I'm better now. And, lately, I've been thinking about math. Because it's been brought to my attention that I'm good at it. You see, I proved something I called Andres's Cool Theorem shortly before winter break. Long story short, a couple months later it was revealed that Andres's Cool Theorem was actually called the Power Rule. Upon hearing that I had never heard of the Power Rule, my math friends told me to "leave" on account of me needing to be in a higher math. So, why was I able to prove this, and find certain other curious mathematical things?
In regards to this, after a lot of soul searching, I came up with two rules that have helped me. The second of these rules, which I came up with first, was derived from something that Commander Badass of Manly Guys Doing Manly Things once said. Essentially, the rule is: always try to be a better person than your past self. Nothing more, nothing less. The way I generally phrase it in my head is "Be a better person than you were yesterday." Of course, it's not like there's any way to actually tell what is new between the today you and the yesterday you. But, if you can't see any difference from yesterday, just be sure to be better than yourself from last year. That's the second rule.
The first rule was just thought of recently. Well, recently as of when I intended to write this, which was a while ago. See, when my friends told me about the Power Rule, that was when I realized I was proper good at math. Just now (so, like, at the beginning of March) I realized how crazy it was getting. At that point, I was finding connections between higher-dimensional systems of algebra and finite geometries via the products of cyclic groups. It's really not as hard as it sounds. But why do I find it so easy?
After a right big think, I think I've found the answer. It's because I let things change me. That's rule 1: "let things change you." Don't be taken for granite, like in that one story which has been lost to time and the internet. If you see a dumb motivational video, take it to heart. If you find a dumb quote you like, write it down. If someone recommends doing something (yes, even if it's dumb), do it. That's how I got started with physics, by reading books recommended by Micheal from VSauce. And that's how I got into math, by reading Matt Parker's book, Things to Make and Do in the Fourth Dimension. Then, when I went to my grandparents', I got a bunch more math books to nerd about (I've almost finished the history of algebra) to further seal my fate. So, yeah, that's why I can do stuff. Those two rules.
Actually, I just got a few new math books, among which are The Magic of Math and The Joy of X, which look similar. But, before I read those, I have to finish the new Masterminds and Hugo Cabret books I've got. But, before I read those, I have to finish Unknown Quantity. But, before I read that, I have to read Chronicle of a Death Foretold, because it's for school. And, eventually, I might finish Red Mars. But first, I have to sleep.
To the future!
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Just for the record
Today, Inversion and Conformity joined the Dancing Stars. Neither of them have seperate names; Inversion doesn't want one, Confirmity is fine with just Conformity (we tried to call her Conversion, the made-up opposite of inversion, but she didn't like it). Inversion isn't really the right word, but Subversion is just too strong. Basically, they are the desire to stand out and the desire to fit in. And yes I kinda ripped that off from Subnormality, but I wanted to hire them and they needed themes. Anyways, that's all.
P.S.: Oh, did I say today? I meant YESTERDAY because it's past midnight. Stupid LA.
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Why am I so bad at everything?
So, yesterday, I told myself that today I would write a post called "Why am I so good at math?" because it is a question I'd been asking myself for a while, and I think I found an answer that also sums up my philosophy about life and leaves me with a good feeling about the world. That was yesterday.
Today, I am sad. I don't know why, and sometimes that frightens me. When I don't know why I feel things, it feels like I'm lost. Not, like, adrift-in-space lost or surrounded-by-darkness lost or left-behind lost or even just plain old strange-location lost. It's a kind of lost where you know where you are, but nothing else. You don't know what your doing, or who you are, or why you do things, or where the future will take you, or if anything even matters at all. It's like the moment of disorientation when you have just walked into a room, and you don't remember why you're there, but you haven't quite noticed that you don't know why you're there, so you just stand. I mean, it's not like there's anything else to do.
