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criticizing the History Channel's focus on sensational topics like time travel conspiracies instead of real historical content.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.
  • #2,881
WWGD said:
The truth may not hold in sets with different "organization" , e.g., without Well-ordering.
This is of great interest to me. It's my impression that every higher ordinal set has to be consistent with every lower one (Compactness theorem as you stated) for at the very least soft-determinism to be true. Otherwise, the landscape of mathematical logic seems awfully strange?
 
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  • #2,882
Posy McPostface said:
This is of great interest to me. It's my impression that every higher ordinal set has to be consistent with every lower one (Compactness theorem as you stated) for at the very least soft-determinism to be true. Otherwise, the landscape of mathematical logic seems awfully strange?
Although you may also argue that beyond a certain (cardinality) threshold (together with properties of sets) some new properties emerge: like having equinumerous proper subsets, or losing decidability from sentence logic to FOL: Or maybe we can somehow go ( using some sort of categorical inverse- or otherwise limit) from 2-valued logic in Sentence Logic to 3-valued ,...and arrive at (emerge) infinite-valued logic (Probability theory)?
Hey, these new ideas do not usually arrive ready-made, one has to spout some nonsense and see if something sticks.
 
  • #2,883
WWGD said:
Although you may also argue that beyond a certain (cardinality) threshold (together with properties of sets) some new properties emerge: like having equinumerous proper subsets, or losing decidability from sentence logic to FOL: Or maybe we can somehow go ( using some sort of categorical inverse- or otherwise limit) from 2-valued logic in Sentence Logic to 3-valued ,...and arrive at (emerge) infinite-valued logic (Probability theory)?
Hey, these new ideas do not usually arrive ready-made, one has to spout some nonsense and see if something sticks.
Well, the compression theorem for computational complexity theory states:

The theorem states that there exists no largest complexity class, with computable boundary, which contains all computable functions.

So, no go?
 
  • #2,884
Posy McPostface said:
Well, the compression theorem for computational complexity theory states:

The theorem states that there exists no largest complexity class, with computable boundary, which contains all computable functions.

So, no go?
Well, no, I see it differently. Something may or may not emerge depending on the way things are organized/the intrinsic properties. In some cases parts will fizzle.
 
  • #2,885
WWGD said:
Well, no, I see it differently. Something may or may not emerge depending on the way things are organized/the intrinsic properties. In some cases parts will fizzle.

I don't know. It makes the fact of emergent properties noncomputable to some degree, thus mysticism?
 
  • #2,887
Posy McPostface said:
I don't know. It makes the fact of emergent properties noncomputable to some degree, thus mysticism?
Even a brief look on only Wikipedia offered a huge variety and complexity within philosophy (the scientific version, not grandma's) and even almost all other natural sciences and mathematics. A label such as mysticism or any other is doomed to ignore this complexity. I very much doubt that we can even scratch the surface here.

For a detailed discussion at least a separate thread would be needed. However, this is against our rules, as we neither have the background nor the tolerance for the endlessness which comes along with such debates. The persistency here tends to evolve into a workaround of these rules. So I appeal to readers to drop this topic. Random thoughts mean varying topics and some kind of randomness. It does not mean to support pseudo-scientific discussions to avoid the rules in technical forums.
 
  • #2,888
From Random Walks In Science:

Oh, Langley invented the bolometer.
It's really a kind of thermometer.
It can measure the heat
From a polar bear's feet
At a distance of half a kilometre.

Random enough?
 
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  • #2,889
fresh_42 said:
A label such as mysticism or any other is doomed to ignore this complexity.

I was just interested in the implications of Godel's Incompleteness Theorems, which are hard to find outside of academia. For example, some physicists believe that reality is computable, eg. the Church–Turing–Deutsch principle. Would the above discussion about the compression theorem and Godel be an explanation that that would be impossible?
 
  • #2,890
Ibix said:
From Random Walks In Science:

Oh, Langley invented the bolometer.
It's really a kind of thermometer.
It can measure the heat
From a polar bear's feet
At a distance of half a kilometre.

Random enough?
I thought of something like this:

"Oh freddled gruntbuggly,
Thy micturations are to me
As plurdled gabbleblotchits on a lurgid bee.
Groop, I implore thee, my foonting turlingdromes,
And hooptiously drangle me with crinkly bindlewurdles,
Or I will rend thee in the gobberwarts
With my blurglecruncheon, see if I don't!" (Jeltz)
 
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  • #2,891
Posy McPostface said:
I was just interested in the implications of Godel's Incompleteness Theorems, which are hard to find outside of academia. For example, some physicists believe that reality is computable, eg. the Church–Turing–Deutsch principle. Would the above discussion about the compression theorem and Godel be an explanation that that would be impossible?
Personally, I would be very interested in such topics, but fact is, it is philosophy and discussions in the past revealed, that they are endless, mostly incompetent and if they were about physics at a comparable level, we would immediately close them as substandard. I also think that they were better placed in a technical forum, based on some real peer-reviewed publications which can be read by us, and eventually closer to mathematics (or physics) as the term "emergent phenomena" alone is far too unspecific. I do respect philosophy, so whatever can usually be read here is not.
 
  • #2,892
fresh_42 said:
Personally, I would be very interested in such topics, but fact is, it is philosophy and discussions in the past revealed, that they are endless, mostly incompetent and if they were about physics at a comparable level, we would immediately close them as substandard. I also think that they were better placed in a technical forum, based on some real peer-reviewed publications which can be read by us, and eventually closer to mathematics (or physics) as the term "emergent phenomena" alone is far too unspecific. I do respect philosophy, so whatever can usually be read here is not.

Understood. Won't pursue the matter further. Thanks.
 
  • #2,893
fresh_42 said:
I thought of something like this:

"Oh freddled gruntbuggly,
Thy micturations are to me
As plurdled gabbleblotchits on a lurgid bee.
Groop, I implore thee, my foonting turlingdromes,
And hooptiously drangle me with crinkly bindlewurdles,
Or I will rend thee in the gobberwarts
With my blurglecruncheon, see if I don't!" (Jeltz)
There was a young lady called Bright,
Who traveled far faster than light.
She went out one day,
In a relative way,
And came back the previous night.
 
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  • #2,894
Ibix said:
There was a young lady called Bright,
Who traveled far faster than light.
She went out one day,
In a relative way,
And came back the previous night.
https://www.physics.harvard.edu/academics/undergrad/limericks
 
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  • #2,895
I tried to convince this acquaintance that going to talk unanounced with the HR people in a company he applied to which did not hire him to ask what they saw wrong in him may not be a good idea. They may suspect he is upset over his rejection and may call security or even police. Bad idea, I say. I tried.
 
  • #2,896
WWGD said:
I tried to convince this acquaintance that going to talk unanounced with the HR people in a company he applied to which did not hire him to ask what they saw wrong in him may not be a good idea. They may suspect he is upset over his rejection and may call security or even police. Bad idea, I say. I tried.
Furthermore, it is senseless. They most likely won't tell the true reasons, and any answer he gets is unlikely to be applicable to further interviews, because of the particularity of the situation. He basically expects a personality study about his person. Good chances he could achieve better results by asking a friend.
 
  • #2,897
  1. He didn't get the job.
  2. It bugs him.
  3. He is trying for a post mortem.
  4. He probably won't get a realistic answer.
  5. He certainly won't if he doesn't ASK.
  6. Downside, nothing. (He has already been turned down.)
  7. Upside, maybe he will learn something useful, even if the lesson is 'no response'.
And the harm is where?
 
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  • #2,898
Tom.G said:
And the harm is where?

They may think he is disgruntled and ready to take it out on those who refused to hire him and will call security or the cops on him. It is not a bad idea, but , unfortunately, in today's PC world where everyone has become so delicate, companies, HR will refuse to give you an answer because they worry you will sue. No doubt some things needed to be changed but it seems we have over-corrected towards PC. EDIT: Besides, the time and energy spent going there-- good luck with HR/Hiring Manager dropping everything they're doing to talk with you -- could be spent applying for a new job or polishing skills or learning new ones.
 
  • #2,899
Tom.G said:
  • He didn't get the job.
  • It bugs him.
  • He is trying for a post mortem.
  • He probably won't get a realistic answer.
In my experience, he won't even get an answer from HR. HR just does the paperwork. Unless he was applying for a job in HR itself, only the department he was applying for would know the answer.
  • He certainly won't if he doesn't ASK.
  • Downside, nothing. (He has already been turned down.)

Upside, maybe he will learn something useful, even if the lesson is 'no response'.

And the harm is where?

In my 10 years in management, I was only responsible for hiring 3 people. The department I was in charge of was kind of a "circus", so one hiree's single quality that stood out was: "Worked in a circus". Turned out to be the most outstanding employee, ever.
 
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  • #2,900
fresh_42 said:
They most likely won't tell the true reasons, and any answer he gets is unlikely to be applicable to further interviews, because of the particularity of the situation. He basically expects a personality study about his person. Good chances he could achieve better results by asking a friend.
WWGD hasn't said whether his friend even got past the HR interview, or what kind of job he was applying for.
Chances are he'd do better to call whoever interviewed him last and ask how he could improve his resume to make it more attractive .

I always asked applicants, who by the time they got to me had already survived the HR screening, "Do you change your own oil and sparkplugs?"
Maintenance and Marketing managers are not looking for the same personality traits.
He needs to go to the source to get a meaningful answer.

old jim
 
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  • #2,901
jim hardy said:
WWGD hasn't said whether his friend even got past the HR interview, or what kind of job he was applying for.
Chances are he'd do better to call whoever interviewed him last and ask how he could improve his resume to make it more attractive .

I always asked applicants, who by the time they got to me had already survived the HR screening, "Do you change your own oil and sparkplugs?"
Maintenance and Marketing managers are not looking for the same personality traits.
He needs to go to the source to get a meaningful answer.

old jim
But there is also the obvious issue I told this guy about:
0) He could be using his time in many other ways. He may have to wait to see someone. How long will he be willing to wait for?
1) Will acquaintance know who it was (may be more than one person) who made the decision.
2) If he finds out who it was who made the decision, he/they may not be around and/or available that day. o
3) If they are available (free time to meet him): Will he/they be willing to tell him why ? If so, will they be able to give him "actionable " advice?Many don't give advice because of fear of either reprisals or
lawsuits.
4) Like Fresh_Meister said: Will the advice they gave him apply to other companies/job searches?
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Not the greatest idea IMO.
 
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  • #2,902
WWGD said:
3) If they are available (free time to meet him): Will he/they be willing to tell him why ? If so, will they be able to give him "actionable " advice?Many don't give advice because of fear of either reprisals or lawsuits.

Yes. Even five to ten years ago there were significant concerns about being sued. In many cases, it's all downside for people at the company to give this feedback, unfortunately.

WWGD said:
4) Like Fresh_Meister said: Will the advice they gave him apply to other companies/job searches?

and of course over-fitting concerns. There isn't an analytical bound on this, I'm afraid.

- - - -
Rapid (semi) objective feedback is needed, but probably better found from mock interviews with professional acquaintances, alumni network helpers, etc.
 
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  • #2,903
WWGD said:
But there is also the obvious issue I told this guy about:
0) He could be using his time in many other ways. He may have to wait to see someone. How long will he be willing to wait for?
1) Will acquaintance know who it was (may be more than one person) who made the decision.
2) If he finds out who it was who made the decision, he/they may not be around and/or available that day. o
3) If they are available (free time to meet him): Will he/they be willing to tell him why ? If so, will they be able to give him "actionable " advice?Many don't give advice because of fear of either reprisals or
lawsuits.
4) Like Fresh_Meister said: Will the advice they gave him apply to other companies/job searches?

Well, it's defeatism to think up reasons for not investing a phone call.
Most folks will respond to a sincere request for help.

The barriers we put up out of ' fear of rejection' are our own worst enemy.

old jim
 
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  • #2,904
jim hardy said:
Well, it's defeatism to think up reasons for not investing a phone call.
Most folks will respond to a sincere request for help.

The barriers we put up out of ' fear of rejection' are our own worst enemy.

old jim
Well, no, a phone call seems reasonable, I agree, but a personal visit does not, for the reasons above. You need to figure out who made the decision, make sure they are available to speak in person, that they are willing to say something on the record ( difficult for most to be critical of others they don't know personally) without fearing reprisals or hostility.
 
  • #2,905
I'd try by email, to be honest, unless he's got a direct number for one of the people who interviewed him. I certainly wouldn't show up at the door, largely because it can be read as confrontational (or potentially confrontational), and I don't think it increases his chances of getting an honest answer.
 
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  • #2,906
Ibix said:
I'd try by email, to be honest, unless he's got a direct number for one of the people who interviewed him. I certainly wouldn't show up at the door, largely because it can be read as confrontational (or potentially confrontational), and I don't think it increases his chances of getting an honest answer.
Exactly. Plus, that person must be available: not busy in a meeting or otherwise, willing to say something that may incriminate them/ their company, and willing to tell someone they are not good-enough. And then forget about applying there again, I think. EDIT: Think of the mass shootings in the U.S , and someone who may be angry just dropping by, something not usually done, AFAIK.
 
  • #2,907
Ibix said:
I'd try by email, to be honest, unless he's got a direct number for one of the people who interviewed him. I certainly wouldn't show up at the door, largely because it can be read as confrontational (or potentially confrontational), and I don't think it increases his chances of getting an honest answer.
I'd say phone, since company may not want to put reasons in writing.
 
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  • #2,908
Kind of strange: I found today at Starbucks the newspaper sections I left there last night. Don't they throw them out?
 
  • #2,909
Newspaper article on psychic gaining weight: " The medium is a large"?
 
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  • #2,910
SmallMediumAtLarge.jpg
 

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