Daily science briefs

I personally have NO interest in Science at all.

When I was in school I had my best grades in Science, but I hated the subject then and I still hate anything to do with science.

Technology might be useful.

Science is the method by which we examine the natural universe.

Why would anyone hate objective knowledge? Is the responsibility too much? Does it conflict with comfortable dogma?

Serious questions. I really want to know. I can't get enough of science.

DF

210,
How can you have technology WITHOUT science?

gofish, i think this is an excellent idea! i would love to see this as an addition to the paper - lots of us out here ARE interested in science. just the stuff going on on mars now could fill up the whole section.

how about a science topic on the forum, too?

quote:

Originally posted by hoss gal:
gofish, i think this is an excellent idea! i would love to see this as an addition to the paper - lots of us out here ARE interested in science. just the stuff going on on mars now could fill up the whole section.

how about a science topic on the forum, too?

.
.
As long as they could get the articles off the wire or some other source. I'd hate to see a local TD reporter butcher scientific facts the way they do the facts in a simple news article.

quote:

I personally have NO interest in Science at all.

The evolved primate says as he punches the plastic keyboard attached to the motherboard that uses a binary processor powered by electrons moving through hundreds of miles of wires that were generated by nuclear fission made possible by heavy elements that were created when stars exploded billions of years ago.

Your very existence is dependent upon science, 201! It's really ironical, ain't it?

The local fish wrapper is not capable of doing a scientific report and not butchering the story. I would also gurantee it would be abused by scientists attempting to procure their government funding. (ie. "Global Climate Change") We all should know what a farce that is.

The idea is one I could like with an objective intelligent facilitator.

quote:

Originally posted by littlemeanmama:
210,
How can you have technology WITHOUT science?

You can't.

Science & Tech are inextricably intertwined.

quote:

Originally posted by GoFish:

quote:

I personally have NO interest in Science at all.

The evolved primate says as he punches the plastic keyboard attached to the motherboard that uses a binary processor powered by electrons moving through hundreds of miles of wires that were generated by nuclear fission made possible by heavy elements that were created when stars exploded billions of years ago.

Your very existence is dependent upon science, 201! It's really ironical, ain't it?

Hi Fish,

Having spent about fifty years of my life in the computer industry -- starting with vacuum tube computers, then transistors, integrated circuits, very large integrated circuits, etc. -- I was okay with the first part of your statement: "The evolved primate says as he punches the plastic keyboard attached to the motherboard that uses a binary processor powered by electrons moving through hundreds of miles of wires. . ."

But, then you went off into nuclear fission, heavy elements, exploding stars, billions of years -- I do believe you switched labs. Or you switched something. Sorry, Fish, in fifty years in the computer industry I never saw a nuclear fission in the technology -- and I sure did not see any stars exploding -- and, to the best of my knowledge, the computer industry, as we know it, basically started in the 20th century. Ever hear of the Manhattan Project in the 1940s? And, from that, in the 1950s, about five companies started building computers. One of them was Burroughs Corporation, where I worked. Vacuum tubes, miles of wiring -- but no exploding stars.

However, I think your suggestion of a Science & Technology Section would be wonderful. Of course, YOU would allow CREATION SCIENCE to be discussed also -- wouldn't you? Or would it only be DEEP FISHY Science?

Great idea. Keep up the good work -- and may the Holy Spirit work within you as He teaches you complete science.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill Gray
billdory@pacbell.net

Alabama bred,
California fed,
Blessed by God to be a Christian American!

quote:

Fish, in fifty years in the computer industry I never saw a nuclear fission in the technology -- and I sure did not see any stars exploding --

Which illustrates my point eloquently: Many (most?) people are profoundly ignorant of science and technology.

A little exposure to it on a daily basis would serve them well.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Gray:

quote:

Originally posted by GoFish: [QUOTE]I personally have NO interest in Science at all.

[/color]

But, then you went off into nuclear fission, heavy elements, exploding stars, billions of years -- I do believe you switched labs. Or you switched something. Sorry, Fish, in fifty years in the computer industry I never saw a nuclear fission in the technology -- and I sure did not see any stars exploding -- and, to the best of my knowledge, the computer industry, as we know it, basically started in the 20th century. Ever hear of the Manhattan Project in the 1940s? And, from that, in the 1950s, about five companies started building computers. One of them was Burroughs Corporation, where I worked. Vacuum tubes, miles of wiring -- but no exploding stars.



