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

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The discussion revolves around frustrations with current documentary programming, particularly criticizing the History Channel's focus on sensational topics like time travel conspiracies instead of real historical content. Participants express disappointment over National Geographic's sale to Fox, fearing a decline in quality programming. The conversation shifts to lighter topics, including humorous anecdotes about everyday life, such as a malfunctioning kitchen fan discovered to be blocked by installation instructions. There are also discussions about the challenges of understanding various dialects in Belgium, the complexities of language, and personal experiences with weather and housing in California. Members share their thoughts on food, including a peculiar dish of zucchini pancakes served with strawberry yogurt, and delve into mathematical concepts related to sandwich cutting and the properties of numbers. The thread captures a blend of serious commentary and lighthearted banter, reflecting a diverse range of interests and perspectives among participants.
  • #7,021
WWGD said:
What is your major, main goal? Do you have funding? The more info the better. Good luck if you go.
My main goal is just to learn. I'm retired so making more money isn't an issue. There is funding available through the university via research, etc.

And thanks for the good luck. Also, I've kept all my undergrad texts so I can do some relearning.
 
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  • #7,022
dlgoff said:
My main goal is just to learn. I'm retired so making more money isn't an issue. There is funding available through the university via research, etc.

And thanks for the good luck. Also, I've kept all my undergrad texts so I can do some relearning.
For now I can think of a couple of things. You probably already thought about it, but just in case * :
1) Do you have a clear idea of concentration for your thesis? If you have a very clear idea, you may be able to look for a orof to help and get an early start on your thesis.

2) I suggest you try to mimic now the effort you will be doing then, e.g., focusing and studying for , say 4-5 hours a day

3) Plan your diet and an exercise regime to better deal with pressure.

*Not Justin Case. See previous episodes.
 
  • #7,023
WWGD said:
For now I can think of a couple of things. You probably already thought about it, but just in case * :
1) Do you have a clear idea of concentration for your thesis? If you have a very clear idea, you may be able to look for a orof to help and get an early start on your thesis.

2) I suggest you try to mimic now the effort you will be doing then, e.g., focusing and studying for , say 4-5 hours a day

3) Plan your diet and an exercise regime to better deal with pressure.

*Not Justin Case. See previous episodes.
1) I've been doing home research on an electro-optical device.
2)4-5 hours a day isn't much IMO
3)I live on a 5 acre plot and do a lot of gardening => food and exercise.
previous episodes? In undergrad school I worked with a professor (now emeritus) with the university's particle accelerator. Plus I was a TA for a physics 1 lab; so I've done a lot of grading.
 
  • #7,024
Well, it may be a good omen: you made the comment/question on Richard Feynman's birthday anniversary. :).
 
  • #7,025
WWGD said:
Well, it may be a good omen: you made the comment/question on Richard Feynman's birthday anniversary. :).
I guess I don't remember that. Do you have a link to that thread?

Anyway, I hope it's a good omen. :)
 
  • #7,026
went to borrow gravitation by mtw this morning, it's a pretty apt title since it feels like it weighs like half the chandrasekhar mass
 
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  • #7,027
etotheipi said:
went to borrow gravitation by mtw this morning, it's a pretty apt title since it feels like it weighs like half the chandrasekhar mass
Why did you borrow gravitation? So many people are trying to get rid of it: Zero-G customers, weight watchers, literally every space agency on the planet, roller coasters ...
 
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  • #7,028
etotheipi said:
went to borrow gravitation by mtw this morning,
Lift with your legs, not your back.
 
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  • #7,029
WWGD said:
True enough. I'll have to make a small effort to remember. I am too used to assuming the reply will go to the person who sent the email. I fail to see what sense it makes to send myself a reply. It, yes, it's a me problem.
But still, I know I should just drop it, but what sense does it make design-wise to assume that the default is by someone to send themselves messages?
 
  • #7,030
dlgoff said:
I guess I don't remember that. Do you have a link to that thread?

