math terms, neckties, auto tunes, morton's toe, feral hogs

While walking across campus earlier this week, had a bit of a philosophical conversation that turned to, "what is the opposite of a sum?" Obviously, it's parts, but what are those called? Wikipedia to the rescue. For addition, the subjects to be added are called 'addends', 'terms' or summands', with the first addend sometimes/historically referred to as the 'augend'. In subtraction, the subjects to be subtracted are the 'subtrahends', which are taken from the 'minuend', to yield a 'difference'.

Here are, according to this website, at least 30 ways to tie a necktie. Some of them look a little too close for difference to me, and some of them call to mind ascots.

Jack and Leslie, i am compelled to call to your attention this music video of a German family in a car covering an LL Cool J song. And for Logan, we've discussed a theme song for (milk)shakes; another song by this guy is somewhat closer than others. Finally, honorable mention, because it's the first Friday of Lent.


Kelly AT and James, here's an article about taking astronomy pictures with a smartphone through a telescope.

Kate B (and everyone else), here are links regarding super cute squirrels; a photoshot of Russian squirrels having a photoshoot, and Canadian squirrels doing human things.

So i was comparing feet with a few female runner friends last night, and i was the only one in the group whose middle toe was longer than their big toe. See below. This is not terribly uncommon (mine is a kind genetic gift from my mother), but it's apparently officially called Morton's Toe  though colloquial known as Greek's foot. From wikipedia, " In statuary and shoe fitting, a more-protuberant second toe has been called the Greek foot (as opposed to the Egyptian foot, where the great toe is longer). It was an idealized form in Greek sculpture, and this persisted as an aesthetic standard through Roman and Renaissance periods and later (the Statue of Liberty has toes of this proportion) ". Reference this for other 'foot types'. Hmm. To confirm the Statue of Liberty thing, here's a picture (and side tangent, here's an actually really interesting article regarding little known American facts). There have been attempts to attribute personality characteristics with toes; that associated with Morton's toe is that of leadership qualities. i don't know.

Bryan linked a video last night for a product called 'Boar Buster', a highly impressive trap for feral hogs. Though, i'm not sure that we actually have boars in the United States. Okay. However, feral hogs are certainly a huge problem in Texas. That brought about the conversation regarding feral v/s wild.

jess: (wonders about the distinction between feral and wild) 

like, how long does a lineage of hogs have to be feral before being considered wild? 

Bryan: can you go back to wild?

i think if it's a domesticated species it's always feral

jess: the internet agrees with you

so, the only 'wild hogs' we have left in the states are javelinas