A Math Teacher’s Guide to Explaining Technology to Your Parents [Math with Bad Drawings]

People sometimes wonder why I go through explaning the “why” to them when all they want to know is the “how”. I do it because they’ll be better off for it; they’ll more easily learn to adapt what they learn to similar issues. Ben Orlin describes the method that I use (more or less) to teach people tech, among other things.

Math with Bad Drawings

This is my second century. I was 13 when it began—young enough to be almost fluent, but old enough that my technological skills retain a quaint 20^th-century accent. (For example, I still use email.)

My parents’ generation, on the other hand, didn’t encounter the 21^st century until they were full-grown adults. They’d settled into their habits when this digital tide began rising around them: Facebook, Twitter, viral videos, actual computer viruses, Android, Snapchat, gifs, Reddit…

And so was born that tragicomedy of 21^st-century life: young people trying to explain technology to their parents. It’s frustrating both for the kids (“Why are you so incompetent?!”) and for the parents (“Why do I need this stupid device anyway?!”).

“This is so easy. Why can’t you do it?” vs. “This is so hard. What’s the point?” Now, why does that sound so familiar…?

Oh, that’s right! Because I’m…

View original post 705 more words

Why Units Matter

For completeness, you’d be dead on the Rankine scale, too.

via UNL Announce.

The Table Is Ready [Rev. Evan Dolive]

Let’s not forget that Easter is really about Jesus’ death and resurrection, that He took the penalty of sin for us so we who accept don’t have to.

Read last year’s posts! Good Friday, The Guard at the Tomb, and Easter.

Rev. Dr. Evan M. Dolive

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take and eat. This is my body.” He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from this, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many so that their sins may be forgiven. (Matthew 26:26-28 CEB)

Published via Pressgram

View original post

The “Tech Support” Scammers Called HTG (So We Had Fun with Them) [HowTo Geek]

From HowTo Geek:

“Hello? I’m calling you from Windows tech support”, he started with, in a thick accent that I could barely understand. “Our servers have detected viruses on your PC. Are you aware of this?”. This was the second time in a week that he had called me — the first time I couldn’t understand what he was saying, so he hung up on me, but this time I was prepared. “No, I didn’t know about that. What does that mean?”

Ah, this post by HTG is hilarious! Also quite well-written, too. It’s definitely worth a read, and you might even learn something from it.

I wonder what they would do if you ran all the commands and software on Linux using Wine. I really want to try this now…

The “Tech Support” Scammers Called HTG (So We Had Fun with Them)

Proof of Concept: Converting YouTube videos to audio files using VLC media player [Tech Gum]

This is a guest post I wrote for DR34DNOUGHT on Tech Gum recently. I must say again that this method is only demonstrated as a proof of concept.

Tech Gum

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce to you a good friend of mine, tPenguinLTG. I’ve mentioned him many times on several of my posts before. He’s a genius, well, on everything really. He’s the one who recommended me to work on a blog on WordPress and thus, Tech Gum was born. I recommend that you check out his blog The Penguin Says… and support his blog!

—-

You’re on Youtube and you come across a song that you just really have to have. You don’t want to use those “YouTube to MP3” sites because they’re a little shady. How do you get the song? Well, you could just go out and buy it, but you don’t want to pay for anything not on a physical medium. Then you remember you have VLC media player (and if you don’t, go get it!).

I present you with a…

View original post 331 more words

The Math Aficionado’s Guide to High-Fives [Math with Bad Drawings]

When I first loaded the article, the first thing I saw was the first image (a good blogging tip to keep in mind, by the way) and instantly I knew this was going to be good.

Math with Bad Drawings

The Asymptote. This representation of one of the coolest behaviors a function can have is also good for germaphobes afraid of physical contact.

The High 5, Mod 5. Ever wondered, “What exactly is the difference between a fist bump and a high-five?” The pedestrian mind might say, “One uses closed fists, and one uses open palms.” But I reply that in modular arithmetic, there is no difference at all.

View original post 451 more words

Thank You World

Salamat po sa lahat. Maraming salamat.
(“Thank you, all of you. Thank you very much.”)

The YouTube embed seems to be broken at the moment (here, at least; it works in the original post), so here it is:

Finding Strength after the Storm – Anderson Cooper reports from the Philippines by qube seven [YouTube]

Tech Gum

It’s been over a week since Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines, creating a path of destruction that was not only felt by those who were victimized, but also by the world. Many celebrities have tweeted their support for the Philippines and find it amazing how the human race, as imperfect as we are, know how to stand together as one family. I love the world for that.

My heart goes out to everyone in the Philippines.

— Katie Holmes (@KatieHolmes212) November 12, 2013

I ask all of you to join me in prayer for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan / Yolanda especially those in the beloved islands of the Philippines

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) November 9, 2013

The people and families impacted by Typhoon #Haiyan need our help. Here are some ways to support the relief effort: http://t.co/cuAY7aX7Ow

— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) November 12, 2013

Out of all the countless…

View original post 62 more words

Pray For Philippines [Tech Gum]

I don’t do this very often, but I have a special connection with the Philippines and DR3ADNOUGHT asked me to spread the word.
Red Cross Deploys Delegates to Assist Typhoon Haiyan Response

Tech Gum

Two days ago, a Category 5 typhoon hit the Philippines. It entered Tacloban City, a city very close to the oceans, at a speed of nearly 300 km/h. It saddens me because my people are being pushed down once again. But, I know that we can still get back up. It’s the fighting spirit that we Filipinos have.

As a blogger, my only superpower is to spread the word. All I ask from my viewers and from the world: please pray for the Philippines.

I believe these words can summarize what message I want to send.

The Red Cross is accepting donations: Donate to the victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan

Thank you very much! Your prayers and donations are appreciated.

Keep Praying!

View original post

Bizzare Animal Creatures That Actually Exist [Cat in water]

God’s creation is truly amazing! I have to admit, I haven’t heard of most of these until now.

Halloween (10/31/13) [The River Walk]

“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” —Galatians 2:19-20 (NIV)

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” —1 Corinthians 10:31-33 (NIV)

THE RIVER WALK

Read: Lamentations 4:1-5:22, Hebrews 2:1-18, Psalm 103:1-22, Proverbs 26:23

You gave them authority over all things.” Now when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out.
But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. (Hebrews 2:8)

Relate: I am writing this from Turkey, but I do understand that almost 60% of my readers are American. Well, in case you were living under a rock in America or are part of the 40% reading this from somewhere else in the world I have an important announcement: Today is Halloween. That means it is devil’s day… right? Its the day everybody does scary things and glorifies vampires and witches and demons. All the satanists are going to be out tonight performing their evil rituals under the moon… right? When you look into Halloween’s past, it is clearly the most evil, occultic, wicked day… right? No God fearing Christian would have…

View original post 332 more words