A Blog for all things Geeky
Die my dear Doctor? That's the last thing I shall do!
“Die my dear Doctor? That’s the last thing I shall do!”
I'm terrified. On Thursday 2nd December, 2021 - my wife will be dropping me off at King's Mill Hospital, UK for gallbladder removal surgery under general anaesthetic.
If you read my previous article - http://www.hdd23.com/blog/guess-whos-back-back-again/20/11/2021 - you'll know I've been expecting the operation for a while. In fact, my life has effectively been on pause awaiting it!
Surgery is the only viable route for my condition. I have every confidence in my surgeon. I have every confidence in the NHS. I have every confidence in the process.
“A man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears.”
I've put myself in a good position. Nutrition, blood pressure control, MRSA/COVID precautions et cetera, but logic often does not overcome emotion. That emotion is fear, plain and simple.
In a similar vein (see what I did there) - to what I mentioned in my previous blog here - http://www.hdd23.com/blog/guess-whos-back-back-again/20/11/2021 - it's ironic and humbling to note that offering wise advice to others seems to be a million miles away from taking that same advice oneself!
This week has been an emotional rollercoaster. I was literally minutes away from returning to work when the hospital called and said they had a date for surgery.
After that phone call, I began to catastrophise. I sank into a rapid depression. What will my wife do? What about my children? What about my unfinished projects? How will I be remembered? What could/should I have done differently in my life?
I then realised how fragile life is. All we have is the moment.
I'm not perfect, far from it but on reflection, I've realised what actually matters.
“carpe diem quam minimum credula postero - pluck the day, trusting as little as possible in the next one”
Otherwise known as “Seize the Day”
For me, what truly matters is clearly discerned when you truly face the prospect of your own demise. For me it has distilled down to the following.
My wife, Maria
My mum, Ruth
My estranged children, Daniel and Amy
Precious memories I've made through laughter and shared experience
I'm hoping my next Blog Post is far more cheerful! Chances are I will survive the surgery and have a renewed appreciation for the gift of life which we all enjoy. I promise to let you know either way . . .
In the words of Jerry Springer, take care of yourselves - and each other.
CHRIS SADLER
Self-care. Nattering about why you mattering matters
It's something of a paradox that in a world consumed with self-interest - self-care is more important than ever.
“It’s something of a paradox that in a world consumed with self-interest - self-care is more important than ever.”
We are bombarded daily with messages, overt and covert, competing for our money and attention. As our free time becomes less and less, this pressure can be almost overwhelming for even the most resilient souls. Constant smartphone notifications, junk email, adverts on every media channel. Even the weather and news is somehow "sponsored".
No wonder mental health is probably the greatest issue facing us as individuals and thus as a world society.
So what is self-care?
The World Health Organisation defines self-care as “the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider”. https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/self-care-interventions/definitions/en/
“Imagine you had a severe headache and you asked a random group of people what you should do. Rather than offering paracetamol, how many would people would ask “what’s troubling you?””
Being off work currently, I've had a lot of time to reflect and asked myself this very question.
Here's a few things I've done recently as examples of what I mean.
1. Migrated from Spotify to Amazon Music HD (higher quality audio) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/b?ie=UTF8&node=3022219031
2. Built a home office
Our home office
3. Sponsored a donkey from the Donkey Sanctuary - https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/
4. Sat down with my wife and really listened to her hopes, fears and ambitions
5. Bought some monkey nuts from a pet shop and fed some squirrels in a local park - https://www.lincoln.gov.uk/hartsholme-country-park
Cute or what?!
6. Lots of walks around another country park - https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/whisby-nature-park
7. Cooked quite a few meals for my family (never knew I had it in me!) - not sure who's more surprised, me or my wife, lol.
8. Signed up for the Android Guardian newspaper app - advert free, in-depth quality journalism, IMHO
9. Listening to random playlists, discovering music again, new and old, familiar and unfamiliar
10. Writing this blog!
I'm gonna sign off for tonight, but please feel free to reach out via the comments box below if there's anything in particular you'd like me to blog about or just to say hello!
I hope I've inspired you to at least think about how self-care may benefit you.
You matter.
Take care and speak soon.
CHRIS SADLER
Trying to look like I know what I’m doing
Guess who's back, back again?
I've been accused of being slim, and occasionally being shady, but never of being a super-cool rapper so hopefully he won't sue me for nicking his lyrics . . .
Me and my wife, Maria
As many people who know me will be aware - I've had quite the year.
March 2021 - Bleed on the brain stroke. Recovery ongoing.
September 2021 - Acute pancreatitis and gallstones - awaiting keyhole surgery for removal. This is delayed due to ongoing anaesthesia concerns related to ongoing exploration of cardiology issues.
For the first time in my life, I'm off work. I promised myself I would do so much with the gift of time bestowed on me. Let's just say there was a long list, and blogging on here was on that list. Bearing in mind the distinct lack of activity in that sphere, I think we can both guess how well the overall list is going!
That said, I have done much which has brought joy and meaning. Being able to spend more time with my amazing wife Maria, building a home office, cooking at home for the family to name just 3 things.
I'm a keen mental health advocate, and always encourage folk to speak up. "It's OK to not be OK".
It's significant, humbling and affirming to admit that I stopped speaking up myself! Recently, I found myself slipping into depression and denial. All that proves that speaking up really is important!
My wife is an amazing woman. She has the patience of a Saint. I'm not the easiest person to live with. Autism can often make you disconnect from emotion, and not appreciate the impact of one's actions on others.
Being the woman she is, she waited until I was ready to speak up. A few heart to hearts later, and I'm back in the room!
In tomorrow's blog post, I'll update with some details of what I'm working on and also what matters to me about the difference I feel I can make.
Whilst I hope you find it interesting, the primary motivator is to commit myself to a journey of self-discovery.
This year has truly showed me how precious life is.
I'm actually rather glad to be alive!
The kaleidoscopic lens of a neurodiverse condition is beginning to slowly bring into focus the multi-faceted beauty of life.
Catch you tomorrow . . . .
CHRIS SADLER
Just married!!
- ANYONE FOR CAKE?
My wife and I , Maria Sadler (neé Ginnelly) would like to tell the world how much we love each other.
We have had the most amazing time today.
Every person who reads this can take a slice of happiness home. There's more than enough to go round! :-)
THANK YOU
Not a hard drive in sight . . . . .
Saddlebags is getting hitched . . .
Last night + single = freedom (beer) - Chris Sadler 27 11 2015 18:39
Well the time has come . . . !
If anyone sees me naked and tied to a lamp post (worldwide) - please post me back to Newark (Archive Photo)
The Wedding's getting closer . . . .
You will appreciate this has been a very hard decision to make and maintain.
Hi all
Just to clarify, we aren’t able to allow ANY children to either the Wedding Reception or the Evening Reception.
The only exceptions are those with a defined role i.e. Page Boys / Ushers.
You will appreciate this has been a very hard decision to make and maintain.
This is so we are fair to everyone.
I am sorry if this was not made plain earlier or if it causes you any difficulties.
Kind regards
Chris Sadle & Maria Ginnell
Maria's Hen Weekend Skeggy Confidential . . .
WARNING: THOSE WITH SENSITIVE EARS SHOULD FIND THE MUTE BUTTON
WARNING: THOSE WITH SENSITIVE EARS SHOULD FIND THE MUTE BUTTON
Well as many of you may know, I'm getting married on 5th December 2015 to Maria Ginnelly. I couldn't be happier! I'm sure Maria feels the same . . . but that may change once she sees this lot posted . . . . Love you baby :-) :-) xXx
Less than 2 weeks to go until my 100km Race To The Stones (non-stop)
Less than 2 weeks to go . . .
Hi guys
I really need to raise £500 sponsorship money to complete this epic challenge. If you wanna see me push my geeky body to the absolute limit, please sponsor me by clicking here . Go on! It's for a good cause! Every penny counts. Thanks for reading.
Chris Sadler
100km 2015 Race To The Stones
I need to raise £500 sponsorship, every penny helps!
Hi. I have 1 month to raise £500 sponsorship for the 2015 100km Race To The Stones. I'm open to ideas, chest / leg / eyebrow wax perhaps. Anything considered! No-one really thinks I can do it but my inner steel says different. Without the sponsorship, no-one will ever know! Thanks for reading. Chris
Click HERE to sponsor
Thank you!
Thanks to all my online friends for the many Birthday wishes. I'm truly overwhelmed!
I think I'll celebrate by renewing my commitment to this Blog and Web Site.
If there's anything Geeky you would like me to Blog about, please get in touch.
My Dream PC Build
I spend many hours reading reviews and studying benchmarks. Some products consistently rise to the top. If you're looking to build a quality but not ridiculously overpriced system, you won't go far wrong with these.
Hi
I spend many hours reading reviews and studying benchmarks. Some products consistently rise to the top. I have no axe to grind and am not a fanbois of any particular manufacturer.
If you're looking to build a quality but not ridiculously overpriced system, you won't go far wrong with these. Happy drooling1 (All links open in new Tab / Window)
The Components
CPU (processor), RAM (memory), mainboard, GPU (graphics card), SSD (Solid State Drive), HDD (mechanical Hard disk Drive), case, watercooler. radiator fans
CPU
http://ark.intel.com/products/80807/Intel-Core-i7-4790K-Processor-8M-Cache-up-to-4_40-GHz
This powerhouse is a multitasking, encoding and gaming beast. Built on 22nm lithography, it cruises at 4GHz and automatically boosts to 4.4GHz! With even a gentle overclock on air, 4.5Ghz and higher is easily achievable whilst remaining within voltage guardbands. It includes the new and improved Intel HD Graphics 4600 @ 1.25GHz consuming up to 1.7GB of RAM. It supports dual-channel RAM natively at 1600MHz but as it's unlocked, this isn't really a barrier. It also support PCI-e Rev 3.0 and can run 1 x 16 PCI 3.0 lanes or 2 x 8 PCI-e 3.0 lanes if SLI is your bag. (You will NOT saturate the bandwidth on either)
RAM
Gskill are a leading light in the world of RAM and hold many world records going up to 3400MHz! Now some of you may be thinking "faster RAM is just snake oil isn't it?" Well yes and no. It is up the reader to balance cost v performance increase. As a UK Yorkshireman, we have a reputation for being frugal. My philosophy is bang for buck. Also, the maximum speed of our little family car is about 110MPH - that said, I never drive that fast. In other words, having faster RAM than you actually need builds in headroom for tightening timings and latencies.
For example, my old Socket 775 mainboard supports 1333 DDR3 RAM, I bought 1600 and overclocked it to 1440MHz. Likewise, it's native timings are 9-9-9-24 2N but I've tightened it to 8-8-8-22 2N. Along with my Q6600 CPU overclocked from 2.4 to 3.24GHz - it's quite a (legacy) powerhouse. For those with doubts, take a peak of my 3D Mark Benchmark, 2rd fastest benchmark posted for my CPU / RAM / GPU.
Anyway, I've done my homework, 2133MHz seems to be the DDR3 sweetspot, so I've chosen 2400MHz for good luck.
MAINBOARD
Anyone, geek or not, who does not appreciate the aesthetics of that motherboard must live in a cave! It does all I will need for many years, has solid construction and excellent reviews. I need say no more.
GRAPHICS CARD
New GPUs are coming out all the time. The Titan-X came out yesterday and the 230x is not far away. after that will be the 980Ti. I went for the 770 and have actually had this card for some time. There are many variants but this is the one I chose.
With a little tickling in MSI Afterburner, my Core Clock runs at 1254MHz and my GPU RAM strolls along at 7516.8MHz! This means with anti-aliasing set to 4X, I can get some pretty impressive benchmark results. Bear in mind I'm on PCI-e Rev 1.1, Socket 775 and SATA -II. See the screenshot below.
Unless you're going for PCI-e SSDs - this SSD is very, very impressive. Samsung actually manufacture the V-NAND Flash used inside, making it a very attractive proposition. I'll be covering SSD and optimal OS installation in a future Blog Post.
HDD (MECHANICAL HARD DISK DRIVE)
HGST H3IKNAS30003272SE 3TB Deskstar NAS 24x7 Use HDD 3.5" 7200rpm
Take my word for it, you want 7200rpm, NCQ and good seek times. 7200rpm uses hardly any more power than 5400rpm and greatly improves seek times. Also, those Green / Energy Saving ones etc work by constantly altering the spin speeds which I have seen kill the motors of many hard drives first hand. This HDD, therefore, fits the bill. Furthermore, it has NAS 24x7 firmware and mechanics, meaning that it's designed for 24/7 use. Even if you're not running server or NAS, that surely can't be a bad thng.
CASE
http://www.nzxt.com/product/detail/143-h440-performance-mid-tower.html
It's a thing of beauty! a word of caution. When choosing a case, be wary of dimensions and compatibility. There are no standard form factors you can trust, so the words "large tower" or "gaming tower" are marketing waffle. Carefully check that the components you want will fit. Cover yourself by emailing the manufacturers directly. They want your business so will probably reply promptly!
WATERCOOLER
http://www.nzxt.com/product/detail/147-kraken-x61-liquid-cooler.html
This is a beast. 2 x 140mm fans are included. Personally, I will be ditching the 2 included fans and going with 4 of the Noctua ones in the next section. It SHOULD fit the case above at the front with some minor mods, I'm undecided on the case yet because of this reason so may well change as would like the Kraken X61 at the top of my new case.
RADIATOR FANS
http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=productview&products_id=65&lng=en
These Austrian geniuses (or is that genii), refused to release a PWM version for some time. Why? Because there scientists are perfectionists and were still developing them. You can have confidence in Noctua. The build quality is awesome and I currently rejoice in 4 x 120mm fans. Just remember high airflow for case fans and high static pressure for radiators.
CONCLUSION
My philosophy is a mixture of ideas. I like certain manufacturers who have built up my trust over the years. I don't let singulat bad experiences put me off as EVERY company has a bad day. I aggregate the opinions of trusted reviewers and get a "feel" that way. All these opinions and recommendations are my own. They are made in good faith. That said, I obviously can't and won't accept any liability for anything, anytime, anywhere.
I've used the pics (except my screenshots) from the manufacturers' sites. As I'm effectively giving them free publicity, I doubt they will object.
Feel free to share, comment and ask questions. I'll get back to you as soon as I can.
Thanks for reading.
Links you shouldn't live without . . . .
Over the years, I've built up a collection of several thousand bookmarks / favourites / favorites.
In case you're wondering how I keep them organised and secure over all my computers - I use Xmarks. So I guess that's my first link. All links open in a new tab / link
Hi. I'm having a little rest from my projects so thought I would Post something that's useful and informative. Over the years, I've built up a collection of several thousand bookmarks / favourites / favorites.
In case you're wondering how I keep them organised and secure over all my computers - I use Xmarks. So I guess that's my first link. All links open in a new tab / link by the way - so just keep an eye on any pop-up blockers installed if you have any issues clicking on them.
The same goes for passwords - same company as Xmarks, I pay 20 USD (about 13 GBP) for the annual premium joint subscription to Xmarks and Lastpass. Try the free version first, the premium version allows bookmark and password synch across multiple PCs in addition to the Android Dolphin browser. You can sign up at either URL
Google all the way . . . . .
Over the years, I've tried lots of search engines. I have to say that I quickly formed the opinion that Google is by far the best. In another article, I'll show you how to search Google more effectively and give tips on keywords, image search, and so on. For now, just take my word for it.
In no particular order, I've divided some bookmarks recommendations into several sections.
1. Broadband Tips inc Routers
2. Computer Suppliers
3. News
4. True or False?
1. Broadband Tips inc Routers
Many people are dissatisfied with their ISP (Internet Service Provider) but are unsure of the alternatives. For all things broadband Sam Knows is an excellent Site. Well worth checking out the full Site, but here's one link you should really visit. By putting in your Post Code and telephone number (optional but ALL your details are safe on this Site) - you can view a definitive list of ALL the ISPs within your particular exchange. In a future article, I'll show you how to calculate your maximum Broadband speed using your attenuation statistics from your Router's configuration page, in conjunction with your Post Code and your Exchange's Post Code.
https://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange_search
For a more in depth view of all things Broadband, Kitz is a 1st class resource. I have to be honest and say that many of my future Broadband Posts would not have been possible without the information contained on Kitz.
http://www.kitz.co.uk/index.htm
2. Computer Suppliers
Fancy buying some tech but not sure where to look? Here's a handful of suppliers. I've used them all and never had a problem.
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/index.html
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/
3. News
You will all have your favourite news web sites. As a one stop, customizable site, you won't go far wrong with Google News. Sign in with a Gmail Account for the best experience.
If you absolutely need to be on the cutting edge of breaking news, give this one a whirl.
4. True or False?
If, like me, you are annoyed by folk randomly Posting stuff without checking the source - here's where you can check the veracity of many myths being shared on Facebook et al
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/facebook-related.shtml
So just a short Post, but hope it's useful. The main trick with Google is using the correct search terms to find what you need. I'll make that my next Post.
Comments are, as always, welcome.
See you soon!
Chris
The Riemann Hypothesis in simple terms
However, if you want to get an understanding of the rudiments of the Riemann Hypothesis, here is one of the simplest explanations I have come across. Hopefully, between his explanation and mine - you might find yourself a little further down the path of understanding.
"The laws of nature are but the mathematical thoughts of God."
Euclid circa 330 - 260 B.C. (According to Stanley Gudder (1976))
To my mind, mathematics is a Universal Truth. Whilst 1 golf ball has an obvious purpose here on earth; i.e. to be hit with a golf club; on the planet zog it may well be a snack to a rubber eating alien. However. Its property of "1" ness, i.e. there is but one of x - transcends time and space.
One has to surmise, therefore, that the laws of mathematics which give rise to such Truths, are also universal.
As I said previously, there is no pattern immediately visible in the primes. Like many others, however, my very soul screams "THERE MUST BE!".
One man who has brought humankind to the brink of understanding the behaviour and thus the sequence of the primes is Bernard Riemann
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernhard_Riemann
Sadly, he died at the age of 39. He was a chaotic worker, often scribbling down what would later prove to be crucial mathematical proofs on the same page. His rooms were a total mess and so, when he died, to further compound the sadness of his friends and colleagues, his over-zealous housekeeper burnt many of his papers before being stopped by his family!
IMHO, the most important thing he left the world of mathematics was a teaser. He discovered the Riemann Zeta Function, written thus:-
\[\zeta (s) = \mathop \sum \limits_{n = 1}^\infty \frac{1}{{{n^s}}}.\]
Now I do not pretend for even a second that I understand the equation above fully. To give you an idea of the "size of the cow", take a look at this article and you will see the beauty and complexity of the Riemann Zeta Function.
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/RiemannZetaFunction.html
However, if you want to get an understanding of the rudiments of the Riemann Hypothesis, here is one of the simplest explanations I have come across. Hopefully, between his explanation and mine - you might find yourself a little further down the path of understanding.
YouTube Numberphile Video of Professor Edward Vladimirovich Frenkel explaining the Riemann Hypothesis.
Now a wise old man once said the following to me.
