Thanh-Nhan Nguyen Blog

starter library for your baby

2011-08-16T16:08:00.001-07:00

http://www.babycenter.com/0_your-childs-starter-library_494.bc

Potty training in three days

2011-07-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

http://www.babycenter.com/0_potty-training-in-three-days-or-less_10310078.bc?scid=momstodd_20110726:2&pe=MlV4VzBBQ3wyMDExMDcyNg..

Using 3SAT to prove Knapsack, Clique's hardness

2011-05-26T08:56:00.000-07:00

http://www.cse.ohio-state.edu/~gurari/theory-bk/theory-bk-fivese4.html#Q1-60004-22

Paper Tigers

2011-05-23T13:43:00.000-07:00

Watch out! You might turn your babies into paper tigers.

http://nymag.com/news/features/asian-americans-2011-5/

simple toys for baby

2011-02-02T14:47:00.000-08:00

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/01/31/play.babies.smarter.parenting/?hpt=Sbin

-- Blocks promote fine and gross motor skills

-- Bubbles promote eye development and visual tracking

-- Dolls promote sociodramatic and pretend play

-- Boxes prompt imagination and creativity

-- Bowls prompt auditory stimulation and cause and effect

Niềm Vui Nhỏ

2010-01-25T11:08:00.001-08:00

Tặng sinh nhật con gái

Nếu em không ra đời,

Hừng đông ai đón nắng?

Ai chớp mắt nhìn trời?

Nắng hồng nào réo gọi?

***

Nếu em không ra đời,

Mùa xuân đầy hoa nở,

Hoa nhìn ai bỡ ngỡ?

Như một ngày hôm nay?

***

Nếu em không ra đời,

Nhạc chiều ai vấn vương?

Hoa sói hương xao xuyến,

Ai hái khi còn sương?

***

Nếu em không ra đời,

Vắng má hồng soi gương,

Con đường đi đến trường,

Gió đùa tóc vương …vương…

***

Nếu em không ra đời,

Sân nhỏ ai tung tăng,

Gác nhỏ buồn im vắng,

Vòng tay mẹ hững hờ.

***

Nếu em không làm người,

Đâu biết niềm vui ấy,

Ước vọng bừng muôn sao,

Tình thương thêm ngọt ngào.

February. 1990

NS2 Tutorial

2010-01-19T10:14:00.000-08:00

http://www.isi.edu/nsnam/ns/tutorial/

Choosing Christmas tree

2009-12-17T14:32:00.000-08:00

1. Guide to choose a perfect tree
2. Places to pick and cut your own tree

Unix network programming

2009-09-17T09:02:00.000-07:00

Beej's Guide is good for beginner.

Semidefinite Programming

2009-09-05T11:52:00.000-07:00

This semester, I have a chance to study carefully SDP. Here are some useful materials from Ngo and Rudra seminar I am taking. If you want to discuss any of these, let me know.

Laci Lovasz, Semidefinite optimization, 1995-2001. [ ps ]
L. Vandenberghe and S. Boyd, Semidefinite Programming, SIAM Review, 38(1): 49-95, March 1996. [ pdf ]
Zwick, Semidefinite Programming Based Approximation Algorithms. [ ppt ]
Feige, The Use of Semidefinite Programming in Approximation Algorithms. [ ppt ]
Arora, Semidefinite Programming and Approximation Algorithms for NP-hard Problems: A Survey. ( Slides in pdf )

Wedding Announcement

2009-05-13T23:58:00.000-07:00

Hi ba con,
Tran trong thong bao le cuoi va moi du tiec cuoi cua Nhan & Duan.

When: 18pm ngay 20/5/2009 (Thu tu*)
Where: Hotel Continental Sai Gon: 132-134 Dong Khoi, Q1.
(Xem chi tiet file dinh kem)

Sang thu 7 tuan nay (9:30am, 16/05) than moi ba con den hop mat ta'n phe't tai Cafe san vuon Dong Ho (Khu Ky Hoa), nhan tien Duan se goi thiep moi luon.

Moi nguoi vui long nhan lai so phone cua Nhan: 012 8488 3634 va nhan gium cac ban khac nhe.

Best,
Nhan& Duan

Phil Collins's song

2009-03-28T17:09:00.000-07:00

You'll be in my heart

A thousand country roads

2009-03-27T16:44:00.000-07:00

The flow of the story is really slow for me - a story of an old man. Sometimes I just wanted to put it aside. Yet, I found it surprising that I read every single word till the end of the book. It's definitely not a romantic love, as in "The bridges of Madison County", that pulling me back, but characteristics of Robert Kincaid. He is a man of "a thousand country roads" who had free spirit, had followed nothing but his biggest passion for taking photography till he died. I am always curious about those kind of people, those only live for what they wanted. They are happy with standards defined by themselves. How many people among us belong to this group? I am wondering...

Kenny G - Song Bird

2009-02-16T18:51:00.001-08:00

New Year, New You

2009-01-19T13:53:00.000-08:00

I just read this article. It provides simple ways to cut off some common bad habits.

"Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish"

2008-12-17T10:23:00.000-08:00

This is a talk of Steve Jobs at Stanford Commencement,2005.

His third story reminds me me about a chapter in the book "The 7 habits of highly effective people", by Stephen Covey. They both advice us to "begin with the end in mind". Think about "death" to live with all our love, our passion today, but I prefer the word "the end" than "death".

