χle Ormsby
@motivickyle.bsky.social
Numbers and shapes at Reed College. Mathematician, parent, spouse, runner, 𝔣𝔯𝔞𝔨𝔱𝔲𝔯 enthusiast. He or they.
Reposted by χle Ormsby
in undergrad i watched so many stem majors pass around lists of classes that could fulfill humanities requirements that didn’t involve writing papers and in which you could get away with doing no reading. this is SO much more
detestable than a liberal arts major studying the math in Borges
detestable than a liberal arts major studying the math in Borges
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 3:45 PM
in undergrad i watched so many stem majors pass around lists of classes that could fulfill humanities requirements that didn’t involve writing papers and in which you could get away with doing no reading. this is SO much more
detestable than a liberal arts major studying the math in Borges
detestable than a liberal arts major studying the math in Borges
What’s purple and commutes up to all higher homotopies?
.
.
.
.
.
An E_∞ grape.
.
.
.
.
.
An E_∞ grape.
November 27, 2025 at 8:49 PM
What’s purple and commutes up to all higher homotopies?
.
.
.
.
.
An E_∞ grape.
.
.
.
.
.
An E_∞ grape.
Reposted by χle Ormsby
Topology is woke (positive affect)
November 27, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Topology is woke (positive affect)
Are cats truly unique in their obsession with sitting in boxes? If you had access to box of sufficient size, wouldn't you want to sit in it?
November 26, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Are cats truly unique in their obsession with sitting in boxes? If you had access to box of sufficient size, wouldn't you want to sit in it?
Yeah, s*x is great, it's the first squarefree composite and smallest perfect number.
November 26, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Yeah, s*x is great, it's the first squarefree composite and smallest perfect number.
Reposted by χle Ormsby
[me after being inexplicably granted access to the hyperuranion]
me: wow, so this is the so-called "Platonic realm"!
perfect circle:
perfect square:
me: lmao do y'all ever call it the "Friend Zone"???
me: wow, so this is the so-called "Platonic realm"!
perfect circle:
perfect square:
me: lmao do y'all ever call it the "Friend Zone"???
November 25, 2025 at 11:30 PM
[me after being inexplicably granted access to the hyperuranion]
me: wow, so this is the so-called "Platonic realm"!
perfect circle:
perfect square:
me: lmao do y'all ever call it the "Friend Zone"???
me: wow, so this is the so-called "Platonic realm"!
perfect circle:
perfect square:
me: lmao do y'all ever call it the "Friend Zone"???
Proposing an off-campus study program in which I take students to the Platonic Realm and we observe the Forms in their natural habitat.
November 25, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Proposing an off-campus study program in which I take students to the Platonic Realm and we observe the Forms in their natural habitat.
Ronly Honly Bing!
![R. H. Bing (October 20, 1914 – April 28, 1986)[1] was an American mathematician who worked mainly in the areas of geometric topology and continuum theory.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cyyd366g3hrxp5rynixm2mm3/bafkreid62wy3dekb2kzbisjfdlimlb35j4rlgew5iof7vi32byfszmg26a@jpeg)
![Bing's father was named Rupert Henry, but Bing's mother thought that "Rupert Henry" was too British for Texas. Thus she compromised by abbreviating it to R. H.[5] Consequently, R. H. does not stand for a first or middle name.
When Bing was applying for a visa, he was requested not to use initials. He explained that his name was really "R-only H-only Bing", and ended up receiving a visa made out to "Ronly Honly Bing".](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cyyd366g3hrxp5rynixm2mm3/bafkreigmfj53q4uy33spga2bxdkllqm3ag5sffovg5g7ddmu3vqzkb6k24@jpeg)
November 25, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Ronly Honly Bing!
Ed Frenkel is explicitly banned from this bookstore.
November 25, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Ed Frenkel is explicitly banned from this bookstore.
Spouse logged into Gmail on my phone and I about had a heart attack when I looked at my home screen.
November 25, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Spouse logged into Gmail on my phone and I about had a heart attack when I looked at my home screen.
I’m sure it’s completely normal to convince your grandma to give you your dad’s baby teeth and then incorporate them into a knife-wielding doll.
November 25, 2025 at 12:36 AM
I’m sure it’s completely normal to convince your grandma to give you your dad’s baby teeth and then incorporate them into a knife-wielding doll.
Am I the only one brave enough to admit that _all_ of Star Wars sucks except for the part in TCW where they resurrected Darth Maul with spider legs? That shit was sick.
November 24, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Am I the only one brave enough to admit that _all_ of Star Wars sucks except for the part in TCW where they resurrected Darth Maul with spider legs? That shit was sick.
On the one hand, I'm glad the college math preparation crisis is breaking out into broader discussion. On the other, that Atlantic article annoys the crap out of me.
November 24, 2025 at 5:34 PM
On the one hand, I'm glad the college math preparation crisis is breaking out into broader discussion. On the other, that Atlantic article annoys the crap out of me.
Unbelievably cool that I can now go out for an easy 5k run with this kid.
November 24, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Unbelievably cool that I can now go out for an easy 5k run with this kid.
Goth plates, cool rocks, and freak show taxidermy at the Radical Harvest Craft Fair, SE Division and 35th Pl right now.
November 23, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Goth plates, cool rocks, and freak show taxidermy at the Radical Harvest Craft Fair, SE Division and 35th Pl right now.
Reposted by χle Ormsby
Made this 2-sided this morning and realized that playing with the crossings generates two different mathematical links: One is L6n1 (which is apparently three fibers in the Hopf Fibration?) and the other is Borromean rings (L6a4). Urls for their katlas pages in the alt text.
November 23, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Made this 2-sided this morning and realized that playing with the crossings generates two different mathematical links: One is L6n1 (which is apparently three fibers in the Hopf Fibration?) and the other is Borromean rings (L6a4). Urls for their katlas pages in the alt text.
Watched Aronofsky's Noah last night (which is quite good! — loved how he embellished the fable, and the montages were moving-if-hokey) and then went down a deep rabbit hole of previews for movies in the "Faith and Spirituality" category.
November 23, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Watched Aronofsky's Noah last night (which is quite good! — loved how he embellished the fable, and the montages were moving-if-hokey) and then went down a deep rabbit hole of previews for movies in the "Faith and Spirituality" category.
Carefully explaining to college administrators that in log-coordinates, the real points with coordinates between 0 and 1 of the variety given by ∏ᵢ₌₁⁴ xᵢ = R form a 3-simplex, and thus my algebraic topology training is uniquely suited to helping us achieve a 4-year graduation rate of R.
November 23, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Carefully explaining to college administrators that in log-coordinates, the real points with coordinates between 0 and 1 of the variety given by ∏ᵢ₌₁⁴ xᵢ = R form a 3-simplex, and thus my algebraic topology training is uniquely suited to helping us achieve a 4-year graduation rate of R.
Here are some nice mushrooms and moss.
November 23, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Here are some nice mushrooms and moss.
It turns out five minutes is enough minutes of scrolling today. Peace, y’all ✌️
November 22, 2025 at 6:21 PM
It turns out five minutes is enough minutes of scrolling today. Peace, y’all ✌️
Reposted by χle Ormsby
In case you aren't already aware of one of the nerdiest, nich-est online games: TeXnique, where the goal is to type LaTeX formulae as quickly as possible. texnique.xyz
It is "fun."
It is "fun."
November 21, 2025 at 9:14 PM
In case you aren't already aware of one of the nerdiest, nich-est online games: TeXnique, where the goal is to type LaTeX formulae as quickly as possible. texnique.xyz
It is "fun."
It is "fun."
Here's the paper, which begins by citing Book X of Plato's Republic: arxiv.org/abs/2511.15304
November 21, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Here's the paper, which begins by citing Book X of Plato's Republic: arxiv.org/abs/2511.15304
November 21, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Reposted by χle Ormsby
8675309 is prime, and so is 8675311, so if you ever need a middlin'-large pair of adjacent primes to test your cryptographic suite, all you need is a 1980s earworm and a +2 and you're all set.
Man, everything is so bleak, anyone got a fun fact or little bit of trivia they want to share
November 21, 2025 at 3:28 AM
8675309 is prime, and so is 8675311, so if you ever need a middlin'-large pair of adjacent primes to test your cryptographic suite, all you need is a 1980s earworm and a +2 and you're all set.
These new papers on the 'dga of planar loops' look very fun: arxiv.org/abs/2511.15653 🧮
November 21, 2025 at 3:58 AM
These new papers on the 'dga of planar loops' look very fun: arxiv.org/abs/2511.15653 🧮