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<span id="resumeLink" style="position:relative;top:-10px;right:15px;float:right;margin:0 0 -20px 0">[[Resume]]</span>
 
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<div style="position: relative; top: -.05em; font-size: 95%;">the site for all things '''[[User:ThePlaz|Michael Plasmeier]]''' ([[My Nicknames|ThePlaz]])</div></div>
 
<div style="position: relative; top: -.05em; font-size: 95%;">the site for all things '''[[User:ThePlaz|Michael Plasmeier]]''' ([[My Nicknames|ThePlaz]])</div></div>
 
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This site is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki wiki].  That means that anybody (including YOU) can edit and change the information found here. ([[Help:Wiki Markup Cheatsheet|Editing help]])</p>
 
This site is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki wiki].  That means that anybody (including YOU) can edit and change the information found here. ([[Help:Wiki Markup Cheatsheet|Editing help]])</p>
 
<p style="clear:both; margin:0 0 0 0; margin-bottom:.2em; text-align: center; font-size: 110%;">My site contains mostly my homework and projects as well as various stuff from my life.  <small>([[Mission Statement|Site Mission Statement]])</small></p>  
 
<p style="clear:both; margin:0 0 0 0; margin-bottom:.2em; text-align: center; font-size: 110%;">My site contains mostly my homework and projects as well as various stuff from my life.  <small>([[Mission Statement|Site Mission Statement]])</small></p>  
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[[Image:Nuvola apps important.png|25px|left]] 6/26/2011 Mega Personal Update Summer back to January
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[[Image:Nuvola apps important.png|25px|left]] 8/25/2013 Yahoo APM!
 
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==Yahoo APM==
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[[File:Marissa and Michael.jpg|thumb|Me with Marissa Mayer]]
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[[File:Yahoo APMs 13.jpg|thumb|The 2013 Yahoo APMs]]
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I am about 1 month into my new job at [[Yahoo]] as an Associate Product Manager or [[APM]].  After I finished classes at MIT, but before I was set to start at Oracle, Yahoo offered me to join Marissa Mayer's new APM program at Yahoo.  Marissa started the program back when she had just joined Google - as a way to find and develop new Product Managers out of school, which she thought would be faster than hiring experienced PMs from the industry.  This article describes the role http://www.wired.com/business/2012/07/marissas-secret-weapon-for-recruiting-new-yahoo-talent/ though that article overblows things slightly.
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I’m super happy where I am at.  This is the type of job I was aiming for throughout MIT; I think I was well-prepared by MIT; and I think .Yahoo is also in a very interesting state at the moment.  They are rapidly redoing everything.  This makes new grads are handed large chunks of the product to manage, because they are so understaffed for what the need is.  In addition, they are in the midst of a huge culture change.  They are replacing their cube farms with open desks.  They are rebuilding teams, which were previously laid off.  It’s very interesting to work with people on either side of the culture change and to experience the before-and-after at the same time.
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I’m in charge of designing the platform Yahoo uses to know where you are, and I help designing the membership, accounts, and security features of Yahoo.  The work is very similar to what I did at MIT – brainstorming solutions, designing schemes, working with other stakeholders to refine plans and achieve consensus. 
  
I am sitting in New York City writing my end of semester update more than a month and a half lateThis update was actually written on 3 different days over 2 weeks… Updates are also getting longer and longer…  This update covers this summer back to January/IAP and is the first to have subheadings....
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As an APM, I’m part of Yahoo’s inner circle – giving it the feel of a small companyMy experience working with administrators at MIT prepared me very well for working with the executives at Yahoo. It's probably the best business/leadership/PM experience possible in the world for someone just out of school. I think it's rivals management consulting in terms of business experience - since you're directly responsible for something, but still involved at a high level.   I think one learns by doing and by being exposed to stuff. The greater scope and responsibility one has, the more one learns, I believe.
  
[[File:Brass Rat Delivery.jpg|200px]] [[File:2013 Brass Rat.jpg|200px]]
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==Mountain View==
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[[File:Mountain View Home.jpg|thumb|Mountain View Home]]
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[[File:Chevy Volt.jpg|thumb|Chevy Volt]]
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I'm settled into my new place in [[Mountain View]]. [http://www.flickr.com/photos/theplaz/sets/72157634601732288/ Photos] I'm sharing a house with 2 other guys, who were friends of friends.  I've purchased a [[Chevy Volt]].  [http://www.flickr.com/photos/theplaz/sets/72157634595577805/ Photos] It goes 40 miles in a charge, but after that it can use gas.  In almost 2 months, I haven't gone to the gas station once!
  
