University of Washington

Free Speech

If you haven’t heard, there’s some shit hitting the fan at the University of Washington over an op-ed that ran in The Daily: Gay marriage? Let’s stop and think about this by John Fay.

At a rally today, people protested the publishing of the article:
From seattletimes.nwsource.com:

Protesters say language in the column, including a reference to bestiality, coupled with the accompanying image of a man standing next to a sheep, amounted to hate speech. But speakers differed on whether the paper should be censured.

For what it’s worth, I don’t agree with the content article at all. Fay’s opinion is flawed. He has no grasp on the Constitution and what it means; he is, in short, ignorant…and you know my stance on that. Is it hateful speech? Yes, it hurt someones feelings. Should it have been censored and/or should The Daily be censured? Absolutely not.

Free Speech is still free speech (expect when it’s not, but this isn’t one of those times).

I’m not going to go in depth about why Fay’s argument is flawed. Mostly because there’s already a couple of good rebuttal pieces out there, partly because the reasoning should be self evident, and also because I have a final tomorrow and really should be studying. Thus, if you’re looking for a good rebuttal piece, check out:

Please try to refrain from making jokes about Fay in the comments.

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Sarah Plants

Ben recently told me that a casual acquaintance of ours, Sarah Plants, had recently passed away due to cancer. I didn’t know her very well, but saw her quite a bit since she played Ultimate Frisbee on the UW team. Doug, her husband, also lived at Your Mom’s House last year with Ben and Quinn, so she was over quite a bit. I last saw her at Thanksgiving and she seemed very happy.

From thedaily.washington.edu:

Plants, 22, died Feb. 7 of a brain tumor linked to Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, the same rare hereditary disorder that claimed the lives of her father and brother. She was diagnosed with the disorder in October.

Plants had survived cancer as a toddler. She suffered from adrenal cortical carcinoma, or cancer of the adrenal gland above the kidney, and went through chemotherapy at 16 months old.

Plants was 29 credits short of earning a degree in Public Health. When she died, the University gave her an honorary degree. She had planned to go to graduate school to study nursing.

She was captain of the UW Element women’s Ultimate Frisbee team and the coach of an Ultimate team at Whitman Middle School.

Death is a bitch, cancer even more so.

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Seattle has an Accent

I was playing catch-up with my RSS feeds when I stumbled upon this little gem from kottke: 21 accents in 2 minutes 30 seconds.

The women, Amy Walker, pretty much does exactly what the title would suggest: 21 accents in 2 minutes 30 seconds. No surprise there. Skip forward (or just wait, because the rest of her accents are actually pretty good) to 1:45 and you’ll get the Seattle accent.

Now, up until this time, I was never aware that Seattle had it’s own distinct accent. As it turns out, Seattle may. I found a 2005 article by the Seattle PI (that would be “Post-Intelligencer” for all you non-natives), Contrary to belief, local linguists say Northwest has distinctive dialect, that reports that “Jennifer Ingle, a 27-year-old Ballard native and student of language at the University of Washington” did a study on the Northwests’ distinct accent:

From seattlepi.nwsource.com:

Say “caught” and “cot” out loud. If you’re a true Northwest speaker, the words will sound identical. Linguists call this the “low-back merger” because we’ve merged these two vowel sounds. On much of the East Coast, these same words will sound different. “Creaking is a way of making those distinctions that are being lost,” Wassink said. Just as Bostonians tend to compensate in their speech for removing the “r” from many words, she said, we might speak creaky to compensate for refusing to use both vowels.