With "the end", I can apply this idea on many contexts. At night, I can ask my self what I want to be done by tomorrow? Usually, many plans come up for this answer, many sometimes mean "more than enough for a day". But in those plans, there is nothing like "1 hour sitting and thinking of nothing", "1 hour lazy and not wanting to do anything on a half day",... In a context of a year, do I have have any plan? Yes, I do. How about 10 years, 20 years? Yes and yes!

I find it surprising here when I use the word "plan". I have a "plan" for today; but what about in 5 years or ten years or longer. Not much specific, but just think about "what I want to have or to be". I do not have any clear "plan" to achieve those goals. How can I get my destination if I don't have a map, and don't "plan" which roads I should take and which directions I should turn?

This talk prompts me to think about the connection between: "the end"+"plan". Nice talk! Especially love his idea "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish."

The Book Of Love

2008-12-11T10:15:00.000-08:00

Artist: Peter Gabriel

"You ought to give me wedding rings, darling!"

Amazed

2008-12-11T10:02:00.000-08:00

Artist: Lonestar

Optimization books

2008-12-09T11:20:00.000-08:00

Here is the good reference for optimization books.

I should read the following books now:
1. Convex Optimization
Stephen Boyd and Lieven Vandenberghe
Lecture slides and videos for this book can be found here.
2. Nonlinear programming
by Dimitri P. Bertsekas

CHOCOLATE FRUIT DIP

2008-12-09T10:02:00.000-08:00

From: cooks.com

2/3 c. corn syrup (light or dark) (32 Tea Spoon)
1/2 c. whipping cream (24 Tea Spoon)
1 (8 oz.) pkg. Baker's semi-sweet chocolate (or 4 oz. semi-sweet & 4 oz. sweet chocolate)
Assorted fresh fruit: apple, strawberry, banana, pineapple, orange, kiwi, peach, pear

In medium saucepan, stir corn syrup and cream. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and add chocolate. Stir until completely melted. Serve warm with fresh fruit. Makes 1 1/2 cups.

Sublinear Time Algorithms

2008-12-02T12:02:00.000-08:00

I am reading "Approximating the minimum spanning tree weight in sublinear time" by Chazelle, Robinfeld, and Trevisan. So far, we try to approximate problems NP. In this paper, I come to know it's very interesting to approximate polynomial time algorithms as data sets are really BIG nowadays. This raises a lot of open problems. Here is a useful page of Ronitt Rubinfeld for a starting point in this area.

Save the last dance for me

2008-11-21T20:58:00.000-08:00

Letchworth State Park

2008-10-19T07:59:00.000-07:00

This park is beautiful, especially in Fall. You're better hurry as the Fall is leaving soon.

Approximation Algorithms

2008-10-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

1. Lecture notes on Approximation Algorithms by Chandra Chekuri
http://www.cs.uiuc.edu/homes/chekuri/teaching/fall2006/approx.htm
2. Using primal dual method for Approximation Algorithms, a good survey by David P. Williamson
The primal-dual method for approximation algorithms and its application to network design problems
3. Using Local Ratio method for Approximation Algorithms, a survey by Reuven Bar-Yehuda, Keren Bendel, Ari Freund, and Dror Rawitz
Local ratio: A unified framework for approximation algorithms
4. Some time it seems that whatever way we try, we just can find a approximation. Well, maybe computing good approximation for that problem is also NP-hard. To prove the hardness of approximation, following documents are good starting point:
A survey by Sanjeev Arora, and Carsten Lund
Hardness of approximations
Another one by Luca Trevisan
Inapproximability of Combinatorial Optimization Problems
For approximating minimization problems
On the hardness of approximating minimization problems

The Great Circle of Viet Nam

2008-08-30T17:08:00.000-07:00

I am trying to sing this song in English.

The Great Circle of Viet Nam

(translated by Richard Fuller)

1. From jungled hills to the distant sea,
We form a giant circle to unite our country.
From far and wide, we now return,
With joy, like a sandstorm, to the far horizons,
Let's now join hands :
A great circle of Viet Nam

Flags in the wind, happy nights and days,
Of one blood our hearts ablaze,
Reconciled, a new day.
Hamlet, town now joined as one,
Remember the dead as we bask in the sun,
And one by one, we spread our smiles.

2. From North to South, we all join hands,
From fields long abandoned to mountainous lands,
We'll ford deep streams, climb over hills.
From hamlets to the cities,
We embrace with glee an eternal circle :
Dead and living, one are we.

Nối vòng tay lớn
(Trịnh Công Sơn)

Rừng núi dang tay nối lại biển xa
Ta đi vòng tay lớn mãi để nối sơn hà
Mặt đất bao la anh em ta về
Gặp nhau mừng như bão cát
Quay cuồng trời rộng bàn tay ta nắm
Nối tròn một vòng Việt Nam

Cờ nối gió đêm vui mỗi ngày
Dòng máu nối con tim đồng loại
Dựng tình người trong ngày mới
Thành phố nối thôn xa vời vợi
Người chết nối linh thiêng vào đời
Và nụ cười nối trên môi

Từ Bắc vô Nam nối liền nắm tay
Ta đi từ đồng hoang vu vượt hết núi đồi
Vượt thác cheo leo tay ta vượt đèo
Từ quê nghèo lên phố lớn
Nắm tay nối liền biển xanh sông gấm
Nối liền một vòng tử sinh.

July 12, 2008 - Harriman State Park

2008-08-07T10:34:00.000-07:00

Back to our hiking season, this time we went to Harriman State Park. It's bigger than Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, we visited two weeks before. There are mountains and lakes. The trail was bit more challenging this time. The evidence was that after eating a quarter of an average-size watermelon, I felt like my legs were cemented on the rocks. You can see how happy I was when I was on top of mountain (or hill?).

