Category Archives: Mathematics

Book Review: Lee Child ~ Bad Luck and Trouble (2007) (Reacher 11)

The problem for ‘book-a-year’ authors is keeping characters simultaneously the same and different. If the trick isn’t pulled off characters become stale and repetitive. Reacher is a very strong character and Lee Child can’t deviate from his Maverick strongman. A … Continue reading

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The ultimate Venn diagram

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John von Neumann:* aversion to exercise

Equally, von Neumann had no interest in sport and, barring long walks (always in a business suit), he would avoid any form of vigorous physical exercise for the rest of his life.  When his second wife, Klari, tried to persuade … Continue reading

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Gambling as an Investment Option

Combining ‘Gambling’ and ‘Investment’ appears to be bizarre. After all, gambling involves unpredictable risk and the loss of all of your capital in one fell swoop. Investment, on the other hand, breathes the heady air of prudence and safety. This … Continue reading

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Mathematical Knowledge is power

A supposedly wise ruler asked a servant what he’d like as a reward for an act of bravery. The servant said he’d like a grain of rice on the first of the 64 squares on the emperor’s chessboard, two on … Continue reading

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Failing Maths at Sir Philip Magnus school, 1958

In June 1958 our class was told about the annual mathematics examination. This didn’t fill me with enthusiasm. I feared exams and I especially hated maths. Our teacher, Mr Jones, a hard Welshman from the Rhonda, made the announcement with … Continue reading

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Mount Everest as a business

  Source https://hustle.co/how-mount-everest-became-a-multimillion-dollar-business  

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Book review: Annie Duke ~ Thinking in Bets (2019)

Gambling fascinates me and I like stories associated with gamblers. Kerry Packer is an endless source of pleasure for me. He was famously irritated by a braggart in a Las Vegas casino who wanted everyone to know he had a … Continue reading

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What gambling really is

…world-class poker players taught me to understand what a bet really is: a decision about an uncertain future. Duke, Annie. Thinking in Bets (p. 3). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. Chris

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Del’s culinary tips for a healthy heart

Do you ever use vegetable bouillon? A popular make sold by Tesco is Marigold at £2.00 for 150 gms. The ingredients make interesting reading with salt at the top of the list, it forms almost half (44.6%) of the total … Continue reading

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