what electronic device could you build 3000 years ago?

[N. Thornton]

I think it's great when people do that. The alternative (keeping quiet
and allowing you to make the same mistake over and over again in the
future) is far worse than a measured application of the clue stick.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

I think this is what makes so much difference between peoples capacity
for learning. Many it seems cant handle realising they got something
wrong, and thus only occasionally learn anything that requires
re-evaluating what they believe. Some OTOH are fully comfortable with
being wrong, and expect it, and can thus learn a whole skill in one
go. The more I get told no thats not right, as long as I learn to be
ok with that, the faster and more I learn. In other words its not so
hard for many to increase learning speed

Regards, NT

 

[Terry Given]

I think this is what makes so much difference between peoples capacity
for learning. Many it seems cant handle realising they got something
wrong, and thus only occasionally learn anything that requires
re-evaluating what they believe. Some OTOH are fully comfortable with
being wrong, and expect it, and can thus learn a whole skill in one
go. The more I get told no thats not right, as long as I learn to be
ok with that, the faster and more I learn. In other words its not so
hard for many to increase learning speed

Regards, NT

bingo.

there seem to be 2 basic reactions to discovering a screw-up - hide it/blame
others, or expose it for all to see, fix it and have a hack at the root
cause. no prizes for guessing which is common. Aviation is a good example of
the latter approach, medicine the former. IIRC doctors kill 10x more people
than car crashes (500,000 per year in US), due to errors alone - in NZ the
medical ****-up rate is 5% in hospital. lots of it is poor handwriting.

When I lived in Boston I went to pick up a prescription from a CVS, and they
wanted me to sign a form declaring they had explained all relevant info to
me (a relatively recent legal requirement). I refused, pointing out they had
explained nothing at all. They got pissy, and said "sign it or no meds" so I
got pissy and demanded to speak to the manager, who ultimately got the point
that *they* were technically negligent, and eventually gave me the info they
were required BY LAW to provide.

Cheers
Terry

 

[Rich Grise]

hear hear. mistakes are an opportunity to learn and thus improve...

"A wise man is never insulted, for the truth will increase his wisdom,
and an untruth is not worthy of note."

I don't remember who said that.
Cheers!
Rich

 

[Le Chaud Lapin]

And no one should take umbrage when being corrected. It'll save you from
continuing to be a fool!

On the other hand, there are two linguistic mistakes that 90%+ of the
English speaking populus is guilty of:

1. "I could care less!" (they really mean "could not")
2. "The party was thrown for Roger and I" (they really mean Roger and
me, objective case pronoun here)

Ironically, mistake #2 is typically made in an attempt to avoid making
a mistake.

There is one other that is somewhat more subtle: "may".

"The door may not open on the first try. If not, pull harder."

"Might" is is more appropriate. I have actually noticed this last
mistake becoming progressively common over the last decade or so.

What is remarkable is how many (bright) people argue with me about #1
and #2 and believe that they are right at end of conversation.

-Chaud Lapin-

 

[N. Thornton]

bingo.

there seem to be 2 basic reactions to discovering a screw-up - hide it/blame
others, or expose it for all to see, fix it and have a hack at the root
cause. no prizes for guessing which is common. Aviation is a good example of
the latter approach, medicine the former. IIRC doctors kill 10x more people
than car crashes (500,000 per year in US), due to errors alone - in NZ the
medical ****-up rate is 5% in hospital. lots of it is poor handwriting.

When I lived in Boston I went to pick up a prescription from a CVS, and they
wanted me to sign a form declaring they had explained all relevant info to
me (a relatively recent legal requirement). I refused, pointing out they had
explained nothing at all. They got pissy, and said "sign it or no meds" so I
got pissy and demanded to speak to the manager, who ultimately got the point
that *they* were technically negligent, and eventually gave me the info they
were required BY LAW to provide.

Cheers
Terry

Interesting stats. From what I've seen of med practice here it seems
to be riddled with patchy competence. Even the experts I've found
surprisingly ill informed and positively careless with their
conclusions. And as you say, admission of oversight is not something
popular.

Its really sad to watch people miss opportunities to recover and end
up dead because they are unable to question poor decisions on matters
which are simplicity itself to treat. I'm particularly thinking here
of bacterial infections that can and sometimes do develop into
septicaemia, which again is quite poorly treated here. People die
because people have some form of mental block about doctors, and are
simply not able and willing to question and get informed.


Regards, NT

 

[normanstrong]

On the other hand, there are two linguistic mistakes that 90%+ of the
English speaking populus is guilty of:

"Populus"? What's that?

Norm

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

"Populus"? What's that?

Norm

It's Latin for "people" (as in "regnat populus", the motto of a
certain US state), or possible a spell-o for "populace".

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

 

[Don Pearce]

On the other hand, there are two linguistic mistakes that 90%+ of the
English speaking populus is guilty of:

1. "I could care less!" (they really mean "could not")
2. "The party was thrown for Roger and I" (they really mean Roger and
me, objective case pronoun here)

Ironically, mistake #2 is typically made in an attempt to avoid making
a mistake.

There is one other that is somewhat more subtle: "may".

"The door may not open on the first try. If not, pull harder."

"Might" is is more appropriate. I have actually noticed this last
mistake becoming progressively common over the last decade or so.

What is remarkable is how many (bright) people argue with me about #1
and #2 and believe that they are right at end of conversation.

-Chaud Lapin-

No. 1 appears to be an American construct. It is just one of many
where words have changed, or been left out without regard for the fact
that the phrase is rendered nonsensical. Another would be American
usage of the referring reply, which they routinely leave without a
referent:

Q. Do you have a book?
A. Yes I do. (no problem)

Q. Have you got a book?
A. Yes I have (UK English - valid referent)
A. Yes I do (US English - no referent)

It is as if they hadn't even heard the question.

The difference between "might" and "may" is not so easily settled.
Both have been used in the past to describe either possibility or
permission, and it is not unreasonable to allow either construction
provided the meaning is clear.

d
Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com

 

[Terry Given]

No. 1 appears to be an American construct. It is just one of many
where words have changed, or been left out without regard for the fact
that the phrase is rendered nonsensical. Another would be American
usage of the referring reply, which they routinely leave without a
referent:

Q. Do you have a book?
A. Yes I do. (no problem)

Q. Have you got a book?
A. Yes I have (UK English - valid referent)
A. Yes I do (US English - no referent)

It is as if they hadn't even heard the question.

The difference between "might" and "may" is not so easily settled.
Both have been used in the past to describe either possibility or
permission, and it is not unreasonable to allow either construction
provided the meaning is clear.

d
Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com

2 words: Ensure, Insure

cheers
Terry

 

[Barry Lennox]

Ok, take a flight of imagination and say you were thrown back in time 3000 years
with absolutely nothing from modern times.

The first thing you could do to impress local rulers and establish a position of
power would be to introduce gunpowder and the projectile weapon (I guess if you
are anti-gun you are a bit screwed...sorry about that).

I'd try to whip up some sort of electrophorous or some other sort of
static generating plant, and maybe a leyden jar, for a few demo
shocks. That may get you a litle respect.

OTOH, can I cheat a little and carry a 9mm auto, and a few thousand
rounds? That should generate a lot more respect, as well as repelling
the local shamans intent on burning you at the stake, lopping off your
head, etc, etc.

Barry Lennox

 

[Aubrey McIntosh]

Ok, take a flight of imagination and say you were thrown back in time 3000 years
with absolutely nothing from modern times.


....


Anyone know of a fictional book that deals with this situation? I think it
would be an interesting read.

A few books come to mind:

1. Farnham's Freehold, by Robert Heinline
2. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, by Mark Twain
3. A Canticle for Leibowitz, I forgot the author.

 

[Roger Gt]

X-No-Archive: yes
message : > Ok, take a flight of imagination and say you were thrown back
in time 3000 years
: > with absolutely nothing from modern times.
: >
: ...
: > Anyone know of a fictional book that deals with this
situation? I think it
: > would be an interesting read.
:
: A few books come to mind:
:
: 1. Farnham's Freehold, by Robert Heinline
: 2. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, by Mark Twain
: 3. A Canticle for Leibowitz, I forgot the author.

Farnham's Freehold, by Robert Heinline, set in the Future!

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, by Mark Twain set in
about the 10th or 11th century.

A Canticle for Leibowitz, by Walter M. Miller Jr. -- was set in
the future after a nuclear war had totally decimated civilization.
I could never get all the way through this one! Despite
restarting to read it many times. The Gore and the "Pope's
children" put me off!
clearly if the Catholics were around it wasn't 3,000 years ago!

None of these books meet the time frame!

 

[N. Thornton]

I'd try to whip up some sort of electrophorous or some other sort of
static generating plant, and maybe a leyden jar, for a few demo
shocks. That may get you a litle respect.

OTOH, can I cheat a little and carry a 9mm auto, and a few thousand
rounds? That should generate a lot more respect, as well as repelling
the local shamans intent on burning you at the stake, lopping off your
head, etc, etc.

Barry Lennox

I think youd run into trouble with a gun. People who dont know guns
dont fear them, dont realise what they can do, and therefore dont stop
and stick their hands up. You can either let yourself be overpowered
or shoot everyone who comes anywhere near you: and that is going to
make you more than a little unpopular. You'd have the king's army
after you at that rate, and they wouldnt come cut your throat, theyd
bombard your building or location from afar. Basically you'd either be
locked into one person war against the entire nation, or else
surrender your weapon to the first authority you cuold find - and that
would not be the king.

IOW you'd need to mod the gun first so no-one else could work out how
to fire it.


Regards, NT