Recent Comments by Fairbs subscribe to this feed

How It's Made - McDonald's Fries

Fairbs says...

check out how they make mcnuggests, but not if you're eating

artician said:

I've always wondered this, and imagined a pit of mash that was just formed into fry-shapes.

Am I overly cynical that I still don't believe this? Here's video footage of the process, but my distrusting, questioning mind still adds "supposedly" to its assessment of everything I see here.

Brand Name vs. Generic

Fairbs says...

I worked in a bread factory briefly and we put the same white bread into about 15 different bags and with a swing in price points of about 50 cents. This was about 25 years ago so the swing is probably more like a dollar or more in todays terms.

Bit by a Gila Monster

Thor (Halvorssen) Hammers Fox's Anti-Sanders Piece

Why I Can't Show You The H******** S***

Exercise is NOT the Key to Weight Loss

Fairbs says...

I think the focus should be on improving health. Focusing on one component of the many things that are part of good health doesn't do justice to the bigger picture.

notarobot said:

He is focusing only on weight loss. Exercise has many other benefits than weight loss alone, including better cardiovascular circulation, and reduced risk of heart disease...

21 American Accents

Expensive Wine Is For Suckers

Fairbs says...

I believe that each person has a unique set of tastebuds and linkages from them back to the brain. So taking anyone's advice on what is good or bad is kind of silly. Unless of course a specific critic consistently agrees with something you like. But who has time for that? Try something on your own and if you don't like it don't get it again. Easy enough.

Is Destin the best Dad there is?

Fairbs says...

I don't like the phrase, 'we're pregnant'. As a man, I feel you're part of the process, but you're are obviously not pregnant. I think it kind of takes away from the woman who actually has the growing parasite in her and it's her body that's going through all the changes, and also has to do all of the right things to ensure the baby has the best chance.

Instant Karma-Road Rage

Lion Opens Car Door in Drive-Thru Safari Park

Fairbs says...

My house cat can open doors in several ways so this is not surprising. He doesn't use his mouth, but I bet he would try if he was as large as these cats.

oritteropo (Member Profile)

Fairbs says...

That makes sense since space is a vacuum that they would test it in a vacuum. For some reason, I was thinking it was a land based telescope. I guess those are pretty much obsolete at this point.

Thanks!

oritteropo said:

It might help to start with what the Backplane Pathfinder actually is - it's a non-flight replica of the Webb telescope’s center backplane (that link has more info and pictures).

Chamber A allows simulating the cold environment the real telescope will face in space, and is the same vacuum chamber where Apollo spacecraft were tested.

Now, to answer your question: They are testing the test procedures for the real telescope! (source: NASA). I realise that doesn't exactly answer your question, but I haven't found details of the actual tests they plan to run... so as a distraction, here are some more images - http://jwst.nasa.gov/images_backplane.html

Climate Change - Veritasium

Fairbs says...

I'm wondering how long you've believed that there is climate change going on? Also, could you explain your comment on redistribution of wealth? Thanks.

bcglorf said:

Amateur videos on you tube by guys who clearly haven't read or understood the scientific journal articles on the subject are part of the problem and confusion.

<clipped>

There are solutions other than redistribution of wealth through naive/blind carbon taxes.

How fracking works

Fairbs says...

I did some research and it looks like there was a rebuttal by the gas industry which was then rebutted by the film makers. This article... http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/02/24/24greenwire-groundtruthing-academy-award-nominee-gasland-33228.html?pagewanted=all explores the main points of contention which to me doesn't prove the gas companies case. They like to say that it's not the fracking process that creates problems, but the well drilling as if they are separate which they are not. The methane in the water they light on fire is said to come from a 50 year old well where the casing failed. The desire to frack is creating the need for more well drilling and increases the number of points where a problem can occur. All of these wells will eventually become 50 years old so there's not much difference in my mind. I agree, we don't have enough data to know how safe it is, but already it doesn't look safe enough to me.

newtboy said:

Unfortunately, there have at least been numerous accusations that they hooked propane up to the water lines and other trickery to film Gasland, so it does not have a shining clean record of being fair and impartial.
That said, I think there is plenty of independent evidence that water contamination has occurred, and it at least appears that it increases the likelihood of earthquakes exponentially, even in areas that have no recorded activity. At best, we don't know the long term effects, and I think we should be cautious until we do since the possible consequences are so terrible and irreversable.

How fracking works

Fairbs says...

I think there is already evidence of its negative consequences. Check out the movie Gasland. It shows people near a fracking site being able to light the water coming out of their tap on fire. I do agree with your point on the politicizing of this issue (and a million others) and that the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. We are too polarized and there's not enough fact seeking and sometimes refusing to believe the facts. I see the companies portraying this as safe trying to set a belief level and that then allows them to be more profitable through the externalities they create, but at the expense of the public. This has been going on forever in almost every industry and is just a normal trait of capitalism. Not to say that is right. Since you're between the two sides, does that make you a shilpie?

xxovercastxx said:

I'm not endorsing the practice but I will point out that doing it is the only way we'll discover the long term results.

All I'm trying to say is that once something gets tied up in politics, it's near impossible to learn about it. Once it's political, lines are drawn and people take sides and you're either a shill or a hippie.

I have no way of knowing what's true and what's not and it pisses me off a bit.



Send this Article to a Friend



Separate multiple emails with a comma (,); limit 5 recipients






Your email has been sent successfully!

Manage this Video in Your Playlists

Beggar's Canyon