Richard Robertson

I’ve learned to not join the masses who click on something just because Google recommends it. Out of a matter of principle now, I also don’t click on titles with superlative phrases, or even something like “The REAL truth about blah blah”, unless I’m familiar with the source. These days I often only see maybe one title out of twenty five that…[Read more]

Unseen wrote:
Is the only solution to go third-party, which in today’s world may hand the election over to the GOP’s proto-dictator?

Culture’s changed quite a lot and unpredictably since the Constitution was written. Gerrymandering and other processes enable two parties alone to run all politics, recently even packing SCOTUS by the most cur…[Read more]

michael17 wrote:
The scientific  explanation could be as simple as: It ‘s due to dark matter,  even that would be suspected of fine tuning.

Yeah I thought of that too… which is why my attention went to JWST as the instrument to more precisely measure orbital dynamics in other planetary systems.

I think probably the notion of “fine tuning” wil…[Read more]

ChatGPT gave me a great explanation of planetary orbital dynamics, including interactions, but got wishy-washy on what scientific consensus is on how well Lyapunov time calculations can explain very long time frames, or the future of planetary orbits. In the article you cited, I also didn’t see any strong support for, or strong arguments against…[Read more]

jakelafort wrote:
Bowerbirds for instance are fascinating.

Wow I’m so glad I didn’t delete a 150-day or so old tab before watching that awesome video! (Don’t ask.)

I can’t dance, but it’s about time I admit how important strutting one’s stuff can be in some human mating rituals. (I just got lucky.)

Unseen wrote:
Here is their song “Martirio” (Martyr) which looks to me like a candidate for a classic rock anthem. It’s one of their Spanish language songs.

I couldn’t easily find an official translation from the band, so I went to ChatGPT, which seems to agree with other comments I saw. They’re talking to a martyr or all martyrs? Focusing on th…[Read more]

Thanks a lot Unseen, you just cost me a couple of hours. Where’s our musician @Robert? He should be here by now, mocking our obsession.

I wanted to post a longer, more relevant response, but don’t want to take attention away from Sunday School.

TheEncogitationer wrote:
Apologies on the misspelling of “Randee of the Redwoods.

NP. IMO typos are insignificant IRL. I even catch myself mixing up their they’re and there, strangely only in quick, shorthand texting mediums. YMMV. Some language perfectionists must feel uncomfortably challenged by these episodes of cultural e…[Read more]

Unseen wrote:
Can’t wait to enjoy this song in a professionally-done version either “official video” or “live” if they can do another live recording at the same level of quality as their Teatro Metropolitan recordings.

I dislike audience audio so much, I’ll wait for a professional version. It seems the main reason they get posted must be to rel…[Read more]

Michael17, Science is about postulates and theories based, respectively, on contingent interpretations of observations, and on the latest and most verifiable evidence. This is also how the science of medicine works; In the long run, in spite of previous beliefs and incorrectly purported proofs, demonstrably successful treatments of ailments and…[Read more]

TheEncogitationer wrote:
Randy of the Redwoods word-salad schtick

jakelafort wrote:
Word salad schtick? I resemble that remark.

Michael17, I hope you can forgive this diversion. I will come back to your topic shortly.

I had to look up Randy. (AKA/actually “Randee”.) My family missed out on a lot of programs like that, since we hardly ever…[Read more]