Things I learned while looking up other things, 2021.9.11
Dear friends,
This letter, despite being sent on 9/11, contains no 9/11 content. (Although it would be a good day to recommend reading Matt Ruff's amazing alternate-history novel The Mirage.)
Trying to figure out how many things of type X exist when you have a random sample of things with sequential serial numbers is called the German tank problem (👈 that page has a lot of math). (Every time I run across something that I find both mathy and interesting it turns out to be some flavor of probability or statistics. I keep looking for an intro guide along the lines of the I Hate To Cook cookbook: a book for people who like to figure things out, but don't particularly like to roll around in a big pile of equations.)
I don't understand why there isn't a series of architecture-themed mystery novels featuring an architect/detective named Oriel Chambers.
Speaking of windows, shoutout to my awesome co-worker @amcasari for introducing me to the witch windows of Vermont.
And speaking of names, the best one I ran across in the past month is Bumbomachides Clytomestoridysarchides (“Mr Roaring-Fighter-Famous-Adviser-Rubbish-Ruler-son”), a character in a play by Plautus.
The Gorramooloch is a mysterious sea monster of Ireland (or, more likely, a humpback whale).
Enchrony is the concept of 'conversational time'. If a speaker uses 'um', the delay before fluent speech resumes is as much as three times as long as when 'uh' is used.
Stay well!
Your friend,
Erin
This letter, despite being sent on 9/11, contains no 9/11 content. (Although it would be a good day to recommend reading Matt Ruff's amazing alternate-history novel The Mirage.)
Trying to figure out how many things of type X exist when you have a random sample of things with sequential serial numbers is called the German tank problem (👈 that page has a lot of math). (Every time I run across something that I find both mathy and interesting it turns out to be some flavor of probability or statistics. I keep looking for an intro guide along the lines of the I Hate To Cook cookbook: a book for people who like to figure things out, but don't particularly like to roll around in a big pile of equations.)
I don't understand why there isn't a series of architecture-themed mystery novels featuring an architect/detective named Oriel Chambers.
Speaking of windows, shoutout to my awesome co-worker @amcasari for introducing me to the witch windows of Vermont.
And speaking of names, the best one I ran across in the past month is Bumbomachides Clytomestoridysarchides (“Mr Roaring-Fighter-Famous-Adviser-Rubbish-Ruler-son”), a character in a play by Plautus.
The Gorramooloch is a mysterious sea monster of Ireland (or, more likely, a humpback whale).
Enchrony is the concept of 'conversational time'. If a speaker uses 'um', the delay before fluent speech resumes is as much as three times as long as when 'uh' is used.
Stay well!
Your friend,
Erin
Don't miss what's next. Subscribe to Things Learned While Looking Up Other Things: