Adam pointed me to this funny analysis of the Pioneer 10 plaque.
Also, some interesting notes gleaned from the process of grading undergraduate history papers. I realize reading them that, though I am a competent writer in some senses, there's still some lesson(s) I never really learned in high school and college about writing good essays, good arguments, good rhetoric. I think I do okay just fakin' it. For the most part the argumentation I have to do for work is formal mathematical argumentation, so that's all right — I know I'm okay at that. Still. You know it when you see it: really sharp, tight, well-crafted knock-down persuasive writing. It's an area I'd like to improve in.
