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

[fresh_42]

I admit that I buy e-textbooks, since I use some information from the books in reports. I prefer the hardcopy textbooks.

I wonder about the consequences these changes to digital media will have in the long run. It is a completely different experience, whether one digs through libraries for hours or using electronic search methods. I still prefer the bookshelf over the computer (or similar) when I want to look up something. And my reading is different, too.

The last time we had a major change was when we only had letters between scientists and the big books from Newton or Gauß and changed to modern textbooks. It resulted in a massive increase in numbers and quality of research. I really doubt that this will be the case again. I rather fear that the opposite is the case: FIFO in the knowledge queue.

 

[WWGD]

Pearson CEO predicts demise of physical textbooks as digital service launches
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/pear...bscription-textbook-app-launch-192710982.html

I admit that I buy e-textbooks, since I use some information from the books in reports. I prefer the hardcopy textbooks. I can't see renting a book by the month. I prefer to own it outright, so that I can refer back later.

It's tricky. I agree in general but have so much paperwork in my place; books, notebooks, exams, etc., that it takes up too much space. Maybe middle of the road; scanned copies may be ideal for me.

 

[WWGD]

I see people in ( outdoor, while walking by) coffee shops, bars , relaxing to the tune of the song " Pumped up Kicks" , seemingly ignorant of the fact that it is a song about a quiet kid that goes into a shooting rampage , in part because he envies the cool shoes ( " Pumped up Kicks") other kids have which he cannot afford.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I wonder about the consequences these changes to digital media will have in the long run. It is a completely different experience, whether one digs through libraries for hours or using electronic search methods. I still prefer the bookshelf over the computer (or similar) when I want to look up something. And my reading is different, too.

The last time we had a major change was when we only had letters between scientists and the big books from Newton or Gauß and changed to modern textbooks. It resulted in a massive increase in numbers and quality of research. I really doubt that this will be the case again. I rather fear that the opposite is the case: FIFO in the knowledge queue.

But on the practical side, I can often do in minutes, or seconds, or technically in 0.024 seconds, what once took hours.

 

[fresh_42]

But on the practical side, I can often do in minutes, or seconds, or technically in 0.024 seconds, what once took hours.

But you miss all the things you found on your way during these hours! I simply think that it is knowledge that didn't come to stay.

 

[WWGD]

But you miss all the things you found on your way during these hours! I simply think that it is knowledge that didn't come to stay.

There's something to be said for both. Browsing randomly can bring about productive, unexpected results * but sometimes you just need things done ASAP.

* I am trying to remember the precise term here, without success.
Edit: Serendipity is the word I was thinking of.

 

[Astronuc]

And now for something completely different . . .

Is Galena Creek the world's longest cathedral arch bridge?
https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2015...orlds-longest-cathedral-arch-bridge/28325211/

 

[Astronuc]

This could also be a TIL -

Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area is a census area in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,588. It has the largest area of any county or county-equivalent in the United States, with an area of 147,805 square miles (382,810 km²).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukon–Koyukuk_Census_Area,_Alaska

San Bernardino County in California is the largest county in the contiguous United States with an area of 20,105 square miles (52,070 km²).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Bernardino_County,_California

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_largest_counties_in_the_United_States_by_area

 

[WWGD]

I

This could also be a TIL -

Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area is a census area in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,588. It has the largest area of any county or county-equivalent in the United States, with an area of 147,805 square miles (382,810 km²).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukon–Koyukuk_Census_Area,_Alaska

San Bernardino County in California is the largest county in the contiguous United States with an area of 20,105 square miles (52,070 km²).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Bernardino_County,_California

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_largest_counties_in_the_United_States_by_area

Instead of people per square mile, Yukon should be measured in square miles per person. I imagine similar is the case with nearby Nunavut ( Canada).

 

[ergospherical]

Few things tick me off more than whenever a book uses that grotesque $v_{,a}$ and $v_{;a}$ notation for partial and covariant derivatives. It's hard enough to read in print, and near impossible to handwrite.

[Whilst we're at it, I also don't trust anyone who puts their primes on the indices ($v^{a'}$ as opposed to ${v'}^a$). Also, why not just use tildes ($\tilde{v}^a$) or bars ($\bar{v}^a$) - they're much more readable, and get lost much less easily, than primes. ]

 

[fresh_42]

Few things tick me off more than whenever a book uses that grotesque $v_{,a}$ and $v_{;a}$ notation for partial and covariant derivatives. It's hard enough to read in print, and near impossible to handwrite.

[Whilst we're at it, I also don't trust anyone who puts their primes on the indices ($v^{a'}$ as opposed to ${v'}^a$). Also, why not just use tildes ($\tilde{v}^a$) or bars ($\bar{v}^a$) - they're much more readable, and get lost much less easily, than primes. ]

You are not the first and certainly won't be the last who tried to clean his screen or even a page in a book from that little dirty mark that finally turned out to be a prime and not a fruit fly.

 

[WWGD]

You are not the first and certainly won't be the last who tried to clean his screen or even a page in a book from that little dirty mark that finally turned out to be a prime and not a fruit fly.

Differential Geometry becomes way easier once you figure out the notation.

 

[Astronuc]

Everything You Need to Know About the True Origins of the Everything Bagel​

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/who-invented-the-everything-bagel

The everything bagel is the king of bagels. On this there should be no argument. In the same way that it combines all of the key bagel toppings—sesame and poppy seeds, dried garlic and onion, and coarse salt . . .

I prefer the classic Everything Bagel.

 

[WWGD]

I am pretty sure you know this but one of the best math physics expositors is John Baez. He presents math better than many math physicists , for my taste.

 

[ergospherical]

I am pretty sure you know this but one of the best math physics expositors is John Baez. He presents math better than many math physicists , for my taste.

Have you looked at Gauge Fields, Knots and Gravity? I've only finished Part I (out of III) so far [and I've been a bit frugal in doing the problems, lolz], but the bits I have engaged with so far are freaking beautiful.

 

[ergospherical]

 

[WWGD]

A bit of courtesy many ignore is elaborating when sending a message ( text , email, etc), saying something along the lines of " I need to talk to you". The person receiving it starts frantically backtracking over all things they could have possibly done wrong at some point.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

But you miss all the things you found on your way during these hours! I simply think that it is knowledge that didn't come to stay.

When I have been forced to use textbooks for my work in recent years, I find myself instinctively trying to hit Ctrl-F.

 

[WWGD]

Windows 10 seems to have decided to hide battery setings on the task bar ?? Found out at the last minute battery was terminally low.

 

[fresh_42]

Windows 10 seems to have decided to hide battery setings on the task bar ?? Found out at the last minute battery was terminally low.

I assume you can change the order by drag and drop to get it back from the list to the task bar. Yep.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

If you saw an alien spacecraft land near you, which way would you run, towards it or away from it?

 

[fresh_42]

If you saw an alien spacecraft land near you, which way would you run, towards it or away from it?

Into it. Way too curious how they solved the problem with the distances.

 

[WWGD]

I assume you can change the order by drag and drop to get it back from the list to the task bar. Yep.

Drag from where? What list?

 

[fresh_42]

Drag from where? What list?

 

[WWGD]

View attachment 287021

Yes, but I looked for it and could not find it. Maybe I overlooked it. Thanks, will try again tomorrow.

 

[WWGD]

I was sitting at the cafe facing the door and it was raining outside. People would walk in and do a small jump to wipe their feet. It felt like they were all doing a sort of homage to me. Maybe I am a narcissist or something. It seems like the latest fashionable word.

 

[WWGD]

Into it. Way too curious how they solved the problem with the distances.

They use alien burger fuel. Terra burgers here on earth.

 

[Ibix]

Into it. Way too curious how they solved the problem with the distances.

https://xkcd.com/242/

 

[Tom.G]

If you saw an alien spacecraft land near you, which way would you run, towards it or away from it?

Into it. Way too curious how they solved the problem with the distances.

Here is your chance!

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/20445002There is was also one for sale in Christchurch, New Zealand as of November, 2020.

https://www.dwell.com/article/futur...land-real-estate-2321cd1a/6729758124361347072

PLEASE, PLEASE, Let Us Know What You Find!

 

[Keith_McClary]

I was sitting at the cafe facing the door and it was raining outside. People would walk in and do a small jump to wipe their feet.

If it keeps raining, the doormat will get soaked and it will splatter mud when they do that.

 

[WWGD]

If it keeps raining, the doormat will get soaked and it will splatter mud when they do that.

Then I won't consider it a small homage ;).

 

[WWGD]

Leaving a clear, understandable message in an answering machine seems a skill not many have ( possibly including myself). I'm still trying to set up my visual voicemail though given the high failure rate of auto correct, not holding my breath.

