Comments on: The Square Root of 98 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:14:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Peter http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/comment-page-1/#comment-20516 Peter Sun, 25 Feb 2007 01:31:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/#comment-20516 What I find worse at San Francisco airport, are these ridiculous people trying to get you to donate money. They are standing at a table, calling you over to them, as if they are some official airport people, that you have to go to, to show your passport or something, and then they want you to donate money. A lot of foreigners (especially asians) end up donating a lot of money, cuz they don't know what is going on there. I hate the fact that SFO allows this, and I can't wait for the next time I am going there, so I can mess with these idiots. What I find worse at San Francisco airport, are these ridiculous people trying to get you to donate money. They are standing at a table, calling you over to them, as if they are some official airport people, that you have to go to, to show your passport or something, and then they want you to donate money.

A lot of foreigners (especially asians) end up donating a lot of money, cuz they don’t know what is going on there.

I hate the fact that SFO allows this, and I can’t wait for the next time I am going there, so I can mess with these idiots.

]]> By: citrine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/comment-page-1/#comment-20473 citrine Mon, 25 Sep 2006 19:21:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/#comment-20473 My mother edited a scientific research journal and used to attend international conferences quite a bit. A customs officer who saw the papers she had with her commented "studying too much is not good for the brain". My mother edited a scientific research journal and used to attend international conferences quite a bit. A customs officer who saw the papers she had with her commented “studying too much is not good for the brain”.

]]> By: George http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/comment-page-1/#comment-20474 George Mon, 25 Sep 2006 19:05:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/#comment-20474 I asked by son, 8, this question. I like is answer the best. Almost 10. I asked by son, 8, this question. I like is answer the best. Almost 10.

]]> By: JoAnne http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/comment-page-1/#comment-20475 JoAnne Mon, 25 Sep 2006 18:35:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/#comment-20475 Count Iblis: Touché. I didn't think it was possible, but you have come up with a cheese that I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole! Amara: I had 3 kinds - a particularly nice strain of Gorgonzola, a peppercorn Pecorino, and a soft sheep's milk cheese (don't know the name). Tony: While the train theory is interesting, there is no way the customs agent knew I had been on a train. Count Iblis: Touché. I didn’t think it was possible, but you have come up with a cheese that I wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole!

Amara: I had 3 kinds – a particularly nice strain of Gorgonzola, a peppercorn Pecorino, and a soft sheep’s milk cheese (don’t know the name).

Tony: While the train theory is interesting, there is no way the customs agent knew I had been on a train.

]]> By: sysrick.com » links for 2006-09-25 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/comment-page-1/#comment-20478 sysrick.com » links for 2006-09-25 Mon, 25 Sep 2006 01:18:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/#comment-20478 [...] The Square Root of 98 [...] [...] The Square Root of 98 [...]

]]> By: Quasar9 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/comment-page-1/#comment-20472 Quasar9 Sun, 24 Sep 2006 19:20:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/#comment-20472 Amara, you fly some dozen times a year? tut tut I sincerely hope you've planted a veritable forest of trees to compensate for all those air miles, but if you are too busy counting stars, let me know and I'll be more than happy to plant a few xtra on your behalf PS I see at least you let the train take the strain on your way to the airport, but an awful lot of people even in europe still go by private car or taxi. - Amara, you fly some dozen times a year? tut tut
I sincerely hope you’ve planted a veritable forest of trees to compensate for all those air miles, but if you are too busy counting stars, let me know and I’ll be more than happy to plant a few xtra on your behalf
PS I see at least you let the train take the strain on your way to the airport, but an awful lot of people even in europe still go by private car or taxi.
-

]]> By: Count Iblis http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/comment-page-1/#comment-20482 Count Iblis Sun, 24 Sep 2006 12:48:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/#comment-20482 I'm sure it wasn't <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casu_marzu" rel="nofollow">this type of cheese</a> :) I’m sure it wasn’t this type of cheese :)

