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chickenfeet) wrote2009-02-23 01:51 pm
chickenfeet) wrote2009-02-23 01:51 pm
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Five questions, five answers
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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.
nanila1. 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.
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