The evolution of Mathematics

[Nbadan]

on topic:
this would make an interesting study: how good do today's students solve yesterday's math assignments, compared to yesterday's students?

Math is easier at the college level than it was just a decade ago. Most degrees require only minimal algebra expertise. Those who go on to Trig or Cal, the minimum in some countries, are usually engineers, scientists, and math majors.

[xrayzebra]

Hey man, I'm not the only one who thinks you're an ignorant bigot. And if you say the things you've been saying, people are going to call you on them. I'm sorry if you're sick of hearing the term "hate" applied to you, but if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck... BTW, assimilation is a very, very BAD thing. There is nothing wrong with diverse cultures living together; America is not a melting pot.

Also, the majority of non-natives in this country do indeed speak Spanish. Certainly, there are Asian-Americans and French-Americans and many more, but the overwhelming population of ESL people are native to Spanish. Therefore, it wouldn't make any sense for us to be teaching German or something.

BTW, for the love of God, don't call me stupid because the lack of effort just pains me. You might as well just call me a dumb-dumb face or something equally worthwhile.

I'm calling you stupid, ignorant and pathetic. Your grasp
of the United States is indeed dumb, dumb and dumber.
I only hope you aren't Hispanic because you show the
truly dark side of that race if you are. Assimilation is
a bad thing! What a profoundly stupid statement. Ever
heard of the tower of babble. Go away, you may be only
person I have ever considered on putting on my ignore list.

[FromWayDowntown]

Ever heard of the tower of babble.

That must be the nickname for the Political Forum on spurstalk.com, and I hadn't heard that before.

I had heard of the Tower of Babel, though.

[xrayzebra]

That must be the nickname for the Political Forum on spurstalk.com, and I hadn't heard that before.

I had heard of the Tower of Babel, though.

Yeah, another little blunder I committed today. But you
obviously got the point.

[Yonivore]

That must be the nickname for the Political Forum on spurstalk.com, and I hadn't heard that before.

I had heard of the Tower of Babel, though.

I like that. Any chance we can get Kori to change this from the Politics forum to the Tower of Babble forum?

Make Nbadan the Chief Babbler.

[TreeWhisperer]

O yes there is a problem! Multi-cultural societies do not work. Period. America is a melting pot.

Oh really? Just wait. If Germans reproduced at the preposterous rate Latin people did, youd be singing a different tune. So basically, youre saying because Latino people more than anyone else, en les them to have dual-language bull rules enforced? When is the last time you made a phone call to a company in Mexico and they had an English option?

Meh, cant argue with that.

Oh no, multicultural societies could work just fine if it weren't for uncompassionate bigots like you. There's no reason that Latinos (or anyone else) should have to give up their language and culture just because they moved here. People like YOU are the reason that this country can't live in harmony with people different than us.

Do you actually go back and read what you write? Because you need a serious at ude adjustment. Bilinguality is not a bad thing! It's really sad to see people so insecure as yourself that they get their panties all in a wad if someone starts speaking a language they don't understand and are too lazy to learn. Wow... oh, and I haven't called Mexico anytime in the recent past.
Adios, enojado amigo...

Yeah, Yonivore is really hurting in the burn department....

[TreeWhisperer]

I'm calling you stupid, ignorant and pathetic. Your grasp
of the United States is indeed dumb, dumb and dumber.
I only hope you aren't Hispanic because you show the
truly dark side of that race if you are. Assimilation is
a bad thing! What a profoundly stupid statement. Ever
heard of the tower of babble. Go away, you may be only
person I have ever considered on putting on my ignore list.

Oh wah, wah.... don't ignore me! Cuz I really care... not. And yes, assimilation IS a bad thing. Maybe you don't know what it is...? It's when a culture is stripped of their own iden y and forced to live exactly like everyone else. It's conformity, and I fail to see how that is a good thing. I think you are confusing assimilation with living in peace with the rest of society, which you can have without assimilation. And for the love of God, please don't use biblical stories in your arguments because they don't stand to everyone. And I believe that it is you, and not I, that are ignorant. You apparantly don't even know the definition of the word you're arguing about. Might wanna get clear on your concepts, buddy. As far for my grasp of this country, go ahead and try me. I'm a poly sci major and I can bet I'm ahead of you. BTW, it's none of your damn business what race I am. And I believe you are showing not only the dark side of whatever race you plague, but the dark side of humanity.

[TreeWhisperer]

You don't understand the term bigot. That makes you stupid.


The majority of citizens in this country are english-speaking as a first language. Using your logic, it makes no sense to abide any other language, Stupid.


