The Lounge

So where exactly was the gong invented? Some people say China, but here's what's confused me about it. I've seen gongs depicted in works of fiction as being used by not just in China or Japan, but also in Polynesian cultures, South American cultures, India, the Middle East and North Africa. Most of those cultures are further away from China, yet the gong seems perfectly at home in them.

Hi all, My car has a rather unique paint job, it's a bright pink and white marble effect (I will try to post a picture at some point) but on sunny days it seems to attract small flies. Could this be due to it reflecting More UV than normal cars? I would appreciate your input. Thanks, Al

Hi all I'm Denise, a 14 year old from Singapore. I've decided to start exposing myself to more advanced Sciences and I was thinking of starting by reading scientific journals/magazines.. I've been reading Yale Scientific Magazine, but I was thinking if anyone had any suggestions for me to subscribe to a monthly magazine/journal. I'm more of a biology student, but I wouldn't mind physics at all since I just want exposure to deeper Sciences. So please recommend me some journals/magazines! Thank you

For all the pessimists, the misanthropes, the cynics, the mathematicians, the people who think there is no meaning of life... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz5xoIoomz4 Feel free to write your proposed equations for this one (I'm not trying to be a dick here, I am some of the above, and this song makes me feel better about life)

I hear people say some times he or she has a southern US accent ..So I'm trying to understand what makes the southern US accent stand out.People say in southern US accent they talk slow and have deeper voice . Also anyone know any movies with female or male with southern US accent that may help me understand what the southern US accent sounds like?

What is the name of the song above? I really like the song but don't know what it's called but the person singing it sounds American so some of the people here may know. Thought I'd open this thread to check whether anybody knows. Do you like this song?

Does anyone know where I could watch "the innocence of Muslims"? The trailer was hilariously funny. Has it even came out for public viewing yet?

I just wanted to ask anyone if they think the word pomegranate looks suspiciously similar to permanganate. when rearranged, they look like: PERMANGANATE PERMANGA O TE Pomegranate is just missing NA and has an extra O. Is this more than just a coincidence? Is it because they are both purple and messy? Was the permanganate ion first found in pomegranates? Is there any permanganate in pomegranates? Or is it just a coincidence?

Hi, In the social setting, is it better to give fake smiles or not smile at all? How do you react when somebody gives you fake smiles and you know that they are fake? How does your reaction differ with someone who is honest and genuine but does not give fake smiles? Who would you prefer to befriend? Thanks

What are peoples' opinions of international students leaving the developing world to study in the developed world and then staying there permanently? This happens very often in Australia. Many students come from China, Malaysia, Vietnam and many other countries to settle permanently in Australia/UK/USA/Europe. What are your thoughts about people who do this? Overall, is this a good thing? And as the developing world develops a solid middle class, what is it that is stopping them from taking over? Overall, is this a good thing? Any thoughts???

There was a somewhat humorous incident reported recently in the newspapers. See Drunk tourist falls asleep on airport baggage belt and passes through powerful X-ray machine The second incident reported in the article doesn't sound so humorous, in that a young infant was deliberately sent through an airport's baggage screening x ray machine by its not too bright parents. One does wonder whether either of these people, the child in particular, will suffer lasting effects from the exposure to the radiation.

Hi, i was wondering what number (or number code etc) you put in front of a mobile number to contact someone in the US ? Thanks.

There's an inherent flaw to asking why scientists are reluctant to accept new ideas. First of all, the question is poorly reasoned, as many scientists are excited about new possibilities. An obvious example of this is the search for life on Mars and of exploring the unknown. Also, there is a difference between someone just accepting a new claim blindly and someone willing to explore the validity of a testable claim. So might a better question to ask be, why scientists are reluctant to explore untested claims? Not really. That still makes an assumption that is contradicted by the passion in scientific exploration; but it's also closer to being on…

I'm not from the US so I'm trying to get a sense for this, is the name "Sidney" (as a first name) associated with Jews? Is it a strong association in the sense tha if someone is called Sidney you would assume the person is Jewish? I get the sense that the name is associated with older Jewish gents, is that right? What would a person in the US think about someone with this name who is in his early twenties? I always get surpirsed by the association in US of some names with specific ethnicities, so I'm curious about this stuff. EDIT: I'm referring to the name as used for men.

I'm reposting this from a post made long ago in a thread not far away: One philosophical thought I'd like to contribute, which I suspect many in this community might already privately harbor, is that mathematics which detail existence is reducible far beyond its usual framework into very simple components. One reference I can point to is E=mc2. I believe all mathematics can achieve this simplicity or better. However, if even one variable were off, an increase of complication ripples through the framework until it nears its current state. The variable I mentioned has many faces. Conclusive evidence is one -- and what if it turns out to be incorrect? When E…

Meanwhile, on Mars.....)) http://d2tq98mqfjyz2l.cloudfront.net/image_cache/1345240175754344.jpg

Don't you wish your molecular biology was taught like this. Personally, I find it funny as hell.

Hi, I was wondering whether has any ideas whether laughter clubs really work. http://www.laughterclubsvic.org/ Basically, it's just this thing where you meet up with people regularly to laugh together for no particular reason. Could it be the secret to happiness? What are the latest scientific evidence suggesting? Would you give laughter clubs a go?

Hey science community. I need some help with a new app i just released called Geek Units. It's mainly a satirical app that takes normal currencies, lengths, times, etc. and converts them to fictional units like Galactic Credits, Zelda Rupees, Cubits, Trogan meters, etc. I've used a ton of regular units, but could use some really obscure units from science fiction, video games or any other little known, but interesting units. For example i use the little known unit the Smoot which was created with an MIT fraternity took to measuring the length of the bridge using a frat brother as the measuring stick. Anybody have any help for me?

Many science fiction based television shows have been on over the years, some better than others but most are set in their own universe. Which ones are your favorites and if you can explain why. If you want rate them in order of most favorite to least.

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