The Traditional Marriage Algorithm

I was recently introduced to this concept of the Traditional Marriage Algorithm, also known as the Stable Marriage Algorithm. On hearing this name, my first instinct was to laugh. Typical computer scientists, try to break down love into a matter of numbers and algorithms (it reminded me of this classic xkcd).

To give a brief synopsis, with n girls and n boys, each ranks the opposite sex in order of preference. The goal is to find a stable pairing in which no girl or guy can find a better match (i.e. higher ranked than their current partner) and leave their existing marriage. In practice, each guy proposes to his top girl, whereas she can say no or maybe, and at the end of the day/round, she picks her top and rejects the other maybes. In the next day/round, the same thing happens again, and girls can "trade-up" their list, and men who were once engaged may no longer be so. A great explanation of the entire algorithm and its repercussions on both parties is found in this "Lecture 10: How to Think Like A Computer Scientist" from Duke's CS department.

While the purpose of teaching this to CS students is for proving algorithms, the most interesting point was the following: The Traditional Marriage Algorithm always produces a male-optimal, female-pessimal pairing. Meaning, the person who asks always gets the highest person on their list that would produce a stable pairing, whereas the person who waits to be asked doesn't necessarily walk away with the best possible mate.

What does this say about our dating patterns? As a girl, if I follow the standard and wait to be asked out, I am automatically losing. Well, it's a good thing I don't. Finally being a "forward" girl has been proven to pay off!

That said, there is a risk involved in being the "chooser". Looking back on my own experience, the times I have taken initiative (and thus chosen someone at the top of my list), are the only times I have been burned, or traded-up, in the case of this analogy. What the algorithm simply overlooks as "rounds" are in reality a series of break-ups, each involving months and possibly years of your time.

What does this finally mean? To avoid heartbreak, one should never date someone hotter/more-successful than themselves. However, for the promise of the best partner possible, the risk of being traded-up must be faced. Which would you choose?

Privatization of Public Assets

From elementary school to community college to Cal, I have always prided myself on being a product of public education. I have always been a strong supporter of public education and do not see the need to pay the big bucks for success. I realize that, as a Californian, the bar for public education is much higher than other states and I'm fortunate in that aspect.

With that said, off I go to University of Pennsylvania, which is not only a private university, but also an Ivy League. I was always hesitant towards the Ivy League because (in my mind) it represented the incompetent, silver-spoon-fed heads of political (i.e. George W. Bush) and corporate (i.e. Rick Wagoner) America. My summer at Columbia shattered this illusion, but replaced it with the reality that Ivy League schools are run by incredibly disorganized administrations with elastic budgets and ill-defined goals. Public universities are more streamlined, more resourceful, and more efficient simply because they have to compete with private universities on a fraction of the budget.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great school and the opportunity is amazing, but part of me feels like I'm cheating on my values- paying for the brand name education in hopes of easing myself into a job based solely on prestige of my school.

What prompted this post? This past week, I officially became a Quaker. PennKey in hand, housing assigned, and classes picked, my excitement is quickly rising to join UPenn's Bioengineering community and Philadelphia in general, so I'm not exactly sure why I'm writing this negative post. Maybe it's to ease my guilt of leaving Cal. I may be a Quaker for a few years, but I'm Bear for life!

Kayak to Japan anyone?

In honor of this awesome xkcd, the roommates and I asked Google Maps for directions from Berkeley to Catalina Island. Looking at the steps 13 and 27 below, it's good to know Google has a sense of humor.

Of Professors and Bums

I noticed the weirdest and saddest parallel the other day: how similar and often indistinguishable Berkeley professors (specifically engineering professors) are to Berkeley bums. Don't believe me? Read ahead.

• Both have frazzled, unkempt hair
• Both wear clothing that looks like it was once respectable, clean and/or fashionable
  
• Both are seen frequenting north side eateries such as Stuffed Inn and La Val's, voraciously scarfing down food, usually alone
• Both can be seen walking around with piles of papers and mumbling incomprehensible phrases in angry bursts

:-)