As a HR manager for a new company, I have opportunities to read tons of resumes sent to my inbox. Unlike what I thought, there are still too many applicants, especially student job seekers, highlighting their Multi-Tasking skill in the resumes. I usually deleted those applications immediately.

It’s a deadly mistake to include . . . → Read More: On Multi-Tasking]]>

As a HR manager for a new company, I have opportunities to read tons of resumes sent to my inbox. Unlike what I thought, there are still too many applicants, especially student job seekers, highlighting their Multi-Tasking skill in the resumes. I usually deleted those applications immediately.

It’s a deadly mistake to include this skill in your resume.  The hype is so dead now.

(A victim of the ADHD syndrome, I many times multi-task as well. However, it is my weakness, not strength.)

It’s a must watch if you fall into one of these categories

Part 1

Part 2 . . . → Read More: Top Gear – Vietnam Special Episode]]>

It’s a must watch if you fall into one of these categories

• Adventurous Travelers
• Motorcycle Riders
• You grew up in, have been to, or have already planned to visit Vietnam

Part 1

Part 2

Giới thiệu

Sinh là một người thường ôm trong lòng trí lớn, muốn một ngày lột xác thoát cảnh hàn vi, trở thành đại gia. Sinh mơ tới lúc lượn lờ dưới phố thì . . . → Read More: Bí kíp kinh doanh]]> Trồng bởi Khoa Trần, cắt tỉa bởi Dự Trần

Giới thiệu

Sinh là một người thường ôm trong lòng trí lớn, muốn một ngày lột xác thoát cảnh hàn vi, trở thành đại gia. Sinh mơ tới lúc lượn lờ dưới phố thì đi xe Ferrari, khi tung bay trên trời thì đi BD-700 Global Express Jets, lúc nghỉ ngơi thì có mỹ nhân kề cận, khi làm việc thì quyết định vận mệnh cả vạn người. Ấy thế, là người hàn vi, Sinh không biết làm thế nào để đại nguyện tựu thành. Giấc mơ vẫn chỉ là giấc mơ cho tới khi sinh có trong tay kỳ thư về làm giàu trong thiên hạ. Sinh mua được kỳ thư từ Amazon.Com, đem về đọc ngấu nghiến, những tưởng đâu sáng mai thức dậy thì thần tài sẽ gõ cửa. Nào ngờ tiền mất tật mang, lại bị đứa trẻ hàng xóm chê cười là vừa tham, vừa ngu, chẳng khác chi bọn trẻ nhóc mất tiền mua bí kíp võ lâm về đọc nhằm trở thành cao thủ giang hồ như trong phim kiếm hiệp.

Chủ đề về các bí quyết kinh doanh không có gì mới nhưng luôn nhận được sự quan tâm của rất nhiều bạn trên thế giới. Điều này dễ hiểu vì hạng người như nhân vật Sinh trong phần giới thiệu không hiếm. Có khoảng hàng vạn sách về thể loại này, từ thượng vàng đến hạ cám. Trong bài viết này, tôi chủ yếu nói về loại hàng khủng (business bestsellers [1]). Hiển nhiên, đa số dân kinh doanh đã từng đọc sẽ cho rằng những quyển này là kim chỉ nan (bible). Đến cả Steve Ballmer, CEO của đại gia Microsoft, cũng thừa nhận tranh thủ đọc quyển Good to Great, viết bởi Jim Collins [2], trong giờ nghỉ giải lao khi họp bàn về vấn nạn Google.

Vậy loại kỳ thư thuộc hàng khủng này có thực sự hữu ích hay không mà khiến ngay cả bọn nhà giàu như Steve Ballmer cũng ngấu nghiến đọc lấy được? Đã có hàng loạt các bài viết và sách khác được chấp bút để ném đá các sách bí kíp hàng khủng này. Dưới đây tôi sẽ nêu một số thí dụ, tập trung chính vào quyển The Halo Effect của Phil Rosenzweig [3].

