Re: Should math be taught in schools?

1

I don't get it. What is being parodied? "Should evolution be taught in schools?" Or is the humor supposed to be intrinsic?


Posted by: urple | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 2:16 PM
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2

This was a post at some point.


Posted by: heebie-geebie | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 2:19 PM
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3

2: I know that. Was that a response to 1?


Posted by: urple | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 2:22 PM
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4

Yes? You asked what was being parodied?


Posted by: heebie-geebie | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 2:24 PM
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5

Okay, well that's what I said in 1. I don't think it's a good parody.


Posted by: urple | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 2:27 PM
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6

I don't think you're a good parody.


Posted by: heebie-geebie | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 2:29 PM
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7

No, my humor is supposed to be intrinsic.


Posted by: urple | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 2:30 PM
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8

It would be great if all the real Miss USA candidates got together to parody a YouTube video.


Posted by: beamish | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 2:30 PM
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9

I don't think your face is a good parody.


Posted by: Minivet | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 2:32 PM
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10

No.


Posted by: Robert Halford | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 2:34 PM
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11

YouTube led me to this. I apologize to Goldie Hawn for ever thinking her Laugh-In characters were over the top.


Posted by: Sir Kraab | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 2:43 PM
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12

Qu'est-ce que c'est, "math"?


Posted by: Flippanter | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 2:45 PM
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13

The video in 11 is amazing, although Foxworthy is an asshole and the idea that we're being set up to laugh at this women because she's a stupid blond is annoying.


Posted by: urple | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 3:00 PM
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14

13: If it makes you feel better, part of us is laughing also at her self-satisfied ignorance.


Posted by: Flippanter | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 3:08 PM
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15

OT: My gym is advertising a mother-and-baby exercise class taught by a Radio City Music Hall Rockette (who is also a certified blah blah blah). One's mind turns immediately to slapstick thoughts (accidentally hurled and/or dropkicked infants, primarily), but one feels guilty about it.


Posted by: Flippanter | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 3:12 PM
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16

Every time a baby is drop-kicked, an angel gets its wings.


Posted by: Sir Kraab | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 3:13 PM
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17

For the avoidance of doubt, Flippanter Commenting & Opining LLC* does not endorse the dropkicking of babies.

Or, I guess, disproportionate ridicule of ignorant blondes.

* Tax reasons.


Posted by: Flippanter | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 3:21 PM
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18

does not endorse the dropkicking of babies.

I should think not. It doesn't fit into the strategy of the game in the same way since the legalization of the forward pass.


Posted by: Knecht Ruprecht | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 3:30 PM
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19

18: Belichick could, and would, find a way.


Posted by: Flippanter | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 3:32 PM
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20

I can't believe they didn't go to the Pi=3 well.


Posted by: Sifu Tweety | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 3:35 PM
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21

Also I think heebie should do a series of posts about math. Like, group theory for dilettantes, maybe. Or a whole bunch of posts on Lie algebras or differential geometry. I mean, everybody would be into that, right? Let's do this!

(I've been reading about mathematical concepts on wikipedia before bed lately, which turns out to be perhaps the worst way to learn more math ever decised.)


Posted by: Sifu Tweety | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 3:37 PM
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22

(I've been reading about mathematical concepts on wikipedia before bed lately, which turns out to be perhaps the worst way to learn more math ever decised.)

Oh, I sort of doubt that.


Posted by: urple | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 3:42 PM
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23

Terence Tao's blog is really good.

Andrew Gelman's also, and John Baez's.


Posted by: lw | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 3:49 PM
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24

23: I read the latter two. Never heard of Terence Tao (but, looking at his web page, will probably start reading him). Baez often goes right over my head. I suspect Tao will, too. Gelman's great, but that's not really the kind of math I'm talking about (the stuff he deals with I'm pretty comfortable with).


Posted by: Sifu Tweety | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 3:51 PM
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25

Arguably what I should do is find some math classes to take and/or audit.


Posted by: Sifu Tweety | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 3:52 PM
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26

MIT's open courses have a lot of good stuff.

Physics is better, try Leo Kadanoff, PG de Gennes, or Stephen Orszag.


Posted by: lw | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 4:06 PM
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27

I need to learn statistics, and I thought about seeking recommendations here for books or online sources, but I don't think I'm serious yet about buckling down and doing it. But if anyone has a recommendation at his or her fingertips ...


Posted by: politicalfootball | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 4:14 PM
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28

I'd like to know if it's possible to manufacture an undergarment out of seaweed, but I don't really understand algae bra.


Posted by: Stanley | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 4:30 PM
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29

I estimate that 50% of the math I know I learned on Wikipedia. So, take that number for what its worth.


