What is the newest installment of 'Random Thoughts' on Physics Forums?

[fresh_42]

Dubbed or subtitled, I expect he means.

Subtitles are awful. I always read them even if I understand the English better or at all, in case they are in Hebrew or something. I don't like them. But here they translate (produce a new soundtrack) of nearly everything, except some cultural movies from Finland or so, which nobody wants to see. In those cases they use subtitles. The best situation is if they broadcast both languages and you can decide per remote which one to follow.

 

[Ibix]

Subtitles are awful.

They can be hilarious. I saw a Mexican movie where one of the characters cusses out another, not only calling into question his parentage but that of his goats too, and further insinuating that the two subjects were closely related, rather like him and his goats. The English subtitle over this lengthy and colourful tirade was "Damn you, Luis!"

 

[WWGD]

They can be hilarious. I saw a Mexican movie where one of the characters cusses out another, not only calling into question his parentage but that of his goats too, and further insinuating that the two subjects were closely related, rather like him and his goats. The English subtitle over this lengthy and colourful tirade was "Damn you, Luis!"

I've seen it in mostly Chinese movies: you see the guy's mouth moving for some 3-4 minutes, saying some 20+ words and then it is subtitled to something like Yes, indeed!

 

[Bystander]

So you're a politician!

The quote is from Richard Jordan's character, Jeffrey Pelt.

 

[Rive]

They can be hilarious. I saw a Mexican movie where one of the characters cusses out another, not only calling into question his parentage but that of his goats too, and further insinuating that the two subjects were closely related, rather like him and his goats. The English subtitle over this lengthy and colourful tirade was "Damn you, Luis!"

Colorful insults are a very cultural thing and actually one of the hardest things to translate - some insults just does not exists in other languages, so what you get at the end is just gibberish. I too would rather go with the 'damn you'.

Also, I found English surprisingly lacking in this regard.
Lee Emery is (was) an exception - and a genius.

 

[WWGD]

Wonder if there is a game-theoretical analysis or solution to these insult-fests you so often see in other sites. Other than the few that just refusing to continue, they just go on indefinitely; no physical or other restrictions as irl and one just responds , to which the other responds...Good thing to moderate a site. Seeing these largely unmoderated sites makes me question the virtues of capital L Libertarianism.

 

[Ibix]

Seeing these largely unmoderated sites makes me question the virtues of capital L Libertarianism.

I think Richard Dawkins commented, when someone was insisting that we need God to be good, that typically what we mean by that is that we need police.

 

[WWGD]

I think Richard Dawkins commented, when someone was insisting that we need God to be good, that typically what we mean by that is that we need police.

Edit: Seems we're most likely to notice the need after we no longer have a sheltered life of college or otherwise. And it seems too, most Libertarians are well-heeled, with enough resources both to provide for and protect themselves and their families. I doubt there are many working-class libertarians.

 

[WWGD]

Seemed like a hidden camera show. Cyclist with the right of way going at 20mph or more, almost hits clueless pedestrian. I thought cyclist would shout and pummel the pedestrian. Instead, he apologized profusely, asking him if he was OK. A second cyclist approached the two and asked everyone if they were OK. Dont know, just didnt expect it to turn out like that.

 

[WWGD]

Merkel or Markle? Please pronounce clearly or mention who's with Harry. Or maybe I should mind my business when overhearing the other table.

 

[Borg]

I stopped two car accidents from happening in the same parking lot yesterday. While I was waiting for a car to back out of a spot, the car on the other side started backing out also. I honked my horn and they stopped within a couple of feet of each other. Later as I was leaving, I was telling my wife about it when I saw two more cars headed for each other again. This time I had to yell and wave at the drivers who again barely stopped in time. Strange morning.

 

[WWGD]

I didnt calculate carefully-enough and laundry, including blankets, sweaters/jackets I use to keep warm at sleep were not ready by bed time. After some 25 minutes of laying in the cold , lightbulb went on. 30 slow-burn situps and 30 pushups did the job and I crashed into sleep.

 

[WWGD]

I wonder if one can sense coffee on " the other side": Give me a coffee medium.
Well, madame Zelda is busy now...

 

[collinsmark]

Recently I've been playing around with ephemeris data for fun and kicks.

Specifically, this data is in the form of Two-line Element sets (TLE) used to track artificial satellites. If you've ever used a satellite tracking website or app, such as heavens-above.com or its phone/tablet app, the information from them ultimately based on TLEs (albeit behind-the-scenes).

(Image from Heavens Above android app on Google Play)

TLEs have two or three lines of data. Line 0 contains the common name of the satellite/object and is not really so important. Lines 1 and 2 contain the real information. Each line (line 1 or 2) is exactly 69 characters long.

