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

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion revolves around the latest installment of the "Random Thoughts" thread on Physics Forums, highlighting various topics including critiques of documentary programming on the History Channel and National Geographic's recent ownership change. Participants express concerns about the quality of content in documentaries and share personal anecdotes, such as a humorous incident involving a clogged kitchen extractor fan. The conversation also touches on mathematical discussions regarding prime numbers and cultural observations about societal norms and language use.

PREREQUISITES
  • Familiarity with documentary programming and its impact on public knowledge.
  • Basic understanding of prime numbers and mathematical proofs.
  • Awareness of cultural commentary and societal norms.
  • Knowledge of language variations and their implications in communication.
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the impact of media ownership on documentary content quality.
  • Research advanced mathematical concepts related to prime numbers.
  • Investigate cultural differences in language use and societal expectations.
  • Learn about the effects of solar irradiation in different geographical locations.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for media analysts, educators in mathematics, cultural commentators, and anyone interested in the intersection of media, society, and education.

  • #4,621
Klystron said:
Let's gather examples to refine the definition.
  1. Computer science is the twisted child of Physics and Mathematics.
2. One that is the issue of another.
 
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  • #4,622
fresh_42 said:
I don't see a problem here. 13% of the city's population is Jewish and Hanukkah is over!
Did you move to Manhattan?
 
  • #4,623
WWGD said:
Did you move to Manhattan?
Sorry fresheimer/freshmeister, yet again did not get your point.
 
  • #4,624
WWGD said:
Did you move to Manhattan?
Well, in a way, but this is another story.
WWGD said:
Sorry fresheimer/freshmeister, yet again did not get your point.
I just thought with over a million Jews in town who currently have no holidays there shouldn't be a problem with locations that are open.
 
  • #4,625
My ancient but active great-grandmother was proud of her language (and engineering!) skills. Asked if her gender or strong accent affected her job prospects, she would answer,

"Achk-sint? Vhat achsint, Dahlink?" (sotto voce "Vas hass Du gizack?" *)* literally "What's that you say?"
 
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  • #4,626
Some nice (somewhat) recent lyrics "She says she she don't believe in God , but her shoes is Christian*"

*Dior. "Might Not , by Weeknd"
 
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  • #4,627
Second 1st world problem after not finding a place open to hangout in Christmas: the i's I write are often capitalized, since I guess OS assumes they are the pronoun "I". So I see, e.g., I.e , instead of i.e., or I+3 instead of i+3. The Humanity! BTW, whatever happened to that thread, " First World Problems"?
 
  • #4,630
EDIT: File under "Who gives a #$%^"
Phrase of the (my)week: " Thank you for your Kindness". I had heard it way back, but then had not for years. Then I heard it 4 times last week and not again this week (yet?), strangely for holding the door open for someone once and thre times overheard from others. The word of the(my) week is "Heretic". I have heard it and looked it up many times, and then gone on quickly to forget it ( other than having a vague idea of what it is).
 
  • #4,631
Heretic is highly context sensitive!
 
  • #4,632
fresh_42 said:
Heretic is highly context sensitive!
Is he, really? ;).( No, I am not _that_ lost).
fresh_42 said:
Heretic is highly context sensitive!
But still, as it is a word, it must have a generalized meaning to it, right?
 
  • #4,633
WWGD said:
Is he, really? ;).( No, I am not _that_ lost).

But still, as it is a word, it must have a generalized meaning to it, right?
If you want to test its meaning here, then go to the astronomy forum and start a thread: "I have a proof that the Earth is a flat disk!"
A couple of centuries earlier, it was sufficient to be a Christian fundamentalist and the disk remark wouldn't have anybody bothered.
 
  • #4,634
fresh_42 said:
If you want to test its meaning here, then go to the astronomy forum and start a thread: "I have a proof that the Earth is a flat disk!"
A couple of centuries earlier, it was sufficient to be a Christian fundamentalist and the disk remark wouldn't have anybody bothered.
Yes. What annoys me is to not have excuses to not look it up. Nowadays, with the web, you can search anything and only reason not to is laziness. .
 
  • #4,635
WWGD said:
[snip]

But still, as it is a word, it must have a generalized meaning to it, right?

I prefer iconoclast. Idol breaker.
Heretic requires a foil, a standard doctrine that can be modified into heresy.
Iconoclast spots a malformed icon knows it's time to clast.
 
