Fascinating Fractals!

I love fractals. It is a new passion. What's a fractal? Hard to explain, but it is a picture of math functions, in nature, in reflections, computer generated. It is when you look really deep into something (magnified) and find something really cool. One of the most famous fractals is the Mandelbrot (the guy who found it, he's still alive btw) fractal below. Basically this is a computer generated graph of the following function z=z2+c (or z=z^2+c).

Now lets magnify the fractal here. From a section or set.

The flower is from the M-set of the Mandelbrot

So, it is like the Energizer Bunny. It keeps going and going. Eternal is a word that comes to mind! I have been digging this stuff for a few days. Here is a web site if you want to dig further too. (check out the Wada Fractals)

http://www.miqel.com/fractals_math_patterns/visual_math_varieties.html

Tag you're it!

I used to play a tons of tag when I was a kid. Freeze tag, sardines, statue tag, under the leg type, plain old tag. Now computer users play tag online, also known as tagging. It is a way to find out strange and interesting things about people you think you already know. When we played tag as kids, I never learned anything new about the taggee but whether he/she could run faster than me or not. Usually they couldn't. I was a fast runner. I'm not sure, but can this be a sneaky type of chain letter type thingy? Well my niece April tagged me and instructed me to write 7 random facts about myself. If I do this and tag 10 more people I believe I am suppose to get 350 dish towels in the mail by Christmas Day. So here I go.

Random Fact #1--I go crazy if anybody tries to touch me while I am eating.

Random Fact #2--I openly adore dogs, and secretly abhor cats.

Random Fact #3--I (once) used Desitin diaper rash ointment for toothpaste and Vicks deep heating rub to take off my eye make-up.

Random Fact #4--I prefer natural colored, royal blue, or deep red dishtowels.

Random Fact #5--I enjoy true crime books.

Random Fact #6--I often have nightmares about true crime.

Random Fact #7--I have difficulty sticking to a routine. Random but true!

I tag anybody who reads this blog (you know who you are! Even if you don't have blog Natalie, just leave the info on my blog). Please don't bring dishtowels over to my house. I need them via U.S. Postal Service.

Ari? Betty? And you too!

Play Ball

I love baseball. I happen to coach a rough bunch of homeschoolers. Well, at first we had around 8-10 kids. The longer we played the more kids came oozing out of the woodwork. We play every Wednesday at 2pm. Max--two innings. All players on the team bat each inning. No balls. No strikes. You swing until you hit, but no sympathy if we get you out. Last week we had over twenty-five kids, two dads (who know more than I do, but still take orders) and Moms yelling like crazy! The most extraordinary play this week was when Samuel hit the ball way out. It bounced over the fence, then bounced onto the sidewalk, then right into the window of a parked car, landing on the lap of a startled passenger. Unbelievable plays happen like this every week. Best darn day of the week!

Case study: Men Taking Excessive Trips to the Hardware Store!

Exhibit #1

Exhibit #2

Exhibit #3

Exhibit #4

Exhibit #5

(You are awesome Curtis!)

BOO!

Here is Alex as a dirty low-down pirate. He came up with this one the day of Halloween. We have a tradition of procrastinating the costume decision until the last moment. The more pressure, the better the get up. (you have to look at this photo close up!)


Samuel was the weatherman and was such a hit. He said he either wanted to be a remote control, an IPOD, or a T.V. for Halloween. Looks like a blizzard is coming through next week!

Julia was wishing she were at the Ren Fair like the old days with the Bringhursts for Halloween! She filled her sleeves with candy!

MMM (More Music Man!)

Putting myself out there people is not easy! If you want to do something crazy (perform on stage, jump from an airplane) my advice is go right ahead, but when it comes to crunch time pray a lot and don't blame anybody but yourself.

Music Man 2007!!!

Here we are, the lot of us (minus Rachel), in full garb ready to perform! Thanks to you all who came to the show. We had such a wonderful time being together as a family, helping each other out, consoling each other when we made mistakes, giving unwanted advice... We have two more shows to go and then what are we going to do? We may go stir crazy!