Dear Bisqwit,
is there a reason why Xkeeper is allowed to have a graphical signature? Not only are the colors distracting, but it's mighty annoying when it doesn't say what it is.
is there a reason why Xkeeper is allowed to have a graphical signature? Not only are the colors distracting, but it's mighty annoying when it doesn't say what it is.
I think for three reasons:
-- the colors in his currentsignature are fairly low contrast to the forum background, providing minimal distraction
-- same for the contrast of the text to its background
-- it is small size
As for the meaning of the image -- well, how many know what my signature means? There are plenty of people who have an unintelligible or otherwise mysterious signature.
Perhaps you should edit this section of Forum Rules then, because it says graphical signatures are not allowed.
I prefer to keep it that way. It is easier to have the rules be concise and tolerate small slips than to try to write a black&white distinction between what's allowed and what not with a crystal clarity.
Though I admit that's just the way I work -- I like slight uncertainties and ambiguity; there are others who prefer things to be crystal clear with no room for debate.
I follow rules as though there's no room for debate, and enforce them as though there are always exceptions. And yet, I always seem to be placed in positions of administration. I can't decide if I'm just the token good cop, or if my superiors/peers routinely make poor decisions.
Nightwish's new album was released in September and it's still number one in the Finnish album chart so I guess that tells you something. I was never a fan, but the new singer is just horrible, I can't believe how well they're doing.
Joined: 11/11/2006
Posts: 1235
Location: United Kingdom
Kyrsimys wrote:
Nightwish's new album was released in September and it's still number one in the Finnish album chart so I guess that tells you something. I was never a fan, but the new singer is just horrible, I can't believe how well they're doing.
I actually thought the new singer was better, mainly for her slightly harder voice yet still managing to be soft..
<adelikat> I am annoyed at my irc statements ending up in forums & sigs
Nightwish's new album was released in September and it's still number one in the Finnish album chart so I guess that tells you something. I was never a fan, but the new singer is just horrible, I can't believe how well they're doing.
SILENCE! I kill you!
Raiscan wrote:
I actually thought the new singer was better, mainly for her slightly harder voice yet still managing to be soft..
I find them difficult to compare because their styles are so different, which I think was the goal with their selection.
*I haven't read the past 20 pages, so if there's a repeated question, just link the response*
1. Where does the Universe end?
2. Do you think that the Universe is ever-expanding?
3. If so, do you think it will continue to do so?
4. If the Universe is expanding, how can it not have an end point? To expand means that it's limit is getting larger.
5. 日本語はどうがわかてきましたか。
6. Can I have my fortune for the day please =)
I'm sciencing as fast as I can !
______________________________________
<adelikat> once more balls enter the picture, everything gets a lot more entertraining
<adelikat> mmmmm yummy penises
*I haven't read the past 20 pages, so if there's a repeated question, just link the response*
1. Where does the Universe end?
2. Do you think that the Universe is ever-expanding?
3. If so, do you think it will continue to do so?
4. If the Universe is expanding, how can it not have an end point? To expand means that it's limit is getting larger.
5. 日本語はどうがわかてきましたか。
6. Can I have my fortune for the day please =)
1--4:
I like to picture the universe as a hypersphere. Tell me, where does the surface of a sphere end?
One possible answer is: it ends on the surface. We observe its surface to each direction, but we cannot see any of the directions in which it ends.
No. I think the universe is finite. From the temporal perspective, possibly, it does not come down in a big crash, but diminishes ad infinitum, eternally slowing down as its expands; much like a traveller to a black hole does to an external observer: eternally slowing down without reaching a definite point.
It is said that the universe expands at an accelerating rate; things farther from us are getting even farther faster than things close to us. Then there is a question of dark matter. Maybe the universe is really a hyperverse where each universe is a bubble that pushes on the other bubbles, applying an acceleration and mass? Black holes create new bubbles, recycling material from other bubbles. (Don't ask me to elaborate on this theory, I just made it up from various pieces of theories that are on my mind at different times.)
5:
Through anime. I saw Pokémon on TV. I didn't consider Pokémon as an anime really, but through IRC contacts I tried later Initial D, which was anime. I became interested in learning more, and I read a few lessons at Maktos JIP. A year later, I went to an actual course, and I hung onto that course for a few years as a hobby. Later, some TASVideos related websites became an auxiliary motive for knowing Japanese.