Anyway, I hope it's a good omen. :)
Not really a thread, just a short exchange about someone's name being Justin Case= Just in Case.
 
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  • #7,031
9 of 10 people in STEM fields are men. It is time to change this. We must start to tell the world that we actually do vegan science! O.k., perhaps not biology, but they have the best ratio anyway.
 
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  • #7,032
Well, this is my last time logging in here. I have one or two more posts I'd like to share, then it's back into the Void with me.

I have to quit, doctor's orders. Too many flashy things here I don't normally deal with, as I normally cruise the 'net with every bell and whistle turned off, but can't log in or post here under those conditions.

I especially liked meeting poster BillTre, as we have a lot of common interests.
 
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  • #7,033
fresh_42 said:
9 of 10 people in STEM fields are men. It is time to change this. We must start to tell the world that we actually do vegan science! O.k., perhaps not biology, but they have the best ratio anyway.
Women obtain stem degrees at a much lower rate than men. Let them do what they choose to do. I don't see anyone stopping them.
 
  • #7,034
BigDon said:
Well, this is my last time logging in here. I have one or two more posts I'd like to share, then it's back into the Void with me.

I have to quit, doctor's orders. Too many flashy things here I don't normally deal with, as I normally cruise the 'net with every bell and whistle turned off, but can't log in or post here under those conditions.

I especially liked meeting poster BillTre, as we have a lot of common interests.
Not sure I understand. Are you having trouble logging in, or navigating PF?
 
  • #7,035
The height of confidence: looking in the back of the book to see if your results agree with the book. If they do, say : " They got it right!".
 
  • #7,037
Jarvis323 said:
I agree, but people don't make choices in a vacuum. This paper offers some insight into the subject.

https://www.washington.edu/news/201...men-than-others-uw-study-may-have-the-answer/
Still, in Nordic countries, the gold standard for equality, the same holds. And if you group by race, Asian Americans obtain them at a higher rate than Whites , who obtain them at a higher rate than Blacks and Latinos. Should we seek equality here too? How about for teachers, rn's, who are mostly female? I saw during my studies, several very generous scholarships for women and " non-traditional" students that went unused. I know it is just a data point; still, if you need/expect society to approve of what you do, you have your own issues to address. I don't remember anyone cheering me into getting my degree, nor feeling welcome among my group. On the contrary, often. It frankly seems some people don't realize life is hard for all and most of us just have to rough it out. Now, if this was Afghanistan or some other place, I'd agree. But it is nowhere near that way in the West.

Edit: It is also the case that women nowadays obtain around 60% of all college degrees, including graduate ones. This has not been addressed to my knowledge.
 
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  • #7,038
Why does dimensional analysis work?

How else will it be able to pay for food and rent?

Kind of hard to understand just what they're asking.
 
  • #7,039
WWGD said:
Why does dimensional analysis work?
It’s as easy as 1 2 3
or 4 for relativity
 
  • #7,040
WWGD said:
Still, in Nordic countries, the gold standard for equality, the same holds. And if you group by race, Asian Americans obtain them at a higher rate than Whites , who obtain them at a higher rate than Blacks and Latinos. Should we seek equality here too? How about for teachers, rn's, who are mostly female? I saw during my studies, several very generous scholarships for women and " non-traditional" students that went unused. I know it is just a data point; still, if you need/expect society to approve of what you do, you have your own issues to address. I don't remember anyone cheering me into getting my degree, nor feeling welcome among my group. On the contrary, often. It frankly seems some people don't realize life is hard for all and most of us just have to rough it out. Now, if this was Afghanistan or some other place, I'd agree. But it is nowhere near that way in the West.

Edit: It is also the case that women nowadays obtain around 60% of all college degrees, including graduate ones. This has not been addressed to my knowledge.
I think the concepts discussed in the paper apply to any form of self identity. The take away is that people shy away from paths that they (perhaps even only subconsciously) perceive they aren't welcomed to, or cutout for. So the obvious improvement we can make in society is to identify ways to prevent people from forming these kinds of perceptions when they're harmful. That's why you see so much in terms of efforts to increase, and also overtly highlight diversity. It's an implementation of a strategy to improve peoples self confidence and show them examples of valid life paths that they otherwise might shy away from, e.g. due to self doubt.
 
