OT: Science Unravels One of Life's Greatest Mysteries

[Quadibloc]

A frequent poster in this newsgroup often expresses doubt about the value of
science and the competency of scientists.

This news story:

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39573642

should put the matter to rest once and for all!

John Savard

[Robert Bannister]

I have found that my shoe laces only come undone when I'm wearing long
trousers. When I'm in shorts or a kilt, they stay done up.

--
Robert B. born England a long time ago;
Western Australia since 1972

[Gutless Umbrella Carrying Sissy]

Quadibloc <jsa...@ecn.ab.ca> wrote in
news:897003d2-9ba2-451d...@googlegroups.com:

Personally, I question more the value and competency of those who
spend our tax dollars on stuff like this.

--
Terry Austin

Vacation photos from Iceland:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/collection/QaXQkB

"Terry Austin: like the polio vaccine, only with more asshole."
-- David Bilek

Jesus forgives sinners, not criminals.

[Richard Hershberger]

On Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at 2:10:09 AM UTC-4, Gutless Umbrella Carrying Sissy wrote:
> Quadibloc <jsa...@ecn.ab.ca> wrote in
> news:897003d2-9ba2-451d...@googlegroups.com:
>
> > A frequent poster in this newsgroup often expresses doubt about
> > the value of science and the competency of scientists.
> >
> > This news story:
> >
> > http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39573642
> >
> > should put the matter to rest once and for all!
> >
> Personally, I question more the value and competency of those who
> spend our tax dollars on stuff like this.
>
> --
> Terry Austin

Thank you, Senator Proxmire.

[Mike Dworetsky]

Gutless Umbrella Carrying Sissy wrote:

> Quadibloc <jsa...@ecn.ab.ca> wrote in
> news:897003d2-9ba2-451d...@googlegroups.com:
>
>> A frequent poster in this newsgroup often expresses doubt about
>> the value of science and the competency of scientists.
>>
>> This news story:
>>
>> http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39573642
>>
>> should put the matter to rest once and for all!
>>
> Personally, I question more the value and competency of those who
> spend our tax dollars on stuff like this.

You are assuming that this was some sort of grant-supported project. It was
probably done in his own time (after work) as a fun activity with some
serious aspect. It might even win a coveted Ignobel prize.

--
Mike Dworetsky

(Remove pants sp*mbl*ck to reply)

[Default User]

In my experience, a large part of the "problem" is that the knot most of us are taught as children isn't the best one for the purpose. Years ago I found a guy that had a site with extensive information about shoelaces. Hey, it's the web. There's an extensive site on just about anything.

I switched to the "secure" knot from this subsection:

https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/knots.htm

I have had almost no trouble with knots coming undone since.


Brian

[Gutless Umbrella Carrying Sissy]

"Mike Dworetsky" <plati...@pants.btinternet.com> wrote in
news:2OKdnaWdKZl_s3PF...@supernews.com:

> Gutless Umbrella Carrying Sissy wrote:
>> Quadibloc <jsa...@ecn.ab.ca> wrote in
>> news:897003d2-9ba2-451d...@googlegroups.com:
>>
>>> A frequent poster in this newsgroup often expresses doubt
>>> about the value of science and the competency of scientists.
>>>
>>> This news story:
>>>
>>> http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39573642
>>>
>>> should put the matter to rest once and for all!
>>>
>> Personally, I question more the value and competency of those
>> who spend our tax dollars on stuff like this.
>
> You are assuming that this was some sort of grant-supported
> project.

I am, because that's teh way to bet.

> It was probably done in his own time (after work) as a
> fun activity with some serious aspect.

"Using a slow-motion camera and a series of experiments, mechanical
engineers at University California Berkeley"

Seems extremely likely that the equipmewnt and facilities used
were, in fact, university equipment and facilities, so even if it
was on his own time, it was taxapayer supported.

> It might even win a
> coveted Ignobel prize.
>

As well it should, actually.

[Gutless Umbrella Carrying Sissy]

Richard Hershberger <rrh...@gmail.com> wrote in
news:4f5125cd-c66d-4634...@googlegroups.com:

He did occasionally have a point.

[David Goldfarb]

In article <f3edf432-4c69-47d7...@googlegroups.com>,

Default User <defaul...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>In my experience, a large part of the "problem" is that the knot most of
>us are taught as children isn't the best one for the purpose.

*And*, as the site you give below notes, people aren't taught how
to tie it right.

Years ago
>I found a guy that had a site with extensive information about
>shoelaces. Hey, it's the web. There's an extensive site on just about
>anything.
>
>I switched to the "secure" knot from this subsection:
>
>https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/knots.htm
>
>I have had almost no trouble with knots coming undone since.

Same here. Unlike the double knot I was previously using, it comes
undone with a single pull -- unless you accidentally pull one of the
ends through one of the loops. This is fairly easy to do; on the
other hand, it leaves you little worse off than if you'd started with
a double knot. And when you don't, you're much better.

--
David Goldfarb |
goldf...@gmail.com | "End of the universe. Have fun. Bye-bye!"
gold...@ocf.berkeley.edu |

[Robert Bannister]

I'm going to have to give that a try. Are they hard to undo again?

[Default User]

On Sunday, April 23, 2017 at 10:14:13 PM UTC-5, Robert Bannister wrote:
> On 13/4/17 12:30 am, Default User wrote:

> > I switched to the "secure" knot from this subsection:
> >
> > https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/knots.htm
> >
> > I have had almost no trouble with knots coming undone since.
>
> I'm going to have to give that a try. Are they hard to undo again?

No, it works like a normal knot in that regards, although with more friction.


Brian

[Robert Bannister]

I've given it a try a few time now. Easy to undo, but doesn't come
undone by accident. It is, however, hard to tie if you haven't got much
lace left. Perhaps I need more practice.

[Default User]

On Sunday, May 7, 2017 at 9:49:35 PM UTC-5, Robert Bannister wrote:

> >> On 13/4/17 12:30 am, Default User wrote:
> >
> >>> I switched to the "secure" knot from this subsection:
> >>>
> >>> https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/knots.htm
> >>>
> >>> I have had almost no trouble with knots coming undone since.

> I've given it a try a few time now. Easy to undo, but doesn't come
> undone by accident. It is, however, hard to tie if you haven't got much
> lace left. Perhaps I need more practice.

Yes, that can be a concern. I just got some new shoes and the laces didn't leave a lot of room for the secure know, but a couple tries and some adjustments got it.


Brian

[Robert Carnegie]

Or more lace? I tend not to replace a lace before
the shoe wears out, but you /can/. ;-)

I've also used a "skip some holes" technique to
thread a short remainder of lace into a long shoe!

[T Guy]

Bookmarked.

Only because my most recent pair of shoes have laces that loosen every time and have been known to come undone.

[Robert Bannister]

It might be easier on something like walking boots. I was trying it on
my dancing shoes and it was difficult, although I have managed it a
couple of times.

[David Goldfarb]

In article <ea559555-e358-4657...@googlegroups.com>,

T Guy <Tim.B...@redbridge.gov.uk> wrote:
>Only because my most recent pair of shoes have laces that loosen every
>time and have been known to come undone.

I find that with practice, Ian's Secure Knot is very nearly as fast
to tie as a standard shoelace knot.

--
David Goldfarb | "Oh, death from on high. Neat."
goldf...@gmail.com | -- Tom Servo, Mystery Science Theater 3000
gold...@ocf.berkeley.edu | "Gamera"

[Robert Carnegie]

On Wednesday, 12 April 2017 17:30:30 UTC+1, Default User wrote:

I think that "Double Shoelace Knot" is what I use
when an ordinary bow is a problem - and specifically
if the bow is long enough to catch in my bicycle
chain - which is, tie the bow, then knot the bundle
of laces on one side once through the bundle from
the opposite side. Not especially tightly.

[Robert Bannister]

The advantage of the know Brian showed is that it is also easy to undo.
A double bow can be tricky.

[Dimensional Traveler]

Should we take the first part of that as meaning your need to alliterate
overwhelmed your need to spell? :)

--
"That's my secret, Captain: I'm always angry."

[Robert Bannister]

My spelling is fine. It's my typing that's knot reliable.
Still, know, show, bow...

[David DeLaney]

That ain't alliteration. That's assonance. thingummy.

Dave, gammon and/or spinach
--
\/David DeLaney posting thru EarthLink - "It's not the pot that grows the flower
It's not the clock that slows the hour The definition's plain for anyone to see
Love is all it takes to make a family" - R&P. VISUALIZE HAPPYNET VRbeable<BLINK>
gatekeeper.vic.com/~dbd - net.legends FAQ & Magic / I WUV you in all CAPS! --K.

[Robert Carnegie]

On Thursday, 11 May 2017 07:07:28 UTC+1, David DeLaney wrote:
> On 2017-05-10, Dimensional Traveler <dtr...@sonic.net> wrote:
> > On 5/9/2017 10:34 PM, Robert Bannister wrote:
> >> The advantage of the know Brian showed is that it is also easy to undo.
> >> A double bow can be tricky.
> >>
> > Should we take the first part of that as meaning your need to alliterate
> > overwhelmed your need to spell? :)
>
> That ain't alliteration. That's assonance. thingummy.
>
> Dave, gammon and/or spinach

I thought I caught an internal rhyme that time.

[Robert Bannister]

On 11/5/17 2:07 pm, David DeLaney wrote:
> On 2017-05-10, Dimensional Traveler <dtr...@sonic.net> wrote:
>> On 5/9/2017 10:34 PM, Robert Bannister wrote:
>>> The advantage of the know Brian showed is that it is also easy to undo.
>>> A double bow can be tricky.
>>>
>> Should we take the first part of that as meaning your need to alliterate
>> overwhelmed your need to spell? :)
>
> That ain't alliteration. That's assonance. thingummy.
>
> Dave, gammon and/or spinach
>

That's what I'd have called it too, but I thought what the hell, w is a
sort of semi-consonant.