{"conf": "science", "generated_at": "2026-04-26T08:00:02.954878Z", "threads": [{"num": 1, "subject": "Introductions", "response_count": 75, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "Estaben", "date": "Sun, Nov 30, 1997 (10:18)", "body": "Greetings from central arizona. Its so warm and dry here this time of year! I have studied and taught Physics, Biology and Mind Sciences for most of my life (48 years now). I am interested mainly in how they all interlink."}, {"response": 2, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Tue, Apr 28, 1998 (11:08)", "body": "anyone read this conference much? i would be happy to be the host of it, if possible. I have worked in the field of psychobiology and neuroscience since 1982, starting at UT Austin. my areas of interest are in neuroscience, evolutionary biology, ethology, learning, philosophy of science."}, {"response": 4, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Wed, Apr 29, 1998 (10:14)", "body": "thanks, kitchen, i will do that."}, {"response": 6, "author": "cfadm", "date": "Wed, Apr 29, 1998 (13:26)", "body": "ratthing has been installed as host of science."}, {"response": 7, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Wed, Apr 29, 1998 (13:57)", "body": "and it didn't hurt a bit."}, {"response": 9, "author": "riette", "date": "Thu, Jul 23, 1998 (16:21)", "body": "Hi, Ratthingy. I'm here too now. I know nothing about sience, so my job will be to make the rest of you feel as clever as you are."}, {"response": 10, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Thu, Jul 23, 1998 (16:41)", "body": "oh no, sweetheart, i think your job here will be to keep us honest! and feel free to ask any questions you want. there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers."}, {"response": 11, "author": "riette", "date": "Thu, Jul 23, 1998 (19:49)", "body": "I'll try not to ask too many stupid-answer-provoking questions then.... Starting with: how are the wedding preperations comming on?"}, {"response": 12, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Thu, Jul 23, 1998 (21:45)", "body": "ha! ok i suppose. my honey will be purchasing her wedding gown this weekend, and we have decided on a location for the reception and caterers. moving right along!!"}, {"response": 13, "author": "riette", "date": "Fri, Jul 24, 1998 (02:57)", "body": "Great. Will you be going along? Because I found it the ultimate test of love, and we nearly failed!"}, {"response": 14, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Jul 24, 1998 (05:50)", "body": "When was that big date?"}, {"response": 15, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Fri, Jul 24, 1998 (08:58)", "body": "as soon as my annulment gets approved by the Catholic Church!"}, {"response": 16, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Jul 24, 1998 (09:55)", "body": "Oh, you email the Pope then."}, {"response": 17, "author": "autumn", "date": "Fri, Jul 24, 1998 (22:09)", "body": "Hello, I'm here! Generally speaking, I hate science, but I'm open-minded. :-)"}, {"response": 18, "author": "riette", "date": "Sat, Jul 25, 1998 (04:21)", "body": "Hi, Autumn, nice to see you hear. I'm a little ignorant in the science department, but Ray let me in anyway, so that's nice. It's actually quite interesting here."}, {"response": 19, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Jul 25, 1998 (07:07)", "body": "Ray's got it goin' on. Science. Science. Science. - Thomas Dolby"}, {"response": 20, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Sat, Jul 25, 1998 (10:57)", "body": "welcome, autumn! i hope you stick around a while."}, {"response": 21, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Sat, Jul 25, 1998 (11:29)", "body": "hey, ratthing, what's your favourite scientific periodical?"}, {"response": 22, "author": "riette", "date": "Sat, Jul 25, 1998 (12:43)", "body": "I hate my scientific periodical."}, {"response": 23, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Sat, Jul 25, 1998 (13:12)", "body": "and which one would that be, hon?"}, {"response": 24, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Sat, Jul 25, 1998 (13:52)", "body": "riette is silly! as for general science periodicals: Science News Scientific American Science"}, {"response": 25, "author": "riette", "date": "Sun, Jul 26, 1998 (00:57)", "body": "Mine is a woman's periodical. No, seriously, the closest I ever come to reading scientific periodicals, is that one kitchy science and technology magazine, FOCUS, from time to time . . . well, maybe twice a year. But when I do read it, I thoroughly enjoy the stuff they have in there."