If you answered yes to all those questions, then you just might be the person we are looking for. We are especially looking for theory people of the STOC/FOCS tendency. However, we are not looking for any more computational geometry people since we already have enough of this horrible plague. (Unless they are senior, well liked, and not afraid of doing gardening every once in awhile.)
If you are doing theory and considering to apply to UIUC, feel free to send me email… (Tip: the earlier you apply, the better.)
While Suresh is upset about the state of evolution in the US, Steven Roach is worried about the devaluation of the US. And while nobody is happy about the state of things in Iraq, at least there is one guy that belives he can fix it, althgouh I think those guys could have done a better job, but unfortunately they are as real as intelligent design and only slightly more powerful. And John Kerry is happy to be back on top of the hill. Of course, if he is lucky, in his next life he would be Al Gore or just Shimon Peres.
Confused? You wouldn’t be after reading the following proof that we live in the best of all possible worlds.
A sad article about a little girl killed in Gaza.
…that was left on my answering machine. Here you can listen to it yourself.
… you might want to try real work.
I recently read a book titled “Everything and more – a compact history of infinity” by David Wallace. It is a very nice book covering in detail the problems mathematicians encountered in the 18/19/20th century with set theory, and their solutions. This is related to the work of Cantor and others on formalizing calculus. It provides a historical background which explains some of the definitions one encounter when learning calculus.
In particular, the book gives a good exposition of what is infinity, and why handling it mathematically is both unavoidable and subtle. A good book to read if you wonder about the why modern calculus is the way it is.
So Bernard Chazelle visited our little village in the corn fields, and gave a distinguished lecturer talk about Data-Powered Computing. If you are interested, you can see the talk online. (BTW, the sound quality is good.)
Previous talks in geometry available online in UIUC include:
1. Micha Sharir: The Combinatorics of Geometric Arrangements – webcast
2. Leo Guibas: Kinetic Data Structures – webcast.
There a lot of other interesting distinguished lectures recorded online. See here for past lectures, and lectures in the current series.
As just described by Suresh and Jeff, there is now wiki site for computational geometry (thanks to Herve Bronnimann efforts). I think this is an excellent venue to collect information as a community and keep updated information about the state of knowledge in CG, and keep the community vibrant and active. There is also a geometry blog.
Not completely related, but interesting nevertheless, there is an article by Robert McHenry on the limitations of Wikipedia (from slashdot).
By Doron Doron Rosenblum
What was it that Prince Metternich said when informed of Talleyrand’s death? “I wonder what he meant by that.” I, too, before asking myself what Arafat is plotting by failing to die, wondered what this transparent and well-worn exercise of kicking the bucket was supposed to mean. What did he want to accomplish by it? Torpedo the disengagement plan? Influence the U.S. elections? Foment a spat between Abu Mazen and Abu Ala? Give Danny Naveh and Yuval Steinitz a ladder on which to climb down from the threat of the Netanyahu ultimatum? To grab victory for Sharon in the Knesset vote?
Read more about it here.