Comments on: Physics on the Perimeter http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:08:25 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Haludza http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/comment-page-1/#comment-27920 Haludza Sun, 29 Apr 2007 03:00:43 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/#comment-27920 Maynard, While I'm still puzzled at your dissatisfaction with the site, I suspect that your e-mails had the misfortunate of being sent to the wrong person (even though their job title would indicate otherwise). I watched the lecture by Mark online and enjoyed it very much! As with most of their online lectures, it was there literally minutes after it had ended at PI. Maynard,

While I’m still puzzled at your dissatisfaction with the site, I suspect that your e-mails had the misfortunate of being sent to the wrong person (even though their job title would indicate otherwise).

I watched the lecture by Mark online and enjoyed it very much! As with most of their online lectures, it was there literally minutes after it had ended at PI.

]]> By: Mark http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/comment-page-1/#comment-27912 Mark Sat, 28 Apr 2007 20:38:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/#comment-27912 Maynard, my actual point is neither of the things you mention. I was just mildly amused by the idea that I would visit an institution, at their invitation, and commence criticizing them while there - that's all. I've personally never tried to deal with the online stuff from PI, and so haven't enountered any problems. If I had, I would have contacted them, but not saved it up for a discussion while visiting - that's not what the visit is for. Delivering an invited presentation at an academic institution is not the same thing as manning a booth at a trade show. Maynard, my actual point is neither of the things you mention. I was just mildly amused by the idea that I would visit an institution, at their invitation, and commence criticizing them while there – that’s all.

I’ve personally never tried to deal with the online stuff from PI, and so haven’t enountered any problems. If I had, I would have contacted them, but not saved it up for a discussion while visiting – that’s not what the visit is for. Delivering an invited presentation at an academic institution is not the same thing as manning a booth at a trade show.

]]> By: Maynard Handley http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/comment-page-1/#comment-27923 Maynard Handley Sat, 28 Apr 2007 18:35:47 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/#comment-27923 So, Mark, what is your actual point? * One should NEVER criticize some aspect of an organization? or * One should NEVER criticize some aspect of an organization while there in person? It's not like PI seems to do anything in response to emails. I have sent them at least two (a whole lot more polite than my rant, explaining the specific problems and how they might be fixed) to no obvious effect. Pointing out a serious issue while speaking to the people involved strikes me as a perfectly reasonable thing to do. Certainly, when I was at trade shows on behalf of my former employer, I would expect this is what people would and should do --- it was there one chance to try to influence the future directions of products they cared about and wanted improved. So, Mark, what is your actual point?
* One should NEVER criticize some aspect of an organization? or
* One should NEVER criticize some aspect of an organization while there in person?

It’s not like PI seems to do anything in response to emails. I have sent them at least two (a whole lot more polite than my rant, explaining the specific problems and how they might be fixed) to no obvious effect.
Pointing out a serious issue while speaking to the people involved strikes me as a perfectly reasonable thing to do. Certainly, when I was at trade shows on behalf of my former employer, I would expect this is what people would and should do — it was there one chance to try to influence the future directions of products they cared about and wanted improved.

]]> By: Mark http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/comment-page-1/#comment-27913 Mark Sat, 28 Apr 2007 17:01:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/#comment-27913 You got it Moshe. You got it Moshe.

]]> By: Moshe http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/comment-page-1/#comment-27922 Moshe Sat, 28 Apr 2007 16:32:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/#comment-27922 Hey Mark, I feel cheated, next time you're at UBC I want the stand up routine also :-). Hey Mark, I feel cheated, next time you’re at UBC I want the stand up routine also :-) .

]]> By: Mark http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/comment-page-1/#comment-27914 Mark Sat, 28 Apr 2007 15:23:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/#comment-27914 Hi B - thanks. It would have been nice to meet up. Hopefully next time. Hi B – thanks. It would have been nice to meet up. Hopefully next time.