"Chris, if you understand something completely, you will be able to explain it 7 different ways"
I kinda believe that. Moreover, as it is virtually impossible for mere mortals to entirely understand the Riemann Hypothesis, I'm beginning to see the futility of giving my explanation as I am only beginning to grasp the rudiments of this supremely beautiful, mystical and crucial hypothesis.
If, as I, you have a genuine interest, my heartfelt advice would be to find your own understanding of the mechanics of Riemann's genius. This does not stop you or I in catching a glimpse of the magic and music contained within it.
I shall therefore attempt a brief painting of a picture my understanding thus far.
Imaginary Numbers - \[\sqrt { - 9} \]
What is the square root of minus 9? It can't be 3 (i.e.+3) as +3 x +3 = +9 , it can't be -3 x -3 as a minus times a minus equals a plus i.e. +9 also. So we say 3i is the square root of minus 9.
In our 2 and 3 dimensional world, i.e. the 2 dimensional world of lines (vectors) like triangles and squares and the 3 dimensional world of solids i.e. cubes and spheres, it seems impossible to have a field with 3i square metres or a cube with a volume of 23i cubic centimetres. Yet there are whole branches of mathematics which are underpinned by imaginary numbers. Without imaginary numbers, engineers could not design the planes we fly on nor NASA engineers plot the trajectories of orbiting probes.
When numbers have both a real (-1 -2 -3.13 1 2 3 4.675) and an imaginary (-3i -2i -1.75i 1i 2i 3.232i) number - we call it a complex number. The easiest way to visualise a complex number is to to look at the simple graph below which shows 4 co-ordinates in the complex plane.
Now to fast forward to the million dollar question (literally) - when the Riemenn Zeta Function is applied in the complex plane, all the non-trivial zeros fall at the line 1/2. So far (with the help of Prime 95 for all you overclockers out there) - we've managed to prove that the first 1029.9 billion zeros as of Feb. 18, 2005 are indeed on that line.
Unfortunately, mathematicians are a choosy bunch and that just ain't good enough. In order to get the 1 million dollar prize - you need to prove that ALL the non-trivial zeros fall on this line!
The diagram below shows what I mean.
That Bernhard Riemann was a clever chap. If his flippin' housekeeper hadn't have thrown out most of his papers from his messy desk and working areas - who knows what we may already have discovered. One thing is for sure, whilst I intend to dodge the bullet of gibbering madness whilst pursuing a solution - if one day I do lose my marbles, you might just find me rocking away on a veranda somewhere muttering gleefully about the music of the primes, quantum drums, Riemann Moments and the like.
In the words of David Hilbert
"If I woke up from a 500-year sleep, the first thing I would ask is whether the Riemann hypothesis had been solved"
Thanks for reading, my Blogs may diversify in subject content until I get a firmer grasp of the salient ingredients of Riemann's heady mix.
Chris Sadler
Newcastle & Gateshead
Off to see my best mate, Phil in Gateshead, UK for 3 days.
I can't wait.
Beer and video games here I come.
Well we all need a break from Geekiness at some point . . .
More Post on the Riemann Hypothesis are in progress, however.
Standby . . .
\[(beer + friendship)time = happiness\]
The Riemann Hypothesis and Prime Numbers - why it matters to you . . .
. . . Can you see a pattern? Nope. Neither can anyone else, and we've been trying as a species for thousands of years.
Why do they matter? Do you online banking? Facebook? Twitter? Your password is stored in . . .
Hi and welcome back
What are prime numbers and why would you care?
Prime numbers are whole numbers which can ONLY be divided by 1 and themselves. The first few primes are 2,3,5,7,11,13,17,19,23 . . .
Can you see a pattern? Nope. Neither can anyone else, and we've been trying as a species for thousands of years.
Why do they matter? Do you use online banking? Facebook? Twitter? Your password is stored in various places and you can even view it and paint it on your house in total comfort. Why? Because it's "hashed" i.e. scrambled so as to be unrecognisable. The way of changing it from a garbled mess to whatever it actually is involves prime numbers! Computers are stupid but they are very, very quick in a straight line. Unfortunately for the Dr Evils of the world, and fortunately for you, there is no quick way to compute prime number distribution.
