I have been leaving comments (and sometimes guestposting) on theoretical computer science blogs over the past few years. I have received mostly positive feedback, and some people have suggested that I start my own blog.
I decided to take the plunge because of the wonderful examples of Richard Lipton and Terence Tao: they are able to use a blog as a tool in service of their research, instead of allowing it to be a time sink or procrastination device that distracts from what a scientist “should” be doing. At a lower level, I will try to use my own blog in the same way.
All my life, I have tried to learn things by making up fake audiences or conversation partners, and then explaining what I am learning to my brand new imaginary friends. (It might look as though I am talking to myself, but I’m not! I’m talking to someone else, who isn’t there.) I intend these blog entries to be short explanations of papers I have recently read, and scientific and mathematical concepts I am struggling with. If this site attracts no readers, I’m in the same boat I was before — but if a real-life non-imaginary audience participates, I hope that forces me to elevate my understanding to a higher level that much faster.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you gain some understanding — or at least derive some enjoyment! — from my attempts to dispel my ongoing state of confusion.
