Complex Numbers - Why?

One question: Why?
For those of you who don't know, a complex number involves th square root of a negative number. As you might know, there are no real numbers that can do this. So instead of leaving this be, mathematicians decided to invent an imaginary number. The only thing that has come of it, is giving school students, such as myself, much more work than necessary.

People have enough trouble with real numbers without inventing more. So, to all those mathematical people reading this, I ask you again: Why?

Categories: School, Rants

Yes, I am left-wing...

That's right, left-wing. Communist. Socialist. Marxist. Any other form of left-wing government you can think of. But it's not just that. I don't believe in the USSR as communist, or Cuba or China or anyother country claiming to this form.

I believe in the principles of communism: everybody is equal, no-one stands out above the rest. It sounds too good to be true, and it is. No government has ever succeeded in forming a communist government. They let power go to their head and abandoned the little people to suffer.

This is not the principles Karl Marx described in his writing. I believe that a classless society would be a utopia on Earth, but I also realize that it will never exist, because power corrupts and people are greedy.

Americanisation

The American culture is taking the world by storm, and none more so than here in Australia. It disturbs me greatly to see the Australian way begin to become less and less common, as 'hip' culture is growing.

American 'celebrities' are the medias main source of news, and even though they are merely doing a job to earn money, their actions can change those of thousands around the world. This has come to my attention when one of my class mates knew all there was to know about celebrities, mostly American, and did not know the Australian National Anthem!
Huge American companies are destroying small business and buying out larger ones. Even Vegemite is now owned by Americans. McDonalds and KFC are now some of the most common forms of takeaway food in Australia, and such ones as the Coolabah Cafe cannot compete.

Especially in the entertainment industry, anything made in Australia is automatically seem as inferiour to their American counter-parts.

We need to right this wrong. We need to support Australian owned companies. We need to drive out the American invaders. I am not talking about the American people, but their products.

Bali Drug Phenomena

Is it just me or does it seem that there are more Australians accused of trafficing drugs every day?

It began with Schapelle Corby, found in Bali with over 4kg of cannabis hidden in her boogy bag. It does sound suspicious.
Why take the drug from Australia where it is worth more to Bali? Many people beleive she is innocent and have sacrificed everything to try to save her. The only sources the have are from the barbaric media, who don't care about news, only ratings. I disagree with the 20 years in jail she received, but I do not think she is innocent.
She took the drugs into the country, broke the law, and should be punished. It's as simple as that.

But more people, the Bali Nine, try to smuggle heroin into Australia. I understand why: the profit. People are greedy. But again, they are Australians. Why risk your life for pieces of paper, millions of pieces maybe, but paper none the less. Is drug trafficing an epidemic, a new age thing, or has it been going on for years and is only currently being advertised in the media?

A third case, Michelle Leslie, was caught with drugs in Bali. A model, a good life. Why waste it on fleeting pleasure? I cannot answer that.

Decide for yourself: are drugs becoming more common, in particular drug trafficing, or is the media trying to boost rating by covering a specific event and related ones so often it seems common.

School Presentation Night

Last week my school (St. Mary's College, Toowoomba) had its annual presentation night, awarding cultural, academic, and sporting achievements. I would like to show my thanks for all those who attended. It was a good night and needed an entire day of practice to reach its end.

It began with the Big Band, who played as people were being seated, and again as a major performance later on. Our two School Captains read a shoddy speech, and made utter fools of themselves before presenting the younger grades (5,6,7) academic awards. They then moved onto the year 8, 9, and 10 awards. One of our gifted year 9 students performed on his flute, while the year 11 (thats me), and 12 lined up. They were then presented and I am happy to say that I achieved remarkably well with Academic Achievement Awards in Physics, English, Modern History, Chemistry and Maths B.

Our principle then spoke. Only twenty minutes long, much shorter than previous speeches. That wasn't too bad. Then one of my good mates read a winning poem of his. Unfortuantly because he was right after the principles speech a lot of people walked out on him.

We were then presented the house awards, which I also received, as I am in the running for House Captain of the Legendary Hurley House!
I also got a special award for the most outstanding year 11 academically. I am very pleased as there are a number of others in contention.

