My sincere thanks to this forum

[blob100]

Hello everyone,

Seven years ago, when I was 14 years old, I took part in this forum on a daily basis.
I left when I entered high school and started studying at the university in parallel.

Since then, I finished both a B.Sc (in math and cs) and a M.Sc (in cs with a focus on machine learning). I already published my first academic paper (yay!).

I know that my achievements are no big deal, but, I'm very thankful and I would like to express my appreciation to this forum. It helped me alot in developing my interest in mathematics.

I would like to thank: Robert. D. Silverman, Richard. B. Woods ("Cheesehead"), CRGreathouse, jyb, xilman, dougal, bsquared, science_man_88, retina, and many others for illuminating discussions and great tutoring.

Wish you all the best :),
Tomer

[fivemack]

Awesome! Merry Christmas to you, and best wishes in your future career!

[Batalov]

Originally Posted by blob100

I would like to thank: Robert. D. Silverman (!!), ...

Sometimes. R.D.S.'s approach to communicating ideas was seven years too early.

[henryzz]

Originally Posted by blob100

Hello everyone,

Seven years ago, when I was 14 years old, I took part in this forum on a daily basis.
I left when I entered high school and started studying at the university in parallel.

Since then, I finished both a B.Sc (in math and cs) and a M.Sc (in cs with a focus on machine learning). I already published my first academic paper (yay!).

I know that my achievements are no big deal, but, I'm very thankful and I would like to express my appreciation to this forum. It helped me alot in developing my interest in mathematics.

I would like to thank: Robert. D. Silverman, Richard. B. Woods ("Cheesehead"), CRGreathouse, jyb, xilman, dougal, bsquared, science_man_88, retina, and many others for illuminating discussions and great tutoring.

Wish you all the best :),
Tomer

You are not the only person this forum has inspired. I have completed a Mathematics BSc and a MSc in Medical Statistics since joining this forum. The BSc was especially inspired by this forum. I joined this forum just before I became 15.
When I finally get a job I should join you in the ranks of those with published papers.
Thank you all for putting up with my silly questions especially in my early days on the forum. It has been a fun 9 years.

[ewmayer]

Originally Posted by fivemack

Awesome! Merry Christmas to you, and best wishes in your future career!

Tomer appears to be Israeli, so perhaps a 'happy Hanukkah' or generic 'totally awesome year-end party' or Seinfeldian 'joyous Festivus' (my favorite part of which is the traditional "Airing of Grievances', also shared in less-formalized fashion by many other cultural holidays) would be more apt. In any event, I second the sentiment!

[xilman]

Originally Posted by ewmayer

Tomer appears to be Israeli, so perhaps a 'happy Hanukkah' or generic 'totally awesome year-end party' or Seinfeldian 'joyous Festivus' (my favorite part of which is the traditional "Airing of Grievances', also shared in less-formalized fashion by many other cultural holidays) would be more apt. In any event, I second the sentiment!

SWMBO and I are not Christian but it doesn't stop us celebrating Xmas. Never used to stop a Hindu family we knew either. Some people don't take the religious aspects at all seriously and just grab the excuse to eat, drink and be merry. I'd join in Diwali celebrations too but no-one in our immediate neighbourhood partakes in that one.

[blob100]

I'm indeed Israeli and jewish (atheist, agnostic). Anyway, both Hanukkah and xmas are great! I'm celebrating Hanukkah for the same reasons xilman celebrates xmas.
Happy holidays

[LaurV]

I am atheist (explicit and positive, if the flavor matters, but many will confuse the two), coming from a christian background (i.e. my parents were christian, they occasionally went to church, etc.). SWMBO is christian, religious (not exaggerate, but in normal terms). We were "lectured" in Christianity by our families, when we were small. She kept hers. Me, not. The feral teenagers in the house are going more towards atheism than not. We let them chose for themselves. I am "educated" in religions in the sense that I know the beliefs, I read the bible (many times!), I read parts of qur'an, and some bhuddist/taoist/hindu papers... but for my soul, well... I look around and can't stop thinking that if any god exists, that god is either completely moron, or he takes advantages of us and/or plays with us.

However, we celebrate Christmas every year, in family, and with friends, as a wonderful time to be together, eat, drink, tell stories, exchange presents, and generally having fun and a good time together. We sing carols sometime, and some carols are really beautiful, in music, lyrics and spirit. Some think it religiously, some not. We like it.

From many countries and places we visited, Romanians (especially in the mountainous areas) have the best Christmas celebrations in the world, by far. I mean BY FAR. This can not be described, it has to be lived. You have to be there and see it. This is not my opinion only (as a Romanian), but of many people (foreigners) we met and talk, who had the chance to be there for Christmas. It sometimes happen that we meet somebody here in Thai/Asia and when they find out we are Romanians they say "wow, what a wonderful Christmas and New Year celebrations you have there!". There was a time when all they knew was only "dracula", "ceaucescu", "goghe hagi" (football/soccer player), or "nadia comeneci" (gymnastics), but times changed... some people got old and forgotten, some other were shot (and forgotten)... tourism is raising... things are improving.

It is kind of a pity that in many regions of the country tradition is slowly forgotten, and replaced by more pragmatic things... Trying to get rich overnight is now in fashion...