Đọc tiếp tại Minh Biện.

Randy Pausch is a highly respected Computer Science Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, mostly known . . . → Read More: The lecture of a lifetime]]> Intro: Once awhile, I introduced an inspiring commencement address by Steve Jobs (Apple’s CEO) at Stanford about life. Now comes another sensational one, also by a techie and also about life: the last lecture by Randy Pausch.

Randy Pausch is a highly respected Computer Science Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, mostly known for his work in Human-Computer Interaction.

Quote by WSJ What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? For Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch, the question isn’t rhetorical — he’s dying of cancer.

Note that the 3rd story of Steve is also about his struggling with cancer. Fortunately, he survived and then gave a speech about death. Randy gave words of wisdom knowing that he would die in a few months. Instead of talking about death, he talked about how he has “achieved” his childhood dreams, how he has enabled others achieve their childhood dreams, and how we achieve our dreams.

Watch the full lecture here. I have been stressed by work recently. Putting everything aside to watch this 2h-long video (lecture + recognitions) is the best thing that I did today.

Now comes the article by the Wall Street Journal (of course, it’s not and never enough about Randy).

A Beloved Professor Delivers The Lecture of a Lifetime

What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? For Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch, the question isn’t rhetorical — he’s dying of cancer.

Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon University computer-science professor, was about to give a lecture Tuesday afternoon, but before he said a word, he received a standing ovation from 400 students and colleagues.

He motioned to them to sit down. “Make me earn it,” he said.

They had come to see him give what was billed as his “last lecture.” This is a common title for talks on college campuses today. Schools such as Stanford and the University of Alabama have mounted “Last Lecture Series,” in which top professors are asked to think deeply about what matters to them and to give hypothetical final talks. For the audience, the question to be mulled is this: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance?

It can be an intriguing hour, watching healthy professors consider their demise and ruminate over subjects dear to them. At the University of Northern Iowa, instructor Penny O’Connor recently titled her lecture “Get Over Yourself.” At Cornell, Ellis Hanson, who teaches a course titled “Desire,” spoke about sex and technology.

At Carnegie Mellon, however, Dr. Pausch’s speech was more than just an academic exercise. The 46-year-old father of three has pancreatic cancer and expects to live for just a few months. His lecture, using images on a giant screen, turned out to be a rollicking and riveting journey through the lessons of his life.

He began by showing his CT scans, revealing 10 tumors on his liver. But after that, he talked about living. If anyone expected him to be morose, he said, “I’m sorry to disappoint you.” He then dropped to the floor and did one-handed pushups.

Randy Pausch and his three children, ages 5, 2 and 1.

Clicking through photos of himself as a boy, he talked about his childhood dreams: to win giant stuffed animals at carnivals, to walk in zero gravity, to design Disney rides, to write a World Book entry. By adulthood, he had achieved each goal. As proof, he had students carry out all the huge stuffed animals he’d won in his life, which he gave to audience members. After all, he doesn’t need them anymore.

He paid tribute to his techie background. “I’ve experienced a deathbed conversion,” he said, smiling. “I just bought a Macintosh.” Flashing his rejection letters on the screen, he talked about setbacks in his career, repeating: “Brick walls are there for a reason. They let us prove how badly we want things.” He encouraged us to be patient with others. “Wait long enough, and people will surprise and impress you.” After showing photos of his childhood bedroom, decorated with mathematical notations he’d drawn on the walls, he said: “If your kids want to paint their bedrooms, as a favor to me, let ‘em do it.”

While displaying photos of his bosses and students over the years, he said that helping others fulfill their dreams is even more fun than achieving your own. He talked of requiring his students to create videogames without sex and violence. “You’d be surprised how many 19-year-old boys run out of ideas when you take those possibilities away,” he said, but they all rose to the challenge.

