The "What's on your mind?" Thread -2017

[Willowy]

It was, IMO, a deeply flawed theoretical thought experiment.

• By its very nature it can't be tested. An "experiment" that can't give you results is totally useless.
• This is one of the reasons I doubt that anyone has ever actually done this "experiment"; no one could figure out a way to get any actual results from it.

• It's not an experiment that would need to be tested. That's not what it's about. The basic idea is (and I am not a physicist so apologies to those who are better at this than I): in order to understand quantum physics, you have to be able to accept that 2 opposing things can be true at the same time, until you observe which one is true. Until you open the box and see whether the cat is alive or dead, you must accept that it is both alive and dead at the same time. The cat is not an important part of the thought experiment, it's only used as an illustrative point.

• it was a newspaper article that posted in the textbook

  It's weird that there's nothing online; it's just the sort of thing that the internet usually jumps all over, lol.

(I can't figure out how to get rid of the bullet dots! They're haunting me. . .)

 

[Margret]

It wasn't a story--it was a newspaper article that posted in the textbook. I had to sell the textbook back (you think the mafia is a racket, you should look at the people responsible for college textbooks) or I'd post the picture of it for you. My teacher didn't bring it up at all. In the article he said he didn't have a lesson plan for the day until he saw his daughter's cat on the table that morning.

That is extremely hard to fact check. I'm disinclined to credit a newspaper article, from an unknown newspaper over every other reputable source I can find.

Now hold on--I've also heard those symptoms can be the start of ovarian cancer, which can give a false positive on a kidney test. Is there any way to test for that?

Very good question.

I don't think they actually plan on calling me back, but I'm going to be a thorn in their side until this is fixed!

Darn right! We wouldn't expect anything less from you.

This is being treated as a terrorist attack based on what he yelled as he left the vehicle.

Based also on the ISIS flag found in the vehicle and the notes they found next to the vehicle pledging allegiance to ISIS.

Margret

 

[kashmir64]

Problem is that gyn exams often can't catch ovarian cancer until it is stage 3 or 4. The current sucky method of looking for it is feeling the stomach for enlargements.

That's part of the exam though. One hand inside and the other outside pushing saying "does this hurt?"

 

[Margret]

(I can't figure out how to get rid of the bullet dots! They're haunting me. . .)

You have to press Enter a second time when you're done listing things. The first press moves you to the next item in the list; the second press tells the editor that you're done listing and want to move to a new paragraph.

Margret

 

[Margret]

That's part of the exam though. One hand inside and the other outside pushing saying "does this hurt?"

I don't understand how this would test for cancer. I've had my ovaries palpated. I didn't have ovarian cancer, and it still hurt like h***. I'm wondering about an ultrasound image of the ovaries; they used ultrasound imaging to find my gall bladder problems, and it was ultrasound imaging that caught my father's liver cancer.

Margret

 

[arouetta]

Snopes has nothing. And a few articles discussing Schrodinger's theoretical cat makes it highly unlikely he did so. He was highlighting the absurdity that a quantum particle could be two different things at the same exact time. Too bad they've proven that it really does happen. And his theoretical cat now means the opposite of what he intended, that observation is needed because the two states.

Since he was doing a tongue in cheek to show the ridiculousness of quantum theory, it's highly doubtful that he would have used a real cat. There would have been no purpose to it.

That's part of the exam though. One hand inside and the other outside pushing saying "does this hurt?"

Yeah, it's part of the exam, but it's still a sucky way to look for something. It's like poking your chest with a finger to see if you have lung cancer or poking your armpit to look for lymphoma. So the growth has to be really, really huge before an abdominal feeling up will find it, and by the time it's huge you're screwed.

 

[tallyollyopia]

tallyollyopia I use two internet fax services and a pdf creator to send and receive faxes. I use jpg2pdf.com to turn scans into pdf files. Then I use faxzero.com to send faxes for free. And efax.com allows you to have a free account, which gives you a dedicated fax number and the ability to receive something like 5 faxes a month, sent to your email as an attached file.

Now for NYC....and LA....and North Korea.

Today, Halloween day, a tunnel at the nuclear testing site in North Korea collapsed, killing about 100 people. Then there was a secondary collapse as rescuers were trying to pull people out, killing another 100. There is some leakage of radiation, and concerns that there will be a total collapse which will leak a lot of radiation. Oh, and Russia and the US are having "routine" bomber flybys near there.

