Updated main pages

content/_index.md

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 title: "Max Fierro"
 ---
 
-
 Howdy! I'm Max, and I am in your user space.
 
 If you are looking for my technical experience, take a look at my [resume](/resume/). If you want to get to know me a little better, there is a corresponding wall of text in my [about page](/about/). Otherwise, feel free to take a look at my [favorite music](/music/), or read through one of my longer-form posts below.

content/about.md

@@ -33,12 +33,12 @@ Understanding this (which took a lot of work) has allowed me to live a life free
 
 As a result, I am also very lighthearted and generally a positive person. My mood only ever darkens for no apparent reason (science still cannot answer why I woke up feeling down today). When it does, I apply the same reasoning and am very open about it, saying that I am just not having a great day. With emotions and with everything, I am a person who truly believes in communication, and who is open to being wrong (because I do not know much). I do not feel challenged or in attrition when put in otherwise uncomfortable situations with others, because from my point of view, there is never anything to challenge.
 
-## Beauty and aesthetics
+## Functional aesthetics
 
-As I mentioned, my mind gravitates naturally towards the abstract. This is because I believe there is profound beauty within simple form. In this regard, I have allowed my aesthetics to be a guide when it comes to what I do with my time.
+As I mentioned, my mind gravitates towards the abstract. This is because to me there is profound beauty in simple form. With regards to this, I have allowed my aesthetics to be a guide when it comes to what I do with my time; the personification of my biological mechanism optimizes for the beauty it perceives, which is an objective it can only "clarify," and certainly not "define" into abundance.
 
 This appreciation often finds itself at odds with the intent of having a tangible impact on my surroundings. However, even within functional processes, I have been able to draw abstract parallels with pure forms, which I find very stimulating. This has allowed me to blur the lines between what I do out of need, good, and affection.
 
-I have accepted the belief that form and function are not very different, and that the ways they present themselves to us is via our aesthetics. I believe that function can be synthesized by finding motivation in the beauty of form. This is to say that we can sometimes notice patterns first, and only then come up with useful functionality to fit into them. This differs from the usual understanding of function, where it is believed that people should train to understand it, and then force reality to conform to the structure it would otherwise present itself in. This is what design means to me; the beautiful process of composing form and function.
+I am not sure how relevant it is to my representations of "form" and "function," but an architect once said that all beautiful buildings have function but that the converse is false -- hence, the form something takes should mold to its function. In confused disagreement, I have accepted the belief that form and function are not very different, and that the way they both present themselves to us is via our aesthetics. I believe that function can be synthesized by finding motivation in the beauty of form. This is to say that we can sometimes notice patterns first, and only then come up with useful functionality to "fit" into them. This differs from the usual understanding of function, where it is believed that people should train to understand it, and then force reality to conform to the structure it would otherwise present itself in. This is what design means to me at an atomic level; a single-step process of composing beautiful forms into another one that is both beautiful and functional, not the multi-step procedure of ascertaining desired function and then formally wrapping it.
 
-I think that individuals are capable of producing novel results if their aesthetics are sufficiently developed, and if they are given enough resources to follow the drive that is born therefrom. At least in my case, design is something very personal, and in many regards it is also synonymous to problem-solving.
+With these ramblings out of the way, it will not come as a surprise that I think that individuals are capable of producing novel results if their aesthetics are sufficiently developed, and if they are given enough resources to follow the drive that is very naturally born therefrom. At least in my case, design is something very personal, and in many regards it is also synonymous to problem-solving. Perhaps my cloudy thesis (if there is one at all) is that the concepts in discussion exist as a homogenous mixture in my mind, and that my attempt to gerrymander them has output the label "functional aesthetics."

content/music.md

@@ -10,45 +10,45 @@ date: 2024-02-19
 
 {{< /center >}}
 
-{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273101232ffd5af0e3c37e2c528" width="256" attr="\"I Let It in and It Took Everything\" by Loathe" align=center target="_blank" >}}
+{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273d8db2a2e1fb2474962960d25" width="256" attr="\"Effloresce\" by Covet" align=center target="_blank" >}}
 
-{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b27373652b7a0dc388dd1d044b69" width="256" attr="\"Koi No Yokan\" by Deftones" align=center target="_blank" >}}
+{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273fc825d57fe8933e012c2ad62" width="256" attr="\"Technicolor\" by Covet" align=center target="_blank" >}}
 
-{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273ca41a947c13b78749c4953b1" width="256" attr="\"Lateralus\" by Tool" align=center target="_blank" >}}
+{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273101232ffd5af0e3c37e2c528" width="256" attr="\"I Let It in and It Took Everything\" by Loathe" align=center target="_blank" >}}
 
-{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b2738431fb4cb38f8ee96d3434c0" width="256" attr="\"The Division Bell\" by Pink Floyd" align=center target="_blank" >}}
+{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b27373652b7a0dc388dd1d044b69" width="256" attr="\"Koi No Yokan\" by Deftones" align=center target="_blank" >}}
 
 {{< brk >}}
 
 {{< center >}}
 
-## Reggaeton
+## Classical
 
 {{< /center >}}
 
-{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b2738e8753ff69b7efb6f8e146cd" width="256" attr="\"FERXXO (VOL 1: M.O.R.)\" by Feid" align=center target="_blank" >}}
+{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b2738d47f69b6e1b5e7202e49ea0" width="256" attr="Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6" align=center target="_blank" >}}
 
-{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b2733d7b95838b533131d1db6292" width="256" attr="\"INTER SHIBUYA - LA MAFIA\" by Feid" align=center target="_blank" >}}
+{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273b550c53b4dc7c0c30efcb574" width="256" attr="Bach's Goldberg Variations" align=center target="_blank" >}}
 
-{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d00001e02614b5974ec6e23185462700b" width="256" attr="\"Famouz\" by Jhay Cortez" align=center target="_blank" >}}
+{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273d612003e37c4cdc82f39eda7" width="256" attr="Paganini's 24 Caprices" align=center target="_blank" >}}
 
-{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273f885fb64a381318a1c9c14e4" width="256" attr="\"DATA\" by Tainy" align=center target="_blank" >}}
+{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d00001e02e379b684061a1d2de65c9494" width="256" attr="Debussy's Préludes, Book 1" align=center target="_blank" >}}
 
 {{< brk >}}
 
 {{< center >}}
 
-## Classical
+## Reggaeton
 
 {{< /center >}}
 
-{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b2738d47f69b6e1b5e7202e49ea0" width="256" attr="Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6" align=center target="_blank" >}}
+{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b2738e8753ff69b7efb6f8e146cd" width="256" attr="\"FERXXO (VOL 1: M.O.R.)\" by Feid" align=center target="_blank" >}}
 
-{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273d612003e37c4cdc82f39eda7" width="256" attr="Paganini's 24 Caprices" align=center target="_blank" >}}
+{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b2733d7b95838b533131d1db6292" width="256" attr="\"INTER SHIBUYA - LA MAFIA\" by Feid" align=center target="_blank" >}}
 
-{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d00001e02e379b684061a1d2de65c9494" width="256" attr="Debussy's Préludes, Book 1" align=center target="_blank" >}}
+{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d00001e02614b5974ec6e23185462700b" width="256" attr="\"Famouz\" by Jhay Cortez" align=center target="_blank" >}}
 
-{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b2734a7a2e0cab8f2db75a1c3f55" width="256" attr="Chopin's 4 Ballades" align=center target="_blank" >}}
+{{< figure src="https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273f885fb64a381318a1c9c14e4" width="256" attr="\"DATA\" by Tainy" align=center target="_blank" >}}
 
 {{< brk >}}
 

content/resume.md

@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 ---
 title: "Resume"
 summary: Long-form summary of my life's work and achievements.
-date: 2024-04-24
+date: 2024-07-14
 weight: 1
 ---
 
 ## Introduction
 
-I am a third-year undergraduate and have found interests in mathematics, computer science, and engineering. I am especially interested in game theory, multiagent systems, and systems programming. I also work in UC Berkeley IT and am involved with an applied research group exploring computational game theory, advised by [Prof. Garcia](https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~ddgarcia/).
+I am a fourth-year undergraduate invested in mathematics and computer science. I am interested in game theory, programming languages, and systems programming. I also work in UC Berkeley IT and am involved with an applied research group exploring computational game theory, advised by [Prof. Garcia](https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~ddgarcia/).
 
 ---
 
@@ -25,17 +25,19 @@ _**B.A. Computer Science, minor in Mathematics** - In progress_
 * `CS 61C` **_Great Ideas in Computer Architecture_** ([Prof. Garcia](https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~ddgarcia/))
 * `CS 170` **_Efficient Algorithms & Intractable Problems_** ([Prof. Haghtalab](https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~nika/), [Prof. Wright](https://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/Faculty/Homepages/jswright.html#main-content))
 * `CS 186` _Introduction to Database Systems_ ([Prof. Cheung](https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~akcheung/))
+* `CS 162` **_Operating Systems & Systems Programming_** ([Prof. Kubiatowicz](https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~kubitron/))
 
 <!-- -->
 
 * `MATH 1A` _Calculus I_ ([Prof. Vojta](https://math.berkeley.edu/~vojta/))
 * `MATH 1B` _Calculus II_ ([Prof. Paulin](https://math.berkeley.edu/~apaulin/))
 * `MATH 54` **_Linear Algebra & Differential Equations_** ([Prof. Lott](https://math.berkeley.edu/~lott/))
+* `MATH 110` **_Abstract Linear Algebra_** ([Prof. Frenkel](https://www.edwardfrenkel.com/))
 
 In progress:
 
-* `CS 162` _Operating Systems & Systems Programming_ ([Prof. Kubiatowicz](https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~kubitron/))
-* `MATH 110` _Abstract Linear Algebra_ ([Prof. Frenkel](https://www.edwardfrenkel.com/))
+* `CS 164` _Programming Languages and Compilers_ ([Prof. Sen](https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~ksen/))
+* `CS 189` _Introduction to Machine Learning_ ([Prof. Listgarten](http://www.jennifer.listgarten.com/))
 
 **Courses **in bold** are favorites of mine!*
 
@@ -51,9 +53,9 @@ New York, NY -- May 2024 to Aug 2024
 
 {{< collapse "summary"="Details..." >}}
 
-I will be working on systems for machine learning as part of the Ads Training Data and Model Infrastructure organizational grouph.
+I am part of the Ads AI Infrastructure group, where I own a project that will facilitate automatic tuning of hyper- and production parameters for models that are online-trained, such as the models that estimate the probability of a user's click on a given ad on their feed. Tuning these parameters helps minimize both loss and compute-related cost overhead.
 
-[]() <!-- This is for rendering the above as a <p> element -->
+This mostly looks like writing [typed Python](https://pyre-check.org/) and working with a very wide breadth of internal tooling, including HPC schedulers, database services, and [distributed computing frameworks](https://engineering.fb.com/2016/05/09/core-infra/introducing-fblearner-flow-facebook-s-ai-backbone/).
 
 {{< /collapse >}}
 
@@ -96,12 +98,24 @@ I led a team responsible for the development of open-ended IT initiatives in the
 
 In addition to these collective achievements, in my specific capacity as team lead I was able to:
 
-* Conduct 4 successful hiring panels for positions on my team (including my own).
+* Conduct 4 successful hiring panels for positions on my team (including my own position).
 * Advise ex-CIO Jenn Stringer and IT leadership as part of the [Student Technology Council](https://stc.berkeley.edu/).
 * [Contribute](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JcIjnEDlngqoJxj0I6JEmAplYlQL42iv/view?usp=sharing) to the OneIT initiative instantiating more student programs in Berkeley IT.
 
 {{< /collapse >}}
 
+### Senior Endpoint Engineer @ [UC Berkeley SAIT](https://technology.berkeley.edu/SAIT)
+
+Berkeley, CA -- Since Feb 2024
+
+{{< collapse "summary"="Details..." >}}
+
+After leading the Endpoint Engineering team for about 2 years, I transitioned to a Senior role to enjoy additional time for pursuing my research interests. I focus on supporting my team in additional onboarding as well as other ongoing efforts, such as improving our implementation of mobile device management.
+
+[]() <!-- This is for rendering the above as a <p> element -->
+
+{{< /collapse >}}
+
 ### Technology Consultant @ [UC Berkeley SAIT](https://technology.berkeley.edu/SAIT)
 
 Berkeley, CA -- Aug 2021 to Mar 2022
@@ -136,7 +150,7 @@ Berkeley, CA -- Jan 2023 to now
 
 {{< collapse "summary"="Details..." >}}
 
-We research computational methods for strongly solving abstract strategy games (and make the solution sets available through a few types of interfaces). I am personally interested in the computational modelling of coalitional games, and in developing infrastructure for finding "solutions" for them generically.
+We research computational methods generating [strong solutions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solved_game#:~:text=of%20the%20game.-,Strong%20solution,-%5Bedit%5D) for different classes of sequential games (and make the solutions available through a few types of interfaces). I am personally interested in the computational modelling of coalitional games, and in developing infrastructure for finding "solutions" for them generically.
 
 {{< collapse "summary"="Work in progress..." >}}
 
@@ -150,14 +164,14 @@ We research computational methods for strongly solving abstract strategy games (
 
 {{< collapse "summary"="Complete results..." >}}
 
-* Solving [Five Field Kono](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Field_Kono) (you can play against the solution [here](https://nyc.cs.berkeley.edu/uni/games/fivefieldkono/variants/regular)).
-* Outreach during [CalDay 2023](https://engineering.berkeley.edu/events/cal-day/)!
+* Solving [Five-Field Kono](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Field_Kono) (you can play against the solution [here](https://nyc.cs.berkeley.edu/uni/games/fivefieldkono/variants/regular)).
+* Outreach during [CalDay '23 and '24](https://engineering.berkeley.edu/events/cal-day/)!
 
 {{< /collapse >}}
 
 {{< /collapse >}}
 
-### Competitive Robotics @ [FIRST Team #6348](https://frc-events.firstinspires.org/team/6348)
+### Competition Robotics @ [FIRST Team #6348](https://frc-events.firstinspires.org/team/6348)
 
 Colima, Mexico -- Sep 2019 to Aug 2022
 

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