Answerbag: Tinkerbell's answers

Answer to How many computers do you use?

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:15:40 -0800

How many computers do you use?

Three physical units on a day to day basis, sometimes more, and I VNC/Remote Desktop into about ten or so (servers and so on) fairly regularly. I have a few VM machines I use occasionally as well.

Answer to Does playing a musical instrument make you more attractive to the opposite sex?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:49:29 -0800

Does playing a musical instrument make you more attractive to the opposite sex?

No. I am a very competent musician on a variety of instruments and hasn't made me more attractive by one iota. Then again my main instrument is bass, so what do you expect...

Answer to What is the most accurate explanation for the origin of humanity?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:47:32 -0800

What is the most accurate explanation for the origin of humanity?

That depends on what you mean by origin really. We would turn to modern evolutionary theory in all likelihood but that doesn't give the full picture. We'd need pretty much every discipline - physics for where all the components for biology came from, chemistry for how these bits...

Answer to Can you name a song that you have listened to in the last day? If so, what was it?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:41:52 -0800

Can you name a song that you have listened to in the last day? If so, what was it?

Last song I listened to was "Take My Hand" by Dido. About an hour ago on my way home from work.

Answer to Do you doubt Prophet Muhammed's claim to prophecy?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:03:12 -0800

Do you doubt Prophet Muhammed's claim to prophecy?

Yes - I doubt anyone that claims prophetic abilities. Doesn't matter which religion, I doubt all equally.

Answer to News Item: "Catholic Church finally forgives John Lennon." Well I know that I'm going to sleep better knowing this! (please note snarky tone in voice) How about you?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:07:51 -0800

News Item: "Catholic Church finally forgives John Lennon." Well I know that I'm going to sleep better knowing this! (please note snarky tone in voice) How about you?

That was pretty quick by the church's standards...

Answer to Do you think that babies are born with any religious belief?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:26:06 -0800

Do you think that babies are born with any religious belief?

I seriously doubt it. People may be born with a predisposition towards faith, then again maybe not - that is a fairly controversial topic in psychology at the moment. However to think that a person is born with a full knowledge of or belief in a specific religion is as far fetched as it gets.

Answer to Does anyone use GroupWise? Was it hard for you to understand everything about it?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:43:34 -0800

Does anyone use GroupWise? Was it hard for you to understand everything about it?

Yes I use it. Not too difficult to understand really I feel but somewhat different to other solutions I have used.

Answer to Are all Christians hypocrites?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:42:07 -0800

Are all Christians hypocrites?

No more than any other religious group are...

Answer to Should Islam be band the same as some cults.

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:37:54 -0800

Should Islam be band the same as some cults.

No, it is unethical to ban any form of belief. That would be an infringement of basic human rights. People can believe what they want, or not believe as the case may be. It is the individual's choice and to impose a ban on religion would be no better than imposing a specific religion...

Answer to Do you believe that there is a God who created the universe? If not, why not?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:24:45 -0800

Do you believe that there is a God who created the universe? If not, why not?

No. Perhaps the question should be "why should I believe there is?". I have asked that question and never received a satisfactory answer. There are many arguments included here but none of them stack up to proof beyond a reasonable doubt of gods. Ultimately for proof of a...

Answer to Hi I want to know how can I use Macro in MS Excel? For what kind of work I can use this Macro?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:59:22 -0800

Hi I want to know how can I use Macro in MS Excel? For what kind of work I can use this Macro?

You can use macros in Excel. As for what you can do, sky's the limit really. Depends how good your VBA is.

Answer to Is England loosing its identity? What kind of country are you becoming? London is becoming slumville, why are the English who have colonized so many countries allowing filth to come in?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:10:26 -0800

Is England loosing its identity? What kind of country are you becoming? London is becoming slumville, why are the English who have colonized so many countries allowing filth to come in?

What is England's identity? England (or perhaps Britain would be better) has always been a melting pot of different cultures. 'Celts', Romans, Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Scots, Norse, Normans, Germans, French, Irish... the list goes on and on. Britain is a triumph of integration...

Answer to Should everyone spend a day/night in jail so maybe they would think twice before committing a crime?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:04:38 -0800

Should everyone spend a day/night in jail so maybe they would think twice before committing a crime?

No I don't think so. I can see the "scared straight" idea but I don't agree with it ethically. It may be of some practical use (then again maybe not) but it is merely threat of force to impose order. That's not ethical it is merely control. All this says is "be...

Answer to Can I find some Jews who are offended by how Israel behaves towards Palestines?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:48:56 -0800

Can I find some Jews who are offended by how Israel behaves towards Palestines?

Gerald Kaufman MP is pretty critical of Israel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Kaufman#Criticism_of_Israel

Answer to Who do you think is the best British Actor/Actress?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:46:00 -0800

Who do you think is the best British Actor/Actress?

Actor: I'd probably go for Alec Guinness. If nothing else, his Alastair Sim impression in The Ladykillers is just sublime. For a living actor not sure although I like Derek Jacobi, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart. Actress: Sian Phillips is a wonderful actress as is Margaret Tyzack....

Answer to Rugby union or rugby league?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:27:07 -0800

Rugby union or rugby league?

Union for me.

Answer to Do you think Gordon Brown has been treated fairly or harshly over the 'Jamie Janes' letter?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:16:58 -0800

Do you think Gordon Brown has been treated fairly or harshly over the 'Jamie Janes' letter?

Just Murdoch's s**t sheet playing their hand too early. Anyone who can't see the obvious politicking is well... a bit 'trusting' shall we say. Ironically the Sun has apparently achieved what the Labour Party and its supporters could not: increasing support for Brown. Not...

Answer to Who built the pyramids?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:06:50 -0800

Who built the pyramids?

There are many civilisations that built pyramids. The most famous are probably the pyramids of Egypt. So who built these? NOT slaves. That is a complete myth that persists for god knows what reason. I think everyone sees films of slaves building the pyramids and it sticks in their heads....

Answer to If you had been the first person to walk on the moon. What would you first words have been?

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:06:17 -0800

If you had been the first person to walk on the moon. What would you first words have been?

"What do you mean my luggage has been sent to Neptune by mistake?!?!?"

Answer to Do you believe something really bad is gonna happen in the year 2012 like some people believe?

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 05:01:53 -0700

Do you believe something really bad is gonna happen in the year 2012 like some people believe?

Nope - just another doomsday scenario, there have been many before there will be many again. 2012 is going to be a damp squib just like all the others. The fun part, as always, will be watching/reading the explanations of the doom-sayers when 1st Jan 2013 (or 22nd Dec 2012 whichever you choose)...

Answer to Besides drums, what other instrument should a musician be sitting down when playing?

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 06:58:25 -0700

Besides drums, what other instrument should a musician be sitting down when playing?

'Cello and usually double bass although this is played from standing a fair bit as well. Most instruments can be played either way. Some can't - organs use pedals which I suppose you could play from standing but you'd have to be rather agile to do so. Similar with pianos.

Answer to Is there a program like Winrar I can get/try for free? There's only one file I need to do, and I'm broke.

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:25:03 -0700

Is there a program like Winrar I can get/try for free? There's only one file I need to do, and I'm broke.

7zip or IZarc have always sufficed for me.

Answer to Football: barcelona or madrid? Why?

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:22:16 -0700

Football: barcelona or madrid? Why?

I prefer Barcelona personally. Partially due to their style and partially due to their ethos.

Answer to What do you think about Disney buying out Marvel? I just hope they don't make things even more kid friendly. PG-13 is already low enough for the movies

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:20:47 -0700

What do you think about Disney buying out Marvel? I just hope they don't make things even more kid friendly. PG-13 is already low enough for the movies

Not sure. If Marvel retain creative control then it might not be too bad. On the other hand Disney may be getting close to having too large a market share which isn't good at all. That said there is still some healthy competition out there. Will be interesting to see how it plays out. ...

Answer to Do you like iron maiden

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:16:36 -0700

Do you like iron maiden

Yes and have done for a long time. Seen them twice as well. Been to a drum clinic with Nicko McBrain as well which was very good.

Answer to What discovery is Edwin Hubble best known for?

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:53:35 -0700

What discovery is Edwin Hubble best known for?