Also today, Halloween day, in LA an angry parent has decided to take a teacher hostage. He is armed, and at last report is not responding to police. They are barricaded in a classroom together.

And finally today, Halloween day, in NYC someone got hold of a Home Depot rental truck and drove down a bike path, mowing people down. Last report 8 dead, 15 wounded. Then he hit a school bus. And then he jumped out of the truck with prop weapons (airsoft and a bb gun), shouted something in Arabic, maybe God is great, and threatened police with the prop weapons so they shot him. He's still alive, no report on how life-threatening his injuries are. This is being treated as a terrorist attack based on what he yelled as he left the vehicle.

Edit: I'm flipping back and forth between Halloween sequels, Freddy Kreuger sequels and Chucky sequels since they are downright humorous when compared against today's reality.

And now I remember why I watch scary movies instead of the news. The movies are less scary.

I despise cranberries, so it's in a pill. But I'll remember that.

Had a wellness not long ago. I'm good there. But that info is nice to know.

If they're gel capsules and you have a problem with them sticking together, putting a little bit of uncooked rice in the bottle will help.

• It's not an experiment that would need to be tested. That's not what it's about. The basic idea is (and I am not a physicist so apologies to those who are better at this than I): in order to understand quantum physics, you have to be able to accept that 2 opposing things can be true at the same time, until you observe which one is true. Until you open the box and see whether the cat is alive or dead, you must accept that it is both alive and dead at the same time. The cat is not an important part of the thought experiment, it's only used as an illustrative point.
• 
  It's weird that there's nothing online; it's just the sort of thing that the internet usually jumps all over, lol.

(I can't figure out how to get rid of the bullet dots! They're haunting me. . .)

And when you finally figure out how to make them go way--you'll miss them.

That is extremely hard to fact check. I'm disinclined to credit a newspaper article, from an unknown newspaper over every other reputable source I can find.


Very good question.


Darn right! We wouldn't expect anything less from you.


Based also on the ISIS flag found in the vehicle and the notes they found next to the vehicle pledging allegiance to ISIS.

Margret

Like I said--textbooks are a racket. I assume that someone, somewhere, must have verified it before including in the text--but then, you know what they say about assuming things. It's entirely possible that it was made up wholesale--but given what other psychologists were doing at the time, it also sounds plausible.

That's part of the exam though. One hand inside and the other outside pushing saying "does this hurt?"

Ouch!

 

[Willowy]

given what other psychologists were doing at the time, it also sounds plausible.

He wasn't a psychologist though; he was a theoretical physicist . Like Sheldon!

 

[segelkatt]

tallyollyopia I use two internet fax services and a pdf creator to send and receive faxes. I use jpg2pdf.com to turn scans into pdf files. Then I use faxzero.com to send faxes for free. And efax.com allows you to have a free account, which gives you a dedicated fax number and the ability to receive something like 5 faxes a month, sent to your email as an attached file.
I did not know you could use the internet to send a fax, I will certainly download this and try it out, thanks
Now for NYC....and LA....and North Korea.

Today, Halloween day, a tunnel at the nuclear testing site in North Korea collapsed, killing about 100 people. Then there was a secondary collapse as rescuers were trying to pull people out, killing another 100. There is some leakage of radiation, and concerns that there will be a total collapse which will leak a lot of radiation. Oh, and Russia and the US are having "routine" bomber flybys near there.

I don't think their Dear Leader is going to care what happens to the people as long as he and his immediate family are safe. Regarding the "flybys", I don't know what to think.

Also today, Halloween day, in LA an angry parent has decided to take a teacher hostage. He is armed, and at last report is not responding to police. They are barricaded in a classroom together.

The hostage situation is in Riverside, CA about 60 miles east of LA. Riverside is a medium sized city (350,000+ residents) in Riverside County. It has a campus of the University of California plus several other private Universities and Colleges within its city limits. They would not thank you for thinking that they are in LA.

And finally today, Halloween day, in NYC someone got hold of a Home Depot rental truck and drove down a bike path, mowing people down. Last report 8 dead, 15 wounded. Then he hit a school bus. And then he jumped out of the truck with prop weapons (airsoft and a bb gun), shouted something in Arabic, maybe God is great, and threatened police with the prop weapons so they shot him. He's still alive, no report on how life-threatening his injuries are. This is being treated as a terrorist attack based on what he yelled as he left the vehicle.

