bshirley

Math Entertainer Answers No. 1

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I recently proffered the first quiz from Mr. Heafford’s book.

As I suspected, it scared everyone away. Except for the mathematician that I know reads the blog. He offered up his answers. The 9 of the 20 he answered were all the same answers offered by the author.

Many of the numbers give more of a glimpse of how the world has changed in the last 50 years. Since calculators became widely used in the 60s and 70s, and then computers in the 80s, we rarely “handle” these numbers directly. Number of centimeters in an inch, sure, but the square root of 2? No.

Answers after the jump:

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New Stuff: Geologic

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Stumbling upon new stuff can be quite enjoying. After hearing an interview with George Hrab on a podcast, I knew I had to check out his podcast and music. I finally checked it out a few days after he released a quick-and-dirty video for a fabulous song: Out of My Mind. The music really reminds … Read more

Houston Press Music Awards Showcase 2008

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I saw many good friends and lots of great bands, and missed just as many good bands. Asli from the Tontons 5 baldheretic Here’s what I managed to see at the HPMA Showcase 2008: Flying Fish Sailors, The El Orbits, Umbrella Man, Katie Stuckey and the Swagger, The Tontons, Buxton, Los Skarnales, Blaggards, Bring Back … Read more

Houston Press Music Awards 2008

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Once again the Houston Press Music Awards Showcase is taking over downtown on a Sunday. For only $10 (two for $15 if you buy early), you can enjoy 6 hours of music from 6-60 bands (depending on how hard you try).

And once again the Houston Press has shown an inability to produce a grid-like schedule for the festival-type lineup.

What is wrong with those people?! Venues across the top, timeline across the left. Humans have been doing it at least as long as they’ve been plugging in guitars, likely longer.

Despite this consistent inadequacy, you should attend this weekend’s event. I’ll be there.

Those that I’m familiar with?

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Twitter and Trees Felled in the Woods

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There have been several stories in the news about companies “listening in” on the Twitter feed for people struggling with their products, and providing personal support. A reactive Squeaky Wheel policy that can preempt possible public bad mouthing before it happens. (Or truncate it soon after it begins.) Since those examples, I’ve made a point … Read more

Scavenger Hunt 2008, Coming Soon …

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In January 2006, Allen Hill, Andrea Greer, and I battled it out for a Houston scavenger hunt and came in second. In January 2007, we organized the scavenger hunt, and inflicted it upon twelve teams. Some of the outcome is memorialized (a few items Questionably SFW). Go to the “Entries” section and click on any … Read more