Random Thoughts Part 4 - Split Thread

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The discussion revolves around a variety of topics, beginning with the reopening of a thread on the Physics Forums. Participants express relief at the continuation of the conversation and share light-hearted banter about past threads. There are inquiries about quoting from previous threads and discussions about job opportunities for friends. The conversation shifts to humorous takes on mathematics, particularly the concept of "Killing vector fields," which one participant humorously critiques as dangerous. Participants also share personal anecdotes, including experiences with power outages and thoughts on teaching at university. The tone remains casual and playful, with discussions about the challenges of winter, the joys of friendship, and even a few jokes about life experiences. The thread captures a blend of humor, personal stories, and light philosophical musings, all while maintaining a sense of community among the forum members.
  • #3,331
My indoor-outdoor thermometer quit working a few weeks ago. I tried changing the batteries, adjusting the connections, etc. and nothing worked. After about two weeks, I finally ordered a new one online. I didn't disconnect the old one though. Of course on the day that the new one arrived, the old one started working again. :rolleyes:
 
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  • #3,332
WWGD said:
Guess you hang out with the hip crowd;

Haha. I get it, meaning bulimics are "hip" because their pelvic bones are the only thing on their bodies that aren't emaciated and wasting away?
 
  • #3,333
Borg said:
My indoor-outdoor thermometer quit working a few weeks ago. I tried changing the batteries, adjusting the connections, etc. and nothing worked. After about two weeks, I finally ordered a new one online. I didn't disconnect the old one though. Of course on the day that the new one arrived, the old one started working again. :rolleyes:
Too bad it's not a guitar, otherwise you could just sit on it for a couple of decades and then sell it as a vintage to make a small fortune.
 
  • #3,334
DiracPool said:
Haha. I get it, meaning bulimics are "hip" because their pelvic bones are the only thing on their bodies that aren't emaciated and wasting away?
Hip Hip, Hooray, you got it. And, BTW, nothing hip about a fracture.
 
  • #3,335
I got a new phone recently. It has a predictive text function, which seems to remember both new words and new combinations of words (I think it's just ordered pairs for the latter). The result of me posting here from my phone is that it could make a pretty good stab at answering frequent questions in the relativity forum all on its own.

If you ever see a paper authored by a phone, please look to see if I at least get an acknowledgment.
 
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  • #3,336
Ibix said:
I got a new phone recently. It has a predictive text function, which seems to remember both new words and new combinations of words (I think it's just ordered pairs for the latter).

I think the miracle of the smart phone is in it's voice recognition capacity. I talk to my smart phone all day long. I ask it questions and it gives me answers. However, it does expose itself as a "dumb bomb." What do I mean my this? Well, you can clearly see the logic of it's operation unfold real time. It begins by taking the literal translation of your words, which are typically poorly translated, but then, what I'm guessing, is that google has an algorithm that scans the popular media to match your query to popular news sources, searches, etc. It's pretty clever and effective, but it's not how the brain abstracts such knowledge, and therefore we can't really call it artificial intelligence.
 
  • #3,337
Ibix said:
If you ever see a paper authored by a phone, please look to see if I at least get an acknowledgment.
So you will upload voice records soon instead of writings? Ibix' black box?
 
  • #3,338
DiracPool said:
I think the miracle of the smart phone is in it's voice recognition capacity. I talk to my smart phone all day long. I ask it questions and it gives me answers. However, it does expose itself as a "dumb bomb." What do I mean my this? Well, you can clearly see the logic of it's operation unfold real time. It begins by taking the literal translation of your words, which are typically poorly translated, but then, what I'm guessing, is that google has an algorithm that scans the popular media to match your query to popular news sources, searches, etc. It's pretty clever and effective, but it's not how the brain abstracts such knowledge, and therefore we can't really call it artificial intelligence.

I would say that to be really intelligent it would have to use an algorithm adapted to _your_ data . So intelligence comes with more specificity; it is easier to make general rules than to do something adapted to a situation at hand.
 
  • #3,339
I keep making the mistake of buying these "natural sausages"; sausages with vegetables (or fruits) added to them (cooked or prepared with the sausage),
though I invariably never like them and just force myself to east them to avoid throwing them out. Don't know why I just don't seem to get it,
and it doesn't register that I don't like that combination.
 
  • #3,340
WWGD said:
Don't know why I just don't seem to get it,
and it doesn't register that I don't like that combination.
Perhaps you can repair it with tabasco. Much tabasco.
 
  • #3,341
fresh_42 said:
Perhaps you can repair it with tabasco. Much tabasco.
Or Soy sauce, or giving them away to a neighbor/friend, a double whammy: you come off looking generous (which I would not be in this case)
while getting rid of the unwanted sausage.
 