I received my class ring, the "Brass Rat".
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I'm meeting a lot of new people here. Everyone seems to be a friend of a friend at least, and about 20-30% have heard of me before!  That's kinda scarey!
  
====Summer====
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==Leaving MIT==
This summer, I am working at [[NextJump]][http://nextjunp.com], an online affiliate advertising firm.  Their main business is running corporate perks websites.  For example: "since you work at IBM you get 10% off Avis car rental."  They recently launched their first direct to consumer site, [http://oo.com OO.com].  I like working at NextJump so far.  It has gotten me back to coding, which I have not seriously done for a while.  On the train in the morning, I am skimming over [http://www.amazon.com/Code-Craft-Practice-Writing-Excellent/dp/1593271190 CodeCraft] and the examples feel much more real.  I also like the integration with business - my "pod" or team is "cross-functional" and I sit next to business people.  I also really like how NextJump gets their employees involved in product design.  Every 2 weeks they everyone in the company participates in a 3-hour brainstorming session; I'd just wish everyone was as existed about it as I am. They also have weekly whole company meetings.  I think these really work and are worth the time. 
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I had my best semester ever, my last semester at MIT.  I had 5 As and one B-.  I was literally 10 points away from a 5.0!
  
I realize now how unusual my arrangement was last summer at [[Deutsche Bahn]] - sitting next to a business person and starting out a big project. I wish I had a bit more of a product design role here, but in tech recruiting it seems that if you can code, you're a coderI also have not yet had the chance to make the transformative impact like at Deutsche Bahn, but that is because I am doing my assigned work and I am surrounded by people who are also at the top of their game.  Still I try to rock the boat a bit to aim towards a better product. 
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[[File:Pens MIT Spring 2013.jpg|thumb|Pens|200px]]
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[[File:Paper MIT Spring 2013.jpg|thumb|Paper|200px]]
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This semester I used 32 inches of paper, as well as 31 pensHere is a chart of usage over time:
  
The office environment at NextJump is much better than DB and [[State Street]].  The free food, free laundry service, and fully stocked gym certainly help.  I think connect with my coworkers more; there is no language barrier (unlike DB) and they are my age (unlike State Street).  I can also spend time with them, unlike last summer where I lived with relatives over an hour away.
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[[File:Pens and Paper Usage.png]]
  
====New York City====
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I wrote up two white papers on MIT Policy.  [[A Framework for Community Engagement]] is a refinement of the community engagement process which administrators currently follow. [[Problem Solving Teams]] proposes having students work as "management consultants" on the Institute’s biggest problems.  This joins [[Unrelenting Advocacy]], about how stundets should act like lobbyists and consultants.  This rounds up my [MIT Policy White Papers] series.
  
I am also really enjoying living in New York City.  I am living at the School of Visual Art's [[101 Ludlow St]].  It's a brand new building; it was built in 2009.  I am on the 18th floor and I have a view of the Williamsburg bridge and the constant 24-hour traffic flowing across it. I am in the middle of the "hip" Lower East Side neighborhood. Unfortunately my housing lasts only 8 weeks of my 10 week internship.  I still need to find something for the last 2 weeksPlus the dorm furniture makes me miss the Baker furniture.  The all metal bed squeaks at the slightest movement and the chair is the most uncomfortable thing I have ever sat on.
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[[File:MIT Graduation.jpg|thumb|MIT Graduation]]
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Graduation was a super rainy affair - it was pretty miserable. [http://www.flickr.com/photos/theplaz/sets/72157634578617238/ Photos] However, I'm happy to say that I've now graduatedIt was sad to leave all of the stuff I really liked about MIT behind.
  
Still I have spent much of my 2 weeks that I've been here exploring Manhattan.  I walk home most days, covering the 33 blocks  in about 40 minutes.  It actually takes me 20 minutes by subway, in comparison, since it keeps stopping due to heavy train traffic.  I've been to [http://www.flickr.com/photos/theplaz/sets/72157627053209450/ Wall Street], [http://www.flickr.com/photos/theplaz/sets/72157627053199326/ Times Square], [http://www.flickr.com/photos/theplaz/sets/72157626928504617/ the High Line], and [http://www.flickr.com/photos/theplaz/sets/72157626928524555/ Propect Park in Brooklyn]. On the weekends I am meeting up with friends from home and MIT.  I went to the [http://www.flickr.com/photos/theplaz/sets/72157627053106602/ Statue of Liberty last weekend with Ted].
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I used the time I was off (3 weeks at MIT, 3 weeks at home, and 3 weeks in CA) to get organized and clean up my stuff.  I emptied some boxes I hadn’t touched in years.  I scanned more paperHowever, I have still not managed to post my MIT stuff or more from the archives.
 