My day went well. I was mostly ignored by the people in my chemistry class, and overspoken (that's not a word, but it should be) by the people in my LA class. In my off period, I finished something I had been working on for a while, and then learned that it was pointless. When I mention that in my math post, it will be a positive thing. Honestly, math class was the highlight of my day, because it was a work day, so I could mostly just hang out.
Wait, scratch that. The highlight of my day was hanging out with Devon during lunch. It was sort of surreal, because we don't talk to each other that often, and today we spent over an hour together. We spent the time talking about nothing, like the wind, or Trump, or cancer, or yo-yos, or books. At one point Devon wondered aloud where Zach was, so I texted him, and we got no answer. Zach's a mutual friend, by the way; he's the reason Devon and I spent time together before.
Sometimes I write a lot. See those last two paragraphs? Those were unplanned. They just happened. Well, that's usually how writing works in general, but still. I was going to spend a lot more time talking about depression and stuff, but I didn't. I'm usually not a sad person. Sometimes, I just get sad. It happens. I get over it.
Also, you should totally read this.
Today, I am sad. I don't know why, and sometimes that frightens me. When I don't know why I feel things, it feels like I'm lost. Not, like, adrift-in-space lost or surrounded-by-darkness lost or left-behind lost or even just plain old strange-location lost. It's a kind of lost where you know where you are, but nothing else. You don't know what your doing, or who you are, or why you do things, or where the future will take you, or if anything even matters at all. It's like the moment of disorientation when you have just walked into a room, and you don't remember why you're there, but you haven't quite noticed that you don't know why you're there, so you just stand. I mean, it's not like there's anything else to do.
My day went well. I was mostly ignored by the people in my chemistry class, and overspoken (that's not a word, but it should be) by the people in my LA class. In my off period, I finished something I had been working on for a while, and then learned that it was pointless. When I mention that in my math post, it will be a positive thing. Honestly, math class was the highlight of my day, because it was a work day, so I could mostly just hang out.
Wait, scratch that. The highlight of my day was hanging out with Devon during lunch. It was sort of surreal, because we don't talk to each other that often, and today we spent over an hour together. We spent the time talking about nothing, like the wind, or Trump, or cancer, or yo-yos, or books. At one point Devon wondered aloud where Zach was, so I texted him, and we got no answer. Zach's a mutual friend, by the way; he's the reason Devon and I spent time together before.
Sometimes I write a lot. See those last two paragraphs? Those were unplanned. They just happened. Well, that's usually how writing works in general, but still. I was going to spend a lot more time talking about depression and stuff, but I didn't. I'm usually not a sad person. Sometimes, I just get sad. It happens. I get over it.
Also, you should totally read this.
Sunday, February 21, 2016
The summer is over
Okay, first off, that one I wrote when I was tired was way too long. Sorry.
I realize that I actually have a lot to say, but I just never really sit down to say it. I am going to resolve to start blogging more.
Today (the 21st) I moved back into my old room, which is now only my old old room, and also my new new room. It thus follow's that Lucia's room - the one she's in now - is my old new room and my new old room. Cool.
Yesterday (the 20th) I meant to write this post. I didn't get around to it. I was busy finishing Narbonic, which is a good and you should read it. Definitely read it without commentary, though. It becomes 70% shorter, and there is less chance that you will glimpse spoilers that ruin everything.
The day before yesterday (the 19th) my family and I watched the last three episodes of Gravity Falls. Now it is done and I am sad. It's an odd sorta thing that Gravity Falls and Phineas and Ferb have ended in the same month. What's more, we were actually watching things as they were added to Netflix and Amazon, so we finished the shows within a week of each other. We had skipped a whole season of Phineas and Ferb, which is why we had already watched the last episode.
Today (the 21st) I need to do my math homework. My mom and I just worked out my schedule for next year, and I'm planning to do double-advanced math, so I have to make myself look good. Fortunately, now that I'm done with Phineas and Ferb, and Narbonic, and Gravity Falls, and sleeping in the other room, and not owning the latest two Sandra Boynton albums, and some interesting self-discoveries (which I will might about later), I have a lot of time to do stuff like that. And to blog.
I'm going to end with a quote from my mom: "Now that Gravity Falls is gone, and Phineas and Ferb is gone, it feels like summer is over." It kinda really does.
P.S. We moved the beds, so I have Lucia's old old bed which is my new old bed and my old new bed and my new new bed. It follows that Lucia has my old old bed, which is her new old bed and old new bed and so on.
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Just to clarify
It really was 10:44 when I posted that last one. All of the times were correct. I don't know why it says 9:44.
It's 10:47 right now.
It's 10:47 right now.
Free time
I need to sleep. I know that I need to sleep. But I won't sleep. Because I am blogging. It always feels like I have a lot of free time, and then I look at the clock, and it's just ten minutes after the last time I looked at the clock, but this is the moment I realize that it's late. Blugh, It's 10:14 right now.
I'm considering creating an informative video about voting systems and things. Like the CGP Grey videos, except with less quality. I think it's possible, especially because I would just have to set up the rules once, but it would end up being like a 30 minute video. I think that's a bit ambitious, at least until Spring Break. It's 10:19 right now.
I'm also thinking of making music. Music is cool. With improvisation, I can just come up with tunes, and then put lyrics to those tunes later. First on the list is "Bacteria are Cool (and Viruses are Not)," which I came up with last Wednes-Thursday. Last Thursday. With some friends. When I came home and preformed it in front of my family, Lucia didn't entirely understand the concept of improv, because she kept asking me to do it again the same way, which messed me up. Anyways, I could probably make a short one-minute song over the weekend, if we didn't do anything special. It's 10:23 right now.
I was reading a book earlier this year called Night School, which is about how to sleep better. It recommends to keep yourself awake until you're really sleepy (check) and stay away from screens or blue light (not check). It's still in my old room, though. Right, I never told you, but Lucia and I switched rooms. She really likes sleeping under the bunk bed. It is 10:26 right now.
I had a nice segue to this paragraph, but I forgot it. Anyways, "segue" has one of the dumbest spellings in the english language. Do I capitalize that? Spell-check says so. Anyways, when I was walking home from school this afternoon, I looked behind me, and the moon was enormous. Like, seriously, way bigger than it should have been. I kept looking at it as I walked across the field filled with nothing, and it got smaller and smaller, until it returned to a semi-reasonable size when I got to the edge. I'm wondering if it might be an optical illusion. It might not be, though. Who knows. It is now 10:31.
Speaking of reading (yes I was speaking of reading, two paragraphs ago) I have been reading Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality again. Harry and the rest of the cast are slowly becoming people I wouldn't mind sharing a train car with, if they sat far away and we didn't talk. Which is an improvement. I'm also reading Red Mars, which I almost gave up on, but it's starting to heat up. Literally. Ba-dum tish. The third book I'm reading is called Unknown Quantity: A Real and Imaginary History of Algebra. It's not as boring and lame as it sounds, although that might just be because I am boring and lame. Still, it has given my a whole new animosity for Newton and his time manipulation. Speaking of time, it is now 10:36.
And, hey, speaking of boring and lame, here's a thing. I just proved it in a math test, and It's a bit freaky when you try to thing around it. Basically, as X (a variable) gets closer and closer to K (a constant), the function (X^3 - KX^2) / (X^3 - K^3) gets closer and closer to 1/3. I find this strange. And confusing. And it makes me want to find a general theorem for other powers. What a nerd. Anyways, that was the end goal I set for this blog post when I started it. To tell you about that weird limit. Now I am done, and it is 10:43. Time to shut down my computer.
Just kidding. It's 10:44 now. I'm not going to check for spelling mistakes.