]]> By: Amara http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/comment-page-1/#comment-20483 Amara Sun, 24 Sep 2006 11:41:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/#comment-20483 Dear JoAnne: If I were to guess about your cheese you were carrying back, it was Parmesian Reggiano, which is not pasteurized. The customs people would know that. However, I wonder about the dogs which are supposed to sniff drugs - what happens if the dogs are hungry and they smell a yummy Parmesan cheese? <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parmigiano_Reggiano" rel="nofollow">True Parmesian</a> is aged two years, so there is no need for pasteurization (Aging of cheese is equal to pasteurization). Here is something I <a>googled</a> which talks about why and some of the other cheeses that are in the same no-need-to-pasteurize category. I suppose your trauma with getting through the trains and to the airport were about lack of signs and other indicators for schedules, tracks and connections plus few Italians understanding English. FWIW, indicators to help travellors do function an order of magnitude better in northern Italy (Trieste, Venice..) than in southern Italy (Rome and south). There is a gradient from north to south. I even have the experience of northern Italians who have visited me near Rome being surprised at the poor functioning of the basic services. I know that doesn't help you in the trauma you experienced (I'm truly sorry about that), but I'm saying it could have been much worse. Dear JoAnne: If I were to guess about your cheese you were carrying back, it was Parmesian Reggiano, which is not pasteurized. The customs people would know that. However, I wonder about the dogs which are supposed to sniff drugs – what happens if the dogs are hungry and they smell a yummy Parmesan cheese?

True Parmesian is aged two years, so there is no need for pasteurization (Aging of cheese is equal to pasteurization). Here is something I googled which talks about why and some of the other cheeses that are in the same no-need-to-pasteurize category.

I suppose your trauma with getting through the trains and to the airport were about lack of signs and other indicators for schedules, tracks and connections plus few Italians understanding English. FWIW, indicators to help travellors do function an order of magnitude better in northern Italy (Trieste, Venice..) than in southern Italy (Rome and south). There is a gradient from north to south. I even have the experience of northern Italians who have visited me near Rome being surprised at the poor functioning of the basic services. I know that doesn’t help you in the trauma you experienced (I’m truly sorry about that), but I’m saying it could have been much worse.

]]> By: Amara http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/comment-page-1/#comment-20484 Amara Sun, 24 Sep 2006 10:27:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/#comment-20484 Tony #21: "My guess is that the train leg of your travel led to some suspicion, and that it has been (since even before 911) a practice to check closely those with a profile of a European train trip leading to an air flight to the USA (effectively a one-way air ticket)." Tony, I think your guess would be wrong. Train travel leading to an airport flight is the most common method of travel with which Europeans reach their airports. In my 8.5 years of living in Europe and ~100 flights (including a couple dozen to the States), I can only count two or three times that I did not have a train trip before. Tony #21: “My guess is that the train leg of your travel led to some suspicion, and that it has been (since even before 911) a practice to check closely those with a profile of a European train trip leading to an air flight to the USA (effectively a one-way air ticket).”

Tony,

I think your guess would be wrong. Train travel leading to an airport flight is the most common method of travel with which Europeans reach their airports. In my 8.5 years of living in Europe and ~100 flights (including a couple dozen to the States), I can only count two or three times that I did not have a train trip before.

]]> By: Quasar9 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/comment-page-1/#comment-20485 Quasar9 Sun, 24 Sep 2006 10:17:17 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/#comment-20485 And after the all consuming pillow talk while I let myself sink into blissful sleep I got NASA to compute the <b><a>first 5 million digits</a> of square root of 2</b> And I awoke in the morning hungry for more! --- And after the all consuming pillow talk
while I let myself sink into blissful sleep
I got NASA to compute the
first 5 million digits of square root of 2
And I awoke in the morning hungry for more!
—

]]> By: Peter Erwin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/comment-page-1/#comment-20487 Peter Erwin Sun, 24 Sep 2006 00:34:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/#comment-20487 donna said (#31): <i>We just got back from Canada, clearing customs before we got on the ferry. We *still* got questioned by customs agents on the American side, even though we went through American customs in Canada. Stupid stuff, like "why were you in Canada"? when we were crossing over from Vancouver Island, one of the main tourist destinations.</i> Umm... I'm sure most of the people entering from Vancouver Island <i>are</i> tourists, but there are probably the occasional business travelers. As for why they're asking people seemingly stupid questions at customs... you might take a look at security guru Bruce Schneier's <a href="http://www.schneier.com/essay-076.html" rel="nofollow">essay on the subject</a>: <blockquote>ON DEC. 14, 1999, Ahmed Ressam tried to enter the United States from Canada at Port Angeles, Wash. He had a suitcase bomb in the trunk of his car. A US customs agent, Diana Dean, questioned him at the border. He was fidgeting, sweaty, and jittery. He avoided eye contact. In Dean's own words, he was acting "hinky." Ressam's car was eventually searched, and he was arrested. It wasn't any one thing that tipped Dean off; it was everything encompassed in the slang term "hinky." But it worked. The reason there wasn't a bombing at Los Angeles International Airport around Christmas 1999 was because a trained, knowledgeable security person was paying attention.</blockquote> donna said (#31):
We just got back from Canada, clearing customs before we got on the ferry. We *still* got questioned by customs agents on the American side, even though we went through American customs in Canada. Stupid stuff, like “why were you in Canada”? when we were crossing over from Vancouver Island, one of the main tourist destinations.

