GammaGlobulin

The longer I live, the more obvious it becomes to me that tastes in both pizza and grammar are changing. I prefer Old School grammar, in every case. But some prefer new toppings, such as pineapple, which disgusts me. And so it is with grammar, I guess.

I recall that a friend of mine once wrote this about pronouns and pizza: The above image was taken from JSTOR, but anyone can go to this website to read the entire essay: http://www.jochnowitz.net/Essays/EverybodyLikesPizza.html Hope this helps to clarify pronoun choice and the changing face of grammar, these days.

Actually, this is a very interesting topic because pronoun choice has been gradually changing during recent decades, and this has been much discussed by various Linguistic researchers and profs. He is faster than I. He is faster than me. (Personally, I prefer the first of the above two examples.) This is not such a simple topic.... But a very good one. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND that..... the correct form, "I am older than she" vs "I am older than her", sounds very awkward and even STILTED to most ears...these days. However, sometimes if you listen to Oxford University lecturers, you will still hear proper usage of pronouns. Or...If you listen to me speak, then...I sometimes refuse to give in by saying... I am older than her. I just cannot due it...It's like fingernails against the blackboard to my ears.

By the way: I use silicone ice trays which remain perfectly flexible at negative-40 degrees C. And, it's fun (at least for me) when the ice cubes are so cold that they stick to my fingers, even when I give my finger a good shake.

The proper mentorship of a father is crucial for developing an inquisitive mind. Take Feynman's Dad...for example.... Here is a video showing how Feynman's dad altered the course of his life...and for the better. Also, in this video, you can listen to how Feynman enjoyed the company of prostitutes, and also sleeping with the wives of his academic colleagues while at places like Cornell.. (I already mentioned the bongos that Feynman loved, but I did not mention the prostitutes, even though I had read about it.) Feynman's IQ was tested at 125 when he was 17, but obviously there is an error involved in the testing method, surely. Nobody ever asks the question about the testing procedure. And ANYWAY, it doesn't really matter because the IQ scale does not necessarily measure creativity or the qualities that are required to be gifted in Physics.... So then, enjoy the video if you will....

I really had to chuckle while reading this. In fact, it seems that the same thing has happened in this village during the past two or three days. The loudspeakers nearest my place have stopped working, seemingly, and I can hear the music-and-announcements from the more distant speakers, but, so very fortunately, not the ones that blast me, even with all doors and windows closed, and the AC going full blast, and my JS Bach going from my six-speaker sound system. Truly, the only way to deal with this problem, IF one might even consider it a problem, which some do not, is to just choose music you prefer, and then play this music in a small room with all the windows shut, and heavy drapes pulled tight.... This is REALLY the only way...because...it is NOT our JOB to try to change the habits and customs of the Thai people in our village!!!!!

Yes, it is. My domestic freezer fluctuates from negative-40 degrees C, to just a bit over negative-25 degrees C. (Also, I keep my 500-liter fridge in my air conditioned office, which is kept cool 24/7. The reason is that I am trying to preserve the compressor's low noise attributes. I keep my other Hitachi fridge in the kitchen. But the kitchen is so hot that, now, the noise level of the compressor on that machine has doubled or tripled, since it works hard to maintain my freezer at the lowest design temperature, which, for that machine, is about negative-18 degrees C.) Also, if you are storing ice cream, then it is necessary, in order to make ice cream taste better, to store it at an even lower temperature in a commercial freezer, which I, alas, do not possess. In addition: At this point in my life, there is no need for me to store sperm of any kind. If I had such a need, then I would probably have to buy another freezer, one which was based on a liquid nitrogen cooling system that could achieve a constant balmy negative-196 degrees C.

At even a DEEPER level, and being the minimalist that I AM, I have to wonder why people replace their perfectly good smartphones with a newer version, just about every year, when there is not that much advantage to doing so... And also, I need not wonder too long, because... I know a bit about conspicuous consumption driven by increasing population density. There definitely IS a correlation between higher population density and increased conspicuous consumption. I have a NOTE4 which is perfectly adequate for my needs, just because I have a phone for one reason: function By the way, this will be the Topic of my next OP. I just wanted to tell you in advance, in order that you will have no need to lay awake this evening wondering about what my next nutty tangential OP might be. (By the way: During the past few decades, I have been bugged by the common usage of the words LAY and LIE... I believe that hens LAY and humans LIE... What say you?)

I believe in the philosophy of minimalism. But my philosophy of minimalism may not be the same as yours. I do not mindlessly follow my belief as do some robotic-style minimalists. Therefore, my purchase of two refrigerators does not contradict my belief. My minimalist code of behavior involves a. buying only what is needed, b. buying only what will be used and thoroughly appreciated every day, or almost every day, for a period of at least 10 years, c. being able to look back from five years in the future while being able to also say I am really thankful I bought that.

