StringJunky

It's not that each nerve is specialized but because each hair is of a different length, so it resonates sympathetically to a particular frequency which correlates to its length.

If it's that heavy on your system resources, I'd dump it and use Microsoft Security Essentials...it's fast, light as a feather on your system resources and free. The first full system scan takes a long time but after that it's much quicker, especially if you use the Quick Scan on a regular basis...it has realtime protection too. http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/ Mix that with Spywareblaster, which doesn't use any resources, and the Windows Firewall...you're sorted! http://www.filehippo.com/download_spywareblaster/

You might find this CDM Model stills and animation interesting: http://cosmicweb.uchicago.edu/filaments.html

I've just read up on virtual photons...i understand that now. Does the magnetic field still exist in the absence of anything to influence or only when something is within range?

I used to detest my middle name (Joseph) but I now like 'Joe' so I'd go for that as my first name instead instead of Antony (Tony for short). I like Ansel as well.

1. When you lightly and briefly touch exactly above the 12th fret position to bring out the harmonic you kill the natural note and set up two independent sections of vibrating string each with a frequency twice what it was before...so, yes, both sides vibrate either side of the 12th fret when you pluck and touch it there. If you touch it a quarter of the length you set up 4 sections...3 one side of the point you touched and one the other side! When you finger the twelfth fret properly the harmonics are still there. 2. When you finger down on a fret normally, only that part between the fingered /fretted note position and the saddle vibrates. Be aware, my first method is for bringing out the harmonic...the second one is the fundamental. If you change the string length by firmly fretting at different positions on the neck you change the lowest frequency (fundamental) that string can produce and hence its musical note . The smallest step in western music is a half step or half note (1 fret difference either side of any position = 1/2 step).

I'd like to know the nature of a magnetic field too..the 'stuff' that it's made of but I guess it'll be the same as for light and electric fields..I don't think they know.

This might make it a bit clearer: http://id.mind.net/~zona/mstm/physics/waves/standingWaves/standingWaves1/StandingWaves1.html The Nodal Points are where the amplitude of the wave form is zero so the ends, be it your fretted finger and saddle or the nut and saddle are nodal points. If you pluck and touch a vibrating string just right at the halfway point you 'kill' the Fundamental and are left with two vibrating portions of string of equal length that vibrate at twice the frequency of the Fundamental (one octave higher). If you touch it at a quarter length you kill the Fundamental and First Overtone and get 4 vibrating portions between 5 nodes that vibrate at 4 times the frequency of the Fundamental (Two octaves higher). All those nodes I mentioned are always there but you are eliminating the next lowest harmonic to hear each higher group by the technique of touching at the appropriate points...it should give you some insight into how all the frequencies are generated simultaneously.

I meant 'hard' in the sense of being demanding and rigorous with regard to evidence which Chemistry, Biology and Physics are...Astro and Cosmo are as well. My apologies for that oversight. P&R is very new and I forgot there is a minimum limit.

My name's Tony. It's interesting for me watching people's personas and mindsets naturally manifest over time through their writing without actually seeing them which is most probably completely at odds with how they are in 'real life'. Although it is real people putting the words here, it is the words and the subsequent mental constructs one generates from them that really matters and not their physical selves and personal circumstances that I'm generally interested in here. Not being of a formally trained scientific disposition myself it's useful to know if a person is relevantly qualified in a field so I can presume some creedence to their words and learn from them without having to be unduly sceptical beforehand...if they are skilled it's beneficial to know but any other personal info is not necessary IMO, so, anonymising avatars are fine with me if people feel the need.

I second CharonY's suggestion of Ccleaner's registry tool it's pretty safe, unlike many others. It's always a good idea to backup the registry though...I use this: http://download.cnet.com/Mz-Registry-Backup/3000-2094_4-10882793.html This Registry Optimiser from MZ is ok as well: http://download.cnet.com/Mz-Registry-Optimizer/3000-18512_4-10777657.html. This one will compact and replace a new Registry on reboot. Backup up first with the tool mentioned. Only use very occasionally. Ccleaner's tool is safer for keeping chaff down on a regular basis...and you can remove space hogging system restore points as well.

Pip: Like Spyman says, we have to stick to hard science in this section. If you want to discuss origins of a non scientific nature you need to start a thread in P&R.

"In the beginning.....it exploded".... .this was not meant to be taken seriously,hence, the grin. It's a quote from the author Terry Pratchett that I thought illustrated the absurdity of effect without cause in a humorous and concise way. Spyman has pointed out how close we are to the event of the BB in terms of what happened...before that point people can only speculate. I would imagine scientists will eventually extrapolate from experiments and observations of other astronomical phenomena what events preceded the BB moment On your last point, only scientists with the relevant expertise can really make any meaningful statements on the origins and nature of the physical universe...we all have our ideas but the testable ones and the ones built on what is already experimentally confirmed are the only ideas that matter in the long run. From what I've learnt on this forum, the Singularity is a mathematically created artefact predicted by Relativity that is not believed to actually exist in reality. I think to most scientists it indicates the point where that theory breaks down as an accurate description of reality...below that scale Quantum Physics is a better description I believe. The differences between the two disciplines (Quantum and Relativity) predictions at around this scale point is something they are striving to reconcile but, as yet, have not succeeded.

In the beginning there was nothing....then it exploded. There must have been preconditions that initiated the BB but are not known as yet. It's best to leave its initial state as 'unknown' until scientists have some evidence or tangible clues I think.

I think happiness is a state of mild exhilaration that is not sustainable and ultimately leads to the opposite negative emotional state...see-sawing between the two through constantly striving for this happy state is not good for one long term. Happiness, ironically, is indicative of a lack of emotional balance! It's a nice state to be in but in my opinion our bodies can't sustain it biochemically for too long. Serenity is a much more desirable state to aspire to long term IMO... a disposition free from stress or emotion. I agree with the Buddhist viewpoint regarding the desirability of balance. It's sustainable.

There's plenty of choice now in USB hard drives. Here's a an example from a well known reliable HD manufacturer: http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=674 You just plug it in and it'll show up as another drive in My Computer. If you want specific product advice you could head over to HowToGeek forum and put a post there. It would be a good idea to learn about backing up and imaging the whole system if/when it crashes or gets a virus...you can put the system back as it was in about 15-30 minutes...Norton Ghost is a popular commercial program or Macrium Reflect Free if you want a free one.

The precise trigger is most likely the photoperiod...the ratio of light to darkness at different times of the year...there will be a time when this ratio is just right and synchronizes the species mating responses to occur more or less simultaneously. I think the Pineal Gland in the brain plays a part and ultimately responds to the increasing duration of light signals originating from the optical system by reducing production of melatonin which triggers the hormonal sequence that initiates the mating urge. This little article should put you on the right track: http://www.ehow.com/about_5153051_effects-melatonin-reproductive-functions.html I l

"It's probably fair in this case though as Dawkins is trying to use the Science Flag to wrap his own convictions in." _ Padren The blogger's critique and your comment support my view that Dawkins has become a victim of Belief which, as far as I understand, is anathema to the true spirit of scientific enquiry...his mind is only open now to ideas that support his committed view. He lacks that important quality of some uncertainty in his expressed assessments which is inherent in all good scientists it seems. My mind harks to something Ray Comfort said in his interview that is applicable to Dawkins albeit with respect to scientific detachment...he's missed the baby..

Ydoaps: Kudos for initiating a great opening salvo to what will hopefully be an enduring, stimulating and eclectic series of interviews.

I think his responses are thoughtful, considered and at times surprising particularly the last one. All credit to him for taking the time out to do this for us. A interesting interview all in all Cap'n.

You can correct somebody's misconception without the need to ridicule them....it's unhelpful and unnecessary. Your response is equally as bad as his idea.

Meshal This forum exists to explore the Truth supported by evidence or clear logic and not according to some belief system that has arbitrarily chosen some aspect of human nature to be immoral behaviour. People's beliefs are respected here but not when they offend others...gay people are welcome here and are treated as equals. They are great people to correspond with if only you would open your mind ...please temper your future words to reflect that or refrain if you can't. As I iNow says, you have a great information resource at your disposal but respect for our differences is mandatory and is the only humane way to be. I hope you agree...welcome to the forum.

If SFN had a stricter admissions policy it would be hampered in its ability to spread the ethos of scientific thought to the ones that require it (not just the ones that already have it), which is a noble one IMO, but the price it pays is a few unavoidable idiots and a bit more chaff. I'm assuming it is some posters here that annoy you to a pathological degree. You can wholly focus on the negative side or the positive side. They are both there in equal measure....as it is in your non-cyber life...it's your choice what you look at. Do what you would do in real life...ignore them. Modify your browsing experience to exclude them. My personal ethos: Keep your friends close...but keep your enemies closer.

I voted for Kirk but it was Spock who was the main player for me then. I don't know the others, I'd long grown out of it by the time of the next series after the original team.

Sankaet We may not know what's beyond the Event Horizon of a Black Hole but it's effect on the local spacetime geometry around it due to its mass is well understood. Einstein's explanation of gravity as curved spacetime predicts well what has been observed and measured. New data is reinforcing his concept with each passing year as far as I'm aware...an alternative explanation isn't needed.