BS: The Mother of all BS threads

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 02:56 PM

I could make all sorts of comment upon the following bit of news, but I shall refrain.

Human bone marrow has been used to create early-stage sperm cells for the first time, a scientific step forward that will help researchers understand more about how sperm cells are created.

The research published today (Friday, April 13 2007), in the academic journal Reproduction: Gamete Biology, was carried out in Germany by a team of scientists led by Professor Karim Nayernia, formerly of the University of Göttingen but now of the North-east England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI), based at the Centre for Life in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 03:12 PM

I don't feel like BS today. Geez, what a horrible horrible situation in Virginia. It stops me in my tracks.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 03:58 PM

Yes, me too.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Amos
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 04:17 PM

It is sickening; more than 20 of the brightest and best, just getting clear of their risky teenage years, and bam.

Someone's gonna fry for this. I am sure of that. ALthough one report said the shooter (singular) was among the dead.

No-one has explained the huge gap of inaction between the 7AM shootings and the later ones.

A

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 05:29 PM

Elementary and high schools have lockdown procedures, so does this place. Someone screwed up at the college level.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 05:38 PM

I cannot but remember such things were,
That were most precious to me. Did heaven look on,
And would not take their part?

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Amos
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 08:45 PM

Our lack is nothing but our leave; Macbeth
Is ripe for shaking, and the powers above
Put on their instruments. Receive what cheer you may:
The night is long that never finds the day.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Amos
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 08:47 PM

A broken hearted lover, gone mad in the coils
Of rejection's bitter clutch.
Given short respite from his toil,
For having loved too much.

A

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 09:53 PM

I must also feel it as a man:        
I cannot but remember such things were,        
That were most precious to me. Did heaven look on,        
And would not take their part?

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Amos
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 10:04 PM

Why are you copying Stilly?


A

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 10:18 PM

Because I copied the wrong thing, silly.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 10:34 PM

I've turned off the news, and I'll get the paper in the driveway in the morning to see if they've made any sense of this story. At least with the newspaper, I read it once and I'm finished. Turning on the tv means it is in your face, sound bite by sound bite.

And now for something completely different:

Holy Cow!

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Amos
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 11:22 PM

What story is that picture associated with? -- I can't make out who the politician is.


A

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Amos
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 11:37 PM

For Stilly River's Sage.


A

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 09:59 AM

The rest of the story. I thought you might enjoy pondering that unusual photo before you knew the whys of it.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Amos
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 10:49 AM

A much nicer story than, in my cynical mood about the world, had ever imagined!

I really appreciate folks who take charge and make something good happen without a lot of bull attached, so to speak. I know that's a heretical thing to say in these hallowed halls, but, well, sometimes even the truth must come out.


A

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 11:17 AM

Okay, will you send me ten thousand US dollars so that I can start a low-power FM radio station here? We'd be broadcasting to the visually impaired and those who can't get out easily (or anyone else who wants to tune in). The programming would be all talk, all the time -- recorded books, story hours, the obituaries from the local paper, the "what's going on" column from same, TRUE debates about community issues, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: MMario
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 11:23 AM

Rap - I could send you $20,000 from my Nigerian Bank account if you would just wire me $10,000 to cover the international bank charges.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Amos
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 11:27 AM

Rapaire:

If I had any money to send around, I would send it where I would think it would do some good. I am sure you understnad this.

A

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 01:27 PM

Oh well. I guess I'll have to get a grant from the Library Services and Technology Act instead.

(I'm really doing this LPFM thing, by the way.)

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: MMario
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 01:37 PM

Sounds like a worthy project - wish I had a couple thou to spare...

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 04:40 PM

The dentist has left my mouth feeling so strange! Right now it is tingling, but when I touch my face, it is only pressure, no other sensation. No wonder he said to keep my food soft today.

Lunch of scrambled eggs, a cup of yogurt, and a bowl of spinach. I guess that will do it. Mac and cheese tonight. Two more dentist appointments to go before I'm all fixed up. . . I used to have perfect teeth, and perfect eyesight. Getting older is the pits.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 05:36 PM

I used to have lousy teeth, lousy eyesight, and hurt in every joint and bone. It's lots better now, because it's pure hell growing younger as you age.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Amos
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 05:40 PM

Especially using replacement parts that aren't from the original maker.


A

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Amos
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 08:14 PM

I just sent around an email to all my relatives because it said it was a money angel and would make me rich in 4 days if I sent it to six poeple, and in TWO days if I sent it to 12 poeople. I think that is wnderful, but how does it know? Anyway, I really would like to be rich, so I am forwarding it. I know it might not be true, but then, it MIGHT!

A

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Amos
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 08:23 PM

Mom is now 17,130!! Is that cool, or what?


A

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 08:27 PM

What two prime numbers, when added together, produce an even number as a sum? (I've been thinking about things like this lately.)

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 10:06 PM

All of them.

