Thursday Potpourri

1) I always forget that Greg Ross's "Futility Closet" site now has an accompanying background blog that runs with it, and which is worth checking out from time to time. When I looked today, it had an interesting little algebraic puzzle, solved by readers:

http://blog.futilitycloset.com/2013/10/07/beef-cuts/#comments

2) The Aperiodical has posted a podcast interview with mathematician/blogger Evelyn Lamb:

http://aperiodical.com/2013/10/all-squared-number-10-maths-journalism/

3) There have been so many wonderful general audience math books out lately I want to again cite four to consider for your math-spending dollars (links given to posts I've mentioned or reviewed them in):

a. "The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets"  -- Simon Singh …been getting lots-and-lots of press attention lately… I haven't read it, but given the subject matter and Singh's writing talents, no doubt it's a good read!

b. "Undiluted Hocus-Pocus" -- Martin Gardner's autobiography …enough said!!

c. "Love and Math" -- Edward Frenkel ...a bit more meat ("Langlands Program") than the above offerings, and not for the math-phobe, but definitely a rich, challenging read for those willing to take a plunge.

d. "The Outer Limits of Reason" -- Noson Yanofsky …I will have much more to say about this book in near future (am reading it now) -- it is quite simply THE BEST math-related book I've ever read, pulling together, as it does, all the sorts of issues I'm most interested in: self-reference, paradox, infinity, logic, uncertainty, epistemology, physics… I hope this volume reaches a much wider audience.
 
And again, a reminder to be sending in those submissions for the November "Carnival of Mathematics" (deadline, Nov. 10):

http://tinyurl.com/krobqjp