From extropians-request@extropy.org Sun Feb 6 02:31:10 1994 Return-Path: extropians-request@extropy.org Received: from usc.edu (usc.edu [128.125.253.136]) by chaph.usc.edu (8.6.4/8.6.4) with SMTP id CAA08873 for ; Sun, 6 Feb 1994 02:31:07 -0800 Received: from news.panix.com by usc.edu (4.1/SMI-3.0DEV3-USC+3.1) id AA21329; Fri, 4 Feb 94 21:23:52 PST Received: by news.panix.com id AA20372 (5.65c/IDA-1.4.4 for more@usc.edu); Sat, 5 Feb 1994 00:01:12 -0500 Date: Sat, 5 Feb 1994 00:01:12 -0500 Message-Id: <199402050501.AA20372@news.panix.com> To: Extropians@extropy.org From: Extropians@extropy.org Subject: Extropians Digest #94-2-37 - #94-2-51 X-Extropian-Date: February 5, 374 P.N.O. [00:00:50 UTC] Reply-To: extropians@extropy.org Errors-To: Extropians-Request@gnu.ai.mit.edu Status: RO Extropians Digest Sat, 5 Feb 94 Volume 94 : Issue 35 Today's Topics: [#94-1-732] PCR: Pancritical Rationalism [1 msgs] EARTH: How closed a system? [3 msgs] ECON: China [1 msgs] ECON: Solar Panels [2 msgs] ECON: Wild Solar Power Idea [1 msgs] FWD: Effect of cash prizes on invention in 18th century [1 msgs] Jobs: I hired an Extropian [1 msgs] London Digital Cash Bank Info Wanted [1 msgs] TALK: Stock market simulation [1 msgs] TECH - SOLAR ENERGY BREAKTHROUGH (fwd) [1 msgs] Administrivia: Note: I have increased the frequency of the digests to four times a day. The digests used to be processed at 5am and 5pm, but this was too infrequent for the current bandwidth. Now digests are sent every six hours: Midnight, 6am, 12pm, and 6pm. If you experience delays in getting digests, try setting your digest size smaller such as 20k. You can do this by addressing a message to extropians@extropy.org with the body of the message as ::digest size 20 -Ray Approximate Size: 51706 bytes. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: gub@ELF.com (Glen Daniels) Date: Thu, 3 Feb 94 09:10:03 -0500 (EST) Subject: [#94-2-37] ECON: Solar Panels Don't know the full story on this yet - I plan on calling sometime soon and asking for some numbers.... --Gub (Glen Daniels, ELF Communications) "Gotta go inside, back where it started; Back to the beginning, 'cause that's where my heart is." ---------------------[ FORWARDED MESSAGE BEGINS ]----------------------- Subject: TECH - SOLAR ENERGY BREAKTHROUGH Sent from the cyberdeck of: fholson@maroon.tc.umn.edu ("Fred H. Olson WB0YQM") [from PeaceNet] /* ---------- "SOLAR ENERGY BREAKTHROUGH" ---------- */ ENERGY DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES BREAKTHROUGH IN SOLAR TECHNOLOGY WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 /E-Wire/ -- The Department of Energy says that a three-year government/industry partnership has produced new thin-film solar technology that can supply all the daytime electric power needed for a home at almost half the present cost. Deputy Secretary of Energy Bill White said, "The successful implementation of this cost-shared $6.26 million project with United Solar Systems Corporation is proof-positive that, working together, government and industry can deliver the whole package -- innovative technology and its delivery to the marketplace." The new photovoltaic solar panels will be manufactured at a new plant site in Newport News, Va. DOE's Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Christine Ervin, said the practical application of these new solar panels will also help meet administration goals of reduced greenhouse gas emissions. "This project is an early example -- a foundation stone, if you will -- of what the Climate Change Action Plan can do. At the same time, we will help create high-skill, high-wage jobs and increase America's share of the growing world market for environmental technologies." The applications of this thin-film technology include the replacement of glass panels used in constructing walls of commercial buildings as well as other products. Ervin said, using the new technology, thin-film solar panels can be made, for example, into roofing shingles that could supply all the daytime electric power needs of a south-facing residential home. Currently, costs for electricity from photovoltaics run from 25 to 50 cents per kilowatt hour (kwh). The new technology is expected to bring down the cost to 16 cents/kwh, and eventually down to 12 cents kwh. Ervin also noted that the shingles are