April Showers

After taking a much-needed hiatus from this online journal, I have returned to bestow a few idle thoughts upon my small -- but growing (Rose) -- audience.

1. It is about 40 degrees (F) here in Nashville this morning. Two days ago, it was about 70 at this time. Cripes. And the thing that sucks most is that it isn't raining, so we might have nothing to show for it next month -- you know, "April showers bring May flowers." Well what if Nashville is a barren wasteland because we had little (or no) rain in April? We did have a bit yesterday or the day before (honestly can't remember), but will that smidge(o)n be enough to guarantee calm seas and sunny skies in May? My April-May anxiety levels are at an all-time high, and it's just the 5th of April. Where, oh where, did I put my stress ball?!?!

2. It is 21 (wind chill of 15) in Yakutsk right now -- must be about 6:30pm or so over there, so they're just barely starting to cool down from the warmest part of the day. They're still not above freezing, but to them it must seem like a heat wave. Meanwhile, it's 29 at Base Bernardo O'Higgins. I have no idea what time it is there, but this remains impressive: Yakutsk is (once again) colder than Antarctica.

3. Ohio State lost to Florida in the national championship (or national final... whatever they call it) game of the 2007 NCAA Tournament. Ohio State lost primarily because they could not hit three-point shots (shooting all of about 10% up until the last minute), while Florida could seemingly not miss from long distance (the Gators shot something like 65% from three). If both teams shoot their averages from three, Ohio State wins the game by double digits. It just wasn't meant to be.

Buckeye center Greg Oden was dominant in defeat.


4.

120x = 840
x = 7

The square root of 9 = 3, -3

The absolute value of -7 = 7

The differential of X-to-the-third + 3x-squared + 4x = 3x-squared + 6x + 4

Mathematics was not meant to be typed on a computer... unless, I suppose, you've got some neat "Math Typing Made Easy" suite, or some such thing. Give me my blue book, thank you. Well the algebraic equation wasn't so bad. But I couldn't find means for correctly showing a square root, absolute value, or exponential variables as they are normally represented in a proper mathematical (quiz/test/homework etc.) context.


5. Don't order the lobster -- save your date's pocketbook. Or say this when you order: "I'll have the lobster, please, with a side of foie gras."

Look at your date -- check especially for signs of perspiration and hyperventilation. Then modify your order by saying, "Oh... April Fool's. I'll go with the cheeseburger instead."

Your date will be grateful.