24 May
2010
24 May
'10
1:22 p.m.
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-
bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Tony Duell
Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2010 10:38 AM
To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
Subject: OT : RIP Martin Gardner
In case you've not already heard, I have just been told that Martin
Gardner has passed away.
He was, of course, responsible for many excellent books of mathematical
puzzles. He had a defintie knack of being able to make something simple
enough to understand but still keeping enough mathematics there to be
worthwhile.
The world is certainly a poorer place without him.
He certainly inspered me to love mathemaitcs. Had I not read his books
some years ago, my life would have been very different. I don't think I
am exagerating if I say that without his books I would not have passed
A-level mathematics...
True story : Many years ago I was given a couple of his books as a
Newtonsday presnet. Once contained a chapter on base -2 arithmeatic. I
spent the next day or so designing a base -2 full-adder circuit and
soldering it up. Never found any practical use for it, but...
-tony
I remember reading his "Amateur Scientist" column in Scientific American, before
that magazine turned into populist mush. And when I say 'reading' I mean poring
over each word as though I was reading God's Cliffs Notes. I learned a lot about the
underlying principles for each of his experimental constructs because, although he was
careful to make his projects accessible, they weren't QUITE accessible enough for me
(one of two children of a divorced single parent). So I read, and studied, and dreamed...
and grew up a geek.
Thank you, Mr. Gardner. Between you, Robert Heinlein and Arthur Clarke, I never had a
chance. :-)