Responding to comments.

Well, I haven't responded to comments in a while (yes, this blog does get comments) so I figured I might as well do one now, since it's only four days until Uni starts and I can't get any sleep at all.

Both are from "truthers" and both come from the post Debunking 9/11.com is a PNAC front.

The first is from some guy called "John". His comment is technically spam, because it's just telling us about Architects and Engineers for 9/11 truth:

“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” -- Arthur Schopenhauer

Yes, clearly being ridiculed means that what you say must be true. Just like saying "the moon is made of purple dinosaurs" or "gold is really blue cheese". Clearly being ridiculed for holding such a view means that what you say is true, it's the first stage of being true. Now all I need is someone to beat the crap out of me for saying one of these stupid comments and I'll be one stage further then the "truth" movement.

"1,000 Architects & Engineers Call for New 9/11 Investigation "

More than 1,000 worldwide architects and engineers now support the call for a new investigation into the destruction of the Twin Towers and Building 7 at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. After careful examination of the official explanation, along with the forensic data omitted from official reports, these professionals have concluded that a new independent investigation into these mysterious collapses is needed.

Yep. Because in todays world, one thousand people is a huge number, I mean it's only 0.0003288827559417241% (July 2008 - 304,059,724) of the US population, or 0.00001494314817189223% (2008 number - 6,692,030,277) of the population of the world or 0.0046785814541031% of the population of Australia (2008 - 21374000).

To be fair if they were in say, the Vatican then they would be a powerful force because there are more of them then people in the Vatican, but that's irrelevant.

Compare that 1000, with the ~1.5 million people who are fans of this pickle. But I guess that means that the architects are more truthful.

Either way it's just an argument from numbers.

Perhaps there should be a list of architects and engineers who don't think that there should be a new investigation?

The second is from "anonymous". It's very much a disjointed rant which I shall make more disjointed by responding to it thusly:

There is no need for pseudo-scientific ranting of vectors or Newton's Laws of Motion.

Wow, I never knew that I made a pseudo-scientific rant on the laws of motion. If someone can point out where I did, I'd appreciate it.

The JREF forum has debunked Newton countless times.

I wonder which Newton this is? Perhaps some clarification is in order.

He also has not taken the million-dollar challenge.

Maybe someone should tell him?

It is quite evident that 2+2=5 as shown on the JREF forum(a place to discuss pseudo-skepticism, denial, the obvious in an unfriendly and ridiculing way)This is the link to the debunking of the conservation of momentum...

(the link was to a pile of shit by the way)

As far as I'm aware 2+2=5 for sufficiently large values of 2

The towers fell the way they did because energy and momentum are never conserved.

Yes... because 9/11 showed the world that thermodynamics doesn't exist.

Newton was a delusional pseudo-scientist who refuses to debate on the forum.

Like the "million dollar challenge" quote I suggest someone tells him. If you happen to be in London I hear he hangs out in the Nave of Westminster Abbey. I believe he hangs out with people like Charles Darwin, William Thompson, 1^st Lord Kelvin, David Livingstone, Ernest Rutherford and Clement Attlee. Say hi to them from me if you happen to go.

Some kooks and lunatics claim that he is no longer living without providing the link to the source. Without the link, we cannot deny, ignore, and ridicule the evidence presented, which are the three steps in the JREF debunking process.

Yes, without those links those fools at the JREF will have to listen to us.

Let us put an end to these nonsensical discussions of the conservation of energy/momentum(both have been debunked, and shown to be religious beliefs) and move on to proving and disproving claims without the use of mathematics.

Brilliant, I hate math, I shall give you 0.001% of all my savings for suggesting this... err... how do you figure that out again?

Perhaps I should pray to the gods of conservation of energy and momentum, I'm sure they'll help me.

If any fellow pseudo-skeptics enjoyed this ranting, then please do not open this link… (link removed)

Yes, I did enjoy your rant, so I won't open your link. It's probably got something to do with the first comment or something.

So there you have it. I've responded to a couple of comments.

Australian Un-Chaser Activities Commission

So there is going to be a hearing after the Chaser's APEC stunt.

For those that forgot or wish to see it again:



Now I agree with that caller to that talk-back show. I think that they should rot in jail (or gaol, both are acceptable in Australian English).

Now the truth is that I think that these hearings are a joke. All the the government is trying to do (even though it is the Rudd Government now) is show face after their proudly toted security (which cost a ridiculous amount of money, did they ask for a refund?) failed miserably.

I know they technically broke the law but I don't think that they should go to gaol (see?). They really need a medal of some sort.

If you watched that video then you can rest assured, knowing that our RSL's are safe.

Filler Material

Considering that there is plenty to talk about I can't think of anything to say.

I could write about the Mafia, because they were in the news recently, or about other things happening in Italy, I could talk about that foster home thing on Jersey that is in the news lately, or bore you all on how I am going back to uni on Monday.

At this time all I can say is that I will post something better, but when I can actually think of something to write.

Plove?

If there are such things as Plovers, then what exactly is Plove?

Something from 2006

This has been making rounds on the net.

It's from 2006, but it seems everyone now is looking at it.

Some guy got kicked off a My Little Pony forum for trolling. Maybe a pretend one.

You can really imagine some of the pictures, here is the Stalin one.

I did like what he did when someone spoke to him about nudity...

Back to the '30's

If you have ever played the game Mafia (a brilliant game, it has been described as the "thinking man's GTA" then you will recognise this tune.

For those that don't it's "Caravan" by the Mills Brothers. The band bond did a version as well. You have to look at this movie though:




That guy at about 1:30 has got to be one of the forefathers of break dancing.

Flowers?

For some reason last night I found myself looking up the Language of Flowers, specifically the Victorian Era, which is the idea that flowers convey a special meaning which was used by lovers.

The site linked above contains the meanings from five different books so you can see how they have changed.

Some of the stranger ones include:

• Nightshade, which most would recognise as a poisonous plant, can mean "truth" or "bitter truth", my first thought would be a "Nightshade for truthers" thing, because of what they need to accept


• Adonis Vernalis apparently means 'bitter memories", would that be a flower for breaking up?
  


• The African Marigold means "vulgar minded", somewhat ironic considering that 'marigold' comes from stories relating to the Virgin Mary. Maybe it says something about her?
  


• Kalmia latifolia means "victory", perfect for a certain JREF thread...
  

I can't think of any more examples. But it is a rather peculiar thing though.

If you can think up other examples, don't hesitate to say something.

A Homeric Epiphany

I've figured it out. It's the greatest epiphany since "Bananas are an excellent source of potassium" as postulated by the great storyteller Homer (left). Here it is:

In the Rush Hour movies Chris Tucker is basically playing a cop version of his character from The Fifth Element.

Have a nice day.

Technorati Made Me Do This

Apparently I have to post this thingy for Technorati, so I will hide a link somewhere.

Readability

The Blog Readability Test says that this blog has a reading level of junior high school, whatever the hell that is.

I wonder if I was to add more technical words if it would change the rating? Maybe I should just learn to write better...

Music

I don't know about many people but I will usually associate songs that I listen to to a particular event/game/TV show/etc.

Which has given me many odd combinations.

Take "The Enchanted Lake" (aka "Swan Lake") by Tchaikovsky, from Swan Lake. When I hear this song I don't think of swans or lakes or whatever it is that I am supposed to think of when I hear that song.

I think of Jeremy Clarkson in a Range Rover Sport being chased by some guys in a Challenger 2 tank.

Same goes for the theme from A Fistful of Dollars, not Clint Eastwood being a cowboy but Top Gear once again. This time when Richard Hammond stopped that factory when they were building the road ("Men of the D5481, this is our darkest hour, we will not let Adolf Hammond ruin our plans for this great, this wonderful...")

"Invocation" by Killing Joke makes me think of James May racing those Parkour guys in a Peugeot 207 not whatever the song is about.

"House of the Rising Sun", specifically the cover by The Animals reminds me of GTA:VC because it was on a custom radio station that someone gave me.

For some reason out of all the songs on the game Battlefield: Vietnam only the song "Psychotic Reaction" (Count Five) reminds me most of the game.

A few songs will remind me of events in my own life but people don't want to hear about things that actually happened to me.



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Now playing: UNKLE - When Things Explode (feat. Ian Astbury)
via FoxyTunes

Skeptical Magicians?

After being shown some comics that were about a certain psychic fraud lady I was looking through the archives and found this.

Since they allow hotlinking (apparently) I will post it here:


Maybe this explains Penn & Teller and James Randi's work as skeptics. They are trying to make themselves more powerful...



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Now playing: Groove Armada - Hands of Time
via FoxyTunes

This is a blog post

Today is my first 'blindingly obvious' post.

Men want hot women, study confirms

Just like I am writing this post.



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Now playing: Ishii Yasushi - Hatred Guy Of Sinfulness
via FoxyTunes

If you are ever in a argument...

And you find yourself being attacked instead of the argument then you have managed to do one of the following:

1. Been really stupid and started a flamewar.
2. Decimated the opponents argument so badly that this is all they can do.
3. Decimated the methodology the opponent used so badly that attacking you is all they can do.
   

I only write this because that is what has happened to me regarding a 9/11 thread. I started to point out methodological flaws in the persons argument because he stopped listening to counterarguments. To be honest he didn't listen to them to begin with.

I mentioned that I was Australian and have pretty much been told to bugger off. He asked me to say why I was here, and now my reasons have been labelled excuses.

So until he answers the questions I gave him I have decided to not listen to his crap. If he wasn't before he has now morphed into a troll.

I love...

... the smell of Conspiracy Theorists in the morning.

Smells like stupidity

Something I oveheard

A few days ago before a Chemistry lecture I overheard a girl say 'Do you know how to balance equations?'

It's a bit strange when you consider that this is not the easy Chemistry lecture.

I read...

...on the blogger help thing that you should keep your posts short.

I don't seem to be able to do that.

News on the Frivolous Front

If you remember the lawsuit that PZ Myers was going to go through then you should also know that nothing will happen. Through common sense and the pressure of Peter Irons in pointing out pretty much all the deficiencies in the suit.

So Pivar has dropped the suit and apparently Mr. Little, Pivar's laywer, is threatening to sue Irons for some silly reason.

All I can say is congratulations PZ Myers.

I guess that since this battle is over we should probably look at the damages for both parties:

PZ Myers

• Probably down a few dollars in legal fees
• Gained more readers (I know I have started reading his blog more)
• Held and holds the morale high ground
• Is still an excellent blogger
• Has increased the usage of the word "crackpot"
  

Pivar

• Most likely lost more money on a lawyer that doesn't seem to be very good
  
• Has now managed to get himself laughed at by the entire internet
• Would not have sold any copies of his book
• Quit the suit in a really wimpy way
• Will most likely now be known as "crackpot" for ever and ever

So as we can see PZ Myers clearly won this battle nearly all his points that are there are good ones, so we can give him +4. Pivar on the other hand has many negative points (you can see the bias...) so he gets -5. So the difference is 9, which would be say, an 'Epic Victory', in a complete and arbitrary point of view.

Citizenship test?

I heard this on the news at work.

Australia will be introducing a citizenship test

Now we are more like the Americans and Canadians.

People will have to know something about Australia like our Capital city (Canberra) or what is on our coat of arms (Kangaroo and Emu, but I know that because we also eat them (but I haven't had Emu yet, I guess it might taste like big chicken...))

One of the funnier ones involves our national anthem.

As a semi sidetrack I will point out that our national anthem is called Advance Australia Fair.

The two verses that are sung are:

Australians all let us rejoice,

For we are young and free;

We've golden soil and wealth for toil,

Our home is girt by sea;

Our land abounds in Nature's gifts

Of beauty rich and rare;

In history's page, let every stage

Advance Australia fair!

In joyful strains then let us sing,

"Advance Australia fair!"

Beneath our radiant southern Cross,

We'll toil with hearts and hands;

To make this Commonwealth of ours

Renowned of all the lands;

For those who've come across the seas

We've boundless plains to share;

With courage let us all combine

To advance Australia fair.

In joyful strains then let us sing

"Advance Australia fair!"

That is the entire anthem.

Now there are some small things that you have to note. The first is that in official events you sit and listen to them play the tune once through and then you sing the first verse.

The second is that most Australians don't know the anthem.

I know both verses because I used to sing in a Choir (when I still had that young boys voice) and at big events we would sing the anthem, both verses.

The Age has 20 of the possible 200 questions that may be asked. The test has 20 out of a possible 200 that can be asked so if you are a person trying to become a citizen maybe you should learn these ones and hope you are lucky...

Anyway number four is:

4. What is the first line of Australia's national anthem?

What makes this funny is that, unlike in the US where my understanding is that an immigrant will know more about their constitution then an American, an immigrant who wants to become an Australian will learn the part of the national anthem that most Australians know.

So we will pretty much all be equal.

When you listen to a country sing it's national anthem you can usually make out what they are saying (unless you don't understand the language that well). Lets choose a national anthem almost at random. The German one.

Germans know their national anthem, many also know the first verse, the one they aren't allowed to sing.

What the Germans use as their national anthem is the third verse which is this:

Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
für das deutsche Vaterland!
Danach laßt uns alle streben
brüderlich mit Herz und Hand!
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
sind des Glückes Unterpfand;
Blüh im Glanze dieses Glückes,
blühe, deutsches Vaterland.

Now you will pretty much understand what they are going on about here.

Compare that to what you would hear from the Australians. I once heard this as a joke but it is perfectly true:

Australians all let us rejoice
For we ar yun an re
Wi gowden soi an welf for toil
Our ome e girt i c
...

