Thread: Random chat & thoughts

Originally Posted by zinjanthropos

Just checked the Physics subform and someone enquiring about gravity & EM waves. Got me to wondering about what would happen to a wave on a planet with an ocean-like liquid surface with a constant prevailing wind? What could stop it? or prevent it from becoming extremely large?

It would obviously stop growing at some point.There is its own weight that would have a bearing on how high the wave could get. There is the speed of the wind, the radius of the planet ,the depth of the surface liquid,its viscosity,the density of the atmosphere ....

If the wave circled the planet (as it would) it would run into other waves and their heights would either add or subtract.(think that may be called constructive versus destructive interference)

The discussion you alluded to on the physics subforum (the one started by Yonathon Yeager?)seems a nice one . Hopefully we will have a few more if the forum maintains its rehabilitation from its latterday doldrums.

Supposedly, Trump allegedly committed tax evasion. I wonder if he will face prison time when he leaves office.

Originally Posted by wegs

Supposedly, Trump allegedly committed tax evasion. I wonder if he will face prison time when he leaves office.

Firing squad Maybe he can pardon himself.

Know anybody on this list? Don't have to read it all as it's quite extensive but you might have to worry a little. A lot of retractions noted, apparently from various peer reviewers. Kind of makes me wonder about the peer review process....those peer reviewers should be on the list just for handing out citations, now known as mistakes. Ah but I guess science has its own problems.

Originally Posted by zinjanthropos

Know anybody on this list? Don't have to read it all as it's quite extensive but you might have to worry a little. A lot of retractions noted, apparently from various peer reviewers. Kind of makes me wonder about the peer review process....those peer reviewers should be on the list just for handing out citations, now known as mistakes. Ah but I guess science has its own problems.

Can comfortably say that I don't know anyone on that list, although I guess Paleobotany isn't a high risk field for fraudulence.

Originally Posted by zinjanthropos

Know anybody on this list? Don't have to read it all as it's quite extensive but you might have to worry a little. A lot of retractions noted, apparently from various peer reviewers. Kind of makes me wonder about the peer review process....those peer reviewers should be on the list just for handing out citations, now known as mistakes. Ah but I guess science has its own problems.

A peer reviewer (I've done it!) follows the line of the argument. Is it logical? Is it valid? Does the data AS PRESENTED (deliberate emphasis) support the argument and conclusions... It will not weed out deliberate dishonesty or faked results, that comes later when others try (and fail) to replicate the results and call bullshit. Blaming peer review is like blaming a jury who convict based on a lying witness and dishonest lawyer, the problem is not with the system it is with the lying bastards. Your list is a good thing it shows how many eventually get found out despite trying to cheat the system.

Originally Posted by Falconer360

Can comfortably say that I don't know anyone on that list, although I guess Paleobotany isn't a high risk field for fraudulence.

How you doing Falconer? You look at a lot of leaf fossils. Perhaps you can confirm what this auction house is claiming. Is this insect damage in your professional opinion?

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/fossils/p...810091-81069.s

I went searching for fraudulent paleobotany and that article came up. That's why I'm asking.

Originally Posted by zinjanthropos

Originally Posted by wegs

Supposedly, Trump allegedly committed tax evasion. I wonder if he will face prison time when he leaves office.

Firing squad Maybe he can pardon himself.

I think he's still trying to do that, along with his kids. I didn't realize that his kids committed any crimes?

I would say he is desperate to prevent anyone testifying against himself.

You know to prevent the testifying against him to get a lighter sentence

There is method in his badness.

Originally Posted by wegs

Supposedly, Trump allegedly committed tax evasion. I wonder if he will face prison time when he leaves office.

Nobody ever goes to prison. And didn't you mean, "When he gets dragged screaming and shouting from the White House"?

I really don't think he's going to go. If he does it won't be pretty. This may sound dramatic but due to the hatred of Trump from leftist elements, and that includes city mayors and state governors, Trump (and his family) would be unsafe in certain areas of the country. If you had seen events unfold over the last 3-4 months or so you would know that police are puppets of these people. Cuomo baldly stated that Trump was not welcome in New York. He would be in danger by omission/neglect/malice. And if some nut were to do something silly - have you heard how some state attorneys are dropping charges against leftists and harshly prosecuting those on the right? He could lose everything - literally. I just don't see that conceding in any way would necessarily be the best move. Because of my ignorance of the power structure I don't know how it could go. But so long as Trump is in charge I imagine that pre-20th January he would be able to pull something off. If something can be done it probably will be. If not then we may see a quiet exit with the usual niceties and then Trump goes onto become the next Bush/Obama etc. But I don't think so.

Originally Posted by geordief

I would say he is desperate to prevent anyone testifying against himself.

You know to prevent the testifying against him to get a lighter sentence

There is method in his badness.

Trump good/Biden Bad!

There once was a Hunter named Biden
Whose laptop a secret was hidin'
Some family pics
and glass pipe smokin' licks
and a selfie with Vadym and Ivan


I made Ivan up as nothing else rhymed.

I wanted to wish all of my friends here on the forum a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Happy New Year!!!

Originally Posted by mmatt9876

Happy New Year!!!

Is there a prize for first post of the year? I think Matt might be a winner.

Originally Posted by zinjanthropos

Is there a prize for first post of the year? I think Matt might be a winner.

Yes.
He gets a warm glow of achievement and the admiration of us all.

Luckily it was still morning chilly, such that all critters encountered were sluggish. I saw my first Latrodactus, she was on a piece of trash being retrieved from a field. I carefully relocated her. Then immediately I saw a little, or juvenile snake. I thought it likely a red banded water snake. As there was a waterway right there. I still got a stick to check it though, no red bands on the belly. Most likely a juvenile water moccasin. I just let it be where it was. I should have got video. Neither is rare around here, but still cool to encounter such "fantastic beasts".

Originally Posted by zinjanthropos

How you doing Falconer? You look at a lot of leaf fossils. Perhaps you can confirm what this auction house is claiming. Is this insect damage in your professional opinion?

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/fossils/p...810091-81069.s

I went searching for fraudulent paleobotany and that article came up. That's why I'm asking.

I'm doing well and that does look like exterior margin feeding. Without looking at it under the loupe it's harder to tell of course. With insect herbivory, rather than just damage to the leaf after it detached from the tree, there will be a darkening along the edge of the damage which is leaf scarring. But the general shapes of the damage pattern seem appropriately. The leaf itself looks like it could be related to salix or pseudosalix.