Random Thoughts Part 5: Time to Split Again

[OmCheeto]

I don't think they are. Try creating an 8 from two threes in some other situation and see how accurate your answer is. There's such an obvious implied constraint against that that no one would seriously consider it.

To be honest, I don't know what the official answer is. But I do know a bit of maths, and a few of the rules, so I decided to be the judge of the answers.
And after my nap, I decided the there are, as you mentioned, some implied constraints.
The last two sentences were obviously added after the fact, and should be ignored completely.
I also decided that the quiz was done with a pencil, so Borek's merger of two 3s seemed legitimate.

The answer I saw was [15] + [11,3] + [3,7]
This is why I called collinsmark a jerk, as I thought it was too big of a hint.
Commas are used as decimal points in Europe, South America, and Western Africa. [ref]

The Ibix & Sophia solution that I considered correct was: [ , ] + [15] + [15]
although they said they were cheating by leaving a box blank.
But the instructions don't tell you to use the numbers, so putting a comma in one of the boxes works fine, IMHO.

I also like the base change solutions, but that might lead to an ungodly number of solutions.
[ 5₁₅ ] + [ 7₁₅ ] + [ 9₁₅ ] = 30₇
I'm guessing it falls under the pattern:
[ x ] + [ y ] + [ z ] = w_base
where w = 3 * base

The most trivial ones I saw were:

[ 5₇ ] + [ 5₇ ] + [ 5₇ ] = 30₅
[ 7₁₅ ] + [ 7₁₅ ] + [ 7₁₅ ] = 30₇
etc, etc.

But I do understand your "implied constraints" now, as, you can be most creative, without them:

 

[OmCheeto]

ps. About a year before I retired, my company fired me from my management position.
But they kept me on, as a sort of consultant.
So I got to sit in my new boss's office, with my new boss, for about a year, in what used to be my office.
Sometime very near my retirement date, he blurted out something to the effect; "Do I really need to make a new policy rule to cover this"?
I told him; "There are already too many rules. I've been here for 30 years, and every time there's a problem, a new rule gets posted. Eventually, the only rule left will be; "Don't poop on the floor." At which point, someone will pee in the corner."

true story

 

[NascentOxygen]

In some fonts the parentheses wrap-around like a semicircle, so if you type three consecutive characters 3() it forms what resembles 30.

 

[OmCheeto]

In some fonts the parentheses wrap-around like a semicircle, so if you type three consecutive characters 3() it forms what resembles 30.

[ , ] + [ , ] + [ 3() ] = 30

I accept your answer!

Good one!

 

[NascentOxygen]

The answer I saw was [15] + [11,3] + [3,7]

I can see how that may be construed, but I wouldn't allow it, there not being an "11,3" or "3,7" pattern evident in the given set.

I would accept 7,9 + 9,1 + 13 as these sequences of characters are, arguably, all present.

 

[NascentOxygen]

[ , ] + [ , ] + [ 3() ] = 30

Not quite. I meant you could regard "+" as a string concatenation operation, as in BASIC,
[ 3 ] + [ ( ] + [ ) ] = 3()

 

[Sophia]

This puzzle should be much easier for you than for Americans.

View attachment 97634

I had to be shown the answer...
And then I was like; "Oh. That's right. You have to sometimes think outside of the box, in more ways than one."

What about turning it into equation?
3x+5+7=30

This would give us nice number 6

Or another option
15+9+7=30+1

 

[Psinter]

I told him; "There are already too many rules. I've been here for 30 years, and every time there's a problem, a new rule gets posted. Eventually, the only rule left will be; "Don't poop on the floor." At which point, someone will pee in the corner."

What does that mean (if anything)? I don't understand.

 

[Sophia]

Spring is here! (spring equinox)

and something for Psinter

Spoiler

 

[einswine]

What does that mean (if anything)? I don't understand.

I think it means that once one has had to create a rule for every stupid thing you can image someone will do, they will figure out something even stupiderer than that.

