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

[WWGD]

It was a dreadful pun. Sorry.

My bread and butter...

 

[fresh_42]

Got me wondering "What's a Nether?" as in Low Lying Lands , perhaps ?

Yes, neder (Dutch) = nieder (German) = nidar (comparative, old high German) as in Niederlande (Netherlands) and Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony) and many common names of settlements. At those places has been more water which made them attractive for agriculture. It is still present in English as in be-neath and under-neath.

Lands doesn't need an explanantion.

 

[Borek]

Roman Witold Ingarden (/ˈroʊmən inˈɡɑːrdən/; February 5, 1893 – June 14, 1970) was a Polish philosopher who worked in phenomenology, ontology and aesthetics.

(Roman is quite a common first name in Poland, Ingarden is not)

 

[OmCheeto]

... = nidar (comparative, old high German) as in Niederlande (Netherlands) and Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony) and many common names of settlements.
...

I think it's kind of weird, that "nadir" and "nidar" mean almost the same thing, and have supposedly independent origins.

nieder

from Old High German nidar "down"

from Proto-Germanic niþer

From Proto-Indo-European niter.
Compare Sanskrit nitarām, “down, downwards”​

nadir, "lowest point, opposite of zenith"

From Medieval Latin nadir

from Arabic (naẓīr as-samt), composed of (naẓīr, “counterpart, corresponding to”) and (as-samt, “the zenith”)​

ref[wiktionary]​

It's almost as if some travelers learned a new word while traveling through a foreign land, and then couldn't remember the exact pronunciation.

Traveler #1; "What did that guy say the word for 'down' was?"
Traveler #2; "Nadir, nidar. I can't remember. Pick one."
Traveler #1; "Ok. hmmmm... Should we tell anyone where we learned it?"
Traveler #2; "Of course not!"​

ps. My mom was born in Niederschlesien.

ref[mom]

 

[fresh_42]

It's almost as if some travelers learned a new word while traveling through a foreign land, and then couldn't remember the exact pronunciation.

Yes, but if you know how nidar is pronounced (with "ee" and not "i"), then the coupling to beneath will answer the ambiguity. Almost identical. (O.k. you also would have to have learned that the "th" was often a former "d","t"or "s": that = das, thanks = danke, think = denken, and so on.)

 

[Borek]

I think it's kind of weird, that "nadir" and "nidar" mean almost the same thing, and have supposedly independent origins.

Why independent? It can be of an Indo-European origin and as such be common to most European languages. Many such words.

 

[OmCheeto]

Yes, but if you know how nidar is pronounced (with "ee" and not "i"), then the coupling to beneath will answer the ambiguity. Almost identical. (O.k. you also would have to have learned that the "th" was often a former "d","t"or "s": that = das, thanks = danke, think = denken, and so on.)

Perhaps my confusion is based on the fact that I've been pronouncing "nadir" incorrectly for about 40 years.
I thought it was "Naw-dear", but according to my googlings it's "Knee-der".

This is what you get by learning things from books.

 

[fresh_42]

Perhaps my confusion is based on the fact that I've been pronouncing "nadir" incorrectly for about 40 years.
I thought it was "Naw-dear", but according to my googlings it's "Knee-der".

This is what you get by learning things from books.

Nieder = nidar is "knee-der", not nadir (from arabic nazir) which is (incorrectly) pronounced "neighdeer" and would correctly be pronounced with the "a" as the "u" in nut, "n-u-dir" so to say, but not as in "nuke"!

 

[OmCheeto]

Nieder = nidar is "knee-der", not nadir (from arabic nazir) which is (incorrectly) pronounced "neighdeer" and would correctly be pronounced with the "a" as the "u" in nut, "n-u-dir" so to say, but not as in "nuke"!

Oh dear. I hope we don't go "zer" again.

Und der vas ein great schpitzen und fightens um fiziks phorums one tag... ​

 

[Borek]

This is what you get by learning things from books.

This is what you get by using a language with an inconsistent spelling.

 

[fresh_42]

This is what you get by using a language with an inconsistent spelling.

My favorite example is from George Bernard Shaw:
ghot=fish: "gh" as in laugh, "o" as in women and "t" as in nation: fish.

 

[OmCheeto]

This is what you get by using a language with an inconsistent spelling.