Okay, dumb-dumb face.

Oh now you're just running out of ammo, aren't you? ACCORDING TO MERRIAM WEBSTER...

Bigot: a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices.

That is YOU. In fact, you are such a bigot that you can't even stand it if people speak a language that you can't understand. Obviously, yours is better because it's yours, right? The majority of citizens speak English, but a large percentage of that majority also speak Spanish. It doesn't hurt you for people to be bilingual!

If you prefer to remain ignorant, that's your perogotive. But you can't be upset about other people not having the same opinions as you. Oh wait, yes you can because you're a bigot!

And, since you claimed it was I who don't understand the term bigot and was stupid, and it turned out that it is actually YOU that doesn't understand the term bigot... well, I'm not stooping to your level and using the only insult that you know.

[101A]

In all seriousness...

My SECOND grader was given a calculator with her math book this year.

My Sixth grader has, for 3 years now, been taught "estimation" as a skill - it includes 3 different methods of what used to be called "rounding" - and, yes, you can "estimate" incorrectly (sometimes, the actual answer will be incorrect.

It is pretty much horrible.

BTW, as my wife is a professor, universities almost rely ENTIRELY on entrance exams now, and ignore grades. The schools don't actually grade for content knowledge of what the colleges and universities are looking for, so those grades are ignored.

[xrayzebra]

Oh wah, wah.... don't ignore me! Cuz I really care... not. And yes, assimilation IS a bad thing. Maybe you don't know what it is...? It's when a culture is stripped of their own iden y and forced to live exactly like everyone else. It's conformity, and I fail to see how that is a good thing. I think you are confusing assimilation with living in peace with the rest of society, which you can have without assimilation. And for the love of God, please don't use biblical stories in your arguments because they don't stand to everyone. And I believe that it is you, and not I, that are ignorant. You apparantly don't even know the definition of the word you're arguing about. Might wanna get clear on your concepts, buddy. As far for my grasp of this country, go ahead and try me. I'm a poly sci major and I can bet I'm ahead of you. BTW, it's none of your damn business what race I am. And I believe you are showing not only the dark side of whatever race you plague, but the dark side of humanity.

Whooopppeee. You are poly sci major! That's makes you
a over educated idiot. I guess you would like tribes like
they have in the ME, right? And you are right, it is none of
my business what race you are, or is it, since you are so into keeping your
cultural heritage. That fact alone may affect my own
personal well being since you may object to me being just
a normal American person. That is I have no tribal
or heritage associations, just being an American. And you
may feel so threatened by this fact that you might insist
that I grant you special rights. Ooooops, we already do
that don't we?

[DarkReign]

Oh no, multicultural societies could work just fine if it weren't for uncompassionate bigots like you. There's no reason that Latinos (or anyone else) should have to give up their language and culture just because they moved here. People like YOU are the reason that this country can't live in harmony with people different than us.

Do you actually go back and read what you write? Because you need a serious at ude adjustment. Bilinguality is not a bad thing! It's really sad to see people so insecure as yourself that they get their panties all in a wad if someone starts speaking a language they don't understand and are too lazy to learn. Wow... oh, and I haven't called Mexico anytime in the recent past.
Adios, enojado amigo...

Yeah, Yonivore is really hurting in the burn department....

Youre a -bag. I never said they couldnt speak Spanish, what I meant was my children should not have to learn Spanish to communicate effectively in school, work, etc.

Youre saying the country should be bilingual. I am saying it shouldnt. Im a bigot for that? Not by my definition. Btw, go yourself, Tree-hugger.

[turambar85]

I didn't know that the thought of an expanding culture would be so frightening to some people, and I honestly can't think of a reason why it should be. If no culture was ever dramatically influenced by those around it, or within it, our society would have regressed thousands of years. , imagine if we hadnt come in and "influenced" the Native American culture, there would not be much of an America to be "destroyed" by multi-culturalism. And its funny to sit and think about this because the amount of cultural change that the immigrants are "threatening" to bring pales in comparison to what we did when we came to America. I almost laugh thinking about the emotion involved in this debate about becoming bilingual when so many countries around us already are, I think that it would only help our country to do so. We would no longer look like arrogant rednecks to the outside world, as individuals we would be more capable in global affairs, and we would finally be on par with the rest of the modern world. Our country is made of a mixture of many different "tribes" and cultures which all came together to evolve into the society you see today, maybe another, though smaller, evolution would be something to embrace as we seem to have stagnated.

[turambar85]

And I also find it curious that America is in such a backwards state of mind that the term "tree-hugger" is thought to be a grave insult. If we are Christians, which I imagine many are since all they can do is argue based on biblical texts, then we should love and embrace that which God has given us. If we are not religious, then we should still see the life-sustaining beauty and necessity of the world around us, and cherish the world which we have luckily chanced upon. The most beautiful things on earth are not skyscrapers and concrete jungles, but forests and canyons...that is why I constantly see vehicles from Michigan in Tennessee at the Smokey Mountain National Park. Nobody will drive that far to see a new wal-mart. Is is that bad to have a spiritual connection with one of Gods greatest gifts? And is it worse still to have the desire that our children have the joy of seeing the sames things which we have? I do not think so, and I pity the ignorant, simple-minded fools who view tree-hugger as an insult. I personally find it a lot less offensive than say, concrete-jungle lovers.

[Lebowski Brickowski]

WOW!
A funny JOKE starts the thread. The thread is then taken over by a blast of presuming, under-informed OPINIONS from angry, self-righteous political "thinkers."

You guys should just stick to making fun of each other.

Really funny joke up top; if one can get over oneself.

[JoeChalupa]

I like that. Any chance we can get Kori to change this from the Politics forum to the Tower of Babble forum?

Make Nbadan the Chief Babbler.

And you the behind the Commander in Chief?

[smeagol]

I'm from Argentina and I found the joke amusing.

I don't see what's the big deal.

As for speaking, it is clear that more is better. I don't see a problem if in US schools people are taught other languages. I know people are in Argentina (or were when I went to school).

As for the term tree-hugger being derogatory (to some), that is pathetic.

[xrayzebra]

And I also find it curious that America is in such a backwards state of mind that the term "tree-hugger" is thought to be a grave insult. If we are Christians, which I imagine many are since all they can do is argue based on biblical texts, then we should love and embrace that which God has given us. ......I pity the ignorant, simple-minded fools who view tree-hugger as an insult. I personally find it a lot less offensive than say, concrete-jungle lovers.

Those that worship trees were called Druids. And the term tree-hugger, as an
educated person should know, is used to refer to people who are also called
"progressive" and chain themselves to trees supposedly to protect the
forest. They also embedded metal objects in trees to harm those who make
a living cutting them for the benefit of mankind. Maybe they should have
called themselves "druids" and demanded religious protection. You know
like those who worship Satan and are given religious protection.

[xrayzebra]

WOW!
A funny JOKE starts the thread. The thread is then taken over by a blast of presuming, under-informed OPINIONS from angry, self-righteous political "thinkers."

You guys should just stick to making fun of each other.

Really funny joke up top; if one can get over oneself.

My-o-my seems like you may have your dander up a little bit too. I see no one
that portrays themselves as self-righteous. Just speaking their mind on
a subject. Last time I checked that was still legal, unless McCain and
Finegold have slipped another one in on us.

[Lebowski Brickowski]

My-o-my seems like you may have your dander up a little bit too. I see no one
that portrays themselves as self-righteous. Just speaking their mind on
a subject. Last time I checked that was still legal, unless McCain and
Finegold have slipped another one in on us.

[Jekka]

O yes there is a problem! Multi-cultural societies do not work. Period. America is a melting pot.

You're right. All of the varied indigenous American peoples had damn near exterminated themselves before Columbus got here.

[Extra Stout]

Oh wah, wah.... don't ignore me! Cuz I really care... not. And yes, assimilation IS a bad thing. Maybe you don't know what it is...? It's when a culture is stripped of their own iden y and forced to live exactly like everyone else. It's conformity, and I fail to see how that is a good thing. I think you are confusing assimilation with living in peace with the rest of society, which you can have without assimilation. And for the love of God, please don't use biblical stories in your arguments because they don't stand to everyone. And I believe that it is you, and not I, that are ignorant. You apparantly don't even know the definition of the word you're arguing about. Might wanna get clear on your concepts, buddy. As far for my grasp of this country, go ahead and try me. I'm a poly sci major and I can bet I'm ahead of you. BTW, it's none of your damn business what race I am. And I believe you are showing not only the dark side of whatever race you plague, but the dark side of humanity.

Assimilation is a bad thing? All of it or part of it? How much of it is bad? Are you thinking about how it looks in the real world or just regurgitating some pointy-headed abstract idea that some professor told you, and thinking you're so smart because you're a poli sci major?

