Monday 19 February 2007

The view from Kansas

Here's an interesting story from the Kansas City Star. If you read down a little way under the heading "Unnatural wonders", you'll see that our forestry practices made an impression on these visitors, and they've reported it to their readers. Apparently the guidebooks advise visitors to avoid the subject. Mmmm...better stay off that topic, many Tasmanians don't react well to people who disagree with them.
And, a joke:

A study in the teaching of math over the years:

Teaching Math in 1950s: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit?

Teaching Math in 1960s: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?

Teaching Math in 1970s: A logger exchanges a set "L" of lumber for a set "M" of money. The cardinality of set "M" is 100. Each element is worth one dollar. The set "C", the cost of production contains 20 fewer points than set What is the cardinality of the set "P" of profits?

Teaching Math in 1980s: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

Teaching Math in 1990s: By cutting down beautiful forest trees, the logger makes $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the forest birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down the trees? There
are no wrong answers.

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