He also saluted his parents, who let him make his childhood bedroom his domain, even if his wall etchings hurt the home’s resale value. He knew his mom was proud of him when he got his Ph.D, he said, despite how she’d introduce him: “This is my son. He’s a doctor, but not the kind who helps people.”

He then spoke about his legacy. Considered one of the nation’s foremost teachers of videogame and virtual-reality technology, he helped develop “Alice,” a Carnegie Mellon software project that allows people to easily create 3-D animations. It had one million downloads in the past year, and usage is expected to soar.

“Like Moses, I get to see the Promised Land, but I don’t get to step foot in it,” Dr. Pausch said. “That’s OK. I will live on in Alice.”

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabr igde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt . . . → Read More: An interesting experiment]]> “fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too .

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabr igde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it.”

Source: this is all over the internet, I don’t know where it’s originally from.

Dear Professor Millington,

Thank you for your letter of March 16. After careful consideration, I regret to inform you that I am unable to accept your refusal to offer me an assistant professor position in your department.

This . . . → Read More: A rejected rejection letter]]> Herbert A. Millington
Chair – Search Committee
412A Clarkson Hall
Whitson University
College Hill, MA 34109

Dear Professor Millington,

Thank you for your letter of March 16. After careful consideration, I regret to inform you that I am unable to accept your refusal to offer me an assistant professor position in your department.

This year I have been particularly fortunate in receiving an unusually large number of rejection letters. With such a varied and promising field of candidates, it is impossible for me to accept all refusals.

Despite Whitson’s outstanding qualifications and previous experience in rejecting applicants, I find that your rejection does not meet my needs at this time. Therefore, I will assume the position of assistant professor in your department this August. I look forward to seeing you then. Best of luck in rejecting future applicants.

Sincerely,

Chris L. Jensen

Source: NADA (KTH)‘s bulletin board

The following are my extremely old ideas, which the then-young-sophomore called “Research”. Looking back, I find those ideas very funny, silly, and trivial but still, they’re all my kids and I’m proud of them. Since I’m cleaning my website, including the Research page, I’m gonna bring the kids over here . . . → Read More: My extremely old children]]>  

The following are my extremely old ideas, which the then-young-sophomore called “Research”. Looking back, I find those ideas very funny, silly, and trivial but still, they’re all my kids and I’m proud of them. Since I’m cleaning my website, including the Research page, I’m gonna bring the kids over here so that they won’t be forgotten by their damn father.

——————————-

* Generalization of Poisson distribution and its application in Epidemiology (K.Tran, L. Meyers): Many infectious diseases spread through populations via the networks formed by physical contacts among individuals, which are called social networks. Understanding those social networks helps us predict the probability and demographic distribution of an outbreak. Determining the degree distribution is thus a study of interest, where the degree of a person in a community is the number of his/her contacts. Data collected in Vancouver, where there were four cases of SARS detected in 2003, suggested that the degree distribution of an urban center may resemble a Poisson distribution but with higher probability of super-spreaders (a super-spreader is a person who has a high degree of contacts). Hence, we are interested in generalizing the Poisson distribution and computing the corresponding probability mass function that best approximates the data.

(Social Networks is still a hot research topic but definitely, my contribution is infinitesimal, if not 0.)

* New Action Model for the Robots: a failed project. Basically, in standard, each movement action (in a very short time) of the robot is modeled by 3 variables: turn (angle), travel (distance), and turn again (angle). Since there’re always errors in measurements (sensor, lazer, etc.), you model these as 3 Gaussian variables. I proposed a model that uses only 2 Gaussian variables, which are the (tangential) velocity and the turning rate (angular velocity). Such an “improvement” would tremendously reduces the computation time. Of course, in the proposal, I also showed how to derive the 2 variables from the sensor readings (in Computer Science world, such a mathematical derivation is considered so trivial). Indeed, Prof. Kuipers was also very excited with this idea. However, the testing demonstrated that my model was terrible. It turned out that even in a very short time, the robot’s motion is not necessarily circular.

