h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

jwf is spot on. When will people stop seeing that Science no more exists as an entity than any other man-made deity. Maybe if we capitalised the word, people would see it for what it is.

There is no 'truth' to be trusted in, there is only an algorithm to produce an iterative, currently measurable model. Does it work? Yes, until it doesn't. Is it efficient? Science only knows.

Flippin' neanderthals.

>>.. the pitfalls in blind worship of technology/"science" -
another failed IT project costing taxpayers half a billion pounds:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-1497 <<

In the US one of Barack Obama's favourite projects has gone .
It was a California solar energy company he loaned 5 BILLION dollars
under his new energies program.

Snake oil comes in many bottles.
Magnetic bracelets that harmonize your vibes still sell like hotcakes.
Your newest TV is obsolete if you don't have 3D.
Your car must have more computer content than Apollo 11 to meet
current 'safety regs' based on 'scientific' crash test results. If it
detects an 'emergency situation' it will not allow you to drive.
You can't buy VHS tapes anymore.
How many popular pharmaceuticals have been recalled this week?
Let's dig a 25 mile tunnel under the Alps and start colliding photons.
What's a photon? Ain't that one of them Japanese foldout beds?


~jwf~

"Magnetic bracelets that harmonize your vibes still sell like hotcakes."

What the hell has that got to do with science?

"Your newest TV is obsolete if you don't have 3D."

Or this for that matter. The 3DTV thing is commercialism, pure and simple.

"You can't buy VHS tapes anymore."

Yes you can.

"How many popular pharmaceuticals have been recalled this week?"

A quick Google search reveals a grand total of... none.

"Let's dig a 25 mile tunnel under the Alps and start colliding photons."

Protons, actually.

Sorry about the fisking everyone.

Y'dinna look sorry lad.



My point is that the layman does not distinguish
between technology and Pure Science when he's being
sold a bill of Goods.

Snake oil or photon torpedoes, it's a all Geek to him/me.

~jwf~

Russia takes democracy to the next level:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15045816

But then the fault is with both the consumer and the seller. Not the science itself.

Sounds to me, ~jwf~, like you're complaining about the failures of (science) education, capitalism, marketing, politics, etc. but calling it all 'science'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IlHgbOWj4o

SCIENCE!!

Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me With Science...typical arts person doesn't understand the scientific method at all...the song should have been called:

She Double-Blinded Me With Science...

>> Russia takes democracy to the next level: <<

There is a long history in parliamentary systems
of defeated PMs making a come-back, and in North
AM many mayors and governors who have served their
maximum allowable terms have returned to office
after sitting out a term.

But you're quite right to point out that at least
the Rusky in-crowd didn't try to forcibly change
their own constitution and declare him 'President
For Life' as has so often (sadly) happened in many
other places. (Including FDR in wartime USA)

Justice must at least be seen to be done.

~jwf~

OMG! Like, Wowsers - the British Army is killing people!!! The Independent is outraged!

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/british-soldiers-in-afghanistan-shown-war-snuff-movies-2360511.html

When asked by the interviewer in the film what he thinks goes through the head of a Taliban fighter when they see an Apache coming, WOII Farmer replies: "Hopefully a 30mm bullet".

Yeah, 'cause 'Nam style desensitisation is a really desirable thing to be doing to people who eventually are going to need to be able to function on Civvy Street.

"He defends the decision to celebrate the deaths of Afghans."

Says it all really. Celebrating the death of anyone, even an enemy, just shows that you are no longer completely human.

Indeed, what a poor piece of journalism...the usual thing of creating a controversy when there isn't one...the Independent obviously hasn't seen all the footage on Youtube of military attacks in Iraq and Afhganistan.

As I understand this latest CERN thing
it's a question of two 'objects' moving
away from each other at near light speeds.

Imagine driving east at 50mph while someone
else goes west at 50mph. You'd be separating
from each at a rate of 100mph. But nothing is
actually moving at 100mph.

Same thing if they are both moving at near light speed.
It means the gap between is increasing at greater than
light speed. But again this is purely a mathematical
function of relative positions.

Easy enough, except there is some suggestion that
these objects (protons) are somehow 'communicating'.

Not sure what that means, but they it implies that
something is passing between them in excess of light
speed.

erm
~jwf~

Actually, jwf, two things moving apart from each other at the same velocity don't observe the other one as moving twice as fast.

Here's an explaination, with equations: http://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?s=63454f666373132815fe3fd703f9f433&p=2271038&postcount=3

<>

Useful for them to live long enough to get to Civvy Street though.

Are you taking your de rigeur "Polar opposite of anything swl posts" position or have you really such little comprehension?

These troops rarely see their enemy. They're shot at from a distance or blown up by IEDs. It's uncommon for them to ever see the results of their actions, calling in airstrikes or indirect fire as they do. They kill at a distance for the most part. On the other hand they see their friends & colleagues mutilated and killed all around them. It's a one-way street and yes, very like Vietnam where the US troops rarely saw their foe.

So it's an excellent idea for them to see on film the results of their work, to let them see that they do have an effect, that the enemy isn't a mysterious figure who seems to come and go with impunity. Letting them see that the insurgents are flesh & blood, falling when hit just as their oppos did is a very good idea. And if they cheer, c'est la Guerre.

Apparently I have no comprehension, seeing as I don't post opposing opinions just for kicks (kerayzee as it may seem I express opposing opinions because I actually hold those opinions anyway, not to persue some imaginary vendetta, it just so happens that many my opinions seem to be opposed to yours).

While I do see your point about them needing to see their actions having a consequence, I still don't see how encouraging them to *celebrate* *killing someone* is a good thing.

I wonder if modern warfare is responsible for PTSD.

There seems to be a cognitive disconnect between our evolved nature which produces the lusty joy of killing and the civilizing influences that we all grow up with that tell us to feel that killing is wrong.

In the good old days warfare was all about chopping people up and it was FUN!!!!

In the good old days they called PTSD 'cowardice' and shot you.