are you?

i like motion pictures

"Opinions may differ as to the importance of Ramanujan's work and the influence it may or may not have but one gift it does show is its profound and invincible originality. Littlewood once told me that 'every positive integer is one of Ramanujan's personal friends'. Ramanujan told me that an equation for him had no meaning unless it expressed a thought of God. Despite everything in my being set to the contrary, perhaps he is right. For is this not exactly our justification for pure mathematics? We are merely explorers of infinity in the pursuit of absolute perfection. We do not invent these formulae, they already exist, and lie in wait for only the very brightest of minds ever to divine and prove. In the end, I have been forced to consider who are we to question Ramanujan, let alone God?"

G. H. Hardy, The Man Who Knew Infinity

"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."

a worshipped king

many are going to worry about the loss of the benevolent veto that Bhumibol wields, an extra-constitutional apparatus that stabilises a politically unstable country. yet it's a riddle that's perplexed me for a long time, a discussion that Thailand avoids both in law and in culture - was his presence part of the reason the country hasn't been able to develop into a sustainable democracy? or did it prevent a slide into the kind of authoritarian regimes seen in the region, Africa and the Americas? or is the Thai situation simply too unique considering the people's adoration for their king?

"you only miss by 5 percent. in most things 95 is pretty good."

"This is the captain. Brace for impact."

Ryder Cup post-mortem

the best point this morning was suitably delivered by Rory and Reed, but people overlook the classic served up by old dogs Phil and Garcia, who went a combined 18-under.

i am disappointed but Rory is right, this is better for the sport. US had so much depth that Europe deserved to lose. Rose should've beaten the erratic Fowler, Willett flopped, Rory's loss was painful, but guys like Snedeker, Kuchar and the two Johnsons were just too much to handle. elsewhere, Spieth is fast becoming Tiger, a choker in team tournaments.

on another note, did anyone realise Europe's 4.5 points were scored by the non-Brits, while the Brits went zero on the final day? maybe it's time to shift this team away from the Home Nations.

ST cover stories today: double rainbow and female pilot

Kicker for the first: "A double rainbow was last seen in Singapore in July last year," which I'm sure they verified with God.

Photo caption for the second: "One thing she enjoys about flying is seeing the night view," a point which I'm sure they'd make if featuring a male pilot.