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I've also subscribed to [http://economist.com The Economist] for 12 weeks under their 12 weeks for 12 dollars program.  Yesterday I just sat in the comfortable basement armchairs and read - without anyone bothering me - must have been a Saturday night...  I like sitting back and not working on much.  I also like that NextJump is giving me the resources to live fairly comfortably in NYC.  Unfortunately MIT will "tax" much of that money at 50% - by pulling it off my financial aid for senior year.  I would also appreciate settling down and not having to move so often.  Then I could rely on real furniture - not cheap-o squeaky dorm furniture.
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I have also been working on side projects at night.  I've fixed up [[Baker House]]'s voting system - fixing some bugs and adding new features.  I next want to upgrade my wiki, re-do my dad's website and build a summer mail system for Baker.
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So far in New York, I have met many of my friends from back home and MIT - 10 friend interactions so far in 2 weeks for a rate of 5 interactions/week.  I am also hoping to see some Broadway shows.  I really want to see [http://spidermanonbroadway.marvel.com/ Spiderman] because I love technical theater.  Many things go on only in New York.  I was walking home from work and I stumbled into the [http://h41112.www4.hp.com/promo/webos/us/en/tablet/touchpad.html HP TouchPad] launch party at Best Buy.
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====MIT Classes====
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I am now halfway through undergraduate years at MIT.  I took 8 classes this term - well I dropped one to listener, although I still attended.  I always had to think a little when someone asked me what classes I was taking.  "Normal" class load at MIT is 4 and many people do 5, but almost no one does 8 in one semester.  I earned 79 units this term.  One of the best things about MIT is there are no additional charges for an overload. It was tiring, and something that I do not plan on repeating.  I was only able to do it because many of the classes this semester were management classes.  I had expected that the schedule would harm my GPA; however, I had the best term GPA this semester, a 4.3 vs 4.1 in the fall and 4.0 freshmen spring (no GPA given your first semester at MIT).  I also felt like I made a good connection with the faculty members, particularly in 4.211, 15.279, and ESD.051.
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The only class I wished I had more time for was [[6.042]] Math for Computer Scientists.  This class worked with math in a way I had no experience with; I never thought about math that way.  It went fast as well.  I am still amazed many students grasped the concepts so easily.  I just made it by with a C-.  I don't think I mastered the concepts or even understood why they were important.  I hope the topics don't come up again….
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[[14.02]] Macroeconomics was a complete and utter disaster.  The class was run by inexperienced TAs with absolutely no oversight.  I wrote a [[14.02 Complaint Letter|complaint letter]] detailing my logistics complaints about the class.  Plus it is taught in a very math and models way.  You can get by with just knowing math - the class does not really cover economic principals and it has absolutely no empirical work.  I think this is dangerous for future Wall Streeters; it may help you somewhat to be an econ grad student.  Because of the poor instruction and strange coverage, I think I learned more about economics in high school AP Macro Econ.
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[[4.211]] was my favorite class of the semester.  I was required to take a HASS-CI class; and I had my eye on this for a few semesters.  We learned about the history of cities and urban development.  It was a small class, seated at a large single table, where the professor talked about her work and led class discussions.  (I guess that is how liberal arts colleges operate.)    I got into many good intellectual fights with the professor.  We read books and investigated a site in Boston.  I researched Copley Place in Boston.  I really enjoyed the deep research I did for Copley Place.  Like [[STS.050]] in freshmen spring, I've found I like doing original research - from primary source materials on something no one else has ever covered.  I wished however that the class focused more the economic tools of urban development rather than the natural causes (the professors' specialty) and did away with the repetitive papers on our site. 
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[[ESD.051]] was a very fun class.  [http://web.mit.edu/gordonelp/staff/kotelly.html Blade Kotelly] knows how to teach, making it a fun class.  It was about design and engineering leadership.  I was very familiar with the concepts, but it was good to hear it again from Blade.  I dropped to listener in the class because I did not have the time to build a cool voice app.  Instead I am getting an opportunity to practice my skills at NextJump with the intern project.