Posted by: Eggplant | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 4:50 PM
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30

I guess it could frustrating to those involved, but I've come to rely on these urple-heebie misunderstandings for some sitcom-style entertainment.


Posted by: fake accent | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 4:57 PM
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31

I cannot honestly tell when Urple is deadpanning or when he is genuinely mystified by our Earthman behavior.


Posted by: Eggplant | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 5:07 PM
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32

In the interest of full disclosure, I am quite drunk.


Posted by: Eggplant | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 5:08 PM
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33

26: well, one, physics is not what I'm trying to learn. Two, I feel silly doing MIT's open courseware when I have equivalent courses that I could actually, like, go to.


Posted by: Sifu Tweety | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 5:27 PM
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34

32: But still quite competent at typing. A double threat!


Posted by: Stanley | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 5:29 PM
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35

27: UCLA's stats department has the best online resource I know of. It might not be very good for beginners.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 5:31 PM
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36

34: You have no idea how many times I retyped that.


Posted by: Eggplant | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 5:32 PM
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37

Wait, double?


Posted by: Eggplant | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 5:33 PM
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38

or when he is genuinely mystified by our Earthman behavior.

"Advance scout's log, stardate 1136.8. There are many confusingly nuanced rules and rituals regarding the ingestion of protein and carbohydrate substances that are not adequately covered in basic immersion training. Major overhaul recommended. Consult uplinked discussions."


Posted by: JP Stormcrow | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 5:53 PM
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39

37: Yes, double:

(1) Besotted;
(2) Able to type.


Posted by: Stanley | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 5:54 PM
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40

(1) Besotted;
(2) Able to type.

Can dance a little.


Posted by: Mr. Blandings | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 5:56 PM
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41

(1) Besotted;
(2) Able to type.
(3) Can dance a little.

Solves for x with gusto.


Posted by: heebie-geebie | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 5:59 PM
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42

... and take dictation


Posted by: JP Stormcrow | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 5:59 PM
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43

40 is great.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 6:19 PM
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44

26: Wait, Kadanoff still writes stuff? For public consumption, even? Huh.


Posted by: essear | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 6:31 PM
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45

I think The Princeton Companion to Mathematics is pretty good for learning what different parts of math are about (as opposed to actually learning the theorems and proofs).


Posted by: YK | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 6:33 PM
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46

Also, hooray for replacing drunk commenting from my office after dinners with visitors with drunk commenting from my phone while walking home. And a new job that reimburses more alcohol than my old job typically would -- and restaurants orders of magnitude better.


Posted by: essear | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 6:34 PM
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47

It's not very comfortable in bed, though.


Posted by: YK | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 6:35 PM
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48

46: woohoo!


Posted by: Sifu Tweety | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 6:37 PM
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49

Um. 47 referring to 45.


Posted by: YK | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 6:37 PM
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50

48 cont'd: I need to figure out how to get more alcohol reimbursed.


Posted by: Sifu Tweety | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 6:38 PM
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51

50: You could join a cover band that plays frat parties and weddings. Downside: you have go to frat parties.


Posted by: Stanley | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 6:43 PM
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52

Can write couplets
While drinking from goblets.


Posted by: fake accent | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 6:45 PM
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53

50: The grad students in our group never want to get free food and drinks (weird!), so you could crash our dinners and impersonate one of them.


Posted by: essear | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 7:04 PM
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54

OP: I just forced myself to watch most of the original Miss USA video. Now I'm really depressed.


Posted by: Sir Kraab | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 9:01 PM
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55

40 is great, and the reference was worth googling up.

According to Hollywood folklore, a screen test report on Astaire for RKO Pictures, now lost along with the test, is reported to have read: "Can't sing. Can't act. Balding. Can dance a little."

Posted by: k-sky | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 10:07 PM
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56

Some days ago, I wondered if Bob Weir is energetic on stage, like he used to be. The answer is no. I inhaled more second hand marijuana smoke than I've seen in 25 years, put together, but there's no doubt about this observation.


Posted by: CharleyCarp | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 10:26 PM
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57

56: I hear the pot's better now than back in the day, so that's something.


Posted by: Stanley | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 10:29 PM
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58

I'm prepared to believe that.


Posted by: CharleyCarp | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 10:52 PM
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59

Relatedly, a South American friend recently commented on the ingenuity of USians in coming up with ways to smoke the ganj. She said we had eclipsed anything they came up with, and they grow the stuff. (Though I guess it's mostly from Canada and the West Coast at this point.)