}, {"response": 26, "author": "riette", "date": "Sun, Jul 26, 1998 (00:59)", "body": "Ray, I'll stop being silly if you accept my invitation to the arts conference. You don't have to know anything about it, but you can see Wer's art, some children's art, and mine too. And it is becoming more and more fun."}, {"response": 27, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Jul 26, 1998 (08:18)", "body": "Plus, sketches that Riette did in bed..."}, {"response": 28, "author": "riette", "date": "Sun, Jul 26, 1998 (10:04)", "body": "Soon, I promise."}, {"response": 29, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Jul 26, 1998 (21:08)", "body": "Oh, good!"}, {"response": 30, "author": "riette", "date": "Mon, Jul 27, 1998 (01:16)", "body": "But don't expect TOO much, okay? I'm busy doing the colours, and it may be a bit too pretty pretty and girlish for you guys. We'll see."}, {"response": 31, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Mon, Jul 27, 1998 (16:56)", "body": "riette, i would love to come to your conf and i will! hopefully you can teach me something about art appreciation. my idea of good art is the paintings of the dogs playing poker!"}, {"response": 32, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Mon, Jul 27, 1998 (22:33)", "body": "and probably anything by Olivia and Vargas, as well..."}, {"response": 33, "author": "riette", "date": "Tue, Jul 28, 1998 (01:02)", "body": "Well, Ray, would it shock you if I said I loved them too? 'Cos I do - they are hilarious . . . AND well painted, I have to say. No, you really don't have to worry. In the art conference, ANYTHING goes. So come on over, and share your loo sketches with us. Even scientific ones will be welcome! I've always wanted to see your test tube . . ."}, {"response": 34, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Tue, Jul 28, 1998 (01:02)", "body": "but, his graduated cylinder is bigger..."}, {"response": 35, "author": "riette", "date": "Wed, Jul 29, 1998 (05:28)", "body": "The bigger, the better!!!"}, {"response": 36, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Thu, Dec 10, 1998 (00:37)", "body": "introduce your mind and interests in science here!!"}, {"response": 37, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Jan  6, 1999 (20:56)", "body": "i like to play with liquid nitrogen..."}, {"response": 38, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Wed, Jan  6, 1999 (21:51)", "body": "ok, ok, ummm, that's good! we all need hobbies!"}, {"response": 39, "author": "Ann", "date": "Wed, Jan  6, 1999 (22:39)", "body": "i like to play with liquid nitrogen... } Don't we all?"}, {"response": 40, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Wed, Jan  6, 1999 (22:53)", "body": "it usually depends on the game with me..."}, {"response": 41, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Jan  7, 1999 (02:37)", "body": "hey Ann... don't mind me, it's late and I've just been \"getting screwed\" (the topic sillies...) uh wer... what kinda games? freezing tennis balls is about as risque as I get"}, {"response": 42, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Jan  7, 1999 (12:23)", "body": "have I sparked a \"scientific\" interest, Stace, or just plain old curiosity?"}, {"response": 43, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Jan  7, 1999 (13:19)", "body": "Mmm... maybe both??"}, {"response": 44, "author": "wer", "date": "Thu, Jan  7, 1999 (13:23)", "body": "Well, looks like I've got her warmed up, Ray..."}, {"response": 45, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Jan  7, 1999 (13:33)", "body": "uh oh... both of you like to play with that stuff?"}, {"response": 46, "author": "wer", "date": "Thu, Jan  7, 1999 (13:37)", "body": "what stuff? our tennis balls?"}, {"response": 47, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Jan  7, 1999 (14:13)", "body": "do you play tennis?"}, {"response": 48, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Thu, Jan  7, 1999 (15:14)", "body": "huh-huh-huh. huh-huh-huh..."}, {"response": 49, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Jan  7, 1999 (15:17)", "body": "HUH???????"}, {"response": 50, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Fri, Jan  8, 1999 (00:08)", "body": "nope, Stace, just with the balls which, btw, don't bounce when they get that cold..."}, {"response": 51, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Fri, Jan  8, 1999 (00:08)", "body": "(nice Butthead, Ray!)"}, {"response": 52, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Jan  8, 1999 (10:48)", "body": "thanks WER for 'splaining Ray's little dialogue... I don't get out much! no, they don't bounce... that'd be my fave part... watching 'em get destroyed with so little effort!"