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.

  • #5,221
WWGD said:
Weird how one here in PF may report one's own post.
I reported my own post once. I was aware I was riding the edge of civility with a (to my mind) particularly clueless and lazy poster. So I posted something that I felt was just the right side of the line and reported it, acknowledging that my judgement might be slightly skewed.
 
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  • #5,222
Ibix said:
I reported my own post once. I was aware I was riding the edge of civility with a (to my mind) particularly clueless and lazy poster. So I posted something that I felt was just the right side of the line and reported it, acknowledging that my judgement might be slightly skewed.
Ah, I've been there myself a few times. Now I know, independently of What Gauss Would Do ;).
 
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  • #5,223
I saw a quite funny interview with Gal Gadot, who played Wonder Woman. She said in the interview (clip here) that she was talking quantum physics with a physics professor :biggrin: when she got the news that she had got the role, and he didn't understand why she got so excited because she couldn't tell anybody about the news. Personally I didn't enjoy Wonder Woman very much as a movie, but I like Gadot's personality.
 
  • #5,224
DennisN said:
I saw a quite funny interview with Gal Gadot, who played Wonder Woman. She said in the interview (clip here) that she was talking quantum physics with a physics professor :biggrin: when she got the news that she had got the role, and he didn't understand why she got so excited because she couldn't tell anybody about the news. Personally I didn't enjoy Wonder Woman very much as a movie, but I like Gadot's personality.
Maybe the prof. will think she has the hots for him. Her brother is Guy Gadot, I think an actor too. EDIT: I mean, I assume; if she's the Gal, her brother is the Guy.
 
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  • #5,225
Happy Palindrome Week.
:partytime:

9-10-19 (91019)
9-11-19 (91119)
9-12-19 (91219)
9-13-19 (91319)
9-14-19 (91419)
9-15-19 (91519)
9-16-19 (91619)
9-17-19 (91719)
9-18-19 (91819)
9-19-19 (91919)
 
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  • #5,226
Question of the day: can every Markov chain be converted into a time-homogeneous Markov chain?
 
  • #5,227
Today, I calculated, via very bad maths, and or statistics, that I will die on Monday, February 19, 2029.

Not sure of the hour, nor the venue.
 
  • #5,229
Ibix said:
I hope that is simply your estimate given your current age, and not some particular piece of bad news.
Mostly bad statistics, is my guess.
I didn't see that guy, the other day, because of both the weather[1], and statistics[2].

1. Flooding and tornadoes
2. He'd sold out much hugely bigger venues
 
  • #5,230
OmCheeto said:
Mostly bad statistics, is my guess.
I think the appropriate question is "what is the average age at death of men in your country, excluding those who died younger than you are now". I'd expect some pretty broad confidence limits.

Isn't there a Heinlein short story about someone who works out an accurate method of predicting date of death? I think he gets murdered by a rampaging mob of life insurance salesmen.
OmCheeto said:
I didn't see that guy, the other day, because of both the weather[1], and statistics[2].
I saw he was coming to the UK. I must admit I didn't even try for tickets for reason (2).
 
  • #5,231
Someone a while back wished me a long and painful death . Still, I told them, isn't that what life is,a long and painful death?
 
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  • #5,232
WWGD said:
Someone a while back wished me a long and painful death . Still, I told them, isn't that what life is,a long and painful death?
Life is a disease with a 100% mortality rate, for sure.
 
  • #5,233
Ibix said:
Life is a disease with a 100% mortality rate, for sure.
Leading cause of death. Let's do away with it...to cut down the death rate ??!
 
  • #5,234
OmCheeto said:
Today, I calculated, via very bad maths, and or statistics, that I will die on Monday, February 19, 2029.

Not sure of the hour, nor the venue.
When was the next approximation of Apophis?
 
  • #5,235
Water and the air are deadly. Everybody dies eventually
:nb)
 
  • #5,236
Life is a terminal disease.
You pass it on to your children.
 
  • #5,237
'Reminds me of this:



(Original source: Kentucky Fried Movie)
 
  • #5,238
Ibix said:
I think the appropriate question is "what is the average age at death of men in your country, excluding those who died younger than you are now". I'd expect some pretty broad confidence limits.
It was mostly for fun, so very little effort went into making it realistic.
I quit smoking this last May, and the effects have not been wearing off fast enough, so I periodically google; "When is this going to end?", and I run across all manner of 'new to me' statistics.
The first graph I curve fit, gave me my death date.
The second graph I curve fit, told me that humans have a life expectancy of 240 years.


2019.09.12.bad.graphs.png

[ref to the legitimate part of the graph]​

I found that quite amazing.

ps. I may have omitted a couple of important data points.

Isn't there a Heinlein short story about someone who works out an accurate method of predicting date of death? I think he gets murdered by a rampaging mob of life insurance salesmen.
Although a fan of Heinlein, I do not recall that story.

I saw he was coming to the UK. I must admit I didn't even try for tickets for reason (2).
Over the last week, I've watched 3 videos featuring Randall Munroe, as I didn't know what he looked nor sounded like. He doesn't strike me as a very entertaining speaker. But I've decided that I can't go near his website, as I will push the "random" button, for hours.
 
  • #5,239
Automate:
Guy riding with you on your car.
 
  • #5,240
Undergrads have very 'powerful' proof techniques.
  1. Assume A, therefore A
  2. If you (the instructor) can't give a counter example to my (the student) claim, then my claim is true.
I don't recall teaching any of that .. :confused:
 
  • #5,241
OmCheeto said:
ps. I may have omitted a couple of important data points.

Although a fan of Heinlein, I do not recall that story.
If memory serves, the short story is usually titled "Life-Line" and the scientist named Pinero. RAH published Lifeline in an SF pulp magazine and then in anthology "Future History".

The anthology usually contains short story "Misfit" about math marvel spaceman Libby and the novelette "Methuselah's Children" where Heinlein introduces immortal Lazarus Long and the long-lived Howard Families featured in subsequent novels.

While stealing a starship to flee Earth to save the Howard Families, Lazarus tells Libby that Pinero was not a charlatan. Under his nom-de-space Captain Shefield, Lazarus visited Pinero who computes Lazarus's lifeline but refuses to divulge how long Long is fated to live. Given your chart, you may be a hidden Howard.:cool:
 
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  • #5,242
Refreshing my Python , writing a list of primes in a range. It runs...but prints out each number a weird number of times. AAGHHH. Maybe it is because of switching between versions 2,3, and between IDEs.
 
  • #5,243
OmCheeto said:
Today, I calculated, via very bad maths, and or statistics, that I will die on Monday, February 19, 2029.

Not sure of the hour, nor the venue.

Are you a stand-up comic? Maybe it will be The Apollo?
 
  • #5,244
WWGD said:
Refreshing my Python , writing a list of primes in a range. It runs...but prints out each number a weird number of times. AAGHHH. Maybe it is because of switching between versions 2,3, and between IDEs.
Why do you want to refresh your python? It doesn't even have arms, not to mention armpits.
 
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  • #5,245
fresh_42 said:
Why do you want to refresh your python? It doesn't even have arms, not to mention armpits.
Nein Python program. Python Fresh Air-keit.
 
  • #5,246
WWGD said:
Python Fresh Air
Oh, you allow it to go outside on its own. Didn't know they find home again.
 
  • #5,247
They go home to (Fresh* -Bel) Air

*Not necessarily _42
 
  • #5,248
I wonder if 'Vannesso' would be a good men's name.
 
  • #5,249
WWGD said:
I wonder if 'Vannesso' would be a good men's name.
Why not. Andrea is a men's name.
 

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