Michael Flynn's Blog, page 107

m_francis @ 2009-06-05T18:13:00

Kant Keep a Good Man Down

In a Physorg.com post entitled "What if there is only one universe?" (a proposition which it either tautological, if you take the meaning of "universe", or empirical, if you go by the evidence so far) we find the following in the comm box:

Immanuel Kant's transcendental deduction (1780!), ...that a-priori cognitive faculties determine the form of experience, and so the conditions of science, anticipated the Copenhagen Interpretation of QM with regard to the inability of s

m_francis @ 2009-06-05T17:48:00

Remember Yesterday's Story About the Bees on the Airplane Wing? 
A clue! 
"Royal Family Stung by Theft of Beehives"--headline, Reuters, June 4

m_francis @ 2009-06-04T15:29:00

That'll Teach 'Em to Pay Their Sales Tax
"240 Dogs Seized Over Unpaid Sales Taxes"--headline, Indianapolis Star, June 3
 

Didn't They Once Prove that Bees Could Not Fly?
 "10,000 Bees Crowd Wing of Plane at Mass. Airport"--headline, Associated Press, June 3

Don't We Have Enough Trouble Sorting Plastic From Glass?
"Minnesota Zoo Wants You to Sort Out Poop"--headline, Star Tribune (Minneapolis), June 4

Stop the Presses!
Paris Hilton Bringing Her Reality Series to Dubai"--headline, Associated Press, June 

m_francis @ 2009-06-02T19:56:00

The Worst Recession

...since 1982 -- not since the 1930s -- is nothing compared to the rest of the world:   


(China not included; but see remainder of article; link below)

According to STRATFOR:

The most important aspect of the United States is not simply its sheer size, but the size of its usable land. Russia and China may both be similar-sized in absolute terms, but the vast majority of Russian and Chinese land is useless for agriculture, habitation or development. In contrast, courtesy of the Mi

m_francis @ 2009-06-02T18:50:00

Speaking of Which....

Anyone remember the Ozone Hole?  Yeah, us too.  Might want to know how it's doing now that it isn't in the headlines any more:
[image error]

The step-down in 1985 argues for a sudden cause, not a gradual build-up.  It corresponds to the sudden cooling of most of Antarctica, which occurred just before 1985: 

[image error]

Whether the one has to do with the other is not certain; but the coincidence is peculiar. 

This is piquant enough to wish for a subscription: www.nature.com/news/2007/070924/full/449382

m_francis @ 2009-06-02T13:33:00

Doom and Gloom!

Not only is the Earth moving away from the Sun....

www.newscientist.com/article/dn17228-why-is-the-earth-moving-away-from-the-sun.html

but this

www.theonion.com/content/node/45792

m_francis @ 2009-06-01T23:53:00

This is Kool

Sea ice from NSIDC data.  The blank circle at the North Pole is a region the satellites cannot image. 

m_francis @ 2009-06-01T13:38:00

Up Jim RIver

Received a sketch today, evidently a watercolor, of the proposed cover for Up Jim River. 

m_francis @ 2009-06-01T13:37:00

Posting Query

I'm reposting this here in case anyone knows the answer. 

Subject: rss feed
Hi Mike,
For some reason, although I'm subscribed to your blog through bloglines, it never updates. Just wondering whether any of your other readers have had this issue....

(John Farrell)

m_francis @ 2009-05-31T20:19:00

Syrian Wedding

It is traditional to bring a gun to an Arab wedding and fire it in celebration

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Shamkhwow!

He Can't Dance