Mathematical BS

This post will not be discussing the Bachelor of Science.

It seems the media is under the impression the general population does not know a lot of math. It is very likely this could be correct. Someone gave math a bad name long ago and now it's gotten about. Math has been falsely accused of being too hard. Which makes me sad (and annoys me) but I will not be venting about this topic just now.

I’ve been reading the next book in The Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde. This one is called Lost in a Good Book. Here is a small excerpt from page 87 where Thursday is asking her Uncle about coincidences.

"Well," he said thoughtfully, "it is my considered opinion that most coincidences are simply quirks of chance--if you extrapolate the bell curve of probability you will find statistical abnormalities that seem unusual but are, in actual fact, quite likely, given the amount of people on the planet and the amount of different things we do in our lives."

I can’t help but laugh when I read this total BS. Please do not misunderstand me, I am in no way trying to knock the book, I have very much enjoyed Fforde’s writing style. But it just makes me laugh. It’s cleverly written to make you think he is saying something brilliant, but mathematically it’s all BS.

Ever seen the Wizard of Oz?

Sadly there is no such theorem about an isosceles triangle. BS again.

For those of you who have seen the movie 21 there is a lot of math terms being thrown around. For such a math-type movie I would have hoped for more. The first scene in the class room Prof. Micky Rosa jumps around wilding from Newton’s Method to Probability Theory, which is utterly unrelated to the class which is stated to be Non-Linear Equations (which is not an actual class). The comments are full of part truths that make it sound smart and correct. But I’m gonna go with BS in this case (although less BS than most).

I.Q. is a super cute movie where Meg Ryan plays a mathematician. Unfortunately what she writes on the chalkboard while solving a problem is BS yet again. There is a partial derivative operator with nothing for it to operate on. It’s the equivalent to saying 5 + … You are left hanging, what is it you want to add to 5? You’ll never know.


I must make one very important exception to this: Futurama. Not only is this show full of math and science humor, it’s pretty much all spot on correct.

Root 66 – bah ha ha!

I love seeing math portrayed in movies and books. Mostly because I just think it’s funny. And please, do not believe what you see in the movies!

New Moon

Call me girly... but I am really looking forward to this. And, I might add, it looks a little higher budget than the first. :)

Oooo, Shiny!

I like cars.

Particularly shiny fast ones.

Even more than that, I like cars with men in them.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Tonight my dad reminded me of a story I've not heard in a while. Many years ago my family was living in Florida and had decided to take a road trip to visit the grandparents. At some point along the way we pulled over for a rest when my dad stood me up on the hood and I took my very first steps ever across the hood of that car to my mother on the other side.

Why is this important? Mostly because I now know how to walk from that experience. And walk I have. Too much recently as I've given myself shin splints, but that is another story. This experience is also important because even as I took my first steps I was staking my claim: on cars. I love cars.

I personally think you can tell something of an individual’s personality by what they choose to drive. I often ask after cars when getting to know someone new. And then I permanently relate that person to their car in my mind.

When I see David I think Mustang. Alan, Porsche. Keri, you are still a Mini Cooper in my mind, I can’t seem to transition to your new car yet. Erin, Chevy Trucks. Correction: BIG Chevy Trucks. Ric, Pontiac GTO. Erica, Jeeps. And the newest addition: Jason, Dodge Charger (which I will be getting my ride in this weekend!).

Now I’m curious , does anyone else relate cars to personalities and friends?

Along with loving cars, I love to see others love their own cars. You can often notice this in the way someone talks about their car, or treats it, or keeps it clean. Or the way they look at it after driving them to their car after carpooling somewhere. I’m happy to know my friends’ cars are loved.

so not my car, but I like riding in it
(and I'm pretty sure I'd enjoy driving it too, hint hint!)

Book Review: The Blue Sword

The Blue Sword
by Robin McKinley
Rating: 5 starts out of 5
"it was amazing"

This is my all time favorite book! I know I call a lot of things my favorite, but this one actually is. I've read it more times than any other book I own (apart from my scriptures). I guess I cheated a little this time and got the audio version at the library. Even still, now that it is over all too soon I cannot help but want to start the book all over again.

Harry Crewe is on her way to the border of Daria to live closer to her brother, her only remaining family. However Richard is in the military and cannot properly take care of her, so she stays in the home of Sir Charles and Lady Amelia. Just north of the Homeland lies Damar where Corlath is King of the Hillfolk. Stories and legends of magic float around about the Hillfolk and no one knows exactly what to believe about them. Mostly Damar keeps to itself.

Corlath pays a visit to Sir Charles and a few other leaders in the area to request aid against the Northerners who are preparing to go to battle. Daria refuses aid unless Corlath is willing to turn his entire country over to Daria rule. Corlath refuses this and starts his journey home empty handed. Just as he is storming out Corlath makes eye contact with Harry. After this he cannot get Harry out of his mind. He knows he needs her and must go back for her. Corlath does possess a certain amount of 'magic' known as kelar. Corlath returns and kidnaps Harry during the night (against his better judgment as a good and honest king) because his kelar demanded it of him.

Even though she has been kidnapped Harry is treated with respect as the special guest of the King. For dinner one evening she drinks from the Water of Sight and has a vision of war. Corlath then begins to understand why he needs her. She is immediately trained for combat in war. Within 6 weeks Harry enters the Laprun Trials and pretty much kicks everyone’s trash. The people love her and immediately begin to call her the Damalur-sol, or Lady Hero. Damar has found a new hope again.

I think I love this book so much because Harry is everything I dreamed of being as a child. My daydreams and fantasies and 'playing pretend' with my sister were all about being this type of character. Only McKinley creates a more vivid world than any I imagined.

Several of you will already know this, but I am on a hunt for The Blue Sword. Every time I visit a sword shop or medieval fair I look for a sword that fits the description of Gonturan from the book. I have as yet to find what I am looking for. When I have a bit more money to toss around I plan on having it custom made. I will then hang it over my mantel for display when I'm not playing with it. Gonturan will then be passed down to a daughter, for only a woman can wield this sword.

Book Review: Wildwood Dancing

Wildwood Dancing
by Juliet Marillier
rating: 5 starts out of 5
"it was amazing"

This is one of my favorite books. I first read it last summer while visiting my older sister Merry (dragon tamer and mother extraordinaire) upon her recommendation.

Jena is the "sensible one" among the 5 sisters and is left in charge of her fathers business for the winter while he travels to warmer climates for health reasons. The eldest, Tati, is known as the "beatiful one" and is also left in charge. It is not long before things start to go amiss and their domineering cousin, Cesar, starts to take over. Cesar is a man and does not believe a woman capable of handling money and the accounts of business. (He makes me so mad every time I read this!) Jena and her sisters find their escape in the Other Kingdom. Each full moon they sneak through a secret portal to Dancing Glade in the Fairy Kingdom and dance the evening away with the likes of dwarves and trolls, witches and scholars.

The main reason I love this book so much is for the world Juliet Marillier creates. It feels real enough to touch. I love how strong a character Jena is through the hard times. There are 2 romantic relationships that form during this book. I enjoy comparing each as we see them form and observing how each sister reacts. Tati has a bit of a silly relationship, they looked at each other and were in love. Tati then immediately starts making stupid choices "for love". Poppycock. The other relationship is strong and grows over years of close friendship and mutual trust.

I feel like I relate to the sensible sister a bit more.

Wolverine

Tonight I watched Wolverine with a couple friends and I must say that I enjoyed it. I've been a fan of Hugh Jackman since before he did the X-Men Series, and now I only like him more for it. He did excellent. So animal-like.

I like what my friend Erica commented on during the movie: he has very expressive eyebrows.


I'm not one to typically ogle over celebrities, but I do believe God really outdid himself while creating this fine specimen.

As much as I enjoyed the movie and enjoyed seeing Jackman I would also say the movie was slightly on the violent side for me. As life gets increasingly busier with school and work I find I watch very few movies now. I never watch any television either. The violence that once never bothered me is becoming bothersome now that I've purged a bit of it out of my life.

New Bed

I've been wanting a new bed for a long time. The one I've been sleeping on is old and more than worn out. Last Friday I did a little shopping and purchased my very own, brand new, bed! It arrived today and I am very much looking forward to going to bed tonight.

Mariners vs. Giants Game

My friend Josh has tickets to everything, which includes season tickets to the Mariners. Tonight he took me to see the M's verses the San Francisco Giants. Sadly we lost, but I still managed to have fun. Josh even scored us some awesome seats right behind home plate and about 12 rows back. Certainly the closest I've ever been to Ken Griffey Jr! Here he is warming up before going to bat.


I think my all time favorite part of going to an M's game is to see Ichiro getting ready to bat. It's like he is doing a dance. You just have to see it to know what I'm talking about. He moves so gracefully as he stretches and then slides into position. It's just fun to watch.
Thanks for taking me to the game Josh!

Motorcycle Ride

The weather has been so beautiful lately. Today was the perfect day for a ride on a motorcycle. I love motorcycles. Conveniently I know a guy who has one and offered to take me for a ride today. I couldn't possibly turn that offer down!

The man with the bike is the father of my friend Carly. (Thanks for sharing your dad with me Carly!) He has a Harley Davidson Road King, which looks something like the picture below.


We rode out to Carnation (for those not in the area it's out toward the country) where there was beautiful scenery all around. I had a blast! It stirred in me a desire to finally own my own bike. I'm looking into options of a second job this summer, with the extra money I might be able to pull it off. Stay tuned... it might just happen.

Weather Forecast: No Rain

Yes, I am talking about the weather. It's the topic of conversation when there is nothing to talk about -- or when it's so out of the ordinary you don't know how to handle it. I checked the 10-day forecast this evening and was stunned. Check this out:

source

No rain for 10 whole days!! Hallelujah!

Don't get me wrong, I love Seattle, but I'm in need of a little warmth and sun right now. Rest assured I will enjoy every moment of it as possible.

No Rain... does this remind anyone else of a little girl dressed up in a bee costume and dancing? No? Just me? Not surprised.