A Candid Conversation with Aaron Hoffman
Aaron Hoffman’s office is sparse but lived-in, with a few chalk and crayons drawings on the wall, courtesy of his young daughter. The bookshelf is full of mathematics texts in various colors, and the table is laid with a draft of a problem set.
Originally from a New York suburb, Aaron comes to Olin via Swarthmore, Brown, and Boston University. This is his first teaching post, and he’s spent the last year and a half fostering mathematical enthusiasm wherever it presents itself,and his passion is obvious. Though he answered many of my questions with seeming reluctance, Aaron spoke with exclamation marks when I asked him about math.
Movie Review: The Artist
The best film I’ve seen in a long time was black-and-white and (mostly) silent. You might think those adjectives apply only to movies made before the 1930s, but this one was created and released in theaters in 2011. Its endearing characters and compelling plot have won over critics and audiences alike, making a strong case for the continued relevance and interest of silent films.
Rubber Soul (The Many Uses of Rubber Bands)
Make a motor with your Legos
Preserve the freshness of your Eggos
Shoot at strangers, start a riot
Extra fiber in your diet
Attach a cell phone to your ear
Make a marker for your beer
Stretchy leashes for your dogs
Protect your pants leg from bicycle cogs
Revamp your shoes with cheap new laces
Add some pain to your mouthful of braces
Play catch with a bouncy rubber ball
Make a net to catch your fall
Use scissors and glue to make some art
Hold things together when your life falls apart
Keep the Saran wrap on things you cook
Mark your place in your favorite book
Lace them together to make a strong cord
Keep all the things in your truck bed on board
Pass the time in any old place
Keep them around your left wrist just in case!
Horoscopes by Drunk Editors
Aries (March 21-April 19): The cosmic plane has a kind of weird stain in your corner. Review your notes, and check your math. This is your stupid month. Especially for dating. Just don’t do it. You’ll only fuck it up. Take time for yourself. As in, you’re single for a reason.
Taurus (April 20-May 20): Authorities may need persuasion, so articulate the benefits of your point of view. You might need to get persuasive, if you know what I mean. Provide excellent service with the finest ingredients. Additionally. Prepare for later lunch, because of that class that always runs late.
Companies with Personality
As a computer science major, I have a tendency to force problems into algorithms, usually to a fault. While taking part in an International Business Semester at Copenhagen University last semester, I focused my algorithm goggles: what makes a company successful? One similarity that really struck me was personality. More specifically, the personality of the person in charge with respect to the projected image of the company.
All Those Emails…
Announcing Dr. Liu
Frankly Speaking is pleased to announce the addition of a new advice column. Dr. Liu will anonymize and answer your interpersonal problems and questions. Submit questions to roland.liu at students.olin.edu. If you want to submit questions anonymously, you can write them on paper and drop them off at WH315.
Doctor Liu
Dear Doctor Liu,
There are too many dicks on the dance floor.
Love,
Not-a-dick
Dear Dickless,
If there are too many dongs, and too many shlongs, make sure before you go: the dance floor bro-hoe ratio; Five to one is a brodeo! It’s easy to fix, just spread out the dicks! It’s a dance floor…what can you expect, in all honesty?
But in all seriousness –
Tits or GTFO.
(I’m a bad person…)
F Seeking Whatever for Valentine’s Day
I’ve never dated anyone long enough to make it to February, and therefore have never had a date on Valentine’s Day. This year, I’m changing that. I’m going on a date with Geoff Pleiss on February 14th, 2012. The problem is neither of us wants to go on a date with each other, so we’re each seeking out a special someone and double dating. With this article, I am opening applications to be my Valentine. The requirements for the position are as follows: