Radiohead is playing in NYC next week. Gonna see if I can score some tix.

In the meantime, I'll be considering this logic problem. You should, too. It's a good one my professor showed me the other day. Been thinking about it on the subway on the daily.

Crossing the Desert

An unlimited supply of gasoline is available at one edge of a desert 800 miles wide, but there is no source on the desert itself. A truck can carry enough gasoline to go 500 miles (this will be called one "load"), and it can build up its own refueling stations at any spot along the way. These caches may be of any size, and it is assumed that there is no evaporation loss.

What is the minimum amount (in loads) of gasoline a truck will require in order to cross the desert? Is there a limit to the width of a desert the truck can cross?

(My Best Mathematical and Logic Puzzles, Martin Gardner, Dover 1994)

I've found a solution which uses four loads, but have yet to prove that it's optimal. If you get anything good, drop me a line.

The rust is coming off in New York, today. Just ask Dubya.

I'm going to a talk hosted by the Columbia U department of American studies. Preppin' for some serious social science action.

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/amstudies/events.html

-midtown from our roof

First class of the fall quarter starts today. Talkin' bout algebra--the ring kind.

A funny thing happened yesterday when I dropped off my new teacher pants to get tailored. Not knowing my measurements, Kim Kyung Ho had to take them for me. As he measured my inseam he reminded me, through a thick Korean accent, that size really does matter. Dude's got a creepy laugh, but he's got all my future business on lockdown.

-Puerto Rican prayer circle shot from our roof

Dal the Texas pitbull is flying in on doggy air tonight. The BK9.