 

[WWGD]

In order to help with Covid, the Who is giving a concert in benefit of the Who. Maybe one of the two should call itself " The Whom"

 

[WWGD]

I assume you can change the order by drag and drop to get it back from the list to the task bar. Yep.

Thank you, oh, witch doctor. Battery button is magically on display today. Which doctor taught you to be a witch doctor?

 

[fresh_42]

Thank you, oh, witch doctor. Battery button is magically on display today. Which doctor taught you to be a witch doctor?

Dr. Chip Munks

 

[Klystron]

If you saw an alien spacecraft land near you, which way would you run, towards it or away from it?

I would not run in any direction. I would quietly assess the situation and slowly approach the object; circling for a better inspection, if safe.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I would not run in any direction. I would quietly assess the situation and slowly approach the object; circling for a better inspection, if safe.

And you would know if it isn't safe because... you know an alien anti-gluon beam when you see one?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Into it. Way too curious how they solved the problem with the distances.

Are you betting [your life] that they are not hostile based on logic, or is the temptation too great to resist, no matter the consequences?

 

[fresh_42]

Are you betting [your life] that they are not hostile based on logic, or is the temptation too great to resist, no matter the consequences?

We believe that physics is the same in the entire universe. I think that biological mechanisms are, too. Nobody would take the effort to contact a pale blue dot in the suburbs with a hostile attitude. There are easier targets nearby. Therefore they will brag with their car and ask for beer.

 

[WWGD]

I remember an argument to the effect that a species of ETs that had managed to survive and travel across galaxies must have done so through cooperation within themselves so that they had likely overcome more base instincts and tendencies. So they were likely peaceful.

This from a book I recently picked up from the resale bin, which I recommend " Why Things Are", by J. Achenbach, a journalist for the Miami Herald. The book was written in 1990.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

We believe that physics is the same in the entire universe. I think that biological mechanisms are, too. Nobody would take the effort to contact a pale blue dot in the suburbs with a hostile attitude. There are easier targets nearby. Therefore they will brag with their car and ask for beer.

According to Whitley Strieber they like strawberry ice cream.

What motivates the question is a real event with a UFO - a UFO I made. It was for the finale the last night of a space camp theme for the cub scouts. We had been building the story all week. By the last night the kids were primed for something but they didn't know what yet. They just knew the aliens were supposed to make an appearance. It was in fact the sudden appearance of an ominous black UFO with strange looking wings, flashing lights, and UFO sounds over the PA system. [I made this out of an 8ft weather balloon filled with helium. We controlled it using fishing line]

When I deployed the UFO, I looked over and saw a wall of about 50 kids completely out of control and coming right at me like a stampeding herd. But 3 kids ran the other direction. It took an hour to find one of them!

 

[Klystron]

And you would know if it isn't safe because... you know an alien anti-gluon beam when you see one?

Your original question stipulates the observer knows the UFO is 'alien' without explaining how.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Your original question stipulates the observer knows the UFO is 'alien' without explaining how.

The license plates

 

[fresh_42]

The license plates

Ah! That is why they are far more often seen in the US than in Germany. We do not have so much space, and chances are high that they get a ticket for parking in the wrong place.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

You can see ETs through the windows.

 

[WWGD]

Ah! That is why they are far more often seen in the US than in Germany. We do not have so much space, and chances are high that they get a ticket for parking in the wrong place.

Some how they are only detected by drunks or people with apparently mental issues.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Some how they are only detected by drunks or people with apparently mental issues.

And every major air force in the world. ;)

For example
https://www.nsa.gov/Portals/70/docu...ified-documents/ufo/routing_slip_ufo_iran.pdf

 

[Jarvis323]

Here are two cases where large groups of kids at least though they saw an alien UFO land nearby.

Among 60 kids, some ran right up to it in this instance, although many ran towards and kept distance.

And among 200 kids, mainly a few ran up really close to it in this case.

In both cases, the people who ran up to it closest were girls.

 

[WWGD]

How do you explain to people , re IT work and other wise " It only took you 2 hours to fix, why do you charge so much?". Well, then take it to someone less qualified/experience and wait for 3 days, with questionable results.

 

[Klystron]

How do you explain to people , re IT work and other wise " It only took you 2 hours to fix, why do you charge so much?". Well, then take it to someone less qualified/experience and wait for 3 days, with questionable results.

Yours is a favorite retort from 'repairmen' concerning service cost. Experienced repair people often charge double not only for the original job but for the inevitable returns and secondary fixes, as if a repair made the repairman responsible for the continuing life of the object.