Quotes from Class

Other Professor: (This professor says some funny things, but not as many as the other one. This professor teaches my Linear Algebra class and these should be read with thick Latino accent.)

(Speaking of America's history) "In this country you have New York. Other than that you don't have cities- you have trains."

"If we squint a little bit, then it looks like the two dimensional complex number space."

"Whenever you have an equivalence you feel compelled to make a collection."

"If you choose carefully, then lots of good things will happen."

"I was young and happy doing homework and watching X-files on Sundays, I remember."

Quotes from Class

I've needed some good laughs lately and so I gathered all the quotes I haven't had time to post. I will post these today and some more (from a different professor) are scheduled for next week while I am on spring break!

Student Quote:

"I have to self intersect... that always makes me uncomfortable."



Professor Quotes: (This is the same professor as previous Quotes from Class posts. He teaches Abstract Algebra and is also my thesis advisor. These should be read with a thick German accent.)

"So Gauss probably took out his ipod and his headphones were tangled for the thousandth time and he got fed up so he developed knot theory."

"Oh that's bad notation but I can't help it because it's in the book."

"We have five more minutes so we might as well go on. On the other hand we might as well quit."

"Here's a cute little theorem for you."

"And all of this is sort of bean counting."

"I'm 90% sure but I could be 10% wrong."

"You caught me on a pretty bad lie."

"...which is what you want, because all we have to do is factor, so we are done. At this point your calc students yell out 'But that's not what it says in the back of the book!' to which I say, 'Oh well!'"

"There's an annoying lemma coming up."

"Plus, I lost one of my contacts so I'm down on one eye."

Written on the board: "45 + 24 = too much"

"It's a good group but way too special."

"Who cares about small numbers? Screw 1, 2, 3, 4, 5."

"If this doesn't smell like free to you, then I don't know what does."

"I'm wearing sweaters with holes in protest of teacher salary cuts."

I loathe... (part 7)

I loathe books formatted without chapter breaks.
I loathe dreams full of running late, panic, wrong answers, and general confusion.
I loathe The Hills and shows like it.

May the Lights Be With You

Announcer: "...and the crowd goes wild! Bailey, you just made it to school in record time! How did you do it?"

Bailey: "Oh, you just gotta know how to work the lights. If they are all green, then, you know, you're going to make it there... quickly."

Announcer: "That is just fascinating! What a way to start the day!"

I love... (part 11)

I love the number 2 (and even painted a picture with that theme).
I love browsing books in bookstores or online.
I love mindless puzzle video/computer games.

Today will be the definition of a long day.

1. Woke up to the surprise of snow! 
2. Did I think today will be a good day?
3. Yes.
4. I got to the MLC early so I decided to push the 2 in. of slush off the porch. 
5. Did I remember to unlock the door before going outside?
6. No.
7. Did I go outside without any of my stuff (including phone with important numbers and keys)? 
8. Yes.
9. Did the door shut behind me?
10. Yes.
11. Did I have to run to my office and figure out how to get back in? 
12. Yes. 
13. Did I have to wait outside in the snowy cold for security to get the job done? 
14. Yes.

It is now 11 am and I am finally warm.

Feelin' Nostalgic Are We?

The other day my nostalgia was triggered. It happens. I thought it might be fun to list some of my triggers and ask all the readers to leave at least one as a comment. I may add to this list as I think of more.

• The taste of a doughnut on a moving day.
• The smell of a dewy softball field.
• The sound Belle and Sebastian while cooking or doing dishes with David.
• The smell of sawdust.

I love... (part 10)

I love avocado.
I love my new Bodum coffee press.
I love eating with chopsticks.

Defend Thy Thesis or Else!

"Why is it called a 'defense'? Are they going to attack?" ~ Frank


My paper doesn't have a title yet because we reorganized the paper and it has a new focus. It is about Carter surfaces, virtual knots, and the genus problem.

The whole idea of presenting my work in front of professors stresses me out even though most of my audience will be people who care about me and want me to succeed. I also think that half of the audience will get lost after the second slide (which is a good thing, because people who don't get it usually don't ask hard questions).

My thesis (master's in mathematics) defense is scheduled for April 7, 2010. If you are in the Boise area (or not), then you are welcome to come! I love support from friends and family. You may now leave me well wishes and encouragement. :)

Quotes from Class

More math class quotes by same professor:


"You can also play with these things quietly in your room."


"I feel like I'm kicking a dead horse now."


(He walks to other part of the chalkboard.) "Let me do this on scratch paper."


"What now? There are probably a bunch of definitions and horrible lemmas I don't even want to prove."