Darren's Personal Webpage

If you're wondering why I've more or less given up on website updates, that's because I now blog (somewhat) regularly. In terms of giving updates about what's going on in my life, a blog is a far better medium than a webpage.

This is not to say that I will abandon the website completely however. This page is useful, for instance if I want to publish class essays, or maybe math research papers I write. I also want to revamp the REU guide section of the site- but these will have to wait untill summer, as I'm swamped with assignments right now.

To reiterate, if you want to read (semi-) regular updates about how I'm doing in Texas, please access my blog, by clicking this link.

I've started a blog. Initially I wanted to set up a blog here, but unfortunately our student servers don't have php support, so I couldn't add a lot of the features I wanted to (like the ability for readers to respond to blog posts). Hence, I started a blogspot account. You can reach it here: Darren's blog

What will probably happen is that I will use this website to publish my math research and my school essays, and maybe expand my guide on the NSF's math summer research program. For day-to-day ramblings I'll just post on my blog.

There are some changes that TCU has put into the site hosting service- the new URL for this website is http://stuwww.tcu.edu/dong or http://wwwstu.tcu.edu/dong (got rid of the stupid ~). They've also beefed up the security for the ftp system which unfortunately is making it harder for me to update my site, at least until I find a good FTP client with SSH support.

Anyway, I've been able to make some updates, and I've been writing up my REU blog regularly

Updates have been slow the past few weeks, mainly on account of my exams.

I've dedicated some space for a blog on my REU in Trinity. I plan to update it often, most likely daily. It can be found here.

Okay, it is official, I have been accepted to the National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at Trinity University in San Antonio. This program runs from June 5 to July 28, so I will definitely not be returning to Malaysia untill this Christmas break.

I've added information on this in the math section of my webpage. In particular, I've mirrored a very informative webpage on math REUs that was recently deleted from the UC Berkeley website. There are also links to the Trinity University REU website and a copy of the research problem I will be working on this summer under Dr Vadim Ponomarenko.

I've been a bit lax about shaving lately. My parents don't want me to grow too long a beard, in case I get mistaken for an Arab terrorist and get shot by a crazy Texan. When I tell friends here about this, they laugh. I think what mom and dad are scared of is absurd too, but you never know. Maybe those 'friends' of mine are polishing their revolver barrels as I type...

I always get mistaken here for a Mexican rather than an Arab. Every time I enter a shop I get greeted with ¿En qué puedo ayudarle?- which is annoying, since I don't know any Spanish at all- not even the Spanish phrase for I can't speak Spanish. So my shopping here normally starts awkwardly.

The funny thing is, I think I'm actually going to do what they say. I'm not really an obedient person, I can't remember the last time when I did something just because mom said so. I like my look, and I like not having to bother to shave every morning. But it's not right to disobey just because it's inconvenient. And it's good for mom and dad's peace of mind too.

Anyway, I reckon that there should be at least one photo of me on this site, so I'd better take it before I shave for the first time in months. (Hint: One of the guys below is not a 911 hijacker.)

This little news column is actually supposed to be used to announce updates to the site (granted, they haven't been any in a while). Hsueh Ming has suggested that I use it as a blog. While I don't want to go that far, I guess I could make time to fit in some senseless ramblings once every two days or so.

I hate blogs. I dislike record-keeping of any sort in general. I don't own a diary, I don't take photos when on vacations, and I don't take notes in class (and if I did, I wouldn't be able to read them)

I dislike writing as well, although some people have said that I write well. I just think time spent writing would be better spent reading, in the same way that time spent talking is better spent listening. When I read or when I listen I am gaining information and so know more. When I talk or when I write people around me are gaining information and thus, relative to them I know less (I am getting progressively dumber as I type this :P ). I guess that's a rather selfish way to put it- but the gist of my philosophy is that it's better to understand than to be understood.

Anyway, let me fill you in on what's going on, briefly- I'm pursuing a B.S. in Mathematics at a school called Texas Christian University. I am applying for some summer research programs, and if I get accepted I will probably not be back in Malaysia this year.