Category: Strange Powers of the Mind

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Okay, admittedly, this post has nothing to do with math. But I got distracted.

We had visitors over from my wife’s family, and the young father of a four-year old boy was teaching his son how to spin a coin on the table. He said, “I think a coin can be spun with one hand? Can you do it?”

The reason he asked is because he knows I am a semi-retired (not semi-retarded) (okay, maybe a little) magician.

I had never tried, but it didn’t seem too daunting. So I gave it a try, and it was pretty easy. But while thinking about it, I came up with what I believe is a novel way.

Check out the video. It’s easy to learn, and is seems more difficult than it really is.

Have fun,

Brian

(note: At some point I misspoke and said John Kennedy was Ted’s younger brother. Of course, Ted was the younger brother.

I know that in the last post I mentioned that it is pretty much impossible to explain to immature minds what the benefits of learning math or any other skill is.

But I assume if your a Math Mojo reader, you have a pretty mature mind. (Cool sentence, eh? I get to flatter both you and me at the same time!)

So here are a few examples of concrete benefits I have gained from using “strange powers of the mind.” These are not necessarily the same benefits you will have. Everyone will experience different benefits. (Mileage may vary.)

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That the heck does writing backwards have to do with math?

For me, it’s a sort of warm-up exercise to get me into the creative, non-judgemental flow of opening my mind. This helps let answers come to me that my mind would otherwise have blocked out. It makes thinking less of a chore and more of a “party in my mind.”

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With so many things in bloom here in rural upstate New York, I figured it’s time for some new Ideas with Math Mojo.

One of them is the addition of a new segment, called, “Strange Powers of the Mind.” Look for a lot more weird stuff like this at Math Mojo. Sign up for the Math Mojo Monthly (”Comes out Quarterly, Mostly!”) Newsletter to keep up with the additions.
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