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Digital clocks and Velcro straps to keep my shoes on. Heh. And cowboy boots.
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A Salisbury steak frozen dinner's directions included the step "Rotate the patty 180 degrees clockwise." They don't tell me what to do, dammit! I rotated it 180 degrees counterclockwise! Ha! So there!Oh wow, I'd forgotten this exchange from a decade back.
** spoiler omitted **...
Greatest. Aunt. Ever.
In other missed naming opportunities, it still saddens me that scientists didn’t nickname H. floresiensis ‘Neandershorts’.
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In other missed naming opportunities, it still saddens me that scientists didn’t nickname H. floresiensis ‘Neandershorts’.
LOL
As a fantasy nerd, I always found it fascinating that our closest relatives were a stout, hairy, sturdy race good at tool making (Neanderthals) and a cave-dwelling people half our size (Homo Floresiensis). In other words, there really were dwarves and hobbits! ;D
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In other missed naming opportunities, it still saddens me that scientists didn’t nickname H. floresiensis ‘Neandershorts’.LOL
As a fantasy nerd, I always found it fascinating that our closest relatives were a stout, hairy, sturdy race good at tool making (Neanderthals) and a cave-dwelling people half our size (Homo Floresiensis). In other words, there really were dwarves and hobbits! ;D
And I have a few relatives who I'm pretty sure are orcs... I avoid cook-outs, just to be safe.
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Apparently my brain's background thread is working on missed naming opportunities. It would've been awesome if the Hormel Corporation had thought to call Spam 'Charnel No. 5.'
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Quibblemuch gets cookies.
I'm a little too busy to do it, but somebody needs to write a 'Conclave' song to the tune of the 1975 novelty hit 'Convoy'.
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'Cause we got a Popin' Conclave,
Trapped between four walls,
Guarded by clowns with halberds,
Full of Cardinals,
Choosin' a brand new Pontiff,
A triple-crowned theologian!
Gonna join us a Popin' Conclave,
'Cross the Vatican!
Thank you, good sir. You're doing the Lord's work.
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A mathematics puzzle:
f(2) = 3
f(3) = 7
f(5) = 23
f(7) = 47
f(?) = ??
f(?) = ??
f(?) = ??What comes next? If you post an answer, please put it behind a spoiler.
f(3) = 7
f(5) = 23
f(7) = 47
f(11) =
f(13) =
f(17) =
The difficulty is that I can fit a nigh-infinite number of curves to the output. A Taylor series. A Fourier series. A stepwise function. Various combinations of the previous outputs (use last 1, use last 2, etc.)
So two easy solutions are:
(1) It's squared minus 1, squared minus 2, squared minus 2, squared minus 2, so I'd have:
f(2) = 3
f(3) = 7
f(5) = 23
f(7) = 47
f(11) = 119
f(13) = 167
f(17) = 287
The issue I have with this solution is that behind the curtains you can say, "Oh, no! You were supposed to switch to squared minus 3 after 3 iterations of 2, so the 'correct' answers are 118, 166, and 286!"
(2) Since most such problems are, "Find the polynomial that fits these points," that solution is f(x) = -1/15 x^3 + 2 x^2 -71/15 x + 5. This leads to the rather ugly set of results:
f(2) = 3
f(3) = 7
f(5) = 23
f(7) = 47
f(11) = 106.2
f(13) = 135
f(17) = 175
Which I don't think is the "desired" solution because of that 0.2
EDIT: I had one other idea of f(n) = the nth prime, but that doesn't fit at all.
EDIT 2: The other interesting bit of trivia is that throughout K-12, college, and grad school, the definition of a prime was, "A whole number whose only factors are 1 and itself." By this definition, 1 is a prime number. Apparently rules lawyers got involved because it's been redefined to, "A whole number that has exactly 2 unique factors," which eliminates 1.
I feel much like I did when they demoted Pluto from planethood. "Was that really necessary?"
So, given the parameters and my expectations of such mathematical "games", I'd expect either solution (1) or a visual puzzle I'm missing.
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|
A mathematics puzzle:
f(2) = 3
f(3) = 7
f(5) = 23
f(7) = 47
f(?) = ??
f(?) = ??
f(?) = ??What comes next? If you post an answer, please put it behind a spoiler.
** spoiler omitted **
So, given the parameters and my expectations of such mathematical "games", I'd expect either solution (1) or a visual puzzle I'm missing.