(Image courtesy of NASA)

TLEs are maintained by Space-Track.org. Space-Track.org is a part of NORAD, which is a part of the United States Air Force (and which I'm guessing NORAD is more specifically a part of the "Space Force" now).

If you're not familiar with NORAD, it is the very same organization that Mathew Broderrick's character "accidentally" hacked into in the 1983 fictional movie "WarGames", and nearly caused a nuclear apocalypse.

(Image from the move "WarGames," courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.)

TLEs are freely available to the public from Space-Track.org, so long as you register for a login account, follow their guidelines, and don't create a nuclear apocalypse.

Although TLEs are used, either directly or indirectly, by many amateur sky-watchers, they are also used by people and systems carrying some pretty serious responsibility. So when writing code that processes the TLE information, it's good practice to double check that the data wasn't corrupted when downloaded. This is mostly done with parity in the form of a checksum at the end of each line. But it's also good practice to check that lines 1 and 2 are exactly 69 characters long, excluding any leading or trailing whitespace.

As part of checking for the line length, a constant might be declared in code resembling this (in C# or C++ here):

 public const int DesiredL = 69;

Or if programming in C# specifically, an arguably better syntax might be:

 public int DesiredL { get { return 69; }}

'Makes me wonder if the folks at NORAD designed their standard specifically with that in mind, knowing full well that coders would have to write something to that effect.

[Edit: Although not the most efficient use of declaration types,
public long DesiredL { get { return 69; }}
is also syntactically correct.]

 

[WWGD]

If you put antibiotics on probiotic yogurt, do you end up with biotics? Anti-Pro?

 

[WWGD]

We're closed to the date where it's awkward to wish happy new year to people we have not been in contact with. Or maybe we can use the Chinese or other new year. Happy Mayan/Persian, etc. New year. Me, I am joining the group with the most holidays.

 

[fresh_42]

We're closed to the date where it's awkward to wish happy new year to people we have not been in contact with. Or maybe we can use the Chinese or other new year. Happy Mayan/Persian, etc. New year. Me, I am joining the group with the most holidays.

I'm considering a new religion, 'The Abrahams'. We take the holy Friday from the Muslims, the Schabbes from the Jews and the Sunday from the Christians. I don't care a lot about the rest, it's so similar that any argumentation is ridiculous anyway. The advantages are obvious: three free days in a row and far less killed people.

 

[WWGD]

I'm considering a new religion, 'The Abrahams'. We take the holy Friday from the Muslims, the Schabbes from the Jews and the Sunday from the Christians. I don't care a lot about the rest, it's so similar that any argumentation is ridiculous anyway. The advantages are obvious: three free days in a row and far less killed people.

But too much redundancy since Saturday and Sunday are already non-work days in most places. Need to find one for Mondays to have that bridge from Thursday night to Tuesday morning.

 

[skyshrimp]

It's weird how viruses are considered non-living. If you can kill it, then it was alive.

 

[WWGD]

Hamburgers? Why Ham in Hamburger if it is made of beef?
Because Hamburgers originated in Hamburg.

How about Cheeseburgers? Did they originate in Cheeseburg?

 

[fresh_42]

Because Hamburgers originated in Hamburg.

The story I have heard was, that the ship(s) originated in Hamburg, and the beef was brought by immigrants for the journey. However, it wasn't ground beef originally.

But to a more important and urgent question:
Shall I watch the Superbowl (consider my local time!) knowing that my favored team will lose?

 

[WWGD]

All sorts of people wal

It's weird how viruses are considered non-living. If you can kill it, then it was alive.

IIRC , conditions for something to be alive: it reproduces, has a metabolism and 2-3 others I can't remember now.

 

[WWGD]

The story I have heard was, that the ship(s) originated in Hamburg, and the beef was brought by immigrants for the journey. However, it wasn't ground beef originally.

But to a more important and urgent question:
Shall I watch the Superbowl (consider my local time!) knowing that my favored team will lose?

Watch it in Cheeseburg for good luck.

 

[WWGD]

It's weird how viruses are considered non-living. If you can kill it, then it was alive.

Supposedly, sponges themselves are alive too; in a sort of suspended state. I remember a while back a question on whether water itself is alive. Answer was no.

 

[skyshrimp]

So something 'non-living' has learned from interactions from immune system attacks and has molecularity adjusted itself to wipe out the human race?

Not bad for something that can't think.

So what happens if it spreads through the Western world like a wild fire?

Is this nature's latest attempt at trying to cull an unregulated and terminal human population boom?

 

[WWGD]

So something 'non-living' has learned from interactions from immune system attacks and has molecularity adjusted itself to wipe out the human race?

Not bad for something that can't think.

