What have you learnt today?

[SwordsMaster]

Hello fellow org-ers!

In the spirit of self-betterment, and scientific research, I have been keeping a log of at least 1 thing I have learnt every day. I have found it creates a self-reinforcing loop, and actually gives you a great sense of accomplishment when you know you have actually expanded your mind today.

Collectively though, this could be fascinating!

So, what have you learnt today? It could be anything, a new word, making eggs Benedict, that Ronaldinho is no longer with FCBarcelona, or that you will be getting a promotion. It could be one thing, or many, large or small.

I'll start - I have lived my life unaware of Khinkali, and have righted that wrong today! Have had my eyes opened to georgian food and wine, and wish I had discovered it sooner!

[Hooahguy]

I learned today that pollen, in the right amounts, can imitate smog in a large city. The stuff coats everything outside in this sickening green color, makes you sneeze incessantly and wish you were indoors even though its a gorgeous day outside.

The downside of spring, I suppose.

[SwordsMaster]

I'm curious, what is the threshold concentration for allergies to fire?

[Hooahguy]

So its measured by a pollen count, which is a measurement of how many pollen grains are in a cubic meter of the air. The pollen count for where I live got up to almost 6,000 grains per cubic meter two days ago. That should tell you how bad it gets. A low number is in the double digits.

More on it here. (http://www.11alive.com/story/weather/weather-blog/2015/04/04/ah-choo-pollen-count-hits-5987-in-atlanta/25305469/)

[drone]

So its measured by a pollen count, which is a measurement of how many pollen grains are in a cubic meter of the air. The pollen count for where I live got up to almost 6,000 grains per cubic meter two days ago. That should tell you how bad it gets. A low number is in the double digits.

More on it here. (http://www.11alive.com/story/weather/weather-blog/2015/04/04/ah-choo-pollen-count-hits-5987-in-atlanta/25305469/)
You are back in the ATL I see. Pray for rain, I remember those springs...

[Hooahguy]

Its supposed to pour all week, its overcast now and was drizzling this morning. Heres to a week of non-stop rain!

~:cheers:

[SwordsMaster]

So its measured by a pollen count, which is a measurement of how many pollen grains are in a cubic meter of the air. The pollen count for where I live got up to almost 6,000 grains per cubic meter two days ago. That should tell you how bad it gets. A low number is in the double digits.

More on it here. (http://www.11alive.com/story/weather/weather-blog/2015/04/04/ah-choo-pollen-count-hits-5987-in-atlanta/25305469/)

Wow, that's pretty spectacular. As drone says I hope it rains. Hang in there.

[Husar]

I've learned that if you ask random Americans on the street, a lot of them will not be able to tell you who Edward Snowden is or what he did. I also repeated some spanish but I'm not sure whether I learnt anything as I only have BDocs flying around in my head right now, back to work it is...
Oh, I also learnt that pollen can imitate smog if it comes in high density. ~;)

[Seamus Fermanagh]

You got me reading. Apparently, pollen will explode if: concentrations equal 60g per cubic meter or more, a high heat source/flame is present, and the cloud is contained in some manner (in a building; surrounded on three sides by tall buildings, some form of tent). I think ALL of us would be allergic to pollen in the form of a fuel air explosion.

[Hooahguy]

Thankfully it poured last night, so the pollen washed away. It will be back though, it always does.

And Seamus Fermanagh that is mildly terrifying.

[Husar]

And Seamus Fermanagh that is mildly terrifying.

I assume that those who survive the oxidation of the pollen will have fewer problems with allergies however.

As for what I have learnt so far today, how to ask someone out in Spanish, that Schiller died young and that Goethe had a penchant for beauty and thought that prisms violate light because they tear it apart. I also learnt that when one is on a university with two campi in neighboring cities, one should be careful about signing up for Spanish courses because one might sign up for a course in the other city and then the uni plays inflexible and refuses to switch courses even though there is a course with fewer signups in one's own city that hasn't even started yet. I also learnt that the university shuttle bus that connects the two campi takes only 20 minutes. And the day isn't even over yet.

