Five questions, five answers

[chickenfeet]

From nanila

1. If you were to write a book, what subject would you choose?

I've asked myself that more than once. I think the best answer I've ever come up with (and it maybe the lemur who came up with it) would be a history of ships' cats. It could be of some historical interest and, being about cats, would be bound to sell well.

2. What did you do on your last visit to the UK?

It was a very brief visit piggy backed on a wedding in Ireland. We spent a two or three days at my parents and did central southern touristy things like Stonehenge and Salisbury cathedral. Also the Royal Signals museum at Blandford Forum and the naval dockyard in Plymouth. I think we spent a couple of days in London too.

3. String theory: mathematically elegant but physically pointless, or potentially the unifying theory of the particles and forces?

I'm ninety percent sure it's the former. It's just been too long without a real, verifiable prediction (that doesn't depend on parameter fudging). My gut feel tells me that the answer to the ultimate question doesn't lie in any theory that assumes a smooth and uniform spacetime. I suspect that spacetime is quantized at some level and theory needs to recognize that.

4. What is your favourite theorem?

I'm going to say Cantor's theorem because it's a fine example of the sort of mathematical argument that comes more and more to resemble the flight of the Oozelum Bird the more one thinks about it. And that's what makes maths fun.

5. Should rugby have cheerleaders?

It is does in, for example, the Super 14. In cold rainy countries I think cheerleaders are a bit pointless.

Usual rules. if you want five questions, ask.

Comments

[frankie-ecap.livejournal.com]

I'd like five questions please.

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

1. What are the best and worst things about stopping drinking?

2. What's your favourite theorem?

3. If you hadn't studied mathematics what would you have chosen?

4. If you had to leave the UK where would you choose to live?

5. Who is your favourite philosopher?

[frankie-ecap.livejournal.com]

Also, I once pulled a man of seventy by showing him Cantor's proof that the real numbers are uncountable. (I was in my twenties.)

Oh, no, wait. That happened twice.

[white_hart]

I'll have some questions, if you can think of any.

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

1. Would we be better off without religion?

2. What's your favourite food?

3. Should polygamy be legalised?

4. Which is cuter, an aardvark or a koala?

5. Would you eat seal?

[erotetica.livejournal.com]

Please expand on #4 (being a big fan of Cantor and birds, this would be interesting!)

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

It was a bit facetious but sometimes set theory, especially when it gets into Russell's paradox territory seems to be about getting more and more impossibly precise about less and less which remined me of the Oozelum bird which, of course, flies around in ever smaller circles until it disappears up its own arse.

[melted-snowball.livejournal.com]

I'll take five.

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

1. Dreamy moustaches or egg pants?

2. Does science progress incrementally or in leaps and bounds?

3. Who is the least deserving Nobel winner ever? (Literature and Peace don't count)

4. Who is your favourite philosopher?

5. If you could give the pope one piece of advice, what would it be?

[nanila]

Hey now, I was a cheerleader in a cold rainy state! Still had to wear the same uniform, too. It got mighty chilly sometimes.

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

Well if you wear the uniform that's OK. Soaking wet is good. It's just when I've seen cheerleaders on cold wet days they have been wearing tracksuits.