Algorithms

In a fit of inspiration, I flipped through my videos on my XBMC this morning and realized that I still have a copy of "MIT: Introduction to Algorithms" recorded in 2001. This morning I've been watching episode 3, "Divide and Conquer", recorded 9/12/2001.

It's interesting to see the people reacting to 9/11, when it was still a "great tradgedy" before it became "terrible attacks" when the call was "Feel this pain, yes, but get out and keep making the world better. That's what we must do after an event like this." And then right back into math and CS. I'm glad they didn't have any vinette on "divide and conquer" as practised by the Romans or British (I see that they did make a comment like that in the 2005 lesson).

This is a nice refresher. It's been a long time since I've formal analysis of algorithm run-times beyond "back of the envelope" estimations. If the cost of splitting a problem in two is small compared to the speed/complexity improvement of doing a half-size problem, then this is a win. See also map-reduce et al.

Perhaps it is also time to go through "Algorithms in Perl" and update it for "modern perl"isms? That'd make an interesting blog thread.
A recording from 2005 is available on video.google.com and on youtube.

Peteris Krumin watched and blogged about all of these episodes. In fact, I think he's the one who transcoded them from realmedia and posted them on video.google.com. Thanks for releasing these under a CC license, MIT!
http://www.catonmat.net/blog/summary-of-mit-introduction-to-algorithms/

Remembrance.

Mallory Portillo wrote:

In honor of the fallen (friends of the Rubicon family):
Todd Beamer
Scott Weingard
John Murray

It is often said that out of great hardship comes strength. Instead of letting the tragic day tear us apart as a country, we came together as a nation and mourned together, helped each other, and shared memories of the event and of the fallen. It is our saddest day but likely our proudest moment. We showed, as a united country, that freedom is a strength not a weakness and in the face of great tragedy we stop at nothing to come together and hatred cannot tear us apart.

Eight years later, we will all likely remember the exact moment when we saw the first plane hit the World Trade Center but more importantly this day will always be a time for us to reflect on what is so great about this nation and its people. Today in the LA office, we are having a pot luck to share food amongst friends and also raise money for a local non-profit. In the spirit of 9/11, please take a moment wherever you are to share with others (even if it’s just a smile on the street or an email to an friend).

To those who knew Todd, Scott and John, my condolences on the tragedy of your loss.

Thank you for sharing this act of Remembrance. None of us are alone in our grief, for we are all united. Let us hope that the legacy of this day will be of a united, strengthened people and a lasting day of Service.

This is my third anniversary back in California and it has felt so strange for this to be a "normal day" for so many people. A day of Remembering puts into stark relief the pettiness of our regular days and reminds me how lucky I am to be loved and living a wonderful life. Mallory, thank you for reminding us why the Rubicon Project is such a special place.

peace and love,
Andrew

"On a day when others sought to sap our confidence, let us renew our common purpose, let us remember how we came together as one nation, as one people, as Americans united, Such sense of purpose need not be a fleeting moment."
— President Obama, September 11, 2009.