Yah, now it's easy to get down to the ground.

... and enjoyed fishing time

A gift

2008-08-06T19:18:00.000-07:00

This is a gift from "someone". I love it very much. Every day, I put those marigolds in front of the house, before I go to school, so that they can enjoy summer's sunshine. In the late afternoon, I water them when I come home. Then, I bring them to the porch, behind the living room door. There, they can enjoy sunset (and I can gaze at them). Wait and see how they will grow up.
Thanks "there" alot :)

Yah, now you should come here and see I have done good job

July 4, 2008

2008-07-17T12:17:00.000-07:00

I went to NYC some times, enjoyed broadway shows, bars, shopping, having dinner on boat tour; but NYC haven't , really, attracted me much. Even though I am living close to NYC now, it is very convenient to catch a train to there; but it's the last thing I want to do, I guess.
Last week, I were there with 3 friends for a special day, Independence Day. After walking, watching, eating around for almost whole day, finally we settled down for fireworks . We sat on shower curtain, played cards, and ate tons of fruits IN THE RAIN. It's fun to play cards, and hold an umbrella at the same time :)
The fireworks weren't as beautiful as I expected,but didn't matter. We had something to remember :)

Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park

2008-06-28T13:00:00.000-07:00

This is the first time of our hiking season :D We are planning to hike every weekend at different places. Here is Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park.

Sunset

2008-06-28T06:12:00.000-07:00

Sunset here is beautiful, and enjoyable with fresh air, rock, and wave sound. Almost everyday I have a walk here after dinner. Enjoy it after struggling with a "BIG" problem for the whole day :)

June 12,2008

2008-06-16T19:00:00.001-07:00

June 11, 2008

2008-06-13T13:25:00.001-07:00

Born To Be Wild

2008-05-29T23:31:00.000-07:00

Artist: Steppenwolf

live your dream (Save the last dance)

2008-05-29T23:25:00.000-07:00

Fruit-and-Fire Flat Iron Steaks

2008-05-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

(From: Better Homes and Gardens)

Ingredients
2 stalks fresh lemon grass or 1 Tbsp. finely shredded lemon peel
1/2 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/3 cup bottled hoisin sauce
3 Tbsp. lemon juice
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
4 boneless beef shoulder top blade (flat iron) steaks, cut 1 to 1-1/4 inch thick (about 1-1/2 lb. total)
1/2 a peeled, cored fresh pineapple, sliced
2 nectarines, halved, pitted, cut in wedges
2 plums, pitted, cut in wedges
1 bunch green onions (about 8), trimmed

Directions
1. For marinade, trim ends of lemon grass; halve lengthwise. Remove two or three layers of tough outer stalk. Remove tender inner stalks; wrap, refrigerate, and reserve to garnish grilled steaks. Finely chop 1 tablespoon remaining lemon grass. In bowl combine chopped lemon grass, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, lemon juice, garlic, and crushed red pepper. Transfer 1/2 cup marinade to airtight container; refrigerate.

2. Place steak in large self-sealing plastic bag set in shallow dish. Pour remaining marinade over steaks; seal bag. Refrigerate 12 to 24 hours; turn occasionally.

3. Remove steaks from marinade; discard marinade. Let steaks stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.

4. For charcoal grill, place pineapple slices, nectarines, and plums on rack over hot coals. Cover and grill 4 to 6 minutes, until fruit is lightly seared, turning once. Brush with refrigerated marinade the last 2 minutes of grilling. Transfer fruit to platter; set aside.

5. For charcoal grill, place steaks on rack directly over medium coals. Cover and grill 15 to 18 minutes for medium rare (145 degrees F); turning once and brushing with refrigerated marinade the last 2 minutes of grilling. Place green onions on rack over coals; grill, uncovered, 1 minute, turning occasionally. (For gas grill, preheat grill to medium-high. Place fruit on rack over heat. Cover and grill fruit. Reduce heat to medium. Grill steaks and onions as above.)

6. Slice steaks. Serve with fruit, onions, and reserved lemon grass. Serves 4.

You Are So Beautiful

2008-05-10T21:52:00.001-07:00

Artist: Joe Cocker

Lovin' in My Baby's Eyes

2008-05-10T21:45:00.000-07:00

Artist: Taj Mahal

Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

2008-05-09T18:33:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp baking SODA
1/2 tsp baking POWDER
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 cup oat meal
1 tsp vanilla

Cook 5->8 mins at 325

Connie Talbot

2008-04-27T18:35:00.000-07:00

So talented, so cute,.... :) I can't help falling in love you!

Mango Chicken Salad

2008-04-21T09:38:00.000-07:00

(From: Better Homes and Gardens)

4 servings
Start to Finish: 30 minutes

Ingredients

* 6 cups torn romaine lettuce
* 2 cups fresh blueberries
* 1 mango, pitted, peeled, and cut up
* 12 to 16 oz. chicken breast tenderloins
* Salt and ground black pepper
* 2 Tbsp. purchased garlic butter
* 2 cups broccoli florets
* 1/2 cup bottled blue cheese Italian vinaigrette salad dressing
* Crumbled blue cheese (optional)

Directions

1. On a serving platter place romaine lettuce. Top with blueberries and mango; set aside.

2. Season chicken breast tenderloins with salt and pepper. In a large skillet cook chicken in 1 tablespoon of the hot garlic butter over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes or until no longer pink, turning once. Transfer to a cutting board; slice. Arrange atop salad.