Posted by: Stanley | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 10:59 PM
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60

I saw some college-aged USAmericans on a train in Switzerland in 1998, one of whom was making a bong out of a pepsi can (so he said) for use when they got into Basel and had a long wait between trains.


Posted by: fake accent | Link to this comment | 09-27-11 11:18 PM
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61

53 makes no sense at all. Are they all locked in their rooms doing meth or what?


Posted by: chris y | Link to this comment | 09-28-11 4:52 AM
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60: I knew a guy who could make a container for carbonated beverages out of a hookah.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 09-28-11 5:00 AM
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63

the weed has for sure gotten better. my family used to grow our own/buy locally, and my dad typically smoked 8-12 joints a day (man can he roll a joint. shit be tight. practicing since 1965 or whatever, I guess.) then killer hydro came on the scene. my dad still smokes the same amount, but of like white widow studded with insane crystals of thc. at a point before I quit drinking and using I tried to keep up with him on the new shit (and honestly it's hard to keep up with that amount even of olde-timey weed) and I was just wrecked off my ass. like one of my favorite lyrics ever: "had to set my cup of gin down/tanqueray and chronic, well I'm fucked up now." srsly, I had to set my cup of sweet tea down and honestly worried on a number of occasions that I might literally fall out of my chair, which would be embarrassing and brand me as a pussy lightweight. the new stuff is taking it to another level.


Posted by: alameida | Link to this comment | 09-28-11 5:50 AM
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64

nothing like that happened, and I left with my honour intact.


Posted by: alameida | Link to this comment | 09-28-11 5:51 AM
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65

Oh, wow, I always thought that lyric was "tanqueray and tonic, well I'm fucked up now". Your version makes so much more sense. And seems more consistent with the image that Snoop Doggy Dogg was trying to project.


Posted by: urple | Link to this comment | 09-28-11 6:28 AM
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66

Back in the square world, the other day I tried a "recovery elixir tea" that promised to combine the antioxidant properties of pomegranates with the awesome power of black pepper, which I interpreted as "will turn your ordinary workout into a Chuck Norris-style pushing-the-Earth-out-of-its-axis rumblefest." It did not. There is a good reason that few commercially-available beverages contain appreciable amounts of capsaicin.


Posted by: Flippanter | Link to this comment | 09-28-11 6:44 AM
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45: I just looked at the Princeton Companion link, and love that Amazon included this editorial review:

This book is supremely accessible. Many in the sugar industry with a fairly good grasp of mathematics will probably not struggle with it, and will invariably marvel at its richness and diversity. [A] great companion. -- International Sugar Journal

Posted by: Mr. Blandings | Link to this comment | 09-28-11 6:45 AM
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68

hot milk with sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and (some) cayenne pepper is oddly good. my mom made it for me when I was little, initially by misreading an indian recipe, but it turned out to be great. when I was first trying to quit drinking I didn't know what to do with myself during the hours I would normally be blacked out, and so I drank lots of hot milk. you should try it, flippanter. it's super-tasty. I make no claims about its workout-ehancing, chuck-norris style qualities, however. indeed it is rather soporific than otherwise. it's good with a slug of good cognac as well, but about what is this not true?


Posted by: alameida | Link to this comment | 09-28-11 7:25 AM
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Oh, wow, I always thought that lyric was "tanqueray and tonic, well I'm fucked up now".

Also, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"? Does not refer to "Lapsang Souchong and Darjeeling".


Posted by: ajay | Link to this comment | 09-28-11 7:49 AM
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My paralegal was also at the concert, and has had to call in sick from smoke inhalation.


Posted by: CharleyCarp | Link to this comment | 09-28-11 7:57 AM
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68: I think you might have implemented ras el hanouf, a mixture of spices often added to drinks, notably coffee.


Posted by: Alex | Link to this comment | 09-28-11 7:59 AM
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72

Yeah, although ras el hanout often contains rose petals, I think. Or at least the two brands I buy most often both contain them.


Posted by: nattarGcM ttaM | Link to this comment | 09-28-11 8:09 AM
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When playing at a wedding, we usually hand off our songlist ahead of time, to allow the bride and groom to nix any songs or highlight ones they definitely want. The number of times that "Gin and Juice" made the "definitely play" list far and away exceeds the number of times it's been nixed.


Posted by: Stanley | Link to this comment | 09-28-11 10:54 AM
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63: The advances since the early 90s (at least what I could get in Minnesota on my budget) versus what's available in my mid-level Cali dispensary is nothing short of astonishing.


Posted by: | Link to this comment | 09-29-11 4:43 PM
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75

Me.


Posted by: Chopper | Link to this comment | 09-29-11 4:44 PM
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