}, {"response": 53, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Fri, Jan  8, 1999 (11:52)", "body": "there's a topic very much like that in screwed..."}, {"response": 54, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Jan  8, 1999 (12:00)", "body": "but there's no liquid nitrogen involved"}, {"response": 55, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Fri, Jan  8, 1999 (12:03)", "body": "only because it hasn't been brought up..."}, {"response": 56, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Jan  8, 1999 (13:16)", "body": "i suppose i have found my purpose..."}, {"response": 57, "author": "wer", "date": "Fri, Jan  8, 1999 (13:18)", "body": "one of, maybe, anyway!!!"}, {"response": 58, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Jan  8, 1999 (13:28)", "body": "\"the new phone books are here! the new phone books are here!\""}, {"response": 59, "author": "wer", "date": "Fri, Jan  8, 1999 (13:32)", "body": "and I've got nothing to wear...*sniff*"}, {"response": 60, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Mon, Apr 19, 1999 (14:53)", "body": "I would like to invite regulars of this conference to visit the International Conflicts conference here on the Spring: http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/browse/InternationalConflicts/all This conference is dedicated to the disputes between groups all over the world, be that social, cultural, political or ethnical differences."}, {"response": 61, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, Feb  3, 2000 (08:34)", "body": "What are the hot disputes going on now, Alexander."}, {"response": 62, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, Feb  3, 2000 (11:42)", "body": "Chechnya, Tibet, ... There's always the Chiapas, and always something happening in Africa."}, {"response": 63, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb  3, 2000 (15:05)", "body": "I just read through this topic for the first time and I think I have discovered why Geo is so unpopular. Everyone HATES science unless it is hosted by a guy... Too bad we cannot get some interest going in this one. Ray, my fav science periodical (general purpose) is The New Scientist."}, {"response": 64, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Fri, Feb  4, 2000 (17:00)", "body": "If your theorem were valid, and we accept Ray=guy, then this thing were humming for traffic. Not that Ray weren't the New Scientist himself, mind you."}, {"response": 65, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb  4, 2000 (21:04)", "body": "Guess you are right. Everyone LOATHES science and will not enter any conference which just might be wonderful but smells faintly like science so it is avoided at all costs. Hey, we talk about wonderful jewels in Geo, but Autumn will never know about that since she does not even come in here to know that. *sigh*"}, {"response": 66, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Sun, Feb  6, 2000 (15:56)", "body": "The thing is, we all have only little time, and not identical interests. Some or many areas overlap, but not all totally. Especially the priorities differ... So, with what little time we have, we often walk different paths here. Wouldn't even be noticed if there were more folks moving around. But with basically a dozen folks, and something like half a dozen steadies..."}, {"response": 67, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Feb  6, 2000 (16:24)", "body": "This is true... I shall stop the lamentations and get back to being interesting. If I just entertain myself and one or two other, so be it."}, {"response": 68, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, Feb 10, 2000 (15:20)", "body": "Oh come on, snap out of it! ;=} It's just, we can be all and everything and all have the same fascinations. We can't even spend like amounts of time around this place. Plus we don't hafta be interesting. Just be. Look at what others do or say, shake our heads in disbelief, make complete fools out of ourselves, and have a grand time all the while!"}, {"response": 69, "author": "aschuth", "date": "Thu, Feb 10, 2000 (15:21)", "body": "That's \"all and everything to each other\", BTW. Hehe, and we can't be without mistakes, eh wot!"}, {"response": 70, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb 10, 2000 (16:55)", "body": "I am torn between telling you to bugger off and pleading my case. I think I shall do neither, but thanks for the sympathy. Sorry I did not use that tack on my resuce work some months ago...;) Since I wrote that post above I have regained the ability to post graphics again and have collected a group of interested and interesting poeople in Geo. Those whose interests lie elsewhere, you are forgiven...but you will miss some really great stuff =)"}, {"response": 71, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Feb 10, 2000 (16:56)", "body": "It's no use. I am much to compassionate to tell you either one nor to have used that tack with the miserable person I cheered with my letters. Peace!"