Bill Wattenburg's Bio
David Kaye
people from Microsoft:
"Willard H. (Bill) Wattenburg
Dr. Willard H. (Bill) Wattenburg is presently a research scientist at the
Research Foundation, California State University, Chico, and a scientific
consultant to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where he conducts
most of his experimental work. He was co-founder and CEO of Berkeley
Scientific Laboratories for many years before he returned to full-time
research at Chico and Livermore.
Wattenburg holds patents on ideas relating to computer design, medical
diagnostic instruments, power line communication systems, tennis training
devices for handicapped people, movable traffic barriers for multi-lane
highways, and home alarm systems.
Wattenburg graduated summa cum laude from California State University, Chico,
with a double major in electrical engineering and physics. He returned to
Berkeley as a graduate student on a National Science Foundation scholarship in
1958. There he studied electrical engineering. Professor Edward Teller (known
to many as the “father of the hydrogen bomb”) was his physics teacher. He was
awarded a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and physics at Berkeley (summa cum
laude) in 1961.
Wattenburg received a Certificate of Merit from the Secretary of Defense in
1970 for his service on the U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board from 1966
to 1970. Bill was named a Distinguished Alumni of Chico State in 1999, in the
College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology.
In addition to his scientific work, Wattenburg has hosted “The Open Line to
the West Coast” on KGO Radio in San Francisco since 1972."
spamtrap1888
> This from Intellectual Ventures, the think tank founded and funded by some
> people from Microsoft:
> Wattenburg graduated summa cum laude from California State University, Chico,
> with a double major in electrical engineering and physics. He returned to
> Berkeley as a graduate student on a National Science Foundation scholarship in
> 1958. There he studied electrical engineering. Professor Edward Teller (known
> to many as the “father of the hydrogen bomb”) was his physics teacher. He was
> awarded a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and physics at Berkeley (summa cum
> laude) in 1961.
>
My bullshit detector is going off. Since when do grad students
graduate with honors? Further, UC Berkeley undergrads who graduate
with honors these days, do so in simple English, not Latin. If they
ever awarded "cum laude" diplomas, when and why did they stop?
Why did the bio leave off Dr. Bill's tenure as untenured UCB
professor. I'd like to know why they cut him loose. Too controversial?
W B Reese
Wow! I'm impressed.
Warren
On Mon, 31 Jan 2011 07:56:16 GMT, sfdavi...@yahoo.com (David Kaye)
wrote:
bozo
doggie pogue anal fusion ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?????
-bdn-
David Kaye
>My bullshit detector is going off. Since when do grad students
>graduate with honors?
Given that the bio is on a website read by plenty of bright people who have
money to spend on new technology, and a bullshit bio would bring scorn down on
the other distinguished people in the company, I'd be more inclined to trust
this bio than any other I've read about Wattenburg.
gvk2
> spamtrap1888 <spamtrap1...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >My bullshit detector is going off. Since when do grad students
> >graduate with honors?
>
I'd be more inclined to trust
> this bio than any other I've read about Wattenburg.
Despite what people say about Wattenburg, or his radio style, or his
very opinionated views (nuclear power, etc.)...
Despite all that, on most subjects, I'd give 10 times more credence to
his assertions than I would to the grumbling masses who are swayed to
and fro with the appearance of every new website screaming about some
imagined danger or savior miracle.
Most folks head off in one direction or another with only the most
flimsy evidence to back up their stance.
Just spend a few minutes with some of those on the street trying o get
you to sign up to save the earth. Ask them more than a simple
question and they are clueless. They only believe what they are
told, no matter how absurd it is.
Wattenburg has his style, and I don't doubt he keeps it as it is,
because it works, plain and simple.
You may not like it, but it keeps him on the air.
I compare his on-air ideas about scientific matters with that of the
Thurston-Greggains sponge analysis.
"Sounds good, so you soak it in 100%".
Heard Thurston on the air the other night extolling the virtues and
miracles of "hemp"...to do everything from power our cars, to build
our homes and clothe our families.
With every new caller anointing the miracles of hemp, Thurston would
intone "I agree with EVERYTHING you said"....
That and the end of the world we're facing because of the continent
size plastic island floating around in the mid-Pacific.
The Gigantic Gyre.
I didn't go outside for 48 hours after that show, to avoid the sky-
falling underway.
Dr. Bill, repetitive to a fault, but very sound on the science for
most matters.
John Higdon
<5474f3bd-0385-4a7d...@y31g2000prd.googlegroups.com>,
gvk2 <gvk...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> That and the end of the world we're facing because of the continent
> size plastic island floating around in the mid-Pacific.
> The Gigantic Gyre.
That hyperbole got me to check out the claims being made on that show.
One can find pictures (that very carefully avoid giving the viewer any
grasp of scope), lots of "scientists say"... (no names that can be
checked out, of course), and a location that, conveniently, is
unreachable by any commercial or small private craft. The other
interesting thing is that everything one finds on the web is dated
within an eight-month window, about three years ago.
Bottom line: it doesn't pass the smell test.
The anti-nuke guy, who spent an hour on Pat Thurston's show, got
high-fives for everything he had to say. There wasn't a tough question
on the show. Gotta give the guy credit for balls, however. He actually
called into Wattenburg's show. Unfortunately, the only answer he could
give to every one of Dr. Bill's legitimate questions (particularly
regarding the cost of solar) was "Solar is the future."
First, we had "slogan politics". Then, we got "slogan science". Is a
return to the caves our very next step?
--
John Higdon
+1 408 ANdrews 6-4400
AT&T-Free At Last
spamtrap1888
How un-Dr. Bill-like to assume that others had done the hard work of
checking things out. Further down this thread Pat Thurston is
castigated for uncritically taking people's claims at face value. And,
while not part of my circle of acquaintance, she's no Dr. Bill.
bubba
hemp is great fiber for paper type products, rope, clothing with
wonderful "breathability" unlike synthetics...Not such a great fuel
source ..compared to switch grass and other growables..but not too
shabby either.....does the thought of using hemp..make you wet your
panties?
gvk2
.....does the thought of using hemp..make you wet your
> panties?
No, that only happens when I see forests burning down to bare soil.
David Kaye
>hemp is great fiber for paper type products, rope, clothing with
>wonderful "breathability" unlike synthetics...Not such a great fuel
>source ..compared to switch grass and other growables..[....]
I went to a lecture a few months ago where a scientist made a presentation
about algae as fuel. It seems that (like most vegetable products) if you
squeeze the vegetation hard enough you get oil. Corn doesn't seem oily but
squeeze it enough and you get oil. Likewise algae. But the beauty of algae
is that it's a nuisance clogging rivers and lakes, so it's not something that
has to be tended to such as corn, hemp, or other fuels.
It just dawned on me that kudzu is probably another fuel source that could be
used....
David Kaye
>How un-Dr. Bill-like to assume that others had done the hard work of
>checking things out.
Uh, Intellectual Ventures is owned by supergeeks who don't let anything get
past them. I mean, hell, Nathan Myhrvold is the founder, for crying out loud!
And it's backed by Bill Gates money. Say what you will about Bill G but few
things get past him.
Face it. You have a prejudice against Bill Wattenburg that transcends reason.
Perhaps you're forgetting that I despise the man, but fair is fair and I
thought it would be fair to post his bio here.
leansto...@democrat.com
Generally his explanations regarding electronics are only right about
half the time.
While we are at it, I don't put much credence in patents. The patent
office has been totally out of control for decades. Every time someone
proposes changes to the USPTO, the corporations with the big patent
portfolios bribe the right politicians and nothing gets done. There is
currently legislation in the works to remove tax avoidance schemes
from being patented.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_patent
Tell me tax tricks deserve patent protection. Simply put, the vast
majority of patents are pure garbage. You may recall somebody got a
patent on a laser pointer cat exerciser. Sheesh!
leansto...@democrat.com
I doubt he does much there. Bill is such as asshole that I can't see
anyone working with him. Even if he worked alone, any real company has
a design review. Bill would not take kindly to criticism of whatever
he does. Basically, Wattenberg is not a team player.
One place I worked had a Berkeley Phd who reminds me of Wattenburg. I
would explain at design reviews distinctly what he was doing wrong. He
would throw a hissy fit and get his way. The chip would come back with
the exact problem as I described it. I did this thrice. The CEO who
liked this asshole wanted me to work for said asshole. I quit.
Jim
Bullshit is right.
'The "summa cum laude" honorarium isn't used with graduate degrees.
On the other hand, in many institutions including the UC campuses,
a C is an unacceptable grade in the schools of engineering.
Ras Mikael Enoch
I am still trying to find out which year that "Dr." ill Wattenjew
got a degree in :
POMPOUS ASSHOLE !
__________________________________________________________
Rastafarian Mikael Enoch (Mac Cartaig)
http://www.exorcist.org.nz
http://www.exorcist.org.nz/mc_carthy_heaven.wav
http://www.myspace.com/549686535
Deep Roots Music - 2011
http://www.exorcist.org.nz/blackwell
http://www.exorcist.org.nz/tough_turkey.wav
http://www.exorcist.org.nz/bcp_bing_crosby_productions.wav
http://www.exorcist.org.nz/deep_roots_music_2011_1.wav
When a Maori Bites
You Can't Stop Your Bleeding
1840
4:20
4:20 a.m. April 12, 1861
Rastas blaze 10 minutes before we bombard
FED Babylon Orwell Super-State (1984)
Jim
Your summa cum laude honors for a UC engineering PhD
are somebody's invention. You probably aren't aware
that grad school GPAs average in the mid and high
3.0s meaning that nearly a majority of these students
would qualify for at least a magna cum laude. The
reason honors are conferred on undergrads
is that these lower division students
are much more dispersed.
I don't see you as anything more than a late night
schmoozer on a user's group with a readership which
must number in the dozens if not in the low hundreds,
including players from a radio station known for
wholesale fraud.
If there were an award for unmerited self-hype,
I would nominate the Super Target store in
Sunnyvale for it and you for Miscellaneous
Special Distinction. The "miscellany" stems
from your breadth of schmooze and not from
anything that I condemn. Rather, I think
should continue your efforts. Bay Area
Broadcast is where it's at.
Can't believe I actually got out of bed to
write this, but someone has to say it.
I feel better already.
--
G'night, Sheila G., where ever you are.
gvk2
>
> It just dawned on me that kudzu is probably another fuel source that could be
> used....
could be used? Kudzu already IS being used as a fuel for autos in
very progressive areas where they don't believe the naysayers such as
Dr. Bill.
Here is a Kudzu energy pioneer fueling up....
Phil Kane
<j.co...@cross-comp.com> wrote:
>'The "summa cum laude" honorarium isn't used with graduate degrees.
It's been a long time ago, but ISTR that my law school issued the
English equivalents for the top grad JDs. All I wanted to do at that
point was to get out of the clown-costume cap and gown.
gvk2
> I don't see you as anything more than a late night
> schmoozer on a user's group with a readership which
> must number in the dozens if not in the low hundreds,
> including players from a radio station known for
> wholesale fraud.
Ah yes, the very dozens or low-hundreds you endlessly feel duty bound
to impress with your "impressive" scholarly posts.
>
> Can't believe I actually got out of bed to
> write this, but someone has to say it.
> I feel better already.
>
OK, now back to bed, but don't forget to set your clock radio to KGO
so you'll always know exactly how bad it is.
BTW, 4:24 AM... listening to Ray T again?
Jim
> On Tue, 1 Feb 2011 00:47:13 -0800 (PST), Jim
>
> >'The "summa cum laude" honorarium isn't used with graduate degrees.
>
> It's been a long time ago, but ISTR that my law school issued the
> English equivalents for the top grad JDs. All I wanted to do at that
> point was to get out of the clown-costume cap and gown.
UC engineering grad schools don't assign honors with degrees.
What would be the point when everyone in the class gets an A
or B, and most get an A? I went to UCLA and between there
and Berkeley, I can tell you we were pretty motivated.
Phil Kane
<j.co...@cross-comp.com> wrote:
>UC engineering grad schools don't assign honors with degrees.
Then again, my undergrad school (The Cooper Union School of
Engineering) didn't hand out undergrad honors either. They handed out
Hughes Graduate Fellowships - full-tuition-plus-paying-jobs at either
Cal Tech, USC, or UCLA.
Much better than "honors".
--
Phil Kane
Beaverton, OR
Jim
> On Tue, 1 Feb 2011 13:52:08 -0800 (PST), Jim
>
> >UC engineering grad schools don't assign honors with degrees.
>
> Then again, my undergrad school (The Cooper Union School of
> Engineering) didn't hand out undergrad honors either. They handed out
> Hughes Graduate Fellowships - full-tuition-plus-paying-jobs at either
> Cal Tech, USC, or UCLA.
>
> Much better than "honors".
Had a great time in grad school at UCLA, and after I had
gotten a Hughes Fellowship, I continued to work
32 hours / week at Hughes while taking classes. The
Hughes management made it clear that in any conflict
between work and school, school was to come first
until I had received my master's. In exchange,
dropping out was not an option!
Professors whom I had for classes were
Kung Yao, Andrew Viterbi, H. J. Orchard, Gabor Temes,
Sheila Greibach (who was married to Jack Carlisle and
not to be confused with Sheila G., my girlfriend), a
junior prof whose name I can't remember but was
from New Brunswick, and professors for a few classes
that I audited but not for grade.
Hardly did anything not related to school or work for
a year. Went to a movie now and then in Westwood,
and in particular, was at the Los Angeles premiere
of "Godfather" which opened the same night in New
York. Seems like Coppola was at the one in L.A.
and Pacino and Duvall were in NY. All these
characters were unknown to me before that
night.
What makes the opening so memorable was
that I was stuck on a problem in my master's
thesis the night I walked down to the Village
from an office at UCLA Medical Center where I'd
been on an IBM Selectric computer terminal, saw all
the fuss with limos pulling up for the premiere, and
was able to buy a ticket. While watching this epic
film which I knew immediately would become a classic
I thought of the solution. But I can't remember
which mobster was getting shot. I think it
was when Carmine Coppola was playing his
little interlude at a men's social club just
after Michael Corleone has fled for Sicily
after he shot the crooked police captain
(played by Sterling Hayden) and his father's
younger rival "Turk" Sollozzo.
I must've seen the film a few times since.
(1972)
Jim
>
> >UC engineering grad schools don't assign honors with degrees.
>
> Then again, my undergrad school (The Cooper Union School of
> Engineering) didn't hand out undergrad honors either. They handed out
> Hughes Graduate Fellowships - full-tuition-plus-paying-jobs at either
> Cal Tech, USC, or UCLA.
>
> Much better than "honors".
Following up on Bill Wattenburg, who I guess is an
on-topic subject for Bay Area Broadcast...
I probably disagree with him on many political issues,
but there is no gainsaying that he is very accomplished
and extremely intelligent. When I was still up north,
I did occasionally tune him in on Sat-Sun night,
although John Rothmann is my fave KGO host.
In L.A., there are a half-dozen Rothmanns on the
AM dial that you don't hear up north. I've
simply lost interest in anything to do with the
Bay Area.
leansto...@democrat.com
Hey, Thursday is "what is Jessie Jackson saying" day on KFI. 8PM.
Stimulating? Nah. Funny, well perhaps, but "what is Ozzie Osborn"
saying would be just as funny.
If you want science on the radio, Mchio Kaku from WBAI, Science
Friday, and plenty of podcasts. OK, podcasts aren't radio, but unless
you need something live and breaking, podcasts are better than radio.
One of my science favorites is "The Naked Scientics" out of the UK.
They are not naked, and even so, this is an audio podcast. But they
certainly are geeky.
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/
All Bill spews is cranky tea bagger politics.
Jim
> If you want science on the radio, Mchio Kaku from WBAI, Science
> Friday, and plenty of podcasts.
I listen to Science Friday with Ira Flatow now and then, but
who's Mchio Kaku? Not Michiko Kakutani who reviews books
in the NY Times and is called bad names by authors
whom she's burned?
John Slade
Michio Kaku is one of the most prominent theoretical
physicists of our day if not the most prominent. Kaku is the
co-founder of "string theory". He's probably the "Einstein" of
or day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michio_Kaku
John
Alan
>All Bill spews is cranky tea bagger politics.
Please explain. What is "tea bagger"?
Alan
spamtrap1888
> In article <fc74dfe9-88c5-4626-9838-346606d11...@17g2000prf.googlegroups.com> "leanstothel...@democrat.com" <leanstothel...@democrat.com> writes:
>
> >All Bill spews is cranky tea bagger politics.
>
> Please explain. What is "tea bagger"?
>
> Alan
http://www.eyeonlifemag.com/storage/a-hat-for-all-seasons/tea%20bag%20hat.jpg
Jim
>
> >All Bill spews is cranky tea bagger politics.
>
> Please explain. What is "tea bagger"?
>
> Alan
A right winger who thinks s/he's in Boston and it's
1773.
Jim
John, sorry. I was kind of kidding. And yes I do
like Michio Kaku who is heard on Science Friday at this
end of the state as well.
Don Freeman
Depends on the context. One definition is definitely NSFW.
--
__
(oO) www.cosmoslair.com
/||\ Cthulhu Saves!!! (In case he needs a midnight snack)
John Slade
I suspected you might be joking, but you really have to
spell it out on USENET sometimes.
John
John Slade
I think it's someone who saves used teabags. Rather than
get a new one, they drag out the old ones.
John
leansto...@democrat.com
Somewhat science related, you may like the Skeptics Guide to the
Universe. The show is a mixture of science news and quack bashing.
http://www.theskepticsguide.org/