Thinking About Math

People argue over whether a modern approach to higher math, using computers, is or is not undermining the ability to think about math.   Certainly it is changing how people do math.  It changes the kind of discoveries they make.  I wouldn't care to discard either approach.  Not mentioned in the article, I think that using only one approach will reduce the number of possible mathematicians, because it's often different people who want to do things themselves or use a tool to do things.  If you like poking at numbers to make them jump, a computer isn't going to hold your interest very well.  If you want to explore high theory but not do math by hand, then a computer is very useful.  Those are just two very different approaches to investigating math.

Honesty in Friendship

I am dubious about this article regarding valued traits in friends.

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Birdfeeding

 Today is cloudy, humid, and mild.  It rained a little last night.

I fed the birds.   I've seen several house finches.

Corn is starting to ripen in some fields.  A few of the soybeans are just beginning to show yellow.

Today's Adventures

Today we went south to Casey to visit a different ice cream shop that carries some of the same flavors.  My partner Doug got Blueberry Cheesecake, which really tastes like blueberry muffin until you get one of the cheesecake chunks.  I tried the Dole Whip orange flavor, which is delightfully creamsicle flavored.  :D

On the way home we stopped to pick up Naf Naf for supper.  That's always fun.

Then we noticed that the orchard is open.  They had some summer vegetables left -- peppers, tomatoes, summer squash -- and a few early apples.  No cider yet, alas.  We bought several Gala apples and a couple of summer squash.

Tonight we are making yellow squash bread.  <3