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[[6.02]] Intro to EECS 2 (Communications) was also a good class, like [[6.01]].  Course 6 really cares about their teaching and has taken great care to coalesce their content into really well structured lessons.  Each lecture and lab is almost perfectly structured.  [http://people.csail.mit.edu/cjt/ Chris Terman] is also a good lecturer, with the right amount of jokes in his lecture.  I think I learned a lot about the fundamentals of digital communications.  I think that the 2 course 6 classes were a very good foundation for a different way of thinking about problems: break them down and abstract the pieces.
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[[15.401]] Finance 1 was cool for being a Sloan class.  It was at 8:30am which gave the class a weird vibe.  I bought the recommended textbooks for the class - they were big and long, but the Sloan class seemed to focus on the basics and teach them well, so you could learn it.  Maybe because it was I already really busy, but I thought the class had just the right amount of content.  I was not actually required to take the class, but I wanted to be able to understand the finance terminology.  It was also was other Sloan students, which did not seem as big of an issue as I've had before.
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[[15.279]] was a surprisingly fun Communications class.  I went into it thinking that this was going to be boring and not useful, but the professor made the lectures fun by talking about his days in the publishing industry.  I participated a lot in the lectures and learned to make things short/simple for short attention spans.  I learned to look at what I make from someone else's shoes.
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[[15.761]] was Introduction to Operations Research.  I chose this MBA Sloan class because I wanted to learn some of the formal management models.  Unfortunately, the professor was new  and seemed to not be knowledgeable about the topics or how to manage a class.  It was also a large MBA class, just as 15.567 was last term.  After two of these large MBA classes in E62 I found I just don't like them.  The classes are really big (~70 students).  This is ok in other departments when the classes are just lectures, but when the classes are discussions it does not work at allPlus, I talked in my last update how the MBA students do not seem to be engaged in classes.  It's a "I'll do the minimum work, but I'll suck up, so everything will be all right anyway attitude".  I can't stand it; I'm going to avoid classes in E62.  One MBA student even came up to me and offered me some "unsolicited comments" that "only a**h*** consultants talk that much."  Well sorrrrry.  I'm not changing my style.  I think my attitude of continually trying to learn, improve, and solve problems, as well as rocking the boat for the good of the product has gotten me this far and I am going to continue doing it.  It makes me consider dropping Course 15.
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I calculated that this semester's stack of notes was only slightly higher than [[:File:MIT Fall 2010 Work.jpg|last term's]], despite the extra classes.
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[[File:MIT Work Spring 2011.jpg|200px]]
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====MIT Dining====
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I was reelected as Baker VPFS for a second term and I also served as Baker's representative on dining.  Although HDAG wound down after I joined, without a single meeting, I helped MIT select a new house dining vendor and I now serve on HDIG, the implementation committee.  The selection committee was very fun and interesting.  I learned a lot about the contracting process.  I also traveled to other schools, and I often heard more about the details of the contracts than students at the schools I visitedThe highlight was when I flew out to [http://www.flickr.com/photos/theplaz/sets/72157625959913503/ Chicago] with our Dean of Housing and Director of Dining.  We flew out in the early morning, visited the University of Chicago and Northwestern and then flew home early morning.  It moved so fast, I barely had time to process the trip - I guess that is how business trips are.  I also got a lot of time to talk with the administrators.  When we were flying home, we were in the front row of the plane; it wasn't first class (it was Southwest and lots of people walked by the seats!) but it felt like it!
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[[File:Chicago Trip Geo.jpg|200px]]
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We ended up renewing Bon Appetit, a division of Compass.  I was stunned by how happily people spoke of them at Roger Williams.  I also had no reason to cast them aside based on their work at MIT.  I am now working on implementing the plan.  The marketing needs a lot of guidance between promoting the plan while making MIT sound neutral towards the different ways that students can eat nutritiously.  This is different from many schools, where the school funds other projects from the "profits" on meal plan sales. We need to work out how/what to do during orientation, what the hours should be, etc.  We also need to diffuse concerns about what cuisine will be served where.  One of the more important things is to negotiate the scope and scale of the take-out program.  I am also hoping that BAMCO will make an API for the menu data.  I have been pursing the cause, but BAMCO does not seem to have the technical resources to pull it off.  Finally, I think one of the most important things to do is to define the metrics that will define the success of the program.
