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by Joseph Cliburn, Dept. of Institutional Research/Planning, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College,
Perkinston, Mississippi
Andrew Russ, Department of Physics, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
Tiny Montgomery, State Penn Center of Mathematics and Truck Driving, University Park, Pennsylvania
Zeke de Cork, Shady Acres Old Folks Home and State University, Perkinston, Mississippi
Starting from a statement brought home by Bob Dylan [1965aL we estimate the value of Love using basic algebra of need [Mottram, 1965], perhaps some calculus, maybe a bit of the geometry of innocence [Dylan, 1965f], and a lot of wishful thinking.
The Limits of Love
We begin with the following assertion by Dylan [1965a]:
(Love – 0) / No Limit (1)
using the expression on the record label in preference to the statement on the back cover [1965b], and taking a cue from the author’s statement that it is a fraction [1965c]. Setting aside the question of whether the use of an expression here marks Dylan as an Expressionist, we set the expression equal to X, which is unspecified for the moment, and solve for Love:
x = (Love – 0) / No Limit (2)
Thus:
(No Limit) X = Love – 0 = Love (3)
where we’ve made use of the fact that for any A, A – 0 = A. Thus Love = something times “No Limit.” The traditional quantity that has no limit is infinite, thus we get Love is infinite, assuming that X is finite. If X is 0, we have 0 times infinity, which is indefinite.
more …
Zombaritaville is a Seattle-based blogger who writes parodies of popular songs, reimagining them as zombie-themed. Here’s a passage from the lyrics for his song “Rippin’ Off Your Skin”, based on Bob Dylan’s “Blowing in the Wind”:
How many lobes must a ghoul gulp down
Before he eats the whole brainpan?
How many skulls must a sniper nail
Before her rifle has jammed?
Yes, n’ how many bites must I take of this guy
Before I’ve digested his hand?
The zombies my friend, are rippin’ off your skin
The zombies are rippin’ off your skinYes, n’ how many folks must cease to exist
Before it’s called a “killing spree”?
Yes, n’ how many years in this mall can we subsist
‘Til we’re forced by bikers to flee?
Yes, n’ how many towns must shamblers infest
Before they all turn to debris?
The zombies my friend, are rippin’ off your skin
The zombies are rippin’ off your skin
Other songs that he’s rewritten include Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler“, Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U“, “Jack & Diane” by John Mellencamp, and “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen.
Link via Boing Boing
Image by flickr user ingridjee used under creative commons license
