Comments on: 17-y-o girl, accepted to MIT, sends her admission letter into space http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 12:29:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Jean-Paul Leonard http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1339752 Jean-Paul Leonard Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1339752 Made me smile - good luck, Erin! Made me smile – good luck, Erin!

]]> By: Paola M. http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1339443 Paola M. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1339443 I want my daughters to be like you!!! What a confident girl!!! Congrats!!!! :D I want my daughters to be like you!!! What a confident girl!!! Congrats!!!! :D

]]> By: Jim Saul http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1339087 Jim Saul Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1339087 You'll get another recruiting chance when doctoral programs are competing for her. You’ll get another recruiting chance when doctoral programs are competing for her.

]]> By: Philip Gladstone http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338787 Philip Gladstone Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338787 For a non-fisheye view of the ride, you can see the balloon track in Google Earth with a virtual camera riding on the balloon. Unfortunately the telemetry was lost at around 17,000m and wasn't recovered. http://pond1.gladstonefamily.net/cgi-bin/eoss.pl/balloon=922 For a non-fisheye view of the ride, you can see the balloon track in Google Earth with a virtual camera riding on the balloon. Unfortunately the telemetry was lost at around 17,000m and wasn’t recovered.

http://pond1.gladstonefamily.net/cgi-bin/eoss.pl/balloon=922

]]> By: Jay Sitlani http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338764 Jay Sitlani Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338764 Fantastic in so many ways!  Congratulations on your acceptance.  MIT's lucky to get you :). Jay MIT, Class of 1988 Fantastic in so many ways!  Congratulations on your acceptance.  MIT’s lucky to get you :).

Jay MIT, Class of 1988

]]> By: ChickieD http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338753 ChickieD Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338753 I love this video. The cinematography and editing are great and add a lot to capturing the fun of the hack.  I love this video. The cinematography and editing are great and add a lot to capturing the fun of the hack. 

]]> By: Patanjali Sacha http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338600 Patanjali Sacha Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338600 What an inventive project! Awesome ladies like yourself are so inspiring. Additionally, the time you took to respond to everyone here shows a lot about your character! Have a blast in Cambridge and Boston. What an inventive project! Awesome ladies like yourself are so inspiring. Additionally, the time you took to respond to everyone here shows a lot about your character! Have a blast in Cambridge and Boston.

]]> By: awjt http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338441 awjt Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338441 Erin, best of luck to you in school!  You will get much further up than your balloon did!  Nice work and keep at it. Erin, best of luck to you in school!  You will get much further up than your balloon did!  Nice work and keep at it.

]]> By: G Cardenas http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338424 G Cardenas Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338424 Wow! Wow!

]]> By: GertaLives http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338411 GertaLives Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338411 I'm usually glad not to have a "dislike" button, since it's nice to keep things positive. But right now, I wouldn't mind being able to vote down comments. I’m usually glad not to have a “dislike” button, since it’s nice to keep things positive. But right now, I wouldn’t mind being able to vote down comments.

]]> By: xvedejas http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338359 xvedejas Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338359 If you like space, why not go to Caltech instead? We have JPL and a much more serious set of science courses than MIT from what I've seen... If you like space, why not go to Caltech instead? We have JPL and a much more serious set of science courses than MIT from what I’ve seen…

]]> By: haineux http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338350 haineux Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338350 I am sure you make your own transistors when building your radio circuits, right? RIGHT? Because Jerri Ellis did. So step up, or step off. I am sure you make your own transistors when building your radio circuits, right? RIGHT?

Because Jerri Ellis did. So step up, or step off.

]]> By: haineux http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338346 haineux Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338346 Once upon a time, many years ago, I was an MIT student and a photographer for The Tech (MIT's oldest and largest newspaper), and was told to go to a certain location at a certain time, to witness a hack of truly epic proportions. I overslept. The other photographer, got lost. So I ended up in the offices of The Tech, and then the phone started ringing. The Boston Globe and the Boston Herald called to get information. Someone found a TV and tuned in to EPSN, so we could see a video. And my girlfriend and I wrote the story, which you can read here: http://tech.mit.edu/V102/PDF/N55.pdf (The pictures were taken by the Harvard Crimson (student newspaper) photographer, Nevin Shalit, son of TV personality Gene Shalit. Nice guy.) Hearing "an old balloon hack" made me feel really, really old (it happened before Erin was born!) and a little sad. It was, to me, the very best hack ever perpetrated. Totally unexpected, flawless, and a marvel of engineering. No flies on Erin, of course. Shooting an acceptance letter into "near space" -- good work! Now get to work inventing explanations for IHTFP. Once upon a time, many years ago, I was an MIT student and a photographer for The Tech (MIT’s oldest and largest newspaper), and was told to go to a certain location at a certain time, to witness a hack of truly epic proportions. I overslept. The other photographer, got lost. So I ended up in the offices of The Tech, and then the phone started ringing. The Boston Globe and the Boston Herald called to get information. Someone found a TV and tuned in to EPSN, so we could see a video. And my girlfriend and I wrote the story, which you can read here: http://tech.mit.edu/V102/PDF/N55.pdf (The pictures were taken by the Harvard Crimson (student newspaper) photographer, Nevin Shalit, son of TV personality Gene Shalit. Nice guy.)

Hearing “an old balloon hack” made me feel really, really old (it happened before Erin was born!) and a little sad. It was, to me, the very best hack ever perpetrated. Totally unexpected, flawless, and a marvel of engineering.