3. In the same skillet cook broccoli in the remaining tablespoon garlic butter over medium heat for 4 to 6 minutes until tender. Place atop salad. Drizzle salad with blue cheese vinaigrette. If desired, sprinkle with blue cheese.

4. Makes: 4 servings

5. Note: If your mango is under ripe, saute it with the broccoli to enhance its flavor.

Save it for a rainy day

2008-04-20T20:30:00.000-07:00

Artist: Stephen Bishop

It might be You

2008-04-20T20:15:00.000-07:00

Artist: Stephen Bishop

Heartbreak Hotel

2008-03-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

Artist: Elvis Presley

How Deep Is Your Love

2008-03-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

Artist: Bee Gees

stir-fried shrimp with black bean

2008-03-27T11:09:00.001-07:00

(From: nytimes ,video is here)
Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

2 tablespoons fermented black beans, sold in Asian markets

2 tablespoons dry sherry or white wine

About 1 1/2 pounds uncooked shrimp, in the 20 to 30 per pound size range, peeled

1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 clove garlic, sliced, and 1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons dark sesame oil

1 pound bok choy or other cabbage, trimmed, washed and dried

2 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil

1 tablespoon peeled and minced or grated fresh ginger

3/4 cup chicken stock or white wine, optional

1/4 cup minced scallions.

Directions

1. Soak black beans in sherry, wine or water. In large bowl, marinate shrimp in

1/2 teaspoon sugar, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, sliced garlic, salt and 1 teaspoon sesame oil.

2. Separate bok choy leaves from stems; chop stems into 1/2 - to 1-inch pieces, and roughly chop leaves.

3. Preheat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon peanut oil and raise heat to high. When it begins to smoke, add minced garlic and, immediately thereafter, shrimp and its marinade. Cook shrimp for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spoon it out of wok or skillet.

4. Put remaining peanut oil in wok or skillet and, when it smokes, add ginger, followed immediately by bok choy stems. Cook, stirring, until bok choy is lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes, then add leaves. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute, then add 3/4 cup water, stock or white wine and let it bubble away for a minute.

5. Return shrimp to wok or skillet and stir; add black beans and their liquid, scallions, and remaining sugar and soy sauce. Stir and cook for 1 minute. Turn off heat, drizzle remaining sesame oil on top, and serve.

Yield: 4 or more servings.

I have a dream!

2008-03-01T06:59:00.000-08:00

Dream It, Achieve It! I will!

proud of YOU

2008-02-25T14:35:00.000-08:00

Careless Whisper

2008-02-14T19:05:00.000-08:00

George Michael's voice is so beautiful with "Careless Whisper". Believe it or not, I listened to this song about 10 times on Valentine's Day!

Engagement

2008-01-26T19:31:00.001-08:00

Take Me To Your Heart

2007-11-30T11:32:00.000-08:00

Artist: Michael Learns To Rock

grilled striped bass with orange-saffron butter

2007-11-26T20:08:00.000-08:00

Look for fish that's 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick. It sounds counterintuitive, but farmed fish is a better choice when raised inland, in recirculating water (rather than in crowded netpens in the wild). At the market, ask your fishmonger where the fish comes from.

Servings: Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature
3 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1/2 teaspoon Champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
Large pinch of saffron threads
Coarse kosher salt or coarse sea salt
6 whole farm-raised striped bass or trout (about 1 pound each), gutted, cleaned, top fin cut off
2 large oranges; 1 juiced, 1 halved, then thinly sliced
Nonstick vegetable oil spray

Directions

Whisk butter, juice concentrate, vinegar, and saffron in small saucepan to blend. Season butter to taste with coarse salt and pepper. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.

Using small sharp knife, cut diagonal slits on both sides of fish at 1-inch intervals. Arrange fish on rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle fresh orange juice and salt into slits and cavities of fish. Fill cavities with orange slices (about 3 per fish). Cover loosely and let stand at room temperature at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.

Spray grill racks and fish generously with nonstick spray. Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Place saucepan with orange-saffron butter at edge of grill to warm through, stirring occasionally. Arrange fish on barbecue. Grill until just opaque in center, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to plates. Serve with warm seasoned butter.

No Time

2007-11-24T18:02:00.000-08:00

ARTIST: The Guess Who

UB students talk about dating

2007-11-10T10:19:00.000-08:00

Hitting a first-date home run

DEANNA CHRISTIE - Staff Writer

Dating is a tricky game. UB students shouldn't be surprised when they get thrown under the bus while looking for love. For those who don't know where to turn when testing out the dating waters of the undergraduate population, here are a few dating tips that every romancer should follow.

Pressure is off: group dates

Dating can be difficult to enjoy when there is a constant fear of rejection hanging over one's head. Consequently, college students tend to cling to relationships, especially those already attached to a sweetheart from their hometown.

Erica Mazzara, a sophomore business major, feels that dating in college is the hardest thing she has ever done.

"I was in a relationship with a guy from home for a really long time," said Mazzara. "When the relationship ended, I didn't even know how to go about dating again."

Many students find that having a significant other at UB can make school seem more welcoming and not just a place to live while taking classes for the semester. One of the best ways to meet people can be through friends, on group dates or in larger activities. Events like these give people a chance to get to know each other without the pressure of an awkward first date.