Because the last time I was in a heavily Mexican-American neighbood, there weren't little green Nissan taxis running everywhere, and there wasn't a milkman coming at irregular hours honking his horn, and people's whole front yard wasn't a tile patio, and all the houses weren't made out of concrete, and the businesses didn't close down for three hours in the middle of the day, and there weren't clotheslines strewn everywhere. I did not see a single chicken.

I suppose Mexican-Americans need to give up the idea of treating women equally and embrace machismo, because otherwise they're assimilating too much. They should avoid learning to think too much and just learn rote memorization skills to be faithful to the educational system of their cultures.

I guess if South Texas Latinos want to reverse this assimilation trend, they need to give up things like Tejano music, so heavily influenced by German polka as it is. Hey, Southsiders, you can't root for the Cowboys anymore. Root for Monterrey's soccer team instead. No more grilling out on the driveway with your buddies. No more H-E-B; you need to make multiple trips to the panaderia and the carneceria and the verdura stand, because assimilation is a bad thing, according to some omniscient college student who is here to explain the whole world to us, including who is and who is not a bigot.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Oh no, multicultural societies could work just fine if it weren't for uncompassionate bigots like you.

Name one multicultural society that is working out well.

As for English as our official language, the USA is currently the only country in the world without an official language.

The biggest thing I don't understand is that English is the official business language of the world

Do you realize how ed up that is? Everyone interested in international business of any kind any where in the world learns English. But we're all bigots and/or racists for wanting it learned and spoken here as the official language of America?

Kind of ironic, don't you think?

My company does international business and we've got clients in 14 countries outside of the US, all the way to Russia. We can pick up the phone and have a conversation with them in English, but there's times I hit the language barrier when I run to the local corner store to pick up a candy bar or run to Wendy's for a burger.

It shouldn't be like that.

[DarkReign]

Name one multicultural society that is working out well.

As for English as our official language, the USA is currently the only country in the world without an official language.

The biggest thing I don't understand is that English is the official business language of the world

Do you realize how ed up that is? Everyone interested in international business of any kind any where in the world learns English. But we're all bigots and/or racists for wanting it learned and spoken here as the official language of America?

Kind of ironic, don't you think?

My company does international business and we've got clients in 14 countries outside of the US, all the way to Russia. We can pick up the phone and have a conversation with them in English, but there's times I hit the language barrier when I run to the local corner store to pick up a candy bar or run to Wendy's for a burger.

It shouldn't be like that.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

While Tree-hugger was wasting his educational life on poly sci, others were actually, you know, working in the real world.

I export machines from Korea to France to Mexico and beyond.

Want to know the only thing in common I have with any of my customers and allows us to do business?

We all speak English.

My fiance's cousin was in town from Germany, he spoke English really well for a guy who hadnt spoke a lick of it in 6 years.

He said one thing ALOT in his time at my house....English is the language of money. Want to make money? Better learn English.

[DarkReign]

You're right. All of the varied indigenous American peoples had damn near exterminated themselves before Columbus got here.

Would you equate seperate and small distant tribes to society as it was known then?

They didnt call them savages for s and giggles. Now, if all the natives voted in a nationwide election and shared common religion, then we could discuss their " genized" existence.

[Jekka]

Would you equate seperate and small distant tribes to society as it was known then?

They didnt call them savages for s and giggles. Now, if all the natives voted in a nationwide election and shared common religion, then we could discuss their " genized" existence.

Go call a native person a savage and see what kind of reaction you get - you're so Eurocentric it's sickening. They were called savages by Europeans who were not willing to understand or respect their ways of life. Compare the track records of Europeans and American Indians at the time of contact - who was the savage? The explorers who raped and pillaged communities, took prisoners as slaves and killed the rest of the Indians they could find who were not suitable as slaves? Or the "savages" who had learned to live on the land without harming it, and had accepted the white man into their communities and taught them how to survive? I hate to break it to you, but Squanto was not sitting at the Thanksgiving table with the Pilgrims - his people were laying him to rest while Winthrop was thanking God that He had enabled the Pilgrims to kill as many Indians as possible ... while eating the food that the Indians had taught them to grow.

Many very different tribes lived in close approximation to each other and did just fine - even tribes that participated in seasonal warfare did so without intent to kill everyone. Most tribes also do have very similar traditional religions - they may have different creation stories, but most believe in the Great Spirit (who goes by many different names) that connects everyone and everything together.

And they didn't need a general election before contact because they were able to coexist and didn't need to unite against a common evil - the white man gave them a reason to do that, and for a modern example, I think AIM is a great example of different coexisting cultures getting along.