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. |
Wishing a Merry Christmas to those who observe it. The only observation I'm doing today is a movie, if my plans hold out. No, it won't be Avatar: The Last Waterbender or whatever bullshit Cameron is foisting upon us. Not even Blue Zoe Saldana makes me want to see that one. Today, for me, is Throwback Day. The Random Number Generator gave me something from way back on November 1, 2009: "NaNo?" It's short, so here it is in its entirety to save you a click: Maybe not this year, after all. I got a work deadline that's kicking my ass, and it doesn't look like I'm going to make it - which means I'm not going to be able to start tomorrow, either. Oh well, what the hell, right? It's only my dream. I can put it off again for the sake of doing something I don't really want to do anymore, right? Fuck. Spoiler: I didn't do NaNo that year. I've completed it three times, once getting everything done well before Thanksgiving so I could go on a road trip. I think that was in 2011. My first was the year prior to the linked entry. The point being that I know I can write 50K words in less than a month. That's not the issue. The issue is I can't seem to be arsed to ever edit the damn things. This has two immediate effects: 1) It kills my motivation to do another NaNo; 2) It means all that work is largely wasted. So that's why I haven't done NaNo in a few years, though I'm active in October Prep to help others achieve their goals. And I don't do resolutions, so I'm not going to lie to myself and say I'll do some editing next year, either. Maybe I will; maybe not. Barring emergencies, though, the blog will continue, as will the newsletters I edit. So at least I'll be writing something. |