"I had gotten so used to always having someone there for me, so I was eager to start looking for a new boyfriend," Mazzara said. "A lot of my friends are single so I asked for advice about how they go about meeting and dating people. My one friend told me that the best way she likes to date is in groups."

One-on-one dates can sometimes seem boring; when friends are around, the date can be more comfortable and fun, Mazzara said. Group dates can be a great way to meet new people, meet new singles and find new friends.

"Finding a date basically starts with meeting new and interesting people," Mazzara said. "You can't meet new people unless you get out and make yourself available. It's unlikely that you're going to find a new relationship sitting at home watching movies with your girlfriends."

Chill out

Dating isn't only tricky for women, according to Daniel Malmud, a senior communication major. Guys who might have wanted to approach a woman of interest are often hindered by their nervousness and fear of rejection, according to Malmud.

"I know a lot of guys that get nervous around girls," Malmud said. "How do you expect to pick up a girl if you're constantly worrying about what will happen?"

Both guys and girls should relax when approaching a potential significant other; the key is to relax, Malmud claimed.

"Don't feel so emotionally attached in every interaction," he said. "If you spend too much time worrying about rejection or embarrassment, you could miss out on getting to know a really cool girl."

According to Malmud, the best way to test the waters is with some light flirting - enough to show interest, but not to provoke awkwardness or tension. By flirting, a person can tell whether the girl or guy they're pursuing is equally as interested. If the flirting is dismissed or ignored, move on.

Body language: put on a happy face

One of the best things to do when on a date is to smile and keep eye contact, according to Erica Ketchum, a sophomore communication major. Simple body language can give your date the indication that you're interested or that your conversation is going well.

"First impressions are everlasting," Ketchum said. "Why not make a good one? Smiling can be the easiest form of flirting. A smile can say a lot about a person, and it can also let a person know you're interested."

According to Ketchum, good eye contact can let a potential mate know you're interested in what they have to say and not just in a fling. Maintaining eye contact, along with appropriate reactions to conversation lets the other person know that you're actively engaged in the conversation.

"Eye contact is an absolute must," Ketchum said. "It lets a girl know that you're interested in really getting to know them."

Ketchum said that those who don't make good eye contact often send the wrong messages. Unintentionally, someone interested in more than a one-night-stand can send the wrong signals by not making good eye contact. Often nervousness is one of the main reasons why students tend to look anywhere except at the other person. Daters must shrug off their nerves and look up.

"If a guy is staring at my body the whole time, it gives me the impression that he just wants to get to know my body instead of me," Ketchum said.

"Baby, are you tired from running through my dreams?"

According to students, the pickup line can make or break any first interaction. If one must be used, make sure to choose wisely. Matt Cruz, a senior mechanical engineering major, says there are many different elements in using a pickup line that can make it a success or a flop.

"I think it depends on how confident you are, and so many other factors," Cruz said.

Rather than using pickup lines, there are a few conversation topics that can serve as "safety topics" to bring up when getting to know someone. Discuss movies, music, television shows, and general likes and dislikes. Some topics to avoid are past relationships, as well as politics and religion. You can touch on the basics like party association and what religious group of which you're a part, if any.

Similarly, stick to basic first-date activities. Don't pick all-day activities or anything you can't get out of should the date turn sour. Choose dates that will be fun but won't result in injury or embarrassment - avoid anything athletic until getting to know the other person; it's no fun to venture to the ER from an ice skating injury. Try seeing a movie, go to the beach or go out to dinner.

Be brave

If a co-ed catches your eye but hasn't approached you, don't feel too shy to advance first. Often being bold is a turn-on for many potential mates, especially those of the shyer persuasion.

"If you're really into a guy and he's being shy, make the first move," said Kasie Reese, a junior nursing major. "He'll really respect the fact that you're confident enough to make the first move."

Being the one to approach the other person can give your target the motivation he or she needs to spark a conversation or initiate a date. Often when the first move is made, the other person will take over, asking for a phone number or a night out on the town.

"He'll really dig the fact that you're stepping up to the plate, and he'll take over from there," Reese said.

Additional reporting by Stephanie Sciandra, Senior Arts & Life Editor

Problem 12 '

2007-11-08T21:55:00.000-08:00

Given
T(i,1) = 1
T(1,j) = 1
T(i,j) = T(i-1,j) + T(i,j-1) (mod 2) where i, j > 1
Question: What is T(i,j)? (0 or 1)

Problem 12

2007-11-08T21:45:00.000-08:00

Given
T(i,1) = 1
T(1,j) = 1
T(i,j) = T(i-1,j) + T(i,j-1) where i,j > 1
Question: What is the close form for T(i,j)? (that is the formula for T(i,j) in terms of i and j)

What a day for a daydream

2007-11-07T18:10:00.000-08:00

Truly Madly Deeply

2007-11-05T18:53:00.000-08:00

Savage Garden

I Knew I Loved You

2007-11-05T18:02:00.000-08:00

Savage Garden

Margarita Madness

2007-10-31T12:12:00.000-07:00

(From: Bon Appétit )

Servings: Makes 2 drinks.

blackberry-thyme margarita

Ingredients
16 large fresh blackberries, divided
4 small fresh thyme sprigs, divided
6 tablespoons 100% blue agave silver tequila
1/4 cup Simple Syrup
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon Cointreau or other orange liqueur
2 cups ice cubes, divided
1/4cup chilled sparkling wine

