• ## Pages

 bob on Proof that Humans Are Evi… Mike on Viking Metal Meets Viking… sir on Set Algebra: A Quick Reference… Crystal on Proof that Humans Are Evi… Felicis on Viking Metal Meets Viking…

## Genetic Programming

Genetic algorithms are all the rage – and a short handy book is available here! There is a free downloadable version, or you can purchase it (for a mere \$13.07; quite reasonable).

In other news, class starts on Monday- I’ll be really busy for the first two weeks, and then hopefully I’ll be able to get to some regular posting!

ex animo-

Felicis

## Happy Birthday Knuth!

Donald Knuth is the guy who invented LaTeX$\TeX$ and it turns out that today (Thursday, as I write this) is his 70th birthday. For a nice article about him and what he’s done in computer science in addition to inventing $\TeX$, go here, or here, or follow the links they give!

ex animo-

Felicis

Thanks to Jeffrey Shallit for the correction.

## Mathematics Genealogy

I’m going to entering into the graduate program at PSU next year, and I’ll very likely be studying under Steve Bleiler.  According to the Mathematical Genealogy website, that would make me a  mathematical descendant of Karl Weierstraß and then further Carl Gauß !

Because of the apprenticeship nature of PhD programs it’s rather easy to trace back from student to adviser into the annals of time.

## Proof of God … Again

I promise to soon finish my discussion about Newcomb’s freewill/god paradox, but in lieu of that, here’s a post by MarkCC ranting about yet another “proof” of God.

Our genius prover starts off with a bunch of definitions. They’re a classical example of what I call “obfuscatory mathematics”; that is, mathematical notations and definitions that are created for the purposes of obstruction, not clarification. Obfuscatory math is one of the best signs that what follows is going to be bullshit. Before I get to that, allow me to rant for a moment.

## Some Post-Christmas Offerings

Hello everyone!

John Baez has some neat stuff for this week, including a whole slew of free online texts! You’ll find them immediately after the pictures of nebulae.

Also, John Wilkins has a blog called “Evolving Thoughts” and yesterday’s (26 December 07) post, “Basic Concepts in Science: A list” has some more neat links to follow, even if I am not quite sure how many would actually qualify as ‘basic concepts’.

Enjoy!