God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill Gray
billdory@pacbell.net

Alabama bred,
California fed,
Blessed by God to be a Christian American!

You must be older than dirt ! I am as old as dirt and I worked on the Burroughs B300/B500, the B2500/B3500, and the B5500 and B6500.
Before that I worked on the IBM 1620 CADET (can't add, dosn't even try), but I NEVER worked on a computer with vacuum tubes. Radios, and TV's with tubes, but never computers.
Is your knowledge about creation science vs evolution 1st hand ?

There is no such thing as "Creation Science".

Show me one single testable, falsifiable, demonstrable hypothesis generated as the result of Creation Science.

DF

Hi Excelman,

You say,"You must be older than dirt! I am as old as dirt and I worked on the Burroughs B300/B500, the B2500/B3500, and the B5500 and B6500. Before that I worked on the IBM 1620 CADET (can't add, doesn't even try), but I NEVER worked on a computer with vacuum tubes. Radios, and TV's with tubes, but never computers."

I prefer to call myself mature rather than old; like a good wine, I have mellowed. The only time I admit to being a "senior" is when it gets me a discount at restaurants. I worked for Burroughs in the California division which was originally named Electrodata. About ten years later, at a Fall Joint Computer Conference, a reunion of Electrodata people was held. By this time I had worked for several other computer companies. All evening I kept meeting folks I knew -- but, never realized they were Electrodata alumni.

Anyway, I worked on the Burroughs B220 computer system, but left just as they were bringing out the B5000. I went to a relatively new company named Ramo-Wooldridge (before Thompson was added to make it TRW). There I help set up a test lab for the first mil-spec mini computer, the AN/YUK 130. Later I install one of these on board the USNS Kingsport, the satellite tracking ship which controlled the first Syncom satellite. My computer controlled the tracking antenna. Below is an excerpt from the web site: USNS Kingsport (T-AG 164) http://patriot.net/~eastlnd2/Kingsport.htm

In 1962, the U.S. Navy took a significant step forward, building the first satellite communications ship, the USNS Kingsport, mounting a 30-foot stabilized antenna to provide a mobile terminal capability for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Syncom satellite.

The planned phone call between President (Kennedy) and Prime Minister (Balewa) was delayed a week, taking place on 23 August 1963. According to reports Vice President Johnson, UN Secretary General U Thant and others were at the White House. PM Balewa was aboard Kingsport with his Foreign and Communications Ministers and other dignitaries. The call was routed to Lakehurst, N.J. then up to Syncom II and down to Kingsport. The event is noted as being the first satellite linked phone call between heads of state.

After that, I went to work for Scientific Data Systems where I installed the very first time share computer (an SDS 940) for the company Tymshare Corporation. At that time, Tymshare was so small, the president, Tom O’Rourke, was trying to program the SDS 940 while I was still installing it. At one time SDS had only about 25 field engineers nationwide. During a meeting, we began to discuss who had worked on which computers over the early years of the industry. In that group of 25; we had at least one person who had worked on every single computer that had ever been built up to that time. We were a bunch of young "old salts."

For years, before there was a PC computer, I used to give Computer Logic Seminars for Digital Equipment -- and Microcomputer Seminars for several other companies; including MITS in Alburquerque which is famous for having a programming staff comprised of only two young men: Bill Gates and Paul Allen.

Yes, I have been around the computer industry for a long time -- but who is old?

Your question "Is your knowledge about creation science vs evolution 1st hand?" leaves me with a question: I am not sure what you are asking. If you are asking if I have worked in a science lab -- well, except for electronics and computers, no. My knowledge of Creation comes from over twenty years of diligent study of the Bible and other sources. You might say the same applies to evolution also.

Excelman, working on those Burroughs computers really make you an old man. Since 1986, Burroughs has not existed. Actually, Sperry and Burroughs merge to form Unisys Corporation. But, for years, before I retired, every time I visited Unisys, I still thought of it as Burroughs; never could get used to the Unisys name.

