Greg Sasso
@gregsasso.bsky.social
Assistant Instructional Professor in Social Sciences - University of Chicago. Political Economy, Formal Theory, Research Design.
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Greg Sasso
@gregsasso.bsky.social
· Nov 12
Ok fine. Here’s my intro post.
Happy thanksgiving
Alice's Restaurant Massacree
YouTube video by Arlo Guthrie - Topic
youtu.be
November 27, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Happy thanksgiving
These classes all seem great, will expose students to the beauty of mathematics, and possibly inspire them to study further.
(also some of them are just bog standard math class. Mathematics of chance? That’s…just probability?)
(also some of them are just bog standard math class. Mathematics of chance? That’s…just probability?)
ruin your thanksgiving by reading new york magazine's take on mathematics
![The Ten Most
Ridiculous-Sounding
Math Classes Currently
Offered at Liberal-Arts
Colleges
By Jessica Pressler, Janelle Zara, and Emily Watkins Rachel Stein andAviva Shen OCT. 19, 2010
Every year, liberal-arts majors anxiously scour their college's course listings looking for classes that will fulfill their math requirement but aren't so, you know, math-y. Here's what they're signed up for this year.
10. Topology: The Nature of Shape and Space: "In geometry we ask: How big is it? How long is it? But in topology we ask: Is it [Sarah Lawrence
9. The Mathematies of Chance: "Most topics are introduced ina case-study fashion, usually by reading an article in a current periodical such as the New York Times. [Bard]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5itm7jsyrdqdxizkb4cufqxl/bafkreieq6gmwmropzlvjkaaxk6d2smd4tv4dy7qar66uoyv6mhs6naa3fu@jpeg)
![8. Mathematics in Many Cultures: "Mathematical ideas are found in many cultures, among both literate and non-literate peoples. This course examines both mathematics and the role it plays in the cultures. Examples chosen from the mathematical ideas of present-day peoples of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, as well as historic Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Islam and China." [Pomona]
7. The Magic of Numbers: "This course will explore the beauty and mystery of mathematics through a study of the patterns and properties of the natural numbers 1, 2, [and] 3." [Harvard
6. Models of Life: In particular, we will ask such questions as: How do you model the growth of a population of animals? How can you model the growth of a tree? How do sunflowers and seashells grow?" [Kenyon]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5itm7jsyrdqdxizkb4cufqxl/bafkreic3c4ox53ouwr3ij3wsmvetmuknu2u2jai7hlvuigco3ahppeoabi@jpeg)
![5. Mathematical Origamist's Toolkit: "Topics include modular origami and how this models the creation of polyhedra and coloring of graphs, comparison of origami-axiomatic constructions to straight-edge and compass constructions, the combinatorics of possible crease patterns, the mathematics of origami design (circle packing, optimization), matrix models for paperfolding, spherical geometry, Descartes' Theorem, and Gaussian curvature." [Hampshire]
4. Mathematics and Narrative: "Many literary works (Arcadia, Proof, and Uncle Petros and the Goldbach Conjecture) use mathematics as an integral part of their narrative. Movie and television narratives such as Good Will Hunting and Numb3rs are also mathematically based. Nonfiction works about mathematics and mathematical biographies like Chaos, Fermat's Enigma, and A Beautiful Mind provide further examples of the connection between mathematics and narrative." [Vassar]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5itm7jsyrdqdxizkb4cufqxl/bafkreigyk5tqjszw3fodt7ivmszq7mozpta55o7c552oyzpbqyphl26x7m@jpeg)
![3. Borges and Mathematics: "Jorge Luis Borges was one of the most important writers of the 20th century. Many of his short stories and essays were concerned with philosophical, metaphysical, and mathematical questions. The thesis motivating this course is that if we know the mathematies that Borges referred to, then we will read him differently, and we will read him better." [Bennington 2. Mathematics and Science as Art in Contemporary Theatre: "Playwrights such as Tom Stoppard, Rinne Groff, Michael Frayn, and others have effectively explored mathematical and scientific themes for artistic purposes. Through readings and exercises, and by conducting labs and staging scenes, this class will gain some first-hand insight into the complementary ways in which science and art aim to seek out their respective truths." [Middlebury]
1. Meaning, Math, And Motion: "Quoting a charming articulation by Kinsman (a mathematician-turned-oceanographer, in the preface to Wind Waves): "To the beginner, science is a conversation that has been in progress for a very long time. Our collective work is to catch up on the conversation. [Evergreen]
This is why Asia is winning, by the way.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5itm7jsyrdqdxizkb4cufqxl/bafkreihglx3kxej43i22j4vggyoutp2oyomivtmmvgp6uvslqemm4hhpci@jpeg)
November 27, 2025 at 3:53 PM
These classes all seem great, will expose students to the beauty of mathematics, and possibly inspire them to study further.
(also some of them are just bog standard math class. Mathematics of chance? That’s…just probability?)
(also some of them are just bog standard math class. Mathematics of chance? That’s…just probability?)
Now conditionally accepted at @thejop.bsky.social. Very proud of this paper. Full paper here: shorturl.at/TjEWx
November 27, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Now conditionally accepted at @thejop.bsky.social. Very proud of this paper. Full paper here: shorturl.at/TjEWx
ok, vibes are bad here again. see you guys some other time
November 9, 2025 at 9:56 PM
ok, vibes are bad here again. see you guys some other time
If this is the deal, it's obviously a bad one.
On the other hand, the government shutdown really does cause a lot of pain and it seems pretty hard to negotiate when one side doesn't seem to care about that.
On the other hand, the government shutdown really does cause a lot of pain and it seems pretty hard to negotiate when one side doesn't seem to care about that.
From what I have seen so far this does not seem like a good deal:
November 9, 2025 at 8:06 PM
If this is the deal, it's obviously a bad one.
On the other hand, the government shutdown really does cause a lot of pain and it seems pretty hard to negotiate when one side doesn't seem to care about that.
On the other hand, the government shutdown really does cause a lot of pain and it seems pretty hard to negotiate when one side doesn't seem to care about that.
my wife is out of town for the night, and my plan is to order food she doesn’t like and watch an entire season
Have decided to get really into taskmaster
November 8, 2025 at 10:34 PM
my wife is out of town for the night, and my plan is to order food she doesn’t like and watch an entire season
Have decided to get really into taskmaster
November 8, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Have decided to get really into taskmaster
has anyone answered this satisfactorily
November 8, 2025 at 9:06 PM
has anyone answered this satisfactorily
Reposted by Greg Sasso
The metrics are generally terrible, but I also think tennis is actually less suited to advance metrics than team sports.
A big big part or advanced stats is trying quantify individual contributions to team results. That’s just not an issue for tennis.
A big big part or advanced stats is trying quantify individual contributions to team results. That’s just not an issue for tennis.
Tennis deserves better than these worthless metrics: defector.com/tennis-deser...
November 8, 2025 at 8:15 PM
The metrics are generally terrible, but I also think tennis is actually less suited to advance metrics than team sports.
A big big part or advanced stats is trying quantify individual contributions to team results. That’s just not an issue for tennis.
A big big part or advanced stats is trying quantify individual contributions to team results. That’s just not an issue for tennis.
Jerry’s looking pretty good
November 8, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Jerry’s looking pretty good
Ryan grim, now there’s a name I have heard in a while. Glad to see he’s doing well
November 7, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Ryan grim, now there’s a name I have heard in a while. Glad to see he’s doing well
Reposted by Greg Sasso
It’s a sign, Jerry is risen.
November 7, 2025 at 1:57 AM
It’s a sign, Jerry is risen.
you have 15 minutes to get all your sandwich puns in
November 6, 2025 at 7:35 PM
you have 15 minutes to get all your sandwich puns in
she’s running
Greene: "I will praise Nancy Pelosi. She had an incredible career for her party. I served under her speakership in my first term in Congress and I'm very impressed at her ability to get things done. I wish we could get things done for our party like Nancy Pelosi was able to deliver for her party."
November 6, 2025 at 6:30 PM
she’s running
Reposted by Greg Sasso
she’s the same person in a new position within/in relation to her coalition. that this has led her to change some of her stances/postures is interesting!
Please stop falling for the MTG is a new person con.
Please.
Please.
November 6, 2025 at 4:47 PM
she’s the same person in a new position within/in relation to her coalition. that this has led her to change some of her stances/postures is interesting!
Reposted by Greg Sasso
Heads up: my wife has been doing a lot of great and extremely important reporting lately!
“.. in a group Signal chat, .. he wrote in part: ‘I fired 5 rounds and she had 7 holes. Put that in your book boys.’”
@reuters.com #Chicago
www.reuters.com/world/us/bor...
@reuters.com #Chicago
www.reuters.com/world/us/bor...
November 6, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Heads up: my wife has been doing a lot of great and extremely important reporting lately!
My firmest belief is that the Mets will always screw it up somehow.
Do you have a firmest belief?
I’m texting a friend who just said “X is my firmest belief,” and I don’t mind telling you he sent me into an existential vortex of disbelief and non-meaning because I do not know what the hell my firmest belief is.
I’m texting a friend who just said “X is my firmest belief,” and I don’t mind telling you he sent me into an existential vortex of disbelief and non-meaning because I do not know what the hell my firmest belief is.
November 6, 2025 at 3:37 PM
My firmest belief is that the Mets will always screw it up somehow.
Reposted by Greg Sasso
I'm hard-pressed to think of a non-Jewish Democratic politician who has spoken to Jews with more respect and empathy than Mamdani. The fact that many Jewish establishment orgs are going after him while staying relatively mum on resurgent Nazism is a disaster, both for American Jews and in general.
November 5, 2025 at 11:49 PM
I'm hard-pressed to think of a non-Jewish Democratic politician who has spoken to Jews with more respect and empathy than Mamdani. The fact that many Jewish establishment orgs are going after him while staying relatively mum on resurgent Nazism is a disaster, both for American Jews and in general.
what's the deliber-ATT and deliber-ITT
The sandwich guy jury has begun to deliber-ATE
sorry not sorry
sorry not sorry
“This case, ladies and gentleman of the jury, is about a sandwich.”
Closing arguments from the defense in the DC sandwich guy case are now underway.
Closing arguments from the defense in the DC sandwich guy case are now underway.
November 5, 2025 at 7:58 PM
what's the deliber-ATT and deliber-ITT
Obviously this is extremely racist in a classically stupid John Rocker way, but it's also funny that he thinks goat meat is bad and scary.
November 5, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Obviously this is extremely racist in a classically stupid John Rocker way, but it's also funny that he thinks goat meat is bad and scary.
So just giving up Virginia completely I see.
Mike Johnson: "What happened last night is blue states and blue cities voted blue. We all saw that coming. And no one should read too much into last night's election results."
November 5, 2025 at 4:58 PM
So just giving up Virginia completely I see.
On the one hand, good election results everywhere.
On the other hand, rangers were shutout again at home, so who’s to say if last night was good or bad
On the other hand, rangers were shutout again at home, so who’s to say if last night was good or bad
November 5, 2025 at 1:14 PM
On the one hand, good election results everywhere.
On the other hand, rangers were shutout again at home, so who’s to say if last night was good or bad
On the other hand, rangers were shutout again at home, so who’s to say if last night was good or bad
reactivated my account to enjoy good news bluesky for a little bit
November 5, 2025 at 4:02 AM
reactivated my account to enjoy good news bluesky for a little bit
