First, Einstein was right. Then he was wrong. Then he was right due to a loose wire. Now he may have been wrong due to an oscillator. Many of us would just throw up our hands and say everything is relative with Einstein, but scientists at OPERA say that a second equipment problem may have led to a too conservative reading of the 730-kilometer journey of the neutrinos reported by the European Organization for Nuclear Research or CERN.
The oscillator is used to provide time stamps to synchronize the GPS systems which measure the travel time. The scientists believe that the oscillator problem may have canceled out the cable problem . . . and that the little neutrinos did move faster than the speed of light — beyond the cosmic speed barrier of 186,282 miles per second (299,792 kilometers per second). That would contradict Einstein’s theory. So I guess we have to treat Einstein like a big dummy again . . . absent another loose cable or spilled coffee cup.
I am just waiting for a finding that neutrinos are sentient with a wicked sense of humor . . . and hovering around 299,791 kilometers per second just to mess with us.
Source: CBC
raff, I once hosted a party and took a chance on making Fish House Punch. I put my own twist on this very old recipe. Fish House Punch may be the oldest mixed drink recipe from the Colonies. It is a LOT stronger than the initial sips will make you think. Really good stuff to serve at a party.
Elaine and OS,
I am getting thirsty reading about your “recipes”!
Blouise, you can cut out the middleman. I will tell Gene to give you my contact information.
Look forward to the recipe. My daughter is 23 and has had to do a lot of growing up since last March. One of them is learning to cook. We lost Reed in March and her mother September 17. She has had to take over a lot of things she had been taking for granted. She is a good kid. Just finished her Associates Degree and now wants to go to the Police Academy. I have mixed feelings about that but she really wants to become a deputy sheriff. She has the temperament, but has a lot to learn about life. She is a Daddy’s girl from the gitgo and fusses at me when I do not do the things I should.
OS,
Took a bit to watch my DVR’d Justified and take in a little of the nectar to help my receding lower lip recover from the gentle touches of my dentist.
Yes, I have a couple good casserole recipes but one killer recipe for lasagna sauce which I will forward to Gene on Saturday and he can send on to you. (Has to wait till Saturday as the baby is coming Thursday AM and staying through Friday PM … a three year old is not conducive to quiet time on the computer.)
I can not abide scotch over ice … “upbringing” such as you describe.
A hug to your daughter for tending so well to her dad.
I think I’ll give Elaine’s smash a try on Sunday … if it’s anything like her cake … she should publish that recipe again.
The only liquor I don’t like is gin.
Gene, some folks remind me of various kinds of musical instruments. Now Bron is no different. He reminds me of my instrument I have propped up here by my knee. My didgeridoo. It is tuned to D#. That’s it. One note. Now one can make it do different voices, but they are all still in D#. The didgeridoo is a one note drone. The main difference between Bron and my didge is that playing the didge is relaxing and a form of meditation. Bron? Not so much.
Bron,
I’ve quite well demonstrated that I not only understand logic, but I can tactically and strategically deploy it as well. Let’s examine what you’ve demonstrated up to this point.
1) An inability to argue without resorting to numerous logical fallacies.
2) A willingness to make up terminology as it suits your purpose; a form of intellectual dishonesty.
3) An inability to properly comprehend source material and/or a willingness to distort source materials to conform to your prejudices and confirmation biases rooted in your religion (Objectivism) and your religion’s economic voodoo of choice (the Austrian School).
4) A marked tendency to project your intellectual failings upon others.
5) A tenacity and self-confidence that does not match your innate talent (or lack thereof) for intellectual pursuits such as arguing social sciences like law, politics or economics.
You’re not only a pseudo-intellectual, Bron. You’re so stupid you think you’re smart. Don’t tell me I don’t understand logic. Prove. It. I care about proof. Your opinion, entitled to it as you are, is meaningless given your persistent failing to make arguments of substantive merit. Just telling me I don’t understand logic isn’t the same thing as me illustrating that you don’t. I understand logic just fine. That’s how I demonstrated that you don’t. You argue like a spoiled child. When you cannot win you resort to some lippier version of “I know you are but what am I” or “Uh uh” or “You just don’t understand”.
Grow up.
Do you want people to respect your arguments? To adopt your positions?
Earn it. Earn it by demonstrating true knowledge and logic. Like I did and do. Not half-knowledge and fallacious logic like you do. That earns you ridicule and mockery, which is precisely what you get.
Then again, you’ve said on a couple of occasions that you don’t care about people respecting your arguments or adopting your positions. You’re not here to win an argument by your own admission. Which leads to the question of why you are here. Trolling? Masochism? Blind stupidity? Some pathological disorder that compels you to make a fool of yourself? Maybe that blind arrogance that you are the center of the universe that most Objectivists are plagued with?
Why don’t you tell us Bron why you are here.
We know how you are: illogical, intellectually dishonest when not simply misinformed, and tediously dogmatic in adhering to any false premise that props up your ego.
But why are you here, Bron?
What do you get from having your positions shredded and your failings pointed out time and again?