I blame it on all these stinkin' immigrants.
Where on Earth did we all come from?

 

[WWGD]

Finnish women give the best Lapp dances...

 

[fresh_42]

Finnish women give the best Lapp dances...

Reminds me of a "Hägar the Horrible" strip:

Hägar: Bulgarian women are the best. And they can cook <sigh>
Lucky Eddie: Yes, but you don't understand them.
Hägar: Yes, that adds up to it.

<run, duck and cover ...>

 

[Borg]

It's kind of rude to cut through someone else's work area. It's extra rude to do that while wearing tons of perfume.

 

[dkotschessaa]

Where on Earth

::bleep bloop gzzrd plkkkk::

That means "speak for yourself, buddy!"

 

[WWGD]

This security guy sees me every day and acknowledges me with a 'hi' , yet every single day asks me for my ID, the same ID he has seen almost daily for years. Covering his ..tracks? I mean, he may ask me for my ID twice the same day when I go out and come back.

 

[fresh_42]

This security guy sees me every day and acknowledges me with a 'hi' , yet every single day asks me for my ID, the same ID he has seen almost daily for years. Covering his ..tracks? I mean, he may ask me for my ID twice the same day when I go out and come back.

I've once been told, that this typical American behavior is a direct consequence of suing everybody on everything all the time and if something un- or even foreseeable happened, in order to be able to claim to have strictly followed the rules and protocols just in case one has to in front of a court. The US is the only country in the world, in which I had to think it through before I would help someone hurt in an accident or by a crime. I probably won't because I can't be sure of the consequences. Strange, but this is the image you produce in the rest of the world (IMO).

 

[OmCheeto]

::bleep bloop gzzrd plkkkk::

That means "speak for yourself, buddy!"

Well, actually, according to my genealogical research, I'm 1/32 Dutch, 7/32 English, 5/8 German, and 1/8 Ukrainian*

--------------
*The Ukrainian part is based on a recent Russian acquaintances observation to her husband one day, that I looked Ukrainian, even though my ancestors claimed to be of "German" blood, and only living in Ukraine.

Yah right, great grandmama. The only thing you got from that cute Ukrainian milkman, was a bottle of milk.

 

[WWGD]

I've once been told, that this typical American behavior is a direct consequence of suing everybody on everything all the time and if something un- or even foreseeable happened, in order to be able to claim to have strictly followed the rules and protocols just in case one has to in front of a court. The US is the only country in the world, in which I had to think it through before I would help someone hurt in an accident or by a crime. I probably won't because I can't be sure of the consequences. Strange, but this is the image you produce in the rest of the world (IMO).

Could be that, could also be fear of losing a job at the blue-collar level and lose health insurance when there is no national healthcare.

 

[OmCheeto]

I've once been told, that this typical American behavior is a direct consequence of suing everybody on everything all the time and if something un- or even foreseeable happened, in order to be able to claim to have strictly followed the rules and protocols just in case one has to in front of a court. The US is the only country in the world, in which I had to think it through before I would help someone hurt in an accident or by a crime. I probably won't because I can't be sure of the consequences. Strange, but this is the image you produce in the rest of the world (IMO).

That is a hilarious observation, as I was just telling my siblings a story 3 days ago, about something very similar.

 

[WWGD]

Could be that, could also be fear of losing a job at the blue-collar level and lose health insurance when there is no national healthcare.

After your reply, I thought about it and remembered that other security guards do not do the same as this guy, i.e., they do let me in. So I don't know what to conclude.

 

[WWGD]

There is this weird dude that begs in the street wearing a suit. He asks for $3-5 , upsacale from the standard $.25 to $1. He is sure better dressed than I am. Before he asked for money I though he would ask me for Grey Pupon.

 

[fresh_42]

What I find weird is the usage of the word connection. We, of course, use the same word, but in its translated form. The correct word would probably be connessione. Many English words have found their way into common language here. It's a plague. At some point in the second half of last century it became stylish to say stylish, possibly enhanced by advertisement agencies. Now the weird part is, that the English word connection is used for dubious relations among certain groups of people, not necessarily legal ones. So each time I use this word, it's a bit strange. Maybe I should try to establish connessione instead. But Mafia structures on the other hand ...

