Questions you want answered.

93_confirmed wrote:

Do I have the swine flu? Seriously.

Well...

Agemmon wrote:
93_confirmed wrote:

Do I have the swine flu? Seriously.

Well...

If it's like the flu, only worse, then maybe yes. Does it look like this under a microscope?
IMAGE(http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/871/b00528h1n1flusml6795070.jpg)

93_confirmed wrote:

Do I have the swine flu? Seriously.

What are your symptoms? Swine flu is associated with high fever (over 101F), body aches and lots of snot.

MikeSands wrote:
Coldstream wrote:

Now, if we created a giant planet out of styrofoam... :D

My question: where is the SF film that has the characters visiting the STYROFOAM PLANET?

Static discharge wiped the memory. Remember to back up your files, kids!

93_confirmed wrote:

Do I have the swine flu? Seriously.

Swine flu is a myth propagated by Chick-fil-A to get people to eat moar chicken.

MikeSands wrote:
Coldstream wrote:

Now, if we created a giant planet out of styrofoam... :D

My question: where is the SF film that has the characters visiting the STYROFOAM PLANET?

Wasn't that basically every episode of the original Star Trek?

MikeSands wrote:

Now, if we created a giant planet out of styrofoam... :D

Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce the gas giant

The only way to get a planet big enough without it collapsing under it's own mass is to use low density materials. Like styrofoam Or gasses.

Jupiter and Saturn are comprised mainly of helium and hydrogen - not too dissimilar from the Sun. The difference is size - once you get a big enough planet made up of that, it turns into a star, as the insane pressures and temperatures at the core make fusion possible.

However, if you consider a white dwarf , then the answer is yes, as they can be around the size of the earth.

wordsmythe wrote:
93_confirmed wrote:

Do I have the swine flu? Seriously.

What are your symptoms? Swine flu is associated with high fever (over 101F), body aches and lots of snot.

But then, so is Captain Trips, so he might have that...

wordsmythe wrote:
93_confirmed wrote:

Do I have the swine flu? Seriously.

What are your symptoms? Swine flu is associated with high fever (over 101F), body aches and lots of snot.

It started last Thursday - every flu symptom except fever, diarrea, and vomiting. A week later I still have a sh*tload of snot, head congestion, semi-sore throat, and a tickle/cough.

I'm one of those people that hates going to the doctor and not a big fan of taking meds but this is worrying me a bit.

93_confirmed wrote:

A week later I still have a sh*tload of snot, head congestion, semi-sore throat, and a tickle/cough.

Sounds like a nasty upper respiratory infection, possibly sinusitis, with the sore throat and cough caused by post-nasal drip but I'd definitely advise you to go get checked out (not to mention that internet diagnoses aren't worth the electrons used to send them :D). If your immune system hasn't made a real dent in it by a week, it could probably use an assist.

93_confirmed wrote:
wordsmythe wrote:
93_confirmed wrote:

Do I have the swine flu? Seriously.

What are your symptoms? Swine flu is associated with high fever (over 101F), body aches and lots of snot.

It started last Thursday - every flu symptom except fever, diarrea, and vomiting. A week later I still have a sh*tload of snot, head congestion, semi-sore throat, and a tickle/cough.

I'm one of those people that hates going to the doctor and not a big fan of taking meds but this is worrying me a bit.

Coldstream wrote:

Sounds like a nasty upper respiratory infection, possibly sinusitis, with the sore throat and cough caused by post-nasal drip but I'd definitely advise you to go get checked out (not to mention that internet diagnoses aren't worth the electrons used to send them :D). If your immune system hasn't made a real dent in it by a week, it could probably use an assist.

Yep. No fever seems to rule out H1N1.

When developers say, "And you'll be able to play it soon because it will be available for holidays this year!!" Which holidays do they mean? Summer holidays? Thanks giving? Christmas?

(I'm guessing Christmas. If so I wish they'd just say December 'holidays' means nothing here in the UK.)

