In my opinion, I liked the longer vlogs.I think that being able to watch 30+ minutes of someone else's vlogging content seems weirdly good. For example, if another vlogger uploads a 10-minute video, I will be happy (as I am with your content at the moment). But, if a vlogger uploads a 30-minute video, I'm ecstatic. I think you should stay with the short vlogs but every now and again, such as during an important event, have a longer vlog. Perhaps as a treat :)
Of course, but then I have to wait for all of the episodes to be published - which I don't want to do because Simon's vlogs are actually pretty good :P However, of course, I will watch all of the shorter vlogs when they get published. I'm not complaining, just merely offering a suggestion. :)
I'm currently vloggin my PhD and have had mixed comments about video length! Some prefer long, but the majority prefer short intense videos (I must bore them to death otherwise). As always, highly engaging and inspiring Simon!
The new format works so well. It makes so much more sense both for you and for us as we no longer need a long chunk of time to watch an entire 40 min vlog but several shorter chunks.
Hi Simon, about the changed format - personally I liked this idea of splitting the vlog into smaller chunks. I usually have 10-15 minutes free to watch RUclips, so this works well for me. Otherwise I put off watching a longer video till I have more time.
yay something great to watch in the morning, also i think it's good to try different formats for optimization, i believe it will turn out all well but anyways have a great, productive week everyone!
Simon, you should look into the language called Julia. You mentioned the need for a fast language lie FORTRAN, and Julia is just as fast as FORTRAN in most scenarios, while not having the old, ancient syntax as FORTRAN. Also, Julia has an amazing type system, along with a top of the line LISP-reminiscent macro system. I think you would really enjoy. And just to sweeten the deal, Julia was build with the idea of interfacing with C, C++, Python, and FORTRAN in mind, so using the two languages together is near flawless (I remember you using someone else's library, so I thought to mention this point).
i like the idea of shorter videos, far less intimidating but also far less of a commitment. i may be able to sneak in a 10 minute vid here and there but i need to feel considerably free to watch a 40 minute one. you have my thumbs up :)
Great for the new format, because it makes it more data/internet cap/ time friendly for me as well. Good luck with getting that PhD. I have graduation for my Masters tomorrow (In South Africa Masters is kind of a PhD with training wheels)
Dear Simon I have enjoyed how you approach PhD/ thesis writing. I would like if you could provide some tips. I have been not fruitful in managing my time in writing and reading. I greatly appreciate you could address these in a video. Any recommendations on books that could help also welcomed. Great work..!!!!! Good luck with your presentation at the upcoming EGU 2017☺️
I submitted my thesis and AAAAAGGHHH :D ! what a feeling. At the beginning, I was thinking how am I going to go through all the phases of doing the research... After seeing the hard copy of my thesis I was thinking: I CAN MOVE A MOUNTAIN ! XD It was a bit challenging to be honest since it was my first time and I am still a student. I learned a lot throughout this journey like how to be extremely patient and definitely how to deal with stress...
I've watched like 3 30+mins vlogs in a row. Bahaha, the best educational and fun procrastination ever. I have exams but who actually properly studies for them till like a day before eh?
I work as the "code guy" in my faculty and live for the moment that researchers realise their code they've worked on for weeks wasn't cooperating because of the tiniest of syntax errors. You should try running yours through something like pycharm that has a debugger rather than using sublime text all the time
Hmm... i liked the longer vlogs because they were great to put on over lunch and you got to see the whole week progress at once but the shorter ones are good too. Just don't stop making them, they're highly entertaining :)
noooo this is only 13 minutes D: edit: now i finished the video. to be honest i like the ~10 minute vlogs too, but like.... if it was a 2 hour vlog i'd probably still watch and enjoy it :P
Are you intending to do multiple short vlogs in place of a single long vlog? Or is it going to be a straight one to one switch?Because the long vlogs are amazing just for the immersion factor.
Personally, I prefer the older style, where I could really sit down and enjoy a long vlog. That having been said, if this is a necessity because of youtube's algorithms, then I will still watch them!
