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The Events that are: My Life

Things that go on in my life that cannot be catagorized somewhere else, sort of a catch-all

An Answer for Q

The first problem is better known as the Monty Hall Dilemma, named for the host of Let’s Make a Deal. The simple and short answer is this: switch doors

The longer answer, from Education, Mathematics, Fun, Monty Hall Dilemma is this:

There is a 1/3 chance that you’ll hit the prize door, and a 2/3 chance that you’ll miss the prize. If you do not switch, 1/3 is your probability to get the prize. However, if you missed (and this with the probability of 2/3) then the prize is behind one of the remaining two doors. Furthermore, of these two, the host will open the empty one, leaving the prize door closed. Therefore, if you miss and then switch, you are certain to get the prize. Summing up, if you do not switch your chance of winning is 1/3 whereas if you do switch your chance of winning is 2/3.

So it really comes down to an odds thing. Just remember not to recalculate the odds after the first door has been opened. That is, you do not you have a 1/2 chance of winning if you switch doors, you actually have a 2/3.

Now on the second problem, which even I didn’t get. Once again, the short answer is: 1 in 11

To figure this out, simply write out all the possible combinations and add them up:

Roll # Die One Die Two
1 1 1
2 1 2
3 1 3
4 1 4
5 1 5
6 1 6
7 2 1
8 3 1
9 4 1
10 5 1
11 6 1

There is only one roll (roll #1) that produces a dice combination of 1-1. Since there are 11 possible combinations, you have a 1 in 11 chance.

Oh Yea, It’s My Birthday

So today marks the 19th year of my birth (for you *NIX freaks, that would be 599529600 since epoch). Another year, another tick on the ol’ age-o-meter. I did have the pleasure of going out to eat with Kit, Melissa, Chris, Grandma, Wendy, Danny, Molly, and Dan Hough, so that was fun. Mom also had way to much fun sending me Hallmark e-cards:

Any how, life goes on, and so does school. Duty calls. Feel free to leave birthday comments in the comments section.

Colorado 10 Pass

I forgot to mention yesterday that I also went and purchased my Colorado 10 Pass. This bad boy allows me to ski at any of the Vail owned resorts and A-Basin for only 37.90 a day. Sweet deal!

Atomic TM:X’s and AT Bindings

If you read my blog on a somewhat regular basis, you should know that I’ve been learning how to Telemark. Well, I went up to A-Basin today with Andre Papineau and we hit the slopes. We went in for lunch and on our way out, I checked out this booth that was demoing ski’s. As it turned out, they had a pair of Atomic TM:X’s with AT Bindings that I tried. So I skiing on those for the rest of the day. First in Alpine mode just to get used to the ski, which is a Telemark ski, not any alpine ski. It was very light. And then I spent the next few hours Telemarking.

Atomic TM:X's

So, the ski’s were pretty good, I thought they were a little light. I had some chattering on the tips, so I would want to stick with slightly heavier and stiffer ski. But, I think I might have to get a set of AT Bindings and maybe throw them on my ski’s. I wonder what eBay has?

Missing Magnet

I went down to Safeway to fill my prescription and get other needed items. As it turned out, I couldn’t get my pill until Febuary 2nd because of innsurance, but that’s OK. I still have enough. However, that is not what this blog is about. I also picked up a two pack of brush heads for my Sonicare toothbrush. I usually get one for Christmas, but for some mysterious reason, I didn’t. I digress. I went to go brush my teeth before hitting the sack and when I took off my old brush head, I noticed that one of the magnets on the bottom was missing (see picture). Curious.

Happy 19th Birthday Jeff Staples!

Today is your special day,
so celebrate in your favorite way

As time goes bye,
The years begin to fly.

But, you’re only as old as you feel,
even when gray hair begins to yield.

Life is full of ups and downs.
But, always wear a smile,
instead of a frown.

Many wishes for days to come
and may your birthday be a very
extra special one.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

When All is Said and Done

Well, there are no guarentees, but something is brewing:

(16:30:27) Ferg: hey
(16:30:31) Katie: hey andrew!
(16:30:44) Ferg: econ as boring as rachel says it is?
(16:31:14) Katie: it was horrible.
(16:31:24) Katie: but, I’m done for the day. at least with class.
(16:31:30) Ferg: that is good news
(16:31:56) Ferg: do you have any idea on when you might go up skiing next?
(16:32:35) Katie: No, I’m not training this week and I don’t think I’m going to Telluride this weekend, so maybe we can go then.
(16:33:03) Ferg: ok. that would be awesome.
(16:33:32) Katie: yeah, I’ll try, I can’t promise though, I have so much stuff to do, Rach and I are way behind.
(16:34:14) Ferg: no worries. if it works great. if it doesn’t, there’s always next week (or the week after, add infinitum)
(16:34:35) Ferg: i think we should start a calc study group
(16:35:05) Katie: exactly, we gotta get you back on the teles. Yeah, thanks for you help today, we needed it. OR at least I needed someone to tell rach she wasn’t doing it right.
(16:36:52) Ferg: regarding teles: yes, i really want to get back on them too. I think I was finally getting the hang of it at the end of the last day.
regarding math: glad to help.
(16:38:15) Katie: Thank you, yeah we’ll get you on skis, maybe the tele club will do something in the near future
(16:38:28) Ferg: that would be super awesome
(16:38:46) Katie: yeah, for sure.
(16:40:21) Ferg: i know this is sort of taboo to do over IM, but I doubt I would have the guts to do it in person: would you like to go out some time?
(16:41:34) Ferg: no need to respond now
(16:41:50) Katie: Sure, it’d be fun. No promises on anything, but we should spend more time together, you’re cool.
(16:42:03) Ferg: thanks…you’re cooler though
(16:42:25) Katie: No worries, it’s way easier than you think.
(16:42:49) Ferg: ok
(16:43:01) Ferg: well. that’s one thing i’m not good at, yet.
(16:43:23) Ferg: but thanks for understanding
(16:43:51) Katie: Whatever! you’re fine.
(16:44:13) Ferg: whew

Amendment Zero

I finally sat down and started writing Amendment Zero. It’s a screenplay that, like all good movies, involves a pretty big government coverup. As usually, I’m being pretty cryptic, but I can say this: this will blow All the President’s Men, The Pelican Brief, and The Manchurian Candidate completely out of the water. Now there are a few downsides to this screenplay. First, it probablly won’t be finished for quite a few years (somewhere around 5); second, it may not get finished at all…or if it does, it will be in 30 years or something like that. But I really like this script idea. I think it’s an original plot with an original twist on a great idea that is actually rooted in some fact. Not a lot, but enough to make you wonder.

Hmmm… Part II

I talked with Rachel Doyle tonight, Katie’s roomate. Apparently, there may be some interest. She also concluded that I was "cute" and better then the last person Katie was interested in. Anywho, Rachel said that she’ll keep me informed of what there plans are. I think this holds some promise. Could this be the one? Who knows.

Skiing at Keystone

Skiing at Keystone

I went skiing with Liz Purday at Keystone and all I have to say it WOW. The snow here is so awesome, it’s mind boogling. I also think I’m going to get a 5 mountain pass for A-Basin, Keystone, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, and Vail. It’s about $700, but since I’m also planning on joining both the TeleSki club and the Ski Team here at Mines, it will definatly be worth it.