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I've also found though my tour that the reputation of colleges actually really matters.  When I was searching for a college, I considered everyone who sent me a flier; rather than just go after the schools with a top reputation.  I now realize that for better or worse reputation is very important.  Many companies recruit only at top schools, because the selection process to get in to the schools does the filtering for them.  The self fulfilling prophecy.  Now this is not all made up.  I felt like I have learned a lot when I look back at one year ago and two years ago.  I think that the difference comes from the resources the schools are able to attract worth reputation, as well as the faculty the school attracts.  The other students also make a big difference, because you want to feel competitive with the other students.
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====IAP/State Street====
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Although [[IAP]]/January is now a while ago, I've realized I've never written about it.  Over IAP (January) I worked at [[State Street]].  I did not enjoy my month there.  It sounded like an interesting position, but I ended up doing secretarial work in a newly created department with no direction to it.  I wanted to try something in finance to see if it would interest me.  It did not.
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In my report I wrote after the position, I talk about how entry-level management positions are mostly grunt work. However, this summer in New York, at both NextJump and hearing what my friends are doing, I think I over generalized about the uninterestingess/small impact of business jobs.  I've realizing now that salary might correlate well with the interestiness of the job.  I want an interesting job where I can make a big impact and use my skills.  I think when companies offer a lot of money they expect the person to do a lot; because they are selective with who they select to fill those positions.  I think, in general, I qualify for these positions and I actively want to do them.  I would rather work hard on something interesting, than just pull a paycheck while I spend all day trying to minimize how much work I do. 
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During my experience at State Street, I decided to add a joint-major with Course 6.  Since I was not doing anything interesting at State Street, I filed the paperwork for adding a double major in course 6. I realized that Course 6 would help build my skills.  I wrote before that I did not like my course 15 classes.  I also really liked 6.01; I thought it was really well done and improved my thinking process.  Looking back now, one semester after filing the paperwork, I am happy with my decision. I think course 6 is where my future is, despite my prior apprehension at being a coder.  I think if I work on it I can do it.  (As I write this, I am realizing this is a common theme; I should just go for it in the future) Plus I want the challenge; course 15 is just too boring.  After one year as a course 15 student, I have completed many of the course 15 requirements.  I now need to catch up in Course 6.  It is also harder for me to do well in course 6 classes.
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[[File:MIT Long Term Plan.png|300px]]
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====Website====
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I am very behind in uploading stuff to my website.  I have not yet processed this year's work.  The reason I am so behind is I spent much of my time home scanning old middle school papers and throwing them out; rather than posting stuff to the web.  I need to find some time to do the boring task of uploading and organizing.  I will also be uploading stuff from middle school - which was never before on the site, which was started in 9th Grade.
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====Montreal====
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For spring break, I traveled with my family to [http://www.flickr.com/photos/theplaz/sets/72157626862324317/ Albany] and [http://www.flickr.com/photos/theplaz/sets/72157626986883902/ Montreal].  I also got yet another camera, the [[Panasonic DMC-ZS6]].  My [[Samsung HZ30W]] started nice but it broke in a bunch of different ways, finally with a gash on the lenses.  3 months into the Panasonic, I am really liking it.  I now have 65,000+ photos on [http://www.flickr.com/photos/theplaz/sets flickr], and I am 2 weeks behind on NYC photos.
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So there you go; have a good summer --[[User:ThePlaz|ThePlaz]] 02:21, 10 July 2011 (EDT)
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==Personal Style==
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I also spent some time to reflect on my [[Personal Style]].  I spent several months iterating on this - and it ended up being quite lengthy!  I wanted to record this, because I know with will update over time, and I wanted to make a record of it.  I think it's also helpful for people to know how I approach problem solving.
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--[[User:ThePlaz|ThePlaz]] ([[User talk:ThePlaz|talk]]) 02:55, 25 August 2013 (EDT)
 
