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

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    Random Thoughts
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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.

  • #6,721
What does the green rectangle next to the members name mean?
 
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  • #6,722
pinball1970 said:
What does the green rectangle next to the members name mean?
Green rectangle where? On mobile or desktop?
 
  • #6,723
Ibix said:
Green rectangle where? On mobile or desktop?
Vanadium has one next to his name

1617699206402.png
 
  • #6,724
pinball1970 said:
What does the green rectangle next to the members name mean?
Just hover over the mouse pointer.
 
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  • #6,725
Rive said:
Just hover over the mouse pointer.
Thanks!
 
  • #6,726
pinball1970 said:
Vanadium has one next to his name

View attachment 281030
It's where the Education Advisor badge ought to be. But the picture is missing for some reason - sitewide, I think, not just you.
 
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  • #6,727
I realized how cautious I am, or at least I am being. First, I usually carry two masks , in case something happens to one of them. Rare, but can happen. Today, I soiled one while eating. So I bought another one. Very unlikely something will happen to it , but the prospect of not being able to buy another one , nor do anything without a mask was enough to compel me.
 
  • #6,728
WWGD said:
I realized how cautious I am, or at least I am being. First, I usually carry two masks , in case something happens to one of them. Rare, but can happen. Today, I soiled one while eating. So I bought another one. Very unlikely something will happen to it , but the prospect of not being able to buy another one , nor do anything without a mask was enough to compel me.
I would recommend upgrading from cloth (if that's what you're using) to something more protective if you're worried about Covid at this stage.

By now you can easily find multipacks of real high quality masks, like kn95's, online (e.g. on Amazon). And surgical masks are easy to come by in large packs as well in many places.
 
  • #6,729
Jarvis323 said:
I would recommend upgrading from cloth (if that's what you're using) to something more protective if you're worried about Covid at this stage.

By now you can easily find multipacks of real high quality masks, like kn95's, online (e.g. on Amazon). And surgical masks are easy to come by in large packs as well in many places.
Thanks, my concern was mostly about nit being able to do anything , enter any store/building because of not having a mask.
 
  • #6,730
WWGD said:
Today, I soiled one while eating.

You were eating... with the mask on? 🧐
 
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  • #6,731
etotheipi said:
You were eating... with the mask on? 🧐
No, I put it close to my plate and some meat sauce fell on it. Unfortunately it was a blue mask, so no way to hide it.
 
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  • #6,732
WWGD said:
No, I put it close to my plate and some meat sauce fell on it. Unfortunately it was a blue mask, so no way to hide it.
tragic. sorry for your loss :frown:
 
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  • #6,733
Same again with this lady looking at a map on the streets. " You are Here". She asks " How do they know?".
 
  • #6,734
WWGD said:
Same again with this lady looking at a map on the streets. " You are Here". She asks " How do they know?".
I suppose you have told her that "being here" is transitive.
 
  • #6,735
etotheipi said:
tragic. sorry for your loss :frown:
It was very good sauce.
 
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  • #6,736
Keith_McClary said:
It was very good sauce.
I kept the mask and will throw it into the rice tomorrow...
 
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  • #6,737
"What do you prefer: go make a change or status quo?" - Eddy
"I wish I could have kept status quo before that mistake," - me
 
  • #6,738
bagasme said:
"What do you prefer: go make a change or status quo?" - Eddy
"I wish I could have kept status quo before that mistake," - me
This is the " Dialog of the Ages" between conservatives and liberals. The two ideally keep each other in check so that change happens, but it is not too hasty. A dialectic, if you will.
 
  • #6,739
fresh_42 said:
I suppose you have told her that "being here" is transitive.
I think it comes down to a sort of fixed point theorem/result. Maybe a contraction map theorem.
 
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  • #6,740
WWGD said:
This is the " Dialog of the Ages" between conservatives and liberals. The two ideally keep each other in check so that change happens, but it is not too hasty.
Those parties are so successful with keeping each other in check that conservativism is no longer what it's used to be and liberals are just stuck in the past.
 
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  • #6,741
Rive said:
Those parties are so successful with keeping each other in check that conservativism is no longer what it's used to be and liberals are just stuck in the past.
The usual difference between dictionary definitions and reality.
 
  • #6,742
WWGD said:
The usual difference between dictionary definitions and reality.
This leads to strange situations: You can be too conservative to be conservative, and too liberal to be liberal.

Edit: Or even both!
 
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  • #6,743
Just like being the world's tallest dwarf or shortest giant ;).
 
  • #6,744
fresh_42 said:
This leads to strange situations: You can be too conservative to be conservative, and too liberal to be liberal.

Edit: Or even both!
Not sure I have noticed it. Maybe a German thing?
 
  • #6,745
What do you do when you overhear someone say they will feed their dogs a vegan diet, because " It's healthier and better for the environment"?
 
  • #6,746
WWGD said:
What do you do when you overhear someone say they will feed their dogs a vegan diet, because " It's healthier and better for the environment"?
May I swap your dog with my rabbit?
 
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  • #6,747
fresh_42 said:
May I swap your dog with my rabbit?
Sorry, I am not hip to your slang.
 
  • #6,748
"If nothing in the world is for the faints of heart, should they exist, or must their heart be stronger?" - Eurosceptics
 
  • #6,749
Great new feature in printers. Can now specify pages , as in e.g., 1, 5, 7-10, 13. Instead of having to stop and start. Maybe just new to me, haven't done any printing in a while.
 
  • #6,750
bagasme said:
"If nothing in the world is for the faints of heart, should they exist, or must their heart be stronger?" - Eurosceptics
Talking about Eurosceptics, is Brexit finally through? It seems to have taken endlessly to be implemented.
 

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