With more mood swings than a bipolar crack-fiend going through menopause, Jason is a hard book to read.
This blog will keep you up to date with his mood and the workings of the world in general.

Monday 25 October 2010

Is Jason Cranky on Galois' Birthday?

YES

The story of Évariste Galois is one of the most romantic, intriguing and frequently told stories in mathematics. It's no secret that Galois was a gifted but troubled teenager.
A passionate republican during a time of political turmoil he would frequently put his beliefs before his best-interests. Arrested numerous times, imprisoned, expelled, and eventually, killed.

Although dying at such a tragically young age (20) Galois' contribution to mathematics was rather phenomenal. Perhaps Jason is cranky today because, although a few years older than Galois ever lived to see, Jason is yet to contribute anything to mathematics on par with such things as:


  • Showing algebraic solutions to a polynomial equation are related to the structure of a group of permutations associated with the roots of the polynomial (Such a group is now known as a Galois group and is a fundamental object in the branch of mathematics known as Galois Theory)
  • Subsequently showing that any general polynomial of degree greater than or equal to five has no explicit solutions that can be expressed radically
  • Developing the idea of a normal subgroup, finite fields, projective special linear groups, general linear groups and a whole bunch of theorems on these objects
  • Coining the word group

Of special interest is that a lot of the above was frantically penned in a letter the night before Galois met his death. Too proud to back down from a duel he knew he was sure to lose, the stupidity of the genius ensured the world of mathematics lost one of its shortest lived, but brightest shining stars.

Jason's mood today in letter-penned-the-night-before-a-duel-you-know-you-will-lose form:


(sorry for the gap in posts, moved back in at uni and have been without internet)


Monday 4 October 2010

Is Jason Cranky on the Anniversary of Rembrandt's Death?

YES

Rembrandt. The pioneer. The titan.
With Shakespearean tenacity, the ideas and impact of his art transcend culture and time.


"His humanity is truly formidable, it is fatal like lament, love; change continues, indifferent and dramatic, between all that is born and all that dies. He follows our steps to death in the traces of blood which mark them. He does not pity us, he does not comfort us, because he is with us, because he is us. " - Élie Faure


Jason mourns today.

Jason's mood today in painting form: (Bathsheba at Her Bath, 1654, Oil on canvas)


Sunday 3 October 2010

Is Jason Cranky on Tag der Deutschen Einheit?

NEIN

With a turn in form and a nod to his cultural heritage (perhaps?) Jason is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the reunification of Germany. This year's Bürgerfest will be held in Bremen, but obviously the real party will be taking place in  München on the last night of Oktoberfest. 


Jason's mood today in National Anthem form:


Prost!

Saturday 2 October 2010

Is Jason Cranky on the 60th Anniversary of Peanuts?

YES

So apparently Jason isn't fond of the legendary, multi award winning scribblings of a certain Charles M. Schulz. With over 17,000 comic strips translated into over 20 languages, appearing in over 2,600 newspapers to a readership of over 300,000,000 in 75 different countries, you would almost certainly think that Jason would find something to be cheery about today.

Alas and alack, such is not the case. Poor Jason.

Jason's mood today in comic form:


Jason, Jason, Jason, the angst really doesn't suit you my dear.


Friday 1 October 2010

Is Jason Cranky on World Smile Day?

YES

Not even the noble efforts of Harvey Ball, the esteemed inventor of the "smiley face", are enough to drag Jason from his festering lemon garden of bitterness on this, the most wonderful of holidays.

http://www.worldsmileday.com/

Jason's mood today in song form:




Oh, you little nihilist you.