[SwordsMaster]

Cha-cha is not only a caribbean dance. It is also a 70-90% alcohol Georgian spirit made from grapes. The hangover is like wearing a skull with nails on the inside.

[Montmorency]

I assume that those who survive the oxidation of the pollen will have fewer problems with allergies however.

As for what I have learnt so far today, how to ask someone out in Spanish, that Schiller died young and that Goethe had a penchant for beauty and thought that prisms violate light because they tear it apart. I also learnt that when one is on a university with two campi in neighboring cities, one should be careful about signing up for Spanish courses because one might sign up for a course in the other city and then the uni plays inflexible and refuses to switch courses even though there is a course with fewer signups in one's own city that hasn't even started yet. I also learnt that the university shuttle bus that connects the two campi takes only 20 minutes. And the day isn't even over yet.

Obviously the problem is the extensive metropolitan transit network in your area. If travelling and commuting were more difficult for everyone, then they wouldn't be able to act this way.

The solution is to privatize the transit network until everyone gets sick of it and buys a car - from nationalized factories, of course. :sneaky:

[a completely inoffensive name]

I learned that you can graduate with a degree in engineering and still think the stupidest **** in the world.

I don't want to tell the whole story here, but it involves a man who seems to believe that women should have no problem drinking water contaminated with BPA because, "their bodies can handle the extra estrogen". FML, I'm graduating with this guy.

[SwordsMaster]

ACIN, you'll realise quickly almost anyone can get a degree. In almost anything. And 20 years later they will be considered a 'senior engineer'. Regardless of whether they have actually learnt anything in 20 years.
This is one of my learnings this week.

[Husar]

I learned that you can graduate with a degree in engineering and still think the stupidest **** in the world.

I don't want to tell the whole story here, but it involves a man who seems to believe that women should have no problem drinking water contaminated with BPA because, "their bodies can handle the extra estrogen". FML, I'm graduating with this guy.

I recommend you join the food babe army and campaign for better food and drink with them.

[Fragony]

Learned

[SwordsMaster]

Learned

Is that a lesson? Or a future lesson? :) In any case - I learnt of self-aware pretentiousness. Never saw such a thing. People aware, and proud of their classist self-awareness. Weird night.

[rickinator9]

The Fundy States of America actually has these fake abortion clinics(CPCs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crisis_pregnancy_center)) that outnumber the real abortion clinics and are funded by the government.

[Ibrahim]

"Today" (or rather, recently), I learned a lot today. I'm only sharing the ones that won't get me in as much trouble here:

-don't dare express your feelings to anyone who might work with you--especially if they're romantic ones. Even if you do nothing about, they'll assume you're actively trying to get in their panties.

-as a corollary to above: don't ever work with them. No matter how well intentioned and honest you are, you're pretty much screwed if you do.

-trust no-one at work: assume they're all out to get you. Don't back-stab though--don't stoop to the level of your rivals.

-don't engage in any social interaction with your coworkers--particularly of the opposite sex. That just gives people more fuel to back-stab you: instead, be as invisible as possible.

-the best sign of a coward is how quickly they hide behind a manager.

-truth is not the best defense--mostly because few if any will believe you, especially if the person you are having trouble with is female.

-trying to be the better person, or extending an olive branch, will only earn you a kick in the teeth.

-*name redacted* is a petty, cowardly, mean spirited, paranoid, and kind of stupid person, who can't distinguish between a rick-roll and a propositioning, or while we're at it, a Good friend v. someone they just met.

-Missouri should pay reparations for producing such a hell-spawn--the greatest ever argument against heterosexuality.

[rickinator9]

I haven't had such experiences on my internship, but then again, I work at a small company majorly composed of geeky male student employees.

[Husar]

"Today" (or rather, recently), I learned a lot today. I'm only sharing the ones that won't get me in as much trouble here:

-don't dare express your feelings to anyone who might work with you--especially if they're romantic ones. Even if you do nothing about, they'll assume you're actively trying to get in their panties.

-as a corollary to above: don't ever work with them. No matter how well intentioned and honest you are, you're pretty much screwed if you do.

-trust no-one at work: assume they're all out to get you. Don't back-stab though--don't stoop to the level of your rivals.

-don't engage in any social interaction with your coworkers--particularly of the opposite sex. That just gives people more fuel to back-stab you: instead, be as invisible as possible.

-the best sign of a coward is how quickly they hide behind a manager.

-truth is not the best defense--mostly because few if any will believe you, especially if the person you are having trouble with is female.

-trying to be the better person, or extending an olive branch, will only earn you a kick in the teeth.

-*name redacted* is a petty, cowardly, mean spirited, paranoid, and kind of stupid person, who can't distinguish between a rick-roll and a propositioning, or while we're at it, a Good friend v. someone they just met.

-Missouri should pay reparations for producing such a hell-spawn--the greatest ever argument against heterosexuality.

I'm not sure whether one should draw general conclusions from anecdotal events, although the advice not to date co-workers has been going around for a while. But yeah, I'd be very careful with work relations, although the social interaction warning may be a bit much unless you work in some competitive financial or knowledge-based environment, which is why I try to avoid such companies in the first place.

[SwordsMaster]

Wow, that's pretty specific Ibrahim. I sense there is a story there (bloody genius I am), but it seems like the pendulum has swung all the way...

Learnt today: If you go to places where they make nice cocktails you will invariably run into pretentious people who judge a book by its cover. Specially when the book is all cover.

[a completely inoffensive name]

I learnt that my roommate stole my gym shorts and is the one who causes the shower to drip all the time due to him completely stripping the knobs twice.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I thought a lot of blokes "stripped the knob" in the shower from time to time...how does that degrade the plumbing?

[Ibrahim]

I'm not sure whether one should draw general conclusions from anecdotal events, although the advice not to date co-workers has been going around for a while. But yeah, I'd be very careful with work relations, although the social interaction warning may be a bit much unless you work in some competitive financial or knowledge-based environment, which is why I try to avoid such companies in the first place.

normally one shouldn't, but here, it is food for thought.

yes, it is a knowledge based job--specifically in the Oil industry. No avoiding it here: I need the money to pay for graduate school.


Wow, that's pretty specific Ibrahim. I sense there is a story there (bloody genius I am), but it seems like the pendulum has swung all the way...

yes, there is. A long, stupid, and retarded one that has gone on nearly 9 months, cost me my job (temporarily), and convinced me that the person in question is an awful creature. (perhaps a demon inside the--admittedly pretty--body of a 26 year old woman)

and no, it hasn't swung all the way: it won't have till the higher ups get a clue and set things right: I can't, because they won't let me give my 2 cents to them or her: they tell me to "pretend it never happened". Kind of :daisy: hard to do so when you've lost your job at one point over this, and at another was effectively slandered for a group rick-roll--isn't it?!

and the sick part? they know the last part is untrue--one of them actually saw the video (she didn't apparently. I'll let you figure out the implications here). Yet they won't set this right. No retribution, no damages payment, not even an apology. nope--just ":daisy: you Ibrahim--female loggers are apparently more valuable for the company because of their :daisy:"

[a completely inoffensive name]

I thought a lot of blokes "stripped the knob" in the shower from time to time...how does that degrade the plumbing?
Think of the knob or handle in your shower to control the water. You turn it clockwise to turn off the shower, now imagine if you just kept turning... to be honest I don't know if the knob really is the problem, I just know that whatever he is doing, somehow the shower starts leaking water even when you turn the knob to the off position. I know this because I have used this shower for over a year and it started leaking when he moved in. I called landlord to fix it during the break while he was away, and it starts leaking again right after he uses it.

[SwordsMaster]

normally one shouldn't, but here, it is food for thought.

yes, it is a knowledge based job--specifically in the Oil industry. No avoiding it here: I need the money to pay for graduate school.



yes, there is. A long, stupid, and retarded one that has gone on nearly 9 months, cost me my job (temporarily), and convinced me that the person in question is an awful creature. (perhaps a demon inside the--admittedly pretty--body of a 26 year old woman)

and no, it hasn't swung all the way: it won't have till the higher ups get a clue and set things right: I can't, because they won't let me give my 2 cents to them or her: they tell me to "pretend it never happened". Kind of :daisy: hard to do so when you've lost your job at one point over this, and at another was effectively slandered for a group rick-roll--isn't it?!

and the sick part? they know the last part is untrue--one of them actually saw the video (she didn't apparently. I'll let you figure out the implications here). Yet they won't set this right. No retribution, no damages payment, not even an apology. nope--just ":daisy: you Ibrahim--female loggers are apparently more valuable for the company because of their :daisy:"

Political correctness taken to the ridiculous extreme... Upsetting, but sadly I can't say it's surprising... At least looking at the evidence should be par for the course.

[SwordsMaster]

Think of the knob or handle in your shower to control the water. You turn it clockwise to turn off the shower, now imagine if you just kept turning... to be honest I don't know if the knob really is the problem, I just know that whatever he is doing, somehow the shower starts leaking water even when you turn the knob to the off position. I know this because I have used this shower for over a year and it started leaking when he moved in. I called landlord to fix it during the break while he was away, and it starts leaking again right after he uses it.

So what you're saying is.. he has a strong knob-arm?

I'll get my coat

[Hooahguy]

I learned today that when your car awkwardly dies in the middle of a single-lane road in the middle of rush hour people get pretty angry at you.

[SwordsMaster]

The question is - why did it die, and can you prevent it from happening in the future?

[Hooahguy]

Well the mechanic said that he thinks its because the fuel line got disconnected but hes going to do a thorough check today so Ill know for sure. Its an old car, about 16 years old, but I really cant afford a new car now.

[drone]

The air filter is probably clogged with pollen. ~;)

[Hooahguy]

Mechanic says it was the timing belt. Well I guess it was a matter of time anyways, at least the car isnt totally broken.

[drone]

Mechanic says it was the timing belt. Well I guess it was a matter of time anyways, at least the car isnt totally broken.

Is it a Honda?

[Hooahguy]

Nope, 1999 Toyota Camry. Old girl has seen quite a lot, including someone making off with her driver side view mirror.

[Andres]

I was going to be a smartass by saying that it should be "learned" instead of "learnt", but I googled it first.

I learnt that you can use both "learnt" and "learned" as the past tense of the verb to learn.

[Ibrahim]

OK, something pleasant for once.

I learned that Kraftwerk might possibly be the most awesome nerdy band in history:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DBc5NpyEoo

discovered them while on a short break from work. Been hooked ever since. And this song is not even the most awesome they have.

The one thing about them is that some of their electrical mixes have a weird effect on me. For some reason my brain just kind of goes blank...and I get a weird giddy or dizzy feeling.

[SwordsMaster]

Today I learnt that you can, in fact, sleep faster.

[Husar]

Today I learnt that you can, in fact, sleep faster.

Do you mean fall asleep faster or have an 8 hour sleep in 6 hours?

[SwordsMaster]

Functioning on 5-6 hours a night for weeks. It's all about light management. Keep it very dark at night, and very bright during the day.

[Gilrandir]

I've learned that if you ask random Americans on the street, a lot of them will not be able to tell you who Edward Snowden is or what he did.

This one is misplaced. You should put it in the thread "What others learnt from you".

[Gilrandir]

OK, something pleasant for once.

I learned that Kraftwerk might possibly be the most awesome nerdy band in history:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DBc5NpyEoo

discovered them while on a short break from work. Been hooked ever since. And this song is not even the most awesome they have.

The one thing about them is that some of their electrical mixes have a weird effect on me. For some reason my brain just kind of goes blank...and I get a weird giddy or dizzy feeling.
There was a Soviet band called Zodiac (Зодиак) who played similar music. The band was from some Baltic republic, which explains it sounded more like a European one.

[Husar]

This one is misplaced. You should put it in the thread "What others learnt from you".

I didn't ask random Americans because I can't afford to fly there, I merely watched John Oliver report on it.

[Gilrandir]

I didn't ask random Americans because I can't afford to fly there, I merely watched John Oliver report on it.
Again misplaced. This one should go to "What others learnt from John Oliver" thread.~;)

[SwordsMaster]

There is nothing that will earn you a man's enmity faster than removing the excuse he was using for his failures.

[Montmorency]

Einstein was correct to criticize non-locality and superposition. Quantum entanglement seems like hooey.

I am ever-more-deeply suspicious of quantum theory, if not the whole edifice of quantum physics as a whole, that such notions retain their dominance.

Who the :daisy: is John Bell?

[Montmorency]

For example (http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1411/1411.7085.pdf)...

[Husar]

But Einstein was proven wrong just last month!
http://www.livescience.com/50262-spooky-action-is-real.html

As for your link, too many formulas, I can deal with explanations but formulas freak me out, I do not always find the transformation from model to formula easily understandable either, it could be wrong for all I know.

[Montmorency]

It's the same problem of erroneous assumptions or fallacies leading to the only interpretation that can be generated - based on those erroneous assumptions and fallacies.

Basically similar to:



a = 1
b = 1

a = b
a2 = b2
a2 - b2 = 0
(a-b)(a+b) = 0
(a-b)(a+b)/(a-b) = 0/(a-b)
1(a+b) = 0
(a+b) = 0
1 + 1 = 0
2 = 0
1 = 0
1 + 1 = 1

Obviously, that's just the mathematical equivalent of sophistry. The problems with backers of entanglement as real is that they do not realize that Bell's Inequalities:

1. Are predicated on some sense of "freedom" (Superdeterminism).
2. Where is "space-time"? What does Bell's universe have to do with Einstein's universe? See the previously-linked article, as well as:

Hess, K., De Raedt, H. A., and Michielsen, K. (2012). Hidden assumptions in the derivation of the theorem of Bell. (http://rugth30.phys.rug.nl/pdf/Phys.Scr.T151.014002.2012.pdf)

[Montmorency]

And some physicists will try to BS their way out of this by ignoring it entirely or by claiming that they don't like to treat with philosophy, or something along those lines, even though such a claim is self-contradictory at every step - by such reasoning they would have to discard all of their own precious work...

[Montmorency]

I'll make this even stronger judgement:

Contemporary quantum theory of superposition, entanglement, etc. is well-supported by decades of evidence in the same way that Ptolemy's model of epicycles in the geocentric universe was.

Accumulate all the mathematical derivations you like; if they're based on incorrect fundamentals, then they're garbage in the end.

A massive ball of duct tape with a cavity at its center is still hollow, a shell.

We need to fall back and reorganize. There's still been a lot of good work done, particularly with particles and field theory. The Standard Model is sound.

[Ibrahim]

OK, I just learned that cutting edge physics are way beyond my ability to understand quickly :laugh4:

[Montmorency]

Interesting.

To recap, violations of Bell's Inequalities by local hidden-variable statistical models as opposed to Copenhagen entanglement concepts have led to a flawed consensus view that quantum non-localities are ultimately entailed given most sets of assumptions.

Now, though, I've found a paper (http://arxiv.org/pdf/1404.1528.pdf) that throws a wedge between both positions.


As argued at the end of subsection II B and subsection III C, since action is evaluated in
configuration space instead of in ordinary space, then the random fluctuation of infinitesimal
stationary action with respect to the whole ‘system+apparatus’ is not separable into the
fluctuation pertaining to the system and that pertaining to the apparatus. This is explicitly
reflected in the inseparability of wave function of Eqs. (48) or (60). Like the corresponding
classical model, here the atomic degree of freedom plays the role as the apparatus. The
total wave function becomes entangled due to interaction. The whole system+apparatus
must then be regarded as a single unanalyzable whole, both fluctuates together inseparably.
Hence, unlike measurement in classical mechanics discussed in the previous section in which
the interaction Hamiltonian conserves the relevant component of the angular momentum of
the particle being measured, in the statistical model, the same component of the angular
momentum prior to measurement is inevitably disturbed.


Hence, since entanglement and Born’s rule are responsible for the quantum mechanical
violation of Bell’s inequalities and the former are emergent within the local-causal statistical
model satisfying Bell’s locality assumption, then nonlocality must not be blamed as the
source of violation. Moreover, since the predictions of quantum mechanics is confirmed
very accurately by numerous experiments, neglecting all the complexities that might arise
due various potential experimental loopholes, one may conclude that Nature does not use
nonlocality to violate the Bell’s inequalities.


The basic idea seems to be:

Local hidden-variable models actually predict entanglement, but not non-local entanglement, so the violation of Bell's Inequalities by hidden-variable models cannot be used to argue for the existence of quantum non-localities.


My confusion is that, I can't understand how the concept of "emergent" entanglement in the paper relates to the standard descriptions of entanglement I've read about and seen argued against.

:dizzy2:

But either this way (this post) or that (posts above), it seems the idea of non-local causation is completely unfounded.

[Husar]

There are a number of problems I have with this:

1) Who is Bell?
1b) Who is Born?
1c) Who is Hamilton?
2) statistics
2b) mathematics
3) what's an entanglement in this context?
4) can time bend space if it pulls really hard?
5) not much time to read up on it in English (what I learnt in school was in German of course and I was always bad at expressing the phenomenon in numbers/mathematics even then)

[SwordsMaster]

Thanks Montmorency, that was actually quite interesting. I remembered very little physics, and that made me go back and do a bit of reading. Still don't understand much of it.

Another - not so much a learning as an experience: I found somehow that many 2nd/3rd world countries on the tropical belt smell very similarly. Not sure why, but Lagos airport, and Guatemala airport, for example, smell the same. Also have no aircon, which they could definitely use. Anyone else noticed this?

As an exercise in self-improvement have been doing stuff with my weak hand: showering, brushing teeth, writing, eating, etc.

[Gilrandir]

As for your link, too many formulas, I can deal with explanations but formulas freak me out, I do not always find the transformation from model to formula easily understandable either, it could be wrong for all I know.
There is a joke: One student is reading a book. Another comes and asks: "What are you reading?" The first replies: "This is quantum physics and I have an exam in it tomorrow". The second says: "But you are holding the book upside down". The first goes: "It doesn't really matter".

[SwordsMaster]

Sunlight is the best remedy against jet-lag. Go to sleep in darkness and you will wake up naturally once the sun is up.

[Visor]

a = 1
b = 1

a = b
a2 = b2
a2 - b2 = 0
(a-b)(a+b) = 0
(a-b)(a+b)/(a-b) = 0/(a-b)
this should equal (a-b) = 0/(a-b)
which equals (a-b)(a-b)=0
not 1(a+b)=0

?

monty?

[Husar]

But isn't 0/(a-b) with a=b=1 effectively 0/0 and therefore not defined? (same for the other side of the equation of course)
It's just changed to be 0 here, but a division through(by?) zero is not defined.
You have to stick with:
(a-b)(a+b) = 0, which is a true statement since it is effectively (1-1)(1+1) = 0 or 0 * 2 = 0.

[Montmorency]

(a-b)(a+b)/(a-b) = 0/(a-b)
this should equal (a-b) = 0/(a-b)

No, the (a-b) on the left numerator and the (a-b) on the left denominator cancel each other out.

Maybe you mixed up the operator signs?

[Husar]

No, the (a-b) on the left numerator and the (a-b) on the left denominator cancel each other out.

Maybe you mixed up the operator signs?

You still can't turn 0/(1-1) into just 0 because 0/0 is not defined.

I even have super serious scientific proof: https://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/dividing-by-zero.html

[Fragony]

Gawd I hate math, it just doesn't make sense to me. My brother is really good at it, reading a formula is for him what's reading a sentence is for me, and he is better at that as well. I am much more handsome though.

really

[Greyblades]

I have learnt today that people in general are not stuipd or smart, they are a mix that comes out average.

However, smart or stupid we all dislike being made to feel stupid and utterly hate having our feelings dismissed, to the point that we will walk into the arms of extremism for the simple reason that only the extremists will listen to us.

[Gilrandir]

Gawd I hate math, it just doesn't make sense to me. My brother is really good at it, reading a formula is for him what's reading a sentence is for me, and he is better at that as well. I am much more handsome though.

I heard this story from an American student back in 1992.
His brother was studying at some University (don't remember which) and since it had a good team in some sport (I think it was American football, but can't wager on that) it was always a problem to park the car on the University stadium parking lot on a game day. So this guy enlisted the help of a resourceful fraternity member. They drove to the entrance and the fraternity brother produced an official-looking invoice and said: "I've got a trunkload of logarithms for the Forestry college". The guard waved them in.
Math CAN be useful, after all.

[SwordsMaster]

Mezcal is the fuel for the fires of hell.

[Hooahguy]

Microsoft Excel is probably the best product they have ever put out. Truly does some great things.

[Fragony]

I heard this story from an American student back in 1992.
His brother was studying at some University (don't remember which) and since it had a good team in some sport (I think it was American football, but can't wager on that) it was always a problem to park the car on the University stadium parking lot on a game day. So this guy enlisted the help of a resourceful fraternity member. They drove to the entrance and the fraternity brother produced an official-looking invoice and said: "I've got a trunkload of logarithms for the Forestry college". The guard waved them in.
Math CAN be useful, after all.

I get the point. But there is such a thing that is having different realities. Mine could be entirely different than your's.

[SwordsMaster]

Hah, yeah, nothing like an official pretext for not-too-engaged gatekeepers.

Discovered that a combination of poor hygiene and jalapeno peppers can make a man spend a number of days with a fever and fervently praying to the porcelain goddess.

[Husar]

I get the point. But there is such a thing that is having different realities. Mine could be entirely different than your's.

Indeed, today I learned that in my reality, Obama isn't president, from 2008-2012 it was Hillary Clinton and since 2012 it's Glenn Beck. It certainly explains why I never understood the topics about US elections here. ~;)

[Fragony]

Indeed, today I learned that in my reality, Obama isn't president, from 2008-2012 it was Hillary Clinton and since 2012 it's Glenn Beck. It certainly explains why I never understood the topics about US elections here. ~;)

I could say something really smart about that but I won't.

ok I can't. But still

[Husar]

I just learnt that contemporary dance hurts if you're as untrained as I am. ~D

[Ibrahim]

I learned today that the VP of my company is not an intimidating person.

[SwordsMaster]

I learned today that the VP of my company is not an intimidating person.

How will you use this knowledge?

[SwordsMaster]

Have been monitoring my language and thought pattern for the last few weeks:

1st experiment:

Whenever I said something negative I tried to think of at least 2 positives. This works, for a while. You tend to realise that almost everything has a positive element. However it can get quite childish unless you are disciplined and express your positivity in as much detail as you express your cynicism.

2nd experiment:

This one is more work related: about a given course of action, even if my gut feeling was that something wasn't going to work i phrased the issue as 'if I was to do it anyway, how would I do it?' Or 'What would have to be true for this to work?' Sometimes even just asking these questions aloud can make a huge difference to the whole team's mindset.

Thoughts?

[Ibrahim]

How will you use this knowledge?

No idea. Don't really care: I just find it funny. You'd expect him to be more intimidating.

[Montmorency]

Yet another cautionary tale in mathematics of false assumptions and equivocation leading to strong but ultimately erroneous results: the Monty Hall problem.

Turns out that the obvious solution is in fact the correct one...

[HopAlongBunny]

With the passing of the Daily Show I'm going to miss moments like these:

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/jon-stewart-s-top-10-science-moments-on-the-daily-show-video/

Science will march on, but won't anywhere near as entertaining :yes: