Bill Angel

Interesting remark about the properties of steam in the book "A Different Universe: Reinventing Physics from the Bottom Down" by Robert Laughlin (Chapter 4, Water Ice and Vapor): This is an excellent thought provoking book on a wide range of topics in physics. Dr Laughlin received the Nobel Pize in Physics in 1998.

I only read the abstract, but one statement in it is worth commenting on: "The equation is identical with a time-independent Schrodinger equation but incorporates elements of finance" I'm skeptical of time-independent equations accurately quantifying risk in the financial markets. For example, no time independent equations would have quantified the risk of the effects on the markets of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks BEFORE the attacks occurred, or of the more recent melt down in the real estate markets.

That's calculus, which facilitates the computation of volumes from thin 2 dimensional slices.

This recent article seemed relevant to this discussion: Scientists can implant false memories into mice http://bbcco.uk/news/science-environment-23447600

Birds exhibit similar precotial behavior. Ducklings will be swimming and feeding on their own within 24 hours of hatching.

Judging from what you say about your interests and approach to understanding mathematics, you should investigate if you haven't already the application of group theory and symmetry principles to physics and chemistry. There are a lot of videos on the subject at YouTube that are worth checking out.

The issues concerning the validity of memories is sometimes conceptualized as the Rashomon Effect. For example see The Rashomon effect- the psychology of relationships http://www.effectivepsychotherapy.net/2011/11/psychology-of-relationships/

Live cats always land on their feet. Dead cats don't. So if that cat belongs to Schrodinger it's unclear what the system will do if you put it inside of a box (while the cat is alive ) and then don't look at it.

I'm currently reading The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. Considerable criticism has been directed at the work over the novel's historical inaccuracies. In reading the book I came across this passage which, from a scientific standpoint, also seems to be fictional rather than based on scientific plausibility (Chapter 6): I guess that the idea here is that manta rays somehow use some phenomena based on quantum entanglement to navigate under water. It would be quite a shock if his idea turned out to be true. ;-)

I would agree with your assertions, and would suggest another additional set of circumstances. If a member of a family became injured or ill, knowledge about how treat the injury or illness would be of value in enhancing survival. Both language and memory would be essential in the development of that body of knowledge usually termed "folk medicine", and for passing that knowledge on to other members of the tribe.

What you describe sounds like a good strategy, but it does have dangerous side effects and risks: See http://www.cfr.org/weapons-of-mass-destruction/loose-nukes/p9549

Edward Snowden, Russia's Honored Guest?

There was a bad infestation of small insects in the house that I live in. I found that flypaper was very effective in controlling their presence until the return of cold weather killed them off. Not to let a "photo op"" go to waste I made a short video of the insects stuck to the flypaper and set to music.

I have not used them, but there are companies that market applications for smartphones that encrypt voice communications. For example http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2013/06/06/552569/10035480/en/Kryptos-Voice-Encryption-App-for-iPhone-Android-and-BlackBerry-Achieves-Distribution-Milestone-in-Over-100-Countries-Worldwide.htmlIf the product lives up to the claims made in the company's press release, users have a way to protect themselves from some forms of Government snooping.

I was in graduate school at the time, as was he. I chose to work with someone else, rather than with him, to prepare to take a PhD qualifying exam in Physics. So I assume that he resented that. I did pass the exam, in spite of his interference.

There is I think an interesting issue concerning what constitutes an "unresonable search and seizure". If warrants are issued based upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, what should be the result if the basis for the search, the "oath or affirmation" is a lie? Some years ago while I was driving I was pulled over by the police who requested to see my license and registration. To make trouble for me someone (I have a pretty good idea of who it was) had reported to the police that my car had been stolen, hence the police believed that I was the driver of a stolen automobile. The police had "invaded my privacy" by pulling me over and requesting identification from me based on perjured testimony. So what recourse should someone have if a malicious individual files a false report with the police claiming that you are a terrorist bomber, and the police then search your home, car, and internet activity looking for some evidence? Should that malicious individual be charged with perjury, even if no charges are brought against you based on this individual's malicious police report?

You mentioned "The pimply dude who admins the server at the local ISP can login with his master admin credentials and read my emails, or my tweets, or my posts, or my text messages...." Thirty years ago I worked as a contractor for the National Security Agency, doing system admin work at their headquarters at Ft Meade Maryland. I had "master admin credentials" and could, along with the other members in the admin group, access everything stored on NSA's computers. This situation WAS a source of concern and discussion at the Agency, but the Agency's section chief for computer support, to whom the contractors reported, defended the practice on the grounds that the system admin personnel needed such access to do their jobs effectively. We all had Top Secret clearances, and the philosophy was that you should select people for these jobs that you could trust, and then empower them with the tools and access that they needed to get the job done. So this fellow Edward Snowden could be viewed from one perspective as forcing an issue public that has been of concern to NSA for at least 30 years.

Prolonged heavy use of caffeine is also known to cause chronic insomnia, the ensuing sleep deprivation may then be source of psychotic-like symptoms. But then the question becomes as to whether experiencing the hallucinations of a psychotic is the desired objective of your experiment.

What did the mother die of? If you are concerned about genetic factors in choosing a mate, you might first consider what afflictions the child could be susceptible to inheriting, given family history of the mother AND the father.

Suggested design for Wine Bottle. I made a shot of the two football fans standing together (right) at the tailgate party before the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Giants on Dec 23, 2012 at the Ravens Stadium. Their "20 20" jersey number designations (the player number of Ed Reed) reminded me of the brand of inexpensive wine. This bottle sells for $4.99 for 750ml, and is advertised online for $3.99 a bottle. As the Baltimore Ravens haven't yet designated an "Official Wine" for games and for tailgate parties, perhaps this will have to do?. ;-) Come to think of it, the production of wine is a branch of Applied Chemistry!

I would disagree on that point. Sleep is not comparable to mental nonexistence, because we dream while we sleep. An interesting topic to investigate and consider is that of "lucid dreaming".And as you may be aware, a well used method of torture is that of sleep deprivation, which works by depriving the brain of the opportunity of engaging in certain sleep related activity, and not by depriving the brain of the opportunity to simply shut down.

I realize that the issue is whether we would be better off not being born, not why one should not commit suicide, but what Carl Jung had to say may still provide food for thought: http://www.nautis.com/2006/04/jungs-statements-about-suicide/

Was it better for the Earth that all the dominant dinosaurs went extinct? It would be ironic I think if the Earth suffered another mass extinction event like the one that wiped out the dinosaurs, and 65 million years after THAT event the non human sentient beings that subsequently evolved asked that same question.

There are plenty of homeless people in the USA who have nothing to look forward to but death. I would think that eliminating homelessness would rank higher as a positive social goal than lengthening peoples' lifespans.

Here is an observation by Carl Jung on this subject: Self Portrait with Woman on a Pedestal