}, {"response": 72, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Sun, Apr 23, 2000 (04:03)", "body": "I wandered in here after reading terry's stuff on buckminster. I'm no scientist, but I'm not scared of it. i just like physical, touchy feely sort of science. I taught the kids physics in home school, and I didn't do it at school. I found it really interesting, except for the maths stuff which I'm hopeless at. I like Geo cos it's real too. OK, that's enough, anyone else out there?"}, {"response": 73, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr 23, 2000 (12:08)", "body": "Me, too, Maggie. If you could leave the math out, lots of stuff would become a whole lot more interesting to me, as well. I like Geo, too...*grin* Thanks!"}, {"response": 74, "author": "vibrown", "date": "Mon, May  8, 2000 (23:05)", "body": "I'm not exactly a scientist, but I did study physics, math, and a little chemistry in college. (I majored in electrical engineering, and now work as a software developer.) I've always been especially interested in astronomy, and I've become more interested in geology, thanks to Marcia and David! :-)"}, {"response": 75, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May  8, 2000 (23:22)", "body": "...so get your okole over to Geo and see the new topic Mike Kana created. Fine business in Geo!"}, {"response": 76, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May  8, 2000 (23:23)", "body": "Ginny, don't tell anybody, but I'm not exactly a scientist, either!"}, {"response": 77, "author": "vibrown", "date": "Mon, May  8, 2000 (23:36)", "body": "Sure could have fooled me!!! Glad to hear Geo is going strong...going to check it out now..."}, {"response": 78, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, May  9, 2000 (00:25)", "body": "You ARE kind...thank you! Let me know what you think of my new marble... science conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 15, "subject": "the strange world of quantum physics", "response_count": 4, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Fri, Oct  2, 1998 (12:14)", "body": "this is one of the most fascinating things i have read in a long time... Beyond reality Watching information at play in the quantum world is throwing physicists into a flat spin, says Mark Buchanan. http://www.newscientist.com/quantum.html"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Oct  2, 1998 (12:17)", "body": "Can you post some tutorial websites that we can check out. The guy you need to pull in to this discussion is our sometimes visitor, Steve Manson or boyce or boyce2 as he's called. Drop him an email and tell him about the rejuvenated science topic. He's into sports and kayaking too. Ask Stacey about boyce. She know him! We three had beers together once."}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Oct  2, 1998 (12:20)", "body": "http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~boyce/ Drop him a line!"}, {"response": 4, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Fri, Oct  2, 1998 (12:28)", "body": "what a great idea, terry! i do not know of any quantum physics websites, but i know of a lot of books that folks might like to read. i am certain that there are tons of physics web sites out there that will be helpful and i'll see about putting some together. i am procrastinating from work right now, so i better get back to it... science conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 16, "subject": "Senseless Science", "response_count": 7, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Oct  9, 1998 (11:03)", "body": "excerpted from the MiningCo: Science Made Senseless Dateline: 10/07/98 History demonstrates that scientific genius is frequently accompanied not only by unreasonable skepticism, but also by ridicule and persecution. Copernicus was outcast simply for theorizing that the earth revolves around the sun. Many people still believe that Tesla was a madman, and I understand Einstein himself did not do well in school. Today's brilliant minds need not be silenced by obsolete institutions because the Web has become an affordable medium which allows for the free flow of even the most ludicrous ideas. Teenagers everywhere will soon be experimenting with homemade devices that have enormous