I done speak good
A few of my friends posted this on their Facebooks and so I decided to check it out and then post it here ‘cause it’s pretty freaking snazzy. I found the link to the whole data set here.
Some of the interesting ones to me:
- I pronounce “crayon” like “cran” (rhymes with “can”), which is the common pronunciation in Minnesota/Wisconsin/Michigan/that region.
- I pronounce “realtor” as “reel-uh-ter,” which is a little more common in the Midwest/upper south.
- I pronounce “roof,” “room,” “broom,” and “root” with the same vowel sound, which is very common in the south and New England.
- My “route” rhymes with “out” and that would probably get me beat up in New England, who strongly prefers that it rhyme with “hoot.”
- I say “garage sale” rather than “yard sale” or “rummage sale.” Garage sale is common in Tornado Alley.
Cool stuff!
Alright media, let’s get something straight:
Losing your sense of smell != losing your sense of taste. There’s a reason scientists/biologists have classified smell and taste as two different senses.
TASTE is what our taste buds give us. It refers to the five basic receptors in the mouth: sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami. You could rip out our olfactory bulbs and we’d still “taste” food. Taste is physically different than smell. It is the result of our tongues receiving chemical information, and we can basically get five pieces of information (the five tastes) about food from taste.
FLAVOR is everything else: it is the combination of every other sensory input that we experience when consuming food. Visual appearance, atmosphere, lighting, sound, music, texture, mouth-feel—and smell. Smell is obviously the big one here. While it too is chemical, smells can give us vastly more information about food than taste can, especially when combined with other environmental factors (sound, texture, and whatnot) and the fact that smell is the sense most closely linked to memory.
So while anosmics can most certainly taste food (or much of it, at least; garlic does absolutely nothing for me and onions are crunchy and nothing else), they miss out on the huge flavor component that smell provides.
Now that I think about it, I might guess that that’s the reason why a lot of acquired anosmics tend to claim that they’ve lost their sense of taste entirely as well—because they’re so used to experiencing food WITH that added flavor component from smell, once they lose that they’re reduced to just “tasting” food, which is likely exceedingly bland in comparison. Whereas the congenital anosmic—like me—has never experienced the extra flavor from smell and thus doesn’t “know” of the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) differences that smell can create. Therefore, for them, most foods are still very distinguishable from one another.
So there.
The next article I read that says “anosmics can’t tell the difference between a raw potato and an apple,” I’mma start stabbing fellows.
My Atmosphere
Idea: some company should make a type of gnocchi and call it Fibonocchi. The box would have to have some sort of mechanism where it would only dispense the gnocchi in quantities of Fibonacci numbers. Like if you shake it five times you get 0 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 3 = 7 gnocchi.
And it could only be served with rabbit.
I think I need to sleep.
Who is Fubini?
I dig my calc III teacher. He’s awesome. But I wish he’d do what I wish all math teachers would do when they introduce a theorem or lemma or rule: tell us a little bit about the person responsible for it, especially if the theorem/lemma/rule is named after the dude.
Like today we talked a lot about Fubini’s Theorem. We used it in like three examples. I used it on the homework I did right after class.
All the while without knowing who the heck this Fubini guy was.
So I checked him out this afternoon. Guido Fubini was an Italian mathematician who lived from 1879 to 1943. He was pretty into geometry and calculus for most of his life and moved around in different professorships in Europe before accepting an invitation to teach at Princeton in 1939 (partially to get away from the Nazis; he was Jewish).
So what the heck is this theorem, anyway?
Well. Let’s just look at rectangular domains first (because that’s all we’ve learned so far, haha…we’re doing non-rectangular domains tomorrow). So let’s look at a pretty double integral to start.
(P.S. I’m loving this chapter on double integrals already, simply because it means I have to write more integral signs. I FREAKING LOVE THAT SYMBOL.)
Say some rectangular region R is defined by the intervals [a,b] x [c,d]. If a function of two variables z= f(x,y) is continuous over R, then we can write the volume of the solid that lies below the surface z = f(x,y) and above the rectangle R as:
Or:
Iterated integrals!
Cool? Cool. So what does Fubini’s Theorem state? Again, assuming z = f(x,y) is continuous over R and R is a rectangular region, Fubini’s Theorem allows us to switch the order of integration while still getting the same correct result at the end:
Which is pretty snazzy (there’s a few other statements in the theorem; I just chose this conclusion as the example to show here).
But what I found most interesting about this theorem is that while double integration has been around for quite a long time, this theorem was proved sometime during Fubini’s lifetime–sometime in the late 1800s or early 1900s. (I can’t find an exact date for it, but that’s mainly because my internet’s deciding to be a bitch right now). Which makes sense, I guess, considering there exist cases where this doesn’t hold and so it may not have been an “obvious” thing or may not have been easily provable…but still. Interesting passage of time before we got to this theorem.