"Holidays" in the US is a replacement for "the Holiday season," roughly Thanksgiving (late November) through Christmas.

The term "Holiday season" comes from wanting to be as inclusive as possible with regards to non-Christian holidays and from wanting to include the end of November. The day after Thanksgiving is the biggest day for retails sales in America, so a lot of companies time their releases around then.

Edit: Also, if I'm remember correctly, the word "holidays" is used in the U.K. to indicate time off from work (e.g., children have a summer "holiday" at the end of the school year). In the U.S., the word "holiday" is used for specific dates such as St. Valentine's Day or Christmas Day; we use "vacation" for any time off work.

adam.greenbrier wrote:

"Holidays" in the US is a replacement for "the Holiday season," roughly Thanksgiving (late November) through Christmas.

The term "Holiday season" comes from wanting to be as inclusive as possible with regards to non-Christian holidays and from wanting to include the end of November. The day after Thanksgiving is the biggest day for retails sales in America, so a lot of companies time their releases around then.

Ah, great thanks.

What is the empirical evidence both for and against the current use of the polygraph to gauge a subject's truthfulness? Consider both in criminal and employment (LE, feds, etc) screening. References welcome.

Shoal07 wrote:

What is the empirical evidence both for and against the current use of the polygraph to gauge a subject's truthfulness? Consider both in criminal and employment (LE, feds, etc) screening. References welcome.

he-he-he-heeey, now-- do your own homework, pally! I don't have the time to write your papers...

Shoal07 wrote:

What is the empirical evidence both for and against the current use of the polygraph to gauge a subject's truthfulness? Consider both in criminal and employment (LE, feds, etc) screening. References welcome.

Well, I was once briefed on polygraph usage by an FBI interrogation specialist while I was in law enforcement. My understanding is that there's actually very little hard evidence that the polygraph is anything more than witchcraft, which is why it is accepted in court in only one jurisdiction that I'm aware of, and that controversially. His opinion of the polygraph was in the value of what he called the "zone of truth" that surrounded it. Essentially, because suspects believed that the polygraph was scientific and virtually infallible, they'd tend to start telling the truth when confronted with it.

I'm sure there are some studies on it out there. Interestingly, even if it actually worked by the claimed mechanism, it would only work for people who knew they were lying and had a reaction to it. Trained personnel, psychopaths, and delusional individuals could pass without problems.

Higgledy wrote:
adam.greenbrier wrote:

"Holidays" in the US is a replacement for "the Holiday season," roughly Thanksgiving (late November) through Christmas.

The term "Holiday season" comes from wanting to be as inclusive as possible with regards to non-Christian holidays and from wanting to include the end of November. The day after Thanksgiving is the biggest day for retails sales in America, so a lot of companies time their releases around then.

Ah, great thanks.

He's leading you on. They mean it'll be released next time you head out of town.

Ah good, glad this thread is still around. This should be an easy one for you math majors/math-y types.

I understand the basic concept of chained probabilities. For example, chance of flipping a coin and getting Tails: 50%. Chance of flipping Two coins and getting tails on both: 50% * 50% = 25%, etc. I know that some advanced math stuff tries to disprove this with blah and blooh and bleehp-bleehp, but it's close enough for what I'm trying to answer.

And that is: Probabilities on this scale.

Let's say that there is a 40% chance that an event happens. Now, if I have TWO objects that generate the 40% chance, what is my overall 'chance'?

Arrr, I think I didn't explain that well. Let's put it in terms of the roll of a standard six sided die.

I have three six-sided die. I want to know, if I toss all three dice, what are my chances of rolling a 3 on at least one of those die? If I toss one, the odds would be 1/6. How do I aggregate the probabilities for the additional die? Is it simply 1/6 + 1/6 +1/6, for a total of a 50% chance?