similar in appearance from those we use today, eliminating aesthetic objections. CONTACT: Larry Hart of DOE, 202-586-5806; or Bob Noun of NREL, 202-586-7541. ************************************************************************ This material came from PeaceNet, a non-profit progressive networking service. For more information, send a message to peacenet-info@igc.apc.org ************************************************************************ ------------------------------ From: mlinksva@netcom.com (Michael R Linksvayer) Date: Thu, 3 Feb 1994 06:57:56 -0800 (PST) Subject: [#94-2-38] ECON: Solar Panels This is old news by now (I sent it to the list Jan 31 while it was down due to a file being erased), but it corroborates a few recent posts. The PeaceNet press release that has been floating around does not mention the involvement of Canon and has a silly quote about the implementation of this breakthrough being proof-positive that private-public partnerships can work. Sorry, but the factory hasn't been built. The technology has only been implemented in small-scale tests. >I got this error back the first time I tried to send this. Sorry if >anyone receives it twice. > >> ----- Transcript of session follows ----- >> Can't locate shlock.pl in @INC at /c/exi/bin/exi.mainlist.pl line 21. >> 554 "|/users/exi/list/wp exi.mainlist.pl /a/users/exi/list/test.cf"... unknown mailer error 2 > >There was an article in the WSJ on a Wednesday a couple/few weeks ago >(I think the 19th) about a new manufacturing process developed by Canon >and the Energy Department or some company subsidized by it which allows This should be 'Canon, the Energy Department and Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.' The United Solar Systems Corp. mentioned in the PeaceNet article is a joint venture between Canon and ECD. >photovaltaic cells to be produced in a continuous sheet rather than in >batches. The new material is supposedly much thinner and cheaper than >current cells and can be built into roofing material, wall-coverings >etc. > >There was also an article about solar power in Forbes maybe a year >ago. If I remember correctly, it made two points: solar power is still >more expensive than oil or coal, but the price has been decreasing >relative to other energy sources for ~20 years, it just started out >very high and that the place for solar power to take off is in >undeveloped areas, where the cost of building power distribution >infrastructure must be added into the equation for centralized >generation. > >Mike Linksvayer mlinksva@netcom.com > > > ------------------------------ From: tribble@netcom.com (E. Dean Tribble) Date: Thu, 3 Feb 1994 13:25:24 -0800 Subject: [#94-2-39] [#94-1-732] PCR: Pancritical Rationalism > >Perhaps these questions make it clear what I want of a precise 500 word >summary of a philosophy -- namely, lose the phil-speak words, just describe >your view in ordinary concrete language. > My explanation was attempted in ordinary concrete language on the assumption that you wanted some background in order to start talking about it. In response, you assaulted it for every last drop of imprecision as if it was supposed to be a perfect philosophical tract. This reduces the credibility of the claim you make above, and, knowing you, you want to have a long argument :-) I don't have too much time to email about it (though I'll spend some), but I'd love to argue^H^H^H^H^H^discuss it next time you're up here.... :-) dean ------------------------------ From: pavel@PARK.BU.EDU (Paul Cisek) Date: Thu, 3 Feb 94 16:21:07 -0500 Subject: [#94-2-40] TALK: Stock market simulation Here's something Boston-area extropians might find interesting... >Received: by ravenna (4.1/AI-4.10) id AA03937; Thu, 3 Feb 94 13:45:47 EST >Date: Thu, 3 Feb 94 13:45:47 EST >Message-Id: <9402031845.AA03937@ravenna> >To: cbcl-meet@ai.mit.edu, vis-sem@ai.mit.edu >Subject: LeBaron Vision Sem 2/7 > > > >9.382: SEMINAR ON VISUAL INFORMATION PROCESSING >Sponsors: Tomaso Poggio and Amnon Shashua > >7 February >4:00 p.m. >NE43 - 8th Floor Playroom [That's at MIT... -PC] > > > Blake LeBaron > > University of Wisconsin -- Madison > Santa Fe Institute > > > An Artificial Stock Market > > > ABSTRACT > > In this project an artificial stock market provides an environment >in which to study the behavior