Another radicalized idiot who thinks his or any god will care.

Edit: I'm flipping back and forth between Halloween sequels, Freddy Kreuger sequels and Chucky sequels since they are downright humorous when compared against today's reality.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

So no kitties while he sleeps until he has full head control and can turn away if he needs to.

What an utterly sane response! Now, if only we could spread that around a bit...the sanity, that is. I could use a half-pint of it myself.

but I'm going to be a thorn in their side until this is fixed!

SIC 'EM!

Got all the Halloween stuff down at midnight last night. ON TO THANKSGIVING!

 

[margd]

Ahem. If it's okay with everyone, I'm going to pontificate a bit about ovarian cancer, seeing as it's been brought up. My mother passed away from ovarian cancer and I'm at risk so I've looked into it a bit. The physical exam looks for an enlarged ovary (or two) and for the presence of (ascites) fluid in the abdomen. If either of these are present, or if the person has symptoms (these don't show until late) then one of the first tests done is a vaginal ultrasound, which may be followed by other imaging methods. A CA-125 blood test is also run that tests for the presence and amount of cancer antigens. Because of my family history, I had a CA-125 blood test 20 years ago to establish a base line. Not that it will do any good because my doctor at the time retired and I no longer know how to get my medical records.

As for Dr. Schrödinger....

 

[arouetta]

Was the blood drawn at the appointment or did you go to an independent lab? The lab will have their own records. Even if drawn at the office, it was probably sent to an outside lab and if the practice still exists they should have records of who they used.

 

[margd]

Was the blood drawn at the appointment or did you go to an independent lab? The lab will have their own records. Even if drawn at the office, it was probably sent to an outside lab and if the practice still exists they should have records of who they used.

It was drawn at the doctor's office but you're right - I'm sure it was sent out. The problem is that I don't remember what lab and my own records from back then are long gone. I'm glad this came up because it reminds me that I need to have that run again, something I had totally forgotten about.

 

[Margret]

Ahem. If it's okay with everyone, I'm going to pontificate a bit about ovarian cancer, seeing as it's been brought up. My mother passed away from ovarian cancer and I'm at risk so I've looked into it a bit. The physical exam looks for an enlarged ovary (or two) and for the presence of (ascites) fluid in the abdomen. If either of these are present, or if the person has symptoms (these don't show until late) then one of the first tests done is a vaginal ultrasound, which may be followed by other imaging methods. A CA-125 blood test is also run that tests for the presence and amount of cancer antigens. Because of my family history, I had a CA-125 blood test 20 years ago to establish a base line. Not that it will do any good because my doctor at the time retired and I no longer know how to get my medical records.

My maternal grandmother died of ovarian cancer, so I'm at risk too. Thank you for posting this.

Is the CA-125 the blood test that Gene Wilder was touting in public service ads after Gilda Radner died? One of the best doctors I know said at the time that she'd hate to be the one to tell Gene Wilder, but the test he was recommending was largely useless.

In my area there are basically two labs that do all the blood work. You may want to check whether it's the same where you live (or lived at the time) and then inquire at all of the local labs.

Margret

 

[margd]

I'm not sure, but it would make sense. I don't know of another blood test for ovarian cancer. Your doctor was right - the CA-125 test is not reliable enough to be used as a screening method by itself. I think it is always run with another test, usually ultrasound. My doctor said basically the same thing your doctor did but added that if you have a baseline negative, results of later tests are more meaningful.

The odds of me ever finding that blood test result are very low because there were and are so many labs in the D.C. area where I lived at the time. I should probably have it run now as a baseline - assuming that I'm currently cancer-free. That's not a wise assumption to make in my family, though. If it's at all questionable, then I'll start the hunt for the old test.

 

[Blakeney Green]

I don't understand how this would test for cancer. I've had my ovaries palpated. I didn't have ovarian cancer, and it still hurt like h***.

It always hurts, but when they find something, it's a whole different level. I had a mass which turned out to be benign, and the doctor found it based more on the nurse pointing out my facial expression than anything he could feel. Once they know something is there that doesn't belong there, they start doing further testing to figure exactly what it is, whether it's cancer or something else.

