Stuff you might consider reading September 4, 2007
Posted by dorigo in astronomy, Blogroll, computers, internet, news, physics, science.trackback
Today I was not in the mood of physics blogging, and I rather found solace in a few quite interesting posts and threads. Much more entertaining than the recent debate on sexism anyway… Here is a small list:
- Peter commented a piece on Physics World by Matthew Chalmers, and an interesting discussion arose. More or less stuff you have already had a chance to read in Peter’s blog in the past, but I found some new life in the post and the comments.
- David is flying to the US to participate in the Singularity Summit. He has joined SIAI – the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence – and he has a lot to teach on that issue in his blog. I found quite interesting also his discussion of evolutionary trends in spam filters…
- Kea is now at lesson 96 on category theory, and she is about to post her slides of a seminar she gave on the subject. Worth keeping an eye on, especially if she continues to make things understandable for the dumb ones like me.
- Bee discusses asteroid impact odds, and as always her posts are full with meaningful links and references.
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Thanks for the link. Actually, I found the sexism comment thread quite entertaining, but it cannot hope to match Sir Woit and Count Lubos today, which had me rolling on the floor.
Correct on both counts. The debate on sexism had me amused too in fact, but it took too much of my time… And the issues generated by the Chalmers piece and its review are also quite entertaining!
Cheers,
T.
Kea,
As a Brit, I feel it necessary to point out that one never says “Sir Woit”. Maybe “Sir Peter” or “Sir Peter Woit” but never “Sir Woit”! I have seen Lubos make this error a number of times (although not with Peter’s name – even if Peter did get a knighthood I don’t think that LM would acknowledge it), but as you seem not to be as wilfully ignorant (who is?) I feel that I am not necessarily wasting my time in pointing this out.
Not at all a waste of time if you ask me, I am always all ears when one teaches me better English.
Cheers,
T.
Chris, isn’t knighthood only for British citizens? Thus not Peter.
Hi Thomas,
I am no expert on this & it may well be that the U.S. does not permit its citizens to take such foreign titles anyway. Maybe PW might classify as a Jedi Knight: Master Woit, apprentice of Master Callan, whose self-appointed task is to bring balance to The Force following the higher-dimensional depredations of the Sith Lord Distler and his apprentice Motl.
Thomas,
Knighthoods are not restricted to British citizens. For example, Sir
Bob Geldof is an Irish citizen and he holds a honorary knighthood. Another Irish citizen – who holds dual American citizenship – is the billionaire Sir Anthony O’Reilly. His is a full knighthood. Under the Irish Constitution, Irish citizens who wish to take up a full knighthood have to have Cabinet approval – which O’Reilly obtained. Alan Greenspan, former Federal Reserve chairman and a US citizen, was recently elevated to an honorary knighthood.
Sir Peter has an authentic, almost Harry-Potter-esque ring to it. His blog is usually a model of pained restraint, although this, as is obvious from Sir Bob’s elevation, is not a pre-requisite. 🙂
The Motl-ey Fool is in no need of supplementary elevation, regal or other, he floats comfortably on a bed of his own hot air.
Hi Chris
Yes, I was aware of this convention, but reluctant to apply it to Peter.
Alan Greenspan?! For what??
AG: “Throw a few pence in the pot this way and that. Stir. Whatya say, prez, Wall Street needs a new dress. These numbers will go perfectly with the garters holding up your stocks, I mean socks.”
Prez: “I don’t do laundry but me and my friends could use a larger sized belt. It’s strange but our pants keep falling down even though our waist gets bigger and bigger. Yer doin’ a hell of a job Brownie, I mean Greenie.”
AG: “Aww, don’t worry ’bout dat. The Reds are gonna call me Sir one day. See ya!”
Prez: “Wait! Wait! The Tories are comin’ to dinner. What color tie goes with the silverware, the stars or the stripes?”
Thanks for the link 🙂