Wacky Science - an open invitation

Interesting link Alastair.

it was becoming embarrassingly obvious that the fossil record did not show a smooth transition from one form to another.

The Warren (my earlier picture ) and copt point , show an 'insignificant' slice of time. There aren't too many samples of mankind in the greater picture. Our fingerprints retain our murky past as cannibalistic . The thread currently discussing space may want to consider this if I dig out the references and post them.

How much Helium makes it up the wall. 'No escaping vill be allowed'

Symmetry and handedness are fascinating topics. We are normally quite twisted , but accidents do happen . My sinister southpaw mother has interesting ways of viewing things.More on this when I have time.

Mathematicians intrude on all walks of life. Usually with impressive effect . It must be an inherent quality of their mind. If only we could figure the mind of rain-man and our prime-twins eh.

Symmetry is a poison chalice perhaps. Fractals with an occasional freak make life much more interesting. They are probably essential methinks.

...Liquid Helium at only a millionth of a degree above absolute, has sufficient energy to remain liquid and climb walls...

Liquid helium does not liquefy in millionth above zero.

It has the potential kinetic energy invested in it's liquefaction from ambient temperature, by means of repetitive iteration through cooling and pressurising.

Zero point energy or residual energy is a quantum state of matter, sort of the stage-level upon which particles interact.

In QM, you have many constants (Plank States) which determine fundamental energy levels (even periods - Planck Time) with which particles exist or interact.

The New-Age literal use of the term, to describe macro phenomena, is not only fictional, but plainly misleading and inappropriate, a dead giveaway to a hoax. Using it so, is simply out of proper context. A clever attempt to fool people, not unlike the misuse of term "Cold Fusion", and "Brown fuel" in the same context. THESE ARE ALL FICTIONAL.

This is a typical New-Age abuse of existing scientific terms, to convey half-truths abused out of context, to convince you away from real scientific common-agreement into the realm of fantasy.

...Humanity was created in just two generations...wonder if the Zero Point energy had anything to do with it...

Associating the two require some elaboration, I fail to see the common context.

Humanity created in two generations is a distant, mutant, not very bright, haploid cousin, born of incest relations to the following:

- The concrete reality does not really exist, it is a dream of the gods

- The world was created in six days

- The life on earth is the insemination of aliens (Panspermia)

- There is a special matter created to contain pure energy and it's called Flugiston, the source of all heat

- The universe was created for the service of mankind

- Molecular movement and particle orbitals are perpetual motion

- Gravitational pull is perpetual motion

- The future was determined in the moment of creation

I'm getting rather bored by now, feel free to add some of your own making or rumored hype.

...into an Alice in Wonderland World. Lewis Carroll was a Professor of Mathematics...

Upfront: "Alice" is not a secret cipher to find the Holy Grail...

Quote from your Wikipedia link:-

Because of the weak interatomic forces, helium remains liquid down to absolute zero; helium solidifies only under great pressure. At sufficiently low temperature, both helium-3 and helium-4 undergo a transition to a superfluid phase (see table below).

Yuval,

My mistake, Helium remains liquid BELOW one millionth of a degree Kelvin according to

the link you provided. (absolute zero is below)

You wrote:- "Liquid helium does not liquefy in millionth above zero"

I am mystified why you link to a text that contradicts your statement. Is this

because you wish to correct Wikipedia, as I am sure the Editors would be grateful if

you corrected their entry.

Your post seems to me, to epitomise the age old expression by Bertrand Russell

" Science is what you know. Philosophy is what you don't know."

The term "New Age" introduced in a pejorative context, within the body of your

critique, could in my view, also be interpreted as an attempt to hood-wink readers of

this CR4 thread. Terminology such as "dead giveaway to a hoax" , "Clever attempt to

fool people". Veiled Ad homonym reference to manifestly erroneous misuse of

scientific terminology by ill informed lay enthusiasts of recent genuine and

spectacularly promising new scientific discovery, does not encourage those same lay

enthusiasts to advance their understanding of science.

The Public Understanding of Science, is an issue that requires a patient and

diplomatic approach. The stakes are very high indeed. People who are careless of

their fellow man's sensitivities, make poor educators. Their impact is more likely to be

negative as a whole to the general advancement of science.

Enthusiasm for a subject, is a fragile emotion, easily lost and extremely hard to regain

once it is lost. The "once bitten-twice shy" rule applies here.

You wrote about Liquid Helium, I quote:- "It has potential kinetic energy invested in

it's liquefaction from ambient temperature, by means of repetitive iteration through

cooling and pressurising."

This is an astonishing statement. I would be most grateful if you could explain how

the "subtraction" of energy, what else is cooling? can "add!" if I interpret your term

"invested" correctly. "potential kinetic energy" I honestly would like to know how

this potential energy is stored. What is the mechanism? You clearly state it is

"mechanical" with your descriptive term "kinetic". Do the Liquid Helium Gas Molecules

possess some sort of internal spring, that stores and releases this "kinetic energy"?

At what point in time, does this hypothetical "spring" exhaust it's stored energy?

Observation and controlled experiments have unequivocally reduced Liquid Helium to

very close to absolute zero (I can cite references if asked) Yet the Helium Gas

Molecules remain in motion.

On such a serious topic, levity may seem inappropriate, but a humorist might enquire

"What is the interest rate that this mysterious 'energy bank manager' is charging to the Liquid Helium 'Overdraft Account' ???" .....

"Energy" can only derive from the "Energetic". What? pray, or Who? pray

(anthropomorphism) is this mysterious perpetual source of limitless energy? albeit very

small. All other Gasses are transfixed into frozen immobility, at these very low

temperatures, yet Liquid Helium remains steadfastly mobile!

I am not personally aware of any "common-agreement" about this issue. It would be

tedious to list the vast catalogue of prior erroneous so-called "real" science, that was

once heralded by this "vote" of confidence known as "common-agreement" that

today is regarded as very foolish. It would indeed bore me stiff to prove that point,

and I suspect most readers of this thread.

Lastly, The "Monty Python" reference to Alice in Wonderland and the Holy Grail, in my

view, has great comic potential. "Cambridge Foot-light Theatre" please take note.

The remaining points you made are not pertinent to "Science", but rather to the

discipline of "Philosophy"

"Science is what you know. Philosophy is what you don't know." Bertrand Russel.

Having previously declared my mental blank with Thermodynamics I shall watch this with interest. Whoever has the most convincing arguments , the subject will remain akin to voodoo for me . It has , however , reminded me that I need to update my Kelvin quote with another of his howlers . He was clearly existing in different phases of mind.

The Bishopsgate Bomb, recorded for posterity by major Artist (also my Central School of Art Tutor) Derek Boshier, is claimed to be a Mini-Nuclear Device.

http://www.derekboshier.com/

The same claim was made of the Manchester Bomb that destroyed the Marks & Spencer Building.

The Twin Towers also

The same claim is made for the Oklahoma FBI Building Bomb.(my early warnings to FBI Agent Vicky Ray, have been mentioned before on this thread)

Goodness, for all the above incidents, (ALSO MANY THAT I HAVE NOT MENTIONED) whether atomic or not, that is open to debate. I personally relayed the warnings......weeks in advance..... My poor local Police headquarters must have got tired with my constant and repeated reminders. 9/11 NO EXCEPTION!

Derek held a commemorative Exhibition at "The Corner-house Gallery" in Manchester to commemorate the horrific blast, that fortunately killed nobody, as the Manchester Constabulary were very efficient with the evacuation. One of the Derek Boshier 'Magnum Opus' on display at that momentous exhibition, was just entitled "WAKO"

I sense that our friend Yuval, is as he said bored stiff with what he terms "New Age" or mythology/fiction.....and wished to goad me into revealing fact.

Well I would be a coward not to. Where it will lead? I just do not know. All I do know, and perhaps a public announcement may even help prevent it,.......I gave dozens of warnings about Chernobyl, it now appears that the Gulf War Veterans Association Meeting, this May Thursday 17th, (Campsite Provided) May? be a venue where another Chernobyl is planned, this time on American Soil. The Pilgrim Reactor near Boston, had been mentioned as a possible Target. (The Company HAS been warned, do not fret!)

The Lord High Constable of Scotland's brother, Jocelyn Carnegie, informed me of his official visit to the Chernobyl site, on a fact finding mission.

I do find it unusual that a single party balloon filled with freshly dissociated hydrogen and oxygen, can demolish a building. there seems to be a discrepancy in the energy account in that instance. This has been demonstrated on so many occasions, that it leaves me little room to doubt the factual nature of the claims. I have not personally demolished a building with this method, but I have made phenomenally loud explosions!

Lots of strange things on which I am not qualified to speak.

However , as I usually have an opinion on something ;

The film Link missed one element that I like up North . Not a very good picture I'm afraid. There are so many things to see around there , I've been many times and still find new stuff. All sorts of curiosities to be found , many not well documented . One day I could happily live in a tatty camper van touring to collect pics of them all

Somewhere there was a pic of the fairy bridge in glen creran ! I saw it , then it went.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q9e_we6VDI

My own Producer/Director, just emailed me this "Inspirational Video"

How to deal with "F?ckwits"........ And live to tell the tale.

The Puny Movie Version.

Glencoe, is steeped in legend and history. The Chieftains of Clan McDonald resided in the narrow valley. steep hills surrounded both sides. From a military standpoint it was a cull de sac. a death trap, the sea at one end and no escape from a blockade at the other. The McDonalds and Campbells had feuded for centuries. McDonalds being highlanders retained their Roman Catholic Faith. King William issued a proclamation that all Clan Chiefs swear an oath of allegiance before the years end....check out the whole sorry saga on the internet. The Massacre was horrid. wedding rings were bitten off the womens hands, they were stripped half naked and driven woman and children into a frozen wilderness. many were just shot. children begging with tears for mercy, that was denied. Dead children tell no tales.

There are still districts of Glasgow, that it is very unwise to wear Campbell Tartan.

A high mount at the neck of the valley has a sacred stone, used to plot the course of the sun through the year.

If the Solstice is on time, all is well, if not, then it indicates a gravitational perturbation to our planetary orbit. The legends speak of Extra Terrestrial Visitors. who park up their Gigantic Moon. Constructed or rather carved from the Diamond Core of a Gas Giant, adapted into a Space Ship. Sir Isaac Newton was fascinated by it all.

The Harvard Annals have the perturbation data sets, from the Percival Lowell Observatory

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto

In 1930 Clyde Tombaugh was searching for a ninth planet as part of a project at Lowell Observatory. His task was to systematically image the night sky in pairs of photographs taken two weeks apart, then examine each pair and determine if any objects had shifted position in that time. Using a machine called a blink comparator, he rapidly shifted each plate back and forth to create the illusion of movement. On February 18, 1930, Tombaugh discovered a possible moving object on photographic plates taken on January 23 and January 29 of that year. A lesser-quality photograph taken on January 20 helped confirm the movement. After the observatory obtained further confirmatory photographs, news of the discovery was telegraphed to the Harvard College Observatory on March 13, 1930. Pluto would later be found on photographs dating back to March 19, 1915.^[9]

One Strange coincidence has had Astronomers puzzled.

After the flyby of Neptune by Voyager 2 in 1989, it was conclusively demonstrated that the discrepancies in Uranus's orbit observed by 19th-century astronomers were due instead to inaccurate estimates of Neptune's mass. Lowell had made a prediction of Planet X's position in 1915 which was fairly close to Pluto's actual position at that time; however, Ernest W. Brown concluded almost immediately that this was a coincidence, a view still held today, which makes Tombaugh's discovery even more surprising.

For an unaccountable reason, Harvard University failed to deliver results, for peer review, eventually after exhausting every avenue of appeal, we gave up asking for them. "Wacky Science" once more.

We have a Prophesy in our Gospel, made by Jesus Christ. All about some slaves that take over their Master's Vineyard.....Eventually the Master sends his own Son to negotiate with these wicked usurpers of his property. A delegate from these usurpers named 'Satan' tries to persuade Jesus that he will run things on his behalf, and grant him 'Titular' rights, Crowns, Titles and all the trappings of power. but none of the actual power. He first needs a demonstration of his ability to levitate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jecYI7WQ3fU&NR=1

Takes Jesus up to a high place. Jesus tells this Satan character to get lost.

So then Jesus relates the incident to his followers, telling them that he will be assassinated. but not to worry, his Father is on the way and all things going well, will give these ruffians a taste of their own medicine. The Torah clearly states that All who return to Israel before the arrival of the Master, are fit for Punishment. Just Asking for trouble. BIG STYLE........Politeness and grovelling is not going to help. The Master knows what they did to his Son.

Stuff of Nonsense fairy tales and wacky fables and superstitions. nothing to worry about folks, all those Libraries just burnt down by accident. "

As Dixon of Dock Green would say "Mind how you go!"

Dear Alastair,

"...You wrote:- "Liquid helium does not liquefy in millionth above zero"..."

I wrote this because helium may be willing to remain a liquid very near zero, where other gases may be maintained as solids.

This is not hgowever, to say that helium liquefy at millionth of a degree above zero, but rather at some three to five degrees, depending on the isotope of helium discussed. I placed the link to use as a reference to these temperatures, as described in the table provided there:

..

There is nothing for me to correct there. Helium does not liquefy at millionth of a degree above zero. It may however, remain a liquid at this temperature, which is odd enough.

As a matter of fact, helium is reluctant to form any molecular bond, even when being liquid, which is even more peculiar.

It may remain molecular for brief periods of a few Millisec or a few nanosec, depending on a given isotope, and only when being ionised, through exposure to an accelerator-field of about 400 Mhz, but even then immediately parts to it's atomic constitution, splitting into two helium atoms, each being a different isotope.

in "..dead giveaway to a hoax..." I meant to express my objection to this whole out-of-context use of proper scientific terms and concepts, in a way which suggest that very knowledgeable people misuse their knowledge to fool innocent folks.

This is unacceptable under any culture, unless it's a culture of deceit. Doing this, using your legitimate high knowledge to misuse it's proper contextual placement, in order to fool people, is mean, dishonest, and ill intended.

I only called it "Hoax", and pointed to it's possible giveaway. I wasn't accusing you or Wikipedia of dishonesty. I was surprised however, with the ease, you gave a hand to the weigh and dissemination of such pseudo science with, for instance:

"...Then please ponder the link above, Humanity was created in just two generations.

I wonder if the Zero Point energy had anything to do with it? a speculation I know..."

O.k, so this is your wonder, to my surprise.

How would you react to this, should I seriously suggest :

1. A gravity-lens seem to bend light-beams in empty space.

2. I wonder if bent logic of grown people, means that thought is the travel of photons in the inner vacuum, curving around immense masses, inside the brain.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Wouldn't you be honestly surprised?

Come on, let's be frank here.

To take the common use of proper scientific terms such as "zero point energy" (quantum fundamental state) used in the improper macro context such as quoted (Brown Gas in a previous post, Humanity created in just two generations, as a conjecture here), is for my book objectionable?

Am I to be accused of not favouring your apparent (and self admitted?) attraction to pseudo-science? maybe so. I happen to know serious scientists who are indeed attracted to pseudo-science. None of them take it seriously, however.

Am I to take, belly-up and wagging my tail, that the mere suggestion of pseudo science, should immediately command my serious attention?

I would never contest your right to be attracted to any wacky notion on earth.

Please don't demand of me, to take it seriously, on the spot, just for the mere suggestion of it.

Yours, sincerely,

Yuval

Dr.Ron Hoeflin Ph.D. President of the Prometheus Society.

Their average IQ is about 180 Yuval, care to cross swords with your blunt instrument?...I would strongly advise you sheathed your pen here. lest you make an ass of yourself sir!

Thank you for the detailed response, Yuval,

I was just thoroughly engrossed in the latest results about Quantum Entanglement. so far reading, it seems there may be a size/time relationship. five more pages to go.

Quantum Computing is on the horizon, all thanks to "Wacky Science" We are communicating over the Web, all thanks to a few brave folk at CERN (view the video I posted) who told stuck-in-the -mud-blinkered-and-blind-prejudiced-clap-trap-should-buy-a-zimmer-frame-and-put-their-feet-up-and-allow-real-science-to-rise-out-of-the-dark-ages-without-their-interference.....there thats off my chest.....not addressed to you Yuval.

Some of us like our gemstones set in a ring or piece of jewelry, some of us like the rough stone, and a few of us like to go and hunt in among the dirt and grime of the wilderness in the hope of discovering a mine of the stuff. Also some of us are sent on fools errands, from which we learn by bitter experience to get a nose for.

I note that you are very polite. and it is to your credit. I lose my temper very seldom, but when I do, it is for the purpose of correction, not abuse.

And I can take veiled abuse, in my stride. insinuations of madness, ignorance, gullibility.....I am not so gullible as not to see straight through your little game Yuval.

I have named you. name me back.

Bless you.

...the "subtraction" of energy, what else is cooling? can "add!" if I interpret your term...

Sorry, I took it for granted that you know that cooling an object, is storing (investing) potential energy, within it's TD-system.

Cooling is not removing (or the subtraction of) energy. Cooling is merely directive heat-transfer. When you cool an object, you don't destroy it's heat, you merely transfer (or direct) it elsewhere.

Air-condition in cooling is the directive heat transfer from inside the house, to the outside, say, the street. You can feel it warms the outside as it cools the inside of the house.

And vice versa: air-condition in heating is the directive heat transfer from outside the house, to the inside. You can feel it cools the outside, as it warms the inside of the house.

Both cooling and heating, can store potential energy, as long as you maintain a tight thermal-isolation called "Adiabat" between the stored temperature and the ambient, different temperature.

If it wasn't so, you couldn't use the Stirling engine principle, with a "cold-reserve" as energy source input, and ambient temperature as energy source output.

"...interpret your term ..."invested" correctly. "potential kinetic energy" I honestly would like to know how this potential energy is stored. What is the mechanism?..."

The use of "potential" in this context, is in reference to the temperature-difference between the stored temperature, and the ambient temperature, divided by an adiabatical-barrier, in the form of thermal-isolation (again, between the stored temperature, and the ambient temperature).

Once this barrier is removed, the cold storage will warm-up, meaning heat transfer direction will flow in reverse to it's initial direction, when the isolated storage was cooled or heated, i.e, stored, invested, you name it, at your convenience.

The initial direction of heat transfer, the store, was the investment of potential energy.

The reverse direction of heat transfer, when the isolation removed, was the utilisation, the use of the potential energy stored before.

I am starting to get angry now Yuval.

Please stop taking me for granted as an idiot.

Also please stop posting arrant non-science.

Please just read the utter nonsense you have just posted. and reflect upon it's manifest stupidity.

Dear Alastair,

We have a genius here in our midst.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_turbulence

This stub needs expanding. perhaps the genius can assist.

When did I ever referred to you as an idiot?

To clarify: I think you are a bright and prolific person, and I think, it reflects well from your writing.

I will not, however, refrain from calling something a pseudo-science, when I think it is such thing, no matter whoever suggested it, be it Einstein himself, because I can only express my obviously limited understanding, always happy to be corrected, by a comprehensive, coherent, lesson, but no less.

I'm not very impressed by title, rank, reputation, or rumor, or a quote of those.

I'm very impressed however, by a well thought, clear, concise explanation. Very impressed.

The mere telling me that Mr. this and that, the head of this and that told me... means nothing to me other the content of their saying, not them.

I may argue with trivia, interpretation, or opinion. Never with a person. I may only be interested in arguing in what you say.

What argument can I have with you personally? of your taste in food? favorite colour? music? Art?

This forum for me, is not even a competition of the degree of knowledge, or the secret know-how of military technology.

It is simply a forum. A place for the exchange of views. Does this not allow me to reply to someone suggesting something I take for a hoax, or pseudo-science, and call it so?

...Also please stop posting arrant non-science...

Am I banned from the use of the term "pseudo-science" here?

Because you may think it's not?

The Singapore Gurkha Police.

Above this morning's picture of their Hindu Deities. Radha Ji & Krishna. Cool. I like

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore

I was put in a bad mood today Yuval, Yesterday the son of a dear friend who we buried a couple of years ago, he died from cancer, and his wife this son's mother is going through chemotherapy now. He comes into my house to ask for prayer etc. and while I am making a cup of tea, lights up a dirty great joint of skunk weed. I have to open both front and back door to get the stench out. "Call back later" I tell him. Then he has the bloody cheek to do it again, so I have to report it to the Local Police. Who just tell me, "Don;'t let him into your house then."......AAAAAGH!

Then I hear rumours of some attack planned on the Pilgrim Nuclear Reactor near Boston........AAAAAGH! again.

Now that these folk can manufacture Fusion Devices from regular tap water. FACT! it appears, the dear old planet is not such a safe place anymore.

Chicken pecking order...... I get pecked.....blah!

You are so correct, Yuval, You may post any description you like, to describe anything I or anyone else posts up as pseudo-science or whatever epithet seems most appropriate to you. Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary proof.

Shame so many buildings have to be demolished just to make that point. At least here in UK, nobody was killed, except one silly Press Photographer, who broke through the Police cordon at Bishopsgate London. R.I.P.

I must pay a call on Singapore some fine day, should God be willing. Raffles Hotel is steeped in the History of The British Raj.....days that some may say are best forgotten. Every Empire must of necessity keep a Standing Army. and every Standing Army must keep tight control of the Civilian Power, by brute force if so demanded. Force that does not stop short of "Collateral-Damage" paraphrased, we only meant to kill the President, not his entire Entourage.....

Message from Dr. David at 15:55:26 GMT.

"........- ca plus ca change. As ever (but fuk PREW) Hoolerix"

Maj. Peter R.E. Willey, Author of "The Castles of the Assassins"

He was/is an expert on mind-control, by selective recruitment of individuals susceptible to paranoid psychosis from consumption of Hashish. HashHashines.