Note that the motion of the robot is controlled by the motor (velocity) and the turning of the wheels/legs (turning rate). If the parameters are kept the same for 1 second, the robot will travel on a circular arc during that second. The problem is that those parameters change continuously.

(In the picture above are Sony Aibos, the robot dogs that I worked on.)

* The Laptop Hanger: an invention to facilitate my laziness. You stick the frame to the wall, you place your laptop on this frame and then you can comfortably use the laptop while laying down on bed. I made it with my own hands. This product would look much nicer if I had wooden furniture manufacturers in Vietnam make it. There are several technical problems in this paper. I resolved all of those as well as made some improvements; however, I haven’t rewritten the paper yet (so it’s interesting if you can figure out yourself).
* The Hash Tree: during my first semester in college, I invented an efficient data structure for the dictionary problem and I called it a Hash Tree. I was crazy about this idea (jumped off the chair) and excitedly thought about a cool publication. I presented this idea to Dr. Lin, my algorithms & data structures course instructor, and he (a compiler expert) found it cool too. He really made me hope. However, I was still a kid who re-invented the wheel (I figured that out after talking to Dr. Ramachandran). The data structure is classical (in some sense, it’s trivial) and in liturature, it’s called a Radix Tree.

* On Viète Theorem: An Interesting Application. In this paper, I present an interesting application of Viète theorem, a fundalmetal theorem about the sum and product of 2 roots of a quadratic equation, in Number Theory. It was first written in Vietnamese, when I was still in high school, and was translated into English 2 years later.
* Some Web Development Ideas: in my first year, I proposed these web development ideas to the Departmental Honors Software Development Group (the first Turing Scholars founded it), but no member found them cool (stupid kids, I still find them cool ), so no real project has been launched.

- Cuối cùng thì VN Index cũng đã giảm trong ngày hôm nay, như dự đoán.

- Shanghai Composite Index (SCI) đã tăng ngoạn mục trở lại (nhờ can thiệp của chính phủ Trung Quốc tạm ngừng đánh thuế từ thu nhập cổ phiếu)

- Ngay sau đó . . . → Read More: Một quan sát về thị trường tài chính toàn cầu]]>

Tin tài chính ngày 28/4/2007

- Cuối cùng thì VN Index cũng đã giảm trong ngày hôm nay, như dự đoán.

- Shanghai Composite Index (SCI) đã tăng ngoạn mục trở lại (nhờ can thiệp của chính phủ Trung Quốc tạm ngừng đánh thuế từ thu nhập cổ phiếu)

- Ngay sau đó chỉ số Dow Jones cũng “bounced back” 100 điểm

Quan sát, nhận xét, và dự đoán (từ góc nhìn vật lý)

- Trước đấy, Trung Quốc đã bắn phát súng của phong trào bán tống bán tháo toàn cầu với việc SCI giảm ở mức kỉ lục 9%. Sau đấy thì tình hình tài chính các nước Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, US, UK, …, và rồi Vietnam lần lượt ảm đạm theo: tuy mạnh mẽ nhưng vẫn nhẹ hơn (theo thời gian) sự sụt giảm ở Trung Quốc.

- Tương tự, chỉ số Dow Jones ở Mỹ hôm nay cũng bounced back giống như SCI trước đấy với một tỉ lệ thấp hơn.

- Từ đấy, ta lập tức nghĩ đến sự biến động tài chính có tính lan tỏa (diffusion process), nghĩa là ta có thể liên hệ mô hình chuyển động của chỉ số chứng khoán toàn cầu với các hiện tượng chuyển động trong vật lý.

- Nếu xem mô hình chuyển động của thị trường tài chính toàn cầu là một diffusion process thì VN-Index cũng sẽ bounced back, tăng nhẹ trở lại vào ngày mai.