 

[Psinter]

Spring is here! (spring equinox)

and something for Psinter

Spoiler

❣♡ They look so charming and lovable! The one that was licking the dog suddenly stopped and raised his cute ears up ♡. And the ones in the water splashed! ♡♡♡❣

It's so charming that if I could give you 10 likes for that post I would give you 20.

I think it means that once one has had to create a rule for every stupid thing you can image someone will do, they will figure out something even stupiderer than that.

Ohhhhhhh, that makes sense.

 

[Ibix]

I think it means that once one has had to create a rule for every stupid thing you can image someone will do, they will figure out something even stupiderer than that.

There's a slightly more subtle point behind it, I think. There is a tendency among corporate types to treat staff as interchangeable drones, and just write more and more rules about what must be done in a certain situation. This does have advantages in some circumstances, but promotes mindless rule following. In many circumstances it is better to have people who are skilled enough to figure out what to do for themselves rather than to have rule-following robots. Particularly because if you don't require brains to work in your place, you'll get the kind of employee who will do something stupid because no one told them not to.

That's my take, anyway.

 

[OmCheeto]

...
Ohhhhhhh, that makes sense.

As an example, one day I was sitting at my desk, about 10 years ago, when one of my employees came stomping into my office, and said something to the effect; "Make her stop looking at me. She keeps looking at me. It's giving me the creeps. Make her stop, now".

I'm sure something like the following, went through my head; "Great. New Rule! No one is allowed to look at anyone."

 

[Ibix]

I'm sure something like the following, went through my head; "Great. New Rule! No one is allowed to look at anyone."

Someone once wanted to implement a no swearing rule at my place of work. My boss immediately asked what words would be on the "banned" list and how we would communicate the "banned" list without violating the ban. Most other reactions used words that would probably be banned. The idea got dropped quite quickly.

 

[Psinter]

I'm sure something like the following, went through my head; "Great. New Rule! No one is allowed to look at anyone."

Hehe, a rule for those who are bothered by it.

Someone once wanted to implement a no swearing rule at my place of work. My boss immediately asked what words would be on the "banned" list and how we would communicate the "banned" list without violating the ban. Most other reactions used words that would probably be banned. The idea got dropped quite quickly.

Replace damn with sham: I don't give a sham.
And arse with rear end. Like here:

Spoiler: Sweet Substance

You can always improve your vocabulary. I do it every time: (Now I practice rather)

Spoiler: Rather

Excuse me, waiter? Yes, I rather have a piece of sweet cocoa instead of that savage yellow liquid the commoners call "beer".

 

[WWGD]

Someone once wanted to implement a no swearing rule at my place of work. My boss immediately asked what words would be on the "banned" list and how we would communicate the "banned" list without violating the ban. Most other reactions used words that would probably be banned. The idea got dropped quite quickly.

Is "Jehovah" one of these?

 

[WWGD]

Going to get some coffee to wake up and...make some money. I am stressed out.

 

[Ibix]

Is "Jehovah" one of these?

<Adjusts fake beard, throws stone>

No. But I've never heard so much bad language in the office as I did that afternoon. It was quite funny listening to my educated, polite, well-spoken colleagues exercising their right to swear like troopers...

 

[WWGD]

<Adjusts fake beard, throws stone>

No. But I've never heard so much bad language in the office as I did that afternoon. It was quite funny listening to my educated, polite, well-spoken colleagues exercising their right to swear like troopers...

Must have been a #@$% ng great time.

 

[zoobyshoe]

It's 22 days past Leap Day.

Current temperature at the South Pole -61° F

News from around the Nation: WWGD said, "#@$% ng."

 

[einswine]

In the midst of a conversation, in the midst of constructing a sentence, I could not find the word that should have gone right there. Immediately in my mind appeared a great plane that stretched into the evening mist of a far horizon. A multitude shambled along indifferently into that vapor as I watched. And looking at them I saw they were my nouns.

