Monday Potpourri

Time to catch up on a few things from the past couple days.

Readers seem to always enjoy 'quickies' as I call 'em, so here's a delectable one from a recent Twitter feed for all the foodies out there:

https://twitter.com/nerdfaced/status/289867477305937920/photo/1

'Wild About Math's' latest podcast is with Mircea Pitici, the editor of the annual "The Best Writing On Mathematics" series. The ~hour-long podcast is here:

http://wildaboutmath.com/2013/01/13/mircea-pitici-inspired-by-math-15/

I reviewed Pitici's latest 2012 edition on the blog HERE, and also included it in my book shopping list recommendations for Christmas a couple months ago.
[ADDENDUM: Yikes! Sol is churning out the podcasts lately and already has a lengthy, newer one up with Steven Strogatz -- haven't had a chance to listen yet, but undoubtedly HAS TO BE good stuff!]

Finally, what's worrying mathematicians these days…? We get a hint from John Brockman.
Brockman's cutting-edge/contemplative 'Edge' site has posted responses to its 2013 question "What should we be worried about?":

http://edge.org/contributors/q2013

Lots (150+) of good contributions of course, but I'll just link to three of the mathematicians who replied, and pique your interest with the first couple of lines from their entries:

Keith Devlin: http://edge.org/response-detail/23783

"Are we about to see advances in mathematics come to an end? Until last year, I would have said no. Now I am not so sure."

Clifford Pickover: http://edge.org/response-detail/23670

"I used to worry that our mathematical and physical descriptions of the universe grow forever, but our brains and language skills remain entrenched. Some of our computer chips and software are becoming mind-numbingly complex."

Steven Strogatz: http://edge.org/response-detail/23820

"In every realm where we exist as a collective — in society, in the global economy, on the Internet — we are blithely increasing the coupling between us, with no idea what that might entail."