He helped prove there were other galaxies and showed that red-shift alters proportionately with the distance a galaxy is from the Milky Way; he didn't discover red-shift but rather was the first to discover this relationship. This led to the current understanding of expansion of the universe.

Answer to Is it still possible to get incandescent light bulbs?

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:31:37 -0700

Is it still possible to get incandescent light bulbs?

Yes but 100W ones are about to be banned in the UK. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8229476.stm

Answer to Do you have a zombie ermergency plan?

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:44:30 -0700

Do you have a zombie ermergency plan?

Take car. Go to Mum's. Kill Phil - "Sorry." - grab Liz, go to the Winchester, have a nice cold pint, and wait for all of this to blow over. How's that for a slice of fried gold?

Answer to Do you think Christians believe in God because they are not smart enough to understand science?

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:19:58 -0700

Do you think Christians believe in God because they are not smart enough to understand science?

No there are some very smart Christians out there and throughout history. Plenty who understood science far better than I as well (Newton springs to mind). Sure, there is some ignorance in religious circles but I am (disquietingly) finding a fair amount in atheistic or agnostic circles as...

Answer to Aside from the US, what other countries have separation of church and state?

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:15:23 -0700

Aside from the US, what other countries have separation of church and state?

I am sure there are quite a few but the first than springs to mind is France who protect their secularism vehemently. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Religion

Answer to Was Jesus circumcised?

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:19:08 -0700

Was Jesus circumcised?

As far as we can know anything about the historical person that was Jesus I'd say this is something we can be pretty certain did happen as it was common practice at the time. It is even a festival in a number of churches. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_the_Circumcision_of_Christ...

Answer to Are magnetic tapes still used for storage in large mainframe computers?

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:02:34 -0700

Are magnetic tapes still used for storage in large mainframe computers?

Yes tapes are still used, often for backup solutions. They usually have a very high bit density. I have used tape backups in nearly every position I have worked in. It isn't as common as it once was but it is still out there, possibly more prevalent than you'd think.

Answer to Do you believe the sun will come up tomorrow or do you trust the sun will come up tomorrow? what's the difference?

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 05:43:57 -0700

Do you believe the sun will come up tomorrow or do you trust the sun will come up tomorrow? what's the difference?

I think there is a high probability it will based on inductive proof but as with all inductive proofs it is not a certainty. I am so certain that it will happen that there is little difference from 'believing' it will but I have to acknowledge the possibility that it might not, however...

Answer to This guy keeps talking to me like this : " Hey there trouble :)" now, what does it mean when he says "trouble" we just met and hes british if that helps, is it slang for something?

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:49:08 -0700

This guy keeps talking to me like this : " Hey there trouble :)" now, what does it mean when he says "trouble" we just met and hes british if that helps, is it slang for something?

It is usually an affectionate term. I used to use it for people I worked with in an affectionate way.

Answer to Tiger vs. human. who would win?

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:27:57 -0700

Tiger vs. human. who would win?

A human stripped of their technology against a healthy tiger? My money's on the tiger. With technology in play, human. Lots of bullets beats lots of teeth.

Answer to My co-worker only buys a lottery ticket when the winning amount is very high. What is your criteria for purchasing a lottery ticket?

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:21:53 -0700

My co-worker only buys a lottery ticket when the winning amount is very high. What is your criteria for purchasing a lottery ticket?

I know I shouldn't but I do get one a week. Really dumb thing to do but hey... There are some people that deliberately don't buy one every week, watch the numbers come in and then congratulate themselves on winning £1. Good way of looking at it.

Answer to If you went through 'Hell' what would you emerge with?

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:19:22 -0700

If you went through 'Hell' what would you emerge with?

Probably just a lousy t-shirt...

Answer to Have terrorist bombings in places like London, Madrid, Bali and Thailand put you off going to these places?

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 06:27:05 -0700

Have terrorist bombings in places like London, Madrid, Bali and Thailand put you off going to these places?

Nope. First time I visited London (I think, might have been the second) the IRA set off two bombs. Everything just carried on as normal. In fact the week after I had my university interview in Manchester there was a huge IRA bombing which levelled most of the city centre. Still went there...

