Words 7/Recent Viewing

The meaning of "napkin math" is obvious. Neat term, but.

Have you heard of "magic numbers"? In programming, it's when you insert a number into a calculation for no reason other than it seems to make it work^. For example, when I was a tech writer in the simulation space, there were programmers who drove the bosses mad due to their habit of using magic numbers to "fix" helicopter controls or whatever. Doesn't feel right? Just add, erm, 50 to that figure there.

While I originally graduated with a double major in English/Philosophy, I studied too many Phil subjects. Even a professor in the department told me so. You need to mix it with something practical to give the BA value, whether that be an old fave like linguistics or a less typical choice such as human geography. Twice I've met young dudes heading down the same path as I was (at a house party and a local wrestling show). On both occasions, I advised them not to overcommit to philosophy. On both occasions, I know my words fell on deaf ears. It was the discipline that interested them the most, and they couldn't get enough of it. I'd been exactly the same.

^There are other definitions. I'm talking about the very worst form of magic numbers.

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* "Scare Package" (2019) [Shudder]: Commendably original/offbeat retro horror-comedy anthology.

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