Emails About My Website

by Philip Guo (philip@pgbovine.net)

Over the past few years, I have received numerous emails regarding my website. Many of these emails are technical questions relating to my software projects or academic experiences, but some are praises of the content I provide on the pages within this site. I really appreciate these wonderful pieces of email I've received from total strangers from all over the world. It's one of the most rewarding aspects of my personal website development and maintenance hobby. Here are excerpts from some of my favorites (names have been replaced with XXXXXX, and omitted sections are marked with [...]):

General Emails

From Montreal, Canada (2002-02-01):

Hi Philip,
I'm a computer programmer from Montreal, Canada and just
came across your homepage and really liked your pics.
Take photograhs my hobby too.

[...]

From Singapore (2003-09-27):

My name is XXXXXX from Singapore. Just hope you won't feel
so surprise for reading this note. Basically, I was just
taking a break and was browsing through the cyberspace after
I was done with my thesis and just happened to come across
your web site on photography. And found them very
interesting and was thinking of dropping u a note. I know it
may seemed a bit awkward but anyway, I've hit the send
button, guess its irreversible.  :)

[...]

From New York, New York, USA (2004-02-19):

Hi, Philip

I was happened to be on your site and enjoying reading the
articles and your photo, very impressive design and
layout. I have signed your guestbook, and wish to be
informed with any update.

[...]

From unknown location (2005-03-04):

Dear Philip,

I stumbled upon your website while perusing the Internet (I
was looking for articles on film vs. digital cameras).

As a mother and teacher, I must tell you that I was
profoundly impressed by your excellent writing skills, your
extraordinary maturity for one so young, and your wonderful
sense of visual beauty. I, too, was the valedictorian of my
high school graduating class (back in the Dark Ages) and
considering the dearth of talent and standards that has come
about over the years, it is very encouraging to observe the
accomplishments of such a fine, young man.

Use what you have to serve. Money and success will always
come to someone like you, but happiness could escape you if
you don't give back. In the end, it's all that really
matters.

Best of luck.

XXXXXX

From Ireland (2005-07-16):

Hey!!!!!!
How are you doing?
i just read ur articules from the website!!
they are interesing.
i dont know if this is ur only email that i can have contact
to you, do u have any other?

bye
XXXXXX

From Northern Ireland (2005-11-15):


Hi Philip

I came accross your site after doing a search for xml photo
gallery - not because I knew it existed but because those
were the keywords to describe what I wanted to build! I'm
desiging a website for a friend who is an artist and instead
of the usual html photo presentations I really like the idea
of making it dynamic (for updating later when he has new art
to show) so naturally, having used XML before for a music
player. an XML solution seemed best.

[...]

Anyway, before I forget - thanks for a great, informative
and interesting site. I feel you have a lot of intelligence
and talent and just the right mixture of scientific intrigue
and artistic bent to really make things of value for others
and yourself - be they entertainment or functional. And not
only that you have a good spirit to want to share what
you've learned to make it easier for others. Not many are so
selfless in our present world. - thanks. I've no doubt you
will go a long way (if Armageddon doesn't get here first and
ruin it for you :-)

[...]

Keep up the good work Philip. Continue to enjoy your
education and continue to share it with others Thank you. I
send you kind regards from Northern Ireland.

XXXXXX

P.S I'm a firm believer in sharing - indeed I give songs
away free on my site. But I also believe in credit where
credit is due so I'm happy to pay a donation to sites where
I get some software/info etc that save me time. Might I
suggest you have a PayPal donation button on your site so
those who benefit from your sharing might have the
oppertunity to thank you? You may not make a living from the
donations but whatever amount comes in, it can help toward
the maintainence of your website.

From Mexico (2006-02-07):

Hi, I was on your website and I wanted to tell you that I'm
thankful with your sharing articles... and I think that
you're a very good photographer too.

Have a nice day!


Saludos y ¡buen día!
XXXXXX

From Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (2006-08-21):

hi Philip,

I randomly ran into your personal webpage this morning and
have enjoyed reading your site. Thanks for all the
writings/tips! They are really fun to read.  Congrats on all
your accomplishments and best of luck to you at Standford :)

From Evanston, Illinois, USA (2006-11-10):

I can't help but browse, and I must say, I like your choice
of 10 pt Verdana. I don't think 12 pt looks that great and
visually appealing things always encourages perusal. :)

From Stanford, California, USA (2006-12-29):

Hi Philip -
Did you know that your website is the #4 result for NDSEG on
google? Crazy. I just stumbled across it and wanted to let
you know that your writings section was interesting and
useful to me.

Cheers -
XXXXXX

From the Philippines (2007-12-29):

Hi Philip!

I was browsing the net about the 6.170 MIT Probset when I
saw your site.  I read most of your articles in the site and
it was really good. I had fun and it keeps me relax while
doing the probset (yeah, on a christmas break).

Thanks! ^^  I learned a lot from your articles, and I hope
you'll write more of your ideas and experiences that will
really inspire other people. Thanks again!  ^__^

~~XXXXXX

From unknown location (2008-03-08):

i came across the photo of (what i think is) your
bulldog, when i did a google image search for
"bulldog".

honestly, it is ADORABLE.  it is now my desktop photo
and i can't stop looking at it!

you're an awesome photographer!

- XXXXXX

From unknown location (2008-03-11):

Hi,

I ran across your website during lunch (looking for weird
animals) and thought you might like to know more about the
"round butted black-white animal" in your Winter 2005 : San
Diego gallery.  It is a Malayan Tapir.  Just thought I would
share some of the useless knowledge I have stored in my
brain.  I might forget who I am from time to time but I know
what a Tapir is.  LOL

XXXXXX  :o)



by SLLiew

The Malayan Tapir is an ancient animal, much unchanged since
the evolution of mammals. It is black and white. Saw it in
the wild for the first time in Taman Negara at 3am in the
morning from a viewing hide over a salt lick. At first, we
just saw the red eyes and thought it was a panther.  Then
the entire white body outline revealling that it was a
tapir, a gentle herbivore. What is significant is the tapir
is found only in another place - in the jungles of South
America.  It is a living proof that South America and Asia
were once joined as a continent before the great geological
continental drift begins. The Malayan Tapir is chosen as a
the logo of the Malaysian Nature Society.

(The following two-email sequence made me LOL ... they were freakin' hilarious!)

From Northern Africa (2008-02-26):


Hello, My name is XXXXXX and am from north Africa.  Am using
eigenface (pca) method in a face recognition system,and i
cant seem to find any source codes or help for that in c++
since am new .  I found ur email in the web site, ur a
developer in c++ and i was wondering if you can send me the
necessary codes or the algorithm pleeeease i really need it
as soon as possible am in a hurry.  If you do that you l b
saving my life!!

I really apreciate it if u can help me.  looking forward to
hearing from u sooner
Thanx in advance

(follow-up email, as though he's never contacted me before! this person seems to be semi-randomly spamming people!)

From Northern Africa (2008-03-13):

Hello there!i found ur email in  the web site .  am doing a
project on face recognition using pca with my own data base;
and i cant seem to find source code for that  in c++ (since
ur a c++ programer) , if u could pleeeeeeeeeeease send me
coz i cnt find any help,or i l be loosing my diploma this
year;and thus may career will b gone, and i dont have any
time, this is my last chance............so please help
me.waiting for ur reply as soon as possible

From Taiwan (2008-05-30):

Hi Philip,

I stumbled upon your website, end up spending time browsing
it and couldn't quit, amid work. :-)  I really like your
website and thought I write to you.

