Nice People Thread No. 14, all Nice and Proper

LydiaJ

Need to come back and catch up on the last day or two this evening when I'm not at work, but just dropping in with a work-related question for any scientifically minded NP or NP with library experience. I have a G&T student who is interested in reading about relativity. She has read the Russell Stannard "Uncle Albert" books, and wants something a bit more detailed, and ideally with more equations in, but has also tried "A brief history of time" and found it too difficult (who doesn't?). Do any NP have any suggestions? Thanks.

Generali

LydiaJ wrote: »

Need to come back and catch up on the last day or two this evening when I'm not at work, but just dropping in with a work-related question for any scientifically minded NP or NP with library experience. I have a G&T student who is interested in reading about relativity. She has read the Russell Stannard "Uncle Albert" books, and wants something a bit more detailed, and ideally with more equations in, but has also tried "A brief history of time" and found it too difficult (who doesn't?). Do any NP have any suggestions? Thanks.

I listen to Dr Karl BBC podcasts. It is far from being a systematic way of learning though.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02pc9ny

michaels

I read something I think may have been called 'In sarch of shroedingers cat' but I think it is mostly quantum theory rather than relativity.

vivatifosi

Hi Lydia, I'd recommend looking at Chad Orzel. He wrote his to teach Quantm Physics to your Dog, which is an approachable book on quantum physics which I have been reading. He also wrote how to teach relativity to your dog. It gets similarly good reviews and probably has some equations in (don't have a copy here so can't check). Alternatively Brian Cox has written a book on relativity that you might want to look at. Here are some links:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Teach-Relativity-Your-Dog/dp/0465023312/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Does-mc2-Brian-Cox/dp/0306819112/

Either should be reasonably approachable, insofar as a book on the subject can be. Certainly more so than Stephen Hawking, though they are still a step up from Stannard. That's part of the difficulty.. the gap between Stannard and Hawking in terms of ease of understanding is so huge, it is hard to know where to pitch.

ivyleaf

Nikkster wrote: »

Is a fascinating programme. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad. Interesting finding out the stories behind the different people who've found themselves in the same A+E one day. And a good reminder to be grateful to have not had the need to be in a hospital today.

What Nikkster said

Generali When you mention Dr Karl I always think of Karl Kennedy from Neighbours, but I presume it's not actually Alan Fletcher in character?

kabayiri

CKhalvashi wrote: »

The main issue, even with £33m, is that it's far too much to actually do anything with.

If I won £1m, I'd go on holiday somewhere nice, pay the mortgage off and throw whatever was left (just over half) into the company, but would a lot more than that really go that far towards improving my life, really?

Sorry if I seem miserable, but just trying to put a realistic view on it.

I think you do have a point. If I am entering a lottery with a prize of £60m, then presumably I am doing it for a reason - except I think many aren't.

£1m is in it's own way just as life changing as £10m or £100m.

The winners usually parrot out the same old things like buying a new pair of shoes or paying off the mortgage or going on a cruise. Most could do that with £1m.

Personally, if I had a stupid level of win, I would want to open something like a fantastic restaurant with some novel twist (like a glass dome in the Peak district); something to put the village on the map; something which would ideally outlast me.

People have dreams of turning their hobbies into careers. This would let you try and answer that "could I" question.

Generali

ivyleaf wrote: »

What Nikkster said

Generali When you mention Dr Karl I always think of Karl Kennedy from Neighbours, but I presume it's not actually Alan Fletcher in character?

Dr Karl did appear on Neighbours but that wasn't the name of his character.

He's a fascinating man as it goes. He started out as a car mechanic and became a taxi driver before going on to study medicine and becoming a doctor at a hospital in Sydney. Then he decided to study physics and became a science communicator. (That's the short version).

He claims an IQ of just 120 but a highly trained memory.

vivatifosi

ukmaggie45 wrote: »

Just got my dermatologist appointment - next Monday! Under the 2 week rule. Have to say that did surprise me a bit. But I'm still sure it's (almost certainly) nothing to worry about. At least we know where the parking is from when I went for the last squidge yer boobs between 2 metal plates jobbie!

They are pretty quick. I hate the boob squashing machine, though I love what it does. Derm will be a lot less painful. Good luck Maggie.

vivatifosi

Weird weather part 743.

It is, unless I have unintentionally hibernated, still January. The first named storm of.the tropical storm season has been spotted off of the Azores. Hurricane season normally starts June.

Sub-tropical storms do, rarely, start this early. But it tends to mean an active season will follow. This is the fourth since the 1850s and the first since the 1970s.

michaels

vivatifosi wrote: »

Weird weather part 743.

It is, unless I have unintentionally hibernated, still January. The first named storm of.the tropical storm season has been spotted off of the Azores. Hurricane season normally starts June.

Sub-tropical storms do, rarely, start this early. But it tends to mean an active season will follow. This is the fourth since the 1850s and the first since the 1970s.

I thought at the start you were going to mention the snow this morning.

Recent years seem to have been remarkably hurricane free (relatively) - I know the weather doesn't work on 'we are due some big ones' but the pattern seeking human brain certainly makes it feel that way.

Edit: Those torados a few weeks back in the US were also pretty unseasonable too - ever watch the news and feel like you are watching the start of 'The Day After Tomorrow' movie?