Friday, January 28, 2011

Pi

Pi goes on and on forever and never stops!  Nope!  Never!  There’s not even a pattern to the numbers (it’s irrational). 
This is not the kind you eat (sorry), but the mathematical pi. 
Pi is important in the measurement of circles.  (It’s the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter AND the ratio of a circle's area to the square of its radius) and knowing that is very useful, for instance, in calculating what size tires to put on your car. 
π = 3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693993751058209749445923078164062862089986280348253421
1706798214808651328230664709384460955058223172535940812848111745028410270193852110555964462294895493038196….
Random:
π March 14th is International Pi Day because it is written 3-14 (3.14 is the approximate value of pi.)
π There are pi clubs, art, music, T shirts…
π Pi trivia quiz for serious pi nerds  
π Pi is the secret code in Alfred Hitchcock’s Torn Curtain
π Pi is the most recognized mathematical constant in the world. Scholars often consider Pi the most important and intriguing number in all of mathematics.
π What do you get if you divide the circumference of a jack-o'-lantern by its diameter?--pumpkin π
On March 14, 2004, Daniel Tammet set a new British and European record when he recited the number pi from memory to 22,514 decimal places in a time of 5 hours, 9 minutes, 24 seconds.  The event was organized by, and in aid of, the (British) National Society for Epilepsy, and took place at Oxford's Museum of the History of Science.
Daniel Tammet is a high-functioning autistic with savant syndrome.   He has astonishing mental skills which include the ability to visualize numbers in his head.  These abilities first emerged following epileptic seizures as a toddler. Daniel is one of only 25 documented savants in the world.  His bestselling 2006 memoir “Born On A Blue Day,” documents his life growing up and living with Asperger's syndrome and synesthesia, a condition which causes him to understand words and numbers as shapes, colors, textures and motions.
LINK:  Daniel Tammet's website Optimnem 

This is a fun weekly meme, under the direction of Jenny Matlock.  This week, our letter is "P."  Have some fun and come join HERE.  This is a great way to exercise your creative muscles AND you will be amazed at all the bloggy goodness to be found! 

NOTE:  I found Daniel Tammet and his book Born on a Blue Day to be fascinating.  There is much information about him on the internet, including his learning of the Icelandic language in a week and a number of interview clips (such as Diane Sawyer: link , David Letterman:  link). 

Thursday, January 27, 2011

The Art of Joy

Joy Charde is an artist who creates custom printable illustrated goods
--calenders (link),






stickers (link), 





announcements (link), 






and cards (link).



"After teaching elementary school for nine years, I keep my schedule full being a mom and working at my local public library. In the wee hours of the night, you can find me doodling and creating vector art."

Visit Joy's blog Creative Mama for resources, tips and tricks to help balance your family and your creative side!

Click HERE  for a free printable Valentine kit!   (more free printables on her blog)



LINKS:
etsy shop
blog
flickr 
Joy was chosen as January's etsy blogger of the month!
photos ©Joy Charde 2009, 2010, 2011

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Oliver's Guide to Oases

Watch Oliver, optimistically oozing oodles of charm, as he offers us an official tour of his optimal oases!
He is so obviously cute.  No ogre, he. 
Sunken in pillows, reveling in softness, no occasion is missed for such an obtainable delight.

No obstacle can block a sun puddle reverie!
Busily occupied on a warm lap, the world is safe to observe.
Open hearted Oliver cleverly assists in organizing paperwork in this basket, that is oh so cozy.
All the o'clocks are best for curling up in a favorite spot.
Onlooking is more enjoyable with a friend!
This is a fun weekly meme, under the direction of Jenny Matlock.  This week, our letter is "O."  Have some fun and come join HERE.  This is a great way to exercise your creative muscles AND you will be amazed at all the bloggy goodness to be found!

photos © by me 2009, 2010, 2011

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Nine Ns

NOSE
NAP
NOVEL (kitty cam)
NIGHT (color of)
NAUGHTY
NAILS
NESTING
NEW (toys)
NESTLED
This is a fun weekly meme, under the direction of Jenny Matlock.  This week, our letter is "N."  Have some fun and come join HERE.  This is a great way to exercise your creative muscles AND you will be amazed at all the bloggy goodness to be found! 



I am also connecting to Gattina's Cats on Tuesday meme.  If you love cats, come check it out HERE.


KITTY GUIDE:
Oliver--black and white
Earnest--white
Bunkie (Edward Bunk)--black

photos © by me 2009, 2010, 2011

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Mushroom House

The creation of Cincinnati architect, Terry Brown, the Mushroom House is a fantastical structure constructed with materials used in inordinate ways--wood, colored glass, shell,

ceramics and metals.   His aim, giving homage to the organic style of Frank Lloyd Wright and to Gustav Stickley, was to create irregular shapes that mimic those found in nature.

Beginning life as a bungalow in an upscale area of Cincinnati, this house, his own residence and studio, was built gradually between 1992 and 2006.

Terry Brown holds bachelor's and master's degrees in architecture.  In 1983, he began teaching at the University of Cincinnati, and then later taught at Miami University of Oxford, Ohio.  After a Fulbright Fellowship at the Vienna Academy of Fine Art, in Austria, Brown began to develop his own unique style of architecture.  Brown's work is featured in many venues and  publications throughout the world.

LINKS:
more photos of mushroom house HERE.
LINKS about Terry Brown, architect:  HERE and HERE
LINKS to other wild houses:
Mummy Diaries strange houses 
Mummy Diaries thinnest house in Britain
World's Wildest Houses  This link will take you to house #13 (Mushroom House), but click back and forward in the photos to see more houses. 


This is a fun weekly meme, under the direction of Jenny Matlock.  This week, our letter is "M."  Seriously now, come and join HERE.  This is a great way to exercise your creative muscles AND you will be amazed at all the bloggy goodness to be found! 
photos © by me 2010  all rights reserved