Umm… I’m sure most of the people entering from Vancouver Island are tourists, but there are probably the occasional business travelers.

As for why they’re asking people seemingly stupid questions at customs… you might take a look at security guru Bruce Schneier’s essay on the subject:

ON DEC. 14, 1999, Ahmed Ressam tried to enter the United States from Canada at Port Angeles, Wash. He had a suitcase bomb in the trunk of his car. A US customs agent, Diana Dean, questioned him at the border. He was fidgeting, sweaty, and jittery. He avoided eye contact. In Dean’s own words, he was acting “hinky.” Ressam’s car was eventually searched, and he was arrested.

It wasn’t any one thing that tipped Dean off; it was everything encompassed in the slang term “hinky.” But it worked. The reason there wasn’t a bombing at Los Angeles International Airport around Christmas 1999 was because a trained, knowledgeable security person was paying attention.

]]> By: Peter Erwin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/comment-page-1/#comment-20486 Peter Erwin Sun, 24 Sep 2006 00:21:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/#comment-20486 JoAnne, As to why the Customs agent asked for your passport... there <i>are</i> differences in what you're allowed to bring in with you, and what you have to pay duty on, depending on whether you're a US citizen (or permanent resident) or not. (For example, US citizens/residents can bring up to $800 worth of goods duty-free; visitors can bring up to $100 worth of goods they plan to sell or otherwise leave in the US duty-free.) JoAnne,

As to why the Customs agent asked for your passport… there are differences in what you’re allowed to bring in with you, and what you have to pay duty on, depending on whether you’re a US citizen (or permanent resident) or not. (For example, US citizens/residents can bring up to $800 worth of goods duty-free; visitors can bring up to $100 worth of goods they plan to sell or otherwise leave in the US duty-free.)

]]> By: Say Lee http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/comment-page-1/#comment-20488 Say Lee Sat, 23 Sep 2006 18:24:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/#comment-20488 Some years ago I made a spontaneous but foolish response during my very first arrival at the Heathrow. I raisd my two arms when posed with the seemingly innocuous question from the Customs Lady: Do you carry any arms? Even today I still shudder at what could have happened ... So the Custom Officer of the "Square root of 98" fame could have been dead serious. Some years ago I made a spontaneous but foolish response during my very first arrival at the Heathrow. I raisd my two arms when posed with the seemingly innocuous question from the Customs Lady: Do you carry any arms?

Even today I still shudder at what could have happened …

So the Custom Officer of the “Square root of 98″ fame could have been dead serious.

]]> By: Quasar9 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/comment-page-1/#comment-20490 Quasar9 Sat, 23 Sep 2006 17:57:12 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/#comment-20490 ok, after some rivetting pillow talk I now know what a square root is. I guess one of the multiverse answers is: <b>seven x <a href="http://www.rossi.com/sqr2.htm" rel="nofollow">square root of 2</a></b> --- Well that was more fun than a root canal For the first thousand digits of square root of 2 see <a href="http://www.rossi.com/sqr2.htm" rel="nofollow">rossi sqr2</a> ---- ok, after some rivetting pillow talk
I now know what a square root is.
I guess one of the multiverse answers is:
seven x square root of 2
—
Well that was more fun than a root canal
For the first thousand digits of square root of 2
see rossi sqr2
—-

]]> By: donna http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/comment-page-1/#comment-20491 donna Sat, 23 Sep 2006 16:15:57 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/#comment-20491 We just got back from Canada, clearing customs before we got on the ferry. We *still* got questioned by customs agents on the American side, even though we went through American customs in Canada. Stupid stuff, like "why were you in Canada"? when we were crossing over from Vancouver Island, one of the main tourist destinations. I wonder why some of these people still have jobs. We just got back from Canada, clearing customs before we got on the ferry. We *still* got questioned by customs agents on the American side, even though we went through American customs in Canada. Stupid stuff, like “why were you in Canada”? when we were crossing over from Vancouver Island, one of the main tourist destinations.

I wonder why some of these people still have jobs.

