Not for the faint of art. |
Complex Numbers A complex number is expressed in the standard form a + bi, where a and b are real numbers and i is defined by i^2 = -1 (that is, i is the square root of -1). For example, 3 + 2i is a complex number. The bi term is often referred to as an imaginary number (though this may be misleading, as it is no more "imaginary" than the symbolic abstractions we know as the "real" numbers). Thus, every complex number has a real part, a, and an imaginary part, bi. Complex numbers are often represented on a graph known as the "complex plane," where the horizontal axis represents the infinity of real numbers, and the vertical axis represents the infinity of imaginary numbers. Thus, each complex number has a unique representation on the complex plane: some closer to real; others, more imaginary. If a = b, the number is equal parts real and imaginary. Very simple transformations applied to numbers in the complex plane can lead to fractal structures of enormous intricacy and astonishing beauty. |
Today, we're going back not very far at all, to an entry I did in May of last year: "One Great Thing" The prompt, from "Invalid Item" , was a simple one-liner: "The biggest plus for living in your town/area" I'm more used to pointing out downsides than upsides, but honestly, there aren't too many downsides here. Minor inconveniences at worst, like the lack of a Denny's, but having been all over, I know there are downsides everywhere. Denny's also isn't that great, objectively. At least we also don't have an Olive Garden. So, advantages, in this case, are easy; all I had to do was point out all the alcohol manufacturers. Still, I couldn't resist the joke in the first line: "It's not Cleveland." I don't know why I like to rag on Cleveland. I've never even been there. Maybe it's because the name is inherently funny. From all accounts, it's a pleasant enough city. Fortunately, I'm not well-known enough so that, once I do manage to visit Cleveland (which I hope to do, because it has breweries), I won't have to spend my time apologizing to the citizens there. None of the stuff I said in the entry needs updating, really. While a few breweries have disappeared, and others have popped up, the other producers that I mentioned still, as far as I know, exist. In any event, yes, I still consider this proliferation of vendors to be a big plus of living here. There are other good things here, but I won't dwell on them, lest people get the idea it's okay to move in. |