That A-frame on Sulphurous is hauntingly similar to my family's A-frame on Sheridan. It's no longer in the family but I have memories going back to the 60's. No running water or electricity in the early days.
Interesting comment, I find a genuine hate for science endemic today very disturbing.
Naaaaaaaaah, the youngsters have a grasp on the science. I know too many people my age who are still behind on the computer/human interaction.
I sometimes think that I wish I could be in my own little world like my 92 year-old mother in law.
But then realize that I'm lucky to be alive in these times and aware/awake.
I sometimes think that I wish I could be in my own little world like my 92 year-old mother in law.
But then realize that I'm lucky to be alive in these times and aware/awake.
Parfitt's Corollary - "There is a finite amount of intelligence in the universe. There more people there are the stupider they get."
We control what we can control.
If another Crakatoa goes off I can do nothing about it.
However I believe in the laws of Thermomdynamics at a minimum.
We are digging up stored energy and releasing it into the atmosphere. More energy=higher temp regardless of whether you believe in greenhouse gasses or not.
We are the stewards of the earth. We screw up and the earth won't care. 100,000 years from now we may not even exist. Gaia will prevail.
When I see my grown sons interact with their daughters (we have a half dozen of the female grand-daughter variety) I always wonder how they became "wise" in such a short interval of time. Probably my wife's influence, or genetic traits.
My son got a degree in "Classical Studies" ie study of Ancient Greek and Roman culture. Because that's what he was interested in. He excelled, because it interested him but it didn't seem like a great job qualification. However it made him learn to write a good paper. Now he has a fine job that include writing great reports and proposals.
College can still be a great experience and some peopel like to learn the stuff they teach there, even if it doesn't have a specific job waiting. is required for many jobs. It certainly isn't stupid to go to college. Maybe stupid to pay stipid money.
Teenagers and young adults these days? Because of my son I've met lots, and I find them generally caring and sincere, confident and idealistic, and not racist or judgmental.
I often wonder if my friends and I were that civilized!
College can still be a great experience and some peopel like to learn the stuff they teach there, even if it doesn't have a specific job waiting. is required for many jobs. It certainly isn't stupid to go to college. Maybe stupid to pay stipid money.
Teenagers and young adults these days? Because of my son I've met lots, and I find them generally caring and sincere, confident and idealistic, and not racist or judgmental.
I often wonder if my friends and I were that civilized!
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Much of my teenage youth was spent hosting weekend house parties as my parents weekended elsewhere. Typically 10-20 people, and occasionally many, many more. Living out in the county with no neighbors to disturb and well down a dirt road, so we weren't on any regular sheriff patrol path. I think most everyone appreciated having somewhere to go without having to look over their shoulder.
Fun times, but to answer Variac's pondering:
Over the course of several years, no one was ever hurt, there was never a fight, and the integrity of our house was well-respected. Every Sunday morning, no matter how bad we felt, the core participants scoured the yard for pull-tabs, cigarette butts, or any other evidence. Hauled off all the related trash and cleaned the house sparkly.
Civilized? Well, at least when it concerned our party place. And I'm pretty sure most of us were otherwise.
Funny thing is, many of the young folk I know are somewhat in awe of me. Why? Because I lived thru the legendary parties of the 70s and 80s. 😀 They seem to have the idea that we were much wilder and crazier than they are. A sort of reverence for past debauchery. I try not to disappoint them.
Oh, I agree with you. Science is a threat to many people's cultural beliefs, in their minds. And this mindset is a threat to the education system in the US. Anti-science sentiment is huge in the US, and growing.
But my statement is based on my experience job hunting. I am no longer under the delusion that anyone is going to hire me, but when I was applying for jobs the line of questioning (based on my age) was downright insulting. They'd ask questions like "Are you computer literate?" Questions like this always got my hackles up - of course I'm computer literate! How ignorant do you think I am? I freaking worked for IBM and then I worked in the back office of a bank for 25 years- you think I used an abacus? It's blatant prejudice, or maybe ignorance, on the part of employers that think only under 30s are employable.
I can certainly relate to that!
The things I did in the 70's and 80's were something that today's kids could only dream about ever doing, if their noses weren't so buried in a smartphone app.
Was I "wilder and crazier" back then - you bet your stinkin' socks I was!
But back then, times were different, we didn't have video cameras hanging from every building and pole on the streets.
We could get away with things without a worry, and with minimal shoddy planning.
Our freedoms were mostly ours to enjoy, be it good or irresponsible.
Sorry, I cant hold. I bet such people have no such issue with the science of ballistics, or the science of harmonic oscillation caused by equal and opposite force reactions, or the science of optics, or metallurgy / material science, or...measurement, particularly that of "velocity"...
"Selective Science"; that which is convenient because it supports some of the rest of the pile "they" have on "their" raft, I bet. Just dont use any of that to say, put a man on the moon - that's all faked, right? Cantstandya...
That's right. If you were young, the cops just took you home to your parents. If you were a little older, they took you to your place or gave you one night free in the precinct hotel and a $100 fine for disorderly conduct.
Darn right things have changed.
When I'm out walking and a patrol car goes by, I flip my hoody down and look toward the car. It prevents wasting of both of our time.
Disclaimer:The info I have provided was from incidental and hearsay knowledge. 😉
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My view on younger people being more stupid, at the ripe old age of 34, the difference between young and old doesn't exist. The music is different, the pace of society if different, but all the basics are the same. Money drives everything, and if you disagree then try giving it up and surviving.
Most people build a successful life even if they are not so good at what they do. People become "experts" by shouting loudly, which is more successful than actually being good at something. This is why con men, and "experienced" incompetent loud professionals would win over anyone who wants to do right, but is quiet.
If you are genuinely good at what you do you will not fare so well, especially when faced with the "experts" who have become rich/successful based on a bad idea “sold” well, unless you have something truly unique and are prepared to screw over everyone one around you.
Is this a naive or negative view to take? No, just open your eyes and look at the real world. With the power of the internet, and over 4.2billion web pages available, anyone can be an expert in anything they want in a few minutes even if they are “stupid”.
But given this technology is available to everyone in every corner of the earth (even where food and clean water isn’t), nobody these days is stupid, unless you don't have the internet.
Most people build a successful life even if they are not so good at what they do. People become "experts" by shouting loudly, which is more successful than actually being good at something. This is why con men, and "experienced" incompetent loud professionals would win over anyone who wants to do right, but is quiet.
If you are genuinely good at what you do you will not fare so well, especially when faced with the "experts" who have become rich/successful based on a bad idea “sold” well, unless you have something truly unique and are prepared to screw over everyone one around you.
Is this a naive or negative view to take? No, just open your eyes and look at the real world. With the power of the internet, and over 4.2billion web pages available, anyone can be an expert in anything they want in a few minutes even if they are “stupid”.
But given this technology is available to everyone in every corner of the earth (even where food and clean water isn’t), nobody these days is stupid, unless you don't have the internet.
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No, the internet cannot make you "smart"...the internet CAN regurgitate old myths AND create new ones!
Case in point one I found so, so silly.
A so-called "renowned" internet car guy (Vehicle Virgins) who reviews & drives all cars by the hundreds perhaps...was driving a Superformance Cobra...yeah, that one, 65 Cobra, 427 SC...then he yelled to the camera as he was driving. just why the shifter stick was angled forward..."..it's because the transmission had no synchros & the angle is so one can have more leverage!"
The Cobra shifter assembly is just a Mustang unit twisted around...my sisters 65 convertible had the exact same shifter!!
Another myth created by a know-nothing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------Rick..........
Case in point one I found so, so silly.
A so-called "renowned" internet car guy (Vehicle Virgins) who reviews & drives all cars by the hundreds perhaps...was driving a Superformance Cobra...yeah, that one, 65 Cobra, 427 SC...then he yelled to the camera as he was driving. just why the shifter stick was angled forward..."..it's because the transmission had no synchros & the angle is so one can have more leverage!"
The Cobra shifter assembly is just a Mustang unit twisted around...my sisters 65 convertible had the exact same shifter!!
Another myth created by a know-nothing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------Rick..........
Every generation thinks the next generation is stupider and less moral.
However, data shows IQs are increasing, mainly due to less lead being in the environment (although it's still a huge problem, especially around inner cities due to building demolition, tainted water, and contaminated soil).
One problem the younger generations have, though, is information overload. The Internet provides an endless way of shallowly engaging information. It's entertaining but shallow engagement can erode a person's attention span and commitment to difficult projects. The flip side is that lateral thinking may be improved due to exposure to such a variety of information. Also, people can choose to engage with the information on a deeper level if they seek the right kind of it (such as PDFs of technical materials).
Videos showing young people walking into fountains and trees because they're obsessively communicating with people (while loathing having to interact with anyone outside of their social group) may be humorous but they also point to the problem of shallow engagement. They also point to the issue of echo chambers. Those can also be found more easily due to the existence of the Internet. So, although the information exposure can have more variety, there can also be more aggressive reinforcement of specific narrow-mindedness.
Anyway... all generations have their shortcomings and positives. Getting lead exposure down (due to the phasing out of tetraethyl lead in fuel — except in some "less developed" nations, the banning of lead in paint, and some other reforms) is crucial to improving social success. The data about violence from places where lead smelters were established is completely clear. Lead causes brain damage that causes violence, stunted IQ — general human misery.
