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Frisbees
Posted by Dr. Science on 12/28/2012
Was the frisbee named after a guy named Frisbee, or Whammo?
———- from Milton Bradley ofSpringfield, OR
Neither. Frisbee is a Latin word, meaning “Convoluted Spiral”, and refersto a truncated hyperboloid, a three-dimensional representation of thealgebraic function x=2y squared over z, where z is an irrational number thatis currently behaving somewhat normally. The lightweight discus thatcollege students throw to irritate the rest of us got its name from aparticularly athletic mathematician who was apparently “on something” at thetime. This was back in the late sixties, when psychic voyagers were therule, not the exception. The slang word to describe this was “beingwhammed” and the expletive to describe an insight, was “Whammo!”
Neither. Frisbee is a Latin word, meaning “Convoluted Spiral”, and refersto a truncated hyperboloid, a three-dimensional representation of thealgebraic function x=2y squared over z, where z is an irrational number thatis currently behaving somewhat normally. The lightweight discus thatcollege students throw to irritate the rest of us got its name from aparticularly athletic mathematician who was apparently “on something” at thetime. This was back in the late sixties, when psychic voyagers were therule, not the exception. The slang word to describe this was “beingwhammed” and the expletive to describe an insight, was “Whammo!”Cars Stalling on Train Tracks
Posted by Dr. Science on 12/26/2012
Why do cars in movies always stall when they’re over train tracks?
———- from Corey Werth of Troy, MI
Movies cultivate a special kind of non-reality that thrives on conflict. Conflict is the source of dramatic tension, that force that pulls you back to your seat when you’ve wandered off to the kitchen or concession stand. In the real world, train tracks become magnetized after a few million pounds of load have passed over them. These magnetized tracks have the power to confuse automobile ignitions, so, when magnetized train tracks are replaced, as they must be every few years, they’re sold to the film studios. This is just another example of how the waste products of daily living become the stock in trade of Tinseltown. So what else is new?
Movies cultivate a special kind of non-reality that thrives on conflict. Conflict is the source of dramatic tension, that force that pulls you back to your seat when you’ve wandered off to the kitchen or concession stand. In the real world, train tracks become magnetized after a few million pounds of load have passed over them. These magnetized tracks have the power to confuse automobile ignitions, so, when magnetized train tracks are replaced, as they must be every few years, they’re sold to the film studios. This is just another example of how the waste products of daily living become the stock in trade of Tinseltown. So what else is new? Love’s Energy Rating
Posted by Dr. Science on 12/24/2012
Since everything has an energy content according to E=mc2 and everything is positive or negative, where on an energy rating scale would love or hate be?
———- from Analise Smith of Pinella Park, FL
It depends on how the scale is calibrated. If zero represents my emotional response to your question, then I’d say love would be plus gazillion and hate would be minus ten. You seem to prove the maxim, “a little knowledge is a bad thing”. Everything is a continuum, we are all points on a line, dust in the wind. If you were to stick your head at the target end of a linear accelerator, you’d find out just how much potential energy is contained between your ears. Not that I’m suggesting you do such a thing. No, I’m cool and detatched. Scientific. Even regarding your question.
It depends on how the scale is calibrated. If zero represents my emotional response to your question, then I’d say love would be plus gazillion and hate would be minus ten. You seem to prove the maxim, “a little knowledge is a bad thing”. Everything is a continuum, we are all points on a line, dust in the wind. If you were to stick your head at the target end of a linear accelerator, you’d find out just how much potential energy is contained between your ears. Not that I’m suggesting you do such a thing. No, I’m cool and detatched. Scientific. Even regarding your question. Men’s Hearing
Posted by Dr. Science on 12/21/2012
Is there a gene missing in men’s ear canals that gives them selective hearing?
———- from Sue Neff of Missoula, MT
Yes, you could say that. That particular gene resides on the Ear, Nose and Throat Chromosome and also suppresses emotive speech. When a man suspects that a woman wants to talk about their relationship, this gene literally takes over the autonomic nervous system, causing rapid, shallow breathing, a drop in blood pressure, and an intense desire to watch sports on television. Biogenetic engineering hopes to create a new “feminist” male, whose genetic makeup will more closely mirror what women want men to be. So far the only working prototype is celebrity John Davidson and, based on this data, the FDA is considering banning experimentation on living organisms.
Yes, you could say that. That particular gene resides on the Ear, Nose and Throat Chromosome and also suppresses emotive speech. When a man suspects that a woman wants to talk about their relationship, this gene literally takes over the autonomic nervous system, causing rapid, shallow breathing, a drop in blood pressure, and an intense desire to watch sports on television. Biogenetic engineering hopes to create a new “feminist” male, whose genetic makeup will more closely mirror what women want men to be. So far the only working prototype is celebrity John Davidson and, based on this data, the FDA is considering banning experimentation on living organisms. The Flintstonemobile
Posted by Dr. Science on 12/19/2012
What keeps the rear tire on the Flintstonemobile from falling off?
———- from David Anthony Alderson ofMinneapolis, MN
I have some bad news for you. There is no Flintstonemobile. It’s all partof the stupid imaginary world of that most pathetic of Honeymoonersrip-offs, that embarassing product of the early sixties, the shame of HannahBarbara, (who have a lot to be ashamed of)…the Flintstones. The declineof animated cartoons began in the fifties and reached its nadir in the latesixties and early seventies. Computer animation rescued the industry, but awoeful lack of invention and the death of creativity that so characterizeHollywood persist, and the fact that you, a child in the nineties, areharboring the pathetic images of the shame of the sixties… on behalf ofall adults I apologize. We’re sorry. We really are.
I have some bad news for you. There is no Flintstonemobile. It’s all partof the stupid imaginary world of that most pathetic of Honeymoonersrip-offs, that embarassing product of the early sixties, the shame of HannahBarbara, (who have a lot to be ashamed of)…the Flintstones. The declineof animated cartoons began in the fifties and reached its nadir in the latesixties and early seventies. Computer animation rescued the industry, but awoeful lack of invention and the death of creativity that so characterizeHollywood persist, and the fact that you, a child in the nineties, areharboring the pathetic images of the shame of the sixties… on behalf ofall adults I apologize. We’re sorry. We really are.