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RoboGolf

Over the 2003 summer, I had the pleasure of completing a two-week course on robotics at the UW. During those two weeks, I developed the following code:

// This program by Andrew Ferguson
// Copyright 2003 Andrew Ferguson
// The list below tells where the stuff should be plugged in
//Begin
int lt_bump = 7; //left bump sensor
int rt_bump = 8; //right bump sensor

int left_motor = 0; //left motor
int mill_motor = 1; //mill motor
int right_motor = 3; //right motor

int rear_bump = 9; //rear bump sensor

int alpha_pol = 0; //1st polarized light sensor
int beta_pol = 1; //2nd polarized light sensor, rotated 90 degrees

int lt_ir = 4; // first IR light sensor/emiter
int rt_ir = 3;// second IR light sensor/emiter
int break_beam_a = 15; //break beam sensor for detecting the balls
int break_beam_b = 14; //break beam sensor for detecting the balls

int rotation_left = 6; //left rotation sensor
int rotation_right = 5
; //right rotation sensor
//End

//The list below declares global variables, the varible does NOT need to be global, then do NOT put it here
//Begin
int foo_right = 0; // how many times bot has turned right
int foo_left = 0; // how many times bot has turned left

int last_turn = 0; // Which way the bot turned last; 0 = Left and 1 = Right

int lt_speed = 25; //how fast the left side is going
int rt_speed = 25; //how fast the right side is going

int ball_in_hopper = 1; //whether the a ball has been collected - 0 for no, 1 for yes

int pol_home = 1; //Which polorized light the sensor should look for/care about; possible values are 1 and -1

int sensor_value; //polarized sensor delta value

float system_time = seconds(); //time since epoch of system restart

float master_time = 0.; //This is the master start time, which is used to determine when it should start looking for home

int rt_cnt; //How many times the right rotation sensor has been hit
int lt_cnt; //How many times the left rotation sensor has been hit

int line_found; //This determines if the bot has detected the line for a given set of balls trying to be dropped...please no jokes

int in_motion = 1; //If the bot is in motion. This is normal set to 1 (i.e. Yes) until the game is over (180 seconds after boot), in which case the value is changed to 0 (no)
//End

void count_both (void) {
    int lt_previous_hole; //if the previous check on the left side was hole or not
    int rt_previous_hole; //if the previous check on the right side was a hole or not
    while(1) {
        if(lt_previous_hole == 0){ //the previous check was not a hole...
            if (analog(rotation_left) < 100){//... if the there is a hole now, then count that
                lt_cnt++; //counting the hole
                lt_previous_hole = 1; //setting the check to say there was a hole this time around
            }
        }
        else{
            if (analog(rotation_left) >= 100){ //if the previous check was a hole, then check to see if it's not a hole
                lt_cnt++;// counting the hole, or lack thereof
                lt_previous_hole = 0; //setting the check to say there was not a hole this time
            }
        }
        if(rt_previous_hole == 0){//the previous check was not a hole...
            if (analog(rotation_right) < 100){//... if the there is a hole now, then count that
                rt_cnt++;//counting the hole
                rt_previous_hole = 1;//setting the check to say there was a hole this time around
            }
        }
        else{
            if (analog(rotation_right) >= 100){//if the previous check was a hole, then check to see if it's not a hole
                rt_cnt++; //counting the hole, or lack thereof
                rt_previous_hole = 0; //setting the check to say there was not a hole this time
            }
        }
        defer();
    }
}

void stuck_master (void){
    int i;
    while(in_motion){
        lt_cnt = 0; //reset the left count to zero
        rt_cnt = 0; //reset the right count to zero
        sleep(2.0); //wait 2 seconds...now we have fresh count
        if ( (lt_cnt < 20) || (rt_cnt < 20) ) //if either the left or the right count is less then 10, then we just might be stuck
          {
            beep();
            stop();
            while ( (lt_cnt < 50) && (rt_cnt < 50) ){ //reverse for 20 counts
                lt_speed = -100;
                rt_speed = -100;             
                defer();
            }
            rt_speed = 25;
            lt_speed = 25;
          }
        defer();
    }
}