Hey, Excelman, thanks for jogging my memory. A trip down memory lane is very pleasant and relaxing for the soul.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Gray:
Hi Excelman,

Your question "Is your knowledge about creation science vs evolution 1st hand?" leaves me with a question: I am not sure what you are asking. If you are asking if I have worked in a science lab -- well, except for electronics and computers, no. My knowledge of Creation comes from over twenty years of diligent study of the Bible and other sources. You might say the same applies to evolution also.


Bill

You have an interesting Resume.
I was just trying to be funny in asking that question, implying that you are so old that you were around at the beginning of the earth (as in older than dirt).

Old man Burroughs , after he became rich, built a house, or rather castle on the mountain just south of Birmingham. A subdivision just east of the Vulcan. At any rate, it is one big house and grounds.
Not too many people worked on Burroughs computers as compared to IBM, but lately I have met several that did. Thought it was kinda strange that you posted you had also.
I still remember the old B300/B500 systems that you could program right off the lights on the console in binary machine languate B-A-8 4 2 1 coding. Brings back some memorys for me as well.

quote:

Originally posted by excelman:

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Gray:
Hi Excelman,

Your question "Is your knowledge about creation science vs evolution 1st hand?" leaves me with a question: I am not sure what you are asking. If you are asking if I have worked in a science lab -- well, except for electronics and computers, no. My knowledge of Creation comes from over twenty years of diligent study of the Bible and other sources. You might say the same applies to evolution also.


Bill

You have an interesting Resume.
I was just trying to be funny in asking that question, implying that you are so old that you were around at the beginning of the earth (as in older than dirt).

Old man Burroughs , after he became rich, built a house, or rather castle on the mountain just south of Birmingham. A subdivision just east of the Vulcan. At any rate, it is one big house and grounds.
Not too many people worked on Burroughs computers as compared to IBM, but lately I have met several that did. Thought it was kinda strange that you posted you had also.
I still remember the old B300/B500 systems that you could program right off the lights on the console in binary machine languate B-A-8 4 2 1 coding. Brings back some memorys for me as well.

I too remember them well.

The first one I saw I was spooked and stampeded off into the woods.

quote:

Originally posted by rramlimnn:

quote:

Originally posted by excelman:

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Gray:
Hi Excelman,

Your question "Is your knowledge about creation science vs evolution 1st hand?" leaves me with a question: I am not sure what you are asking. If you are asking if I have worked in a science lab -- well, except for electronics and computers, no. My knowledge of Creation comes from over twenty years of diligent study of the Bible and other sources. You might say the same applies to evolution also.


Bill

You have an interesting Resume.
I was just trying to be funny in asking that question, implying that you are so old that you were around at the beginning of the earth (as in older than dirt).

Old man Burroughs , after he became rich, built a house, or rather castle on the mountain just south of Birmingham. A subdivision just east of the Vulcan. At any rate, it is one big house and grounds.
Not too many people worked on Burroughs computers as compared to IBM, but lately I have met several that did. Thought it was kinda strange that you posted you had also.
I still remember the old B300/B500 systems that you could program right off the lights on the console in binary machine languate B-A-8 4 2 1 coding. Brings back some memorys for me as well.

I too remember them well.

The first one I saw I was spooked and stampeded off into the woods.

Don't see many around any more, that's why I guess you don't see any mules anymore. I understand that if you put one in a pasture with cows, they will keep the wild dogs away.

quote:

Originally posted by excelman:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bill Gray:
/QUOTE]
You have an interesting Resume.
I was just trying to be funny in asking that question, implying that you are so old that you were around at the beginning of the earth (as in older than dirt).

Old man Burroughs , after he became rich, built a house, or rather castle on the mountain just south of Birmingham. A subdivision just east of the Vulcan. At any rate, it is one big house and grounds.

Not too many people worked on Burroughs computers as compared to IBM, but lately I have met several that did. Thought it was kinda strange that you posted you had also.

I still remember the old B300/B500 systems that you could program right off the lights on the console in binary machine languate B-A-8 4 2 1 coding. Brings back some memorys for me as well.

Hi Excelman,

No offense was taken. I knew what you were saying.

You speak of programming from switches and lights on the console -- that was how I wrote most of my test programs. I never did learn to program in a higher language. In those days we had hardware folks and we had programmers. That way, when there was a problem -- we could always point at the other side.