No flies on Erin, of course. Shooting an acceptance letter into “near space” — good work! Now get to work inventing explanations for IHTFP.

]]> By: grimatongueworm http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338301 grimatongueworm Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338301 Dammit, where's the NSFMS tag??? (not safe for motion sickness) going to go and throw up now. Dammit, where’s the NSFMS tag??? (not safe for motion sickness) going to go and throw up now.

]]> By: Snig http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338281 Snig Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338281 This is the balloon based hack initially mentioned: http://www.technologyreview.com/article/19218/  here are later ones: http://hacks.mit.edu/Hacks/ This is the balloon based hack initially mentioned:
http://www.technologyreview.com/article/19218/

 here are later ones:

http://hacks.mit.edu/Hacks/

]]> By: Snig http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338278 Snig Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338278  Worked for eight years for a biochemist.  One of her many strengths was her ability to collaborate with several labs in multiple institutions, within related fields.  It's how a lot of science is done.   Worked for eight years for a biochemist.  One of her many strengths was her ability to collaborate with several labs in multiple institutions, within related fields.  It’s how a lot of science is done. 

]]> By: Snig http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338277 Snig Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338277 Hate those astronauts and NASA engineers and scientists too.  None of them had the balls to make it into space singlehanded. Hate those astronauts and NASA engineers and scientists too.  None of them had the balls to make it into space singlehanded.

]]> By: Mr. Spocko http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338276 Mr. Spocko Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338276 What you saw was NOT a space ship. The word Enterprise was just printing on the shreds of the balloon. To order more balloons for your next trip to near space write us at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=UTF-8&gfns=1&q=walla+walla&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x54a2154ba0d0f73b:0x12c4afcfe71db1d4,Walla+Walla,+WA&gl=us&ei=-TAvT5yPNaWWiAKe_N3DCg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CEUQ8gEwAA" rel="nofollow">Our address 1701 Enterprise Street, Asheboro, NC</a> (Stupid primitive distributed matrix for distribution of images and video. Now we are going to have to go back in time and zap that camera. What? Did I just type that out loud? Stupid mind to text translator. Stop typing what I'm thinking. End. Quit. Stop. Reverse the polarity. Log out. What you saw was NOT a space ship. The word Enterprise was just printing on the shreds of the balloon. To order more balloons for your next trip to near space write us at Our address 1701 Enterprise Street, Asheboro, NC

(Stupid primitive distributed matrix for distribution of images and video. Now we are going to have to go back in time and zap that camera. What? Did I just type that out loud? Stupid mind to text translator. Stop typing what I’m thinking. End. Quit. Stop. Reverse the polarity. Log out.

]]> By: cstatman http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338237 cstatman Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338237 Just when I think the idiot clones at the mall are the END of our species, and we have nothing left to offer,   bright young rays of light shine through!     Go Large, invent, dream, build amazing things!   and thank you for being bright! Just when I think the idiot clones at the mall are the END of our species, and we have nothing left to offer,   bright young rays of light shine through!     Go Large, invent, dream, build amazing things!   and thank you for being bright!

]]> By: Erin King http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338212 Erin King Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338212 Braves! ;D Braves! ;D

]]> By: LogrusZed http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338208 LogrusZed Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338208 Way to go Erin, Peach State REPRESENT! Go Dawgs, etc. Way to go Erin, Peach State REPRESENT! Go Dawgs, etc.

]]> By: LogrusZed http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338207 LogrusZed Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338207  Was that her dad with a blonde wig soldering the thing? Who typed this response on your behalf, because you're clearly too stupid to have figured out keyboards on your own.  Was that her dad with a blonde wig soldering the thing? Who typed this response on your behalf, because you’re clearly too stupid to have figured out keyboards on your own.

]]> By: Erin King http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338202 Erin King Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338202 Lol yes! That was my mom's, actually :D Lol yes! That was my mom’s, actually :D

]]> By: allen http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338201 allen Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338201 Sidestepping all the gender-oriented commentary, this is awesome.  Good job kid! Sidestepping all the gender-oriented commentary, this is awesome.  Good job kid!

]]> By: Erin King http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338200 Erin King Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338200 thanks! thanks!

]]> By: Erin King http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338198 Erin King Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338198 Haha! that's awesome. XD Thanks, y'all. It was actually just what my friends and I like to call a "balloon shard" Haha! that’s awesome. XD Thanks, y’all. It was actually just what my friends and I like to call a “balloon shard”

]]> By: Erin King http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338199 Erin King Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338199 His was one of my favorites, too :D His was one of my favorites, too :D

]]> By: Erin King http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338197 Erin King Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338197 Lol, I saw that commercial, too. But no ;) Lol, I saw that commercial, too. But no ;)

]]> By: Erin King http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338196 Erin King Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338196 Of course I asked my friends for help, as it is not a one-person project, but it was in fact my idea, and I did all of the planning and preparation. It was my project. Thanks to everyone else for sticking up for me. Of course I asked my friends for help, as it is not a one-person project, but it was in fact my idea, and I did all of the planning and preparation. It was my project. Thanks to everyone else for sticking up for me.

]]> By: Erin King http://boingboing.net/2012/02/04/16-y-o-girl-accepted-to-mit.html#comment-1338194 Erin King Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=142337#comment-1338194 ...Close enough. >w< thanks, Chris! …Close enough.

>w< thanks, Chris!

]]>