destructive potential in their parents backyards and basements, putting the entire neighborhood at serious risk of total annihilation. If people preoccupied themselves with The Smell Of Gravity Page , there wouldn't be a lot of safety concerns about information available on the Net, but when dangerous secrets like How To Revive A Mummy become common knowledge the community understandably gets alarmed. Before you know it people are devilishly subjecting innocent cream-filled pastries to The T.W.I.N.K.I.E.S. Gravitational Response Test ! As probable as John's theory about The Mars Face At Cydonia And The Tower Of Babel is, some people firmly believe that the face traveled to Mars on The Amazing Alhambra Liquid Nitrogen Rocket , despite navigational problems due to poor placement of the stabilizer fins. Now that we know The Truth About Telescopes it's quite obvious that the face is, in fact, a transference device image left to us by ancient astronauts millions of years ago (MYA). When everything else fails, a foolproof way to impress your friends with your electrical wizardry is to build your own Solid State Tesla Coils . All it takes is One Room, One Dream, One Million Volts , a microwave oven, and a slightly disturbed mind to get you into CD Zapping . Before you start zapping innocent cream-filled pastries, note that Tesla was known to do demonstrations where he would let the arc run through his body and make sparks fly from his hair and fingertips! Would that make an awesome picture for your Web page or what? Of course, not every online scientific pursuit is completely insane. During a typical Canadian winter many men might be spared frozen faces if Beard Research received sufficient government funding. With your generous donation and enough public support Project: Denny's would stand a remote chance of reviewing every Denny's in America. Still more urgent is the need for someone to carry on where 149 Uses For Duct Tape left off and come up with another 852 uses! Ingenious duct tape applications will stick securely to the Bulletin Board . Be here next week and enjoy a revealing portrayal of celebritieswho have an insatiable appetite for testicles."}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Oct  9, 1998 (11:05)", "body": "Don't worry about the missing gif links above, I'll fix 'em later."}, {"response": 3, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Sun, Jan 31, 1999 (23:45)", "body": "okay... been missing out on some cool stuff in here. glad I finally got around to checking it out!"}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Feb  1, 1999 (09:19)", "body": "Good, I have a lot of duct tape and I've been needing to use it."}, {"response": 5, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Feb  9, 1999 (07:22)", "body": "http://www.patents.ibm.com/details?patent_number=5501650 US5501650: Automated masturbatory device A variable speed motor powering a crankshaft driven sealed transducer producing pneumatically induced reciprocating motion of a receiver when a male organ is inserted. The present invention employs a hermetic system to prevent loss of synchronization. The receiver is designed with an inner liner compliant enough to accommodate a plurality of sizes and shapes of male penises. The present invention produces a stroke of approximately 3 inches at a frequency of up to 350 per minute."}, {"response": 6, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Fri, Feb 12, 1999 (11:02)", "body": "have any idea if it is variable speed and/or variable stroke?"}, {"response": 7, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Feb 12, 1999 (14:27)", "body": "Hey, there are *much* more detailed drawings and descriptions on the site, and comparisions with other such (of course inferior) devices. Stacey, you won't need one of these. science conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 17, "subject": "robots", "response_count": 1, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Jul 29, 1998 (05:28)", "body": "A great compendium and place to start: http://www.frc.ri.cmu.edu/robotics-faq/8.html#8.5 science conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 18, "subject": "Biology in the News", "response_count": 4, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Thu, Dec  3, 1998 (16:04)", "body": "Fossil find sheds new light on origins of marsupials December 2, 1998 Web posted at: 7:36 p.m. EST (0036 GMT) LONDON (CNN) -- The discovery of 80 million-year-old fossils in Mongolia is shedding new light on the evolution and migration of marsupials, mammals who develop their young in a pouch. http://cnn.com/TECH/science/9812/02/marsupial.fossil.02/index.html"}, {"response": 2, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Thu, Dec  3, 1998 (16:07)", "body": "Botany breakthrough: Oldest-known flowering plant discovered 142 million-year-old remains found in China November 26, 1998 Web posted at: 8:42 p.m. EST (0142 GMT) WASHINGTON (AP) -- Researchers believe they have discovered fossil evidence of the world's oldest flower, at 142 million years: a spindly twig with peapod-shaped fruit and a woody stem that looks nothing like a rose, an apple blossom or a daisy. http://cnn.com/TECH/science/9811/26/oldest.flower.ap/index.html"}, {"response": 3, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Thu, Dec  3, 1998 (16:13)", "body": "November 28, 1998 Gene Triggers New Hair in Adult Mice By J. Travis In research that could one day suggest ways to combat baldness or curb excessive hair growth, scientists have created mice whose skin continues to sprout new hair follicles long after birth. However, proliferating cells within the follicles sometimes give rise to tumors as well. http://www.sciencenews.org/sn_arc98/11_28_98/Fob1.htm"}, {"response": 4, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Thu, Dec  3, 1998 (16:14)", "body": "November 28, 1998 It\ufffds a Girl! Is sex selection the first step to designer children? By KATHLEEN FACKELMANN Some parents-to-be hope for a girl. Some wish for a boy. The outcome, however, has always been pretty much a matter of chance. Researchers at the Genetics & IVF Institute in Fairfax, Va., recently announced a technique that helps stack the odds in favor of parents getting what they want. Using a mechanical sperm sorter, the Fairfax team reported that nearly 93 percent of the babies born were of the desired sex. http://www.sciencenews.org/sn_arc98/11_28_98/Bob2.htm science conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 30, "subject": "Buckminster Fuller", "response_count": 22, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sun, Apr 23, 2000 (02:59)", "body": "I saw a fine play earlier tonight about Bucky, and it inspired me to start this topic. The play has a website called http://www.buckyfuller.com and has some great links to other sites. If you want to get up to speed fast, go to http://www.cjfearnley.com/fuller-faq.html It's where I got the introduction to this topic and will explain all of the basic concepts of synergy, jitterbug, space, systems, omnidirectional halos, and precession. Precession is fascinating. From the faq again: From Chris Fearnley] I think the simplest first-order definition of precession is the side effects of a system in motion (generally occurring at 90 degrees to the direction of motion). [Blaine D'Amico] Bucky said that precessional effects are what most people label ``side effects.'' i.e., I teach a person to fish so he can feed his family (Direct effect). One of his no longer hungry children now can focus in school and goes on to become an important scientist (precessional effect). [From Gerry Segal] My college physics books defines precession as: ``a complex motion executed by a rotating body subjected to torque, by a conical locus of the axis'' That's quite a mouthful. Bucky gets even more complex. In Synergetics [533.08], he defines precession as: ``the intereffect of individually operating cosmic systems upon one another. Since Universe is an aggregate of individually operative systems, all of the intersystem effects of the Universe are precessional, and the 180-degree imposed forces usually result in redirectional resultants of 90 degrees.'' A beautiful example is given in Synergetics [417.00]. Here two exact sets of 60 Closest-packed spheres (wedges) are rotated 90-degrees and twisted (torque). An unexpected and marvelous result is a perfect 8 ball edged, 7-frequency tetrahedron that is formed. I doubt that I have been successful in helping you understand precession. But I do know that if you take the time and build the models you'll have an underlying sense of the meaning that provides the basis of understanding that the written word only hints at. [From Leo Elliott] The clearest example I recall Bucky giving of the notion of ``precession'' was that from the viewpoint of a waterbug or a jellyfish on the surface of the water, directly in the path of some big ship, which will send out precessional waves slightly ahead of the bow, thereby alerting the astute bug or jellyfish that something big is indeed on the way. [From David Worrall] Imagine a pebble dropped into a pond. The pebble goes to the bottom (closer to the centre of gravity of the earth!) The wave created moves outwards, at 90 degrees, precessionally, to the pebble. [From Kirby