Letter to Scientific American
Dear Sci-Am.
I am thoroughly enjoying the 175th Anniversary issue of Scientific American, as I do every other issue, really. At times, though, I find myself frowning when I read a Sci-Am article. “The Symmetry Pair” by Stephen Ornes is one of these articles. Mr. Arnes’ recollection of Gardner and Escher is great fun to read. At least I found it so, till I came to the line “One key attribute Escher shares with...anyone who finds themselves unable to resist a puzzle...,” and here I have to admit to having been totally unable to resist the puzzle of why Mr. Arnes butchers logic by finding agreement between anyone and finds themselves. I was decidedly irritated at first by this seeming and shameless stooping to linguistic pc. Then, in a flash, it occurred to me that Mr. Arnes was simply, and pointedly, sharing an affinity with Escher's own “blatant disregard for convention and authority.” Puzzle solved, and every trace of annoyance dissolved, I am now back at enjoying the remaining articles in this great issue of the magazine.
Thanks, Sci-Am.
Ermes Culos
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