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criticizing the History Channel's focus on sensational topics like time travel conspiracies instead of real historical content.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.
  • #2,451
WWGD said:
Anyone know where Zoobyshoe is? Haven't heard (read) of him for a while.

He appears to have become a lurker:
PF; "zoobyshoe was last seen: Today at 5:37 AM"

I think he may have figured out how the refrigerator I invented for him works, and is running off to the patent office with my idea.
Curse you Zoob!

ps. I want at least 1% of your net. Otherwise, I'll curse you some more...
 
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  • #2,452
WWGD said:
Yes, I am not quite there (yet?), though, yes, that is the best approach. Sometimes my mood is not good-enough for that.
You could disguise yourself with a Stetson and a lumberjack shirt. I see many benefits doing so. ... <run, duck and cover>
 
  • #2,453
I wonder if the name Ray Kiavik exists. Mr. Raymond Kiavik.
 
  • #2,456
WWGD said:
Thanks, it seems it is a mythical character. Maybe like Reykiavik may be a mythical city? I don't know of anyone who's been there, so maybe it is made up.
Bobby Fisher would have contradicted this opinion. And IIRC I once knew a girl from there, but I'm not 100% sure anymore whether she has been from the city or just the island.
 
  • #2,457
fresh_42 said:
Bobby Fisher would have contradicted this opinion. And IIRC I once knew a girl from there, but I'm not 100% sure anymore whether she has been from the city or just the island.
That is, of course, because Bobby Fischer is made up! ;). You can't beat circular reasoning and conspiracy theory-like arguments. Sadly, these types of argument do stand out in PF, but are common in a lot of other sites. Das Echt Mann show film , Herr Fresh.
 
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  • #2,458
I thought this was a fun quiz on educational level, not as culture-biased as the previous one I posted.
http://offbeat.topix.com/quiz/16503/qidx10
Of course I did well on it, otherwise I would not have posted it ;).
 
  • #2,459
John Malkovich is Marvin in R.E.D. Is this a simple coincidence or intended?
 
  • #2,460
Maybe I am just not hip-enough, but I don't get the whole Sunn0 ))) thing.
 
  • #2,461
The wild hedgehog in our garden died yesterday night. I think it must have eaten something poisonous as appeared to be fine the previous night, and was a good weight, but we saw it staggering around during the day (too late to take it to any animal care place). I'm amazed it had been able to live around here at all, especially as they have a habit of crossing roads abruptly. One of the two young hedgehogs had already disappeared, and this morning the nest was empty, so I guess the other one has gone too. I hope it's OK.
 
  • #2,462
That's sad.
I looked , Wikipedia says they're insect eaters . I've long thought yard spray has to be hard on the birds so i don't do it.
I found a little hawk dead the other day - my guess is he ate a poisoned mouse. Lots of people here put out poison to keep the chipmunks down, they'll eat underhood car wiring.

My sister is at odds with her homeowner's association. She won't poison either and cultivates milkweed because some migratory butterfly eats it.
 
  • #2,463
On further checking of the symptoms, it seems likely that our hedgehog died of poisoning by slug pellets. It's not clear whether hedgehogs actually eat the pellets or get poisoned by eating poisoned slugs, and the manufacturers maintain that "if used according to the instructions" the pellets should be harmless to wildlife, but apparently hedgehogs are being found dying or dead with high levels of slug pellet poisons in them. There are plenty of wildlife-friendly alternatives now (assuming you don't count slugs and snails in that definition of "wildlife") so there's no excuse.
 
  • #2,464
Ouch! It should have been obvious, looking back, that she was talking about her _Stash_, and not her 'Stache (Mustache)..
Hope she won't be angry for too long, and call me for the followup interview.
 
  • #2,465
Mr. Sunshine was at the coffee shop today. I arrive at the place, which is pretty packed, a guy is just pulling out of his seat.
I tell him " Perfect Timing", while taking the seat he just vacated. He replies: " Yes, perfect for _you_ ". ? Since we are in a coffee shop , he cannot argue he had not had a chance to have his caffeine yet as an excuse. Ah, yes, and I need to remember to cool down and stop sweating before walking into 50 degree AC.
 
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  • #2,466
Kind of confusing: they had a TV presentation on the book " Spies Like Us". Still, if they like us, why do they spy on us? I don't think I would spy on someone I liked.
 
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  • #2,467
WWGD said:
Kind of confusing: they had a TV presentation on the book " Spies Like Us". Still, if they like us, why do they spy on us? I don't think I would spy on someone I liked.
For sale: Large dog. Will eat anything. Likes children.
 
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  • #2,468
Ibix said:
For sale: Large dog. Will eat anything. Likes children.
Let's see if I can follow up:

Have you called your aunt Martha?
No
Why not?
Her name is not Martha.

I have even worse(rer) ones.
EDIT: How about writing a whole small play full of these?
 
  • #2,469
WWGD said:
I have even worse(rer) ones.
EDIT: How about writing a whole small play full of these?
Yep. Problem is, the real good ones are not PC or make use of forbidden language. I've dropped more good puns than I've posted jokes.
 
  • #2,470
jim hardy said:
My sister is at odds with her homeowner's association. She won't poison either and cultivates milkweed because some migratory butterfly eats it.
That's the Monarch butterfly. Semi-spectacular with it's good size orange-and-black wings.

With it's population down about 90%, it is in danger of extinction. It ranges between Canada and Mexico. The Western population winters in Baja California (Western coast of Mexico) with some of them wintering in the coastal forests of California. The Eastern population manages to migrate across the Gulf of Mexico.

The larva eat only Milkweed and we have exterminated most of that. As a child growing up outside of Buffalo N.Y (60 yrs. ago), they were plentiful during the Summer. Now living in Southern California I recall seeing a fair number of them up to about 30 yrs ago, but the number has drastically reduced since then. My wife and I spot perhaps 4 a year now. There is a semi-robust movement for city-slickers to plant Milkweed in their backyards to attract and support them. Kudos to your sister for taking part!
 
  • #2,471
Tom.G said:
The larva eat only Milkweed and we have exterminated most of that. As a child growing up outside of Buffalo N.Y (60 yrs. ago), they were plentiful during the Summer. Now living in Southern California I recall seeing a fair number of them up to about 30 yrs ago, but the number has drastically reduced since then. My wife and I spot perhaps 4 a year now. There is a semi-robust movement for city-slickers to plant Milkweed in their backyards to attract and support them. Kudos to your sister for taking part!

Got an email from her yesterday. She's raising monarch caterpillars indoors, in Tupperware, because of
an EVIL NASTY DIABOLICAL parasitic fly that attacked and killed all my pretty little monarch caterpillars on my milkweeds.
Her dining room table is a Monarch nursery for the time being..
There must be a movement growing like you mentioned because she reports a milkweed shortage in nurseries around Tulsa.

Thanks @Tom.G
 
  • #2,472
Arrrrr

Talk_Like_a_Pirate_Day.png
 
  • #2,473
  • #2,474
Wonder if I can patent this: it is pretty confusing when you're at a public place and ask someone sitting if someone is using the chair. A "yes" can be interpreted reasonably as either " yes, you can take the chair" or " yes, someone is using the chair". My idea, assuming it is free, is to point the palm of the hand perpendicularly towards the chair and nod.
 
  • #2,475
The patent would be worthless.
It is not something you could sell.

You might, however, be able to name it after yourself ("The WWGD gesture" perhaps) and get it to propagate as a meme, thus becoming famous.
 
  • #2,476
BillTre said:
The patent would be worthless.
It is not something you could sell.

You might, however, be able to name it after yourself ("The WWGD gesture" perhaps) and get it to propagate as a meme, thus becoming famous.
Yes, I was joking about the patenting think; it is just that I see this issue come up pretty often: " Yes, you mean it is taken or yes it is free and I can take it". Not life-changing, but, hey, it is something.
 
  • #2,477
WWGD said:
Yes, I was joking about the patenting think; it is just that I see this issue come up pretty often: " Yes, you mean it is taken or yes it is free and I can take it". Not life-changing, but, hey, it is something.
There are already gestures in place: an open palm for "have it" and I bet we all know the other one :biggrin:
 
  • #2,478
Have been so busy I forgot this forum existed. study--> work--> toddler -->study --sleep. (It's more fun than it sounds).

Second attempt at qual in 10 days.
 
  • #2,479
dkotschessaa said:
Second attempt at qual in 10 days.
Good luck!
 
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  • #2,480
fresh_42 said:
There are already gestures in place: an open palm for "have it" and I bet we all know the other one :biggrin:
I agree, but few, at least around here, seem to have the common sense to use it. Instead, they mumble something and go on about their day.
 
  • #2,481
I did not know John le Carre was...Breetish https://sco.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_le_Carr%C3%A9 ?? Maybe he laiks bisqueets with he's tee? EDIT: This is Scottish Wiki, it seems ( seams?)..
 
  • #2,482
I saw this woman moving her foot 90 degrees+ inward. Had not seen that before ( nor after).
 
  • #2,483
WWGD said:
I did not know John le Carre was...Breetish https://sco.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_le_Carr%C3%A9 ?? Maybe he laiks bisqueets with he's tee?
And I didn't know the Scots have their own Wikipedia language or more precisely, that English and Gaelic could be mixed to such a catastrophic result.
 
  • #2,484
fresh_42 said:
And I didn't know the Scots have their own Wikipedia language or more precisely, that English and Gaelic could be mixed to such a catastrophic result.
I never figured whether they ( Scotland, Wales, N.Ireland) are considered countries or some other type of geo-political entities nor why they play separately in the World cup. But I love the Scottish accent. I used to watch this TV show on Geology, which I don't care much for, just because the narrator was Scottish.
 
  • #2,485
WWGD said:
But I love the Scottish accent.
I regularly have to give up my attempts to understand them. Sometimes, I think they pronounce close to German, but if they are interviewed (Amy Macdonald, John Higgins), I usually have no chance. But I prefer the Scottish accent definitely over the British "o" as in sports or horse. The latter being my second most reason to immediately change the channel from CNN to anything else.
 
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  • #2,486
fresh_42 said:
I regularly have to give up my attempts to understand them. Sometimes, I think they pronounce close to German, but if they are interviewed (Amy Macdonald, John Higgins), I usually have no chance. But I prefer the Scottish accent definitely over the British "o" as in sports or horse. The latter being my second most reason to immediately change the channel from CNN to anything else.
British accent in CNN?
 
  • #2,487
WWGD said:
British accent in CNN?
Yes, the spɔːts program on CNN international is broadcasted from Lʌndən and accordingly biased in content and language. I'm meanwhile so used to hear American English, that the British version sounds pretty alien to me. But I admit I remember a visit once in our English class from a young girl who spoke Queen's (Oxford?) English to us, and even then it sounded rather funny and arty.
 
  • #2,488
I have a better guess for why I have not been sleeping well. I have these maple ice coffees from DD. Today I saw the clerk putting in 4 shots of espresso in it. The maple iced coffee, together with shots of espresso elsewhere, then the caffeinated sodas. Makes sense.
 
  • #2,489
WWGD said:
I have a better guess for why I have not been sleeping well. I have these maple ice coffees from DD. Today I saw the clerk putting in 4 shots of espresso in it. The maple iced coffee, together with shots of espresso elsewhere, then the caffeinated sodas. Makes sense.
Not really. The caffeine affects frequent coffee drinkers to a much lesser degree than one usually thinks it does. And it has an automatic delay of several hours before it comes into effect. At least this is what a pharmacologist once told me. Furthermore espresso (if done right) has lesser caffeine as normal coffee due to the shorter exposition to the beans.
 
  • #2,490
fresh_42 said:
Not really. The caffeine affects frequent coffee drinkers to a much lesser degree than one usually thinks it does. And it has an automatic delay of several hours before it comes into effect. At least this is what a pharmacologist once told me. Furthermore espresso (if done right) has lesser caffeine as normal coffee due to the shorter exposition to the beans.
Well, I don't know if it is purely or mostly psychological, but my ability to sleep well seems to correlate negatively with the amount of coffee I drink after 7 p.m. or so. Still, I agree that there is a certain degree of desensitization. I will try black tea next few times I want to be more awake and then switch back to coffee. I don't know well what the difference is between the respective active ingredients. Still,obliquely , I remember reading a book about Starbucks which mentioned that the water purification systems in many systems just cannot get rid of all the caffeine , so much of it keeps poring into reservoirs.
 
  • #2,491
WWGD said:
Well, I don't know if it is purely or mostly psychological, but my ability to sleep well seems to correlate negatively with the amount of coffee I drink after 7 p.m. or so. Still, I agree that there is a certain degree of desensitization. I will try black tea next few times I want to be more awake and then switch back to coffee. I don't know well what the difference is between the respective active ingredients. Still,obliquely , I remember reading a book about Starbucks which mentioned that the water purification systems in many systems just cannot get rid of all the caffeine , so much of it keeps poring into reservoirs.
Another anecdote from life: a chemist has told me, that she investigated so called caffeine-free products and found that none of them had been completely free of it. But as an important hint: If it should happen that you prefer Darjeeling, then hurry up. I've recently read that the tea pickers there went on strike in the main harvesting season and they expect a shortage down to 30% which will affect prizes in early 2018. Nobody shall say, that PF is only good for scientific reasons! D... I'm on my way to forget this and that I'll have to buy a package or two.
 
  • #2,492
fresh_42 said:
Another anecdote from life: a chemist has told me, that she investigated so called caffeine-free products and found that none of them had been completely free of it. But as an important hint: If it should happen that you prefer Darjeeling, then hurry up. I've recently read that the tea pickers there went on strike in the main harvesting season and they expect a shortage down to 30% which will affect prizes in early 2018. Nobody shall say, that PF is only good for scientific reasons! D... I'm on my way to forget this and that I'll have to buy a package or two.
Thanks for the heads up. In return, if you want some Venezuelan Cocoa/Chocolate ( supposedly very good quality; never tried it ), go for it now; I heave heard semi-serious rumors that Maduro, current president, will be shafted by , you know, don't want to be censored here at PF.
 
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  • #2,493
"Tastier than ever".I Never thought 'ever' was that tasty to start with...

They have the recycling bins right next to each other , with the tags lined up " Throw away" , "Plastic" , "Cans", as if it were an instruction. Not doing concat()nto " Throw away plastic cans".
 
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  • #2,494
We now have kittens orbiting Saturn. I kid you not.
 
  • #2,495
I passed the technical test for my Big Data job! I just need to do well in the personal interview.
 
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  • #2,496
So, you sold out to Big Data? :biggrin:
 
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  • #2,497
Noisy Rhysling said:
So, you sold out to Big Data? :biggrin:
Not yet ;) , only if the in-person interview goes well..
 
  • #2,498
WWGD said:
Not yet ;) , only if the in-person interview goes well..
If it goes as planned see if you can get me a discount on some wholesale data?
 
  • #2,499
Noisy Rhysling said:
If it goes as planned see if you can get me a discount on some wholesale data?
Bring the truck and load as much as you wish. It is a long way to the , well, not the top for sure, but still good.
 
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  • #2,500
WWGD said:
Bring the truck and load as much as you wish. It is a long way to the , well, not the top for sure, but still good.
Well, I have 200 terabyte of files now, the result of a 25 year collaboration among a dozen or so historians. Do you have a truck that big?
 

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