Even though this does not really constitute a post with substantial content, this <i>is</i> a blog after all, so I thought I'd let the 8 people who read it know that for the next six weeks, I will be attending <a href="http://simons.berkeley.edu/programs/algebraicgeometry2014" target="_blank">a special semester on Algorithms and Complexity in Algebraic Geometry at the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing in Berkeley</a>. So. If you happen to be in the bay area, give me a shout.
Zariski's proof ((Oscar Zariski. <i><a href="http://projecteuclid.org/euclid.bams/1183510605" target"_blank">A new proof of Hilbert's Nullstellensatz</a></i>, Bulletin of the Ameican Mathematical Society Volume 53, Number 4 (1947), 362-368.)) of the Hilbert Nullstellensatz makes use of the ineffable <i>Rabinowitch</i> Trick ((J. L. Rabinowitsch, <i><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007%2FBF01782361">Zum Hilbertschen Nullstellensatz</a></i>, Mathematische Annalen Volume 102, No. 1 (1929), 520.)) (check it out, that has got to be the shortest paper ever). But who <i>is</i> that awesome guy Rabinowitsch? I found out today, and the answer is basically in <a href="http://mathoverflow.net/questions/45195" target="_blank">in this MO post</a>:
> Rainich was giving a lecture in which he made use of a clever trick which he had discovered. Someone in the audience indignantly interrupted him pointing out that this was the famous <i>Rabinowitsch</i> trick and berating Rainich for claiming to have discovered it. Without a word Rainich turned to the blackboard, picked up the chalk, and wrote <b>RABINOWITSCH</b>. He then put down the chalk, picked up an eraser and began erasing letters. When he was done what remained was <b>RA<span style="color:transparent">B</span>IN<span style="color:transparent">OW</span>I<span style="color:transparent">TS</span>CH</b>. He then went on with his lecture.
Apparently, <a href="http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=7770" target="_blank">George Yuri Rainich</a> is the mysterious stranger that went by the name of Rabinowitsch, which was his birthname ((Bruce P. Palka, <i><a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/4145290" target="_blank">Editor's Endnotes</a> (May 2004)</i>, The American Mathematical Monthly 111 (5): 456–460)) ((Bruce P. Palka, <i><a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/4145123" target="_blank">Editor's Endnotes</a> (December 2004)</i>. The American Mathematical Monthly 111 (10): 927–929)). I even updated the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Yuri_Rainich" target="_blank">wikipedia page</a>. Oh right, the reason this even caught my attention: <a href="http://www.math.uiuc.edu/~dan/" target="_blank">Daniel R. Grayson</a> has a <a href="http://www.math.uiuc.edu/~dan/ShortProofs/nullstellen.pdf" target="_blank">really sweet, short proof of the Nullstellensatz</a>, also using the Rainich Trick.