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

[WWGD]

If it keeps raining, the doormat will get soaked and it will splatter mud when they do that.

Then I won't consider it a small homage ;).

 

[WWGD]

Leaving a clear, understandable message in an answering machine seems a skill not many have ( possibly including myself). I'm still trying to set up my visual voicemail though given the high failure rate of auto correct, not holding my breath.

 

[WWGD]

In order to help with Covid, the Who is giving a concert in benefit of the Who. Maybe one of the two should call itself " The Whom"

 

[WWGD]

I assume you can change the order by drag and drop to get it back from the list to the task bar. Yep.

Thank you, oh, witch doctor. Battery button is magically on display today. Which doctor taught you to be a witch doctor?

 

[fresh_42]

Thank you, oh, witch doctor. Battery button is magically on display today. Which doctor taught you to be a witch doctor?

Dr. Chip Munks

 

[Klystron]

If you saw an alien spacecraft land near you, which way would you run, towards it or away from it?

I would not run in any direction. I would quietly assess the situation and slowly approach the object; circling for a better inspection, if safe.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I would not run in any direction. I would quietly assess the situation and slowly approach the object; circling for a better inspection, if safe.

And you would know if it isn't safe because... you know an alien anti-gluon beam when you see one?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Into it. Way too curious how they solved the problem with the distances.

Are you betting [your life] that they are not hostile based on logic, or is the temptation too great to resist, no matter the consequences?

 

[fresh_42]

Are you betting [your life] that they are not hostile based on logic, or is the temptation too great to resist, no matter the consequences?

We believe that physics is the same in the entire universe. I think that biological mechanisms are, too. Nobody would take the effort to contact a pale blue dot in the suburbs with a hostile attitude. There are easier targets nearby. Therefore they will brag with their car and ask for beer.

 

[WWGD]

I remember an argument to the effect that a species of ETs that had managed to survive and travel across galaxies must have done so through cooperation within themselves so that they had likely overcome more base instincts and tendencies. So they were likely peaceful.

This from a book I recently picked up from the resale bin, which I recommend " Why Things Are", by J. Achenbach, a journalist for the Miami Herald. The book was written in 1990.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

We believe that physics is the same in the entire universe. I think that biological mechanisms are, too. Nobody would take the effort to contact a pale blue dot in the suburbs with a hostile attitude. There are easier targets nearby. Therefore they will brag with their car and ask for beer.

According to Whitley Strieber they like strawberry ice cream.

What motivates the question is a real event with a UFO - a UFO I made. It was for the finale the last night of a space camp theme for the cub scouts. We had been building the story all week. By the last night the kids were primed for something but they didn't know what yet. They just knew the aliens were supposed to make an appearance. It was in fact the sudden appearance of an ominous black UFO with strange looking wings, flashing lights, and UFO sounds over the PA system. [I made this out of an 8ft weather balloon filled with helium. We controlled it using fishing line]

When I deployed the UFO, I looked over and saw a wall of about 50 kids completely out of control and coming right at me like a stampeding herd. But 3 kids ran the other direction. It took an hour to find one of them!

 

[Klystron]

And you would know if it isn't safe because... you know an alien anti-gluon beam when you see one?

Your original question stipulates the observer knows the UFO is 'alien' without explaining how.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Your original question stipulates the observer knows the UFO is 'alien' without explaining how.

The license plates

 

[fresh_42]

The license plates

Ah! That is why they are far more often seen in the US than in Germany. We do not have so much space, and chances are high that they get a ticket for parking in the wrong place.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

You can see ETs through the windows.

 

[WWGD]

Ah! That is why they are far more often seen in the US than in Germany. We do not have so much space, and chances are high that they get a ticket for parking in the wrong place.

Some how they are only detected by drunks or people with apparently mental issues.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Some how they are only detected by drunks or people with apparently mental issues.

And every major air force in the world. ;)

For example
https://www.nsa.gov/Portals/70/docu...ified-documents/ufo/routing_slip_ufo_iran.pdf

 

[Jarvis323]

Here are two cases where large groups of kids at least though they saw an alien UFO land nearby.

Among 60 kids, some ran right up to it in this instance, although many ran towards and kept distance.

And among 200 kids, mainly a few ran up really close to it in this case.

In both cases, the people who ran up to it closest were girls.

 

[WWGD]

How do you explain to people , re IT work and other wise " It only took you 2 hours to fix, why do you charge so much?". Well, then take it to someone less qualified/experience and wait for 3 days, with questionable results.

 

[Klystron]

How do you explain to people , re IT work and other wise " It only took you 2 hours to fix, why do you charge so much?". Well, then take it to someone less qualified/experience and wait for 3 days, with questionable results.

Yours is a favorite retort from 'repairmen' concerning service cost. Experienced repair people often charge double not only for the original job but for the inevitable returns and secondary fixes, as if a repair made the repairman responsible for the continuing life of the object.

 

[WWGD]

Yours is a favorite retort from 'repairmen' concerning service cost. Experienced repair people often charge double not only for the original job but for the inevitable returns and secondary fixes, as if a repair made the repairman responsible for the continuing life of the object.

And all of us, out of necessity, inhabit both worlds.

 

[Astronuc]

Was apparent spam,
[QUOTE ="christianaantiga, post: 6524311, member: 693049"]
I have a farm that needs maintaining constantly, and getting some kind of help with that seems necessary now. [/ QUOTE]
but it's worth a lesson in economic analysis.

Sounds like there is some kind of need. How large is the farm (acreage, or sq km)? What kind of loads need to moved and how often? How many hours a week/month/year? What is the cost of your time?

For example, if one's time is $100/hr and one spends 500 hours using a shovel, but using a backhoe would take 100 hrs, then the different 400 hrs * $100/hr = $40 k. It might be worthwhile purchasing a backhoe.

If on the other hand, the time differential was 50 hours, or a value of $5 k, then it may not be worthwhile, unless one can find an inexpensive backhoe. Then there are the fuel and maintenance costs, and depending on the condition of the backhoe, there might be a salvage/resale value to consider.

 

[WWGD]

I feel slightly guilty when drawing a sigh of relief while seeing a fire truck driving away from the direction of my place: " Phew, it is someone else's place that is burning".

 

[WWGD]

What do you say to\about someone you suggest to meet at 2 and they reply: 2 p.m? Cant remember last I met someone at 2 a.m.

 

[Ibix]

What do you say to\about someone you suggest to meet at 2 and they reply: 2 p.m? Cant remember last I met someone at 2 a.m.

Ask if they're late to bed or early to rise.

 

[WWGD]

Ask if they're late to bed or early to rise.

Or: How many grams/kilos are you in for?

 

[WWGD]

Domain spoofing. Saved my friend from buying his pc from a spoofed dominican website. Inadom.com . Finnicky guy wanted to change time display to look like an analog clock.

Wonder if people born after 2000 or so, familiar with digital watches/clocks know what " clockwise" means.

 

[Borg]

I feel slightly guilty when drawing a sigh of relief while seeing a fire truck driving away from the direction of my place: " Phew, it is someone else's place that is burning".

Most of the runs aren't fires. Lots of things like false alarms and car accidents (they carry the jaws of life).

 

[WWGD]

Most of the runs aren't fires. Lots of things like false alarms and car accidents (they carry the jaws of life).

Yes, now I remember hearing of people calling 911 and F. D because they could not find their cat/dog.

 

[Borg]

I once spent the night trying to catch a nap on top of a firetruck waiting for the all clear after a report of gas at a retirement home. The best we could figure was that an incontinent resident was hanging around the ventilation intake.

I was a volunteer for about a year but I'll bet @berkeman has lots of better stories.