Here's the deal: I've exhausted my neurons looking for some kind of answer to a mathematical symbol stumper. I'd love to know who invented, originated, or was the first individual to use the double-tilde (≈) as a means of expressing/denoting "approximately equal" in mathematics. I know that Robert-Recorde is supposed to have introduced the "equals" sign (=) in 1557. Any and all assistance is greatly appreciated. I await enlightenment.
posted on Aug 28, 2008 - 5 answers

I want to do something (maybe embroidery, maybe a tattoo, maybe plant a garden) with plants that symbolize my three children. My youngest is named Rosemary, so that's quite easy, but I am having a harder time coming up with plants that would symbolize the names Evan and Nathaniel. I've googled and had no luck. I'm looking for something that contains the names, or something recognizably similar to them in the common or botanical name, or maybe a plant that is somehow associated with those names, or... anything you can think of. And the plants probably shouldn't look odd with a Rosemary plant next to it.
posted on Aug 1, 2008 - 9 answers

Why do so many currency symbols contain a vertical or horizontal slash? [more inside]
posted on Jun 30, 2008 - 7 answers

What is this character: §. And what is it's use? [more inside]
posted on Jun 21, 2008 - 6 answers

Where can I find tourist-guidey symbols? [more inside]
posted on Jun 9, 2008 - 2 answers

Whenever I dream, stairwells, elevators, and large buildings with multiple levels always figure prominently. There'd be nothing strange about this except a) my daily life does not involve stairwells, large buildings, or elevators in any way, and b) they're in absolutely every dream I have -- no exceptions. This has been going on for at least a year, possibly longer. What could be possibly be causing this?
posted on May 23, 2008 - 15 answers

In the Cimitero Monumentale in Milan lies a crypt of the Galimberti family. Cuboid in shape, it bears numerous engravings which appear scientific in nature. I can make out what appears to be smashing particles, parabolas, lenses, and spirals. Is there a hidden meaning to all of this? A message? Code? [more inside]
posted on May 9, 2008 - 8 answers

Does this graffiti art image have some well-known meaning? [more inside]
posted on May 7, 2008 - 6 answers

I've installed Mac OS Leopard. I want to write some characters from symbolic logic. Where is character palette in word? Alternately, where online can I find the symbolic characters. [more inside]
posted on Dec 2, 2007 - 4 answers

Wolf imagery and depression. References? [more inside]
posted on Nov 30, 2007 - 10 answers

Is there a symbol for the phrase "and/or"? [more inside]
posted on Sep 15, 2007 - 19 answers

At the bottom of this list of available emblems of belief for veteran's headstones two symbols, the christian scientist cross and crown and the muslim five pointed star, are said to be not shown due to copyright. What's up with that? [more inside]
posted on Apr 24, 2007 - 7 answers

AncientSymbolsFilter: My google skills have failed me. I'm looking for a symbol representing night or darkness. Preferably from Antiquity or Celtic societies. Help?
posted on Mar 15, 2007 - 11 answers

Weird-Symbol-Filter: I have driven past this house every day to work for years and I am no closer to working out what this symbol hanging above the owner's gateway is. Help me Me-fites! [more inside]
posted on Feb 22, 2007 - 15 answers

I have searched and searched online for American Indian art to no avail. More specifically - I'm looking for the kind of bold clip art (thick lines) or logo-type of art associated or signifying with each of the following: Shawnee, Lakotas, Iroquois, Ojibwe, Cahokia, Cherokee - animal art is fine as well. Are there any symbols of the same type of art that might relate to law or justice??. Am I looking for something that doesn't exist? Thanks in advance for any help!!!
posted on Aug 21, 2006 - 5 answers

What is the meaning of the symbol(s) on the cover of Roland Barthes' Mythologies?
posted on Mar 5, 2006 - 9 answers

Why are there so many book publishers that have birds in their names or their logos? Is there a historical explanation? Is there any explanation? [more inside]
posted on Feb 8, 2006 - 22 answers

The online version of the OED (subscription required) uses an ASCII version of IPA, and I can't figure it out. [more inside]
posted on Jan 8, 2006 - 12 answers

What is the origin of the universal power symbol? You know the one with the circle and the vertical line. [more inside]
posted on Dec 1, 2005 - 14 answers

What are these symbols spraypainted on the sidewalk near Boston, MA? My photo might be upside-down or sidways. [more inside]
posted on Oct 9, 2005 - 17 answers

What's the name of the typical graphics people use to signify old-fashioned movie-film, like numbers counting down, cryptic symbols, squiggly marks, etc.? I am designing a film related site and would like to use these graphics, but not knowing what they're called, I have had no luck finding any. Links to actual images would be greatly appreciated, of course.
posted on Jun 3, 2005 - 10 answers

I've got a cool idea for a tattoo, which I may or may not actually get done. But I need your help. More inside. [more inside]
posted on Apr 15, 2005 - 45 answers

A friend was asking about this, and he aroused my curiosity as well. A strange symbol is turning up in graffiti all over the campus of our university and we are wondering about what it means, if anything. [more inside]
posted on Feb 19, 2005 - 18 answers

If you live in the US, you've probably seen them. Those yellow and red,white and blue magnets that people stick on their cars that look like ribbons, usually saying "Support Our Troops" or something of the sort. I've got a question about them. [MI]
posted on Nov 29, 2004 - 35 answers

I am trying to identify three different symbols, two of which were bumper stickers and one is a popular tattoo...[mi]
posted on Aug 27, 2004 - 12 answers

A Korean friend-of-a-friend, and fellow indie pop devotee, gave me a metal bookmark. Of its many symbols, the most prominent is something like (excuse my ignorance) a yin yang, but with three "swirls," colored red, yellow, and blue. (There is also a fish, a butterfly, and what I think is a Chinese "double happiness" and some hangul writing.) Could someone tell me what this means?
posted on Feb 4, 2004 - 3 answers

I want to get a tattoo, could anyone give me some good suggestions on where to put it? (more inside)

It's like this. I want to get a round ying yang type design on my back. This would be very small, about three inches in diameter or smaller, likely. I'm a relatively small female. I've been thinking about getting it on my back, as nothing else seems like a good place. However, I can't decide where on my back, or even if I want to put it there. If I do get it on my back, I was thinking of adding a larger design of a dragon later, so I've been trying to think of something that won't look weird contrasted to the dragon. Any suggestions?

Oh, and I know to do all the research about the tattooing parlor, and to seriously think about whether it's a good idea to get a tattoo. I've been thinking about this for probably a year, and probably won't actually get it for a couple more anyway.
posted on Jan 14, 2004 - 22 answers