A mathematics puzzle:
f(2) = 3
f(3) = 7
f(5) = 23
f(7) = 47
f(?) = ??
f(?) = ??
f(?) = ??What comes next? If you post an answer, please put it behind a spoiler.
** spoiler omitted **
So, given the parameters and my expectations of such mathematical "games", I'd expect either solution (1) or a visual puzzle I'm missing.** spoiler omitted **... but your solutions are valid as well.
Thank you! I was curious. I don't regret not seeing it, but I'm surprised how close I got *without* seeing it.
As a side note..
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At least we stopped letting the mathematicians toss each other off cliffs over these kinds of disputes...
**ponders. Ponders. Ponders...**
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Math is evil.
{}
Freehold's jade amulet of protection from Alton Brown grants a +4 to his Fort save. Similarly, lisamarlene's fresh cookies rations grants a +2 to her save. Everyone else in the thread takes 1 point of Taint from the corrupting effects of mathematics in the Shadowlands OffTopiclands. Celestial Hippeh Lawyer, due to your current low hit points and very low caffeine points, this proved fatal; you are now "pining for the fjords."
Wait- that can't- Noooooooo... {fades from existence }
Math is evil.{}
Freehold's jade amulet of protection from Alton Brown grants a +4 to his Fort save. Similarly, lisamarlene's fresh cookies rations grants a +2 to her save. Everyone else in the thread takes 1 point of Taint from the corrupting effects of mathematics in the
ShadowlandsOffTopiclands. Celestial Hippeh Lawyer, due to your current low hit points and very low caffeine points, this proved fatal; you are now "pining for the fjords."Wait- that can't- Noooooooo... {fades from existence }
Wait...what happened with my taint?
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MY LIFE FOR YOU DAIGOTSU-SAMA
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Math is evil.{}
Freehold's jade amulet of protection from Alton Brown grants a +4 to his Fort save. Similarly, lisamarlene's fresh cookies rations grants a +2 to her save. Everyone else in the thread takes 1 point of Taint from the corrupting effects of mathematics in the
ShadowlandsOffTopiclands. Celestial Hippeh Lawyer, due to your current low hit points and very low caffeine points, this proved fatal; you are now "pining for the fjords."Wait- that can't- Noooooooo... {fades from existence }
Ah, but I have the Pact of the Numerologist class feature! I am immune to all Math-based deductions and divisions, while retaining full advantage of all additive and multiplicative benefits thereof!
Rule logarithm and log tan rule all!
... oh, you're dead. Well, even I can't divide by zero.
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The black and white smoke codes for the Conclave are the most well-known, but there are a number of other smoke signals the cardinals can send:
Green - the Conclave wishes Cardinal O’Brien a happy St. Patrick’s Day
Pink - the Conclave has an upset tummy and needs some Peptobismol
Lavender - the Conclave has voted to have a nice relaxing bubble bath with essential oils
Crimson - the Conclave are Alabama fans; Roll Tide!
Orange and White Stripes - the Conclave has voted that Frosted Flakes are GRRREAT!
Plaid - the Conclave has been overrun by Scottish Presbyterians - send in more Swiss Guards
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I'm just waiting to hear the Cardinals hit a home run.
'Cause we got a Popin' Conclave,
Trapped between four walls,
Guarded by clowns with halberds,
Full of Cardinals,
Choosin' a brand new Pontiff,
A triple-crowned theologian!
Gonna join us a Popin' Conclave,
'Cross the Vatican!
"Breaker, breaker, we got a smokey up ahead."
"Roger that, Red Hat. Is it black or white, over?""Crozier Whack, confirm it is black. Smokey is black, over."
"Dangit Red Hat, I gotta get two tons of Wonderbread and Welch’s to Baloney by midday tomorrow. Any chance we could whiten 'er up by sundown?"
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I'm just waiting to hear the Cardinals hit a home run.
{brain starts imagining tiny Catholic red birds trying to grab eensy-weensy baseball bats with their bird wings}
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I'm just waiting to hear the Cardinals hit a home run.
Ahem. The Cardinals perform touchdowns. Well, okay, occasionally. And they have a knack for grasping defeat from the jaws of victory.
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Plaid - the Conclave has been overrun by Scottish Presbyterians - send in more Swiss Guards
I thought plaid meant the Conclave had achieved impossible speed records.