I would continue but I don't know how to exactly write it down. It is more of an unintelligible drawl in tune to the music. So really an immigrant needs to know the first verse, how to sound like they are singing and know where to put the word 'girt' which most don't know what it means (surrounded/encircled/etc.) but seem to be able to sing clearly.

Probably because girt doesn't make a good drawl sound.

I think there should be an even easier citizenship test. They learn the national anthem and then have to sing it to people. If they sing it clearly and well then they aren't allowed in and if they can't sing it we welcome them into the fold.

It is like Tripod's "New Aussie Anthem"

So we all need to raise our voice and say:
(mumble mumble mumble mumble)... ay!

The rest of the questions are:

1. In what year did Federation take place?

A: 1901, January 1^st to be exact.

2. Which day of the year is Australia Day?

A: January 26^th

3. Who was the first Prime Minister of Australia?

A: Edmund Barton. Not many people know that in fact more people know the first president of the US, so the government ran some commercials in 2000-1 so inform people about our first PM.

5. What is the floral emblem of Australia?

A: The Wattle if I remember correctly, that is where we get the sporting colours of green and gold.

6. What is the population of Australia?

A: Last time I checked it was about 21 million.

7. In what city is the Parliament House of the Commonwealth Parliament located?

A: Canberra, the city of too many roundabouts and not enough traffic lights.

8. Who is the Queen's representative in Australia?

A: The Governor General, but I don't know his name.

9. How are Members of Parliament chosen?

A: Election

10. Who do Members of Parliament represent?

A: I guess the correct answer is the people, but I think for many the party they are from is more apt.

11. After a federal election, who forms the new government?

A: For the last 10 years a 'coalition'. And I suspect that it will be the same again after this years election. It is whoever has the majority of seats in Parliament.

12. What are the colours on the Australian flag?

A: Blue, white, red

13. Who is the head of the Australian Government?

A: The Prime Minister, who is currently called John but if Labor is lucky the PM will be called Kevin. Could you imagine the insults? Ruddy Kevin Rudd...

14. What are the three levels of government in Australia?

A: Local, state, federal

15. In what year did the European settlement of Australia start?

A: Officially 1788, when the First Fleet arrived.

16. Serving on a jury if required is a responsibility of Australian citizenship: true or false?

A: Apparently

17. In Australia, everyone is free to practise the religion of their choice, or practise no religion: true of false?

A: True, unless you are a Muslim then you can practice your religion but will also face insults for being a Muslim by the racist yobs.

18. To be elected to the Commonwealth Parliament you must be an Australian citizen: true or false?

A: True. Which is why I am divided on the Shane Warne becoming a German thing. I mean I don't want him to become a German because he is jerk, and it will reflect badly on me here due to cricket loving bogans (Oh you're German, just like Shane Warne...) but I don't really want him to go into Australian politics which is apparently something that he wants to do.

19. As an Australian citizen, I have the right to register my baby born overseas as an Australian citizen: true or false?

A: I wouldn't know. I think that is true.

20. Australian citizens aged 18 years or over are required to enrol on the electoral register: true or false?

A: True, however in South Australia you are on;y required by law to enrol on the federal register not the state one, but we aren't given the option of not registering on the state register.

Who knows, maybe I got the 12 out of 20 to pass the test...

I think this is my first post where I have used both 'Musings' and 'Silliness' as a tag...

A Review

Just to ruin my lovely long post I will post a review of a novella that I have just finished reading. So just skip down to the next post.

The story is called Stuart Pivar v. Seed Media Group LLC and Paul Z Myers and can be found in PDF format here. It is the first in the "Crackpot" series of books by the current author, the United States District Court Southern District of New York, with help from the lawyers of Stuart Pivar.

Although only 10 pages long the reader will be taken on an emotional ride of apathy, confusion, happiness, sadness and fear.

There are some funny points where the book makes reference to real facts that are distorted to represent a fantasy life of a man who feels that he has been screwed over by another and decides to sue the other and his organisation for US$15 million.

At this stage we have the opening, where the man has submitted his complaint to the court system to get the other man to shut up.

He puts forth pretend anxiety to the court so that he may get some sort of pity but then demands that if he wins that the other man will have his mouth sewn so that he may never criticise anyone ever again.

As you move through the tale you will need to look up some supplementary material which is available free off the web. Just google for it, or look on other posts here.

From a plot perspective the tale is rather bland, and contains a bias towards the character called 'Plaintiff' but I suspect that any further books in the series will be more balanced.


Overall I would give this book two stars, it just doesn't stand up on it's own.