Comments on: Forget The Shortest Path http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path Mac & Technology Writings by Daniel Jalkut Fri, 8 Aug 2008 01:03:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Ryan http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path#comment-23020 Ryan Tue, 07 Nov 2006 00:34:22 +0000 http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path#comment-23020 Very interesting. I'm not a sailor, but I work a good bit with the shortest path (graph theory). Good read. Very interesting. I’m not a sailor, but I work a good bit with the shortest path (graph theory). Good read.

]]> By: Gordon http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path#comment-22149 Gordon Fri, 03 Nov 2006 20:24:56 +0000 http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path#comment-22149 Interesting analysis. All this reminds of the value of curvilinear thinking as opposed to the habit to think in terms of rectilinear space. So much becomes possible when you see the world in terms of curved space instead of straight lines. If you like philosophy, you might enjoy reading Gilles Deleuze's book <a href="http://www.upress.umn.edu/Books/D/deleuze_fold.html" rel="nofollow">The Fold</a>. I think it touches on similar themes and thoughts. Interesting analysis. All this reminds of the value of curvilinear thinking as opposed to the habit to think in terms of rectilinear space. So much becomes possible when you see the world in terms of curved space instead of straight lines.

If you like philosophy, you might enjoy reading Gilles Deleuze’s book The Fold. I think it touches on similar themes and thoughts.

]]> By: eBob http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path#comment-21736 eBob Wed, 01 Nov 2006 22:32:00 +0000 http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path#comment-21736 The first diagram is also almost an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IDIC" rel="nofollow">IDIC symbol</a>. The first diagram is also almost an IDIC symbol.

]]> By: Caius Durling http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path#comment-21731 Caius Durling Wed, 01 Nov 2006 22:11:32 +0000 http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path#comment-21731 There is nothing better than blasting along on a port tack with the mainsheet balancing the tiller, and the jib holding the bow straight whilst you sit with your feet dangling over the windward side in the brilliant sunshine. Or sailing close to the wind in a Gale Force 6 with full sails up, and having to brace yourself against the lee cockpit coaming to try and get the lee rail under as much as possible, whilst hoping at the same time that the keep doesn't decide to drop off at that point. Either way, its all good fun. Tacking upwind in a breeze in a river that is bridged by trees is not however (3 hours to go half a mile! - We couldn't be bothered to Quant.) I'm sailing a Topper Magno next week (big dinghy) for my birthday present to myself, so that should be fun, and reading this makes me realise how much I miss sailing. There is nothing better than blasting along on a port tack with the mainsheet balancing the tiller, and the jib holding the bow straight whilst you sit with your feet dangling over the windward side in the brilliant sunshine.
Or sailing close to the wind in a Gale Force 6 with full sails up, and having to brace yourself against the lee cockpit coaming to try and get the lee rail under as much as possible, whilst hoping at the same time that the keep doesn’t decide to drop off at that point.

Either way, its all good fun. Tacking upwind in a breeze in a river that is bridged by trees is not however (3 hours to go half a mile! - We couldn’t be bothered to Quant.)

I’m sailing a Topper Magno next week (big dinghy) for my birthday present to myself, so that should be fun, and reading this makes me realise how much I miss sailing.

]]> By: Daniel Jalkut http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path#comment-21707 Daniel Jalkut Wed, 01 Nov 2006 20:43:45 +0000 http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path#comment-21707 I have yet to sail in a boat that has a motor. Probably because I'm basically learning on toy boats. But I agree I wouldn't want to use a motor except for special circumstances. It seems like all the thrill of it for me is in harnessing the wind and getting it to do something "impossible" like moving me towards it. I have yet to sail in a boat that has a motor. Probably because I’m basically learning on toy boats. But I agree I wouldn’t want to use a motor except for special circumstances. It seems like all the thrill of it for me is in harnessing the wind and getting it to do something “impossible” like moving me towards it.

]]> By: Paul Kim http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path#comment-21701 Paul Kim Wed, 01 Nov 2006 20:30:36 +0000 http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path#comment-21701 My experience is limited, but just to speak more on the sailing part of the analogy, tacking can be tedious. Tacking involves a lot of zig-zagging, making a bunch of small indirect steps towards the destination. I find it to be ingenious but it can be a pain having to dodge the boom as you come about constantly. You could just kick in the motor if you are feeling lazy but I feel it destroys the whole mood; the main point of sailing for me being able to travel with only the sound of the water and wind. Waiting is not always a good option or can make things worse in the end. If low-tide is approaching it can cut off certain routes as rocks that were sufficiently underwater for you to clear before are now closer to the surface. Plus, sometimes you just want to get home in time to cook some lobster. My experience is limited, but just to speak more on the sailing part of the analogy, tacking can be tedious. Tacking involves a lot of zig-zagging, making a bunch of small indirect steps towards the destination. I find it to be ingenious but it can be a pain having to dodge the boom as you come about constantly. You could just kick in the motor if you are feeling lazy but I feel it destroys the whole mood; the main point of sailing for me being able to travel with only the sound of the water and wind.

Waiting is not always a good option or can make things worse in the end. If low-tide is approaching it can cut off certain routes as rocks that were sufficiently underwater for you to clear before are now closer to the surface. Plus, sometimes you just want to get home in time to cook some lobster.

]]> By: Mike Zornek http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path#comment-21673 Mike Zornek Wed, 01 Nov 2006 19:01:06 +0000 http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path#comment-21673 "You can sail in almost any direction except for straight into the wind." -- I learned this playing Wind Waker on the GameCube. Though, sailing was pretty easy considering you could play a song and a adjust the wind to fit your needs. “You can sail in almost any direction except for straight into the wind.” — I learned this playing Wind Waker on the GameCube. Though, sailing was pretty easy considering you could play a song and a adjust the wind to fit your needs.

]]> By: Scott Stevenson http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path#comment-21583 Scott Stevenson Wed, 01 Nov 2006 10:31:30 +0000 http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path#comment-21583 <i>You forgot to mention waiting as a solution.</i> Daniel's approach covers that if you think in four dimenions. You forgot to mention waiting as a solution.

Daniel’s approach covers that if you think in four dimenions.

]]> By: Conor http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path#comment-21576 Conor Wed, 01 Nov 2006 09:40:20 +0000 http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path#comment-21576 You forgot to mention waiting as a solution. There is no need to tack, wait for things to change (in this case the wind) and the shortest course is the one you would have drawn on paper. Patience is a virtue. Good choice on the starboard tack, it means you have the right of way for the first leg of the manoeuvre giving you an advantage – you were born an innate sailor. Come to Spain next year and get <a href="http://www.americascup.com/en/" rel="nofollow">hooked for life</a>. You forgot to mention waiting as a solution. There is no need to tack, wait for things to change (in this case the wind) and the shortest course is the one you would have drawn on paper. Patience is a virtue. Good choice on the starboard tack, it means you have the right of way for the first leg of the manoeuvre giving you an advantage – you were born an innate sailor. Come to Spain next year and get hooked for life.

]]> By: Charles http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path#comment-21553 Charles Wed, 01 Nov 2006 07:19:41 +0000 http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/218/forget-the-shortest-path#comment-21553 That first diagram is almost a Feynman Diagram. That first diagram is almost a Feynman Diagram.

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