StringJunky

With respect to law and order, the state does not murder...it lawfully kills (executes). Murder is unlawful killing with malice aforethought. Using words like 'murder' with respect to lawful executions, whether one agrees with them or not, demeans your overall position because you are using an emotionally loaded word in the wrong context perhaps in order to add argumentative weight to your position...an appeal to emotion. The emotions and concepts invoked by 'execution' are different to those caused by 'murder'. They are not synonymous. To lump a legal action and an illegal one under the same definition muddles any fruitful discussion. You can still argue that execution is unethical but you should not call it murder because by any standard definition it isn't: Murder, as defined in common law countries, is the unlawful killing of another human being with "malice aforethought", and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide (such as manslaughter). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder In the laws of England, Scotland, and the United States, murder is defined as the criminal killing of a human being with malice afore-thought, or willful murder. In the law courts of these nations, conviction on a charge of willful murder rests upon establishing that the perpetrator was of sound mind when the act occurred. http://www.jrank.org/literature/pages/6795/Murder.html

Awesome!...especially coming from a particle physicist

I think it's also called 'slag' which is the waste byproduct of the smelting industries or foundries. It's the impurities that floats on top of the molten metal.... these are removed and cool down to give a vitreous solid like you've seen.

Yep, it's a real pain when that happens. If you think you are going to ponder on writing a post over a long period it might be a good idea to do it in a word processor and then copy and paste it to SFN when you are ready to post it. Put your W/P software icon in the quickest launch position so you don't have to mess around too much. Instead of using Word or Open Office which are slow to open and overkill for this purpose you could use a much smaller /faster opening and simpler W/P called Abiword (8Mb)and stick its icon in the Quick Launch position (bottom Left)if you are using Vista/7. You can then ponder and manipulate your post as you desire. Here's a link for it: http://www.abiword.org/download/ You could also copy and paste the question on to your Abiword document so you have the relevant points on the page while you think...remember to Save occasionally!

Just checked with the UK's Food Standards Agency Recommendations on Vitamin D and they say 10 micrograms so that should be 'mcg' and not 'mg'. The reason for the difference in the quoted recommended dose is that the FSA's RDA is the minimum amount to prevent deficiency and not necessarily the amount a person actually requires for optimal function and there isn't a general consensus what the correct amounts are...they err on the side of safety.

Here's a report on a study that backs that up: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100307215534.htm On and off over the last two or three decades when I've looked into the claims of nutritional supplements and then looked at the hard evidence I can find, the proper scientific results and conclusions are too often either vague or not better than a placebo. Even when one might benefit from a particular supplement they can often be in the wrong form for the body to assimilate it. I suspect the only way to boost your immune system is to infect yourself with the bugs (or at least milder forms of them) you are trying to avoid...the body has to know what it's enemy is before it can do anything to pre-empt it. You could have the most potent 'killer' cells and immune system in your body anywhere but they are useless if they don't know who the enemy is. Given that we can't practically vaccinate for every possible pathogen the best we can do is make sure we can recover from a pathogenic scenario ok by making sure we eat a broad spectrum of healthy foods, sleep well, engage in constant moderate exercise and minimise mental stress. This is the general gist of the UK's NHS advice. Many people I suspect shun this kind of advice because it requires effort when it's easier to go down to the local pharmacist or herbal shop and get a packet of Pink Unicorn Farts in tablet form and then fantasise they've sorted their problem. Vitamin supplements are, by and large, snake oil and boost nothing but the contents of your urine IMO.

I found this diy project: http://www.ehow.com/how_5024385_make-dehumidifier.html

Stardust by John Gribbin. Great intro to Cosmology. Einstein: A Hundred Years of Relativity by Andrew Robinson. I think this is an honestly presented overview of Einsteins's life and works with critiques by the author (a physicist) on the long term and relative importance of each of his theories. The Revenge Of Gaia by James Lovelock. Putting his apocalyptic forecast for humanity aside this book is a nice intro to the Earth System: it's cycles and feedback mechanisms. It's about Time by David Mermin. An intro to Special Relativity that keeps the maths to a minimum. but some is unavoidable. Not a light-hearted read like the first three...needs effort!

