The contemptable state of mathematics in this country.

[juldea]

You might want to sit down before reading this. And get the tylenol/ibuprofen ready.

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2006/02/richard_cohen_advocate_for_ign.php

Have I mentioned I love pharyngula?

Comments

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

Wow.

[greyhame.livejournal.com]

I'd love to show this Cohen fellow the algebra I've been doing lately. Blow his little mind. As Myers rightly says, word problems and Ax+By=C type stuff are nowhere near what algebra is about.

[juldea.livejournal.com]

Obviously that stuff is of no use in the REAL world, though.


*rolls eyes*

[greyhame.livejournal.com]

It's funny, because in class yesterday we just discussed ways in which the theory of finite fields, and the ability to generate a finite field of any prime-power size as a simple extension of Z_p, has direct applications to, among other things, cryptology. I guess that probably doesn't count as something that's important in the real world, though.

[juldea.livejournal.com]

Cryptology? How exactly does studying cemeteries assist us in our daily lives?!


(Yes, I AM being facetious here.)

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

::giggles madly::

[fluttergrrl30.livejournal.com]

Sweet Mother o' Murgatroid!! Don't people ever *think*??

facepalm

I freely admit that math isn't my favorite subject, but to say that dropping out was a swell idea because, really, who needs algebra?

:: shudder ::

Presumably that guy actually got paid to write that. Holy shit.

[juldea.livejournal.com]

I hope the newspaper gets inundated with letters...

[oddharmonic.livejournal.com]

Oh. My. Goodness.

Then I got to the Heinlein quote in the comments and was like TIME ENOUGH FOR LOVE! Yes! And lost all ability to type like an intelligent creature.
I love me some Lazarus.

[corwyn-ap.livejournal.com]

I would take this as more an indictment of the writing profession, than the state of mathematics.

Good article.

[juldea.livejournal.com]

We cannot assume that the reporter there is the only one with this viewpoint. We do not know who else shares it, and how they may control math education. Hence, it does explain (not indict) the state of math in the country.

See also: Dover, PA.

[sandrylene.livejournal.com]

Clearly we shouldn't allow anyone who writes anything any sort of access to what might equate to fame during their lifetime, or they get presumptuous.

What absolute twaddle. Like this man is the pinnacle of the success of man? Please.

*walks away, muttering rude things about human folly*

[terata.livejournal.com]

Hey Julie... Whats up? *lol* I guess I should read your journal to get that answer. This is Aaron... I don't suppose you remember me. ;)

(http://photobucket.com)

Cya around!

[juldea.livejournal.com]

*thinks hard* *steam comes out the ears*

I'm gonna need some kind of point of reference here besides just Del Oro... band? gang of misfits I hung out with? some class? :)