6 ms·

Strange how I never heard of him before. While being both rich and an extremely accomplished individual, he seems to defy the stereotype of the mad genius.

nilkn 12y ago
I only know about him because of Renaissance Technologies, which is renowned in some circles as being extraordinarily hard to get a job at. They're known for snagging repeat Putnam Fellows. Last I heard Reid Barton ended up there.
- zeeshanm 12y ago
  I know him since he was math department chair at my alma mater!
- tomp 12y ago
  The Putnam Competition questions seem very interesting. http://kskedlaya.org/putnam-archive/ http://kskedlaya.org/putnam-archive/
  - whatusername 12y ago
    2546 days ago.... https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35079 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35079
    - kooshball 12y ago
      That's a pretty funny thread. Near the bottom you see this guy talking about his startup ideas and Drew Houston replies and asked him if he wants to help with Dropbox. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35088 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35088
      - whatusername 12y ago
        And of course -- Colin's tarsnap is still essentially the same as it ever was (a brilliant technical solution with awful marketing) - and Dropbox is one of the jewel's in YC's crown. (See this recent post on tarsnap: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7523953 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7523953 )
- chaoxu 12y ago
  I know him because my independent study professor for analysis canceled his meeting with me because Simons took half of the math department for a cruise vacation. Well, I was happy. I didn't finish my hw that week. :)
melling 12y ago
Guess he hasn't been mentioned on HN for a while, and when he does get posted it doesn't look like he's voted up: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3927653 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2850967 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2843203 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1884988 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=196370 - Actual comments

nilkn 12y ago

I only know about him because of Renaissance Technologies, which is renowned in some circles as being extraordinarily hard to get a job at. They're known for snagging repeat Putnam Fellows. Last I heard Reid Barton ended up there.

zeeshanm 12y ago
I know him since he was math department chair at my alma mater!
tomp 12y ago
The Putnam Competition questions seem very interesting. http://kskedlaya.org/putnam-archive/ http://kskedlaya.org/putnam-archive/
- whatusername 12y ago
  2546 days ago.... https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35079 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35079
  - kooshball 12y ago
    That's a pretty funny thread. Near the bottom you see this guy talking about his startup ideas and Drew Houston replies and asked him if he wants to help with Dropbox. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35088 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35088
    - whatusername 12y ago
      And of course -- Colin's tarsnap is still essentially the same as it ever was (a brilliant technical solution with awful marketing) - and Dropbox is one of the jewel's in YC's crown. (See this recent post on tarsnap: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7523953 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7523953 )
chaoxu 12y ago
I know him because my independent study professor for analysis canceled his meeting with me because Simons took half of the math department for a cruise vacation. Well, I was happy. I didn't finish my hw that week. :)

melling 12y ago

Guess he hasn't been mentioned on HN for a while, and when he does get posted it doesn't look like he's voted up: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3927653 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2850967 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2843203 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1884988 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=196370 - Actual comments