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Musings on Random Musings


Kara Zor-El

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Re: Musings on Random Musings

 

Part of an answering machine prompt long ago: "To start global thermonuclear war, press 1. For instant sexual gratification, press 2. To have a parking ticket fixed, press 3. Or stay on the line to leave a message."

 

This was riotously funny until he had a message left that consisted of nothing but the sound of someone leaning on the 2 button and a female voice screaming, "IT'S NOT WORKING!! IT'S NOT WORKING!!"

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Re: Musings on Random Musings

 

Part of an answering machine prompt long ago: "To start global thermonuclear war, press 1. For instant sexual gratification, press 2. To have a parking ticket fixed, press 3. Or stay on the line to leave a message."

 

This was riotously funny until he had a message left that consisted of nothing but the sound of someone leaning on the 2 button and a female voice screaming, "IT'S NOT WORKING!! IT'S NOT WORKING!!"

 

To claim victory, press 1

To play golf, press 4

If you've just had food, press 8

To say no in German, press 9

For English money, press #

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Re: Musings on Random Musings

 

something i thought up a long long time ago:

 

 

 

Deaf Schitzo

 

Did you hear about the Deaf Schitzo who had conversations with himself?

He wasn't quite sure if he would be home so he set up an answering machine service for the 'voices', so they could leave a message. It went something like this:

'Please leave a message after the beep, and when I can hear what your message is, I'll get back to you...'

 

This led to: (spoilered for use of contraceptive device, just in case)

 

'Hello you have dialled Fred, all our lines are busy at the moment. God if that is you, or if you are a friend of his, or just plain holy, press '1' now. If you are a friend or a foe press '2'. Satan if that is you, press '666'. If you are an employee of Satan, I cannot take your call at the moment as I don't have the required extension, I suggest you take the matter up with your union. And if you are that little old lady telepath down the street in No. 4, NO I DON'T HAVE ANY MILK, COOKIES OR CONDOMS!

 

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Re: Musings on Random Musings

 

Part of an answering machine prompt long ago: "To start global thermonuclear war, press 1. For instant sexual gratification, press 2. To have a parking ticket fixed, press 3. Or stay on the line to leave a message."

 

This was riotously funny until he had a message left that consisted of nothing but the sound of someone leaning on the 2 button and a female voice screaming, "IT'S NOT WORKING!! IT'S NOT WORKING!!"

 

Kudos to all involved.

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Re: Musings on Random Musings

 

Part of an answering machine prompt long ago: "To start global thermonuclear war, press 1. For instant sexual gratification, press 2. To have a parking ticket fixed, press 3. Or stay on the line to leave a message."

 

This was riotously funny until he had a message left that consisted of nothing but the sound of someone leaning on the 2 button and a female voice screaming, "IT'S NOT WORKING!! IT'S NOT WORKING!!"

 

I woulda been pressing the number 1.

 

JG

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Re: Musings on Random Musings

 

Surgery course starts tomorrow. I belong to Team Upper Gastro. Thank goodness my upbringing has killed any tendencies to vomit uncontrollably' date=' unless necessary.[/quote']

 

Did you learn the "grin like a fool" technique that Mike Rowe uses?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?src_vid=RjA1lZDaEdY&v=zb1S89vmdUM

 

Note: Don't watch if squeamish. :eg:

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Re: Musings on Random Musings

 

Layman-speak should be a required course for any sort of technical degree.

 

Well, a refresher on how to once again speak outside one's field makes some sense. But so much of a technical education is training in the jargon of the field, so that one can discuss the technical concepts with which the field is concerned in an efficient and unambiguous way. This necessarily requires building understanding of some concepts which are usually absent from the common vernacular, and giving those concepts specific labels clear to those in the field so they can be invoked quickly when in a technical discussion.

 

The words "force", "momentum", "power", "energy", "impulse" ... all those have very specific meanings in the branch of physics called mechanics, but all of those also appear in the common vernacular with very vague, sloppy meanings. If you make a physicist listen to a TV football commentator for any length of time, they will end up seething in frustration over the random drivel the commentators assign those words to mean. I watch sports broadcasts with the Mute button on, for that among other reasons.

 

When we first got together, my wife and I -- she's an attorney by training -- had "discussions" over what constituted proof, doubt, and uncertainty. In physics and law those things aren't the same.

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Re: Musings on Random Musings

 

Well, a refresher on how to once again speak outside one's field makes some sense. But so much of a technical education is training in the jargon of the field, so that one can discuss the technical concepts with which the field is concerned in an efficient and unambiguous way. This necessarily requires building understanding of some concepts which are usually absent from the common vernacular, and giving those concepts specific labels clear to those in the field so they can be invoked quickly when in a technical discussion.

 

The words "force", "momentum", "power", "energy", "impulse" ... all those have very specific meanings in the branch of physics called mechanics, but all of those also appear in the common vernacular with very vague, sloppy meanings. If you make a physicist listen to a TV football commentator for any length of time, they will end up seething in frustration over the random drivel the commentators assign those words to mean. I watch sports broadcasts with the Mute button on, for that among other reasons.

 

When we first got together, my wife and I -- she's an attorney by training -- had "discussions" over what constituted proof, doubt, and uncertainty. In physics and law those things aren't the same.

 

Theory of Gravity!

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Re: Musings on Random Musings

 

Well, a refresher on how to once again speak outside one's field makes some sense. But so much of a technical education is training in the jargon of the field, so that one can discuss the technical concepts with which the field is concerned in an efficient and unambiguous way. This necessarily requires building understanding of some concepts which are usually absent from the common vernacular, and giving those concepts specific labels clear to those in the field so they can be invoked quickly when in a technical discussion.

 

The words "force", "momentum", "power", "energy", "impulse" ... all those have very specific meanings in the branch of physics called mechanics, but all of those also appear in the common vernacular with very vague, sloppy meanings. If you make a physicist listen to a TV football commentator for any length of time, they will end up seething in frustration over the random drivel the commentators assign those words to mean. I watch sports broadcasts with the Mute button on, for that among other reasons.

 

When we first got together, my wife and I -- she's an attorney by training -- had "discussions" over what constituted proof, doubt, and uncertainty. In physics and law those things aren't the same.

The thing is, everything in a specialized field is pretty much going to stay in that specialized field, unless it can be explained to "Joe Normal". Everyone in a specialized field is "Joe Normal" to other fields, after all.

 

And an important part of comprehension is being able to explain things conveniently and concisely.

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Re: Musings on Random Musings

 

There was a joke on a British show about "intelligent falling" as an alternate theory to gravity. The joke fell flat as the panel had never encountered Intelligent Design over there.

 

*cry*

 

I would say the Brits are a lot smarter than us, but they DID give us Big Brother and Simon Cowell. :(

 

JG

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