What Good Is Algebra?

Wherein an ex-algebra teacher makes a case for not being gullible

OK, students, get a piece of scratch paper and a sharp pencil. It’s time for a good old-fashioned Algebra story problem. (No, you may not use your iAnything or your calculator. Paper. Pencil. Period.)

Sam took his second semester English test. The task at hand was to find all the spelling and grammar errors. He found 92. He flunked the test. His teacher told him he only found 6.7% of the errors! What was the total number of errors to be found on that English test?

(Remember this post is intended to show you just how useful Algebra is in Real Life!)

If you know elementary Algebra, you know that asking the right question is key to writing the right equation. And that is key to getting the right answer. Here’s The Question: Read it all

Widow to Widow

That is, DIL to MIL

I’ve heard portions (at least) of this said or sung at weddings, by the bride to her groom:

Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee:
for whither thou goest, I will go;
and where thou lodgest, I will lodge:
thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried:
the Lord do so to me, and more also,
if ought but death part thee and me.

Pretty touching stuff. And meaningful. And even appropriate.

But what if those words were said or sung at a wedding…by the bride…to her mother-in-law? 😯 Read it all

Who Can Email You Via Google+?

It depends on whether you leave the new default setting set.

So Google+ is playing catch-up with Facebook again.

Now it’s by allowing people who don’t have your email address send you an email if they have your Google+ address or profile or whatever it’s called.

Quoting from an email from Google early this morning…

Gmail update: Reach more people you know

Ever wanted to email someone you know, but haven’t yet exchanged email addresses? Starting this week, when you’re composing a new email, Gmail will suggest your Google+ connections as recipients, even if you haven’t exchanged email addresses yet.

That seems useful enough. Even innocuous.

But what about people not in your Google+ circles. Can you send them an email too? And much more importantly, can they send you an email?

Of course! Read it all

Above all, love God!

since November 9, 2005
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