quote on brevity

"Je N'ai fait celle-ci plus longue que parce que je n'ai pas eu le loisir de la faire plus courte"

"I have only made this letter rather long because I have not had time to make it shorter"

Pascal. Lettres provinciales, 16, Dec.14,1656.

learnt vs. learned

Hey, I promise this is the last time I bring up this subject. The
editorial of Nature uses 'learnt' although you can find many more
instances of 'learned'.
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7098/full/442002b.html

winbugs with R

how to use winbugs with R
http://www.stat.columbia.edu/~gelman/bugsR/
by andrew gelman.
the appendix guides you through coding your own gibbs sampler in R.

Analisis estadistico de Roddick-Nalbandian

Jan Vecer Turns the Art of Predicting Sports Scores into a Science

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/04/01/janVecer.html

http://www.stat.columbia.edu/%7Evecer/bweek.html

Free Fetch ftp for mac

Fetch is an ftp program for Mac OS, and it is free for students and academic staff. Fill out the application and submit it here to receive the serial name and number:
here

out of towners II

forgot where I got this from: probably metromix

Out-of-towners
Nothing is more stressful than entertaining guests.

You want to show them the city, but avoid tourist traps like Navy Pier. You them to have a fun, but also get a feel for what it's liketo live here.

Most of all, you want to appear a lot cooler and cultured than you actually are.

I took some out-of-towners around last Saturday, and I'm still beat. Here's what I did. I hope my route gives you some ideas for when it'syour turn to play tour guide.

We started with breakfast at Edna's Restaurant, a West Side soul food joint. Fried egg over easy, fried pork chop in batter, grits and two buttery biscuits--the kind of breakfast that erases a month from your life. In the '60s, it's said Edna's was frequented by Dr. MartinLuther King, Jr.--a fact that will surely impress guests.

>From there it was a short ride to Garfield Park Conservatory.
First of all, I like the price--free. Second, there is nothing more incongruous than walking from a cold, gray, ugly Chicago to the warm and humid lushness of these gorgeous gardens, whose glass and iron greenhouses look like Victorian-era train stations.

The Conservatory turns 100 next year. I hope, as a city, we can continue to build public structures that can wow Chicagoans a centuryfrom now.

After the gardens we went to Atomix for a pick-me-up of strong coffee, then downtown to Ohio House Motel where my friends were staying. This cheap downtown hotel has gobs of character and a great littlediner--highly recommended for budget travelers.

>From Ohio House we headed underground to cruise Lower Wacker Drive, always a treat, on our way to IIT's McCormick Tribune Campus Center, designed by architect Rem Koolhaus. One guest ooh-ed and ah-ed at the stainless steel L tube, but when inside the Campus Center, she asked:
"Are these ceilings finished?"

Answer: Those ceilings are supposed to look unfinished. It's called bad conceptual art.

To be honest, showing off Chicago's fanciest Orange Julius was just an excuse to play pinball. IIT has Star Trek: The Next Generation, thebest pinball game ever made.

Next we popped into Seminary Co-op Bookstore of Hyde Park, where bookish visitors can find the rare titles not stocked at chain stores. A stop here will have friends thinking you're a real brainiac. That's unless you don't get turned around in Hyde Park's bothersome one-waystreets.

For lunch we went north to Ukrainian Village for Italian subs at Fiore's Domestic Import Deli. They've got all kinds of goodies, but you can't go wrong with a prosciutto and fresh mozzarella with hotgiardiniera.

Take my advice: Order a ten-incher or longer. Fiore's sandwiches dissolve in the mouth, and you don't want to finish lunch feelinghungry for more.

We finished the day at Pizza Lounge, a dive bar in Humboldt Park. Pizza Lounge has everything you want in a bar: cheap beer, dim lights and a great jukebox. We had room to sit and talk, and we all left drunk with enough money for late-night tacos (al pastor con queso) atEl Taco Veloz.

