Re: virus: Question about Pi and whatnot

From: Bill Roh (billroh@churchofvirus.com)
Date: Mon Jan 07 2002 - 12:04:48 MST


Thanks Michele - finally someone on the same page (almost blank though
it is) as myself.

Not only do I have a hard time understanding the need to remember such
numbers, I have a harder time understanding why someone would even want
a language such as Yash is suggesting. No offense intended to Yash. But
I always have looked at the spoken language mostly as a vehicle for and
of the expansion of culture. It seems to me to be in our best interest
to let language develop at it's own rate in response to the needs of a
culture.

Of course if Yashs interest is only academic, then, well, knock yourself
out.

As for the memory thing, doesnt seem tough at all. I can play dozens,
perhaps hundreds of songs, comprising thousands and thousands of notes,
by ear alone - and I am nothing compared to a true professional
musician. I have sat in ear training and repeated over 400 musical notes
in succession that I have only heard once or a few times, so I am sure
that some people, if practiced, should be able to rattle off such huge
numbers. Not impressive to me. What would be impressive is if the guy
was doing the math in his head instead or memorizing.

Bill

Michele Wiegand wrote:

> The idea of a mneumonic for Pi is being put forth as a desirable
> feature in a newly created language that will be designed to
> incorporate mathematics more easily than existing (spoken?)
> languages? The Vedic prayer is offered as an example of such a
> mneumonic, whether or not it was deliberate?
>
> I don't see the value of memorizing large numbers. When was the
> last time you had to recall Pi to 32 places from memory?
>
> Michele



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