In simple terms, 2 MASSIVE primes are multiplied together and then messed around with a little more. By the time the super villain with access to NASAs mainframes has cracked your password you will HOPEFULLY have changed it anyway!
Many scientists and mathematicians have been driven to madness by solving the riddles inherent to the primes. As I'm as mad as a fruitcake anyways, I figure I've nothing to lose! :-)
However, there ARE patterns in the primes which brings me on to my consuming passion. The Riemann Hypothesis. There is a 1 million Dollar prize for cracking it, but more importantly, the chance to go down in history as Euclid, Pythagoras, Einstein or Newton did. Intrigued? My next article will try to explain the Riemann Hypothesis in simple terms.
Race To The Stones - 100km (RTTS)
Morning all
Just to let you know that I have signed up for the 100km Race To The Stones sponsored by my employer, Dixons Carphone!
In the words of the organisers . . .
"Take on the challenge of 100km on foot along the oldest path in Britain
The Dixons Carphone Race to the Stones is a fully supported 100km route following in the footsteps of Romans, Vikings, farmers and traders along the iconic Ridgeway. You will pass Iron Age forts, ancient burial chambers, cross the mighty Thames and the mystical down-lands of Salisbury plain on your way to the finish line next to the 3,000-year-old stone circle at Avebury.
Complete the 100km non-stop or break it into two days staying at our overnight basecamp. It’s suitable for elite runners through to keen walkers.
I must be as mad as a hatter! :-)
Looking forward to it.
As you can see, it's for a good cause. I need to raise £500 sponsorship for my Charity, if you can help, please see my Sponsorship Page below.
Thanks for reading.
Current reading
I've spent all my life being fascinated by mathematics, especially Real Numbers.
A few weeks ago, I decided that I needed to formalise almost 40 years of ponderings.
As I have said before, the Riemann Hypothesis has intrigued me for some time
http://www.claymath.org/millenium-problems/riemann-hypothesis
There is a bizarre juxtaposition contained within my approach to this problem. It may be easier to find the answer than understand the question!
IMHO, to truly grasp the question, one would have to be at the edge of the envelope, as it were, in statistics, complex functions, differential and integral calculus, imaginary numbers, quantum mechanics - not forgetting Euclidian and non-Euclidian geometries!!
Perhaps this is why no-one has yet proved the Riemann hypothesis either way!
The 3 books I'm currently reading are these. I've presented them below in the order in which I am reading.
1. The Music of the Primes: Why an Unsolved Problem in Mathematics Matters ISBN 9781841155807
2. A Mathematician's Apology - CANTO ISBN 9780521427067
3. An Introduction to the Theory of Numbers Sixth Edition G. H. Hardy and E. M. Wright Edited by Roger Heath-Brown, Joseph Silverman, and Andrew Wiles ISBN 9780198531715
If you too have an interest in mathematics, you could do far worse than hunting down these 3 books.
What I've been up to . . .
I realise I've been absent of late as regards my website. I've become so engrossed in the Riemann Hypothesis that I've been reticent in Posting.
Professor David Hilbert sums up my unseen passion rather eloquently.
"This conviction of the solvability of every mathematical problem is a powerful incentive to the worker. We hear within us the perpetual call: There is the problem. Seek its solution. You can find it by pure reason, for in mathematics there is no ignorabimus. "
Currently reading 3 books, whose details I will Post shortly.
Chris J Sadler
Troubleshooting Methodology
We all troubleshoot every day without even thinking about it.
Consider the following. You come downstairs early one morning bleary-eyed on a work day. Man, you need your coffee! You put the kettle on and nothing, no LED on kettle, no sound of boiling.
Now in an engineering context, some engineers may . . .
Chris’s troubleshooting tips
We all troubleshoot every day without even thinking about it.