You mention at the end about changing from python to Fortran for speed. It may be more worth your time to look into using C++ for only the intensive parts and then python for the rest, as python and C++ can be easily integrated. This integration is why packages such as NumPy are incredibly fast for matrix operations, since it's actually C++ in disguise. However this integration has some issues and is why NumPy arrays are slightly more difficult to use than standard Python lists (though faster in return).
Ah but the slow python script was exclusively using numpy operations! Also I coded in C when I was at Oxford and have no desire to desire to return to even a slightly similar language :P
I have read a briefer history of time in the past. Darn it! Simon, may I ask why you chose Brief instead of briefer? I assume it is because it goes more in depth?
Few tech tips from another physicist: Try and use MATLAB for programming, its way easier then Python and has great built in functions. You could upload your code for us to see on Github. I see you use Ubuntu with unity desktop. Ubuntu said that they will switch to GNOME desktop on next version. Why not trying it now? I think it's far superior.
I will definitely prefer shorter, more frequent vlogs. Means it'll be easier to catch up with your channel on a lunchtime youtube break rather than saving it up for a weekend faff-around-on-the-internet-all-afternoon binge.
I much prefer the 40 minute video but if we get videos more often I don't mind the change. As long as it doesn't end up being a 10 minute vlog every 2 weeks!
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I preform the long form videos to these minisodes. I like the longer videos because I feel like it is a story that is completed. After watching this video, I just want more. Maybe that's a good thing from your perspective.
Not sure what my opinion is on the length of videos, but I remember reading an article that tried to decode RUclips's algorithm and turns out it's actually better for your channel to make lengthier videos than shorter ones. They even recommended in the article that a channel who had videos ranging from 3-4 minute videos to 70 minutes should only put out the 70 minute videos and try to do it more often or higher quality (I think). I can't be bothered to read the article again, but just google "tubefilter Reverse Engineering The RUclips Algorithm: Part I".
What do you plan on doing after your PhD? Also, I was thinking of pursuing a career in academia but I'm after that "jobs" aren't out there can you please clarify that thanks.
Vinay Maru I'm usually against self advertisement but I have about ten videos up about tips about the IB that might be able to help. The more recent ones are about the exams! Best of luck! x
Dan Maw Just out of interest (and if you don't mind), what subjects did you take? :D And best of luck, Vinay! I've got a year to go till my own...can't say I'm not already terrified, but you'll crush it - you're so close to the end, you got this!
I'm more concerned about how you're going to number these vlogs. 11.1 for day one? Does that mean it'll end on 11.7 for the last day of the week? This is really bothering me Simon. Please explain?
Yeah right the vlog is changing (!) you've shortened the timmmmmmeeeeeeee. Whyy? I revise to your videos (I just do, don't question it) I literally allocate like an hour just to watch your weekly - you cannot understand my excitement when I get a notification that you have a new video up #fangirlbehindthecomputerscreen. Is it that bad that its taken me almost half the length of the video to write this? 😂 okay, I'm done.
Good question! The code I'm working with is an iterative method of solving a set of equations with a given, known answer. There are two ways I could get the answer I want - either tweak what data I'm putting in to the code, or changing the processes that are applied to the data provided. The first would definitely not be ok as I'd be fiddling to get the result I want, while the latter is what I am doing: basically trying to get the method right, the proof of which would be getting the result we're expecting, and can be verified by putting in different data (with a different, known, expected result).
Right. I've had quite some pain with tweaking algorithms I didn't fully understand. I modified them so I would get an output closer to what was expected. I simply didn't test enough different input data, so all my changes screwed stuff up in another scenario. Thanks for taking the time to answer, loving your content.
Update: I don't think they put that bit of Exeter on street view, as I've just spent the last fifteen minutes scouring the area around Amory building and I can't find anything that resembles the place Simon was. I'm sorry mate, I tried.
It probably isn't up yet - I guess they need to survey the whole area before they upload new street photography, so maybe it will go live in a month or two!
It's probably the industry standard for mechanics - and with good reason! I personally found it made things a bit more complicated than they needed to be, but it keeps the tone light and has lots of exercises - definitely one of the best-written undergrad textbooks I came across.
Thanks for the prompt answer. Please, could you give a list of important books (or your point of view) on quantum mechanics and mathematical physics, as well as basic physics?
Hahaha fair question! It's called a muff (no, really it is) and it's to reduce windnoise - it's like a pop filter that goes over the microphones on the camera, which happen to be on the top
Whilst sensible, that seems less fun than a range of Canon- approved hair pieces for their cameras. I for one would love a 60's Beehive wig to vlog with :P
When your having a bad time in life and Simon uploads a vlog making you feel a little better however stops all productivity from happening.
A little happiness is worth the sacrifice of a little productivity sometimes :)
Simon can juggle vlogging and a PhD and I can't even decide what's for dinner
In my opinion, I liked the longer vlogs.I think that being able to watch 30+ minutes of someone else's vlogging content seems weirdly good. For example, if another vlogger uploads a 10-minute video, I will be happy (as I am with your content at the moment). But, if a vlogger uploads a 30-minute video, I'm ecstatic. I think you should stay with the short vlogs but every now and again, such as during an important event, have a longer vlog. Perhaps as a treat :)
Same! I'm just going to start binge watching instead...
I agree but I think his point was that a longer vlog may be more intimidating to newcomers. Either way I'm happy :)
Yeah, I get that. Hence infrequently, as a treat :)
You can still watch a longer vid just line them up!
Of course, but then I have to wait for all of the episodes to be published - which I don't want to do because Simon's vlogs are actually pretty good :P However, of course, I will watch all of the shorter vlogs when they get published. I'm not complaining, just merely offering a suggestion. :)
I'm currently vloggin my PhD and have had mixed comments about video length! Some prefer long, but the majority prefer short intense videos (I must bore them to death otherwise). As always, highly engaging and inspiring Simon!
The new format works so well. It makes so much more sense both for you and for us as we no longer need a long chunk of time to watch an entire 40 min vlog but several shorter chunks.
First step towards daily vlogs.
Don't get your hopes up haha
yeah, for sure. I used to watch the 40 minute videos in snippets between 3/4 days before, so this'll make my life a bit easier
lol whenever i saw a 40 min vlog from simon i just got some food sat down and had a cracking 40 minutes :) ahhahah
I always watched it in one chunk. However, I was doing that when I should have been doing revision for my A Levels...
Great video Simon, loved the new vlog format, i'm getting Casey Neistat vibes from it !! very nice, and good luck with that coding situation 💪🏼
I like watching the longer vlogs, but I often find I don't have enough Time to watch all 40 or so minutes! Love the dynamic of 1/2 days in one!!
Maybe an occasional extra long vlog on a extraordinarily interesting day would be cool
This is what I think I'll do :)
Your content and personality make watching your videos worth it regardless of the length XD keep up the fantastic work!
Hi Simon, about the changed format - personally I liked this idea of splitting the vlog into smaller chunks. I usually have 10-15 minutes free to watch RUclips, so this works well for me. Otherwise I put off watching a longer video till I have more time.
Love this style of vlogging, keep it up bro! Also never knew british weather could be "nice"
I am a huge fan of yours + I love your cryosphere crashcourse!! well done!
I like the longer ones too, but as long as we get the phd weekly vlog it's all good!
Love the new vlog🎉. A playlist of vlogs at the end of the week would help everyone wanting to binge watch 👌
the quality of your vlog has improved so much lately, makes me think a bit of Casey :) keep up the good work!
I honestly like the longer vlogs more, but the new style's alright.
Very Neistat-esque - I like it!
Your vlogs will always be the best. Respect to you mate from New Zealand!!!
I didn't know that I wanted this style but it works perfectly. Love it Simon!
been binge watching your videos and i just cant get enough im hooked
can anyone tell me what computer science is like at uni please
yay something great to watch in the morning, also i think it's good to try different formats for optimization, i believe it will turn out all well but anyways have a great, productive week everyone!
Simon, you should look into the language called Julia. You mentioned the need for a fast language lie FORTRAN, and Julia is just as fast as FORTRAN in most scenarios, while not having the old, ancient syntax as FORTRAN. Also, Julia has an amazing type system, along with a top of the line LISP-reminiscent macro system. I think you would really enjoy.
And just to sweeten the deal, Julia was build with the idea of interfacing with C, C++, Python, and FORTRAN in mind, so using the two languages together is near flawless (I remember you using someone else's library, so I thought to mention this point).
oh my God Simon, this code!! If it's frustrating for me to watch, I can't imagine being you. I love the vlog and the code talk though.
Simon I'm really enjoying the episodes on the cryosphere! Jus thought I'd let you know. watch them while doing my alevel music of all things 😂.
hey simon, i think that this new format is quite good! thanks for sharing
i like the idea of shorter videos, far less intimidating but also far less of a commitment. i may be able to sneak in a 10 minute vid here and there but i need to feel considerably free to watch a 40 minute one. you have my thumbs up :)
I really LOVED the new style of the vlog! Simple.Clean.Perfect
Keep the vlogs coming Simon! Love them! Also, I think this new style works well!
Great for the new format, because it makes it more data/internet cap/ time friendly for me as well. Good luck with getting that PhD. I have graduation for my Masters tomorrow (In South Africa Masters is kind of a PhD with training wheels)
Awesome that you are changing to the same vlogging format as I am doing. Another science regular short vlogger in the field :-) the more the merrier
Another science vlogger? That's awesome! Nice videos mate, I subscribed!
Did not knew there were other people doing this. Super nice vlogs :-D!
Me too! Also another final year PhD student vlogger at UCL :D
awesome! what is your PhD in? :-)
I'm in the field of cancer research. Looking at cortical proteins and their role in cell division.
I liked this video. I love to hear about your work!
I like this more artistic and creative vibe to your vlog.
Dear Simon
I have enjoyed how you approach PhD/ thesis writing. I would like if you could provide some tips. I have been not fruitful in managing my time in writing and reading. I greatly appreciate you could address these in a video. Any recommendations on books that could help also welcomed. Great work..!!!!! Good luck with your presentation at the upcoming EGU 2017☺️
Love that you keep up the yogscast-watching in the vlogs
I am a man of my word - when I say I'll keep something in, I will!
Wish it was still the old format. Great for lunch breaks. But, the new format is also good too. Loving the content keep it up!
I submitted my thesis and AAAAAGGHHH :D ! what a feeling. At the beginning, I was thinking how am I going to go through all the phases of doing the research... After seeing the hard copy of my thesis I was thinking: I CAN MOVE A MOUNTAIN ! XD It was a bit challenging to be honest since it was my first time and I am still a student. I learned a lot throughout this journey like how to be extremely patient and definitely how to deal with stress...
I've watched like 3 30+mins vlogs in a row. Bahaha, the best educational and fun procrastination ever. I have exams but who actually properly studies for them till like a day before eh?
Watching all your vlogs whilst I revise for my A levels. They are V motivating. :)
I love your vlogs either way, I like the singing too
My inspiration right here. Love the new idea for vlogs. Hope your code starts working soon.
Are you allowed to record the defence of ur phd?
Probably not... and to be honest I wouldn't want you all to see just how thick I really am ;p
I work as the "code guy" in my faculty and live for the moment that researchers realise their code they've worked on for weeks wasn't cooperating because of the tiniest of syntax errors. You should try running yours through something like pycharm that has a debugger rather than using sublime text all the time
Hmm... i liked the longer vlogs because they were great to put on over lunch and you got to see the whole week progress at once but the shorter ones are good too. Just don't stop making them, they're highly entertaining :)
noooo this is only 13 minutes D:
edit: now i finished the video. to be honest i like the ~10 minute vlogs too, but like.... if it was a 2 hour vlog i'd probably still watch and enjoy it :P
When yr slacking all day and finially decide to start studying, Simon uploads a video! (I know i am just lying to myself 😂)
Are you intending to do multiple short vlogs in place of a single long vlog? Or is it going to be a straight one to one switch?Because the long vlogs are amazing just for the immersion factor.
I had no idea what you were talking about but I could listen to you for hours haha
Personally, I prefer the older style, where I could really sit down and enjoy a long vlog. That having been said, if this is a necessity because of youtube's algorithms, then I will still watch them!
This new format is great!
Weird metric pool sizes may have originally been constructed in yards.
Although you mentioned switching to Fortran, have you tried using Jupyter for your Python code? It's pretty good for data science.
when you've finally sorted the code I feel as though it's going to have it's own celebratory video!
Hey Simon, just curious what IDE / editor you use for python code. Been looking for a good one
Thomas Tallis is bae
Not this week as it's still out of term time but next vlog there will be more singing!
You mention at the end about changing from python to Fortran for speed. It may be more worth your time to look into using C++ for only the intensive parts and then python for the rest, as python and C++ can be easily integrated.
This integration is why packages such as NumPy are incredibly fast for matrix operations, since it's actually C++ in disguise. However this integration has some issues and is why NumPy arrays are slightly more difficult to use than standard Python lists (though faster in return).
Ah but the slow python script was exclusively using numpy operations! Also I coded in C when I was at Oxford and have no desire to desire to return to even a slightly similar language :P
I like them shorter, keep up the good work man!
Glad to hear you're making progress and aren't homeless yet; not long left now till you're handing in!
The 'yet' is very much the key part there haha
When will you review A Brief History of Time by Hawking?
When Dan gets around to reading it ;)
I have read a briefer history of time in the past. Darn it! Simon, may I ask why you chose Brief instead of briefer? I assume it is because it goes more in depth?
Few tech tips from another physicist:
Try and use MATLAB for programming, its way easier then Python and has great built in functions.
You could upload your code for us to see on Github.
I see you use Ubuntu with unity desktop. Ubuntu said that they will switch to GNOME desktop on next version. Why not trying it now? I think it's far superior.
I will definitely prefer shorter, more frequent vlogs. Means it'll be easier to catch up with your channel on a lunchtime youtube break rather than saving it up for a weekend faff-around-on-the-internet-all-afternoon binge.
I much prefer the 40 minute video but if we get videos more often I don't mind the change. As long as it doesn't end up being a 10 minute vlog every 2 weeks!
No don't worry - there will be about three of these in a vlog week!
The new style is much better than the old one.
I liked the long vlogs, it was like watching a tv series for me.
new style is great man
Regarding the move to Fortran over python, have you looked at using Cython instead?
Laplacian,, you better use Phython.. very easy to solve the inversion for PV there.
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I preform the long form videos to these minisodes. I like the longer videos because I feel like it is a story that is completed. After watching this video, I just want more. Maybe that's a good thing from your perspective.
Nothing sexier than some steamy ironing
Nothing but the hottest content on the vlog ;)
It keeps me coming back for more
Not sure what my opinion is on the length of videos, but I remember reading an article that tried to decode RUclips's algorithm and turns out it's actually better for your channel to make lengthier videos than shorter ones. They even recommended in the article that a channel who had videos ranging from 3-4 minute videos to 70 minutes should only put out the 70 minute videos and try to do it more often or higher quality (I think).
I can't be bothered to read the article again, but just google "tubefilter Reverse Engineering The RUclips Algorithm: Part I".
it's a bit fast paced but I like this new style of vlogs
Yeah, about the code video...where is it Simon?
Am I the only one who loves when he gets technical?
Really enjoyed the video!
I thought about your vlogs yesterday, wondering where is Simon in past couple of days..
What do you plan on doing after your PhD? Also, I was thinking of pursuing a career in academia but I'm after that "jobs" aren't out there can you please clarify that thanks.
The noodles got me Simon !
I am hungry af 🙃🍝🧀🌮🌭🍖🍔🍟🍕🍱
I LOVE YOU SIMON CLARKKKK
YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
How can you even live for that long without having to iron your shirt?! -love the new format btw
Why not try height from center of the earth? I really don't know if this will work but logically it avoids the variation in the earth's surface.
I have my IB exams tomorrow, any advice??
Vinay Maru Good luck! I also did the IB, hard work but definitely worth it - get a good nights sleep and eat a solid breakfast, you'll do great!
Vinay Maru I'm usually against self advertisement but I have about ten videos up about tips about the IB that might be able to help. The more recent ones are about the exams! Best of luck! x
Haha same and here I am on youtube....
Dan Maw Just out of interest (and if you don't mind), what subjects did you take? :D
And best of luck, Vinay! I've got a year to go till my own...can't say I'm not already terrified, but you'll crush it - you're so close to the end, you got this!
amberrabbid I read English Lit HL, Theatre HL, Psychology HL, Maths SL, Biology SL, and an initio Spanish! Also wrote my EE in English :)
I was wondering if you could recommend any applied physics books for beginners ?
This is a good overall introduction if a little basic: www.amazon.co.uk/Fundamentals-Physics-David-Halliday/dp/0471216437
I'm more concerned about how you're going to number these vlogs. 11.1 for day one? Does that mean it'll end on 11.7 for the last day of the week? This is really bothering me Simon. Please explain?
I like the change
What!? You use FORTRAN still?
Yeah right the vlog is changing (!) you've shortened the timmmmmmeeeeeeee. Whyy? I revise to your videos (I just do, don't question it) I literally allocate like an hour just to watch your weekly - you cannot understand my excitement when I get a notification that you have a new video up #fangirlbehindthecomputerscreen. Is it that bad that its taken me almost half the length of the video to write this? 😂 okay, I'm done.
How do you make sure you're not just changing your scripts so the output seems correct, but it's actually right what you're doing? :P
Good question! The code I'm working with is an iterative method of solving a set of equations with a given, known answer. There are two ways I could get the answer I want - either tweak what data I'm putting in to the code, or changing the processes that are applied to the data provided. The first would definitely not be ok as I'd be fiddling to get the result I want, while the latter is what I am doing: basically trying to get the method right, the proof of which would be getting the result we're expecting, and can be verified by putting in different data (with a different, known, expected result).
Right. I've had quite some pain with tweaking algorithms I didn't fully understand. I modified them so I would get an output closer to what was expected. I simply didn't test enough different input data, so all my changes screwed stuff up in another scenario.
Thanks for taking the time to answer, loving your content.
I think it's a good idea the shorter ones as long as you stay true to the content.
Update: I don't think they put that bit of Exeter on street view, as I've just spent the last fifteen minutes scouring the area around Amory building and I can't find anything that resembles the place Simon was. I'm sorry mate, I tried.
It probably isn't up yet - I guess they need to survey the whole area before they upload new street photography, so maybe it will go live in a month or two!
Simon, a short question: What do you think about the book "An introduction to Mechanics" by David Morin? Cheers from Brazil.
It's probably the industry standard for mechanics - and with good reason! I personally found it made things a bit more complicated than they needed to be, but it keeps the tone light and has lots of exercises - definitely one of the best-written undergrad textbooks I came across.
Thanks for the prompt answer. Please, could you give a list of important books (or your point of view) on quantum mechanics and mathematical physics, as well as basic physics?
See ruclips.net/video/9mIj020lNq4/видео.html for all my recommendations!
+SimonClark...when are you scheduled to finish your PhD?
Before mid-September - I'm hoping for some time in August :)
Simon Clark I'm about to finish my MA in Linguistics at UWI Mona in Jamaica about the same time
Hahaha "the finest ironing content!" 😂👌🏼
I Would like to see more vlogs like 11.1 but in the old lenght :D
yes yes this is sick blud
First thing i watched after getting back from my bronze dofe expedition
Congrats for making it!
I'm still waiting for that saxophone solo tho
Maybe that could be a patreon goal hmm....
Query: why was you camera wearing a toupee?
Hahaha fair question! It's called a muff (no, really it is) and it's to reduce windnoise - it's like a pop filter that goes over the microphones on the camera, which happen to be on the top
Whilst sensible, that seems less fun than a range of Canon- approved hair pieces for their cameras. I for one would love a 60's Beehive wig to vlog with :P
Holy crap, I saw you on Google Maps!!! Even 2.5 years later! xD
I like the shorter videos. I always end up skipping around in the 30-40 minutes videos
Shorter, more frequent vids sounds great!
good laptop for coding?