For the past few days I have had the (mis?)fortune of commuting with P., who will take up the entire bus ride with whatever his obsession of the moment is. I admire him a lot of the time, because he takes a more scientific and curious view of the natural and historical world, whereas I am usually hovering somewhere between shadenlulz and Machivellian on the What is SJ Up to Today? chart. Lately he is thinking about math. BARF OUT. Did I tell you I did 5 years in algebra with no time off for good behavior? In the end I knew the system. I was on light laundry duty and I even had copies of the keys. They had to let me out eventually, though.
So yesterday, on the bus.
“I was thinking about the quadratic equation,” P. said.
“Noooo,” I said. “Just no.”
“Well, what I was thinking was about how it originated, like how it was originally compiled and I…”
“Oh my GOD,” I interrupted. “I forgot to tell you. On the way home yesterday, I could not believe it, there was a BASKET OF KITTENS on the street!”
“What?”
“Yes, and the bus driver did not notice and he RAN THEM OVER,” I continued.
“WHAT?”
“YES! And most of them were squished and you could see their little guts in the road all pink and smashed, and kitty heads, and THE SCREAMING OH GOD THE SCREAMING and the worst part is that SOME WERE CUT IN HALF AND WERE STILL ALIVE OH GOD I CANNOT LOCK THESE CAPS ANY HIGHER!”
“Oh Jesus,” P. said.
“Yes,” I said.
“I feel sad and nauseated now.”
“Well, that is how I feel when you speak to me about math,” I said.
En D’Autres Nouvelles
I am going to see Binary Star with Ruby on the 17th! I got into them about a year ago and then sort of wandered off. I think they’re great, though. I am surprised they are not touring on an album. When I heard they were coming, I assumed this was Splashy Comeback, but maybe they are ramping up. I love their sound. They really should have blown up when they put their albums out ten years ago. They really have that Midwest/Detroit sound, which makes me think of Eminem when he was all ye olde rap battle guy, but in a good way–there’s something about the cadences and rhyming patterns. The best part is that it is walking distance to my house, woot. I’m certain it will be better than Warren G, because really, a poke in the eye will probably be better than Warren G. Ruby won a concert package for the whole year, so she is making me Official Hiphop Ambassador on her tour. (I am the best she can come up with, heh heh.)
So, I think she is launching a blog, which I will link here, but I am thinking about giving my take along with her. This might call for a new category.
Awwwww, P. Poor little kittens.
AND…….I guess that’s all I’ve got today. Yeah, it’s been like that lately.
I may have to borrow that kitteh story. Brilliant.
It is a great story for shutting nonsense like math DOWN.
Kitten story to squash the math! This is why ILU.
Thank you for that story. My monitor now has apple chunks all over it that were previously in my mouth.
Were they Honey Crisp Apple Chunks?
Not commenting on the math thing since I spent 45 minutes listening to Melvyn Bragg talk to people about Pythagoras.
The title of this entry alone makes me love it.
I feel bad for P., because I tend to do the same thing (though usually with history, not math).
A calf’s head?! What kind of form does this come in? With eyes and fur?
Yes, eyes and fur and BRAINS!
Also, yes, you should certainly feel bad for P.
Man, I was thinking about the quadratic equation the other day. And today. I can’t remember how it’s derived, and it’s really bugging me. I suppose I could go look it up, but that would take all the fun out of it.
You heard me. Fun.
Thanks! a lot. I sure like your idea. The next time someone broaches maths on the long commute, I am going to try it. On second thoughts, I wont be able to. You see I got a couple of kittens back home. They are lovely. This is Diana from Israeli Uncensored News.