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

[StoneTemplePython]

But what is purchased? Different goods have very different prices. E.g. energy in Norway is cheap, beer is not, and EU citizens dream of American gas prizes. PPP doesn't say anything, if I look it up or not. The best purchase index is probably still the Big Mac index.

so the spirit of the Big Mac Index is the spirit of PPP. Yes. The Economist came up with the Big Mac index as something of a joke a few decades ago but it proved to be unreasonably effective. It also has a merit of being simple and pretty transparent.

Sure, but they are not explained with those charts. Even a simple issue as unemployment isn't by any means comparable. As long as the figures are given without an explicit link to the measurement methods, they are as worthless as any unproven statement. It's politics, not sound science.

Which I haven't done. O.k. I mentioned the figures of unpaid work, but this is a fact and easy to support. Quite the opposite is true: I request a proper description of the data taken. A bar diagram is not even close to it. I asked whether capital earnings are part of the data or not, which is a valid question.

It definitely is a valid question. However I feel different on estimates of "stuff" being produced in countries that don't have massive grey market economies. (Note unemployment is tricky and overly technical about whether people 'want' to be in the labor market -- this seems to be necessary but frequently gives the wrong impression unfortunately.)

Further, the bar charts have footnotes for sources. In particular, one of the two bar charts explicitly cites the "Bureau of Labour Statistics" for the 2006 GDP per hour worked numbers (which they cutely misspelled as British). I presume this page is what you'd want to comb through: https://www.bls.gov/ilc/intl_gdp_capita_gdp_hour.htm#table01

per that BLS page

Gross domestic product (GDP) is the market value of goods and services produced by labor and capital in a country, regardless of nationality (see table 4).

in general you wouldn't want include capital earnings, just the amount of stuff being produced. (And yes 'production' includes services.)

By tradition, the private sector accounting for 'stuff' produced is allocated to L and K (as in Labor or Kapital) as a nod to Marx.

- - - -

I don't view The Economist's reporting of data from BLS as being politics. And I do view BLS as being a pretty good data source.

Economics is not exactly on sound footing as a 'science' but I'm not suggesting predictive models or causation here -- just (economic) accounting. And yes even the accounting is difficult but it is a considerably more modest goal than predictive modeling.

The other picture cites conference board: https://www.conference-board.org/data/ and CERA. I have lingering concerns that CERA may be too political right now, though the chart and its data is a few years old.

- - - -
It may be that you're genuinely interested in the details underlying this data... there was a time when I was too. I've gone through some of this in detail a while back -- I find it rather unpleasant these days. You're certainly welcome to go through those links (BLS in particular) but it may warp your brain.

Unfortunately in the real world I observe an overwhelming trend where people only ask detailed questions about data when it makes them feel uncomfortable (cognitive dissonance). It's this bit of pattern recognition that I picked up on -- fairly or not. No offense intended. Es tuet mir leid if any was caused.

 

[WWGD]

I I don't know, for one , I hear and read the economy is booming ,unemployment is so low there aren't enough workers to meet demand, yet I I run into a lot of seemingly capable Edit : ,well-trained people who can't find jobs and I see a bunch of stores closing. I don't think of my life as being so unrepresentative, so I can't make sense of it.

 

[StoneTemplePython]

I I don't know, for one , I hear and read the economy is booming ,unemployment is so low there aren't enough workers to meet demand, yet I I run into a lot of seemingly capable, well-groomed eople who can't find jobs and I see a bunch of stores closing.

I actually get this sentiment. Unemployment is tricky in general.

And a simple technical accounting point is that corp profits are and have been at a very high % of GDP (relative to past history) for a while now... much longer than I would thought would have happened. It's not clear what that means for the experience of a lot of workers. (Or maybe it is clear...)

 

[kyphysics]

Is Domino's Pizza's pothole thing the greatest PR move in history?

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/dominos-pizza-came-idea-fix-americas-roads-195018525.html

 

[WWGD]

Is Domino's Pizza's pothole thing the greatest PR move in history?

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/dominos-pizza-came-idea-fix-americas-roads-195018525.html

I did not see in the link whether they would be allowed to advertise on roads they fix. Can they? Or is the advertisement just the general knowledge of what they are doing?

 

[WWGD]

I just found out my android phone has a personal digital assistant , when a recorded voice came out of my phone at random. I can imagine it going off at random when someone is driving or sleeping and freaking someone out.

 

[WWGD]

so the spirit of the Big Mac Index is the spirit of PPP. Yes. The Economist came up with the Big Mac index as something of a joke a few decades ago but it proved to be unreasonably effective. It also has a merit of being simple and pretty transparent.
It definitely is a valid question. However I feel different on estimates of "stuff" being produced in countries that don't have massive grey market economies. (Note unemployment is tricky and overly technical about whether people 'want' to be in the labor market -- this seems to be necessary but frequently gives the wrong impression unfortunately.)

Further, the bar charts have footnotes for sources. In particular, one of the two bar charts explicitly cites the "Bureau of Labour Statistics" for the 2006 GDP per hour worked numbers (which they cutely misspelled as British). I presume this page is what you'd want to comb through: https://www.bls.gov/ilc/intl_gdp_capita_gdp_hour.htm#table01

per that BLS page
in general you wouldn't want include capital earnings, just the amount of stuff being produced. (And yes 'production' includes services.)

By tradition, the private sector accounting for 'stuff' produced is allocated to L and K (as in Labor or Kapital) as a nod to Marx.

- - - -

I don't view The Economist's reporting of data from BLS as being politics. And I do view BLS as being a pretty good data source.

Economics is not exactly on sound footing as a 'science' but I'm not suggesting predictive models or causation here -- just (economic) accounting. And yes even the accounting is difficult but it is a considerably more modest goal than predictive modeling.

The other picture cites conference board: https://www.conference-board.org/data/ and CERA. I have lingering concerns that CERA may be too political right now, though the chart and its data is a few years old.

- - - -
It may be that you're genuinely interested in the details underlying this data... there was a time when I was too. I've gone through some of this in detail a while back -- I find it rather unpleasant these days. You're certainly welcome to go through those links (BLS in particular) but it may warp your brain.

Unfortunately in the real world I observe an overwhelming trend where people only ask detailed questions about data when it makes them feel uncomfortable (cognitive dissonance). It's this bit of pattern recognition that I picked up on -- fairly or not. No offense intended. Es tuet mir leid if any was caused.

It would be nice, tho not likely, to have more granular data on productivity ,like a distribution. Interesting too, to see why Norway is a full third more productive than the us. Ireland and Belgium are up there with the us in GDP generated by hour-employee. But I givee you credit for making this more precise, and, yes, I misspoke.

 

[kyphysics]

I did not see in the link whether they would be allowed to advertise on roads they fix. Can they? Or is the advertisement just the general knowledge of what they are doing?

Right. It's the latter, WWGD. I loved the idea of helping cities fill potholes with a theme of benefiting their delivery drivers too to be able to ship out pizzas faster to customers.

It's a win-win sort of thing and great for communities. It's the public's knowledge of what Domino's is doing that is the best advertising they could ever do.

I love it! Before I became a secret shopper, I used to order Domino's to the dorm and library all the time. Now that I secret shopper in my spare time, I get free pizzas and get paid $7.00 - $23.00 (depending on time of month) on top of that to order from various pizza places and rate and evaluate their services. Domino's isn't one of them, sadly, and I don't want to pay for pizza anymore now that I get them free. But, I do like Domino's.

Pretty much Little Caesar's is the only major chain I refuse to buy from. Just dislike their taste.

 

[Psinter]

Didn't really know where to share this: https://imgur.com/gallery/SCCEd8f

It's funny. Take a look. Catto knows where loyalties lie.

 

[WWGD]

Missed Bloom's by two days. Difficult to transition to summer breakfast wise. I can't think of cold , filling foods for breakfast. Usual foods : eggs, bacon, etc. raise body temperature.

 

[fresh_42]

I just realized:

Earth is orbiting sun by $\approx 30\, km/s$
Sun is orbiting Sagittarius A by $\approx 3\, km/s$
Sagittarius A is closing in on Andromeda at $\approx 0.3\, km/s$

Where are the numerologists when you need one?

 

[CWatters]

Today while talking to my wife in the garden my voice suddenly sounded all weird for a few seconds. Most disconcerting. As I moved my head this weird effect came and went. Quickly discovered that I was standing right at the focal point of the small curved wall around my patio and it was reflecting the sound back to me. The sweet spot appears to be quite small, only about 1 square foot in area. Quite an amazing effect given the wall is only 4 courses of bricks high. My teenage kids were suitably freaked out when I got them to stand there.

