- They seem harmless enough, 52 thin slices of laminated cardboard with colorful designs printed on their sides. Yet, as another illustration of the mantra that complexity begins from the most simple systems, the number of variations that these 52 cards can produce is virtually endless. The richness of most playing card games owes itself to this fact.
- Chara (stars.astro.illinois.edu)
CHARA (Beta Canum Venaticorum). A lovely name for a northern star that vaults the heavens in northern spring, “Chara” from Greek meaning “joy.”