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  • #7,041
Jarvis323 said:
I think the concepts discussed in the paper apply to any form of self identity. The take away is that people shy away from paths that they (perhaps even only subconsciously) perceive they aren't welcomed to, or cutout for. So the obvious improvement we can make in society is to identify ways to prevent people from forming these kinds of perceptions when they're harmful. That's why you see so much in terms of efforts to increase, and also overtly highlight diversity. It's an implementation of a strategy to improve peoples self confidence and show them examples of valid life paths that they otherwise might shy away from, e.g. due to self doubt.
It would be great if we could have a society that is supportive and where all feel welcome in most environments. But that will not likely happen any time soon. And that applies to most of us. To be realistic, it makes more sense to look within for strength. It is harsh, but if you need approval to the extent you make your choices, however subconsciously, in order to avoid not feeling accepted, it's more a personal than an environmental/ societal issue.
 
  • #7,042
Basically this is imo more of a far left issue; far right has its obvious ones ( stability for it's sake as the greatest good, etc), but that's another ( long) conversation. When someone feels uncomfortable in a setting, it's then assumed to be a societal rather than individual issue; specially for selected groups. As trite as it may be, I don't buy either end. Maybe those who lack confidence or do not feel accepted should at least make an effort to look into themselves rather than expect others, society to change. Of course, this applies within reason.
 
  • #7,043
I ultimately see the two as part of a system of checks and balances. Conservatism is biased towards stability and continuity , while the left is biased towards change. But neither change nor stability are good for their sake alone. Change is needed at times, but sinetimrs it can be harmful. My 2 bits.
 
  • #7,044
WWGD said:
, however subconsciously, in order to avoid not feeling accepted, it's more a personal than an environmental/ societal issue.
I don't think you can separate the individual from the environment. You are part of your environment, and your environment is part of you. We shape our environment and our environment shapes us. This is why it's such a complex issue.

From historical analysis, without placing an intellectual focus on it, looking inwards and outwards, democratizing our ambitions, and actively trying to do better, we've ended up with thousands of years of terrible oppression.

We've come a long way, but no reason to believe we've just fixed the problems and now we can just move on and let things be and emerge as they will. It's rather a topic well deserving of deep study.

And it goes further than just issues of race and gender, as it pertains to how people view themselves in relation to their environment. There are some other big hurdles I think that people need to get over in terms of destructive collective/group behavior; especially as we become so numerous and technologically advanced.
 
  • #7,045
*wonders if I've tipped WAY too low*

I don't have any pandemic curbside food pick-up experience. Today was a first. I went to Five Guys burgers and ordered a $33-ish meal (pre-tax). I tipped on my online order $3.50.

As I was eating, I had random thoughts/fears of whether this was right to do? I began Googling "how much to tip curbside" and saw some very high figures. Lots of articles say to tip 20% (although, some differ or don't say on whether that is off the sub-total or fully taxed total)...some say 15%. None really said 10% that I can recall.

My fries were sort of cold and I wondered if I tipped way too low and offended the employees. My rationale was that I was ordering from a place that ALREADY puts food in a to-go bag. There is literally nothing different from what they'd be doing vs. me ordering carryout or dine-in. Same bag! The ONLY difference is the employee walking a few feet extra (probably takes a total of one minute) to deliver me the food in my trunk right outside the restaurant (they have reserved parking in those slots). I could see myself tipping 15% or more for maybe a steakhouse curbside pick-up or maybe even Panera bread, where their food packaging procedures are different. But, with Five Guys, the way they serve food is the exact same whether dine in or whatever. That was the reason for my low tip (a little over 10% of the sub-total).

I worry I violated industry etiquette. Any random thoughts?
 
