Things that make you go What the F**k?

[Hardy]

The USA stubbornly refuses to adopt the metric system and join the rest of the world in accepting logical, simplified, sensible, units of measurement. There is a reason for the reluctance of American politicians to engage in any sort of confrontation on the Metric Matter.

A Washington acquaintance of mine, a member of a Congressional committee who will benefit from anonymity, told me that she is regularly visited by lobbyists who represent religious clients and caution her against endorsing any acceptance of metrication for common American use. Why? Because, they preach, the metric system originated with atheists, and not just any sort of atheists, but with French atheists, obviously the worst kind!

One of the results of the French Revolution that was arrived at in 1791 was the adoption in that country of the metric system of measurements – which fell just short of changing clocks into a ten-hour dial with one hundred minutes – think of a possible revolt of clockmakers! – and was quickly taken up by almost all other civilized countries.

American politicians have to think twice about accepting ungodly notions, no matter how useful, logical, rational, or reasonable such ideas may be. Those folks who can accept virgin birth by humans as well as talking bushes and serpents, will just have to muddle along...

James Randi - www.randi.org

[Billys Boots]

Damn empiricism and all its reasoning!

[muppet]

Damn empiricism and all its reasoning!

Question on empiricism:

If you conducted a test 20,000,000 times a year, each year for 10 years, and got the same result, would you be able to form a definite conclusion?

[Billys Boots]

Well, I don't imagine that empiricists would be drawn to repeating the same test to that degree.  But I think, taking the question at face value, that an empiricist would predict a very likely, rather than a definite, outcome.

[muppet]

Well, I don't imagine that empiricists would be drawn to repeating the same test to that degree.  But I think, taking the question at face value, that an empiricist would predict a very likely, rather than a definite, outcome.

Conclusion: Irish airports searches are unlikely to ever catch a terrorist.

[blewuporstuffed]

Baby got back

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/15818910

[Hardy]

Well, I don't imagine that empiricists would be drawn to repeating the same test to that degree.  But I think, taking the question at face value, that an empiricist would predict a very likely, rather than a definite, outcome.

Conclusion: Irish airports searches are unlikely to ever catch a terrorist.

Correct, but not for the reason you may (forgive me if I'm wrong) be proposing.

Irish (and most) airport searches are unlikely to ever catch a terrorist because the number of times terrorists have used any individual airport for the purposes of terrorism is zero in all but a very small number of cases.

Also, the "test" in question probably does not meet the most rigorous criteria of effectivity for purpose, consistency, precision and repeatability that, in empirical tems, would be required for a likely conclusion, much less a definite one (which concept doesn't doesn't really exist in scientific terms).

[Billys Boots]

Well, I don't imagine that empiricists would be drawn to repeating the same test to that degree.  But I think, taking the question at face value, that an empiricist would predict a very likely, rather than a definite, outcome.

Conclusion: Irish airports searches are unlikely to ever catch a terrorist.

Or: International (Islamic) terrorists have (to-date) had no (serious) gripe with Irish folk. 

[haveaharp]

Well, I don't imagine that empiricists would be drawn to repeating the same test to that degree.  But I think, taking the question at face value, that an empiricist would predict a very likely, rather than a definite, outcome.

Conclusion: Irish airports searches are unlikely to ever catch a terrorist.

Or: International (Islamic) terrorists have (to-date) had no (serious) gripe with Irish folk.

90 odd different nationalities died on 9/11 - i dont think they would give a rats arse whether they had a gripe or not if it was a chance to get a plane in the air and point it at a target.

[randomtask]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-15838152

ulster scots plan to overtake school

[AQMP]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-15838152

ulster scots plan to overtake school

I hope they indicate.

[maddog]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2064748/Hungry-Hobbit-cafe-told-change-Lord-Rings-author-JRR-Tolkiens-estate.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Local greasy spoon to me being forced to change their name from the Hungry Hobbitt (its opposite Sarehole Mill which has tolkein connections). Does a nice "builders" breakfast for £4.95 to be fair.

[ONeill]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMFE7C5y9Zw&feature=related

Nice woman though.

[muppet]

Fox News: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Rt6vqki_eE&feature=related

[blewuporstuffed]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-15842559