Article 7761 of rice.comp.general: Path: rice!rice-gateway!mail2rnews Newsgroups: rice.comp.general Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999 09:44:37 -0600 (CST) From: Moshe Vardi Message-ID: <199904011544.JAA13904@cs.rice.edu> X-To: msgs@cs.rice.edu Subject: Stanford's Algorithm Seminar Distribution: rice Lines: 104 Xref: rice rice.comp.general:7761 From aflb-request@theory.stanford.edu Thu Apr 1 05:26:01 1999 Subject: Stanford Algorithms Seminar - important announcement To: aflb-all@theory.stanford.edu Inspired by the recent success of Stanford start-ups, the Stanford Algorithms Seminar (TM) will move from its current non-profit status to a 100% venture-capital funded commercial enterprise. However, we assure all long-time participants in Stanford Algorithms Seminar Inc. (TM) that they will continue to enjoy the high quality of service and entertainment that Stanford Algorithms Seminar Inc. (TM) is renowned for. Some minor changes in the organisation will follow: (1) Speakers will be paid compensatory remuneration. (2) Talks will be broadcast live by HBO on a pay-per-view basis (3) Paid endorsements will be welcomed: to incorporate this, the talk will consist of two 30 minute segments with a 15 minute commercial break. (4) The seminar organizer should be further referred to as "The CEO". For more info see http://www.stanford-algorithms.com or read the *FREE* first issue of the Bulletin of Stanford Algorithms Seminar Inc. (TM) (enclosed below) **************************************************************** * * * STANFORD ALGORITHMS SEMINAR INC. (TM) BULLETIN * * * * Vol. 1 April 1, 1999 * **************************************************************** SEMINAR FORMAT: The seminar format will be modified. Instead of continous block of presentation, a talk will be divided into two parts, with a break in the middle. It is expected that speakers will not announce the key results/proofs until the second part. During the half-time break you can participate in a new exciting game called "GUESS THE CONSTANT!". The goal of the game is to guess the value of the big-Oh constant of the running time of the algorithm presented by the speaker. Vote for your favourite constant ! See which constants are hot and which are not! We are currently in the process of obtaining a gambling license; in the meantime, the author of the best answer will win a lollipop embossed with the Stanford Algorithms Seminar Inc. (TM) Logo! BROADCASTING: The seminars will be broadcast by HBO, which has bought exclusive rights for broadcasting these exciting events. The broadcast will be on pay-per-view basis. For more information, see http://www.hbo.com/PRIME_TIME/Stanford-Algorithms-Seminar.Inc.TM.html Please note: You must be over 18 to order a program. PARTICIPATION: Participation in the seminar will remain free; however it will require an invitation. In order to obtain an invitation, the prospective participants need to fill out a questionaire (available at http://www.stanford-algorithms.com/quest.thml). Applicants will be screened for enthusiasm and general cheerfulness - we want you to show excitement during the show !! MEMBERSHIP: Every member of the current aflb-all mailing list automatically becomes a member of the Stanford Algorithms Seminar Inc. (TM) Fan Club and will obtain free brochures endorsing selected products. The membership is FOR LIFE ! We mean it ! Even if you change your e-mail address, phone number, name, hairstyle or eye color, don't worry - we will find you ! INFORMATION FOR ADVERTISERS: Advertisers can take advantage of the enormous market base of Stanford Algorithms Seminar Inc. (TM) in a variety of ways. Some of the special features include: (1) Paid endorsements of products: For example, "Initially I found this problem difficult, but a few Budweisers changed my perspective" "The probability of success of my algorithm is 1-\epsilon; the probability of success of your investment in Fidelity is EVEN BETTER!!" (2) Sponsorship of talk segments: "This DYNAMIC programming lemma is brought to you by Microsoft". "Mathematicians turn coffee into theorems; with the new Starbucks filter, you can turn old theorems into coffee !!" THE FUTURE: is the Stanford Algorithms Seminar Inc. (TM). Stay tuned for our upcoming IPO. Stanford Algorithms Seminar Inc. Team: CEO: Piotr Jozef Maciej Indyk CFO: Suresh V. Subramanian