Category: Digital Humanities

Paradoxes of the Supertask

In set theory, an infinite set is not considered to be created by some mathematical process such as “adding one element” that is then carried out “an infinite number of times”. Instead, a particular infinite set (such as the set of all natural numbers) is said to already exist, “by fiat”, as an assumption or an axiom. Given this infinite set, other infinite sets are then proven to exist as well, as a logical consequence. But it is still a natural philosophical question to contemplate some physical action that actually completes after an infinite number of discrete steps; and the interpretation of this question using set theory gives rise to the paradoxes of the supertask.

[edit]The diary of Tristram Shandy

Tristram Shandy, the hero of a novel by Laurence Sterne, writes his autobiography so conscientiously that it takes him one year to lay down the events of one day. If he is mortal he can never terminate; but if he lived forever then no part of his diary would remain unwritten, for to each day of his life a year devoted to that day’s description would correspond.

via Paradoxes of set theory – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Vasilenko now lives in Hackney and works as a freelancer photographer.

“It originally didn’t have a name, but people began to call it A girl and a dog”, he told The Register.

At first he was flattered to be included alongside one of the greats.

“I like Cartier-Bresson. But when I saw how many times it’s been reposted, and credited to him, I was less happy.”

via Entire internet credits snapper for taking great pic while actually dead • The Register.

Here’s a tutorial on how to capture an exploding water balloon in the precise moment the balloon pops, while the water still holds the shape of a balloon.

via How to Capture Water Balloons Popping by Hacking a Shutter Release Cable.

Ethereal Macro Photos of Snowflakes in the Moments Before They Disappear.