Afghanistan has for centuries exported hashhashines. they grow a variety of cannabis sativa, that is particularly potent with regard to inducing the required psychosis. Our UK Chief Psychiatric Officer, laments that 90% of his Hospital Beds are occupied by victims of these new and potent varieties of Wacky-Backy. They wish to use the old Tobacco Breeding techniques to raise it's addictive properties.

The "Wacky Science" of "Wacky-Backy Addiction Enhancement" Speed up the hit! to increase the Pavlovian conditioning response, to the point where just the sound of a bell/pop music will start the victim salivating......Grrrrr! There will be a day of reckoning very soon.

Nice world we live in. Mercy might just be commensurate with the offences committed.

"...Please just read the utter nonsense you have just posted. and reflect upon it's manifest stupidity..."

Why is it, that you may call some hoax "real science", and I'm not to otherwise refer to it?

The same of what you may take for real, and I would call "pseudo" science.

What gives?

Let the rest of the world be the judge, if they want to.

O.K. by me.

Not by you?

From Wikipedia:-

"An epithet (Greek — επιθετον and Latin — epitheton; literally meaning 'imposed') is a descriptive word or phrase that has become a fixed formula. It has various shades of meaning when applied to real or fictitious people, divinities, objects and biological nomenclature It also means a derogatory word or phrase used to insult someone."

Sir, Let us not allow "Dear" to become a mere epithet.

What gives? you ask.

"Compassion" is what gives, Yuval, you have shown yourself deserving of it. I care not what the world may "judge"..... "Vox Populae Vox Dei "was an expression used in the Circus arena of Imperial Rome, a clamour to turn the Emperor's thumb through a 180 degree rotation.

The Circus Arena that both you and I now stand upon, is a round stage, in relative terms no larger than the head of a pin. I see a throng of Angels dancing, and you declare my vision to be illusory, a delusion. My world view differs from yours, that is all.

Some years ago, a "For Sale" notice appeared in a local newsagents window, Microscope £150 O.N.O. I read the details and rang the number provided. "May I make an offer for that microscope, would you accept £200, is that near enough" The lady gasped, "Is it a good one then?".....The notice was rapidly removed from the shop window, and my near offer was rejected. I was not too disappointed, I have several.

My inference is clear. I regard all life as Angelic, and the motion of life, Dance.

6.022045 exp23, will be familiar to you. Let us count my dancing angels. my angels are good formation swimmers, aquatic dancers. my pool is 3,141,592 square microns in surface area. We may both agree that 18 cc's contain a Mole of water, so one cc, contains 1/18th of a Mole, 3.34558 exp 22. divide again by 10,000^3 (the number of cubic microns in a cubic centimetre) and we arrive at 33,455,800,000 molecules of water, for each cubic micron. 105,104,500,000,000,000 molecules for a one micron film of water on the surface of my pin head. A substantial number.

The pejorative "Epithet" "pseudo" was attached to the Science of Amedio Avagadro.

http://www.bulldog.u-net.com/avogadro/avoga.html

If you are a scholar on the life and works of Avogadro, and have information that might be usefully included on this page, then why not mail me the details. Contributions will be acknowledged.

It was not until 1860, four years after Avogadro's death, that the Italian Chemist Stanislao Cannizzaro silenced the critics who called it pseudo-science. I note that no mention of poor Amedio's tribulations, are mentioned in the glowing bulldog link. F?cking Typical! This was the Top Google Link, and millions of students are hoodwinked by heaven knows who? into believing Science is an easy road. Sorry folks there is a Yuval at every crossroads and street corner, to shout "Pseudo-Scientist" at you, and expect Yuvals at your funeral, commiserating with the next of kin at the departure of a crackpot fantasist, doubtless mad, and a blessed relief from his delusions in death. I grant that Real Science requires "Devil's Advocates" So Yuval, I know you won't take offence if I refer to you from now on as Satan's Brief. The Horned One's QC. with Powdered Wig and dusty black gown. Our mission is to soundly defeat you. Turning Israel into a Green Glass Lake, Is the method I would dearly love to adopt. to prove my point. All I would request for my experiment, would be the same amount of water that was shed at the Place of The Skull. I had my "Todger" attenuated with a cigar clipper, as a curt reminder of my ancestry. Call it REVENGE! Now I must meditate upon the word "COMPASSION" and also the word "KOSHET" from Psalm 139. Jewish Joke:- (Message Board in a Synagogue) "ARE YOU FEELING SUICIDAL? LET YOUR RABBI HELP" You can have no idea, how much damage mistranslation of Psalm 139 has caused. It is a thorny issue. and one which I often discussed with Admiral Lord Nelson. When after a great deal of prevarication on my part, I eventually acceded to the request by the Earl of Southesk Senior KCVO to visit David Lord Rosehill, now Earl of Northesk. at his home in Rogate. I just came clean with him, asked him as he took me upstairs, and I spotted a familiar chest of drawers, "Do you still keep my waistcoats in those drawers?"...... I was then able without the least trouble to recall port stains, that I could never have known about. BEFORE OPENING THE CHEST OF DRAWERS! I just leafed through a few until I came to the corner of one that I recognised from the embroidery......sure enough, there was the stain, exactly where I said it would be. That was not all..... I was able to identify loads of stuff. every stain on every waistcoat, repairs to Uniform etc etc. It was a delightful visit. And I painted a copy of our mutual ancestor David Carnegie, who refused a peerage, as he feared that as head of the Octavians, who negotiated the Union, Scots might think he had been bribed. Oh yes....."Wacky Science" that just can't be proved. The shot has been fired, and the ball can never be replaced in the barrel. It's killed it's Doubt-Demon, and vanished into a puff of smoke. "Testimony" is not proof, and even had I done it as a stunt, doubters would regard it as a fit-up con. Jan Maloney, in 1992, asked me to paint her portrait. I read her mind. she enquired how I did it, just think any thought that you absolutely know I could never know. Jan screamed when I just repeated it back to her, and was quite ill and terrified. Jan is the daughter of Heathrow Head of Customs, last I heard retired and mum has a knitting wool shop in Ealing. Greg Edgerton Jones, another sceptic, challenged me in the Admiral Lord Rodney Pub.(he appointed me to a Hulk of an old warship, saying at our interview, "The Admiralty have requested I give you the Captaincy of one of my ships. You would sink any ship I gave you, so you might as well Captain a wreck destined for a fire-ship" (extemporised)......In front of the Bar, he begged me to stop, it was far too embarrassing. All about an unpleasant experience as a baby, and being ignored in a room with the widow open, and having kicked off his blankets. and screaming and screaming for help as he felt like freezing to death. He had never even told his mother, and this private thought had haunted him into adulthood. This is nothing unusual, loads of folk can do it, and loads of folk can fake it as well. It was my party trick with old school friends on crowded railway carriages. Everyone in the compartment had to think of their name, or address or date of birth/whatever, and I always got applause. Then I would admonish "NOW BELIEVE THAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU" 1 Corinthians Ch 13 discourages such foolish and childish demonstrations. Yuval, I can no longer have faith. Know that to be a dreadful curse. I envy you. Long ago I also demanded proof! CAVEAT!

http://www.crivoice.org/psa139.html

The psalm is not about omniscience, in the classic meaning of that term. Neither is it about predestination, although if read uncritically this verse would be one of the strongest predestination passages in Scripture. Nor is it really about omnipresence in the absolute and universal sense in which that idea is used. Those are all abstracted intellectual and ontological concepts. This psalm is intensely personal about God's presence in the life of an individual in the specific reality of life, a person who is willing to confess that presence as a basis for prayer and trust in God. As one biblical scholar noted: "Not omnipresence but constant exposure to divine scrutiny (Heb 4:13), not so much omnipresence as confrontation with an unseen Person at every turn…" (Allen, p. 262).

So, this psalm is about the knowledge of God, what he knows about us as individuals. But it is a far leap to abstract this intensely personal psalm, or a single corrupted verse in it, into grandiose statements about the attributes of God. And, as we have seen, if the text is carefully examined it will not support that anyway.

In Your #594 post, above, you stated:

"...millions of students are hoodwinked by heaven knows who? into believing Science is an easy road. Sorry folks there is a Yuval at every crossroads and street corner, to shout "Pseudo-Scientist" at you, and expect Yuvals at your funeral, commiserating with the next of kin at the departure of a crackpot fantasist, doubtless mad, and a blessed relief from his delusions in death. I grant that Real Science requires "Devil's Advocates" So Yuval, I know you won't take offence if I refer to you from now on as Satan's Brief. The Horned One's QC..."

What should I reply to this?

It speaks for itself.

Then, as you continued with: "...Our mission is to soundly defeat you. Turning Israel into a Green Glass Lake, Is the method I would dearly love to adopt. to prove my point. All I would request for my experiment, would be the same amount of water that was shed at the Place of The Skull..." I'm left wondering:

If I can guess correctly, you place me as your appointed enemy, with your mission to turn Israel into a "glass lake". This thermonuclear vision of yours, to which you refer to as "...my experiment...", which in turn will require: "...the same amount of water that was shed at the Place of The Skull...", with the attached symbolism, hardly to escape anyone familiar to the New testament.

Just a little trivial correction: It is only done with water, in new-age kindergarten fairy-tales.

In reality, it is done with deuterium, tritium, and lithium-6, not water.

Little naive me: I took your "...I regard all life as Angelic, and the motion of life, Dance..." for what you said, at face value.

You Wrote:- It speaks for itself.

Just wait till we get to post "666".....I have already Posted the Picture.

"By Deception we Wage WAR"...... Colonel Gadafi Sends his Compliments

To MOSAD. and the French, My Uncle and Aunt swam in the Coral Lagoon

As the Last French Detonation Took Place. The FAKE SIGNAL FROM LIBIA

Useing a fake transmitter, Fooled the Americans and that good President who

Could not even recognise his own son, when as Governor, he was handing out

Diplomas at his lad's Graduation Ceremony. Gerald Enderby Smith in 1983 decided

that "Enough was Enough" Israel had gone Too Bloody FAR! Humanity was to be

TERMINATED BACK THEN.

Check out:- Officer's Club, "The Man Who Saved The World" Sept26th 1983.

I was serving at Lakenheath. The decision rested with a single carefully chosed man.

What gives?

DANGER, that's what gives. Yuval. That's what gives. I tested G-D. DON'T DO IT!

Okay, I think you will like this one. The text on the web site gives away the answer as to whether the objects there "are real", so please look at the photographs and and then give your opinion here before reading the web site's introduction:

http://www.theFeejeeMermaid.com

In a couple of days I plan to start a thread about the objects on this site (if one of you doesn't beat me to it).

Svengali, you're a hoot.

The first item there, was a collection of mermaids.

We were always told (by the Greeks?) mermaids were very sexy and beautiful.

Having seen those, I'm a tad confused here. Is this a Mexican Joke on us, mere mortals?