Answer to Is Oasis still together?

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 06:09:45 -0700

Is Oasis still together?

They're always having spats but this one seems a bit more than that. I am quite amazed they have been going as long as they have to be honest. I think it is pretty unprofessional that there are big gigs coming up and the fans will likely miss out. Lord knows Cream HATED each other by...

Answer to Are you atheist, agnostic, or do you follow a religion? If so, what religion or philosophy do you follow?

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 05:34:05 -0700

Are you atheist, agnostic, or do you follow a religion? If so, what religion or philosophy do you follow?

"Weak" atheist - I strongly doubt there are any gods but I cannot prove an unconditional negative. No religion followed although I am interested in the philosophy and history of religions. As for philosophy well... that is in constant flux. New ideas influence my outlook and it...

Answer to I just saw a "Quran" today and it looks like the whole thing is written BACKWARDS! What does that say about Islam?

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:50:13 -0700

I just saw a "Quran" today and it looks like the whole thing is written BACKWARDS! What does that say about Islam?

Many languages use differing directions. Western text follows one pattern, there is no reason to think this is in any way superior to any other. Just different approaches. It doesn't say anything about the content whatsoever.

Answer to How does evolution explain how organisms can go through drastic changes? For example, how did a rodent living on the ground grow wings and become the bats of today?

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:44:54 -0700

How does evolution explain how organisms can go through drastic changes? For example, how did a rodent living on the ground grow wings and become the bats of today?

Evolution doesn't describe drastic changes that is really the point. It describes gradual generational changes which over time add up to seemingly drastic changes. An analogy (not perfect but should help the point) is the increase in processing power of electronic computers. 30 years...

Answer to Google, or Yahoo? Why

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:07:34 -0700

Google, or Yahoo? Why

I have Yahoo email addresses. Other than that I despise Yahoo (they have gone from good to bloody awful and their latest changes are simply dreadful from a design and usability point of view). Google is good for most things although they aren't perfect and the emergence of a near...

Answer to Page, Beck or Clapton? Which one is the best ex Yardbirds guitarist?

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:03:13 -0700

Page, Beck or Clapton? Which one is the best ex Yardbirds guitarist?

Difficult to compare, they have wildly contrasting styles. And as with all things musical it is subjective. Personally I prefer Page to the others. Just does it for me. Clapton is good and I'd probably rank him second as I am a big Cream fan. Whilst admitting that Beck is probably...

Answer to Will we see artificial life in the near future?

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 03:57:34 -0700

Will we see artificial life in the near future?

Depends on your definition of artificial life. Craig Venter has been speaking on this topic recently http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/article6804599.ece This is a biological approach to artificial life. He thinks that in this sense it is very close. As for a non...

Answer to If you want to be a writer, all you need to read is the Bible and Shakespeare- me. What else do YOU think is necessary?

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 05:24:01 -0700

If you want to be a writer, all you need to read is the Bible and Shakespeare- me. What else do YOU think is necessary?

I am not sure these are necessary. I would think they are but another person may disagree completely. Since this is art and not something like science you don't really need anything other than pen, paper and a brain. Not like physics for example where you simply MUST understand...

Answer to I intend to live forever, so far so good. How about you?

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:38:50 -0700

I intend to live forever, so far so good. How about you?

Maybe not forever but I am working on much longer than 3 score years and ten - whole universe to see and all that. Not too sure how that will work out but I can but try...

Answer to Who really discovered America?

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:21:35 -0700

Who really discovered America?

Dare I say the Native Americans? I don't know of the prehistory of the Americas but the native populations were there a long time before the Europeans or Vikings showed up. As I said I don't know when the ancestors of the 'native' populations arrived or if there was a human...

Answer to What kind of music makes your ears bleed?

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:49:04 -0700

What kind of music makes your ears bleed?

Seriously banal music (of any genre). Most pop music and a hell of a lot of rock music sadly suffers from this but it is present in all genres.

Answer to What might be some methods of encouraging people to eat fruit and vegetables?

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:11:06 -0700

What might be some methods of encouraging people to eat fruit and vegetables?

Ban them - it worked with drugs...

Answer to Why dont the goverments just print themselves more money instead of barrowing it?