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  • #4,636
Klystron said:
I prefer iconoclast. Idol breaker.
Heretic requires a foil, a standard doctrine that can be modified into heresy.
Iconoclast spots a malformed icon knows it's time to clast.
Thanks. Clast-away? Clast-on ( But then we need Clast off)?
 
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  • #4,637
To be honest. I have exactly the same problem with this word: a slight idea what it means and something in mind what it once meant. Me, too, looks it up to be sure. And I learned that it came from a Christian sekt in the 11th century which was even for other Christians too extreme. But its meaning evolved soon and the origin was soon forgotten, too. My (wrong) memory thought it meant early Christians from the Roman or Jewish point of view, but it origoinated a thousand years later.
 
  • #4,638
WWGD said:
Thanks. Clast-away? Clast-on ( But then we need Clast off)?
Wlison?
 
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  • #4,639
fresh_42 said:
Wlison?

"Clast-away into the C".
 
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  • #4,640
Klystron said:
"Clast-away into the C".
And then transpose Fresheimer's 2nd and 3rd letters ;).
 
  • #4,641
fresh_42 said:
To be honest. I have exactly the same problem with this word: a slight idea what it means and something in mind what it once meant. Me, too, looks it up to be sure..
It has been one of my holy grails to understand why some things just do not stick in my mind while otehrs are absorbed almost immediately ( and, of course, the mid-range or in-between). But this seems too ambitious.
 
  • #4,642
fresh_42 said:
To be honest. I have exactly the same problem with this word: a slight idea what it means and something in mind what it once meant. Me, too, looks it up to be sure. And I learned that it came from a Christian sekt in the 11th century which was even for other Christians too extreme. But its meaning evolved soon and the origin was soon forgotten, too. My (wrong) memory thought it meant early Christians from the Roman or Jewish point of view, but it origoinated a thousand years later.

Those categories are not exclusive. I've read different definitions with connotations that suit the author. Kindest def:

Sabbath breaker: some sects and dispersed groups required holy days of repose. Trusted members and family broke these rules to defend their people on holy days. Early security, perhaps. Like Roman lictors; ready to strike but according to doctrine.
 
  • #4,643
WWGD said:
It has been one of my holy grails to understand why some things just do not stick in my mind while others are absorbed almost immediately ( and, of course, the mid-range or in-between). But this seems too ambitious.
Out of all those information which are absorbed immediately is a tremendous amount of the category: completely useless. That's the actual annoying aspect. E.g. yesterday I was told: "Did you know that <insert a celebrity of your choice> is gay?" No, I did not, and for sure it doesn't bother me, and I definitely didn't want to know. I don't even like him. Nevertheless, there is no chance to forget it again.
 
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  • #4,644
fresh_42 said:
Out of all those information which are absorbed immediately is a tremendous amount of the category: completely useless. That's the actual annoying aspect. E.g. yesterday I was told: "Did you know that <insert a celebrity of your choice> is gay?" No, I did not, and for sure it doesn't bother me, and I definitely didn't want to know. I don't even like him. Nevertheless, there is no chance to forget it again.
Yes, I have plenty of useless trash. I remembered some 15 different Starbucks bathroom codes for a pretty long time. And I didn't know <...> was gay, but I suspected it ( Not that there is anything wrong with that, right, Jerry?)...
 
  • #4,645
Heretic => Iconoclast ==> Rebel

proofiness:
  1. The film "Rebel Without a Cause" starred young gay actors (see above).
  2. rebel spelled backwards is "leber" which (almost) sounds like leper.
 
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  • #4,646
WWGD said:
Thanks. Clast-away? Clast-on ( But then we need Clast off)?
"Clast on, clast off, grasshopper"

<waves hands like falling rocks>
 
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  • #4,647
Ibix said:
"Clast on, clast off, grasshopper"

<waves hands like falling rocks>
Actually the lights went on and off . Maybe we can install one for when people clap at the opera.
 
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  • #4,648
Ibix said:
"Clast on, clast off, grasshopper"

<waves hands like falling rocks>
I don't know why, but after reading this I went to wash my car . And I don't even have one!
 
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  • #4,649
I am trying to learn phrases in another language, but not the usual, boring ones.

How can I say:" I am not afraid of clowns anymore" ,
or " I can logon to the network but it will not give me internet access"
or " Yesterday's meat must have been spoiled".

in, Say, Hindi, Russian, Nepali.
 
  • #4,650
Ja bol'she ne boyus' klounov for the first thing in Russian.
я больше не боюсь клоунов
 
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