Just joined today, 3/21/2022.

Discussion in 'New Member Introductions' started by Torus34, Mar 21, 2022.

  1. Torus34

    Torus34 Well-Known Member

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    Hi!

    I use the nom de guerre of 'Torus34'. It combines my Sun sign, YOB and a tip-o'-the-hat to my interest in recreational math.

    I'm located at the southern tip of Staten Island in NYC. If pressed to label my 'philosophy', I'd reply 'secular humanist'. That puts me outside [Ed.: That's 'outside', not 'above',] the current 'red/blue' Dem/Rep, 'lib/con' dichotomic groups.

    I'm an old retired scientist. My erstwhile profession has informed my modes of thinking about things.

    I make no use of visuals in my posts. We're blessed with a marvelous tool for expression, the English language. It has never failed to allow me to express exactly what it is that I wish to convey. Similarly, I don't use emojis or 'likes'.

    I will always try to reply to a post which quotes me. The exception to this are posters who are disrespectful, insulting or trolling. I will treat any poster with the full respect due a fellow member of h. sapiens in my responses.

    As I said, 'Hi!'

    Side note. 'Ed.' is an imaginary editor peeking over my shoulder. He reminds me as often as necessary that I have feet of clay.
     
  2. Jazz

    Jazz Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Hi!
     
  3. MJ Davies

    MJ Davies Well-Known Member

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    Image6c.png
    Hi Torus,

    I'm MJ. I'm non-artisan but each side thinks I am with the "enemy". LOL I am American, born and raised in Chicago, IL.

    • I am pro-America/USA!!! (but not xenophobic or ethnophobia).
    • I am not bigoted in any way against anybody.
    • I'm highly allergic to whackadoodles (crazy, whiny, argumentative, etc).
    • I will engage in conversations with anyone if we have a difference of opinion.
    • I will not engage with anyone that is disrespectful and hateful.
    • I am very grateful for our military because they defend our freedom.
    • I may not agree, but vehemently defend everyone's right to Freedom of Speech.

    I have hope that we all can find a way to come together for the good of our nation and work toward making us truly UNITED again.

    We have a few scientists around here (@Quantum Nerd, @Stuart Wolfe and @557). There are others but it's late and can't recall them all at the moment.

    I made these screenshots in case you haven't had time to find your way around. These are the things I would have liked to have known when I signed up so, hopefully, it helps.

    Jump on in anytime! Don't take any of it personally. I look forward to your posts!

    1. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the "Help" and other menus.



    2. There is a subforum for you to send messages to the mods (only you and the mods can see what you put there).



    3.At the top, click on your username in the upper right corner to see details about your account.
    Image2.jpg
    Image3.jpg Image5.jpg

     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 23, 2022
  4. Stuart Wolfe

    Stuart Wolfe Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    For the record, I'm not a scientist - I just teach science, among other things!
     
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  5. MJ Davies

    MJ Davies Well-Known Member

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    @Torus34, Stuart is being modest. How can you teach something you don't know? ;-)
     
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  6. FatBack

    FatBack Well-Known Member

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    Hello new guy!

    I'm just some guy that lives somewhere and doesn't do anything spectacular, go to work and sleep and whatnot. Sometimes I post here. Like right now and I saw your post so hello * waves hands...
     
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  7. Stuart Wolfe

    Stuart Wolfe Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Oh, and by the way - Hello, Torus34!
     
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  8. DEFinning

    DEFinning Well-Known Member Donor

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    Top o' the evening to you, Torus34, I'm glad to welcome you aboard! I live in your (basic) neck of the woods, in Fairfield County, CT. Actually, for me it's mid evening, but unless you also have a sleep disorder, I should be wishing you pleasant dreams, of all of the posting you'll do, later on today, once you're awake. Or, better yet, Top o' the Morning, to you, Torus, when you get to reading this-- maybe over your bagel?

    Are you more interested in posting your own opinions; seeing what others have to say, and perhaps gaining a wider perspective, through their eyes; or making social contacts, finding some others you relate to, for interesting & enjoyable chit- chat? You know what, let me guess: as a Taurus, you're going to say, "a bit of each?"

