Thursday, March 27, 2008

This and That

14 comments:

  1. Thanks for pointing out the special issue!

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  2. Hi Stephen,

    Thanks so much for informing us as to the special Springer Journal issue on dark energy. I had a quick initial scan of the paper called “Is the evidence for dark energy secure” by Subir Sakar. I wouldn’t lead anyone to believe that I’ve absorbed or understand all of what is here, yet it basically appears to come down to insisting that none of the existing and proposed theories seem to fit, that is if all the observations and collected data are taken into account. In limited range and scope,this one or that one fits specific data sets; and yet when all it considered it primarily serves more to cloud the issue then anything else.

    One is then had to understand that not only is there a need for a lot more additional data, yet most critical is a consistent theory of quantum gravity. Finally it leaves one with the understanding that the first test of such a theory will be its ability to deal with the current issues. I’d thought just to stress this a little further I’d leave you with the closing remarks of the paper.

    “Landau famously said “Cosmologists are often wrong, but never in doubt”. The situation today is perhaps better captured by Pauli’s enigmatic remark—the present
    interpretation of the data may be “…not even wrong”. However we are certainly not without doubt! The crisis posed by the recent astronomical observations is not one that confronts cosmology alone; it is the spectre that haunts any attempt to unite two of the most successful creations of twentieth century physics—quantum field heory and general relativity. It would be fitting if the cosmological constant which Einstein allegedly called his “biggest blunder” proves to be the catalyst for triggering a new revolution in physics in this century.”

    Once again thanks for the heads up.

    Best,

    Phil

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  3. Hi Stefan,

    Sorry, I just noticed I did it again. I guess this confirms I would have never made a good scientist, with this apparent lack in observing detail:-<

    Best,

    Fill

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  4. Picture of the week

    Said spacesuited asstronaught is SOP wearing an adult diaper. Is it a commercial "proven in grandparents" model? Is it a multi-$million farce jury-rigged by NASA (badly; like the Hubble Telescope from a Keyhole spy satellite)?

    1960s NASA spent $millions inventing a pressurized pen with viscous ink that could write in micro-gee and upside-down. Cosmonauts used pencils.

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  5. This shuttle mission was indeed interesting. I think I saw them both in orbit together: around 6:40 PM on Tues. night IIRC, I saw a steady point of white light moving along about 12 degrees above SE horizon (I'm at 37 N by 76 W). Then about a minute or less later, another point of white light about the same brightness, following it along the same path. I haven't checked all the sites but I can't imagine what else it could have been. Comments?

    My girlfriend says she's happy that I'm decently good looking; I think the women in that study must be vain!

    Also, I left some questions at the Cosmological Constant thread http://backreaction.blogspot.com/2007/11/cosmological-constant.html inspired by the new articles in GRaG. tx.

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  6. I find the whole question of good-lookingness somewhat funny actually. If I open a magazine, literally everybody shown in an advertisement looks just uninteresting, though I believe these photos are supposed to show good-lookingness. Regarding that alleged study mentioned above, one wonders who declared somebody as good or better looking. I mean, it doesn't seem to me like a very objective measure.

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  7. Dear Bee,

    Everyone in an advertisement is probably massively Photoshopped, and that must be triggering some of your aversion neurons. :)

    Best,
    -Arun

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  8. Hi Bee,

    I don’t know about the women liking to go out with ugly men. However, some years ago Jimmy Soul had the reverse message for men in this regard:-)

    Best,

    Phil

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  9. Hi Bee,

    “• (Aside: You can't say 'kill the wabbit' - they are too cute.)”

    And yet if Elmer had never attempted to "Kill Da Rabbit" perhaps generations of people would have never heard Wagner's wonderful music .

    Best,

    Phil

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  10. Hi Bee,

    The stunning astronaut picture is not from the most recent Space Shuttle mission (STS-123). It is from STS-118 instead. See http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/multimedia/fd8/index.html, third photo from the top.

    I found this as I was looking for a hires version of this picture to use as a desktop background.

    Guido

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  11. neil, you probably saw the European Space Agency's ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) "Jules Verne" cargo ship which was launched a couple of weeks ago and was parked about 750 km behind the ISS waiting until the after the shuttle left.

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  12. Hi Bee,

    I don't believe in intentions in nearly all kind of things that matter. All this stories and suggestions how to get someone or something by means of intentional behavior is simply not working. I believe, if you are not with your heart with that what you do (meaning if you don't act intuitively) you're lost. Think of people like Richard Feynman or Albert Einstein, who quoted (as I remember) that you have to be like a kid and play around with equations if you want to solve (not only!) the big problems. Also Richard Feynman said, as far as I've red or heard somewhere something comparable.

    And since I am interested in tennis, also people like Boris Becker or Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal mentioned many times how necessary it is to concentrate on the next shot and not on the next game etc. I've played myself tennis for many years, however not that successful ;-), and I've have had experienced the same thing.