Anyway, this is a fresh, encouraging vigor, for this old, beaten to death, thread.

On September 26th, 1983, we almost died. Stanislav Petrov was an obscure commander at a Soviet missile site who had the authority to launch 5,000 nuclear missiles and kill us all. On that morning, alarms went off saying that the US had launched 5 missiles at the Soviet Union. Standard Soviet military doctrine required him to push the launch button and notify his superiors in Moscow immedately. However, his heroic decision not to launch saved our lives and the lives of the rest of the world.

This One Landed "ON THE BEACH" Time to "reflect" on a MOSAD JOKE set to Music.

"Onward Christan Soldiers"

That's an awful lot of information to follow up one day. Interestingly "on the beach" caught my eye from the earlier ref without really thinking about the word-play. Some of the pics made me thing of Gauguin which made me think never-more , ramble ramble.

"Larry Arvidson libinia@msn.com wrote, "I was in the 4239th/449th AEMS, ECM section at Kincheloe AFB from 1960 to 1964. The crow on your patch looks suspiciously like the crow on our Electronic Countermeasures patch."
ECM / Reconnaissance sounds like logical activities for the crow to represents. The "C'est La Vie" patch shown below (no idea as to its orgin) shows a machine-gun wheeling bulldog accompanied by a crow. Fido almost certainly represents the fighting forces - the bomber and his feathered friend could be providing support. But the crow also appears on the patch for the 380th Aerial Refueling Squadron and later appeared on that for the 380th Aerial Refueling Wing. The shield on the Old Crows patch states it from the 92nd Bomb Wing Medium. Thus the bird is used in different context. Any ideas, experiences, opinions would be appreciated."

Above extract from google sets more cogs in motion , so you can see how my mind churns along. I guess looking deeper would lead me into mischief I imagine , and I don't want to delve into something that is a tragedy for others just to satiate my own built in nosiness.

It's a shame that this thread has gone down the path is has , but there was a quote I made to Yuval that puts things in perspective. One to be mindful of in good times and bad -"this will pass". A bit morose I know , but even I stop jesting at times.

DEFINITELY FAKE!

BUT GREAT ART NOR DID I PEEK. but who would believe that?

Apparantly some people weren't sure about this critter that "washed up on the beach after the tsunami".

http://www.thefeejeemermaid.com/weeklyworld.htm

Photographs of it circulated around the internet, leading to debates about its authenticity. It quickly attained "urban legen" status! I know the artist, and the true story behind it (that red car hood underneath her is my old Toyota Celica). He sold the "corpse" on eBay, and some unknown person copied the photos and emailed them out without permission. Neither the artist nor the buyer intended this to happen. But they didn't mind either. The fact that people argued about this critter really amuses me.

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_mermaid_tsunami.htm

http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/news/index.php?entry=/education/20050227-mermaidofchennaihoax.txt

If you confront the artist about it, he will say -- with a straight face -- that of course it is "real". But, as a true showman, he has a gift for stretching semantics (check out his eBay auctions), so try to guess what he really means by "real".

For more plausibility , the artist should have include female genitalia. I'm quite serious -who wouldn't look. To sucker people you have to focus their atention on one detail (and make it good).

I think the ship has been at sea too long, and jack needs a good excuse for his bestial behaviour.

I look forward to the mermaid thread, as I have a set of mythology books with some very curious examples which I will quote reference as appropriate. I will state for now that I am not a believer. I will save the website for later hilarious enjoyment.

Luis Von Ahn. (Carnegie Mellon) Smart dust may listen in to those prayers?

We will shortly be deploying zillions of Tonnes of Smart Dust from the air.

Ice crystals form round them, and it makes the clouds more reflective, it

Might as well be Smart, then we can hear and see and know what everyone

is doing and very soon thinking. GREAT. Thanks Andrew Carnegie. Great Plan!

Keep these F?CKWITS IN ORDER! MILITARY STYLE> WELCOME TO 2007!

23 years late. The alternative? you ask folks, Cobalt Salted NUKES!

PAY ATTENTION! ESP PROJECT! SWEET DREAMS! DOLLY TOO

http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/mermaids/15.html

Also check out the Artist's "Fish Riding a Bicycle"

H.L. will do for me. Beauty and Brains... a surfeit of both.

She would know that a "Fish Needs a Bicycle, Like a Woman Needs a Man"

My dear Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout, get gifts of old Bicycles with my

personal endorsement. River Authority, Terry Bucknell's Approval granted.

They are the Old Folks of the river, Large Tame and Serene. My favourite

is called "Matsya" .....Matsya and the ducks often compete for the food

that I chuck in. And just for my Sony DSC-R1 camera, Matsya has learnt

to make valentine heart shaped ripples, with his head and tail. Why the

Bicycle?..... I hear some ask....... Answer Hungry Fishermen especially

Travellers, They would use poison to fish the river, and do! NEW AGE

TRAVELLERS use a rod and line. but it's for the pot. Bicycles taste horrid.

but they fish those out too, for scrap. so the Colne Kids replace Matsya's

Bicycle, now and again..... BRAVO! And Thanks to Terry Bucknell as well.

Heddy looks as if in Mermaid mood to me, would you care for a swim?

P.S. the Girl and Dolly represent the current state of the Art for Smart Dust

Vision.....WE SEE ALL RIGHT.....WE SEE MORE AND MORE EACH DAY.

Lots of food for thought (not you Matsaya ! don't panic) - lots of pics about . Somewhere near me a very expensive koy was once sold if my memory is correct. Koy-napping is not unknown. Only East-Europeans like bony river-fish like carp I'm told - we must have lost the monks taste for it. Or maybe fish fingers cost money for 50 Poles in a single bedroom. Who knows. Living by the sea could be cheap if you like mackerel. I once saw an ingenious rock trap so the tide does the work - a tad wasteful though. I can't recall the last (if ever ) time I saw a child pray before bed- what a loss (for them , me and anybody)

Satan's Brief, objected to me referring to him as "Our Host" He took umbrage at the courtesy. Where did he learn manners? from pompous MOSAD Fu Coffee Freaks No Doubt. None At all. Arrogant Shits.

We purchase 10,000 square miles of East Africa, to avoid this complication, an experiment conducted at our own expense...... And they manufacture the Mau Mau Terrorist Campaign.

Then Assassinate Merlin Erroll's Dad. What a bunch of Losers! BIG STYLE.

Brigadier Frank Kitson, stationed his men on our Estate in Kenya. Ngobit Estate. and we allowed the Troops to fish the river.....With Rod & Line and Wet Fly...... but a few fu Coffee FitzMossad Troops used Hand Grenades and Poison. Africa was spared. and President Jomo Kenyatta was very grateful.

Kitson took umbrage at my Father's complaints about the uncivilised behaviour of just a few of his troops......Oh well it's all water under the bridge. Frank got to his position mostly because he was selected by the aforesaid Coffee Merchants, as the most compliant to quasi-hypnotic suggestion. Northern Ireland....What a Fiasco!

Read Paul Bruce's Nemesis File. Questions were raised in Parliament. The Fu Coffee Merchants at their Horrid little games again.

May the 17th is Ascension Day. The Pilgrim Nuclear Reactor is their next target. The Gulf War Veteran's Association are having a Big Gathering on the 17th, Hypnotists will be out in force. Let's just say a prayer for the Victims of 9/11.

When will they ever STOP? King Charles The Martyr. Martyred by Who?

Yup,

Someone should medicate him. The chap lives in a dark fantasy.

I might be willing to do it for free.

Hemmo, TLV, Israel

Dear Hemmo,

Please don't do anyone any favours. What's this, everybody on drugs today? Let go. It's a non issee to me. Lay off. You're not helping.

http://eternalhope.blog-city.com/on_september_26_1983_we_almost_died.htm

Thanks "Crow-Dog"......Bulls EYE....Well placed Shot. Salute.

Our Man In Palestine.

He Got a "Miss Bond" from Northern Ireland into The Pudding Club. Mr. James Bond,

sas none too happy, but the Lad Turned out OK. The Cohen Group Looked after him.

Here is a link that does not seem to have a home , so I shall place it here for reasons of my own whim.

Just in case you haven't seen the thread yet , here is the great Canadian spy story.

There must be masses of bogus spy schemes to be found , even bogus ones that weren't bogus. I'll never trust charity envelopes containing coins again - help the aged may be after me.

Hi Kris, PVDF is a great microphone. Our Company Goodlock Ltd. (Elton John's sacked Accountant does the books....tee hee....The most feared company I was told in the City of London, then known as the "Chinese Laundry" by City Slickers (Unlisted Securities) were asked to research new and interesting ways to manufacture the "Coat of Arms" that is positioned in places where Judges etc. sit in Judgement, Magistrates and Judges take a judicial oath, well worth reading, they sit as representatives of the reigning Monarch. The matriculated "Coat of Arms" De Facto, is the presence of the Monarch.

In Scotland there are Sacred Stones, where Monarchs are Crowned, and act as Seats of Judgement.

Here is an 'accoustically significant' example:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNn-4O_G-bU

Hi Alastair - It's seemed quiet without you the past few days !

I've not viewed the link yet as my viwer is nor working (think I have Java turned off or something I can't be bothered to fix in a hurry - I had it and lost it before for some reason). I shall sort it out- I just hate housework.

Ringing stones abound , from xxxxx to xxxxx to xxxxx

Stone carvings abound oop North. The site of Fergus footprint is an impressive location for a man to leave his mark. I have a rather jauny wild boar souvenui badge from Kilmartin. The Vikings went around Britain like early versions of Banksy

I will finish my morning dance on CR4 , and go fix the dratted player thingy/whatsit.

I'm just being mischievous , but it does make me wonder : when you see experimental Archaeologists napping flint weapons , where do they leave all the evidence and what if somebody finds it

SH F BBB - all my links got mucked up - I'll put it right later .sorry . now im really peed off

Hi Kris,

A lot of things have been going on, CR4 had to go on the back burner. Without going into too much detail, and avoiding the pitfalls of "Vain-Glory"...."Spiritual Vain-Glory" being about the worst manifestation!....groan.....Well let's cut to the current "Objective"..... namely the "Efficient Transportation of Oil" down Pipelines. We are now in a position to.....Mmmm.......Leverage..... a Bit of Common Sense. This may or may not make a future ideal CR4 Thread....let's wait and see. Let's Herald the Idea.

Fanfare of Trumpets needed. (Now I wonder who could organise that? Peter perhaps? an actual Real Herald! not a pantomime one.)

well I have the player working in firefox. I just hate the script that looks too much like it fell off an engineering drawing . Back later with the links I intended. ps turn on telly now to hear Tony's I'm going speech.

'The time has come ,' dear Yuval said ,

'To talk of many things :

Of shoes - and ships - and sealing wax -

Of Carnegian type whims -

And why the sea is boiling not -

And whether Kris has wings.'

Sorry guys - just having a lunatic few minutes . I found an old book on my shelf which is real fun (Engineer through the Looking Glass ). It's a great read.

Eric Laithwaite (who I have obliquely referred to ) is worthy of a thread to himself. Like him or loath him , I say he is a great person . I will not pass this one to the seething mass who read the Challenge Questions - despite it's relevance. A lynch mob is not a pretty site.

What on earth did he do (apart from the blessed linear motor)?

Or like my mom: What is it this time?!

Professor of Heavy Engineering at Imperial College

Presented Royal Society Christmas lectures 1966 & 1974

Really upset people with his later views on Gyroscopes

I can't remember if you're in on the current CQ , but he has relevance since his 1974 lectures involved Gyro demonstrations.

He popularized Science for kids , and the Christmas Lecture series has huge respect. I haven't fully checked this out , but it sounds like a classic case of scientists hanging one of their own.

Ref "Engineer through the looking-Glass" ISBN 0-563-12979 4

Eric Laithwaite

first published by BBC 1980

The book has some gems of very real science and profound observations (whatever his later thinking may have been). The book was lying forgotten on my shelf.It covers many topics in 100 odd pages of brilliant experiment.

Check this. I'm shopping for something, got it on the way.

The link is broke , but I found the site - very cool . I'd like a terrafuggie. Stacks of good things to explore there. Nice one.

Her it is, once again.

What a "link" Yuval, very very thought provoking. We neglect our responsibilities as the dominant life-form at our own peril. If we can encourage "compassion" in our fellows as much as we can, then our own life has not been wasted. I constantly keep in front of my minds eye, what a beautiful world we could all make for ourselves. We can do it! I will give my support, for what it's worth.

That's certainly different to the link I arrived at. Plenty to think about in the once again link. I also need to look at how the two are connected. Back later.

I came across this page whilst Googling info about my very good friend Bob Law, unfortunately no longer with us.

I have two of his works, a miniature white painting, and a watercolour on hand made paper.

The miniature was a birthday gift, the watercolour cost me a half ounce of really nice Nepali.

I miss Bob, he was one of a kind.

Were you ever able to trace any influence of you Nepali in his work?

While on the subject: Was it brown, green, or blond Nepali?

"The Stops may get pulled out to max, Heralding THE FANFARE"

Dear Guest,

And a warm welcome to this Thread.

"Barter" is as old as the hills. In 1996, I was stationed in Canterbury, just after meeting with retired Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Brian Riley, who is probably better known for his Award Winning Adverts (The Carlsburg "Probably" the best Beer, ones, Scandinavians might opt for Carnegie Beer???)...Put in a Plug...Why Not?

You won't find a nicer and kinder gentleman, I believe he was awarded a Purple Heart, for services in Vietnam, rescuing pilots with a Mini-Submarine navigating the rivers, best ask him directly though....a lot of rumours are baseless)

After the conclusion of our meeting, I walked from Ramsgate to Canterbury, for the next assignment. Upon arrival there, I was given a nice clean £10 note, by the Archbishop's Secretary....To have a good meal at a lovely French Restaurant with a wonderful view of the Cathedral. (With my camera at the ready, Guest, I can snap-n-post some of my sketches from the jolly jaunt)

First assigned task, was to locate the missing Scaffold Planks, that as Australian Aborigines would say:- "Had gone Walkabout"....No problem there, They were being converted into wonderful pieces of hand-crafted furniture, by a couple of rogues who ran a Brothel and Nigerian People-Traffic/Slave Operation from a Church of England rented household.......Payed the rent.....ahem....The French Restaurant meal I had had was Sooooooooo Delish!.... I decided to return, speaking a smattering of French, My Godfather and Godmother were once Head of the French Secret Services....(A digression....might explain how My Uncle & Aunt John & Lillemore Carnegie were Snorkeling in the Pacific Atoll just as the Last Atom Bomb Test was detonated, must get their Video footage of the pretty fish darting about for a few seconds, startled by the shock-waves...Great You-Tube footage I would guess?)....Yes. back to the tale:-

I was invited to a party they were holding, after the restaurant closed....cool how could I refuse......At the party some Nepali Hashish was being smoked. I was offered a lump in exchange for a "Portrait".... I proceeded to draw all the very pretty girls portraits using the lump of Nepali as my "Crayon".... Not one jot was smoked. and I do not personally indulge myself..... but I don't think I paid for another meal after that. ....Cool! I am sure Bob Law was inspired by your gesture. Those scratched prints "Crosses & Kisses" bare a remarkable serendipity to the Avatar I use Spooky!

Thanx for the replies chaps.

The hash was brown, dark brown, like the best Nepali, now Temple Balls are no more.

Bob was a smoker from way back in the 50's, when cops wouldn't know what it was, and wouldn't care. He often travelled to Morocco in his Combi to make his own, camping in a little village in the Rif Mountains called Azilla.

His art was a product of the times, not unique, just re-invented, some of his best work was never shown. I'm sure being stoned, and pissed, (Old English), played a large part.

His real talent was carpentry, the house he built in Third Cross Road, Twickenham, is a masterpiece, it should have a blue plaque.

Rikk, Cairns.

Great to hear your memories Rikk . He was a terrific guy , and could shoot a wicked game of pool. I never noticed his missing fingers or got round to asking when I was told later . I must have been as pissed as bob - we played pool hundreds of times over a few hilarious years. He could outclass most with a one-line (or even one-word ) joke / remark.

Kris, his fingers were a tragedy, as his hands were his life. He had many operations over many years, some went wrong, almost nothing they did was successful. He had at least three removed when the outcome of surgery left him worse off. I don't know what the medical term was, but his fingers were gradually closing, the operations were to straighten them out.

Unfortunately my computer is kapoot at the moment, when it's fixed I'll post you a couple of pics taken in his house in Folkestone, they really sum him up, you'll see the watercolour I own, and, I think, the lump of Nepali too.

Rikk, Cairns.

Tribute to Bob Law, (Kisses & Crosses) R.I.P. "A kiss from Malevich"

Providence has intervened Dear Rikk, (our Guest,) I hope the computer boots up "All systems Go" soon. You have a valuable asset on your hands, I don't mean the artwork, either, though that itself is priceless, your memories and recollections are a precious asset. Contemporary Art is providence, provenance, providence, each piece is an "Entangled Link" to Events & Ideas that may have a deep impact on all of us today. I think a Tribute is certainly in order.

Malevich

Thanks for the info Rikk . I hope your computer starts behaving - I hate the things , but they're just so useful. Bobs house was 'in need of some work' last time I saw it !

If you sign up to CR4 , I'll let you have any info I know about Bob (I think only members can send mail to each other through CR4 - Click someones Avatar and select 'send whoever an e-mail'. We might get censured for going too far off topic otherwise ! Your arrival here has proved we have done our little bit to help celebrate him. Bob is still alive with us.

I've no objection at all if you simply want to post without joining CR4 - we are already the most off-topic bunch here , in our cosy little thread !

Cheers ,Kris

"OFF TOPIC?" Kris, This is the most "ON-TOPIC" thread of the lot, it may have broken records for Topicality?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science

Quote:-

"In the broadest sense, science (from the Latin "to know") refers to any systematic methodology which attempts to collect accurate information about reality and to model this in a way which can be used to make reliable, concrete and quantitative predictions about future events and observations. In a more restricted sense, science refers to a system of acquiring knowledge based on the scientific method, as well as to the organized body of knowledge gained through such research.^[1] Science as defined above is sometimes termed pure science to differentiate it from applied science, which is the application of scientific research to specific human needs....."

The philosophy of science seeks to understand the nature and justification of scientific knowledge and its ethical implications. It has proven difficult to provide a definitive account of the scientific method that can decisively serve to distinguish science from non-science. Thus there are legitimate arguments about exactly where the borders are. There is nonetheless a set of core precepts that have broad consensus among published philosophers of science and within the scientific community at large. (see: Problem of demarcation)

**********************************

"Science is reasoned-based analysis of sensation upon our awareness. As such, the scientific method cannot deduce anything about the realm of reality that is beyond what is observable by existing or theoretical means. When a manifestation of our reality previously considered supernatural is understood in the terms of causes and consequences, it acquires a scientific explanation......."

***********************************

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudo Scientist who "Think" they "Know it All" fall into this pejorative classification.

To clarify ; Most people think Bamboo is a tree . Only Pandas will look at all the leaves and see a whole - the rest will quickly slash away to build a rickety scaffold from the appealing wood. A scaffold doesn't just get used to build towers (babel or otherwise). Leaves and buds rotting on the ground is not a pretty site.

I rarely clarify meaning - perhaps I should. Though the above is usually as close as I bother going. Do you see ?/

Oh Dear, we seem to have reached nearly to zix zix zix, oooh! vot shall ve doo? There is much dispute about the actual number, as "616" appears in earlier transcripts.

My own speculation on the subject, is that the Babylonians/Persia were known to have adopted the Vedic Numerical System, who first introduced the concept of "zero"

!000 round seeds made up a standard weight, a 36 layer triangle is zix zix zix seeds, as an apothecary would measure round pills. (36 +1 = 37, & 37/2 = 18.5, & 18.5 x 36 = 666) so when testing scales, measure out 666 seeds, 333 in each pan, swap for balance, then empty one pan of 333, and weigh another 333, = 999, then measure sensitivity with an extra single seed. 999 + 1 = 1000.

It mentions in revelations, that to "trade" you needed the "Mark" of the Beast. I could speculate that to mean, a valid certificate of probity for your scales?

Those "Weights & Measures" folk must have been loathed!.... and probably took bribes as well??? if they found a dodgy scale. pay up or something very nasty might happen to you???

Interesting + curious.

I seem to recall that people argued about translation from words 2 numbers. Buy your idea is much more appealing.

Here, on this link, some of the honors and courtesy of our noble self, guided by the common sense, directing us with the sweet voice of the so called "providence".

Isn't it wonderful, to be alive and well?

Yuval, You have used the space well. Salute!....There is never any excuse for cruelty. Personally I am aware that some Scientific Experiments with our fellow creatures are not beyond the pale. If the animals are loved and cared for, to the highest standards, and are never put into distress, and most importantly the Scientific Results are known to be absolutely crucial....then and only then would I condone the use of Animals. I use Pigments that were developed by BASF to be chromatically pure and bright also light-fast and non toxic (The Pigmasol & Basoflex range)

These pigments are used in Children's wall papers, each pigment was eventually tested with over 5000 animals each. mostly rabbits. but also primates as well. The Animals were kept in prime condition until they died of old age. (Long term possible Iatrogenic reactions) No animal was harmed in these tests, I have been reliably informed. It was in the interests of BASF to keep the animals as happy and contented as they could. Stress could have resulted in a problem, and that would impact upon the marketability of their product.

At College, I refused to do "Biology" as fellow students would race poor little frogs in a long glass trough of strong sulfuric acid....then laugh their heads off, and say, "come on chaps let's try Concentrated Nitric acid now".......At that instant I knew Science had lost it's bearings. How could they?..... I was told that it was a psychological over-reaction to dissection etc. "Get's it out of the system."

So after that I suppose they have to plead that No God exists for the rest of their lives. "It's OK folks, there is no reaction to our cruel actions, we are not "ENTANGLED" by our Karma"...think on!

"...that No God exists for the rest of their lives..."

I'm more concerned with what people listen to, in their heads, being guided by "outside" signs, gestured by other people to "guide them through", pressured by insinuated threats of occasional bystanders and "concerned" relatives, etc, etc, etc...

And having our world show and tell, that it probably is governed by an evil and malicious spirit, they prefer to call "god"

Just imagine there is a Real God, and He watches us doing all this, in His Name.

This post raises 2 fold questions in my mind. Funny and not funny. hmmm.

I had a well earned lazy morning today, but noted you were up and full of beans, Kris, congratulations. I hope that the issues raised by Yuval on the 666 occasion (the "wackiest" of philosophies numerology,.... cest tres francaise...) Passions are roused so high, they impact upon National Security. If I was SMERSH with designs on total global domination, I would recruit the best "Thespian" agents to infiltrate Animal Rights groups, the willing protesters would be bound to shield these SMERSH agents. They would be instructed to network,.....do I sense a James Bond script idea?? .

Folk browsing this thread, will have no idea, what my reference to "Pigs in Space" actually refers to, and what an earth it has to do with science, wacky or otherwise.

http://omglmao.blogspot.com/2007/03/russian-pigs-in-space-wtf.html

I was actually referring to Oil Pipeline mechanical "Pigs" and "The Muppets" also "Active-Mass" low orbit Space Rails for hoisting payloads into space. but above are some examples from Russia with Love. (Vodka??? is that pig drunk at the controls?)

Stressful day yesterday and this morning - I had to change temper several times , but solutions were found. rollocking people is an art (and one I don't like to practice). SH₁T always occurs as a conglomeration. Best apply Dynarod.From both ends.

Anyway this is tomorrow , and as Viv said it's 'another day'

There are probably as many Bonds/anti-Bonds/other agenda in a protest group as there are protesters. Scrub that , more bonds etc. The army Marshalled in the Kris/Sirk/Risk garden shed story earlier have been unleashed. Which of the triplets is doing what, how does Sir K fit in with it all , will there be a truel , maybe a quadruel. Who knows ? Who cares ? Does anybody believe it possible ? Who will sing the next tune (The Clangers whistling maybe ) ? The trick-cyclist will never shut me up !

Back to the pictures in the link . I am experiencing puzzlement over what the pig is drinking (that tense doesn't sound right if he's forced , drunking maybe ). There is a photo at the bottom of the link showing two gents holding the pig. The round faced one (RHS) looks like a cartoon pig , and the thin faced one (LHS) looks like said piggy . They say people become like their pets but this is redickyouless.

I was naturally drawn to (I think ) Yuvals Troglodyte type thread , having loose knowledge of pipe pig things . Not just 'cos I saw Bond escape a manic welding sort of pig (Uppingham Cinema , can't remember when). The Muppet's , well who could miss them though I never 'got ' it (apart from Swedish chef and old gits in gallery). My ingenious Tree-house is ideally shaped for pigs , but not - with present design they can only go up (unless toroidally shaped , and a topological transform may be challenging ) and will have to take turns.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkSZNdWZWwY

What? you may ask, has Benjamin Franklin's Chromatic Rendition of a 16 x 16 Magic Square have to do with "Pigs in Space" ?

I am busy with "Paint" just now, with a rendition of the Irrational number "The square root of two" Carl Sagan regarded the proof that it is "Real" but also "Irrational" as one of the greatest milestones in Science. He gives the elegant proof in the appendix to his book "Cosmos".

http://www.mathacademy.com/pr/prime/articles/irr2/index.asp

Quote:-

Now we want to notice something interesting. According to the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, each of the integers p and q factors uniquely into primes. That is, each of p and q is just some unique collection of primes multiplied together. Since in the above equation both p and q are squared, that means that each of these primes must occur in pairs, and moreover there must be exactly the same pairs of each of the primes on each side of the equation, else it wouldn't be a true equation. But wait, this can't be! Because – think about it – where's the prime that pairs with the two?
There isn't one. Therefore it can't be a true equation, and therefore none of the earlier equations can be true equations either. Therefore the first equation is false, and we have our result: the assumption that the square root of two is a rational number must be false, so the contrary statement is true – the square root of two is an irrational number.
This result, among the most elegant in mathematics, was known to the Greeks and is therefore quite ancient. A slightly more general argument along the same lines shows that all square roots of integers are irrational, except when the integers are perfect squares (1, 4, 9, 16, 25, etc.). Can you think of how to construct an argument to determine the rationality or irrationality of cube roots, fourth roots, and so on?

More on this later, as they say, "A picture can tell a thousand words"

I will have to mull this over in my head . Certain issues have diverted me recently. I've been on the go 10 hours and my brain can't hack too much visual activity at the best of times ( I need to pick a good time to register an image in my head so I can think it without short circuiting ). Plus I need to switch to firefox for youtube at present. I will be back later to clock the pic and links (though yes I do know the second one ) properly . I think better with my mind and a piece of paper and pen . I will be back for another look ! I am (quite seriously ) minded to lay my monitor flat - I need to experiment with different angles /brightness etc.

Nearly forgot - compliments of the day

"The Reebok Engineering Exhibition 2006 Bolton."

So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell,
blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail? A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?
And did they get you trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees? Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change? And did you exchange
a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl,
year after year,
running over the same old ground. What have we found?
The same old fears,
wish you were here.

*******************************

And the same compliments to you Kris,

Thanks for all the massive effort you and everyone else has contributed to this thread. Next we have to formulate appropriate "Prizes" for keen Engineers. If you have followed this thread carefully, you might discover that two £50,000,000 Coroner's Treasure-Trove Awards as a "Prizes" awarded by those nice folk at the British Museum for finding Lost Roman Treasure.....That's nothing, mere petty cash, for the Prizes that will be on offer shortly. They will have to be open to International Competition, and set and judged by an appropriate Academic Panel of Experts. Dr. Ray Kurzweil may have a few extra clues. Naturally there will need to be guarentees...blah....That's the job of Accountants, not Wacky Scientists/Artists

The "Cold Steel Rail"......That's a big clue!.....Mmmmm? Compliments of the day 2U.

Suuuuper link. I shall play it back in my head this evening - in a nicely relaxed and contemplative ooze. Thanks Alastair . A few tasks to complete today , then I shall go to out manoeuvre Luke on Playstation without breaking a sweat for once. The rare occasions I manage to out-fox him leave me with finger cramp and a concertinaed brow - he's in trouble tonight.

"Trust you will avoid the gigantic mistake of alternating current." Lord Kelvin

This is one big....ooops...BIG!....Team effort. There will be VITAL CLUES, slipped in here and there, some of them quite cryptic, others more obvious. Note for instance the transition from B & W to full ZX Spectrum, at 00:42 seconds in. So that's the "Answer" is it?.....Tea for two?....time to put the kettle on. POLLY! (put the kettle on, CR4 may have guests arriving shortly)

Polly is naturally a Parrot! Chants "Kirtan" all day long.....Polly picked it up from the Sages who chant the glories of God in the Sacred Forest of Vrndavan.(outside New Delhi) The photo is of a "Poly-Chrome" marble statue of Vrindadevi, who is the Hari Krishna Installed Deity for Scotland. She is as big as the Vedic regulations allow. A Doll must not exceed the proportions of a Doll, otherwise you can't play Dolls, and it becomes Idolatry. Every morning Vrindadevi gets a new outfit, and her old garland of flowers is replaced with a new one. Hammy the Hamster and quite a few other animals tuck into the old garland as part of their salad. Hammy like all hamsters, has to keep reincarnating....they only live a couple of years. We will have to award a prize for the best Hammy Hamster driven "Musical Box".....(Food for thought) The Children will be the judges. Braham Noble, The Goodlock 2005 Accountant, (Goodlock was incorporated 1980) would probably suggest a years supply of flowers for the prize. He arranged for Elton John to pay part of his Taxes in Flowers( Te-He...at a suggestion of mmmm, ask Rabbi Braham) Rose Petals are dried and used as confetti, at weddings. so the prize will stipulate that only "Brides-Maids" are eligable. (Silica Dessicant Gel provided....place in oven to resore blue colour, after baking nice 2 for tea-cakes/muffins)

Second Call for Banns, Dr. Larry Gadekin and Joy's Daughter Jessica Joy to wed Dan Aaron (on Chris Taylor's 60th Birthday), Sunday 27th May 2007.

Chris was born to Miss Bond, daughter of James Bond from Dungiven Derry. see Pink Floyd Post.

Dr. Larry of BetaBatt is providing micro-sensors (beta-voltaic power). for Haliburton. these smart micro-critters will be pumped down oil wells to monitor the oil field.

"mag-lev" Pigs in evacuated pipes as well)

I have been monkeying around this morning , and learning some Chinese ways (but not remainder theorem).

My stoopid browser is working better now , and the phone has stopped going off.

2 p² = q²

single term * even terms = even terms = oops = embarassing 2

14 = 2*7 = long pig needs coffee.

Hello Alastair. Sometimes I would like to peel the image off my monitor and constuct a play-mat for Twister on the floor. I could contort to my hearts content then. 'left foot on blue 2....FOUL ! - middle wicket not allowed ! .... right hand on...' I realy should focus more before I get into trouble.

Hi Kris,

A Magic Trick for you & The CR4 "Wacky Science" team to watch.

From the You-Tube Team:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voAntzB7EwE&NR=1

Enjoy.

Triffic !

It's even funnier to me than most I suspect. I am well known to those who know me (if that makes sense) for my capacity to walk right past them without clocking them. I have offended countless people who are new acquaintances. On the other hand I am reasonably good at finding needles in haystacks. I seem to have one of those twisted mind that sees things others don't , and misses things everyone else does.

The clip brings to mind one of Derren Browns funny stunts. He invited 2 advertising people to a meeting. Gave them an advertising brief , then we all laughed as he revealed how is hidden sketch mirrored their preliminary art suggestion. The poor duo had been set up to be taken to the meeting via sundry images to prime their brains. Edited or not , it was still very interesting. The persuaders get persuaded. very nice double-think James-Bondy stuff. Did I tell you how the Frau Trudy stung me once ? There I was doing the cryptic , and T is looking over my shoulder giving me a very nonchalant answer to a clue every few minutes. Word play is not the Frau's game. I was in meltdown when she finally pointed out they had mixed up last weeks solution with the current one in the space above.. My only consolation is that my life has never been less for not noticing such stuff as a fake tan at 100 yards.

I just had some sad news about duck-head type posting causing the demise of something. Unfortunate , but necessary. At least I have a smile now and can leave CR4 for a while to handle other things.

Hi Kris,

Bl 688, Title :- "CITY ARK 1"......The Bl 688 is from The "Pink Roll" A lot of VC winners on that particular "Roll Call". Cryptic Clues.....blah! (You Posted No 688!)

The Pictures at the Top relate to a "Treasure Hunt" Folk at the "Ark" will recognise the Co-Producer. "There is "ALWAYS" a part for the producers daughter" a Quote from the Producers...slightly altered for "N"? as "G" might be directed to this website? "A" is reading Theology at Saint Andrews just now.

The lovely Lady Wife of Professor Ian Fells, in Newcastle, "Hazel Fells" sets many of the Times Crossword Puzzles......More clues, Kris as you just mentioned you do them from time to time. We don't just give away million dollar prizes, after all. The Location of "Pigs I Have Known" and who lives there now, is another clue. "688" is a rather special number. so we have loaded this #688/690 with them.

Hello again Alastair . Lots of food for thought.

The heavily pixelated Hedy is ironically (but understandably) easier to see. The chap will need more mulling over (last nights Eurovision set the word 'mullet' in my head - I was devastated that we so closely missed the magic '0' , it would have made us almost European ). Prairie-Dogging to see pictures with just me in the room is probably certifiable. Another piece of jigsaw - some time I will have to start sorting them. I'm far too efficiency minded to put them together upside down if I know more bits are to be found (at least I wouldn't do more than loosely look for edge bits - curios shapes are only curious in the context of a known sample size . I've found all too often how 'patterns' can be just thought out of thin air )

I had 5/6 great years in Newcastle. My favourite indulgence was a 'stotty' in the morning (after) stuffed with a mixed grill breakfast - one of the worlds greatest unknown culinary delights. I once left a fellow connoisseur speechless by scoffing 3 in 1 go. More gourmand than gourmet perhaps. An interviewer once sneakily asked me if I was a 'specialist or a generalist' , which as he no doubt expected sent me into blabbering overdrive (oops). Not nearly as bad as the dissection I had in Whitehall once by a very clued up Civil Servant - I don't think I exactly fitted the mould shall we say. Ha - I take it as a compliment.

It's Sunday , and one of the few crowd activities I like is occurring - the 'Car boot sale' (and people question if there is a black economy ! ) . I will be bouncing around later. The mother in law is doing my favourite (roast lamb) so I shall make an appearance and scoff for England. The family gossip is usually good for a laugh.I could do with it - people dropping like flies , 1 neighbour in hospital 1 neighbour found dead in bed ( v sad , old spinster with single bar fire etc & too proud to take help) + 1 brother straight from flu-type symptoms to recus. It all happens at once as they say. Don't be surprised if I disappear to the Midlands for a while. What was it I quoted a short while back - "SOMEONE DIED IN MY STREET" - well I certainly have proof now ! Still this morning is bonny enough.

Today Kris, I have to be on my constant guard. For Hindus,(Gurkhas) it is a Holy Fast Day. I had a small sip of water just before sunrise. A fellow Hindu Priest, (I am actually a Roman Catholic, but all in the ecumenical spirit) told me the best way to cope, if pangs of thirst got too bad, was to take a long shower, drinking through the skin is allowed.

They constantly harp on at me for not being a vegetarian, I did over ten years of that. had a break, then did another five or so. My friends and relatives were so pleased to serve me a nice roast lamb, with all the trimmings and mint sauce! again. It felt so rude, not accepting lovely grub cooked with love. They allow me to say grace in Latin, as a dispensation before we tuck in. One lovely old Aunt, who is a confirmed atheist is the nicest Lady I know. The gentleman in the photo at the Reebok Engineering Fest is a confirmed agnostic. we get on famously. His Lady wife once a Jehovah's Witness, is now a Mormon. I am not a synchrotist, that tag is used pejoratively in this trade, but if faced at the door by an evangeliser, be it JW or Hari Krishna, I never find cause to argue. The JW ban on blood transfusion, for instance, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath" and hey! let's read that passage again. NO BLOOD! of any kind is to be consumed....so what pray tell me is a BLACK PUDDING?..... do we let a child die in Hospital, and nosh black pudding at the Funeral then?...ooops! If fairness they took my admonition to heart, the next edition of the Watch Tower, contained a discourse on Haggis & Black Pudding Etc, "Was it Kosher for JWs?" I believe this edict was "before" blood type was established in 1901.

http://www.bloodbook.com/trans-history.html

Quote:-

1492 - Pope Innocent VIII, in Rome, had an apoplectic stroke; became weak and went into a coma. His physician advised a Blood transfusion as a therapeutic measure for the Pope's illness. Employing crude methods, the Pope did not benefit and died by the end of that year.

That would raise hackles. The Protestant Reformation did not see Popes in a very good light.

1907 - Hektoen suggested that the safety of transfusion might be improved by cross-matching Blood between donors and patients to exclude incompatible mixtures. Reuben Ottenberg performed the first Blood transfusion using Blood typing and cross-matching. Ottenberg also observed the 'Mendelian inheritance' of Blood groups and recognized the "universal" utility of group O donors. Please read Mayo Clinic note on 'universal' donors

So it was not till 1907, that the significance of blood type was recognised. and in all probability took a good while longer to filter through into general practice. Now we have the scourge of HIV Hep. CJD etc. so the battle is not over. If a safe alternative can be found? All power to those researcher's elbows. I hope this is not too off topic for "Wacky Science". It is Sunday after all.

Take care, Scientific Progress can be halted in it's tracks by successful lobby groups of any religious persuasion. That might be unfortunate, I won't elaborate on that point.

This is an interesting subject(s). I'd go with 1901 (other dates are interesting , in as much as a 'when' question can be argued) , since I like the co-incidence of Queen Victoria and haemophilia. The madness of King George was a good film. Copper bottomed maybe. Have you notice that chlorophyll and haemoglobin have a similar structure , with a Cu and Fe difference (unless my casually scanning something was too hasty. I find that fascinating if true.

Take care, Scientific Progress can be halted in it's tracks by successful lobby groups of any persuasion. nuff said.CR4 is often too welcoming a host.

I have let too many Saturday papers pile up recently . The Carnegie of Carnegies ! The Owl Service , Pigeon Post , A Swift Pure Cry . They really should have been published by Puffin. Making patterns where there are none is fun (I look on it as a sort of reverse engineering) . Why walk along a boring road when you can play games with number-plates (the shortest word with given letters in sequence is good , though factoring digits requires a slow stroll ). "I'm bored" is a feeling to be avoided at all costs I think. Deliberate TM is cool for those who do (many Docs do I hear).

I hope this is not too off topic for "Wacky Science". One of the beauties of this thread is that we rarely get troubled by those who mind. Mushroom management and needles in Haystacks may have limited appeal for some , but being spoon-fed doesn't really exercise brains. I have been distracted from the x-word for a while - I must resume this. Times Sudoku (which claimed to have one solution per game) is nonsense - I've seen several where a transpose works , and not just with 2 pairs of digits.Makes it a bit pointless. Then again , that might be useful somehow - if people are so busy feeling chuffed at finding the answer....

You have proven yourself to be a "Brick" Kris. I shall be requesting the dust off your lotus feet upon my head soon. We "Learn" one another, not "Teach" one another. The world is a gigantic Juggernaut, it is not easy to steer. The great Jaganath Puri Festival has been going on in India for well over five millennia, by some accounts. I once put forward the unsupported speculation, that the Jagat Deities that remind me of snowmen, may indeed have been just that. In the heat of an Indian Summer, the arrival of Ice Cream and other delicious cool fruity refreshments, would most certainly be great cause for celebration. Naturally the bigger the snowman, brought down from the Himal Mountains, the longer it would last. Dressing Jagat Lord of the Universe in insulating apparel would also help

To my astonishment, the speculation was received with enthusiasm by many learned scholars. I was terrified that I may have caused deep offense.

Cooperation is the name of the game, hauling the huge Jaganath Cart. May I compare the wonderful internet to just such an enterprise. with cooperation the outcome could be "DELICIOUSLY COOOOOL!" Cool even, as outer space. we have had pigs, why not cows? Jersey Cows making ooodles of thick cream. after all a low orbit geo-stationary platform has almost as much gravity as at the earth's surface. They could chew the cud contentedly. and also make good fertilizer!....ooops!....plop!

We "Learn" one another, not "Teach" one another

This is a philosophy dear to my heart (more so for gradual observation over the past 15 years which you will know about Alastair ). The word 'Teach' implies some sort of force-feeding to me - "you will accept thy great lord kelvin without question" etc. Mr K is just my unfortunate chosen send-up btw. Rote learning has it's place , but it's certainly going to play second fiddle in any book I'll ever read. Children (as we all are ) gain far more through love ,curiosity and patient answers. (An applicable piece of vinyl may be "Love , Devotion , Surrender " By Messrs Santana & McLaughlin. Not my ever sceptical bag , but still worthy of citation)

As an aside for anyone who may chance upon these tranquil depths ('still waters run deep' is the saying for casual visitors , best have adjustable polarized specs)- when Luke was diagnosed pre school we were told that his never being able to read or write was a fact and also the least of it. 'Accept it' . 'So there'. By the time he started School he had more linguistic skills than his peers , and could certainly now out-spell and out-pronounce the experts in ways they could not comprehend.

He certainly still has a lot of the classic difficulties , but beware 'Professionals' with repetitive prognosis syndrome.

I'm indulging myself (an entirely wrong choice of word) with a little sermonizing (and bitching , peecocking etc) as it's a Sunday.

Just remembered , there was a good story recently about Buddhist art found in a cave with an iced-up entrance recently. I guess the red army were in too much of a hurry in the region . How cool is that. Mr Whippy go's full-circle.

Hi Kris, as you have cited "Carlos Santana" I would like to cite a book of actual Love and Devotion and Surrender. "Child of Courage" by Dr. Linda Scotson. I guess that the Thirty Year Rule Applies here, and the sun has not set,.....Today I am the hypocrite who Fasts in open public, making a big show of it.....Actually I still have half a glass of 33% water, 33% vinegar and the rest red wine from Chile. A meditation on "Desire" If thirsty, drink the same stuff they gave criminals nailed to crosses back in the old Roman Middle-Eastern Provinces, and for grub, mouldy vegetables, those were thrown at the convicted. A nice Fractal Cauliflower that had grown a mould grey beard.(shave those bits off and fry slices in olive oil....I cook on my hearth fire, not my stove) You stop feeling hungry all of a sudden!

Thirty years ago, I was preparing Linda Scotson's Husband Peter, for State Execution. A Hanging for breaking the Treason Law. (He had been working he claimed on the guidance system for the then new class of Cruise Missile, and his defence was that he had imposed a contract that stipulated he would only work on Civilian Projects, his contract expired and he discovered the Light Aircraft Navigation System he had been working on was.....fill in the gaps......bummer. So Peter did the stupid thing out of indignant anger at being conned.

Child of Courage, describes the struggle by his wife with their new born "vegetable-brain Doran, who was born after the execution, I refused to attend, as Peter was a devout Atheist (had he recanted his Atheism, there is a good chance he would have won a reprieve) but I was the last to speak to him. Peter:-" They have arrived, come round and meet your chums Alastair, it might give me a few more minutes to live" (extemporised from memory) Me:- "Have you got those pills Peter, Take the lot now, if I was you, don't worry I will sort out the details tomorrow. Linda and his eldest Child Lillith, had been sent away the week before in preparation.

OK this was 29 Years ago. Sod the thirty year rule. Now the execution order hangs over the entire Planet. we lucked out on 26th September 1983, I just wonder how much longer our "LUCK" will hold out? Love....plenty of that,.....Devotion....the same...Surrender.... That is a decision for the United Nations. They have aggreed to enter into Diplomatic Relations..... "WHAT!.... with the EXECUTIONERS!

Postscript:-

Doran: How a Mother's Love and a Child's Spirit Made a Medical Miracle
Linda Scotson (Cut-n-Pasted from the first Google search entry, Abe Books)

Something for those United Nations Folk to read. Post#700 ought to be a good one! a century of secrets never to be told......WHY?

hmmm. With 2 posts , you have made my mornings prancing seem like piffle , and provided far moe interesting things to contemplate. I'd not come across Angelman - it is on my list of things to study up on. I know of people who will be greatly interested.

700. I wonder if we will hit the Kilio-one ?

Ciao for now , Kris

Hi Kris,

In the news.

Biography of Gordon ( Next PM?) ISBN 0 00 717540 X Harper Collins Publishers

Recently in the news, is a discussion on China.

Some have argued that the test is evidence of a lack of communication among various parts of the Chinese government, with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) carrying out the test without the knowledge of the Chinese Foreign Ministry or other parts of the government. "Put bluntly, Beijing's right hand may not have known what its left hand was doing," write Bates Gill and Martin Kleiber of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in an essay in the May/June issue of Foreign Affairs. "This may be a more troubling prospect than anything the test might have revealed about China's military ambitions or arms control objectives."

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/864/1

I find Brown curious. His dour image seems somewhat cultivated , and he does appear to be responsible for a fair bit of stealth tax (not to mention a monumental overpayment scandal). The displayed lack of PR may be a calculated move. On a personal level , I would hate to have people opining on my family from afar. CF is pretty nasty. A friend has a really nice happy kid who has NF (Neuro-Fibromatosis) , he copes incredibly (as do his family , which includes 2 other children who have quite pronounced learning difficulties)

I'd not picked up on the China thing. All a bit Bond-like. At the end of the day , one hand or the other may make no difference. It's always been my opinion , that the 'Government ' of a country are not necessarily the ones pulling the strings. It's a wonder poor old Pinocchio can walk at all.

Hi Kris,

You write:- "....the 'Government' of a country are not necessarily the ones pulling the strings..."

Substitute "ROPE" for string. Any so-called 'Government Official' that fails to co-operate, may find somebody pulling hard on that rope. I may allow you Kris to evesdrop/share some 'official' communication. as and when I receive permission from the Vatican, so to do. (private message)

Yesterday the 13th May, was the 90th Aniversary of the Apparitions at Fatima in 1917. To cut the BULL, we must begin planning the construction of an orbital space platform designed to accomodate the majority of Humanity. It's rather an exciting prospect. The other prospect was revealed in 1917. not nice!

http://www.theotokos.org.uk/pages/approved/appariti/fatima.html

90 years of intensive planning, need not be wasted. We do have many options. and International co-operation is highly desireable. Engineers will think it's Christmas every single day, if all goes to plan. Efficient transport of Oil one way..water the other. is fundamental to this plan. (mag-lev pipelines) We need the data. This is, as always with common sense, a win-win proposal.

A Bismuth Crystal & Kazimir Malevich

Quote:-

Nothing in the objective world is as "secure and unshakable" as it appears to our conscious minds. We should accept nothing as predetermined as constituted for eternity. Every "firmly established," familiar thing can be shifted about and brought under a new and, primarily, unfamiliar order. Why then should it not be possible to bring about an artistic order ? ...

Our life is a theater piece, in which nonobjective feeling is portrayed by objective imagery.

A bishop is nothing but an actor who seeks with words and gestures, on an appropriately "dressed" stage, to convey a religious feeling, or rather the reflection of a feeling in religious form. The office clerk, the blacksmith, the soldier, the accountant, the general ... these are all characters out of one stage play or another, portrayed by various people, who become so carried away that they confuse the play and their parts in it with life itself We almost never get to see the actual human face and if we ask someone who he is, he answers, "an engineer," "a farmer," etc., or, in other words, he gives the title of the role played by him in one or another effective drama.

The title of the role is also set down next to his full name, and certified in his passport, thus removing any doubt concerning the surprising fact that the owner of the passport is the engineer Ivan and not the painter Kasimir.

In the last analysis, what each individual knows about himself is precious little, because the "actual human face" cannot be discerned behind the mask, which is mistaken for the "actual face."

http://www.artchive.com/artchive/M/malevich.html

Kris, you wrote:- "..The heavily pix-elated Hedy is ironically (but understandably) easier to see. The chap will need more mulling over (last nights Eurovision set the word 'mullet' in my head...."

We are firmly into another "Wacky Science" that of Fractal Compression and Decompression of pixel maps.

http://www.answers.com/topic/fractal

Arthur C. Clarke gives an excellent introduction to the subject in the freebie insert DVD that comes with his now paperback book "The Colours of Infinity" It is seldom I buy a book, then clean out the wholesalers of every copy they have in current stock, just to give them away. Pink Floyd on the sound track as a treat.

The Late Pope John Paul IIs Director of Communication, Dear Sister Veronica from here in bonnie Colne Lancashire .....ahem.....secure communications are a 'forte' of the Roman Catholic Church. This year the Biggest RSA Conference on the subject will be held in London....book early to avoid dissappointment....Oh and by the way Kris, you might not recognise the face, but at the City ARK....no problems, and probably for most folk at Lloyds.... They on the other hand might be puzzled by the Hedy Lamar compression. ......We are going deeper into "Wacky-Science" with each posting. soon we must begin to tackle Georg Cantor's "Transfinite Series" that for a specific reason, only works in Technicolour not binary.

Another clue:- stop the 7 321900 650083 DVD at 37? (remembering that 3 x 37 = 7) a secret never to be told? "Here's looking at you kid!"

Thanks for the fractal link. This has long intrigued me . I have a good book somewhere that looks at the 'factuality' of different coastal regions around the globe. Very cool. One of my nutty programs generates fractal trees- with a touch of randomness to create a new one each time it runs. There is a quirky satisfaction that each time a new one is created ,the old one disappears forever. I never made it look pretty as Qbasic graphics are diabolical , and the purpose was not 'pretty' as such.

I have some of that nice Bismuth which I bought after a trip to Strontine (Treasures of the Earth , FW. Amazing prices for stuff + excellent collection to view) . I have a fair collection of 'nuggets' (mainly in boxes at the moment - I have been pondering converting a wall into a display area ) some purchased , but most discovered in moments of pure elation. Not much beats the simple pleasure of finding something hidden away for millennia.

The European liking for daily usage of titles would certainly give our pompous GP's and their courtesy title a reality check. On the other hand fewer people parading their insecurity is probably better , so I'll put up with the GP's. Vanity is it's own reward.

I'd surmised I should look to the Ark . In due course. The linking of facts is often more important than the facts themselves. The internet churning out fact like penny gob-stoppers will choke some people to death. Sugar really does kill some folk.yo-yo induced diabetes and technicolor laughs in the bog. Uugh. I'll keep the cookies in the cookie jar for leisurely consumption.

I was just flicking though my weekend books before going to bed , when I saw something hilarious. Actually it set alarms ringing as I hadn't taken something on board before. I could hardly keep a straight face . Inspiration and funny coinsidence occurs in the strangest situations. I really shoud get some kip as i've been on the go for about 20 hours , and have stuff to do tomorrow. I'll just tidy up here before I go.

Laughing my socks off at how things happen and amuse me.

The thundering Pachyderm is beginning to interest me. I found time to glance at it again last night. Plop , plop,plop.... I thought I was Wonkaland , under a shower of yummy chocolate drop rain. I will try to catch up some today. The beast is nearly nailed , and now I can't even remember where I first spotted it ! Damn the other commitments , Ill be back after some brecky (my timetable is somewhat frazzled again).

Carleton University, don't just award degrees in Journalism. (Hint)

Good Morning Kris.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_707

Quote:- "....Its name is most commonly spoken as "Seven Oh Seven". Boeing delivered a total of 1,010 Boeing 707s, which dominated passenger air transport in the 1960s and remained common through the 1970s....."

"There are 10 sorts of people, those that understand binary notation, and those that don't."..... Gosh! only 10 aircraft? I thought there were a lot more.

Common factor is clearly "5"...oops "101" Cue LED ZEP Music. Drum Beat Tempo from John Bonham starts to raise the tension.

http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=359

Damn Interesting "Wacky Science" a Workable Gravity Powered Aircraft.

So all you sceptics out there. Zeppelins filled with helium fabricated from Architectural Lead Flashing...(A wacky thought experiment) will float on air like a dream, if large enough. Heavy steel girders and a bit of reinforced concrete might be usefully deployed to keep the sheet lead Helium gas buoyancy envelopes held securely in place. Do the sums! Fact is fact is fact.

Quote from "Damn Interesting"

"....Our world is certainly not left wanting for free sources of energy. The sun vomits an absurd amount of energy upon the Earth's surface constantly– up to a thousand watts per square meter during the daytime; the planet's mantle writhes with heat energy, up to 4,000 degrees Celsius; and a tremendous supply of energy saturates the entire planet in the form of gravity. The difficulty has always been in finding ways to capture such energy usefully. Solar panels have had some success snatching up sunlight for conversion to electricity, geothermal installations use the earth's heat to create power, and hydroelectric plants tap the potential energy of gravity. Currently a Nevada-based aviation company is exploring another creative way to utilize gravity as a power source– combining some very old ideas with some very new ones– to produce an aircraft concept which might one day tote people and cargo great distances without the need for fuel. The project is called the GravityPlane....."

Good morning 2 Alastair,

I don't know how you manage to provide so much useful information . I've barely got beyound boyish giggles about those sexy Vulcans and a fantastic image of 'Roly' (+ other folks).

The list of things I have in mind to explore is staggering . Hopping around is fun if the rules are varied. I like simple rules with complex answers. Here is one I was inspired to find ,and it's surreal enough to be on a wacky thread.

Must hop.

All very interesting. I like the harps . There are an awful lot of mis-quotes that about , like the 'Alas............Iknew him' one

Far too much in the links for me to study in detail - they certainly cover some bases , if I can use a pun.

Something in there made me look up a half remembered connection to cordite , and I can't remember why now.

I don't mind discourse on religion and politics etc at all , but do you not think it may it may lead to a sudden brandishing of editorial muscle ? A lot of interesting stuff might disappear in a flash .

I shall continue to read with interest , as I always do. You have something of a head start on me in all these wacky issues.