A classic rope puzzle that seems simple unlocks a doorway to the foundations of mathematics. We trace how lighting two ends and timing the second fuse reveals the fusible numbers, show they are all dyadic rationals, and explore the well-ordered structure whose gaps encode epsilon naught—the proof-theoretic strength of Peano arithmetic. Join us as we connect a playful parlor trick to the absolute limits of formal arithmetic, revealing how the simplest rules can hide immense logical depth. Not...
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A classic rope puzzle that seems simple unlocks a doorway to the foundations of mathematics. We trace how lighting two ends and timing the second fuse reveals the fusible numbers, show they are all dyadic rationals, and explore the well-ordered structure whose gaps encode epsilon naught—the proof-theoretic strength of Peano arithmetic. Join us as we connect a playful parlor trick to the absolute limits of formal arithmetic, revealing how the simplest rules can hide immense logical depth. Not...
Cron: From Polling to Precision—the Quiet Engine of Time-Based Automation
Intellectually Curious
5 minutes
2 days ago
Cron: From Polling to Precision—the Quiet Engine of Time-Based Automation
A deep dive into Cron, the five-field scheduler that powers recurring tasks across multi-user systems. We trace its evolution from the brutal minute-by-minute polling of early Unix, through System V’s discrete-event scheduling, to modern standards like Vixie Cron and the OpenCron Patterns Specification—explaining how the leap from “is it time yet?” to “when is the next event?” made scalable, reliable infrastructure possible. Note: This podcast was AI-generated, and sometimes AI can make mist...
Intellectually Curious
A classic rope puzzle that seems simple unlocks a doorway to the foundations of mathematics. We trace how lighting two ends and timing the second fuse reveals the fusible numbers, show they are all dyadic rationals, and explore the well-ordered structure whose gaps encode epsilon naught—the proof-theoretic strength of Peano arithmetic. Join us as we connect a playful parlor trick to the absolute limits of formal arithmetic, revealing how the simplest rules can hide immense logical depth. Not...
