[Dixielandjazz] Math

[Gary Kiser]

Wow, I didn't think ANYONE without a scientific calculator attached to 
his/her belt has ever heard of the Fields Medal  But, you Jim, actually 
played for the big event.  I have a math degree from UCLA so you know 
this year's event is big for my Alma Mater.

Briefly, Grigory Perelman solved the century old Poincaré Conjecture 
which is about solids modeling.  Mr. Perelman, a very reclusive Russian, 
turned down the Fields Medal -- offered by the International Congress of 
Mathematicians every four years -- which was not the first award he 
shunned.  He also turned down the $1 million award offered by the Cray 
Mathematics Foundation to the first person to prove the Poincaré Conjecture.

Among the other winners this year is Australian Terence Tao, a professor 
at UCLA, who at 31 is one of the youngest people to ever win the medal.  
Tao has studied applications of prime numbers that has led to the 
simplification of equations of Einstein's theory of general relativity 
and equations of quantum mathematics.

With your permission (too late), I will send your post to my fellow 
Bruin math geeks that rejoiced the honor Professor Tao bestowed on UCLA.

Music content: M. Perelman has proved that a tuba cannot be modeled by a 
sphere.  I'm thinking this through, but the only 'instrument' that can 
be modeled by a sphere is a drum stick.  Ah, a thimble can too.

All the best, Gary


Jim Kashishian wrote:

>We played a cocktail for a large group that spend their days fiddling with
>numbers last nite.  The world's cleverest math people get together every
>four years, and it was Madrid this year.  Weird gig with about 1000 people
>hanging around a few tables with cocktails in hand, plus a handful of people
>dancing.  It was in a botanical garden, and the dancefloor was dusty dirt,
>which rose to the heavens as the dancers heated up.  
> 
>We had our own problem with some of those smoke machines light guys love to
>put on stage.  Had to finally give the order (point towards the things & run
>my finger across my throat) to have them cut off altogether.
> 
>That, and an evening of above 90 F heat, made for an interesting gig.
>Didn't last too long (1.5 hrs), and was extremely well paid, so can't
>complain too much.
> 
>Apparently some Russian turned down his award, plus 1 million bucks!  Could
>have given it to the needy...like the musicians present!     :>
> 
>Jim
>