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

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses various random thoughts and observations, touching on topics such as media programming, personal anecdotes, language use, and mathematical curiosities. The scope includes informal commentary, humor, and reflections on everyday experiences.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express frustration with the quality of documentaries on channels like the History Channel and National Geographic, suggesting a decline in factual programming.
  • There is a humorous anecdote about discovering a polythene bag obstructing a kitchen extractor fan, leading to a discussion about the clarity of installation manuals.
  • Participants share thoughts on the nature of prime numbers, particularly regarding the status of the number 2 and its implications for mathematical proofs.
  • There are reflections on language use and the reactions to grammatical errors made by native speakers, with some participants sharing their personal responses to such situations.
  • One participant humorously suggests that if 2 were not considered prime, it would complicate the understanding of prime factors in even numbers.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion contains multiple competing views, particularly regarding the status of the number 2 as a prime and the quality of media programming. No consensus is reached on these topics.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying degrees of skepticism and humor, with some comments reflecting personal experiences and subjective opinions rather than objective analysis.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in informal discussions about media, language, and mathematics may find this thread engaging.

  • #5,551
Maybe good time to change the topic, however fascinating it may be... ;). cc Cesar Millan.
 
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  • #5,552
My autistic side. I hear " When I was younger..."
You were _always_ younger!
 
  • #5,553
So, special is slightly smaller in size but includes an appetizer; total food more than same dish in standard format. But standard dish with less food more expensive. ?
 
  • #5,554
How many names do Germans have nowadays?My "mentor" had 3: Johann Carl Friederich.
 
  • #5,555
WWGD said:
So, special is slightly smaller in size but includes an appetizer; total food more than same dish in standard format. But standard dish with less food more expensive. ?
My brother-in-law once asked me, "What is the difference between fine dining and simply eating in a restaurant?"

I answered without much thought, "The portions are smaller!"
 
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  • #5,556
Klystron said:
My brother-in-law once asked me, "What is the difference between fine dining and simply eating in a restaurant?"

I answered without much thought, "The portions are smaller!"
Appeal to snobbery or gullibility or mental lazyness: Special must be better, because of name and price differences.
 
  • #5,557
Klystron said:
My brother-in-law once asked me, "What is the difference between fine dining and simply eating in a restaurant?"

I answered without much thought, "The portions are smaller!"
I've seen successful fast food places outside of fancy places for those un-full by the smaller portions. Kind of a torture: extremely tasty but not large-enough to fill you.
 
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  • #5,558
Fluid Mechanics textbooks? I prefer solid ones.
 
  • #5,559
Dr William Schaffner's business card: " Yes, with a double f, not a t!"
 
  • #5,560
WWGD said:
Dr William Schaffner's business card: " Yes, with a double f, not a t!"
His business is likewise uncertain. Schaffner is the German word for conductor (train).
 
  • #5,561
fresh_42 said:
His business is likewise uncertain. Schaffner is the German word for conductor (train).
Fahrer? Gehfart?
 
  • #5,562
WWGD said:
Fahrer? Gehfart?
No, the one who checks the tickets and communicates with the driver in stations.
 
  • #5,563
fresh_42 said:
No, the one who checks the tickets and communicates with the driver in stations.
But definitely not the one ( playing the character) conducting the USS Enterprise.
Edit: But then again there is a college called Berkeley college that has nothing to see with UC Berkeley and there is Stamford Connecticut: "No, with an m, not an n."
 
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  • #5,564
WWGD said:
But then again there is a college called Berkeley college that has nothing to see with UC Berkeley
Not to mention Berklee, in Bean-Town
 
  • #5,565
gmax137 said:
Not to mention Berklee, in Bean-Town

I thought that was the one he wasn't mentioning.

Cheers
 
  • #5,566
cosmik debris said:
I thought that was the one he wasn't mentioning.

Cheers
No, I was referring to a college called" Berkeley College" that has no affiliation with UC Berkeley.
 
  • #5,567
If they ask :
What's your name?
Will Shaffner
You're the guy from Star Trek?
No, Shaffner, with an f. I'm from Stamford.
Ah, in California?
No, Stamford, with an m. In Connecticut.
I study at Berkeley College.
That's in California. Why did you say Connecticut?
No...
 
  • #5,568
WWGD said:
Dr William Schaffner's business card: " Yes, with a double f, not a t!"
That takes me back...

What's the oldest body orbiting our Sun?
 
  • #5,569
strangerep said:
That takes me back...

What's the oldest body orbiting our Sun?
Juffiter?? Venuff??
 
  • #5,570
I never knew that Umlauts were used in the writing of English until I saw them in TV ads.
 
  • #5,571
dlgoff said:
I never knew that Umlauts were used in the writing of English until I saw them in TV ads.
Are you süre they are?
 
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  • #5,572
WWGD said:
Are you süre they are?
I am:

 
  • #5,573
fresh_42 said:
I am:


Killed by dëath?
ëdit:
Në ver mind, Ace of Spades
 
  • #5,574
"Watch free for 30 days".
What do I do with a watch for 30 days? I use my phone to tell time anyway.
Do they give someone else the watch afterwards?
 
  • #5,575
WWGD said:
"Watch free for 30 days".
What do I do with a watch for 30 days? I use my phone to tell time anyway.
Do they give someone else the watch afterwards?
No. The watch gets detained after 30 days.
 
  • #5,576
fresh_42 said:
No. The watch gets detained after 30 days.
Windows is activated??
 
  • #5,577
WWGD said:
Windows is activated??
I don't get it. But do you know where the word comes from? It was the location where wind came into the house. People hadn't money for glass. Maybe MS shouldn't have named their OS by a thing which allowed intrusion by nature. Or was it on purpose?
 
  • #5,578
I meant you would then the fortune and joy of dealing with Windows.
 
  • #5,579
WWGD said:
"Watch free for 30 days".
What do I do with a watch for 30 days? I use my phone to tell time anyway.
Do they give someone else the watch afterwards?
Btw, be glad there is a watch. In 1974 there weren't any watches:
1576129666917.png
 
  • #5,580
fresh_42 said:
Btw, be glad there is a watch. In 1974 there weren't any watches:
View attachment 254012
And the same is the case now. It seems Santa is warning he will steal it: "You better watch out...Santa Claus is coming to town". You've been warned. I don't use one fortunately.
 

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