]]> By: B http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/comment-page-1/#comment-27910 B Sat, 28 Apr 2007 13:23:09 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/#comment-27910 Hi Mark, sorry I didn't get to talk to you, I enjoyed your colloq - though <a href="http://backreaction.blogspot.com/2007/04/without-time.html" rel="nofollow">I was late...</a>. I find the modified source scenarios quite interesting, I've been thinking in that direction for a completely different reason, maybe I should look more into it (if I find the time that is). @ Maynard Regarding Websites: ARGH. You have to know that this is the *improved* version (it's been updated last fall). It drives me nuts! Whenever I try to link to a site it will move the next day and the link is dead. It is impossible to find a seminar, even if one knows the name of the speaker (which I hardly ever do). Not to mention that there is no sensible way to put files on the web. Whenever I complain to IT they tell me they are short on time and people and they just can't take care of all that. But sooner or later they usually address all the issues, it just takes some time... It would probably make a difference if you complain not here, but to the IT guys, just send an email, it's on the websites - if you find it ;-) Best, B. Hi Mark,

sorry I didn’t get to talk to you, I enjoyed your colloq – though I was late…. I find the modified source scenarios quite interesting, I’ve been thinking in that direction for a completely different reason, maybe I should look more into it (if I find the time that is).

@ Maynard

Regarding Websites: ARGH. You have to know that this is the *improved* version (it’s been updated last fall). It drives me nuts! Whenever I try to link to a site it will move the next day and the link is dead. It is impossible to find a seminar, even if one knows the name of the speaker (which I hardly ever do). Not to mention that there is no sensible way to put files on the web. Whenever I complain to IT they tell me they are short on time and people and they just can’t take care of all that. But sooner or later they usually address all the issues, it just takes some time…

It would probably make a difference if you complain not here, but to the IT guys, just send an email, it’s on the websites – if you find it ;-)

Best,

B.

]]> By: Mark http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/comment-page-1/#comment-27921 Mark Sat, 28 Apr 2007 12:21:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/#comment-27921 Yes Maynard, after my brief introduction in my talk, in which I thanked them for the invitation and the wonderful hospitality while there, I launched into a 10 minute rant about how "retarded" their they are in this way. They loved it! Said it was just what they'd been hoping for when they invited me! Also, at the end of the talk, when I could tell people were losing interest in the whole science thing, I wound up with a series of rapid-fire "Your momma's so fat, ..." jokes. They've asked me to come back for a longer visit, and I'm pretty sure it was becasue of the abuse and tough-love. Yes Maynard, after my brief introduction in my talk, in which I thanked them for the invitation and the wonderful hospitality while there, I launched into a 10 minute rant about how “retarded” their they are in this way. They loved it! Said it was just what they’d been hoping for when they invited me!

Also, at the end of the talk, when I could tell people were losing interest in the whole science thing, I wound up with a series of rapid-fire “Your momma’s so fat, …” jokes.

They’ve asked me to come back for a longer visit, and I’m pretty sure it was becasue of the abuse and tough-love.

]]> By: Haludza http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/comment-page-1/#comment-27915 Haludza Sat, 28 Apr 2007 07:06:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/#comment-27915 haha, I was just about to post about how great PI was for providing archived videos of many of their colloquia and seminars (pdf, mp3, AND streaming video no less!). This is all you need Richard Hadlee! : http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/en/Scientific/Seminars/Advanced_Seminar_Search/ haha, I was just about to post about how great PI was for providing archived videos of many of their colloquia and seminars (pdf, mp3, AND streaming video no less!).

This is all you need Richard Hadlee! :
http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/en/Scientific/Seminars/Advanced_Seminar_Search/

]]> By: Maynard Handley http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/comment-page-1/#comment-27918 Maynard Handley Sat, 28 Apr 2007 04:01:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/04/26/physics-on-the-perimeter/#comment-27918 Mark, did you point out to PI how completely retarded they are concerning the internet? They have no non-painful way to browse their talks, no downloads, no podcasts, nothing. It's like it was put together by a bunch of not very smart refugees from 1997. As a result, while I follow what's going on at KITP (who have a magnificently well organized internet+podcast story) pretty well, I basically ignore what's happening at PI. Now PI probably don't care what I do or don't listen to, but there probably is at least one student somewhere whose opinion does actually matter who, for the exact same reasons as me, follows KITP and ignores PI. Mark, did you point out to PI how completely retarded they are concerning the internet? They have no non-painful way to browse their talks, no downloads, no podcasts, nothing. It’s like it was put together by a bunch of not very smart refugees from 1997.

As a result, while I follow what’s going on at KITP (who have a magnificently well organized internet+podcast story) pretty well, I basically ignore what’s happening at PI. Now PI probably don’t care what I do or don’t listen to, but there probably is at least one student somewhere whose opinion does actually matter who, for the exact same reasons as me, follows KITP and ignores PI.

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