Urner] ``Precession'' in synergetics shows up as the relationship between two sides of the same generalized principle coin. Gravity begets radiation begets gravity. Tension begets compression begets tension. Pull on two ends of a rope, and its strands are squeezed even more tightly together. Where two very general aspects of nature always and only co-exist, and their relationship is generally precessional. Synergetics is unlike traditional physics in its insistence on gravity as a circumferential pulling together (and thereby implosive), versus a radial explosiveness emanating from the center -- a 90 degree relationship. The Sun is a giant squeeze ball. Strands of thought are likewise circumferentially implosive, nonlinear hypertext countervailing against vs the information explosion. By extension, ``precession'' refers to nature's way of getting the job done at 90 degrees to human selfishness and ignorance. We ``do the right things for the wrong reasons.'' The graduating from Class II to Class I evolution which Fuller anticipates involves our starting to do the right things for the right reasons, like you don't need the Cold War to have the space program to have higher living standard spin-off technologies (goodies yielding at 90-degrees to ignorance and fear). We don't have time for that kind of bumbling anymore."}, {"response": 2, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sun, Apr 23, 2000 (03:12)", "body": "From http://www.buckyfuller.com/play.htm (about the play I saw tonight) 1927, at the age of 32, Buckminster Fuller stood on the shores of Lake Michigan, prepared to throw himself into the freezing waters. His first child had died. He was bankrupt, discredited, and jobless, and he had a wife and newborn daughter. On the verge of suicide, it suddenly struck him that his life belonged, not to himself, but to the Universe. He chose at that moment to embark on what he called, \"an experi- ment to discover what a little, penniless, un- known individual might be able to do effectively on behalf of all humanity.\" Over the next fifty-four years, he proved, time and again, that his most controversial ideas were practical and workable. During the course of his remarkable experiment he: was awarded 25 U.S. patents authored 28 books received 47 honorary doctorates in the arts, sciences, engineering and humanities received dozens of major architectural and design awards including, among many others, the Gold Medal of the American Institute of Architects and the Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects. created work which found itself into the permanent collections of museums around the world circled the globe 57 times, reaching millions through his public lectures and interviews."}, {"response": 3, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sun, Apr 23, 2000 (03:13)", "body": "One playgoer noted (herself a playwright): \"Bucky Fuller anticipated many of the breakthrough insights of modern business trends. His precession concept predicted our understanding of complex, nonlinear systems and the evolution of markets and products. In the short span of a highly entertaining play, the audience members will get tools to transform their understanding of daily management challenges.\" -- Elota Patton, lecturer, University of Texas"}, {"response": 4, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sun, Apr 23, 2000 (03:15)", "body": ""}, {"response": 5, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Sun, Apr 23, 2000 (03:53)", "body": "This is fascinating Terry. I dipped in here cos I hadn't heard of the guy. I'll follow up the lead you gave when I have a moment. I'll write more later when I've thought about it."}, {"response": 6, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Apr 23, 2000 (10:26)", "body": "An email from Brad Armstrong (who plays Bucky in the play) notes that \"we are confirmed to do the play at the United Nations on Wednesday, May 24th at 6:30 as part of its Millennium Forum.\""}, {"response": 7, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr 23, 2000 (12:14)", "body": "His brilliantly conceived buildings are most interesting to live in. (My dad had 11 patents and two Army-Navy E's) awarded to him. Check in Chemical Abstracts...it's all there!)"}, {"response": 8, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sun, Apr 23, 2000 (14:51)", "body": "Really, domes are great structures. I've built a copule. They're just hard to build cabinets in. I want to get in to the \"Self Disciplines of Buckminister Fuller\" which is a handout sheet I got at the play. For example: 4. Seek to accomplish whatever is to be attained in such a manner that the advantage attained would never be secured at the cost of another or others.