    I hope you can find some threads to interest you. Are you more interested in political topics, or those of a scientific, or philosophical nature? If you exhaust the most recent threads, for items of interest, I for one appreciate when a good thread from before my time here, gets resurrected, from the archives, by a fresh reply.

    Well, until I get a better sense of what you're like, I won't bend ear any longer. I'll close with just cueing you in to a little something that puzzled me at first. Every now and then, you may find something that you've written, has turned into a
    what looks like a little sun- face, wearing sunglasses. That happens when your characters, viewed with a 90° clockwise rotation of your screen (or counter-clockwise rotation of your head) would have you staring at a smiley face, wearing big glasses. I'm only sure of one way to produce it on demand, though there might be others. Type an 8, immediately followed by a close-parenthesis mark. What brought this into my head was thinking about your age, at your next month's birthday. I'm not one who associates mathematics with recreation, but it nevertheless occurred to me, that an 8 is like a twisted torus-- this probably even has its own name, yes? Anyway, when you turn the age of the upright, double- infinity signs, if you enclose it in parentheses, it will look like this: (88)


    Obviously, I'm running out of gas, at this point, but I'm glad to've had the chance to say hello, and I look forward to seeing what you'll bring to us, here. I'll keep an eye out for you.

    Ciao for now.
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2022
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  9. submarinepainter

    submarinepainter Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    have fun and be nice
     
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  10. Torus34

    Torus34 Well-Known Member

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    Wow! Thank you all, and a special 'Thank you!' to MJ Davies and DE Finning for your extensive responses.

    @Stuart Wolfe: I had the honor, for a short while, of teaching in high school in Cumberland, MD. I also taught mathematics to basic trainees in the USAF [My dates and final rank were 2SEP53-2SEP57, SSgt.] I still remember the emotional rush of seeing the lights go on in a student's eyes when a concept was understood. At one point I started amassing master's degree credits in education, anticipating a career change which never obtained. One thing which stayed with me from those courses was a realization of just how wealthy we in the United States are. We're willing to keep people in school and off the job market for years while in some other nations, students are 'tracked' at a very early age.

    @DE Finning: I tend to try out different 'frames' within which to understand an issue. [Ed.: For the record, 'issues' are for discussion, 'problems' are things to be solved.] I read and post on forums in order to improve my understanding through the reasoned arguments* of others. 'Winning' or 'losing' a discussion's not involved. I enjoyed your word/symbol play.

    @MJ Davies: You've presented me with a multi-course meal, not just a nibble. It will take me a while to eat, digest and comment.

    Best wishes to you and yours.

    * 'Argument' is used in the musical/mathematical sense.
     
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  11. Quantum Nerd

    Quantum Nerd Well-Known Member

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    Welcome to a fellow scientist on this board. And, thanks, @MJDavies for the plug.

    We had a medical doctor on here recently, @CenterField, who was a treasure trove of info on covid. Unfortunately, I think he left, got tired of the constant partisan putdowns of his thoughtful posts. So, as a hint, don't put too much effort into your posts. One page assays, no matter how thoughtful or well-written, are rarely read, partisan sniping one-liners are where it is at. If you put in too much effort, you'll burn out quickly.
     
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  12. Torus34

    Torus34 Well-Known Member

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    Hi, Quantum Nerd!

    Thanks for the head's up. I've gotten rather good at skipping over posts which don't add to my store [Ed.: Actually, more like a push cart,] of knowledge and understanding. When I post, I try to hew to the dictum of 'necessary and sufficient' in verbiage. Some concepts just require more sentences. I was a chemist, specializing in quality assurance. Ended up in the medical device industry. Graduate work in other fields included education and industrial management.

    Regards, best wishes to you and yours.
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2022
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  13. MJ Davies

    MJ Davies Well-Known Member

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    Hi again!

    Guess what we have in common? Well, I took a different career track but I aced my Iowa State Tests in 7th grade and placed in 1st year college math so I was pulled out of class to help in the Principal's office and from there...I started private tutoring. It was so weird tutoring adults when I was a kid.