 

[dkotschessaa]

What I find weird is the usage of the word connection. We, of course, use the same word, but in its translated form. The correct word would probably be connessione. Many English words have found their way into common language here. It's a plague. At some point in the second half of last century it became stylish to say stylish, possibly enhanced by advertisement agencies.

So now on the language tree we have to draw a line back from English into German. It's going to get messy.

 

[WWGD]

There is this site that is set up so that it attaches a 're' to the original title for every response/followup to it i.e., a thread with many replies will look like : title, re title,... ,re re re... title,..

There was this question originally titled Representation of Boolean algebra . After a few replies, the title looked like Re Re Re Re Re ..Re Representation ( Re- presentation) of Boolean algebra. At first I thought it was someone who stuttered in writing only..

 

[WWGD]

Weird , I heard the word 'love' used to address people some 5 times in the last 2hrs. I had barely ever heard it ( or at least noticed it) used in this way. Ta-ta love.

 

[Bandersnatch]

Weird , I had the word 'love' used to address people some 5 times within around 2hrs. I had barely ever heard it ( or at least noticed) used in this way. Ta-ta love.

Take care - your locale might have been infiltrated by MI8 spies intent on turning y'all into Cockneys. Make note of tell-tale signs around you: increased general dampness, instances of deadpan humour, people adding milk to their tea, life quality turning towards quiet desperation.

 

[WWGD]

Take care - your locale might have been infiltrated by MI8 spies intent on turning y'all into Cockneys. Make note of tell-tale signs around you: increased general dampness, instances of deadpan humour, people adding milk to their tea, life quality turning towards quiet desperation.

Thanks for the heads-up. I will turn them away next I hear the term by offering them Lipton iced-tea, with a straw and plenty of Splenda, all in a Big Gulp plastic cup.

 

[fresh_42]

Thanks for the heads-up. I will turn them away next I hear the term by offering them Lipton iced-tea, with a straw and plenty of Splenda, all in a Big Gulp plastic cup.

You should have recognized it long before this critical moment. Why in the world didn't make you wonder how they came in ...

 

[WWGD]

You should have recognized it long before this critical moment. Why in the world didn't make you wonder how they came in ...

May I offer you warmed up beer and microwaved Oscar Mayer wieners ;) (Most recent nationality test, just aproved by the Bundestag) ?

 

[WWGD]

I wonder how well the name " Christino" would do. I just heard of some lady whose name is Davida. ( And it is not Inagada Davida, baby).

 

[fresh_42]

May I offer you warmed up beer and microwaved Oscar Mayer wieners ;) (Most recent nationality test, just aproved by the Bundestag) ?

Hasn't there been something with a Wieners and some unpleasant photos a couple of years ago? Thanks, but no thanks. And it's already too late. I just caught myself making a Darjeeling. More than 100,000 are already permanently here. Good, I didn't add cream or milk, yet. I hate this Id.

 

[WWGD]

Hasn't there been something with a Wieners and some unpleasant photos a couple of years ago? Thanks, but no thanks. And it's already too late. I just caught myself making a Darjeeling. More than 100,000 are already permanently here. Good, I didn't add cream or milk, yet. I hate this Id.

At least try the Kinder chocolate, it is grrreat!

 

[fresh_42]

At least try the Kinder chocolate, it is grrreat!

Yeah, I like it, too. And I can even buy surprise eggs

 

[WWGD]

Yeah, I like it, too. And I can even buy surprise eggs

Ok, last reqs: you must like Kraftwerk, dress like them , and cross all the bridges at Konigsberg ( background?) going through each only once --that's how they get you! ;).

 

[fresh_42]

Kraftwerk is o.k. but I abstain from the bridges. The last one who didn't believe Euler is still running around in Königsberg ...

 

[Borek]

(from http://www.openculture.com/2017/06/...put-the-daunting-degree-into-perspective.html)

 

[dkotschessaa]

View attachment 206385

(from http://www.openculture.com/2017/06/...put-the-daunting-degree-into-perspective.html)

Always liked that explanation. It also kind of clearly illustrates why I probably would never be a good PhD Candidate. I was never really good at being a specialist.

 

[BillTre]

View attachment 206385

(from http://www.openculture.com/2017/06/...put-the-daunting-degree-into-perspective.html)

This reminds me of how I approached giving talks when I was a graduate student.
It was my goal to know more about what I was talking about than anyone else there.
Thus I had confidence in what I was saying and could feel the audience was just there to be informed.
Great attitude for not getting stage fright!

