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Some Reply Guy on X assured me yesteday that “transformers can multiply”. Even pointed me to a paper, allegedly offering proof. The paper turns out to be pretty great, doing exactly the right test, but it doesn’t prove what its title alleges. More like the opposite. The paper alleges “GPT Can Solve Mathematical Problems Without a Calculator.” But it doesn’t really show that, except in the sense that I can shoot free throws in the NBA, Sure, I can toss the ball in the air, and sometimes I might even sink a shot, the more so with practice; but I am probably going to miss a lot, too.

Here’s a question that I wrote myself, but is extremely similar to a bunch of things I’ve seen people actually ask: I’m a 3rd Grade teacher (or: parent, or: journalist) and I’m enthusiastic about the Science of Reading. It’s totally changing how I think about reading, especially for struggling learners. But what about math? Isn’t it time for a Science of Mathematics movement? And I always want to answer with a very respectful, no, I don’t think so.

G’day Fearmongers — I bring you two things — 1st of all a reminder that tickets are on sale now for our 1,000,000th download LIVE SHOW. It’s at Melbourne’s Malthouse Theatre and the line up is stacked with ARF favourites including Charlie Pickering, Kirsty Webeck, Sami Shah, Dj Andrew McClelland and the man with the most downloads in Australia Richard Fidler. 🎟️ Buy a ticket now before they’re all sold out.

Orthodoxy of Me By Matthew Paul Turner I'm Matthew Paul Turner and this is Orthodoxy of Me. I'm a gay dad of 3 kids who writes children's books about God. Sign up to get stories, advice, and inspirations about my life, my creativity, my parenting, and my coming out. ncG1vNJzZmirpZfAta3CpGWcp51kja6t062fnq%2BglsKtwNSrpZ6q

Last Saturday night, I found out about Matthew Perry’s death while scrolling Instagram in bed. I whisper-shouted, FUUUUUCK, and send a screenshot to T. This news hit amid another torrent of impossibly difficult news; just last week, the war in the Middle East escalated, the deadliest mass shooting of the year happened in Maine, and my mom visited the sit… ncG1vNJzZmikkaq%2FornCpKawnZ5jwLau0q2YnKNemLyue89opJqspJ2yuHnPnqmrsQ%3D%3D

This week’s What’s Alan Watching newsletter coming up just as soon as I’m trapped in an ATM vestibule with Jill Goodacre… Serious fans of The O.C. probably can tell exactly why Seth Cohen looks so shocked here. But for our purposes, let’s pretend that he’s freaking out over the realization that there is now less than a month until the November 28 release of Welcome to The O.C., my oral history book about the seminal mid-’00s teen drama.

I just finished a remarkable little book: The Language Of Creation: Cosmic Symbolism In Genesis, by Matthieu Pageau, the brother of the better-known Jonathan Pageau. It’s kind of mind-blowing, to tell the truth. It absolutely is going to be a big part of my re-enchantment book. It brings so much together! I’ve been interested in this book for a while, but wasn’t sure if I should buy it, simply because I don’t have the training to judge its claims.

Welcome to ingredient, where once a month I take a deep dive into some of my favourite seasonal and store cupboard ingredients. This month I’m focusing on matzo meal: the kosher kitchen staple and key matzo ball soup ingredient that can be used for everything from breadcrumbing fried fish to binding meatballs, and which becomes essential to everyday cooking when leavened bread is rejected during Passover, which starts this year on April 15th.

Hi Readers, Just a quick post from me to our community to mark the beginning of the Triduum, or the Holy Three Days before Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday. I wasn’t leading a Maundy Thursday service this year, but it was a big day for our family. Both of my sons completed instruction and celebrated the First Communion this evening at Maundy Thursday … ncG1vNJzZmiZnpyyra3DnqWknaJjwLau0q2YnKNemLyue89opJqtnpnGbsDHrqmsnJGuenN8kW0%3D