The website layout is excellent and clear, make people at
ease and comfortable.  It is an interesting passage from
your first website to the current, offering a glimpse of
boy's development.  Some of the nature/landscape photos are
so impressive and I like them very much.  I also like the
articles; they are communicating and inviting for thoughts,
even the software ones.

As to the recommended reading list, none of them I read yet.
Just in the spirit of sharing, some books come in mind,

    Conversations with God (not religion)
    The Color of Water
    The Accidental Asian

I am from Taiwan and my son was born here; he is in Junior
year now.  I forwarded the link to him, but I think I will
not just buy the book "On the Move" for him yet, otherwise
it might be perceived as overbearing :-)

I am happy for you and your parents.
Wish you the best!

XXXXXX

From Los Angeles, California, USA (2008-08-09):

Hi Philip,

I'm XXXXXX, a UCLA undergrad who stumbled upon your website
after Googling "On the Move: An Immigrant Child's Global
Journey," which is one of the required books in a sociology
class about Chinese immigration that I'm taking in the fall.

After reading the description about your book, the rest of
your site also appealed to me, so curiosity got a hold of me
and I browsed around. And what a pleasure! In particular, I
enjoyed your photo collection and your writings section. I
admire the candidness with which you wrote your articles.
Much of what you said resonated with me on a personal level,
especially your article about popularity, the Asian parents
article, and your tips for life. For instance, I definitely
agree with you there on the benefits of getting in-person
service; I can attest that it is much more efficient.

I look forward to reading your book for my class!

Warmly,
XXXXXX

From unknown location (2008-08-20):

Just today I was browsing google and somehow ran across your
articles on social issues.  I must say, everything you said
in your articles holds pretty true, especially the one on
Asian parents. I just wanted to compliment you on the
articles.  It seems like you wrote them all with honest
experience. Keep it up and let me know if you ever write
anything new.

From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA (2008-08-23):

Hi Philip,
I actually found your website as I was looking up
information about graduate fellowships (I had just finished
reading the essay prompts for the NSF, and since I was at a
loss as to how I should get started, my knee jerk reaction
was to Google the heck out of 'NSF Graduate Fellowship,
Advice" and other variations on that theme). Your advice
was/is tremendously helpful and I really appreciate your
thoroughness and candor on the finer points of the
application process. I also couldn't help but browse through
the rest of your website, and was taken in by all the
interesting articles (your site is open in like a million
tabs in Firefox right now). So aside from wanting to give a
shout out to say that I think your webpage is awesome and
that I can relate to a lot of the things you mentioned
(Asian parents, photography, social -ness), I also wanted to
say thanks...for giving me a great way to procrastinate on
the fellowship apps - going through your page was definitely
time well spent and I look forward to seeing future
developments on there

Best,
XXXXXX

XML Photo Gallery

These emails were written in response to my XML Photo Gallery software project and my photo gallery projects which preceded it.

From unknown location (2003-10-22):

I found your site doing a google search looking for
programs/databases that can help me organize my digital
photos and provide a dynamic user interface allowing
visitors to search photos by various criteria such as date
etc. I really like your advance search form.  There are lots
of programs that allow you post your photos in galleries
etc. but I have yet to find one that gives the visitor to
the website the ability to select from various filters to
view a specific set of images. Your advance search page is
great.  Like you I got hooked on photography from taking a
class in Jr. high and I now do it for a living.  I would
really like to know how I might borrow or pay you for a
template of your database/user interface/advanced search
page and/or the components that make it up. I would like to
be able to organize my pics with this type of interface
adjusted of course to meet my needs.

From Augsburg, Germany (2005-04-19):

Hi Philip!

I love your website! 
I am a German Student majoring in political science and
communications. I love the internet so I started
Online-Marketing and webdesign (for private use only) and so
I am about to finish my first project. I guess I was doing a
good job so far ;-) For my next private project I was
searching the net to find something like your photo gallery,
and I would love to use it!  I will download everything and
hopefully succeed. As soon as the new project is on, I will
set a link to your site.... everybody should set a link to
your site ;-) I really love it!

Best regards from Augsburg, Germany

XXXXXX

From unknown location (2005-07-15):

Hello,

Please let me apologize in advance. I am a relative newcomer
when it comes to coding in PHP/MySQL/Javascript/HTML
etc. etc. I will try and make this as painless as possible.

First off let me start by saying your website looks
fabulous. In particular your photo gallery is amazing. I was
fortunate enough to find it after entering the following
search query into google. "picasa scroll javascript"

[...]

From unknown location (2005-08-25):

Hi Philip,

I saw your XML Photo Gallery project. Simply superb.

From Paris, France (2005-09-02):

Hi Philip,

I'm glad I found your xml photo gallery project.  I'm going
to use it in combination with the picasa plug-in.

As an FYI, I'm an English software developer located just
ouside of Paris, France.  I've been coding for 10 years, and
now work 90% of the time in developing web sites in ASP.NET
anc C#.  I've only done a tiny amount of xslt development.
Currently I wish I knew more about regular expressions,
XPath and xslt, because I go through a lot of trial and
error in using them, but once they work they're awesome.
That's why I'm going to try your xml solution!

I'll send you more feedback once I've had a chance to try it
out.

Thanks,

XXXXXX

From England (2005-09-21):

Hi,

I recently downloaded your XML Photo Gallery software. I'm
pleased to report that it worked as advertised and I'm very
happy with it. I've done some editing to fix some issues I
had with it, as well as adapt it to my preferred way of
working. Overall however, a first-rate project!  I've
already recommended it to one other person interested in the
JavaScript part of it, and I'm sure that it'll become more
popular with time...

Thanks,

XXXXXX

From Russia (2005-10-15):

Hello

I found your XML gallery very useful. It was just what I
needed - a lightweight and easy-to-configure gallery. Thank
you very much.
Now here's an address [URL excised] if you'd like to see it
in action :). The webpage itself is in russian.

[...]

From France (maybe?) (2005-10-15):

i think that your XML Photo Gallery is a marvelous tool
is it possible to you to send me a zip file of your
application
thank a lot
sorry for my english i'm french
see u soon

--
XXXXXX

From unknown location (2005-12-05):

Hi,

I really enjoyed your XML Photo Gallery program.
I was doing a freebie site for a friend, and got another
gallery at the last minute, not so fun but I was pleased to
find your program.
I modified the look a little to blend in with the feel of
the original site.

[...]

I left a link back to your site.

So once again props, this is a nicely designed appliction!

Regards,
XXXXXX

From Colombia (2005-12-16):

Hello, i'm writing from Colombia, Mi name is XXXXXX and I'm
learning (in my college), XML, and I'm writing you 'cause I
want to use your XML Photo Gallery to learn more of a real
implementation of XML, thanks!

Cordialmente,
XXXXXX

From unknown location (2006-02-05):

Hi Philip,

I wanted to share a tweak that I made to your XSLT viewer:
[URL excised]

It now works natively with Picasa XML.

[...]

Many thanks.  Your viewer is very cool and one of the best
"real life" applications of XSLT that I've seen to date.
Congrats on some real slick work!

XXXXXX

From unknown location (2006-02-22):

Hi Philip,
Just wanted to thank you for your xml photo gallery code you
shared on your page.  I think its some great work showing
off javascript, xml and xslt technologies.  Check out my
page to see your work in use.
[URL excised]
Many thanks,
XXXXXX

From Germany (2006-09-25):

Dear Philip,
in the past six weeks I have completely restructured and
redesigned the website of the German J/22 Class
Association. When looking for a easy-to-setup client-based
photo gallery (no database available) I stumbled across your
site, respectively software. Unfortunately I can't remember
the site containing the link, but 10 minutes after I first
read about your concept one of my galleries was already
up. Setting up the gallery is incredibly easy (i'm using Mac
OS X) but one or the other browser complained about the
missing dtd-file. Not being mentioned in the guide though, I
simply downloaded it from one of your sample galleries, and
it worked.  Thank you very much for this excellent piece of
software (I especially like the way it can be customized!).

From unknown location (2006-10-01):

ur works are too awesome! :) as i surfed the net for photo
gallery with search engine, i found ur site. Its really
great!! keep it up.. ^__~

just wanna make new friends in the web :)

From unknown location, USA (2006-10-31):

Phillip,
Ok last email..
I found out what I did wrong.
I did not download the gallery.dtd file from your site so I
have it now and all is working fine now.

This is the best gallery I have come across.

Thanks,
XXXXXX

From unknown location, USA (2006-12-08):

Philip,

I just want to say that as a web enthusiast I think your
site is awesome.  I am slowly trying to teach myself some
web stuff so I can put together a family website for my wife
and I and I would love to use your code if possible.
However, I am having a very rough time trying to understand
some of it.  I would classify my skills and amateur at best...
I come from a graphic design and documentation background.

I am trying to develop on Windows XP for IE use... what part
of your steps should I use?

Any help would be appreciated... and your site very cool.
When I get mine up and running, I will send you some links

XXXXXX

From New Jersey, USA (2007-02-14):

Philip,

Thank you so much for your instructions and code for the XML
Photo Gallery.  I'm a "first timer" trying to develop a
website for my small business and it has been very helpful.

[...]

From unknown location (2007-06-06):

Just want to say that your website is simply beautiful.
Clever that you are using XSLT!

I am also implementing a similar idea (web photo+video
gallery) and with a slightly different approach: I will
use Javascript to parse the XML document and write the
result onto a HTML page using innerHTML. Yes I know it's not
a W3C standard, but since they haven't come up with a better
idea, innerHTML will do :)

By the way I will be using and modifying the BASH script you
provided on the site to generate my own XML. I will be
modifying it to suit my own condition, as I will need to
figure out a way to deal with videos as well, but will
release the result under GNU GPLv2.

Thanks :)

XXXXXX

From unknown location (2007-06-16):

Hello Philip. I stumbled on to you site while searching for
ways to add a photo gallery to my October arriving son's
website. I was about to buy ThumbGallery when I came across
your link.  Great site!!  With all the different types of
info in it, It's definitely more than one would expect to
find.

[...]

From Sunnyvale, California, USA (2007-12-10):

Hi Philip,

A few weeks ago I came across your website from google
serach. I was looking for a replacement/modification of
Picasa's web album and decided to use your beautiful photo
gallery as soon as I saw it.  Thank you very much for making
your hard work public and thank you for mentioning about
directly working with Picasa's xml! My website is primary
for my family and friends. A few days ago my mom called me
from Taiwan and said that she likes this new photo album! I
really appreciate that you make my website possible.

XXXXXX (Sunnyvale, CA)

Graduate School and Fellowship Application Tips

These emails were written in response to these two articles: Advice for Graduate School (Ph.D.) Applications and Advice for NSF, NDSEG, and Hertz Fellowship Applications

From Orlando, Florida, USA (2006-10-26):

Hey Philip,

I don't suppose you would be willing to review my NSF
application and essays for a hopeful fellow?

I imagine you get this question quite frequently, but I
suppose it's what you would expect after posting your advice
on applying for fellowships on the net.

Regardless of your answer, thanks for posting the tips. Good
stuff!

Cheers,
XXXXXX

From unknown location, USA (2006-10-31):

Hi,

I am XXXXXX, a first year grad student applying for the NSF
graduate fellowhsip. I came acrosss your guide to applying
for the fellowship, and I must say that it is by far the
most useful resource that I have found to help me with my
application process. I saw that you had your email address
posted on the website and I just wanted to email you and
thank you for posting it up for others to benefit from
it. It is an invaluable resource and you are doing a great
thing by sharing your experience with others. Thanks once
again.

XXXXXX

From Los Angeles, California, USA (2006-11-02):

Dear Philip,

My name is XXXXXX.  I recently came across the information
you have on your website regarding the Hertz fellowship.  I
am a grad student at USC studying Electrical Engineering,
and I just submitted an application for the Hertz a few days
ago.  I wanted to thank you for taking the time to post your
experiences on the web so that others can learn and benefit.

[...]

I would really appreciate any further help and advice.  Once
again, that you for providing the information on the
website, it is much appreciated.

Sincerely,
XXXXXX

From unknown location (2006-11-14):

Hi,
   Nice intersting site.I am applying for grad school, so
was searching for tip on writing my SOP and found your
site.Yours is the single most useful advice I have seen till
now.

keep up the good work.

bye,

XXXXXX

From unknown location (2006-12-08):

Hi Philip,

Just wanted to mention that Google's new Docs & Spreadsheets
are a great way to keep track of info for grad school and
fellowship information (like you mention for text files, but
now you can access them anywhere and never lose them unless
google has a catastrophic failure).

Your advice is very helpful!

Best,
XXXXXX

From Malaysia (2006-12-10):

Good day Philip,

I was reading your article posted in your website titled
"Advice for preparing to apply and actually applying to
science Ph.D. programs". It's very informative and useful
for people like me, wanting to apply for a doctorate
research in US unis. I really hope you'd be able to advise
me on some uncertain issues I'm facing currently.

[...]

I would really appreciate if you could give me your general
perception on my ability to pursue a phd in MIT (among other
top schools). Can you also tell me if there are anything
lacking in me (any qualities or qualification or number of
papers in conference....... anything at all). Your advise is
highly appreciated. Thanking you in advance and hoping to
read your lines soon.

Cheers!!
-XXXXXX

From unknown location, USA (2007-01-04):

Hello Philip,

I read your website regarding graduate fellowships and must
say it was extremely helpful.  I did read your advice on
graduate applications and must say it was spot on except for
one thing--contacting professors beforehand.  Perhaps it is
just my field (I am an oceanography PhD student) but most
professors preferred this.  I emailed professors then called
the ones who emailed me back and expressed an interest in
talking one-on-one.  Most professors were impressed in my
efforts and were more likely to pull my application out of
the stack that was piled for review.  One professor even
went so far as to email me personally when she received my
application then told me the next day that I was excepted
with a fellowship (one that she told me she would try to
push for me to get).  Maybe my personal experience is unique
but I just thought I would share my experience to add to
your wonderful website.  Thanks for the advice!!

Cheers,

XXXXXX

From unknown location, USA (2007-01-07):

Hi Philip,

Thanks for your long, informative article on applying to
fellowships!  It's really helpful, and I certainly wished I
had found it on google sooner.  Ah well, I don't think I
really have a chance at getting NDSEG, but I just put it on
my apps to look like I was really trying to get funding
instead of just sitting around.  Anyway, good luck on your
well-funded research!

