Results, Scams and Ramblings

Computer related talk today.

Working on my dissertation in the linguistics linux labs. The specifics are too complex for me to even begin to explain in anything less than 5000 words but i was trying to run this script. To run it, it seemed i needed to use a linux box, so i tried to use the dept ones. Turns out i need a new account. And then i had to get the files across in the right formats and get them to work. Then export the results, analyse them with different software and i ended up with three numbers:

-1.826

-1.205

-.879

These three numbers are the end result of four months or hard work. No kidding: remove the minus signs and you got the invidual weights for each of my three constraints. Which is the point of my dissertation. So much work for such a small seeming thing. But to do all the tech stuff to get this i have had huge amounts of help from a small group of people, today i would have been totally stuck if it weren't for the help of the lab supervisor, and in general without my two dissertation supervisors i would have got nowhere. I know it is part of their job to help me, but even so they are cool.

But computers right: Bewildering and yet so cool. I have decided that it is wrong to dismissively label any techy computer stuff as geeky. Computers require such a huge amount of skill and knowledge to manipulate well, that anyone who is really good at techy stuff should admired (proviso: as long as they arn't completely devoid of social skills, this is only acceptable if they are a real genius).

If I do this research assistant job (and i really hope i do), i will need to learn lots about computers and that very quickly. While i know a little, to know more! I may need to ask people for help frequently, hopefully i'll get through it. I want to do it though because
a) it'd be really cool
b) i might get my name on a paper
c) I might get paid near £1000 for two weeks work! Score!

Oh the other computer related story is this:

Hey it is Andy and john the directors of MSN, sorry for the interruption but msn is closing down. this is because too many inconsiderate people are taking up all the name (eg making up lots of different accounts for just one
person), we only have 578 names left. If you would like to close your account, DO NOT SEND THIS MESSAGE ON. If you would like to keep your account, then SEND THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYONE ON YOUR CONTACT LIST. This is no joke, we will be shutting down the servers. Send it on, thanks. WHO EVER DOES NOT SEND THIS MESSEAGE, YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE CLOSED AND YOU WILL CHARGED £10.00 A MONTH TO USE MSN. SEND THIS TO EVERYONE ON YOUR CONTACT LIST. NOW YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO. PLEASE DO NOT FORWARD THIS or REPLAY. COPY THE WHOLE EMAIL. GO BACK TO YOUR INBOX AND CLICK ON NEW. AND PASTE THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

This has to be the funniest scam i have ever seen. Check out the bad grammar, spelling errors and mad capitalisations. God bless the person who sent this to me he/she is very nice and honest and a good friend, but she/he seems to be the most gullible person in the world. And no it isnt Jen.

Anyway i have a dissertation to write