*scratches head* I bet this is an easy one, but dang if I can't remember for sure how to do it.

edit: scratch that, I was wrong

Puce Moose wrote:

Is it simply 1/6 + 1/6 +1/6, for a total of a 50% chance?

That would be my guess. Since each die has a 1/6 probability of giving the desired value, I'd have thought that the probabilities would be additive, assuming no influence on each other. Of course, this would state a 100% probability with six dice, which is clearly incorrect.

This is why I don't do math.

I'm not exactly sure, but I think it's something like

(1/6*5/6*5/6) * 3 + (1/6*1/6*5/6) * 3 + (1/6*1/6*1/6) * 1 = 42%

The probability of one die showing a "3" and two something different plus two dice showing a "3" and one something different plus all three showing a "3". Each result has to be multiplied by all possible permutations. (First case: Either the first, the second, or the third die shows a "3", Second case: Either the first, the second, or the third die does not show a "3", Third case: only one possibility)

edit:
My explanation seems to be consistent with the easier version

1 - 5/6*5/6*5/6 = 42%

100% minus the probability of "no '3s'" (Each die shows something other than "3" with a probability of 5/6).

wordsmythe wrote:
93_confirmed wrote:
wordsmythe wrote:
93_confirmed wrote:

Do I have the swine flu? Seriously.

What are your symptoms? Swine flu is associated with high fever (over 101F), body aches and lots of snot.

It started last Thursday - every flu symptom except fever, diarrea, and vomiting. A week later I still have a sh*tload of snot, head congestion, semi-sore throat, and a tickle/cough.

I'm one of those people that hates going to the doctor and not a big fan of taking meds but this is worrying me a bit.

Coldstream wrote:

Sounds like a nasty upper respiratory infection, possibly sinusitis, with the sore throat and cough caused by post-nasal drip but I'd definitely advise you to go get checked out (not to mention that internet diagnoses aren't worth the electrons used to send them :D). If your immune system hasn't made a real dent in it by a week, it could probably use an assist.

Yep. No fever seems to rule out H1N1.

I recovered a few days later after damn near filling a gallon jug full of snot. It was quite excessive.

*hits the Boogle light*

I'm curious too, but I'm too tired to actually go hunting for an answer. Maybe tomorrow.

Andy wrote:

I'm not exactly sure, but I think it's something like

(1/6*5/6*5/6) * 3 + (1/6*1/6*5/6) * 3 + (1/6*1/6*1/6) * 1 = 42%

The probability of one die showing a "3" and two something different plus two dice showing a "3" and one something different plus all three showing a "3". Each result has to be multiplied by all possible permutations. (First case: Either the first, the second, or the third die shows a "3", Second case: Either the first, the second, or the third die does not show a "3", Third case: only one possibility)

edit:
My explanation seems to be consistent with the easier version

1 - 5/6*5/6*5/6 = 42%

100% minus the probability of "no '3s'" (Each die shows something other than "3" with a probability of 5/6).

I think this is right. Damn, I am terrible at algebra/probability.

I tried to say this by myself but I got really, really confused.

wordsmythe wrote:
Higgledy wrote:
adam.greenbrier wrote:

"Holidays" in the US is a replacement for "the Holiday season," roughly Thanksgiving (late November) through Christmas.

The term "Holiday season" comes from wanting to be as inclusive as possible with regards to non-Christian holidays and from wanting to include the end of November. The day after Thanksgiving is the biggest day for retails sales in America, so a lot of companies time their releases around then.

Ah, great thanks.

He's leading you on. They mean it'll be released next time you head out of town.

I can see it now. I'll arrive back from holiday and everyone will be running around waving copies of Assassin's Creed 2 and Mass Effect 2. As I wander home, dragging my suitcase behind me, I'll overhear two little old ladies, each clutching a copy of Splinter Cell: Conviction, saying, "It's so exciting. All these games released on the same day."
"I'm glad I wasn't on holiday this week!"
"And I hear they've completely sold out in the shops. Phillys says can't get a copy of God of War 3 for love nor money!"

