お腹が空いたの時、買い物してはいけません。
"When you're hungry, you must not go shopping"
Advice from personal experience having to shop almost every other day for fresh food in Japan.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-science-willpower/201107/the-neurobiology-dont-shop-when-youre-hungry
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Course review
Helloo!! It's that time again to review the courses I had this semester.
Actually I should've done this a month ago, when the course was still fresh in my mind. Now everything's been pushed away and my mind is filled with thoughts about my next co-op work term in Japan.
cpsc 320 - Patrice Belville
This was the most feared course on my list. cpsc320 is renowned course to be difficult and deathly to all cpsc students. I didn't find it as deathly as I imagined it to be. The concepts were interesting and I hope I will get the chance to review this stuff (algorithms and design) again because all of the concepts seem to be applicable to various fields of compsci. Also, one thing that saved me during this course was the fact that we had cheatsheets for our midterms and finals. Although, it was rarely helpful for the final... I liked Patrice's teaching as it was straightforward and the examples were thorough. I would say that his way of teaching fit my learning style more than Steve's teaching style. I'm not going to comment more. hehe.
cogs 402 - Dr. Khan
I worked on a robot simulation written in Java for Dr.Khan. He's a prof in the mechanical engineering department. I was fortunate enough to be able to work on this project. Dr.Khan was patient when I didn't understand something. One thing I did not like was the fact that he had no idea what was going on with the code. maybe that's the way his research lab works I'm not really sure. One thing for sure, is I had a lot of freedom. It's an interesting project. Cooperative autonomous robots are to push objects to a goal and their behavior was modelled based on the artificial immune system. I also got the chance to review some of the biology of immune systems while I was writing the paper. Research can be fun if you land on a project that's interesting. That's what I've learned. I also learned that I should be more confident in my abilities instead of just worrying about how incapable I might be. -- Worrying I find is the most time consuming, wasteful behaviour I have ever encountered. Don't get me wrong, worrying is fine, but don't worry to the point that you get depressed over something. When I get depressed over something I lose all ability to focus on a task etc. I can actually rant more, but that's off topic. One thing's for sure, I'd like to thank Dr.Khan for being patient with me once again. I hope you will realize that I've learned a lot about researching and about myself.
psych 361 - Catharine Winstanley
Motivation. I'm sorry, but I did not feel motivated at all to work hard at this course about motivation. (haha ironic..) I feel that the prof could've made the material a little more interesting. But I'm guessing it's difficult because there's so much information we need to know packed up into 4 months time. The material was dry and boring. After the final, I was doing a bit of browsing on the web and came across an relevant article related to this course on motivation. http://www.cracked.com/article_18461_5-creepy-ways-video-games-are-trying-to-get-you-addicted.html It was amazing how a lot of the stuff in this article pertained to what I learned in 361. If only the prof made the course as interesting as this article, then I may have been more motivated to study harder for the final and I may have been able to better memorize the material! It was really difficult to memorize those 100s of experiments about mice pressing levers and how each one is different from the others...
cpsc 322 - Frank Hutter
It was Frank's first time teaching 322 I believe. Things started out rocky, I thought he sounded like a robot at first (haha,) but as the course progressed, I found that he was really understanding and concerned about how he was doing and constantly asked us to evaluate him and his lectures. He took our concerns into consideration and was always willing to make his lectures better. I am sure in time, he will become an amazing prof! As for the course itself, I found it extremely interesting. I loved the concepts and the assignments were fun (although sometimes time consuming). For example, we were able to apply concepts we learned with search by implementing a sudoku solver and a time table scheduler. I think I will be taking the parent course cpsc 422 after I come back from Japan. It sounds difficult but I'm sure it will be just as interesting as 322.
Anywayysss Tired. Going to review some C++ or something before I sleep. Then tomorrow will be a new day!