\""}, {"response": 9, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Apr 23, 2000 (20:05)", "body": "Noble, indeed. It will allow you to sleep at night if conscience has been a bothersome thing (Cannot imagine you taking advantage of others no matter how obliquely!)"}, {"response": 10, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, Apr 24, 2000 (08:00)", "body": "Here's another for comment. 14. Above all, seek to comprehend the principles of eternally regenerative universe and disocer how humans function in these principles."}, {"response": 11, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Apr 24, 2000 (16:03)", "body": "Ah yes, my favorite opposition to tbe Big Bang. If we do not regenerate we die, no matter what the function - thought, activity, things; but it cannot be done eternally at the cost of a finite world."}, {"response": 12, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, Apr 24, 2000 (16:05)", "body": "Even if we did have a new carboniferous period, the time it takes on the scale of human life to turn it into fuel is an impossibility. Some things just do not regenerate on human scales, and that must be the key. Using fossil water is just as bad just to make the deserts bloom!"}, {"response": 13, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, May  4, 2000 (08:42)", "body": "Barrett Golding (beedge@well.com) a fairly dense audio/textual presentation of Buckminster Fuller's ideas. still screwing w/ it; any thoughts/comments would be helpful http://www.hearingvoices.com/bucky/ I told him about the http://www.buckyfuller.com site. I wonder how the showing at the UN went?"}, {"response": 14, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, May  4, 2000 (08:46)", "body": "Email sent to Barrett and Brad."}, {"response": 15, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, May  4, 2000 (08:53)", "body": "I know a guy who used to hang around Northern California named J Baldwin who hung around with Bucky Fuller for 33 some odd years (off and on). He taught me that you need to drive big trucks with your thumbs up on the steering wheel so you don't injure them if the wheel jerks back. J was full of perceptive comments on just about everything. He has a book called \"Buckminster Fullers Ideas for Today\". Possibly worth looking in to, a good one to check out of the library."}, {"response": 16, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, May  4, 2000 (13:06)", "body": "Sounds like a good one to put on the easy access book shelf in your house! He's right about the thumbs - they don't get ripped back that way!"}, {"response": 17, "author": "beedge", "date": "Fri, May  5, 2000 (10:22)", "body": "the full title of J Baldwin;s fine book: \"Bucky Works; Buckminster Fullers Ideas for Today\" it's an overview of Bucky's inventions. as for web esources, don't forget the Buckminster Fuller Institute:"}, {"response": 18, "author": "beedge", "date": "Fri, May  5, 2000 (10:25)", "body": "...that's http://www.bfi.org"}, {"response": 19, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Fri, May  5, 2000 (11:19)", "body": "Hey, thanks for the heads up on the url Barrett. I got your email and I'm glad you'll be checking in with us. How did your interest in Bucky Fuller get started?"}, {"response": 20, "author": "beedge", "date": "Fri, May  5, 2000 (17:49)", "body": "1st saw his books described in the original \"whole earth catolog.\" they were raving about this guy. so i had to read a book or two, and that got me hooked on his ideas, concepts, and, more than anything, his vow to make his life an experiment -- to look around and see what needs doing, and if no one else is doing it, to take it on. (his assertion: that individuals can accomplish things the great nations and corporations canno.) i liked the way his ideas encompassed a regard for art, technology, design and nature seamlessly. seemed insticntively and fundamentally correct. now, as my frieds will woefully attest to, i often begin talking with this phrase: \"well, buckminster fuller says...\" especially when primed with the proper dosage of whiskey."}, {"response": 21, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May  5, 2000 (18:30)", "body": "'Tis a whole lot better than quoting Howard Stern...(depending on your personal taste, of course!)"}, {"response": 22, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May  5, 2000 (18:33)", "body": "I'll have to check on where in Geo we were discussing Bucky Balls... People who had never heard of him know who he is now! science conference Main Menu"}]}]}