''[http://theplaz.com/wiki/index.php?title=User_talk:ThePlaz&action=edit&section=new Leave Plaz a (public) message] [[Image:File_icon.gif]] or [[User:ThePlaz:E-mail me|send me a (private) e-mail.]][[Image:Mail_icon.gif]]'', ''[http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThePlazPersonalUpdates Subscribe via RSS feed], ''[http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=786542 Subscribe via email]'', ''[http://friendfeed.com/theplaz Detailed feed]'', ''[[Old Updates|See past updates]]''
 
''[http://theplaz.com/wiki/index.php?title=User_talk:ThePlaz&action=edit&section=new Leave Plaz a (public) message] [[Image:File_icon.gif]] or [[User:ThePlaz:E-mail me|send me a (private) e-mail.]][[Image:Mail_icon.gif]]'', ''[http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThePlazPersonalUpdates Subscribe via RSS feed], ''[http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=786542 Subscribe via email]'', ''[http://friendfeed.com/theplaz Detailed feed]'', ''[[Old Updates|See past updates]]''
 
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Recent Activity from around the Web
 
Recent Activity from around the Web
 
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<span class="edittemplate" style="font-size:8pt; float:right; margin:0 7px 0 0;">[http://theplaz.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:Main_Page:MIT_Senior&action=edit edit]</span>
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{{Main Page:MIT Senior}}
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<span class="edittemplate" style="font-size:8pt; float:right; margin:0 7px 0 0;">[http://theplaz.com/wiki/index.php?title=Template:Main_Page:MIT_Junior&action=edit edit]</span>
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{{Main Page:MIT Junior}}
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Latest revision as of 07:31, 25 August 2013

Resume

Welcome to ThePlaz.com

the site for all things Michael Plasmeier (ThePlaz)

This site is a wiki. That means that anybody (including YOU) can edit and change the information found here. (Editing help)

My site contains mostly my homework and projects as well as various stuff from my life. (Site Mission Statement)

Leave Plaz a (public) message File icon.gif or send me a (private) e-mail.Mail icon.gif

MIT Senior edit

Fall
  • Schedule
  • 7.012 Intro to Biology
  • 6.046 Advanced Algorithms
  • 6.858 Computer and Network Security
  • 14.72 Capitalism and its Critics
  • STS.085 Ethics and the Law on the Electronic Frontier
  • 2.009 Product Design Process (Listener)
  • 15.062 Data Mining (Listener)
Spring

MIT Junior edit

Fall
  • 6.004 Computation Structures
  • 6.005 Elements of Software Construction
  • 6.034 Artificial Intelligence
  • STS.011 Ethics and Politics in Science and Technology
  • 15.387 Technology Sales and Sales Management
  • 15.665 Power and Negotiation
  • 18.03 Differential Equations
  • Working out a System - How I take 7 classes at MIT and thrive
Spring
  • Spring Schedule
  • 6.033 Computer System Engineering
  • 6.813 User Interface Design and Implementation
  • 6.006 Introduction to Algorithms
  • 15.571 Business Strategy and the Role of IT
  • 15.565 Digital Evolution: Managing Web 3.0
  • 15.301 Managerial Psychology Laboratory
  • 18.06 Linear Algebra

MIT Sophomore edit

Fall
  • 6.01 Intro to EECS (Potpourri Introduction)
  • 6.041 Probabilistic Systems Analysis
  • 14.01 Principles of Microeconomics
  • 15.501 Corporate Financial Accounting
  • 15.567 Econ of Information
  • 16.71 Airline Industry
Spring
  • 4.211 The Present and Future City
  • 6.02 Intro to EECS 2 (Communications)
  • 6.042 Math for Computer Science (Potpourri Introduction)
  • 14.02 Microeconomics
  • 15.279 Intro to Managerial Communications
  • 15.401 Intro to Finance
  • 15.761 Operations Research
  • ESD.051 Engineering, Innovation, and Design (Listener)
Politics

MIT Freshman edit

Fall

  • 8.01 Physics: Mechanics - Prof. Greytak
  • 3.091 Intro to Solid State Chemistry - Prof. Sadoway
  • 18.01 Single Variable Calculus - Prof. Brubaker
  • MAS.110 Fundamentals of Computational Media Design - Prof. Bove
  • 6.A53 Entrepreneurship and China Advising Seminar - Dr. Eng
  • SocialSaver UROP at the MIT Media Lab
  • Learning to Learn at MIT - My "near fail" experience that caused me to pull it together

Spring

Other Stuff

Nuvola apps kpovmodeler.png AP Physics (Science)

30px-OneNote.png Open OneNote Notebook

Note: Works only in Internet Explorer and Opera. Firefox refuses to support MHT. More info

Nuvola USA flag.png AP US Government (History)

30px-OneNote.png Open OneNote Notebook

Note: Works only in Internet Explorer and Opera. Firefox refuses to support MHT. More info

Nuvola apps package wordprocessing.png English 12 (English)

Nuvola apps kbrunch.png Calculus (Math)

30px-OneNote.png Open OneNote Notebook

Note: Works only in Internet Explorer and Opera. Firefox refuses to support MHT. More info

Nuvola apps edu languages.png AP Psychology (Psychology)

Nuvola apps package editors.png AP Micro Econ (Economics)

Nuvola apps bug.png Biology (Science)

Nuvola apps kmplot.png PreCalc (Math)

Nuvola USA flag.png American Studies (History)

  • Projects
  • Notes from Out of Many Textbook
  • FTCE test : FTCE test failure reveals how to rip through the FTCE test.
developed Headline Notetaking Format

Nuvola USA flag pen.png English 11 (English)

Nuvola apps edu mathematics.png IAG 4H (Math)

Nuvola apps edu science.png Chemistry (Science)

Nuvola apps package network.png World Cultures (History)

Nuvola apps korganizer.png AP Macro Economics (Economics)

Nuvola apps file-manager.png English 10 (English)

Nuvola apps kig.png IAG 3H (Math)

Nuvola apps bookcase.png English 9 (English)

Nuvola apps kverbos.png Western Civ (History)

Projects

Outlines

Maps and Creative
French Revolution Napoleon-peque.jpg

Essays and Reports

Nuvola apps edu phi.png IPS (Science)

Nuvola apps kcalc.png IAG 2H and IAG 1H (Math)

Nuvola apps kate.png Latin

Latin 3

Projects
Notes
Journals

Double Entry Journals have 2 components: What I Learned (a summery), and Personal Response (a reflection)

Latin 2

Projects
  1. Roman Travel Project
  2. Sejanus
  3. Echo and Narcissus Myth
  4. The Journey of the Hero
Journals

Latin 1

Money-256x256.png Entrepreneurship (Business)

30px-OneNote.png Open OneNote Notebook

Note: Works only in Internet Explorer and Opera. Firefox refuses to support MHT. More info

Nuvola apps personal.png Business Law (Business)

30px-OneNote.png Open OneNote Notebook

Note: Works only in Internet Explorer and Opera. Firefox refuses to support MHT. More info

Nuvola apps amarok.png Pop Music (Music)

Nuvola filesystems folder blue open.png Other edit

Nuvola filesystems folder blue open.png 8th Grade

Nuvola filesystems folder blue open.png 7th Grade

Nuvola apps kuser.png About Me edit

Michael Plasmeier Spring 2009 Narrow.JPG
Michael Plasmeier
"ThePlaz"
Yahoo APM: Membership and Geo Platforms

My name is Michael Plasmeier, but almost everyone calls me Plaz. I am a Associate Product Manager at Yahoo - working on the Membership and Geo-related platforms teams. I graduated from MIT in 2013 in Computer Science and Management. I am halfway between the tech and the business world, doing both web development and product development. My interest in doing both started while I was working on GridView, an app I built after 10th Grade that reached 1.3 million users on Facebook.

Internships

Last IAP, I was a Software Development Extern doing testing in Ruby on the back end at CardSpring. Last summer, I was Product Manager at Disney Parks and Resorts Online where I worked on a project for Disney Cruise Line. Last January, I worked in management/strategy consulting at Altman Vilandrie & Company. The previous summer, I was a web developer at NextJump, an online affiliate advertising firm in New York. Prior to that, I was an extern in the Office of the Chief Scientist at State Street. My freshman summer I worked at Deutsche Bahn, the German national railroad, where I designed the smartphone version Touch&Travel, an app that lets you pay for the train with your phone.

MIT

At MIT I was heavily involved in classes, usually taking 7 classes a term, while being involved in student government. (I wrote about how I do it in Working out a System.) senior was dedicated to wrapping up requirements. Junior year at MIT I focused on EECS classes, as well as being elected president of Baker House. My second year at MIT focused on management classes. I was also involved in the vendor selection and implementation of the new dining plan. Freshman year, I took core classes and served on the Athena and Printing Committee. (I wrote about just hanging on freshmen year in Learning to Learn.)

Websites

I built a lot of web projects in high school. My most popular project, was GridView [1], an app for Facebook which lets you add the profile pics of all of you're friends to your Facebook profile. GridView had over 1.3 million users and made me some money.

I hosted and produced the video podcast Tecker 911 [2] along with some of my friends. Tecker 911 was a series of 100 5-15 minute shows each which covers a technology topic in a way which is relevant for ordinary people, with a focus towards students and our community. Tecker 911 was also shown on our local public access channel Channel 11.

I started SeniorQuoter, [3] an open-source web application for senior quotes collections for high school yearbooks. In 11th Grade, I lead a Dynamic Website Building Instruction and Practical Experience Group Study at my high school. I helped 4 other students learn PHP and MySQL and then I project managed version 2 of SeniorQuoter, the administration interface.

Tecker and Conflicter were question and answer services I built in 10th Grade. They never really caught on, but they were the perfect way to learn PHP. Dictionary Robot is something I tarted last year, but abandoned later. In 10th Grade, I was a member of Team 484 and in 11th Grade I was their webmaster.

In 8th and 9th Grades I wrote bunch of programs for the TI-83+.

Tech

My first two years at MIT, I was a regular on The Weekly Spin, a weekly take on tech stories and tech policy.

On my Tech page I have had a few pages about Devices I own and other small things that I have built. For example, I also made some improvements for MediaWiki, the software that runs ThePlaz.com and Wikipedia. I made a new skin for MediaWiki and a few MediaWiki extensions


Other Accounts

I also tag a lot of stories on Delicious. I also have over 70,000 photos on Flickr. I Tweet kinda regularly. I also post things to YouTube. And of course I have a Facebook. It all comes together on my FriendFeed.

Website Content

On my site you will find:

  • Updates on what I am involved in
  • Links to my other projects
  • My comments on the world
  • Photos and videos I have taken
  • School work and notes I have made
School Work

I hope that this knowledge will help people less-fortunate than me persevere and succeed. All of my work is under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 license, meaning that you may use it and re-post it anywhere as long as you post my name/nickname, provide a link back to my site, and don't make money off my work. Many people visit my site from overseas where the school system is not as good. See Site Mission Statement for more

    • For 9th Grade I have posted projects I did on the computer
    • For 10th Grade I have posted not only my work I made on a computer but laboriously scanned all of my handwritten notes and worksheets
    • For 11th Grade I am only posting my own notes (no worksheets) from very structured classes; I am scaling back
    • For 12th Grade I used a tablet PC, so I have posted my OneNote notebooks from the class
    • For MIT Freshman year, I used a tablet PC for the first semester; realized this was a bad idea; so I used paper which I scanned and released as large PDFs the second semester. Note MIT actually does the same thing I do with MIT OCW.
    • For MIT Sophomore I will continue to post large, comprehensive PDFs.
    • See also my Notes Key
Tech

Theweeklyspin.png The Weekly Spin

The Weekly Spin is a weekly rant about technology and tech policy with Michael Gdovin. We often cover the cell phone industry, the FCC, DRM, and Michael likes to throw in some Apple rumors.

Download the latest episodes: TheWeeklySpin.com Audio Podcast

Nuvola apps laptop pcmcia.png Student Tools edit

Nuvola apps knewsticker.png News edit

ThePlaz in often mentioned or interviewed in the news

MIT
MIT Dining
MITx/EdX
Baker Piano Drop
Tecker 911
GridView
ThePlaz.com Praise
  • Sam's Praise about my site
  • Baron Harkonnen's Thanks
  • Thanks for uploading Flickr photos
  • Uses Many ThePlaz.com Wiki features
  • A Drexel professor told me on the first day of class that I take very good notes and I would graduate suma cum laude from Harvard due to the quality of my notes at Gov School
  • Hi I saw your page about that download for the ferris wheel unit for IMP4, I didn't download it but even the info you had on the page helped me out. I have no idea what I'm doing and just started this year- i really get stuck on my homework EVERY night. Right now im working on HW 2 "As the ferris wheel turns" and i have no idea what I'm doing. But i just wanted to say thanks cause I'm gonna download that once I'm farther into the unit!--A Facebook user (J. S.)
  • Just wanted to let you know: I stole your headline method of note taking from your website and it is completely saving my life in American Studies. -Rebecca C.
  • Hey, you do have one of the best designed websites I have seen lately. Good job. A little flashy, but still functional. --Email comment 8/18/2010
Videos

Nuvola apps multimedia.png Video edit

Tecker 911 Logo.png Tecker 911

Nuvola filesystems camera.png Photos edit

Trips/Vacations
Universities
MIT
Haverford High School
Places/Events/Daytrips

(need to update)

Tech/Unboxing/Products
Pictures on the Wikimedia Commons

TI-83--rotated.png TI-83+ Stuff edit

Nuvola apps kcmprocessor.png Tech Stuff edit

I am a lot into technology. Here are links to some of my web sites as well as modifications and how-to articles about other software.

My Websites
Devices
MediaWiki Tweaks
Essays/Thoughts
Other

Nuvola apps gaim.png Miscellaneous edit

Nuvola apps remote.png Site Statistics edit

For up-to-date info see Special:Statistics

There are 6,499 total pages in the database, including 1,578 pages in the main namespace and 5,000 files uploaded. These counts do not include OneNote notebooks on minisites or SkyDrive, and count multi-page files (PDF and Word) as one page.

There have been a total of 5,163,449 page views, and 16,470 page edits since ThePlaz.com was setup. That comes to 2.53 average edits per page, and 313.51 views per edit.