True story but, note to self, dyspeptic dystopic visionary schtick... not helpful.

 

[WWGD]

It's 22 days past Leap Day.

Current temperature at the South Pole -61° F

News from around the Nation: WWGD said, "#@$% ng."

You can quote me on that...I guess you just did.

 

[WWGD]

PETA ( which sounds like the British pronunciation for Peter ) has some absurd suggestions. I was reading on mice, and PETA suggests :
1) Using a humane trap. Fair enough, but...

2) Once the mice is caught, it should be returned to its original environment ??
Reasonable, but, how can anyone figure out what this environment is?

 

[OmCheeto]

PETA ( which sounds like the British pronunciation for Peter ) has some absurd suggestions. I was reading on mice, and PETA suggests :
1) Using a humane trap. Fair enough, but...

2) Once the mice is caught, it should be returned to its original environment ??
Reasonable, but, how can anyone figure out what this environment is?

I would say, "outside" is their natural environment.
I heard one in my kitchen trash bag about a month ago.
Knowing that I would scream like a sissy if I saw it, I put the whole bag outside on my back porch.
A couple of hours later, I found that my feral cats had killed it.

 

[Psinter]

If you were moved in time to the middle ages, would you know how to recreate current technology? I wouldn't. Theoretically I know how some things work more or less, but how on Earth do I build a transistor in the nano meter scale in the middle age?!

As a matter of fact: "How do I even build one now in this time in the nano meter scale?" Is the question.

Makes you think.

 

[Pepper Mint]

If you were moved in time to the middle ages, would you know how to recreate current technology? I wouldn't. Theoretically I know how some things work more or less, but how on Earth do I build a transistor in the nano meter scale in the middle age?!
As a matter of fact: "How do I even build one now in this time in the nano meter scale?" Is the question.
Makes you think.

I won't because I will miss my game (I play only one ) and hanging around with people in the pool, the gym club... I ain't going to chain my own legs and hands in a tiny cottage. Noooo, thank you so much. I like online trading better.

 

[WWGD]

If you were moved in time to the middle ages, would you know how to recreate current technology? I wouldn't. Theoretically I know how some things work more or less, but how on Earth do I build a transistor in the nano meter scale in the middle age?!

As a matter of fact: "How do I even build one now in this time in the nano meter scale?" Is the question.

Makes you think.

That's part of the price to pay for the modern "information"(noise) age. But, hey, still, it is the first day of the end of your life.

 

[Psinter]

That's part of the price to pay for the modern "information"(noise) age. But, hey, still, it is the first day of the end of your life.

You could say that again.

 

[Sophia]

If you were moved in time to the middle ages, would you know how to recreate current technology? I wouldn't. Theoretically I know how some things work more or less, but how on Earth do I build a transistor in the nano meter scale in the middle age?!

As a matter of fact: "How do I even build one now in this time in the nano meter scale?" Is the question.

Makes you think.

Absolutely not. I don't have the slightest idea how a telephone works, or worse a radio or a TV! How can a picture turn to digital info than travel by air or cable and than materialise again? That's a total mystery and I'm 100% convinced that it's magic.

 

[Pepper Mint]

Cynical opportunism hides away all despairs.

 

[collinsmark]

If you were moved in time to the middle ages, would you know how to recreate current technology? I wouldn't. Theoretically I know how some things work more or less, but how on Earth do I build a transistor in the nano meter scale in the middle age?!

As a matter of fact: "How do I even build one now in this time in the nano meter scale?" Is the question.

Makes you think.

Maybe I'm weird, but I think about that stuff all the time.

I think I would be mostly lost. I would probably give up on the transistor because I would be lost on making the more simpler things first. (I have a slight bit of knowledge regarding transistor fabrication, but not nearly enough to recreate one in the back shed.)