-Bess
Actually I should've done this a month ago, when the course was still fresh in my mind. Now everything's been pushed away and my mind is filled with thoughts about my next co-op work term in Japan.
cpsc 320 - Patrice Belville
This was the most feared course on my list. cpsc320 is renowned course to be difficult and deathly to all cpsc students. I didn't find it as deathly as I imagined it to be. The concepts were interesting and I hope I will get the chance to review this stuff (algorithms and design) again because all of the concepts seem to be applicable to various fields of compsci. Also, one thing that saved me during this course was the fact that we had cheatsheets for our midterms and finals. Although, it was rarely helpful for the final... I liked Patrice's teaching as it was straightforward and the examples were thorough. I would say that his way of teaching fit my learning style more than Steve's teaching style. I'm not going to comment more. hehe.
cogs 402 - Dr. Khan
I worked on a robot simulation written in Java for Dr.Khan. He's a prof in the mechanical engineering department. I was fortunate enough to be able to work on this project. Dr.Khan was patient when I didn't understand something. One thing I did not like was the fact that he had no idea what was going on with the code. maybe that's the way his research lab works I'm not really sure. One thing for sure, is I had a lot of freedom. It's an interesting project. Cooperative autonomous robots are to push objects to a goal and their behavior was modelled based on the artificial immune system. I also got the chance to review some of the biology of immune systems while I was writing the paper. Research can be fun if you land on a project that's interesting. That's what I've learned. I also learned that I should be more confident in my abilities instead of just worrying about how incapable I might be. -- Worrying I find is the most time consuming, wasteful behaviour I have ever encountered. Don't get me wrong, worrying is fine, but don't worry to the point that you get depressed over something. When I get depressed over something I lose all ability to focus on a task etc. I can actually rant more, but that's off topic. One thing's for sure, I'd like to thank Dr.Khan for being patient with me once again. I hope you will realize that I've learned a lot about researching and about myself.
psych 361 - Catharine Winstanley
Motivation. I'm sorry, but I did not feel motivated at all to work hard at this course about motivation. (haha ironic..) I feel that the prof could've made the material a little more interesting. But I'm guessing it's difficult because there's so much information we need to know packed up into 4 months time. The material was dry and boring. After the final, I was doing a bit of browsing on the web and came across an relevant article related to this course on motivation. http://www.cracked.com/article_18461_5-creepy-ways-video-games-are-trying-to-get-you-addicted.html It was amazing how a lot of the stuff in this article pertained to what I learned in 361. If only the prof made the course as interesting as this article, then I may have been more motivated to study harder for the final and I may have been able to better memorize the material! It was really difficult to memorize those 100s of experiments about mice pressing levers and how each one is different from the others...
cpsc 322 - Frank Hutter
It was Frank's first time teaching 322 I believe. Things started out rocky, I thought he sounded like a robot at first (haha,) but as the course progressed, I found that he was really understanding and concerned about how he was doing and constantly asked us to evaluate him and his lectures. He took our concerns into consideration and was always willing to make his lectures better. I am sure in time, he will become an amazing prof! As for the course itself, I found it extremely interesting. I loved the concepts and the assignments were fun (although sometimes time consuming). For example, we were able to apply concepts we learned with search by implementing a sudoku solver and a time table scheduler. I think I will be taking the parent course cpsc 422 after I come back from Japan. It sounds difficult but I'm sure it will be just as interesting as 322.
Anywayysss Tired. Going to review some C++ or something before I sleep. Then tomorrow will be a new day!
-Bess
Monday, March 21, 2011
Dream
Last night I had a dream. I don't usually have dreams and normally when I do get dreams I forget them after a few hours.