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:36:27 -0700

Why dont the goverments just print themselves more money instead of barrowing it?

You will get rampant inflation is the short answer. Basically when you pump money into a system which has been created out of thin air there is too much money chasing the same amount of goods. This will lead to inflation in a short space of time and worse still once this happens it is very...

Answer to There is a rumor that the Lockerbie bomber, while being treated in prison for his terminal illness, was secretly injected with a highly contagious disease that will manifest itself in a few weeks and kill many Libyans. I hope this is true, don't you?

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 05:27:46 -0700

There is a rumor that the Lockerbie bomber, while being treated in prison for his terminal illness, was secretly injected with a highly contagious disease that will manifest itself in a few weeks and kill many Libyans. I hope this is true, don't you?

Wouldn't that make us as bad (if not worse) than those that we decry for similar murdering actions? If indiscriminate killing is wrong then it is simply wrong. If not then we are all just in a numbers game and all are fair game, including all victims of terror attacks. And I will wager...

Answer to Two fathers and two sons went duck hunting. Each shot a duck but they shot only three ducks in all. How come. . . ?.

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 05:23:45 -0700

Two fathers and two sons went duck hunting. Each shot a duck but they shot only three ducks in all. How come. . . ?.

Grandfather>Father>Son?

Answer to Who is a better drummer: John Bonham (famous for Led Zeppelin) or Neil Pert (famous for Rush)?

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 05:22:12 -0700

Who is a better drummer: John Bonham (famous for Led Zeppelin) or Neil Pert (famous for Rush)?

Peart is technically gifted for sure but so was Bonham. And Peart has built on what Bonham did (as Bonham was building on Baker etc). Whilst enjoying them both I would always go for Bonham as it appeals to me more, there is just something about Bonham's playing that is spine tingling....

Answer to If 1 = 5, 2 = 25, 3 = 125, 4 = 625, 5 =?

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 05:08:31 -0700

If 1 = 5, 2 = 25, 3 = 125, 4 = 625, 5 =?

"1" = 5 = 5^1 "2" = 25 = 5^2 "3" = 125 = 5^3 "4" = 625 = 5^4 so n = 5^n so "5" = 5^5 = 3125

Answer to I would like to add an avatar to my profile, how do I do it?

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:52:00 -0700

I would like to add an avatar to my profile, how do I do it?

1) Click on your name to get to your page 2) Click the link "edit my profile/avatar" (just below the Go! button 3) You can change your avatar here.

Answer to Can ever man can see a atom by its eyes ? not therotically

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:36:51 -0700

Can ever man can see a atom by its eyes ? not therotically

If you use a powerful microscope (or similar technique) then yes but with the naked eye no, atoms are way too small for that. There are pictures of atoms out there, a quick google search will return some decent images.

Answer to Do you think that "intellectual stimulation" is overrated?

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 02:09:58 -0700

Do you think that "intellectual stimulation" is overrated?

Not in the slightest.

Answer to Uni= one verse = to turn. The earth is moving outward in the Universe, do you know how far we are from the centre?

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 02:08:51 -0700

Uni= one verse = to turn. The earth is moving outward in the Universe, do you know how far we are from the centre?

There isn't a centre of the universe so to speak. Think of a balloon's surface representing the universe (NOT the volume of the balloon but the surface, a 2D analogy for 3D space). If you inflate the balloon points on this surface will increase their relative distances from each...

Answer to Why do some people deny that success indeed is a big factor of happiness?

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:10:35 -0700

Why do some people deny that success indeed is a big factor of happiness?

It really hinges on your definition of success. You can be very rich but still utterly miserable. You can be a 'successful' artist, musician or whatever you want to substitute in, yet still be deeply unhappy. Recognition and financial reward are helpful to an extent; it is hard to...

Answer to Am I a "bigot" or a "sexist" because I assert that women should be feminine? Does it make me a "female oppressor" to assert that women should uphold and fulfill traditional female roles? Why or why not?

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:50:07 -0700

Am I a "bigot" or a "sexist" because I assert that women should be feminine? Does it make me a "female oppressor" to assert that women should uphold and fulfill traditional female roles? Why or why not?