Gridiron – The Worst Sport

This is my personal opinion of Gridiron, the worst sport ever invented. Here are some of the reasons.

They were padding.
They can’t tackle, merely push the opponent over.
They take 5 hours to play a 20 minute game.
They need a break every 5 minutes.
They need another team to defend and attack.
In a word, they are pansys!

Is there anything they can do?

This image illustrates the problem I wish to show.

When compared to other games, such as Rugby League or Union, they are shown in an even worse light.
This gives you a greater respect of Australian football players. They play for eighty minutes with only a single break half way through. They wear no padding, and take the full force of breathe taking tackles.
When Gridiron players do the things listed above they are respected in their own country. Australian players should be lifted amongst the Gods, but they are not, because we are level headed and know our limits.
Americans need heroes, and even ones as pathetic as Gridiron players serve.

And we call this country a superpower!

Funny Quotes - Insults

There is nothing better than an intellectual response to an others remarks. These can be incredibly handy in the school yard, or elsewhere. The ones listed below are from the book 'The Oxford Dictionary of Humorous Quotations.' They are by politicians, authors, comedians, and everyone in between.

"He has all the characteristics of a dog except loyalty" - Sam
Houston

"If I were your wife I would put poison in your coffee"
"And if I were your husband I would drink it" - Nancy Astor (1st) and Winston Churchill (2nd)

"If he were any dumber, he'd be a tree" -
Barry Goldwater

Although these are not common place, especially at school, they are an admirable change to the boring repetitiveness of school yard bullying. And are even more so when directed at the bully's in the presence of those who can understand them. Although, the second quote is not so much an insult as it is very unlikely for one to be directed at you for you to be able to use the other.

Categories: Humour

Funny Gravestones

Some of these are from real gravestones, some are not. They are from all over: the internet, computer games, mates of mine. My favourite is:

'You're standing on my head!'

Some of the other ones include:

'He was a simple man who died of complications.'

'I beat you in the race of life.'

Categories: Humour

Queensland Health Scandal!

This is just my opinion of what should be done to fix the current health problems throughout Queensland.
To raise money to pay for the changes required the Queensland Government is thinking of puting in thousands of new poker mahcines.

Why???

We have billions of dollars in surplus, why not use that.
Hundreds of doctors, administration, machines, even new hospitals could be created with that much money.
But I beleive that it is not the doctors fault in the first place.
It's the administration.
If I was Premier, I would start from scratch with a new Health system.
New forms, new staff, new checks, new everything.

And apart from that, I realize that the Government wants all the facts, but maybe they should stop discussing and debating and actually do something.

Thats a joke, a Government that actually cares about its people...

Categories: Events, Rants

The Mp3 Police

They finally have police to find your Mp3's.
Watch out!

Check out heaps of crazy real life crime stories at http://www.clumsycrooks.com/

Categories: Images, Pictures, Humour

Interesting Facts - Part 2

More interesting facts. These are even wackyer than the rest.
Enjoy...

To take an oath, ancient Romans put a hand on their testicles…that’s where
the word “testimony” comes from. (Every man to his own...)

A small airplane can fly backwards.

Yahoo! was originally called 'Jerry's Guide to the World Wide Web'.
(I'm glad they changed)

Thats all for today. The site I got these interesting facts is: http://www.hookedonfacts.com/index.htm

Categories: Interesting, Facts, Humour

Trick Questions

I hate these questions, and hate everyone who can get the right answers (I couldn't). I am only blogging these to show that some people (other than me) don't have a life, and spend their time thinking these up. I also have another post on Trick Questions.

Q: An electric train is moving north at 100kph and a wind is blowing to the
west at 10kph. Which way does the smoke blow?
A: It is an electric train, they don't make smoke.

Q: If you had only one match, and entered a dark room containing an oil
lamp, some newspaper, and some kindling wood, which would you light first?
A: The match.

Q:If there are 6 apples and you take away 4, how many do you have?
A: Four

As I said above, I hope these question made you really angry, or if you got them right, then ecstatic. I don't believe that anyone in their right mind would get even one of them
Oh, the website is http://eluzions.com/Puzzles/Trick/

Categories: Trick, Questions, Puzzles

Answering Machine Messages

I do not recommend anyone use these messages. They are for your enjoyment only. Oh, what the hell, feel free to use them.

"You have reached the , Strategic Air Command Nuclear Missle Storage
Facility. We are unable to come to the phone right now. At the tone,
please leave you name, number and target or list of targets and we'll launch as
soon as we can. And have a nice day."

[Must have a Paul Hogan accent]
G'day mate. Can't come to the phone now because I'm a bit tied up
with this crocodile. Just leave a message, and I'll get back to you.

[Using your evil genius voice]
"Speak, worm!" - My personal favourite

Hi! John's answering machine is broken. This is his
refrigerator. Please speak very slowly, and I'll stick your message
to myself with one of these magnets.

That's right! This is an answering machine! In a few seconds,
YOU'RE gonna have to leave a message! Then we'll listen to it and decide
whether or not we like you anymore! So make it GOOD...

These messages came from http://www.columbia.edu/~sss31/rainbow/tel.messages.html
I don't like to take others credit...

Categories: Messages, Humour

Australian Humour - Isn't it great!

These questions were apparently emailed to an Australian Travel Web Site asking about Australia. I discovered these quite by accident, but they are worth a second look.

Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on TV, so how do the plants grow? (UK)
A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.

Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA)
A: Depends how much you've been drinking.

Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - Can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden)
A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water.

Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Australia? (Sweden)
A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.

Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia? Can you send me a list of them in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Hervey Bay? (UK)
A: What did your last slave die of?

Q: Can you give me some info about hippo racing in Australia? (USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does not... oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked.

Q: Which direction is North in Australia? (USA)
A: Face south and then turn 90 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia? (UK)
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.

Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)
A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is...oh forget it. sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.

Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia? (UK)
A: You are a British politician, right?

Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round?
(Germany)
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter gatherers. Milk is illegal.

Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense rattlesnake serum (USA)
A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from. All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.

Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I forget its
name. It's a kind of bear and lives in trees. (UK)
A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath.

For any none Australians reading this: all of these answers are jokes, do not use them when planning your holiday to Australia.

Categories: Australia, Humour, Jokes

Interesting Facts

Yes, apparently these are all facts. Some are debatable (most are). If you have any doubts to their authenticity go to their origin (www.hookedonfacts.com)

• First-cousin marriages are legal in Utah, so long as both parties are 65 or older! (Trust Americans)
• Bananas aren’t fruit! They are a type of herb.
• Peanuts are one of the ingredients in dynamite. (I have heard this one before)
• 80% of millionaires drive used cars.

More facts will be posted here every-so-often thanks to www.hookedonfacts.com

Categories: Facts, Interesting, Misc

World Food Shortage - Joke

I found this joke in the local paper (The Chronicle) a few weeks, maybe months, ago and realized that it is pretty true. Have a read for yourself:

At the opening plenary session of the WSSD in Johannesburg recently,
delegations were asked: "Would you please give your honest opinion about
solutions to the food shortage in the rest of the world?" The subsequent debate
ended in deadlock.
The Africans did not know what "food" meant.
The Western Europeans did not know what "shortage" meant.
The Eastern Europeans did not know what "honest" meant.
Delegates from the Middle East did not know what "solution" meant.
The South Americans did not know what "please" meant.
The Asians did not know what "opinion" meant.
And the United States did not know what "the rest of the world"
meant.

Categories: Humour, Jokes

Fibonacci Puzzle

Recently I attended a Maths Workshop for year 10/11 Students (which I fit into), and there was one problem that stuck out above all of the rest. I don't know what It is called but it is based on the Fibonacci numbers, so I have named it the Fibonacci Puzzle. Try and work out were the extra box came from for yourself:


You see, it is not actually a triangle. Da Da Daa! (The plot thickens music). Each of the coloured triangles has a different slope, making it a four sided shape. Therefore the left over area in the bottem picture is equal to one extra box.

Categories: Puzzles, Maths