The first Burrough-California (Electrodata) computer was the B205 and it really looked the part of a sci-fi machine. As a matter of fact, it was used in several sci-fi movies.

I guess you, Rramlimnn, and I are a dying breed -- sort of like the old WW2 vets. And, I can imagine a few of our Friends would like to see us fade into the sunset. No such luck!

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

excellman,

I don’t know about mules keeping dogs at bay but donkeys will do the job. I have some of the critters and need to thin them out.

Yea the old machines we used were tape driven and you didn’t want to lose a tape or you would have to set down and make a new one. Time consuming.

Believe it or not there are machines around that still use punch tapes for parts of the program.

Remember the old teletype machines? Now that was a work of art.

To exist at all is to be inside a massive science experiment by God, first he created humans and they disappointed him, so he kept the good which was Noah and his family and destroyed the rest. Thus we are descendants of Noah who was a descendant of Abraham. We are the new experiment in a sense I believe. We can either succeed in this or yet again fail and have God begin again. God is passionate about getting this great experiment right no matter how long it takes.

Science and religion are very much entwined. The fact that one can believe in a being such as God or his son Jesus is a scientific belief in a sense. God says I Am that I Am, in other words he says don't worry about who I am, worry about yourself. I think that church is critical to children to learn certain social traits, but they must also learn to look within to find God within themselves.

quote:

Originally posted by cynthiayildirim:
To exist at all is to be inside a massive science experiment by God, first he created humans and they disappointed him, so he kept the good which was Noah and his family and destroyed the rest. Thus we are descendants of Noah who was a descendant of Abraham. We are the new experiment in a sense I believe. We can either succeed in this or yet again fail and have God begin again. God is passionate about getting this great experiment right no matter how long it takes.

Science and religion are very much entwined. The fact that one can believe in a being such as God or his son Jesus is a scientific belief in a sense. God says I Am that I Am, in other words he says don't worry about who I am, worry about yourself. I think that church is critical to children to learn certain social traits, but they must also learn to look within to find God within themselves.

Hi cynthia, if I may ask, what are your reasons/evidence for your belief?

And what do you think of the other hundreds or thousands of religions of man?

regards, miamizsun

I like Victor Stenger's page, lots of good data/info here.


Critical Thinking Blog - see videos.


Can science and God ever get along?


Excellent essay and debate here.

Like anyone will take the time to read/watch/learn anymore.....

Almost forgot this one!

Hi Excelman and Rramlimnn,

Now this is weird. My last post with the photo of the B205 computer -- I tried to post it yesterday but when I hit the Post Now button, I got an error message saying Go Back, the system goofed. Usually when I do this everything I had typed is gone. So, I just said to heck with it and did not try to retype the message.

At no time yesterday did the post appear. Yet, out of cyberspace, somewhere, today -- it appears. Does the TD Forum system have a built in time delay like the 5 second delay on live TV broadcast, or what?

I seem to have hit a 24 hour time delay. Well, what can you expect when science is in control? It probably took 24 hours to evolve. Maybe this is the missing link of cyberspace evolution.

Y'all come back now, ya heah?

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

Anyone recognize this computer?

quote:

Originally posted by rramlimnn:
excellman,

I don’t know about mules keeping dogs at bay but donkeys will do the job. I have some of the critters and need to thin them out.

Yea the old machines we used were tape driven and you didn’t want to lose a tape or you would have to set down and make a new one. Time consuming.

Believe it or not there are machines around that still use punch tapes for parts of the program.

Remember the old teletype machines? Now that was a work of art.

I was actually trying to speak of donkeys. The exceptionally strong gin and tonic apparently had a negative affect on my use of the English language, namely the part about pronoun agreement.
I always hated paper tape !!!! Still to this day carry a lot of animosity towards it.
On the other hand, Hollerith cards were not so bad. At one time , I learned to read them, and I could read paper tape, but had to divide it up in segments.
You probably won't believe this, but old magnetic tapes were bit encoded, and there was a solution made up of freon and very fine iron powder. You could shake it up, and dip a section of magnetic tape in it and ACTUALLY READ THE INFORMATION ON TAPE ! I did a little of that, but fortunately very little of that was required.
I have a lot of funny tales to tell about those old days, and I'm sure y'all do too. Would be nice to get together over a few drinks and have some laughs.