of many artificially intelligent agents >trying to forecast the future behavior of a traded asset paying a >random dividend. The objective is to understand some of the phenomena >possible from the interactions of learning algorithms brought together >in a simple stock market trading environment. Traders using Holland's >classifier systems build up sets of simple rules to forecast future >stock market price behavior. Successful rules are strengthened and >used more frequently while less successful rules are replaced with new >rules created by a genetic algorithm. The relationship between this >model and traditional modeling of financial markets in economics will >be discussed. There will also be a quick review of some of the >empirical puzzles of financial markets that we are interested in >replicating. > > This work was with Brian Arthur, John Holland, Richard Palmer, and >Paul Taylor. > > > > >DATE: 2/7/94 >SPEAKER: Blake LeBaron >TITLE: An Artificial Stock Market >NOTES: > > > ------------------------------ From: tburns@mason1.gmu.edu (T. David Burns) Date: Thu, 3 Feb 1994 18:34:59 -0500 Subject: [#94-2-41] ECON: Wild Solar Power Idea price@price.demon.co.uk (Michael Clive Price) writes: >Why would the water cool the air? I thought evaporation warmed >surrounding air. Wouldn't you have to cool the water first? That's >going to be energetically expensive in a hot desert. The water itself might be pretty expensive, hot or cold, if you're in a desert. Dave tburns@mason1.gmu.edu (T. David Burns) ------------------------------ From: "Harry S. Hawk" Date: Thu, 3 Feb 1994 21:31:25 -0500 (EST) Subject: [#94-2-42] Jobs: I hired an Extropian A while ago I posted a notice about a job opening I had. I am pleased to report I hired a member of this list, Marc Majcher. /hawk -- Harry S. Hawk habs@extropy.org Electronic Communications Officer, Extropy Institute Inc. The Extropians Mailing List, Since 1991 ------------------------------ From: Reilly Jones <70544.1227@CompuServe.COM> Date: 03 Feb 94 21:57:29 EST Subject: [#94-2-43] EARTH: How closed a system? Mike Price wrote: No, I do not believe that space-time particles popped into existence out of nothing or that the universe has an age. It strains my powers of comprehensibility that in the total absence of any evidence that this is possible, or any credible scientific theory that explains the mechanism of its supposed occurrence or the causality (necessity) of the fact of existence, that anyone believes it. Discussing creation ex nihilo is a waste of time if a scientific discussion is desired, but could be quite enjoyable if a theological discussion is desired. Creation ex nihilo theory, such as the constellation of Big Bang cosmologies, is a peculiar scientific ritual of self-decapitation only made intelligible within the memetic space of entropic death-worshippers. Mike: This seems to be the preferred method of those who believe in creation ex nihilo since there is no evidence for it. Why are you impugning it? Mike: I do not understand how existence could pop into being at all in the absence of any evidence that it did. Are you asking where did everything come from? I know of no evidence showing that space-time particles haven't always existed or will ever cease to exist. Apparently, your question has drifted over to a theological discussion or maybe I misunderstand the conceptual thrust of what you personally mean by the question. Mike: Are you asking for alternative hypotheses to the creation ex nihilo neo-Gnostic hypotheses? I certainly don't have all the answers to the universe but at least I know that ex nihilo theories aren't the only game in town. One big one is the Extropian Principle of Spontaneous Order. In a limitless, eternal universe, there is no reason why Spontaneous Order mechanisms couldn't produce regions on many scales throughout the universe where entropy is decreasing, existing next to regions on many scales where entropy is increasing (without resorting to many-worlds neo-Gnosticism). Limitless problems in physics remain to be worked over. With increasing supercomputer capacities, we are at the beginning of a new era of formulating hypotheses using graphical methods of computing nonlinear dynamical equations within relativity theory, quantum theory, and evolutionary theory (cosmologies must incorporate biophysics). I'm sure that we will all be faced with many new and interesting ways of viewing the universe scientifically over the next generation or so. The fact that alternate hypotheses do not go away in the face of massive state-science conformity is serious evidence of problems with Big Bang cosmologies. I have difficulty believing any theories that propose creation ex nihilo (such as classic steady-state, many-worlds, or the new quasi-steady-state of Burbidge and Narlikar with its "mini-bangs"). What is needed is a healthy dose of nomad-science to get out of the ruts of state-science. Some of the nomad-science areas I think are hopeful (not that any of these are right, simply fruitful areas for better hypotheses to arise in) are: - Katsuhiro Nakamura in his book "Quantum Chaos" (1993) has called for a complete discretization of space-time leading to an overhaul of the Schrodinger-Feynman equations. Such an overhaul could lead to a better coherency between General Theory of Relativity, Quantum Mechanics and experimental evidence. It could also lead to a questioning of the physical existence of singularities which I do not believe exist in a particulate universe. Feynman in his book "QED" pointed out, "It's surprising that the theory [QED] still hasn't been proved self-consistent one way or the other by now; I suspect that renormalization is not mathematically legitimate." The discretization of space-time may eliminate the possibility of couplings occurring on top of each other, may standardize quantum distances thus eliminating the need for renormalization (Feynman refers to it as a "dippy process" and Hawking as a "rather dubious mathematical technique") and may well be tied to the nature of what gravity really is. Nakamura: "In any event, if temporal chaos is brought into quantum mechanics, our ideas on time, stationary states, the adiabatic ansatz and their relationship with the uncertainty principle should be carefully re-examined. These intriguing questions (even within nonrelativistic quantum mechanics) would be comparable to Einstein's great challenge in 1905 which revolutionized Galilean thought on space and time." - Plasma cosmology of Hannes Alfven, popularized by Eric Lerner in his book "The Big Bang Never Happened" (1992) using eternal universe hypotheses largely stabilized by electromechanical forces and experimentally verifiable evidence. Alternate COBE results hypotheses and solid reliance on astronomical evidence contradicting creation ex nihilo theories (Spontaneous Order included, such as Great Walls of galaxies, the Great Attractor of galaxies, statistical correlations of clusters of galaxies and large-scale structures of galaxies obeying power laws). The amount of post-facto ad hoc tweaking of initial conditions prior to Guth's inflationary universe to arrive at a coherent explanation of the exponentially increasing observational quantity of deep-space structure is simply fantastical. - Eternal universe cosmology of Gerald Hawkins (author of "Mindsteps to the Cosmos" (1983) as well as scientific publications) with galaxies behaving more like gas molecules and cosmic energy released, absorbed, and released again with 100% efficiency (this efficiency, which does exist at the quantum scale, also hypothetically exists ultimately at all macro scales). Astronomical evidence by Halton Arp of galaxies side by side with different redshifts, new galaxies forming close by and older galaxies at the observable fringes. Alternate redshift theories involving photon-boson interaction by Jean-Claude Pecker and Jean-Pierre Vigier; and Geoffrey Burbidge who demonstrated physical connections between quasars and galaxies with very different redshifts. - Mixmaster cosmology of Charles Misner, pictured as a blob of fluid, this type of universe evolves through a series of randomly oriented pancake and cigar shapes. David Hobill of the U. of Calgary organized a workshop in Alberta in July, '93 on deterministic chaos in general relativity. The researchers involved are working on the problems understanding the behavior of the Einstein equations in the strongly nonlinear regime. What the researchers would like most is a definition that distinguishes between chaotic and nonchaotic parcels of space-time. This is exactly what Nakamura is proposing can be accomplished with a reformulation of the Schrodinger-Feynman equations. - Petr Beckmann's theories on relativity and the propagation of light require further experimental evidence to disprove; particularly the differential aberration of binary stars and confirmination of the constancy of the speed of light through experiments done in the space shuttle with far more sensitive instruments than the Michelson-Morley tests or the Michelson-Gale tests. - David Bohm and Basil Hiley in their book "The Undivided Universe" propose the concept of wholeness, that a system forms a totality whose overall behavior is richer than can be obtained through the sum of its parts. This wholeness is made manifest through the notion of nonlocality (the interconnectedness of distant particles). In measurements at the quantum level, one cannot say he is measuring an intrinsic property of the observed system. Rather, the process of interaction reveals a property involving the whole context in an inseperable way. Objective reality does not hinge on a human observer, new theories with experimental consequences going beyond quantum theory are extensions of this interpretation. Traditional QM paradoxes and problems are dealt with. If you know of any references (that you feel are insightful) on non-symmetrical gravity theories (by physicist John Moffat from the U. of Toronto) or quantum decoherence theories, I would be interested. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Reilly Jones | Philosophy of Technology: 70544.1227@CompuServe.COM | The rational and moral foundations | of our creative drive ------------------------------ From: Stanton McCandlish Date: Thu, 3 Feb 1994 22:19:00 -0500 (EST) Subject: [#94-2-44] TECH - SOLAR ENERGY BREAKTHROUGH (fwd) Something for the alternative energy nuts: _____ begin fwd ____ From: fholson@maroon.tc.umn.edu ("Fred H. Olson WB0YQM") [from PeaceNet] /* ---------- "SOLAR ENERGY BREAKTHROUGH" ---------- */ ENERGY DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES BREAKTHROUGH IN SOLAR TECHNOLOGY WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 /E-Wire/ -- The Department of Energy says that a three-year government/industry partnership has produced new thin-film solar technology that can supply all the daytime electric power needed for a home at almost half the present cost. Deputy Secretary of Energy Bill White said, "The successful implementation of this cost-shared $6.26 million project with United Solar Systems Corporation is proof-positive that, working together, government and industry can deliver the whole package -- innovative technology and its delivery to the marketplace." The new photovoltaic solar panels will be manufactured at a new plant site in Newport News, Va. DOE's Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Christine Ervin, said the practical application of these new solar panels will also help meet administration goals of reduced greenhouse gas emissions. "This project is an early example -- a foundation stone, if you will -- of what the Climate Change Action Plan can do. At the same time, we will help create high-skill, high-wage jobs and increase America's share of the growing world market for environmental technologies." The applications of this thin-film technology include the replacement of glass panels used in constructing walls of commercial buildings as well as other products. Ervin said, using the new technology, thin-film solar panels can be made, for example, into roofing shingles that could supply all the daytime electric power needs of a south-facing residential home. Currently, costs for electricity from photovoltaics run from 25 to 50 cents per kilowatt hour (kwh). The new technology is expected to bring down the cost to 16 cents/kwh, and eventually down to 12 cents kwh. Ervin also noted that the shingles are similar in appearance from those we use today, eliminating aesthetic objections. CONTACT: Larry Hart of DOE, 202-586-5806; or Bob Noun of NREL, 202-586-7541. ************************************************************************ This material came from PeaceNet, a non-profit progressive networking service. For more information, send a message to peacenet-info@igc.apc.org ************************************************************************ -- Stanton McCandlish * mech@eff.org * Electronic Frontier Found. OnlineActivist F O R M O R E I N F O, E - M A I L T O: I N F O @ E F F . O R G O P E N P L A T F O R M O N L I N E R I G H T S V I R T U A L C U L T U R E C R Y P T O ------------------------------ From: price@price.demon.co.uk (Michael Clive Price) Date: Thu, 03 Feb 94 23:11:48 GMT Subject: [#94-2-45] ECON: China According to the Financial Time China's industrial output grew by 11% in real terms in November 1993. Now guess how much it grew in December 1994? Answer below.... 