"Happiness, in fact, is a condition that must be prepared for, cultivated, and defended privately by each person. People who learn to control inner experience will be able to determine the quality of their lives, which is as close as any of us can come to being happy."
I like to consider myself a happy person. I have no drama in life, no regrets, and all problems I encounter can be swept away by simply focusing on maintaining my happiness. For years now I've employed the tactic of "think happy thoughts", and my life has been the better because of it.
I like this quote because it tells the reader that happiness comes from within. It's up to the person to decided whether or not they want to enjoy their life or not. Happiness is a choice, not a state of being; and the journey to make that choice is what defines us as we sift through this mortal coil.
I've always wondered why people don't just decide to be happy. Why would anyone wallow in despair when a choice could make their lives better? For me, it's always been easy. But I've come to learn that some people have a harder time making that decision. Their minds are clouded by outside influences. It's up to them to remove those influences and finally make the choice to be happy.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Project Proposal
Punkin' Chunkin'. Nuff' said.
Okay, I'll go further in depth.
I don't know if you've ever seen Punkin' Chunkin', but there's nothing I've wanted to do more at school than shoot pumpkins out of cannons. With the almighty power of Calculus at our sides, we can come up with some advanced calculations based around projectile motion and the slopes of objects in the air. Then we can use those handy dandy engineering skills most of us have from last semester to create the ultimate pumpkin spewing machine.
It's the perfect idea.
Okay, I'll go further in depth.
I don't know if you've ever seen Punkin' Chunkin', but there's nothing I've wanted to do more at school than shoot pumpkins out of cannons. With the almighty power of Calculus at our sides, we can come up with some advanced calculations based around projectile motion and the slopes of objects in the air. Then we can use those handy dandy engineering skills most of us have from last semester to create the ultimate pumpkin spewing machine.
It's the perfect idea.
Friday, February 18, 2011
QQC 12
"Six is a number perfect in itself, and not because God created all things in six days; rather, the converse is true. God created all things in six days because the number is perfect..."
It's interesting when people bring mathematics and religion together. It almost seems counterintuitive. But when you look around and realize there is advanced math in the beauty of nature, you pause for a moment and consider the possibility that there may be something out there shaping the universe in an intelligent way.
Is there such a thing as an intelligent designer? Take a grandfather clock for example, a grandfather clock doesn't assemble itself spontaneously without provocation. There is always a clock maker, or so the argument is made. But perhaps our universe is the way it is because of some small chance during its creation. Who knows? Perhaps there was a universe before ours, with laws of physics far beyond our comprehension, with life unimaginable to us. Our universe could be one of an infinite number of possibilites.
It's these sorts of things that make it hard to sleep sometimes.
It's interesting when people bring mathematics and religion together. It almost seems counterintuitive. But when you look around and realize there is advanced math in the beauty of nature, you pause for a moment and consider the possibility that there may be something out there shaping the universe in an intelligent way.
Is there such a thing as an intelligent designer? Take a grandfather clock for example, a grandfather clock doesn't assemble itself spontaneously without provocation. There is always a clock maker, or so the argument is made. But perhaps our universe is the way it is because of some small chance during its creation. Who knows? Perhaps there was a universe before ours, with laws of physics far beyond our comprehension, with life unimaginable to us. Our universe could be one of an infinite number of possibilites.
It's these sorts of things that make it hard to sleep sometimes.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
QQC 11
"The speed at which a trained abacus user can calculate sums is remarkable, and proficient users are even able to visualize the movement of beads in their heads in order to achieve astonishing feats of mental arithmetic."
I know this hasn't got much to do with the reading, but I've always thought abacus's were so cool. I saw this one thing on discovery where these Chinese math prodigies were able to visualize the abacus in their heads and do crazy calculations. It was neat.
Dave should give extra credit points to anyone who can learn to use an abacus.
One problem I had with the reading was it wasn't quite clear on the true discovery of fractions. It talked about how the Pythagorian society contemplated the sub-multiples, then it jumped to the Romans using fractions for trading. So who, when, and where were fractions truly discovered? Is it unknown as to who really did it? Or was it missing from the book we were reading?
But anyway, I really wanted to profess my admiration for the abacus. I wouldn't be surprised if Dave could use one really well.
I know this hasn't got much to do with the reading, but I've always thought abacus's were so cool. I saw this one thing on discovery where these Chinese math prodigies were able to visualize the abacus in their heads and do crazy calculations. It was neat.
Dave should give extra credit points to anyone who can learn to use an abacus.
One problem I had with the reading was it wasn't quite clear on the true discovery of fractions. It talked about how the Pythagorian society contemplated the sub-multiples, then it jumped to the Romans using fractions for trading. So who, when, and where were fractions truly discovered? Is it unknown as to who really did it? Or was it missing from the book we were reading?
