The Dot and the Line - A Romance in Lower Mathematics

This fun video about geometry turns out to be a parable about the ends of classical education as well.  The book is also worth finding.  It is by the author of The Phantom Tollbooth, Norton Juster.

Fermi Problem Update

My ten year old has been doing Fermi problems since I posted here and he continues to request more.  A few problems done so far include:

1. How much paper would you need to make a stack that would touch the den ceiling?
2. How many hairs are there on one of your arms?
3. How much unpopped popcorn would you need to fill your sister’s closet with popped corn? 
4. How much does it cost your parents to feed you for a year?
5. Ignoring Oceans and such, how long would it take you to walk entirely around the world?
6. How many sheets of paper would you need to cover the largest wall in your room?
7. How many revolutions will a car tire make on a drive to Grandma's house?
8. How many pairs of shoes are there in Dallas?

We've also been using problems in the book Guesstimation.

The Habit of Perfection - Gerard Manley Hopkins

ELECTED Silence, sing to me
And beat upon my whorlèd ear,
Pipe me to pastures still and be
The music that I care to hear.
Shape nothing, lips; be lovely-dumb:	5
It is the shut, the curfew sent
From there where all surrenders come
Which only makes you eloquent.
Be shellèd, eyes, with double dark
And find the uncreated light:	10
This ruck and reel which you remark
Coils, keeps, and teases simple sight.
Palate, the hutch of tasty lust,
Desire not to be rinsed with wine:
The can must be so sweet, the crust	15
So fresh that come in fasts divine!
Nostrils, your careless breath that spend
Upon the stir and keep of pride,
What relish shall the censers send
Along the sanctuary side!	20
O feel-of-primrose hands, O feet
That want the yield of plushy sward,
But you shall walk the golden street,
And you unhouse and house the Lord.
And, Poverty, be thou the bride	25
And now the marriage feast begun,
And lily-coloured clothes provide
Your spouse not laboured-at, nor spun.

Defending the Liberal Arts through Bumper Stickers

Source: The Imaginative Conservative: Defending the Liberal Arts through Bumper Stickers...:

"Keep your laws off of my Great Books"

"Down with the Servile Arts"

"My liberal arts kid beat up your vo-tech kid"

"The Liberal Arts: Earned, Never Given"

"Honk if you love Socrates"

"If you enjoy your freedom, thank an ancient Athenian"

"Better Read than Dead"

"Yo' mama ain't nothin' but a Carthaginian Witch"

"8/24/410--Never Forget!"

"It's All Greek to Me"

"Don't Blame Me.  I voted for Cicero."

Fantasy before Tolkien

Before J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings created a whole genre known as "fantasy", there was Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany.  Lord Dunsany wrote several fantasy novels and many short stories.  I've been reading his Wonder Tales, actually a compilation of two books of short stories.  The stories are strange, wonderfully atmospheric, and compelling reads for such short pieces.  One  of my favorites so far is  "The Hoard of the Gibbelins", a fantastic fantasy demonstrating the follies of avarice.

"very near to learning"

"For the one who recognizes with prudence what ought to be investigated is very near to learning, and the one who begins to understand what he is unaware of is not far from knowledge."  John Cassian, The Conferences, number 10 On Prayer

... never having to say you are sorry.

Asking for and granting forgiveness should be two of the most common activities in the Christian home.  This concept is generally lost on the world and the church seems to have a hard time with it as well.  What are the typical responses in our culture?  First we usually say "I'm sorry", which more often than not means "I wish I hadn't been caught".  I usually hear responses like "It's OK", "No harm done", or "No problem".  However, its not OK, harm has been done and there is a real problem that needs to be addressed by both parties.  The need to sincerely ask for forgiveness and the great gift of bestowing that forgiveness on the other is one of the chief callings of the Christian.  The Apostle Paul calls all Christians to be "Ministers of Reconciliation"- what is this if not granting forgiveness to others and restoring communion.   Jesus made this astounding statement:  “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."   

So, in our home we have developed a simple little "liturgy of forgiveness".  We don't allow the word "sorry" to be used. It goes like this:

  

The asking:  "[Name] will you please forgive me for [the specific offense committed]."

The response:  "I will forgive you"

Pretty simple, but it is amazingly effective.  The offender must own up to what he or she did, and the offended gets to bestow the blessing of forgiveness and reconciliation.  Here is the real key however; mom and dad must do this in front of the children as well as to the children.  The real blessing occurs when dad says to the six year old "Please forgive me for raising my voice to you" and his son says "I will forgive you."