 

[WWGD]

Today while talking to my wife in the garden my voice suddenly sounded all weird for a few seconds. Most disconcerting. As I moved my head this weird effect came and went. Quickly discovered that I was standing right at the focal point of the small curved wall around my patio and it was reflecting the sound back to me. The sweet spot appears to be quite small, only about 1 square foot in area. Quite an amazing effect given the wall is only 4 courses of bricks high. My teenage kids were suitably freaked out when I got them to stand there.

They may have burnt you at the stake if this was the 1600s or so.

 

[WWGD]

I am becoming (in)famous for my horrible puns: I asked for my coke today, and a glass with ice to come with it. The lady told me
I was lucky since it was the last of the ice she had left. I asked her to say " I only have ice for you".

 

[skyshrimp]

Did she laugh or cringe? :)

 

[WWGD]

Did she laugh or cringe? :)

More like an eye roll and then she seemed to have tried to avoid me today.

 

[skyshrimp]

I had a weird one at work today. This female coworker has been very flirty with me for the past two weeks and I've returned it. She's been quite hands on the last few days. When I was leaving today, she stopped me and asked if I wanted to pop out for a smoke with her before I go. Her English isn't that great, so she asked me to check a text she was about to send a while we were chatting. There were two other colleagues in the smoking area. I read out 'Do you want to meet up for a coffee?' She said, "Don't say that out loud! There are people listening. That text might have been sexual? I've met this guy yesterday and he's offered me a job for more money".

Why would she go out of her way and flirt with me and then ask me out for a smoke to read a text to another guy? Maybe she wanted to make me jealous to up my game? I don't want to. I wouldn't have started the flirting in the first place tbh. She's a nice girl, but I'm not looking for a relationship atm.

Weird.

 

[BillTre]

Today while talking to my wife in the garden my voice suddenly sounded all weird for a few seconds. Most disconcerting. As I moved my head this weird effect came and went. Quickly discovered that I was standing right at the focal point of the small curved wall around my patio and it was reflecting the sound back to me. The sweet spot appears to be quite small, only about 1 square foot in area. Quite an amazing effect given the wall is only 4 courses of bricks high. My teenage kids were suitably freaked out when I got them to stand there.

This sounds like a phenomenon in the US capitol where the House of Representatives used to meet.
Legend has it that this effect was used by some to eavesdrop on otherwise cryptic conversations political opponents were having.

Following his one term as president, John Quincy Adams served in the House of Representatives for 18 years. If you visit what is now called Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol and stand on the plaque that marks where his desk once rested, you’ll discover that you can hear everything people say — even whisper — from clear across the room. Legend has it that Adams eavesdropped on everyone else in the House without ever needing to stand.

The truth is that when the House met in Statuary Hall, there were carpets covering the marble floors, which probably killed the “whispering hall” effect. But the plaque really is where Adams sat, and the Hall really was the meeting place for the House of Representatives until 1864.

I grew up in the DC area and have been to this building where I heard bounced whispers there which were pretty clear.

 

[Psinter]

Of fictional princesses, I don't remember what Cinderella was about.

Edit:

 

[WWGD]

This sounds like a phenomenon in the US capitol where the House of Representatives used to meet.
Legend has it that this effect was used by some to eavesdrop on otherwise cryptic conversations political opponents were having.I grew up in the DC area and have been to this building where I heard bounced whispers there which were pretty clear.

Only voices I hear from time to time are just whispers : Sizzler!

 

[skyshrimp]

I forgot to mention that I walked past her hours before that smoke and popped into just say Hi. When I said Hi, she said 'shyster' under her breath before turning around. I just wanted to offer her a mint. Her hands where full so she opened her mouth for me to put the mint in there.

After the shyster comment and her showing me that text, I figured she was telling me to back off. I didn't flirt with her today. I wasn't really flirting before. Just returning her advances. This morning I signed in and a few people were there including her. I didn't say anything and just signed. She said Hi and I said good morning. I went to walk off but she told me to wait for her as she wanted to get a cup of water and gave me her bag. We were in the lift and I said "Thank f**k for Friday". She said "what?". I said, "It's Friday. I'm going out for a few beers at the pub tonight". She said, "I've never been to an English pub. I want to go, but I can't go alone you know?" I said, "Maybe one day we can go out of a few drinks". She said, "that'll be great" and smiled.

I went to her floor to say hi to my coworkers as I do everyday and see if they need my help with anything. I like the random banter. I've been doing that before she started work there. I didn't go to see her in her section as it seemed a bit weird. She saw me and came over to ask why I was on her floor. I told her I visit there each morning to say hi and went back upstairs as per usual.

Near the end of my shift, she went upstairs to see me. I was browsing on my phone. She said something random and started browsing on her phone. She keeps trying to catch me alone to see if I'll try it on. That's how she works.

From Monday, we're getting moved to the same floor which will be a little awkward tbh. My manager asked me how well I work with her. I said that we work well. She said "Don't go making love up there" I said "What?". She said, "I'm not stupid ok?".

My manager is playing Cupid's arrow. It's all just fun and games though :)
.

 

[WWGD]

I forgot to mention that I walked past her hours before that smoke and popped into just say Hi. When I said Hi, she said 'shyster' under her breath before turning around. I just wanted to offer her a mint. Her hands where full so she opened her mouth for me to put the mint in there.

After the shyster comment and her showing me that text, I figured she was telling me to back off. I didn't flirt with her today. I wasn't really flirting before. Just returning her advances. This morning I signed in and a few people were there including her. I didn't say anything and just signed. She said Hi and I said good morning. I went to walk off but she told me to wait for her as she wanted to get a cup of water and gave me her bag. We were in the lift and I said "Thank f**k for Friday". She said "what?". I said, "It's Friday. I'm going out for a few beers at the pub tonight". She said, "I've never been to an English pub. I want to go, but I can't go alone you know?" I said, "Maybe one day we can go out of a few drinks". She said, "that'll be great" and smiled.

I went to her floor to say hi to my coworkers as I do everyday and see if they need my help with anything. I like the random banter. I've been doing that before she started work there. I didn't go to see her in her section as it seemed a bit weird. She saw me and came over to ask why I was on her floor. I told her I visit there each morning to say hi and went back upstairs as per usual.

Near the end of my shift, she went upstairs to see me. I was browsing on my phone. She said something random and started browsing on her phone. She keeps trying to catch me alone to see if I'll try it on. That's how she works.

From Monday, we're getting moved to the same floor which will be a little awkward tbh. My manager asked me how well I work with her. I said that we work well. She said "Don't go making love up there" I said "What?". She said, "I'm not stupid ok?".

My manager is playing Cupid's arrow. It's all just fun and games though :)
.

Hope this is not too much into politics, and sorry if it is, but remember we are living in ## Me Too times, so be cautious.

 

[WWGD]

Logoff sounds like an Eastern European last name.

 

[Janus]

The streaming channel Twitch has been running a Classic Doctor Who marathon for the last few weeks(week days only). They started with the First Doctor and they are now up to the Fourth Doctor. They usually average ~15 episodes a day (depending on the number of eps in each serial) and then repeat. So I have been ODing on Doctor Who lately.

Last night while they were in the second run through of the day's episodes, I switched over to watching the Mariners playing the Red Sox. During a break for a video review, I could swear that I could softly hear the Doctor Who theme playing. Nothing in the house was streaming Twitch at the time, and I had almost convinced myself that I had imagined it (After all, I had been hearing that theme played an average of 30 times a day for a number of weeks.), When my wife said, "Do you hear the Doctor Who theme?". They were obviously playing it in the ball park during the video review break. ( And if someone posts that they don't use the Doctor Who theme at Fenway park, then both my wife and I are losing it.)

 

[Janus]

Logoff sounds like an Eastern European last name.

And Mueslix sounds more like something you might cough up in the morning rather than eat.

 

[WWGD]

Germany wins 2-1 against Sweden, last minute goal.

 

[WWGD]

And Mueslix sounds more like something you might cough up in the morning rather than eat.

It also tastes like it ;).

 

[collinsmark]

Today while talking to my wife in the garden my voice suddenly sounded all weird for a few seconds. Most disconcerting. As I moved my head this weird effect came and went. Quickly discovered that I was standing right at the focal point of the small curved wall around my patio and it was reflecting the sound back to me. The sweet spot appears to be quite small, only about 1 square foot in area. Quite an amazing effect given the wall is only 4 courses of bricks high. My teenage kids were suitably freaked out when I got them to stand there.

Your story reminds me of the "Whispering Gallery" in Grand Central Station, New York City.

 

[WWGD]

This lady from mad TV last name weir married a guy with last name dasz . No joke, they made a company weir-dasz productions

 

[fresh_42]

I assume they thought this would save marketing costs. Unfortunately for them, they made the calculation without people's subconsciousness. Typical case of: not thought to the end.

I once lived in an apartment building with neighbors named Buse (her name, Busen= bosom) and Bock (his name, = buck).