Quoth the Professor

Sweetmotherofunseasonablycoldtemperatures it was cold out today! Well… from the perspective of an Alabamian. Granted, I don’t think anyone would call 20’s with single-digit windchills warm… but it could be much worse. At least there were no reported cases of frostbite like I was lead to believe there were other places. hrmph

Today one of my professors went on a quote spree, saying things left and right that were worthy of repeating. I very seldom take notes, but if a professor says something that strikes me a humorous, I’ll be the first to whip out a pencil and jot it down. Here, then, are the things that I’ve recorded over the past few weeks. Some of them are not funny to anyone but me. I’m sorry.

“This is a lot of how computer security works, someone has a good idea… and then it becomes an issue.” ~Bradford

“Even though none of these are houses, they still convey ‘house-ness’” ~Hawker

Describing potential roadblocks to teamwork: “…you might have religious issues: ‘I will not use VI,’ ‘I will not program in C++,’ or ‘I will not work on Sunday!’ but you’ll just have to deal with those.” ~Hawker

Hawker: Research has shown that you learn very little from me standing up here lecturing.
Student: under breath Amen to that.

Hawker: Communication is the most important team skill. So what is the purpose of meetings?
Class: Communication?
Hawker: Doughnuts!

“Engineers do tend to love ratholes.” ~Hawker

“What I’m about to say falls into the category of ‘Yes, grandpa, we know you had a hard life,’ but bear with me.” ~Brown

Zhang discussing why we buy software and OSes:
“So why do you buy software? Well, let me ask this: if you need a table, what do you do? You buy it, right? Why don’t you just go to the hardware store, buy some wood and nails and things, and build your own table? Because it’s easier! It’s the same way. So why do we just buy operating systems? Well, if you need a table, you do not go plant a tree, wait ten years, cut the tree down, turn it into boards, and then build a table! That would take too long!” (This is really much funnier if you substitute your own thick asian accent when you read it)