Any time you assert your beliefs of what someone should or should not do you are skating on thin ice. Sure there are some things we as a society all agree on (e.g. murder) but as for what 'role' a woman should fulfil, well that is entirely up to her - nobody else's business. If...

Answer to Non-Religious: Many atheists and agnostics get married in a church. Would you have a church wedding?

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 06:40:30 -0700

Non-Religious: Many atheists and agnostics get married in a church. Would you have a church wedding?

If it mattered so much to a hypothetical partner then I would consider it. As I don't believe in it, it would make little difference to me. To be fair I am not bothered about the whole marriage thing anyway, the only reason I am doing it is because my partner is infatuated with the whole...

Answer to When playing guitar, how do I stop from hitting excess strings (i.e. I play a note on the 6th string but I accidentally also hit the 5 th string)?

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:20:11 -0700

When playing guitar, how do I stop from hitting excess strings (i.e. I play a note on the 6th string but I accidentally also hit the 5 th string)?

You can cheat. Mute the offending string either with right hand or left hand. But that's cheating... and short cuts only cause bigger problems later. Real response: Practice scales, arpeggios and so on. Arpeggios are a good thing here as there is a fair bit of movement across the...

Answer to What was Friends' (the sitcom) best joke?

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 04:32:21 -0700

What was Friends' (the sitcom) best joke?

I don't like Friends much but one of the lines that makes me smile was "You don't have a TV? Then what does all your furniture point towards?!?" Closest it ever got to satire, I feel.

Answer to Is classical music still relevant?

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:12:06 -0700

Is classical music still relevant?

Yes completely. I was listening to some Mozart and Bach just now in point of fact. Still that's just me; I have always been a bit strange ;)

Answer to Is Elvis Presley alive?

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:44:59 -0700

Is Elvis Presley alive?

No, nor is Paul McCartney dead.

Answer to Where are you going after you die?

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:43:06 -0700

Where are you going after you die?

Of course I am not sure as I have had not had the opportunity to test any hypotheses on the matter. Nor am I too keen to do so. That said I strongly suspect the following: I won't 'go' anywhere as such, I will cease to be. My physical form that is left behind will probably be...

Answer to Is your glass 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:40:55 -0700

Is your glass 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?

Incorrectly sized container ;)

Answer to Can you tell me one brass instrument?

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:12:29 -0700

Can you tell me one brass instrument?

Tuba.

Answer to Favourute genre of music and why lol

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 06:37:57 -0700

Favourute genre of music and why lol

Good music. I don't discriminate on 'genre'. ;)

Answer to Is there such thing as an afterlife!!

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:57:25 -0700

Is there such thing as an afterlife!!

No way of knowing for sure. There is no concrete evidence that there is (NDEs are a really interesting field of study but have come up short on definitive proof). Furthermore there are really big philosophical problems with the concept of an afterlife. Whilst being totally unable to say...

Answer to What would you do if you saw the image of Jesus Christ in your french toast?

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:36:48 -0700

What would you do if you saw the image of Jesus Christ in your french toast?

Wonder how I knew what Jesus looked like in the first place...

Answer to How much does a bolt of lightning weigh?

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:03:00 -0700

How much does a bolt of lightning weigh?

Not my speciality but I'll give it a go. First some ground rules. Obviously lightning bolts vary greatly in size and power. So to do a calculation for all would be very difficult. We'd have to put some definitions in place (e.g. for a bolt x metres long, with current y etc). Also...

Answer to What is Franz Liszt best known for?

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:43:48 -0700

What is Franz Liszt best known for?

Bloody hard piano pieces. That's what I always remember about Liszt.

Answer to Nt lng ago i went to London watch this science lecture and i found that they dnt Know what dark matter is even though it is the main thing tht makes up space and if they dnt find what it is then the laws of gravity could be wrong which do you think it is

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:39:02 -0700

Nt lng ago i went to London watch this science lecture and i found that they dnt Know what dark matter is even though it is the main thing tht makes up space and if they dnt find what it is then the laws of gravity could be wrong which do you think it is

Careful with terminology here. Dark matter doesn't make up space, space is just space. It does make up a sizeable fraction of the universe's mass/energy (same thing), around 22%. 74% or so in Dark Energy. The remaining 4% is baryonic matter. Now to answer the question. No we...