きみも、どうやって日本語をべんきょうするを始めましたか？
6:
I'll give you a Bible quote of day instead!
Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
I apologize for barging in, as this is not really my thread, but I thought I could present my own view on these questions.
Deign wrote:
1. Where does the Universe end?
As far as I know, according to current scientifical measurements, we do not only not know what is the real shape of the universe (eg. if it does have an edge or not), but it's completely impossible for us to ever know this, no matter what we do. This is because of the so-called cosmological horizon, which causes the so-called observable universe to be smaller than the whole universe. We cannot observe anything that is outside this horizon, no matter what we do or how long we wait. We have absolutely no way of knowing, for example, what is the real size of the entire universe.
Thus it's completely impossible for us to say if the universe ends or not, and what kind of end it might be. There's just no way to measure it.
2. Do you think that the Universe is ever-expanding?
3. If so, do you think it will continue to do so?
I don't think this should be a question of opinion. It's just a question of measurement. Current measurements seem to indicate that the universe is ever-expanding, and until different measurements say otherwise there's no rational scientifical reason to believe anything else.
Of course you can doubt these scientifical measurements, but unless you can provide better measurements yourself your differing opinion on the matter is rather moot. Thus it's not really a question of opinion.
You can present alternative theories, but unless they are based on actual repeatable scientifical measurements, these theories will inevitably go into the realm of pseudoscience and have no real value.
4. If the Universe is expanding, how can it not have an end point? To expand means that it's limit is getting larger.
We don't know, and we cannot know, what is the real shape of the entire universe. Anyways, it's perfectly possible for the universe to expand regardless of its shape. Its volume simply increases. "New space" is formed, and distances between galaxies increase.
Sure, this is theory and you have the right to doubt it. However, no better alternative theories have been accepted by the general scientific community, and personally I believe that they know what they are talking about.
Current measurements seem to indicate that the universe is ever-expanding, and until different measurements say otherwise there's no rational scientifical reason to believe anything else.
Actually, we once had a university professor present an argument for the universe contracting rather than expanding. Would that I could remember the finer points of the presentation, but I just accept it as yet another uncertainty in cosmic physics.
Joined: 11/18/2006
Posts: 2426
Location: Back where I belong
superjupi wrote:
Warp wrote:
Current measurements seem to indicate that the universe is ever-expanding, and until different measurements say otherwise there's no rational scientifical reason to believe anything else.
Actually, we once had a university professor present an argument for the universe contracting rather than expanding. Would that I could remember the finer points of the presentation, but I just accept it as yet another uncertainty in cosmic physics.
From what I understand, the redshift property of the wavelengths of light would disagree with him (if natural properties of light could disagree, that is).
Since the universe question has been brought up, I'll answer a few more inevitable question. Aparently the universe ends in about 10 billion years time, but humans will probaly be extinct in a few hundred thousand years. The seas will rise bringing the earths total land surface to about a 1/3 of what it is now and because of the plate movements all the land massives will form one big super continent.
Also its believed that there is many universes we just happen to be one of many and there constantly being born and dieing off.
Why do people seem to subscribe to the multiple universe theory? There's no evidence of such a thing. Also, as far as i know there's no physical evidence of a black hole either (i.e. one has never been seen via telescope or otherwise) (if this is wrong, please direct me to a photo of one). (That last point is unrelated, just thought I would bring it up)
I'm sciencing as fast as I can !
______________________________________
<adelikat> once more balls enter the picture, everything gets a lot more entertraining
<adelikat> mmmmm yummy penises
but humans will probaly be extinct in a few hundred thousand years.
Why? Humans are homo sapiens, a normal kind of species like every other organism. The typical species lives for several million years, and we've only been here about 30,000 years, so unless we kill ourselves (if we do, it'll be a lot sooner than a few hundred thousand years), we still have a long way to go.
Aparently the universe ends in about 10 billion years time
Wouldn't that depend on what cosmological theory you believe (ie, heat death, Big Crunch, etc)?