void go_home (void) //when time is up, try and find home!
{
    while(1) {
        while (seconds() <= 120.) { //if there are at least 2 minutes (120 seconds) left, we can go about our business
            defer();
            //beep();
        }
        while (seconds() <= 150. && (ball_in_hopper == 1) ) { //when there is a minute left, keep looking for balls
            defer();
            //beep();
        }       
        while (seconds() <= 150. && (ball_in_hopper == 0) ) { //when there is a minute left, start looking for the hole to drop of whatever balls we have...assuming we have balls
            ir_sense();
            //in_motion = 0;
            defer();
            //beep();
        }
        while (seconds() <180.) {  // when there are a 30 seconds left, start looking for the polarized light...note: there is no defer() or sleep(x.x) becuase this is a priority 1 process
            printf("Phoning Home\n");
            //in_motion = 0;
            beep();
            pol_sensor();
            defer();
        }
        while (seconds() > 180.) {  //when the game is over, shut down all motors and beep...how nice
            //printf("Shutting down\n");
            //beep();
            in_motion = 0;
            beeper_on();
            ao();
            defer();
        }
        defer();
    }
}

/*void ball (void){ //This checks to see if a ball is in the hopper or not
    while(1) {
        if (_raw_analog(break_beam) < 10)
          {
            ball_in_hopper = 0; // ball is NOT in hopper
        }
        else if (_raw_analog(break_beam) > 10) //ball IS in hopper
            {
              ball_in_hopper = 1;
              sleep(5.0);
          }
          sleep(.01);
    }
}
*/
void pol_sensor (void) // detects the polarization of the light source
{
    sensor_value = (_raw_analog(beta_pol) - _raw_analog(alpha_pol) ); // sets the delta value for the polarization
    lt_speed = 100; //full speed, left side
    rt_speed = 100; //full speed, right side
    if ( (sensor_value < -60) && (pol_home == 1 ) ){ //if the sensor value is less than 60 and the light is NOT home, turn around
        rt_speed = 100;
        lt_speed = -100;//lt_speed - 15;
    }
    if ( (sensor_value > -30) && (pol_home == -1) ){//if the sensor value is greater than -30 and the light is NOT home, turn around
        lt_speed = 100;
        rt_speed = -100;//rt_speed - 15;
    }
    sleep(.2);
    printf("%d\n", sensor_value);
}

void ir_sense(void) { //this tries to find the black line, which hopefully will lead to the hole. If not, the robot will turn around and go the other way, which HAS to lead to the black hole
    beep();
    printf("%d\n", line_found);
    while ( (analog(lt_ir) > 100) && (analog(rt_ir) > 100) ){ //if there are black lines under both the IR sensors :: this would happen if the robot approaced the line at a 90 degree angle
        lt_speed = 20;
        rt_speed = 20;
        //sleep(2.0);
        system_time = seconds();
        defer();
    }
    while( (analog(lt_ir) < 100) && (analog(rt_ir) < 100) && (line_found == 0) ){ //If there are no black lines and the line has NOT been found before
        lt_speed = 15;
        rt_speed = 25;
        defer();
    }
    while ( (analog(rt_ir) > 100) && (line_found == 0) ){ //if there is a black line under the right IR sensor and the line has not been found yet...
        rt_speed = 20;
        lt_speed = 20;//lt_speed - 15;
        system_time = seconds();
        line_found = 1;
        while(analog(lt_ir) < 100){ //...wait until the left IR sensor passes the line...
            defer();
        }
        while(analog(lt_ir) > 100){ //...then when it does hit the line, turn the other way
            rt_speed = -20;
            lt_speed = 20;
            sleep(1.5);
        }
        defer();
    }
    while ( (analog(lt_ir) > 100) && (line_found == 0) ){ //if there is a black line under the left IR sensor and the line has not been found yet...
        lt_speed = 20;
        rt_speed = 20;//rt_speed - 15;
        system_time = seconds();
        line_found = 1;
        while(analog(rt_ir) < 100){//...wait until the right IR sensor passes the line...
            defer();
        }
        while(analog(rt_ir) > 100){//...then when it does hit the line, turn the other way
            lt_speed = -20;
            rt_speed = 20;
            sleep(1.5);
        }
        defer();
    }
   