Answer to What's the 2nd law of Thermodynamics?

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:54:57 -0700

What's the 2nd law of Thermodynamics?

In a closed system the amount of energy not available to do work will never decrease (i.e. the amount available to do work will never increase). Which is another way of saying that in a closed system entropy will never decrease. Or less formally the disorder of a closed system will never...

Answer to Is it sometimes disappointing to see the movie of a book you loved?

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 06:17:08 -0700

Is it sometimes disappointing to see the movie of a book you loved?

Dune. 'Nuff said.

Answer to What do you think about global warming?

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 06:12:04 -0700

What do you think about global warming?

I am not a climatologist so i am not too keen on commenting on it too much. Just as it infuriates me when I see nonsense written about Quantum Physics or similar I am sure climatologists get just as wound up with 99% of what is said of climate change etc (from both sides of the debate). I...

Answer to Does anyone else think George Carlin was an awesome comedian? anyone think he was just rude and offensive?

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 06:02:40 -0700

Does anyone else think George Carlin was an awesome comedian? anyone think he was just rude and offensive?

Both. Like Bill Hicks, Lenny Bruce et al he was rude and offensive but still incredibly funny. Not offensive in a Bernard Manning, obvious racist or sexist manner but he offended people's sensibilities and that is not really a bad thing. Most comedy is offensive to someone or other.

Answer to If i have net worth of 760 Million Us dollars am I considered rich or average in US standards? ( I am Middle Eastern)

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 06:00:04 -0700

If i have net worth of 760 Million Us dollars am I considered rich or average in US standards? ( I am Middle Eastern)

Extremely rich.

Answer to Do you believe you would believe in your current belief (Christianity, Islam, Judaism, etc.) if you had been born elsewhere? For example, if you're a Christian do you believe you would still be Christian if you had been born in Pakistan or Iran?

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:57:29 -0700

Do you believe you would believe in your current belief (Christianity, Islam, Judaism, etc.) if you had been born elsewhere? For example, if you're a Christian do you believe you would still be Christian if you had been born in Pakistan or Iran?

I'd probably still be an atheist (not that it is a belief but a lack thereof).

Answer to Can you name any movie(s) that were filmed in your country? And which country are you from?

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:51:40 -0700

Can you name any movie(s) that were filmed in your country? And which country are you from?

Loads are filmed in the UK.

Answer to Who is the original artist of the song ruby, ruby, ruby, ruby, ahhhhh ahhhh ahhhh, do ya, do ya, do ya. ahhhh ahh ahhh know what ya doin, doin to me? And it is not the Kaiser Chiefs they have done a cover of this song recently

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:50:01 -0700

Who is the original artist of the song ruby, ruby, ruby, ruby, ahhhhh ahhhh ahhhh, do ya, do ya, do ya. ahhhh ahh ahhh know what ya doin, doin to me? And it is not the Kaiser Chiefs they have done a cover of this song recently

As far as I know it was written by the Kaiser Chiefs. I've had a quick look and the song is credited to them. It isn't listed as a cover but as an original song. Whether it is plagiarised I don't know.

Answer to What would be a good name for a Sphynx (hairless) cat?

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:31:57 -0700

What would be a good name for a Sphynx (hairless) cat?

Khafre (or Khafra). Most appropriate. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khafra

Answer to Do you know any atheists?

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:19:37 -0700

Do you know any atheists?

Myself, my partner, pretty much the entirety of my family and the majority of my friends. I know more people that are atheist/agnostic than I do religious people of any description, not to say I don't know religious people but most people I know are non-believers.

Answer to Why are some people that are so gung-ho about "Darwinism" also the same people that want to keep alive those that shouldn't survive according to the "survival of the fittest" doctrine? (vegetables, mentally retarded folk, etc)

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:36:05 -0700

Why are some people that are so gung-ho about "Darwinism" also the same people that want to keep alive those that shouldn't survive according to the "survival of the fittest" doctrine? (vegetables, mentally retarded folk, etc)

I am 'gung-ho' about the theory that one day soon the Earth will be clobbered by an asteroid potentially killing a great many people, doesn't mean I am in favour of it happening. Just because we accept something is a scientific fact doesn't mean it is necessarily a...