Preparation
Place 14 blackberries and 2 thyme sprigs in medium bowl. Press firmly on solids with muddler or back of wooden spoon until mashed. Mix in tequila, Simple Syrup, lime juice, and Cointreau, then 1 cup ice. Stir to blend well. Strain into large glass measuring cup. Mix in sparkling wine. Divide remaining ice between 2 tall glasses. Pour Margarita mixture over. Garnish each with 1 blackberry and 1 thyme sprig.

mango-cilantro margarita

Ingredients
1/2 small mango, pitted, peeled, chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 cup 100% blue agave silver tequila
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons Simple Syrup
1 tablespoon Cointreau or other orange liqueur
2 cups ice cubes, divided
Fresh cilantro sprigs (for garnish)

Preparation
Combine mango and cilantro leaves in medium bowl. Press firmly on solids with muddler or back of wooden spoon until mashed. Mix in tequila, lime juice, Simple Syrup, and Cointreau, then 1 cup ice. Stir to blend well. Strain into large glass measuring cup. Divide remaining ice between 2 tall glasses. Pour Margarita mixture over. Garnish with cilantro sprigs.

pineapple-chile margarita

Ingredients
8 (3/4- to 1-inch) chunks peeled pineapple
4 slices red jalapeño chile with seeds
1/2 cup 100% blue agave silver tequila
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons Simple Syrup
2 tablespoons Cointreau or other orange liqueur
2 cups ice cubes, divided

Preparation
Place pineapple chunks and red jalapeño slices in medium bowl. Press firmly on solids with muddler or back of wooden spoon until mashed. Mix in tequila, lime juice, Simple Syrup, and Cointreau, then 1 cup ice. Stir to blend well. Strain into large glass measuring cup. Divide remaining ice between 2 tall glasses. Pour Margarita mixture over.

watermelon-cucumber margarita

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups 1-inch chunks rindless watermelon
6 (1/8-inch-thick) slices English hothouse cucumber
15 large fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup 100% blue agave silver tequila
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons Simple Syrup
1 tablespoon Cointreau or other orange liqueur
2 cups ice cubes, divided
2 small watermelon triangles, each skewered with 1 cucumber round (for garnish)
2 fresh mint sprigs (for garnish)

Preparation
Place first 3 ingredients in medium bowl. Press firmly on solids with muddler or back of wooden spoon until mashed. Mix in tequila, lime juice, Simple Syrup, and Cointreau, then 1 cup ice. Stir to blend well. Strain into large glass measuring cup. Divide remaining ice between 2 tall glasses. Pour Margarita mixture over. Garnish with watermelon skewers and mint sprigs.

Simple syrup

Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
Preparation
Stir sugar and water in medium saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes. Cool. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 weeks ahead. Refrigerate in airtight container.

Flank Steak with Pineapple Salsa

2007-10-29T22:22:00.000-07:00

(From: Better Homes and Gardens)

Ingredients

2 cups peeled, cored, and chopped fresh pineapple
1 11-ounce can mandarin orange sections, drained
1/2 cup chopped red or green sweet pepper
1/3 cup mild green picante sauce or green taco sauce
12 ounces beef flank or boneless sirloin steak, cut 1/2 inch thick
1/2 teaspoon Mexican seasoning or chili powder
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 to 6 cups packaged torn mixed salad greens

Directions

1. For pineapple salsa, in a medium bowl gently stir together pineapple, mandarin oranges, sweet pepper, and picante sauce. Set aside.

2. Trim fat from steak. Thinly slice steak across the grain. Sprinkle with Mexican seasoning; toss to coat evenly. In a large skillet cook and stir half of the seasoned steak in hot oil over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes or to desired doneness. Remove from skillet. Repeat with remaining steak.

3. Arrange salad greens on plates. Top with steak and pineapple salsa. Makes 4 servings.

Tip: Look for green picante sauce or green taco sauce in the salsa section of the supermarket.

Open Arms

2007-10-28T18:25:00.000-07:00

Artist: Journey

Margarita-Grilled Chicken Salad

2007-10-27T15:59:00.000-07:00

Prep: 25 minutes
Marinate: 2 hours
Grill: 12 minutes

Ingredients

4 medium skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1-1/2 cups margarita drink mix (contains no alcohol)
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. finely shredded lime peel
1/2 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
2 Tbsp. lime juice
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
4 medium tomatoes, sliced
2 medium avocados, halved, seeded, peeled, and sliced
1/2 of a medium red onion, thinly sliced and separated into pieces
1/4 tsp. cracked black pepper

Directions

1. Place chicken in a resealable plastic bag set in a shallow dish. For marinade combine margarita mix, cumin, and lime peel. Pour over chicken; seal bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 to 8 hours. Drain chicken, discarding marinade

2. For a charcoal grill, grill chicken on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals for 12 to 15 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink (170�F), turning once halfway through grilling. (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduced heat to medium. Place chicken on grill rack over heat. Cover and grill as above.) Remove chicken from grill; cool slightly.

3. In a small bowl combine mayonnaise, lime juice, and cayenne. Arrange tomatoes, avocados, and red onion on 4 salad plates. Coarsely chop chicken. Add to salads. Drizzle with mayonnaise mixture and sprinkle with black pepper.

4. Makes: 4 servings

Steak with Nectarines

2007-10-27T15:52:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

4 6- to 8-oz. boneless beef rib-eye steaks, cut 1/2 inch thick
3 tsp. sugar, divided
1 to 1-1/2tsp. chili powder
1-1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/8 to 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 medium firm but ripe nectarines, pitted and cut into 8 wedges each
2 tsp. water
4 slices bacon, preferably hickory smoked

Directions

1. Trim fat from meat. In a small bowl combine sugar, chili powder, salt, cumin, black pepper, and cayenne pepper; reserve 1 teaspoon. Sprinkle remaining spice mixture evenly over both sides of meat; rub in with your fingers; set aside. In a medium bowl toss the nectarines with the reserved 1 teaspoon spice mixture and water; set aside.

2. For a charcoal grill, place bacon slices in a large cast iron skillet. Place skillet with bacon on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals. Grill 8 to 10 minutes or until bacon is crisp-cooked and browned, turning very frequently. Carefully remove skillet from grill. Remove bacon from skillet and drain on paper towels.

3. Place steaks on the grill rack directly over the coals. Grill until desired doneness, turning once. (Allow 4 to 6 minutes for medium-rare doneness or 5 to 7 minutes for medium doneness.) Place nectarine wedges directly on grill rack along side the steaks the last 3 to 5 minutes of grilling until nectarines are lightly browned and warmed through, turning often.

4. Transfer steaks to serving plates and top each with a slice of bacon and 4 nectarine wedges.

5. Makes: 4 servings

Corn Salad

2007-10-27T14:28:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

1/4 cup lime juice

1 Tbsp. honey

1 jalapeno chili pepper, seeded and finely chopped

3 Tbsp. snipped fresh cilantro or 1 Tbsp. snipped fresh mint

1/4 tsp. salt

6 fresh ears of corn , husked and cleaned; or 3 cups frozen whole kernel corn, thawed

1 1/2 cups baby spinach leaves

1 large tomato, seeded and chopped

3/4 cup seeded, chopped cucumber

Directions

1. In large bowl whisk together lime juice and honey until well combine
2. Stir in jalapeno pepper, cilantro, and salt
3. Carefully cut corn kernels off cobs
4. Add to lime juice mixture
5. Stir in spinach, tomato, and cucumber. Serve immediately. Makes 9(2/3 cup) serving

Start to finish

20 minutes

Kiss On My List

2007-10-23T19:57:00.000-07:00

Artist: Hall & Oates

Strawberry-Mango Milk Shake

2007-10-22T09:12:00.000-07:00

(From: Better Homes and Gardens)

Ingredients

* 2 cups halved fresh strawberries
* 1 cup chopped mango
* 1-1/2 cups vanilla frozen yogurt
* 1/4 cup milk
* Sliced fresh strawberries
* Sliced mango

Directions

1. Place the 2 cups berries, chopped mango, frozen yogurt, and milk in a blender container. Cover and blend until smooth. Divide mixture between 2 tall glasses.

2. Top each serving with strawberry and mango slices. Makes 2 servings.

Problem 11

2007-10-14T19:04:00.000-07:00

Consider a connected graph G whose edges have distinct costs. Denote: T₁ the minimum spanning tree of G, and T₂ the second cheapest spanning tree of G.
Question: T₁ and T₂ differ in how many edges?

Problem 10

2007-10-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

Given sequence:

r

₁, r₂, ..., r_k such that: 0< r_i <=1 and sum( r_i ) <= n . Group r_i's into groups of zize at most 1. How many groups will you use?

So Far Away

2007-10-07T18:22:00.000-07:00

Artist: Carol King

Problem 9

2007-10-04T07:15:00.000-07:00

"What is the number of all trees on n points with exactly n-r endpoints? "

Frozen Yogurt Pie

2007-09-30T19:58:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

3 9" baked pie shell, or graham cracker crust shell

32 oz. carton fruit yogurt

1 (12 oz.) frozen whipped non-dairy topping, thawed

Optional: fresh or frozen fruit, cut, drained or chopped

Directions

1. Mix yogurt and thawed non-dairy topping, adding fresh fruit if desired. Pile into baked pie shells. Chill. Decorate with fresh fruit if desired, before serving. Pies may be covered with cling film and foil and frozen.

2.Thaw before serving (then decorate with fresh fruit). Each pie serves 6-8. Great dessert to have for busy days. Low calorie too. Try raspberry yogurt and fresh raspberries, etc.

Super Moist Lemon Cake

2007-09-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

(From Ruth Manta - homemade)

Ingredients

Batter
- 1 lemon cake mix
- 1/2 cup oil (vegetable)
- 1 cup source cream
- 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
Lemon mixture
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
Icing
- 3 Tbsp. butter (soft, NOT melted)
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 Tbsp. lemon juice(or more)- keep adding until it gets to the right softness (like thick honey)
Non-stick cooking spray

Directions

1. Mix ingredients to get batter. Using non-stick cooking spray to grease a 9x13 pan. Put batter in pan. Bake at 325^o for 40-50 minutes.

2. When cake is baked, poke with a fork. Then, drizzle lemon mixture over the top of the cake. Let cake cool at room temperature.

3. Drizzle icing on top.

Problem 8

2007-09-26T10:24:00.000-07:00

We are given n intervals on the real lines in which the number maximum number of mutually overlapping intervals is k_1. Suppose that the intervals are partitioned into r disjoint groups where a group contains at most k_2. A legal coloring of intervals satisfies: (1) overlapping intervals are not allowed to get the same color (2) intervals belonging to the same group are not allowed to have the same color.
Question: How many color will you use to color the intervals?