    I have always had a heart for helping others so I transitioned to work with the "problem" students. They were usually the ones on the brink of expulsion or failing a grade or both. Unlike my others, their parent(s) couldn't afford my rates so I donated my time to them. The one that brought me to tears was a boy about 10 years old. He was one of six kids and his dad was in prison. His two oldest sisters each had two kids of their own by the time they each turned 18 so there wasn't a ton or time or money or encouragement to get him into traditional tutoring through his school.

    As with all the students I took on, I promised him that I would help him if he was ready and I would continue to help him until he told me he could do it by himself. I promised him that I would not give up on him but he had to promise me that he wouldn't give up on himself. He didn't buy it in the beginning but I stayed with him until the day his light beamed and I knew he was ready. Not only did he bring his grades up from near failing to Honor Roll, he was the first person in his family to graduate from high school. He called to let me know that he got accepted to college and even received some partial scholarships. I couldn't have been prouder if he was my own son. In fact, all the ones I helped guide moved up at least two letter grades and I still remember all those lights coming on.

    Thank you for bringing back those wonderful memories for me and being one of us to help that light shine for and in others!



    P.S. No worries on taking time to digest. I'm an insomniac so I'm always writing novella sized posts!
     
  14. 557

    557 Well-Known Member

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    @Torus34 and @MJ Davies,

    Welcome Torus. Your philosophy on forums and learning sound like just what PF needs more of!

    To add to MJ Davies information on scientists, I certainly fit the classic definition. However to be clear I’m self employed in production agriculture and do not publish research or work in academia. Passed up all those offered opportunities to lay in the mud and stuff bovine uterine prolapses back into place and other exciting things.

    Biological sciences are my forte, both in animal science and a bit of agronomy. My views on Covid etc. are predicated on a educational background in infectious disease and a lifetime of dealing with epidemiology in numerous non human species. My posts are often quite unpopular because they are based on published research and known biological “facts” as opposed to unsubstantiated opinions of media, public health entities, and politicians. So be prepared! LOL

    Oh, math is my weakness! I wish I was more proficient.

    This is a great place to learn from others. Just because the majority of members ignore or attack your posts with logical fallacy doesn’t mean there aren’t a few folks reading them and learning.

    Looking forward to seeing you around.
     
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  15. Torus34

    Torus34 Well-Known Member

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    Yes!

    As of this morning, 3/25/22, I've slipped the leash of pre-posting approval. I've up-dated my personal info and now away I go!

    See y'all on the forum subject pages!

    [Ed.: And thanks for all the fish.]
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2022
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  16. Grau

    Grau Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Hello and welcome,

    I think that you'll like it here and I look forward to reading your observations on the many topics that that come up.
    Based on what little you've written, I feel that you have much to contribute to this forum.
    Enjoy yourself,
     
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  17. Adfundum

    Adfundum Moderator Staff Member Donor

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    Welcome!

    I do hope we can read your thoughts here. I noticed you quoted Chaucer--just a quote or are you a fan?
     
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  18. Torus34

    Torus34 Well-Known Member

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    Hi, Adfundum!

    Chaucer's description of the clerk includes that line. It's a reminder to me of an attitude -- one which I strive to achieve. I fail from time to time.

    I traveled by public transportation to work for some 25 years. The trip took 2h 20m each way. Most of that time, I was seated. One of the ways I put the time to use was reading. That's a lot of hours of reading. There was time for Chaucer 'n Plato 'n Voltaire 'n various Adams's, including Douglas, among many others. I still think of grabbing a towel when I leave my house.

    Reading, in particular reading on multiple levels, is as much of an art to be learned as is writing.

    Regards, best wishes to you and yours.
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2022
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  19. Adfundum

    Adfundum Moderator Staff Member Donor

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    I couldn't agree more. I'm a retired English teacher, and the underlined part above is something I tried hard to instill in young people. Being willing and able to see the words on more than one level is gift you give to yourself.

