A Psychological Tip

Whenever you're called on to make up your mind,
and you're hampered by not having any,
the best way to solve the dilemma, you'll find,
is simply by spinning a penny.
No -- not so that chance shall decide the affair
while you're passively standing there moping;
but the moment the penny is up in the air,
you suddenly know what you're hoping.

A Grook by Piet Hein (1905-1996)

Half Life

As of our anniversary today we have been married half our lives!

Riddle at the Last

This World is not Conclusion.
A Species stands beyond --
Invisible, as Music --
But positive, as Sound --
It beckons, and it baffles --
Philosophy -- don't know --
And through a Riddle, at the last --
Sagacity, must go --
To guess it, puzzles scholars --
To gain it, Men have borne
Contempt of Generations
And Crucifixion, shown --
Faith slips -- and laughs, and rallies --
Blushes, if any see --
Plucks at a twig of Evidence --
And asks a Vane, the way --
Much Gesture, from the Pulpit --
Strong Hallelujahs roll --
Narcotics cannot still the Tooth
That nibbles at the soul --

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Jellyfish Rule!

I just came across this picture and a news article that blew my mind! It is amazing what unintended consquences come of our (human) actions and choices. Who could have guessed this outcome? Normally the size and number of jellyfish are kept in check by competition from other sea creatures. For instance, fish eat small jelly fish and compete with jellyfish for food sources such as zooplankton. But overfishing has decreased the amount of predators and the number of competitors leaving jellyfish populations and jellyfish themselves to grow unchecked! It is thought that climate change (also perhaps due to human activity) is also responsible. Accoring to the Discovery News article (click for more info) it is the case that "for the first time, water conditions could lead to what they call a "jellyfish stable state," in which jellyfish rule the oceans."

WHOA!!

Heidi's Graduation

There is a new DAVID update at right.

Possibility

Wow! I didn't know a harmonica could do that! I may have to pull mine back out of the box and reassess the possibilities. By the way, I CAN play the first song ("Grandpa's song"), but I don't imagine I'll be in Carnegie Hall any time soon.
(Thanks for sending this on, Dad :-)

Rapture and Regret

DU REVE, DE LA MATHEMATIQUE, ET DE LA MORT

On dreams, on mathematics, and on death.
Card-catalogues turn up such heady stuff
Sometimes as this, this rapture from the depths
Which isn't where it should be on the shelf.
For a moment, remembering Borges' poor young clerk,
I idly consider writing it myself,
Setting a record for the shortest work
The world had ever seen on three such themes
Of such import as death and math and dreams.

I think of asking that a search be made,
But give it up, my French is not so great
And right now I've got plenty on my plate
Without this title turned up by pure chance
As if desinged to bait my ignorance.
And yet -- ? But I shall let this once-glimpsed fish
Swim through the deep of thought beyond my wish,
And resign myself to knowing nothing more
Du reve, de la mathematique, et de la mort.

Howard Nemerov (1920-1991)

X

To speak algebraically, Mr. M. is execrable, but Mr. C. is (x+1)-ecrable.

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)

Monterey, California May 2009 (video)

We just got back from a quick trip to Monterey - the first time I've had a chance to get out of town so far this year. It was short but great! Check out the video above for some sea lion action. If you need relaxation check out the video below of gentle waves. Watching water is relaxing to me, so I'm posting this partly so that I can come back to it when needed!

Princess Diana and Moby Dick?

from: http://cs.anu.edu.au/~bdm/dilugim/diana.html copyrighted by Brendan McKay (bdm@cs.anu.edu.au)

WOW!! Herman Melville predicted the death of Princess Diana! If you click on the image above to enlarge it you will see very clear patterns with the words "Diana," "Dodi," "skid," "hearse," "royal," "Lady Diana," "mortal in the jaws of death," and even "Henri Paul!" BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!! We can also find in Moby Dick predictions of the assassinations of Indira Ghandi, Sirhan Sirhan, Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy and many others!! (click here) Melville was an amazing prophet!

OR WAS HE?

Actually, the page at which I found the above image and information was posted in response to a challenge put out by Michael Drosnin who claims that codes in the Bible (found in patterns of letters in the Hebrew) have predicted past and do predict future assassinations. It goes without saying that there are critics of his work. In an interview for Newsweek Magazine, Drosnin said he would believe his critics if they could find a message about the assassination of a prime minister in Moby Dick. Well...they did...and then some!!

You see, given a sufficiently large collection of letters or numbers or points or events or people, there will ALWAYS be patterns (highly organized subsystems). In a large collection (like the letters in a novel) you will always find "hidden" words and patterns. The question is, are they MEANINGFUL? The answer is, "No." This is just a natural consequence of having a large group of items. Just because the patterns are not meaningful, does that mean it's not fun to play around with them - NO! It can lead to really cool, fun things such as the intriguing and adventerous National Treasure movies. This is all great fun, as long as people don't take it seriously!

As mathematician T. S. Motzkin says:

Complete disorder is impossible.

If you're interested in looking into the math behind this, it is part of the branch of mathematics known as Ramsey Theory.

Really?!

Is anybody else at all concerned about anything here?

I guess rather than making assumptions about any of our purchases, even the most mundane, we should scrutinize everything very carefully.

No wonder my recipes aren't coming out well!!

What a Day!

Today I gave my defense of my masters thesis. Here I am with my awesome committee members Dr. Elmano Costa, Dr. Brian Jue and Dr. Tom Carter - amazing men from whom I have learned a great deal.What an incredible thing it is to be at this point. I began this work three years ago, and a year and a half ago this month David had his stroke. In this next picture here he is standing by my side. God has certainly brought us a long way!Also with us are dear friends Lucy, Tom and Barbara who came to support me as I gave my defense.

A year and a half ago I stood in David's room in ICU the day after his stroke and let him know that I had written my professors and let them know I would probably not be finishing out the semester. David, lying there paralyzed, said immediately and with no hesitation at all, "Don't you dare!" There were some very rough days. They were rough for many reasons. Among other things was guilt I sensed, feeling I should be at his side more than I was during his recovery, but he selflessly encouraged me to continue, and here we are at such a different spot - me at the end of my particular journey, him having come a long way on his - standing side-by-side - and now also a full-time tenure-track position awaiting me in the fall. Without teamwork, God's blessing and the support of loving friends (those pictured here and many others as well) we would not be in the wonderful place we find ourselves.

We are truly blessed!!

Thinking of Hugin

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven...

Ecclesiastes 3:1

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

Cecil F. Alexander (1848)

Flora and Fauna Mid-Spring 2009

We had two massive butterfly migrations, Painted Ladies and Tiger Swallowtails both migrated thickly through our area this spring, so much so that it was hard to take even a short drive without lots of them getting squashed on the windshield. That part was a bummer, but it was so beautiful to have butterfly-filled skies for weeks. It just went on and on. I was only able to catch one up close, though.Another delightful spring experience was the particularly strong-scented orange blossoms we had this year. I wanted to keep the windows open all the time to enjoy it!Next come the glorious lilies.As much as I love my flowers I love snails too - such elegant spirals on their shells! Our weather has been very changeable - cold, warm, windy, rainy - quite a lot of variety!
I love how the greens of nature change in the varied weather and at various times of day - more or less light, but I can never capture quite what I want with the camera. Ah well, I'll keep trying. Knowing that mice are social creatures, we brought home two new friends for Hugin since her sister Munin died. Our new mice are Oreo and Milkshake. As you can see they have all accepted each other well. It's fun to see them snuggled up together. (I guess I'm not your typical woman. I like snails and mice.) Here is Oreo grooming her tail.
Though she has a tumor and is showing her age, Hugin remains active and continues to eat her favorite food - pumpkin seeds - very heartily.Oops - this is spring fauna for another post!!

Beginning of Wisdom

THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM

Proverbs 9.-10

You have brought me so far.

.

I know so much. Names, verbs, images. My mind
overflows, a drawer that can't close.

.

Unscathed among the tortured. Ignorant parchment
uninscribed, light strokes only, where a scribe
tried out a pen.

.

I am so small, a speck of dust
moving across the huge world. The world
a speck of dust in the universe.

.

Are you holding
the universe? You hold
onto my smallness. How do you grasp it,
how does it not
slip away?

.

I know so little

.

You have brought me so far.

Denise Levertov (1923-1997)

Following Storm

Every man has a rainy corner of his life whence comes foul weather which follows him.

Jean Paul (1763-1825)

Radical

Einstein's E = mc2 is an extraordinary concept. So radical: matter and energy are two phases of the same sort of general stuff. There's only one other idea that radical: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

~Kurt Vonnegut (1922-2007)

Simple Wisdom

You can have a plain

hot dog if you want,

he said, but until you've

had a real polish

sausage you're only

half alive. I decided

there were worse things

& I was only ten &

could correct the

serious mistakes later

& the plain dog tasted

just fine, even being

half alive and all.

Last summer I discovered writer/artist Brian Andreas - am really enjoying his simple wisdom (and his artwork) and wanted to share some. If you're interested you can find out more about him and his work at Story People.

Announcement

I am happy to announce that

- pending chancellor and board of trustees approval -

I have been offered and have accepted a tenure-track position on the math faculty.

It is absolutely clear to me that this is God's leading in my life and where He wants me to be. Now I need another miracle. My schedule in the fall includes an 8am calculus class. Those of you who know me well know about my sleep disorder, but I fully trust that, "If He leads you to it, He will lead you through it."

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Plans and Prayers and Peace

When I rise up

let me rise up joyful

like a bird.

When I fall

let me fall without regret

like a leaf.

Wendell Berry (b. 1934)

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jer 29:11 (NIV)

Outcomes

Prediction is difficult -- especially about the future.

As I continue tonight to prepare for my interview tomorrow I am feeling in a special way something that is always the case. There is an outcome, and with time I will know it, but right now all I can do is to prepare my best and walk into the unknown future. I do realize that all of us walk each moment of every day into an unknown future, but right now I'm just more aware of it than usual. What is bringing a smile to my face right now as I do so is the wonderful quote above from quantum physicist Neils Bohr (1885-1962).

Running the Race

Well, although it's Anthony who's on the track team, I sure feel like I'm running a race of my own. All my boys (including David) are on spring break this week, but my college did away with spring break a few years back. (Isn't that an oxymoron, a college without a spring break?) Things are kind of crazy, as not only would I like to spend time with them while they are on break, but the time I am used to having totally to myself during the day to plan and putter and process is not available to me this week.

This is some kind of crazy race - not just for me but with all of us going different directions. Of course there was Easter with its services and celebrations. Jacob is at a youth group camp right now. David and Anthony are leaving tomorrow for southern California to check out colleges (Harvey Mudd and Cal Tech) - taking advantage of this time while Anthony is on spring break. (They'll get to sit in on one of mathemagician Arthur Benjamin's classes while at Harvey Mudd. I'm so jealous!) It's a good thing Anthony is a quick healer. He had all 4 wisdom teeth removed Monday. He is still in some amount of pain and looks like a chipmunk at the moment, but he's being a very good sport about it all.

Poor Caleb is kind of being left in the dust - feeling rather bored and lonely on his spring break as David, Anthony and Jacob are all jetting around, and I'm working, revising a thesis and preparing for an interview - not much time right now for Mom to play!

My interview is Friday and is for a tenure-track position. I need to prepare 2 presentations. I do that sort of thing all the time, whether for lecturing to my class or for speaking at a conference, but when it's for an interview there's just a little different level of processing. There's a lot on the line. It's in a different category too than presentations I normally give; in this case I've been given the topics I need to speak on, but I will also be given specific examples to use in my presentations but won't have those until half an hour before the interview, which gives it kind of a twist. I usually plan very thoroughly, so I'm trying to figure out how to plan lessons with holes in them that examples I'm given later will fit into. Anyway, I'm pretty distracted away from family this week.

Sometimes Anthony has to run two races pretty much in a row, for instance the 800 meters and then the 2 mile. That's hard to do. When you give a finishing kick in one race you give it your all, and it's hard to recover to take on a new race. That's kind of what I feel like right now. Anything I do I give it my all, and I've got quite a few things I'm trying to give my all to right now.

It's all good stuff. Actually it's all kind of an interesting challenge, but I am eager for some down time. It's been a busy few years with my graduate program and teaching and with big family issues such as David's stroke and recovery. I'm eager for some time to just focus on my family in a relaxed setting for a while, and I sure hope we'll get that chance soon. Hopefully some of that can happen this summer! For now we'll all keep running the race as best we can!

Good Friday

Bulletin art by Caleb Good Friday 2009.

I am NOT Resigned

DIRGE WITHOUT MUSIC

I am not resigned to the shutting away of loving hearts in the hard ground.
So it is, and so it will be, for so it has been, time out of mind:
Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely. Crowned
With lilies and with laurel they go; but I am not resigned.
Lovers and thinkers, into the earth with you.
Be one with the dull, the indiscriminate dust.
A fragment of what you felt, of what you knew,
A formula, a phrase remains, --- but the best is lost.

The answers quick & keen, the honest look, the laughter, the love,
They are gone. They have gone to feed the roses. Elegant and curled
Is the blossom. Fragrant is the blossom. I know. But I do not approve.
More precious was the light in your eyes than all the roses in the world.

Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave
Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind;
Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave.
I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned.

Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892-1950)

Super Power!

On movies I have at times heard characters asked what super power they would want if they could choose one: invisibility, flying, being able to breathe underwater, mind-reading, a lasso of truth like Wonder Woman had, ability to talk with animals, the ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound, bullet-proof flesh, x-ray vision . . .

Today it dawned on me what I want my super power to be!

I want to be gifted with the ability to always say exactly the right thing at exactly the right time.

If YOU could choose any super power, what would it be?

Don't Even Go There!

Reliving Childhood

Another of my favorites that is bringing me joy right now. I can't resist the classics and am so glad YouTube provides a place for reliving these memories!

Escapism

They sure don't make 'em like they used to!
I needed some healthy escape today, and this did the trick!
I hope you'll enjoy it too!

Alone

From childhood's hour I have not been
As others were; I have not seen
As others saw; I could not bring
My passions from a common spring.
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow; I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone;
And all I loved, I loved alone.
Then -- in my childhood, in the dawn
Of a most stormy life -- was drawn
From every depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still:
From the torrent or the fountain,
From the red cliff of the mountain.
From the sun that round me rolled
In its autumn tint of gold,
From the lightning in the sky
As it passed me flying by,
From the thunder and the storm,
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view.

-Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)