28.9% Yes, amazing! Mike Price price@price.demon.co.uk AnarchyPPL client ------------------------------ From: jbaker@halcyon.com (James Baker) Date: Fri, 4 Feb 1994 00:13:41 -0800 Subject: [#94-2-47] EARTH: How closed a system? Reilly Jones writes (regarding the Big Bang theory): >Discussing creation ex nihilo is a waste of time if a >scientific discussion is desired, but could be quite enjoyable if a theological >discussion is desired. Creation ex nihilo theory, such as the constellation of >Big Bang cosmologies, is a peculiar scientific ritual of self-decapitation only >made intelligible within the memetic space of entropic death-worshippers. > I have been suspicious of the psychology of scientists trying to compress the unknown part of physics into a shorter and shorter period after the big bang. The assumption is that everything works as we would expect starting some few nanoseconds after the creation-ex-nihilo event. Seems sort of desperite and unimaginative although I don't claim to have a better story. James Baker Seattle, WA USA jbaker@halcyon.com ------------------------------ From: timstarr@netcom.com (Tim Starr) Date: Fri, 4 Feb 1994 01:10:43 -0800 Subject: [#94-2-48] London Digital Cash Bank Info Wanted I accidentally deleted the info Stanton forwarded about that London digital cash bank. Can someone please let me know if they can send it to me in private e-mail? (That way I don't have 30 people sending me the whole file, and can just gratefully accept the first offer, and graciously decline the rest.) I mentioned it to someone else, and they want to find out more details about it. Tim Starr - Renaissance Now! Assistant Editor: Freedom Network News, the newsletter of ISIL, The International Society for Individual Liberty, 1800 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 864-0952; FAX: (415) 864-7506; 71034.2711@compuserve.com Think Universally, Act Selfishly - timstarr@netcom.com ------------------------------ From: price@price.demon.co.uk (Michael Clive Price) Date: Fri, 04 Feb 94 16:30:54 GMT Subject: [#94-2-50] EARTH: How closed a system? Reilly Jones: > Discussing creation ex nihilo is a waste of time if a scientific > discussion is desired, And yet this is not the opinion of the scientific community. If you're going to pour cold water on the whole idea you're going to have to explain why they're all wrong and you're right. > creation ex nihilo [...] there is no evidence for it. No, there is a lot of physical evidence for it, but the problem is I would have to explain quantum field theory to explain why. > Mike: us how things exist if they can't be created ex nihilo?> > > I do not understand how existence could pop into being at all I am not asking you to understand it, I am asking you to realise the necessity of it. See later. > in the absence of any evidence that it did. See my previous but one reply. > Are you asking where did everything come from? I know of no > evidence showing that space-time particles haven't always existed The 2nd law (of thermodynamics) says total disorder never decreases. If the universe had existed forever without some free-lunch process then entropy would have maximally disordered everything by now. It hasn't, therefore the universe has not existed forever or free-lunch creation is possible or both. And if the universe has not existed forever then creation ex nihilo must be possible. Therefore either creation inflationary free-lunch or creation ex nihilo style is required. Or both (which is what I believe). Or the 2nd law is false, which is why I asked: > Mike: entropy is reversed in an eternal universe.