Sanity Check Posted December 3, 2023 25 minutes ago, Taomeow said: Both are words that gain meanings only in context. The size of genome that is addressed in the OP (larger vs smaller) presupposes greater complexity -- much like The Iliad possesses greater complexity than a tweet. Whether The Iliad is redundant compared to a tweet... depends on who you ask. Ask among the tweeting generation and it's highly likely you'll get an answer in the affirmative. So?.. To make such a statement, you would have to get a very good handle on what a genome is and what complexity is -- not just in the colloquial sense -- tackle it as a term from complexity theory which presupposes a working understanding of linear and nonlinear algebra, graph theory, probability theory, basic abstract algebra (groups, rings, and fields), basic logic and fuzzy logic -- for starters. I've seen geneticists and mathematicians alike in absolute awe of plant complexity, and yet you used the OP's humble word "complex" as a platform for debunking... what exactly? That plants may possess the kind of complexity which the johnny-come-lately organ of a new and experimental animal species, the neocortex, might still have a hard time comprehending?.. 700 million years of evolutionary success can only be debunked by a matching/exceeding feat. So, let's talk about it again in 700 million years. Ohhhh. Reallllllly? Let me delete my posts and you can be on your merry way, then. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Taomeow Posted December 4, 2023 Boo hoo. Now onward to stranger things. What I find strange -- always -- is the universal response of the masses to being treated like manipulable morons, which boils down to, "if rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy." Not that I ever get my coffee from Starbucks, but if I ever did, I would boycott them now. I will boycott whoever follows suit. Don't know how long I'll still be able to procure basic necessities, but I'll hold out for as long as I can. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
silent thunder Posted December 4, 2023 I appreciate that shite company giving me one more reason to not ever interact with them... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
old3bob Posted December 4, 2023 (edited) dam those bacteria for evolving, and some not so well according to some humans... (so who is to blame?) Edited December 4, 2023 by old3bob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
old3bob Posted December 6, 2023 what no profound comebacks? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nungali Posted December 8, 2023 On 05/12/2023 at 1:24 AM, Taomeow said: Boo hoo. Now onward to stranger things. What I find strange -- always -- is the universal response of the masses to being treated like manipulable morons, which boils down to, "if rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy." Not that I ever get my coffee from Starbucks, but if I ever did, I would boycott them now. I will boycott whoever follows suit. Don't know how long I'll still be able to procure basic necessities, but I'll hold out for as long as I can. AI is gonna be a worse thing . My medical centre closed down , they put fees up and stopped 'bulk billing ' ( ie. they agree to charge only the government Medicare rebate, they process the payment and you pay nothing , OR they charge what they like, you pay it and get a part refund with the rebate ) because they where going broke ( due to all these government regulations ) poor broke doctors ! All I want is my heart meds . I stopped taking them , felt ok , but after a while got headache and thought I'd try going back on . I stopped taking them becasue my prescription ran out . Dont worry, go to 'scripts on line ' - the chemist has to help anyone having difficulty . So I go to the chemist as they are ''Oh dear, you have to keep taking those ." So they give me a phone number . AI 1. " Press 1 for .... 2 for .... " ho hum ... I choose 4 ; speak to a person . She gives me a website address . I go to it and cannot navigate through it on my phone . I go the library and try a computer , it won't access the site . Now the librarian tries . She gets through but the site is unnavigable to us . I go to the chemist and get it back up on my phone . It takes 15 mins. 2 chemist assistants and a chemist to fill out the forms the IT 'doctor' spits up .... the usual question . They get my card details, say payment is confirmed (all 'automatic' ) and then it says first a doctor ( a real one ? ) will call me and my script will be faxed to the chemist . I wait in town for ages , nothing .. Fuck this I went home. That was last friday . No call whatsoever and script faxed . I go back to chemist after the weekend . They say no script in . I ring them, choose option 4 and explain. The person is incompetent and says that is not their field and gives me an email address . I am now supposed to write them a letter ? I do explaining everything . No response . days later I get an automatic email from them asking if I want to fill out a survey about how happy I am with their service . I send them another message explaining further and they respond with an email about how to get my script on line , a lot of advertising about themselves and offer a phone service if you need help as well . Which was the original number I rang in the first place . I sent them a different type of email then . I also asked if I have to take this above their heads . Nah, IT doctor is not at like a real person at all . If he had a son , who hated IT and doctors and dropped out of society and took drugs .... maybe I'd be convinced . However .... IT doctor may be like a real doctor . I have opted to become de-medicated . (So far , we'll see . ... Oh, the headache went away . ) 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Taomeow Posted January 31 Albert Einstein's IQ was 163. Marilyn Monroe's was 168. So much for the dumb blonde. She had about 400 books in her personal library, mostly quality fiction, some nonfiction. She wrote poetry. Here's a few of her poems: *** O, Time Be Kind Help this weary being To forget what is sad to remember Lose my loneliness, Ease my mind, While you eat my flesh. *** Life, I am of both your directions Existing more with the cold frost Strong as a cobweb in the wind Hanging downward the most Somehow remaining Those beaded rays have the colors I've seen in paintings--ah life They have cheated you Thinner than a cobwebs's thread Sheerer than any- But it did attach itself And held fast in strong winds And singed by the leaping hot fires Life - of which at singular times I am of both your directions - Somehow I remain hanging downward the most As both of your directions pull me. *** I left my home of green rough wood, A blue velvet couch. I dream till now A shiny dark bush Just left of the door. Down the walk Clickity clack As my doll in her carriage Went over the cracks- "We'll go far away." *** Don't cry my doll Don't cry I hold you and rock you to sleep Hush hush I'm pretending now I'm not your mother who died. *** The smart one says the eye is not truly round. His are, though, fat with looking. 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
silent thunder Posted February 2 I've longed to hear what Einstein's first wife's IQ was tested at... Many theorize that Einstein and I among them would not have categorized, nor achieved his insights without her input. Given the unlikely position of a woman studying at the leve she did at the time she did. Милева Марић, pronounced [milěːva mǎːritɕ]; 19 December 1875 – 4 August 1948), sometimes called Mileva Marić-Einstein (Милева Марић-Ајнштајн, Mileva Marić-Ajnštajn), was a Serbian physicist, mathematician, and the first wife of Albert Einstein from 1903 to 1919. She was the only woman among Einstein's fellow students at Zürich Polytechnic. Marić and Einstein were study colleagues and lovers 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Taomeow Posted February 2 1 hour ago, silent thunder said: I've longed to hear what Einstein's first wife's IQ was tested at... Many theorize that Einstein and I among them would not have categorized, nor achieved his insights without her input. Given the unlikely position of a woman studying at the leve she did at the time she did. Милева Марић, pronounced [milěːva mǎːritɕ]; 19 December 1875 – 4 August 1948), sometimes called Mileva Marić-Einstein (Милева Марић-Ајнштајн, Mileva Marić-Ajnštajn), was a Serbian physicist, mathematician, and the first wife of Albert Einstein from 1903 to 1919. She was the only woman among Einstein's fellow students at Zürich Polytechnic. Marić and Einstein were study colleagues and lovers Among physicists and mathematicians who knew them personally, there were persistent rumors Albert was plagiarizing, appropriating, and blatantly stealing Mileva's work. (And was twice arrested for brutally beating her.) So much for that other stereotype, The Scientist in Shining Armor. Hedy Lamarr, whose inventions are the foundation of a wide range of modern technologies, notably Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth, was totally disbelieved by those who knew her as a beautiful actress when they learned about her "other side," that of a brilliant technology innovator. Attempts were made to ascribe all her work to picking the brains of her lovers. Who were, you see, men, which should suffice to qualify them for mental feats a woman isn't cut out to pull off. Of course there were many other supersmart women in science and technology who never got a fraction of a percent of recognition their equal-merit male counterparts always did. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
silent thunder Posted February 2 (edited) Hedy Lamarr is one of my heroes. What an incredible mind and polymath she was! She laid much of the foundation of modern tech we all rely on without a second thought these days. I got my son interested in her bio when he was looking for someone to do a project on in middle school, he was blown away. Her life story is absolutely riveting and I'm hoping Coppola or some other savvy director/writer will put her story to the silver screen, it would be fire as the kidz say. The time is ripe to begin shedding light on the unwritten genius women of the last few centuries. I expect Mileva had an unrivaled mind of her age (or ours) and just as Albert used lifted the work of some of the previous generation's minds to formulate his ideas, he relied, borrowed and plagiarized her insights as well. The fact that she was accepted to study at Zurich Polytechnic at the time she was should be a huge clue to folks regarding her exceptional qualities and abilities. Getting through that acceptance board as a woman in those daze is a monumental achievement in itself. Perhaps Albert's nod to her was in giving the Nobel Prize money to her after their split, not just an act to take care of their sons but quietly acknowledging her very real contribution. edit to add: and by Coppola I mean Sophia Edited February 3 by silent thunder 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Taomeow Posted February 2 Bagua City in Eastern China. The only city in China with no traffic lights. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blue eyed snake Posted February 2 wow, thanks for posting 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nungali Posted February 3 ... and I passed 5 of them on the a into town the other day Where there are no intersections ! " Road repairs " .... some should be signed "no repair work is being done hence the road will now stay one lane each way, alternating until .... " . other places they ARE doing the roadwork, but going over new works finished less than a month ago and the line marking done , now all tar sprayed over again ... and new sections being dug up and re-done while old bad ones left to neglect . As some patriots declare : "Well, if ya dont like it , go live in China ! " 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Taomeow Posted February 3 2 hours ago, Nungali said: ... and I passed 5 of them on the a into town the other day Where there are no intersections ! " Road repairs " .... some should be signed "no repair work is being done hence the road will now stay one lane each way, alternating until .... " . other places they ARE doing the roadwork, but going over new works finished less than a month ago and the line marking done , now all tar sprayed over again ... and new sections being dug up and re-done while old bad ones left to neglect . As some patriots declare : "Well, if ya dont like it , go live in China ! " Very familiar. I was running late to an appointment a couple of days ago because roadwork, it stopped me inches away from my destination, well, maybe not inches but two minutes' worth of driving, tops. Doesn't matter... still stuck. Started texting the person I was supposed to meet but her text to me interrupted, saying, "I'm stuck due to roadwork, running late." Whew! In addition, I live in an area of forever red lights. I mean, once it's red, it stays red. Maybe not forever but for a sizable eternity. And also there's a green arrow that allows a left turn, and it's the turn I can't help having to make if I want to get home, so you sit waiting for all the red lights to pass their eternity and then the green arrow... for a split second... I could swear I saw it, right there... but if there's more than two cars in front of you waiting for that arrow, chances are you won't make it. It is on for a split second. And then it's yellow for a nanosecond and then the eternal red light again. But this time it's a bit easier to pass the eternity because now my car is first in line for that green arrow. And there's two more lucky ones behind me whose drivers can relax and just wait, knowing they will make it. But sucker number four... you're shit out of luck, buddy. No soup for you! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nungali Posted February 3 ... or the 'lollipop man ' ( stop / go either side of a sign on a pole operated manually ... or womanually ) gives the go signal for three cars waiting , I am approaching with no cars behind me, the three go through and then he turns the sign to stop .... bastard ! Not 'Mrs Smilie ' though ( Lollipop woman with a huge permanent toothy grin and a wave ) , same situation , she leaves the sign at stop but mimes to me ' Oh , go on then ' and then gets on the radio to her opposite end , I suppose to say ; "...Make that four cars coming through. " AND the nice lollypop lady that looks like 'Big Mum' ( the indigenous ' Genius Loci ' ) .... smile , wave ... enthusiastic wave back and after a few times she ' knows you ' .... waves , now I'm blowing her kisses I'd like to run out and give her a hug and say " Thanks for everything you gave me " .... but that might not go down well ... I think you are supposed to stay in the car and NOT get out and touch hug or kiss the lollipop lady But one cant really complain too much .... when the road does this ; .......... or this , a different location near by ............. Road inspector's car accessing the safety on another section after heavy rain .... fortunately he had left the car to walk down the road a bit for a closer look - in the right direction .... then SHLUMP ! The local upper valley road meets a larger road that goes between towns ( the only way out out basically ) , at the intersection .... a small 'village' and local store . In both directions where land slides blocking the road , and other one's further along that stopped access to machinery needed to clear these ones ( they are not allowed to just push it over the side into the river any more ) . So we where cut off for about a week . It was interesting at the shop , some old unregistered paddock bashers ( cars ) where being used for transport . Parties where happening on the road , people drinking, smoking joints , loud music . . . Wah - hoo ! No one can 'get us' . A helicopter eventually came and landed in the park and people scattered . But it wasnt the police search and destroy (and