So what happens if it spreads through the Western world like a wild fire?

Is this nature's latest attempt at trying to cull an equally unregulated and terminal human population boom?

Scary though; possibly true. EDIT: Population growth has been tapering of, though, and it is much higher in non-developed world; there is even negative growth in some countries. Bulgaria had a population of around 9 million in the 1970s and it is around 7.2 million now.

 

[WWGD]

Some of you may remember the incredibly-boring saga of a domain name I bought the rights to a few years back. After a year went by, I told the company --FatCow -- that I chose not to renew my rights to the name, in a painfully - explicit way. For the last 4 years or so, each January , which was the month when I first bought the rights -- I get the same email warning me that my rights to the name are about to expire. And yet again, I tell them explicitly that I chose not to renew after the first year . And then they keep having reps asking me to renew. I make it a point to be polite to people down in the rungs of power but I have been losing it trying to convey the very basic point : ! don't want to, nor have I ever wanted to #$% renew ownership to the domain name. I suggest to stay away from Fat Cow company.

 

[fresh_42]

Why does Tabasco have a best before date? I mean prior to, say 50 years.

 

[WWGD]

Why does Tabasco have a best before date? I mean prior to, say 50 years.

Why do they put instructions on underwear? ( For washing, but it seemed funny any way: lift a leg...)

 

[WWGD]

Wow:
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsa...oronavirus-outbreak-a-global-health-emergency

 

[fresh_42]

Compared to the common influenza it's still neglectable.

 

[WWGD]

Let's hope it stays that way.

 

[skyshrimp]

The next few weeks will determine if we'll witness an extinction level event.

Viruses are classified as non-living, yet are reprogramming themselves to attack the biggest threat of all to life on planet Earth.

The human immune system.

I think we've pissed off Mother nature and she's about to open a fresh can of nope.

 

[WWGD]

I don't see how humans are a threat to life on Earth. Many animals in captivity would not likely last long or maybe not survive in the wild. Despite all romanticized talk about " Mother Nature", life expectancy in captivity is higher than in the wild. Fewer predators, stable food supply, protection from weather extremes.

 

[jbriggs444]

The next few weeks will determine if we'll witness an extinction level event.

Viruses are classified as non-living, yet are reprogramming themselves to attack the biggest threat of all to life on planet Earth.

The human immune system.

I think we've pissed off Mother nature and she's about to open a fresh can of nope.

Humans love to anthropomorphize.

 

[WWGD]

Humans love to anthropomorphize.

Some even see the Earth as a living being, the goddess Gaia. It seems the origin ofthe name 'Earth' is not known.

 

[skyshrimp]

You're replying to an atheist jbriggs444.

 

[WWGD]

I have some 800+ bookmarked webpages. Iintend to go over the list, trim it , look at them and stop adding new ones for a while. Like I intended the last 10 times or so. Not likely to happen.

 

[fresh_42]

I don't see how humans are a threat to life on Earth. Many animals in captivity would not likely last long or maybe not survive in the wild. Despite all romanticized talk about " Mother Nature", life expectancy in captivity is higher than in the wild. Fewer predators, stable food supply, protection from weather extremes.

The doctors are helpful, too!

But this isn't a good argument, since it is an artificial situation. I do think we currently witness another mass extinction. However, this will only change the species, not "life" as a whole. Whether a specific species will survive or not is another question. I guess polar bears will merge with grizzlies and become extinct as a single species, same as some tigers or rhinos, to name the big ones. I don't think we will, since we are simply too many, but who knows. Nature doesn't depend on us.

It seems the origin ofthe name 'Earth' is not known.

"Proto-Germanic ertho"

O.k., this only shifts the problem by a couple of centuries, but earlier forms are likely to be found directly in PIE (Proto-Indo-European).

 

[fresh_42]

I have some 800+ bookmarked webpages. Iintend to go over the list, trim it , look at them and stop adding new ones for a while. Like I intended the last 10 times or so. Not likely to happen.

I turned to sort them in folders which I sorted by frequency of usage.

 

[skyshrimp]

When life gives you lemons,,

Eat apple strudel.

I won't charge you for this initial consultation.

You're welcome.

 

[BillTre]

I don't see how humans are a threat to life on Earth. Many animals in captivity would not likely last long or maybe not survive in the wild. Despite all romanticized talk about " Mother Nature", life expectancy in captivity is higher than in the wild. Fewer predators, stable food supply, protection from weather extremes.

The doctors are helpful, too!

But this isn't a good argument, since it is an artificial situation.

I think it is a good argument, but it is definitely artificial. Humans have created several different and new environments for animals, such as pets, domesticated food animals, and laboratory animals. Once established and breeding in these environments, selection will result in modifying them to be better suited to the environment in which they find themselves. Darwin actually wrote about this in his big book. A recent example I know of is a selection among large pet fish (like cichlids) for smaller size fish. Most hobby fish breeders will have limited tank space and raise a bunch of fish (from a spawning) until a handful are able to breed. Those are then selected for breeding the next generation. In a small number of generations, these results in fish that more rapidly reach breeding age. They are usually smaller since this is the easiest way to breed sooner.

I do think we currently witness another mass extinction. However, this will only change the species, not "life" as a whole.

I agree that we are having another mass extinction, but it need not be limited to just directly impacted animals. If ecosystems collapse, then lots of other species could be affected as a result.
In big mass extinctions, very large numbers of species were affected (like >90% of marine species).
This can result in more of a monoculture (like farms) ecosystem rather than the intricate, interwoven, highly diverse ecosystems of today. They still have things growing there, but there are fewer different species with fewer interactions and the amount of energy the ecosystem captures and stores is reduced as are species sizes.

 

[WWGD]

I think it is a good argument, but it is definitely artificial. Humans have created several different and new environments for animals, such as pets, domesticated food animals, and laboratory animals. Once established and breeding in these environments, selection will result in modifying them to be better suited to the environment in which they find themselves. Darwin actually wrote about this in his big book. A recent example I know of is a selection among large pet fish (like cichlids) for smaller size fish. Most hobby fish breeders will have limited tank space and raise a bunch of fish (from a spawning) until a handful are able to breed. Those are then selected for breeding the next generation. In a small number of generations, these results in fish that more rapidly reach breeding age. They are usually smaller since this is the easiest way to breed sooner.I agree that we are having another mass extinction, but it need not be limited to just directly impacted animals. If ecosystems collapse, then lots of other species could be affected as a result.
In big mass extinctions, very large numbers of species were affected (like >90% of marine species).
This can result in more of a monoculture (like farms) ecosystem rather than the intricate, interwoven, highly diverse ecosystems of today. They still have things growing there, but there are fewer different species with fewer interactions and the amount of energy the ecosystem captures and stores is reduced as are species sizes.

Ok, true, though maybe artificial, it is easier for animals to survive to a point of reproducing. Not sure this is what you meant.

 

[BillTre]

That is what I meant, as long as the animals are those that are well adapted to their new captive environment.

A mass extinction, to the extent it disrupts human maintenance of the captive environments of domesticated animals, could affect the captive species also.

 

[WWGD]

When life gives you lemons,,

Eat apple strudel.

I won't charge you for this initial consultation.

You're welcome.

You may have liked Mad magazine ( RIP)'s no-joke jokes. These were setup with the structure of jokes but with little connection between the parts nor sense:
" The town I was born in was so small...even the hooker wore a helmet!"
"My mother is so fat , every time she comes back to the beach -- they ask her for a receipt!.

 

[WWGD]

That is what I meant, as long as the animals are those that are well adapted to their new captive environment.

A mass extinction, to the extent it disrupts human maintenance of the captive environments of domesticated animals, could affect the captive species also.

Ok, good points. I would just become upset about the mention of "Mother Nature" that ignored how brutal life in the wild could be. And for those who suggested animals should be given a choice, I would reply that I agree but it's too late for that. Few bred in captivity would last long if/when released into the wild.

 

[fresh_42]

Ok, good points. I would just become upset about the mention of "Mother Nature" that ignored how brutal life in the wild could be. And for those who suggested animals should be given a choice, I would reply that I agree but it's too late for that. Few bred in captivity would last long if/when released into the wild.

And that's why I think zoos are a bad argument. Their contribution to biodiversity is restricted to sparrows, so they do not count as part of nature. And the ethic aspect depends on the species, in my opinion. A dolphin in a cube of water is torture, a snake probably doesn't care.

 

[WWGD]

And that's why I think zoos are a bad argument. Their contribution to biodiversity is restricted to sparrows, so they do not count as part of nature. And the ethic aspect depends on the species, in my opinion. A dolphin in a cube of water is torture, a snake probably doesn't care.

Agreed. But, however flawed, they help the environment by giving people direct access, however flawed/imperfect , to nature , and remind them of its value. How else would you do that other than through safaris, which are too expensive for the avg person?

 

[WWGD]

Awkward conversation:
"I'm Henry McPeter. You?"
(Made up)" I'm Peter McHenry".

 

[Ibix]

Reminds me of Jack Johnson and John Jackson, the two clone presidential candidates in Futurama. "I think it's time someone had the guts to stand up and say I STAND FOR EVERYTHING THAT GUY DOESN'T!" The disembodied head of Richard Nixon, with the headless body of Stevenson as a running mate, wins.