Sir Isaac Meet Bob

In 1665, Isaac Newton retreated to his family’s estate after classes at Cambridge were cancelled because of the bubonic plaque. In the year that followed, he wrote the papers that became the basis for early calculus, began theorizing about optics, and as Mental Floss put it, “was also the time when his theory of gravity germinated.”

Yep. Guess he earned that Sir in front of his name.

In April, I, too, have been productive during the COVID-19 Pandemic. I caught up on the second season of Succession, spent focused time coming to a ‘working conclusion’ that the Birthday Paradox is a hoax and even disciplined myself to type the word camaraderie correctly without relying on spell check.

But would Sir Isaac be proud? Am I pushing myself hard enough? What could I accomplish in May if I focused?

My first idea was to write about the relative strengths and weaknesses of Euclidian and non-Euclidian geometry. But I’m also a bit wary of writing over my audience (no offense).

Oh, who am I kidding? Just because I threw around some big (or medium-sized) words there, I’m still the guy who struggled with 'The Given.' Let a different blogger take this on.

OK, what else am I passionate about?

I’ve read there is a robust debate in contemporary physics about realism vs. constructivism and how that impacts the way people think about the understanding of quantum theory and its instructional process.

Hmm, tempting. But, frankly, not sure it’s worth my time. After an initial perusal, I find most of the arguments weak and ineffectual. 

Really want something with more intellectual rigor. No fun in punching below your weight, right?

The third option is taking the idea of three-dimensional chess to the next logical level. Since four is greater than three, is four-dimensional chess actually what people should strive for from a strategic standpoint? If so, what percent better would it be? Why isn’t there more research on this?

I know I’m on to something here, but it seems a touch outside my wheelhouse.

Then, it hit me. 

ESPN may have the copyright for “30 for 30,” but after a cursory check I didn't see a patent for 31 blogs in 31 days in May.

The next logical question is a fair one. You do realize you’ve only written 15 blogs in 18 months? 

True, but I was just getting loose. Time for a blogging streak.

Be sure to read each of the 31 posts carefully as there may be a quiz at the end, and it will count toward the final grade.

However, I can be bribed.

Address me as Sir Bobproof or the blogging-incarnation of DiMaggio and your grade will almost certainly feature the first letter of the alphabet.