Why do people seem to subscribe to the multiple universe theory? There's no evidence of such a thing. Also, as far as i know there's no physical evidence of a black hole either (i.e. one has never been seen via telescope or otherwise) (if this is wrong, please direct me to a photo of one). (That last point is unrelated, just thought I would bring it up)
AKA is refering to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-theory#Big_Bang_Theory. It is really just speculation at this point though and there is indeed no evidence. However, there is definitely evidence for black holes. No photographs though. They, by definition, don't emit light (well, yeah, Hawking radiation, but that is so minute you'd never detect it). However, they do have a gravitational pull and have an effect on their surroundings that can be observed.
As for the size of the universe, scientists don't even know if it is infinite or not.
Dear Bisqwit,
Assuming you aren't a vegetarian, do you prefer Moose, Reindeer or good ol' Cow meat?
Assuming you aren't opposed to liquor, do you prefer Lakka, Mead, or Vodka?
Assuming you don't hate deliciousness, do you prefer Blueberries, Strawberries or Raspberries?
Also why (if applicable)
Assuming you aren't a vegetarian, do you prefer Moose, Reindeer or good ol' Cow meat?
Assuming you aren't opposed to liquor, do you prefer Lakka, Mead, or Vodka?
Assuming you don't hate deliciousness, do you prefer Blueberries, Strawberries or Raspberries?
Also why (if applicable)
Although the moose (and in north, the reindeer) are common hunted animals in Finland, it's rare really to get to enjoy them. I can't really tell how they taste. So far all the moose I've ate has been quite tasty though.
Usually, the choices go between cow and pork. I like cow better as it's less fatty, but pork is cheaper.
I have never drank vodka, and I have never even heard of Lakka liquor.
Mead is a festive alcohol drink at the first of May (Labour day), enjoyed by children and adults alike, often with raisins.
However, I like lakka the berry, i.e. cloudberry. I would go so far as to label it my favourite berry (following my father's footsteps). :) The raspberry comes as a close second.
However, the cloudberry only grows at swamps and in miniscule amounts, making it rather a rare exquisity. It seems to be even rarer today than it was 50 years ago.
I don't think I would like the Russian Vodka, or the Finnish Koskenkorva for that matter either. I am not generally in fond of the smell or taste of alcohol. Much like salt, it is better at enhancing other flavors than standing out on its own.
Since the universe question has been brought up, I'll answer a few more inevitable question. Aparently the universe ends in about 10 billion years time
If you deduce that the universe ends in about 10 billion years by looking at that picture, you are doing something wrong; that picture is about the sun, not the universe. And even with your picture... the sun doesn't "end" either in 10 billion years, the pic just says it's a white dwarf by then.
Deign wrote:
Why do people seem to subscribe to the multiple universe theory? There's no evidence of such a thing.
Some might say it would be a kind of solipsism to assume our universe is the only one. Some people have difficulty accepting that the constants of the universe are exactly what they are. If there are many universes however, it could be inevitable that there is a universe with the constants that we currently have. It could also be an answer to a more general question why everything is the way it is. If everything that can possibly happen happens....
Deign wrote:
Also, as far as i know there's no physical evidence of a black hole either (i.e. one has never been seen via telescope or otherwise) (if this is wrong, please direct me to a photo of one). (That last point is unrelated, just thought I would bring it up)
Assuming you know what a black hole is, it is obviously that there is no direct photo from it. Since its gravity makes it impossible for light to escape its gravitational field, there are no photons coming directly from it, so it cannot be seen, and a photo cannot be taken of it (a photo of it would be like a photo of a cat in a completely dark room... even though the cat might be there, it's not visible on a photo). So saying that it hasn't been seen directly isn't an argument for its non-existence (since that's exactly what is expected).
We can however observe its gravitational effects. If some other star rotates around a spot in space, which is seemingly empty, it could be an indication of a black hole. Light bending around it is also.
Since the universe question has been brought up, I'll answer a few more inevitable question. Aparently the universe ends in about 10 billion years time, but humans will probaly be extinct in a few hundred thousand years. The seas will rise bringing the earths total land surface to about a 1/3 of what it is now and because of the plate movements all the land massives will form one big super continent.
Also its believed that there is many universes we just happen to be one of many and there constantly being born and dieing off.