I'd start with something a bit simpler like an electric generator. I could make one, maybe, if I had some appropriate wire laying around, but that's not going to happen in the middle ages. How do I make the wire? I would need to get some copper first and cold roll it into something very thin. (Maybe I could get a blacksmith to help me make the tools for that.) Then I would have to apply a thin coat of enamel insulation on it. Where in the world do I get enamel? How do I apply that to the wire ?! And what about magnets? The ones I could make would be crude and weak at best.

 

[zoobyshoe]

How do I make the wire?

Luckily for you, they knew how to make drawn wire in the middle ages:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire

Then I would have to apply a thin coat of enamel insulation on it. Where in the world do I get enamel? How do I apply that to the wire ?!

Maybe you aren't old enough to remember cloth insulated wire. My grandmother's house was wired with this. You also see it on very old appliances. You would need to find some very thin cloth and tediously wrap strips of it around the wire, perhaps with pine pitch to keep it in place.

And what about magnets? The ones I could make would be crude and weak at best.

Study up on the series-wound generator before you go back in time. All it needs is a small bit of residual magnetism to get started.

You would surely need a blacksmith's help to make your rotor and stator, but it would be an easy job for him.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Also, you couldn't make a transistor, but they had everything needed in the middle ages to make a vacuum tube. They just didn't know it. You would have to fashion a vacuum pump, but they had everything you'd need for that.

 

[Pepper Mint]

Thoughts and achievements by school kids these days really stimulate my mind on robotics. I'd like to make a drone controlled remotely via my home network that can fly around to take snapshots of my neighbor's house roofs. Darn it's so cool!
In my area there is also a business on robotic stuff by some Chinese American entrepreneurs I know of but they only hire newly graduated kids as it's easier to extract their brain juices with an extremely low payment.

 

[Psinter]

Absolutely not. I don't have the slightest idea how a telephone works, or worse a radio or a TV! How can a picture turn to digital info than travel by air or cable and than materialise again? That's a total mystery and I'm 100% convinced that it's magic.

Me neither. About radios I've got only the theory and superficial, not complete. About TVs I know only how Liquid Crystal Displays work, but not how to build one.

I'm doomed if I go to that era. At least I hope they have Shampoo and Soap because I'm a very clean person and would hate not being able to take a shower everyday.

Maybe I'm weird, but I think about that stuff all the time.

I think I would be mostly lost. I would probably give up on the transistor because I would be lost on making the more simpler things first. (I have a slight bit of knowledge regarding transistor fabrication, but not nearly enough to recreate one in the back shed.)

I'd start with something a bit simpler like an electric generator. I could make one, maybe, if I had some appropriate wire laying around, but that's not going to happen in the middle ages. How do I make the wire? I would need to get some copper first and cold roll it into something very thin. (Maybe I could get a blacksmith to help me make the tools for that.) Then I would have to apply a thin coat of enamel insulation on it. Where in the world do I get enamel? How do I apply that to the wire ?! And what about magnets? The ones I could make would be crude and weak at best.

You are not weird, I think about it too. There are many things I don't know and want to know.

 

[Sophia]

Me neither. About radios I've got only the theory and superficial, not complete. About TVs I know only how Liquid Crystal Displays work, but not how to build one.

I'm doomed if I go to that era. At least I hope they have Shampoo and Soap because I'm a very clean person and would hate not being able to take a shower everyday.

You are not weird, I think about it too. There are many things I don't know and want to know.

