mindseas ([info]mindseas) wrote,
@ 2008-05-09 13:46:00
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The Wonderfully Creative Number Galp
Last night I dreamed I was looking at a math textbook. The preface of the book told about this number, describing it as "the wonderfully creative number galp," and gave the page where it could be found. The example demonstrating galp involved the surface area of Susie's divided cookie with all four pieces "turned away from God."

On the conscious front, the garden plans are moving along, though it's raining today and I am neither digging nor running. I plan to spend most of the day working on my program. (Although I did brave the rain for a walk to the library for a book by Jack Williamson. That will be tempting.)

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[info]dawtheminstrel
2008-05-09 07:26 pm UTC (link)
You have the most wonderful dreams.

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[info]mindseas
2008-05-09 11:00 pm UTC (link)
Thanks! I know part of the inspiration for this one. Yesterday as I mowed the lawn I begn for some reason to muse about Avogadro's number--far more pleasant than when I was married and always used to brood about my husbands when I mowed (probably because neither of them helped with that chore).

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[info]indigo_room
2008-05-09 11:35 pm UTC (link)
Another amazing dream. That's some cookie.

What Jack Williamson book is tempting you? I need to reread or read some Williamson--it's been a while--and am not sure where I want to start.

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[info]mindseas
2008-05-10 12:20 am UTC (link)
I picked out The Black Sun, one of his newer novels (1997). Actually, I haven't read a lot of his work--the only thing I recall was a short story in F&SF, which I enjoyed. Now if I can just get through a few more lines of code, I'll reward myself by settling down for the night with the book and Pif, and reading until I'm ready to fall asleep.

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[info]indigo_room
2008-05-10 06:25 pm UTC (link)
Let me know how you like it. I think the last Williamson I read was the Starchild trilogy, which I believe was written in the 60s, although I read it in the 80s. And some short fiction, too. I am interested in reading some of his more recent work, especially The Ultimate Earth.

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[info]mindseas
2008-05-10 06:49 pm UTC (link)
I'm afraid I bolt my books sometimes. I finished it this afternoon. It's an interesting and engaging story, but without any deep philosophical questions or complex psychological studies. Maybe I should return to the library and look for Ultimate Earth.

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[info]indigo_room
2008-05-10 10:39 pm UTC (link)
I think Ultimate Earth was a novella that won Hugo and Nebula a few years back. Williamson was in his 90s at the time. Pretty awesome. I don't know anything about it other than that fact, but I like the title.

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[info]mnfaure
2008-05-10 09:29 am UTC (link)
Now I'm curious as to whether God is all around the cookie, above/under it, or at the center. Each gives a different picture of galp!

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[info]mindseas
2008-05-10 11:55 am UTC (link)
Very apt observation. I'm not sure of the answer. My vague memory suggests the cookie pieces turned away from the center. (What I like best about the imagry is how easily the subconscious melds mathematics and religion. And food.)

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[info]mnfaure
2008-05-12 06:55 am UTC (link)
My vague memory suggests the cookie pieces turned away from the center

That's the first way I pictured it, too. :)

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