But anyway, I really wanted to profess my admiration for the abacus. I wouldn't be surprised if Dave could use one really well.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
QQC 10
"If you live at that time - no matter how intelligent you were - you would have struggled to tell the difference between six applies and seven, just by looking. Even though you had the same eyes and the same brain, you would have found it hard to tell the difference. Why? Because counting hadn't been invented."
I remember as a kid I would think about things like this. "How did we get numbers?" or "How were ;languages created?". This would eventually lead into some sort of circular logic or rational dead end, and I would instead move on and play with Legos or some similar childish activity.
How was it that the human mind came to create a way to communicate numbers, or anything for that matter? How would the person that came up with a language communicate it to other people without the use of language? It's all very confusing, and baffled me to no end as a kid.
Even now, as a much smarter person, I still find it hard to fathom the difficulty with which the early man created ways of expressing ideas and communicating.
I remember as a kid I would think about things like this. "How did we get numbers?" or "How were ;languages created?". This would eventually lead into some sort of circular logic or rational dead end, and I would instead move on and play with Legos or some similar childish activity.
How was it that the human mind came to create a way to communicate numbers, or anything for that matter? How would the person that came up with a language communicate it to other people without the use of language? It's all very confusing, and baffled me to no end as a kid.
Even now, as a much smarter person, I still find it hard to fathom the difficulty with which the early man created ways of expressing ideas and communicating.
Friday, January 28, 2011
QQC 9
"He visited Gauss on several occasions to verify his suspicions and tell him about his own most recent discoveries, and each time Gauss pulled 30-year-old manuscripts out of his desk and showed Jacobi what Jacobi had just shown him."
Gauss reminds me of Newton. Like when Haley asked what shape a celestial body would create in orbit, and Newton nonchalantly showed him his calculations. That's what this instance in Gauss's life reminds me of. And like before, I am shocked at how easily men of genius pass off their own abilities. People who don't think like them stand in awe at the power of their minds, but to them it's no big deal.
How is it that people like Gauss pass off their intelligence like it's no big deal? I want to get inside their brains and find out what makes them tick.
On a side note, here's a Gauss haiku.
My name is Gauss
The Supreme Mathematician
Bow before my might
Of course, that's make Gauss sound like a dictator. But it's almost midnight and I'm tired, I don't care if it makes sense.
Gauss reminds me of Newton. Like when Haley asked what shape a celestial body would create in orbit, and Newton nonchalantly showed him his calculations. That's what this instance in Gauss's life reminds me of. And like before, I am shocked at how easily men of genius pass off their own abilities. People who don't think like them stand in awe at the power of their minds, but to them it's no big deal.
How is it that people like Gauss pass off their intelligence like it's no big deal? I want to get inside their brains and find out what makes them tick.
On a side note, here's a Gauss haiku.
My name is Gauss
The Supreme Mathematician
Bow before my might
Of course, that's make Gauss sound like a dictator. But it's almost midnight and I'm tired, I don't care if it makes sense.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
QQC 8
"He calculated without effort, as men breathe, or as eagles sustain themselves in the wind."
If only I had the ability to calculate effortlessly in my head. All those quizzes where I was off by a small miscalculation could have been A's. Oh well.
Whilst reading this, I found it hard to recognize the immense genius the reading claimed Euler had. This is chiefly due to the fact that I didn't understand the formulas and rules that the reading presented me saying "This is why Euler was the best!". Although I do recognize the brilliance of Euler's ability to think and comprehend, I simply don't comprehend the amazing things he has produced.
Which leads me to the question, of what practical use are the things Euler created? Are the used in economics? Population growth? Astrophysics? I'm curious as to the proper use of these equations.
I also wrote a haiku about Euler.
Oh dear, I am blind
Not to worry, I have bros
They help me write stuff
Evan Falkenthal, poetry master of the decade.
If only I had the ability to calculate effortlessly in my head. All those quizzes where I was off by a small miscalculation could have been A's. Oh well.
Whilst reading this, I found it hard to recognize the immense genius the reading claimed Euler had. This is chiefly due to the fact that I didn't understand the formulas and rules that the reading presented me saying "This is why Euler was the best!". Although I do recognize the brilliance of Euler's ability to think and comprehend, I simply don't comprehend the amazing things he has produced.
Which leads me to the question, of what practical use are the things Euler created? Are the used in economics? Population growth? Astrophysics? I'm curious as to the proper use of these equations.
I also wrote a haiku about Euler.
Oh dear, I am blind
Not to worry, I have bros
They help me write stuff
Evan Falkenthal, poetry master of the decade.
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