Maybe you could make washing liquid out of certain herbs that create mild foam and have disinfectant properties. Like the lavender, sage or calendula. I don't know the English name for the one that is foamy.
I don't know how much people washed in other parts of the world but in Europe conditions used to be terrible indeed. In some periods they bathed a couple times a year, in other periods once a week (whole family in one water!). In fact, my grandparents remember bathing only on Saturdays (30's-40's of the 20th century). And they worked hard every day without antiperspirant! I think they washed their faces and feet every day though.
I think that we would probably die of an infection or parasites because our immune system is so poor nowadays :-)
So we wouldn't have time to think of ingeneering

 

[JorisL]

I only shower at Easter and Christmas. Easter also means new boxers while I just turn them inside out around Christmas. :P

 

[Psinter]

Maybe you could make washing liquid out of certain herbs that create mild foam and have disinfectant properties. Like the lavender, sage or calendula. I don't know the English name for the one that is foamy.
I don't know how much people washed in other parts of the world but in Europe conditions used to be terrible indeed. In some periods they bathed a couple times a year, in other periods once a week (whole family in one water!). In fact, my grandparents remember bathing only on Saturdays (30's-40's of the 20th century). And they worked hard every day without antiperspirant! I think they washed their faces and feet every day though.
I think that we would probably die of an infection or parasites because our immune system is so poor nowadays :-)
So we wouldn't have time to think of ingeneering

You seem to know a lot about plants. I don't know much about plants even though I'm almost inside a forest.

I think the most I can go without a bath is a little more than one day. Then I begin to feel dirty and I don't like how it feels.

Yeah, there would really be little time to engineer stuff if I'm looking to keep myself clean. I also lost the count of how many times I've ended in ER because of some virus or bacteria that makes me puke the hell out of my body, inflammation of organs, and stuff. The last time, after some time in ER, I was dispatched home and I was so tired that I could barely move. I slept for like 18 hours straight after being sent home and it took me 1 week to recover normal strength. The most I would keep awake was like 2 hours and then tiredness would send me back to sleep 12 or so hours. I was alone and I was so tired I couldn't even get up to cook me some food. I only bathed and then back to bed. Every movement was painful and walking was really really hard. What saved me was some fruits and juice a friend gave me as a gift. That was my food for 1 week until the pain and tiredness resided enough for me to cook me food again.

So yeah, an infection or virus would probably kill me in the middle age before I can replicate modern technology.

I only shower at Easter and Christmas. Easter also means new boxers while I just turn them inside out around Christmas. :P

Hahaha!

 

[Sophia]

You seem to know a lot about plants. I don't know much about plants even though I'm almost inside a forest.

I am interested in complementary medicine and using of plants. The effectiveness of one tea that I recommended to someone was proven by improved lab tests made in hospital. It didn't require any special knowledge, it was enough to look in one old book about herbal remedies. I am also interested in accupressure and yoga.
(adding a disclaimer in order not to be against forum rules. I do not suggest using these methods instead of treatment by a medical doctor. It is very important to consult a doctor before trying anything alternative or complementary. If I find some advice for using certain herbs, I ALWAYS google the safety of the particular remedy and read multiple sources before trying anything new)

Yeah, there would really be little time to engineer stuff if I'm looking to keep myself clean. I also lost the count of how many times I've ended in ER because of some virus or bacteria that makes me puke the hell out of my body, inflammation of organs, and stuff. The last time, after some time in ER, I was dispatched home and I was so tired that I could barely move. I slept for like 18 hours straight after being sent home and it took me 1 week to recover normal strength. The most I would keep awake was like 2 hours and then tiredness would send me back to sleep 12 or so hours. I was alone and I was so tired I couldn't even get up to cook me some food. I only bathed and then back to bed. Every movement was painful and walking was really really hard. What saved me was some fruits and juice a friend gave me as a gift. That was my food for 1 week until the pain and tiredness resided enough for me to cook me food again.

So yeah, an infection or virus would probably kill me in the middle age before I can replicate modern technology.

That looks like an ugly case of stomach flu . You would definitely have a problem in middle ages if you were forced to eat without washing your hands. And even if YOU washed them, the cook probably wouldn't
And imagine wiping your butt with leaves or straw or a cloth. After corn was introduced to Europe, unused dry part of corn (no idea about the English name) was used for this purpose. Multiple times.
And what about us, girls? Being on a period in the Middle Ages sounds so fun! But at least that would be something I could make. Rolling a small piece of cloth and tying a thread on it. Forget about the Toxic Shock syndrome! :)
And I guess that I could teach the farmers about better ways of fertilizing and farming which were not so widely known in that period.

 

[Psinter]

I am interested in complementary medicine and using of plants.

That's cool.

That looks like an ugly case of stomach flu .

Never in my life had I heard of stomach flu.

You would definitely have a problem in middle ages if you were forced to eat without washing your hands. And even if YOU washed them, the cook probably wouldn't

Definitely. I'm very picky with always cleaning my hands. When I cook I clean my hands a lot of times while I handle the food because in between I have to touch objects and I clean them (my hands) before and after I touch the objects.

And imagine wiping your butt with leaves or straw or a cloth. After corn was introduced to Europe, unused dry part of corn (no idea about the English name) was used for this purpose. Multiple times.

This. I was oblivious of this fact, but now that has become my primary reason to not go to the middle ages.

And what about us, girls? Being on a period in the Middle Ages sounds so fun! But at least that would be something I could make. Rolling a small piece of cloth and tying a thread on it. Forget about the Toxic Shock syndrome! :)

I have no idea of what you are talking about and I don't think I want to know. Thank you.

 

[WWGD]

I am interested in complementary medicine and using of plants. The effectiveness of one tea that I recommended to someone was proven by improved lab tests made in hospital. It didn't require any special knowledge, it was enough to look in one old book about herbal remedies. I am also interested in accupressure and yoga.
(adding a disclaimer in order not to be against forum rules. I do not suggest using these methods instead of treatment by a medical doctor. It is very important to consult a doctor before trying anything alternative or complementary. If I find some advice for using certain herbs, I ALWAYS google the safety of the particular remedy and read multiple sources before trying anything new)


That looks like an ugly case of stomach flu . You would definitely have a problem in middle ages if you were forced to eat without washing your hands. And even if YOU washed them, the cook probably wouldn't
And imagine wiping your butt with leaves or straw or a cloth. After corn was introduced to Europe, unused dry part of corn (no idea about the English name) was used for this purpose. Multiple times.
And what about us, girls? Being on a period in the Middle Ages sounds so fun! But at least that would be something I could make. Rolling a small piece of cloth and tying a thread on it. Forget about the Toxic Shock syndrome! :)
And I guess that I could teach the farmers about better ways of fertilizing and farming which were not so widely known in that period.

I think they have had natural ways of dealing with periods for many thousands of years, but maybe in other parts of
the world. The only problem I have is that with the new toilets in public bathrooms I have to fondle the toilet for half an hour
to find the flush button

 

[1oldman2]

I think they have had natural ways of dealing with periods for many thousands of years, but maybe in other parts of
the world. The only problem I have is that with the new toilets in public bathrooms I have to fondle the toilet for half an hour
to find the flush button

I'm pretty sure one of the greatest inventions of the last century is the motion sensing toilet flush.

 

[zoobyshoe]

I'm doomed if I go to that era. At least I hope they have Shampoo and Soap because I'm a very clean person and would hate not being able to take a shower everyday.

My grandmother used to make her own soap. I watched her do it a couple times, in the 1960s. She had the benefit of store bought sodium hydroxide, lye, but it's possible to make it from scratch with potassium hydroxide made from wood ashes. The latter makes a soft soap, but it could be used as both soap and shampoo.

The other main ingredient in soap is animal fat, and that raises the issue of how expensive soap used to be and how it probably lost in the competition between using the animal fat they saved for making either tallow candles or soap. Candles probably usually won in the middle ages.

 

[WWGD]

My grandmother used to make her own soap. I watched her do it a couple times, in the 1960s. She had the benefit of store bought sodium hydroxide, lye, but it's possible to make it from scratch with potassium hydroxide made from wood ashes. The latter makes a soft soap, but it could be used as both soap and shampoo.

The other main ingredient in soap is animal fat, and that raises the issue of how expensive soap used to be and how it probably lost in the competition between using the animal fat they saved for making either tallow candles or soap. Candles probably usually won in the middle ages.

Good news for @Psinter
I have read about a new trend of washing just with water and a scrubbing sponge, called for some reason the " no poo" movement when it comes to washing hair:
https://www.google.com/webhp?source...2&ie=UTF-8#q=washing without soap and shampoo

 

[Psinter]

I'm pretty sure one of the greatest inventions of the last century is the motion sensing toilet flush.

I hate those things for one reason. They flush before you open the door and some of them splash. I think that have trained my ninja skills trying to open the door and swiftly escape the place before it splashes all over me.

My grandmother used to make her own soap. I watched her do it a couple times, in the 1960s. She had the benefit of store bought sodium hydroxide, lye, but it's possible to make it from scratch with potassium hydroxide made from wood ashes. The latter makes a soft soap, but it could be used as both soap and shampoo.

The other main ingredient in soap is animal fat, and that raises the issue of how expensive soap used to be and how it probably lost in the competition between using the animal fat they saved for making either tallow candles or soap. Candles probably usually won in the middle ages.

Ohhhh, that's cool to know.

One day I had no water (don't ask me why, in the city the water leaves sometimes, that rarely ever happens in the forest) so I bathed with Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol and a lot of paper. It was only once. The papers came out dirty as I expected. Although when I cleaned my face with it my eyes felt like a burning sensation.

It feels cold on the skin, the alcohol.

Good news for @Psinter
I have read about a new trend of washing just with water and a scrubbing sponge, called for some reason the " no poo" movement when it comes to washing hair:
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=washing without soap and shampoo

Hmmmmmmmm. I'll have to ask those guys where they live and have them try that in my temperatures. Right now my room temperature is 90.3F(32.39C) and while I'm fine and not sweating because I'm used to this temperature, moving for a while and working will certainly make me sweat a lot in this temperature. I may try it, but I'm a little reluctant to it given the temperatures in which I live.

 

[JorisL]

Random thought OTD:

What if we teach students that struggle with parameters (like mass $m$, not the variable) when manipulating we can replace each parameter with a different prime number.
Rule 1: Don't substract the numbers. (say you only use odd primes, then the difference of two coefficients will be even which means there is at least one new constant that possibly brakes the idea, have to check)
Rule 2: You can remove common factors in a fraction
Rule 3: In the end they can put the parameters back by performing a prime factorization.

I wonder if this has some merit.

 

[Sophia]

Good news for @Psinter
I have read about a new trend of washing just with water and a scrubbing sponge, called for some reason the " no poo" movement when it comes to washing hair:
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=washing without soap and shampoo

It's definitely true that the more you wash your hair the more oily it gets. I used to wash my hair 3-4x a week and then read about this "trend" (though it's not really a trend, it's what people have done for thousands of years). I use shampoo but now I wash my hair only 2x/week. At first it is terrible because the scalp is used to overproduction of oil but once it gets used to the new regime it produces less oil.
My mum went through the chemotherapy and lost her hair and before she used to wash it every other day than she had no hair to wash and her scalp went to normal function and now she washes her hair once a week. It's not oily at all, she just removes the dust.
It also works for facial skin. Since I switched from aggressive foaming cleansers to the most gentle and sensitive my skin has gotten much better.

 

[JorisL]

Rejoice people I found a great quote on facebook!

With regards to the difference between climate and weather someone used the following analogy. (To dismiss an argument to discredit study of climate change stating "they cannot even predict the weather of next week, how can they make predictions 20 years in the future")

Climate is like your personality, weather is like your daily mood.

 

[Ibix]

Better: I can tell you how long it will take your kettle to boil. I cannot tell you where the first bubble will form.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Overheard two guys talking about Abraham Lincoln:

"...and that hat he wore, that famous hat...what was it...stove... stove... stovetop! The stovetop hat!"