HUZZAH CALCULUS!
Fa la la la la, la la la BLOG
1. What’s something you hide about your personality?
I try to hide my horrible, horrible temper. I think a lot of people think I’m like this super quiet, not-bothered-by-anything type of person, but I’ve got a really bad temper. Michael Jones is my spirit animal.
2. How do you deal with criticism?
Ha. Not well. I’m better than I used to be, but I still get way defensive. It’s an issue.
3. What’s something sweet you’d like someone to do for you?
Just talk to me. I’m lonely here.
4. Which fictional character would you most like to have lunch with and why?
PHILEAS FOGG, BRO. The dude is so composed and meticulous and strikes me as a total INTJ…I envy his awesomeness.
5. Who would you say is your “anti” role model? Someone who serves as a warning rather than an inspiration?
A particular friend whose name I shall not mention. I don’t think they read this blog.
6. What’s the most infuriating thing your parents (or caregiver) do?
Pfft, my parents are awesome.
7. Which movie character do you most identify with and why?
Oh jeez, I don’t know. I haven’t watched enough movies to find a character I really identify with. I really LIKE Dr. Searle from Sunshine, but then again I’m in love with that entire movie, so yeah.
8. You’re an Action Movie Hero. What’s your weapon of choice and the line you scream when defeating your arch enemy?
Crowbar. “GORDON’S BACK, BITCHES!”
9. What’s the oddest term of endearment you’ve ever used or that someone’s used for you?
I was calling Aaron “Aaron to the 0th” for awhile because one night we were on the couch being sickeningly lovey-dovey and we eventually got to “you’re my favorite to the zeroth power because that makes you my number one.”
Yeah, I know.
10. What was something you used to enjoy, but was ruined for you? What’s the story behind that?
I actually don’t know. I can’t recall something I used to just LOVE but now is just “meh.”
12. Describe your dream library.
All my favorite books lined up in height order from shortest to tallest. Really, that’s all I ask for. OH, and a Leibniz shrine. And some dude who can translate all of Leibniz’ works for me.
13. If you could design an amusement park ride, what would it be like?
It would be a psycho roller coaster with lots of color and water and upside-down-ness.
14. Do you have any “rules” about food?
Dude, we don’t even want to go there tonight.
15. What’s your opinion on age differences in relationships?
Doesn’t bother me. As long as they’re happy.
16. What’s something you want to do that you’d be embarrassed to tell other people about?
I would make sweet, hot love to Gottfried Leibniz, 100% not kidding. HAHA OH WAIT I’M NOT EMBARRASSED TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THAT AT ALL.
That’s like how I start my conversations now.
“Hi, nice to meet you. I’m in love with a dead polymath and his incredible wig!”
17. Describe a time/event in your life that you’re nostalgic for.
I really, really, really miss living with the guys in that craptastic house. That was seriously the best year ever.
1. What is the most accident-prone area on your body?
Probably my fingers. Always slicin’ ‘em up or something.
3. Do you visit icon/photo sites on [Tumblr]?
Oh god. Tumblr. I haven’t checked that site in like five nanoseconds.
4. Have you ever taken showers at a friend’s house before?
Actually, I don’t think I have.
5. Do you like mussels, the seafood?
I’ve never had mussels.
6. Do you own any Hello Kitty apparel/accessories?
Nope.
7. When was the last time you drew all over a balloon?
Haha, wow. Actually, I think it was when I was living with the guys. I seem to recall some balloon-drawing going on there.
8. Do you think mint tastes nasty?
It’s not my favorite. I don’t like mint gum.
9. What is your favourite cough drop flavour?
Nooo, keep them away! They totally destroy what little sense of taste I have for like a week and a half.
10. Have you ever gone to the beach in the winter?
Yes. But it was Hawaii, so I could still swim and stuff.
11. When was the last time you got a nosebleed?
Pretty recently. I’ve been getting them a lot lately.
12. Do you love Raisinets as much as I do?
Raisinets suck, man.
13. Isn’t Target a cool store?
Meh.
14. Is there a nearby park in your community?
There’s one like .09 miles away. And then there’s another one about .75 miles away!
15. When was the last time you discussed with your friends about masturbating?
Um…it’s been awhile.
16. Have you taken a Health class yet?
Haha. Yes.
17. Do you know of anyone with a ‘fro?
No.
18. How often do you get homework over the weekend?
Very often.
19. Do you use index cards to help you study for tests?
I do indeed. It’s pretty much the only way I study.
20. Abominable Snowman or the Loch Ness Monster or Big Foot?
Loch Ness!
21. Do you enjoy reminiscing about the past or looking forward to the future?
Both, man.
22. Have you got a favourite brand of beer?
I don’t like beer.
23. Don’t you just love WhackaMole?
I don’t think I’ve ever played it.
24. When was the last time you said “it’s what all the cool kids do”?
I say it all the time. After all, it’s what all the cool kids do.
25. Can you play Smoke On Water on the guitar?
No, but I can play it on the clarinet. Which is substantially cooler.
26. Did you walk around school during your lunch period or stay seated in the cafeteria the whole time?
Junior high: I locked myself in a bathroom stall and read Catcher in the Rye because I was that girl.
High school: I pelted my friends with bread and did inappropriate stuff in the hallways because I was that girl.
27. Do you flip people off during class? Have you ever gotten caught by the teacher?
Why on earth would I flip people off during class?
28. Have you ever ridden a subway before?
I’ve ridden DA SKY TRAIN!
And a few actual subways.
29. Don’t you hate getting ulcers inside your lip or on your tongue? How do you treat them?
I just let them go away on their own.
30. Have you ever ridden in a red wagon before?
Most likely.
31. When was the last time you held a lemonade stand? Did you make much moola?
Never tried that.
32. Do you prefer cold water or hot water?
To drink or bathe? Cold and hot, respectively. Unless I’m making tea, in which case it needs to be hot water. I hate cold tea.
33. Do you wash your hands after coming home from school/work?
I tend to wash my hands at strange times.
34. Do you flush your toilet paper down the toilet or toss it in the trash?
Why would I toss it in the trash? That’s…weird.
35. Have you ever gone into a public bathroom and heard someone taking a crap? Did you tell your friends and/or laugh about it?
People crap. Big deal.
“DON’T LET GAVIN WIN!!!”
It’s currently 7:30 AM on Sunday morning. The reason I’m posting this for Saturday’s blog is because I’ve been up for a LOOOOOOOOOONG time. I’ve been watching Achievement Hunter’s Let’s Play Minecraft series and drawing since about 6 PM.
The payoff?
New favorite Let’s Play Minecraft AND a new drawing!
Shoutout to Newton
Let’s clear up a misconception today.
I do not dislike Sir Isaac Newton.
I don’t know how anyone really could dislike the guy. I mean come on. Anyone who can contribute that much to science and society deserves the utmost respect, even if he wasn’t the easiest guy to get along with. Personality does not beget worth—it’s what you do that counts.
Anyway.
He actually is one of my favorite scientists, and it baffles me just how much he did. It’s really incredible. I would have liked to know him. I just bitch about him a lot because of the whole calculus thing, ‘cause my main man Leibniz got screwed over and that makes me want to invent a time machine so that I could go back and maek things right upsets me.
But I do not dislike Sir Isaac Newton.
So shoutout to England’s greatest scientist! I’d make a horrible pun here in your honor, but I can’t think of any right now.
Lava lamp solar system!
Spontaneous drawing! This is radically different than the stuff I usually draw because…I dunno.
TWSB: My Initials Stand for a Wallpaper Group
I was screwing around on this site this afternoon and my random scrolling happened to stop on the number 17. Apparently, that’s the number of wallpaper groups.
What’s a wallpaper group?
That’s what I wanted to know.
So I checked it out. Apparently, the wallpaper groups are the 17 possible symmetry groups in the plane. The groups classify patterns based on certain characteristics of symmetry. The Wikipedia page has a bunch of pretty pictures that help show the different symmetries as well as several patterns that fall into each group.
The groups themselves are named with Crystallographic notation. They start with either a p or a c (for primitive cell or face-centered cell, respectively) and then contain several letters or other letters to describe specific components of symmetry (read here!).
The shorthand name of one of the groups happens to be cmm (my initials!). Patterns with this type of symmetry can be turned upside down (e.g., be rotated 180 degrees) and still look the same. Its lattice is rhombus-shaped. It’s a pretty frequently-encountered pattern, as bricks (like in brick buildings) are often arranged utilizing this group of symmetry.
Here’s a pattern of cmm-type symmetry that I particularly like:
It’s like the portal to Crayola’s secret lair
That’s the prettiest freaking thing I’ve ever seen. And it’s in Yellowstone, too. I was FREAKING THERE when I was a kid; why wasn’t I shown this natural wonder of spectacular gaudiness?!
When I die, please chuck my ashes in there. If it’s not illegal. Actually, throw half of me in there, the other half around Leibniz’ grave.
Incidentally, at my funeral, no one is allowed to wear black. Neon that place up, I want it looking like a rave party.
Deal? Deal.