Thanks again,
XXXXXX (random person who needed last minute advice on the
NDSEG 'summary of goals' and found your site)

From unknown location, USA (2007-03-25):

Hi Philip,

I wanted to thank you again for compiling advice on tackling
those fellowship apps. I just found out I won the NSF!

Best,
XXXXXX

From unknown location, USA (2007-03-26):

Hi, Philip.
I, too, wanted to thank you for your advice on applying for
the NSF, NDSEG, and Hertz fellowships.  It definitely helped
me to get into the right mood and mindset before I sat down
to write my essays.

From unknown location (2007-06-11):

Dear Philip,

Thank you for your exemplary advice for those considering
phD programs. As others have noted, of all the advice-type
musings on the subject of graduate study, your page most
clearly and wisely addresses the importance of showing in
your application a real interest in and capacity for
research. If you have a moment, I would be interested to
hear your thoughts on the following topic, which is (go
figure) personal rather than hypothetical:

[...]

Thank you and all best,
XXXXXX

From Virginia, USA (2007-06-11):

Dear Philip,

First and foremost, thank you for your wonderful website! I
used the advice in your columns on graduate school and
fellowship applications religiously.  Nowhere else on the
web did I see such comprehensive and correct information on
the general logic behind the application process and such
good summaries of the 3 main fellowships.

[...]

Any advice you have will be helpful. Once again, thanks for
your online bible--it helped a ton.

Regards,
XXXXXX

From San Jose, California, USA (2008-03-31):

Hey Philip

Just wanted to let you know that your muse on fellowships
helped me win the NDSEG this year.  I'd say you were
responsible for about 1/3 of the success... the other two
being my attendance of grant/fellowship writing workshops
and receiving edits from advisors/friends.  That's right,
you help people earn $90,000.  Too bad you don't get any of
that, huh?

Also, I find your "Asian Parents" article amusing and easily
relate-able.  Haven't checked out your photos yet, but I'm a
Rebel XT fan, my first was the Powershot S30.

Anyways, you're an indispensable resource.
Keep it up wise guy
XXXXXX

From Berkeley, California, USA (2008-04-02):

Hi Phillip,

So I googled fellowships before applying and your name
popped up. The advice was extremely helpful in getting me
the NSF. I also got alternate in the NDSEG and finalist in
the Hertz. You are awesome for taking the time to share a
small taste of your success.
Best,
XXXXXX

P.S. Your Turok slang cracks me up.

From Florida, USA (2008-04-17):

Philip,

Just wanted to say thanks for your article on graduate
science fellowships. It was very helpful and good to read
from a person who had already gone through the process.
Anyways, I, like you, received a first-round Hertz interview
and it was crazy. I am happy to have received an NSF
fellowship and will be joining you at Stanford in the fall.

XXXXXX

From Toronto, Canada (2008-09-20):

Hi Philip,

I was given your article "Advice for preparing to apply and
actually applying to science Ph.D. programs" by a grad
student at MIT and I found it very insightful. I'll
definitely be using your advice. Thank you for writing it.

I am going to be applying to Graduate School at Stanford
this year (either CS or EE) and I had a few questions. Would
you mind answering them?

Thanks!
XXXXXX

From unknown location (2008-09-22):

Hi Philip,

I came across your website by way of the helpful hints for
grad student fellowships. I just wanted to say thanks for
this bit of advice - every little bit helps! Also, i do
enjoy the rest of your website.

XXXXXX

On Popularity

These emails were written in response to this article: On Popularity

From Argentina (2006-10-12):

Hi,

I got to your site when googling "old websites". You see, I
am young enough to remember my early tinkering with the web,
but too young to remember the really prehistoric
internet. Still, I enjoy looking at how websites changed and
stuff like guestbooks, gifs and general layout developed.

I read your popularity article and I loved it. Every
sentence popped up a memory, even though I'm in 10th grade
(I'm not sure that's the right way to say it, but I don't
understand the american year thingy) so I'm still working on
popularity :P

The thing is, here in Argentina the popular thing is
definitely there, but it is less important and less
conscious: the first time I actively talked about the "cool
kids" was in a roleplaying session this year. Popular kids
don't mock others, and there is a kind of active effort to
integrate everyone, make sure you don't just stick to your
3-person group.

I had been thinking about the newcomer loophole while
reading the middle of your article, and was pleased to see
it in the end. Although I would be scared of losing my
friends, now I understand a new school might give me
interesting possibilities.

Great site,
XXXXXX

From Houston, Texas, USA (2006-11-08):

Hi

In regards to your popularity article, I thought you might
want to read Paul Graham's essay if you haven't already at

http://www.paulgraham.com/nerds.html

From your writing it seems like you haven't, and it is a
great read.  Paul's and your essays take very different
approaches, so it seems hard to compare the two directly.
Interesting nonetheless.

See ya,

XXXXXX
Rice University '09

From unknown location (2007-03-19):

[...]
I was actually searching for fashion tips when I stumbled
upon your thoughts on popularity. An insightful piece, and
very true in my personal experience.
[...]

Your brief section about friends in grade school really hit
home. I only have one major friend from elementary school
that I've kept to the present day. In fifth grade, I was
friends with people who are now, respectively: a drama geek,
a druggie, a skater, and a popular kid. None of them do so
much as say hello to me in the hallway now, although I can
hardly blame them.

A thought: is popularity genetic? [...] Are we doomed from
birth if born into a family of geeks (or perhaps popular
people, if you'd like to think of it that way)?

Grateful for your insight,
XXXXXX

From China (2007-06-29):

Hello Philip,

I read your article of teenage popularity and dork culture
this morning and enjoyed your insights. I also had a little
to add to your theory of finality "once once a dork, always
a dork".

I'm an American designer living in China working in a
factory. I am staffed with approximately 12 other American
designers within the the decor industry. I am [...] (married
with kids), and even after all these years, still feel the
outsider. Though your observations of adolescence angst are
definitely at their worst when one is young, the patterns of
social popularity can and do play themselves out much the
same way later in life.

I mention what I do for a living to bring up a point: I am
in a job I'm well suited for and in a demographic where I
should be high on the caste system but for reasons of my
personality, keep myself apart from the mainstream. I am
also the only straight guy in a company of gay men and older
women.  Though out of preference, I would prefer to work
around other straight men, it would not ultimately make much
difference of how I would interact with the people or make
me any popular as a person. My situation is a little unique,
an straight American living in remote gay China, a little of
the beaten track.

Dorks (we) are a fickle bunch that often are overlooked easy
and even more, misunderstood, so we tend to gravitate to
other that likeminded, intellectual and non-threatening. In
my case, I'm very fickle of who I trust in my circle, a
trait I developed to protect myself from back in my school
days. This disables me to raising the ranks in my work,
thought not on how well I fundamentally do my job. An
observation I have made on popularity in adulthood and the
workplace is that those least popular on the productivity
spectrum are usually the most important and productive. As
those in the "least productive" are usually the most liked.
Thus a certain President.

Your argument about cloths don't necessarily make a man is
true. An example, I am considered a good looking, fit, 6'4
who did end up marrying a model.  Because of my looks,
attracting people to me has ever been a problem. The flip
side, is I'm much of the same isolated boy I was. I am not
comfortable around most people, and tend to become
disinterested in what I consider "trite" conversation. I
suppose I'm a dork with a "snob" complex. The point to this
is, we are who we are, and it is possible to understand it
and accept it.

I do accept your epilogue statement about getting involved
in social activities, especially if those activities pair
you up with people of the same interests. This will help one
develop social skills later in life and help develop a sense
of purpose. Be yourself, even if that doesn't attract the
people around you that you want. It may isolate you, but
that's ok.  Advise I would have wanted when I was young
would simply be: try not to take yourself too seriously and
don't be so hard on yourself.

Regards,
XXXXXX

From unknown location (2007-10-18):

Hello Philip-

Your article on popularity is quite unique. For a tech-type
you have great insight into social issues, and have
obviously given a lot of thought to what you have written,
which rings very true.  I think you are right about the lack
of upward mobility and the newcomer loophole.  But I would
have one comment to make on calling those kids everyone
looks up to "popular."  I have renamed them the "fast kids,"
because they are the ones doing everything first.  And you
are right that it starts in 6th grade if a middle school,
and 7th if it is a junior high setting.

Many kids in 6th grade are still just that, kids. While
others have made the transition to "teenager," meaning being
driven toward the opposite sex by hormones!  This happens at
different times for all of us, but the ones who get a head
start in middle school/junior  high will always be the
standard-setters. The slower kids may turn out to be better
looking and better all around, but will have to wait until
A) a new school where noone knows them or B) graduation, to
be rise to their deserved position socially.

The died-in-the wool jocks also make up a large portion of
the "fast crowd," because I think it has to be hormones that
makes those driven athletes break out from the crowd.  These
aggressive, driven types are always looking for the "next
thing," and seem to form their own society with its own
caste system. You can be on the team, but that does not
make you "one of them."

But I don't see these kids as "popular," because they look
through average kids as if they are not even there, are not
always nice, and make the rest of the kids feel like crapby
comparison because they are NOT doing all of those things
yet.  They are popular amongst each other, but the rest, and
I mean the MAJORITY of the kids are left to fend for
themselves and end up doing a pretty good job of it.  You
take someone who is chugging along, doing the right thing,
growing up in fits and starts, making friends, not perfect
at anything, but doesn't make anyone feel bad, medium looks,
not outrageous behavior, and at the end of the day this is a
popular kid, meaning liked by EVERYONE.

Many of those fast kids are truly hated, and I feel that the
average kid who can relate to the goth, the thespian, the
dork and the mediocre athlete will do better overall in
life, because being able to relate to all types of people is
important in just about any career.  Not to mention the fact
that the fast kids get into all kinds of unhealthy stuff
looking for the next thrill.  Yes, you are right that there
is the rare "have it all" kid who moves with the fast crowd,
is nice to everyone, great looking, successful...but most
are not, and stay within their own crowd for fear of
ridicule.

Believe me, nothing has changed in the 10 years since you
were in middle/high school.  Things were like this in the
70's when I was going through it and right now as my
11-year-old 6th grade daughter (with super-model looks, but
who still plays with dolls, so she is definitely not in the
fast crowd) and 9th grade son (who still hasn't put away the
Legos) can attest to.  As a parent I do not want them in the
fast crowd, but I want them to have great self-esteem and
your point about accepting your position is very wise.

A few good friends can carry you far in life.  7th grade was
the first year of junior high for me and I met a life-long
friend playing field hockey in gym class, because it was
obvious we were both going to stay as far away from the ball
as possible!  Neither of us even dated in high school but we
were well liked, nice looking girls who were involved in
activities, had friends and went off to good colleges.  Our
days for romance came once we were out of the "the system"
in which we were "not date-able," but in the meantime during
high school we didn't piss anyone off, and buoyed by friends
and activites had enough self esteem to run for and win
treasurer (her) and secretary (me) of our senior class.  We
are both married now, and I have to say, when we went back
to our most recent reunion we looked at our tall handsome
husbands and thought we had done far better than most in
that department, despite a late start out of the gate!

From unknown location (2007-11-06):

Hey!

I landed on your website whilst googling on the internet and
came across your article on popularity,and just had to say
congradulations for taking the time and energy to write
something so damn real and intresting,and most importantly
of all TRUE.  After i read the article i sent it to all my
friends and just like anyone who reads the article,we can
all relate to it in someway or another,

I think its great how you show that even as young adults we
form social groups and judge one another on things such as
appearance and the latest  fashion trends,

Your article just relates heavily to my own personal journey
through secondry school(high school) as i at first wasnt
luckily enough at first to be blessed with good looks
between the ages on 11-13 as when you so greatly described
is generally the age when high school popularity really
starts to kick in,i was just a real skinny arkward kid at
school who was very reserved and really shy,infact the only
reason i became semi popular with the guys at my school was
because i happend to be good at  sports,predominantly the
main one being soccer,and i had this weird sense of humour
that the real popular kids found highly amusing,but when it
came to girls  i just wasnt in the running at all,and i
never could figure it out why they didnt like me,and would
time and time again go for the loser badboy idiot  types,

Anyway im what your article describes as a late bloomer and
suddenly out of absoloutely nowhere girls started liking me
and actually now knew i existed,i also started becomeing
more popular with all the guys two, they  all suddenly
started showing more intrest in what i did out of school and
what my hobbies were,and the only sole reason for this what
i can think of  anyway was because now i was all of a sudden
"good looking" id  just about finished puberty,i looked more
mature,and worked out a lot. people  continued to like me
and show intrest in me all the way through  college and
beyond,and most of them dont even realize that back in
school i  was just a skinny nerdy kid.  Anyway i guess the
moral of my story is that its crazy that  people can
suddenly become popular more or less overnight just based on
their  physical attributes,i think this may have something
to do with the halo-effect  where people attach certain
characteristics to people based on how they look.and  having
being on both sides of the fence and being treated
accordingly because of  how i looked it just makes me sick
on how people can do this and feel ok about it,one thing it
has taught me is that just because someone looks a certain
way u should never judge them,and its whats inside that
counts best...

Sorry about the rant lol,just thought your article was a
mini genious piece of writing,and shall be reading more of
your articles,and hope for more in the future...

I hope to hear back from you sir....

Thanks for your time

x

From unknown location (2008-02-13):

Philip,

Enjoyed your thoughtful reflection and analysis. But I have
a simpler hypothesis: serotonin.

There are no popular introverts that I recall. Nor angry or
depressed ones. Serotonin levels influence that to a great
degree. Thoughts?

XXXXXX

From unknown location (2008-08-21):

I thought your article on popularity was awesome and very
well and clearly thought out. I enjoyed reading it as well
as your other articles on friendship. I am a secondary
school student and i am going through the motions of
secondary social life and although i don't think i am
exactly a nerd, but i'm pretty down low on the social
hierarchy ladder.

I am actually experiencing something almost similar to the
whole popular and unpopular thing, but in a slightly
different way. See, in my school, or at least, in my class,
different people are treated differently according to
popularity. The loud, bold, brash ones are the popular
people, while the quiet ones who don't speak up much, or
stick to their little group, or who aren't as loud, funny
and homourous are the ignored, unpopular people. As my
classmate nicely puts it, you have to have personality to
survive in class. THese popular people are not based on
their looks or athletic ability. Its their personality. The
popular ones are seen and heard, and the unpopular ones are
just not heard at all.

Teachers complain that the class is too noisy, too loud and
that not all of us take our studies seriously. But when push
comes to shove, they like the loud ones best. For their
outspoken-ness, their wit and personality. Or worse, their
goofs and idiotic acts that are endearing. Why is that?

And also, i find that people react differently to different
people. If a certain person does something silly and says
something really lame, the whole class erupts into laughter
when in fact, it really is all it is. Lame. They laugh so
hard at something that few of us find not funny at all.
However, if a less than popular student tries the exact same
thing, does a lame joke or lame act, it would not be as well
received. It seems that they have this mindset already, that
when it is someone they're close with or someone they think
is funny, they react a certain way, and vice versa. I think
its all about mindsets and perspectives.

Another matter i find really annoying is this:how some
people think that they are exercising their right to voice
out and give opinions and talk about how they really feel,
when all they are actually doing is reacting very childishly
and think that they are far superior to the teachers and
other classmates. In a simple matter of the teacher being
preoccupied with other students, some think that the teacher
is purposefully ignoring their call for assistance in school
work. And then, they proceed to talk very loudly and point
out to the whole class that the teacher is doing it on
purpose. In another case, some were making too much noise in
the one hour that we had before an assessment was due to
start. When the teacher told the class to tone it down or
get out, some reacted by telling the teacher to shut up. I
think that it shows a lack of proper upbringing by their
parents.I know some outspoken individuals, but this one in
particular had to respect at all for the teacher by
informing the teacher to shut up. although some of the
others didn't like the teacher, they knew where the line was
and when is it too much to speak their minds. I think that
it is both the parents' and the child's fault that the child
was brought up to believe that they could say whatever they
want whenever they want. Don't get me wrong, i'm all for
freedom of speech, but when moral boundaries are
overstepped, it is no longer freedom of speech, it is merely
bad behaviour.

The sad thing is, it is people like this who are popular.

If it is possible, i would greatly appreciate feedback. I am
also actually doing a bit of research into how people think
and act and why do they act the way they do.Something of the
sort. So i would love to hear any insight that you may have
on topics like this. Thank you!

Attention: Overbearing Asian Parents

These emails were written in response to this article: Attention: Overbearing Asian Parents

From unknown location (2007-04-12):

Thank you for writing this. I am 13 (chinese) and i just
got my report card. I had 4 A-'s and 5 A's, but my parents
were unhappy because t usually get high honors(average of
an A).  Many of my friends were happy when they got a B. 
I was wondering why my parents were so tough on me until 
i saw this. Thanks again.

From unknown location (2007-04-12):

Philip,

I read your article 'Attention: Overbearing Asian Parents'
with great interest. I am one those first generation
immigrant parents and always serach for ways to help my kids
move forward. I would be very interested in learning a bit
more about how you grow up and how you got to MIT and
Stanford without much push from your parents. I have to say
you did not do too bad.
[...]

From unknown location, USA (2007-04-22):

No posting my comments (unless you do it anonymously), but
you are so #@&*$# right.
[...]
And you wonder why Asian kids don't like their parents.
It's because their parents never treat them like individual
adults endowed with the natural liberty of making their own
decisions, and who possess the maturity and responsibility
to accept the consequences of their own actions. In western
civilization, man is born with the natural endowment of
liberty, and the role of the parent is to protect and guide
until that liberty can be exercised independently. In
eastern civilization, man is born a subject of parents, who
decide to give you freedom if you do exactly what they say.
[...]
I have a theory on why this happens. It's going to combine
insights from economics, capitalism, and political science.

1.     In western countries, responsibility for your
well-being is provided for either by the state (through the
welfare state and social insurance schemes), or by
yourself on an individual basis (401Ks, IRAs, medical
insurance, etc.).

2.     In eastern countries, there is neither a
well-developed social insurance scheme, nor such an emphasis
on self-reliance. The primary mode of support is through
one's family, a format that lost favor in the west with the
advent of social insurance schemes like Social Security and
Medicare.

3.     Therefore, in Asian countries, your life is never
really your own. It is in indenture to your parents and your
family your job and duty is to prosper so you may support
them, and your children's job and duty is to prosper so they
can support you. Although I can see why Asian parents don't
want their children to suffer the financial and social risk
they went through, I also think it's because of this
ingrained Asian mindset that social insurance and social
support networks are the responsibility of the family, not
the state, and not the individual.

4.     This is why your individual happiness and well-being
does not matter if your parents are Asian; all you are to
them is another link in the unbroken chain of family
support. Your happiness comes second to your duty to your
family.

Thats it. I'm done ranting. Good article.

From unknown location (2007-06-08):

I am white and my partner Asian.  She is close to a nervous
breakdown due to her parents overbearing nature.  i.e.
pressurising her to get a graduate job, do this, do that
etc...  even if it makes her unhappy.  The mother thinks she
knows best, she thinks she is "wise" - well what a joke!

We are assigned chores by the mother.  She doesn't ask if we
want to do them, just tells us things like "I want this room
painted, and this one!".

I imagine that these types of parent are mentally ill based
on official psychiatric diagnosis!

Please make my email etc anonymous,
Thanks.

From unknown location, USA (2007-08-31):

Here's my reponse to your article about annoying asian
parents:

I am a caucasian male dating a filipina with 1st generation
american immigrant parents.  Her parents are overbearing
like the ones you mentioned in your article.

Mother: She is a needy, clingy, spoiled brat who constantly
whines about her problems and wants to know where her grown
up kids are at all times.  She uses guilt trips and pity
parties as tools to manipulate people to feel sorry for
her.  She expected my GF to take care of her and father when
they get old until I made it perfectly clear that I wouldn't
live in the same home as mommy and daddy if marriage was to
be considered.

Father: Not as overbearing as mommy, but extremely
overprotective. Examples of this behavior: 

1.Dad won't let wife or daughter (my GF) walk outside alone
because he doesn't trust neighbors (they don't live in "da
hood").  He bought treadmill machine so that they would be
safer.

2.  He wouldn't let kids ride school bus to school because
of "bad kids" that might be negative influence on family.

3.  Wife had career, but he wouldn't let her work.
Made mom stay at home during kid's teenage years due to all
the bad influences that the kids could get involved in (i.e.
drugs,pre-marital sex, fighting, drinking,etc...)

4. Didn't trust anybody outside family to babysit kids
before oldest daughter was able to watch siblings.  Wife
sacrificed career to be stay at home mom for this reason
also.

Take care,
XXXXXX

From Malaysia (2007-09-24):

Hello and good day. I'm just browsing through the net to
find stuff that can help me with my literature paper and I
came upon your site. I find your article amusing because you
are very honest in discussing the authoritarian parenting
style of most Asian parents. Though your focus is mainly on
the first generation immigrant parents in the US, I think
your description of the typical Asian parents applies to
almost every parent in Asia!  Trust me, I know it by life
experience. Regardless of nationality, Asian parents will
always see academic excellence as a way out of a hard,
miserable life. Thus, the extremely strict parenting style.
Some of the victims, I mean, children may grow up according
to their parents' expectations, but others would normally
lose their way in life when they grow older. That's what
happens when for 21 years you have someone showing you what
to do and suddenly you are to choose a path of your own. I'm
so glad I turn out fine as an English literature student.

Oops. I think I've been ranting for far too long. Thanks for
posting the article again and I hope you don't mind me using
some of your points for my paper. Of course, I will give
credit to you for your indirect help. BTW, if you're free,
read "Two Kinds" by Amy Tan. A story that provides great
perspective from an Asian girl living with an overbearing
parent. I think you can find it on the net. Til then,
adieu...

XXXXXX from Malaysia

From unknown location (2007-10-15):


Unfortunately, a lot of people don't understand why we
pursue something - anything. Why do people pursue top grad
schools? To end up with a great income, right? At least
that's the main reason. But why do we pursue a good income?
Because that will make us happy - or so we think.  At all
times, the only real thing we pursue is happiness.

The question is, does a good income necessarily make you
happier?  Unfortunately, real-life observations do not seem
to backup the idea.....

From unknown location (2007-12-03):

Hi Philip,

I just came across your article on Overbearing Asian
Parents. True to your article, I have met only two kinds of
Chinese parents in the States: those who are the typical
(a.k.a majority) parents as described in your article, and
those who are having good relationships with their parents,
99% of which I came across, not accidentally, are in
academia.

Is it okay to hate one's Chinese parents because they are
having either neutral or negative impact on your life?
Having lived in the States for a long time, do you know any
Chinese students who have truly, truly achieved the kind of
independence and self-assurance that are often find in
children who grew up in healthy American families?

Would you be sad if your kids choose not to go to IVY League
schools? :)

XXXXXX

From unknown location (2007-12-10):

Hi Philip,

I am sorry that I would have to disappoint you :P). I found
your website through a search on how to write NSF fellowship
essays. Your site was either the first or the second that
came up (thanks for those advices! They made the
essay-grinding a lot less painful). Later I was searching
for "Chinese parents child dislike or conflict" on Google
and remembered you said something about Overbearing Asian
Parents. I didn't read the article until then.

I hope you wouldn't find my long response boring, about why
I performed the search for "Chinese parents child dislike"
in the first place, something I do from time to time. I
think my sentiment against overbearing parents is founded on
similar grounds as in your essay, though I was hoping that
the all-knowing Google will give an answer of "what next".
To begin, before college, the only kind of Chinese parents I
encountered is the kind closely described in your article:
parents who are overbearing, or on the verge of being
overbearing. I understood completely when you saw some
parents scrutinized your article for the secret for getting
into MIT. I had plenty of that, with my parents' friends who
would drive miles and pay special visits to this
"high-achiever" kid who got into "such and such school". As
I found out quickly, such people are the last kind you can
have a real conversation with. They form the last tier of
parents whose only end goal, as you succinctly pointed out,
is to get their kids into a top-ranked college.

I didn't meet the second kind of parents, those who have
good relationships with their children, until college.
Admittedly, most students whom I befriended with were
physics and engineering majors. However, I was surprised to
find that most parents of those students are themselves
highly educated (especially those in physics). Most parents
were half educated in China and half educated in U.S. They
are quite like us, other than that many didn't get Ph.D's
until they were over 30. In contrast to the kind of parents
who didn't have higher degrees beyond college, but often
require their kids to do much more, these parents didn't
wield a whip and ask their children "get A or else" in high
school. These parents appear to know that learning
difficult, college-level materials comes only naturally and
is sustained only through one's passion. I think this is
especially true in fields like physics that are hard and
often require more than hard work. Argue me wrong, but my
impression is that Chinese parents' way of living and
thinking have direct influences on how their children will /
will not choose what they will become.


I don't have friends or know parents who are in humanities
or social sciences ;),  so I don't know how to compare them
with parents in physical sciences and engineering. I am
puzzled about one thing you mentioned - how do you define
liberal parents? The only example I have that might fit your
description of conservative, physical science parents was a
Korean friend at Caltech. His father is a physics / EECS
professor and his mother is a psychology professor in
Poland. The student's younger brother attempted suicide
while in college, and he himself, despite having started as
one of the over-achievers of the Caltech lot, suffered
academically due to his overbearing parents. Such stories
appear to be quite common among Korean parents, who often
make newspaper headlines for not apparently caring anything
about their kids except the grades.

I didn't do justification about a third kind of parents, my
parents, because I haven't encountered another pair like
them. They were very ordinary people with ordinary
occupations. They went to the States before I went to
elementary school, and were not involved throughout my
educational career. I think they never experienced what it
is like to be Chinese parents - no asking kids to work hard,
no knowledge of what Chinese schools are like, no knowledge
of what it is like to be a student. It appears that most
Chinese parents had their education interrupted in the 70s,
and when they picked it up after the 80s, all they picked up
are mottoes directed at (and not experiences shared with)
their children.

I might say it too strongly: most Chinese parents probably
are just not good enough to show their children how to exert
the best of their potentials. Chinese ethics of hard work,
education, practicality are sufficient to produce high
achievers, but not the over-achievers, the creative,
passionate one out of a ten thousand that Harvard, Stanford
etc... crave for.


Thanks for sharing me with your thoughts!

XXXXXX

From unknown location (2008-08-13):

what a interesting article on  asian parents. I went to
Western Washington University, a small but very good state
supported university. What motivated me to get through
college is knowing that many before me and many with me
(including my peers at MIT :) are/were studying so hard that
blood vessels were/are popping through their skulls
everyday. In other words, I believe motivation is the key.
Parents can motivate their kids but so far, the rest has to
come from within the kid.

Radness and Lameness

These emails were written in response to this article: Radness and Lameness

From Stanford, California, USA (2007-12-27):

i forgot what i wanted to say, but i think it was along of
the lines of: you are encouraging people to resign
themselves to their lameness.  Sounds somewhat defeatist. I
would argue that challenging one's lameness and acting
contrary to the lameness others view you as having can have
positive repercussions. In other words, if someone thinks
you are lame, yet you don't act like you don't believe you
are lame, this can often make them realize that hey, maybe
this guy isnt so lame after all and theres something going
for him that i dont know about. Of course, if not done right
this can backfire in the manner that you describe in your
article, though that is not inevitable by any means.

Random Browser

These emails were written in response to my Random Browser software project:

From Edinburgh, Scotland (2007-05-07):

Hi Philip,

I am doing a review of photoware and browsing apps and
stumbled upon your work and am really impressed!  I'm the
Research Fellow at Napier University on the COMPANIONS
project which is a 4 year European project looking at the
notion of intelligent, persistent, character based
interfaces [...]

From unknown location (2007-10-09):

Hello Philip,

I came across your site in search for a photo gallery (and
might come back to the XML Photo Gallery after I try each
and every one available :-S) and was astonished when I found
your Random Browser:

1) browsing my photos in an intelligent way to train my
rusty brain
2) python

3) ergo: MUST have
*pretty pretty please* :-D

What I can offer you in return would be to try to test it on
Debian 4.0 and OSX 10.3.9 (and of course lament all it's
shortcomings (well - if I would manage to find any ;-)))

thanks!
XXXXXX

Types of Friends

These emails were written in response to this article: Types of Friends

From unknown location (2007-12-01):

Hi there,

Just wanna drop you a line to tell you that i do enjoy
reading your post and i have bookmark your site as one of my
favourites.

Thanks for your nice writings. Really do enjoy reading it.

[...]

I was 'googling' for types of friends and found your site. I
love reading your social section, maybe cuz i am a female.
You know, the women kinda sentimental feelings..... just
love reading about your opinion.

Hope my 2-cents would be a good feedback to you.

[...]

Oh yeah, btw, would it okay for me to post your 'types of
friends article' on my blog? Found it to be very interesting
and was hoping to share it out :).

Thanks again.

Regards,

XXXXXX

Types of Facebook Photos

These emails were written in response to this article: Types of Facebook Photos

From unknown location (2007-05-16):

Funny shit . Laughed out loud. Hard.


I've noticed a lot of "I used to look good" profile photos
also. These are mostly from people 25+ posting some picture
of them self at 18-22 looking really tanned, fresh etc. When
you meet them irl it looks like they aged 7 years, gained 20
pounds and got pale over night.


XXXXXX

CVS Lite

These emails were written in response to this article: CVS Lite

From California, USA (2007-06-03):

Hi Philip,

I've downloaded and used your cvslite.sh script for a little
while now.  It's a very cool little utility that saves time
from having to setup a full CVS server.

[...]

Thanks for the utility, and keep up the great work!

Computer Science in Modern Everyday Life

These emails were written in response to this article: Computer Science in Modern Everyday Life

From Brazil (2007-06-22):

Greetings!

My name is XXXXXX and I'm from Brazil. Your site was one of
the many thousands of results I got when I searched
"Computer Science" and "teenagers." I was really interested
in your article "Computer Science in Modern Everyday Life,"
because I myself am wondering if Computer Science would be
the right major for me. I applied to a University, wanting
to do Business or Communication, but I got accepted into
Computer Science. And somehow I just don't know what to do.
I know I like Business, especially Administration or
Management, but then again, I don't know if I want to miss
out on this new opportunity. I'm fairly good at Math and
such but nothing extra-ordinary. My guidance counselor says
that maybe I won't be able to cope with the Math and the
coursework, but it's worth a try. I'm just desperately
trying to find out what to do. After I read your article, it
just click that those are questions that I'm constantly
asking myself. I don't know. I don't even know where I'm
trying to get here. Thanks for letting me vent.

XXXXXX

Unison

These emails were written in response to these articles: Unison File Synchronizer: Liberation through Data Replication and Setting up Unison for your mom

From England (2007-07-26):

Dear Philip,

I read your deliberations about the advantages of 'Unison'
with great interest, have been using it for a while now
(like it a lot) and have found your setup-for-ya-mom very
useful.

Thank you very much.

[...]

Once again, thank you for your efforts!

Yours, XXXXXX

From Germany (2007-07-28):

Dear Philip,

I read your deliberations about the advantages of 'Unison'
with great interest, have been using it for a while now
(like it a lot) and have found your setup-for-ya-mom very
useful.

Thank you very much.

[...]

Once again, thank you for your efforts!

Yours, XXXXXX

Introductory Computer Programming Education

These emails were written in response to this article: Introductory Computer Programming Education

From unknown location (2007-08-12):

Dear Philip,

Hello Mr. Bovine, my name is XXXXXX, I stumbled across your
fantastic piece {../pgbovine/www/prog-curriculum.htmon}  and
I just wanted to thank you for the article for it helps me
to look at a realistic approach to learning how to develop
as a programmer. 

[...]

A few years ago, a family friend gave me books on Java from
Sun...but having no programming experience I was quite
literally LOST.  There were so many fundamental concepts
that I was unfamiliar with, that I lost my perspective and
soon gave up. I now have the new version of Eclipse Europa,
(Java 2EE with WTP) and a couple of plug-ins (CFEclipse,
JSEclipse), but I feel some what like I did before. LOST
again....How do I build a solid programming education,
without college or on the job training?

<question> Seeing that I am learning on my own, without
formal guidance or training, could you suggest a good list
of resources for me to learn how to develop as a programmer?
</question>

Thanks in advance.....

XXXXXX

From unknown location (2007-10-29):

Philip,

I enjoyed your observations on programming, especially for
beginners.  Beginners want to learn programming to start
achieving some results, not slaving away in monkish
isolation awaiting some eventual payback.  Python is a much
better way to start than C.

The power of bash/ksh and the standard Unix toolkit is
vastly underappreciated by the point-and-clickers.   Awk,
sort, sed, grep, xargs, find, and their cousins can solve
the bulk of the little problems that pop up with trivial
amounts of code.   When you're done, call those 5-6 bash
scripts you created in a 30 line Tcl/Tk program and you've
created a quick and dirty GUI app with well tested guts in
an afternoon.

A few years ago I performed a data analysis task on about
150 sets of data.  They were analyzed by a collection of
octave and awk scripts feeding gnuplot to generate the
graphics.  All the sets were organized in a tree
corresponding to sections with small files of descriptive
text.  Make was used to build all the tables and figures
recursively and M4 scripts built the DocBook report - in PDF
and HTML.  When 100 data sets were added they got placed in
the tree and I had a new report in about an hour after
typing "make report.pdf".  Good luck doing that with VBasic
and MS Office!!

Regards,
XXXXXX

From unknown location (2008-02-15):

Dear Sir,

Wow!  I'm impressed!  What a wonderful and well-written
article!

I am truly a beginner at this computer thing. I grew up in a
time when there was no such   thing as computers, and have
wanted to learn more about computers and programming, but
have been very frustrated in my quest to find a beginner's
course that will actually help me learn what I need/want to
learn.

I've found that course descriptions and/or instructors
either speak way over my head - or simplify things to the
point I feel like I'm in Kindergarten again!  What I really
want to learn more about are the basics, such as html and
javascript - not mathematical and/or "toy" functions, but to
be frank, it is difficult to find a course well-suited to
the beginner. Your article really speaks to those of us who
had neither the priveledge, nor opportunity, to grow up in a
computer age. In words from my generation, you hit the nail
on the head with your aritcle!

Ironically, I've found that I'm having much greater success
with learning the "real" skills - the skills I want/need to
learn, simply by doing web searches, and gratefully purusing
the wonderful, FREE websites out there, such as html4newbies
and javascriptsource, that guide beginners through the
basics!

Anyway, enough of my rambling. I just wanted to compliment
you on the article you wrote.

Sincerely,

XXXXXX

From unknown location (2008-02-26):

Dear Mr. Philip Guo,

After reading the following page I want to ask some
questions from you

HYPERLINK
"http://www.stanford.edu/~pgbovine/prog-curriculum.htm"

I am going to teach computer programming next term for
electrical  engineering bachelor students (novice at
programming). Have you any advice for teaching low level
hardware manipulation like working with computer COM and LPT
ports during this course? Specially that the attendees are
electrical engineering students? Do you think that they need
OO concepts!?   

With these consideration is C++ better than Java or C#
because it is somehow lower level than these two. And the
last question, do you have any comments for C#?

Thank you in advance,

XXXXXX

Some Tips for Life

These emails were written in response to this article: Some Tips for Life

From unknown location (2008-08-31):

I find the website very informative, especially the life
wisdom in the page "Some Tips for Life". It's unfortunate
that in our age depth is valued over breadth, knowledge over
wisdom, and specialization over generalization. This
attitude is reflected in our educational system where, for
most colleges, the goal is not to provide one the tools to
search for meaning in life, rather to prepare one to go into
the market place or do research.

The Art of Worldly Wisdom by Baltasar Gracian, awesome book.

Thank You