Things that make you go "Hmmmm…"

[jasong]

Originally Posted by chalsall

So, I've already received two calls from "friends and family" because Barbados experienced a 6.7 magnitude earthquake.

Fear, under-certainty and doubt (FUD), anyone?

This was actually far from us, and far underground, and very few felt anything. There were no deaths; and no structural damage.

But, of course, the media are masters at scare mongering ("Keep them afraid, and then they might not ask the important questions)....

I never know what to do with the number. What magnitude would you get if a 300-pound person strolled within inches of the machine and kept going?

[jasong]

Originally Posted by kracker

I get your point. But that, is your, and only your opinion of how swear "words" affect and work etc. I think most others would disagree with what you said.

Well, let me ask you this. An imaginary man is offended by a certain word. He travels somewhere where the word comes up because of phonetic coincidence.

Has the person who offended him committed any sort of offense?

Morality is a difficult concept to discuss because it's impossible for human beings to define it. Inevitably, when we DO try to define it, it gets corrupted.

Off-topic(technically, double off-topic since I appear to have hijacked the thread) This is one of the reasons I assert to people that if there is no God than there is no morality, since if there's no Judge, than discussing morality is basically mental masturbation.

[Brian-E]

Originally Posted by jasong

Morality is a difficult concept to discuss because it's impossible for human beings to define it. Inevitably, when we DO try to define it, it gets corrupted.

Only our forum administrator is permitted to use the royal "we".

[kladner]

Originally Posted by jasong

.....
Morality is a difficult concept to discuss because it's impossible for human beings to define it. Inevitably, when we DO try to define it, it gets corrupted.

On the contrary, the words, and their definition(s) are human constructs from the get-go.

....... This is one of the reasons I assert to people that if there is no God than [sic] there is no morality, since if there's no Judge, than [sic] discussing morality is basically mental masturbation.

There is a glaring non-sequitur here (wanking,) wrapped in a circular argument (source of "morality",) based on an unproven assertion (god.)

We wonders, yes, we wonders, my Precious, why we ever does anything other than the utterly selfish? Certainly there are people like that. They are often called sociopaths, or hedge fund managers. On the other hand, there are many people who do the best they can to listen to empathy and act accordingly, without relinquishing personal responsibility for moral choices to some unseen, unknown, and unknowable fantasy. In fact, tail-biting arguments like yours might themselves be described as mental masturbation. Why not take responsibility for the choices you make?

[Xyzzy]

We read a somewhat interesting fiction novel recently, called "Divergent". (The rest of the books in that series were a disappointment, though.)

Anyways, in "Divergent" they have an interesting social structure divided into five factions. One faction in particular stood out to us as the book described how they lived.

Abnegation Manifesto

"I will be my undoing If I become my obsession.

I will forget the ones I love If I do not serve them.

I will war with others If I refuse to see them.

Therefore I choose to turn away from my reflection,

To rely not on myself

But on my brothers and sisters,

To project always outward

Until I disappear." *

(*Some members add a final line: “And only God remains.” That is at the discretion of each member, and is not compulsory.)

We are not sure how this relates to the recent posts in this thread but it felt relevant.

[Xyzzy]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...asure/5817179/

[kladner]

Originally Posted by Xyzzy

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...asure/5817179/

Holy Moley, Batman!

[ewmayer]

Woman Wearing Google Glass Says She Was Attacked In San Francisco Bar

I first saw this on the broadcast edition of the above CBS station, part of our oh-so-tech-loving local Silicon Valley news media - best part of the Glass video the woman recorded was the snip where - while she is recording the bar patrons - she says for posterity "...they're reacting as if I were recording them...". Ya think?

She's apparently very into her own victimhood, will probably agitate to get SF prosecutors to declare the incident a "hate crime".

[kladner]

So she thinks it is her natural right to show off marvelous technology by invading the privacy of others? While a bar is clearly a public place, that does not excuse boorish behavior, such as recording people against their will, or at least, without their permission. In addition, it seems that her companion initiated violence, if I read the story correctly. At the very least, she's a total jerk, especially with her "poor me" take on things. Maybe she should take her fancy glasses elsewhere in the future. Anyone she recorded could end up face-tagged all over the internet. I would certainly take exception, though not to the point of violence.

[philmoore]

Originally Posted by Xyzzy

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...asure/5817179/

I estimate that the bullion value alone of this find is around $1.7 million at today's prices. Each $20 gold coin contains about .9675 Troy ounces of gold, so at today's prices of $1300 per ounce, the $27,000 face value hoard is a lot of gold! Numismatic value of common date coins must have decreased over the last few years with the increase in gold coins, but apparently there are a few rare date coins in this collection that increase the total estimated numismatic value to over $10 million. Kagin, the coin dealer entrusted with the hoard, is not revealing what methods he has used to clean and restore these mostly uncirculated coins to original luster, but because gold is much less susceptible to corrosion than copper and silver, he claims that at least some specimens may be worth $1 million each. Reportedly the dates range from 1847 to 1894, but the San Francisco mint did not begin minting gold coins until 1854. Perhaps the one coin from Dahlonega, Georgia could be the 1847 specimen? If the condition of the majority of the coins is indeed uncirculated as reported, I would not be surprised if the sale value goes considerably above $10 million.

So why was this hoard forgotten? One theory may be that the only person who knew about it died suddenly, but another theory is that someone deliberately kept quiet, not wanting an undeserving heir to have it! Other theories?

[ewmayer]

Anyone here thinking of buying one or more of the Saddle Ridge found coins when they go up for sale? I might consider buying one of the lower-priced ones if the "sekrit stash" premium over a similar run-of-the-mill-graded coin is not outrageous.

Re. the cleaning, in general anything beyond very mild dirt/dust removal is a no-no for high-end coins. Since these are > 90% gold and thus not subject to significant tarnishing I'd be surprised if they were chemically cleaned to 'brighten" them, as that is inimical to the valuation for graded coins.

{I find myself unable to access the official pre-sale website at the moment, was hoping to find details re. the cleaning there.]

Edit: OK, a browser kill-and-restart later, we see the following from Kagin's webpage for the hoard:

...somehow, despite being buried for over a hundred years, many of the coins were preserved in pristine condition; some being finer than anything seen to date.

There is no detailed info up as yet, but I added myself to the mailing list. As a Californian, so much of my state's settlement history is tied in with the mid-1800s gold rush that the chance to own such a tangible souvenir of that era [and not just some random 1850s S-mint gold coin bought on eBay] is intriguing. Now I just need to cash in a couple of those Bitcoins I have on Mt. Gox to fund things ... (just kidding, as apparently were the operators of that BTC exchange. :)