  • #3,342
WWGD said:
I keep making the mistake of buying these "natural sausages"; sausages with vegetables (or fruits) added to them (cooked or prepared with the sausage),
though I invariably never like them and just force myself to east them to avoid throwing them out. Don't know why I just don't seem to get it,
and it doesn't register that I don't like that combination.
If you search your soul with scrupulous honesty, I think you'd find out you do like that combination on some important level; probably the theoretical level, a level at which that combination makes good sense and seems better than sausage alone. Your problem, if you'll pardon the unsolicited psychological analysis, is that you seem not to be properly demoting the theoretical appeal in light of the contrary evidence of repeated practical testing. Despite the fact the 'sausage with vegetables = good' theory has been repeatedly falsified, you cling to it. In other words: you are a sausage crackpot.
 
  • #3,343
Apropos tabasco. I wonder whether the recipes of your sauces differ when they are sold in the south? I once had a hot Heintz ketchup in Spain and when I came home and bought the same one here it turned out to be far less hot.
 
  • #3,344
zoobyshoe said:
If you search your soul with scrupulous honesty, I think you'd find out you do like that combination on some important level; probably the theoretical level, a level at which that combination makes good sense and seems better than sausage alone. Your problem, if you'll pardon the unsolicited psychological analysis, is that you seem not to be properly demoting the theoretical appeal in light of the contrary evidence of repeated practical testing. Despite the fact the 'sausage with vegetables = good' theory has been repeatedly falsified, you cling to it. In other words: you are a sausage crackpot.

I agree, I either like the novelty aspect of having the vegetables there or I think I would benefit from the vegetables, but the taste factor seems to overwhelm and dominate both these two options.
 
  • #3,345
WWGD said:
I agree, I either like the novelty aspect of having the vegetables there or I think I would benefit from the vegetables, but the taste factor seems to overwhelm and dominate both these two options.
A common human foible. We like the idea of something and so, keep returning to it despite the fact the practical manifestation of the idea is less than satisfying.
 
  • #3,346
zoobyshoe said:
A common human foible. We like the idea of something and so, keep returning to it despite the fact the practical manifestation of the idea is less than satisfying.
Yes, Mr Spock, I am not; maybe I should settle for EDIT being like Dr. Spock instead.
 
Last edited:
  • #3,347
WWGD said:
Yes, Mr Spock, I am not; maybe I should settle for Dr. Spock instead.
Just watching Into Darkness on TV :cool:
 
  • #3,348
WWGD said:
Don't know why I just don't seem to get it,
and it doesn't register that I don't like that combination.
Coloring maybe?

COLOURING_Monascus_Red_Color_for_Sausages.jpg

image compliments http://www.ec21.com/product-details/COLOURING-Monascus-Red-Color-for--8618219.html
 
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  • #3,349
 
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  • #3,351
This episode (Gasping for Air) of Secret Space Escapes is blowing my mind.

A toxic leak threatens the lives of astronauts; a crew suffers from depressurization; and an engine malfunctions at takeoff.
 
  • #3,352
Just got back from Costa Rica. My new favorite drink is rum :woot:.

Not a non sequitur.
 
  • #3,353
lisab said:
Just got back from Costa Rica. My new favorite drink is rum :woot:.

Not a non sequitur.
Wild partying, or water not trustworthy (or something else)? I've heard good things about C.R; only country without an army, for one.
 
  • #3,354
WWGD said:
Wild partying, or water not trustworthy (or something else)? I've heard good things about C.R; only country without an army, for one.
I think Iceland has neither. And they are in the NATO. Ingenious.
 
  • #3,355
fresh_42 said:
I think Iceland has neither.
Neither? No army and what else? Iceland may be too far out to be of strategic interest. No oil either, and maybe part of Nato?
 
  • #3,356
WWGD said:
Neither? No army and what else? Iceland may be too far out to be of strategic interest. No oil either, and maybe part of Nato?
Yep. I lack a little bit of grip on the usage of neither.
 
  • #3,357
WWGD said:
Wild partying, or water not trustworthy (or something else)? I've heard good things about C.R; only country without an army, for one.

Yeah they're very proud of that. But it's a small country - about the size of West Virginia or Denmark. Not sure if the police are a national organization or local, but there are plenty. We came upon a checkstop where we were ordered by unsmiling officers to show our passports.

Come to think of it, none of the law enforcement officers I saw on the whole trip were smiling...but lawdy, every other Tico was. What a beautiful place, and what great people!
 
  • #3,358
lisab said:
Yeah they're very proud of that. But it's a small country - about the size of West Virginia or Denmark. Not sure if the police are a national organization or local, but there are plenty. We came upon a checkstop where we were ordered by unsmiling officers to show our passports.

Come to think of it, none of the law enforcement officers I saw on the whole trip were smiling...but lawdy, every other Tico was. What a beautiful place, and what great people!
Most prosperous and peaceful place in a dangerous and troubled region with guerrillas and inner fighting. I would like to visit.
 
  • #3,359
fresh_42 said:
Yep. I lack a little bit of grip on the usage of neither.
Are you Icelandic?
 
  • #3,360
WWGD said:
Are you Icelandic?
Unfortunately not. They almost run completely on renewable energy, have a nice culture with their fairies and goblins. But the language is horror!
 

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