As to Bdaman? He does actually know and understand some things. Climate isn’t one of them, however, he has his bright spots. Bright spots you yourself have never demonstrated. Bright spots that have earned him a level of respect here you’ll never achieve despite his obvious climate denier trollery. His climate arguments never fly, but it’s not through the fault of his presentation, but rather his material. When he’s got good material, he can make good points and without resorting to logical fallacies and half-knowledge. You, on the other hand, argue like a spastic monkey on PCP and absinthe who gets his information from fortune cookies, sugar packets at Denny’s and a 1955 set of Encyclopedia Britannica that’s missing 19 letters and the index volume.
Now on to really important subjects . . .
Did somebody say mojito?
I’m a big fan of the mojito. I have been since before they were cool even. I had a buddy in college who was/is a poli sci professor specializing in Central/South America and the Caribbean who turned me on to them. Mojitos taste great and properly mixed won’t give you an evil hangover despite the sugar content (the water volume seems to be enough to offset the dehydration).
Elaine, I like rum. In fact, rum was my wife’s favorite drink and she was partial to daiquiris. She did not like whiskey at all. I would love to try you mojito.
Otteray,
There’s a wonderful restaurant in the city where I live. The bartenders are exceptional. One of them gave me his recipe for that bourbon smash drink that he invented. I then adapted it–and created my own version of it.
We New Englanders aren’t as staid and repressed as some people might think.
P.S. I make a great mojito too. I got the recipe from a bartender in Stowe, Vermont.
Sandy Kofax fast ball? I used to work with a guy named Ted Savage. Outfielder and pinch hitter with St. Louis. He got some hits off Kofax. Ted did not seem to be all that impressed with Sandy Kofax.
As far a Bdaman being smarter than me? He is and he is smarter than both of you as well.
At least I know he is smarter than I am, so what does that make you guys?
He kicks your collective asses on Global Warming all over this blog, I dont know why you bother trying to out climate him. You guys are like a tempest in a toilet and Bdaman is a category 5 hurricane.
He is probably doing it with one hand while drinking a beer and talking to his mother. Like a cat toying with his food before he eats it.
Hitting a Sandy Kofax fast ball would be easier than arguing with Bdaman on climate change.
That sounds more like a good Southern recipe than something out of that librul New England part of the country.
One of my Scottish friends told me of the time when his grandfather decided it was time for him to learn to drink. He was about twelve or thirteen at the time. They went out to the barn and the old man brought out a bottle of single malt whisky. He poured my friend a small shot and added a bit of water from the spring. Then he told the kid that if he ever caught him putting ice in good Scotch whisky, “Laddie, ye will be no kin of mine ‘n I weel cut ye out o’ me will.”
My friend is an old man himself now, but still drinks his Scotch straight up with no ice.
Otteray,
I make a mean bourbon smash. I muddle fresh lemon slices in a cocktail shaker. I add bourbon and a little simple syrup and shake. Then pour I it over ice into mug and top off with club soda. Very refreshing.
I have decided I need a new hobby. I am considering taking up drinking. Now to choose. I have some good single malt, some Kentucky bourbon and some Jack Daniels. We seem to be out of wine, but I do have a bottle of amaretto.
Blouise, at this point, interruptions are welcome.
My daughter made a great chicken casserole for dinner this evening. She wants to make sure I eat healthy, so it was loaded with veggies. Carrots, celery, English peas and whole sweet corn.
Do you have any good casserole recipes?
(This is OT and to bda only … do you remember last year when I told you we kinda skipped Fall as the leaves stayed green on the trees well into Oct and then just kind of shriveled up and dropped off? You said you had no idea why it would happen like that and I didn’t know either. Well … the general consensus coming out of the science departments at the local universities in this area (10 in number) is that it had to do with sunlight … too much sunlight lasting longer than usual. Just thought you’d be interested)
Carry on and please excuse the interruption.
Bron
Gene H:
you use logic you just dont understand it, kind of like a cat using a toilet.
============================================
What?! That made no sense.
(I’m following this debate as a lurker)
Bdaman, I am very busy trying to do a rewrite on a 750 page book and do not have the time to fiddle with the details of this issue but will address a couple.
For starters, we are throwing an enormous amount of chemicals into the atmosphere that are not fossil fuels. Chlorofluorocarbons as well as chlorine and bromine compounds, for example, are known to deplete ozone. Rain forests are being depleted at an alarming rate. There are gasses in the atmosphere put there by humans that do not belong there, some of which have the effect of trapping heat. I agree completely that getting CO2 levels down is a good goal, but it does not need to be the ONLY goal. We can and should be doing a hell of a lot more.
Ever read Paul Erlich’s book, The Population Bomb? He pointed out what some of the problem would be more than forty years ago.
Gene H:
you use logic you just dont understand it, kind of like a cat using a toilet.
OS,
True that.
“There are a huge number of things that can be done to reduce global climate change.”
Seriously ? what are they. I’d like to hear about them instead of the we must stop burning fossil fuels as the number one cure all. I know about planting more trees so give me more.
“and the simplistic goal of getting it below a certain magical number and then everything else will fall into place is the scientific equivalent of whistling past the graveyard.”
again Seriously? http://www.350.org/ 350 means safety from the climate crisis.
To preserve our planet, scientists tell us we must reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere from its current level of 392 parts per million (“ppm”)to below 350 ppm. But 350 is more than a number—it’s a symbol of where we need to head as a planet.
At 350.org, we’re building a global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis and push for policies that will put the world on track to get to 350 ppm.
O.S. the five questions are simple enough and general enough that they are accepted as true. I’ll post five more but won’t count you as a player.