Hidden maths on art

This is pretty cool. Previously, it was noted that Van Gogh used subtle maths in his paintings (link is in the attached article). 

But now, researchers add finding that Mondrian and da Vinci also used mathematics in their art. 

In da Vincis case, it's not a huge surprise since his interests extended well beyond art. He was a tinkerer and an engineer of sorts. 

But it's interesting to see how he used that in his art. 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/da-vinci-mondrian-art-hidden-math-b2699335.html

Disneys court battle over streaming

Looks like Bob Chapek may have fudged some numbers to make streaming look better to investors.

While many of his decisions were suspect in a way, this one rises to the level of the board taking action and removing him, I would say. 

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/disney-streaming-court-battle-1236141437/

Maybe the car is psychic?

I was at an intersection this morning. There was a bike to my left that was clearly going straight.  But the camera picked up the bike and showed it perpendicular to me. 

Before the light changed, the rider made a hard turn to the right and went in front of me to cross the intersection. 

So the inaccurate depiction on the screen was an accurate foretelling of the future. 

They’ll be calling you radical, fanatical…

I heard Supertramp's "The Logical Song" recently and kind of got the feels from it. Who would have thought a song that came out 45 years ago would have significance today?

I was curious about the origin of the song and it's actual meaning, so I did little googling. And thought I'd share. 

https://youtu.be/kln_bIndDJg?si=O9gl37KGy0hwYQKA

https://medium.com/the-riff/supertramps-the-logical-song-explained-7a070dd0f4b7

I wonder if that’s intentional?

The BBC referred to the Secretary of State (a cabinet position) as an envoy, which I suppose is technically correct, but surely an insult to his pompous self. 

Another example of how things will go sideways under the current administration

Among all of the things Biden included in his American Rescue Plan was funding for gun violence prevention. 

…and in Detroit, it had great success. Gun related deaths reached a low that hasn't been seen in 60 years. 

But T-rump will not renew the funding and that means the program will shutter. 

The article notes that the state had allocated funds via a bill that passed the legislature, but never passed in the state senate, and thus no state money will be spent, either. 

Wow a program that worked that cost relatively little money. But those billionaires need another sports car I guess. So you gotta reduce spending.

And somehow the GOP seems to thrive off misery, so it's on brand. 

https://www.thetrace.org/2025/02/detroit-gun-violence-shotstoppers/

Disneyland sued for changes to the disability pass

Disney had a means of providing something to guests needing special assistance. Back before you had all the technology, guests who couldn't wait in line could get a pass book from guest relations that would allow them to visit attractions and be given a return time to avoid the wait. 

As the technology advanced, they still had the book but you had do a little pre-planning and couldn't just walk into guest relations and ask for it. 

Then the abuse started. People who didn't need it were using it to "skip the lines" and worse, local tour operators were directing their clients (for a fee) in how to game the system. 

Disney changed the system to one that more closely aligned with the technology; you could pre-register and then go through a sort of screening process (Disney was always very mindful about asking specific questions about disabilities, but wanted to know if waiting in line posed a problem, and wanted to see the person who would be using it). The guest would then be able to book some lightning lane attractions for their visit that would mostly avoid lines. 

Only…. These tour operators are not all good people. And they found more loopholes to exploit, thus giving their guests a means (once again) to cheat the system. 

Disney responded yet again by threatening these operators. But, social media spread the "how to" far and wide. 

So Disney had to change course and revisit the program. They further restricted who could use it and how many attractions it could be used on, etc. 

Which caused some people to cry foul. Right or wrong they are saying Disney is discriminating against them. And are suing in California (such a suit would go nowhere in Florida, and would face resistance on the national level). 

I suspect the endgame will be that Disney makes another change. What that will look like, who knows?

To me, a solution where one person waits in line and the guest with be disability catches up at the end may be the simplest one. Though I do see that using some technology may be helpful - perhaps you wait in a virtual queue, but it has to be nearby the attraction and the wait time is as though you stood in line and then you join the queue at the end. 

It eliminates more of the system abuse and levels it for everyone. You can still purchase the lightning lane if you choose. But this is a free option that changes the paradigm. 

https://www.sfgate.com/disneyland/article/disney-sued-discrimination-disability-service-20168308.php