I was riding the millennium sky-train, to school I suppose. I reach commercial station and everyone's rushing out. There was an announcement being broad casted and told everyone to evacuate the train and station.. I don't remember what they were actually saying. I do believe they mentioned about some dangerous guy.. As I was walking/rushing (?) up the stairs with the crowd, right in front of me was this guy with a gun. There was no time to think. I held eye contact with the guy briefly and he shoots me in the head. I immediately fall and the scene around me blacks out. I remember thinking to myself "so this is how it feels like to die." It wasn't painful at all. I think I fell on someone's bike and I also remember a friend of mine who was also there.. she said something like "That's too bad..." or "that sucks" The scene faded and I think I found myself at home. Turned out I didn't die and I some how got myself back home after the black out... I felt the bullet on the side of my skull. I needed to get it out.. My dad was home and I asked him to pull it out for me. .. and he did. o.o It was weird because I wasn't bleeding or anything. And that's all I remember. Eerie isn't it? Maybe I was getting unconscious suicidal thoughts because of my 320 midterm coming up tomorrow. Speaking of which....I should get going on that.
Bess
I was riding the millennium sky-train, to school I suppose. I reach commercial station and everyone's rushing out. There was an announcement being broad casted and told everyone to evacuate the train and station.. I don't remember what they were actually saying. I do believe they mentioned about some dangerous guy.. As I was walking/rushing (?) up the stairs with the crowd, right in front of me was this guy with a gun. There was no time to think. I held eye contact with the guy briefly and he shoots me in the head. I immediately fall and the scene around me blacks out. I remember thinking to myself "so this is how it feels like to die." It wasn't painful at all. I think I fell on someone's bike and I also remember a friend of mine who was also there.. she said something like "That's too bad..." or "that sucks" The scene faded and I think I found myself at home. Turned out I didn't die and I some how got myself back home after the black out... I felt the bullet on the side of my skull. I needed to get it out.. My dad was home and I asked him to pull it out for me. .. and he did. o.o It was weird because I wasn't bleeding or anything. And that's all I remember. Eerie isn't it? Maybe I was getting unconscious suicidal thoughts because of my 320 midterm coming up tomorrow. Speaking of which....I should get going on that.
Bess
Monday, February 14, 2011
my lip balm collection
I would like to share with everyone, my lip balm collection (actually I have a few duplicates but different versions lying around somewhere...)
I collected a lot of free lip balms recently and did not have the time to use them...
Review of the lip balms I have used:
Polysporin: (third from the left) I really liked using it a couple of years back.. I liked the cooling sensation when it was applied and it helped with my really dry and peeling lips X_X. But I decided to switch after realizing how mushy it became. I'm not sure if it was always like that or if it was because I left it alone for a long time and it internally rotted?
Burts Bees: (second from the left) good overall. I used the "canned" version (ones where you need to dig in with your fingers in order to apply it..) of it until recently I used the normal stick type. I grew out of the Burts bees phase after i realized it couldn't deal with my ultra dry lips (they're very picky :S)
Carmex: (first one on the left) The one I'm currently using! actually I use the one on the picture less than I use the variation of it - the tube type. I got it from the US after a friend recommended it. So far it's fitting my needs.
At night I use Vaseline if my lips are really "damaged." Which is super helpful!!
Well that was an awkward post.
Bess
I collected a lot of free lip balms recently and did not have the time to use them...
Review of the lip balms I have used:
Polysporin: (third from the left) I really liked using it a couple of years back.. I liked the cooling sensation when it was applied and it helped with my really dry and peeling lips X_X. But I decided to switch after realizing how mushy it became. I'm not sure if it was always like that or if it was because I left it alone for a long time and it internally rotted?
Burts Bees: (second from the left) good overall. I used the "canned" version (ones where you need to dig in with your fingers in order to apply it..) of it until recently I used the normal stick type. I grew out of the Burts bees phase after i realized it couldn't deal with my ultra dry lips (they're very picky :S)
Carmex: (first one on the left) The one I'm currently using! actually I use the one on the picture less than I use the variation of it - the tube type. I got it from the US after a friend recommended it. So far it's fitting my needs.
