Showing posts with label mathematicians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mathematicians. Show all posts

Thursday, 11 February 2010

Infinite Monkey Theorem


If you watched Horizon on BBC2 last night, you will have been treated, amongst other brain-bending delights, to the spectacle of my Dad gamely checking in and out of an infinite hotel with his infinite number of imaginary friends. This was in aid of an attempt to explain the concept of infinity, and some of the paradoxes therein. I found the programme absolutely fascinating and very well put-together, even if my very favourite moment came in the first five seconds.

DRAMATIC NARRATION: I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Things that would change the way you see this world. Enough... to drive men to madness.

CUT TO: Shot of my Dad sitting in his study, looking a bit confused.

Almost fell off my swivel chair laughing. Anyway, as I say it's an excellent programme and although admittedly I may be biased, I think my old gaffer did a rather wonderful job on it. You can watch it on iPlayer for the next 7 days, here's the link: http://bbc.co.uk/i/qszch/

And, because I feel strangely fraudulent writing a blog post without anything I've actually drawn in it, here is a cartoon illustration I provided for one of the good Professor's lectures a while back.

(It is a funny joke, the meaning of which is unfortunately entirely lost on me. But I'm assured it is pretty funny.)

Wednesday, 23 December 2009

Paul Erdős Santa

Here's today's Santa! It's... Paul Erdős Santa!

Paul Erdős Santa

This one's for my Dad, who has an Erdős number of 1. Yeah, that's right, you heard me. 1. I have provided illustrations for various of my Dad's books and lectures over the years, and so I have arbitrarily decided that this means I have an Erdős number of 2. If you have no idea what Erdős numbers are, there was a little piece on the subject on a recent episode of the wonderful podcast Radiolab, or you can just, y'know, look on wikipedia or something.

And to the 99.9% of regular readers of this blog who I have just completely baffled / alienated: it'll be mutant crabs or zombie pirate lizard-men or something again tomorrow, promise.