Thursday, May 16, 2013

Proportion

We've been talking about proportions, percentages, possibilities.

Like, pixels is size, yet proportion is something else. I wish, when I was young, math skills in girls had been encouraged.

Like, if my 7-year-old neighbor wants to be an astronaut, what are her chances of becoming one? What are her chances of living to be 100?

Like, what size jeans will I have to buy next year if I don't get my butt in gear this year?

Speaking of bridges, which we obviously were, because you have to understand proportions to build one, the Pasadena blogging community is invited to participate actively in Pasadena's 127th birthday celebration at the Pasadena Museum of History on June 22nd. This year's theme is Happy Birthday Pasadena - Celebrating Bridges. Part of the reason for that is this year is the 100th anniversary of the Colorado Street Bridge, and the bridge won't be getting its own party.

Here's what Jeannette Bovard, PMH Media Consultant, says in her invitation to bloggers:

We would like to invite the Pasadena blogging community to be a part of this event as featured participants in the "Bridges to Community" section. You are our eyes and ears; you share Pasadena-related thoughts, images, inspirations, and news from unique perspectives. We'd love the chance to introduce you in person and give you a chance to chat one-on-one with members of the community.

Happy Birthday Pasadena will take place from 1:00 to 5:00 pm on Saturday, June 22, on the campus of Pasadena Museum of History.  We’d like to schedule you for 1-hour shifts during the afternoon.  The birthday cake ceremony will occupy most of the attendees during the 3:00 hour, so there will be three shifts available, at 1:00, 2:00 & 4:00.  The activities are outdoors, however we will have you shaded, with tables and chairs and we are checking wi-fi availability in the location we plan for the Community Pod. 

To sign up to participate, contact Jeannette Bovard
at pasadenahistory@sbcglobal.net, 626-710-8639

or

Ardis Wilwerth at awillwerth@pasadenahistory.org, 
626-577-1660, ext. 15



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Like, if 300 people enter my Goodreads Giveaway and I'm giving away 20 copies, what are the odds of winning a free book? What are the odds 500 people will sign up and how does that change the odds of winning?

21 comments:

John Sandel said...

Nice choice of photos to complement this subject.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, dude.

Kalei's Best Friend said...

I agree w/your hubby... and your question is above my head ( like the bridge) :-) only the gods know the answer...

Adele said...

I love this topic. Also, this photo. What are the odds that I can get a photo like this, if I never take my "good" camera in to be fixed, and forever have only an iPhone??? What are the odds that I could ever take a photo like this, Period???

-K- said...

As someone who took two years of pre-algebra, I don't feel at all qualified to comment on any of this except to say the idea of celebrating Pasadena and its bridges sounds like a wonderful idea.

Anonymous said...

Math teachers were rather bad communicators, and certainly had problems conveying the magic of numbers. It's just language, after all. Maybe they do a better job these days.

Super duper photo.

Susan Campisi said...

I really liked my calculus teacher, but only because he had a way with words.

This sounds like a fun celebration. Sadly I'll be out of town.

Petrea Burchard said...

I guess the questions are rhetorical, KBF, but the pixels problem still vexes me.

Adele, the odds are excellent. I took this photo long ago, with a point-and-shoot I had that was no better than an iPhone camera. I did the first three years of the blog with that camera and I still miss it.

I hope you'll come to the party, Kevin.

Thanks, Karin. I had the same experience with most math teachers, except one Algebra teacher in 8th grade who had us learning Cobal, in 1969.

Susan, your experience goes against Karin's theory. Interesting, though, how it helps when we just plain like the teacher.

Bellis said...

Had to learn statistics to university level. Could memorize enough to pass the exams, but my mind ejected all the knowledge immediately after. My brain likes letters and words, but not numbers.

Pixels? Resolution? Are you learning Photoshop?

Sorry to miss you and other bloggers at the PMH. I'll be out of town as well.

LONDONLULU said...

Oh my, that photo is breathtaking! What a fabulous contribution to the PMH theme!

Petrea Burchard said...

I'm not learning Photoshop, Bellis. I'm just trying to send the printer what they asked for, and I've had to get my helper to figure it out for me.

Thank you, Lulu! We have some impressive bridges in town. I particularly like getting under them with the camera.

Latino Heritage said...

Shades of Inception. Great photo. My numbers challenge is trying to remember, because I use it only very rarely, what numbers mean relative to ppi and memory. Sometimes I have a beautiful big image to share and it takes forever to come on powerpoint. Or it doesn't let me add more pix.
Good luck.
The Bloggers Table sounds like a fun idea.

dive said...

Love the photo, Petrea, especially the reflected sunlight from the water (wow, you have water in California).
Pasadena is so young, I feel slightly creepy looking at your blog.

Petrea Burchard said...

Roberta, since I don't know what you mean, apparently I have that problem, too.

Dive, it's true. This bridge supports the 134 freeway, more famously known as the Ventura Freeway, which was completed in 1971.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ventura_Freeway
However, parallel to this bridge is the Colorado Street Bridge, which celebrates its 100th birthday this year. Not old like the places you hang out, though.

Latino Heritage said...

Perhaps one day we can figure out this mystery together.

BaysideLife said...

I love bridges and this is a great view of one. Down here in Florida we don't see many bridges, all spans over water are boring "causeways." I miss well designed, "proportional" suspension bridges.

TheChieftess said...

Math skills??? Who needs math skills??? I mean how long has it been since I've needed an algebraic formula??? Actually...I think if there had been an attempt to really connect math skills with life when learning them, I might have enjoyed learning about it or better yet...retained them!!!

Fab photo Petrea! And your even sounds like fun...

Petrea Burchard said...

Perhaps, Roberta, but I won't worry in the meantime.

Bayside, the LA area (especially the Arroyo Seco) has some lovely old bridges.

Chieftess, that is right on! In algebra class first year in college, I asked my teacher why we were working on something called a "matrix" and how it related to real life. He didn't know.

LOLfromPasa said...

Hi Petrea. Lauren here. I miss your daily blog entries with great photos like this :).

Petrea Burchard said...

Lauren, thank you. I have a million more photos, so there will be more posts.

LOLfromPasa said...

Hooray!