I'm considering creating an informative video about voting systems and things. Like the CGP Grey videos, except with less quality. I think it's possible, especially because I would just have to set up the rules once, but it would end up being like a 30 minute video. I think that's a bit ambitious, at least until Spring Break. It's 10:19 right now.
I'm also thinking of making music. Music is cool. With improvisation, I can just come up with tunes, and then put lyrics to those tunes later. First on the list is "Bacteria are Cool (and Viruses are Not)," which I came up with last Wednes-Thursday. Last Thursday. With some friends. When I came home and preformed it in front of my family, Lucia didn't entirely understand the concept of improv, because she kept asking me to do it again the same way, which messed me up. Anyways, I could probably make a short one-minute song over the weekend, if we didn't do anything special. It's 10:23 right now.
I was reading a book earlier this year called Night School, which is about how to sleep better. It recommends to keep yourself awake until you're really sleepy (check) and stay away from screens or blue light (not check). It's still in my old room, though. Right, I never told you, but Lucia and I switched rooms. She really likes sleeping under the bunk bed. It is 10:26 right now.
I had a nice segue to this paragraph, but I forgot it. Anyways, "segue" has one of the dumbest spellings in the english language. Do I capitalize that? Spell-check says so. Anyways, when I was walking home from school this afternoon, I looked behind me, and the moon was enormous. Like, seriously, way bigger than it should have been. I kept looking at it as I walked across the field filled with nothing, and it got smaller and smaller, until it returned to a semi-reasonable size when I got to the edge. I'm wondering if it might be an optical illusion. It might not be, though. Who knows. It is now 10:31.
Speaking of reading (yes I was speaking of reading, two paragraphs ago) I have been reading Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality again. Harry and the rest of the cast are slowly becoming people I wouldn't mind sharing a train car with, if they sat far away and we didn't talk. Which is an improvement. I'm also reading Red Mars, which I almost gave up on, but it's starting to heat up. Literally. Ba-dum tish. The third book I'm reading is called Unknown Quantity: A Real and Imaginary History of Algebra. It's not as boring and lame as it sounds, although that might just be because I am boring and lame. Still, it has given my a whole new animosity for Newton and his time manipulation. Speaking of time, it is now 10:36.
And, hey, speaking of boring and lame, here's a thing. I just proved it in a math test, and It's a bit freaky when you try to thing around it. Basically, as X (a variable) gets closer and closer to K (a constant), the function (X^3 - KX^2) / (X^3 - K^3) gets closer and closer to 1/3. I find this strange. And confusing. And it makes me want to find a general theorem for other powers. What a nerd. Anyways, that was the end goal I set for this blog post when I started it. To tell you about that weird limit. Now I am done, and it is 10:43. Time to shut down my computer.
Just kidding. It's 10:44 now. I'm not going to check for spelling mistakes.
Saturday, January 16, 2016
We dropped him down into the sky.
Anyways, today I watched an amazing movie that you should see. It's called Patema Inverted, and it is SO GOOD. It is about a world in which some scientists have messed with gravity, and accidentally made it go the other way from certain people. This causes a split between the up-goers and the down-goers. Then, it's the future, and a princess named Patema is not okay with staying cooped up in her home. She goes exploring, and then BRILLIANT THINGS HAPPEN. It is also full of dangerous hugs.
Really. This is one of the best movies I have ever watched. And I love it despite the fact that it includes one of the scariest things for me, falling up. Ever since I've read that stupid poem book, I've worried that one day, things would just change. And then I would fall upwards. It has become a kind of terrifying game for me, trying to find the places best suited for surviving gravity changes.
Also, a few short scary stories have been written on the subject. You should read them.
https://www.reddit.com/r/shortscarystories/comments/33j04p/lying_upon_the_park_hill_watching_the_clouds_go_by/
https://www.reddit.com/r/shortscarystories/comments/3w44wx/the_mirror_boy/
That's all. Watch the thing! Or, if you don't have the time, just read the stories. They're, like, ten minutes at most for both of them. Anyways, bye!
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