bust you ) unit - as usual , it was the media wanting to do a story for the news on the 'isolated people ' . No one wanted to talk to them , eventually our lovely Laylarny ( one of the nice young 'shop girls' ) fronted for an interview , I saw her on the news that night - Reporter : " And how is everyone coping " "Well, I have been selling a LOT of alcohol .... as long as supplies hold out its all good . " Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nungali Posted February 3 Regarding Bagua city planning . Walter Burliegh Griffin designed a primitive version for our nation's capitol at Canberra , a sort f 'double one' with some 'ponds' in the middle less traffic light ? Well, no ... ACT Government fixation with traffic lights - Riotact the-riotact.com › act-government-fixation-with-traffic-lights Unfortunately in Canberra the opposite seems to be the norm. Even keeping to the designated speed limit it is usually the case that traffic will come to a halt ... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Master Logray Posted February 3 16 hours ago, Taomeow said: Bagua City in Eastern China. The only city in China with no traffic lights. In Simcity, this type of design wastes space and creates traffic problems. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Taomeow Posted February 3 6 hours ago, Master Logray said: In Simcity, this type of design wastes space and creates traffic problems. Definitely one of the overlords could use that space for his private estate. Why waste it on plebeians? I don't know much about video games but one look at Simcity snapshots told me that they, too, are designed as an instrument of brainwashing. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
silent thunder Posted February 3 This has re-minded me of an insight I read long ago that resonates to this moment... (paraphrasing from memory)_If one does not take steps to sculpt their own thinking process and by regards, their paradigm of reality... then the structure of their society will insinuate itself in and do it for them, utterly and completely 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blue eyed snake Posted February 3 1 hour ago, Taomeow said: I don't know much about video games but one look at Simcity snapshots told me that they, too, are designed as an instrument of brainwashing. My son liked to play one of the early versions as a kid. I remember explaining this to him a bit. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Taomeow Posted February 7 Do you question The Science®™ ?.. Help is on the way. Can't deny progress though. At the time, New and Improved Science was mandatory only for some, and backtracked after having been administered to only 50 000 Americans. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blue eyed snake Posted February 7 it's not even gone, nowadays the call it cingulotomy, which is a 'refined' lobotomy and use it on people with severe OCD https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10193485/ 1 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
old3bob Posted February 7 (edited) 2 hours ago, Taomeow said: Do you question The Science®™ ?.. Help is on the way. Can't deny progress though. At the time, New and Improved Science was mandatory only for some, and backtracked after having been administered to only 50 000 Americans. sticking someone in the head with an awl has been been updated to chemical lobotomy starting with primitive anti-depressant's which evolved into newer and fancier names which more or less do the same damage. (I'm not an md. so do your own research on it) Edited February 7 by old3bob 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
liminal_luke Posted February 7 (edited) 2 hours ago, Taomeow said: Do you question The Science®™ ?.. Help is on the way. Can't deny progress though. At the time, New and Improved Science was mandatory only for some, and backtracked after having been administered to only 50 000 Americans. My partner's psychiatrist suggested that if Jose's current drug regimen doesn't work the next step would be electroconvulsive therapy, which he described as a "very good treatment." Perhaps the doc is right. I might be overly influenced by One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Next. Still, I can't help but think that this is the modern version of a lobotomy. (Fortunately it doesn't look like it will be necessary -- whew.) Edited February 7 by liminal_luke 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
old3bob Posted February 7 (edited) 8 minutes ago, liminal_luke said: My partner's psychiatrist suggested that if Jose's current drug regimen doesn't work the next step would be electroconvulsive therapy, which he described as a "very good treatment." Perhaps the doc is right. I might be overly influenced by One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Next. Still, I can't help but think that this is the modern version of a lobotomy. (Fortunately it doesn't like it will be necessary -- whew.) did you ever look into that particular shrink i suggested a long time back? Btw there are several good FYI books on the potential dangers of what your present shrink is talking about! I wouldn't trust most shrinks who just give a prescription and then its hit or miss per their ignorance. Edited February 7 by old3bob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites