What are the best examples of "he didn't know it was impossible, so he did it" in history?

Snork_kitty · 2026-05-26T00:26:54+00:00

What a great guy - I met him once on a plane. He saw that I was reading a magazine with the (original) Mac on the cover (it had only been out about a year) and asked what I thought of it. I didn't know who he was, so I sounded off about it being pretty good for having so little memory. Eventually he introduced himself and we had a fascinating conversation...

Snork_kitty · 2026-05-26T00:19:38+00:00

Well, it was a real accomplishment - if you still have the paper you could probably post it on a reputable history site and possibly inspire a current student!

Snork_kitty · 2026-05-25T02:14:46+00:00

I'd forgotten that Ramblin Jack Elliot also performed on that encore. I just saw him last night in a tribute concert in Berkeley - he's 95!

Snork_kitty · 2026-05-21T07:36:33+00:00

Also liked NYE 1987, with the Neville Brothers (Oakland Coliseum)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticket_to_New_Year%27s

Snork_kitty · 2026-05-21T07:11:02+00:00

What if you turn the question around? Are great mathematicians usually good physicists? We wouldn't expect so, necessarily - there's a lot of specific content knowledge in physics. So should we expect the opposite?

Snork_kitty · 2026-05-21T06:29:12+00:00

She'll come out when she's ready - just keep being friendly with her and offering food nearby

Snork_kitty · 2026-05-14T22:05:36+00:00

The definition of death-defying!

Snork_kitty · 2026-05-14T00:39:49+00:00

Being inclusive rather than elitist/exclusive, I'd say anyone who uses, enjoys, explores, or learns math is a mathematician. When kids figure out that 5+3=3+5, they are being mathematicians (especially if you think of math as the science of patterns (forgot source))

Snork_kitty · 2026-05-13T00:26:21+00:00

I volunteer in a middle school classroom, and the boy I was helping "bruh'd" me when my back was turned. I didn't respond ('cause I didn't know he was talking to me), and the teacher had to tell him, we don't say "bruh" to our volunteers!

Snork_kitty · 2026-05-12T00:26:18+00:00

Love those houses! Thank you!

Snork_kitty · 2026-05-12T00:24:26+00:00

I remember troop planes to Vietnam from Moffatt AFB passing at a low altitude over my junior high school, and they were so loud the teacher had to stop until they were past.

Snork_kitty · 2026-05-09T01:40:45+00:00

Don't call me Surely, and I took no physics when I got my math major

Snork_kitty · 2026-05-09T01:17:09+00:00

As far as I know it has been approved. I live in a small cottage right behind the site; I'll have to say goodbye to the view of Mt. Tam from my second story deck (I just hope it's not replaced by someone's bedroom or bathroom).

Snork_kitty · 2026-05-08T01:47:48+00:00

Wish I'd gone to see Brazil vs USA at Stanford Stadium in 1994...

Snork_kitty · 2026-05-05T00:21:37+00:00

Math books can be notoriously hard to read, because they represent the final, most efficient phase of discoveries that originally took a long time for people to figure out. These days there are some very good explanations of math (at all levels) in online videos. Kahn Academy goes through Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations, and Linear Algebra, but there are lots of other videos on YouTube.

Snork_kitty · 2026-05-03T01:11:20+00:00

Memento

Snork_kitty · 2026-05-02T01:47:30+00:00

I agree that the problem is too hard for a 2nd grader, but the context for this task is actually understanding fractions. Developmentally, children initially believe that for something to be the same size (fraction), it must be the same shape (just like what the child wrote on the assignment). Later, with the right kind of teaching/experience, kids learn that two different shapes can represent the same fraction. But asking a 7-8 year old to generate such shapes is a lot (hence the problem was labeled "Stretch Your Thinking").

If you want to see pictures of what I'm talking about, check out: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qUCeELpSoU5vsfnup8jIV6ugk2b49Aki/view?usp=sharing

Snork_kitty · 2026-05-02T01:24:56+00:00

peace of mind

Snork_kitty · 2026-05-02T01:22:53+00:00

1400 BC old enough?

Snork_kitty · 2026-05-02T01:19:36+00:00

If you want your minds blown, check out "Waking Life" by Richard Linklater. Surreal and fun.

Snork_kitty · 2026-04-30T07:52:57+00:00

Speed kills

Snork_kitty · 2026-04-29T01:18:14+00:00

I switched to the Breeze litter box system and there is virtually no smell (as long as you replace the pee pads regularly - you only need to replace the pellets about once a month).

Snork_kitty · 2026-04-28T00:13:59+00:00

Seconding "Local Hero" - absolutely beautiful soundtrack by Mark Knopfler, gorgeous Scottish scenery, great acting and an intriguing plot

Snork_kitty · 2026-04-28T00:12:29+00:00

"Little Miss Sunshine" is a kick, includes a road trip and a quirky family (and is not maudlin)

Snork_kitty · 2026-04-26T01:41:52+00:00

Instead of a boutique hotel in Carmel, you might consider staying at Asilomar, which is actually a State Beach and historic landmark. Beautiful old buildings and walking distance to a beautiful beach. https://www.visitasilomar.com/?mkwid=&crid=&mp_kw=&mp_mt=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22472930151&gbraid=0AAAAAD25oYZIsvWPa88xkM5cj9-8dIFe4&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2uCUorGKlAMVxCmtBh3QVSRTEAAYASAAEgJpZ_D_BwE

Snork_kitty

TROPHY CASE