    Best wishes

    Kay zum Felde

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  13. Don’t believe one optimistic word from any public figure about the economy or humanity in general. They are all part of the problem. Its like a game of Monopoly. In America, the richest 1% now hold 1/2 OF ALL UNITED STATES WEALTH. Unlike ‘lesser’ estimates, this includes all stocks, bonds, cash, and material assets held by America’s richest 1%. Even that filthy pig Oprah acknowledged that it was at about 50% in 2006. Naturally, she put her own ‘humanitarian’ spin on it. Calling attention to her own ‘good will’. WHAT A DISGUSTING HYPOCRITE SLOB. THE RICHEST 1% HAVE LITERALLY MADE WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. Don’t fall for any of their ‘humanitarian’ CRAP. ITS A SHAM. THESE PEOPLE ARE CAUSING THE SAME PROBLEMS THEY PRETEND TO CARE ABOUT. Ask any professor of economics. Money does not grow on trees. The government can’t just print up more on a whim. At any given time, there is a relative limit to the wealth within ANY economy of ANY size. So when too much wealth accumulates at the top, the middle class slip further into debt and the lower class further into poverty. A similar rule applies worldwide. The world’s richest 1% now own over 40% of ALL WORLD WEALTH. This is EVEN AFTER you account for all of this ‘good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS from celebrities and executives. ITS A SHAM. As they get richer and richer, less wealth is left circulating beneath them. This is the single greatest underlying cause for the current US recession. The middle class can no longer afford to sustain their share of the economy. Their wealth has been gradually transfered to the richest 1%. One way or another, we suffer because of their incredible greed. We are talking about TRILLIONS of dollars which have been transfered FROM US TO THEM. All over a period of about 27 years. Thats Reaganomics for you. The wealth does not ‘trickle down’ as we were told it would. It just accumulates at the top. Shrinking the middle class and expanding the lower class. Causing a domino effect of socio-economic problems. But the rich will never stop. They just keep getting richer. Leaving even less of the pie for the other 99% of us to share. At the same time, they throw back a few tax deductible crumbs and call themselves ‘humanitarians’. Cashing in on the PR and getting even richer the following year. IT CAN’T WORK THIS WAY. Their bogus efforts to make the world a better place can not possibly succeed. Any 'humanitarian' progress made in one area will be lost in another. EVERY SINGLE TIME. IT ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT WORK THIS WAY. This is going to end just like a game of Monopoly. The current US recession will drag on for years and lead into the worst US depression of all time. The richest 1% will live like royalty while the rest of us fight over jobs, food, and gasoline. So don’t fall for any of this PR CRAP from Hollywood, Pro Sports, and Wall Street PIGS. ITS A SHAM. Remember: They are filthy rich EVEN AFTER their tax deductible contributions. Greedy pigs. Now, we are headed for the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time. Crime, poverty, and suicide will skyrocket. SEND A “THANK YOU” NOTE TO YOUR FAVORITE MILLIONAIRE. ITS THEIR FAULT. I’m not discounting other factors like China, sub-prime, or gas prices. But all of those factors combined still pale in comparison to that HUGE transfer of wealth to the rich. Anyway, those other factors are all related and further aggrivated because of GREED. If it weren’t for the OBSCENE distribution of wealth within our country, there never would have been such a market for sub-prime to begin with. Which by the way, was another trick whipped up by greedy bankers and executives. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. The credit industry has been ENDORSED by people like Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGenerous, Dr Phil, and many other celebrities. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. Now, there are commercial ties between nearly every industry and every public figure. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don’t fall for their ‘good will’ BS. ITS A LIE. If you fall for it, then you’re a fool. If you see any real difference between the moral character of a celebrity, politician, attorney, or executive, then you’re a fool. No offense fellow citizens. But we have been mislead by nearly every public figure. WAKE UP PEOPLE. THEIR GOAL IS TO WIN THE GAME. The 1% club will always say or do whatever it takes to get as rich as possible. Without the slightest regard for anything or anyone but themselves. Reaganomics. Their idea. Loans from China. Their idea. NAFTA. Their idea. Outsourcing. Their idea. Sub-prime. Their idea. High energy prices. Their idea. Obscene health care charges. Their idea. The commercial lobbyist. Their idea. The multi-million dollar lawsuit. Their idea. The multi-million dollar endorsement deal. Their idea. $200 cell phone bills. Their idea. $200 basketball shoes. Their idea. $30 late fees. Their idea. $30 NSF fees. Their idea. $20 DVDs. Their idea. Subliminal advertising. Their idea. Brainwash plots on TV. Their idea. Vioxx, and Celebrex. Their idea. The MASSIVE campaign to turn every American into a brainwashed, credit card, pharmaceutical, love-sick, celebrity junkie. Their idea. All of the above shrink the middle class, concentrate the world’s wealth and resources, create a dominoe effect of socio-economic problems, and wreak havok on society. All of which have been CREATED AND ENDORSED by celebrities, athletes, executives, entrepreneurs, attorneys, and politicians. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don’t fall for any of their ‘good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS. ITS A SHAM. NOTHING BUT TAX DEDUCTIBLE PR CRAP. In many cases, the 'charitable' contribution is almost entirely offset. Not to mention the opportunity to plug their name, image, product, and 'good will' all at once. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. These filthy pigs even have the nerve to throw a fit and spin up a misleading defense with regard to 'federal tax revenue'. ITS A SHAM. THEY SCREWED UP THE EQUATION TO BEGIN WITH. If the middle and lower classes had a greater share of the pie, they could easily cover a greater share of the federal tax revenue. They are held down in many ways because of greed. Wages remain stagnant for millions because the executives, celebrities, athletes, attorneys, and entrepreneurs, are paid millions. They over-sell, over-charge, under-pay, outsource, cut jobs, and benefits to increase their bottom line. As their profits rise, so do the stock values. Which are owned primarily by the richest 5%. As more United States wealth rises to the top, the middle and lower classes inevitably suffer. This reduces the potential tax reveue drawn from those brackets. At the same time, it wreaks havok on middle and lower class communities and increases the need for financial aid. Not to mention the spike in crime because of it. There is a dominoe effect to consider. IT CAN'T WORK THIS WAY. But our leaders refuse to acknowledge this. Instead they come up with one trick after another to milk the system and screw the majority. These decisions are heavily influensed by the 1% club. Every year, billions of federal tax dollars are diverted behind the scenes back to the rich and their respective industries. Loans from China have been necessary to compensate in part, for the red ink and multi-trillion dollar transfer of wealth to the rich. At the same time, the feds have been pushing more financial burden onto the states who push them lower onto the cities. Again, the hardship is felt more by the majority and less by the 1% club. The rich prefer to live in exclusive areas or upper class communities. They get the best of everything. Reliable city services, new schools, freshly paved roads, upscale parks, ect. The middle and lower class communities get little or nothing without a local tax increase. Which, they usually can't afford. So the red ink flows followed by service cuts and lay-offs. All because of the OBSCENE distribution of bottom line wealth in this country. So when people forgive the rich for their incredible greed and then praise them for paying a greater share of the FEDERAL income taxes, its like nails on a chalk board. I can not accept any theory that our economy would suffer in any way with a more reasonable distribution of wealth. Afterall, it was more reasonable 30 years ago. Before Reaganomics came along. Before GREED became such an epidemic. Before we had an army of over-paid executives, bankers, celebrities, athletes, attorneys, doctors, investors, entrepreneurs, developers, and sold-out politicians to kiss their asses. As a nation, we were in much better shape. Strong middle class, free and clear assets, lower crime rate, more widespread prosperity, stable job market, lower deficit, ect. Our economy as a whole was much more stable and prosperous for the majority. WITHOUT LOANS FROM CHINA. Now, we have a more obscene distribution of bottom line wealth than ever before. We have a sold-out government, crumbling infrastructure, energy crisis, home forclosure epidemic, 13 figure national deficit, and 12 figure annual shortfall. The cost of living is higher than ever before. Most people can't even afford basic health care. ALL BECAUSE OF GREED. I really don't blame the 2nd -5th percentiles in general. No economy could ever function without some reasonable scale of personal wealth and income. But it can't be allowed to run wild like a mad dog. ALBERT EINSTEIN TRIED TO MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND. UNBRIDLED CAPITALISM ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT WORK. TOP HEAVY ECONOMIES ALWAYS COLLAPSE. Bottom line: The richest 1% will soon tank the largest economy in the world. It will be like nothing we’ve ever seen before. The American dream will be shattered. and thats just the beginning. Greed will eventually tank every major economy in the world. Causing millions to suffer and die. Oprah, Angelina, Brad, Bono, and Bill are not part of the solution. They are part of the problem. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE HUMANITARIAN. EXTREME WEALTH MAKES WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. WITHOUT WORLD PROSPERITY, THERE WILL NEVER BE WORLD PEACE OR ANYTHING EVEN CLOSE. GREED KILLS. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL. Of course, the rich will throw a fit and call me a madman.. Of course, they will jump to small minded conclusions about 'jealousy', 'envy', or 'socialism'. Of course, their ignorant fans will do the same. You have to expect that. But I speak the truth. If you don’t believe me, then copy this entry and run it by any professor of economics or socio-economics. Then tell a friend. Call the local radio station. Re-post this entry or put it in your own words. Be one of the first to predict the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time and explain its cause. WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.

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  14. Congratuations for reaching this insight. You're twenty years late. The next years will be interesting.

    B.

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