    while ( (analog(rt_ir) > 100) && (line_found == 1) && (analog(lt_ir) < 100) ){ //if the right IR sensor sees the black line, but the left one doesn't and the line has been found before, turn a bit the other way to get back on track
        rt_speed = 30;
        lt_speed = -10;//lt_speed - 15;
        system_time = seconds();
        defer();
    }
    while ( (analog(lt_ir) > 100) && (line_found == 1) && (analog(rt_ir) < 100) ){//if the left IR sensor sees the black line, but the right one doesn't and the line has been found before, turn a bit the other way to get back on track
        lt_speed = 30;
        rt_speed = -10;//rt_speed - 15;
        system_time = seconds();
        defer();
    }
    while( (analog(lt_ir) < 100) && (analog(rt_ir) < 100) && (line_found == 1) ) { // if both IR sensors don't see the black line :: this would happen if: A) The robot was on track or B) if the robot reached the end of the black line
        if( (seconds() - system_time) > 1.0) { // If more than 1 second has passed since the last course correction, start going in circles to try and reaquire the line
            lt_speed = -20;
            rt_speed = 20;
            while(analog(rt_ir)< 100) //while the right IR sensor doesn't seen the black line...
              {
                if( (seconds() - system_time) > 6.0) {//...and six seconds have passed, stop looking for the line...it's probably gone...
                    system_time = seconds();
                    break;
                }
                if (analog(lt_ir)> 100){//...or if the left line is seen, turn the other way :: the bot is really on track...just going straight
                    lt_speed = 20;
                    rt_speed = -20;
                    system_time = seconds();
                    while(analog(lt_ir)> 100){ //...wait while the left IR sensor is still on the black line...
                        defer();
                    }
                    while(analog(lt_ir)< 100) { //...when the left IR sensor gets off the back line...
                        if( (seconds() - system_time) > 4.) { //...wait until four seconds have passed and then break out
                            break;
                        }
                        defer();
                    }
                    break;
                }
                //system_time = seconds();
                break;
                defer();
            }
        }
        defer();
    }
}

void turn_left(void){ //turn the robot left
    //printf("Turning left:%d\n", foo_left);
    fd(left_motor);
    bk(right_motor);
    sleep(0.3);
    ao ();
    fd(mill_motor);
}

void turn_right(void){ //turn the robot right
    //printf("Turning right:%d\n", foo_right);
    bk(left_motor);
    fd(right_motor);
    sleep(0.3);
    ao ();
    fd(mill_motor);
}

void go_forward(void){ //make the robot go forward
    //printf("Going forward\n");
    motor(left_motor, lt_speed);
    motor(right_motor, rt_speed);
}

void go_backward(void){ //make the robot go backwards
    //printf("Going backwards\n");
    bk(left_motor);
    bk(right_motor);
    sleep (.5);
    ao ();
    fd(mill_motor);
}

void stop (void){ //make the robot stop
    //printf("Stopped\n");
    ao ();
    fd(mill_motor);
}

void main_movement (void) //main set of robot commands, pretty much just make sure it doesn't hit and thing and what to do if it does
{
    while (in_motion)
      {
        go_forward();
        //stuck_master(); //the ultimate in stuckness prevention!!
        /*while ( (digital(lt_bump) == 0) & (digital(rt_bump) == 0) )
          {
            //This section is commented out becuase it will be really hard for the robot get stuck on anything, esp. with the new physical collision avoidance system
            if( (seconds() - system_time) > 10.0)
              {
                stop();
                printf("10 second are up.  I'm going backwards");
                go_backward();
                printf("Turning %d\n", last_turn);
                if (last_turn == 1)
                  {
                    turn_right();
                    last_turn = 0;
                    system_time = seconds();
                }
                else{
                    turn_left();
                    last_turn = 1;
                    system_time = seconds();
                }
                go_forward();
                system_time = seconds();
            }
            defer();
        }
*/
        if ( (digital(lt_bump) == 1) ) //left turn
          {
            foo_left ++;
            stop();
            go_backward();
            if (foo_left%3 == 0)
              {
                turn_right();
                foo_right = 0;
                foo_left = 0;
            }
            else{
                turn_left();
            }
            last_turn = 0;
            system_time = seconds();
        }
        if ( (digital(rt_bump) == 1) ) //right turn
          {
            foo_right ++;
            stop();
            go_backward();
            if (foo_right%3 == 0)
              {
                turn_left();
                foo_right = 0;
                foo_left = 0;
            }
            else {
                turn_right();
                last_turn = 1;
                system_time = seconds();
            }
        }
        defer();
    }
}

