Plunge of global stock markets

China starts the tide this time, by Shanghai and Shenzhen fell about 8% and 9%... Then Europe, U.S., and Japan all followed suit. Surprisingly, gold and silver price also fell, but bond and oil price went up.

There are a lot analysis around, but I believe the fact that U.S. economy is in trouble (the huge deficit and debt, crash of real estate, etc. ) is the root reason. Take a look at the history, all empires eventually collapse due to their military overstretch, which leads to economic meltdown and eventually fall of the empire.

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Life is an opportunity to do something.

An interesting probabiilty problem

Toss a fair coin n times, what is the probability of having at least k consecutive Heads (i.e., we could have more than k consecutive Heads).

The problem looks simple but once you tried it, you will find that it is not very easy. It is a very good test for your understanding on Probability :), so I strongly encourage you to have a try! And you may encounter this in an interview!

I will try to post the solution later, if I can solve it.
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Life is an opportunity to do something.

Weekly Update

A few updates......again, I am busy recently.........and will be busy for a while........ sometimes I think I am too busy. For example, Song talked about an interesting algorithm problem on his blog and I thought it is intriguing too. However, I am too busy to do more investigation on that... It is a shame... I think maybe I am pushing myself too much sometimes... I will try to improve that when I am not busy.

So, what keep me busy then?

1. Work at the company. At least 1/3 of my day is spent there...
2. Course work. Real analysis is not that easy now... Prof. Pugh emphasize a lot on geometric understanding of concepts, which is quite powerful, but it also takes a lot effort to visualize things. And the midterm is coming soon!
3. Prepare for GRE. I registered it a few days ago and the test day is May 12. I hope I can finish this crap before I dive into my summer research.
   
4. A lot misc. stuff --- forex trading, tax return, do a body check (I haven't done so for a few years ........), get a new pair of glasses.. etc. etc. etc

Meanwhile, I also need to start preparing for Grad School Application. It is a lengthy process...
Cathy is ahead of me on this. She will attend quite a few interviews for dental school in the near future. I wish her all the success in her interviews --- so I can get my free dental care in the future ;)



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Life is an opportunity to do something.

被点名了....

From Song Wei's blog http://songwei.blogsome.com/2007/02/03/p462/

1.2006你最开心的事是什么？

Have certain achievement that I am satisfied with.

2.2006年最难过的事是什么？

Something made me so sad that I don't even want to talk about

3.2007年最大的心愿是什么？

Do well in grad school application, which is an event in a huge Markov Chain.

4.最大的愿望：

Life time? Do something, have some fun

5.如果现在可以让你随心所欲去旅行，你想去哪？

Wherever, traveling mind-free is great enough so the destination really doesn't matter

6.你最满意自己身体哪个部位？与别人初次见面你会先注意他（她）哪个部位？

Brain/Brain

7.失眠过吗？你用什么办法对抗失眠？

YES. Try to be regular

8.会不会做饭？你希望你的伴侣（or 未来的伴侣）会做饭吗？

Not really...but will be. Yes, we will learn together anyways

9.你最想做哪个动画片角色？为什么？

no idea...don't watch that kind of stuff anymore

10.在你心中我是怎么样一个人？

An intelligent and outright guy, and I can call you dude as I wish :P

11.如果可以重来,你最想改变的是什么？

Learn much much much more math!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12.觉得自己是个自恋的人么?

Should be, but not very.

13.爱人爱到怎样的程度才算是超过爱自己呢？

have no idea.

14.你理想的伴侣应该具备什么样的品质？

smart and interesting

15.谈谈你最近在听的音乐吧．

A lot. Some old songs.

16.你会出于什么样的理由结婚? 或者是出于什么样的理由单身?

I love the girl and want to live with her.

for freedom

17.如果现在你有自由权利可以杀掉一个人，你选谁，为什么？（好像年底不应该问这么邪恶的问题，那么我提供一个可选项，请看问题二）如果你现在可以随便kiss一个人，你选谁，为什么？（哈哈，还是很邪恶）

Kill: a lot ppl are worth killing, but usually killing does not help much.

18.和恋人分手了你会把对方的手机，msn，qq删掉么，如果删掉为什么？

No, so I don't need to answer the 2nd question.

19.如果可以按照自己的想法去实现,你希望在多少岁时结婚,为什么?

Before I finish my Ph.D

20.写下目前在你的生命中最重要最珍贵的三个朋友的名字(恋人不算)

i don't know why three.. friends shouldn't have a rank or things like top 3 "precious" or whatever. All my friends are important to me, otherwise they are not my friend.

I have already asked some ppl to join this kind of game a while ago. So I would not spread it further for now.... but I reserve the right to spread it in the future.