Sciences on Moon

[jtmckinley]

Here's an entertaining (IMHO) history of numbers narrated by Terry Jones of Monty Python fame. It doesn't go as far as calculus and more advanced forms of mathematics, but I think even VAXman might be amused/enlightened by it. I learned a couple of things whilst I was watching, for example, I wasn't aware that Leibniz had come up with binary in the 1600s, or at least I don't remember that I knew that. So without further ado, here's the link:

http://throwawayyourtv.com/2006/11/story-of-one.html

Based on the wikipedia account of Leibniz, he also developed calculus independently of Newton. I was unaware of or at least had forgotten that as well. I had certainly heard of Leibniz, but I guess I really hadn't grasped his accomplishments apparently. He was also the founder of the philosophical school of optimism, which I'm pretty sure I never knew. My take on optimism is different from his I think, at least in requiring a supreme being, but like us all he was a man of his time. I have not yet had the opportunity to read the whole wikipedia article, but I also find it interesting and intend to do so. I think the internet, and whatever it evolves into, may be our saving grace as a species . Here's the link to his wikipedia article, of course it contains many links that folks might find interesting, as most wikipedia links do:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gottfried_Leibniz

The children of this age will bury us with their knowledge, I hope...

[lotus]

Originally Posted by jtmckinley

Here's an entertaining (IMHO) history of numbers narrated by Terry Jones of Monty Python fame. It doesn't go as far as calculus and more advanced forms of mathematics, but I think even VAXman might be amused/enlightened by it. I learned a couple of things whilst I was watching, for example, I wasn't aware that Leibniz had come up with binary in the 1600s, or at least I don't remember that I knew that. So without further ado, here's the link:

http://throwawayyourtv.com/2006/11/story-of-one.html

What a great documentary, JT, thank you for the link. I learned a lot this evening..

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally Posted by lotus

What a great documentary, JT, thank you for the link. I learned a lot this evening..

This video is a hoot....

"Turn that Music down!"

"The Sumarian's great gift to the world, the chartered accountant."

...and at the great Pyramid... "Was it supposed to do that?"

"Adequate supplies of flower arrangements"

"An 'I love India' T-shirt was hardly going to do the job"

"Fibonacci's book was a must read"

Stoning Zero!

mathematician v. Abacus

"I much prefer working with Michael Palin."



OMG, this is a "must see". If you haven't watched this, do so!