Comments for Ars Mathematica http://www.arsmathematica.net Dedicated to the mathematical arts. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:05:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Experimenting with MathJax by James http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2012/02/10/experimenting-with-mathjax/#comment-68839 James Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:05:38 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/?p=1541#comment-68839 FYI, the latex isn't rendered in Google Reader (I suspect the same would happen in other readers as the CSS isn't handed over). There are latex plugins that render the latex as a png (though this CSS thing is pretty amazing, I won't lie). FYI, the latex isn’t rendered in Google Reader (I suspect the same would happen in other readers as the CSS isn’t handed over). There are latex plugins that render the latex as a png (though this CSS thing is pretty amazing, I won’t lie).

]]> Comment on Hitler on Topology by Richard Elwes http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2012/01/20/hitler-on-topology/#comment-68799 Richard Elwes Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:41:22 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/?p=1502#comment-68799 I agree with Hitler: these are deeply confusing terms. Although I think the thing which caught me out most was not that some sets could be both closed and open, but that most sets are actually neither. I certainly recall writing at least one 'proof' along these lines: "If X is open, then... otherwise X is closed, so..." I highly recommend the original film "Downfall", by the way, it's extremely powerful piece of drama, and Bruno Ganz gives an amazing performance. It's sort of a shame that it's best known for all these youtube parodies, though some of them are quite funny. I agree with Hitler: these are deeply confusing terms. Although I think the thing which caught me out most was not that some sets could be both closed and open, but that most sets are actually neither. I certainly recall writing at least one ‘proof’ along these lines: “If X is open, then… otherwise X is closed, so…”

I highly recommend the original film “Downfall”, by the way, it’s extremely powerful piece of drama, and Bruno Ganz gives an amazing performance. It’s sort of a shame that it’s best known for all these youtube parodies, though some of them are quite funny.

]]> Comment on A Cheerier Link by WarriorClass III http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2012/01/30/a-cheerier-link/#comment-68779 WarriorClass III Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:04:55 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/?p=1522#comment-68779 I thought this one was cool too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5syRnaXwpg I thought this one was cool too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5syRnaXwpg

]]> Comment on Hitler on Topology by Prometheus http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2012/01/20/hitler-on-topology/#comment-68733 Prometheus Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:53:02 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/?p=1502#comment-68733 Haa haaaaa...!!!! Funny. :)) And i think i agree with Hitler on the issue. Haa haaaaa…!!!! Funny. :) ) And i think i agree with Hitler on the issue.

]]> Comment on Hitler on Topology by Walt http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2012/01/20/hitler-on-topology/#comment-68725 Walt Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:58:04 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/?p=1502#comment-68725 I can certainly understand why someone wouldn't find it funny, and I thought about not posting it. In my personal opinion, mocking Hitler is healthy. People are fascinated by the perpetrators of mass violence. If you think of the people who have been famous for a millennium or more, they're religious leaders, a few thinkers, and the conquerors. Over time, there's the danger that Hitler will achieve the kind of lasting (and basically positive) fame of Alexander the Great, or Genghis Khan. Mockery is a more fitting fate. I understand not everyone shares this opinion, so I do understand your point. I can certainly understand why someone wouldn’t find it funny, and I thought about not posting it. In my personal opinion, mocking Hitler is healthy. People are fascinated by the perpetrators of mass violence. If you think of the people who have been famous for a millennium or more, they’re religious leaders, a few thinkers, and the conquerors. Over time, there’s the danger that Hitler will achieve the kind of lasting (and basically positive) fame of Alexander the Great, or Genghis Khan. Mockery is a more fitting fate.

I understand not everyone shares this opinion, so I do understand your point.

]]> Comment on Hitler on Topology by tk http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2012/01/20/hitler-on-topology/#comment-68723 tk Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:42:52 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/?p=1502#comment-68723 It's certainly unfunny, but ... Hausdorffs mathematics is too complicated for narrowminded people who can only think in two alternatives and are not able to grasp that a set may be open and closed at the same time. This is what the video shows and perhaps it is not such a bad metapher. It’s certainly unfunny, but … Hausdorffs mathematics is too complicated for narrowminded people who can only think in two alternatives and are not able to grasp that a set may be open and closed at the same time. This is what the video shows and perhaps it is not such a bad metapher.

]]> Comment on Hitler on Topology by Jr http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2012/01/20/hitler-on-topology/#comment-68698 Jr Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:30:13 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/?p=1502#comment-68698 The fact that Hausdorff was a real life victim of Hitler makes the joke unfunny for me. The fact that Hausdorff was a real life victim of Hitler makes the joke unfunny for me.

]]> Comment on Best Possible Rejection Letter by Anon http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2012/01/16/best-possible-rejection-letter/#comment-68695 Anon Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:56:20 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/?p=1498#comment-68695 Hilarious! Hilarious!

]]> Comment on Back, From Outer Space! by Chad Butros http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2012/01/09/back-from-outer-space/#comment-68521 Chad Butros Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:13:05 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/?p=1496#comment-68521 Hi, I just stumbled onto this blog while searching for information on the company that created the shape-shifting ruler that connects to make all different shapes. Somebody sent me this link and this thing looks really cool-- http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/koalatools/rule-like-never-before-new-shape-making-versa-rule Anyway, nice blog... I'll bookmark it and share it with my mathlete buddies! Hi,
I just stumbled onto this blog while searching for information on the company that created the shape-shifting ruler that connects to make all different shapes. Somebody sent me this link and this thing looks really cool–
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/koalatools/rule-like-never-before-new-shape-making-versa-rule

Anyway, nice blog… I’ll bookmark it and share it with my mathlete buddies!

]]> Comment on Education Through Praise by appletree » Blog Archive » Saturday Link Roundup http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/02/16/education-through-praise/#comment-6546 appletree » Blog Archive » Saturday Link Roundup Sun, 18 Feb 2007 01:19:21 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/02/16/education-through-praise/#comment-6546 [...] Via Ars Mathematica I found a long article in the New York Magazine about praise and self-esteem. The two-line conclusion is that praising children’s intelligence will only hurt them by making them complacent and causing them to view failures as embarrassments, while praising their effort will make them work harder. In addition, praise needs to be specific - e.g. “It’s good that you can concentrate for so long” - or else it will be perceived as disingenuous. Draw your own conclusions about education. This entry was posted on Saturday, February 17th, 2007 at 5:19 pm and is filed under Links. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Home» [...] [...] Via Ars Mathematica I found a long article in the New York Magazine about praise and self-esteem. The two-line conclusion is that praising children’s intelligence will only hurt them by making them complacent and causing them to view failures as embarrassments, while praising their effort will make them work harder. In addition, praise needs to be specific – e.g. “It’s good that you can concentrate for so long” – or else it will be perceived as disingenuous. Draw your own conclusions about education. This entry was posted on Saturday, February 17th, 2007 at 5:19 pm and is filed under Links. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Home» [...]

]]>