At night I use Vaseline if my lips are really "damaged." Which is super helpful!!
Well that was an awkward post.
Bess
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Technical Career Fair
Today I volunteered/attended the technical career fair organized by CSS, compsci student society, engineering physics(?) and .... etc. I managed to get some cool freebies, RIM was giving out personalized m&ms with their logo imprinted on them. haha cool idea!
Actually, I don't think I've attended any in my previous years at UBC. I'm still thinking about what I should do after I graduate... Work or Grad school? @_@ I was thinking, I should have some type of goal. For example, to apply for a job at Google or Microsoft. I think I think too negatively when it comes to my intelligence... I shouldn't doubt myself that much. I think it's stunting my growth. So with this goal in mind, I'll work really hard in school and do whatever it takes to prepare myself for when I do apply for those companies and if I don't get a job there, I know I've at least tried!! -- this is much better compared to thinking "oh I'll never get a job at google or Microsoft knowing my own level of intelligence, therefore I don't need to try."
Well I have all 8 months in Japan to prepare for my final term at UBC... I hope I will be able to experience all of Japan within that time frame and learn lots too!
I met a lot of new people today too. I also found someone in engineering who's working in Japan for co-op at the same prefecture as me. I'm super stoked for Japan now!!
I need to study for my 320 midterm on Thursday now. No more distractions!!!
Bessie
Actually, I don't think I've attended any in my previous years at UBC. I'm still thinking about what I should do after I graduate... Work or Grad school? @_@ I was thinking, I should have some type of goal. For example, to apply for a job at Google or Microsoft. I think I think too negatively when it comes to my intelligence... I shouldn't doubt myself that much. I think it's stunting my growth. So with this goal in mind, I'll work really hard in school and do whatever it takes to prepare myself for when I do apply for those companies and if I don't get a job there, I know I've at least tried!! -- this is much better compared to thinking "oh I'll never get a job at google or Microsoft knowing my own level of intelligence, therefore I don't need to try."
Well I have all 8 months in Japan to prepare for my final term at UBC... I hope I will be able to experience all of Japan within that time frame and learn lots too!
I met a lot of new people today too. I also found someone in engineering who's working in Japan for co-op at the same prefecture as me. I'm super stoked for Japan now!!
I need to study for my 320 midterm on Thursday now. No more distractions!!!
Bessie
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Term 2 courses Jan - April 2011
Term 1 grades are all out now, it was a great term!
Term 1 courses:
Cpsc 312 (functional and logic programming) - Kurt Eiselt
Cpsc 304 (intro to databases) - George Tsiknis
Psych 367 (Sensory systems) - Deborah Giaschi
Cogs 303 (research methods)- Ron Rensink
Phil 451 (phil of mind) - Murat Aydede
I thought all of the profs I had for the 1st term were excellent.
Kurt's classes were non-sleep inducing just as I remembered it from Cpsc 111. 312 was an interesting course. We learned Haskell and Prolog and we were assigned to implement programs that were ... engaging? Most of them were to help solve puzzles - Rush hour, Oska, Sudoku, Clue.
George had wonderful lecture notes and was nice enough to reschedule my final exam because of exam hardship. (despite telling him one week instead of one month in advance) I landed myself into a great team and we worked well together and as a result ended up with a great final library database we're all proud of (I think) the format of the course was very similar to 211 (which I also took with George)
Ron made cogs 303 an extremely interesting and useful course, he also valued and encouraged criticism on the course to make it better every year. The format of the course was different from any other course I've taken at ubc. We're separated into two groups at the beginning of the term and changed tables often so we were all able to meet and work with fellow cogs majors. The majority of the course consists of writing short essays, searching for articles that matched what we were learning, presentations and assessing other students' work. I highly recommend this course. You will learn a variety of useful skills - mainly critical thinking and public presentations/speaking.
