Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Interesting Stuff Thread

Options
1…176177179181182…219

Comments

  • Options
    #5342
    KomradeBishop
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,981 ✭✭✭KomradeBishop


    Really interesting article by economics professor Brian M. Lucey here, on how economics courses may - in their current (in my view, deeply flawed) form - cause students to (or self-select for students that) carry negative behaviours, such as being more selfish, less charitable, and less compassionate - as well as valuing the 'market pricing mechanism' (i.e. 'free markets') above all other methods of pricing:
    http://brianmlucey.wordpress.com/2014/10/26/is-teaching-economics-doing-more-harm-than-good

    Did a thread on it here too:
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057316894


  • Options
    #5343
    robindch
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,399 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    A summary of the leading theories and ideas concerning the cognitive side of religion:

    http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Cognitive-Science-of-Religion


  • Options
    #5344
    robindch
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,399 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    Scientists develop - I lick my lips as the words leave my mouth - hangover-free beer:

    http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/hangover-free-beer-anyone

    Science - fixing god's mistakes!


  • Options
    #5345
    legspin
    Registered Users Posts: 1,018 ✭✭✭legspin


    https://richarddawkins.net/2014/10/mammals-might-have-slept-through-dino-destroyer/

    A good snooze can't be beaten seemingly,


  • Options
    #5346
    Hotblack Desiato
    Registered Users Posts: 34,039 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    robindch wrote: »
    Scientists develop - I lick my lips as the words leave my mouth - hangover-free beer

    Mmm, electrolytes. The volunteers can't be up to much if they couldn't taste the difference, and 'light beer' is, as the old joke goes, like sex in a canoe...

    Sports drink and vodka for the same effect maybe?? sounds a bit more palatable anyway. Congeners and dehydration are the main culprits for hangovers, not the alcohol itself.

    Life ain't always empty.



  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #5347
    MrPudding
    Registered Users Posts: 9,788 ✭✭✭MrPudding


    Or you could man the fcuk up and just not have hangovers.

    MrP


  • Options
    #5348
    KomradeBishop
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,981 ✭✭✭KomradeBishop


    Great rediscovered article from Isaac Asimov, on intellectual creativity, and how it is fostered and stifled:
    http://www.technologyreview.com/view/531911/isaac-asimov-asks-how-do-people-get-new-ideas/

    I find the bit on how it's stifled, particularly interesting - that people needing to feel comfortable airing ideas in a sympathetic environment, where they can make mistakes without censure, can mean that creativity is stifled when there's an unsympathetic reaction to this.

    That's an interesting way of looking at it - and it fits so well in discussion of political/economic issues, where almost anything unorthodox is treated dismissively.


  • Options
    #5349
    KomradeBishop
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,981 ✭✭✭KomradeBishop


    Another old article, that I rediscovered while writing a reply to someone; 'Why We Curse' - Steven Pinker on swearing, its religious origins/roots, why it's offensive, and why it's a valued art/skill - really excellent article:
    http://www.newrepublic.com/article/politics/what-the-f


  • Options
    #5350
    robindch
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,399 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    Some notable clustersucks aside, the world is becoming a better and better place in which to be alive.

    http://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/opinion/view/274

    And the website:

    http://www.ourworldindata.org/


  • Options
    #5351
    Hotblack Desiato
    Registered Users Posts: 34,039 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    No, no, not true, according to the religious types the world is in a state of chassis and things are getting worse and worse - and why would they lie...?

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=92436567&postcount=203 :rolleyes:

    Life ain't always empty.



  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #5352
    Brian Shanahan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,232 ✭✭✭Brian Shanahan


    Hotblack Desiato wrote: »
    No, no, not true, according to the religious types the world is in a state of chassis and things are getting worse and worse - and why would they lie...?

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=92436567&postcount=203 :rolleyes:

    Not enough smilies in that linked post. Someone must have hacked his account.


  • Options
    #5353
    CramCycle
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,497 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    MrPudding wrote: »
    Or you could man the fcuk up and just not have hangovers.

    MrP

    Damn straight, on a family night out, my uncle declared the next morning that hangovers were a sign of a weak mind and laziness. I wanted to chip in my thoughts on the subject but I figured he was probably just not sober yet so left him to his beliefs, I am tolerant like that.


  • Options
    #5354
    sbsquarepants
    Registered Users Posts: 11,812 ✭✭✭✭sbsquarepants


    Hotblack Desiato wrote: »
    'light beer' is, as the old joke goes, like sex in a canoe...

    .

    I've never actually heard that one, how does it go?


  • Options
    #5355
    legspin
    Registered Users Posts: 1,018 ✭✭✭legspin


    sbsquarepants wrote: »
    I've never actually heard that one, how does it go?
    Fúcking close to water.


  • Options
    #5356
    Brian Shanahan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,232 ✭✭✭Brian Shanahan


    CramCycle wrote: »
    Damn straight, on a family night out, my uncle declared the next morning that hangovers were a sign of a weak mind and laziness. I wanted to chip in my thoughts on the subject but I figured he was probably just not sober yet so left him to his beliefs, I am tolerant like that.

    I'm going back on the sauce, and leaving the wheels at home, myself. The head I've on me the morning after a few rock shandies is like a mule's arse, way worse than after even the worst benders of my uni days.


  • Options
    #5357
    lynski
    Registered Users Posts: 1,585 ✭✭✭lynski


    legspin wrote: »
    Fúcking close to water.

    Lol! I thought it meant sounds like a good idea at the time but you just end up a bit wobbly and frustrated


  • Options
    #5358
    CramCycle
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,497 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    Brian Shanahan wrote: »
    I'm going back on the sauce, and leaving the wheels at home, myself. The head I've on me the morning after a few rock shandies is like a mule's arse, way worse than after even the worst benders of my uni days.

    My old flatmate was a Lucozade man, would be sprinting up and down the streets high 5ing strangers after a heavy night. He would be a wreck in the morning, couldn't abide by that tee total behaviour myself. Everyone should be allowed sugar and carbonated drinks when they go out, but should do so responsibly, its the ones who can't say "thats enough" who make a show of themselves.


  • Options
    #5359
    robindch
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,399 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    Researchers demonstrate non-invasive brain to internet to brain interface:

    http://www.washington.edu/news/2014/11/05/uw-study-shows-direct-brain-interface-between-humans/

    Many more uses suggest themselves.


  • Options
    #5360
    CramCycle
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,497 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    robindch wrote: »
    Many more uses suggest themselves.

    Having more intelligent partners in multiplayer FPS.


  • Options
    #5361
    gaynorvader
    Registered Users Posts: 1,630 ✭✭✭gaynorvader


    CramCycle wrote: »
    Having more intelligent partners in multiplayer FPS.

    Don't be ridiculous, they're using human brains.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #5362
    Shrap
    Registered Users Posts: 3,163 ✭✭✭Shrap


    robindch wrote: »
    Many more uses suggest themselves.

    "Legitimate" kills in real life wars? By the President/King/Dictator's own thought processes, rather than the poor sap misfortunate drone who fires the trigger on command?

    Or is that a bit cynical?


  • Options
    #5363
    robindch
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,399 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    Shrap wrote: »
    robindch wrote: »
    Many more uses suggest themselves.
    "Legitimate" kills in real life wars? By the President/King/Dictator's own thought processes, rather than the poor sap misfortunate drone who fires the trigger on command?
    Well, while death by proxy has been used by leaders since the time when the first demagogue met the first fool, I had more in mind some more -- uh -- fun stuff.

    'specially if the interface runs in both directions :o


  • Options
    #5364
    CramCycle
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,497 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    robindch wrote: »
    'specially if the interface runs in both directions :o

    Won't work, trying to concentrate on what you want the other person to do to themselves without tactile feedback and have them in a fit state to do vice versa.

    Weak link here is the other person, the internet solved this years ago by having you not need another person there, hell, I think I solved this problem before I even knew the internet existed.


  • Options
    #5365
    recedite
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,993 ✭✭✭✭recedite


    I'm sceptical about it. Firstly the success rate as reported is about 25-83%, which is about the same success I have when I flick a coin and telepathically "command" it to land heads up :pac:
    Secondly, the guy says the (very scientific looking) wires connecting the two brains are based on electroencephalogy.
    Suppose they are detecting an electromagnetic spike emanating from one brain, and then converting that into a single signal; either on or off. That is the equivalent of one single transistor switch, or a single piece of information in 0/1 binary code. I would be more impressed if the receiver guy was performing a number of different functions, or picked up on something that had not been explained in advance.
    This one signal is apparently being amplified or transmitted to the receiving brain, which already knows what action to perform on receiving the stimulus. That is a far cry from sending real information.
    It could possibly be used as the basis for equipment to enable a paralysed person to remotely operate a buzzer to summon assistance, but not much else.


  • Options
    #5366
    Hotblack Desiato
    Registered Users Posts: 34,039 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29996872
    A group of Italian scientists convicted of manslaughter for failing to predict a deadly earthquake have had the verdict quashed.

    The seven men had been given six-year jail sentences after an earthquake devastated the medieval town of L'Aquila in 2009, killing 309 people.

    The verdict triggered alarm, with some saying that science itself had been put on trial.

    On Monday an appeals court cleared the group of the manslaughter charges.

    Judge Fabrizia Ida Francabandera ruled that there was no case to answer.

    "The credibility of Italy's entire scientific community has been restored," said Stefano Gresta, the president of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology.
    The prosecution can still seek to have the original verdicts reinstated via a higher court.
    :rolleyes:

    Life ain't always empty.



  • Options
    #5367
    Turtwig
    Registered Users Posts: 26,578 ✭✭✭✭Turtwig


    If I were them I'd do the best to the get the fook out of Italy in case the verdict was restored. Crazy ****.


  • Options
    #5368
    Hotblack Desiato
    Registered Users Posts: 34,039 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    http://www.irishtimes.com/business/cloudflare-s-matthew-prince-on-tracking-down-the-bad-guys-1.1992413

    CloudFlare founder on left-handed atheists:
    He believes a disproportionate number of entrepreneurs are left-handed, atheists, only children, have a learning disability, live more than 2,000 miles away from home, etc.

    “It suggests that it’s easier to be an entrepreneur if you’re an outsider. It’s harder to do crazy things when you have a community around you.”

    Perhaps a little truth in this, but there's a little truth in a lot of stereotypes...

    Life ain't always empty.



  • Options
    #5369
    sbsquarepants
    Registered Users Posts: 11,812 ✭✭✭✭sbsquarepants


    robindch wrote: »
    Researchers demonstrate non-invasive brain to internet to brain interface:

    I've already got two of those - I call them hands. Seems like they have some sort of symbiotic relationship - they both tend to make work for each other!:D


  • Options
    #5370
    Kivaro
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,105 ✭✭✭Kivaro


    Scientists raise doubts over discovery of elusive God particle.
    More here.

    So if the God particle does not exist --> God does not exist.
    Woohoo, I proved it.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #5371
    Turtwig
    Registered Users Posts: 26,578 ✭✭✭✭Turtwig


    God is and created everything.
    If God doesn't exist then you don't exist.
    Checkmate atheists!


Advertisement