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. |
Pulling from the time portal, let's see here: A 30DBC response entry from January of 2020: "Invincible" Ah, yes, the Before Time, when one could talk about travel and doing stuff with other people without garnering controversy. But the prompt was pretty simple and open-ended: What are you waiting for? I'm one of those people - yes, those people - who usually answers rhetorical questions literally. And "What are you waiting for?" is normally a rhetorical question. "Will you take the trash out, dear?" "Sure." "...Well? What are you waiting for?" "The sweet release of the Apocalypse." It's been pointed out to me, repeatedly, that this shit isn't funny. But it is. When it's not a rhetorical question, it implies a call to action. "You say you want to go to Belgium. Your passport is up to date and you have money. What are you waiting for?" For a while there, it was travel restrictions. Then it was just a general distrust of travel, combined with the shitshow that flying has become. Now, there's a war going on in Europe. Still. But mostly, it implies that I should be doing something other than what I'm doing right now, but whatever it is I'm doing right now is generally what I really want to be doing. In the battle between "should" and "want," "want" wins every time. That's just the way I am. Very likely, it's the way most people are. I'm just aware of it and turn it into a virtue. Really, I'm not waiting for anything important. I have a few set plans: there's a wine tasting tomorrow, of Bordeaux wines hosted by an actual French person from France I remember that vividly, as it was my final wine tasting before everything went to shit. Cold night, long walk (I did a recap in the next blog entry), delicious wine. Well, we have a wine tasting tour planned for this Saturday. Yes, April Fools' Day. All in all, not much has changed from that entry—while at the same time, everything has. |