Month: June 2015

Decimal notation without zero.

Decimal notation without zero.

Basically what we have here is a failure (in a long line of failures) to get past the need for a different set of symbols to represent each power of ten. The Greeks used three sets of nine letters to allow them to represent numbers up to 999 (without adding new notation). The system shown here has four sets of nine symbols which in combination gives you the ability to represent numbers up to 9999. Both systems are obviously better than Roman numerals but are still severely limited.

Meanwhile in India* they had already realised that you needed a special symbol just to represent “nothing” and with this they had developed a way of representing higher powers of ten simply by their place within a sequence. That of course is the place notation system that we still use today.

This revolutionary system, wrongly called “Arab numerals” allowed counting without limit and the obvious superiority of this system eventually swept all other notation systems away.

* and more that 600 years earlier

Originally shared by Jeff Erickson

Numerical notation in common use in the Middle ages, before the widespread adoption of the “Arabic” numerals brought to the west by Al-Khwarizmi, but after his algorithms for place-value arithmetic were well-known and accepted.  There were many variations; this particular form was standard in 14th century France.

From David King, The Ciphers of the Monks: A Forgotten Number-notation of the Middle Ages, 2001.

Apparently Europe wants a fascist government in Greece.

Apparently Europe wants a fascist government in Greece.

Originally shared by Peter Hollard (weskus)

“The cow has been skating on thin ice for too long,” Mr Juncker said ahead of his meeting with Mr Tsipras. “We have to take the cow off the ice.”

http://on.ft.com/1f4G9M3

The IMF’s list of countries and their preferred policy settings.

The IMF’s list of countries and their preferred policy settings. While austerity and paying down debt is the conventional wisdom in all countries regardless of their circumstances, the IMF is worried that this policy is needlessly prolonging the recession. Countries in the green zone of the chart below would be wiser to spend money on infrastructure which stimulates growth in their economies rather than to spend it merely to retire debt.

This is clearly where the economists and the political establishment part ways and more evidence that this recession is the product of politics rather than economics.

There are sound engineering reasons for getting rid of windows.

There are sound engineering reasons for getting rid of windows. I’d be happy with lots of displays instead, especially if they gave me an enhanced view of the outside.

Originally shared by Tom Moncho

I’ve seen this reported before, but this article has more details. I know this horrifies some people, who are nervous fliers to begin with, but I think it’s amazing. Can’t wait to be on a flight like this!

http://peacefulwarriors.net/in-10-years-windowless-planes-will-give-passengers-a-panoramic-view-of-the-sky/

Just rewatched Playboy’s 1971 Macbeth, executive producer Hugh Hefner.

Just rewatched Playboy’s 1971 Macbeth, executive producer Hugh Hefner. To be honest, the dialogue to nudity ratio was a bit on the high side. Apart from some naked old witches and an alluring side-boob glimpse of Lady Macbeth, the whole screenplay focused more on gore and talking than babes. It was practically Shakespearian in that department, atleast in terms of dialogue. Less of the knights running about in rain and bogs and more scantily clad maidens would have made the flick a bit less of a downer, I think. Would have been a better ending too if Macbeth had kicked all their arses. I give it five stars.

#wtfplayboy