    What I like about Chaucer is how he creates characters that are so similar in nature to people today. He subtly shows us the corruptions and hypocrisy that are still the dominant nature of humans today. Plus, I have a fascination with linguistics, so the fact that he didn't use the pompous language of the Nobles was something that kept me reading.
     
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  20. Torus34

    Torus34 Well-Known Member

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    Hi!

    Teaching someone to read well is a high calling. Just about any thought we h. sapiens have ever conceived has been written down somewhere. Reading opens the door to that vast library.

    Along with reading, I scribble from time to time. Here's an example:

    Four by four.

    Let’s talk quatrains. First thing to know
    Is that each verse has four lines. So,
    When we are working in this style,
    We’re thinking four (4) all the while.
    .
    With that all set, let’s count the beat.
    There’s four? Te-tra-meter. That’s neat!
    (If five, we’d call it ‘pen-ta-‘, no?
    For three, ‘tri-’ is the way to go.)
    .
    Then there’s the rhyme scheme: it can be
    AABB, ABAC,
    ABAB, ABBA,
    (and yes, this can go on all day.)
    .
    So there it is: a simple way
    To structure what you wish to say.
    (Quatrains are often where it’s at.
    They’re all you’ll find in ‘Rubaiyat’.)

    Regards, and may your library card never expire.
     
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  21. Adfundum

    Adfundum Moderator Staff Member Donor

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    Oh, Yeah! I like it. You could do Rap! Rubaiyat Rap! Just kidding, I do like your poem. I wish I'd had that years ago. Kids would have loved it.

    Finding a rhythm in language is one of the things that initially attracted me to the field. One time I was reading Virginia Woolf for a class, and I picked up on a rhythm that I'd only ever noticed in poetry or in writers like Kerouac. Finding that rhythm made the reading so much better. Not just because it's a rhythm, but because the story seemed to flow at a different level. I was no longer reading a required text, I was there, immersed in the novel. Almost like meditating.

    I was never much for Math, so you'll have to pardon me for that. I like the jazzier rhythms for their unexpectedness. It's the common and the simple arranged in a way that makes you think beyond the surface.

    Morning Sunlight, To a Groove in G


    If you want to say something profound,

    Make people nod, pass your book around,

    Hear them “hmmm” like Buddhist monks

    Pondering some great insight,

    A light the poets missed,

    A thread unweaving itself in the mind,

    You should start early in the day,

    While the leaves on a sapling have their way

    With a stray shaft of morning sun

    That slips under the canopy

    Silently
     
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  22. Sallyally

    Sallyally Well-Known Member Donor

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    Welcome.
     
  23. FatBack

    FatBack Well-Known Member

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    Poetry we see... Common to you and me...
    This phone it hears when I speak... Something about power and a tree .....

    The back button and delete I must or my words will be lost in the dust....lol.

    I could go on but I will spare thee... The boring redundancy of me :)
     
  24. Torus34

    Torus34 Well-Known Member

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    Good Tuesday morning!

    Thank you for posting the poem. It captures the quiet of early morning. A 5:30 AM riser, I know it well.

    Every once in a while, I run into a sentence in a book which contains a regular poetic meter. I wonder about these. Was the author aware of it? I also love writing which straddles the poetry/prose boundary. A current favorite is the words to the Samuel Barber piece, Knoxville: Summer of 1915. Ref: DAWN UPSHAW - KNOXVILLE: SUMMER OF 1915 LYRICS (songlyrics.com)

    My writings, such as they are, are the product of my retirement years. Professionally, I wrote specifications and procedures as part of my work in quality assurance and lab management. Freed from the restraint of writing in the 3rd person indifferent, I started scribbling doggerel. Rhymed quatrains are technically a slice of the pie, as Hercule Poirot would say.

    Regards, and enjoy the dawning day. [Ed.: 'Nuff of the alliteration, hear?]

    Jim
     
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2022
  25. Torus34

    Torus34 Well-Known Member

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    Hi, FatBack!

    You took some time to post in verse.
    Trust me; I've penned far, far worse.
    You made me grin, gave me a lift.
    So thank you, for your rhyming gift.

    Enjoy the day!

    j
     
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