Thursday, December 31, 2009, 03:23 - General
I just finished making the highlight reel for my high school ultimate team's season last year. We got first in the county, second in the state!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nybRLTr0pdA
[ add comment ] | permalink
Saturday, February 21, 2009, 03:56 - General
EL-HUSSEIN IS WATCHING YOU[ add comment ] | permalink
Saturday, September 27, 2008, 22:47 - General, News/Politics
Some weeks ago (maybe even months), facebook rolled out the "old" design and brought in the wider, "new" design. This was a mistake. The new design is impractical, inconvenient, confusing, and slow to load. And not to mention an all-around eyesore.
Since then, facebook has disallowed its users to choose between the old and new layouts. Another mistake. In fact, the social network giant continues to disregard millions of unsatisfied, (once) loyal customers.
Do you dislike the new facebook? Do you want the new layout to change (perhaps back to the old one)?
Then have some self-respect and deactivate your account. Starting groups and bitching about facebook ON facebook is a surprisingly ineffective method of protest. The more visits that facebook gets, the more revenue they make. Shocker, I know.
It has been weeks now since I deactivated my account.
[ add comment ] | permalink
Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 00:36 - General, Announcements, News/Politics
Thenr will cover the 2008 Presidential election! To make the campaign official, I've crafted a new banner for the site and a name "v08" or "version08".So what should you expect from this new campaign?
Definitely more political posts and some coverage on polls and statistics and of course opinions. But this doesn't mean that Thenr has been fully converted into a political site. Also expect regular posts, such as, like quotes and top fives.
Please comment and contribute! Politics is not meant to be discussed in monologue.
[ 1 comment ] ( 13 views ) | permalink
Friday, August 29, 2008, 23:08 - General, News/Politics
Now that the pleasantries in Beijing have come to an and, it's time to address the question whose answer we have all been dying to know. Who won the Olympics?Surely without a winner, we can never reach any sort of closure over the event. Now, one could revert back to the kindergarten school of thought and simply deem that "everyone is a winner!" But we all know that this is not the case.
However, the task of deciding a winner is more daunting than one may initially think. Don't allow the simplicity of the question mislead you. In order to decide a winner, we must apply some sort of algorithm using the results of the competition. But the question is what is the perfect algorithm?
Allow us to view the medal count between the top two countries (US and China) - the rest are so far behind they won't be an issue this year. Now in alphabetical order (not necessarily in order of the winner):
CHINA: 51 GOLD, 21 SILVER, 28 BRONZE : 100 TOTAL
USA: 36 GOLD, 38 SILVER, 36 BRONZE : 110 TOTAL
The simplest algorithm is determining the winner based solely on the total medal count. Using this first algorithm, the United States is the winner. But this is a flawed system! It doesn't take into account at all the prestige of winning gold medals. There's something to be said about being the best athlete in the world at your sport.
So then let's move on to the second simplest algorithm. Use the gold medal count to determine the winner! In this instance China wins, as it outnumbers the USA in gold medals 51 to 36. But again, this is flawed as well, because it doesn't take into the account the other medals. The Olympics is not just about gold medals.
It's obvious that our algorithm must take into account the total number of medals won in addition to to the color of the medal. Then let us move on to a third algorithm. What I like to call the 3-2-1 system. In this algorithm countries will receive three points for every gold medal they won, 2 points for each silver medal, and 1 point for each bronze medal. The country with the most points is obviously the winner of the Olympics.
CHINA = 51*3 + 21*2 + 28 = 223
USA = 36*3 + 38*2 + 36 = 220
In this system China wins. But upon analyzing the 3-2-1 algorithm mathematically one notices that the silver medal is worth twice the points that bronze medal is worth, while the gold medal is only worth 1.5 times the silver medal. Does this mean that the difference of prestige between the silver medal and bronze medal is greater than that between a gold medal and a silver medal?
Well, if you're unsatisfied then let us try one final algorithm. The 5-2-1 algorithm, which puts extra weight on the amount of gold medals won. Now I don't really need to do the math out for you, China wins here, too, but I'll prove it to you anyway.
CHINA = 51*5 + 21*2 + 28 = 325
USA = 36*5 + 38*2 + 36 = 292
Alas, although deep down inside I was rooting for the US, there is no denying the results.
Congratulations, China, on winning and hosting a great Olympics.
[ 7 comments ] ( 41 views ) | permalink
Sunday, June 29, 2008, 16:46 - General
Spain wins Euro 2008!Unfortunately Germany's anemic offense didn't make much of an exciting match. Perhaps we'll have a more exciting final in 2012.
Final, ESP 1:0 GER
Torres (ESP) 33'
Time to buy a Spain jersey before the stores run out!
[ add comment ] | permalink
Friday, June 27, 2008, 15:53 - General, Announcements, Music/RAS-berry
Thenr has returned from its school-year slumber!Yesterday, RAS-berry began work on their newest song, a collaboration with artist Nick Thompson (featured in the studio outtake version of "Red River"). Visit Thompson's page here.
Also, work on Kenya Story IV has begun and our programmers are currently working on developing web games (perhaps Motubu II in the near future).
Thenr is revived for the summer! Watch as I slowly purge the front page of my American History assignments.
[ add comment ] | permalink
Next