A perfect day? I wouldn't go that far. But my visitors seemed happy enough.

I'm happy, too--now that they're gone.

out-of-towners

grabbed from metromix

Try these quintessential (yet quirky) Chicago eateries

By Lisa Futterman

When friends come to town, show off Chicago's unique dining style by picking from these one-of-a-kind local favorites.

Superdawg Drive In
For an outrageous Chicago dog experience, drive north up Milwaukee Avenue until you spot the giant hot dog sweethearts on Superdawg's roof. Pull into a parking spot and order juicy wurst and crispy fries from a cute car-hop, then ease your seat back and enjoy the kitsch.

Chicago Kalbi Restaurant
Your friends expect a steak when they are this close to the stockyards; why not try it Korean-style and let them cook it themselves? The friendly staff at Chicago Kalbi provides raw meat and white-hot coals, plus a traditional array of Korean pickles and condiments like spicy kimchi and marinated seaweed. Gear up for grilling with some delicious dumplings or an order of panju (a crispy pancake with squid and green onions), and perhaps a sip of chilled soju (a vodka-like Korean spirit), then get cooking.

Lou Mitchell's
At this classic luncheonette, you get fresh, hot donut holes and Milk-Duds with your hearty, old-fashioned skillet breakfast, plus the counter staff offers advice on everything from investments to the Atkins diet.

Al's No. 1 Italian Beef
Italian Beef is to Chicago what cheese steaks are to Philly: cop food. But seriously, if your idea of entertaining guests is leaning on a counter with meat juice dripping down your chin and giardinera burning your lips, this is the place to go.

Smoke Daddy
You must have ribs in Chicago, and this intimate Wicker Park joint does 'em right: all messy, smoky and saucy with piles of fries. Slide into a booth after 9 p.m. and order a couple rounds of cold ones--late night the food comes with local blues talent practically in your lap.

Ixcapuzalco
Show your friends that the Southwest doesn't have a monopoly on great Mexican food at this vibrant Logan Square storefront. The menu offers a crash course in regional Mexican food, featuring handmade tortillas and myriad moles, all passed down from Mama. Chef Generoso Bahena himself can often be spotted in the tiny open kitchen--he's the imposing figure with the general's cap.

Parthenon
Make a night of it in Greektown. This cheery spot offers everything from theatrical flaming saganaki to tasty lamb dishes, plus old-school waiters, flowing ouzo and free valet parking. Opah!

Twisted Spoke
Here in hog heaven, burgers come with endless toppings free of charge; the Bloody Marys are not suitable for vegetarians; chili comes in three different colors; the 16-ounce mimosas are freshly squeezed; and eggs are scrambled with anything from Wisconsin brats to Chihuahua cheese.

Army & Lou's
For more than 50 years, Army and Lou's has been serving up gumbo, fried chicken and open-faced roast pork sandwiches to appreciative South Siders. Add some unbelievably good side dishes, like candied sweet potatoes and a scoop of cornbread dressing with velvety gravy. Finish with a bowl of apple cobbler, and your pals might choose a nap instead of a waddle around the Museum of Science and Industry.

Dilbert's guide to personal finance

I found this in Vanguard's website. The author of Dilbert wanted to
write a book about personal finance and the more he read about
investments the more he realized that he could not write a book.
Instead, he summarized the guide in less than150 words.

* Make a will.
* Pay off your credit cards.
* Get term life insurance if you have a family to support.
* Fund your 401(k) to the maximum.
* Fund your IRA to the maximum.
* Buy a house if you want to live in a house and you can afford it.
* Put six months' expenses in a money market fund.
* Take whatever money is left over and invest 70% in a stock index
fund and 30% in a bond fund through any discount broker and never
touch it until retirement.

One guy added:

* Get health insurance

Here is the full article:
https://retirementplans.vanguard.com/VGApp/pe/PubVgiNews?ArticleName=DilbertGuidetoPersonalFinance