See for yourself.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 10:07 PM

Except, of course, 2.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 10:45 PM

That's why I've been thinking of things like that lately. I'm going mathematically insane. I'm looking at license plates and translating the numbers into 1337. And it's all the fault of the City of Pocatello making me actually do a budget and work with numbers. Real numbers, like the square root of -1 (which is my budget for the next fiscal year).

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 11:00 PM

Okay, Amos, I bumped The Illusionist to the top of my NetFlix queue. I hope you're right about it--it's due here tomorrow.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Amos
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 11:02 PM

Why, they're all ODD!!!! (Doh!)

As the freds said when he read the MOAB.


A

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Amos
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 11:24 PM

I suspect you will like it. The photography is beautiful, the Viennese reconstruction (think 1880 or so, when the Austrian and Hungarian kingdoms were about to become the Austro-Hungarian Empire) seems authentic, the plot is intricate and the acting excellent.

A

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 09:28 AM

No, 2 is even. And 1 isn't on the list, even though it's a prime. If you add 1 to any of the primes (except 2) you get an even number; if you add it to 2 you get an odd number. But you can add other primes together, like 3 + 5, to get an even number. I wonder if there are any pr1m35 u cn add 2g37h3r 2 g37 4n073r pr1m3.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: MMario
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 09:34 AM

your alpha-numberics are slipping.

since all the primes are odd except '2' I don't think there are any two primes that will add together to get another prime. There may be combinations of three primes, five, seven, (etc) primes that add to another prime.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 09:40 AM

Sorry. It's budget time in the Rockies.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 10:17 AM

All he asked was to add two primes together to get an even sum. Any two primes EXCEPT when using the number 2 are going to come out even.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: MMario
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 10:33 AM

I was answering the next question - where he asked "I wonder if there are any pr1m35 u cn add 2g37h3r 2 g37 4n073r pr1m3. "

which I read as "I wonder if there are any primes you can add together to get another prime."

and I was wrong, because 1+2 =3

and three prime combos work because 7 + 2 + 1 = 11
and others work too.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 10:36 AM

Ah--clever! I ignored that.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Amos
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 01:09 PM

The real question about numbers, prime or otherwise, is why they work at all. It seems very counter-intuitive that threeness should alweays be the same amount. It seems very useful, of course, dealing with mechanics and budgets. But given the oscillating nature of particles in and out of existence, and the multiplicity of universes, I really don't see that three (or any other number) of anything is a very accurate statement -- it's a platonic abstraction.

The only way three bicycles are countable together is to ignore their huge array of differences in time, location, shape, color, age, and subatomic interactions and focus ONLY on their abstract similarity by which they fit into the meaning of the term bicycle. It's kind of like tribal-based metaphysics, where everything depends not on who you are but on what line of bllod descent enables you to claim belonging to one or another tribe, with concomitant status or lack thereof.

I think this is why some people are very reluctant to excel at math -- they don't like being force-marched into Platoville and buying into these required generalized forms, and ignoring the concrete, real and substantive distinctions which are so much more important.

In spite of this the numbermongers have already wo0n the battle, and the war, as anyone who keeps a checkbook knows, so I am just singing into the wind. Helas. Here's a toast to poets who won't be corraled into numbering things.


A

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: MMario
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 01:12 PM

That's okay, Amos. Just keep singing to the wind, and pissin' into the choir, selling that snow to the eskimo. *Someone* has to do it, after all.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Amos
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 01:21 PM

SOmeone has to do it? Aw, shit. I thought it was voluntary and inspirational!! Damn!! I'm outta here, gonna find a new gig, dude. Jeeze, I wish someone hadda tole me.


A

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: MMario
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 01:35 PM

MOM! Amos is designated wind-singer and he's trying to get out of it!

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Amos
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 01:52 PM

Spaw has volunteered to take the position for me, MM. His only stipulation is that he brings his own wind.


A

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 06:05 PM

I always thought that 7 + 2 + 1 in base 10 equaled 10, not 11.

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Amos
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 06:19 PM

It used to, Rapaire, but I think the Bush Administration snuck a change through while the Congress was on break...something to do with 10^1 being a queer number and not to be encouraged.





A

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 06:24 PM

Another of those gay marriage things, huh?

Well, speaking of that, let's make pi equal to 3.0000000000.... And round up e to 3.0000000000... instead of 2.71828182845904523536028....

Simplify! Simplify! (as Thoreau said)

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Amos
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 06:24 PM

MORE GOOD NEWS!! THREE NEUTRINOS MORE OR LESS CONFIRMED!!!

ONE NEUTRINO ANOMALY HAS BEEN RESOLVED while another has sprung up.
A Fermilab experiment called MiniBooNE provides staunch new evidence
for the idea that only three low-mass neutrino species exist. These
results, reported over the past week at a Fermilab lecture and at
the American Physical Society (APS) meeting in Jacksonville,
Florida, seem to rule out two-way neutrino oscillations involving a
hypothetical fourth type of low-mass neutrino.
Several experiments have previously shown that neutrinos, very light
or even massless particles that only interact via gravity and the
weak nuclear force, lead a schizoid life, regularly transforming
from one species into another. These neutrino oscillations were
presumably taking place among the three known types recognized by
the standard model of particle physics: electron neutrinos, muon
neutrinos, and tau neutrinos. However, one experiment, the Liquid
Scintillator Neutrino Detector (LSND) experiment at Los Alamos,
provided a level of oscillation that implied the existence of a
fourth neutrino species, a *sterile neutrino,* so-called because
it would interact only through gravity, the weakest of physical
forces. (For background see Physics Today, August 1995 and
http://www.aip.org/pnu/1995/split/pnu239-1.htm and
http://www.aip.org/pnu/1996/split/pnu269-1.htm) From the start,
this result stood apart from other investigations, especially since
it suggested possible neutrino masses very different from those
inferred from the study of solar or atomospheric neutrinos or from
other accelerator-based neutrino experiments.

MiniBooNE (whose name is short for Booster Neutrino Experiment; the
*mini* refers to the fact that they use one detector rather than
the
originally proposed two) set out to resolve the mystery. The
experiment proceeds as follows: protons from Fermilab*s booster
accelerator are smashed into a fixed target, creating a swarm of
mesons which very quickly decay into secondary particles, among them
a lot of muon neutrinos. Five hundred meters away is the MiniBooNE
detector. Although muon neutrinos might well oscillate into
electron neutrinos, over the short run from the fixed target to the
detector one would expect very few oscillations to have occurred.
The Fermilab detector, and the LSND detector before it, looked for
electron neutrinos. Seeking to address directly the LSND
oscillation effect, Fermilab tried to approximate the same ratio of
source-detector distance to neutrino energy. This ratio sets the
amount of likely oscillation. The Los Alamos experiment used 30 MeV
neutrinos observed after a 30 m distance; the Fermilab experiment
used 500 MeV neutrinos detected after a distance of 500 m.
The trick of doing this kind of experiment is to discriminate
between the few rare events in which an electron neutrino strikes a
neutron in a huge bath of mineral oil, thereby creating a
characteristic electron plus a slow moving proton, and the much more
common event in which a muon neutrino strikes a proton to make a
muon and proton. LSND saw a small (but, they argued, statistically
significant) number of electron neutrino events. MiniBooNE, after
taking into account expected background events, sees none. Thus
they see no oscillation and therefore no evidence for a fourth
neutrino.

Actually it*s not exactly true that they see no electron neutrinos.
At low neutrino energy they do see events, and this tiny subset of
the data remains a mystery, to be explored in further data taking
now underway using a beam of anti-neutrinos. At the APS meeting,
MiniBooNE co-spokesperson Janet Conrad (Columbia Univ) said that the
low-energy data are robust (meaning that a shortage of statistical
evidence or systematic problems with the apparatus should not be
major factors) and that some new physical effect cannot be ruled
out. At the very least, the low-energy data do not undo the new
assertion that the earlier LSND results cannot be explained by the
existence of a fourth neutrino type. (Fermilab press release and
figures, http://www.fnal.gov/pub/presspass/images/BooNE-images.html)

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Amos
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 06:28 PM

And FURTHERMORE,....
GRAVITY PROBE B, the orbiting observatory devoted to testing the
general theory of relativity, has measured the geodetic effect-the
warping of spacetime in the vicinity of and caused by Earth-with a
precision of 1%. The basic approach to studying this subtle effect
is to monitor the precession of gyroscopes onboard the craft in a
polar orbit around the Earth. The observed precession rate, 6.6
arc-seconds per year, is close to that predicted by general
relativity. The geodetic effect can be measured in several ways,
including the use of clocks, the deflection of light, and the
perturbative influence of massive bodies on nearby gyroscopes.


The gyroscopes themselves-four of them for
redundancy-are the most nearly spherical things ever made: the
ping-pong-ball-sized objects are out of round by no more than 10
nm. They are electrostatically held in a small case, spun up to
speeds of 4000 rpm by puffs of gas. The gas is then removed,
creating a vacuum of 10^-12 torr. Covered with niobium and reposing
at a temperature of a few kelvin, the balls are rotating
superconductors, and as such they develop a tiny magnetic signature
which can be read out to fix the sphere*s instantaneous
orientation. (For more information see einstein.stanford.edu)

---

THese guys are soooo sexy.



A

Subject: RE: BS: The Mother of all BS threads
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 09:16 PM

A precision of 1%?? 1%?? And they call that accurate? And the results are "close" the predictions of the general theory? Yeah, right. I tried that in high school physics and the teacher wouldn't have it. I mean, come on! Would you trust your life to a compass that had a precision of 1%? Do you know where you'd be in a thousand miles? And "close" only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. Geez, and they call themselves scientists!