]]> By: Count Iblis http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/comment-page-1/#comment-20493 Count Iblis Sat, 23 Sep 2006 15:00:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/#comment-20493 Aaron, pi^(2) is even closer to the correct answer! B.t.w., orthopositronium lives so long compared to parapositronium, not only because it can only decay into three photons (this makes the decay rate a factor alpha=1/137 slower), but also because the result of the evaluation of the Feynman diagrams contains a factor (pi^2 - 9). A more spectacular example of such numerical accidents is the function Exp(Pi*Sqrt(n)) for some integer n, <a href="http://www.ballandclaw.com/upi/episqrtn.html" rel="nofollow">see here.</a> Aaron, pi^(2) is even closer to the correct answer! B.t.w., orthopositronium lives so long compared to parapositronium, not only because it can only decay into three photons (this makes the decay rate a factor alpha=1/137 slower), but also because the result of the evaluation of the Feynman diagrams contains a factor (pi^2 – 9).

A more spectacular example of such numerical accidents is the function Exp(Pi*Sqrt(n)) for some integer n, see here.

]]> By: Quasar9 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/comment-page-1/#comment-20489 Quasar9 Sat, 23 Sep 2006 10:35:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/#comment-20489 Hi JoAnne, as a self-confessed smuggler, you are entitled to one night aboard. It really doesn't matter whether the cheese has been measured in imperial or metric weight. We measure the cheese by its taste As long as the cheese tastes real good welcome on board you are here understood. But I'm guessing there's little or no cheese left so what have you got to offer this hungry pirate instead. --- Hi JoAnne,
as a self-confessed smuggler,
you are entitled to one night aboard.
It really doesn’t matter whether the cheese
has been measured in imperial or metric weight.

We measure the cheese by its taste
As long as the cheese tastes real good
welcome on board you are here understood.
But I’m guessing there’s little or no cheese left
so what have you got to offer this hungry pirate instead.
—

]]> By: Aaron http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/comment-page-1/#comment-20497 Aaron Sat, 23 Sep 2006 05:31:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/#comment-20497 LOL... thanks for the heads-up! <blockquote>the approximate answer is 9.89950 \pm 10^{-5}</blockquote> Don't be silly! The square root of 98 is 10... which just so happens to be equal to 3 pi. What a fantastic coincidence! :) LOL… thanks for the heads-up!

the approximate answer is 9.89950 \pm 10^{-5}

Don’t be silly! The square root of 98 is 10… which just so happens to be equal to 3 pi. What a fantastic coincidence! :)

]]> By: squareroot http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/comment-page-1/#comment-20476 squareroot Fri, 22 Sep 2006 19:56:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/#comment-20476 Why 98 of all numbers? Is it because 9=3^2 and 8=2^3...maybe the guy is all about super super symmetry:)! And he got the right person to assess that with it...Since I can claim 2 3 8 and 9 in my birthday in a similar fashion, I think I am the living example of supersymmetry. But again it takes a litfetime to explore oneself so when I get a sense of supersymmetry ill pass it along... Why 98 of all numbers?
Is it because 9=3^2 and 8=2^3…maybe the guy is all about super super symmetry:)! And he got the right person to assess that with it…Since I can claim 2 3 8 and 9 in my birthday in a similar fashion, I think I am the living example of supersymmetry. But again it takes a litfetime to explore oneself so when I get a sense of supersymmetry ill pass it along…

]]> By: B http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/comment-page-1/#comment-20477 B Fri, 22 Sep 2006 16:19:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/09/20/the-square-root-of-98/#comment-20477 Some years ago, I accidentally crossed the border to Mexico without having all my visa documents with me. It's fairly easy to LEAVE the US without even noticing it, but on the way back I ran into a problem with the border post in Nogales. I told them I work at the Department of Physics at the University of Arizona, and they demanded I proof that I am a physicist. I asked them, well what do you want? Equations on a notepad? A lecture about Supersymmetry? Eventually I told them to look up my webpage with the publication list, which kind of convinced them that I wasn't trying to smuggle black hole bombs or the like. What I realized though (besides to always take my passport with me) is that it helps to use words everybody obviously connects with physics. Tell them you work on AdS/CFT and they'll think you're an insurance agent. Best, B. Some years ago, I accidentally crossed the border to Mexico without having all my visa documents with me. It’s fairly easy to LEAVE the US without even noticing it, but on the way back I ran into a problem with the border post in Nogales. I told them I work at the Department of Physics at the University of Arizona, and they demanded I proof that I am a physicist. I asked them, well what do you want? Equations on a notepad? A lecture about Supersymmetry? Eventually I told them to look up my webpage with the publication list, which kind of convinced them that I wasn’t trying to smuggle black hole bombs or the like.

What I realized though (besides to always take my passport with me) is that it helps to use words everybody obviously connects with physics. Tell them you work on AdS/CFT and they’ll think you’re an insurance agent.

Best, B.

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