questions
- what does it mean for something to be computable?
- what can be computed?
- does it matter which language we use?
- what does it mean to find a tractable soluiton/algorithm?
- are there some solutions that cannot be simplified or made more efficient?
Our approach in this class is to go through the topics of the required book.
We begin with a definition of what we mean by a language, then study the notion of deterministic finite automata to consider certain classes of languages, then expand that to non-deterministic finite automata, and then more general notions for languages such as grammars and stack machines. This finally leads us to an abstract device called a Turing Machine. We then see that it is reasonable to define computability in terms of what that machine can handle or determine. A notion of undecidability comes out of that as well. we then look at complexity of algorithms to discuss what are tractable – solvable in a reasonable amount of time – problems. Then we can approach the issue as to whether there are some problems that are intractable.Suppose we want to compute the nth power of x?
How long does that take?
Consider doing the problem by halving. Is that any faster?How long does it take to factor a number into its prime factors? One set of experts recently factored a 232-digit number in only 2 years on several hundred machines!! Is that a feasible or tractable solution? Factoring is an exponential problem – for now.
Take a look at the topics in Chapter 1.
http://paprika.umw.edu/~ernie/cpsc326/AlphabetsStringsLanguages.ppt
How long does that take?
Consider doing the problem by halving. Is that any faster?How long does it take to factor a number into its prime factors? One set of experts recently factored a 232-digit number in only 2 years on several hundred machines!! Is that a feasible or tractable solution? Factoring is an exponential problem – for now.
Take a look at the topics in Chapter 1.
http://paprika.umw.edu/~ernie/cpsc326/AlphabetsStringsLanguages.ppt
Sample quiz:
Name: ___________________ Score ___________________
Complete the following statements.
1. The ___________ ____________ of an alphabet S, written as S*, is the set of all strings over S.
2. An __________________________ is any finite set of symbols.
3. A ______________________ is a finite sequence of 0 or more symbols.
4. A _________________ is a set of strings over some fixed alphabet.
5. The _________________ of two strings x and y is the string containing all the symbols of x in order, followed by all the symbols of y in order.
HW for September 1, 2011.
Hand in in class.
Page 5 of the text. Prepare complete answers to exercises 1-4.
You are to do this work on your own. Let me know if you have questions.
Digital reinvention – the rise and fall of ColinMcCampbell
Not only is this the last show of the tour, but it’s the last show that we’ll ever do. The phrasing was deliberately ambiguous, but most of the audience and many London newspapers and magazines took it to mean that Bowie was retiring from music. In fact, he had killed off his Ziggy persona but not his music career.
Now as reinventions go my decision to start again with twitter is hardly up there with the end of Ziggy Stardust, but the end of @ColinMcCampbell is about more than my use of a social network.
I started with @colinmccampbell at an educational technology conference in Shanghai back in 2009. Assisted and encouraged by then colleagues @brianlockwood and @GenkiU I stumbled into this new arena. I attended sessions hosted by @ewanmcintosh, @mscofino, @cogdog & @dwarlick at the same conference and I was blown away by the openness and creativity of this community. The son of a gadget loving photograher I had grown up in a technology enhanced household and it has always seemed natural for me to bring computers into things, but this was different. They weren’t talking about technology they were talking pedagogy, community and revolution. The conversations I’d wanted to have for years as a teacher were happening and were being pushed by educational technologists.
Soapbox by Shuttleworth from Flickr (cc)
So as @ColinMcCampbell I started blasting away on twitter, edublogs and then wordpress. I wrote about educational change and tried to be as open as possible, following the example of @ewanmcintosh using my real name (or as close to it as I was permitted, there are a million Colin Campbells) and looking to engage with others. I built up a network, of sorts, on twitter and through my blogs and on the advice of Stephen Downes in this post did my best to share, to be open, to engage and not lurk too much. This was hard though, it was difficult to do more than support the comments of others especially in the forums, discussions and blogs I was drawn to and finding your online voice is hard especially amongst more experienced peers. Then I wondered into the open online digital storytelling course called #DS 106 and I started to rethink (as is the goal of the course) my digital identity/ self/ selves.
Two conversations stay with from this experience. One was with the organiser of the course – meddler in the middle – Jim Groom.
Jim had kicked the course off as Dr. Oblivion and ran the first few sessions under that adopted persona. He tweeted and blogged as him as well. In the midst of the above exchange I then started to think, is Jim messing with me now?
Jim Groom or Dr. Oblivion?
Amongst this I had developed an unhealthy obsession, perhaps fuelled by my own procrastinations, with the films of Charlie Kauffman – so layered, potentially unreliable narratives was very much in my mind anyway. I was befuddled as to to what to do with all of this? I was thinking, what do I want my online identity to be? What manifestation of myself? What is my identity as a teacher? As an educational blogger? As someone trying to start a socially responsible education start-up? I was becoming increasingly dissatisfied not with what I had been saying but the way I had been saying it. Whole parts of me were being left out.
I then read this excellent confessional blog post from @BrianLamb and nodded along in agreement. He seemed to find a new lease of life by venting his frustration with dialogues he connected with conceptually but just couldn’t get excited about. This post was, for me, about not letting the communities and conversations you are part of dictate the mode and nature of your expression. #DS 106 reminded me of how much I like to make things, my fondness for movies, storytelling and subversive, sweary conversations. Sure we get these things from other places but we want our digital selves to be true don’t we, or honest at least.
And so as we come back to an almost depressingly simple truism that I heard the John Peel say when asked about the secret of his longevity.
John Peel by Foxtongue on flickr (cc)
He acknowledged, grudgingly, that not having an image is an image in itself, but there was something about his honesty that would keep you listening, even when he went an hour without playing something that you really liked. Thankfully there are good people making sure for all we still miss him terribly, we can still enjoy his music.
So how does all this relate to Ziggy Stardust and ColinMcCampbell and digital identity? Well I’ve decided to let the manifestation of me that was ColinMcCampbell go. Why? Well because he mainly just jumped into a communities, had a look round, broadcasted from a soapbox and then left. If our habits create our digital identities he meant well, but he got things wrong.
My digital selves are splintering anyway with the development of this blog on our project’s website where I will write about learning and through my involvement in PechaKucha Hanoi which has been a great way to reconnect with the city and the creativity of the community here.
So, here is what @colinicampbell is going to try to do. Now I did say try, as we all need to get on the soapbox once in a while.
-comment and blog less preciously
-maintain my interest in education learning (it is what I do) but engage with more folks about sustainability, filmmaking, storytelling, Hanoi/ Vietnam, music, politics and social entrepreneurship
-avoid tweeting about blogging, or blogging about tweeting (shite! off to a bad start)
-more productive
-not drinking too much
-regular exercise at the gym (3 days a week)
-getting on better with your associate employee contemporaries
-at ease
-eating well (no more microwave dinners and saturated fats)
-a patient better driver
-a safer car (baby smiling in back seat)
-sleeping well (no bad dreams)
-no paranoia
-careful to all animals (never washing spiders down the plughole)
-keep in contact with old friends (enjoy a drink now and then)
-will frequently check credit at (moral) bank (hole in wall)
-favours for favours
DS106 Final Reflection
So the end of the semester has finally come and all that is left for me to do is my final project will be a mash up of what connects all Looney Tunes cartoons and this final reflection post. Don’t worry I will definitely keep my site even after the class is over. However it will be more sports themed hope you guys look forward to that.
Anyway below is the final reflection video. If it appears to close for comfort I apologize because I was my own camera man. I spoke on what I learned in the class. What I thought were the most fun assignments to do and what I would advise future students and participants of ds106 to do in the class among other things. Enjoy! It’s been a fun semester indeed.
William Blake "Night"
“Night”
The sun descending in the west,
The evening star does shine;
The birds are silent in their nest,
And I must seek for mine.
The moon, like a flower,
In heaven’s high bower,
With silent delight
Sits and smiles on the night.
The evening star does shine;
The birds are silent in their nest,
And I must seek for mine.
The moon, like a flower,
In heaven’s high bower,
With silent delight
Sits and smiles on the night.
Farewell, green fields and happy groves,
Where flocks have took delight.
Where lambs have nibbled, silent moves
The feet of angels bright;
Unseen they pour blessing,
And joy without ceasing,
On each bud and blossom,
And each sleeping bosom.
They look in every thoughtless nest,
Where birds are covered warm;
They visit caves of every beast,
To keep them all from harm.
If they see any weeping
That should have been sleeping,
They pour sleep on their head,
And sit down by their bed.
When wolves and tigers howl for prey,
They pitying stand and weep;
Seeking to drive their thirst away,
And keep them from the sheep.
But if they rush dreadful,
The angels, most heedful,
Receive each mild spirit,
New worlds to inherit.
And there the lion’s ruddy eyes
Shall flow with tears of gold,
And pitying the tender cries,
And walking round the fold,
Saying, “Wrath, by His meekness,
And, by His health, sickness
Is driven away
From our immortal day.
“And now beside thee, bleating lamb,
I can lie down and sleep;
Or think on Him who bore thy name,
Graze after thee and weep.
For, washed in life’s river,
My bright mane for ever
Shall shine like the gold
As I guard o’er the fold.”
Night by William Blake comes from the 1794 Songs of Innocence and Experience. As I am interested in the psychology side of things I chose to ask the indispensable questions. What trials or ordeals does the protagonist face? What is the reward for overcoming theme? Knowing that Songs of Innocence and Experience collection symbolizes the innocent, pastoral world of childhood against an adult world of corruption and repression. “Night” is also a good example of this and I plan on using that assumption to answer the essential questions raised.
William Blake "A Little Girl Lost" a Feminist Critique
Here is my Critical Analysis on “A Little Girl Lost” by William Blake. I chose to do a feminist critique on the poem; the link is attached below. The essential question that ties to the Feminist Literary Theory is, What does the work say about women’s creativity?
http://storify.com/_AKFortySeven/william-blake-s-a-little-girl-lost#publicize
William Blake "A Poison Tree" A Marxist Critique
In 1794 an English poet named William Blake wrote a collection of poems. One of the poems in the compilation was “A Poison Tree”. My essential question that ties to the Marxist Literary Theory is, What Social Class Is The Writer?
Buddy Holly Lives!
For some reason, animated GIFs have become an important part of the ds106 experience. Everybody, it seems, loves looking at them. And the process of making them is not as daunting as most may think. Prior to ds106, I never thought I could do one.
I remember with glee the moment my first effort at making one finally “played” the way I’d hoped it would. It took a long time and many mistakes were made along the way. But it was a learning experience. These little moments of personal accomplishment are valuable and important. One of the things that I most adore about ds106 is that it affords these sorts of opportunities for those willing to dive in.
So I was wondering what sort of role animated GIFs would play during this Camp Magic MacGuffin version of ds106. I was blown away when Ol’ Hatchet Jack made one from my first campsite photo from Second Life. I typo on my part in the comment on his blog referred to his effort as “an animate GIFt.” But in a sense, that what his remix of the photo was: a GIFt.
This morning I asked myself if it was possible to work with animated GIFs in the virtual space. As I didn’t know the answer, Google was used. It turns out it’s easy peasy. Perigrine Salon has a web application that will upload and convert your GIF file into the appropriate file format and provide a script of making the animation run once it’s attached to an object in Second Life. Well maybe it’s not easy peasy until you get the hang of it. But it works like a champ.
The video above was another chance for me to practice doing machinima and to demonstrate how the Buddy Holly GIF I created a few months ago look in Second Life. If you want to see it in person, all you have to do is teleport in to Corona Cay.
The Jeff Baij Experience
Engaging Students with UMW Blogs
There is a tradition every semester that I insist my students look at the work of Jeff Baij and respond to it on their university blogs. I came across Baij’s work in the exhibition catalog for Younger Than Jesus, an exhibition of young new media artists at the New Museum. Every year, the students think it’s awful and can’t understand why I would have them look at this guy’s work. Every year, they exclaim to me, “that’s not art, how can THAT be art?”
Every year, Baij responds somehow (the best was the video). And every year, the students are a) tickled that he saw their posts, b) mortified that he saw their posts, c) excited that he responded, or d) sort of apathetic (eh, sorry).
But every year, after they s*** all over his work on their blogs (see some of the more unreserved lashings from previous years on his –> bio <– page), we have one of the best conversations of the semester. It’s a conversation about… art NOW. It’s a conversation about how the Internet has changed the world. It’s a conversation about the pulse. About the banter. About the back and forth indirect communication that can happen over the Internet. It’s about surplus. And making art every day.
LET’S BLOW SOME MORE MINDS.
A chronology of banter:
Jeff Baij I
Jeff Baij II
Jeff Baij III
Jeff Baij IV
Baij has since recently been mentioned in ArtForum and has agreed to come visit us for a collaborative on campus extravaganza…. check back for details.
After this interaction, I immediately noticed the possibilities for indirect communication. Other artists who have responded, directly and indirectly include Roger Sayre and Jordan Tate.