  • #7,046
WWGD said:
I ultimately see the two as part of a system of checks and balances. Conservatism is biased towards stability and continuity , while the left is biased towards change. But neither change nor stability are good for their sake alone. Change is needed at times, but sinetimrs it can be harmful. My 2 bits.
One could also conceptualize it as part of the positive/negative liberty debate.
 
  • #7,047
kyphysics said:
*wonders if I've tipped WAY too low*

I don't have any pandemic curbside food pick-up experience. Today was a first. I went to Five Guys burgers and ordered a $33-ish meal (pre-tax). I tipped on my online order $3.50.

As I was eating, I had random thoughts/fears of whether this was right to do? I began Googling "how much to tip curbside" and saw some very high figures. Lots of articles say to tip 20% (although, some differ or don't say on whether that is off the sub-total or fully taxed total)...some say 15%. None really said 10% that I can recall.

My fries were sort of cold and I wondered if I tipped way too low and offended the employees. My rationale was that I was ordering from a place that ALREADY puts food in a to-go bag. There is literally nothing different from what they'd be doing vs. me ordering carryout or dine-in. Same bag! The ONLY difference is the employee walking a few feet extra (probably takes a total of one minute) to deliver me the food in my trunk right outside the restaurant (they have reserved parking in those slots). I could see myself tipping 15% or more for maybe a steakhouse curbside pick-up or maybe even Panera bread, where their food packaging procedures are different. But, with Five Guys, the way they serve food is the exact same whether dine in or whatever. That was the reason for my low tip (a little over 10% of the sub-total).

I worry I violated industry etiquette. Any random thoughts?
I‘ve been a big tipper during Covid; however, I would guess your issue is that it took longer for you to get there than it took to prepare your food.
 
  • #7,048
Jarvis323 said:
I don't think you can separate the individual from the environment. You are part of your environment, and your environment is part of you. We shape our environment and our environment shapes us. This is why it's such a complex issue.

From historical analysis, without placing an intellectual focus on it, looking inwards and outwards, democratizing our ambitions, and actively trying to do better, we've ended up with thousands of years of terrible oppression.

We've come a long way, but no reason to believe we've just fixed the problems and now we can just move on and let things be and emerge as they will. It's rather a topic well deserving of deep study.

And it goes further than just issues of race and gender, as it pertains to how people view themselves in relation to their environment. There are some other big hurdles I think that people need to get over in terms of destructive collective/group behavior; especially as we become so numerous and technologically advanced.
Just how far into oppression and privilege is the US at least, when several majority groups do better than the majority group in terms of income, education
main-qimg-1fc9c4cfbe5c1161ab85335a747fdfab.jpeg
 
  • #7,049
caz said:
I‘ve been a big tipper during Covid; however, I would guess your issue is that it took longer for you to get there than it took to prepare your food.
Interesting thoughts. I actually never considered my own driving time. The main thing I considered was what type of extra service was being provided to me?

I realized practically none, aside from walking my bag to my car. As mentioned, the packing of the order is 100% the same as if I just ordered carryout or dine-in. Their style is fast food bagging (no trays or plates, etc.) even for dine-in. That was the main reason I tipped "lower."

Good point about this being a pandemic and maybe considering that. I totally blew that part and didn't consider it in my newbie curbside tipping experience.
 
  • #7,050
WWGD said:
Just how far into oppression and privilege is the US at least, when several majority groups do better than the majority group in terms of income, educationView attachment 283004
Several preventive and punitive measures have been taken to prevent racism or oppression of different sorts. Problem I see isthe left believes unequal outcomes are necessarily a sign of structual inequality. I don't think this is necessarily the case. I prefer the mixed approach: partially personal, partially societal. You are affected by society, sure, but for most cases, you can choose how to react. I don't believe that nowadays , at least in the West, that oppression is pervasive.

Edit:And the narrative of a clean description of the west as the oppressor and the restvas oppressed is factually incorrect. Look at the Japanese, Pol Pot, Great Leap Forward, etc. Ultimately, every group has oppressed and has itself oppressed others.
 

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