I also realized that as an (advanced) graduate student (in biology at least), it is not that difficult to know more about some small subject than anyone else in the world.
However, that position won't last very long without maintenance efforts.

I think the diagram shows that, except the outer circle should be constantly expanding to make my last point.

 

[dkotschessaa]

I think that to really appreciate independence day in America tomorrow we should (just for fun) go under British rule. Just for a day. That would be fun. Yes. Let' do that.

 

[WWGD]

View attachment 206385

(from http://www.openculture.com/2017/06/...put-the-daunting-degree-into-perspective.html)

I like the description of the PHD hyperspecialist: a person who increasingly knows more and more about less and less until s/he knows everything about nothing.

 

[dkotschessaa]

This reminds me of how I approached giving talks when I was a graduate student.
It was my goal to know more about what I was talking about than anyone else there.
Thus I had confidence in what I was saying and could feel the audience was just there to be informed.
Great attitude for not getting stage fright!

I also realized that as an (advanced) graduate student (in biology at least), it is not that difficult to know more about some small subject than anyone else in the world.
However, that position won't last very long without maintenance efforts.

I think the diagram shows that, except the outer circle should be constantly expanding to make my last point.

What was the audience of said talks?

I gave some talks for a seminar class in the math department, but the audience is mostly Professors. It was tricky business, because they WANT to understand it. So if you hyperspecialize, they will question for clarification until they do. What you planned to be the first 5 minutes of your talk will end up being the whole thing. So instead you try to break it down to a nonspecialist level - but you can't break it down so far that it is an elementary talk. Tough line to walk.

 

[OmCheeto]

My friend gave me a 3" reflecting telescope on Friday.
On Saturday, I looked at the moon. I almost cried.
On Sunday, I saw Jupiter, and the four Galilean moon. I almost cried again.

Tonight, I'm meeting with an old friend, who didn't believe what I saw.
Apparently, telescopes are not common household items.

ps. Young peeps, don't wait until you are ≈60 years old to buy a 3" reflecting telescope, as they are only $35, brandy new.
It was the first time I'd ever looked through a telescope, if anyone hadn't guessed.

 

[Ibix]

I think that to really appreciate independence day in America tomorrow we should (just for fun) go under British rule. Just for a day. That would be fun. Yes. Let' do that.

Go for it. It'll certainly give you a new perspective on any problems you have with your political system. I suspect there's quite a lot we could learn from one another.

 

[WWGD]

Go for it. It'll certainly give you a new perspective on any problems you have with your political system. I suspect there's quite a lot we could learn from one another.

Are you willing to drink Lipton iced tea with a straw ( and without crumpets)? Ice cubes and Splenda? As a trade off, I will eat finger sandwiches and play ( virtual) cricket.

 

[fresh_42]

Go for it. It'll certainly give you a new perspective on any problems you have with your political system. I suspect there's quite a lot we could learn from one another.

Not quite new this idea. Somehow telling that it becomes less and less absurd ...

 

[Ibix]

Not quite new this idea. Somehow telling that it becomes less and less absurd ...

I've had mixed experience with US beer. A lot of it could safely be poured back into the horse and leave the world a better place, but some of the microbrewery stuff is very drinkable. *hic*

 

[fresh_42]

I've had mixed experience with US beer. A lot of it could safely be poured back into the horse and leave the world a better place, but some of the microbrewery stuff is very drinkable. *hic*

Not quite sure. I think basically John has been right. On the other hand, the only beer I ever threw away for it had been undrinkable was Watney's brown ale

 

[Ibix]

Not quite sure. I think basically John has been right. On the other hand, the only beer I ever threw away for it had been undrinkable was Watney's brown ale

I had to look that one up - Watney's went out of business in 1958. Either you're in your 70s or it may have been a tiny bit past its sell-by date.

I went to a conference in Florida a couple of times. Key West (the beer, not the island) turned out to be dangerously tasty.

Aside: I found this beer review site: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/161/2350/ You appear to be able to leave scores out of five, accurate to the nearest quarter point, in five dimensions. These are averaged (edit: somehow - maybe weighting or root mean square?) and reported to two decimal places.