Snowfall science

We have about 6" of snow on the ground, north of Chicago, but a bit to the west they had 12 or 134 inches.  The forecast had been for 2-3"!

Science remains imperfect.  However, I guess it is better than the alternatives.

My son-in-law, a very distinguished physicist, certainly thinks so.  There was a Christmastime discussion about whether or not cell phones are dangerous to the human brain.  He assured us that they are not.

However, as brilliant as he is, one of his favorite tv shows (he watches very few) is that comedy about the two musicians from New Zealand:  Flight of the Conchords.  Sort of makes you wonder.

I wonder what shows the Nobel Laureates like best?  I have only known one, and he didn't even follow the news.  He was totally caught up in his research, and said that if anything really important happened, he would learn about it over lunch at the faculty club.

Comments

[Katiebell]

So true about the TV!  When I was a teen, I played in an Orchestra, and had to stay with one of the board of Directors for a concert.  Her husband was some famous avant garde composer (think like Phillip Glass, I can't recall the name at the moment), and his favorite TV show was Gunsmoke!  Totally blew me out of the water then!

[DoctorD42]

But Gunsmoke was a great show!  Flight of the Conchords is supremely ridiculous. On HBO, or available on DVD.  Must be seen to be believed.

It is a true "musical" show.  They burst into spontaneous song.  But here is a clip from a "stage performance."

[Country By Design]

Hmmm...  I don't watch TV, even the news.  I can't remember the last time I watched a movie.  Oh, wait.  I took the granddaughters to see Coraline so I could see the 3D effects.  I might watch part of a football game now and then.  Does that prove that I'm smart, or something else?  LOL

[Country By Design]

I hope he is right about the cell phones.  I am sitting here reading the January issue of Prevention.  On page 3 there is the following quote from Michael Segell:  "Cell phones are the new power lines.  They're potentially harmful for everyone - but especially for children".  They have been wrong about things being harmful before. 

[DoctorD42]

Country, my physicist son-in-law (who is brilliant and completely world-class in his field) said something like cell phones don't hurt us for the same reason that radios don't hurt us.  Something like that.  It has to do with the frequencies, I believe.

Here is a related commentary on wikipedia.

It is so interesting!  People are very easy to frighten, and fear is so powerful!  Yet, at the same time, it is hard to know which things are really worth being frightened of.  So people get worked up about "medicare death panels" and such non-existent things.  Some are afraid of flying saucers.  Some are afraid of changes in the climate.  Some Floridians are afraid of hurricanes, and others are not.  I personally am afraid of roller coasters, and never go on one.  I knew a nurse in the Air Force who was afraid to fly.

There is a lot of money to be made, or power to be grasped, by creating fear(s). News stories about (possible?) dangers are more "popular" than those about things being safe.  I remember how much publicity a "study" got on the danger posed by movie popcorn.  And maybe it is!

Here is one thing I think can be established that people ought to be afraid of concerning cell phones:  people dialing, talking, or texting while driving.  But mostly I think they aren't.  The part of cell phones we don't understand, how the signals work, is mysterious and perhaps for that reason can more easily elicit fear (?)

Drinking and driving, too.  People ought to be afraid of that!

It is hard to know.  I certainly don't mistrust Prevention, and I know nothing about Michael Segell, but I trust my local physicist more.  We will see.  And, as you say, people can be wrong: for a long time, smoking wasn't considered harmful....

[Country By Design]

I hope there is no danger associated with cell phones.  I can't see where the danger is, but who knows?  I won't go near a roller coaster either, and don't like ladders either.  I prefer to keep both feet on the ground.  However, if I had a chance, I would try skydiving.  How's that for not being consistant!