MCS

Author: max

  • Operating Systems Textbook Released In Free, Modifiable Form

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    Five years ago the textbook for my Operating Systems course, Operating Systems and Middleware: Supporting Controlled Interaction was published by Course Technology. It has been used at scattered universities and colleges around the world and even attracted a few fans, but it never caught on enough to be a commercial success. Last fall, Course Technology…

  • Math alum puts human face on marriage

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    Javen Swanson, a 2006 math alum, is pictured in the Minneapolis Star Tribune with his husband, Oby Ballinger, as the photo illustration accompanying the article “Marriage vote sparring begins.”

  • MCS Alum on WNPR: Jazz and Justice

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    max

    Computer Science graduate Justin Haaheim (2006) was interviewed today on WNPR. His segment begins about 6 minutes 30 seconds in.

  • Pursued by Pi

    Pursued by Pi

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    max

    While on sabbatical leave, I figured I’d do some research on pi, which I frequently teach about. And since I had no reason to stick around for classes (or the snowstorm that was postponing classes that day), I’d head to the Mission District of San Francisco. The photo documents the research result I achieved there:…

  • Mathematical communication and the law

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    max

    Students who study math or computer science learn to communicate precisely, which can serve them well even in other areas. For example, some of our alumni have become successful lawyers. A remarkable story about a court case is a good illustration of why precision matters. I’m reminded of one of the peculiarities of mathematical communication,…

  • Benoît Mandelbrot (1924-2010); Fractal pioneer spoke at Nobel Conference in 1990

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    max

    The New York Times has an obituary for Benoît Mandelbrot, the pioneer of fractal geometry, who is dead at 85. From the Gustavus viewpoint, he can be remembered as a speaker at the 1990 Nobel Conference on the topic “Chaos: The New Science”. Unlike recent Nobel Conferences with lectures preserved as archived video, Mandelbrot’s lecture…

  • Math T-Shirt to Rock Minneapolis!

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    Two and a half years ago, I posted on this blog about the seemingly indestructible t-shirts from the 1979 and 1980 Gustavus math contests that Oliver Ackerman regularly wears while performing. To update that story, Ernie Ackerman emailed me two news items. (1) At least the 1979 shirt is still going strong; it is clearly…

  • Crime Distance and Background Probability in Geoprofiling

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    max

    Seminar by Chen Yu Yang, Gustavus Mathematics Major Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 11:30 AM in Olin 321 This work on geoprofiling builds on my collaboration with Sam Rethwisch and Eric Cox in the Mathematical Contest in Modeling 2010. Geoprofiling is a technique to locate criminals based on historical data, proposed by Rossmo in his…

  • Understanding the Challenges of Freecell

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    Seminar by Katie O’Bryan, Gustavus Mathematics Major Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 12:30 PM in Olin 321 Looking at the Freecell derivation of Solitaire, I will discuss the history and fundamentals of Freecell as well as the applications of statistics and probability to the game. Many people have been acquainted with Freecell through use of…

  • Congratulations to the Nienows!

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    This morning at about 5:30, Amanda Nienow brought her second son, Henry, into the world, weighing 7 lbs 1 oz and measuring 20.5 inches long. Henry’s father, MCS Department member Aaron Nienow, reports that Henry is “very active” and that both baby and mother are doing well. Congratulations to the Nienows, including older brother Allan.