φlux

No fatalities in I-5 bridge collapse in NW Wash.

Fri, 24 May 2013 03:27:20 -0400

No fatalities in I-5 bridge collapse in NW Wash.:

Bridge collapse over the Skagit River dumped vehicles and people into the water; 3 people rescued

onlylolgifs: Hummingbird drunk on nectar.

Fri, 24 May 2013 03:19:54 -0400

onlylolgifs:

Hummingbird drunk on nectar.

Though the actual response of the “future...

Fri, 24 May 2013 01:06:56 -0400

Though the actual response of the “future mathematician” is trivial I guess they’re demonstrating a greater capacity for critical thought in that the (presumably meant to be snarky) reply elucidates that the questioner didn’t rigorously ask what they presumably meant to ask i.e. “is π rational?” <—> “Can π be arrived at by dividing unity into m pieces and taking n of them, where m and n are integers”
<—> “Can π be expressed as a fraction that has an integral numerator and denominator?”.

And the “A+ math student” arguably isn’t sufficiently precise in their definition of rationality. “Equivalent to a ratio of integers” would seem to be accurate.
But even if one assumes that by “a relationship between two numbers” they mean a relationship between (two) integers (such that the relationship between a circle’s diameter and circumference lengths don’t qualify) the definition would still admit at least some algebraic irrational numbers; taking the integral nth root of an integer m is “a relationship between (two) integers”.

On the other hand being able to infer and answer what the questioner actually meant to ask would seem to be an important ability for a prospective professional mathematician to have just as rigorous conceptualization and expression is.

I mean in this case it’s easy for most people to infer what the questioner was trying to ask so the future mathematician’s greater inclination towards rigor is a distinction in their favor with respect to the career.
But I feel like there are somewhat-analogous situations of communicative and sometimes even conceptual ambiguity that arise in the context of far more difficult math where it’s actually not a trivial undertaking to understand what someone’s trying to express.

Hmm so I ended up writing a bunch about this despite not finding it all that novel or important in the scheme of things. I guess that’s an aspect of my OCDishness at work. =>.>=

RONJA - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thu, 23 May 2013 23:16:43 -0400

RONJA - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

“RONJA (Reasonable Optical Near Joint Access) is a free-space optical communicationsystem originating in the Czech Republic. It transmits data wirelessly using beams of light. Ronja can be used to create a 10 Mbit/s full duplex Ethernet point-to-point link.

The range of the basic configuration is 1.4 km (0.87 mi). The device consists of a receiver and transmitter pipe (optical head) mounted on a sturdy adjustable holder. Two coaxial cables are used to connect the rooftop installation with a protocol translator installed in the house near a computer or switch. The range can be extended to 1.9 km (1.2 mi) by doubling or tripling the transmitter pipe.

Building instructions, blueprints, and schematics are published under the GNU Free Documentation Licence. Only free software tools are used in the development. The author calls this level of freedom “User Controlled Technology”. Ronja is a project of Twibright Labs…”

Photo

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:57:07 -0400

âPBS NewsHourâ driver killed by off-duty deputy, police say

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:52:30 -0400

âPBS NewsHourâ driver killed by off-duty deputy, police say:

Authorities said the 22-year-old man was fatally shot in Alexandria by an Arlington County officer.

Malaysia arrests opposition figures

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:34:45 -0400

Malaysia arrests opposition figures:

Three people detained on sedition charges as police launch crackdown on dissent.

Niger car bombings leave many dead

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:34:03 -0400

Niger car bombings leave many dead:

At least 21 people killed in simultaneous blasts at military camp and uranium mine in two northern cities.

astronomynerd: A graph showing our best knowledge of star...

Thu, 23 May 2013 15:58:14 -0400

astronomynerd:

A graph showing our best knowledge of star cycles

Photo

Thu, 23 May 2013 15:46:15 -0400

One-Time Pad Reinvented to Make Electronic Copying Impossible | MIT Technology Review

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:43:25 -0400

One-Time Pad Reinvented to Make Electronic Copying Impossible | MIT Technology Review:

The ability to copy electronic code makes one-time pads vulnerable to hackers. Now engineers have found a way round this to create a system of cryptography that is invulnerable to electronic attack.

How Do Tornadoes Form?

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:42:48 -0400

How Do Tornadoes Form?:

A quick explainer from storm chaser Tim Samaras

Life as One of the Most Persecuted Ethnic Groups on the Planet

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:42:25 -0400

Life as One of the Most Persecuted Ethnic Groups on the Planet:

You are a Hazara, and you’ve been on the run for centuries. Now you’re in Syria, and things aren’t looking up.

These American Companies Refused To Sign The Bangladesh Safety Accord

Thu, 23 May 2013 03:40:34 -0400

These American Companies Refused To Sign The Bangladesh Safety Accord:

The deadline to sign onto the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh passed on Tuesday, and at least 14 major North American retailers declined to participate.

U.S. Acknowledges Killing 4 Americans in Drone Strikes

Thu, 23 May 2013 02:34:40 -0400

U.S. Acknowledges Killing 4 Americans in Drone Strikes:

A day after admitting the killing of four Americans in drone strikes, the president will announce that control of the program will move away from the C.I.A. Mr. Obama also plans to renew his effort to close Guantánamo prison.

A Plan to Bring Sun-Powered Irrigation to Poor Farmers

Thu, 23 May 2013 01:02:47 -0400

A Plan to Bring Sun-Powered Irrigation to Poor Farmers:

Designers focused on improving lives for poor farmers have a solar-powered pumping plan.

Man Linked to Boston Suspect Is Shot Dead

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:50:10 -0400

Man Linked to Boston Suspect Is Shot Dead:

A friend of the deceased suspect in the Boston bombings was shot dead in Florida in an altercation while being interviewed by F.B.I. and other investigators, officials said.

London attack: Terrorists targeting soldiers at home again?

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:49:47 -0400

London attack: Terrorists targeting soldiers at home again?:

Security experts are starting to analyze events leading up to the horrific cleaver attack of a man believed to be a British soldier on the suburban streets of London.

really-shit: Terrifying Time Lapse These time lapses document...

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:00:36 -0400

really-shit:

Terrifying Time Lapse

These time lapses document the change in the world over the past 30 years. Islands have popped up; forests have declined; ice has melted.

Such a terrifying, beautiful thing.

subaversion: http://sadpicturesforchildren.com/233/

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:18:16 -0400

subaversion:

http://sadpicturesforchildren.com/233/

φlux

No fatalities in I-5 bridge collapse in NW Wash.

onlylolgifs: Hummingbird drunk on nectar.

Though the actual response of the “future...

RONJA - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photo

âPBS NewsHourâ driver killed by off-duty deputy, police say

Malaysia arrests opposition figures

Niger car bombings leave many dead

astronomynerd: A graph showing our best knowledge of star...

Photo

One-Time Pad Reinvented to Make Electronic Copying Impossible | MIT Technology Review

How Do Tornadoes Form?

Life as One of the Most Persecuted Ethnic Groups on the Planet

These American Companies Refused To Sign The Bangladesh Safety Accord

U.S. Acknowledges Killing 4 Americans in Drone Strikes

A Plan to Bring Sun-Powered Irrigation to Poor Farmers

Man Linked to Boston Suspect Is Shot Dead

London attack: Terrorists targeting soldiers at home again?

really-shit: Terrifying Time Lapse These time lapses document...

subaversion: http://sadpicturesforchildren.com/233/

âPBS NewsHourâ driver killed by off-duty deputy, police say