> > > [..] I know that ex nihilo theories aren't the only game in town. > One big one is the Extropian Principle of Spontaneous Order. Spontaneous Order does _not_ conflict with the 2nd law. Life on Earth is a good example of S.O., but it doesn't violate the 2nd law. Nearly all complex organisation on Earth owes its structure to energy from the Sun. Energy flows from the Sun at (about 6000K), to the Earth (about 300K) and thence radiated into outer space (about 4K). Whenever energy flows from a hot to a cooler object entropy always increases. Entropy is measured in joules per kelvin. Roughly speaking in travelling from the Sun to the depths of space the fixed quantity of energy has increased its entropy by a factor of about 6000/4 = 2,500. S.O. is just explaining or making sense of the way local patches of order (us, life, civilisation, galaxies...) can maintain their integrity and actually grow in the midst of the overall background increase in entropy. Entropy in physics is not opposed to extropy. The former is precisely defined measure of thermodynamic disorder, whilst the latter is intended (I think) as a type of metaphor. Mainstream "entropic" thermodynamics/biology/cosmology is fully compatible with extropianism as a philosophy (or whatever we wish to call it). For this reason I don't feel we need to take any of the criticisms of mainstream ideas or the alternative notions you mentioned too seriously, although I will comment on a few: > The amount of post-facto ad hoc tweaking of initial conditions > prior to Guth's inflationary universe to arrive at a coherent > explanation of the exponentially increasing observational > quantity of deep-space structure is simply fantastical. This was true for the early inflationary theories, but not so true for some more recent theories. Chaotic inflation, in particular, is devoid of tweaking. > Astronomical evidence by Halton Arp of galaxies side by side > with different redshifts, new galaxies forming close by and > older galaxies at the observable fringes. Arp does have some impressive pictures but he has never, so far as I know, done any statistical analysis of how often such co-incidences would be expected to appear given that we can now see trillions of galaxies. You'd expect to see some side-by-side. No doubt Hubble will find some more. > - Petr Beckmann's theories on relativity and the propagation of > light require further experimental evidence to disprove; particularly > the differential aberration of binary stars Beckmann's theories are complete rubbish. He doesn't understand how stellar aberration is generated in relativity which, for someone claiming Einstein's wrong, is rather a failing, so I'm not inclined to take any of his alternative theories seriously (I hope this stance is compatible with PCR!). Beckmann claims that relativity predicts that binary stars will show differential aberration (false), which they don't (true). Hardly a problem with relativity. > If you know of any references (that you feel are insightful) on > non-symmetrical gravity theories (by physicist John Moffat from > the U. of Toronto) or quantum decoherence theories, I would be > interested. "non-symmetrical gravity"? Does that mean torsion or something whackier.... Isn't Moffat the guy that spouts on about strange chaotic godel attractors? Or am I getting mixing him up with someone else? Mike Price price@price.demon.co.uk AnarchyPPL client ------------------------------ From: tburns@mason1.gmu.edu (T. David Burns) Date: Fri, 4 Feb 1994 17:54:09 -0500 Subject: [#94-2-51] FWD: Effect of cash prizes on invention in 18th century This appeared on sci.econ.research. Dave tburns@mason1.gmu.edu (T. David Burns) >From: NIBLACKJF@delphi.com >I read that in 1714 the UK parliament offered a cash prize of 20,000 >pounds to anyone who could invent an accurate sea-going timepiece >accurate enough to determine longitude within precise limits. About >47 years later, the prize was awarded. I'm interested to learn: >(1) what was 20,000 pounds in 1714 worth in buying power. I'm >under the impression this was a huge prize and I'd like to put that >in context. >(2) what was the scope of the response to this prize? >(3) were prizes of this type a frequently used device by agencies seeking >innovation? >(4) When did this practice die out (I'm not aware of its use >today)? >(5) Should agencies consider revivifying this invention-stimulating >technique? ------------------------------ End of Extropians Digest V94 #35 ********************************