For those with slow computers and/or internet connections the Chrome browsers are fastest at rendering. Google Chrome or SRWare Iron if one has reservations about Google's tracking/privacy policy. I use Iron which seems to be noticeably quicker than FF but it's not so customisable...the more responsive feel and faster rendering/scrolling makes up for it for my purposes. http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron_download.php

I noticed Genecks and I had 3 little square shaped dots under our avatars earlier which I presumed was the rep...that's disappeared this visit. Kudos to the guys involved with the new logo...very nice with a good 'visual' message. Under Swansont's avatar it says 'Staff'. I think it should say 'Physics Expert/Moderator' as before so he and staff with similar status don't have to keep telling new posters what they are.

Genecks You don't like it cos it's not black and dark! I need to get used to the change before I have an opinion...I like blues so no cosmetic problem there for me.

I don't think there is any other person in history where so many people, amateurs and professionals alike, are so dedicated in their attempts to undermine his verified ideas and have failed. He's not 'pumped up' for nothing...he graces the pages of scientific history and the media through merit alone at the end of the day....you need to look into his life and works with a more open mind and you will see his reputation is justified. He didn't get everything right but who does? "As always, the myth has it's charms but the truth is far more beautiful"- R. Oppenheimer on Einstein (Scientific Director of the Manhattan Project...the first atom bombs) It's obvious, even to a relative scientific ignoramus like me, that SwansonT is correct...without Einstein's mass/energy equation fission/fusion technology would not be with us, at least until somebody else saw the relationship. There aren't many people here able to appreciate Einstein's contribution to science and technology more than SwansonT as he works with and applies his concepts professionally on a day to day basis...he knows what he's talking about.

Wouldn't it be a good idea to define 'ethical' first so that there is a consistent benchmark for the purposes of this discussion?...I'm thinking you are going to get religious/non-religious perspectives which might turn it into a bit of a mess. I tend to agree with AzurePhoenix; I agree with the use of the death penalty in some circumstances but the determination of guilt should not be left to a group of unqualified people. Is it ethical? I can't say until someone defines it.

Is it enough to give it it's blue colour with increasing volume and not down to scattering?

I think you've cocked up there mate. . My guess is all the colours are absorbed except blue which is scattered. If our eyes had a sensitivity in the violet portion of the spectrum equal to the blue portion the sky would appear more violet than we actually see it because indigo and violet is scattered just as much if not more than blue. Our brain interprets the blue portion only, I suppose because there's not enough violet sensitivity to have an effect.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/

Well done IA.

To get an image in Google put the word 'image' after your search term. For example I got this image for the Down Syndrome chromosome abnormality by typing 'Chromosomes Down Syndrome image' : I typed 'Chromosomes Turner Syndrome Image' and got this: Do the same for the rest...hope that helps

It's not a program in itself that you use directly but a software environment that some programs need before they will run. Here's more info: http://www.tech-pro.net/net-framework.html

Download this: http://www.filehippo.com/download_speccy

Congratulations AJB...I'm sure you'll go far.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/

What error codes are you getting?

You could have a look at this MS article on Update failures...you need to find the error code that is generated first. Copy and paste the error code into Google can get you answers as well. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906602

AJB: Maybe you emanate some body language as you go about your business that makes you an attractive target for antisocial behaviour. Our local environment is the way it is and we must adapt if we are to have any hope of being in harmony with it. Speak in the language of the listener. I am happy to to talk to anyone and adapt my language and demeanour accordingly....When in Rome..... We are all initially dealt a certain hand of cards in life and to see someone walking through the street that appears to have been dealt 'a better hand' and is aloof with it can make others not so fortunate want to direct their despair and envy at you in an aggressive manner. If you dress in a certain way and carry yourself in an aloof and lofty manner in a deprived area you will almost certainly invite this sort of attention on a regular basis. You have a brain that's in the top few percent..be sure not to wear it like a status symbol out in the street...be humble and grateful that you are chanced to have it. Use it to understand Life and.People as well as Science and then you should be more at peace with it all.