Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

You're Better Off Being A Dumb Blond

3 views
Skip to first unread message

Bret Cahill

unread,
Apr 11, 2012, 12:04:41 PM4/11/12
to
You obviously want to avoid two types of errors mentioned by some
philosopher, confounding two different things as one and making a
distinction between two things that should be getting the same
treatment.

If you actually do anything original then you _will_ be making both
kinds of errors, even if they never get past the "thought experiment"
stage and no one except yourself ever knows about them.

Hair often darkens after adolescence so most dumb blond jokes are
generally based on the young person's error of confounding two
different things as one.

Jokes and ridicule notwithstanding, if it is at all possible to shift
in some direction for a trade off you are better off being a little
thick skinned and making dumb blond errors _as long as it helps you
identify false distinctions_.

A genius proposing one unified field theory is much more valuable than
millions of pendants correcting millions of dumb blonds.

This was always true but it should be much more obvious today, partly
because of cheap information / communications and partly due to the
direness of the unsustainable situation. In the U. S. there's the
additional factor because IP will soon be the only legitimate way to
support yourself.


Bret Cahill


Trashing others behind their backs "has always worked for 8th grade
girls and it has always worked for the United States of America."

-- Bill Maher (identifying the false distinction between GOP politics
and middle school girls' behaviour) (2012)

Neon

unread,
Apr 11, 2012, 3:40:00 PM4/11/12
to
...ummm...what does IP mean?

Bill Ward

unread,
Apr 11, 2012, 3:54:07 PM4/11/12
to
Intellectual Prostitution?

porky_...@my-deja.com

unread,
Apr 11, 2012, 4:20:29 PM4/11/12
to
You know, I have no slightest idea what you're trying to say. May be
folks at alt.global-warning, where you also sent this pearl, can help
with interpreting you post. But since you've mentioned a dumb blonde,
here's a funny and true story.

It was the end of semester, time when every one is readying for the
exams. I was in the library and I walked past some really cute blonde
girls. Apparently she was studying for some physics exam.

Well, on the table in front of here there was a pile of books on
physics, and at the very top of the pile there was a book ... yes, you
guessed it! "Physics for dummies". And so I said to myself: the girl
is trying hard to live up to that "dumb blonde" reputation.

PPJ.

William Hughes

unread,
Apr 11, 2012, 4:54:39 PM4/11/12
to
On Apr 11, 1:04 pm, Bret Cahill <BretCah...@peoplepc.com> wrote:

> A genius proposing one unified field theory is much more valuable than
> millions of pendants correcting millions of dumb blonds.

Because dumb blonds cannot tell time?

Bret Cahill

unread,
Apr 11, 2012, 6:13:40 PM4/11/12
to
Everyone can agree you're not catching on.


Bret Cahill







1treePetrifiedForestLane

unread,
Apr 13, 2012, 2:55:18 AM4/13/12
to
except when I'm a smart red-head, but
that's why they make bleach.

Bret Cahill

unread,
Apr 13, 2012, 11:16:32 AM4/13/12
to
If you want to be pedantic, start another thread.

1treePetrifiedForestLane

unread,
Apr 13, 2012, 3:51:51 PM4/13/12
to
not if I can't patent it.

Bret Cahill

unread,
Apr 14, 2012, 12:29:25 AM4/14/12
to
You'll have to show it's useful.

> not if I can't patent it.

> > If you want to be pedantic, start another thread.- Hide quoted text -

Eric Jacobsen

unread,
Apr 14, 2012, 9:39:06 AM4/14/12
to
Usefulness is not a requirement for obtaining a patent. There are
numerous examples that this is true.
Eric Jacobsen
Anchor Hill Communications
www.anchorhill.com

Bret Cahill

unread,
Apr 14, 2012, 10:31:54 AM4/14/12
to
> Usefulness is not a requirement for obtaining a patent.

Who gets to decide what is useful?


Bret Cahill

brent

unread,
Apr 14, 2012, 11:25:40 AM4/14/12
to
you do...

robert bristow-johnson

unread,
Apr 14, 2012, 10:59:43 PM4/14/12
to
On 4/14/12 9:39 AM, Eric Jacobsen wrote:
> Usefulness is not a requirement for obtaining a patent. There are
> numerous examples that this is true.
>
>
> On Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:29:25 -0700 (PDT), Bret Cahill
> <BretC...@peoplepc.com> wrote:
>
>> You'll have to show it's useful.
>>
>>> not if I can't patent it.
>>
>>>> If you want to be pedantic, start another thread.

need we be feeding the troll?

[just a note to the alt.phisolophy and math.science and alt.physics and
sci.climate-change people. i am hoping that we at comp.dsp start
starving the troll in the hopes he trawls somewhere else for harvesting
whatever it is that he is seeking in our otherwise high S/N newsgroup.
if you *have* to engage the troll, can you please remove comp.dsp from
the Newsgroup: header? of course it's easier for everyone if you just
don't feed him. thanks.]

--

r b-j r...@audioimagination.com

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."


Eric Jacobsen

unread,
Apr 15, 2012, 12:36:40 AM4/15/12
to
On Sat, 14 Apr 2012 07:31:54 -0700 (PDT), Bret Cahill
<BretC...@peoplepc.com> wrote:

>> Usefulness is not a requirement for obtaining a patent.
>
>Who gets to decide what is useful?

Users.
0 new messages