void main() //Begin the main program
{
    printf("JCN v20.0 by Andrew and Mariah\n");
    //sleep(1.0);
    beep ();
    fd(mill_motor); //start the mill motor thingy
    start_process(main_movement() ); //start the main set of movements, including collision avoidance
    start_process(go_home() ); //start the master clock, and prepare to go home
    start_process(count_both() );
    start_process(stuck_master() );
   
    while (1)
      {
       
        line_found = 0;
        while ( (in_motion) && ( (digital(break_beam_a) == 0) || (digital(break_beam_b) == 0) )){
            //printf("%d - %d\n", digital(14), digital(15) );
            ir_sense(); //starts the black-line finding sub-routine
            sleep(.01);
        }
        printf("%d - %d\n", digital(14), digital(15) );
        //printf("Ball NOT in hopper\n");
        sleep(.01);
    }
}

I really like this part:
//stuck_master(); //the ultimate in stuckness prevention!!

Note: This was code that I originally had in a ‘Code’ page, but I’m moving it to a post now. This code is probably really old (years and years old). I enjoy laughing at myself and so should you.

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  • Mines

It starting last night. The idea was innocent enough and one I’ve had before: would I be better off back in Seattle at the UW. It’s a thought I’ve have times before and nothing has really come of it and nothing came of it tonight. But for whatever reason, the seed grew. Part of it might have been the email this morning from Ben, perhaps the last straw in growing housing tensions. Part of it might have been my own failure to achieve the grades I want at Mines and the reflection in others about the grades they achieve versus the grades get. Why am I so complacient in my own learning?

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Billings Alumni

Tyler Anderson: Washington State University in Pullman, Washington

David Barker: Traveling to Europe and Costa Rica

Andrew Ferguson: Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado

Lindsay Hansberry: University of Denver in Denver, Colorado

Katherine Latimer:  Washington State University in Pullman, Washington

Ali Messinger: Seattle Central Community College in Seattle, Washington

Niel Radheshwar: University of Washington in Seattle, Washington

Sam Ricketts: Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York

Maya Stessin: University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio

Stephanie Runo: Washington and Jefferson College in Washington,Pennsylvania

Mesa Schumaker: Stanford University in Stanford, California

Adrienne Wilson: Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts

Found: 12 of 12! Woo-hoo!

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Senior Project: Day 9 & 10 / Lights, Curtain, Action!

  • SAAS

I went into the UW on Saturday after rehersals to work on R2 for a few hours. When I got there, Andy and David were outside playing it. Unfortunatly, just before I had arrived, one of the power relays fried and had to be replaced. I replaced the relay and then called it a day.

Today I’ve been working on finishing up the final safety relays. The next task will be to supply 12volts to the GPS unit. And then hopefully I can start writting code tomorrow.

We start our short four day run of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying today. The show runs the next four days @ 7pm. Tickets for today and tomorrow are not quite sold out yet, so there is still time to come!!

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Senior Project: Day 7 & 8

  • SAAS

On Thursday I completly finished with the guidence computer. It required rebuilding part of the power unit, but it worked…and it worked on the first attempt…something rare in my usual line of business. Anyways, we plugged the battery in a everything worked just fine. It was rather errie because the computer didn’t make any noise until the floppy check. I also started working on the safety restraints.

Today I worked on finishing up the safety restraints. I also designed two custom fabricate brackets for some tether restraints. Before I left, I was able to wire all of the safety restraints. Tomorrow we plan on running R2 around the lot outside Sieg.

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