Inkling commented:
Things that make you go hmmmm. Coincidi (isn’t that better than coincidences?) are eerie, even when concerning such ordinary things as mugs. It makes one want to cry, ’twas meant to be! But was it? Does the cosmos care if your father gets the right mug, no disrespect to your father? Or possibly we have some kind of power to make coincidences happen for ourselves? But then why the weird ones? Why????
Well, to play devil’s advocate, let’s assume the cosmos doesn’t care. But just think of all the events that occur in a given day that aren’t coincidental. Could it be that the laws of probability dictate that out of all the events that occur, some are bound to be coincidental, and occasionally even weird? Wouldn’t it be weirder if there were no weird coincidences?
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Posted on June 22, 2006, 8:06 am
by Julie
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I know, I know. It’s not Friday. Nor is it poetry. But somehow “Doggerel Saturday” just didn’t sound quite right.
Anyway, my dad suggested that we revisit the clerihew. We’ve had clerihews before at Le Blog Bookworm, but it was quite a while ago, and perhaps the topic is worth reviving. Here is the detailed explanation of this venerable art form — and it’s worth clicking the link just to read the marvelous clerihews in the comments — but just in case you don’t, clerihews are four-line poems. Rhyme scheme: AABB. Meter: any. Topic: A famous person, whose name must be mentioned somewhere in the first line. Goal: gentle humor.
Read more on Poetry Friday…
My first foray into the wonderful world of Penguin Classics: Flatland, A Romance of Many Dimensions, by A. Square (Edwin A. Abbott), first published in 1884.
This was an odd little . . . volume. I can’t really call it a novel, although it’s certainly novel. It takes place in a world where — well, A. Square describes it better than I can:
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After Christmas dinner with my husband’s family a year ago I wrote a post about mathematical knitting, courtesy of retired mathematician Grandma Joan. That post is the most popular one I’ve ever written, according to my site meter, and it continues to get Google hits on a regular basis. Therefore I am sure the blogosphere will be delighted to know that I’ve returned from Christmas dinner with some more math for you. This time it comes courtesy of retired mathematician Cousin Ward.
Read more on A perfect number…
Posted on December 27, 2005, 7:02 am
by Julie
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Also posted in Family
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Well! It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to do any blogging. We’ve had spring break this week, which means that I actually get to spend some quality time with my husband in the evenings when I would normally be blogging.
Read more on “You like algebra, right?”…
Posted on April 1, 2005, 6:10 pm
by Julie
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The ingenuity of these kids is mind-boggling. There were so many great projects. The coolest one, I thought, was one by a second-grader. Did you know that if you fold your paper properly, just one straight cut across the folds will yield any shape you want? A mathematical prodigy proved this, and this kid found out about it and turned it into a Mind Fair project. Another cool one: a 3rd grader did a photo essay documenting how to set up a fish tank, including testing the water, choosing compatible fish, etc. Other topics: African American Astronauts; All About Cheese (including samples); Dolphins; Volcanoes; Anatomy of a Ferret; What is the Fastest Bird/Mammal/Fish; and of course . . . Ladybugs! As promised, here’s the photo:
Read more on More on the Mind Fair…
Have you ever heard of it?
At Christmas dinner I learned all about mathematical knitting from the mother-in-law of my husband’s cousin. She’s a retired mathematician and an avid knitter. Here’s a mathematical afghan she made. Picture an afghan composed of squares: Read more on Mathematical Knitting…
