A paper proving the Kepler Conjecture (What is the most efficient way to stack spheres?) has been accepted by the Annals of Mathematics. However, the proof requires some extensive computer calculations. This New York Times article briefly talks about the proof and how computers fit into the philosophy of Mathematics.
(The New York Times website requires a one time registration.)
Rose Is Rose artist Pat Brady recently hired his own replacement: Don Wimmer, illustrator of Ripley's Believe It or Not!. Brady will be collaborating with Don Wimmer on future strips, and will continue to have an active hand in the creative aspects of the work.
Can you change the artist on a comic strip, and not change the strip itself?
Even if Wimmer's art looks similar to Brady's, it's not. There are subtle (and not so subtle) differences. If they are not evident today, then they will be in a short time, when the new artist has evolved the characters to include more of himself.
Characters that look different will talk different, and act different. When characters start looking and acting and talking differently, it's not the same strip any more.
And this is where the paradox occurs, because if Wimmer doesn't evolve the strip, then he runs the risk of it becoming another Hagar the Not Interesting, rehashing the same bad puns over and over again, taking up valuable syndication space for fresher, more talented comic artists. But if he does evolve it, then the fans of Rose Is Rose risk losing their comic strip.
Pat Brady's last solo comic strip was on February 29th.
Don Wimmer started signing them on March 2nd.
(The above article was forwarded to me via e-mail. I am not sure of its original source. You can visit my Rose is Rose fansite at http://www.nightswimming.com/rose)