Monday's Combinations and Permutations

Good Monday!

Because the topic of social media and whether it has a positive influence on society, or not, comes up frequently for discussion, while at our family dinner table, no less, I thought we'd explore this author's ideas. The comments on this article are interesting reading, also, and many answer the criticism of social media and how it is not face-to-face interaction (or so it's assumed--Skype?), by noting that much of the communication that happened in older generations was done by letter, or phone or even telegram, and not face-to-face, either. Let's discuss this some more, how about over dinner?

Speaking of dinner, a little late to the table perhaps, but I keep seeing mention of the game Minecraft pop up (you know, when I'm using social media) and thought you might like to check it out? Apparently it's wildly popular, and among creative, unschooled types as well. Learn more about it here.

Moving along. Ever since we caught a bit of that travel show on monorails of Europe, I've been both fascinated and flummoxed by why we don't build and utilize more monorail systems here in North America. I found this fascinating site about monorails. I am struck by how environment, design, and people friendly monorails are and did I mention being baffled? What do you think? Would a monorail system in Maine be beneficial? In what way? Also, can you name possible reasons for why monorails haven't been built or promoted in the US? How might politics play a part, for instance?

Adam, I know you enjoy your set of magnetic balls and you've made some amazing things with it, so here's more inspiration. Wow! It reminds me of the awesomeness of the Rubix Cube, and in order to solve (or design) either, you must use combinations and permutations.



Okay, just for fun: since we just watched that X-Files episode, Hollywood A.D. ( aka, The Lazarus Bowl, season 7, 2000), where Gary Shandling plays Mulder in the movie...here's a scene from the Larry Sanders Show (season 5, 1996-97, HBO).

Bones Break

As we eagerly await the final episodes from season 3 of Bones (shakes fist at Netflix), I thought it might be interesting to note that there are only about 100 forensic anthropologists in the US and Canada, and Maine has one of them. Also, there's an organization called the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Teams, or DMORT, of which many of these forensic anthropologists assist. (Maine is part of Region I.) Kathy Reichs, the author of the Temeprance "Bones" Brennan books, was part of the DMORT team assigned to the World Trade Center disaster. This video, aside from being rather dull, is also moderately informative and does talk about what sort of training one needs to become a forensic anthropologist. (Also, but I could have sworn it was Eric Millegan, aka, Zack Addy, narrating this piece-the narrator and Eric sound so alike.)



Here's more about the work of forensic anthropologists.

I know you two have a new-found appreciation of some rock ballads thanks to your time with Guitar Hero, so I thought you might enjoy this version of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody--on ukulele.



Hey, Adam--since we have been doing that deep clean of your room and putting things into piles and emptying drawers and putting things away into boxes, it made me think of compartmentalization. Remember when we were talking about how all life just seems to mimic the functions of other parts of life, no matter how small or large? So just like our very cells spend time compartmentalizing, we'll be finishing up in your room, just as soon as we put those Legos into that specialized membrane.



And sometimes when we are in the middle of these cleaning and organizing projects, infinity is on the brain, perhaps, because as soon as you provide space for one thing you have to make space for another and the compartmentalizing seems endless. Like this.

But the end result is an organized thing of beauty, so why not try your hand at some fractals, today? Take a look at this fractal zoom.





Did you know that this set of fractals is known as the Mandelbrot Set? How does seeing the Mandelbrot Set remind you of cell compartmentalization? If we consider that everything can be broken down into mere patterns, each piece interacting and dependent on another, what does this mean for human life? Are we acting independently, for instance? Or, is there any original action or has everything been done before (or will be done?) To many, this knowledge might give weight to their spiritual practice, while to others, it further informs their scientific exploration. For instance, it's interesting to note that humans have been perhaps thinking about Mandelbrot Sets, long before we could see them. What are your thoughts on the Mandelbrot Set? Explore similar concepts here:

The Golden Mean and Fibonacci Sequences and here

Ancient Mandals

Keyhole Gardens in Permaculture practice

Labyrinths

Looking for something to read (along with the other five or so books you each have going, that is?) I may have to check this series out myself.

For those of you who enjoy being quizzed, there's Sporcle.com. And Olivia, since you've been missing Buffy, try this quiz.