Like, really?

So a new number was discovered - a prime number, or one that is divisible only by itself and 1. The "new" number has 13-million digits, which seems a bit extreme to me. It appears mathematicians have been at it for a long time, and the winning UCLA team will get a 100K prize (that's only a 6 digit number - 8 if you count what comes after the decimal point).

To get to the shiny new number, it took 75 networked computers running for god knows how long. The results were verified by a different bunch of computers running a different algorithm.

Did we really need a new number? I think we're OK with the ones we have. Big numbers just give people ideas. Perhaps we can utilize all this calculating power to compute our national debt?

SATC = Star Wars for Women

I love Sex and the City as much as the next girl. I've been waiting for the movie with a mixture of curiosity, excitement and, well, dread. Not because I any story twists and turns - no - dread of the women who refer to the show by the acronym SATC, and Sarah Jessica Parker by SJP. These women scare me by taking the whole thing a bit too seriously. Being a girl (single or otherwise) in Manhattan is not at all like the TV show. Trust me.

Since the release of the film, women have been getting together with their girlfriends for a nigh out revolving around the movie (which is great - every excuse for a night out is a good one). With Cosmos and Appletinis, dressed in their best facsimile of Carrie & Co. fashion, they discuss which character best suits their personality: "I'm a Carrie," or "I'm definitely a Charlotte," defining their lives after a archetype: creative, good girl, brainy or slut.

I can't help but think that there isn't much difference between SATC and Star Wars, except perhaps better costumes.
Sure, I still want to see the film, and I want to find out what happens. But I will wait until the dust settles.

Happiness

Many people make way too much money writing books and giving seminars about happiness and how to find it. I personally think that the picture below illustrates absolute bliss: being comfortable with oneself, not caring what others think and, ultimately, living in the moment. I dare you to say otherwise.

Why I hate Mondays

No day like today (I guess)

Monday is the universal day to start a diet. Ask anyone wishing to lose a few when they plan to begin. I know this, because I’ve planned to start many diets over the course of many Mondays many times. It’s the perfect day because it’s not today. There is always the benefit of space between today and Monday. However infinitesimal it is, it’s still better than taking the plunge and doing it right now. Monday is the universal day of denial, when our collective subconscious is going to break us of all of our bad habits and everything will be OK (or at least on its way to being so).

Starting a project is like starting a diet, more or less. It’s always going to happen next week, next month, once I finish this thing, or when my schedule frees up. In other words: never. Life gets in the way and it will most certainly throw a curve ball or two between now and Monday.

I’ve been meaning to start a project or two (or three). I believe they are all great ideas and will bring me great joy and personal fulfillment. But have I started any of them. Well… kinda…. Sorta, but not really. Instead, my time is occupied by working late, doing laundry and all miscellaneous menial tasks. I tell myself: Next week, when my work schedule gets less crazy.

But the thing is, just like starting a diet, doing something for oneself can be scary.

As I sit here (another late night at work) I think I might just be having an epiphany: life will always get in the way. Monday is a utopia and the only way to get anything done is to do it now. Immediately. Thinking too much will not make it happen in a more organized way. It will simply be pushed to the next Monday, or the Monday after, or maybe to Monday next month.