I'm just waiting to hear the Cardinals hit a home run.{brain starts imagining tiny Catholic red birds trying to grab eensy-weensy baseball bats with their bird wings}
And navigating by compass
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Unpopular opinion time:
I don't like Mother's Day. It's a lot like a funeral. It's not about what I actually want, it's about what my family wants to give me and think I "deserve".
Like "sleeping in" and getting coffee in bed.
I usually get up between 5 and 530.
My husband's alarm is set for 7.
I can't get up and make myself coffee, or he'll be hurt.
He doesn't want me to have to do any work, but he doesn't do it himself, so nothing gets done. So I did four loads of laundry yesterday, as I was also taking Val to piano, Hermione to ballet rehearsal, going grocery shopping, and working on sewing her graduation dress. Because Saturdays are WW's "day off".
All I ask for every year are coffee and a bellini to start the day, breakfast tacos, and a corsage to wear to church, to have the kids not fight, and to get taken out for dinner.
At least I get the coffee and the dinner.
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Unpopular opinion time:
I don't like Mother's Day. It's a lot like a funeral. It's not about what I actually want, it's about what my family wants to give me and think I "deserve".
Like "sleeping in" and getting coffee in bed.
I usually get up between 5 and 530.
My husband's alarm is set for 7.
I can't get up and make myself coffee, or he'll be hurt.He doesn't want me to have to do any work, but he doesn't do it himself, so nothing gets done. So I did four loads of laundry yesterday, as I was also taking Val to piano, Hermione to ballet rehearsal, going grocery shopping, and working on sewing her graduation dress. Because Saturdays are WW's "day off".
All I ask for every year are coffee and a bellini to start the day, breakfast tacos, and a corsage to wear to church, to have the kids not fight, and to get taken out for dinner.
At least I get the coffee and the dinner.
Um... I can't name a mother who likes Mother's Day. It's a manufactured holiday created by greeting card companies to make a profit, and families typically botch it so badly that mom's "wish" is that they'd forget the day exists and take her out to breakfast some OTHER day when all the restaurant places aren't overbooked to the point of dining in a sardine can.
And yep, if you wake up earlier than the rest of the family you're stuck sitting around doing nothing because they'll be hurt if you do, but they end up just leaving all the crap you didn't do for you to take care of tomorrow.
Did I mention I loathe Father's Day?
Um... I can't name a mother who likes Mother's Day.
Basically every mother in my family except (at least to my knowledge) my sister and SIL.
It was a little better when I lived with my parents, as at least that could be distilled down to "we take Mom to lunch somewhere after church" and maybe get a card. Since MD is always on Sunday.
The last time I spoke with my mother was when I moved out to live with Scint, and that conversation was basically "you are going to Hell because you're living with her without getting married literally that day. We cannot be part of your life until you make that right." And then I got a text from her MD the next year talking about how much she missed me and I just needed to make things right and we could be family again.
... yeah that got away from me a bit, apologies.
To make this less about me, I'll just say that my family has always been super traditional and it doesn't matter that the tradition is less than a century old, it's tradition and you're expected to adhere. And if they weren't as jazzed for it as they gave the impression they were, they're all really good actors.
I don’t have any Mother’s Day responsibilities. It ain’t that awesome. I took the adventure bike out today instead. Somehow, a tiny worm-like bug got inside my helmet. It was crawling around on my face shield. I flipped the visor up and it blew away. I ride pretty much every weekend, barring rain or snow.
Um... I can't name a mother who likes Mother's Day.Basically every mother in my family except (at least to my knowledge) my sister and SIL.
** spoiler omitted **
... yeah that got away from me a bit, apologies.
To make this less about me, I'll just say that my family has always been super traditional and it doesn't matter that the tradition is less than a century old, it's tradition and you're expected to adhere. And if they weren't as jazzed for it as they gave the impression they were, they're all really good actors.
Yeah, Shiro had a fun Mother's Day with a massive barbecue where the family made it a huge Southern party. So I'm sure his mother enjoyed it.
Other than that I spent the day listening to children talking about how much they loathed the expectations heaped onto them for Mother's Day (east coast) or mothers talking about how they wish the day would just go away (west coast).
Unpopular opinion time:
I don't like Mother's Day. It's a lot like a funeral. It's not about what I actually want, it's about what my family wants to give me and think I "deserve".
Like "sleeping in" and getting coffee in bed.
I usually get up between 5 and 530.
My husband's alarm is set for 7.
