xkcd

by **torontoraptor** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 7:20 pm UTC

Livestream of Spacex Static Fire.

http://new.livestream.com/spacex/events/849384

by **OBrien** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:01 pm UTC

The Monty Hall Problem.
That is all.

by **Shivahn** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:15 pm UTC

OBrien wrote:The Monty Hall Problem.
That is all.

This problem provides me endless entertainment.

It's also cool because every other math class I read about has a new way of solving it or thinking about it. Neat.

by **Dason** » Tue May 01, 2012 12:28 am UTC

Being a statistics student I'm mostly just sick of the Monty Hall problem.

by **Kewangji** » Tue May 01, 2012 12:43 am UTC

What I want to know is: what's so fucking bad about owning a goat, mathematicians, huh?

by **Menacing Spike** » Tue May 01, 2012 1:38 am UTC

Kewangji wrote:What I want to know is: what's so fucking bad about owning a goat, mathematicians, huh?

car not shit carpet

by **Magnanimous** » Tue May 01, 2012 2:16 am UTC

Related to math: A few days ago I explained the proof of why sqrt(2) is irrational to the sixth-grader I was tutoring, and they actually understood it. (I'm not sure if they're smart or I'm becoming better at teaching, but I like to think it's the latter.)

Their class was learning about irrational numbers, and I know a lot about math so I like to throw random information into lessons. The Pythagorean Theorem is boring, but not when you're hearing about weird Greek math cults.

by **Dason** » Tue May 01, 2012 2:25 am UTC

Magnanimous wrote:Related to math: A few days ago I explained the proof of why 2 is irrational to the sixth-grader I was tutoring

It's because it's an integer of course!

Wait a second...

by **Magnanimous** » Tue May 01, 2012 3:08 am UTC

Crap.

by **Amie** » Tue May 01, 2012 7:40 am UTC

The Dark Knight Rises - Official Trailer. Have been waiting for this for a few months now.

by **Shivahn** » Wed May 02, 2012 7:30 pm UTC

Kewangji wrote:What I want to know is: what's so fucking bad about owning a goat, mathematicians, huh?

Mathematicians are no fun. I want a goat.

by **tastelikecoke** » Thu May 03, 2012 4:16 pm UTC

Magnanimous wrote:Related to math: A few days ago I explained the proof of why sqrt(2) is irrational to the sixth-grader I was tutoring, and they actually understood it. (I'm not sure if they're smart or I'm becoming better at teaching, but I like to think it's the latter.)

What proof did you use? I only know of the p and q common factors one, and it always felt clunky.

by **SlyReaper** » Thu May 03, 2012 9:02 pm UTC

Proof by hand-waving. "Let root 2 equal p/q, so p^2/q^2 is 2. Now you can clearly see that either p or q must be irrational. QED."
Proof by insanity. "Let root 2 equal p/q. Now, since the delta-x tends to infinity in any locally differentiable manifold, root 2 must therefore be a number. QED."
Proof by democracy. "Hands up everyone who thinks root 2 is irrational."
Proof by intimidation. "It's obvious."

by **Magnanimous** » Fri May 04, 2012 12:27 am UTC

tastelikecoke wrote:What proof did you use? I only know of the p and q common factors one, and it always felt clunky.

Yeah, that's the one I used. If sqrt(2) is p/q in it's reduced form, then p and q must be even, so it can be reduced, so contradiction. I knew the student had some basic knowledge of proofs/logic, so it wasn't a big stretch. (I don't think there exists a very intuitive way to prove a number is irrational... but it is good to show students that mathematicians aren't just pulling these facts out of their asses.)

by **TimelordSimone** » Fri May 04, 2012 12:16 pm UTC

The proofreaders e-mailed me about the work I was bitching about in the Pant Thread, and I didn't do too abysmally! Yay! I'm reasonably competent at my job even when it is difficult!

by **SlyReaper** » Fri May 04, 2012 6:12 pm UTC

by **voicedotter** » Sat May 05, 2012 2:31 am UTC

That is old, though still slightly funny.

by **sourlemon** » Sun May 06, 2012 6:33 am UTC

my apartment is clean :mrgreen:

lolz Magnanimous, math cults? Will you be my tutor? :mrgreen:

by **The EGE** » Mon May 07, 2012 4:21 am UTC

I just delivered a hand-drawn "YOUR WHISPERING IS BAD AND YOU SHOULD FEEL BAD" Zoidberg to the asshats at the next table over. The library at 1am, next to me doing number theory, is the wrong place to gossip.

by **DSenette** » Tue May 08, 2012 7:24 pm UTC

http://www.geekosystem.com/how-to-make- ... e-beatbox/ that one's pretty fun

by **roband** » Thu May 10, 2012 4:14 pm UTC

I'm not sure how long I've been clean for, but it feels good.. Maybe all those times when I was told to stop before, I should've done, maybe those people were right.

I wonder how much longer I'll last?

by **ArgonV** » Thu May 10, 2012 4:53 pm UTC

roband wrote:I'm not sure how long I've been clean for, but it feels good.. Maybe all those times when I was told to stop before, I should've done, maybe those people were right.

I wonder how much longer I'll last?

Alcohol? Smoking? Or heavier stuff?

by **Menacing Spike** » Fri May 11, 2012 6:47 am UTC

Somedays I try a random manga. More often than not they are about teen with superpowers, panties, and clichés, but there are a few pearls in the rough.

Spoiler:

by **Zarq** » Fri May 11, 2012 10:16 am UTC

What manga is that from?

by **Amie** » Fri May 11, 2012 5:09 pm UTC

Zarq wrote:What manga is that from?

^
Also, where can I read it?

by **Menacing Spike** » Fri May 11, 2012 5:28 pm UTC

It's called "Crimsons", and is a manga about salmon migration, canadian interns with large boobs, and water fleas having existential monologues.

by **voicedotter** » Sat May 12, 2012 7:38 am UTC

That manga sound very awesome.

by **You, sir, name?** » Sun May 13, 2012 2:43 pm UTC

Lost nearly 20 kg (45 lbs) since January doing low-carb food.

Spoiler:

by **Zarq** » Sun May 13, 2012 2:46 pm UTC

You, sir, name? wrote:Lost nearly 20 kg (45 lbs) since January doing low-carb food.

Spoiler:

Congrats. I lost about 15kg since August just by switching from Coke to Diet Coke.

by **Xeio** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:25 pm UTC

Zarq wrote:Congrats. I lost about 15kg since August just by switching from Coke to Diet Coke.

But the taste! THE TAAAASTE!

by **meridian** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:26 pm UTC

The taste is the thing that has driven me to give up Coke entirely instead of switching to diet.

by **ArgonV** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:36 pm UTC

meridian wrote:The taste is the thing that has driven me to give up Coke entirely instead of switching to diet.

This. I used to like it, now it's just too sweet..

I must be getting old

by **roband** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:37 pm UTC

You're alllll wrong, Diet Coke is tastier.

Nothing compares to Pepsi Max however, which is further eclipsed by Vanilla Diet Coke

Spoiler:

by **Zarq** » Mon May 14, 2012 2:19 pm UTC

Xeio wrote:
Zarq wrote:Congrats. I lost about 15kg since August just by switching from Coke to Diet Coke.
But the taste! THE TAAAASTE!

Coke Zero, actually. I don't really care about the difference in taste. I can taste it, but I don't care about it.Or Pepsi Max. I'll only drink real Diet Coke if I really have no other choice.

The thing that annoys me more is that, while they definitely exist, you practically can't find any Sprite Zero or Fanta Zero.

by **roband** » Mon May 14, 2012 2:27 pm UTC

Yeurgh, Coke Zero is tasteless and horrible

You can get Fanta and Sprite Zero rather readily in the UK. They're never on special offer though, which is the only time I buy fizzy drinks.

by **Xeio** » Mon May 14, 2012 2:38 pm UTC

I think diet "tastes" about the same, but then it has the most abhorrent aftertaste.

I think I'd be fine drinking a low-sugar version, just remove that shitty sugar substitute.

by **Xeio** » Mon May 14, 2012 2:39 pm UTC

Or I guess "artificial sweetener" since they use high fructose corn syrup or whatever.

by **blue_eyedspacemonkey** » Mon May 14, 2012 2:43 pm UTC

roband wrote:You're alllll wrong, Diet Coke is tastier.

Nothing compares to Pepsi Max however, which is further eclipsed by Vanilla Diet Coke
Spoiler:
which they stopped fucking selling in the UK and now I can't even import it because it's so fucking expensive for shipping

All of this. I am trying to get a hold of vanilla vodka (read: having the disposable income at a time I remember I want it), to make alcoholic vanilla coke. This is what the industry has reduced me to.

Does alcoholic vanilla coke fall under awesome? I think so

Also: I received a postcard from Poxic today!

by **Zarq** » Mon May 14, 2012 2:45 pm UTC

I don't know if Coke/Sprite/Fanta with just low sugar-content would taste good. There exist sodas without artificial sweetener and a low sugar-content, Tonissteiner has a line of them for instance, but they are not that easy to find.

by **roband** » Mon May 14, 2012 2:56 pm UTC

blue_eyedspacemonkey wrote:
roband wrote:You're alllll wrong, Diet Coke is tastier.

Nothing compares to Pepsi Max however, which is further eclipsed by Vanilla Diet Coke
Spoiler:
which they stopped fucking selling in the UK and now I can't even import it because it's so fucking expensive for shipping
All of this. I am trying to get a hold of vanilla vodka (read: having the disposable income at a time I remember I want it), to make alcoholic vanilla coke. This is what the industry has reduced me to.

Does alcoholic vanilla coke fall under awesome? I think so

Also: I received a postcard from Poxic today!

Put a teaspoon of vanilla extract in a can of diet coke - or scale up the amount accordingly. It's not the same, but it's close.

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