I would hope that readers would understand that the refrigerator is not just a refrigerator, but also a metaphor for the accumulated material wealth we needlessly worry over, as we approach our happy ending. As we age, many of us become overly concerned with preservation of the physical possessions which truly become quite meaningless, in the end. And I mentioned Cheever and his short story The Swimmer, which is one of his masterpieces. Cheever's The Swimmer is full of symbolism, and it is haunting. It is the "winter" that is the focus, and also the loss. In Cheever's story, the protagonist looses EVERYTHING, his house, his wealthy suburban lifestyle, his high society friends, and even his family. He is left cold and shivering, completely lost in the world. Here is what one critic wrote of The Swimmer: I have found this short story most thought provoking over the years.

I have it on good authority that this is not rubbish.

Tangential. Good! Anyone wishing to have another eureka moment should never attack a problem head on.

This is true. However, arithmetic ability is an example of crystallized intelligence. True?

Yes. And now, I am thinking of The New Yorker, and Cheever's Swimmer. I cannot help but feel that Cheever might have worried about refrigerators, too, in the wee hours, when he was alive. The story is here, and for free: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1964/07/18/the-swimmer

My Dearest Fellow-Mortals of The Pub-Forum, Earlier this year, I decided to buy a second refrigerator so that I would have one refrigerator for the kitchen, and another refrigerator for my “office-computer-internet-conference–breakfast-lunch-and-dinner-at-my-desk-room”. The first refrigerator, bought several years ago, is protected by a 10-year warranty. I can sleep easy with the 10-year refrigerator-compressor warranty…And I have had no sleepless nights following this purchase. This past March, I did some research before buying a second 500-liter fridge-with-freezer for my office. After delivery, I waited 24 hours before plugging it in, and it seemed to be working fine. I even bought a freezer thermometer which told me that the freezer compartment stayed below negative-25 degrees C, which is what I require. Realizing that I seemed to have made a good purchase, and after filling up the freezer with many kilograms of chicken breasts, and several silicone ice trays, I began to feel proud of myself for being such a savvy consumer. However, my good refrigerator vibes were not to last long. After a few days, I began dwelling upon the fact that the salesman had talked me into buying a refrigerator with a 20-year warranty. This 20-year compressor warranty had not bothered me much while at the home appliance showroom… However, after about a month, sometime around the end of April, I began feeling uneasy at night. I did not have any night sweats or anything, just a feeling that something was not completely right with the fridge. It took me until about June before I realized what the matter was…and why I felt so unsettled. This salesman had knowingly sold me a 20-year warranty when he obviously must have also known that I would never live long enough to ensure he and his company would live up to the terms of the warranty contract. I mean, what will happen if the compressor fails in 18 or 19 years? If I am not around, will anyone force the company to replace the compressor? And how can I be sure? This is my main worry. But also, this past month, as I tossed and turned, often losing sleep at night, I have worried that my refrigerator compressor might perversely decide to outlive me. I have heard of refrigerators that can even last 30 years, or more. And then I begin to think: Well, what if I DO outlive the refrigerator? In this case, 20 years from now…Then what? Because, twenty-years hence, wouldn’t I be faced with this same problem all over again? You know what I mean? Do you, too, wrestle with similar thoughts in the still, wee hours, waiting for the sunrise? Best regards, With so much to think about, And not enough time, Gamma My Opinion: The New Yorker is no longer what it once was when Cheever was alive.

I agree with you 100 PERCENT! Your solution is the ONLY logical solution to this mess. Also, Trump will help to destroy the world, if elected, through continued inaction concerning Global Warming, obviously.

NOT TRUE!!! Please see this story here concerning Death Wish if Trump runs: Above image taken from: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12353759/Bill-Barr-says-hell-jump-BRIDGE-Donald-Trump-wins-GOP-2024-nomination.html

Covid didn't do it, so maybe nothing will.

Isn't Trump too old? Isn't Biden too old? If Trump is chosen to run... Does that mean that we Americans have a death wish?

Now you are beginning to really CONFUSE me. Science is important. Here, from IBM, is a very simple, not deep-mind, tutorial on FLUID VS CRYSTALLIZED Intelligence. And, YES, it DOES matter:

I am so relieved to read your entire Post....because... I thought you meant me.

Such an interesting Topic and a subject I often think about. If I were to have a GF again...which I will not. I would search for one with an age difference of about 20 years. I like older women. Always have.

AI must be something. Nothingness is just too difficult to contemplate.

Are you sure that you are not, again, mixing up the two different measures of intelligence, i.e. Crystallized Intelligence VS Fluid Intelligence? Because, of course, I am speaking of Fluid Intelligence when I tell you that James Flynn's observation is CORRECT that Fluid Intelligence has been increasing by about 3 IQ points each decade.

As you say, in order to discuss the question you are responding to, it is best to begin several good Psych courses. Most, if not all, of these topics are covered, including formation of beliefs, resistance to change in beliefs, even in the face of contradictory evidence, and how to create more persistent/resilient beliefs. Madison Avenue has learned a lot from guys like Edward Bernays, for example.... Religious beliefs can easily be manipulated through Madison Avenue techniques. So, in other words, people do not know why they believe in any specific religion or product...They just DO! Anyway, all I can tell you is that all this stuff like shaping opinion, and also creating resilient beliefs, something of interest to Madison Avenue, is thoroughly covered in several good Psych courses. I have done my best to forget what I learned at university, just because I am not really a Machiavellian kind of guy.