Arrr, I think I didn't explain that well. Let's put it in terms of the roll of a standard six sided die.

I have three six-sided die. I want to know, if I toss all three dice, what are my chances of rolling a 3 on at least one of those die? If I toss one, the odds would be 1/6. How do I aggregate the probabilities for the additional die? Is it simply 1/6 + 1/6 +1/6, for a total of a 50% chance?

1/6 is not correct because you aren't taking into account the whole sample space of 3 die.

Permutations is a counting rule so can't really be applied I believe.

EDIT: Due to the fact I have enough homework in this subject, this page should answer the question nicely.

http://www.edcollins.com/backgammon/...

The answer is 42.12%

WipEout wrote:
Shoal07 wrote:

What is the empirical evidence both for and against the current use of the polygraph to gauge a subject's truthfulness? Consider both in criminal and employment (LE, feds, etc) screening. References welcome.

he-he-he-heeey, now-- do your own homework, pally! I don't have the time to write your papers... ;)

Actually, I like to know both sides of the argument so when I debate with people I have a stronger stance.

Coldstream wrote:
Shoal07 wrote:

What is the empirical evidence both for and against the current use of the polygraph to gauge a subject's truthfulness? Consider both in criminal and employment (LE, feds, etc) screening. References welcome.

Well, I was once briefed on polygraph usage by an FBI interrogation specialist while I was in law enforcement. My understanding is that there's actually very little hard evidence that the polygraph is anything more than witchcraft, which is why it is accepted in court in only one jurisdiction that I'm aware of, and that controversially. His opinion of the polygraph was in the value of what he called the "zone of truth" that surrounded it. Essentially, because suspects believed that the polygraph was scientific and virtually infallible, they'd tend to start telling the truth when confronted with it.

I'm sure there are some studies on it out there. Interestingly, even if it actually worked by the claimed mechanism, it would only work for people who knew they were lying and had a reaction to it. Trained personnel, psychopaths, and delusional individuals could pass without problems.

Yep, same that I've heard. Just looking for authoratative articles on the subject. I know the government continues to have polygraph divisions that look for new technologies and ways to advanced the poly even more. It's still all voodoo, but there's money there, and people think to think if the government's willing to invest in it then it can't be all bogus...

My 7 year old daughter asked me question this morning I couldn't answer. This in itself is not uncommon. But the question was interesting, so I'll pose it here.

"Do the Japanese have any bad hand signs?"

At first I was not clear on her question, but she further explained by giving me the finger.

"Oh, that kind of hand sign. I don't know."

I told her that giving the finger was pretty universal and that it represented the guy's hoo-ha. (She giggled, of course.) I told her it was the grand daddy of all bad swears and very, very rude.

I believe my exact quote was, "Don't do it at school or the teacher will kick your ass."

So, are there any particularly Japanese hand signs?

Marsman wrote:

My 7 year old daughter asked me question this morning I couldn't answer. This in itself is not uncommon. But the question was interesting, so I'll pose it here.

"Do the Japanese have any bad hand signs?"

At first I was not clear on her question, but she further explained by giving me the finger.

"Oh, that kind of hand sign. I don't know."

I told her that giving the finger was pretty universal and that it represented the guy's hoo-ha. (She giggled, of course.) I told her it was the grand daddy of all bad swears and very, very rude.

I believe my exact quote was, "Don't do it at school or the teacher will kick your ass."

So, are there any particularly Japanese hand signs?

Tengu (Long-nosed goblin)
Describes a conceited braggart. A clenched fist held in front of the face, suggesting a long nose, like the goblin Tengu.

Pa! (Coo-Coo!, Crazy!)
Place a fist along side the head and open it quickly, suggests someone is stupid or crazy. Used both in fun or in criticism, as in the West.

While we're on it, what is the significance of the Peace sign? Does it mean the same thing in Japan that it does in America (unlikely, but whatever)? Why do they always do that in pictures?