Delian Posted December 12, 2002 Share Posted December 12, 2002 [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by cloricus [/i] [B]I have a question for you guys; at its thickest point how many light years thick is the milky-way galaxy? (I know the answer so I'll be able to tell you right or wrong. HINT: Think Monty Python.) [/B][/QUOTE] Approx 30,000 light years? I have a question: What did the Nursery Rhyme 'Ring a ring a rosy, a pocket full of posies' originally describe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Semjaza Posted December 12, 2002 Share Posted December 12, 2002 What part of it are you asking about? It's generally assumed that "rosy' refers to people red markings that would appear on the faces of people who had gotten the plague. The "posies" were flowers or other good smelling things that people held in front of their face within tissues to avoid the smell and infection (usually nobility). I figure if you go with this idea for the rest of the song, t it had to to with the cremation of the plague victims and such. However, this really doesn't make any sense if you read stuff the history on the subject says. The plague was like in the 1300's, and the [i]earliest[/i] version of this song is from sometime in the 1700's, and the original version of the poem/song was almost radically different from the current version. I tend to think people kind of made of that meaning sometime rather recently, considering the actual facts that are around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corey Posted December 12, 2002 Share Posted December 12, 2002 Many of you that replied to my question were close. It's "Roosevelt Is Dead". How many different shapes of leaves does the Sassafras tree have at one time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delian Posted December 12, 2002 Share Posted December 12, 2002 Your answer's correct. I was asking about the whole song in general. You are right with regards to the historical information, but still the rhyme was and still is associated with the plague during that period in time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kent Posted December 12, 2002 Author Share Posted December 12, 2002 In reference to the song mentioned, I wanted to add that, there is another version that I have heard that also makes just as much or more sense. (I believe it too) The pocket full of posseys was from the fact that the dead victims had to just sit around for long periods before they were taken away. This is where the flowers come in, they were used to stuff the pockets of the dead to try and cover the scent of the decomposing bodies. (ewww, nasty) And the ring around the posey was from the broken blood vessels that appeared on the victims neck after contracting the desease. Im gonna figure out the answer for the sasafrass question.Then I will ask a question, (unless its answered before then) that way this thread woulnt get to crowded with questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheShinje Posted December 12, 2002 Share Posted December 12, 2002 [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by DarkOrderKnight [/i] [B]Many of you that replied to my question were close. It's "Roosevelt Is Dead". How many different shapes of leaves does the Sassafras tree have at one time? [/B][/QUOTE] There are three different leaf shapes and they can be found randomly placed on the same tree. The most common leaf has three disinct lobes, or "fingers", which all point away from the stem end. The second type of leaf is the "mitten", which has one large lobe pointing away from the stem and a smaller side lobe that sticks out like a thumb. The third leaf is egg shaped with no lobes. What was the first ever video game called and what did it do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Semjaza Posted December 12, 2002 Share Posted December 12, 2002 The idea of the video game was basically invented by this guy named Ralph Baer... But he was not allowed to create it since his boss didn't agree with the idea. Pretty stupid boss. This was in 1951. The first actual visual computer/video game that was known to exist was a version of Tic Tac Toe created by guy for his thesis on his computer major at Cambridge. I think this was a little over a year after Ralph Baer's idea. I don't remember this guy's name though. Baer wound up making some simple video games in the 60s, and came up with some target games and a game simliar to Pong. I'm sure most people would think the answer to this would be Pong, which isn't the case. That didn't come out til the 70s... It was howerver the first readily available commercial video game system that I know of. I think it sold for nearly $200 back then heh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mnemolth Posted December 12, 2002 Share Posted December 12, 2002 Yoshi's got it right. :D We're dealing with a converging series, ie an infinite series with a finite sum. The paradox is only possible if one assumes that the sum of an infinite set of numbers is infinite. This, as we know, is not the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan L Posted December 12, 2002 Share Posted December 12, 2002 [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Mnemolth [/i] [B]Deus; Not according to my understanding of quantum physics. In fact, as I understand it, particles can exist in different states at the same time. But I'm not about to get into a debate about quantum physics here since I'll be the first to admit my knowledge is pretty limited in that area, but mainly because an understanding of quantum physics is not necessary to solve this apparent paradox. So the problem still stands. :D [/B][/QUOTE] heh.. I have no illusion about the fact that the problem can be solved without reference to quantum physics, I just couldn't think of the proper answer.. heh. Anyway.. yeah, some particles can exist with in the same state, [i]but[/i] they can't exist [i]between[/i] states, so the lowest amount that you can break any distance down to is the individual states, which is a real (ie, not infinitely large or small) distance. Hence, you can never actually break the distance down to an infinitely small space ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cloricus Posted December 12, 2002 Share Posted December 12, 2002 16,000 light years at it's thickest point. And Yoshie that it my favourite theory... Technically the second hand on a clock will never go past the hour hand. The theory is perfect logic wise though when applied in the real world for some reason does not work. I also like the time travel theories, but they are a bugger because if you are smart you will realise any time travel is not worth it. --- What is Moore law, as it exists today, and why is it the biggest technology driving force in the world at the moment? (And be shocked because most people don't know about it even though it has been changing the world you live in for the last decade or more.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mnemolth Posted December 12, 2002 Share Posted December 12, 2002 This wouldn't happen to be the Moore's Law that has computer processing power doubling every 18 months would it? Well computer chips are in everything these days, so no doubt this has a big impact on our lives. But Moore's Law in the near future will come up against a physical barrier. Unless there is a 'quantum' leap in technology (pun intended), this physical barrier cannot be surmounted. Time will tell if Moore's Law will continue to hold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan L Posted December 12, 2002 Share Posted December 12, 2002 [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Mnemolth [/i] [B]Unless there is a 'quantum' leap in technology (pun intended)[/B][/QUOTE] One of the few things I remember my old physics teacher saying was "[i]it's funny people started using the term "quantum leap".. Quantum actually means "very small" or "the minimum possible amount"[/i]" heh.. there are also lots of other meanings, but he never said that ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cloricus Posted December 12, 2002 Share Posted December 12, 2002 Mnemolth got it partly in one, Moore's law used to be the rule of thumb for computer geeks and cpu producers. Though it is now an industry standard. Although twenty years ago they didn't think they would get to 13mhz and even just a few years ago the 1gig barrier was looking hard to get to. And even just a year or so ago people thought that Moore?s law had given out with the 2 gig barrier had been reached... Then comes the Northwood (class/core) that jumps to 2.53 and as a nice Christmas present that no one can afford 3.06gig. Then you have hyper-threading and .13 wafers. (Yes I know the limitations of hyper-threading, and what they do to do it.) The AMD Athlons after a few failed over clocking on the 2200+'s and higher have found it is nearly reached it's ceiling. So along comes their new experimental core which in theory has a massive ceiling. And saying that computers will have a limit, look at NEC ES... 40tera-flops... So I'm really trying to prove that money makes the cpu world go around, competition is making the impossible happen. --- When were lava lamps first made? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Circ Posted December 12, 2002 Share Posted December 12, 2002 First commercial lava lamp was made successfully in 1963, but the date the model it was based on was invented is not known, as the man had died at the moment Craven Walker (who built the Astro Lamp) knew who he was. Who are the three Fates and what is their name in French? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara Posted December 12, 2002 Share Posted December 12, 2002 [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Mnemolth [/i] [B]Yoshi's got it right. :D We're dealing with a converging series, ie an infinite series with a finite sum. The paradox is only possible if one assumes that the sum of an infinite set of numbers is infinite. This, as we know, is not the case. [/B][/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]Hey, I said that! Sort of... Circeus...eh...the Greek fates? I think they were Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. Dunno about in French. o0 And with my luck, you're probably talking about something else entirely.. bother. What animal cannot jump?[/SIZE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Circ Posted December 12, 2002 Share Posted December 12, 2002 You're right, those were the Fates I was talking about. They are the [i]Moires[/i] or [i]Parques[/i] in French. Well, depend which animal you're talking about: the slug can't jump. I know, however, that the Elephant is the only mammal that can't jump. What's the name of the squirrel in "Ice Age"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara Posted December 12, 2002 Share Posted December 12, 2002 [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Circéus [/i] [B]Well, depend which animal you're talking about: the slug can't jump. I know, however, that the Elephant is the only mammal that can't jump. What's the name of the squirrel in "Ice Age"? [/B][/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]True enough; I wasn't thinking clearly.[/SIZE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mnemolth Posted December 13, 2002 Share Posted December 13, 2002 Sara: Yes you were right. Kinda... ;) But, me being the stupid git that I am, I found it a little confusing. :D Deus; Well yes, but small is big when it comes to computer technology. :) Cloricus; There is a physical barrier when it comes to silicon chips. You can only fit so much, no matter how small you make things. Beyond that you are in the realm of quantum mechanics and nanotechnology. There are also a couple of other ways to break the barrier. One avenue is photonics, another is the manipulation of molecular biology and the use of biological chemistry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cloricus Posted December 13, 2002 Share Posted December 13, 2002 /me notes that the new classes of chips are under 100nanometers, which in the computer world any thing under 100nm is nanotech. Silicon is only a semi-conductor, no super-conductors run at room temp yet but when they do... BANG you will get massive jumps in speed and grunt. Lol, I take it you are talking about the most successful quantum computer in the world at the moment. (That is in development.) IT CAN COUNT TO FOUR!!! They got a bunch of algae type animals (cant remember their bio term) and they have learnt to count to four. This if it ever works will make the computers that works on today?s methods obsolete, think of it as a few brains connected compared to a bunch on "dumb" chips. Though the ceiling of silicon is still way higher than any sane person would try and image. Mnemolth as for size they?ll just make the chip size bigger and cram more into it in a smaller space. The only problem is heat, and water-cooled systems take care of this. You are just a pessimist? --- What is the most important plant in existence that made us evolve because it forced our ancestors out of the trees? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genkai Posted December 13, 2002 Share Posted December 13, 2002 [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Delian [/i] [B]The part of the brain that stores memory is called the cortex (pretty sure) What is a Supernova? [/B][/QUOTE] The part of the brain that stores memoery isn't the cortex, though none of you wanna guess this anymore, so it's the limbic system. okay cloricus, my brother told me something like this when I was REAL little... is it some wheat? or weed? something like that. Easy one : This pencil brand is named after what fort from the french and indian war? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cloricus Posted December 13, 2002 Share Posted December 13, 2002 Very close genkai in fact if you weren't so specific you would of got in one. It was a new class of plants that came about a few hundred thousand years ago, a broad term for it is grasses. (This included mainly but not limited to wheat.) This forced the forests to receded and also forced our tree dwelling ancestors to search the vast grass lands for food, so they stood tall for reasons to do with that. And was it Faber-Castel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corey Posted December 13, 2002 Share Posted December 13, 2002 I'm going to out on a limb here and say Penway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan L Posted December 13, 2002 Share Posted December 13, 2002 [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Mnemolth [/i] [B] Deus; Well yes, but small is big when it comes to computer technology. :) [/B][/QUOTE] Yeah I know.. what I mean is when government ministers start saying there's going to be a quantum leap in *insert area here*, it's quite funny. For me, anyway.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cloricus Posted December 13, 2002 Share Posted December 13, 2002 Deus Ex Machina, you shouldn't be laughing! I small leap means they are trying to use their heads! You always know when they are lying because it is to complex for a four year old! Joking... :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan L Posted December 13, 2002 Share Posted December 13, 2002 [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by cloricus [/i] [B]Deus Ex Machina, you shouldn't be laughing! I small leap means they are trying to use their heads! You always know when they are lying because it is to complex for a four year old! Joking... :P [/B][/QUOTE] heh.. I'm [i]still[/i] not quite sure what to make of that four year old comment. My question now: Who actually discovered the speed of light, and how? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now