Consider the following. You come downstairs early one morning bleary-eyed on a work day. Man, you need your coffee! You put the kettle on and nothing, no LED on kettle, no sound of boiling.
Now in an engineering context, some engineers may
1) Replace the kettle
2) Change the element in the existing kettle
3) Change the power lead
4) Change the fuse in the existing and new plugs
5) Check the new fuse with a multimeter
By the time you've done the above, you're late for work.
Do you have a toaster? Plug it into the same socket as the kettle.
Does the toaster work?
1) No - socket's probably dead
2) Yes – Try the fuse, kettle lead in another appliance, another known-working lead in the kettle . . . .
As you can see, taking a logical, step-by-step approach allows you to eliminate the possible causes one at a time.
I believe it was Sherlock Holmes (or should that be Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) who said:
“How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?”
CHOOSE YOUR APPROACH WISELY . . .
There are many methods to troubleshoot. Experience will dictate the probability of each method's suitability. Until you gain that experience, there will be a lot of trial and error. This is normal.
You could have plugged the kettle straight into another socket, sorted your coffee and gone to work. Now that's a very simple example obviously. However, now do you see what I mean about experience dictating speed and methodology chosen?
You could sum that all up with the following key statement
WHICH CONDITION WOULD CAUSE THE SYMPTOMS?
As you go along, you will quickly build up a massive database of mental notes as regards possible solutions. The next time you had a dead appliance, things would hopefully be solved far more quickly.
You will never reach the top of the learning curve which is actually a good thing!
I get bored easily. The great thing about problems is that they are never ending. Also, 2 people can have what is ostensibly the same problem but don't be fooled; sometimes 2 different solutions are needed. Trust me, you will never get bored!
See troubleshooting as a positive experience. I genuinely relish solving a whole variety of problems. I think for no other reason than the wonderful feeling you get as the answer comes.
You too can experience that uncontrollable smile spreading across your once-stressed face as the problem disappears into the ether.
We'll start off with some simple steps.
Rather than a rigid Report type structure, I'll type pretty much as I think. Everyone understands things differently. I can personally empathise with that statement as I have a light but heady mix of Dyslexia, Autism and ADHD. If you're reading this and thinking "I'll never understand all this . . ." then you are wrong. IMHO a non-conventional thinker may just find things easier than those who are able to follow the cognitive grooves into which Society tries to force us.
To be continued . . .
Prime Number Musings . . .
Consider integers as individual ball bearings spaced evenly from here to eternity. One has to surmise that there is no ostensible difference between, say, 5 and 6 & 1,000,000,005 and 1,000,000,006 . There is EXACTLY 1 ball bearing difference. So why the Sam Hill are there seemingly random distributions of prime numbers??!!
The beauty of integers, i.e. whole numbers, is this. Consider 1 x ashtray. Whilst it may be a small snack to an alien race whose diet consists of glass, and to us a receptacle for stubbing out a cig; its property of "one" ness or "1" ness transcends time and space. It's property of the integer 1 is universal.
One of my interests is prime numbers and the determination of a pattern for their placement. As such I have been trying very hard for some years to get my teeth into the Riemann Hypothesis (a 1 million USD prize is a small incentive)
Consider integers as individual ball bearings spaced evenly from here to eternity. One has to surmise that there is no ostensible difference between, say, 5 and 6 & 1,000,000,005 and 1,000,000,006 . There is EXACTLY 1 ball bearing difference. So why the Sam Hill are there seemingly random distributions of prime numbers??!!
It has engaged my mind for decades. In case you're wondering, I believe the answer lies in geometric representation of dimension and involves imaginary numbers. Can't say much more as I'd have to shoot you lol Look at the progress Euclid (IMHO possible the greatest mathematician of all time) - made through geometry.
Assuming that integers are indeed the lowest common denominator of human understanding and empirical quantification - there MUST be a pattern. Either way, I will devote my entire life to its pursuit.