I can't get up and make myself coffee, or he'll be hurt.He doesn't want me to have to do any work, but he doesn't do it himself, so nothing gets done. So I did four loads of laundry yesterday, as I was also taking Val to piano, Hermione to ballet rehearsal, going grocery shopping, and working on sewing her graduation dress. Because Saturdays are WW's "day off".
All I ask for every year are coffee and a bellini to start the day, breakfast tacos, and a corsage to wear to church, to have the kids not fight, and to get taken out for dinner.
At least I get the coffee and the dinner.
Deep, philosophical approach to the day.
Somehow, a tiny worm-like bug got inside my helmet. It was crawling around on my face shield. I flipped the visor up and it blew away. I ride pretty much every weekend, barring rain or snow.
{sighs} You were so close to getting your target. Requiescat in pace, Bob.
Bob the bug-worm.
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Mow mow mow sit down
Mow mow mow sit down.
Mow mow mow sit down
Ftftftftftftftfftftftftftftfft
Thwip thwip?
I look up. There's a hummingbird at my head. Presumably he thinks the yellow emblem on my hat is a flower
"Nope, sorry. Try the mountain laurel. I hear its a very good year"
He does so. Tries all the flowers for a few minutes. Comes back
Ftftftftftftftfftftftftftftfft
Thwip thwip?
"Its still not a flower"
Ftftftftftftftfftftftftftftfft's off
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That emotional whiplash of going from "Whew! I'm glad the cats seem to like this new brand of dry kibble. I was worried they wouldn't and I'd be stuck with two uneaten bags."...
...to "Oh wow, they really like it. They really really like it. Wait guys, slow down, not so fast, you're going to get tummy aches. Hey, big boy, you're not even chewing, you're just swallowing the (smaller) kibble whole! Oh no, they're not ever going to eat the other brands of kibble anymore."
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That emotional whiplash of going from "Whew! I'm glad the cats seem to like this new brand of dry kibble. I was worried they wouldn't and I'd be stuck with two uneaten bags."...
...to "Oh wow, they really like it. They really really like it. Wait guys, slow down, not so fast, you're going to get tummy aches. Hey, big boy, you're not even chewing, you're just swallowing the (smaller) kibble whole! Oh no, they're not ever going to eat the other brands of kibble anymore."
OMG. I bought the Costco chicken and rice kibble to feed the wildlife (crows by day, skunks and raccoons by night). The cats act like they've never tasted anything better in their lives.
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OMG. I bought the Costco chicken and rice kibble to feed the wildlife (crows by day, skunks and raccoons by night). The cats act like they've never tasted anything better in their lives.That emotional whiplash of going from "Whew! I'm glad the cats seem to like this new brand of dry kibble. I was worried they wouldn't and I'd be stuck with two uneaten bags."...
...to "Oh wow, they really like it. They really really like it. Wait guys, slow down, not so fast, you're going to get tummy aches. Hey, big boy, you're not even chewing, you're just swallowing the (smaller) kibble whole! Oh no, they're not ever going to eat the other brands of kibble anymore."
This new adult kibble is really too small for adult cats' mouths.
The only thing worse was when years ago I was still trying to figure out my Maine Coon's nasal issues and thought it might be a food allergy. So I bought Royal Canin brown rice-based kibble for her. Oh she loved it alright, especially because the kibble pieces were slightly bigger than BBs, so she could shovel the food in without chewing. Literally shovel. She'd move her head to push her lower jaw through the kibble scooping up as many pieces as she could, and then swallow it, maybe with a single crunch for the lot if it was a big mouthful. And its specifically for Maine Coons; why would you make tiny kibble for the biggest breed of housecat?
HOM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM
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Anyone else ever wonder if NASA employees get the urge to greet returning astronauts by dressing up in ape costumes?
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Oh, my god, I was wrong!
It was Earth all along!
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Hey! I'm watching you...
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Multiple sclerosis sucks.
I know it's not the worst disease out there, and I know how lucky I am to have good medications and adaptive gear. But once in a while I need to vent.
Big hugs!
One of my best choir friends in Berkeley had MS and got us all on her bicycle team for the annual 70 mile Waves to Wine MS fundraiser race. She has tried hard not to let it stop her, but she took early retirement and is just trying to live life to the fullest as her body permits her.
"Invisible disabilities" suck. Vent whenever you need to.
I didnt know. Im sorry you are dealing with this and hope you keep living life as ever.