 

[arouetta]

It always hurts, but when they find something, it's a whole different level. I had a mass which turned out to be benign, and the doctor found it based more on the nurse pointing out my facial expression than anything he could feel. Once they know something is there that doesn't belong there, they start doing further testing to figure exactly what it is, whether it's cancer or something else.

That's still going to miss a half centimeter tumor that would be easily treated. Instead you have to wait until it's the size of a red potato and much more likely to kill you. God forbid you be fat like me, that layer of fat makes things harder to feel. It'd have to be the size of a softball to be felt through my stomach fat.

 

[Alicia88]

Are they chocolate muffins? Don't kill the muffin man--you'll never get them again!


[/QUOTE]
Yes, the one he brought was a chocolate muffin with chocolate chips. My mouth is watering thinking about it. Maybe I should text him requesting another one! LOL

tallyollyopia

Now for NYC....and LA....and North Korea.

Today, Halloween day, a tunnel at the nuclear testing site in North Korea collapsed, killing about 100 people. Then there was a secondary collapse as rescuers were trying to pull people out, killing another 100. There is some leakage of radiation, and concerns that there will be a total collapse which will leak a lot of radiation. Oh, and Russia and the US are having "routine" bomber flybys near there.

Also today, Halloween day, in LA an angry parent has decided to take a teacher hostage. He is armed, and at last report is not responding to police. They are barricaded in a classroom together.

And finally today, Halloween day, in NYC someone got hold of a Home Depot rental truck and drove down a bike path, mowing people down. Last report 8 dead, 15 wounded. Then he hit a school bus. And then he jumped out of the truck with prop weapons (airsoft and a bb gun), shouted something in Arabic, maybe God is great, and threatened police with the prop weapons so they shot him. He's still alive, no report on how life-threatening his injuries are. This is being treated as a terrorist attack based on what he yelled as he left the vehicle.

Edit: I'm flipping back and forth between Halloween sequels, Freddy Kreuger sequels and Chucky sequels since they are downright humorous when compared against today's reality.

This is why I don't watch the news.

I despise cranberries, so it's in a pill. But I'll remember that.

Had a wellness not long ago. I'm good there. But that info is nice to know.

I'm not a fan of cranberries either, but while I was in the desert, I got a lot of kidney stones so I drank cranberry juice until I learned to tolerate the taste.

Ahem. If it's okay with everyone, I'm going to pontificate a bit about ovarian cancer, seeing as it's been brought up. My mother passed away from ovarian cancer and I'm at risk so I've looked into it a bit. The physical exam looks for an enlarged ovary (or two) and for the presence of (ascites) fluid in the abdomen. If either of these are present, or if the person has symptoms (these don't show until late) then one of the first tests done is a vaginal ultrasound, which may be followed by other imaging methods. A CA-125 blood test is also run that tests for the presence and amount of cancer antigens. Because of my family history, I had a CA-125 blood test 20 years ago to establish a base line. Not that it will do any good because my doctor at the time retired and I no longer know how to get my medical records.

As for Dr. Schrödinger....

My best friend lost both her grandmother and mother to ovarian cancer. They say she's at an extremely high risk and want her to have a full hysterectomy. She just turned 30 and isn't ready for that step yet. She has a 6 year old son but no SO and isn't sure if she's going to want another kid or not. But since her mom and grandma were in their 40's or 50's when diagnosed, she has time. Ovarian is one of the worst cancers to get because they rarely catch in time to do much about it. Both of my great-grandmothers on my mother's side died of ovarian cancer, but that's far enough back in my family history that the doctors say it doesn't have an effect on my risk.

 

[Blakeney Green]

Toad was a pumpkin for Halloween. It was hard to take pictures of her in her costume because she's so wriggly and energetic, but I assure you she was adorable!

 

[segelkatt]

And now I remember why I watch scary movies instead of the news. The movies are less scary.



If they're gel capsules and you have a problem with them sticking together, putting a little bit of uncooked rice in the bottle will help.
My mother told me to put rice in the salt shaker to keep it from clumping. Nowadays there is something put in salt to keep it from clumping in the first place. The rice sucks up any moisture.


And when you finally figure out how to make them go way--you'll miss them.



Like I said--textbooks are a racket. I assume that someone, somewhere, must have verified it before including in the text--but then, you know what they say about assuming things. It's entirely possible that it was made up wholesale--but given what other psychologists were doing at the time, it also sounds plausible.



Ouch!