Minty Watermelon Tea Slush

2007-09-23T06:57:00.000-07:00

(From: Better Homes and Gardens)

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups water
2 Red Zinger or other red tea bags
2 Tbsp. packed fresh mint leaves*
4 cups cubed watermelon
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
Sugar, optional

Directions

1. In a small saucepan bring 3/4 cup of the water to boiling. Remove from heat. Add tea bags and mint to saucepan. Let steep for 3 to 5 minutes. Strain tea mixture through a fine mesh sieve, discarding mint and tea bags. Stir in remaining 3/4 cup water. Pour mixture into ice cube trays and freeze 2 hours or until firm.

2. In a blender combine watermelon cubes and lemon juice. Cover and blend until mixture begins to liquefy. With the motor running, add frozen tea cubes, a few at a time, through the hole in the lid until slushy. Pour into glasses and stir before serving. If desired, sweeten to taste with sugar. Makes: 4 (8-ounce) servings

3. * Test Kitchen Tip: Do not snip or chop the mint leaves or it cause the tea to discolor.

Problem 4'

2007-09-20T21:11:00.000-07:00

1. How many matches are sufficient to find the second winner?
2. How many matches are sufficient to find both the champion and the "worst looser"-the one has been beaten by any other contestants?

Problem 7

2007-09-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

"How many sequences of length n can be composed from a, b, c, and d in such a way that a and b are never neighboring elements."

Problem 6

2007-09-10T10:50:00.000-07:00

"We have k distinct poscards and want to send them all to our n friends (a friend can get any number of postcards, including 0). How many ways can this be done? What happens if we want to send at least 1 card to each friend?"

Problem 5

2007-09-07T09:10:00.000-07:00

"In a shop, there are k kinds of postcards. We want to send postcards to n friends. How many different ways this can be done? What happens if we want to send them different cards? What happends if we want to send two different cards to each of them (but different persons may get the same card) ?"

How to deal with a Fender Bender?

2007-09-07T08:28:00.000-07:00

I was in this situation 10 days ago, and had no idea what I should do. I am still waiting for car inspection. Hopefully my car can return to its original shape!
( From: http://www.excite.com )
" You're pulling out of a parking space, and suddenly--thud--another driver has bumped the side of your car. Nobody's hurt, but both cars have suffered dents and scrapes. You were on your way somewhere, but now you're standing in the middle of a parking lot with a stranger. Should you call the police? What types of information should you obtain from the other driver before you each go your separate ways? Before you let the situation put a damper on your day, follow these guidelines to deal with a fender bender."

Problem 4

2007-09-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

This question I got to know from Duc Ha:
" In a contest, there are 64 competitors. In each match, there are 2 competitors: the winner will stay, and the loser will go home!
Question: How many matches we need to choose the champion ?"

Problem 3

2007-08-30T07:26:00.000-07:00

And, this problem is also from Aditya. I guess this will take more time :)

"In general, in a n X n tic tac toe, if we get n consecutive 'X' or 'O' (horizontally ,diagonally, vertically) its a win. The possible number of chances(ways) to win for a given n X n tic tac toe is 2n+2. (n- horizontal, n- vertical, 2 diagonals). If we change the rules as shown below :
Take a variable k which can vary from 1 to n. Even if the user get k consecutive X or O (horizontally ,diagonally, vertically) ,its a win for a given k value in a n X n tic tac toe. The question is what are the possible number of chances(ways) to win. (find an expression in the form of n and k). For example in a 3 X 3 tic tac toe if k = 2 then the number of possible ways to win is 20. your expression should give this value for n=3(nXn) and k=2."

Problem 2

2007-08-28T12:58:00.000-07:00

This question I got from Aditya. I hope I can recieve more and more puzzles from him :)
" There are two boxes. One is blue and the other is red. Blue box contains 200 blue balls. Red box contains 200 red balls. 20 blue balls will be shifted from Blue box to Red box. Afterwards you have to close eyes and shift 20 balls from Red box to Blue box. Finally which box contains more number of different colored balls?"

Problem 1

2007-08-28T09:46:00.000-07:00

The following problem I came to know from Abhishek, a friend at SUNY, Buffalo. Let's see how long it takes you to get the answer.
"How many cuts you need to divide a cake into 8 equal parts?"
Have fun!

Double Melon Bowls

2007-08-26T16:34:00.001-07:00

(From Better Homes and Gardens )

PREP 25 minutes STAND 20 minuets
FREEZE Overnight

INGREDIENTS
2 cups cubed seeded watermelon
1 medium cantaloupe (about 3 pounds), halved and seeded
1 quart vanilla frozen yogurt or ice cream, softened
Sea salt or kosher salt (optional)

PREPARATION
1. Place watermelon cubes in a single layer on a tray or in a shallow baking pan; freeze for 2 or 3 hours or until firm. Transfer to freezer bag or container until needed.

2. With large spoon, remove flesh from cantaloupe , leaving 1/4-inch shell; set fruit aside. Cut thin slide from the bottom of each shell so shell sits flat. Place shells, upside down, on paper towel-lined tray; set aside.

3. Place cantaloupe fruit in food processor or blender; cover and blend or process until smooth. Place fruit mixture in fine mesh sieve set over bowl. Let stand 5 minutes to remove excessive liquid; discard liquid. You should have about 1 cup pulp.

4. In a bowl gently fold pulp into softened frozen yogurt until just combined. Divide frozen yogurt mixture evenly between cantaloupe shells. Place shells on baking sheet or tray. Cover and freeze overnight until very firm.

5. Before serving, let shells stand at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes to soften slightly. Top with watermelon cubes; sprinkle watermelon lightly with sea salt, if desired. Scoop into serving bowls. Make 6 to 8 serving.