Monday  27 May 2013           1 comment

With the caveats that this is a slow day and I'm easily amused—

The Wikipedia entry for the dude behind Levitated Mass includes anonymously-inserted snideness that, unlike most Wikipedia "vandalism", has persisted for many months:

12 August 2012	14 August 2012 — present
Michael Heizer is a contemporary artist specializing in large-scale sculptures and earth art (or land art).	Michael Heizer is a contemporary landscaper specializing in large-scale sculptures and earth art (or land art).
Designed as a fountain, the boulder appears to float over running water. He called the work Levitated Mass, a title he would use for later works as well.	Designed as a fountain, the boulder appears to float over running water. He called the junk Levitated Mass, a title he would use for later works as well.

Sunday  26 May 2013           comment?

As integers get larger, prime numbers get more and more scarce, which is tantamount to saying the average gap between consecutive prime numbers generally increases.

What else is known about the gap between primes? It can be as large as you want—i.e., pick any finite number and there is a way to find a run of consecutive integers that long where there are no primes.

But what about small gaps? Are there an infinite number of twin primes (that differ by two)? Or more generally, is there any integer n such that there are an infinite number of prime pairs separated by no more than n? A tough question, that—but recently answered by Yitang "Tom" Zhang of the University of New Hampshire.

Dr. Zhang "acknowledges that the proof ... has no real practical application." Nor do lots of things I like.

Thursday  16 May 2013           comment?

A flashback scene at about one hour into a certain movie uses Machine Gun by Jimi Hendrix as background music. Just afterwards, a word of dialogue has a stutter (added in post-production, I suspect) recalling the rhythm in the drums:

The effect was subtle enough that I barely noticed it and replayed the scene to see whether I'd imagined it. I love this kind of attention to detail in art. Readers are invited to name the film. I know that at least one regular Tommyjournal reader has seen it.

Tuesday  14 May 2013           1 comment

This week Russia expelled an American, Ryan C. Fogle, who they say was an undercover agent. Russian media released photos of Fogle and stuff they said he had (disguises, an RFID shield, lots o' money, ...).

Although the pics got worldwide attention, I have to wonder if they were disseminated more for their effect on the domestic audience. Like many details about such incidents, it's hard to know what really went on.

This pic is not only amusing for the grim visages all around, but also provides an opportunity to critique the furnishings at an office of the FSB. I deem the floor and rug tasteful (see floor detail in the second pic), but the artwork and light fixture belong in a cheap motel.

Wednesday  01 May 2013           comment?

From yesterday afternoon.
Are roadrunners photogenic, or what.