Answer to Whats the first thing you think of when you hear the word 'Republican'?

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:29:24 -0700

Whats the first thing you think of when you hear the word 'Republican'?

Oliver Cromwell was the first thing that popped into my head. Then Cicero. Then the US political party.

Answer to What is best, USA music or UK music?

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:27:46 -0700

What is best, USA music or UK music?

It has always been give and take, one influences the other (not exclusively either as there are a huge number of other influences on contemporary music). The best of the UK has generally been influenced by the US and vice versa. The Ramones influenced the Sex Pistols who later influenced US...

Answer to Do you like rap music or is rap crap?

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 03:47:31 -0700

Do you like rap music or is rap crap?

I like some. Some, I don't like.

Answer to Your car is traveling at the speed of light, what happens when you turn the headlights on?

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:31:32 -0700

Your car is traveling at the speed of light, what happens when you turn the headlights on?

The speed of light in a vacuum is the same for all observers regardless of their velocity. You can't reach the speed of light in a car (OK duh... but anything with mass cannot do so) but as you approached the speed of light you would still measure the speed of the light leaving your...

Answer to Does the Bible say the world is flat?

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:08:52 -0700

Does the Bible say the world is flat?

Not really. I would also like to add that the idea that there was a period in the middle ages when educated people widely believed that the Earth was flat is just plain wrong. The whole thing about Columbus railing against those who said the world was flat is extremely unlikely and a great...

Answer to As we know, protons attract electrons. so in the atom of a substance why do the electrons keep revolving rather than being attracted to the protons present in the nucleus?

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:00:14 -0700

As we know, protons attract electrons. so in the atom of a substance why do the electrons keep revolving rather than being attracted to the protons present in the nucleus?

This was a question which puzzled many great physicists in the early years of the 20th century. Here's a whistle stop explanation. Firstly, forget those little pictures you see that show atoms as minature solar systems. That is just wrong. It doesn't work that way at all...

Answer to What soccer team will you watch the most this year?

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:45:36 -0700

What soccer team will you watch the most this year?

Don't know yet. I don't really support any team (my grandfather was a referee so I tend to support the man in black lol). I usually watch the Champions League and important league/cup matches but it depends on what I am doing. Football tends to be something watched when I have...

Answer to Can we get an Atheist roll call? Feel free to leave a reason if you like.

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:41:59 -0700

Can we get an Atheist roll call? Feel free to leave a reason if you like.

As requested. My reasons are detailed in many other answers on AB so I won't repeat myself.

Answer to What travels faster than the speed of sound?

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:17:48 -0700

What travels faster than the speed of sound?

A supersonic jet aircraft.

Answer to What comedian best represents your sense of humor?

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 10:35:09 -0700

What comedian best represents your sense of humor?

Bill Hicks, George Carlin, Bill Bailey and Lenny Bruce

Answer to Do you see blue like I see blue?

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 03:46:10 -0700

Do you see blue like I see blue?

Pretty much impossible to say. I cannot 'see' into your mind so I have no idea how you experience things as compared to me. Like asking "What is it like to be a bat?". We can do some experiments to try and resolve this a touch (e.g. looking at the physical construction of...

Answer to If i have theoretical question in physics (string theory for example), where should i go for an answer ? who should i turn to?

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 03:39:10 -0700

If i have theoretical question in physics (string theory for example), where should i go for an answer ? who should i turn to?

Depends what the question is to be fair. There are a fair few knowledgeable people on AB regarding physics so not a bad place to start. There are a number of good books out there ranging from pop science to more technical stuff or if you are confident there are the technical papers. A...

Answer to Do you think that the capitalism vs. socialism debate wouldn't even exist if education did its job?

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:10:04 -0700

Do you think that the capitalism vs. socialism debate wouldn't even exist if education did its job?

It would still exist. Sure kids could be better educated in economics but that wouldn't kill off the debate it would probably encourage it (and a good thing that would be as well). If education establishments were to simply teach one economic viewpoint that would be incredibly worrying....