Philosophy 451 was the second philosophy course I've ever taken - the other was phil 220 which was in so many levels different from 451. This course was largely based on reading papers about the mind... Philosophers we focused on were Descartes, Kripke, Kim, Smart, Jackson etc...It consisted of sitting in class, listening to Murat talk, a midterm, paper and a final. The course was difficult in a sense that the concepts in the papers were hard to understand for me.. Otherwise, a word of advice, do the readings and discuss with someone who knows what the papers are about.
Psych 367 - typical psych course? I thought prof Giaschi was a great lecturer. Course consisted of a small straight forward research project done throughout the term with 5 other team members, a midterm and a final. Do well on the research project it's an easy grade booster. What I didn't like was the scaling they did in the end. I lost 2% = (
Courses I am taking this term:
Cogs 402 (Supervised research project in a Cognitive Systems-related laboratory) - Dr.Khan (supervisor)
Cpsc 320 (Intermediate Algorithm Design and Analysis)- Patrice Belleville
Cpsc 322 (Introduction to Artificial Intelligence)- Frank Hutter
Psych 361 (Motivation)- Catharine Winstanley
And hopefully some self study with Japanese since I'll be going there after this term!
Perhaps I'll come back and give a short review on these courses before I leave and forget.
Bessie
Term 1 courses:
Cpsc 312 (functional and logic programming) - Kurt Eiselt
Cpsc 304 (intro to databases) - George Tsiknis
Psych 367 (Sensory systems) - Deborah Giaschi
Cogs 303 (research methods)- Ron Rensink
Phil 451 (phil of mind) - Murat Aydede
I thought all of the profs I had for the 1st term were excellent.
Kurt's classes were non-sleep inducing just as I remembered it from Cpsc 111. 312 was an interesting course. We learned Haskell and Prolog and we were assigned to implement programs that were ... engaging? Most of them were to help solve puzzles - Rush hour, Oska, Sudoku, Clue.
George had wonderful lecture notes and was nice enough to reschedule my final exam because of exam hardship. (despite telling him one week instead of one month in advance) I landed myself into a great team and we worked well together and as a result ended up with a great final library database we're all proud of (I think) the format of the course was very similar to 211 (which I also took with George)
Ron made cogs 303 an extremely interesting and useful course, he also valued and encouraged criticism on the course to make it better every year. The format of the course was different from any other course I've taken at ubc. We're separated into two groups at the beginning of the term and changed tables often so we were all able to meet and work with fellow cogs majors. The majority of the course consists of writing short essays, searching for articles that matched what we were learning, presentations and assessing other students' work. I highly recommend this course. You will learn a variety of useful skills - mainly critical thinking and public presentations/speaking.
Philosophy 451 was the second philosophy course I've ever taken - the other was phil 220 which was in so many levels different from 451. This course was largely based on reading papers about the mind... Philosophers we focused on were Descartes, Kripke, Kim, Smart, Jackson etc...It consisted of sitting in class, listening to Murat talk, a midterm, paper and a final. The course was difficult in a sense that the concepts in the papers were hard to understand for me.. Otherwise, a word of advice, do the readings and discuss with someone who knows what the papers are about.
Psych 367 - typical psych course? I thought prof Giaschi was a great lecturer. Course consisted of a small straight forward research project done throughout the term with 5 other team members, a midterm and a final. Do well on the research project it's an easy grade booster. What I didn't like was the scaling they did in the end. I lost 2% = (
Courses I am taking this term:
Cogs 402 (Supervised research project in a Cognitive Systems-related laboratory) - Dr.Khan (supervisor)
Cpsc 320 (Intermediate Algorithm Design and Analysis)- Patrice Belleville
Cpsc 322 (Introduction to Artificial Intelligence)- Frank Hutter
Psych 361 (Motivation)- Catharine Winstanley
And hopefully some self study with Japanese since I'll be going there after this term!
Perhaps I'll come back and give a short review on these courses before I leave and forget.
Bessie
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