Thursday, June 12, 2008

Clarity and Mechanics


It has been said of me that my posts are too longwinded, linguistically labyrinthine ( I like that) and incomprehensible in consequence.
I thought that gentle readers might like to see an entry I posted elsewhere some time ago which flies in the face of such nonsense, 'cause I like teaching people stuff.
If you've found your way here, you're either curious or suicidal about not passing a midterm. Relax. Whatever you need to know, it's here. If it ain't it soon will be when you tell me what you need. I'll try to minimise the math and optimise concept grasp. I'll be putting together stuff about mechanics, waves, electricity, heat and radioactivity to start with. It's a work in progress, you tell me what you need to know and I'll put it together for you. OK?
Dear old Uncle Albert failed his exams to Zurich Polytechnic first time around, so, as the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy says....don't panic.
The clock's there because I know you don't feel comfortable in class unless you have one to watch.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Ten Thousand Places

One's children fill one with surprise on so many levels. One of mine is a mathematician, outwardly cold, number-clad, inured to emotional depth, one might suppose. He sent me this which I found utterly and compellingly beautiful.

I haven't read it since I was at school.


As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame;

As tumbled over rim and roundy wells

Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell's

Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;

Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:


Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;

Selves- goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,

Crying What I do is me: for that I came.

I say more: the just man justices;

Keeps gráce: thát keeps all his goings graces;

Acts in God's eye what in God's eye he is--Chríst.

For Christ plays in ten thousand places,

Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his

To the Father through the features of men's faces.